Good Deals On Two Panasonic DSLRs

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 16 MP Camera, Black with Lumix G Vario 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S Zoom Lens $398.00

 A fine camera for advanced hobbyists.

Features:

One of the newest compact system cameras (DSLM) cameras from Panasonic, the LUMIX G5 features a newly integrated 16.05-megapixel Live MOS sensor and redesigned Venus Engine to render clear, crisp images in both photo and video recording. Featuring a compact, light-weight body with built-in flash, the LUMIX G5 boasts ultra-high mobility while offering users a powerful camera performance which achieves spectacular image quality, realizing true-to-life photo details through excellent resolution, image rendering and color production. When used with the LUMIX G5, the full line of high-grade lens combines with its precision AF (Auto Focus) to achieve high resolutions, with an optimal balance of resolution and noise reduction to produce lifelike image rendering and high precision auto exposure and white balance for faithful color reproduction.
When used with the LUMIX G5, the full line of high-grade lens combines with its precision AF (Auto Focus) to achieve high resolutions, with an optimal balance of resolution and noise reduction to produce lifelike image rendering and high precision auto exposure and white balance for faithful color reproduction. A redesigned Venus Engine features exceptionally advanced signal processing capabilities, producing clear, crisp images in both photo and video recording.

The 3DNR detects smooth areas or edges in photos and adjusts the strength of noise reduction (stronger for smooth portion, milder for edge portion) to maintain object descriptiveness. The Multi-process NR quickly detects brightness in each part of a picture and applies optimal noise reduction in multiple steps. The newly incorporated HDR (High Dynamic Range) allows for several pictures consecutively shot at different exposure levels to be overlaid, producing a single composite picture to eliminate over-exposure or under-exposure.

 

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body Only, Black $1098.00

A top of the line pro caliber DSLR for this small format. 

Features:

Panasonic is proud to introduce a new Digital Single Lens Mirrorless Camera DMC-GH3 of its top-of-the-line GH series. The LUMIX GH3 is not just a compact, lightweight camera. It is an attractive, top-of-the-line mirrorless single lens system camera that is tough enough to withstand the extreme conditions of heavy field use. In Europe and the United States, digital SLR cameras are called DSLR and mirrorless cameras are referred to as CSC (Compact System Cameras). Panasonic uses the term DSLM (Digital Single Lens Mirrorless) cameras to refer to its mirrorless models, and continues to develop attractive camera systems with interchangeable lenses. With the introduction of the high-end LUMIX GH3, Panasonic will be able to provide more people with the experience of exploring the remarkable potential of the digital single lens mirrorless camera.

The new Live MOS Sensor achieves high-resolution images with minimum noise. And the new Venus Engine attains high-speed, high-quality signal processing. These features combine to maximize shooting fun and operating ease. Another prominent feature of the LUMIX GH3 is a tough body that is rugged enough to stand up to even professional use. It features a magnesium alloy full diecast body and advanced splash / dustproof construction that was achieved by tightly sealing the sections of the camera body to enable shooting under extreme conditions. Although the LUMIX GH3 is integrating features a class above than other G Series models, it is still compact when compared with an SLR camera featuring equivalent performance and functions. The body has enabled a new control layout with three dials on the front and back as well as single-function buttons. The LUMIX GH3 allows users to capture images in extreme environments and provides superb mobility. It also records still images consecutively at a rate of about 6 fps. The LUMIX GH3 is proud to assume the role of Panasonic's flagship digital single-lens mirrorless camera.

The newly developed 16.05 effective megapixels Live MOS sensor boasts wide dynamic range and high sensitivity image recording even at ISO 12800 or ISO 25600 in extended mode. The key point here was reducing noise, for which Panasonic focused on the following three areas: (1) minimizing noise in the sensor, (2) preventing sensor noise from entering the output signal, and (3) preventing noise from entering the signal processing circuit, power supply line and grounding line. To reduce noise, it is also important to design the power supply wiring and the signal wiring connected to the engine to be as close to the same length as possible. These measures not only suppress noise but also help to improve processing speed. Standard sensitivity is from ISO 200 to ISO 12800, but the user can set sensitivity to ISO 125 or ISO 25600 by using an extension function. The LPF (Low Pass Filter) has been also newly designed to minimize generation of moire while drawing maximum resolution of the image out of the sensor.

Solar Storms May Mean Southern View Of Northern Lights

No guarantees, but yet another Coronal Mass Ejection just might give rise to some spectacular aurora displays.

For sky watchers in the Northern USA (possibly as far South as CO, OK, AR, etc...), this often looks like a lingering sunset glow. Hint: If it's in the Northern sky, and if it's after 10:00pm, it's not sunset glow! Its colors could be reddish, golden, green, whatever. 

