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In a brand new series, we cast the spotlight on members of the PhotographyBLOG Gallery and ask them about their photography. The sixth member to sit in the interview chair is rjvc.
“Having no garden and working in an office 5 days a week means that the weekends are my only opportunity to photograph nature. This means that I now appreciate my surroundings more. I can think of nothing better than heading out to the country and spending several hours meandering through forest or field with camera ready to capture landscape or animal.”
Website: Gallery Member Spotlight - rjvc
In a brand new series, we cast the spotlight on members of the PhotographyBLOG Gallery and ask them about their photography. The sixth member to sit in the interview chair is rjvc. “Having no garden and working in an office 5 days a week means that the weekends are my…
FixerLabs Press Release
FixerLabs, developers of award winning software for digital image enhancement and enlargement, today released a Windows version of their flagship programme for image enlargement - SizeFixer XL. Based on their patented Super-Resolution technology, SizeFixer XL
can enlarge images to 500 MPixels and beyond with unprecedented levels of quality. SizeFixer XL is a stand-alone ‘upsizing’ tool for serious Photographers and Graphic Designers who demand the very best quality.
FixerLabs Press Release FixerLabs, developers of award winning software for digital image enhancement and enlargement, today released a Windows version of their flagship programme for image enlargement - SizeFixer XL. Based on their patented Super-Resolution technology, SizeFixer XL can enlarge images to 500 MPixels and beyond with unprecedented levels of…
DIWA member LetsGoDigital have reviewed the new 10.2 megapixel Sony A100 DSLR camera.
“With 10 Megapixels, the Sony Alpha is at the top of its range. Although, fortunately, more attention is being paid to quality rather than pixels, high numbers always sell well. Luckily, Sony knows how to get a great result from the pixels. The focus, colour reproduction and detailing are good. I have to say that I was not impressed by the noise at ISO 800 and 1600, although I suppose it is acceptable.”
Website: LetsGoDigital - Sony A100 Review
Website: Read our Sony A100 Review
DIWA member LetsGoDigital have reviewed the new 10.2 megapixel Sony A100 DSLR camera. “With 10 Megapixels, the Sony Alpha is at the top of its range. Although, fortunately, more attention is being paid to quality rather than pixels, high numbers always sell well. Luckily, Sony knows how to get a…
Camera Labs have reviewed the new 10x zoom, 5 megapixel, compact Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 digital camera.
“Of course packing the equivalent of a 35-350mm lens into a body only slightly larger than a pack of cards inevitably results in some compromises. The TZ1’s lens isn’t particularly sharp in the corners when zoomed-in for example, although it does perform surprisingly well in terms of geometric distortion and coloured fringing.”
Website: Camera Labs - Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 Review
Camera Labs have reviewed the new 10x zoom, 5 megapixel, compact Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 digital camera. “Of course packing the equivalent of a 35-350mm lens into a body only slightly larger than a pack of cards inevitably results in some compromises. The TZ1’s lens isn’t particularly sharp in the corners…
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. DSLR Dynamic Range Needs Improvement
2. Digital Shutter Lag Versus 35mm
3. Newbie Seeks Camera That Rocks
[Note: Here are the answers to last week’s questions. I am still one week behind, so if you recently submitted a question, you should receive an answer by next week. Thank you for your patience. – Gary]
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, inventor, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected] , and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are: 1. DSLR Dynamic Range Needs Improvement 2. Digital Shutter Lag Versus 35mm 3. Newbie Seeks Camera That Rocks [Note: Here are the answers to last week’s questions. I am still one week behind, so if you recently submitted a question, you should receive an…
The Fujifilm Finepix F30 attempts to improve on what is already a great camera, the Finepix F11. The F30 offers an increased ISO speed of 3200, longer battery life, new anti-blur and intelligent flash modes, higher resolution LCD screen and a refined user interface. So can the Fujifilm F30 take the F11’s crown of best compact digital camera? Read our latest review to find out…
Website: Fujifilm Finepix F30 Review
The Fujifilm Finepix F30 attempts to improve on what is already a great camera, the Finepix F11. The F30 offers an increased ISO speed of 3200, longer battery life, new anti-blur and intelligent flash modes, higher resolution LCD screen and a refined user interface. So can the Fujifilm F30 take…
Win copies of three new digital photography books, courtesy of Ilex Press, in the PhotographyBLOG July 2006 Prize Giveaway!
