Search

Results for

DxO for Mac and Alpha 230-380 – plus discount deal

December 2, 2009 – DxO Labs is pleased to announce the immediate availability of DxO Optics Pro v5.3.6 for Mac bringing full compatibility with Apple’s latest operating system Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard, and adding RAW support for 15 new cameras:

Canon EOS 7D and PowerShot G11;
Nikon D300s and D3000;
Olympus E3 (Elite edition only), E-30, E-410, E-420, E-450, E-510, E-520 and E-620;
Sony A230, A330 and A380.
This new version for Mac also offers support for 255 new DxO Optics Modules, covering 46 cameras.

Availability and holiday season price

DxO Optics Pro v5.3.6 for Mac, both Standard and Elite editions, are immediately available from both DxO Labs’ e-store and selected resellers at an exceptional 30% discount until December 31, 2009:
Standard edition: £ 69 instead of £ 99 (or a savings of £ 30)
Elite edition: £ 139 instead of £ 199 (or a savings of £ 60)
DxO Optics Pro 6 for Mac is scheduled for release during the first quarter of 2010 and will be available as a free upgrade to customers who purchased version 5 after June 1, 2009.

www.dxo.com

Back-illuminated Exmor in new Sony HD Handycam

Handycam CX520 lifestyle image_004

•Class-leading Exmor R™ CMOS Sensor plus Sony G Lens and BIONZ image processor for incredible HD imaging performance, especially in low light
•Optical SteadyShot Active Mode gives up to 10x less camera shake, now improved with ‘3-Way Shake-Cancelling*’ stabilisation
•Full HD recording on 64GB(CX520VE)/32GB(CX505VE) internal memory and optional Memory Stick
•Automatic geotagging of clips and still images by GPS

*World’s first to reduce camera shake in 3 directions during video shooting (as of July 2009, Sony Research)

It’s the very last word in HD picture quality, smart shooting features and stunning looks. The new flagship of Sony’s HD camcorder line-up, the Handycam® HDR-CX520VE/505VE is packed with latest innovations to help you capture better-looking video and still images, whatever you’re doing. Press release from Sony, July 7th 2009.

Click to continue reading “Back-illuminated Exmor in new Sony HD Handycam”

Epson free PS plugin for multi-image printing

Epson has today launched an innovative new print plug-in for the Adobe Photoshop family of products that provides users with enhanced functionality and flexibility, making colour-managed printing quicker and easier.

Click to continue reading “Epson free PS plugin for multi-image printing”

Adobe Camera Raw 4.4 supports A200, 300, 350

Adobe has released updates to Photoshop Lightroom and the Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in, both available immediately as free upgrades for existing users. The releases provide added raw file support for nine additional digital cameras, including the Sony Alpha 200 (already supported by 4.3.2 whether they knew it or not), Alpha 300 and Alpha 350. Lightroom 1.4 also provides updated printer driver compatibility for Apple Leopard Mac OS X 10.5.

Click to continue reading “Adobe Camera Raw 4.4 supports A200, 300, 350″

A700, 6400 ISO, seven raw processors

There’s a lot of controversy right now about whether or not the image structure of the Alpha 700 files at very high ISO – mainly 3200 and 6400 – is as clean as raw processed results from other comparable cameras like the Canon 40D (does not offer ISO 6400), the Olympus E-3 (does not offer ISO 6400) or the Nikon D300. At the heart of this is the way different raw processors handle file conversion, and most specifically, the current performance of Adobe Camera Raw 4.3.1.

Click to continue reading “A700, 6400 ISO, seven raw processors”

Sony Alpha 200 – guided tour and overview

The Sony DSLR A200 is now on sale, following the end of Alpha 100 production. Although it is without any doubt the Alpha 100 replacement mentioned by Sony executives in October 2007, when they first revealed that the 100 was no longer being made, it is not an exact equivalent and represents a mixture of upgraded performance and simplified specification. Because it has gone in two directions at the same time, the A200 poses a problem for A100 owners.

