Welcome! I hope you enjoy the new Newsletter design. I was hoping to give a nicer look since you've had to wait so long for this edition. As always, I hope that you find this edition of the newsletter useful. If you have any comments, suggestions or would like us to include your upcoming event, simply reply to the E-mail. Be sure to check out the newsletter archive for past issues and the Events section for upcoming photo related events.
Your Help is Needed. Please send us your Photography questions (Film or Digital) or your ideas for upcoming newsletter articles. E-mail edavis@adray.com and ask your question or make your suggestion.
Rebates Are Here!
Have you put off purchasing a large format printer? Now is the time to make the leap. Canon is offering a $150 mail-in rebate on the Pixma Pro 9500 printer. You can also save $100 on the Pixma Pro 9000 printer. Both of these printers can print up to 13x19 inches. Don't print big? Then check out the Pixma MP970 which prints up to 8.5x11 inches but also scans documents and 35mm film without a computer! If you also need a new DSLR, you can increase your rebate to $200 when you also buy an EOS 40D, 5D, 1d Mk III or 1Ds Mk III. Click HERE to see the details.
Also, Canon's instant rebates (read, nothing to mail-in) has been extended until February 17, so there's still time to cash in on new lenses. The rebates are instant and will be taken off of your total at the time of purchase. No UPC codes to cut off and nothing to mail in - no waiting. Fifteen lenses and the 580EX II flash are included in the deal. Click HERE to see the current savings.
Are You Worried About Archiving Your Images?
If you're like most people, you are concerned about archiving your images for the future. In the good ol' days, you simply kept your negatives in a safe place and had nothing more to worry about. However, in the digital age, your "shoebox" of negatives is usually found on your computer's hard drive.
Keeping your images on your hard drive can be a risky proposition. Hard drives fail, plain and simple. A hard drive is designed to work for quite some time, but the can fail, leaving you without any of your images. Image recovery can also be very expensive. Data Recovery Group in Southfield, Michigan can recover most data, but at a fee. This fee is usually well worth it, since replacing the memories can be priceless, and the company has an excellent reputation.
Some people choose to burn CD's and DVD's of each memory card. This can be a great solution, if you can keep track of your disks. Keep in mind that CD's and DVD's don't last forever, and it is advisable that you invest in some of the high quality disks that promise 100 years of storage. Most good photo retailers will provide you with a copy of your images on a CD for a nominal fee, and this will suffice for your lifetime.
Others simply purchase new memory cards and leave the images on the old memory card. Although this process can be more expensive than other options, it is far from ideal. A memory card is not designed for long term storage and can corrupt the date in very little time.
What is one to do? The best advice after researching the issue extensively is to make multiple copies of your images and other data for that matter in multiple locations. For example, you could make a CD copy of your pictures when you go to the photo kiosk and leave a copy on your computer's hard drive. This is a good solution. Since the hard drive can fail, you'll have a backup copy on your CD's. If you lose your CD's or if they're damaged, you'll have the hard drive backup. Here at Adray's, we can do the work for you while you wait and make a CD of your memory card for $5.99 per CD. Keep in mind that some memory cards will require more than one CD. I would also recommend that you leave a copy on your computer's hard drive also.
What do I do? I follow the multiple copy theory. I make CD's of my images to distribute to family and friends, and at the same time I make a CD for myself. That way I have a copy of my favorites. Also, I leave a copy of the images on my computer's hard drive, and in addition to that, I make a copy onto an external hard drive like the Wolverine 80GB portable drive. I like the Wolverine drive because it is simple, low cost, small, and reliable. Click HERE to check out the drive.
Troy Store Closing = Huge Savings!
In order to make the move easy on us, we're hoping to sell everything in the store rather than move it back to Dearborn. We will be offering everything at Huge Discounts at the Troy store only. Filters for 30% off, Gadget Bags at up to 40% off. Click HERE (Large PDF) to see the Savings. Purchase with confidence since Adray's in Dearborn will handle any of your after the sale support issues.
