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January 31, 2008

Nikon View and Other Programs To Be Retired

For members who are using older versions of software such as Nikon View and PictureProject, this technical note indicates full-version downloads of those programs will be unavailable after 28-February of this year.

Unspecified licensing constraints within the are apparently the cause of the withdrawal. While packages such as the exotic Coolpix Remote Control received little wide-spread adoption, many owners of older digital cameras preferred to use the lighter-weight Nikon View 6.x to the cumbersome PictureProject bundle for their photo download and sorting needs.

Nikon is not restricting the continued use of these programs and mentions that updates would be provided, although the frequency would be unspecified. Members wishing to continue use should back up their copies or obtain the latest full-versions now for archive to storage media.

Posted by covey22 at 7:50 PM

Sigma Fills The Gap With Multiple Lenses

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Sigma unloaded a few jabs aimed at Nikon's existing lens gaps with some long-awaited announcements. First up is the revisions to some classic lenses - namely the new 120-400mm f4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM and the new 150-500mm f5-6.3 DG OS HSM supertelephoto zooms.

Both lenses address the lack of combined Optical Stabilization and HyperSonic Motor AF performance in the venerable 80-400mm DG OS and the 50-500mm DG HSM. This combination was first pioneered in the latest iteration of the 18-200mm DC OS HSM all-in-one zoom released in mid-2007. The new tele lenses are also a response to the calling of Nikkor fans to update the aging screw-drive AF 80-400mm VR with a Silent Wave motor. Many Nikonians were disappointed to find that refresh was not one of the announcements made at PMA 2008.

As icing on the cake, Sigma also refreshed the 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG MACRO and 18-125mm F3.8-5.6 DC OS with HSM to ensure compatibility with the D40 and D60 series cameras.

Posted by covey22 at 5:44 PM

Middleweight Bout: Nikon D300 vs Canon 40D

Popular Photography conducts a hands-on comparison of the reigning middleweight kings; the Nikon D300 and the Canon EOS 40D.

...we found them to be more evenly matched than we expected.

Posted by covey22 at 5:34 PM

January 30, 2008

PMA 2008 Updates for 30-January

Sony has announced a 24MP full-frame (24x36) CMOS Sensor with an analog-to-digital converter allowing it to capture up to 6.3 frames per second. Given the history of Nikon-Sony collaboration, it is only a matter of time before this chip makes its appearance in a new Nikon Digital SLR. The question still remains - will it be the heart of a D3X as many Nikonian faithful are clamoring for?

Tamron also got into the announcement game with another DX-type ultra-wide lens, the SP 10-24mm f3.5-4.5 Di (Model AB001). The lens does not share in the recent round of refreshes that plan to have internal motors, so planned owners of the D60 be forewarned; no auto-focus. The manufacturer also updated their release schedule for some long-overdue lenses; the bad news is the 70-200 f2.8 Di for Nikon mount is still hazy.

Finally, the Eye-Fi wireless SD card will integrate very nicely into the upcoming D60. In addition to custom power management functions, users will be able to upload their photos directly into Nikon's PictureTown.

Posted by covey22 at 7:30 PM

Unofficial Samples from Nikkor 16-85mm DX VR

The virtual ink has barely dried on yesterday's Nikon announcements at PMA and a site has already posted unofficial samples of the Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX VR lens.

Posted by covey22 at 2:35 PM

Free Enlargements for Nikonians shipping worldwide

Nikonians around the world have been receiving free 13x19" enlargements of their favorite prints and they have some tips to share with those who have not ordered yet.

HP-Test.jpg


The HP Photosmart Pro B9180 Photo Printer enlargements have been receiving praise from Nikonians who have ordered their samples.

The most important tip is to remember the size of the final print when you are preparing your order says Nikonians Team Moderator Ernesto Santos. Members have reported receiving excellent quality 8x10 prints on the 13x19 paper stock because they forgot that crucial step.

Members have also thanked Ernesto for his handy preparation guide:

- Size the image to 12x18 for a print with a small border, 13x19 for borderless, full bleed.
- Make image adjustments and then crop/resize as desired with a pixel per inch (ppi) of 300.
Sharpen to suit.
- Convert to 8-bit color depth. Convert to sRGB color space before saving. Do not embed any color space in the save routine. Convert the images that are 16-bit color depth to 8-bit color depth after the image is in its final upload state. This will significantly reduce the file size as well and sending a 16-bit image will not improve the print quality. In fact it will only increase the time it takes to upload the file to HP and then to spool the print job once it is in the printmakers hands.
- The printer technician at the HP end of the workflow will apply the correct ICC printer/paper profile for the type of paper selected.
- It is much better to send the file as a jpeg and not a TIFF or NEF. These files are very large (especially the TIFF). A jpeg at compression level 10 should give you a file size of approximately 3 megabytes.

