Digital Photography Tips and Techniques

Evernote Helps to Keep Track of Your Complicated Life

picmax — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:51:43 +0000

Digital photography is not just an art form. It can be a very practical tool for documenting every moment of your life. It can even help you get organized. Whenever you see something you want to remember but have no time for taking notes, just take out your camera phone and snap a photo.

It sounds simple but it can quickly get out of control if you have thousands of unorganized photos on your camera. That’s when the sophisticated software such as Evernote comes in handy. It does more than just organizing your snapshots. It organizes what you like to capture, keeps track of your notes and tags, allows you to search or filter when you want to find something. It supports a neat recognition feature that can turn words found in images into searchable text.

It doesn’t tie you to your desktop or laptop computer. There is software for your PC but it is quite functional with just a web browser. It also works on-the-go on supported mobile phones. To learn more, check out the following sites:

Official Evernote website: http://www.evernote.com
MSNBC article: Creating Order from Chaos with Evernote

Kodak Retires KODACHROME Film

picmax — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:20:28 +0000

On June 22, 2009, Eastman Kodak Company announced that it would no longer manufacture the iconic photography product, KODACHROME Color Film.

Best known for its longevity and color accuracy, the KODACHROME Color Film are popular in archival and professional markets. Kodak attributed the reasons behind the decision to steadily declining sales caused by newer Kodak films and digital imaging technologies. Many had predicted the coming of this day long time ago. Nevertheless, many fans felt lost when the news broke. Perhaps there are still enough KODACHROME films around and most importantly, KODACHROME film processing business running, so people can celebrate the 75th anniversary of the iconic film that captured many well known iconic images.

To many, the tangibility of films and the intangibility of digital photos are the reason they are try to hang on to the film. For many others who have given up the film or never really got into the film photography, it is import to understand that tangibility does not equal to longevity. With proper management of your digital photos, or other digital assets, they can last longer than film and other traditional analog media with zero loss of quality.

Digital asset management (DAM) is a lot more than just backing up your files regularly. It involves complex tasks and decisions surrounding ingesting, annotating, cataloging, storage and retrieval of digital assets, such as digital photographs, animations, videos and music [Wikipedia]. Fortunately for digital photographers, you don’t need to figure this out on your own. There is an excellent book on this subject by Peter Krogh. The DAM Book: Digital Asset Management For Photographers, 2nd ED, published by O’Reilly Media, Inc, will help you establish the best practices for managing your digital photos.

You Never Know Where Your Online Photos May End Up

picmax — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:36:21 +0000

In this story, a mommy blogger got her family photo stolen and the photo ended up in an ad in a Czech Republic grocery store, advertising its quick home delivery service.

Well, something like this (or even worse) can happen to anyone who posts digital photo online in blogs, social networking sites, or photo sharing sites. Putting the note “All right reserved” next to the photo doesn’t deter people who are determined to copy your image.

There some good advices offered in the story:

Don’t post high resolution photo online. Use just large enough size (800×600 or less) for viewing online but not very useful for commercial use. Add watermarks on images if possible.
Don’t post any photo that may reveal where you live and other private information you don’t want others to know.
Use a unique file name for your photo so you can search periodically online to see if it has been misused.
Embed photos in a flash image viewer if possible. It makes it very difficult to copy.
Use privacy controls on photo sharing or social networking sites to control who sees your photos.

Additional reading: Stolen Picture – The story and reader comments (more than 600 of them) at http://extraordinarymommy.com/.

Thom Hogan Trys to Get Nikon to Wake Up to the Olympus E-P1

picmax — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:52:43 +0000

Thom Hogan, the well known authors of many excellent Nikon camera guide books, voiced his opinion in his June 21 blog post. In the post, he called for Nikon to wake up to the threats of cameras such as the Olympus E-P1 posted to Nikon’s future market position.

In his opinion, Nikon risks losing out growth opportunities from people who are “transitioning P&S users to something with higher quality and a bit more sophistication” and who Nikon should try to “sell something to everyone you’ve already sold something to”.

It really doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Point-and-Shoot (P&S) users still dominate the digital camera user population. I knew many of them who want to get better image quality and performance in the compact size they are familiar with.

If history reflects what might happen in the future, Nikon should consider this seriously. By November 1962, Olympus sold more than 650, 000 compact Pen cameras and took 92.2% market sharing in Japan. None of the Nikon offerings in the affordable Nikkorex line at that time could match the price of Olympus Pen models.

Pixel Fixer Removes Hot Pixels from RAW Photos

picmax — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:08:28 +0000

Do you see hot pixels in your photos? These are supposed to be bright colored spots at fixed locations in the images. Similar to the defective pixels on LCD screens, they are typically caused by defects introduced during image sensor manufacturing process but some can develop over time.

You can certainly try to touch up the hot pixels in photo editing software like what you do with dust spots but it quickly becomes impractical for more than a few images. Fortunately, there is a completely free tool called Pixel Fixer for doing the task automatically for you.

It also has some other nice features, such as dark frame subtraction, extracting embedded JPEG images from RAW, and finding the total shutter counts.

READ: Pixel Fixer

Video: Amazing Tilt Shift Time Lapse Photography

picmax — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:46:43 +0000

This amazing video is created by a Sydney based photographer Keith Loutit. Check out his other work on Vimeo.

Olympus E-P1 Digital PEN Becomes Official, Stires Up Love and Lust

picmax — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:49:07 +0000

The all new E-P1 Micro Four Thirds digital camera from Olympus received very warm welcome from several digital photography and gadget outlets. The Olympus PEN series cameras have long history dating back half a century (1959). The small body digital camera has a large sensor, supports interchangeable lenses, but has no mirror like single-lens-reflex (SLR) cameras. At least on the paper, the Olympus EP-1 digital PEN sounds a lot better than the Sigma DP2.

Pre-order

Two Waterproof Ultra-Compact Cameras Splash Off

picmax — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:09:42 +0000

Are you in the market for a camera that can be taken anywhere you go or remains usable in the hands of your mighty toddler? There are many options, including the Olympus Stylus Tough-8000 and Canon PowerShot D10.

The looks are drastically different but the specs and prices are very similar. So which one is right for you? In the review posted on SPOTCOOLSTUFF, the two build-to-last digital cameras are compared in details. As expected, there is no perfect camera in the world for everyone. The Canon has better image quality and auto focus performance while the Olympus wins with its style, ease of use, toughness, and a little more optical zoom.

READ: Two Waterproof Ultra-Compact Cameras Splash Off

Eye-Fi Pro Adds Support for RAW Formats and Ad-Hoc Networking

picmax — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:08:35 +0000

Responding to popular demands, a new member has been added to the Eye-Fi wireless memory card product family. The new Pro version of the 4GB SDHC card supports various RAW formats and Ad-Hoc networking so you don’t have to be close to a wireless access point or Wi-Fi hotspot for it to work. It can now directly transfer photos to a computer with a wireless networking card but not necessarily connected to the Internet. The card is now shipping for $149.99. That is a significant $50 premium you will be paying for the two new functions. In case you are not sure if this one is for you, check out the Eye-Fi card comparison chart.

If you are using cameras that take only Compact Flash (CF) memory card, a SDHC to CF adapter such as this one may work but it is not officially supported.

Casio EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-H10 Takes 1000 Shots on Single Charge

picmax — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:30:57 +0000

People who like the convenience of digital compact cameras are often disappointed by the dismal battery life that is only good for a couple of hundred shots. Now Casio just released a new compact wide angle super zoom digital camera that is the world’s thinnest and lightest in its class but can take a thousand shots on a single charge. Other than that, the nice-looking photography gadget takes 720P HD videos, shots up to 10 frames per second at 1280 x 960 resolution (Up to 20 shots), and does whatever else you’d expect from a compact digital camera. Check out the product images and press releases below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CASIO RELEASES EXILIM HI-ZOOM COMPACT DIGITAL CAMERA WITH ULTRA-WIDE ANGLE 24 MM, 10X OPTICAL ZOOM LENS

World’s Thinnest and Lightest*1 Camera in its Class Features Battery Life of 1,000 Shots,*2 and an Advanced Dynamic Photo Function

DOVER, NJ, June 11, 2009 — Casio America, Inc. and its parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., today announced the release of another groundbreaking digital camera, the EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-H10. With a thin, compact body and an ultra-wide angle 24mm, 10x optical zoom lens, this new model can take up to 1,000 shots*1 on a single battery charge — making it the perfect travel companion.

At the heart of the new EX-H10 is the EXILIM Engine 4.0, which delivers higher image quality and lower power consumption in an even more compact package. The new Engine’s Multi-CPU*3 is specifically designed for high-speed image processing. Reflecting Casio’s quest for perfection, the new camera provides the best in basic photography functions — beautiful imaging with reduced noise and long battery life for many hours of use. A high-performance 12.1-megapixel model, it also boasts a lens with outstanding optical capabilities — from wide angle to telephoto — and it features a number of Casio’s totally original photographic functions.

