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2016 Holiday Gift Guide: up to $100

2016 Holiday Gift Guide: up to $ 100

Shopping for photographers is hard. In fact, shopping in general is hard. We’d like to help everyone involved out a little bit, whether you’re shopping for a photographer or taking a break from the stress of holiday shopping to #treatyoself. Our first round of gift suggestions make for great stocking stuffers that won’t put a strain on your budget.

Rode VideoMic Me phone mic

$ 59/£47
rode.com | buy now

One of the fastest and easiest ways to polish your video work is to improve the sound quality. While phones may be able to put a 4K video camera in your pocket, their microphones are made for voice calls, not Hollywood. Since carrying an external audio recorder around for mobile videos is somewhat impractical, allow me to suggest the Rode VideoMic Me.

The VideoMic Me is a compact and lightweight directional microphone that connects right to a smartphone’s headphone socket (sorry, iPhone 7/7 Plus users). The mic’s directional pattern will keep ambient noise at a minimum and make your subject’s audio easier to hear. There is a passthrough 1/8 in (3.5 mm) headphone jack on the back that allows audio monitoring while recording (app dependent). It even comes with a tiny ‘dead cat’ windscreen for shooting in adverse weather.

BlackRapid Breathe Sport Camera Strap

$ 82/£82
blackrapid.com | buy now

When hiking or engaging in other fast-paced activities, photographers are often stuck with their camera stabilized, but inaccessible in a pack, or having it accessible, but bouncing and swaying around on a camera strap. BlackRapid’s Sport Breathe strap is designed specifically to help avoid that problem.

Available in right or left hand versions (so make sure you get the correct one), the Breathe’s ergonomic, moisture-wicking pad is designed to be slung over the photographer’s shoulder with the camera hanging upside down on their opposite hip for quick and easy access. A second strap crosses under the user’s armpit and further stabilizes the camera when needed.

Domke F-5XB Shoulder Bag – Ruggedwear

$ 80/£72
tiffen.com | buy now

Not every camera bag needs to be able to carry as much gear as a pack mule. Many photographers enjoy shooting with one camera body and a couple small fast primes, or just own a small mirrorless kit for travel. Either way, a small tough bag is a handy accessory to have around.

While bag designs come and go, the Domke F-5XB quietly keeps on doing its job. Perfectly sized for a small body and a lens or two, the F-5XB can be carried with its ‘gripper’ shoulder strap or attached to a belt as a waist-pack. The Ruggedwear fabric sheds water much better than the old canvas Domke bags, and like your favorite pair of jeans, it will look even better as it ages.

Agua By Miggo ‘stormproof’ water resistant camera bag

$ 68/£44
mymiggo.com | buy now

Living in the Northwest, I’m quite familiar with rain. I’m also quite familiar with the hassles involved with trying to keep camera gear dry while out in that rain. Waterproof camera bags either have giant stiff zippers or slow and frustrating roll-top closures. Neither lends itself to giving you easy access to your gear.

Miggo’s Agua bags are designed to protect a camera in the harshest downpour, but still keep it accessible for when the clouds part and that double rainbow appears. With a clever split open design, double layer impact and moisture protection, and an IPX3 water resistance certification, the Aqua 45 keeps the elements at bay.

Amazon Basics Circular Polarizer 77mm

$ 16/£13
amazon.com | buy now

A circular polarizer is something that many beginner photographers do not understand and thus, do not bother with. I see far more photographers out and about with $ 2000 lenses than I do using the humble polarizing filter. Perhaps they would change their tune if they saw just what a difference a polarizer can make for colors, glare and reflections.

High-end polarizers can be very expensive, particularly for 77mm F2.8 zoom lenses. While you can certainly find higher quality filters than the Amazon Basics Circular Polarizer, at $ 16 you won’t find a better value for the money. Every photographer should give one of these a try and see what a polarizer can do for their photography.

