Peak Design Does It Again!

This week I wanted to write about a new camera carry system from the good folks at PeakDesign. I have been buying PeakDesign’s items for a couple years now, they came out with a nice camera carry system called the Capture Pro Clip. This unique system allow photographers to attach their cameras to their own belt or backpack straps and have a quick disconnect via a tripod style plate so you could remove the camera, shoot and snap it back into place when done!

Capture Pro Clip System

I bought two of the Capture Pro Clips systems and I have not regretted it once! They are high quality systems, made of metal and hold your DSLR securely, I have worn mine while riding my motorcycle and had no issues with it coming loose and losing a camera.

PeakDesign has also come out with their own camera bags, which are weather-proof and comes with a unique Origami-Inspired compartment separators. They also have their own camera cover and straps for carrying your camera.

Capture Pro in action

Today, I am writing about one of their new items, their Anchor Links system. This system allows a photographer to use their favorite camera strap and have high strength, quick disconnects, which make it easier to have multiple cameras and one strap out in the field! The Anchor Links systems works with ANY camera strap that has ends that are 1cm wide or less, which is pretty much the industry standard since the strap has to attach to the two metal slots on the camera itself.

The Anchor Links system gives you a strong, quick disconnect system for your camera strap so if you are like myself and have several cameras, you can quickly move the strap from camera to camera. When I go out on a shoot, I usually carry at least two cameras so I don’t have to change lenses in the field and risk getting dirt on my sensor. By using the Capture Pro clip system in conjunction with these Anchor Links, I can use the same strap with both cameras!

Anchor Links System

Peak Design’s patented system allow you to attach Anchors to your camera’s strap tabs and leave them on all the time. They are small and non-intrusive so they don’t add any extra weight to your camera, but when you want to attach your favorite strap, just slide the Anchors into the Link on your strap and “snap” they lock into place! When you want to switch cameras, just push in on the Anchor and pull down and the Anchors release and the strap can then be added to another camera!

Another nice thing is, the small bungee cord-style Anchor straps that attach to your camera will change color over time as they weaken from use to let you know it’s time to replace them. I have had my system for a while now and no issues at all and I carry some heavy gear like my Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD lens for wildlife and this lens weighs a whopping 4.42 pounds!

Anchor Links System in use on a DSLR

I had been toying with trying to make my own quick-disconnect system for my favorite camera strap, which happens to be my gel-padded Canon CPS strap, but Peak Designs beat me to the punch. Best of all, the Anchor Links system only costs $19.99 and extra Anchors are $9.99 for a set of four, enough to attach to two different cameras!

So if you want a way to quickly and securely use your favorite strap on two different cameras or just remove your strap when shooting in your studio, I highly recommend the Peak Design Anchor Links system!

*All images belong to Peak Design.

Comments/Questions

Focus Screen Part 1

This week’s blog post I wanted to write about a specific part of the camera system that you may or may not be familiar with, the Focus Screen.

The Focus Screen is a small piece of flat, translucent material, either ground glass or a fresnel lens. It is located inside the front of your camera where the lens mounts and help you acquire focus and frame your shot through your camera’s viewfinder.

Canon Eg-A Focus Screen

 There are various types of Focus Screens for most cameras and they can be either etched or non-etched. There are even Focus Screens which are made specifically for using low light lenses.

Some cameras have plain Focus Screens and others have etched ones that denote the focus points and even have a grid for maintaining your “Rule of Thirds”. Many of the newest mid-range and professional DSLRs have a plain Focus Screen with a monochromatic LCD overlay that reveals the focus points when you depress the shutter button halfway.

One of the interesting things about your Focus Screen, aside from the fact that many people do not realize their camera has one, or that it’s easily replaced, is the fact that if the Focus Screen picks up dirt, many photographers think it’s their sensor that’s dirty when that is not the case. If you are someone like myself that has an OCD thing about even the smallest spec of dust in my field of vision, the Focus Screen can be a source of annoyance.

