Photo Assignment #2 (Double Take)

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Just a reminder that we announced in a past critique that we have a new assignment!   I haven't come up with a catchy title - feel free to submit some suggestions below.  Thanks to Roy M for the name suggestion! Your assignment involves two images - one that captures "everything" and a second image that picks a subject within that "everything" to focus on(no pun intended). Our goal here is to get you to look at a scene and decide what is special about the scene and what you can capture to highlight that special-ness. In our recent photo critique, Terry submitted two images that illustrate the assignment nicely.Chinese Temple 1Chinese Temple 2Our most recent Critque where we talk in more detail about the assignment at the 23:25 mark.We will be looking to critique Assignment #2 photos during the last weekend in May.   So get out and get shooting 2x.  And leave a name suggestion for this assignment. 

Canon Announces EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM & Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM & Sl1

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Two new lenses announced from Canon and a white version of their existing Sl1.

EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM

Canon10-18STMA affordable cheap wide angle lens that includes IS (image stabilization) and STM (Canon's smooth and silent autofocus for video) make this an interesting announcement.  I have already pre-ordered mine, at $299 it is cheaper than many of the prime lenses I own and although I am not a huge fan of wide angle lenses (watch "How Focal Length Affects Perspective") They can be useful to have, add in IS and STM and you have a great addition to your kit that adds very little weight and gives you VERY wide and will do well in low light.   Downsides - it is a plastic kit lens and widest maximum aperture is f/4.5. It isn't as necessary to have wide apertures on wide angle lenses, you can shoot at slow shutter speeds without violating the focal length shutter speed rule (watch "Image Stabilization" and "Shutter Speed" for more info) but it does give you more freedom when shooting.    I like Colin's thinking - three lightweight lenses giving you excellent range and flexibility in shootingScreenshot 2014-05-13 11.12.49Pre-order Canon EF-S 10-18 f/4.5-5.6 IS STM $299: Amazon | B&H Photo | Adorama

The Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM

Canon16-35 Similar to the release of the f/4 IS version of the 24-70, we now have a f/4 IS version of the 16-35 f/2.8 lens.  Taking a look at the MTF charts and on paper this looks to be a sharp lens and a more affordable wide angle option for full frame photographers.   The f/4 version will sell for $1199 and the f/2.8 non IS version sells for $1699.A bit more about the Intelligent IS in this lens

an Optical Image Stabilizer (IS) for shake correction up to four shutter speed steps, making handheld shooting possible in dimly lit scenes where camera shake can occur. In addition, an intelligent CPU in the lens automatically selects the optimal IS mode by recognizing differences between normal handheld shots and panning. This technological advancement supports a greater range of creative expression for photographers in otherwise difficult shooting situations, such as dark indoor scenes where flash photography is prohibited, or in places where a tripod cannot be used, or when shooting at low ISO speeds.

I don't feel the 24-70 f/4 IS is selling very well but as I mentioned above the wider apertures are less necessary in wider lenses and I know many photographers and videographers that would be fine shooting at f/4, especially for video and having excellent image stabilization all at a significant savings may entice a few more over. Pre-order the Canon EF 16-35 f/4L IS $1199: Amazon | B&H Photo | Adorama 

Canon Sl1 (White)

CanonSL1Yawn - I have a review of the Sl1 here - it isn't a bad camera but releasing a white one doesn't interest me - thought it might be fun to mix and match and run around with the white kit lens on a black Sl1. . or not. 

Fuji X-T1 Review

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 Support my work and review- Buy the Fuji X-T1 from B&H

Fuji X-T1 Highlights:

  • 16.3MP APS-C Sensor
  • 0.5" 2,360k-Dot 0.77x OLED Viewfinder (EVF)
  • 3.0" 1,040k-Dot Tilting LCD Monitor
  • 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps
  • Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity for remote shooting, image download and geotagging
  • Weather-Resistant Body Construction
  • Continuous Shooting up to 8 fps with AF and subject tracking
  • Intelligent Hybrid AF and Focus Peaking
  • Includes EF-X8 Shoe-Mount Flash Unit

Fuji X-T1 Pro:

