Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Archives for 2008

Nikon Updates D3 and D300 Firmware

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Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)Nikon just released the D700, but they seem to want to keep their name in the headlines. They just released new firmware for the D3 DSLR . The biggest improvements were made to the autofocus and the white balance. The D300 also received a firmware update — this one fixes incorrect battery indicators.

If you want to update your Nikon, firmware updates are available for download on Nikon’s website. While it would be nice to get your hands on one of those nice shiny new D700s, these firmware updates will enable your older D3s and D300s to keep up with those young whippersnappers.

 

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Photography Essentials

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Photography Essentials (Complete Idiot's Guide to)The folks at the Complete Idiot’s Guides picked the right guy to cover Photography Essentials. Mark Jenkinson is a photographer of the first order, routinely shooting for big name magazines like Maxim, Time and Vogue.

You might think that Jenkinson would jump to advanced concepts based on his own work, but he’s done a wonderful job of putting together a beginner-to-intermediate manual for photographers. Even if you have a certain level of photography experience, this book will still have plenty to offer.

The table of contents reads like an exceptionally user-friendly textbook:

  • Basic Equipment
  • Optics
  • Exposure
  • Formats
  • Rules & Conventions
  • Light
  • Photographing People
  • Photographing Events
  • Travel & Landscape Photography
  • Still Life Photography
  • Arching
  • Next Steps

The writing style mirrors that approach, without suffering from the condescension many photography textbooks seem to ooze. Instead, this guide is a friendly manual. An added bonus is that Jenkinson does not assume that every beginning photographer will have a bag full of expensive equipment. He offers practical advice that does not require spending a fortune.

Take light meters, for example: Jenkinson gives a great overview of the average metering options on an SLR. He also makes mention of handheld light meters, but doesn’t make them an integral part of his discussion of the subject.

There’s an added bonus with Photography Essentials. The book is full of beautiful color photography, illustrating Jenkinson’s points. It’s always easier to learn a photographic technique when you know the end result you’re aiming for. The photos in this book making it an excellent teaching tool.

Despite my own photography experience, I feel like I learned plenty from his tips on shooting in different types of light. I have a feeling I’ll be dragging this book out as an essential reference for quite a while to come. I’m also asking my photography professor from back in the day to replace his textbook with Jenkinson’s book — it’s a much better introduction overall.

Nikon D700 Available for Pre-Order

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Nikon D700A number of vendors are now accepting pre-orders accepting pre-orders for the new Nikon D700 Full Frame DSLR. See the following links for their respective pre-order pages:

For the latest Nikon D700 news and reviews, be sure to visit Photography Bay’s Nikon D700 Reviews and Resources.

Sony A900 and Zeiss Lens Updates

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The Sony A900 has been officially unveiled. See Photography Bay’s Sony A900 Announcement and Sony A900 Reviews and Resources for more info.

We all know that Sony’s flagship, the A900, will be announced at or around Photokina in August. Other than the announcement time frame, info has been hard to come by. Sony has been short on further details about the A900 since it announced the 24 megapixel sensor at PMA in January of this year. A big question that photographers seem to have surrounding the announcement of new, cutting edge cameras relates to their actual release date. Sometimes it can take quite a while for the camera to actually hit store shelves, which can be quite frustrating.

With that in mind, I recently received some info from a source, who wishes to remain anonymous, regarding the availability of the upcoming A900 and new Zeiss lenses.

First, the A900 will be available for purchase around the end of September or first of October.

In addition to the A900, we can expect at least 2 new Zeiss lenses:

  1. Zeiss 16-35mm f/2.8
  2. Zeiss 35mm f/1.4

Many Sony Alpha users have been begging for more high quality primes, so the Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 should fit the bill just fine. Additionally, it’s nice to see the 16-35mm zoom in Zeiss glass for those wide angles on the new full frame 24 MP sensor. At 24 megapixels, the A900 is going to need some high quality glass to make full use of all those pixels.

Finally, the price should be very competitive compared to the other DSLRs in the range of the A900. This adds a little more credibility to the previous rumors regarding the A900’s sub-$2000 price point.

For more on the Sony A900 flagship DSLR, stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Sony A900 page.

Camera Raw Plugin Available For Photoshop

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Adobe Labs made the Camera Raw 4.5 plugin for Photoshop available at the end of last week. This plugin gives Photoshoppers easy access to raw image formats, the format in which most professional and prosumer digital cameras shoot.

This version is only a release candidate. The plugin is well tested but needs more community testing to put it through its paces on multiple platforms and various hardware. Eventually Camera Raw will be distributed to all Photoshop users, according to the Adobe site.

You can download the plugin for either Macintosh or Windows through the Adobe Labs site. You must already have Adobe Creative Suite 3 or Photoshop CS3 installed on your computer to use Camera Raw.

Nikon D700 Officially Announced

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Nikon has just officially announced the new full frame D700 DSLR, which we’ve all been expecting since leaked images and rumors began piling up a couple of weeks ago.  The Nikon D700 has the same high ISO capabilities as the D3, with sensitivity up to ISO 25600.