Image of a dirty Focus Screen, courtesy of Ken Rockwell

Have you ever looked through your viewfinder and noticed little black specs or even tiny black strings? Well, chances are if you have seen this, it is your Focus Screen that is the culprit and not your sensor. Especially if you see the dirt, but it does not show up in your photos.

Cross Section of a DSLR, Number 5 is the Focus Screen

Focus Screens can be a pain to clean and there are specific methods to do so, which I will go into in my next post. For now, either try to ignore the dirt in your field of view if you can, or go on-line and order another Focus Screen and replace your old one. You can generally buy new ones for around $20-$35 a piece, but look up which model your camera came with originally and buy the same one. Most all Canon cameras come with what’s called the Precision Matte “Eg-A” Focus Screen and the new one will come with a special tool to remove the old one and put in the new one. Whatever you do, do not touch the Focus Screen with your fingers. My next post will be on how to remove and replace your Focus Screen as well as how to clean it PROPERLY.



Comments/Questions

How to Keep Your Camera Dry in Bad Weather

So as you all know, we are headed into the fall and winter months here in the U.S., which means nasty weather. With the arrival of Hurricane Joaquin, we got a ton of rain in the Southeast, with massive flooding in South Carolina.

When headed out to shoot this time of year, you have to be mindful of keeping your camera dry with all the rain and eventually snow. One of the best ways to not have to worry about moisture getting into your camera is to buy a Professional camera like the Nikon D4S or the Canon 1Dx. Both of these cameras are weather proofed, which means they are sealed tight against rain, dust and dirt.

Now I am sure you are saying, “Yeah as a new photographer, I cannot afford a professional camera body, those things runs thousands of dollars.” I totally understand that and hopefully someday you’ll be successful enough to afford a professional body but in the meantime, there are a couple tips I want to share for keeping your camera gear dry.

1.) Don’t waste your time and money buying fancy camera water covers, you can go to a local store and just buy a shower cap to cover the top of your camera. It may sound silly, but those cheap shower caps actually work great for covering your oddly shaped camera.


2.) Don’t use your good lens cloth to get the excess water off your lens’ front element. Use a shammy to blot, not rub the lens to get as much water off as possible and then finish drying with the good lens cloth so you don’t get streaks in your photos.

3.) When done shooting in wet weather, put your camera body in a large Ziplock bag and toss in a Desiccant to absorb any lingering moisture. Canon support recommends ALWAYS using this third method when done shooting in rain or during the winter when it’s easy for your camera to develop condensation internally. I personally went on Amazon and bought a 50 count bag of 5 gram desiccant packs for $19.

So these are 3 simple tips to help keep your gear dry in rainy and snowy weather, now get out there this fall and winter and make some great photos!

Comments/Questions

The Diopter

Another question I have been asked a number of times is “what in the world is this small wheel by my viewfinder?” That “wheel” is called the diopter and it serves a very handy purpose for those that need it.

That little wheel circled in red in your vision diopter

 Not everyone has 20/20 vision, many people wear glasses or contacts to make up for our eye’s natural failings and this is where the diopter comes in. When using a camera, it is often not comfortable to wear your glasses as they tend to get in the way. I personally have glasses but only need them for reading and only then because my right eye is slightly weak.

The diopter allows people that normally wear glasses to use their viewfinder without them and still see clearing, although it’s use is primarily only for shooting using manual focus. The diopter has no marking index or starting point, you simply look through your viewfinder without your glasses and if the viewfinder seems to be blurry then adjust the diopter slowly one way or the other until the readout becomes clear.

On the left is before adjustment, on the right, after adjusting the diopter

The diopter only has adjustment from -3 to +3, so it might not be able to compensate for everyone’s vision, some people who are extremely near or far sighted might need to purchase a custom diopter lens to be added to their camera to make their viewfinder clear and sharp for their eyes. It is also possible for the diopter to accidentally get bumped and out of whack for your vision, just tune it back to your eyes and everything is back to normal for you. If you are in a situation where you share your camera with a friend or family member, the diopter will need to be adjusted each time one of you uses the camera.

Now that you have a better understanding of that tiny wheel next to your viewfinder, adjust yours to your eyesight and then get out there and make some great images!


