Topaz B&W Effects Plug-in Released, Brief Hands-On Report

Topaz Labs’ latest plug-in, B&W Effects, is now available for Photoshop, Lightroom, Aperture or Photoshop Elements.
B&W Effects is equipped with a number of presets that provide you with a solid starting point for generating a black and white image.  You can also create a black and white image using only the manual controls – or do something in between by tweaking the preset to your liking.
I’ve been using a beta version of the software for a couple of weeks now and, while I don’t produce a lot of black and white images in my day-to-day workflow, B&W Effects’ presets pointed me in the right direction and made me feel much more comfortable working in a black and white environment.
On most of the images I’ve used in B&W Effects, I used a preset as a starting point and then used the manual settings and parameters panel to customize the image to my liking.

Topaz BW Effects Controls

Once you’ve picked a preset, the starting point to get the “look” your after is found in the “Conversion” panel. Beyond the Basic Exposure settings is the Adaptive Exposure sub-panel that gives you sliders for Adaptive Exposure, Regions, Protect Highlights, Protect Shadows, Detail and Detail Boost.  All of these sliders seem to be the real meat of the creative transformations between color and black & white photos.  The Adaptive Exposure and Detail sliders are impressively powerful at changing the overall look of the image.
Here are a few sample images that I converted using a beta version of the software.

Original Image

Topaz BW Effects Sample Edit

Topaz BW Effects Sample Edit w/ Color Transparency

One of the things I really liked was the transparency slider under the “Finishing Touches” panel, which brings back just a little bit of color and provides what I found to be rather pleasant character to a lot of black and white images.

Topaz BW Effects Sample Edit w/ Border

You can also easily add a black or white border in a variety of sizes.

Topaz BW Effects Sample Edit

Topaz BW Effects Eggplant Dynamic Preset

Topaz BW Effects Sample Image

Topaz BW Effects Sample Edit

Topaz BW Effects - Cool Tone Smooth II Preset

Additionally, you can dodge, burn and selectively color to local portions of your images with controls for strength, brush size, hardness and edge aware.  Edge Aware is a smart tool that looks for edges of objects within your image so you don’t spill color onto unintended portions of the image.
There are loads of other controls that I’m not going to get it into; however, if black and white is your thing (or if you want some help on making better black and white images), Topaz B&W Effects is definitely worth a look.  You can find user guides and tutorial videos on Topaz’s B&W Effects product page.
Topaz is offering B&W Effects at an introductory price of $29.99 through 9/18/11 (use the coupon code “bwandbeyond” at checkout).  After that, the retail price will be $59.99.  You can also download a free trial to give it a look under the hood before you commit.

Akvis HDRFactory v.2.0

Akvis HDRFactory v2.0 is a program thatcreates HDR images from a series of photographs taken at different exposures or from a single photograph. The latest version introduces the new Effects tab allowing you to refine the look of your photos even further. Additionally, version 2.0 offers 34 ready-to-use presets. These presets include a wide choice of effects, ranging from realistic to exuberant brightness and colour.The presets are available in all three tabs (HDRI, Adjustment, and Effects) and contain all settings of these tabs. They can be applied with default settings, but they can also be fine-tuned to suit individual tastes. Finally, the new Preset Preview window lets you observe the result in real time. Registered users can upgrade to version 2.0 for free.
Akvis Press Release
AKVIS HDRFactory v.2.0: A Fast And Easy Way To Add The HDR Effect To Any Photo!
Get Amazing Results With The New Styles And Presets!
August 31, 2011 - AKVIS is proud to announce the release of AKVIS HDRFactory v.2.0. AKVIS HDRFactory creates HDR images from a series of photographs taken at different exposures or from a single photograph. You can come very close to reality or even go beyond it by creating stylized images with fabulous colors and unique effects. The latest version introduces an Effects with parameters which help to add a glow effect to an image, darken or lighten image edges, and add warm or cold tints.
Often you will see a breathtaking, dramatic scene which you want to capture with your camera, but your camera just cannot do it justice. Once you have transferred the photo to your computer and see it on your monitor, it just doesn’t look like you remembered. While the sky may be bright, the subtle details in shadows are gone, and objects in the dark areas of the photo are not discernable at all. No digital camera, no matter the quality, can reproduce what the human eye can see. In fact, the human eye can perceive 100 million colors and shades at a time, while a camera can distinguish only between 16,8 million colors, which is 6 times less.
Thankfully, HDRI technology makes it possible to return these details back to your photos. AKVIS HDRFactory uses this technology to create an HDR image from a series of photographs or even from a single photo. It can bridge the gap between what your eyes can see and what your digital camera can record.
AKVIS HDRFactory is a versatile program for creating High Dynamic Range images and making photo correction. HDRFactory creates HDR photos (images with high dynamic range) by combining several images of the same object taken with different exposure values. The result is an expressive contrasting image that reflects reality with a higher level of authenticity than a simple snapshot.
The name of the program can be taken literally, as AKVIS HDRFactory is a real workshop for the production of fascinating HDR images. With AKVIS HDRFactory you can come very close to reality and even go beyond it by creating stylized images with fabulous colors and unique effects.
The software in Deluxe and Business variants offers a special feature - the Ghost Removal tool which helps to repair the so-called “ghosts” that sometimes appear when creating an HDR image. These “unwelcome guests” (semi-transparent doubled passersby, cars, tree leaves, etc) are a result of combining a series of source photos that contain moving objects. HDRFactory will help you to remove these artifacts without a trace.
AKVIS HDRFactory can also imitate the HDR effect using only one photo by creating a pseudo-HDR. This technique is useful if you don’t have a series of images with different exposures. Just load a single image into AKVIS HDRFactory and admire the effect which goes beyond photo realism and opens the door into the fascinating world of HDR.
AKVIS HDRFactory brings life and color to your photos! HDRFactory can also be used for photo correction. You can adjust color saturation and brightness, and bring out the detail in dark and bright areas.
Version 2.0 introduces the new Effects tab. With the parameters under this tab you can refine the look of your photos even further. Now the software offers a wide range of effects to fit any taste!
You can adjust the mood of a photo by changing its color temperature from a cool to warm appearance or change the photo’s tint. You can create a realistic effect or go for something more creative and stylish. You can also add a glow to your image for a glamorous touch.
Other parameters under the Effects tab permit you to add a vignette to your photo. The appearance of the vignette can be adjusted to your taste. It can be light or dark, have rounded or square edges, or hard of soft borders. This effect is useful when you want to draw attention to particular subjects or objects in a scene, or just to create the perfect mood.
The new version offers 34 ready-to-use presets. These presets include a wide choice of effects, ranging from realistic to exuberant brightness and color. With such a great variety of choices you will certainly be able to find just the look you want, whether you want reality or to push beyond it.
The presets are available in all three tabs (HDRI, Adjustment, and Effects) and contain all settings of these tabs. The presets can be applied in their initial version or can be modified. First you can try AKVIS presets and then create your own exclusive variations.
The new Preset Preview window lets you observe the result in real time. Now, when moving a cursor over a preset in the drop-down list, the quick result appears in the quick preview window over the image window. It saves you time and make the selection of the presets easier.
The Post Processing parameters have been hidden and can now be opened by clicking on a triangle button, right to the HDRI/Adjustment/Effects tabs.
Version 2.0 adds the possibility to adjust Image View Modes (various options for displaying the original and processed images, “before” and “after” states). You can see and compare the original and processed versions of an image fragment on one screen. The software now demonstrates more flexibility!
Also, new to this version is the possibility to rotate an image left or right by 90 degrees (in the standalone program).
The program supports files in the RAW format, which gives you even more flexibility in creating the image you have imagined.
Registered users can upgrade to version 2.0 for free.
Download AKVIS HDRFactory v.2.0 for Mac and Windows here.
AKVIS HDRFactory is available in two editions: as an independent Standalone program and as a Plugin to a photo editor.
The software runs on Windows 7/Vista/XP and on Mac OS X 10.4-10.7 (Lion), both 32 and 64 bit.
AKVIS HDRFactory sells for $69 USD for Home version (either Plugin or Standalone), $99 USD for Home Deluxe (Plugin and Standalone, all features, including the Ghost Removal tool), $189 USD for Business (Plugin and Standalone, all features, including the Ghost Removal tool, for commercial use), downloadable from akvis.com.
Both Home and Business users can enjoy the full line of AKVIS programs in the AKVIS Alchemy Bundle (Retoucher, Chameleon, Multibrush, Enhancer, Refocus, HDRFactory, Coloriage, Noise Buster, Sketch, Decorator, LightShop, ArtSuite, SmartMask, Magnifier, ArtWork, and NatureArt) with the discount of 60%, a huge savings over purchasing each separately.
AKVIS (akvis.com) specializes in development of image processing software and scientific research. The company was founded in 2004 by IT professionals having considerable experience in programming and software development. Since then the company has released a number of successful programs.

