First off, can I just say that I wish Canon would come out with a faster 70-300mm lens? I find the 70-200mm focal length to be overly limiting, and the 70-300mm focal length to be much more useful. Unfortunately, the best 70-300mm lens Canon offers is the EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS. If they’d just bump it up to an f/2.8L, I’d definitely shell out the bucks for it.

With that said, I found the 70-200 f/2.8L to be adequate when photographing stationary subjects (though I did break out the 2x converter to make up for the lack in focal range), but less than stellar when photographing action shots. I used it in tandem with my Digital Rebel XTi, so the four frames per second limitation made it hard to track the motorcycles as they zipped by at over two hundred miles per hour – certainly not the fault of the lens. However, auto focus was noticeably slower than the second generation version of the lens.

The weight of the lens made it burdensome to carry around for any length of time – something it has in common with its successor as well. This is to be expected with such a huge, solid lens. Still, I have no quarrel at all with the construction of the lens, though it is somewhat more noisy than the second gen when the IS kicks in. The image quality of the photos is slightly less crisp than those taken with the second generation lens, but still very, very good.

Basically, it all just depends on your individual requirements. By no means is this a BAD lens to have in your collection. If you want to save a thousand dollars and purchase the first generation instead of the second generation, you will still get a lot of use and a lot of quality photos from it. It just doesn’t happen to be the lens for me. But then, neither is the second generation version – though if someone wants to give me one, I certainly wouldn’t say no!

I’m just going to hold out in hopes that Canon is going to get to work on improving the 70-300mm lens.

For much more information on this lens, I highly recommend that you read The Digital Picture’s in-depth analysis and review of the Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS.

The most excellent folks at Pro Photo Rental provided the lenses for the purpose of this review. Their service has always been outstanding and I continue to highly recommend them to anyone with lens rental needs.(*)

Photo credits (all): Tiffany Joyce

*The Author received complimentary rentals in exchange for mentioning the Provider’s products and/or services on this website. Such compensation received did not and will never influence the content, topics or posts made on this website. We will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement.

Related posts:

1. Lens Review: Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS
2. Lens Review: Canon EF 16-35 f/2.8L II
3. Review – Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens

Where I live in Arizona, Labor Day means that the best weather of the year (read: sub-100 degrees F) is just a few tantalizing weeks away.

To all of our friends and readers celebrating their day off, happy Labor Day!

Photo Credits (in order of appearance):
- “Colorado Balloon Classic” by Walkadog on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Labor Day” by Nerissa on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Washington DC Labor Day Concert” by Sue Elias on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “LaC Family Rooftop Cookout” by ajileon on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Death is the sound of of distant thunder at a picnic” by myklroventine on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Picnic for One” by Gamene on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Kites” by Steven Depolo on Flickr Creative Commons.

Related posts:

1. Happy Independence Day Weekend
2. In Honor of the Labor Day Holiday (US)
3. Happy New Year!

If you’re having focus issues that you can’t quite explain or pinpoint the cause, you might need to adjust your camera’s diopter. Everyone’s vision is different, so your camera provides the ability to adjust the focus of the viewfinder to your individual needs. Your SLR camera has a small dial, typically near the eyecup, that has a plus and minus sign. Turning this small knob/dial/wheel adjusts the focus of the viewfinder as you are looking through the lens.

Simply allow your camera to auto-focus on an object, then turn the diopter dial back and forth until the object is focussed according to your eyesight.

It’s beneficial to check the diopter every now and then – it may get bumped, or adjusted by someone. In some camera models it may be difficult to turn the knob if it’s very close to the eyecup – remove the eyecup, perform your adjustments, then replace the eyecup.

Different camera models offer different adjustment ranges (for example, the Canon 7D diopter adjusts from -3 to +1). If you find that your diopter doesn’t offer the range of adjustment that you require for sharp focus, or if you’d like to be able to look through the viewfinder without requiring your glasses should you wear them, many camera models (I found Sony, Nikon, and Canon models on Amazon) offer correction diopter lens/eyepiece combinations. A starting point of minus one (-1) is considered optimum for “normal” vision – corrective diopters typically range from minus three to plus three (-3/+3).

It may seem like a small thing to consider, but it can make a very big difference in the quality of your shots!

