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Guest Blog - Olympus at Work with Rachel Devine

17 December  , , , , , , , ,  No comments

Guest Blog #1
Over the next week at DCW we will be publishing and sharing a number of daily guest blogs from our partners and guest photo bloggers. Our first contribution comes from commercial photographer and photo blogger Rachel Devine. Rachel has been shooting consistently with the Olympus System since 2014. Find out a little more about how she uses Olympus for her work.


Olympus at work
with Rachel Devine


I was first introduced to the Olympus system through the OM-D E-M10 as a family holiday camera in 2014. I was so impressed with the performance and features of that model that I wanted to see if the OM-D E-M1 could revolutionise my professional photography as well.

From the first professional shoot I did with the OM-D E-M1, it was clear that it was a game changer for my career. The camera is lightweight yet still powerful. I was able to get all the shots I needed with no physical strain. The OM-D E-M1 is small enough that it is not at all intimidating to my models on commercial shoots yet sturdy enough that it can keep on shooting all day long. Despite the small size, the camera with its 16.3 MP Live-MOS sensor and Image Processor was able to capture accurate colour and detail while rendering the image with minimal noise in unpredictable lighting situations which is essential to a natural light photographer.





The autofocus system on the camera is fast and accurate even in low light situations and that is an essential feature in my career of photographing fast moving kids. You can set the autofocus to find faces or even refine that down to focusing on the closest eye to the camera. For product shoots and detailed imagery, I like to switch over to manual focus. Here is where the OM-D E-M1 absolutely shines. With focal area enlargement and focus peaking both turned on in the manual focus assist menu settings, I can be absolutely certain that I have tack sharp focus even in macro images with extremely shallow depth of field. What this means is that when I choose the focal point and press the shutter halfway down the selected area of the image is enlarged in the viewfinder. As I turn the manual focus ring the outline of what is in focus begins to glow white at the edges when it is sharp. No more second guessing my eyesight, I know that I have nailed the focus.




The controls on the OM-D E-M1 feel so natural in my hands that I can make necessary adjustments to exposure without taking my eye off the viewfinder. The buttons and dials are all customisable so I have set them to perfectly reflect my shooting style. One of the main benefits of this system over the DSLR is the live electronic viewfinder. I feel more engaged with my subjects with my eye to the viewfinder instead of on the LCD and the viewfinder on the OM-D E-M1 displays the changes to the resulting image as I make them. Now I can shoot confidently through the viewfinder knowing that my shots are perfectly exposed as I press the shutter release without having to stop and check the LCD.As my clients come to me for PR imagery and time sensitive campaigns, I must get my images right in camera so that the editing is minimal and the turnaround time is extremely quick.

With a short deadline and the client present at the shoot, I depend on the OM-D E-M1’s wireless capability. I can either shoot invisibly tethered to an iPad using the camera’s inbuilt WiFi and the Olympus Image Share app or I can transfer the shots wirelessly to the iPad at the end of a session with the same technology. With Live View on the iPad via the Olympus Image Share app, my clients can see the photographs as they are taken without having to stand over my shoulder. With the flexibility of wireless available on all Olympus PEN & OM-D cameras, it allows us to not be physically tied to a computer or confined to a studio. As the input from the client is in real time, adjustments can be made in the moment avoiding the need to set up that particular shot again. All of these innovations with the OM-D E-M1 mean happier clients who feel like they are a part of the process. This feature happens to be my favourite for my family photography as well. The kids love to control the camera for family selfies and with the images then on my phone, I can share them immediately online.

In the case of headshots, editorial and PR photography where deadlines can be even tighter or even immediate in the case of events, I can shoot and transfer to the iPad on site so that the client makes their image selections as soon as we are finished shooting. If there is any editing to be done, I can simply import the selects into Lightroom on my iPad. Simple alterations of exposure, white balance and cropping can easily be done in the app to the delight of the client. If any larger editing requests come up such as complex skin retouching, it is easy with the Creative Cloud version of Lightroom to transfer the working file to my Macbook Pro laptop to finish in the full version of the program on there. Then again, that is rarely needed and most of my headshot clients leave the session having selected their photos, approved the edits and received a link via email to their gallery of final files hosted on my site without the images having even touched a computer.
 



The way shooting with the OM-D E-M1 has streamlined my photography business is the biggest development I have experienced since going from film to digital in 2004.
I love taking photographs. It has been my passion and career for a long time and shooting with the OM-D E-M1 means I can spend more of my time taking great photographs and making clients happy than sitting at my computer and editing images.

