The eclectic photostream of Bill Dickinson is nothing short of charming. You don’t know what to expect next—and wouldn’t want to. He shot self-titled “Venus and the Moon” on Dec. 7, 2015, using Nikon D810 and 150-600mm […]
Pixel C Out-of-the-Box Impressions
Google’s first tablet arrived yesterday, and my review is forthcoming. I expected to have a wow reaction, but felt more meh. Some of that comes from my satisfaction using the smaller Nexus 9, which also runs Android 6 Marshmallow. Interestingly, my emotional quotient is considerably higher 24 hours later. This tablet could easily be a frequent companion. (Note: I typically rattle off thoughts about new devices here before posting full-on reviews to my work tech news site).
The search-and-information giant unexpectedly unveiled the Pixel C on September 29th. Sales started December 8th. Specs: 10.2-inch LTPS LCD touchscreen, 2560 x 1800 resolution, 308 pixels per inch, 500-nit brightness; nVidia Tegra X1 processor with Maxwell graphics; 3GB RAM; 32GB ($449) or 64GB ($599) storage; 8-megapixel rear and 2MP front cameras; four microphones; two speakers (sideways of screen in portrait mode on the bezel); USB Type-C port; WiFi AC; Bluetooth 4.1; accelerometer; compass; gyroscope; ambient-light, half-effect, and proximity sensors; Android 6. Enclosure is anodized aluminum that measures 242 x 179 x 7 mm and weighs 517 grams.
Flickr a Day 350: ‘Heart-Shaped Box’
We wrap three days focused on the Foveon sensor with Sigma’s original professional compact—the DP1. I owned the camera, which requires finesse for its clunky controls, slow response, and noisy low-light photos. But color, contrast, […]
Flickr a Day 349: ‘I’m a Little Photographer’
Sigma compacts are lean on extras, including video capture, and they demand patience—taking time to thoughtfully compose each shot. They can be point-and-shoots, but they aren’t meant to be. Rather, in competent hands, they produce spectacular IQ (e.g. image quality).
Ben Keough is spot on in his review of the Sigma DP3 Merrill, which Jay Hsu used to capture our selection: “The software deficiencies are all variations on a single theme: If a feature doesn’t help you take an unadulterated still image, the DP3 doesn’t have it. No picture effects, no scene modes, no panoramas, no collages, no dynamic range compensation, and no HDR capture”. The camera is no frills and slow to focus. Oh, but the IQ!
Six Headphones for Christmas
As Christmas comes closer, it’s time to think about rewarding your ears, or someone else’s, with exceptional audio experience—headphones that I would ask Santa to bring for myself or deliver to another. If big, booming bass is your thing, read no further. Buy Beats, Sony, or another brand boasting barreling lows that shake your skull as well as eardrums.
My picks deliver broader audio range, each with warmer mids and highs and amazing detail, depending somewhat on the source of your content. Highly compressed AAC or MP3 tracks lack lots, but these cans will get a little more fidelity from them. CD or lossless source might change how you listen to music forever.
Flickr a Day 348: ‘Building Building’
We begin the first of three days ode to the Foveon sensor, which produces a distinct and unmistakable color signature. Inside Sigma compacts, with their fixed prime lenses, the result: Super sharp photos that are […]
Flickr a Day 347: ‘Choiseul Fisherman, St Lucia’
The worst of the worst of the worst of the best—picking a single pic from the photostream of Heather Buckley is more challenging than all the other tough cases combined. I could choose any and […]
Bob’s Bike
My father-in-law turned 94 this week. He still lives independently, and we help by being close-by (in an apartment on the next block). He doesn’t get around as easily as he used to; cane is […]
Flickr a Day 346: ‘The Death of Me’
Whoa, here’s a composite that you don’t want to experience in this life or the next. Sam Breach shot self-titled “The Death of Me” on March 23, 2013, using Canon EOS 5D Mark III and EF […]
Flickr a Day 345: ‘Beautiful Living Doll’
Forget science fiction fantasies about suddenly stopping the present, or traveling back to the past. Some street photographers are masters of time. They capture a moment, preserve it, and expose within magnificent drama. Thus describes […]
Google’s Sharing Spirit of the Season
Ho. Ho. Ho. Google gives early Christmas presents this holiday, by focusing on ways that families (or roomies) can better share that which is contextually precious: music, photos, online, payments, and videos. But Big G also trails Apple, which already offers its customers many of the same benefits.
Fresh today: Google Photos Shared Albums, which applies collaborative concepts that Apps users should find familiar. “People receiving the shared album can join to add their own photos and videos, and also get notifications when new pics are added”, according to the official announcement. “You can even save photos and videos from a shared album to your Google Photos library, so that you can hold onto them even if you weren’t the one holding the camera”.
Flickr a Day 344: ‘Sisters’
There is something past tense—1960s or 70s—about self-titled “Sisters”, which Kevin Chodzinski captured on May 23, 2009, using Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi and EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS lens. Vitals: f/5.6, ISO 800, 1/250 sec, 55mm. The setting […]