Camera and Lens News and Reviews for the Week of Sept. 28

Cameras

Lenses

Other

Fotodiox
Fotodiox Announces New ‘FlapJacks’ LED Light Panels

Corel
Corel Releases The New AfterShot 2 And AfterShot Pro 2

Camera and Lens News and Reviews for the Week of Sept. 21

Cameras

GoPro
GoPro to Launch a Cheaper, Low-End Action Camera Simply Called the HERO. Here It Is.


Lenses

Other

LowePro
New Gear: LowePro Hardside Camera Carrying Cases

Sigma
New Sigma Teleconverters and Filters Now Available For Pre-Order

Adobe
New Gear: Adobe Announces Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements 13
Adobe Announces New Photoshop Elements 13 and Premiere Elements 13 Software
Adobe announces Photoshop Elements 13 and Premiere Elements 13
Adobe Unveils Photoshop Elements 13, Bakes in Simple-Yet-Powerful Editing Tools

Phottix
Phottix Introduces The Odin II TTL Flash Trigger

Little Pixels
New App: Manual for iPhone

ACD Systems
ACD Systems Launches New ACDSee Pro 8 & ACDSee 18 Software

Epson
Epson launches Perfection V850 and V800 multi-format film scanners

Amazon Deal on Toshiba Hard Drives and CF Cards

Amazon's Deal of the Day: 50% or more off of Toshiba Hard Drives and CF Memory Cards.

This one is good for all those photographers with high-end DSLR cameras.  Those often use CF cards for storage instead of the smaller SD Cards.  (Some can use both.)

Camera and Lens News and Reviews for the Week of Sept. 14 (Part. 2)

The camera/lens news links is split this week due to Photokina.  There are just too many news releases to put on one page.  (Monday's news releases alone match what I normally post for the week.)

Cameras

Leica
Leica Unveils M Edition 60 Digital Camera With No Display and M-A Mechanical Film Camera
Leica Intros Upgraded Leica S (Type 007) Medium Format Camera
Leica Announces Mechanical M-A Analogue Film-Based Rangefinder
Leica Unveils M Edition 60 Digital Rangefinder with No LCD Screen on Back
What no LCD screen? Leica ‘special edition’ M Edition 60
Photokina: Leica launches X camera with 23mm f/1.7 lens
Leica ditches digital to launch £3k film camera, in tribute to past
Leica launches ‘entry-level’ S medium-format camera
Leica Releases 4K-Capable CMOS and ‘Entry-Level’ CCD S-Series Medium Format Cameras
Updated Leica X (Typ 113) APS-C compact boasts F1.7 lens
Leica introduces D-Lux 24-75mm equiv compact with Four Thirds sensor
Leica announces the Leica M Edition 60 to honor sixty years of M rangefinders

Canon
Hands-On: Canon 7D Mark II DSLR and 400mm F/4 DO IS Lens

Hasselblad
Hasselblad Introduces Revamped H5D-50c Medium Format Camera with Wi-Fi

Fujifilm
Photokina 2014: Hands-on with the Fujifilm X100T
Hands-on with the New Fuji X100T, XT-1 Graphite Silver, and Lenses at Photokina (Photos)

Panasonic
Panasonic announces Lumix DMC-CM1 smartphone with 1-inch sensor
Panasonic Gives Its GM Series a Boost with the EVF-Toting GM5 and Two New Lenses
Panasonic Packs a Whopping 1-Inch Sensor and Leica Lens In Its Lumix CM1 Smartphone

Olympus
Olympus shows camera module concept

Samsung
Pro camera market has a new player: Samsung NX1 mirrorless shoots 15 fps with AF, and 4K video too


Lenses

Sony
Sony Announces ZEISS 16-35mm F4 Wide Angle Zoom Lens for E-mount Cameras
Sony Adds 16-35mm f/4 OSS to Its Full-Frame E-Mount Lineup, Teases Fast Primes

Olympus
Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 M.Zuiko Pro: Bright, portable and protected from the elements
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 300mm f/4 PRO Lens At Photokina 2014

Zeiss
Zeiss introduces Distagon T* 35mm F1.4 ZM lens

Voitglander
Voitglander Nokton 10.5mm f/0.95 Aspherical Lens Announced

Leica
Leica Announce Two New T Lenses

Tamron
Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 VS Wide-Angle Zoom Lens
Photokina 2014: Hands on with new Tamron lenses - including 15-30mm F2.8

