Canon T5i 700D vs T4i 650D Are They The Same? from Dave Dugdale on Vimeo.

It takes a lot of gear to shoot the Olympics, but if you’re a member of the Canon Professional Services shooting the Games, then Canon really has you covered. These shots of the Canon gear room at the London 2012 Olympics come from Gerard McGovern who works with Getty Images (aka inkiboo on Flickr). He recently posted this incredible series of shots showing the racks upon racks of high-end Canon gear.

McGovern is senior events manager at Getty, and made these shots with his BlackBerry.

If anyone feels like doing some quick math to figure out just how much all the gear in these pictures is worth, we’d be pretty curious to hear the result. Better yet, don’t do that, I’m not sure our little hearts can take it.

Option 1

The idea of this effect is based on simple principle of aperture. You can achieve this look directly in camera by simply changing the size of your aperture to its smallest opening (largest f-stop, such as f22). Smaller the aperture, less light hit the sensor and its equally distributed symmetrically.

So, in order to create a nice sun star photo effect, do:

1. Close your aperture. Choose between f/16 or f/22.
2. Clean your front lens. When lens is exposed to such light sources you get to know about the real condition of your lens .  These are dirt speckles which are getting more light attraction while shooting.
3. Remove any filter from your lens, as in all these backlighting situations image quality can suffer because of light trapped between filter and front lens, reducing overall contrast.
4. Choose the right lens. The lens really makes the difference (continue reading to find out why)

Sometimes it is a big challenge as we can’t afford to use slow shutter-speed or tripod all the time. Especially it becomes more challenging when capturing some very high speed object with this effect. So when there are no satisfying conditions you can try to use a special filter. In fact, this is the easiest way to achieve result and you can get a 3 pieces filter set for only $15. For special shapes of stars (North Star, Vector Star) check out the products from Tiffen.

English | Duration: 3h 57m | H264 | 960×540 | 29.97fps 880kbps | AAC 44.1KHz | 1.46GB
Genre: eLearning

Join John Greengo for an in-depth step-by-step tour of the Canon Rebel T4i (known in Europe as the Cannon EOS 650D). With a hands-on introduction to your camera’s operations, detailed instructions on how all the menus work, and instruction on how to shoot great photos with this specific camera model. BIO:
John Greengo is a life-long resident of Seattle, and not surprisingly a typical Northwest outdoor adventure lover. He picked up his first camera at the age of 10, and has since been lucky enough to travel to amazing locations on all seven continents. Between major journeys John teaches photography and gives public talks. He uses a unique blend of illustrations, animations and photographs, all of which makes learning photography easy and fun.

1. Product Overview
2. Photography Basics
3. Button Layout
4. Display System
5. Menu System
6. Camera Operation

Links are Interchangeable – No Password


Extabit:
http://extabit.com/file/2du8qi6hd5hf0/CreativeLIVE..Canon.Rebel.T4i..650D..DSLR.Fast.Start.with.John.Greengo.2012.part1.rar
http://extabit.com/file/2du8qi6hd4p0c/CreativeLIVE..Canon.Rebel.T4i..650D..DSLR.Fast.Start.with.John.Greengo.2012.part2.rar
http://extabit.com/file/2du8qi6hezrkc/CreativeLIVE..Canon.Rebel.T4i..650D..DSLR.Fast.Start.with.John.Greengo.2012.part3.rar

Uploaded:
http://uploaded.net/file/907hghbk/CreativeLIVE..Canon.Rebel.T4i..650D..DSLR.Fast.Start.with.John.Greengo.2012.part1.rar
http://uploaded.net/file/vc7vis36/CreativeLIVE..Canon.Rebel.T4i..650D..DSLR.Fast.Start.with.John.Greengo.2012.part2.rar
http://uploaded.net/file/l2jxknw3/CreativeLIVE..Canon.Rebel.T4i..650D..DSLR.Fast.Start.with.John.Greengo.2012.part3.rar

Info:

Shot on Canon EOS 650D with 18/55mm.
Edited in Adobe After Effects.
Music by Electricwest.
Direction/Editing: Eva Fontana

Tutorial no-dolly smooth move

You can get Vista Explorer 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod with Tripod Bag for your experiments for as low as $20 from Amazon.

The image below demonstrates what a battery grip looks like without the camera attached.

