Gear - Photo School Guy

Archive

August 16, 2012 by Bill Gratton

MAC-On-Campus launches its own YouTube Channel

Ever since learning that YouTube is now the second most used search engine, I have been determined to create a strong YouTube presence- a place where photography and filmmaking students and educators could go to see (and easily find) all of the fabulous educational videos and webinars that the MAC Group and its manufacturers have produced.

Well, we now have our very own MAC-On-Campus YouTube channel and we think it is pretty cool! Check it out! http://www.youtube.com/user/maconcampus/featured

MAC On Campus launches its own YouTube Channel

The New MAC-On-Campus YouTube channel has hundreds of educational videos for photography and filmmaking students.

While we’re still working on it, and it will be an ongoing work-in-progress, I think that you will find it that it is already a pretty incredible resource. We now have more than 220 videos posted, and we’ll continue to add to this. We’re also creating playlists of videos based upon topics (such as lighting, metering, filmmaking, color management, etc…) so that you and your students can easily find videos on the topic(s) of interest.

Please subscribe to the channel so that you’ll know when new videos are posted. Also please feel free to use any of these materials in your classroom and/or to refer your students to this resource.

As always, feedback is always welcome. If you can think of anything that would make this resource better, please let us know. Also, if there is a topic that you think needs to be addressed, please let us know. In the last year we have dramatically ramped up our video production capability and are always looking for topics to create more useful material.

Archive

January 16, 2012 by Bill Gratton

Capture One Pro 6- A fabulous tool for professional photographers and educators alike

So recently I began using Phase One’s Capture One Pro 6 RAW converter and image editing software, and while I’m certainly nowhere near being an expert at it yet, I have to say, that it seems to me that it contains all the essential tools and high-end performance in one package to enable you to capture, organize, edit, share and print images in a fast, flexible and efficient workflow.

While it has long been a favorite (some might even argue a “standard”) amongst commercial and fashion photographers, Capture One Pro Software is quickly becoming a preferred software amongst photographers of all sorts. This is one of “THE” software packages that students will encounter upon graduation when they go to work for catalog houses, commercial photographers, or fashion photographers.

It’s compatibility with Canon, Nikon, Mamiya, Leaf, Phase digital backs and other DSLR cameras make it a natural tool for schools and students as well. So now, a school can teach/use a single software, rather than instructors having to be experts in the all of the proprietary software from each of the camera manufacturers.

Capture One Pro has a “street” price of approximately $400. However, students can now buy Capture One Pro (with two licenses- laptop & desktop) for $129 from MAC-On-Campus and its dealers. Of course we also have educational pricing for schools looking to purchase multiple site licenses for the schools’ computer labs and or studios (or for distribution to your students). Schools or educators interested in doing so should contact their regional MAC Group rep. Of course I can help direct you to the right person as well.

Below are just of some of the tools and features of latest version of Capture One Pro: Read More »

Archive

December 9, 2011 by Bill Gratton

Top Ten Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas For The Photo Student In Your Life

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a total gear junkie and tech weenie, and that I already own waaaaay too much photo gear! As a photographer, “gear-head,” an employee of the premiere photo distributor in the US, and someone who spends 200+ days a year visiting with college photography programs, I would like to think that I know what photography students want and need.

Several years ago I gave a photographer friend of mine a set of PocketWizards radio slaves for Christmas. At the time she was a graduate student at one of the premiere photo schools in the country. Upon opening them she burst into tears of happiness and nearly tackled me with a bear hug that I thought would land me in traction!

Anyways, this year I decide that I would come up with a top ten list of photo gear that any photo student would be happy to get. Given the state of economy, I also decided to keep the selections to under $200. I can’t guarantee you that these items will bring tears of joy, but I’m reasonably certain that these items will bring a hearty smile to just about any photo student’s face, without putting a huge hole in your wallet.

So, here they are, in no particular order. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

#1 Sekonic L-308S Flashmate- Limited Edition- Sekonic is celebrating their 60th Anniversary. For this they have come out with a limited edition version of their very popular compact L-308s Meter @ a very special price. This shirt pocket-sized Sekonic L-308S Flashmate is the smallest and lightest digital light meter in the Sekonic line-up. It is designed to read ambient or flash exposures in either reflected or incident modes, and it displays accurate exposure readings in full, half, or third-stop increments to mirror the exposure settings of today’s DSLR and film cameras. They are available in Red (my personal favorite) Light Green, and Pale Blue @ a student price of $165.

