RSS
 

Posts Tagged ‘Finally’

Canon’s EOS M6 Mark II finally gets a 24p video mode via new firmware update

01 Apr

As it had assured consumers back in October 2019, Canon has released a firmware update for its EOS M6 Mark II camera that adds a 24p (23.98fps) mode that was inexplicably missing from the camera until now.

Canon has already released firmware for the other camera systems it promised 24p modes for, including the EOS 90D and EOS RP, so the new 1.1.0 update for the EOS M6 Mark II wraps up its response to customer feedback regarding the lack of a 24p mode when shooting video.

In addition to adding the 24p mode, the update also fixes an issue wherein the focus position of the lens returns to the home position if the camera powers off while in ‘Auto Power Off’ is turned on during ‘Interval Timing’ shooting as well as an issue that, ‘in rare cases’ would cause the camera to not focus at the edges of the image area.

The 1.1.0 firmware update is currently available to download (40MB) for both macOS and Windows computers on Canon’s EOS M6 Mark II product page.

Changelog:

Firmware Version 1.1.0 incorporates the following enhancement and fixes:

  1. The option to capture movies in the frame rate of 23.98p has been added.
  2. Fixes the phenomenon where the focus position of the lens returns to the home position if the camera powers off due to the “Auto Power Off” setting during Interval Timing shooting.
  3. Fixes the phenomenon in which, in rare cases, the camera may not autofocus at the edges of the image area.

Firmware Version 1.1.0 is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.0.1. If the camera’s firmware is already Version 1.1.0, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

When updating the firmware of the camera, please review the instructions thoroughly before you download the firmware.

Notes: You can download the latest version of the instruction manual from our Web site.

Q&A: Preparations for a firmware update: After the downloaded compressed file (.dmg file) is extracted, a firmware folder is created.

*Extracting the downloaded file: The downloaded folder is automatically extracted, and a firmware folder is created. If the download folder cannot be automatically extracted, double-click the folder.

The extracted folder contains the firmware (File name: M6200110.FIR, File size: 37,013,792 bytes) and instructions on the firmware update procedures (a PDF file in five languages: Japanese, English, French, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese).

Before starting the firmware update operations, please confirm the contents of the download, and carefully read through the firmware update procedures.

(The following is the history of past firmware updates) Changes in Version 1.0.1:

  1. Corrects a PTP communications vulnerability.
  2. Corrects a vulnerability related to firmware update.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Canon’s EOS M6 Mark II finally gets a 24p video mode via new firmware update

Posted in Uncategorized

 

GoPro Hero8 Black review: Have action cameras finally hit a wall?

16 Mar
Have action cameras reached peak performance?

I remember GoPro in the early days. Back then the cameras could only offer sub-SD recording, had no Wi-Fi and more importantly no way to see the picture as they lacked a screen. They were a hard sell, but filled a gap for small disposable digital video cameras.

The launch of the Hero 8 Black brings some improvements over the previous generation, but is it enough? If you already have an action camera does the quality and feature set of the Hero 8 Black make you want to upgrade? And, if you don’t already have a camera like this, has GoPro launched a camera that will convince you to buy into this product category?

Key specifications

  • 12MP sensor
  • 4K/60p, 2.7K/120p and 1080/240p video (up to 100 Mbps bit rate)
  • H.264 and H.265 codecs
  • HyperSmooth 2.0 video stabilization
  • LiveBurst captures 1.5 seconds of photos or video before shot
  • Integrated mounting ‘fingers’ attach directly to GoPro mounts
  • Optional ‘Mods’ add features like 3.5mm mic jack, HDMI-out, selfie screen and LED light
  • Waterproof
  • Wi-Fi + Bluetooth connectivity

The list of features on the Hero 8 Black is extensive, but improvements in image quality year-over-year are hard to come by. After all, 4K/60p with limited noise on a sensor that is incredibly small is difficult to achieve, especially in low light. To paraphrase a well known line from Scotty, ‘you can’t change the laws of physics’. Pixel pitch, size and resolution play directly against each other in the triangle of visual fidelity. Without increasing the pixel size, or finding a way of gathering more photons per pixel, improving signal-to-noise ratio is difficult.

Image quality isn’t everything

Where do you see improvement when moving from the Hero 7 Black to the Hero 8? One feature that’s attracting attention is HyperSmooth 2.0, GoPro’s image stabilization technology, which claims to rival gimbal levels of image stabilization without the need for balancing, mounting or powering an external handle. But can it actually deliver, and is it a big enough improvement over the previous generation to convince people to part with their money and upgrade?