Photo credits (in order of appearance):
- “The Old Workhorse” by Sam Agnew on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Body (Back)” by Sikachu on Flickr Creative Commons.

Related posts:

1. The Finer Points of Focus
2. Photography 101 – Exposure Compensation
3. Tips for Focusing in the Dark

Let me ask you, as one photographer to another… are there many things better in life than unboxing a brand new camera? Not many, I think!

A serendipitous sequence of events lead to the ability to buy my Canon EOS 7D with 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM kit lens – which I have greatly coveted since its debut last year – several months ahead of schedule. I pulled the trigger on it on Monday evening, and it was in my hands on Wednesday. Oh joy, oh happiness, oh how lovely it is to live in the age of Amazon and UPS.

Of course, I took photos of each stage of the unboxing. For you, my gentle readers! (Click on each for a larger version.)

What I am looking forward to the most:
- Eight frames per second
- ISO up to 6400
- 19 point auto-focus
- On-the-fly switching between RAW and JPEG
- 63 zone dual-layer light metering
- HD video

What I am looking forward to the least:
- Reading the 250 page manual.

Rest assured, once I gain familiarity with this new camera, you’ll all be getting a detailed review. Plus, I received a couple of other toys in this shipment that I’m eager to share with you all, in upcoming entries!

Photo credits (all): Tiffany Joyce

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1. Great Beginner Light Sources
2. Still Life Photography
3. What to Look For in a Laptop

Each month we feature a month-long “challenge”: one photographic “theme” in which participants are encouraged to take photos of a certain subject or concept, and one “technical challenge” in which participants will use a certain photography technique. Contributors can either combine the theme and the technique in a single photograph, or in individual photographs that demonstrate one or the other. Everyone is encouraged to post their results in the Beyond Megapixels Photo Pool on Flickr, or the Beyond Megapixels Facebook page.

This month’s theme is “angles“, and the technique is “black and white“. Have fun with it, and interpret the theme and technique in any way that inspires you.

To post your submissions in the Beyond Megapixels Flickr Group Pool, go to this link. Only members can post to the pool, but it’s a very simple and FREE process (you must have a Flickr account, which is also simple and free). Simply click on the “Join This Group” link (as illustrated in the screen shot below) and follow the prompts to join the pool. Alternately, you can also post your photo challenge contributions to the Photography-B&H Photo & BeyondMegapixels Facebook page.

Please tag each contribution with “September Photo Challenge”. Contributor photos are always highlighted in an entry at about mid-month, so tagging your photos helps us determine which Group or Facebook pictures were intended as part of the challenge. It is very important to ensure that the photo is able to be downloaded as well. The Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs Creative Commons license gives the most protection to your photo, while still allowing it to be downloaded. We also post a group discussion thread in the Flickr Group at the beginning of each month, for contributors to share their experiences about the challenge.

If you’d like, you can also post a link to your contribution in the comments of this article. Have fun, and we look forward to seeing your results!

Photo Credit: “Give my regards to Mr. Escher” by cesarastudillo on Flickr Creative Commons.

Related posts:

1. August Photo Challenge
2. May Photo Challenge
3. March Photo Challenge

I recently purchased a framed print from Mpix. I’ve heard Scott Kelby go on and on about them, and have seen their full page advertisements multiple times in every issue of Popular Photography that I own. So I signed up for a free account, created a personal album, and uploaded several shots from our recent vacation to Maine. I figured, what better test subject for an inaugural purchase than the Portland Head Light?

Once images are loaded, clicking on it takes you to a Buy screen that lists the sizes that are available according to the resolution of the photo (click on all the images to see larger versions):

After selecting a quantity of “1″ of the 16×24 print size, I added it to my cart. I then had to go into my cart and the item I added, and click on “Add Mount, Frame, or Lustre Coating” in order to add matting and framing to it. This was the only confusing step of the process – I couldn’t figure why they wouldn’t give me the options right then and there.

I chose a black flat frame, white mat, and non-glare glass.

