No matter how much you spend on photo gear, to help you get a great shot, often a
simple tripod is what makes the difference between a successful
shot and a blurry smear. Here are some factors to consider when shopping for your perfect tripod:
AII-in-One or it la Carte? You can buy a tripod that's a single, complete package with
legs and a head, or you can buy a
set oflegs and a head separately. With separate components, you can buy a head you like, and multiple tripods.
Pan/Tilt versus Ball Head At the top of the tripod is a head, which contains a mount for your camera and controls for moving the camera around. In general, a head fits into one of two categories: pan/ tilt and ball. Pan/tilt heads are typically used for shooting video, because you can lock each axis (tilt, pan, and roll) independently.
For still shooting, this control isn't normally needed, which is why a ball head usually makes more ense. A ball head-just a ball and socket joint-is often more durable than a pan/tilt head. Ball heads have a stability advantage as well-because of their extremely simple designs, even inexpensive ball heads are less likely to move once you lock them down. Pan/tilt heads are prone to drifting.
Size, Weight, and Height Balancing features with size and weight is a main concern when choosing a tripod. Fancier materials such as carbon fiber or magnesium alloys can greatly reduce weight, but you'll have to pay more for them. Height is important too-ideally, you don't want to stoop to use your tripod. I f you can get one that rai es all the way to eye level, you'll be more comfortable. However, a taller tripod won't collapse to as small a size. Also keep in mind that compact tripods can take a little longer to set up.
Maximum Load Capacity Every tripod and head has a limit to the weight it can support. Consider the heaviest thing you'll want to put on the tripod, which is usually your biggest SLR with its biggest lens. Bear in mind that a tripod that can hold more is also a physically larger and heavier tripod.
Other Features There are other important details to consider. Do the tripod legs use a twist clamp or a flipping lever? Play with each to figure out which you like better. Some tripods have an additional column that rises up out of the center to provide more height I f you opt for a center column, check to see if it has a weight hook that allows you to hang your camera bag or a sandbag, to gain more stability.
If you want to shoot straight down, get a tripod that allows you to place the center column in the head upside down or to remove the center column and insert it into the head so that it's parallel to the ground.
Finally, what thread size does the tripod use? If your tripod head doesn't use the same size screw as the top of your tripod, you'll need to get a small shim to serve as an adapter.
Balancing all of these options can be tricky and co tly. This is another reason to opt for a separate tripod and head. Being able to swap out components as you learn can make it easier to adapt your kit as your needs change.
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Be a Better iPhoneographer
The App Store boasts more than 3000 photography apps, and that number is growing every day. Sorting through and testing each new release-every faux film filter, cropping utility, and tilt-shift tool could be a full-time job. Blogger and iPhone photographer Glyn Evans narrows it down for you on his site iPhoneography.com.
Even with the constant influx of new apps to test, Evans still has a few favorites that he uses:
The latest craze among vintage film-loving iPhoneographers is Hipstamatic . This app takes the "film look on camera phones" fad a step further, giving your photos an unpredictable (and irreversible) filmlike quality by turning your iPhone screen into a virtual "vintage film" camera with inter changeable film, flash, and lens options. You can purchase additional "equipment" from within the app. All told there are 216 possible effect combinations.
An instant photo autocorrector, the Perfectly Clear app sharpens and brightens any iPhone photo ($3; macworld.com/5922). The real satisfaction of Perfectly Clear is
seeing the split-screen, before-and-after versions of your image. What you thought was a decent shot before suddenly looks dingy compared with the improved version. You can adjust settings including exposure, sharpness, and contrast.
AutoStitch Panorama are both wildly popular tools. Each app does exactly what its title suggests. AutoStitch creates panoramas from a series of overlapping iPhone photos, and Color Splash desaturates your image and then allows you to pick which colors to add back.
There is a daunting number of black-and-white-photo apps in the App Store. Evans has two favorites he uses on his images: Spica-Super Monochrome turns pictures into grainy, high-contrast, black-and-white shots that look as if they were taken with a film camera. Vint B&W is a basic black-and-white app that creates nice tones and takes good, low-light shots.
Evans has teamed up with developers to create his own iPhone app, Format126 . The app's primary function is to crop images into a perfect square (like the square-shaped 126 film format), though it also includes a collection of film filters and effects.
