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Zeiss announces a new SLR lens - Zeiss Distagon T* 18mm f3.5

2008-07-05T02:58:00.001-04:00

Zeiss 18mm Distagon f3.5 - Side
Originally uploaded by Carlos Echenique

On June25, 2008 without too much fanfare, Carl Zeiss Company announced yet another lens for the Nikon (ZF) and Pentax (ZK) DSLR mounts.

The Distagon T* 3,5/18 is a super-wide lens with 99 degree field of view (on film and FX sensor Nikons like the D3 and recently announced D700 - on DX cameras this lens is equivalent to 27mm). This lens is of rectilinear design and provides dramatic perspectives for architecture, landscape and close-up photographers.

The all-metal body houses eco-friendly lens elements all sporting the Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating to minimize flaring and other stray light artifacts. The lens also includes Zeiss Color Matching Technology which provides homogenous color renditions. The lens takes 82mm filters on the front.

A non-CPU, manual focus lens, the 18mm Distagon can be programmed into newer model Nikons (D300, D700, & D3).

The lens will be available in early July 2008 (ZF mount) and Q3 2008 in ZK mount. Suggested list price is 960 Euro ( about $1500 USD ).

Technical Specifications
Focal length: 18 mm
Aperture range: f/3.5 - f/22 (1/2 stop intervals)
Number of elements/groups: 13/11
Focusing range: 0.3 m (0.98 ft) - inf.
Angular field* (diag./horiz./vert.): 99/90/67 °
Coverage at close range: 44 x 29 cm (1.7 x 1.1")
Image ratio at close range: 1:12
Filter-thread: M 82 x 0.75
Length (with caps)**: 84 mm (3.3")
Diameter**: 87 mm (3.4")
Weight**: 470 g (16 oz.)
Camera mounts: ZF (F bayonet), ZK (K bayonet)
Scope of delivery: Lens Shade included

Nikon Releases D700 Ahead of Schedule

2008-07-01T00:05:00.007-04:00

Ending many months of speculation, Nikon has announced the existence of the long rumored D700, an FX sensor DSLR in a compact body. Aimed squarely at the Canon 5D, the D700 has several features that surpass the current Canon 5D:

Features

12.1 megapixel FX (full-frame) CMOS sensor with high signal-to-noise ratio, wide dynamic range, and built-in self-cleaning sensor unit that minimizes dust.

ISO 200 – 6400: extendable up to 25600 (equivalent) and down to ISO 100 (equivalent).

5fps continuous shooting (8fps with optional MB-D10 battery pack with lithium-ion battery EN-EL4a or 8 AA batteries).

EXPEED image processing engine with 14-bit A/D conversion and 16-bit image processing for superb detail and tonal gradation.

Advanced Scene Recognition System combines the camera’s metering and AF sensors for precise exposures and sharply defined images.

Multi-CAM3500FX 51-point AF system. Individually selectable or configurable in 9-point, 21-point and 51-point coverage settings.

Picture Controls streamline in-camera image processing by enabling the pre-set customization of image parameters such as sharpening, contrast, brightness, hue and saturation in various color modes.

920,000 dot 3-inch VGA LCD monitor with wide, 170-degree viewing angle.

Live View with Autofocus enables composition of images by use of the LCD monitor. Two modes are supported: Handheld or Tripod.

DX Crop Mode can be automatically enabled when a DX format lens is attached.

Quick response: approx. 40 ms shutter-lag.

Active D-Lighting enables superior high-contrast images by automatically applying tone compensation at the moment of capture.

HDMI video output interface enables connection to high-definition video systems.

Intuitive ergonomics with optimized button placement for fast and comfortable handling.

Durable Magnesium alloy body: moisture and dust resistant.

Wireless LAN and Ethernet support via optional Wireless Transmitter WT-4.

Specifications

Effective pixels	12.1 million
Image sensor	CMOS sensor, 36.0 x 23.9 mm; total pixels: 12.87 million; Nikon FX format
Image size (pixels)	FX format (36 x 24): 4,256 x 2,832 [L], 3,184 x 2,120 [M], 2,128 x 1,416 [S] DX format (24 x 16): 2,784 x 1,848 [L], 2,080 x 1,384 [M], 1,392 x 920 [S]
Sensitivity	ISO 200 to 6400 in steps of 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV; can be set to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, or 1 (ISO 100 equivalent) EV below ISO 200, or to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1 (ISO 12800 equivalent), or 2 (ISO 25600 equivalent) EV over ISO 6400
Storage media	CompactFlash (Type I, compliant with UDMA)
Monitor	3-in., approx. 920,000-dot (VGA), 170-degree wide-viewing-angle, 100% frame coverage, low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with brightness adjustment
Exposure metering	3D Color Matrix Metering II, Center-Weighted and Spot Metering
Exposure modes	Programmed Auto (P) with flexible program, Shutter-Priority Auto (S), Aperture-Priority Auto (A), Manual (M)
Interface	Hi-Speed USB
Power sources	One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e, Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10 (optional) with one Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a/4/3e, or eight R6/AA-size alkaline (LR6), Ni-MH (HR6), lithium (FR6) batteries, or nickel-manganese (ZR6) batteries
Dimensions (W x H x D)	Approx. 147 x 123 x 77 mm (5.8 x 4.8 x 3.0 in.)
Weight	Approx. 995 g (2.19 lb.) without battery, memory card, body cap or LCD monitor cover

Mac Pro SATA Blu-Ray HOWTO

2008-06-28T14:18:00.004-04:00

Apple's decision to not offer a Blu-Ray drive as an option on the Mac Pro has been frustrating many users for quite some time. PC users have long enjoyed the expanded storage and high-definition content available on the new format.