Advantages of DSLR camera battery grips

1. More Power - two batteries instead of one means recharging half as much. Many battery grips nowadays, are designed to hold more than one battery. For example, the battery grip for Canon’s EOS 650D holds two batteries. Many photographers will recall a number of times when they’ve been midway through a shot, when they find the camera locks up due to a low battery. By the time they’ve changed the power supply, the shot is long gone. Adding a grip that holds 2 batteries to your setup, will help solve this problem. The camera won’t lock up until both batteries are low.
2. Second Shutter Release Button – the battery grip has a second shutter button and setting dial which can be very useful in your photography when shooting in portrait mode. It’s not that shooting in portrait mode was difficult before – but this is so much easier.
3. Weight and Balance – two batteries weigh more than one and the grip itself adds a little weight and size to the camera. The camera will sit well in your hand and you will feel more solid when taking shots. Battery grips make it easier for those with larger hands to grip the camera. In some cases even those with smaller hands will find it useful when holding the camera in a portrait (horizontal) position.
4. The Professional Look - There are photographers that the look is also important factor. I mean, if you are professional photographers, coming to a wedding with a small camera will probably make you look like an amateur. Adding a battery grip makes the camera look more professional for non-photographers. So if you want to look more professional, a battery grip can do the job.

Disadvantages

Big disadvantage of a grip is that people try to use it to support the camera with. This leads to strain, and makes for more camera shake. You should support your camera/lens combo from beneath with your left hand at the balance point. Yes, you can still zoom, and focus, as needed that way.

Do you use (or have you used) a battery grip for your DSLR? What benefits did you notice? What didn’t you like about it? Would you recommend one?

Canon BG-E8 Battery Grip for EOS 650D Digital SLR Camera

Even if you have the best gear in the world it won’t make you an awesome photographer, but there is gear out there that will make your job easier, help to get better results and improve your pictures – that’s what this list is all about. One of the things you can do to improve your images is to experiment with different tools. Some of them aren’t absolutely necessary, but really add something unique to your images, helping you to create your individual style. Everything on this list will perfectly fit for your Canon 650D camera.

1. Fixed focal length lens

Fixed focal length lens is highly recommend to have. For Canon 650D, you can get cheap Canon 50mm F1.8 for $100, or if you have a plan to shoot the video, new Canon 40mm STM “pancake” with auto focus in video mode would be the perfect choice. Both of these lens are comparatively cheap, $100 for 50mm and less then $200 for 40mm STM. But you will be very surprised with result.

There are several reasons we would recommend this small upgrade:

1. The shallow depth of field possible at F1.8 can make for some great photography and teach you about effective use of DoF (Depth of Field)
2. The fixed focal length forces you to ‘zoom’ with your feet. It’s a good way to force yourself to start moving around to look for the right angle.
3. The medium focal length forces you to get up close and personal with your subjects, and not stand miles away with your 18-200 zoom.
4. It’s cheap and light, and you can always carry it in your photo bag or even pocket.

There is a great article 4 Reasons Everyone Should Have a Fifty you should read if you still not convinced why you better get one.

2. Use a Tripod

Tripods are very useful when you’re shooting in low light conditions at longer exposures as perching your camera on a wall is really no substitue. A solid tripod will adapt to any situation that you throw at it, and will allow you to play around with longer shutter speeds. You can find lightweight tripods like this Aluminum-Magnesium-Titanium alloy one, which will absorb movements on the ground, while still remain stable as you weigh it down with your bag to prevent movement from the wind and your hands. The added functionality of the ball head allows you do change the position of your camera with ease into any rotation you could imagine. There are also a number of ball-head types on the market – but it really is a personal preference.

You can get one 72 inches with soft bag for less than $20 from Amazon. It’s the best thing you can do in order to make your pictures sharp!

3. External Flash

The other suggestion would be a proper Flash. This has the single most significant effect on photo quality. If you are taking lots of portrait photographs, that tiny little flash at the top of your SLR is the WORST thing to use to illuminate your subject. This is one of the most important purchases for you to buy when you get your new camera as it can become incredibly adaptable to create the sort of light that you’re not used to from a flash.

A cheap bounce flash or even wireless / remote flash or two will make a significant difference in photo quality. Just bounce it off of a light colored surface (ceiling, nearby wall, etc). This has the effect of increasing the size of your light source, which essentially makes your light source look more natural.

So, if this rule applies, then the bigger the light source, the better the photograph, then that tiny little pop up flash is about as small as you can get.

The cheapest one Canon Speedlite 270EX II will cost you something around $150, but we recommend to start at least with Speedlite 430EX II.

4. Reflector

A portable reflector is simply an item that reflects light onto a object, but is compact enough to take anywhere. They are very useful in photography because you can easily give yourself more light to experiment with on a subject. Different colored reflectors assist with changing the mood of an image.

An example of a use would be when shooting portraits outside. You may often see hard shadows across the face (often under the chin), but with the reflector you can reflect light onto these areas and instantly improve an image.