  • Manual controls- Smart and fully functional dials and the aperture ring on lenses makes the camera fun to use
  • Image quality - Excellent image quality - see high ISO shots in gallery below
  • Feels great in the hand, well built with a good amount of customizable options
  • The EVF or Electronic viewfinder is huge, bright and snappy - I am not typically a fan of EVFs but this one I could be happy using.
  • Some excellent lenses and enough of them- including some affordable 3rd party manual focus only lenses

Fuji X-T1 Cons:

  • Battery life - 300-400 shots, double that if you buy the battery grip
  • Controls - Yes a pro and a con-  they are lovely when you have time but I found them difficult if not impossible to use one handed
  • No in body image stabilization (like the Olympus) Some lenses, including the excellent kit lens do offer IS
  • The EVF is beautiful but the eye-cup could be better, Fuji is starting to sell a deeper one that blocks the light better
  • Wifi is finicky to connect at times. I found the remote option to work well, image transfer to usually take two tries to connect and geotagging via phone was mostly a fail
  • Video mode OK and continuous AF is not impressive in this camera - even with face tracking on.

Buy the Fuji X-T1 from  B&H or Rent from Borrowlenses.comBuy the X-T1 Battery Grip from B&H  

Hands-on with the Fuji X-T1:

When I first got my hands on the Fuji X-T1 I immediately loved the look and the feel. I did have some initial confusion about mode dials(there aren't any) when I was not shooting full manual. It retrospect it is quite simple - rotate the dial controlling ISO, shutterspeed or Aperture(on lens) to A and the camera will take care of that variable. If you want aperture priority, set ISO and shutter speed on A and rotate the aperture dial as needed.   I did spend most of the time with this camera in full manual mode and that is how it feels like it should be used, except when I wanted to use the camera one handed. I have gotten used to one handed operation with my DSLRs and the Sony a7 - the camera can be up to my eye and with a dial spin and/or button press I change what I need.  Shooting with the X-T1 was a more deliberate and often premeditated affair but at the same time I appreciate the top down view of all my settings at a glance.The actual performance of the camera was excellent. Focus in normal to good light levels was fast and accurate. (watch my Fuji X-T1 tips for additional focus related tips) I do wish there was a dedicated button for focus point selection but with the 7 or so buttons that you can customize it does just add one click before you use the directional pad to move the point.  On high speed continuous it is easy to fire off multiple frames with focus and subject tracking .  The EVF was big, bright and beautiful- When looking through the viewfinder I felt like I was standing in the doorway or a really nice home theater room, where one whole wall is a beautiful screen.  Up till now I haven't been a fan of EVFs and I still wouldn't say I am a fan but I would be quite happy to use the X-T1s EVF.   (why not a fan of EVFs? The lag and the blackout when taking pics both of which the X-T1 handles nicely- the refresh rate is fast and you can turn off image review).Image quality? Superb.  First let me say that both lenses I used Fuji 56mm f/1.2 and the 18-55 f/2.8-4 were a joy to use and are sharp lenses, even wide open.  Pixel peeping on the hundreds of images I shot and the camera/lens combos made excellent images.  There is some weirdness with Fuji's RAW files, if you want to work on them in Lightroom they drop any of the film simulation but both JPEGS and RAWs had great detail even at very high ISOs (see samples below)I had the opportunity to use the Fuji for a low light dance party. Light levels were really low with just flashing DJ lights and some light spilling in from outside. My 70D and 5D Mark III was still capable of focusing- The Fuji really struggled and the when it did get focus it was hard to tell from the noise in the EVF- this is certainly a downside but I need to stress that it was very dark in the room.  The actual images, when in focus, were better than the 70D and on par with 5D Mark III. Again the image quality out of this little camera was excellent.Overall The Fuji X-T1 is an excellent little camera that produces beautiful images. If you don't mind a slightly slower approach to shooting and some negatives when the light levels get very low. Take away my wedding work and I would love to have this as my daily camera. Additional info coming soon.  Video samples and images including comparison vs 70D.

Metabones EF to E Mount Adapter

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Video review of the Metabones EF to E Mount Adapter used with Sony a7

Metabones EF to E Mount PROS:

  • Auto focus, aperture control and full lens to camera communication for complete EXIF info
  • Powered by camera body. No external power source required.
  • Lenses with image stabilization still work.
  • Wide open button (opposite of depth-of-field preview function) makes manual focusing easy.
  • Tripod mount
  • True electronic integration of aperture diaphragm - let camera automatically choose aperture in P or S exposure modes, or dial in yourself on the camera body in A or M modes.

