As noted in my previous posting, I had an opportunity last Friday to participate in a Nik Software webinar previewing their new HDR solution. Nik representatives were also on hand at the Glazers Camera Shore Street Fair (Seattle) this past weekend, so I have plenty of time to pick the brains of the Nik folks. What did I learn? They are very busy reworking their entire software line to support the 64bit Photoshop CS4 and CS5 (no real surprise here, but it was refreshing to know they are working it hard). They know they are behind in this effort and are really pushing to reset their software (currently all of their products work in the Lightroom (LR) and Photoshop (PS) environment however only Viveza is currently available in the 64bit PS environment) . Back to Nik HDR – This new software will be available for PS and LR and will be offered in both 32 and 64 bit plug-in applications vs. a stand alone program. The interface carries the classic user interface that Nik users have come to love, especially the U-point control technology which allows for pin-point controls across the image. The HDR program carries an effects preview pane in the LR Navigator window very similar to Silver Effects or Color Effects, allowing the photographer to visually see the proposed enhancement before actually committing to the change. While Nik’s approach is wonderful for those wanting to put their foot into the HDR pond without having to learn all about tone-mapping, it’s power really lies in using the U-point control technology to ‘get at’ the changes you need to make without getting into complicated selective masking in PS. Another real sweet feature is the effort-less manner in which images are selected for inclusion into the HDR solution (using the LR interface). Along with Lucas Art and Photomatix, Nik HDR will be a welcomed addition to my HDR kit bag. Look for a late July release (estimated) for the NIK HDR product. No pricing information available.
Cheers and happy photo’ing
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Not very often does one run across an application that makes your life simple when it comes to taking photographs. In this case TPE is free, available for Mac, PC, was well as the the iPhone. While there are many applications for the computer and iPhone which annotate sunrise and sunset for a given location, this little beauty stands apart from the crowd as a true interactive planning tool. The Photographer’s Ephemeris can depict sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset PLUS it will show the actual sun angle at any give hour from any given location, all with the Google Earth / Google Maps in the background. TPE is fairly simple in concept: 1) display a Google Map 2) choose a date 3) calculate and display a bunch of astronomical data. The tricky part comes from the connection between 1 and 2. Most similar programs and web-sites have you select from a pre-defined list of locations, where, presumably, things such as the relevant time zone are already saved – not much help if you are in the middle of BFE and it is not on the pre-defined list. I love it as a planning tool and will use it in planning my outdoor shoots. As an example, the screen shots below indicate the sun angle by the thin yellow line, while the thicker yellow/orange lines indicate sunrise and sunset direction. Lots of detailed explanations are on the site so give it a look.
Head on over to The Photographer’s Ephemeris and run the tutorials, download the application. If you like it be sure to come back and toss the author some coins for his efforts.
Cheers and happy photo’ing
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Posted in Photo Gear and Reviews on Nov 30th, 2009
When a deal is too good to be true, it most certainly is.
Although I try very hard to support my local brick and mortar camera store, it is not uncommon for me to order from B&H Photo for a number of items. I first ordered from B&H when I was in Iraq. Ten days after placing an order, my 70-200 showed up. Not bad considering where I was. I accidentally ordered two of the same lenses over the next three weeks (I guess I was really tired or maybe the internet button just suckered me). I wrote B&H from Iraq and asked to return one of the two. To my surprise they said return it AFTER I returned home from my assignment. Now that was service. I have been with them ever since.
Back to my original point……… Everyone wants a deal, but a deal is not always a deal. I’ve heard of bait-and-switch scams out of New York before but never with any details. This summer I ran across some news which highlighted the NY Attorney Generals Attempts to bring a stop to this tactic. With Christmas just around the corner, I thought it would be good to mention this.
“Attorney General Cuomo’s investigation revealed that these seven companies would advertise consumer electronics, such as cameras, camcorders, projectors, and related accessories online at prices significantly lower than their competitors to induce consumers to place orders via the internet. Once an order was placed, the companies would call consumers and try to sell them additional or “upgraded” merchandise at inflated prices. If the consumer refused to purchase the additional merchandise, the companies would cancel the sale or claim the item was backordered for months. If the consumer did agree to purchase the additional merchandise, the companies would send them lower quality merchandise than what was promised, or merchandise that the consumer never ordered in the first place. When customers tried to return the items, they would either be denied or be slammed with undisclosed fees. “
As first reported by the Consumerist, a listing of the stores and instructions for filing a claim are posted here. The bottom line is to pay attention to and buy armed with knowledge. If you are shopping on line, then you already know what the price should be. Remember, a deal is seldom a real deal.
Cheers and happy photo’ing
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Maytag vs. Hoodman Compact Flash Card
I have read numerous times about the success of washing your Compact Flash cards and up until last weekend, I always called BS on being able to use a CF card after washing. Last weekend I left a Hoodman CF card in my jeans pocket after shooting in the studio (yes I had backed up the card before I left the studio); into the wash the jeans went. I realized what I had done when the card fell out of the pocket as I was putting them into the dryer. Following a one day air drying, into the camera she went. I hit play back and up came all of the images. I then downloaded them into LR and determined that there was no damage to the files. Even now that I know that I can do this, I don’t intent to make washing my cards a standard operation.
