Tokina postpones Canon-mount 35mm macro
Posted on December 22, 2007 - Filed Under Digital, Photo, Reviews | Leave a Comment
Canon users interested in the recently announced AT-X M35 PRO DX will have to wait a little longer to sample this unusual lens. Tokina has put back the release of the EOS-mount variant from December 21st to ‘late January’ due to development difficulties relating to the focus system. Copies with Nikon mount are unaffected and will be released on schedule.
Panasonic DMC-L10 v1.1 Firmware Update
Posted on December 22, 2007 - Filed Under Art, News, Photo | Leave a Comment
Panasonic have released a new firmware update for the DMC-L10 DSLR camera. Version 1.1 adds the following improvements:
1. Improved the performance of AF(Auto Focus) with Panasonic lenses. (Model Number L-ES014050,L-RS014150).
2. Improved the performance of AE (An accuracy improvement of Auto Exposure at night scene).
3. Improved the performance of AWB(Auto White Balance).
4. Shortened the minimum shooting intervals on the single shooting mode.
5. Enabled the Front/Rear dial operations in the fine white balance adjustment and the change of magnifying position on the MF Assist in Live View mode.
Website: Panasonic DMC-L10 v1.1 Firmware Update
Barber’s Shop. Mopti, Mali 2004.
Posted on December 22, 2007 - Filed Under Photo | Leave a Comment
Take your pick!
And take a look at the Bart Pogoda’s Hairdressers & Barbers portfolio.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T2 Review at Imaging Resource
Posted on December 21, 2007 - Filed Under Digital, Ratings, Reviews, Tips | Leave a Comment
Imaging Resource reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T2 and writes – ‘From a design perspective, the Sony T2 is a breath of fresh air, integrating 4GB of memory in the camera, replacing awkward buttons with a sensuous touch screen, and wrapping the whole package in an elegantly sculpted aluminum frame the size of a small pack of cards. Automatically organizing your image collection by date and frequency within the date, it also provides a unique playback mode inspired by scrapbook design. And it’s no slouch when it comes to performance, obliterating prefocus shutter lag, and significantly reducing full-autofocus shutter lag. ‘
United Nations Journal: After 10 Years and 3 Plans, U.N. Renovation Is in Sight
Posted on December 19, 2007 - Filed Under Art, Culture, News | Leave a Comment
All of them have been proposed by increasingly desperate United Nations officials as the place to locate thousands of employees and delegates while the organization's stylishly timeless but dangerously antiquated 39-story headquarters are refurbished.
This decade-long search has ended now with a decision to begin a five-year, $1.876 billion renovation of the complex in the spring and to house the 2,600 people who must move out in rented space in Manhattan, across the East River in Long Island City and a temporary conference building on the United Nations campus.
The 55-year-old steel and glass Secretariat tower and its companion General Assembly Hall, sleek and shapely icons of postwar modernism, still look smashing from the outside, but their interiors are not wearing their years as well.
Periodic surveys have cited asbestos insulation, lead paint, outmoded plumbing and electrical systems, lack of sprinklers, frequent power shutdowns and leaking roofs.
Those failings are serious, as Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg underlined in October by demanding that the organization immediately improve its fire safety plans with sprinklers, smoke detectors and exit signs or he would prohibit visits by city students to the building and alert the public to the danger. The United Nations has pledged to make the adjustments in the coming months.
But there are also quaint reminders of just how dated the installation is.
Many of the companies that made the internal machinery have gone out of business, so the United Nations has its own shop to make replacement parts, and the originals are prized by industrial museums.
On the 28th floor, a padlocked room housing electrical transformers has a High Voltage warning sign on its door that advises, In case of necessity, call MUrray Hill 2-4477. New York abandoned name telephone exchanges three decades ago.
The elaborate rehabilitation plan, which the General Assembly is expected to approve soon, is the third in a decade. Like many other urgent items on the United Nations agenda, the mission has met with repeated delays.
Hesham Mohamed Eman Afifi, an Egyptian diplomat, said at budget committee hearings last month that the only element of the project that had stayed on schedule was the periodic bill received by member states.
The first plan was halted in 2005 when the New York State Legislature, angry about diplomats unpaid parking tickets, mismanagement of the Iraq oil-for-food program and what lawmakers viewed as the United Nations anti-Israel bias, refused to pass enabling legislation to construct a new annex on an underused city playground next door.
The second was abandoned a year later after its architect, Louis Frederick Reuter IV, a veteran of large project management in New York, grew tired of fighting persistent objections from Congress and United Nations bureaucrats. He resigned.
