Canon 70D Review vs Canon T5i (700D) Review & Differences Explained

Full Text Review of the Canon 70D below video

My time and energy on this site and answering your questions is supported by folks like you buying the 70D through these links. It costs you nothing extra and provides me a small percentage of the sale.  Buy the Canon 70D from Amazon

Discussion separated into three areas- body, features and performance,

Body/Styling 70D vs T5i(700D)

• 700D smaller, lighter about ½ LB less - which works out to about 30% lighter

• 70D feels more solid in the hand - slightly more to grip and deeper

• 70D offers pentaprism viewfinder which is bigger and brighter than the pentamirror in the 700D

• Top LCD lets you see various camera settings at a glance plus top row of buttons provides for quick changes and two dials gives you access to shutter speed and aperture in Manual mode.  700D shares dial for shutter speed and aperture and extra button press to switch between function

• Custom mode on dial to save and return to commonly used settings

• Auto modes all accessed through SCN on the dial, cleaner more professional dial options

• Dedicated back auto focus button

• Bigger battery gives more than 2x battery life over the 700D

Features of the 70D vs T5i (700D)

• 19 cross type focus points and dedicate AF mode button with quick selection between modes and point selecting vs 9 cross type points on 700D

• 70D offers dual pixel focusing in live view - fast, accurate and rarely makes mistakes. Using with touchscreen for very impressive almost cinematographic results.  700D autofocus is capable but in live view it isn’t impressive, slower and more likely to hunt for focus. 700D needs STM lens for smooth focusing, 70D is smooth with virtually all modern lenses. STM still useful for that silent autofocus.

• 70D burst mode 7 fps with a big enough buffer for actually getting a serious burst.  Also offers a lower speed burst and quiet shutter mode at two speeds.  700D offers 5 frames per second with a smallish buffer, you really only get a 1-2 seconds of that burst rate, faster if shooting JPEG instead of RAW

• HDR ( both have backlight control but 70D also offers a more robust HDR with control over the exposure latitude and style.

• A pile of additional image features offered by the 70D- Multi exposure shot(additive or average), Bracketing at various exposure settings and select from 2-7 shots in sequence, raw image processing in camera - shoot only RAW but produce JPEG files in camera, ⅓ stop ISO, detailed control over AF tracking , Auto focus micro adjustments have returned to the 70D - REJOICE!, max shutter speed at 1/8000 second allows you to shoot at wider apertures under bright sun and multiple size raw files.

• Additional Video features offered by the 70D same frame rates as 700D but offers high and low compression, digital zoom and time code settings for better sync between cameras

• WIFI feature built into 70D - download images to mobile device or camera or activate live view and shoot remotely - no video and when connected to mobile device will only pass 1920 x 1080 images. T5i does not offer WIfi but you could use an Eye-Fi card to transfer files to mobile device or computer.

Performance/Results Canon 70D vs T5i (700D)

• Day to day shots/video files - very little difference between these until the light levels drop cleaner files from the 70D at 1600 and above. Difference is noticeable but not huge

• Slightly better on board flash exposure from the 70D.  700D still too bright though it can be adjusted.

• Feature or performance - video focus tracking the 70D is excellent makes for easy camcorder like focusing - if you are a parent that wants one device that will capture both video and stills without lots of work on your part - the 70D is the camera to get.

Final Thoughts -Both these cameras are capable of producing excellent images and video. What you need to decide as you watch my review/read the points below - are you willing to carry around the extra weight and spend the extra cash for the additional features of the 70D (and there are loads of them!)  I will have more to say about the 70D soon and share more testing samples and video - for now check out the links below for additional helpful information.Additional Helpful Videos

Canon 70D Wifi Demo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCKiJ1nOMFU

Canon 70D Digital Zoom Demo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bmf877Ii1TA

Editing RAW files on G+ - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJxb77Osqg0

Canon 70D SD Card and Buffer Test - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuEtZb3ZNLA

Canon 70D Review vs Nikon D7100 Review

  Bottom Line: Both the Canon 70D and the Nikon D7100 are excellent and produce really impressive video and stills in low light, and at high ISOs. Focus through the viewfinder is fast on both cameras and it really comes down to the features you are looking for should help you determine which is best for you.

Strengths of the Nikon D7100:

1. Well built with magnesium body, loads of buttons, customization of several buttons and dual card slots. The Canon 70D body is aluminum and polycarbonate. Both are weather sealed. The D7100 offers dedicated bracketing buttons too.
2. Excellent low light high ISO capabilities - I was stunned by the low light performance of the D7100 - high ISO files are clean and the dynamic range is excellent and remains excellent even in lower light. I am listing this as a strength for the Nikon but in most cases the Canon is on par with the quality though when I do see a winner it is the Nikon. If we want to talk about live view focusing in low light the Canon does an excellent job. The Nikon still struggles with this. In viewfinder focusing the two seem equal to me. Nikon does offer the crop mode which fills the frame with focus points, certainly useful for faster action.
3. Images and video are SHARP! Nikon ditched their anti-aliasing filter and the result is sharper video and images AND they still manage to control moire. Even when I try to get moire on the Nikon I can’t - on the Canon I can get it without even trying. It is often avoidable but you are more likely to see it in Canon video.
4. 100% viewfinder- When you look through the viewfinder you get exactly what you see and it is nice and bright. Canon’s at 98% is very slightly dimmer and not exactly what you see - Having that large bright viewfinder is very useful in lower light situations, really helps you see what you are photographing and checking focus.
5. Retouch menu and extra scenes/effects. The D7100 offers a slew of scenes, some of those scene modes that work in video and a robust retouch menu. Now professionals are not likely to be excited by these scenes and the retouch menu but the options are there and they can be fun even if some scene/effects are gimmicky (selective color I am looking at you) - I will also throw in here the dedicated bracketing button that Nikon adds in, nice for serious HDR work.
6. Wireless is a $60 add on and is limited to phone/tablet devices but you can send full resolution files through the air. Canon’s wifi is built in with greater features- including connecting to your computer but you are limited to 1920 x 1080 sized JPEGS that you can send across to your phone or tablet.
7. Uncompressed HDMI Out - this is a professional level feature that allows you to connect an external monitor or HD for recording video straight to a drive.

