Snow glistens in the last light of dusk.
Distant clouds glow with the fading light from the sun, long since set.
A chill fills the calm night air.
Stars twinkle in the deepening winter sky.
The crunch, crunch, crunch of gravel on the path.
Lights come on in the distance. Warm and inviting.
Home. Family. Friends. Dinner and the opening of gifts.
Christmas!
In my September 17 post when the Canon 5D Mark II camera was announced, I wrote:
“As always, I recommend that you wait to buy any new model of camera until a few months after the camera hits the shelves. That will give Canon time to work out the “new model bugs” that so often happen. The 5D Mark II should be “bug free” a few months after its release.”
I wasn’t picking on just Canon since cameras from lot of manufacturers are released with some bugs in the first cameras released to the public.
This time around, it is the Canon 5D which has “black dot” and banding problems. A Google search for Canon 5D black dot will turn up lots of articles. A good place top start is Rob Galbraith’s article. And example of the black dots next to white lights is here. Canon has posted a service notice which is reproduced below after the break.
If you haven’t bought the new 5D Mark II and intend to, I would suggest, as I did in September, that you wait until the bugs are worked out.
If you already have the 5D Mark II, you will need to wait for a firmware update and be aware of situations when the problem might show up. Details are in the service notice.
Official Canon Service Notice . . .
The Top 4 Digital Camera Sensors in Overall Image Quality – DxO Labs
How good is your digital camera sensor? How does it compare to other camera sensors in terms of color depth, dynamic range, and low-light high ISO quality? Is there a reliable source where you can find this information?
The good new is yes, there is a great, reliable source for this kind of information – DxO Labs.
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News outlets today are reporting that a serious security flaw in Internet Explorer (versions IE5 through IE8) makes it possible for hackers to steal the online passwords that you use on the internet. Virtually all security experts are urging users of Internet Explorer are urged to use a different web browser. Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and Safari are recommended as alternatives. Please read the whole story here.
In a prior post I’ve already written about the Garmin StreetPilot C550 GPS unit and why I like it so much. Now you can buy a refurbished StreetPilot C330 from Amazon.com for $79.95. Such a deal.
The best digital point-and-shoot cameras – 2008
The best digital photo storage
The best general photography books
The best books: nature and landscape photography
The best book: Photoshop retouching
Book recommendations: portrait photography
The best image editing software
The best memory cards for digital cameras
It is the time of year that I get asked a lot of questions from people who are buying gifts for photographers, or from photographers wanting to drop hints. (In this post, “photographer” means anyone who likes to take pictures.) “What is the best book for . . . ?” “What are the best point and shoot cameras?” “Is there any really good image editing software for less than $100?” Many of those questions are answered in the posts below.
Don’t lose your digital photos to disc rot or a hard drive crash. Choose the best archival options. . . . .
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So you want to be a better photographer. Start here.
Some of these are out of print but they are still well worth finding on the used book market.
One of the best ways to improve your photography is to read some good instructional books and then go out and try what you just read about. My favorite landscape and nature photography books are here and here.
Some of these are out of print but they are still well worth finding on the used book market.
Very short list:
Katrin Eismann and Wayne Palmer’s Adobe Photoshop Restoration & Retouching (3rd Edition) (Voices That Matter)
If you know your way around Photoshop and are looking for an excellent book on retouching with Photoshop, this is it. . .
Short List:
Christopher Grey, Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers
Jeff Smith, Posing for Portrait Photography: A Head-to-Toe Guide
J. D. Wacker, Master Posing Guide for Portrait Photographers
Your photos will look their best if you optimize them with some good image editing software.
Short list:
Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac
Photoshop Elements 7 for PC
Adobe Photoshop CS/CS2/CS3/CS4
For editing your photos, it is hard to beat Photoshop Elements and Photoshop, both from Adobe. . . .
Short List:
SanDisk
Lexar
Memory cards are the “film” for your digital camera. You don’t want to have a card failure and lose your photos. A reliable brand is important.
Short List: Arca-Swiss
The Arca-Swiss quick release system is arguably the best quick release system and certainly the most universal among professional photographers. The system is simple and you can start for less than $80 and use almost any tripod head you now own. . . .
The short list.
3-Way Tripod heads:
Manfrotto 056 3D Junior Head (replaces 3025)
Manfrotto 3025
Manfrotto 115 3D Super Junior Head (replaces 3028)
Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head
Ball Heads:
Slik Pro Ballhead 800
Kirk Enterprises BH-3
Kirk Enterprises BH-1
Really Right Stuff BH-40
Really Right Stuff BH-55
I never thought I would mention the name “Hitler” in this blog, but life is full of surprises.
Just about everyone who is anyone has an opinion on the new Nikon’s new D3X digital SLR, even Adolf Hitler. Watch the video here.
*smile*
Looking for a tripod? This is the place to find information, recommended models, and links to more information.
It is best to buy your tripod legs and tripod head separately. The best brands are interchangeable so you can match the legs you want with the tripod head that you want.
For years I have been recommending Bogen/Manfrotto and Gitzo tripods. . . .
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