F/8 Photography

Do You Need Help Choosing a Canon Digital SLR?

2006-08-19T10:06:00.000-07:00

If you are looking to get into Digital SLR photography, and you want to know what would be a good, and inexpensive, start-up package, then this is an article written specifically for you. Many people new to photography want to go out an get the biggest zoom lens they can find (normally a big zoom lens (100-300mm) for a very cheap price) and think they’ve purchased a quality set-up. While many will be satisfied with the lens, if you are interested in perusing photography as a hobby, rather than simply taking snapshots, then a better quality lens will be needed.

I am a user of Canon equipment, so my suggestions will be geared toward what I am familiar with. Before you begin looking for a lens, you must choose what camera to start off with. If you are looking for a budget SLR, then you are left with two choices. Those two choices are the Rebel XT (also known as the 350D) and the 20D (now replaced by the 30D).

The first difference between the two cameras is that the Rebel XT is smaller than the 20D/30D. If you have large hands, then perhaps the Rebel XT is not for you, but you should visit a local store and handle both of these cameras before buying. While you are at the store, you will most likely notice another difference between the two cameras. The wheel that is on the rear panel of the 20D/30D is not present on the Rebel XT. Why does that make a difference? Well, it makes setting exposure and a few other features more cumbersome. A few of the features that are easily set on the 20D/30D must be done through the menu, or through a combination of buttons on the Rebel XT. The status display (showing exposure data, metering, etc) is also placed on the rear of the Rebel XT, as opposed to the top of the 20D/30D. The 20D/30D also has a larger buffer, and can shoot more frames per second. This will only matter to those that shoot a lot of action or sports photography. The 20D/30D also has a higher capacity battery, but the Rebel XT can easily go 500 shots without flash, so for most situations, this won’t be an issue. The updated 30D has an even larger buffer than the 20D, a larger rear LCD for viewing pictures, faster frames per second, and spot metering.

The main issue is cost. If all of the above reasons don’t rule out the Rebel XT ($650), then by all means buy it. It is about $350 cheaper than the 20D ($1000), and a lot cheaper than the 30D ($1229). If you feel you need the extra size of the 20D/30D, then you must decide if the improvements made to the 30D are enough to justify the $229 price hike.

After choosing your SLR body, it is now time to choose your lens(es). I avoided getting the 18-55 f/3.5-5.6, but that was only because I already had better quality lenses at that focal range. Since you will be a new buying into the market, it may be a descent lens to start off with, and at under $100 dollars, it is a bargain. It won’t be the fastest (aperture wise) or sharpest lens, but at this price point, there is really only one lens that can beat it.

That lens would be the 50mm 1.8. At $75, this lens is far sharper and faster than the kit lens, but it is a prime lens, so you won’t have the flexibility of a zoom lens. If I had to choose between these two lenses, I’d choose the 50mm 1.8, but that is only because it provides better sharpness, and for new photographers, forces you to think more about proper framing and composition rather than playing with the zoom. It also allows for better low light photography, and will most likely be in your camera bag even after you start buying other photography equipment. My small, and toy-like 50mm 1.8 never leaves my camera bag, because on a 1.6x crop factor camera (which both the XT and 20D/30D are) it becomes a 80mm 1.8, making it a great portrait lens. If you have enough to purchase both, then they will let you compare the two lenses, and you will learn and experience the differences that I have described. These two sub $100 lenses are both well worth the money, and are ideal start up lenses.

Some other gear that you may want to look into purchasing later on is a tripod, a flash, polarizing filters, neutral gradient filters, and a camera bag to house all of your photography gear.

I hope this short article will help guide you through your tough decision making process. I tried to answer a lot of the questions I first had when trying to decide what I should purchase.

Make your photographs standout

2006-08-12T14:13:00.000-07:00

Change in Perspective:

What makes a photo pop out at you and make it interesting? Normally, its either a great subject or the subject viewed in a different perspective. What do I mean by perspective? Well, it could be the angle at which it is viewed, the magnification (macro photography) at which it is viewed, or perhaps using a focal length that goes against what would be normally used.

If you are constantly thinking to yourself that your photographs look just like every other amateur photographers images, and you aren’t happy about it, then consider going against what you consider normal. Since most of us can not afford to travel to exotic locations to take photographs of subjects that most others do not have access to, we must learn to be creative with the subject we have available to us near home.

