The Photo Floor

Nikon D400

2009-06-14T19:02:00.002-04:00

The Nikon D400 will probably be the follow-up name to the Nikon D300 series DSLR. However, rumors of a Nikon D300s suggest that it may appear before the D400.

Canon 7D

2009-06-14T18:58:00.001-04:00

The Canon 7D is rumored to be coming soon and will feature a full frame sensor at 16.8 megapixels. It will be situated between the Canon 5D Mark II and the Canon 60D.

Canon 40D News and Rumors

2007-01-22T19:59:00.000-05:00

Check out the coverage here.

10 Free Prints from Wal-Mart

2006-12-26T18:58:00.000-05:00

I don't print from Wal-Mart and don't necessarily recommend it. But if you use it here's 10 free prints to the first taker.

1. Go to Walmart.com/photo/duracell
2. Enter this code: 5P52-4AUV-UP52-UZT9
3. No account? Create one so Wal-Mart can credit it.
4. Add your photos to Walmart.com and order.
5. Redeemed credits will be applied toward your prints at checkout.
6. Place your comment on this post so I can tell folks that the code has been used.
7. Enjoy.

If you're wondering, the code came from a Duracell battery charger. That Canon 420EX of mine really eats the AA's. It'll save the wallet in the long run.

Photoshop CS3 Beta Release

2006-12-14T21:15:00.000-05:00

If you haven’t gotten your beta release of the new free Photoshop CS3 public beta yet, get it now (for Windows or Mac). Wired has the scoop on the release. Adobe has been more than generous with the Lightroom public betas. However, I should warn you that I think Adobe is stringing us along like a crack dealer by giving us a free peek at the goods only to cut us off when we get addicted. If you shoot RAW and haven’t tried Lightroom yet, you should. It’s all I use for my RAW workflow and I know I’ll be shelling out the two or three hundred bones for the final release after the beta has expired.

Looking for a New Lens?

2006-12-05T19:58:00.000-05:00

Shutterbug has a new article, A Trio Of Tamron Zooms, which features the following lenses:

Depending on your intended application, you might fancy one of these lenses if you're looking to expand your current DSLR kit. The 17-50mm and 28-200mm lenses are available in both Canon and Nikon mounts, while the 70-300 lens is available in Canon, Nikon, Sony/Minolta and Pentax mounts.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2

2006-11-30T12:49:00.000-05:00

Popular Photography has a nice review of the new Point and Shoot from Panasonic, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2. Overall, they seem pretty impressed with it. From the article:

This is a compact for control freaks. Besides aperture- and shutter-priority modes, it offers full manual, with shutter speeds from 1/2000 to 60 sec and a very useful screen graph showing over- or underexposure. It can bracket exposures, too. Scene modes include Night Portrait, Starry Sky, Soft Skin, and even Food. And in autoexposure mode, there's a backlight compensation feature that works even without the flash popped up.

Even more impressive to me is the capability of capturing in RAW format on a point and shoot. At just over 400 bones, you get quite the package for the price of admission.

Sloan Photographers

2006-11-30T12:42:00.000-05:00

Let me take a moment to refer you to a photo blog that I really enjoy. I click in every couple of days or so to see what Mr. and Ms. Sloan have posted. It's a true display of art that this husband and wife team puts together over there. So, take five and enjoy the beautiful and creative photos over at Sloan Photographers.

Holiday Shopping Deals

2006-11-27T20:13:00.000-05:00

Amazon has got some great sales on several digital camera and accessory items this week with free shipping on them all. I've provided links to several of these killer deals below:

Canon Powershot S2 IS 5MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom - $279.94

HP Photosmart R927 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom - $238.94

Fujifilm Finepix S6000 6MP Digital Camera with 10.7x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom with Picture Stabilization - $391.49 before $50 rebate

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1K 5MP Compact Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom - $219.00

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens - $69.94
Seriously, you cannot pass this lens up at this price if you don't have one yet. Read more . . .

Olympus Stylus 720SW 7.1MP Ultra Slim Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom - $299.94

Joby GP1-01P Gorillapod Flexible Tripod - $21.95 (a great stocking stuffer)

Just wanted to pass these along. Happy holidays and enjoy!

Don't Get Scammed on Your Photo Purchase

2006-11-26T20:54:00.000-05:00

Looking for a real deal? If it's too good to be true, it probably is...

Be careful when shopping this holiday season. Head on over to Bob Atkins' site to get a heads up on the photo scam artists out there.

Also, if you're thinking about getting a real deal on some cheap memory cards on ebay . . . . think again. Much to my dismay, I recently got scammed on what I thought was a good deal on a SanDisk CF card from an ebay seller. I'll share the whole story in a later post, but for now, stick to Amazon or B&H for you memory card needs. Better yet, support your local camera store by shopping with them and get some great hands-on advice and support while you're at it.

Think you've been scammed with a fake memory card already? Look here for more...

Canon Rebel XT Price Drop

2006-11-23T23:58:00.000-05:00

Recent reports note that Canon has dropped the Rebel XT MSRP to $599 for the body only and $699 with the kit lens.

An even better deal can be found on Amazon.com today where the Rebel XT is under $530 for the body only and Kit price with 18-55mm lens is under $630. Both deals come with free shipping from Amazon. I paid a cool $1000 for the same kit a year and a half ago!

I imagine that the price drop is in response to Nikon's recent announcement of their new D40 at $600 with lens, which is not yet available . Also, keep in mind that the Canon Rebel XTi is $815 at Amazon - again, free shipping.

I imagine there will be a few of these under some Christmas trees this year at these ridiculous deals. Hmmm? Maybe I need a second body.....

Have Fun!

2006-11-22T20:47:00.000-05:00

Click for Larger View

I had a blast last Saturday night taking these shots. Most of these were 10 second exposures at f/16 and ISO 100.

The set up is rather simple. Position your camera on a tripod in the rear floorboard of your car. Use a wide lens. I used my kit lens on my Rebel XT at 18mm. Set your camera up for remote shutter release. I used a Canon RC1 wireless remote. Get up some speed in commercial night life area (with plenty of signs and stop lights) and start pressing that shutter release.

Please, don't try to make adjustments when you're moving. Pull into a parking lot or carry along a willing assistant (in the back seat) to make any necessary adjustments. Make a few runs up and down the strip and see what you get.

To really make the image pop, I copied the backgroud layer in Photoshop and added emboss with color burn opacity tuned to roughly 50%. There are plenty of ways to tinker with these shots. Most importantly - have fun!

Click for Larger View

Cameras for Christmas

2006-11-18T21:33:00.000-05:00

You or someone you know has a digital camera on their Christmas Wish List. Which one do you really want or which one should you get for that special someone. I'm picking what I think are the top three cameras in a variety of categories below. I'll try to give you some kind of sense of what kinds of people fit with which cameras below.

