The Blog covers my
photographic
equipment, the
routes I am
considering to
upgrade it and other
areas of photography
relating to my
hobby.
Every month the
posts are
decanted into the
separate headings
and some to my
Articles Page.
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I have been going over some of my family videos as well as
earlier videos of the wildlife here at Hermiston. You can see one of the
wildlife videos below, taken with the Canon IXUS and the stills
with a Canon 5D MK 1 DSLR camera and Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro USM
(Non IS) Lens.
Creating a 'professional style' video is a whole new ball game
and there is no doubt that when using telephoto lenses, even
with image stabilisation, I will not be able to hold the camera
steady enough to deliver a smooth flowing video. I am presently
waiting for the Panasonic GH3 Micro 4/3rds compact system camera
to appear to use with my Panasonic Lumix lenses and I have
decided that a tripod and video fluid head are a 'must have'
(at the very least) to allow me to progress with
videography.
The last video fluid head that I looked at
has now gone up to the insane price of over £500.00 - so I
checked out the Manfrotto web site and came up with
the Manfrotto 055M8-Q5 photo video head which is still
relatively expensive but it allows me to use my Manfrotto 055PRO
or 055MF3tripods with it, which is a considerable
saving as I don't have to purchase a new tripod.
There are cheaper video fluid heads, but the reason that I have
decided on this head is that it is suitable for stills photography and video
cameras. It is also
capable of carrying a camera load up to 7Kg which is important
as I will also be using my large and heavy Canon 300mm f2.8 IS
MK 1 lens for stills with my Canon 5D MK 1 DSLR camera.
From the Manfrotto Website - "The
innovative photo-movie head is developed to simply be the best
and most ideal solution for the new HD DSLRs with embedded video
functions. With a single product it is possible to take
advantage of an extraordinary Photo Head and a Fully Featured
video head. The unique Photo-Movie selector makes switching from
shooting photos to videos quick and immediate, experiencing the
best of both worlds. In Photo mode the head provides the speed
and maximum freedom in all directions, like a ball head combined
with an incredibly precise, smooth and controlled movement never
experienced before, thanks to the fluid cartridges and an
adjustable counter balance control. In Video mode a fully
featured video head allows for a precise and fluid movement for
pan and tilt with all of the typical video settings, including
friction control. The pan bar is reversible for right or left
hand users and it can quickly be removed and fixed on a tripod
leg, thanks to the included rest clip"...............Read
More on the Manfrotto 055M8-Q5 Photo Video Head
When you are out and about on the 'street' taking pictures, does the
size of the camera matter?
I have never been a avid street photographer, I find that unless I have
a definite plan, a project to capture specific subject material at a given
location where it is in abundance or I am prepared to wait for a
prolonged period until that subject appears, then street photography
invariably consists of many shots and very few results. However it has
to be accepted that even if one shot amongst many turns out a gem, then
it can be worthwhile and deliver a sense of achievement.
I have used all sorts of cameras for street photography,
35mm film SLRs,
digital compacts, Micro 4/3rds compact, APS-C & Full Frame sensor DSLRs.
I have never experienced any awkward problem using any of those cameras
but I do tend to stick to planned projects and events where I am never
perceived as an nuisance.
This first image was captured at the Edinburgh
Fringe
Festival with a Canon 450D APS-C sensor DSLR with a Canon 100mm f2.8 USM
Macro lens fitted. It was a day when the street was busy, cameras were
everywhere and nobody seemed to mind getting their picture taken. The
combo delivered a very nice 160mm 'field of view' which allowed me to
stand back a bit and achieve shots through the spaces in the crowds of
people. Shooting with a 'prime' lens can be difficult, especially
at 160mm but the results are often most excellent and you can achieve a
very nice out of focus effect in the background.
The 'RAW' file settings are ISO:200, Aperture f3.5, shutter 1/640sec and
developed using Adobe Lightroom 3 software with adjustments for
contrast, brightness, saturation and sharpness.
I often use my larger 'Full Frame' DSLR for street photography,
especially
on holiday.
