Delkin Devices Photo Accessories

A neat marketing site I found. 

One of the products that really intrigues me is this second skin for DSLRs called Snug-It. It doesn't water/shock/dust-proof your camera, but it does add a layer of protection from everyday knock arounds. 

Still treat your camera like the precision instrument it is! But, now, maybe, with a little extra peace of mind.

I'm not quite sure why they decided to cover the hot shoe, tho. At least it lets the built in flashes clear. I often use my built in flash at a manually set 1/64th power just to fire off my slaved studio strobes. But I also sometimes figure in my shoe mounted flash in my lighting scheme, not to mention using it for outdoor fill flash. 

I'll be testing one of these soon and will report back here with my impressions.

Most of the Snug-Its are only $34.99 before shipping.

Delkin is also offering viewscreen sunshades.

Enjoy!

BEAR CAM!

Click here for live streaming video of bears fishing salmon at Brooks Falls, Katmai National Park, Alaska.

I can't even begin to tell you how cool I think this is!

Wow, that IS cool.

Remember Polaroids?

Most of grew up with some version of a Polaroid camera in our household. The one I remember for ours was the Type 100 and 101.

Some of you will remember these:

And when I first started in photography as a job, there was this type of fantastic tool:

Polaroids, as we called the images on their unique medium, were very useful and fun. Useful for pros needing confirmation of an effect, exposure, or a layout before moving on to the next subject. Fun for casual users because we got to share the pics almost instantly. We had special timers for the peel apart films, coatings that had to be applied, and even a printable negative from some films. And we shook the SX-70 pictures, thinking that somehow helped. Didn't hurt. "Shake it like a Polaroid picture!"

Digital had pretty much eliminated the pro use for Polaroids, and as P&S and cell phone cameras got better and cheaper, instantly sharing a hard copy of a print just sort of faded out...

Instagram on social media became the way many people were now sharing their casual photos.

But, what if we could share on social media, have as a digital file, AND share a hard copy instantly?

Look at the Polaroid Socialmatic (name and price not finalized). A very interesting concept. It looks like it will come in at the $299.00 price point. Not bad for an initial outing. Look for more updates as it actually hits the market.

Will this be a new wave of picture sharing enjoyment? Too early to tell. But I like the idea.

How to view a meteor shower

As I noted in an earlier post, Summer nights seem to make people want to go out and do some astronomy. Great idea!

One of the easier things to do is plan a Meteor Watch Party.

What is the best tool to view a meteor shower? The naked eye. Even tho we know the general area to look around during a shower peak, we need to keep our vision wide. No better tool for that than the ones our Creator gave us. 

A dark sky location is also helpful. Our backyard may seem dark enough, but if we are in the city or the suburbs, we might be missing out on all but the brightest meteors due to light pollution. Ideally, we want to be at our dark sky location for a while with no lights on to let our eyes fully acclimate to the dark. 

Now, get comfortable, this party will take a while. Oddly, every time a major shower comes around, things get posted on the internet that make it seem as tho we are about to be swimming in a sea of light just as if we had a thousand lightening bugs suddenly buzz us. It's not going to be like that. (Pity, too, because that kind of over the top posting tends to disappoint people. I would rather someone know the real story, plan for it, enjoy it, share it, and come back for more.) But it is going to be very entertaining.

I like to set up lawn chairs. Adjust them so that you are looking about 30 to 60 degrees up. Find out what constellation they are supposed to originate from.  (Ex: Geminid shower originates from the constellation of Gemini) 

Face that direction (will be usually be easterly, since we are using the Earth's atmosphere as a giant windshield to catch these cosmic fireflies), and wait. Maybe listen to the night sounds, talk quietly with your companions, or hum the Star Wars theme under your breath. 

Soon, you will see one. Maybe several appear near the same time. Some will pass to your left, others to your right, some right overhead. A couple of them might even be fireballs! That's always exciting. Count them, write it down, and send that data to NASA.

Best time to be out at your dark sky location for Meteor Shower Watch Party is very early morning. 2:00AM to 4:00AM often works well. Check www.space.com for updates as to best night and time for each shower.

Most of all, enjoy yourself. If you can't make it out to a dark sky location, do it in your backyard. Find a spot that has no glare from any exposed house or street lights. Take along bug repellent, some water, and a tasty treat or two. 

Have a great time, fellow stargazers, and Keep Looking Up!

How Many Upgrades?

UPGRADES!

We all like them, don't we?

With photo gear, an upgrade doesn't always have to mean from old to new. It could be switching brands or models to something more suited to us. It can mean getting the higher quality option we passed on originally because of price. Such as that faster aperture or extended range lens. 

In this digital age, a camera upgrade often is to a newer model. Just part of how the market currently works. And when we upgrade, we often get a LOT more than we may have thought at first. Ending up with us needing to upgrade more than just our camera body.

