Nikon D850 is Coming

Aug 23, 2017 | Random Thoughts

Are you thinking about getting a D850? Yeap, it’s on my list and with the forecasted HUGE demand for it, the sooner you order it, the sooner you’ll receive it. I’m itching to push the button! Be watching the website, I’ll have ordering info for it here first so you can be first!

Update 08.24 … it’s here, ORDER NOW!

Here are some specs
The Ultimate Combination of Resolution and Speed

The Nikon D850 is the new benchmark in DSLR image quality, with an unprecedented combination of resolution, dynamic range, ISO and processing power. The 45.7-megapixel CMOS sensor approaches medium format-level resolution and forgoes an optical low pass filter (OLPF) to harness the maximum sharpness of NIKKOR lenses, with fantastic fidelity, tonality and clarity. This is also Nikon’s first DSLR to incorporate a BSI CMOS sensor, which captures light more efficiently, resulting in a wider dynamic range and low-noise image capture. Beyond the immense resolution, the Nikon D850 offers photographers superior performance:

High-Speed Capture: The D850 is capable of shooting up to 7 fps at full resolution, with full AF/AE or 9 fps at full resolution with the addition of an optional battery grip (MB-D18) and EN-EL18a/b battery (Buffer approximately 51 frames of 14-bit lossless RAW capture / 170 frames of 12-bit lossless).
Wide ISO Range: The D850 offers a wide ISO range from 64-25,600 (Expandable down to ISO 32, up to 102,400).
Flagship Focus System: The D850 uses the Nikon D5’s 153-point, Multi-Cam 20K AF system, which features 99 cross type sensors, 15 of which are sensitive to f/8.
EXPEED 5: Behind every great sensor is a great image-processing engine. EXPEED 5 is Nikon’s most powerful engine yet, allowing for fast data readout and swift image processing, improved low light performance, high speed shooting, full-frame 4K UHD video capture and greater power efficiency for longer battery life.

Innovation Built for the Needs of Professional Creators

In addition to its phenomenal performance, the Nikon D850 hosts a range of innovative and thoughtful new features that enhance workflow, and will leave every photographer or content creator wondering how they ever lived without them:

Tilting LCD Touchscreen: The 3.2-in., high resolution (2359k-dot) LCD monitor offers Nikon’s most extensive touch functionality ever.
Silent Shooter: The D850 offers the ability to operate with an electronic shutter in Live View. When in this mode, users can shoot in complete silence, which is ideal for weddings, ceremonies and events where the shutter sound is discouraged. The electronic shutter operates at up to 6 fps (AF/AE locked) at full resolution, while an additional mode enables 8.6-megapixel capture in DX image area mode at up to 30 fps.
Radio Flash Control: Like the D5 and D500, the D850 also supports Radio-controlled Advanced Wireless Lighting with the optional SB-5000 Speedlight and WR-A10 and WR-R10 accessories.
RAW Processing Power: Users can choose from 3 sizes of RAW files to enhance workflow, including Large (45.4-MP), Medium (25.6-MP) and Small (11.4-MP). Additionally, the D850 lets users batch process RAW files in camera, saving time in post-production.
Phenomenal Battery Performance: Shoot all day and well into the night with up to 1,840 shots at full resolution or approximately 70 minutes of video on a single charge. Users who opt for the additional control and handling benefits of the optional battery grip can expect up to 5140 shots (CIPA standard).
Focus Stacking: Ideal for macro, product and landscape photographers, the Focus Shift Photography feature of the D850 is high resolution meets high magnification. This feature lets the user automatically shoot up to 300 shots at adjustable focus step intervals to infinity which can be easily assembled into a focus-stacked image using third party software.
Negative/Positive Scanning: With the optional ES-2 Film Digitizing Adapter and compatible Micro-NIKKOR lens, the camera enables super high-resolution digitizing of 35mm slides or negatives and converts them in-camera to positives
Durable Construction: Ready for any field assignment or production environment, the rugged and weather-sealed magnesium alloy body lets users work with confidence in a wide range of tough environments.
Square shooter: Photographers can choose from five formats, including FX-format, 1.2x, DX, 5:4, or 1:1 square with viewfinder shading for easy composition.
Built-in Wi-Fi1 & Bluetooth2 Connectivity: Users can seamlessly send images to their compatible smart devices through an always-on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connection or through Wi-Fi. Nikon SnapBridge3 also gives the ability for remote capture and preview.

