Canon PowerShot A3200 IS Review
Matt Grayson
The new Canon PowerShot A3200 IS camera is firmly aimed at photography beginners. Offering a wealth of auto modes, 14 megapixel sensor, 5x zoom lens, 3 inch LCD screen, 720p movies and an attractive price tag of less than £125 / $150, the A3200 IS looks like the perfect family camera. Read our Canon PowerShot A3200 IS review to find out if that's the case...
Topaz Lens Effects
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Software
Topaz Labs have just released Topaz Lens Effects, a new Photoshop plug-in designed to help photographers quickly and easily achieve a wide range of lens, filter and specialty camera effects. With Lens Effects, users can create realistic enhancements for emphasising focal points, creating bokeh to blur distracting backgrounds, adding vignettes, and balancing color tone - in just a few clicks.“In addition to a novel approach of creating accurate depth maps for the most realistic depth-of-field simulation, Lens also uses brand new architecture that gives us the unparalleled agility to enhance our software’s capabilities and functionality with new ideas and suggestions that we constantly receive from the Topaz user community,” said Jawad Malik, project leader for the new Topaz Lens Effects. The application retails for $79.99, but is being offered at a special promotional price of $49.99 until 1st June.
GeniuX Photo EFX 2.97
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Software
XPro Software has released version 2.97 of GeniuX Photo EFX. The program is a standalone application for photo editing and digital painting, and offers both one-click operation and over 300 custom settings. Features include support for 20 different image formats, 15 advanced editing tools, 90 filters, 7 artistic brushes, and more. Version 2.97 incorporates a number of new features and a bug fix. GeniuX Photo EFX sells for $99. For more information, visit the website below.
Website: GeniuX Pro EFX
D200 DSLR 2.0 for iOS
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Software
Independent developer Ken Tidwell has announced D200 DSLR v2.0 for iOS, another in his series of Min-U Guides to Nikon DSLRs. The opening screen of the Min-U (minimum menu) Guide consists of seven main chapter headings, each including a replica of the icon used on the D200 for that menu. The six Menu chapters include Playback, Shooting, Custom Settings, Setup, Recent and More, providing clear and comprehensive instructions for each important menu function. The app is a universal binary, and displays in the highest, native resolution on every iOS device. D200 DSLR v2.0 is available on iTunes for $4.99.
Tokina AT-X 16.5-135 DX Hits Shelves in UK
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Lenses
Kenro has re-announced the UK release of the Tokina AT-X 16.5-135mm f3.5-5.6 DX lens for cropped-sensor Canon and Nikon digital SLR cameras. This compact zoom lens uses an optical design that benefits from three aspherical elements, one all-glass precision-moulded element and two compound elements yielding high contrast. Additionally two Super-low Dispersion (SD) glass elements correct chromatic aberration. The recommended retail price of the Tokina AT-X 16.5-135mm f/3.5-5.6 superzoom lens has a recommended retail price of £816.
MasteringPhoto.com Launches
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Websites
MasteringPhoto.com is a new website offering free content developed from Focal Press’ award-winning books as well as original content from industry contributors. Featuring tips, advice, articles, video tutorials, interviews, and other resources for both hobbyists and professionals, MasteringPhoto.com covers topics ranging from people and landscape to post-production and business practices. Contributors include expert photographers and digital image makers from all areas of photography and graphic art. Focal Press also unveiled a sister site, MasteringFilm.com, which caters to the needs of videographers and cinematographers.
Photobucket Unveils Snapbucket
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Software
Photobucket has announced Snapbucket, the first of many upcoming additions to its mobile platform. Snapbucket, which complements Photobucket’s existing mobile app, enables users to “snap” photos from their mobile device, personalise those photos through unique filters, effects and frames, and then easily share with their social community. Both the original and personalised photos are automatically stored online in the user’s Photobucket account.
Reflecta x6 TouchScan
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Scanners
The Reflecta x6 TouchScan is a new device for digitising 135 and 110 format film. Equipped with a nine-megapixel area-array CMOS sensor, a 2.8” colour screen and an SD card slot, the Reflecta x6 TouchScan works without being connected to a computer. The scanner can run on a Lithium-ion battery but can also draw power from an AC outlet. The scope of delivery includes the device itself, a holder for three framed 35mm slides up to 3.2mm thick, another holder for loose film strips of up to six frames, a third holder for up to eight frames of 110 (pocket) format film, an USB cable, an AC adapter, a rechargeable battery and a TV-Out cable. The price of the Reflecta x6 TouchScan is €159 including 19% German VAT.
Website: Reflecta
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Art of Wedding Photography
Zoltan Arva-Toth
The Art of Wedding Photography is a new webinar series organised by Calumet and SF Photo School. Presented by Uzair Kharawala, these webinars start on 9 May 2011 and each one is 60 minutes long. A wide variety of subjects will be covered including converting leads into bookings, marketing, promotions, managing your business, off-camera flash, how not to forget key shots, workflow tips & techniques for editing and post-processing, setting your website / blog the right way for higher indexing in search results, and more. Do note that these webinars are not free. There is a special price of £30+VAT for all six webinars, which is valid until 9 May 2011. After this date, the normal price will be £55+VAT. For more information visit the website below.
Take to the Streets
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Events
Starting 18th May, the Colmore Business District in Birmingham will play host to ‘take to the streets’, an outdoor exhibition of street photography showcasing over 100 images by seven of Magnum Photos’ most prolific documentary photographers. The project will culminate in a book and a small touring exhibition and the photographs will be added to Birmingham Library’s Collections within the brand new Library of Birmingham opening in 2013, creating an important new chapter in the history of street photography in the city. For more information, visit the website below.
