Chromaticus

Posted in Products on 05.25.06 12:57

Canon has followed suit with Nikon by announcing that it is exiting the film SLR business. Credit the rise in popularity of digital photography. I may have to pick up an Elan or something before prices on used bodies start skyrocketing.

UPDATE - See comments…the original story appears to have gone overboard.

Rebel XT Needs Better Rubber

Posted in Products on 03.27.06 23:36

Most people agree that the Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT boasts excellent image quality, especially for its price point. However, the jury is still out on its small size. You either love it or you hate it. One of the criticisms that I share focuses not on the smallness of the grip, but on the hard (make that very hard) rubber that covers the grip handle.

rebel xt grip rubber

The problem with the grip surface is that it is slippery. If Canon had just coated the handle with the softer faux leather rubber found on the XT’s cousins (the 20d and 30d), then I think there would be fewer complaints about size.

I have the Canon Battery Grip BG-E3. The weight, dimensions and nice rubber surface of the battery grip make the XT a lot easier to handle (especially with larger lenses). However, I still wish that Canon would upgrade the body’s grip material. If not, then I hope that an aftermarket accessory company comes up with a replacement grip handle. There is always egrips, but who wants something sticky on their camera?

Walk Around Lens

Posted in Products on 03.20.06 12:33

I am in the market for a new walk around lens. Right now I have a prime 28mm lens and the 18-55mm kit lens that came with my Rebel XT. I like the size, weight and wide angle of the kit lens, but I want to reach a little further out on the other end. Below are the lenses that I am considering.

Lens	Length	Weight	Price
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM	107mm	670g	$1200
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM	123.5mm	950g	$1100
Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM	92mm	475g	$500
Canon EF 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS USM	96.8mm	540g	$400
Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di	92mm	510g	$350
Sigma 18-125mm F3.5-5.6 DC	77.7mm	385g	$279

Obviously, there is a huge price difference between the top and the bottom. About the only way I could possibly swing the Canon “L” glass is to sell both of my current lenses, as well as my Konica manual and Konica Hexanon lenses. I do not use them very much at all, plus I also have a Minolta manual for times I want to go retro.

After much research my thoughts on each lens are as follows (please comment if you have any advice).

(more…)

Panasonic Enters DSLR Market

Posted in Products on 02.27.06 17:44

Panasonic has introduced a digital SLR based on the Olympus Evolt E-330 (press release). There are a couple improvements over the Olympus, most notably a better lens with Panasonic’s image stabilization. I cannot decide if I like the retro looks or not. There is definitely no holding this camera with one hand (unless you have a very short lens).

panasonic dslr

My Photo in a Brochure

Posted in General on 02.24.06 00:14

I got the following email today via the contact form.

I am president of a local non-profit organization of building managers. I would like permission to use the picture of the hunter and glass bridge in a brochure that would only be distributed at a conference.

My wife actually talked to this person, then called me at work and then called her back giving permission. I have never tried to sell my photos, so I was flattered when the assumption was made that it was okay if I said no (i.e., if I made my living from my photos…as they could not afford to pay a royalty for it).

This is the shot in question (posted even before I started sharpening my shots). So, the question is should I hang a shingle (on the side)? It’d be nice to sell a shot here or there just to help pay for the hosting, but I really do not see myself ever going pro.

CRT vs. LCD

Posted in General on 02.17.06 22:23

I use an IBM T41 for work and a desktop PC at home. Up until recently my cubicle set-up was the laptop and a full sized keyboard. However, after months of stooping and squinting due to the distance and eye level of the screen in relation to my head, I decided to break down and request a full sized monitor.

The 17″ CRT that the tech guy delivered to me is fine in terms of size and height. It really is true, though, that a 15″ LCD has as much usable space as a 17″ CRT (I am staring at one right now and I swear it is no smaller). That, however, is not my disappointment. The problem is how dull and boring my photos look on that monitor! Besides that, the header color of the template is all wrong.

I tried to adjust the settings, but the low-end monitor is not sophisticated enough to allow for adjustmetns to the RGB balance. I am planning on switching to an iMac later this year. When that happens I may just have to take my little Samsung LCD monitor to work.

Age Your Digital Photos

Posted in Elsewhere on 02.08.06 11:27

Do you feel�like you are missing something when you click through your digital photo archives?� Are you nostalgic for�the�film era?� Check out this new product that adds instant age to your files (courtesy of The Onion).

A Production Milestone

Posted in Products on 02.03.06 16:42

According to a recent press release, Canon has surpassed the thirty million mark for EF lens production. I am glad that I bought my camera from a company with such a strong lineage. Thanks to Matt for highlighting this on his blog.