raw
Latest
Ricoh GR Digital III hits the review bench, collects plaudits
The dudes and dudettes at Photography Blog are nothing if not thorough, and their latest review is no exception. The GR Digital III and its peculiar 28mm wide-angle fixed focal length lens (i.e. no optical zoom) have been subjected to an inspection and the verdict is an exuberant thumbs up. The aluminum alloy body impressed them right from the off, and the reviewers also liked the customizable menus, improved shutter speed, Dynamic Range double shot, and Adobe DNG RAW output. Those were all mere cherries, however, to the cake of "excellent" image quality and "stand-out" Macro performance. The sole blemishes found were the price (£529 / $699) and noise issues beyond ISO 800, but then the latter is a well known weakness of compact cameras. Check out the read link for sample images and the (very) full review.
HDR imaging for the cheap and gifted
People who are seriously after HDR output tend to pony up the dough for a big and chunky DSLR, knowing they'll get the highest quality possible. But if you're short on cash, here's a homebrewed mod that combines a gutted Polaroid x530 Foveon shooter with a Viliv to produce HDR-like imagery on the cheap. Essentially, the Viliv does all the processing and control work, while the el cheapo camera is used for its ability to save to raw format. You could instead pick up a compact Ricoh CX1 and save yourself a lot of trouble, but where's the fun and tinkering in that? The homemade hardware might not be pretty to look at, but make your way past the break to see if the results are worth the effort.[Via Hack a Day]
Eye-Fi Pro wireless SD card hands-on
We're all pretty spoiled in these digital days; not that long ago taking a look at a vacation's worth of photos required a trip to the store, a couple of hours (or days) wait, and then the better part of an afternoon getting fingerprints all over a stack of poorly composed shots that you daren't throw out because you just paid good money to have them printed. Now you pop a memory card into your computer, wait a few seconds for them to fly into an appropriately labeled folder, and then... probably forget you took them. It's so much easier it's hard to fathom the process getting even more simple, but that's what Eye-Fi has done with its line of wireless flash memory cards, which beam pictures directly from your camera. The company has just announced the $149, 4GB Eye-Fi Pro to make the process even more direct, letting you send pictures straight to a computer while also adding some additional features that pros and semi-pros will appreciate. We put it through its paces after the break.
JVC debuts 8K / 4K prototype camcorders, moviemakers drool
Aw, snap. Just when you thought the 4K market couldn't get any more dominated by RED and the gang, along comes JVC to shake things up. For reasons unknown, the company has chosen now (and not a few weeks back at NAB) to unleash its prototype 4K and 8K camcorders, both of which boast D-ILA technology and can capture clips at a downright mind-blowing 8,912 x 4,320 or 3,840 x 2,160 resolution. There's also a more "compact" sibling which does 4K only, but even it provides plenty of pixels to zoom and pan in unprecedented clarity on. So JVC -- you, us, CEDIA 2009. It's a date, cool? Update: More details here. Thanks, Geoff!
Apple offers MacBook battery update and more RAW compatibility
Apple released two separate software updates yesterday. The MacBook Battery Update 1.4 "improves the ability of MacBook batteries to maintain a charge when the system is shut down and not used for an extended period of time" and is for 13" MacBooks.In addition, the Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 2.5 adds RAW support for the Nikon D3X and Epson R-D1x in iPhoto '08 & '09 as well as Aperture 2.The battery update and the RAW update are both free downloads from Apple.
Digital Foci's Photo Book displays RAW files, at home and in the wild
As Marlin Perkins used to remind us on Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, naturalists have observed as many variations of the common frameus digitalus in nature as they have mammals of the felidae family. We've seen digiframes that are actually routers, digiframes that scan your old non-digital snapshots, and (sadly) digiframes that come pre-infected with a Trojan Horse or two. Doing its part for biodiversity, Digital Foci is back with what it calls a "Photo Book" -- another way of saying that they've put a digital photo frame in a "soft leather-like case," making for "a convenient, elegant photo display." The one interesting development here is support for RAW images -- otherwise, this is just another $189 / 8-inch / 800 x 600 / 4GB digiframe. In addition to all that, this guy supports the usual bevy of file formats (JPEG, BMP, TIFF, GIF, MP3, AAC, WMA, MJPEG, MPEG-1, MPEG-4 SP) and boasts 2.5 hours of battery life. Wake up, guys -- there is some PR jazz for you after the break.
