Photo Books

Here is a selection of the most recent and interesting books:

- Nori - La Photographie en France

- Alvarez Bravo - photo poetry

- Depardon - Terre des paysans

- Salgado - Africa

- Mora - la Photographie americaine 58-81

- Frank - Americans (republish)

- Frank - Paris

- Atget - Paris (taschen)

- Stephen Shore - Phaidon monography

-Eggleston - guide

DSLR Cinema 1

Canon 5D mark II is the first Digital SLR to have full HD (1080p) video capacity.

This is a major breakthrough - see article about HD DSLR

See trial videos

• video shot in Japan,

• Chicago video

• or this one (check out the night helicopter shot)

Nikon D90 is the first Nikon DSLR to have video capacity although in 720p, no AF (VR on VR lenses?) but great low light sensibility (by the look of it).

See video tests here. Video in Paris (cool music...)

Look like people have watched Collateral heavily... (which btw is the first movie to be shot HD )

The idea I guess is that in both cases you can attach a wide range of great lenses , notably fast f1.4 like lenses which allows better control on focus/defocus areas.

Accessories are already available to turn these cameras into movie cameras.

Nikon D400 full HD?

[UPDATE 1 Dec: Its the D3x! - D400 for PMA ?]

D3X: 24MP full frame - 35 mm sensor (FX in Nikon terminology)

Remark:

D3 is a great camera with unmatched low light/high ISO sensibility. The body is all magnesium and sealed. Its basically an F7 (which never existed of course), that is an F6 with the battery pack welded F5 style, designed by Giugiaro.

However, the pixel count (12MP) is lower than competition for whatever reason. Either Nikon engineers were careful for their first full frame sensor which is also their first CMOS apparently designed inhouse or that they wanted to preserve a comfortable growth margin or they simply wanted to milk the market (D3 release price above 5000$)...

Anyway the direct competition now are Canon 5D Mark II (21MP) and Sony Alpha A900 (24MP) both full frame DSLR.

Nikon also introduced video capacity in its recent D90, hence the perceived necessity for Nikon to release updates of its top cameras D3/D300 to increase pixel count and include video.

So the idea now is that, given the successful parallel launch of launch D3/D300 couple a year ago, a second camera body successor to D300 could be also announced in the future in order to counter the Canon 5DII/50D couple. See interesting posting here.

In any case, here are the most likely expectations:

• Minimum or no modification to both chassis. Body, LCD res., prism great, buttons ergonomic are great. Nikon only misses the Canon click wheel on the back - but ok that's a long debate.

• Introduction of full HD capacity (1080p), Canon 5DmkII has it

• New sensors 16 MP for D400 and 24 for D3x - Origin Sony FF CMOS, cropped for D400. Question if Nikon going back to cooperation with Sony, what about the Nikon sensor developing capacity? Remember that Canon sensors are all developed in house.

• Sensor cleaning (at least for D3x)

• Image processor to be updated to handle higher resolutions. D3 is 12 channel (4 for each color), with a 14 bit A/D converter and D3 uses 16-bit data transmission throughout the image-processing pipeline. Should these figures increase ?

Italics - Palazzo Grassi

PALAZZO GRASSI, VENICE

'ITALICS. ITALIAN ART BETWEEN TRADITION AND REVOLUTION, 1968-2008'

from 27/09/2008 to 22/03/2009


Covers a time span of over forty years, Italics is one of the most important exhibitions dedicated to contemporary Italian Art ever organized. Bringing together 250 works by 107 artists.

Curator Francesco Bonami

Exhibition will show in Chicago in 2009 after a stop in Asia (to be confirmed)


Check out !