The free enlargements can be ordered by logging in to an easy order form that helps Nikonians upload photos, which will then be enlarged to 13x19"/A3+ (330x483mm) on their choice of three high grade photo papers.

Depending on membership level, Nikonians have either one (Silver), two (Gold) or three (Platinum) enlargements available.

The order screen begins by asking members login with their username and password.


HP-Info.jpg

The order screen will instantly show your membership level.

This ordering process can only be done once, so if you have the option to select more than one image for upload make sure you have made your choices before you place the order.
You won't be able to log in to the order screen again after placing your order.

You can choose from:
HP Artist Matte Canvas, HP Professional Satin Photo Paper and HP Hahnemühle Smooth Fine Art Paper with border or borderless. All prints will be 13x19"/A3+ 330x483mm).

You will receive an email confirmation of your order (usually within minutes).

The prints will be produced the same day you placed the order and be shipped to your address.

Shipping time estimates vary depending on your location. Most USA Nikonians can expect to see their prints within one to two weeks.

Posted by flashdeadline at 6:59 AM

January 29, 2008

Think Tank fights Mother Nature - and wins

Think Tank Photo has just made it easier for Nikonians shooting in rainy conditions to protect their Nikon cameras and lenses.

ThinkTankVideo.jpgThey have just announced the release of the Hydrophobia 300-600, which adds quick deployment features while helping soggy photographers protect their gear during shooting, switching memory cards and replacing batteries.

The Think Tank Hydrophobia 300-600 has been in development for the past 18 months, and you can see the results in a series of videos. Make sure you check out their blooper segment.

According to our Think Tank experts: The fabric used on the Hydrophobia is ten times as waterproof as normal fabric. Instead of a "spray" coating, a "film" is applied to the underside of the fabric, as well as a tricot mesh to protect it, making it a far more impenetrable three-layer fabric. In addition a waterproof tape is applied to all seams, providing an even more waterproof barrier.

If this new rain-fighter has caught your eye-- Don't forget: Nikonians enjoy the extra advantage of a free gift when placing their orders from Think Tank Photo.

Posted by flashdeadline at 5:50 PM

Nikon unveils new cameras and lenses

Nikonians with a passion for new gear will be excited to learn that Nikon has just announced their newest digital single lens reflex camera, three new lenses and six more COOLPIX line cameras.

D60.jpg
The new DSLR is the Nikon D60, featuring 10.2effective megapixels, dust reduction technology and other innovations. Our friends at LetsGoDigital have posted a review, photo gallery and specifications.

The Nikon COOLPIX models include the S210, S520, S550 and S600 to its Style Series line of compact digital cameras, as well as the new COOLPIX L18 and P60.

The Nikon lens inventory now includes the newly announced: the PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED, AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED and the AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR.

Posted by flashdeadline at 2:39 PM

January 28, 2008

Tamron Updates 17-50mm f2.8 with Internal Motor

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On the heels of their refresh to the 70-300mm tele macro, Tamron turns their focus to one of their most popular stablemates, the 17-50mm f2.8 Di. The new model A16N II will now have a built-in lens motor allowing full auto-focus compatibility with cameras such as the Nikon D40 and D40X.

Posted by covey22 at 8:10 PM

Underwater Nikonians may be interested in this

The folks from Fantasea have just announced a new waterproof light which won't help you take pictures, but may certainly be useful in helping your dive buddies keep track of you.
It's a small unit with 5 super bright LED bulbs, powered by 4 AAA batteries which last up to 60 hours at maximum output.
Check the Press Release for more information on the Nano Spotter LED Light.

Posted by flashdeadline at 6:42 PM

Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8: The Photozone.de Review

Klaus Schroiff's much anticipated review of the new ultra-wide Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8 is online.

Posted by covey22 at 3:18 PM

Sunex SuperFisheye Lenses for DSLR Cameras

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Sunex is not the first name that comes to mind with third-party lens makers, but their new DSLR SuperFisheye lens and accompanying software for stitching and perspective correction are intriguing. The lens is listed at USD799 MSRP and they'll be on display at PMA 2008.

Posted by covey22 at 2:53 PM

Distributor Icon Passes Away

Henry Froelich, well-known for establishing the Konica Camera and Mamiya distribution chains in the US among other accomplishments, passed away on 24 January. He was 85.

Posted by covey22 at 2:44 PM

Nikonians On Location #5

We have come to the fifth episode of the Nikonian's On Location with your host Martin Joergensen, recorded on a local photowalk.

Click here to download Nikonians On Location Podcast #5 (NPC-OL-2008-01-28; 13:17; 12MB, MP3 format).

