Win D800 or 5D Mark III

Courtesy of: SnapKnot - Find Local Wedding Photographers

Leica S Test Shoot - Jackie O Photo Recreated

Article and photographs by Allan S. Adler
 
When you purchase a Leica camera you become a member of an exclusive club I call the Red Dot Club. The Leica name in the Red Dot is their company logo and on nearly every Leica Camera produced. A raised Red Dot marking is on all lenses to mount it to a camera body and the lens the flange of all camera bodies with removable lenses has a recessed Red Dot for proper alignment.

Leica's storied history is second to none in the photography world. Behind Leica cameras and the Red Dot were - and presently are - the finest photographers for over 100 years and many years to come. I'm honored to be a member, and when I pick up any Leica I am inspired to create.

I became a member in the late seventies when I purchased a Leica M4 with a 35mm Summicron and eventually I added the 21mm, 28mm, 50mm, 90mm and 135mm lenses. It was my quiet camera used to capture intimate moments when I did not want my bulky and loud Nikons with motor drives to impose or disrupt the setting.

The M4 was a smooth as silk camera to hold in my hands and the winding and firing of the shutter was therapeutic. There was no sound sweeter to a photographer's ears than the sound of a Leica shutter. I was in Boston on assignment with Bob Hope when Ted Kennedy decided to run for President in 1980 against Jimmy Carter. I had no credentials, but at age twenty-one I had a fearless attitude and drive to go and do anything. I left Bob and the private jet and said I would catch up at our next location.

I arrived at Faneuil Hall the historic Boston location where Ted Kennedy announced. I roamed the crowd capturing the activities when Jackie Kennedy Onassis exited and came towards me. To my surprise I was the only photographer in that location where Jackie exited. I captured several frames on the run with the crowd moving in. When a horse mounted police officer entered frame to control the crowd Jackie began to interact for a brief moment I took a few frames up close The M4 was perfect for this situation; the quiet shutter did not interrupt the moment of Jackie with Algernon the horse. After a few more frames she entered her car and drove away. My Leica M4 captured a set of pictures of the last living member of an era we called Camelot, as many Leica photographers and Red Dot Club members had before me.

Jump ahead thirty-four years: Leica came out with it's 100 year anniversary special edition Leica S Camera with 30mm and 70mm Lenses in a special case limited to only fifty sets worldwide. The Leica Boutique at the Samy's Camera in Los Angeles has a 50 Year Anniversary Leica M4 on display alongside the Leica S 100 year Anniversary Kit, a collectors "Dream Team." After chatting with Tibor, Samy's Mr. Leica, manager of the Leica Boutique and after seeing photographs of the two special cameras I went to work.

     The Leica S felt as nice in my hands as my M4 and R4 did years ago. The Leica S controls are situated similarly as all reflex Leica 35mm cameras were. The S Camera was easy to operate, the display was intuitive and I didn't need the manual because guys don't ask for driving directions or read instruction manuals

The S Camera is paired with a Leica Summarit-S 70 mm f/2.5 ASPH CS and Leica Elmarit-S 30 mm f/2.8 ASPH. CS lenses, all bearing the centennial insignia and encased in a custom aluminum Rimowa Cabin Trolley Case. A perfect addition to any Leica collection

The S handled my shooting pace and captured my RAW images with ease. The Leica S is the most advanced Leica DSLR made and still maintains the feel and precision of its predecessors and unlike all other medium format sensor cameras on the market, none are shaped or configured like the Leica S and feels natural in my hands with all of the controls in a familiar place. The sensor captures a 37.5 MP image with no optical low pass filter in a universal DNG file format. When combined with Leica lenses there is no finer image with edge-to-edge sharpness and color rendition. A perfect combination to capture the most demanding images.

The Leica S 100 Edition is more than a camera; it is a piece of art worthy of any museum. To own a piece of Leica History and become one of 50 worldwide you may order online or call Tibor, Mr. Leica at the Leica Boutique in the Samy's Camera Flagship tore in Los Angeles. Tibor's direct phone number is 323-938-2420 x1352.

PROFOTO AIR REMOTE TTL-N FOR NIKON AVAILABLE ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

The B1 makes it easier than ever to take the flash off your camera. With TTL you set the light in a flash. With battery power and without cords, you can take it with you wherever you go and put it wherever you want. Add to that the power, speed and light shaping possibilities that Profoto lights are known for, and you have an off-camera flash that makes great light easy.

