I’ve written an opinion piece on Pentax’s first foray into the large sensor mirrorless market, published on Camera-Enthusiast.com. Read it to find out what I really think…and it ain’t pretty!

Form over Function, or Why the Pentax K-01 Was a Bad Idea

Good light and good luck,

    —Miserere

Related posts:

1. Pentax Announce More Equipment
2. Pentax Finally Announce New Equipment
3. Speaking to Pentax at PhotoPlus Expo in New York

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The 3 new Lytro Cameras.

Some time ago, I posted about this new technology. The Lytro Camera. It certainly seemed very interesting and I posted some conjecture that it was a trick of software. Well now we can see for ourselves. It’s now available to buy and shipping in January 2012. See company web site below.

First impression is, wow this thing is small. How they pack this interesting evolution in cameras in such a small unit is impressive. Second thought was, I do hope this is available in some sort of SLR. They are clearly directing this toward the P&S shooter at this time. They comment a few times, about “Shutter Lag” claiming that it’s an issue of auto focus lag, which of course it isn’t. Focus lag (or focus time) certainly can slow your ability to get the shot you want but shutter lag is a P&S issue with the sensor turning on and off to capture the photo. Shutter lag isn’t an issue with a DSLR. Focus speed can be at times of course and add to the time it takes to capture the image.

On thing I very curious about is how do I create a shot that has a large DOF (depth of field)? It’s great that the user can choose what’s in focus but all the samples demonstrate this limited focus feature. Narrow DOF shoots are great but if I want to print the family shot taken at the annual summer gathering and I can only focus on one person, then the shot is pretty much useless for prints. We can only assume that multiple focus points can be combined in the software to create the large DOF shot where everything (near and far) is in focus.

If this is available as a “DSLR styled” camera, with interchangeable lenses and the ability to add a flash, remote wireless triggers and other add-on accessories at some point, this will be the end on DSLR’s as we know them. A big consideration for putting this camera engine in a DSLR would be the ability to use removable storage media. I feel a big limit with this camera is it only has internal storage and you have to download the photos off the camera once it’s full via USB to your computer. So are you going to carry a netbook or other computer with you on vacation to keep the memory available for more photos? Most won’t like this limitation.

As it stands now, the camera has very few controls, a slider zoom on the top, a shutter button, USB connection port and a power switch. The rear LCD is a touch screen that allows some viewing of images but due to the small size, won’t be something you would want to use to really see your shots. One missing feature for many P&S shooters is they do not mention video. Can this thing shoot video clips? Seems no at this point.

There’s a lot we don’t know. Can we stop the lens down somehow? What about close up (macro) shooting? How is this in low light is a big one. There are no specifications for ISO on their page. In fact if low light capture is processed in some new way or measured differently, they don’t mention a way to compare against today’s camera units. If you are taking pictures of the kids on Christmas morning with only the tree lights, will extra light be needed or a flash? It’s notable that no flash is built in. The web site is very sparse in details and that still makes me suspicious how good this camera is.

Another consideration is how these photos can be processed. Can Photoshop, Elements, Lightroom or the large number of Freeware programs edit these photos? They have a “3D” nature to them and I don’t know if it would be possible to edit them in conventional software. If all you can do is edit in their own software, then this camera will be fairly limited to the higher end user. The video above doesn’t tell us much about what the software does. It only mentions that you can choose the subject that will be in focus. Maybe you do that, then save the shot to be edited in other types of software. Also note that the images are square unlike the conventional 2:3 ratio of today’s cameras.

Will this replace today’s DSLR’s? No not yet by a long shot (pardon the pun). Will it draw in the P&S shooter, most certainly for some. If this gets broad acceptance and they develop or partner (I hope) with a DSLR/MILC maker who already has the accessories and lenses, then this could turn the camera market completely on it’s head. Imagine this in Fuji’s new X10? Now that would be a cool camera.

Oh and a note to the DSLR makers, if you are thinking of getting in a partnership with these guys, the one that does (all this assumes that this camera engine is everything they claim), will own the DSLR/MILC market. Until we understand the software and the other issues, much of where this will go is still speculation.

Visit the Lytro camera web site here
Cheers and good shooting
-Peter Zack

Related posts:

1. Lytro Cameras. A New Evolution in Technology?
2. Nikon D800, not the Camera We Wanted.
3. Fire Your Camera from Your iPhone

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Subtitle: Lesson learned, check the tide and stay close to your gear.

Not much I need to say as the video says it all, although you might suspect what’s about to happen. The photographer, Kurtis Hough was filming at Cannon Beach, Oregon, Pacific Coast, USA (how ironic is that!) with his Canon 5D MkII. We’ll let the video tell the rest of the story…

Cheers and good shooting (safely!!)
-Peter Zack

Ed. Note: Nikon wanted a piece of the action too; check it out:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUdB8kIzuEI

Related posts:

1. Fujifilm Introduces FinePix X100 Official Specs
2. Sony A33 and A55: Old Technology Put to New Use
3. Pentax Finally Announce New Equipment

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Alleged Nikon D800 (Image from PhotoRumors.com).

