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Video: Watch someone play DOOM on a Kodak digital camera from 1998

12 Dec

Retro tech and gaming YouTube channel LGR has published a new video showing the original DOOM video game being played on a 1998 Kodak DC260 digital camera. This model was quite expensive at the time with a price tag of $ 999.99; the cost was due, in part, to the surprisingly capable hardware packed into the camera, including a 66Mhz PowerPC CPU, 8MB of RAM and an 11khz sound chipset.

As explained in the video, the Kodak DC260 was unusual for its time in that it features USB and support for sideloading apps. Though this sideloading functionality was intended to expand the camera’s capabilities in unique ways, it also makes it possible to install and run a special version of the original DOOM video game, which appears to play without issue on the camera.

DOOM is one of the multiple apps demonstrated in the video, which includes instructions on downloading, sideloading and running the software.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Nikon’s XQD memory cards can now be preordered in the US despite rise of CFexpress

12 Dec

More than a year after it announced them, Nikon has officially launched its XQD memory cards in the United States. This is unfortunate timing for Nikon, which must compete with the new wave of CFexpress cards being released by a number of major competitors, including SanDisk and ProGrade.

Nikon offers a number of camera models that support XQD cards, which are physically smaller than CF with ample storage space, rapid speeds and a high level of durability. Here to challenge them is the CFexpress successor, which has largely eclipsed XQD due to its faster speeds.

A number of CFexpress memory cards are already available to preorder and, in the case of SanDisk, to purchase. That hasn’t stopped Nikon from bringing its branded XQD cards to the U.S. through B&H Photo, however, where they’re now available to preorder in 64GB capacity at $ 129.95 each.

Given the availability of similarly-priced CFEXpress media, this release casts doubt on whether we’ll see a promised firmware update for CFE support to Nikon’s XQD-compatible models in the near-term future.

CFexpress Type B cards feature the same form factor as XQD cards, meaning they physically fit in cameras made for XQD. However, in order to actually use CFE cards in these XQD cameras, manufacturers must release firmware updates that add support for the newer cards. Nikon promised that CFExpress compatibility would be added to key models in an announcement earlier this year, but the update has yet to become available.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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It’s (most likely) alive! Adobe Camera Raw release includes support for Zeiss ZX1

11 Dec

Rumors of the death of the Zeiss project to introduce a full-frame compact camera appear to have been exaggerated if Adobe’s latest Camera Raw update is anything to go by. Sitting at the bottom of the list of new cameras supported by version 12.1 of the application is the Zeiss ZX1 and the DNG raw file type it will use.

The Android-based camera will offer in-camera RAW processing via an on-board version of Adobe’s Lightroom, which will allow users will be able to edit and share their images to email and social media directly from the camera. The full-frame sensor will have 37.4 million pixels and will be serviced by a 35mm F2 Distagon lens.

The camera was announced at Photokina in September 2018, but the company has been incredibly quiet about progress since the camera was shown at CP+ in February, to the extent that some commentators have suspected the camera would never become a reality. Inclusion on Adobe’s list of newly supported cameras though suggests otherwise, and even that the ZX1 may be almost ready to ship.

Other new models supported by Camera Raw 12.1 include Leica’s already released SL2, Canon’s EOS Ra and M200, the Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL, the Nikon Z50, Sigma fp and Sony’s a9 II. For more information see the Adobe Camera Raw web page.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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dPS 12 Days of Holiday Deals: Save up to 95% on Some Great Photography Training and Tools

11 Dec

The post dPS 12 Days of Holiday Deals: Save up to 95% on Some Great Photography Training and Tools appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darren Rowse.

12 Days of Holiday Deals

In 24 hours the first of our 12 Days of Holiday Deals begins!

This is when you’ll score HUGE savings on our most popular products and MASSIVE discounts with some very special dPS partners so that you have the best resources to reach your photography goals for 2020.

It works just as you’d expect. Over 12 days, we’ll announce a brand new deal every 24 hours.

To get notified of each deal just add your email address below.

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Each day you’ll receive an email from us with a special offer from us or a partner.

Many of our deals are offering 50% to 95% off the normal price.

We’ll also share the deals on our Facebook page, but the best way (so you don’t miss a thing), is to sign up for the emails above.

On signing up you’ll also get a special free downloadable gift from dPS – our mini-guide and checklist for photographing the holidays.

NewImage
Our annual 12 day Holiday promotion is the most anticipated event on the dPS calendar. It starts in less than 24 hours and is always lots of fun. We hope you’ll join us.