Nikon’s Widest and Brightest Optical viewfinder: The 0.75x viewfinder magnification is the highest ever for a Nikon DSLR, and offers a wide and bright view of the frame to easily track and compose subjects.

Dual Card Slots: The D850 features dual memory card slots — XQD for high-speed capture and transfer, as well as readily available SD media.
Illuminated Buttons: Buttons that light up at the turn of a dial increase visibility and allow easy shooting at night or in low-light scenarios.

Multimedia Production Ready

Multimedia content creators and filmmakers alike will appreciate a wide range of considerate, industry-leading new features that can help to elevate any production:

Full-frame 4K UHD at 24/30 fps: The D850’s FX BSI CMOS sensor allows 4K UHD output at a full-frame width at 16:9, to increase lensing options and provide a true field of view.
Slow Motion: Creators can also capture Full HD 1080p at up to 120 fps (4x or 5x) for dramatic slow-motion video capture.
Focus Peaking: When shooting Full HD or in Live View for stills, focus peaking can be enabled which highlights in-focus subjects in the frame to ensure sharpness.
8K / 4K Time-lapse: Users can create 4K UHD time-lapse videos easily in-camera, or can use the built in intervalometer to capture images for an ultra-high resolution 8K time lapse that can be assembled in post for those who want the ultimate in video quality.
Zebra stripes: The D850’s highlight display mode uses zebra patterns to quickly spot overblown highlights. What’s more, the zebra patterns come in two varieties, selectable according to the patterns and textures of the subjects.
HDMI output: Using HDMI, users can record uncompressed, broadcast quality 4:2:2 8-bit 4K UHD footage, directly to an external digital recorder while simultaneously recording to a card.
Audio Control: The D850 features an onboard stereo microphone, as well as inputs for headphones and microphone. The camera also features a new audio attenuator to regulate sound levels.

THE FX-Format advantage

The amazing performance and image quality of the Nikon D850 is best coupled with the wide variety of NIKKOR lenses, heralded for their unmatched image quality, color reproduction and optical characteristics. For maximum fidelity, Nikon’s Gold Ring Series of lenses provide the highest caliber of optical performance needed for such immense resolution applications.

Price and Availability

The Nikon D850 will have a suggested retail price (SRP) of $3,299.95*, and will be available in September 2017. The MB-D18 Multi Power Battery Pack will have an SRP of $399.95*, while the ES-2 film digitalizing adapter will have an SRP of $149.95*. For more information on the latest Nikon products, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

Exclusive Livestream Event

Want to learn more about the new Nikon D850? Nikon will conduct a livestream discussion for the new camera, which will take place on August 29 at 6:00 p.m. EDT. Please visit nikonusa.com/live to tune in.

Learning Opportunities Await!

Aug 16, 2017 | Random Thoughts

Photography in large part is about growing personally and photographically just as much as capturing that amazing moment. Our Workshops and Adventures are geared to meet those common needs and a lot more. We have a couple of openings, one might just be what your photography and you need to grow! Many find the time in the vehicle and at meals just as helpful as behind the camera. I’m here to help you with YOUR photography!

Want to sign up or have questions, give Sharon a call 661.204.1506. Look forward to shooting with you!

Photo Biz in Your Future?

Aug 16, 2017 | Random Thoughts

Last time we offered this class was two years ago, don’t let it slip by you! Well, the next one is 29 Sept to 01 Oct at our office in Mammoth Lakes, CA. The price is $595 and has a seat left (class holds 8). This is a hard core class starting off with your showing a 30 image portfolio, then going shooting for profit. After that, the work really begins because you HAVE to come to class with a 1500 word article already written! Understand the focus is the editorial market place and how to succeed there to grow your business. So, you wanna make money from your camera, here ya go! To grab that last seat, give Sharon a call 760.924.8632 (plz leave a message and we’ll get back to you!).