Before I started using this camera I was incredibly skeptical, but having tested this feature over the past few weeks it does deliver a very good result, even managing to smooth out some of the bumps associated with footfalls, which is very difficult to achieve on standard gimbals.

This video compares the four levels of HyperSmooth 2.0 stabilization: off, on, high, and boost modes. As expected, each level provides increased stabilization, however notice that there’s a small crop factor when using ‘on’ and ‘high’ modes, and an even greater crop factor in ‘boost’ mode.

I did notice one slightly odd characteristic when shooting below 4K, however. When mounted in certain situations, for example in or on a vehicle, it will actually pan the image to counter movement. If you’re driving and turning left the embedded software will pan the image to the right, then slowly return to the center once you’ve completed the turn. As a result, the image has an overall floating feel to it instead of providing a rock solid picture.

That said, overall the results are surprisingly effective, even when using the boost mode, although that’s not available at 4K/60p. Be aware that HyperSmooth crops the image about 10% (and somewhat more in the most stabilized boost mode).

I discovered one odd effect when using the HyperSmooth 2.0 boost mode at 1080 resolution: when mounted in certain situations, like a moving car (above) the image will pan to counter movement. This gives the image a floating feel instead of the sense that the camera is locked in place.

With that proviso, though, it rivals and now beats a lot of traditional optical image stabilization done in-lens or in-camera, even compared to models that use sensor shift.

Integrated ‘fingers’ eliminate the need for frames or cases to mount the camera on standard GoPro accessories.

Two steps forward and one step back?

Along with some useful additions, this new camera also changes some features – and not for the better. For example, it’s no longer possible for the user to change the front element of the lens if it becomes cracked or chipped. GoPro’s stance is ‘GoPro does not offer a repair service on our cameras as, due to their size and design, the cost of parts and labor for performing such a specific repair would be more expensive than replacing the camera outright if it’s covered by warranty.’

Instead, it offers the GoPro Plus service, which will replace your camera if something goes wrong (at a maximum of 2 cameras per year). However, this service comes at a cost: $ 4.99 per month or $ 50.04 per year, and includes unlimited cloud storage and 50% off mounts and some accessories. Yes, another service to subscribe to, although for serious users this may pay dividends.

The USB-C port interfaces with GoPro’s range of accessories

Why only incremental improvements?

Technology usually progresses at an evolutionary pace rather than a revolutionary one. The introduction of a brand new product can have the ‘wow’ factor, but usually subsequent versions don’t have the same effect.

A limiting factor here is processing power and its relationship to battery life and available power. Small cameras have small batteries and in turn these can only provide limited power to the processor. As a result, you can’t have all the best features enabled at the same time.

Think you might be able to use your older Hero 7 batteries? Think again. Hero 7 batteries can’t deliver as much peak power as Hero 8 batteries and are not compatible with the new camera.

There’s always a trade off with temperature as well. If you did have all the available features turned on the camera would most likely shut down before the battery was exhausted due to overheating, which could cause damage to the camera or battery. There’s a reason that the older Hero 7 batteries—even though they are physically the same—won’t work on the Hero 8 due to power delivery limitations. The newer Hero 8 batteries can deliver more peak power. What more can be added?

If image quality isn’t making great leaps, and with features like Hypersmooth 2.0, live streaming, 4K capture and slow motion already included, have we hit a wall? What more can possibly be added to future action cameras? Part of the answer for GoPro seems to be add-on hardware, like a vlogging flip-up LCD (Display Mod), or an add-on frame which gives you HDMI out, a 3.5mm in and an extra microphone (Media Mod). These go some way to disguise the limitations of the bare camera and add the possibility of appealing to the ever expanding vlogging market.

HyperSmooth 2.0 is impressive, and even does a good job of smoothing out the bouncing of footsteps, such as this child holding the camera running across a yard. Since it’s getting harder to improve image quality with each generation of action camera, manufacturers will need to get creative with features like this to entice users to upgrade.

What’s the competition?

The competition in the premium action camera space is actually fairly limited. There’s the Sony FDR-X3000, the DJI Osmo Action and the recently introduced Insta360 One R, and really that’s about it at the moment. The recently released Insta360 camera employs an interesting modular setup, but can it compete? After all, GoPro has been doing this for nearly 20 years.