For instance, if we upgraded from an entry level camera of a few years back to an intermediate, pro-sumer, or pro quality current camera, we will have a lot more image file. We need higher capacity, faster data cards. We may need extra storage, such as an external hard drive. And we may have found our trusty version of our image processing program hasn't kept up.

If we shoot RAW in our DSLRs, and to get the most out of them, we do that quite a bit, then our old program probably won't recognize our new image files. Even tho they have the same extension as before, the RAW data format of the newer cameras will be slightly different. An NEF from a D40x is not the same as an NEF from a D7100. Same thing happens with Canon, Sony, Pentax, Fuji, Olympus, etc...

The reason your program you used with RAW from your Rebel won't read the 70D RAW file is because the program has been updated to a new version and the support for the older one usually stops at the time the new one is made.

So, ACDSee, Photoshop, or whatever from 2009 won't read that new for 2013 camera's file. The only thing to do for many of thee issues is to bite the bullet and open that wallet for your new program. Check online in your current program's help section first, of course, before spending anything, just to make sure.

What's cool about this, tho, is that you will get a reward beyond merely seeing your RAW files. Image processing programs are getting both better AND easier with each new version.

If you only shoot in JPEG, not an issue. But you are missing out on your new camera's fullest potential if not  shooting RAW. More on that in a later post...

Nice Price On Panasonic Camera

I like telling my readers about some of the great prices I get e-mailed to me for some very full featured cameras.

Like this:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 16 MP Digital Mirrorless Camera Kit - Black - Camera Kit with Lumix G Vario 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 Lens

Only $398.00 thru 7/15/13

Or this two lens kit till 7/06:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Camera with Lumix G 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 Lens and 45-150mm f/4.0-5.6 ASPH Lens - Black, and Adorama $100.00 Gift Certificate

Only $598.00 

 

This is a tiny camera for all its features. How do they do it? For one, it's a Micro 4/3rds format, not APS-C. Crop factor of 2X, so you can tell the sensor is smaller. Also, it's a mirrorless camera. Instead of using a series of mirrors or mirror and pentaprism, the camera uses the imaging sensor to display to an electronic viewfinder.

That's how an interchangeable lens, full featured, high quality camera can be so incredibly small. Barely larger than an older 35mm point and shoot from the 80s.

Panasonic DMC-G5 Features

• Contrast AF: Like all cameras in the LUMIX G series, the LUMIX G5 adopts Contrast AF (Auto Focus), so focusing is controlled by the image sensor. Compared with the Phase difference system AF, Contrast AF boasts higher accuracy, especially when shooting with a bright lens with small F value. Full-area Touch AF enables focus setting on any FOV point.
• Light Speed AF: Additionally, ultra high-speed Light Speed AF, quickly locks on to a subject, making it possible to capture even fast moving subjects clearly. Combined with Touch AF control and high-speed burst shooting at six frames per second in 16.05-megapixel full resolution, it has never been easier to capture fast-moving objects clearly.
• Intuitive Operation: The LUMIX G5 offers simple operation controls with minimal stress, so users can concentrate on shooting. A newly added function lever near the shutter release allows for direct adjustment of zoom, exposure or aperture control and can be used to magnify images in playback mode and page flip in menu mode.
• Turn-and-Push Rear Dial: Additionally, the combination use of the function lever and turn-and-push rear dial allows users to adjust major shooting settings, accelerating the camera's simple, intuitive operation.
• Hi Res View Finder: The LUMIX G5's large, bright 1,440,000-dot equivalent LVF (Live View Finder) retains outstanding viewability and features approximately 100% field of view. Suppressing color breakup, the LVF assure stunning image view for any subject or scene.
• Eye Sensor: The LVF is newly designed to integrate an eye sensor for the LUMIX G5, which allows image output between the LVF and LCD screen to be switched automatically with the eye sensor on the LVF (which features optional sensitivity of high, low and off).
• Eye Sensor AF: Additionally Eye Sensor AF (Auto Focus) automatically starts focusing when the photographer looks into the EVF to capture spur-of-the-moment shooting opportunities.
• Increased LCD Display Resolution: A large, 920,000-dot high resolution LCD screen with wide-viewing angle rotates 180 degrees to the side, tilts 270 degrees up and down and offers approximately 100% field of view.
• Touch Control: Interface Touch screen operation on the LCD screen allows for simple shooting or playback of images and the new Touch Pad function enables the use of both LVF and LCD simultaneously, which encourages more intuitive shooting. Lag time of image output has been minimized by approximately 18% as compared to LUMIX G3.
• Level Gauge: The Level Gauge gives the camera the ability to automatically detect the horizontal or vertical angle of view so that photos shot in a portrait aspect will automatically be displayed vertically, no matter what lens is used.
• Electronic Shutter: The newly added Electronic Shutter mode allows silent operation which is helpful in areas where silence is needed.
• 14 Adjustable Filters: Soft Focus, Dynamic Monochrome, Impressive Art, One Point Color, Cross Process, Low Key, Toy Effect and Star Filter, in addition to the conventional Expressive, Retro, High Key, Sepia, Hi Dynamic, Miniature Effect modes. With the new GUI menu tab, switching filter effects is seamless.
• Filter Recommendation: A preview of filter effects can be seen on the large LCD screen via Live View mode and the camera intuitively recommends filters depending on the scene that the camera detects in iA (Intelligent Auto) or iA Plus mode.
• iA Plus Mode: Furthermore, iA Plus mode allows users to adjust defocusing area in the background, exposure compensation and white balance for more flexible control while activating automatic shoot assist functions such as AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent D-range Control, Face Recognition and Intelligent Scene Selector.
• Beginner Guides: For beginner users of interchangeable lens system cameras, the LUMIX G5 features the new Scene Guide which offers 23 sample pictures shot by professional photographers. Users can choose the photo closest to the situation that they are shooting and optimal parameters for shooting the scene will be set automatically.
• Full HD 1080 60p Video Capture: Not only does the LUMIX G5 produce stunning still imagery, but it also records high quality video. With the ability to record high-resolution full-HD 1,920x1,080 60p videos in AVCHD Progressive (MPEG-4) or MP4 format, subjects with fast motion and fine details are reproduced clearly.
• Touch AF: In addition to practical full-time AF, the Touch AF in video recording also lets the user enjoy professional-like selective focusing which allows the focus to be shifted while shooting video and AF Tracking easily locks onto a subject to focus, even when it moves.
• Extra Tele Conversion: The Extra Tele Conversion function extends zoom range Max 4.8x without deterioration of image quality. The LUMIX G5 features a dedicated video record button on the top of the camera body so users can instantly start recording videos while shooting photographs without changing any settings.
• High Quality Sound: Along with full-HD video capabilities, the LUMIX G5 also features high-quality sound, recorded with Dolby Digital Stereo Creator and noise from background wind is minimized with the Wind Cut function.

