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8 Things That Can Help Save Compact Cameras (At Least For Now)

Stan Horaczek — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:07:20 GMT

The smartphone hasn't killed the little camera just yet

The smartphone camera has had an undeniable effect on the way people take pictures, and in turn, the way we buy cameras. In fact, Olympus recently announced that they're killing their low-end line of compacts all together. But, the compact camera isn't totally dead yet. In order for them to survive, though, they're going to need to step up their game and focus on the things that really matter. Here are a few things I'd like to see in the little camera market.

Add more wireless connectivity, but don't be redundant

As much as it hurts to say it, compact cameras have become, in a way, smartphone accessories for some users. So, the easier it is for the devices to play nice with each other, the less it will feel like a redundant gadget.

And when I say wireless connectivity, I'm talking about more than Wifi. Yes, Wifi is great, but NFC is also great and will let you transfer photos to your phone by simply touching the two devices together.

While connectivity is key, it's also where cameras tend to get bogged down by trying to add things like apps. Your phone already has apps and they're likely better, faster, and more customizable than proprietary app offered within the camera's firmware. It needs to be as simple and automatic as possible for photos to get from the camera to a smartphone or tablet. Unless a camera goes all the way, like the Galaxy camera with full Android pictured above, leave the apps to the other guys.

Be smart about zoom

Camera manufacturers love optical zoom because it's something that, at least for the time being, smartphone cameras just can't do. Because of that, thought, they can get carried away.

Little cameras with extra-long zooms tend to have the smallest sensors, which can negatively impact image quality. Also, once the millimeter count gets too high, they become unwieldy. There's no amount of image stabilization that's going to keep a 1,000mm equivalent lens sharp at F/6.3 when you're trying to hold a tiny camera. We've gotten plenty of emails from users frustrated that they can't get sharp images when zoomed all the way to the telephoto end of their new camera. That's bad.

Zoom is important, but if you can't use all of it, don't include it. It will keep the price down and not overpromise.

Tone down the megapixels

By keeping megapixels to just 12, canon's S-series compacts have remained high on the scale for compact image quality

At the low end of the camera market, the focus on megapixel counts has remained alive, even though it's dead in most other segments. It's a good marketing technique -- seeing an 18 on the box instead of a 12 just sounds, well, better to uninformed consumers. But, that line of thinking is now almost completely gone. Even Smartphone manufacturers, like HTC, have started bragging about their lower megapixel counts and the resulting image quality bumps seem to be paying off.

Bringing down megapixel counts will (if done properly) help improve image quality while reducing file size. That means you'll get better pictures beamed wirelessly to your phone or iPad faster and that's hard to argue with. If they need a number, start fighting the uphill battle to emphasize pixel size.

Make them cheaper

This is one is about as straight forward as they come. If consumers on the lower end of the market are going to start seeing their camera as an accessory for their mobile devices, they're likely not going to pay as much as they did for the device itself. I realize that camera companies are already trying to make their cameras as cheap as possible, but by focusing on the essentials and cutting back on some of the extraneous things like apps and piles of "creative modes," the price may be able to come down even more.

Ruggedize

Nikon's S31 costs just $100, but has an optical zoom lens and is both rugged and waterproof

Another area where smartphones fail -- quietly literally -- is in the toughness category. Even with the surge of mobile photography, waterproof tough cameras seem to be thriving, and rightfully so. I love the idea of Nikon's S31, which is a very basic camera in a waterproof housing. Awesome for kids and if you're just looking for underwater snapshots.

Making a camera that can go anywhere really does offer something smartphones can't. Sure, you can buy a waterproof case for your phone, but if it fails, you're without a $500+ piece of equipment. That's a lot of faith to put in a $40 phone case.

Get serious about the flash

Smartphone flashes are literally often worse than useless. But, on a small camera, they can come in very handy. With relatively little sensors and typically slow lenses, flash is an essential part of the compact camera experience. Flashes need to get smarter and offer users more control so they don't have to choose between ugly, dark photos, and blown out faces with harsh shadows.

Concentrate on the lens

The Olympus XZ-10 has a sharp, F/1.8 lens, which stays fast even when zoomed to its telephoto end

At the advanced compact level, there are quite a few cameras with nice lenses. As you come down the ladder, though, you start seeing slower maximum apertures and increased distortion. While it may never get to the point where the general non-photo person understands that F/1.8 is a good thing, they will be able to understand images with blurry backgrounds and less-awful photos in low-light.

After all, look at any gear recommendation thread on the web and you'll see people championing the purchase of a new lens over a new body. The same goes here. Put a decent sensor behind a better-than-decent lens and the images should speak for themselves.

Declutter

The number of shooting modes available on many compact cameras at the moment can get out of hand. It's not crazy to see a camera with more than 30 different "scene" settings. At that point, it's probably easier for people to just learn how to use the camera with aperture and shutter speed. One of the most appealing things about smartphone photography is that you go from open screen to camera in one second and you're ready to go. If the camera experience isn't as painless, it won't get used.

Getting back to the essentials can help. You should still be able to tweak exposure compensation and ISO. Even manual controls would be nice, even if you have to go into the menus to activate them. But it's time for that little running guy icon and that "mountain" setting to go.

Of course, I realize that it's not as simple as shutting down the camera machines and starting again. I also realize that manufacturers have spent billions of dollars on marketing and research to try and find out what people want. But, ultimately, I think the thing that will help compact cameras stick around a while is to let them be cameras. People have apps. They have a way to edit. They have a way to share. Now, all they need is a better way to actually take the pictures.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Samsung Galaxy Camera

Check Out This 6,000 Mile Long Panorama from Space

Tim Barribeau — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:28:01 GMT

It may not have the most megapixels, but this is the longest pano we've ever seen

Gigapixel panoramas are becoming increasingly common. We've seen them of major cities, famed mountains, and even other planets — so it takes a lot to still impress us. But a 6,000 mile long satellite panorama over a long sliver of the earth's surface? That'll do it.

This incredible slice of the planet stretches from Russia all the way down to South Africa, and was captured by the Landsat Data Continuity Mission. Shot in April, this 6,000 mile by 120 mile flyover was recorded from an altitude of 438 miles above the planet. Comprised of 56 still images combined into a single strip that shows the immense diversity of climates on our planet's surface.

You can watch the flyover in the video below, interact with it on GigaPan, see the full 15-minute version, load it up on Google Earth, or view any of the 56 images on their own.

Orbiting at roughly 17,000 miles per hour, the Landsat was able to snap this series of images in just 20 minutes. You can read a bit more about what the satellite saw at the Earth Observatory page from NASA.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

nasa gigapan

New Gear: Fotodiox Pro LED 100WA Lights

Tim Barribeau — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:00:54 GMT

Designed to look like a strobe and fit the accessories you already have

Fotodiox has just announced a new off-camera illumination source, designed to look like a classic strobe so that it can better integrate with the products you already own. While not actually a strobe, the Fotodiox Pro LED 100WA lights are modeled from them, giving you a constant, low-heat source of illumination that can easily take the lighting modifiers that are already part of your kit.

