Camera Test: Sigma DP1
Posted on April 18, 2008 - Filed Under Reviews, Photo, Cameras | Leave a Comment
Serious photographers tend to look down on compact cameras. But would they change that attitude for one that delivered the same image quality as a DSLR, yet allowed them to travel light? Sigma believes so — and that they’ll pay a premium for its new compact DP1 ($800, street). It’s too soon to say whether the DP1 — with its handsome good looks, single-focal-length lens, and slip-on, rangefinder-style viewfinder — will garner a cult following like the classic 35mm Contax T2 and Konica Hexar compacts, more recent high-end digital compacts such as the Ricoh Caplio GX100 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 (a less-expensive version of the Leica D-LUX 3), or even Sigma’s own SD14 DSLR. But we couldn’t wait to put the DP1 to the test in the Pop Photo Lab and the field — especially after waiting a year and half for it since it was announced. The delay was predictable, as Sigma was very deliberate in developing the DP1. It has a tough, yet slim, die-cast aluminum body (though no weather or dust seals), a 9-zone (all cross-type) autofocus system, and full manual metering and exposure controls. Most important, it’s the first compact to use a DSLR-sized sensor.
Canon EOS 450D early samples
Posted on April 17, 2008 - Filed Under Digital, Reviews, Photo | Leave a Comment
We’ve just been handed a production version of the new Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi and have done our best to bring you some sample images. The London weather has done us no favors but we thought you’d be eager to find out how its 12.2 megapixel images look so we persevered. A mixture of lenses and ISO settings were used to try to give an all-round impression of the camera’s behavior and, as always, you can download the original files to scrutinize. Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi early gallery Canon 450D / Rebel XSi Samples Gallery - Posted 21 March 2008
Reuters: Pulitzer photo winner is a rare talent’
Posted on April 17, 2008 - Filed Under Digital, Photo | Leave a Comment
A dramatic picture of a fatally wounded photojournalist in Burma has won a Pulitzer Prize for Reuters photographer Adrees Latif who described the accolade as the ‘highest honour’. Latif won the award in the Breaking News Photography category with his photo of Japanese videographer Kenji Nagai who had been shot by soldiers during a street demonstration in Myanmar last year. The image was published worldwide following the incident in September. ‘Adrees is one of those rare talents whose presence on an assignment puts the mind of the editor at ease knowing that the picture coverage will not only be competitive but exceptionally high quality,’ said Reuters Global Pictures Editor Thomas Szlukovenyi. Speaking after his win, Latif said: ‘This image gave the world insight into Myanmar’s desire for change. For me, as a journalist, the highest honour is that the world will remember this story long after it has disappeared from the headlines.’ Nagai, who worked for Tokyo-based agency APF News, was reported to have been killed by security forces as he tried to get through a blockade of Burmese troops who then fired to disperse the crowd. Images captured in the aftermath of the attack revealed that Nagai continued to record images, even after being caught up in the gunfire. Pakistan-born Latif worked for Reuters in Houston and Los Angeles, United States, before moving to a position in Bangkok, Thailand, five years ago. Picture credit: Adrees Latif/Reuters
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III review
Posted on April 15, 2008 - Filed Under Reviews, Cameras | Leave a Comment
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III digital SLR review : Since Kodak’s disappearance from the market, Canon held the luxurious position of being the only manufacturer with a full-frame digital SLR in their program for a long time. The large amount of pixels in a firm professional housing made the 1Ds the perfect replacement for an analogue middle format camera for many professional photographers. After the introduction of the EOS-1D Mark III everybody eagerly awaited the successor to the 1DS Mark II. And that’s when the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III appeared. Prism house of the Canon 1Ds Mark III As we expected, the Canon 1Ds Mark III is based on its predecessor; the Canon EOS-1D Mark III. It was redesigned from scratch. It might take some time for Mark II users to get acquainted with the new lad, but I am positive that it will happen flawless. Besides the type tag on the front, the 1Ds is furthermore distinguishable from its faster brother by the lump on the prism house. To enable correct reproduction of the AF points in the viewfinder, the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III uses a second prism. And of course that takes up more space than the mirrors inside the 1D camera. 