Sunday 31 August 2008

TDI07: The walled city ... Dubrovnik

This day in 2007:

Statue on Dubrovnik wall

We spend the day at the beach ... but we did get to see more sites of Dubrovnik.

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Saturday 30 August 2008

NIkon’s new D 90

Just days after Canon announced it’s new 50D with a huge 15MP sensor (thats big for a cropped sensor), Nikon has announced its new D90.  The big news here is that is shots HD video -  a first on a SLR camera.  Otehr spec’s are:

  • Newly designed Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor with 12.3 effective megapixels and Integrated Dust Reduction System
  • Incredibly low-noise performance throughout a wide sensitivity range of ISO 200 to 3200; can be set to ISO 6400 equivalent
  • Incorporates Nikon's comprehensive digital image-processing EXPEED concept
  • The world's first D-SLR movie function: D-Movie, selectable from 320 x 216 pixels, 640 x 424 pixels or 1,280 x 720 pixels in AVI format
  • Scene Recognition System, utilizing 420-pixel RGB sensor, improves autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance performance and is also integrated with the new Face Detection System
  • Live View enables face priority AF with the 3-in., approx. 920k-dot, high-density color LCD featuring 170° ultra-wide viewing angle
  • Picture Control System offers new Portrait and Landscape options for more vibrant customized colors
  • Active D-Lighting for smooth tone reproduction in high-contrast lighting
  • Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module featuring 11 AF points offers fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame
  • Viewfinder with approx. 96% frame coverage and an easy-to-view 19.5 mm eyepoint (at -1.0 m-1)
  • Advanced Scene Modes that automatically adjust exposure, image processing, Active D-Lighting and Picture Control settings for superior image quality
  • Extensive palette of in-camera Retouch Menus including several new retouch options such as Distortion Control, Straighten and Fisheye
  • 4.5 fps continuous shooting and quick response of 0.15-second start-up and 65-ms shutter release time lag (CIPA standard)
  • Built-in flash with 18mm lens coverage and Nikon's original i-TTL flash control that commands Advanced Wireless Lighting
  • Highly efficient energy-saving design that allows approx. 850 images on a single charge of the Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e (CIPA standard, with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, with 50% of pictures taken with flash)
  • Versatile Pictmotion menu that creates slideshows combining five choices of both background music and image effects
  • Compatible with HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output
  • Optional Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D80 extends shooting capability and enables use of six R6/AA-size batteries
  • Included Nikon ViewNX software makes browsing and organizing your images easy
  • Optional photo-editing software, Capture NX 2 allows users quick and easy photo editing
  • Lightweight compact body

SLR purists must be turning over in there grave (unless they are still alive of course).  First DSLR get live view (thats what the view finder is for), now it gets video!

If I was to be choosing a new camera out of the Canon 50D or the Nikon D90, I am not sure which one I would choose (larger sensor v video).  However, since I already have Canon Lens, I will stick with this system.  By the time I upgrade, Canon will probably offer video as well.

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TDI07: A day trip to Montenegro

This day in 2007:

20070830_Montenegro_087

The locals just got on with their work…

While we saw some of the other sites of Montenegro:

Montenegro Coast line with small townoutdoor dining in montenegroSveti Djordje

Then a wall back through the old town of Dubrovnik on they way back to our hotel:

20070830_Dubronik_101

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Friday 29 August 2008

TDI07: The other side of Dubrovnik

This day in 2007:

Ocean through the trees

A quiet day at a secluded beach, then back through the walled town of Debrovnik

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TDI05: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwlliantysiliogogogoch

This day in 2005:

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwlliantysiliogogogoch 3

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwlliantysiliogogogoch, Wales. The longest place name in the world - and that is about all it has got going for it, except a train station to get you out of there!

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Thursday 28 August 2008

TDI07: Back to the Homeland

This day in 2007:

 20070828_Dubrovnik_035

We arrived in Dubrovnik, an amazing walled city, for the start of 2 weeks in Croatia (the homeland thing is a few generations out). The architecture is ancient - it is surprising to think someone tried to bomb to nothing in the early 1990's!

