Nikon D40/D40x/D60 Photog: May 2008

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Cheat Sheets

Provided by 20SEVEN

So You want to be a Nikon Pro.!

Nikon Pro Site

Police quiz photographer over nude shots

Police have interviewed photographer Bill Henson about an art exhibition featuring nude shots of teenagers.

The exhibition was to open at the Roslyn Oxley9 gallery in the Sydney suburb of Paddington last night.

The gallery agreed to suspend the exhibition while police conduct interviews.

Police still need to talk to a 13-year-old girl who appears on the invitation for the exhibition.

They also want to speak to her parents, before deciding if the exhibition should go ahead...Full Story Here

Nikon DSLR Specifications - by Thom

A comparison of the specifications of current Nikon DSLR models

Friday, May 30, 2008

Think Tanks Rotation 360 Pack.....Whoa!

Was looking into a bigger option than my Slingshot 200 and saw this.

It's the Rotation 360 and it is the most technical pack I have seen.

To watch video's there is a bug. You have to hit the Stop button first before going on to next video even if you have watched the whole video.

But at $280 it is spendy....See Them Here...Also main catalog of think tank Here

Photodo - Photographic lens specifications, guides, discussion and reviews

Photodo provides news, discussion, in-depth user reviews & ratings on all types of photographic lenses.

Are you new to lenses? Check out our introductory guide here.
Looking for the old photodo.com? Confused by the changes, read what's going on here.
Want to discuss something lens related? Dive right into our new forums and help them get started.
Keep up to date with lens developments through our news section and RSS feed.
Read user reviews and ratings, MTF data and specifications of lenses and leave your own via our new lens search facility.
Or read in-depth reviews of lenses by photodo staff in our reviews section....Check them out Here

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

David Chu Photography

David Chu Blog...Here

Back in the Good Ole' Days.!

I read and hear many that complain about a Lens doesn't AutoFocus or I hate changing lens!

Well all I can say is... Wimps!

Here is a blast from the past.

My name is Jani and below are pictures of a part of my presscamera collection. Some of the cameras are still under work. Every now and then I'll add new cameras and pictures of its' repair and restoration process and other interesting information about them. Just click on the pictures below...Check them out Here

Lens Test: Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S

A serious standard zoom lens for exacting professional Nikon-shooters, it's bright, rugged, and optically flawless.

By Julia Silber

Surprisingly, this $1,700 (street) lens is Nikon's first constant-aperture optic in the very popular, all-purpose, standard zoom category. Both of the company's previous pro and amateur 24-85mm lenses had variable apertures. If the gold ornamentation on its barrel doesn't tip you off, the price should confirm that this is a professional-caliber lens...Full Look Here

The Photographer’s Right

A Stand for Photographer’s Rights

The right to take photographs in the United States is being challenged more than ever.

People are being stopped, harassed, and even intimidated into handing over their personal property simply because they were taking photographs of subjects that made other people uncomfortable.

Recent examples have included photographing industrial plants, bridges, buildings, trains, and bus stations. For the most part, attempts to restrict photography are based on misguided fears about the supposed dangers that unrestricted photography presents to society...Full Post Here

DIY - Reverse Macro Ring

As everybody knows, macro lens are expensive. Daniel Kyaw has a great way of creating a macro reverse ring for practically nothing.

Reverse rings can be used to shoot macro shot using non-macro lens like 50mm. We can buy original reverse ring from dealer, the price is ranging from 30~40 US$. And normally they do not have stock in hand since this is slow moving stock item.

Well, so I want to share my idea with you to make your own reverse ring from your old/unused accessories which will cost you about 3-4 US$...Full Article - Here

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Another Nikon Rumor Site : Nikon Rumors

Nikon Rumors : "Because it's Good to Know"

SmugMug: Getting Great Pleasing skin tone

First, the bad news:

99% of customer complaints about printing are related to skin tones.

And the subject most likely to make photographers weak in the knees.

