Nikonians News & Blogs: Interviews, Talkshows, News and More

Join fashion photographer Giuseppe Circhetta in Milano on a two day glamour and editorial shooting with fabulous models. This weekend workshop will teach you using various lighting techniques, communication with models, retouching and more. Complete info here.

Posted by bgs at 12:17 PM

June 24, 2011

Join the discussion on everything Nikon

The Nikonians forums are bursting full with content on Nikon and more. No matter if you are looking for info on the Nikon D7000 or how to shoot models, you will find answers there. Over hundred forums available in three languages! English, German and French. Visit the Nikonians forums.

Posted by bgs at 4:54 PM

June 23, 2011

The Image Doctors #144

Jason is joined by Brian Hatch to fill in for Rick Walker, who is on travel. Brian recently returned from shooting in Ghana and Sierra Leone.

Download The Image Doctors #144 (MP4 format)

Show Notes June 23, 2011

Get Jason's new guide to Nik's Silver Efex Pro 2.0

Interview with Brian Hatch of Hivemind Photography

Photo Prescription: Know your cultures

For the MP3 version of this podcast (audio only) click here.

Learn more about the Image Doctors photography podcast at www.theimagedoctors.com
Get your Image Doctors gear at our online shop.

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Image Doctors directly in iTunes.
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[Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley!

Posted by drjay32 at 6:00 AM

June 20, 2011

Nikon Ending D3 Buffer Upgrades

Nikon has announced an end-date for offering the buffer upgrade for the D3 DSLR. The buffer upgrade enhances the performance of the camera by increasing the number of photos it can temporarily store before having to stop and write them out to the memory card. The buffer upgrade will only be available until July 20th 2011, so if you've been holding off on this update, get it now while you can!

Posted by covey22 at 4:51 PM

June 15, 2011

Nikon D90...Going...Going...

...Almost Gone!

One of Nikon's best-selling camera models, the D90, has been discontinued, replaced by the newer D7000. This model is prized for having set many new standards within the DSLR family, low weight, excellent noise characteristics, superb image quality, all at a very reasonable price. B&H Photo Video still has a few units left, so grab them while you can!

Posted by covey22 at 3:22 AM

June 13, 2011

Nikonians News Flash #176

This week Ray speaks with Ron Pepper of HDRsoft
-About HDRsoft and Photomatix
-What is HDR
-Photomatix process
-How many images?
-Photomatix offerings
-Technique
-Photomatix sample gallery

Download Nikonians News Flash #176 (NPC-NF-2011-06-12.mp3;
19:21; 17.7MB; MP3 format)

Show Notes for 6/12/2011

HDR Soft

HDR Photomatix sample gallery

HDR Discount at Nikonians

For information on local Nikonians Chapters email here

Contact Nikonians News Flash:

newsflash@nikonians.org

Thank you for joining me.

Your Nikonians podcaster Ray Valdovinos

Posted by rayvaldovinos at 2:06 AM

June 12, 2011

The Nikon D7000 – A New Category of Camera?

The newest book in the NikoniansPress/Rocky Nook series of "Mastering" books: Mastering the Nikon D7000, by Darrell Young is being printed and should be available next month. Darrell's latest book is his largest to date, and he tells us the main reason is the number of surprises he found when digging deep into the D7000 features.

In writing this new D7000 book, shortly after writing Mastering the Nikon D300/D300s and Mastering the Nikon D90—and using each camera extensively—Darrell formed some strong opinions on the three cameras. Now that the author's deadline has passed, he shares some of his thoughts in the following brief preview:

Nikon has upped the game significantly with the Nikon D7000. In fact, it’s basically in a category of its own and costs more accordingly. Why do I say that? Well, compare the Nikon D90’s cost, at US$900 for a body only kit. It’s about the same as the new Nikon D5100, not the D7000. At US$300 higher the D7000 is significantly more expensive. Could the Nikon D5100 be the real replacement for the Nikon D90, and not the D7000?

Compare the D90 and the D7000 and you’ll notice that the D7000 has features more like the semi-pro line (D300S, and D700). In fact, the D7000’s basic operating system is a near clone of the D300S’s functions. There are new items in the D7000 that actually improve on the D300S, and simply blow away the D90. It’s almost like the D7000 is in a new category of camera. Instead of just being considered an “advanced” or enthusiast camera—like the D90—the D7000 is fully capable of shooting commercial work in nearly every way.

I’ve shot two weddings and a graduation ceremony with my D7000 and, let me assure you, this camera is faster and better than the D90 in nearly every way. It is much more robust physically with its mostly magnesium alloy frame, its autofocus system is even better than the D300S in some ways, the image quality is in a class of its own, for sure.

The feature set on the D7000 is very rich, with items not absolutely needed by non-commercial shooters, but required by pros. Some things that come to mind are:
• 100% viewfinder coverage
• 150,000 shot shutter
• 100 shot JPEG image buffer
• 39 point AF system, with 9 cross-type AF sensors
• multiple user settings (U1 and U2) for storing custom camera configurations
• 14-bit color depth
• magnesium alloy frame with weather sealing
• 1/8000 second top shutter speed
• 6 frames per second firing speed
• 2,016 pixel RGB sensor for metering
• Dual SD cards (SD, SDHC, SDXC)
• Ability to meter with and use non-CPU manual focus lenses
• Full Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) control with a Commander Mode
• Full-time autofocus in Live view and movie mode
• Full manual control of the shutter speed and aperture for movies
• 20 minute movie segments
• Stereo sound recording
• Amazingly good noise control in high-ISO shooting

In fact, I am seriously amazed by this camera. Its list of features reads more like a D300S or D700 than a D90. In my opinion the D7000 sets new standards for enthusiasts. It costs a little more, but places the user in almost the same class as the semi-pro line. I wouldn’t be afraid to take this camera any place I shot with my D300S previously. In fact, I have! My D300S has gotten a lot less use since I got the D7000. It’s that good.

