Apple has released a digital camera RAW compatibility update version 3.3 for Aperture 3 and iPhoto '09. Eight new cameras including the Sony Alpha NEX-5/3, Samsung NX10 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 are now supported.The update is available for immediate download from Apple's website.
Monday, August 09, 2010
New Facebook Page
CTZ Photography has entered the social networking universe. Visit our new Facebook page. The plan is to post lots and lots of photography related links and discussions with some photos sprinkled around for good measure.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/CTZ-Photography/141596672538493
Sunday, August 08, 2010
New and Improved Online Photography Stores
August and September mark the beginning of the youth sports season here in the Valley of the Sun Stroke because we don’t want our children bursting into flames on the soccer and football fields during a 115 degree July afternoon. I’m geared up and ready this season to capture the fun and excitement. I’m also looking forward to giving parents a better shopping experience when it comes to choosing the images captured of their family sports stars.
The CTZ Photography Store is available and provides an improved purchasing experience. Parents can view the game photos by date and team, select their desired images and choose from multiple print sizes, calendars, trading cards and more; all at competitive prices. Custom print packages will be coming soon as well. The CTZ Photography Store also features beautiful and compelling images from locations such as New England, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, up to 24x36 posters or museum prints.
Oliverimages.com offers custom t-shirts, apparel, gifts and merchandise for guys, gals, kids and even ‘man’s best friend’, including colorful Polaroid SX-70 emulsion manipulation photographs, motivational images, and humorous graphics and sayings. T-Shirts start as low as $11.99 plus shipping. I’m looking forward to consistently expanding the images available each month to ensure a wide variety of topics to choose from.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Shameless Plug For New Scott Kelby Lightroom and Photoshop CS5 Books
Scott Kelby’s “The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Book for Digital Photographers” is now available online and in bookstores. I believe Kelby Training is still offering a free CD of presets if you order now. I’m already using Lightroom 3 and have the book and presets CD on the way. His tips and tricks make using the application within my digital workflow that much more efficient. If you’ve never used Lightroom or use it and never utilized Kelby’s previous books on the subject, I recommend it. This new version includes his “7-Point System” for Lightroom which allows you to obtain quality, repeatable results quickly.
Another shameless plug is for his upcoming “Adobe Photoshop CS5 Book for Digital Photographers” due out soon. You can pre-order on the Kelby Training site and receive a free “Photoshop CS5 7-Point System for Camera Raw” DVD. Of course both books are cheaper if you are a NAPP member.
Some new things to learn in CS5 include:
• Processing HDR (High Dynamic Range) images using CS5’s new Merge to HDR Pro.
• How to master CS5’s new Content-Aware Fill.
• How to color correct any photo in just three clicks with the included gray card.
• How to take advantage of all the new Camera Raw features to process RAW images like a pro.
• A special bonus chapter with Scott’s own Ps CS5 workflow.
Visit Kelby Training to find out more about their available books, DVDs and on-line courses. They have so much content it’s hard to find the time to learn it all.
Monday, August 02, 2010
Apple Announces New Mac Pro Line
I really, really, really want one…
Official Press Release:
Apple has unveiled a new Mac Pro line with up to 12 processing cores and up to 50 percent greater performance than the previous generation. Featuring the latest quad-core and 6-core Intel Xeon processors, all-new ATI graphics and the option for up to four 512GB solid state drives (SSD), the new Mac Pro continues to deliver amazing performance and expandability for the most demanding consumers and professionals.
“The new Mac Pro is the most powerful and configurable Mac we’ve ever made,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With up to 12 cores, the new Mac Pro outperforms our previous top-of-the-line system by up to 50 percent, and with over a billion possible configurations, our customers can create exactly the system they want.”
At the heart of the new Mac Pro’s performance are next generation quad-core and 6-core Intel Xeon processors running at speeds up to 3.33 GHz. These multi-core processors use a single die design so each core can share up to 12MB L3 cache to improve efficiency while increasing processing speed. These systems feature an integrated memory controller for faster memory bandwidth and reduced memory latency; Turbo Boost to dynamically boost processor speeds up to 3.6 GHz; and Hyper-Threading to create up to 24 virtual cores. The Mac Pro now comes with the ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics processor with 1GB of memory and customers can configure-to-order the even faster ATI Radeon HD 5870 with 1GB of memory.
For the first time, Mac Pro customers have the option to order a 512GB SSD for the ultimate in reliability and lightning fast performance. With the ability to install up to four SSD drives in the system's internal drive bays, the new Mac Pro can provide ultra high-speed disk bandwidth and random disk performance, two times faster than the average performance of a standard disk drive. Mac Pro also now features two Mini DisplayPorts and one dual-link DVI port. The additional Mini DisplayPort output allows customers to connect two LED Cinema Displays without an additional graphics card or adapter and the dual-link DVI port supports legacy DVI-based displays up to a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels.