Cool flash site

Catalogue

Shots

Video1; video2 ; video3

report1 ; report2; report3; report4; report 5;

Exihibitions in Paris

Picasso and Masters - Grand Palais (book in advance)

Picasso - Manet @ Orsay

Centre Pompidou: Ron Arad, Sottstass, Futurism in Paris

Kristallnacht @ Shoah Memorial

Mantegna @ Louvre

Jeff Koons @ Versailles

Raoul Dufy @ Palais Tokyo

Van Dyck @ Jacquemart-Andre

Gainsbourg @ Cite de la Musique (Villette)

And a little piece of Quai Branly

Mois de la Photo

The complete programme can be found here.

As always there is a lot to see. Here is a little (personal) selection:

Jeu de Paume: Lee Miller (@ Concorde) hot... as a model and as a reporter, Erich Solomon (@ Sully) snap-shot taken at the international conferences of the 30', I find it great.

Centre Pompidou: Photographic Experiments in Europe (assembled from its collections)

Bibliotheque Nationale: American Photography in the Seventies (check out the video)

Musee d'art Moderne de la Ville de Paris: Dusseldorf - neue objectivitet (Becher & co)

Fondation Cartier-Bresson: Cartier-Bresson/Walker Evans Photographing America, 1929-1947, an excuse to show HCB and Evans pictures again

Maison Europeenne de la Photo: McDermott & McGough vintage style photography - funny but nothing special (150 pix!); Sabine Weiss - Photo humaniste less prominent member

Other interesting minor exibitions: Werner Bischof, Post-War; Pierre Verger Spain; Robert mcCabe Greece; Erwin Blumenfeld

Italians at Mois de la Photo: Basilico Moskow, Jodice , Collezzione Reggio-Emilia (Ghirri's)

Remarks on Mois de la Photo Programme

- There is no blockbuster exhibition

- Lee Miller's Ok but not such a big name

- HCB in America hardly his best work (maybe also loosely related to MdlP)

- Sarah Moon - somebody explain why this is considered one of MdlP top exhibitions

- Many exhibitions hardly correspond to the theme "European photography tradition and transformation", actually rather to American Photography (BNF, Evans, Miller)

- I don't really see anything major or really representing the status of the European cultural production - except for the Dusseldorf gang, who are really establishment now. Add to this a small selection (4) of "Helsinki school" representatives

- The foreign countries cultural center's fare is a bit of a sideshow - maybe the most interesting is the Slovak one

- The MdlP has been trapped by the concomitant French EU Presidency. Hence desperate attempts to link the programme to vague concepts of changing European identities and frontiers disappearing

- The rest is commercial photography with the usual array of minor photo reporters, publicity and fashion photographers or government sponsored

- BNF 70's- nice and well presented, draws from BNF collection and is assembled to illustrate some themes like street photo, snapshot, etc. Also Beaubourg's on experimental photography draws from its collections

- Crypto/sub theme 1 - the 30's-40's (Miller's war works, Solomon, Bishof, parts of BDIC at Invalides, 30's satirical photomontages, maybe also the Kristallnacht exhibition at the Shoah memorial)

- Crypto/sub theme 2 - travel and landscape photography

- Crypto/sub theme 3 - Cityscapes and urbanism

Avant-garde russe au Musée Maillol

Une grande exposition titrée “L’avant-garde russe dans la collection Costakis” est accueilli par le musée Maillol à Paris du 13 novembre au 2 mars 2009 couvrant la période de l’art russe depuis la fin du 19^e siècle jusqu’aux années 1930. La prestigieuse collection Costakis, comptant 1300 œuvres, est la plus importante au monde consacrée à l’abstraction russe et sera présentée pour la première fois en France. A travers plus de 200 œuvres, essentiellement des peintures à l'huile, des aquarelles, des gouaches et des dessins, le Musée Maillol présentera l'essentiel et le plus surprenant de cette collection, tant les œuvres des artistes les plus célèbres tels Rodchenko, Lissitzky, Tatline, Popova, que les œuvres d'artistes méconnus, tels Kudriashev, Redko, Anders, Nikritin. Cette collection privée, aujourd'hui conservée au Musée d'Art Contemporain de Thessalonique et à la Galerie Tretyakov à Moscou, a été patiemment rassemblée par Georges Costakis, chauffeur de l’ambassade de Grèce à Moscou, amateur éclairé et passionné de l’art.

