Cameras

Who's ready for a brand new batch of camera deals? We've found a handful of great bargains on some Nikon DSLR and Sony gear. Be sure to check back on the site regularly for more discounts. Nikon D7000 - $780 (compare to $896.95) - Free Shipping For a very limited time, DigitalRev has the Nikon D7000 DSLR Camera, body only, available for $779 with free shipping. Hurry, since this deal expires in approximately 15 hours! Read our Nikon D7000 review for more details. Nikon AF-S DX 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens -... (read more)

Yahoo's announcement yesterday of the overhauled Flickr has got a lot of people excited for very good reasons: 1TB of free storage and an exciting new design is a lot to like. But with a new pricing structure, there are still a lot of questions about how the system will work for old Pro users, new users, and everyone in between. The basic differences between the various account types in the overhauled Flickr are laid out here, which should help you sort through the confusion a bit. However, we're going to try to address some of... (read more)

The antique process of tintype photography has been around for over 150 years but a photographer recently discovered what could be the perfect medium for it: old tin cans. That photographer, the Arizona-based David Emit Adams, has been creating tintype images on discarded, weather-beaten cans he's found on the desert floor. "The deserts of the West also have special significance in the history of photography," Adams says. "I have explored this landscape with an awareness of the photographers who have come before me, and this... (read more)

…there’s no such thing as Flickr Pro, because today, with cameras as pervasive as they are, there is no such thing really as professional photographers, when there’s everything is professional photographers. Certainly there is varying levels of skills, but we didn’t want to have a Flickr Pro anymore, we wanted everyone to have professional quality photos, space, and sharing.” – Marissa Mayer, Yahoo Event, May 2013 Woah, there, Yahoo cowgirl…let’s hold on just a second! Before we start writing the obituary for all Professional Photographers everywhere, let’s recap what we know: You, Marissa Mayer, were brought on as Yahoo CEO to take a company short on vision and turn it around. With a history of lackluster acquisitions, the task is daunting, to be sure. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say the purchase for $1.1 billion of Tumblr, a company that generated only $13 million last year, was surprising, to say the least, but spoke volumes as to the extent Yahoo is willing to go to increase it’s “coolness” factor. The logic behind the purchase? Not cool company (Yahoo) associates itself with cool company (Tumblr) and thus, becomes cool. If that worked, my grandma should be shopping at Forever 21. But, I realize that it is not up to me to determine the course of Yahoo. As I sit here in my pajamas, drinking my coffee, I know that there are big power players in the world that are wheelin’ and dealin’ and quite frankly, not much of it has anything to do with me. I don’t think anyone suffers under the delusion that you, as Yahoo CEO, are trying to better the Professional Photography Industry; that you wake up thinking, “How can I support and enhance the world of Professional Photography and those that create it? How can I, Marissa Mayer, make a difference to these artists?” You might not think that, but let me assure you, girlfriend, WE do, which is why your statement struck such a raw nerve. There is no such thing, really, as professional photographers… everything is professional photographers. You know, I like to think that you were tired when you said this. It was 46 minutes into the event, after all. Maybe you were speaking on an empty stomach, you’d stayed up late watching Jimmy Kimmel and wanted to try out a comedy bit, or maybe, like me, when you open your mouth, you’re never really sure what will come out. Oh wait, probably not…’cause you’re the CEO OF YAHOO, for cryin’ out loud! Okay, Marissa, what the what were you thinking? Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer See, I believe you have every right as CEO to make decisions for your company, but when you explain your decision by disparaging a group of professionals who already use your product, well, between you and me, girlfriend, that was NOT the smartest move. It ranks right below the Yahoo acquisition of GeoCities. (If you’re reading this and asking yourself, “What is GeoCities?” I say, “Exactly.”) Now, I’ve been hard on you, Marissa; I admit it. But, it’s tough love. And because I really do want you to do well in your position I’m going to share a little nugget of wisdom with you. This is something those Yahoo Execs won’t tell you. In fact, this is going to come as a major shock, so you might want to sit down. Are you ready? Okay, here goes… Not everyone with a camera is a Professional Photographer. Let’s just let that sink in for awhile. Now, I know this is hard to comprehend. I mean, I know what you must think: if you have a camera and you can press a button, what more is there? I know, I know, it’s a difficult concept to grasp, you’re not alone in this, but I assure you, there are many Professional Photographers out there. Some of us are incognito, hiding out in studios or home offices; many of us try to blend in when we work, and there are even those of