Available in either Tungsten (3200k ± 200) or Daylight (5600 ± 300) equivalents, the Fotodiox Pro LED 100WA will set you back $324.95. Since it uses LED, the light has a low power draw, and gives off "practically zero heat", making for a longer and more comfortable shooting situation. The LEDs provide the equivalent of 600w illumination, and can be dimmed down from that if needed. The lights feature a color rendering index of >85.

Designed specifically to work with extant gear, the Fotodiox Pro LED 100WA Lights have a Bowens (S) bayonet mount, which should allow them to accept a wide array of lighting modifiers. Ideally you should be able to add these new lights to your studio setup, and have them fit seamlessly in your workflow thanks to the standardized mount.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Fotodiox Pro LED100WA

New Gear: ThinkTank Logistitcs Manager 30 Massive Rolling Camera Gear Bag

Stan Horaczek — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:12:45 GMT

Bring everything. No, really, everything.

We write about a lot of camera backpacks, slings, and messenger bags, but we haven't given a lot of love to rolling bags, it seems. ThinkTank's new Logistics Manager 30, though, definitely deserves a look, especially if you're the type to bring the whole studio with you on shoots.

Inside this rolling chest is 3,500 cubic inches of storage, which is enough for even the biggest lenses, with plenty of room left over for bodies, flashes, and accessories. The zippers are lockable and there are several handles for a variety of carrying options. Options are essential since the bag alone weighs between 16 and 20 pounds depending on configuration.

The exterior is made from water-resistant ballistic nylon, which means it will likely be tough as nails, like the rest of the ThinkTank bags we've tried. The outside of the bag also has means for attaching light stands and large tripods.

The bag is currently available and comes with a price tag of $500, which isn't cheap, but is also pretty much exactly where you'd expect it to be for such a massive bag.

Official site

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

ThinkTank Logistics Manager 30

Your Best Shot Gallery: April 2013

Shoraczek — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:26:03 GMT

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Elephant in Ngorongoro Crater

By Jeff Heidel

I recently went to Tanzania and one of the highlights was spending time in Ngorongoro Crater. The crater makes the perfect back drop for pictures and it was just a matter of time on waiting for this elephant top get in the perfect spot

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Recorder Player

By Hoang Nguyen

My daughter is practicing for her music exam

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Chance Encounter with Serenity

By Randy Schiff

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Cerritos star storm

By Sergio Garcia

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Grapefruit

By Laurens Kaldeway

A close up capture of a grapefruit slice submerged in club soda.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Staredown

By Patrick Moher

Sports portrait taken in an attempt to depict the enormous wingspan of many volleyball players, especially Andre here!

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Subway Canyon

By Vitali Hantsevich

Left Fork of North Creek (The Subway)

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

the grass picker

By Masha Sardari

Model: Bethany Rand

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The Boat Show

By Zaacchery Hobbs

I found this old boat wreckage last year next to the river in Pittsburgh and fell in love with it. I had been planning for months, and I finally came up with the perfect shot for this location. I wanted to show that bmx riding is not only an action sport, but an art form in its own way. What most people would see as nothing other than old boat wreckage, we as bmx riders see a chance to create a playground of our own. Athlete: Jordon Milchak (model release available)

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

High Noon - Ant's Perspective

By Thom Masat

Sony RX-100 with on camera flash...into the sun and having fun. The gardens in front of the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

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Up and away

By Raven Wildharber

This photo was taken at an airshow in FL.

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Metal fabrication

By Tom Berg

getting steel pipe ready for natural gas

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Cymbidiums

By Brenda Eiden

Cymbidium Orchids

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Diablo Burning

By Matt Walker

This is a photo taken on April 1 this year. I had driven to the Marin Headlands in hope of shooting low fog at the Golden Gate Bridge. Unfortunately the fog was too high, so I decided to drive above the fog on Mount Tamalpais. This shot captures a burning sunrise above Mount Diablo. It's extremely rare to have high clouds and low fog at the same moment.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Simplicity

By Alberto Rodriguez

Flower on empty white espresso cup on white

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Beautiful Ugly

By Kord McCray

I took this picture in southwest Texas at a ranch, when I saw his donkey I had to get a picture. They weren't scared so I whipped out the flash and got what I wanted.

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Untitled (Series "Seven Seasons")

By Manuela Thames

Model:Molly Kalda Double Exposure The ice was getting thinner and thinner. As I stepped on it carefully, it cracked. At the same time she remained calm. I could see strength, peace and determination in her face. She decided to keep looking forward despite of it all. That gave me hope.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Emergence

By Brent Bristol

This image was created from 11 frames taken at different focus planes then assembled in Helicon Focus. Natural light. Live specimen.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Shelter

By Ryan James Caruthers

A double exposure self portrait.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Stealing Mommy's iPad

By Kara Robinson

Our three-year old daughter, Reese, loves to sneak into our bed and play games on the iPad. The lights in our master bedroom were all turned off, but the illumination from the iPad gave me everything I needed.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

A golden morning shower

By Heidi Westum

Water drops on seed with yellow flowers behind

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Illusion

By Janne Kahila

I used a shiny plastic surface for the reflection. For the background I hanged two differently coloured sheets of paper. Then I placed the glasses symmetrically and let the physics do the fancy effect. The image is not manipulated, only minor contrast and color adjustments were made in Photoshop.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Toothpicks

By Reggie Ballesteros

Even the most ordinary objects can be beautiful.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Traveler

By Ruth Henderson

This concept was derived from the idea of a weary traveler. At some point somebody running away must stop and rest.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Moonrise Sea of Cortez

By Evert Riley

I was on the beach at 1 am waiting for the moon to rise. It was a challenge to find the right ISO to maximize light as it was very dark. The moon is only a 1/4 moon.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

African King

By Jennifer Leigh Warner

A male African Lion in the Masai Mara.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Underground Fire in San Francisco

By Marc Erlandson

I was driving through San Francisco when I saw this underground fire taking place. The entire area was roped off, but I was able to get this great shot.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Hastings Fun Fair 2

By Adam Regan

Image from a project documenting the seaside town of Hastings in East Sussex, UK.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Untitled

By andrew gallucci

This was a shot from a fashion/portrait shoot I organized just for fun to work out a new style.

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On Deck

By Ray Shaw

I was shooting a high school baseball game and couldn't help but notice the texture of the dirt and the batter in the circle.

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Searching for the Northern Lights

By Dana Vastano

In mid-April, reports began circling that because of a strong solar flare on the sun the Northern Lights might be able to be seen in NJ. My sister, mother and I camped out on the beach in Seaside Park, NJ in hopes of catching a glimpse. While we unfortunately did not see anything, I was able to capture this picture of my sister sitting in an Adirondack chair playing around with a flashlight as if she's searching the sky for the Northern Lights.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Beyond a toxic paradise

By Fahim Faisal Khan Shapni

without raising your conciousness about your environment,its you who's being the victim of it's fatal extractions. Leaving a toxic paradise for the next generation by polluting it,you'll fall against it. It's high time we start thinking seriously about the children inhaling this polluted air and do our best to check this. Otherwise we will be the ones responsible for our own extinction.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

The Captive

By Fahim Murshed

“It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” ― Nelson Mandela

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Devotee (charak puja)

By Yasir Arafat

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What a Crab!

