Upgrade The Way You Record Mayhem

Men, if you’re like me, you enjoy a good thrill. I prefer terrain/tree skiing (about which I cannot claim to be entirely skilled at), rapid trail biking, or shredding. Recording proof that you managed to stick that landing (or not) is the stuff that truly great YouTube videos are made of.

The primary problem with cameras and camcorders is bulk - something not conducive to your already precarious balance. Enter VholdR. VholdR is a helmet/handlebar mounted camera that self-levels up to 192 degrees via the aid of dual lasers, ensuring that your spill is seen from a level perspective, even if your face is having an intimate moment with the ground.

VholdR is made of black brushed aluminum, baked fiberglass, and rubber to withstand major impacts. Plus, its innards are treated with silicon insulation to help withstand mud, snow, rain, and bits of your face.

Cost: $330

Also See: GoPro Digital Hero 3 Sports Wrist Camera | Sanyo Xacti Waterproof Camcorder

2,251,799,813,685,248 Configurations… And Counting

We’ve featured cameras like the Nikon D90 (which Gear Patrol uses for our photography), and undoubtedly you’ve heard of the Canon 5D Mark II, which both allow you to shoot high definition video.

That’s nice and all, but the mad scientists at RED want you to be humbled in the presence of the newly announced Scarlet and EPIC digital stills and motion camera system. A system that goes from a Digital SLR camera to a full-on professional motion picture rig in less time and for less money than you can find anywhere else.

Based around what RED calls the Mysterium-X and Mysterium Monstro (no, these are not “bed room games” invented by Patrick), you can capture 1-120 fps video in up-to 24 megapixel quality depending on your configuration. There’s even a 3-D capture configuration coming. What the hell? What the hell.

The Red Scarlet is available with an arsenal of RED’s own lenses ranging from 6.5mm to 300mm, or you can purchase a Scarlet capable of taking on Nikon or Canon SLR’s lenses instead. This, gents, is photography and videography taken to the next eschelon.

More photos of the configurations after the jump. [As Seen On Acquire]

Cost: Scarlet $2,500-$12000 | EPIC $28,000-$55,000

Also See: Vintage Canon AE-1 SLR Camera | GoPro Digital Hero 3 Sports Wrist Camera

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A Splendid Way to Display Your Photography Skills or Lack Thereof

Your office desk is probably a place where little to no free space exists. Couple that with the few hundred pictures that need displaying (to remind you of life other than work), and you’ve got a universe crushing paradox of the space-time variety. Luckily, there is a solution to this dilemma. Get a digital photo frame.

We suggest one from the new line of Digital Foci frames, like the Image Moments 6. On the surface, the IM6 is a good looking piece styled in two-tone, mirror-polished chrome that takes up minimal surface space. More importantly though, it boasts some rich display chops for such a small frame. An ample LCD backlight and 140 PPI pixel density work to do your vacation pics proud.

Looking for something bigger? Scope out other larger frames in the lineup such as the Image Moments 8 which adds an interchangeable frame and mat design, and the Image Moment 15 which throws in 16.2 million colors and VESA wall mounting capabilities.

Size aside though, each frame offers a bevy of features such as: 450 MB internal memory, card slots for storage expansion, and the ability to play back a wide variety of multimedia files. For more details though check out the Digital Foci website.

What this means to you: I’m looking at the IM6 on my desk right now. It looks good. My pictures look good. Just don’t load it up and display a slide show with one second intervals. You wont get any real work done that way. Especially if that shot of Louise Glover you threw in keeps popping up. Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with us.

Cost $149 from Digital Foci

Also See: Sony S Frame | Philips Mothers Day Digital Photo Frame

Click… Snap… Boom.

So you’ve just purchased that nice new digital SLR camera, like the Nikon D90 GP uses for our article images. You’re ready to take it on the road with you where you’ll encounter all kinds of conditions, but you’re not really the type of guy that’s readily exposing his thousand dollar equipment to the elements.

Well, gear up with Camera Armor - a company who specializes in engineering custom body armor protection for your camera. Camera Armor sheathes your new digital beauty’s body, lens in elsatomeric silicone and the screen with a polycarbonate shield. Sounds postively grizzly.

The precision fit armor will protect your photographic investment from the nasties you encouter: impacts, abrasions, dust, fingerprints and do it with barely any additional weight. The armor comes in black, smoke and even camoflauge for you sniper photogs.

Cost: $50

Also See: ION Slides 2 PC | Nikon D700 Digital SLR | Vintage Canon AE-1 Film SLR

Kodak Moments, Revisited

Most likely, you’ve got a shoebox or tupperware box sitting around at home with some old 35mm film negatives or a crate full of your parent’s slides. Either way, they probably haven’t been looked at in years what with that digital camera snapping away.

Slides 2 PC film and silde scanner from ION might be one of the best cases for USB ports yet. And as geeky as that might sound, the premise will make my case. Available this October for just $100, Slides 2 PC is at a price entirely worthy of its function.

The Slides 2 PC scanner lets you avoid forgotten Kodak moments by making it incredibly easy and fast to scan in 35mm film or slides. It’s a one-touch operation. Better yet, it eliminates the cost and hassle of bringing back the aging media by giving you 5 megapixel digital versions of your slides and negatives. It uses a fixed-focus range, automatic exposure and color balance to guarantee that your negatives and slides are captured with accurate color conversion and optimal imaging. Nifty.

Cost: $100 @ ION

A Photographic Force To Be Reckoned With

Unleash your inner photographer. And cinematographer.

Normally, we wouldn’t bring you a post every other Tom, Dick and Harry site or blog have published but there’s no doubt the Nikon D90 warrants your attention. Or at least this editor wants it to. If you haven’t noticed, we (I?) tend to obsess over great images. The fact that the above image is obnoxiously large may attest to that. Admittedly, the Nikon D90 is a bit of an attainable wet dream for me. It is, for lack of better words… a photo-f$#king-graphic marvel.

Sure, the 12.3 megapixel capture image quality is nice (granted, not the highest), but this is a Digital SLR so the images you’ll capture will make that little pocket point-and-shoot look more along the lines of something you took with your phone - crap. The D90 has 4.5 frames-per-second continuous shooting, 200-3200 ISO, 3″ high resolution LCD display with live preview, built-in image sensor cleaning, 11-point auto focus system, Nikon 3D color Matrix metering, and optional GPS tagging. Very nice, but my attention is turned to one single amazing feature. The D90 captures 24fps high definition video with sound. On an SLR camera.

What this means to you: Imagine now for a moment, those gorgeous, rich and saturated photos you always wonder how people take (a la wedding photographers)… but now they’re your own videos. Obviously, I’m smitten.

Cost: $1000 @ Nikon

Also See: Nikon D700 Digital SLR ($2999)