On Monday 14th August 2006, 3 names will be randomly selected from the list of PhotographyBLOG Newsletter subscribers.
3 winners will each receive a copy of the Birdwatcher’s Guide to Digital Photography, the Book of Digital Photography and the Digital Photographer’s Guide to Photoshop Elements 4.
Prizes kindly donated by Ilex Press (http://www.ilex-press.com)
All you have to do to enter is subscribe to the PhotographyBLOG Newsletter before August 14th 2006.
Win copies of three new digital photography books, courtesy of Ilex Press, in the PhotographyBLOG July 2006 Prize Giveaway! On Monday 14th August 2006, 3 names will be randomly selected from the list of PhotographyBLOG Newsletter subscribers. 3 winners will each receive a copy of the Birdwatcher’s Guide to Digital…
Sigma Press Release
The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new APO 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC HSM lens. Specially designed for digital SLR cameras with an APS-C size image sensor, this large aperture F2.8 lens has a compact and lightweight construction of 76.3mm (3.0”) in diameter, 132.6mm (5.2”) in length and weighing just 780g (27.5oz) (Nikon Mount). The incorporation of the very latest optical technology gives optimum lens performance providing excellent correction for flare, ghosting and all types of aberrations. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. Four SLD(Special Low Dispersion)glass elements are used for utmost correction of chromatic aberrations. The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) system ensures quiet and high-speed auto focusing with full time manual focus override. The addition of the 1.4x EX DG APO or 2x EX DG APO Tele Converters (optional extras) produces a 70-210mm F4 AF tele-zoom lens and a 100-300mm F5.6 AF ultra-telephoto zoom lens respectively.
Sigma Press Release The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new APO 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC HSM lens. Specially designed for digital SLR cameras with an APS-C size image sensor, this large aperture F2.8 lens has a compact and lightweight construction of 76.3mm (3.0”) in diameter…
O’Reilly Press Release
O’Reilly Releases: “Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography” - The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Your Digital Tools From a Photography Pioneer
Sebastopol, CA—No doubt about it—the allure of the digital camera seduced us all. Yet many photography enthusiasts and professionals still don’t know how to tap into the power and range of today’s digital tools to create compelling photos. That is, until now. In the joyful and long-anticipated “Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography” (O’Reilly, $39.99 US), a master teacher shares how to use digital technology to develop and refine one’s artistic expression.
O’Reilly Press Release O’Reilly Releases: “Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography” - The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Your Digital Tools From a Photography Pioneer Sebastopol, CA—No doubt about it—the allure of the digital camera seduced us all. Yet many photography enthusiasts and professionals still don’t know how to tap into the…
Ilford Photo Press Release
Having long established its reputation for the production of market-leading black-and-white photographic paper, ILFORD Photo has now taken the whole genre onto a new level of archival and presentational excellence with the fusion of modern digital technology and true silver gelatine printing.
ILFORD Photo has announced the addition of a new paper to its range of specialist black-and-white photo products, which not only represents a major step forward in the production of high quality images, but also utilises the latest advances in digital processing. Called ILFORD GALERIE FB DIGITAL, this 315gsm fibre base baryta paper has been created for printing with digital laser printers, and is compatible with digital printers such as the Durst Lambda and Océ Lightjet models. This is the only paper in the world which utilises ILFORD Photo’s renowned fibre base baryta material, made famous by such products as Ilfobrom Galerie FB and Multigrade IV FB papers, with the ability to be exposed in digital laser printers (Lightjet and Lambda) writing directly from digital files.