By Bene Tan

Decided to light it after seeing this beautiful Alsakan king crab after a family lunch.

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The Gap

By Patrick Steiner

Michi Schatz jumping over a river in Austria.

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Damnoen Saduak

By Ruel Tafalla

boat ride to damnoen saduak Thailand

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Uncle Mark

By Braxton Wilhelmsen

This is a photo I did of my Uncle at his 50th Anniversary party. I was hired to shoot the event and thought it would be great to get a nice portrait of him while we were there.

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Crown of Fire

By Vera Wilde

Lady of the elements.

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The Lucky One

By Dylan Barnes

Taylor Swift Red Concert on April 12, 2013

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surf blur

By jeffrey hemming

shot with canon xsi and sigma 10-20mm lens with homemade water housing. I started shooting at sunset and after a while it started getting dark. I just happened to hold the housing still enough to only allow the blur to come from the wave itself.

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She is the Sunlight

By Ashton Anderson

Photo of a young dance. Taken on NC coast

CAMERA: EOS Rebel T3i

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Stephen Albert Joseph Keech

By Andrew Cloer

Stephen Keech is a singer/songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee. Formerly the vocalist of the Christian metal band Haste The Day, Stephen now takes a unique approach to an old school rock sound. I met him at the church I was visiting at the time and asked him if he would like to do a shoot at the house I was staying at temporarily.

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Glowing Empire

By RONALD CHOW

It was just the right time, right place moment thing. Got to the location and this the first shot I took that day. After 3 clicks, the light was gone. Pretty lucky eh :)

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Flushful

By Heather Tabacchi

This photo is a self portrait. I used lip stick to create the dash of red and tape for a guideline. It was taken in my apartment by simply using a window as a main light and a reflector to fill in some shadows as well as add a catch light. Originally the background was a bright red, but by using the levels in photoshop I darkened it to black.

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The Bracelet

By Florence Leung

Photographer: Florence Leung www.flotography.ca Follow Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/FLOTOGRAPHY.CA Featuring model Brooklyn Hammel Key Model Management Styling by Yvadney Davis. Makeup&manicure by Oz Zandiyeh. Hair by Yuki Lam.

SEE PHOTO GALLERY

Kickstarter: Gorgeous Wooden Pinhole Camers from ONDU

Tim Barribeau — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:37:28 GMT

It's the wood that makes them (look) good

Elvis Halilović is a Slovenian industrial designer, carpenter, and photographer — and he's combined all three of his passions into a single project: ONDU pinhole cameras. This is a Kickstarter to fund the creation of a series of wooden pinhole cameras, designed and build by Halilović and his brother themselves.

While it doesn't take much to make your own pinhole camera (you can pick up super cheap cardboard kits, or build one yourself out of just about anything), these are a little different. They'll be built from carpentry quality wood, and should potentially last for an extremely long time. Not only that, but they look pretty spectacular.

A number of different cameras are available for Kickstarter backers, starting with a basic 35mm for $60; a 35mm panoramic camera (capable of 36x24mm or 72x24mm images) for $80; 6x6 camera that uses 120 film for $100; a multi-format 120 film pinhole that can take 6x6, 6x9, or 6x12 images for $120; a 4"x5" large-format $150 camera; and for $200, a direct exposure camera for shooting on 10.5x14.8cm photographic paper.

The project has already passed its $10,000 goal, so all these cameras should eventually be produced. But, as always, Kickstarter projects have a tendency to take longer to ship than you might have guessed when backing.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

ONDU pinhole

Apple Patent Suggests Using Smartphones as Off-Camera Flash

Tim Barribeau — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:00:48 GMT

Apple has been awarded a patent to tie multiple smartphones together as an off-camera illumination system

Smartphone "flashes" are terrible. Yes, in some cases they're better than nothing, but most of the time you should avoid them like the plague. But a new patent awarded to Apple could substantially boost their capability, by tapping into other devices around you to function as slaved off-camera lighting. By linking together your iPhone with those of a number of friends, you could provide a substantial boost to the lighting of a situation.

Unlike a standard lighting setup, the newly awarded patent wouldn't simply use metering from the master unit or manually set levels. Instead, it would fire an initial photograph using some or all of the slaved devices, analyze it, and then adjust the lighting levels produced from each device to make the photo turn out well.

The method includes initiating a master-slave relationship between the image capture device and at least one secondary device. Once the master-slave relationship is initiated, remotely activating one of an at least one light source of the at least one secondary device. As the light source is activated, capturing a test image of a scene illuminated by the at least one light source by the image capture device. Then, analyzing the test image to determine if an illumination of the scene should be adjusted. If the illumination of the scene is to be adjusted, providing a control signal to the at least one secondary device including at least one of a position instruction, an intensity level, or timing data.

Unfortunately, the patent itself is extremely broad, with language that extends far beyond smartphones. This being Apple, you can see the application most likely being for binding together multiple iPhones and iPad, but the patent is actually far more expansive. It refers primarly to use with an "image capture device" such as "a camera or mobile electronic device." The patent even concludes:

The foregoing description has broad application. For example, while examples disclosed herein may focus on utilizing a smart phone or mobile computing device, it should be appreciated that the concepts disclosed herein may equally apply to other image capturing devices and light sources. Similarly, although the illumination system may be discussed with respect to activating a series of light sources, the devices and techniques disclosed herein are equally applicable to any type of output. Accordingly, the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be an example and is not intended to suggest that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to these examples.

Apple has something of a history for litigation, so here's hoping this described patent is far enough away from what dedicated cameras are doing that neither the big photography companies nor Apple will feel the need to but heads over patents for off-camera illumination. As it stands, the idea of being able to use multiple iPhones to create an impromptu controlled strobe situation is pretty neat.

[via Engadget, Apple Insider]

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

iPhone 5 led

Google+ Adds More Photography Features, Tries To Pick Your Best Photos

Stan Horaczek — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:26:37 GMT

From shooting to sharing, Google is trying to integrate itself into your photographic process

When it comes to social networks, there's already a lot for photographers to like about Googe+. It has some of the best intellectual property practices around and it doesn't crunch your photo quality as much as some others like Facebook. Today, at their Google I/O conference, they unleashed some new photo features on Google+, which are available right now.

One of the most intriguing new additions is the Highlights tab. When you visit the photos page, you'll see images that Google's algorithms have deemed "good" or "important." Sounds a little creepy, but it's based on things like whether or not an image is sharp or properly exposed. it also looks for your friends in the photos and landmarks it might recognize. Even more creepy, but also pretty cool.

My Google+ profile is something of a wreck, so my highlights tab is all over the place, but it's an interesting idea and a tab you can totally ignore if the idea of a robot criticizing your photos makes you angry.

