Release: ShutterVoice control you camera by voice.

A couple of weeks ago ShutterVoice was announced in a beta testing state where only a few were chosen to test it. Now it’s finally out for you to buy with a price tag of 30$.

For those of you who aren’t aware of what this software can do here’s a quick summary. Shutter voice enables you to control you camera (that’s connected to your computer) by voice,  through the Canon EOS Utility. It allows you to change a whole bunch of settings just by telling that to your camera. Unfortunately it can be used only by Canon owners. Here’s more information and don’t forget to watch the video demonstration. This software is excellent when you are testing different light setups and the only model available is you.

I would like to add that among those few people chosen to test ShutterVoice I was chosen as well. Played a couple o hours with the software and I have to say that I was pretty amazed of what it can do. But, you must have a very goo microphone and you must be able to speak clearly so that the computer understands what you want. You might want to know if I was that impressed that I would want to buy it, the answer is YES, but I won’t for know until I upgrade my  Canon 40D to a camera that can automatically focus in live view mode. That is because my 40D can’t automatically focus so still i have to go back an forward to my camera to focus.

Tags: Camera Gear, DSLR, Photography, Release, Software

Rumor: Nikon D400. Too good to be true?

It seams that Nikon are releasing a bunch of new cameras. After announcing by mistake the new Nikon D3X, it seams that now news are traveling about Nikon are developing the upgrade of D300 the Nikon D400. But, for now stays at “just a rumor” state.

Here are the supposed specifications:

• New 14.8 megapixel DX format CMOS sensor effective 14.3 megapixel
• Self-cleaning sensor unit (low-pass filter vibration)
• ISO 100 – 6400 (with boost up to ISO 25600 and down to ISO 50)
• 14-bit A/D conversion
• Movie capture at up to 1080p 24 fps with stereo sound
• Nikon EXPEED Plus image processor 30% faster than previous EXPEED image processor
• Super fast operation (power-up 13 ms, shutter lag 40 ms, black-out 90 ms)
• Kevlar / carbon fibre composite shutter with 200,000 exposure durability
• Multi-CAM3500DX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type, more vertical coverage)
• Auto-focus tracking by color (using information from 1005-pixel AE sensor)
• Auto-focus calibration (fine-tuning) now available (fixed body or up to 20 separate lens settings)
• Vignetting control in-camera
• Automatic chromatic aberration correction
• Custom image parameters now support brightness as well as contrast
• Seven frames per second continuous shooting (nine frames per second with battery pack)
• 3.0″ 922,000 pixel LCD monitor
• Live View with either phase detect (mirror up/down) or contrast-detect AF, face detection
• ‘Active D-Lighting’ (adjusts metering as well as applying D-Lighting curve)
• Detailed ‘Control Panel’ type display on LCD monitor, changes color in darkness
• Buttons sealed against moisture
• Same ultra-fast startup and shutter lag as D700
• Scene Recognition System (uses AE sensor, AF sensor)
• Picture Control image parameter presets
• UDMA compatible single CF card slot
• Virtual horizon indicates if camera is level (like an aircraft cockpit display)
• Extensive in-camera retouching
• HDMI HD video output
• Magnesium alloy body with connections and buttons sealed against moisture

Beside the fact that it isn’t Full Frame, with a lot of specs aproaches to the soon to be released Canon 5D Mark II. It’s rumored that the Nikon D400 will have a price tag of $2000.  It’s also said that this will be release in February 2009. Since this is a rumor don’t take all of this as granted. Stay tuned for more info.

Tags: Camera Gear, DSLR, Nikon, Release, Rumor

Tips & Tricks: How to take Sharp Photographs

Taking sharp photographs is the dream of every photographer. However taking crisp, clean images can be quite challenging.  I would like to share with you guys some tips on how to get razor sharp photographs, but before that let’s see what are the common causes for lack of sharpness:

Wrong focusing. The most common cause for blurry photos is not focusing right. Often happens to focus on the wrong part of the image, or using a very narrow depth of field, or taking the photo quick without checking if it is in focus, and all of this helps in throwing your subject out of focus and obtaining blurry photographs.

Low value of the shutter speed. This causes 2 sets pf problems: Camera shake and Subject movement. This two makes blurry photos because your shutter speed is too low to freeze the action.

Noise. Sometimes using high ISO values might get you results with lack of sharpness. Although since cameras evolve so quickly these days, higher ISO values might still get you very sharp images.

Here are 9 ways of improving your photographs sharpness:

Read more…

Tags: Camera Gear, Canon, DSLR, Editing, Lenses, Nikon, Photo Test, Photography, Photoshop, Tips & Tricks

Super-Secret-Spy lens perfect for street photography

Surfing the web I have came across a very neat gadget. It’s a lens accessory that has a cut-out on the side and a precision mirror inside. This enables you to shoot left, right, up, or down (it swivels 360 degrees), all looking like there were shot straight ahead. The concept?  Point your camera 90 degrees away from your subject – and the mirror inside the attachment reflects the image to your lens.