Author Bio
Rachel Devine is a commercial photographer and photo blogger. She has worked in the children’s media industry since the beginning doing headshots and PR imagery for many child actors and models. She has shot ad campaigns and kid clothing lines as well as branching out into photographing grown-ups too. From Los Angeles, California, since 2008 she has called Melbourne, Australia home. This year marks her twentieth anniversary in the photography business. Rachel is the author of four photography books including Beyond Snapshots (Random House/Amphoto/Ten Speed) and Life in Natural Light (Digital Photography School). In her two decades of professional photography she has used most every camera format out there from instant film to large format, but has not shot with anything except the Olympus system since 2014.
www.sesameellis.com

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The Holiday Checklist

16 November  , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  No comments

Preparing for your Holidays from a Photographic Perspective.

They don’t call the end of year holiday season the silly season for nothing. Things have a tendency to get quite ridiculous around this time. Presents, families, trips, time off work, parties, adventures!

One thing that you really need to be on top of before the holidays start is getting your camera equipment set up correctly and having it ready to go because if you want to capture those lifetime memories effectively you really need to plan ahead. We have put together a list of things to consider before the holiday period and there are a few items on here that you could even request from the bearded man in the red suit.


Memory Cards

The first thing you need to think about when it comes to memory cards is how many photos or videos can I store? Make sure you have a card that is big enough to hold what you expect you will shoot and a buffer on top of that. If you are going to that ideal holiday location then you are bound to get a little snap happy so take that into consideration.

Still rocking that dusty old 2GB that you have had for the last 3 cameras? Perhaps it is time for an upgrade. Cards do have a usage life and older cards are more likely to corrupt once they get to be quite old. As a general rule of thumb cards will last for 500-1000 uses. Don't leave anything to chance.

Picture this, you have your shot lined up and ready to go when… MEMORY FULL. That once in a life time opportunity is gone. It is a shame to miss that photo while you stop to delete some images. Have a large enough card to cover you and perhaps even a spare or two.

Memory cards are rated in speeds with different speed cards suited to different tasks. If you are shooting 4K footage on a brand-spanking new camera you need a card that is fast enough to keep up and store the footage.

Keeping all the cards together is a good idea too. There are plenty of good options for card storage that will keep them secure.

Don’t forget to backup your images to a second location as soon as possible. A card reader for a laptop is a great idea or a tablet or portable backup or thumb drive.

“I was running a photo walk and had brought my trusty Olympus Pen camera to shoot for the night. We had prepped the attendees and were about to launch into the walk when I went to take my first shot when I realised that I had not put the card back in after downloading shots that morning. Luckily I always keep a spare memory card on a special holder on my keyring so I popped that in and away I went. Having a spare saved the day and some embarrassment.”
- Daniel, Educational Co-ordinator

Batteries

Current battery technology is great. Batteries generally hold charge well and last a decent while but when dealing in holiday time merriment or a trip away with family or friends you are going to need more than one battery. It is worth having two or three spare batteries generally and if you will be away from power for an extended period of time consider getting more. Don’t forget your accessories that also need charge, a stack of alkaline AA batteries or rechargeable AA batteries are a great idea. Keep in mind that video shooting is resource heavy, it consumes card space and battery charge faster than still shooting.

“One time I was in Japan and went to the famous robot restaurant (lasers! robots!) for the show. You are allowed to take photos of anything and I was snapping away when I ran out of battery. I missed the last 45 minutes or so of the show and was kicking myself for not having a spare battery on me. Probably a once in a lifetime experience and I couldn't shoot everything that I wanted to. I now carry 3 spare batteries and 5 memory cards at all times.”
- Marc, National Sales Manager



Power

Flat batteries need a charge, so in the craziness of the packing and loading the car don’t forget your chargers. Our pro-tip on this one is to get a universal charger that works with multiple batteries and charges in the car. Some video cameras charge in camera which can be handy for long recording sessions indoors.

Many chargers are universal voltage so they will work between 100 & 240 volts but if you are travelling overseas it is a good idea to get a plug adaptor. Using a plug adaptor with a powerboard will give you more spots for plugs. There are even solar options if you are off the beaten track.

