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› archive for June, 2009

Roberts Adding New “photoGooru” Learning Section

photoGooru: Robert's New Extended Learning Service

photoGooru: Robert's New Extended Learning Service

Indianapolis, June 24, 2009 – The world of modern digital photography is one with a dizzying array of new and forever changing technologies, techniques, and jargon, which can prove daunting for the new, casual, or even experienced photographer trying to make their way through the maze of information. This confusion is only compounded by the fact that the internet is forced to become the main repository for this information, and so many conflicting and incorrect or inaccurate bits of information exist online that many new photographer’s will be taught and spread disinformation without even realizing it.

To that end, Roberts is starting work on its new “photoGooru” division of its revamped online help department, where we will post articles, essays, and other white papers where we try to tackle the different aspects of modern photography in easy-to-read terms, and attempt to dispel common misunderstandings about the technology in use today.

Focusing initially on topics concerning technical equipment, Roberts hopes to expand its photoGooru service to cover camera history, software and processing techniques, and guides on photographic composition and understanding exposure.

“The modern world of photography is increasingly complex, spanning no longer hundreds of years of exposure tricks, but requiring a proficient knowledge of increasingly interconnected electronic systems to excel in the field,” says Roberts’ web manager and photoGooru development head Derek Martin, “and that means the best service we can provide for our customers is no longer to provide all the right equipment at the right prices, but to also be the ones providing understandable, accurate, and relevant information about that same equipment, and the field as a whole.”

Roberts expects to have photoGooru live by the end of June and expects to see continued expansion of the project throughout the summer.



Black Rapid Straps

Ok, so the next great thing in camera straps are here!  At least, that’s what I’ve been told.  Seriously, they look pretty cool.  If you carry more than one digital camera at once, the new Black Rapid DR-1 Double Strap is THE ticket for you.  It allows you to carry the bodies handsfree.  If you have long lenses, you can connect them by the tripod collars and hang them by your sides.  For just one camera body, the RS-4 will still keep your hands and neck free, holds two extra flash memory cards, and allows you to carry all the extra digital camera accessories your hands and shoulders can carry!  Come in and check them out today!

blackrapid.com/



Kodak Discontinues Kodachrome, No One Under 25 Cares

1935 - 2009

1935 - 2009

Kodachrome, which I have of course heard of but never even had to use myself (being quite the young whelp), has given up the ghost and put another nail in the nice little coffin film photography has been building itself. Strangely enough, this announcement occurred the same day that Popular Photography’s “Flash” blog highlighted one of the most famous photos shot with Kodachrome. This marks the end of its apparently 74 year production life.

For those of you under the age of about 25 or so, Kodachrome was a color-reversal film. Film, in turn was this strip of light-sensitive material we had to load cameras with before Ashton Kutcher found the D90 intriguing. Archaic, I know, but there it is.



Engadget Lists EP-1 Pre-Orders, Misses Yours Truly

So, I love me some Engadget, I do. They’re good tech bloggers (I love me some Wired, too, but they’re getting a real strange Mac/netbook/Nikon bias, and while those are all fine, it kinda slants coverage for all the other stuff), but boy, did I feel slighted on my vacation day yesterday when I checked the daily blogs and saw them list the EP-1 pre-order sites, and leave us out.

So here it is: we take preorders. Sorta. We’re not the sorts to twist your arm into commitment, instead what we do is run a waiting list. You get on it, we append you. We get product in, we go down the list. When we get to your name, we call you up and ask if you still want it. If you do, bam, we getcha taken care of. If you don’t, it’s cool, and there’s no paperwork shuffle to get your money back. It’s like pre-orders done better. We promise.

Want to get on a wait list for anything new and photographic, that number is always 1-800-726-5544 and we’ll take care of you.



An Object Lesson In Screen Resolution

“The 3-inch LCD is unfortunately limited to 230,000 pixels, though it is large and vibrant thanks to its HyperCrystal technology.”