This has not stopped enterprising third parties from adding Blu-Ray drives to their systems. The good news is that Apple decided to make the Mac Pro easy to upgrade in the field. The bad news is that Apple chose to use the more traditional (and less expensive) IDE (PATA) interface for it's optical drives. PC motherboard OEMs are cramming more and more SATA ports on their boards, so optical drive makers are switching to SATA as well. This makes it hard to find IDE based Blu-Ray drives.

Enter the gang at Cooldrives.com with their SATA-PATA adaptor board. This little gem plugs into the back of the SATA Blu-Ray drive and allows you to easily install it in the Mac Pro. Apple provides a complete and thorough set of instructions on how to swap out optical drives on the Mac Pro, so I won't cover those here.

SATA and PATA sides of the Cooldrives adaptor board

Here are the steps to prepare any SATA optical drive for installation in the Mac Pro using Apple's instructions.

Tools needed:

Large paperclip
Small Phillips screwdriver (or large jeweler's screwdriver)
Tweezers (optional)

Instructions

Take the large paperclip and unfold one side of it.

Insert the unfolded end of the paperclip in the front of the optical drive to manually pop out the drive tray. (Please refer to the drive manual to see the exact location of the ejection port.)

Turn the drive over and (using your fingers only) pry the front plate off of the drive tray. The plate is usually snapped on the front of the tray, so carefully pry the tabs away from the tray and push down. The front plate should slide off intact.

Take the Cooldrives adaptor and peel the cover off of the double-sided tape.

Line up the SATA connector with the SATA port on the optical drive.

Press the Cooldrives adaptor gently but firmly onto the optical drive.

If you are installing the drive as the Mac Pro's primary optical drive (as I did), you have to pull the jumper off of the back of the adaptor board. Use your fingers or the tweezers to pull the jumper. If the drive is going into the secondary slot, you won't have to mess with the jumper. (Apple usually expects optical drives to be set to "Cable Select" but that is not an option on the Cooldrives adaptor.)

Your drive should now look like this:

Front and back views of prepared optical drive

Follow the Apple installation guide and you will be able to mount the drive easily in your Mac Pro. I used an LG GGW-H20L which supports BD writing, HD-DVD reading, multi-layer discs, DVD's, CD's and includes BURN-Proof and Lightscribe. You can purchase this drive from Performance PC's. Tell Hank that I sent you.

Please keep in mind that Blu-Ray/HD-DVD playback is not supported in any Mac OS yet (the jury is still out on Snow Leopard) so you won't be able to play commercial discs. You will be able to burn BD discs for playback on set top players and for data storage. Roxio Toast Titanium 9 offers BD support via an optional plugin.

HP DreamColor LP2480xz followup

2008-06-18T03:12:00.001-04:00

As a followup, I have contacted HP and they are sending me a pair of DreamColor HP LP2480xz monitors for testing. Dave Farkas of Dale Photo & Digital will be allowing me to do a side-by-side comparison to Eizo's high end LCD displays. Should prove to be very interesting.

HP Ipaq 310 Review

2008-06-17T12:40:00.001-04:00

HP's Ipaq line of products (acquired when they bought Compaq) have always been of the PIM (Personal Information Manager) variety, always sporting some version of Windows Mobile, aimed squarely at the business user. The Ipaq 310 Travel Companion is a departure from this mold, venturing into territories and markets held by Garmin, Magellan and TomTom - portable GPS (Global Positioning System) devices.

From Wikipedia:

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only fully functional Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Utilizing a constellation of at least 24 Medium Earth Orbit satellites that transmit precise microwave signals, the system enables a GPS receiver to determine its location, speed, direction, and time. Other similar systems are the Russian GLONASS (incomplete as of 2008), the upcoming European Galileo positioning system, the proposed COMPASS navigation system of China, and IRNSS of India.

Developed by the United States Department of Defense, GPS is officially named NAVSTAR GPS (Contrary to popular belief, NAVSTAR is not an acronym, but simply a name given by John Walsh, a key decision maker when it came to the budget for the GPS program).[1] The satellite constellation is managed by the United States Air Force 50th Space Wing. The cost of maintaining the system is approximately US$750 million per year,[2] including the replacement of aging satellites, and research and development.

