Today Tesla Motors unveiled the new all electric model X
February 9, 2012

Tesla Model X unveil video below

Tesla S Live Demonstration Video

I was fortunate this past weekend to have the opportunity to visit the Tesla factory in Fremont, CA and photograph the new all electric Tesla S sedan up close during the car’s official reveal to the public.

I’ve included some video footage of the new Tesla S going through both a slalom course and heavy acceleration with passengers aboard. The last segment is taken from my own demo ride in the electric car. The only thing you hear is wind and road noise from the tires, otherwise it is completely silent.

Here are my still photographs of  the Tesla S tour & demonstration.

Looking forward to eventually replacing my internal combustion engine with one that is completely electric. It seems the future is here.

• By-Line (Author): Richard L Bucich
• Model: FinePix X100
• DateTimeOriginal: 2011:09:17 23:19:13
• FocalLength: 23 mm
• ExposureTime: 1/25 sec
• ISOSpeedRatings: 5000
• FNumber: f/2.8
• Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.4.1

• By-Line (Author): Peter Adams
• Model: IQ140
• DateTimeOriginal: 2011:08:12 08:05:11
• FocalLength: 35 mm
• ExposureTime: 1/60 sec
• ISOSpeedRatings: 400
• FNumber: f/10
• Software: Capture One 6 Macintosh

Today I received my new Oben 3510 5 section folding carbon fiber tripod from B&H. I was looking for a with-me-at-all-times tripod and it appears to fit the bill. The construction seems solid, with a nice fit & finish. It folds remarkably small, hence the photo next to the two liter soda bottle. I’ll be using it in the next few weeks and will return with a more thorough write-up.

Below are a few photos using my Canon 1D IV and Fuji X100 for perspective.

Oben tripod next to soda bottle

Oben 3510 folding tripod with a Fuji X100 mounted

Oben tripod with legs extended with a Canon 1D IV mounted for size perspective

Today Google launched a new G+ invitation process that no longer requires an e-mail.
The following link will allow you to sign up: http://rick.ly/n7pgyO

Make is snappy though, there is a fixed number of people who can use the link to acquire an invite daily. So far I’ve been really enjoying Google+ and it has developed an amazing community of photographers drawn by the photo-friendly nature of the platform.

Here’s my Google+ profile if you’d like to add me to one of your circles

• By-Line (Author): Richard L Bucich
• Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
• DateTimeOriginal: 2011:06:25 12:38:44
• FocalLength: 195 mm
• ExposureTime: 1/3200 sec
• ISOSpeedRatings: 640
• MaxApertureValue: f/2.8
• FNumber: f/7.1
• Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.4.1

• By-Line (Author): Richard L Bucich
• Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
• DateTimeOriginal: 2011:05:29 10:17:07
• FocalLength: 200 mm
• ExposureTime: 1/5000 sec
• ISOSpeedRatings: 1000
• MaxApertureValue: f/2.8
• FNumber: f/5.6
• Software: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.4.1

I don’t receive a great deal of  trackback spam but nevertheless spent way too much time moderating on my blog recently and am hearing others complain of the same thing. This must be the new “spam commenting” under the assumption that these would be less likely to be marked as such.

I checked each site and came to the conclusion that I wouldn’t want ANY of the sites in my organic search results. After going through the effort to moderate each, sure would like that message to have a longer life than just end up in the Disqus database. Pipe dream perhaps, but I would love to be able to send a spam report to Google at the same time.

Disqus folks, how about a Chrome extension to report spam while moderating?

Let this serve as a warning to anyone trying to sneak in spam on my site, I have a zero tolerance policy. I am well versed in spammy SEO techniques and can spot them a mile away.

Thanks for letting me vent!

Fuji X100: How to add a leather case for protection and a useful Arca style body plate from Really Right Stuff

My finished product above – the Fuji X100, leather case, RRS body plate, wrist strap, aftermarket filter adapter, B+W UV filter and Op/Tech hinged lend cap. The only downside I see to the lens cap is that it obscures the flash but it is easily removed. I can now easily access both the battery and memory card, use my existing tripod head and my photos seem to wirelessly connect and upload faster via my Eye-Fi card.

One of the first things I wanted after getting a new Fuji X100 in my hands was to protect it with a leather case. They’re protective and go well with the retro styling of the camera. I promptly placed the official Fujifilm leather case LC-X100 on order but unfortunately they’re nearly impossible to find.  In the meantime I found out that it would not accommodate the lens with a hood or filter on it which made me lose interest quickly. I’m not a fan of protective filters but this camera needs one, especially with only a press-on lens cap.

Based on recommendations I read, I settled on a leather case produced my Mr. Zhou which are sold on eBay. When it arrived I found it to be exceptionally well made, surprisingly so with a good fit and finish. It is real leather with a suede type interior that protects the camera well. Since it doesn’t have a full cover, I am able to use a filter and/or hood on the lens and have found a hinged lens cap by Op/Tech to be very handy.

Soon after getting the case I started noticing things that could be improved (for my taste). I needed to remove the case entirely to change or charge batteries, remove the memory card or mount on a tripod which is a hassle. The leather case may have impeded the signal from my Eye-Fi wireless memory card and my current tripod set-up for my DSLR uses an Arca style clamp which only complicated matters.

Then, I discovered that Really Right Stuff was making an Arca plate specifically for the Fuji X100 and I had to have one!  It has a door in the bottom to access the battery and memory card, dovetail grooves for a clamp and traditional threads. It won’t however work with my leather case so I had to choose one or the other.

Tonight I found an excellent compromise, removing the base plate from the leather case allows you to use both simultaneously. Below are the steps I took to blend the two and so far it seems to be a huge success.

Fuji X100 with the Really Right Stuff body plate installed

Bottom view of the Fuji X100 with Really Right Stuff body plate installed. Note the hatch to access the battery and memory card.

Really Right Stuff body Plate on Fuji X100 side view showing dovetail for clamp

Fuji X100 with leather case from Mr. Zhou

Back view of leather case by Mr. Zhou

Bottom view of leather case for Fuji X100

Here’s the leather case after I took a sharp blade and removed the bottom section

The leather case installed on the camera sans bottom section

Here’s the leather case and Really Right Stuff body plate installed right below it. Because the RRS plate is slightly wider than the camera it creates a very tight seal with the leather preventing it from sliding down. I don’t think there is any way to remove the case without first removing the plate.

Sample image showing that the Arca style clamp can easily access the RSS body plate dovetail

Fuji X100, leather case, Arca style body plate by RRS installed atop a small Joby Gorillapod.