AlienBees finally started shipping their much-anticipated CyberSync Strobe Radio Triggers. Fortunately, I happen to be one of the first people who got their grubby hands on this product. Unfortunately, I’m also one of the first ones to express disappointment on this not-so-well-thought-out-designed product.
Popularity: 41% [?]
With the announcement of the long-rumored Nikon D3 almost imminent (redundant?), here’s my take on what should be in Nikon’s next DSLR:
Do I care if the next one is full-frame? No, not really. If I want a bigger frame, I would have gone with Large Format cameras.
Popularity: 10% [?]
Thom Hogan just wrote a lengthy, thought-provoking rant on how a compact camera should be designed…which will cater both the casual user and the pretentious Galen Rowell wannabe.
I commend Thom for having the balls of steel of writing the article and even offered a huge sum of money for the first company to be able to produce this elusive camera (No, the Sigma DP-1 does not count).
I agree for the most part (do not want the built-in Arca-Swiss plate…yikes! that would make the camera thicker than the M8!), but I think the write-up could have been much shorter. And it goes something like this:
Seriously, Ricoh is so damn close it’s not even funny. Come on, Ricoh, I’m hoping you get this done for GR-D Mark II.
And I’m willing to pay…uh $699 for it. No more than that. Come on, Even the D40x sells for that price with the kit lens.
Popularity: 8% [?]
The Playstation Online Store is probably the most tacky, unintuitive online store ever conceived.
The SIXAXIS controller is the worst OEM controller ever. Not ergonomic at all…especially the shoulder trigger buttons! Arggghh!! My wrists hurt.
I think the best way I can describe the game flOw is that…umm…it’s like watching a David Lynch movie. It’s mesmerizing, and it’s hard to get what the story is all about…and just when you thought you got it…BAM! you still don’t. It’s evident that the SIXAXIS tilt control was tacked on. This would have been so much enjoyable with the analog stick controls. I still like the game. Update: GAAH! That’s it?! I finished the game already?! I just bought it this morning!!
God of War without rumble takes the way the immersion. Same with Gran Turismo HD. Lack of rumble blows. I can’t wait for the updated SIXAXIS controls with rumble…and Sony while you’re at re-designing the controller…add force feedback!!! come on! it can’t be that hard!
As of this writing, I am still upset that Sony hasn’t bundled an HDMI cable with their uber-expensive gaming machine. I bought “Resistance” and I haven’t opened it because I’m still waiting for the HDMI cable I bought via eBay…for $3…I laugh at people who buy their gold-plated HDMI cables for $50 at their local electronics store.
Folding@Home for the PS3 rocks.
Popularity: 8% [?]
I have in my possession my very own Nexto Ultra portable image storage, um, thingy. I ordered mine from the good folks at EastGear.com. They gave the cheapest price and they included the 17-in-one card CF adapter and an extra external battery.
I’m going through the paces of fondling testing the gadget as I write this. I was a tad disappointed with the build of the device; it seems much sturdier on the product images. Everything is controlled by one button (!) depending on the context; you have short (”S”) and long (”L”) press to sort through the menus.
Copying is wicked fast with the 50x Kingston Elite Pro. The display (with almost non-existent backlighting) shows you how long it took to copy all the files from the CF to the HDD.
All in all, I’m happy so far. We’ll see how it performs in the field.
While you wait for my thorough review (which may not be written soon), read this excellent review from another photographer with much higher credibility than me. Note that I did not go through the same import inquiry hassle that he did; he was probably one of the first owners from the US of the product.
Popularity: 7% [?]
The only product that has caught my attention so far was the Sigma DP1. Finally, a company has recognized the market for such a camera! True, that market is not exactly mainstream, but it’s not small enough to be ignored; this is the reason why the Ricoh GR-D has been mildly successful despite its high price and limited availability (Ricoh has long ceased marketing cameras in the US).
The most interesting feature of this camera is–unlike the Ricoh GR-D–is having a imaging sensor of a DSLR. It’s essentially the SD14 in a smaller package. It has RAW mode, a hot shoe, manual exposure operation…although I’m a little disappointed that they forgot to put a built-in optical viewfinder in it, instead they went the Ricoh route and decided to attempt to rape the consumer by making the optical viewfinder optional.
The real test (besides the IQ, of course) is how it stacks up to the GR-D when it comes to ease of use and responsiveness. I certainly hope that Sigma is reading this blog (most likely not) so I can try one myself.
Update: The only other product announced that interests me is Elinchrom’s EL-Skyport. It’s supposed to eat some marketshare away from that overpriced remote trigger–otherwise known as PocketWizards. This has been available for quite a while now over the other side of the Atlantic. And looking at the online stores where available, the pricing seems competitive enough. The only thing that bothers me is that most of the accessories are too tightly integrated with Elinchrom’s top-of-the-line strobes (RX-series) and I can’t help the fact that the design looks a little flimsy to me.
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On a related note, I find it funny that a lot of Nikon users on digital photography forums have been bitching on Nikon for not announcing the replacement for the D2 series. They instead announced an updated D40 (dubbed D40x). So what? To steal the thunder from the 1D Mark III announcement? The announcement of the 1D Mark III hasn’t actually stripped away the appeal of the D2X or the D2H (at least to me). In fact, I found the 1DIII’s feature underwhelming…but that’s the Nikon fanboy in me talking. 
And, of course, the other age-old disappointment was the lack of announcement of a DSLR with a 35mm-sized sensor. Me? I could not care any less. the DX-sensor has been perfectly fine for most photographers needs. Why fix something that’s not broken?
I don’t get it, really. Having a 35mm-sized sensor right now would still be too expensive anyway. Look at the Canon 5D. That’s why it cannot be priced compatitively against the D200.
I would not even try to bring up the issues of a sudden drop of IQ towards the corners of images from the 5D (and the 1Ds) regardless of whether you used really good glass with it.
Don’t get me wrong, a bigger sensor would always be a welcome feature, but only if it’s going to be a little bit more expensive than a DX-sized one.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Introduction
[ Note: still working on the photos. This review will be updated as soon as they are ready. ]
Portraits resulting from the use of ringlights always amaze me. It would produce a flat, shadowless light with a “ring-like” catchlights on the subjects eyes. Most righlight portraits I saw aren’t using diffused lights, so there’s a little touch of strong contrast but not as strong as the ones from on-camera flash. Shadows is diffused and almost non-existent because the light “wraps around” the subject making the shadow fall almost exaclty behind the subject.
Outside of the astronomical prices of commercially-available ringlights, the only way to achieve the effect of a ringlight is to create one yourself from raw materials that can be bought at your local hardware store. And I’ve seen people do a great job create one and actually use it.
Popularity: 24% [?]
Yes, the iPhone has been announced. Wow, $600? And I have to switch to Cingular? That PS3 is looking mighty cheap now…and as for AppleTV…eeeehhhh…I think I’d rather wait for SlingCatcher…
Popularity: 6% [?]
