Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
Switronix, maker of a variety of video accessories for HDDSLRs, has introduced the Powerbase 70, which will be on display at NAB 2010. The Powerbase 70 is a dedicated accessory for the Canon 5D Mark II and 7D and provides up to 6x runtime thanks to its 14.8v battery pack.
More details in the press release below.
The Vanguard SBH-250 is a lightweight, yet very robust tripod head. To give you an idea of just how sturdy the SBH-250 is, it’s rated to hold up to 44 lbs. The magnesium alloy construction and matte black finish aid in the robust feel of this head. The best thing about the Vanguard SBH-250 though, is its price – $80.
Tripod heads are very much a personal preference item for photographers. Some folks like their pan/tilt heads and others won’t use anything but a ball head. To each his own; however, if you are looking at ball heads, you owe it to yourself to take a long hard look at the Vanguard SBH-250. [Read more…]
Adobe has made release candidates of Lightroom 2.7 and Camera Raw 5.7 available for download in Adobe Labs. These versions add RAW file support for the following cameras:
Additional release notes are indicated on the respective download pages for each product.
Remember, these are release candidates, which means they’ve been pretty well tested and Adobe thinks they are ready for full release; however, it’s recommended that you keep production work to prior versions until the official releases drop. Expect those to come soon though. Release candidates mean that the final versions are just around the corner.
Lightroom 2.7 release candidate can be downloaded here.
Camera Raw 5.7 release candidate can be downloaded here.
Canon has introduced a new instant rebate program for the 50D DSLR, along with a couple of lenses when purchased with the camera. If you aren’t into the video scene and are just looking for a capable DSLR for still images, this wouldn’t be a bad time to pick one of these up.
The rebates are listed below.
Canon 50D (body only) – $100 rebate – B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Canon 50D w/ 28-135mm IS lens – $100 rebate – B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Canon 50D w/ 70-300mm IS lens – $250 rebate – (links to 70-300mm lens) B&H Photo / Amazon / Adorama
Canon 50D w/ 28-135mm IS and 70-300mm IS lenses – $250 rebate – Adorama
In this third article of the series, we’re going to look at web hosting options for the photographers who choose to go the route of self-hosted blogs. [Read more…]
The Slik Pro 700DX is a solid aluminum tripod at an affordable price. At under $100, you might not expect a whole lot of professional feel from a tripod; however, Slik has managed to put together a top notch tripod for those of us on a budget. [Read more…]
Wildlife photographer, Andy Biggs, has launched a new camera bag line called Gura Gear. Biggs designed the first bag in the line, the Kiboko, to his specifications based on his needs in the field. The Kiboko weighs 4 pounds and is made from high-tech Dimension Polyant VX-21,which is a waterproof material used on sailboats. The Kiboko is fully customizable with extra dividers and a removable rain cover. It accommodates up to 500mm and 600mm lenses (both at the same time).
More on the new Gura Gear line in the press release below. [Read more…]
The following post is by Portland-based photographer, Tyson Robichaud, who discusses the concept of complimentary color in photography. Learn more about Tyson at the end of this post.
Applying the concepts of complimentary color contrast in a photographic sense can provide a handy compositional tool. When looking at various forms of visual art, we can draw from the creative talents of those who’ve perfected their craft. In this case, I wanted to explore Henri Matisse and his use of bold complimentary color. Visually wandering through one of his paintings and revisiting the basic concepts of color (I basically printed out a color wheel), I’ve been looking at just how much it can help direct a viewer’s eye. [Read more…]
The following post is by Ontario-based photographer, Steve Richardson, who explains how to find the “sweet spot” of your lenses. Learn more about Steve at the end of this post.
First let me say a special thanks for Eric Reagan for the opportunity to share with the Photography Bay community!
The focus (no pun intended!) of this article is how to find the “sweet spot” of a lens. The sweet spot refers to the aperture setting of a given lens that yields the best overall sharpness from the center to the edges. Most good quality lenses will give you good sharpness at the center regardless of what aperture you use, but for the best edge-to-edge sharpness we need to dig a little deeper. [Read more…]
The Manfrotto 190XDB tripod is a 3-section aluminum tripod that runs about $105. The Manfrotto 190XDB tripod legs are essentially a more basic version of the 190XB and 190XBPRO tripod legs. The biggest difference is the use of twist-lock legs instead of the flip-lock legs found on the more expensive versions. [Read more…]