Shenzhen, May 2013 - Aputure is pleased to announce the Battery Grip for the Canon EOS 6D (BP-E13), an excellent tool that can extend your cameras battery life and enable vertical shooting with ease.

The BP-E13 fits perfectly on your Canon 6D. Built to enhance vertical/portrait orientation shooting, it includes a shutter-release button, AF Start button, and AE-Lock/FE-Lock button. It can hold one or two LP-E6 lithium batteries or 8 AA batteries. Long battery life and easy vertical shooting is the name of the game with the BP-D14 in hand.

Whatever you get with Canon’s battery grip, you get with the Aputure Battery Grip, at a much more attractive price.

Main Features

• Double camera’s battery life
• Works the same as original
• Smooth and stable handling
• Uses lithium or AA batteries
• Enables vertical shooting
• Tripod mountable

Specifications:

• Compatibility: Canon EOS 6D
• Dimension: 145.6 x 111.3 x 85.3mm
• Total weight: 285g
• Color: Black

Contains: 

• Battery Grip for Canon EOS 6D x1
• Battery Holder for 6 AA batteries x1
• Battery Holder for 2 LP-E6 x1
• Manual x1
• Guarantee Card x1

Remember the new rules for 2013: your votes will count for 50% and ours will too. The winner gets $50 of free shwag from the Aputure store.

Please take a look at the images and vote for your favorite 2 shots at the bottom of the page. 

Good luck to all the contestants!

Ontological Dynamism © Wilson Hurst

The Stars © KAKA

Spinning © DJ BP

Splash Art © Joe Dyer

Hot Apple © Satish Chelluri

Shenzhen, May 2013 – Aputure is pleased to announce yet another new LED video light…Amaran AL-528C.

Amaran 528C is the ultimate LED video light that allows you to conquer tricky white balance situations. It features color temperature control, strong and steady light, manual brightness, and uses PWM technology to decrease power dissipation. It is expandable for maximum brightness, small for easy portability, and has an efficient dual power supply system. Use Amaran 528 to get the same professional lighting seen on TV and Hollywood.

Functions

• Stepless color temperature control
• Manual brightness control
• Color temperature display
• Digital brightness display
• Charges batteries when powered by AC
• Double power supply system
• Battery power indicator

Properties

• High color rendering LEDs (Ra>85)
• Long lifespan and steady light
• PWM technology for low power consumption
• High efficiency, energy saving bulbs
• Efficient heat dissipation

Design

• Slim design (like an iPad)
• Universal lamp bracket
• White diffusing filter and orange warming filter (3200K)
• Light for handheld use
• Carrying case included

Aputure  has taken part in PhotoWorld-Dubai last month, making a commitment to the Middle East. It was a successful, and we look forward to serving the needs of photographers in the region for years to come. Here are a few pictures from the show…

Aputure Booth in Dubai

Aputure Booth in Dubai

Amaran 528S has 528 LEDs, the ultimate LED video light that gives you spot lighting. It features strong and steady light, manual brightness control, and uses PWM technology to decrease power dissipation. It is expandable for maximum brightness, small for easy portability, and has an efficient dual power supply system. Use Amaran 528S to get the same professional lighting seen on TV and Hollywood.

Functions

• Spot lighting
• Digital brightness display
• Brightness wheel
• Charges batteries when powered by AC
• Double power supply system
• Battery power indicator

Properties

• High color rendering LEDs (Ra>85)
• Long lifespan and steady light
• PWM technology for low power consumption
• High efficiency, energy saving bulbs
• Efficient heat dissipation

Design

• Slim design (like an iPad)
• Universal lamp bracket
• White diffusing filter and orange warming filter (3200K)
• Light for handheld use
• Carrying case included

Strong spot lighting effects.

Same general size as an iPad.

Back panel, boasting two lithium batteries.

After 3 years of running the blog, we’ve decided to get with the times and install DISQUS for a better commenting experience. We also encourage you to register with Disqus.

You have a central dashboard to manage all comments, and since many sites around the net use Disqus, you’ll be able to see all of your comments from multiple sites under one hood. Big photography sites that use Disqus include fstoppers, and mega-sites such as CNN, Mashable, etc. It’s a no brainer to register.

Advantages of Disqus:

• Sign in with Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc. 
• Manage comments/replies from one central hub
• Threaded replies for easier understanding
• Attach images/videos to your comments
• Up and downvoting!

Just take a look at how much more beautiful the commenting system is now

Well, who knew a photography studio could be 100% dedicated to food, but outshine nearly all other photo studios out there?

While reading an article on Petapixel about an ad campaign for KFC, I came across the website of an incredibly talented photographer, with an even more impressive studio – Teri Studios.

Check out the pictures below, and click through to his website to see more.

TeriStudios in Cincinnati

The Layout © TeriStudios

The main shooting room © TeriStudios

The Rec Room © TeriStudios

The Prep Room © TeriStudios

The Kitchen © TeriStudios

Take your pic.

It’s been a while since our last comparison of large sensor compacts. But this one will focus on fixed lens variants.

