We often think Photoshop is the only option and nothing else. While Elements are well recognized as hobby image editor it has two downsides. It's not that easy to master and it's only supported during the 8 - 12 months it is the current version. Thereafter it has no RAW updates and it very seldom receive other updates after a new version is released. Often one read reviewers write that the previous version had this or that problem. I have never experienced that such problems were fixed. Thinking back, I can recall how difficult it was to master Elements when I started with digital photography. It literally took months to master the basics. The reason is there are many editing basics one needs to master first and at the time training material was not that freely available.

The good news is that there are other alternatives. In this short article I like to introduce three interesting and exciting alternatives. These are three Mac specific solutions I learned about and they are thus not Windows compatible.

iPhoto

IPhoto is part of the basic iLife software Suite that each Mac is supplied with. It has a powerful photo organizer as the backbone of the program. The organizer has map (GPS) functionality, face recognition plus other functions linked to face recognition. It seamlessly integrates with other software in the Mac PC. Iphoto uses "events" to view stacks of images. With these events, the user can page through hundreds of images in seconds. I have not seen anything like this before.

In the editing page the user has access to three different areas, quick fixes, adjust, and effects. The editing functions were designed for ease of use and "guaranteeing" good results. Tough call but surprisingly well implemented by the software engineers at Mac. The "Quick Fixes" area consists of different pre-programmed image correction buttons. One of these buttons is a global "Enhance" that works really well. It does what others do using several steps in Photoshop. In the "Adjust" area one has access to several sliders. These will adjust things like Contrast, Brightness, Vibrance and other. At any time one can hit the reset button and the image will return to its original status. The "Effects" area use a series of icons for each editing function. To adjust the white balance the user can select between four icons, each with a image showing a different white balance setting. What I like most is the fact that one can develop RAW images with iPhoto. It's the most basic developer I have seen to date but enough to give the user a really good feel for what one can do with RAW files.

IPhoto has build in links to popular web addresses like Facebook, twitter and others making life a breeze uploading images to these services.

IPhoto is good enough to replace any supplied software. It's only supplied RAW converters that will be the better choice. For those interested in using iPhoto I see no problem using it in combination with a supplied RAW editor. In fact in most cases they will compliment each other. The advantage using iPhoto is that at any time one can upgrade to Aperture and what I really like is the fact that one can transfer the complete iPhoto library over to Aperture.

As a general comment I believe Mac today is such a good solution, that its hard for me to picture a photographer without a Mac. I made the switch about 18 months ago and have never regretted it.

Pixelmator

Pixelmator is different to iPhoto, it looks and feel like Photoshop Elements but with unique and interesting differences. Other than Elements, it was designed with many advanced functions, build into a unique and user friendly operating interface. Pixelmator was designed from basic principles and therefore integrates perfectly with the Mac environment. For example one can access the iPhoto or Aperture image libraries directly from Pixelmator. This means, you can continue using iPhoto as your main organizer. You can also continue to use the iPhoto editing functions and at any stage you can switch to Pixelmator for additional and more advanced functions. For example while working in Pixelmator, a special iPhoto organizer screen stays open.

The Pixelmator editing area surprises with a sophistication normally only linked to more advanced editors. Having said that, one also notice that the designers did their best to keep it simple. For example when one select the curves function, it has everything one requires but at the same time the user interface is basic. Advanced functions like curves, color mixer, channel mixer and levels use basic user interfaces. They have been designed to keep it simple to work with. I think the developers of Pixelmator really did a good job of keeping it simple.

Also included in Pixelmator is the ability to work with layers. It has only basic functionality but for most people getting introduced to working with layers I think this format is perfect. For example combined with it's friendly masking functions and good selection tools layers will take on a completely new dimension or value to the photographer learning editing techniques. I honestly think there are no better way to be introduced to layers.

One can write pages on all the functions of Pixelmator, I like to summarize it by saying, Pixelmator has good to powerful editing commands and its geared to the individual that wants to learn all about image editing.

Pixelmator has everything necessary to integrate images to the web, it can upload images to social blogs or image hosting services like Flickr. The designers have written an excellent users manual that is available free of charge. Selling at approximately $35 I think Pixelmator is a great buy.

I have no concern recommending Pixelmator, especially at the price it's selling for. Once mastered I can see one of two things happening, the user will continue using it or the user will be much better prepared for something like Photoshop Elements.