Canon EOS 70D Announced

EOS 70D 20.2MP APS-C CAMERA ANNOUNCED!

Three ways to buy it:

Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera Body Kit, with EF-S18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens $1549.00

Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera Body Kit, with EF-S18-55mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens $1349.00

Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera Body Only $1199.00

 

Here are some facts from Canon:

 

• Canon's innovative Dual Pixel CMOS AF enables you to shoot video like a camcorder with smooth, fast, and accurate autofocus; lets you enjoy instant and precise autofocus even when shooting stills from a variety of angles with the freedom provided by the Vari-angle LCD; and provides amazing autofocus power with 103 compatible Canon EF lenses
• Built-in wireless technology allows you to wirelessly transfer your images to social networking sites through CANON iMAGE GATEWAY#, share your images with wireless-enabled Canon cameras, or upload virtually anywhere on your iOS or Android smartphone with the free download of the EOS Remote app.
• Use your smartphone for remote camera control and operation (with the EOS Remote app), or even print your images on a wireless PictBridge certified printer.
• 20.2 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor, 14-bit A/D conversion, ISO 100 12800 (expandable to H: 25600) for shooting from bright to dim light and high performance DIGIC 5+ Image Processor for exceptional image quality and processing speed.
• High speed continuous shooting up to 7.0 fps allows you to capture quick action.
• EOS Full HD Movie mode with Movie Servo AF for improved continuous focus tracking of moving subjects, manual exposure control and multiple frame rates
• Built-in stereo microphone, manual audio level adjustment with attenuator function to reduce audio clipping
• Vari-angle Touch Screen 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor II (approximately 1,040,000 dots) with smudge-resistant coating features multi-touch operation and Touch AF for an easy and intuitive experience, flexible positioning, and clear viewing even when outdoors in sunlight
• 19-point all cross-type AF system (including a high-precision f/2.8 dual cross-type AF center point) with a wide area array for exceptional autofocus performance and greater compositional freedom when shooting with the viewfinder.
• Intelligent Viewfinder with superimposed LCD display provides approximately 98% field of view, and Multi-Aspect ratio in Live View broadens your choices in composition.
• Expand your creativity with advanced in-camera imaging features like High Dynamic Range, Multiple Exposure, Handheld Night Scene and HDR Backlight Control, along with seven Creative Filters that can be displayed in real time during Live View shooting.
• Scene Intelligent Auto Mode delivers expertly optimized photos and offers improved scene detection for amazing results when shooting at night.