Category: Photography Blog
In his first article for PhotographyBLOG, Zoltan Arva-Toth takes the bold step of proposing an entirely new auto-focus mode for digital cameras…
Update 1: As this has created a lot of interest, we’ll be contacting the camera manufacturers soon to ask for their input.
Update 2: Kodak, Carl Zeiss, Olympus and DxO Labs have now provided their feedback - see the end of the article.
It is no secret to anyone with a basic knowledge of photography that most modern cameras offer two main focusing modes, manual focus (MF) and autofocus (AF). Autofocus may come in several flavours, including AF-S (called one-shot AF by Canon) for stationary subjects, AF-C (AI Servo) for moving ones – especially useful if your subject is moving toward or away from you – and an intelligent AF-A (AI Focus) mode, which detects if the subject is in motion or not, and acts accordingly.
In his first article for PhotographyBLOG, Zoltan Arva-Toth takes the bold step of proposing an entirely new auto-focus mode for digital cameras… Update 1: As this has created a lot of interest, we’ll be contacting the camera manufacturers soon to ask for their input.Update 2: Kodak, Carl Zeiss, Olympus and…
The Spyder3Elite is the top-of-the-range product in Datacolor’s new line-up of display calibration devices. You need to calibrate your monitor to ensure that the colours you see on your screen are the colours seen on someone else’s screen, or on the paper when you print. The Spyder3 Elite uses a 7 colour detector engine and a larger light aperture to improve performance and colour accuracy over both the previous Spyder2 and competing brands. It also features an Ambient Light Control which will automatically measure the light in a room at regular intervals. Jon Canfield recalibrates his entire studio to find out if the Spyder3Elite delivers on its promises…
Website: Spyder3Elite Review
The Spyder3Elite is the top-of-the-range product in Datacolor’s new line-up of display calibration devices. You need to calibrate your monitor to ensure that the colours you see on your screen are the colours seen on someone else’s screen, or on the paper when you print. The Spyder3 Elite uses a…
The Epson Stylus Pro 7880 is a new 24 inch, large-format printer featuring improved UltraChrome K3 ink with Vivid Magenta technology. Shared by all 3 new models in the x880 series, this technology promises a wider colour gamut and unrivalled image quality from an 8-colour inkset. In addition the Epson 7880 offers a new Ethernet interface as standard and an improved printhead with Epson’s Super Halftone Technology, which enhances the image detail that may be lost in low resolution images. With a price tag of £2395 / $2995 for the 24” Stylus Pro 7880, only serious photographers need apply. Jon Canfield finds out if the Epson Stylus Pro 7880 meets their needs…
Website: Epson Stylus Pro 7880 Review
The Epson Stylus Pro 7880 is a new 24 inch, large-format printer featuring improved UltraChrome K3 ink with Vivid Magenta technology. Shared by all 3 new models in the x880 series, this technology promises a wider colour gamut and unrivalled image quality from an 8-colour inkset. In addition the Epson…
The winners of the February 2008 PhotographyBLOG Competition have been selected by a panel of judges. The theme for February was “Natural Patterns” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners:
1st Place
Peacock_7166 by jimmyedmonds
Prize: ShutterPoint.com one-year subscription with 100Mb of storage space
Kindly donated by ShutterPoint.