3-inch LCD monitor with Live View Naturally the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III has been equipped with a large 3 inch LCD monitor on the back of the camera. This size has become standard for these cameras nowadays and to be honest, there is no turning back; 3 inch and more please! The large monitor also enables Live View. A feature that is starting to become normality on a D-SLR. And until recently it wasn’t even an issue but at present the availability of Live View or the lack of it is almost reason for a camera to be a success or a failure. Whether or not this is also the case for the professional segment, remains unknown for now. Live View does have its advantages. For example when you mount the camera on a tripod and place it on a high level. Action photography with Live View is still not perfect, but that will undoubtedly change too in the near future. Full-frame 21 Megapixel image sensor Besides upgrading to the concept of the 1D Mark II, naturally the image sensor is the main improvement of the 1Ds Mark III. It’s a full-frame sensor again but this time it offers the impressive amount of 21 Megapixels. Canon tiptoed into the resolution class where currently middle format cameras rule. Therefore Canon is still leader in the 35mm D-SLR cameras. But not for long since Sony announced a 24 Megapixel full-frame sensor. And Nikon will definitely not stay behind…. Canon EOS 1Ds Mark 3 review The signals of the CMOS sensor are being processed by two DIGIC III processors. In total some five pictures per second can be taken in the highest resolution. The two processors are capable of processing a 100 Megapixels per second, which fits with the 10 fps with 10 Megapixels of the EOS 1D Mark III. The specifications are impressive and to get the assignment to use this camera in practice is very appealing to a photographer like me. We have used the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III once before on the EOS Safari in Kenya but now it’s time for a full Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III review.
Nikon Announces Coolpix P80
Posted on April 15, 2008 - Filed Under News, Photo | Leave a Comment
Click photo for more images of the Nikon Coolpix P80. Nikon has introduced a new compact EVF camera with advanced controls. The 10.1-megapixel Coolpix P80 features an f/2.8-4.5, 27mm-486mm (35mm camera equivalent) 18x zoom lens; a 230,000-dot, 2.7-inch LCD; and a 0.24-inch, 230,000-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF). The camera has sensor-shift optical image stabilization, and its body features a small grip, combining some of the comfort of shooting with a larger camera with a pocketable design. The P80 offers manual, priority, and automatic exposure modes. Among its numerous shooting options are a mode for capturing color and monochrome photos simultaneously and a new Sport Continuous Mode that lets you shoot up to 30 consecutive 3-megapixel pictures at 4, 6, or 13 frames per second. The P80 has a top light-sensitivity setting of ISO 2000, and can also shoot at ISO 3200 and 6400 with a reduced 5-megapixel resolution. Other notable features include face-detection autofocus, in-camera redeye removal, a Best Shot Selector mode that takes multiple images in a quick series and saves the sharpest one, and Nikon’s D-Lighting feature, which automatically opens up dark shadow areas in playback mode. The P80 will be available in April 2008 for a $399.95 retail price.
Mother’s Day Makeover for WD My Passport Essential
Posted on April 14, 2008 - Filed Under Art, News, Photo | Leave a Comment
WD’s My Passport Essential portable USB hard drive is now available in 10 fresh new colours. My Passport Essential Drives are simple to use, light and easy to carry, and require no power adapter. “Our striking new color selection gives our customers an opportunity to express their unique style, while securely storing and carrying the massive amounts of rich content generated by higher resolution cameras, HD videos and music,” said Jim Welsh, vice president and general manager of WD’s branded products and consumer electronics groups. The price of the WD Passport Essential USB Drive with 320 GB is $179.99 USD, 250 GB capacity is $149.99 USD, and 160 GB is $119.99 USD. WD Press Release WD® PERSONALIZES PORTABLE STORAGE WITH A RAINBOW OF FASHIONABLE COLORS FOR ITS BEST-SELLING MY PASSPORT™ HARD DRIVES Small and Stylish, My Passport Essential TM USB Hard Drives Deliver 320 GB of Portable Storage in the Palm of Your Hand LAKE FOREST, Calif. – Apr. 9, 2008 – Just in time to make a perfect gift for Mother’s Day, WD® (NYSE: WDC) today introduced 10 fresh new colors for its My Passport™ Essential™ Portable USB Drives. Weighing in at less than 5 ounces, My Passport Essential USB Drives put almost a third of a terabyte of digital storage in the palm of your hand and are available now at select retailers. My Passport Essential Drives are simple to use, light and easy to carry, and require no power adapter—they are powered directly through the USB cable[1]. Equipped with sync and encryption software[2] for easy file transfer, the mega-capacity of the My Passport Essential Portable USB Drive makes it simple to securely carry thousands[3] of songs, videos or photos. “Our striking new color selection gives our customers an opportunity to express their unique style, while securely storing and carrying the massive amounts of rich content generated by higher resolution cameras, HD videos and music,” said Jim Welsh, vice president and general manager of WD’s branded products and consumer electronics groups. WD SyncÔ software allows consumers to easily synchronize essential personal files from their desktop PC to their My Passport drive. My Passport Portable USB Drives are great for file portability as well as keeping a backup copy of valuable content. Should owners misplace the drive, they know their data is protected with 128-bit encryption. Google™ software on the drive allows users to quickly locate files with the Google Desktop Search™ search tool, manage photos with Picasa™ photo organizer software and simplify Web searches with the Google Toolbar™ search bar. The new colors include: brilliant orange, super sunny yellow, raindrop blue, arctic white, deep viola, cherry red, ultra mint, real red, intense blue, and vibrant pink. A product specification sheet and photos of WD Passport Portable Drives are available on the company’s Web site at http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=391. Price