Video supplement available here (NPC-OLV-2008-01-28; 7:45; flash format).

Show Notes: January 28, 2008

The fifth episode was recorded during a morning photowalk together with a group called the Copenhagen Photowalkers, who arrange photo gettogethers online and meet up to shoot a suject together. This time we were shooting an abandoned building where they used to chop up old cars. Everything is smashed up, broken and painted over with graffiti, but it does offer a lot of great subjects for photographers. After the walk the images are shared amongst the group online.

The sound file:

00:21 Intro

01:30 First picture

02:14 Urbex and photowalks

04:30 Step carefully

06:33 Intermission, folks chatting

07:40 Pipes

08:30 Slow, rear sync

10:05 Electrical installations

10:45 Winding down

11:50 Goodbye

Video supplement

In this fifth slideshow you can see both Martin's and some of the other participant's pictures and hear Martin's comments.

Click here to view Nikonians On Location Video Supplement #5 (NPC-OLV-2008-01-28; 7:45; flash format).

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Nikonians Podcast directly in iTunes


[RSS] Add the Nikonians Podcast feed to your RSS reader

[Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley!

Questions, Comments, Announcements?
Email Martin at onlocation@nikonians.org, or drop us a line in the Podcast Feedback forum!

Posted by martinj at 11:40 AM

Congratulations to Nikonians Photographer of the Year 2007 Segment Five Winners

Contests Director Chris Gray (wpgf100) has contacted the winners of Segment Five in our Nikonians Photographers of the Year 2007 Contest, letting them know they have earned prizes in their categories. The First Place winners have also been selected to move on to the finals of this year's contest.

Segment Five judging concentrated on the Open, Wedding and Digital Art categories, with the following Nikonians taking top honors.



Open Category ----------













First Place - Andy (AllMyHobbies) Bredemeier, of the USA, takes First Place with "Santa Fe."- The winning entry earns Andy a Spyder2PRO from datacolor and a seat in the finals.









 



  



Second Place - Rick (rteremi2) Teremi of the USA wins Second Place with his image "Zion Watchman."- The winning entry earns Rick an HP Scanjet G4000 Photo Scanner from HP.






Wedding Category----------








 



First Place - Joe (skorj) Iannandrea, of Canada took First Place with "Heading Forth." - The winning entry earns Joe a SilverFast DC Pro Studio from LaserSoft Imaging and a seat in the finals.





 



Second Place - Maralee (maralee808) Park, of the USA captured her image overseas. Her "Wedding in Italy" earned Second Place honors. - The winning entry earns Maralee a Glass Taxi Backpack from Think Tank Photo.



Wildlife Category----------





 






First Place - Thomas (klamcake) Sisto, of the USA calls his First Place winner "The Fantastic Four."


- The winning entry earns him a Photosmart A618 Compact Photo Printer from HP and a seat in the finals.












 






Second Place - Vanessa (Dr Van) Hilliard of the USA took Second Place with "Reddish Egret with a New Do." - The winning entry earns Vanessa a Capture One LE package from Phase One.



 



The Contest was open to all Silver, Gold and Platinum Members. All entries were judged by a panel of expert Nikonians photographers who cast their vote on the photographs received within a given period.


The 2007 Contest is now closed.

Stay tuned for the naming of the 2007 Winners.

Posted by flashdeadline at 1:44 AM

January 27, 2008

Weekly News From the Nikonians Academy

Academy and Nikonians Image Doctors Team Up
From the mobile desk of Nikonians Academy Director Mike Hagen:
The Nikonians Image Doctors, Jason Odell and Rick Walker, will be joining us at both of of our Advanced Digital Imaging Workflow 4-day events.

Jason and Rick will be teaching on Capture NX, digital workflow and their specific recommendations for your digital darkroom.

AdvancedTeam.jpg They will be at the workshops over the weekend days and each will dedicate time to teaching and assisting me in helping to enhance your integrating workflow and inkjet printing skills.

Additionally, we have fantastic tutorials planned for Photoshop, color management and profiling. At these events, we are fortunate to have a full complement of HP inkjet printers and you'll be able to make as many prints as you want during the workshop.

These workshops are only scheduled for two appearances this coming year. The Advanced Digital Imaging Workflow workshops will be in San Francisco beginning April 10, and in Dallas beginning June 12.

We've been getting a few questions from folks who say that "I don't have an HP printer, so does it make sense for me to come?"
The answer is an emphatic yes!
All of the techniques we're showing are applicable to digital workflow and printing regardless of the type of printer you are using. The fact that we have HP printers means that we are able to show in real time the results of the changes we make in our software. If you've wanted to improve your digital darkroom skills, then this workshop is calling your name!

Looking for something closer to home?