http://www.shutterpoint.com
The winners of the February 2008 PhotographyBLOG Competition have been selected by a panel of judges. The theme for February was “Natural Patterns” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners: 1st PlacePeacock_7166 by jimmyedmonds Prize: ShutterPoint.com one-year subscription with 100Mb of…
For keen photographers on a shoestring budget, Photoshop Elements 6 is the latest version of Adobe’s popular entry-level image editor. New features include the Guided Edit mode, which helps walk users through the steps of improving a photo, and Photomerge, which combines facial expressions from a series of shots to create a single cohesive group shot. Photoshop Elements 6 for Windows costs £70 / $99, and a MAC version is on the way very soon. Jon Canfield found out if Elements 6 is all the image editor that you really need…
Website: Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 Review
For keen photographers on a shoestring budget, Photoshop Elements 6 is the latest version of Adobe’s popular entry-level image editor. New features include the Guided Edit mode, which helps walk users through the steps of improving a photo, and Photomerge, which combines facial expressions from a series of shots to…
The winners of the January 2008 PhotographyBLOG Competition have been selected by a panel of judges. The theme for January was “New Beginning” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners:
1st Place
As Life Unfolds Again by sfaerber at carlson.com
Prize: CanvasRus 40 x 30” Canvas Print
Kindly donated by CanvasRus
http://www.canvasrus.co.uk
The winners of the January 2008 PhotographyBLOG Competition have been selected by a panel of judges. The theme for January was “New Beginning” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners: 1st PlaceAs Life Unfolds Again by sfaerber at carlson.com Prize: CanvasRus…
At first glance the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200 looks like a fairly run-of-the mill compact camera, with an understated, compact silver body, 3x zoom lens (35-105mm) and 2.5 inch LCD screen. Look a little closer though, and you’ll find that there are some more impressive stand-out features. Most obvious is the headline-grabbing 12 megapixel resolution, now the standard for any self-respecting top-of-the range compact like the W200. Next up is true optical image stabilisation via Sony’s Super SteadyShot technology, which combined with the extensive ISO range of 100-3200 promises to make blurry photos a thing of the past. The Sony W200 also offers a true Manual shooting mode which allows you to set both the shutter speed and aperture, and there’s also an optical viewfinder for ease-of-use in bright sunlight. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200 is therefore a mix of humdrum and rather more exciting features, on paper at least. Mark Goldstein tested the W200 in the short, dark days of an English winter to find out how it coped out in the real world.
Website: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200 Review
At first glance the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200 looks like a fairly run-of-the mill compact camera, with an understated, compact silver body, 3x zoom lens (35-105mm) and 2.5 inch LCD screen. Look a little closer though, and you’ll find that there are some more impressive stand-out features. Most obvious is the…
Announced just last week, the HP B8850 is a new, competitively priced 13 inch / A3 photo printer aimed squarely at the keen amateur photographer. The B8850 offers a very similar specification to its well-received big brother, the B9180, whilst cutting features that most users won’t need to bring the price down. Is the HP B8850 a veritable bargain, or does it cut too many corners? Jon Canfield finds out, as we bring you the World’s first ever review of the HP Photosmart Pro B8850 printer.
Website: HP B8850 Review
Announced just last week, the HP B8850 is a new, competitively priced 13 inch / A3 photo printer aimed squarely at the keen amateur photographer. The B8850 offers a very similar specification to its well-received big brother, the B9180, whilst cutting features that most users won’t need to bring the…
PhotographyBLOG’s PMA 2008 Report is now open for business. The Photo Marketing Association (PMA) Annual Convention and Trade Show takes place this year in Las Vegas, USA, from 29th January - 2nd February 2008. PMA is the world’s largest annual photo imaging trade show, where all the major photography manufacturers unveil their new product line-ups for 2008 and beyond. Just like last year, PhotographyBLOG will cover PMA live from the show floor. There are a lot of announcements both in the weeks leading up to PMA and during the 3 days of the show itself, all of which are included in our PMA 2008 Report. To help you keep track of everything that’s going on, this page contains links to all of the latest product announcements. You can also signup for our email Newsletter or subscribe to our RSS feed, which will keep you up to date with everything that is happening before, during and after PMA 2008.