Panasonic
Hands-on with the ultra-compact Panasonic 35-100mm f/4-5.6 telephoto zoom lens
Panasonic launches 35-100mm zoom, 14mm prime lenses for Micro Four Thirds

Tokina
Tokina 11-20mm f/2.8 And 24-70mm f/2.8 Lens Shown At Photokina 2014

Canon
New optics for every budget: Canon launches 24mm and 400mm primes, 24-105mm zoom lens

Samsung
Samsung launches bright, constant-aperture 50-150mm f/2.8 zoom lens

Sigma
Photokina 2014: Hands on with Sigma's new 150-600mm telezooms


Other

COOPH
COOPH Makes Awesome Clothing Specifically For Photographers

Phase One
Phase One Launches Capture One Pro 8 Imaging Software; Announces Subscription Plan
Phase One announces Capture One Pro 8
New Gear: Phase One Releases Capture One Pro 8 Photo Editing Software

Sony
Sony Announce New Camera Accessories

Think Tank Photo
Think Tank Photo Releases Their 10th Anniversary Limited Edition Airport International LE Classic, Urban Disguise Classic And Production Manager 40 Bags
Think Tank Photo Announce 3 New Products At Photokina

MindShift Gear
MindShift Gear Announces New rotation180˚ Photo Backpacks at Photokina

Epson
Epson Perfection Flatbed Film And Photo Scanners

MindShift Gear
MindShift Gear Rotation180 Travel Away And Trail Backpacks

Real Life Interrupting Blogging

I posted the other day on needing to take my brother to the Emergency room.  Today he had to be admitted to the Hospital.

I spent the better part of the day up there.  So no posts and many of the news stories and reviews have yet to be added to my link list.  (Usually posted Sunday.)

I'll probably spend most of tomorrow up there as well.

Camera and Lens News and Reviews for the Week of Sept. 14 (Part. 1)

I have decided to release the camera/lens news links in increments this week.  There is just a huge number of news releases right now due to Photokina.  Putting all those links on one page would result in an overwhelming number of links on one page.

Cameras

Panasonic
New Gear: Panasonic Lumix LX100, GM5, 35-100mm f/4-5.6
Panasonic Intros Lumix DMC-LX100 Compact Camera with Micro Four Thirds Sensor, 4K Shooting, and F/1.7 Leica Lens
Photokina: Panasonic DMC-GM5 adds EVF
Panasonic LX100 takes its own road: RX100-series rival boasts 4/3-inch sensor, blazing performance
Panasonic GM5: The tiny GM series grows an EVF, hot shoe and a host of new features
Upsizing: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 First Impressions Review
The LX100: Panasonic’s Most Sophisticated Compact Yet Boasts an MFT Sensor and 4K Video

Samsung
New Gear: Samsung NX1 Interchangeable Lens Compact + 50-150mm f/2.8 S Lens UPDATED
Samsung Announces NX1 Flagship Mirrorless Camera with 28MP BSI CMOS Sensor and 4K; 50-150mm F/2.8 Lens Also Unveiled (Hands-On Photos)
Photokina: Samsung NX1 calls in SAS for ‘auto’ decisive moments
Pro camera market has a new player: Samsung NX1 mirrorless shoots 15 fps with AF, and 4K video too
Samsung NX1 debuts with APS-C backside-illuminated CMOS
Samsung Announces Impressive NX1 Body & 50-150mm F/2.8 Lens
Samsung Debuts 4K Capable Flagship NX1 Alongside Impressive 50-150mm f/2.8 Lens

Canon
New Gear: Canon PowerShot G7 X, SX60 HS, and N2 Compact Cameras
New Gear: Canon Announces 7D Mark II DSLR With Hybrid AF
Canon Debuts Premium PowerShot G7 X with 1-Inch, 20MP Sensor and Flip-Up LCD
Canon Unveils Long Awaited EOS 7D Mark II Digital SLR and Three New Lenses
Canon on EOS 7D II: Photography enthusiasts ‘drive entire industry’
Canon G7 X boasts ‘big sensor, small body’
Canon 7D Mark II arrives, eats 1D X for lunch with more horsepower, amazing autofocus system
Canon G7X lays claim to Sony RX100-series turf with longer lens, faster autofocus and touch-screen
Super-zoom gets super-long: 65x zoom Canon SX60 HS takes you to a stupendous 1,365mm telephoto
The wait is over: Canon EOS 7D Mark II First Impressions Review
Bring on the competition: Canon PowerShot G7 X First Impressions Review
Canon introduces social-oriented PowerShot N2
Canon Officially Announces Long Awaited 7D Mark II; Features 10fps Burst, New 65point AF system
Canon EOS 7D Mark II hands-on review
The G7 X is Canon’s First 1-inch-Sensor Compact, Competes with the Best High-End Point-and-Shoots
The Canon 7D Mark II is Finally Here, Boasts Powerful AF System and 10fps Burst Shooting

