Nikon News (Page 9)
It's always a big deal when Apple buys your company. Pixelmator just shared this announcement:
A new home for Pixelmator
Today we have some important news to share: the Pixelmator Team plans to join Apple.
We’ve been inspired by Apple since day one, crafting our products with the same razor-sharp focus on design, ease of use, and performance. And looking back, it’s crazy what a small group of dedicated people have been able to achieve over the years from all the way in Vilnius, Lithuania. Now, we’ll have the ability to reach an even wider audience and make an even bigger impact on the lives of creative people around the world.
What to expect
Pixelmator has signed an agreement to be acquired by Apple, subject to regulatory approval. There will be no material changes to the Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator for iOS, and Photomator apps at this time. Stay tuned for exciting updates to come.
Thank you
We want to give a big thanks to our amazing users for your support over the past 17 years. Your feedback has played a huge role in shaping our apps into what they are today. As we step into this exciting new chapter, we can’t wait to share what’s next.
– Pixelmator Team
Who is Pixelmator?
"Pixelmator Pro is an image editor designed to make the most powerful professional image editing tools accessible to everyone. And with an extensive collection of tools for editing and retouching photos, creating graphic designs, painting, drawing vector graphics, and adding stunning effects, it’s the only image editor you’ll need." [Pixelmator]
I love it when only a 0.6-second shutter speed is needed to properly expose the Northern Lights. That setting indicates a super-bright show.
Not immediately apparent in a still photo is that the Northern Lights are often a fast action subject, and the dancing and pulsing light show is awesome. In a long exposure, that movement results in a blurry result. Wide aperture lenses (and, of course, a bright show) are optimal for capturing the aurora structure.
This night's display was extremely bright, permitting a relatively short 0.6-second exposure at f/1.4 and ISO 3200, and it was moving fast. Shooting straight up into the aurora is one of my favorite compositions, but the fast movement made guessing the ideal future composition challenging. It was exciting to anticipate and view the results.
We are at or near a solar maximum. Do you have the right Northern Lights lenses in your kit?
This night was the third over-4-hour road trip all-nighter in 4 days. I don't remember the tiredness, but as usual, the images were worth the effort.
A larger version of this image is available here.
ISO 3200
8188 x 5352px
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This is one of my favorite images from a recent photo trip to Denali National Park. The picture does not convey the significant time and effort involved in its capture, but images such as this one make it all worthwhile.
Dall sheep are awesome animals, and I counted on the also-awesome Canon EOS R5 II and RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS Lens to bring home the images.
A larger version of this image is available here.
ISO 250
7247 x 4833px
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan–ATLAS was in the sky, so, of course, it had to be photographed.
While single-exposure images of this comet looked nice, my upgraded tracking mount, a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi, was still in the box and longing for use.
This image is the result of stacking sixteen 30-second exposures using Deep Sky Stacker (DSS) software (it's free).
After aligning the mount and establishing the Canon EOS R5 Mark II settings, the shutter release button on a simple Vello Wired Remote Release was locked down (push down and slide forward), and the R5 II's continuous shooting mode captured about 45 minutes of images while I did something else. The middle 8 minutes of frames had the darkest sky and were selected for processing.
The Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens was chosen because it had the desired focal length, it creates extremely sharp stars, and it has a rotating collar to add the rotation direction natively missing on the mount. It proved an outstanding choice.
A larger version of this image is available here.
ISO 200
4727 x 7087px
Just posted: Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II Lens Review.
Outstanding lens.
Please share!
Support this site by ordering the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II Lens (or anything else) from B&H | Sony | Adorama | Amazon (all available countries) | WEX | Camera Canada
Rent the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II Lens from Lensrentals.
Topaz Labs just introduced Gigapixel 8 and Photo AI 3.3.
The viewer's eye is drawn to contrast, which is lacking in a strongly blurred portion of the image. Thus, blurring the non-subject area aids in drawing the viewer's eye to the sharp-focused subject.