Comments/Questions

Carry Less, Shoot More

Back when I started in photography, I bought lots of gear and started out carrying most of it with me when I went out all day shooting. Many photographers do this and soon learn that it’s not fun carrying all that gear all day long out in the field. Most of the components of your DSLR system weigh mere ounces to a couple pounds and it may not sound like a lot of weight but when you have ALL of it in a bag or backpack, it’s amazing how heavy it all becomes as the day wears on.

Golf ball in my flower bed shot with 50mm

I now try to minimize what I carry when out in the field all day long so I can carry less weight and shoot more. Another advantage of carrying less aside from going on a camera diet is it is a great way to challenge yourself to be more creative with what you have on you. When carrying all your gear, you tens to spend less time shooting and more time fiddling with lenses and it becomes difficult to focus on shooting as you have a hard time visualizing on what you want to shoot and how to frame it.

If I am going out to just shoot all day I want a good, light weight set up that I can shoot a variety of scenes with and I often find myself grabbing my Canon EF 50mm F/1.4 USM also known as the Nifty Fifty. For me the body doesn’t really matter as all my bodies but one are Canon and I can even use my Canon lenses on my Sony NEX 6 as I have the Canon to Sony adapter.

Atlanta diner owner shot with 50mm

I like the Nifty Fifty set up as 50mm focal length is one of the most popular and most versatile lens out there. It’s great for street photography, portraits, and even landscapes, although it’s not as wide as my EF 17-40mm or my Sony 16-50mm.

Another reason I love the Nifty Fifty is it’s low weight of only 10.23 ounces. My Canon EOS 5 & 6Ds weight close to the same at around 27 ounces, so I keep my total weight to around 3 pounds total. Couple this with my new PeakDesign CapturePRO camera clip mounting system and I can be on my feet all day long with no issues.

Street photography downtown ATL shot with 50mm

 The next reason I recommend carrying less is so that you can become better with one set up. You don’t want to be out in the field worrying about changing lenses, risking getting dust on your sensor and trying to make up your mind what lens will give you the shot you want and then you miss the shot totally. By carrying a simple set up, you perfect your skills using what you have with you. You don’t need to have that zoom lens with you, get closer to what you want to shoot. This not only makes you more creative and builds your skills but you will find that you will enjoy your photography more and do less thinking or over thinking and as a result, less missing the shot. It’s also great when using a lens like the 50mm as you move around more and get more exercise. Who would have thought you could do something you love like photography all day and lose weight and become more fit at the same time. Now get out there and make some great pictures.

Comments/Questions

Mirrorless vs DSLR

Today more and more people are asking myself and others, what’s the difference between Mirrorless and DSLR cameras? Which one is better than the other, and why do both exist?

Well, let’s start with a DSLR as most people know what they are. A DSLR is a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera system. This means there is one lens on the camera and a mirror that reflects what the lens sees and feeds that data into the pentaprism so that we can see what the shot will look like through an optical viewfinder. When the photo is snapped, the mirror flips up out of the way so the light and image hits the sensor directly and the photo is taken. DSLRs are the workhorse of modern photography, but they are heavy and can be more expensive than Mirrorless cameras.

                                         Sony NEX 6 Mirrorless camera 16-50mm F/3.5-5.6

A Mirrorless camera is one that has no mirror assembly, the light and image pass directly through the lens onto the sensor and mirrorless cameras have either an LCD to look at and compose the image with or an electronic viewfinder which feeds the image from the sensor directly to your viewfinder and eye and you see exactly what the sensor sees. This is nice because as you adjust your settings, your eye sees a more accurate rendition of what the final image will look like, but the downside is battery life and speed. My DSLR can shoot up to 1,000 images on a battery charge, where my Sony NEX 6 can only last for around 300-400 shots.

