Ken Rockwell
04 September 2010, Saturday
03 September 2010, Friday
Konica RF Gear for Sale
Scott has a full set of Konica Hexar RF and lenses for sale.
Scott is the guy who was good enough to loan me all this to review back in March.
NEW: Advanced HDTV Jobs at Dolby
Dolby just happens to have three very interesting, very advanced and very unusual design engineering positions just open.
Dolby needs two very senior-level engineers, one in Silicon Valley (Santa Clara) and one in Hollywood (Burbank) to develop the next generation of HDTV & 3D video and audio coding, processing and related algorithms, software, firmware and hardware.
Here are the descriptions and applications:
The third position is for an optical engineer designing an advanced video monitor system for use in Hollywood-level studios to replace the CRT monitorss we used to use. Plasma and LCD just don't cut it. Here are the details for the optics job in San Francisco.
These look like FUN, at least for design engineers wanting to build tomorrow.
02 September 2010, Thursday
NEW: $50 off ScanCafe photo scanning
$50 off your first regular scanning order for slides, negatives, or paper photos. Add discount code ROCKWELL50 when ordering. This expires 30 September 2010.
I have NCPS do my scanning as each roll is developed, but for those of you who'd like to mail away a big box, ScanCafe is offering you, my esteemed readers, a $50-off offer.
Sigma 8-16mm.
NEW: Sigma 8-16mm.
The world's widest lens for mini-format DSLRs, with great optics but questionable electromechanics.
Apple iPod Touch, with two cameras.
NEW: Apple iPod Touch, now with two cameras, starting at $229!
Canon S95
Canon S95.
The Canon S95 is in-stock at Adorama and at Amazon. Mine is on its way to me, and I hear that there is a new SUPER-Vivid mode.
Heh heh, this is going to be one heck of a new camera!
02 September 2010, Thursday
Sigma 8-16mm.
NEW: Sigma 8-16mm.
The world's widest lens for mini-format DSLRs, with great optics but questionable electromechanics.
Apple iPod Touch, with two cameras.
NEW: Apple iPod Touch, now with two cameras, starting at $229!
Canon S95
Canon S95.
THe Canon S95 is in-stock at Adorama and at Amazon. Mine is on its way to me, and I hear that there is a new SUPER-Vivid mode.
Heh heh, this is going to be one heck of a new camera!
01 September 2010, Wednesday
DUH: You folks are too easy on me. After I wrote my Canon 5D Mark II User's Guide, I somehow forgot to include my personal preferences for the C1, C2 and C3 positions.
I'm glad someone eventually asked me for these!
Photoshop Actions
For those of you who use computers, a reader writes that this action to make triptychs and this action to make gallery wraps are found extremely helpful by people who do such things
NEW: Nikon is offering fat instant rebates (no mailing required) when you get these combinations of popular lenses and cameras:
NEW: $400 off a Nikon D300s and 14-24mm: $3,299.95
NEW: $400 off a Nikon D700 and 14-24mm: $4,299.95
NEW: $1,100 off a Nikon D300s and 14-24mm, 24-70mm and 70-200mm VR II: $6,068.85 (add to cart to see this lower price).
And the best deal of all, Nikon's Master Collection for just under $7,000:
NEW: $1,100 off a Nikon D700 and 14-24mm, 24-70mm and 70-200mm VR II: $6,966.90 (add to cart to see this lower price).
Nikon S1000PJ, with built-in projector: $208.
NEW: Nikon S1000PJ projector camera for $208, delivered (add to cart to see this lower price).
Not to be outdone, Canon is offering much the same thing: instant rebates if you buy a body and a lens:
NEW: Canon package rebates with the 1D Mark IV
NEW: Canon package rebates with the 7D
NEW: Canon package rebates with the 5D Mark II
And, for you audio buffs:
NEW: Olympus WS500M stereo field audio recorder, pink, $49.95
Nikon D50. (review.)
01 September 2010, Wednesday
DUH: You folks are too easy on me. After I wrote my Canon 5D Mark II User's Guide, I somehow forgot to include my personal preferences for the C1, C2 and C3 positions.
I'm glad someone eventually asked me for these!
Photoshop Actions
For those of you who use computers, a reader writes that this action to make triptychs and this action to make gallery wraps are found extremely helpful by people who do such things
NEW: We just had a cancellation for the long-sold-out Yosemite Photo Tour. It's among our most popular tours of the year, considering that you can pay ten times as much for similar tours lead by other instructors. This will sell-out again in about five seconds, so don't delay.
