Communion
Posted on February 16, 2009 - Filed Under Photo | Leave a Comment | Visited 1125 Times
“With one of my friends in Al-Liyah Reserve, Kuwait”. Taken by Mohammad Al-Saleh Source: planetearthdailyphoto.blogspot.com
Nikon releases three L-series budget cameras
Posted on February 15, 2009 - Filed Under Digital, Reviews, Photo | Leave a Comment | Visited 954 Times
Pre-PMA 2009: Nikon has announced the L100, L20 and L19 budget cameras. The L100 is a superzoom with 15x optical zoom (28-420mm equiv) and 10MP sensor. It includes features such as Image Stabilization, D-lighting and a Sports Continuous mode that allows shooting at up to 13 frames per second. The L19 and L20 are more conventional comapcts with 8MP and a 2.7" LCD and 10MP and a 3.0" LCD respectively. They share a 3.6X zoom lens. Press Release: Nikon announces new Coolpix cameras Nikon UK announces three new affordable, exciting COOLPIX cameras: the L100, L20 and the L19. All three are packed with high-quality features that make taking photographs a joy, without stretching the budget. With superb quality NIKKOR lenses, these cameras are both easy to carry and easy to use and include features such as Scene Auto selector, Smile Mode and Blink Warning - making great images possible for everyone. Mark Pekelharing, Product Manager Consumer Products at Nikon Europe B.V: “Not everyone wants to spend a lot of money on a camera. With these three new cameras, you get the best of both worlds: quality imaging with many exciting features, and all at an affordable price.” Enjoy your photography The L100 boasts 10 effective megapixels, Nikon’s EXPEED digital image processing system for high performance and a 15x zoom NIKKOR lens covering a wide-angle 28mm to super-telephoto 420mm (35mm-format equivalent) - you know you’re going to capture almost any scene in detail. Put it in macro mode, and you can even capture objects from as close up as 1 cm. With four anti-blur features, including Image Sensor Shift VR image stabilisation, you can rest assured that it’s also going to be in focus. You will also appreciate the L100 if you enjoy sports photography, as the L100’s Sports Continuous Mode allows up to 13 fps. Scene Auto Selector automatically adjusts the settings to suit the scene. Smile Mode takes the picture when your subject looks his or her best whilst Blink Warning warns you when your subjects have their eyes closed. Other features include In-Camera Red-Eye Fix for beautiful portraits, D-Lighting for in-camera image enhancement, 15 Scene Modes, movies with sound, and Active Zoom, amongst others. With a sensitivity range up to ISO 3200, problems images in poor lighting are a thing of the past. This is further enhanced by the camera’s Motion Detection system, which detects camera shake or subject movement during shooting, automatically selecting a faster shutter speed and higher ISO sensitivity. Easy does it The L20 and L19 (10 and 8 effective MP respectively) have several features that ensure smooth and comfortable shooting, such as Full-Auto Mode, Scene Auto Selector, Smile Mode and Blink Warning. Power them with two AA-size batteries that are available anywhere, and you’ll never miss a shot. Large buttons and controls, and a 3-inch and 2.7-inch LCD monitor on the L20 and L19 respectively, improve operational ease. Both cameras record movies and a special new feature for both is the Scene Auto Selector. This automatically judges a scene by its subject and surrounding conditions and chooses the best setting. Now you won’t have to worry about the mode-setting procedure and you will always be ready for speedy, smooth shooting. The L20 is available in black metallic and deep red, the L19 in bright silver or shiny pink. Taking great pictures with a great looking camera is easy, and very affordable. The L100, L20 and L19 come with a strap, AA-batteries, USB and audio/video cables, and the COOLPIX software suite. All cameras come with 2GB free online image storage at Nikon’s my Picturetown service on mypicturetown. Nikon Coolpix L100 images Nikon Coolpix L20 images Nikon Coolpix L19 images
Garmin FR60 watch
Posted on February 13, 2009 - Filed Under Digital | Leave a Comment | Visited 15 Times
Garmin FR60 fitness watch : Garmin, the global leader in satellite navigation, announced its newest fitness watch that sets the standard for wireless connectivity, the Garmin FR60. The latest breakthrough in Garmin’s expansive outdoor recreation and fitness line, the stylish and intuitive Garmin FR60 watch was announced in conjunction with the 2009 ISPO Winter trade show in Munich. The Garmin FR60 fitness watch is the latest breakthrough from Garmin, which has spent 20 years using technology and innovation to enhance users’ lives, making Garmin a household name in the automotive, aviation, marine, wireless, outdoor and fitness industries. Garmin watch : FR60 “Indoors or out, it’s easier than ever to set fitness goals and track your progress with the fashionable yet affordable Garmin FR60,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “While you exercise, the easy-to-use Garmin FR60 accurately tracks your time, calories burned, heart rate and other data from linked fitness equipment. Once you’re done and within range of your computer, that information is wirelessly transferred and stored for later analysis.” Garmin FR60 features The central element of the user-friendly Garmin FR60 system is an advanced fitness watch which interfaces