When the main source of light is behind or to the side of the subject, a great way to create the fill in light is to use a reflector to bounce some of the light back onto the subject. The main advantages of this is that it’s cheap and doesn’t have the look of being shot with a flash, which is quite common these days.

You could try to buy a “5 in 1 reflector” which contains all the different types for any situation you find yourself in. These don’t cost much more, and save buying a number of seperate ones.

5. Polarising Filter

Polarizing filters are great and essential for most photographers. Remember to make sure you’re getting the right size for your lens and that you’re buying a circular (as apposed to linear) filter for a digital camera. Linear polarizing filters confuse the autofocus on modern cameras. The filter will remove glare and make your photos a lot more vibrant in bright daylight. We recommend you buy the best one you can afford because there’s no point spending good money on a lens and then putting some cheap glass in front of it.

For Canon 650D 18-55 lens grab any with 58mm diameter, it will cost you around $15 and there’s no point to buy expensive filters for average 18-55mm lens. Although, if you’ve got Canon 650D with 18-135mm IS STM lens you should get one with  67mm diameter, preferably from Hoya.

You’ve read the article, now go take some fantastic images. We would love to see how your photography improved. And please share your images in Canon 650D Facebook page!

Planning to buy a new camera this upcoming festive season? If you’re after one built by Canon, you could be entitled to a fair few quids worth of cashback as part of a new Christmas promotion.

Up to £160 cashback is up for grabs for those looking to buy select compact and mirrorless cameras, DSLRs, printers and lenses. Get a Canon EOS 650D and you can claim £50 back, or £30 on a Pixma MG5450 printer. Canon EOS M, brand new mirror less camera offers £50 cashback, while an IXUS 500 HS gives £30.

You can also pick up an additional £25 worth of cashback if you buy more than one product through the deal.

Running until January 2013, those looking to benefit from the deal need to complete a claim form and send it back to Canon, along with the original receipt for their item, before 28 February 2013.

To check the fine details of the offer, click here.

We decided to put up a list of 10 of the most popular, highly-ranked by readers, bestseller photography books that will path the way for you to take your hobby or craft  to a whole new higher level! It is not surprising that the list features both great classic books as well as many new one and some great hidden gems.

1. The Digital Photography Book, Part 4 by Scott Kelby

If you don’t know where to start, start with books written by Scott Kelby.

Scott Kelby, author of The Digital Photography Book (the best-selling digital photography book of all time), is back with another follow-up to his smash best-seller, with an entirely new book that picks up right where volume 3 left off. It’s even more of that “Ah ha, so that’ s how they do it,” straight-to-the-point, skip-the-techno-jargon stuff people can really use today, and that made volume 1 the world’s best-selling book on digital photography.

Here’s how Scott describes his book: “If you and I were out on a shoot and you asked me, ‘Hey Scott, I want the light for this portrait to look really soft and flattering. How far back should I put this softbox?’ I wouldn’t give you a lecture about lighting ratios, or flash modifiers. In real life, I’d just turn to you and say, ‘Move it in as close to your subject as you possibly can, without it actually showing up in the shot.’ Well, that’s what this book is all about: you and I out shooting where I answer questions, give you advice, and share the secrets I’ve learned, just like I would with a friend–without all the technical explanations and techie photo speak.”

Every time you turn the page, you’ll learn another pro setting, tool, or trick to transform your work from snapshots into gallery prints. If you’re tired of taking shots that look “okay,” and if you’re tired of looking in photography magazines and thinking, “Why don’t my shots look like that?” then this is the book for you.

This isn’t a book of theory, full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts. This is a book on which button to push, which setting to use, and when to use it. With another 200 of the most closely guarded photographic “tricks of the trade,” this book gets you shooting dramatically better-looking, sharper, more colorful, more professional-looking photos every time.

“Scott Kelby does an excellent job at making the complex very simple and his style of writing is entertaining and engaging.”

2. Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera by Bryan Peterson

This book will be good not only for serious amateur photographers who already shoot perfectly focused images, but for beginners who wants to be more creative with a camera. More than 70 approaches are explained in jargon-free and easy to understand language. Popular and less-familiar techniques are covered in detail, including infrared, soft-focus effect, advanced exposure, bounced flash and candlelight, unusual vantage points, zooming, and other accurately chosen ways to improve images. The reader will achieve superb results even on the first attempt, thanks to the Top Tips given for each technique.Bryan Peterson is a world known instructor and professional photographer. Other bestselling books he released are: Understanding Shutter Speed, Understanding Close-Up Photography, Bryan Peterson’s Understanding Photography Field Guide, Learning to See Creatively, Understanding Digital Photography, and Beyond Portraiture.