Autumn in Yosemite, form last year's tour. enlarge.
This tour is run each year by The Yosemite Association, and is taught by myself and Dave Wyman. It's as inexpensive as it is (a whopping $360) because it's presented mostly by volunteers; I get paid so little that it doesn't even cover my travel expenses, but hey, I LOVE Yosemite.
Call (209) 379-2317 (ext. 12, ask for Pete) for registration.
You've already seen my photos from last fall.
NEW: Nikon is offering fat instant rebates (no mailing required) when you get these combinations of popular lenses and cameras:
NEW: $400 off a Nikon D300s and 14-24mm: $3,299.95
NEW: $400 off a Nikon D700 and 14-24mm: $4,299.95
NEW: $1,100 off a Nikon D300s and 14-24mm, 24-70mm and 70-200mm VR II: $6,068.85 (add to cart to see this lower price).
And the best deal of all, Nikon's Master Collection for just under $7,000:
NEW: $1,100 off a Nikon D700 and 14-24mm, 24-70mm and 70-200mm VR II: $6,966.90 (add to cart to see this lower price).
Nikon S1000PJ, with built-in projector: $208.
NEW: Nikon S1000PJ projector camera for $208, delivered (add to cart to see this lower price).
Not to be outdone, Canon is offering much the same thing: instant rebates if you buy a body and a lens:
NEW: Canon package rebates with the 1D Mark IV
NEW: Canon package rebates with the 7D
NEW: Canon package rebates with the 5D Mark II
And, for you audio buffs:
NEW: Olympus WS500M stereo field audio recorder, pink, $49.95
Nikon D50. (review.)
NEW: Nikon D50 User's Guide in printable PDF format.
01 September 2010, Wednesday
29 August 2010, Sunday
27 August 2010, Friday
DEAL: Pentax Optio E90 Digital Camera with 10.1 Megapixels, 3x Optical Zoom Lens, 2.7" LCD, Black $59.95
No, not an exciting camera, but for $60, not bad at all!
26 August 2010, Thursday
Canon's Big Week Announcements
NEW: Pentax Optio E90 Digital Camera with 10.1 Megapixels, 3x Optical Zoom Lens, 2.7" LCD, Black $59.95
Canon 60D.
NEW: Canon 60D.
NEW: Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM
NEW: Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
NEW: EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM
NEW: Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM
NEW: Canon Extender EF 1.4x III
NEW: Extender EF 2x III
From Canon on the lenses:
The EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lens is the world's widest fisheye zoom lens, providing professional photographers and cinematographers with a unique optical tool for capturing 180? angle-of-view shots on all EOS Digital SLR cameras.
Canon's first L-series 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens, the new EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens, delivers outstanding sharpness, contrast and color fidelity in a compact, lightweight form factor.
Canon is introducing two new versions of its popular super telephoto lenses, the new EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM and EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM super-telephoto lenses delivering incredible image quality at all apertures for professional photojournalists, sports and wildlife photographers.
For professionals and advanced amateurs looking to push their L-series Canon telephotos to the limit, the Company is proud to upgrade its two popular extenders with the new Canon Extender EF 1.4x III and Extender EF 2x III for additional telephoto reach and exceptional clarity.
Photographers will immediately notice that the latest Canon L-series telephoto lenses and extenders have a more neutral white tone compared to earlier models. This new shade of white will be used with all L-series telephoto lenses and extenders beginning in the second half of 2010. The introductions of these Canon lenses have been timed with Canon's latest camera introduction, the Canon EOS 60D Digital SLR camera, designed for advanced amateurs and emerging professional photographers.
Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lens
With its unique focal length range, the EF 8-15mm f/4L USM is the world's widest fisheye zoom lens. It delivers 180§ diagonal angle of view images for all EOS SLR cameras with imaging formats ranging from full-frame to APS-C, and provides 180? circular fisheye images for full-frame EOS models. Professional photographers and cinematographers will revel in the unique perspectives afforded to them through this lens, particularly when coupled with the highly popular full-frame EOS 5D Mark II DSLR camera. Canon's new Fisheye zoom lens features both UD and aspherical lens elements to enhance image quality and is equipped with rubber gaskets and seals to enhance weather resistance. Canon's proprietary SWC (Sub Wavelength Structure Coating) is used to minimize flare and a new fluorine anti-smear coating is applied to the front and rear elements to make lens cleaning easier than ever.
The Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lens is expected to be available in January of 2011 for an approximate retail price of $1,400.
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens
Compact and lightweight, yet durable and professionally sharp, the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens is the ideal telephoto zoom lens for advanced amateurs looking for that extra reach to bring a subject in tight and close. Providing the power and durability to maximize every shooting opportunity, the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens features two UD ultra-low dispersion glass elements for enhanced sharpness, L-series weather and dust sealing for shooting in harsh conditions, improved mechanical design, and streamlined ergonomics to help avoid inadvertent mode switch operation. The shapes of the lens elements and their coatings have been optimized to minimize ghosting and flare to produce high-contrast and high-resolution throughout the zoom range. A sophisticated floating system optical formula optimizes image quality at all distance settings and reduces minimum focusing distance by more than a foot. An updated optical image stabilization system compensates for camera shake up to an equivalent of four full shutter-speed steps, a full step improvement compared to earlier EF 70-300mm lenses. A new fluorine anti-smear coating is applied to the front and rear elements.
The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens is expected to be available toward the end of October for an approximate retail price of $1,500.
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens
The Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM is the 6th generation of a venerable family of Canon 300mm f/2.8 lenses that began in 1974, and have become famous for their exceptional sharpness, contrast and color fidelity. Ideal for a wide range of applications ranging from professional photojournalism and sports photography to nature and wildlife, Canon's 300mm f/2.8 lenses have always led the industry with new technical advances in every generation. The EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens carries on this tradition with improved image quality, lighter weight, improved Image Stabilization and enhanced durability making it a great option for handheld work in the field. The optical formula of the new lens has been upgraded with the inclusion of two fluorite lens elements for improved image quality and reduced chromatic aberration. Helping to reduce arm fatigue, Canon has reduced the overall weight of the lens by 8 percent to 82.9 oz., making it the lightest weight lens in the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 series. The Image Stabilizer provides an equivalent of approximately four full shutter speed steps of shake compensation and has been enhanced through the incorporation of a rolling-ball-friction system in place of sliding parts in the compensation optics barrel for a minimum-friction structure. The overall durability of the lens has also been enhanced through increased usage of magnesium alloy and titanium for lens barrel components, together with weather sealing for all exterior joints and switches and a new fluorine anti-smear coating applied to the front and rear elements.
The Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM lens is expected to be available in December for an approximate retail price of $7,000.
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens
Quintessential for many sports assignments including baseball, football, soccer and golf, Canon's professional 400mm f/2.8 lenses provide the light gathering capability and long telephoto reach that photographers need to freeze the action and fill the frame . The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM is the 5th generation in Canon's 400mm f/2.8 series and the successor to the current EF 400mm introduced in 1999. The new lens has been engineered for the ultimate in optical performance through the use of two fluorite lens elements for improved quality and reduced chromatic aberration. Helping photographers in the field, Canon has reduced the overall weight of the lens by a substantial 28 percent from 189.4 oz to 135.8 oz, making it Canon's lightest weight 400mm f/2.8 lens ever. The Image Stabilizer provides an equivalent of approximately four full shutter speed steps of shake compensation and has been enhanced through the incorporation of a rolling-ball-friction system in place of sliding parts in the compensation optics barrel for a minimum-friction structure. The overall durability of the lens has also been enhanced through increased usage of magnesium alloy and titanium for lens barrel components, together with weather sealing for all exterior joints and switches and a new fluorine anti-smear coating is applied to the front and rear elements.
The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM lens is expected to be available in December for an approximate retail price of $11,000.
Canon Extender EF 1.4x III & Canon Extender EF 2x III
The two new EF extenders are direct replacements of the current extenders offered by Canon as essential accessories for professionals. These new extenders have been designed to provide faster autofocusing and improved autofocus precision with compatible EF lenses. Each extender includes an anomalous dispersion lens element for reduced chromatic aberration and enhanced optical image quality. Each extender also features a newly developed microcomputer that increases AF precision when the extenders are used with a IS Series II EF super-telephoto lens. Both extenders are equipped with rubber gaskets and seals to enhance weather resistance. A new fluorine anti-smear coating is applied to the front and rear elements of both extenders.