There are lots of cameras available at the mid and lower end of the market, but this isn’t an area that GoPro competes in and it really is a case of getting what you pay for. GoPro’s installed user base and reputation are formidable to any new manufacturer coming to market, and it has proven difficult for established name brands to launch and maintain an action camera market segment, as Nikon found out.

The GoPro Hero 8 Black. A hero among action cameras?

What does it all mean?

Much as we’d like to see revolutions in technology, this isn’t the norm. Incremental improvements mean that year-over-year upgrades are less necessary for a lot of users. The niche factor of the high end action camera market also means that not many manufacturers operate in this space, which in turn limits competition.

The next major developments will probably center around a change in battery technology and an increase in power density that allows for more powerful processing. The gradual shrinking of the process node in the CPU will also bring key improvements and the ability to do more while maintaining lower temperatures or extending battery life.

An action camera is a great addition to a filmmaker’s tool kit, and if you need a new one the Hero 8 Black is a solid choice. However, while there’s a certain FOMO—a fear of missing out—and even peer pressure to have the latest and greatest, it probably doesn’t make financial sense to upgrade every year for only minor improvements.

That looks like it’s not going to change any time soon.

What we like

  • HyperSmooth 2.0 stabilization is impressive
  • Excellent 4K/60p video
  • GoPro accessory mount integrated into body

What we don’t

  • HyperSmooth results in strange panning effect in certain situations
  • Subscription service for repairs
  • Incompatible with Hero 7 batteries

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on GoPro Hero8 Black review: Have action cameras finally hit a wall?

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Finally, a Road Map to Taking Better Photos of People!

22 Dec

The post Finally, a Road Map to Taking Better Photos of People! appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darren Rowse.

Finally, a Road Map to Taking Better Photos of People!

Day 11 of dPS Holiday Deals brings you this fundamental portrait photography course like no other – and it’s from our previous long-time Editor Darlene Hildebrand of Digital Photo Mentor.

Save $ 100 now

If you’re feeling lost when it comes to taking photos of people then you need Portrait Fundamentals: a road-map to portrait photography skills and confidence for beginners. 

Especially if you are disappointed by how your portrait shots turn out, or don’t even take photos of other people for fear of messing it up!

  • Unsure what camera settings to use for portraits?
  • Can’t get sharp, well-exposed images consistently?
  • So overwhelmed by all the technical stuff you struggle to focus on your subject and enjoy the portrait process?

Then, let Darlene and her team from Digital Photo Mentor guide you. They’ll give you a plan to follow so you can start improving your portraits immediately. 

Portrait Fundamentals Product

This is no ordinary course, it includes over 6 hours of video lessons, a 245-page PDF notebook, 21 practice exercises, quizzes at each stage, and a private Facebook group for students to interact with each other.

Learn to take great portraits even if you are a beginner!

Save $ 100 and get the course now for only $ 97 USD (usually $ 197)

Check it out before the next deal arrives in less than 24 hours.

PS – Did you miss yesterday’s deal? You can save 50% on Andrew Gibson’s Art of Black and White in Lightroom and Beyond course. Check it out here.
We receive an affiliate commission when you purchase from our trusted partners.

The post Finally, a Road Map to Taking Better Photos of People! appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darren Rowse.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on Finally, a Road Map to Taking Better Photos of People!

Posted in Photography

 

Hasselblad’s first XCD zoom, the 35-75mm F3.5-4.5, finally arrives this October

22 Jun

Hasselblad’s press release says its first zoom lens for the X system is ‘eagerly awaited’, though some users might consider ‘much delayed’ a more accurate phrase. Promised in 2017, the XCD 35-75mm F3.5-4.5 should finally be arriving in stores in October this year.

The company seems to think it will all be worth the wait though, as its chief designer declares it to be the ‘best zoom lens available on the market’. Said to offer the same edge-to-edge image quality as a series of prime lenses, Hasselblad claims it is the best lens it has ever developed.

Using an internal focusing system that allows the lens to retain the same compact dimensions throughout the zoom range, the lens is said to provide fast AF in a lightweight package.

The Hasselblad XCD 3.5-4.5/35-75 Zoom lens will cost $ 5175 / €4500 / £4050. For more information see the Hasselblad website.