Olympus
Olympus Unveils Silver Version of OM-D E-M1 Camera with New Firmware and 40-150mm f2.8 PRO Lens
Photokina: Olympus reveals ‘silver’ E-M1 and new lens

Nikon
Shutterbug First Look: Nikon’s 36.3MP D810 Full-Frame Pro DSLR


Lenses

Canon
New Gear: Canon Announces 24-105 F/3.5-5.6 IS STM, 400mm F/4 DO IS II and 24mm F/2.8 STM Pancake Lenses
Canon introduces EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM, EF 24-105mm and EF-S 24mm f/2.8 lenses
Canon Offers L Lens Alternatives with New EF 400mm f/4, EF 24-105mm and EF-S 24mm f/2.8

Sony
Sony’s new 28-135mm f/4 powerzoom lens is for full-frame E-mount video shooters
Sony rolls out Zeiss FE 16-35mm F4 wide angle zoom and HVL-F32M flash

Panasonic
Panasonic introduces GM-sized Lumix G Vario 35-100mm F4.0-5.6 and 14mm F2.5 II

Samsung
Samsung announces premium NX 50-150mm F2.8 OIS

Zhongyo Optics
Zhongyi Optics Announces New Mitakon 42.5mm F/1.2 & 24mm F/1.7 Lenses


Other

Lowepro
Lowepro Brings Much Needed Refresh to Pro Collection, Includes New Hard Cases

Deal Alert: 70% Off Sandisk Memory Cards

Hat Tip: Geeks Are Sexy

Amazon has a lightning deal on SanDisk Memory cards.  It only lasts another 2 hours so act fast.

(4:00 Central Time is when deal ends.)

Camera and Lens News and Reviews for the Week of Sept. 7

Cameras

Mamiya Leaf
New Gear: Mamiya Leaf Credo 50 Medium Format Digital Camera System
Mamiya Leaf Announces 50MP Leaf Credo 50 Medium Format Camera System Using CMOS Sensor
Mamiya Leaf Announce Leaf Credo 50
Mamiya Leaf Adds 50-Megapixel Leaf Credo 50 to Its Medium Format Arsenal
Leaf Credo 50 camera back lands with 50mpix Sony CMOS sensor, near-IR / UV-sensitive option

Fujifilm
New Gear: Fujifilm X100T Digital Rangefinder Offers a Revamped Viewfinder
Fujifilm X100T set for Photokina showcase
New Gear: Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 Instant Film Camera, New Instax Colorways
Fujifilm Introduces The FUJINON XF50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR And The XF56mm F1.2 R APD Lenses
Fujifilm Announces The INSTAX Wide 300 & INSTAX Models In New Colors
Fuji Unveils Snazzy Graphite Silver Edition of Weather-Resistant X-T1 Mirrorless Camera
Fujifilm Launches New Flagship 16.3MP X100T Rangefinder-Style Digital Camera
Fuji X100T launches with refined interface, better viewfinder and monitor, plus Wi-Fi sharing
Fujifilm X100T Overview
Fuji’s New Instax Wide 300 Brings Large Format Instant Photography to a New Generation

Ricoh
New Gear: Ricoh WG-M1 Waterproof Action Camera
RICOH Launches Rugged (and Odd Looking) WG-M1 Digital Action Camera
Ricoh’s new WG-M1 action cam looks like a mix of G-Shock watch and bike light
Ricoh surfs into action camera market with WG-M1
Ricoh Announce G800 Chemical Resistant Compact
Ricoh WG-M1 Action Camera Announced
Ricoh Launches a Shot at GoPro with its New WG-M1 Action Camera