He’s been a commercial photographer for over 30 years, participating in annual reports for many Fortune 500 companies. His trademark use of color and strong, graphic composition have garnered him many photographic awards, including the New York Art Director’s Gold Award and honors from Communication Arts and Print magazine.

“After reading the book, I can take better pictures with my Canon 650D and make good use of all the manual modes it offers, which I found daunting before I read the book. ”

3. Complete Digital Photography, Fifth Edition by Ben Long

As digital cameras and image editing software become more technologically advanced and affordable, photography has become more popular and accessible to photographers of all ages and skill sets. While these advances have helped beginning photographers take better pictures, these same photographers often don’t have the technical skills required to take great photos. “Complete Digital Photography, Fifth Edition” guides you through every aspect of digital photography, from shooting through postproduction and printing, to help you master the theory and technical skills required of a great photographer. In an easy-to-understand format, you’ll uncover the fundamental photographic knowledge you need to solve common dilemmas and challenges and advance your photographs to a new level. You’ll learn everything from how a camera works and how to choose the camera that’s right for you, through shooting, image editing, output, and workflow. You’ll also explore the basics of artistry in photography, including finding a subject, composition, lighting, and more. This fifth edition features both new material and a revised and more user-friendly organizational structure. Tutorials and exercises throughout the book will help you practice the techniques presented in each chapter.

“When I decided to go digital, I bought about a dozen books on the subject. This one leaves the others in the dust.”

4. Learning to See Creatively: Design, Color & Composition in Photography (Updated Edition) by Bryan Peterson

Almost everyone can “see” in the conventional sense, but developing photographic vision takes practice. Learning to See Creatively helps photographers visualize their work, and the world, in a whole new light.

Now totally rewritten, revised, and expanded, this best-selling guide takes a radical approach to creativity. It explains how it is not some gift only for the “chosen few” but actually a skill that can be learned and applied. Using inventive photos from his own stunning portfolio, author and veteran photographer Bryan Peterson deconstructs creativity for photographers. He details the basic techniques that went into not only taking a particular photo, but also provides insights on how to improve upon it—helping readers avoid the visual pitfalls and technical dead ends that can lead to dull, uninventive photographs.

This revised edition features the latest information on digital photography and digital imaging software, as well as an all-new section on color as a design element. Learning to See Creatively is the definitive reference for any photographers looking for a fresh perspective on their work.

* New edition of a best-selling title

* Updated to include digital

* All new artwork, and a totally revised and expanded text

* All-new section on color as a design element

* Written by one of Amphoto’s bestselling authors

“This book specifically but all of Mr Peterson’s books in general give great ideas on how to take a “creatively correct” picture.”

5.  Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting by Fil Hunter

THE book to own if you want to understand lighting!

Light Science and Magic more than just provides set examples for photographers to follow. This international bestseller provides photographers with a comprehensive theory of the nature and principles of light to allow individual photographers to use lighting to express their own creativity. It will show you how to light the most difficult subjects such as surfaces, metal, glass, liquids, extremes (black-on-black and white-on-white), and people.

With more information specific for digital photographers, a brand new chapter on equipment, much more information on location lighting, and more on photographing people, this brand new fourth edition will make it clear why this is one of the only recommended books by Strobist.com.

• THE lighting guide for those who take photography seriously
• The only book that fully covers theory and physics of light
• Full of brand new info, specific to digital photography
• New full color art package with contemporary lighting examples

“Rather, read this book and you will learn how to think about lighting and understand it from the ground up. ”

6. The Adobe Photoshop CS6 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby

ARE YOU READY FOR AN AMAZING NEW VERSION OF THE PHOTOSHOP BOOK THAT BREAKS ALL THE RULES?

Scott Kelby, the best-selling Photoshop author in the world today, once again takes this book to a whole new level as he uncovers the latest, most important, and most exciting new Adobe Photoshop CS4 techniques for digital photographers. This major update to his award-winning, record-breaking book does something for digital photographers that’s never been done before—it cuts through the bull and shows you exactly “how to do it.” It’s not a bunch of theory; it doesn’t challenge you to come up with your own settings or figure it out on your own. Instead, Scott shows you step-by-step the exact techniques used by today’s cutting-edge digital photographers, and best of all, he shows you flat-out exactly which settings to use, when to use them, and why. That’s why the previous editions of this book are widely used as the official study guide in photography courses at colleges and universities around the world.

LEARN HOW THE PROS DO IT
Each year Scott trains thousands of professional photographers how to use Photoshop, and almost without exception they have the same questions, the same problems, and the same challenges—and that’s exactly what he covers in this book.