Hasselblad XCD 35-75mm F3.5-4.5
Focal length 35.9-73.1mm
Focal length equiv 28-58mm
Aperture range F3.5-32/F4.5-32
Angle of view (D, H, V) 77°/64°/50°
Length/diameter 145 / 85 mm
Weight (excl. covers and lens shade) 1115g
Filter diameter 77 mm
Minimum distance object to image plane 0.42 / 0.6 m

Press release

THE NEW XCD 3,5-4,5/35-75 – PRIME LENS PERFORMANCE IN A COMPACT ZOOM

The ninth addition to the X System lens range is the eagerly awaited XCD 3,5-4,5/35-75 Zoom Lens. Delivering the same superb image quality from edge-to-edge as the XCD prime lenses, this extremely high performance, compact mid-range zoom covers moderate wide angle to short telephoto focal lengths. Its internal focusing keeps the lens’ dimensions constant, delivers quick autofocus and additionally keeps the overall weight down. Ideal for shooting anything from wide angle landscapes to portrait images, this lens is perfect for photographers who are looking to keep the amount of equipment they carry when travelling to a minimum but don’t want to compromise on image quality. “This really is the best lens Hasselblad has developed – its performance is extremely high, competing with our prime lenses. I can even go as far to say that it’s probably the best zoom lens currently available on the market,” says Per Nordlund, Hasselblad Lead Optical Designer.

Like the rest of the XCD lens range, the XCD 35-75 features an integral central lens shutter, offering exposure times from 68 minutes to 1/2000s with full flash synchronisation throughout.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Hasselblad’s first XCD zoom, the 35-75mm F3.5-4.5, finally arrives this October

Posted in Uncategorized

 

CP+ 2019: Finally – Nikon has cut a Z Noct 58mm 0.95 S in half

01 Mar

CP+ 2019: Finally – Nikon has cut a Z Noct 58mm 0.95 in half

The past couple of years haven’t seen the veritable cornucopia of Things That Have Been Cut In Half that we used to see at CP+, but here and there, scattered around the show this year are some good examples of the waterjet cutters’ art.

The definite highlight is a bisected Nikkor Noct 58mm 0.95 S, which has been keenly awaited by Nikon fans since it was announced at the launch of the Z system last August. Wait for it….

CP+ 2019: Finally – Nikon has cut a Z Noct 58mm 0.95 in half

….here it is, in all its glassy glory. Nikon has released very few details of the lens’ specifications, but we do know that it features a new ARNEO coating technology and at least one large, ground aspherical element. Intended to continue the legacy of the now-legendary original Noct-Nikkor of decades past, Nikon has designed this ultra-fast prime for ultimate image quality above all other considerations.

CP+ 2019: Finally – Nikon has cut a Z Noct 58mm 0.95 in half

The Noct will be a manual focus lens, which shouldn’t come as all that much of a surprise now that you’ve seen how much glass Nikon has packed inside it. Accordingly, almost half of the total length of the lens is taken up with a large, knurled focusing ring and a clear, widely-spaced engraved focus scale.

It’s unclear whether the focus will be ‘focus by wire’, but we can’t see any evidence of a focus actuating motor in the schematic, which suggests that the Noct might – possibly – use a conventional mechanical helicoid. Are you an expert at reading schematics? Let us know in the comments.

CP+ 2019: Finally – Nikon has cut a Z Noct 58mm 0.95 in half

In addition to the engraved focus scale, the 58mm Noct also features a control ring, and a similar OLED display as the Z 24-70mm F2.8 S, which we saw yesterday. On that lens, the screen can be switched between various informational displays, but it’s unclear what (apart from shooting aperture) might be shown on a fixed focal length short-tele lens with a permanent focus scale.

CP+ 2019: Finally – Nikon has cut a Z Noct 58mm 0.95 in half

Shown here attached to a Z7 it’s obvious that the Noct is shaping up to be a very big, and we suspect quite weighty lens. So big in fact that it features an integral tripod collar. And beyond Nikon’s promise that it will “take advantage of the advanced design flexibility afforded by the Z mount […] offering the ultimate in NIKKOR rendering performance with superior detail and sharpness” that’s about all we know about the Noct, for now.

Pricing and availability are still firmly TBD, but we’ll bring you more details as they become available.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on CP+ 2019: Finally – Nikon has cut a Z Noct 58mm 0.95 S in half

Posted in Uncategorized

 

A fully-featured Photoshop is finally coming to the iPad

15 Oct

Earlier this year, Adobe Chief Product Officer, Scott Belsky, acknowledged Adobe was working on a full version of Adobe Photoshop for iPad. Today, we were given a glimpse into the fruits of its labor, with Adobe previewing Photoshop CC on iPad on stage at Adobe MAX 2018 in Los Angeles.