If you see one, post here about it, telling where and what time.

Watch a Nova Online

Live feed of Nova Dephinus 2013 from the Slooh Space Camera.

I am The Doctor

I am not A doctor, I am THE Doctor! The definite article, so to speak.

A friend's photo booth set up. I'll talk all about it in a future post.

Adobe Lightroom Sale

Heads up on this great price found by our friends at PhotoRumors!

Only $99, regularly $149.

Hurry, limited time coupon code.

(I got the same thing e-mailed direct to me. If you are a regular Adorama customer, be sure to check your inbox for promotions.)

Portrait Skin Softening

Different programs will call it by different names, but the need and the results are all similar.

We tend to look for sharpness in our cameras and lenses, but sometimes sharpness can work against our intended end result.

People don't often want to see themselves or others in a tack sharp photograph. We would rather see a  pleasant smoothness. And that is a form of realism. It's the reality of how we perceive ourselves and others we admire.

Look at two photos. Both have been image processed. The RAW files (not shown) captured everything and then some. This first image is after processing to adjust exposure, contrast, color, and sharpness.

Processed

It's a good likeness. But, we can make our subject happier if we retouch it a bit more, this time specifically targeting skin softening. We could either do it step by step or we could use one of the new, super powerful, portrait specific programs. Either way, we get a result that, while not being exactly what our eye would capture, but rather what our mind sees when look at our pleasant loved ones, is actually the more "realistic" portrait.

I feel that the this final, specifically skin softened image is the better image, even tho we have sacrificed sharpness. Have a look for yourself:

Softened

Interestingly, this final image is about one fifth the size of the interim image, which I had already processed down from an even bigger file size. The original image file was 21.8mb, the secondary image was saved with compression to about 7.6mb. Final image is under 2mb. Usually, I want the most info possible in my final file, so that any prints are as sharp as they can be. In this type of portrait work, tho, I deliberately save down to a less sharp jpeg as opposed to my usual tiffs.

Hopefully, this discussion can enlighten us  to use our artistic skills to end up with the proper final image file for the needs of our subject type.

Thanks to my lovely wife for being a willing model/Guinea pig for this post.

Using a high MP camera

When I first made the switch into high end digital photography, I agonized about what camera to buy. I had already been using digital for a few years, but I was having my 35mm slides scanned and used a compact P&S for non pro snapshot stuff. Moving into Digital SLR territory was a big step for me. I was waiting for digital SLR quality to match my Kodachomes at a reasonable (less than a car) price.

I stayed within the brand I normally used and got the most bang for my buck with a 10MP  new model from a major brand. I learned all about RAW files and tried out several different post processing programs before settling on two that best suited me. Did some weddings and other events, sold photos online, branched out into specialty products sold thru craft shows... Basically, it was a good move for me.

Fast forward almost 6 years to 2013. Things had steadily been improving in DSLRs all across the brands. But, I wasn't seeing a quantum leap forward like the one that moved me to jump in to DSLRs in the first place. 

Until now. Reasonably priced units, full frame and APS-C, with ultra high megapixel counts were flooding the marketplace. I shopped until I found a factory refurbished model of one of the newest cameras. That way, the camera had been out long enough to have any BIOS bugs worked out, I got to read in depth, real world reviews, and i saved a lot of money. Since I purchased thru a retailer's rewards program, I got a full year warranty, too.

Once I got my new camera, I realised something else. I needed to upgrade more than just the camera. My older programs weren't reading the new RAW files my camera was making, so I had to get the newest versions of those, too. Good thing I saved money on the refurb!

With the bigger image files (more than twice as big), I gained a  huge amount of detail and usable data in RAW. My working files were over 100MB in some cases. This slows down the processing speed as well. On some computers, you might not notice too much. My computer had already been updated, so that wasn't too big a deal for me. Even when I compress files down from TIFFs to JPEGs to use with certain online printing services, my files are very large. Storage devices fill up twice as fast, as well.

Also, of the two places I use to print from uncompressed TIFFs, one of them couldn't upload the new files sizes. The other one does, tho, so I'm not left out.

The benefits are totally worth it, tho. The amount of real detail I have to work with my photo files allows me to be even more creative. Things I found work-arounds for before, I could now simply use my existing files for. And the new programs are so much easier to work with. I can make my photo files be anything I want. From soft effects, realistic color enhancements, natural looking HDR, perfect panoramas, etc...

Also, I gained a zoom in capability (more or less), having so much detail to use with severe cropping.

Bottom line is: now is a great time to get a new DSLR. They are awesome. From entry level, prosumer, to super Pro, any of the major brands and cameras are great choices. Expand your creativity, expand your business, expand your photographic enjoyment.