Our Streamlined Digital Workflow & Inkjet Printing workshop teaches in one day how to use your own computer system to achieve great prints, starting from your RAW files.

The one-day workshops in a small class environment are currently available in Orlando, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Portland, Atlanta and Washington D.C. Full Schedule information is available at the Nikonians Academy Home Page.

The printers available will be HP Photosmart Pro B9180 wide-format inkjets capable of printing 13 x 19" fine art prints on a wide variety of papers at a resolution up to 4800 dpi. Color management tools will be the Datacolor Spyder3 Studio units. These provide the industry's only seven detector color engine and largest light aperture, allowing the workshop to demonstrate LCD, CRT and laptop calibration.


"Keeping up with the Trends" Department

The digital SLR market is changing rapidly. Our D80/D70 workshop signups have fallen to almost zero, but our D200 and D300 workshops are selling strong. As a result, we have decided to replace the D80/D70 workshops with our D200 In-Depth workshops all around the USA. That means most of our cities will have D200 In-Depth, D200 Advanced and D300 In-Depth workshops.

Safari.jpg
Safari Update

Every month I receive an African bush update from our safari outfitter in Tanzania. This month's report highlighted quite a few leopard sightings from a recent photo safari ion the Serengeti.

The photo group was able to photograph two very young leopard cubs in an acacia tree as well as a very rare daytime leopard hunt near a herd of gazelles. You never know what you are going to see on Safari and that is the thrill of a trip like this.

The Nikonians have two Safaris lined up this year. Our first trip is sold out, but our second trip from November 25 - December 6 still has spots available.

We have people coming from France, Britain, Germany, Canada and the USA. It will be a truly international trip full of Nikonians from all around the world.

If you are thinking of coming along, then go check out our webpage at www.nikoniansacademy.com.

Posted by flashdeadline at 11:00 PM

Nikon D80 Firmware 1.10 Released

Nikon Europe has released D80 firmware updating the camera to version 1.10.

The following improvements have been made in version 1.10.
- The D80 is "Certified for Windows Vista"
- Support for the new USB Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) has been added. The PTP option in the setup menu's USB item will be modified to MTP/PTP. The icon will also be modified.
- The effects of noise reduction processing performed at shutter speeds of 1 - 8 s with shutter speed set to "bulb", when On is selected for Long exp. NR in the shooting menu, have been improved.

The update is available in Windows and Mac versions.

Posted by covey22 at 5:31 PM

January 24, 2008

PMA 2008: The Heat is Turning Up

Pentax-K20D-120x160.jpeg

With only seven days to go before PMA 2008's opening in Las Vegas, manufacturers are turning up the heat with their pre-show product announcements. Read on to get the scoop about the latest salvos in the camera wars!

First up - Pentax strikes back with a vengeance. Their heavy-hitting multi-page spreads in major magazines not withstanding, Pentax is determined to get some of the market share dominated by Nikon and Canon, with updates to their Digital SLR line. The K20D ups the resolution wars to the magic 14MP number, with an improved buffer, a 2.7" Live View LCD and a Dust Alert system that helps pinpoint troublesome spot locations. The 10MP K200D refreshes the well-received K100D with many of the K20's features, such as the LCD and expanded shooting modes that complement a variety of skill levels. The latest arrivals will be accompanied by a bevy of new lenses, including a 200mm f2.8 SDM, a 300mm f4 SDM and a 55-300mm f4-5.8 among others.

Speaking of Nikon and Canon, no major announcements were anticipated - after all the D3 and the 1DS Mk III were keeping everybody busy, right? The folks at Lake Success snuck in a couple of quick jabs and announced the replacement of the popular Digital Rebel XTi with the new Rebel XSi. The new stable mate is not just another 12MP upgrade; it encompasses the best features from its higher-tier siblings; Anti-Dust, 3" Live View LCD, Image Processing and new for the line - a narrow 4% Spotmeter. Canon also brought back a classic lens in the form of the EF 200mm f2L USM (a direct descendant of the super-fast EF 200mm f1.8L) and a monstrous EF 800mm f5.6L USM, both equipped with Image Stabilizers.

Every year we think the compact digital wars have to be over, and we're proven wrong again. Hot on the heels of their pro-body E-3 announcement, Olympus rolls out a series of new FE shooters (known as the µ/Mju series globally) sporting 8MP sensors, Face Detection technology, image stabilization and Perfect Shot Preview. Fujifilm continues it's onslaught with a volley covering all the possible ranges; from fashionable party cameras all the way to ZLRs with 18x zooms. Finally, Canon continues to raise the bar with updates to the rugged PowerShot A and the ultra-slim PowerShot SD lines.

Posted by covey22 at 3:23 PM

ID#58: The Image Doctors

Rick is back from his trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Hear all about it in this week's episode.
Looking for an Image Doctors Episode? Check the show archives here.