Click HERE to see the Caddy
Check out the NEW Hildozine Transmitter Caddy. This is a must have for all PocketWizard owners who need a slick solution for holding the transmitters and receivers in place. No longer will you need to leave your expensive receiver dangling from your light stand. A sure fire (ha ha) way to protect your investment. Compatible with both the PocketWizard Plus II Transceiver and the PocketWizard Multimax Transceiver. Click HERE to buy one now for $14.99.
Fun Facts
Did you Know?
onOne Software has released a fabulous new software tool called Liquid Resize. This software allows you to go beyond simply scaling and cropping your photos. Check out the YouTube video below, you will be amazed. If the embedded video doesn't load, you can click HERE to see it on YouTube.
Nikon Offers Instant Rebate on D40
Have you been waiting to jump into a digital SLR camera? Nikon recently announced Instant Savings on the D40 with 18-55 AF-S II Lens. This brings a digital SLR with great lens to less than $500. An excellent value. Click HERE to check it out. This offer ends soon, so act fast.
Click HERE to see the D40
Back By Popular Demand Intermediate Close-Up / Macro Workshop With Mike Moats
Due to the success of the introductory workshop, we've brought Mike back for the intermediate workshop. Mike Moats Nature Photography of Sterling Heights offers numerous Macro Photography workshops in a small class setting. Tickets are available for his next course on Saturday, March 15 from 11-4pm at the Adray Classroom in the Dearborn Store for $69. Personal attention is given to each photographer. In addition to being a Fujifilm Pro Talent Team Member, Mike has been published in Outdoor Photographer and Nature Photography magazines. Don't miss out on your chance to learn from an expert. Visit tinylandscapes.com or call 586-770-3992 to purchase tickets or for more information, class size is limited. For this class you will need to have a Digital SLR camera, 50mm to 200mm macro lens or extension tubes/close-up filter for your standard lens, tripod, know how to set ISO, white balance, F-stops and exposure.
Backlit. Copyright Mike Moats.
Backlit. Copyright Mike Moats.
March 1 & 2, Sat.-Sun. - Nikon School - At the Marriott in Dearborn, Michigan. Click HERE for more information and registration.
March 12, Wednesday 6-8pm - Great Lakes Photo Tours Presents a Nature Photography Seminar - For all of you nature photographers who would like to learn the tricks of the trade. Click HERE to purchase tickets.
March 15, Saturday - Mike Moats' Intermediate Macro Class - Visit tinylandscapes.com or call Mike at 586-770-3992 for details. Pre-registration is a must as class size is limited. Cost is $69.
April 17, 18, & 19, Thurs.-Fri. - Canon Seminar & Sale - Details to follow.
May 2nd & 3rd - Fri.-Sat. - 20th Annual Adray Digital Photo Expo & Sale - Many seminars and sale pricing on everything. Details to follow.
Camera Clubs
Detroit Professional Photographers Association
www.dppa.net
Grosse Pointe Camera Club
grossepointecameraclub.org
Livonia Camera Club
livoniacameraclub.com
Metro-Detroit Photography Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/detroitphoto/
Motor City Camera Club - Detroit
motorcitycameraclub.com/
Negative Exposure Camera Club
Sheryl Eberhardt
PO Box 23
New Boston, Mi. 48164
(734) 735-0788
The Photographic Guild - Southfield
thephotoguild.org/
Toledo Camera Club
toledocameraclub.com
Windsor Camera Club - Ontario
windsorcameraclub.com
Store Locations and Hours
Adray Appliance Photo & Sound Center
20219 Carlysle
Dearborn, Mi. 48124
(313) 274-9500
Monday - Saturday 10am - 9pm, Closed Sunday
Adray Camera Troy (Cameras & Photo Supplies)
Closing Soon
1905 E. Big Beaver Rd.
Troy, Mi. 48083
(248) 689-9500
Monday, Thursday, Friday 10am - 9pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 12 - 5pm