Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Digital Wedding Photography Secrets – Book Review

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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…]

 

Reader Photos Roundup – Sunday, July 4, 2010

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Hogueras de San Juan 2010

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…]

Canon Patent Looks to Speed Up Live View and Video Autofocus

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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.

[Read more…]

Firmware Friday: Sony NEX Goes 3D; Panasonic ZS5, ZS6, ZR3, TS2, FP3

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Camera Firmware Update

Below you will find this week’s firmware updates.  Hit the manufacturer website links for more details and download instructions for the firmware.

Sony NEX-3 / NEX-5 firmware version .02 – “3D Sweep Panorama function has been added; Improvement of ‘normal’ 2D Sweep Panorama shooting; Decreased power drain when the camera is switched off; Quicker start-up in low-light conditions.” [Sony website]

Panasonic ZS5 / ZS6 / ZR3 / TS2 firmware version 1.1 – “Optimization of Light amount for INON external flash(S-2000/D-2000/Z-240)” [Panasonic website]

Pansonic FP3 firmware version 1.1 – “Improved reaction speed of the touch operation. Improved speed of the image forwarding at the time of the reproduction.” [Panasonic website]

Photographers “Banned for Life” for Taking Photos in Public Parking Lot

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In the above video, you see that Carlos Miller (of Photography Is Not A Crime) and photojournalist Stretch Ledford were stopped while taking photos at Douglas Road Metro Station in Miami – before they even got into the station and while they were still in the parking lot. [Read more…]

Olympus E-PL1 Gets Augmented Reality Treatment

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Olympus has launched an augmented reality demo for the E-PL1, which lets you demo the camera online with the help of your web cam.  When I received the email containing Total Immersion’s press release (the guys behind the augmented reality plugin), I was scratching my head a bit.  But then, I watched the below video and that better explained it (’cause it’s something you really have to see to get it – or maybe it’s just me). [Read more…]

People Behind the Gear: SanDisk CEO Eli Harari

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SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB CF Card

SanDisk is a universally-recognized brand in the digital imaging world.  No matter what brand of camera that you own, there’s a good chance that you’ve got a SanDisk memory card somewhere in your bag.

I had never heard the story behind SanDisk’s origins until I read this recent article on SanDisk CEO Eli Harari at USA Today.  Turns out, many years ago, he was ousted by the board of directors from a company he had founded.  From there, SanDisk was born.  Now, it’s a 3.6 billion dollar company.

[USA Today]

Litepanels MicroPro Hybrid – A Single Light Source for Video and Stills

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The Litepanels MicroPro Hybrid is a new flash and continuous output light source that is geared toward DSLR shooters who crossover between stills and video.  The MicroPro Hybrid is an LED light source that draws 9 watts and operates on 6 AA batteries.  Because it uses LED bulbs, almost no heat is generated from the device.

The continuous light mode is fully dimmable from 0% to 100%, while the “flash” feature produces a 400% brighter burst.  To enable the flash feature, you just need to plug the MicroPro into your camera’s PC port.

The MicroPro Hybrid includes a ball head shoe mount with a 1/4-20 thread.  Of course, it can also be mounted off-camera for other lighting situations.

The MicroPro Hybrid delivers 5600° K daylight balanced output and includes three filters – a 3200° K filter, a 1/4 warming filter and a diffusion filter.

You can find the MicroPro Hybrid at B&H Photo.