For my 3rd year in a row I was at CES presenting for the world leader in consumer electronics and maker of my trusty A900 – SONY. One of the many exciting things of being associated with the most cutting edge brand in technology is that I get to test experimental equipment and be the first to try out various prototypes. Not all of which make it to the consumer because of price or demand.

Last year I was supplied with 3 brand new pieces of EQ that only became available after I announced them yesterday at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in front of a crowd of thousands.

You all know I love my job and that I am passionate about photography and film, so getting to experiment with gadgets that no one has ever seen but only imagined, is my kind of assignment.

My Q, a man called El-Deane  at Sony is the fellow responsible with getting me the equipment if only a little begrudgingly, “Make sure I get it back immediately and don’t break it Bond…..” (actually he calls me Nigel but in my head….)

My job so said M was to master these new gadgets and breakdown the mysteries for the world….. Lucky for me I was armed with the new A77, the NEX-7 and the Bloggie Live…..

So here’s the skinny – The A77 is the fastest DSLR on the planet, capable of a blazing 12 frames a second! Not to mention it has the worlds first 24.3 Megapixel APS-C Sensor so each one of those 12 frames can be processed out at almost 70 megabytes a shot. And lets not forget to mention that all those shots are in perfect focus because it is able to continuously auto focus using phase detection while simultaneously capturing images….How can it do this I hear you scream! Well it has a translucent mirror duh…. no really it has a translucent mirror. While all other DSLRs on the market have a swinging mirror that reflects incoming light first on to the auto focusing screen then on to the image sensor when you press the shutter release. The A77 has a translucent mirror that bounces the light onto the auto focus screen while simultaneously directing the light onto the image sensor – no swinging mirror! Hence 12 frames a second with continuous auto focus. Oh and I forgot to tell you that the lag time between hitting the shutter release and the A77 actually taking the picture is a mere 0.05 seconds. That by the way is the fastest lag time of any DSLR in the world.

Now you know I shoot movies and TV commercials as well. The A77 also shoots full 1080 HD video in both 60i 60p and 24p for ultra smooth and cinematic quality video that is unsurpassed by any of it’s rivals – and it continuously auto focuses using that translucent mirror when shooting video too.

The NEX-7 does most of what the A77 does although at less than half the weight and size, who says great things don’t come in small packages ladies… The NEX-7 is essentially the game changer. A pocket camera that has a 24.3 megapixel sensor, shoots 10 frames a second, shoots full 1080 HD video in 60i, 60p and 24p has the fastest lag time of any camera on the planet of 0.02 secs so you never miss the shot, has a OLED view finder (which it shares with the A77 – the worlds first and only) The OLED view finder replaces what all other cameras have which is a LCD view finder. LCD viewfinders and screens are back lit so contrast and blacks are always going to be compromised. OLED stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode and they work by sending an electrical charge through the organic compounds that make up the diode which in turn glow. Thus creating a much brighter image with absolute blacks and incredible contrast.

The NEX-7 is also very user friendly despite it’s Ferrari like roar, my 6 year old son knows how to navigate his way around the camera and takes stellar shots every time. A chip off the old block maybe but the Tri-Navi system of three easily workable dials on the back of the camera make it a breeze to change the aperture, shutter speed and ISO with the flick of a finger.

And last but not least the Bloggie Live. Well you may or may not be into blogging but I am and your reading my blog now. Blogging and social media is basically the main stay for today’s youth and the ability to share their videos and photos immediately is what it’s all about.

The Bloggie Live is WiFi enabled……it actually allows you to stream your video direct from the Bloggie to FaceBook, YouTube or your website live as you shot your video or stills! For crying out loud you can live in your own reality show and broadcast live for the cost of a few hundred dollars – is nothing sacred anymore!!!

This is the future people and you heard here first.

00NB over and out……

Nine West, Nigel Barker, Chrissy Teigen and Leslie Fremar Hosts a Celebration

to kick off Fashion’s Night Out and Nine West Runway Relief

WHO:                  Nigel Barker, Sports Illustrated Model Chrissy Teigen, Celebrity Stylist Leslie Fremar, a surprise musical guest and top models walking in Fashion Week

WHAT: Nine West, Nigel Barker, Chrissy Teigen and Leslie Fremar will host a party to kick off the Nine West Runway Relief initiative! Guests can mingle with the faces behind the initiative; listen to live music and support the cause by purchasing Nine West Runaway Relief merchandise including a limited edition boot and messenger bag designed by Nine West and a tank top designed by Leslie Fremar. Leslie Fremar will bedazzle tank tops for the first 50 customers and Nigel Barker will photograph guests who purchase Nine West Runway Relief merchandise. Guests will have the opportunity to pose with the models and will receive a USB with their photos.

About Nine West Runway Relief

For the second consecutive year, Nine West’s Runway Relief Program has enlisted top fashion models participating in New York Fashion Week, including Chrissy Teigen, to wear a limited edition, Nine West boot. These unique boots are equipped with The Fitbit Wireless Activity Tracker, a pedometer that will track the number of steps each model takes during Fashion Week – from castings and fittings to post-fashion show fêtes. For every mile that a Runway Relief model walks in the boot, Nine West will donate $1 directly to FTBC along with a designated donation.

Fashion fans can log onto www.modelinia.com/ninewestrunwayrelief to sponsor their favorite model and raise funds & awareness for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer.

WHERE: Nine West Rockefeller Center Store

1258 Avenue of the Americas (between 49^th and 50^th)

New York City

WHEN: Thursday, September 8, 2011

6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

You may well remember the last ad campaign shot in the Meat Packing District in NYC with super models Coco Rocha, Jessica White and Michelle Alves along with 20 more up and coming top models all “Stepping For A Cause” ! Well this year I got to shoot the stunning Carolyn Murphy and Chrissie Teigen with some 25 gorgeous models for the 2011 campaign by Nine West aptly called Runway Relief.

Once again we shot a still ad campaign and a video component that will be launching during Fashion Week here in NYC this Fall. The concept like last year is to raise money for Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. Nine West who has designed Fabulous Black boots once again along with one of a kind Tote bags and FTBC logo-ed T-shirts, with all the proceeds of  the sale of these items going to the charity to fund research, help breast cancer sufferers and survivors. But there is a twist… the beautiful models in our campaign will all be wearing the boots fitted with a pedometer designed by Fit Bit which will be counting all the steps the girls take during Fashion Week. For every step taken Nine West will be donating a dollar amount and you can sponsor a model of your choice on Modelinia.com or donate directly to the cause at www.ninewest.com/runwayrelief

The shoot day itself was a blast, almost 40 models on set… a dozen make up artists and hair stylists. Top stylist Leslie Fremar who customized all the T-shirts was on set with her assistants along my team from Studio NB and DMA. We shot across the street from my studio in the MPD at the new and fabulous Highline Stages on two giant studios, Chrissie Teigen’s boyfriend John Legend even stopped by – altogether we had over a 100 people to manage! And everybody doing their bit for a great cause. I will be at the Nine West Rockefeller Center store, 675 Fifth Avenue, NYC on Fashion’s Night Out this year taking photos and generally hanging out, so come down and say hi!

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