wirelessly with other ANT+ compatible fitness devices such as a heart rate monitor, a foot pod that monitors speed and distance or third-party fitness equipment at the gym or at home. Available in men’s and women’s versions, the Garmin FR60 comes with a wireless USB ANT Stick that plugs into the user’s PC or Mac and automatically downloads workout data stored on the watch to a personal computer. Garmin sports watch No cables are necessary as the Garmin FR60 quickly synchronizes with the computer once it is in close proximity. The workouts themselves are made easier with the Garmin FR60 as its robust heart rate monitor and slimmed-down foot pod transmit data wirelessly and activate automatically upon movement, removing the need to turn the lightweight accessories on and off. Available in three colors - red, lilac and black - the streamlined Garmin FR60 fitness watch comes packaged with a heart rate monitor, and the foot pod is available in select Garmin FR60 bundles. Garmin FR60 watch With this affordable yet sophisticated fitness watch, Garmin broadens its appeal to the millions of consumers who want to burn calories and track workouts in a cost-effective manner. While the Garmin FR60 processes much of the same data as its GPS-enabled predecessors, those functions are packaged in a very compact device the size of a typical fitness watch. The Garmin FR60 fitness watch can track and record up to 15 hours and 100 laps of detailed exercise data. And because the Garmin FR60 records its data from the heart rate monitor, foot pod and ANT+ compatible fitness equipment, users can exercise indoors. Garmin fitness watch Triathletes will embrace the versatility of the swim-friendly Garmin fitness watch as it helps them train and race indoors or outdoors, on the bike, in the water or on the trails. The featherweight foot pod enables the Garmin FR60 to track and record speed, distance, calories burned, steps and cadence without excess burden. Cycling enthusiasts will enjoy the versatile options of adding a bike speed and cadence sensor and a handy bike mount. Adding to the wide range of uses and wireless connectivity, Garmin FR60 watch users in the United States will be able to link effortlessly to their ANT+ compatible fitness equipment such as treadmills, spin bikes, elliptical trainers and more. More information about these ANT+ compatible products will be announced in March at the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) international convention and trade show in San Francisco. Garmin FR60 wireless functions The wireless features of the Garmin FR60 are enabled by ANT+ personal area network technology. ANT+ is a leading wireless interface protocol enabling ultra low power applications like fitness monitors. ANT+ offers all the benefits of digital wireless communications with much lower power consumption than other wireless protocols. The men’s version of the FR60 weighs just 44 grams, the women’s model weighs 41 grams, and each has a user-replaceable battery with a one-year life.
Software Review: Lightbox Photo Gallery Software, Part 2
Posted on February 12, 2009 - Filed Under Culture, Photo | Leave a Comment | Visited 971 Times
This is the second in a three-part review about Lightbox Photo™ Gallery Software from Lightbox Photo™. I have broken this down into three parts because of the overall encompassing nature of this product and to try to work it down into a single review would do the product an injustice. The three areas I will cover are an overview of the software and to look at what it takes to install and setup of the Lightbox Photo™, what are the existing features of the product, and what are new features of the latest version of the software. In this one I will look at some of the features of Lightbox Photo™ Gallery Software. Lightbox Photo™ is very feature rich. So rich in fact that there is no way to go into all that it can do. What I want to do instead is look at some of the functionalities that make it worth having. If you want to see everything, there is a feature list online. While not all of the features are available in every version, these are all in the enterprise edition. • Customer Manager helps you manage your customer base. Here you can set up the registration form to handle what ever information you need to collect. It supports an unlimited number of form fields that you can add to or remove from. From this information you can manage your client base. • Media Manager is a core function of the gallery administration. It displays all of the categories and the media that exists in the database. From here you can add, edit, remove, and manage everything. It gives you the ability to approve other photographers' media, add global pricing, add access to users for private galleries, search the media, watermark, and assign IPTC metadata to the gallery. • License Manager exists in the enterprise version and enables you to create and assign rights managed licenses for your digital media. This will allow you to set various options for licensing your media. This way you can set up one option for image use, another for what it is used for, another for the size of the image, another for the size of the run, etc. Each of the items can stand alone, or rely on other options. You can then set pricing for each of the options and their derivatives. That is for print run, you can have one price for fewer than 50,000, another for 50,001 to 500,000, and so on.
