Neptune Photo Newsletter

May 2012 Volume 4

Double Mat special continued through May

Expanded Printing Services

With the recent addition of the Epson 9900 Pro, Neptune can now print images up to 44 inches wide with virtually unlimited length. No matter what size or paper type you desire, you can be assured the image quality will be of the highest quality, bar none.  

Sony 5” monitor available now at $399

you should bring in your camera and check out the absolutely stunning image this monitor provides. It will work with any camera that has a mini HDMI port and live view feature. Supplied with collapsible hood, swivel shoe mount adapter, mini HDMI to HDMI cable and case. The unit is powered by any of the following Sony batteries NP-FM500H/QM71D/QM91D. 

Infrared Camera Conversions 

Do you have an older digital camera lying around that's perfectly usable but collecting dust? Why not take your photography to the next level and have it converted to shoot in infrared. All digital cameras have the ability to shoot in infrared but the filter that the manufacturer puts over your sensor typically blocks all or most of the infrared light. When your camera is converted to infrared, the sensor in your camera will see infrared light exclusively. You'll get dramatic skies and glowing foliage that is possible only with infrared photography. Below are a couple of images that I've taken with my converted Nikon D100, to give you an idea of what to expect. Pricing is $199 for most point and shoots, $299 for APS-C sized SLRs and $349 for full sized SLRs. If you don't have an older camera lying around to convert, Neptune always has a large selection of used DSLR cameras starting at under $200. Also keep in mind that once the camera is converted to IR, you will realize a huge increase in detail, so that even a 6 mega pixel camera will be able to make razor sharp 20 x 30 inch prints. 

Article - What is camera raw?

If you have a digital SLR or even one of the higher end point and shoot cameras, you probably have the ability to shoot in RAW instead of JPEG. If you're not sure what the difference is between the two formats, read on. First we'll talk about the JPEG image, which is the default setting on all cameras. When your camera captures an image, the data from the image sensor is first converted into a type of raw file, which is then processed by the camera into a JPEG image according to the camera’s develop settings. This process is much like shooting with film, having prints made, and then throwing the negatives away. Sure, you can take the digital image into a photo editor and tweak a few things here and there, but the amount of information in a JPEG image is very limited. To put this into perspective, JPEG images contain 256 colors per channel (red, green and blue) while Raw files contain at the very least over 4,000 colors per channel. This additional information in the raw file allows for higher quality and expanded editing not possible with a JPEG file.

Now let’s talk about the raw image. When your camera is set to capture an image in RAW, the data from the image sensor is saved into a raw file. The data in a raw file is akin to a film negative that has yet to be developed. Each camera’s raw file is unique to itself and must be decoded (developed) by a program or plugin such as Adobe Camera Raw(ACR), which Adobe constantly updates as new camera models emerge (see ACR beta article below). Once you have the raw file in the computer, the ACR plugin lets you develop the photo rather than the camera performing this operation as it does with a JPEG. If you're using Adobe's Lightroom, the ACR module is seamlessly built into the program itself with exactly the same controls as when used in Photoshop. Basically ACR lets you develop the image any way you want, with no loss in quality. That means that if the color balance or exposure is off a bit, you can now not only correct it, but probably do it better than if it was done in camera. In addition to the basic exposure and color adjustments, you have spot removal, recovery of lost shadow and highlight detail, lens corrections, vignetting, adjustment brushes, gradients, and black and white conversions. Space constraints limit listing all of the editing features available in ACR, but suffice it to say that ACR (or Lightroom) may satisfy all your editing needs. The best part is that you can go back and develop the same raw file over and over again with many different interpretations. It's like having your cake and eating it too. Once the image is developed, you can either bring it into Photoshop for additional editing, or just save it as a JPEG image right from the ACR window, bypassing Photoshop altogether. So if you’re looking to get more out of your photos, you should give RAW a try. Neptune carries the full line of Adobe products and other software to help you get the most from your precious images.

Adobe Camera Raw 6.7 beta

Adobe has released what they call a 'release candidate' for camera raw 6.7, which means that it is well tested but may benefit from some customer feedback. This version of camera raw is only for Photoshop CS5 users, and allows users of the below, newly listed cameras to now process raw images. For prior versions of Photoshop you can download the DNG converter which will convert your camera's raw files to Adobe’s DNG (digital negative) raw format with no loss in quality and a significant savings in space. Once converted to DNG, you can use almost any older version of Photoshop to process the images from your new camera. Both the ACR 6.7 and the DNG converter are free. I've personally downloaded many ACR beta versions with no issues. If you have one of the latest Nikon, Fuji or Canon cameras listed below and want to shoot in camera raw, I recommend giving it a try. 

Nikon Announces 28mm f1.8

Bring a dramatic wide-angle perspective to your still and HD video shooting. The AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G’s fast maximum aperture lets you create in nearly any light—dusk to dawn, indoors or out – and offers outstanding depth-of-field control. Nikon’s exclusive Nano Crystal Coat nearly eliminates the ghosting and flare seen with some wide-angle lenses for improved clarity and contrast. The silent wave motor (SWM) focusing insures whisper quiet operation – essential for video work, and the rounded 7 bladed diaphragm will produce silky smooth bokeh. Impressive on both FX- and DX-format cameras, the AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G excels with landscapes, architecture, group shots, travel and more. Give us a call and preorder yours today at $699.99.

Firmware updates

All digital cameras have firmware which is akin to a computer’s operating system. From time to time camera manufacturers update the firmware to either improve the performance, to fix bugs or both. Below is a list of cameras and the latest firmware issued over the last month. You can explore the menu in your camera to see the firmware version currently installed. To update the firmware, simply go to the manufacturer’s website and download the file(s) needed using the provided link. Be sure to read the instructions for installation as each company has different procedures.

Neptune Computer Repair

Neptune Photo can now help you with all your PC or Mac computer needs. Whether you're having hardware or software issues we can handle it all with a full time A+ certified technician. Afraid to upgrade to a new computer? We can seamlessly transfer all your programs and files to the new computer. Estimates and evaluations are free, so give us a call to schedule a one on one consultation.

Pop-up and virus removal – Hardware upgrades – Tune-up special $49 – Speed up slow computers – Data and passwod recovery – Full system recovery – Virus protection.