Download The Image Doctors #58 (NPC-ID-2008-01-24.mp3; 57:52; 19.9MB; MP3 format)

Show Notes: January 24, 2008

1:36 Ecuador and the Galapagos (Images at Rick's Website)

Galapagos links:
Ecoventura
Bellavista Cloud Forest

41:30 The Gitzo GT1550 T "Traveler" tripod revisited View image
46:27 Small Ballheads

Link: Markins Q3

50:57 Photo Prescripton: Auto ISO with Flash

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Image Doctors directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add the Image Doctors feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically to you.
[Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley!

walker_20080109_1024-Edit.jpg walker_20080109_0283-Edit.jpg

Posted by drjay32 at 4:34 AM

January 23, 2008

Sigma Issues Fix for Nikon D3 Auto DX Crop

Sigma has issued a fix for certain lenses that don't automatically support the Nikon D3's Auto DX Crop function. The upgrade is free but likely requires return of the lenses for maintenance. Popular models affected include the Sigma 10-20mm DC HSM, the 30mm f1.4 DC HSM and the APO 120-300mm f2.8 EX DG HSM among others.

Posted by covey22 at 3:04 PM

January 22, 2008

Tamron Updates Tele Macro for Nikon D40

a17n2.jpg-120x160.jpeg

Tamron has announced an update to their popular 70-300mm f4-5.6 LD Di Macro lens. The refreshed A17N2 tele macro will now have a built-in lens motor specifically for compatibility with Nikon cameras such as the D40 and D40X digital SLRs. The lens is expected to be released in Japan in February.

Posted by covey22 at 4:39 PM

January 21, 2008

Nikonians News Flash #77

News-Flash.png

Tune in for your weekly dose of Nikonians News Flash! Chock full of news from your friendly neighborhood Nikonians Community!

Download Nikonians News Flash #77 (NPC-NF-2008-01-21.mp3; 7:50; 7.2MB; MP3 format)

January 21, 2008
In The News:

Updates from the Nikonians Academy. The whole story can be found in the blog.

Nikon News:
Check out what NAS sufferers got at auction!

From The Forums:
Wedding photographer wanted for June/July in Spain
In the Cafe'
Photos of Famous People using Nikon Cameras.

Forum of the Week:
About Nikonians & Galleries

Jessica's Choice Photo:
Squirrel Snack.

Questions, Comments, Announcements?
Email Jessica at newsflash@nikonians.org, or drop us a line in the Podcast Feedback forum!

Posted by odle2 at 1:40 PM

Nikonians On Location #4

Fourth episode of the Nikonian's On Location with your host Martin Joergensen.

Click here to download Nikonians On Location Podcast #4 (NPC-OL-2008-01-13; 28:14; 26MB, MP3 format).

Video supplement available here (NPC-OLV-2008-01-21; 7:45; flash format).

Show Notes: January 21, 2008

This time on a location where very few of you have ever been: in Martin's bedroom! This has been set up as a makeshift studio for shooting photo equipment for online ads. Learn how to make your used stuff look better and maybe fetch higher prices.

The sound file:

00:12 Intro

01:22 Bedroom studio

03:40 Light tent

05:35 Setup

06:20 Pseudo-tethered

08:00 Subjects

11:50 Command mode

15:30 Shooting
24:20 Reviewing

27:00 Goodbye

Video supplement

In this slideshow you can see the outcome of the bedroom shooting session and hear Martin's comments.

Click here to view Nikonians On Location Video Supplement #4 (NPC-OLV-2008-01-21; 8:02; flash format).

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Nikonians Podcast directly in iTunes


[RSS] Add the Nikonians Podcast feed to your RSS reader

[Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley!

Questions, Comments, Announcements?
Email Martin at onlocation@nikonians.org, or drop us a line in the Podcast Feedback forum!

Posted by martinj at 12:40 PM

January 20, 2008

Weekly News From the Nikonians Academy

Academy workshops price reduction response draws enthusiastic response
From the mobile desk of Nikonians Academy Director Mike Hagen:
Last week, we reduced our prices for one-day workshops from $199 to $179 and people responded by buying workshops all around the USA.

Our price reduction came as a direct result of the generosity of our two major sponsors: HP and datacolor. We have worked hard to bring you more cities, more topics and more options this year and it is paying off for you, our membership!

We're already on the road for our 2008 kickoff workshops and have only a couple of seats left for our Los Angeles sessions in late January. Our February schedule includes workshops in Orlando, Charleston, Las Vegas and Austin.

HP B9180 13x19" Pro Photo Inkjet Printer amazes workshop attendees

The prints that I'm getting from my HP-B9810.jpg HP B9180 printer are simply amazing.