Strengths of the Canon 70D:

1. The headline feature of the 70D is that lovely live view and video focus - fast, smooth and almost always on target. In the past with a few exceptions live view focusing on DSLRs has been slow, painfully slow and plagued by a hunting for focus, especially in lower light. The updated sensor technology of the 70D fixes these issues. I find myself using live view whenever it is convenient. The 70D locks onto focus smoothly with any lens and gives you have camcorder like focus while still maintaining the beautiful shallow depth of field and low light capabilities that make DSLR video great. Add an STM lens and focus is silent, perfect for the parent who wants excellent video of their child.
2. That live view focus is great and having it on an articulated screen is wonderful.  lift it up, lower it, face it toward you for talking head videos - it just works very well.
3. So i just went on and on about the wonderful live view focusing, couple that with the articulated screen and the fact that the articulated screen is an excellent touchscreen and the 70D is FUN to use - nothing feels like a chore. Touch to focus is useful and if you are doing video work, being able to touch softly to make changes is appreciated and flip the screen around if you are recording yourself for talking head videos like the ones on my Youtube Channel and you can still make changes to settings on the camera - though you cannot start and stop video from the touchscreen.
4. Ergonomics and one handed operation - If you don’t want to use the touchscreen the manual controls on the 70D camera are sweet and with just a finger you push button, rotate a wheel and your settings is changed. Nikon is more two handed in those actions with many buttons left of the screen that needs a push.  Not a big difference and some people  prefer the feel of the Nikon.
5. Burst mode and buffer, the burst mode on this camera at 7fps is serious and the buffer is large enough that you can keep shooting at that high speed long enough to capture your moment. D7100 shoots at 6fps and the buffer fills up in just a second. You can enable crop mode on D7100 which gives you better results but still not great especially if you are using those dual card slots - if faster action is your subject matter the 70D offers the burst mode that you need.
6. Wifi built in with greater options for sharing vs D7100 - Built in Wifi gives you some nifty options for downloading images on the go or direct to your computer(buggy software) or uploading to web services - I am frustrated that you are limited to only transferring 1920 x 1080 sized files and you can't start and stop video.

Longer Bottom Line: Both of these cameras have lots to offer and it really depends on your needs that should determine which is a better camera for you. Parents that want an excellent device to photo and video their children - the 70D really feels like the perfect blend of power and usability, especially paired with the 18-135 STM that will give you silent autofocus. Indie film makers I would think the Nikon with gorgeous low light video and uncompressed HDMI would be what you want. Wedding/event videographers - It can go either way, most professionals I know of and talk to don’t use and are not interested in auto focus during video but I know that there is a group out there very interested in this camera and there are the semi-pros that are interested in easy autofocus while filming and the 70D provides that.  That is just a few use cases. . . Want my opinion on which is best for you?  Leave a comment below and make sure you tell me what you will be photographing or taking video of.  And anything else you think would be helpful for me to know.

Canon 70D Review- Complete Thoughts

I heartily recommend this camera- It performs well, provides unbelievable liveview/video autofocus, even with the shallowest depth of field and moves the Canon APS-C sensor forward, performing noticeably better than the 60D and other Canon models using the same sensor.I am not the only one that feels this way -

“Ultimately, this is still the best all-around DSLR in this price segment, pending our test of the Pentax K-3. The video quality is top notch, the still image quality only suffers in extreme low light, and Dual Pixel AF offers a usability advantage that nobody else can match. For a consumer-level shooter or hobbyist that wants a durable, control-laden DSLR that can do video and stills equally well, the 70D is the choice to beat.”

From Reviewed.comDo you have questions you want to see answered about the 70D? Leave a comment belowWhile you wait for my full review- Canon 70D vs D7100 Part ICanon 70D vs D7100 Part IIAll Canon 70D videos - Buffer/SD Card Tests, Low light tests, Wifi Feature and more.Canon 70D Image SamplesCanon 70D Manual in PDF form (stick it in Dropbox so you always have the manual available)Using HDR Mode Canon 70D (Coming soon)  