Nikon
New Gear: Nikon D750 Full Frame DSLR + 20mm F/1.8G
Nikon D750 goes official ahead of Photokina
Nikon D750 First Impression Review
The Nikon D750 – A D700 Successor, or D600 Damage Control?
Nikon D750: price, specs, release date confirmed
Nikon Announcement – The D750 Is Coming And It Looks Promising
Nikon D750 Officially Announced: A 24MP Full Frame DSLR Designed for Photo Enthusiasts


Lenses

Zeiss
New Gear: Zeiss Otus 1.4/85 Lens Takes Aim at High-End Portrait Photographers
New Zeiss Otus 1.4/85 promises to be a 'fast all-rounder'
The new king of portrait lenses? Zeiss announces the Otus 85mm f/1.4
Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 Lens Announced
Zeiss Officially Unveils 85mm F/1.4 Otus, US Price $4490
The Zeiss Otus 85/1.4 – A Lens Made For Portraits With Strong Wallet-Impact
The ZEISS Otus 85mm f/1.4 Officially Arrives: Mind-Blowing Quality at a Mind-Blowing Price
Zeiss Intros New Premium Piece of Portrait Glass: the Otus 85mm F/1.4 Lens

Samyang
Samyang to launch 12mm f/2.8 fisheye lens
Samyang Adds A 12mm 1:2.8 Full Frame Lens To Their Line Of Wide Prime Lenses

Fujifilm
Fujifilm announces weather-resistant XF 50-140mm F2.8
Fujifilm introduces XF 56mm F1.2 R APD with apodization filter
Fujifilm Announces First Pro Telephoto Zoom in New 50-140mm F/2.8

Sony
Sony E 18-105mm f/4 Lens Review: A versatile lens for stills, but pro videographers should take caution
Sony unveils FE PZ 28-135mm F4 G OSS cinema lens
Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS Lens Announced

Sigma
New Gear: Sigma 150-600mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Super-Telephoto Zoom Lens In Two Versions
Sigma Unveils Two Long-Zooming 150-600mm Lenses, New Teleconverters and Details on 18-300mm Lens
Sigma announces 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM 'C'
Sigma announces two 150-600mm F/5-6.3 DG OS HSM zooms
Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Lenses Announced
Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM Lens
Sigma Announces Not One, But Two 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Lenses
Sigma Unveils Three New Lenses Along with Filters and Teleconverters

Nikon
Nikon announces AF-S Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G ED
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G ED Lens Preview


Other

Lexar
New Gear: Lexar rolls out three new flash memory products

SanDisk
New Gear: SanDisk Announces 512 GB Extreme Pro SDXC Memory Card
SanDisk unveils 512GB Extreme Pro card
SanDisk Debuts The Ludicrous & ‘World’s Highest Capacity’ SD Card
SanDisk Unleashes a Massive 512GB SD Card with the World’s Highest Capacity

Sigma
New Gear: Sigma Announces Filter Series, 1.4x and 2x Teleconverters
New Filters And Teleconverters From Sigma

Really Late Checking News Feeds Today

I normally check my news feeds for stories in the morning.  I'm just now getting around to it due to a minor family emergency.  (It's 4:30 PM here.)

Nothing major, it just involved several hours waiting at the Hospital.

I really don't feel like reading my feeds right now, but I'll get overwhelmed by the shear number of stories tomorrow if I don't.

Photokina Nearly Here

I can tell that Photokina is nearing.  (For those that don't know what that is, it's a biennial photography fair in Cologne.)

As an amateur photographer and small-time blogger, I don't get to go to events like this. (Heck, I don't get review products.)

Photokina this year starts on September 16 and runs through September 21.  Various manufacturers are using the upcoming event to get their new products mentioned in photography news media. 

Normally I post a link to the product announcements and reviews written during the previous week in a Sunday blog post.  That post this week is going to be extremely long.  It could become even longer as not every manufacturer has released press releases in preparation for Photokina yet.

Canon for one has been silent.  I expect they will be providing Photokina related press releases in the near future.  That could occur after my Sunday post, though.

Finally Joined Twitter

I have finally signed up for a Twitter account.

Yes, I've given in.  Surrendered,   Joined the Dark Side.


I even got to try out Fine Art America's Twitter ap after uploading a new photograph to that site.  (It only took a year).

Part of the problem I've always had with Twitter has to do with the name.  I realize it has to do with "bird sounds" (tweet), but I've lways had the notion that it was really meant as a joke by the creators of the site.

After all, wouldn't someone using Twitter be known as a Twit?

