As I mentioned yesterday, Apple announced my next camera during their special event today. I had a good feeling that they were going to put some muscle into this upgrade. And in all honesty, they exceeded my expectations.
Let's start with the lens. The 4S has five optical elements with a maximum aperture of f/2.4. Glass is so important to picture quality, and I'm happy to see this type of attention paid to a "camera phone." Plus, having the wider aperture helps in low light situations.
They've also beefed up the infrared filter to help improve color. Then Apple added the A5 chip with an image signal processor that's fairly robust for a camera of this nature. The picture taking experience is also improved. You can now activate the camera directly from the Home button, and it is more responsive once you do, including less shutter lag. It might actually feel like a real camera. Use the volume button to trip the shutter if you wish.
The backside illuminated sensor now supports 8 megapixels of resolution. This gives you a bit more latitude for cropping, especially since you're working with a fixed lens that has a moderately wide 35mm focal length.
Other goodies include face detection, HDR, 1080p video (at 30 fps), and a nifty editing app for basic adjustments. And of course this all works with the 3rd party apps that have been delighting us to this point.
I'll write a full review of the iPhone 4S camera as soon as I get my hands on it. But based on the specs I see, I think it will be an excellent photographic tool.
Find great deals at the TDS Photography Store on Amazon.
Do you know the varying degrees of warming filters in your white balance presets? Have you tried WB bracketing? Have you figured out how to adjust the color in real time using your camera's LCD screen? These are a few of the tips that I share in this week's podcast. Listen in!
You can also download the podcast here (25 minutes). Or better yet, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.
Side Lighting is the Oct. 2011 Photo Assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is Oct. 31, 2011.
For many, Apple's announcement of the 5th generation iPhone is the next step in mobile communications. For me, it's my next camera.
My point is, that we'll have legitimate megapixels, robust image processing, and a variety of software to choose from. It's a real camera. Plus, it includes GPS, cellular connectivity, WiFi, Bluetooth, razor sharp screen -- and it even makes phone calls.
I'm sure I'll enjoy hearing about the wonders of iOS 5 and the increased horsepower under the hood of the new iPhone. But what I really want to do is go take pictures and see how they look in Aperture. Tuesday is new camera day.
Recent SizzlPix winners include: Richard Lucic for June 2011, True Grit, and Matthew Rampton for July 2011, Smoke. Congratulations to both.
The Oct. 2011 assignment is "Side Lighting." Start working on your contribution now. Details can be found on the Member Participation page. Deadline is Oct. 31, 2011.
Please follow the instructions carefully for labeling the subject line of the email for your submission. It's easy to lose these in the pile of mail if not labeled correctly. For example, the subject line for this month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: Oct. 2011." Also, if you can, please don't strip out the metadata. And feel free to add any IPTC data you wish (These fields in particular: Caption, Credit, Copyright, Byline), I use that for the caption info.
Photo by Ruth Cooper. (Click on it to see enlarged version.) You can read more about how Ruth captured this shot, plus see all of the other great images on the Aug. 2011 Gallery page.
Good luck with your Oct. assignment, and congratulations to all of the fine contributors for August.
Remarkably smooth. That's my first impression of Flickr's Photo Session. It's a new feature that allows you to share a set of images in real time with up to 10 guests located... well, just about anywhere.
Photo Session being viewed on an iPad.
I fired up a Photo Session on my MacBook Air, then joined from an iPad and an iPhone 3GS. As I navigated from image to image on the MB Air, the photos moved in perfect sync on both mobile devices. In just minutes, you could lead a presentation to a small audience with no hassle.
If the guests sign in with a Yahoo ID, they can chat with you or among themselves via the pop-up window in the lower right corner. It's like having your own mini webinar. You can navigate the images, or allow others to drive. On the iOS devices, all you have to do is swipe the screen.
During my session, I was interrupted with a text message. I jumped out of Safari on the iPhone and took care of business via text. When I returned to Safari, Photo Session needed about 5 seconds to reconnect, then I was back in business. Very nice.
I know some photographers have been wondering how Flickr would respond to Google+. Well, this answer is sweet. Try it.
For more information about Photo Session, take a look at this FAQ.
Come Hear My Talk: "A Photographer's Workflow for the iPad"
I'm speaking at the Mac Computer Expo in Petaluma, CA on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011. My talk, A Photographer's Workflow for the iPad is part of my Nimble Photographer series where I show the powerful things you can do with just a compact camera and an iPad. Admission to the Expo, and my talk, are free.
For the session that begins at 2 pm, I'll connect the iPad to the digital projector and use it to illustrate how to organize, image edit, and output images captured on the go with your digital camera. I'll cover my favorite iApps, and share a few tricks I've learned along the way. After the session, I'll stick around for follow-up questions and to chat with folks about anything Mac.
The entire session line-up for the day is quite impressive. If you're able to join us, get there early enough to see the keynote at 9:00 am and stay for the entire program. Plus, there's an expo hall with plenty of Mac vendors showing off their latest products.
And if you're part of our photography community, please introduce yourself to me. I love meeting members of our virtual camera club.
When I noticed the latest iApp update from Eye-Fi, I tested it right away on my iPhone. Why such a hurry? Well, my super nimble photographer set-up consists of a Canon S90, Eye-Fi Pro SD card, and my iPhone. Everything fits in my pants pockets, yet, I have sophisticated controls on the S90 to make beautiful images and send the ones I want immediately to any of my social networking sites.
If you haven't tried the Eye-Fi iOS app for the iPhone or iPad, it's quite refined these days. The app itself is free. But of course you need an Eye-Fi card.