The Canon Extender EF 1.4x III & Canon Extender EF 2x III are expected to be available in December for an approximate retail price of $500 each.
New Lens Features
In addition to an anti-reflection multi-coating, the front and rear elements of all newly announced EF lenses and extenders are treated with Canon's new fluorine anti-smear lens coating. The fluorine layer is highly oil- and water-repellent so that any oil smears or water droplets on the lens can be wiped off quickly and easily without the aid of solvents using a soft dry cloth. These four new lenses and two new extenders are the first of their type to employ fluorine coating, and it is expected that this new feature will enhance the usability of the lenses during adverse shooting conditions.
The new Series II EF super-telephoto lenses can correct camera shake up to four full shutter speed steps, compared to two shutter speed steps for the original versions. This improvement is made possible by a new low-friction stabilizer mechanism that is not only more efficient than the previous design but also smaller and lighter. Other enhancements to the IS systems of both new super telephoto lenses have enabled quieter operation ideal for use during video capture.
Providing professional sports and wildlife photographers with greater tracking flexibility, Canon has introduced a third Image Stabilization mode option to its new EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM and EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lenses. When mode 3 is selected on the lens, the image stabilization effect will not be seen in the viewfinder. When the shutter button is pressed halfway, the lens will begin detecting camera or lens movement and only during exposure, when the shutter is fully depressed, will the Image Stabilization engage and provide the equivalent of four stops faster compensation for blur-free images. The new Mode 3 is particularly useful when a photographer does not want to see the IS working in the viewfinder while tracking a moving subject.
Helping moviemakers achieve smoother and more appealing focus shifts when filming on EOS DSLR cameras, Canon has included a new Power Focus (PF) mode on the Company's two new super telephoto lenses. This mode allows manual rack focusing to be operated smoothly by turning a playback ring that is normally used for the focus preset function. Both low-speed and high-speed focus shifting are available.
Additionally, a new security slot attachment has been included on both new super-telephoto lenses to allow a wire-type security lock to be easily affixed, a great safety feature for professionals shooting from high vantage points above arenas and crowds.
24 August 2010, Tuesday
Loersch Plastic Slide Mounts
My local lab, North Coast Photo (NCPS) has been getting so much film to process that they need to buy more Loersch 35mm slide mounts. If you, or possibly a closed lab of which you know, has any, they'd love to buy them. Call Richard at (760) 931-6809.
NEWS: Garage-Sale divers sued for unauthorized use of the Ansel Adams trademark.
As I read it, those garage-sale guys are using the Ansel Adams name to sell prints and posters, but as we all know, that would be making unauthorized use of the Ansel Adams trademark. For instance, you can't make a drink and sell it using the Coca-Cola trademark any more than you could sell tissues called Kleenex or copy machines called Xerox, without permission.
24 August 2010, Tuesday
NEWS: Garage-Sale hoaxters sued for making unauthorized use of the Ansel Adams trademark.
As I read it, the hoaxsters are using the Ansel Adams name to sell prints and posters, but as we all know, that would be making unauthorized use of the Ansel Adams trademark. For instance, you can't make a drink and sell it using the Coca-Cola trademark without permission any more than you could sell tissues called Kleenex or copy machines called Xerox, without permission.
23 August 2010, Monday
NEW: I moved Hot Deals next to the "Today's Updates" title.
NEW: Canon S95.
The Canon S95 fixes the flaky rear dial of the S90, and adds a ton more, for $40 less than the price at which the S90 debuted a year ago.
20 August 2010, Friday
DEAL: Nikon 16-35mm VR for $1,109 at Adorama. My favorite FX wide lens, whoo hoo!
New Video from Marc Silber
Lena Hyde talks about kiddie photography.
If you haven't seen it yet, see Marc's video of me talking about what makes a great picture. I talk a little faster than Lena.
This is simply a reorganization of what I've published in several different places.
Nikon News
For you early-birds who only saw fluff from me yesterday morning, I've completed my analyses of yesterday's Nikon D3100, 55-300mm VR, 24-120mm f/4 VR, 28-300mm VR and 85mm f/1.4 G AF-S.
Even though Nikon seems to be out of the serious DSLR market (where's my D700x?), that doesn't matter, since the D700, D3, D3s and D3X need no improvement, and what we really need are the fantastic, game-changing new lenses Nikon has been spewing out this year, like yesterday's announcements and the incredible 24/1.4 and 16-35mm VR from earlier this year.