Effects 3.0 for iPhone
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Software
ab2labs today announced that an update of their photography app, Effects 3.0, is now available for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch. The latest version adds filter layering, live preview of filters and frame effects, new actions and services to export and share images, and more. Effects 3.0 is available as a free download from iTunes.
Filter Forge 3.0 Beta
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Software
A public Beta version of Filter Forge 3.0 is now available for download. The update adds support for multiple source images, enables faster image preview through the introduction of Progressive Previews, adds hexadecimal colour values in the Colour Picker, HDR and alpha channel support for filter controls, high-precision Colour Inspector, the ability to load recently-used images, a unified Bomber component and more. Filter Forge 3.0 Beta can be downloaded from the website below.
Website: Filter Forge
Insight Guides Announce 2011 Travel Photography Competition
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Competitions
Insight Guides are inviting every UK-based adult “whose travel photographs are a snap above the rest” to enter their 2011 travel photo contest. You may submit three images that have been taken this year and capture the essence of a destination. Photographers have until Friday 16 September 2011 to submit their entries for judging by an expert panel made up of the picture editors of the Independent on Sunday and Insight Guides, a former Trustee of the Royal Photographic Society and high profile photographer Kevin Cummins. The winner will be presented with a photo commission worth £3000 and an Olympus PEN E-PL2 compact system camera. The second prize is an Olympus XZ-1, while the third is an Olympus SZ-30. There is a separate category for under-18s, with the young photographer winning an Olympus camera of his or her own. As always we suggest that you read theterms and conditions before submitting your photographs.
Cooliris Launches Decks for Flickr
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Software
Decks by Cooliris is a new iPad app for Flickr users. This free app allows users to discover and follow their favourite public photos from Flickr all in a slick deck of cards that update continuously. With Decks for Flickr, you can create and follow album decks by user name, description or tag; flip any photo card to see photo description, location etc.; share photos as postcards through email, Facebook or Twitter; and share your entire Flickr deck with friends who have the Decks for Flickr app. The app is available for immediate download from iTunes.
Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC for Canon & Nikon
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Lenses
The Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC manual-focus lens is now available for Canon and Nikon. The lens, whose final version was announced in March, uses a system of floating lens elements in order to preserve high image quality even at the lens’ close focus point of 30cm. The Canon version of the lens sells for €399, while the Nikon variant (pictured) costs €419 including taxes.
Samyang 8mm f/3.5 Fish-eye CS VG10 Now Shipping
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Lenses
The Samyang 8mm f/3.5 Fish-eye CS VG10 lens, designed for the Sony NEX-VG10 large-sensor, interchangeable-lens camcorder, has officially been launched. Announced two months ago, the lens comes with a native Sony E bayonet mount and promises easy and smooth diaphragm control. Due to the camcorder’s one-off construction, the bayonet mount was carefully adjusted to ensure the widest possible field of vision and to prevent vignetting, the company says. The manual-focus Samyang 8mm f/3.5 Fish-eye CS VG10 is available for €299.
PMA/CliQ 2011 Moved to Colocate with 2012 International CES
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Events
The Photo Marketing Association International today announced a partnership agreement with the Consumer Electronics Association to move the September 2011 PMA Trade Show (also known asCliQ 2011) to colocate at the 2012 International CES, scheduled for January 10-13 in Las Vegas. PMA@CES will offer industry-specific content and display “products representing all aspects of digital imaging”. PMA will also offer its well-known educational seminars, complementing and enhancing CES programming, the Association said in a statement. Note that the PMA Australia 2011 and PMA Latin America 2011 shows have not been cancelled, and will be held from 24-26 June in Sydney and on 3-4 August in Lima, respectively.
GoPro HD Activity Cameras Now Available at Best Buy
Zoltan Arva-Toth | Digital Video Cameras
Best Buy today announced the availability of several GoPro products. These include two activity cameras, the GoPro HD Helmet Hero ($299.99, pictured) and the GoPro HD Hero 960 ($179.99), and a number of accessories. Among these are the Ride HERO Handlebar Seatpost Mount ($19.99), the LCD BacPac ($69.99), the Battery BacPac ($39.99), the GoPro Chest Mount Harness ($39.99), Suction Cup Mount ($29.99) and rechargeable Lithium-ion battery ($19.99), as well as a tripod mount ($7.99).
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Nikon AF-S DX Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/3.5G ED VR Review
Zoltan Arva-Toth
The Nikon AF-S DX Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/3.5G ED VR is a compact and lightweight DX format macro lens. Featuring built-in Vibration Reduction and a 1:1 reproduction ratio, the affordable Nikkor 85mm macro lens is compatible with every DX-format Nikon digital single-lens reflex camera ever made. But does that make it worth investing in? Read our Micro-Nikkor 85mm review to find out...
X-Rite Announces Free May Webinars
Zoltan Arva-Toth | General
X-Rite has announced its schedule of May webinars that have been developed to address specific colour management topics. On 12th May, photographers can learn how to quickly and easily capture accurate colour and maintain colour control and consistency by attending the RAW COLOUR POWER webinar at 11am or 1pm EDT. Next up is a guest webinar by Tom Ashe on professional colour control with the new X-Rite i1Profiler software, airing at 1pm EDT on Monday 16th May. The third webinar, Beyond Monitor Calibration, will take place on 25th May at 11am and 1pm. Advance registration is required through the website below.
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