On the Canon S90, I shoot Raw+Jpeg. I've configured the Eye-Fi card to send any Jpeg I mark as "protected" to the iPhone. I have it ignore the Raw files all together. When I see a shot on the S90 that I want to publish, I simply launch the Eye-Fi app on the iPhone, then hit the protect button on the S90. Within a few seconds the Jpeg is transferred from camera to mobile phone.
Later, when back at the studio, I upload the Raw files in to Aperture as part of my normal photo management. So I'm getting the best of both worlds. I have the ability to capture high quality images in the field and publish them immediately, while still maintaining a Raw workflow for maximum quality when I need it.
For projects where I need finer control, I use a more robust version of this workflow - iPad with ShutterSnitch talking to an Olympus PEN with an Eye-Fi card. But for extreme nimbleosity, you can't beat the compact camera to iPhone workflow.
M.I.C. CF Card Reader for the iPad: Does it Work?
Will the iPad Squish my Photos?
A good camera bag is the photographer's home away from home. These days, it often contains your shooting gear, a laptop or tablet, and a few personal items. If you're in an urban setting, it's good to be discrete and blend in with the crowd. Yet, styling is important, as is weather protection. And none of this is any good unless it's comfortable over the long haul.
For those reasons, my new favorite camera bag for day-to-day use is the new Lowepro DSLR Video Fastpack. In this week's show, I talk about camera bag attributes that I like, and why this new backpack fits the bill so well.
Hands and Feet is the Sept. 2011 Photo Assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is Sept. 30, 2011.
Filed under "why didn't someone think of this before," the folks over at Visual Departures have created microGAFFER, gaffer tape in convenient 1" wide rolls that weigh just 2.2 ounces each. (Standard rolls of gaffer tape weigh over 2 pounds.) You can now have your infinitely handy, fix just about anything, tape in your pocket or camera bag when on location.
When you look at the new DSLR Video Fastpack, you see a next generation backpack that's evolved from the original (and popular) Fastpack. With the current model, Lowepro has updated both the design and function. The official announcement is just days away. But I've been using a test model for nearly 3 months, and I'm going to show you some of the features that have impressed me.
Clever Fastpack Access that combines easy entry for your gear when you need it, yet allows you to keep it protected and organized during transport.
Lightweight, Stylish Design that doesn't attract attention in urban settings. Even the Lowepro logo is stitched with black thread to downplay recognition.
All Weather Cover that is stored in the bottom of the pack, but can be quickly deployed to cover the entire bag in just seconds. Helps protect gear from the elements.
Side Mount Tripod Holder that accommodates tripods, monopods, or DSLR video rigs.
Built-in Laptop/Tablet Sleeve that provides quick access to your computer, yet protects it when not in use.
Well-Designed Storage Compartments to keep both camera gear and personal items neatly stowed.
Audio Organizer Pouch to tame those cords from microphones and the rest of your sound gear.
Hide Away Hip Belt Storage for you when don't need the hip belt and want it out of your way.
What Makes it a Fastpack?
All three models (150, 250 & 350) provide side access to your camera. Here's how to best take advantage of this feature. First, loosely buckle the hip belt so you have a few extra inches of room around your waist. Then slide the top strap off your right shoulder, and swing the bag around to your front from the left side. Open the side zipper compartment and retrieve the camera. The hip belt will keep the pack attached to your body, even if the other shoulder strap slides off. Once camera is in hand, swing the pack around to the back again so it's out of your way while shooting. This entire procedure takes only seconds. The outer security strap will keep the rest of your gear in place during this process.
For portable tripods, such as the Joby Gorillapod Focus, you can use the side mesh pocket with top side strap to secure it during transport. For larger tripods and video rigs, pull out the tripod cup that's stashed behind the mesh pocket. When you're not using it, it hides neatly away behind the mesh pocket.
Nimble photographers should be well-served with the DSLR Video Fastpack 150 AW. It secures up to a 13" laptop or table. I've been using it with both a MacBook Air and an iPad with room to spare. The camera compartment will hold up to a Canon 5D Mark II (no grip) with 24-105 f/4 zoom (as shown above). I've been toting the Canon 60D with 15-85mm zoom (closer to the gear Lowepro recommends for this bag), plus a Canon 320 EX flash (left side) and an Olympus PEN with 17mm f/2.8 lens (right side). If needed, I can store additional lenses or another compact camera in the top personal compartment.
For event coverage and bigger jobs, the DSLR Video Fastpack 250 AW holds more gear. For computer, it accommodates up to a 17" laptop. In the camera compartment I reconfigured the dividers so I could store a Canon 5D with a 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom attached to the body. It looks like there's enough head room for a grip also, but I wasn't able to test that. I also had room for the 16-35mm f/2.8 and 24-105mm f/4 zooms.
As I mentioned earlier, I did rearrange the dividers for this set up. Lowepro provides you with a stock configuration when they ship the bag, but you're not limited to that. For my set up, I removed the right divider, took the left divider, turned it around and placed it on the right side to hold the 16-35 and 24-105. This is a perfect set up for event photography, allowing me quick access to the 5D Mark II with the 70-200mm f/2.8 attached. For different gigs, I might move the dividers around again.
If you have tons of gear, you can fill up the DSLR Video Fastpack 350 AW. I didn't have one for testing, so we'll have to wait for the official announcement to see the specs for it.
We should see an official announcement from Lowepro as early as Oct. 3 with pricing information and availabilty. From what I understand, the pricing will be very competitive. If you're attending PhotoPlus Expo on Oct. 27-29 in New York City, you can see the bags in person at the Lowepro booth.
In addition to his other photography pursuits, Derrick Story serves as the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro.