Canon EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6L IS (image credit: PetaPixel)

Want to upgrade your Canon EF-S 18-55mm Kit Lens, to a Canon EF-S 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6L IS? you can do so for just $15.00. Peta Pixel has the complete details.

[via: CR]
[via: Peta Pixel]

The New EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

Features

• All-new optical design delivers exceptional sharpness
• Ultra-low dispersion (UD) and super UD elements
• Fast f/2.8 maximum aperture
• Sealed against dust and moisture
• Fast, silent ultrasonic autofocus
• Manual focus override
• Nine-bladed circular aperture

Now available for Pre Orders at the following stores:

B&H  |  Adorama

February 6, 2012, Saitama, Japan – Tamron Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Morio Ono / Headquarters: Saitama City), a leading manufacturer of optical equipment, announced the development of the SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (Model A007), the world’s first^*1 full-size high-speed standard zoom lens equipped with VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilization and USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive)^*2, with resolution at the top of its class.

Product Features

1. World’s first^*1 full-size, high-speed standard zoom with built-in VC (Vibration Compensation)^*3. Even when shooting in low-light conditions with a slow shutter speed to render sharpness, Tamron’s acclaimed VC allows for stable handheld camera work, to more fully enjoy the benefits of this high-speed zoom lens.
2. Uses specialized high-grade glass in the three LD elements, three Glass Molded Aspherical Lenses, one Hybrid Aspherical Lens and two XR (Extra Refractive Index) glasses, delivering top-of-the-class quality images suited to this high-grade lens. Using a rounded diaphragm^*4, the lens achieves gorgeous blur effects.
3. Features USD^*2 (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) to power a speedy AF drive together with a continuous manual mechanism.
4. This high-speed standard zoom lens has a wide-end focal length of 24mm that expands the photographic area.
5. The lens adopts the new technology including the latest optical design, VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilization and USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive), all in a lighter and more compact package.
6. Moisture-resistant construction helps prevent water from penetrating the lens.

Other Details

1. For high-speed standard zoom lens compatible with full frame size SLR cameras except with Sony full frame size SLR cameras. Current as of February 2012. (Source: Tamron).
2. USD (Ultrasonic Silent Drive) is Tamron’s proprietary ultrasonic motor drive.
3. The Sony mount does not include VC, because the body of Sony digital SLR cameras includes image stabilization functionality. The product name for Sony cameras is “SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di USD” without the VC designation.
4. This rounded diaphragm retains a nearly circular shape even when taken two stops down from its fully open state.

VC (Vibration Compensation)

VC (Vibration Compensation) is Tamron’s proprietary image stabilization system. Tamron’s VC is a three-coil system, whereby three driving coils activate the shake-compensating VC lens group electromagnetically via three steel balls. The VC lens elements are held in place only by contact with the steel balls, achieving smooth movement with little friction. This provides a stable viewfinder image with excellent tracking performance. And as the VC lens may be moved in parallel using only the motorized control, the mechanical structure has been simplified, enabling the creation of a more compact lens.

New VC system (moving coil method)

Tamron’s original VC image stabilization mechanism utilized a moving magnet system whereby a heavy magnet was positioned near the moving VC lens element. In the new VC unit the positions of the magnet and the coil are reversed, because of this the VC optical lens element is attached to the coil. The new VC mechanism employs a moving coil mechanism with a lightweight coil, and the lighter coil reduces the load on the drive system. Thus, the lighter, more compact new VC unit contributes to the lens’s overall light weight and compact size.

Because the 24-70 mm F/2.8 Di VC USD is a high-speed zoom lens with maximum aperture of F/2.8, its VC system must drive a lens that is larger and heavier than other zooms. Therefore, the shape, size and layout of the drive coils are all designed to obtain sufficient thrust. The result is a full-size, high-speed zoom that provides the same high level of compensation effect.

About the ultrasonic motor

In the ultrasonic motor, a piezoelectric element arranged in a ring formation generates ultrasonic vibrations in a metallic ring stator, and the vibration energy is used to rotate a metallic ring rotor that is attached to the stator. The rotation energy is in turn transferred from the metallic ring rotor to operate the focus lens.

Notice of Classification Code Change for Nikon Mounts

Since the introduction by Tamron of the first Nikon mount lens featuring an internal AF motor, the AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC (Model A20), all Nikon mount lenses with the internal AF motor had used the classification code “N II.” Lenses using a coupler system* without an internal AF motor were designated as “N.” Because future Nikon lenses will have the internal AF motor as a standard feature, Tamron has decided to simplify the designation and consolidate all Nikon mount lenses as “N,” eliminating the “N II” designation for future models. This classification code change will be effective beginning with the 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD (Model B008).

The “N” classification lenses with coupler systems are: AF28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di (Model A061); SP AF200-500mm F/5.6-6.3 Di (Model A08); and SP AF180mm F/3.5 Di (Model B01).

*Coupler system refers to a system that uses a shaft to harness the AF motor built into the camera body to operate the lens.

[via Tamron Japan]

Today’s most shared photo on twitter – Cute monkey just stealing some snow.

Canon EOS 40D with Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM Lens. Photomatix Pro | Topaz Detail 2.