Canon 70D Video Samples and Feature Tour

Two videos packed full of 70D Goodness.   Not enough for you?  More 70D samples and video. 70D Buffer test and best SD card for the 70D.  Download the Canon 70D PDF Manual. 70D Dual Pixel Focus Demo.  Is the 70D as good as a camcorder at focusing and keeping moving objects in focus?  Remember that camcorders, with their much smaller sensors, produce video with large depth of field and this makes it much easier to keep objects in focus.  The 70D which a large sensor and lenses with wide maximum apertures can produce razor thin depth of field -it looks lovely in video and photos but makes focusing a bit more challenging.  I have been seriously impressed with how well the 70D has done, with lenses as wide as f/1.2, the 85mm f/1.2 L. I have also been impressed with the absence of that focus hunt.  In previous DSLR cameras there is always this 1/2 to full second where the camera grabs focus, goes just beyond and then back to focus.  the 70D in all but the dimmest conditions locks onto focus on the first try.    Here is a good light demo of the 70D in action.Second video is a complete side by side tour of the 70D and 60D - discussing the differences and similarities. In general these two cameras look and feel very similar in the hand with the 70D having a few styling and function differences that move it just slightly more towards the pro end of Canon. The video below is long, 16+ minutes and if you only want to see the product tour you can skip to 8:00 where I start the product tour of the 70D

Canon 70D Manual PDF

As I explained in my unboxing/first look video it is always a good idea to get your hands on the digital version of your manuals and I suggest you stick those into dropbox.Click the image for PDF Goodness-

Canon 70D vs D7100 - Buffer Speed/Write Speed with Common SD Cards

A simple and not completely scientific test - I took each SD card I had lying around - formatted it, stuck it in the camera being tested and held the shutter down for 10 seconds. Counted the number of shots in that ten seconds and wrote it all down on the spreadsheet below. The Canon 70D does get a win in the performance column, interestingly with the fast cards the D7100 comes back on the RAW side but overall the 70D consistently pumps out more shots per ten second period than the D7100. I will add some images of the wave forms so you can get a sense for how it looks over the ten second period.Canon 70D Burst Rate/FPS

Canon 70D Image Samples & High ISO Samples

[gallery ids="3892,3891,3890,3889,3888,3886,3887,3885,3884"] A few more lower light shots[gallery ids="3899,3900,3901"]70D f/5.6 ISO 320 100% crop 18-135 STM Lens

Video of Dual Pixel focusing in action on the 70D

RAVPower RP-WD01 WiFi Disk Review with Video

I love technology that makes me feel like I am living in the future and the future is now.  The RAVPower RP-WD01 WiFi Disk or the [5-in-1] RAVPower® Wireless SD Card Reader,USB External HDD / SDD / USB Flash Disk Reader,3000mAh External Battery Pack & NAS File Server & Wi-Fi Hot Spot Wireless Media Streaming FileHub RP-WD01 as Amazon calls it is one such device. The Amazon name does a pretty good job of telling you what this device is all about but let's break it down in a few simple bullets.

• SD Card Reader & Wireless SD Card Reader (supports SD card sizes up to 128GB)
• Powered by a 3000mAh battery for hours of streaming or use it as a battery backup for your phone or tablet
• File server - Files on the SD Card are accessible via wireless (up to 5 simultaneous connections). Device also supports USB drives and thumb drives
• Wireless Bridge - Device connects to your internet so you can stay online AND access the files on the device  - Again up to 5 devices can be connected.

My Photographer side appreciates another option for getting files from your camera to your smartphone or tablet, especially on the go.  Pop the SD card out of your camera- or if you use Compact flash you can attach a CF reader to the USB port on the device and connect your smartphone or tablet and browse the files on the card.  Copy a few files or all of the files.  You could also insert a thumb drive or small USB drive and make a backup by copying the files over to the thumb drive - all without a computer and running on the battery power of the device.    And if you wanted to be boring you could plug the WiFi disk in with the included micro USB cable - same cable that charges it - and use as a standard, wired SD card reader. RavPower provides free apps for Android and iOS to connect, browse and interact with the files. The apps are simple and easy to use.   On a computer you access the device through your browser - it is a little clunky here but gets the job done. And that is similar to the manual - it is better than I expected but could certainly have some more polish.[gallery columns="2" ids="3864,3865"]So far I have used the device to pull off multiple images, RAW and Jpeg.  I have streamed compressed video which worked very smoothly, no hiccups at all. Streaming a high quality HD video was another story. The wireless speed just wasn't fast enough to keep up with the file and it stopped and buffered at several points.    I have seen reviews of similar devices made by the big names and they have the same issues with the higher quality content.  You can also send files from your tablet or smartphone to the device.An Aside - Working with RAW files on the go. iOS users you have the excellent PhotoRaw app. Android users try Photo Mate or Raw Vision 

Full Video Review of the RAVPower RP-WD01 WiFi Disk

Buy the RAVPower RP-WD01 WiFi Disk or the [5-in-1] RAVPower® Wireless SD Card Reader,USB External HDD / SDD / USB Flash Disk Reader,3000mAh External Battery Pack & NAS File Server & Wi-Fi Hot Spot Wireless Media Streaming FileHub RP-WD01 from Amazon.   

Metering Modes Explained Simply

Evaluative, Spot, Partial - what do they mean, how do you use them? 

Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Art Series Review and Samples

For a crop sensor camera there is no better none-prime lens you can put on your camera and there are very few primes that can match what it offers at any focal length.  The value of this lens is excellent.

Lets get the cons out of the way. . . crickets.   Ok, seriously if you want to get picky. .

Its not cheap but you can’t expect a lens this good, this ground breaking to be cheap - it is still in the realm of affordable at $799 - I have seen a few deals that drop that $50 to $100 but I don’t expect this lens to be much cheaper in a year or 2 or 3.