Camera on a Budget - Under $200
The growth of technology has really prompted this catagory of cameras. Four years ago, finding a digital camera under $200 was practically impossible. Sure, you might have seen a few on ebay, but how well did they work - or better yet, did they work at all?

There are several great cameras in this price range now. The Canon Powershot A430 is just one example. At about $135, it's well within the budget-minded giver's range. It's a 4 megapixel cameral with a 4x optical zoom. This is a great zoom for such an inexpensive and small camera. The A430 also comes in several different color schemes, including gold, red and blue.

Another great camera is the Canon Powershot A530. It's a 5 megapixel and has a 4x optical zoom and runs in the neighborhood of $130. While it's got more megapixels, it's also physically a larger camera. Still, on a budget, you can't go wrong with this camera. You get a lot more than what you pay for here.

Small Camera, Big Picture
On the high side of the technology wave, there are tons of features and specs to consider. A lot of these considerations are making it into smaller and smaller packages. You can get a lot out of a camera that will fit in your pocket comfortably. That's what this category is all about. Folks who want to have high technology accessible (in their purse or pants) - but not in the way.

The Canon SD800 IS fits the bill nicely. It's 7.1 megapixels, has a 3.8x optical zoom, and has image stabilization. It also has a 2.5" LCD and only weighs in at 5.3 ounces. Price of admission? About $360.

Also, take a look at the Panasonic Lumix FX9, which is available in black, silver, or red. Personally, I like the black. 6 megapixels, 3x optical zoom, and image stabilization. It's priced in the $360 range with the SD800. You might also take a look at the Panasonic Lumix FX50, which has 7.2 megapixels and is around $350.

All-In-One Do-It-All
If you or someone on your list wants a camera that can reach out and touch someone, this is the category you need to look at. These cameras typically have a zoom range equivalent to roughly 35mm-400mm, which is huge! What's more, is that the best of these have image stabilization built in, which is almost a necessity for such a long reach. With all these features, however, the camera is considerably bigger than the pocket cameras discussed above. You're going to want to grab a dedicated camera case to tote these along in.

The Canon S3IS is in the cream of the crop in my opinion. It's a 6 megapixel (up from 5MP on the previous S2IS), has a super long zoom and built in image stabilization. It runs about $350 or so. Not a bad deal considering all you get in one camera.

I think the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 offers Canon some strong competition in this category. Also 6MP and image stabilized, the FZ7 is a pretty camera to look at and has received rave reviews. It's also about $100 less than the S3IS at $260 from Amazon at the time of posting.

Kodak has stepped up to the plate with the Kodak Easyshare P712. Previous models from Kodak lacked the crucial image stabilization for this category. The P712 has that and more. At 7.1 megapixels, it beats out the Canon and Panasonic competitors. Kodak touts itself as a user-friendly brand and maintains the Easyshare features on this more tech-friendly model. At $380, it's also the most pricey of the bunch.

I'll mention one more Canon camera that doesn't have quite the reach of the others in this category, but it's still a great (maybe the best) point and shoot out there. The Canon PowerShot G7 10MP Digital Camera with 6x Image-Stabilized Optical Zoom is the newest of the G-Series line. I encourage you to investigate and research this camera further. It has a lot of advanced options that you don't get on your run-of-the-mill point and shoot camera.

Digital SLRs
There is a lot of hoopla and debate surrounding the DSLR (digital single lens reflex) question. If you've got someone that has a DSLR on their wishlist, you'd better think twice about making this decision on your own. Your best bet is to feel the person out for which particular camera that they want. Go with them to a camera or electronics store and observe their reaction to the cameras listed below. Chances are, after holding and shooting with one or the other, they're going to form a bias about what "feels" best. Go with that one.

If you are totally out on a limb and you know that the person for whom you're shopping is as clueless as you about the choice, get the Canon Rebel XTi. It's the newest and best offering from Canon in the entry-level DSLR realm. I recommend this camera because of Canon's sheer market power. While any of the choices below would be suitable, Canon offers a wider selection of lenses than any other brand. When you buy a DSLR, you are buying into a system. Canon lenses fit Canon cameras and likewise with other brands. Canon is the Microsoft of the DSLR world (without the security problems and blue screens of death).

Here's a list of the DSLR's that should be on a first-time buyer's Christmas list:

Canon Rebel XTi - 10MP - $800 with lens
Canon Digital Rebel XT - 8MP - $650 with lens
Canon 30D - 8MP - $1160 (after rebate) with lens
Nikon D80 - 10MP - $1280 with lens
Nikon D200 - 10MP - $1750 with lens
Sony Alpha A100 - 10MP & built-in image stabilization - $830 with lens

There's also several other offerings from brands like Pentax, Samsung, and Panasonic. I'm not getting into those considerations here because of the prevalence of Canon and Nikon in the DSLR world. I only mention Sony because of the brand recognition that they bring to the table and the apparent commitment that they are making. Sony appears to be rather serious about continuing in this market.

The Photographer
So, you've got a photographer (profession/amateur/enthusiast) in your family and you really want to please them? These guys are the tough ones. Hopefully, they've given you their wish list in writing and you can hop on Amazon or B&H, or go down to your local camera store, and get what they want. If not though, what do you do?

I think you've still got to know categories of what they like or want. If you can figure out the ballbark areas of interest, consider some of the below suggestions. Don't forget to read some of the reviews on Amazon when you're shopping online. Sometimes those can be your best indicator of whether you should get the product or not.

Books:
If they're just starting out, consider Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It's a rather cheap book but could very well be the best $16 anybody spends on photography.

If they are into Photoshop and want some good references consider the Photoshop for Digital Photographers series by Scott Kelby. There are several versions of Photoshop out there, so make sure you buy the appropriate corresponding book (e.g., The Photoshop Elements 5 Book for Digital Photographers). Additionally, consider the How to Wow Photoshop series and the Photoshop Cookbook The Camera, The Negative, or The Print.

Camera Gear:

A quality tripod is a necessity for every serious photographer. In this case it's hard to go wrong with something from Bogen-Manfrotto. Consider your price range, what your photographer will use it for, and educate yourself on their great line of tripods and monopods.

An off-camera flash is another important item for the new SLR user that has yet to acquire one. Buy the right brand and a flash that has a bounce/swivel head. For Nikon users, get the SB-600 or the SB-800. For Canon users get the 430EX or the 580EX.

More memory please! This is an easy item to pick up. Find your price range and buy the largest SanDisk Ultra II card or Extreme III card that is within that range. You'll make a photographer very happy with this gift. To learn more about memory cards, take a look at this earlier post.

Is a camera bag on your list? Lowepro and Tamrac are two very popular and high quality brands. In most cases, I would recommend that you stick to these. However, if you're on a tight budget, Amazon frequently has a real deal on the Canon 200EG backpack. I've got it and I love it. It was cheap and holds everything I need and expect it to hold. Like I said though, if you want to impress, you should probably get the Lowepro.