For this image, the telephoto compression and long distance beyond the subject create the background blur, and getting down into some close rocks takes the foreground out of focus, eliminating those distractions.
While I love the use of blur in photography, I rarely like foreground blur covering the subject's face.
A larger version of this image is available here.
ISO 250
8192 x 5464px
Canon previously shared that we should expect more hybrid RF L-series lenses, and now they put a date on that announcement.
From Canon USA:
MELVILLE, NY, October 15, 2024 - Canon, a leader in digital imaging technology, today announced its intention to add new lenses to its hybrid RF L-series range on October 30, 2024, when all details will be revealed.
Canon’s hybrid lenses are a range of RF L-series primes and zooms designed for high performance stills and video capture. They are able to perform multiple roles and harness technology from Canon’s broadcast, cinema and existing RF lenses to make for a truly versatile range concept. They empower creatives with the flexibility to reach new levels of artistry and practicality in stills and video production.
Official announcement date for the lenses is: October 30, 2024.
Stop back here on October 30, 2024, to get the full reveal.
I had a distraction this week. The space weather forecast was redlined. It couldn't get much better. A long period of Kp 8 was predicted from sunset into the next day (as I shared with you in a news post).
A Kp 8 could be visible from my yard in central Pennsylvania. But then, I remembered Bryan's Law of Astronomical Events: If there is an astronomical event happening, all locations within a reasonable drive will be totally cloud-covered.
So, shocking was the National Weather Service forecast for 0% cloud cover and 0% wind speed, an unbelievable combination for an unusual night sky event I'm chasing, and that forecast was for the duration of the Kp 8 prediction. Game on. An adventure began.
Reasonable Northern Lights displays are rare in central PA, and I didn't have a go-to location list prepared for this opportunity. I needed good visibility of the sky and wanted dark skies, especially to the north, with a foreground subject being a bonus.
Shooting from home was an option. A nearby field provided the desired visibility, and our sky is moderately dark, especially when the air clarity is high. I could drive a short distance from the house and be shooting in minutes.
Still, the forecast was outstanding enough to make researching an even better location worthwhile. That my wife hadn't seen the Northern Lights in about two decades and had recently asked to see them again raised the bar on location selection.
Scouting the Pennsylvania state forest maps for vistas looking north and online scouting via images captured from those locations provided a few good options within a couple-of-hour drive. However, a high elevation (for PA) lake I scouted for Milky Way photography earlier in the summer was in a dark sky location with no close towns to the north. Most subjects are even better when their reflection is included, and the rare 0 mph wind forecast made the lake option seem especially great. A bonus was that the lake was a 1.5-hour drive north, deeper into the Northern Lights visibility range.
The lake was a perfect location. It was calm, and we (and a pack of loud coyotes) had it to ourselves for the entire night.
Reaching Kp 8.5+, the 10/10/2024 Northern Lights show was a 10. I've had the privilege of viewing and photographing the Northern Lights numerous times, but this show was different from what I normally see. The lights did not have a strong structure and they were not hte brightest I've seen, but the color was wild, with the reds and even some blues being especially amazing.
Consider the Northern Lights a fast-moving subject, as they are often pulsing and dancing. A wide aperture lens is needed to avoid strong motion blur, the smearing of the aurora details.
My favorite two aurora lenses, the Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM and FE 24mm F1.4 GM Lens, each mounted to an Alpha 1 body for fast switching, were in the MindShift Gear BackLight 26L. Both lenses performed superbly as always.
A larger version of this image is available here.
ISO 3200
8640 x 5760px
This bull was significantly obstructed and facing away as it thrashed an alder, providing poor photo opportunities. So, planning for its next move became the priority.
The bull had moved away from a cow to threaten an opponent, so, logically, it would go back to the cow. If that option was chosen, the bull would most likely come through a specific opening, and positioning for a supporting background behind that opening became the plan. That optimal position included getting low to ensure most of the close, in-focus foreground was out of the frame, that the mountains were prominently included, and that the catchlight in the bull's eye was enlarged (reflecting more sky).