Ultra-wide angle 24 mm, 10X optical zoom lens
Only Casio could find a way to pack a 10X optical zoom lens, large 3.0-inch monitor and a CCD-shift image stabilization mechanism into such a slim, compact camera body, just .95” thin, convenient for travel. With ultra-wide angle starting at 24 mm (35 mm film camera equivalent) all the way up to 10x telephoto zoom, the photographer is ready for any scene — from huge buildings and other wonders at tourist destinations to distant figures in a landscape.

*1. As of June 11, 2009, based on a Casio survey of digital cameras with a 10X or greater optical zoom lenses.
*2. When photos taken in accordance with Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) standards.
*3. A package comprising a high-speed dedicated image processing CPU in addition to the usual high performance CPU.

“The development of the ultra-wide angle 24mm continues Casio’s dedication to creating digital cameras that are packed with innovative features and new technology,” said Toshiyuki Iguchi, Senior General Manager of Casio’s Digital Imaging Division at Casio America, Inc. “This new feature gives our camera enthusiasts the opportunity to capture their extraordinary moments in a variety of shooting environments.”

Advanced Dynamic Photo function
Casio’s original Dynamic Photo function, which creates composite moving images using the camera’s own high-speed image processing technology, now does even more. When a moving subject is cut out of a number of images and combined with a different still shot that forms the background, the size of the subject can be changed to suit the background image. Next, the Dynamic Photo video can easily be converted in-camera into a Motion JPEG movie file. Moreover, moving graphics such as hearts and bouquets of flowers are included so that users can have fun decorating their still images using the Dynamic Photo function. Casio not only allows users to have fun taking and viewing photos, but also provides innovative new ways for them to create original images, right on the camera.

1,000-shot long battery life
Casio has reduced energy consumption by improving the circuitry and operational controls and designing a higher capacity battery, enabling the user to take 1,000 shots on a single full charge. The EX-H10 provides a convenient solution for people on the go. It’s possible to take 100 pictures every day of a 10 day vacation, without ever needing to recharge, eliminating the need to pack a charger. The long-life battery gives users approximately 11 consecutive hours of viewing on a single charge.

New Landscape Mode
The EX-H10 also features a new Landscape Mode for capturing beautiful scenic photography. Unlike earlier landscape photography modes, which enhance the saturation of an entire hue, users can now select between the Vivid Landscape option that uses image analysis to determine and vividly enhance only the most important colors in the landscape or the Mist Removal option that makes weather-affected misty scenes look clear and bright.

The new camera will begin shipping to retail in mid July. The EX-H10 will have an MSRP of $299.99 and will be available in black.

EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-H10
A powerful zoom, compact digital camera with long battery life, perfect for a vacation.

Beautiful images with 12.1 effective megapixels
This camera’s 12.1 megapixels of high-resolution imagery can render extremely fine detail in the subject. Moreover, the advanced image processing capability provided by the EXILIM Engine 4.0 ensures that color reproduction is clear and bright, and that images have a rich tonal gradation.

Ultra-wide angle 24 mm, 10X optical zoom lens
This lens delivers all the freedom of zoom photography — from an ultra-wide angle 24 mm useful for shooting in a small room or for photographing large subjects, to a 10X optical zoom that brings distant subjects up close. The camera also has a CCD-shift image stabilization mechanism.

Long battery life allows 1,000 shots on a single charge*
The low energy requirements of the circuitry and operational controls, particularly the EXILIM Engine 4.0 coupled with the high capacity battery, make it possible to take 1,000 shots on a single full charge.

Photo modes that make the most of the camera’s high-speed image processing technology

Dynamic Photo function for creating composite moving images
This function allows the user to extract images of a moving subject and combine them with a still image to form a new background. This takes place inside the, without the need for computer editing. This mode allows the user to create a still image containing a moving subject. Casio has now improved its revolutionary Dynamic Photo function in the following ways:

It is now possible to enlarge or reduce the size of the cut-out subject to suit the still image on which it will be placed
A Dynamic Photo can be converted into a Motion JPEG movie file right on the camera
Eight different moving graphics are included so that users can have fun decorating their still images
Using computer software that comes with the camera, users can transfer still images from a computer to the camera to create a Dynamic Photo

Landscape Mode
The model has a dedicated button, making it easy to capture beautiful landscape photographs. Users can choose between the Vivid Landscape option, which vividly enhances only the most impressive colors, or the Mist Removal option, which produces clearer pictures when the atmosphere is misty.

Makeup Mode
The camera has a single dedicated button that helps create beautiful pictures of people’s faces. This function ensures that faces are correctly focused and well exposed, adjusts the smoothness of skin and softens facial shadows caused by sunlight.

Handheld Night Scene function or Lighting function
The camera can automatically detect difficult situations, such as night scenes where there would normally be camera shake and backlit scenes where faces or backgrounds can be poorly exposed. After detecting problem area, the camera then automatically adjusts to the most appropriate settings. Users only have to press the shutter button to take great pictures.

High Resolution HD Movies
The EX-H10 features an HD Movie function. Just press the dedicated Movie button to take beautiful movies at 1280×720 pixels.

* Photography based on CIPA standards. Calculations based on an ambient temperature of 23°C; LCD monitor on; zooming back and forward from the wide end to the telephoto end every 30 seconds; flash used once every two shots; and the power turned on and off once every ten shots.

EX-H10 Specifications

					EXILIM Hi-Zoom
					EX-H10
Number of Effective Pixels					12.10 million
Image Sensor					1/2.3-inch square pixel CCD
	Total Pixels				12.39 million
File Format	Still Images				JPEG (Exif Version 2.2, DCF 1.0 standard, DPOF compliant)
	Movies				AVI format, Motion JPEG, IMA-ADPCM (monaural)
	Audio (Voice Recording)				WAV format (monaural)
Built-in Flash Memory (Image Area)					35.7MB*1
Recording Media					SDHC Memory Card, SD Memory Card*2
Number of Recorded Pixels	Still Images				12M (4000 x 3000), 3:2 (4000 x 2656), 16:9 (4000 x 2240), 8M (3264 x 2448), 5M (2560 x 1920), 3M (2048 x 1536), VGA (640 x 480)
	Movies				HD: 1280 x 720 (24 fps) / STD: 640 x 480 (30 fps) / LP: 320 x 240 (15 fps)
Recording Capacity (Maximum Image Size Setting)	Still Images (JPEG)		SD Memory Card 1GB*3		Approx. 122 shots (Fine) / 234 shots (Normal) / 350 shots (Economy)
	Movies		Recording Time		Maximum Recording Capacity per File: 4GB*4
			SD Memory Card 1GB*3		Approx. 5 min. 27 seconds (HD)
Continuous Shutter	High-speed Continuous Shutter				Approx. 10 frames per second at 1280 x 960 pixels (Up to 20 shots) Approx. 4 frames per second at 1600 x 1200 pixels (Up to 8 shots)
	Flash Continuous Shutter				Approx. 3 frames per second at 1600 x 1200 pixels (Up to 3 shots)
Lens	Construction				11 lenses in 10 groups, including aspherical lens
	F-number				F3.2 (W) to F5.7 (T)
	Focal Length				f=4.3 to 43.0mm
		35mm Film Equivalent			Approx. 24mm ultra-wide to 240mm tele.
Zoom	Optical Zoom				10X
	Digital Zoom				4X (40X in combination with optical zoom)
	HD Zoom				62.4X (image size: 640 x 480 pixels)
Focusing	Focus Type				Contrast Detection Auto Focus
	Focus Modes				Auto Focus, Macro Mode, Infinity Mode, Manual Focus
	AF Area				Spot, Multi or Tracking
	AF Assist Lamp				Yes
Focus Range*5 (From Lens Surface)	Auto Focus				Approx. 5.9” to infinity (W)
	Macro				Approx. 2.8” to 20” (First step from widest setting)
	Infinity Mode				Infinity (W)
	Manual Focus				Approx. 5.9” to infinity (W)
Exposure	Exposure Metering				Multi-pattern, center weighted, spot by imaging element
	Exposure Control				Program AE
	Exposure Compensation				-2EV to +2EV (in 1/3EV steps)
Shutter Type					CCD electronic shutter, mechanical shutter
	Shutter Speed*6			Auto	1/2 to 1/2000 second
				Night Scene	4 to 1/2000 second
Aperture*5					F3.2 (W) to F7.5 (W)*7
White Balance					Auto WB, Daylight, Overcast, Shade, Day White FL, Daylight FL, Tungsten, Manual WB
Sensitivity (SOS/REI)*8	Still Images				Auto, ISO64, ISO100, ISO200, ISO400, ISO800, ISO1600, ISO3200
	Movies				Auto