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Pro DSLR with Cheapo Glass versus Cheapo DSLR with Pro Glass

Pro DSLR with Cheapo Glass versus Cheapo DSLR with Pro Glass Michael Zhang · Aug 30, 2011 It’s a pretty common question: if you had to choose, would you rather have a top-of-the-line DSLR with a cheap lens or an entry-level body with pro glass? Kai of DigitalRev attempts to answer the question through a hands on experiment in this humorous and educational video. His conclusion is that unless you need to specific high end features of pro bodies (e.g. full frame sensor, high ISO performance, fast focus and burst shooting), then you’re probably better off going with a cheaper camera and more expensive lenses. Lenses hold their value much better than camera bodies, and there isn’t too big of a difference in image quality these days between entry level and pro DSLRs — especially when using high quality glass. (via Reddit)

EF 300 & 400 f/2.8L IS II Shipping to Selected Dealers

Woo!
Canon has announced that its EF300mm f/2.8L IS II USM and EF400mm f/2.8L IS II USM telephoto lenses – which feature completely redesigned optical systems, the latest Canon Image Stabilization (IS) technology, new IS and AF Modes and improved build quality – are now shipping to selected dealers.
Canon EF 300 f/2.8L IS II $7299 @ B&H
Canon EF 400 f/2.8L IS II $11499 @ B&H

1Ds Mark IV & 5D Mark II Merry-Go-Round

Which comes first………
The 1ds Mark IV or 5D Mark III?
Some people [NL] are being told the 1Ds Mark IV will arrive before the 5D Mark III based on known sources. I’ve been told the opposite by known sources. It’s still too early to say for sure it seems.
Lenses
As mentioned above, a few “interesting” lenses would be arriving with the 1Ds4/5d3. I’ve heard similar things in the last month or so.
I’ve been told there will be a “massively popular” lens as well as 2 more specialized lenses before the end of 2012.
Lens rumors have always been harder to nail down, as I think manufacturing plays a big roll in deciding when a lens can be announced and released.
For now, sit tight. The next announcement is going to be for a couple more PowerShots, then the good stuff.

5D Mark III & The Rest [CR2]

The Next DSLR?
I’m told we’ll be seeing the 5D Mark III announced in October, with delivery shortly there after. I was not given any specs, which is probably a good sign.
We said originally, that the 5D Mark III would come before a 1Ds Mark IV or similar camera. Things appear to have come full circle and negate a lot of what I’ve been told this fall in regards to the 5D3.
Next Announcement Date?
We have the middle of September, possibly September 13-September 15 timeframe for a few more PowerShots. Some folks don’t read the site all that well and have posted other dates quoting us.
We should see the S95 & SX30 successors.
G13? We have heard absolutely nothing about a new G camera. It’s genrally on a 1 year product cycle, which would make it due for replacement any day now.