“Travelling up north for two weeks with the family over Christmas saw us packing the car with all manner of things, including pool toys, hair straighteners, snacks, bikes and more. When looking at all of the chargers that we would need to keep power to all of the phones, cameras, game consoles, e-readers, DVD players and other devices it became apparent that we would need another bag. Space was already an issue as we knew from previous trips that packing the car was a like lining up blocks in Tetris. The simple solution was a universal battery charger to keep us all powered up. Perhaps better still would have been an unplugged Christmas but maybe we’ll try that next year. ;)”
- Store Salesperson

Weather Proofing & Protection

You need to protect your equipment against the elements. Holiday travel to exotic destinations often comes with extreme temperature, rain, dust, snow, sand and condensation; all enemies of camera and electronic equipment. You really need to make sure that your camera is protected. There are a range of options to keep gear protected. A good camera bag is a good start and many have an all-weather style cover that slides over the bag, great if you get caught in a rain or dust storm. A single grain of sand can cause a camera to short out or a lens to jam up so be wary when shooting at the beach. Look at an all-weather cover and a screen protector for that extra protection.

A filter to protect the front element of the lens can protect from a knock to the lens or even smashing an element in a dropped camera. Cleaning dust off the lens can scratch the coating so always better to have a filter in place. Many cameras are weather proof or even water proof but you need to make sure the seals are fresh and clean. If you want to shoot in the rain, a rain cover will protect you from the elements.

Weather proof sealed cases are great when dealing with humidity or changing temperatures and a Moisture Muncher can adsorb some excess moisture. It is best when moving between varying temperatures quickly to let the camera warm or cool in the bag slowly to stop that sudden condensation build up.
“During a trip to South America I was super excited to get out and take some pictures a few days in. We had been backpacking around and staying in hostels and we had splurged on an air-conditioned room. Taking the camera from the cool air-conditioned room into the humid mid-summer heat of Brazil caused condensation to form inside of my camera and lens. The condensation build up eventually dried. Luckily the condensation had not ruined the camera as it dried out but not before I had missed some excellent opportunities for photos.”
- Call-Centre Staff Member

Cleaning

After you have been out in that snow storm you may need something to clean your camera. A cleaning kit will help to keep your gear squeaky clean. The last thing you want is some dust making it’s way onto your sensor and leaving spots on your images. You may need to clean the body of the camera, the lens, the lens elements and even the camera sensor. Cleaning should be done with care and the proper equipment. A cleaning cloth is a must-have part of any kit.
“I was in Japan on the Shinkansen (mag-lev train), amazed at the speed of the gorgeous landscape whizzing by. To try to photo the immense sense of speed, I took a long exposure panning shot at f16. I loved the shot, but when I got home and opened the file, I noticed the small spots of dust on the same place of every photo - I'd had dust on my sensor the whole time. Thanks to the glories of photoshop, it was easy to fix in post-production, but now I make sure to clean before every major shoot.”
- Victor, Technical Journalist
Remember to have fun and enjoy the holiday season. Take a breath between photos occasionally to take it all in… but then get back to recording those memories. One last thing is the obligatory group photo, you need a tripod to set that up. Check out the Manfrotto Pixi Evo Mini Tripod if you want something to fit on a table that is compact and stable.

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EISA AWARDS 2015-16 Announced

17 August  , , , , , , , ,  No comments

On the weekend the European Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) Awards for 2015-16 were announced.

EISA Awards are chosen annually by Expert Groups representing nearly 50 prominent Photography, Hi-Fi, Home Theatre Audio, Home Theatre Display & Video, In-Car Electronics and Mobile Devices magazines from up to 22 European countries. All Expert Groups work separately, but are under contract to the European Imaging & Sound Association.

In their Photography Awards category there are more than a few worthy and familiar new products which have come out in the last 12 months. Check out the full list of photography awards below.

PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS LIST

EUROPEAN PROFESSIONAL DSLR LENS 2015-2016
Canon EF 11-24mm F/4L USM

EUROPEAN PROFESSIONAL DSLR CAMERA 2015-2016
Canon EOS 5DS/5DS R

EUROPEAN PROSUMER DSLR CAMERA 2015-2016
Canon EOS 7D Mark II

EUROPEAN PHOTO INNOVATION 2015-2016
DxO ONE

EUROPEAN COMPACT SYSTEM ZOOM LENS 2015-2016
Fujifilm Fujinon XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR

EUROPEAN CONSUMER COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERA 2015-2016
Fujifilm X-T10

EUROPEAN PREMIUM COMPACT CAMERA 2015-2016
Leica Q

EUROPEAN SMARTPHONE CAMERA 2015-2016
LG G4

EUROPEAN CONSUMER DSLR CAMERA 2015-2016
Nikon D5500

EUROPEAN PROFESSIONAL COMPACT SYSTEM LENS 2015-2016
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40‑150mm F2.8 PRO

EUROPEAN PROSUMER COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERA
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II

EUROPEAN PHOTO & VIDEO CAMERA 2015-2016
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7/G70

EUROPEAN DSLR TELEPHOTO ZOOM LENS 2015-2016
SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Sports

EUROPEAN DSLR LENS 2015-2016
SIGMA 24mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art

EUROPEAN TRAVEL COMPACT CAMERA 2015-2016
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90/V

EUROPEAN COMPACT SYSTEM LENS 2015-2016
Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS

EUROPEAN PROFESSIONAL COMPACT SYSTEM CAMERA 2015-2016
Sony α7 II

EUROPEAN DSLR ZOOM LENS 2015-2016

Tamron SP 15-30mm F2.8 Di VC USD

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I’m not a Photographer… or am I?