You've got my two cents now. I hope this run down gives you a better idea of what to look for when shopping in the camera aisle this Christmas. Feel free to fire away with questions, offer additional advice, or even make derogatory comments. Merry Christmas!

New Nikon D40 at $600 with Lens

2006-11-16T21:37:00.000-05:00

It's 6.1 megapixels and comes with a new 18-55mm lens. Photography Blog has the scoop:

The Nikon D40 DSLR is finally here after a number of high-profile leaks and reports by some of the leading photography websites. We’ve resisted the urge to break any embargoes, instead preferring to bring you news of the D40 in full, along with some exclusive product shots from yesterday’s UK press launch in central London. The Nikon D40 is small, light and undeniably cheap at just £449.99/ €679.99 with the new 18-55mm kit lens (it won’t be sold as body-only), but after trying it out, the D40 importantly still retains the usual high Nikon build-quality. The new Nikon D40 will be available from 1st December 2006. Read more . . .

Cameras for Tots

2006-11-10T21:43:00.000-05:00

I've been letting my 4 year old run around with an old Sony 3.2MP point and shoot camera occasionally. He loves it and does surprisingly well at times. I don't let him run off too far with the camera because I'm not quite ready to turn it into a $400 toy.

Fisher Price to the rescue! Popular Photography has an article reviewing the new Fisher Price Kid Tough Digital Camera. Overall, they seem pleased with it - the camera performs well given the intended audience.

From the article:

If our guest testers are any indication, FisherPrice has a real winner with this camera. The chance for children to act like their folks with their own camera will make many children happy. And for parents, having the chance to see the world through a child's eye, even in low-resolution snapshots, is simply magical. Read more . . .

The camera has made my son's Christmas list and grandma has insisted on checking it off the list. I'll let you know how this works out after Christmas.

The Mystery Behind Color Spaces: Adobe RGB vs. sRGB

2006-10-18T13:22:00.000-04:00

Intro
Talk about frustration. I first learned the significance of using color spaces the hard way - lots of bad prints. The worst part of it all was that the local photo lab I was using at the time didn't either recognize and/or understand what the problem was. They blamed the problem on monitor calibration. That wasn't the problem though.

See, when I took my digital files in on a disc or uploaded them to the store, they looked washed out and dull - nothing at all like the brilliant colors I saw on my monitor. So, I changed photo labs - same problem. Then, one day, I found the answer - I was submitting my prints in Adobe RGB color space rather the sRGB colorspace. After I switched to using sRGB exclusively I never got the washed out look on my prints again.

What is a Color Space?
I'll admit, I don't understand all the technical bits of what a color space is. If you're into that kind of thing and want to know more, I'd say have a look at Wikipedia's entry on color space. That said, if you think you can put the explanation into a short paragraph of plain english that I can understand, please post it for everyone's benefit.

I'll try to explain how I see this color space concept. There's a lot of colors in the world around us. My camera sees a lot of them, but not all. Depending on the color space that I choose (either in camera or in my editing software) I'll have more or less of these colors to display. sRGB is the standard set of colors that are used on the internet. You can thank Microsoft and HP for this. There's only so many different values of Red, Green, and Blues (and combinations thereof) that we get on websites - because sRGB is the standard and that's what web browsers use to see color. I suppose the simplest way to say it is that a color space is a defined set or range of colors.

About the Adobe RGB Color Space
Simply put, Adobe RGB has a bigger range of colors that sRGB. Adobe RGB was designed and implemented by (no surprise here) Adobe Systems, Inc. It was designed to help you get more color out of your inkjet printers that use a much bigger color space than sRGB. Particularly, Adobe RGB consists of a much wider range of greens and cyans (green-blue). So, we're now clear on the fact that Adobe RGB gives photographers more color to work with. Sounds like a no brainer. Let's go on to sRGB though.

What Adobe RGB color space looks like:

About the sRGB Color Space
sRGB, as noted above, gives us a smaller range of colors than Adobe RGB; however, don't forget that it is the Internet standard (thanks Microsoft and HP). If you're looking at pictures on the web via your web browser and they look nice and colorful, then you can bet it's in sRGB color space.

What sRGB color space looks like:

More importantly, perhaps, is the fact that sRGB is what most photo labs use today. You name it, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Wolf Camera, Ritz, and Target all use the sRGB color space to print your photos. Online labs like Kodak, York, and Snapfish, among others use the sRGB color space. Even labs that market themselves as "pro" labs such as Mpix or Myphotopipe (which I use and love) use the sRGB color space to process your prints.

Which One Should I Use?
It depends. This isn't too hard to figure out though.

If you print your own photos and you want every ounce of color that you get out of your photo, then learn to use Adobe RGB. I can't really tell you all that you need to know. Take a look at some of the resources that I've linked to in this post. Feel free to educate the rest of us on it if you know how to do it. Note that there are a few photo labs that will accomodate the Adobe RGB color space. Consider Printroom.com, for example. Printroom will accept whatever color space you send them, including Adobe RGB. They don't say that they'll print your Adobe RGB color space but they will "use the color information in your image file to convert it to the color space of the printer used to print the particular size-paper combination specified in the order. As a result, the images are printed exactly how you see them on your calibrated monitor in a "color aware" program like Adobe Photoshop." That's better service than you get from most online labs. If anyone is aware of other labs that accomodate Adobe RGB, please let me know.

If, like me, you take your photos, make a couple of edits here and there and either upload them onto the web at a place like SmugMug or print them out locally or online at a site like Myphotopipe.com, then you now know that you should be using sRGB from start to finish. Likewise, if you go the path of Adobe RGB, you'll need to convert those images to sRGB before you decide to upload and share them on the web.

Additional Sources to Learn More
sRGB vs. Adobe RGB from Cambridge in Colour
Dry Creek Photo: Introduction to Color Spaces
Color Space Fundamentals
Wikipedia - Adobe RGB
Wikipedia - sRGB
Adobe.com - Adobe RGB
Nature Photographers Online Magazine: Beyond Adobe RGB
Microsoft: Color Spaces and You

RAW vs. JPEG

2006-10-08T22:31:00.000-04:00

I'm going to address a debate that there is no clear answer to . . . actually, there is an answer: "It depends."

Ask a handful of photographers which file format you should shoot with and you'll get some strong opinions on both sides of the debate. Each side has some good points. The problem with the debate is that some folks with strong opinions believe there is only one way - JPEG or RAW. I tend to think that this depends on each photographer's particular circumstances.

First things first though. Let's talk a little bit about the basics of a RAW or JPEG image.

The JPEG Image
If you don't know what kind of file that the images you take are, then chances are you're shooting in JPEG format. Why? It's the easiest to work with - you would certainly be aware of a RAW file if you were shooting it. By easiest, I mean you press the shutter button, remove the memory card from your camera, insert it in your computer, and upload, email, or print away.

