Canon 17-55mm Lens

Once you have decided on the right Canon EOS camera, your decision making process is not over. Now you must choose the right Canon Digital SLR lens.

It was probably a research and decision process just to decide on the correct Canon EOS camera, right? As you consider the situation, you perceive that there is a vast potpourri of lenses, literally hundreds of them. And you are not limited to just Canon lenses, there are others who create lenses for Canon EOS cameras as well.

You have to pick one.

It’s possible to avoid this whole issue and go with the package deal that includes the kit lens. And, yes, there are even package deals that have two or more kit lenses. Then there would be no choice to make.

But getting the lenses for your digital SLR is half of the excitement of owning a camera like this.

There are those who make a science out of this piece of the selection process, taking long periods of time to research and evaluate. If you go online to some of the camera forums, you will see how totally involved some photographers are in lens selection. Sometimes it is a bit extreme.

At the end of the day, you want this decision to be the right one. The one that gets just the right lens onto your camera.

This brings up the question, “Why not just go for the kit lens?” The answer is a simple one. You could purchase the kit lens and be quite satisfied with it. Lot’s of do that. But it just is not best lens manufactured for a Canon EOS digital SLR camera. Its purpose is to get a lens on that camera so you can get started taking pictures right out of the box. You may want to consider what lots of new camera owners do. Get the camera body only, without the kit lens. Then you have the freedom to get a lens of your own choice separate from the kit lens.

Here are some questions that will aid you narrow the field.

1. What’s in your wallet?

Once you answer this one, you may not have to answer any of the ones that follow. If your budget simply includes the camera and a kit lens, then you are done. If, however, there is some cash allocated for a lens, you can think about the remaining questions. A limited budget of $500 or less will put you in one area, whereas $1000 will give you much more flexibility in your final decision.

2. What is your favored photographic category?

Tamron 17-50mm lens for Canon

Most photographers tend to move toward a particular favored genre. Most photographers establish a favorite style even before they buys to their first digital SLR. For shooting photos of family and friends or vacation, the focal range of 18-70mm (or something within those parameters) will be perfect. You will have to regard a different main lens if your photographic focus is on nature, or sports, or even portraits.

3. Will you be purchasing more than one lens for this new Canon Digital SLR camera?

Buying more than one DSLR lens is really the second reason why most photographers move into Digital SLR photography, the first reason being their desire to get a more sophisticated camera. If you budget allows for another lens or two, then the first lens choice can focus more on getting the best image in the 17-75mm range. Your second lens should be one of the 70-200mm or 70-300mm lenses.

4. The final question is this: Which Canon EOS camera did you decide on?

Depending on your answer, you may not be able to get some of the Canon or third party lenses simply because they will not work on your camera. Oddly, there are more choices for the cheaper, entry level digital SLRs. All of the Canon lenses and third party lenses will fit on your camera. If, on the other hand, you buy a more professional “full frame” camera, you can not get any of the lenses that are designated at EF-S lenses, as they are for only the crop frame models such as the Rebel series.

The choice to move to a DSLR camera is an exciting one, but it is not without its exploration and challenges. You really need to do your homework before making this buying decision.

The worst case scenario is that you have a low budget, and you make the wrong choice for your first Canon camera lens.

Fortunately, there are resources available to help you decide which Canon digital SLR lens is right for you.

Go to www.canoneoslenses.org to continue your quest for the best lens for your Canon EOS camera.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L for Canon EOS Digital Cameras

Canon is in the Digital SLR market in a huge way. Their commitment to quality has produced many fantastic photography products, including cameras and lenses. The Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L lens may possibly be one of their highest quality products to date. This rather bold statement is based on the reception of this lens by the photographic community, including expert reviews and reviews by professionals and enthusiastic amateurs. They are practically unanimous in their praise.

This remark is typical of the users’ comments about the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 lens for Canon EOS cameras: “…since I got the 85 prime, I haven’t looked back. The 85 1.2L simply smokes the zoom..” The “zoom” he was referring to is the 70-200 f/2.8, which may be the most popular (at least in the top 2 or 3) Canon lens on the market.