Even though I kid about the lost D700X, what really matters are the lenses, and heck, everyone should have either a 24/1.4 or 16-35mm VR as today's basic FX wide-angle. Good lenses are always a bargain: even the $2,200 24/1.4 still costs half of a proverbial D700X.
Bravo!
20 August 2010, Friday
DEAL: Nikon 16-35mm VR for $1,109 at Adorama. My favorite FX wide lens, whoo hoo!
Next Week: The 2010 Point Reyes Photo Tour
From the 2009 Point Reyes Photo Tour.
Dave Wyman's photo tour to Point Reyes, California has another spot left. I'll be there teaching and shooting, too.
Point Reyes is a magical wilderness just north of San Francisco Bay.
As last year, I will be there instructing personally, and taking pictures, too.
The tour starts Thursday afternoon (maybe Wednesday if you're coming from the LA area), and runs through through Sunday morning.
Here are my snaps from last year's tour, and here are Dave's Photos.
Phone or email Dave Wyman at (323) 377-7565 in Los Angeles for details or to register.
I hope to see you next week!
New Video from Marc Silber
Lena Hyde talks about kiddie photography.
If you haven't seen it yet, see Marc's video of me talking about what makes a great picture. I talk a little faster than Lena.
This is simply a reorganization of what I've published in several different places.
Free Camera & Darkroom Equipment
Joe in New Jersey has the following for anyone who'd like it:
View Camera gear
Polaroid 545 holder
Lisco Regal II and Fidelity Elite 4x5 film holders
Darkroom gear
Beseler 45MX 4x5" (and smaller) enlarger
Aristo D2 W45 cold light head and collar (for awesome B&W prints!)
4x5 & 35mm negative carriers
Schneider Componon-S 50mm f/2.8 enlarger lens (the good one!)
Omega grain focuser
Graylab model 300 timer
Kodak model A safelight with OG and 1A filters
Beseler 8922 deluxe motor base with film drum
Kodak B&W darkroom print scale
If you'd like to go pick any or all of this up (or at least cover shipping), email Joe and ask him about it. Personally I don't know anything about it, other than that this is premium B&W darkroom gear for anything up to 4x5," and that nothing matches the quality you get from real optical B&W printing.
Good luck!
Nikon News
For you early-birds who only saw fluff from me yesterday morning, I've completed my analyses of yesterday's Nikon D3100, 55-300mm VR, 24-120mm f/4 VR, 28-300mm VR and 85mm f/1.4 G AF-S.
Even though Nikon seems to be out of the serious DSLR market (where's my D700x?), that doesn't matter, since the D700, D3, D3s and D3X need no improvement, and what we really need are the fantastic, game-changing new lenses Nikon has been spewing out this year, like yesterday's announcements and the incredible 24/1.4 and 16-35mm VR from earlier this year.
Even though I kid about the lost D700X, what really matters are the lenses, and heck, everyone should have either a 24/1.4 or 16-35mm VR as today's basic FX wide-angle. Good lenses are always a bargain: even the $2,200 24/1.4 still costs half of a proverbial D700X.
Bravo!
19 August 2010, Thursday
Japan's Big Week Continues
As expected, Nikon dumped today. I'll be having live updates all day as the news unfolds:
Nikon D3100 and 18-55mm VR.
NEW: Nikon D3100. Nikon's highest-resolution camera short of the D3X or film, and it sells for only $699, with a lens!
Nikon 55-300mm VR.
Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR.
Nikon 28-300mm VR.
NEW: Nikon 28-300mm VR
Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AF-S G.
NEW: Three more Canon point-and-shoots.
NEW: Canon Rebates.
Nikon 200mm f/4 Micro-NIKKOR AI-s.
NEW: Nikon 200mm f/4 Micro-NIKKOR Review.
A bargain for precision incarnate.
19 August 2010, Thursday
Nikon 200mm f/4 Micro-NIKKOR AI-s.
NEW: Nikon 200mm f/4 Micro-NIKKOR Review.
A bargain for precision incarnate.
18 August 2010, Wednesday
NEW: Hot Deals.
As the deals grow, I got tired of having to scroll down three pages just go get here, so they grew into their own page.
I'll list new things here as they pop up, but after a day, you'll find them on the Deals page.
17 August 2010, Tuesday
External Drives: Which brand?