Nikon Unveil New Coolpix Range
Posted on February 12, 2009 - Filed Under Digital, Reviews, Tips, Ratings | 1 Comment | Visited 931 Times
Nikon today have announced a range of 7 new digital cameras. They range from the budget through to more expensive and feature rich models. Nikon Coolpix P90 - a super-zoom camera with a 24x optical zoom. Nikon Coolpix L100 (another super-zoom camera). Nikon Coolpix S630 - 12MP with a 7x optical zoom. Nikon Coolpix S620 - 12MP, 4x optical zoom. Nikon Coolpix S230 - 10MP with a 3x optical zoom lens. Nikon Coolpix S220 - 10MP with 3x optical zoom. Nikon Coolpix L19 and Nikon Coolpix L20 - 8 and 10MP respectively - both with 3.6x optical zoom - budget cameras. All of these Nikon Coolpix cameras come with a range of scene modes and features including smile and blink detection and Motion detection.
Onwards…
Posted on February 9, 2009 - Filed Under Photo | Leave a Comment | Visited 942 Times
Passengers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Taken by Nyhao Source: planetearthdailyphoto.blogspot.com
Just posted! Canon 50mm F1.8 II lens review
Posted on February 8, 2009 - Filed Under Digital, Reviews, Photo | Leave a Comment | Visited 1155 Times
Lens reviews on DPReview are one year old today, and we’re celebrating this auspicious anniversary with appropriate aplomb. Our 25th review features the Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II, a bargain offering that sells for less than $100, yet features an optical design refined over decades of service as the standard lens supplied with 35mm film SLRs. So how does it measure up against F1.4 lenses costing three times as much? We’re also taking this opportunity to publish our studio test data for Nikon’s equivalent lens, the AF-Nikkor 50mm 1:1.8D on the D300 and D3. You can view this in the lens widget by clicking here; a full review will follow… sometime.
A Call for Entries from Ohio Filmakers
Posted on February 6, 2009 - Filed Under Culture, Photo | Leave a Comment | Visited 917 Times
Are you a filmmaker in the great state of Ohio? Worked on a film with some friends and are interesting in seeing how it does in a theatrical setting? Just want to get your work on screen in front of a large audience? If you answered 'yes' to any of the above questions, then The Wexner Center has the perfect event and showcase for you. The Wexner Center for the Arts, one of central Ohio’s only art institutes, is looking for entries for its 14th annual Ohio Short Film and Video Showcase (full details here). The event is designed to showcase Ohio’s independent media artists and it gives them a chance to shine in front of an audience. Only thirteen films were shown last year and they are hoping for many more this year. I strongly suggest that any person interested in films, directing, choreographing, or the like, enter this competition; it is a great way to get your name out. As with last year, there will be an accompanying youth division featuring films from anybody under the age of 18. These films are only half as long as the normal adult films, but they are usually just as entertaining and inventive. A nice benefit for the kids is that the top five will be chosen to create a PSA about prescription-drug use. This is a pretty nifty way to get some experience under your belt before you turn 18. Personally, I believe that the idea of showcasing Ohio films is a great move by The Wex. Ohio has been featured as a setting in many movies (Rush Hour 3 and A Christmas Story, to name two) but rarely is actually seen as a hotbed of movie making. While this event is unlikely to help put Ohio on the map as a movie location, it is sure to help inspire more people to participate in the process. The more people we have working in films, the more likely they are to bring the films back home. So, if you are interested in submitting a film to The Wexner Center’s showcase, the deadline is Friday the 27th of March. All films by adults are to be 20 minutes or less in length, the youth’s are to be 10 minutes or less. Or, you can just come by the actual showcase on the 9th of May at 7 pm at watch the fun. Hey, you might even be so lucky as to see me there. For more information, please visit The Wex’s website.
