The Digital Photography Show #86: A Lot of Stuff You’ll Like from Jobo, X-Rite and XShot.

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March 8, 2008 : Welcome to the eighty sixth episode of The Digital Photography Show!

It was hard to get Michael on the show today – it was a long distance call to heaven, where he is right now, playing with the Nikon D3 that the people at Nikon were kind enough to lend him. Sorry, Michael, that means you’ll have to give it back. Michael shares his first lovestruck impressions of the D3.

We also talk about shooting HDR images. Michael recommends Ben Wilmore’s HDR training at xTrain. If you want to improve your basic photography or become a Photoshop, Lightroom or HDR guru, check out xTrain, a great web-based learning resource. They have a ton of on-line videos that will teach you how to do pretty much everything with your camera – and your computer – that you might ever want to do. And exclusively for our listeners, they offer a 15% off discount on any xTrain course or membership plan by using the code DPS on the page you’ll find here.

Michael also likes the Wilmore-endorsed Photomatix Pro software for creating his HDR images. If you want to see some amazing HDR images (not Michael’s, alas) check out these from Smashing Magazine.

Then, we answer listener John’s question about whether he should buy a Canon 5D, a Canon 40D, or wait for the next generation of cameras. We get digital camera guru Dave Etchells, the genuis behind Imaging-Resource.com, to help us give John the best possible advice. As a long-time digital industry insider, Dave knows the ins and outs of the biz. If you’re looking to buy a camera or lens, be sure to check it out on Imaging-Resource.com, or its sister site, SLRgear.com. Then, buy through their shopping links – you’ll get the best price, and you’ll be helping support these valuable resources. Thanks, Dave!

Then we clean house, airing the remaining interviews from PMA 08.

• First up is Jobo, telling us about their fantastic new 15 inch digital frame that is bee-you-tee-full beyond my ability to describe it here. Catchily named the JOBO Photo Display PDJ151, this frame seems like a steal at a list price of $359. (Actually, to be fair, it’s also called the Photo Display 15 Zoll, which isn’t much better.) We also talk about their storage devices, like the GigaVu Extreme.
• Then we talk to the makers of the inexpensive and handy XShot. This extending little monopod for your point and shot will help you to make sure you’re in the shot, too. Last time we featured this product, it got a lot of attention from our listeners; the new version of the XShot has some incremental improvements that makes it even better.
• Lastly, we talk to X-Rite about their color callibration solutions – one of which comes with a live person to walk you through the callibration process. This is an excellent way to make a painful process less daunting for the user.

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Thanks for joining us. We have the greatest listeners in the world!

Scott

March 6, 2008: Our blogging software shows us the pages that link to this one, and sometimes I click through to see who’s referencing us. While I appreciate all the nice things people say about us (but not the not-nice things; whoever said “any press is good press” had a thicker skin than I do!) I can’t think of any that made me laugh like this one.

A site out there called “Nikon Blogosphere” (and since it may be a home for spammers, I’m not going to link to it here) reprinted one of my posts. Now, as those of you who are reading this may have noticed, I am writing in English. But it would appear that, for some reason, this site translated my words into another language and then back again into English. Either that, or I was really, really drunk when I wrote this. (Actually, you can see my original post by scrolling down the page to my March 3th entry.)

Here I am through the eyes of the Nikon Blogosphere. I’ve bolded some of my favorite translations; I think they read like poetry!

A internet site with which I am non intimate, PhotographyBlog, Ive seen of Nikons D60, their newfangled entry-level DSLR. This is a television camera we discussed extensively with Nikon in our audience, alive from PMA, on .

The revue seems rattling elaborated and exact. Mark Goldstein gives theNikon D60 a extremely recommended paygrade ,although he makes it readable that the tv camera isnt on the button redefining the class :

Where the D40x was basically a 10 megapixel variation of the 6 megapixel D40, the Modern D60 isa identical more or less improved rendering of the D40x. The D60 retains the like inwardness competencies – 10 megapixels, 3 tip AF, 3D Colour Matrix Metering II, 3fps outburst modality – whilst adding a low phone number of raw features that are nice-to-haves, preferably than being of the essence

What Mark does dear is the raw outfit lense, that features Nikons persona stabilisation techlnology, which Nikon calls VR .

The unmarried most significant Modern improver is the availableness of the fresh 18-55mm VR electron lens, which greatly extends the low-light capabilities of the D60. In outfit word form with this lense, the D60 isnt a solid Lot to a greater extent expensive than with the banner 18-55mm crystalline lens, thusId powerfully apprise every prospective novel D60 possessor to prefer the VR pick .

Michaels good word :Theres no pauperization for current D40 owners to rush along out and corrupt a D60- the differences are negligable. But if youre looking for a foremost DSLR ,he actually likes the D60, especially with that young look-alike stabilized genus Lens .