Following the shooting down of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 in 1983, President Ronald Reagan issued a directive making the system available for free for civilian use as a common good.[3] Since then, GPS has become a widely used aid to navigation worldwide, and a useful tool for map-making, land surveying, commerce, scientific uses, and hobbies such as geocaching. GPS also provides a precise time reference used in many applications including scientific study of earthquakes, and synchronization of telecommunications networks.

The Ipaq 310 Travel Companion is a stylish device sporting a 4.5" LCD touchscreen display. This keeps the number of individual controls to a minimum (just the Power button on the top and a couple on the side) and allows for UI flexibility via online upgrades. I'm not too keen on the color of the unit, but in the larger scheme of things, that is a very tiny nit to pick.

In this photo you can see the volume control wheel, reset button and (under the rubber cover) the USB, headphone and external antenna connectors.

The UI is a pretty standard bill of fare for GPS devices: touch screen orientation requires large easy-to-hit buttons and clear legible text (although the disclaimer you are forced to agree to every single time you turn the silly thing on is written in one of the tiniest fonts I have ever seen).

The 310 offers a 3D perspective view while driving which makes for easy viewing. However, if you are approaching a complex sequence of rapid turns, you may want to switch to top-down view to get a better idea of what you have to do.

Initially, the 310 comes with 4 different voices of varying gender, pitch and quality. The volume on the system wasn't the greatest and in a noisy vehicle the audible instructions can be missed. After connecting it to the Internet via my wife's PC, the 310 received some major updates and fixes. Several more voices were added including British, Austrailian, and Irish accented voices as well as foreign language voices. Also, the volume controls were reworked and a speed-sensitive volume control was added. Now, the faster you go, the louder it gets. Oddly, the female Austrailian voice is easier to understand than the default US female voice (which cannot translate the standard abbreviation "TPK" into "turnpike" and says "teepeekay").

The maps are reasonably accurate, given GPS's government enforced level of ambiguity. Out-of-the-box, the unit required that you enter the ZIP Code of the destination, which makes things difficult once you leave familiar territory. Heck, I didn't have to go too far as Miami-Dade county has twice the area of Rhode Island. After updating, the entry of destinations became more user-friendly. Remember to connect your unit to your PC to get regular updates to all of the maps and new features.

In practical operation, the unit performed as expected. It was not perfect, however. On two occasions the GPS reported that destinations we had entered were not where they actually were. Still, a batting average like that will earn you an MVP. The mapping software uses a "shortest-route" method by default. "Shortest route" does not necessarily equal "straightest route". Be prepared to take some interesting tours of where you live.

Other features include MP3 player, Bluetooth connectivity (allowing hands-free cell phone operation), an SD card slot, and a stylus for all you fat-fingered types. A set of games are included, in case your vehicle doesn't have an onboard entertainment system for the kiddies.

Specs

Wireless	Integrated Bluetooth® v2.0 with EDR
Operating system	Windows® CE 5.0 with custom HP user interface
Processor	Centrality Titan 600MHz
Display	4.3-inch transmissive TFT 16-bit RGB depth 65,000 color WVGA 800 x 480 pixel touch screen display, antiglare, landscape orientation
Memory	128MB SDRAM main memory for running applications (may vary by country) Up to 2 GB Flash ROM (depending on model/may vary by country) User available persistent storage varies by model
Dimensions	86.8mm x 110.2mm x 18.2mm (3.4 x 4.3 x 0.7 in)
Weight (with battery)	187 g (6.6 oz)
Power	1700 mAh Lithium Ion rechargeable, user changeable battery
Interfaces	Mini-USB connector for sync/data/charge
Storage	High-capacity SD card slot
Audio	Large speaker for navigation volume, integrated microphone with echo cancellation, 3.5mm 3 pin headphone jack
Hardware buttons	Power, scroll wheel, reset
HP exclusive applications	HP designed user interface, Bluetooth hands-free phone application, Bluetooth device pairing (phone, stereo headphones)
GPS software	Navigation engine, text to speech, and maps RDS/TMC traffic data support (EMEA)
Entertainment software	Digital music player (with Windows Media DRM), digital video player, photo viewer, and games
In the box	iPAQ Travel Companion 310 Series, windshield mount with device holder, dashboard mount disc, car charger, standard battery, AC charger, mini-USB cable, carrying case, documentation, HP iPAQ Companion CD.
Warranty	One-year parts and labor in most regions; 90 days technical support for software in most regions. Additional offers may vary by region.
HP Total Care Services	HP services for individual product owners and businesses include service, support and financing options. Visit www.hp.com/services.

In conclusion, the Ipaq 310 offers a competent package with a decent set of added-on features. The unit performs as advertised. HP offers CarePack service for an additional charge. That alone makes this unit worth buying. The Ipaq 310 retails for $449.99 but can be gotten for as low as $227.00 (new). Competetively priced models include the Garmin nuvi 260W, the Magellan Maestro 4040 and the TomTom ONE XL-S.