Ok, here’s the story, I was sitting by the pond waiting for the ducks to come near me, when I notice this Hawk kinda staring at me from afar. So I grab my camera set it to auto bracket and slowly walk towards him praying that he won’t fly away. It’s just me and him, I only have a 200mm lens, I check if I’m close enouch, still not, so I walked some more. It seems like he’s observing every move I make. I had a feeling he’s going to fly away if I move in much closer, so again, I slowly raised my camera fired away. I managed to get 6 frames before he flew away on top of the trees. I waited for another hour hoping he would come back down, but did not.

More Info:
The photo above was shot with a Canon EOS 40D with a Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM Lens.

Software I use to create and process this photograph:

• Photomatix Pro – I used this in creating this High Dynamic Range Photograph by merging the three exposures I shot.
• Topaz Detail – Topaz Detail puts unique detailing capabilities right at your fingertips. Built with one-of-a-kind technology, this plug-in is invaluable for photographers who want precise and intricate detailing abilities that will help achieve high-quality enhancements.
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 – I used Lightroom to manage and organized my photographs.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2012 Ness Flores

Canon EOS 40D with Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM Lens. Lightroom 3.6.

To be honest this is the first photo I took this year, really busy with work. Good thing a had a chance to go out for a couple of hours and relax that day, and I took that opportunity to grab some shots. I waited for a good two hours and manage to get some pretty good shots that I like.

I choose to post this photo because I love the way the bird was flying with it’s wings widely spread, it seems that it’s happy and free. I’m glad I was able to take the photo just when he’s about to turn.

The photo above was shot with a Canon EOS 40D with a Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM Lens.

Here some sample photos I shot with the Tamron AF 60mm F/2 SP Macro Lens. I’ve only had the lens for 5 days and based on my initial test, it is indeed a great lens like other reviewers said. The overall image quality is just great. To read the mini review please click here.

More sample photos taken with the Tamron AF 60mm F/2 SP Macro Lens

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The Tamron AF SP 60mm F/2 Macro available from:

Amazon| Adorama | B & H

Tamron AF 60mm f/2.0 SP on a Canon EOS 60D

Announced in mid 2009, the Tamron 60mm F2 macro lens provides 1:1 magnification for APS-C sensors. This Tamron 60mm macro is available in Canon, Sony and Nikon mounts and it incorporates two low dispersion elements to compensate for various aberrations, lets you achieve 1:1 magnification at a working distance of 100mm. The F2 maximum aperture makes it a whole stop faster than other lenses in the same class. The Tamron AF 60mm f/2.0 SP Macro Lens is the world’s first and currently the only 1:1 macro APS-C size lens with a maximum aperture of F2.

What’s with the name?
Like all Tamron lenses, this lens has a very long name – Tamron AF 60mm f/2.0 SP DI II LD IF 1:1 Macro Lens

• SP – SUPER PERFORMANCE :  Tamron SP (Super Performance) series is a line of ultra-high-performance lenses designed and manufactured to the exacting specifications demanded by professionals and others who require the highest possible image quality.
• Di – DIGITALLY INTEGRATED :  Di (Digitally Integrated Design) is a Tamron designation that applies to lenses that have been optimized for digital capture using advanced multi-coating techniques and optical designs that assure excellent image quality across the entire picture field.
• LD – LOW DISPERSION : Low dispersion (LD) glass elements in a lens help reduce chromatic aberration; the tendency of light of different colors to come to different points of focus at the image plane.
• ASPHERICAL : These innovative optics allow us to achieve the ultimate in image quality, and at the same time produce lenses that offer remarkable zoom ranges in extraordinarily compact packages.
• IF – INTERNAL FOCUSING : Internal focusing (IF) provides numerous practical benefits to photographers including a non-rotating front filter ring that facilitates the positioning of polarizing and graduated filters, and more predictable handling because the lens length does not change during focusing.

Tamron likes the names of their lenses to be descriptive. For this post I will just refer to this lens as Tamron 60mm F/2.

Specifications

What’s included?

The Tamron AF 60mm F/2 comes with a detachable lens hood, manual, and registration form. There’s no padded case included like most Sigma Lenses.

Strong Points and Reasons to buy this lens:

• Fast F/2 Fix Aperture.
• Full Time Manual Focus.
• Internal focusing system for enhanced ease of use.
• Excellent Image Quality / Excellent Optics.
• Light / Compact / Perfect as an all around Portrait / Macro Lens.
• Meticulous countermeasures against ghosting and flare.
• Gives you a working distance of 100 mm or 3.93 inches.
• Great for Low Light.
• Features 1:1 life-size.
• Cost ($365.99 after $100 mail-in rebate at the time of writing).

Weak Points :

• No VC /IS /OS /VR.
• Focus Ring a little tight.
• No Weather Sealing / Proofing like top of the line macro lenses from Canon or Nikon.