Metabones EF to E Mount CONS:

  • Autofocus is slow and sometimes confused
  • Cost is $399

Images taken with Metabones EF to E Mount and various Canon lenses:

Photo Mish Mash EP 15 - Gear we Covet/Love (not camera, lens, flash)

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Photo Mish Mash - Ep 18 - The Gear We Covet/Love (not camera,lens, flash)Week in reviewhttp://squarespace.com/camerarectoby CODE: TOBY for 10% off your orderThanks to Shane Egan for the lower third graphics. (I had to do some re-chroma so they don't look quite as good as the originals he sent)Symmetry Image Critique and taking suggestions for the next theme/assignment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_YPuQC7Z2ASony a7 and focusing differences mirrorless vs DSLR - Original Sony a7 Review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwTUV7L_hcsVarious audio capture devices - Original Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54iSuB0JLmw70D Focus issuing and MA to Autofocus -Original Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjef8w5I7VYThank you all so much for your support regarding my big announcement - the comments and messages are appreciated and I am excited about the potential and the road ahead!12:30 NEWSSigma 50mm f/1.4 - Price $950 available at the end of April Preorder from B&H 14:00 3rd party lenses vs Manufacturer lenses and the Canon markup17:00- Hire a college kid or your wedding photography and save $8000!DISCUSS http://petapixel.com/2014/04/15/hire-photography-student-photograph-wedding-make-college-kid-happy/24:39 HTC M8 Revist with "dual" cameras - gimmick! and the newly released Google Camera App26:58 Squarespace - http://squarespace.com/camerarectoby CODE: TOBY for 10% off your order28:51 DISCUSSION:The gear we covet - beyond the basics - Bags, tripods, cards, light modifiers, sliders -Reader Questions: They will be back next week!45:00 Brief recap of why we picked our photo of the week -Christina's Pick - https://www.flickr.com/photos/kokehernan/13557336185/in/pool-digitalphotorecToby's Pick - https://www.flickr.com/photos/32927524@N04/13884021662/in/pool-digitalphotorec46:50 Behind the scenes audio setup48:10 Light source - See my original cheap video light video

Sony a7 Review

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This is a Full frame mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses from Sony. The a7 produces 24MP images, the Sony a7r shoot 36MP and the Sony a7s shoots 12MP targeted at videographers with the 4K recording capabilities and amazing low light capabilities.Pros of the Sony a7

  • Image Quality is on par with the 5D Mark III- Does well at the high ISOs and detail and colors are excellent.
  • The price - this is a professional level camera with professional features for photographers and videographers starting under than $1700!
  • Feature packed - from the professional features like AF microadjust to fun panorama mode, scenes, effects etc.
  • The video features - a whole host of features supporting manual focus, peaking and magnification and mic jack and headphone jack.
  • Feature packed on the inside and outside - 9 customizable dials so you can set this camera up the way you want and a completely customizable feature menu.
  • Weather sealed- although I don’t see rubber gaskets everywhere Sony does claim some level of weather/dust sealing.
  • A7 offers hybrid focus of contrast and phase - this helps it be a little snappier with the focusing, certainly not as fast a a true DSLR but not bad. With the phase turned off it does get slower and not something I would want to try to use to capture action.
  • Connectivity - smart phone NFC communication and wireless make easy image transfer and control of this camera a breeze

Cons of the Sony a7

  • Lens selection is lacking. Sony plans to release more lenses soon but currently there are just a few. You can use older NEX lenses (made for crop sensors) and lose some resolution or you can throw on an adapter.  I recommend the Metabones E to EF mount adapter and this works beautiful - full lens control, even IS works but focus becomes even more slow, so it really is only suitable for landscapes or use manual focus.
  • With the slower focus and a frame rate that isn't pro level you won't be capturing sports or faster action with this camera.
  • Battery life - This small camera use a smallish Sony battery and you really only get around 300 shots. Buy a spare and an external charger.
  • Outside in bright sun the LCD can be a little difficult to view, use the viewfinder and battery life actually decreases faster, blackout time in the viewfinder is a little long too.
  • Record button is awkwardly placed and if you have big hands the overall size/layout of the camera can feel cramped.