Rod Stewart Sued for Copyright Infringement

Hat Tip: SLR Lounge

Celebrity Photographer Bonnie Schiffman has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Rod Stewart seeking $2.5 Million in damages.

Stewart wanted to use one of the photographs the Schiffman had taken of him for a billboard ad, and offered to pay Schiffman to license the photo.  Schiffman refused the amount offered.  (Apparently wanting more money)

Stewart then had a photo taken by another photographer and used that photo in the ad.

The Problem?


The photo basically recreated the original photograph and Schiffman is suing based on "substantial similarity."


She'll probably win the lawsuit, but I doubt she'll get anything near the $2.5 Million she's asking.  She may not even get enough to cover her legal fees.

Personally, I suspect the problem may stem from an Schiffman placing an unreasonable valuation on the image in question.  She apparently turned down $1,500 for the image being used on a single billboard, and the only reason I can see fo Stewart taking the actions he took is if Schiffman's counter-offer was unreasonably high.

The only reason I can see Stewart risking a potential copyright lawsuit is if the amount being asked by Schiffman dwarfed the legal fees and penalties he would face if he lost a lawsuit.

Otherwise, he would have just paid the licensing fee being asked by Schiffman.


Granted, this is speculation on my part.  Schiffman may have acted in a completely reasonable manner and have been willing to license the image at a reasonable price.  But I can't see this happening if that was the case.

Kickstarter Project: 52 Weeks of Digital Art

I have started a Kickstarter project to dun a 52-week digital art project.

The Project entails creating 52 images (one image per week) created using "found" objects as the basis for each image.  The images will range from manipulations of a single items to complex scenes created using multiple items.

The images will be used to create a calendar and an ebook.  The ebook will include the images, tutorials and information on how the images were created, and how the items used to create the images were obtained.  The ebook and calendar are potential rewards for backers of the project.

I have done art like this in the past, I would just like to be able to devote my time to doing so full time (I'd also like to be able to pay my bills.)

Some of the art I have created in the past as examples:

The bottom image is more recent and represents the type of image created using multiple items.  The goblet image was created primarily with a single item (a Haeger planter)

The images won't include the watermark seen in the above examples when included in the calendar or ebook.  (Or other rewards)


Some personal information.

Part of the reason I'm doing this is an attempt to find a way to pay bills that doesn't involve a job with regular hours.  I have a family member that is on dialysis and I am the one that drives them to and from treatment as well as driving them to any surgeries they need.

This interferes with my ability to hold down a job requiring regular hours.

I have tried selling on ebay, blogging and selling my photography and art online as ways to earn money.

This project combines those to a certain extent.  Many of the items currently on hand are left-over from my ebay days.  (I quit due to a combination of shipping costs becoming too high to make a profit and changes eBay made to feedback.)

The artwork produced will require photographing the items, and I intend to provide updates on this blog.


For those who are interested in the project but aren't interested in funding it (or aren't in a position to do so) you could always help by providing a little publicity.

A brief post on a blog would help if you have one, as will mentioning the project on facebook or other social media site.


I'm doing what I can to publicize the project, but could use help.


I already have some items that I plan to use.

I have ideas on how I can use each of the items in the picture.  That's a cheap led flashlight, a hair-dryer, a candle, a metal pencil sharpener, a bulb from a lens cleaning set, a crochet hook, a glass swan and the knob from the back of an electric fan.

Want to see what I turn those into?

Camera and Lens News and Reviews for the Week of Aug 31

Cameras

Fuji
Fujifilm X-A1: Lab Test Results & Comments

Sony
New Gear: Sony QX1 Brings Interchangeable-Lenses to Smartphone-Attached Cameras
(It counts as a camera not a lens due to the sensor being included.)
Sony Announces Two Mobile Lens-Style Cameras for Better Smart Phone Photography: the QX1 and QX30 (Hands-on Photos)
Sony reveals two more lens-style cameras
Sony QX1, QX30 debut: Transform your smartphone into an APS-C ILC or 30x superzoom
A guided tour of the Sony QX1 and QX30 smartphone cameras
Sony Officially Announces New QX1 E-Mount Module
Sony Brings E-Mount Lenses and 30X Optical Zoom to Your Smartphone with New QX1 and QX30


Lenses

Olympus
Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ Lens Review: A light, compact ‘kit lens’ alternative

