PerfectEffects 3 Free Edition – Yes, FREE!

My friends over at onOne Software has just shared with me some fantastic news for photographers…

They have some FREE Software to help make your images look their very best!

It’s called Perfect Effects 3 Free Edition. It allows you to create images with impact absolutely FREE!

The application includes 25 Professional effects that you can apply to your images in just one click enabling you to quickly and easily give your images popular HDR and Instagram® looks or finish your image with a variety of textures. (Our of my favorite part is the ability to paint-in, or hold back an effect from parts of your image using the pressure sensitive masking brush!)

You can access the program from your favorite apps: Lightroom, Aperture and Photoshop – OR you can simply use it as a standalone application.

IMO, few FREE apps are worth their salt, but after having played with PerfectEffects 3 Free Edition for a while, I’m changing my tune on the, “You get what you paid for” adage.

Click the following link to learn more about PerfectEffects 3 Free Edition.

i-Visor Pro LSP 7 Months Review

Now back in November, the kind folks at Seaport Digital sent me their new i-Visor Pro LSP for my comments - http://msp.so/LZdwej.

I have always said having the right gear to assist you with your photography is a must; it makes your life so much easier and allows you to concentrate on capturing the image.

It’s only once or may be twice a year I get really excited about new gear and I’m pleased to say, that having Seaport Digital’s i-Visor Pro LSP laptop bag for the past 7 months this is one of those moments.

For my photography laptop, I have now left at home my trusted and much loved ThinkTank Photo Artificial Intelligence 17 V2.0 laptop bag, plus their Pixel Sunscreen and Gitzo’s G065 tripod platform as they are three separate items to lug around, where Seaport Digital’s i-Visor Pro LSP does it all in one.

I know when I pick up the i-Visor Pro LSP; I have all I need to process images on a shoot.

The main function of the i-Visor Pro LSP is a laptop bag that photographers can keep all your laptop accessories within, now I hear you say, that’s what all laptop bags do. Well the difference with the i-Visor Pro LSP, is the inspirational design and the two additional features. The case comes with a removable metal built in platform so you can mount it on a tripod and that within the case roof are three darkroom panels, (top and sides), that shades your laptop screen from any natural or artificial light, allowing you to view your images on your laptop in the field, including wireless or cable tethered shooting.

As I say in the base of the case is a removable metal platform that fits the standard 3/8” tripod collar screw, for safe and secure mounting to any tripod. Because of the way I shoot, I have made one small addition to the bottom of the platform, by adding a removable Really Right Stuff multipurpose rail, (Arca Swiss type), MPR-73, which allows me to use my quick release, Really Right Stuff support gear and ball heads with the i-Visor Pro LSP.

When you use the case with your laptop, up to 17”, it sits on top of two Velcro adjustable secured spacer bars located within the case, which raises the laptop out of the case for easy access and allows air to circulate around the laptop, so its fans are not constantly draining your battery flat.

The i-Visor Pro should stand up to almost anything as it’s made from heavy duty nylon with extra strong zips. The attention to detail is great, what I really like, it’s a very small detail, is the little pocket to tuck the platform zip puller tidily away, so that the zip puller doesn't get broken or snagged.

Even more inspiring design features are the three large outside zipped compartments, just ideal for your power supply, hard drives and much much more. A nice touch is the larger oversize pocket which easily holds documents, magazines, brochures, well I use it to hold and transport my Wacom Intuos 4 Medium tablet, and you won’t know it’s even there!

 Now what do I get in my i-Visor Pro LSP;

• Laptop 17”
• Power supply for laptop with worldwide plugs.
• 2 extra batteries for laptop.
• 2, 1TB portable hard drives and their cables.
• Wacom Intuos 4 Medium tablet, mouse, pen, pen holder and cable.
• Really Right Stuff MPR-73 plate and tools.
• Lens cleaning cloths and screen cleaner.
• With space for much much more....

Sizes and Weights;

• Nominal Weight: 6 lbs. 12 oz with Platform.
• Nominal Weight: 4 lbs. 14 oz without Platform.
• Nominal Outside Dimensions: 19" x 13" x 4".

