I think Zoner Photo Studio is regretting their decision to emulate Adobe's 'rent our software' business model.
Just got a newsletter email that they're offering 8 months free. No sale, ZPS! Told you, if you decide to have a standalone version, fine, but I do NOT rent software.
And for the most part, I will have to say it's passed with flying colors.
It isn't made for sports or fast action photography, or wildlife photography, but you know something? I was able to track and photograph birds flying overhead, with amazing accuracy. With the high speed continuous shutter not being as loud as its' predecessor, it can be used for wildlife photography without scaring away your subjects, most of the time (there are always some that are camera shy).
Over the weekend, I used the 5D4 at the Perth Zoo (not many moving subjects) and at Herdsman Lake, in Selby, where there were a lot of moving subjects.
Perth Zoo:
Silver Gull doing a flyby - The AF tracking kept the gull in focus
AF focusing, AI Servo mode, kept the dragonfly, in flight, in focus.
Auto ISO works a treat, and the new sensor; even in shady conditions, you don't get excessive noise.
Details, sharpness and better dynamic resolution.
Herdsman Lake:
AI Servo Auto Focus Tracking keeps the running Purple Swamphen in focus.
Tracking a Kite overhead, the 5D4 kept the subject in focus.
Nankeen Night Heron coming in for a landing.
Straight from camera, the dynamic range is heads and shoulder above the 5D4's previous incarnations.
To sum up: it's not just a few extra tweaks or a new coat of paint. Many of the above shots I would not have been able to do with the 5D3. Not saying the 5D3 is a bad camera, but it's successor is just that much better.
No longer will you be saddled with Adobe Camera Raw popup telling your version of Photoshop that the file format is unknown.
To use it as a plugin for photoshop you do need version C6 and above.
That being typed, make sure you already have your earlier version of photoshop up and running CS5 (which I did) then On1 Raw 2017 stand alone, do all your edits/adjustments in On1, right click on image and "Send to Photoshop" and it will open as a 16bit PSD with all your edits and adjustments. Not sure if this worked because I have CS6 and Trial CC installed. If so, leave the trial CC installed, and keep using CS5. :D Or just scroll down and select “Send to other application” and select your version of Photoshop, or other photo editing software.
This was just a quick On1 Raw edit, with some tweaks to dynamic contrast, and a bit of sky enhancing.
Remember, one of the biggest reasons people started ‘renting’ Creative Cloud was because of no Camera Raw support for new cameras except for CC. With On1Raw you don't have to worry about having to convert everything over to DNGs, doubling your storage needs (unless you delete the CR2/ORF/RAW etc etc files after converting)
First off, even with the new features and buttons, the Canon 5DmkIV is familiar enough to use straight out of the box. Got things set up, and then read some (not all) of the manual.
4 images, BIRDS ON A STICK! lens correction done, cropped down to main subject for close viewing, no other editing.
The Good
1: Handles higher ISOs wonderfully. I shot these photos at ISO 800, one in direct sunlight, one in partial shading and two in full shade. I didn't run any noise reduction, either in camera or in post. No noise worth mentioning at all.
The Good part II.
2: Sensor is MAD with details! Even in shots #2 and 3 which are in shadow, the fine details in the feathers and on the twigs is clearly visible. Dynamic range is much better than its predecessor.
The good thing this is good because the other is just ok.
3: The high speed continuous shutter speed is a helluva lot quieter in the 5D4 compared to the 5D3 or the 7D2, and faster than the 5D3. This is a good thing, because the low speed silent continuous is slow. And I mean s..l..o..w. That being typed, with the high speed continuous nowhere near as noisy as in previous or different Canon models, it can be used if you need a faster frame rate, but still want to remain rather quiet.
Now, I have only had it for a few hours, reading the manual, setting it up and will have a more detailed review after some serious use.