It's size has never drawn much attention and if anyone does purposely
look at what I am doing, I invariably produce a nice smile which seems
to settle any concern. I know that many street photographers like to get
right in amongst the action, mingle with people and even ask them to
pose but it is not my style.
I am not exactly invisible but I do like to remain further back and I
find that a zoom lens offers greater flexibility when you are shooting
through crowds or attempting to isolate the 'primary' subject from the
background. A 'prime' lens can achieve the same but with a 'fixed' focal
length it is annoying when you miss a shot on occasions where the
subject is too close. This image was captured with
a Canon 5D MK 1 'Full Frame' DSLR and a Canon 24-105mm f4 IS L
Zoom Lens.
The 'RAW' file settings are 84mm, ISO:200, Aperture f4, shutter 1/1250sec and
developed using Adobe Lightroom 3 software with adjustments for
contrast, brightness, saturation and sharpness.
From
Wikipedia - "Vivian Maier (February 1, 1926 – April 21, 2009) was
an American amateur
street photographer who was born in New York but grew up
in France, and after returning to the US, worked for about
forty years as a
nanny in Chicago. During those years she took about
100,000 photographs, primarily of people and cityscapes most
often in Chicago, although she traveled and photographed
worldwide"
When you live in the countryside all manner of creatures appear at your
door and these guys are no exception, especially in the winter time.
The pheasant appears just after the hunting season
starts and comes to
my back door every morning for crushed peanuts and biscuits. He
has been coming to visit at Hermiston for the last three years. Some
times we have hen pheasants as well but for some reason there has been
no sign of them this year.
The pheasant actually stares at
Brad(my dog) through the
patio window and knocks on the glass with his beak to attract my
attention. He watches through the window whilst I blend the peanuts and
then retires to the high garden wall until the food is put out near the
bushes. This
100mm '200mm field of view' shot
of him was taken
with my Panasonic GF1 Micro 4/3rds camera (external viewfinder
fitted) and Lumix 100-300mm OIS zoom
lens 'hand held'
through thick and dirty glass - the windows are never cleaned during the
winter months.
The 'RAW' file settings are ISO:800, Aperture
f4, shutter 1/320sec and developed using Adobe Lightroom 3 software
with adjustments for contrast, brightness, saturation, slight noise
reduction and sharpness.
The crow has a mate and they both visit regularly, in fact they are
never away from the place and raise their
young
at Hermiston every year. They invariably sit up in the sycamore trees
and stand guard ready to chase or harass the buzzard when it lands on a
branch. There have been some grand fights in the sky and on the ground.
Once I had to pull the buzzard of this guy who was upside down on the
grass getting a right old pasting - they were so busy fighting they
never saw me until I intervened.
Every time we come home in the car or go out for a walk in the grounds,
the crows appear and start squawking for food. I usually put out
broken biscuits on some of the fence posts and they come down to feed.
It is great fun in the summer when they are feeding the young, who fall
about a lot.
This 300mm '600mm field of view' shot was taken with my Panasonic GF1 Micro 4/3rds camera
(external view finder fitted) and Lumix
100-300mm OIS zoom lens 'hand held' outside in the open and the 'RAW'
file settings are ISO:400, Aperture f5.6, shutter 1/800sec and developed
using Adobe Lightroom 3 software with adjustments for contrast,
brightness, saturation and sharpness. You can see from the photo that
his eye is always on me, always alert, especially when I have the
camera.
I like the GF1 + Lumix 100-300mm zoom lens combo, it is easy to use for
those moments when I am working or relaxing and an animal appears. I am looking forward to the release of the new
Panasonic GH3 Micro 4/3rds camera which should provide me with even
better stills and video image quality, especially in low light.
An interesting video from
Chris Niccolls from the
The Camera-Store for those of you
who are interested in the new Fujifilm X-S1 digital camera.