We can’t wait to unveil the first deal with you…

Again – to get the deals via email just sign up below.

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The post dPS 12 Days of Holiday Deals: Save up to 95% on Some Great Photography Training and Tools appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darren Rowse.


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Gear of the Year 2019 – Richard’s choice: Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN

11 Dec
Photo: Dan Bracaglia

I originally wanted to choose The High Line in New York as my Gear of the Year, but apparently a one-and-a-half mile elevated stretch of re-purposed freight railway doesn’t count as photographic gear. It’s also somewhat exclusionary, in geographical and logistical terms.

I’ll (grudgingly) concede those points. And anyway, it’s not the ex-railway infrastructure itself that’s so good for photography: it’s the fact that it’s full of ambling tourists and relaxing New Yorkers taking a break from the city’s hubbub, such that they’re much more amenable to being photographed by slightly nervous Brits wielding camera gear.

The three lenses I’ve most enjoyed shooting with this year have all been portrait primes

But thinking about photographing strangers along The High Line made me realise that the three lenses I’ve most enjoyed shooting with this year have all been portrait primes. Reviewing the GFX 50R and 100 gave me a chance to use the GF 110mm F2, which might be the best lens I’ve ever used. Covering the launch of the Sony a7R IV gave me my first exposure to Sony’s very impressive 135mm F1.8 GM. But it was a rather more modest lens that I used most often, and can most easily imagine myself buying.

The 85mm equivalent focal length is a classic choice for head-and-shoulders portraits.
Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN | ISO 1250 | 1/100 sec | F1.4
Photo: Richard Butler

The Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN is exactly the kind of lens I wanted when I first started getting into digital photography: it’s small, it’s light, it’s fast (both in F-number and autofocus) and, above all, it’s affordable.

It’s small, it’s light, it’s fast and it’s affordable

Most of the big camera makers have been pushing comparatively inexpensive full-frame bodies, but have saddled them with often bulky and expensive lenses. The Sigma 56mm provides a credible portrait option for owners of smaller-sensor cameras at a size and price that’s hard to match.

It’s available for Micro Four Thirds as well as Sony E and Canon EF-M mounts, but I personally prefer it when mounted on APS-C. 112mm equiv (on Micro Four Thirds) is still a great focal length for portraits, but I find myself using it a bit more freely when it’s acting as an 85.

But 85mm equiv is also wide enough to allow landscape portraits, as well as portrait ones.
Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN | ISO 100 | 1/1600 sec | F3.5
Photo: Richard Butler

For me, having it as an option instantly makes the Sony and Canon APS-C mirrorless systems more interesting: it means I can think about putting together a kit with a 35mm-equiv prime, a standard zoom and a small, effective portrait lens, giving me just about everything I need.

Like many people, the first prime lens I owned was an elderly but inexpensive 50mm F1.8, mounted on an APS-C DSLR. But, while I loved the shallow depth-of-field ability and the option to shoot in much lower light, I never found myself enjoying the 75mm-equiv experience. My colleague Rishi points out that the real-world difference between 75 and 85mm should be negligible, and yet I’m convinced I shoot unflatteringly close with a 50mm, but end up delighted with my 56mm results. It may well be all in my head, then, but that’s where my confidence and creativity come from, too.

In fact the lens can be used for things other than portraits
Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN | ISO 100 | 1/200 sec | F3.5
Photo: Richard Butler

Best of all, unlike Carey’s choice of the 45mm F2.8, I don’t feel the need to temper my enthusiasm for the lens with caveats. I’d love it just for being small, light, fast and affordable, since it’s in a focal length I like so much. But it’s also optically very good. It’s sharp where I want it, has pleasant, smooth bokeh and looks good in the transition between the two. F2.1 equivalent is more than sufficient for the shooting I do. What more could I ask for?

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Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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10 Great Gifts for Food Photographers Under $50

11 Dec

The post 10 Great Gifts for Food Photographers Under $ 50 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darina Kopcok.

gifts-for-food-photographers-under-50-dollars

The festive season is fast upon us. Do you have a food blogger or photographer in your life but are stuck on a gift that won’t break the bank? Luckily, food photography is one genre where prop lust is never-ending. You can buy helpful and attractive gifts for food photographers that they will love – many under $ 50 bucks.

Here are 10 ideas for gifts for food photographers that are sure to please.

gifts for food photographers

Linen napkins

Every food photographer has an arsenal of napkins in their collection, so they can be ready to create any mood in their images. Napkins and other textiles go a long way in creating a visual story, and the wrong choice can make an image feel a bit off.