Nikon Rumors has released what they say is a photo of the real Nikon D800 (I’m doubtful the photos are real for a number of reasons – look at the red rubber on the grip for instance) and with the photo, they claim to have the actual specs. These specs have been rumoured on the internet for several months now. Since NR is claiming that these are the specs we’ll see in the new camera when it’s released (TBA), I figured it was time to now comment on how I see this new body. Plus it’s interesting to see what the forums have been saying as well.

It’s not a D700 replacement in any fashion, nor is it an upgrade. The D700 first was targeted at the advanced shooter who took photos of almost any subject from sports to landscapes and everything in between. Second it was an excellent wedding and portrait shooters camera. Great ISO at 3200, good ISO at 6400. Excellent AF, and the list goes on. Certainly when the camera was released in 2008, it was considered by many to be a landmark camera; partly because for the price, it offered so much to so many. In fact today, current owners and new owners still have very few complaints. If they wanted anything, it’s the never ending high ISO improvements we always want in every new camera. The other thing might have been a slightly higher resolution in case you wanted to make larger prints or crop a bit more. Other than that, it was a few tweaks here and there that most shooters wanted. To see my wish list, have a look at this article posted several months ago. From the comments we got then, it would seem that most prospective buyers wanted similar things in the new D800. Well, they didn’t get it.

So why do I think this is not a D700 replacement and the wrong camera? First I’m coming at this from a wedding shooter’s point of view and that’s what I do for a living. Second, I’m assuming that the NR specs are accurate. So based on that assumption, lets dive in.

1) Resolution is far too high. This will require a full computer upgrade, and honestly, can Lightroom handle files this big in an efficient manner? There are people all over the internet complaining that LR3 will freeze up and really slow down when asked to do certain tasks. For example, try cloning anything now. With a D700 file, if you clone more than 3-4 spots in one image, prepare to see the computer slow to a crawl. That’s on a 12MP file. What’s going to happen with a 36MP file?

2) File sizes are going to be an issue for anyone who shoots significant volumes. For myself, I fill a 1TB drive each wedding season. Plus I back that drive up just in case. So now instead of a 1TB drive and a 1 TB backup, I’ll need at least 3 + 3? Insane. Also, I now carry 48GB (in 8GB cards) worth of CF cards, Will I need 144GB? Or actually since the new camera is dual slot, 288GB? Even seeing a number like 144GB worth of memory cards on the screen has me shaking my head. (I’d never, ever put an entire wedding on one large card just in case).

3) Slower frame rates. With file sizes this big the camera is going to be much slower and the frame rate is reported to be at 4FPS. If that’s true, it’s a big drop from the D700. Also, if the frame rate is dropping that much, what will happen to the camera’s overall speed? Will the image render on the LCD take twice as long? Will the buffer take twice as much time to write to the card? In fact if the buffer is one millisecond slower than the current D700, then this camera is an out and out failure for the event shooter.

4) No improvement in high ISO. The camera’s range is 100-6400 which expands to 50-25,600. In fact I will bet that with this type of pixel density, the D700 will be better at 6400 than the new camera will. This is a huge disappointment. I, and I think most shooters, would have wanted a 2 stop improvement over the 4 year old camera that it’s supposed to be replacing.

5) Nikon dropped the ball on the new grip. I’ve long felt that the grip needed an AE-L button or better yet, a button that could be customized any way you wanted to. The grip isn’t much more than a battery holder with a shutter button. Also the ISO adjustment button is still in the worst possible spot and I can’t understand why Nikon doesn’t realize this button needs to be as easily accessible as the front and rear dials. In a camera that has good ISO6400, you need to be able to change ISO’s quickly without fumbling for the control button.

6) The rumoured price is 300,000 yen or around $3,899 USD. Really? Are you driving people to other brands on purpose? The D700 was and still is about $2500.00. The Canon 5DMkII is around $2300.00. If the D700 is gone and there’s no full-frame camera in the sub $3000.00 price range, then this is an epic failure.

I was thinking about these specs and wondering if I was alone in these opinions. If you look at the forums and use these as some gauge of potential buyers’ feelings, then this isn’t the camera they want either. Certainly almost everyone wanted more MP’s but around 18MP or at the very most 24MP, but no more than that. They wanted better high ISO, faster frame rates and most of the items on my earlier wish list. I was actually surprised how many expressed an opinion that they will keep their D700′s or even go out and buy one now to hang on to. In fact the only segment of shooters that seem to like this camera in any way are landscape shooters. That does make sense for them but not for many others.

The other thing I found interesting was the comments attached to the rumour article on the NR site. In very short order, it became a virtual fist fight over megapixels and sensor sizes, Nikon vs Canon and so on. There was no sense of joy that this could be the next Nikon product to walk on water. In fact, if the sentiment I got from most comments is right, then this camera needs a lifejacket. I won’t copy it here but my favourite post was from a guy named “Bill” who posted a short sentence on November 20, 2011 at 2:48 pm. It sums up my thoughts perfectly on why the D700 is still the camera to own. (If you don’t feel like hunting for the comment, it’s something to do with idiots wanting more megapixels while the rest shoot happily with what they now own.)