I placed my order on a Sunday night, and the finished framed picture was delivered via FedEx on Wednesday afternoon. I was very happy indeed with the fast turn around. I eagerly unwrapped the packing and pulled out the picture. I was very happy with the quality of the print itself, and the workmanship was excellent EXCEPT for this:

As you can see here, there was some sort of debris caught between the matting and the glass. Because there was heavy paper stapled to the back of the frame, we were unable ourselves to disassemble the frame in order to remove the debris. I contacted Mpix customer service on Wednesday night to tell them about the issue. They responded to my e-mail almost immediately, with their profuse apologies, and provided a FedEx label to return the picture. Instead, I just decided to take it to my local Michaels and pay the $10 USD for them to disassemble and reassemble the picture.

All in all, I suspect that the issue I experienced was just a once-off deal. The customer service was excellent, the quality of the print and frame is excellent, and the turn-around time was incredible. I would highly recommend Mpix and plan to use them again in the future.

Photo credits (all): Tiffany Joyce.

*The Author did NOT receive any products or compensation in exchange for mentioning the Provider’s products and/or services on this website. The Author purchased this product for personal use with personal funds. We will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. This is not an advertisement.

Related posts:

1. On-Line Photo Printing
2. Frontier Label – Advert
3. Upcoming and Elsewhere

I’ve come across a few ideas for photo projects that I’m interested in giving a try.

———-

Earlier this year, Scott Kelby posted the Old School Photo Challenge. Participants were tasked to take the equivalent of one “roll” of film (24 or 36 shots), keeping their LCD monitor turned off so that they couldn’t preview the quality of the photo. They were also encouraged to stick with the same ISO for the entire 24 or 36 shots, just as they would have to do for film photos. Participants then had to wait for 24 hours after taking the pictures, before uploading them and viewing them. They were encouraged to avoid touching anything up in Photoshop, but keeping everything SOOC. Participants had the option to print the photos (as if getting film developed), and, if they were so inclined, to donate the cost of developing a roll of film to a charity that Kelby supports.

I thought this was a very neat concept, and a great project to help me focus on my “SOOC” skills. Though I missed the actual challenge, I still plan on taking a weekend and following through the steps of the project.

———-

Another idea for a photo project that I recently had, is a sort of Photo Shadowing project. Choose a person – a friend or a family member – to “shadow” for an entire day. The idea is to collect a documentary-type “day in the life” series of photographs that captures the life and personality of that individual at one point in time. Encourage them to go about their day as they normally would, while you follow them around with your camera, paparazzi-style. Follow your grandmother as she gardens, fixes meals, or hangs laundry on the line. Follow your child as he plays, naps, and studies. Follow your friend as she shops, chats on the phone, or arranges flowers. The thought is to have a series of shots in the end that truly reveals the positive qualities of that person.

———-

The Photo Collage project involves taking a series of photographs that relate to one another that, in the end, will be arranged in an artful collage. Big Huge Labs has a great mosaic maker that could be used for this project, if hand-stitching in Photoshop isn’t your thing. Coffee Shop Photography also has a lovely set of storyboard templates and actions available for free.

———-

Of course, there are always the ever-popular 365 Days photo-a-day project, the 52 Weeks self-portrait-a-week project, and the FOAM Project (a square collage per day of Food, Outside, Abstract, and Myself). These projects are excellent to just get us taking pictures, and prioritizing our time with our cameras.

———-

Another great way to hone your photography skills is to choose a photograph from a book or magazine, and try to recreate it yourself. Spot a landscape that is local to where you live, in a coffee table book. Take a day to explore that place and try to re-create the image. Observe the dramatic lighting of a model in a fashion magazine, and volunteer a family member or friend to model for you. View the artful arrangements of still-life shots in an architectural digest, and mimic those shots with the items that you have at hand. Or, choose a favorite photographer and try to emulate their style.

———-

Do you have a great idea for a photo project? Tell us about it in the comments!

Photo credits (in order of appearance):
- Scott Kelby’s Old School Photo Challenge contribution by Mishelle Lane
- “My beautiful Grandmother” by Maureen Didde on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Varese Ligure cutout collage” by Marco Fedele on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “…to be played by fools” by Abe and Liina Novy on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Copycat” by fdecomite on Flickr Creative Commons.

Related posts:

1. Guest Posts and Photo Projects
2. January Photo Challenge
3. Play Games With Your Camera

What The Duck.

Bent Objects by Terry Border.

Funny Photography Quotes

I Crush Your Head Flickr Group

Do you have a funny photography site to share? Let us know in the comments!

* All images are used in accordance with the terms of use provided on the corresponding owner’s website.

