Cameras

A new "Opinion Soup" has arrived. This covers roughly the last two weeks of opinions! You can find the previous editions along with future editions (in the future) at the Opinion Soup archives... Audio opinions can be found in our recent Photography Podcast round-up... Like the Opinion Soup round-ups? Want them to continue? It takes a lot of time to prepare them and they actually hurt the blog because every time Google sees a new episode with a hundred links, it barfs at this blog. If you would like to see more, you can help fund them by making some of your purchases through our affiliate links at Amazon.com and Adorama and B&H Photo and more at the NoisyMall. Camera Gear + dumping Nikon DSLRs for Sony NEX by Stuck In Customs (via VSL) + what will smartphone cameras of the future look like? at dpreview connect (two pages) + eight things that can help save compact digital cameras (at least for now) at Pop Photo + eight reasons why I am a big believer in 35mm photography at Peta Pixel + camera manufacturer fiscal year analysis at Sans Mirror + toasters, Olympus E-M5, buying advice and more at The Online Photographer + on the mirrorless market share chart presented by Olympus at Sans Mirror + opinion on Hogan's mirrorless value opinion at SLR Lounge + the "limitations of DOF" at Sound Image Plus + how good a lens? at The Online Photographer + on inkjet photo papers at Luminous Landscape + the story of a disappearing negative review about an online retailer at Photocritic Imaging Software: Creative Cloud Edition and more + top six Linux imaging editors according to Tech Radar + why the new Google Server Farm could displace Adobe Lightroom by Stuck in Customs + is Lightroom a gateway drug to the Creative Cloud? SLR Lounge (note: "gateway drug" is another horrid gift of the "war on drugs") + the Creative Cloud conundrum by Thomas Fitzgerald Photography + on the Adobe creative cloud by at Ming Thein (first half of post) + are we slaves to technology and software post-Creative-Cloud? at DPhotographer UK + Dear Apple, Let's Talk Photos at PetaPixel Creativity, Inspiration, Essays, Etc + Digital Hangover at The Online Darkroom + why your pictures suck at ThePhoblographer (endorsed by Kirk Tuck) + 38 quotes on abstraction assembled by John Paul Caponigro + how one photographer rediscovered his passion after going legally blind via PetaPixel + three reasons to donate your time to non-profits at SLR Lounge + my experience photographing the Boston Marathon bombing at Petapixel + on hobbies and photographers at Ming Thein + how I found my niche at Blackstar Rising + fearlessly rejecting rejection at PentaXForums + help others grow through constructive critiques at SLR Lounge + first be a photographer at Lighting Essentials + the photographer as a philosopher part #1 at Ming Thein + the nice shot comment myth at DIY Photography + colorless squares at Robin Wong + Fukuoka without people at Ming Thein + 80 headshots in a single day at DIY Photography and Peta Pixel Tips, Tutorials, Learnings + tips for wedding photographers from a weddings DJ at PetaPixel + going from exclusive RAW to mixing in some JPEGs at PetaPixel + 10 things a photographer should never do while shooting a wedding at Peta Pixel + introduction to restaurant food photography at F/Stoppers + the perverted photographer: things NOT to say at a photoshoot at SLR Lounge Interviews + Thomas Campbell at Peta Pixel + Carlos Hernandez at ePhotozine + Liu Bolin (video) via F/Stoppers + Belt Galton at Imaging Resource + Bruce Davidson (video) via ThePhoblographer + RED co-founder via Cinescopophilia + Platton via Duck Rabbit Info + Jamie Rose (audio) at Rosh Sillars + Teresa Franco (iPhoneography) at Photojojo + Joe McNally at Burn Magazine (via APE) + Brooke Shaden at SLR Lounge + Jenni Hogan (audio) at Chase Jarvis Professional + traps that aspiring photographers can get caught in Part #1 and Part #2 at ThePhoblographer + saying no to jobs and getting paid at DIY Photogr

