Showing posts with label dslr info. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dslr info. Show all posts

WHAT TO DO IF STOPPED BY MALAYSIAN POLICE

This is is very useful information. Please pass it on to your friends and family.............especially the women folk!

The next time you are stopped by persons who claimed they are plain clothes police, you are under no obligation to answer their questions or follow their orders, lawyers told Malaysiakini today.


"Policeman who is not wearing his uniform does not have the authority to stop anyone," lawyer and human rights activist Sivarasa Rasiah said.

Sivarasa was commenting on the alleged gang-rape of an 18-year-old Uni student by four men claiming to be police officers on New Year's Eve. The girl said that her car was stopped in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur and were asked by the men to open the car bonnet. She was then told that she had committed an offence and ordered to follow the men to a police station. The girl was driven in her car along the North-South expressway to the Tapah-Cameron Highlands road before she was raped in an oil palm estate.

This incident, and many others, have sparked confusion over the procedures which motorists must follow when flagged down by the police. The most common problem is that most people take instructions without determining if the other person is really a cop," lawyer Annie Santiago said.

However, if you are stopped by a uniformed policeman, then you are required to stop. But you need not get out of the car because you are not expected to do so, Santiago said. He other rule to follow is to provide your identity card only when you are asked to do so. "Even then, you should get his ID first to confirm if he is a cop. There is no harm in calling the relevant police station to verify if he is supposed to be on duty that day," Sivarasa said.

Both lawyers said that motorists should never follow an officer to the police station unless one is under arrest . "If you are not sure, and your instincts tell you that something is wrong, then drive off to the nearest police station and lodge a report," Sivarasa said.

In response to the alleged gang-rape of the 18-year-old, Women's Aid Organisation executive-secretary Ivy Josiah called on the police to launch an education program to teach the public about their rights to prevent them from being victimised by bogus police officers.


Procedures to follow in the event you are stopped by uniformed police Officers while driving:


1. Stop the car and wind down your window.
2. If the police officers ask for your documents, request to see their
IDs first.

3. If you are satisfied about their identity, ask them if you are being
summoned, and for what offence.
4. Produce your identity card and driver's license and wait to collect

your summon ticket.

In the event that the police officers ask you to follow them to the police station:


1. Ask if you are under arrest and for what offence.
2. If you are not under arrest, you have the right to leave.

In the event you are flagged down by persons you believe could be plain clothes police:


1. Do not stop because plain clothes police officers do not have the
authority to stop you.

2. Drive to the nearest police station and lodge a report. (The same
procedure applies to pedestrians)


In the event the police come to your house:


1. Do not let them in before checking their IDs.
2. If you are not satisfied, phone the nearest police station and
confirm if they had been sent to your house.

3. You are under no obligation to allow them into the house if they
don't have a search warrant.

4. Do not go with them if you are not under arrest.

In the event persons who claimed to be plain clothes police come to your house:


1. Do not let him in because they do not have the authority to do so.
2. Lodge a report at the nearest police station.



PLEASE PASS IT ON..........


PLEASE PASS IT ON..........


PLEASE PASS IT ON............

觀景窗

LEICA的觀景器又大又亮,這是非常大的優勢,特別對於手動對焦與低光度下,可達成準確對焦的要求。
關於本問題詢問『尺寸的問題』請恕我也沒有相關資料,僅就一些基本的東西做論述。

首先,關於觀景器本身,要讓人看得舒服(通常就是比較大),就決定於接目鏡的口徑(其實跟望遠鏡道理一樣),就個人使用不同相機,從早年的CANON的手 動相機、NIKON FM2這兩台,為了手動對焦的要求,接目鏡比較大,而容易觀景,就RF相機,高級的LEICA M或是ZEISS IKON也都較大,這當然帶給攝影者容易手動對焦的優點;而後來的自動對焦相機便宜的EOS500N還是近年便宜數位機,明顯的小很多,這當然有成本的考 量,而高檔的自動對焦相機,如NIKON F5一樣能做得很大,帶給使用者許多方便(畢竟它也設計給裝載手動對焦鏡頭使用)。這實在取決於廠商對於機身功能的要求,不過一昧的將接目鏡做大,並不會 帶來優勢,因為相對地要解決視野變大後維持影像品質與亮度的問題。

再來,就觀景器的亮度而言,SLR的光線經由鏡頭,再進入反光鏡與五稜鏡折射後進入眼睛,若要達成高亮度的要求,必須追求上述過程中,光線的損失最小的目 標,此時光學設計就非常重要,若仔細的觀察LEICA R6.2(或R8/R9)的反光版,就會發現,它是個半透明的鏡子,有趣的是,有部分的光線(印象中是30%)穿透供測光表使用,剩下才供作觀景,如此還 能夠這麼亮,實在是廠商的秘密了,另外日系廠商的頂級機身一樣很亮,如此可以推論,觀景器亮度成本不低。

另外,現在有些數位機身的配件有『觀景器放大鏡片』,說真的,不要期待太高,因為就算把影像放大了,也不會放大亮度,在光線較差的情況下,恐怕效果有限。

R6.2
觀景窗範圍:23x34.6 (垂直 96%,水平 96% 整體為 96% x 96% = 92%)
觀景窗倍率:0.80 (無視力矯正,搭配 50mm 鏡頭)
至於反光鏡:17層鍍膜,70%反射(觀景窗);30%穿透(測光)

R8/9
觀景窗範圍:23x35 (垂直 96%,水平 97% 整體為 96% x 97% = 93%)
觀景窗倍率:0.75 (無視力矯正,搭配 50mm 鏡頭)
至於反光鏡:17層鍍膜,70%反射(觀景窗);30%穿透(測光)

以上,請參考。

Canon DPP 安裝分享

望可以幫到大家

起canon download 既DPP 等software, 只係可以update, 如果部機本身冇裝canon 既software 加唔見左隻cd就裝唔到
舊既version 可以用zip software extract 佢, 但新download 個d就唔得.
研究左一下, 發現只要加入一個registry 就可以順利install 架啦
我測試係windows xp 32-bit 同windows vista ultimate 64-bit

先新加一個text document, 打開佢, 加入以下既data, 之後將個file name 改做canon.reg, 再double click 佢就ok 架啦.
windows xp 32-bit
-------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\DPP]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\EOSViewerUtility]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\PhotoStitch]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Canon\ZoomBrowser]
-------

windows vista 64-bit
-------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Canon\DPP]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Canon\EOSViewerUtility]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Canon\PhotoStitch]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Canon\ZoomBrowser]

original from here
http://www.dchome.net/viewthread.php?tid=575488&extra=page%3D1

REMEMBER HIS FACE!!!


Last Saturday, a friend and i went to Red Box. On the way going to Plaza Gurney i was stuck in a traffic jam at Jelutong. As normal, i put my hand bag at the back seat while my friend sitting beside me. It was verry jam and because of too long of waiting there i started to look around. Suddenly i noticed a guy standing at the road side and looking at my hand bag that i had put at the back seat. I immediately lock the door. That guy really come to my car and he tried to open my car's back door. I immediately snap his picture.Women out there, pls lock your car door once u get into your car.And pls remember this bastard face. Beware of him.

Three Prime lenses launched by Leica

Pre-Photokina 2008: Leica has, amongst its latest announcments, launched three new prime lenses - the SUMMILUX-M 21 mm f / 1.4 ASPH, SUMMILUX-M 24 mm f / 1.4 ASPH and Elmar-M 24 MM F / 3.8 ASPH Lens. Ideal with the M8/8.2, the all three lenses are specifically designed to keep vignetting and distortion to a minimum.

Super fast, compact, with sensational performance even at full aperture, these lenses will enable users to redefine wide angle low light photography. The 21 mm is in fact a world first for 35 mm digital and film photography.

Great care has been taken in the optical designs of the lenses. Despite their pronounced wide–angle characteristics, these lenses can feature extremely shallow field depth. This allows for creative and expressive photography not usually available when shooting wide. Stopped down to medium f values the depth of field can be so great that an entire landscape can be depicted in sharp focus.

Vignetting and distortion, the parameters traditionally difficult to control in fast wide angle lenses, have been corrected to such a high degree in these new Summilux-M lenses that they are hardly noticeable in practice.

The combination of lens speed and width has now become possible by using leading edge lens blank-pressing techniques for aspherical elements. Hand assembled in Solms Germany, the lenses also combine meticulous craftsmanship ensuring life long reliability even in challenging user conditions.Two new metal body view finders (21 mm and 24 mm) will be available as accessories. These new viewfinders will have markings to enable use on Leica M digital and film bodies.

Available from December 2008, the LEICA SUMMILUX-M 21 mm f / 1.4 ASPH and the LEICA
SUMMILUX-M 24 mm f / 1.4 ASPH are £3990 each (inc VAT) SRP.

New Compact Leica Elmar-M 24 MM F / 3.8 ASPH Lens

Leica continues its strategy of producing a range of ultra compact high performance prime lenses.

Ideal for M8 users, this lens is equally at home with M film models. At full aperture, contrast and detail rendering are excellent. Stopping down to medium f values gives such great depth of field, that precise focusing is not required resulting in your M combination outperforming any camera with auto focus in the speed stakes.

Additionally, the new LEICA ELMAR-M 24 mm f / 3.8 ASPH lens is a perfect companion to a faster lens, particularly for day time travel or photography in risk environments. All focal lengths detailed above are based on 35 mm film camera photography. For use on M8/M8.2 camera bodies, all focal lengths should be multiplied by 1.33.

Available from November 2008, the LEICA ELMAR-M 24 mm f / 3.8 ASPH lens is £1380 (inc
VAT) SRP

Carl Zeiss launches Distagon T* 2.8/21

OBERKOCHEN/Germany – September 16, 2008: The legendary Distagon T* 2.8/21 is now being introduced for SLR cameras with EF, F and K bayonets. Thanks to its excellent performance, this modernized version from the former Contax system sets new standards in this focal length class.

“The outstanding correction of chromatic aberration enables photos without color fringes even in high-contrast light conditions”, says Martin Klottig, Marketing Manager, Carl Zeiss Camera Lens Division. “Even at full aperture, the floating element design ensures optimum edge-to-edge image quality over the entire focusing range.

And even in difficult light conditions, the new Distagon provides excellent results thanks to its T* coating, optimum reflection reduction and exceptional chromatic correction.” The shortest possible distance setting of only 0.22 m makes the lens ideal for impressive perspectives. Typical applications include architectural, journalistic and landscape photography.

The Distagon 2.8/21 is available with an EF bayonet (ZE), F bayonet (ZF) and a K bayonet (ZK). It is suitable for both digital and analog full-format SLR cameras.

Delivery of the Distagon T* 2.8/21 is scheduled to begin by the end of this year with the ZF and ZK version. Its selling price is estimated at 1,399 euros (incl. 19% German VAT).

Mamiya launches ZDb Digital Back

Cologne, Germany – September 2008Mamiya Digital Imaging has announced the next model of their digital back – called the Mamiya ZDb 22 megapixel Digital Back – will be shown at Photokina 2008. To further refine the successful Mamiya ZD Digital Back system, the R&D team at Mamiya has developed the new ZDb Digital Back with several useful enhancements.

To allow longer shooting sessions, the ZDb will have a buffer with up to twice the memory of the original ZD Digital Back – this means that you can continuously shoot up to 22 frames of full resolution RAW files before the buffer is full. The new back is now compatible with SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards that can store up to 32 gigabytes of images. The Mamiya ZDb Digital Back can also use SD, SDHC, CF I and CF II cards.

