Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Archives for 2008

Canon 5D Mark II and Nikon D90: Accessorized for Video

By

It was only a matter of time until some industrious company stepped in and filled this niche.  Redrock Micro “Redrock Micro designs and sells a line of high quality cinema accessories for independent filmmakers, film educators and students, and budget-conscious moviemakers” and has just upped the ante for the mainstay of DSLR accessory makers that have been resting on their fat laurels.

The above contraption is a video platform designed to the specs and functionalities of our two video-capable DSLRs, the Canon 5D Mark II and the Nikon D90.  So, what’s it do?

Redrock accessories for video DSLRs transform video DSLRs into production-ready cinema solutions by providing:

  • Rock-solid 15mm support system
  • Follow focus for accurate and repeatable focusing
  • Swing-away mattebox for light management and easy access to changing lenses
  • Shoulder mount and handgrips for steady handheld use
  • Support cage for enhanced stability and low angle shot

[via Redrock Micro]

 

ImageSpan’s Game Changer Digital Content Tracker Service for Photographers

By

Today, at the PDN PhotoPlus Expo, ImageSpan unveiled a new service, LicenseStream Creator Pro, that automatically scours the Web, 24/7, 365 and lets photographers know where (and how) their digital content is being used PLUS it provides several options to accelerate converting non-paying content users into paying customers.

Based on the number of announcements that have happened in this arena over the last few months (i.e. Flickr/Getty and Photrade), it is pretty clear that the market for addressing the needs of digital content creators is quite hot.

[Read more…]

Gitzo Unveils New Line of Center Ball Heads

By

Ramsey, NJ (October 23, 2008) – Gitzo, a world-leading manufacturer of high-end, precision supports for the photographic industry, continued to demonstrate its commitment to pioneering new technologies to support the passion of professional shooters worldwide, with the launch of its new family of center ball heads. Highly-advanced and state-of-the-art, Gitzo’s new center ball heads are crafted from magnesium using exclusive, patent-pending Gitzo technologies which come together to yield the best weight to max-load ratio in the market.

Three new and proprietary technologies, including Gitzo’s Bubble Ball, Spring Assisted Double Lock (SADL), and Advanced Leveling System, are at the heart of each new center ball head. Manufactured to the strictest tolerances and tested under the most extreme conditions, Gitzo’s new center ball heads not only guarantee high max-loads but perfect the key performance factors vital to shooters, including smoothness, minimized drift angle, low center of gravity, greater tilt angles, weight, compactness, ergonomics and safety.

Gitzo Bubble Ball

Indicative of the caliber of Gitzo’s experienced R&D engineers, the new Bubble Ball represents a dramatic step forward in design and sets a new standard by which all manufacturers will be measured. Thanks to a unique manufacturing process, Gitzo is able to produce completely hollow, aluminum spheres, which account for a significant reduction in the overall weight of the head when compared to traditional “full balls.” Besides the benefit of a reduction of weight, the new Bubble Ball also allows Gitzo to increase the size of the ball for each series, resulting in improved locking performance and smoothness of movement. Gitzo’s new Bubble Ball also features a perfected PTFE coating that reduces the surface roughness on the microscopic level, further enhancing accuracy and the shooting experience.

Spring Assisted Double Lock (SADL)

Gitzo’s new SADL is a patent-pending system that combines two locking systems in one. Capitalizing on the locking power of a high-friction metal plate and the smoothness of PTFE treated bushings, Gitzo’s SADL provides unmatched precision and control. The high-friction metal plate makes contact with the sphere on the points of its maximum diameter, ensuring the most powerful lock possible, and the PTFE treated bushings and sphere engage each other for ultra-smooth, precise camera movement.

Advanced Leveling System

Proper set-up can either break or make an image, especially when it comes to ensuring the shot is level. When the need to be exact is of utmost importance, shooters can rely on the new Gitzo center ball heads for accuracy. Featuring four independent leveling bubbles – three on the quick release plate and one in the ball stem – users can rest assured that their shot will be level every time, no matter what the scenario may be.

Nikon D700 Gets $300 Price Drop

By

Good news for those of you that weren’t quite ready to pull the trigger on the Nikon D700.  It looks like we’ll be seeing the Nikon D700 selling for $2699 or less for the foreseeable future.

Although I haven’t seen an official statement from Nikon on the price drop, many trusted retailers have already implemented it.  Amazon’s actually got it priced much less for the time being.

Here’s a rundown of the sale prices at trusted online retailers (as of the time of this posting):

Amazon – $2519.97

Adorama – $2679.00

B&H Photo – $2699.95

Ritz Camera – $2699.95

Sony Announces Pro Photographer Program

By

Sony has jumped on the bandwagon of offering something a little more special to pros, although we don’t know exactly what this is just yet.  As you may be aware, Nikon and Canon are already on this wagon with NPS and CPS, respectively. (Canon’s relaunching its program afresh in 2009.)  Stay tuned for updates on Sony’s pro photographer program as they develop. [Read more…]

More Nikon D3x and D4 Rumors

By

Over at a German Canikon community, a forum poster says he’s got some new rumors on a D3 replacement from Nikon (via Google Translate):

The latest information from the NPS say that environments later this year or likely D3x Nikon Nikon D4 and announced no later than the Nikon Solution in February also will be available. It will be a resolution of 24, x MP in a series of image speed of 5-6 pictures. The new D3 is to replace and not run parallel what astonished me first and also excited.

[via NR]

For past and present D3x rumors, keep your eyes on Photography Bay’s Nikon D3x Rumors page.

Sony A900 Review at DP Review

By

DP Review has published a full review of the Sony A900.

No doubt about it, there is much to like about the Alpha 900 – from the quality of images it produces to the extensive control over image parameters and, as I’ve already mentioned, the excellent, intuitive and uniquely user-friendly handling.

For more news and reviews, check out Photography Bay’s Sony A900 Reviews and Resources.