As predicted, the bull came into the opening, and better than expected, it stopped to provide a variety of poses.
The Canon EOS R5 Mark II and RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Lens are an outstanding combination for on-the-move wildlife photography.
A larger version of this image is available here.
ISO 2000
7991 x 5330px
The Northern Lights are a spectacular sight, and I do not remember seeing a stronger forecast than the one for tonight (currently reaching Kp 8 for an extended duration).
"The Northern Lights may become visible as far south as Alabama to northern California" [NOAA]
Northern Lights forecasting is not accurate, and the lights could be a no-show tonight, but the incoming storm is strong enough to prompt NOAA to hold a media briefing. I didn't watch the 1-hour recording, but view it here if you are interested.
Put a plan in place.
Select a dark sky location with good sky visibility, especially to the north, and a clear weather forecast.
The Aurora forecast link (higher Kp is better) tells you when to be at that location. Note that the lights may not be visible for the entire forecasted duration (perhaps for only a few minutes), and the activity will likely increase and decrease throughout the visibility duration, so plan to hang out in your location (dress adequately and take food and drink).
Usually, your widest angle and widest aperture lenses are the best choice for Northern Lights photography. 14mm f/1.8 and 24mm f/1.4 lenses are my favorite options.
Use a tripod, and for exposure, chase the show's intensity with shutter speed and ISO (watch the histogram and avoid burying a color onto the right wall of the chart). If the lights are bright and pulsing fast, attempt to get the shutter speed down to as short as 0.5 seconds to capture the structure and avoid a smear of color.
I have a growing stack of Northern Lights photos to share with you, but I still need more time to process them.
While the camera will see the colors better than your eyes, a strong aurora is easily visible and worth taking your non-photographer friends to see.
This Denali National Park landscape image combines three seasons. Denali summers are short, and despite the late summer date, fall foliage and wintery snow were available.
The morning featured thick fog and uncooperative animals. However, the landscape was especially appealing. While I was stopped to photograph the lightly snow-dusted black spruce trees in the fog, the fog began to dissipate, revealing snow-capped mountains in the background and allowing sunlight to illuminate the fall foliage in the foreground.
Wildlife photography was the primary photo objective, but this image is one of my favorites from the trip. The compact Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM Lens, featuring professional-grade build and optical quality, is made for moments like this. When photographing wildlife, I usually have this lens in the pack, often on a second body for fast access.
A larger version of this image is available here.
ISO 100
8192 x 5464px
Image quality test results are now available on the Tamron 90mm F/2.8 Di III Macro VXD Lens page.
Good results. Here are some comparisons.
Compared to the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Macro F017 Lens
Compared to the Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS Lens
Compared to the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN Macro Art Lens
Compared to the Canon RF 100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM Lens
Please share!
Support this site by ordering the Tamron 90mm F/2.8 Di III Macro VXD Lens (or anything else) from B&H | Adorama | WEX | Camera Canada
For a wildlife photo adventure with many miles of hiking expected and a wide range of focal lengths on the requirements list, the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM Lens often gets the call. This lens performs extraordinarily well, consistently delivering outstanding sharp image quality.
This moose moment resulted in a series of images to select from. Unfortunately, those enormous antlers impeded view of the bull's eye in many, reducing their impact. The image selected to share here combines good eye visibility, the legs positioned with separation and optimal forward body height, and the bull's left antler framed in the clearing behind it.
Bonus points are awarded for the alert ears forward, but I'm not sure how the tongue impacts the rating. Perhaps that is too much cuteness for such a massive beast.
A larger version of this image is available here.
ISO 800
7389 x 4929px
Image quality test results are now available on the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II Lens page.
These results look great.
Compared to the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM Lens
Compared to the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art Lens
Compared to the Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens
Please share!
