Jun 23, 2016 | Field Reports
The biggie is 4k video now extended to 29.9min but here’s all of the updates:
• The camera can now record movies up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds long. Movies are recorded across up to 8 files, each up to 4 GB size, which can be joined together using the ViewNX-Movie Editor option in ViewNX-i version 1.2.0 or later. *
• An Electronic VR option has been added to the MOVIE SHOOTING MENU. Note that electronic vibration reduction is not available at frame sizes of 3840×2160 or 1920×1080 crop, and that the angle of view is slightly reduced when electronic vibration reduction is in effect. *
• A Flicker reduction option has been added to the PHOTO SHOOTING MENU. *
• Dynamic-area AF (9 points) has been added to the AF-area mode options available during viewfinder photography. *
• The chief changes to viewfinder photography autofocus are:
– Improved camera response when the button assigned Auto-area AF using Custom Setting f1 (Custom control assignment) > AF-area mode or AF-area mode + AF-ON is pressed to temporarily select auto-area AF.
– Improved tracking when Wide is selected for Custom Setting a5 (3D-tracking watch area) and 3D-tracking is selected for AF-area mode.
• The following changes have been made to the shooting display in the web browser when Silent photography is selected in HTTP server mode:
– An “SL” (“silent”) icon has been added to the release mode button.
– The “number of shots remaining” display for continuous release modes now shows the time remaining.
– Exposure compensation can now be adjusted by up to ±3.
• The file name (extension “.NDF”) is now displayed in HTTP server mode when Image Dust Off data are displayed in a web browser either full frame or in the image viewer.
• The web browser displays for computers, iPads, and Android OS now identify white balance presets 1 through 6 by number when preset manual white balance is selected in HTTP server mode.
• If movie recording is started while the camera is focusing in movie live view, the camera will now stop focusing before beginning recording.
• Fixed the following issues:
– The camera would sometimes record the date of recording incorrectly during leap years and the like.
– The Save/load settings option in the SETUP MENU would only load up to 10 of the up to 20 items that could be stored in “My Menu”.
– The camera would display the encryption key for Direct (access point) connections when searching for wireless networks using Search for wireless network with Direct (access point) selected in the SETUP MENU > Network connection wizard.
– The device would sometimes be unable to connect to the D5 when Connect and exit wizard was chosen with Direct (access point) selected in the SETUP MENU > Network connection wizard.
– The OS X edition of the Wireless Transmitter Utility would not function as expected when used to edit or add profiles for a camera connected via USB if Password protection was enabled for wireless or Ethernet LANs in the Network > Network settings menu.
– The camera would sometimes not correctly display pictures created using the Trim option in the RETOUCH MENU.
– If playback zoom was activated while the memory card access lamp was lit, the picture would sometimes not display correctly or the camera would zoom in on a point other than the active focus point if:
• RAW Slot 1 – JPEG Slot 2 was selected for Role played by card in Slot 2 in the PHOTO SHOOTING MENU,
• On was selected for Image review in the PLAYBACK MENU,
• Memory cards were inserted in Slots both 1 and 2, and
• The NEF (RAW) and JPEG images were different sizes
Jun 20, 2016 | Field Reports
Flare, you see it artificially inserted in many of our films these days. We can easily though insert flare into our photos anytime we want, and it’s the real kind. Working with flare takes a couple of important tools, a lens that flares nicely (with a clean element which I so often forget to do), a camera that can deal with the exposure range and most importantly, a clear view of the sun. In continuing my exploration of the D5, I put it to the task of flare and was so pleased how easily it works with it. That puts the pressure on the photographer to make it work with a photograph and not just an added fade.