In fact I see this new camera as moving from the D3, D3s, D700 series of bodies to the D3x series. Maybe Nikon has something planned to actually upgrade the D700. I hope so but certainly not counting on it in the near future.

So I’ll keep enjoying my D700, maybe buy another sometime soon if the prices on D700′s don’t shoot through the roof. Sorry Nikon, this D800 is a complete failure to me if Nikon Rumors is right.

Cheers and good shooting
-Peter Zack

Ed. Note: SonyAlpha Rumors asked the question of whether 36MP were too many…and a similar war broke out.

Related posts:

1. CliQ 2011, Sept 6th: Nikon D800 Release? Here’s My Wishlist
2. Nikon Releases Their First APS-C Prime Lens for DX Cameras: AF-S 35mm f/1.8G
3. Nikon Instant Rebates on Cameras and Lenses

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by Peter Zack

The new Fuji X10 is the next in Fuji’s line of retro styled rangefinder cameras, following the very popular and successful X100 that turned heads everywhere in the photography world. From everything I’ve read, including comments on our site, the one thing people wanted was either interchangeable lenses or some type of zoom. Well Fuji addressed this (sort of) in the new X10. It looks like a great camera in almost every respect, the one factor that might disappoint many shooters waiting for an upgrade to a more flexible lens platform is the sensor. It’s more in line with a compact than a more ‘serious’ DSLR style sensor.

The new camera is due to hit the shelves in November this year and so far I haven’t seen the street price as of this writing. The X10 has a new pop up flash that has an approximate range of 23 feet. It offers 7 FPS at full resolution or 10 FPS using the medium or lower resolution settings. The focus system is 49-point matrix contrast AF supports RAW capture. The rear screen is a 2.8-inch 460K dot LCD screen and the camera has a 1080p movie mode.

It sports a 12 MP 2/3-inch EXR CMOS sensor which equates to approx 1/4 the size of a full frame 35mm sensor. This is a bit of a downgrade from the APS-c sensor found in the X100. The big upgrade is the ED, 4 x optical zoom lens that is 7.1 – 28.4 mm which is the approximate equivalent to 28 – 112 mm on a 35 mm camera and is both auto and manual focus. This lens features optical lens stabilization and is quite fast for a zoom at F2.0 (@ 7.1mm) – F2.8 (@28.4mm) and as you can see from the photos, it’s very compact. The zoom lens also supports a 2x digital converter. The lens extends to approximately double the length when zoomed out from from the size you see in the photo below.
ISO range of 100 to 12,800 and shutter speed range of 30 seconds to 1/4000th and many other features listed below from the Fuji website.

From the Fuji web site:

Specifications:
Model Name X10
Number of effective pixels*1 12.0 million pixels
Image sensor 2/3-inch EXR CMOS with primary color filter
Storage media

SD / SDHC / SDXC(UHS-I) memory card*2

File format

still image
JPEG (Exif Ver 2.3)*3, RAW (RAF format), RAW + JPEG
(Design rule for Camera File system compliant / DPOF-compatible)
movie
H.264 (MOV) with Stereo sound

Number of recorded pixels L : (4:3) 4000 x 3000 / (3:2) 4000 x 2664 / (16:9) 4000 x 2248 / (1:1) 2992 x 2992
M : (4:3) 2816 x 2112 / (3:2) 2816 x 1864 / (16:9) 2816 x 1584 / (1:1) 2112 x 2112
S : (4:3) 2048 x 1536 / (3:2) 2048 x 1360 / (16:9) 1920 x 1080 / (1:1) 1536 x 1536

360° Vertical 11520 x 1624 Horizontal 11520 x 1080
300° Vertical 9600 x 1624 Horizontal 9600 x 1080
240° Vertical 7680 x 1624 Horizontal 7680 x 1080
180° Vertical 5760 x 1624 Horizontal 5760 x 1080
120° Vertical 3840 x 1624 Horizontal 3840 x 1080

Lens

name
Fujinon 4 x optical zoom lens
focal length
f=7.1 – 28.4 mm, equivalent to 28 – 112 mm on a 35 mm camera
full-aperture
F2.0 (Wide) – F2.8 (Telephoto)
constitution
9 groups 11 lenses (3 aspherical glass molded lenses included)

Digital zoom Intelligent digital zoom (approx. 2X)
Aperture F2.0-F11(Wide)
F2.8-F11(Telephoto) 1/3EV step (controlled 7-blade aperture diaphragm)
Focus distance
(from lens surface)

Normal
Wide : Approx. 50 cm / 1.6 ft. to infinity
Telephoto : Approx. 80 cm / 2.6 ft. to infinity
Macro
Wide : Approx. 10 cm – 3.0 m / 0.3 ft. – 9.8 ft.
Telephoto : Approx. 50 cm – 3.0 m / 1.6 ft. – 9.8 ft.
Super Macro
Approx. 1.0 cm – 1.0 m / 0.4 in. – 3.3 ft