It doesn’t have IS -so what, neither does my $2200 Canon 24-70 f/2.8 USM lens

It is a limited range - now this is a valid concern BUT across that range you get f/1.8 - there are no primes that offer f/1.8 at 18mm.  Basically when you walk around with this lens you are walking around with a bag of primes, 18, 24, 30, 35 all at f/1.8 and all very, very sharp.

The Pros:

Build quality is top notch, metal construction, distance indicator - great for star shots. Focus ring moves so smoothly, offers full time manual focus.  Zoom is smooth and fluid.

[gallery link="file" ids="3834,3835,3836,3837,3838,3839,3840,3841,3842,3843,3844,3845,3846"]

Full size sample images!

Buying the Sigma?  Amazon | B&H | Adorama

Light Painting - Samples & How-to

Super Simple Light Painting How-to:

Need:

• Camera that lets you control shutter speed
• Tripod (or flat surface to place the camera on)
• a moveable light source - small LED keychain light, cheap electroluminescent wires, laser pointer
• Bonus - Remote trigger release(Canon | Nikon) or use the 2 second timer to avoid shaking the camera when you press the shutter button

Steps:

1. focus camera on the area where you will be painting. If this is in a room just turn on the lights, focus on your subject or where your subject will be then turn off the light. Outside? Have someone stand with a flashlight or shine the flashlight on a spot to get focus.
2. Put camera on manual (M) and set your shutter speed for as long as you think it will take you to complete the painting.  5-10 seconds is a good starting point. Aperture should be as large as possible.  ISO around 400-800.    Take a test photo with painting any light - how much ambient light is captured?   Too much?  Lower your ISO.  Too little? raise your ISO.  Repeat until you have background exposed as desired.
3. Attempt your first painting.  Review and try again.  Experiment! Have fun!

New Canon Announcements - G16, S120 and a 55-250 STM Lens

Canon has announced a few P&S cameras and a new version of the 55-250 (budget zoom) that uses STM technology.  This brings the number of STM equipped lenses to 4- 18-55 iS STM, 18-135 IS STM, 40mm STM and now the 55-250 IS STM.  For parents looking to capture smoother video of their child on the field - this is a great answer.EF-S 55-250 IS STM will be available in late september and sell for $350.  Beyond the addition of STM the new lens will be sharper and offer more contrast across the rane(a good thing) and offers internal focusing- nothing sticks out as you focus, more like a professional level lens.  All in all quite nice imrpovements to this budget zoom.Canon PowerShot G16 continues a long line of enthusiasts level P&S.  The G16 offers minor upgrades from the G15(the lens, sensor and design are all identical to G15) Wifi, Digic 6 processor which gives you a slightly faster burst mode of 12.1 fps and 60p video.Canon PowerShot S120 also gets WiFi, a slightly faster lens (F1.8-5.7 vs F2.0-5.9) and the Digic 6 which means 12.1fps and 60p video recording.    The S1110 was one of my top picks for pocketable P&S the inclusion of WiFi is nice.  There are a few other P&S and certainly some micro 4/3 that offer better quality but it is hard to find anything this small, with the nice manual control scheme that offers very good quality images and video.    Did you know my very first video on my channel was a review of the S90.  I think you will agree I have improved some since then.

 Preorder Links Below

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens $349Amazon | B&H Photo | AdoramaCanon PowerShot G16 $549Amazon | B&H Photo | AdoramaCanon PowerShot S120 $449Amazon | B&H Photo | Adorama Canon Announced a few additional P&S cameras, I will add a brief blurb about them soon too, truthfully they are not very exciting. 

Picking the best lens for your DSLR

In this video I offer some advice for determining the value of a lens and help you pick the best lens for your DSLR

Photographing the Stars - Quick Guide

Quick tips on capturing the stars and possibly a meteor or two if you are shooting during a meteor storm or have access to a very clear sky. During the peak of meteor storms you can see 80-100 meteors an hour for those with clear/dark skies. Normally that number is closer to 12 an hour, again skies need to be dark!  When taking star photos you can end up with star trails or no star trails. It all depends on your focal length and shutter speed and whether or not you follow the 500 rule.

500 Rule for Star-trail-less Photos

The 500 rule states that your shutter speed needs to be faster than your focal length divided by 500.  Some places you see 600 used but safer is 500.  So if you are shooting at 50mm you take 500/50 and get 10 seconds.  BUT that only applies to folks shooting with full frame cameras, if you have a crop sensor camera like the Canon Rebel Series of the Nikon Dxxx series you need to multiple your crop factor times your focal length and then divide that by 500.   Nikon crop factor is 1.5 and Canon is 1.6.Here is a handy chart to use as a starting guide- Numbers are your maximum shutter length in seconds before you will start to see the dots of the stars turn into streaks.Columns B through D give you the number of seconds before you will probably start seeing star trails. You can of course go shorter, longer and you will start to see star trailsFor a starry sky you often want to go as wide as possible. 18mm if using the kit lens but if you have access to anything wider- use it.  Wider lenses allow you to gather more light and often offer a wider maximum aperture.

A good starting point10 second shutterAperture f/3.5 (wider if possible with your lens)ISO 3200

The trick is focusing and composition.  It is often helpful to include some of the landscape in your composition but judging if you have a straight horizon and focus in pitch black is difficult. A solution is to take some test shots using a VERY high ISO and a shorter shutter speed - these will be very noisy images but you can, without waiting a full 10 seconds at a time, judge your composition and probably your focus.