Recently, I made a nice big 13x19" photo of a rock formation called "Dragon's Teeth" that I took in Maui.


hagen-orig-250.jpgThe photograph was taken about 20 minutes after sunset and the sky was a very subtle shade of pink and blue. I was worried that the printer might not capture the delicate transitions between the pink and blue hues in the sky, but little did I know that I had nothing to worry about! The B9180 printed it amazingly well.
hagen-13x19-print-250.jpg


I showed the print to a few people and they were amazed at the clarity, color and sharpness of the print. The image was processed in Capture NX using four color control points and then sent the image to Photoshop to do some dust removal.

The Academy wants to show you how to do the same thing in our 4-day Advanced Digital Imaging Workflow workshops currently scheduled for only two sessions this year.
Regardless of the type of printer that you use, this workshop will definitely improve your output. We'll be spending a lot of time learning how to set up our software and hardware to achieve perfection. There will also be significant time spent on using Nikon Capture NX and Adobe Photoshop in your workflow.
These won't be "high level" discussions, but rather meat and potatoes hands-on tutorials with you in the drivers seat. Our conference space will be outfitted with a network of B9180 printers and Datacolor Spyder3 display calibration systems.


You can also learn some of these techniques at our Steamlined Digital Workflow and Inkjet Printing workshops -- designed to show you how to calibrate your monitor the professional way.

Spyder-3-1.jpgIn addition to a whole host of other topics at these workshops, we are going to thoroughly cover calibration of LCDs, CRTs and laptop screens.
We'll go through how to set up your system for changing ambient light conditions using the Spyder 3 Elite's embedded ambient light sensor. We'll have a number of test units setup and ready to go at the workshops, so you can calibrate your laptops in real time.


Looking for adventure?

We have more adventure lined up with the Academy than you can shake a stick at. This April and May we have some wonderful outdoor photography opportunities in Page, Arizona and Moab, Utah. Additionally, we have a quick two-day trip planned to photograph the beautiful Tulip Festival in Washington State's Skagit River Valley. You can see our trips posted at www.nikoniansacademy.com.
That's it for this week. More great news next week!


Posted by flashdeadline at 5:13 PM

January 17, 2008

Nikon Acquisition Syndrome At It's Highest

Nikonians are very familiar with the disease known as NAS, and a recent Westlicht auction in Austria had some attendees who were clearly stricken. While the attention was focused on a 0-series Leica drawing a near half-million dollars, the Nikon bids weren't frugal by any definition. A Stereo-Nikkor sold for over USD57,000 and a rare Nikon F High Speed garnered a cool USD28,100.

Posted by covey22 at 5:26 PM

MacBook Air - The Thinnest Notebook Yet

mbair_front-300 (Custom).jpg

Nikonians who can't get enough of Macintosh equipment are undoubtably entranced by Steven Jobs' latest creation: the ultra-thin, ultra-light MacBook Air laptop.

True to his showman form, Jobs unveiled the latest addition to the Mac computing family by taking a large manila envelope onto the stage at MacWorld 2008 and pulling out the computer in front of thousands of fans.

At an unbelievable 3lbs and a svelte 0.16 inches at its narrowest, it's sure to to appeal to road warriors tiered of lugging thick, heavy laptops and power adapter "bricks." The unique design has it downsides though; no optical drives and only an 80GB hard drive. Apple will be offering one of the first SSD drives on a higher-end version. Initial pricing is set at USD1799 and availability is projected to be somewhere in February of this year.

Posted by covey22 at 5:00 PM

Nikon Lovebirds

JR-thumbnail 120x160.jpg Lisa-thumbnail -120x160.jpg

Everyone has a story about a couple that met under unique circumstances, but Lisa and J.R. Schnelzer are the first we know that attributes their union to Nikon cameras.

Posted by covey22 at 4:32 PM

January 14, 2008

Forums Are Back Online

The move of Nikonians to our new server cluster is nearly completed.

Our forums are now available.

Some members may be asked to log in with their user-names and passwords, and once you arrive at the forums page you may notice a change in default colors. Some last-minute "tweaking" within the next couple of days will be taken care of.

Thank you for your patience during this server cluster move.

You can select the color you want to use in the forums. The classical Nikonians black or the "Nikonians V 2.0" with white background. You do so in the "User menu -> Edit your preferences -> Personal Information at the setting "Skin"

We are furthermore removing a large number of "sticky", older topics and also do some other minor fixes throughout the next few days.

Posted by flashdeadline at 1:55 PM

January 13, 2008

Nikonians News Flash #76

News-Flash.png

Tune in for your weekly dose of Nikonians News Flash! Chock full of news from your friendly neighborhood Nikonians Community!

