September 20, 2009 by David.

Time has a fascinating article on canine intelligence and the effects of dog’s social interaction on their intelligence. In particular, how their ability to interpret pointing, whether a finger or a foot, appears to have developed through social skills. This human skill is not shared with any other animals, not even chimpanzees.

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September 1, 2009 by David.

Today Canon announced the 7D, replacement for the 50D. Looks DANG GOOD! Some thought it would come with a full frame sensor, but it has a .63x sensor (slightly larger than the .59x 50D and virtually the same as the Nikon D300). I’m a bit relieved as this means I can update and still keep using my existing lenses. Although when I go to a full-frame it is most likely going to be a Nikon D700 (or whatever follows), the 7D sets a new standard for DSLRs that aren’t full frame. I’m beyond impressed. This is substantially more than I expected to see replacing the 50D. Cannon is going to keep me in the fold a while longer.

Key features

• 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor
• 8 frames per second continuous shooting
• 1080p HD video recording with manual controls
• 3.0 inch Clear View II LCD screen with 920,000 dots
• 19-point AF system (all cross-type)
• 1.0x magnification and 100% coverage viewfinder
• Wireless flash control
• Environmental sealing

Take a look at what my favorite camera review site has to say:

Press Release coverage
Hands-on Preview

For the last couple years I’ve bought nearly all my still and video gear from Adorama.com, but recently I’ve been ordering mostly from Amazon (although places like Adorama and B&H have a much wider and deeper selection). They’ve added a section dedicated to cameras (amazon.com/camera) and their prices are very aggressive. They are also taking pre-orders of the Canon EOS 7D but haven’t announced pricing as of the date of this writing.

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