and Availability WD’s My Passport Essential USB Drives are available now at select retail stores and from WD’s online store (http://www.shopwd.com). My Passport Essential USB Drives are offered in capacities of 160 GB, 250 GB and 320 GB. MSRP for the WD Passport Essential USB Drive with 320 GB is $179.99 USD, 250 GB capacity is $149.99 USD, 160 GB is $119.99 USD. About WD WD, one of the storage industry’s pioneers and long-time leaders, provides products and services for people and organizations that collect, manage and use digital information. The company produces reliable, high-performance hard drives that keep users’ data accessible and secure from loss. WD applies its storage expertise to consumer products for external, portable and shared storage applications. WD was founded in 1970. The company’s storage products are marketed to leading systems manufacturers, selected resellers and retailers under the Western Digital and WD brand names. Visit the Investor section of the company’s Web site (http://www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information. [1] An optional cable is available for the few computers that limit bus power. [1] Windows®-compatible only [1] Results will vary based on file size and format, settings, features, software and other factors.
Look to the Eyes for the Answer
Posted on April 11, 2008 - Filed Under Photo | 1 Comment
Capuchin, Carrasco National Park, Bolivia. Taken by Chris L.
Ricoh GR DIGITAL II Firmware Update 2.0
Posted on April 10, 2008 - Filed Under Art, News, Photo | Leave a Comment
Ricoh have released a new firmware update, version 2.0, for the GR DIGITAL II compact digital camera. Ricoh’s function-enhancing firmware updates are developed in response to opinions and requests received from a large number of customers. The function-enhancing firmware and instructions for using these functions can be downloaded free of charge from the Ricoh website. Add the following features. • Switching shooting modes in My Settings mode At My Settings mode, you can switch shooting modes with the menu setting without turning the mode dial. • Magnified Playback using Up-down Dial/ADJ. Lever You can use also the up-down dial to enlarge an image during the playback mode, not only with the enlarged view button. • [Level Sound] in [Operation Sounds] You can choose [Level Sound] in [Operation Sound]. • [On]/[Off] for the [Power Button Lamp] When the power is turned on, you can now make a setting to light the power button lamp or not. Modified/added the following items. • Supports the flash from Sigma, [EF-500 DG ST/SUPER]. • Improved the white balance when you take a picture with the [Flash Synchro] in flash modes. • Modified the phenomenon that the information will not be displayed when the following combinations; setting the display off and the [Info Disp] on, and then switching the macro mode. • Modified the phenomenon that if being selected the [CL-BKT] in the [Auto Bracket], and if taking a picture with a long exposure time (15 seconds or longer) in the M mode, the color bracket processing will not completed and any keys will not work. Ricoh Press Release Ricoh releases first function-enhancing firmware update for GR DIGITAL II Usability enhanced based on customer requests in a firmware update program continued from the GR DIGITAL Tokyo, Japan – March 24 – Ricoh Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Shiro Kondo) announced today that it will release on March 27 the first function-enhancing firmware update for its GR DIGITAL II, a high-resolution compact digital camera launched in November 2007. Successor model to the GR DIGITAL, which proved very popular in the two years following its October 2005 launch, the compact GR DIGITAL II achieves a level of image quality capable of satisfying professional photographers, experienced amateurs, and photo aficionados. Ricoh’s function-enhancing firmware updates are developed in response to opinions and requests received from a large number of customers via GR BLOG, surveys submitted at customer registration time, etc. They make it possible to update already purchased GR DIGITAL II cameras with the latest functions. For the earlier GR DIGITAL model, a total of five function-enhancing firmware updates were released (the first on March 24, 2006), and these popular updates were utilized by many people. This is the first such update for the GR DIGITAL II. The function-enhancing firmware and instructions for using these functions can be downloaded free of charge from the Ricoh website. (1) It is now easier to switch shooting modes when shooting in My Settings Mode. My Settings Mode enables the photographer to make the desired shooting settings in advance. This update enhances camera usability by making it possible to switch shooting modes without turning the mode dial when shooting in My Settings Mode. (2) It is now easier to display enlarged images in playback mode. For image playback mode, this update makes it possible to change the image magnification level using not only the Enlarged View button but also the up-down dial. In addition, it is also possible to keep the image enlarged when advancing to the next image using the ADJ lever. These functions are convenient to use when checking image content in playback. (3) It is now possible to specify only the level sensor sound and beep sound even when operational sounds (such as start sound and shutter release sound) are turned off. This expands the possibilities for shooting using the level sensor. (4) It is now possible to specify whether the power button LED lamp should turn on. The power button LED lamp normally turns on when the power is on, but it is now possible to switch to a setting where this lamp is always off.