Even with the constant influx of new apps to test, Evans still has a few favorites that he uses:
The latest craze among vintage film-loving iPhoneographers is Hipstamatic . This app takes the "film look on camera phones" fad a step further, giving your photos an unpredictable (and irreversible) filmlike quality by turning your iPhone screen into a virtual "vintage film" camera with inter changeable film, flash, and lens options. You can purchase additional "equipment" from within the app. All told there are 216 possible effect combinations.
An instant photo autocorrector, the Perfectly Clear app sharpens and brightens any iPhone photo ($3; macworld.com/5922). The real satisfaction of Perfectly Clear is
seeing the split-screen, before-and-after versions of your image. What you thought was a decent shot before suddenly looks dingy compared with the improved version. You can adjust settings including exposure, sharpness, and contrast.
AutoStitch Panorama are both wildly popular tools. Each app does exactly what its title suggests. AutoStitch creates panoramas from a series of overlapping iPhone photos, and Color Splash desaturates your image and then allows you to pick which colors to add back.
There is a daunting number of black-and-white-photo apps in the App Store. Evans has two favorites he uses on his images: Spica-Super Monochrome turns pictures into grainy, high-contrast, black-and-white shots that look as if they were taken with a film camera. Vint B&W is a basic black-and-white app that creates nice tones and takes good, low-light shots.
Evans has teamed up with developers to create his own iPhone app, Format126 . The app's primary function is to crop images into a perfect square (like the square-shaped 126 film format), though it also includes a collection of film filters and effects.
Your Camera and Mac, Tethered Together
Control your camera from your Mac by connecting to your DSLR, point-and-shoot or iPhone BY DERRICK STORY
Many DSLRs, and a handful of compacts, can shoot tethered, meaning that you connect your camera to your Mac via a USB cable and then control the camera remotely. With this setup you can save files directly to your hard drive, preview the images on the computer screen, and control your camera from afar.
When to Tether
Tethered shooting is useful for situations when handheld photography isn't ideal. If you want to shoot birds (macworld.comj 5986) visiting a feeder, for example, but don't want to scare them off, put the camera on a tripod and snap the pictures from your Mac a safe distance away.
Tethering is also handy when you need to position a camera in an awkward location, such as up high. Some studio photographers use tethering to show clients large image previews on the monitor as they shoot images. Finally, tethering is helpful when your shots create large files and you want to save them directly to your hard drive instead of constantly swapping memory cards.
Tethering is primarily used with DSLRs, though a handful of compact cameras, such as the Casio EX-FI (macworld.comj 5987) can also do it. Read your camera's specs carefully before purchasing to make sure that the necessary Mac software is included with the hardware.
Use the Right Software
With the right software, tethering is very easy. Canon includes EOS Utility, its application for remote-control photogra phy, with its new DSLRs. Connect your
70 Macworld June 2010
Powerful Connection Your digital camera and Mac can work together to capture images as well as display them.
Canon DSLR via its USB cable, launch EOS Utility, and choose Camera Settings/ Remote Shooting. Click the Remote Live View Shooting button, and you'll see the world through your camera's lens on your Mac's display. Here you can change the camera settings, such as exposure compensation, white balance, and ISO.
You can tether Nikons. but those DSLRs don't come with the necessary software. You can buy Nikon Camera Control Pro 2 for remote shooting, or try a third-party application such as Sofortbild (payment requested; sofortbildapp.com). You can also use Photoshop Lightroom ( •••• t $299; macworld.comj3873) with two free plug-ins from Mountainstorm: Lightroom Tether and StudioTether (macworld.comj 5989). You can also use Aperture 3 (macworld.comj6025) to tether certain Nikon and Canon cameras to your Mac.
Other camera brands also support
tethering with proprietary software, such as Olympus Studio . Jfyou're shopping for a new
OS LR you want to tether, be sure to investigate the software options available to you before making your purchase.
iPhones Get In on the Action
DSLRs don't get to have all the fun. You can also tether your iPhone to your Mac with the help of Aperture. You don't get the remote-shooting function, but the images you take with the iPhone's camera will download directly to the Aperture library of your choosing for instant viewing and storage. If you don't want to manually fire the camera on your tethered iPhone, you can use software such as [oby's free Gorillacam app to set up interval shooting.
You can also use an iPhone or iPod touch as a remote control for tethered Canon and Nikon DSLRs, using DSLR
Many DSLRs, and a handful of compacts, can shoot tethered, meaning that you connect your camera to your Mac via a USB cable and then control the camera remotely. With this setup you can save files directly to your hard drive, preview the images on the computer screen, and control your camera from afar.