This is where linen saves the day. Not only does its natural and fine texture go with virtually any setting, but it also drapes well, which can’t be said about a lot of other fabrics.

If you’ve ever tried to make a napkin look effortlessly placed, you’ll know why propping napkins is the bane of every food photographer’s existence. Linen makes this job a lot easier.

It also photographs well, because you don’t get the significant color shifts you can have when taking pictures with other fabrics.

There are a lot of great sources to buy linen online, but you can also head to a popular home retailer and pick up a few for a reasonable price. Places like Crate & Barrel sell them individually, so you don’t have to buy a pack of four, which will likely be three more than are really needed. Choose neutral colors like grey, cream, or light and navy blue.

10 Great Gifts for Food Photographers Under $ 50

French cutting boards

Whether vintage or new, there is something about a French cutting board that adds a bit of pizzaz to an image.

Food photography is all about using layers to create interest. Placing a dish on a cutting board is a great way to style an image or add a bit of context to a scene.

French cutting boards make great gifts for food photographers but they can be expensive. However, many stores like Homesense carry them at very reasonable prices.

gifts for food photographers

French Cutting Board

Cake stands

Every food photographer needs a couple of cake stands. A neutral color and on the smaller side is best.

Cake stands are useful for showing off a beautiful cake, of course, but they can also be used to prop other sweets, like stacks of cookies or even an arrangement of fruit.

A cake stand adds height and can be a prop that improves a composition without competing with the food.

To make the cake stand extra useful look for one with a detachable base.

gifts for food photographers

Glass Cake Stand

Vinyl backdrops

Vinyl backdrops created specifically for food and still life photographers have become more and more popular with photographers in recent years, as an alternative to heavy and expensive custom-made backdrops.

The selection of manufacturers selling vinyl backdrops used to be fairly poor, but now there are some new companies selling high-quality backdrops in beautiful designs.

The backdrops offered by Captured by Lucy are under $ 50 USD in 2×3 feet, and come in a variety of colors and designs that work great for food photography. They lie flat as soon as you unroll them.

Vinyl backdrops are great for containing spills or working with ice and drips.

If you want to get a bit more bang for your buck, you can try the backdrops and Ink & Elm. The quality is decent and the price more affordable, which means you can purchase a few for your budget.

Image: Vinyl Backdrops

Vinyl Backdrops

Vardagen IKEA glasses

One of the biggest challenges in propping food photography is the size of glassware these days. It’s way too big.

Scale is a very important aspect of food photography composition. In addition, objects can appear a lot larger to the camera than they actually are. You can really notice this when you shoot a scene from overhead because it flattens the depth.

As a food photographer, you don’t want your props dwarfing the star of the show – the food.

Vardegen glasses from IKEA are the perfect size for food photography. The ridges make the glass less reflective, which makes them easier to photograph, but they are translucent enough to look attractive in photos.

Image: Vinyl Backdrops

Vinyl Backdrops

Pallares Solsona carbon steel knife

Look at the foodie posts on Instagram, and you will invariably come across a carbon steel knife with a rounded wooden handle. This style of knife has become ubiquitous in the food photography world. It adds such a nice touch to a food scene without distracting from the major elements. It looks great with other modern or vintage props.

Several manufacturers make this kind of carbon steel knife. Pallares Solsona is one brand that can be bought through many sources online for a reasonable price.

gifts for food photographers

Tether Tools tethering cable

A key to capturing great food photos is to work tethered in Lightroom. This is where you hook up your camera to your computer via a USB cable so you can see a larger and more accurate rendition of your photo on the screen than you can get on your camera’s LCD screen.

This cable is called a USB 2.0 to Mini B. Tether Tools is the brand most trusted and used by pro photographers everywhere.

When searching for this type of cable, it’s important to purchase one that has gold tips, so they don’t get corroded easily.

Acacia Wood salad servers

We said that scale is an important factor in food photography. Salad servers that are small enough can be difficult to find. You don’t want them hogging up your frame and detracting from your beautiful salad.

Amazon offers some lovely acacia wood servers with your choice of gold or white handle that is small enough for food photography and looks attractive with a variety of foods and props.

Also, the wood is not too orange, which is a color that tends not to translate very nicely in photos when it comes to props.

gifts for food photographers

Pinch bowls

Can a food photographer ever have enough pinch bowls? The short answer is no. Most of us tend to have a large inventory of these in a variety of materials and colors.

