Cameratown.com Digital Photography News

Sigma Announces Pricing and Availability for Stabilized 50-500mm Lens

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:06:52 EST

Sigma today announced that its newly-upgraded APO 50-500mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM, which was first announced at the Photo Marketing Association's 2010 Conference and Trade Show last month, is now available in Canon mounts with an MSRP of $2,400. Nikon mounts will be available later this month, and they will be followed by Sigma, Pentax and Sony mounts in April. Amazon.com is offering this lens for approx. $800 off the list price.

NAB Show Launches The "Post Pit" with Digital Video Workflow Presentation Stage

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:15:31 EST

NAB announced today the debut of a new digital video workflow presentation stage, complete with a networking lounge and series of mini sessions, which will be held on the show floor at the 2010 NAB Show, April 12-15. Located in the South Lower Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Post Pit brings together user groups and individuals who use post-production and other digital story-telling software and hardware products on display at the NAB Show. Some of the presenters include Ted Schilowitz of RED Camera Company, post guru Scott Simmons with tips on editing a Canon 5D multicamera concert, and Taz Goldstein of HandHeldHollywood.com who will focus on the top five iApps and hardware every filmmaker needs.

Video & Review of Singular Software's Plural Eyes Plug-In for Sony Vegas Pro 9

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:59:03 EST

We have just published our review of the new Plural Eyes plug-in from Singular Software for use with Sony Vegas Pro 8.0c or higher. Plural Eyes is software designed to automatically sync audio/video clips from multiple cameras, multiple audio sources, or from multi-take projects without the need for time code, clapboards or other manual ways of creating sync points during the capture process. Click here to read the review and watch the video overview.

Canon Releases EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Update 2.0.4 with Fix for Custom Mode Manual Audio

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:48:09 EST

After Canon released the long-awaited EOS 5D Mark II firmware update, version 2.0.3, on the 15th of this month some users discovered a problem where the camera didn't record any audio when shooting in either C1, C2, or C3 mode if the audio recording was set to manual and the camera either went to sleep or was turned off then on.

Canon today released another update this morning that corrects for the no audio issue in those modes. This update has been labeled firmware version 2.0.4 and does not need the 2.0.3 installed first.

DepositPhotos.com- The New Standard in Photostock

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:11:14 EST

DepositPhotos.com is trying to redefine the way the photostock work industry works. The experts behind DepositPhotos.com have worked hard to become the best value on the Internet by offering the lowest prices for the highest quality stock images available, but that?s only the beginning of the story. DepositPhotos.com has enhanced the quantity and quality of the site's magnificent collection by paying image contributors some of the highest commissions on the Web. By offering a virtually unlimited earnings potential, DepositPhotos.com has become the preferred showcase for the best work of over 10,000 photographers.

Canon Detects Problem in New EOS 5D Mark II Firmware

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:02:42 EST

Canon has just released a statement regarding a problem discovered with the newly released firmware update for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II. The problem occurs when the manual recording levels for C1/C2/C3 are changed and the camera becomes unable to record audio if the power is turned off (or if Auto power off takes effect) after registering "Sound Recording: Manual" in the camera user settings.

Canon Introduces Six New Affordable Multimedia Projectors for Educational & Business Users

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:58:24 EST

Canon has advanced and expanded its line of affordable LCD Multimedia Projectors with two new WXGA resolution (1280 x 800) widescreen and four new XGA resolution (1024 x 768) models. Compact and lightweight with more convenient user features than ever before, Canon's new LV-8310, LV-8215, LV-7385, LV-7380, LV-7285 and LV-7280 LCD Multimedia Projectors are ideal for educational and business presenters seeking to display bright, crisp images and videos.