ATI Radeon™ HD 3870 for Mac® & PC Edition offers amazing graphics processing for work and play

2008-06-13T00:44:00.002-04:00

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- June 12, 2008 --AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced the new ATI Radeon™ HD 3870 for Mac® & PC Edition, delivering the power to go beyond high-definition visual computing for work and play(1). Optimized exclusively for Apple Mac® Pro systems, the ATI Radeon HD 3870 Mac & PC edition can help drive productivity with built-in 256-bit 512MB GDDR4 frame buffer memory and 320 stream processors to deliver maximum performance for graphics-intensive applications such as 3D modeling, animation and games. Users also can expand visual workspace using twin dual-link DVI ports to connect two 30” Apple Cinema HD displays®.

“AMD is introducing the ATI Radeon HD 3870 Mac & PC Edition to enhance the Mac experience to maximum levels of 3D gaming and HD performance,” said Matt Skynner, vice president of marketing, Graphics Products Group, AMD. “Mac users demand the best when it comes to HD graphics performance, and the ATI Radeon 3870 Mac & PC Edition is designed to meet and exceed that need by delivering The Ultimate Visual Experience™ to our customers’ displays.”

Delivers More Power for Professional Applications

Superior performance and visual quality make the ATI Radeon HD 3870 Mac & PC Edition ideal for creative and professional applications on Apple Mac Pro systems, including Aperture™, Motion and Final Cut Studio®. Users can take advantage of the latest graphics features and drive productivity at an extraordinary price.

Advance to the Next Generation of HD Gaming

ATI Radeon HD 3870 Mac & PC Edition takes HD gaming to a whole new level by delivering a superior immersive gaming environment while enhancing overall image quality. The Unified Shader Architecture provides the ultimate in realistic game play experience. With PCI Express® 2.0 support, users are now ready for games that demand blisteringly fast throughput. Ultimately, with ATI Radeon HD 3870 Mac & PC Edition, Mac users can enjoy a more complete next-generation gaming experience.

Experience Break-through Efficiency

ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series graphics processors have break-through efficiency, with up to twice the processing performance-per-watt compared to previous generations of high-end AMD graphics processors(2). AMD also has added its patented ATI PowerPlay™ technology to the ATI Radeon HD 3800 series to provide increased control over the graphics processor in multiple power states. With PowerPlay technology, users benefit from dynamic adjustment of clocks and voltages depending on their usage scenario, which allows for a cool and quiet user experience.

With a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of USD $219, the ATI Radeon HD 3870 Mac & PC Edition is scheduled to be available late June at leading Mac retailers world-wide.

About AMD

Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is a leading global provider of innovative processing solutions in the computing, graphics and consumer electronics markets. AMD is dedicated to driving open innovation, choice and industry growth by delivering superior customer-centric solutions that empower consumers and businesses worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com.

HD monitor required for full HD enjoyment
2x processing performance-per-watt results based on AMD internal testing comparing ATI Radeon™ HD 3870 to ATI Radeon™ HD 2900 XT

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, ATI . the ATI logo, PowerPlay, Radeon, The Ultimate Visual Experience, and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Mac is a trademark of Apple Inc. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. The inclusion of third party trademarks in this release does not imply an endorsement by the trademark owners.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: 'BOUT FRICKIN' TIME!]

HP Introduces World’s First Affordable Color-critical Display

2008-06-10T12:31:00.002-04:00

HP today introduced its new color-critical computer professional display, available for less than a quarter of the cost of competing offerings.

The HP DreamColor Display features a new liquid crystal display (LCD) that provides a range of more than 1 billion colors in a 30-bit, LED-backlit display. The display is now shipping worldwide for a U.S. list price of $3,499.⁽¹⁾

The display is the result of an unprecedented technology collaboration with DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (NYSE: DWA) and addresses an increasingly critical need for affordable and consistent color accuracy in the animation, game development, film/video post, broadcast, product design and graphic arts categories.

The HP DreamColor display is expected to disrupt the economics of color management, making it possible, for the first time, to have a color-critical LCD display on every desk to make color checks, redesigns and multiple proofs a thing of the past.

“With the new DreamColor display, HP has broken through barriers that have existed in display technology for the past decade,” said Ed Leonard, chief technology officer, DreamWorks Animation. “The new DreamColor display packs a list of significant advances into one amazingly powerful display, enabling an unprecedented level of color management and fidelity in our production process. It’s a digital filmmaker’s dream.”

Designed for professionals for whom accurate color management is essential and consumers who seek to use only the best in technology innovations, the HP DreamColor display achieves more than 64 times the colors available on mainstream LCDs. Reds, blues and greens are visibly deeper, blacks are four times darker and whites are adjustable.

The DreamColor display is designed to match the requirements of professional industry standards and includes one-button access to seven pre-sets covering all the important color space standards. The display also includes a night vision interface for darkroom working conditions.

“Until now, accurate and standout color has been out of reach for the majority of digital content creators,” said Jun Kim, vice president and general manager, Displays, Personal Systems Group, HP. “Our DreamColor display advances color accuracy for the world’s storytellers – our most demanding of customers of performance technologies.”