-Imaging Resource

“…we were supervised that a premium model like this doesn’t have a higher resolution screen (230,000 dots on a 3.0″ LCD is pretty low these days)”

- DPReview

I used to be much of the same opinion as the above quotes regarding 230,000 pixel screens until a much more tech savvy and rational buddy of mine started pointing out some stuff I’d never calculated while I was Zune shopping, and I think it’s worth showing here.

OK, let’s consider 3 devices. One is my 22″ HD monitor, capable of more than just shy of 1080 HD video at its native resolution. Another is my new Zune, sporting a well-reviewed 3.2″ screen with sharp, lively video. And finally let’s consider the routinely panned 3″ screen on the EP-1 (and many other contemporary cameras). Which one you got your bets on having the best rez? Find out after the jump.

read more



Black Rapid In Store.

Well, not “in store” as in “here on shelves ready to be mailed to your eager mailbox” but rather “in store” as in “it’s coming summer blockbuster teaser.” It happened quietly and while you all weren’t looking (ie, last week when Jody couldn’t approve my posts), we became a dealer of Black Rapid R-style quick straps. Now, if you live under the rock we call “the internet” you know what these are and are basically jittering in anticipation. If you don’t know what they are, however, you’ll be best served by watching the video below, from their creator:

Now, those are the old style clips, they’re shipping which much nicer and better designed clips these days. Don’t believe me? Check’em out.



Will It Blend?

I remember spending one lonely, bachelor New Year’s Eve with two of my high school / college buddies and killing a chunk of the night watching the amazing “Will It Blend?” videos the very cool Blendtec company created to show off the raw horespower of its blender.

Cut ahead to now, and Olympus has wisely gotten in on some of that viral action, and the complete EP-1 “Will It Blend?” commerical / shamelessly silly advertisement is at once shameless, silly, hilarious, and completely awesome. Sure, it’s just a plug for Oly’s new camera, but man, what a plug:



Nick and Derek, PhotoFail

Alright Walkabouters, there’s an apology in here someplace. The week started muggy and nasty with annoying things like ‘personal lives’ interfering with Derek and My abilities to put our cephalic-shaped units together and come up with a time for the walk, all of the sudden it’s Wednesday.

Sorry guys. If you know anything about Derek or myself, then you know that muggy and nasty isn’t an inaccurate way to describe our personal lives…but we’ll get the walk back up next week. As far out as the forecast goes I’m lobbying for Tuesday June, 23 to start back up. The Photo Calendar will reflect this.

In the meantime, I’ll take suggestions for a meeting place at nhenry@robertsimaging.com.



EP-1, Almost Forgot the Best Part

Did I forget to make a big fuss about the best spec ever on the new Olympus EP-1? Why yes, yes I did. So, allow me to illustrate the missing point with this diagram:

ep-1-takes-sd

That’s right, that’s me showing you that Olympus has finally taken the plunge and gone to SD over their aging and (fairly) obnoxious xD format. I love Oly, everyone knows that, but man, xD was not a good time. This is a pretty huge occasion for them, and it had to be tough. If you need a hug, Olympus, I’m here for you, you did good.



Olympus EP-1 Official, Cuter Than Baby Seals

So, the internet rumormill ground out some mighty fine bread and I walked in today to be bombarded with news about Olympus new “digital Pen”, the Micro Four-Thirds “EP-1″ camera. Available in Jody-pleasing black or Derek’s-girlfriend-pleasing brown trim, it’s not so much bigger than the Panasonic TZ series cameras, but packs the imager and IS module from the E-620 for a mighty 12 megapixels and up to 4 stops of image stabilization on any lens you want to smack on there.

Pricing is still a hop-and-a-skip from official, so more on that in a bit, but also at announcement we have a 17mm (34mmEFL) f2.8 pancake and a new and even tinier 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 zoom, a hotshoe-mounted VF for the 17mm prime, and a new low-power, slimline flash unit. Which I reckon is enough to call it a system.

Rest assured, one of these will eventually find its way into my bag. Check pictures below, you can peruse the specs here in a bit once I get them up on the site.