Click to continue reading “Sony Alpha 200 – guided tour and overview”

Apple Aperture 2.0 processes A700 raw

Apple’s Aperture 2.0 is a tedious program to test, with all its creation of ‘projects’ and ‘libraries’, ‘albums’, ‘vaults’ and nonstandard GUI, and it isn’t fast in processing files or passing them to Photoshop (which it does in 16-bit form, just another step to reverse before saving as far as I’m concerned). However, it’s handling Alpha 700 raw quite well. And it does things differently, with non-destructive raw editing, stacks of image versions, and so on.

Click to continue reading “Apple Aperture 2.0 processes A700 raw”

ACR 4.3.1 hasn’t solved A700 high ISO mush problems

After reading Andrea Nivini’s article in Italian Tutti Fotografi, December 2007, which launches an attack on Adobe’s Camera Raw plug-in and its handling of many camera types – but specifically, the Sony Alpha 700 – I decided to check out whether the December 5th release, ACR 4.3.1, fixed the problems.

Click to continue reading “ACR 4.3.1 hasn’t solved A700 high ISO mush problems”

True detail vs. fake sharpness

It’s the same on every web forum – if you post a digital picture which would be acceptable to a photo library or professional buyer, half a dozen grumpy one-liners will come out saying ‘That don’t look sharp to me’ or ‘there must be something wrong with your XXX’ (fill in D300, A700, E-3, D3, 40D as required). Then someone posts a hugely messed up image and people say ‘Wow! What sharpness!’…

Click to continue reading “True detail vs. fake sharpness”

KM’s unique 7D/5D colour vs. the rest

THE question is being asked, will the Alpha 700 match the rich colour rendering of the Konica Minolta 7D and 5D? These cameras had identical colour profiles, and were in turn very similar to the Dimage A1 and A2. The Sony Alpha 100 proved very different. Here’s my best attempt to explain why.

Click to continue reading “KM’s unique 7D/5D colour vs. the rest”

Shaken… and slightly stirred

I CARRY a camera everywhere, because you never know when a good photograph is round the corner. I also just grab the camera from my office, and rarely think to check the settings. Today, I managed to shoot everything with Super Steady Shot (Anti-Shake) carefully switched off on my Alpha 100.

Click to continue reading “Shaken… and slightly stirred”

Quest Photo Holidays

EAST ANGLIA
New Quest Destination!
9-12 June 2009 (Tuesday to Friday)

East Anglia is full of historical and picturesque villages and the landscape has a special character of its own, with ‘big skies’, tidal creeks, estuaries, and beaches. We will explore these at a leisurely pace over the four days, visiting such places as Dedham and Flatford (‘Constable Country’), Southwold, Aldeburgh, Lavenham, and others. We will be based at West Mersea, with its fascinating frontage on the Blackwater estuary, where houseboats and occasional wrecks are subjects for the camera. A minibus will be used for travelling out each day.
Accommodation and meals are not included in the week, but Quest will be pleased to arrange B&B locally where this is required. There will be the option to take communal evening meals locally in the evenings. Seafood and oysters are specialities!
Price £245 (deposit £75) 7 places.

THAMES BARGE CRUISE
from Mistley, nr. Manningtree, Essex.
15-16 July 2009 (Wednesday evening and all day Thursday)

Enjoy a relaxing day with this unique opportunity to sail in a genuine Thames barge! Seeing these beautiful vessels at close quarters, under full sail, is a never to be forgotten sight. Quest has chartered Reminder, a steel hulled barge, built in 1929. The barge offers a very special viewpoint with good opportunities for photography, including activities on deck, the barge skipper and crew, local boats at anchor and under sail, and there may even be other barges in the vicinity.
We will embark on Wednesday evening, sail with the tide early Thursday morning and return late afternoon. Arrival evening seafood platter, breakfast and lunch are catered on board. You are welcome to help the crewing if you so desire.
Price £145 (deposit £40) Meals included. 10 places (strict limit)
Price is based on double or sharing a twin or triple berth. Singles are not normally available due to the nature of the accommodation. Price includes B&B and midday meal. In the event of severe weather conditions it may be necessary to change or curtail the planned itinerary – this will be the decision of the skipper. In the extremely unlikely event that it is unsafe to sail, no refund can, regretfully, be given, but the barge, her crew and all food will remain at the disposal of the group.