When to Tether
Tethered shooting is useful for situations when handheld photography isn't ideal. If you want to shoot birds (macworld.comj 5986) visiting a feeder, for example, but don't want to scare them off, put the camera on a tripod and snap the pictures from your Mac a safe distance away.
Tethering is also handy when you need to position a camera in an awkward location, such as up high. Some studio photographers use tethering to show clients large image previews on the monitor as they shoot images. Finally, tethering is helpful when your shots create large files and you want to save them directly to your hard drive instead of constantly swapping memory cards.
Tethering is primarily used with DSLRs, though a handful of compact cameras, such as the Casio EX-FI (macworld.comj 5987) can also do it. Read your camera's specs carefully before purchasing to make sure that the necessary Mac software is included with the hardware.
Use the Right Software
With the right software, tethering is very easy. Canon includes EOS Utility, its application for remote-control photogra phy, with its new DSLRs. Connect your
70 Macworld June 2010
Powerful Connection Your digital camera and Mac can work together to capture images as well as display them.
Canon DSLR via its USB cable, launch EOS Utility, and choose Camera Settings/ Remote Shooting. Click the Remote Live View Shooting button, and you'll see the world through your camera's lens on your Mac's display. Here you can change the camera settings, such as exposure compensation, white balance, and ISO.
You can tether Nikons. but those DSLRs don't come with the necessary software. You can buy Nikon Camera Control Pro 2 for remote shooting, or try a third-party application such as Sofortbild (payment requested; sofortbildapp.com). You can also use Photoshop Lightroom ( •••• t $299; macworld.comj3873) with two free plug-ins from Mountainstorm: Lightroom Tether and StudioTether (macworld.comj 5989). You can also use Aperture 3 (macworld.comj6025) to tether certain Nikon and Canon cameras to your Mac.
Other camera brands also support
tethering with proprietary software, such as Olympus Studio . Jfyou're shopping for a new
OS LR you want to tether, be sure to investigate the software options available to you before making your purchase.
iPhones Get In on the Action
DSLRs don't get to have all the fun. You can also tether your iPhone to your Mac with the help of Aperture. You don't get the remote-shooting function, but the images you take with the iPhone's camera will download directly to the Aperture library of your choosing for instant viewing and storage. If you don't want to manually fire the camera on your tethered iPhone, you can use software such as [oby's free Gorillacam app to set up interval shooting.
You can also use an iPhone or iPod touch as a remote control for tethered Canon and Nikon DSLRs, using DSLR
iTunes Store 'Bookmarks'
Did you know that you can drag any link in the iTunes Store to your desktop, where it
turns into a Web Internet Location file? If
this link goes to a file compatible with iTunes Preview, double-clicking the file opens the corresponding page in both iTunes Preview and iTunes itself. If the link is related to video-a movie, a movie genre, a TV show, or a TV show genre iTunes will open to the corresponding page. You can create a bunch of these files and add them to your browser's bookmarks collection. When you're in the mood to explore your favorite areas of the store, just select one of these bookmarks in your browser (www .itunes.com).-CHRISTOPHER BREEN
turns into a Web Internet Location file? If
this link goes to a file compatible with iTunes Preview, double-clicking the file opens the corresponding page in both iTunes Preview and iTunes itself. If the link is related to video-a movie, a movie genre, a TV show, or a TV show genre iTunes will open to the corresponding page. You can create a bunch of these files and add them to your browser's bookmarks collection. When you're in the mood to explore your favorite areas of the store, just select one of these bookmarks in your browser (www .itunes.com).-CHRISTOPHER BREEN
Test Driving the iPad
the iPad may be the most impressive piece of Apple hardware I've ever handled. Weighing a pound-and-a half, it's designed to be held and carried. At the same time, it feels solid. You wouldn't want to toss it
around casually but itfeels like you could.
The front is almost entirely glass, save for a thin aluminum frame around the edges. The glass extends beyond the viewable screen, creating a black bezel all around the rim-a good place to put your thumbs when you're holding the thing.
The touchscreen itself measures 9.7 inches diagonally, with a resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels. I found that screen extremely bright, with vibrant color and (thanks to a screen technology also used in iMacs) a wide viewing angle. At one point, I set my iPad down on a table while it was displaying an article in I nstapaper Pro; I could read the text at
an extreme angle.