Other Recording Functions		Image Stabilization Mechanism		CCD-shift image stabilization
		Make-up Mode		Dedicated Button (12-level steps)
		Landscape Mode		Dedicated Button (Vivid Landscape: 2-level steps / Mist Removal: 2-level steps)
		Handheld Night Scene		Yes
		Lighting Function		Yes
		BEST SHOT		Yes: 38 scenes
			Dynamic Photo	Yes
			Multi-motion Image*9	Yes
			YouTube™ Capture Mode	Yes
			AUTO BEST SHOT	Yes
			Voice Recording	Yes
		Face Detection		Yes
		Auto Shutter		Yes
Self-timer				10 seconds, 2 seconds, Triple Self-timer
Built-in Flash		Flash Modes		Auto, Flash Off, Flash On, Soft Flash, Red Eye Reduction
		Flash Range*4		Approx. 0.7 to 11.5ft (W), approx. 1.6ft to 6.5ft (T)
Monitor Screen				3.0-inch TFT color LCD (Super Clear LCD), 230,400 dots (960 x 240)
Timekeeping Functions	Date and Time			Recorded with image data
	On-image Time Stamp Function			Yes
	Auto Calendar			To 2049
	World Time			162 cities in 32 time zones, city name, date, time, summer time
Input/Output Terminals				USB/AV port
	USB			Hi-Speed USB
Microphone				Monaural
Speaker				Monaural
Power Requirements				Rechargeable lithium ion battery (NP-90) x 1
Battery Life	Number of Shots*10 (CIPA Standards)			Approx. 1000 still images
	Continuous Playback (Still Images)			Approx. 11 hr.
	Continuous Recording (Voice Recording)			Approx. 21 hr. 30 min.
Dimensions (Excluding Projections)				4(w) x 2.5(H) x .96(D) in.
				Thinnest part: .87 in.
Weight (Excluding Battery and Accessories)				Approx. 5.8 oz.
Bundled Accessories				Rechargeable lithium ion battery, lithium ion battery charger, AC power cord, USB cable, AV cable, strap, CD-ROM

*1. Built-in memory capacity after formatting. *2. Compatible with Eye-Fi Card, an SD memory card-type wireless LAN. *3. When using Panasonic Pro High Speed 1GB SD Memory Card. *4. Within limits of memory and battery life. *5. Range is affected by optical zoom. *6. May differ according to camera settings. *7. F7.5 is the aperture when an ND filter is being used. *8. SOS: Standard Output Sensitivity. REI: Recommended Exposure Index. *9. Image size 2048 x 1536 pixels. *10. Auto Mode, standard brightness monitor setting.

EXILIM and BEST SHOT are registered trademarks of CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD. YouTube is a registered trademark of YouTube, LLC. Any other company or product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of those companies.

Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D) vs. Nikon D5000 High ISO Noise Comparison

picmax — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:00:54 +0000

People pay great attention to image quality when making DSLR camera purchasing decisions. High ISO noise is one aspect of the image quality matrix. It is uncommon to see high ISO noise performance comparisons by shooting a scene with different cameras and compare the resulting images side-by-side at actual pixel resolution. Sounds simply enough, right? In reality, there are many complications.

Each camera has its own default settings. One may choose to perform more in-camera noise reduction (NR) than others by default. Some cameras have user controllable NR settings but others may only allow user control to certain degree. With NR, there is always a trade-off between noise level and image details.

Not only NR settings, sharpening, contrast, dynamic light optimizer or D-lighting settings can also affect noise levels.

The cameras may meter the scene quite differently and have exposure biases. Even if you choose the same ISO, aperture, and shutter speed, the images from one camera may appear darker or lighter compared to others. Exposure affects noise levels.

Cameras have different sensor sizes, sensor aspect ratios, and different pixel counts. Should the tester try to match the field of view or the magnification at 100% view (each image pixel is displayed as one pixel on a display)? Viewing an image at 100% magnification on a display is rarely useful for practical purposes. Typically the images are output to devices such as a display or a printer with a specific size. IMO, the comparison should be done with test shots matching the field of view in either horizontal or vertical direction. To make the comparison easy and fair, image from camera with higher resolution should be re-sized to match the magnification with lower resolution camera when viewed at actual pixels.

Bearing these complications in mind, here are some comparisons of Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D) and Nikon D5000 high ISO noise performances by PhotographyBay.

Just recently, I also talked about the Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D) vs. Nikon D5000 high ISO noise comparison done by Camera Labs. What is your conclusion after reading the above high ISO performance comparisons?

Sigma DP2 Reviews: Not a Whole Lot of Love

picmax — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:05:49 +0000

The Sigma DP2 (check prices: Amazon, B&H, Adorama) features a 14 mega-pixel (4.6MP effective) FOVEON X3 Direct Image CMOS Sensor and a fixed focal length 24.2mm (41mm 35mm equivalent) lens. Apparently Sigma is targeting a group of niche market users who want a small portable camera that takes great photos of ordinary life, who want to go back to the basics of photography with the single-focal length lens and doesn’t mind the “inconvenience” of “zoom with your legs”.

With the large 20.7×13.8mm (0.8 inch×0.5 inch) sensor that is much larger than those in most high-end digital compacts and a fast prime lens, the Sigma Dp2 belongs to a unique category of digital cameras that is between DSLR and compact point & shoot. For Sigma’s targeted customers, the DP2 sounds very interesting and brings high expectations. However quite a few reviews I have found online found the DP2 offers less than expected.

In the review, Ken Tanaka of The Online Photographer found the Sigma DP2 has poor build quality, image issues related to color casts and vignettes, slow and noisy focus, low end LCD screen, clunky and outdated user interface, lock-ups, and poor battery life. In closing thoughts, he wrote, “After using the DP2 daily for over a week I found it to be a sluggish, noisy, unreliable, and generally charmless device which I ultimately decided to return for a refund.”

In the review posted on Gizmodo, Wilson Rothman noted poor high ISO performance, slow focus, lack of RAW+JPG mode, dismal video recording capability, poor battery life, and being relatively expensive.

If you read Sigma’s DP2 product site, Sigma emphasizes on the DP’s philosophy, concept, and identity that are quite different compared to most other digital cameras available today. However these should not be excuses for the problems we see in the Sigma DP2. Even for people who want the DP2 for what it is, it may be a tough decision, considering the price tag.

Flash for Macro Photography

picmax — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:15:18 +0000

The photo above was taken with a Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro lens. The camera was set to Aperture Priority exposure mode and a shutter speed of 1/60s was chosen by the camera at ISO 100. To obtain the best possible image, I mounted the camera on a tripod and used a cable release to minimize blurring caused by camera shake. The photo came out nicely exposed and with decent sharpness.

I then tried to expand the depth of field (DOF) more by reducing the size of the aperture. At f/16 and 1/4s, I had a problem. The photo came out blurry like the following. I tried my best to avoid camera shake, but I could do little to prevent the wind from rocking the flowers!

I could have waited for the wind to stop or just kept clicking away and hoped I was lucky to catch a break from the wind. I could also increase the ISO to increase the shutter speed. A simple calculation indicated that I needed ISO1600 to get a shutter speed of 1/60s. That’s probably not fast enough to stop the motion but high enough to degrade the image quality quite a bit. The Nikon D200 I was using isn’t known for its good high ISO performance.

A solution quickly came to mind. I mounted a SB-600 on the camera, pulled out the built-in wide-flash adapter in an attempt to soften the light slightly, and took a shot in TTL mode at f/16 and 1/60s. Now the blurriness is completely gone. With shutter speed of 1/60s, the ambient was 4 stops under exposed and the SB-600 beaome the main light source. With typical flash duration between ~1/1000s and 1/25000s dependent on output level, the motion of the subject is frozen by the flash pulse.

Of course, mounting flash directly on the camera isn’t an optimal lighting setup for macro photography. The photo, despite being sharp and having wider DOF, has an obvious flash look, with distracting shadows. I could have played with it a little more if I wasn’t called into the house for dinner. Even so, I still found it useful to illustrate an important concept of flash photography: flash pulse duration vs. flash output level.

Unlike a household light with a dimer, the flashes for photography adjust output level mostly by changing its light output duration rather than its output amplitude. For example, the Nikon SB-600 has the following output vs. pulse duration relationship:

1/900th sec. at M 1/1 (full) output
1/1600 sec. at M 1/2 output
1/3400 sec. at M 1/4 output
1/6600 sec. at M 1/8 output
1/11100 sec. at M 1/16 output
1/20000 sec. at M 1/32 output
1/25000 sec. at M 1/64 output

Even at full power, the flash pulse is quite short, much shorter than typical shutter sync speed. That’s the reason shutter speed doesn’t affect flash exposure but only the ambient exposure. By making the flash dominant light source, you can use the very short flash pulse to freeze motion.

