You may recall that a while ago, I decided to start building my ideal perfect “dream camera”! In fact, I devoted 3 blog posts to it, and you’ve patiently waited for the grand finale, so here it is – what rounds out the list for the ultimate dream camera! Continue reading “Putting the Pieces Together, Dream Camera #4”
Tag: gear
Saving Money is Always Good
In photography it’s pretty much accepted that you get what you pay for. If you want super fast glass with pristine optics, then expect to pay for it. Alternatively, if you’re on a budget, don’t expect apertures in the 2.8 range do bring the sharpest images. You can also kiss things like Image Stabilization goodbye (Vibration Reduction for the Nikonian crowd). So, yeah, we all know that photography is a field where you have to spend money.
But, this does not mean you have to spend money unnecessarily. When there are savings out there to be had, I am all for taking advantage of such opportunities. Many savings can come from DIY projects. Here on the blog I’ve done a few DIY projects, not only to save money, but also to experiment. This kind of experimentation and money saving is almost always a source of creative inspiration, and usually some decent images come out of them!
Then, there are other more obvious ways to save money. Here I am talking about coupons and rebates. Most vendors will offer savings periodically in the form of instant rebates, two-fers (buy one get one half off) and other gimmicks to try and get consumers to let go of a little money. Here is where you can actually get some really good deals if you plan accordingly. If you know that you will be upgrading your camera body every 18-24 months – then buy during rebate cycles. The same goes for lenses, accessories, and computer equipment – although with the computer items, there are sales and rebates going on pretty much all the time, so it’s to a lesser extent there.
So, if you are planning on upgrading any photo gear in the near future – take advantage of the Canon rebates. They are going on now and you can save a few bucks (nothing stellar, $25 on flashes, $100 on the 7D, and some savings on the 5D Mark II) on your purchases. You might want to move soon because the deals end in early April (the 3rd I think). After all, saving money is always a good thing!
- Need the links for the rebates? Go here to get all the details.
- Got your own money savings ideas? Share them in the comments!
- Or tell me on Twitter!
- Finally, today is the final day for the March Giveaway so be sure you get your images in before midnight!
Have a great weekend all, happy shooting, and we’ll see you back here on Monday!
Building the Perfect Camera, Pt. 2
As you may recall, I recently started a topic on building the perfect camera. I started listing my favorite “wish list” of features, and promised I would continue the list soon. Well, as luck would have it, that “thread” of content continues today! Here is the next set of five features I’d like to see:
- Megapixels – I really don’t make huge prints…16×20 is my usual upper limit, and if I need to go higher, post production tools can usually handle a notch or two higher. So, for my purposes, I really wouldn’t want more than 15 MP. Call me crazy, but I’d rather see larger pixels that blend nicer than smaller ones that produce more noise.
- Video – Yeah, it’s a staple in the P&S category and slowly creeping into the SLR ranks, so I may as well add it in here. But let’s not get all lame and only throw in low end video quality…and if you think I’ll settle for the HD-like caliber of 720p, you’d be mistaken. No, make it the full HD 1080p! It’s already arrived, so also being realistic! 🙂
- Frame Rate – SLR’s ar ranging anywhere from 3 to as many as 18 fps. I am not trying to capture a speeding bullet, nor am I a sports shooter for the NFL, but a frame rate on the order of 6-10 fps (raw) would be ideal. Since I am only asking for a Megapixel count of roughly 15, it’s not like the sensor would be hard pressed, so again, very realistic here, right?
- HDMI support – The Canon 1D Mark IV has it, so it clearly will become a staple of at least the higher end model SLR’s if it isn’t already, so I’d better have it here. Besides, the ability to directly display movies and photos directly on your HD TV would be super cool!
- Internal wireless and Bluetooth – the EyeFi card is a neat technology, but really? Think of the space a wireless card takes up these days and there is easily room inside an SLR body for that. Let me push my jpgs from shoots directly to the web for sharing. As for the Bluetooth, imagine being able to shoot and have your images pushed directly to a hard drive of 500GB sitting in your back pocket? Awesome!