Because they’re so small and perfect for displaying ingredients and seasonings, they add context to a food story and help create balanced compositions without overpowering the main subject.

Look for pinch bowls in ceramic, glass, wood or marble. Neutral colors work best, but sometimes patterned pinch bowls can look great if they are used with care. You can find pinch bowls everywhere, but the white rustic pinch bowls form Nom Living in the UK are crazy popular with food photographers and Instagrammers everywhere. They will make the perfect gift for a food photographer.

10 Great Gifts for Food Photographers Under $ 50

The Food Stylist’s Handbook

Every food photographer needs at least one resource on food styling at their fingertips. Even food photographers who work with a food stylist need to know how food behaves in front of the camera and be familiar with the tips and tricks that make food look its best.

Photographers who take on commissioned projects often have to do their own food styling, as do those who submit to stock sites.

The Food Stylist’s Handbook by Denise Vivaldo and Cindie Flannigan is an indispensable resource and a great gift for a food photographer. It not only shows you how to style specific food for the camera, but it also gives you the information on the tools you need and how to build a styling kit – something every food photographer or blogger needs.

Conclusion

Hopefully, these gifts for food photographers will solve the problem of what to buy for a special someone in your life. And, just remember, you can’t go wrong with classic props in neutral colors, and textures like linen, marble, and natural wood.

Do you have other gift ideas for food photographers that you’d like to share? Please do so in the comments section!

 

The post 10 Great Gifts for Food Photographers Under $ 50 appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Darina Kopcok.


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Gear of the Year 2019 – Allison’s choice: iPhone 11

11 Dec
Photo: Dan Bracaglia

In my defense, it was the beginning of a night of drinking when I dropped my phone in the toilet, not the end of the night. The humor isn’t lost on me: it was the same day we published my defense of small phones, specifically praising my iPhone SE for its ability to slip into my back pocket. That, unfortunately, was also its undoing.

I needed another phone quickly and ended up buying a Pixel 3a. Here were the primary factors that drove me to this decision:

  • The camera is very good
  • It’s only $ 400
  • It was in stock at Best Buy for same-day pickup, which meant minimal interaction with salespeople

Just like that, I became an Android user after almost a decade (!?) of owning Apple phones. But after using the iPhone 11, I’m not only comfortable declaring it my Gear of the Year – I’m also thinking of switching back. Here’s why.

Girls just wanna take wide-angle portraits

I have a pretty firm understanding of focal length and how it impacts your distance to a subject. I can even kind of explain equivalence. But for some reason I can never remember just how far the Pixel 3a crops in for portrait mode.

I find myself frequently sitting across the table from someone I want to photograph, pulling my phone up to take a picture and then realizing I’m way too close. I can either take an uncomfortably close photo of that person’s face, or stand up and move backward to get the framing I wanted in the first place. The iPhone 11 lets me take that across-the-table portrait without leaving my seat.

The ultra-wide lens is a draw for me too. I haven’t used the phone quite enough to decide whether its appeal would wear off, or if it would remain a feature I’d keep turning to. For now anyway, I’m into it.

No more crooked horizons

Some people can’t grasp the concept of a passing lane on the highway (looking at you, Washington drivers), just as some of us are prone to crooked horizons. It’s our lot in life, apparently. Thankfully, there are effective coping strategies. The one I like is a ‘spray and pray’ approach: I frame up my shot and take a series of photos while tilting the camera from one side to the other. There’s usually a frame in there that’s just about level. It also means that I end up with lots of what you see below in my photo archive.

Lots of the same photo slightly tilted one way and the other.

The iPhone 11’s ‘Photos Capture Outside of the Frame’ feature makes this unnecessary. It uses the ultra-wide lens to capture extra image data outside the frame, saving it alongside your original image. If you edit one of these images in the native camera app, the phone will automatically fix crooked horizons and fill in the edges of the image with that extra information: preserving your original framing.

Having that ability would save me quite a bit of time and digital storage space. Until then I’ll just be that weird lady in the park taking 200 photos of the sunset, hoping one of them isn’t crooked.

The Pixel 3a keyboard makes me ??

I’m not sure if Apple’s keyboard is better or I’m just too used to it, but I have a really hard time typing out messages with the Pixel 3a keyboard. I thought it might the bigger size of the phone compared to my last one, but switching to the similar-sized iPhone 11 for a while proved that theory false: I immediately noticed I was making fewer typos.