Kelby provides a colorful, picture-filled, witty step-by-step process for each of the major steps in making your photos the best that they can be. Included in this version is emphasis on sharpening, HDR, Content Fill Aware, video, RAW images, sizing, printing, black & white, Instagram look (believe it or not) and lastly “killer tips” at the end of each chapter. The latter can save you a lot of time and frustration and are worth the price of book many times over.

“He has a project-based approach–gorgeous screenshots and illustrations.  Scott Kelby does a beautiful job”

7. The Betterphoto Guide to Digital Photography (Amphoto Guide Series) by Jim Miotke

Digital cameras are the hot new tech toy-but many of the millions of people who are buying the cameras aren’t getting the most out of their new purchase. Mysterious icons, strange jargon, a dizzying array of imaging software and hardware…stumbling blocks quickly become tools to create great pictures with The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Photography. This practical, lesson-based workbook gives readers a step-by-step tutorial in getting bright, crisp, beautiful pictures from their digital cameras every time. Learn about exposure, file formats and quality settings, low-light photography, digital filters and white balance, composition and lens choice, manipulating images, printing, and much more, all in a handy, bring-along format. Everyone who has a digital camera-or who is thinking about getting one-needs The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Photography!

“I would highly recommend this book to both beginners and intermediate photographers. ”

8.  The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes by Joe McNally

After spending more than thirty years behind the lens—working for National Geographic, Time,Life, and Sports Illustrated—Joe McNally knows about light. He knows how to talk about it, shape it, color it, control it, and direct it. Most importantly, he knows how to create it…using small hot shoe flashes.

Joe starts with the basics: gear, the fundamentals of digital photography and simple flash. He moves on to talk about one light shots. And two light shots. And lots-a-lights shots. He talks about where to put the lights and what to put between the lights and the subject. He shares a lifetime of stories. He inspires and encourages.

In The Hot Shoe Diaries, Joe brings you behind the scenes to candidly share his lighting solutions for a ton of great images. Using Nikon Speedlights, Joe lets you in on his uncensored thought process—often funny, sometimes serious, always fascinating—to demonstrate how he makes his pictures with these small flashes. Whether he’s photographing a gymnast on the Great Wall, an alligator in a swamp, or a fire truck careening through Times Square, Joe uses these flashes to create great light that makes his pictures sing.

“‘Hot Shoe Diaries’ is pure McNally and the best book I’ve ever read on flash photography. Two words: “buy it.”

 9. Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision by David duChemin

Within the Frame is a book about finding and expressing your photographic vision, specifically where people, places, and cultures are concerned. A personal book full of real-world wisdom and incredible images, author David duChemin shows you both the how and the why of finding, chasing, and expressing your vision with a camera to your eye. Vision leads to passion, and passion is a cornerstone of great photography. With it, photographs draw the eye in and create an emotional experience. Without it, a photograph is often not worth—and can’t capture—a viewer’s attention.

Both instructional and inspirational, Within the Frame helps you on your photographic journey to make better images of the places and people you love, whether they are around the world or in your own backyard. duChemin covers how to tell stories, and the technology and tools we have at our disposal in order to tell those narratives. Most importantly, he stresses the crucial theme of vision when it comes to photographing people, places, and cultures—and he helps you cultivate and find your own vision, and then fit it within the frame.

David does something here that few have ever done — he not only shows his absolutely captivating images, he shows the thought process behind those images, as well as how to start capturing the types of images we all long to take

“People will be talking about this book for years to come. It’s that good!”

10. Digital Wedding Photography: Capturing Beautiful Memories by Glen Johnson

Professional wedding photographer Glen Johnson knows there’s a huge difference between being able to take good pictures and being a good wedding photographer. In this exquisite, full-color book, Glen dispenses sage advice and solutions for taking impressive digital wedding images — posed or candid, in any weather, in any setting, at any locale. You will also learn the secrets of creating a successful digital wedding photography business, and much more. Whether you’re an aspiring professional or an amateur who wants to improve your skills at digital wedding photography, this book will help you succeed.

Discover what makes wedding photography a unique specialty
* Find out how to make people feel relaxed and comfortable while you’re shooting
* Explore ways to capture the emotion as well as the moment
* Identify your personal photographic style
* Prepare for all types of lighting situations
* Learn appropriate etiquette for shooting in dressing rooms and during the ceremony
* Know what to take when traveling abroad
* Set up the perfect digital studio to process your images
* Perfect the skills necessary to market and manage your business

“Glen Johnson’s book was like having my own personal wedding photography mentor.”

Your favorite book on photography is not here? Feel free to recommend any other books that you’ve read and think are worth a mention!