Support this site by ordering the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II Lens at B&H, Sony, Adorama, Amazon, or WEX (orders open at 12:00 PM EDT on Thu, 8/29/2024).
Rent the Sony FE 85mm F1.4 GM II Lens from Lensrentals.
Image quality test results are now available on the Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM Lens page.
DPP forces geometric distortion correction for this lens. Here are some comparisons:
Compared to the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens
Compared to the Canon EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens
Compared to the Canon RF 28-70mm F2 L USM Lens
Compared to the Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary Lens
Compared to the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Di III VXD G2 Lens
Please share!
Support this site by ordering the Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM Lens from B&H | Adorama | Canon USA | Amazon (all available countries) | WEX
Rent the Canon RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM Lens from Lensrentals.
From ProGrade Digital:
PROGRADE DIGITAL™ ANNOUNCES A NEW PRODUCT CATEGORY OF USB 4.0 PRO SOLID STATE DRIVES (SSD)
High Sustained Read/Write Speed Enhances Digital Workflow When Transferring Multi-Terabyte Data Files.
San Jose, CA September 27, 2024, 8:00 am PT —ProGrade Digital™, founded with a mission to provide the highest quality professional grade digital memory cards and workflow solutions, announces its new solid state drive (SSD) product line available in a 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities. The PG10 Pro SSD is based on the latest USB 4.0 technology which is designed to achieve speeds of up to 40Gbits/sec and provides a real-world read and write speed of up to 2500MB/s, and a sustained write speed of 1500MB/s (2TB) and 2000MB/s (4TB and 8TB) with no cache depletion. The PG10 is also equipped with ProGrade’s patented magnetic base and comes with an adhesive metal plate that allows users to mount the reader to any work surface. The new SSD is also supplied with a high-quality certified USB 4.0 cable – assuring the maximum performance possible.
“ProGrade Digital is embarking into a new category of professional SSDs (Solid State Drives) with a product offering that aligns with all of the core values of our brand,” said Wes Brewer, founder, and CEO of ProGrade Digital. “We have recognized for years that there is an opportunity to expand further into the professional workflow with a high capacity, high performance SSD but were waiting for just the right time to enter with a truly new and defining product that offers unique features and value. Our introduction of capacity points from 2TB to 8TB, and a USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4 interface, allows us to provide industry-leading sustained performance and reliability for professionals that have traditionally had to settle for much slower and less reliable solutions. Our uniquely designed housing and internal heat-sink provide unmatched sustained write and read speeds ideal for long, multi-TB data file transfers”.
ProGrade Digital USB 4.0 Solid State Drive Key Features:
- Read speed of up to 2500MB/s
- Write speed of up to 2500MB/s
- Sustained write speed of 1500MB/s (2TB) and 2000MB/s (4TB & 8TB)
- USB 4.0 interface provides transfer rates of up to 40Gbps (5GBytes/sec)
- Compatible with Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.2, and 3.1 Type-C ports
- Patent-pending power sensing circuit and LED to inform users if the host computer is not supporting the recommended 15W of power
- Patented magnetic base for solid drive stacking or workspace mounting with included adhesive metal plate
- Uniquely designed dual-heat-sink internal structure for best-in-class cooling performance with no thermal throttling
- Writable label area that utilizes industry-standard Avery labels to easily identify the contents of the drive as it moves through the digital workflow
- High-quality hard-shell carrying case – no extra cost
- Refresh Pro™ enabled*
- USB 4.0 certified high-speed cable included
- Capacities: 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB
- 3-year warranty
- X-ray proof and shock-proof
- MSRP $399.99, $799.99, and $1,399.99 respectively
Like all ProGrade products, each SSD contains a unique serial number to ensure best-in-class after-sales support and tight quality control of the components used inside. Using this serial number, a customer can register their product at http://progradedigital.com/register to receive product updates.
Order the ProGrade Digital PG10 USB 4.0 SSDs at B&H.
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