Beam Me Up
Posted on February 5, 2009 - Filed Under Photo | Leave a Comment | Visited 929 Times
Singapore. Taken by Le Tuan Anh Source: planetearthdailyphoto.blogspot.com
Panasonic releases the DMC-FS25 digtal camera
Posted on February 3, 2009 - Filed Under Digital, Reviews, Photo | Leave a Comment | Visited 943 Times
Pre-PMA 2009: Last of the Panasonic announcements is the DMC-FS25 digital compact camera. This 12.1MP camera is designed with a prominent grip and an Intelligent 3.0" LCD that adjusts its brightness according to the lighting conditions. Other features include an Intelligent Auto mode and a new ‘Photo Frame’ mode that lets users put borders around the pictures taken. Press Release: Panasonic’s DMC-FS25 – the Perfect Camera for all your Leisurely Needs 27th January 2009: Part of the highly commended Lumix range of digital still cameras, the 12.1 megapixel DMC-FS25 is stylish, sophisticated and packed with features – whilst remaining committed to ease of use even for beginners. Boasting a 29mm wide angle Leica DC lens*1 with 5x optical zoom, Intelligent Auto and a vertical grip for extra comfort– the FS25 is stylish, easy to use and feature packed. Intelligent Auto Mode Just Keeps Getting Better Panasonic incorporated Intelligent Auto mode in pursuit of the ultimate ease of operation and the reduction of misshots. This mode is also further advanced with the inclusion of AF tracking and Intelligent Exposure feature for the DMC-FS25. Furthermore, digital red-eye correction is also integrated in the Face Detection. In iA mode the camera does all the work, activating AF tracking, Intelligent Exposure, Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Selector, Mega O.I.S. (optical image stabilizer), and Intelligent ISO Control. This leaves the user free to simply compose the shot and press the shutter button, with the assurance that the image will be clear, beautiful and properly exposed. With the new AF Tracking function, the user can "lock" the focus onto a moving subject. The camera then automatically tracks the subject as it moves, keeping it in focus without the user having to hold the shutter button halfway down. This makes it easier to capture the perfect moment clearly and in sharp focus when shooting images of a child, pet, sports or any scene with moving subjects and spur-of-the-moment action. Intelligent Exposure suppresses blocked shadows and blown highlights to capture images that look natural and true-to-life. It now features an automatic backlight compensation function that activates whenever the camera detects that the light source is behind the subject. Face detection accuracy has been increased in the FS25 to now provide continuous adjustment of the focus and exposure even if the face is turned sideways to the camera. Combined with AF Tracking, Face Detection helps users capture special moments, including the fleeting expressions on the faces of active children. Plus, with the FS25, the red-eye effect can be digitally corrected automatically when it occurs due to the use the flash. Intelligent Scene Selector automatically selects whichever of 5 scene modes - Macro, Portrait, Scenery, Night Portrait, and Night Scenery - best suits the shooting situation. The Quick AF system allows the camera to keep focus on the subject while the camera is in recording mode even before pressing a shutter button. In addition to the advanced functions mentioned above, the iA mode inherits fundamental functions users need in a good digital still camera. These include MEGA O.I.S., which prevents blurring from hand-shake, and Intelligent ISO Control, which prevents motion blur by adjusting the ISO sensitivity if the subject moves as the shot is taken. The MEGA O.I.S. system conventionally has mode 1 and 2, and now it has AUTO mode to select the suitable one between the modes according to the zoom ratio being used. The user can activate all of these useful functions by simply pressing an independent iA button on the top of the camera, which is newly equipped for direct activation. All these features make the FS25 the ultimate, super-versatile automatic camera for capturing clear, beautiful, mistake-free photos with ease. The bigger picture with the Leica DC VARIO-ELMAR wide angle lens The 12.1-megapixel DMC- FS25 packages a 29mm wide-angle*1 Leica DC VARIO-ELMAR lens with 5x optical zoom into a slim, compact body. Comprising 7 elements in 6 groups, including 3 aspherical lenses with 4 aspherical surfaces, this advanced lens unit realizes the outstandingly slim and compact body yet passing Leica’s stringent standards to deliver an exceptional optical performance. The zoom ratio can be extended up to 9.8x (294mm*1) in 3 megapixel resolution mode with minimal deterioration thanks to the Extra Optical Zoom. By using the central part of the CCD, this powerful zooming function allows you to easily capture and magnify distant subjects. High Performance Venus Engine IV The image-processing LSI, Venus Engine IV, features advanced signal processing technology for rendering high quality images. Featured in the DMC- FS25, the multi-task image-processing engine Venus Engine IV supports a super-fast response time. The shutter release time lag is as short as 0.006 seconds and the camera’s quick response makes it easier to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities. The Venus Engine IV also supports a High Sensitivity mode that lets the DMC-FS25 record at a setting of up to ISO 6400, sensitive enough to capture subjects in near-total darkness without using a flash.