Datacolor Spyder5Express

$ 100/£85
spyder.datacolor.com | buy now

As photographers, we go through a tremendous amount of work to create our images. We huddle freezing in the mud waiting for the perfect mountaintop sunrise, we spend hours adjusting every studio light just-so and we even risk getting soaked at a children’s birthday party water balloon fight. Why then, would a photographer take a chance that their hard-won image would end up with incorrect colors by the time it makes it to the printer or social network posting?

Color calibration isn’t the most glamorous aspect of photography (though, come to think of it, neither is waiting in the freezing mud). But if photographers want their photos to accurately reflect the colors they captured, they need to make sure that their monitor is displaying them correctly. Give the photographer in your life the gift of accurate color with the Datacolor Spyder5Express.

The Spyder5Express’s simple 4 step process takes just minutes to to calibrate a monitor with its 7-detector optical engine. Seeing the before and after examples right there on their own monitor will make any photographer wonder why they waited so long to calibrate.

Peak Design Cuff wrist strap

$ 20/£20
peakdesign.com | buy now

Not everyone needs a shoulder/neck strap for their camera. Sure, they leave a photographer’s hands free. But they can be bulky, snag on things, and dangle into the shot from time to time. Sometimes all one needs is something to make sure the camera can’t be dropped off a cliff.

The Peak Design Cuff strap is simple, lightweight and foolproof. Installed or removed in seconds with Peak Design’s clever anchor attachments, the Cuff takes up a tiny corner of a camera bag and yet can save thousands of dollars of camera gear. It can even be worn as a bracelet to keep it at hand in between uses.

Cam Caddie Scorpion Jr. Video Camera Stabilizing Handle

$ 25
camcaddie.com | buy now

Cameras these days can capture exceptionally high video quality. Everything from DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, GoPros and even phones offer 1080p and even 4K resolution. However, almost none of them are designed ergonomically for filming. They can be difficult to keep level over the course of a long shot and impossible to hold steady while moving.

If you have a budding Steven Spielberg in your life, take a look at the Cam Caddie Scorpion Jr. camera stabilizing handle. It can hold cameras up to 2kg/4.5lbs, has a comfortable foam grip and an adjustable accessory shoe for mics, small monitors and LED lights. With a little luck, you’ll never be forced to watch shaky drifting video footage again.

Canon Selphy CP1200 dye sublimation printer

$ 96/£96
canon.com | buy now

Despite living in an age of Instagram, Flickr and Pinterest, most folks still get a little thrill when they get a printed photo. My children think a printed photo is such a novelty that it MUST be a special thing and fight over who gets to keep it. Inkjet printers can provide amazing quality, but ink is expensive, the prints are damaged by moisture and the print jets can clog without regular use. Digital printing is inexpensive and quick at photo labs, but if there isn’t a lab nearby, slow mail order may be the only option.

The Canon Selphy CP1200 offers an excellent middle ground. At the price of an inexpensive inkjet, the CP1200 is a printer that can output 4 x 6 prints in at little as 47 seconds. Because the dye sublimation process is water resistant, just like a photo lab print, the prints will be protected from both liquid and little sticky hands. Media for the CP100 includes both the paper and dye ribbon. At $ 28 for 108 sheets, prints come out to $ 0.26 each.

PhotoMemo Photographer’s Memo Book 2pk

$ 10
shootfilmco.com

Looking for a stocking stuffer? These PhotoMemo Photographer’s Memo Books are designed for a photographer’s note taking needs. Each two-page spread is designed as a ‘roll journal,’ which has space to record shooting data, camera/lens choice, film type, and more. It also offers ample area for free notes, sketches, lists, and anything else.

The books measure 13.9 x 9.5 cm/5.5 x 3.75 in and has 22 2-page spreads (48 pages in all). The cover paper is 100lb Neenah Environment Desert Storm paper, and the pages are 60lb Finch Opaque Smooth archival quality paper. Okay, so it’s a little more useful for film shooters, but for those who enjoy the retro feel, like to record shooting info, or heck, still shoot film, the PhotoMemo is a clever little memo book.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

November 18, 2016
Chinsekikan: Japanese Museum of Found Stones that Look Like Human Faces

[ By WebUrbanist in Art & Sculpture & Craft. ]

An unusual collection of found-object art in Chichibu, Japan is home to nearly 2000 rocks that naturally feature what appear to be facial expressions.