WEX Photographic - "An The Fuji X-S1 EXR Black Digital Camera is a versatile,
super-zoom all-in-one camera for people that want similar features of an
SLR but without the extra bulk hassle of changing lenses. The Fuji X-S1
adds to the impressive Fuji X range of high end compact cameras and
boasts a 12 megapixel EXR-CMOS Sensor that is capable of both 1080p
full-HD video and continuous shooting of 7fps at full resolution. The
X-S1 is equipped with an impressive 26x optical zoom lens that offers a
wide focal range of 24-624mm (35mm equivalent) and a bright f/2.8
wide-angle maximum aperture, making it a perfect camera for all areas in
photography. The X-S1 offers a tiltable 3.0inch LCD and a bright EVF
(Electronic Viewfinder) to ensure composing and viewing playback options
is simple and quick. This versatile camera provides excellent usability,
stability and comfort in a strong, light-weight body that covers it all".......£589.00
in the UK.
TechRadar - "Always liked the
idea of an all-in-one camera with a massive zoom capability, but hated
the often all too-plastic feel? Fuji's X-S1 may, nay will, cause you to
re-evaluate the humble bridge camera. Whereas Fuji has
previously applied an 'X' - its signifier of a premium camera - to the
Leica-like FinePix X10, for the first time it gives a superzoom that
same distinction".............Read their
Fuji X-S1 Review
You might ask, why the Fuji X-Pro1 to Canon 5D
MK II comparison when 'it could be argued' that the cameras appear to be
aimed at different markets?
It
is logical to consider the comparison,
because their body prices are not
that far apart and both are well suited for the same spectrum of
photography.
If the Fuji X-Pro1 had emerged with a
'full frame' digital sensor and even at a higher price, I would
now be checking reviews for the quality of
the 'proprietary' Fuji mount lenses to decide if they merited the
'Fuji investment' instead of moving ahead with the expected Canon 5D MK III DSLR?
TechRadar-"the Fujifilm is
a larger, APS-C sized offering. Fuji also claims that the X-Pro
1 X-Trans CMOS sensor can outperform even full-frame 35mm
sensors"...........
As an
'image quality' marker for the Fuji X-Pro1, the sensor of the Canon 5D MK II DSLR for stills and video is a hard act to compete with.
However,
there is a lot more to a 'full frame'
digital sensor than image quality, there is the 35mm perspective
where a 50mm focal length lens actually delivers a 'native eye'
50mm 'field of view' without any compression or extension and any
chosen aperture delivers a defined 'depth of field' (area in focus)
which is true in respect of the 50mm focal length.
The same cannot be said of a 35mm focal length lens on the Fuji
X-Pro1 camera with it's 1.5x crop sensor delivering a 52mm
'field of view'. Also consider, the
Fuji X-Pro1 has a 1/4000sec shutter and a
'standard' ISO:200 rating. The
Canon 5D MK II DSLR
has a
1/8000sec shutter, a 'standard' ISO:100 rating, 21MPixels on a 'full
frame' sensor and can deliver 1080 30fps HD video; it is also waterproof
and
dust resistant.
The Fuji X-Pro1 may in the future be able (through the use of
various adapters) to mount other makes of lenses. That would
be a 'make do' solution whilst on the other hand, the Canon 5D
MK II DSLR can already 'natively' mount Zeiss, Sigma and
Voigtlander amongst other lenses of choice built purposely for
the Canon mount.
Fuji X-Pro1 APS-C 1.5x Crop 'Mirrorless' - Combo * Fuji X-Pro1 Body - £1,429.00
(size 140mm x 82mm x 43 mm
- weight 450g)
* Fuji
35mm f1.4 R
Lens (52mm field of view) lens hood extra - £549.00
(size 65mm x
54.9mm - weight 187g)
Total - £1,978.00
vat inclusive in the UK
Canon 5D MK II 35mm 'Full Frame' DSLR - Combo * Canon 5D MK II 'Full Frame' DSLR Body - £1,519.00
(size - 152mm x
113mm x 75mm - weight 810g)
* Canon 50mm f1.4 USM Lens (lens
hood extra)
- £285.00
(size - 73.8mm x 50.5mm
- weight 290g) Total - £1,804.00 vat inclusive in the UK
I can see the Fuji
X-Pro1 appealing to street
photographers, especially for advanced photographers
who desire a 'mirrorless' camera
system compared to an APS-C DSLR or Leica M8 digital rangefinder.
