Small flashes such as the Nikon SB-600
can emit quite some energy in a short time, enough to scorch vinyl table top. The story goes like this:
I was shooting tonight with my D90, wirelessly triggering my SB-600. At one point, I left my SB-600 flash tube facing down on a vinyl covered card table. When I released the shutter, the SB-600 obediently fired, probably at full power. A whisp of smoke appeared and a scortch mark 0.25″ by 1.25″ was left in the table top. No damage done to the SB-600, but I was quite surprised at the smoke and burn mark.
Can this be true? I don’t have a vinyl surface anywhere in my house so I tried the following: I set the flash to manual mode, 1/1 (full power) output, covered the flash head with my palm then hit the test button… I felt a sharp burning sensation in my hand that almost made me drop the flash.
Before you actually try something like this, read the title of the post again. That’s your last warning. 
Posted in
Miscellaneous on December 29th, 2009.
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In this CBC article, Steven Sasson, the Kodak engineer who invented digital photography 35 years ago, discusses how he did it and the impact it has had. It is fascinating to know the first digital camera had a 100×100 pixel (0.01 megapixels) CCD sensor and the size of a toaster. It took an unimpressive 23 seconds to record an image and another 30s to display it.
Read more – Digital cameras: a decade of revolutionary pictures
Posted in
Miscellaneous on December 22nd, 2009.
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Keyboard cleaning?! Does it have anything to do with digital photography?
Yes!
If you take digital photos you cannot avoid working on a computer. Without one of the most important input devices, the keyboard, the computer is mostly useless. So there is indeed a connection between digital photography and keyboard, with a stretch.
You eat, drink, or maybe drool over your keyboard and eventually the keyboard will become dirty. If you have been trying the typical dusting, wiping methods, you know it doesn’t get you too far. So what’s the best way to clean the keyboard?
Take it apart and wash it!
If you are scared by the imagined scene of the keys popping out all over the place, your fear is completely unfounded. If you do what I am going to show to your keyboard, you will most likely void the warranty on the keyboard if it still hasn’t expired. If that’s not a problem for you, read on. Read More…
Posted in
Miscellaneous on December 20th, 2009.
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Time for shopping is running out. If you are still shopping for photography gears to make a jolly happy soul, here are some of the places to get you started.
Adorama
Adorama is offering free shipping on thousands of items.
B&H
Free overnight shipping for Nikon cameras until December 23, 2009.
Free 2-day shipping for Canon cameras until December 23, 2009
Amazon
Send Amazon.com Gift Cards
to someone who loves photography if you cannot figure out exactly what to give as a gift.
Disclaimer
- The deals may not be valid by the time you get there.
- The deals may not be the best you can get. Comparison shopping is strongly recommended.
- We get a small cut when you make a purchase through the links and banners above but you pay the same price as you shop directly. The income helps us to keep this site running.
Posted in
Marketplace on December 18th, 2009.
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I thought this Nikon D300 was tough but the entry level Canon Rebel XT might be tougher. It plunged 3000ft during a skydiving after it got accidentally detached from a parachuting instructor’s helmet mount. When the owner eventually found it on the ground, the camera only suffered some minor damages and it could still work! The camera’s companion, a Sony camcorder, didn’t fare so well and was pronounced dead on the spot.
The story, originally posted here, seems to be amazing enough to get picked up by many places like CNet, Engadget, Photo District News, and Canon Rumors. I’d call this one lucky camera and the story seems believable but if you smell something fishy you are probably not alone.
Posted in
Miscellaneous on December 17th, 2009.
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Does it make sense to use point-and-shoot to describe a professional photographer? Don’t we typically associate the phrase with average consumer or amateur photographer?
The difference between a professional photographers and an amateur photographer isn’t necessarily the difference in technical skills. The key difference is that a professional photographer make a living from photography work but an amateur photographer treats it as a hobby and his or her life won’t be disrupted if there is no business.
Amateur photographers have time to tinker and have fun with the learning process, professional photographers don’t have time to mess around since time is money. They have bills to pay and family to support from their jobs. In professional photography studios, the photo-taking process is pretty much streamlined. Most of the time is spent on posing the people rather than adjusting the camera or light settings. Read More…
Posted in
Miscellaneous on December 6th, 2009.
3 Comments.
Posted in
Miscellaneous on November 29th, 2009.
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How passionate are you about the brand of your DSLR camera? Topics such as Canon vs. Nikon can often lead to very heated debate at online forums. In real life, can a Canon boy mingle with a Nikon girl? Check out the following music video. Warning: May not be appropriate for workplace. Read More…
Posted in
Miscellaneous on November 26th, 2009.
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