Related posts:

1. Two Great Links
2. Five Photography Websites I Rely On
3. New “Links” Section: looking for submissions!

I am looking for volunteers for my upcoming article series, “Fix My Pic”. The series will give the readers of Beyond Megapixels the opportunity to submit photographs for analysis and advice. Topics may include exposure correction, composition advice, Photoshop enhancement, and the like. The intent of the series is to provide a learning opportunity for common photography issues and their solutions. Responses will be personalized to the specific photograph, and will always be issued in a respectful, non-critical, and professional manner.

Participants can submit their photographs via the “Contribute to Fix My Pic” discussion on Flickr. Please ensure any photographs submitted for consideration are able to be downloaded from Flickr. To edit this capability for an individual photograph (without changing global settings), choose one of the Creative Commons licenses under the “rights” settings for that photograph.

It takes a certain amount of bravery to open yourself up for analysis and critique. I understand how difficult it can sometimes be, which is why I am extremely grateful for any participants who wish to volunteer their work. While I can’t guarantee that I will have the opportunity to write articles for all of the photographs submitted, I will make a concerted effort to include as many as possible, and I will try to respond to everyone at the very least.

Direct any questions to the comments, or to the Flickr discussion topic. Thanks, and I look forward to your contributions!

Photo Credit: Tiffany Joyce.

Related posts:

1. 100 Steps to IYP – Lesson 8 – Assignments and Critique
2. Plans for 2010
3. Inspiring Emotion – Technical or Talent?

Following are a few shortcuts and rules of thumb that help me in my day-to-day photography needs. Since I refer to them often enough myself, I thought I would pass them along to you.

Using a Teleconverter

Keep light loss in mind if you use a teleconverter in combination with your lens. In general, adjust the light levels one stop for each level of magnification. For example, if the magnification is 1.4x, adjust the light level by one stop. If the magnification is 2x, adjust the light level by two stops. This translates to stopping the lens down one or two stops to improve sharpness. For example, an f/2.8 lens becomes f/4.0 when used with a 1.4x teleconverter. An f/2.8 lens becomes an f/5.6 with the use of a 2x teleconverter. To accommodate this, you will also need to slow the shutter speed down, or increase the ISO, to allow more light in.

Correctly Exposing the Moon

When photographing the moon, set the f-stop to f/16 and set the ISO to 400. Set the shutter speed at 1/400 for a full moon, 2/400 (or 1/200) for a gibbous moon, 5/400 (or 1/80) for a quarter moon, and 10/100 (or 1/10) for a crescent moon. This formula works no matter which ISO you choose – if you’re working with ISO 200, the shutter speeds would be 1/200, 2/200 (1/100), 5/200 (1/40), and 10/200 (1/20).

Sweet Spots

Here is a table of aperture vs. shutter speed “sweet spots”. I actually printed a copy and stuck it in my camera bag.

Shutter speed = 1/2; Aperture = F22
Shutter speed = 1/4; Aperture = F16
Shutter speed = 1/8; Aperture = F11
Shutter speed = 1/15; Aperture = F8
Shutter speed = 1/30; Aperture = F5.6
Shutter speed = 1/60; Aperture = F4
Shutter speed = 1/125; Aperture = F2.8
Shutter speed = 1/250; Aperture = F2.0
Shutter speed = 1/500; Aperture = F1.4

Printing vs. Pixels

Following is a table comparing photograph size to the equivalent in pixels, which is helpful to understand when you’re printing photographs yourself.

Wallet size = 142 x 218 pixels
4×6 = 512 x 768 pixels
5×7 = 768 x 1153 pixels
8×10 = 1024 x 1536 pixels

Helpful Links

I find myself going back to these links every now and then:

- Matt Cole’s Handy Guide to format sizes, image areas and “normal” lens focal lengths.
- The Ultimate Exposure Computer.
- 78 Photography Rules for Complete Idiots. It’s tongue in cheek, so don’t take it seriously! Though, there are actually a few good tips in there. It just made me laugh.

Do you have a rule of thumb or easy-to-remember formula to share with us? Leave your tips in the comments!

Photo credit – “Crescent Moon” by Luis Argerich on Flickr Creative Commons.

Related posts:

1. Sunny 16 – A Rule of Thumb
2. Stops 101
3. Celestial Photography