Zeiss
New Gear: Zeiss Loxia 2/35 and Loxia 2/50 Lenses for Sony E-Mount Cameras
Zeiss launches full-frame E-mount lenses
Zeiss Officially Announces Loxia Line of Full Frame Mirrorless Lenses
Zeiss Starts New Manual Focus, Manual Exposure Loxia Line
ZEISS Officially Announces Loxia Line of Lenses for Full-Frame E-Mount Cameras
Zeiss makes full-frame mirrorless dreams come true with the Loxia lens line

Olloclip
Olloclip introduces clip-on lenses for Samsung Galaxy S4 and S5

Sigma
Sigma Announces Second Sports Lens in Poland, the 150-600mm – US Announcement Soon
Sigma Challenges Tamron with Its Own Hefty 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Sport Zoom


Other

Pelican
Pelican ProGear Rechargeable LED Flashlight

Western Digital
New Gear: Western Digital My Passport Wireless Hard Drive With Built-In SD Card Slot

Corel
Corel Introduces PaintShop Pro X7 & PaintShop Pro X7 Ultimate

OnOne Software
OnOne Software Kicks Perfect Photo Suite Into High Gear for Version 9

Wacom
Wacom Announce New Stylus Pens At IFA 2014

Capture Beyond Limits
Nebo, The ‘World’s Lightest Slider,’ Offers Unmatched Portability to the Time-Lapse Adventurer

Update on Getty Lawsuit vs. Microsoft

A brief update on yesterday's post on Getty suing Microsoft for copyright violation based on Microsoft's embedded image widget.

I thought I'd try the widget out and see how it actually works.

Here's the result of the basic embed code:

The widget results in a frame that displays the results of performing a Bing Image search using the search terms specified when the widget is created.  The term used in the sample provided by Bing is "volcanos" which is why you're seeing a bunch of those in Bing's widget.

Clicking on the widget takes you to Bing's search engine page.

A short description of how this works:

1)  Someone visits a website that includes the embed code.
2)  That website sends the search terms to Bing's search engine.
3)  Bing does an image search using those terms and sends the result to the website's server.
4)  The website uses the search results provided by Bing to display images in the widget.

The images displayed seem to be the thumbnails that Bing displays as part of its search results.  These are low resolution copies that are solely designed to provide viewers an idea of what the actual image looks like.

Viewing the full-sized image requires visiting the Bing search page.  (Clicking on the widget takes you there.)


My Take:

First, I'd thought it might be worth comparing Gety's embed tool.

Getty's embed tool:

#460875031 / gettyimages.com

I'm happy to say that Getty has addressed a major issue with their tool that I pointed out when it was first released.  They have disabled right click on the image frame.  No more copy and paste of the embedded image. 

They have also managed to prevent tools like Download Them All! from working on the image.  (I suspect that's because the image isn't technically "on" the web page hosting the image.)

They have not addresses the issue of screen capture.  Doing a screen capture with the above image displayed enabled me to obtain an image roughly 600 x 380 pixels.  That is large enough for certain web site uses.  (I deleted the image after determining the image size.)

I find it ironic that the company that uses an embed tool that facilitates copyright theft is complaining about one that produces thumbnails unsuited for any use beyond displaying image search results.


From a copyright standpoint, I think the Microsoft embed tool can easily be defended under "fair use".  It only provides a very limited example of the full-scale image.  This is similar to providing a short snippet of a book in a book review.

The problem occurs on the Bing page.

Someone that performs an image search can view full-sized images in the search results.  This requires Microsoft to copy the full-sized image and store it on their servers.

This is where the potential for copyright violations to occur, not the embed tool. 

Microsoft creates full-sized copies of images on the Internet and makes those copies available to those that use its search engine.  I'm not sure this can be defended.

(The same goes for Google that does the same with image searches.  Google, Bing and any other search engine that stores full-sized images and makes those copies available as part of an image search might be on shaky ground when it comes to copyright law.)

Pot Meet Kettle Moment for Getty

Hat Tip: re/code

For those of you that missed it, Microsoft recently announced a photo widget for its Bing search engine that allows web sites to embed image search results on their web sites.

Getty has decided to sue Microsoft for copyright violation.


That leaves me dumbfounded.

This is the company that recently decided to allow embedding of images from its library.  Images that don't belong to Getty, but instead belong to those that contributed them to Getty's library.

