Digital Imaging Tech
When it comes to digital imaging and photography there are a lot of variables. Trust our articles on digital photography technology to make sense of pixel counts, file formats and everything in-between.
Monday, June 23, 2008The Fall And Rise Of Medium FormatNew technology, a commitment to developing the very best image quality possible and a thriving rental market all have contributed to a renaissance in the digital medium-format category It's no secret that the medium-format industry has experienced dramatic changes since the advent of digital. Open camera systems (think Hasselblad's H2 series) became closed, leaving players such as Phase One and Leaf no access to Hasselblad's systems. Additionally, the disappearance of beloved medium-format models signified harsh times in the sector as Contax, Bronica and Pentax fell by the wayside. |
Monday, April 28, 2008DPP Solutions: A Look At DNGThe DNG format was supposed to be the future, an open standard for RAW files that every manufacturer could use. Here's a look at how the revolution has panned out. On September 27, 2004, Adobe announced the Digital Negative Specification (DNG), a file format that was supposed to unify the cluttered atmosphere of proprietary RAW file formats by offering a non-proprietary template that would act as a universal raw file. The DNG format was released, free from any legal restrictions or royalties as an open-source file for hardware and software designers to generate, process, manage and archive RAW images for any program, from any camera, and easily accessible as an archive at any time in the future. Almost four years later, DNG hasn't found the ubiquitous acceptance the industry had called for, but there's growing hope for the future. Read More... |
Monday, April 28, 2008Fast Lenses On Sub-Full-Frame SensorsQuick, inexpensive and light, sub-full-frame lenses aren't just for the amateur market anymore While full-frame D-SLRs offer the highest in professional quality, often what really matters is pure, unadulterated speed. In the realm of full-frame vs. sub-full-frame lenses, fast, compact and superb image quality is the precedence from which lenses are judged. But when pro levels of speed and quality are avail-able at sub-full-frame costs, it might be time to take a look at the offerings. |
Monday, March 3, 2008Turbo'd Image SensorsAt the heart of it all, the tiniest technology makes every picture possible Though image-sensor technology has been well used for years now—after all, the digital revolution is old news—it hasn't been well understood. Today's image sensors are more sophisticated and powerful than any that have come before. The current generation of turbocharged sensors is at the heart of the modern, sophisticated D-SLR. As with any photographic process, though, a complete understanding of how the tools work can lead to better results, both when purchasing a camera and when using one. |
Monday, January 7, 2008Flash Memory BasicsWhat's the anatomy of a memory card? Have you ever wondered what's inside your memory card? How can they keep cramming more storage in the same space, or how much further can the prices fall? It seems like, only yesterday, we needed to take out a second mortgage to buy a 256 MB CF card. Now you can find 2 GB cards for as little as $15. Read More... |
Monday, November 26, 2007The Digital Lens RevisitedIn a world of marketing buzzwords like 'optimized' and 'designed for digital,' what's really going on behind all the hype? Before plunking down a credit card to purchase a new lens, I think all of us want to know we're making a good decision. Is this really the best lens for my camera and the type of work I want to do? Or can I use one I already have, even if the lens isn't specifically designed for digital capture? |
Wednesday, August 15, 2007The Upgrade GameKeeping your gear up to date is part of the business of being a professional in the digital age. The decision on when and how to upgrade comes down to determining how to make the most of what you have. You've probably found yourself thinking at times about how much easier life would be if you had an unlimited supply of money (and if you already do have an unlimited supply of money, drop me a line). For professional photographers, it seems that life before digital was simpler and less expensive. You bought a camera and a collection of lenses, and they served you well for many years. |
Wednesday, August 15, 2007Misinformation: Camera ObjectivityMyth: A camera sees the world objectively The phrase “the camera never lies” has been around a very long time; but the idea that a camera lies also has been around a long time. Back in the '60s, Pete Turner did an essay about how color lies, and even before that, the Life photographer Andreas Feininger wrote on how the camera lied. |
Tuesday, June 26, 2007Comeback - Medium-Format ResurgenceMedium-format is experiencing a resurgence. The dire predictions of a few years ago are being replaced by guarded optimism amidst higher-resolution products that are more portable and more affordable. Thanks to the steady rise in quality and popularity of 35mm-format digital SLRs, medium-format manufacturers have spent much of this decade fighting for their proverbial lives. Add to that the early limitations of high price and low portability in its digital systems, and medium-format seemed poised to disappear. |
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Contender: Alexander Hankoff
