Sigma announces the 85mm f/1.4 ART

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Sigma's ART series lenses offer excellent quality at affordable prices - great values when compared to the Canon and Nikon pro level lenses.  Adding to their sweet prime line up of 35mm and 50mm is now the 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens for Canon EF, Nikon F and Sigma SA mounts!screenshot-2016-09-19-11-54-25screenshot-2016-09-19-11-54-35 Availability Late October - Preorder from B&H Photo $1,199.00The Canon 85mm f/1.2 L lens cost $1,899 and Scott recently reviewed the Tamron 85mm f/1.8 for $749.00 (see his review here)Sigma is saying  - Sigma looked to create a peak portrait prime with the 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens, and they delivered an optic with high performance, a large f/1.4 aperture, and a variety of technologies. Available here with a Canon EF mount, this lens offers a super-fast f/1.4 aperture that is great for getting images with an exceptionally shallow depth of field and smooth bokeh. It also uses two FLD elements and one anomalous partial dispersion/high-refractive index element that minimize aberrations and ensures a crisp, clear image. A Super Multi-Layer coating helps by suppressing flare and ghosting. Additional lenses announced -Sigma 12-24mm F4 DG HSM Art Ultra-Wide Angle ZoomThe Sigma 12-24mm F4 Art lens will be available in late October $1599.00 USD.  Preorder from B&H PhotoSigma 500mm F4 DG OS HSM Sport Lens The Sigma 500mm F4 Sport lens, in Canon and Sigma mounts, will be available in late October. The Nikon mount will be available in late November. The 500mm F4 will retail for a recommended street price of $5999.00 USD. Preorder from B&H Photo

New Panasonic Cameras -

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera

GX85

  • 16MP Live MOS Sensor Micro Four Thirds System
  • 2.36m-Dot Electronic Viewfinder
  • 3.0" 1.04m-Dot Swivel LCD Touchscreen
  • UHD 4K Video Recording at 30/24 fps
  • Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity
  • DFD AF System, 4K PHOTO Modes
  • 5-Axis Image Stabilization, Dual I.S.
  • ISO 25600 and 10 fps Shooting with AF-S

Those looking for a robust, affordable 4K capable system - this looks VERY appealing.Available end of October - Preorder from B&H Photo $897.99 With Lumix G Vario 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens for $997.99 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX10 Digital Camera

Lumix LX10

  • 20.1MP 1" High Sensitivity MOS Sensor
  • Leica DC Vario-Summilux f/1.4-2.8 Lens
  • 24-72mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • 3.0" 180° Tilting Touchscreen LCD
  • UHD 4K Video at 30/24 fps in MP4
  • 5-Axis HYBRID O.I.S.+, 49-Area AF System
  • Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity
  • Extended ISO 25600 and 10 fps Shooting
  • Lens Control Ring; USB Mobile Charging
  • 4K PHOTO; Post Focus & Focus Stacking

An extremely strong competitor to Sony's popular RX100 series but the LX10 provides a faster lens and the Post focus and focus stacking features.Available in Mid November for $697.99 - Preorder from B&H Photo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2500 Digital Camera

A true hybrid photo/video machine - equally capable of shooting either while providing some pro level video features.screenshot-2016-09-19-11-36-46

  • 20.1MP 1" High Sensitivity MOS Sensor
  • Leica DC Vario-Elmarit f/2.8-4.5 Lens
  • 24-480mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • 0.74x 2.36m-Dot OLED Live View EVF
  • 3" 1.04m-Dot Free-Angle Touchscreen LCD
  • DCI 4K Recording at 24.00 fps & 100 Mbps
  • CINELIKE Profiles; 4:2:2 10-bit HDMI Out
  • Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity; 4K PHOTO
  • ISO 25600 and 12 fps Continuous Shooting
  • Manual Control Ring & Built-In ND Filter

With that 1" sensor this isn't going to be amazing in low light BUT the fact that you can get a 20x zoom, 4K cine profile (it will look great straight out of camera) AND pro level quality via HDMI out all for less than $1200 WITH A BUILT IN ND FILTER - this looks like a sweet rig for someone that wants to produce some serious travel videos - everything you need in one package.Available Mid December for $1,197.99 Preorder from B&H Photo Which of these three cameras are you most interested in?  

Panasonic GH5 - 6k Video... Linkbait?

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screenshot-2016-09-19-10-35-26The Panasonic GH5 has been announced - The 6K video that is being passed about as a spec isn't quite true.  Even without true 6K video this looks like a serious step forward for videographers with 4k at 60p and the ability to record 10-bit 4:2:2 (more data is better)The specs we have

