Episodes
Sunday Apr 29, 2018
Fotobug - Episode 207 -All About Beanbags!
Sunday Apr 29, 2018
Sunday Apr 29, 2018
Before we tell you all there is to know about beanbags, there was more photographic news in the last couple of weeks!
Chinese company Xiaomi may purchase GoPro. Details on the potential buy-out are sparse at this point, but a report claims the deal could be worth as much as $1 billion. One of the weirdest copyright cases in the history of photography is finally over. The courts have sided with photographer David Slater and rejected PETA's claim that the monkey who took the infamous selfie has any claim over the photograph's copyright. Skylum Software has released the latest update to its image processing software Luminar. The large-format digital LargeSense LS911 is the "world's first 8x10 digital single shot camera for sale and will set you back $106,000!! Gopro will now accept any old digital camera for trade-in. The program first launched last year, but only as a temporary promotion limited to previous-generation GoPro cameras. SmugMug has acquired struggling photography site Flickr. DxO Labs has filed the initial proceedings to start the bankruptcy process in France. The latest update to Lightroom Classic CC brought with it a slew of major bugs, including some that would cause the program to crash. For more details and more, check out the podcast.
Beanbags - what are they good for? Well, be sure to check out this week's podcast as Fred and Jim will tell you everything there is to know about Beanbags, including field uses and even the best things to use as fill material - pros and cons! Please also check out the new Fotobug YouTube channel for this video and lots more - please subscribe so that we can add a lot more new material including previous videos from The Fotobug vault. If you would like to purchase your own beanbag, please check out Rob Daugherty's website, The Vest Guy, to buy the beanbags that Fred and Jim used in this podcast. Thanks to Rob for providing us with these great bags! https://thevestguy.com/
Also, EMS Photo Adventures still has a couple spots open for the Colorado Dude Ranch workshop in Colorado led by Pulitzer Prize winning photographer, Essdras Suarez - just prior to the Black Hill Photo Shootout - this would be a great combination! http://emsphotoadventures.com/
Sunday Mar 18, 2018
Fotobug - Episode 204 - Litra Vs Lume Cube Light
Sunday Mar 18, 2018
Sunday Mar 18, 2018
Be sure to watch the podcast for full details on current news in photography!
The President of Canon Marketing confirmed that Canon is willing to cannabilize DSLR sales to invest in the "growth market" of mirrorless cameras. A photographer ordered a $6000 camera on Amazon and first received a box of rocks, then a box of bricks! According to Japan Camera Hunter, Agfa Vista color film is no longer being produced. A new Kickstarter project called "I'm Back" is attempting to create a digital back for older 35mm film cameras. Finally, Adobe is raising the price of some Creative Cloud subscription packages.
In the current podcast, Jim and Fred compare the pluses and minuses of the Litra LED light versus the Lume Cube LED light. The lights look very similiar, but there are some important differences and hopefully this podcast will help you to decide which is best for you. In addition, Hunts Photo is offering a whopping $20 discount on the new Litra LED light! To take advantage of this discount (which won't last forever!) - CLICK HERE FOR $20 DISCOUNT
Be sure to let Hunts know that you are a fan of The Fotobug!
Also, be one of the first to subscribe to the new Fotobug YouTube channel where we will be posting extended versions of our reviews, interviews and how-tos.
Plan to attend the Black Hills Photo Shootout coiming up this September in South Dakota where you can meeti The Fotobug guys in person!
Sunday Mar 04, 2018
Fotobug - Episode 203 - Canon 80D
Sunday Mar 04, 2018
Sunday Mar 04, 2018
More news in the world of photography! Tune into the podcast for complete details. You may be violating copyright laws if you are posting images other than your own on Twitter. Sony has created a 1.45MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor with a global shutter. Really Right Stuff is relocating from California to Utah. Kodak Alaris is bringing back T-Max B&w film. Prograde digital is a new memory card founded by former executive and engineers from Lexar which was closed my Micron. 500PX has been acquired by Visual China Group. Finally - if you like Eneloop batteries, consider the Ladda batteries by Ikea which may be the same batteries, but are a lot cheaper!
Fred recently purchased the Canon 80D and discusses the pros and cons of his new camera with Jim including some issues using the camera with third party lenses such as Sigma and Tamron.