When used with the new Mamiya 645AFDIII, the ZDb Back will display the camera’s 35 custom function controls on the LCD panel. This will make custom camera settings fast and user-friendly. In addition, a beta version of the new Mamiya Remote Capture software will soon be downloadable from our homepage, www.mamiya.com. This software makes shooting tethered with the Mamiya ZDb Back faster and easier.

Boasting a 22 mega pixel Dalsa CCD sensor at an affordable price, the ZDb Digital Back allows the Mamiya 645AFDII, Mamiya 645AFDIII, RZ67Pro-IID and RB67Pro-SD to take razor-sharp digital images - transforming professional quality film cameras into high-end digital systems.

Pricing and delivery will be announced in the fall of 2008.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II Hands-on Preview


Preview based on a pre-production EOS 5D Mark II

Back in August 2005 Canon 'defined a new DSLR category' (their words) with the EOS 5D. Unlike any previous 'full frame' sensor camera, the 5D was the first with a compact body (i.e. not having an integral vertical grip) and has since then proved to be very popular, perhaps because if you wanted a full frame DSLR to use with your Canon lenses and you didn't want the chunky EOS-1D style body then the EOS 5D has been your only choice. Three years on and two competitors have turned up in the shape of the Nikon D700 and Sony DSLR-A900, and Canon clearly believes it's time for a refresh.

So here is the 5D Mark II, which punches high in terms of both resolution and features, headlining: 21 megapixels, 1080p video, 3.0" VGA LCD, Live view, higher capacity battery. In other words, a camera that aims to leapfrog both its direct rivals, either in terms of resolution (in the case of the D700) or features (in the case of the DSLR-A900). Full detail below.

Key features / improvements

  • 21 megapixel CMOS sensor (very similar to the sensor in the EOS-1Ds Mark III)
  • Sensor dust reduction by vibration of filter
  • ISO 100 - 6400 calibrated range, ISO 50 - 25600 expansion (1Ds Mark III & 5D max ISO 3200)
  • Auto ISO (100 - 3200) in all modes except manual
  • 3.9 frames per second continuous shooting
  • DIGIC 4 processor, new menus / interface as per the EOS 50D
  • Image processing features:
    • Highlight tone priority
    • Auto lighting optimizer (4 levels)
    • High ISO noise reduction (4 levels)
    • Lens peripheral illumination correction (vignetting correction)
  • RAW and SRAW1 (10 MP) / SRAW2 (5 MP)
  • RAW / JPEG selection made separately
  • Permanent display of ISO on both top plate and viewfinder displays
  • AF microadjustment (up to 20 lenses individually)
  • Three custom modes on command dial, Creative Auto mode
  • Image copyright metadata support
  • 98% coverage viewfinder (0.71x magnification)
  • 3.0" 920,000 dot LCD monitor with 'Clear View' cover / coatings, 170° viewing angle
  • Automatic LCD brightness adjustment (ambient light sensor)
  • Live view with three mode auto-focus (including face detection)
  • No mirror-flip for exposures in Live View if contrast detect AF selected
  • Movie recording in live view (1080p H.264 up to 12 minutes, VGA H.264 up to 24 mins per clip)
  • Two mode silent shooting (in live view)
  • New jump options in play mode
  • HDMI and standard composite (AV) video out
  • Full audio support: built-in mic and speaker, mic-in socket, audio-out over AV (although not HDMI)
  • IrPort (supports IR remote shutter release using optional RC1 / RC5 controllers)
  • UDMA CompactFlash support
  • New 1800 mAh battery with improved battery information / logging
  • New optional WFT-E4 WiFi / LAN / USB vertical grip
  • Water resistance: 10 mm rain in 3 minutes

Carl Zeiss不朽的经典-Carl Zeiss历史

摄影,我想不光是需要技术以及多么昂贵的摄影器材,更重要的,是对摄影的态度,一种心境,一份虔诚。

言归正传,研究历史:

蔡斯历史

Zeiss 今天也许已经没有如同过去般地辉煌,也许已经不在那麼热衷商业性的镜头(成本的考量),但在最顶尖的光 学领 域,她仍然是一枝独秀。 翻开这近百年来的光学设计史,彷佛就是一部活生生的蔡司史,几位大师级的科学家,如 E. Abbe, P. Rudolph, Otto Schott, H. Harting, C.P.Goerz, L.J.Bertele..等等都是光学设计史上的关键人物。 十九世纪末Robert Koch 博士利用蔡司显微镜发现杆菌是导致结核病的原因。1911年挪威探险家Roald Amundsen首开 人类 踏上南极大陆,他用蔡司望远镜看南极大陆。大到人造卫星的空照镜头,小至眼镜玻璃,Zeiss 对各种光学玻璃的 制作乃 至光学设计上的突破,都在在的显示她对人类科学的 贡献,成就非凡。

【蔡司光学史 & 年表】

时至今日,世界上优良的光学系统很多,并非全然Zeiss 设计的系统就是最好,但所有经典的作品中Zeiss 所占的比例最重 却也是个公认的事实。以下仅例举几项最经典,也最被广为讨论的光学设计。 光学设计始於英国,但在E.Abbe之前几乎没有什麼很严格的理论基础,完全是尝试错误与经验的累积,而制造者多半是 机械工匠与玻璃师傅。

1868 E.Abbe建立全新的设计理论,如 Sine relation;定义各种Distortion及Abberation, 并确立光学计算的方法。同年并制 造出史上第一支,经由理论计算的显微镜。

1881 E.Abbe与Otto Schott 合作,开始有系统地研究并开发各种光学级的玻璃。

1886 Schott公司出版史上第一本光学玻璃目录,生产44种不同特性的光学玻璃,并为往后的新光学设计打下基础。

1890 Rudolph与Abbo 研发出史上第一支消散光像差的设计,Anastigmat,这项惊人的成就敲开了近代光学设计的大门,其 功劳不亚於贝尔发明电话。数年后推出商业化镜头,Zeiss Protar及Zeiss Planar。

1902 Rudolph 改良 Anastigmat 而推出最著名的商业化镜头 Zeiss Tessar f6.3 1911 Zeiss Biotar f1.8,设计者为M.V.Rohr

1919 第一次世界大战结束。

1923 Zeiss APO-Tessar

1929 Zeiss Biotar f1.0及f0.85 注: 在没有电脑辅助设计以前,大光圈的高速镜头设计是项很繁琐的工作,其「追迹」所计算的数学资料有时候必须要 好几千张才能完成。

1932 Sonnar f1.5及f2.0,设计者为L.Bertele这是当时世界上结像品质最佳的高速镜头。

1936 Sonnar 180mm f2.8这是史上第一支高速望远镜头。 Smakula 首开先例,在镜片上利用真空镀膜技术镀上一层低折射率的抗反射膜 Antireflection Coat-ings)T Coating

1945 第二次世界大战结束。

1948 西德蔡司成立 1952 R.Richter设计出18×18cm,90°视角之pleogon这是有史以来结像品质最佳的空照 镜。

1954 L.Bertele设计出 90°视角,没有形变的超广角镜,这支Biogon真可算是光学设计 史上的艺术极品。 Biogon 21mm f4.5 for 35mm 片幅 Biogon 38mm f4.5 for 6×6 片幅 Biogon 53mm f4.5 for 6×9 片幅 Biogon 75mm f4.5 for 9×12片幅 1954 G.Lange 设计出全新5 片组的Planar 80mm f2.8(R-olleiflex)Planar 可算是中距离 镜头,大光圈光学设计的希望,时至今日有很多知名厂牌的 50mm f1.4或是 50mm f2 都是采用类似planar Double Gauss 的光学设计。

1960 Planar 55mm f1.4 for Contarex

1961 Zeiss 数学家E.Glatzel 发表全新电脑辅助光学设计方法。

1964 Distagon 40mm f4 (哈苏6×6) 1966 Hologon 15mm f8 (35mm SLR) Planar 50mm f0.7(35mm SLR) Distagon 18mm f4 (35mm SLR)

1972 Distagon 35mm f1.4(Contax)非球面 Planar 85mm f1.4(Contax) Planar 50mm f1.4(Contax) Distagon 15mm f3.5(Contax) 1974 电影机 35mm 用的Distagon 35mm f1.2 及Distagon25mm f1.2

1976 再推出35mm电影机用的超广角超大光圈镜头Distagon18mm f1.2,你能想像它是 什麼可怕的模样吗? Planar 110mm f2(哈苏)

1982 浮动元件设计的Distagon 40mm f4(哈苏)

1984 第二阶(Secondary Spectrum)完全消色差的Tele-Apotessar 300mm f2.8

(1984年后的光学设计不作补充说明)

卡尔·蔡司 其人

1203580493_2801c8af

卡尔·蔡司

一个仅高中毕业的学徒工;德国古镇耶拿(Jena),卡尔·蔡司的故乡。当初也许谁也没有想到古镇上的这位学徒会成为世界光学巨子。

因为多年对光学和化学的兴趣,在学徒期满之后,卡尔长期在当地的耶拿大学(粉不错的大学,度假的好地方,可惜计算机专业……)旁听。1846年,30岁的 卡尔创办了一个工作室,早期产品是放大镜片和简单的显微镜。得益于两位大科学家恩斯特·阿贝和奥托·肖特(听说过光学玻璃中大名鼎鼎的“肖特”玻璃吗?开 创者就是此老)的帮助,蔡司厂光学镜头的质量一直处于领先地位。二战以前设在德累斯顿的生产车间,是世界上生产规模最大的照相机工厂。

一波三折的经历

1945年2月14日晚上,灾难降临,德累斯顿(明年一定要去逛逛这个易北河畔的佛罗伦萨)照相机工厂被盟军炸毁。在二战将近结束时,巴顿将军的第三军团占领了耶拿,由于雅尔塔条约规定美军的位置必须后退向西移,德国被一分为二,耶拿和德累斯顿全部由苏军占领。

对于这个光学巨人的财富,俄国人当然不会让“美帝国主义”染指,作为战争赔偿,苏军拆除了剩下94%的工厂设备。在基辅建立了现在的Kiev( 基辅)照相机制造厂(借着这一丝血脉,俄罗斯镜头至今还能在光学领域占有一席之地)。

但是德国人的技术好像抢不走,在耶拿大学的支持下“Carl Zeiss Jena”的标志很快又出现了。当初被巴顿掠走的126名蔡司关键管理人员和技师,在美国的支持下,也在联邦德国(西德)的奥伯考亨重新建厂。卡尔·蔡司 在“资本主义”社会里也获得了新生,蔡司厂从此一分为二。

东德的产品冠名Carl Zeiss Jena(卡尔.蔡司.耶拿)史称“东蔡”,西德的产品冠名Carl Zeiss,史称“西蔡”,东、西蔡都标榜自己为是蔡司正宗,其实双方在设计上都秉承了蔡司传统。“塞翁失马,焉知非福”,正是这种竞争使得蔡司在光学技 术上的更臻完美。

两德统一后,东西德的蔡司厂又联系经营。总部仍在奥伯考亨,拥有员工3500名,同时在世界各地设有分厂。这时的蔡司双剑合壁,在光学领域已经是第一强 者。在135领域还尚有康太克斯与徕卡抗衡(康太克斯采用卡尔蔡司),但到了120领域Carl Zeiss 便称雄天下:哈苏、禄徕两大120巨头都使用卡尔蔡司镜头。进入数码时代,依靠蔡司的鼎力相助,原本是光学外行的索尼,摇身一变,成为消费级数码相机的业 界老大之一。

