Robert’s Photography Blog

Tamron Co. Ltd has issued press releases simultaneously in Japan and in the USA to announce a new 15X zoom lens with built-in vibration compensation. Mounts will be available for Canon and Nikon (with built-in motor) digital SLR cameras.

The Tamron AF18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO Lens (Model B003) is the first digital SLR lens with vibration compensation (VC) that delivers a zoom ratio of 15X (28-419mm equivalent). The lens was designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras with APS-C sized image sensors¹.

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Have you ever wondered if anyone is passing your images off as their own? Or, could someone even be using your images commercially without your permission? Up until now, it has not been easy to find out.

So when I heard about TinEye, I was eager to sign up. Using a sophisticated algorithm TinEye creates a digital fingerprint from the image and searches for a match in its database of pre-indexed images. Currently their database comprises 702 million images, a fraction of all the images on the web, but the database is growing rapidly.

Using TinEye is a breeze. Simply upload an image, paste a url or, using the handy Firefox or Internet Explorer plug-ins, it’s as easy as a right-click on the image and selecting ‘search TinEye’. When a match is found, the results are impressive to say the least. Since matching is based on pattern recognition TinEye is successful in identifying not only exact copies but also images that have been significantly manipulated, including cropping, re-sizing, skewing, adjusting color, superimposing text, to name a few. TinEye is owned by Idée Inc. Their website has some excellent examples showing successful matches of heavily manipulated images.

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The definitive guide to the Canon EOS 40D has just been released by Rocky Nook Inc. According to the press release: “Get the full 40D-Experience with this book. Learn to master this magnificent camera, and learn it the photographer’s way; from the basics of exposure and metering to focus modes, live view, bracketing, continuous shooting, and flash photography. Also learn how to set up your camera menus for different shooting situations, and see the outstanding images that can be achieved with these settings”.

The book was written by Dr. Artur Landt, one of Germany’s most prolific authors of camera books with over 30 titles to his credit. He is a well-known journalist reporting on new developments in the field of photography and imaging, and he contributed a section on photographic techniques to the new edition of Germany’s prestigious Brockhaus Encyclopedia.

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As expected with last month’s announcement of the EOS 1000D from Canon Europe, Canon USA has announced the EOS Rebel XS. The name ‘EOS Rebel XS’ is used in the Canon press release. Once the camera reaches retails stores, the name will change to the more simple ‘Canon Rebel XS’.

Confused with names? The new Rebel XS replaces the Rebel XTi at the bottom of Canon’s dSLR line. It retains the 10MP CMOS sensor and 2.5-inch LCD while using the same body as the 12MP Rebel XSi.

The features and specifications are the same as in the new EOS 1000D. I will repeat them here anyway.

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