Manual Exposure Control for Video Recording Coming to Canon EOS 5D Mark II

picmax — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:12:36 +0000

Responding to popular user requests, Canon is planning to release a firmware update for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II full frame DSLR camera on June 2, 2009 that allows manual exposure control during video shooting.

The 21.1 megapixel full frame DSLR camera can shoot stunning videos but users frequently complaint about the lack of many controls that are available on camcorders that cost 1/10 of its price. The glaring deficiencies include the absence of continuous autofocus and manual exposure control. During video shooting, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II operates in a full automatic mode with the camera selecting the ISO, aperture, and shutter speeds. With the announced new firmware, Canon EOS 5D Mark II users will be able to fully control all aspects of exposure: aperture, ISO, and shutter speed.

It is a great improvement. However in order to make video shooting on a DSLR more appealing for average video shooters autofocus is still needed. David Pogue of New York Times thinks that “… without autofocus, an S.L.R. camera that shoots video is just a parlor stunt.” Canon does not offer any indication that autofocus will be available. In case you haven’t heard, the new Panasonic DMC-GH1 is the first DSLR camera that supports continuous autofocus during video shooting.

The following is the press release found on Canon UK website.

Following the launch of the EOS 5D Mark II in September 2008, Canon’s Research and Development team has listened closely to customer feedback to develop additions to the camera’s movie recording functionality.

Allowing EOS 5D Mark II owners to achieve even more stunning video results with the camera, the firmware update will include the following manual controls when shooting video:

Full aperture selection

ISO speed: Auto, 100 – 6400 and H1

Shutter speed: 1/30th – 1/4000th second

The EOS 5D Mark II integrates full HD movie capability into a high-end 21.1 Megapixel camera; opening a multitude of new possibilities for photo-journalists and news photographers. Since its launch the camera has proved its appeal to professionals working in diverse fields, from studio and wedding to nature and travel. Now, following customer feedback, Canon has improved functionality for professional video users, further unleashing the potential of the EOS 5D Mark II for cinematographers and photographers alike.

Reader Feedback: OK/Cancel Buttons in Some Capture NX Tutorials

Al D. — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:26:18 +0000

One of our readers sent in the following question:

I am trying to learn NX2 but am computer challenged. I was working with high-pass sharpening and everything goes ok, but the “Ok” and “Cancel” buttons do not appear in my edit list as shown in many of the edit list illustrations. HELP!

Al

—-

Al,

I don’t think you are computer challenged. I need to apologize to any of you who might have been confused. Some of my Nikon Capture NX tutorials were written for version 1.x, which had pop-out dialog boxes for the Edit List steps with the “OK” and “Cancel” buttons. With the release of version 2, all of them were fixed within the Edit List items and no longer pop out. The adjustment effect is applied immediately as you change the settings. Despite those user interface changes, all the facilities and functions from Capture NX 1.x are still available in V2.x. Therefore the tutorials should still work.

I’d like to thank Al for letting us know the problem. I will be adding warnings to old tutorials to avoid future confusions.

Thanks.

Max (DPTnT)

Q&A: Indoor Flash Photography Exposure

Quick and Easy Landscape Workflow with Capture NX2

picmax — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:08:25 +0000

Previously, I wrote a tutorial about a quick and easy landscape enhancement workflow in Nikon Capture NX using a snowy landscape photo as an example. The tutorial demonstrated the use of Black and White Control Points, Color Control Points (CCP), and Selection Brushes. With the release of Nikon Capture NX2, there has been a very important addition to control point tools: the Selection Control Point (SCP). In this tutorial, I will show you a very simple but effective landscape workflow that can save a dull image within minutes. Instead of CCP, I will use SCP to selectively enhance the sky without affecting the rest of the image so there is no more need to use Selection Brush to remove the effect from unwanted area.

The tutorial

Before we get started, here is the original photo taken by a Nikon D200. It was taken in an early afternoon of a dull February day. EXIF data showed ISO 100, F/8, 1/80s, and 20mm.

I started the workflow by going through the Develop section of Edit List. The first thing I want to fix is the White Balance in Develop->Camera Settings. The camera white balance was set to Auto WB. The result is a little too cool, similar to what Daylight->Direct Sunlight WB would have done. so I changed it to Daylight->Cloudy. The default 6000K color temperature made it a little too warm so I played with the fine adjustment slider and finally settled down at 5600K.

Next, I moved on to the Develop->Quick Fix. One of the major problem with the scene is lack of contract. To fix that, we can use the Contrast slider but I like the Curve adjustment better. A S-shaped curve adds contrasts to a photo by darkening the shadow and brightening up the highlight. If you have other issues such as over/under exposure, blown highlights, and dark shadows, you want to fix them here to obtain the best result since Capture NX 2 only works directly on the RAW data in the Develop section.

The result of the Quick Fix adjustment is shown in the following screen capture. You can see that the foreground looks contrasty and rich in color but the sky is quite washed out.

For my photo, that was all I need to do before moving on to the Adjust section. You may also want to work though Develop-> Camera & Lens Corrections section if you have moire, color aberrations, and vignette (light fall off at corners) issues.

I then clicked on “New Step” button in Edit List and selected Levels & Curves as adjustment. I then dragged the Black Point Slider to the right until the sky looks good to my taste.

The adjustment inevitably darkened the foreground significantly but wait…

I clicked on the Selection Control Point toolbar icon, made sure the plus mode was activated.

I dropped the Positive Selection Control Point (PSCP) on the image in the sky area. Instantly, the dark foreground was restored to the original state prior to the Levels & Curves adjustment. The PSCP limited the Levels & Curves adjustments to only the sky portion of the image.

I adjusted the radius of the slider so the effect can cover the entire sky area. We are not limited to one SCP either, we can have multiple of them to cover the entire sky area. Using Multiply blending mode in the Opacity settings of the Levels & Curves edit step can make the darkening effects slightly stronger in case you want deeper and richer sky tones.

The following is what I got with a single Selection Control Point and the blending mode set to Multiply.

That’s about it. For the title photo I posted on top of the tutorial, I also used two Color Control Points to brighten up some grasses and trees near the bottom of the image but those are not critical elements of the tutorial.

Finally, here is another trick you can try if you want to add more “pop” to your photo. Click on “New Step” button to add a new adjustment step. Without actually selecting an adjustment, go straight to Opacity setting and change the Blending mode to “Overlay”, it will instantly add contrast to the photo like the example shown here.

If the result looks over edited, you can simply drag the Opacity slider to reduce the effect. If you need to add new adjustment steps, you will have to have an adjustment selected for the current step, or Capture NX 2 won’t let you add more. In that case, simply add an adjustment that does nothing with its default setting, such as Levels & Curves.

Generalized method

It is very common to have a landscape photos that contain sky as part of the image so this workflow can work for quite a few landscape photos you have taken. You may not always need such drastic adjustments but the principle works well in typical situations. When you need to rescue a dull photo such as one like mine, you will be delighted to find out how easy it is to do it in Nikon Capture NX 2. Simply take the following steps:

Adjust White Balance if needed
Quick Fix your photos and concentrate on the non-sky elements
Fix the sky using Selection Control Point

Why I took this approach not the other way around (fix the sky first)?

Firstly, you want to do as much as you can in the Develop section. Only the Develop section works directly on RAW data therefore it is possible to pull the most image details out. The limitation of the Develop section is the absence of any local adjustment capabilities. All of that are only available in Adjust section. Secondly, sky is typically much simpler to fix than other elements in a landscape photo due to limited color variations and often distinct differences with other part of the photo. Control Points work best in this kind of situations.

Difference between Color Control Points and Selection Control Points

Color control point can also be used to selectively adjust part of an image but it only works as expected if you use the normal blending mode. If you change the blending mode, you will see other part of the images also affected. With Selection Control Points, the effects of the adjustment are confined to the areas that are selected by Section Control Points. If you change blending mode, only those selected areas will be affected, not the entire image. That’s why we were able to selectively adjust the sky without affecting the foreground elements. In the previous tutorial, the Color Control Point modified the foreground. We had to remove the undesired effect using Selection Brush in negative mode.

The final words

I hope you enjoy reading this tutorial and can appreciate the nice features of Capture NX 2. To read more Capture NX tutorials and tips on this site, click here. If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to use the comment box below.

SureFire Ways to Save on CR123A Batteries

picmax — Mon, 25 May 2009 16:37:52 +0000

Bob Johnson of Earthbound Light just posted an article about a source for cheap CR123A batteries. For many, CR123A may not be a familiar battery type since most digital cameras now take either proprietary Li-Ion rechargeable or common AA batteries. Once upon a time though, many film cameras and accessories used CR123A batteries, such as Nikon N80, N75, N90, F75, F80, FM10, F100, Canon EOS Elan 7/7E/7N, Nikon SB-50DX flash, etc. Even now, they are still used in photography accessories such as Nikon SB-R200 Remote Speedlight, Sekonic L-358 Flash Master Light Meter.