LoKast iPhone App Lets You Broadcast Music, Video, and Pictures to Other Users - No 3G Needed

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:08:21 EST

This week at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival, NearVerse, a venture-backed mobile networking company, announced the availability of their first mobile application, LoKast, which allows people to share media between iPhones and iPod Touches at super-fast speeds. LoKast, short for ?local-casting,? aims to eliminate the need for physical media sharing, thereby eradicating physical CDs, plastic cases, video DVDs or waiting to get back to a PC computer to share and experience content. NearVerse launches LoKast at one of the largest, most-acclaimed media festivals in the United States, and is working with a variety of musicians and filmmakers who are spreading the word on their new music and films all from iPhoneto nearby iPhone, or iPod to iPod. LoKast is a free iPhone and iPod Touch application that enables real-time sharing of media amongst groups of users at high-speed data rates.

Think Tank Photo Rolls Out the Logistics Manager - Their Largest Roller Yet

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:09:38 EST

The Logistics Manager™ is Think Tank Photo's first rolling equipment case for lighting and photographic gear. The rolling case's endless interior layout options adapt to numerous equipment combinations and help manage all of the logistics of transporting and using a lot of gear while on location. Its roomy internal dimensions allow it to hold multiple combinations of cameras and lenses, lighting gear such as strobes and reflectors, and accessories of all kinds. The Logistics Manager retails for $599 and if interested read teh fully story for more details and introductory video.

AirStash(TM) is the First Wireless Flash Drive for the iPad and Other WiFi Devices

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:01:35 EST

Wearable Inc. today announced that AirStash™, the first wireless flash drive for iPad, iPhone, and other WiFi devices, is now available to order for USD $99.99 at http://airstash.com for US and Canada. AirStash is the only flash drive that shares documents and streams media from a pocket, backpack, briefcase, or handbag with its built-in media server technology. The AirStash portable server supports any WiFi-enabled device with a web browser, and is the first hardware device that leverages Apple?s implementation of the upcoming HTML5 standard to provide a rich interface that allows iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch users to view, organize, and stream media without installing anything from the app store.

Digital Anarchy Releases Free Aperture 3 Compatibility Update for ToonIt! Photo plug-in

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:38:07 EST

Digital Anarchy, a leading provider of cost-effective software for photographers and digital artists, today announced a free update to their popular ToonIt! Photo plugin for Aperture. ToonIt! 2.5 is now fully compatible with the 64-bit mode introduced by Apple's Aperture 3, while still supporting 32-bit architectures and Aperture 2. ToonIt! Photo 2.5 for Aperture is regularly priced at $129 USD, but will be on sale for $99 until March 26, 2010. ToonIt! Aperture runs in Aperture 2 and 3.

Voices.com Releases Mobile App for iPhone, iPod and BlackBerry

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:47:25 EST

Voices.com is joining the mobile revolution with its own app to showcase its roster of over 25,000 voice over talents by making MP3 audio samples available with the touch of a finger. Users can find a complete listing of audio samples organized by category such as audiobooks, movie trailers, podcasts, radio, television, videogames and voicemail recordings.

WD Introduces New One Terabyte My Passport SE for Mac Portable Drives

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:54:59 EST

WD� today introduced its new one terabyte and 750 gigabyte capacity My Passport™ SE for Mac� portable USB drives. Available at WD's online store, the new My Passport SE for Mac portable drives are formatted for Mac and compatible with Apple Time Machine� software. These ultra-portable 1 TB and 750 GB My Passport SE drives are easy to carry because they are USB-powered and do not need an external power adapter. MSRP for the My Passport SE for Mac 1 TB portable drive is $199.99 USD and for the 750 GB model is $179.99 USD.

Canon 5D Mark II Firmware 2.0.3 Audio Test Review by Cameratown

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:52:43 EST

Canon has finally released the long awaited firmware update for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II that finally gives the EOS 5D Mark II the cinema-like 23.97 (24p) frame rate, a true 29.97 frame rate, as well as manual audio controls for adjusting the sound recording level up / down 64-levels. We decided to compare the audio quality between AGC (automatic gain control) vs manual control.

Canon Releases 5D Mark II Firmware 2.0.3 - We Test the New Manual Audio

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:41:29 EST

Canon today released the long awaited firmware update for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II that finally gives the EOS 5D Mark II the cinema-like 23.97 (24p) frame rate, a true 29.97 frame rate, as well as manual audio controls for adjusting the sound recording level up / down 64-levels. Click through to watch our video test of the new audio enhancements, where I have compared the audio quality of manual audio vs. AGC.