There's also a new Auto Enhance mode, which I suspect is closely related to the mode you'll find in Google's desktop photo application, Picasa. The interesting thing is that it doesn't just tweak the histogram. In a picture of me (from 2007 -- I'm not that good looking anymore) it added some blurring to my skin to even it out like a portrait retouching software would. That's pretty advanced for an "auto enhance" mode. In the photo below, you'll notice the color balance has shifted a little warmer and the skin next to my nose has been smoothed. Left is the original and right is the "enhanced" version.

There's even more stuff, like a "motion" mode that will stitch together frames that were clearly shot in sequence into some kind of animated .gif. It can create panoramas and even HDR images from bracketed photos. The interesting thing is that this isn't done on command, it's done automatically. You can turn it off, but if you don't, Google will just go ahead and make a sequence or an HDR for you.

Ultimately, it's the kind of stuff you'd expect to do with tablet or smartphone apps, but it's brought in at the sharing level. It seems like Google would be happy to take over your entire photography experience from shooting to sharing.

Have you tried any of the new features yet? If so, what do you think? Here's the Google page to see what's new.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Google+

Review: Western Digital My Passport Ultra Portable Hard Drive With Dropbox Cloud Backup

Stan Horaczek — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:41:47 GMT

Western Digital's redesigned drive adds cloud backup to hard drive storage

The cloud is extremely handy when backing up your data, but it's still early enough in its implementation that many don't want to rely on it completely. Western Digital's new My Passport drive stores your data locally, but also offers integration with Dropbox as well as WD's own personal cloud storage solution, giving you a bit of both worlds.

What is it?

The My Passport line of hard drives has been around for some time now, but they have given it a bit of a makeover, changing up the shape and the look. It's still powered by USB 3, but they have beefed up the backup options with their new SmartWare Pro software.

What's Good?

To test the transfer rates, I used a folder with 4.35 GB of raw image files. Over USB 3, it took 1:17 for it to transfer to the drive. When plugged into a USB 2 port, it took 3:01. Really solid and as fast as any other portable drive we've tested.

When it's running, it does so very quietly. Unless you have your hand on it to feel the vibration -- which is minimal -- you probably won't even know it's on. It warmed up after some serious data transfer, but nothing out of the ordinary for a little drive like this.

Now we come to the software. The suite that comes pre-packed with this drive is actually fairly extensive. The standard utilities offer means for monitoring drive health and securing data with a password.

The updates to their backup software are the real story here, though. The WD SmartWare Pro software lets you back up data to your Dropbox account or to one of WD's other network connected drives should you have one available.

There's a surprising amount of customizability and while the interface may have a few bugs here and there, is easy to navigate.

The new makeover gives it a slick look, but didn't change the shape all that much, which means it still fits in the rugged case WD makes for them. That's a plus if you're already using this kind of drive.

There are also several color options. That's not important to me, but it might be to you. You can pick from black, blue, red, and titanium (which is still made of plastic).

Not so good

The SmartWare Pro software is great, but if you're using a Mac, you're out of luck. It's PC only for now. While Dropbox integration is cool to see, Dropbox itself can be a bit slow when it comes to transferring files back and forth. You'll also have to pay extra for more space in your Dropbox if you want to backup more than a couple GB of data.

Who should buy it?

If you're looking to start dabbling in the cloud or you're already a Dropbox power user, this is a good way to give it a try. Right now, you're limited to either 500 GB or 1 TB or storage, but they say a 2 TB model is on the way relatively soon. At $119 for the 1 TB model and $99 for the 500 GB unit, it's not the cheapest storage around, especially when you factor in the Dropbox costs, but it's not the most expensive either.

Official site

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Western Digital My Passport Ultra External Harddrive

How to Hack Two Rolls of 110 Film onto a 35mm Spool

Tim Barribeau — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:17:53 GMT

Ready to grab some scissors, and get into some crazy film modification?

One of the fun things about shooting analog is just how much you can play with the recording medium itself. You can take the physical film and modify it in all sorts of ways for curious and unexpected effects. Over at Lomography Magazine, one user started playing with film, and figured out how to fit two 110 film rolls into a 35mm canister.

The process itself is pretty straightforward. The 110 cartridges are split open, laid next to one another, and both ends taped to spare pieces of 35mm film. The combined width of both rolls of 110 is about the same as traditional 35mm film, allowing it be loaded back onto a spool, and then shot in a 35mm film camera.

The resulting images are delightfully bizarre, with clearly visible splits, and frame numbers printed over the middle of the photograph. But for all that, they're charming, unique, and show off that sometimes it's okay to take something apart in the name of art, if only to see what happens.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

110 35mm

Photo by dvzncndo

Library of Congress Digitizes Stunning Collection of Early Panoramic Postcards

Tim Barribeau — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:58:48 GMT

In project that began in 2008, the Library of Congress has finally completed scanning this incredible collection of old panoramas

The Library of Congress has an absolutely unparalleled collection of all types of historical documents and records — many of which require extreme care to properly look after. Which is why it comes as no surprise that the Library's stunning set of over 400 panoramic postcards has taken since 2008 to properly digitize, and make their way online.

The early years of the 20th century saw an explosion of popularity of panoramic postcards, measuring some 3.5 inches tall and 10 inches long. Representing 39 different states, the Library of Congress received more than 400 of these, generally as copyright deposits. When the Library inventoried the postcard collection back in 2008, they deemed these worthy of greater attention, and it's only now that the entire set has been released fully online.

The cards required special attention and care, as many where original photographic prints, known “real photo” postcards. As explained in a blog post

It took a few years to gather the resources necessary for scanning and cataloging. Then, the Library’s Duplication Services carefully captured the digital images, and a talented team in the Prints & Photographs Division created the catalog records, finishing up last week.

If you're interested in historic panoramas, the LoC has a collection of more than 4000 large format panoramic photographs, which should provide hours of browsing for history fans.

[via HyperAllergic, PetaPixel]

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

panoramic card

Traveling Photographer: Belize

Ian Plant — Wed, 15 May 2013 05:23:36 GMT

Photo by Ian Plant

Belize serves up a delightful cocktail of white sandy beaches, turquoise Caribbean waters, steamy green jungles, and blue mountain views

With Mexico to its north and Guatemala to its south, Belize lies on the Caribbean coast of Central America. The potent combination of its warm climate, lush scenery, and compelling wildlife will get your creative juices flowing. Just pack your swimsuit, a waterproof camera, and your sense of adventure for this photo trip of a lifetime. Here’s how.

Go Coastal
Highly popular among sun-worshipping tourists, Belize’s glittering sandy beaches are just as perfect for photo enthusiasts. Dangriga, Hopkins, and Placencia are wonderful tourist towns, and all three give you easy access to coastal scenery.

But to really experience the best that Belize has to offer, you will need to find a way out to the offshore barrier reef, the second largest in the world. Here you will find tiny deserted islands bedecked with only a few swaying palm trees. Underwater lies a beautiful reef teeming with life, including whale sharks (which peak in April and May), sea turtles, and plenty of other photogenic species.