经典的缔造者

蔡司开创了镜头工业中的诸多经典设计。蔡司的创始师保罗·鲁道夫就是镜头制造史上最有名的设计师之一。1890年,他设计出第一只消像散正光摄影镜 (Anastigmat),开创了蔡司镜头的新纪元。1896年鲁道夫又发表了大名鼎鼎的普兰纳(Planar)双高斯结构的镜头,对各种镜头像差都进行 了出色的纠正。此后,世界各地生产的各种品牌的标准镜头(包括徕卡)无不借鉴普兰纳镜头的设计。

1902年,他又设计出四片三组的“鹰之眼”——天塞(Tessar)镜头,虽然结构简单、价格适中,成像质量惊世骇俗,明快锐利。

其他诸如广角镜头的典范Holgon、大光圈镜头的典范Sonnar(索尼DSC-F828的镜头正是基于Sonnar镜头结构设计的)、专为旁轴相机设计的Bio-gon等等,都是蔡司创造的经典名镜。光学产品只要沾了蔡司镜头的边就有市场,这就是事实。

在蔡司、徕卡的耀眼光环下,罗敦司德(Rodenstock)和施奈德(Schneider)在外行人眼里变的默默无闻。其实在德意志百年的光学传统工业 里曾经出现过大量的优秀品牌,但在蔡司、徕卡的垄断下大多凋零了,但罗敦司德和施奈德靠自己的一流的设计还坚强的存在。如果你看到哪款数码相机使用了罗敦 司德和施奈德的镜头,其他的不说,光学性能尽可放心。虽然有传闻说数码相机用的德国镜头都只不过是德国设计甚至授权,但就算镜头在日本或其他什么地方 OEM,德国人也会顾忌一点自己的面子,性能绝不会太离谱。

150 年历史的卡尔蔡司生产世界上屈指可数的高品质透镜。以其独有的色彩还原和成像特点令世界摄影爱好者爱不释手。HandyCam 里装备了变焦镜头 (Vario-Sonnar)(Vario-Tessa)。分辩率及对比性高,颜色还原出色,几乎没有四角失真现象。忠实提供高画质量摄影。同时,透镜 T*(T star)表面涂层,抑制无用反射光,使图像更鲜明。[Vario·Sonnar]达到MTF指标 ※ ,生产中为确保质量,在透镜块上编上序号,在严格的质量控制下逐一生产出来的。

"Tessar"镜头与天塞之父–保尔.鲁道夫

不论是东蔡斯Carl Zeiss Jena玩家,还是西蔡斯Carl Zeiss发烧友,大伙都很喜欢用一款号称“鹰眼”的天塞Tessar结构的镜头.

1902年,保尔.鲁道夫博士设计的Tessar镜头正式取得了Tessar的专利权.

1889年,耶拿Carl Zeiss公司的设计师Paul Rudolph博士提出了他的像场边缘像散矫正原则,第一支可以真正矫正像散的镜头于1890年被开发出来,这是一支广角镜,利用了高斯在1840年设计 的一款望远镜头的2组4片结构。Rudolph博士又先后在1897年和1900年设计出了Planar和Unar镜头,在1890至1900这十年,总 计有10000支非像散镜被销售出去。Zeiss公司生产的这些镜头均以Anastigmat为标记,由于这一名称未申请专利,为了防止仿造,Zeiss 公司从1900年起,用Protar、Planar和Unar这三个专利名称标记自己的非像散镜头。其中Unar是由四片独立的镜片组成,最前段放置一片 凸透镜,然后是一片凹透镜,两片半月板型透镜在镜头末端;Protar是由两组粘合在一起的非对称的镜组构成。1900年之后开发出的钡硅玻璃使得镜头不 仅能够矫正像散,同时还能得到平坦的像场。

1902年,Rudolph博士设计出了今天的寿星Tesser,它与Unar、Protar有着紧密的联系,这支镜头由4片镜片组成,两两一组不 对称的分布在光圈两边,其中前组是独立的两片玻璃,后组是由一片凹镜一片凸镜粘合而成,光线经前组镜片汇聚,再由后组的粘合平面发散投射到底片平面上。 Tessar镜头一直以来都被当作是Triplet镜头的改型,通过现代对光学历史的研究,我们又把Tessar镜头的起源追述到Portrait- Antilanet。

1902年Zeiss公司开始出售Tessar镜头,其中包括用于速拍的最大光圈为6.3的Tessar系列,以及用于翻拍的最大光圈为10的 Tessare系列。1905年和1906年设计师E.Wanderleb又将Tessar的最大光圈提升到了4.5和3.5,这些发展都是依靠新品种玻 璃的产生。1912年Wandersleb博士又进一步修正了Tessar镜头,使其更加流行,这时人们已经可以把Tessar安装在固定的大型座机上使 用。

1921年Tessar的计算数据被进一步调整,这一年Willy博士开发出了适合远摄的光圈分别为6.3和8的Tele-Tessar,这两款 Tele-Tessar的实际后截距要比镜头焦距短,它们并非典型的Tessar结构。只有后来为胶片机生产的Kino-Tele-Tessar和为 Contax生产的Tele-Tessar-K才是具有典型Tessar结构的望远镜头。为了适应航空摄影的需要,Zeiss在同年又推出了f 4.5/250 f5/500和f5/700这三支镜头。

1927年,Willy Merte博士将Tessar镜头的光圈进一步提升至1:2.7。当时这种新开发的Tessar镜头被用于大多数摄影机和照相机上。但与当时同样流行的 f/3.5相比,这种镜头的边缘成像清晰度略显不足。1931年,Zeiss公司用Bio-Tessar 1:2.8/135,1:2.8/165代替了1:2.7/120和1:2.7/165。新的Bio-Tessar是一种由Willy•Merte博士设 计的六片三组式消色差Triplet式镜头,镜头前组由一片凹透镜与一片凹凸透镜粘合而成,中间是一片独立的凹透镜,后组是由一片凹凸透镜,一片凹镜,一 片凸镜粘合而成,中间设置的独立的凹透镜可有效的改变像场边缘的相差问题。此后Zeiss又设计了Apo-Tessar f1:9/1200mm和用于翻拍的S-Tessare f6.3/1200mm。

30年代初,Willy.Metre博士为Zeiss设计出了专用于小画幅相机的Tessar镜头,这支镜头的结构来源于Tessar f3.5,只不过光圈提升至了1:2.8,这种镜头首先被用在Kolibri 3*4cm相机上,之后便被德雷斯顿的Zeiss Ikon相机厂生产的Contax1 型机作为标头使用。1934年Zeiss又开发出了前景组经镀膜的Tessar f2。1939进一步改进的Tessar通过对第6或7片镜片的矫形,使得Tessar f2在全开光圈是成像变形问题得到了更好的解决。在广角摄影领域,Zeiss为Contax设计了一款光圈为f1:8的28mm镜头,虽然光圈很小,但这 支镜头的成像角度已达到了75度。直至30年代末,Zeiss一直把Tessar当作自己生产的成像最为锐利的镜头,正如那时Zeiss的广告中所描述的 “Zeiss Tessar-相机的鹰眼”。

二战之后(1947年),Harry Zoellner博士(现Carl Zeiss Jena厂的技术总监),通过应用新开发的钍元素玻璃设计出了Tessar f2.8/5cm,1951年这款Tessar镜头才正式投入市场开始销售,与f3.5相比,除了光圈增大以外,在成像素质方面也达到了Tessar镜头 的一个新顶点。 1965年Harry Zoellner博士设计的Tessarf2.4,已经达到了当时光学水平的顶点,但是由于过大的光圈而带来像质损失,使得这支镜头的开发半途而废。

位于斯图加特附近的Carl Zeiss Oberkochen工厂,也在致力于Tessar镜头的开发,并且为Tessar系列镜头光学素质的提高做出了很大贡献,1956年 Wandersleb改进了1938年已获得专利的Tessar原始镜头的设计,生产出适合Contaflex 3/4的镜间快门型超级Tessar f4/35mm 以及f4/85mm。1962年超级Tessar的全开光圈又被提升至1:3.2。之后Zeiss公司修正了广角Tessar和望远Tessar的前镜 组,使得Tessar镜头终于可以系列化的应用于Contaxflex相机上,满足了各个焦段用户的需求。

至此Tessar镜头家族的组织性建设已基本完成,自50年代至今,已有更多的经过改进的Tessar镜头被摄影师所应用。同时,其它相机厂也纷纷 借鉴Tessar镜头的设计生产出了一系列的变形品种,这其中也包括Leitz公司早期的Elmar系列镜头。如果有谁想要收集Tessar镜头,那么目 前在世界上至少还有400多个不同品种的Tessar可供选择。

庞大的Tessar家族向人们展示了,光学技术的进步如何能使1840年的一支结构简单的四片镜,发展成为在今天的摄影领域仍然举足轻重的镜头。也 告诉我们,今天我们在商店里很容易就买到的镜头,无一例外都是经过光学工程师年复一年,甚至一辈接一辈的辛勤工作才设计出来的,在Tessar镜头百年诞 辰之际,让我们想它致敬,更想它身后的无数工程师们致敬。

卡尔蔡司照相机摄影镜头发展里程碑

1890-开始生产相机用镜头

1896-Paul Rudolph发展出Planar镜头的始祖

1902-Tessar镜头面世,后来这种镜头被称为"鹰眼"

1928-推出特别高速的BiotarF/1及F/0.85镜头,是专为X光摄影而设计

1932-推出高速的Sonnar F/2镜头,供Contax相机使用

1935-T镜头镀膜技术出现

1951-Flektogon广角镜出现,供单镜头反光相机PRAKTICA、 EXAKTA、PENTACON six使用

1954-Biogon F/4.5镜头出现,视角达90度

1962-蔡司镜头用于"水星8号(Mercury 8)"太空任务,成为第一只在太空使用的镜头

1963-出现Hologon F/8的设计,视角达106度(35mm片幅)

1966-世界上最大光圈的光学镜头50mm Planar F/0.7问世

1972-首支有色差矫正的Superachromat Sonnar 250mm F/5.6镜头面世

1980-首支能够达到1:1的Makro-Planar F/2.8微距镜头面世.而这镜头可适用于Contax的SLR上

1993-卡尔蔡斯开始生产高质量的变焦镜头[八十年代初东德的Zeiss Jena公司早己开始制造高品质的变焦镜头了

1996-Planar镜头百年纪念,推出限量生产的Planar 55mm F/1.2

关于德国百佳

第二次世界大战后,德国分裂成东德和西德。原来位于德累斯顿的ZEISS IKON AG. 也分为东德蔡司和西德蔡司两个公司。
东 德蔡司继续留在德累斯顿,由于两个蔡司为了相机名称的问题一直争论不休, 所以,在战后一直到60年代,东德蔡司的相机名称是比较混乱的。 比如1948 东德Zeiss厂发明第一代五棱镜平视单反135相机 Contax S 来说, 也是CONTAX/PENTACON混用了很长时间,还出现了CONSEL/HEXACON等名称, 当然,它们都是M42的罗口机,后来有出现了PRAKTINA/PENTINA/PORST REFLEK 等另类的机器,还有47年左右的PRAKTIFLEX,居然用的M40的罗口!
PRAKTICA 的名字最早出现在1949年的一款35毫米俯视取景的相机。 接下来,东德蔡司将这个M42接口的相机衍生出了许多系列,许多外型各异的机器, 一路洋洋洒洒,浩浩荡荡的生产到了1989年。加上数量庞大的蔡司镜头群, 使得M42罗口在很长的一段时间内成了统一世界的135单反的标准接口, 许多品牌的相机都曾效仿。

百佳产品型号、年份和销售数量

Model (型号) Year(年份) Quantity(数量)
Praktiflex 1938 240.000
Praktiflex,nera 1938 360.000
Praktica 1948 110.000
Praktica FX 1952 100.000
Praktica FX2/FX 1956 120.000
Praktica FX3 1957 100.000
Praktica IIA 1959 190.000
Praktica IV 1960 130.000
Praktica IVB series 1961 130.000
Praktica NOVA 1B 1965 110.000
Praktica Mat 1966 100.000
Praktica Super TL 1967 100.000
Praktica NOVA 1968 110.000
Praktica SUPER 1968 160.000
Praktica LLC 1969 150.000
Praktica VLC 1975 180.000
Praktica LTL3 1976 120.000
Praktica PLC2 1976 140.000
Praktica VLC2 1976 200.000
Praktica EE2 1977 130.000
Praktica MTL3 1979 100.000
Praktica PLC3 1979 150.000
Praktica VLC2 1979 210.000
Praktica B100 1980 130.000
Praktica B200 1981 160.000
Praktica BC1 1984 180.000
Praktica MTL5 1984 120.000
Praktica BCA 1986 120.000
Praktica BX20 1988 210.000
Praktica BMS 1989 150.000
Praktica BX20s 1990 320.000

关于M42卡口—世界的M42

我们是不是一直向往用一个机身通用各厂镜头?其实不夸张说,这个想法三十年前就已经实现了,那就是——M42螺口系统!