The author of the new plan is Michael Adlerstein, 62, an affable Brooklyn-born former National Park Service architect involved in the preservations of Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the New York Botanical Garden and the Taj Mahal and a man with 20 years of experience dealing with lawmakers in Washington.
I think there is now a general tone that I have found of total support to get this thing done, he said. Ive been dealing with many of the member states on a one-to-one basis the U.S. one of them and I have found nothing but support.
He is unfazed by the problems that have plagued past plans.
I took the job because it's an ideal challenge for an architect at this point in my career, he said. It's an iconic building of great stature in the world. You can show a picture of this building to people in remote, rural locations in the world and everyone will know it.
While the famous exteriors will be unchanged, the insides will be brought up to 21st century standards of efficiency and security and reconfigured to consume 40 percent less energy.
The glass curtain wall will be replaced by a heavily laminated one that appears identical but is far stronger and able to withstand the blast of a bomb attack.
Energy-saving additions include sensors that turn off lights in unoccupied rooms and solar power systems.
Ten years from now there will be no way to tell that the U.N. was renovated unless you look at the Con Ed bill, Mr. Adlerstein said. He said that he was well aware of the bribery scandals that have scarred the reputation of the United Nations procurement department but that Skanska, the Swedish company that is the construction manager, and his own people would make sure nothing like that recurred.
Skanska has its audits, he said. We have our own audits. There are several different levels of oversight to make sure this is done right. It will be done right. There's too much money at risk here not to do it right.
The cost of the project will be borne by the 192 member states in supplementary annual dues over the five-year period, with the United States responsible for 22 percent, or $413 million. The United Nations has leased office floors in a building at 305 East 46th Street and is negotiating for space nearby and in Lower Manhattan and Long Island City.
Impatience comes slowly to the United Nations, but the timing seems to be right for Mr. Adlerstein. The only question I get now, he said, is Youre not going to leave, are you?
Source: www.nytimes.com
Epson Stylus CX9300F Printer
Posted on December 18, 2007 - Filed Under Art, News, Photo | Leave a Comment
Epson has released the latest addition to its office range, the Stylus(TM) CX9300F all-in-one printer, scanner, copier and fax. The Stylus CX9300F is ideal for business users, combining frequent usage with reliability and high quality results.
The Stylus CX9300F features Epson’s new and improved DURABrite(TM) Ultra ink which produces sharper black text and up to 50 per cent glossier photos with quality results. DURABrite Ultra ink is resistant to smudging, fading and water and has up to 120 years light fastness*.
With fast print speeds up to 32ppm and copies at up to 30 pages per minute the Stylus CX9300F is both productive and efficient, without compromising the end result. Furthermore, it combines an inbuilt colour fax and automatic document feeder for simplified document management and the complete office solution.
For cost effective printing the Stylus CX9300F has four individual Intellidge(TM) ink cartridges so users only need to replace the ink cartridges that are used.
With Epson’s advanced MicroPiezo print head and Variable Sized Droplet Technology (VSDT) the Stylus CX9300F has a print resolution of up to 5760 optimised dpi, generating both images and text with great detail, accuracy and speed.
Copy features include colour or black and white copying up to 99 copies of the one item when used in PC-free mode (from memory cards or connected cameras), as well as fit to page and automatic reduction and enlargement.
With an integrated multi-format memory card reader and onboard PictBridge connectivity, the Stylus CX9300F allows users to print photos directly from a PictBridge-enabled digital camera or even a compatible memory card-enabled mobile phone.
Whether connected to a PC or in standalone mode, the Stylus CX9300F is easy to use with a 2.5 inch LCD viewer with tilt adjustment for effortless photo viewing and editing and easy menu controls.
Epson PhotoEnhance is part of the Stylus CX9300F driver and enables users to produce the optimum photo every time by automatically adjusting the colour balance to allow for the different requirements of portraits, landscapes or people, adding that professional touch.
For immediate out-of-box use, the Stylus CX9300F comes with a USB cable for a more convenient user experience.
Epson offers more quality, value and choice with its range of home, office and photo single and multifunction printers. Genuine Epson inks and paper ensure the best quality prints from text, graphics, web pages and photos. Individual ink cartridges and the option of standard or high capacity cartridges on selected models means more efficient ink use, greater value for money and choice.
The Epson Stylus CX9300F is RRP $249 including GST and is available for purchase at consumer electronics retailers, computer superstores, mass merchandisers and office superstores.