When you first see this lens, especially if you are comparing it to a similar one of the same focal length, your first impression would definitely be “Wow”, this is quite a piece of equipment. It is massive and impressive at the same time. You can tell that you hold quality in your hand.

Then, after attaching it to your digital SLR, you will know that your first impression was an accurate one. It truly handles like a professional lens. Your other lenses will feel like toys by comparison.

So, what is it good for – what type of shots are best taken with the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L?

Start with the most popular shots taken by all photographers – people. People in all settings. Family shots will turn out better than you could have imagined. Portraits will have the wow factor that you had always hoped for. Street photography or photojournalism will get better.

Weddings? A huge YES. Reports from wedding photographers have widely praised the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L lens for two reasons.

First, the sharp, high quality images are so much better than the ones from their other lenses. Second, the f/1.2 aperture allows shooting in low light settings better than nearly any other lens available on the market.

Video – Oh my, Yes. The video quality produced by this dynamic lens will give your video a new level of professional.

A Couple of Guys Opening Their New Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L Lens

But sports? Not so much. You will want to stick with a longer, quicker focusing lens for sports. Even though this lens has HSM, it is not quite fast enough to capture shots with the speed you need for sports.

This comment is really great: “I know it is crazy expensive. But go ahead and buy it, cry for 5 minutes, and don’t tell your wife the price. She will love the pictures at the end!!!”

Is it the best choice for every type of shot? Of course not. There is no one lens that can cover the entire gamut of picture taking scenarios.

And price may be an issue for you. But this is one lens that you might consider trading in your teenage son for. It’s that good.
Take a look at the ratings, specs, and a few sample pictures at www.canoneoslenses.org. I think you will agree with all the others who are so impressed with the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L lens.

One more thing. It is compatible with all current Canon EOS digital SLR cameras, including Full Frame and APS-C formats. Just one more plus for this amazing lens.

Canon Rebel T2i

The Canon Corporation has really hit a home-run with its Canon EOS Rebel T2i!

The entry level digital SLR is receiving rave reviews everywhere in the digital photography community. It is being touted as the greatest sub-$1000 camera now in the marketplace.

What on earth is all the hype about? Photography gurus and buyers alike are excited about this brand-new little digital SLR camera… Why?

There is no official data, but it appears that the set of features of the new Rebel is very much like another recent release in the Canon line-up, the 7D, at roughly one-half the cost.

The price discrepancy is not unsubstantiated, but unless you are an really critical professional, it would be tough to tell the discrepancy in images and video between these two digital SLR cameras.

Perhaps the very best reason for obtaining a new Canon Rebel T2i is for the satisfaction that comes from the picture taking experience. The ease of making use of the controls to command your digital camera to get the precise picture you desire. Regardless of whether you want to control the depth of field or get a fantastic action shot of your most popular sport, it is doable with this wonderful Digital slr camera.

Are you moving up from a compact digital.. No more waiting around for the digital camera to make up its mind to finally “snap” the image, seemingly eons after you pressed the shutter button.
Digital SLR buyers are truly fired up about the addition of video. And with this new model, the quality of the video output is greatly superior. Despite the fact that there are several other versions of DSLR cameras that have video, and the first few cameras that had video did not do it that well. Today, with the 550D video has attained a level that is rather impressive. Compact digital camera owners who resisted getting a DSLR camera mainly because of the absence of video are now finding a persuasive motive to finally upgrade.

Another much better component is the low light picture capability. Digital SLR cameras have always been able to create much better pictures than digital compact cameras, especially in low light conditions. Even so, previously the pictures obtained at higher ISO settings (which is necessary in low light) have suffered from high noise levels, especially above the 800 ISO level. Now, the Canon Rebel T2i takes pictures at ISO levels of 3200 or 6400 with really low noise. This is a key plus for individuals who like to take pictures of live shows and various other inside events.