M42×1是三十年前风行一时的相机接口。它出现在二战前的德国,50年代起,由德国KW(Kamera-Werkstatten)推动此规格镜头 盛行于世。许多著名相机生产厂都生产过M42×1接口镜头,如西德的Carl Zeiss、Schneider、Schacht、Enna、Rodenstock、Voigtlander、Kilfitt,东德的Carl Zeiss Jena、Meyer、Pentacon,法国的Angenieux,日本的Pentax、Fujica、Mamiya、Olympus、 Yashica、Chinon、Cosina,美国的Vivitar等。目前俄罗斯和乌克兰还有M42螺口的镜头在生产,而且日本的Cosina公司又复 古地推出了以Voigtlander为品牌的多款M42镜头和机身,看来,世界大一统的想法至今未绝。

那个时代是机械相机技术发展、工艺完善的一个巅峰时代,不管是机身还是镜头,都把它当作工艺品一样精心制作。因为同用一种接口,所以竞争十分激烈。 镜头手感或成像稍不满意,用户就会换用别家的镜头,所以各个镜头生产厂都不惜成本,只为在竞争中领先。不像现在各个厂家都是各自为政,各有各的卡口,只能 自己和自己比,用户不满意就得连机身一起换系统。

正是因为这个原因,M42时期的各个厂家生产的镜头基本上都是精品,做工考究,成像优良。那时的镜头,基本都是全金属结构,调焦手感极佳。成像嘛, 现代镜头发展起来的是变焦技术,由此发展出了非球面镜和超低色散镜片。但这些技术对定焦镜头来说作用并不大,反而会大大增加成本,所以从成像质量来讲, 30年前的定焦镜头表现已然十分优秀。
那时的理念是用尽量少的镜片来设计出最优秀的镜头,关键在设计,所以出现了一批经典结构。而现在镜片是 能加就加,甚至个别镜头的镜片组合达到20片以上!那时的镜头全部用的是光学玻璃,而现在是模铸的甚至是有机玻璃的,再镀以增透膜,制造成本要比从前低多 了。比较起来,只有在抗眩光技术上,由于早期M42镜头缺少多层镀膜技术,所以比现代镜头明显差上一截。

M42机身由于是三、四十年,甚至是五十年前的东西了,测光元件老化是一个普遍现象,而且那时用的电池目前早已不生产了,即使找到测光正常的机身, 也得找现代电池替代。所以现在找二手的M42机身,不能苛求测光是否准确了,只能把它当纯手动相机来玩儿。我用过的M42机身有PENTAX SPF、FUJICA ST801、YASHICA TL ELECTRO X和最新出的Voigtlander Bessaflex TM。Voigtlander就不用说了,新机器嘛,各项指标都令人十分满意。这里单说说前三款老机器。

PENTAX SPF是M42机身的经典,1—1/1000秒的快门速度,外加B门、自拍,全开光圈测光、指针式测光显示。整机做工精致,手感极佳。缺点是对焦屏不是裂 像的,取景器稍暗。FUJICA ST801则弥补了以上的不足,对焦是裂像屏,取景器是M42机身里最亮的,而且快门速度达到1/2000秒,这在当时是不多见的。YASHICA TL ELECTRO X是一款电子快门的M42相机,现在可以用4节A76纽扣电池代替原来的PX28电池,因为不太严丝合缝,还要加上垫片,才能保证不会接触不良。它的快门 必须有电时才能正常工作,没电时只有一档1/60秒可用,此外还有反光镜手动预升功能。但我还是最喜欢PENTAX SPF,只因为它的操作手感最好。欧洲是M42的发源地,但欧洲生产的机身比日本的功能要少许多,反光镜震动也比较大,收藏价值已大于实用价值。

镜头方面,我将按焦距段来介绍几只我个人认为不错的M42镜头。

20mm~24mm:最有名的就是前东德的Carl Zeiss Jena MC Flektogon 20mmF2.8了,它成像柔润、色彩清丽,而且做到F2.8的大光圈,极为难得!我则比较喜欢PENTAX SMC TAKUMAR 20mm F4.5镜头,它色彩鲜艳、成像锐利。PENTAX做事比较严谨,没有追求大光圈,而是把重点放在了控制畸变上,别看是20mm广角,畸变控制却非常好。 PENTAX SMC TAKUMAR 24mm F3.5镜头有其同门师兄20mm F4.5的一切优点,而且24mm这个焦距比20mm好控制,所以是我使用率较高的镜头之一。

28mm~35mm:PENTAX SMC TAKUMAR 28mm F3.5镜头按说比24mm F3.5要好做,但据我实拍,它的成像却比不上24mm F3.5,不知是不是特例。PENTAX SMC TAKUMAR的35mm镜头有两只,分别是35mm F3.5 和35mm F2。35mm F3.5是我用过的最顺手、成像最优秀的M42接口35mm镜头。35mm F2稍差,不够锐,颜色发黄。Carl Zeiss Jena有一只MC Flektogon 35mm F2.4,成像也很不错。

50mm~55mm:俗话说“标头无弱旅”,我用过的不下10只M42标头没有一款差劲儿的,这里就不一一列举了。
85mm~135mm: 这个焦距段常被称为人像镜头。85mm镜头的价格曾被人为炒得极高,是性价比最不合理的镜头,但因为它最适合拍半身人像,还是极受用户的追捧。Carl Zeiss Jena MC Pancolar 80mm F1.8和PENTAX SMC TAKUMAR 85mm F1.8都是难得一见的好镜头,价格当然也极高。价格因素是我至今还没找到合适的85mm镜头试拍的原因。135mm这个焦距很容易做,有许多杂牌小厂都 生产过此焦距镜头,价钱也很便宜。但要做到大光圈、成像又好也不是件容易的事。我的135mm镜头比较多,所以多说两句。我目前有Carl Zeiss Jena MC Sonnar 135mm F3.5、Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135mm F3.5斑马头、A.Schacht Ulm Edixa-Mat-Travenar 135mm F3.5、ISCO-GOTTINGEN Berolina-Tele-Westanar 135mm F3.5和PENTAX SMC TAKUMAR 135mm F2.5。我分别把它们和我的一只C/Y卡口的Carl Zeiss T* Sonnar 135mm F2.8镜头比较了一下,其中的PENTAX SMC TAKUMAR 135mm F2.5脱颖而出,如果Zeiss镜头的成像得95分的话,那TAKUMAR至少能得90分,而且调焦和使用手感比Zeiss镜头一点不差!

200mm~300mm:由于技术原因,那个时期长焦镜头的最近对焦距离都比较远,大约是现代同焦距镜头的一倍左右,所以实用性不够强。

在欧洲,几大镜头生产厂也都生产过42螺口镜头,经典好镜头也有许多,但由于国内极少见到,即使见到,价格也比国外市场高出许多,所以本人试用过的仅寥寥几只,总体感觉是:手感不错,成像风格与日本镜头有很大的差别,这是否就是所谓的“德头风味”不得而知。

M42镜头还有一个极大的优势,就是可以利用转接环转接到现代机身上使用,甚至最新的数码单反相机。目前据我所知,可以转接到佳能EOS、佳能 FD、美能达MD,美能达AF、宾得PK、康太时C/Y、柯尼卡AR、富士卡X、百佳PB等卡口机身,多数镜头在用于光圈优先、手动曝光等模式时,只需手 动对焦和收缩光圈测光,其它功能并不损失。
综合起来讲,所有的M42镜头手感都很好,成像也不差,价格便宜,又能加上转接环和现代机身通用, 可以说是目前二手市场上性价比极高的镜头群。玩儿M42,不只因为它便宜,主要是M42中藏有太多的故事,玩儿它的同时,就能了解三、四十年前的那段历 史。复古也罢,怀旧也罢,玩儿的就是那种感觉。

曾经有位朋友说过这样几句话,感触颇深,摘抄下来与大家共勉:的确,时代不同了,如今的厂商早已经没有了将相机和镜头当作工艺品来精心制作的心态, 他们现在一心只想着压低成本、扩大产量。而在螺口相机的时代,相机的的确确是一件奢侈品。那个时代的产品中所凝聚的匠心,远不是现在大规模自动化生产线的 产物所能比拟的。另外,当我们今天有幸拿到这些品相完美的老产品时,在赞叹其精湛工艺的同时,也不能不对如此精心爱护和使用它们的原主人表示极大的敬意! 正是有了他们的珍惜,我们这些晚辈才能够在近半个世纪后,得到如此完美的心爱之物。

对着灯光看镜头时,发现由于镜片结构不同,镀膜不同,反射的光线也五颜六色,各式各样,好看之极。忽发奇想:要是把这些反光照下来,该多漂亮?于是支开三脚架,多打了几盏射灯,一张张带着美丽光影的镜头正面照就完成了。在电脑上合成在一起,真是爽心悦目!

一个不得不提的名字—CONTAX

CONTAX简史

Saale河仍然流过德国工业城镇耶拿(Jena),这是Carl Zeiss基金会的故乡,耶拿就像那河流一样,尽管时光流逝,容颜未改。

1846年,Zeiss先生在这里创建了他的工作室,为耶拿大学制造高质量的放大镜片,就从这寒酸的陋室开始,Carl Zeiss作坊逐渐成长为世界上最大和最为领先的光学公司。
Carl Zeiss于1816年9月11日出生在图林根州(Thuringia States)的魏玛市(Weimar)。他父亲是魏玛王朝时代一个车削车间的工厂管理人员。卡尔在魏玛高级中学就读,并完成了六级课程。毕业后不久,他 自愿给Frederick Koerner博士做学徒,Koerner博士当时正在研究用于望远镜目镜的玻璃。在学徒期满后,卡尔被耶拿大学短期聘用,并作为大学的旁听生。

从此,Zeiss开始了镜片制造的理论研究。在随后的几年里,Zeiss访问了斯图加特(Stuttgart)、达木斯塔特 (Darmstadt)、韦恩(Wein)和柏林(Berlin)等城市里玻璃和镜片制造商,做了大量的笔记,内容涉及玻璃熔炼、材料、烧制温度和任何与 玻璃制造、显微镜和其他光学仪器有关的题材。

他回到曾经在那里学习化学和数学的耶拿大学后,1846年,Zeiss刚满30岁,他开始在耶拿建立了工作室,有20个雇员,早期产品是放大镜片和 简单的显微镜。1858年开始生产复合型显微镜。Carl Zeiss赢得了高质量产品的声誉,并于1861年在图林根州的展览会上获得了金牌。

Carl Zeiss所有的工作都是凭经验,既试错法来完成的。显然这种生产方法要消耗大量的时间和浪费大量的材料。Zeiss相信会有种科学的方法,能够更精确、 可预见和更经济地生产镜片。Zeiss对此进行了五年的努力,最终无功而返。于是在1866年,他访问了耶拿大学,在那里遇到了当时在大学作讲师的 Ernst Abbe.

