Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

iPhone 4 Gets 5MP Camera, 720p HD Video, and Lots More

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Apple has just announced the iPhone 4.  Among many other new features, the iPhone 4 steps up its imaging capabilities with a 5-megapixel backlit sensor, 720p HD video capture, an LED flash and video light, touch to focus operation for both still and video and a 5x digital zoom.

What’s more, you can shoot from the front or back since cameras are on both sides of the iPhone 4.  The resolution drops to VGA-quality when using the front camera; however, the front-facing camera’s primary function seems to be dedicated to FaceTime, which is Apple’s name for video calling.

You can also download a new iMovie for iPhone app for $4.99, which gives you non-linear editing capabilities for your videos captured with your iPhone.  The iMovie app includes 5 themes, which allow you to add title sequences and different transitions.  Sliding your finger along the timeline lets you scrub through footage, just like traditional NLEs.  And, you can pinch to zoom to check out footage and details up close.  Using the iPhone’s GPS features, you can let iMovie for iPhone insert your location into your titles within videos.

If you want to put your movie to a soundtrack, you can choose from built-in music that matches the themes, or you can pull music from your song library on your iPhone.  You can also drop photos into you iMovie for iPhone project and it will automatically apply the Ken Burns effect.  Once you’re project is complete, you can email, upload to YouTube, send via MMS or share on MobileMe.  Once you sync your iPhone with your computer, the Movie will transfer during the sync process.

The iPhone 4 really steps up the game on the creativity side of things.  Only considering the new camera, HD video capture and iMovie app, the iPhone 4 seems pretty amazing.  However, these new updates only scratch the surface of the iPhone 4’s new features.  To get the full scoop, check out the iPhone 4 Overview at Tech Tilt.

 

Apple Aperture 3.0.3 Update

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Apple has updated Aperture 3 to version 3.0.3, which is intended to improve stability and fix a number of issues, including the following areas:

  • Applying adjustments such as Retouch or Chromatic Aberration
  • Creating and using Raw Fine Tuning presets
  • Viewing, adding and removing detected faces
  • Switching target printers and paper sizes when printing
  • Duplicating Smart Albums
  • Repairing and rebuilding Aperture libraries
  • Reconnecting referenced files
  • Working with GPS track files in Places
  • Searching for keywords in the Query HUD or Keyword Controls

Complete release notes on the fixes are available on Apple’s website here.  Aperture 3.0.3 is available for download from Apple’s website here, or via OS X Software Upate.

Apple Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 3.2 Now Available

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Apple has released Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 3.2, which extends RAW image format support in Aperture 3 and iPhoto ’09 for a number of cameras.

  • Canon EOS Rebel T2i / 550D / Kiss X4
  • Leica S2
  • Olympus E-450
  • Olympus E-600
  • Olympus E-620
  • Sony Alpha DSLR-A230
  • Sony Alpha DSLR-A330
  • Sony Alpha DSLR-A380
  • Sony Alpha DSLR-A450

You can download the update from Apple’s website.

Apple Aperture 3

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Apple Aperture 3

Apple has announced Aperture 3, which offers a number of improvements over Aperture 2, including Faces, Places and Brushes.  Obviously, the big news for photographers is the ability to make local adjustments with the Brushes tool.  Additionally, Aperture 3 allows you to import HD video from your DSLRs and even edit it make your own movie without ever leaving Aperture.  It also includes the ability to easily export video files to Apple’s Final cut software.

Aperture 3 is available for $200 or as an upgrade for Aperture 2 users for $100.

More details at Apple.com and in the press release below. [Read more…]

Apple iPad, Photos and Camera Connectivity

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Apple iPad

The Apple iPad is a newly-announced tablet device that comes down somewhere in between an iPhone and a netbook in terms of its features and interface.  There is plenty of buzz, both love and hate, for the new device.

One of the features that may attract some photographers is a built-in app called Photos.  Bear in mind though that the iPad does not offer a built-in camera, oddly enough.  However, the app for organizing, importing and sharing photos is worth a look on its own merit. [Read more…]

Apple Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 2.7

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Apple Aperture 2

Apple has released the Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update version 2.7 for OS X v. 10.5 Leopard and OS X v. 10.6 Snow Leopard.  The new update adds RAW support in OS X, Aperture 2 and iPhoto for the following cameras:

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Canon EOS 7D
Canon PowerShot G11
Nikon D3S
Nikon D300S
Nikon D3000

Additional details can be found on Apples support pages for OS X v. 10.5 Leopard users and OS X v. 10.6 Snow Leopard users.

Apple iPhoto 8.1.1 Update

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iPhoto Screenshot

Apple has updated iPhoto to the latest version 8.1.1.  Update notes from Apple:

The iPhoto 8.1.1 update addresses issues affecting face recognition performance and accuracy. It also resolves minor issues with book ordering and iPod touch support. This update is recommended for all users of iPhoto ’09.

More details and download the update on Apple’s website.

New iMacs and Macbook . . . and Some Weekend Thoughts About Apple Stuff

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Apple 27-inch iMac

No bones about it, Apple makes some nice computers.  The new iMacs offer a very sleek package and take up a tiny footprint compared to the typical desktop.  Additionally, the new MacBook adds the popular unibody design of the Macbook Pro laptops and keeps the same smidgen-under-$1000 price tag.

Photographers seem to love Macs.  Sure, there are plenty of “Windows photographers” out there, but the thought of a 27″ backlit LCD screen on the new iMac powering Photoshop Lightroom or CS4 makes us all a little giddy inside, right?  While I opted for a Windows-based computer on my last update, the recurrence of driver issues and small niggling bugs lately has prompted me to consider another Mac.  I still have my 1st-gen 17″ G5 iMac on the desk that sees occasional use; however, it’s begging for more horsepower when it comes to processing images nowadays. [Read more…]