These CR123A batteries are expensive compared to common AA batteries. It is perhaps not strange because of their higher voltage, energy density, and output current. The SureFire CR123A battery mentioned in Bob’s article is quite inexpensive ones you can find but there are even cheaper alternatives.

Finding cheaper CR123A

Rule #1, never buy local retail unless you have to. The batteries in retail stores, especially the shops at tourist destinations are way over-priced.

Rule #2, shop online. Not only you can compare different brands but you can compare different supplier. Even for the exact same battery, different stores can charge very differently. This can be seen easily at Amazon when an item is offered by Amazon itself and several market place vendors. For example, this 10 pcs Panasonic Lithium CR123A 3V Photo Lithium Batteries is for sale for $14.99 by Battery Superstore but only $9.99 from ECC Technologies. That’s a 33% difference (or your can say the other one is 50% more expensive)! In both cases, these are cheaper than the SureFire batteries mentioned in Bob’s article. There are even cheaper ones available. Watch out for outrageous shipping charges though.

Going rechargeable

Going the rechargeable route can be more economical in the long run. Rechargeable batteries promise lower cost by allowing you to recharge up to hundreds or a thousand times. It will definitely save you money in the long run but will certainly needs a large up-front investments in the battery and charger. It also needs you to spend the time charging them.

At the end of Bob’s article, he mentioned rechargeable CR123A batteries. The reason that he didn’t recommend them is their lower capacity. Indeed, most rechargeable ones have capacity between 450mAh to 900mAh. In comparison, non-rechargeable CR123A are typically in 1400-1500mAh range. In practice, some users of the rechargeable batteries even complaint about even shorter run time than the battery capacity numbers suggest, while others seem think they are fine for their different needs.

I think it depends on your use pattern. If you shoot often but rarely shoot more than a couple of hundred shots at a time, it might be fine with rechargeable. In one discussion here, the non-rechargeable can do ~750-1000 flashes. Even if the rechargeable ones can only do a third of that, it could be good enough for many who don’t need to shoot that many shots at a time. You can always get some non-rechargeable CR123A batteries as a back-up but use rechargeable batteries as main power supply.

One other benefit of rechargeable is of course the environmental friendliness – less used batteries going into landfills.

One thing you need to pay close attention is the battery voltage. Although some are labeled with CR123A compatible, they may actually have a higher voltage than 3.0volts. You certainly want one that has built-in protection circuits. Other good idea is to contact the supplier and manufacturer for compatibility information, or search online for instances of successful application.

RAW Workflow with Nik Software Plug-ins

picmax — Sat, 23 May 2009 14:21:59 +0000

Nik Software, the developer behind Nikon Capture NX, offers a complete set of plug-in titles for Photoshop (Elements), Lightroom, and Aperture.

Dfine 2.0 is a noise reduction tool that can automatically measure noise levels in texture-free areas and reduces the noise from the entire image. You can also use control points to define where to apply or not to apply noise reduction.

Viveza is a tool to selectively enhance an image without complicated selections or layer masks known to Photoshop users. Users of Nikon Capture NX or NX2 software should be very familiar with the principles of local area enhancements using control points (U-Points) and selection brushes.

Color Efex Pro 3.0 is a large collection of digital filters and special effects tools to retouch, color correct, and stylize photos effortlessly.

Silver Efex Pro is a complete solution for converting color photos into a elegant and timeless black and white images.

Sharpener Pro 3.0 provides sharpening tools and solutions for various output devices.

In a recent blog post, Jeff Lynch of Serious Amateur Photography blog shared his Lightroom + Nik plug-in workflow. He starts with some initial editing in Lightroom such as cropping, correcting white balance, increasing the contrast and touching up any spots. He then processes the image through the Nik plug-ins similar to the recommended workflow illustrated by Nik Software. The only difference is that he runs the Sharpener Pro 3.0 twice, first right after Dfine 2.0 to selectively sharpen selected areas of the image using Raw Presharpener, then as a final step for output sharpening.

The plug-ins can be purchased separately or in various bundles from Nik Software. 15-day free trial is offered for all of their products. There is also a 30-day money back guarantee.

Remote Control iPhone App Coming to Canon DSLR Users

picmax — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:08:41 +0000

The Internet is abuzz about an interesting iPhone (works on iPod Touch too) application developed by onOne Software, called (Canon) DSLR Remote. You can not only trigger the shutter on supported Canon DSLR cameras, but also change the camera settings, review images taken, and even take LiveView shots. It almost sounds like a magic.

Besides your Canon DSLR and either an iPhone or an iPod Touch, you will also need a laptop or desktop computer running the free companion DSLR Remote Server software, and a USB cable to connect your supported Canon EOS DSLR camera to the computer. The App communicates with the remote server software via Wi-Fi either through an access point or ad-hoc network. On the blog site of onOne Software, there is a video explaining how it works.

It might sound very clunky to lug all the hardware in the field, and the actual usefulness remains to be seen. The support of bulb mode does make long exposures especially light painting in the night easier, as pointed out by one of their potential users. For many, making their iPhone do one more cool thing is a great joy.

Based on the comments left by Mike Wong of onOne software, the shutter delay seems to be minimal. They also have heard from the Nikon camp loud and clear so if you are a fan of both Apple and Nikon, just stay tuned. Non-Apple fans are, however, out of luck.

Pentax K-7 DSLR Officially Announced

picmax — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:05:37 +0000

Pentax’s latest K-series digital SLR camera, the K-7, has been officially announced. The mid-level DSLR features a rugged weather-sealed body, 14.6 megapixel CMOS sensor, 100% viewfinder, a 3″ 921K dot LCD screen, 5.2 frames per second (FPS) continuous shooting speed, 11 point AF sensor (9 cross types), 30 fps video shooting at [0.9M] (1280×720, 16:9), [1.6M] (1536×1024, 3:2), [0.3M] (640×416, 3:2) resolutions using MPEG format, built-in dust removal and shake reduction, and HDMI port. Other interesting features include the ability to compose a high dynamic range (HDR) image using three photos, a built-in digital level, and in-camera editing using digital filters. The Pentax K-7 is indeed a solid offering, but the $1,299.95 body-only price seems a little high in the very competitive DSLR market.

The camera will be available in July. For more information, check out the in-depth preview at DPReview and the following official press release from Pentax Japan.

HOYA CORPORATION PENTAX Imaging Systems Division is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX K-7 lens-interchangeable digital SLR camera. Despite its compact, lightweight body, this new model brings together a wide array of advanced functions and user-friendly features with outstanding reliability and operability. This makes it possible to enjoy high-quality digital SLR photography with great ease.

The K-7 has been developed as a high-end model of the PENTAX K digital SLR camera series. True to its series concept, it was designed not only to assure outstanding image quality, but also to provide exceptional ease and comfort of operation and the utmost satisfaction to photo enthusiasts of all levels, including advanced amateurs. After making a thorough review of all essential digital SLR camera components and functions, PENTAX has revised and upgraded many of them, including viewfinder, shutter unit, continuous-shooting capacity, and exposure and autofocus systems. Protected by a durable, high-quality metallic body, but the K-7 is designed to be extremely compact and functional — just like all other K-series models — for enhanced portability and maneuverability. In addition, it has added several user-friendly features, including video recording, high dynamic range (HDR), and automatic horizon correction. All of these make the K-7 a tremendous photographic tool, perfect for all discerning digital SLR photographers.

