Posts

Posted on

Good, Better, Best Podcasting Microphones

Rode Podcaster in my studio

I'm always recording video reviews and tutorials and it seems like I'm now doing more than ever. So I started looking at my equipment and looked for things that could be improved. While I didn't really have any complains with my Blue Snowball mic, I just wondered if there was something better? Like anything you can spend a little or a lot, but the real question is "does spending a lot on a USB mic get you any better results?" As I've said in the past, I'm not really an audio expert and have been feeling my way through this stuff for years. So I decided to test out a couple of new Mics to see which one I liked best.

 

The Rode Podcaster USB Mic

Well it has "Podcast" in the name, it must be perfect right? All kidding aside one of the things that drew me to this setup was not only did it look like a more professional solution, but it came with an adjustable arm that clamps onto my desk. This way I can easily position the mic where I need it and move it out the way when I don't need it. There's enough crap on my desk already, so this was a big plus. The Sound quality seemed really good, but honestly to my ears it didn't really seem any better than the Snow Ball. Again I'm not an audiophile so YOU may be able to tell a big difference, but I couldn't. However, the design won my heart and I knew that anything else would have to compete with that!

Continue reading “Good, Better, Best Podcasting Microphones”

Posted on

Choosing a Fisheye lens: Nikon 10.5mm vs 16mm

Ford Field shot by Scott Kelby using a Nikon 10.5mm on a D3

Above photo of Ford Field shot by Scott Kelby using a Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8 lens on a D3 body

 

During a recent visit by my buddy Scott Kelby who came up to shoot the Lions vs. the Bears game, he showed me this shot that he took with his Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8 lens on his Nikon D3. Honestly, I was never really a fan of fisheye shots before but there was something about this one that made me say "cool!"

 

My search for a fisheye lens began

Now keep in mind that for me a fisheye lens is something that I would use on occasion at best. It's not something that I would use every day and even Scott said, "you will probably use it the least" when I was asking "what should be my next lens?" Keeping that in mind I was debating between the Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8 DX fisheye lens and the Nikon 16mm f/2.8 EX fisheye lens. The difference is that the 16mm Fisheye lens is designed for full frame bodies like my D700. The 10.5mm Fisheye is a DX lens for Bodies with a cropped sensor like a D300s. There is about a $300 price difference between the two and I figured since I wouldn't be using it that often and when I do it will probably be on my D5000, so I decided to go the 10.5mm.

note: click on any of the shots in this post to see them larger

 

The Sigma 15mm f/2.8 detour

When I went to order my Nikon 10.5mm lens (still debating the 16mm), it wasn't in stock. So as an alternative it was suggested that I try the Sigma 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye Lens. Since they had no problem taking it back if I didn't like it, I decided to give it a shot (get it, "give it shot", c'mon these are the jokes people).

A serious WTF moment:

I got the lens and put it on my D700 and fired. Here's what I got:

Sigma 15mm F/2.8 EX DG Fisheye Lens

Umm, What? I felt like I was shooting through a hole. Granted, this may be cool for somethings, but I can do that in Photoshop. What makes matters worse it wouldn't work with my D5000 at all. The camera wouldn't even come on with that lens attached. So back in the box it went. Thanks, but not quite what I had in mind. Now I know that there is probably software out there designed to correct these images and make them look, um right. However, I don't feel that I should have to process every single image that comes out of my camera using special software and the fact that it wouldn't work at all on the D5000 was a deal breaker anyway.

Continue reading “Choosing a Fisheye lens: Nikon 10.5mm vs 16mm”

Posted on

GorillaMobile 3G/3GS holds your iPhone

gorillamobile3g3gs

I remember when I first saw the GorillaMobile when it was announced and I kinda mentally dismissed it. Don't get me wrong, I love the GorillaPod line of products. It's just that this wasn't what I was looking for in terms of a "holder" for my iPhone to watch videos on the plane. I was looking for something smaller. I never really found the "right" solution. Most were either too bulky to travel with or didn't allow me to lean the iPhone back far enough for a comfortable viewing angle. 

 

I see the light now

I didn't look at the GorillaMobile again until Joby released their FREE Gorillacam App (which I've reviewed here today). I'm very excited about what the app offers in terms of features and of course many of the features can only be realized if you have a way of holding your iPhone still long enough. For example, doing time lapse photography isn't going to be very exciting holding it by hand. This is when I wanted to look at the GorillaMobile again. So I got one and had a ball using it to take pictures. Once I was done playing with the app for the day I started just playing with the positioning of the GorillaMobile itself and realized that THIS IS the holder I've been looking for! It ships with a case for your iPhone 3G/3GS that has a cutout on the back to place it right on the GorillaMobile. This way you don't have "stick" anything on the back of your iPhone.