GigaPan Systems Announces the GigaPan EPIC Pro for your DSLR

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:37:23 EST

GigaPan Systems has announced that their long-awaited GigaPan EPIC Pro for DSLR's will start to ship in April. The EPIC Pro allows photographers to capture multi-gigapixel images automatically! Just set the top-left position and the bottom-right positions and the EPIC Pro will automatically move down and across the scene while snapping pictures until it reaches the last dialed-in position. With the new Gigapan Stitch software, these photos are efficiently combined into a seamless panorama and uploaded to GigaPan.com, where you can view, share and explore. The EPIC Pro will ship in April with a retail price of $895.00

Review of a $60 4-Panel LED Video Lighting System

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:13:51 EST

I was out shopping yesterday and stumbled across a very cool and interesting product while walking the isle's of the local wholesale club. The product is the new Coleman Quad LED Lantern. Based on the description on the box itself it seemed like it would be an ideal and inexpensive portable lighting solution for cinematographers or photographers who wanted an impromptu solution for portrait lighting - especially for personal interviews or for creative lighting effects. To find out what makes this a great low-light video lighting solution click through to see my video and review.

Coleman LED Quad Lantern / LED Video Light Review by Cameratown

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:00:23 EST

Review (Summary): "The product is the new Coleman Quad LED Lantern, and just based on the description on the box itself it seemed like it would be an ideal and inexpensive portable lighting solution for cinematographers or photographers who wanted a impromptu solution for portrait lighting - especially for personal interviews or for creative lighting effects.

onOne Software Announces Availability of Free Versions of Photoshop Plug-ins PhotoTools 2.5 and PhotoFrame 4.5

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:51:22 EST

onOne Software today announced the immediate availability of two fully-functional Photoshop plug-ins: PhotoTools 2.5 Free and the new PhotoFrame 4.5 Free. The free plug-ins for Photoshop are based on the award-winning versions of PhotoTools 2.5 Standard Edition and PhotoFrame 4.5 Standard Edition and are compatible with Photoshop CS2, CS3 and CS4. These two free plug-ins provide photographers with select content from the Standard Editions of each product, while maintaining the full functionality, unlike the traditional restrictions of 30-day timed trials or watermarked images.

Samsung NX10 Interchangeable Lens Camera Review by Photography Blog

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:59:13 EST

Review (Summary): "The Samsung NX10 is a new mirror-less compact digital camera with a large image sensor, electronic viewfinder and interchangeable lenses which is intended to bridge the gap between a small compact and large DSLR. ...

WD Introduces New "My Passport" AV Portable Media Drive

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:16:03 EST

WD� today introduced its new My Passport™ AV portable media drives. Designed specifically for video storage and playback, the new My Passport AV portable media drives deliver a plug-and-play experience for digital media enthusiasts. The My Passport AV portable media drive is offered with 320 GB capacity, includes a 2-year limited warranty, and retails for $109.99.

Rock Nook Publishing Releases "Mastering Canon EOS Flash Photography"

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:58:28 EST

Digital cameras and flash technology have revolutionized photography. Originally seen simply as a way of illuminating dark scenes with portable light, flash today is used for a host of creative functions, including supplementing daylight and designing complex scenes lit by multiple light sources. Digital cameras with their preview screens make it easy to get instant feedback.

ArcSoft Demonstrates Its Latest Imaging Embedded Solutions at the 2010 Camera and Photo Imaging Show (CP+) in Japan

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:34:35 EST

ArcSoft, Inc., a leading provider of innovative multimedia technologies and applications, will be presenting its Embedded Imaging Technologies at the 2010 Camera and Photo Imaging Show (CP+). "ArcSoft's embedded imaging solutions allow consumers to process and enhance their photos without ever having to transfer them to a PC," says Sean Bi, ArcSoft's Vice President & GM of APAC.