However, the Fuji X-Pro1 is a significant investment when
you consider the body price before you add the lenses and
accessories. Canon and
Nikon offer APS-C DSLRs which although
slightly larger, are considerably cheaper and Canon (also
Nikon) is ready to
launch it's new range of (2012) APS-C sensor DSLRs which
I suspect will offer more DSLR technology for less money.
A very good article from Sean Reid at Luminous-Landscape - worth
reading.
Sean Reid - "A little more than a year ago Michael Reichman, Nick Devlin and I
were all sitting down to lunch in a cafeteria at the Jacob Javits Center
in New York City. We were there for the annual PDN Photo Plus show and
the conversation was largely about which new cameras seemed most
interesting to us. "For me", I said, "It's the Fuji X100. Fuji is now
trying to out-Leica Leica." And what I meant by that was that Fuji had
introduced a competitor to Leica's X1 that not only looked a lot like a
Leica M camera - complete with various analog controls - but which also
featured a window finder with frame lines. That type of window finder
has been integral to the Leica M camera line since it was first
introduced and Fuji did a good job of integrating such a finder into the
X100 (albeit without a rangefinder). The "M" in "M camera", of course,
refers to "messsucher" - the German word for rangefinder............that lead us to a conversation about whether or not the X100 had an
AA (anti-aliasing) filter and, if so, how strong it was"...............Read
More at Luminous-Landscape
The new Nikon D800 DSLR deserves a nice set of 'prime' lenses as
part of the long-term investment. For those
photographers who
are seeking something different to use with their D800 there are
no finer lenses than Zeiss.
Zeiss have put
'electronic contacts'
for Nikon and Canon DSLRs into their professional grade 'manual
focus' lenses. Now with
their new Distagon T* 25mm f2 ZF.2 (with CPU)
lens + hood, they have an excellent low light line up.
From the
Zeiss Website - "The high-speed Distagon T* 2/25 enables creative photography
with interesting perspectives. Whether you are shooting
landscapes, architecture or photo documentaries, you will always
be able to capture detail-rich scenes - even in difficult
lighting conditions. Without a tripod, wide-angle shots with
sharp contrast edges also work every time. The large angular
field creates a dynamic yet natural effect. With excellent image
quality already starting from the widest aperture, the Distagon
T* 2/25 achieves great results in interior rooms. Carl Zeiss has
virtually eliminated the chromatic aberrations on this lens
thanks to a special optical construction and selection of
optical glasses. Two aspheric lens surfaces correct distortion
and image field curvature. The floating elements design creates
high imaging performance, regardless of the distance of the
subject"
Technical Data -
Zeiss 25mm f2
Distagon T* ZF.2 lens:
·
Coverage at close range**: 219 x 144
mm (close-up)
·
Image ratio at close range: 1 : 5.9
(close-up)
·
Filter thread: 67mm
·
Length with caps: 95 mm (ZF.2) / 98
mm (ZE)
·
Weight: 570 g (ZF.2) / 600 g (ZE)
·
Mounts: ZF.2 (F bayonet) & ZE (EF
bayonet)
Zeiss lenses for Nikon and Canon
DSLRs are renowned for their finish,
colour rendering and top end image
quality for 'stills' photography and
manual focus video. There is more
information on Zeiss and the Full
Frame 'Manual Focus Effect' in my
Full Frame Kit
section of this blog page.
My choice of Zeiss lenses for a
Nikon D800 DSLR would be -
With the huge 'crop capability' of
the new Nikon D800 DSLR (either
the DX mode for stills/video or
software PP) matched to lenses
that are built to deliver high image
quality, the Zeiss 25mm, 50mm, 100mm
lenses are capable of working in a
'field of view' from 25mm to 100mm
at 36Mpixels and the utterly awesome
Zeiss Makro 100mm lens at
200mm/18Mpixels (even longer in
certain cases).
Probably the leading authority on
Zeiss lenses is Lloyd Chambers at
diglloyd
but you will have to financially
subscribe to his website for reviews
- well worth it for such a
significant investment! You can get
more information on all the Nikon
compatible lenses from the
Zeiss Website and prices
from
Robert White
in the UK.