Ziggy had to have two infected teeth removed. Since she is a raw meat eater, Dr Dinesh said that would be better for her, as he gums would be sore.... and asked if it was possible to warm it first. I looked at him and said "We always warm it." (Power level 3, 20 seconds in the microwave)
She's not overly happy with us, as we have to medicate her twice a day (One dose of anti-inflammatory, two doses of antibiotic). Wing does the morning dosages with me (anti inflammatory, one antibiotic) , and Alan helps me with the second antibiotic dose. Best thing is to swaddle her in a huge, thick towel right up to her ears so she can't squirm away. She fights longer than it takes to give her the damned doses!
Just have to remember to feed her warmed raw meat at least twice a day. Don't want her trying to eat kibble.
Tested some other plugins - PTLens Correction by PaperPress, causes the program to shut down without an error message. Same applies to DxO ViewPoint2 and FilmPack. Anthropics Tech Portrait Professional works.
A few follow ups about NIK software; Yes, it does work, with a few caveats. You lose the Brush features with Viveza and Define. You also can't 'save recipes' with ColorEfex Pro 4. Also, with Viveza 2, the colors of your image in the 'preview' window won't look correct on the entire, unless you zoom to at least 33%, but are correct in the 'thumbnail' window.
There are known 'glitches' when NIK is used with other 'non-Adobe' photo editors.
Since ZonerPhoto went rental, I have been on the look out for a new, GOOD, alternative to Photoshop. I found one. Affinty Photo. It has been available for Mac users, but they have now come out with a Windows version, and I have to say, I like it. A lot!
So far, once I figured out that they wouldn't work on CR2/ORF/RAW or other raw files, I exported image as a JPG. So far, I have gotten good results with Nik Viveza 2, Define 2, Color Efex Pro 4, HDR Efex Pro 2, Silver Efex Pro 2, Topaz Labs, and Focus Magic. Alien Skin plugins have issues with Pixel transparency, Piccure and Piccure Plus just don't start, and neither do Redfield plugins. And it doesn't even see any of my OnOne/On1 plugins. Oh well, proprietary software can be something of a boondoggle, yes?
Many of these haven't been tested by Affinity programmers, but I thought I would give them a try.
Many of the 'native' filters and tools amazing. It has some features and tools that Photoshop/Lightroom do not have (or if they do, I haven't found them)
Overall, I am rather impressed.
Ziggy is at the vet as we are trying to figure out why her left nostril is a 'snot rocket'. I can use a Nehti pot to flush my sinuses out, but one can't do that do a conscious cat. Not unless one wants a lot of scratches and other injuries. So, anesthesia, X-Ray, flush sinuses, swab detritis for tests, blood tests to see if there is any underlying viral issue causing the recurring infection.
I get a phone call from the vet, that Ziggy has two infected back teeth and they have to come out (and yes, I think that might be the reason for the sinus infection, but will see later when we talk to the vet.
So, hit with "This will add another $350 on the vet bill for dental extraction." *sigh* Give the ok because we do have pet insurance, and if we have the vet put that it was an oral infection, not dental scaling for cosmetic reasons, there is a good chance at least part of it might be covered for rebate, but we still have to pay it out first.
What do I find in the mail box today? A refund check for Ziggy's LAST vet visit for $206. At least that will mitigate some of the pay out.
Ziggy, like I, have been hammered by allergies due to controlled burn-offs.
Problem is getting her medication into her. She is a small cat, but so so strong, it takes two of us to scruff her, hold her, open her mouth to get 1/4 of a pill into her.
As I don't like doing that way all the time, I hid her antihistamine in her meat.. a bit of a pill, about the size of a sesame seed. She ate all the meat all around it, avoiding it.
*sigh* LIGHTBULB!
When she wasn't looking I squished the meat juice soaked piece of pill on my fingertip. Made a noise that made her look at me, then pointed at her, and when she went to sniff, I rubbed it on the inside of her gums.
*slurp slurp* Dirty look.
Mission accomplished!