Ilford Photo Press Release Having long established its reputation for the production of market-leading black-and-white photographic paper, ILFORD Photo has now taken the whole genre onto a new level of archival and presentational excellence with the fusion of modern digital technology and true silver gelatine printing. ILFORD Photo has announced…
DPReview have just reviewed the Kodak Easyshare V610, the world’s smallest 10x zoom digital camera.
“Unusually I’m not going to talk too much about image quality here; it’s not great, but the color is excellent and at the lowest ISO settings it’s perfectly good enough for small (up to, say, 5x7 inches) prints or for viewing on a typical 1024x768 screen. If you’re more demanding, want to produce larger prints or shoot in low light I’d suggest you turn around and walk away now.”
Website: DPReview - Kodak Easyshare V610 Review
Website: Read our Kodak Easyshare V610 Review
DPReview have just reviewed the Kodak Easyshare V610, the world’s smallest 10x zoom digital camera. “Unusually I’m not going to talk too much about image quality here; it’s not great, but the color is excellent and at the lowest ISO settings it’s perfectly good enough for small (up to, say…
DCResource have just reviewed the new 10.2 megapixel Sony A100 DSLR camera.
“Being a digital SLR it’s not surprising that noise levels are very low all the way through ISO 400. At ISO 800 you start to pick up some noticeable grain, but the photo is absolutely usable, even at larger print sizes. Two things happen at ISO 1600: one, noise levels increase dramatically, and two, exposure and color saturation both drop through the floor. I’ve seen the same thing on some of Sony’s 2006 Cyber-shot cameras, so I guess they share a similar noise reduction system.”
Website: DCResource - Sony A100 Review
Website: Read our Sony A100 Review
DCResource have just reviewed the new 10.2 megapixel Sony A100 DSLR camera. “Being a digital SLR it’s not surprising that noise levels are very low all the way through ISO 400. At ISO 800 you start to pick up some noticeable grain, but the photo is absolutely usable, even at…
Norwegian website Akam.no have published a review of the Fujifilm FinePix F30, which offers ISO 3200, 6 megapixels, 3x optical zoom lens and a 2.5 inch LCD.
Website: Akam.no - Fujifilm FinePix F30 Review
Website: Read our Fujifilm Finepix F30 Review
Norwegian website Akam.no have published a review of the Fujifilm FinePix F30, which offers ISO 3200, 6 megapixels, 3x optical zoom lens and a 2.5 inch LCD. Website: Akam.no - Fujifilm FinePix F30 Review Website: Read our Fujifilm Finepix F30 Review Latest Prices / User Reviews
DIWA member and Czech website Fotoaparat have published their review of the new Panasonic DMC-L1 DSLR camera.
Website: Fotoaparat - Panasonic DMC-L1 Review
DIWA member and Czech website Fotoaparat have published their review of the new Panasonic DMC-L1 DSLR camera. Website: Fotoaparat - Panasonic DMC-L1 Review Latest Prices / User Reviews
Steves Digicams have published their review of the Samsung GX-1L DSLR, which offers 6-megapixels, five-point wide-area Auto Focus system, three-mode metering system and 8 scene modes.
“We liked the Pentax *ist DL when we reviewed it earlier this year, and we like what is essentially its clone, the Samsung GX-1L, equally well. With a price point that overlaps well into consumer digicam territory, the GX-1L offers a compelling choice to upgraders, providing dSLR versatility and better high ISO image quality in a lightweight and compact package.”
Steves Digicams have published their review of the Samsung GX-1L DSLR, which offers 6-megapixels, five-point wide-area Auto Focus system, three-mode metering system and 8 scene modes. “We liked the Pentax *ist DL when we reviewed it earlier this year, and we like what is essentially its clone, the Samsung GX-1L…
Samsung Press Release
Samsung Electronics Develops World’s First 3-inch LCD Screen of VGA Quality for Digital Still Cameras
SEOUL, South Korea—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Aug. 10, 2006—Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world’s largest provider of thin-film transistor, liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, announced today that it has developed the first three-inch LCD panel with VGA (640 x 480 pixels) resolution that directly meets industry interface standards for digital still cameras. Executive Vice President Yun Jin-hyuk of Samsung Electronics said, “Our new LCD panel will make viewing of digital pictures distinctly more impressive on camera screens, personal multi-media players and other products requiring high-image resolution and low-power consumption.”