A jinmenseki (or: rock with human face) can look like anything from an abstract emoji to a famous figure, including ones in this array that are purported to resemble Donkey Kong, Nemo and Elvis Presley.

The founder of the museum, Shozo Hayama, passed away after 50 years of collecting and left the space and its collection to his wife Hayama six years ago. The key criteria: nature is the only artist in the mix (no modified rocks allowed).

Some of the rocks are named while others simply set on the shelves, left open to interpretation. Visitors can simply show up but are advised to call ahead since the hours of opening are not entirely consistent or predictable (h/t Spoon & Tamago).

Beauty in Decay: Moody Murals Bring Human Faces Back to Abandoned Places

Abandoned places are often steeped in a mixture of emotional impressions, commingling a sense of loss and a confrontation of our own mortality with slivers of hopefulness for a new future, as …

Human Body Museum: Undulating Design Wins Competition

Its organic form fits its function as a Cité du Corps Humain (Museum of the Human Body) like a metaphorical glove – interlocked fingers were, in fact, part of the conceptual inspiration for …

Interior Land Art: Riverbed Really Runs Through this Museum

Art rarely gets as gritty and real as this, particularly in a gallery, with rocks, earth and water running through simple doors, between white-walled rooms and under uniform interior …

[ By WebUrbanist in Art & Sculpture & Craft. ]

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WebUrbanist

November 18, 2016
Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 comes with UHD screen and 94% Adobe RGB gamut

Wacom has updated its Cintiq line of pen displays that allow you to work with a stylus directly on a screen that is connected to a Mac or PC. The 13″ Cintiq Pro 13 and the 16″ Cintiq Pro 16 differ mainly in terms of display size, resolution and color gamut. The larger model comes with a 3840 x 2160 UHD resolution and can display 94% of the Adobe RGB color space. The smaller variant offers a 1920 x 1080 Full-HD panel that covers 87% of Adobe RGB.

The ExpressKeys and TouchRing controls of previous models, that offered easy access to frequently used tools on the right side of the display, have been removed and replaced by an optional Express Key remote. The tablets also come with pop-out legs that allow you to angle them up.

Both models support multi-touch gestures and come with Wacom’s new Pro Pen 2, which, according to Wacom, is four times more accurate and pressure sensitive than the previous version. The Cintiq Pro 13 will be available from next month for $ 1,000. The larger model will set you back an additional $ 500 when it arrives in February 2017. More information is available on the Wacom website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

November 18, 2016
TIME releases 100 most influential images of all time

TIME has released its 100 Most Influential Photos of All Time, a multi-platform project that explores 100 images that have changed the world and shaped the human experience. Of primary interest is an interactive virtual museum of all 100 photos, which also includes essays, 20 original short documentary films, and the never before told stories behind many of the photos.

Along with the website, TIME is publishing a companion book with all 100 images, and will feature the project as its cover story in the November 18th issue of TIME Magazine.

Not only is this an impressive collection, but the stories and videos behind the photos are very interesting, so we encourage you to head over to the site.

Which images stand out to you? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

November 18, 2016
AirSelfie, a pocket-sized camera drone, launches on Kickstarter
An London-based startup is looking to fund production of a tiny, flying selfie camera called AirSelfie. AirSelfie features four propellers surrounded by safety guards and is compact enough to slot inside of a smartphone case. It features a 5MP camera that can take photos and record videos from up to 20m/66ft.

AirSelfie produces its own 2.4GHz WiFi network to which smartphones can connect. Users control the drone using a mobile app available for iOS and Android, both of which include a ‘selfie delay timer’ with a range up to 10 seconds. A maximum of eight consecutive photos can be taken. Content is saved to an included 4GB microSD card. Unfortunately, flight duration is very low at only 3 minutes per charge.

A Kickstarter campaign seeking funding for AirSelfie went live today with a funding goal of nearly $ 50,000. Assuming that goal is met, the company plans to offer the AirSelfie at a reduced price of $ 249, with two units costing $ 478. The team behind AirSelfie anticipates shipping the first 3,000 pre-ordered units in March 2017, with everything else shipping starting in April 2017.