Impression:
I’m not a big fan of macro photography. In fact I sold my Canon EF 100mm F/2.8 macro lens after owning it for less than a year. It’s a great lens, but I have not use it much that’s why I sold it. For occasional macro photography, I used my lovely EF 85mm F/1.8 and an extension tube.  While that combination worked fine for me, I felt that  the Tamron 60mm F2 Macro has a lot to offer so I decided to give it a try. For me there were three driving factors for purchasing this lens, like everyone else, the F/2.0 aperture attracted me to try out this lens, currently it is the only macro lens sporting this maximum aperture, second is the focal length, it’s between 100mm and 50mm macros, it’s great for everyday use and like what other reviewers are saying, I get two lenses in one, it’s a macro lens that doubles as a portrait lens. Third is the price, it’s a no brainer, a macro lens for only $365.99 after a $100.00 mail-in rebate.

The Tamron 60mm macro lens is light, seems well made and feels good on my hands. It is entirely made of hard plastic with a metal lens mount making it light and easy to handle. If you’ve ever had a Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 or the Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8 or the Tamron 90mm F/2.8, the quality is very much the same. Although not like top brand macro lenses which cost more, the quality of this lens is very descent and will last a long time.

Autofocus is just fine, not fast, not slow, definitely slower and noisier than my 50mm F/1.4 and 85mm F/1.8.   I like the large rubberrized focus ring, easy to grip but I find it a little tight to rotate.

Since the Tamron 60mm F2 Macro lens features an internal focus mecahnism  the lens does not extend and the front element does not rotate when focus is adjusted. Another feature of this lens that I like is the Full Time Manual Focus, which can come really handy at times.

Fresh Tomatoes - Tamron AF 60mm F/2 SP Macro Lens

Conclusion:

Overall I like the lens, results are stunning. So far I didn’t find any focus or exposure problem. The only thing I can say is, I find the focus ring a little tight. Other than that, it’s a great lens, great for still macro, great for portraits. If you plan on going after insects, you may have some difficulty on that area, but you might still be able to catch a few. So if you are looking for a macro lens, or a portrait lens, I can highly recommend this lens, it is a great macro and portrait lens.

The Tamron AF SP 60mm F/2 Macro available from:

Amazon| Adorama | B & H

Photos of the Tamron AF 60mm F/2 SP Macro Lens

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For some sample photos taken with the Tamron AF 60mm f/2 SP Macro Lens, please click here.

Canon U.S.A. Introduces The Highest Image Quality Powershot Digital Camera, The G1 X, And Feature-Packed ELPH Series Cameras

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 9, 2012 – Continuing to revolutionize the digital camera market, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the introduction of a new flagship PowerShot model, the PowerShot G1 X, in addition to two stylish PowerShot ELPH models, the ELPH 520 HS and ELPH 110 HS. The PowerShot G1 X camera will feature a 1.5-inch, 14.3-megapixel CMOS sensor, the largest sensor to date for a PowerShot model, delivering approximately nine times more light sensitivity and helping to produce amazing depth-of-field and high-quality images in tough low-light conditions. For those users looking for a camera with advanced features in a compact form both the PowerShot ELPH 520 HS, the world’s thinnest 12x optical zoom with a 28mm lens1, and PowerShot ELPH 110 HS feature a sleek design and compelling creative capabilities.

“The new additions to our PowerShot lineup further demonstrate Canon’s commitment to delivering users innovative imaging products,” said Yuichi Ishizuka executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “These sleek and compact cameras bring together powerful features, intuitive controls and unrivaled portability while maintaining high image quality.”
The Power of DIGIC 5

Living up to its reputation as a leader in the digital camera marketplace, Canon has incorporated the DIGIC 5 image processor into the HS SYSTEM for all three models. Achieving better quality images in low-light settings, boasting faster operation and providing improved color accuracy, the DIGIC 5 image processor ensures users are able to produce high-quality images in the most difficult of lighting conditions. The processor will also enable the PowerShot G1 X camera to utilize the High-Speed Burst HQ2 feature allowing photographers to shoot images at high speeds at full resolution to capture the perfect moving shot. Additionally, to ensure images are crisp and clear, advanced noise reduction and a smarter multi-area White Balance can be utilized to achieve accurate color reproduction for a balanced image.
Advanced Smart AUTO

Advanced Smart AUTO, available in the PowerShot ELPH 520 HS and ELPH 110 HS, can detect up to 58 scenes varying from non-human moving subjects to people, landscapes, pets and vehicles, helping the camera determine the best mode of shooting. This technology has been enhanced to include a new Face ID feature, allowing users to register up to 12 people on the camera and have the camera recognize and prioritize each person. When registering individuals on the camera, users can take up to five images of a subject at various angles or facial expressions and enter their name and birth date. This allows the camera to make one of three age distinctions: Babies (0 to 1 year old), Children (2 to 12 years old) or Adults (13 years or older). Based on these different groups, the camera will give focus priority to the youngest recognized group in the frame and makes the images searchable as well with the ability to view only those images of a particular person.

Further additions to this new feature are Smile Recognition and Sleeping Face Recognition. With Smile Recognition, the camera will take three consecutive shots of a scene such as a smiling baby or of grandparents at a family get together and select the best out of the three for the final image. For Sleeping Face Recognition the flash, assist beam and sound is turned off for that precious moment to be captured while not disturbing one’s sleep.

PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera

Ideal for photography enthusiasts looking for the highest image quality in a compact, point-and-shoot design, the Canon PowerShot G1 X camera features the largest sensor to date for a Canon point-and-shoot model. The camera has a brand new, large 1.5-inch (18.7 x 14mm), 14.3-megapixel High-Sensitivity Canon CMOS sensor, delivering shallow depth of field, a wide dynamic range, an ISO range of up to 12800 and incredible light gathering ability helping to ensure brilliant images in even tough low-light conditions. Featuring an amazing Canon lens with 4X Optical Zoom, an aperture of f/2.8 to f/16 for beautiful images when shooting portraits and amazing clarity when shooting landscapes along with wide-angle capabilities starting at 28mm, the PowerShot G1 X camera makes certain that users will have the right optics for most any situation. Further adding to the EOS-like feature set of this new model is 14-bit, RAW+JPEG shooting and compatibility with accessories such as Speedlite, Macro Twin Lite or the Macro Ring Light flashes. HDR Shooting has been included to ensure the best possible shot is captured as well. The PowerShot G1 X camera also shoots in Full HD 1080p video ensuring memorable moments are captured in the highest quality.

The Canon PowerShot G1 X camera has a bright, large 3.0-inch vari-angle LCD with 922,000 dots of resolution providing photographers with the highest quality available in a point-and-shoot. The inclusion of the Mode Dial on the top of the camera and the Front Dial helps provide more intuitive control of the camera.

The estimated selling price of the Canon PowerShot G1 X camera is $799.99 and is scheduled to be available in February.

PowerShot ELPH 520 HS Digital Camera

The feature-packed Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS camera resurrects the original PowerShot ELPH design with a more contemporary and radiant look and feel. This new stylish model has a 10.1-megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor along with a 12X Optical Zoom lens, ISO range of up to 3200 and wide-angle capabilities starting at 28mm. For photographers on the move, this camera also has Full HD 1080p video capture capabilities, a 3.0-inch LCD for easy viewing of images and High-Speed Burst mode where images are continuously captured at 6.8 frames per second.

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS camera will be available in black, silver, red and blue in March with an estimated selling price of $299.99.

PowerShot ELPH 110 HS Digital Camera

Canon’s PowerShot ELPH 110 HS camera comes in a variety of fun, bright colors (black, silver, red, blue, green and pink) and is the ideal camera for new photographers. With a 5X Optical Zoom lens and wide-angle capabilities beginning at 24mm, this camera provides the user with the ability to fit an entire landscape or a specific area of a subject into one shot. The camera also features a16-megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS Sensor, ISO range of up to 3200, 3.0-inch wide LCD and Full HD 1080p video capture for brilliant, high resolution quality. High-Speed Burst mode has also been included for continuous shooting up to 5.8 frames per second.

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 110 HS camera is scheduled to be available in February with an estimated selling price of $249.99.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. With more than $45 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks fourth overall in patent holdings in the U.S. in 2010†, and is one of Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies in 2011. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss.

Fits Nicely on the EOS 60D

I was about to buy my second black rapid strap when i stumble upon the Quick Release Dual-shoulder Camera Neck Strap from Rainbowimaging. It looks ok so I decided to try it out.

(LEFT)Quick Strap | (RIGHT)Black Rapid RS-1

Seems to be made of fine materials, comparing it to my RS-1, for me the RS-1 feels more soft and comfortable to use. I guess I’ll find out when I get to use it more often. I like the design of the bracket that attaches to the camera because I can attach my QR plate with 1/4″ screw, making it tripod ready at anytime, the only down side in doing this is when shooting in portrait mode with a battery grip the bottom would be quite thick and awkward to hold. It’s nice that the two straps can be detached if I only want to use one of them.

Connector and Base Plate Bracket

Overall, I like the strap, it’s cheap, a decent knock off of the original, seems durable and can seem to handle heavy load. I just need to mentioned that I’m a little bit worried about the latch or connector that came with the strap, I still believe that the BlackRapid ConnectR-2
is of more superior quality, so far my Canon EOS 60D with BG-e9 Grip and 70-200mm F/4 and a flash didn’t fall when I tested it, I’m just not sure how it can handle it when I’m on the go shooting an event. I know my Black Rapid can. For now I’m using it on a lighter load like a body and a 24-70mm lens and I’ll leave the heavy duty stuff with my black rapid.

If you are looking for a cheap dual-shoulder strap, you may want to check out the Quick Release Dual-shoulder Camera Neck Strap from Rainbowimaging. It’s only $29.95 and is fulfilled by Amazon making it eligible for Amazon Prime or $24.99 + $3.00 shipping if you buy it from RainbowImaging.

More Photos:

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The Sunwayfoto DPL-03 Arca-Swiss Compatible Universal L-Plate is priced at $89 at the time of this writing. First of I must say it is made of high quality materials, build quality is excellent. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to the more expensive Arca Swiss type L Plate from Really Right Stuff and Kirk Enterprises, then, you might want to take a look at the Sunwayfoto L Plates.

We all know why we need an L Plate or L Bracket for our camera so let’s go right into the review. I bought my DPL-03 L-Plate from Amazon, and it came  nicely pack on a small red and black box with a really great protective padding. When I was holding the package, the first think I noticed was it was really light(80g).