If you are on the fence about which camera to buy today, don’t walk … run … to the nearest computer and order your D7000. You can depend on the camera to take more abuse than a D90, last longer than a D90, and provide better quality images than even a D300S—approaching the level of a D700.

Nikon has given us a new class of camera. It’s better than an enthusiast-level camera like the D90, and nearly as robust as a semi-pro level camera like the D300S.

As I’ve said in previous articles, the D7000 is a mature camera. It is made to last and last until N.A.S. gets you and you buy it’s replacement. However, you can wait as long as you’d like, it won’t be necessary to buy again for a long time. Buy new (or old) lenses instead! This camera can use almost any lens that Nikon makes (except non-AI).

Editor's Note:
This is an excellent time to take advantage of preorders. Amazon currently has a preorder rate of $20.94 USD (saving you $14.01).

All books in the Rocky Nook/NikoniansPress series include a special Nikonians 50%-off voucher discount for a one year Gold Membership in the Nikonians community. This will save $37.50 on Gold Membership.

Posted by flashdeadline at 11:40 PM

Last minute Father's Day shopping ideas

If you are looking for that perfect gift for Father's Day, you might want to check out some of the bargains currently available from our Corporate Partners.

▪ Tamron's Father's Day Special: $50 Mail-In Rebate now available for a limited time only (June 19-20) on a Tamron 18-270mm Di II VC PZD 15X Zoom Lens model B008 from an authorized Tamron USA dealer.

▪ Berger Bros. Camera is currently highlighting a 5% discount plus free shipping on all Gossen and Sekonic light meters. If you are still not sure about the benefits of using a light meter check out this article by Berger Bros. Camera class instructor Dan Neri.

▪ Roberts has been keeping up with their heavy demand for the AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G and the refurbished AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lenses. If you are a Silver, Gold or Platinum member, don't forget that in your personal Rewards section you have two Roberts lens specials currently active.

▪ B&H has unveiled a new Nikon DSLR combo-rebate program brimming with bargains on Nikon Cameras such as D7000, D300s, D5100, D3100, D90, and D3000. The B&H Buy Together & Save Page gives you options on which lens you want to bundle with the camera, featuring savings ranging from $100 to $250 (depending on your choice).

Posted by flashdeadline at 10:58 PM

June 10, 2011

Learn wedding photography

Join Brett Florens, a Nikon professional and instructor from the Nikonians Academy teaching you how to shoot weddings in a three day, fully packed course. Locations available right now in UK and The Netherlands. More info

Posted by bgs at 7:44 PM

June 9, 2011

The Image Doctors #143

Jason & Rick are discuss single focal-length shooting.

Download The Image Doctors #143 (MP4 format)

Show Notes Jume 9, 2011

Get Jason's new guide to Nik's Silver Efex Pro 2.0

Creating Photo Opportunities in tricky situations

Shooting with a single focal length

Photo Prescription: The compact walk-about kit

For the MP3 version of this podcast (audio only) click here.

Learn more about the Image Doctors photography podcast at www.theimagedoctors.com
Get your Image Doctors gear at our online shop.

Posted by drjay32 at 6:00 AM

June 7, 2011

Handsome man helps Nikonian win Fantasea housing

Congratulations to Silver member Paul Papanek (paulpap), winner of our New Members Welcome Photo Contest – Phase VIII.

Paul is a California, USA resident who favors travel and lifestyle photography and his winning image was captured while he was on a trip to Mexico. It was taken with his Nikon D200, with an AF-S DX VR Zoom-NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED lens using an f/4.2 aperture, 38mm focal length and 1/200 second shutter speed. He used Aperture-priority AE and an ISO of 400.

Paul's entry marks his joining as a Silver member last month (following a very brief visit to the community five years ago). The title of image says it all: "I was so handsome."

Paul tells us: "I've been shooting for Cabo Living Magazine for the past four years.
In addition to traveling to Baja to shoot for the magazine, I travel all over Mexico.
I was on a trip to Puebla when I happened upon the incredible man in this photograph.
He is incredibly handsome, but wanted to show us how much more handsome he was in his youth.
He retrieved a photograph, and I made the picture of him holding it up. It was a wonderful, touching moment."

As winner of the contest, Paul's prize is a Fantasea FP7000 Underwater Housing for the Nikon Coolpix P7000, courtesy of Fantasea (currently valued at $599.95 USD).

Our friends at Fantasea describe their new housing as ideal for all outdoor and watersports photography, especially for underwater photographers. It is depth rated to 60m/200 feet and is fully functional with ergonomically designed and labeled controls.

Other features include:
▪ Shock resistant
▪ Double O-ring seal
▪ Special mount for lighting accessories
▪ Removable double fiber optic cable connection
▪ Removable flash diffuser
▪ Easy and secure installation of camera
▪ Compatible with a wide range of underwater photo accessories

Posted by flashdeadline at 4:21 PM

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June 27, 2011

Nikonians News Flash # 177

June 25, 2011

Outdoor and studio glamour shooting in Italy