A reader asks which to buy. Obviously everyone will have different experiences, but all my Maxtor drives died on me years ago.
Half my Western Digital drives died recently. They were replaced under warranty.
All my LaCie drives still work, even the ones I've dropped: even from three feet onto concrete.
I once dropped one a foot while it was operating, and it died. LaCie graciously sent me a new one under warranty. When dropping drives onto concrete, be sure they are off so the heads are stowed.
Go with LaCie. Mine have been running for years.
Compared: Canon 7D versus Barbie Video Camera.
Not shown is that with the Barbie Cam, I'll bet you that you can get into places you'd never get with a 7D, thus better video.
RUMOR: Nikon D3100.
NEW DEAL: Popular Photography Magazine for a year for $5.00.
NEW OLD: You can still buy the Nikon F100 brand-new at B&H, as well as refurbished at B&H, if the Nikon F6 is too much for you (also in-stock at B&H).
Do-it Yourself E-6 Processing
If you'd rather not walk to the mailbox or your local lab to develop you color slides (like Velvia), you've been able to do it yourself at home since at least the 1970s with this kit from Kodak, which is sold by Calumet, and in-stock for pickup in NYC at B&H.
My Uncle tried it once in the 1970s, and after all the work, said, "never again."
A reader tried it recently, and it's easy today, especially for temperature control. Here's how he does it, and here are some of his results.
Big Week Announcements
First to the plate for Big Week is Canon, announcing the new EOS 7DSV (Studio Version), which adds the ability to lock-out various features so that your studio employees won't screw with anything, as well as the ability to read barcodes and add that data to the files for tracking photos and orders.
Next is Nikon, whom many believe has exited the DSLR market since they have introduced no new DSLRs anytime this decade (I'm not worried, since the D3s and D700 are superb, mature cameras, and more importantly, Nikon is focusing on lenses instead, like the incredible 24mm f/1.4 and world-leading 16-35mm VR), with two new point-and-shoots: the Nikon S1100pj ($350, September 2010) with a very slightly brighter projector than the Nikon S1000pj I already reviewed, and the Nikon S5100 (October 2010, $180), which seems to be just another forgettable point and shoot.
Will Nikon have more in store later in Big Week? Keep watching.
LEICA M9.
NEU: LEICA M9 1.138 Firmware Update.
It seems to work swell.
Updated: LEICA M9 User's Guide.
I added my preferred menu settings, since I had to go back and reset them all after the firmware update.
17 August 2010, Tuesday
External Drives: Which brand?
A reader asks which to buy. Obviously everyone will have different experiences, but all my Maxtor drives died on me years ago.
Half my Western Digital drives died recently. They were replaced under warranty.
All my LaCie drives still work, even the ones I've dropped: even from three feet onto concrete.
I once dropped one a foot while it was operating, and it died. LaCie graciously sent me a new one under warranty. When dropping drives onto concrete, be sure they are off so the heads are stowed.
Go with LaCie. Mine have been running for years.
Compared: Canon 7D versus Barbie Video Camera.
Not shown is that with the Barbie Cam, I'll bet you that you can get into places you'd never get with a 7D, thus better video.
RUMOR: Nikon D3100.
NEW DEAL: Popular Photography Magazine for a year for $5.00.
NEW OLD: You can still buy the Nikon F100 brand-new at B&H, as well as refurbished at B&H, if the Nikon F6 is too much for you (also in-stock at B&H).
Do-it Yourself E-6 Processing
If you'd rather not walk to the mailbox or your local lab to develop you color slides (like Velvia), you've been able to do it yourself at home since at least the 1970s with this kit from Kodak, which is sold by Calumet, and in-stock for pickup in NYC at B&H.
My Uncle tried it once in the 1970s, and after all the work, said, "never again."
A reader tried it recently, and it's easy today, especially for temperature control. Here's how he does it, and here are some of his results.
Big Week Announcements
First to the plate for Big Week is Canon, announcing the new EOS 7DSV (Studio Version), which adds the ability to lock-out various features so that your studio employees won't screw with anything, as well as the ability to read barcodes and add that data to the files for tracking photos and orders.
Next is Nikon, whom many believe has exited the DSLR market since they have introduced no new DSLRs anytime this decade (I'm not worried, since the D3s and D700 are superb, mature cameras, and more importantly, Nikon is focusing on lenses instead, like the incredible 24mm f/1.4 and world-leading 16-35mm VR), with two new point-and-shoots: the Nikon S1100pj ($350, September 2010) with a very slightly brighter projector than the Nikon S1000pj I already reviewed, and the Nikon S5100 (October 2010, $180), which seems to be just another forgettable point and shoot.
