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Spring Expo Starts Tomorrow

So, tomorrow is day 1 (or, for you Carmel shoppers, the only day) for this year’s Spring Expo. For those who’ve never been to one, twice a year we have a whole gaggle of our reps come in to our local brick-and-mortar Indianapolis stores and show off all their stuff, answer your questions, etc… Generally it’s a good time to get to try out some rare equipment you might not get to see on shelves normally (like Leica’s line-up, Olympus’ Top Pro Lenses, Nikon and Canon’s tilt shifts, etc).

And of course there’ll be specials, deals, sales, limited offers, you name it bouncing around, too, and I’ll be posting some of those on our homepage tomorrow. There’ll be buyers on hand to relieve you of old equipment and liberate some funds for shiny new toys, if you’re so inclined. It is spring, after all, out with the old, in with the new.

This time around you’ll be able to chat with reps for Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony, Manfrotto, Gitzo, Elinchrom, Sandisk, Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, Hoya, Tenba, Lowepro, ThinkTank Photo, Lastolite, Avenger, Mamiya, Leica, Skooba, Induro, Kingston, Westcott, and more.

Expo is at our downtown store Friday and Saturday April 23 and 24 from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. It’ll be at our Carmel store Friday only 5:00 until 7:30 pm.

Canon EOS 7D Gets New Firmware (Not a Pre-Announcement)

This is how we like it, actual firmware, actually available at announcement. Handy, that. Announced last night is version 1.2.1 firmware for the Canon EOS 7D. What’s it got to offer, you ask? Canon, want to field this one?

Firmware Version 1.2.1 incorporates the following improvements and fixes.

Extends the timing at which the high temperature warning indicator is displayed and the timing of automatic shut down of the camera due to a rise in internal temperature during Live View or EOS Movie functions.

Optimizes program shift when the ISO setting of the camera is set to AUTO.

Corrects a misspelling in the French-language menu.

Corrects a phenomenon in which vertical magenta-colored banding appears in still images taken in movie-shooting mode.
(This only occurs when in Manual exposure mode and when the ISO speed is set to “H”. Note that this phenomenon only affects units with Firmware Version 1.2.0)

Firmware Version 1.2.1 is for cameras with firmware up to version 1.2.0. If the camera’s firmware is already version 1.2.1, it is not necessary to update the firmware.
Note that cameras with firmware Version 1.2.1, 1.2.0 cannot be downgraded to a previous firmware version (such as Version 1.1.0).

If you can’t wait any longer to load it up into your camera’s silicon, hit the external link below (view full post if not showing).

external link

Nikon D3s firmware now v1.01

From Nikon’s Firmware update page:

The following improvements have been made in A and B firmware Ver. 1.01

Movie recording specifications have been modified as follows and an issue that, in some rare cases, caused movie playback to appear to have stopped has been resolved.

When exposure preview is enabled in live view tripod mode, information + histogram display is possible, but the histogram is no longer displayed while movies are recorded.

When the live view button is pressed with the Audio Video Cable EG-D2 connected, the image is displayed in both the television and camera monitor, but the camera monitor now turns off during movie recording. The camera monitor turns on again when the Audio Video Cable EG-D2 is disconnected from the camera.

Some simplified Chinese menus and help displays have been revised.

When some memory cards were inserted in the camera, “CHA” was displayed in the top control panel and images could not be captured. This issue has been resolved.

Woo hoo. As always, check your current firmware version prior to downloading and installing the update because if it ain’t broke…

ThinkTank Announces Two New Hydrophobias

Hydrophobia 70-200

So, we got this in our mailbox dated for yesterday:

Santa Rosa, Calif. – Following up on the acclaimed Hydrophobia™ 300-600 rain cover for larger lenses, Think Tank Photo announces the release of two water-resistant, seam-sealed rain covers for 70-200 and smaller lenses: the Hydrophobia™ 70-200 and the Hydrophobia™ Flash 70-200 with built-in flash protector. Featuring side arm holes for focusing and accessing switches, they allow DSLRs to be turned vertically. And now, without exposing their expensive bodies and lenses to the elements, photographers can change memory cards and batteries without taking off the rain covers.

The key feature is that the camera strap attached to the camera does not have to be removed. There is a camera strap attached to the Hydrophobia 70-200 that, combined with a strap that buckles under the lens, allows the camera to be carried by the rain cover.

