Tag: canon

When I Got Into the World of EOS

This is the old commercial of the Canon EOS 350D that actually inspired me to take up photography as a hobby:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVS9-1Jjlmk&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0]

I once was hooked into photography that I bought every accessory I could barely afford. Now, it’s so sad to see them just lying around, gathering dusts. Continue reading

Initial Tests for ERR99 and EF-S 17-85mm

Canon EFS 17-85mm f/4-5.6 iS USM

Canon EFS 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

My initial tests revealed it might be with this lens, the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, might have been causing the error. Yet, I still have to do more rigid tests, as when I attached back this lens after rubbing off gently its gold contacts, error was gone again.

The Cory Aquino Funeral and the Error 99

I don’t think I could let it pass when I knew that former President Cory Aquino’s funeral march will pass by near my place. So I grabbed my camera and tried my best to document the event despite the heavy rains.

However, as I was shooting around, I got the much dreaded Error 99 by every Canon camera owners. Maybe it was because of the dying battery, maybe the CF card, maybe the lens, or worst–the camera itself (God forbid!)

Everytime the error occured, I had to turn off the camera and back on again before I can actually get the shot. It was real annoying, but at least I got to take some pictures (see below). Continue reading

Even Photoworld Asia 2009 is Hit by the Recession

Well, at least, that’s the impression that struck me. Last year, there were numerous models available for shoot at the same time, this year-so far-only the Canon booth have one.

Nevertheless, here are some photos I took:

Canon New Releases

I call it hot releases! I can’t help myself from drooling over these new Canon products:

Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

1D Mark III

There are only two lines of products in the Canon EOS series that have a full frame sensor. That is the Canon EOS 5D and the 1Ds series. Now, Canon is introducing the latest in the 1Ds series, the Mark III, bragging a 21 megapixel image resolution. This 1Ds Mark III, though, is not as fast (5fps) as its counterpart in the 1.3x crop body, 1D Mark III (10fps). Nevertheless, this is a full frame body we’re talking about.

Read all the new features here.

Canon EOS 40D

EOS 40D

The EOS 40D is an upgrade from what I own, the EOS 30D. How much upgrades were? As far as I’m concerned:

  • 10.1 megapixels over 8.2 megapixels
  • 6.5 frames per second (fps) over 5fps
  • 3″ LCD preview screen
  • EOS integrated cleaning system, that which already exists in the 400D to remove dust particles from the sensor
  • LCD with live view mode, that which is like a compact digital camera that you may frame the image by looking at the LCD screen, not the viewfinder only

I said “as far as I’m concerned” because these are the new features I would have opted should I have the choice between the two (30D and 40D). There are more new features or upgrades from the previous system, which I find not that important to me. You can see all those features here.

The Live View Mode, although will more likely drain your battery faster, would be very helpful while shooting from awkward angles such as ground level macro or mounted tripod shots.

New Lenses

Canon also introduced lenses. I find these lenses not interesting, though, and I don’t intend to acquire one. Yet, for the sake of info, here they are:

  • EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM
  • EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS – an upgrade from the former packaged kit lens. I guess the IS at the longest 55mm would not be that effective
  • EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS – this will be the longest focal range in the EF-S series

Interestingness

Unfortunately, DSLR’s are not like mobile phones. You may be capable of getting the latest in the Nokia series at anytime, but I don’t think so for DSLR’s. They are not that cheap. So, this post is actually just for the sake of info (again! LOL).

Deuts Into the World of Photography

Lens CollectionThis represents my lens collection (Click on the picture to enlarge). This is, of course, exclusive of the lens I used to take this particular picture, the EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM.

So far we have the following:

– Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM
– Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
– Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
– Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM

Focal Range Coverage

These lenses cover a focal range from 17mm to 300mm in a 1.6 crop body. In a full-frame body, this translates to an equivalent 27mm to 480mm. Just enough (I guess) for my needs.

Lenses that almost complement each other

I said “almost” because I should be lucky to be so sure. Yet, I have this feeling that this collection complement each other in a symmetrical manner. There appears to be a pattern. To wit:

  • I have two primes (fixed focal length) and two zooms
  • The zooms have IS (Image Stabilization), while the primes don’t have. Yet, the whole range described above is covered by the IS
  • The primes are basically for low-light photography both with maximum apertures of 1.8, one for wide-angle (28mm) and the other for medium telephoto (85mm)
  • The zooms both have maximum apertures at f/4-5.6, one for general walk around (17-85mm) and the other for super telephoto (70-300). The two lenses overlap at negligible range 70-85mm.

No L Lens

What? No red stripe in any of my lenses? No L Lens?