For those of you that are interested in the technical side, consider the explanation provided at prepressue.com:

JPEG is a lossy compression algorithm that has been conceived to reduce the file size of natural, photographic-like true-colour images as much as possible without affecting the quality of the image as experienced by the human sensory engine. We perceive small changes in brightness more readily than we do small changes in colour. It is this aspect of our perception that JPEG compression exploits in an effort to reduce the file size. Read more . . .

Also consider the compression issues pointed out in this Wikipedia entry.

The RAW Image

A RAW image file contains minimally processed data from the image sensor of a digital camera. Raw files are so named because they are not yet processed and ready to use with a bitmap graphics editor, printed, or displayed by a typical web browser. The image must be processed and converted to an RGB format such as TIFF or JPEG before it can be manipulated. Read more . . .

This means you can't take a RAW image and immediately put it in to Photoshop without some in-between processing. You are basically developing a digital negative.

The Arguments for and Against
Some say RAW is a superior format because you can do more with post-processing. Others say that if you learn to make a proper exposure the first time then you should need to do much, if any, post-processing. And some swear by JPEGs because of the volume of shots they take (e.g., event photographers). I think that what everyone means in their arguments for or against a particular format is that their format of choice works for them because of their particular needs. This is why I say, "It depends."

Take Killboy for example. For those of you who don't know who Killboy is, he shoots motorcycles almost every day of the week at a place called Deals Gap (a.k.a. Tail of the Dragon). People come from all over the country just to ride this section of road on the Tennessee/North Carolina border. Make one pass through the 318 curves in just 11 miles and you'll see why. Killboy takes thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, of shots each week. Just think for a moment how you would manage shooting RAW and posting processing 10,000 pictures in one week and still have time to do the same thing the next week. (I went to a mountain bike race 4 months ago and took 1,000 RAW images. I'm about halfway through post-processing now.) Killboy, along with other event photographers, shoot JPEGs because their business model requires it. For them, shooting RAW is logistically impossible.

What if you're doing a landscape photo that includes the sky or a portrait the uses the sky as part of your background?

The RAW file format usually provides considerably more "dynamic range" than a JPEG file, depending on how the camera creates its JPEG. Dynamic range refers to the range of light to dark which can be captured by a camera before becoming completely white or black, respectively. Since the raw color data has not been converted into logarithmic values using curves (see overview), the exposure of a RAW file can be adjusted slightly--after the photo has been taken. Exposure compensation can correct for metering errors, or can help bring out lost shadow or highlight detail. Read more & view example . . .

You can see the benefits of shooting RAW here pretty clearly I think.

I've talked quite a bit about post-processing. When it comes to RAW files, your options are continually expanding. There are several vendors that make RAW conversion and editing programs now. Let's take a brief look at what they have to offer:

Adobe Lightroom (currently in beta testing) - Free (beta version only)
Lightroom is my personal favorite RAW file editor. I like the layout, controls, and depth of the program. It runs fine on my iMac G5. It's easy to batch process or convert to JPEG or TIFF. What little Photoshop integration there is functions just fine. As a matter of fact, I use Photoshop a lot less since I started using Lightroom. It's currently in Beta 4 for the Mac. I'm so attached to it that I'll have to buy it the day it comes out. Lightroom IS my workflow. Read more about Lightroom . . .

Adobe Camera RAW - Included with current Adobe Photoshop programs
Adobe Camera Raw is the staple RAW editor for many Photoshop users. To me, it seems clunky and inefficient as a browser/viewer for RAW files. If you bought a version of Photoshop recently, it came with it. If not, you can likely get it for free from Adobe.com. Don't take my word alone, it's just not my cup of tea. Read more about Adobe ACR . . .

Apple Aperture - $270
Apple Aperture? What can I say? It's pretty. It works. And lots of people love it. My exposure to it has been limited because it won't run on my iMac G5. You need a killer video card to even think about installing this program. Also, it's only for Macs. Window's users can move along now.

What little that I've done with Aperture hasn't really sold me on it. When I upgrade to the next gen Macs, I'll probably stick with Lightroom. Aperture just seems a little to "pretty" to me. I prefer the simple presentation that Lightroom has over Aperture. Aperture just seems like it is trying to do too much. That said, if you're a Mac user and you like iPhoto, Aperture may be what you're looking for. It's like iPhoto on steriods, lots of steroids. Just make sure you've got the hardware to put it to use when you buy Aperture. Read more about Aperture . . .

Apple iPhoto - included w/ all crrent Macs
Apple added support for RAW files in iPhoto 5. When you make edits (and we're talking basic edits), iPhoto gives you the option of saving your edits as a TIFF file. Not a bad little program, but it's still a little program. If you've got a Mac, you've got iPhoto. Give it a shot and see what you think.

Bibble Pro 4.0 - $130
I have absolutely no experience with Bibble Pro 4.0. What I will do is offer some quotes from others who have reviewed/used it:

The Good

It has lots of options and it really does a great job. The best feature I can think of is the “black and white” plug-in which can make the image really artistic and give it a professional touch. The fact that it supports most major cameras and RAW formats adds great value. Also, Bibble is the first independent application to support Nikon's encrypted white balance information.

The software runs perfectly on Windows, Mac and Linux (check on the system requirements)

The Bad

As always, I have a problem with the price of the product. I know that the guys put a lot of sweat in developing Bibble Pro, but the price seems a little high to me. But, if you really want best quality images, you've got to pay the price.

The Truth

Considering the alternatives on the market Bibble Pro represents a good option. I wish I didn't have to pay that much on the software, but the truth is that it is worth the money. It does a great job with your images and the results are really amazing.

However, I'm going to wait for a while to see what other products will show up before opening my wallet.

Bibble Pro 4.8 is definitely a good choice for processing the “raw” image files and giving them the professional twist we all dream of. Read more from Softpedia.com . . .

We are very pleased that Bibble is back and think it is a good alternative to C1 and Adobe Camera Raw.

Workflow: In terms of workflow B4 is in the same class as C1 and at this time more productive than Camera Raw (mainly due to the lack of integration between the PS file browser and ACR).

Image Quality: B4, C1 and ACR all produce excellent image quality. We are sure there will be strong debates which one is best. In the end it will be very subjective as they are mainly different and not so much better or worse. Read more from OutbackPhoto.com . . .

Canon Digital Photo Professional - Included w/ current Canon DSLRs
When I'm working on my Windows laptop I generally use Canon DPP. It's not nearly as smooth as Lightroom but it usually handles any minor editing tasks that just can't wait until I get home. If you've got a Canon DSLR, then you've probably got this installed on your computer already. Open it up and see if you like it. Read more about Canon DPP . . .

LightZone - $100-150 (public beta version 2.0 currently available)
Never used it. It looks pretty cool though. Perhaps I'll give it a try. In the mean time:

LightZone is a simple yet powerful image editor. LightZone is easy to learn and let's you focus on your images. We will follow the development of this editor very closely because we see a great potential using LightZone.