While much of the underlying code remains the same as its desktop counterpart, Adobe Photoshop CC on iPad is redesigned to be used on mobile devices, with a cleaner interface and buttons large enough to be tapped with a finger or stylus. Adobe Photoshop CC on iPad will also seamlessly sync with the desktop version of Photoshop CC via Creative Cloud so you can start on a project on one device and finish it up on another.

$ (document).ready(function() { SampleGalleryV2({“containerId”:”embeddedSampleGallery_0494255940″,”galleryId”:”0494255940″,”isEmbeddedWidget”:true,”selectedImageIndex”:0,”isMobile”:false}) });

To achieve this, Adobe had to create an updated version of its PSD file format it calls Cloud PSDs. In Adobe’s own words, “when we ship Photoshop on the iPad, [Cloud PSDs] will also run and automatically show up on your desktop…Suddenly, you’ll have this cloud-powered roundtrip experience akin to a Google Docs experience, where literally the source of truth of your Photoshop creation is in the cloud.” Gone are the days of having to figure out how to export files in a compatible format and send them to various devices.

The Verge was granted exclusive access to Photoshop for iPad and has created a wonderful first-look at what you can expect from it.

Adobe Photoshop CC on iPad won’t arrive until 2019. In the meantime, you can sign up for a chance to be included on the beta version on Adobe’s website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on A fully-featured Photoshop is finally coming to the iPad

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Five Reasons Why I Finally Bit the Bullet Switched to Adobe Creative Cloud

19 Sep

When Adobe announced that they were transitioning their apps to a subscription model of the Adobe Creative Cloud in 2013, I almost fell out of my chair while clutching the cardboard box for my copy of Lightroom 4. It seemed absolutely crazy to me that Adobe would ask photographers and other creative professionals to spend money every month subscribing for software that they could simply buy once and use forever.

In the years that followed I resisted moving to Creative Cloud and continued to buy new versions of Lightroom one by one until a few months ago when I finally bit the bullet and subscribed. I was one of Adobe’s harshest critics in those intervening years and staunchly refused to buy into Creative Cloud for several reasons until I realized five important things that finally got me to switch over.

Five Reasons Why I Switched to Adobe Creative Cloud - couple portrait

Much of my hesitation to switch was due to the fact that I didn’t really understand the service Adobe was offering with their Creative Cloud Photography plan. That’s the one that lets you have Lightroom and Photoshop for $ 10/month.

What I failed to recognize was that Lightroom and Photoshop are just the tips of the iceberg, and there’s a whole slew of additional Adobe services that users have access to with a CC subscription. None of these by themselves are worth the price but when you examine all the ancillary benefits you get alongside great software it makes the idea of renting the software I used to own a lot more palatable.

Syncing between Lightroom Classic and Lightroom CC

When you subscribe to the Photography plan you get two versions of Lightroom, each with unique features and benefits designed to cater to specific types of photography workflows.

Lightroom Classic CC is the name of the traditional desktop app that has been around since 2007, now available only through a Creative Cloud subscription. This is for desktop-centric workflows where all your photos reside on a single computer.

Lightroom CC is a new different version of Lightroom designed for a cloud-centric workflow where all your photos reside in the cloud and can be edited anywhere – in a browser, on a tablet, on a phone, or even using Lightroom CC on a desktop computer.

What you might not realize is that you can use both of these programs together, with the key difference being the location where your original pictures actually reside. If you are accustomed to a traditional desktop-centric workflow you can use Lightroom Classic CC to sync specific albums in the Cloud.

This basically uploads low-resolution preview files of your photos to your Creative Cloud account. These previews, then, can be edited anywhere using Lightroom CC and the next time you load Lightroom Classic CC on your desktop all your edits are automatically synced to your original photos and catalog file.

photo editing in Lightroom CC - Five Reasons Why I Switched to Adobe Creative Cloud

I started editing this photo on my computer in Lightroom Classic CC. Then I pulled it up in my browser and made additional changes which were synced back to my desktop.

The key difference between both types of workflows is that when using albums published to the cloud from Lightroom Classic CC, your originals remain on your desktop which means you can’t export high-resolution images from Lightroom CC. However, for photographers who want to edit their pictures on the go and then return to their desktop for any final tweaking and exporting, this is an outstanding solution and one that could make the difference to those on the fence about subscribing.