Now for the good:

Unlike expressions and poses, which are a matter of taste, there's a simple way to measure skin tones and feel confident they're safely in range...Full Article Here

Sigma APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG/HSM

Sigma has announced new addition to its digital optimized DG range of zoom lenses in the form of the APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG/HSM. This fast telephoto zoom sports a fixed F2.8 aperture throughout the range, HSM technology for high speed silent focus and four SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements. A new 'digitally optimized' coating is claimed to minimize flare and ghosting when used on a D-SLR, and the lens will be available in Sigma AF, Canon EF, Nikon D, Konica Minolta and Pentax AF mounts...Here

FM Review Here

Nikon D70 test chart...Check those focus issues

Although this test was originally devised in response to the back focus issue that manifest in some Nikon D70 cameras, it can be used to check any camera...Full HowTo Here

Lightroom : Capture sharpening for a sharp start

Capture sharpening is all about adding sufficient sharpening to a photograph in order to correct for the inherent lack of sharpness that most digital images suffer from to a greater or lesser extent. If you shoot using raw mode, then your photographs will arrive untreated in Lightroom and they will most definitely need some degree of sharpening. If the photos you import have originated from a digital camera shot using the JPEG mode, then they will already have been sharpened in-camera. The Detail panel sharpening controls in Lightroom are therefore intended for use with photographs that are raw originals or non-raw files that have not been sharpened yet.

..Full Tutorial Here

Nikon Imaging Service Status Check

A Quick Link to check on your Nikon when it is being serviced.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

"Flickr Funny Pic of the Day" - Easter2008

Easter2008 (33 of 33), originally uploaded by kdeckels.

“Does my butt look big in this?”

What Should I Wear in my portrait?

This is a question I get asked a lot by clients - so I thought it might be something that was worth some exploration in a tutorial.

The clothes a person wears in a portrait can have a big impact upon the end result of your image. When talking to a subject about what to wear I generally ask them to bring a few different outfits so that we can have a little variety to work with...Full Tutorial Here

Manual Focus Lenses Resource

Visit it Here

Photographer's moment of madness as he leaps across 8ft gap in the Grand Canyon

This is the heart-stopping moment a daring photographer leapt between two rocky outcrops over the Grand Canyon - with drop of nearly a mile beneath him.

A crowd of onlookers gasped in horror as the man - who was wearing flimsy flip-flops - risked his life to capture a stunning shot of the Arizona sunset...Full Story and more Pics Here

Friday, May 23, 2008

Freeware Must have for the Photographer

Opanda IExif is a professional Exif viewer in Windows / IE / Firefox, From a photographer's eye, It displays the image taken from digital camera and every item of EXIF data in the image from beginning to end...Get it Here

It allows right-click access from explorer or Firefox to extract exif if it is there. In flickr just go to largest size available and right click to get exif. (Note not all pics retain exif info)

DIY - Pocket Camera Tripod

The following article will demonstrate how to build a useful tripod that's easy to make and fits in your pocket.

It uses stiff wire wrapped in electrical tape as legs, and taped to a bolt. You can make lots of those, and give some to your friends.

The best thing about this tripod is its wrapping capabilities. It does not need to be placed on a leveled surface. Instead, it can be hooked to almost anything - a pipe, a fence - if it's wrapable, you're game...Full HowTo...Here

Strange Cameras You Don't See Everyday

Who knew they actually made a 160-megapixel camera? Find
that and more in this strange list. Which ones are your favorites?.
...Full Article..Here

Thom Hogan's Complete Guide to the Nikon D40 and D40x

This eBook helps you master the use of the Nikon D40 or D40x digital SLR, with a complete description of all the camera features, plus lots of useful tips and background information. This is the work that should have been the manual!

This eBook is a must-read for any D40 or D40x user, with over 600 pages of information about everything about how SLRs work, to how to use the camera and the software that accompanies it. This eBook is supplied on CD-ROM for $29.95 plus shipping and handling, and can only be purchased from this site....Get it Here

Nikon Capture NX Tips and Tricks

Do you want to master your Capture NX? Nikon has recently published 20 downloadable tips and tricks documents for its Capture NX editing software. The documents are easy step by step guides which will allow you to get more from your software. All tutorial documents are provided in .pdf format...Download them...Here

Thursday, May 22, 2008

OMG! a Gold Mine I Say! and he said Share

In Search off...!!! says:

Todd Johnson's D40 Blog

Todd Johnson's D40 Blog is based on his Personal Journey in Photography...Here

Ultralight, steady tripods for hiking and travel

When I began using a new “lightweight” tripod in the late ’90s, I was relieved that it weighed just 81⁄2 pounds—five for the tripod and the rest for the head. It certainly seemed light because it was just half the weight of my first solid tripod, a 17-pound brute.