Press release
AirSelfie Launches Best Pocket-Sized Flying Camera for Smartphones

Armed with a $ 3M investment, AirSelfie will debut on Kickstarter November 17 to give fans early access to the first pocket-sized flying camera; pre-orders will be delivered March 2017

London, November 17, 2016 – AirSelfie has today announced the launch of the first pocket-sized flying camera, the only portable flying camera that integrates with smartphones. Comprised of four powerful propellers and a 5-megapixel video camera, AirSelfie is smaller than a smartphone and can fly vertically up to 66 feet, allowing users to take aerial selfies of themselves and their friends. The device connects to the most popular smartphones, including iPhone (6, 6s, 7 and 7 Plus), Huawei P9, Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. The device includes self-generated WiFi and comes equipped with a rechargeable battery through a cell phone case, as well as the option to purchase an external power bank. Additionally, a vibration-absorber system and in-flight stability systems guarantee stable, clear, flowing images.

AirSelfie is available for pre-order via Kickstarter beginning November 17, 2016, for delivery in March 2017.

“Our team of 60 seasoned technology professionals and enthusiasts researched, designed and created a flying camera that exceeds all current standards,” said Edoardo Stroppiana, co-founder of AirSelfie. “We saw an increasing need for a device that goes beyond a selfie stick, allowing users to take pictures from all angles, and we’re excited to introduce AirSelfie to Millennials and consumers around the world. It sets a completely new bar for the market.”

With AirSelfie, users can:
- Take group selfies and family photos from up to 66 feet away, capturing both people and panoramas
- Take indoor and outdoor aerial photos of subjects and locations that would otherwise be unreachable (e.g. monuments and stadiums during sporting events)
- Take videos from perspectives that were formerly impossible
- Use the device as a monitoring camera (when the device is not flying and is connected to a power source)
- Use the video as a work tool (for example, time-lapse shots of company event setups)
AirSelfie’s 5-megapixel video camera and four powerful propellers are enclosed in an Italian-designed, stylish and lightweight (52g) aluminum case that measures 3.72 x 2.65 x 0.42 inches – smaller than a smartphone. The device attaches to users’ smartphones using a special cover available for iPhone and Samsung which contains a battery that can recharge AirSelfie in just 30 minutes. Backers can also purchase an external power bank which guarantees up to 20 full charges and allows those without a compatible phone to use and charge AirSelfie.

How it works

One of the key differentiating—and appealing—features of AirSelfie is its ease of use. To activate AirSelfie, the user simply removes it from its case and turns it on. The device connects automatically to smartphones via WiFi—the flying camera creates the WiFi (2.4GHz) network itself and it is immediately ready for take-off.

AirSelfie users must simply download the free iOS and Android app in order to control the device’s movements through three different flight modes. AirSelfie can be returned to its departure point either manually or automatically. When users are finished using the device, it’s easy to return it to its landing spot—simply press the button labelled “slide to land” and AirSelfie descends and turns off. Users can also directly reposition the device by hand with no risk whatsoever of damaging it or themselves.

Using the “selfie delay timer” function, users can take timed photos, giving them up to 10 seconds to get into position and hide their smartphone so that it doesn’t appear in photos. Users can also take up to eight consecutive shots. AirSelfie’s technology integrates directly with social media, making it easy to post photos and videos directly to users’ accounts.

AirSelfie comes equipped with a 4 GB micro SD memory card and a 260mAh 7.4v battery that enables three minutes of flight time.

AirSelfie on Kickstarter

To give consumers a special first look at AirSelfie, the company is launching a Kickstarter campaign that will go live on November 17, 2016. Consumers can purchase AirSelfie via the Kickstarter website or Kickstarter app. As an added incentive, the first 1,000 supporters have the option of becoming AirSelfie Ambassadors by pre-ordering the first version of the flying camera at the discounted price of $ 199; the regular retail price will be $ 300. Additionally, the power bank will be available as a standalone product for $ 69 or as part of the AirSelfie package for $ 246. The power bank will be delivered in April.

