Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

The Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 Book for Digital Photographers – New Book

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The Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 Book for Digital Photographers is a new book from Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski that takes a photographer’s approach to Photoshop Elements 9.

Kelby’s book for Photoshop CS was the first book that I ever bought for Photoshop, and it really helped me get off the ground with the rather intimidating software.  If you are a photographer struggling with Photoshop Elements (or any version for that matter), you could do a lot worse than picking up a book penned by Kelby.

The Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 Book for Digital Photographers carries a retail price tag of $39.99; however, you can pre-order it now on Amazon.com for $31.49.

 

Olympus E-PL1s Announced, But Only for Japan

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Olympus Japan has announced a new E-PL1s Micro Four Thirds camera as a slight tweak to the popular E-PL1.  The E-PL1s adds an ISO 6400 sensitivity setting and now comes in a red body.

Along with the E-PL1s, Olympus announced a new 14-42mm II f/3.5-5.6 kit lens with improved internal focusing for faster and quieter AF.

[Olympus Japan via Photo Rumors]

Sony A55 Capable of Shooting 3K Video?

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A hacker sent an email to Sony Alpha Rumors alleging that it is possible to hack the Sony A55 firmware to capture 3K video at 24p and/or 1080p video at 48/60 fps.

“I have had the Sony A55v for about a week. I’m already into the firmware and from years of hacking motherboard/video-card BIOS and Pentax cameras I can tell you the APS-C sensor can shoot MJPEG at 3k resolution at 24p for at least 45 seconds. I’m more interested in 1080p at 48/60 FPS. I’ll tell right now the memory buffer systems in this camera is huge….probably 3-4 times that of the GH1. All I’ve done is break into the code. A proper hack would take months. Thousands of possible settings to adjust. Testing. But you need thousands of people and a big community to support a project like that.” –SonyAlphaRumors

While this would most likely interest a rather niche audience, if the Panasonic GH1 hack is anything to measure it by, it could also be a pretty big deal.

Sanyo Xacti VPC-CA102 Waterproof Dual Camera Review

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The Sanyo VPC-CA102 Xacti Dual Camera is capable of producing decent quality HD video and has still capture capability grabbing 14MP images at the press of a button. What sets the model VPC-CA102 apart from the the other Xacti cameras and many from other manufacturers in the class is the waterproof, sport camera design . What’s great about being waterproof is not just the ability to submerge the camera in water, but to keep on shooting when the rain comes or those moments when your child learns to swim and that moment can be captured while your right there in the water too.

Read the full review over at Tech Tilt: Sanyo Xacti VPC-CA102 Waterproof Dual Camera Review

Panasonic G2 Review

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The Panasonic G2 is one of the many Micro Four Thirds system cameras available now.  As you may know, Micro Four Thirds cameras don’t have a mirror like traditional DSLRs.  Instead, the G2 and other Micro Four Thirds cameras utilize a live view system where the composition is displayed on the camera’s rear LCD panel.  With the G2, you also have the option of viewing an electronic viewfinder (EVF) in a manner similar to traditional optical viewfinders.

The Panasonic G2 is the big brother of the previously reviewed Panasonic G10.  The upgrades are mild in most instances, but could the difference maker for some shoppers.  The G2 offers the same 12.1MP found in the G10, as well as HD movie capture.  However, the G2 features a tilt/swivel LCD and improved video capture modes put the G2 well ahead of the G10.

To see how the G2 stacks up, read on. [Read more…]

Pentax 645D Officially Announced for US

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Pentax 645D

Pentax USA has finally made it official.  The 40-megapixel Pentax 645D medium format camera will arrive in the US in December 2010.  The camera will be priced at $9999.95 initially.  A 55mm f/2.8 lens will also be available for $1199.95.

Both B&H Photo and Adorama are expected to carry the camera.  However, tt is not listed on either site at the time of this post.

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