(source: Press release Musee Maillol)

Join the Imperial Star Fleet

Uncle Darth wants You !!!

Courtesy http://digitaleargasm.blogspot.com/

Leica D-Lux 4

Image quality

Many reviewers indicate that Leica's processing algorithm is different than Lumix's to provide cleaner and smoother images with a "Leica look". Some say that there are differences in term of the color output. Maybe if difference there are these apply only to Jpeg default presets. You can find a comparison of the Jpeg output of the two cameras here and make your own conclusions. However, I spoke with a Leica representative at Leica Stand at Photokina and he told me that image processing is the same.


In the Lumix LX-3, JPEG images look fine, but appear overprocessed even at lower ISO and especially in shadows. This provides for JPEG images to appear soft. The lens may contribute to this as it is not particularly contrasty although things improve by f8.

Both cameras’ RAW files look the same. To process Lumix picture taken in raw mode you have to use the Silkypix software provided with the camera. (UPDATE: Now raw format is recognized by Lightroom or Camera Raw.)

Leica provides Phase One Capture One 4 raw software instead of Silkypix. Neither cameras produce universal DNG format files.

There seem to be a difference between raw images processed through Silkypix (Panasonic) and Capture One (Leica). The latter providing better results.



Dlux-4 and Lx-3 Differences


Pending confirmation whether there are differences in image treatment, the two cameras appear identical except for the following features:

- Body is the same, except the Lumix has a smaller built-in grip while the Leica body is rounded and allow you to use an accessory grip (which looks like a smaller Leica M grip) which provides better handling. The grip is not needed nor compatible with the Lumix.

- Color: both come in black finish but the Lumix can also be bought in silver finish.

- Leica price is 50% higher than the Lumix.

- The Leica comes with a 3 years guarantee.

- Leica accessories, external viewfinder and camera bag, are a bit more luxurious and expensive.

- Dedicated flash unit LEICA CF 22 is also available for the LEICA D-LUX 4.

MTA signs and memorabilia

Signs use the helvetica type designed by Massimo Vignelli back in the 1970's.

Small signs are comparable to enamel plates in terms of what can be done with them - basically hanging on the wall... Bigger station signs are of course bigger and hence more problematic to accommodate in your living room. Also I doubt that many people dream to turn their living room, when they are fortunate enough to have one, into a subway station.

Original signs can be found in flea markets around town and can be found in different sizes and related to different subway lines. I got this in Brooklyn.

In any case you can follow MTA's regular sales of collectible materiel.

Records stores in NYC

Please note these are tested, mostly have Vinyls, focus on alternative and electronica.

J&R - Park row - has record annex with vinyl new at decent price

Virgin Union Square has stuff also vinyl - CD on sale often new alternative stuff

Generation records 210 Thomson st - Below Washington square - has a lot - vinyl downstairs

Rebel Rebel - 319 Bleeker st - small but the guy knows everything - for collectors

- In the East village

Other Music 15 E 4th st - lot of stuff - alternative - sell concert tickets

- At St Marks Place

Mondo Kim (6 St Marks) recently everything (CD, video, LPs, new, old etc) on sale 30% off

Next door is Sound - more second hand CD and recent stuff at 10$

Etherea - good selection CD/LP - 66 AV A - Alphabet city

Academy LPs - 415 E 12th - second hand vinyl - you have to dig - some new/reissues

- Brooklyn - Williamsburg - Bedford av subway

Academy annex in Brooklyn - even bigger great for spending a day digging

Earwax also in Williamsburg - new and 2nd hand

Olympus E-30 4/3 system Digital SLR

Finally a decent camera from Olympus!