Reader/Viewer Questions about the Sony a7

Q: How does the video focus compare to the Canon 70D?A: Canon's Dual Pixel AF is faster and when you add in the touch screen on the 70D you have some amazing abilties with touch to focus and the camera responding so smoothly. The Sony a7 is smooth but not as fast and lacks a touchscreen. You also don't have completely silent lenses from Sony although they really are quiet, just not silent.A few ISO Samples

DSLR Audio Options - Shotgun mic vs Lav mic vs more

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You want to look good and SOUND good when making videos. Learn from my experience (and mistakes) and spend money on the type of device that is going to work best for you. Links and mini review of each device below. Audio-Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier Omnidirectional Condenser Microphone | Buy from B&H $2220' of wired cable connects a small lav mic with a standard mono plug. Powered by a small LR44 watch battery. The long wire is great and gives you plenty of flexibility to setup but also gets amazingly tangled often and there is no battery life indicator. I suggest you always carry spare LR44 (buy from Amazon). Quality is decent but you do need to do a little post processing to remove the hiss present.Shure VP83F LensHopper Camera-Mounted Condenser Microphone with Integrated Flash Recording | Buy from B&H $299Lovely sound from this shotgun mic that offers headphone monitoring, audio out(to DSLR) and independent recording to microSD card. Mount in hotshoe or on a tripod. Great battery life and LCD screen display with battery indicator, recording time and more. Don't need the microSD card recording or the LCD display? Go for their cheaper Shure VP83 for $189.  An additional budget shotgun option is the Rode VMGO for $99.Zoom H4N Handy Portable Digital Recorder $270Feature rich with integrated stereo mics and two XLR ports that are powered. Tripod mount on bottom. Records to standard SD cards. When Phantom power is on battery life isn't great - good rechargeables will last just a few hours. With Phantom power off you get a few more hours. You are able to record with internal mics and externally attached mics. Headphone monitoring or record directly into a DSLR with the line out.UPDATE: The Zoom H6 is better for spoken word capture - Buy it from B&H $399Shure SM93 XLR Lavalier Mic | Buy from B&H $135So how does a lav mic that cost $100 more than the Audio-Technica sound AND needs an XLR input which will cost more? Very good. Very, Very good. Sound is full and rich with no hiss or any issues that need to be removed in post. With careful placement the isolating capabilities of this mic are excellent.On camera audio - Can actually be quite useable in some situations(indoors in quiet room. Want to hear how a few Canon cameras sounds? Watch my 70D vs 6D video - I have a short section in there where the audio from each is compared.

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART lens - Availability and Pricing

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Sigma 50mm f_1.4 DG HSM | B&H Photo VideoSigma 50mm f_1.4 DG HSM Lens for Canon EF 311101 B&H Photo VideoThe Sigma 50mm f/1.4 ART lens has finally been given a price $949. We briefly discuss this lens and how it might compare to the Canon 50mm f/1.2 in two recent podcasts.Podcast Episode #14 - Setting Photography Goals (Click to skip to 35:15 for the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 discussion)Podcast Episode #15 - More discussion about the Sigma 50mm f/1.4Early reviews are VERY positive. At $949 you may consider this expensive but compared to the Canon 50mm f/1.2 at $1619 it offers some significant savings at what may not be any sacrifice. Yes, I recognize that you lose some light but only a little and if it is much sharper... I will have a review soon. Subscribe to my Youtube channel to be notified of the review.Pre-order on B&H | Amazon | Adorama

Podcast - Mish Mash #14 - Photographer's Goals

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I always like to think of alternative titles for the podcasts - Possible titles for Episode 14 include: "My Big Announcement!"  "Christina's in Charge!" "Roller Coaster Selfie"   Whatever the title, this may be our best yet and I take full responsibility for putting Christina in charge ;)ENTER THE GIVEAWAY - JUST A FEW HOURS LEFT

 Full Show NotesWeek in Review -Lightroom iPad App DiscussionPhoto Assignment7:05 Lumoid Giveaway8:27 News - 4k Cameras15:39 My Big Announcement20:03 Photographer's Goals - Discussionhttp://theslantedlens.com/2014/7-reasons-photographers-videographers-dont-reach-goals28:25 Bean is BORED!37:38 Reader Questions - Roller coaster selfie, Which way to look?Photo of the week -Christina’s Pick - https://www.flickr.com/photos/camblamb/13719097935/in/pool-digitalphotorec https://flic.kr/p/mUiXRiToby’s Pick -  