The guys at Seaport digital have also thought about your investment in their gear, the i-Visor Pro LSP comes with its own protection, a weather proof case for while you are carrying it around and a separate dust jacket for while it’s not being used.

The only negative I can report on and it’s really small, if you are a flying photographer, the weight with the removable platform is nearly 7lbs, so it could eat up a large amount of any luggage allowance, as I said the platform is removable, so this part of the laptop bag could be left at home, go with your checked luggage in the belly of any plane with your tripods, or as I do, said it ahead of time with UPS / FedEx.

I have thrown a lot at my i-Visor, in our out of cars and vans, in the rain and it’s worn well, with very little show of wear, so I’m pleased to say I will get years of use out of it.

I will never leave home without my photographic laptop in it’s i-Visor Pro LSP laptop bag as it’s now been a permanent part of my day to day photographic life for the last 7 months. I would recommend to any photographer, whom wants to see their images on their laptop as they shoot, to invest in an i-Visor Pro LSP.

Where to buy?
USA - Seaport Digital - Calumet
UK - Calumet
Netherlands - Calumet
Australia - CR Kennedy
Spain - DiseForo
Japan - Gin-ichi
France - ProPhot
Italy - Gruppobp
Korea - Photot
Switzerland - Light + Byte
Canada - Vistek
Rest of the World - Seaport Digital

         

Images supplied by Seaport Digital

What Camera Should I Buy

There are two questions I get asked a lot as a full time photographer;

What camera should I buy and why did you buy Nikon? Well hopefully with this post I will answer these two questions.

Now for what camera should I purchase?

This is such an open question, its like asking what flavor of ice cream should I buy. We all have our own personal needs and favorites that for one reason or another we like or dislike.

My advice to you just starting out in photography or need some guidance is before buying a camera is to ask yourself;

What type of images are you looking to photograph, sports needs fast glass and fast frames per second, where portraits, wedding and landscapes do not. Just like, do I want a fast (Ferrari), family (MPV), or go anywhere (4x4) car, so the first question you really need to ask yourself "What's the subject I want to capture".

Once you have decided on the type of photography that interests you; for me it's all about knowledge and support. Yes you can always go to the manufacture's web site and ask questions (good starting point) or buy more books and manuals, but wouldn't it be better for free one to one help. That's why I say, join your local camera club, there will be lots of people more than willing to help you with your choice of camera and gear. You should be able to try out their cameras, see how the camera feels in your hands, is it too heavy to large and you never know that they may have special deals with a local camera store.

So you have now found a camera you like, do you know anyone else with that brand of camera, ask them for their opinion, if there friends with you ask to borrow their camera for a weekend. If the camera costs lots of money, why not hire one for a week and really see if that's the camera for you? If you have a group of friends whom are already into photography, you never know you could have an agreement to share gear, experiences and spend time together capturing images.

So your just about ready to buy, now check out the Internet, read reviews and watch video's. Please remember the content you read, just like this blog post is an opinion of that person / company, not necessarily true or correct.

STOP, you are going to buy, have you thought about USED, there are some great deals for pre owned camera equipment, try the classified sections in magazines, photography websites and auction websites. You could get better gear at the same price or your chosen camera at a lower cost. Please remember most private sales are sold as seen, no warranties, but there are some great third party warranties out there. Traders should or will offer a warranty on used gear, normally 3 months plus.

Now before you join in on the Internet to buy from a web  site, give your local camera store a try, you should have a great experience, the guys and girls in these shops will know their gear and you should build up a good relationship with them. They should also allow you to take photos using Demo cameras within the store with your own memory card. Most camera shops will price match an Internet price.

If you don't click with your local camera shop, then buy of the internet, remembering with mail order, in some countries you get a cooling off period, so if you don't like your purchase as long as the goods are in new condition, you may be able to return it.

But what if I already have a camera,  if so are you generally happy with this. The feel, the camera's performance, if you have a D-SLR any additional lenses and lighting etc. If so and you are happy with the gear you already have I think best advice would be to enhance your gear by buying newer better equipment, don't necessary buy new.

Remember they want your money, customer is KING.