02 June    No comments

I’m surrounded by photographers every day. And it’s a privilege to listen to creative people that notice things slightly differently than I do. They consider images closely. And I never really have.

One of the biggest challenges of being a non-photographer amongst photographers is really the most obvious one of all: I just don’t know what people are talking about. I understand the basics such as camera, focus and framing. But if you ask me about ISO, depth of field, shutter speed, aperture or anything more complicated, I’d blink slowly and smile a non-committal smile in your direction. I wouldn’t know how to respond.

So, in order to get a better understanding of taking photos, a couple of other Senior Managers in Head Office (also non-photographers) and I have created a fierce competition among ourselves. We get a theme every weekend and post our best shot after the weekend to DCWs’s Instagram account (DCWarehouse) and see who gets the most likes.

Last week’s theme was Architecture. I lost and now I have to buy my competitors lunch. I always claim to be not very competitive, so in that spirit, here’s what I ‘won’ from my first weekend of being a photographer:

  • I took the time to walk around my neighbourhood and really look at it. And it’s gorgeous. It has a huge church with a steeple that can be seen from surrounding suburbs, quirky art-deco apartment blocks and old shop-fronts with 1940s character.
  • I used manual focus for the first time ever. Ever. It was fun and empowering to take control of whether the building would be in focus, or the tree.
  • I tried to frame my shots appropriately. I looked at the scene and what I could capture with my camera. Sometimes I even chose not to shoot a building because there was not a good angle to capture it.
  • Taking photos and sharing them is fun.
  • It’s really not intimidating to pull out a camera and take a photo.
  • The beauty in a photo is in the eye of the beholder (which I will continue to tell myself as I lose this competition). 
My plan from here is to ask the photographers that I work with for help. Any of our staff in-store, in our Contact Centre and most of our support staff at Head Office could help me improve. And next week I’ll have an even better entry, and I might just come in second!


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Vivid Sydney 2015 - We can help you take your best photos

25 May  , , , , , , , , , ,  No comments

Vivid! What an awesome time to be in Sydney. Walking through the streets at night, being dazzled by lights on buildings, in the harbour, on sculptures and seeing purpose-built light installations scattered throughout parks and along streetscapes.

Last year, we opened our inaugural Creative Space, where we hosted guest speakers, set off on free photo walks, ran workshops and created a meeting space where photography enthusiasts could come and learn, be inspired and be creative.







This year, we’re doing it again! Our venue at 360 Kent St, is the perfect starting point for all the photo walks we have organised. We’ve researched and mapped out our routes to highlight the best locations - Martin Place, Circular Quay, Customs House, Museum of Sydney, and Sydney Harbour and surrounds.



We’ve got our own DCW Guides as well as experts from Fujifilm, Sony and Olympus that will help participants capture their best shots during walking tours, giving one-on-one instruction on how to get the most out of manual and creative settings on their camera.

In addition to experts from major brands, we also have Andrew Hall, Fujifilm’s Ambassador, guiding a walk on Thursday 28 May. Andrew has over 25 years’ experience as a professional, award-winning photographer. He photographs a range of genres including motorsport, landscapes and portraiture. And we also have James Brickwood, one on Fairfax’s Photographers guiding a walk on Saturday 6 June. James has been a staff photographer with The Sydney Morning Herald since 2007.


Our photo walks are an amazing way to learn, through hands-on, guided experience. We also have in-store ‘show and tells’ at our Kent St store, with Fujifilm, Sony and Olympus, showcasing their latest camera technologies. We’ll have a mini exhibition in our Kent St store to showcase Andrew Hall’s work as well as images and bios from some of Fujifilm Australia’s other Ambassadors. We will have extended trading hours and a hub for recharging your camera batteries.


We love the Vivid Festival! It’s colourful, it builds community and it’s a great platform to share photographic knowledge. 