The key specs to the new Nikon D700 are as follows:

Nikon D700 Key Features

  • 12.1 megapixel FX (full-frame) CMOS sensor with high signal-to-noise ratio, wide dynamic range, and built-in self-cleaning sensor unit that minimizes dust.
  • ISO 200 – 6400: extendable up to 25600 (equivalent) and down to ISO 100 (equivalent).
  • 5fps continuous shooting (8fps with optional MB-D10 battery pack with lithium-ion battery EN-EL4a or 8 AA batteries).
  • EXPEED image processing engine with 14-bit A/D conversion and 16-bit image processing for superb detail and tonal gradation.
  • Advanced Scene Recognition System combines the camera’s metering and AF sensors for precise exposures and sharply defined images.
  • Multi-CAM3500FX 51-point AF system. Individually selectable or configurable in 9-point, 21-point and 51-point coverage settings.
  • Picture Controls streamline in-camera image processing by enabling the pre-set customization of image parameters such as sharpening, contrast, brightness, hue and saturation in various color modes.
  • 920,000 dot 3-inch VGA LCD monitor with wide, 170-degree viewing angle.
  • Live View with Autofocus enables composition of images by use of the LCD monitor. Two modes are supported: Handheld or Tripod.
  • DX Crop Mode can be automatically enabled when a DX format lens is attached.
  • Quick response: approx. 40 ms shutter-lag.
  • Active D-Lighting enables superior high-contrast images by automatically applying tone compensation at the moment of capture.
  • HDMI video output interface enables connection to high-definition video systems.
  • Intuitive ergonomics with optimized button placement for fast and comfortable handling.
  • Durable Magnesium alloy body: moisture and dust resistant.
  • Wireless LAN and Ethernet support via optional Wireless Transmitter WT-4.

The Nikon D700 is expected to be in stores within a month or so. We will have more coming very soon on the D700, so stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Nikon D700 page for the latest. For now, you can read Nikon’s press release below for a complete overview of the new D700.

Nikon D700 Press Release

Nikon FX-format digital SLR – exceptional performance combined with superior mobility and functional versatility to provide serious photographers with outstanding value

TOKYO – Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the introduction of its newest FX-format digital SLR, the Nikon D700.

The D700 features an FX-format first introduced with the Nikon D3. Highly praised for its outstanding features, the D3 established a new level of professional performance in terms of overall image quality, extraordinarily low noise, ISO sensitivity range, continuous high-speed shooting, color gradation, image crispness, durability, weather-resistant operation, system versatility and more. [Read more…]

Nikon SB-900

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The Nikon SB-900 has just been announced along with the new D700.  For the details a features offered by the SB-900, see the press release below.

TOKYO – Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the introduction of the Nikon Speedlight SB-900, a new external i-TTL flash unit with advanced features. The SB-900 offers a powerful guide number of 48/157.5 (ISO 200, meters/feet) and an incredible array of creative flash functions. The SB-900 is an ideal way to solve lighting challenges and extend Nikon D-SLR creativity.

The SB-900 is a high-performance Speedlight developed as the successor to the hugely successful Nikon SB-800. Practical functionality was emphasized in designing the SB-900, especially evident when used with Nikon digital SLR cameras compatible with the Nikon Creative Lighting System. It provides a wide 17-200 mm auto zoom range (expanded from the SB-800’s 24-105mm), three illumination patterns, newly designed, streamlined operation with a full-information LCD panel, and AF-Assist illumination compatible with new-generation AF sensors. The SB-900 has an improved booster circuit for high-speed recycle time. In addition, firmware can be uploaded via a Nikon digital SLR camera-a world’s first* for flash units, assuring that the SB-900 can accept technological advancements. The SB-900 serves as the new core for the Nikon Creative Lighting System when used in combination with current Nikon digital SLRs, and it supports Advanced Wireless Lighting as a master or a remote Speedlight, inviting photographers to explore the many creative possibilities.

Additional new functions include 180 degrees of left or right head swivel, a special built-in overheat protection system and automatic filter detection for unprecedented white balance correction, even in fluorescent lighting conditions.

With the SB-900, users can enjoy all the benefits of the Nikon Creative Lighting System for both automation and comprehensive control, enabling endless lighting possibilities.

*The world’s first flash unit with a user-applied firmware update function via a digital SLR camera as of July 1, 2008 (according to research conducted by NIKON CORPORATION).

Nikon D700 – Magazine Leak

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This image of a magazine spread featuring the Nikon D700 looks pretty convincing. You can also see what appears to the the Nikon SB-900 flash. It surfaced in the DP Review forums earlier today.

[via]

Many publications will get pre-release cameras in order to make it to press with the latest news. In exchange, they generally must enter into a non-disclosure agreement (NDA); however, Photography Bay doesn’t have any such agreement with Nikon, or else I wouldn’t be posting this info. The official press release from Nikon can’t be too far behind now.

Stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Nikon D700 page for the latest news on this new camera.