Although a few islands have resorts on them, the best way to get to the barrier reef is by signing up for a snorkeling or diving tour, or by chartering a private boat (either can be easily arranged in one of the towns). The most photogenic islands are typically the ones farthest from the mainland, so talk in advance with your charter operator if you want to be on location for sunrise or sunset photography (you can also book an overnight camping excursion). A wide-angle zoom will come in handy for coastal scenery shots, especially for combining incoming waves with colorful sunset skies.

If you plan to do any snorkeling or diving, consider bringing along a waterproof camera or an underwater housing for your DSLR. Quality housings start at around $1,500; renting one is another possibility, although a rental for a two-week photo trip can cost almost as much as buying one. But don’t rule out waterproofing your compact camera; I opted for a Canon PowerShot S100 in a Fisheye FIX underwater housing, which gave me RAW shooting and other options.

While the results with this rig were certainly more than adequate for my occasional underwater forays, nothing beats a DSLR for flexibility and speed of use in underwater work.

Take a Jaunt in the Jungle
Great photo opportunities can also be found in the interior jungle, such as the one near the Monkey River, outside the town of Placencia.

Belize boasts dozens of parks with trails that wind through various jungle environments. Jungles are visually chaotic, making coherent photos difficult, so simplify compositions by zooming in on intimate details such as backlit jungle palms. Or focus on the wildlife, such as the howler monkeys pictured in our photo gallery.

Try a Cave Crawl
With hundreds of stunning cave com-plexes inside its porous limestone bedrock, Belize is a premier destination for spelunkers. But you don’t need to be a professional caver to explore the best of Belize’s underworld. Plenty of caves are easy to access on your own or on a guided tour.

Perhaps the most stunning example, and the easiest to get to, is Rio Frio Cave in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. This massive cathedral of stone is open at both ends, connected by a quarter mile of gurgling brook cleaving through the inky darkness. Be prepared for exposures of several minutes to capture the faintly lit interior; a sturdy tripod is absolutely necessary to ensure sharp images.

For your own safety, don’t forget to sign in at the military checkpoint near the cave; although rare, bandits from across the nearby Guatemalan border occasionally rob tourists in this area.

After photographing Rio Frio, stop at nearby Rio On Pools for some beautiful waterfall scenery. Other popular cave areas include Barton Creek and Caves Branch, which can be explored by canoe (note that you will have to do all your shooting from the boat), and Actun Tunichil Muknal cave, which is host to a number of Mayan artifacts and burial chambers.

Capture Animal Life
For wildlife viewing, Belize offers much more besides the barrier reef. One of the most popular places is Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve in southern Belize, home to a number of wild cat species, including its namesake. Though Belize is home to five wild cat species, including jaguar, puma, ocelot, margay, and jaguarundi, sightings at the preserve are very rare. But you can expect to see a number of bird species.

If you are looking to stretch your legs, hike up to Tiger Fern Hill for waterfalls and beautiful mountain views of jagged Victoria Peak, the second-highest mountain in Belize. Also consider a trip to the nearby small town of Red Bank to photograph scarlet macaws. Ask anyone in town and they will point you to the caretaker of the macaw preserve; for a small fee you can hike up to a viewing area. Check ahead of time to find out if the macaws are present; they are typically active here only from January through March.

Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary (about 30 miles north of Belize City) is another popular wildlife viewing destination. Every year, migrating birds flock to the sanctuary’s waterways by the thousands. The best months for photography are usually February to May: migrating birds are at their peak, and low dry-season water levels encourage birds into the open to seek food in the park’s shallow lagoons. Belize has the largest nesting population of jabiru storks in all of Central America; in April and May, the birds that nest in the northern and central parts of Belize gather at Crooked Tree in large numbers.

To view and photograph shy species such as the jaguar, consider a visit to the Belize Zoo, about 30 miles west of Belize City. The zoo is populated primarily with orphaned and rescued animals; those unable to return to the wild become permanent residents. The zoo does its best to keep the enclosures natural in appearance, thus enhancing your photographic experience.

For shooting wildlife, bring some long glass. Lenses in the 400mm to 500mm range will help close in on distant birds, and image stabilization is a must when handholding shots in Belize’s dark jungle environments. I found my 100–400mm zoom to be a good compromise between reach and portability.

Discover Ancient Artifacts
If you are looking for a short break from nature photography, visit Belize’s ancient Mayan ruins. Excellent sites can be found in Lamanai near Orange Walk (the river tour to Lamanai is also great for photographing wildlife); Caracol near San Ignacio; Xunantunich near the Guatemala border; and Altun Ha, 35 miles north of Belize City.

World famous Tikal is just across the border in Guatemala, and many Belize tours travel there.

Planning Your Trip
Belize’s tropical climate is relatively stable year-round, with little seasonal variation in temperature. The rainy season is from June through November, although you won’t necessarily get constant rain at these times. Early in the year is relatively dry and sunny, a perfect time for your visit (but remember that clouds can add color and dramatic skies in landscapes shot at sunrise and sunset).

Offshore winds can sometimes blow fairly steadily, which might make taking a boat tour to Belize’s islands and barrier reef a bit choppy, if not impossible. Choppy seas also reduce water clarity for underwater photography, so try to plan any snorkeling or diving for calm days.

International flights arrive at Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport, just outside Belize City. You don’t need to get a visa to enter Belize (your passport will do); you will be issued a tourist visa when you arrive. Options for local air travel and rental cars are available at the airport.

The Belize dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar at a 2-to-1 ratio. Most retailers take U.S. currency, and credit cards are widely accepted. Lodging in major tourist areas ranges from inexpensive-but-clean to luxury, and will be more spartan in remote areas.

Although most of Belize is safe for tourists, the U. S. State Department recommends exercising caution in Belize City, as well as near some border areas. And although vaccinations are not required to enter Belize, you may want to consider consulting with your doctor prior to travel.

The coastal tourist towns can be reached by small plane, but a rental car will be useful if you wish to explore the interior. Most rental companies offer four-wheel-drive high-clearance vehicles as their standard because many of Belize’s roads are not paved and some are exceptionally bumpy. Belize’s bus system is also an option. Or you can join half-day or day-long tours, which originate from most tourist towns and allow you to visit the country’s top attractions.

Belize’s official language is English, although Kriol, Spanish, Garifuna, and various Mayan dialects are the first languages of a majority of Belize’s people. But with the possible exception of people living in remote areas, most Belizeans speak English very well.

Full-time professional nature photographer Ian Plant is the author of a number of e-books and digital-processing video tutorials. See more of his work at ianplant.com.

Photo by: Ian Plant

January 13 Belize MAIN

Middle Silk Caye, Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve
Ian Plant waded to get this view. Tripod-mounted Canon EOS 5D Mark II with adapted 14–24mm f/2.8G AF-S Nikkor lens and polarizer; 0.3 sec at f/11, ISO 50.