Will Nikon have more in store later in Big Week? Keep watching.
LEICA M9.
NEU: LEICA M9 1.138 Firmware Update.
It seems to work swell.
Updated: LEICA M9 User's Guide.
I added my preferred menu settings, since I had to go back and reset them all after the firmware update.
LEICA M9 Colors
Like all great art throughout the ages, the stunning color representation of the LEICA M9 polarizes all who experience it.
Some people love its unique interpretation, while others, including myself, find it hideous, and I mean hideous!
I find the colors directly out of the M9 as JPG, or as default DNG, to be the worst I've ever seen in a digital camera. They are nasty, with greenish yellows, and everything looks really crappy. Technically the LEICA M9 images are unbeaten, but artistically, they look awful
Again, à chacun son goût, and many people love these colors. Bad reviews are good.
Usually I give up on cameras with ghastly color rendition, but the LEICA M9 has so much promise that I haven't given up. I think I'm finally getting to figuring out how to get usable pictures from it. When I say usable, obviously I'm drawing a high bar. I've already published pictures from Yosemite in 2009 that most people love, but I didn't.
Here's how I'm starting to get decent results from the M9:
Shoot DNG.
Do this, and add +50 saturation.
In Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) or some other tool, one must correct the color hues to get the greens out of the yellows and blues. One does this with the Hue sliders under the fourth green zigzag (HSL/Grayscale) tab in ACR.
In this tab, I find I like something around -18 for oranges and yellows, which makes these colors more red (less green), and +18 for blues, which pulls the greens out of the skies and makes them more blue instead of cyan (greenish).
I also add about +50 to saturation, tweak the rest to taste, and wow!, reasonably decent color, along with images about twice as sharp on a pixel-to-pixel basis as a D700 or 5D Mark II.
The measure of a camera is how well its images look right out of the camera, not how well they look after an hour of fiddling in Photoshop.
I find Nikon DSLRs give great JPGs, just about as good as what you get after jacking around with NEFs for an hour. That's why I love JPGs, since I usually shoot Nikon.
With Canon, you're not doing as well. CR2s look much better (less cartoonlike) than JPGs out of a Canon DSLR since you can sidestep Canon's heavy noise reduction. If I was serious with Canon, shooting CR2 can give images with better texture, if you care.
With the LEICA M9, the JPGs out of the camera are atrocious. I have to shoot in DNG and tweak to get what I want, unless nasty green-gray-yellow tones were my thing.
I find the M9's images right out of the camera look a lot like Kodak Ektachrome 100G, whose colors I also hate compared to what I get from Fuji, and there's our answer: the same company makes both Ektachrome and the M9's CCD sensor in the same small city in upstate New York. They come from the same vision, and if you like Ektachrome 100G, you'll love the M9.
In my case, tweaking some of the hues has made a HUGE improvement in what I've gotten from the M9.
Since I shot all the Yosemite photos in DNG (and I've had many original DNG files shared in that gallery for you to download since last year), one fine day I just might redo that gallery.
I so love film. I got the colors I wanted right in-camera on my 55-year-old LEICA M3 on Velvia last year without any of this digital fooling around, but boy, the digital images out of the M9 are 3D by comparison with their sharpness and lack of noise.
My D3 gives better color right out of the camera; all this twiddling with an M9 merely gets me colors not quite as good, but with a lot more sharpness. Color is much more important than detail — ask any artist.
So what's up with the LEICA M9 being the world's best digital camera, and at the same time, having such awful colors?
1.) The camera has nothing to do with the images it produces. Just as a great pen doesn't instill great penmanship, an artist can use any camera and make it do what he needs it to do. Given a pen that skips, an artist will find a way to express himself with it. Winners always find a way, while losers are those blame their problems on their gear.
2.) I hate the colors as they come directly from the M9, but who cares about what I think? Others love the colors. This is art: there are no "correct" colors, only what's correct for you, and now I've found some ways to make the colors much, much better, I am so much more stoked about the LEICA M9 for my own use than in previous months. I still prefer the LEICA M3 over the M9, and the LEICA M3 sells for less than a Nikon D90 today.