Focus Tip - If your lens has any type of distance indicator you want it set near infinity, that is not a guraguaranteet the stars will be in sharp focus but it is likely. Use the test shot suggestion to judge focus and make adjustments as needed.   If there is a silhouette or a building, anything in the distance you can use that to manually focus, radio towers with their little blinky red lights can also be helpful.  Anything further than a 1/2 mile away is going to give you a target that will set your camera on infinity focus and that should give you sharp stars.

Keep warm and keep shooting.Recommended Gear-Sturdy Tripod: Dolica Proline Tripod |MeFoto Travel Tripod (Review of both Tripods)Intervalometer or TriggerTrap for using Bulb Mode or just firing your shutter without shaking the camera.Wide Angle Lens: Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 is one of the best and most affordable lenses for photographing stars. 

 Photographing Meteors

When photographing meteors you want to avoid any star trails, you want the little streaks left by the meteors to stand out so follow the chart.First task is to find a suitable location with a clear view of the source or radiant. In the case of the Perseids you want a dark sky to your north east, in the direction of the Perseids meteor shower.  I intent to use the the Google Sky App on Android | iOS options.   You really want to make sure the sky is dark, these longer exposures quickly pick up any light pollution and are going to blow out the bottom of your image.Picking a focal length and focusing - You want to go fairly wide here, under 50mm but not really wide as that will likely give you puny little streaks that take up a very small percentage of your image.    Focusing is tricking.  If you have a light tower or something contrasting against the sky, like a mountain, in the far distance you can use that. If you have a distance scale on your lens you can set it just shy of the infinity mark.   Neither of those work for you?  Raise your ISO to the highest possible and take a few shots, a very high ISO will allow you to take a shorter longer exposure so you aren't sitting around for 30 seconds wondering if you have focus.  Take a series of test photos until you are sure you have nailed focus.Camera settings - You have your shutter speed from the chart above, your aperture should be close to wide open and your ISO should be as low as possible.  You might be better off with even shorter exposures, longer exposures will dim any streaks you get. I hope to use my Triggertrap long exposure (star trail) feature to automatically take photo after photo, their star trail feature lets me specify a long exposure and the gap between images.  You can use a standard intervalometer too but that isn't quite as elegant. You could also use a remote and have the camera set for the desired shutter speed and least desirable you push the shutter button - if you use this method make sure you use the 2 second delay so that you pressing the button doesn't jiggle the camera creating blurry images.Your Camera must be sitting on a sturdy tripod.Sit back and enjoy the show.(this is one reason I am going to let Triggertrap do the work, I want to be looking at the sky, not the back of my camera all night. More about the PerseidsThe best budget lens for astrophotography.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TSrFKLzsrQShare your thoughts, tips and comments below.   

New Nikon Products and 4% Back on Amazon

Nikon recently released a few new products including a new "kit" lens, the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens. I put "kit" in quote because currently this lens is not being sold with any cameras but I expect that it will be offered in place of the 18-105 and as an alternative to the 18-55 with future Nikon cameras. My biggest complaint about that current Nikon kit lenses, especially the 18-55, they just don't do the sensor justice. Nikon is offering great sensors in the D3200, D5200 and D7100 and if you have the 18-55 on there you get soft images. Switch to a better lens and the difference is noticeable. Like "OH WOW" noticeable. This lens looks to improve significantly in sharpness. I wonder if we will have to wait for the next Dxxx models to see this bundled or after release at the end of August We may see this bundled with existing Nikon DSLRS? Pre-order the Nikon 18-140 from Amazon | B&HNikon also announced a tiny little entry level Flash, the Nikon SB-300 AF Speedlight. At $150 it is pretty cheap as flashes go but not being able to rotate - only tilt - knocks down my interest a bit. And a better value would be one of the budget Yongnuo flashes like the Yongnuo YN-468 II i-TTL For 1/2 the price you get a more feature filled flash with more power and can rotate as well as tilt. Watch this video for a brief discussion of external flashesPre-order the Nikon SB-300 AF from B&HSpeaking of Amazon - They have upped their rewards program to 4%, 35 days after purchasing select cameras, DSLRS and lenses you get a promotional code that is good for 6 months. All the small print.  The hassle is non-existent, you buy stuff on the list and you get the credit.Here are the P&S Cameras, DSLRS and Lenses eligible.

DIY - Black Rapid and Dolica Tripod Plate - Making them work together

One of my readers sent me his excellent solution that allows him to use his Black Rapid Fastener and Dolica quick release plate. Dolica AX620B100 and Black Rapid SportFor a Dolica quick release plate to use it with a black rapid sport requires a few modifications if you want to use both without having to switch. Technically this works on any similar designs with a 5mm or more available space under the quick release plate. I didn’t want to spend the money for a Manfrotto tripod for it to be compatible, and even that has issues with tolerances.Suggested fixes were Black Rapid’s recommended M-plate by Custom SLR is $70 and Really Right Stuff has an L plate for $60. For $17.95 you can replace the fastener with Black Rapid’s FR-T1 Manfrotto RC2 version and skip the adapter plate. Unfortunately while looking up the FR-T1 the same issue pops up with the neck of the screw blocking the inset of the quick release. Black Rapid sent me the specifications and compared to the Dolica fastener everything is relatively the same except for the inset.So… Remove the offending material! Really, it’s made out of stainless steel, it’s going to hold either way. No guarantees but if you’re paranoid of the screw coming out or metal breaking you can use an op/tech H uni-loop as a backup to a top connection(more about using the uni-loop as backup). It is the perfect size to connect from behind the Black Rapid carabineer to one of the top points of the Canon Rebels.Get a grinder, dremel, etc. with a bit that can grind stainless steel. Take the lip down to the hole in your quick release so it can inset for the least amount of wiggle. You can use Sugru to rubberize it and fill in gaps as well so things don’t slide around. Connect it all up and secure the carabineer with gaffers tape (does not leave residue) to make sure the slide does not retract.