 Roof tops in Dubrovnik

 Roof tiles in Dubrovnik 20070828_Dubrovnik_016

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TDI05: Castles and a funny seaside village

This day in 2005:

Castle-Y-Bere 3

Castle Y Bere and Portmeirion Village, Wales

Portmeirion Village 2

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Wednesday 27 August 2008

TDI05: The countryside in Wales

This day in 2005:

Avergavenny Castle 2

A long weekend in wales. Avergavenny Castle, Brecon Beacons and Tintern Abbey

Brecon Beacons 5Tintern Abbey 2

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Tuesday 26 August 2008

Microsoft launch's Photosynth

Microsoft launched Photsynth last week and it seems to be getting a bit of applause from the tech fanboys. It is actually very clever. You upload a bunch of photos from different angles of the same scene and it creates a 3D navigable image. This is very early technology but you can see in the future, this could be very powerful (imagine all the images of Flickr, meshed together!!)

Apart from the obvious:

Stonehenge photosynth

It could also be used to explore smaller objects in great detail:

Boats photosynth

Unfortunately you need to install software (windows only) to make it work, but it is worth it to see the future.

I haven’t made one myself yet but I am looking forward to it.

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Monday 25 August 2008

TDI06: A walk through the country

This day in 2006:

Walkway through forest in scotland

Forest track, Scotland

And another Hairy Koo, Scotland

Hariy Koo (scottich cow) 2

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Sunday 24 August 2008

TDI07: And Another.....

This day in 2007:

20070824_Helsinki_010

Another Church

The lobby of our cruise ship for the night (back to Sweden)

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TDI06: We didn't see Lochy, but ....

This day in 2006:

Loch Ness portrait

Loch Ness, Scotland

We didn't see Lochy, but we did see a Hairy Koo, Scotland

Hariy Koo (scottich cow) 1

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Saturday 23 August 2008

TDI07: Another capital, another church , Helsinki

This day in 2007:

20070823_Helsinki_021

Helsinki, Finland

Who parked that there. Our wheels for the trip - we saw a lot more, and it cost a lot less than any other way to travel around Scandi (and the company was started by a Kiwi after all).

20070823_Helsinki_002

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TDI06: A beautiful country side that reminds me of home … Only with Castles!!!

This day in 2006:

Ruthven Barracks (4)

Ruthven Barracks , Scotland

Ruthven Barracks (1) 

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Friday 22 August 2008

Canon to release new 50D?

News broke on the Internet that Canon China put the specs of the new 50D up on their website for a brief period. Some one spotted it and the specs have been leaked.

When the story first broke, people though it had in body IS which would have been a giveaway that it was fake (Canon makes great IS lens and have said they wont do in body).  Apparently people just misread the Chinese – it actually said it works well with in lens IS.

The specs are as follows:

  • 15.1 megapixel CMOS sensor
  • DIGIC 4
  • 1.6x crop
  • Dust Reduction
  • Auto Brightness Processing
  • 95% viewfinder .97 magnification
  • 9 point af (All Cross Type)
  • 35 meter area equipped with high-precision sensors AF Fine Tuning
  • ISO 100-12800
  • 6.3 fps (high speed) 3fps (low speed)
  • Buffer: 16 RAW - 60 JPG - 10 RAW+JPG
  • 920,000 points VGA 3.0-inch LCD monitor
  • 100,000 cycle shutter
  • Rugged magnesium alloy body

I don’t think it justifies a body upgrade for me (I am using a 20D) – I can justify the money at the moment.  For me 8mp is more than enough and the rest is incremental improvements.  A better autofocus and less noise at higher ISO would be the main reason for me to upgrade.

People are also expect the full frame 5D to be upgraded.  It will be interesting to see what the specs on that camera are.

Go to Photographybay for a more detailed spec list.

 

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TDI07: Every kids dream

This day in 2007:

20070822_Rovaniemi_015

Every kids dream, visiting Santa Claus at his house in Rovaniemi, including sitting on his knee (yes I did).

Back across the actric circle, this time in Finland

20070822_Rovaniemi_003

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TDI06: A beautiful country side that reminds me of home …

This day in 2006:

Hay bails in field (3)

Haybails, Scotland

Hay bails in field (1)

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