Top/Front side of the box

Bottom side of the box

Inside rotective paddings

The Sunwayfoto DPL-03 L-Plate is precision CNC machined from solid aircraft-grade aluminum, it feels really nice and sturdy and I can tell that it can last a life time. In the box you will find the DPL-03 L-Plate, 3 different size allen wrench, a 1/4″ hex screw and two extra small screws that goes underneath the base of the plate to serve as a lock when place on an arca swiss type clamp. The DPL-03 is the only model with a removable / movable backstop, meaning it can be mounted on either side of the rail and it can also be mounted in 3 different positions on each side, making it flexible and compatible with most type of DSLR’s. This is the reason why I picked the DPL-03 from the other models, I’m planning to use it on my EOS 60D and EOS 40D. So far I have only tested it on my EOS 60D and my feelings are mixed.  Sunwayfoto has 4 L-Plates in it’s line up, DPL-01, DPL-02, DPL-03 and DPL-04. DPL-01,02 and 04 doesn’t have movable/ interchangeable backstop, dpl-04 has the widest based for really large camera.

Fits Nicely on the EOS 60D

Does not block the battery door

Does not get in the way of the rotating screen

The Good:Without the 60d battery grip(BG-E9), the DPL-03 fits snugly on the EOS 60D, it’s like a perfect fit. It does not block the battery door which is important, the rotating display screen of the 60d can be freely rotated to any position and switching from landscape to portrait is just plain easy.

The Bad:Since this is a Universal L-Plate it’s really not designed for a specific camera and because the side bracket is not completely open it blocks most of the entry points on the left of the 60d, like the HDMI, mic port, and the shutter release cable. There’s just no way for me to fit the mic jack on top or the shutter release cable on the bottom. The only work around is to adjust the bracket to have some space between the bracket and the camera, but doing so may introduce unwanted vibrations when using it in portrait mode. Another way is to use a hacksaw to remove the obstruction on the side.

With the BG-E9 Battery Grip

Fits OK on the EOS 60D with battery grip

from the back

Completely blocks the battery door of the grip.

Rotating screen can be adjusted to any position

Also works on portrait mode

Now the mic port and shutter release ports are free from obstuction.

The DPL-03 also works when the BG-E9 Battery grip of the 60d is attached. It actually works better for me, first I never take out my battery grip, it’s on my camera 100% of the time so taking it on and off would be too much. This actually solves the obstruction problem. if I use it with the battery grip, it frees up the mic port, hdmi and shutter release cable, the usb is still block but that’s ok, since I never really use it.

The bad: It block’s the battery door completely. But since I use two batteries all the time, may not have to change batteries that often.

Conclusion:

Overall all, the DPL-03 L Plate from Sunwayfoto is a great product, quality wise, it is excellent. Usability? It depends on what you need, how you use your camera with it and on what type of camera you have. It somehow works for me, but I still can’t decide if I will keep it or if I’m going to return it. I still haven’t tested it with my older EOS 40d, maybe after that, I can decide if I’m keeping it or not.

The Sunwayfoto DPL-03 Arca-Swiss Compatible Universal L Plate is available at:

• Amazon
• B & H Photo

More photos of the Sunwayfoto DPL-03 Arca-Swiss Compatible Universal L Plate:

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Since I got my T-Mobile G2X last month, I have been searching for an Instagram like App for Android. I’ve tried a few but so far, I got stuck with Lightbox. With lightbox you got it all in one place, all you need to do is open the Lightbox Camera App, snap, enhance and upload to mylightbox. I can upload to flickr, facebook, tumblr and post to twitter and foursquare in an instant.

What I like about lightbox is the fact that I can add effects on my photo in an instant, currently it has: Instafix (color correction), Ansel (high contrast black & white), Lomo (Russian toy camera / vignette), Testino (enhanced color depth), Retro (70s old film look), Redscale, Cross Process, B&W, Sepia, Cyano (blueprint), Portia, Fisheye, Dotty, 8 Bit, Georgia, Sahara (Vintage camera effect), and HDR (simulates high dynamic range imaging)

Spidey on my desk. T-Mobile G2X and Lightbox using Lomo Effect.

And with the latest update, it includes the new photo journal feature. The journal will automatically group together photos in a personal timeline. Here are the complete features of Lightbox 2.0 from the Lightbox Team.

• Start your own photo journal:  We know creating photo albums can be time-consuming, so we now automatically create a timeline ofpostcards from the photos you upload, with each providing a snapshot of a moment from your life.  You can keep these postcards private or selectively share them with friends, family, or the entire Lightbox community.
• Publish your story:  If you want to share your story with the world, your public photo journal is now published to your very own Lightbox website at yourusername.lightbox.com.  You can use your Lightbox to chronicle events like Occupy LA, record your adventure in Japan, or share your family memories.
• Join the Lightbox community & get inspired:  We’ve created a newExplore section where you can find & follow Lightbox users in categories that interest you, such as art, fashion, and food, and get ideas for your own photo shoots!

Hoto Coco. T-Mobile G2X and Lightbox using X-Pro Effect.