Deep Deep Reds
Posted on December 17, 2007 - Filed Under Photo | Leave a Comment
This is a picture I made from the ferry from Lombok to Bali. It was an unbelievable sunset with Gunung Ggung, the highest volcano on Bali right smack in the middle of the action…”. Taken by Rick Wezenaar
10mm F2.8 EX DC Fisheye HSM
Posted on December 17, 2007 - Filed Under Digital, Photo, Reviews | Leave a Comment
The other type of fisheye lens available is the diagonal variety which squeezes a 180° angle of view into a standard rectangular format. This new 10mm F2.8 EX DC Fisheye HSM from Sigma is just such a lens. That said, it captures a true 180° vista only when mounted in front of a Nikon DX sensor – users of Canon and Sigma DSLRs make do with 167° and 154° respectively. A built-in lens hood and HSM focusing are here and the lens will focus down to 1.8cm (0.7 in) from the front surface of the lens giving a reproduction ratio of 1:3.3.
Press Release:
Fisheye lens with close up ability designed exclusively for use
with APS-C size digital SLR cameras
10mm F2.8 EX DC FISHEYE HSM
- Fisheye lens designed specifically for APS-C digital SLR cameras
- 13.5cm minimum focusing distance and 1:3.3 maximum magnification allows close up
photography - Equipped with HSM allowing full-time manual focus override
- Equisolid angle projection system is possible for art and scientific use
The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 10mm F2.8 EX DC FISHEYE HSM lens.
This autofocus fisheye lens is designed for use with digital SLR cameras equipped with APS-C size image
sensors. The Nikon version produces a diagonal angle of view of 180° （154° for Sigma, 167° for Canon）.
The diagonal field of view of this fisheye lens produces striking images with exaggerated perspective and
distortion. The minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm/5.3inch, and maximum magnification 1:3.3 allows
subjects to be as close as 1.8cm/0.7inch from the lens’ front element. This close focusing capability allows
close-up photography and also it is possible to make use of large depth of field that covers wide range of
subjects. The Integral hood blocks out extraneous light and the Super Multi-Layer Coating minimizes flare
and ghosting, creating superior image quality. The HSM （Hyper Sonic Motor） ensures fast and quiet
autofocusing and allows full-time manual focus override by rotation of the focus ring. This lens is supplied
with a gelatin filter holder at the rear, allowing the use of gelatin filters.
10mm F2.8 EX DC FISHEYE HSM specifications
| Lens construction | 7 Groups 12 Elements |
|---|---|
| Angle of view | 154° (180° for Nikon, 167° for Canon) |
| Number of blades | 7 |
| Minimum Aperture | F22 |
| Minimum Focusing Distance | 13.5cm/5.3in |
| Maximum Magnification | 1：3.3 |
| Filter | Insertion-type gelatin filter into rear of the lens |
| Dimensions (Diameter x Length) | Ø 75.8mm X 83.1mm / 3in. X 3.3in |
| Weight | TBA |
Popular Science Award for Fujifilm FinePix camera
Posted on December 15, 2007 - Filed Under Digital | Leave a Comment
Popular Science Award for Fujifilm FinePix camera : Fujifilm USA, Inc. is pleased to announce that Popular Science has selected the Fujifilm FinePix F50fd digital camera as the recipient of a 2007 Best of What’s New award in the Gadget category. The editors of Popular Science singled out the FinePix F50fd as “the first camera that can detect faces -to optimize focus, exposure and color-even if people are turned to the side or looking up or down.” Fujifilm’s proprietary Face Detection 2.0 debuted on the F50fd and includes a new Automatic Red-Eye Removal feature that automatically corrects red-eye directly after the shot is taken and then saves both the original and the corrected image file.
Fujifilm FinePix F50fd camera
The F50fd combines these features, along with Dual Image Stabilization and ISO settings of up to 6400, to form a compact powerhouse camera that makes “spontaneous shots look picture-perfect,” according to Popular Science. “For 20 years, Popular Science’s Best of What’s New awards honor the innovations that make a positive impact on life today and change our views of the future,” says Mark Jannot, editor-in-chief, Popular Science. “PopSci’s editors evaluate thousands of products each year to develop this thoughtful list, there’s no higher accolade Popular Science can give.”
Best of What’s New Award
Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of products in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year; breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. The winners – the Best of What’s New – are awarded inclusion in the much-anticipated December issue of Popular Science, the most widely read issue of the year since the debut of Best of What’s New in 1987.