From the
Independent.ie -
"The RATINGS agency
Moody’s has downgraded the credit rating of six eurozone countries and threatened
Britain with the loss of its AAA credit
rating in the most serious challenge yet to the
UK economy. The outlook for
the creditworthiness of
Britain, France and Austria is now negative
while Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and
Malta have been downgraded by one notch and
Spain by two notches. The “high risk of further shocks” within the
eurozone that would hit the UK could also cost
Britain its AAA status, the agency said"
From
THE AGE - "WASHINGTON — Apple admitted some of its suppliers continued to overwork
and underpay employees, as it threw open its factory doors to monitors
after a spate of suicides at a Chinese plant.
After fielding heavy criticism for not policing conditions for the
workers who produce its popular iPads, iPhones and other products, Apple
on Friday divulged its list of suppliers and said it would allow an
outside labour rights group to monitor them.
Meanwhile an annual internal audit of its supply chain showed that just
38 per cent of the company's suppliers adhered to Apple's own standard
of a maximum 60 hour work week and minimum one day off per week".
The Canon 60D DSLR seems to be very popular with videographers
and is probably one of the least expensive routes to take when starting out in documentary work. This is a camera that comes in at
£779.00 and in parts of the following video it was coupled with the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS
lens with it's 27mm-88mm 'field of view' costing
£789.00 - both are vat inclusive in the UK,
please check
out the links -
The Canon 60D is used by Micha Hilliard - "Micha
Hilliard was born in a small town in Switzerland, among green
pastures, forests, and cows. After spending sixteen years in
this idyll, free and wild and happy, he moved to the United
States. He did so in order to continue his education. His family
stayed behind. Following a rough transitional period".......
more at
Imdb.com
"Nepal is a country of
soaring mountains, beautiful valleys and subtropical jungles. Its steep
terrain and lack of natural resources, however, have destined it to
remain one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. In
recent years, the Maoist uprising and civil war have lead to an even
faster deteriorating socio-economic infrastructure. As a result,
children from the impoverished countryside have begun to migrate to the
cities, some in search of better opportunities, others merely to escape
from their past lives. Most of these children end up on the streets.
They become the victims of child labor, subjected to exploitation, abuse
and violence" -
Today, I went 'suited and booted' into Edinburgh
for lunch with a pretty lady and a
romantic walk in the gardens at the castle.
Before I left the house, I had considered what camera would be
suitable for the occasion?
As usual, the answer was none, the Canon 5D DSLR was too large
to fit into my suit pocket and so was my Panasonic GF1 compact
system camera. When your strutting your stuff there's
nothing worse than a bulge in the wrong place spoiling the suit lines. A shoulder
bag or a waist belt pouch is totally uncool.
A couple of years ago I gave my last digital compact, a Canon
IXUS, to another
girlfriend and I bought the GF1 to replace it.
Anyway,
I had a great time and we laughed a lot - fortunately I still
have all my own teeth, so there were no embarrassing moments and
she never knew I was wearing my thermals. However the day lacked
the pictures and to make it worse the sun came out and I
overheated.
Anyway, here I am checking out 'genuine' pocket digital
compacts (again). Back at the end of December I
checked out a video of the Canon S100 digital compact, so I am
posting it again as the S100 seems like a very nice camera,
it shoots 'RAW' files. I have included links to other reviews
I am reading up on -
"When it comes to developing high-end compacts, Canon usually
succeeds in coming up trumps. That said, with a threat on the
horizon in the shape of the latest highly specified compact
system cameras (CSCs), camera manufacturers have to make their
advanced compacts work harder than ever to win customers. To
that end, Canon has gone all-out when developing the replacement
for the older
PowerShot S95. The new
PowerShot S100 – incorporating a 12.1Mp, 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor,
24-120mm (35mm equivalent) zoom lens, the latest DIGIC 5
processor and GPS functionality – is a fully-featured compact
that's aimed at advanced enthusiasts"...........TechRadar
"Video capture has also been revisited. Where the S95 was
limited to 720p high-def video (1,280 x 720 pixels, 24 frames
per second), and the S90 to just VGA standard-def capture, the
S100 can capture video at up to Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixel,
aka 1080p) resolution. The recording rate at this resolution is
limited to 24 frames per second, while lower resolutions are
captured at 30 fps. Images are still framed and reviewed on a
3.0-inch LCD panel, as in the earlier cameras. Like those
models, the Canon S100 offers not only Program Auto shooting,
but also caters to enthusiasts with both Aperture- and
Shutter-priority, plus fully Manual capture. There's also a
choice of JPEG or raw file formats, the latter a rare option in
current fixed-lens cameras"...........Imaging-Resource
"Canon's
PowerShot S100 is a pocket-sized camera aimed at enthusiasts who
want a compact model which doesn't compromise on features.