(At that same angle, I could also clearly see the array of smudgy fingerprints that had collected on the screen-and boy, does this screen collect them. Fortunately, it's got the same oil-repellent coating as the screen on the iPhone 3GS. One quick wipe with a sleeve, and the fingerprints are gone.)
When the iPad was first announced, some people said it was just a bigger version of the iPod touch.
But they didn't then understand how the increased screen real estate changes the user experience. Apps written for the i Pad and its screen aren't just bigger, they're richer, too.
For example, on the iPhone an app like Mail is a series of single screens; you're constantly burrow ing down and then backing up. (Tap on an account, then the lnbox, then a message, then tap the back button, tap another message, tap the back button three times, tap another account, tap lnbox .... )
There's none of that back-and-forth on the iPad.
I ts version of Mail displays the body of messages in their own spacious pane, while your mailboxes and lists of messages fight over a smaller pane or, in portrait orientation, a pop-up element. It really does occupy a new middle ground between an iPhone app and a full-blown Mac program.
Specs and Speeds
When the iPhone and iPod touch came along, Apple didn't talk about processors and speeds. It wasn't so reticent about the iPad. The tablet's 1GHz A4 processor was built specifically to run the iPad, not just chosen from a CPU vendor's parts list.
What that means during actual use is that the iPad flies. It was fast at almost everything 1 threw at it. The only times I found myself waiting were when content was downloading from the Internet or when nlike the iPhone-but like the iPod touch-the iPad splits your media between two applications: iPod (for
music) and Videos (for videos).
Like the rest of the iPad's software interface, its media apps are amalgams of features found on the iPhone and the Mac. The iPad doesn't offer enough screen space to accommodate a full-blown version of iTunes, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. That version has become bulkier and packed with more features with each iteration; slimming it down while maintain ing most of its functionality is welcome. At the same time, with the extra space the iPad's larger screen provides, there's more breathing room for features that are cramped on the iPhone and iPod touch.
But beyond the software interfaces, what's the iPad really like as a media machine?
The Tabletop iPod
Portable though the iPad may be, it's not the best portable music player Apple makes. That honor goes to the click-wheel iPod and iPod touch. Because of the iPad's size, you won't be slipping it into a pocket to listen to music during your crowded subway commute. Because of its size and lack of voice control, it's not an ideal audio player for the car. Because of its size and weight, you won't want to carry it with you on your walk around the park.
More than an iPod or iPhone, however, the iPad would be suitable as a tabletop
music player. With its large display, a crowd could gather around an iPad connected to powered speakers or an amplifier and tap out the tunes they want to hear. Plus, the iPad's internal speaker isn't half bad; it can be loud but sounds better than the typical clock radio. The iPad's sound from the headphone port is clean and generally packs as much punch as you'll need.
The HD Dodge
The iPad is clearly a better device for viewing video than an iPhone, an iPod touch, or a click-wheel iPod. The screen is large enough and the off-angle viewing good enough that two people sitting close to each other (or a backseat full of kids) could comfortably watch a video on it.
You can play videos in either landscape or portrait orientation. Each is a compro mise. When viewing videos formatted for widescreen display, you get large black bars above and below the video when you tap the widescreen button. (If the video was originally formatted as 4:3 standard definition, this button is missing.) Switch to full-screen mode, and the picture fills the screen, but you lose some of the left and right sides of the video.
Apple says that the iPad can handle HD content, but that's a bit of a dodge. The iPad's display has a resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels. The device can output 576p and 480p standard-definition video when connected to a TV with Apple's composite video cable, and 576i and 480i standard definition video when connected via Apple's component video cable. So where's the HD?
The iPad will accept 720p video, but it won't play it at that resolution. Nothing happens to an HD file when you sync it to the iPad from iTunes-iTunes doesn't convert it. Rather, the iPad scales it to fit the display. That said, HD videos do look better than standard-definition videos both on the iPad and when the iPad is connected to a TV. With regard to playing time, the iPad is a wonder. In our lab tests, we were able to play video continuously (with Wi-Fi enabled) for 11 hours and 25 minutes. An iPod touch lasted just 4 hours and 53 minutes performing this same task (also with Wi-Fi on).
around casually but itfeels like you could.
The front is almost entirely glass, save for a thin aluminum frame around the edges. The glass extends beyond the viewable screen, creating a black bezel all around the rim-a good place to put your thumbs when you're holding the thing.