* LightZone provides right now the easiest way to learn and use a layer based workflow (which we recommend for some years in our e-books)
* For advanced users LightZone provides a powerful photographic tool to optimize photos.
* Be aware that LightZone works differently than other editors. This will require some time to master. Try to experiment with selective operations in regions because here LZ can make a difference. Read more from OutbackPhoto.com . . .

Macworld notes:

Pros: Simulates analog photographic techniques; powerful built-in image browser; true non-destructive editing; powerful rendering engine eliminates the need to store multiple copies of an image; excellent blur, sharpen, and saturation tools; takes up only about 10MB of disk space.

Cons: Lacks important retouching tools; region selection tools need refinement; regions that bleed to the edge of the image area are tricky to select, slow performance when multiple regions and modification tools are active; some important tools are accessible only through option- and control-click. Read the rest of the Macworld article . . .

Picasa - Free

Picasa is more like a great photo organizer than it is a photo editor. It does have some features to fix photo mistakes. The greatest feature of this product is its organizing capabilities. It is also one of the easiest to use programs we’ve reviewed. The screens are simple, friendly and intuitive. There are also some limited ways to share your photos including a unique online sharing method called "Hello." Read more about Picasa . . .

These are just a handful of RAW editing programs available. If you've got a DSLR, chances are you also have a proprietary editing program that is unique to your camera's RAW format (e.g., Nikon uses the .NEF format; Canon uses the .CR2 format). I encourage you to shop around for what suits your needs in the RAW editing department.

So, What Should I Use?
Simple. You should use what works best for you.

If you want to have total control over what the final image looks like, then shoot RAW.

If you take lots of photos, don't have time to spend time post-processing your shots, or you simply want to take what you get, then shoot JPEG.

If you don't know what RAW has to offer, then give it a try. You may never go back to shooting JPEGs. I know I haven't. I'm a hobbyist at best and I'll never shoot another JPEG if I can keep from it. I might have pictures sitting around untouched for a few months, but I'm unwilling to give up that amount of control to my camera's processor. Granted, I don't do it for a living and never will.

Thanks for reading. If you have any questions or anything to add, I'd be happy to engage in a discussion or update the post.

How Do I Get Better?

2006-10-04T20:43:00.000-04:00

I see a lot of folks on photography forums or letters written in to photo magazines asking where they should start. It seems like I see roughly the same question every day. Lots of times folks know how to point and shoot with their digital camera but don't necessarily understand what it takes to make a good photograph. I, by no means, pretend to be a professional photographer or an expert at photography. I'm learning though, and I think I'm getting better.

Learning photography should not be all trial-and-error. Granted that trial-and-error plays a role in the learning process; however, I think most photographers would agree that there is a fundamental level of knowledge necessary to gain significant knowledge and experience through the trial-and-error process.

I'd like to take a moment to share my thoughts on a few books that I've referred to previously, which I think would be excellent sources for those wishing to take the next step in photography from the casual point-and-shooter to the serious amateur/hobbyist.

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson
Bryan Peterson is an excellent teacher. He's great at breaking down intimidating concepts for the novice and explaining them on your level. The book breaks up exposure into the three fundamental elements that go into properly exposing a photo: aperture; shutter speed; and ISO (or, film speed). This is the book to buy for those who have only ever used a point and shoot camera or who always shoot their SLR on full auto mode (the little green rectangle setting). Simply reading this book will make you a better photographer overnight if you fall into these categories.

If you've got a basic handle on these concepts but not sure you really grasp the significance of one or all of them then you should consider adding this book to your library as well. Aside from the technical basics, Bryan teaches you how to look at a scene and capture a creative photo in addition to a properly exposed one.

Before you buy another camera, lens, flash, or any other gear, buy this book if you're wondering what you should spend you cash on. It'll be the best $15 you ever spend on your photography gear.

Understanding Digital Photography by Bryan Peterson
I really consider this book an update to Understanding Exposure. If you've never shot film, don't care to ever mess with film, or would like to understand the differences between digital and film technology on a more basic level then consider this book. It teaches all the basics I've pointed out in my comments on Understanding Exposure above and adds the digital flavor to the mix. I wouldn't be suprised if the two books are consolidated in a future version. Either way, they're both great books and you won't go wrong with your purchase of either or both - I've got both ;)

The Photoshop CS2 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby
Scott Kelby is simply the Man when it comes to Photoshop. Not only does he know the insides and outs, he also knows who to teach it. Kelby is the Editor in Chief of Photoshop User magazine and the President of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. There are a ton of uses for Photoshop and a ton of books explaining how to use it. There aren't that many books that are dedicated to photographer's needs. Kelby's Photoshop for Digital Photographers series responds to this niche.

Chances are, if you have a copy of any Photoshop version, that Kelby has a book on the particular version you've got. If you've got Photoshop and a digital camera, you need Kelby's book. He gives you step by step instructions for the particular actions that you're trying to do. Additionally, unlike other books that try to do the same, he gives you actual values to use for the actions. This gives you a great idea of the starting points for applying blurs, unsharp mask, grayscale, and the likes. When I'm working on my computer, I've got this book on my desk.

These books are permanent fixtures in my library and I still frequently refer to each of them. Your money will not be lost in the purchase of any or all of these books. There's plenty of knowledge in them to grow with you for some time to come. Don't take my word alone though. Check out the reviews on Amazon from the links above or elsewhere around the net.

GeoTagging Gadgets

2006-09-25T20:00:00.000-04:00

A new post over at Slashdot points out a cool new geotagging device that mounts on the hotshoe of your camera. If you've not seen or used this before checkout the cool features Smugmug and Flickr provide.

Canon Weighs in With the EOS 400D / Rebel XTi and New Lenses

2006-08-24T11:34:00.000-04:00

A video of the new Canon 400D in action:

Life just got a little more complicated for new DSLR shoppers with Canon's announcement of the 400D DSLR.

The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi/400D is slated to ship in mid-September 2006 in the U.S. at an estimated street price of US$799, or US$899 in a kit with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II. The body will be available in both silver and black.

Source

Like I've said before though, it's a good thing for consumers. It sure looks pretty. Now, what's Canon going to do about the 30D at 8.2MP? Check out a very well done spec comparison here of the 30D vs. the 400D. There's also a developing discussion of the 400D and other new entries over at ephotozine.com.

More dirt on the EOS 400D:

Mobile Whack primer

Cameratown.com rumor mill

Engadget post with plenty of commentary

Another Engadget post

Excellent DPReview comprehensive preview

A post from Cnet UK

And, in related news, Canon has also dropped the bomb about their new 70-200 f/4 L IS lens that Canon users have been begging Canon about for years!

Canon claims 4 stops through this lens' new image stabilizer. Pretty impressive. The entry price on 4 stops? $1250!

Maybe not as exciting as the fancy pants 70-200 f/4 L IS above, but noteworthy nonetheless, is the Canon EF 50 f/1.2 L lens. This bad boy fills a portrait lens gap for the cropped sensor DSLR users that were use to the 85 f/1.2 L on their full-frame cameras. Thanks Canon!