A fantastic method to find out whether a new camera is worthy of your attention is to check with those who have recently actually spent money to buy one. The number of remarks from those people have been growing and nearly all are quite positive.

Here are three comments that seemed particularly relevant:

1. “Have owned all Rebels except the 500D,and this is easily the best. It’s the best small DSLR on the market by a good bit.”
2. “I just got the camera (upgraded from the 300D). I didn’t think much of the “Live View” as an option before I bought it. I can see I’ll be using this as an advantage… The “quick control” button is going to be game changer for me also, it is much easier to see what all the setting are at and I can make changes from the screen directly.”
3. “I’m impressed with the quality of shots in low-low light, this was using kit lens… After parking an older Rebel (film version) for the digital point and shoots, this camera feel like going home after a long absence..is loaded with great features.”

Is it time for you to make the move to a Canon Rebel T2i digital SLR camera? You will have to make your own judgement, but there are very few consumers who have experienced buyer’s remorse with this little gem.

Canon Rebel T2i is truly recognized as the very best Rebel yet.

Find out more at www.digital-photographic-resources.com.

“OK,” you may well demand, “what’s up with the report concerning a Nikon D90?”

“Extremely good question,” I might answer. It’s in essence in regard to an admiration I have for Nikon and Canon in general.

The fact of the matter is, both Canon and Nikon are fabulous DSLR camera makers, and it does not matter which one you have, I’m sure you are extremely happy with it. Both camera producers are very much into improving technology and providing photographers with an undeniably great experience.

The desire of camera manufacturers to capture the DSLR market have resulted in some great new features and technology in their newer released cameras.

So, enough with the double-speak. Just about all photographers are true to their brand. If they own one model of camera, they will support the virtues of that corporation and often times degrade the other. In my case, I have used both, and I love them both.

Here is my question of the day:

“What is it that qualifies a digital SLR as great? Specifically, what makes a Nikon D90 great?”

The answer to this burning question will come in due time, but let me give you a little perception into why I think the way I do about this subject.

Part of my responsibility where I work is as the Yearbook advisor (it is a private school). It’s my first year as the advisor, and I am becoming enlightened as the year progresses. One of the important key points I am having to compensate for is that there are not adequate enough photographers at my school. I have struggled getting photos of functions.. actually, no, that is not true.. I have had difficulty getting photos that are “good enough” to print in the yearbook.

I can’t go to each and every function myself, so I have requested many students, parents, and other teachers to help out. The results are disappointing. Mostly there is no photo coverage because the people are just not serious in getting them. And when they do take pictures they are not of sufficient quality.

That is until this week. I encountered a student in the hall who said, “Hey, I have some images of the track meet. Would you care to use some of them in the Yearbook?”

Needless to say, I said I did. Having said that, I was not all that excited about getting them contemplating what I had seen in the past from other students.

Wow, was I surprised when I downloaded those 210 photos to my computer. They were superb! And some were just downright amazing.

So I went to find this budding young photographer to find out how she did this. “Oh, I really like taking pictures with my Digtial SLR,” she replied. “It’s a Nikon D90, and I have been getting a lot of pictures with it. The more I use it the more I like photography.”

I was so satisfied with her that I recruited her as a “Certified Yearbook Photographer.”

She was delighted, but not as much as I am.

Now, the answer to the burning question of the day: What makes the Nikon D90 a great camera? It’s user passion. Pretty simple, huh?

If that young lady leaves her camera at home, it’s not worth a plug nickel. But, armed with her beloved Digital SLR and a passion for the results she knows are sure to come when she views her photos on the computer, she IS a Certified Yearbook Photographer.