The new HP DreamColor display includes the HP DreamColor engine software, which manages the display to deliver reliable, accurate, easy color, every time, and the DreamColor calibration kit for precision calibration.

The HP DreamColor LP2480xz is the first display to be introduced under the HP DreamColor Technology initiative, a two-year technology collaboration between HP and DreamWorks Animation that aims to deliver accurate color that remains consistent from application to application, device to device, and medium to medium. HP introduced the first printers built on the DreamColor engine in March 2007.

The DreamColor display was announced at the HP Connecting Your World event in Berlin. More information about the display and other products announced at the event is available in an online press kit at www.hp.com/go/connectingyourworld2008.

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world’s largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $110.4 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2008. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

Apple Previews Mac OS X Snow Leopard to Developers

2008-06-09T19:06:00.000-04:00

SAN FRANCISCO, June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Apple(R) today previewed Mac OS(R) X Snow Leopard, which builds on the incredible success of OS X Leopard and is the next major version of the world's most advanced operating system. Rather than focusing primarily on new features, Snow Leopard will enhance the performance of OS X, set a new standard for quality and lay the foundation for future OS X innovation. Snow Leopard is optimized for multi-core processors, taps into the vast computing power of graphic processing units (GPUs), enables breakthrough amounts of RAM and features a new, modern media platform with QuickTime(R) X. Snow Leopard includes out-of-the-box support for Microsoft Exchange 2007 and is scheduled to ship in about a year.

"We have delivered more than a thousand new features to OS X in just seven years and Snow Leopard lays the foundation for thousands more," said Bertrand Serlet, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering. "In our continued effort to deliver the best user experience, we hit the pause button on new features to focus on perfecting the world's most advanced operating system."

Snow Leopard delivers unrivaled support for multi-core processors with a new technology code-named "Grand Central," making it easy for developers to create programs that take full advantage of the power of multi-core Macs. Snow Leopard further extends support for modern hardware with Open Computing Language (OpenCL), which lets any application tap into the vast gigaflops of GPU computing power previously available only to graphics applications. OpenCL is based on the C programming language and has been proposed as an open standard. Furthering OS X's lead in 64-bit technology, Snow Leopard raises the software limit on system memory up to a theoretical 16TB of RAM.

Using media technology pioneered in OS X iPhone(TM), Snow Leopard introduces QuickTime X, which optimizes support for modern audio and video formats resulting in extremely efficient media playback. Snow Leopard also includes Safari(R) with the fastest implementation of JavaScript ever, increasing performance by 53 percent, making Web 2.0 applications feel more responsive.*

For the first time, OS X includes native support for Microsoft Exchange 2007 in OS X applications Mail, iCal(R) and Address Book, making it even easier to integrate Macs into organizations of any size.

*Performance will vary based on system configuration, network connection and other factors. Benchmark based on the SunSpider JavaScript Performance test on an iMac(R) 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system running Mac OS X Snow Leopard, with 2GB of RAM.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

(C) 2008 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, QuickTime, iPhone, Safari and iCal are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners

PlanetX64 - HDX Dragon Drawing

2008-05-30T16:02:00.001-04:00

With over 500 participants, the HDX Dragon Laptop giveaway at PlanetX64/PlanetAMD64 was a success. The winner of the HDX Dragon Laptop is our own RJsPC!

Congrats RJ!

Nikon D300: First Impressions

2008-05-29T01:47:00.001-04:00

Nikon,D300,Review

On August 23, 2007 Nikon introduced two new pro-level cameras: the top-of-the-line D3 and the more modestly priced D300. Both cameras offer weather-sealed bodies, 12.3 Mpix sensors, high-speed photography, 51-point autofocus, 1,005 point exposure sensor but the D300 offers all this in a small body form-factor with a DX sensor (1.5x EFOV) for only $1,799 USD.

I was a lifelong Canon shooter. My first Canon was an AE-1. I then moved up to a T90 which served me well for many years. I traded in my beloved T90 for an EOS 10S, my first autofocus SLR. Later I purchased a Canon EOS D60 and then sold it to get a Canon EOS 1D Mk II. Canon's digital offerings were fine cameras but I found that the photos taken by even a pro level camera like the EOS 1D Mk II required lots of massaging to get to a final form.

Then, through my other websites (PlanetAMD64 & PlanetX64), I was offered a chance to try out a Nikon D40x as part of a "Ready for Windows Vista" campaign. The Nikon D40x is an entry level DSLR recently superceded by the Nikon D60. Still, it is an excellent little camera. More importantly, it gave me a taste of the kinds of files Nikon DSLRs can produce. I was hooked.

I decided that the D300 was more to my liking and after some tests at my local camera dealer (always support your local camera dealers), I picked up the D300 + 18-200mm VR kit.

Build quality

The D300 can be considered a bottom-of-the-line Pro camera which puts it above a top-of-the-line consumer camera. The D300 shares many build features with it's big brother, the D3.