Sensitivity Auto / Equivalent to ISO 100 / 200 / 250 / 320 / 400 / 500 / 640 / 800 / 1000 / 1250 / 1600 / 2000 / 2500 / 3200 / 4000* / 5000* / 6400* / 12800* (Standard Output Sensitivity)

* ISO4000 / 5000 / 6400 : M mode or lower, ISO12800 : S mode

Exposure control TTL 256-zones metering, Multi / Spot / Average
Exposure mode Programmed AE, Aperture Priority AE, Shutter Priority AE, Manual
Shooting modes

SP
Natural Light, Natural Light & Flash, Portrait, Portrait Enhancer, Landscape, Sport, Night, Night (Tripod), Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Party, Flower, Text, Underwater
MODE DIAL
EXR, AUTO, P, S, A, M, C1, C2, Movie, SP, Adv.

Image stabilizer Lens shift type
Face detection Yes
Exporsure compensation -2.0EV – +2.0EV 1/3EV step
Shutter speed (Auto mode) 1/4 sec. to 1/4000* sec., (All other modes) 30 sec. to 1/4000* sec.
* 1/4000 sec. at small aperture, 1/1000 sec. at full aperture
Continuous shooting

TOP
Super High : approx. 10 fps (Size M, S)
High : approx. 7 fps (Size L, M, S)
Middle : approx. 5 fps (Size L, M, S)
Low : approx. 3 fps (Size L, M, S)
*SD memory card with a class 4 write speed (4 MB/sec.) or better is recommended.
*Maximum frame number for each continuous shooting mode is limited.
others
Best Frame capture :
Super High : approx. 10 fps 8 / 16 frames (Size M, S)
High : approx. 7 fps 8 frames (Size L, M, S) / 16 frames (Size M, S)
Middle : approx. 5 fps 8 frames (Size L, M, S) / 16 frames (Size M, S)
Low : approx. 3 fps 8 frames (Size L, M, S) / 16 frames (Size M, S)

Auto bracketing AE Bracketing : ±1/3EV, ±2/3EV, ±1EV
Film Simulation Bracketing : PROVIA / STANDARD, Velvia / VIVID, ASTIA / SOFT
Dynamic Range Bracketing : 100%, 200%, 400%
ISO Sensitivity Bracketing : ±1/3EV, ±2/3EV, ±1EV

Focus
mode
Single AF / Continuous AF (EXR AUTO, Movie),
Manual AF (One-push AF mode included)
type
TTL contrast AF, AF assist illuminator available
AF frame selection
Multi, Area, Tracking

White balance Automatic scene recognition
Preset : Fine, Shade, Fluorescent light (Daylight), Fluorescent light (Warm White), Fluorescent light (Cool White), Incandescent light, Underwater, Custom, Color temperature selection

Self-timer 10 sec. / 2 sec. delay

Flash Auto flash (super intelligent flash)
Effective range : (ISO AUTO (800))
Wide : Approx. 50 cm – 7.0 m / 1.6 ft. – 22.9 ft.
Telephoto : Approx. 80 cm – 5.0 m / 2.6 ft. – 16.4 ft.
Flash modes Red-eye removal OFF : Auto, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Slow Synchro.
Red-eye removal ON : Red-eye Reduction Auto, Red-eye Reduction & Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Red-eye Reduction & Slow Synchro.
Hot shoe Yes

Viewfinder Optical zoom viewfinder
Approx. 85% coverage
Diopter adjustment : -3.5 – +1.5 m-1(dpt)

LCD monitor 2.8-inch, approx. 460,000 dots, TFT color LCD monitor, approx. 100% coverage

Movie recording 1920 x 1080 pixels / 1280 x 720 pixels / 640 x 480 pixels (30 frames / sec.) with stereo sound
Optical zoom (manual) can be used.

Photography functions EXR mode (EXR Auto / Resolution priority / High ISO & Low noise priority / Dynamic range priority), Face recognition, Face Detection, Auto red-eye removal, Film simulation, Framing guideline, Frame No. memory, Histogram display, Best frame capture, Advanced mode (Motion panorama360, Pro focus, Pro low light), High Speed Movie (70 / 120 / 200 frames/sec.), Electronic level, One-touch RAW, Advanced Anti Blur

Playback functions Face Detection, Auto red-eye removal, Multi-frame playback (with micro thumbnail), Protect, Crop, Resize, Slide show, Image rotate, Voice memo, Histogram display, Exposure warning, Photobook assist, Image search, Favorites, Mark for upload, Panorama, Erase selected frames, RAW conversing

Other functions PictBridge, Exif Print, 35 Languages, Time difference, Silent mode

Terminal
Video output
NTSC / PAL selectable with Monaural sound
Digital interface
USB 2.0 High-Speed
HDMI output
HDMI Mini connector