Living Large
Posted on April 9, 2008 - Filed Under News, Photo | Leave a Comment
There has always been a thin line between film and still photography for Hollywood phenom Zack Snyder. Director of last year’s hugely popular Greco-Persian war story 300, Snyder has been taking pictures for most of his life — inspired by the example of his mother, an artist/photographer who also planted the film seed by giving her son an 8mm movie camera when he was ten. “When I got out of college I started working as a director-cameraman for commercials,” says the photographer, a graduate of Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design. “I was using a Polaroid 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 pack-film camera as a way of checking exposure and previewing lighting, so I carried it with me wherever I went.” Snyder went many places, spanning the globe to make music videos and Clio-winning commercials for clients such as Jeep, Budweiser, and Titleist, and shooting Polaroids as he traveled. Why Polaroids? “I look at a photograph as something like a sand castle,” he explains. “I like that it’s a one-off.” Snyder shoots Polaroid Type 55 black-and-white Positive/Negative film, as do many fine-art and documentary photographers, but unlike those photographers bravely throws his negative away.
No April Fool: World’s oldest photo’ could rewrite history books; image may date pre-1805
Posted on April 8, 2008 - Filed Under Digital, Photo | Leave a Comment
The photographic history books could soon be re-written if speculation by a leading photographic historian is to be believed. A photogenic drawing of a leaf that is currently attributed to British photography pioneer William Henry Fox Talbot in 1839 may instead have been produced more than 30 years earlier by Thomas Wedgwood, according to photo historian Dr Larry J Schaaf. Fox Talbot and Frenchman Louis Daguerre are currently regarded as the founding fathers of photography, having revealed their respective photo inventions to the world in 1839. However, Schaaf outlines the possibility that the image may have been produced in ‘1805 or earlier’ by a member of the famous Wedgwood china family. Thomas Wedgwood is believed to have conducted primitive photographic experiments in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Writing in the sale catalogue for an auction at Sotheby’s in New York on 7 April, Schaaf asserts: ‘Sometime in the 1790s, Thomas Wedgwood began his experiments in trying to secure solar pictures. ‘He gave up on cameras and instead concentrated on photograms, placing leaves and other objects on silver nitrate coated paper and white leather to form negative images, much the same as Talbot was to do several decades later.’ A Sotheby’s spokesman said: ‘Such an attribution, if confirmed, would make this one of the most important discoveries pertaining to the history of photography.’ The Leaf is one of six ‘anonymous’ photogenic drawings originally housed in an album belonging to Englishman Henry Bright. Schaaf’s speculation is partly based on the letter ‘W’ that on close inspection can be seen inscribed in an ‘unidentified hand’ in the bottom-right corner of the image and four others in the Bright album. The picture has been in the hands of a private photography dealer representing the Quillan Company since 1989. Sotheby’s director of photographs Denise Bethel said: ‘We know that there were photographic experiments that preceded Talbot and Daguerre and it is exciting to entertain the possibility that the photogenic drawing in the Quillan Collection could be one such thing.’ Sotheby’s UK office has confirmed to that this story is not an April Fool. Picture credit: Sotheby’s New York