Forget the first five features? Stop back here to give those a read and share your comments there. Or, if you haven’t commented yet (or even if you have and there’s more you’d like to share) be sure to chime in with your own thoughts and feature requests for the ideal camera! There’s more to come, but I promise, we’re almost done, so be sure to stop back some time soon for yet another 5 features in the DREAM CAMERA! Happy shooting and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow! Any features you’ve thought of that I am still missing? Care to share? Don’t forget to sound off in the comments!
I’d also like to take a moment and thank those of you who have been perusing the archives of the blog. Enough people have commented that the “49 Tips Cheat Sheet” I posted back in 2009 was missing that I decided to re-publish on request. It’s available in the store tab here for a “Dollar Download”. (Most attachments get deleted after being in the archives for 30 days, so here’s your chance to get a very handy guide for about 2 cents per tip!)
Last, but not least, a reminder that we’re starting to wrap up March as the halfway point has officially passed, so be sure to get your photos up in the Flickr contest thread for a chance to win a Cheetah Quickstand. Details here.
Building the Perfect Camera, Pt. 1
One of the more recent episodes from the guys over at This Week in Photography had them wrapping up their coverage of PMA, where they talked tech about all the latest cameras to come out from the various vendors. Canon was noticeably absent from the show, but it didn’t detract from an interesting comment I think Ron Brinkmann said where he wished he could pull all his favorite features from each of the cameras and basically make his own.
To me, the idea screamed “blog post”! So, I decided to go for it. I went through every major SLR on the market today and cherry-picked my favorite features from each camera. It took a while (there’s a lot out there), but I kept on plugging at it for a few days. Finally, I’ve completed the list, and here’s my “perfect camera” wish list:
- Full Frame Sensor – It seems the market is trending this way, and while the added zoom on a crop sensor can be nice, I’d love to see my 10-22 on a full frame body!
- EF-S support – This is Canon-specific, but because of my 10-22 and 18-55, I would really love to get that super wide angle on a full frame without vignetting or fisheye distortion…I know, the impossible dream, but hey, it’s not like such a camera will ever really exist, so I may as well dream, right?
- Low Light Performance – Think Nikon here – they’re beating the pants off pretty much everyone in the market with their low light sensitivity and handling.
- ISO handling – the fact that you can shoot at ISO 102400 is pretty amazing, but the noise is crazy. Sure, I’ll take the high ISO, but at least let me make decent prints from it. This kind of ties into the low light performance, but since it’s a separate spec, why not…
- Multi-card compatibility – Lately more cameras are supporting the CF and the SD format cards, but mine currently does not support the latter, so, it’s on my list!
That’s it? Of course not, but do you really want me to list ALL the features I want to see in my dream camera in ONE SUPER LONG POST? Of course not! I wouldn’t want to read that either, no matter who wrote it! So, I’m saving the other segments for another day soon (hint, hint, hint)! I’m not even sure this is my “Top Five”, but it could be close. I dunno, is it worth it doing a “top five” features list? Would you? Also consider this: what is your dream camera? What are the must have features for you? How much would you pay to have them all under one hood? I know it’d be a pretty penny, but think about how useful and how long it would last you…! Sound off in the comments with your favorite features!
Don’t forget, the March Flickr Giveaway is underway where you can win a Cheetah Stand, so make sure you enter your favorite WILD pic today!
Please stand by…optimizing
You know these things, right? The hourglass in Windows, the spinning color wheel on the Mac – all signs that your computer is doing important stuff, right? Well, it happened to me last night in the middle of, well….nothing really, I was just surfing the web, reading some of my daily hits. Continue reading “Please stand by…optimizing”
Traveling and Photography – Episode #40
So, the weekend was spent on lots of photography stuff – we had the February edition of our Creativty Workshop Series here with the Denver Photo Meetup group and that was a lot of fun. The theme for this outing was contrast, and the group came up with a lot of great examples. For a peek at some of the member shots, be sure to stop over there and look at the photo gallery: Denver Photowalk Creativity Workshop Series Continue reading “Traveling and Photography – Episode #40”
Hardware Review: Rapid R Strap
I can’t believe I’ve waited this long to talk about my Rapid R Strap. This is a very cool camera strap developed by the folks over at Black Rapid. I had been wanting one for a while, and made it known to everyone prior to the holidays over a year ago (think pre-Christmas 2008). Thankfully, my wife saw the writing on the wall, and I ended up with one on Christmas Day!