  • 6K/30p 18mp
  • 8mp/60fps burst photo
  • 10-bit 4:2.2
  • 4K/60p

Body style looks very similar to the GH4.Panasonic also announced further collaboration with Leica together they will be releasing three new lenses8-18mm, 12-60mm, and 50-200mm- all offering f2.8-4.0. Camera and lenses will be available in the first half of 2017Panasonic Press ReleasePanasonic Announces the Development of the World’s First 4K 60p/50p Video Recording CSC Featuring 6K PHOTOIntroducing the LUMIX GH5Panasonic today announces the LUMIX GH5, the world’s first Compact System (CSC) interchangeable lens camera capable of recording high-precision smooth 4K 60p/50p and faithfully reproductive 4:2:2 10-bit 4K video. This premium camera will offer exceptional performance for professional photographers, videographers and emerging photo/video-hybrid creators.The new LUMIX GH5 is scheduled to enter the market in the first half of 2017 and will feature Panasonic’s new ‘6K PHOTO’ offering – an approximately 18-megapixel-equivalent still image extraction from an ultra-high quality video with approximately 9x higher resolution than Full HD. Furthermore, an approximately 8-megapixel equivalent ‘4K PHOTO’ can be extracted from a video shot at 60 fps.Panasonic also announces the new LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT F2.8-4.0 lens series. These announcements demonstrate Panasonic’s dedication to continually deliver outstanding customer value and new culture in photography and film production by developing premium, new-era products and functions.Commitment to innovationThe LUMIX GH5 will allow creative minds to capture their vision with ease and style, and further confirms Panasonic’s commitment to develop incomparable products and functions to address the new demands in photography and film production.Panasonic is committed to the development of innovative digital cameras under the theme “create a new photo culture in the digital era”. The company brought the world’s first CSC, the DMC-G1, to market in 2008 and the succeeding DMC-GH1 achieved the world’s first Full HD video recording in 2009.Professional, versatile 4K videography with freedom and easeThe LUMIX DMC-GH4 has received much critical acclaim since its launch in 2014 and was the first camera to realise 4K 30p/25p video recording. Building on its predecessor’s success, the LUMIX GH5 will offer a new world first: 4K 60p/50p and 4K 30p with 4:2:2 10-bit.Exceptional 4K video recording will be packed into a compact, lightweight design created for videographers to take the camera anywhere and shoot in any location. With the unprecedented video recording performance of the LUMIX GH5, Panasonic aims to elevate its status in the film production industry.Elevating outstanding photography to new heightsThe LUMIX GH5 will dramatically advance the conventional ‘4K PHOTO’ function with ‘6K PHOTO’ that will cut a still image out of ultra-high definition video (4:3 or 3:2 video footage) with approximately 9x higher resolution than Full HD.Silent and unobtrusive with quick focus to capture the moment, the LUMIX GH5 will allow photographers to take advantage of high-speed, long-time high frame rate shooting capability. Unmissable moments can also be saved as beautiful photographs in a higher resolution that complies with larger size of printing by substantially increasing the resolution from 8-megapixel (4K PHOTO) to 18-megapixel (6K PHOTO) equivalent resolution.New LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT F2.8-4.0 lens seriesThe LUMIX GH5 will be featured at Photokina 2016 alongside a new LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT F2.8-4.0 lens series. Achieving both high optical performance and compact size, the LEICA DG VARIO-ELMARIT F2.8-4.0 lens series will include a new 12-60mm standard zoom lens, an 8-18mm wide zoom lens and a 50-200mm telephoto zoom lens. All lenses will be showcased as reference exhibits at the Panasonic booth.

GoPro Karma Drone - $799 DJI Killer? & New GoPro Hero5

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GoPro has finally announced the much teased and anticipated drone - Called the Karma it offers a very portable system that includes a drone and a handheld stabilizer all in a very portable package.GoPro Promotional Video for Karmahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjNjcrQZtd8Here is what GoPro is saying about the Karma -Karma is so much more than a drone. It captures amazingly smooth GoPro footage in the air, handheld, and mounted to your favorite gear. Compact and ultra portable, the Karma Drone folds to fit into its own lightweight case. The game-style controller with an integrated touch display makes Karma easy and fun to fly. The included camera stabilizer can be removed from the drone and attached to the included Karma Grip for ultra steady professional-looking handheld and gear-mounted footage. Hollywood-caliber stabilization in a backpack you can wear during almost any activity...for $799.Preorder GoPro Karma with GoPro Hero4 Black $???Preorder GoPro Karm with GoPro Hero5 Black $1099.00 GoPro has also announced the new Hero5 GoPro model -screenshot-2016-09-19-10-20-29screenshot-2016-09-19-15-12-20The big changes. . .

  • The cameras themselves are rugged/waterproof. No more need for the cases
  • Voice activated and controlled "GoPro take a photo" GoPro start video" - understands 7 languages.
  • Touchscreen
  • Shoot RAW and WDR (wide dynamic range)
  • Built in GPS
  • Automatic Cloud backup
  • Stabilization built in
  • Compatible with existing cases/mounts
  • Price drop!!

Excited?  $399 available in early October.Preorder from B&H Photo Sun, Oct 2 3pmAlso a new GoPro Hero Session - the little square GoProscreenshot-2016-09-19-15-15-49

  • Supports 4K, 2.7K, 1440p, 1080p Video
  • Capture 10MP Photos at 30 fps
  • Ultra Wide Angle Glass Lens
  • Waterproof to 33'

Preorder the new GoPro Hero Session $299.99The GoPro Hero5 Promo videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FR4NB7_viU 

New Sony Camera a99 II 42MP SLT Camera

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And I thought the a-mount was dead!?!? Sony's a mount cameras are a blend of mirrorless and traditional DSLR technology - the mirror is still there - just translucent, letting some light through to hit the sensor - this provides an EVF and phase detection autofocus.screenshot-2016-09-19-07-45-36

Sony a99 II Brief Specs

  • Sony a99II,
  • full-frame A-mount camera (yes I was surprised).
  • 42 MP
  • 5-axis stabilization (4 stops)
  • 12 FPS with AF
  • 4K video - full sensor and super 35mm