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Fujifilm X-T1 firmware update includes a new AF system with upgraded autofocus performance

12 May  , , , , ,  No comments

11 May 2015
Fujifilm X-T1 firmware update includes a new AF system with upgraded autofocus performance Firmware designed for Fujifilm X-T1 and X-T1 Graphite Silver Edition cameras

(this is an extract directly from the Media Release despatched by Fujifilm Australia)

FUJIFILM announced today that it is introducing new firmware Ver. 4.00 for the X-T1 and X-T1 Graphite Silver Edition cameras that will feature nine key changes aimed at substantially improving the AF performance and operation.


The new firmware Ver.4.00 will be available from late June 2015. The new AF system makes it easier than ever to capture moving subjects, dramatically increasing your shooting options. Features include:

Zone and Wide / Tracking modes to accurately capture moving subjects
- 77 autofocus points are used across a wider area to substantially improve the camera’s ability to capture moving subjects.
- Zone mode allows users to choose a 3x3, 5x3 or 5x5 zone from the 77-point AF area.
- When combined with the AF-C continuous focusing mode, the camera tracks a subject in the centre of the selected zone. - Wide / Tracking mode displays the area in focus identified automatically out of the 77-point AF area, and tracks the subject across the entire 77-point AF area. Focus can be maintained on subjects that move vertically, horizontally, or back and forth.

2. Improved AF accuracy for enhanced focusing performance
- Single point AF divides the focus area into smaller sections to more accurately determine the distance to the subject.
- Built-in phase detection pixels now have a detection range of 0.5EV (previously 2.5EV), delivering phase detection AF performance that enables fast focus in low light conditions and on low-contrast subjects.

3. Eye Detection AF for more beautiful portraits
- By activating Face Detection AF and Eye Detection AF, the camera automatically detects and focuses on human eyes even in difficult conditions.

4. Auto Macro Mode for convenient close-up photography
- This feature eliminates the need to press the Macro button before shooting close-ups, while maintaining the conventional AF speed, allowing the user to assign a different function for the macro button.
5. Improved AF in Movie mode for smoother video recording
- The optimised algorithm delivers a more natural and smooth AF action during movie recording.

6. Improved Shutter Speed Dial Operation
When the Shutter Speed Dial is set to T and the Shutter Type to Mechanical + Electronic, the command dial can be set to a full range of exposure times from 30 - 1/32000 seconds enabling you to change the shutter speed across a broader range without having to change camera position. This is useful when shooting in portrait orientation with the optional Vertical Battery Grip.
7. Exposure Compensation in Manual Exposure mode
You can use the Exposure Compensation dial to make exposure adjustments while shooting in the Manual exposure mode with the ISO Auto setting.

8. Finer Lines on the framing grid enhances visibility
The lines on the framing grid, which can be displayed in the Screen Set-Up menu, are now finer making it easier to view the subject.

9. Name of Silent mode changed
The Silent mode has been renamed to “SOUND & FLASH OFF” to avoid confusion.
FUJIFILM Australia Product and Marketing Manager - Electronic Imaging, Alex Zitser, said the nine key changes are a reflection of feedback from users.
“This demonstrates that Fujifilm continues to listen to customer feedback to boost the performance of X Series cameras. In particular, Fujifilm has taken the ability to capture moving subjects to a whole new level,” Mr Zitser said.

The new X-T1 firmware Ver.4.00 will be available from late June 2015.

About FUJIFILM
FUJIFILM is a world leader in imaging, information and document technologies. With a commitment to extensive research and development, FUJIFILM provides a leading edge range of products and services that incorporate proprietary technologies which contribute to the advancement of such fields as culture, science, technology and industry, as well as improved health and environment protection. Ultimately, FUJIFILM’s aim is to help enhance the quality of life for people worldwide.

www.fujifilm.com.au
Media Enquiries:
Deidre McAlinden M: 0417 758432

FUJIFILM Australia Pty Ltd E: deidre.mcalinden@bigpond.com.au

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News Release - Digital Camera Warehouse now recognised as Google Trusted Store

23 April  , ,  No comments

Sydney, Australia – 22 April 2015 - Digital Camera Warehouse, which offers a specialist photographic retail experience both online and at dedicated city locations, was recently selected to join the Google Trusted Stores program. To help shoppers identify online merchants that offer a great shopping experience, the Google Trusted Store badge is awarded to e-commerce sites that demonstrate a track record of on-time shipping and excellent customer service.

When visiting the Digital Camera Warehouse website, shoppers will see a Google Trusted Store badge and can click on it for more information.

