This wide-to-moderate tele zoom offers you a chance to upgrade your wide-angle kit zoom. So what are you waiting for?
September 2007
Monday, December 29, 2008
D40/x/D60 Club Wiki
Welcome to the wiki for the Flickr Nikon D40/D40X and D60 User Club. Here you'll hopefully find information that'll help you get started with you new camera, or learn more about its advanced features.
Check it out Here
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Innovative RS-Strap
BlackRapid Blog
BlackRapid.com
Update: It has arrived!...Will be doing an in-depth review after using this week. There is a Photowalk in Portland on the 1st which I hope to attend giving the strap a full workout.
Stay Tuned for Review on Sun. or Mon.
My Hands On Review of RS-Strap
Started a new flickr group - Naturally Nikon.
Well I didn't see a Nikon specific Nature group. And would like to bring together Nikon owner's that are Nature lover's.
And to have a place where Nature and Wildlife shooter's can discuss specific issues and uses with Nikon equipment in the wild.
And It is not Me that will make this group unique and special but everyone of us pitching in. Sharing idea's,knowledge,expertise and experiences in these threads.
..Check it out Here and see if it is your kind of group.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
FastStone Image Viewer and it is Free!
FastStone Image Viewer is a fast, stable, user-friendly image browser, converter and editor. It has a nice array of features that include image viewing, management, comparison, red-eye removal, emailing, resizing, cropping and color adjustments. Its innovative but intuitive full-screen mode provides quick access to EXIF information, thumbnail browser and major functionalities via hidden toolbars that pop up when your mouse touches the four edges of the screen. Other features include a high quality magnifier and a musical slideshow with 150+ transitional effects, as well as lossless JPEG transitions, drop shadow effects, image annotation, scanner support, histogram and much more. It supports all major graphic formats (BMP, JPEG, JPEG 2000, animated GIF, PNG, PCX, TIFF, WMF, ICO and TGA) and popular digital camera RAW formats (CRW, CR2, NEF, PEF, RAF, MRW, ORF, SRF and DNG). ...Get it Here
Noise Ninja Review by Luminous Landscapes
Every now and then a new product comes along that redefines expectations. In software-based noise reduction such a product is Noise Ninja from Picturecode. Last yet it was Photokit Sharpener Pro, which revolutionized image sharpening, and now it's the whimsically named Noise Ninja.
I tested this program and began using it shortly after in first came out in 2003, and though it became a standard tool which I use daily and also teach in my workshops and seminars, I somehow neglected to write a review. It slipped though the cracks, likely because it had simply become a basic tool that I use almost every day, and I therefore took it for granted...Full Review Here
Back to Basics - ISO and exposure wrap up
We have learned that the sensor (or film) can get the same exposure if we prolong the duration the shutter is open, but use smaller aperture (or shorten the duration that the shutter is open, while using a bigger aperture). If we want to be absolutely honest (which, at least for now, we do), we have to include the third part of the equation: film sensitivity (AKA ISO)...Full HowTo...Here
Picnik - Edit photo's Online for Flickr users
- Fix your photos in just one click
- Use advanced controls to fine-tune your results
- Crop, resize, and rotate in real-time
- Tons of special effects, from artsy to fun
- Astoundingly fast, right in your browser
- Awesome fonts and top-quality type tool
- Basketfulls of shapes from hand-picked designers
- Works on Mac, Windows, and Linux
- No download required, nothing to install
- All this for free! Want more? Upgrade to
Picnik Premium for only $24.95 a year!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Marilyn Monroe pics sold for nearly $150,000
NEW YORK – A collection of photographs of Marilyn Monroe taken for Vogue magazine the year she died has been auctioned in New York for nearly $150,000....Story Here
34 Essential Tutorials To Get Started With Digital Photography
If you are completely new to photography, all the information you find might be a bit overwhelming and contradictory.
Obviously, you want the most value for your money and get the most out of your purchase.
Here’s a compilation of the best photography tips and tutorials found on the web. Starting with basics to make your first purchase, all the way to the inner workings of your camera.
Check it out Here
The year 2008 in photographs (part 1 of 3)
2008 has been an eventful year to say the least - it is difficult to sum up the thousands of stories in just a handful of photographs.