Experts Confirm "Integrity" of 2013 World Press Photo Contest Winner

Stan Horaczek — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:41:05 GMT

The controversy over this year's winner drags on

Earlier this year, Paul Hansen's shot of a funeral procession in Palestine won the World Press Photo award. Soon after, it began suffering criticism that it had been "faked with Photoshop." Then, the whole thing died down. This morning, however, things bubbled back up to the surface and World Press Photo set a few experts on the case to decide once and for all if the image was a composite. The verdict came back in favor of Hansen.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

World Press Photo

How to Develop Color Negatives in Your Bathtub

Tim Barribeau — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:51:04 GMT

With just some affordable labware and chemicals, you'll be able to do C-41 color processing at home

If you're a film photographer, you probably learned pretty early that developing black and white film is easy and straightforward enough that you could do it at home — but working with color is a lot more tricky. But it turns out that as long as you're precise, can keep track of time and temperature, and are willing to pick up some pretty affordable gear, it's still totally doable.

Photographer Sam Agnew put together an expansive and detailed rundown of how it all works on his blog. He includes everything from what gear you should pick up, to how best to run the timers, to monitoring the temperature successfully.

Make no mistake, it's still a precise bit of chemistry, especially as the temperature range for development is just ±1°C. But as long as you keep a wary eye on everything going on, this guide should put you on the right path to developing everything at home, without requiring a dedicated darkroom.

[via Reddit]

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

bathtub processing

Action Camera Captures Dizzying View of WTC Spire Being Attached

Tim Barribeau — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:14:46 GMT

On May 10th, the final segment of the One World Trade Center was erected. Here's how it looked from the top

On May 10th, the final section of the spire of the One World Trade Center was installed, marking a major landmark the long reconstruction after 9/11. Now noted as the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, the One WTC tower stretches an astonishing 1,776 feet above the streets below. And this video shows just how insane the view would be from the top.

As part of installing the spire, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey strapped a GoPro near the tip of the edifice, creating this intense video of the process. If you just want to see the money shot of the spire locking into place, skip ahead to around 7:50 for an incredible view of Manhattan from above as it's installed.

The spire stands 75 feet tall, and weighs 40 tons. It will serve as a broadcasting faciity to beam over the air content to the surrounding area, and is capped with a 288,000 lumen beacon.

For more images of the installation, as well as a video shot from a slightly more conventional angle, you can see more information at the Port Authority's website.

[via LaughingSquid]

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

one wtc

Canon 200-400mm F/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x Super-Telephoto Lens Available For $11,799

Stan Horaczek — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:52:45 GMT

A supremely versatile zoom lens with pro features and pricing

Various pre-production models of Canon's monstrous new zoom lens have been floating around for quite some time now, but they have officially announced its availability and price and it's everything we thought it would be.

The lens is actually very interesting. It's a 200-400mm IS zoom lens, but it has a 1.4x extender built in that can be turned on and off with a simple switch. That means it can reach as far as 560mm on a full-frame body like the 1D X and 5D Mark III and stretch all the way out to almost 800mm on a crop body like the 7D.

It has a 9-blade circular aperture, an ultra-silent motor, fluorite and UD elements, and three different image stabilization modes. It's built for hard use by serious pros. And because of that, it checks in at almost $12,000. So, while it won't make its way into many stockings this Christmas, it will likely be a very big hit with the rental shops.

Yes, it's a lot of money, but in context, it's actually not as bad as it could've been. In fact, it's almost the same price as the Canon 400mm F/2.8. Sure, you lose that stop of light, but you gain tons more versatility. Of course, if you can give up a little more F-number, you can get the 100-400 F/4.5-5.6L IS and an 1.4X III extender for about 1/6th the total price of the 200-400mm. But, then you start introducing AF issues.

Even with the high price, it's a pretty cool lens. The idea of a built-in tele-extender will likely appeal greatly to some sports and wildlife shooters. And if it's successful, it will likely find its way down into the cheaper pro glass in the future.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Canon 200-400mm F/4L IS 1.4x Extender Telephoto Zoom Lens

New Gear: Nikon 1 32mm F/1.2 Prime Portrait Lens

Stan Horaczek — Tue, 14 May 2013 04:43:23 GMT

Serious portrait power comes to the 1 Series

With a maximum aperture of F/1.2 and a field of view equivalent to an 86mm lens on a full-frame body, Nikon's new 32mm F/1.2 brings 1-Series shooters a serious portrait lens option.

The lens has been in the works for a while and is ninth 1-Series lens. It's the first, however, to use Nikon's Silent Wave Motor for focusing. The optics have Nikon's Nano Crystal Coat to cut down on ghosting and flare. Really, it has many of the things you'd expect to find in one of their serious DSLR portrait lenses.

The lens will be hitting shelves in June for the serious price of $900. Interestingly enough, it will also come in black and silver options, which is uncommon for a lens at this price point.

We'll be putting the lens through our test lab when a retail unit becomes available. Personally, I think this is a good addition to the system. It's very small for an 85mm equivalent and the F/1.2 aperture will help bring some bokeh to that small sensor.

What lens do you think should be next to come to the 1-series?

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Nikon 32mm F/1.2

Review: ioSafe SOLO G3 Rugged External Hard Drive

Stan Horaczek — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:48:03 GMT

A truly disaster-proof drive

It's not often I find myself holding a high-capacity hard drive above a bathtub full of warm water. So, when I tested the ioSafe SOLO G3 External Hard Drive, it made me a little nervous. But, as far as backup solutions go, it promises to be one of the toughest, so I gave it a dip. Later, I lit it on fire. It kept on working.

What is it?

Hard drives are crucial, but can be rather fragile, so ioSafe locked theirs up in a veritable fortress that's resistant to water, fire, and theft. They also promise to help recover data that is lost in the off-chance it does fail. The idea is to keep your most important data as safe as possible.

What's good?

There's a lot to like about the SOLO, but the first talking point is clearly its durability. The G3 can survive total submersion in water to a depth of 10-feet for up to 72 hours. I reluctantly dunked it into a full bath tub for one minute and it came out unscathed. Later, I left it in the tub for an hour and it still came out just fine.

Fireproofing makes it resistant to temperatures of 1550-degrees. After several minutes on my grill, it was clear that they weren't kidding about that part, either.

The extra protection they offer with their Data Recover Service is also nice. The first year of coverage is free. After that, you pay a monthly rate ($.99 or $2.99 per terabyte per month depending on how much coverage you want). That way, if your drive gives up the ghost, you get a chance for a forensic data recovery team to get it back for you. I didn't actually end up killing my test unit, so I didn't have to try this, but it's nice to know that it's there for sure.

The warranty is similarly robust, promising to fix or replace the hardware no matter what kind of disaster happens to send the drive to its grave. Even if it's an embarrassing mistake on your part, which it often is.

Transfer speeds are as you'd expect for a USB 3-equipped drive and thanks to its fanless design, it runs incredibly quietly. It's not quite silent since you can still tell the drive is spinning inside, but it's quieter than many of my smaller drives.