Lucinda Dalton, Director of Digital Camera Warehouse commented, ‘We’re thrilled to be recognised as a Google Trusted Store. Not only because it highlights our exceptional team and processes, but also because it gives our customers the confidence to know that Google, sees Digital Camera Warehouse as a trusted site. We do what we say we do. And if we don’t, Google protection will kick in. It’s a win-win for our customers.’

As an added benefit, when a shopper makes a purchase at a Google Trusted Store, they have the option to select free purchase protection from Google. Then in the unlikely event of an issue with their purchase, they can request Google’s help, and Google will work with Digital Camera Warehouse and the customer to address the issue.

As part of this, Google offers up to $1,000 lifetime purchase protection for eligible purchases.
Google Trusted Stores is entirely free, both for shoppers and for online stores. The program helps online stores like Digital Camera Warehouse attract new customers, increase sales and differentiate themselves by showing off their excellent service via the badge on their websites.

Digital Camera Warehouse is a specialist photographic retailer with stores in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, and with a leading online presence. Digital Camera Warehouse sells D-SLR cameras, CSC cameras, compact cameras, video cameras, lenses, memory cards, and a range of accessories to the full spectrum of photography enthusiasts. The company has been operating online since 2001 with a reputation for high standards of service, exceptional knowledge and efficient delivery.

Digital Camera Warehouse
Tel: 1300 365 220

Address: PO Box 20, Canterbury, NSW 2193

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TIPA Awards 2015 - TIPA Reveals Their Best Cameras and Imaging Products

13 April  , , , , , , , , ,  No comments




The TIPA (Technical Image Press Association) Awards for 2015 have just been announced, covering their selection of the best photographic and imaging products launched in the past 12 months.

A couple of our favourites made it through to the list which we’ve highlighted below.


Best Photo Printer: Epson SureColor P600 A3+ Inkjet Printer

There’s nothing quite like a finished print on gorgeous, tactile paper stock. Having recently acquired the Foto Riesel print lab, we’re certainly getting addicted to it. The Epson SureColor P600 outputs some stunning prints, up to A3 in size.

We love its desktop size (our office printer is somewhat less so at almost 2 metres in length!) and the new Epson SureColor inks with exquisite blacks. Long live print!

Pro-tip: try out Canson Infinity Baryta or Platine Fibre Rag paper. They’re something special.

Best Professional DSLR Lens: Canon EF 11-24 f/4L USM

Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM is a stunning performer that shoots wider than ever. We love the dramatic perspectives and sweeping photos that come with this impressive focal range, just make sure you’re wearing nice shoes – they may well be in frame!

Best Photo/Video Camera Professional: Sony a7s

The Sony A7s, otherwise known as, the little camera that could. Featuring one of the best low light full-frame sensors to date coupled with 4K video, a silent electronic shutter, and the ability to adapt almost any manual focus lens to it, this camera is certainly accolade worthy.

Sony’s A7s pairs perfectly with the CSC or mirrorless prime lens category winner, the Zeiss Loxia 50mm f2 and 35mm f2 lenses, which bring the fantastically designed Carl Zeiss Biogon and Planar formulas to the digital mirrorless age. (The Biogan and Planar lenses are special order lenses at DCW).

Best CSC Professional: Samsung NX1

Samsung is onto a good thing with the NX1 – It’s fast, well-built, and packs some serious punch. There’s a lot to like about this camera, but some standouts include 15fps high speed continuous shooting with autofocus, a snappy AF system with 205 Phase and 209 Contrast Detect points, and 4K video at a cinematic 24fps.

Reviews for this camera have been wildly positive, and we’re very interested to see where Samsung goes from here.

Best Superzoom Camera: Nikon COOLPIX P610

With 60x Optical Zoom that starts at a wide 24mm and reaches an impressive telephoto end of 1440mm (in equivalent 35mm focal lengths), the Coolpix P610 is an incredibly versatile camera. 

We’re a fan of the 5-stop advantage vibration reduction which is necessary for getting the most out of the huge superzoom range. GPS, Full HD video and a host of other features make it a perfect companion for travel!

The Canon SX60 HS ultrazoom is certainly no slouch either. While it didn’t walk away with a TIPA award, its 65x Optical Zoom starts at a super-wide 21mm equivalent, and extends to 1365mm.


You can see the full list of TIPA Award winners for 2015 on their webpage. 

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Photographing Your Car for Sale

24 February    No comments

by Daniel Smith

When photographing your car to sell you want to show it in the best way possible. Here are a few tips to show your car at it’s finest and maximise the interest in your ad.