Sony a99II Price - $3,199 - B&H Product page, Preorder soonOn paper this camera looks to match and possibly beat the TOP end cameras from Nikon and Canon - the ones that cost $5000 and more.   This could be a very interesting matchup.The a mount has a decent lens collection, including the longer telephoto lenses I would love to see brought to the full frame E mount.  Honestly I was really hoping for a more serious high end e-mount, maybe an a9 that has been rumoured announced today. This camera - while I am sure will be excellent is sitting at what is now a pretty small market share.  Sony's a mount series sold well initially, especially outside the US, but they let it languish and many serious photographers have moved on.    What do you think?screenshot-2016-09-19-07-45-44screenshot-2016-09-19-07-45-52

Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A7R2 with 24-70 f/2.8 Lens

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Watch the video and share your opinion in the poll below.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qheMX75GpKc2016-09-16-12-12-29Which camera & lens would you rather travel with? Why - answer the poll and leave a comment.[yop_poll id="9"]

Sony vs Canon
Camera Canon Sony
MP 30 (Dimensions - 6720 x 4480) 42 (Dimensions - 7952 x 5304)
FPS 7.0 5.0
Video 4K with 1.7x crop / JPEG Codec 4K Full Frame / XAVC Codec
Storage Dual Card - SD and CF Single SD Card
LCD Fixed 3.2" Touch enabled Tilting 3.0"
Viewfinder; Optical 100% Coverage Electronic 100% Coverage;
FPS 7.0 5.0
Battery Life 900 Shots 290 Shots
Weight 890 g (1.96 lbs) 625 g (1.38 lb)
Body Only Price $3500 (buy from BH Photo) $3200 (buy from BH Photo)
24-70 Lens Weight 805 g (1.77 lb) 866 g (1.95 lb)
24-70 Lens Cost $1750 (buy from BH Photo) $2198 (buy from BH Photo)
TOTAL COST & WEIGHT 1695 g 3.74 lbs | $5250 1491 g 3.33 lbs | $5398

   

Instagram Winners - Scale

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Scale is an interesting concept as it's an effect of you telling a story. Controlling perspective, and therein scale, it effects how we view the overall subject and it's environment. From toy's and Minnie Mouse to tilt shifts and forced perspectives we had a bit of everything this week. You guys did great!

Winners this week were chosen by Toby and Scott for the challenge.

You can find all the past challenges on the PRTV page along with next week’s Instagram challenge #prtv_abstract. Usually we look for the subject and details then shoot to capture the object. Abstract photography is the opposite in that you don't have a clear objective and it's somewhat up to the viewer to decide the meaning of the photo. It's a different way of thinking for those technical and detail oriented, playing to the more artistic side of things. To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #prtv and #prtv_abstract.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Scott – photoscott88 Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Toby's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKb16vujuiF/I do wish the hiker was up higher - framed inside the brown, but still alovely image and a great use of scale

Toby's Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKOFrAUhAmk/The little people make it work - what is that thing on the left side though? https://www.instagram.com/p/BKbH5m8hUPT/FUN! And great framing

Scott's Winner:

https://instagram.com/p/BKNqneQD6j4/Scale in every meaning! Creative and beautifully executed, well done!

Scott's Honorable Mentions:

https://instagram.com/p/BKYgOQ9BTOw/I like the depth of field and the framing with Minnie Mouse off centre - nice work!https://instagram.com/p/BKUh1qkDShK/Two clear points of interest well framed. This one caught the eye scrolling through the feed, the colours especially are great.

Just Announced! The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM Lens

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ef-hr-ef70-300-side-hires In a bit of Pre-Photokina news Canon announces an update to the aged Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens. The 70-300mm F/4.5-5.6 IS II USM is a nice addition as it’s predecessor came out in 2005. It’s needed a bit of an update comparatively to the newer EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM and a full frame option to fill a mid range selection in the lens ecosystem. Featuring:Sample Image

  • High-speed autofocus with new Nano USM technology
  • 4 stop image stabilization
  • New lens information display
  • Ultra Low Dispersion element for reducing chromatic aberration   
  • 9 blade aperture construction for better bokeh

Following the new 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM kit lens this is the second lens from Canon using the technology. Nano USM is Canon’s blend of STM technology for quiet operation and smooth autofocus with USM Technology for high-speed autofocus. The best of both worlds and like STM technology you still gain full time manual focus. ef70_300_isiiusm_feature_02Like the Zeiss Batis Lenses announced in April it will include an led display. The LCD will display focusing distance, focal length, and shake amount information. A display mode button lets you switch between these features and background color for visibility. The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM Lens will be released November 30th, 2016 for $549.99. Available for pre-order today at Amazon and B&H. As Scott Fautley will be visiting Photokina we will have a bit of hands on video coming soon. Full Specifications:

Lens Mount Canon EF
Focal Length 70-300mm
Lens Construction 17 elements in 12 groups with a UD element
Motor Type Nano Ultrasonic
Focus Adjustment AF with full-time manual
Image Stabilization 4 Stops
Maximum Aperture F/4-5.6
Minimum Aperture F/32-45
Number of Blades 9
Diagonal Angle of View 34° - 8° 15' (with full-frame camera)
Closest Focusing Distance 3.94 ft. / 1.2 m
Maximum Magnification 0.25x
Filter Size 2.6 in. / 67mm diameter
Max. Diameter x Length,Weight Φ3.15 x 5.73 in., approx. 25.04 oz.Φ80 x 145.5mm, approx. 710g
Price $549.99
Pre-order today at Amazon or B&H

amazon-logo_transparentlogo_m

 