Thanks to Roy for sharing this excellent DIY.  

Recommended Lenses for Nikon D5300/D5500/D7200 (DX Cameras)

Nikon Lenses for DX Cameras like the D5200 and D7100

Primes - Non-zooming lenses that offer excellent value and low light capabilities - these are the lenses you want for those lovely blurred background photos.  Why you should own a prime.Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DXGreat low-light walk-around lens, versatile focal length- Decent for portraits, street photography and general travel. If I was limited to just one lens this would be it. Amazing sharpness for the value.  Buy from Amazon | B&HNikon 40mm f/2.8G AF-S DX MicroSacrifice some light/maximum aperture (just over a stop which is not insignificant) but gain an excellent value macro that does 1:1 lifesize. I was blown away that this was less the $300.  Full Nikon 40mm Review. Buy from Amazon | B&HNikon 50mm f/1.8G AF-S FXThe 50mm focal length translates to 75mm on a DX sensor (D5200 and D7100 have DX sensors or crop sensors) 75mm is a lovely focal length for portraits. NOTE: D5200 users get the AF-S G version, linked here.  D7100 users have inbody focus motor and you can use the older D version without an issue.   Indie filmmakers with either camera may want to consider the D version with aperture control built into the lens.  Why Nikon movie makers want mechanical aperture control.   Buy from Amazon | B&HNikon 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR EDNikon 18-105 is not exciting but I mention it here as a decent value when purchased with a Nikon camera, better than the 18-55 which really holds back the potential of these newer Nikon cameras with excellent sensors. Buy from Amazon | B&HSigma 17-70 2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM for NikonNoticeably sharper than the kit and offers a nice f/4 at 70mm, this is great for portraits and the fact that you can be at 17mm and f/2.8 along with optical stabilization makes this an excellent low light zoom capable lens.  The Macro feature is not worth mentioning other than to say you can get as close as you can with the kit lens, but you do have those extra stops of light. Buy from Amazon | B&HTamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR Di LDA little slow to focus, no image stabilization but SHARP and gives you f/2.8 across the range, 75mm and f/2.8 is beautiful for portraits and this lens is useable on full frame should you decide to upgrade cameras.  Buy from Amazon | B&HNikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DXGOOD Value, gets a little soft out at 300 but for under $400 you get a decent zoom lens.   Buy from Amazon | B&HA second option for Zoom, Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR, it is a sharper lens than the 55-300 and bought used from Amazon costs just $300.

Recommended Nikon Lenses for Video

I get lots of questions about shooting video with Nikon and the lenses I recommend for video work- personally it would be any of the lenses that offer mechanical aperture control, this gives you the ability to change the aperture without leaving live view, an annoying quirk of Nikon cameras. Watch this video on Manual Aperture Control in a Nikon D5200. Serious videographers are not worried about auto focus so the 50mm f/1.8D or the Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 offer excellent quality and complete control for video work. These recommendations apply to your indie film/videographer, if you are a parent capturing your child any of the lenses mentioned above are just fine.Buying used is an option for all of these lenses, you don't save much on the prime lenses as they often keep very high resale value but the zoom lenses (any lens I mentioned that is not a prime) you can save enough to make it worthwhile.  I buy all my lenses (new and used) on Amazon or B&H these.This was just a list of my value picks of DX appropriate lenses. There are other options too, leave a comment below with your favorite lens.  If you have questions about any of these lenses or another lens you are considering for your Nikon shoot me a message on Facebook, linked under the video.

How to take nice portraits with Canon T4i/T5i and 18-135 Lens

Part of my series of Wednesday tips designed to get you taking better photos.  

Canon T5i(700D) - Everything you want to know

Picture of a Canon T5i Coming Soon

My Series of how-to Videos using the Canon T5i and T4i

T5i(700D) Information

Amazon Free Accessories - Get a 16GB SD Card and SlingBag with your SL1, or T5i purchase.

