Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Archives for July 2008

 

Canon PowerShot A470 Review at Trusted Reviews

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Trusted Reviews has posted a review of the Canon PowerShot A470.

Despite its very low cost the Canon PowerShot A470 acquits itself well. The build quality could be better, the control layout has a couple of major problems and it’s a lot larger and heavier than it really needs to be, but it makes up for these faults with extremely fast performance, excellent autofocus especially in low light, and even pretty good image quality, although it does have a few problems in this area. In general though the A470 is a genuine bargain and you won’t find much better for the price.

Nikon Coolpix S600 Review at Cameras.co.uk

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Cameras.co.uk has posted a review of the Nikon Coolpix S600. The S600 is a 10 megapixel point and shoot digital camera.  It also features a 4x optical zoom, Nikon’s VR image stabilization and a sensitivity range up to ISO 3200.

From time to time I find a digital camera I just cannot get on with. This is the case with the Nikon Coolpix S600. It is a shame because the camera has a number of impressive points such as start up time and shutter lag delay.

Canon Rebel XSi Review at Luminous Landscape

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Luminous Landscape has posted a review of the Canon Rebel XSi.  The new Digital Rebel XSi kit comes with an stabilized 18-55mm lens. Canon’s entry-level DSLR now features a 3? rear LCD panel that’s capable of Live View framing and focusing.

As we have seen, image quality (at least within its ISO range) is on a par with anything else on the market, and better than most in this price range.

Read Photography Bay’s Canon Rebel XSi Review.

For more news, reviews and info on the XSi, check out Photography Bay’s Canon Rebel XSi Reviews and Resources.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500 Review at PhotographyBLOG

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PhotographyBLOG has posted a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500. The FX500 is a 10.1 megapixel point & shoot camera with a 5x wide angle lens.  It also features Panasonic’s O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization).

Despite the poor performance at higher ISO speeds, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500 is a fantastic compact camera that’s equally at home in point-and-shoot mode, or a more creative shooting mode.

GoodSync: A Good Option

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GoodSyncI work on photographs on two different computers. I find myself constantly wishing that I had a file that’s on the other machine, having to hunt down a thumb drive and move it over. Network folders have helped, but what I’ve really been looking for is a solution that requires no help from me. I’m lazy — I want my files to always be in the right place, but I shouldn’t have to move them myself.

That’s where GoodSync comes in. It takes a few clicks to select folders that you want the software to keep synchronized, and then you’re done. GoodSync does all that hard work I’ve been complaining about: if you drop a file in a synced folder, it’s available on that other machine.

Installation and set up was pretty simple. GoodSync runs on Windows 2000 through Vista. I downloaded the executable file, agreed to the terms and had GoodSync up and running in under a minute (mileage may vary, depending on the speed of your internet connection). The interface is easy to use, especially considering some of the file management systems floating around out there. I especially like the automated features. You can set synchronization for any number of times, such as before you log off. It’s flexible enough to fit into anyone’s work schedule.

Furthermore, you don’t have to limit your synchronization to your photos. Anything, up to and including those many gigs of MP3s you’ve downloaded, can be synced between your computers. It’s pretty much an automatic backup made better by the fact that GoodSync protects against data loss without filling up your hard drive with duplicate files.

My only question for GoodSync is when they’re going to release a version that will let me sync with files on my Mac. It may be wishful thinking, but it would be nice.

You can download a free trial version on the GoodSync website, or purchase a license for $29.95.

Free Links Friday

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Below are some of the best photography links from other sites that I came across this week. Enjoy!

10 Ways to Take Stunning Portraits – Digital Photography School – Darren Rowse gives us 10 great ideas for portraits that stand out. If you like this one, then see the follow up post, 10 More Tips for Stunning Portrait Photography.

Iran State Media Used Photoshop to Make Missile Tests Look More Impressive – Gizmodo – That’s right, journalism at its finest. Check out the extra missile that wasn’t really launched, but rather cloned in to make Iran seem a little tougher.

How Every Flickr Photo Ended Up on Sale This Weekend – JMG Galleries – This article shows just how dangerous Flickr’s API can be . . . especially when a ringtone/wallpaper site for cell phones starts offering up Flickr photos for sale as cell phone wallpapers.

The 100-Year-Old Photo Blog – Shorpy – I can’t believe that I never came across this site before.  “Shorpy is a blog about old photos and what life a hundred years ago was like: How people looked and what they did for a living, back when not having a job usually meant not eating.”  Pretty cool stuff.

SmugMug Announces SmugShot for Apple App Store

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The wireless transfer of snapshot just got a whole lot easier.  With SmugShot, you can use your iPhone to seemlessly sync your photos with your SmugMug account as you take them.  We’ve seen similar offerings from the likes of Eye-Fi and even a Panasonic camera that uploads to Picasa via T-Mobile’s network.  This is just the beginning folks.  And, SmugMug just made another big step toward an integrated feature that I expect will become widespread across other devices and networks in the not-to-distant future.

As for the iPhone, I would expect SmugMug won’t be the last photo sharing site to offer this kind of integrated sharing application.  If they haven’t already, I would expect the likes of Flickr, Photobucket and Picasa to follow suit soon.  For more on the SmugShot news, see the press release below.  Additionally, if you’re not a SmugMug user, you can use the following referral code in the “Referred by” field for a $5 discount  ( 7jCtURK05RxCQ ) – there’s also a free trial period available.

Press Release

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – SmugMug today announces availability of SmugShot, a free application that lets you post your adventures online as they happen. SmugShot adds your location to iPhone photos, and sends them to SmugMug’s gorgeous online galleries, where they can be displayed on Google Maps.

“It’s your dream trip to Hollywood and you’re dying to show your friends what you just saw,” said Chris MacAskill, SmugMug’s co-founder. “One click and a few seconds later, your friends see a photo of your gleaming smile online—and a map that shows them you’re on Hollywood Boulevard.”

SmugShot brings instant gratification to digital photography. No more storing photos on memory cards and waiting until your vacation ends to share them. No more wondering where the photos were taken. One click and your adoring fans can see the fun you’re having now, not a week from now when the moment passes. And they can follow the action by knowing where the photos are taken, making them feel a part of it all.

More on the Getty and Flickr Partnership

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As we’ve reported, Flickr has announced a new partnership with Getty Images, the well-known seller of stock imagery that will allow photographers with Flickr accounts to make some money. Getty can now browse images hosted on the site and contact Flickr members directly about sharing their images in Getty’s new Flickr-branded collection.

Photographers will be paid for the use of their images, on the sliding scale that Getty Images uses for all photograph licensing. Photographers will be expected to sign a contract allowing for the use of images once Getty has selected their work. There is no way to notify Getty that you want your Flickr photos considered, however. According to a CNET article, you’ll just have to wait to be contacted.