As we continue to question the need for 4K production across the spectrum, TV manufacturers are wasting no time pushing 4K TVs out to customers. Sony 4K TVs are shipping from Adorama and Amazon with prices starting at $5000. The Seiki 4K 50″ TV is much more reasonably priced at $1445 here at Amazon.com. While the 4K content I have seen at CES and NAB this year has been gorgeous, I’m not quite ready to pull the trigger on a 4K set. Many HD broadcasters and cable channels continue to pump out 720p programming to content consumers across the nation. Additionally, the compression from cable providers on HD content is terrible. I can’t imagine how bad the compression will be on full 4K content when it starts coming down the content pipe. Of course, those finishing productions in 4K resolution now have access to 4K TVs to view final products and/or demo content to clients. Copyright/DMCA Notice: The RSS entry was originally published on Photography Bay and is protected by copyright laws. It is unlawful to (a) edit, modify, alter, or create derivative works of the text, content or links supplied by Photography Bay, (b) use any robot, spider, scraper, other device or manual process to monitor or copy any content from the Photography Bay RSS feed, (c) sell, retransmit or commercially exploit the Photography Bay RSS feed, headlines or content in any manner except as expressly permitted in writing by authorized representatives of Photography Bay, (d) incorporate advertising into or the placement of advertising associated with or targeted towards the Photography Bay RSS feed or (e) use the Photography Bay RSS feed for any unlawful purpose or in violation of the rights of others. RSSID#794326 Related posts: Sony A55 In Stock and Now Shipping New Sony NEX-6 In-Stock and Now Shipping Sony A350 In Stock and Shipping

Here we have a very affordable USB webcam for you to grab. Featuring a clip-on design, this 360-degree rotatable webcam comes with a 2MP image sensor, a built-in microphone, a USB 2.0 connector and can capture 640 x 480 VGA video at 30fps. Grab yours now for just $3.42. [Product Page]

B&H has the Sony Alpha NEX-F3 with the 18-55mm and 55-210mm lenses for $549 (reg. $799). The deal also includes a Sony camera bag and a 8GB SDHC card. It ends May 31, 2013. Check it out here at B&H Photo. Copyright/DMCA Notice: The RSS entry was originally published on Photography Bay and is protected by copyright laws. It is unlawful to (a) edit, modify, alter, or create derivative works of the text, content or links supplied by Photography Bay, (b) use any robot, spider, scraper, other device or manual process to monitor or copy any content from the Photography Bay RSS feed, (c) sell, retransmit or commercially exploit the Photography Bay RSS feed, headlines or content in any manner except as expressly permitted in writing by authorized representatives of Photography Bay, (d) incorporate advertising into or the placement of advertising associated with or targeted towards the Photography Bay RSS feed or (e) use the Photography Bay RSS feed for any unlawful purpose or in violation of the rights of others. RSSID#794326 Related posts: Sony NEX Models Up to $100 Off and Free 16mm f/2.8 Lens – Deal Alert Sony NEX-F3 w/ 2 Lenses for $499 – Deal Alert Sony NEX-5R w/ 18-55mm Lens for $598 – Deal Alert

Moscow-based photographer Nikolay Tikhomirov describes the photographs he’s taken as “art inside me” — and that’s just what they are, art. One of his collections, dubbed ‘Zero Gravity‘ is series of images featuring women in Earthly environments floating as if they’ve escaped the confines of our planet’s gravity. Some appear to be well aware of their surroundings, whilst others are seemingly in the midst of a slumber, oblivious to their dream-like condition. Quite obviously, some level of manipulation is likely involved to achieve such remarkable creations, though it’s unclear just what Tikhomirov does specifically to achieve such effects. These images aren’t the first of their kind. Many photographers have created the illusion of floating subjects in their shots. Simply put, snapping this type of image involves the layering and masking of multiple photographs of the same scene and lighting in order to hide the support device that is propping up the picture’s subject. The complexity varies depending on the scene – but this at least gives you some indication as to how you yourself can try to replicate zero gravity. Here’s one of many tutorials available. For more of Tikhomirov’s inspiring work, you can view his 500px and 35Photo galleries. (via Laughing Squid) Image credits: Photographs by Nikolay Tikhomirov and used with permission