Quick Shot - Photography News

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Photo Deals and News - April 10, 2014

A reminder! Enter to win $50 Giftcard from Lumoid.comNikon has announced an updated 18-300 DX lens.  This is almost a 17x zoom. In general I am not a fan of do it all lenses. I recognize that they are extremely convenient but in my opinion and testing you end up making quality sacrifices to get that convenience.  That said - if you plan to just share photos online and you are not going professional anytime soon - the Nikon versions of these do it all lenses are the best of the do it all lenses and the new one promises to be a little lighter and a little sharper.  AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR | $896.95 from B&H, Available April 24.Tamron has announced their own super duper do it all lens, the 16-300.  These lenses come just in time for summer holiday travel.  Pricing has not been announced yet- I expect it will be a little cheaper than the Nikon version- UPDATE: $629.00 Canon, Nikon and Sony versions available. PrLensBaby - makers of gimmicky creative DSLR attachements has announced a 5.8mm fisheye for Canon and Nikon. At first glance I'd suggest you are better off with the Bower/Rokinon 8mm fisheye.  No image circle with the 8mm and you save $50.
Sony has announced the a7s - I have written a short post detailing the differences. Christina and I also chat about the 4k capabilities in our latest podcast(up tomorrow). Still waiting to hear from Sony on pricing of the a7s. I will have more to say about the a7 when mine arrives Friday from Lumoid.Nikon has camera/lens rebates this month (ends Apr 26th)- The new D3300 is included in this rebate. Truthfully there are no amazing savings here but all the normal body/lens combos are at least $50 off - D3300, D5300, D7100 are all on the list.B&H will be CLOSED Monday April 14 through Tuesday April 22. -Get your orders in ASAP!Mysteries of the Unseen WorldFilmmaker Louie Schwartzberg bends the boundaries of time and space with high-speed cameras, time lapses and microscopes.  Some neat imagery in this video.

Sonys a7s, a7r and a7

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Sony has announced a 3rd camera, the Sony a7s, in the new a7 series. I thought now would be a good time to briefly highlight the features of all.[gallery ids="4558,4557,4556"]*I only do 4K video when attached to an external recording device. Limited to 1080P when recording to internal (SD memory cards)Sony announced a pair of new alpha series cameras in fall 2013. The a7 and a7r are the smallest most feature packed full frame cameras currently on the market. Because these are mirrorless you don't get an optical viewfinder, rather an EVF or electronic viewfinder. And you have a tiltable LCD screen on the back. The bodies of all three cameras are extremely similar- from a distance or even closer they look identical except for the little r or s next to the 7.Features they share

  • Same sensor size & processor
  • Viewfinder and LCD type and resolution
  • size, battery life and only slight difference in weight less that 25 grams difference between all three.
  • Wifi and slick NFC setup for that Wifi
  • Use SD cards or the Sony Memory Sticks
  • Shutter speed 1/8000 to 1/30 of a second

Despite looking very similar AND sharing the same sensor size there are some significant differences, especially with the latest, the Sony a7s. The a7s is designed for video with some groundbreaking features that provide extremely high quality 4k video. The catch is 4k video can only be recorded via HDMI to an external recorder. Using the SD card you are limited to 1080p. It is a little funny to write "limited to 1080p". Times are changing! That "limited" 1080 provides very highbit rates, up to 50 Megabits/second which translates to very low compression and excellent quality. There is also a 720 mode at 120fps for a nice slow-mo video. Sony also mentioned that the sensor has some smarts that let it adjust the dynamic range for the scene. Focusing mode still relies on contrast detection so nothing like the fancy dual pixel AF that Canon offers in the 70D but the professionals that this cameras is targeted at will mostly use manual focus anyway and zebra display(a visual indicator of sharp focus useful as an aid when manually focusing) is possible through the EVF or LCD. The ISO range offered by the A7s is stunning native ISO to 102,400 and boosted you can reach 409,600. This increased sensitivity does allow impressive low light focusing, so even though it uses contrast detection it can do so very well in very low light situations. The camera is still usable by photographers offering 12MP and 5fps.  Not action orientated numbers but again these shots at high ISO will be very clean.The a7 and a7r are very similar - check the table below for more info. All three use Sony's e-mount lenses which has a fair collection and is growing quite rapidly. Read more about the Sony a7s on B&H