UPDATE: Link dump coming at you. Everybody's got something to say about Canon's new offerings. Check out the Tech Specs from Canon.au. Imaging Resource has articles on Canon's new lenses as well as the new Rebel XTi. Rob Galbraith was kind enough to provide the .pdf of Canon's White Paper on the Rebel XTi along with a detailed article. The Digital Camera Resource Page has an article on the new XTi, including some big pics of the camera in both colors and one shot of the XTi with the BG-E3 battery grip attached. Guess I should also point out Canon USA and Canon UK's sites. You can also digg it. Gizmodo's got the goods too. DC Review and Let's Go Digital have a little to say. Last but not least (actually, my favorite photo author on the net to read), Bob Atkins has an article on the 400D as well as a great spec comparison between the Canon 400D, Nikon D80 and Sony Alpha A100.

Oh, and now, you can pre-order the Rebel XTi from Amazon.com with a lens ($899) or without ($799) for the release of October 20.

Do Something Different

2006-08-15T22:23:00.000-04:00

I just got back from Disneyworld. In 5 days, I took over a thousand shots (RAW format nonetheless) of mostly family in and around Disney scenery. Sometimes I get on my wife's (and kid's) nerves with all the pausing and posing for shots; however, I rarely hear any complaints once we get home and make some prints. I recall that when taking the shot above my wife was nudging me to head toward the buses. I have to give her some credit though, the heat was absurd (around 95F when this shot was taken).

I just happened to see the shot because I was looking at his shadow and thinking about how cool the mouse ears looked. As you can see, we were in the harsh sunlight and I couldn't get my kid to stand still so I could get the proper sillouhette of the mouse ears. Without the evening sun though, this shot wouldn't have been there. Patiently, I waited and encouraged a hot kid and wife to hold still and hold on, respectively. Both finally complied and I got my shot, which happens to be one of my wife's favorite shots of the 1000 or so that I took. Sure, there's some great scenic photos and cute snapshots with characters; but everybody gets those, right? Not everybody gets something different for the family album though. So, do something else. Look up, look down. Look places that others don't always look and you'll get something different. And maybe something special.

Official Dirt on the Nikon D80

2006-08-11T22:25:00.000-04:00

DP Review has a hands-on preview.

Nikon has today put the end to the speculation and announced the new ten megapixel D80 digital SLR. This new camera is the natural successor to the D70/D70s with a refreshed design, user interface and a wide range of new features. Headline improvements are; 10.2 mp CCD, new image processing engine, 3D Color Matrix Metering II, 11-area AF system, configurable Auto ISO, configurable high ISO NR, a larger and brighter viewfinder, in-camera retouching (including D-Lighting), built-in wireless flash commander, SD card storage (with SD-HC support) and the D200's higher capacity battery. The D80 will go on sale in September with a body only price of $999 in the US, £699 in the UK or $1299 in the US, £949 in the UK as a kit with the new 18-135 mm DX lens.

You can pre-order the D80 on Amazon.

New Canon DSLR Rumors and Speculations

2006-08-02T15:48:00.000-04:00

Take a look at the rumors and specuations on North Light Images for several theories on Canon's new DSLR to be released in August '06. There's also several images (likely photoshopped like the "35D" was prior to release of the 30D) on the site. Also, Bob's got some dirt here. That's all for now.

UPDATE 8/3/06: Looks like the 1Ds II may the camera getting the upgrade. From the North Light Images link above:

Interesting comment received about Canon dealer previews next week. One person has actually made it on to a waiting list for the new 22MP 1Ds - no news of exactly what the camera will be called yet (Mk2 N, Mk3 or whatever). Expect some sizeable leaks by the end of next week :-)
And if you are looking for other improvements see this table, it highlights advantages of the 1Ds MkII N whilst being a comparison between 1D and 1D N

From a Canon site and date stamped 30 Jul 06

And yes, the real big feature is --- Picture Styles. Just what I've always wanted (NOT), but wait, there's more ... you can have user defined filenames too, and with a 2.5 inch display screen, the reasons to buy are just overwhelming. I'd like 22MP for some of my work, but I wanted better ISO, dynamic range, sensor design and all the other bits that may not appear now until next year

More when we have it. . . .

The Dirt on Nikon's D80

2006-07-30T16:41:00.000-04:00

Just when it looked like the dust was beginning to settle between Canon, Nikon, & newcomers like Samsung and Panasonic, Sony steps up to the plate after the death of Konica Minolta and brings their phoenix in to stir the pot again. Sony's A100 is raising all kinds of eyebrows around the DSLR world. Whoodathunk that Sony would be the guy to step in with a 10 megapixel DSLR?

It's kind of fitting though if you step back a minute and consider the playing field. It seemed as if Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and the rest had settled on battling the entry-level market with their 6 & 8 megapixel cameras. Canon can't step up now with the recent addition of their 30D. Nor could Nikon, it seemed, step up from their 6 megapixel consumer shooters - the D50 and D70s - because of their mid-level prosumer D200, which weighs in at 10.2 megapixels. But Sony, new to the market, decided to make some noise. Sony manufactures the 10.2 megapixel sensor found in the D200 and it has been widely speculated that the same sensor is found in Sony's new A100.

Nikon responds. A little over a week ago Nikon shocked us with an announcement due August 9th of their new 10.2 megapixel "affordable" DSLR for "enthusiasts." The consensus is in that this is a consumer level camera that is the next step in evolution of the D50/D70. The camera is the Nikon D80. Images of the new camera have leaked out onto the web over the past few days.
Speculation on specs? Leon Huang over at the Hip Tech Blog made some quality observations from the images that are noted below:

Button layout looks like a combination of D50 and D70/D70s, with
the Playback/Menu/WB/etc buttons looking more like the former, and the dual-wheel setup more like the latter.

It has the physical self-timer and IR remote button like the D50, which D70/D70s doesn’t have.

It has the physical Matrix/Spot/Center-weighted button like the D70/D70s, which D50 doesn’t have.

It has a new AF button beside the top LCD panel.

The Bracketing button went from D70/D70s’ dedicated button to a shared button, which is shared with the ISO/ZOOM button.

It has a new dedicated OK button, which was previously shared with the QUAL button and was named ENTER.

It has the DOF Preview button that is found on D70/D70s and not D50.

The Trash/Delete button changed in position.

From the small memory card compartment similar to the D50, we can assume that the D80 uses SD cards instead of D70/D70s’ CF cards.

It has the 4-way controller lock switch like the D70/D70s, which is handy for preventing accidental change in focus zone.

Notice that there is also a new button right below the flash-activation button. Could this be a dedicated flash compensation button? Or the Vibration Reduction that many have been dreaming of?

Further speculations include a boost to 4.5fps, what looks like a 2.5" LCD, a 1/250 sync speed and priced between $899 or $999.