Getty allows embedding images free of charge, Getty gets to collect information it can make money off of as a result of that embedding, and the actual copyright holder gets the shaft.  (They have updated their agreement so that the contributor get part of advertising revenue, but the program started with Getty giving the images away without compensating the owner.  Plus there is no sharing of revenue created using the information collected.  Getty keeps all that.)


And now they're suing Microsoft for allowing web sites to embed search results?

I'd say "Pot Meet Kettle", but that implies equivalence between the actions of the two companies.  I don't think they are equivalent.

I think Getty's behavior is far worse than Microsoft's.

Microsoft is just allowing web sites to put publicly available information on their web sites.  They have no control over whether or not the image being displayed is owned by the person that posted it.

Getty, itself, is the one doing the posting.  They are arguably guilty of violating the rights of the owners of the images that they allow to be embedded.  (And for those that want to point to Getty's contract for contributors, look up "adhesion contract".)


Pot vs. kettle?

It's more like pot meet stainless steel skillet.


I suspect Getty's embedded image project may be the reason Getty has decided to sue.  The ability to embed Bing image search results means there is no reason to use Getty's embed program.

It's not about protecting copyright.  Getty has proven itself to not care about that.  (Far too often lately.)

It's about protecting Getty's bottom line.

Is It Really a Good Idea to Store Images on a Wireless Hard Drive?

Pop Photo has a brief article today on Western Digital's new wireless hard drive. 

My question: Is storing your images an a wireless device really a good idea?


Wireless devices like this can be hacked by someone within communications range.  While the dangers are fairly obvious while traveling, it also poses a danger within your home or studio.  The wireless signals can easily pass beyond the walls of your home or office.

(As an example, there have been times when I've had to reset my laptop's wireless connection to my home wireless router.  Doing so shows all wireless networks within range.  There have been times when four other wireless networks show up on the list of available networks while I am sitting in my house.  These belong to my neighbors and I could conceivably hack into any one of them.)

Keeping the hard drive stationary may actually pose a greater danger than using it when traveling.  Hacking a wireless network becomes easier when you can analyze large amounts of traffic. 


Anyone using a wireless hard drive should keep the potential security threat in mind.  This means using strong passwords to protect access to the network the device creates.  Otherwise anyone within range of the device will have access to the network and to all devices connected to it.  (Your laptop and smartphone are potential targets.)

Any files stored on the device should be protected as well.

Encryption is a good idea for any files that contain sensitive information, including those embarrassing photos of yourself.   (Wireless hard drives pose similar security issues as those that stem from Cloud Computing.)


Learn from the recent problems encountered by some Hollywood actresses.  Either don't put those photos where someone else can access them or encrypt them so they can't be opened if someone does access them.


Wireless hard drives are great when it comes to convenience.  They allow files to be easily shared between multiple devices and are one way to address storage issues with certain smartphones. 

They're not that great when it comes to security.


Best advice: If you don't want someone else accessing a computer file, don't put it on a wireless hard drive.

About Those Predictions That the Smartphone will Replace DSLR Cameras...

Hat Tip: PetaPixel

There have been constant predictions that the smartphone cameras will replace DSLR cameras.  Well, this development makes that prediction look a little more likely.

Sony is apparently in the process of developing a smartphone "Lens Camera" that will allow users to utilize Sony's E-Mount lenses with the smartphone. 

Photo from Sony Alpha Rumors Gallery

This basically consist of a 24 megapixel sensor in a lens-like housing that connects to the smartphone with clips.  The housing has the ability to communicate with the smartphone, allowing the smartphone to control the camera's settings and to store images.  The housing also has the ability to accept E-Mount lenses.

This allows the smartphone to act as the body for an interchangeable lens system.


The mount will apparently be priced at $400.  This is less than the a6000 which users the same sensor contained in the the smartphone mount, making the smartphone mount a reasonable choice for smartphone users looking to increase the photography options available when taking pictures.

Technically, the camera can be used without it actually being connected to the smartphone.  It only has to be within communications range.  This allows the user to see what the lens is pointed at without having to stand behind the camera (good for selfies.)

Canon Celebrating 80 Years

Canon is celebrating the 80th Anniversary of its first camera, the Kwanon.

Read more at DP Review, or the Canon Camera Museum.

The DP Review story includes a download link to a PDF of the Canon camera history fact sheet produced by Canon's European branch.

The articles are worth reading if interested in camera history, especially the DP Review article.