I started using Hoodman cards sometime ago shortly after their introduction of their 300x card. Yes, they are more expensive than SanDisk however, they are made in American and they are the only card that is tested three times before leaving the factory. According the local Hoodman representative, they have yet to record a failure, either before departing the factory or from the field. Some can argue that these cards are not as fast as the ScanDisk IV’s but I seldom find myself in a shooting situation in which I am filling up the buffer. At the end of the day, I want dependability rather than speed; of course the best of both worlds would be greatly appreciated. Bottom line, I’m a Hoodman kind of guy; too bad they never go on sale.
Cheers and happy photo’ing
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This weekend I leave for Tanzania leading another photo safari and man I can’t wait to get there. These crazy gray Seattle skies are killing me. So what is in the bag? For this trip I will be taking two carry ons. One Gura Gear back pack (shown here, and one over the shoulder lens bag for my 600mm VR. Packed in the Kiboko bag: Nikon D300 (2), D2x, SB800 flash (2), 70-200mm VR, 200-400mm VR, 10.5 fisheye, 17-55mm, 1.4TC, 1.7TC, EN-EL4a batteries (2) plus those in the cameras, Lacie external hard drives, Hyperdrive Space 250GB (2), dual battery charger, international cell phone, Better Beamer, remote control timer, CF wallet with cards. Not pictured are camera cleaning supplies, assorted cords, and a small repair kit. Oh yes – I almost forgot, I also have one extra shirt, and one change of underwear and socks laid on top of the camera gear. Tooth brush and other personal items are in the outermost flap. What is funny about all of this is that I actually have some room left over. So what about this bag? The bag was developed by Andy Biggs, aka Mr. Africa. I first met Andy in 2007 while on one of his safaris. BTW, Andy has had a serious impact on my photography skills and has helped me a great deal with my safari efforts. While on safari in 2007, Andy had an early beta version of his bag along for the ride. I gave the bag a hard look and made note of those things that I thought made it stand out. In 2008, Andy sent me a final pre-production bag for trial on my 2008 photo safari. I must say that the improvements from the beta to the pre-production model were incredible. For the first time, I had my hands on a bag that was the lightest bag in the industry and also offered incredible protection for my equipment. At this point, I need to share with you that my attic is littered with camera bags. The only thing that I have more of than bags is CF cards, so I have learned a few things about bags over the years – mostly what I don’t like. The Kiboko bag from Gura Gear performs better than any other bag that I currently own. When I need to carry two bodies or more and several lenses, this is my bag of choice. It is made of heavy duty sail cloth nylon, the type that sail boat sails are made from (that should give you an idea of the strength of this bag), and features a fully adjustable shoulder and belt harness systems. Being 6 foot 2, this simple adjustment makes the difference between an easy carry and a sore back. A top and ergonomically correct side carry handle, plus a built in rain fly top off the outstanding construction. Top notch construction can been seen at every seam, and at every stress point. The bag is fully reinforced in all of the critical locations. Ample internal padding dividers are provided, with no need to purchase additional ones. The double flap design is perfect for those wanting to shoot from the bag. While on safari, I will simply re-configure the bag so I can have two cameras at the ready plus my 600 VR in my lap. If you are in search of a top notch, high quality, no non-sense camera and back pack, I urge you to give the Kiboko bag from Gura Gear a hard look. I think you will find a winner here just as I have. The down side for me: After returning the pre-production bag, I had to wait for 4 months until my personal Kiboko bag arrived. The upside for you: You don’t have to wait anymore – the bags are in stock and shipping. Check out the Gura Gear blog.
Cheers and happy photo’ing
Randy
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Every now and then, I come across products that just make my life so much better. When I travel to Africa to lead one of my safaris, I am very hard on my equipment and so is the environment. So you can image my thrill when I discovered (thanks to a safari traveler that will be joining my January 2009 group), a killer duffel bag that carries a lifetime warranty and is made right here in good ‘ole Seattle. We have to use duffel bags on our safari trips due to the inter-county flight back from the Serengeti to Arusha. For this flight, we use a Cessna 208 with a cargo pod. Hard sided luggage simply will not fit into the cargo hold of the aircraft. OK, back to the bags. After talking to the owner, Malcom, I took a risk and ordered three different sizes of his bags. I don’t know what I was more excited about, receiving my bags or a new camera lens that came at the same time. Funny thing, the bags were opened first. Holy smokes, these are beauts and are made like a tank. The zippers are industrial strength, and the bags are constructed from 1,000-denier CORDURA®, a nylon fabric that despite its brushed-cotton appearance has been generously coated with urethane and DWR (durable water-repellent finish) for abrasion- and water-resistance. Every BAD BAG is double-stitched and seam-taped to resist pressure, both internal (your overstuffed load) or external (beefy baggage handlers). From the zippers to internal compartments to the built in compression straps, these bags rock to the point that I now strongly recommend them to all safari goers, as well as anyone else that is sick of buying bag after bag. These bags come in sizes ranging from 10.5 by 7.5 to 36 by 18 inches and can carry up to 7800 cubic inches of stuff. I’ve stepped up to the Best American Duffel and I can’t wait to hit the Serengeti with them. Contact BAD here.
