by Dave Warner on March 3, 2010
With the new breed of hybrid HD DSLR cameras hitting the market, we are excited to annouce the expansion of Zacuto’s DSLR line of accessories with 25 new products which will be showcased at the NAB show. Embracing the convergence market with enthusiasm, our 2010 introductions include: upgrades on our popular DSLR gunstock gorilla kits and shooter packages, Z-Finders: Pro & Jr versions and much more. In addition, we will be presenting screenings of our latest productions by Zacuto Films, “The Great Camera Shootout of 2010″ where top performing HD DSLRs face off against the gold standard of 35mm film. Please join us at Zacuto’s booth #C5041 on April 12th-15h at the NAB Show in Vegas. We look forward to seeing you and sharing our new product lines during this very exciting time of convergence. Viva Zacuto!
Register now for a Free Exhibits Only pass*, courtesy of Zacuto.
Visit us in booth number C5041.
The NAB Show™ is your chance to evolve, innovate and grow your business — in smarter ways that allow you to save time and money in today’s challenging economic and competitive environment.
More than just broadcasting, the NAB Show is the world’s largest gathering of leading media, entertainment and communications professionals who share a passion for the next generation of video and audio content across multiple platforms — from television, radios and computers to phones, the big screen and beyond.
Don’t wait, click here to register!
*A $20 processing fee applies to all registrations received after April 8, 2010.
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by Dave Warner on March 2, 2010
Well, we’ve all been waiting for it, right? The new firmware for the Canon 5D Mark II SEEMS like it is coming out any time now. There is a press release out from Canon London that talks about it, and Canon Europe has some videos showing the capabilities that have been added into the software. The Canon Rumors guy says it will be out March 16th. CNET seems to think that this announcement came out early because of WPPI. Either way, here’s the press release that is out of London:
Canon adds 24 and 25fps HD Movie recording to the EOS 5D Mark II with Firmware 2.0.3
London, 2nd March 2010 – Canon today pre-announces the release of a firmware update for the multiple award-winning EOS 5D Mark II. Originally announced in late 2009, the update adds 24* and 25 frames per second (fps) recording to the camera’s EOS MOVIE video function, and will be available as a free download from the middle of March.
Developed following feedback from photographers and cinematographers, Firmware 2.0.3 further enhances the EOS 5D Mark II’s excellent video performance. The addition of new frame rates expands the camera’s video potential, providing filmmakers with the ability to shoot 1080p Full HD footage at 24fps (actual 23.976fps) – the optimum frame rate for cinematic video. 25fps support at both 1920×1080 and 640×480 resolutions will allow users to film at the frame rate required for the PAL broadcast standard, while the new firmware will also change the 30fps option to the NTSC video standard of 29.97fps.
A new histogram display for shooting movies in manual exposure, shutter-priority (Tv) and aperture-priority (Av) have been added, and exposure modes will also be available in movie mode. Improved audio functionality will allow users to set sound record levels manually using a sound-level meter displayed on the LCD screen. The audio sampling frequency has also been increased from 44.1KHz to 48KHz, providing the optimum audio signal typically required for professional or broadcast material.
With its full frame CMOS sensor and compatibility with Canon’s wide range of premium lenses, the EOS 5D Mark II is already recognized for its outstanding HD video performance. Launched in September 2008, the camera immediately created a wide range of new possibilities for photographers and videographers, and the addition of new frame rates and manual audio levels extends those possibilities even further – allowing movie makers to shoot stunning movies to suit practically any creative purpose.
Extreme sports photographer Richard Walch was one of the first to be given the chance to use the newly updated EOS 5D Mark II to shoot the snowboarding movie “I Love My Friends”. Commenting on the EOS 5D Mark II’s video performance, Richard said: “The addition of the new frame rates opens up a whole new range of possibilities. If you’re a cinematographer, independent film maker or just enthusiastic about making your own movies, get out there and give it a try”. If you like to view his test videos, click here.
When the software is available, this will be the spot to get it: http://www.canon.com/eos-d/
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by Dave Warner on March 1, 2010
Topaz Adjust, our most popular image enhancement tool, has been upgraded to v4 to include many new presets, the ability to handle larger images, a new user interface, faster noise reduction, and greater stability. It’s completely free for existing Topaz Adjust customers. Download it here:
Download Topaz Adjust 4
To install the upgrade, download the appropriate installer, run it, and follow the installation instructions. After installation is successful, restart your host program and “Topaz Adjust 4″ will be there. You can then uninstall the older version of Topaz Adjust if you choose. Enjoy the upgrade!
We would like to give endless thanks to those who offered suggestions, feature requests, and bug reports on our software. Members of both the Topaz Flickr Group and our site forum were instrumental in helping us reach the final version of Adjust 4. This is part of the reason we are able to continue to offer completely free major upgrades from day one: our community spends valuable time supporting us in our efforts, so we are extremely happy to reciprocate. Thanks again.
If you like Topaz Adjust, you might also like one of our other photo plug-ins. Topaz DeNoise, for example, is a supercharged version of the noise reduction capabilities included in Topaz Adjust, and Topaz Detail offers similar detail enhancement and sharpening capabilities without any halos. Check them out here.
Finally, as part of a intro promotion surrounding the new release of Topaz Adjust 4, the coupon code NEWADJUST will not only save $10 off a new purchase of Topaz Adjust, but will also save 20% off of any bundle purchase or Adjust->Bundle upgrade. This coupon code will expire on March 15, 2010.
Enjoy the upgrade and have a great day!
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by Dave Warner on February 26, 2010
New eBook
Craft & Vision is excited to announce the immediate release of our most recent ebook. Below The Horizon, Understanding Light at the Edges of Day, was written by Dave Delnea, a photographer specializing commercially in serving high-end resort and tourism clients. At the heart of his work is a passion for, and understanding of, the light at the edges of day. Below The Horizon is an inspiring ebook that will give you the scoop on the tools and techniques needed to create images that twilight alone can create, and will give you the push to get out the door and capture breathtaking images. If you’ve ever wanted to learn a little more about light and how to create images with this kind of unique aesthetic, Below The Horizon will take you there. This PDF is 40 pages long, and still only $5.00.
48-hour Special Offer
But wait! There’s more! 
For the first 48 hours only, if you use the promotional code DELNEA4 when you checkout, you can have Below The Horizon for only $4 OR use the code DELNEA20 to get 20% off when you buy 4 or more books from the collection. These codes expire at 11:59pm PST February 28, 2010. To purchase the book now, click here!
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by Dave Warner on February 24, 2010
Art Wolfe, host of the acclaimed public television series Art Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge, has created a comprehensive curriculum based on over 35 years of experience as a professional photographer. Wolfe has tuned this curriculum into an intensive 5-hour seminar exploring specific and critical facets of photographic composition. Using his superlative imagery of wildlife, natural landscapes and the world’s diverse cultures, he will lead participants on an artistic journey of insightful discovery.
ART WOLFE 2010 SPRING SEMINAR TOUR
Sponsored in part by:
5/20 New York City, NY – NYC Seminar and Conference Center
5/22 Toronto, Ontario – University of Toronto
5/29 West Palm Beach, FL – Crowne Plaza Hotel
6/03 Boston, MA – Eastern Nazarene College, Quincy, MA
6/05 Alexandria, VA – Hilton Hotel
6/10 Minneapolis, MN – Minneapolis Convention Center
6/12 Costa Mesa, CA – Orange Coast College
For more information and registration—be an early bird & save $100—www.artwolfeworkshops.com
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