Download Nikonians News Flash #76 (NPC-NF-2008-01-13.mp3; 8:22; 7.7MB; MP3 format)

January 13, 2008
In The News:

Updates from the Nikonians Academy.

More Nikonians News:
Don't forget to tune into "Nikonians On Location", our newest podcast!

Nikon News:
Nikon reviews by Bjorn Rorslett and Michael Reichmann.

Other News:
Lexar's new SDHC card.

Sigma prices its new fisheye lens.

From The Forums:
In the Cafe'
Customs & Duty Question.

Your great-grandfather's DSLR...Will it work?.

January's Online Photo Assignment
New Year, New Beginnings.

Forum of the Week:
Nikonians Travel & Meet: Tours, workshops & get-togethers!

Jessica's Choice Photo:
Becalmed.

Questions, Comments, Announcements?
Email Jessica at newsflash@nikonians.org, or drop us a line in the Podcast Feedback forum!

Posted by odle2 at 1:00 PM

Nikonians on Location #3

The third episode of the Nikonian's On Location with your host Martin Joergensen.

Click here to download Nikonians On Location Podcast #3 (NPC-OL-2008-01-13; 35:01; 32MB, MP3 format).

Video supplement available here (NPC-OLV-2008-01-13; 8:02; flash format).

Show Notes: January 13, 2008

Even though spring is getting closer in the Northern hemisphere, it's still dark half of the 24 hours of the day, and Martin has taken the opportinity on a dark, foggy night to go to the Copenhagen Harbor and shoot some night pictures.

The sound file:

00:17 Intro

00:35 Shooting at night

02:12 Dog howling

04:30 Extreme highlight handling

06:50 Unpacking

10:20 Shooting 85mm

21:30 Shooting wide

29:18 Moon
34:00 Goodbye

Video supplement

In this slideshow you can see the outcome of the trip and hear Martin's comments. There's a bit of manipulation and postprocessing, but on the subtle side.

Click here to view Nikonians On Location Video Supplement #3 (NPC-OLV-2008-01-13; 8:02; flash format).

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Questions, Comments, Announcements?
Email Martin at onlocation@nikonians.org, or drop us a line in the Podcast Feedback forum!

Posted by martinj at 12:06 PM

January 11, 2008

Price Reductions for Nikonians Academy

Thanks to our Corporate Sponsorships with Hewlett-Packard and Datacolor, Nikonians Academy is offering price breaks on all one-day workshops beginning in February of 2008.

Members who have already bought a one-day course scheduled from February through year-end at previous rates will receive a reimbursement of the difference shortly.

Posted by covey22 at 4:40 PM

Pricing for Sigma 4.5mm f2.8 DC Fisheye

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Sigma USA has announced MSRP pricing for their innovative ultra-wide lens. The Sigma 4.5mm f2.8 DC fisheye will debut at USD1400, with actual street-pricing expected to be at a lower amount.

Posted by covey22 at 4:03 PM

January 10, 2008

ID#57: The Image Doctors

Looking for places to photograph in the US? Rick and Jason offer up some of their favorite locations. This week, the "Doctors" also review Nik Color Efex 3.0 and a new Gitzo Tripod, the GT1550T.
Looking for an Image Doctors Episode? Check the show archives here.

Download The Image Doctors #57 (NPC-ID-2008-01-10.mp3; 43:16; 14.9MB; MP3 format)

Show Notes: January 10, 2008

1:22 Locations we like to shoot
18:46 Nik Color Efex Pro 3 for Photoshop
33:13 The Gitzo GT1550 T "Traveler" tripod
46:17 Photo Prescription: Put your photos onto postage stamps

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Posted by drjay32 at 5:03 AM

January 9, 2008

Reichmann's Take on the D3 and D300

As we reported earlier, noted industry pundit and stated Canon user Michael Reichmann partly returned to the fold with the purchase of a Nikon D3. He now turns his attention to the details of the feature-rich camera and it's high-ISO performance.

We now have a bit of a sea change happening. Nikon has flexed its considerable muscle and with the D3 produced a camera that sends a clear challenge to Canon's nearly decade-long dominance of the digital arena. The D300, though in many ways simply a logical progression from the D200, is a much better camera than its predecessor, and along with its superior sensor offers the pro and advanced amateur a set of features and functionality that is unmatched at the moment in Canon's line up.

Posted by covey22 at 9:38 PM

CNET's Best of CES Show Nominees

CNET has generated their list of nominees for best in category drawn from the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Notable in the digital photography section is Sony's priced-to-move A200 Digital SLR.

Posted by covey22 at 9:08 PM

January 8, 2008

Lexar Boosts SDHC Capacity to 8GB

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The High-Capacity Secure Digital (SDHC) card format just got a bigger boost thanks to Lexar. This card family now boasts an immense 8GB size and will span the brand's Professional (133x), Platinum II (60x) and Standard product lines. Availability is expected in late January.