                                        Canon 5D Classic Full frame camera 17-40mm F/4 L

DSLRs have a wider range of lenses to choose from and a much faster Auto Focus system then Mirrorless cameras too, so most any serious photographer is going to shoot with a DSLR. But Mirrorless cameras do have their place and they keep getting better and better all the time. If you shoot nothing but landscapes and portraits, you can get by with just a Mirrorless camera and they do come in both crop sensor models like my NEX 6 as well as full frame models like the Sony A7 series and the Fuji X100 series.

So, which platform is right for you? Only you can decide that. Like I said, if you need fast AF and a wide selection of lenses and want to shoot sports you will want to go with a DSLR, but if you shoot non-action like landscapes and portraits only, certainly give a Mirrorless a try. Mirrorless cameras do also tend to cost less, you can get a new Sony A7 series for a little over $1,000 for a brand new full frame model, where a DSLR full frame will run you $1,800 to $7,000. You can even go to a company like Lumoid and rent a Mirrorless for 3 dys and try it out for yourself. How is the image quality? Check out the two images I post here. One is shot with my Sony NEX 6 Mirrorless and the other with my Canon 5D Classic using the same scene for both images. Which one looks better to you if either?

Now get out there and make some great images!

Comments/Questions

Keeping Your DSLR Sensor Clean

    One of the biggest problems we face as photographers is keeping that DSLR sensor clean when shooting, especially when shooting outdoors. Your sensor is the primary component inside your camera for capturing and preserving those moments to the memory card and needs to always be in the best possible condition and clean to take great photos. Dirt, dust, oils and general grime on the sensor will show up on your images and make them look badly such as the example below from The Digital picture.com

    Those two spots you see are from sensor dust and they are imbedded in your image. Now you can remove them using Photoshop, Lightroom and some other editing programs, but why not prevent them all together? I am going to give you some tips for keeping the dust and dirt out of your sensor.

Never touch the inside of your DSLR, especially with you fingers. The internal workings behind your lens are not meant for your fingers so, keep them out!
Only change your lens in a semi controlled environment. What I mean by this is don’t change your lenses outdoors in 35mph winds as you are just asking for sensor dirt.
Keep your camera pointed down when changing lenses. I am not sure why so many people don’t get this one. Holding the camera with the opening facing forward or up just invites the dirt in, holding it down makes it harder for it to get in.
Never change the lens with the camera powered on. Will it ruin your camera to do so, no but it will keep a static charge inside the shutter area and allow dust to be drawn to your sensor like a magnet.
   
    I have found, one of the easiest ways to keep my sensor clean is just limit how often I change lenses. I never change them outdoors if I can help it. I carry 2-3 bodies when I am shooting outdoors and I equip one body with a wide angle lens for landscapes, the second one will have a portrait lens of some sort for capturing people and my third will have a nice telephoto zoom for anything else I might need to shoot. Now I know you are thinking “I’m not rich enough to afford 2-3 camera bodies.” You’d be surprised the deals you can find at local pawn shops or yard sales, often people don’t realize what they have and will sell the bodies cheap. Also, who says you need the latest, most expensive body out there. Instead of buying one $1,000-$3,000 body, use that money to buy 2-3 bodies that are cheaper because they are the older model, like getting a Canon 1Ds full frame for $500 that was made in 2004 but still shoots great, instead of the Canon 1Dx which runs $7,000. Too many people don’t seem to realize that it is not the camera that takes the great images, it’s the person behind it.
    Until next Sunday, this is the Sunday Ambassador saying get out there and make some great images!

Comments/Questions

Buying a Camera? I Just Did!

Good Morning my Tuesday morning aficionados and welcome to another edition of Terrific Tuesday.

Guess what! I just bought a new toy, yes I bought another camera!  My new toy is the Canon 7D DSLR camera.  As I was playing with it this weekend it occurred to me that the process of buying a camera is not an easy one, so I decided to use this blog today to share my point of view of buying a new camera.  Not everyone is the same and you may use different methods to come to the decision, my ideas here are personal ones that I want to share with anyone willing to listen.  So here are the steps that I used that I will share with you.  These steps are not all inclusive and I know that some of you have other considerations, but I think this will get you thinking about some topics.

