Nikon Digital Photography Talk

I’m quite often asked for a good video software to be used for those videos taken with the Nikon D90. There is a big number of free and paid software, many don’t offer what they promise, others are quite confusing and complicated for the new or average user. Because I do edit videos we shoot at church with other DV cameras, I use SONY VEGAS PRO for my D90 videos. This is a $599 well worth software but there are free alternatives ou there on the web:

WAX:

Wax is a high performance and flexible video compositing and special effects software. The idea for Wax is to be very general purpose and flexible in video compositing and effects, so that you can compose your dream video sequence with ease everytime.

Wax can create 2D & 3D special effects and can work in two modes – as a standalone application which would appeal for home users/beginners, and as a “plug-in” to video editors/NLEs which would be more useful for professional editors. Currently Wax can work as a plug-in with Sony Vegas®, Pure Motion EditStudio and Adobe Premiere® and work for integrating with various other NLEs is in progress.

http://www.debugmode.com/wax/

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APPLE  iMOVIE

This program is very similar to Windwos Movie Maker, it is free with your Mac but if is not in your Mac, you have to pay for it.

http://www.apple.com/ilife/imovie/

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ZWEI STEIN

Zwei-Stein 3.01 is a freeware non-linear, non-destructive video compositing and editing system which offers many advanced features unavailable elsewhere.
With Zwei-Stein you can edit up to 256 video, audio and still image clips, each with up to 64 effects chained serially. Cropping, panning and custom effects are easy with automatic key frames.

http://www.thugsatbay.com/tab/?q=zweistein

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WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER

Chances are that you already have this free program on your computer and you don’t even know it. If you haven’t seen the desktop shortcut, check on your Programs files to find it. I have used it, not bad for a freebie.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/moviemaker2.mspx

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If you know from some other FREE video software worth mentioning, post it in the comments please.

The Nikon COOLPIX P6000 is my camera of choice when I want the best picture quality without totting around a lot of obtrusive weight. My initial thoughts were a mix of feelings, especially after the fact that the new NRW (RAW) format was not Nikon Capture NX2 ready. I have been using native RAW converters since my early digital days, that’s somewhere 2001-2002. With the new compatibility in Nikon Capture NX2 and the ability to process NRW, the whole picture changed. Now I can edit using a combination of NX2 and final touches with my choice of Photoshop Elements 7 or CS2.

Check this 100% crop after sharpening with NX2

Yesterday I was in a school fieldtrip with my son to the St. Croix River between Minnesota and Wisconsin.

More pictures here-»

Yes, the infamous CHA error has attacked my Nikon D90 twice since I got the camera last Fall. I have been using the camera with Lexar’s SD HC 4 and 8GB without a glitch all this time. Fortunately for me I have had the ‘CHA’ error while making adjustments on the camera. What I have noticed, the Nikon D90 might be too tight for the card when sliding it in. As a result, the safety lock that prevents your card from being accidentally erased, might slide to the center where it isn’t locked or unlocked. A have several Lexar SD cards for my cameras and I have glued the locking slider with Super Glue. So far so good.

Seems like this Nikon compact is not very friendly with the HOYA IR72 Infrared filter. I had to try it recently but all pictures turned out with a white circle in the middle of the pictures. Along I’m providing a sample infrared picture with the P6000.

This camera could be around the corner and available faster than we think. Shortly after the release of the Nikon D3, Nikon made available the D700. With Canon selling the new 5D MK-II like hotcakes, it is time for Nikon to say ”me too”.  Seems like at least in terms of Mega Pixels, Canon is on the lead again in this segment, heck, even folks without previous digital or format knowledge are buying the new Canon 5D MK-II. Lets just hope a new full frame lens is brought by Nikon as a kit to the Nikon D700x. A new Nikon 24-120 F/4 AF-S would be a nice addition to the line while it will make the new camera more appealing.