$80 Bushnell BackTrack D-TOUR user-friendly, personal GPS device that includes a host of new features

The Bushnell BackTrack D-TOUR is a user-friendly, personal GPS device that includes a host of new features. In addition to a self-calibrating digital compass, the device provides time, temperature, altitude, and current latitude/longitude coordinates. The D-TOUR also captures key stats including the length of the trip, average speed and elevation. This data can easily be saved for future use or uploaded and shared via email or social media such as Facebook or Twitter. Available in red or green, the Bushnell BackTrack D-TOUR personal GPS device sells on Amazon for $81.95 including a USB cable.

• Mark up to 5 locations
• Auto time, temperature, altitude
• Track course taken, length, speed, temp, elevation
• Precision digital compass with latitude and longitude
• Share data via social media, email or save to computer

Eizo FDH3601 advanced 4K x 2K color monitor at NAB

Eizo will showcase advanced 4K LCD display technology at NAB 2012. The Eizo FDH3601 is a 4Kx2K resolution, 36.4-inch LCD monitor with LED backlight, designed for professional applications such as photography and graphic arts, where image quality is critical. 

Offering 100% sRGB coverage and an internal 16-bit look-up table, the display can display simultaneous 10-bit color over the DisplayPort connection. NAB 2012 is taking place from 16th to 19th April. Eizo can be found in booth SL10228.

A graphics card and software that support 10-bit output are required.

$25 Mail-in Rebate on MiniTT1 & FlexTT5 Wireless Flash Triggering System for Nikon and Canon

MAC Group has launched a a $25 mail-in rebate programme for US customers who purchase a new PocketWizard MiniTT1 and/or FlexTT5 radio for use with Canon or Nikon digital SLR cameras. Running until the end of May, the promotion is valid on every Canon/Nikon MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 purchased from an Authorized PocketWizard Dealer. For more information on this rebate, visit the website below.

Website: PocketWizard

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"I don't think you can get around it: good writing's INSPIRED. Period." — Chuck Mondry

Nikon D800 sample photos: Loses the ISO battle with old cameras before it even gets out of the gate

The following is a ISO 25,600 sample set comparing the new Nikon D800 with some professional camera oldies but goodies: the Canon 1DMKIV(circa 2009), the legendary Canon 5DMKII (circa 2009) and just for fun, the consumer Nikon D7000 (circa 2010).

Look for yourself at the 4 sample RAW files shown. These images are straight out of camera, shot under the same 98CRI daylight lamp, with equivalent prime lenses.
I'm rather shocked at how noisy the file is. The new Canon 5DMKIII will easily blow the Nikon D800 away in high ISO performance.
Not to beat up on Nikon, but they have a tendency to include ISO ranges on their cameras that are not realistic for the camera to achieve while providing good image quality and dynamic range. I would not consider this a usable image.

High ISO isn't as great as it's marketing out to be, folks, so don't believe everything you see. It's also driven by Megapixel Mania, out of control IMO.

Image courtesy of dpreview.com

X-Rite Announces Two Free Adobe Lightroom 4 Webinars starting March 28th - Joe Brady & Katrin Eismann

This looks like fun, and Joe & Katrin are some of the coolest people on the planet. I'm so grateful for these guys giving us their valuable time to show us the new features of Adobe Lightroom 4, such as Soft Proof, one of the things I've been screaming for.

The first online seminar starts Wednesday, 28th March, 11:00 AM EDT and 1:00 PM EDT and hosted by Joe Brady, is entitled “Image Edits and Enhancements in Lightroom 4.” In this webinar, Joe will explore both basic and advanced image editing techniques and focus on the new editing capabilities offered in Lightroom 4. 

The other webinar, entitled “Creating the Mood with Texture, Color, and Sharpness,” will feature educator, photographer and author Katrin Eismann, who will share a number of colour management, editing, and enhancement techniques that photographers can use in their digital workflow. The second webinar will take place from midday (EDT), 29th March. Click 

through for the webinar registration links.

Image Edits and Enhancements in Lightroom 4

Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 11:00 AM EDT and 1:00 PM EDT

Joe Brady will explore both basic and advanced image editing techniques. During this session, he’ll focus on the new editing capabilities offered in this upgrade - in future sessions, Joe will explore the new modules and Lightroom file organization.

One of the new additions to Lightroom 4 is its ability to soft-proof. Now users can choose their printer profile and see what effects it will have on the printed image. I'm really looking forward to checking this out.

Here are some topics photographer Joe Brady will cover:
Why monitor color is important for Lightroom 4

 (tell me about it)

Image edits and batch processing including:
- Global image edits
- Local color and light adjustments with Lightroom 4’s new options
- Retouching both skin and landscape blemishes
- Composition
- Image sharpening, noise reduction and lens profiles
- Preparing files for lab printing

To register for this webinar at 11:00 AM, visit: 

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/619384858
To register for this webinar at 1:00 PM, visit: 

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/862303274

Creating the Mood with Texture, Color, and Sharpness by Katrin Eismann 

Thursday, March 29, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT and 2:00 PM EDT

Educator, photographer, and author Katrin Eismann will be the special guest for this webinar featuring color management, editing, and enhancement techniques that photographers can use in their digital workflow immediately. Katrin is Chair of MPS Digital Photography Department at School of the Visual Arts in NYC. She is a prolific author of many books and articles including The Creative Digital Darkroom, Real World Digital Photography, and Photoshop Masking & Compositing. 

Her website,

 http://www.photoshopdiva.com/

includes links to Katrin’s websites, books, and projects. A great website to visit.

Katrin will talk about the importance of color management to a photographer’s color workflow and explore working with Photoshop CS5 in collaboration with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 and HDR Efex Pro to explore and express personal vision.

Working with a wide variety of image files. Katrin will show how to expand Photoshop’s capabilities with HDR Efex Pro on single and multishot files to enhance texture, color, mood, and sharpness. She will also address how she works with Silver Efex Pro 2 to enhance her landscape photography and to create a cohesive body of work.

Topics Covered
• Working with single exposure images to create compelling HDR Effects
• Combining Photoshop’s HDR Pro with NIK HDR Efex Pro to achieve optimal results
• Working globally and selectively with Silver Efex Pro 2
• Harnessing the power

of Smart Objects
• Discovering the finesse of Smart Filters
• Never saying never!

Who Should Attend
• Retouchers and artists working with Photoshop CS5
• Photographers doing their own finishing and retouching
• Those new to HDR photography

• Anyone interested in B&W reproduction
• Photographers who want to enhance their images

To register for this webinar at 12:00 PM, visit: 

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/670528058 

To register for this webinar at 2:00 PM, visit: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/199060338

Nikon D800, D800E, and D4 User's Instruction Manuals available for download- you DO read your manual, don't you??

The instruction manual for the Nikon D4, D800, D800E cameras is now available to download. Nikon USA have made the user guide for the D800 available as a 24-megabyte PDF file, giving you the chance to read all about this exciting new DSLR before it launches on Thursday. (The Nikon D800E is the same camera as the D800 except that it incorporates an optical filter with the anti-aliasing properties removed in order to produce the sharpest images possible.)

Time to get our curiosities satiated. Nikonians, drink up! 

Nikon D4 Owner's Manual download here

Nikon D800/D800E Owner's Manual download here

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