*2 Look at me! The DMC-FS25 incorporates an easy-to-see, large, 3.0-inch 230,000-dot high-resolution LCD for comfortable viewing while both monitoring shots and playing back the results. The Intelligent LCD function detects the light condition and automatically boosts the LCD backlighting by max. 40% when shooting outdoors in bright sunshine, and adjusts the frame rate when shooting in low-lit situations in addition to using the pixel mixed readout method to secure clarity in such situations. Detecting the lighting condition precisely and automatically controlling the brightness with a total of 11 fine steps, this function gives the display the most appropriate clarity in any situation without using extra energy. The High Angle mode makes the LCD screen extremely easy to view when the camera is held high, such as when shooting over a crowd. The Sound of Music To increase your enjoyment when playing back your images, the FS25 provides slideshows complete with music. Just select the pictures you want to show and choose the mood that best matches your selection from natural, slow, urban or swing, and you’ll get an emotion-filled slideshow with a variety of slide change effects and matching music without any annoying adjustments to the newly added speaker. Additionally, all Lumix cameras can take 1920×1080 pixel high-definition quality photos that are ideal for full-screen viewing on a wide-screen (16:9) HDTV. Panasonic has long focused on making photography more enjoyable, such as by letting people view their images easily on a Panasonic Viera TV with Viera Image Viewer (internal SD card slot). Not forgetting motion pictures*3, the FS25 can record WVGA*4 (848 x 480) motion pictures at 30 frames per second in addition to standard VGA 640 x 480). The WVGA6 motion picture also fits a wide-screen (16:9) TV perfectly to offer impressive viewing. The Fun of Photography Technically specified, yet remaining easy to use – the new FS25 features a variety of features to expand the fun and convenience for users. For example, the user can select from among several icons for the camera to use for indicating when the subject is in focus. In addition to the conventional dot, a flower, car and several other new shapes are available. The FS25 also adds a new “Photo Frame” mode. It lets the user put attractive borders around the photo. When printed, the photos look like postcards in picture frames, making them ideal as presents. With the My Scene setting, the user can assign up to two specific scene modes, which you use most often, and switch instantly to those modes when desired. The minimum shooting distance has been shortened to 3cm in the FS25 – great for macro shots. Using the digital Zoom Macro function, the user can pull subjects even closer than ever before.with the wide-angle setting, and capture dramatic close ups. Introducing the included software The latest version of exciting software PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 comes bundled with the DMC-FS25. The PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 package allows the user to edit or organize a collection of photos with more ease and fun. It features Face Recognition function that recognizes the faces in the picture stored in your PC to sort the photos by faces. Conventionally, you had to pick up one by one out of hundreds of photos when you only want the picture of a specific person. But with the PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0, the software automatically does it once the face is registered regardless of the camera type you used – perfect for digging out all photos of Aunt Joanna for her birthday surprise for example! On the sophisticated interface, you can also enjoy emotional slideshow with a variety of effects. Motion pictures (MOV or MPEG2) can also be upload directly to YouTube*5 The slim and sleek DMC-FS25 will be available from April in a choice of silver or black. *1 35mm film equivalent: 29-145mm *2 Max. 5 images in standard mode / 3 images in fine mode *3 Motion pictures can be recorded continuously for up to 15 minutes in some countries. Continuous recording exceeding 2GB is not possible when recording motion JPEG. Remaining time for continuous recording is displayed on the screen, *4 When you set the picture quality to HD, WVGA or VGA, we recommend using a high-speed card with”10MB”/s” or greater displayed on the package. SD speed class is the speed standard regarding continuous writing. *5 YouTube is a trademark of Google Inc. *All other company and product names are trademarks of their respective corporations.