Ernst Karl Abbe生于1840年元月23日,出生在Eisenach。Abbe在21岁时就毕业于Goettengen大学,1863年到耶拿大学工作,于 1870年成为物理和数学教授。1878年成为天文和气象台的主管。1866年Abbe就以研究导师的身份加入了Zeiss的工作室,两人开始研究生产光 学产品的科学基础结构。经过六年对新型光学玻璃的研究,终于在1872年制造出无与伦比的复合显微镜。这台仪器是今天所有现代复合显微镜的鼻祖。

在开始生产Carl Zeiss复合显微镜的第二年,1873年,Abbe发表了一篇科学论文,对如何设计完美的复合式显微镜的数学方法作了详细的描述,第一次详细地叙述了光 学设计中的像差、衍射、慧型像差等内容。Abbe对光学过程描述得如此详细,以至于这篇论文成为了现代光学的基础。作为其发明的奖励,Carl Zeiss于1876年邀请Abbe作为合作者。
1879年,Abbe邀请了第三个合作伙伴Freidrick Otto Schott加入其阵营,共同致力于改进显微镜。当时Freidrick Otto Schott正在研究将锂加入到一种新型的光学玻璃,并致函给Abbe,说明其进展。Abbe博士立刻对这种新型玻璃产生了兴趣,随即对玻璃进行了测试, 并高度地赞扬了Schott的研究结果。他们两人很快见了面,并形成了维系他们后半生的协议。Schott专门生产用于新型Carl Zeiss显微镜的玻璃,1884年建立了一个全面的工厂,其所有权归属于Carl Zeiss、Ernst Abbe和Freidrick Otto Schott,称为Jena Schott & Genossen光学工厂。Schott研制出100多种不同类型的光学玻璃,还有多种用于装饰及功能性玻璃。从此耶拿玻璃成为世界上最有名的玻璃。

我们是不是一直向往用一个机身通用各厂镜头?其实不夸张说,这个想法三十年前就已经实现了,那就是——M42螺口系统!

M42×1是三十年前风行一时的相机接口。它出现在二战前的德国,50年代起,由德国KW(Kamera-Werkstatten)推动此规格镜头 盛行于世。许多著名相机生产厂都生产过M42×1接口镜头,如西德的Carl Zeiss、Schneider、Schacht、Enna、Rodenstock、Voigtlander、Kilfitt,东德的Carl Zeiss Jena、Meyer、Pentacon,法国的Angenieux,日本的Pentax、Fujica、Mamiya、Olympus、 Yashica、Chinon、Cosina,美国的Vivitar等。目前俄罗斯和乌克兰还有M42螺口的镜头在生产,而且日本的Cosina公司又复 古地推出了以Voigtlander为品牌的多款M42镜头和机身,看来,世界大一统的想法至今未绝。

那个时代是机械相机技术发展、工艺完善的一个巅峰时代,不管是机身还是镜头,都把它当作工艺品一样精心制作。因为同用一种接口,所以竞争十分激烈。 镜头手感或成像稍不满意,用户就会换用别家的镜头,所以各个镜头生产厂都不惜成本,只为在竞争中领先。不像现在各个厂家都是各自为政,各有各的卡口,只能 自己和自己比,用户不满意就得连机身一起换系统。

正是因为这个原因,M42时期的各个厂家生产的镜头基本上都是精品,做工考究,成像优良。那时的镜头,基本都是全金属结构,调焦手感极佳。成像嘛, 现代镜头发展起来的是变焦技术,由此发展出了非球面镜和超低色散镜片。但这些技术对定焦镜头来说作用并不大,反而会大大增加成本,所以从成像质量来讲, 30年前的定焦镜头表现已然十分优秀。

那时的理念是用尽量少的镜片来设计出最优秀的镜头,关键在设计,所以出现了一批经典结构。而现在镜片是能加就加,甚至个别镜头的镜片组合达到20片 以上!那时的镜头全部用的是光学玻璃,而现在是模铸的甚至是有机玻璃的,再镀以增透膜,制造成本要比从前低多了。比较起来,只有在抗眩光技术上,由于早期 M42镜头缺少多层镀膜技术,所以比现代镜头明显差上一截。

M42机身由于是三、四十年,甚至是五十年前的东西了,测光元件老化是一个普遍现象,而且那时用的电池目前早已不生产了,即使找到测光正常的机身, 也得找现代电池替代。所以现在找二手的M42机身,不能苛求测光是否准确了,只能把它当纯手动相机来玩儿。我用过的M42机身有PENTAX SPF、FUJICA ST801、YASHICA TL ELECTRO X和最新出的Voigtlander Bessaflex TM。Voigtlander就不用说了,新机器嘛,各项指标都令人十分满意。

经典的三款老机器

PENTAX SPF是M42机身的经典,1—1/1000秒的快门速度,外加B门、自拍,全开光圈测光、指针式测光显示。整机做工精致,手感极佳。缺点是对焦屏不是裂 像的,取景器稍暗。FUJICA ST801则弥补了以上的不足,对焦是裂像屏,取景器是M42机身里最亮的,而且快门速度达到1/2000秒,这在当时是不多见的。YASHICA TL ELECTRO X是一款电子快门的M42相机,现在可以用4节A76纽扣电池代替原来的PX28电池,因为不太严丝合缝,还要加上垫片,才能保证不会接触不良。它的快门 必须有电时才能正常工作,没电时只有一档1/60秒可用,此外还有反光镜手动预升功能。但我还是最喜欢PENTAX SPF,只因为它的操作手感最好。欧洲是M42的发源地,但欧洲生产的机身比日本的功能要少许多,反光镜震动也比较大,收藏价值已大于实用价值。

镜头方面,我将按焦距段来介绍几只我个人认为不错的M42镜头。

20mm~24mm:最有名的就是前东德的Carl Zeiss Jena MC Flektogon 20mmF2.8了,它成像柔润、色彩清丽,而且做到F2.8的大光圈,极为难得!我则比较喜欢PENTAX SMC TAKUMAR 20mm F4.5镜头,它色彩鲜艳、成像锐利。PENTAX做事比较严谨,没有追求大光圈,而是把重点放在了控制畸变上,别看是20mm广角,畸变控制却非常好。 PENTAX SMC TAKUMAR 24mm F3.5镜头有其同门师兄20mm F4.5的一切优点,而且24mm这个焦距比20mm好控制,所以是我使用率较高的镜头之一。

28mm~35mm:PENTAX SMC TAKUMAR 28mm F3.5镜头按说比24mm F3.5要好做,但据我实拍,它的成像却比不上24mm F3.5,不知是不是特例。PENTAX SMC TAKUMAR的35mm镜头有两只,分别是35mm F3.5 和35mm F2。35mm F3.5是我用过的最顺手、成像最优秀的M42接口35mm镜头。35mm F2稍差,不够锐,颜色发黄。Carl Zeiss Jena有一只MC Flektogon 35mm F2.4,成像也很不错。

50mm~55mm:俗话说“标头无弱旅”,我用过的不下10只M42标头没有一款差劲儿的,这里就不一一列举了。

85mm~135mm:这个焦距段常被称为人像镜头。85mm镜头的价格曾被人为炒得极高,是性价比最不合理的镜头,但因为它最适合拍半身人像,还 是极受用户的追捧。Carl Zeiss Jena MC Pancolar 80mm F1.8和PENTAX SMC TAKUMAR 85mm F1.8都是难得一见的好镜头,价格当然也极高。价格因素是我至今还没找到合适的85mm镜头试拍的原因。135mm这个焦距很容易做,有许多杂牌小厂都 生产过此焦距镜头,价钱也很便宜。但要做到大光圈、成像又好也不是件容易的事。我的135mm镜头比较多,所以多说两句。我目前有Carl Zeiss Jena MC Sonnar 135mm F3.5、Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135mm F3.5斑马头、A.Schacht Ulm Edixa-Mat-Travenar 135mm F3.5、ISCO-GOTTINGEN Berolina-Tele-Westanar 135mm F3.5和PENTAX SMC TAKUMAR 135mm F2.5。我分别把它们和我的一只C/Y卡口的Carl Zeiss T* Sonnar 135mm F2.8镜头比较了一下,其中的PENTAX SMC TAKUMAR 135mm F2.5脱颖而出,如果Zeiss镜头的成像得95分的话,那TAKUMAR至少能得90分,而且调焦和使用手感比Zeiss镜头一点不差!

200mm~300mm:由于技术原因,那个时期长焦镜头的最近对焦距离都比较远,大约是现代同焦距镜头的一倍左右,所以实用性不够强。

在欧洲,几大镜头生产厂也都生产过42螺口镜头,经典好镜头也有许多,但由于国内极少见到,即使见到,价格也比国外市场高出许多,所以本人试用过的仅寥寥几只,总体感觉是:手感不错,成像风格与日本镜头有很大的差别,这是否就是所谓的“德头风味”不得而知。

M42镜头还有一个极大的优势,就是可以利用转接环转接到现代机身上使用,甚至最新的数码单反相机。目前据我所知,可以转接到佳能EOS、佳能 FD、美能达MD,美能达AF、宾得PK、康太时C/Y、柯尼卡AR、富士卡X、百佳PB等卡口机身,多数镜头在用于光圈优先、手动曝光等模式时,只需手 动对焦和收缩光圈测光,其它功能并不损失。

综合起来讲,所有的M42镜头手感都很好,成像也不差,价格便宜,又能加上转接环和现代机身通用,可以说是目前二手市场上性价比极高的镜头群。玩儿 M42,不只因为它便宜,主要是M42中藏有太多的故事,玩儿它的同时,就能了解三、四十年前的那段历史。复古也罢,怀旧也罢,玩儿的就是那种感觉。

曾经有位朋友说过这样几句话,感触颇深,摘抄下来与大家共勉:的确,时代不同了,如今的厂商早已经没有了将相机和镜头当作工艺品来精心制作的心态, 他们现在一心只想着压低成本、扩大产量。而在螺口相机的时代,相机的的确确是一件奢侈品。那个时代的产品中所凝聚的匠心,远不是现在大规模自动化生产线的 产物所能比拟的。另外,当我们今天有幸拿到这些品相完美的老产品时,在赞叹其精湛工艺的同时,也不能不对如此精心爱护和使用它们的原主人表示极大的敬意! 正是有了他们的珍惜,我们这些晚辈才能够在近半个世纪后,得到如此完美的心爱之物。

对着灯光看镜头时,发现由于镜片结构不同,镀膜不同,反射的光线也五颜六色,各式各样,好看之极。忽发奇想:要是把这些反光照下来,该多漂亮?于是支开三脚架,多打了几盏射灯,一张张带着美丽光影的镜头正面照就完成了。在电脑上合成在一起,真是爽心悦目!