Major features

Durable and functional body, smaller than any other in its class

The K-7 is built exceptional solid and durable, as its chassis is made of high-rigidity stainless-steel alloy and its housing is made of durable but lightweight magnesium-steel alloy. Thanks to 77 special seals applied to the body, it also features a dustproof, weather- and cold-resistant construction, assuring reliable operation even under harsh conditions and at a temperature as low as -10°C. It also features a newly designed shutter unit providing a top shutter speed of 1/8000 second and the outstanding durability to withstand 100,000 shutter releases. Despite all these features, the K-7 is one of the most compact and functional mid-class models in the market, because PENTAX applied all the experience and expertise in camera downsizing the company has developed from the earliest days of film-format SLR cameras.
Optical viewfinder showing nearly 100% field of view

The K-7’s glass prism finder offers an approximately 100% field of view and an approximately 92% magnification to facilitate focusing and framing operations. It also features a new Natural-Bright-Matte III focusing screen to improve focusing accuracy during manual-focus operation.
High-speed continuous shooting at approx. 5.2 images per second

The K-7’s high-speed continuous shooting mode captures as many as 40 images (in JPEG recording format) at a maximum speed of approximately 5.2 images per second, allowing the photographer to follow the movement of an active subject or preserve a sequence of the subject’s expressions.
New DR II mechanism to minimize dust spots

The K-7 comes equipped with the newly developed DR (Dust Removal) II mechanism, designed to effectively minimize annoying dust spots on recorded images, even after changing lenses in dust-prone outdoor settings. By shifting the low-pass filter located in front of the CMOS image sensor at supersonic speed using a piezoelectric element, it shakes the dust off the low-pass filter as effectively and efficiently as any other dust removal device. The K-7’s unique dust-alert system also lets the user check for dust adhering to the low-pass filter prior to actual shooting.
High-quality image reproduction
1. Approximately 14.6 effective megapixels for true-to-life image reproduction
  The K-7 incorporates a newly developed CMOS image sensor measuring 23.4mm by 15.6mm and featuring a high-speed, four-channel image data readout. With approximately 14.6 effective megapixels, this image sensor can faithfully and accurately reproduce fine-detailed, gradation-rich images. With the adverse effects of digital noise greatly reduced, the sensitivity can be increased from ISO 100 up to the highest level of ISO 6400 (via a custom function) without worry.
2. High-performance, high-speed PRIME II imaging engine
  The K-7 features the newly developed PRIME (PENTAX Real Image Engine) II, an upgrade of the original PRIME, as its imaging engine. This new imaging engine offers greater data-processing speed and produces better-quality images with richer gradation and more accurate color rendition. It also offers high-speed movie data transmission.
New 77-segment multi-pattern metering

Newly developed for the K-7, a sophisticated 77-segment multi-pattern metering system greatly improves light-metering accuracy. By accurately analyzing various types of data (such as the image’s composition and format between upright and horizontal, and the subject’s distance and magnification) transmitted from the sensors in the camera body, this system greatly improves the accuracy of exposure control.
New-generation SR mechanism for improved shake-reduction effect

The K-7 features the PENTAX-developed SR (Shake Reduction) mechanism, which effectively compensates the adverse effect of camera shake by approximately 2.5 to four shutter steps, assuring sharp, blur-free images even under demanding shooting conditions. This innovative mechanism is compatible with all PENTAX interchangeable lenses — even most of the lenses designed for film-format cameras.* Since this new-generation version can freely shift the image-sensor unit to keep it level regardless of the camera’s inclination, it also provides such user-friendly new functions as automatic level adjustment and minute angle adjustment (in the direction of up/down, right/left and clockwise/counterclockwise), helping to compose the image exactly the way the photographer wants.

* Lenses compatible with this mechanism are the PENTAX K-, KA-, KAF-, KAF2- and KAF3-mount lenses; screw-mounted lenses (with an adapter); and 645- and 67-system lenses (with an adapter). Some functions may not be available with certain lenses.
Live View real-time, on-display image confirmation with Face Recognition AF and high-speed continuous shooting modes

The K-7 features the Live View function, which allows the user to view the image on the LCD monitor during shooting. You can take advantage of this convenient function not only in the Contrast AF mode, which optimizes the focus based on the subject’s contrast, but also in the Face Recognition AF mode, which automatically and accurately focuses on the subject’s face. Thanks to the newly developed diaphragm-control mechanism, the Live View function can also be used in the continuous shooting mode with the mirror at lock-up position.
High-quality still image recording at 1280 x 720 pixels; 30-frames-per-second movie recording at HD-television proportions

The K-7 adds a new movie recording function, extending the benefits of SLR photography to the world of movie shooting: For instance, reduce the depth of field to make the subject stand out, or use different lenses to create distinctive visual effects. Beautiful movie clips can recorded at different sizes — 640 x 416 pixels, 1536 x 1024 pixels, or 1280 x 720 pixels (16:9 high-definition TV proportions) — at a frame rate of 30 frames per second. The K-7 is also equipped with an HDMI terminal and an external microphone input terminal.
New 11-point wide-frame AF sensor

The K-7’s new SAFOX VIII+ wide-frame autofocus system features 11 sensor points (with nine cross-type sensors positioned in the middle). By adding a light source type to its data range, and driven by a greatly improved algorithm, this AF system assures reliable, responsive autofocus operation superior in speed and accuracy to the previous system. The K-7 also incorporates an AF-assisting spotbeam projector in its built-in flash unit to improve autofocusing accuracy in the dark.
Custom Image function to easily create desired visual effects

The K-7’s Custom Image function lets the user control the image’s finishing touch to capture their photographic intention, or reproduce the ambience of the scene. With the K-7, the user can select one of seven modes, including the new “Muted” mode designed to recreate an image with delicate, subdued colors. In addition to saturation, tone, contrast and sharpness — the factors previously available — it is now possible to adjust “key” and “contrast highlight/shadow” to the desired levels. The effects of these factors can be effortlessly confirmed on a preview image using the Digital Preview or Live View function before finalizing the settings.
Versatile exposure system for faithful reproduction of creative intentions
1. Hyper Program function
  The K-7’s Hyper Program function allows the user to instantly switch to the Shutter- or Aperture-Priority AE mode from the Programmed AE mode, with a simple turn of the electronic dials on the grip. To return to the Programmed AE mode, simply press the green button positioned next to the shutter release button.
2. Hyper Manual function
  When shooting in Manual mode, a single push of the green button allows the user to instantly set the proper exposure for the subject.
3. Sensitivity-Priority mode
  The K-7 features a unique Sensitivity-Priority (Sv) mode, which is designed to automatically select the optimum combination of aperture and shutter speed for a user-selected sensitivity. The sensitivity can be shifted instantly in 1/2 or 1/3 steps by turning the electronic dial on the back panel.
4. Shutter/Aperture-Priority mode
  Taking full advantage of the unique capability of digital cameras permitting automatic shift of sensitivity at any time, the Shutter/Aperture-Priority (TAv) mode automatically selects the most appropriate sensitivity for a user-selected shutter-speed/aperture combination. It allows the user to experiment with a greater range of photographic expressions with great ease.
Large, easy-to-see 3.0-inch wide-view LCD monitor with approximately 920,000 dots

The K-7 features a large 3.0-inch color LCD monitor with approximately 920,000 dots on its back panel. Its wide-view design allows the photographer to check the monitor image from approximately 170 degrees both vertically and horizontally, facilitating low- and high-angle shooting using the Live View function.
Powerful rechargeable battery

The K-7 is powered by a large-capacity, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which can capture approximately 980 images** when fully charged.

** Under testing conditions prescribed by PENTAX, when using a rechargeable D-LI90 lithium-ion battery with no flash.
Other features
1. HDR (high dynamic range) function to create one composite image with an extra-wide gradation range from three images with different exposures
2. Dynamic-range expansion function to compensate for both white-washed (overexposed) and blacked-out (underexposed) areas
3. Digital level function for easy checking of the image’s levels
4. Automatic compensation of distortion and lateral chromatic aberration (available only with DA- and DFA-series lenses)
5. White balance control, featuring a new CTE mode to emphasize the color components of sunset scenes and a new incandescent-tinted fluorescent light mode
6. Multi-exposure function, with a superimposition of already-recorded images on the LCD monitor for at-a-glance comparison
7. Attachment of copyright credits on recorded images
8. RAW button for single-action switching of image file format
9. 16 digital filters to add a range of visual effects; a new function to record an overwritten history also available
10. Color-specific control buttons/dials for easy recognition and quick access, based on the universal color design
11. PENTAX Digital Camera Utility 4 software package, including a RAW-data processing application (based on the popular SILKYPIX RAW-data processing engine developed by Ichikawa Soft Laboratory) and a browser application

Optional accessory: Battery Grip D-BG4

Exclusively designed for the PENTAX K-7 camera body, the Battery Grip D-BG4 is powered by either a rechargeable lithium-ion battery or six AA-size batteries. Since it supplements the camera’s battery as an additional power source, the number of recordable images is greatly increased. To facilitate vertical-position shooting, this grip features extra shutter-release button, preview lever, electronic dials, AE-lock button, Green button and AF button. It also provides the same dustproof, weather- and cold-resistant construction as the camera body itself.