#2 X-Rite ColorChecker Passport- The ColorChecker Passport allows you to quickly and easily capture accurate color, instantly enhance portraits and landscapes, and maintain color control and consistency from capture to edit. It fits easily into your workflow to reduce your image processing time and improve quality control in your Raw workflow by working behind the scenes with Adobe’s Photoshop and Lightroom. Student Priced @ $79

#3 Benro Transfunctional Travel Angel- This is the most “usable” tripod I’ve ever used! It is an ultra compact tripod that also allows you to remove one of its leg for use as a monopod. The tripod folds down to under 19″ and weighs only 3.6 lbs, so it isn’t a drag to take this tripod anywhere! It includes a precision ball head and opens up to a maximum height of 63″ (5.25 ft) and will comfortable hold camera and lenses weighing up to 18 lbs. It includes many features and Includes carry case and shoulder strap. Student Priced @ only $189

#4 Tenba Messenger Medium Camera Bag- The Tenba Messenger Camera Bag is my personal favorite. It easily handles a pro type body, at least 2-3 lenses, speedlight, and a LOT of accessories! It is a classic, fast-moving, and body hugging design preferred by the world’s best photojournalists for years. Lightweight yet protective, everything within fast, easy reach. Customizable interior, loads of accessory pockets, and exclusive, innovative features geared to the real-world needs of the working pro. Available in Black, Burnt Orange, and Olive. Student priced @ $105.50

#5 Capture One Software- Capture One Pro 6 is a professional RAW converter and image editing software. Its powerful and intuitive toolset is used by professional photographers to achieve world-class image quality with excellent color and detail. It is extremely versatile- working with Canon, Nikon, Leaf, Mamiya, Phase One and more! It contains all the essential tools and high-end performance in one package to enable you to capture, organize, edit, share and print images in a fast, flexible and efficient workflow. It also allows you to plug in and shoot “tethered” with many Canon and Nikon Cameras and most digital backs. Capture One Pro 6’s powerful and intuitive toolset is used by professional photographers to achieve world-class image quality with excellent color and detail. Student Priced @ $129. Read More »

Archive

November 1, 2011 by admin

Save up to $150 on Cinevate – Limited-time Fall Specials

Cinevate recently announced some fall rebates, and while normally education purchase (by students, educators, and institutions) aren’t eligible for consumer rebates these are. You can download a rebate form and check out these great savings you can get as a rebate form Cinevate’s Fall Specials in our interactive flipbook:

Archive

September 29, 2011 by Bill Gratton

Nikon lenses on a Canon Body???

Did you know that you can mount Nikon Nikkor lenses on to Canon Bodies? It’s true!!!

Cinevate’s custom-made Nikon to Canon EOS adapter ring will not only allow you to use all existing Nikon lenses on all cameras with the Canon EOS lens mount, but you can also now use the widely popular high-end Zeiss lenses (which have a Nikon lens mount) on the Canon 5Dmkll, while maintaining perfect infinity focus!

Cinevate Canon - Nikon Adapter

Now, the next question is why would you want to?

Well, there are many people who believe that Nikon lenses are better than Canon lenses. But that is personal preferences, and we all have our own strong opinion and I’ll leave you to yours. I’m not here to debate whose lenses are better than whose. However, there is an important physical distinction to make between the Canon and Nikon lenses. The newer Canon lenses lack an aperture ring and often have manual focus that feels like an afterthought. On the other hand, most Nikon lenses have a manual aperture ring and a large sturdy focus ring. More later on why this is important… Read More »

Archive

September 27, 2011 by Bill Gratton

Two New Fall MAC-On-Campus Catalogs Are Now Available

Fall 2011 MOC Photo Catalog

Check it out the new MAC-On-Campus catalog. It’s a real knockout! It is full of the old “standards” and lots of new products as well, including the Ilford Inkjet papers that we now distribute. As always the student discounts are strong. Students (and educators too) can buy ILFORD InkJet Papers from a dealer or the MAC-On-Campus.com website and earn a 20% rebate with the new ILFORD Bucks program. Look for a separate blog post about this later.

Download the Photo Catalog now

Screen shot 2011 09 27 at 4.04.20 PM 232x300 Two New Fall MAC On Campus Catalogs Are Now Available

Fall 2011 MOC Film Makers Catalog

Some of you may have noticed that we’re really getting into film making tools as well, with things like c-stands, camera rigs, sliders, HMI and tungsten lights, and much more! So, there’s also an all new MOC ProVideo or Film Making Catalog also now available. It is action packed! Be sure to let your Video/Film departments know that they too are entitled to BIG discounts.

Download the Film makers Catalog now

If you need a quantity of these printed and sent to you for distribution to your school/students, just let me know and I will make arrangements to do so.

Archive

July 8, 2011 by Bill Gratton

A VERY important update from X-Rite regarding compatibility with MAC OS 10.7 Lion

Are you planning to upgrade your schools computers to Apple’s new OS 10.7 Lion operating system? If so, some planning may be in order. You should be aware that any software program that used Rosetta in Leopard and Snow Leopard will no longer function when you upgrade to Lion.