Photo Safari Video #2 - Croc Kill

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https://youtu.be/abWRJCy3IPAContinuing our journey across the northern Serengeti where I continue to be amazed at the huge number of animals we see- Zebras and Wildebeests fill the plains. AND we round out our BIG 5 (learn more - http://photorec.tv/2016/09/big-5-safari/) The Thomson Camp or Nyumba in the Northern Serengeti continues to be paradise- we eat ice cream for dessert... IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SERENGETI And another Wildebeest crossing - this time with a dramatic Nile Crocodile Attack plus a trip across the border into Kenya, no passport required.Learn more about Mckay Photography Academy Learn more about Thomson Safaris Stabilized Shots from the Crane Buy at AmazonSafari and Wildlife Photo Gear recommendations

Big 5 on Safari

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In Africa, the big five game animals are the African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and rhinoceros. (Why are they they Big Five?)  We were incredibly lucky and in just a few short days had awesome and multiple photo opportunities with all of these species.  Watch my Tanzania Safari Adventure Video with Thomson Safari and McKay Photography Academy. 

Canon EOS-M5

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Canon finally goes seriously mirrorless?Canon EOS M5 screenshot-2016-09-14-21-16-25screenshot-2016-09-14-21-21-17 

Preorder from Amazon or B&H Photo

Body Only $979.99 (Available Nov 30, 2016)  B&H Photo | AmazonM5 with 15-45 Lens $1099 (Available Nov 30, 2016) B&H Photo | AmazonM5 with 18-150 Lens $1479 (available later in December 2016) B&H Photo | AmazonCanon's mirrorless line uses the EF-M mount but offers APS-C sensors, the same size as the 80D and Canon is promising better image quality and low light performance from this camera compared to the 80D.  The AF system is also the same as used by live view in the 80D and borrows the same touch screen but tilt only, not fully articulating like the 80D.  If you want to use EF or EF-S lens you will need their EOS-M to EF/EF-S Adapter which sells for $123.54 - Buy from AmazonThe first camera that comes to mind to compare is Sony a6300 - Selling for $1148 (buy from Amazon) I strongly suspect the a6300 will still offer better low light performance and provides 4K video (EOS M5 offers 1080 at 60P) BUT useability of the Sony is not great, Canon often does a good job with useability and with the touchscreen Canon could offer a very attractive camera that may not provide the BEST image quality but will still provide good enough quality in a very friendly package.  Are you interested? How do you think it will stack up against the a6300?  Scroll down for my little comparison chart

Canon EOS M5 Features

  • 24.2 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor, ISO 100 25600.
  • Fast and smooth Dual Pixel CMOS AF helps you capture stills and shoot video with quick and precise autofocus.
  • High-speed continuous shooting at up to 7.0 fps (up to 9.0 fps with AF Lock) and new DIGIC 7 Image Processor with improved AF tracking performance.
  • Full HD 60p/50p helps capture fast-moving subjects and brilliant results in MP4 format.
  • Digital IS with 5-axis image stabilization* when shooting videos plus increased image stabilization with both lens optical IS and in-camera digital IS when shooting with an IS lens.
  • Built-in high-resolution EVF (approx. 2,360,000 dots) with new Touch and Drag AF lets you manually move the AF frame displayed for more precise focusing in different shooting situations.
  • Intuitive touch screen 3.2 tilt-type (85° up/180° down) LCD monitor (approx. 1,620,000 dots) enables flexible positioning and clear viewing.
  • Easily customize functions while shooting using the Front Dial, Quick Control Dial, Dial Function Button and Exposure Compensation Dial.
  • Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC allows for easy sharing and transferring of images and videos.
  • Equipped with Bluetooth Smart for smooth pairing with a compatible smartphone by powering on both devices for easy photo sharing and remote control possibilities.
  • Shorter camera startup time and interval time between each image capture for a more efficient shooting experience.
  • Compatible with EF-M lenses as well as the full line of EF and EF-S lenses and Speedlites for expanded creativity.
  • Mount Adapter EF-EOS M is required when using EF/EF-S lenses for EOS M series digital cameras.

Sony a6300 vs Canon EOS-M5 (Specs Compared)

Spec Canon EOS M5 Sony a6300
MP 24 24
ISO 100-25,600 100-25,600 +51,200
LCD 3.2" Tilting (180 Down) Touchscreen 3" Tilting
FPS 9fps 11 fps
Video 1080 @ 60p 4K at 30p
Mic Jack Yes Yes
Lens Mount EF-M (browse lenses on B&H) Sony E Mount (browse lenses on B&H)
Price $979 Body Only | $1099 w/ 15-45 Lens $998 Body Only | $1148 w/ 16-50 Lens
Weight 427g | 0.94lb 404g | 0.89lb

New Commuter Jet Roller & 3DR Solo Drone Backpack

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Our friends at Think Tank have just released a new rolling camera bag and a drone backpack.

Jet Roller

airport-advantage-lowresDesigned for traveling on commuter or regional jets, the new Airport Advantage rolling camera bag’s customized interior holds the maximum amount of gear that will fit in overhead bins or under seats. In addition, its ultralight design lets you pack more gear while staying under airlines’ increasingly vigilant weight restrictions.WHAT FITS

  • Gripped DSLR with lens attached, one standard size DSLR with lens attached, plus three to four additional lenses, and 15” laptop
  • Or, two gripped DSLRs with lenses detached plus three to four lenses
  • Or, two Mirrorless bodies with lots of lenses

Learn More/Purchase from Thinktank (receive free gear with your orders and free shipping.)