Background

Pick a background that is pleasing to the eye. You do not have to photograph in front of a beautiful vista but utilising a nice beach, parkland or bushland as a background can be a good option. If you dont have access to a nice background something plain is a good option. If shooting in your street or an urban area try to avoid distracting elements in the background and foreground. Things like telegraph poles and post boxes coming out from behind the car can be distracting and something dissecting the car in front is certainly off-putting. If theming your shoot you could pick a background that suits the style of your car. A gritty industrial view is often utilised with high-end car photography but you may not want to overcomplicate things. A well executed series of images showing off the car is your best bet for a quick sale.

Clean Your Car

Give your car a wash and clean before photographing it. There is no need to detail it unless you are shooting some more close up shots of specific pieces but a general wash and clean will make a world of difference.

Lighting

The time of day that you photograph your car will greatly alter the way that it looks. Traditionally light in the middle of the day is more harsh and harder to photograph due to the harder shadows and highlights. Choose early morning or late afternoon for your photography as the light is generally softer and easier to work with. You are chasing indirect light that is still bright enough to shoot in. The correct light can help to enhance the paint work on the car and will add an extra dimension to the images. Once you get into late afternoon the light does turn orange so be wary of the possible colour cast, it could be used to your advantage.

Using flash on your shoot can be a good idea. Most cameras have a built-in flash that will provide a enough light that just fills in the detail that is in shadow. A larger flash on the camera or off to the side can provide more lighting. This light can be used to brighten the shot in front and create more depth. Used creatively flash photography can be very powerful. When shooting with onboard flash or a flash on top of the camera, a diffuser can be added in front of the light to soften it a little. In automatic modes your camera should be able to balance the flash with the available light (as long as it is not too dark).



Framing

When framing your shot you need to consider the angle that the car is on and it’s placement in the frame. Having the car with too much space around it will under-utilise the amount of room you have on your ad/listing but when shooting you also do not want to crop out pieces of the car unless shooting a detail shot specifically. Cutting off just the bumper for instance will make the shot look messy. A lower angle will generally give a better perspective for your front and side shots.

If your car is not in a perfect condition you do not want to focus too much on the imperfections and choose angles that are going to display your vehicle favourably. If your car does have some issues though it is worth making note of them in your listing and perhaps even having some close up shots to show the extent of the issues.

Have a look at some high end car ads for inspiration, there are certain angles that will show your car in the best possible way. The 3/4 view is a popular one, where your car is on an angle to camera. Often turning the wheels will add a dynamic element.

Here is a shot list of a few standard angles to shoot.
  1. 3/4 View Front
  2. Side-on view
  3. 3/4 View Back
  4. Interior Front
  5. Interior Back
  6. Dash View
  7. Detail shot of elements that you want to show off (e.g rims, grill, speedo)

Watch the Reflections

Cars are shiny, well most of the time, so you need to be mindful of what is reflecting in the paint work and the windows. To avoid getting yourself reflected in shot use a long lens and get physically further back from the car or put your camera on a tripod and use a self-timer. This will give you time to get out of shot.

Equipment & Considerations

Your approach to your shot will depend on your camera set-up. The above tips you will will help you get good results with most cameras. Accessories can help to improve the results.

Here are a variety of camera types and accessories, and some products in each range.

Phone Camera

The phone camera, while the most accessible, will not provide the best results. Phone sensors are generally quite small and therefore provide a lower overall quality especially in low light. The absence of a powerful flash makes shooting in lower light difficult too. With the right amount of light though many phone cameras will take a reasonable photograph.

Sony Cyber-shot Smartphone Lens-style Camera DSCQX100 - $537

The Compact Camera

A compact camera provides a better quality than most camera phones while still being inexpensive. Overall picture quality is good and many compacts have manual and creative functionality allowing you to have more control over your images. Compact cameras can be placed on a tripod that will steady the shot.

Panasonic Lumix FZ70 - $454
Fujifilm XQ1 Premium Compact - $509


Mirrorless Camera

Mirrorless cameras sit in between compacts and DSLR cameras and provide much of the same manual functionality as DSLR but at a more compact size. These are better in low light and there are more lenses available which give you more options when shooting your car.

Olympus PEN E-P5 + 14–42mm f/3.5–5.6 II R Lens - $670
Sony A7R + Sony 28–70mm Lens - $2375


DSLR Camera

With the greatest amount of options for accessories and lenses, DSLR cameras are the perfect option for those wanting the most out of their photography. The high quality will show any car in the best light.