Pluses

Bright prism (98%, 1/1 magnification - 1,02)

Image stabilization in camera body

Decent resolution (12 Mpix)

Metering system: 49 zones multipattern - choice of highligh or shadows spot - sound good

Movable videocam style LCD

Good announced shooting rate (5 fps)

Shadow adjustment - Olympus dynamic range optimiser seems limited to shadows brigthening

Built in level, live view, sonic anti-dust system etc.

Also can vary aspect ratios that include: 16:9, 3:2, 7:5, 4:3, 5:4, 6:5, 7:6, 7:5 and 6:6. This would be interesting if you can shoot the same picture in various formats.

Doesn't weight a ton (655g empty no battery)

Question marks:

Price tag - hope lower than competition , if not what's the point?

Movie mode - where is it ?

High ISO performance - if same sensor as Lumix G1 don't be too optimistic

Raw 14 bits ?

Not so convincing:

Multiple exposure (any camera from 40 years ago does that);

So called "art styles", not sure why this is number one marketing argument for Olympus. Ok like I am going to spend around 1000 $/Eur price to take pictures in low quality pinhole mode everyday...

Body is stated "Glass fibre reinforced plastics", humm... this doesn't sound as good as say... "Titanium".

Remarks

I actually like this camera looks and ergonomics.

It offer a lot of controls either directly through dedicated function buttons on the back or through the menu. Viewfinder and movable LCD are clear pluses. The body rigidity and solidity seem to have been sacrificed in the overall equation.

4/3 sensor is always going to be noiser than other sensors as it packs its pixels over a smaller surface. It is interesting in an approach that aims to achieve compactness and smaller lenses. The Lumix G1 carry this principle even further by adopting the micro 4/3 format. However, in a full blown SLR this may lead to compromises in terms of optical/mechanical facilities (prism, bayonet, shutter and chassis).

Therefore, if the image quality is not there, especially at higher ISOs, then one may wonder why choose this camera over similar or more capable ones from the Sony/Pentax/ikon/Canon competition.

The camera gives you access to a wide range of 4/3 system lenses, including a specially made Leica 25mm f1.4 auto focus. In addition via special adapter rings you can mount M42 screw lenses, old (but good!!!) Olympus Zuiko lenses, Pentax K, Leica R lenses and even Nikon AIS/AFD lenses - of course with limitations: no AF for sure, no metering and no infinite, depending on type of adapter ring, but you may actually benefit from image stabilisation which is in camera. Of course apply crop factor x2 - so great with tele lenses less with wideangles (20mm is a normal), but you will be using the center of the image which will provide better definition.

So the challenge for Olympus is to propose a well designed (although not as tought) body with a convincing image quality. If priced competitively, it may be a winner for Olympus if not maybe wait for a possible next generation E-40.

Panasonic Lumix DMC LX3 - some remarks

The Lumix LX3 is a very compact, reactive camera with good LCD and 24 mm wide angle lens.

However, the camera tends to overexpose, metering in general requires attention, grain is there in shadows at lower ISOs, at 800 its all over the place (I wouldn't go beyond that), jpeg images are soft by default, battery life not so great in my view.

It's W-I-D-E!!!!

With a wide optical complement you can reach up to 18mm equivalent (f2 !!!!!) which coupled with panoramic 16/9 aspect ratio provides even more leeway. Add to that the excellent grid display which can be selected (with live histogram) on the LCD.

Exposure

It overexposes like crazy, on average exposure compensation -2/3 EV is required. If portions of sky appear in shot you need to go above -1 EV to avoid blowing highlights.

