Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Capture NX 2.2.4 Update for Mac

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Capture NX 2.2.4

Nikon has updated Capture NX2 to version 2.2.4 for Mac, which adds support for Mac OS X version 10.6.2, along with other bug fixes.

Compatibility with Mac OS X version 10.6.2 has been added.

Specifications have been modified so that when 25 Photos on Page, or a higher number of photos per page, is selected for Select Layout in the Print layout dialog, the Use Thumbnail Data (Draft Use Only) box is automatically checked.

This resolves an issue that prevented printing when 25 Photos on Page, or a higher number of photos per page, was selected for Select Layout.

Capture NX 2 would quit unexpectedly when certain settings files were applied with the Apply Settings box checked in the Watched Folder panel of the Batch Process dialog. This issue has been resolved.

An issue that caused Capture NX 2 to freeze when switching images after the Color Picker had been opened has been resolved.

You can find the update for download on Nikon’s website.

 

Casio EX-H15 Quick Hands-On Review

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Casio EX-H15

The Casio EX-H15 is a 14.1MP point and shoot camera that packs a 10x zoom lens into a rather compact body.  It serves as a replacement to the EX-H10 in Casio’s point and shoot lineup. The EX-H15 housing has a nice feel with a variety of colors available on the aluminum finish.

While the body is a a little thicker than some of the other point and shoot cameras announced by Casio at CES 2010, the 10x zoom makes it worth the added girth.  I was actually surprised at just how far that 10x lens extended from the both of the camera at the max telephoto end of the zoom. [Read more…]

Samsung HZ35W and HZ30W

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Samsung HZ35W

The Samsung HZ35W and HZ30W serve to replace the HZ15W and HZ10W.  The biggest improvement in the HZ35W and HZ30W is the inclusion of a 15x zoom lens, as opposed to a 10x zoom lens in last year’s models.

Both cameras offer a 12MP sensor and a stabilized 15x optical zoom that begins at the widest setting with a 24mm equivalent field of view on a full frame camera.  While both cameras offer a 3-inch display, the HZ35W uses an AMOLED screen and the HZ30W provides the traditional LCD panel.  The cameras can also record 720p video at 30 fps in H.264 format.

Samsung HZ35W

The HZ35W distinguishes itself further with the inclusion of GPS geo-tagging with location data, visual map and real time location display.

The HZ35W and HZ30W should be available in March 2010.  Check availability for each of the cameras on Amazon.com:

Samsung HZ35W at Amazon

Samsung HZ30W at Amazon

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

Canon “Story Behind the Still” Contest

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Canon is holding a new contest for aspiring filmmakers that gives you a chance to win a Canon 7D, 5D Mark II or some Canon lenses.  Vincent Laforet has created a new short film, Cabbie (seen above), but you have to pick up with the subsequent chapters based on the still image provided by Laforet at the end of Cabbie.  Laforet and other all star film makers will pick the winning chapters after Cabbie for a total of seven chapters (six winners).

The deadline for chapter 2 is February 11.

You can get details in the press release below and over on the Vimeo group, Beyond the Still. [Read more…]

Panasonic FH20 Quick Hands-On Review

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Panasonic FH20

One of the many point and shoot cameras announced at CES 2010 was the Panasonic FH20.  I spent a little while at CES checking out the new camera and its siblings.

The FH20 is at the top end of the new cameras in the FH lineup.  The other new cameras, the FH3 and FH1, are essentially just lower-spec versions of the FH20.  Since all the models were preproduction and I couldn’t evaluate image quality at CES, the handling and performance comments on the FH20 pretty much match up with my impressions of the FH3 and FH1 as well. [Read more…]

Olympus E-P1 Firmware Update ver. 1.2

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Olympus E-P1

Olympus has released a firmware update for the E-P1.  Firmware version 1.2 adds the following functionality:

  • Reduced time of the MF ASSIST enlarged display to improve operability.
  • REC VIEW enabled when the monitor’s backlight is set to off.

The firmware can be updated through the Olympus Master or Studio software.

[via Olympus.co.jp]

Canon 5D Mark II Battery Grips: BG-E6 vs. Third-Party Grips

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Canon 5D Mark II Battery Grip

The Canon BG-E6 battery grip serves a couple of different purposes for the 5D Mark II.  As the name implies, it holds batteries – either two LP-E6 lithium-ion batteries or 6 AA batteries in the included battery holder.  Likewise, the BG-E6 serves as a grip for handling the camera in portrait orientation, featuring controls for the shutter release, scroll wheel, and focus point adjustments, among others.

Canon 5D Mark II Battery Grips

The BG-E6 is a nice accessory to have; however, it runs $250.  For some, that’s a little steep for a battery grip.  Third party grips are much more affordable at less than $100, but are they worth the compromise? This question comes up on forums quite a bit and finds its way in my inbox now and then.

In this little exercise, we are going to take a look at the Canon BG-E6 grip and see how a couple of third party grips from Vivitar and Zeikos stack up against it.

[UPDATE:  I’ve supplemented this review with a review of the Vello BG-C2 and BG-C4 grips for the Canon 5D Mark II and 7D.]

[Read more…]