Acorn

Acorn is a more basic solution when compared to Pixelmator but at the same time it has other areas that are more powerful. Again the user interfaces of these two editors are similar and at the same time completely different. Both use a modern Mac, look and feel interface, making them feel alike. Acorn is by no means less effective, in-fact it has what is needed to get most out any image. What the designers mastered with Acorn is to simplify the interface even more. The question is, who would use Acorn and at which level user it is aimed at? Personally I can see it fits perfectly to the user that is happy using iPhoto, plus a user that likes to have access to functions like layers but that does not want to work with a complex editor.

For any photographer serious about editing images, layers is important. With layers one can add text to an image or one can combine two differently exposed images in HDR style or one can build collages plus many more. What is interesting is that Acorn has added a number of art type filters and brushes that will help the user to be really creative.

Then Acorn also added a number of unique and also powerful lens correction tools to Acorn. I was surprised to see so many advanced type lens related filters in a scaled package like Acorn. Obviously a photographers dream, something many photographers would love to use.

Acorn is not just an image editor, for example it has the ability to work with vector shapes, it has really interesting text and drawing capabilities, one can mock up screen shots and lots more. It is really worth a visit to the Acorn homepage, to go there, click on the above Acorn icon.

Again I do not have any concerns to not recommend this software to the user that is keen to start with photo editing. A little expensive at $49 I think, especially if one consider that for not much more one could get Photoshop Elements.

Conclusion

Siegfried

I have now been out a few times shooting with the E-5. The most significant difference I notice to start with compared to my E-510 is far prettier images at high ISO, especially colors. As to difference outdoors in bright light I can't really say yet. I believe I have noticed that details are not as crisp when ISO is a bit higher than base ISO. I have a feeling, that maybe some artifacts from noise-filtering may play a role? So I have to make test-shots to find the settings that suit my taste. For that I have found a short-cut:

Instead of making shots with a lot of different settings at different ISO-settings I make one RAW-shot at each ISO. The TreuPic V+ engine of the E-5 is sitting in my computer! So I load the RAW-files of some of my favorite subjects in the computer and then I can test an infinite numbers of settings without all the hassle of making at ton of test-shots that I might get lost in. I guess many others have found that trick too.

Then what have I found out so far?

• I would like to use the ISO-auto-setting for ISO 200-1600 for the general shooting.

• For ISO 200 (and 100) up until 1600 I find noise filter off, sharpening-2 and contrast -2 to be the best.

• It turns out to be the same setting I used for my E-510 for ISO 100-400.

• Above ISO400 I used the noise filter. It is in line with what Wrotniak and DPReview recommended.

• The rather dark image, No. 3 was taken just after sunset, I have deliberately exposed it to be darker.
• Image No. 4 is ISO 6400, the orange colors look really nice, they are easy to target, most subjects are not so forgiving at ISO 6400!
• Note: The remaining 2 images were taken by my wife with her Pen E-P1, fitted with the 14-150 mm.
• We think the 14 - 150mm is a great lens, with it one needs very little more (although my wife said she wish she had the Panasonic 20 mm.f1,7 for her birthday).
• The Pens are wonderful cameras. I think Olympus is leading and the rest is following.
• There is a new PEN kit including the E-PL2 and the 14.150 mm, on its way to a Danish Oly online store ;-)
• My favorite kit includes the E-5 with 12-60 mm. That is nearly enough for me, I am happy as is :-)
• After my last walk I have turned down the saturation to -1.

Hans

In the past Olympus owners always looked at Wrotniak to test, discuss and comment on new Olympus cameras. Wrotniak became the standard by which all Olympus gear were measured. At some point last year he stopped adding new information to his site and that left an interesting vacuum in the Olympus blogger world. I saw an article by Kirk Tuck a while ago and thought it was interesting, a new fresh look at Olympus. This weekend I saw he published a really interesting article on the new Micro Four-Thirds E-PL2. He says in his article that he could not find much of an image quality difference between the old and the new. Taking into account that the E5 was released in between the E-PL1 and the E-PL2 I expected the latter camera to be similar to the E5. Or should one assume the differences in image quality is approaching the no difference at all status....

I think Olympus should stop releasing new cameras using the 12MP sensor. Guys its time to design us a few new lenses in the m4/3 world, or if you really bored, adding a few more art filters to the existing cams would be a great loyalty builder. Most probably best would be investing your time in doing a complete revamp of your Studio, Viewer or Master software.

Bibble Labs announced the immediate availability of Bibble 5,2

• It has a unique and powerful organizer (I find it better than anything else I used to date in a RAW converter)
• One can download or create unique camera/lens profiles
• It is fully compatible with noise ninja plus one can develop unique camera lens combination profiles
• Many of its core and extended functions like plug-ins are computed during the actual RAW data to final format conversion process.
• It offers outstanding printing functionality
• It offers really powerful layer and selective editing features.
• With a bit of practice the photographer can do almost anything possible with this RAW converter.
• This is really a photographer’s friend. Bibble is not only a RAW converter it is an enabler......