It is my experience that in many situations (except very low contrast ones) you may wish to underexpose you image. You can achieve this by one or, in more complex situations, a combination of the following methods:

• exposure compensation button
• metering for highlights (sometimes required even with EV compensation)
• keeping histogram to the left and avoid touching the right of the scale (unless for inevitable specular highlights and reflections)
• using i-exposure mode
• use polariser or graduated Neutral Density filter to darken sky
  

Dynamic range

Please note also that "dynamic range extender" method, called "intelligent exposure adjustment" or i-exposure in the manual, seems to work by actually brightening shadows. The contrary i.e. recovering details in overexposed or blown areas would be pretty complicate. Other manufacturers, like Pentax have a high dynamic range mode that underexposes and digitally processes the image in the same way by working on the shadows to bring back detail. In the LX3 case, you can only count on the image engine processor to carry out the last part of the process. Therefore if you are using this function, you need pay some attention on how you expose your image. Overall i-exposure in my opinion works quite well if it has enough margin to work upon, although don't expect miracles.

Son of M

Another remark, while the metering issue may constitute a problem in some cases, it is possible that the aim of Panasonic (with a strong influence from Leica people probably) was to optimise the camera for low light and contrast situations. Hence, the f2 lens, the tendency to overexpose, and the rather soft image default settings.

If the camera is set to low beeps, no AF assist ight, no LCD screen and a external optical viewfinder is used, you can achieve a sort of stealth mode, which coupled with the camera's short shutter lag, can get you something close to Leica M discrete street photography experience.

Autonomy

Panasonic and independent reviews state that batteries have excellent performances by CIPA standards. My experience is that if you work on just one battery you will run out of energy in two-three hours of continous shooting. And I am hardly using the flash. This is due to energy hungry features like the zooming motor, big screen, extensive controls that need to be reached more frequently by the menus, powerful image engine, etc.

Extra autonomy may be achieved if you don't use flash, shut down LCD, use external view finder instead to compose, avoid frequent zooming (leave at 24mm as if fixed lens - let's call it the Summicron option, which btw has no parallel in the M range) and keep camera to Program, avoid fidling with advanced functions like film mode optimisation, exposure compensation, raw+jpeg recording, etc.

However, to be on the safe side my advice is to bring along not just one but 2 or even 3 extra batteries. The problem is also that the battery charger provided, which is compact with folding sockets, is also quite slow: it can take up to an hour and a half for a full charge. Multiply by the number of batteries and you can get stuck for quite a while.

24mm f2 ultra wide-angle LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens

the Lens is clearly one a the best selling point of the camera. Both in terms of wideness (24mm) and brighteness (f2). It is aimed at wide angle photography and I wouldn't certainly complain about that.

The lens sport the typical Leica rendition: sharp while being less contrasty than say... Nikon.

Lens is good but I have impression that noise reduction tends in most cases to destroy the details resolved by lens (can't substantiate but this point would need to be verified).

Lens flares when pointed directly to a light source and with additional lens it's even worse. On the other hand it does not vignette even with the extra lens on. It appears quite consistent center to corner. Distortion is typical of wide angles.

General Recommendations about Buying a New Digital SLR

Establish your needs and how much you are willing to pay.

- Do you need a camera with high resolution, ISO performance and burst rate and you are willing to pay more and carry heavier load (maybe also as a consequence spend more on higher end lenses to benefit fully from higher resolution). Also, you want to shoot RAW most of the time and want to spend time post processing on you PC. You want to pay between 1500$ and 2500$ for you camera and lens kit. if Yes then go for Canon 50D, Nikon D300 or maybe if you can afford it go directly to Full Frame bodies such as Nikon D700, Sony Alpha 900, Canon 5D mkII.

- Or you want a cheaper (below 1000$) and lighter to carry around camera and are ready to accept less features then you can start with a medium-entry body such as Canon 450D, Pentax K200D, Sony Alpha 300/350 with a double kit 18-70 plus 70-300 or a all-in-one 18-200.

- Intermediate choice which means more money (1000$ and 2000$) and performance, most of times better finders/LCDs screens to be coupled with better lenses - the choice is detailed below and consist mostly Canon 40D, Nikon D90, Pentax K20D, Sony Alpha A700.