Canon has developed a new Picture Style for EOS HDSLRs called the Video Camera X Series Look. The Picture Style is designed to mimic Canon’s X-series camcorders and offers lower saturation and contrast for more latitude when grading footage from your Canon 5D Mark III, 7D, 1D X and other EOS cameras. This is an official Canon Picture Style, unlike the Technicolor CineStyle, which has otherwise met with Canon’s approval but is not an official Canon Picture Style. The Video Camera X Series Look Picture Style can be downloaded from Canon’s website and installs to your Canon DSLR via EOS Utility v. 2.6 or later. Related posts: Technicolor CineStyle Now Available No New Canon DSLRs This Week Canon DSLRs Get Technicolor ‘CineStyle’ Profile

We almost fell too behind again but we caught up just in the nick of time! We caught up with the latest action. We added 10 new camera reviews at the Camera Reviews stream (including Fuji X100s, X20, Canon SL1, T5i, Nikon D7100, E-Pens, and more). We also added three new lens reviews at the Lens Reviews stream. These are completed camera and lens reviews that pass certain thresholds of review quality. We do not include every fluffing of every camera or lens :) If you want to quickly get to the reviews streams, we have two easy to type and easy to remember urls, noisyreviews.com (for cameras) and noisylenses.com (for lenses). Other things equal, a new Opinion Soup will be posted late tonight or early tomorrow. In the meantime, you can check the 69 previous editions. If you wrote or read any interesting camera and photography related opinions, let us know using the online contact form. We are trying to include a variety of wide-ranging opinions of photographers of different styles, philosophies and experience levels - not just the famous-online photographers. But it's harder to find non-famous-photographer opinions, so let us know! For the latest camera specials and in-stock alerts, check the Cameras Deals blog. Republication of this RSS feed on any website or blog or app is prohibited and violates the terms of use of this RSS feed. This text comes from the RSS feed of 1001noisycameras.com. This full-text RSS feed is provided as a service to our loyal readers for their personal use. Republication fees start at $1000 per month and will be billed to violating websites.

Here are some tips on how you can control natural light in your photos.

If you like to buy or collect equipment used by famous digital-era photographers/hybridographers, Philip Bloom has a eBay sale on some of his camera equipment including the Leica X1, Noktor 50/.95, Nokia Pureview 808, Canon and Nikon DSLRs and lenses, Panasonic AF101/AF100 M43rds camcorder and 14-140 m43rds zoom, Nikon V1, and lots more. These are classic eBay auctions with bids. For the latest camera specials and in-stock alerts, check the Cameras Deals blog. Republication of this RSS feed on any website or blog or app is prohibited and violates the terms of use of this RSS feed. This text comes from the RSS feed of 1001noisycameras.com. This full-text RSS feed is provided as a service to our loyal readers for their personal use. Republication fees start at $1000 per month and will be billed to violating websites.

Here’s a tool you may not have heard about but may useful at some time in the future. It’s called Clipping Magic, and it’s designed to remove backgrounds from user-uploaded pictures. The concept is rather simple, you upload an image, mark the areas in the background you don’t want in red, and mark the areas in the foreground you do want in green. The website’s algorithm takes over and (hopefully) produces a background-free picture. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But how does it fare when used for an image with a background you actually want to remove? I tried it for myself with an picture I snapped of a friend in Los Angeles. At the advice of Clipping Magic, I marked some of the background in red and some of the foreground in green. I emphasize ’some’ because you needn’t go wild and blanket the background and foreground to get the desired result. While I found the tool to be reasonably accurate, it didn’t quite remove all the background from the three images I uploaded, even with fine tuning. That’s okay, too, because Clipping Magic is currently in alpha, and it’s very much a work in progress. The site’s designers note that faint and blurring edges will lead to “a bad result”, and the algorithm has trouble with partially transparent clothing. It also seems to have trouble with hair, but these issues are expected to be cleared up in further development. Give it a try and let us know what you think! ClippingMagic (via Reddit)