Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
Lot’s of great deals cooking right now, like these big rebates on SanDisk Extreme CF and SD cards over at Adorama. While you get a rebate on the purchase of a single card, the savings more than doubles (and triples in some cases) with the purchase of 2 cards.
Below is a breakdown of how the rebates shake out. [Read more…]
Even though the rest of Canon’s rebates are set to expire this Saturday, Canon has launched some new killer deals when you buy one of several Canon DSLRs with a Canon printer.
The savings can add up to $700. Get the full details on the deals at B&H Photo here.
The Panasonic LX3 has been one of the most popular point and shoot cameras since it was introduced in 2008. Two years is an eternity in point & shoot camera world, but the Panasonic LX3 has remained one of the best-performing cameras around.
So, it certainly makes sense to hear about rumors of a replacement for the LX3. And signs point to a successor named the Panasonic LX5. [Read more…]
This futuristic concept camera is on display at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. Features and specs include a wide to tele lens capable of reaching out to 5000mm focal length. Additionally, the concept suggest the ability to capture images with everything in focus. Canon suggest that a similar spec’d camera will be available for consumer purchase within a couple of decades. Hit up the video below for a little narrated sneak peek of the concept courtesy of Gizmag. [Read more…]
If you’ve got any interest in using a DSLR as a serious video camera, chances are that you’ve heard of the Zacuto Z-Finder. As I have been learning the ropes of shooting video on the 5D Mark II, I’ve found the Z-Finder to be an indispensable piece of equipment for mobile operation of the camera.
Read the rest of the review at Tech Tilt: Zacuto Z-Finder Review.
T-Shirt via Street Giant (http://www.streetgiant.bigcartel.com/product/bp-cares)
Freelance photographer, Lance Rosenfield, was confronted and detained by BP security, police officers and a DHS agent in Texas City, Texas as he was working on an assignment for ProPublica/PBS concerning a deadly accident caused by BP’s safety violations in 2005.
According to the report from ProPublica, Rosenfield was told that he would be “taken in” if he did not allow the police to review his photos. Based on the report, when he complied, the police also allowed private representatives of BP to view the images as well. [Read more…]
Just passing along a little public service announcement – Rob Galbraith just published an in-depth look at the action-stopping power of the new Einstein monolight from Paul C. Buff. The maker of Alien Bees monolights has really outdone himself. Just, wow.
If you are looking for a studio or sports strobe that delivers above and beyond its sub-$500 asking price, take 20 minutes or so and dig in to Galbraith’s article here.
Einstein specs and ordering info on Paul C. Buff’s site here.
Digital Wedding Photography Secrets is a book from Rick Sammon. If you’re thinking, “Wait, Rick Sammon’s not a wedding photographer,” then you would be right. However, Sammon somehow pulls it off as a general introduction to photographic techniques and principals that apply to wedding photography, as well as ordinary portraiture. Additionally, Sammon enlists the aid of a pair of experienced wedding photographers to go a step beyond lighting and technique and fill you in on some of the nuances of wedding photography. [Read more…]
Happy Fourth of July to everyone in the USA! I figured I would start this week’s reader photos roundup off with a bang with the above image from Flickr user and Photography Bay Group member, Alex Stoen.
For those of you putting on your own fireworks shows today, be careful. And, if you’re hoping to get some photos at a fireworks show tonight and you need a few pointers, check out this recent post on How to Photograph Fireworks . . . Even If You Don’t Have a Tripod.
Without further delay, here are the rest of this week’s reader photos from the Photography Bay’s Flickr Group. [Read more…]
One of the most crippling features in many DSLR cameras (like the Canon Rebel T2i above) is the poor autofocus performance in both live view and video modes. While mirrorless cameras like the Panasonic GH1 and Samsung NX10 do a decent job of using contrast-detection AF methods, DSLR manufacturers like Canon and Nikon have done a poor job in making it work. Sony, to its credit, has implemented an effective live view design with fast autofocus by placing a secondary live view sensor in the viewfinder, which allows the standard phase difference AF sensor to function normally. But, still, it’s not a true “live view” of what the sensor will produce. Plus, Sony’s design won’t work with video.
Of course, most pros and serious amateurs understand the benefit and efficiency of using the fast, phase difference AF method that results from using the viewfinder. However, that doesn’t stop entry-level and enthusiast photographers from complaining about the poor live view and lack of video autofocus in their sub-$1000 DSLRs. Additionally, there are certainly situations where an accurate and quick live view or video autofocus mode are desired among photographers of all skill levels and backgrounds.
Canon may very well have the answer: Put the fast, phase difference AF sensors in pixels on the main image sensor.