Samsung Press Release Samsung Electronics Develops World’s First 3-inch LCD Screen of VGA Quality for Digital Still Cameras SEOUL, South Korea—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Aug. 10, 2006—Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world’s largest provider of thin-film transistor, liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, announced today that it has developed the first three-inch LCD panel…
Olympus follow hot on the heels of Fujifilm by announcing a 2GB xD-Picture Card, available from August and costing £69.99.
Olympus UK Press Release
New from Olympus, the M-XD2GM high-capacity 2GB compact memory media for digital cameras
London, 10 August 2006 - Olympus has announced the introduction of a Type M-series xD-Picture Card™, allowing photographers to take approximately 1000 shots using an 8 mega-pixel camera in HQ mode. This advanced ultra-compact memory card will enable users to take a year’s worth of photo shots and store them onto the same memory card. It will also allow users to keep more videos on their cards without having to worry about filling up the memory. With a data-storage capacity of 2GB, the M-XD2GM card has the largest memory in the xD-Picture Card™ range to date.
Olympus follow hot on the heels of Fujifilm by announcing a 2GB xD-Picture Card, available from August and costing £69.99. Olympus UK Press Release New from Olympus, the M-XD2GM high-capacity 2GB compact memory media for digital cameras London, 10 August 2006 - Olympus has announced the introduction of a Type…
Luminous Landscape’s latest article focuses on how an image is moulded into the final print; what size, tone and colour it should be.
“The process of cropping the image to its final aspect ratio may also be influenced by the removal of unwanted elements. We all crop in the field when we choose where to stand, what lens to use, and how to frame the picture. These are all acts of cropping. But physical realities like fences, walls, tree branches and the like can not always be circumvented on location. Therefore the cropping tool becomes just another method for reducing the image down to its essence – what you want it to show. Nothing more, and nothing less.”
Website: Luminous Landscape - Listening to the Print Inside the Image
Luminous Landscape’s latest article focuses on how an image is moulded into the final print; what size, tone and colour it should be. “The process of cropping the image to its final aspect ratio may also be influenced by the removal of unwanted elements. We all crop in the field…
A great article over on The Online Photographer blog addresses the idea of truth in photography, particularly poignant given the recent Reuters scandal in which one of their photographers was fired for doctoring an image.
“Our problem as photographers today is even worse. There are no demarcation lines anywhere. Some pictures are true, and some merely pretty, and many of each look more or less the same as the other: it’s up to the viewer to sort out which is which, and the task is seldom easy. A picture with all the cues of truth might be merely propaganda, and a picture which looks standard-pretty might in fact be true. And of course there is no way to know which is which…”
A great article over on The Online Photographer blog addresses the idea of truth in photography, particularly poignant given the recent Reuters scandal in which one of their photographers was fired for doctoring an image. “Our problem as photographers today is even worse. There are no demarcation lines anywhere. Some…
Getty Images have selected 35 photographers as the star advertising photographers of 2007 - take a look and see if you agree…
“With input from art directors and industry peers around the globe, Getty Images selected photographers from a variety of backgrounds. It’s a hypothetical, hopeful and perhaps even controversial list. As broadly as the photographers’ styles vary, a common thread linking their work is the marriage of authenticity and surrealism. Some are local stars meriting a larger stage; some have achieved success on the editorial side but employ techniques that could also enliven advertising; and others are just plain provocative. Put simply, it’s a look at what’s next. Now.”
Website: Getty - New Photographers 2007
Getty Images have selected 35 photographers as the star advertising photographers of 2007 - take a look and see if you agree… “With input from art directors and industry peers around the globe, Getty Images selected photographers from a variety of backgrounds. It’s a hypothetical, hopeful and perhaps even controversial…