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Posted in Photo Gear and Reviews, Travel on Jan 8th, 2008
If you have been watching the photography forums, no doubt you are trying to do some calculations to determine how much lithium (Li) you have in each of your batteries. Just as I was completed my numbers (just for fun and because I am an anal retentive engineer), I found a current press release from the government that really clears things up. In summary, this release makes it very clear that any number of typical digital camera and laptop Li-ion batteries are allowed in carry-on luggage as long as they are stored in a manner that prevents shorting. Save those battery covers! Checked baggage can contain Li-ion batteries only if they are inserted in the device that they’re meant to power. Below is the full release of the update:
Press Release
UPDATE:
US DOT Hazmat Safety Rule to Place Limits on Lithium Batteries Carried by Passengers Aboard Aircraft Effective January 1, 2008Passengers will no longer be able to pack loose lithium batteries in checked luggage beginning January 1, 2008, once new federal safety rules take effect. The new regulation, designed to reduce the risk of lithium battery fires, will continue to allow lithium batteries in checked baggage if they are installed in electronic devices, or in carry-on baggage if properly protected from short circuiting in their original packaging or by placing them in individual plastic bags or a protective travel case. Common consumer electronics such as digital cameras, cell phones, and most notebook computers are still allowed in carry-on and checked luggage. Moreover, any number of spare batteries for these devices will be allowed in carry-on baggage if they are properly protected from short circuiting and do not exceed 8 grams (~100 watt hours) of equivalent lithium content. All lithium-ion cell phone and standard notebook computer batteries are below 8 grams (~100 watt hours) of equivalent lithium content. Batteries not installed in electronic devices are not permitted in checked baggage.The rule limits passengers to not more than two large spare rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in carry-on baggage. This applies to batteries that exceed 8 grams (~100 watt hours) of equivalent lithium content and less than 25 grams (~300 watt hours) [see attached illustration]. Batteries with more than 25 grams (~300 watt hours) are not allowed in either checked or carry-on baggage. “Doing something as simple as keeping a spare battery in its original retail packaging or a plastic zip-lock bag will prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires,” said Krista Edwards, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Lithium batteries are considered hazardous materials because they can overheat and ignite under certain conditions. Safety testing conducted by the FAA found that current aircraft cargo fire suppression system would not be capable of suppressing a fire if a shipment of non-rechargeable lithium batteries were ignited in flight. This rule aims to reduce the risk of fires involving lithium batteries in the cabin of passenger aircraft.“This rule protects the passenger,” said Lynne Osmus, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assistant administrator for security and hazardous materials. “It’s one more step for safety. It’s the right thing to do and the right time to do it.” In addition to the new rule, PHMSA is working with the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the battery, consumer electronics and airline industries, airline employee organizations, testing laboratories, and the emergency response communities to increase public awareness about battery-related risks and developments. These useful safety tips are highlighted at the public website: http://safetravel.dot.gov.
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Posted in Photo Gear and Reviews on Dec 3rd, 2007
Saturday, I secured my first D300 body from Glazers Camera, in Seattle. Having shot the D2x and D2h for several years, I must say I am just a little overwhelmed and it will take a few weeks to get my hands around this impressive camera. BTW, I traded in one of my D2x’s for the D300. Why you might ask? With my constant low light work, I am always doing a considerable amount of post processing to remove noise. From everything I have been able to read, this is one “low noise” camera. I think I will feel just fine shooting at ISO 800 and above, if needed. Thus far, I have only two gripes: (1) There is no external control for bracketing like you have on the D2x. This is somewhat of a big deal for me, as I do a lot of HDR panos. Having this deep in a menu just takes more time (provided I put the function button to another use); (2) When working with the AUTO ISO function, the highest shutter speed that will trip the ISO Auto adjustment is 1/250th. Now if you are shooting with a 500mm and need to use the 1/focal length for your minimum shutter speed….well you can get the idea. PLUSES: The screen on the back of the camera is just nothing short of pure pleasure. I no long have to use 1.25x reading glasses to use my camera. Super Job Nikon! Once the rain, snow, and wind breaks I’ll get out shooting and start filling in the details. If everything works out the way I think it is going to, I will be forever leaving my D2xs and using only a pair of D300s, and one D2h as my primary arsenal (remember, it is not about how many megapixels you have, it’s all about the sensor). For an indepth review of the Nikon D300 try http://www.dpreview.com/previews/nikond300/
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