Camera Sony a7 Sony a7r Sony a7s
MP 24 36 12
FPS 5 4 (2.5 fps with focus in between shots) 5 (2.5 fps with focus in between shots)
Video 1920 x 1080 @ 60p, 24p 1440 x 1080 @ 30p, 640 x 480 @ 30p 1920 x 1080 @ 60p, 24p 1440 x 1080 @ 30p, 640 x 480 @ 30p 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, 24p(HDMI OUT) 1920 x 1080 @ 60p,30p, 24p 1280 x 720 @ 120p
# of Focus Points 25 117 117
ISO 100 - 25,600 100 - 25,600 100 - 102,400 (boost 409,600)
Wifi yes yes yes
Battery ife 340 340 380 (320 with EVF)
Price $1698.00 (body) $2298.00 (body) Not yet known

 [gallery ids="4565,4566,4567"]

Sony a series summary:

 

Mish Mash Podcast Episode 13 - We have Blemishes

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We discuss 70D focusing issue, D9300 and 7D Mark II, Keeper rates, Focus Points, My New Years resolutions(yes, in April) and so much more. AND a new Giveaway!!!!  $50 Gift Card to rent some awesome gear from the fine folks at Lumoid.com.  Leave a comment with what you would like to rent if you win.

WEEK IN REVIEW -START:70D is back4:40 New Mics!6:10 Photo Critique and Symmetry Assignment9:35 Lumoid Giveaway!Renting is awesome.14:35 DISCUSSIONFocus points and focus distance and focus depth of field.20:00 Brief discussion of distortion21:55 Really Necessary to have a backup camera?24:55 Keeper Rate -28:14 NEWS7D Mark II in May? A D9300?Lorde says don’t photoshop my faceHow much retouching is too much?Super fake37:10 Asking if you want to make a picture38:30 My New Year’s resolution43:25 Reader Questions - Capturing large group of runners in low light

Photo Assignment #1

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You all have been asking and it is something I have wanted to do. In Episode 7 of our weekly photo critique Christina just decided it was time and announced our first ever DPR Photo Assignment!Listen to the announcement/descriptionWatch the whole critique including one of the photos that inspired Christina to issue the assignment How will the assignment work?You need to go take a picture that you thinks exhibits symmetry and upload it to the flickr.com/groups/digitalphotorec use the tag DPRsymmetry1. Images should be uploaded by April 13th by Noon EDT.Our next critique will be picking from the pool of images uploaded to the group and tagged with DPRsymmetry1    

Mini Review: Canon 2x Extender - More Zoom

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Last week I rented the Canon 2x extender from the folks at Lumoid with the goal to capture some Bald Eagles on the Skagit River in WA state.  I combined the 2x extender with my 70-200 f/2.8 to create a 140-400 f/5.6 lens(more about the switch to f5/.6 in a moment).  The eagles were few and far but I still had fun using the lens. Watch the video and review the chart below for compatible lenses.Lenses Compatible with Canon 2x III Extender -Notice that when using this extender your maximum aperture is halved.  A f/2.8 becomes f/5.6.

