Real World Workflow

Hmmm, very interesting tidbit: By way of the British Journal of Photography, we’ve learned that Sinar is now opening their P3 and Artec systems to other MFDB’s. They’re releasing adapters in various mounts and I think this is a smart move for them. View and plate cameras have never had anywhere near the lens/body communication of DSLR’s, so what really is the end difference to using another mfr’s back? It’s kind of like using another brand of film, really, and if this allows Sinar to survive, then maybe they can keep doing what they do so well: make kick ass view cameras.

British Journal of Photography

Really? Opening up Phocus to support over 150 cameras???

And RAW support for Leaf?

Wow. I’m aghast. Flummoxed even.

This is a big shot aimed right at Phase’s bow, because one of the major advantages of C1 is that you can capture both your MFDB and DSLR files to one app greatly simplifying the capture/edit and processing of a shoot. Now Hassy is playing the same game and oh, by the way Phocus is Phree!!!

I admit to being a little lackluster on the MFDB scene lately because, well, since Phase bought Leaf and Sinar is barely alive, the industry is basically two players now, which usually means not too much in the way of competition, (ahem, cough cough). Apparently it’s more than I thought.

Way more.

So come on gang, get out there and test this Phocus dslr thing out. I will next week back in SF, but honestly I can’t hardly wait.

Edit: Drat, not available until May 19th, dammit.

Phocus 2.5 press release

I think this has a bright future. Adobe is really good about getting feedback from the professional photography community. I use Capture One all the time and I have love and hate for it. I’m excited to see how Adobe handles some of the issues Phase has been slow to respond to. If nothing else I think Lightroom is a fantastic program and will definitely hold it’s own.

Ok, I know I said I was getting along fine with C1 5.1, but that tagging issue was killing me. 5.1.1 fixes this and a few other things, but thank God, I’m glad that’s over.

Pentax is expecting. She’s due in May and will be giving birth to a new Digital 645 Camera priced just under 10K. Too bad its got a face only a mother could love.

More information at engadget

Hey Gang, I’m on set, but just noticed that there is a new C1 5.1 out, and from the looks of the release notes, there could be some very good things in this one. Biggest thing I’m looking for is speed, which they say is addressed, as well as doing crop ratios direct in the crop tool instead of the process recipe. More to come but gotta go. -z

as i’ve said many times on this site, I am a big fan of Lightroom ever since Capture one released that abomination of a software program – C1V4. Now Adobe has a beta of LR 3.0 out which you can find here: http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom3/

Should be even better than before. I’ll be giving it a whirl with the Canon 5dM2 early this week.

I emphasize the price in the title because for most of us, we are going to have to pay this. We started with the 3.x software, shoving out $500 USD for it, then they announced 4.x and we patiently waited for about 2 years for them to actually release it and when they did, it didn’t work so well. Again we were patient for at least stability, never mind that they fixed what wasn’t broken, probably to appeal to Adobe Lightroom and Aperture users, but it never quite hit the mark. In fact, a lot of us moved on to those programs that they were trying to steer us away from. And today they say, “Sorry that 4.0 was never up to snuff, maybe we can do it with 5.0 but you’ll have to pay for this one.

I was very polite about all the 4.0 releases, biting my lip, but the 5.0 release, I’m going to have to have to draw blood. No way am I going to pay for the Pro version of this. I’ve already worked out a nice little workflow with Lightroom and it has a million benefits that Capture One will probably never have. Of course, I’ll be testing it out and learning it as part of my tech responsiblities

more info here. Of course everyone is scrambling to download it so the website is very slow today.

Ok so its not exactly news, hard not to know about any new product that Apple releases. But iFixIt has posted a detailed teardown that shows that the glossy glass panel is relatively easy to remove, you thinking what I’m thinking? Surely someone has to be working on a matte replacement!!!!! The imac also has a SATA optical drive, Anyone thinking of replacing that with a SSD drive and a MaxConnect Starts to sound pretty mean.

All rights techs, grab a beer and settle in for the European version of the “Thrilla in Manila Copenhagen”!!!

While most of us are on set using Canon or an H2 (jealous of those of you using a sliding back), the two remaining MF industry heavies are gearing up for another round of rockem’ sockem’ digital goodness.

In the left corner, we have the new Phase One DF, with ultra fast sync speeds (1/1600!!), and three new leaf shutter lenses with Schneider glass in lengths of 55, 80, and 110mm all with a F2.8 aperture. If they get the shutter lag right, we could have a contenda’ for a serious Hassy challenging MF system, though I’m still wondering if they’ll bring back my beloved AFi (for all two of us that got to actually use the system). At least we may soon see Leaf back compatibility with C1, hopefully by PhotoPlus.

I don’t want to sound like an old grouch, but ya’ll better be working on/with C1 4.8.2 at least by now, because as much as C1 3.7.9 is a stalwart, dependable capture app, C1 5.0 is around the corner and hopefully will become the goto app we need it to be. I find C1 4.8.2 to be pretty stable and have been using it more and more lately with no (knock on wood) ill-effects or complaints from my clients. If anything, they love the better previews, and I do think the processed files are better as well.

Phase One 645DF

And in the right corner, we have the new Hasselblad H4D, with it’s APL, “Absolute Postion Lock” that claims to improve off center focusing with a sensor that follow the movement of the camera and corrects phocus (sorry, couldn’t resist!) focus using data from the lens as well. Hassy has some big guns now, with their Tilt/Shift adapter, 28mm wide and beautiful back display. As much as I’m not a fan of their closed system approach, I have to say that they continue to improve their offerings, and it does make me wonder what the future holds. (Vertical grip guys?)

I will say that if you’re working with Phocus, make sure you have a good graphics card in your machine as it leverages the GPU significantly and works smoother with a high-end card.

Hasselblad H4D

As the referee, all I can say is that I’m glad we have some serious competitors in the arena, and I look forward to testing these systems to separate fact from fiction. While headed in the right direction, I still feel the need for a true ground up MF digital camera (like the AFi) that will incorporate all of these improvements and place MF digital where it should be–at the very top of digital imaging heap. With Canon, Nikon and Leica grinding their way up the fight ladder, the competition ain’t going away anytime soon and could still steal the title belt from the MF digital heavyweights.

So stay tuned techs, I’ll let you know when the pay-per-view is released.