Airport Helipak for 3DR Solo

helipak_for_3dr_soloYou can now carry your 3DR Solo, 15” laptop, controller, GoPros, charger, spare rotors, extra batteries, jacket, tools, and more in a robust and yet lightweight new backpack, the Airport Helipak for 3DR Solo.  Unlike rigid hard cases that lack extra carrying capacity and comfort, this new backpack is designed for 3DR drone enthusiasts who want to be able to carry all of their gear with them all the time.  As always, with my special partnership with Think Tank you will receive free gear with your orders and free shipping.https://www.thinktankphoto.com/collections/airport-series-backpacks/products/airport-helipak-for-3dr-solo?rfsn=140333.2f0f8

Instagram Winners - Yellow

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For most of us summer is falling off into fall with fields of goldenrod and sunflowers at the moment. This weeks challenge was to find something yellow and we got everything from Lego to food.  Hunting for color is an important skill as it gets you to think outside the box and look at your environment. Shooting in the city or a snowy winter scene for example it's a good habit to look for color as it brings life to a lot of the duller colors around.

Winners this week were chosen by Scott and Roy for the challenge.

You can find all the past challenges on the PRTV page along with next week’s Instagram challenge #prtv_scale. In Toby’s How Focal Length Affects Perspective video is a good example of this as it shows how focal length can change the perspective of a building to a person. It’s your chance to size things up, make a subject look super tiny, or make it look huge. To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #prtv and #prtv_scale.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Scott – photoscott88 Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Scott's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ9Eof9gIgV/It's a great silhouette shot going a bit monochrome for the sunrise.

Scott's Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHuK1RGhIuc/The foreground sunflower against the background of more sunflowers makes for a good subject in a crowd.https://www.instagram.com/p/BKHb0GHgEDJ/Having a bit of foreground interest in your photo helps bring depth to a photo and a bit of color.

Roy's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKDuVw5AarX/Berendt has a good use of props to bring interest in the photo with the model. Over the shoulder with the crown and long hair works great for this shot while the hand and sunflower balance the other side of the photo.

Roy's Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEaAKlfAYZm/Emanuel has a great shot of a resting snake.  Being in the woods creates a lot of nice lighting plus as a snake has great texture it captured it perfectly with a shallow depth of field.https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ9Eof9gIgV/Pretty sure everyone knows by now I like silhouettes. The foggy sunrise works perfect as it captures the light making for a nice yellow scene.

Instagram Winners - Street

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With Toby in Lansing, MI this week on the photo walk a bit of street shooting was the plan. Street shooting can be a bit different for some and a favorite subject for others, it's quite the polarizing subject.

Winners this week were chosen by Scott and Roy for the challenge.

You can find all the past challenges on the PRTV page along with next week’s Instagram challenge #prtv_yellow. From time to time a color challenge is helpful for concentrating on shooting. Trying to spot a color makes it a challenge to focus on only that while ignoring the rest. To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #prtv and #prtv_yellow.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Scott – photoscott88 Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Scott's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJkM5HXgCRT/A nice little festival, I like how you focused on the alley and lights then left the people a bit underexposed.

Scott's Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJyZaS6BOgQ/When you visit a new city the back alley shots can be the best sometimes.https://www.instagram.com/p/BJttEfSgL7J/Color makes for a nice contrast to the usual street photos.

Roy's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJttEfSgL7J/Two tricks for street shooting can be completely missed out on some times but make for a great photo.  Depending on the city finding color can be a bit challenging making this stand out. As for the second everyone hunts for the candid portrait when focusing on just a body part can play to a photos strength.

Roy's Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJpjTKog1Jb/Street photography can be fun, just look at the singing binman!https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ1U93ng6jx/Street photography can be political and current with the news. Shooting from the back, a bit candid, puts the focus on the subject rather than the crowd. Having the white sign at the top right worked out well as it draws vs it's darker counterparts.

Canon Rep Responds to Criticism over 5D Mark 4 Release

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A video from Korey Rowe at the Canon Experience Center in Costa Mesa, California getting hands on with the 5d Mark 4. The Canon Experience Center, built in 2014, while acting as a service center it also includes a product showroom and theater experience for customers to view products. This is an official Canon promotional event for the new EOS 5D Mark 4 (iv) and 16-35mm L (iii). He asked some hard questions to the cinema rep at the event. Covering the reasons for the SD and CF cards, cropped 4k Video, and large files sizes of the h.264 codec found in the camera. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8Iyu_kT84U

Instagram Winners - Out of Place

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This weeks challenge had your sights set on something out of place. Trying to find a stark contrast in subjects can make for a strong photo as you have elements that can contradict to tell a story or fit a theme.  Not too many entries this week but even then we still had shots that were funny, creepy, thoughtful, and even part fantasy.

Winners this week were chosen by Toby and Roy for this Patreon chosen challenge.  Find out more about becoming a Patreon member and the exclusive benefits at http://photorec.tv/support/.

You can find all the past challenges on the PRTV page along with next week’s Instagram challenge #prtv_street. From out of place to a bit of normalcy, it's your chance to do a bit of street photography. To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #prtv and #prtv_street.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Scott – photoscott88 Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Toby's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJaqGLuA0Hb/?tagged=prtv_outofplaceLovely depth of field and such a crisp shot - that spider should NOT be on your pants.

