2009 | Photocrati

Nikon D2X Review Round-Up

Get information and user reviews for this camera from Amazon: NIKON D2X SLR 12.4 Megapixel Digital Camera

Digital Photography Review

With the D2X Nikon has shifted to a CMOS sensor, there’s no doubting the amount of detail captured combined with Nikon’s image processing can produce stunning results. … The advantage of only using the ‘sweet spot’ area of the lens is clear, full size 35 mm sensors may have long been the dream of the digital photographer but they do place much bigger demands on the lens. The D2X is a camera which grew on me the more I used it, its instant response and solid build instill a level of confidence unavailable in lesser cameras. You know that every time you press the shutter release the camera will respond instantly and you’ll get the shot. As a photographic tool it’s as close to perfection as I could imagine, there’s really very little else you could want from a camera. The D2X, is exactly what we expect Nikon to produce, a solid robust high performance digital SLR with superb image quality, build quality and a confidence inspiring sense of presence. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon EOS 5D Review Round-Up

canon-eos-5d

If you own or have used this camera, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Get information and user reviews for this camera at Amazon: Canon EOS 5D 12.8 MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Imaging Resource

Built around a 12.8-megapixel (effective) CMOS sensor, covering the same area as a 35mm film frame, the Canon EOS 5D provides “full frame” digital SLR technology at a much more affordable price point than ever before. The Canon 5D will deliver incredible image quality when paired with excellent lenses, but will quickly expose every flaw in lower-grade glass. As you’d expect of a high-end digital SLR from Canon, the EOS 5D boasts a full range of photographic controls and custom functions. READ FULL REVIEW

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Canon EOS 50D Review Round-Up

canon-eos-50d

If you own, or have used this camera, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Get information and user reviews for this camera at Amazon: Canon EOS 50D 15.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Imaging Resource

Canon’s EOS 50D sticks with the conservative pattern that the company has established for their semi-pro digital SLR in terms of physical design, but now it also includes most of Canon’s cutting-edge digital SLR technology. … The story, though, is in the Canon 50D’s standard ISO range. Images from ISO 100 to 3,200 are quite usable at a wide range of sizes. I was happy with printed ISO 800 shots up to 13×19, and shots even at 3,200 produce good quality 8×10-inch prints. That’s what Canon intermediate fans rely on: JPEG and RAW images that they can believe in, time after time. Excellent low-light performance, impressive printed output, very fast shutter lag times, solid build, superb customization, and excellent image quality all add up to make the Canon EOS 50D a great choice for all types of photographers. READ FULL REVIEW

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Workflow processes and data management

Anyone in this business for a while will have to contend with storage, archiving and workflow of digital images. The system I’ve been using for the past 10 years or so has evolved, and continues to do so. It’s based on invoice numbers. For the past four or so years I’ve been using blinkbid to generate invoices and estimates. I like this particular program because it’s simple and was written specifically for photographers. I know many photographers that use quickbooks, quicken or MS Money. Which business software to use is a decision that you should make individually or perhaps with help from your accountant. (more…)

Book Review: The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book

Every quarter I teach a one-day workshop on optimizing images using ::amazon(“B0018VH8S2”, “Lightroom”):: at the local art league, and in doing so I’m often asked for a good book recommendation on Lighroom, and my usual recommendation is Martin Evening’s book ::amazon(“0321555619″,”The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 Book: The Complete Guide for Photographers”)::. In short, Evening’s book provides a well-written, comprehensive look at using Lightroom, and mostly lives up to its name well. (more…)

Nikon 75-150mm f/3.5 Series E Manual Focus Review Round-Up

If you own or have used this lens, let us know what you think! Leave your comments and thoughts below.

Thom Hogan

This is one of Nikon’s best telephoto zoom designs. Wide open, the lens is reasonably sharp, certainly far better than you’d have any right to expect with an inexpensive lens. The large maximum aperture and focal range make this an excellent portrait lens. 150mm doesn’t get you very far into the true telephoto range. If you can live with that as your top focal length, you’ll be happy with the performance. Even if you find an example that’s still relatively stiff, the Nikkor one-touch zooms all had a proclivity to develop lens creep with use. An inconvenience, to be sure, but considering the performance of the lens, one that I can overlook. READ FULL REVIEW

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Food photography – the basics

As a photography student I was encouraged, and in many cases assigned, to many different types of photography. We were given individual assignments on portraits, still life, products, journalism, industrial, architecture, etc. As I progressed through school, individual assignments gave way to elective courses specific to certain types of photography. Of course learning the technical and aesthetic challenges associated with different types of photography is important to any well rounded education, but more important was the ability to learn about yourself and what types of work you are best suited to. It was during these years that I discovered I really enjoy the slow, methodical processes of studio work and as a natural extension of that I gravitated towards food photography. (more…)

Building the Shot

I was recently doing a baby photography session at a friend’s house, and had an idea for a really nice photograph of the baby. I shared the idea with the dad (who was my assistant for the shoot) and he thought it was a good idea. I am not sure he was able to visualize the end result – nor was he able to visualize what the shot would look like until we were pretty far down the “shot setup” process – but he was delighted with the result when we finally got it. (more…)

The EOS Digital Rebel T1i and the shfiting DSLR Market

Two days ago Canon announced the next revision of their popular Digital Rebel line, the ::amazon(“B001XURPQI”,”Canon EOS Digital Rebel T1i”)::, a.k.a. the Canon 500D. Briefly speaking, it offers 15 megapixels, 720i and 1080p video at 30 and 20 fps respectively, and pretty much all the other recent Canon body features (LiveView, dust reduction) as well. ISOs 100-3200 are offered by default, with expanded settings of H1 (about 6400) and H2 (about 12800) available if enabled, the sample images I’ve seen so far are quite impressive. It’s due to ship in May. Very impressive for the new “low end” of the Canon line, this leads me to talk about what I perceive as a narrowing of the DSLR market. (more…)

How US Copyright Law (sometimes) Fails Small Photographers

Photo District News is reporting that US Airways, it’s insurance company AIG and their lawyers have moved to prevent photographer Stephen Mallon from displaying photos of the recovery of Flight 1548, photos which he appears to own the copyright to. Mallon was hired to document the recovery process by Weeks Marine, who had given Mallon (as had the NTSB) their okay for showing the photographs involved. Mallon is asking people to contact US Air and AIG and express their displeasure on the subject. I’ve done that, but in this point, I’d like to talk, maybe even rant a bit, about the problems with the copyright system and the law as it applies to small-shop photographers like myself and Mallon. (more…)