Effective Pixels		approx. 14.6 megapixels
Image Sensor	Total pixels	approx. 15.07 megapixels
	Type	CMOS with a primary color filter
	Size	23.4mm x 15.6mm
Color Depth		8 bit (JPEG) or 12 bit (RAW)
Recorded Pixels	Still	JPEG: [14M] 4672×3104 pixels, [10M] 3936×2624 pixels, [6M] 3072×2048 pixels, [2M] 1728×1152 pixels RAW: [14M] 4672×3104 pixels
Recorded Pixels	Movie	[0.9M] (1280×720, 16:9), [1.6M] (1536×1024, 3:2), [0.3M] (640×416, 3:2)
Sensitivity (Standard Output Sensitivity)		Auto, Manual : 100-3200 (1EV steps or 1/2EV steps or 1/3EV steps) can be expand to ISO6400 Bulb mode : up to ISO1600
Recording file Format	Still	RAW (Original/DNG), JPEG (Conforms to Exif 2.21), Conforms to DCF (Design rule of Camera File system) 2.0
Recording file Format	Movie	Motion JPEG (AVI) 30fps
Formats	Still	Compressed: JPEG – Baseline (: Premium , : Best , : Better, : Good) Compressed: RAW (PEF) Non compressed: RAW (DNG)
Storage Media		SD, SDHC memory card RAW+JPEG : available
White Balance		Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light ( D, N, W, L), Tungsten Light, Flash, CTE, Manual setting , with WB fine adjustment
Viewfinder	Type	Pentaprism type
	Focusing screen	Natural-Bright-Matte III focusing screen
	Field of view	approx. 100%
	Magnification	approx. 0.92x (with 50mm F1.4 lens, infinity, -1m^-1)
	Diopter adjustment	approx. -2.5 – +1.5m^-1
Live View	Type	TTL by Image sensor
	Field of view	approx. 100%
	Display	Enlargement (2X, 4X, 6X in case of AF mode, 2X, 4X, 6X, 8X, 10X in case of MF mode) Grid pattern
	Autofocus Mode	Contrast detection + Face detection / Contrast detection / Phase difference detection
LCD Monitor	Type	TFT color LCD monitor, brightness adjustable, Color adjustable, Wide angle view, AR Coating
	Size	3.0 inch
	Dots	approx. 921,000 dots
Preview Method		Optical preview , Digital preview
Playback		One Image, Two Images, Index (4 or 9 or 16 or 32 or 81 thumb nails), Enlargement (up to 32X, scroll available), Image Rotation, Folder view, Slideshow, Histogram, Resize, Cropping, Bright/Dark area, Calendar view, Index view
Digital Filter	Recording Mode	Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Extract Color, Soft, Star Burst, Fish-eye, Custom
Digital Filter	Playback Mode	Toy Camera, Monochrome, Retro, Color, High Contrast, Soft, Extract Color, Star Burst, Water Color, Fish-eye, Pastel, Slim, Miniature, HDR, Base Tweaking, Custom
Focusing System	Type	TTL phase difference detection, 11-point wide autofocus system (SAFOX VIII+)
	Focus Mode	AF-single (with focus lock); Manual focus AF-continuous
	Focus Point	Auto, Select, Center
	AF assist lamp	available
Exposure Control	Metering System	TTL open-aperture 77-segment metering (coupled with lens and AF information)
	Metering Mode	(1) Multi-segment metering, (2) Center-weighted metering, (3) Spot metering
	Exposure Range	EV 0-22 (at Standard Output Sensitivity 100 with 50mm F1.4 lens)
	Modes	(1) Green, (2) Program AE, (3) Sensitivity-Priority AE, (4) Shutter-Priority AE, (5) Aperture-Priority AE, (6) Shutter and Aperture Priority AE, (7) Metered Manual, (8) Bulb, (9) X speed
	Exposure Compensation	±5 EV
	Auto-bracketing	3 or 5 frames within range of ±0.5EV, ±1.0EV, ±1.5EV, ±2.0EV (0.5EV steps) or ±0.3EV, ±0.7EV, ±1.0EV, ±1.3EV, ±1.7EV, ±2.0EV (0.3EV steps)
	AE Lock	availiable
Shutter	Shutter Type	Electronically controlled vertical-run focal plane shutter
Shutter	Shutter Speed	1/8000 – 30 sec. and bulb
Drive Modes		Single-frame, Continuous (Hi, Lo), Self-timer (12s, 2s), Remote control (0s, 3s), Remote Continuous Shooting, Exposure Bracketing, Exposure Bracketing+Self-timer, Mirror Lock-up Shooting, Mirror Lock-up Shooting+Remote control
Drive Modes	Continuous shooting	approx. 5.2 fps, sequence : until approx. 40 frames (JPEG and continuous (Hi)), approx. 15 frames (RAW(PEF)) , approx. 14 frames (RAW(DNG)), approx. 3.3 fps, sequence : until the memory card becomes full (JPEG and continuous (Lo)) , approx. 17 frames (RAW(PEF)) , approx. 17 frames (RAW(DNG))
Built-in flash	Type	Built-in retractable P-TTL pop-up flash
	Guide number	approx. 13 (Standard Output Sensitivity 100/m)
	Angle of view coverage	28mm wide-angle (equivalent to 35mm)
	Flash Exposure Compensation	-2 EV – +1EV (1/2EV steps)
Flash Synchronization		Hot shoe, X-sync socket, sync-speed: 1/180 sec., P-TTL, high-speed-sync, wireless-sync with PENTAX dedicated flash
Image Stabilizer	Type	Image sensor shift mechanism , Max 4 stops
Dust Removal		Image sensor cleaning function by supersonic vibration
Time	World Time	75 cities (28 time zones)
Data Folder	Folder Name	Date (100_MMDD•••), PENTX (100PENTX, 101PENTX•••) ,
Data Folder	File Name	Standard, User customize
Power Sources		Rechargeable D-LI90 lithium-ion battery Optional AC adapter also available.
Battery Life	Number of recordable images	approx. 980 (Normal Recording)^2 , approx. 740 (50% use Flash)^1
Battery Life	Playback time	approx. 440 minutes^*2
Interfaces		USB2.0(Hi-Speed)/AV output, DC input , Cable switch, X-sync socket, HDMI output, Streo microphone
Video Output		Compatible with NTSC and PAL formats
Lens Mount		PENTAX KAF2 bayonet mount
Usable Lens		PENTAX KAF3, KAF2-, KAF-, and KA-mount lenses. * Power zoom function available. K-mount lenses usable with restrictions. S-mount lenses, 67/645 lenses usable with adapter and with restrictions.
Dimensions		approx. 130.5(W) x 96.5(H) x 72.5(D)mm (5.1 x 3.8 x 2.9 inches)
Weight		approx. 670g (22.9 oz.) without battery and SD memory card. approx. 750g (26.5 oz.) loaded and ready with battery and SD memory card

*1 Recording capacity shows approximate number of shots recorded during CIPA-compliant testing. Actual performance may vary depending on operating conditions.
*2 According to the result of PENTAX in-house testing.

[ Storage capacity ]

Still		128MB	256MB	512MB	1GB	2GB	4GB	8GB
RAW 4672 × 3104	PEF	5	10	20	40	82	162	331
RAW 4672 × 3104	DNG	5	10	20	40	82	161	329
JPEG 4672 × 3104		9	18	36	73	148	292	594
		15	29	58	117	238	467	952
		26	52	103	206	420	826	1682
		52	102	204	408	830	1630	3319
JPEG 3936 × 2624		13	25	51	102	208	409	832
		21	41	81	163	332	652	1327
		37	72	144	289	585	1149	2339
		73	142	282	564	1138	2234	4548
JPEG 3072 × 2048		21	42	83	167	339	666	1356
		34	67	133	267	543	1068	2173
		60	118	234	468	945	1856	3778
		116	227	450	902	1807	3549	7224
JPEG 1728 × 1152		66	130	258	516	1041	2045	4162
		104	203	402	805	1617	3176	6463
		177	346	686	1373	2793	5485	11164
		325	634	1258	2518	5121	10057	20468

Movie	128MB	256MB	512MB	1GB	2GB	4GB	8GB
1.6M (1536 × 1024, 3:2)	0:14	0:28	0:55	1:51	3:45	7:23	15:03
	0:20	0:39	1:18	2:36	5:16	10:22	21:06
	0:28	0:55	1:50	3:40	7:28	14:40	29:52
0.9M (1280 × 720, 16:9)	0:18	0:35	1:10	2:21	4:48	9:26	19:13
	0:25	0:50	1:40	3:20	6:47	13:19	27:06
	0:36	1:10	2:20	4:41	9:29	18:37	37:54
0.3M (640 × 416, 3:2)	1:01	2:00	3:59	7:59	16:15	31:55	1:04:58
	1:26	2:49	5:35	11:11	22:45	44:41	1:30:58
	2:00	3:54	7:44	15:29	31:02	1:00:57	2:04:02

The maximum file size is 4GB for movie.
The maximum length is 25 minutes for movie.

PENTAX, K-7, and PENTAX Digital Camera Utility are trademarks of HOYA CORPORATION.
HDMI, the HDMI Logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.
All other brands or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Designs and specifications are subjects to change without notice

Capture NX 2: Understanding Blending Modes

picmax — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:52:12 +0000

Nikon Capture NX2 has only 5 blending modes while Adobe Photoshop has more than 20. Are Nikon Capture NX2 users missing out on many useful tools? Perhaps not. Adobe Photoshop is not only for digital photography, but also for a much wider applications. So some of the blending modes are of little use for photo editing or can be substituted with alternative blending modes. The purpose of this post is not to discuss the differences between Nikon Capture NX2 and Adobe Photoshop’s blending (blend) modes, but to illustrate what the blending modes do in Nikon Capture NX2.