Other specifications:
NP-50 Li-ion battery (included)
CP-50 with AC power adapter AC-5VX (sold separately)
Dimensions 117.0(W) x 69.6(H) x 56.8(D) mm / 4.6(W) x 2.7(H) x 2.2(D) in.
Weight Approx. 350 g / 12.3 oz. (including battery and memory card)
Approx. 330 g / 11.6 oz. (excluding battery and memory card)
Operating Temperature 0°C – 40°C
Operating Humidity 10% – 80% (no condensation)
Accessories included Li-ion battery NP-50
Battery charger BC-45W
Shoulder strap
Lens cap
USB cable
CD-ROM
Owner’s manual
Optional accessories Li-ion battery NP-50
Battery charger BC-45W
A / V cable AV-C1
Lens hood LH-X10
Leather case LC-X10
Shoe Mount Flash EF-42 / EF-20
AC power adapter AC-5VX
DC coupler CP-50

*1 Number of effective pixels: The number of pixels on the image sensor which receive input light through the optical lens, and which are effectively reflected in the final output data of the still image.
*2 Please see the Fujifilm website to check memory card compatibility.
*3 Exif 2.3 is a digital camera file format that contains a variety of shooting information for optimal printing.

Cheers and good shooting
-Peter Zack

Related posts:

1. DPR Previews the Fuji X100
2. Is the Fuji X100 Really that Expensive?
3. Don’t Miss Zack Arias’s FREE Online Workshop Tomorrow

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The other title I had in mind was A New 570MP Camera…We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Computer, because the first thing I think about when some idiot misguided camera company releases a higher megapixel camera is how I’d have to buy a new computer and more disk space, making said camera even more expensive.

Luckily, it’s US taxpayers paying for this little baby and its associated hardware, so I have almost 300 million other people to share the cost between. Which is good, because you also need a new tripod for this camera because it weighs a tonne…literally!

What I’m talking about is the DECam, short for Dark Energy Camera, which will be mounted on a telescope in Cerro Tololo, Chile, and stare out at a bunch of some 300 million galaxies over 5 years in search of the signatures of Dark Energy. Its 570 megapixels are spread out over 74 individual CCDs tweaked to be sensitive to the dim light from galaxies that are so far away they appear redder than they would if they were up close and personal. And by “far away” I mean 7 billion light-years!

Find out a lot more at the Dark Energy Survey page.

Good light and good luck,

    —Miserere

Related posts:

1. The New Sony A77 and A65 Heat up the Camera Market and Megapixel Race
2. My New Street Camera: The Yashica EZ F521
3. Lytro Camera Is Now Here and Not What I Expected.

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Today Sony announced 2 new Alpha series DSLR’s in the A77 and A65 models that will be due for shipping in October. These cameras feature the Sony Translucent Mirror Technology with APS-C sized sensors. Both have increased high ISO capabilities such as the A77 at: ISO 100 – 1600, ISO 100-12800 selectable with upper or lower limit and the A65 even goes to ISO 16,000. Both have full movie capabilities and flip style LCD’s as well.

One feature I fine very interesting is the veiwfinder and the ability to customize it’s display. From the Sony web site:
“Both cameras showcase a remarkably crisp OLED Tru-Finder™ viewfinder, the world’s first of its kind. With a 2359k dot (XGA) resolution, this precision electronic viewfinder offers a bright, highly detailed, high contrast image with 100 percent frame coverage and a wide field of view comparable to the most advanced class optical viewfinders.

However, unlike optical viewfinders, users have expansive customization capabilities through the XGA OLED Tru-Finder™ viewfinder and can preview the effects of adjusting exposure, white balance and other settings in real-time. Photographers can also make fine focus adjustments via a zoomed-in portion of the image.”

The A77 and A65 offer a 24.3 MP APSc sensor and a very fast continuous shooting rate of 12 frames per second (the A65 is 10/fps) when in Continuous Advance Priority AE.

Prices on the A77 are reported as: $1399 and $899 for the A65 (subject to change)

I guess the megapixel race continues…..

A few other key features of the A77:
24.3 effective megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor and enhanced BIONZ processor
Magnesium alloy and plastic exterior (A77) and Plastic A65
12 frames/second at full resolution with full-time phase-detection autofocus (A65 10fps shooting speed)
19 point autofocus with 11 cross sensors
Full 1080p video
3-inch tilt/swivel LCD, 921,000 dots
Built in GPS
TTL 19-point phase detection AF system with 11 cross sensors (A65 15-point with 3 cross sensors)
Top status LCD on A77, none on A65
Maximum shutter speed A77 1/8000th and A65 1/4000th

You can read and see more about these cameras here: Sony press release

Cheers and good shooting
-Peter Zack

Related posts:

1. The Megapixel Race Isn’t Over: Meet the 570MP Camera!
2. Sony A33 and A55: Old Technology Put to New Use
3. Sony to Go 100% Translucent, so Allow Me to Be Transparent

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by Justin Serpico

Are you enjoying photography, or do you just enjoy the technology behind what photography has turned into? That really is a question I wonder about these days.

Although photographers have always debated the various options in brands, film/sensor formats, lens choices and so on, it seems to have become almost a cancer to both the art and the profession.