ExtenderEF 2x Compatibility Chart
LensAttachment FocalLength(mm) f-stop(f) Max.Magnification(x) AF
EF 135mm f/2L USM 270 4 ~ 64 0.38 O
EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM 360 6.7*1 ~ 64 2.0 X
EF 200mm f/1.8L USM 400 3.5 ~ 45 0.18 O
EF 200mm f/2L IS USM 400 5.6 ~ 64 0.24 O*4
EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM 400 5.6 ~ 64 0.32 O
EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM 600 5.6 ~ 64 0.28 O
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM 600 8 ~ 64 0.47 X*4*5
EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM 800 5.6 ~ 64 0.31 O
EF 400mm f/4L DO IS USM 800 8 ~ 64 0.24 X*4*5
EF 400mm f/5.6L USM 800 11 ~ 64 0.18 X
EF 500mm f/4L IS USM 1,000 8 ~ 90 0.25 X*4*5
EF 600mm f/4L IS USM 1,200 8 ~ 90 0.24 X*4*5
EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM 1,600 11 ~ 64 0.28 X
EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM 2,400 11 ~ 64 0.18 X
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM 140 ~ 400 5.6 ~ 64 0.33 O*2
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM 140 ~ 400 5.6 ~ 64 0.33 O*2
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM 140 ~ 400 5.6 ~ 64 0.33 O*2
EF 70-200mm f/4L USM 140 ~ 400 8 ~ 64 0.45 X*4
EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM 140 ~ 400 8 ~ 64 0.45 X*4
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM 200 ~ 800 9.5 ~ 64 0.41 X*5
(O =possible X =impossible)
*1 Databased on EOS models with exposures displayed in 1/2 stop increments.It varies slightly with the EOS-1v, EOS-1N, EOS-1 and EOS-3.
*2 Ifthe EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM lens is attached to an EOS camera havingmultiple focusing points and an Extender is attached to the lens,only the center focusing point will be usable for AF.
*3 Theautofocusing range is from 0.8m/2.6ft. to infinity.
*4 With the EOS-1D series, EOS-1v and EOS-3, AF is possible, but with the center focusing point only.
*5 TheImage Stabilizer does not operate with the following cameras: EOS650, 620, 630/600, RT, 700, 750, 850, EOS-1, A2/A2E, 10s, Elan, Rebel/RebelS, Rebel II/Rebel SII.
Verdict - If you have one of the lenses the 2x extender is compatible with and you occasionally need more zoom it is a VERY cost effective way to get there and you can do it with a smaller lens.  Consider renting if you only need occasionally.     Buy if you want to double your zoom often without carrying around a much larger lens.  Buy from AmazonCanon 2x Extender Manual

Canon 6D vs 70D - Full Frame Sensor vs Crop Sensor

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With recent price drops Canon’s “budget” full frame camera is close in price to the newer 70D.  At first glance they look pretty similar and size and shape and both offer 20MPs - but this is where I need to pause and remind everyone that a number like MP tells so little that it is often worthless to compare. IN a day when we have cell phones shooting 20-40 MP we must consider the size of the sensor and a full frame sensor is significantly bigger than the APS-C sensor found in the 70D. Wikipedia Sensor Sizes Compared Let's look at the similarities

  • Both are about same size and weight - 6D is just a little heavier.
  • Controls are very similar - top LCD and rows of buttons virtually identical
  • Both have Wifi - remote triggering or connectiing to smartphone or laptop for downloading images.
  • LCD Screen is same resolution

Differences

  • 70D screen is touch sensitive and articulating - I find both to be extremely useful in a variety of situations and no i never accidentally trigger the touchscreen.
  • 70D has a popup flash -nothing to get excited about but it is still nice to have and can trigger off camera flash using. You will need to buy an external flash for the 6D- best budget flash is Yongnuo $90 bucks which is going to give you much better results but it is something you need to buy and carry around
  • 70D has a button near the shutter Af area selection - points to greater control over AF with better options vs the 6D
  • 6D has just 11 AF points and only center is cross type vs 70D with 19 AF points all cross type.  It is important to note that the center AF point on the 6D is much better in low light.
  • 6D has an additional custom mode on the dial (2 custom modes vs 1 C1 on the 70D)
  • 6D has GPS - nice for traveling, can impact battery life negatively. 70D is compatible with external GPS Device 
  • 70d can fire off 7.5 fps vs 6D is around 5 fps.
  • 6D has a max shutter of 1/4000 and 70D 1/8000.
  • Flash sync speed 1/180 on Canon 6D and 1/250 on Canon 70D - this isn’t anything to get hung up on but it is somewhat disappointing that Canon made this choice to limit the 6D in this way.

 Image Quality - The 6D with its full frame sensor really produces beautiful low noise high detail images, even at the upper range of the ISO limit.  70D is an excellent crop sensor camera but less detail in images and as light levels drop the noise does increase compared to the 6D.  Really it comes down to performance vs image quality. The 70D is fast, super user friendly and cheaper with cheaper lenses available.   The 6D is slow but produces lovely images - you pay more and you will pay more for lenses as the 6D needs EF lenses which typically are more expensive.Canon 70DWatch my 70D Review | Buy the Canon 70D from Amazon | Canon 70D from B&H Photo Canon 6DWatch my 6D Hands On | Buy the Canon 6D from Amazon | Canon 6D from B&H Photo Canon 70D vs 7D mark II Watch my Canon 70D vs Canon 7D Mark II