The Bibble Survival Guide

Noise Ninja

Where to buy?

The Photoshop Elements User

We spend a fair amount on gear including lenses, software, filters and more. Most of us tend to look the other way when we see a service like this being advertised in our mail inbox. I understand that its difficult to find good training schools and that not everyone is happy to listen too trainers on u-tube and similar services. I have been using The Photoshop Elements Users for nearly four years and I have never been disappointed. I can recommend this service to you with an absolute open heart. Look at the two year option, it’s really a good deal plus I have found that a one year subscription is just too little if you a starter with Elements. For the person more comfortable with Elements, The Elements User is a great reference service. I get no benefit from promoting services on this site. I recommend only equipment or services I use myself and are that I am happy with.

I have always been interested in HDR photography. I never tried PhotoMatix which is the industry standard for HDR photographers. Instead I bought a package called EasyHDR and later another called Essential HDR. They were not expensive at the time and they gave me a chance to start working with HDR images. As you know HDR photography helps the photographer to create true images of scenes that typically has a dynamic range that far exceeds that of the camera. Then as I bought my MAC I could no longer use my Windows software and I decided to upgrade to PhotoMatix for MAC. In a next discussion I will talk about PhotoMatix.

Over December I tried a few other packages of which HDR Express was one. In fact Unified Color the holding company has different HDR solutions. Over the December period I also tried the HDR Effects plug in from NIK Software. Later I was really interested buying HDR Effects because instead of being faced with many sliders that should build the final HDR image, HDR Effect has the coolest presets. The reason I ended up not buying the software is because NIK traces the potential client’s IP Address and when they see you not from the US then you forced to buy through a local company. I am OK with that until I have to pay significantly more plus I never heard of this distributor. I completely lost interest when I saw the reply from NIK software after enquiring about the situation.

To get back to HDR Express, this is how it works. With your camera on a tripod you take a series of three to seven images of the scene you want to use. There are several sites that will tell you how to take the different images and what settings you should use. I use my histogram on my camera to make sure I cover the histogram from left to right in equal steps. When home you feed these differently exposed images into HDR Express. It takes a while, sliders are filled to indicate its working and then the HDR image is displayed in its “virgin” state. Next HDR Express automatically does the tone-mapping and when finished it displays a nearly the perfect HDR image. It’s interesting to watch the software create the final HDR image. What I really like is that at this point one can further adjust the image because HDR Express has a full HDR plus Tone Mapping editor available to the user. In addition HDR Express has a number of presets one can use to prepare the final look.

I entered the above images into HDR Express. They were taken with my E3 fitted with 14 - 54 mm lens.

The above picture is the HDR results the HDR Express produced. I slightly edited it in Photoshop Elements. As you can see it is a very natural looking HDR image.

Happy shooting

Siegfried

I saw one this week and were surprised at just how good it looks with the matching black pancake lens and black color flash, makes a huge difference. What I found especially cool looking was the matching lens with the fancy lens cap. I had a few Panasonic bits of pieces like the 20 mm 1,7 lens and the 14 - 45 Panasonic kit lens plus an older G1. My son has the 17 mm Olympus pancake that is similar to the one in this all black version. I tried the 20 mm versus the 17 mm a number of times to see if I see any significant differences in image quality. The verdict is all the Panasonic gear is going and in the future I will only support the Olympus brand. Apart from the fact that I see no real difference between the lenses I was also not excited when I learned Panasonic does have a higher resolution sensor when the E5 was launched. I think it was a great move from Olympus to raise the bar in terms of what they pumped out the existing sensor. I am sure nobody expected one can get as good results out the 12 MP sensor as what Olympus did with the E5. I am sure we will see some really exciting partnerships in the future plus more interesting technologies from Olympus.

The gap between digital SLR cameras and compact cameras are getting smaller and smaller. When you read the launch document of the XZ-1 then its clear that Olympus did not hold back when defining the XZ-1 project. I cannot help to think what the possible team slogan was while developing the so-called X-Factor. Any ideas? Well, looking at the E-PL2 and the X-Factor I surely love the detail, the clean lines and the beautiful high quality design. I read one can fit the E-P2 Electronic View Finder on the X-Factor, no doubt that would be a great add on, especially in bright sunlight.