Canon 700D DSLR + EF-S 18–55 f/3.5–5.6 IS STM – Single Lens Kit - $706.00
Nikon D7100 - DX-Format DSLR - With Nikkor 18–105mm VR lens - $1448.00
Pentax K–50 + 18–135mm ED DA AL IF DC WR Lens - $1180

Tripods

Tripods come in a variety of shapes and sizes. As a general rule of thumb the larger units are heavier but able to hold the camera more steady. As the light is less at the optimal shooting times, morning and evening, a tripod will help to steady your shot as you are shooting at speeds that can be hard to hold steady. At the lower speeds you will not be able to hold your hand steady enough and the car will be blurry. A compact tabletop tripod can help to create a more stable shot when resting on something.

Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod - $50
Slik F153 Tripod - $39
Manfrotto MT190XPRO3 Tripod + 804RC2 Head - $499

Lenses

Extra lenses will alter the angle of view allowing for a different perspective.

A wide angle lens will fit more in, allowing you to get closer to the car. There is the possibility of some distortion close-up though.

A telephoto lens or long zoom can be good to provide some separation between your car and the background, and allow for close framing with less chance of being reflected in the paint work or window.

Panasonic LZ40 - $294
Canon Lens 70–200mm EF f/4L USM - $789
Sigma Lens 70–300mm f/4–5.6 DG OS - $527

Flashes

Extra flash units can provide that extra bit of light to fill in the shadows and make your car pop.

Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT Flash - $526
Metz Mecablitz 52 AF–1 Touchscreen Digital Camera Flash - $382
Olympus FL–600R Flash Unit - $329

Conclusion

 Buying a $4000 camera kit may not be advisable if you want to photograph your $8000 car to sell. Working within your limitations with the above tips and you will get great results. If you are thinking about upgrading your kit anyway or getting that next accessory, then now could be the opportune time. If you have any questions please contact us on 1300 365 220 or through our website. Comments and questions are also welcome in the comments below. Happy shooting!

Please note: All prices are correct at time of post creation and may be subject to change without notice.

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Digital Camera Warehouse: New Owners of the Iconic Foto Riesel

02 February    No comments

Sydney, Australia – 27 Jan, 2015 - Digital Camera Warehouse is delighted to announce it is the new owner of the Foto Riesel store in Sydney’s CBD. Foto Riesel is located at 360 Kent St, Sydney. Digital Camera Warehouse, acknowledging the importance of Foto Riesel as a specialist store in Sydney’s photographic retail industry, made a successful offer to purchase the business. The store will re-open as ‘Foto Riesel by Digital Camera Warehouse’ in the coming months.

Digital Camera Warehouse Director Lucinda Dalton, on the acquisition, said, ‘We’re excited to strengthen photo specialty retail in Sydney by becoming the new owners of Foto Riesel; such an iconic specialist retailer. We love its long history; it’s evolution through the changing face of the technology of photography and the retail industry. Purchasing Foto Riesel is part of our company’s growth strategy. We believe we will add significant value to photographers of all levels in Sydney’s CBD.’

Digital Camera Warehouse intends to maintain the majority of existing services offered by Foto Riesel. A strong driver for the acquisition for Digital Camera Warehouse is to ensure that specialist photography knowledge continues to be accessible for photography enthusiasts.

The new ‘Foto Riesel by Digital Camera Warehouse’ will utilise all of Digital Camera Warehouse’s existing processes, supplier relationships and long-established logistics practices. New and existing customers will benefit from competitive pricing, premium customer service, a dedicated Contact Centre based in Sydney and a greater range of the latest equipment.

More information will become available via Digital Camera Warehouse’s website and Facebook pages closer to the store re-opening.

www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/digitalcamerawarehouse

Digital Camera Warehouse is a specialist photographic retailer with stores in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, and with an established online presence. Digital Camera Warehouse sells D-SLR cameras, CSC cameras, compact cameras, video cameras, lenses, memory cards, and a range of accessories to the full spectrum of photography enthusiasts. The company has been operating since 2001 and has a reputation for high standards of service, exceptional knowledge and efficient delivery.

Foto Riesel is a specialist photographic retailer, which has operated in Sydney’s CBD, in various CBD locations, since 1957. It offers a range of photography services including retail, photo and fine art printing, second hand sales and film processing.

Digital Camera Warehouse is the new owner of the Foto Riesel store in Sydney’s CBD. Foto Riesel is located at 360 Kent St, Sydney. The store will re-open as ‘Foto Riesel by Digital Camera Warehouse’ in the coming months.

Contact: Mark McDonald
Position: Marketing Manager
Company: Digital Camera Warehouse
Telephone: 02 9789 9703
Email: mark@digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au
Post: PO Box 20, Canterbury, NSW 2193

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