Upgrading to Photoshop CS6 while you still can (video)

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Adobe rolled out the new Creative Cloud (CC) service today. If you are a long-time Photoshop user, as I am, this new service eliminates a perpetual-use license for Photoshop. I purchased Adobe Creative Suite CS6 last year and I plan on using it for at least another year. If you have Photoshop CS5, you can still get the $199 upgrade price to a full version of Photoshop CS6 for a short time.

To do this, you need to go to Adobe’s website, as authorized resellers are not able to offer the upgrade pricing. However, Adobe has hidden the upgrade pricing (probably to entice you over to the CC product), so I made a quick video showing just how you can get CS6 at the upgrade price:

The reason I’m sticking with CS6 (for now) is simple. I already paid for it. While I’m sure there are many nice things in Photoshop CC, I really don’t need them. I’m using Lightroom 5 (which I strongly recommend at $149 full / $79 upgrade) as a perpetual-use license. That gives me ACR 8.1 (also updated to work in Photoshop CS6). Frankly, the number of new features in Photoshop just doesn’t appeal to me right now. I use Photoshop for layer blending, textures, and smart objects for my Nik Collection plug-ins. Even at the introductory price, buying into the Creative Cloud model today means I’m stuck in it forever… stop paying and your software deactivates. I’ll reconsider this decision next year and save for now. Even though CS6 users get the first year of software for $19.99 per month, that’s $239 I can spend on other things this year. Hopefully, Adobe will offer different pricing plans in the future that better fit the needs of Photographers.

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Photo of the Day: Look to the East (with free Color Efex Pro Preset)

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Sunrise at Conata Basin, Badlands National Park, SD. HDR image captured with a Nikon D800e and processed with the Nik Collection.

Sunrise at Conata Basin, Badlands National Park, SD. HDR image captured with a Nikon D800e and processed with the Nik Collection.

This is a sunrise image from my recent trip to the South Dakota Badlands. It’s a typical scenario at sunrise: pretty clouds and a back-lit foreground. I captured a standard ±2EV bracketed exposure series with the Nikon D800e (5-shots), and then processed the image in the Nik Collection (discount here). Continue reading →

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Nikon 1 firmware update adds continuous servo focus with FT-1

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While I was on photo safari, Nikon quietly released a round of updates for the Nikon 1 bodies and FT-1 F-mount adapter. By upgrading both camera and FT-1 firmware, you can now use continuous servo focus (AF-C) with F-mount Nikkor lenses on your Nikon 1 body. You are still limited to the center AF-point with the FT-1, but this is a big improvement in usability. For example, put a 70-300mm AFS VR Nikkor on the FT-1 and you have an effective 189-810mm VR lens! Perfect for casual telephoto work where you want lots of reach!

Important Note: If you have the Nikon 1 V2, make sure you update its firmware to version 1.10A/B before you attempt to update the FT-1 firmware. Otherwise, the FT-1 will not be properly updated.

Nikon 1 Firmware Update Page (Nikon USA)

Deals on Nikon 1 cameras and lenses from site sponsor B&H Photo

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