Popular Science Award for Fujifilm FinePix F50fd
“We are excited and proud to receive this honor from Popular Science,” said Bill Drysdale, vice president and general manager, Electronic Imaging Products, Fujifilm, USA. “Their recognition of the technical innovations in our Fujifilm FinePix F50fd, further reinforces Fujifilm’s culture of photography.” The Best of What’s New awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies in 10 categories: Automotive, Aviation & Space, Computing, Engineering, Gadgets, Green Tech, Home Entertainment, Home Tech, Personal Health and Recreation.
Popular Science & technology magazine
Founded in 1872, Popular Science is the world’s largest science and technology magazine; with a circulation of 1.3 million and 6.8 million monthly readers. Each month, Popular Science reports on the intersection of science and everyday life, with an eye toward what’s new and why it matters. Popular Science is published by Bonnier Active Media, a subsidiary of Bonnier Corporation.
Book Review: Painter X for Photographers by Martin Addison
Posted on December 14, 2007 - Filed Under Culture, Photo | Leave a Comment
Corel Painter X is the latest release of Corel's advanced digital art studio software. Painter X for Photographers is a book that is uniquely written specifically for photographers. This book is aimed at those who are new to digital imaging as well as those who are familiar with Painter X and it is most specifically geared to photographers of all types.
While other books focus on Painter from an artist's point of view, Painter X for Photographers is the only one to focus on the photographic aspect. The purpose of the book is to give a sound knowledge of the tools which painter provides and of the techniques needed to use them within the realm of photography.
But why use Painter? Well, although photography is about documenting reality, sometimes the interpretation of reality through the choice of lenses, viewpoint, and composition, is just not enough. Corel Painter can take your photo to another dimension altogether. Painter X for Photographers is just under 330 pages in length and breaks out into 15 chapters.
Chapter 1, "Getting Started in Painter," is really divided into two parts. The first is for total beginners and contains simple exercises to guide the user in identifying key areas around the workspace. The second part contains information to help you customize the program for more efficient workflow. Chapter 2, "First Steps in Cloning," describes just what cloning is. Since a major part of this book deals with cloning, it takes on some different meanings than what it means in a program like Photoshop — this is something very important to understand.
Chapter 3, "Choosing Brushes," is at the very heart of the Painter program and with the sheer number of brushes available, choosing the right brush can be important. Each category has two pages devoted to what they are, how they can be used, and some examples. Chapter 4, "Customizing Brushes" shows that even with the wide variety of brushes available, you sometimes still need to be able to customize a brush for your own purposes.
Chapter 5, "Exploring Paper Textures," explores the library of paper textures that are available to you. It is one of the many reasons why Painter is so attractive to many photographers. Chapter 6, "Applying Surface Texture," takes the previous chapter a step further and now explains the use of surface textures to a photograph.
Chapter 7, "Layers and Montage," examines how the use of layers are both similar, yet different than other image editing programs. This chapter is divided into four sections: an introduction, the use of layers as part of the cloning process, an example of a montage, and making montages from several different photographs. Chapter 8, "Watercolor, Oil and Pastel," describes how to make watercolor, oil, and pastel images using the clone techniques learned earlier. Chapter 9, "Mosaics and Other Clones" continues the step-by-step techniques to make mosaic clones.
Chapter 10, "Hand Coloring and Toning," explores the techniques for making hand colored images, as well as how to manipulate the tone of a photo. Chapter 11, "Children and Young People," discusses the use of some of the brushes in the Blenders category, Pastel and Chalk, and Oils brushes for creating painterly pictures of children. Chapter 12, "Portraits," shows various methods of making portraits of adults using a wide variety of techniques.
Chapter 13, "Special Effects," within Painter comes in many forms, and by the use of them you will find ways to make your photographs look very unique. Chapter 14, "Printing and Presentation," first explores the technical aspects of printing such as choosing the appropriate file size and other workflow operations. Then you will learn techniques for presentations by using artistic edges, making vignettes, and other tricks for making your picture more appealing. Chapter 15, "Paper Libraries" finishes up by describing all of the different paper libraries available.
Painter X for Photographers is really a top quality book for digital photographers who want to learn and understand how to use Painter X within the realm of their digital photography. It takes you by the hand and shows you how to do some really creative things. It is well written and easy to follow along with.
If you are familiar with one of the popular image editing programs like Photoshop, then you will find yourself ahead of the curve. Painter X for Photographers will make a welcome addition to anyone who wants take their photographs to a new level.
One thing to note is that there have been some problems getting the DVD to play on Mac computers, but the author has posted a couple techniques for getting them to work correctly
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