Who’s Memory Is It?

Aug 10, 2017 | Random Thoughts

B&B breakie
captured by Df / 24f1.4

It was a glorious morning waking up at the Rose Cottage B&B in England to the call of gulls and smell of the sea air. Our hosts, Mic & Sue are just lovely and the breakie they put before us, spectacular! With hot tea in hand, we easily fell into the groove of the countryside as we headed out. We are incredibly fortunate to have Brent & Katt with us so with time to explore, off we headed (with Jake joining us shortly). I have my favorite “holiday” shooting outfit with me, the Df / 24f1.4. We went over to the Fleet Museum as it was in the direction of our ultimate for our day, a life long desire to experience.

Stonehenge
captured by Df / 24f1.4

We made it to Stonehenge after a lovely meal in Yoevel where with our “accents” we stuck out. After showing photos of our snow covered home this past winter, the inn keeper shared his ideas of things to enjoy in the area. Over a million folks a year come to Stonehenge, we are certainly not the first. And I am definitely not the first photographer to make a click or two at Stonehenge. Should knowing that affect the way I shoot, the story I want to tell? Should that add pressure or totally remove any photographic “success” pressure? I bring this up in part because of a discussion that’s been going on over on the KelbyOne Community board rising from my Light Class. Because to me, the story in the photo in large part has to do with the memory.

Stonehenge
captured by Df / 8-15Fish

When you tell a story, one of the important aspects of telling that story is considering your audience. Now if your audience were part of the story to begin with, they know all the facts behind the story, then their insider information feels in all the blanks perhaps not in the photograph. Your photograph doesn’t have to have the whole story illustrated in it because folks know. These photographs I think of as refrigerator memories. Those are the photographs you attach to the refrigerator and those in the know can walk by them and without even a real glance, know all that’s going in an smile. The photo doesn’t even have to be in focus because those few who you share that photo with know all that’s happening so the photograph regardless of what usually we worry about as technical and aesthetical qualities. But what if you want to share your memory, which is what photos are, with those not in the know?

Stonehenge
captured by Df / 24f1.4

That’s when hell can break loose! It’s then those memories have to spell it all out, the photograph has to tell the story so those not there at the moment of the making of that memory know the back story, know the inside story, are taken along for the ride so they know the story after looking at the photograph. So I think of photography as two types of memories, refrigerator and those for the world. So when shooting at Stonehenge the photographs I was taking was for the refrigerator, not the world. So knowing that comparing what I was taking to any other photograph ever taken there was irrelevant because they were just for me. Now all of this might not make any sense to you and that’s OK. It might make total sense to you and that is actually the point. In making that photograph we tend to get all wrapped up in f/stops and Likes rather the real reason we took the photograph in the first place, to record the memory. So the question you might wanna ask yourself in the process is simple, who’s memory is it?

Join Us in London!

Aug 9, 2017 | Random Thoughts

As you’ve seen, we’re heading back to Jolly “Ol England next month and we can’t wait! Our dear friend Micheal has put together some more shooting events for me to be a part of. Here are the PDFs of information in regards to them.

Shuttleworth PDF
Photowalk PDF

Then Nikon UK is hosting me un the 17th for
Coffee, Cakes and Cameras – Wildlife Photography: Moose Peterson

Overview
Come along to our Coffee Morning where award winning wildlife photographer and USA Nikon Ambassador Moose Peterson will be talking about his career and images. This event is an informal gathering for all levels of photographers who are interested in Wildlife Photography with the added benefit of being able to try out the latest Nikon cameras, lenses and speedlights if you want. There will be the opportunity afterwards to ask questions and talk about photography tips and techniques. Everyone is welcome, from beginners to professionals, but book early as spaces are limited.

I sure hope you’re able to join us on one of these! Cya there mate :-)