Not so good

As the SOLO in the name suggests, there's only room for one drive inside the housing, so capacity options are limited to 3 TB. That also means you can't double up your data using RAID, which is always a nice safety feature. If you're planning on cracking it open and swapping the drive for a higher capacity, this also probably isn't your best option. The drive needs to be in there tightly to keep out the elements so swapping isn't as simple as it it with some others.

That tough housing also makes the whole box extremely heavy for an external hard drive. It weighs in around 15-pounds, which is impressively hefty. It's about the size of a small toaster. Luckily, it probably won't be moving around munch once you've set it up, but you'll need to clear some room on your desk for it.

Features

Despite its size and rugged nature, the G3 is actually a very nicely-designed drive. The circular vents on the front of the device are rather artfully arranged. There's a hardware switch to turn the drive on and off, which is nice in a system like this that you might want to turn off when there's the chance of power surges.

The back panel of the drive has very little going on, leaving openings of the power cord and the USB cable and not much else. Simplicity, in this case, is desirable.

Who should buy it?

For some people, this drive seems like overkill, but when it comes to backup, overkill can be a good thing. At $300 for 1 TB of storage, you're definitely paying a premium, but you're also getting a year of data recovery and a drive that honestly seems like it could survive just about anything. If you're going to buy one, though, it seems spending the extra $100 for the 3 TB version makes the most sense.

Ideally, this would be a secondary backup drive where you keep your most valuable data. Since you can't make the data redundant within the SOLO, you'll need another backup to go along with it if you truly want to be safe, which makes it a nice complement to a cloud service or a less-burly (and cheaper) hard drive.

Most importantly, though, it inspires confidence in your backup. Even if you don't need the data recovery service, it's nice to know it's there. And if your'e the type that sweats over stuff like that, the extra cost is probably well-justified.

Official Site

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

ioSafe SOLO G3 Rguged Hard Drive

Magic Lantern Firmware Brings Super HD Raw Video Capture to Canon 5D Mark III

Stan Horaczek — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:44:13 GMT

Clever hackers have figured out a way to push the 5D Mark III to its limits

When Canon unleashed the 5D Mark II on the world, it was a bit of a game changer, especially on the video shooting front. While the 5D Mark III shoots great footage, it didn't quite change the world. A recent firmware update gives it the ability the pass uncompressed video through its HDMI port, but many people believed that should've been baked in at release. Now, however, the wizards over at Magic Lantern have figured out how to push the 5D Mark III way out of its own comfort zone.

The result is the ability to capture continuous raw images at 1920 x 1080 at 24 fps in true raw format. And that's not even the overall limit.

EOSHD.com got some hands-on time with the hacked firmware and found that it's possible to record up to 3.5K footage, even though the files check in at 7 MB per. That's a lot of data. At that level, though, it starts to drop frames just from the sheer data load.

All the data is collected into a single file full of raw data, then you simply use software to extract the DNG files and you essentially have a whole big pile of raw images that you can edit. It's similar how the Black Magic Cinema Camera works.

If you've been following the DSLR video world lately, you've probably noticed that the advancements in image quality have been moving a pretty rapid pace. The Black Magic is churning out a 13-stop dynamic range with raw video and the Panasonic GH3 is achieving nitrates that exceed broadcast standards.

But, there are still limiting factors. EOSHD.com hasn't tested the heat performance with super high-res video quite yet. Pushing a lot of data through a camera that's not meant to handle it could be very hazardous to the camera's health. Too much heat built-up inside could leave you with a brick.

So, what if you don't shoot any motion at all? Does this matter at all? Well, actually, it does. As camera makers try to push more data through the pipes for video, it's already starting to have a positive effect on still-shooting burst rates. Then, there's the idea of shooting ultra-HD video and then pulling frames to use as photographs. With each frame (at Magic Lantern's highest resolution) representing a 7 MB raw file that can be opened and edited as a DNG in Lightroom just like you would a regular still image, the potential becoming more real by the minute.

But, we'll be very interested to see how this goes and maybe even more interested to see how Canon responds. With camera like the 1D C, it's very clear that Canon has a strong interest in cinema shooting, so now we'll see just how far they're willing to push it. Interesting stuff.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

Canon 5D Mark III Magic Lantern Hack

digiCamControl is a Free Nikon Tethering App for PC

Tim Barribeau — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:24:30 GMT

Take control of your Nikon DSLR with this free program

digiCamControl is a free piece of software that recently hit a major milestone: it hit version 1.0, signaling a stable release, suitable for widespread use. Originally known as "Nikon Camera Control", digiCamControl allows you to remotely operate Nikon DSLRs through your PC, including piping live view through your computer, and many other features.

Once your camera is hooked up to your computer via USB, you can remotely control most of its settings, see the camera's live view, trigger the shutter, transfer images directly to your computer, control multiple cameras at the same time, and use tools like bracketing, time lapse and focus stacking. Once the camera is attached and set up, you can even control it via an even more remote method, using any machine with a compatible web-browser, like a tablet or smartphone.

You can see a full list of compatible cameras here, which includes most modern Nikon DSLRs, and there are even some hints that Canon support could be in the works.

This software is PC only, but there is a long-running Mac application called Sofortbild which has many of the same features. And if you're on the hunt for other free photography software, we put together a guide to some of the currently available options here.

[via PetaPixel]

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

digicamcontrol

Amazon Launches iOS Photo Storage App 'Cloud Drive Photos'

Tim Barribeau — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:57:22 GMT

iOS uses can now store their photos on Amazon's cloud

Amazon has released an iOS version of its Android Cloud Drive Photos app, giving iPhone and iPad uses the ability to automatically store their photos in the cloud. With 5GB of free storage, it's one more option for how to easily and freely back up your smartphone images directly to the internet.

Amazon Cloud Drive allows you to access your files — be they photos uploaded through the Cloud Drive Photos app, music, or anything else — through the company's various smartphone apps, desktop applications, or via web browser. The new app allows you to automatically upload from your camera roll, view images from the cloud, and share to Facebook, Twitter, or email. However, there do not appear to be any editing controls, so you won't be tweaking these photographs.

If the free 5GB of storage isn't quite enough, you can drop $10 a year for 20GB, with options available all the way up to 1TB of online space for $500.

[via PCMag, the Verge]

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

amazon cloud storage

Photography Drones: Robot Cameras Take to the Skies

Peter Kolonia — Mon, 13 May 2013 06:48:06 GMT

Photo by Paul Bunyard

These remote-controlled multi-rotor aircraft can capture amazing footageâ��and are fast becoming todayâ��s must-have photo accessories

If you’ve noticed a sudden proliferation of photos and video taken from above—but seemingly from far too low to have been shot from a plane—chances are that you’re looking at images shot from a drone. High-end units are being used in sports photography, real estate, law enforcement, and even major motion pictures. Drones are some of the most exciting new photographic tools in recent history. And flying these multi-rotor, radio-controlled aircraft is almost as thrilling as the images they can produce.

Why now? Recent advancements in flight controllers and aircraft stabilizers have made it possible for almost anyone to strap a decent camera into a drone, send it skyward for capture, and return it to earth in one piece (most of the time).

