Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Archives for April 2010

Adobe Launches Photoshop CS5

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Photoshop CS5

Adobe has launched Photoshop CS5, which has incredible advances in content-aware fill, as well as improvements in complex selections and HDR.  Other new features include new paint effects, automatic lens correction (which makes adjustments for barrel distortion, chromatic aberration and vignetting), native 64-bit support on PC and Mac, puppet warp (for rearranging individual elements within photos), and the list goes on.

Along with Photoshop CS5 will come Camera Raw 6, which should mirror the improvements in noise reduction and sharpening that we’ve seen in the Lightroom 3 betas.

Lots of folks are foaming at the mouth to get their hands on Photoshop CS5 after seeing the sneak peek into the content-aware fill demo.  While you can’t download it yet, you should be able to do so by mid-May.  You can pre-order/upgrade on Adobe’s website now.

In the mean time there’s plenty of free training on the new features in Photoshop CS5.  See earlier posts regarding creativeLIVE and NAPP Photoshop CS5 training.

More details on CS5 below. [Read more…]

 

Fuji HS10 In-Stock Now

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Fuji FinePix HS10

The Fuji HS10 is one of the most anticipated cameras for this Spring – at least according to the questions I’ve received about this camera via email, comments and Facebook messages.  The HS10 features a 10MP sensor and a 30x zoom range (24-720mm equivalent).  It also shoots 1080p HD video and has an impressive image stabilization system.

Good news for those of you waiting, because the Fuji HS10 finally appears to be in stock at online retailers.

B&H Photo has three different ways to order the HS10.  You can get the camera only, a basic accessory kit with the camera or the camera with a deluxe accessory kit.  The basic kit includes two 4GB SanDisk SD cards and Lowepro case, while the deluxe kit includes the same items, along with 4 rechargeable AA batteries, a charger and a 2-year protection plan.

Fuji HS10 (camera only) at B&H Photo
Fuji HS10 (w/ basic kit) at B&H
Fuji HS10 (w/ deluxe kit) at B&H

Also, note that B&H doesn’t take pre-orders, so chances are pretty good that when it says “In Stock” at B&H, the camera really is in stock.

Note that Amazon is saying it will be in stock on Tuesday (but they’re taking orders now).

Fuji HS10 at Amazon

Adorama is also offering the camera on its own, as well as a couple of different kits; however, at the time of this post Adorama is still listing the camera as back-ordered.  These should open up soon as well.

Fuji HS10 at Adorama
Fuji HS10 (kit# 1) at Adorama
Fuji HS10 (kit# 2) at Adorama

I hope to have one soon for a more in-depth review.  In the mean time, however, feel free to check out my Fuji HS10 Hands-On Review from PMA 2010.

NAPP to Offer Free Photoshop CS5 Training

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Not to be outdone by Chase Jarvis’ new creativeLIVE training, NAPP is offering free training on Photoshop CS5 starting Monday, April 12.

The ‘free’ NAPP training applies to live webinars, as well as viewing at a later date.  For creativeLIVE, if you miss the live webinar broadcast, you’ll have to pay to download the recorded version.

More details at photoshopuser.com/cs5.

Switronix Powerbase 70

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Switronix Powerbase 70

Switronix, maker of a variety of video accessories for HDDSLRs, has introduced the Powerbase 70, which will be on display at NAB 2010.  The Powerbase 70 is a dedicated accessory for the Canon 5D Mark II and 7D and provides up to 6x runtime thanks to its 14.8v battery pack.

More details in the press release below.

[Read more…]

“The Last 3 Minutes” on the Canon 5D Mark II

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“The Last 3 Minutes” (above) is a new short from Shane Hurlbut and Bandito Brothers. Canon sponsored the short to show off the new 24p firmware upgrade on the 5D Mark II.  I think it is quite a compelling film – not just due to the technical prowess of the 5D Mark II, but the artistic vision of Hurlbut and his team resonates in a way that many short films miss.  Be sure to read the full run down on the production of “The Last 3 Minutes” on the hurlblog.

If you aren’t familiar with him, Shane Hurlbut has served as Director of Photography on several major films, including Terminator Salvation, We Are Marshall and Into the Blue, among others.

The hurlblog is one of my favorite blogs to read.  If you’re interested in getting serious with video on your DSLR, you owe it to yourself to read every word Shane Hurlbut publishes over there.

Pictage Offers New Subscription Plans

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Pictage

Pictage, which serves pro photographers in marketing and selling photo products, has introduced a three-tier subscription service.  The three plans, Starter, Premium and Pro, will run you $19, $49 and $99, respectively, per month.

Details on the features and services available under these plans can be found in the press release below. [Read more…]

Chase Jarvis creativeLIVE Launches

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Chase Jarvis has launched a new online learning resource for photographers and other imaging professionals – creativeLive.  This is quite a bit more ambitious than Chase’s iPhone app, The Best Camera.  Like his iPhone camera though, creativeLIVE has a rather unique tilt to it, in that it’s free to watch the sessions when they are live.  If you want to watch them later, you can download individual classes for later viewing or if your schedule doesn’t permit you to be at your computer for live viewing.

creativeLIVE has an all-star cast of instructors coming up over the next couple of months, including Vincent LaForet on shooting video with DSLRs, Scott Bourne on Aperture 3, and Zack Arias on Studio Photography.  And, next week, after the CS5 launch, there’s a whole group of classes planned for learning the new stuff in the CS5 suite.

creativeLIVE looks like a great learning resource.  Hopefully, the business model will prove sound and it will be around for a long time to come.  Right now, I’ve got April 29 circled on my calender for Vincent LaForet’s class.

Happy 10th Birthday to iStockphoto

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iStock

iStockphoto has been kicking around for 10 years now.  The site has had over 100 million downloads of various types of media files.

Many photographers have become full-time, specialist microstock photographers thanks to the likes of iStock.  Over the years, other photographers have grown to loath iStock, and its contributing photographers, claiming that they are killing the photography industry.

Regardless of where your stance is on microstock photography, there’s no doubt that it has changed the industry forever.

Read more about iStock’s 10th anniversary, along with a contest that it’s kicked off in conjunction with this celebration, in the press release below. [Read more…]

Vanguard SBH-250 Ball Head Review

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The Vanguard SBH-250 is a lightweight, yet very robust tripod head.  To give you an idea of just how sturdy the SBH-250 is, it’s rated to hold up to 44 lbs.  The magnesium alloy construction and matte black finish aid in the robust feel of this head.  The best thing about the Vanguard SBH-250 though, is its price – $80.

Tripod heads are very much a personal preference item for photographers.  Some folks like their pan/tilt heads and others won’t use anything but a ball head.  To each his own; however, if you are looking at ball heads, you owe it to yourself to take a long hard look at the Vanguard SBH-250. [Read more…]