Purpose of purchase – If you want to just buy a camera for family picnics, going to the beach and everyday situations you might just want to buy a point and shoot camera.  These cameras are very easy to use and like the name say, they are just made for you to point the camera to where you want and then push the button, the camera does the rest.

If you are into photography and want to buy a camera for the long haul, play with the settings and use it for professional type images, then the DSLR camera are the ones that you are looking for.  “These are your higher end cameras often used by professional photographers. They are characterized by larger image sensors and better photo quality. They offer the photographer the greatest control over the camera settings including complete manual control if desired” (Practical Photography Tips).  Once you decide what you are going to be using the camera for, then you will have a better idea of where to look.

Now remember that there are a lot of different types of DSLR camera and what is good for someone else might not be good for you.

Budget – I know that some of you might have started with this one, but without knowing what you will be using your camera for, you might have a hard time fixing the budget to the purpose of the camera.  If you are in the photography program with the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, you might have already received some information that talks about the different types of camera from the entry level to the most advance ones.

There is nothing wrong with buying an entry level camera to begin the studies and getting you used to the shooting of images with the different courses you will take.  There are cameras there from the $500.00 all the way to the Canon EOS 5D Mark III that would run you over $4000.00.

 

http://www.videomaker.com/article/15518-canon-eos-5d-mark-iii-dslr-review

Extras – This area will probably add up to more money than the purchase of the camera!  Once you decide what camera you also have to remember that down the road you will be purchasing equipment such as lenses, hot shoe flash, remote controls, extra batteries, SD or CF cards for example.  

If you follow these simple tips, you probably will get a great camera to work with.  To end this blog let me give you some last minute tips to remember.

1.    Buy a camera for now and for the future.  The reason I bought another camera is because the one that I started school with, was no longer proper for the classes that I am taking now.  I needed a camera capable of recording video for the current class (Time-Based Media), if you are going for your bachelors with the school, this is going to be a requirement for you.

2.    Research, research, research, and when you are done researching, research some more!  Find the camera that you will feel comfortable with, the one that you will love for a long time!

3.    If you live close to a camera store, go over there and compare the cameras, touch them, grab them and see how they feel in your hands.  You want a camera that feels like an extension of your arm when you use it on a daily basis.  There is nothing wrong with taking your time when shopping, remember what you are going to use it for, your budget and all the extras you will need.

4.    Remember that lenses are not interchangeable and usable from one brand to the other.  If you buy a Nikon, the lenses will probably not work with a Canon and vice versa.  Some other extras are universal, lenses are not, however if you buy a Canon or Nikon, the lenses will work within their own brand.

5.    Buy a new camera that comes with some warranty.  I know a lot of people are in love with Craigslist but I feel that when you buy a used camera you have no idea what has happened to the camera or how the images are going to turn out, or if the inside sensors are defective.  Plus remember all the extras that you might need, do you want to gamble like that?  Of course, this is a personal opinion!

I started my studies with the Canon Rebel XSi and it served me well for three and half years!  So, as you can see a good not too expensive camera will serve you well for a long time.  My new camera satisfies the requirement for the current class and will be with me for a long time.  Now I have two different cameras that can serve different purposes and be backup for each other.  If you want to start your research, here are some sites for you to start reading and researching.

Digital Camera buying guide:

 http://www.practicalphotographytips.com/digital-camera-buying-guide.html#axzz2f4IcyeDa

How to buy a camera, 9-step guide:

http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-buy-a-digital-camera

Best DSLR for beginners:

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/best-dslr-for-beginners-6-tested-1058256

Nikon Vs. Canon:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/nikon-vs-canon.htm

Well, hope this helps someone out there with buying a camera!  Let me know what you think and if you have any other tips, go ahead and share them with the readers, we all can learn from each other experiences.

Until later then, this is your Tuesday Ambassador wishing you a great day, don’t forget to keep shooting!

Tuesday Ambassador

Practical Photography Tips.  “Digital Camera Comparison”.  2012.  Web.  15 September 2013.  http://www.practicalphotographytips.com/digital-camera-comparison.html#axzz2f4IcyeDa