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most looked for features of the Nikon D90

• 12.9 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor (effective pixels: 12.3 million)
• 3.0-inch 920,000 pixel (VGA x 3 colors) TFT-LCD (same as D3 and D300)
• Live View with contrast-detect AF, face detection
• Image sensor cleaning (sensor shake)
• Illuminated focus points
• Movie capture at up to 1280 x 720 (720p) 24 fps with mono sound
• IS0 200-3200 range (100-6400 expanded)
• 4.5 frames per second continuous shooting
• Expeed image processing engine
• 3D tracking AF (11 point)
• Short startup time, viewfinder blackout and shutter lag
• Extensive in-camera retouching including raw development and straightening

There is a lineup of mid-range Digital SLR cameras at http://digital-photographic-resources.com/cameras/mid-dslr.html.

I believe the reason for this comparison is because they both have 18 MP sensors and both are capable of 1080p HD video. So the question becomes, “Why buy a Canon 7D for $1500 when you can buy a Canon Rebel T2i for about $800?”

First of all, are the cameras equal?

Of course not!

There are a couple of very significant differences I will point out.

• First and most obvious when you hold both cameras, you would notice a difference in the construction. The Canon 7D has a magnesium body with weather resistant seals, while the T2i is made with some metal parts, but not nearly as substantial as its older brother.
• Second is the burst rate. The 7D is capable of 8 frames per second. The T2i is capable of less than half that at 3.7 frames per second.
• Third is the control features. The 7D is much more robust when you compare the amount of control you have as a photographer.

So, while the Canon Rebel T2i is a “honey of a camera”, it is not a 7D. And Canon never said it was.

Bottom line here is this: If I were entering the DSLR market today, I would definitely purchase a Canon Rebel T2i. It is an awesome entry level DSLR at its current price.

If, however, I could get my hands on a Canon 7D instead of a T2i, there is no question I would take that opportunity in a heartbeat.

Here is an honest comparison of the two cameras in video format.

The new Canon Rebel T2i

Can’t wait? –> Order your Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP from Amazon NOW!

It seems like less than a year since the release of the last Canon Rebel – the Rebel T1i … Wait, it has been less than a year! And yet, here comes the newest Canon Rebel. Ready to take the entry level DSLR market by storm. Canon will not replace the its most recent Rebel, the T1i, rather it will allow the two to be sold side by side, giving the consumer an option for a less expensive model (now it’s the T1i instead of the XSi).
The new Rebel will lists for about $799 (that’s body only). And while this is not a genuine entry level price, neither is this a genuine entry level DSLR. It has many of the features of its much more expensive “big brothers”. So now the Canon Rebel T1i will become the “economy” DSLR, replacing the very popular XSi, at least that is an assumption worth making since Canon has not announced the price drop for its T1i yet.

Here are just a few of the high points of the Canon Digital Rebel T2i vs the T1i:

Will this newest in the Rebel line push the very popular Rebel XSi off the production line? This decision has yet to be announced, but it seems like it may happen. The Rebel T2i will likely grab all the new buyers, while the Rebel T1i will remain in the background as an economical camera of choice for Canon photographers. The price may even beat the Nikon D3000 (one can only hope), giving that camera (the D3000) a strong competitor because the Nikon D3000 does not have a feature package that can stand up to the Rebel T1i, especially since the Rebel T1i has HD video, while the Nikon D3000 has no video at all.

Nikon D3000

There is no doubt that the D3000 is an evolutionary, rather than revolutionary update, but the few features that have been added to the D3000 compared to the D60 are of real value, and the 11-point AF system alone makes the D3000 a bargain at its current asking price. It’s a shame that the bundled 18-55mm kit lens doesn’t show off the AF capabilities of the camera to a better extent, but the same is true of most kit lenses. A greater frustration – at least to anyone with a collection of older Nikon lenses – is that AF is unavailable with non AF-S optics. Fortunately, the D3000 does offer an effective (and very accurate) manual focusing rangefinder indicator in the viewfinder, but it’s of little help when you’re faced with a moving subject.