Toby's Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/50ZB4OIPS3/?tagged=prtv_outofplaceCreepy out of place doll with lovely tones to the image.https://www.instagram.com/p/BJirUD5jvvX/?tagged=prtv_outofplaceNice artsy shot  - how did that chair get there?!?

Roy's Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJTL0GDgfuV/A start contrast of the animal and cage shows the captive, caged, part of zoos.

Roy's Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJWFHTWBqpD/I don't think dogs belong "in" hats, but Angela made it work for an out of place shot!https://www.instagram.com/p/-rlkIhLOql/A bit more on the fantasy side of things this art installation definitely makes for a surreal photo.

Canon 5D Mark IV - Official

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Click for My Full Review of the Canon 5D Mark IV

Below is my earlier video based on specs.The Canon 5D Mark IV has been announced and after all the leaks the most surprising bit of info is how soon it will actually be released - in just two short weeks. Preorder NOW if you want this camera in the first few months as it will likely sell out.

Order from B&H Photo 

The Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark IV Specs

  • 30.4MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 6+ Image Processor
  • 3.2" 1.62m-Dot Touchscreen LCD Monitor
  • DCI 4K Video at 30 fps; 8.8MP Still Grab
  • 61-Point High Density Reticular AF
  • Native ISO 32000, Expanded to ISO 102400
  • Dual Pixel RAW; AF Area Select Button
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF and Movie Servo AF
  • 7 fps Shooting; CF & SD Card Slots
  • Built-In GPS and Wi-Fi with NFC

Canon 5D Mark IV - What you need to know

One of the most anticipated and recently leaked cameras has been officially announced.  The 5D Mark IV follows the widely popular Canon 5D Mark III and looks to offer decent, evolutionary upgrades from its predecessor.

  • 30MP is a good balanced file size that provides plenty of resolution while still offering a responsive 7 frames a second.
  • High ISO of 32,000 with a mention of improved dynamic range - While the 80D, Canon's most recent camera, does offer dynamic range improvements they still appear to be behind the competitors, especially at the higher ISOs - I don't expect to be blown away by the improvements.
  • The LCD is now a touchscreen, this combined with the dual pixel AF will make for very easy video focus and the dual pixel AF is fast enough for use in still shots.  Additionally Movie Servo AF looks to track moving subjects smoothly and capably.  No other DSLR provides such easy and smooth live view focusing.  The LCD is not articulating or even tilting.
  • 4k with a catch - the 5D Mark IV will offer 4k but only at 1.74 crop factor. This means your 24-105 lens becomes a 42mm - 182mm lens, you lose the wide angle.  To be fair the very popular Panasonic GH4, which has been my go to camera for 4K for the last 18 months, offers 4k ONLY at a 2x crop factor BUT and here is the BUT- panasonic offers loads of lenses that make sense at that crop factor, Canon does not.  Also Sony's a7SII and A7RII around the same price point offer full frame 4K (no crop) with additional features the 5D Mark IV is missing (More about that in the Canon 5D Mark IV vs Sony A7R2 / A7S2 post)
  • The photo AF system borrows from the top of the line Canon 1DX Mark II which offers fantastic, mind blowingly fast focus and accuracy.   This is all good.
  • WIF and NFC- Finally. There was some worry that you would need a secondary device but they have included connectivity and remote control (hopefully as good as the 80D - you can focus, switch to MF and start and stop video) AND GPS is included too.  Time to finally sell my GP-E2
  • Dual Pixel RAW - I can't yet tell if this is going to be a gimmick or actually useful- When this feature is enabled you can shift focus slightly using Canon provided software Think of this like an after the fact micro focus adjustment.  as it currently will only work with the DPP software this might be more gimmick but I could certainly see fixing minor focus errors on critical pictures - a few other caveats  - your file size doubles and your frame rate and buffer will slow.
  • Still uses CF and SD card slots - great if you didn't want to buy new expensive cards like CFast or XQD but one of the major complaints about the 5D Mark III was the bottleneck provided by the SD card slot, even with the fastest card in there the write speed to the SD card slot is slow enough to slow the whole camera down - this looks to be true with the 5D Mark IV too.
  • Body styling and button placement is identical to the 5D Mark III with a slight change to the joystick.

Screenshot 2016-08-25 06.35.34Bottom line - the Canon 5D Mark IV offers some noticeable improvements over the 5D Mark III and will represent a decent upgrade for many still photographers and those hybrid shooters who are desperate for easy 4k video should be happy.   It is, however, a crowded market and Sony's year old A7RII may still be a better buy for those that want more serious 4K features - S-Log, focus peaking and better dynamic range. Preorder links - I do think this camera will sell well early on and be difficult to get in the first few weeks, maybe months if you do not preorder now.

  

Instagram Winners - Sports

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With the Olympics going on this weeks challenge was sports to fit the theme. Photographing sports is always its own monster as you have to catch the moment in a subject that tends to keep you on your toes to catch everything. Between zip lines, cars, and horses we had a bit of a mix this week as you guys thought out of the box.

Winners this week were chosen by Roy and our Patreon supporters.  Find out more about becoming a Patreon member and the exclusive benefits at http://photorec.tv/support/.

You can find all the past challenges on the PRTV page along with next week’s Patreon chosen challenge #prtv_outofplace. Find something that doesn’t fit, something out of place with its environment, and take your shot! To enter post your photos on Instagram before noon next Friday with the tags #prtv and #prtv_outofplace.