This is an excellent accessory for shooting shy people, afraid of being photographed, or for street photography without being noticed.

It’s called (very funny) “Super-Secret-Spy lens” and it’s sold by Photojojo.com.

Specifications:

• Works with any SLR lens: Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Olympus, etc.
• You need lenses with diameter of: 37mm,46mm, 49mm, 52mm, 55mm, 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 72mm, and 77mm. It has an adapter for each size.
• Works with zoom lenses (at least 50mm). If you use wider lens you will encounter heavy vignetting
• Swivels 360 degrees to let you take 90° candid shots in any direction
• You can use AF an any other lens or camera functions without being limited.

Be sure to check the images and video to see  how it works.

Tags: Camera Gear, Lenses, Photography, Release

Prime lens? Zoom lens? Differences, advantages and disadvantages.

I was recently asked by a friend of mine these couple of questions: “Prime lens? Zoom lens?”. He wanted to buy a new lens and  was a little confused by these 2 terms. After I explained to him, I decided to share this “lesson” with the rest of you. So here it goes.

What is exactly a Prime lens?

Well, a prime lens is a lens that has a fixed focal lengths. Some examples of prime lenses: 14mm, 15mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 100mm, 200mm, 300mm, 400mm, 600mm, etc. (There are a lot more that i have missed). So bottom line there is no zooming involved. These are similar to our eyes, you cannot zoom with your eyes, you can only distinguish things at a relative close distance and depending on the size. And if you want to see something more clearly, you get close, exactly what you have to do with your camera that has a prime lens mounted on it.

What about Zoom lens?

The zoom lens it’s a different story. It has a range of focal lengths available in one lens. So you can have a wide and telephoto lens in just one lens. So you have the ability to zoom and take a shot. Some examples of zoom lenses: 18-55mm, 17-40mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm, 18-200mm, etc (There are hundreds of lenses with different combinations).

Now I will try to put a ruff list of the advantages and disadvantages of these 2 types of lenses. Some people might disagree with me since this is more of a personal choice and you can see a lot of contradictory discussions around the web about how one outperforms the other (like Canon VS Nikon “wars”).

Read more…

Tags: Camera Gear, Canon, Lenses, Nikon, Photography

10 ways to protect your camera gear

If you own a DSLR you have probably spent a lot of money on the camera, lenses and other accessories. That is why protecting your gear must be a mission for you. Here are some tips on how to do that.

1. Invest in cleaning tools. Investing in proper and good quality cleaning tools it’s the first step into be more careful with your camera. It is a relatively cheap investment compared to the price of your gear. You can get rid off with paying just 15 to 40$. Don’t risk ruining your gear by cleaning it with the wrong set of tools. There are 2 set of tools: one for you camera exterior interior and lenses and one for you image sensor.
2. Cover your lenses. Covering you lenses with an UV filter it’s another way o protecting it from scratches, dust, smudgy hands, and even dropping, since  you don’t damage your front element of the lens but you will damage your UV filter which it’s way less expensive than your lens. An UV filter it’s about 10 to 100$ depending on your lens diameter and of the quality of the UV filter. But be aware that buying  a cheap filter might change the way your photographs come out that being in a negative way Read more…

Tags: Camera Gear, DSLR, Photography, Tips & Tricks

Update: Nikon released the brochure for D3x DSLR camera

A few days after they leaked by mistake the new D3x, Nikon released the brochure of the camera. It contains some test shots and the full specifications list of the camera.

You  can check it out here.

Tags: Camera Gear, DSLR, Nikon, Photography, Release

ShutterVoice, control your DSLR camera by voice.

As a photographer you always try to learn new things and try to find different and better results for the same problem or want to improve you skill in photography area.  So, you have a day off and you want to practice a little at home or in you studio. You set your camera and your lights, but you need a subject to take a photograph of. Sometimes is hard to find a subject wiling to loose time just to be you guinea pig, so the best subject which is always willing to be photographed “in the name of evolution” is you. But all the time you find yourself running to you camera to see results or change settings.

That’s why developer Scott Forman started the creation of ShutterVoice software and was originally created to ease the process of shooting lighting tests with himself as the subject, This enables you to control the Canon EOS Utility software ( that comes with your DSLR camera ) with spoken commands. This is programmed to be out on the market by the end of the next month.

Without touching the keyboard, ShutterVoice allows for broad control of EOS Utility, it’s possible to use command phrases that adjust aperture, shutter speed, ISO, set focus distance (autofocus in Live View is possible too, though with the EOS 50D and EOS 5D Mark II only), rotate pictures and enable the control of EV compensation, color temperature, white balance and more, shown in the screenshot and video bellow:

Read more…

Tags: 50D, 5D Mark II, Camera Gear, Canon, DSLR, News, Photography, Software