The chassis is made of solid magnesium, which is lightweight, yet very strong. Even the optional MB-D10 grip is made of the stuff. The body is weather-sealed against dust and moisture. Mind you, this does not mean that it's waterproof! Dunk this camera in the water and your off to get it repaired/replaced. In my hands, the camera feels solid. Even the optional MB-D10 grip feels like it's been welded on. This solidity comes with a price, albeit not a great one: weight. The D300 weighs in at 825g (1.82 lbs) without the battery. More if you add the MB-D10 and its second battery. However, this is positively svelte compared to my old Canon EOS 1d Mk II that weighed in at 1565g (3.45 lbs). Clamping a decent sized zoom lens turns the 1D Mk II into a ticket to the chiropractor. Mind you, these cameras are elephantine compared to my Leica M8. I can walk around with my M8 all day long and never feel it.

features

Whereas my Leica M8 presents the minimalist view of photography, the Nikon D300 has more bells and whistles than the Wizard of Oz. The manual included with the camera is over 420 pages long. In one language. I've had smaller textbooks in grad school.

To cover every feature in detail is the perfect insomnia cure, so I won't do that. I will, however, touch upon those features that most impressed me and made this my DSLR of choice.

12.3 megapixel DX sensor - even though this sensor has a crop factor of 1.5x, the resolution and improved high-ISO performance gives the D300 the flexibility to work in all kinds of lighting situations with ease. ISO 1600 images are totally usable from this sensor.

Auto ISO adjustment - this is the ultimate "PHD" feature (Push Here, Dummy). Set the camera to Program Mode (which adjusts the shutter speed and aperture) and Auto ISO will bump up the sensitivity to keep shutter speeds above a minimum value. Deep within the menus are located the screens for setting minimum shutter speed desired and min/max ISO values accepted. I currently have mine set to 1/125s minimum speed and ISO values from 200-1600.

Six Frames per Second (or more) - the D300 can shoot up to six frames per second. These are full resolution 12.3 Mp images. Add the MB-D10 with ENL-4e battery or a set of eight (8) AA alkalines and you can bump that up to 8 frames per second!

Live View - Ok this one is huge. Live View is actually fairly old-hat in the Point-and-Shoot camera arena, but is a enormous leap forward in the DSLR world. Live View allows you to use the DSLR's LCD screen to focus and compose the picture.

Big deal.

It is, actually. DSLR have a mirror located just behind the lens. This mirror is what enables you (in combination with some other optics) to see what your lens is seeing (DSLR, for the uninitiated, stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex). To enable Live View, the camera flips the mirror up and opens the shutter allowing the sensor to capture images and display them on the back LCD. Typical applications are for overhead composition, however, in the realm of macro and product photography, this feature turns the D300 into a mini View Camera of sorts, allowing precision focusing and framing. You can even use the built-in digital zoom to control the focus even more tightly.

Well that's about it for this entry. As I run across more interesting things, I will post updates to this review.

31 Days of the Dragon @ PlanetX64.com!

2008-05-23T00:12:00.002-04:00

PlanetX64 has launched their "31 Days of the Dragon" contest where you could win an HP HDX Dragon laptop valued at over $5000 USD (if purchased retail). Head over to PlanetX64 and follow the clues to get you entered into the drawing on May 30, 2008!

Newport Guitar Festival

2008-04-24T17:23:00.003-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was listening to my local NPR station, WLRN, and they were playing "South Florida Arts Beat" a show dedicated to informing the public about art and music events happening all over South Florida. I missed the first few minutes and Ed Bell's guest was talking about a Guitar Festival coming to Miami Beach on April 11-13, 2008.

I thought that it was going to be some sort of open air concert, but I was mistaken. When the guest, the show's promoter, said that it was going to be at the Miami Beach Convention Center, I thought hemeant the Jackie Gleason Theater next door. As it turns out, the Newport Guitar Festival is not a concert, but a Luthiers Convention.

From wikipedia: A luthier (IPA: /ˈljuːtiɚ/) is someone who makes or repairs stringed instruments. The word luthier comes from the French word for lute, "luth".

So this wasn't a festival of guitar players, but of guitar makers. "Fascinating", I thought. Here is a centuries old profession still thriving in the 21st century. The show was not to have any of the major manufacturers; this was all about luthiers who still make their insturments by hand.

Also, April in Miami-Dade County has a "Take Your Daughter to Work" Day, so I availed myself of the opportunity to introduce my 10 year old daughter to the less glamorous side of technical journalism - hoofing through a trade show. She was also my assistant photographer and did a fine showing for her first time out.

If you are a person who thinks "a guitar is a guitar" then you need to come to this show next year and be enlightened. That statement is as off as saying all cars are the same.

We were both amazed at the craftsmanship of the instruments on display there, some valued at over $30,000! Acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass guitars, lutes, and mandolins of all sizes, shapes and materials were on display.

Russ Strobel Guitars had their amazing Folding Guitars on display. These mini-instruments are full-featured electric guitars that can fit inside a standard briefcase! Their String Keeper System prevents the guitar strings from getting tangled. Bung a belt-mounted Danelectro HoneyTone Amp in the mix and you are ready to jam while you walk!