Keep the end of September on your calendars for the 9th annual Black Hills Photo Shootout coming up in South Dakota! The Fotobug guys will be there once again - but don't let that keep you away! Check the website at www.thephotoshootout.com for complete information!
Sunday Feb 04, 2018
Fotobug - Episode 201 - Instamic Review
Sunday Feb 04, 2018
Sunday Feb 04, 2018
In recent news, Zion National Park clarifies it's tripod ban. Tripods are only banned on certain trails only. Velbon will distribute the Chairpod HY 127 in the United States for $180. The US Copyright office will soon allow images to be uploaded for copyright protection - 750 images for $55. Reuters has been banned from the Olympic Opening Ceremonies due to a photographer who leaked photos. That photographer has been banned from the games. Director Steve Soderbergh is shooting his movie Unsane entirely on the iPhone. For more news and details, watch the podcast!
Jim and Fred interviewed the creator of the Indiegogo project Instamic a few episodes back and now that they have had a chance to use them for several interviews, they are present their opinions. The Instamics will soon be available commercially, but the Pro model can still be purchased on Indiegogo! If you use the video feature on your camera, we can recommend the new Instamic!
Sunday Nov 12, 2017
Fotobug - Episode 195 - Alpine Labs Spark, First Look
Sunday Nov 12, 2017
Sunday Nov 12, 2017
In recent photo news, the Pholio Kickstarter hard drvie can connect to a PC, Mac, tablet or smartphone and will automatically search and backup all images and videos. Irix is introducing a new filter system that is suitable for wide-angle lenses with large front optics. The FAA is now recommending that all airlines ban electronics that contain lithium ion batteries from checked bags. The Pixnetu jacksets on Kickstarter allow you to keep your gear warm and dry. The WiBotic PowerPad is a 3' x 3' landing pad for drones and is also a wireless charger! Macphun is changing their name to Skylum. Watch the podcast for more information on these and other news items!
Alpine Labs has conducted a number of successful campaigns on Indiegogo and Kickstarter including the Radian, Radian II, Pulse and now the Spark! Spark is a camera trigger that will work with a number of camera brands. It can trigger the camera via IR (Infrared), via cable, or from a blue-tooth connected app on your smartphone. Jim and Fred take a first look at the new Spark and plan to do a complete review in the near future.
Coming up next time: how to process light painting images using a stacking technique in Photoshop!
Sunday Oct 01, 2017
Fotobug - Episode 192 - Review - Zhiyun Smooth Q
Sunday Oct 01, 2017
Sunday Oct 01, 2017
Jim and Fred are presently conducting photo workshops at The Black Hills Photo Shootout in South Dakota, so no news this time!
Gimbals are one of the latest devices for filmmakers to capture smooth motion video - even with a smartphone! The technology is the same as used on UAVs (otherwise known as drones) to keep the camera steady. Zhiyun has been making gimbals for the past couple of years - even larger gimbals for mirrorless cameras and DSLRs. The Smooth Q is their latest, and also the least expensive on the market, and works with sports cameras as well as smartphones. In addtion, there is an app for the Smooth Q for both Android and Apple devices.
So just how well does the 3-axis Smooth Q work? Well, check out the podcast and find out what Jim and Fred think.
Sunday Sep 17, 2017
Fotobug - Episode 191 - Review - Lume Cube
Sunday Sep 17, 2017
Sunday Sep 17, 2017
Welcome to the Fotobug Podcast! In recent news, DJI has released an update to the Mavic Pro called Mavic Pro Platinum. The Lily Drone has been reserected by the Mota Group who plan to offer the UAV for $500. The Photonicz One will be the world's first weather-sealed LED strobe light, if it can get funded on Kickstarter SanDisk has announced the a new 400Gb SDXC card. Longsys, a Chinese company, has officially acquired the Lexar trademark from Micron. A police officer shot a photo journalist, believeing the camera was a gun. Even more news and more information on the podcast!
Fred and Jim examine and review Lume Cube - a portable LED lighting unit that is good for up to 100' underwater, has 10 constant light levels from 150 to 1500 lumens and also has a flash mode. Combined with the IOS or Android app, the lights have even more tricks! Just how do they work and what is the concensus of The Fotobug? Tune in and find out! Please comment with your own experience if you have used Lume Cube.