• Best SD Card for Canon T5i- SanDisk Extreme 16GB or 32GB (Get 32GB if going on long vacation or shooting lots of video)
• Canon T4i Bundles -  18-55 STM vs 18-135 STM (which is right for you?)
• Canon T5i - First Look
• Canon T5i Touchscreen Demo (coming soon)
• Canon T5i Creative Filters (NEW Feature)
• Canon T5i PDF Manual

The Versus Posts

• Canon T5i(700D) vs 70D (and 60D)
• Canon T5i vs T4i vs T3i
• Canon T5i vs D5200

Other Recent Canon Posts

• Canon Recommended Lenses (by budget)
• Canon's New 40mm f/2.8 STM & How to read MTF Charts
• 18-55 STM vs 18-135 STM Lenses - Which is right for you?
• What does STM mean? Canon 40mm and 18-125 STM Lenses explained

 

Q: Should I buy the T5i to replace my aging camcorder?A: Maybe - Camcorders are still easier to work with, focus faster and you can get a nice 1080P camcorder for less Sony HDRPJ260V High Definition Handycam 8.9 MP Camcorder with 30x Optical Zoom, 16 GB Embedded Memory and Built-in Projector  What you don't get with a camcorder is excellent low light capabilities that the T5i offers and the lovely blurred backgrounds you get shooting with the larger sensor at large apertures. Not to mention all the lenses Canon has to offer and of course an excellent camera capable of taking photos, none of the camcorders can take even close to a comparable photo at this time.  You now have the option of the 70D from Canon which does offer camcorder like focusing power with an incredible high quality sensor. More about the Canon 70D.Q: I have a canon T3i, should I upgrade?A: Review the T3i vs T5i post above.  The T5i is a nicer camera but doesn't offer a ton of new features that will make you a better photographer or produce much higher quality photos. The one caveat is the new 18-135 STM lens is excellent and buying the T5i with the 18-135 kit is a good value and one of the first longer range "walk-around" lenses that I can highly recommend.Q: I don't understand the difference between the auto focus during video of the T3i and the T5i- can you explain this simply?A: Most DSLRS have a mirror that bounces the light coming into the camera up to the viewfinder and the big brains of the camera(responsible for focusing), when you go to take a photo the camera focuses(very quickly) and then the mirror flips up(this usually is louder than the actual shutter) and the light hits the sensor and you have a photo.   In live view or while filming (basically the same as live view) the mirror is flipped up and stays up, this blocks the big brains from being part of the focusing and as a result the camera focuses much more slowly as it uses the littler brain connected to the sensor and can only do it when you ask the sensor to focus, it is not capable of continuous AF.  You also have the option of letting the mirror flip down for a second, refocus, and continue filming. This does cut off light to the sensor for a moment and interrupts the video.    Canon has made changes to the sensor, it is now a hybrid CMOS sensor that basically has a bigger brain and is capable of continuously auto focusing while filming without flipping down the mirror or being very slow about it.Q: Is the T5i fast enough for sports photography?A: The T5i is now up to 5.3 FPS - Frames Per Second, Shooting RAW you can only get six shots before the buffer needs to clear.  My direct experience with the T3i was that this buffer really took time to clear, especially if you were shooting RAW.  JPEG gives you almost 22 shots before the buffer is full.  So, you hold the shutter down for one second and you get 6 shots and can't take any more for several seconds.  In the world of sports (except maybe your child) this is not fast enough and the buffer does not clear fast enough.  If you are serious about sports the 60D or 70D is an option or buy  7D - used would be just fine and at $1000 a great deal for a serious camera. Watch my video that details burst mode shooting with the Canon T4i/T5iQ: Is the T5i the best camera in its class?  A: Really hard to answer this one - And you probably need to really define the "class" you are talking about.  The T5i is an excellent camera with lovely features but it isn't really a game changer (I know that this doesn't directly answer the question)  And there are now loads of options.  I am still Canon biased, you are buying into a huge ecosystem - tons of excellent lenses (Canon Recommended Lenses (by budget)), oodles of accessories and quality control plus customer service that is really only matched by Apple.    When I am shooting weddings I am always keeping an eye on the guests and what they shoot with and Canon is still champ in numbers but cameras like the Sony NEX series and Olympus Pen are certainly on the increase.  A strong alternative is the Sony a65 or the Nikon D5200Q: Can I use my old Canon lenses with the T5iA: You can use your old lenses with the t5i, unless they are really old.  If they have the designation EF or EF-S they will work just fine with your T5i.Q: What SD Card should I get if I am going to be shooting videoA: You want the SanDisk Extreme 16GB SDHC Flash Memory Card It is fast, reliable and affordable, you do NOT Need the ones labeled Video, they don't offer anything different and the SanDisk Extreme works perfectly for video and photos.  If you will be shooting LOADS of video with the canon T5i grab the 32GB versionQ: If I am primarily interested in video - is the T5i or the D5200 a better dslr for videoA: The T5i is easier to work with but the D5200 is excellent in lower light and allows clean/uncompressed HDMI out. Two downsides to Nikon D5200 1. can't change aperture during video or even when live view is turned on.  2. Kit lenses on the Nikon stink and you really need to shoot with a better lens.  Primes are great option, so is the SIgma 17-70 C.  My review of the Sigma 17-70C.Q: Earlier Rebels could only film for 12 minutes, What is the movie recording limit on the T4i?A: The limit is now 29min and 59seconds.  With a fully-charged Battery Pack LP-E8, the total movie shooting time approx. 1 hr. 40 min. at room temperature and approx. 1 hr. 20 min. at lower temps. Remember that each 20 minute clip at 1080P is going to be nearly 10GB.  A complete list of recording limits of the T2, T3i, T4i, T5i and D5200.Q: Should I buy a spare battery? and if so third part or canon?A: I would buy a spare, battery life is good -about 500 shots-  but it is always nice to have a spare around and I might even say essential if you plan on shoot lots of video.  Buying the Canon Brand LP-E8 for the T4i (same battery used for t2i and t3i) is safest but there honestly is little chance anything bad will happen from using a 3rd party battery other than it might not last quite as long.  Though in my experience with the Rebel XT 3rd party batteries were just fine.Q: How is the Canon T5i Touchscreen? Do you accidentally press it with your nose?A:  The Canon T5i touchscreen is excellent, this isn't a cheap resistive screen we have seen on other P&S cameras, rather it is a screen very similar to the Apple iPhone and iPad screens we all know and love - it is fast, responsive and for now Canon still offers physical buttons for all the controls so you the touchscreen's use is entirely optional, though I think you will find it a much faster and more intuitive way to change settings. - Video Demo of the Touch Screen. In over a year of use of the T4i/T5i screen I have not once accidentally activated the screen.Q: Will EF Lenses work on the Canon T4i?A:  YES - EF and EF-S lenses work on the Canon T4i. EF-S do NOT work on full frame cameras like the 5D Mark II and III. My list of Canon Recommended lenses.Have a question not answered here? Leave it in the comments on on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Digital.Photo.Recommendations Liking this page will also put you in the running for the future giveaways.  Did you know I just gave away $600 in prizes!  