Posted by covey22 at 4:04 PM

Nikon D3: The Bjorn Rorslett Review

Bjorn Rorslett recently posted his initial review of the Nikon D3 over the holiday break. True to form, he has focused on the practical uses of the camera and renders judgement on it's suitability for some of his speciality applications, such as IR and UV photography.

"For me the arrival of the D3 is the final nail in the coffin for "35mm" silver-halide reflex cameras. Of that I'm certain."

Posted by covey22 at 3:54 PM

January 7, 2008

RIP: Herbert "Burt" Keppler - 1925 to 2008

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Image courtesy of Popular Photography

A sad milestone in the photo industry has come to pass: Herbert "Burt" Keppler, a beloved figure in the photo industry and most recently the voice of the SLR Column in Popular Photography, passed away this weekend of heart failure. He was 82.

Keppler's career spanned an impressive 57 year era and covered two of the main magazines devoted to consumer shutterbugs - Modern Photography and Popular Photography. Keppler was also one of a handful of Americans to receive Japan's highest award for foreigners, "The Order of the Sacred Treasure - Gold Rays with Rosette" for his contributions to moving that nation's photographic industry forward. Burt will be greatly missed.

Posted by covey22 at 10:03 PM

Outlook Reminds You To Bring Your Camera

PhotoShootMain.jpg (Small).jpeg

For photographers who depend on Outlook for event management and calendaring, Microsoft has built a very useful plug-in that allows you to specify what equipment you need to bring when creating an appointment.

The Pro Photo Shoot plug-in allows you to create an equipment pool that predefines what you have in your inventory. This is great for on-the-fly event management; while you're on the phone with a client arranging a photo shoot, you can start to check off what you need to bring - camera, lights, background etc. The pool also lets you plug in information such as serial numbers and purchase dates - great for creating insurance coverage lists.

Posted by covey22 at 4:55 PM

CNN Money Rates Picture Scanning Services

CNN's Money Magazine rated six of the more popular print and negative scanning services available and put ScanCafe on the top of the list. This is a great quick reference guide for shutterbugs who have been putting off the digital conversion of their albums and scrapbooks.

Posted by covey22 at 4:40 PM

January 6, 2008

Nikonians On Location #2

The second episode of the Nikonian's On Location with your host Martin Joergensen.

Click here to download Nikonians On Location Podcast #2 (NPC-OL-2008-01-06; 20:49; 19.5MB, MP3 format). Video supplement available here (NPCOL20080106; 8:02; flash format).

Show Notes: January 6, 2008
When the sun is out in the Northern hemisphere this time of year it's often quite low on the horizon. How can you utilize this in your pictures? Join Martin Joergensen on location in the low winter sun.

The sound file:
00:16 Intro
01:10 Low sun
06:10 Manual focus override
08:20 Shooting at lake
11:15 Shooting at church
19:30 Goodbye

Video supplement
This time Martin fools around a bit more with colors, contrast and B/W, playing with the images from his shoot in low winter sun. See what the pictures he got and what he did to them.
Click here to view Nikonians On Location Video Supplement #2 (NPCOL20080106; 8:02; flash format).

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Nikonians Podcast directly in iTunes

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[Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley!

Questions, Comments, Announcements? Email Martin at onlocation@nikonians.org, or drop us a line in the Podcast Feedback forum!

Posted by martinj at 1:21 PM

January 2, 2008

Loose Lithiums barred on airline checked baggage

Thanks to some of our alert traveling Nikonians who recently made us aware of a new security measure. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT):

Effective January 1, 2008, the Department of Transportation through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will no longer allow loose lithium batteries in checked baggage. These batteries may continue to be packed in carry-on baggage.

We're not sure how this affects airline travelers not using U.S. carriers, but it would be wise to check your local airline with specific questions.

Here is the TSA info link:
www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/batteries.shtm

Here is the DOT link:
https://safetravel.dot.gov/whats_new_batteries.html

Posted by flashdeadline at 9:49 AM

January 1, 2008

Nikonians On Location Video Supplement #1

The very first video supplement for the Nikonian's On Location with your host Martin Joergensen.

Click here to view Nikonians On Location Video Supplement #1 (NPC-OL-2007-12-30; 6:46; flash format).

Show Notes: December 1, 2007

This set of commented slides will give you a lowdown on how Martin sorted, selected and post-processed some of the images from the shooting session documented in the podcast "Boring Light" and reveal some of his thoughts on the results.




Questions, Comments, Announcements?
Email Martin at onlocation@nikonians.org, or drop us a line in the Podcast Feedback forum!

Posted by jozef at 6:49 PM