Panasonic Announces Firmware Update Programme

Panasonic has announced a new firmware update programme for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 / G3 / GF3 / GF2, giving these cameras enhanced functionality when used in combination with the two new power zoom lenses. While the new lenses can be used on any Micro Four Thirds camera - including the above models with current firmware -, these new updates add some extra functions that will only be available on these four cameras (and, presumably, future Panasonic models). The extra functions include the electronic display of the focal length while zooming, an optional step-zoom feature, the ability for the camera to remember and restore the last-used zoom position after being powered off and on again, and the ability to manually select the desired zoom speed. The new firmware updates will be available worldwide from the beginning of October.
Panasonic Press Release
Panasonic Announces the Firmware Update Program for DMC-GH2 / G3 / GF3 / GF2 for Enhancing the Functions of the New Power Zoom Lenses
Panasonic announces the new firmware update program for the digital interchangeable lens system cameras DMC-GH2, DMC-G3, DMC-GF3 and DMC-GF2 of LUMIX G Micro System.
The firmware version 1.1 will be released to enhance the functions when the camera is used with the new power zoom lenses - LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 14-42mm / F3.5-5.6 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S. (H-PS14042) and LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 45-175mm / F4.0-5.6 ASPH. / POWER O.I.S. (H-PS45175).
The following functions will be available with the new firmware:
- Display of the local length When you zoom, the focal distance is displayed and you can confirm the zoom position.
- Step zoom When you operate the zoom, the zoom will stop at positions corresponding to predetermined distances.
- Zoom resume When you switch the power switch [ON], the zoom positions when you last switched [OFF] are automatically restored.
- Selectable zoom speed Users can select the speed of electric-powered zooming.
The new firmware program ver.1.1 will be available worldwide from the beginning of October at http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/.
The power zoom lenses can be used with DMC-GH2, DMC-G3, DMC-GF3 or DMC-GF2 if the firmware is not updated. However, Panasonic recommends all users to update it.