So what's Canon doing? Word is something's coming along August 24. An Israeli photography site had what appeared to be an official Canon announcement stating (in Hebrew nonetheless):

This year

August will be different

24/8/06

Every legend has a beginning

You can speculate along with other Photo.net users here and here. Whatever the case, Sony's entry into the market has shaken up the competition a bit and it looks like lower prices and better products for consumers. Go capitalism!

Update 7/31/06: Take a look at the thread Zach started over at the Itinerant Angler regarding the new D80. It's relevant to several of the issues raised here and there are posts from both Nikon and Canon users that are involved in the discussion. Interesting discussion.

Update 8/4/06: The countdown page.

A Must-Have Lens for Canon SLRs

2006-07-16T13:53:00.000-04:00

It must be expensive, right? Does it have IS and USM? Is it an "L" lens?

The answer to all three of these question is a resounding "NO"!

The answer, of course, is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II at a pittance of $73.

So now, the "why"?

First off, as you can see, it's cheap. Not only is it cheap by it's great glass for the pennies you pay. This is probably the best "bang for the buck" lens that Canon offers and the first lens you should buy for your new DSLR.

Furthermore, this lens is a great portrait lens for APS-C sensor cameras like the Digital Rebel XT, 20D, and 30D. It is the equivalent to what an 80mm lens would be on a full-frame camera.

I won't rehash what others more knowledgable than me have said about this lens. Below are some links for your reading pleasure which reinforce the points I've made.

Bob Atkins' Review

Individual User Reviews from FredMiranda.com

The Digital Picture's Review

Individual User Reviews at PhotographyReview.com

Memory Cards and Cameras

2006-07-12T12:20:00.000-04:00

I got a question the other day from a new DSLR user, "what about memory cards?"

Because they were using a Digital Rebel XT, my immediate response was Sandisk Ultra II or Extreme III compact flash cards, along with some stats on which sizes held how many pictures and to choose the size based on what they think they'll need.

But, for everyone else, there's a ton of brands, sizes, speeds, and types. Everybody's got their own favorites. I've got one recommendation that most people will agree with and another that probably splits the field 50/50.

First, the sure fire bet. SanDisk. You can't go wrong with the Ultra II or Extreme III versions of the Compact Flash and SD memory cards.

My second suggestion, which everyone will not agree with, is a Hitachi 4GB or larger microdrive. But before I get into why these cards are worth buying, let me delve into the basics of memory cards.

It seems like every camera maker uses a different card and that makes for a plethora of card types: CF ("compact flash"), SD ("secure digital"), xD-Picture Cards, Memory Stick, SM ("Smart Media"), MMC ("MultiMedia Card"), and Microdrives.

Compact Flash
From the top, the CF card comes in two types, appropriately named Type-I and Type-II. The Type-I cards are 3.3mm thick and can be used in Type-I or Type-II slots. Type-II cards are 5mm thick and can obviously be used only in Type-II slots. Most DSLR buyers will be looking at CF cards. All Canon Digital SLRs accept CF cards. All current models accept both Type-I and II cards. Below is a short list of popular DSLRs that accept CF cards:

Canon

Digital Rebel - 6MP entry-level DSLR (1.6x cropped sensor)
Digital Rebel XT - 8MP entry-level DSLR (1.6x cropped sensor)
10D - 6MP prosumer DSLR (1.6x cropped sensor) (discontinued)
20D - 8.2MP prosumer DSLR (1.6x cropped sensor) (discontinued)
30D - 8.2MP prosumer DSLR (1.6x cropped sensor)
5D - 12.8MP full-frame DSLR
1D MkIIN - 8.2MP pro-level DSLR (1.3x cropped sensor)
1Ds MkII - 16.7MP pro-level DSLR (full-frame sensor)

Nikon

D70 - 6.1MP entry-level DSLR (1.5x cropped sensor - Nikon DX Format)
D70s - 6.1MP entry-level DSLR (1.5x cropped sensor - Nikon DX Format)
Nikon D200 - 10.2MP prosumer DSLR (1.5x cropped sensor - Nikon DX Format)
D2Hs - 4.1MP pro-level DSLR (1.5x cropped sensor - Nikon DX Format)
D2X - 12.4MP pro-level DSLR (1.5x cropped sensor - Nikon DX Format)
D2Xs - 12.4MP pro-level DSLR (1.5x cropped sensor - Nikon DX Format)

Sony

Alpha A100 - 10.2MP entry-level DSLR with built-in image stabilization (1.5x cropped sensor)

Pentax

*ist D - 6MP entry-level DSLR (1.5x cropped sensor)

Olympus

E-330 - 7.5MP entry-level DSLR with a live view LCD (FourThirds system)
E-500 (also uses xD) - 8MP entry-level DSLR with (FourThirds system)

Fuji

FinePix S3 Pro - 12.3MP pro-level DSLR with a unique sensor design (1.5x cropped effect)

Clearly, with that said, if you're looking for a DSLR, you're probably going to be using a CF card or Microdrive (I'll get into this in a little bit) with it.

SD ("Secure Digital")
But what if you're not looking at a DSLR, then your memory options open up - almost too much. I'd say the winner in the most popular memory card format for P&S (or "point and shoot") cameras is the SD card. We're also starting to see SD cards trickle into the DSLR world. If you own or have been eye-balling a Nikon D50 then you know what I'm talking about. The D50 is a great entry level DSLR that uses SD cards. P&S cameras had always seemed like "neat little gadgets" to me until recently, when manufacturers started cranking out some real contenders that are sort of hybrids between SLRs and P&S cameras. They typically have a wide to super-telephoto zoom (roughly equivalent to 35mm-400mm+ on a 35mm camera) and frequently are equipped with some sort of image stabilization technology. There's a handful of P&S cameras that really stand out:

Canon S2 IS - 5MP with a 12x optical zoom and Canon's Image Stabilization
Canon S3 IS - 6MP with a 12x optical zoom and Canon's Image Stabilization
Panasonic Lumix FZ7 - 6MP with a 12x optical zoom and image stabilization
Panasonic Lumix FZ30K - 8MP with a 12x optical zoom and image stabilization
Kodak Easyshare Z612 - 6.1MP with a 12x optical zoom

Ok, these hybrid digicams are great for some, but if you want a smaller camera there's plenty of other options on the SD card platter. Your Canon, Panasonic, Nikon and Kodak cameras are typically going to use an SD card in their compact P&S cameras as well. Here's a handful that have received rave reviews:

Nikon P3 - Wi-Fi capable (for wireless photo transfer), 8MP camera with a 3.5x zoom with Nikon's Vibration Reduction
Nikon P4 - 8MP camera with a 3.5x optical zoom with Nikon's Vibration Reduction (no Wi-Fi)
Canon A540 - 6MP with a 4x optical zoom
Canon A700 - 6MP with a 6x optical zoom and a nice 2.5" LCD
Canon A620 - 7.1MP with a 4x optical zoom
Canon PowerShot SD700 IS - 6MP with a 4x optical zoom and Canon's Image Stabilization
Panasonic Lumix TZ1S - 5MP with a whopping 10x optical zoom and image stabilization
Panasonic FX01 - 6MP with a 3.6x optical zoom and image stabilization
Panasonic Lumix LZ3S - 5MP with a 6x optical zoom and image stabilization
Panasonic Lumix LZ5 - 6MP with a 6x optical zoom and image stabilization (if I were buying a camera for me today in the compact category, this would be my purchase)

xD
xD stands for extreme Digital. It was developed and used in cameras by Olympus and Fujifilm. There are two basic types: Type M and H. The newer Type H cards claim to offer speed increases over Type M cards, as well as include special "picture effects", although most of these are only available in use with Olympus digital cameras. xD cards are fast in comparison with older formats such as SmartMedia (SM), MultiMediaCard (MMC) and MemoryStick (MS). They have a small form-factor in comparison with other formats and have a low power consumption.