Continue reading “GorillaMobile 3G/3GS holds your iPhone”

Posted on

Why I’m not buying a Powermat (yet)

Powermat

My tech buddies are all asking me about the new Powermat charger. I was recently reminded of it on my last flight because there was an article in the Delta in-flight magazine. It's cool! I want it to succeed! However, I'm not ready to buy one just yet.
 

We can't get portable electronic manufacturers to standardize!

The reason I'm not quite ready to buy a Powermat just yet is not because it's not cool technology and not because I don't want LESS wires in my life (trust me, I do!). The reason is simple. In order to use the Powermat with any of my current gear it would require me to either get a special case or dock for each portable electronic gadget I have so that it would charge the device when you place it on the Powermat.

powercube

I won't be really interested in this technology until all of (or at least the ones I care about) the electronic device manufacturers agree to build a universal Powerpad compatible receptacle on the back/bottom of each of their devices. This way no matter which device you bought you could just set it on one these pads and it would start charging. How cool would that be?

I'm not hopeful that we'll see this anytime soon. We can't even get all the cellphone makers to agree (and start using) a standard USB charging port. Didn't I read at some point last year that they all agreed to do just that?

Continue reading “Why I’m not buying a Powermat (yet)”

Posted on

Time to Say Goodbye – to those photos

It’s a New Year and therefore I tend to look for ways to do house cleaning. I look for ways to improve my workflow and I look for ways to not make the same mistakes as the year before. I recently looked at one of my Lightroom Catalogs. It’s my Portrait/Model catalog. I started doing serious portrait photography back in in 2006 and my current catalog has over 30,000 photos in it!

30000catalog

 

How I ended up with 30,000+ Photos?

When I do a photo shoot I can shoot anywhere from 100 to 800 photos. My average is around 300. So here’s what happens in my current workflow: Let’s say I shoot 500 shots. I then go home and eliminate 200 right off the bat. Those 200 go in the trash immediately. They are the eyes closed, flash didn’t fire, bad expression kinda shots. Now I go through and pick out a few of my favorites. Next I export a web gallery, post it and send the URL to the client/model. He/she picks out the agreed upon number of shots (let’s say 10) that I then retouch and deliver the final shots to them. That leaves 280-290 shots that I didn’t want and that the client/model didn’t want. Multiply this number times all my shoots in the past three years and you arrive at the 30,000+ number.

 

But what if?

The reason it’s so hard to hit the delete button on these shots is because we say “but what if the client wants them later?” You know how many times this has happened in 3 years? ZERO! Not one time has a client/model come back and say “hey, you know those shots that were just OK? Yeah the ones that I didn’t choose the first time. I’d like those now.” It hasn’t happened one single time in all of my shooting. My theory is that when they picked their shots, they picked the best ones and anything left would be second best at best. How often do you go back and ask for the second best of anything once you have the best.

Continue reading “Time to Say Goodbye – to those photos”

Posted on

Introducing Tech Profile Fridays

Now that my "iPhone App of the Week" feature has transformed into a NEW site: bestappsite.com, I've been looking for something fun to replace it with on Fridays. As you might expect I have lots of friends, family and colleagues that are into tech and gadgets just like I am. Although I love telling you guys about all the gadgets, gear and technology that I'm using or come across I thought it would great to have a look into the gadgets and gear in use by my buddies. 

Here's how it will look…

Terry White

Worldwide Principal Cross Media Evangelist

Adobe Systems, inc.

twWWSC09-1

Blog/Website

Terry White's Tech Blog

 

Favorite Gadgets

iPhone 3GS, Nikon D700, TiVo HD

 

Cellphone/Smartphone Make/Model

iPhone 3GS

Continue reading “Introducing Tech Profile Fridays”

Posted on

Are camera phones the new point and shoot cameras?

cellphonecamera

I have two cameras that are with me 99% of the time. One is a Canon Powershot ELPH 870IS the other is my iPhone. Of course I have a couple great DSLRs (Nikon D700 and D5000). It goes without saying that when it's an important event I'm shooting with a DSLR. However, when it's just casual just out and about you would think that I pull out my Canon ELPH, but the reality is that I pull out my iPhone, take the shot (edit it in the FREE Photoshop.com Mobile App if need be) and share it immediately via Facebook/Twitter/Flickr/Email using the Best Camera App. 

You would think that more camera manufacturers would take the hint and be looking to add wi-fi (if not 3G capabilities) to their point and shoot cameras and redesign the interfaces on them for easier image sharing. 

Honestly I can't remember the last time I used my "Point and Shoot" camera. Sure I realize that your best or only camera may be your Point and Shoot camera and that you may use yours all the time. However, for me my best camera is my DSLR and for everything else I use my iPhone. Apparently I'm not alone! Look at this interesting set of stats on the 400% increase in mobile photo uploads to Flickr via the iPhone 3GS. What about you?

tplight

For those interested in more Flash/Light for low light photos, that's one thing I love about my Truepower IV iPhone external battery. Not only does it double my battery life but it also provides a bright LED light on the back for photos.