东德百佳所配套的Pentacon,Carl Zeiss Jena镜头资料

介绍:

当Praktica B 系列照相机推出的时候,它们附带一系列名为Praticar的镜头。这些镜头的制造者是carl Zeiss Jena,Pentacon和日本的Sigma。后来,Pentacon也从日本的Cimko和Cosina公司定制变焦镜头。德国统一之后,Carl Zeiss Jena就不再制造Praticar镜头了。接着,德国Schneider Dresden 公司控制的韩国Samyang公司,被选中为Pentacon制造变焦镜。或许,以后,Schneider公司会制造PB卡口的镜头。

  • Pentacon Prakticar 镜头:

Meyer光学是融合在Pentacon集团中的一家公司。当Carl Zeiss Jena镜头保持独立的时候,Meyer 光学的产品完全融合到了Pentacon集团。所以,当Praktica B系列推出的时候,镜头上不在标示Meyer-Optik,而是"pntacon Prakticar".德国统一之后,Schneider Dresden继续制造一些

  • Pentacon Prakticar镜头:

光圈/焦距 滤镜直径 重量 制造者 评论2.8/28mm 49mm 240g DDR/Germany 产量很大,后期产品使用塑料镜桶,1.8/50mm 49mm 230g DDR/Germany 后期产品使用塑料镜桶,2.4/50mm 49mm 160g DDR/Germany 薄饼风格的镜头。2个版本,其中之一长出4mm,2.8/135mm 55mm 465g DDR/Gernamy 产量很大,后期产品使用塑料镜桶,4/200mm 58mm 670g DDR 只有原型产品,5.6/500mm 118mm 3500g DDR M42卡口,Pre-set光圈

注意1: 未经正式的传言说50mm f:2.4现在由罗马尼亚生产

注意2: 50mm f:1.8和135mm f:2.8在德国统一后一度可以从Pentacon获得,但停止了。

注意3:有些版本的28mm f2.8,50mm f:1.8,135mm f:1.8标示"Carl Zeiss Jena P",这是为了配合JenaFlex.

注意4:Schneider-Dresden 成立短时间之后,至少28mm f:2.8被标示为"Meyer-optic made in Germany"

Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar 镜头

德国统一之后,Praktica和Carl Zeiss Jena生产设备被卖给了不同的公司,所以Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar镜头的生产停止了.

光圈/焦距 滤镜直径 重量 产地 评论

2.8/20mm 67mm 310g DDR 由Flektogon 设计

2.4/28mm 49mm 350g DDR 浮动镜片. 非常稀少

2.4/35mm 49mm 255g DDR 由Flektogon 设计

1.4/50mm 52mm 320g DDR

1.8/50mm 49mm 230g DDR Pentacon 把它标示为 CZJ 以配合Jenaflex(?)

2.8/50mm 49mm 150g DDR 薄饼风格. 只有原型.

2.8/55mm 49mm 250g DDR

1.8/80mm 52mm 310g DDR

3.5/135mm 49mm 310g DDR

2.8/200mm 72mm 850g DDR 非常稀少.

4.0/300mm 72mm 900g DDR

5.6/1000mm N/A 12Kg DDR Mirror lens. M42 卡口.

2.7-3.5/35-70mm 58mm 410g DDR 真正的 Carl Zeiss Jena 变焦镜.

4.0/80-200mm 52mm 640g DDR 真正的 Carl Zeiss Jena 变焦镜

光圈/焦距 滤镜直径 重量 产地 评论

2.8-4/35-70mm 52mm 380g Japan

4.0-5.6/55-200mm 52mm 420g Japan

4.0-5.6/55-200mmAF 52mm ? Japan 自动对焦版本

4.5/70-210mm 52mm 480g Japan

4.5-5.6/80-200mm ? ? Japan

注意:上述镜头由Pentacon出售时标示为Pentacon Prakticar,同时也由Sigma和其它独立镜头厂商出售.

由三洋(samyang,韩国)制造的Prakicar镜头光圈/焦距 滤镜直径 重量 产地 评论

4.0-4.5/18-28mm 72mm 490g 韩国

3.5-4.5/28-70mm 55mm 370g 韩国

4.0-5.6/28-200mm 67mm 810g 韩国

3.5-4.5/35-70mm 52mm 310g 韩国

4.0-5.6/70-210mm 52mm 450g 韩国

4.0-5.6/75-300mm 55mm 730g 韩国

注意: The lenses available in the present from Pentacon, are the ones listedin the above table plus the 28mm f:2.8, 50mmf:2.4.

上述镜头由Pentacon出售时标示为Pentacon Prakticar,同时也由samyang厂出售,不过很稀少.Pentacon也用Exakta商标出售这些镜头.它也提供韩国制造的28mm f:2.8,也是Exakta商标.

其它镜头

倍增镜:存在2x远摄倍增镜,由日本Kenko制造.Pentacon出售时打Prakticar和Exakta商标.由sigma 制造的倍增镜有时也有出售.Tamron 镜头:腾龙提供Adaptall II转接环,以便在PB卡口照相机上使用他们的镜头.(Adaptall II Mount model 14c)M42×1镜头pentacon制造了接环,允许M42×1镜头可以在PB卡口照相机上使用.它有电子触点,照相机可以完成stepped- down测距.

T卡口镜头:没有针对PB卡口照相机的T卡口镜头接环.理论上可以使用2个转接环完成(PB转M42,M42转T)

T2卡口镜头:韩国Samyang 制造了转接环,可以在PB卡口照相机上使用T2卡口的镜头,但这个接环没有电子触点,所以照相机无法自动测距.

Improve Your Photos by Cropping

It works especially well on faces because when you fill the frame with your subject’s face, there is less clutter to draw the viewer’s eye away from the pleasing face.

Cropping does almost the same thing. It allows you to improve your photos by eliminating the distractions or clutter.

Eliminate Clutter and Emphasize Subjects

Sometimes your photos have extra elements that don’t add much to the photo and can distract from your main subject. Cropping is a fantastic way to eliminate these extras.

As an example, the foreground bushes in the windmill photo distract your eye from the main subject and remove some of the impact from the image. By cropping the photo to just the windmill, there is less clutter in the image and my intended subject (the windmill) stands out more.

Crop To Improve Composition

Notice I cropped the windmill image with the Rule of Thirds in mind.

I have spoken about the Rule of Thirds previously. Try to crop an image so that the main subject (our windmill) sites on a third line. This technique can also liven a dull photo by moving a subject that may be in the middle of the frame to be slightly out of frame; or onto one of the rule of third lines.

Changing the composition has other benefits. If you zoom in on certain parts of an image, you also change the emphasis on the photo. In the below crop, I have changed the emphasis of the image completely by cropping the mother and concentrating on the child.



Cropping Wide or High

Don’t get stuck with the standard dimensions of a ‘normal’ photo when cropping. Feel free to construct an image that looks more panoramic than the original by making the image a lot wider than it is high. Or choose a crop that is a lot higher than it is wide. You can even make a vertical image from a horizontal image.

This technique works very well when you have a lot of sky or water in your image. Crop the sky out leaving just the interesting parts.

Crop the image
two different ways.
Taller or Wider.

Beware of cropping too much

Be careful how much you crop. Whenever you remove parts of an image, you are eliminating pixels resulting in less pixels than the original. If you chop too much off, and then try to print the smaller photo back at the original size, you can notice some degradation of quality or lack of crispness. It does depend on the number of mega pixels in your original photo and how large you wish to print the cropped photo so if unsure, test it first.

Finally, make a copy of your image before cropping it. You always want to keep a copy of the original just in case you need it again… or you aren’t happy with your crop!

Beware of Malaysia Taxi!!!

caution is best....


Air purifier in Malaysia taxis
( Must Read for your own safety!! )
No matter the taxi driver is chinese, malay or indian, PLEASE BE AWARE!
If you notice that there is a sound of spray of perfume or air purifier inside the taxi, PLEASE GET DOWN from the TAXI IMMEDIATELY!!

It just happened to me just now. It was about 12.45 am . I got into a taxi driven by a malay man. I was in the taxi for a few minutes, I suddenly heard of a sound of spray and there was a smell like air purifier. I felt weird as to why the driver put two types of air purifiers in his taxi. The smell immediately reminded me about this forwarded email that I read. I started to be aware of my surroundings. But the puff of the purifier kept appearing every few minutes. I was very worried and scared.

Gradually, I sensed that my body started to feel weaker and weaker. The purifier kept puffing from the back seat, just right behind me. As I really felt my whole body is weaken, I asked the driver to let me get down at the side road. But he kept trying to talk to me and ask me why not dropping me off at my destination. I think he was trying to drag the time. To my horror, I felt both of my hands and legs got numbed and no energy, almost could not move.

When I talked to the driver, I could not even speak properly, not to say to shout for help, 'cos I was really too weak... Immediately, at a traffic light I opened the door, jumped out and ran to a passer-by for help.

I really thank God for saving me. If not, I really can't imagine what would have happened to me. I am traumatized by this incident.

This is TRUE case. Please do keep in mind! IT IS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY!
I feel the need to share with you guys, no matter you are men or women 'cos it is NOT a LIE , not a made-up story. It really happened. Do let your friends, family members and relatives know about this case. I believe you are just like me, don't wish anybody to be the victim of this case.

'Please be aware when aboard to a taxi, especially the ladies.'

I received an email some months ago about a lady getting into a cab and felt uneasy and become faint when she smelt something like incense being burnt. She was smart enough to order the taxi to stop immediately and after throwing some money at the taxi man quickly get out of the taxi. She later got to know that if she had not stopped the taxi and gotten out, she would have fainted and raped by the taxi man (or a gang of rapists)!

After reading this, I thought maybe this was one of those emails that you would read and just forget about it, but I was wrong!

Few weeks ago, a visitor to our Chinese church who stayed in Puchong got into a taxi driven by an Indian man. When she sat into the taxi, there was a little burner and she could smell incense burning in the taxi. After awhile, she felt weak and unable to speak or shout. The Indian taxi man drove to a lonely road where there was hardly anyone and raped her. Before she was completely knocked out, she was told by the taxi guy that she was his number six victim. She was not only raped but also robbed!

When she was conscious again, she quickly went to see a doctor. The sad thing is, the doctor knew she was raped but did not advise her what to do. The doctor just let her make the decision to make or not to make a police report. Since she does not know the rapist name and also the taxi number and in great fear after this trauma, she told the doctor that she would not dare to report to the police. The doctor said since she dare not make the report, he would just have to destroy the medical report!

Because the rapist took her whole bag with her IC in it, he got her address and even has the guts to come straight to her house and try to be funny with her.

Please remember not to get into a taxi that smells funny and if possible don't get into a taxi alone, and if you have to do so, give a call or sms back to your friends or relatives and let them know the taxi registration number and if possible, the name of the taxi man.

AND OPEN THE WINDOW!

Gals... please take note and...
Guys... please forward to your female friends...

Olympus Zuiko Digital 12-60mm 1:2.8-4.0 review



The Digital Zuiko ED 12-60mm 1:2.8-4.0 SWD is Olympus's latest upmarket standard zoom, announced to accompany its E-3 flagship DSLR in October 2007. Firmly placed in what Olympus refers to as its 'Pro' lens lineup, this lens offers a near-ideal focal length range for a standard zoom (24mm to 120mm in 35mm-equivalent terms), combining a useful wideangle for landscapes and architecture with a telephoto extending nicely into the classic 'portrait' range. Hopefully this 5x zoom range isn't so ambitious as to introduce unacceptable optical compromises. The optical configuration is sufficiently exotic to offer great hopes in this regard; the lens boasts no fewer than three extra-low dispersion (ED) glass elements, one of which is aspherical, coupled with two further aspherical elements, and as the icing on the cake one Super ED glass element. Clearly Olympus has adopted a "no holds barred" approach to lens design here, which can only be applauded.