Every Mac Pro comes with Apple’s innovative Magic Mouse and customers can also order Apple’s new Magic Trackpad as an option. The Magic Trackpad brings the intuitive Multi-Touch gestures of Mac notebook trackpads to the desktop. With its glass surface, the wireless Magic Trackpad allows users to scroll smoothly up and down a page with inertial scrolling, pinch to zoom in and out, rotate an image with their fingertips and swipe three fingers to flip through a collection of web pages or photos. The Magic Trackpad can be configured to support single button or two button commands and supports tap-to-click as well as a physical click. Magic Trackpad is available separately for $69.
Continuing Apple’s commitment to the environment, Apple’s desktop lineup is a leader in green design. The Mac Pro meets stringent Energy Star 5.0 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold status. The Mac Pro enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and the interior is designed to be more material-efficient. The Mac Pro uses PVC-free internal cables and components and contains no brominated flame retardants. The new Apple Battery Charger provides a convenient and environmentally friendly way to always have a fresh set of batteries for your Magic Trackpad, Magic Mouse and Wireless Keyboard. The Apple Battery Charger is available as an option for $29 and comes with six long shelf life rechargeable batteries.
Every Mac also comes with Mac OS® X Snow Leopard®, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife®, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto®, with breakthrough ways to organize and manage your photos by who appears in them and where they were taken; iMovie® with powerful easy-to-use features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand® which offers a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar.
Optional Apple professional applications include Aperture, Final Cut Express, Final Cut Studio, Logic Express and Logic Studio®.
Pricing & Availability - The new Mac Pro will be available in August through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.
The new quad-core Mac Pro, with a suggested retail price of $2,499 (US), includes:
• one 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon W3530 processor with 8MB of fully-shared L3 cache;
• 3GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory, expandable up to 16GB;
• ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;
• two Mini DisplayPorts and one DVI (dual-link) port (adapters sold separately);
• 1TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• 18x SuperDrive® with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• four PCI Express 2.0 slots;
• five USB 2.0 ports and four FireWire® 800 ports;
• AirPort Extreme® 802.11n;
• Bluetooth 2.1+EDR; and
• Apple Keyboard with numerical keypad and Magic Mouse.
The new 8-core Mac Pro, with a suggested retail price of $3,499 (US), includes:
• two 2.4 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon E5620 processors with 12MB of fully-shared L3 cache per processor;
• 6GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory, expandable up to 32GB;
• ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;
• two Mini DisplayPorts and one DVI (dual-link) port (adapters sold separately);
• 1TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• 18x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• four PCI Express 2.0 slots;
• five USB 2.0 ports and four FireWire 800 ports;
• AirPort Extreme 802.11n;
• Bluetooth 2.1+EDR; and
• Apple Keyboard with numerical keypad and Magic Mouse.
Configure-to-order options include:
• one 3.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon W3565 processor for the quad-core Mac Pro;
• one 3.33 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon W3680 processor for the quad-core Mac Pro;
• two 2.66 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon X5650 processors (12-cores) for the 8-core Mac Pro;
• two 2.93 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon X5670 processors (12-cores) for the 8-core Mac Pro;
• two ATI Radeon HD 5770 cards with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;
• one ATI Radeon HD 5870 card with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;
• up to 16GB of DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory for the quad-core Mac Pro;
• up to 32GB of DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory for the 8-core Mac Pro;
• up to four 512GB solid state drives (SSD); or
• up to four 1TB or 2TB Serial ATA hard drives running at 7200 rpm;
• Mac Pro RAID card;
• dual-channel or quad-channel 4Gb Fibre Channel card; and
• up to two 18x SuperDrives with double-layer support.
Accessories include: Magic Trackpad, Apple Battery Charger, wired Apple Mouse, wireless Apple Keyboard, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, the AppleCare® Protection Plan; and pre-installed copies of Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server; iWork®, Logic Express 9, Final Cut Express 4 and Aperture 3. Complete options and accessories are available at www.apple.com/macpro.
Apple Announces New 27-Inch LED Cinema Display
I want one, I really, really want one...
Official Press Release:
Apple has unveiled a new 27-inch LED Cinema Display with stunning 2560 x 1440 resolution and 60 percent more screen real estate than the 24-inch LED Cinema Display. Featuring a built-in iSight video camera, microphone and speakers, powered USB 2.0 hub, and universal MagSafe connector, the new LED Cinema Display is an ideal companion for the MacBook family or a Mac desktop, and is available for $999.
“With built-in MagSafe charging, iSight camera, speakers, and USB ports, the LED Cinema Display is ideal for MacBook and MacBook Pro users,”said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With its massive 2560 x 1440 resolution, the new 27-inch LED Cinema Display is a perfect fit with our powerful new Mac Pro, and it gives iMac users an easy way to double their screen real estate.”
The new, larger 27-inch LED Cinema Display features a beautiful 16:9 edge-to-edge glass display on an aluminum stand with an adjustable hinge that makes tilting the display almost effortless. The LED Cinema Display has vivid colors and exceptionally high contrast and uses a premium display technology called in-plane switching (IPS) to provide a brilliant image across an ultra wide 178 degree viewing angle.
