Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

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.

 

Lexar Professional 600x and 300x 32GB CF Cards Now Available

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Lexar has announced the availability of its recently-introduced 600x and 300x 32GB CF cards, as well as its Professional ExpressCard CF reader.  The 600x CF cards are guaranteed to provide minimum sustained write speed capability of 90MB/s and the ExpressCard reader supports up to 133MB/s read/write speeds. [Read more…]

Sony Cyber-shot HX5V Review

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The Sony Cyber-shot HX5V is a 10.2MP point and shoot camera that was introduced in January 2010 with the Cyber-shot TX7.  The HX5V complements the TX7 well and, fortunately, packs in many of the great features of its thinner counterpart.

To see how the Sony Cyber-shot HX5V stacks up and whether it’s right for you, read on. [Read more…]

Polaroid PIC-300: Instant Film Strikes Back . . . At Your Wallet

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Polaroid 300

Polaroid instant cameras are finally back in town.  The new Polaroid PIC-300 is the first instant camera to be introduced since the old Polaroid died and was born anew (recall, however, that we were teased with the Polaroid PIC-1000 mockups back at CES 2010).  The Polaroid PIC-300 is a consumer-oriented camera that uses the aptly-named Polaroid 300 Instant Film. However, all this comes at a price.

While the camera will only set you back about $90, the film will suck you dry at $10 for a 10-pack.  That’s $1 per exposure folks.

Ah, yes, now I recall why Polaroid died.

The Polaroid 300 format is also smaller than the traditional Polaroid sizes from back in the day.  Instead, you get Fuji Instax Mini sizes – about the same size print as a business card.

No doubt that there’s a fun factor to the new Polaroid PIC-300; however, you’ll have to be committed to your nostalgic ideals to jump on this bandwagon.  The Polaroid PIC-300 gives new meaning to the expression “make every frame count.”

For those who are willing, it looks like J&R is the only place (aside from Polaroid.com) where you can find the Polaroid PIC-300 right now.

Updated: It’s also available from Amazon.com here.

Full details on the rebirth of Polaroid instant cameras in the press release below. [Read more…]

Photoshop iPhone App Adds Easy Sharing Options for Twitter and Facebook

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When the iPhone Photoshop App launched last year, the biggest complaint I had with it was the limitation on sharing your photos directly from the App.  You couldn’t share photos from the App except through Photoshop.com – no Facebook, no Twitter, no nothing.

All that has changed with the new version 1.2 update to the iPhone Photoshop App.  Now, the App works the way it should have worked when it was first launched. [Read more…]

HeliVideo Provides Unique Aerial Video With a Canon 7D

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Eric Austin has cooked up the above contraption, which is an electric, radio-controlled helicopter with a Canon 7D mounted on it.  With his HeliVideo he’s providing his commercial clients with unique still and video shots.

DIY Photography has a nice little Q&A session with Eric if you want to read more about it.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II Lens

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The Nikon AF-S 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II lens is the third lens that Nikon has announced since February of this year (and I’ve been told they’re just rolling their sleeves up).  The new lens serves as an update to the original 200-400mm f/4 lens.  As was the case with the previously announced lenses (AF-S 16-35mm f/4 VR II and AF-S 24mm f/1.4), the new 200-400mm lens carries on the trend of lenses compatible with Nikon’s growing FX-format line of DSLRs.

Like the AF-S 300mm f/2.8 VR II lens released near the end of 2009, the new AF-S 200-400mm lens gets more of a facelift in updates, as opposed to a complete redesign.  Obviously, the VR II feature is one of the headliners, which Nikon claims delivers an additional 4-stops of handholdability.  The new 200-400mm also receives a new nano-crystal coat on the glass to reduce ghosting and flare.  The lens also gets a third focusing mode, A/M, which prevents slight and unintentional movements of the focus ring from canceling the autofocus while shooting.

The 200-400mm VR II lens includes 4 ED elements for what should be exceptional image quality, if we assume the results of the updated 70-200mm f/2.8 and 300mm f/2.8 will transfer to this lens as well.  The increased resolving power of the ED elements should pave the way for future, higher-resolution Nikon DSLRs, which are sure to come.

The AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II lens will carry a retail price tag of $6999.95, which is about $900 over the current street price of the existing model.  The new lens should be available sometime in late May 2010.

Check availability on B&H Photo, Amazon and Adorama.

More details in the press release below. [Read more…]