This will affect many products and programs. This week X-rite announced that some of their more popular color management solutions would be be affected by this, including the popular i1 Photo and 1 Xtreme spectrophotometers, as well as the i1 Display LT and Display 2 colorimeters, and many more. Setting up a work around with a dual boot system on an operating system that will provide support for these programs may not be an ideal solution. X-Rite is providing upgrade paths for you use in evaluating your decision to upgrade to Lion. Obviously we we want you to be able to continue using X-Rite color management solutions and help you understand what path is appropriate for your particular situation.

All upgrade paths are currently available except for “Monitor Only” i1Match users (owners of i1Display LT or i1Display 2). The upgrade path for these customers will be a monitor only module of the new i1Profiler software which recognizes the i1Display 2 colorimeter. Any customer who purchases and registers their i1Display LT or i1Display 2 solution from January 1, 2011 will be eligible for a free update. All purchases prior to 2011 will be charged a nominal fee.

If you own an i1Display LT or i1Display 2 and would like to be notified when this software is available CLICK HERE to go to enter your contact information.

The new i1Profiler software, ColorMunki software, and ColorChecker Camera Calibration software does not rely on Rosetta and is completely compatible with Lion.

Click here to see a full chart of the upgrade options for your X-Rite devices

Archive

February 15, 2011 by Bill Gratton

“Lights, Camera, Action!”

With today’s cameras gaining HD video capabilities, and with the HDSLR technology being widely accepted by videographers and cinematographers alike, the MAC Group and MAC-On-Campus are getting into the HDSLR video market in a big way!

We recently entered into agreements with two new manufacturers- Cinevate and Ruige. In addition to this, Profoto has expanded their options to include a couple of continuous light sources, both tungsten and HMI in their ProTungsten Air and ProDaylight lights. Both of which will use most of Profoto’s versatile light shapers, plus the brand new Cine Reflector and all of its accessories.

CINEVATE’s motto is “to equip filmmakers with the optimal tools to achieve their creative goals”. They produce some of the finest machined tools for today’s cinematographers and HDSLR shooters. These tools include “rails” or “Linear Tracking systems”, Camera rigs, focus pullers, Matteboxes, Nikon to Canon lens adapters, and much, much more! Get more info check out there website, http://www.cinevate.com/website/index.php/products

Screen shot 2011 02 15 at 1.06.14 PM 300x203 Lights, Camera, Action!

Cinevate HDSLR Core Rig

RUIGE is the #1 broadcast/production monitor in the Asian market. They are dedicated to designing and manufacturing high quality professional and broadcast LCD monitors. Their portable on-camera (4.8” & 7”) field monitors are beautiful, with several models offering the HD-SDI Input/output “pass through” capability, useful if you need multiple monitors on set, They also offer rack-mount monitors, desktop monitors, jib monitors and more.

Screen shot 2011 02 15 at 1.15.39 PM 300x271 Lights, Camera, Action!

Ruige TL-480HDB 4.8" Field Monitor

All of these products are available now, or will be in the very near future. Of course there will be educational pricing available for all of these products. Stay tuned for more info. If you can’t wait, get in touch with your regional MAC Group Rep or myself ASAP.

Archive

August 26, 2010 by Bill Gratton

“Holy Batpac Robin! You mean we can shoot the Joker outside of the Bat Cave!?!?”

Conjuring up visions of one of our favorite super heroes, late last spring Profoto announced a new product called the “Batpac”. And after you read about what it can do you might think that this super hero might be able to help you out of a jam or two.

So much “studio” work is now done on location, and often power sources can be a real issue. So, the new Batpac is designed to power studio strobes and other devices out on location. It has two electrical outlets and can power up to four monoblock heads, or a 2400Ws powerpack (see Profoto Website for details) But the BatPac isn’t just for powering your lighting. It can also operate as a power inverter to juice up your laptop, camera batteries, and other essentials like your phone, wind or fog machines, etc… Very versatile!

Profoto’s also built in safety and stability functions that control overvoltage, temperature, and low battery voltage to prevent damage to the BatPac and connected flash units.

The versatile BatPac is essentially built into a easy to transport back pack and has a built-in shoulder strap and harness to provide the necessary support.

The Batpac (cat# 901-124 ) has an educationally discounted price of $1258 and is available through your local Profoto dealer or www.MAC-On-Campus.com

Check out the video. In my opinion it is a little “cheesy” but it does show the versatility of the pack (especially toward the end)

Profoto Presents: The BatPac-Portable Power Source

Screen shot 2010 08 26 at 4.03.00 PM 300x168 Holy Batpac Robin! You mean we can shoot the Joker outside of the Bat Cave!?!?

May 2013
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
« Aug
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31