Website: PMA 2008 Report
PhotographyBLOG’s PMA 2008 Report is now open for business. The Photo Marketing Association (PMA) Annual Convention and Trade Show takes place this year in Las Vegas, USA, from 29th January - 2nd February 2008. PMA is the world’s largest annual photo imaging trade show, where all the major photography manufacturers…
The Sony A700 is a new DSLR camera with a wealth of features that are clearly targeted at the advanced amateur photographer. Clearly based on the design of the Konica Minolta Maxxum / Dynax 7D camera (Sony bought Konica Minolta’s camera assets in 2006), the A700 inherits the same lens mount, eye-start auto-focus system, and in-body anti-shake system. Building on that solid foundation, Sony have brought the A700 bang up-to-date with a 12.24 megapixel CMOS sensor, large 3 inch LCD screen, 11 point autofocus system and 5fps continuous shooting. At this price point (around £999 / $1400) the Sony A700 faces some stiff competition, with rival models from Nikon, Canon, Olympus and Panasonic all making a strong claim for your money. Mark Goldstein took the new Sony A700 to the deserts of Dubai to find out if this new pretender to the prosumer crown has what it takes…
Website: Sony A700 Review
The Sony A700 is a new DSLR camera with a wealth of features that are clearly targeted at the advanced amateur photographer. Clearly based on the design of the Konica Minolta Maxxum / Dynax 7D camera (Sony bought Konica Minolta’s camera assets in 2006), the A700 inherits the same lens…
The winners of the December 2007 PhotographyBLOG Competition have been selected by a panel of judges. The theme for December was “Family” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners:
1st Place
Family by vjbm
Prize: 1 copy of Powerretouche Full Pro Pack
Kindly donated by Powerretouche.
http://powerretouche.com
The winners of the December 2007 PhotographyBLOG Competition have been selected by a panel of judges. The theme for December was “Family” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners: 1st PlaceFamily by vjbm Prize: 1 copy of Powerretouche Full Pro Pack…
Happy New Year to everyone!
The start of 2008 promises to be extremely busy, with not one but two photography-related trade shows (CES and PMA), where the new cameras for the first half of the year will be unveiled. I’ll be at the PMA show in Las Vegas at the end of January to bring you all the news. Now is a good time to grab a camera bargain, as many of the “old” models will be heavily discounted to make way for the new, but on the other hand, you never know what’s just around the corner…
We’ve got some exciting reviews lined-up for the next few weeks; the Olympus E-3, Nikon D300 and Sony A700 will all be put under the spotlight. We’re also working on several new features which we can’t talk about just yet.
With CES taking place next week, expect a lot of new product announcements starting from tomorrow, so keep visiting, subscribe to our RSS feed, and sign-up for the weekly Newsletter to stay up-to-date with all the latest news.
Happy New Year to everyone! The start of 2008 promises to be extremely busy, with not one but two photography-related trade shows (CES and PMA), where the new cameras for the first half of the year will be unveiled. I’ll be at the PMA show in Las Vegas at the…
Wishing you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
2007 has been a fantastic year for PhotographyBLOG. The site has grown by a massive 65% year-on-year, now receiving over 570,000 unique visitors and 1.7 million page views every month.
Our regularly updated breaking News, in-depth product Reviews and popular Gallery and Forums community have all contributed to making PhotographyBLOG one of the largest online photographic websites around.
Thank you to everyone for visiting us during 2007.
Mark Goldstein
Editor, PhotographyBLOG
Wishing you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 2007 has been a fantastic year for PhotographyBLOG. The site has grown by a massive 65% year-on-year, now receiving over 570,000 unique visitors and 1.7 million page views every month. Our regularly updated breaking News, in-depth product Reviews and popular Gallery…
Dutch wildlife photography Jan Vermeer recently made an epic journey through the icy wastelands of Antartica, accompanied by Nikon’s brand new DSLR, the eagerly-anticipated D300. In our exclusive English report, Jan shares his experiences of using Nikon’s prosumer DSLR camera in such an inhospitable climate, photographing the Emperor Penguins of Snow Hill Island. A passionate advocate of the D2X camera, this was Jan’s first hands-on test of the new Nikon D300 - find out how it performed in one of the most beautiful and most hostile parts of our planet.
Website: Nikon D300 Field Test
Dutch wildlife photography Jan Vermeer recently made an epic journey through the icy wastelands of Antartica, accompanied by Nikon’s brand new DSLR, the eagerly-anticipated D300. In our exclusive English report, Jan shares his experiences of using Nikon’s prosumer DSLR camera in such an inhospitable climate, photographing the Emperor Penguins of…
With the PMA photography trade show just around the corner and aggressive Christmas competition driving down prices, it’s surprising what kind of camera you can buy for less than £150 / $300. Take the Nikon Coolpix P50 for example - 8 megapixels, 28-102mm wide-angle lens, vibration reduction, ISO 2000 and face detection is an impressive feature set for this price-point. We reviewed the Nikon P50’s more expensive brother, the P5100, a couple of months ago, and while it promised a lot on paper, it failed to really wow us. Can the Coolpix P50 avoid a similar fate? Gavin Stoker found out.