Eternity at a Moment

To commemorate its sixtieth anniversary, Tamron has announced the project “Eternity at a Moment - The Vision of 60 Photographers.” In this project, 60 photographers used Tamron’s 18-270mm Di II VC PZD lens to capture how they perceive “Eternity at a Moment.” Their creations will be displayed on Tamron’s special website and at a photographic exhibition. The official website launched today and is currently featuring the works of sixteen photographers. Further works will be posted to the site on 12th and 20th September. The offline exhibition will open its gates on 5th October in Tokyo, Japan.
Website: 60 Photographers | Eternity at a Moment
Tamron Press Release
Tamron Co., LTD AnnouncesS Tamron 60th Anniversary Project:  Eternity at a Moment
The Vision of 60 Photographers
The creations of 60 photographers using Tamron’s 18-270mm Di II VC PZD to capture how they perceive “Eternity at a Moment” to be displayed on Tamron’s special website and at a photographic exhibition in Japan
August 30, 2011, Saitama, Japan ― Tamron Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Morio Ono, Head Office: Saitama City), a leading manufacturer of optical equipment, celebrated its 60th anniversary on November 1, 2010. To commemorate this anniversary and express sincere appreciation for the many major awards bestowed on the 60th anniversary model 18-270mm Di II VC PZD (Model B008), including the EISA European Zoom Lens of the Year 2011 - 2012 and the Camera GP Japan 2011 Lens of the Year, Tamron is pleased to announce the project “Eternity at a Moment －The Vision of 60 Photographers.”
Concept of the Project “Eternity at a Moment — The Vision of 60 Photographers”
Sixty photographers, spotlighting and giving form to that fleeting ‘essence’ that would otherwise escape our attention… The captured ‘moment’ is a glimpse of the ‘eternity’ it evokes… The photographer’s eye that is focused on the ephemeral—what does it tell us?
Over the past 60 years, Tamron, with its ‘New Eyes for Industry,’ has been distinguished by its highly creative products, continuously setting those ‘eyes’ on illuminating the future. This milestone anniversary is an occasion to not only reflect on Tamron’s history, but to mark the start of the next phase of Tamron’s evolution. In this project, 60 photographers used Tamron’s 18-270mm Di II VC PZD (Model B008) to capture how they perceive “Eternity at a Moment.” Their creations will be displayed on Tamron’s special website and at a photographic exhibition.  For a photographer, time itself is an eternal theme. The interpretations of “Eternity at a Moment” by these 60 photographers are certain to be diverse and thought-provoking expressions, and Tamron is pleased to showcase each of their compelling viewpoints.
Participating Photographers
The sixty photographers selected to participate come from different generations and will present works from a wide range of genres and a variety of perspectives.
Katsu Aoki
Kenichi Komatsu
Hideo Nishihira
Kyosuke Aono
Koichi Saito
Herbie Yamaguchi
Koichi Akagi
Yoshie Sato
Shirou Hagihara
Hideyuki Abe
Takashi Shikano
Tatsuo Hata
Shinya Arimoto
Tetsuro Shimizu
hana
Tetsu Iida
Kenichi Shindo
Izumi Hirota
Yoshichika Ishii
Kohji Suwa　
Naotaka Hirota
Bon Ishikawa
Yoichi Sone
Takeshi Fukazawa
Masako Imaoka
Kimio Tanaka
Tomohiro Fujii
Seiichi Uozumi
Takeyoshi Tanuma　
Takashi Homma
Shinichi Eguchi
Takuya Tsukahara
Takayuki Maekawa
Etsuko Enami
Katsuyoshi Tsuchiya
Takahito Mizutani
Mitsugu Ohnishi
Masato Terauchi
Mitsuru Mizutani
Ryo Ohwada
Naoyuki Toyoda
Kazushi Momoi
Kazuyuki Okajima
Seiya Nakai
Naomi Yano
Maki Kawai
Katsuhito Nakazato
Atsushi Yamada
Keiichi Kimura
Yoshitaka Nakatani　
Alao Yokogi
Keisuke Kumakiri
Takehiko Nakafuji
Shigeru Yoshida
Taichi Kozawa
Takashi Namiki
Shin Yoshino
Yoshiaki Kobayashi
Keiko Niimi
Satoru Watanabe
Official Site Opens 4pm JST., Tuesday, August 30, 2011
http://www.tamron60.com
Details: Sixty photographers will display unique work based on the project concept on this site, along with a dedicated, individual message. The creations will be gradually released on August 30, September 12 and September 20. A blog will also be set up with the latest information updates: http://tamron60.blogspot.com/
Photography Exhibition
Date: October 5–11, 2011, 12pm– 7pm (*Last admission 30 minutes before closing time)
Venue: 3331 Arts Chiyoda, 6-11-14 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021　
03-6803-2441 / Fax: 03-6803-2442　　
http://www.3331.jp/
Entry fee: Free
Public participation events: Seminar and talk session. There will also be a photography magazine and a viewing space for the photographers’ works.
Charity Activities
Because the photography exhibit is taking place in the same year of Japan’s unprecedented natural disaster, charity activities in support of disaster relief will be held throughout the exhibition period. Details to be announced.
About Tamron
Tamron is a leading manufacturer of photographic lenses. Among its many optical and mechanical innovations since the founding of the company in 1950, Tamron’s development of mass-produced hybrid Aspherical elements paved the way for today’s compact high power all-in-one lenses when, in 1992, this technology was incorporated into the ground-breaking 28-200mm. Tamron continues to lead in this category of lenses with the new 18-270mm Di II VC PZD — the world’s smallest and lightest 15X zoom lens featuring Tamron’s proprietary VC (Vibration Compensation) system for blur-free hand-held shooting of photos in low light and at telephoto settings and PZD (Piezo Drive) autofocus system for fast and quiet AF operation. Tamron has garnered international acclaim for its extensive line-up of professional and consumer lenses.
Per celebrare il suo sessantesimo anniversario, Tamron ha annunciato il progetto "L'eternità in un momento -. La visione di 60 fotografi" In questo progetto, 60 fotografi usato Tamron 18-270 millimetri Di II VC PZD obiettivo di catturare come percepiscono "Eternity in un momento." Le loro creazioni saranno visualizzati sul sito speciale Tamron e ad una mostra fotografica. Il sito ufficiale lanciato oggi ed è attualmente caratterizzato le opere di sedici fotografi. Altri lavori saranno pubblicati sul sito il 12 e 20 settembre. La mostra offline aprirà le sue porte il 5 ottobre a Tokyo, Giappone.
Sito web: 60 Fotografi | Eternity in un momento
Tamron Comunicato Stampa
Tamron Co., LTD AnnouncesS Tamron 60 ° anniversario del progetto: l'eternità in un momento
La visione di 60 fotografi
Le creazioni di 60 fotografi che utilizzano Tamron 18-270 millimetri Di II VC PZD di catturare "l'eternità in un momento" come percepiscono di essere visualizzati sul sito speciale Tamron e ad una mostra fotografica in Giappone
30 Agosto 2011, Saitama, Giappone - Tamron Co., Ltd. (Presidente e CEO: Morio Ono, Sede: Saitama City), leader nella produzione di apparecchiature ottiche, ha celebrato il suo 60 ° anniversario il 1 ° novembre 2010. Per commemorare questo anniversario ed esprimere sincero apprezzamento per i molti premi importanti conferito al modello 60 ° anniversario 18-270 millimetri Di II VC PZD (Modello B008), compresa la Zoom Lens EISA europeo dell'anno 2011-2012 e la Camera GP del Giappone 2011 Lens of the Year, Tamron è lieta di annunciare il progetto "L'eternità in un momento-La visione di 60 fotografi".
Concetto del Progetto "L'eternità in un momento - La visione di 60 fotografi"
Sessanta fotografi, mettere in luce e dare forma a quella fugace 'essenza' che altrimenti sfuggono alla nostra attenzione ... La catturato 'momento' è uno scorcio di 'eternità' evoca ... L'occhio del fotografo che si concentra su l'effimero, che cosa vuol dire noi?
Negli ultimi 60 anni, Tamron, con il suo 'New Eyes per l'Industria,' si è distinta per i suoi prodotti altamente creativo, costantemente stabilendo quelle 'occhi' illuminante sul futuro. Questo anniversario pietra miliare costituisce una occasione per riflettere non solo sulla storia Tamron, ma per segnare l'inizio della prossima fase di evoluzione Tamron. In questo progetto, 60 fotografi usato Tamron 18-270 millimetri Di II VC PZD (Modello B008) per catturare come percepiscono "L'eternità in un momento." Le loro creazioni saranno visualizzati sul sito speciale Tamron e ad una mostra fotografica. Per un fotografo, il tempo stesso è un tema eterno. Le interpretazioni di "Eternity in un momento" di questi 60 fotografi sono certo di essere espressioni diverse e stimolanti, e Tamron è lieta di presentare ciascuno dei loro punti di vista interessanti.
I fotografi partecipanti
I sessanta fotografi selezionati per partecipare provengono da diverse generazioni e presenterà opere provenienti da una vasta gamma di generi e una varietà di prospettive.
Katsu Aoki
Kenichi Komatsu
Hideo Nishihira
Kyosuke Aono
Koichi Saito
Herbie Yamaguchi
Koichi Akagi
Yoshie Sato
Shirou Hagihara
Hideyuki Abe
Takashi Shikano
Tatsuo Hata
Shinya Arimoto
Tetsuro Shimizu
hana
Tetsu Iida
Kenichi Shindo
Izumi Hirota
Yoshichika Ishii
Kohji Suwa
Naotaka Hirota
Bon Ishikawa
Yoichi Sone
Takeshi Fukazawa
Masako Imaoka
Kimio Tanaka
Tomohiro Fujii
Seiichi Uozumi
Takeyoshi Tanuma
Takashi Homma
Shinichi Eguchi
Takuya Tsukahara
Takayuki Maekawa
Etsuko Enami
Katsuyoshi Tsuchiya
Takahito Mizutani
Mitsugu Ohnishi
Masato Terauchi
Mitsuru Mizutani
Ryo Ohwada
Naoyuki Toyoda
Kazushi Momoi
Kazuyuki Okajima
Seiya Nakai
Naomi Yano
Maki Kawai
Katsuhito Nakazato
Atsushi Yamada
Keiichi Kimura
Yoshitaka Nakatani
Alao Yokogi
Keisuke Kumakiri
Takehiko Nakafuji
Shigeru Yoshida
Taichi Kozawa
Takashi Namiki
Shin Yoshino
Yoshiaki Kobayashi
Keiko Niimi
Satoru Watanabe
Sito Ufficiale Apre 16:00 JST., Martedì 30 agosto 2011
http://www.tamron60.com
Dettagli: Sessanta fotografi mostrerà un'opera unica basata sul concetto di progetto su questo sito, insieme a un dedicato, singolo messaggio. Le creazioni saranno gradualmente rilasciato il 30 agosto, 12 settembre e il 20 settembre. Un blog sarà inoltre allestito con gli ultimi aggiornamenti informazioni: http://tamron60.blogspot.com/
Mostra fotografica
Data: 05-11 ottobre, 2011, 12:00-07:00 (* Ultimo ingresso 30 minuti prima dell'orario di chiusura)
Venue: 3331 Arti Chiyoda, 6-11-14 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021
03-6803-2441 / Fax: 03-6803-2442
http://www.3331.jp/
Quota di partecipazione: gratuito
Manifestazioni pubbliche di partecipazione: seminario e durata della sessione parlare. Ci sarà anche una rivista di fotografia e uno spazio di visualizzazione per le opere dei fotografi '.
Attività carità
Poiché la mostra fotografica si svolge nello stesso anno del disastro naturale senza precedenti in Giappone, le attività di beneficenza a sostegno dei soccorsi si svolgerà durante tutto il periodo della mostra. Dettagli da definire.
A proposito di Tamron
Tamron è leader nella produzione di obiettivi fotografici. Tra le sue numerose innovazioni ottiche e meccaniche dalla fondazione dell'azienda nel 1950, lo sviluppo Tamron, di serie, elementi asferici ibridi ha aperto la strada per il potere compatto massimo di oggi all-in-one lenti quando, nel 1992, questa tecnologia è stata incorporata nel pionieristico 28-200mm. Tamron continua ad essere leader in questa categoria di lenti con il nuovo 18-270 millimetri Di II VC PZD - obiettivo più piccolo e leggero al mondo zoom 15X con VC di proprietà Tamron (Vibration Compensation) per il tiro senza sfocature mano di foto con poca luce e al teleobiettivo impostazioni e PZD (Piezo Drive) per il sistema autofocus veloce e silenzioso il funzionamento AF. Tamron ha ottenuto fama internazionale per la sua ampia gamma di obiettivi professionali e consumer.