CAIRNGORMS and the GLENS New Quest Destination!
12-18 October 2009
(Monday to Sunday) 6 nights

Discount available if combined with the Skye/Applecross trip – see below.
Our base will be at Beauly, which will be convenient for both locations. The photographic opportunities will include Loch Morlich and Glenmore Forest Park near Aviemore, and the wild Cairngorm mountains, plus the renowned north eastern Glens, including Affric and Cannich, where there should be a good display of autumn colour for us to enjoy An additional optional feature of this trip will be a ride on the funicular railway, which travels to just below the summit of Cairngorm itself. Travel arrangements will be by air to Inverness and minibus thereafter.
*Turn this holiday into a fantastic 15-night trip and combine it with the Skye/Applecross trip and take a £110 discount – see below.
Price £745 (deposit £100) single supplement £90 (8 places). May be booked with the Skye/Applecross trip (see below), for a combined price of £1590, thereby saving over £100 (excluding supplements)
Price includes dinner, B&B and minibus travel but not lunch and is based on a shared twin room. A supplement is payable for single occupation.

ISLE OF SKYE and THE APPLECROSS PENINSULA
18-27 October 2009
(Saturday to Tuesday week).
9 nights – 6 Skye and 3 Lochcarron.
Guest House and Hotel based

Discount available if combined with Cairngorms & Glens trip – see below.
Year after year, this is one of our most popular destinations and it is not difficult to understand why, as the “Misty Isle” is surely one of the most beautiful parts of the United Kingdom, full of mood and mountains, rivers, bays and lochs. There is all that the landscape photographer could want – but Skye does not give it up that easily, as it is well known for the fickleness of its weather. But the weather makes the mood, and magic moments are never far away – if only the photographer is in the right place at the right time! Following the success of last year’s extension to the dramatic Applecross peninsula, this has again been included in the schedule.
On Skye, we will, as usual, be based at The Skye Picture House, near Broadford, which is run by photographers Steve & Gill Terry. It is situated in a stunning location, at the edge of a loch, with superb views, especially for the morning sunrise. Otters and seals are often seen. A talk by photographer Ken Bryan, who lives on Skye, will be arranged if he is available. Our second location will be at Lochcarron, situated right by the Loch, with good access to Applecross. .
*Turn this holiday into a fantastic 15-night trip and combine it with the Cairngorm and Glens trip above, and take a £110 discount – see below.
Price £955 (deposit £200). Single supplement £125. Cost includes full board accommodation, with packed lunch on Skye, and half board at Lochcarron. The price is based on a shared twin room and. a supplement is payable for single occupation. It also includes minibus travel on Skye and Applecross but not the cost of flights. May be booked with the Skye/Applecross trip (see below), for a combined price of £ 1590, thereby saving over £100 (excluding supplements).

NORTH YORKSHIRE, with JOE CORNISH
1-6 November 2009
(Sunday to Friday) 5 nights.
Joe Cornish is arguably Britain’s finest contemporary landscape photographer and his use of light and composition, in conjunction with his total commitment, has resulted in a series of magnificent pictures of the landscape of the British Isles and elsewhere. His work is widely known and appears regularly in calendars and on cards and he is the author of several superb books on landscape photography.
The workshop will be based at the Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge, the highest inn on the North Yorkshire Moors. This remote and spectacular setting is an ideal location, and the open fires are something to enjoy in the evenings!
Daily field trips will be a feature of the workshop and thus some walking will be involved. You will need to be reasonably mobile for this. We will also be viewing and discussing Joe’s pictures and an essential part of the workshop will include a constructive appraisal of pictures from participants. This really is a workshop not to be missed, as it represents a very rare opportunity to work with this top professional landscape artist in his own area.
Joe regularly leads workshops in the UK and his enthusiasm and experience will guarantee an inspiring four days. Not to be missed, but book early, as places will be quickly filled.
Price £775 (deposit £100). Single supplement £75. 10 places
Price includes B&B accommodation on a shared room basis, plus minibus travel to Yorkshire if required. It does not include evening and midday meals. A supplement is payable for single occupation.