Even after months of use the Pixel 3a keyboard remains a challenge to me

Whatever the reason, I get along better with iPhone keyboards. Even after months of use the Pixel 3a keyboard remains a challenge to me, and I do not particularly like feeling challenged when I’m trying to type out a text.

We’ll meet again

Even if I do jump ship, Google knows it’s not losing me as a customer, not really. If I do get an iPhone 11, the first app I’ll download is Google Photos. When I arrive back at home that day, I’ll tell Google to play my favorite radio station, and start a timer when I put my frozen pizza in the oven. As I use Chrome to find Christmas presents for family, research the symptoms of whatever ailment I think I might have, plan my wedding and pay my bills, Google will be right there with me, watching.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Adobe Lightroom for iOS, iPadOS gets direct import, advanced export and more

11 Dec

Adobe has released its December updates for Camera Raw, Lightroom Classic, as well as Lightroom for Windows macOS, Android, ChromeOS, iOS and iPad OS. The updates aren’t dramatic for the desktop versions of software, but Lightroom for iOS and iPadOS do add a few very welcomed features.

Lightroom for iOS and iPadOS now has the ability to import images directly from memory card and external storage. Thanks to updates in iOS 13.2 and iPadOS 13.2, Lightroom is now able to bypass the iOS camera roll and import Raw and JPEG photos into Lightroom using a Lightning or USB-C adapter, depending on the model of iPad you have.

The new direct import feature negates the need to duplicate files by first importing images into the iOS Camera Roll.

In addition to direct import, Lightroom for iOS and iPadOS now offers advanced exporting options. Released in November for Android and ChromeOS, iOS and iPadOS now have complete control over the format (DNG, JPEG, TIF), metadata, watermarking, file naming, output sharpening and color space information. While not everyone needs this level of control, having these options on the mobile version of Lightroom is a welcomed addition to bring it more in line with its desktop counterpart.

Adobe has also improved the shared albums feature in Lightroom for Windows, macOS, Android, ChromeOS and iOS. No, you can add photos to your shared albums from any platform you can access Lightroom on: web, desktop and mobile, even with the free version of Lightroom.

You can find more information about these updates on Adobe’s blog post. The updates should be available today in the Creative Cloud app for desktop versions of Lightroom and the respective app stores for the mobile versions of Lightroom.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Kodak Ektachrome E100 film will be available in 120, 4×5 formats ‘within the next 10 days’

11 Dec

Kodak Alaris has announced that its Ektachrome E100 film stock will be released in 120 and 4×5 sheet film packs ‘within the next ten days.’

In a tweet shared earlier this morning on the Kodak Professional account, Kodak Alaris confirmed new 5-roll 120 ‘propacks’ and 10-sheet 4×5 boxes will be available to order worldwide within the next ten days. Kodak Alaris Japan also published a press release sharing the news.

No pricing information has been given, but we’ll find out soon enough when orders go live.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Nikon is killing off its authorized repair program in March 2020

11 Dec

Repair website iFixit has confirmed Nikon will be ending its authorized repair program in the United States in March 2020, effectively de-authorizing more than a dozen independent shops across the U.S.

The news first came from a letter obtained by iFixit that Nikon USA sent out to its roughly 15 remaining Authorized Repair Stations in early November. The letter notes that Nikon will not be renewing its agreements with the shops after March 31, 2020, meaning these stores will unlikely be able to obtain genuine Nikon parts, as Nikon stopped selling genuine parts to non-authorized shops back in 2012. This will leave just two facilities on opposite sides of the U.S. — in Melville, New York and Los Angeles, California — compared to the roughly 15 shops currently in operation.

An illustration showing the weather-sealing around the perimeter of the Nikon D700 frame.

According to iFixit, the letter notes ‘The climate in which we do business has evolved, and Nikon Inc. must do the same.’ As a result, Nikon needs to ‘change the manner in which we make product service available to our end-user customers.’

Nikon confirmed the news in a statement to iFixit, saying ‘We remain committed to providing the best product support and repair services to our customers.’ However, Nikon didn’t respond to iFixit’s question regarding whether or not former authorized shops will still have ‘access to parts or other official services.’

In its coverage, iFixit spoke with half-a-dozen of the authorized repair shops — most of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity —that received the letter and shared statements and thoughts from managers and owners. As you can expect, it doesn’t look good for the independent shops (or photographers who don’t want to ship their gear halfway across the country for a repair); repairing Nikon camera gear is about to get much more difficult after March 31, 2020.

We have contacted NIkon for a comment of our own and will update the article accordingly if we receive a response. In the meantime, head on over to iFixit to read the full report.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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