B1 500 AIR

SPECIFICATIONS

• Max energy:500Ws
• Energy range:9 f-stops (2-500Ws)
• Energy control increments:1/10 or full f-stops
• Recycling time:0.1-1.9 (Quick burst up to 20 flashes/second)
• Max modeling light (W):20W LED (Output eqvivalent to 70W Halogen)
• Modeling light control:Off, Proportional, Free (5-100%)
• Mode control:Freeze (shortest flash duration) or Normal (color balanced) mode
• Flash duration Normal mode (t0.5):1/11,000s (2Ws) - 1/1,000 (500Ws)
• Flash duration Freeze mode (t0.5):1/19,000s (2Ws) - 1/1,000 (500Ws)
• Energy stability Normal mode:+-1/20 f-stop flash to flash
• Energy stability Freeze mode:+-1/20 f-stop flash to flash
• Color stability Normal mode:+-150K over range; +-20K flash to flash
• Color stability Freeze mode:+-800K over range; +-50K flash to flash
• Guide number @ 2m, 100 ISO with Magnum Reflector:45 2/10
• Input power supply:Exchangable Lithium-Ion-Battery 14.4V/3Ah
• Battery capacity:Up to 220 full power flashes

Profoto B1 Remote For Nikon TTL-N

Nikon D810 Announced

An effective pixel count of 36.3-million pixels for the sharpest, best image quality in Nikon history!

The D810 is a digital SLR camera that boasts incredibly superior definition and image quality made possible with a new Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter, adoption of the latest EXPEED 4 image-processing engine, an effective pixel count of 36.3-million pixels, and a standard range of sensitivities from ISO 64 to ISO 12800. Not only does it offer extremely accurate AF, but vibrations generated inside the camera have been reduced to maximize the resolution of its 36.3-million pixels for sharp and clear images. The camera also supports recording of smooth, extremely sharp 60p full-HD (1920 x 1080) movies. What's more, high-speed continuous shooting at up to 5 fps with the FX-format image area and up to 7 fps* with the DX-format image area is possible for excellent response to a wide variety of scenes.

• *When powered by the AC Adapter EH-5b or the Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D12 with batteries other than the Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL15.

D810 Development Background

The D800 and D800E, added to Nikon's lineup of Nikon FX-format cameras in March 2012, drew great attention from professional and advanced amateur photographers as digital SLR cameras offering superior image quality nearly equal to that of medium-format cameras. The performance of these two cameras was well received around the world, earning them a number of prestigious awards, including a respected Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) Award 2012 and a European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) Photo Award presented to the D800.
Developed with this background, the D810 offers the best image quality in the history of Nikon, as well as functions that increase the certainty and reliability of this superior image quality, to respond to the expectations of photographers who demand superior clarity, sharpness, and image quality from their photos.

D810 Primary Features

1. The first digital SLR camera in Nikon's history to offer a minimum standard sensitivity of ISO 64 at which superior clarity and image quality with rich tones is achieved

   A minimum standard sensitivity of ISO 64, at which the same broad dynamic range available with ISO 100 is possible, was achieved through the adoption of a new FX-format CMOS sensor and by increasing the volume of light information that can be accumulated. This enables suppression of loss of detail in highlights (blown highlights) and beautiful rendering of subjects with rich tones, even when a fast lens is used in bright surroundings. In addition, collaboration with the same EXPEED 4 image-processing engine adopted for the D4S achieves a broad range of standard sensitivities up to ISO 12800 (Lo 1, Hi 1, and Hi 2 settings are also available).

2. Further increases in imaging flexibility: The Picture Control system, Nikon's exclusive advanced system for image processing

   A new "Flat" Picture Control option has been added with the D810. Less in-camera processing is applied to images captured at a Picture Control setting of "Flat" than to those captured at a setting of "Neutral", enabling maximization of the amount of subject information acquired. The "Flat" setting prevents loss of detail in highlights and shadows, as well as over-saturation of colors, enabling adjustment of image quality and post-processing for richer tone characteristics, including contrast and colors. In addition, a "Clarity"*¹ option has been added to adjustment settings for each Picture Control, allowing users to make images sharper or softer without over-emphasizing outlines and edges in images, and each setting can be adjusted in increments of 0.25 step*², enabling more precise adjustment that makes it easier to achieve imaging that better reflects user intent.

   • *1Can be applied only to still images.
   • *2Does not apply to Quick Adjust.
3. Extremely precise AF and superior vibration suppression that maximize the resolution of the 36.3-million-pixel effective pixel count

   In order to make the most of the incredibly high pixel count of 36.3-million effective pixels, the precision of the 51-point AF system has been increased with adoption of the Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor module and improvements to the focusing algorithm, ensuring exact autofocus acquisition on the intended portion of a still subject. In addition, mechanical operation of components such as the mirror and shutter has been improved for significant reduction in the amount of internal vibration generated. The end result is a system capable of maximizing the superior rendering performance of NIKKOR lenses and the superior definition of the D810's CMOS sensor.

4. High-speed continuous shooting at approximately 5 fps in FX format and approximately 7 fps* in DX format makes capture of a broader range of subjects possible

   Adoption of a new CMOS sensor and the EXPEED 4 image-processing engine makes high-speed continuous shooting at approximately 5 fps in FX format and approximately 7 fps* in DX format possible with the D810. This makes capture of a broader range of subjects/scenes possible with excellent response with not only still subjects, but also moving subjects such as wildlife and sports scenes.