That said, I will try to do what I've done with other photo narratives here, and tell a story of 2008 in photographs.
It's not the story of 2008, it's certainly not all stories, but as a collection it does show a good portion of what life has been like over the past 12 months.
This is a multi-entry story, 120 photographs over three days. Watch for part 2 and part 3 tomorrow and the next day. (40 photos total)....See it at the Boston Globe Here
Black and White Fine-Tuning in Photoshop CS3
A black-and-white photograph is all about the subtle matrix of tonal values that give shape and form to the image.
Knowing how to precisely apply modifications to light and shadow is key to fine-tuning a black-and-white photo.
In this tutorial, we’ll take a look at some ways to shape and enhance the tonality of a black-and-white image with some quick and simple techniques....Full Tutorial Here
Friday, December 19, 2008
Yea! just reached our 200,000 hits in 1st Year!
To around the World I give thanks and Happy Holidays to All! (Note:Map is of last 5 mins of hits on Blog and you can see the map by clicking on view my stats on bottom of page and then click on recent visitors map)
It is the 1st year anniversary of the D40/D60 Blog and hope you found it useful,informative,educational and entertaining.
And it just hit 200,000 hits. I never dreamed it would take off so fast and stay going this long.
And with the help of David Chu and Sweetpea I give thanks for their contributions.
Now on to Year 2!
Thanks all again for your support and hope you continue to find it useful.
Commets:
-
Todd said... Congratulations on the milestone! I look forward to more great content in year 2!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
9 Creatively Camera-Free Photographers [30 Photos]
Written by Delana on November 6th, 2008
Looking at some of the most impressive contemporary photography, it’s easy to believe that sophisticated equipment is necessary. Thoughts of prohibitively expensive cameras and all of the other trappings of professional photography have dissuaded plenty of would-be photographers over the years. But amazing images have been made for centuries without any help from cameras using creatively strange pinhole and photogram photography techniques....Check it out Here
Free Tethered Shooting Script for Nikon
If you’ve been keeping up with the blogs of various big photography bloggers out there you’ll certainly have been seeing quite a bit about tethered shooting recently. Not that it is a revolution or anything, but it certainly is a help to be able to see your images immediately on a big screen — and that doesn’t just go for those with failing eye-sight but basically the images you see on the LCD at the back of your camera are only the jpg preview, not the RAW (should you be shooting raw).
Even if you are shooting jpg just having to view them on such a tiny screen really makes it hard to tell if they are sharp or perhaps shaded as you are hoping. Sucking them right into your PC seems just so logical...Full Info Here
How Big Can You Print? - by thom
One common email question I get is this (or a relative): "how big can I print with the SuperDSLRJustAnnounced?"
My usual answer has tended to be a bit glib: "If you can't get satisfactory prints of the largest size a desktop inkjet printer can produce, it's not the camera that's the problem."
I suppose that answer is only one step up from "f/8 and be there," so it's time for me to elaborate a bit...Full Article Here
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The (WU)ltimate 33-Part Guide to Abandoned Places
WebUrbanist has covered everything from abandoned wonders of the world to the illicit art of exploring deserted places.
These thirty-three core articles cover hundreds of abandoned buildings, vehicles, towns and cities from around the world - highly organized, summarized and collected for the very first time... Check them out Here
Monday, December 8, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Pixel Fixer - Software for Raw images.
Remove hot pixels from raw files
Hot pixels (sometimes called stuck pixels) appear as brightly coloured spots in your images. They are often more noticeable with slow shutter speeds or high ISO settings.
Given the location of these hot pixels, Pixel Fixer can automatically remove them from the raw data in one or more raw files. Dead pixels (pixels that always appear black) can also be removed by Pixel Fixer.
Check it out HereYour Photo: Our Critique from PopPhoto
PopPhoto Flash
The F Stops Here: a group blog by the editors of Popular Photography & Imaging magazine.
Summit your Images for Critique Here
How One Guy’s Flickr Photo Wound Up in the Iron Man Movie
Of all the amateur photographers out there, who among us hasn’t dreamed of seeing our photos plastered onscreen during the runtime of a multi-million dollar studio tentpole release/major comic book franchise film?
I know this fantasy is what keeps me snapping away at random friends, family, and strangers with my Nikon D50 everyday…
Read full story Here
Nikon's New Look Good in Pictures Series
About this site
Look Good in Pictures is a unique new series starring style guru and television personality, Carson Kressley.
