PMA goes CliQ; Getty relaunches Microstock site, Lexar shows its facilities, Akvis fixes focus, Sony adds a video monitor for DSLRs, Leica announces a contest
Good-Bye PMA; Hello, CliQ
PMA, the big photo marketing trade show that has become an annual pilgrimage for those of us following the latest in Photography, is no more. Welcome CliQ, the Photo Marketing Association’s freshly-rebranded consumer photography show, which will debut in early September in Las Vegas rather than the traditional late-winter PMA slot, which rotated between Vegas, Orlando and other locations (last year it was in Anaheim). The re-imaged show will be open to dealers and the photographic press, as always, but will now also allow consumers to attend.
PMA also launched a web site (above) offering consumers, enthusiasts, and aspiring pros tips and advice to help them improve their photography. with a $25 fee that entitles members of the CliQ to a variety of discounts. We're told there's more to come—including a photo contest that's co-sponsored by none other than AdoramaPix.
Getty Relaunches Photos.com Microstock Site
Speaking of relaunches, in another sign that stock photography has changed forever, Getty has relaunched Photos.com as a microstock site, offering over 2.5 million royalty-free images for as little as 19 cents each if you’re on a subscription plan, and from $1.99 per photo if you buy a la carte. Great news for photo buyers and small businesses. For professional shooters struggling to make a living? Not so much.
Lexar takes you on a factory video tour
Ever wonder how memory cards are put together? Lexar recently posted a video tour of its manufacturing facility. Watch it now:
Did you know there are rooms at the Lexar facility that are more sanitary than an operating room? Strangely believe it!
Akvis Refocus 1.0 Unblurs Fuzzy Photos
Akvis has launched Refocus software, which they claim will take blurred photos and make them sharper (see before-and-after sample, above). Overall blur can be fixed (up to a point, I presume) and sharp shots can be selectively de-focused for the wide-aperture look. The sharpening can also be done selectively. Akvis claims the software will also reduce atmospheric haze in landscapes. Akvis Refocus is available as a standalone program or as a Photoshop CS5 64 bit compatible plug-in.
Sony CLM V55 clip-on monitor
Here’s a leftover from Vegas—how did we miss this? Sony announced the CLM-V55, a 5-inch clip-on LCD monitor for DSLRs that displays live images via the camera’s HDMI port. It’s WVGA hi-res, tilts and swivels, and will show magnified pixels for focus confirmation. Designed for serious videographers, it’ll be available in March, price not yet announced.
Leica announces Barnack Award Competition
So, you think you’re good enough to win a Leica M9? Leia this week announced a call for entries for the Oskar Barnack Award 2011 photo competition. Entries must, according to the rules, “use their powers of observation to capture and express the relationship between humans and the environment in graphic form in a sequence of up to 12 images.” The contest is open to professional photographers, and includes Newcomer Award for entrants aged 25 and under. The international competition has a grand prize worth around $19,000, and includes a Leica M9 camera. Learn more, enter.
Firmware Updates
It’s been a while since we’ve done a firmware update round-up so without further ado…
Canon EOS 60D v. 1.0.8 Fixes overexposure problem when using an external flash with certain lenses. Details and download.
Nikon D7000 v. 1.1 corrects bright spots in video and live view modes when shooting dark scenes or subjects. Download firmware.
Pentax 645D, Kr v. 1.01, K5 v. 1.02 fixes SDXC card compatability issues, ISOI, contrast AF, and bulb mode issues. Download firmware.
Sigma SD15 v.1.01 adds four new functions to the Quick Set menu. Download it here.
And finally…Street Photography with a Camera Phone?
Street photography, as we’ve said before, is not a crime and the narrator of the video below, which is a not-so-subtle ad for Nokia camera phones, does a good job describing our rights to take pictures without asking permission in public places. But grabbing shots on the street that are only cell phone quality? There oughta be a law.