Tickets Now on Sale for MPA 2011

The Master Photographers Association (MPA) has announced that tickets for its forthcoming Master Photography Awards 2011 are now on sale. The Awards ceremony is to be held at the Gateshead Hilton in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne on Sunday, 9th October. Tickets for the event cost £65 and include dinner, wine, entertainment and the “chance to experience first hand the cream of the world’s best photography”, the Association says. You can book your place online at the website below.
Website: Master Photography Awards
MPA Press Release
Tickets now on sale for Master Photography Awards Dinner & Presentations
The Master Photographers Association (MPA) has announced that tickets for its forthcoming Master Photography Awards 2011 are now on sale.
The Awards ceremony is to be held at the Gateshead Hilton in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne on Sunday 9 October. Tickets for this glittering event cost just £65 and include dinner, wine, entertainment and the chance to experience first hand the cream of the world’s best photography. The top accolade: ‘International Master Photographer of the Year’ will also be announced on the night.
Tickets for the event, plus hotel reservations at preferential rates, are available by booking online at the Awards website: http://www.masterphotographyawards.co.uk Places are limited and are on a first-come-first-served basis.
From over 2,500 submitted images, the final selections have now been made by the judging panel, chaired by Henk Van Kooten. The judges evaluated each entry and awarded points based on impact, composition, colour management and workmanship. Those achieving a Merit (80 points and over) have already been notified.
No-one will be notified prior to the event if they have won a major prize, so it will be a very exciting night!
The Awards are the most prestigious for photography in the UK, and are open to all qualified members of the Association, plus there were several categories open to non-members.
Says Colin Buck, MPA chief executive: “Our Awards ceremony has been unrivalled for many years and 2011 promises to be even better. Reports from our judges suggest that the standard of winning images has scaled new peaks so it looks like we’re all in for a great evening!”
For further information on the Awards, visit
http://www.masterphotographyawards.co.uk

Awesome Course on Digital Photography

Marc Levoy, the Stanford professor behind the “Frankencamera” project, teaches a course on digital photography called CS 178. The class website is a treasure trove for anyone looking for some great free education in photography:

An introduction to the scientific, artistic, and computing aspects of digital photography – how digital cameras work, how to take good pictures using them, and how to manipulate these pictures afterwards. Topics include lenses and optics, light and sensors, optical effects in nature, perspective and depth of field, sampling and noise, the camera as a computing platform, image processing and editing, history of photography, and computational photography. We’ll also survey the history of photography and look at the work of famous photographers.

Think you know all there is to know about digital photography? Try answering these 10 final exam review questions (answers can be found here). Leave a comment telling us how many you got right!
CS 178 – Digital Photography (via Reddit)

Sony’s Translucent Mirror May Reduce Detail in Photos by up to 5%

You’ve probably read plenty of articles touting the benefits of Sony’s translucent mirror technology (e.g. high fps, AF for video, quietness, etc…), but what about the cons? One of the main downsides to having a translucent mirror is that the light hitting the sensor passes through an additional layer (the translucent mirror), which reduces the amount of light and the image quality.
Ray over at TheSyberSite attempted to quantify how much the mirror affects the resulting image quality by removing the mirror on his A55 and comparing the resulting photos. He confirmed that about 1/2 stop of light is lost, and estimates that 5% of the detail in each shot is lost due to the mirror. Head on over to the article for some side-by-side comparisons.
Secrets of the Sony A55 (via sonyalpharumors)

Tempest Milky Way in time lapse

Tempest Milky Way from Randy Halverson on Vimeo.