So, let me tell you what makes this camera strap unique. First off, it’s unique design has a built in “stop” so that you just let your camera slide down to that point and it just hangs there, conveniently out of the way, but immediately accessible when you want to bring it up for capturing a shot. This strap is the perfect accessory for going on photo walks whether in an urban environment, wildlife, or other setting. The fact that your camera is hanging out of the way makes it much easier to do things like climb rock walls, interact with others (getting signed model releases, passing out business cards, etc.), or anything else that you may need both your hands for.
Another nice feature set on this is that the front of the strap has a Velcro section where you can throw a cell phone in (probably not an iPhone though), and a zipper section where you can store things like spare memory cards, business cards, and other accessory items (I was able to fit a spare battery in there…)
There was an awkward adjustment for just a little bit, getting used to a camera not only dangling from this strap, but also dangling upsidedown! It was a very short adjustment though, and I quickly adapted to the nature of how it works. What was super cool for my setup is that I was able to utilize my quick release place as the “hook” for the clip, so if I wanted to quickly go from shooting on the go, to setting it in a tripod, it was simply a matter of releasing the clip, mounting in the tripod and lining up the shot.
These straps come in a variety of sizes, with one even offering dual straps for a two-camera setup (I know a few guys that do this, with one body holding a long lens and the other holding a wide angle…ready for anything!). The size I ended up getting was the RS-5 (medium), and it fit my 6’1″ just about perfectly. Choose the option that works best for your frame and gear setup, but this is definitely a purchase worth getting, especially if you go on a lot of photo walks.
Got any of your own gear predilections or preferences? Want me to review something you’ve not seen here yet? Do you own a Rapid R Strap? Like it, love it or hate it? Sound off with your own thoughts in the comments. In the meantime, keep on shooting as we have another contest underway for a free 16×20 canvas print of any picture you have in your gallery from the talented Rich Charpentier! Check out his printing services and you’ll be glad you did! The contest page on Flickr is here, and is also linked in the content menus at the top of every page (the theme this month is Height). Happy shooting and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow!
The Canon Rebel T2i – A First Look
Yes, that’s right, I am looking at the T2i, but like everyone else, my look is virtual rather than real, so for those expecting a hands-on review, you’ll have to wait until it ships. For what it’s worth though, here’s some initial thoughts on looking through the specs that Canon released. First off, their PR description from the landing page on their website: Continue reading “The Canon Rebel T2i – A First Look”
Camera Bag Must Haves?
Over the weekend in between packing and moving boxes, I spent a little time with the Twitterverse and had a chance to get some fun dialogs going. One of the questions posed was “Camera body aside, what are the must have essentials for you in your camera bag?” My answer was my two filters, the polarizing filter and the ND filter for the wide angle (10-22) and telephoto (70-200) respectively. I got some great responses from people that I thought would be interesting to share here on the blog today. Here’s the responses from each twitter name:
- tcrpmg: Charger, extra cards, batteries bug spray and hand sanitizer
- DIYPhotography: SB800, trigger, gridspot, flash clamp
- playleimagery: extension tubes, reflector, filters, and a Cokin p350 hood (plus tons of batteries)
- steelersnm: batteries, charger, cleaning supplies and business cards
- pwscott: Giotto Rocketblower
- kevin_mullins: My lucky feather
- lesault: 430EX, diffuser, wireless trigger, hair ties
Batteries seem to be a common favorite accessory, which makes sense because you never wanna be without the juice! What about the rest of the reading audience? Any personal favorite accessories you take along with you when shooting? Sound off in the comments! Oh yeah, and if you’re not following me yet, jump on board and you too can sound off in real time, as well as see your Twitter account up in lights (well, maybe not in lights, but at least mentioned when I do these questions from time to time…)
In the meantime, keep on shooting – this month the contest theme is Height and the Flickr thread is open for entries through the last Friday of the month – midnight mountain time as always is the deadline. Happy shooting and we’ll see you back here tomorrow for more photo goodness!
