Laptop bag employs vintage material for old school feel

Although this laptop holder looks typical of any other run-of-the-mill bags, there is really more to it than meets the eye.

The Skylark LTD. is designed and created by RedCamper's Maura Gramzinski. The first thing you'll notice is the use of photographic slides to furnish the front and the sides of the bag. These slides are actual vintage images which Gramzinski has taken in the past, and each picture is carefully chosen by her.

Other than the old photographs, the designer had also sourced for 1970s car upholstery to be used to make the Skylark LTD. The adjustable strap of the bag is modeled after a seatbelt, complete with a clip from an airplane.

The Skylark LTD. can hold a 15-inch laptop and has compartments for your iPod, mobile phone and other knickknacks. But you got to have a deep pocket for this retro-looking bag. It retails for US$224 on RedCamper's Web site, though given that each piece is handmade, that probably justifies the price.

Via PDN Gear Guide

Pinhole cameras galore

This is not the first time I've written about pinhole cameras. As much as they are easy to make, somehow I just can't get myself started on one. But when I stumbled upon Chris Keeney's Web site and saw the pinhole shooters he made from everyday objects, I think I might just be inspired enough to get cracking on one this weekend.

What caught my attention was the MintyCam, which Keeney has crafted out of an empty Altoids mint tin container. The instructions look fairly simple enough to get one done in an hour. Another interesting contraption is a medium-format pinhole snapper made from an empty Spam can, complete with film-winding mechanism.

If you are planning to make one of these pinhole cameras, share with us an image of your completed masterpiece. We may just publish it!

Polaroid Mirror

Although this lifestyle product has nothing to do with photography, the Polaroid Mirror draws inspiration from the now-defunct Polaroid Instant Film.

What UK designer Colin O'Dowd has done is place a white vinyl border around a 107 x 88 x 2mm mirror and much care has gone into the aesthetics such as making the bottom border thicker, to replicate the look of a real Polaroid picture.

Then again, US$29 (including shipping) is quite rather for a mirror. If you're in the mood for a weekend DIY project, why not trim a sheet of paper to appropriate length and width and stick it onto your mirror? That shouldn't cost you more than a buck.

Via designboom

U-Turn digicam twists to take self portraits

The problem with most point-and-shoot these days is that most models don't come with an articulated LCD. While the Digital Blue U-Turn digital camera doesn't have a flexible display, it makes up for the lack by implementing a swiveling lens design.

This compact shooter's optics swivel 180 degrees so you can snap pictures of yourself (or with friends). There are also 12 onboard special filters which you can view in real time on the 2.4-inch LCD. The lens has no zoom function and the focus range is fixed.

Even though this snapper is targeted at youngsters, we find the VGA image resolution disappointing. The U-Turn digital camera has built-in memory for approximately 80 pictures, and that's the space you get since there is no memory card slot.

The U-Turn digital Camera retails for US$50 on Digital Blue's Web site but it didn't indicate if the company will ship to Asia. While it may not suit us, we think it'll make a good gift for a budding child photographer.

Via Trendhunter

Apple update supports new Canon, Nikon SLRs

Apple released a software update Thursday to let its Aperture 2, iPhoto '08, and iPhoto '09 photo-editing software handle raw images from three newer dSLRs, Canon's EOS 500D, Nikon's D5000, and Olympus' E-30.

Higher-end cameras offer RAW image formats that provide more flexibility and quality than JPEG, but the RAW file formats are proprietary, vary from one camera model to another, and require companies such as Apple and Adobe Systems to release a constant stream of updates. Microsoft relies on camera manufacturers to supply software for Windows that can interpret the raw data, which is taken directly from camera image sensors without in-camera processing.

Camera makers typically supply their own software for handling RAW images, but many people prefer their own photo software.

Further detail on Apple's support is available on Apple's RAW camera support page.

Via CNET News

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