The touchscreen itself measures 9.7 inches diagonally, with a resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels. I found that screen extremely bright, with vibrant color and (thanks to a screen technology also used in iMacs) a wide viewing angle. At one point, I set my iPad down on a table while it was displaying an article in I nstapaper Pro; I could read the text at
an extreme angle.
(At that same angle, I could also clearly see the array of smudgy fingerprints that had collected on the screen-and boy, does this screen collect them. Fortunately, it's got the same oil-repellent coating as the screen on the iPhone 3GS. One quick wipe with a sleeve, and the fingerprints are gone.)
When the iPad was first announced, some people said it was just a bigger version of the iPod touch.
But they didn't then understand how the increased screen real estate changes the user experience. Apps written for the i Pad and its screen aren't just bigger, they're richer, too.
For example, on the iPhone an app like Mail is a series of single screens; you're constantly burrow ing down and then backing up. (Tap on an account, then the lnbox, then a message, then tap the back button, tap another message, tap the back button three times, tap another account, tap lnbox .... )
There's none of that back-and-forth on the iPad.
I ts version of Mail displays the body of messages in their own spacious pane, while your mailboxes and lists of messages fight over a smaller pane or, in portrait orientation, a pop-up element. It really does occupy a new middle ground between an iPhone app and a full-blown Mac program.
Specs and Speeds
When the iPhone and iPod touch came along, Apple didn't talk about processors and speeds. It wasn't so reticent about the iPad. The tablet's 1GHz A4 processor was built specifically to run the iPad, not just chosen from a CPU vendor's parts list.
What that means during actual use is that the iPad flies. It was fast at almost everything 1 threw at it. The only times I found myself waiting were when content was downloading from the Internet or when nlike the iPhone-but like the iPod touch-the iPad splits your media between two applications: iPod (for
music) and Videos (for videos).
Like the rest of the iPad's software interface, its media apps are amalgams of features found on the iPhone and the Mac. The iPad doesn't offer enough screen space to accommodate a full-blown version of iTunes, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. That version has become bulkier and packed with more features with each iteration; slimming it down while maintain ing most of its functionality is welcome. At the same time, with the extra space the iPad's larger screen provides, there's more breathing room for features that are cramped on the iPhone and iPod touch.
But beyond the software interfaces, what's the iPad really like as a media machine?
The Tabletop iPod
Portable though the iPad may be, it's not the best portable music player Apple makes. That honor goes to the click-wheel iPod and iPod touch. Because of the iPad's size, you won't be slipping it into a pocket to listen to music during your crowded subway commute. Because of its size and lack of voice control, it's not an ideal audio player for the car. Because of its size and weight, you won't want to carry it with you on your walk around the park.
More than an iPod or iPhone, however, the iPad would be suitable as a tabletop
music player. With its large display, a crowd could gather around an iPad connected to powered speakers or an amplifier and tap out the tunes they want to hear. Plus, the iPad's internal speaker isn't half bad; it can be loud but sounds better than the typical clock radio. The iPad's sound from the headphone port is clean and generally packs as much punch as you'll need.
The HD Dodge
The iPad is clearly a better device for viewing video than an iPhone, an iPod touch, or a click-wheel iPod. The screen is large enough and the off-angle viewing good enough that two people sitting close to each other (or a backseat full of kids) could comfortably watch a video on it.
You can play videos in either landscape or portrait orientation. Each is a compro mise. When viewing videos formatted for widescreen display, you get large black bars above and below the video when you tap the widescreen button. (If the video was originally formatted as 4:3 standard definition, this button is missing.) Switch to full-screen mode, and the picture fills the screen, but you lose some of the left and right sides of the video.
Apple says that the iPad can handle HD content, but that's a bit of a dodge. The iPad's display has a resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels. The device can output 576p and 480p standard-definition video when connected to a TV with Apple's composite video cable, and 576i and 480i standard definition video when connected via Apple's component video cable. So where's the HD?
The iPad will accept 720p video, but it won't play it at that resolution. Nothing happens to an HD file when you sync it to the iPad from iTunes-iTunes doesn't convert it. Rather, the iPad scales it to fit the display. That said, HD videos do look better than standard-definition videos both on the iPad and when the iPad is connected to a TV. With regard to playing time, the iPad is a wonder. In our lab tests, we were able to play video continuously (with Wi-Fi enabled) for 11 hours and 25 minutes. An iPod touch lasted just 4 hours and 53 minutes performing this same task (also with Wi-Fi on).
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