Now why did I choose Nikon? Well their cameras feel right in my hands plus the F - mount that is used to hold the lens to the body of a D-SLR has fundamentally stayed the same, with just Nikon adding to the F - mount over time. This means I can take a used lens from 35 years ago, it will fit and basically work on a brand new camera today.

Social Photographers Day at Disneyland Paris

It's time to go the Disneyland Paris again for a day or so and I'm planning to go on Wednesday 15th of August, NOT FOR WORK.

Just wondering if anyone would like to join me for a day just for some Disney fun and social photography? My thinking is to travel via Eurostar, leaving London at 06.50 am, which arrive Lille Europe at 09.30, local time, change at Lille Europe for the 10.26 direct to Disneyland Paris arriving at 11.49, or we could just meet at Disneyland Paris, if you are not traveling from London.

Spending the afternoon in the park enjoying the atmosphere and taking photographs, sharing photographing knowledge, then I proposed to return on the 18.02, last direct train back to London.

The current price of EuroStar tickets is £34.50 each way (correct at time of post) - you can get 2% cash back via Quidco

However if it's practical I could drive and pick up on route and even stay overnight (share the costs of the fuel etc) I'm open to suggestions.

If you are interested, just send me a tweet @markstothard

 

Nikon Lens Mugs Give Away - Updated

Are you a Nikon shooter or do you know a Nikon photographer? Well we have 10 Nikon Lens mugs to give away. For 10 weeks* one person each week will win a Nikon Lens mug. All you have to do is complete the entry form below with your name and email address.  

Name:
Email address:

Winner Announced 

•  Monday 11th June - Dereck Johnson

  Terms of competition:

• One entrance per email address.
• Each entrance will need to confirm their email address.
• Your details will roll over each week if you did not win the week before.
• Your details will not be passed on to any 3rd party.
• Winner will be chosen each Monday, *starting 11th June for 10 weeks.
• Winner will be announce on twitter - http://twitter.com/markstothard
• Winner agrees to have their Name published, NOT their email address.
• No other prize or cash is offered.
• All mugs will be dispatched (worldwide) week starting Monday 13th August 2012.
• If winner is outside the EU, while we will send your prize as a gift, you will be responsible for any local duties / import taxes.
• No contract has been offered or entered into with this competition.
• The above image is for illustration purposes only.

 

Nikon D600 Leaked Images

These images of Nikon's D600 have been leaked on xitek.com



 The word on the internet is that the camera will sell for around £1000, $1500 US.

 

 

AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR

A compact, lightweight Nikon FX-format standard zoom lens suitable for a variety of shooting situations

TOKYO - Nikon Corporation has announced the release of the AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR standard zoom lens, with a 3.5x zoom ratio, compatible with the FX format.  

The AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR is a highly versatile lens with a focal length of 24-85mm, making it ideal for shooting in a wide variety of situations including landscapes, portraits and snapshots. The lens also offers an extensive set of features including vibration reduction (VR II) to provide camera shake compensation equivalent to a shutter speed increase of approximately four steps, the Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for quiet autofocus operation and two focus modes - M/A (autofocus with manual override) and M (manual). Furthermore, despite the fact that it is compact, lightweight and priced affordably, the AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR realizes images that maximizes the characteristics of high-resolution, high image quality FX-format D-SLR cameras, making it a lens that you can use regularly. In 2012, Nikon released the D4, D800 and D800E. Along with the expansion of FX-format D-SLR camera lineup, Nikon has strengthened its NIKKOR lens lineup. With the optical technologies Nikon has spent years cultivating, Nikon will continue to meet and exceed the expectations of professional and advanced amateur photographers who demand increasingly advanced shooting and expressiveness by proactively developing and releasing highly functional, high-performance products.

AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR Primary Features

• An standard zoom lens with a zoom ratio of 3.5x, a focal length of 24-85mm and FX-format compatible, allowing you to enjoy shooting a wide variety of situations with just one lens
• Vibration reduction (VR II) offering camera shake compensation equivalent to a shutter speed increase of approximately four steps
• Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for extremely quiet autofocusing
• Two focus modes, M/A (autofocus with manual override) and M (manual)
• The optical system with ED and aspherical lens elements optimal for D-SLR cameras enables sharp rendering and superior optical performance
• A size and weight that makes it very portable

AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

The world's first interchangeable zoom lens for D-SLR cameras with the world's highest 16.7x zoom ratio TOKYO - Nikon Corporation has announced the release of the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, the world's first interchangeable zoom lens for D-SLR cameras to offer the world's highest zoom ratio* of 16.7x, compatible with the DX format.