This lens also sees Olympus finally adopting the now near-ubiquitous ultrasonic motor for focusing, here dubbed the 'Supersonic Wave Drive', and (according to their press material at least) offering the world's fastest autofocus when used with the E-3. This in turn allows the use of a mechanically-coupled manual focus ring, in a welcome contrast to the somewhat-unloved 'focus-by-wire' mechanisms on its previous lenses. Further headline features include dust and splashproofing for protection against the elements, a 25cm close focusing distance, and a circular aperture diaphragm promising pleasing background blur. On paper at least, this makes for a hugely compelling overall package.

Of course the 12-60mm has a hard act to follow, as the spiritual successor to the highly regarded 14-54mm F2.8-3.5, which was the standard kit lens for the E-1. In comparison, the newcomer offers extended range at both wideangle and telephoto, improved focusing, and even better macro performance, but at the expense of a slightly dimmer maximum aperture throughout the range. Of course this all comes at a price, and the 12-60mm is by no means cheap; so do the optics justify the price tag?

Use of the Panasonic L10 as Four Thirds test body

We have chosen to use the Panasonic L10 as our standard test body for Four Thirds lenses purely because it gives the highest numbers in our resolution tests (which we believe is most likely due to it having a relatively weak anti-aliasing filter); this is intended simply to provide the fairest comparison to other manufacturers' systems. The samples gallery contains images taken using various camera bodies (Olympus E-3, Olympus E-510, and Panasonic L-10).

Headline features

  • 24-120mm equivalent focal length range
  • Relatively fast 2.8-4.0 maximum aperture
  • Four Thirds mount for Olympus and Panasonic DSLRs

Olympus Zuiko Digital 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 ED review


The Zuiko Digital 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 ED is the standard kit lens which Olympus supply with their lower-tier DSLRs, including the E-420 and E-510. Announced in September 2006 to accompany the launch of the E-400, it shares that camera's defining characteristic, being remarkably compact in size. Indeed it takes advantage of the relatively small size of the Four Thirds sensor to be comfortably the smallest and lightest DSLR zoom lens currently available, great for those users who wish their camera systems to be as portable as possible.

However despite its diminutive size, the 14-42mm still packs in some fairly exotic optics to deal with aberrations, in the shape of one extra-low dispersion (ED) glass element and two aspheric elements. It also incorporates a circular aperture diaphragm, which Olympus claim should provide 'beautiful rendition' of defocused areas of the image, and indeed consider to be one of the big advantages of this lens. The icing on the cake is an internal focusing system with a proper manual focus ring and a non-rotating front element, always a positive point for those photographers who like to use filters.

Olympus have long had a reputation for the quality of their lenses, plus a proven track record in the design of small but highly capable cameras and lenses (exemplified by such 1970s classics as the OM system SLRs and XA rangefinders), so the 14-42mm comes with a solid pedigree behind it. But as always with kit lenses, the biggest question is whether Olympus have cut corners unacceptably with either the optics or mechanics, in a drive to keep costs to a minimum. Let's find out.

Use of the Panasonic L10 as Four Thirds test body

We have chosen to use the Panasonic L10 as our standard test body for Four Thirds lenses purely because it gives the highest numbers in our resolution tests (which we believe is most likely due to it having a relatively weak anti-aliasing filter); this is intended simply to provide the fairest comparison to other manufacturers' systems. The samples gallery contains images taken using various camera bodies (Olympus E-3, Olympus E-510, and Panasonic L-10).

Headline features

  • 28-84mm equivalent focal length range
  • 'Focus by wire' manual focus system
  • Four Thirds mount for Olympus and Panasonic dSLRS

EOS 40D Firmware Update Version 1.0.8

download it at here

[b]Firmware changes[/b]
This firmware update (Version 1.0.8 ) incorporates the following improvements and fixes.

1. Fixes a phenomenon in which Image Stabilization operation emits a sound when certain buttons are pressed, with the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS lens attached to the camera.
2. Fixes a phenomenon in which the Image Stabilization operation emits a sound from the lens when IS lenses are attached to the camera.
3. Fixes a phenomenon in which a part of the image looks unnatural when reviewed on the LCD.
4. Corrects errors in the Spanish and Norwegian menu screens.

The Version 1.0.8 firmware being released this time is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.0.5. If the camera's firmware is already Version 1.0.8, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

Apple Aperture 2.1



Apple® today released Aperture™ 2.1, which introduces an open plug-in architecture that makes it easy for photographers to use specialized third party imaging software right from within Aperture. Available today as a free software update, Aperture 2.1 includes the Apple-developed plug-in, Dodge & Burn, which adds brush-based tools for dodge (lighten), burn (darken), contrast, saturation, sharpen and blur. Over the coming months, third party software developers will deliver image editing plug-ins for localized editing, filters and effects, noise analysis and reduction, fisheye lens correction and more. “The image quality in Aperture 2 has won over the most demanding photographers,” said Rob Schoeben, Apple’s vice president of Applications Product Marketing. “Now, thanks to our open plug-in architecture, users can access an entire industry’s worth of imaging expertise without ever leaving Aperture.” “To date, maybe two percent of my photographs needed to be touched up outside Aperture,” said John Stanmeyer, founding member of the VII Photo Agency and contributing photographer for Time and National Geographic magazines. “Now that I can dodge and burn right within Aperture’s new plug-in, I can’t imagine when I’ll have to open any other application to tone my images.” By clicking on one or more images within Aperture, users can choose from a menu of installed plug-ins and apply specialized imaging operations to either TIFF or RAW images. Apple is working closely with key developers to bring the most requested plug-ins to Aperture such as: • Nik Software’s Viveza plug-in, powered by U Point technology, which provides a powerful, precise and easy way for photographers to selectively control and adjust color and light in their digital images;

• PictureCode’s Noise Ninja plug-in that delivers advanced high ISO noise analysis and reduction;

• Digital Film Tools’ Power Stroke plug-in that features a simple, stroke-based interface to quickly mask and intuitively perform targeted adjustments;

• The Tiffen Company's Dfx plug-in that provides an expansive suite of creative filters and effects;

• dvGarage’s dpMatte plug-in, which is a high performance chroma key tool for creating seamless composites, and the HDRtoner plug-in that enables the selection of multiple photos to create a single high dynamic range (HDR) image; and

• Image Trends’ plug-ins that include Fisheye-Hemi to quickly and effortlessly correct fisheye lens distortion, ShineOff which automatically removes shine from faces and PearlyWhites that automatically whitens and brightens teeth.

Adobe Photoshop Express Beta



Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced Adobe® Photoshop® Express public beta, a free Rich Internet Application (RIA) available to anyone who wants to store, sort and show off digital photos with eye-catching effects. During the public beta period, Adobe will solicit Photoshop Express user feedback on product features and functionality, which will continue to evolve over time. As the newest addition to the Photoshop family line, Photoshop Express has taken much of Adobe’s best image editing technology and made it simple and accessible to a new online audience. Photoshop Express allows users to store up to 2 gigabytes of images online for free, make edits to their photos, and share them online in creative ways, including downloading and uploading photos from popular social networking sites like Facebook.

“Photoshop is trusted technology that has changed the visual landscape of our world. Now, Photoshop Express allows anyone who snaps a digital photo to easily achieve the high-impact results for which Adobe is known,” said Doug Mack, vice president of Consumer and Hosted Solutions at Adobe. “Photoshop Express is a convenient, single destination where you can store, edit and share photos whether you’re at home, school or on the road.”

Simple, Fun and Accessible

With Photoshop Express, digital photos can be uploaded and sorted anytime, edited non-destructively to always preserve the original image, and shared from anywhere, on any Web browser. In a few easy clicks, Photoshop Express empowers anyone to make standard edits, such as removing blemishes and red-eye, converting to black and white, cropping and resizing, and much more.

No experience is required to add special effects that will impress friends and family. In keeping with its one-click approach, Photoshop Express offers tricks like Pop Color which selects an object in an image, mutes the background color of the photo and allows the user to swap the object’s color so it jumps off the page. Sketch effects help photos look like drawings and the Distort feature allows you to distort facial features or objects within the images for a comical or artistic effect. Even users with limited photo editing knowledge can simply select what looks best from a line-up of sample photos with visual hints showing different variations of the added effect.

Photoshop Express offers a variety of creative sharing options, including uploading and showing off photos and slideshows in your own online “Gallery” hosted by Adobe, or conveniently embedding or linking photos to social networking sites and personal blogs without having to leave the application. Slideshows never looked better with animation that makes photos float and fly across the screen, allowing for viewer interactivity and unique presentation styles.

Adobe Photoshop Family

Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Photoshop CS3 Extended are at the heart of the Photoshop family, joined by solutions for users at every level who want to bring out the best in their digital images. Photoshop Lightroom™ addresses the workflow needs of professional and serious amateur photographers. Photoshop Elements provides exciting tools and sharing options for photo hobbyists.

Photoshop Express is the latest step Adobe is taking to leverage the advanced technology that underpins its award-winning creative products and deliver it to new online communities. In early 2007, Adobe also announced the availability of Adobe® Premiere® Express, an online video editing and mash-up tool on partner sites such as MTV and Photobucket. Adobe Premiere Express leverages the functionality found in Premiere Elements, a fully-featured desktop video editing program.

Free and Available Now

Adobe Photoshop Express beta is available now for free via any Web browser at http://www.photoshop.com/express. Photoshop Express was created with Flex, Adobe’s free, open source framework for building RIAs. Flex applications provide a consistent, rich user experience across operating systems and all major browsers, including Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari and others. An Internet connection and an up-to-date Flash® Player 9 are all that are required to experience Adobe Photoshop Express. In its early phases, Photoshop Express is available to US residents-only in English. Users may experience slow performance if accessed outside of the US. Future plans include availability in other languages and countries.

Canon EOS 450D



today launches its latest D-SLR, the EOS 450D. Featuring a 12.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor, EOS Integrated Cleaning System, 3.0” LCD with Live View mode and a new 9-point AF system, the model presents consumers with an unprecedented level of image quality and versatility at this end of the market.

The EOS 450D employs features already proven in Canon’s professional EOS-1 series cameras, including the DIGIC III image processor and a redesigned menu system that enables features such as direct control of Speedlite flash units from the camera LCD. A choice of 13 custom functions allows the photographer to customise the camera to their shooting style.

“The EOS 450D bears the fruits of more than 20 years of ongoing investment into EOS,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “This camera continues Canon’s policy of taking technologies proven in the professional arena and putting them within reach of a wider market of amateur photographers.”

The EOS 450D features:

  • 12.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor
  • Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System
  • 3.5 frames per second
  • 3.0” LCD with Live View shooting
  • 9-point wide-area AF system with f/2.8 cross-type centre point
  • Picture Style image processing parameters
  • DIGIC III image processor
  • Digital Photo Professional RAW processing software1
  • Compact and Lightweight body
  • Fully compatible with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites

The EOS quality advantage

With all key components developed and manufactured in-house, EOS offers photographers a unique quality advantage. The EOS 450D’s specially designed 12.2 Megapixel sensor employs Canon’s high-sensitivity, low-noise CMOS technology to produce richly detailed images with minimal grain. The DIGIC III processor ensures superior image rendering and rapid response times, with an almost instant 0.1 start up. Image data is processed at 14 bits for Delivering a burst rate of 3.5 frames per second, the DIGIC III processor works with the image buffer to handle up to 53 JPEGs (6 in RAW) without interruption.