One final note about this: The $ 9.99 Photography Plan includes 20GB of cloud storage, but the albums that you publish to the cloud from Lightroom Classic do not count against that 20GB. This is because they use low-resolution previews instead of your actual images which is fine for flagging, cropping, keywording, color correcting, and most of the other adjustments you would want to make on a mobile device.

family photo in Lightroom - Five Reasons Why I Switched to Adobe Creative Cloud

Having access to my photos on mobile has sped up my culling process enormously. It’s much faster for me to flag, reject, and rate photos on my iPad and the results are synced right back to my iMac in Lightroom Classic CC.

Photoshop is Included

I’ll be the first to admit that even though I call myself a photographer I rarely use Adobe Photoshop and instead do most of my post-processing in Lightroom. I do, however, have an old copy of Photoshop CS5 that I bought about eight years ago which I use when I really need to do some heavy processing.

But it’s slow, lacks a lot of modern features, and has an interface and layout that is confusing, to say the least. It also crashes on me a lot which doesn’t exactly help matters whenever I do need to use it.

Despite these issues, the fact that Photoshop is included did not do much to initially sway my barometer when it came to shelling out $ 9.99 each month for the Creative Cloud Photography plan. I forced myself to get by with what I had even though it was not really suiting my needs anymore.

image in Photoshop - Five Reasons Why I Switched to Adobe Creative Cloud

But the more I thought about subscribing to Creative Cloud the more I realized how nice it would be to have the full version of Photoshop ready when I needed it.

No need to think about buying, upgrading, or figuring out whether the version I had would really be current with the latest online tutorials. It just started to make sense for a small-time photographer like me to pay what really is a modest monthly fee to have the latest and greatest tools at my disposal for when I needed them.

Since I don’t use Photoshop all that often it would not be worth the price of a Creative Cloud plan by itself, but combined with everything else it sure did make a lot of sense.

Share albums publicly

I take a lot of photos of family, friends, and events just for personal use and like most people, I enjoy sharing these images with others. Until subscribing to Adobe Creative Cloud my workflow for this type of sharing was somewhat convoluted and involved exporting small-sized images from Lightroom, saving them to a Dropbox shared folder, generating a public link, and sending that out to others.

I couldn’t do much in the way of limiting access privileges either, and meanwhile, the images were taking up space in my Dropbox account that is perpetually near its limit anyway.

Now my process is much simpler, a lot more efficient, and results in a greater degree of control over what I can actually let other people do with my images. After publishing an album to the cloud from Lightroom Classic CC you can log in to Lightroom on the web, on mobile, or just load up Lightroom CC and generate a public link for any synced album.

Moreover, you can get an embed code, choose to allow downloads and show metadata, and even let people filter the photos according to Flag status.

album sharing - Five Reasons Why I Switched to Adobe Creative Cloud

While the images that are publicly viewable using this method are the low-resolution previews and not full-size images for printing, they are more than enough for most people.

The tradeoff in terms of overall simplicity and ease of use is more than worth it for me, and I’m not taking up valuable space in my Dropbox account or other file-sharing services.

Adobe portfolio

This might not be useful for some photographers but I have found Adobe Portfolio to be an incredible asset as a Creative Cloud subscriber and it really was one of the primary reasons I eventually chose to upgrade. Previously I was paying a service nearly $ 100/year for my photography website. But when I realized that Adobe Portfolio could do everything I need and was included with a Creative Cloud subscription I canceled my other hosting service and moved everything over to Adobe.

adobe portfolio - Five Reasons Why I Switched to Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe Portfolio won’t give you the fanciest website in the world, but it could very well get the job done for you at not much more than what you are paying for a website now.

All Creative Cloud subscribers have access to Adobe Portfolio which, though not as full-featured as some of the other hosting providers, is more than enough for my needs and possibly yours as well. As an added bonus it syncs with Lightroom so I can create albums on my computer and have them synced automatically with my website. Something that was not possible at all with my previous hosting company.

If you are at all interested in Creative Cloud but unsure about the $ 9.99 monthly fee, I recommend looking at your current website hosting solution and comparing it to Adobe Portfolio. It is quite likely that the latter could suit your needs just fine and end up only costing you a bit more than what you are already paying for a website.

adobe portfolio - Five Reasons Why I Switched to Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe Portfolio doesn’t have the breadth of features offered by other website platforms, but it does have a decent selection of themes and some solid options for photographers who want a simple, effective way to showcase their work online.