Production of the gadget will begin once the threshold of $ 50,000 is reached. After the first 1,000 AirSelfies have sold, the company will produce another 2,000 models, which will be available for the reduced price of $ 249. Consumers will also be able to purchase two AirSelfies for the price of $ 478. The first 3,000 pre-orders will be delivered in March of 2017, with the rest, including the power bank packages, being delivered in April of 2017.

“People have the impression that camera drones are costly, difficult to operate and unwieldy,” added Stroppiana. “AirSelfie redefines the space with a device that’s small, light and easy to use. This Kickstarter campaign will enable the launch of a large-scale AirSelfie production in a matter of months. We have succeeded in developing a great product, and we can’t wait to share it with our growing base of AirSelfie enthusiasts.”

In 2017, AirSelfie will hit the market for $ 300. It will be available in other colors and will be compatible with additional smartphone models.

For additional information and other opportunities to support the project, visit the AirSelfie Kickstarter page.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
November 18, 2016
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II added to studio comparison scene

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II raised a lot of eyebrows when it was released. It comes with an all-new 121-point autofocus system, 20MP sensor and 60fps Raw + JPEG shooting. Oh, and a $ 2000 MSRP. Can’t forget that.

Nonetheless, Olympus’ new flagship is here, and it is seriously capable. We’re in the home stretch on our full review, but in the meantime, check out how it stacks up against the competition in our studio comparison scene.

Click here to see the Olympus OM-D E-M1 II in our studio comparison scene

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

November 17, 2016
Throwback Thursday: Fujifilm FinePix F601 Zoom

One of the more unusually shaped cameras from the early 2000s was Fujifilm’s F601 Zoom. This vertically oriented compact wasn’t designed by F.A. Porsche like previous models, but its gentle curves and metal lens cover were still eye-catching. Fujifilm’s F601 Zoom was the world’s first 6 megapixel compact (along with its F610Z sibling), and through a trickery involving its Super CCD HR sensor, could output an image up to 12 million pixels!

In his review, Phil Askey liked its vivid color reproduction and welcomed the inclusion of manual exposure controls, but wasn’t a fan of the camera’s 89% coverage in live view. You can still find the camera brochure on Fujifilm’s website – go take a look, it’s a treat.

While the F601’s unique design didn’t endure, it’s a reminder of experimental early days in digital photography.

Read our full Fujifilm FinePix F601 Zoom review

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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

November 17, 2016
DxO ViewPoint 3 adds automatic distortion correction
A new ‘miniature’ tool allows for application of a tilt-shift type effect.

DxO ViewPoint 3 is available today, adding automatic horizon and distortion correction to DxO’s wide-angle lens correction software. The existing manual distortion correction tools are now complemented by an all-auto option to correct geometric distortion while automatically cropping the image. A new ‘miniature’ look is also added, providing a tilt-shift effect that can be adjusted by the user – you can adjust the direction of the blur gradients, and even modify the look of the bokeh by specifying the shape of the ‘virtual iris’.

DxO ViewPoint 3 is available now for Mac and Windows. Through December 4 it’s offered for $ 50/£39, a discount off the usual $ 79/£59 price.

Press release
DxO announces DxO ViewPoint 3, a major update to its industry-leading wide-angle lens correction software

New automatic perspective and horizon correction tools are complemented by a miniature effect that perfectly mimics tilt shift lenses

Special discounts on all DxO software through December 4, 2016

PARIS—November 16, 2016—DxO, a world leader in digital imaging technologies, announces a major update to DxO ViewPoint, its simple but powerful software that automatically corrects problems inherent in photographs taken with wide-angle lenses. DxO ViewPoint 3 leverages DxO’s advanced image science to automatically correct skewed perspectives and horizons with a single click, making the process quick and easy. The update also introduces a brand new tool that produces a remarkable miniature effect, the first software of its kind to perfectly replicate the popular look made famous by tilt shift lenses.