You can follow Photorec.TV on Instagram here: Photorec.tv

And the team!Toby – Photorectoby Scott – photoscott88 Roy – RoyMcKeeIII

Roy's Winner:

I like using the silhouette and sun for a monochrome shot. Using the rule of thirds while dropping low you get a lot of foreground draw focus to your subject and bokeh.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJBigqjgrkE/

Roy's Honorable Mentions:

One nice thing about sports is you get to practice your panning photography. Erwin was a nice crisp shot using a slower speed while not blurring out the background to the point you can’t tell what's going on in the scene.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJTU6gaDg-5/Justin has a nice sports shot of a sailing practice run. The nice thing to keep in mind for photos like these is the boat in the background balances the photos interest. Otherwise you’d have one boat and a lot of negative space in the background. https://www.instagram.com/p/BJRUcSrAbxx/

Patreon Winner:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJBigqjgrkE/

Patreon Honorable Mentions:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCgHyulhOCo/https://www.instagram.com/p/BJNOgYbDT2h/

Canon 5D Mark IV Leaks, Announcements for Photokina

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With Photokina in a month we’re starting to hear about the LONG awaited 5d Mark IV. A lot of features we’ve expected after the release of the 1DX Mark II. Going along with previous news there' the "DSLR first" rumors that were floating around supported by the dual pixel raw file spec.Specifications via Digicame-info, Canon Rumors, and Nokishita. 

  • 30.4MP
  • 7 fps
  • 150,000 actuation rating for shutter
  • DIGIC 6+
  • 100% viewfinder
  • Magnification: 0.71
    • LCD tone adjustment (warm / standard / cool1 / cool2)LCD: 3.2 inches 1.62 million dot touch panel
  • Dual Pixel AF
  • Dual Pixel RAW File: Records one normal and one dual pixel file for post processing
    • Image Micro Adjustment to increase sharpness and resolution
    • Bokeh Shift to change position of foreground bokeh
    • Ghosting Reduction to reduce ghost and flare
  • Updated noise reduction
  • 61 Point AF, with 41 crosstype points
  • 150,000 pixel RGB + IR Sensor
  • EOS iSA system
  • EOS iTR system
  • Anti-flickr
  • ISO 100-102400
  • 24/30 fps video at 4K, while 60 fps at 1080p, and 120 fps at 720p
  • 8MP still images from 4K video
  • Full HD: ALL-I (For editing / I-only), IPB (Standard), IPB (Light)
  • HD: ALL-I (I-only)
  • Raw file sizes
    • Raw: 6270 x 4480, 36.8MB
    • DPRAW: 6270 x 4480, 66.9MB
    • M-RAW: 5040 x 3360, 27.7MB
    • S-RAW: 3360 x 2240, 18.9MB
  • Touchscreen LCD
  • New Picture Style “Fine Detail”
  • Dust and weather sealed
  • Mirror vibration control system (MVCS)
  • Time-lapse movie mode
  • Built-in interval timer and valve timer
  • Electronic Level, 2 axis
  • Built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, and NFC
  • FTP · FTPS can be transferred wirelessly also only in the body
  • SD, SDHC, SDXC and CompactFlash (not Cfast 2.0)
  • USB 3.0, HDMI, and microphone
  • Battery: LP-E6N / LP-E6
  • Estimated 900 shot battery life
  • Dimensions: 116.4mm x 150.7mm x 75.9mm and Weight 890g (1.96lbs)

 [gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="12066,12067,12068,12069,12070"]With the leak there's the unofficial Canon announcements for Photokina from Digicame-info. We’ll have Scott in Germany next month for the show so expect to hear more soon. We’ve still got rumors of that 24MP full-frame mirrorless from Canon but it’s still missing at this point. Coming with the new 5d is a refresh of the 24-105mm and 16-35mm lenses possibly with the new nano USM design.

  • EOS 5D Mark IV body
  • EOS 5D Mark IV + 24-70 lens kit
  • EOS 5D Mark IV + 24-105 lens kit
  • Battery grip Canon E20 BG
  • Wi-Fi adapter Canon W-E1
  • 7D Mark II with 18-135 USM lens kit
  • 7D Mark II with W-E1
  • Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS II USM lens
  • Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM lens

How-to: Photographing the stars and star trails

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RELATED - Best Lenses for Star Photography and Astrophotography

The Basics -

1. Find a dark spot. I like https://darksitefinder.com/maps/ don't get discouraged if you don't have the darkest skies - your camera can capture stars that you won't be able to see with your eye.

2. Check the Moon Schedule - https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/ Anything above 30% will wash out many stars and the Milky Way but you can find a time when the moon is set or just before moonset or moonrise - some moonlight can be great to illuminate your landscape.

3. Make a plan and check the weather - https://www.cleardarksky.com/ is great for understanding if clouds will impact your visibility. Some clouds can actually look very interesting.

4. Gather your gear - Camera, your fastest & widest lens, and a tripod. A remote release is a bonus or just use 2-second timer. A small headlamp with the red mode is really helpful too.

5. Practice at home - make sure you can easily put your camera on the tripod and turn live view on(DSLR), magnify live view, & playback. Now do that all with your eyes closed. Seriously. The less you rely on lights when you are out in the field the better.

6. Camera settings - Manual (M), Manual AF, Shutter speed 10 seconds, Your lens on widest focal length and widest aperture (a lens with f/2.8 or better is great). ISO 3200.


7. Turn Live View on if DSLR or just look through the viewfinder on a mirrorless and point the camera at the brightest star you see, magnify to the max, and now move the focus ring carefully toward infinity - the star is most in focus when it is a small, sharp point of light.