To begin with, I quote the following from Nikon Capture NX2 manual as a reference so you don’t have go back and forth to find out exactly what I am talking about.

The blending mode determines how the image created by the current enhancement blends with the image prior to that enhancement. Using blending modes provides you with an advanced way of applying the current enhancement to your image. The different blending modes are:

Normal – The Normal blending mode is the default blending mode for applying enhancements. When all channels for the enhancement are applied at 100%, the result is considered a normal enhancement.

Lighten – The Lighten blending mode is achieved by applying the effects of the enhancement only if those elements are lighter than the corresponding area in the original image. That is, only areas that are brighter due to the enhancement will be applied to the image.

Screen – The Screen blending mode is achieved by increasing the pixel values of the resulting image with the pixel values of original image. The resulting image is always brighter than the original image prior to the enhancement.

Overlay – The Overlay blending mode is achieved by either adding or subtracting the pixel values of the resulting image from the original image. Capture NX 2 determines whether to add or subtract based on the value of the resulting image. Values above 128 make the final image brighter in the corresponding area; values below 128 make the final image darker in the corresponding area, while the value of 128 does not change the final image.

Multiply – The Multiply blending mode is achieved by subtracting the pixel values of the resulting image from the pixel values of the original image. The resulting image is always darker than the original image prior to the enhancement.

Darken – The Darken blending mode is achieved by applying the effects of the enhancement only if those elements are darker than the corresponding area in the original image. That is, only areas that are darker due to the enhancement will be applied to the image.

I use the following image to demonstrate the effects of different blending modes in Capture NX2.

I start with placing a Color Control Point (CCP) at the bottom of the purple flower followed by increasing of the brightness (by dragging “B” slider to the right) as shown in the following screen capture. As expected, the area around the CCP becomes lighter.

That’s what happened with the default Normal blending mode. If I change it to Lighten blending mode, what happens? Nothing. The reason is that Capture NX2 applies the adjustment only to where it is brighter due to the adjustment with the Lighten blending mode. Since we only made part of the image brighter there is no other area can be affected. If I add another CCP in the background and reduce the brightness, I see the following in Normal blending mode. The bottom left corner is darkened by the 2nd CCP.

when I switch to Lighten blending mode, the effect of the 2nd Color Control Point disappears as shown in the following image.

The Darken blending mode works exactly the opposite. In my example, switching to Darken blending mode makes the first CPP useless while the effect of the 2nd CCP is applied as shown in the following image.

The two other blending modes have opposite effects but the effects are applied globally to the entire image. The Screen blending mode makes the image brighter as shown in the following image.

The two control points still have their effects. You can examine this by toggling the check circle next to the control point in the Edit List. However the CCP that makes the image darker appears to have weaker effect. The opposite is true for the Multiply blending mode: the CCP that makes the image brighter now has weaker effect. The following shows the image with Multiply blending mode.

The effects are easy to understand but the way the manual describes what the software does in Screen and Multiply blending modes appear to be incomplete or incorrect. Screen blending mode is supposed to be “achieved by increasing the pixel values of the resulting image with the pixel values of original image”. Well, if we add two values greater than 128, the result is greater than 255. Does it mean anything above the mid tone will be blown out? No, it obviously isn’t despite some minor loss of highlights. So what the software does is more than what is described in the manual. The same goes for Multiply blending mode. If the software does exactly as described, I’d expect to see a completely black image if I added a Levels & Curves adjustment without actually changing the levels or curve but only changing the blend mode to Multiply. That doesn’t happen either.

As shown in this Wikipedia entry, the Screen blending mode does the following:

Result Color=255 - [((255 - Top Color)*(255 - Bottom Color))/255]

The Multiply blending mode does the following:

Result Color=(Top Color) * (Bottom Color) /255

That makes more sense.

I left the Overlay blending mode as the last one to discuss. What it does is making areas of the final image lighter or darker depends on the color values of the adjustment. Many perhaps have found the interesting Overlay blending mode that often seems to add some nice “pop” to a photo. There is nothing magical though. If you add a Levels and Curves adjustment without making any changes except changing the blending mode to Overlay, the result of the adjustment (the exact copy of the original image because no change was actually made) is blended to the same image. Basically, that is an overlay with the same image. In this case, darker part of the image becomes darker and lighter part becomes lighter, which essentially means increased contrast in the photos. You can get similar result by making a S-curve in the Levels and Curves tool but using the Normal blending mode. The following is the result of applying the aforementioned do-nothing-except-changing-blending-mode adjustment (The Color Control Points have been deleted).

If you don’t understand what the Capture NX2 manual says about how the Overlay blending mode works, you can try the following experiments.

Open a photo in Capture NX2.
Add a new adjustment step, select Colorize as the adjustment, select RGB=(128, 128, 128) as the color. With Normal blending mode, you see a blank layer of gray.
Now change the blending mode to Overlay. You should see the original image.
Now change the color in the Colorize adjustment to something like RGB=(50,50,50), the entire image will look darker. Adjustment color like RGB=(200,200,200) will make the entire image look lighter.

Do you remember the High Pass Sharpening method? Immediately after you add a High Pass adjustment, the image turns mostly gray (128,128,128). If you zoom all the way in, you will be able to see some details in the gray image. You can see the details only because they are either lighter or darker than 128 in any of the three color channels. High Pass filters out most image details, except those details that contain high spacial frequencies. If you change the blending mode to Overlay, most image areas will look just like the original, except for the details that pass through the High Pass filter. What you get is basically contrast enhancement at very fine scales, which makes the image appear sharper. To use High Pass as a sharpening tool, we typically also want to the opacity mixer set to Luminance & Chrominance mode with the Opacity (Chrominance Ch.) slider set to 0% to avoid undesired color shifts.

Additional reading:

Blend modes (Wikipedia)
Photoshop’s Five Essential Blend Modes For Photo Editing (Photoshop Essentials)

Camera Grand Prix 2009 Winners

picmax — Tue, 19 May 2009 19:00:35 +0000

The Camera Grand Prix, sponsored by the Camera Journal Press Club Japan (CJPC), is regarded as the most prestigious award in Japan’s photo industry. 2009 is the 26th anniversary of the award.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II grabbed the “Camera of the Year” honor while Nikon D700 won the hearts of fans by grabbing the “Readers Award“. Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 and Casio High-Speed Exilim EX-FC100 won the “Editors Award”.

Read:

Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D) vs. Nikon D5000 High ISO Noise

picmax — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:18:12 +0000

Previously, we compared the spec sheets of two hot new entry level DSLR cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D) and Nikon D5000. If that is enough for you to make a decision between the two, it would be too simple. The spec sheet should be considered a starting point for potential buyers to evaluate their needs against the specs. What follows next should be the verification of real world performances against your expectations.

For some people, the image quality, especially the high ISO noise performance is very important. So how well do they match up against each other? Camera Labs did the tests as part of their full review of the Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D). They also included the Olympus E-620 in the comparison.

The Nikon D5000 has a top ISO of 6400 while the Canon has top ISO of 12800. You would have thought the Canon have a better high ISO performance, wouldn’t you? Well, it turns out Canon’s marketing department may be a little too much into gimmicks. The Nikon D5000 appears to have won the noise competition handily above ISO800. The ISO6400 image from Nikon D5000 appears to have less noise and more details than the Canon’s. Perhaps Nikon should have made the ISO 128000 possible on the D5000. It wouldn’t be worse than the Canon’s.

Read: Canon EOS 500D / T1i vs Nikon D5000 vs Olympus E-620 High ISO Noise

Deal Alert: 10% Bestbuy In-Store Coupon

picmax — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:46:19 +0000

With this coupon, you can take 10% off a single item at a Bestbuy store. Sony DSLR cameras, lenses and flashes are excluded from the deal but there are other photography goodies you can buy, including the hot new Nikon D5000.

The D5000 + Nikkor 18-55 f/3.5-5.6G VR kit is currently available for $849.95 at Amazon, $849.99 at Bestbuy. With 10% off, it becomes $765, only $35 more than the body-only price without the coupon. Bestbuy doesn’t appear to have the body-only option yet.

The deal is brought to you by the USPS Mover’s Guide. I guess if you go to your local postal service office and pickup the Change of Address package, you may be able to find a print version of the coupon. But you don’t have to. There are many places who have the online version for you to download and print.

Source #1 (FatWallet)
Source #2 (MommySavesBig)

The coupon is good until June 30, 2009.

Disclaimer: Don’t blame me if it doesn’t work.

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