Obviously, the right gear for the job is important. And obviously, spending your hard earned dollars on the absolute best equipment is important. After all, some pieces of camera equipment cost as much as a semester at a community college and quite a few things might set you back more than an economy car will. And when it comes to lenses, those are the real investment. A good lens will take years of abuse and be mounted on many different cameras as technology evolves.

But the question comes back to, how often do you need to evolve with technology? Just because a camera model is released, doesn’t mean your old one isn’t capable of producing great images. Were you happy with it yesterday? Does the new camera address what you were unhappy with in such a way that your complaints are satisfied? If not, then why upgrade?

So don’t take my statements the wrong way, I definitely understand the basic idea of gear focused photography debate; but I feel like right now gear is photography, and the image has become secondary.

I think people spend more time worrying about gear, worrying about technology, than worrying about their own images or skills as a photographer.

You’ll sometimes see or hear things like, “my new camera is going to have me shooting like a pro.” And then there are the camera companies and magazines. They always recommend you start with a “beginner” camera and work your way up to something better. Why? Cause it means buying 2-3 times.

The reality of photography is that for the last 50 years the core of it is the same. Find good light, a good subject, and have an eye for putting both together into an emotionally compelling image. Then set the camera to whatever settings are required to allow the light-proof box to capture the image as you intended it to be viewed.

“The light-proof box”: Even in 2011, a camera, at its core ,is just a light-proof box. The photographer, an artist, if he or she is any good at all, is who creates the image that you look at—it’s not the camera.

One of my pet peeves is that photography is perceived to be about capturing reality. The photographer is then reduced to a glorified button pressing primate in the minds of the masses. In many ways it is perhaps the most realistic of the arts. Isn’t photography where the saying, “photographs don’t lie” came from? However, it’s not that clear cut. Even journalists often put artistic spin on the scenes they capture; portrait photographers certainly do. The great landscapes you often see in magazines, even if no colored filters or HDR techniques were used, rarely are simply a snapshot of the scene in front of the photographer. Finding the right light and angles, the right focal length to flatter the subject, the proper aperture to expand or reduce the viewer’s sight lines, and using filtration to (realistically) expand dynamic range on the film/sensor are all key in creating a pleasing image. Of course, though I’m not a huge fan, there are ways to “unrealistically” create expanded dynamic range (HDR). But like the differences in painting styles, such as impressionism or abstract or photorealism, who is to say it is less photographically correct than non HDR.

And there we go, we are now talking about photography and the photograph, not the camera and the equipment. Nice, isn’t it?

The fact is, unless your photography is based around the fringe capabilities of camera technology, perhaps high ISO shooting, chances are a new camera isn’t going to make the difference you want in your shooting. The funny thing is, technology actually created this burning need for high ISO capabilities. 15 years ago, most photographers were good with a max ISO 400 film. Those of us shooting in the natural world were pretty happy with 50, 64, and 100 ISO emulsions, which we pushed when needed. A good 800 or 1600 emulsion was used only when needed and often the tool of a journalist whose images were generally printed on the lowest quality paper anyway.

Today, if a camera isn’t capable of taking fine art type shots at 800, people consider it a piece of junk. But is it really? What if you don’t shoot very often above ISO 400, is that camera really ready for the scrap heap? You probably got brain washed into thinking it is. And yes, I understand that technology has allowed people to capture images not possible 15 years ago. Oddly enough, for some people, something as simple as the iPhone has allowed them to expand their photography. While I’m no fan of Apple, I have seen some impressive images from that smartphone. These are images that probably weren’t possible 15 years ago either. So technology isn’t all bad, sometimes it enables the art to grow, often though it becomes the sole focus. The question always is, will the newest technology allow you to capture images you want to capture?

So what the hell am I trying to tell you? Never buy a new camera? Pick up your grandma’s Brownie and load it up with (gasp) film? Just give up and quit photography because you can’t keep up with technology? No, none of the above. I’m saying put down the magazines, take a break from the forum technology threads, but certainly continue talking photography techniques. Stop visiting blogs that focus totally on technology, stop questioning if the camera is the issue, and go out and work on your photography. If you are the type of person that worries more if your gear is up to snuff than your photographs, you need to definitely think about this little rant. See the photo at the top? It was taken with a P&S Samsung TL500/EX1 (read my review); would it have been better if I’d taken in with an $8,000 camera?

Finally, don’t wimp out with the two common excuses you see on these internets. First, “I need to focus on my gear because I am hoping to turn pro in the future.” Great, you can be another talentless “professional” who prominently links to the gear section on the main page of your website, no doubt it will be filled with professional gear from the best brands. All the while, your photo samples are filled with images that should have been in the recycle bin or waste basket. Do they look better because you shot them with brand X or Y? Of course not. There is nothing wrong, although perhaps nothing relevant either, with mentioning your gear selection, but it shouldn’t be more important than your art.

Secondly, almost as bad, the “well, I’m just a lowly amateur, I don’t have to care about my images. I’m not getting paid for them and I’m not trying to impress anyone.” And if art was about getting paid, we’d have very few artists in the world.