Digital Camera RAW Compatibility 2.4 update released
In Apple's ongoing effort to add camera support for RAW formats, it has just released a new update. In update 2.4, Apple added support (for both Aperture 2 and iPhoto '08) for the following Digital Cameras that shoot in RAW format: Canon EOS 5D Mark II Canon PowerShot G10 Pentax K2000/K-m Leaf AFi-II 6 Leaf AFi-II 7 Leaf Aptus-II 6 Leaf Aptus-II 7 Leica M8.2 In addition, Apple notes that this update "...also addresses issues related to specific cameras and overall stability." You can download this update via Software Update or by downloading the installer package from Apple's Support Download website.Thanks for the tip, Miguel!
Apple releases Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 2.3
Apple just released an update for RAW camera support for Mac OS X Leopard, Aperture 2, and iPhoto '08. With this new update, the following list of RAW-format cameras are supported: Canon EOS 50D Nikon D90 Sony DSLR-A900 Nikon Coolpix P6000 Apple also notes that this update "addresses issues related to specific cameras and overall stability." You can download this update by opening up Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update) or by downloading the installer package from the Apple Support downloads site.Thanks for the tip, Tony!
Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 2.2
Today Apple released an update for Mac OS X's RAW compatibility. iPhoto '08 and Aperture will now be able to work with RAW formats from the following cameras: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS/Kiss Digital F/1000D Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n Nikon D700 Olympus EVOLT E-420 Olympus EVOLT E-520 Olympus SP-570 Samsung GX-10 Samsung GX-20 Sony DSLR-A300 Sony DSC-R1 I'm sure this isn't a fix for everyone, but will probably make most photographers happy to see their camera on the list. You can download this update by opening Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update) or by visiting Apple's downloads website and downloading the installer package.Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Ricoh's 12 megapixel GX200 for the undecided
So long GX100, hello GX200 and your new 1/1.7-inch 12 megapixel CCD sensor. Ricoh's bridge between point-and-shoot cameras and DSLRs also features new Smooth Image Engine III processing to better control noise, a larger 2.7-inch LCD, and a 5fps continuous RAW shooting mode. The 24 to 72-mm (35mm equiv) wide-angle lens, SDHC slot, RAW image support, thin 25-mm chassis, and removable tilting electronic view?nder all carry over from the predecessor. Available next month for £350 (about $689) or £400 (about $788) if you find that viewfinder a must.
Hasselblad releases Phocus
Hasselblad makes high-end professional cameras that produce some of the largest digital images commercially available at up to 39 megapixels raw. It took until March for Apple to natively support the Hasselblad raw format and now the Swedish company has released Phocus for OS X, a dedicated raw processing application which provides digital lens correction, color adjustment, and Moiré removal together with tethered shooting and metadata control with geotagging for its entire line of cameras and backs.Phocus is Leopard-only and available to registered Hasselblad users. In a lovely change of pace the OS X version is available now with the Windows version to follow later in the year.[via Macworld UK]
Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 2.1
Apple just released an update for RAW camera support for Mac OS X Leopard, Aperture 2, and iPhoto '08. With this new update, the following list of RAW-format cameras are supported: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi/Kiss Digital x2/450D Epson R-D1 Leaf AFi 7 Leaf AFi 6 Leaf AFi 5 Pentax K200D Pentax K20D You can download this update by opening up Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update) or by downloading the installer package from the Apple Support downloads site. Thanks to everyone who sent this tip in!
Apple hints at forthcoming Aperture update
There's been much debate on the interwebs on what lies in store for users of Aperture (Apple's professional-level photo management software). I'm not suggesting that we mourn Aperture's passing, but it has been a little neglected of late, and as someone who uses Aperture almost daily that makes me intrigued by Apple's plans for the application.Apple has been hounded for a little while about some cameras not having RAW support in OS X: colleague Chris Ullrich's Nikon D300 is still unsupported, for example. So you can imagine the widespread surprise when Joe Schorr, Apple's Senior Product Manager for Photo Applications posted a thread on the Aperture Discussion Groups:"We're constantly working to make Aperture an even better tool for users, and will soon release an upgrade that includes RAW format support for new cameras and other exciting new features. Please stay tuned."This is where the plot thickens, dear readers, as the updates for Aperture's camera support actually hinge on updates to OS X. So if a new camera comes out, Apple puts out an OS X RAW Support Update for these new formats, and Aperture just works -- as do any other applications that utilize the OS X image frameworks. Now add into that the use of the word 'upgrade', not update, but upgrade. While perhaps hinting at a paid upgrade, it's good to know that the frustration of photographers everywhere isn't falling on deaf ears.