DxO ViewPoint is simple, but powerful image processing software for Mac and Windows that thousands of photographers rely on for photos taken with their wide-angle lenses because of its ability to fix even the most complex perspective problems, as well as restore the natural shape to subjects situated on the edges of photos. DxO ViewPoint benefits from the automatic corrections provided by DxO Optics Modules, developed by exacting laboratory analysis of thousands of camera and lens combinations.

The existing perspective correction tools have been dramatically enhanced with an innovative, fully automatic mode that can instantly correct geometric distortion, straighten both horizontal and vertical lines, and automatically crop images, effectively eliminating keystoning while preserving the maximum information in the picture. The new auto horizon correction tool is equally efficient at correcting skewed landscape and architectural images. A single click detects the most relevant straight lines in the image, which are analyzed to determine the correct horizon.

“DxO ViewPoint has become an essential tool for me when photographing with my wide-angle lenses, which by their very nature induce all manner of odd deformations,” said architectural photographer, Luca Nicolao. “Its tools let me easily correct for distortions and keystoning, allowing me to achieve a much more natural composition in my images.”

DxO ViewPoint 3 also adds an innovative and useful new tool that perfectly simulates the depth-of-field reduction that’s identical to the type of creative looks that previously required the purchase of costly and tricky tilt shift lenses. To replicate the miniature look, DxO ViewPoint 3 displays the location and intensity of two blur gradients which the user can adjust symmetrically or asymmetrically. The application even enables photographers to simulate a precise type of bokeh.

With just one license, DxO ViewPoint works as both a stand-alone app, and as a plug-in for DxO OpticsPro, Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. DxO ViewPoint 3 can be used as a plugin for DxO OpticsPro starting with version 11.3 (also available).

Pricing & Availability

DxO ViewPoint 3 for Mac and Windows is immediately available in the DxO online store (shop.dxo.com) and at photo resellers at a special discount through December 4, 2016:
- USD: $ 49 instead of $ 79
- GBP: £39 instead of £59
- EUR: 49€ instead of 79€ (Suggested retail prices, including VAT)
Photographers who acquired a DxO ViewPoint license on or after September 1, 2016 are entitled to a free upgrade to version 3.

A fully-functional trial version of DxO ViewPoint 3, good for one month, is available on the DxO website: http://www.dxo.com/us/photography/download.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
November 17, 2016
Google updates Photos app with advanced editing features

Yesterday, Google introduced its pretty impressive new PhotoScan app and presented RAISR, an upsampling method that uses machine learning. You would think that was enough innovation in imaging for one day, but no, Google also implemented some pretty interesting upgrades to its Photos app that be found pre-installed on most Android smartphones and is also available for iOS devices and on the web.

A new auto enhance function balances exposure and saturation in order to maximize detail at the tap of a button. For those who prefer more manual input, advanced editing controls for light and color allow you to fine tune your images using a range of sliders for highlights, shadows and warmth among others. The Deep Blue parameter allows for partial adjustment of the blue tones in images of sea and sky and there is an equivalent slider for fine-tuning skin tones.

In addition there are 12 new smart filters that Google calls looks. Looks use machine learning to analyze the contents of an image and then make edits based on brightness, darkness, warmth, or saturation before the final filter is applied. If you want to try the new features you won’t have to wait. The upgraded Google Photos app is rolling out today across Android, iOS and the web.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

November 17, 2016
MINT SLR670-S Noir is a refurbished Polaroid SX-70 with added auto modes

MINT has launched a refurbished and upgraded Polaroid SX-70 camera, dubbing it the SLR670-S Noir. In addition to all the features of the original Polaroid base model, MINT’s updated version includes A100 and A600 auto modes for using SX-70 film and ISO 600 film.

According to MINT, its refurbished camera features ten shutter speeds with speeds up to 1/2000sec, two shutter options for long exposure, a focusing distance of 26cm to infinity, and a three-year warranty for maintenance. The camera itself is priced at $ 675, though a ‘Starter Pack’ with limited accessories is offered at $ 765 and an ‘Ultimate Package’ is offered at $ 869. It isn’t clear how many of these refurbished cameras MINT has available.

Via: The Phoblographer

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

November 17, 2016