Tempest Milky Way è un video realizzato da Randy Halverson con la tecnica time-lapse. L’obiettivo era cogliere contemporaneamente temporali e luci delle stelle, nel cielo del Sud Dakota. Halverson è un esperto, da quanto possiamo vedere sul suo sito Dakotalapse.com. Per questo filmato ha usato una Canon 5D Mark II per pochi scatti, una 60D ed una T2i, obiettivi Canon 16-35 e Tokina 11-16. Esposizione tra i 20 ed i 30 secondi, ISO 1.600 o 3.200 con F2.8. Il risultato è di quelli che lasciano a bocca aperta, vero?

DitoGear Product News August 2011 – updates and a couple of new products

Our friends (and advertisers) at DitoGear have put out some interesting updates to a couple of existing products as well as bringing out a couple of new products – please have a look! ntroducing DitoGear ™ OmniSlider Servo and V2 firmware OmniSlider DitoGear™ Introduces the improved version of their flagship product – the DitoGear™ OmniSlider. The new servo motor option as well as new firmware are a huge leap and boost the performance of the device especially for real-time filming applications with film cameras.

DitoGear OmniSlider Servo Preproduction Units Testing from Dito Gear on Vimeo.

DitoGear™ OmniSlider V2 Firmware Details The new version of firmware is rather an evolution than a revolution. It has been rewritten from scratch and seriously optimized. It also brings several new features. Main changes are: The user interface has been generally updated so that it is much more intuitive now. Speed Damping and Max Speed dial controls operation has been significantly improved. New motion easing curves are much smoother and slicker. Linear scale has been replaced by hyperbolic curve. You can’t stop playing with it, so better watch out! The Motion Recording and Motion Playback features have been fixed and optimized. Now you may record 80s of real-time motion and play it back either in real time, timelapse or stop-motion mode with full camera shutter control. The positioning interpolation algorithms have been redesigned bringing much smoother positioning curves. The Timelapse menu brings now the full range of controls such as: interval, exp. length, number of shots and direction. Time is calculated automatically. The Stop-motion mode user interface has been also improved for ease of use allowing for controllable amount of shots per step. High precision video mode has been added allowing for shooting macro. The Settings menu has been extended, calibration features improved. DitoGear™ OmniSlider Controller is capable of controlling multiple devices such as: DitoGear™ OmniSlider Stepper, DitoGear™ OmniSlider Servo, DitoGear™ Hoist, custom devices. New DitoGear™ OmniSlider Servo As announced early this spring, DitoGear™ launches new and exciting motor option for the DitoGear™ OmniSlider. The new servo motor comes with an innovative proprietary motor controller allowing to overcome industry and competition’s weak points. The new DitoGear™ OmniSlider Servo advantages are: Vibration-free and oscillation-free performance across full range of speeds bringing ultimate motion smoothness as well as allowing for shooting video using magic arm or shooting macro. Low noise level allowing for working with the sound on a set across most speeds. Unmatched positioning precision of 0.1mm and full motion repeatability for VFX regardless of the battery power status. Unmatched range of speeds on one motor unit: starting from 1m / 450 days in timelapse mode to 1m / 3.85s in video mode. High torque and payloads DitoGear™ OmniSlider Servo horizontal operation payload is now over 70kg (over 150 lbs!) and vertical operation payload is up to 12 kg (over 25 lbs!). Lower average power consumption (even as low as 0.3A) allowing for about 48h of continuous operation (in timelapse mode) on a kit battery! Please note that in vertical operation under high payloads the current draw may peak up to 3.5A. Extremely easy calibration of the device: simply choose a predefined length, type in custom value or travel across desired working distance and optionally set your starting point. Then just power up the device at the beginning of the track. It’s that simple. Safe operation in case of power cutoff while operating in vertical mode. USB and CAN Interface for the DitoGear™ OmniSlider DitoGear™ Introduces also the new beta version of the interface allowing to control either the DitoGear™ OmniSlider Stepper or Servo from your PC other USB-enabled device. The interface comes with the basic communication protocol documentation allowing independent developers to craft their own software. In the future, the same USB and CAN interface will be integrated into the main unit controller. Get in touch with us for details. Pricing: USD 2,600.00 (EUR 1,850.00) for DitoGear™ OmniSlider Servo 1.5m. Check website for other lengths pricing. USD 684.00 (EUR 481.00) for DitoGear™ OmniSlider Servo Upgrade (motor unit & controller) USD 525.00 (EUR 369.00) for DitoGear™ OmniSlider Servo Trade-off Upgrade (motor unit & controller). Your stepper motor module and old controller need to be shipped back. Firmware upgrades remain free of charge or EUR 50.00 + shipping for instant upgrade. Please note that the prices may vary slightly depending on the exchange rates. Availability and orders: DitoGear™ OmniSlider Servo Orders start on 2011/08/22. DitoGear™ OmniSlider Servo shipping starts on 2011/09/12. 5 DitoGear™ OmniSlider Servo Exclusive Preproduction Units are available on 2011/08/22. Contact us for details. New Developments DitoGear™ is also proud to announce the upcoming product developments. DitoGear™ HexaCrane for timelapse and video We’re pleased to announce that we’re testing the prototypes of the DitoGear™ HexaCrane designed for real-time filming as well as motion-controlled operation in real time and timelapse mode. Key features at a glance: Workload: 12kg at 4.5m, 4kg at 6.0m Collapsible to 1.5m modules, ~12kg total weight excluding tripod and counterweights Quick and easy to assemble (5-7 minutes assemble time) Optional 1 or 2-axis drive for video and timelapse mode using DitoGear™ OmniSlider Controller(s) DitoGear™ OmniSlider 1.0m or a DitoGear™ Hoist may be used to drive the crane in 1 axis.