Built for better photos

The EOS 450D is designed to make photography a fluid experience for photographers of all levels and experience. Housed in a compact body that weighs less than 475 grams, the camera features an improved grip design that provides a natural, ergonomic fit with the user’s hands. A large, bright viewfinder makes image composition clearer and more comfortable. The menu system inherited from professional EOS cameras uses a simplified tab structure that does away with scrolling. It includes a user-defined My Menu tab for instant access to frequently used settings.

Several custom functions are available to optimise the quality of photos captured in a range of situations. Highlight Tone Priority boosts the dynamic range at the highlight end, providing better tonal detail from wedding dresses, cloudy skies and other bright objects. The new Auto Lighting Optimiser corrects brightness and contrast during image processing, while improving skin tones in portraits by ensuring correct exposure for faces. Photographers can also enable additional noise reduction for shots captured at high ISO speeds.

Live View

Available for the first time on a Canon consumer D-SLR, Live View mode makes it easier to shoot from awkward angles, such as ground-level macro shots or when shooting from a tripod. The image from the Live View mode is displayed as a smooth, 30fps video feed on the 3.0” LCD, which is 50% brighter than the screen of the EOS 400D. A grid line display and live histogram can be selected to help with shot composition and exposure. While focusing, the photographer can zoom in on specific details with up to 10x magnification of the image displayed on the LCD screen. Two types of auto focus are available: Quick AF flips the camera mirror momentarily to engage the AF sensor; Live AF uses the image contrast data to focus - a method familiar to anyone upgrading from a compact digital camera.

For studio environments, remote Live View lets the photographer compose, adjust settings and capture the shot from a PC using the supplied EOS utility software.

Other improvements

The EOS 450D complements its headline features with a host of smaller improvements that enhance the photographic experience. The viewfinder now displays all key exposure information including ISO speed. The addition of spot metering (4% of viewfinder) allows for greater control over exposure in tricky lighting conditions. PictBridge functionality has been expanded so that photographers can correct horizons and add picture effects before printing. A new high capacity battery extends shooting time on a single charge to a maximum of 500 shots.

Software

The EOS 450D is supplied with a comprehensive software suite that provides everything the photograph needs to manage and process images. This includes Digital Photo Professional (DPP), a powerful RAW converter that provides complete RAW image processing control. DPP also integrates with camera features such as Dust Delete Data and Picture Styles. The supplied Picture Style Editor software can be used to create custom Picture Styles for fine control over colour display. The camera also comes with EOS Utility, Image/Zoom Browser and Photostitch.


CMOS

Canon’s CMOS technology is one of the company’s key competitive advantages, with noise reduction circuitry at each pixel site delivering virtually noise-free images. In comparison with CCD technology, the lower power consumption characteristics of Canon’s CMOS sensors also contribute to longer battery life.
Signal conversion in Canon’s CMOS sensors is handled by individual amplifiers at each pixel site. Unnecessary charge transfer operations are avoided, vastly speeding up the process of getting signal to the image processor. Noise generation is reduced, power consumption is limited and faster frame rate potential is increased.

EOS Integrated Cleaning System

The EOS Integrated Cleaning System combats sensor dust in three important ways: Reduce, Repel and Remove.

  1. Reduce - Internal camera mechanisms are designed to minimise dust generation. The redesigned body cap prevents dust generation through wear on the cap itself.
  2. Repel - Anti-static technologies are applied to the low-pass filter covering the front of the sensor so as not to attract dust.
  3. Remove - A Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit uses hi-frequency vibrations to shake dust from the infrared filter for a period of approximately one second after each start up. For instant shooting after power up, this feature is disabled immediately the shutter release is depressed.

Canon has also developed an internal Dust Delete Data system, which can map the position of visible dust on the sensor. This can then be deleted automatically after the shoot with the latest Digital Photo Professional software.

Picture Style

Picture Style pre-sets simplify in-camera control over image qualities. Picture Style pre-sets can be likened to different film types – each one offering a different colour response. Within each selectable pre-set, photographers have control over sharpness, contrast, colour tone and saturation. The camera’s factory default configuration is set to deliver immediately-usable JPEG images without need for additional menu settings. Picture Style presets applied to a RAW image can be revised with Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software.

The six pre-sets include:

  • Standard – for crisp, vivid images that don’t require post-processing
  • Portrait – optimises colour tone and saturation and weakens sharpening to achieve attractive skin tones
  • Landscape – for punchier greens and blues with stronger sharpening to give a crisp edge to mountain, tree and building outlines
  • Neutral – ideal for post-processing
  • Faithful – adjusts colour to match the subject colour when shot under a colour temperature of 5200K
  • Monochrome – for black and white shooting with a range of filter effects (yellow, orange, red and green) and toning effects (sepia, blue, purple and green).

The User Defined Picture Style can be used to store up to three customised pre-sets, or any of the pre-sets available for download from Canon’s web site at www.canon.co.jp/Imaging/picturestyle/file/index.html.

Software

Digital Photo Professional Software

Digital Photo Professional software provides high speed, high quality processing of lossless RAW images. Processing with Digital Photo Professional allows real-time display and immediate application of image adjustments, giving control over RAW image variables such as white balance, dynamic range, exposure compensation and colour tone. Images can be recorded in camera with sRGB or Adobe RGB colour space. Digital Photo Professional supports sRGB, Adobe RGB, ColorMatch RGB, Apple RGB and Wide Gamut RGB colour spaces.

ICC (International Colour Consortium) profiles can be attached to TIFF or JPEG images when converted from RAW. This allows faithful reproduction of colours in software applications that support ICC profiles, such as Adobe Photoshop. For improved efficiency, a set of image adjustments can be saved as a recipe and applied.

EOS Utility

The latest version of EOS Utility provides essential support for Live View remote shooting, camera configuration and image transfers. Tightly integrated with Digital Photo Professional, EOS Utility can be configured to monitor ‘hot’ folders, automatically renaming and moving incoming images to a structured file system.

The 123 of digital imaging 5.0



Site contributor Vincent Bockaert has today announced a totally new version of his excellent 'The 123 of digital imaging Interactive Learning Suite'. A favorite piece of reference material I never hesitate to recommend this excellent interactive electronic book which will provide you with both pathways for learning as well as reference. No matter what your knowledge level there will be plenty to learn from the 123 of digital imaging. On top of a major expansion in content (now 4,200 pages covering 153 topics) the new version is now fully Mac OS X compatible and has a completely redesigned user interface.

Click here to visit 123di.com to download the free demo

A publication like no other, the usage of animations and user-interactivity makes 123di an unrivalled and unmatched digital photography learning tool.

123di covers all aspects of the digital imaging workflow:

  1. Understanding digital imaging and digital camera selection
  2. Enhance your images in the "pixelroom"
  3. Manage, view, share, and print your images

Highly Integrated and Interactive Content

123di contains over 4,200 interactive screen-size pages filled with thousands of full color graphics and animations organized into 153 topics. The practical content is highly cross-referenced with digital photography background theory.

Three Selectable User Levels

1. Starter sections are like "executive summaries". These brief introductions with simplified and synthesized content are ideal if the reader has little time and wants to keep it simple.

2. Essential sections get the reader up to speed quickly and are a must read for beginners. But even for advanced readers they are a nice refresher before diving into the advanced sections. Image editing tutorials in the essential sections are based on Adobe Photoshop Elements 6, 5, 4, 3 & 2.

3. Advanced sections build on the essential sections and are more in-depth and detailed, and technical at times. Image editing tutorials in the advanced sections are based on Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Photoshop CS3, CS2, CS, and 7, including Photoshop CS3 Extended features that are relevant for digital photography.

10 Key Software Packages Covered

Adobe Photoshop Elements 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 Editor, Photoshop Elements 3, 4, 5 & 6 Organizer, Adobe Photoshop 7, CS, CS2, CS3 & CS3 Extended, and Photoshop Lightroom are featured with animated tutorials and unique interactive graphical user interfaces. Clicking on any menu item, tool, or palette in the interactive interfaces brings the user to the corresponding explanation page which also links to practical tutorials and theoretical background information within 123di. Many other software packages such as ACDSee 9 & 10, PTGui, Photorescue, etc. are also briefly covered.

A separate version for Nikon users covers, Nikon Scan 3 & 4, Nikon Capture 4.4 & Capture NX 1.3, and Camera Control Pro 2, in addition to the content of the regular version.

A Canon version, covering Canon DPP, Canon printers, and Canon technology will be available in the second quarter of 2008.

Users of the regular version can upgrade to the Nikon or Canon version at any time by topping up the price difference (no additional upgrade fee).

Unique Navigation

Besides reading 123di like a printed book, 123di offers many alternative ways to quickly find the information such as the above mentioned interactive graphical user interfaces, digital imaging workflow diagrams, index, before and after images, frequently asked digital imaging questions, interactive slide show, custom bookmarks, etc.

Complete Theory on Digital Photography

123di has extensive coverage on digital photography concepts such as resolution, compression, color bit depth, dynamic range, noise, focal length multiplier, sensor types, etc. The inner workings of cameras, scanners, accessories, monitors, and printers are explained in detail. Detailed full color graphics, animations, interactive simulations and interactive calculators allow for an accelerated way of learning that gets the reader involved.

Buying Guides for Cameras, Scanners, Monitors, and Printers

Detailed buying guides for cameras, scanners, monitors, printers, and accessories help in the reader's buying decision process.

Practical Image Editing Techniques

Useful image editing techniques cover various approaches to create spectacular images and overcome limitations of the scene, the photographer, or the camera.

Color Management

Color management is featured throughout 123di to ensure consistent and accurate color during the entire workflow. The coverage is substantially improved in Version 5.0, covering both Macintosh and Windows platforms.

Working in RAW

123di has a comprehensive practical and theoretical coverage of working in RAW. Practical examples are based on Adobe Camera Raw for all Adobe Photoshop versions. The Nikon version also covers Capture NX 1.3 and Nikon Capture 4.4, while the upcoming Canon version will cover Canon DPP.

New Content in Version 5.0

  • Content updated for Windows and Macintosh platforms.
  • Extensive coverage of Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 (Editor and Organizer), Photoshop Lightroom, Photoshop CS3 & CS3 Extended, including Camera Raw 4, from a digital photographer's perspective. The content about Photoshop Elements 2, 3, 4 & 5 and Photoshop 7, CS & CS2 is still included.
  • Chapter 12 - "Working in RAW mode" is updated for Adobe Camera Raw 4.x, Capture NX 1.3 (for the Nikon version), and in-depth RAW background information to get the most out of RAW images. The content of Nikon Capture 4.4, Camera Raw 1.x, 2.x, and 3.x is still included.
  • Extensive revision of the color management and printing content, including coverage of CBL Lens, and Datacolor Spyder3Elite and Spyder3Print.
  • Thousands of modifications and updates were made to the content and hundreds of pages were added to keep 123di fully updated with the latest technology changes.

New Features in Version 5.0

  • Brand new Content Visualization Engine for Windows and Macintosh (Universal Binary).
  • More than 500 fully controllable animations with “back”, “forward”, “play”, and “pause” buttons.
  • Print button to print individual pages as a reference.
  • Compared to the Standard Edition, the new Extended Edition comes with additional navigation features:
    • New Search Engine providing instant results
    • “Add Bookmarks” and “View Bookmarks” buttons allowing the reader to add and organize an unlimited number of bookmarks
    • “Add Notes” button to add notes to any page.
    • Transfer Bookmarks & Notes between computers
    • Reduce or enlarge the default font size to enhance readability.
    • Opens on the Last Page you viewed in your previous session.
    • Opens with the window size and position of your previous 123di session.
  • Users can upgrade from the Standard to the Extended Edition at any time by topping up the price difference (no additional upgrade fee).