Yeah, unfortunately, unlike Mark, who already have the EF 24-70 f/2.8L USM and EF 70-200 f/4L USM, I don’t have any L-series lenses in my arsenal. I think that’s fine, sour grapes aside. Anyway, from the start I thought that if I should get an L lens, it would be for the superphoto lens, just like Mark Q’s EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM.

I’ll be fine with my EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM for the following reasons:

  • It is capable of delivering quality pictures already, provided that you take the shots at well lit places like outdoors in a sunny day.
  • It is very much lighter compared to those L lenses and easy to carry around.
  • It is black, as compared to white L lenses, that helps you keep a low profile. It can be inconspicuous if you don’t want to blow your cover while sneaking around taking pictures.
  • You get an extra 100mm focal range at 300mm, which converts to extra reach, as compared to the 70-200’s

Yet, if the time comes when I have virtually unlimited access to resources (who knows! LOL!), I might as well collect the best in the L-series.

Fill in the bag

A sneak peak into the contents of my camera bag, you will get to see the gears as shown in the picture that follow:
What's In The Bag

The next lens

I guess so far I’m satisfied with what I currently have in my arsenal. And oh, a macro lens. What do I think of the EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM? Hmmmmmm…. let me check…

  • No budget
  • No more room for it in my bag
  • Redundancy, focal length already covered, it will most likely serve only as a macro lens

Yet, pretty interesting lens, huh….LOL..!

Canon Philippines on Sale

I got this one from a Digital Photographer Philippines forum topic. I just thought anyone might be interested.

Canon Sale

Should I had rather put together my arsenal with this sale, I should have saved 27% from my purchases (at PhP 12.50 per 1 QAR), and that is on top of my bringing home the extra EF 50mm f/1.8 II USM.

Hmmmm, pity me!

Do I Need a Macro Lens

I actually wonder, do I still need a macro lens if I already have the reach of a long zoom (300mm)?

My 85mm lens

Above is the picture of my favorite lens, EF 85mm f/1.8 USM, taken using my second favorite lens, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM.

Testing Out EF85mm f1.8 USM for the New 2007

First of all I would like to greet all my avid readers a Happy New Year, a Happy 2007!

My first prime lens, the EF 85mm f/1.8 USM lens, according to reviews produces sharp pictures and performs well in low light conditions. The AF is fast and produces beautiful bokeh when shot as wide as f1.8.

Let’s see some samples of the pictures I took:

the_new_year.jpg
Waiting for 2007!

sandisk card reader
The Sandisk Card Reader

cliff
Cliff

apples_for_newyear.jpg
Apples for the New Year

the new year food
OK, so this one was actually taken using the EF-S 17-85mm IS USM, not the 85mm prime. The latter was too long to accomodate us all in the picture given the limited space in our kitchen.

the manikins
The Manikins

superman
Superman

the chief
The Chief

Yet, you know what? I’m not yet convinced. This lens (85mm) has still a long way to go to convince me to really become my favorite lens. It has yet to prove its superiority (actually) over the 17-85mm zoom.

On Photography

canon eos 30d

My fancy for photography actually started when I acquired my first ever digital camera, the Sony Cybershot DSC-S60 ((I didn’t have a camera phone yet then)). I was browsing through all the features of my camera because I wanted to maximize its use.

Learning the basics of photography and the limitations of this point-and-shoot camera, I realized that should I have a more sophisticated camera, I can at least duplicate those spectacular photos in photography books, magazines, brochures, newspapers, internet, etc., by professionals. I can even have my own personal collection (Now, what do you think of that? LOL).

My interest even grew deeper when I learned photoshop. I was wondering– if I only have my own salient photos to work on using photoshop.

Well, there goes the story…

The Camera

Canon EOS 30D

The Lens

Canon EFS 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

On Photoblog

Maybe, in the future. Who knows… Just keep visiting, and subscribe….

The Photographer

Here’s a joke I found somewhere:

A photographer for a national magazine was assigned to take pictures of a great forest fire. He was advised that a small plane would be waiting to fly him over the fire.

The photographer arrived at the airstrip just an hour before sundown. Sure enough, a small Cessna airplane was waiting.

He jumped in with his equipment and shouted, “Let’s go!” The tense man sitting in the pilot’s seat swung the plane into the wind and soon they were in the air, though flying erratically.

“Fly over the north side of the fire,” said the photographer, “And make several low-level passes.”

“Why?” asked the nervous pilot.

“Because I’m going to take pictures!” yelled the photographer. “I’m a photographer, and photographers take pictures!”

The pilot replied, “You mean you’re not the flight instructor?”