This may be your last chance to register for The Black Hills Photo Shootout for Sept 30-31, Oct 1. Registration available at www.thephotoshootout.com. Hope to see hou there!
Sunday Sep 03, 2017
Fotobug - Episode 190 - Review - Platypod Ultra
Sunday Sep 03, 2017
Sunday Sep 03, 2017
Welcome to the next Fotobug Podcast! In recent news, if you own a DJI Spark, DJI just released a firmware upgrade, and if you don't upgrade, your Spark won't fly! This is a safety feature as some Sparks have been known to shut off while flying. Need more image storage? Western Digital's Duo external now comes in a RAID optimized drive up to 20TB for about $800. Shutterstock has thwarted Google's AI program which removed watermarks from stock images. FOQUS has released a new 100% Russian made B&W film. FInally, if you need some extra cash, DJI will pay $100 - $30,000 for anyone who finds bug vulnerabilities in its software for drones.
The Platypod Ultra is the latest, and smallest, Platypod, so Jim and Fred take it out and put it through its paces. Be sure to watch to learn what The Fotobug guys thing of the latest Ultrapod. You can pick one up for $59 and the accessory pack is only $29. As always, we appreciate your comments and experience with the Platypod.
Coming up at the end of September is the Black Hills Photo Shootout and this is your last chance to register - www.thephotoshootout.com. We hope to see you there!
Sunday Jul 23, 2017
Fotobug - Episode 187 - Review - Zen Tilt
Sunday Jul 23, 2017
Sunday Jul 23, 2017
Lots of news in Photography! The courts have ruled the FAA can't impose registration on hobbyists! If you registered your small drone with the FAA back in 2015, but don't intend to use it for commercial purposes, you're entitled to a registration refund. A crisp $5 bill, straight from the US government into your pocket. ood news if you are a Panono backer. Troubled tech company Panono and their odd 360° ball camera will live on to shoot another day. The investment company that purchased the Panono brand says it will continue all services 'without disruption'. David Slater's viral 'monkey selfies' made him famous, but the legal battles over who actually owns the photos—him or the macaque who pressed the shutter—has left him broke and dejected. Massive corporation P&G is being sued by a Cincinnati photographer for serious copyright violations and P&G could end up paying $75 million! Tune in to the podcast to learn how scammers have been ripping off photographers in Los Angeles!
Jim and Fred have finally completed working with the Zen Tilt and are ready to give it a full review. The Zen Tilt is available online and is even available now on Amazon for $24. A couple of our listeners weighed in when we posted a quick overview of the product, but now here is a full review - warts and all! Jim and Fred would love to hear from you on Facebook if you have used the product and tell us what you think!
Coming up here shortly - the Black Hills Photo Shootout in Spearfish, South Dakota - www.thephotoshootout.com to pre-register. We hope to see you there!
Stay tuned as Jim and Fred will have a lot more reviews coming up in future episodes!
Sunday Jun 25, 2017
Fotobug - Episode 185 - First Look - Zen Tilt!
Sunday Jun 25, 2017
Sunday Jun 25, 2017
You may have seen the ads for the Zen Tilt on Facebook or the Internet. Fred and Jim decided to spring for one and see if it really lives up to the hype! This podcast will be a bit shorter as Jim is leaving for a photo workshop in Ecuador and Fred is going to take a little time off, but we didn't want to leave our viewers without something to hold them over! As we just received the Zen Tilt, this is not really a review, but rather a first look at the device. Jim and Fred plan to use for the next few weeks and will do a complete review in the near future.
Please pay attention to the audio on this podcast as it was recorded with 2 new Instamics - an Indiegogo project that has had considerable delays, but judging by the audio quality and ease of use, the wait has been worth it. The devices record audio internally with built-in microphones and can be controlled over blue-tooth by smart phone apps. The inventor of the Instamic has agreed to do an upcoming interview with the Fotobug and will be featured in an upcoming podcast!
Finally, don't forget about the Black Hills Photo Shootout coming up at the end of September. Go to www.thephotoshootout.com to pre-register!