Canon

All posts tagged Canon

On Location HDR Shoot

Posted by Richard Harrington on March 17, 2013
Posted in: HDR, Technique & Tutorials, Tips. Tagged: , , , , , , , . 3 comments

I wanted to share a video that I recently shot on HDR.  It was a look at the shooting process produced with a friend of mine, Abba Shapiro.   I went shooting at Great Fall National Park along the Potomac River (think George Washington and a boat).  We look at the whole shooting process on both Canon and Nikon bodies.

In this show you will learn:

  • The benefits of High Dynamic Range photography
  • The camera settings needed to achieve HDR photography
  • How to work with moving subjects when capturing HDR images
  • What gear you need to capture HDR Photography
  • The benefits for using a remote shutter release

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Photofocus Podcast February 5 with Syl Arena

Posted by Richard Harrington on February 5, 2013
Posted in: Audio Podcast. Tagged: , , , , , .

NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE: The Photofocus Podcast Feed HAS CHANGED!

Here is the new feed: feed://feeds.feedburner.com/photofocuspodcast
Download episode here…   or get it on iTunes

PLEASE BE PATIENT – OUR SERVERS SEE LARGE LOADS ON PUBLISHING DAYS. THE DOWNLOADS MAY GO SLOWLY BUT THEY WILL FINISH.

Rich is joined by special guest Syl Arena to discuss a range of topics to help photographers of all levels.
Syl Arena is known around the world more for his “colorful” hair or the colorful words and photos he shared in his best-selling Speedliter’s Handbook. Either way, he has a memorable persona.
Discussed on the show:
  • Portrait posing techniques
  •  Working with your subject
  • Lighting on location
  •  Studio work
  • The latest offerings from Canon
  •  Why self-publish and use a blog
  • Syl’s upcoming workshops
  • Favorite shooting places

Hosted by Rich Harrington and Syl Arena.

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Skip Cohen University Professional photo education for wedding & portrait photographers. Sign up for SCU THRIVE in Vegas, March 8, 9 – 2013

ShootProof – Use code BOURNE20 to save 20% off the first year of any level plan – even monthly

Drobo - Not only is Drobo 5D fast, but it’s easy-to-use, expandable, flexible, and protected.

How Serious Am I About MFT Cameras? Canon Camera Gear For Sale

Posted by scottbourne on December 27, 2012
Posted in: News. Tagged: , .

UPDATE: All gear sold now.

 

I am retiring from professional photography on November 2, 2013. I thought I’d hang on to all my Canon gear with the idea that I’d use it for fun and the occasional assignment I might take from an old client as a favor. Then the Olympus OM-D system came along. It’s smaller, lighter, cheaper and less likely to get me in trouble with security. I bought every lens Olympus makes and two OM-D bodies so I am set. I can always rent the Canon gear if I really need it for something but so far, I can’t see any reason going forward to just leave all this stuff laying around in my closet.

That means I am selling my Canon gear.  All of this gear was purchased new in 2012 as a tax write off. All is in perfect condition (Except for lens hoods which show normal wear and tear since I always drop the hoods.) All items are 100% operational and have never been dropped, dented or dinged.

Each item comes with extra no-cost goodies. I’ll throw in things like photo books, high-quality camera bags, filters, flash modifiers – you name it. It’s a mystery bonus worth at least $100 in each case and sometimes five times that much (for those who purchase the camera bodies.) All items (except 1DX) are for sale at 12.5% off of the current B&H price for a new USA warranty piece of gear. No gray market.

I accept cash (in person only) check (allow two weeks for your check to clear) US Postal Money Order (next day shipping but note I only except POSTAL money orders. No other kind of bank check or money order will be accepted,) and Google Check Out for credit cards (next day shipping – you must have had a Google Check Out account for at least six months and have a verified address and pass the security checks that cause Google to guarantee your payment.)

UPDATE EVERYTHING IS SOLD EXCEPT ONE LENS

First come – first served.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Zoom Lens – U.S.A. Warranty *This is not the latest version of this lens. So I am selling it for a flat rate $1550.
Includes lens hood, front and rear lens caps and Canon carry case.

I’ve tried to make this as fair as I can. For questions email scottbourne@mac.com. Free ground shipping is included to all addresses in the Continental USA. Actual shipping charges apply if you want air service or live in Alaska or Hawaii. Sorry US buyers only.