So far my experience with Lightbox is simply awesome. I like the app and it works great for me. If you are not yet on lightbox, it’s about time you try it. Head over to the Android Market to get your copy and have fun taking pictures.

Flower. T-Mobile G2X and Lightbox using X-Pro Effect.

Yesterday Adobe released an update for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Camera Raw 6.6

Camera Raw 6.6 Update

December 12, 2011
This new version of the Camera Raw plug-in replaces the original one that was installed with Adobe Photoshop CS5, Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 and Adobe Premiere Elements 10. Visit the Camera Raw page for a complete list of supported cameras.

English: Windows | Macintosh

Lightroom 3.6 update

December 12, 2011
The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.6 update includes these enhancements:

• Additional camera support for several new camera models including the Canon Powershot S100, Fuji FinePix X10, and Nikon 1 J1.
• Corrections for issues introduced in previous versions of Lightroom 3.

English: Windows | Macintosh

Here are just some of the exciting new features and tools you’ll find in the new Topaz Adjust 5:

1. Selective Brush. For easy dodging, burning smoothing and removing adjustments.

2. Finishing touches. Features options for borders, transparency, grain, warmth, vignettes and more.

3. Preset collections. Presets are organized into unique collections.

4. Apply button. Stack multiple effects and presets during the same workflow.

5. Auto create layer. Automatically creates a new layer where your adjustments will be saved to.

6. Effect enable/disable. Clickable preview options that allow you to hide or view a set of adjustments for easy comparison.

7. Histogram. Built into the Preview Navigator window.

8. Ordered interface workflow. The interface is set up in numbered

stages for a quick and easy workflow.

9. Individual tab reset buttons. Quickly reset the parameters in a specific adjustment tab without affecting your other settings.

10. Split Screen. Use the 2-screen split view for easy before and after comparison.

Crazy custumes, spooky decorations, wacky funny people, it’s this time of the year where we go crazy about anything scary. Halloween is such an awesome tradition, so why not go out there have fun and make some great pictures.  There are plenty of subjects to photograph during  Halloween all you need is your camera, a little bit of patience and creativity.

Scary Halloween Face

Here are some tips that will help you capture those memorable halloween moments:

• Gear Recommendation:
• A fast lens with a max aperture of F/2.8 and up is ideal for low light photography, in this case the cheap Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens would be a great tool.
• Zoom lenses will give you versatility and will allow you to take group and portrait shots. The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM or the cheaper but reliable Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 VC are my recommendation. You can also consider lenses in the 24-70mm range with a Fast F/2.8 aperture. In this range I can highly recommend the cheaper Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP. With zoom lenses you have flexibility to zoom in or go wide anytime you need, with a prime you’ll have the convenience of a larger aperture at F/1.8 and up and easier to carry around compare to zoom lenses.
• Don’t forget to bring your external flash, although you can use your camera’s pop up flash, the quality of light from external flash will give you more beautiful results.
• A Flash Diffuser would be great to have, like the Demb flash Diffuser pro or the Opteka Universal Flash Diffuser. This will give you a more pleasing soft light at close range.
• Flash Gels, I use the rosco gels, Orange and Reds are best for halloween to give you that scary halloween look. If you don’t have a flash gel, you can cut a orange or red plastic folder. Flash gels, can also work as a diffuser.
• Don’ t forget to bring extra memory cards and extra battery.
• And of course don’t forget you Camera.

Shot with a Canon EOS 20D with a Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8 Lens and Canon 430EX II Flash(No Gel) ISO 800, 34mm, F/2.8, , 1/50th, Manual .

•  Making the Photograps.
• Since most of the fun and actions occurs at dark, setting your camera to use it’s higher aperture, F/2.8 and up (F/1.8, F/1.4)  is recommended, if using a kit lens which can probably go up to F/3.5 will do. Depending on the aperture settings, increasing your ISO around 400 and above is recommended even when using a flash.
• Use flash when taking candid photographs of people, I sometimes I use red or orange gels to give that warm reddish scary halloween feel. (See photo of scary clown below).
• When using flash, make sure you use a diffuser to minimize harsh light, flash modifiers like the ones I mentioned above in the gear recommendation will do the trick and using  red / orange gels in this situation will also diffuse the light.
• When shooting scenes like glowing lights or jack o lanterns, I wouldn’t recommend using your flash, dial your camera to use a wide aperture like F/2.8, F/1.8 or F/1.4 would be ideal and increasing your ISO to will also help. Sure, using high ISO will add noise and grain to your photograph, but if it’s the only way for you to capture the scene, why not, a grainy picture is better than no picture at all and besides, if people notices the grain or noise in your picture, it’s probably a boring picture.
• Find something scary.
• Meet new people.
• and Most important of all, enjoy the night, have fun making pictures.

Shot with A Rosco Red Gel. Canon EOS 20D, ISO 800, 22mm, F/2.8 , 1/50th, manual

Possibilities are endless. I went to the woods for a short walk and captured a few shots, here in this one I added a little zoom blur in Photoshop with the Topaz Lens Effect Plugin.

Gear:

• Canon EOS 60D
• Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 US

More Info:

Shot in Aperture Priority, F/4.5, ISO 400, 10mm, 1/50th

It’s October, a great time to capture the Beauty of Autumn. Fallen leaves, amazing colors, beautiful landscapes are some of the highlights that we can capture with our beloved DSLR.