Announced in September 2011, it replaces the earlier PowerShot
S95 which proved to be one of Canon's most popular models in the
past year. Externally the new S100 resembles its predecessor,
but features many more changes than the previous S95 did over
the S90. Most notably the 28-105mm 3.8x zoom of the S90 and S95
has been upgraded to a new 24-120mm 5x range while maintaining
the fast f2.0 aperture when zoomed-out. The earlier 10 Megapixel
CCD sensor of the S90 and S95 has been switched for a new 12
Megapixel CMOS sensor with Canon's HS designation for improved
low-light performance. The image processor has also been
upgraded from DIGIC 4 to DIGIC 5, and you now have the chance to
adjust the noise reduction on JPEGs".....................Camera
Labs
The
Canon S100 is available for £385.00 inclusive of VAT at
WEX Photographic in the UK
- in black of course to match the suit, not exactly cheap but I
guess it might be worth it to remain cool!
A
Canon 5D MK 1 DSLR camera and a Canon 24-105L IS zoom lens is
not that heavy as a walk around solution.
I have used this combination on all my holidays since 2006,
barring 2010 when I tried out my compact Panasonic GF1 Micro
4/3rds camera and Lumix 14-45mm OIS zoom lens. I can tell you,
that having used a 5D 'full frame' sensor camera and the smaller
GF1 compact there is nothing that can beat the 'full frame'
perspective for those shots that are special even if it means
carrying a larger and heavier rig!
I like using the LCD of my GF1 but for sheer pleasure in taking
pictures, there is nothing better than peering through a
5D's viewfinder and through the 'optics' of a 77mm lens which is
sucking in all that light! The Canon 24-105mm IS f4 L is an
impressive lens.
I often read about photographers complaining about the weight of
their DSLR and how they have sold of their 'full frame' camera
and lenses to purchase a compact solution like Panasonic and
Olympus amongst many other 'mirrorless' camera systems with
interchangeable lenses. I could never give up my 5D DSLR for a
compact, I may use them side by side to compliment each other
but parting with my Canon 5D is unthinkable. Even if I purchased
a new variant (Canon 5D MK III) I still would never sell off the
old one!
The Canon 5D MK II DSLR with a 21MPixel full frame sensor
(later improved model to mine) plus the Canon 24-105L IS
zoom lens is selling for £2,293.00 inclusive of VAT at
WEX Photographic in the UK.
This is a fantastic price if you consider that an APS-C 1.5x
crop digital sensor Fuji X-Pro 1 (body only) is selling
on pre-order for £1,429.00 inclusive of VAT.
I can carry the Canon 5D/24-105L combo around my
neck all day using it's supplied shoulder strap and usually I
also cup the camera in my right hand lest anyone have a go at
stealing it. I never really notice the weight and when I am
using it, I slip the rig into various styles of shoulder bags
but my favourite bag is the
Lowepro 65AW 'Top Loader Pro'(check out the Lowepro site video)
which has enough room for the camera with zoom lens fitted plus
filters, spare memory and battery.
I have used this combination on all my holidays since 2006,
barring 2010 when I tried out my compact Panasonic GF1 Micro
4/3rds camera and Lumix 14-45mm OIS zoom lens. I can tell you,
that having used a 5D 'full frame' sensor camera and the smaller
GF1 compact there is nothing that can beat the 'full frame'
perspective for those shots that are special even if it means
carrying a larger and heavier rig!