• *Among interchangeable lenses for D-SLR cameras (As of June 14, 2012)

The AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR is a high-power zoom lens with a focal length of 18-300 mm and a zoom ratio of 16.7x, allowing a wide variety of shots from wide-angle to super telephoto with just one lens. The AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR joins the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II and the AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR to enhance the high-power zoom lens lineup. In addition to achieving a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:3.2x and the f/5.6 maximum aperture at the maximum telephoto position, it also has built-in vibration reduction (VR II), offering camera shake compensation equivalent to a shutter speed increase of approximately four steps to effectively reduce camera shake for easy telephoto shooting. By incorporating ED and aspherical lens elements, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR offers superior optical performance through an optical system optimized for D-SLR cameras. Nikon has long had the support of professional, advanced amateur and entry-level photographers for its consistent development of innovative products that respond to the demands of customers and are equipped with the optical technologies Nikon has spent years cultivating as a manufacturer of optical devices. Nikon intends to continue to expand and strengthen the NIKKOR lineup as well as improve customer convenience with the steady release of new, high-performance lenses that offer advanced functions.

AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Primary Features

• A high-power zoom lens with a focal length of 18-300 mm (angle of view equivalent to that of 27-450mm lens in 35-mm [135] format) and the world's highest 16.7x zoom ratio
• Maximum reproduction ratio: 1:3.2x
• Vibration reduction (VR II) offering camera shake compensation equivalent to a shutter speed increase of approximately four steps
• Achieves the f/5.6 maximum aperture at the maximum telephoto position
• Equipped with a Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for extremely quiet autofocusing
• Equipped with two focus modes, M/A and M
• The optical system with ED and aspherical lens elements optimal for D-SLR cameras enables sharp rendering and superior optical performance

Chance to Win A Nikon Coolpix S30 Digital Camera

Here is a chance to win a great NEW family point and shoot digital camera, the Nikon's Coolpix S30, just in time for this years school summer holidays.

This sturdy, simple and fun, the 10-megapixel Coolpix S30 is a real family camera.

Packed with brilliant features, it’s so simple to operate that everyone from the grandparents to the kids can have fun with it. Being shock- and waterproof, it can be used practically anywhere and it’s designed to fit comfortably in any pair of hands. 

The menu uses bold, colorful icons for easy navigation and large one-touch buttons make it simple to take a photo or begin filming a video clip. Automatic anti-blur technology ensures sharp shots of even the fastest-moving friends or relatives.

Fun in-camera filters can keep everyone busy for hours as they add their own special touches to the photos they've taken.

For more information on Nikon Coolpix S30 - please Nikon UK's web site.

All you need to do is enter your name and email address below;  

Name:
Email address:

  Terms of competition:

• Prize a New Nikon Coolpix S30 Digital Camera.
• Choice of 4 colours, Black, White, Blue and Pink, subject to stock.
• One entrance per email address.
• Each entrance will need to confirm their email address.
• Your details will not be passed on to any 3rd party.
• Winner will be announced on twitter - http://twitter.com/markstothard
• Winner agrees to have their Name published, NOT their email address, please email us a picture with your prize.
• No other prize or cash is offered.
• Winner will be chosen and announced on Monday 16th July 2012.
• Winner will be contacted on Monday 16th July 2012 via email.
• Prize will be dispatched on Tuesday 17th July, subject to choice of colour.
• Prize is UK stock, however if winner is outside the UK we will TRY our hardness to supply your country specification.
• If winner is outside the EU, while we will send your prize as a gift, you will be responsible for any local duties / import taxes.
• Prize must be claimed by 1st September 2012, if not claimed the prized will be donated to a local good cause.
• No contract has been offered or entered into with this competition.
• The above image is for illustration purposes only.