Gear:

• Canon EOS 60D
• Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 US

More Info:

Shot in Aperture Priority, F/3.5, ISO 200, 12mm, 1/40th

I have been so busy at work for the past three weeks, and didn’t have much time to go out and shoot, this is probably the longest time I haven’t gone out to shoot. Today, I had a chance to walk around the neighborhood, I was really happy I did. It was really beautiful, the autumn colors are here, just a perfect time to capture the beauty of fall.

This hdr photo was created using a Canon EOS 60d and a EF-S 10-22mm Wide Angle Lens, aperture at F/9, ISO250, Auto Bracketing set.

Software I use to create and process this photograph:

• Photomatix Pro – I used this in creating this High Dynamic Range Photograph by merging the three exposures I shot.
• Nik Dfine 2.0 – This is a photoshop plugin from Nik Software. I used this to remove noise from my photos.
• Nik’s Viveza 2 – This from Nik Software. I used this to enhanced the fine detail structure of this hdr photo.
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 – I used Lightroom to manage and organized my photographs.

Gear:

• Canon EOS 60D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD (Body Only)
• Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM SLR Lens for EOS Digital SLRs

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Click here to view the embedded video.

I just love to listen to this over and over again.

We’ve lost a great inventor. He’ll be missed. Thank you so much for improving technology.  

Apple.Com/stevejobs

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Click here to view the embedded video.

Tips to harness the power of Google Plus from the Kelby Team:  Scott Kelby, Matt Kloskowski and RC Concepcion.

Watch the video as they walk you though the basics of using Google Plus for Photographers.

www.kelbytraining.com/gplus

Taken with a 70-200mm F/4L IS USM Lens. ISO 200, 200mm, 1/400, F/10, Aperture Priority.

One great tool in capturing beautiful live actions shots is anticipation. A good knowledge of your subjects behavior can greatly help you capture amazing photos. When you learned how and when your subject will do sorts of things you can anticipate their every move.

This of course requires patience, practice and a lot of shooting, and as you progress you will to anticipate your subjects every moved.

Anticipation, combined with great choice of background will help you create amazing photos.

Taken with a 70-200mm F/4L IS USM Lens. ISO 200, 200mm, 1/400, F/10, Aperture Priority.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 Ness Flores

Taken with a 70-200mm F/4L IS USM Lens. ISO 400, 200mm, 1/200, F/4, Aperture Priority.

Photographing wildlife at the local zoo can be really fun and exciting and at the same time challenging and frustrating. Why? First off at the zoo photographers have to overcome some barriers and obstructions that limits the photographers ability to capture the subject and the scene at it’s bests. Examples of such obstructions are fences, animal tags, buildings, cages, concrete floors and the one thing I hate most, glass cages.

To capture the beauty of wildlife in the zoo, I always look for a story on every photograph I make. Let’s take for example the photo above titled Caring for the Young, it’s not just a photo of a flamingo feeding her chick, it tells a story how all living creatures cares for it’s love ones most especially their siblings. For me the photo is beautiful and also conveys an emotional attachment to the viewer.

So which one should you get, the IS or the Non IS version of the famous EF 70-200mm F/4L USM Lens, I myself was in this situation. And to complicate things more, there’s still the EF 70-300 F/4-5.6 IS USM which also offers great image quality coupled with more reach for a much lower price. Thank goodness the newer EF 70-300mm F/4-5.6L IS USM was not yet around during those times.

Canon EOS 40D with Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM Lens. ISO 500, 200mm, 1/200, F/6.3, manual exposure.

Anyway, to answer the question, which of the two 70-200mm F/4L USM lens should you pick? Is the addition of IS really justifies the high price? In my opinion, yes, the IS has more glass compare to the non IS, and because it has IS, it offers an additional four stops of shake correction. Because of this IS version is handholdable in low light just like 70-200mm F/2.8L IS. Another great feature of the IS version which is not present in the Non IS, is the weather sealing protection. Other than these mentioned features, both lenses have excellent image quality, build quality of both lenses are great, it all boils down to what you really need and to what you can afford. I went with the IS version and I’m really happy with it’s performance. Why did I choose it over the Non IS, it’s because I use it mostly handheld, and I feel that IS will really help me capture better pictures(great for coffee drinkers like me). If you will use this mostly on a tripod or a monopod I would go with the Non IS version.

I also use the Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM Lens and Canon EOS 60D for sports photography. ISO 1000, 200mm, 1/250, F/4, shutter priority.

I also got some questions why I choose the EF 70-200mm F/4L IS over the F/2.8 L IS version, the fast F/2.8 aperture is certainly nice to have, but I felt that for my needs the F/4 was enough, I also considered the price, weight and the size of the two lenses, the F/2.8 L is more expensive, bigger and heavier, I use my F/4L regularly and it’s really comfortable especially if I’m going to shoot for long periods of time. I also took into considerations the advancement in technology, newer canon camera bodies now sports a higher ISO’s that are way better compare to those camera bodies release 2 or three years ago, the F/4, combined with the 4 stop IS and high ISO, I can get the photos I needed, and for low light, I can rely on my Canon EF 85mm F/1.8, Canon EF 50mm F/1.4 and my Tamron AF 28-75mm F/2.8 SP.

Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM Lens perfect for daytime outdoor events. ISO 100, 200mm, 1/500, F/4, aperture priority.

In the event that I really need an F/2.8 on a 70-200mm range for an important work, I won’t hesitate to buy one or I can easily rent it from places like Borrowlenses.com.

Get the Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM from:

Amazon | Adorama | B & H | Rent

Get the Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L USM from:

Amazon | Adorama | B & H | Rent

Canon EOS 60D with Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM Lens. ISO 1600, 200mm, 1/250, F/5.6, manual exposure.

When I want to get close to nature and shoot wildlife, I turn to my favorite lens, the Canon EF 70-200mm F/4 L IS USM. I’ve had the this telephoto lens for almost two years now and all I can say is, it’s really an amazing lens. It’s sharp on all focal lengths, it’s got image stabilization and it’s light compare to it’s bigger brother the Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS USM I and II. Sure an F/2.8 is really faster than an F/4 especially in low light, but the size, weight, price and current technological advancement of new camera bodies sporting higher ISO’s made me choose the F/4L IS over the F/2.8L version. Besides, if I really need an F/2.8 on a shoot, I can always rent it from Borrowlenses.com. You can rent Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM I for only $54.00 for three days and the EF 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS USM II for $68.00 for three days.

Canon EOS 60D with Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM Lens. ISO 1600, 200mm, 1/250, F/5.6, manual exposure.

The EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM when paired with an APS-C camera like the Canon EOS 7D, 60D, 50D and Rebel series cameras, is perfect if you want to get close. It gives you a 35mm equivalent focal lenght of 112-320mm (using canon’s 1.6x crop factor)

Although not really an lens for bird photography, adding patience can help you capture some pretty amazing shots.

A longer focal is for sure the choice of many wildlife photographers out there, but the 70-200mm F/4 can surely make lots of amazing wildlife photographs, all you need is creativity and lots of ideas.

The Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM is available from:

Amazon | Adorama | B & H | Rent

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 Ness Flores

Last weekend, I encountered an error in Lightroom. When I import direct from the card into my Lightroom 3.4 Library I get the following message stating something like:

Import results.

Some import operations were not performed:
The following files were imported but could not be renamed.

When I pressed ok. I hen realized that some of the files that were listed not renamed where actually missing in the catalog, as shown in the photo above. So I went on to investigate, I launch windows explorer and went directly on to the  import folder to see what was in there.  I then found out while looking at inside the import folder that the files that lightroom reported not renamed where actually copied and renamed correctly, for some reason lightroom was not able to correctly link to the physical files.

To fix the problem, I went back to my lightroom catalog and remove all the files that were reported missing. I then open the import dialogue and import the files from the import folder (not the card) using the option Add photos to catalog without moving them. After the import I checked the files if everything was in placed and proceeded with my next batch of import.  Luckily the error didn’t happen again.

Canon EOS 60D with Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L IS USM Lens.

Change can be a good thing. There are times that the default rectangular format of a photograph can get boring and the easiest way to address this is to crop your photos. You can also use cropping to minimize or eliminate distraction and it’s a really useful tool to use when you want to draw attention to your subject.

Gear:

• Canon EOS 60D
• Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM Lens
• Yongnuo YN-560 Flash

More Info

• Manual exposure,
• Shutter Speed: 1/250
• Aperture: f/5
• Focal Length: 200mm
• ISO : 640
• Flash : 1/16

Click here to view the embedded video.

Dedicated to all photographers who have had their copyright infringed. Video was created by Tokyo based photographer Irwin Wong.

"“goes out to all my photographer homies who have had their copyright infringed!”"

Freedom Plaza, Washington DC. Sunday, September 11, 2011, HandsOn Greater DC Cares and Serve DC – the Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism commemorated the 10th anniversary of 9/11 by hosting Tribute to Service – Honoring the Victims, Survivors, and Heroes of 9/11 at Freedom Plaza in downtown Washington, DC. The tribute serves as a time for community members to rekindle the spirit of service that emerged following the attacks of 9/11.

Photos now available for viewing on the online gallery. Please click here. For inquiries on any of the photos please send me an email. Thanks.

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Canon EOS 60D with Canon EF-S 10-22mm F/3.5-4.5 USM Lens. Process using Photomatix Pro 4 and Topaz Adjust.

I love to use Topaz Adjust to enhanced my hdr photos, best thing about it’s really simple to use. For this photo of the Old Suntrust Building in Downtown D.C., here’s what I did:

• In Photoshop CS5, I duplicate the layer.
• On the top layer I applied Topaz Adjust using the Mild Color Pop preset .
• from there, I then adjust the sliders to get to the output I needed.
• Finally I merge the layers or delete the original on the bottom. (I still have the original tonemapped photo in my Lightroom library, it’s ok for me to delete the original layer.)

Same photo as above before Topaz Adjust.

(Read more about Topaz Adjust here.)
(Click here to download a copy of Topaz Adjust and try it for free for 30days.)

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 Ness Flores