It’s not about impressing people, it’s about taking pride in what you are doing and what you are attaching your name to. It’s about having a passion for photography. There is nothing I hate more than people diminishing their images because they aren’t working for National Geographic or Sports Illustrated. It’s almost like, “I don’t have to be any good, so why bother!” If you apply that to everything in life, you probably lead a miserable life. Imagine being a crappy parent just because you aren’t some parenting guru. Or not trying to hit the ball just because you aren’t playing professionally. I mean it’s just a summer softball league, who cares! What a cop out! Take a little pride, employ a little passion, there is no shame in having a hobby.

In the end, it’s about being passionate and having pride. Both those things will lead you to being a better photographer, long before that new camera or lens will.

All photos: ©Justin Serpico.

Justin Serpico is a freelance writer and photographer specializing in commercial, sports, adventure, and travel photography. He has a passion for protecting the wild landscapes seen through the lens of his camera.

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Taking the same image from thier site and using the focus control to focus the front flower on the left version and the rear right flower on the right version.

Is this a new evolution in cameras or a gimmick in post processing (in camera)? It’s too early to tell and the web site (link below) info is a bit thin.

The claim is you don’t have to even focus the shot taken by the camera. You can take the shot and focus the image as you like after it’s been taken. From the web site: No fuss focus; Click away. Shoot first, focus after. That’s right, after. You can’t miss. If you go to the web page, the picture gallery has images you can click on to refocus the shot displayed. OK, call me a skeptic, they don’t show the camera and there is no real deeper explanation of what’s happening or being done to achieve this. It could simply be a little software on the web site that takes a shot with a great depth of field that is blurred. Then you click on a spot to bring the focus back. I’m no techie but I’m waiting for a bit more data and proof of what this camera is reported to be doing.

Putting my opinion to the side, if this is indeed a new breed of sensor and camera design, it’s going to change cameras as we know them. Dr Ng, who wrote his thesis on how to create a single “Light Field” camera that until now would require upwards of 100 cameras connected to a super computer. As I understand it, the theory being that each camera offers a different field of view of the same scene and all the images are combined to create the single, final image. These cameras capture the entire light field of that scene.

Light field theory is a well established scientific pursuit and has been studied for a century. The (very) basic idea is that there’s much more light in a scene than the angle of view a singe lens or any single pickup device can gather. Light is all around a scene, front, sides, back, top and bottom. The camera that Lytro is reporting to have created can capture much of this missing (from any previous camera) light.

A similar refocus of the same image with even more dramatic results.

The resulting image can be refocused on a computer by clicking on the spot you want in focus. Other benefits are the camera speed is improved because the camera does not need to focus the shot. The camera is better in low light since all of the available light is being captured. The image captured can be displayed in a 2D or 3D format.

Lytro was founded in 2006 by Dr Ren Ng, whose research and thesis in light field photography won best PhD dissertation in computer science at Stanford in 2006 as well as winning the worldwide Association for Computing Machinery award.

I’ll wait and see more data and proof but I do hope this technology does come to market with all the promise the claims suggest. This one could be something to watch. It certainly could render millions of cameras as obsolete as the vinyl record.

Try it for yourself, just click on any spot of the image you want in focus:

Visit Lytro for more information.

Cheers and good shooting
-Peter Zack

Related posts:

1. Lytro Camera Is Now Here and Not What I Expected.
2. Sony A33 and A55: Old Technology Put to New Use
3. Nikon Instant Rebates on Cameras and Lenses

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Nikon D800 as imagined by some unknown internet Photoshop aficionado.

by Peter Zack

The internet is rife with speculation that the D700 replacement will be released in late August, prior to CliQ 2011 (the new name for the PMA show this year). Or maybe it’s going to be in March or April; I’ve lost track. As amazing as the D3 series cameras are, I’d suggest that the D700 is really the flagship camera (in sales terms) for the Nikon FX line (full frame cameras with a 24x36mm sensor). The D700 far outsells the more expensive big brothers and is Nikon’s answer to competing FF bodies (namely the Canon 5D line). For many shooters looking at a pro specification body, they have no need to look beyond this model. Personally, as a wedding photographer with the D700, I’ve often looked at the D3s as a ’want’ but knowing I don’t really ‘need’ anything better than what the D700 offers. Well, maybe an extra stop or two in ISO… Of course, every camera can be improved, and there are a few things I’d like upgraded on the D700, which is why I’m writing this article.

Before I put out my wish list, I’d also speculate that like the new D7000, the D700 replacement body will be sold out much of the time for the first few months after it hits the shelves. If you really want a D800, preorder it as soon as the stores start taking orders; if not, then you’ll be like me and spend the next year happily shooting with the gear you already own.

The zero item on the wish list is simple: Nikon D700′s are becoming out of stock now at various retailers (still available at B&H for $2,400), so please Nikon, a roadmap for the new bodies. Tell us the release dates and the models—will it be the D4 and D400 this Spring, and the D800 in the Fall? Or maybe the reverse? I think it makes more sense to release the D4 and D400 sooner because a significantly upgraded D800 would kill D3s sales this summer. Of course, that didn’t factor in to the release of the D7000 which has directly impacted the sales of the D300s.

Following is what I think we could see in a new D800 intermingled with a few things I, personally, would like to see. I certainly don’t think we’ll see even 50% of this in the new camera, otherwise there would be little left for the D4, but dreaming is fun…and free!

1. Move the ISO button. Please, Nikon, this is a critical part of exposure. We’ll probably see a D800 with D3s low-light abilities and shooters will be changing ISO as much as they change aperture in tough light. The current button placement on the left side is just plain awkward and slow to use. With the current layout, you can’t hold the camera in the proper way for a steady shot and change ISO at the same time. If you add an off camera flash (like a Stroboframe) on the ISO side of the body, forget it—you’re taking the camera from your eye to change ISO. The ISO button needs to be within easy reach of your right hand so you can change settings while looking through the VF and keep the left hand in its correct place for shooting..
2. Low ISO. Yeah, you read that right: I want ISO 25. Not everyone enjoys carrying around a handful of ND filters everywhere they go.
3. Weather seal on the mount. It would be great to have an “O” ring designed into the camera’s lens mount that would seal any lens to the body.
4. Quiet mode and quiet shutter. Since this is often a wedding shooter’s camera, the shutter needs to be quieter.
5. Additional shooting mode. If this camera can do very clean higher ISO, I’d like to see a shooting mode that defaults to ISO adjustment when changing either (or both) aperture and shutter. So the user sets an acceptable ISO range that defaults to the lowest ISO and the camera would increase ISO as needed to get the shutter speed required for a blur free shot. Call it SAI (Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and ISO adjust).
6. Reset button for optimal exposure. How about a button that allows the camera to reset to the best aperture, shutter speed and ISO for the given exposure. This could be a multi-function button and programmable. It could also be the ISO adjustment button. Just put it near the shutter release. A good spot for this could be on the side under pop-up flash.
7. ISO 102,400. You may never use it this high and most shooters will use the lowest ISO they can to get the shot, but high ISO can be critical in lower light and shooting sports, particularly indoors. It’s the new megapixel race and this camera needs it this high, especially when there are APS-C cameras like the Pentax K-5 that can shoot at this ISO.
8. Add GPS geotagging to the new grip. Or WiFi to download cards without removing the card or using a connection cable. Maybe make the MB-D10 compatible with the new body and offer a second grip with these additional features as an option for shooters that want it.
9. New sensor at around 18-20MP. Let’s not sacrifice good noise handling for resolution, but a high MP sensor would aid greatly with cropping and enlarging. I hope the MP wars are over and some huge sensor isn’t needed, just better than the current 12MP. With a new sensor, increase the CPU speed for even faster response times.
10. 100% Viewfinder. Combined with a higher res sensor, less cropping will be required if you get exactly what you framed in the shot when it was taken. You’re going to get all the sensor resolution has to offer if you don’t have to crop out unwanted extras along the edge of the frame.
11. Video du jour. It’s all the rage, right? Who doesn’t want a still camera to shoot video [insert sarcastic tone]? Full HD, 1080p video with adjustable frame rates. I don’t care about this but there’s no point in swimming up-stream. Video is here to stay and if so, let’s have it as good as possible. We should also be able to change aperture in video mode.
12. Improved AF in Live View. Like the new D7000. For shooting without the VF and for video, this is critical.
13. Articulated screen. Not something I want but I think the new camera should have this feature. It’s helpful when shooting video, macros and over your head.
14. Improved metering. Use the new metering system from theD7000. Or bring out a new one to further differentiate the 2 models.
15. Dual card slots. Keep the CF card slot and possibly offer a second slot as CF or SD to keep the size from increasing. If it’s possible to squeeze a second CF card slot in the same sized body, then great, as I think most shooters would prefer dual CF cards.
16. Higher frame rate. I’m sure someone wants more FPS. More is better, right?
17. Bracket button. With -/+ 1/3 stop adjustments, please. Put it where the ISO button was (we’re moving the ISO to the other side of the body, remember?), and make it a programmable bracketing button.

Oh, have you heard the rumour that this camera will have a dealer-replaceable sensor carriage? Nikon might have a patent for this but I’d be shocked if this becomes available. Imagine if most of the above were available and you could order a new sensor in 2 years. Would you buy another body before this one died from mechanical failure? I doubt it. As cool as this option could be, it’s a recipe for future sales volumes to drop significantly. But if they do it, I’ll take an 18MP dedicated B&W sensor that hits ISO 25 please.

What improvements or changes do you want to see in the new D700 replacement? Do you agree/disagree with my requests? Leave your comments below and let’s have a discussion about it. Maybe Nikon’s listening, you never know!

Cheers and good shooting
-Peter Zack

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Related posts:

1. Nikon D800, not the Camera We Wanted.
2. Nikon Instant Rebates on Cameras and Lenses
3. Nikon Releases Their First APS-C Prime Lens for DX Cameras: AF-S 35mm f/1.8G

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© Peter Zack for Enticing the Light, 2011. All rights reserved, do not reproduce without permission. | Read article with proper formatting.