Hydrophobia 70-200 Flash

“The problem with other covers is that holes have to be cut into the top of the cover, and then using a special camera strap, the user has to unclip the camera strap from the camera, feeding it through the top of the cover,” said Doug Murdoch, Think Tank Photo’s CEO and lead designer. “With the Hydrophobia 70-200, we eliminated this problem by creating a system that automatically transfers the weight to the rain cover itself, while still keeping it water resistant.”

The fabric used on the Hydrophobia is ten times as water resistant as normal fabric. Instead of a “spray” coating, a “film” is applied to the underside of the fabric, as well as a

tricot mesh to protect it, making it a far more impenetrable three-layer fabric. In addition a waterproof tape is applied to all seams, providing an even more water resistant barrier.

The rain covers have the following key features:

A clear window for viewing LCD and controls

A fabric cover for the end of the lens.

An eyepiece storage pocket (eyepieces sold separately)

A detachable camera strap

A breathable mesh bag for transportation and storage

For professionals and amateur SLR shooters with smaller lenses who can’t afford to lose a shot or to have their gear damaged, the Hydrophobia™ 70-200 and the Hydrophobia™ Flash 70-200 are powerful new tools for getting the shot in even the harshest conditions.

The 70-200 will debut with a recommended price of $139.00, the 70-200 Flash with a price of $145. Roberts reminds you that to use any Hydrophobia properly you’ll need a special eyepiece also from ThinkTank for your camera.

New Year’s Resolutions and Apple Computers

So, it’s no big secret that I’m not actually a legendary fan of Mac, despite being a visual artist, graphic designer, and web master. But, my last real impression with them was in college while OSX was still fledgling, and then later with my (admittedly) good friend who is one of the crazy fanatics who can really ruin anything for you (there are movies I still won’t watch just because of how he made a big deal about them).

But, it’s a new year now, a new decade really, and I’ve been playing around with the office’s 15″ MacBook Pro, and I have to admit, the fit and finish on these new aluminum unibodies is second to none. And, the new Snow Leopard build of OSX seems snappy and responsive, and the new multi-touch gestures with up to four finger swiping for things like the Exposé and minimize all makes multitasking on it a real pleasure finally.

So,I’m making a very strange resolution this year: I’m going to ditch my current laptop in favor of a 13″ MacBook Pro. Now, anyone who’s seen my laptop might think this is an extra strange resolve, because I currently own one of Toshiba’s high-end 17″ dual-core dual-GPU SLi gaming rigs, so a switch to the pared down 13″ Pro might seem an odd move, but let me explain.

The newest MacBook Pro, the little 13″, starts in a default config with a 2.26GHZ dual core processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 160 GB HD (upgradable to 250 GB for a mere 50 bucks). My Toshiba has a 2.1 GHZ dual core (of an older generation, too), 2 GB of RAM, and dual 120 GB drives. So, really, other than the screen and the SLi, I’m upgrading even at the lowest Pro. And, I’m willing to live with the smaller screen because even 17″ isn’t really enough for Lightroom, and the cost difference between a 13″ MBP and the 17″ will buy me a 24″ widescreen display. Now that’s big enough for Lightroom.

And I know all of this because Roberts is a full Mac computer dealer. We know all this. We can tell you what your upgrade choices are, and we have fierce pricing. So, whether you want a tidy little 13″ Pro with a RAM and HD upgrade like me, or the 17″ Pro with Express Card slot and giant battery, or just a Mac Mini, one of the new, perfect for casual-use white MacBooks for kicking it about or for a son or daughter, or a Mighty Mouse or Cinedisplay, we’re the place to go. You can even check out all the base configs and other products here, but don’t forget to call us and ask about your customiation options.