The price was right

As I looked at all the features offered by Adobe Creative Cloud I kept on coming back to the monthly fee, and for years I just couldn’t reconcile the idea of being locked into a perpetual contract just to use software that I could go out and buy once but use forever. However, I kept coming back to other software I had purchased like Aperture, Final Cut Express, and even other Adobe apps like Fireworks that simply wouldn’t run on my computer anymore.

Sure I had bought these apps but as time went on the only way to use them was to purchase new versions anyway. In the meantime by not upgrading I was losing out on the bug fixes, added features, and overall speed improvements offered by their newer counterparts. In some cases, like Final Cut Express, apps were simply deprecated by their developers leaving me with no choice but to upgrade anyway.

software - Five Reasons Why I Switched to Adobe Creative Cloud

I’ve paid hundreds of dollars over the years for software that I can’t use anymore, or won’t be able to use in the near future because it has been deprecated by its developers.

I still don’t like the idea of being locked into a monthly fee for software but when I considered all the benefits that came with what really was a modest price (only about $ 30 more than I was paying just for my website) the choice became clear. I’m not saying that Creative Cloud is right for everybody but it was definitely the right choice for me and, depending on your needs, it could be right for you too.

The post Five Reasons Why I Finally Bit the Bullet Switched to Adobe Creative Cloud appeared first on Digital Photography School.


Digital Photography School

 
Comments Off on Five Reasons Why I Finally Bit the Bullet Switched to Adobe Creative Cloud

Posted in Photography

 

Monkey copyright lawsuit finally over, court rejects PETA’s claims

25 Apr
Photo: David Slater

PETA’s “monkey selfie” copyright lawsuit has finally, finally reached a satisfying ending. On Monday, a three-judge panel with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that only humans can pursue copyright infringement claims, upholding a lower court’s decision after a judge refused to let PETA settle its way out of this likely conclusion.

In its ruling, the court said:

Affirming the district court’s dismissal of claims brought by a monkey, the panel held that the animal had constitutional standing but lacked statutory standing to claim copyright infringement of photographs known as the “MonkeySelfies.” … The panel held that the monkey lacked statutory standing because the Copyright Act does not expressly authorize animals to file copyright infringement suits.

The ruling follows the Ninth Circuit’s decision earlier this month to reject PETA’s settlement dismissal request.

PETA had argued that the macaque named Naruto, not camera owner David Slater, owned the copyright because it took the image itself. Courts had expressed skepticism about PETA’s argument, also questioning whether the organization had a suitable relationship with the monkey to sue on its behalf.

In September 2017, PETA announced a settlement with Slater; it asked the Ninth Circuit Court to dismiss the case and vacate the lower court’s ruling. However, in a decision earlier this month, the Ninth Circuit indicated that it had rejected the request because it seemed to be PETA’s way to avoid establishing a precedent. The court had also stated:

As one of our colleagues once warned in a similar context, “courts must be particularly wary of abetting ‘strategic behavior’ on the part of institutional litigants whose continuing interest in the development in the law may transcend their immediate interest in the outcome of a particular case.”

The ruling doesn’t impact PETA’s settlement with Slater, which requires the photographer to donate 25% of future revenue from the image to charities that protect crested macaques in Indonesia.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Monkey copyright lawsuit finally over, court rejects PETA’s claims

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Nikon’s ES-2 film digitizing adapter for the D850 will finally ship in March

04 Mar

The ES-2 film digitizing adapter that Nikon introduced alongside the D850 DSLR back in August will finally ship at the end of March. The ES-2 has been available for pre-order since it was first announced, but the product is marked as ‘backordered’ on the Nikon USA website, and the official ship date has been slipping backwards.

The Film Digitize Adapter ES-2 is designed to be used by those wanting to digitize their 35mm negatives and transparencies using their digital SLR, and works by holding your film the correct distance away from a macro lens.

Nikon recommends using the ES-2 with the NIKKOR AF-S Micro 60mm F2.8, having designed the adapter to work easily with the minimum focusing distance of that lens. And while the ES-2 is compatible with a range of Nikon DSLRs, the company suggests pairing it with the D850 because of the camera’s high resolution and the built-in film digitizing mode, which automatically inverts the image and saves a digitial positive as a JPEG.

The Nikon Film Digitize Adapter ES-2 kit—which includes a film strip holder for negatives and transparencies, a slide holder for mounted slides, and a pair of 62mm adapter rings for use with different macro lenses—is due to cost $ 150. However, if you’re looking for a cheaper option, the old ES-1 is still available for $ 60, and designed to be used with the 55mm F2.8 Micro-Nikkor and the PK-13 tube.