8. Take a photo and magnify the resulting photo. Are the stars sharp? Repeat step 7, it may take some trial and error to get the stars as sharp as possible.

9. Once you have focus take some time to judge your composition. Once you have everything dialed in I usually end up around 13 seconds, ISO 2000 - 2500. Divide 300 by your focal length to get an idea of the max shutter speed. Longer and your stars will turn to streaks.

10. I'd love to see your favorite astrophotography pics. Tag me!

#stars #milkway #mtsthelens #wastate #westcoastbestcoast #volcano

Tips on capturing the stars and star trails.

Mt St Helens Milkyway
Star Photography in Moab

Older info below -  

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. Over view for Star Trails (or stars as points of light if you follow the 500 rule explained below)You need a camera with bulb mode - all modern DSLRS and mirrorless cameras offer this - Bulb mode lets you shoot as long as you are holding down the shutter button. that could be 31 seconds to 3 hours!! Now you don’t actually want to hold your shutter down so you need an intervalometer or even better - the Triggertrap dongle and app - I have separate videos about this but it has a mode specifically for star trails and the default settings work so well, plus it does so much more  I highly recommended it. You also need a lens - the kit lens at 18mm with f/3.5 will work but if you can get a hold of something wider with a faster aperture it will be even easier with better quality results. The Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 is great. So is the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8. And you need a sturdy tripod. Depending on the time of year or location you could also use hand-warmers and a rubber band - if you have dew on the grass in the morning it would be a good idea to rubber band the hand warmer to the end of your lens - it helps prevent your lens from fogging up during the shoot.So gather your gear and head out to your selected spot. Setup and decide your composition - if you have picked a nice dark spot it’s probably really hard to see -SO I RECOMMEND YOU DO A LITTLE TRIAL AND ERROR... EYEBALL THE COMPOSITION AS BEST YOU CAN AND RAISE THE ISO TO SOMETHING RIDICULOUS 4000, 8000  THE GOAL HERE IS NOT TO CREATE A NICE IMAGE BUT TO SIMPLY GET AN IMAGE QUICKLY AND JUDGE YOUR COMPOSITION.You typically want some of earth in the shot, trees, water, buildings can all add a nice balance to a big starry sky. Set 8-10 seconds on the shutter, ISO very high 4000, 8000 and fire a shot. Use the resulting noisy image to adjust your composition and repeat. You also should be checking focus at this time - setting your lens on infinity. Not all lenses focus marks line up perfectly with true infinity so it may also take some trial and error.  This can be something to figure out during the day - use AF on a distant object and make note of where the focus mark lines up.  Or at night find a distant light, radio tower, something you can see to focus on - either carefully by magnifying live view or using autofocus if it is a large enough and bright enough target.So you have focus and the desired composition- Now we need to test our actual settings. Plug in your intervalometer or triggertrap - The default in triggertrap is 2 minute exposures with a 5 second break - You can get decent start trails from just 40 minutes of shooting these 2 minute exposures. Why not just leave the shutter open for 40 minutes? You get heat build up and additional noise, light pollution builds up too and if anything goes wrong during that 40 minute exposure the whole thing is ruined. If something goes wrong during one of your 2 minute exposures it is likely salvageable.So 2 minute exposures, I usually set aperture as wide as possible and star at ISO 800. One more tip - set your WB to tungsten for a nice blue look to the night sky and you should be shooting RAW. Try one exposure at these settings. Wait 2 minutes and review - The stars won’t be points of light but short streaks - you should still be able to zoom in and judge focus but you are really looking at exposure - adjust ISO accordingly and review again if needed, otherwise start the app - as I said 20 frames at 2 minutes each will give you decent results- longer will be better so get comfortable - a great time to watch for meteors or just listen to the sounds of night. Be careful if you are out there with a flashlight you want to avoid splashing that light around and haphazardly lighting the landscape. I use a headlamp with a little red mode that doesn’t ruin my night vision and isn’t bright enough to light up the landscape but you still want to make sure you don’t shine it into or across the lens.  You can do some fun light painting or purposefully lighting cool buildings or trees too. At the end of your sequence take one shot with the lens cap on for a dark image reference - helps the StarStax program deal with hotpixels.So you should now have 20 or more images- import those into Lightroom and let’s do a little post processing - I don’t have any hard or fast rules about editing - I usually just play around until I see something I like. Some tips - Cooling the WB more, boosting exposure, contrast and clarity- adding more clarity really helps the stars pop! Once I have an image the way I want I will sync all of the images in the sequence. I also take a moment to inspect the images for annoying plane trails or anything else that you might want to fix/clone out. now export all of these at 90 JOEG, full resolution. We could take these into Photoshop but there is a free program for mac and windows called StarStaX that works even better. It’s linked above and while free you should donate a few bucks if you find yourself using it more than once. We have exported the shots, open StarStaX and import the images, import the one dark frame and leave everything set as default except the blending mode - change that to Gap Filling. Have fun and be sure to share any shots you get on my Facebook Page or tag me on Instagram.

500 Rule for Star-trail-less Photos

500 Rule Star Trail Chart

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.  Starry skies look great with a wide angle lens like the 14mm Rokinon. You can go even wider if you want. See my Rokinon 14mm post for budget friendly suggestions of wide angle lenses.

A good starting point

8 second shutter

Aperture f/3.5 (wider if possible with your lens)

ISO 4000

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:  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.