Designed as a companion for any Mac notebook or desktop, the 27-inch display includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing, an integrated MagSafe charger to keep Mac notebooks charged, built-in Mini DisplayPort connectivity for video and audio input and a powered three-port USB 2.0 hub so customers can charge their iPhone® or iPod® even when they take their MacBook with them.
The new LED Cinema Display now includes a new ambient light sensor which automatically adjusts the display brightness based on external lighting conditions and uses only as much energy as necessary to provide an optimum viewing experience. Made with mercury-free LED technology, arsenic-free glass and highly recyclable materials, the LED Cinema Display meets stringent Energy Star 5.0 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold status.* The new display contains no brominated flame retardants and all cables and components are PVC-free.
Pricing & Availability
The new LED Cinema Display will be available in September through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $999 (US). The LED Cinema Display requires a Mac with Mini DisplayPort.
Panasonic Announces '3D' Interchangeable Lens
More of a ‘concept’ lens at this time, Panasonic is developing a 3D Interchangeable Lens with an expected release date of Q4 2010. To be part of Panasonic’s Lumix G Micro System (including the G2 and GF1) below is the official press release.
Company Press Release:
Continuing its record of 3D technology leadership, Panasonic today announced the development of the world's first digital interchangeable twin-lens, making it possible to shoot 3D with an interchangeable lens system camera. As a new member of Panasonic’s powerful lineup of interchangeable lenses as part of the LUMIX G Micro System, the twin-lens will allow high-quality shooting in 3D. Panasonic plans to release this new lens for sale before the end of the year.
“This year will be remembered as the ‘First Year of 3D Era’ and Panasonic has already taken the lead by launching 3D-capable VIERA™ televisions and Blu-ray 3D Disc Players,” said Darin Pepple, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “With Panasonic’s development of a twin-lens capable of 3D shooting, the company is providing consumers with a way to capture their own 3D content, which they can then enjoy watching in the comforts of their own home. Panasonic is dedicated to evolving the 3D ecosystem, letting consumers create and display lifelike 3D images in their homes.”
Currently, 3D shooting with an interchangeable lens system camera is possible only by using panorama systems or by combining two lenses and two CCDs. However, these systems are not ideal and have difficulty capturing moving objects. Panasonic's new 3D lens for the LUMIX G Micro System features two optical systems installed within the diameter of the lens mount, creating stereo images from the left and right lenses that are then processed with a 3D image processing system. Thanks to Panasonic's advanced technologies in optical technology, image processing systems, and lens barrel design, the 3D lens will be compact in size.
This new compact 3D-capable interchangeable lens will be easy to handle and allow instant 3D shooting, without distortion or time lag between left and right images – even when shooting moving objects.
Sinar Announces View Camera Option For Canon and Nikon DSLR
Use your Canon or Nikon DLSR on a View Camera device. Sinar is releasing a 35mm DLSR compatible view camera chassis for around $2000 US, which could dramatically change the capability of capturing images using a standard DSLR.
Company Press Release:
The Sinar p-slr was designed especially for photographers who would like to combine the convenience of digital single lens reflex cameras with the advantages and quality characteristics of a Sinar view camera. Exact control of perspectives and selective sharpness - the most important creative tools in photography - can be set and evaluated precisely on a view camera.
And now, Sinar also made all of these advantages available to the users of 35 mm SLR cameras. This well thought-out solution brings a significant enhancement of quality to users of 35mm cameras, because the high-resolution digital Rodenstock lenses can be used. The Sinar p-slr complies with the Sinar policy of offering photographers modular systems that are in keeping with the latest trends of the market. This upgrading set will be available as of August 2010 and it can be ordered right now at the price of 1980 Swiss Francs (not including the Value Added Tax).
Professionalism in the details
The Sinar p-slr can be used with all Canon and Nikon single lens reflex cameras currently on the market. Thanks to the quick locking adapter supplied with the Sinar p-slr, the format can be changed from vertical to horizontal with only a few motions and within seconds. If the single lens reflex camera is controlled by a computer, the integrated support for the cable ensures the safety and the protection of the USB / Fire Wire socket on the camera. A positioning- and centering aid serves for the exact positioning of the digital single lens reflex camera on the optical axis. That ensures that the sensor of the digital camera is positioned perfectly for vertical as well as horizontal exposures. This function is essential for making full use of the advantages of the view camera and for working professionally.
A summary of the advantages:
• Unlimited creativity in composing an image
• Unrestricted use of an existing single lens reflex camera
• Cost-effective use of an existing Sinar view camera for digital solutions
• Quick change from the vertical to a horizontal format
• Adapters for a variety of 35 mm cameras
• Unique expansion possibility for a live image by means of an additional monitor
• Increased quality by the use of digital medium format- and view camera lenses
• Support for USB- and power supply cables
• Extensive assortment of professional accessories, such as bellows lens hood and filters
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