I will bespeak out that Canons newests DSLR, , as well comes with an figure stabilized electron lens in the like stove as the Nikons, and that early manufacturers, such as Sony, Pentax, Olympus and Pansonic, construct the simulacrum stabilisation right hand into their cameras bodies, which eliminates the demand to grease one’s palms more than expensive prototype stabilized lenses .

Its a problematical marketplace out at that place .

“It’s a problematical marketplace out at that place.” I couldn’t have said it any better. In any language.

Scott

March 6, 2008: Most new DSLRs now have some kind of Live View feature that lets you compose your picture on the LCD screen. 

Sony’s newest DSLRs, the a300 and its big sibling, the a350, have some advanced technology that makes that process easier, faster and less cumbersome. According to Sony:

When you switch to live view operation, an innovative new pentamirror tilt mechanism directs the subject image to a dedicated live view sensor positioned over the viewfinder eyepiece. 

Since I don’t think the people at Sony do a particularly good job of explaining why that’s significant, let’s see what the always informative and entertaining David Pogue of the NY Times has to say about this. He begins by explaining the limitations of current Live View systems, then outdoes Sony in explaining why their system works so much better:

Actually, a few recent S.L.R. models do, in fact, have this Live View feature, but it’s mostly a disaster. It works by flipping that mirror up out of the way, so that light from the lens hits the image sensor, which feeds the image to the screen. Trouble is, once the mirror goes up, no light hits the autofocus sensor, so the camera can’t focus.

So here’s what happens when you press the shutter button. There’s a noisy clank as the mirror drops down again; the screen goes black; the camera computes focus and exposure; the mirror lifts again; the screen comes back to life; and finally — a second or so later — the shot is recorded.

In other words, Live View on existing cameras is slow, noisy and deeply confusing. All of this silliness arises because the camera’s image sensor must do double duty: it’s responsible for supplying the screen with a live preview and for recording the shot.

Sony’s technical breakthrough on the A300, therefore, was this: “Duh! Put in another sensor!”

On this camera, turning on Live View sends light from that main mirror onto a second sensor, one that’s devoted solely to feeding the preview screen.  (Snip)

As a result, Live View is a completely different experience. The camera focuses quickly as you aim the lens, without ever blacking out the screen. When you press the shutter, the screen doesn’t go on-off-on, there’s no loud clacking, and there’s no baffling exhibition of mirror calisthenics inside the camera.

I was just talking to Laurel, our Queen of All Contests at The Digital Photography Show about how, based on what I’ve heard about Live View, I’ve never even tried using it on my Canon 40D. But I have to say, I’d at least play with it if I had one of these new Alphas. I’ve always said that if any company was going to threaten Nikon and Canon in the DSLR market, it was going to be Sony.  Nothing against any of the other manufacturers, but Sony has the deep pockets, marketing presence, and relationships with the major retailers to be a big player if they want to be.

Uh, anyone remember HD DVD?

And before I hear from outraged Pentax, Olympus, Samsung, Panasonic, etc users, I’m not saying that Sony’s cameras are necessarily the best for all shooters.  Pogue’s review lists several shortcomings of the Alphas that would be showstoppers for many photographers, especially enthusiasts. But by making Live View more usable on a DSLR, Sony has overcome one of the major obstacles experienced by people stepping up from a point and shoot: Why can’t I use it like I used my old camera?

Now they can.

Scott

March 3, 2008: A site with which I am not familiar, PhotographyBlog, has the first full review I’ve seen of Nikon’s D60, their new entry-level DSLR.  This is a camera we discussed extensively with Nikon in our interview, live from PMA, on show #83.

The review seems very detailed and accurate. Mark Goldstein gives the Nikon D60 a “highly recommended rating,”although he makes it clear that the camera isn’t exactly redefining the category:

Where the D40x was essentially a 10 megapixel version of the 6 megapixel D40, the new D60 is a very slightly improved version of the D40x. The D60 retains the same core competencies – 10 megapixels, 3 point AF, 3D Colour Matrix Metering II, 3fps burst mode – whilst adding a small number of new features that are nice-to-haves, rather than being essential

What Mark does love is the new kit lens, that features Nikon’s image stabilization techlnology, which Nikon calls VR.

The single most important new addition is the availability of the new 18-55mm VR lens, which greatly extends the low-light capabilities of the D60. In kit form with this lens, the D60 isn’t a whole lot more expensive than with the standard 18-55mm lens, so I’d strongly advise every prospective new D60 owner to choose the VR option.

Michael’s recommendation: There’s no need for current D40 owners to rush out and buy a D60- the differences are negligable. But if you’re looking for a first DSLR, he really likes the D60, particularly with that new image stabilized lens.

I will point out that Canon’s newests DSLR, their entry-level XSi, also comes with an image stabilized lens in the same range as the Nikons, as do the Panasonic DSLRs.  Other manufacturers, such as Sony, Pentax, and Olympus  build the image stabilization right into their cameras’ bodies, which eliminates the need to buy more expensive image stabilized lenses.

It’s a tough market out there.

Scott