Carson shares entertaining and helpful insights and will give real practical advice on how to embrace photogenic qualities in a variety of everyday situations such as vacations, holidays, nights out on the town and weddings.
Check it out Here
Yahoo launches iPhone-friendly Flickr with video support
Search engine giant Yahoo has formally launched an updated version of Flickr optimized for mobile phones and with special formatting friendly to the iPhone, including a newfound ability to watch streaming videos....Read about it Here
Monday, December 1, 2008
Viewing your Sensor
Another handy tool for the Do-It-Yourself crowd is the sensor loupe or scope. It can save invaluable time and minimize time objects are making contact with your sensor.
This can minimize chances of damage and unnecessary contact with the sensor.
The links below are two I have come across.
The Delkin Sensor Scope and the cheaper Copper Hills
This tool and a blower like the Giottos Rocket, Sensor Swabs and Eclipse fluid are just about mandatory for safely cleaning your sensor.
Tenba Shootout Daypack Video
SHOOTOUT™ is a comprehensive collection of backpacks, waistpacks and accessories designed from the ground up for serious outdoor imaging. Shootout gear is light on your shoulders but heavy on protection, access and features.
The Daypack is a compact, expandable pack that holds more than you might imagine, yet is a pleasure to carry.
If your day (or more) of shooting calls for a camera, a good basic selection of lenses and accessories, and even lunch or a change of clothes, the Daypack is the perfect travel companion...Check it out Here
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Joby Gorillapod a different kind of tripod
The Joby Gorillapod firmly secures your camera to just about anything — anywhere and everywhere! Unlike traditional tripods, the Gorillapod has flexible, gripping legs which can wrap around almost any surface. It is now available in three sizes!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Black Rapid's R-Strap: A Hands on Review
First Impressions: Day 1 - It has arrived and I open the roll. I find the RS-2 strap & FastenR. I inspect the strap inside and out and find the quality top notch. All fasterners and webbing are high grade. So I study it a bit to see how everything works and attach my camera with my 55-200vr lens.
Standup and Walking around the camera hung well and out of the way. It was a bit weird wearing a camera and reaching for it and it is not there. It is on the side leaving the front of body free. Boy that is a kinda of liberating to have the full front side of myself unencumbered. And with my frontside pouch I need all the extra room I can get.
Started to quick draw and found it fast and natural. How come nobody thought of this before? The only fiddling is to find the sweet spot on where the camera resting spot is. To low and it may bounce or roll with short lenses.
Walkabout Day 2: Now for the real testing. I was concerned that it would get in the way of my Slingshot 200 but surprised that I still could use the slingshot slide to front to access my gear.
Also another of my concerns was the screw in mount to camera since none of my zooms have a lens mount on them and that with strong force the fastener would come loose under the torque of the camera moving side to side or any rotational forces. Well that did NOT happen. I even tried to make it happen with spinning the camera and banging against my hand and picking up and dropping camera on bed. And it stayed locked into camera screw mount.
Walked around for about 2 hours bending,quick-step,jumping,etc... as I was shooting action in the park blocks and found it great to let go of camera and have hands and chest area free. Also accessing my bag in front without the normal camera strap getting in the way was a great sense of freedom. At the end it was comfortable and you forget it's there (Careful! when you sit down).
Also found it alot easier to always grab it heading out the door just to go to the store. It's there and unobtrusive ready to snap that robbery in progress late at night at the local 7/11.
Photowalking event with Thomas Hawk Day 3 : It is now March 1st Saturday is the Photowalk event were about 15-20 people showed with Thomas Hawk and his beautiful wife. A couple of people asked about the strap so I handed out some BlackRapid cards and gave them the blog address so they could read my review of it.
Starting at Pioneer Square we headed to Waterfront park. The strap proved itself again when I noticed other's with a standard strap that it got in the way when trying to access their shirt or jacket pockets. And other's removing strap all together to get to their packs. These things are second nature to them and not noticeable unless you are looking for it.
We headed down the waterfront to Saturday Market which opened today with it's kazillion booths of Crafts,Arts,Exoctic Foods. And moving thru the crowds was fine but a hand on the camera as not to bang it into anybody. The rest were headed up for neon to north portland but I had to go.