Manfrotto Introduces New Joystick Heads

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:59:05 EST

Manfrotto joystick heads offer a uniquely ergonomic way of quickly unlocking, composing and locking the camera position, so you can freely and frequently get the perfect shot. The new 327RC2 and 324RC2 are the latest generation of Manfrotto joystick heads and have been optimized to provide the ultimate in intuitive operation, speed of use, ergonomic comfort and high precision. The 324RC2 ($142) is built to satisfy the needs of photographers who are improving their skills, while the 327RC2 ($211) has been designed to suit advanced photographers looking for high-performance products.

Pentax Introduces Much Anticipated Medium-Format Digital SLR Camera

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:57:10 EST

Hoya Corporation PENTAX Imaging Systems Division is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX 645D lens-interchangeable, medium-format digital SLR camera. Thanks to the incorporation of a large image sensor, equal in performance to professional-standard digital camera backs, this high-performance model delivers super-high-resolution images with approximately 40 effective megapixels. It also offers outstanding dependability and superb operability and maneuverability to make outdoor shooting effortless and comfortable for demanding photographers. According to DPReview.com the camera will initially only be available in Japan. Suggested retail price will be $9,400 U.S. (�850,000).

Digital Foci Launches Pearl White Photo Book at WPPI For the Wedding Market

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:48:46 EST

Digital Foci announced today that it will introduce a new Pearl White version of its popular Photo Book, a portable digital photo album with an 8-inch 800 x 600 digital LCD color screen and a large 4GB of internal memory at the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) Convention and Trade Show held March 8-10, 2010 in Las Vegas. Featuring a slim design encased in a soft leather-like case for a convenient, elegant photo display, Photo Book offers over 2.5 hours of battery life and an easy and portable way to enjoy and share digital photos in a comfortable setting.

Tamron Announces Development of 60th Anniversal Lens Model - 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Premium Tele Zoom

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

President and CEO Morio Ono of Tamron Co., Ltd., announced another advance in Tamron's pursuit of high resolution images in the telephoto lens category with the development of a 70-300mm F/4-5.6 telephoto zoom lens featuring image stabilization--VC (Vibration Compensation) and an ultrasonic auto-focus drive -- USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive). The SP AF70-300mm F4-5.6 Di VC USD (Model A005) high-resolution DSLR telephoto zoom lens has been produced first for the Nikon mount, with the development of compatible mounts for Canon and Sony to follow.

Zenfolio Offers Photographers Ability to Add Music and and Select & Share Photos

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:18:56 EST

Zenfolio Inc. today announced the addition of new offerings which provide users with a unique way to add music to their site, and select and share favorite photos. These new offerings were developed in direct response to the Zenfolio community's most requested features. Zenfolio users can now enhance their photo presentations by adding soundtracks to be played along with their images. Photographers can easily upload legally licensed songs for use on their Zenfolio web site. Music files can be selected to play when a visitor enters a photographer's portfolio home page, views customizable full-screen slideshows, or along with embedded slideshows on external web sites.

Kubota Image Tools Announces New Texture Tools and Sloppy Borders

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:26:15 EST

Kubota Image Tools announces today at the (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) WPPI Convention and Trade Show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, new Kubota Texture Tools. Also available are the Kubota Sloppy Borders being re-released now for use with the DASHBOARD interface for dramatically increased ease-of-use. These borders help photographers apply the classic look of old film to their images with creative borders ranging from elegantly thin, to eye-catching medium to bold, thick borders. Kubota Image Tools' exclusive DASHBOARD is a floating palette within Photoshop that acts like a mini search engine for actions. With the new DASHBOARD 3 Pro from Kubota Image Tools, photographers can find any action instantly, run any action instantly, keyword search actions, add descriptions to any action, mark favorite actions and use award-winning actions from Kubota Image Tools, or run their own actions and any actions from their collection.