First Photo Contest of This Decade Celebrates Last

We’ve got our new contest theme up over at our Monthly Photo Contest page, out first of the new decade. And, we decided to use it as an opportunity for you to show off your best work from the last ten years (or 5, of six months, however long you’ve been shooting, so long as you shot it by the end of December 31st, 2009). The theme is open otherwise, so don’t hold back because of subject. We want your best: your best exposed, best composed, most interesting or perfectly timed photos. We want the photos you still look at with pride. Send them on over, and if you win we’ll send you a 16×20″ print of your shot.

http://www.robertsimaging.com/sharephotos.jsp

EOS 1D Mark IV tested by Brad Mangin

Anybody who knows me knows that I’m not a professional sports photographer and that putting a 1D Mark IV in my hands would be about as useful as putting me behind the wheel of any car that’s won a NASCAR race in the last decade. Can I figure things on the exposure triangle? Sure. Much past that, things get iffy.

Fortunately, Canon puts samples in the hands of guys like Brad Mangin, who is a professional sports photographer. You can see his first hand use of the EOS 1D Mark IV with the 400 f/2.8 (on and off the 1.4x tele-converter) in the Detroit Lions vs San Francisco 49ers game here, complete with a RAW file downloadable from his server.

2009 Holiday Shopping Guide: Image Stabilization

Well everyone, it’s that time of the year again. Christmas (and other winter holiday) shopping. And, like last year, we’re back to help. Not necessarily by just pushing the products we want you to buy (D3s, 7D, *cough cough*), but by giving you useful, more sweeping tips to make you a more savvy shopper, able to sift through the seas of numbers, specs, and options available.

OK, ok, we’ll probably plug a specific product or two as we go along. We sell camera equipment, it’s what we do, you know?

But, let’s start with a simple one: image stabilization.

Image stabilization is known by many names (basically a different one for each manufacturer), but is ultimately down to the same idea. Some of the more common names for this technology include:

Image Stabilization (IS)
Vibration Compensation (VC)
Vibration Reduction (VR)
SuperSteady Shot
And many more

So, what does it do? Well, when you hold a camera, it’s subject to slight trembles and other shakes from your hands. These are natural, and how bad they are depends on your age, physical condition, grip, stance, camera, and more. But, what is means without fail is that at longer exposures, the natural movements from your hands will move the camera a little, and make pictures look less sharp.

There are three ways image stabilization works: electronic, optical, and in-body. Of those, you should only ever choose optical or in-body. Those two help reduce shake using complicated gyroscopes that shift elements to counter for your hand shake. Electronic stabilization, however, works by simply pushing your ISO up, which introduces grain and noise and color shifts, and in general trades one problem for a different one.

Also, because it just counters your movement, image stabilization doesn’t change exposure. In low light, you will still need longer exposures which means moving subjects will still have motion blur. But, if you’re shooting largely stationary subjects, or family portraits around the Christmas tree, image stabilization will help keep your shots crisper. Recommending a camera or lens with image stabilization over one without is easy, we’ll recommend it every time.

Canon Days: Hands On Review: PowerShot S90

During the ’70s, a producer/director friend of mine used to roam the LA punk scene with an amazing little 35mm camera, the Minox 35 GL. It was the smallest 35mm camera ever produced. Its sharp Minotar lens shot beautiful pictures and thanks to the high ISO films that were being perfected in those days, one could shoot in very low light. There has never been any digital equivalent in size and low light capabilities until now, with Canon’s introduction of the S90. With the G11 and S90 cameras, Canon has finally reversed the maddening pixel race. Pixel density on the G11 has been reduced from its predecessor’s 34MP/cm² down to 23MP/cm² and low light performance has greatly improved. The S90 uses the same sensor and its f-2 maximum aperture helps to make this the best p&s for available light shooting.

The Canon S90 is slightly larger than Canon’s Elph (3.5 x 2.2 x 0.8″ for the Canon SD940IS vs. 3.9 x 2.3 x 1.2″ for the Canon S90), but it still easily slips into the average pocket. A bit too slippery sometimes and it almost fell out of my hands before I made it a rule to use the wrist strap. Much has been made of the programmable function control ring around the lens and it is indeed wonderful…

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Hit the jump to read the rest of Carel's review and to view his large gallery of sample shots]

[UPDATED]

read more

Sony Alphas A230, A330, A380 All Get New Firmware

Sony’s consumer triplets–the A230, A330, and A380–all received notice of a new firmware today. It purportedly (that’s a good word, isn’t it? Purportedly. Makes me feel fancy.) fixes exposure lock on the focuses subject in center-weighted and spot metering modes. If that just made sense to you, you’ll appreciate this firmware.

For Windows here

For Mac here

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