DitoGear HexaCrane Prototype Testing from Dito Gear on Vimeo.

Stage one: 1 or 2 axis motion control Stage one release will come without or with either one- or two-axis drive controlled from one or two DitoGear™ OmniSlider Controllers. Stage 1 production units are expected by the end of 2011. Stage two: multi-axis motion control As soon as the DitoGear™ proprietary pan/tilt head and multi-axis control system are released, the crane may be upgraded to a multi-axis motion control device including rotation, lift, pan, tilt as well as focus and zoom drive. Stage 2 development is scheduled for 2012. DitoGear™ PowerBox DitoGear PowerBox Prototype DitoGear PowerBox Prototype DitoGear™ announces also the launch of their PowerBox by the end of 2011. Key features: 70Ah or 35Ah capacities 3x precisely regulated (1.2 – 12V) 4-pin XLR power outputs 3x 12V cigarette plug power outputs 2x 8.2V power output designed for Canon DSLR Cameras Digital interface showing current draw and remaining operation time with dimmable LED backlight DitoGear™ DryEye Pro DitoGear™ DryEye Pro is a successor of the DitoGear™ DryEye Lite. This simple yet advanced product is targeted towards amateur astronomers, astrophotographers as well as film industry professionals and successfully prevents from dew condensation on your optics as well as lens freezing in extreme weather conditions. The DitoGear™ DryEye Pro calculates the dew-point automatically and keeps your lens temperature at the desired offset above the dew point minimizing the current draw and preventing condensation. The controller is compatible with the DitoGear™ DryEye Lite Heaters. Product launch to be expected by the end of 2011.

Delkin Launches Fastest CF Memory Card in the World

Delkin has announced the launch of a new range of ruggedised CompactFlash (CF) memory cards, which are claimed to offer the fastest read and write speeds in the world. Available in capacities ranging from 8GB up to 64GB, the Delkin Compact Flash 685x memory cards are capable of transferring photos, movies and other files at speeds up to 103 megabytes per second. “Unlike a traditional CF memory card, the CombatFlash PCB is protected with a Tekta infusion process that enables the card to achieve phenomenal reliability and performance in environments where a normal CF card would typically fail,” explains Delkin’s Marketing Manager, Anna Lopez.  “The card is protected from underwater submersion, solid impact, corrosion, rust and more.” Pricing for the new Delkin CF cards ranges from $149.99 to $899.99, depending on capacity.
Delkin Press Release
Delkin Launches Fastest CF Memory Card in the World.
Poway, CA. August 26th, 2011 - Today Delkin Devices, Inc. announced their much anticipated ruggedized waterproof CF memory cards boasting the fastest read and write speeds in the world.  The new cards are available in capacities ranging from 8GB up to 64GB and are capable of transferring pictures, video, music and more at speeds up to 685X, or 103MB/s.  In addition to impressive speed performance, the cards are fully compatible with advanced HD and 3D video recording modes including slow motion recording.
“Since we launched our initial CombatFlash lineup of CF cards in 2010 we’ve had fantastic success among professional photographers and videographers,” explains Marketing Manager, Anna Lopez. “Unlike a traditional CF memory card, the CombatFlash PCB is protected with a Tekta infusion process that enables the card to achieve phenomenal reliability and performance in environments where a normal CF card would typically fail.  The card is protected from underwater submersion, solid impact, corrosion, rust & more. That reliability equals a day of production that doesn’t need to be reshot, or a climb up Mount Everest that is captured reliably. It equals invaluable peace of mind.”
The new CombatFlash685 card includes the same ruggedized qualities as it’s 625X predecessor, but adds more than 10MB/s in speed performance and the ability to shoot in over cranking mode (or slow motion recording) with Canon’s XF series HD camcorders, including the trending XF305, XF300, XF105 and XF100 models.     
Lopez states, “Sophisticated cinema recording applications like Slow & Fast Motion and HD infrared capabilities are increasingly being utilized on a regular basis. Delkin’s US engineering staff is consistently heightening their standards to not only keep up with the evolving equipment, but to also anticipate future breakthroughs that will require exceedingly fast and high quality memory.”
Delkin’s CombatFlash memory remains the only consumer flash storage brand built to comply with MIL-STD-810 specification. Extreme environmental testing has rated the CombatFlash CF line to remain fully operable anywhere between 0°C to 70°C, while soldered and sealed internal components and advanced wear leveling & error correction features manage data continuously to ensure data integrity and card longevity.
CombatFlash685 CF memory is supported by Delkin’s trusted lifetime warranty and U.S. based support center, available by phone on working days between 8am-5pm PST.  This innovative product, along with Delkin’s complete lineup of imaging accessories, can be found at digital camera retailers worldwide, as well as direct from http://www.delkin.com for retail prices ranging from $149.99 for an 8GB card to $899.99 for a 64GB card. CombatFlash 625X memory is also available for purchase for a limited time, with 4-16GB capacities retailing from $79.99-$229.99.
About Delkin Devices, Inc.
Delkin Devices, Inc. national headquarters is in Poway, California with an International branch in Birmingham, England. Since 1986, Delkin Devices has been inventing, designing, and delivering innovative new products aimed at “Making Photography Better.” From consumer based products such as memory cards, readers and batteries to professional products such as the SensorScope System®, ImageRouter® and Archival Gold®, Delkin has delivered premium quality, innovative designs, and an ongoing dedication to superior customer support. Delkin Devices and its products have become industry leaders in both industrial and consumer markets worldwide, and continues to be a leading choice among professional photographers and others passionate about digital photography.