Who would be interested in something like this? I have used the G11 from Canon for approximately 11 months and prior to that I had the LX3 from Panasonic one year. These are both excellent camera’s, especially if it’s your main or only camera. As backup to a good SLR and the G11 or LX3 just do not satisfy. The next choice is then something like the micro 4/3 rds camera. The problem in this case is the camera including the lens or two is not much smaller than a DSLR. That makes the micro 4/3 rds not the most practical backup to the DSLR. Its this space I assume the X-Factor will fill perfectly.

What is more interesting is the sensor Olympus use in this camera plus the lens. The sensor does not follow the trend today and instead of using a CMOS sensor Olympus decided for a CCD type sensor. In the past Olympus had tremendous results using the Kodak CCD sensors in the early E-systems DSLR cameras. It is possible to get the better image quality from a CCD type sensor and I am sure we will again see the legendary Olympus colors with this camera. Also worth noting is the top quality lens Olympus fitted to this camera. Olympus is known for their outstanding E-system DSLR lenses and from the looks of it Olympus used their lens making experience to match the CCD with a very fast lens. Not only is this great for indoor shooting conditions, these lenses also are top creative tools in talented hands. Folks now is the time to let go any advance compact and to order the X-factor....

Folks I am happy with the Olympus strategy of targeting mirror-less and advanced compact segments. I read somewhere that we could expect the first mirror-less “SLR” body which will replace bodies like the E620 and the E520. That means we will have an electronic view finder similar to that used in the E-P2 electronic viewfinder. The only aspect I do not like about the existing micro 4/3 rds view finder is that it goes black and white in poor light conditions. The G1 from Panasonic use the build in electronic view finder and it stays in full color also when in poor light conditions. I find that much more practical and acceptable.

I like the new E-PL2 body a lot and are really surprised with the improvements Olympus did on the grip area of the camera. It will be comfortable in the hand I guess. Studying the bodies a little closer it is clear that Olympus decided for a high quality materials and feel on these bodies. That said I looked at the local pricing today and were surprised to see that the E-PL2 has been positioned just above the advanced compact segment. Wonder when it will drop enough in price to start eating into this advance compact segment sales?

Another really interesting aspect of the new camera is the new 14 - 42 kit lens. I read it focus faster and more accurate when compared to the previous kit lens. It was also designed with a less noisy focus motor. That means in movie mode one will not hear the lens focus. For those guys with the first generation kit lenses there are a good solution to the noisy focus motor. Buy the external microphone and not only will it improve the movie sound quality, the noisy focus motor will also be something of the past.

My compliments to Olympus with these adapter lenses. I think the idea is great plus I trust they will not be as ridiculously expensive as the Panasonic 7 - 14 mm super wide angle, the macro and fish eye lenses. One just do not expect the micro 4/3 lenses to be as expensive as a DSLR pro level lens. What I also like about these lenses or adapters is that they fit into any spare pocket in the camera bag. Another reason we buy the m 4/3 cameras is its size guys. I saw there are a number of other really interesting options for the new body. What I did not like is that Olympus says the new E-PL2 uses a version 2 adapter port. I hope it does not mean that my reasonably new E-P2 suddenly has an outdated adapter port. Please Olympus tell us that is not how you like to increase sales. There is a catch with these new adapters or lenses from Olympus. They only fit the new mark II kit lens or the 40 - 150 mm lens.

Then finally I looked at the new 14 - 42 lens and it seems to be a really interesting new addition. I can just imagine soon there will be a lot of older type 14 - 42 lenses on the 2nd hand market. I hope I can get one to test, it will be interesting to see how it performs against the old kit lens. Below you can see the new lens. The part that extends is now completely different to the older lens. I read it extends a little more than the older lens. If you look close you will see it looks as if it now has a plastic fitting and not a metal fitting like the older kit lens. Do you really need to have the faster focus speed and the silent focus motor?

It is also interesting to see that Olympus has build the new “HDR” filter into the E-PL2. What is more interesting is that some of the art filters are now adjustable. This marks a totally new way of doing photography with these cameras. Planning a shoot with these tunable art filters will come in handy. I wonder why Olympus decided to stay with the 12MP sensor. I guess we will see E5 image quality with the new E-PL2. Olympus never in the past tweaked image quality to position a camera, they rather positioned cameras on application. That means the pro level E5 will be weather sealed, top quality magnesium body for maximum durability and high performance mirror setup. The E-PL2 on the other hand will satisfy a completely different user and therefor also requires top image quality to compete in that segment. On the other hand I do think it would be interesting to hear what Olympus plan for the future in terms of sensors. Most probably the new E-P2 will be showing off some of the secrets we can only speculate about today.....