The easiest method is to either take photographs from very low angles (laying on the ground shooting up) or from very high angles (on top of buildings or towers). For example, taking a photograph of a dog or flower is normally shot with you standing over the subject and simply shooting down. This is the normal perspective that we would normally see a flower or dog at, even when not viewing photographs. What if you took the image while lying on your stomach, and took the perspective of an insect on the ground. That image would more people’s attention because it is a viewpoint they normally do not come across daily.

Also, macro photography, or photography that is done at high (close to 1:1 ratio) can also be eye-catching, because most people do not see everyday objects at this magnification. Macro photography, if done correctly, can also be abstract photography. This is an easy way to turn ordinary objects into great photographs. Not all cameras are capable of macro photography, and if you are using an SLR, you made need to purchase a lens that is specifically made for macro photography. SLR users can also use extension tubes, bellows, or close-up lenses to take macro photographs.

In most cases, especially when visiting tourist landmarks, photographs normally end up with the same photographs that appear in postcards and in every other photographs photo albums. While it may be difficult to get an entirely original viewpoint, changing your focal length (taking a wider or narrower perspective) and viewing the subject from an angle that not the norm can make your photographs stand-out above the standard postcard snapshot.

Try these tips, and experiment with them to see if they improve your creativity. Let me know if they have been of any help.

Samsung Develops 3in LCD

2006-08-12T13:44:00.000-07:00

Samsung Press Release

Samsung Electronics Develops World’s First 3-inch LCD Screen of VGA Quality for Digital Still Cameras

SEOUL, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 10, 2006--Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world’s largest provider of thin-film transistor, liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, announced today that it has developed the first three-inch LCD panel with VGA (640 x 480 pixels) resolution that directly meets industry interface standards for digital still cameras. Executive Vice President Yun Jin-hyuk of Samsung Electronics said, “Our new LCD panel will make viewing of digital pictures distinctly more impressive on camera screens, personal multi-media players and other products requiring high-image resolution and low-power consumption.”

Digital camera makers use an interface known as ITU-R601, an international standard for cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs that operates at 30Hz. This standard is incompatible with LCDs, which normally run at 60Hz. Manufacturers have had to reconcile the difference either by compressing the images or by manipulating the signal. However, such approaches will only work with LCDs having a resolution of qVGA(320 x 240 pixels) or less. Samsung’s new LCD operates on 30Hz, allowing VGA images to be obtained from a digital camera without having to create another interface.

The three-inch VGA LCD also incorporates a dot inversion scheme that lowers power consumption while substantially reducing the image flickering that has prevented such an approach in the past. Power consumption is further reduced because the 30Hz source driver requires less power than the 60Hz type, helping to better differentiate mobile display-based products.

Samsung will exhibit its new device at IMID 2006, which opens in Daegu, Korea on August 23. Samsung will begin commercially producing the new VGA-resolution LCD panel in the first half of 2007.

New Canon Camera(s) on the Horizon

2006-08-12T12:14:00.000-07:00

From several websites, it is believed that Canon will be releasing information on a new camera. The Canon banner that started this rumor was posted on the Israeli Canon website and stated, “This year August will be different - 8/24/06 - Every legend has a beginning”. Speculation has been widespread, but the persistent topics being discussed revolve around a new sensor technology, or an update to the Rebel XT (350D). There are even brochures (google 3000D, 370D and 400D) floating around with images of the new cameras and their specification, but little is know about their authenticity.

So what to make of this news? At this time, all that can be done is to sit and wait until the 24th of August to see what Canon has in store for us. If you are looking into buying a dSLR in the next couple of weeks, waiting until late August might be a wise move. Even if you are not interested in buying the latest and greatest from Canon, a price drop on the camera you are looking to buy may be coming soon as a result of a new update.

I will update as more information becomes available.

Useful Links that I use regularly

2006-08-12T12:11:00.000-07:00

As the first post to my blog, I'd like to recommend other sites that have aided in my quest to become a better photographer. These aren't the only sites that I frequent, but they are the ones that I use the most.

Photography websites:

General Photography Website: www.photo.net
Great Review Website: www.dpreview.com
Great Review Website: www.imaging-resource.com
Great User Review Website: www.fredmiranda.com
Great For Canon Equipment Reviews: www.the-digital-picture.com
Very helpful Website: www.bobatkins.com
Good Forum: www.phototakers.com

Photography Stores:

Great Photography Store: www.bhphotovideo.com
Great Photography Store: www.adorama.com
Great Computer/Memory Store: www.newegg.com
Used Photography Store: www.keh.com

These are just a few of the websites I visit regularly. I hope they are helpful to users that are looking for good photography resources. I will update them as regularly with new websites.