Digital photography

Full-frame Ultra-Wide Zoom Lens Face-off: Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 versus the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G Lens

Submitted by David Cardinal on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 10:41

I really enjoyed shooting with the Nikon 14-24mm AF-S f/2.8G ED lens which was released as part of Nikon’s foray into full-frame cameras along with the D3. It takes incredible images and was a pleasure to use. But for most of us it has several drawbacks which make it a difficult acquisition. First is price. At $1800 for the US version it is a large investment for a lens that typically gets used a lot less than a mid-range zoom. Second, it is large and heavy. If you lug your gear with you the 2.2 lb. weight and 4”x5” size create quite an impact on your photo pack. Finally the “domed” front makes it difficult and expensive to use filters with it (an expensive add-on adapter is needed).

Pl_MidwayBasinYNP_0067

Grand Prismatic, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Nikon D700, Sigma 12-24mm Lens at 12mm, f/22@1/250s, ISO 800
Going ultra-wide is the only way to get the full scene, as the moving steam rules out a pano

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The Ultimate Raw File Tweaker: Colorchecker Passport

As raw files become the common currency of high-end photographry a widening array of tools is arriving to help photographers get the most from them. I've been using SpyderCube from Datacolor/Colorvision for awhile to help set white and black points along with white balance for color critical situations. But recently I've added a new tool to my tweakers arsenal--Colorchecker Passport from X-Rite. Read on to learn about it... Read more »

The Ultimate Raw File Tweaker: Colorchecker Passport

Submitted by David Cardinal on Wed, 01/13/2010 - 17:17

As raw files become the common currency of high-end photographry a widening array of tools is arriving to help photographers get the most from them. I've been using SpyderCube from Datacolor/Colorvision for awhile to help set white and black points along with white balance for color critical situations. But recently I've added a new tool to my tweakers arsenal--Colorchecker Passport from X-Rite. Read on to learn about it... Read more »

Restore High ISO Color with a Single Click

Submitted by David Cardinal on Fri, 01/08/2010 - 12:03

There is plenty of excitement about low light photography made possible by the high-ISO settings and increasingly good noise reduction in the newest cameras. But lost in the shuffle is that color is also lost as we increase the ISO. High ISO images tend to be typified by a 'washed out' look that seriously detracts from the Wow of your image. The good news is that correcting much of that problem is much easier than most people think... Read more »

Point & Click Photoshop made even Easier: nik Releases Viveza 2.0 Upgrade

Submitted by David Cardinal on Mon, 12/28/2009 - 14:20

When I first saw Viveza I wasn't sure why I needed it. After a decade of using layers & layer masks for image enhancement learning how to use U-Points instead seemed un-necessary. But once I started using Smart Objects more often in Photoshop I wanted a Smart Filter plug-in to allow me to do image adjustments while retaining all the power of Smart Objects. Viveza fit the bill perfectly. And to my surprise I found that I got quite quick with U-Points and they worked out very well. So now nik has upgraded Viveza... Read more »

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