X-Rite Announces $150 Rebate Promotion for i1Publish Upgrade

X-Rite has announced a $150 cash back promotion for X-Rite customers who want to upgrade their i1Match, ProfileMaker or MonacoPROFILER software to i1Publish. Fully supporting the new Mac OS X 10.7 Lion operating system, the latest version of i1Publish is an ICC profiling solution that includes i1Profiler software, ColorChecker Camera Calibration software, PANTONE Color Manager software and two ColorChecker targets – ColorChecker Classic and ColorChecker Proof. For more information about the i1Publish upgrade and rebate, visit the website below.
Website: X-Rite
X-rite Press Release
X-Rite Announces $150 Rebate Promotion for i1Publish Upgrade
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Aug. 23, 2011 – X-Rite, Incorporated (NASDAQ: XRIT), the world leader in color management, measurement and communication technologies, and its wholly owned subsidiary Pantone, the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries, today announced a $150 cash back promotion for X-Rite customers who want to upgrade their i1Match, ProfileMaker or MonacoPROFILER software to i1Publish which contains the next generation i1Profiler color management software.  i1Profiler delivers an entirely new, flexible user defined experience to generate the highest quality ICC profiles for unrivaled color accuracy.
Fully supporting the new Mac OS X 10.7 Lion operating system, the latest version of i1Publish is a fully-featured ICC profiling solution that includes i1Profiler software, ColorChecker Camera Calibration software, PANTONE Color Manager software and two ColorChecker targets – ColorChecker Classic and ColorChecker Proof. i1Publish quickly and easily creates custom profiles for cameras, monitors, digital projectors, and RGB, CMYK and CMYK+4 printers, ensuring color accuracy from capture to output. It also features new assurance validation and verification functions using digital standards. 
Users of i1Match, ProfileMaker and MonacoPROFILER users will see improved color quality thanks to a new engine that creates highly accurate profiles for the truest color all the way from capture to output. A new user interface features both basic and advanced modes to give users the flexibility they need. It’s easily customized and enables users to save and share workflows or workflow components.
The following enhancements are what users who upgrade to the new i1Publish can expect:
Improved color quality - new color engine creates highly accurate profiles for the truest color from capture to output
New user interface – basic and advanced modes provide the ultimate flexibility; easily customize, save and share workflows or workflow components
Accurately capture colors every time with included ColorChecker Camera Calibration software and target
Accurately view colors every time on your monitors and projectors
Accurately print colors every time on RGB, CMYK and CMYK+ printers
New Quality Assurance Tools
Fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion operating system
Through Sept. 30, 2011, X-Rite is offering customers a $150 cash back rebate on the upgrade for US and Canadian customers who have i1XTreme, i1Proof, i1XT, i1Pro OEM, i1Photo Pro, i1Photo LT, i1Photo, i1Photo SG, i1Design LT, i1Basic, i1 Basic Pro, ProfileMaker 5, MonacoPROFILER 4.
For more information about the i1Publish upgrade and rebate, please visit http://www.xrite.com or http://www.xritephoto.com.
About X-Rite
(NASDAQ: XRIT) X-Rite is the global leader in color science and technology. The company, which now includes design industry color leader Pantone, Inc., develops, manufactures, markets and supports innovative color solutions through measurement systems, software, color standards and services. X-Rite’s expertise in inspiring, selecting, measuring, formulating, communicating and matching color helps users get color right the first time and every time, which translates to better quality and reduced costs. X-Rite serves a range of industries, including printing, packaging, photography, graphic design, video, automotive, paints, plastics, textiles, dental and medical. For further information, please visit http://www.xrite.comor http://www.XritePhoto.com
©2011 X-Rite, Inc. All rights reserved. X-Rite is a registered trademark of X-Rite, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Reflecta Imagebox LCD9

Kenro has announced the UK launch of a new photo digitising device called the Reflecta Imagebox LCD9. Equipped with a 9-megapixel area-array sensor, the Reflecta Imagebox LCD9 is claimed to deliver a resolution comparable to a 2400ppi scan from 35mm film. In addition to digitising slides and negatives, the Reflecta Imagebox can also scan prints of up to 6x4 inches. The unit can be operated independently from a computer, and comes with a dust and scratch removal system based on infrared technology (available for negatives and transparencies, but not prints). The device comes with a holder for 4 mounted slides, another holder for loose film strips of up to 6 frames, power adaptor, USB cable, TV cable and user manual for a recommended retail price of £280.
Kenro Press Release
New scanner from Reflecta
Kenro has announced the UK launch of a new scanner, the Reflecta IMAGEBOX LCD9.
The Reflecta IMAGEBOX LCD9 makes it very easy to scan slides, negatives and photos. It has a resolution of nine megapixels (2400 dpi) and comes with a 2.7 inch LCD display. The unit can be operated independently from a computer making it a highly versatile piece of kit.
A highlight of the IMAGEBOX is the Magic Touch technology, a scratch and dust removal system based on infrared technology for slides and negatives.
Photographs (up to 6"x4”) are scanned by simply placing them onto the scanner surface and hitting the start button, no photo holder is required and the scan time is just one second. The ImageBox LCD9 comes with a slide holder for 4 framed slides, a film strip holder for negative / positive film strips with up to 6 images, power adaptor, USB cable, TV cable and user manual.
The IMAGEBOX is a self-contained unit that measures 245mm x 229mm x 180mm, weighs 1.8kg and has a RRP of £280
Kenro’s managing director, Paul Kench comments: “The new Reflecta IMAGEBOX is an ideal tool for enthusiast photographers who need to view and scan images quickly and easily. The fact that it can operate without a PC is a real advantage, and files can even be viewed on a standard TV.”
To view Kenro’s full range, or for details of your nearest stockist please visit http://www.kenro.co.uk - alternatively call Kenro’s head office on 01793 615836 for further information.

Panasonic 14-42mm X Lens Hands-On Photos

Want to see what the new Panasonic X 14-42mm lens looks like in the flesh?
Here’s a gallery of hands-on photos of the Panasonic X 14-42mm professional lens.
23 photos of the Panasonic X 14-42mm lens.

Image Gallery

Click on a thumbnail to see the full version.