Trick or Treat, Currently in Photography (Photography Series)

Trick or Treat!!!

Nik Analog Efex Pro and Lightroom

So I am going to start out with the obvious? Nikon, Pure Photography... Nov 5th
Now I have not seen the camera and although I kind of hope that the following is wrong, some of the things I am hearing is manual everything, including focus, full frame sensor like the D4, Blah blah blah blah. Almost sounds like a bad dream right? I mean you can take the camera you own right now and do this same thing, make it all manual. So why have a camera that ONLY does that? D4 sensor, sweet but why not something truly revolutionary and new? I mean it says the wait was worth it in their little ridiculous teaser trailers they have been posting to YouTube. I can say that the other "New" offerings from Nikon are a bit uninspiring so I hope that the rumors are false and that this new camera is really ground breaking. The offerings I am referring to are the Nikon D5300 and D610. Yes both of the cameras these replace were released last year and the so called updates are really nothing special. If you already have the D5200 or D600, don't waste your time. Nikon has also released a new lens, the 58mm, which is getting good and bad press due to the hefty $1700 price tag and the rather minimal range difference from their classics in the 50mm range, only time will tell if it lives up to their last 58mm lens which is thought to be one of the best by the few who own them. After a big year last year Nikon Needs to step it up if they want to keep the customers they have earned since the Nikon D3 was released.

Sony is another camera manufacturer that seems to be listening to their customers list of dreams and even adding some new desires to the list of other manufacturer's customers. I am talking about the new Sony A7, a 24mp full frame and the A7R, a 36mp full frame. Both mirrorless cameras that are sure to take the breath of those who hold them. They are even trying to revolutionize the mobile market with a lens/ sensor combo that connects to your cell phone with their DSC-QX10 and QX100. All I can say is wow!

Canon on the other hand has been relatively quiet lately which leads me to believe that they are up to something BIG. Yeah they released the 70D, a rather cool enthusiast camera if your into video and a great camera for those learning the craft, but not really the ah inspiring release we are used to seeing from them. I can already hear the trumpets sounding and the press shutters rolling.

 If your into the Micro 4/3's cameras all I have to say is OM-D E-M1, From everything I have heard if your not stuck on the idea of a big sensor, this is the camera to have! In the right hands this camera shines as bright as any and that is not limited to cameras in it's price point.This camera goes the distance and those who have them, love them. Not for everyone but I know of at least 1 professional that shows up to client shoots with the previous model and the E-M1 is supposed to blow it out of the water.

Edited using Nik's Analog Efex Pro as well as Colorefex, Photoshop, and Lightroom

For those of you who use plug-in's Nik Software has just released the new Analog Efex Pro and what a program it is. I have to admit I have been scratching my head as to the usefulness of the program in most applications. I also have to note that the file size has grown from an already remarkable size of 100MB for the original programs that consisted of Define, Silver Efex, Viveza, Color Efex, Sharpener, and HDR Efex. That has now grown to a whopping 300MB with the addition of Analog alone. It does have some cool features but I am unconvinced of the benefit of adding fake scratches to a photo or fake blemishes of any kind. There also seems to be some bugs associated with the program as I am unable to use most of the programs in LR5 currently and many have reported issues with the update causing crashes to their PSCC, although the fix I believe is to simple un-install the entire Nik Collection that automatically updated and reinstall it.