Auto HDR and Zero Sharpness

Auto HDR and Zero Sharpness
December 2012, Carl Garrard

Even though I think that Sony can improve the Jpeg engine in the A57, there remains a scenario where I still will allow out of camera Jpegs to be used. As the title of this article implies, I like to set my A57 for zero sharpness when using the Jpeg engine, and, use BASE ISO (as much as possible) along with HDR. In a way the Jpegs are three times better than a standard Jpeg considering there is a stack of 3 together into one. Sharpening out of camera, means you control that process almost completely yourself (as the OOC Jpegs at -3 sharpness are very soft indeed and look nearly untouched as seen below).

B & H Photo Excellent A57 Deal

Panasonic DMC-G3 Deal and Quick Review

Panasonic DMC-G3 Deal and Quick Review
December 2012, Carl Garrard

Panasonic DMC-G3 Review-  The last Panasonic I reviewed was the excellent DMC-L1. That camera is truly a work of art, and shows what Panasonic is capable of. And now the Panasonic G3 gets my attention. Yes it's a bit older but I don't feel constrained to just review new cameras. So lets get right onto my real bonafide quick review. Let me start by saying that I feel in a way  Panasonic has been slipping lately- trying to keep up so much with the heated race of m4/3 has left them a bit desperate with designing and functionality. The newest designs just seem nervous to me, for lack of a better word- and the G3 is no exception. I didn't like the G1 nearly at all, so how does the G3 sit with me?


B & H Panasonic G3 Excellent Deal

Sony NEX-6 Here for Review

Sony sent us here at Photographic-Central (and AMW) a camera for review today, the *new* NEX-6 and 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. Here's A Sony NEX-6 Amazon Deal So I'll finally be able to put this camera to it's paces and let you all know what I think of it. That's right, yes I will! More to follow folks. The camera is charging and later on I will be using it low light as well as getting to know that menu system and getting the camera set up to my specifications. Lots in this little rangefinder styled camera to use, lots of tools oh yes, so I need time to get to know my new little friend...



Here's A Sony NEX-6 Amazon Deal

Canon G15- Screaming Deal at B&H!

B&H Photo and Video are running a deal on the G15 that expires on December 29th. For $419.00 you get the G15, a free 16gb class 10 SDHC card, a Pearstone camera case, free 2 day shipping and NO sales tax. Now this was a deal that was too good for me to even pass up. For those of you waiting... you might not want to push it. I think this is as good as it's going to get for quite a while. Jump on it. I'm not one to normally go out of my way to post deals on this blog but felt it was truly worthy of making it known.
 CANON G15 $419.00 B&H DEAL

Aberlour A'Bunadh Review

Aberlour A'Bunadh Review- Single Malt Scotch Whisky Sherry Bomb!

Aberlour A'Bunadh (or, the origin) is my 14th whisky brand I've tried in the last 6 months or so. I'm new to scotch whisky, but I'm learning quickly. This particular whisky received very high ratings from several reviews and thus, peaked my interest. A local shop in Costa Mesa CA called High Time Cellars, stocks this beauty so I made a run there to try it out. Lets get right to the chase here, this malt lives up to all expectation in quality and overall deliciousness. I'm a big Springbank fan (a unique distillery look them up) so any Whisky that can impress me beyond that brand is worth recommending.


Aberlour A'Bunadh 750ml Best Price

DPR Post A99 Review

DPReview has posted the long awaited Sony A99 review. Sony's A99 is the current full frame flagship DSLR with a fixed semi-transparent mirror. It's more of a hybrid DSLR much like the Canon EOS 5D MK III in that it can shoot professional quality video just as surely as still images. The main difference between what Sony offers and what the competition offers are two things: An electronic viewfinder and a fixed semi-trans mirror system vs. a glass prism viewfinder and moving mirror. Take a look at what DPR have to say about the A99.


Sony Alpha A99 Body Only Best Amazon Deal