I Got a Camera for Christmas – Now What?
With the major holiday of the year behind us, many are proudly wielding new cameras…but many are also asking questions. The most popular question I am getting via emails is something along the lines of:
“I got a new ______ for Christmas. Now What?” (Insert your own camera make/model in the blank)
The answer to this really depends on what, if anything, you had before the new item made its way into your hands. For simplicity sake, I’ll break the response down to 3 different categories:
1. This is your first “serious” camera, and you are making the foray into digital photography. Right off the bat, let me say Congratulations! Joining the digital revolution of photography and imaging is definitely exciting, and the onslaught of information can be intimidating. A couple resources are better in this case over a huge amount of information overload. In this case, I would recommend doing three things:
- Read the Manual! Seriously – it may not be the most well-written thing, but it can give you insights as to what all the buttons, dials, and knobs do.
- Learn the basics of exposure – The Digital Photography School offers a great page that goes over the nuts and bolts of how exposure works in cameras – very helpful!
- Learn the basics of composition – There are so many resources on this, but I like Wikipedia because it links to many others and thus I would deem it very reliable and unbiased. The one linked here is the article on the Rule of Thirds. Many other sites cover this too (including mine), but this is just a superb starting point.
- Make an inventory – if this is an SLR, it means you should now be including it on an inventory of “high ticket” items in your house, and a home inventory is always a good thing to have in case of disaster!
- Get out and shoot, practice, then shoot some more! Trial and error is an important part of the learning process, and by learning what doesn’t work, you will be one step closer to learning what does work. So, don’t be afraid of getting out and shooting!
2. This is an “upgrade” from a previous digital camera, and you are simply adding more features. In this scenario, you are probably already armed with the basics, and are looking to expand your creative efforts with the increased features of faster shutter speeds, larger MP counts, etc. Here, there’s only three things instead of the five above:
- Read the manual – there are many more options, custom functions, features, buttons, dials, knobs, and menu options. Reading this will help get all this sundry stuff down quicker so you can…
- Get out and shoot – the tried and true rule of practice, practice, and more practice is what will gain the most in terms of comfort and ease of use for you whether it’s a new camera or an upgrade! It also will give you an opportunity to see and note the differences between your previous body and test for things like sharpness, functionality, and all that sort of stuff while you are still in the important warranty period.
- If you already have an inventory of gear, be sure to add it here, making note of the serial, registration, purchase date and (if available) location of purchase. If you don’t have an inventory of gear – the new addition should be motivation enough to ensure that you do get one together. You may also want to consider your insurance situation: Do you have coverage? Do you have enough? Call your agent to find out.
3. Here, you are an established photographer, and this is simply adding another item to your tool belt. In this scenario, you are likely adding another body for redundancy purposes, or to relegate your other one to a backup role. Nevertheless, there are some important things to consider doing as you move forward:
- Use it! Check for compatibility with all your current lenses – that everything works as expected, that there are no cracks, chinks, nicks, or other things that you should be concerned about.
- Add the gear to the list of inventory that you likely already have – make note of the serial numbers, the date of purchase, and if your gifter doesn’t mind, the place where purchased. All this can be very helpful in keeping records current and up to date. Check with your insurance agent and make sure you still have enough coverage for your gear – see that they get all this information too.
There you have it, some key points to keep in mind for you and your new camera. Congratulations on the new gear, and don’t forget to get creative, because while the gear is fun – it’s really just a tool in your creative tool belt! Did I miss anything? Are these categories sufficient enough for most? Do you fit into one of these categories or is another one needed for your situation? Any other ideas for what to do with a new camera purchase? Got any specific questions? What kind of camera did you get? Share your own questions, feedback, and stories below, by sounding off in the comments!
Last, but not least, don’t forget about the December Giveaway over on FLickr. Over $400 in prizes including books, prints, papers, and software that are great for any photographer! Thursday the 31st is the last day to enter, so make sure you get your best “Giving” themed photo in before the deadline!
Happy shooting all, and we’ll see you back here again tomorrow!