THE ARDECHE, FRANCE
New Quest destination!
in conjunction with Experience Ardeche
15-22 November 2009
(Sunday to Sunday) 7 nights.

The Ardeche region is rich with photographic opportunities, with dramatic landscapes, large rivers, ancient forest and historical towns and villages. The variety of subject matter in the area will ensure a full and interesting week and of course we will enjoy the local ambience and French cuisine! We will be staying at the Belvedere Hotel, close by the famous Pont d’Arc, at the head of the Ardeche Gorge. Situated only 6km from the town of Vallon-Pont-d’Arc along the gorge road, Le Belvedere is a popular destination for the French tourists who prefer the tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle. A great opportunity to really enjoy this magical and welcoming part of France nestled right on the edge of the Réserve Naturelle. Quest has teamed up with Experience Ardeche for this event, a company specialising in activity holidays. Their knowledge of the area will guarantee us a full and interesting week.
The most convenient travel option is by Ryanair from Luton to Nimes, where free transfer to the hotel will be provided. Other possibilities are by train (Eurostar and TGV). Please enquire if you would like more information.
Price £825 (deposit £200). Single supplement £100. Maximum 10 places. Price includes Dinner B&B, and travel in France during the week. It is based on a shared en suite room, and a supplement is payable for a single occupancy. Cost of flights or other transportation to France is not included.
Colin Westgate’s QUEST workshops, sponsored by Photoworld, are now based at Stable House, 2 Carriers Close, West Mersea, Mersea Island, Essex CO5 8NY. Tel 01206 384584. Mobile 07887 887101. See website: http://www.questphoto.co.uk/ or email questphoto@btinternet.com


When memory eludes me…

Here’s a thought for today, in the absence of Microsoft’s new Vista operating system. Don’t want to break the Dell which does all necessary PC stuff and seems happy on XP Home Edition, even if that makes people laugh. The last pre-Intel Mac OS and presumably the current Intel incarnation have a Find function in the ‘Finder’, not exactly analagous to Windows Explorer but the system’s interface for all operations and present no matter what you do.

This ‘Find’ function has been amended at some point to go right into the EXIF data

Click to continue reading “When memory eludes me…”

Articles

Our articles are written as ‘Posts’ and automatically added to Categories, Recent Posts and Archives. This manual index to articles will help you find the larger reviews, as distinct from short pieces on assorted subjects:

Main camera reviews

Sony Alpha 380 review

Which Sony Alpha? Choosing between the A700, A200, A300 and A350.

Sony Alpha 350 Live View tested

Sony Alpha 350 – a Creative Review

Sony Alpha 200 guided tour (full description with large photos and comments on operation)

Sony Alpha 700 operation and use review: the Interface

Sony Alpha 100 report from the launch of the camera

Do You Really Need an Alpha 900?

Alpha 900 as a High ISO Camera

Alpha 900, Canon 5D MkII, Nikon D3X studio shoot out test

Major overviews

70 Years of Minolta History – 113 cameras from 1928 to 1998

Lens Reviews

The 70-300mm SSM G sized up (first report)

Carl Zeiss 16-80mm zoom review

Tamron 18-250mm zoom review

Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Tele-Macro LD Di

Lensbaby 3G selective zonal focus tilt/swing lens

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Macro II

Sigma 400mm f/5.6 classic M-AF - rechipping for digital

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 HSM EX DG

Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5

Which Sony Alpha kit lens?

Software Reviews

DxO Optics Pro 4.1 review

Seven raw processors tested with Alpha 700

Apple Aperture 2.0

Capture One v4

Accessories and aftermarket

Haoda Fu split-image/microprism replacement focusing screen for Dynax 5D or Alpha 100

Flash choices for the digital SLRs (camera top bounce/direct)

Studio Light table review and technique

Sony GPS-CS1 device to pin your pictures on Googlemaps