The Final verdict: "I give it two thumbs up.. I like the whole idea behind it's design and function."
So that was basically the test I gave the strap. There was much walking,squatting,quick run,etc.. And of course the strap proved itself to me. It is now the replacement to my regular strap.
But are there any problems or pet peaves? Of course there are. There's always something.
Pet Peeve's or how it can be improved: (Of course this is only my Opinion and take it for what it's worth).
1) The FastenR seems big to me. Especially connecting it to a camera body. You won't be able to set the camera down like you would normally do with a regular strap. If another fastenR could be designed specific for the camera body that would be great.
But I don't think it is feasible for Black Rapid to do that without alot of additional cost and trouble for such a little issue as that.
But on further thought. Attaching or adhering a D shape clip to a tripod plate might work great and give back the ability to lay the camera down (Just a thought). Also there have been complaints of camera detaching from the clip. And had it do just that twice on me. So definite redesign of the clip seems to be indicated.
2) Light Cameras and Lenses let the strap slowly creep down the front. Solution get yourself some anti-skid material for the backside of the strap. This for me is the main peeve for me and other's with entry or mid level dSlr's that are designed light.
I suspect this will only be an issue for people with light camera-lens combo's. Pro's that use the Heavier Tank models should not have any problems with this.
3) Would like to see a 3rd model with a longer and 1/2" wider pad with more pockets or attachments (Straplets?). They could have a series of attachable packets for holding batteries,cards,filters,etc.. Again just a thought or dream?
4) A RS-2 with FastenR shipped will cost you about $62-65 bucks or so and seems a bit high.
Well I imagine yes if they were selling 10,000 units per month. But not high if they are only selling 100-500 units per month. It is a new product so if it takes off then I imagine the price would come down. But I don't see how that would be possible this year anyway.
So I would say give it a whirl if you do alot Two camera or Action shots. I even hear people using two straps one on each hip (Gunslinger Complex?).
And if you order one let them know you read it here. I would like to know if people actually read my review and find it useful.
And I would like to thank Black Rapid in Seattle for sending me the RS-2 to test and review. Tho it is not a 10 it is a solid 9.5 and have no problems recommending it.
Original Post to Pics and Video,BlackRapid website and blog.
Innovative R-Strap Update: The Strap Has Arrived!
BlackRapid's MySpace page
David Norris Photography | ModernPics.com
Honda-Tech Threads on R-Strap
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/610155/0
Be sure to leave comments which I will incorporate into the posts on your own experiences with this product.
4 comments:
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Thanks for the review. I just bought one but did not have your review beforehand. Would have made me more confidant. Thanks.
- March 10, 2008 7:07 PM
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Thanks for the excellent review. One quick question: Do you feel that the Quick Release clip mechanism on the strap is really sturdy? Some other strap brands have quick release clips that are too light and self-release under weight of the gear. Many thanks for your thoughts on this.
- April 19, 2008 10:34 AM
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The Black Rapid comes with a small plastic tube, that prevents the gate from accidentally unlatching. I found the tube to be too short. I put one a wee bit longer on mine (about ½ inch) and it's much better. I bought a one foot piece of tubing for $0.17 at the local hardware store.
Russ - June 23, 2008 8:01 AM
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Thanks for the review. I am considering this strap and this blog will help form my decision.
- July 22, 2008 5:40 AM
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Magnum Photos
Magnum Photos is a photographic cooperative of great diversity and distinction owned by its photographer members. With powerful individual vision, Magnum photographers chronicle the world and interpret its peoples, events, issues and personalities.
The Magnum Photos library is a living archive updated daily with new work from across the globe. You may search or browse our 400,000+ images which are available online for licensing in a variety of formats.
Check Them out Here
LIFE photo archive hosted by Google
Search millions of photographs from the LIFE photo archive, stretching from the 1750s to today. Most were never published and are now available for the first time through the joint work of LIFE and Google.
Check them out Here
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We would love to post your review on our site Blackrapid after this weekends Photo walk.
Ron
Your welcome to anytime. And thanks again for your giving spirit.
Can't wait to read your review. I'm pretty interested in this strap.
So far I like it...Been wearing it around to test for it's out-of-the-way and comfort.