Canon U.S.A. Announces a New Addition to it's Award-Winning Line of REALiS LCOS Projectors

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:00:25 EST

Canon today announced the launch of the REALiS SX7 Mark II Multimedia LCOS Projector. This new model combines the award-winning features of REALiS projectors with an impressive 4000 lumens of brightness and a Photo Image Mode to assist users with advanced color management and adjustments for ambient lighting conditions. The REALiS SX7 Mark II Multimedia LCOS Projector features advanced LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) technology with Canon's patented, proprietary AISYS (Aspectual Illumination System) Optical Engine. This advanced technology, combined with the projectors SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) native resolution and 4000 lumens of brightness, delivers extraordinary detailed, lattice-free motion and still images.

Pictage Unveils New Corporate Brand Identity and Tag Line as Company Embarks on Second Successful Decade of Operations

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:00:25 EST

Pictage.com today announced the launch of a major corporate rebranding campaign, which includes the introduction of an exciting new visual identity, an original and more focused tag line, a revamped company Web site, rebranded products and services, and an innovative trade show booth. Powered by the tag line "Empowering photographers. Enabling success.™," Pictage's new branding more clearly emphasizes the company's focus on and commitment to providing its members with the practical business tools, inspirational support, and artistic encouragement they need to be successful in their respective photography enterprises.

Adobe Photoshop.com Mobile Editor Now Available to Android Developers

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:58:27 EST

Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced that third-party application developers now have access to the Photoshop.com Mobile for Android 1.1 editor, allowing them to easily make it a part of their applications. In addition, Photoshop.com Mobile for Android™ 1.1 is available, providing users of the Google Mobile™ operating system with quick and easy photo-editing and sharing capabilities. Photoshop.com Mobile for Android 1.1 enhances the camera-phone experience by providing a collection of new editing effects. Adobe Photoshop.com Mobile for Android 1.1 is available as a free download in all countries with Android Market in English only.

Mamiya Introduces New DM40 Large-Sensor DSLR

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:22:13 EST

Mamiya today announced the addition of the new Mamiya DM40 to its lineup of professional large-sensor DSLRs. Featuring a resolution of 40 megapixels with a peak capture rate of .8 seconds per frame and a sustained capture rate of 60 frames per minute, the Mamiya DM40 is the industry's fastest large-sensor DSLR. The heart of the DM40 system is the new "DF" camera-core technology, developed by Mamiya, featuring two user-selectable shutter systems: leaf or focal plane. The Mamiya DM40 DSLR kit will be available in the U.S. at $21,990, including Mamiya 80mm f.2.8 D lens.

Canon Kicks off EOS 7D Instant Rebates

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 02:04:48 EST

Canon today announced instant rebates on the EOS 7D digital SLR as well as additional rebates when purchased with the Canon 70-300mm f/4 - 5.6 IS Lens. These are instant rebates that only authorized Canon dealers will be able to honor. You'll also be able to take advantage of the savings immediately without having to mail anything in.

Panasonic LUMIX G10 Announced - World's Lightest Interchangeable Lens System Camera with a Viewfinder

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:00:00 EST

Panasonic today introduces an addition to its Panasonic LUMIX G Series, the LUMIX DMC-G10, the world's lightest digital interchangeable lens camera with a viewfinder, which packs a host of advanced digital camera functions designed to be easy-to-use for users new to system cameras. The new compact and portable LUMIX G10, which can record 720p High Definition (HD) video in addition to high-quality still images, joins the LUMIX DMC-G2, also introduced today, as part of the Panasonic LUMIX G Series.

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-G2 Announced Today- World's First Interchangeable Lens System Camera with Touch Control

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:00:00 EST

Panasonic today announces the LUMIX DMC-G2, the world's first* digital interchangeable lens system camera with a movable LCD that allows for touch-control, and the successor to the award-winning LUMIX G1, which was the world's first Micro Four Thirds digital camera. The intuitive touch-control shooting elevates the camera's operability, letting the user adjust auto focus (AF) simply by touching the subject on the large 3.0-inch 460,000-dot high- resolution LCD. The LUMIX G2, also shoots 720p High Definition video using the AVCHD Lite format, and joins the LUMIX G10, also introduced today, as the latest models in the LUMIX G Micro System.