Website: Nikon Coolpix P50 Review
With the PMA photography trade show just around the corner and aggressive Christmas competition driving down prices, it’s surprising what kind of camera you can buy for less than £150 / $300. Take the Nikon Coolpix P50 for example - 8 megapixels, 28-102mm wide-angle lens, vibration reduction, ISO 2000 and…
The lucky winner of our fantastic Christmas Newsletter contest has been randomly selected from the PhotographyBLOG Newsletter subscriber list.
Fergus Wernham wins a 12 megapixel Kodak Easyshare V1253 digital camera, worth £199 / $299.
The lucky winner of our fantastic Christmas Newsletter contest has been randomly selected from the PhotographyBLOG Newsletter subscriber list. Fergus Wernham wins a 12 megapixel Kodak Easyshare V1253 digital camera, worth £199 / $299.
Today we take a look at the latest digital camera to offer an 18x optical zoom lens - the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18. This is an 8 megapixel bridge-style compact with a lens that covers a focal range of 28-504mm, perfect for everything from wide-angle landscapes to close-up sports photography. The Panasonic DMC-FZ18 also features optical image stabilisation, both JPEG and RAW image formats, plus a smart new Intelligent Auto mode for beginners. Read our extensive review to find out if the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 can compete with its main competitors, the Fujifilm S8000fd and the Olympus SP-560UZ.
Website: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 Review
Today we take a look at the latest digital camera to offer an 18x optical zoom lens - the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18. This is an 8 megapixel bridge-style compact with a lens that covers a focal range of 28-504mm, perfect for everything from wide-angle landscapes to close-up sports photography…
The winners of the November 2007 PhotographyBLOG Competition have been selected by a panel of judges. The theme for November was “Alone” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners:
1st Place
Alone by hiyall
Prize: Photobird.com one-year subscription with 500Mb of storage space
Kindly donated by Photobird.com.
http://www.photobird.com
The winners of the November 2007 PhotographyBLOG Competition have been selected by a panel of judges. The theme for November was “Alone” - you can view all of the entries in this gallery. Here are the 5 winners: 1st PlaceAlone by hiyall Prize: Photobird.com one-year subscription with 500Mb of storage…
The Wacom Bamboo is a new range of affordable pen tablets aimed at more casual users who can’t justify the relatively high price of the Intous3 range. Available in two editions, the Bamboo and Bamboo Fun, the primary difference between them is the inclusion of a mouse on the latter, and more importantly, the addition of an eraser on the pen. Most serious digital photographers use a graphics tablet for Photoshop and other imaging applications, but does the Wacom Bamboo range offer enough incentives to persuade the rest of us to give up our mice? Jon Canfield took the Wacom Bamboo and Bamboo Fun for a test drive to find out.
Website: Wacom Bamboo Review
The Wacom Bamboo is a new range of affordable pen tablets aimed at more casual users who can’t justify the relatively high price of the Intous3 range. Available in two editions, the Bamboo and Bamboo Fun, the primary difference between them is the inclusion of a mouse on the latter…
The Olympus FE-300 is the new top-of-the-range model in Olympus’ entry level FE series of digital cameras. Sporting a mainly metal build and retailing for around the £200 / $300 mark, first impressions of the new slim-line FE-300 from Olympus are good. On paper at least the Olympus FE-300 seems to have it all: 12 megapixel resolution, face detection technology plus high ISO functionality (an impressively broad range from ISO 50 up to ISO 6400) alongside a standard 3x optical zoom and 2.5-inch, high resolution screen. So, the question is, have the Olympus FE-300‘s good looks and numerous features been delivered at the expense of operation and performance? Gavin Stoker took it all the way to Japan to find out.
Website: Olympus FE-300 Review
The Olympus FE-300 is the new top-of-the-range model in Olympus’ entry level FE series of digital cameras. Sporting a mainly metal build and retailing for around the £200 / $300 mark, first impressions of the new slim-line FE-300 from Olympus are good. On paper at least the Olympus FE-300 seems…