For more information, visit the Nikon website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Nikon’s ES-2 film digitizing adapter for the D850 will finally ship in March

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Huawei’s Mate 10 Pro is finally available for pre-order in the US

07 Feb

AT&T and Verizon may have pulled out of selling the Huawei Mate 10 Pro in the US—under a little bit of political pressure—but luckily, you can still get your hands on Huawei’s latest flagship smartphone and it’s well-reviewed “co-engineered with Leica” dual camera.

The Chinese manufacturer announced that pre-orders for the unlocked version of the Mate 10 Pro are starting in the US today, in-store and online at electronic retailers including Amazon, BestBuy, Microsoft, Newegg, and B&H. The phone will initially be available in Midnight Blue and Titanium Grey. A Mocha Brown variant will make it to the stores in the near future. In addition, the souped-up Porsche Design version of the Mate 10 Pro will be available online starting February 18th.

We spoke to a Huawei spokesperson to confirm, and even though you won’t be able to purchase a Mate 10 Pro through a carrier, the unlocked device will operate on GSM networks in the U.S., including: AT&T, T-Mobile, Cricket, MetroPCS, Simple Mobile and Tracfone. As an added bonus, customers that pre-order between now and February 17th will receive a $ 150 gift card from the retailer from which it was purchased.

If you are contemplating replacing your current device, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro is definitely worth a closer look. Its Leica-co-engineered camera performed very well during our testing, and it’s a great device is general use as well. The regular Mate 10 Pro in its various colors goes for $ 800 unlocked, while the special Porsche Design version will retail for $ 1,225 when it starts shipping in 12 days’ time.

The ‘Best Smartphone at CES’ Now Available in the U.S.

Award-winning HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro now available for pre-order in-stores and online at BestBuy, Amazon, Microsoft, Newegg, and B&H with a $ 150 gift card promotion until Feb. 17

PLANO, Texas, Feb. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Pre-orders for the highly acclaimed HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro will begin on Feb. 5in-stores and online at major electronic retailers including Amazon, BestBuy, Microsoft, Newegg, and B&H. Customers who pre-order the device from now until Feb. 17 will receive a $ 150 gift card from the retailer in which it was purchased. The HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro will begin shipping Feb. 18.

Available in Midnight Blue and Titanium Grey now, and Mocha Brown soon; the HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro’s stunning design is matched only by its performance. Featuring the world’s first AI-enhanced processor with a dedicated Neural Network Processing Unit (NPU) in a smartphone, the HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro achieves new breakthroughs in computing capacity to deliver up to 25 times better performance and up to 50 times greater energy efficiency for AI-related tasks.

Partnering with renowned camera maker Leica, Huawei co-engineered the HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro’s dual camera with AI capabilities that enables users to take professional quality photos without having to adjust the camera settings. The camera’s computer vision technology supports real-time scene and object recognition to automatically choose and adjust camera settings to capture the best photos possible.

“Huawei prides itself in delivering premium, high-performing devices that are elegant, secure and user-friendly, and the award-winning HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro embodies all those characteristics and more,” said Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group. “The HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro has the ideal combination of camera, battery life and performance; and was designed for how individuals use a smartphone today.”

Highlighting the HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro’s mobile AI capabilities, intelligent and intuitive new Leica camera, long-lasting battery life, and elegant design; the HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro has earned 42 awards to date from global technology media, including “Best Smartphone of CES” from TechRadar, “Best of CES 2018” from Android Police, “2018 CES Top Pick” from Android Central and “Best Smartphone of 2017” from Android Authority. Editors from Android Central even proclaimed the device as Huawei’s “best phone ever.”

In addition to the HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro, the new Porsche Design HUAWEI Mate 10 will be available online at major retailers, including Best Buy, Amazon, Microsoft, Newegg, and B&H. Retailing for $ 1,225 starting Feb. 18, the Porsche Design HUAWEI Mate 10 combines luxury aesthetics with cutting-edge mobile engineering and technology. Porsche Design HUAWEI Mate 10 showcases a race track inspired design in a Diamond Black body, and features 6GB of RAM, 256GB of ROM and a customized UI to perfectly complement its premium experience.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on Huawei’s Mate 10 Pro is finally available for pre-order in the US

Posted in Uncategorized

 
« Older Entries