Also known as multi-rotors, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), quadcopters, and octocopters, these relatively affordable aircraft deliver photography that was—up until now—impossible at any price. They’re able to fly outdoors, even in slight wind, and sometimes in confined indoor spaces, too. Multi-rotors can legally operate at heights up to 400 feet, and range in price from $300 to up to $30,000.

Drones come in four-, six-, and eight-prop versions that can accept cameras ranging from compacts to high-end DSLRs. They’re powered by rechargeable batteries that provide between 6 and 15 minutes of flight time per charge, depending on the model and payload. Some are ready to fly out of the box, others require more at-home engineering.

Their technology starts with the propellers and motors, which produce minimal vibration for steady video capture. Most are operated by sophisticated radio-control (RC) consoles with joysticks for setting altitude, direction, and speed. The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 is controlled by iOS apps on iPhones and iPads. Most airborne multi-rotors “know” their location by communicating with six or more GPS satellites.

Yes, crashes happen. Many units, however, prevent or minimize damage by automatically returning to the site of liftoff when power drops or communication with the control console is compromised.

TIPS
Buyer Beware
Before investing in a multi-rotor, check with online user forums to learn of the experiences others have had with the units that interest you. This product category—especially the low end—is still in its infancy.

Try Flight Training
To learn to fly a multi-rotor before taking your valuable camera aloft, experiment with an inexpensive unit such as the Blade mQX ($119, street). There’s even optional flight simulation software for it.

THIS ARTICLE IS FROM THE JUNE ISSUE OF POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY, ON NEWSSTANDS NOW!

Photo by: Paul Bunyard

CHESTERTON WINDMILL
Brit Paul Bunyard made this image in Warwick, England, by sending a GoPro 3 200 feet into the air in a four-prop DJI Phantom drone.

Leica Talks the Future of Medium Format With Forbes

Tim Barribeau — Mon, 13 May 2013 05:00:41 GMT

What pushed the 35mm powerhouse into Medium Format in 2009?

In 2009, Leica made the controversial push into Medium Format cameras with the Leica S-System. Then, they recommitted with the Leica S last year. Now Stephan Schulz, the Head of Professional Photo at Leica Camera AG, has talked with Forbes about the move into Medium Format, and how it fits in with Leica's background.

Schulz talks about how the declining number of highly paid photojournalists meant that Leica had to reinvent to "appeal to the kind of professional photographers who are able to afford a professional camera." And to that end, they want into the Medium Format market, looking to fashion and advertising photographers.

There are some very interesting details in the interview, like how Schulz claims that by not having to support legacy equipment from the film days, Leica's gear can be designed for digital situations only, and performs better because of that — even with smaller sensors than other Medium Format cameras.

Schulz also mentions some numbers about the industry as a whole, and according to his figures, Leica's Medium Format sales run around the 1,200 units per year.

There are no industry-wide figures, but we think the core medium format market is roughly 6000 units per year – worldwide, for all brands. We are not yet the market leader (I estimate Phase One to have 40-45% market share), but we already have 20% share – and this is only after 3 years after introduction.

While those numbers may not be huge, keep in mind that a Leica S goes for $22,000 just for the body, and so can provide substantial revenue with still relatively low units shipped.

It'll be interesting to see if Leica continues this push over the next few years, and if it can continue to make inroads into the ultra high-end market that is digital Medium Format.

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor

leica s

New Gear: Olympus PEN E-P5 Micro Four Thirds ILC

Dan Bracaglia — Fri, 10 May 2013 05:01:56 GMT

Photo by Dan Bracaglia

Olympusâ�� new flagship PEN stays true to its retro roots

Last year, it was the OM-D that made the most noise in Olympus's Micro Four Thirds line-up. But, their PEN cameras are still going strong and now there's a new flagship model in the form of the E-P5.

As you'd expect with a flagship, the E-P5 is is equipped with parts from Olympus's top shelf, like a 16 MP TruePic VI Live MOS sensor (borrowed from its older bro, the OM-D), 5-axis image stabilization, 9 fps burst shooting (with 5 fps burst in “Continuous AF with tracking” mode), Wi-Fi connectivity, and a 1/8000 sec top shutter speed, which Olympus claims to be the fastest around.

The PEN line has always been inherently retro in its design, but they've cranked that up a bit with the new logo. I saw an early version of the camera and was impressed by the obvious attention to detail, even down to individual screws.

Control is handled by two very customizable click wheels on either side of the camera. The combination of tactile feedback from actual dials and the ability to customize the shooting setup are both great additions to a camera at this level.

There are also quite a few other slight tweaks the Olympus engineers squeaked out for this new camera, tweaks we think might actually make a big difference in your shooting. They include: A new top flash sync speed of 1/320 sec, a quicker .5 sec start up time, Super Spot AF which allows for 14x magnification for insane focus control and of course, the highly coveted focus peaking during video capture!

Olympus hasn't been at the front of the pack when it comes to connectivity, but they're making progress with the E-P5. They have apps for both Android and iOS, but they lack some of the features found in those of other manufacturers. However Olympus reps promised us that an updated version is on its way soon. For now, you can fire the camera from a mobile device remotely (although only in Auto mode for now). You can also control focus, add a watermark, and apply Art Filters after the fact.

Other features worth mentioning include: Built-in GPS, Art filters, a new time-lapse mode and a 3-inch articulating LCD. We should also mention that the E-P5 does not use the same battery as its predecessor, the E-P3, instead it shares the same battery as the OM-D.

Available in three colors including silver and black, all black matte and white.

Olympus also announced a bigger/better EVF in the form of the VF-4. It offers a 2.36 million dot display, .74 magnification and an image delay lag of only .032 secs. It will be available in coming weeks for $280.

Available within the coming weeks, the PEN E-P5 will run you $1000, body only, and $1500 with the 17mm f/1.8 lens and the new VF-4 viewfinder.

Photo by: Dan Bracaglia

DIY Bullet Time Rig Uses a Ceiling Fan Motor and a GoPro

Stan Horaczek — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:59:06 GMT

It's not quite The Matrix, but it's a very cool effect on the cheap

Ever since The Matrix came out, people have been fascinated by the concept of "bullet time." You surround an object with a ring of cameras, firing them all at the same time and stitch them into a video so it looks like a single moment frozen in time. It usually takes a team of people and an army of cameras, but one clever DIY enthusiast found a way to do it on the cheap.

Before we go any further, I should be clear that the results aren't exactly cinema-quality. And the rig is small, so you can't go making your own action movie unless you plan on using action figures. But, the effect is still really cool. Basically, a GoPro camera, two lights, and a background are attached to a spinning platform powered by a ceiling fan motor.

Once the rig is spinning at full speed, an object is placed in the center. Because the platform is spinning so fast, it's almost like the photos are being taken at the same time.

I personally love stuff like this and would love to see a high-end version. It actually reminds me a lot of the 360-degree photography set-ups used to do some high-end product shooting. Only a lot faster.

From: Gizmodo

Photo by: Popular Photography Magazine Editor