If you do a fair amount of hiking, backpacking or traveling, 81⁄2 pounds is still too much. Today, there are truly lightweight alternatives.

Unlike the tripods I used years ago, you can find a stable tripod tipping the scales at just over three pounds, with solid, but lightweight heads to go with them.

You can use the weight savings for lenses, a tent, some extra clothes—or just to lighten your load and make life easier....Full Article Here

He Took a Polaroid Every Day, Until Day He Died

Yesterday I came across a slightly mysterious website — a collection of Polaroids, one per day, from March 31, 1979 through October 25, 1997.

There’s no author listed, no contact info, and no other indication as to where these came from. So, naturally, I started looking through the photos. I was stunned by what I found....Full Story Here

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

3D photography

The Digital Photography School blog has posted up a great article on taking and viewing 3D photography. The technique isn't dissimilar to the 'magic eye' pictures which were all the rage in the 90's.

Take a look and see if you can see the 3D effect and maybe take your own!

Nikkor - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nikkor is the brand of lenses produced by Nikon Corporation, including camera lenses for the Nikon F-mount.

The Nikkor brand was introduced by Nippon Kogaku K.K. (Nikon's original corporate name) in 1932. Nikon originally reserved the Nikkor designation for its highest-quality imaging optics, but in recent history almost all Nikon lenses are so branded.

Notable Nikkor branded optics have included:

F-mount lenses for 35mm SLR and DSLR photography.
Lenses for Bronica and Plaubel Makina medium format cameras.
Lenses for Nikon S-series and Leica rangefinder cameras
Amphibious lenses for Nikonos underwater cameras
Lenses for large format photography.
EL-Nikkor photographic enlarger lenses.
The lens of Canon's first or second camera, the "Hanza Canon."
Microscope objectives.
Industrial lenses, including lenses in support of the Japanese war effort during World War II....Full Wiki Entry Here

Tamron SP AF200-500MM F/5-6.3 Di LD (IF) Review

The Tamron SP AF200-500MM F/5-6.3 Di LD (IF) is one of Tamron's new "Di" lenses. These are lenses designed with digital SLRs in mind. This is what Tamron says about their DI lenses....Review Here

Nikon D40 Links - The Giant List

I've been collecting hundreds of links to interesting Nikon D40 images, user reviews, tips and tricks that have been posted to forums.

Yes, literally hundreds, and this little activity of mine started in November 2006 when Nikon announced the camera (read the D40 press release at DPReview.com).

Anyway, it's time to clean up my hard drive a bit, so here's a dump of all my D40 bookmarks for your perusal - I recommend that you set aside a few hours of your time to go through all of them. I hope you'll get to know the Nikon D40 a little better at the end of it.

Head over to The Nikon D40 Resource List for more specific links to and information on the D40 and lenses...Find them Here

Photographer speared by javelin at meet

PROVO, Utah (AP) - A newspaper photographer got a little too close to the action at the state high school track championships — and was speared through the leg by a javelin...Full Story Here

Monday, May 19, 2008

Nature Photography 101 Index

Photographic Technique

The Lowly Lens Hood by Rod Barbee

Leveling and Sharpening a Reflection Image by Bob Steele

Perch Improvement by Bob Steele. A simple way to improve your bird photos.

Backyard Bird Photography by Garth McElroy

Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts by Michael Gordon

10 Practical uses for the Depth of Field Preview Button by Rod Barbee

Camera Equipment Reviews Read what NPN members have to say about the photo gear they use.

Exposure and Metering

Controlling Background with a Combination of Exposure and Flash by Bob Steele.

Shoot it RAW by Nick Rains. An explanation of digital-capture RAW files and the benefits of working with them.