Before buying compare bodies and handling to get your own impression (you can go to big department stores that have most cameras on display).

Check offers - most of the lens which are bundled with cameras are less qualitative than better zooms and primes (often plastic body and bayonet) but sometimes the camera is bundled with interesting kit lens e.g. Pentax K20D wt 16-80 f4, also Nikon 18-200 is cheaper when bundled with camera body

Take into account additional costs for: extra battery, UV filters, camera case or bag, memory cards and possibly extra camera grip.

Buy in legitimate stores.

Finally take a look at lens range of each manufacturer. Do you see primes or special lenses that you think you may need in the future to upgrade your system. Is it possible to mount them on on the camera body that you are considering to buy without losing metering or getting cropped images (manual/AF, APS-C/Full Frame)? Whether you already own some lens of the same manufacturer may also dictate your choice of camera body.

Canon 50D compared to its competitors

Canon 50D is a great camera - strong points high resolution 15 megapixel - high def 3'' LCD screen - quick processing - raw processing 14 bits (which is great if you want to squeeze more dynamic range from your pix - although means more time post-processing) - high ISO capacity reach 1600 without problems after that noise kicks in.

Minuses - costly and heavy, not a solid body as Nikon D300 - high resolution on small captor does not allow high ISO performances to match competition, although processor keeps things under control but 1600 is really the frontier. Overall performances not exceptionally different than 40D.

Suggested Canon lens 17-85 IS, 10-22, some primes (remember cropping factor) 20mm is a 35mm more/less. Ideal choice (but costly) 17-55 f2.8.

An 18-200 IS has been released in conjunction with 50D, which is a convenient all-in-one, but don't expect miracles. Price is around 600$ which is 100 more than 17-85.

Concerning Canon 40D, it still sells for 500$ less than 50D. It has less resolution (10 Mpix), LCD screen has less definition, older image processor. But performances in terms of definition and higher ISO sharpness are good taking into account that it has less pixels than its successor. But for same price you can get Nikon new mid range camera, the D90.

Nikon D90: 12 megapixels - better exposure and AF - HD LCD - great high ISO performance reaches 3200-6400 with slight loss in image quality.

Basically same optical electronics as D300 in lighter, more compact and cheaper body with HD video added as a bonus.

Shortfall - lighter (polycarbonate) body that D300, cannot meter with older manual lenses (which can still be mounted and exposed by "trial and error"), no 14bit raw.

Suggested Nikon lens: 16-85 VR, 18-70 (no stabilized but sharp can be used at high ISO - discontinued but can still be found around), 18-200 VR all-rounder, 18-55 VR (cheap and stabilized), 24mm AFD (Nikon classic get you a 35mm equivalent fixed lens), 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR.

Less interesting in my view - 18-135 (range but not stabilized, plastic bayonet) and 18-105 VR (stabilized, plastic bayonet), third party lenses.

Nikon D300: great solid body, LCD, optical viewfinder, great Nikon exposure and AF, can mount and meter Nikon AI manual lenses, great ISO performances.

Minuses - heavy, expensive.

Other options, Pentax K20D - resolution 15 megapixel, solid body, good viewfinder and ergonomics, in camera image stabilization (on sensor), good price/performance ratio

Goes less confidently above 800 ISO, metering, AF, LCD and shooting rate slightly inferior to competition.

Recommended lens: 16-45mm AF f/4.0 ED AL, plus primes such as DA AL 21mm F3.2 Limited pancake. DA AL 35mm 2.8 macro.

Sony A700 - great body, LCD screen and great optical viewfinder, good price, mechanical stabilization in camera works for nearly most lenses.

But no live view, heavy noise reduction applied by default, good lenses expensive (Zeiss).

Suggested: DT 16-105mm F3.5-5.6. Sony kit lens or Zeiss for Sony-Minolta 16-80 Vario-Sonnar.