It’s one of a photographer’s worst fears: dropping your DSLR. Especially for the amateur who may not have a backup, knowing that your camera can withstand a beating has led to some interesting videos in the past. But while we appreciate DigitalRev’s “paint it pink and light it on fire” approach, protection plan company SquareTrade‘s more scientific test is probably more useful (if less entertaining). In the video above, SquareTrade enlists the help of pro photographer and B&H employee Neil Gershman to drop test Canon’s T5i and Nikon’s D5200. The test was conducted on a rainy day in front of B&H’s NYC superstore. While B&H patrons looked on in what we can only assume was abject horror, SquareTrade dropped the two cameras at the same time from identical platforms 4 feet off the ground. Once Gershman collected the lenses (both of which popped off and went flying) he was able to put the cameras to the test and see which one came out on top. Initially, it looked like Canon had lost; although both lenses had broken and weren’t staying on properly, the Nikon was still turning on and taking pictures, albeit with no ability to autofocus. Even after the Canon turned back on a few minutes later, the resulting images looked better coming out of the Nikon/broken lens combo. However, given that both cameras worked just fine after the broken lenses were replaced, SquareTrade decided to give the win to Canon. The drop rendered both lenses unusable, and even though the Canon lens was perhaps a bit more unusable, the body itself seemed to sustain less damage. To see the full drop test for yourself, steel yourself and click play at the top. (via The Phoblographer)

The Federationof European Professional Photographers (FEP) has announced the winners of its European Professional Photographer of the Year 2012 competition. Read more and comment »

Kuuvik Capture is a feature-laden Canon EOS tethering application for Mac OS X. Read more and comment »

Microsoft is making a big play for the living room with a new Xbox console that marries games with live TV, Internet browsing, music and Skype. The Xbox One could considerably expand Microsoft's presence in consumer electronics but is expected to compete with Internet TV devices from companies such as Intel, interactive set-top boxes from cable TV companies, and Sony's PlayStation 4. There's also a possible set-top box from Apple. It was unveiled during an event at Microsoft's Redmond campus. A launch date was not immediately announced. "Xbox On," said Yusuf Mehdi, senior vice president of Microsoft, as he began to demonstrate the device. The Xbox sprang to life and presented Mehdi with a home screen. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Plenty of applications help you show off your photos, and plenty help you show off your videos. But too few tools exist that allows you to show them off together. Enter Fantashow Pro, a $50-per-year application allows you to combine still photos with videos to create a custom video slideshow. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

In an effort to streamline the development of wireless charging technology, Duracell subsidiary Powermat Technologies will merge with the Helsinki-based company PowerKiss.  Together, the two companies are responsible for thousands of public stations used to wirelessly charge mobile phones in the United States and Europe.  Until now, the conflicting systems used by each company have eliminated any benefit wireless charging technology might have for overseas travelers who rely on their smartphones. The statement released today explains that eliminating those “incompatible standards” is the primary motivation of combining under the Powermat umbrella. With their forces joined, the two pioneers will be pushing forward with Powermat’s “PMA” standard, which has already been accepted by global leaders like General Motors, Starbucks, and Duracell.  Adding Powerkiss’ European presence to the PMA standard may well define it as the unofficial international standard for wireless charging. Powermat has instituted PMA wireless charging stations in more than 1,500 retail locations including Starbucks and AT&T stores.  Likewise, Powerkiss has enabled wireless charging in more than 1,000 European locations, including McDonalds restaurants.  In a remarkable commitment to the future of the technology, the merging of these two companies will ultimately ensure consistency across international borders.  This is a huge step for the burgeoning industry of wireless charging.  Our smartphones are heavily burdened with improving nearly every detail of our daily lives.  It’s a difficult task, even with vastly improved battery life aided by the efficient performance of processors like the Qualcomm Snapdragon.  For international travelers who already face issues with different outlets and service providers when they’re overseas, the introduction of seamless, consistent formats for wireless charging across the globe will be a big relief. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here