September 3, 2008

 canon-rs-80.jpg nikon-mc36.jpg
This weeks Cool Photo Product(s) Of The Week

This weeks gadget comes in various types, but you’ll find plenty of links to various options. The bottom line is that you should ABSOLUTELY have a cable release in your bag.

The release is basically a button that connects to your camera (occasionally wireless, but usually wired) that allows you to trip the shutter, and often allows you to lock it open (using Bulb mode on the camera) for long exposures. It’s also important for long exposures as you don’t have to “touch” the camera.

The lock button is invaluable for night images and if you’ve never done long exposure night photography, you owe it to yourself to try it. It’s pretty amazing what can come out of a camera after a multi-minute exposure. I’ve shot exposures to over 60 minutes with some neat results.
The release is also perfect for the portrait, commercial, or any other type of photographer; allowing you to set the camera on a pod, and shoot without leaning over it. Great for shooting while interacting a subject.

Last but not least I almost always use a release for shooting my HDR sequences because again I don’t have to touch (and thus shake) the camera. So now that you know you want one, here a few options…

Canon RS-80N3: Is what I use. It’s fits most newer Canons, has a lock, and works great. Runs about 50- on B&H

Canon TC-80N3: Is the big brother to the RS80. It runs close to 150- but offer a digital screen with a timer, This is perfect is you plan on a lot of long exposures.

Nikon MC30: This is for most of the Nikon line N90-D3 range. Again at about 50- it’s simple but effective.

Nikon MC36: This is the big brother on the Nikon side. Display, timer, and other cool functions for about 130- Again a good choice to the person who does a lot of long exposures.

Now there’s other models available, some from third parties as well, and also if you shoot other camera brands. Just search around. This is one piece if kit you should not be without.

Gavin Seim

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August 15, 2008

world.jpgWe already get a significant amount of traffic from photographers across the globe. It’s easy to be so used to your own language that you just think it’s normal for everyone. English is automatic for me, but not for everyone.

I was reviewing stats last night and decided it was time to look into more choices for our non US photo friends. In the last 30 days PPS has had visitors from 126 countries.

I was up till 2:30 last night and now if you look to the left you’ll see the language panel. Just click your a flag, and the page will be translated into one of 21 languages. Thanks to the Global Translator The system sends the text to a translation engine, and then the site caches it. For that reason you may have to return in a few minutes to get the translation. Here’s and example of our popular Lightroom Preset Directory translated to Spanish.

Are the translations perfect? I doubt it, but it brings us one step closer to each other across the globe and I’m pretty excited about it. I’m also working on implementing this  feature on our sister site Seim Effects. There’s still more to be done of course. The podcast is English only of course, but we making progress, and who knows what future technolighy will bring us.

Gavin Seim

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