WWE RAW: live in HD for first time tonight
Not that rabid professional wrestling fans really needed a reminder, but WWE's first high-definition broadcast of RAW does indeed start tonight. Set to air from Virginia's Hampton Coliseum on USA HD, we can expect to see crystal clear glimpses of Triple-H, Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho (among others) -- sweat beads and artificial blood included. Gather up the fam, the party starts at 9:00PM EST.[Image courtesy of WWE]
WWE RAW scheduled for HD on USA
For fans of WWE and HD, things are about as good as they could possibly be. Just as you get ready to experience Smackdown and Royal Rumble in high-definition, along comes word that next Monday's episode of RAW will likely be aired in HD, too. Apparently, DirecTV is listing the show in HD on USA, which means that either RAW is indeed finally making the leap to HD or DirecTV has labeled it erroneously. Needless to say, we're hoping for the former, even if it ends up happening a bit later in the month.Update: Sure enough, we may not see RAW in HD until after Royal Rumble. Better late than never, we say.[Thanks, Colin V. and gamedude420]
Leopard camera RAW formats list
In the run up to Leopard Apple mentioned that they were adding support for more camera RAW formats, but it wasn't exactly clear which models would be supported. The final list is now available in this Apple Support Document. This means that native support for these cameras' RAW file format is in OS X and certain imaging applications, most importantly, Aperture. As it happens I was delighted to discover that my Panasonic DMC-FZ50 made the list after not being supported in Tiger. If you've been waiting for Apple to add RAW support for your camera you'll probably want to check it out.[via MacVolPlace]
Ricoh's GR Digital encore: the 10 megapixel GR Digital II
After a two-year stint, Ricoh is finally rolling out a successor to their GR Digital -- the GR digital II. No really, that's the 10 megapixel GR II up there not their 10 megapixel GX100. The GR II boasts a 1/1.75-inch CCD, ISO 1600 max sensitivity, improved RAW and JPEG recordings, VGA video recordings, SDHC/SD card slot, and option for a Lithium-Ion power plant or pair of AAAs in a pinch. Right, just like the GX100. The GR II, however, is a tad smaller and lighter than the GX100 while offering a slightly larger, auto-rotating 2.7-inch LCD, and the same 28-mm (not 24 to 72-mm wide-angle) lens found on the original GR Digital. Expected in Japan on November 22nd for about ¥80,000 or right around 700 bucks.[Via Amateur Photographer]
Petopia looks at pet feeding
Petopia has posted a nice guide to feeding your Hunter pet, from the basics all the way up to the math behind each pet feeding tick. If you've ever played a Hunter, you already know that when your pet gets unhappy, you need to feed it, but did you know that the difference between your pet and the food's level affects just how happy the food makes it?The guide also has some interesting info about "raw fish" and "raw meat," two food categories recently added to the game. At this point, apparently raw fish and meat are interchangeable with their cooked counterparts, but in the future, Blizzard may create pets that only eat raw food, or that are only interested in eating cooked food.Anyway, if you've played a Hunter all the way to 70, most of this will be very familiar to you (even if you only knew that an unhappy pet wanted food). But as a very general overview of pet feeding tips and resources, it's a good one.
Yuke's chats up improvements in next Smackdown!
Knowing the number of WWE fans that read PSP Fanboy, I'd feel wrong not sharing some details from Gamespot's recent interview with Yuke's. Here's what fans can expect in Smackdown! vs Raw 2008: A big focus this year is making more differentiated, and complex fighting styles A vastly improved and more realistic animation system, with more animations than ever before, and a motion blending system The motion blending system also allows for better controls of your wrestlers ECW's inclusion means lots more weapons in the game 24/7 mode will allow the gamer to experience the ECW invasion and as always work their way through the ranks to become WWE champ Yuke's wants Smackdown! to be one of the premier fighting games on all the systems. We'll have to wait for the title's release to see how they do.
THQ forms evil plan to net 1 BILLION dollars
Gamespot is reporting that the portable heavy publisher THQ plans to make one billion dollars in its fiscal 2007 year. it The forecast is due to incredibly strong sales of games like WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007, Cars, and Avatar: The Last Airbender.Brian Farrell, President and CEO of THQ, said, "THQ's platform strategy served us very well this holiday...This performance combined with our successful original property launches exclusively for next-generation systems have positioned THQ to achieve the significant milestone of $1 billion in sales for fiscal 2007." He then made plans to buy the Caspian Sea and rename it Bikini Bottom.