Exposure - From One Beginner to Another by Nathan Buck. A look at some fundamentals

More...Here

Flickr: Add referrer into comments 1.0

An annoying thing on flickr is that you never know where people that visit your photo have found it.

7 August 2006, by Mortimer

This is a small script that will add a small text at the end of your comment saying where you come from.

If everyone starts using this script, then it will be easy to see where the people have found your photos and how they got to comment on it.

You can discuss this tool on Flickr Hacks original discussion.

Compatible with Firefox,IE,Safari,Opera find out more Here

Camera Bags,Camera Bags, more Camera Bags!

OVER 600 REVIEWS AND 1800 PHOTOS OF CAMERA BAGS FOR CANON & NIKON AND OTHER DIGITAL SLR CAMERAS..Here
link summited by basegrinder

Make a shoulder strap for your tripod

This idea was inspired by my Mother; I was lugging my tripod around Southend, and she asked why I didn't have some kind of handle for it. She thought I might somehow be able to attach a strap from a bag to it. So I came up with this. Thanks Mum :)...Full HowTo Here

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Blog Counter I was using Bit the Dust....!!!

Luckily I check count daily and was able to transfer count 62,395 since Dec. 17,2207 over to new counter. So the View Stats will be way off since starting fresh with only the original count to start with.

Yesterday was the 5th month since beginning with passing 62,000. So even subtracting 2,000 for any posting count etc... that is 60,000 in 5 months with a 12,000 hits per month!

Thanks all and hope the Blog Has been Useful to you.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

D40 "Blog of the Week" - SweetPea

See her Blog Here

Almost Arrested Taking Photos at Union Station

As some of you may know, I've been testing out a Gigapan panorama photo system over the last week, after I received a loaner of their robotic camera mount from Carnegie Mellon's robotics lab.

I brought it in to NPR to demonstrate it to colleagues and go on a photo safari to photograph the architecture at Union Station.

Apparently, as far as Union Station's security operations are concerned, that's a criminal offense, since we nearly got arrested...Full Story Here

Lens Test: Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM AF

Few lenses made for the digital arena can deliver the creamy defocused backgrounds that are possible with this f/1.4..

Sunny Weather is Here Time for "Understanding Polarizers"

Care, Feeding & Proper Use

There are few more important things that a nature photographer can do to improve his or her photography than becoming familiar with the use of the polarizing filter.

What can a polarizing filter do for you? Among other things it can darken the sky, remove reflections from water, and make foliage appear less shiny. Colour saturation is also significantly enhanced.

It is the only filter for use with colour film that can do all of this...Full Article Here

Friday, May 16, 2008

D40 "Photostream of the Week" - mullenite's

See his stream...Here

Tamron 28-300mm VC for Nikon

As well as adding motors to its existing lenses, Tamron has also started building motors into its new Nikon-compatible lenses. The 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 VC lens offers a 10.7x zoom range with the company's proprietary optical stabilization system. DX-format users get fields of view equivalent to 43-465mm (in FX terms)....Full specs Here

Saving money while using legendary lenses

For those wishing to save a little money by purchasing used Nikkor lenses, this is a great time to buy. It's especially true for those preferring to use Nikon Manual Focus (MF) 35mm bodies.

The introduction of newer Autofocus (AF) designs has driven down the price of their predecessors, creating remarkable value in some cases. Even those using AF bodies can find some great bargains out there in lenses that are one or two generations back.

Here are some thoughts on what I perceive to be some of the better values out there right now. These are all lenses that I have some personal experience with, so it's not just an academic discussion.

If a lens is absent from the list, it doesn't mean it isn't good; it just means that its cost to performance ratio isn't quite as good (or it means I forgot to include it)...Article...Here

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Friday, May 30, 2008

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

A serious standard zoom lens for exacting professional Nikon-shooters, it's bright, rugged, and optically flawless.

A Stand for Photographer’s Rights

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Friday, May 23, 2008

Thursday, May 22, 2008

In Search off...!!! says:

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Monday, May 19, 2008

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Care, Feeding & Proper Use

Friday, May 16, 2008

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