In my handbook of working with flare, the first and most important reason of using it is to pull the eye through the image with pizzazz. The mind’s eye goes to light and bright first and with the brightness of the sun, the mind’s eye goes right to it. Using that knowledge permits you to place the sun in the frame pulling the eye to it first. By closing the lens down to its smallest aperture, you can quickly get the sun to create a sunburst, or flare and you have your start. I personally love to then working those flaring objects to create “rays” that move the eye through the rest of the frame, hopefully to a subject the viewer can then relate to before they eye wonders around through the rest of the frame. Doing this requires opening up the shadows in post (ACR in my case). This is where the D5 does such a marvelous job, permitting easy opening of the shadows. Of course, you have to do the correct job with the original exposure when you go click to make this all work. And that is for another post :-)
Jun 14, 2016 | Field Reports
My love affair with the IoSafe 1515+ and Synology is stronger than ever! I have come to rely on DS File in a way that a year and a half ago I would never have guessed. The beauty is I can access all my photos from ANYWHERE in the world if a client needs them. This sounds grandiose but twice now, being able to grab the Nef for a client while in their presence made all the difference in making the sale. The ability to retrieve and send files from the IoSafe 1515+ from my iPhone using products like HIGHTAIL without ever logging into a computer has become a common occurrence now part of my workflow. WRP files are all organized and easy to find, every images has it’s own unique alpha-numeric code, a system we initiated forty years ago here making finding any ONE image in the 2.6 million simple. I thought when I went to the IoSafe it was just to safeguard our digital assets. I had no clue the IoSafe 1515 would rock our business by making every file accessible anywhere in the world! So six months after installation, it just gets better and better!
Here’s how I got it all up and working for our business
IoSafe 1515+ – Journey Begins
1515+ – What’s Inside That’s Special
IoSafe 1515+ – Connecting
IoSafe 1515+ 01 June Update
30 June IoSafe Update
IoSafe 1515+ is Done!
Snyology, DS File & IoSafe
IoSafe Connects 7600 Miles Away!
Jun 13, 2016 | Field Reports
I had a marvelous weekend home in the Eastern Sierra so took the luxury to shoot the brains out of the D500. The hefty DX format camera is a handful of fun and is packed with features I see photographers just loving. In case you didn’t catch the last post, B&H was able to get to me the D500 / 16-80VR kit for my first body to test. I went with the kit because it seemed like the perfect match up. As it turned out, it is! We had some great weather which brought some fun photo opps. The clouds at sunrise produced lots of photographs, the above is just a sample.
I spent most of my time with the D500 shooting birds. This is because of what I’ve heard from you folks, the desire to find the best wildlife kit (body & lens). I don’t have a 200-500 in the office at the moment but do have the 300PF with TC-14eIII. The combination of D500 / 300PF / TC-14eIII is freakin stunning! Small, light, easy to move and most importantly, bloody sharp! The 300PF is a wickedly sharp lens and the D500 produces a beautiful file. The Cassin’s Finch above shoot out our office window is just one example of this.
Taking the D500 / 300PF for a field shoot is where some of its finest features shine. These are two of the most important when it comes to wildlife photography. Photographing Cliff Swallows flying back to their nests has always been a challenge for me. In the past, while I got some shots they were never, ever anything I would post. The D500 had no problem in Auto Area AF mode locking on and holding focus as these flying darts screamed by. Oh, I missed plenty of shots but that was my fault, not the cameras. Along with the gorgeous AF, the D500 frames per second and huge buffer is just a thing of joy! I love the sound of the shutter when it’s blasting away. The buffer never stopped during all my shooting and that was such great fun (loaded with Lexar 128GB 2933x XQD). Those who know me know how I love to hear a shutter ripping away!
The D500 works with the SB-5000 wireless just like the D5 and that’s brilliant and for the wildlife photographer, a dream come true. But will the D500 replace the D5 in my camera bag? Nope, I’m simply not a DX format shooter. I understand how folks love the D500’s DX format because of its extra “reach” and that makes perfect sense to me. That’s just not a need I have in my photography. I do love some of the D500 features not in the D5, and that includes its built in wireless and bluetooth and all the features that opens up. If you’ve been waiting, and many of you have told me you are, wait no more. You will love the D500!
Jun 10, 2016 | Field Reports
May the Heavens bless your photography this weekend.
Jun 9, 2016 | Field Reports
photo courtesy Nikon
The D500 has arrived finally and wow, Nikon really did a bloody fine job with this camera! The size, feel, FPS (what a great sounding shutter) and right out of the box appeal is simply over the top! The first body B&H shipped me is the D500 Kit (comes with 16-80DX) in part because I figured this lens Nikon determined was perfectly matched to the performance of the D500. The D500 is so closely matched to the D5, it was very easy to pick it up and go. The D500 incorporates the round eyepiece on the viewfinder which I love. It is larger than the D750 which is nice and uses the same batteries as the D750 which is great. Has the fold out LCD which I love and you can change the AF Sensors in Group AF to dots (which I miss on the D5). The real biggie for me is the 4k video which I’ve just started to dive into. I have a basic set of D500 settings which you can read here. But there’s more testing to do. mtc
