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Category Archives: Random Thoughts
New Photography Podcast Network Launched
I have never really got into podcasts. Now I don’t have a daily commute (my commute is across the top floor of my house, the only traffic problem I have to worry about is a jackknifed cat or a mislaid skateboard) I only really have mind-space for background music, I find I have to concentrate on podcasts too much and it distracts me from work.
Having said that I do hang in blogging circles where people love podcasts, audio and video. So I welcome the news relayed by David at Strobist that a group of photography podcasters, including Chris “Tips from the top floor” Marquardt (the one podcast I have listened to more than once or twice) have launched a photographers podcast network.
Go check it out if you are into that kind of thing and let me know if I should give podcasts another try?
Technorati Tags: photography, podcasting, news, strobist, photocastnetwork
Nikon D80 – Announced!
We have been following the Nikon D80 rumours, the teaser countdown and then the leaked D80 pictures and now it is finally announced the server goes down!
When it is back you will be able to find out more at the Nikon D80 website here but there is also a dedicated site at Nikon-d80.com with a prize draw.
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DPReview have managed to get their hands one one though and we have the press release to draw details from. Expected price, £949 or $1299 with kit lens.
First the bad news,
- according to DPReview the sensor might be the same as used in the Sony A100 – let’s hope not as that sensor has been criticised as noisy
- shutter and flash are slightly slower than the D70s (down to 1/4000 from 1/8000).
- Strangest choice is SD rather than CF slot, putting it in “consumer” territory.
Good news,
- obviously more megapixels which is always handy for bigger prints and more generous crops. (funny how Nikon used to say megapixels don’t matter when the 350D had more, heh).
- More AF points, 11 as opposed to 5.
- ISO from 100 to 1600 (again Nikon used to say you don’t need ISO 100) with up to 3200 with boost.
- TTL can now act as commander.
- Multiple exposures in-camera.
- 2.5″ LCD. USB 2.0 at 480 Mbps.
- The new kit lens is a 18-135mm beast. Will be interesting to see what the quality is like of such a wide range.
On with the specs:
- 10.2 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop)
- Image processing engine (similar to D200 / D2X)
- 3D Color Matrix Metering II, 420 pixel sensor (same as D50)
- 11-area AF system (new version of Multi-CAM 1000, similar to D200)
- Auto ISO (selectable maximum ISO, minimum shutter speed)
- Configurable high ISO and long exposure noise reduction
- Mechanical only shutter (maximum 1/4000 sec, flash sync to 1/200 sec)
- Quoted 80 ms shutter lag (short viewfinder blackout; 160 ms)
- Larger, brighter pentaprism viewfinder (x0.94 magnification)
- Support for SD-HC (SD cards over 2 GB in capacity)
- In-camera retouching
- D-Lighting (shadow / highlight enhancement)
- Red-eye reduction
- Trimming
- Monochrome and Filter
- Small picture
- Image overlay
- Multiple-exposures
- Compact body (smaller, lighter than D70/D70s)
- Improved menu user interface (same as D200)
- Higher capacity EN-EL3e battery (provides detailed information, same as D200)
- Wireless flash integration (same as D200)
Technorati Tags: nikon, d80, release, dslr, camera, news
Detecting Fake SanDisk Compact Flash Memory Cards
You know the old saying, if it seems too good to be true it probably is. Have you bought a SanDisk flash memory card off eBay lately? Got a bargain deal? Better check you haven’t been scammed with a Fake SanDisk Compact Flash card
This page details a fake SanDisk Compact Flash card that I purchased from eBay, and provides information to allow you to easily identify fake SanDisk cards.
I bought the card on eBay, from a seller who has been a member of eBay for nearly 5 years,
and with about 140 positive feedback ratings.
The item was labelled as “Sandisk Ultra II 2GB compact flash card“, with the
description saying it was a
“brand new sandisk Ultra II 2GB Compact flash cards complete all with retail packaging, manafacturers warranty etc“.The price was very good….in fact, too good to be true, as I found out.
Technorati Tags: fake, sandisk, memory, cards, ebay, photography, news
Unexpected professional photographer woes
I had to laugh when I read George Barrs post today. It seems people can’t get their head around the difference between buying a painting and a photograph; Is It A Print Or Is It The Original?
twice this month I have been asked this question while selling my photographs. I point out these are photographs (in case they think they are paintings) but that doesn’t satisfy them. I don’t know how to reply. I guess it probably doesn’t matter as the question means they almost certainly aren’t going to buy – but my explanations seem to leave them thinking I am lying, or cheating or defrauding them – anyway they go away unhappy – I was polite, I explained the nature of photographs and original negatives, slides or digital files – but that doesn’t cut it – oh well.
I guess in theory the photographer could sell the original negative along with the print but how would a digital photographer provide an “original” without any risk of being accused of falsely selling a “copy”? The whole concept just doesn’t work in Photography really does it?
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Flickr, Freaks and Fantasy Families
99% of the pictures of my daughter I post are made only visible to family and friends. People tell me I am paranoid but stuff like this keeps happening and it can only happen so often before I think “why take the risk?”
Wayne at Utata
Some strange person has taken his family photographs and used them as her own, constructing a fantasy family life and casting Wayne as her husband. Seriously.
I used to blog and post pictures about my family all the time until I started getting .. inappropriate .. comments made. Nothing too scary or threatening but some people got a little to familiar.
Darren Rouse, a popular blogger, had a stalker turn up at his house and make threats. Consider Flickrs new mapping feature, how easy are we making it for freaks to track us down?
It seems to me it is just not safe to make your private life too public. Sure post pictures and blog, but draw the line somewhere. The internet has a long memory and stuff is so easily copied, re-mixed, manipulated and re-posted. It is no good wishing in the future you hadn’t divulged stuff, then it is too late. You can take stuff down but you can’t delete from peoples hard disks.
People say to me “I have been blogging for years and nothing like this has ever happened to me”. I hope for your sake it never does but your past experience is no guarantee of what will happen in the future. It only takes one nutter to spoil it for you, best be fully aware of what you are doing now.
Technorati Tags: privacy, risks, blogging, photography, news, flickr