Genius.

This next part shows us what would've happened if Gregor Mendel majored in Woodshop instead of botany. Weird hybrid instuments like a guitar-harp, a banjolin, and a guitar-viola crossbreed shows the innovative spirit is still alive in this business.

Other guitars on display were works of art by themselves. The amount of detail in these instruments is staggering. Some were elegant, some were cool, some were whimsical and some were just plain weird.

First up, Blueberry Guitars enhances their aready beautiful guitars with relief carvings and embedded artwork in the frets. Horses run free and Chinese dragons snake their way around these masterworks.

Jeanfranco Gadotti of Gadotti Guitars, shows us designs that are thin, elegant, and almost Bauhaus in their simplicity. Various woods are combined to give a racy look to these finely crafted works. Small touches, like a magneticly mounted cap over the electronics (all powered by a 9-volt battery) keeps the lines of the guitar silky smooth.

Marlin Guitars shows us that whimsy has its place in guitar design as well. Now I know where Gwar goes for their instruments...

Jonathan Plant of Plant Guitars answers the question "What if Captain Nemo played an electric guitar instead of a pipe organ?" These instruments are works of art all by themselves, combining sculpture and instrumentality in one package.

Wow, some of this stuff was quite mind-blowing. Add to that the free mini-concerts (by folks with real talent) and the ability to try out any of the instuments there (behind the stands of course) and you have yourself the makings of a wonderful cultural experience.

I would like to thank the promoters for bringing this wonderful show to South Florida, WLRN for spreading the word, and my lovely daughter for humoring her dad ( and she may have actually learned something here, heh).

You can see the entire gallery of photos here.

Moving back to the Mac: Of mice and macs

2008-04-08T22:00:00.002-04:00

When buying a Mac, Apple goes out of its way to make the out-of-the-box experience as pleasent as possible. For new users or folks who are a bit squemish about computers, they do an excellent job.

But for those of who are more computer-savvy, being given the monorail tour of the primrose path may not suit us. Apple and other, 3rd party peripheral makers are there to cater to the more sophisticated crowds.

Take the lowly mouse for example. Apple bundles it's Mighty Mouse with every iMac, Mac Mini, and Mac Pro they make. This mouse will serve you well if you follow the path set before you by the House of Jobs. However, if you are used the left-click, right-click world of the PC, the Mighty Mouse may not seem so mighty. True, it does support right-clicking and it has a (tiny) scroll wheel (pea-sized ball, actually) and for regular use (surfing the web, e-mail, office productivity type stuff) it is quite servicable. It even comes in a bluetooth wireless version which looks exactly the same one I photographed, sans the wire. Stray into the Pro apps, or any Adobe product, or any 3D content creation suite and you begin to hit the envelope with this mouse.

Some users have reported that the Mighty Mouse's trackball is prone to getting gummed up with skin oils. This can usually be cleared up with a duster.

My sister is a hybrid Mac/PC user. She has an iMac for her everyday stuff and a powerhouse PC workstation for her work (she's a teleradiologist). For a while there she was swearing on a stack of bibles over the ergonomic benefits of a proper trackball. The unit was very comfortable but suffers from the same problems as the Mighty Mouse regarding its use in graphically intensive applications that require precision pointer control.

The third device I tried is from Razer. Best known for their line of PC gaming peripherals, Razer almost singlehandedly created the concept of the gaming mouse. Using their vast knowledge of high-performance peripheral design, Razer has charged into Mac territory with their Pro|Solutions line of peripherals. The Pro|Click mouse is based on their very popluar Diamondback gaming mouse. Looking very much like a white clad Diamondback, the mouse shares it's PC version's strengths (ambidextrous design, ultra-precise control, hi-res laser diode sensor, and extensive software controls) and weakneses (slightly less than optimal ergonomic design for the sake of ambidextrous use). Still, the mouse allows me to flick the cursor across my 30" screen without having to lift it up and yet affords me the control I need to work in Photoshop, Aperture and Lightwave 3D.

So, if you find that the bundled Mighty Mouse is not enough for you, take a look at the Razer Pro|Click. You won't be disappointed. The Razer Pro|Click is available at your local Apple Store and online at Apple.com, Razerpro.com and various other online retailers.

The World's Most Expensive Point & Shoots?

2008-03-30T02:53:00.008-04:00

Last year, I made the decision to get a Leica digital rangefinder. Most folks that know me, wonder what could have possessed me to invest that kind of money in what many consider to be a niche camera.

Well, I am not here to defend my decision. However, to put things in perspective, I present to you two cameras that make the price of the Leica M8 look like chump change.

These two cameras are examples of scale focused rangefinders. That is, cameras whose lenses must be focused by guessing at the distance from the camera to the subject. The viewfinders are for framing purposes only and play no part in the focusing process.