   • *When powered by the AC Adapter EH-5b or the Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D12 with batteries other than the Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL15.
5. Full-HD movie recording with which picture quality and operation has been significantly improved

   The full-HD movie recording function, capable of recording extremely sharp and clear movies exhibiting significantly fewer moiré patterns and jaggies, and less color aliasing, supports 60p recording for smoother expression of subject movement. In addition, operation has been improved with Auto ISO Sensitivity Control in M exposure mode, enabling exposure control with aperture value and shutter speed locked and automatic adjustment of only ISO sensitivity, as well as a highlight display that shows the brightest areas of the frame in which detail may be lost with display of slanted lines. Beautiful time-lapse movies with which variations in exposure between frames are controlled can also be generated in-camera.

D810 Additional Features

• An electronic front-curtain shutter that prevents blur in images with minimization of vibration resulting from the operation of mechanisms with shooting
• Highlight-weighted metering, with which exposure values that reduce loss of detail in highlights (blown highlights) are determined, convenient for capturing theater scenes and the like
• The first Nikon FX-format camera with an OLED viewfinder display; an optical viewfinder with frame coverage of approximately 100% that offers better light transmissivity and colors, and makes it easier to achieve the optimal focus when fast lenses are used
• A 1229k-dot LCD monitor with bright RGBW array equipped with the "Monitor color balance" function that allows users to adjust monitor colors
• A "Split-screen display zoom" function that displays enlarged views of two separate areas of the frame side-by-side for checking level if the building is aligned with the horizon with live view photography
• Advanced Scene Recognition System, which utilizes a 91K-pixel RGB sensor, for highly precise automatic control over auto exposure (AE), autofocus (AF), and auto white balance (AWB)
• RAW recording at an image size of "Small"
• Multi-area mode full-HD D-movie that allows users to choose between two movie formats (image areas), FX-based and DX-based
• Improved movie sound quality with "Wind noise reduction" and "Frequency response" ("Wide range"/"Vocal range") settings
• Optimal layout of operational controls, and a grip sized and shaped for a firm, steady hold even when large lenses are used
• Effective sealing for superior resistance to dust and water

Phase One IQ250

Capture everything, anywhere

Amazing ISO sensitivity
Get high quality images shooting at ISO 100, 6400 or anywhere in between. With this digital back you can capture unique images in available light anytime.

Fluid and responsive Live View
With the fluid and responsive high quality Live View of the IQ250 you will have great composition and focus assistance whether you are using Live View directly on the digital back, connected via USB3 to Capture One, or wirelessly to Capture Pilot.

50 megapixels captures
Capture images of 50 megapixel resolution and of outstanding quality.

14 f-stops dynamic range
Capture the most demanding scenes in one shot and retain details in highlights and shadows with the IQ250 thanks to its abundant 14 f-stop dynamic range.

Long exposures up to an hour
The IQ250 digital back gives you a phenomenal exposure time range, as fast as 1/10000s and as long as one hour (the actual exposure time range is limited by the camera attached).

Principal firmware architect behind the IQ250 digital back, Søren Ilsøe, introduces the unique features and capabilities of the CMOS sensor. The CMOS sensor is found at the core of the new IQ250 digital back.

• Amazing ISO range from ISO100 to ISO6400
• Incredible 14 f-stops dynamic range
• 50 megapixel captures
• Continuous capture flow
• Fluid and responsive Live View

Learn more: http://www.phaseone.com/IQ2
Try the IQ250: http://www.phaseone.com/demo

"This brand new IQ250 uses the world's first medium format sized CMOS sensor.

What this means for photographers is that it can shoot with highest ISOs ever in medium format.

Because of the sensor they can get an exceptionally low noise level but at a very high resolution.

The use of this sensor when combined with our IQ2 platform is truly groundbreaking.

With the IQ250 you get an incredibly large pixel size of 5,3 micrometers. And its dimensions of 44 by 33 mm makes it 68 percent larger than the 35 mm sensor you will find on a DSLR.

Not only do these large pixels mean cleaner images but they also create the opportunity
for capturing an amazing 14 stops of dynamic range across all ISO settings.

The 250 is also member of the IQ2 family of digital backs so it shares a lot of great features
including WiFi connectivity, a high resolution touch screen, location data integration and lightning fast USB3.

It is a perfect back to combine with the intuitive handling and great ergonomics of the Phase One DF+ camera body.

It also benefits from the extremely fast flash sync speed capabilities when used with one of our leaf shutter lenses.

The IQ250 is a truly revolutionary product and there really is nothing else like it on the market."

Watch the new IQ250 in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dww2nk... (Tim Kemple)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_rX9l... (Dan O'Day)
http://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&v... (Justine Ungaro)