The market has seen a rash of new APS-C compact cameras with fast primes – great news for enthusiast photographers who prefer fast apertures and good image quality that fits in your pocket. Lets have a look at 3 of the latest and most popular models, so you can decide which is best for your needs.

To begin, here’s side-by-side chart with only the things that really matter.

Ricoh GR

First up is the new kid ont he block – the $699 Ricoh GR, a succession to its popular GR digital line. Continuing tradition, it sports a 28mm lens, this time at f/2.8 rather than f/1.9. But don’t worry, with the larger sensor, you get more separation of foreground and background for greater DOF control. One thing that sets this camera apart is the 300 second minimum shutter speed. Even Canon and Nikon don’t offer this in their highest level DSLRs. I think it’s about time they took note. It also incorporates a unique timelapse mode, whereas other cameras must rely on remotes to accomplish the same. If you were eyeing the Coolpix A, you might want to reconsider and look at the GR. If 28mm isn’t exactly your thing, there is a 35mm crop mode which will give you a slightly more “normal” FOV. An exciting new camera, without a doubt.

Nikon Coolpix A

Nikon thought they were making a splash when they introduced the Coolpix A. I mean, a DX sensor in a compact body with a fast 28mm prime lens? Sounds great. Except for the price that is, coming in at $1,099. Nikon’s prized noise performance will certainly be on display here, though lens sharpness appears to be less than satisfactory in this comparison. If you want an optical finder, you’ll have to shuck out an extra $450. Bearing the “Coolpix” moniker, it’s clearly targeted for amateurs and enthusiasts. But will they be willing to shell out so much cash? It’s not usual that I’m so negative in my analysis, but in light of the competition, the A leaves a lot to be desired. Just check the comments on any other website. Cut the price in half, and you’d have a winner. Fat chance.

Fuji X100s

Fuji had a hit with the X100. But there were some niggles. Apparently, they listened to the critics, because just about everyone is saying how great the X100s is. Problems such as unresponsive buttons, bugginess, slow startup, low buffer size, and a basic movie mode were ALL improved upon. You still get the same great 35mm f2 lens, the fastest in the bunch, and Fuji’s signature smooth skin tones and incredible AWB performance in mixed lighting. So what’s it missing? A bunch of scene modes, low rez video modes, and a high rez LCD screen. You can live without em. Oh yeah, and the X100s’ trump card – that incredible hybrid electronic/optical viewfinder. It’s the only camera with a finder in this comparison, and a groundbreaking one at that. The only thing that might hold you back…its’ hefty price tag.

Conclusion

As I see it, you’ve got two distinct choices here – a moderately priced slower 28mm vs a premium priced faster 35mm. The GR is a joy to use with myriad custom options, while the X100s operates more like a traditional film camera, with plenty of knobs, wheels, and dials like cameras of yore. To Fuji’s advantage, it will probably edge out Ricoh on noise performance, you’ll be able to shoot in lower light with the faster lens, and the viewfinder will be a joy to use. To Ricoh’s advantage, it has a nifty 35mm crop mode (two lenses in one), is significantly smaller and lighter, and can shoot for a staggering 300 seconds. Both can sync flash at a mind-blowing 1/2000s, shoot multiple aspect ratios, and fit in your (jacket) pocket.

As I see it, the choice is simple. If you are short of cash and prefer the 28mm FOV, go for the Ricoh without a doubt. If you have deeper pockets and prefer a more normal 35mm FOV, go for the Fuji without hesitation. Both will make incredible street photography tools for the engaged photographer who likes to use their cameras to maximum potential.

Behind the scenes © Jesse Warren

Last weekend, the Aputure Team went on a photoshoot at Lotus Mountain, a popular local landmark/park here in Shenzhen.

About 15 members of our team got together with their cameras in tow, while one of our photographers taught them about various lighting and portraiture techniques.

Our sales manager Berry acted as the model for most of the shots. Here are a few photos from the day.

Berry © Aputure

Berry © Aputure

Berry © Aputure

Berry © Jesse Warren

Berry © Aputure

Flower in Lotus Park © Aputure

It was a perfect time to put our Trigmaster Plus system to use. I used mostly a bunch of old Trigmaster Plus units which I had lying around the studio. I also included one II unit, just to show how easily they work together. I dumped a bunch of the triggers on the table in front of the dancefloor, and it was pretty easy to get pictures thereafter.

The Setup

Camera: Canon 50D + Trigmaster Plus as transceiver.

Flash: Nikon SB700 + Trigmaster Plus II as receiver.

Triggers: 4x Trigmaster Plus units as transmitters.

The Flash + Instructions

The Setup © Ay0 Chan

The Camera + Party People

Wedding Party People © Ayo Chan

The Pictures

(look closely and you will see the triggers in their hands)

Trigger in Hand © Jesse Warren

Seb & Jo © Jesse Warren

Three Dudes © Jesse Warren

The Girls © Jesse Warren

Group Photo © Jesse Warren

Three of a different kind © Jesse Warren

The groom’s parents – confused © Jesse Warren

Wine bottles on the head? Sure. © Jesse Warren