My Initial Thoughts On The Canon EOS-1D X Announcement

Posted by scottbourne on October 18, 2011
Posted in: News, Opinion, Tips. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

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Canon let everyone know this week that it really does have a new camera coming. Unfortunately, it’s not actually going to be available until spring of next year.

It’s probably a good thing because most photographers will have to pinch some pennies to be able to afford this new monster. With a predicted retail price of $6,800 it’s not for everyone.

The new flagship Canon is an 18.1 megapixel, full-frame DSLR that features a 61-point autofocus system, very high ISO range, 12 frames per second RAW capture and a new set of DIGIC 5+ processors. It appears to be more revolutionary than evolutionary since the camera offers many new features and functions. It’s got a heavy movie component and offers a little something for everyone at the pro level.

Let’s talk about megapixels -

Many of the initial comments I heard from fellow photographers included concerns that Canon was still playing in the megapixel wars by including an 18.1 MP sensor. The laws of physics dictate that the more pixels you cram onto a sensor, the more noise you’ll create in your image. There are ways around this if you have the right back-end, in-camera processing. Canon says that’s where their new DIGIC processors come in. They claim a full two-stop increase in low-light performance. It should be noted this is a SMALLER megapixel count than they used on the 1DS MK III and a LARGER sensor than they used on the 1D MK V. It’s a very interesting compromise and it just may work.

The big question is simply – is it really ALL THAT? Unfortunately, we won’t know for at least six months. I plan to reserve judgment until I actually see production versions of the camera in action. I own both Canon and Nikon DSLRs. In my experience, Canon has always been a stop or two behind the Nikons when it comes to low-light performance because Nikon chooses to use bigger pixels. Their 12 MP cameras have served me well and I’m not sure I need 18 MP. We’ll find out.

Beyond the sensor, here are some of the other highlights…

* The new 61-point AF system – 41 of those being cross-type sensors
* 100% viewfinder coverage
* Newly improved RGB metering with its own DIGIC 4 processor
* New 3.2″ LCD screen
* Full HD mob quality with new auto creation of movie files once the 4GB limit has been reached – 29-minute 59 seconds movie clip length
* Timecode for HD movie recording
* Manual audio level control with live meters and adjustability during recording
* Touch sensitive controls for use during movie recording
* Dual CF card slots
* Improved internal cleaning system
* Built-in Gigabit Ethernet port
* New intelligent tracking and face recognition systems
* 400,000 cycle shutter
* New buttons and better ergonomics

I think the most important part of this announcement is the fact that Canon is replacing two cameras with this one. Canon says the new EOS-1D X replaces both the EOS-1Ds Mark III and EOS-1D Mark IV models. This signals to me that Canon, and perhaps the industry sees that it’s time to merge the capabilities of the high-end sports, wedding and photo journalism cameras. They are taking a genuine multimedia approach here that is worth noting.

The other big takeaways here are that Canon sport shooters will no longer have the 1.3 crop factor to give them longer effective focal lengths with their big lenses. That will require new thinking on their part. The other thing to note is that this is JUST an announcement. It’s not shipping. A lot can happen in six months. Canon clearly is nervous about the fact that Nikon is coming out with a new high-end camera THIS YEAR. Canon doesn’t want loyal customers to get nervous and jump ship, so they are hoping (as I predicted last week) to hold them in place with this announcement. Will it work?

If Nikon announces a new high-end camera with similar capabilities, shipping before Christmas, with a lower price point, I don’t think Canon’s promise will hold 100% of their customers. If Nikon prices their camera similarly, most Canon shooters will wait. But if Canon doesn’t make good on the March 2012 ship date, they could be in real trouble. Some may be concerned that this is similar to “vaporware.” Canon claims to be building production facilities capable of churning out 7000 of these cameras a month. I think that’s optimistic. In fact, I think the whole thing is optimistic. But I am very hopeful it works out. This camera could – for professionals – be a really valuable tool, especially for those who shoot video or sports or who need large file sizes.

If the camera ships in March I will buy one – if for no other reason than to test. Oh – and yes – eventually I’ll buy one to give away!

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My Last Canon 5D MK II Giveaway

Posted by scottbourne on October 4, 2011
Posted in: Contest. Tagged: , , , .