First up, we have the Alpa 12 TC from Switzerland. This camera is basically a frame that holds a lens in front of a medium format digital back. Top that off with a built-in spirit (bubble) level and an interchangeable viewfinder and you have yourself one really expensive piece of photo gear. The body is priced at roughly $1,800 USD (which is less than a Nikon D300). However, the lenses start at about $3,200 USD. The lenses are made by Alpa, Schneider, and Linhof/Rodestock - all German, all hand-made. Add to that the cost of a Viewfinder ($1,300 USD) and the cheapest compatible digital back you can find (Phase One P20+ costs $16,990) and you have just assembled a 16Mpix camera with no internal focusing mechanism and weighing in at $23,290.00 USD.

Next up, we have a similar offering: the Cambo WDC-MAfd from The Netherlands. Using a slightly more retro design than the Alpa, it has the advantage of moving the shutter release to a (at least in my opinion) more ergonomic spot. Prices for this body start at $4,099 with a Schneider Digitar 47mm XL lens.

Tack on a Viewfinder + mask for $910 and the PhaseOne P20+ at $16,990 and you have yourself another one of these monster point and shoots for $21,999.

Mind you, I am only configuring these with a 16Mpix digital back. You could go completly nuts and use a PhaseOne P45+ 39Mpix back instead. Doing this would increase the prices to $39,290 and $37,999, respectively.

So here you have a pair of cameras that cost as much as a loaded Mini Cooper S. And that is only with one lens. So who would be lunatic enough to buy one of these anyway?

Architectual and landscape photographers.

These systems have the ability to shift the lens in four directions (up, down, left and right) with respect to the digital back. This allows for distortion correction when shooting very wide angle photos. Ever see those amazing photos on the covers of the really fancy architectural magazines? They were most likely taken with one of these combinations. Granted, these are considered the travel models and are tiny by comparison to their wide and super-wide counterparts.

For more information (or to scare yourself silly at the prices) head over to the Alpa and Cambo websites. To see images taken by these cameras, head over to the Alpa Flickr Pool and shots from Luminous Landscape's Review. Many thanks to fine folks at LL for their review that inspired this article.

Zeiss unveils new 35mm ZM lens.

2008-03-20T23:20:00.005-04:00

The legendary Carl Zeiss company has unveiled a new ZM lens (Leica M-mount), the Carl Zeiss C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM. The new lens is only f/2.8 which does not make it the fastest prime on the market. However, it competes directly with offerings from Leica in terms of lens speed and outperforms them on price. The new lens' estimated price is € 590 ($910 USD) compared to Leica's Summarit 35mm f/2.5 at $1,495 USD.

Oddly enough, Zeiss' parent company, Cosina of Japan, unveiled at PMA a 35mm f/1.4 M lens under its Voigtlander brand. The lens is 2 stops faster and retails for $519. How well all three render will be the determining factor.

Zeiss' other C lenses have reflected older lens designs and often have a rendition that has been called "painterly". In this digital age, sharpness is all the rage, but the informed still know that bokeh, or how a lens renders the out-of-focus areas just as important as the in-focus parts.

Here is the press release for those like this sort of thing:

Carl Zeiss: C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM

The New Carl Zeiss C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM Completes Any Compact Photography Equipment

OBERKOCHEN/Germany – March 19, 2008.

As the latest member of the ZM lens family, the C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM lens is the perfect addition to your light, mobile photo equipment. The C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM will inspire you with perfect images, even at full aperture. Together with the compact C Biogon T* 4,5/21 ZM, it creates the ideal equipment for a wide range of applications such as documentation and architecture photography.

The “C” in the title indicates another outstanding feature: rather unusual for a lens of this performance class, its moderate speed of 1:2.8 permits an exceptionally compact construction. The symmetrical Biogon construction with 7 lens elements in 5 groups allows for practically distortion-free images.

The ZM lens series from Carl Zeiss is suitable for cameras with M-bayonet. As with the other lenses in this line, the C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM features an intuitive operating concept, a robust all-metal frame and a precise, noticeable click in 1/3 aperture stops.

Delivery of this lens is scheduled to begin in mid 2008:

C Biogon T* 2,8/35 ZM: Approx. € 590.00 (excluding VAT)

Moving back to the Mac: Background noise

2008-03-17T22:20:00.004-04:00

Now that the R800 mystery was solved, I carried on my merry way customizing the system to my tastes. One of my idiosyncrasies is to place all of my personal background images in their own folder in the Pictures folder. That way I can easily use a special Export Preset in Lightroom to easily create background (wallpaper in Windows terms) images and not have to fiddle with System folders.

In the System Preferences there is a control called Desktop & Screen saver whose job is to control desktop background images and screen savers (doh!). However, my setup was listing Aperture 2 folders twice and any attempt to add my Backgrounds folder resulted in the system informing me that it was already there.

Relying upon my mad Google-Fu skills, I uncovered that this problem can be solved by opening iPhoto once. This recreates the list adding the iPhoto Library to it, removing the duplicate entry for Aperture 2 and exposing the folders already added to the list.

Simple solutions (however odd they may seem) are always the best. I am also including a screengrab of the way the control should look after you run iPhoto for the first time.