Canon T5i vs 60D vs 70D

How does the Canon T5i stack up against the 60D and 70D?

Pros of the 60D and 70D bodies

• Top LCD screen and slightly more accessible button layout for quickly adjusting settings
• Bigger slightly more robust body
• Slightly Faster FPS with a little larger buffer, longer burst shooting
• Faster Max shutter speed at 1/80000 of a second
• Pentaprism viewfinder = brighter/larger
• Longer battery life

Additionally the 70D offers (70D Pros)

• A newly designed sensor - 22MP and better low light capabilities.
• Camcorder like auto focus when used with any Canon lens - Silent AF during video if using 18-55 STM or 18-135 STM lens
• WiFI for streaming live view or sharing images to smartphone/tablet
• Micro focus adjustment - pro level feature that lets you align lenses and cameras for maximum sharpness
• Multiple compression levels for H.264 video
• Touchscreen

Canon T5i Pros-Over the 60D

• Continuous Auto focus during video (silent when paired with new STM lenses 40mm or 18-135)
• On board Stereo Mic
• Newer Digic Processor = higher ISO capabilities & in camera HDR
• Touch screen
• Smaller - more easily portable

-Over the 70D

• Smaller - more easily portable
• Cheaper with 18-55 STM or 18-135 STM lens

	70D Pro A newly designed sensor - 22MP and better low light capabilities. Camcorder like auto focus when used with any Canon lens - Silent AF during video if using 18-55 STM or 18-135 STM lens WiFI for streaming live view or sharing images to smartphone/tablet Micro focus adjustment - pro level feature that lets you align lenses and cameras for maximum sharpness Multiple compression levels for H.264 video Touchscreen Top LCD screen and slightly more accessible button layout for quickly adjusting settings Slightly Faster FPS with a little larger buffer, longer burst shooting Faster Max shutter speed at 1/80000 of a second Pentaprism viewfinder = brighter Longer battery life Price- Body Only $1199 | with 18-55 Lens | with 18-135 Lens $1549
	60D Pro Top LCD screen and slightly more accessible button layout for quickly adjusting settings Slightly Faster FPS with a little larger buffer, longer burst shooting Faster Max shutter speed at 1/80000 of a second Pentaprism viewfinder = brighter Longer battery life Price- Body Only $599 | with 18-135 Lens
	T5i Pro Continuous Auto focus during video (silent when paired with new STM lenses 40mm or 18-135) On board Stereo Mic Newer Digic Processor = higher ISO capabilities & in camera HDR Touch screen Smaller - more easily portable Canon T5i (Best Prices on Amazon)

 The 60D has been out for almost four years, announced August 2010. The 70D began shipping at the beginning of September 2013. The T5i and 60D share the same sensor.  At low ISOs the image quality and noise levels should be virtually identical.  The 70D has a new 22MP sensor with improved low light capabilities. All cameras have articulated LCD screens of the same size but the T5i and 70D have touchscreens with the 70D being slightly improved, very little real world difference there.   Looking through the viewfinder the 60D/70D has pentaprism which means a brighter viewfinder, The 60D/70D also uses the larger LP-E6 batteries which effectively doubles battery life, 60D/70D gets nearly 1100 shots per battery, the T5i is around 500.  You also get higher FPS and shutter speed with the 60D/70D, 6fps/7fps and 1/8000 second versus 5.3 with the T5i and a larger buffer on the 60D/70D gives you a few more shots at those higher speeds. 60D/70D is a bit bigger and a bit more rugged with a top LCD screen. The 70D allows for micro focus adjustment - a pro level feature that lets you align lenses and cameras for maximum sharpness. 70D also has new dual pixel focus for camcorder like focus with any canon lens during video.  Silent focus if you use one of the STM lenses. 70D also has Wifi for connecting to live view via smartphone or tablet and accessing images for sharing.Summary - If you are getting paid to shoot you should consider the 60D or 70D, longer battery life, slightly more ergonomic design and button layout plus the top screen LCD allow you to shoot more efficiently.  The 70D is expensive but provides some of the best crop sensor images possible at this time and if you want camcorder like focus with the quality of a DSLR there is no better option than the 70D.  If you are a parent or amateur the smaller size of the T5i is a bonus, best camera is the one you will have with you most of the time and the STM lenses paired with the T5i do a decent job of auto focusing, just not quite as good as the new 70D.