I’ve given away lots of cameras. Amongst the most popular has always been the Canon 5D MK II. When my friends at Adorama got together with me saying they wanted to participate in one of my contests, we looked at what might be a popular prize. We considered the Nikon D700, but you can’t buy those anymore. If Adorama can’t get them nobody can. We’ve all heard rumors that Canon is considering a replacement for the 5D MK II. It’s been around several years. It’s still a favorite of many pros because it’s a full-frame sensor camera that also shoots lovely video. Soon you probably won’t be able to get one of these either – but we have one – and it might have your name on it!

SO we decided to roll that set of dice just one more time. This is the last Canon 5D MK II I plan to give away. I expect that soon Canon will announce it’s replacement, as Nikon will the replacement for the D700. So until then, we stick with an old favorite and invite you to enter the Twitter contest to try your hand at winning a brand new Canon 5D MK II body.

Here’s how to enter.

- Follow ScottBourne on Twitter (
http://www.twitter.com/scottbourne
)
- Follow Adorama on Twitter (
http://www.twitter.com/Adorama
)

(If you are already following no need to unfollow and refollow – doing so repeatedly will get you blocked and banned from the contest — we have recently blocked or banned several hundred followers who engaged in this practice after the last contest – if you are amongst those people – sorry – no need to enter because you are not eligible.)

- Tweet the message you see highlighted below once! (There is no advantage to tweeting more than once. There is also no penalty for tweeting more than once but you won’t have any better chance of winning and you may anger your own Twitter followers if you decide to tweet more than once. Please keep track of your own entry. We can’t respond to requests asking about entry status.)

Twitter has changed its policy to no longer allow disabling of link shortening – so if you need to use a different link to get to the same exact contest page that’s fine. As long as people end up on this page – that’s all that matters. The rest of the Tweet must be identical to the one below.

Enter to win a new Canon 5D MK II camera body from @Adorama and Scott Bourne. Please RT. Info at: http://goo.gl/UNFw0

 

Total prize value = approximately $2,400

The Prize:

- Canon 5D MK II body $2,399

Official Rules: All general Bourne Media Group/Photofocus contest rules apply. In addition:

No purchase necessary to enter or win.

1. You must be 18 years or older to enter
2. You must be following Scott Bourne (
http://www.twitter.com/scottbourne
) and Adorama on Twitter (
http://www.twitter.com/Adorama
)
3. You must send out the above tweet EXACTLY as it appears. A failure to do so will disqualify you.
4. The prize will be awarded on December 15, 2011 by Scott Bourne via Twitter and on Photofocus.com – The prize will be shipped directly from Adorama to the winner. We timed the contest end date to make sure the camera arrives in time for the holidays.
5. If you live outside the US you are responsible for any taxes, custom duties and shipping in the event you win. We will only ship the prize to a US address. Foreign winners must be able to retrieve the prize from a US address to be eligible to win.
6. If users make lots of Twitter accounts in order to enter a contest more than once, they’re liable to get all of their accounts suspended. Anyone found to use multiple Twitter accounts to enter will be ineligible.

Scott Bourne will keep a record of each tweet in a database and then a random number generator picks the winner. Due to the volume of requests we receive, we cannot and will not answer ANY questions about the contest on Twitter or via e-mail. The information you need is all right here.

We’re excited to be working with Adorama. They are much more than a camera store. Adorama offers gear rental, photo processing/printing and educational programs in addition to one of the best imaging inventories in the world.

As always, if you are not a fan of these contests, please don’t participate. For the tens of thousands of you who do enjoy the contests, we’ll continue to try to find new contests and new prizes that will make it fun and interesting to be a part of the Photofocus family. Thanks for your support.

Canon EF Extender 1.4x III and EF Extender 2x III – Mini Review

Posted by scottbourne on April 17, 2011
Posted in: Tips. Tagged: .

Last summer Canon announced a new matched pair of extenders. They updated the Canon EF 1.4X III Telephoto Extenderand Canon EF 2.0X III Telephoto Extender. The new models feature an integrated processor which ensures all focusing, metering and ID information when paired with the right lenses. Canon claims that when combined with premium Canon L-series lenses, these extenders enable higher AF accuracy compared to previous generations.

In the past, I’ve been reluctant to recommend extenders for the simplest of reasons – I’ve never used one with satisfactory results.

Well that’s changed. On my recent trip to Alaska to photograph eagles, I tried both the EF Extender 1.4x III and EF Extender 2x III. They were both extremely well-built. Solid as a rock comes to mind.

