Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Archives for February 2008

Nikon P5100 Reviews

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The Nikon P5100 is the top-of-the-line COOLPIX point & shoot camera in Nikon’s lineup. It features 12.1 megapixels, a 3.5x zoom (35-123mm), a hotshoe for Nikon Speedlights and the EXPEED digital image processor. Further, the P5100 has the ability to shoot images at ISO 3200 with image files sizes at 5 megapixels. The P5100 also features Nikon’s lens-based VR (Vibration Reduction). The street price of this point & shoot digicam is about $300. [Read more…]

 

Apple Releases Aperture 2

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Aperture 2Earlier today Apple announced the release of Aperture 2, which is the follow-up to Apples original streamlined RAW image editor. At $100, Aperture 2 is a force to be reckoned with and could attract a few photographers that are in a coin-tossing mode between Aperture and Adobe Lightroom. The new, improved Aperture 2 has over 100 new features.  Update:  Also available for $189 from Amazon.  Some of the highlighted features are as follows:

  • Image adjustment controls such as Highlight Recovery, Definition, Vibrancy, and Vignette
  • Retouch tool with soft-edged brush to remove unwanted elements from photos.
  • Next-generation RAW image processing for highest-quality images
  • Quick Preview mode for rapid-fire photo browsing
  • Simplified user interface that maximizes screen space and provides direct access to your iPhoto library from within Aperture
  • Integration with .Mac Web Gallery to instantly publish your photos, allowing visitors to view and download images [Read more…]

45 Photo Sharing Sites

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A while back, I posted 7 Alternatives to Flickr. I asked for your thoughts on my suggested alternatives and other recommendations that you had. I got more than I bargained for in your comments. I quickly realized that I had left many great sites out of my abbreviated list. Due to all of your great suggestions, I felt that you deserved a more complete list of photo sharing sites. I’ve included my original 7, all of your suggestions and a few others that I’ve scoured the web to find. Read on for 45 ways to share your photos. [Read more…]

New DSLR for You?

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Got additional commentary? Sound off in the comments below.

Canon’s Iris Registration Mode – Biological Copyright Metadata

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Canon is using Iris watermarking to take photographer’s copyright protection to the next level.

. . . to provide an imaging apparatus that makes it possible to protect the copyright of photographic images by reliably acquiring biological information of a photographer . . .  – US Patent Application No. 2008/0025574

Stories like the recent discovery of Rebekka Guðleifsdóttir’s stolen Flickr images that surfaced on iStockphoto make all photographers cringe.  Many photographers go to great lengths to protect their images.  Past attempted solutions include watermarks on the front of images.  I can recall this practice from my childhood years with the Olan Mills studio gold embossing in the bottom corner.

More recently, in the digital age of photography, watermarking in Photoshop or other image editing software.  While visible watermarks are common among a variety of photographers, invisible watermarks (“electronic or digital watermarks“), which are embedded in the image file,  are somewhat less prevalent – but gaining ground and acceptance among photographers.  Companies like Digimarc are pressing the digital watermark cause to protect photographer’s and other author’s data.

Camera companies are pushing forward as well.  Stories like that of Rebekka Guðleifsdóttir help increase the desirability and demand for practical copyright solutions in modern digital photography. [Read more…]

New Duds for Photography Bay

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In case you didn’t notice, Photography Bay has undergone a few slight changes.  I’m still working out all the kinks – it’s been smoother than I expected (*knock on wood); however, I imagine that there are a few gremlins floating around in here.  If you notice any, I would appreciate a comment in the affected post or you can email contact@photographybay.com.

Oh yeah, what do you think about the new site design?  I’ve been working out the bugs and graphics this week and it’s been a long night so far.  Do you have any suggestions now that I’m in pre-Spring cleaning mode?  One of the main reasons I wanted to change things up was due to the narrow content area in the previous site design.  This is a “photography” site and I couldn’t even post a medium size photo.  Now, there’s plenty of room for 500px-wide images!

Also, I’ve done away with ads at the top of posts on a trial basis.  While there’s an ad at the top of the main page, you won’t see anymore ads between the title of posts and the content within.  Hopefully, this will remain a permanent practice here as long as ad revenue continues to cover costs.

Again, I’m interested in your thoughts, questions, comments or derogatory remarks.  Fire away in the comments below.

Nikon D300 Review at Imaging Resource

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Imaging Resource has posted an in-depth review of the Nikon D300:

My favorite part about taking pictures with the Nikon D300 is knowing that with just a quick check of the settings and careful attention to composition, I’m going to get a great shot. If you’ve done your homework, this fine camera will deliver just what you’re looking for, and can prove it to you with its fine LCD screen right there on the spot. It’ll even surprise you with more than you thought possible.

For the latest news, reviews and info check out the Nikon D300 page.

[tags]nikon, d300, review[/tags]

SanDisk 3-bit-per-cell (x3) Nand Flash

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Company Introduces World’s First Commercial 16-gigabit, 3-Bit-Per-Cell NAND Flash ChipSAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, February 6, 2008 – Reaching a new threshold in the development of flash memory, SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) today announced that it expects to start mass production of the world’s first commercial three-bit-per-cell (x3) NAND flash memory in March/April 2008. The 16-gigabit (Gb) x3 NAND flash employs SanDisk’s standard 56 nanometer (nm) flash technology and provides over 20 percent more die per wafer compared to standard NAND Multi-Level Cell (MLC) memory (2-bits-per-cell) on the same technology node. x3 enables higher manufacturing efficiency and lower die cost for the same capital investment. The new x3 flash architecture has been in development for the past two years and employs SanDisk’s most advanced patented design innovations to achieve the same performance and high reliability found in SanDisk’s 2-bits-per-cell chips. [Read more…]