However, xD cards are much slower than SD cards. Additionally, xD card is a proprietary format only used by Fujifilm and Olympus, much like the Memory Stick card is with Sony. This means that no public documentation or implementation is available. Compare this to the somewhat open SD, or the completely open CompactFlash standard. Typically, because of their proprietary nature, xD cards will be more expensive than the mainstream competitors of SD and CF.

Olympus SP-500 UZ - a 6MP superzoom, similar to the Canon S2 IS
Fuji Finepix S5200 - a 5.1MP superzoom, similar to the Canon S2 IS

Memory Stick
Like the xD card, Sony's Memory Stick is a proprietary format, making it typically more expensive. "Memory Stick" is also used in general to describe the whole family of Memory Sticks. This family includes the Memory Stick Pro, a revision that allows greater maximum storage capacity and faster file transfer speeds; Memory Stick Duo, a small-form-factor version of the Memory Stick (including the Pro Duo); and the even smaller Memory Stick Micro (M2). I've got a Sony digital P&S camera and I've always found this to be confusing. Even after owning my camera for over 5 years I'm still not sure which of the Memory Sticks will work in my camera. This reason alone is enough to dissuade me from buying another Memory Stick supported camera. (Sorry Sony)

For those brave enough to delve into Sony's Memory Stick world, Sony puts some great features on their P&S cameras. By the way, Sandisk also makes a Ultra II and Extreme III version of the Memory Stick. Below, I've listed a few that impress me (just not enough to buy back into the Memory Stick world):

Sony Cybershot DSC-W7 - a fancy little compact 7.2MP camera with a 3x optical zoom
Sony Cybershot DSC-H5 - a 7.2MP super-zoom camera, on par with the Canon S3 IS
Sony Cybershot DSC-H2 - basically a 6MP version of the H5
Sony Cybershot DSCR1 - a 10MP whopper that has many features of an SLR, also capable of using CF cards

Microdrives
These drives fit into any CompactFlash II slot; however, they may take more power than flash memory - watch your batteries. Honestly, I've never had a problem out of my Hitachi 4GB microdrive. I've never ran my battery down using it for hundreds of pictures in a single day. High capacity models are usually much cheaper than flash-based counterparts. I've heard some people complain about microdrives's susceptability to breaking. I've also heard lots of others say they've used them for years and never had a problem. I think, like any electronic device, things break sometimes. I've found mine to be a quality device and will likely buy more.

To Sum It Up . . .
If it were me shopping, I'd look for a DSLR camera that accepts CF cards and Microdrives. If I were looking for a point and shoot camera or a hybrid model, I'd go with one that accepts SD cards. What about brands and models of CF and SD cards? If you want blazing speed and reliability get one of the following in the size of your choice:

Sandisk Ultra II Compact Flash
Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash
Hitachi Microdrive
Sandisk Ultra II SD Card
Sandisk Extreme III SD Card

The Sandisk Ultra and Extreme cards are super fast. Meaning that you can hold the shutter button down on your camera and they just continue to take pictures. Lexar makes good cards too, just make sure you know what you're buying; they've always been labeled a little wierd for me to figure out all the differences. The microdrive I suggested above is slower than the Ultra and Extreme cards, but not so slow that I can't shoot sports. The buffer in the camera just fills up a little faster and I can't get as many shots in a row. The microdrive is still a bargain for the price you pay.

If you've got a good reason for getting an Olympus, Fuji, or Sony and using their proprietary formats, then go for it. However, I'm staying away from them myself. It's just not worth the trouble to me.

One last thing to keep in mind:

A 1 GB card will hold a little over 100 shots using RAW or about 330 using JPEG.
A 4GB card will hold about 330 RAW shots or over 1000 JPEGs.
I always shoot in RAW format, so I need more memory. To each his own though.

Until next time . . . Cheers!

Deal of the Week

2006-07-07T12:33:00.000-04:00

Check out the Refurbished Canon Rebel XT w/ 18-55mm lens over at Amazon for $609.95. It's a steal at that price.

What About Flash?

2006-07-06T20:19:00.000-04:00

Since this is my first post I'd like to say "welcome" to everyone.

Someone emailed me about buying a flash today. I thought I'd pass the exchange along to everyone.

The question:

A lady I work with just bought a Canon Rebel XT. What is a good compact flash to use? You have one you like. What is it?

My Response:

I use a Canon 420EX. There’s a new model out that replaces it called the 430EX. They use what’s called TTL and TTL-II. You can learn more about why that’s so great on a Canon rig at the Canon Flash Work website (I’ve put a link on my blog on the left sidebar). I also put links to Amazon for all the Canon flashes on the left sidebar. I would either buy a flash from Amazon or B&H – as opposed to a camera store or rip-off online sites.

There’s also the 550EX and the 580EX, which are more of the pro-level flashes and are also in the $350-400 price range.

The 420EX and 430EX are in the $250 and under range.

There’s a smaller basic flash called the 220EX, which I consider lame even though it’s in the $130 range. You can’t “bounce” the flash because the head doesn’t pivot like all the others from the 420EX and up. This is a feature she wants if she’ll be using it indoor at all! The ability to “bounce” the flash not only spreads the light more evenly on the subject, but also eliminates redeye. I’d say go with the 420EX or 430EX if she just wants a recommendation. If she really knows what she’s doing and understands what the features on the 550 and 580 models are and why she needs them, then she might consider that. Just looking over some prices, it looks like the Canon 420EX may be the best bang for her buck at under $200.

I’d also recommend reading the Canon Flash Work site. It’s a great tutorial. Additionally, consider a good book if she thinks she needs some help.

That's it. Send me some more questions folks. Look for new posts. If you've got more input or a better answer than me, by all means post it to the comments.

Nikon D300s

2006-06-14T18:54:00.002-04:00

The Nikon D300s is supposed to be coming summer 2009 and will have the same 12.3 megapixel sensor as found in the Nikon D300. The D300s will also feature HD video. Maybe even 1080p video like is found in the Canon 5D Mark II.