They are easy to mount and dismount. The optics are of the highest quality – which is a good thing considering these devices cost as much as some lenses. They use Canon’s Super Spectra coating which does seem to reduce flare. They also feature a fluorine coating which is designed to make them easier to clean. They are dust and water resistant – note – they are not waterproof.

I got very good results using both these extenders on Canon’s latest 70-200 F/2.8 IS L series II models. I did not try stacking them, although I know at least one person who does and who still gets good results.

At F/8 the 2X shows almost no vignetting (a common problem with extenders.) The images were sharp and crisp and autofocus when matched to an IS “L” lens and a Canon 1DMKIV was superb. At F/6.3 (Electronic FStop) you see minimal distortion. At F/5.6 results are acceptable but noticeably impacted.

The real question is how much better are the version III compared to the version II extenders? The answer is – I don’t know. I can see a very slight improvement atF/6.3 and better at  f/8. I didn’t do a scientific test. That’s not how I do things. I simply work based on my impressions. And my impressions are that if you already have the Model II extenders and are happy with them, you probably don’t need to upgrade. If you don’t have the version II extenders, you may want to consider these. I bought the pair after these tests. I was able to get consistently good results with both version III extenders and I can’t say that about  the version II extenders.

The two of these extenders combined cost an amazing $1100 plus. But if you have been putting off buying extenders, I believe the quality, the optics and the performance in the new models justify the purchase.

I’m very happy with the few images I made using the extenders and I’ll do some longer-term, more exhaustive testing with other Canon lenses and post my results here at Photofocus.com.

Highly recommended.

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Canon v. Nikon DSLRs – Does it Really Matter?

Posted by scottbourne on October 26, 2010
Posted in: Opinion. Tagged: , .

Out of the thousands of questions I’ve received here at Photofocus, Nikon v. Canon is right at the top of the list. People ask me this question as if the right answer will be the difference between a successful photo or a failure. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am in a unique position to know that. I own and use both systems.

Like clockwork – if I post a review or a news item related to Nikon, the Canon fans accuse me of being a Nikon fanboy – merely for posting the information mind you. Also, if I post a review or a news item related to Canon, the Nikon fans accuse me of being a Canon fanboy – again – merely for posting the information.

Now this doesn’t bother me a bit. You should see my email. I get called much worse all the time. But I thought I would take this topic on in a serious manner, for those few out there with an open mind. Once and for all, I want to settle the Nikon v. Canon debate.

The real answer to which you should use boils down to three simple things.

1. Which you can afford
2. The one you like the most
3. The one your friends use

I’ll break these down individually.

1. Price

In GENERAL, the Nikon gear costs a bit more than the Canon gear. Depending on the body/lens choices you make, that may not be the case. But for most people, the cost will be anywhere from marginally higher to noticeably higher. So if price is an issue, Canon tends to win more than it loses – but not by much.

2. Preference

Since both brands do an excellent job, choosing between them often merely boils down to nothing more than personal preference. Things that cannot be quantified such as look and feel might play a part here. One brand may offer a particular body/lens configuration that just better suits your INDIVIDUAL style. Does this mean that configuration will be right for the next photographer? Nope. It just means it’s right for you. And that’s okay.

3. Access

The reason that your friend’s choice of DSLR is important is simple. This means you’ll have a better chance at being able to share lenses and other peripherals. It also means you’ll have a broader support network to answer your gear questions and give you tips. If you’re the lone wolf in your group, you might miss out on lots of advantages.

So what is the answer?

It doesn’t really matter all that much! That’s the answer. Other than the three criteria above, there’s very little reason to pick one over the other. Buy what you want. But don’t assault and assail other photographers who make a different choice. THEIR choice doesn’t impact YOUR choice in ANY way. So why do you care?

Conclusion

It’s important to compare camera features, NOT name recognition. You won’t look any “cooler” shooting one over the other. Each company has it’s high and low points. Neither is perfect. Both make great cameras. Both make cameras that are probably superior to the skill levels of the photographers who use them.

So pick the one you like. Don’t worry about what the posters on the camera forums say. At this point in the game, both Nikon and Canon are very similarly situated. Between them they have almost 90% of the DSLR market. They dominate for a reason. They both make great gear. So flip a coin if you have to and move on. There’s no need to defend or second guess your choice. In the time you spend worrying about and debating the Nikon v. Canon wars, you could have been out making great photos.

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