Conclusion – Pros

• Excellent detail and resolution at low ISO settings (especially in raw mode)
• Very capable AF system, including 3D AF tracking, on a par with much more expensive DSLRs
• Versatile and fun retouch options including in-camera raw processing
• Effectively unlimited shooting in JPEG mode (with ADL turned off)
• User-friendly ergonomics, without sacrificing control
• Good build quality for the price – no creaks
• Active D-Lighting helps recover the maximum tonal detail from tricky scenes
• Reliable exposures, with and without flash (albeit a little bright)
• Excellent exposure compensation range of -+5EV
• Good battery life for its class
• Refreshingly conservative approach to high ISO noise reduction (at default settings)
• View NX software hugely improved over Picture Project (Not as good as Capture NX2 though)
• Built-in AF assist lamp
• Competitive pricing

Conclusion – Cons

• Unreliable white balance under artificial lighting
• Slight tendency to overexpose in contrasty conditions
• No Live View
• Screen resolution slightly too low for checking accurate focus
• Very little control over high ISO noise reduction
• No front control dial
• No depth-of-field preview button
• No exposure bracketing
• No in-body stabilization (although VR is included in many of Nikon’s current entry-level lenses)
• Luminance noise becomes a problem above ISO 800
• Slightly soft JPEG output at default settings (but this is far from unusual)
• Screen-centric interface won’t appeal to everyone
• No AF support for non AF-S (or third-party equivalent) lenses
• No GPS (via Nikon’s GP-1 accessory) support

You can see the full review at http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond3000/
What about you? Are you convinced that the Nikon D3000 is the right entry level DSLR for you? You can see a comparison between the Canon XSi and D3000 here. This is really a great time to be buying a camera in this category. They have never been more affordable.
Happy Shooting!

100-400\L Examples. Help me convince my wife!
I really want a 100-400 L lens. Please post some of your photos taken with this lens so I can use them to convince my wife that I need one! (I have a 70-200 f/4 that she thinks is “good enough.”)
Cheers!
Jim

This just brings me back to Tim Allen in the old role on “Tool Time”. We always want (ok, we NEED) the newest and best tools. But let’s face it, sometime our wives don’t know the difference between a zoom lens and a socket wrench.

I can tell you this. Most women will not be impressed with pictures of the feather pattern of a heron in flight, at least not enough to say, “Oh, Jim, now I see that you really DO need this new Canon 100-400L lens.” But, did you notice the photos of the kids playing baseball and water skiing? Now those will help sell her on the deal.

My wife is awesome, and she is my main cheerleader when it comes to photography, but she is not always on board with the new purchases that over-extend our budget. And, quite honestly, I’m not even sure the family photo thing will work every time, but it sure is worth a try.

I must go on record here and say that aside from that new Canon EOS 7D that you really need prior to the acquisition of an additional DSLR lens, the Canon 100-400L lens is a worthy target for your next purchase. If you LOOK HERE, pay attention to the user reviews. Notice the 5 stars ? The ratings for this lens are the highest I have come across for any lens on Amazon.

Oh, I almost forgot. If you are still trying to decide which camera you absolutely need, make sure to visit www.digital-photographic-resources.com :=)

That’s it. Happy Shooting!

This is always an interesting discussion. I have mentioned it before in my blog here. I have also written a few articles about either the Canon Digital Rebels or the comparison between the Nikon D3000 and D5000. They are getting quite a few views at Ezine Articles.

There are also articles that compare the cheapest DSLRs from Canon and Nikon.

The bottom line is not really well defined. Nikon has the newest entry level DSLR in the Nikon D3000, but for just a bit more money, you can get a Canon T1i or a Nikon D5000. Both these cameras have HD Video, and the D5000 has that articulating LCD panel which is pretty cool for taking pictures at weird angles.

As I have mentioned before, I am using a Canon 30D, but if I was entering the DSLR market today, the decision would probably come down on the Nikon side for just one reason… make that one name – Moose Peterson. He uses Nikon products and he takes the very best nature shots in the world (my humble opinion, of course).

Carolina Wren fluffing because of the cool air.

Female Cardinal with the stare down (she won)

A Rather Large Spider

Another Female Dining

More about this excellent lens at http://www.squidoo.com/sigma18-250