Please note: here at Canon Watch I am trying to give you all information that is Canon related. That means I will also feature articles and post you may not agree or that just appear to be absurd. That’s the case with the comparison I am talking about below.
Ken Rockwell posted an article that is heating up minds on photography sites and forums. Basically he compared the Rebel SL1 ((price & specs)) with the EF-S 18-55mm kit lens to an EOS 5D Mark III ((price & specs)) with L-grade glass (the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L II). He claims that for real life settings there is no much difference in image quality. Rockwell’s argues that the software in Canon’s entry level DSLR is so good that you can barely spot the difference. I do not agree with him, but you have to judge by yourself. It “may” be true that for some settings a 5D Mark III and an L-glass are an overkill, but there are lots of settings where a full-frame sensor and a high quality optic make a BIG difference. Check the two crops below and read Rockwell’s post for the whole story. Have a great day!
Rebel SL1 and 18-55mm STM at ISO 6400EOS 5D Mark III and 24-70mm f/2.8L at ISO 6400
CHDK is a firmware enhancement that operates on a number of Canon Cameras. CHDK gets loaded into your camera’s memory upon bootup (either manually or automatically). It provides additional functionality beyond that currently provided by the native camera firmware.
To see all features click here, for an overview go here. So, what do you need if you want to send images from the stratosphere to the ground? A lot of stuff I guess, but for the photographic part you’ll not need the high end gear you may think. Chris Stubbs is an apprentice electronic engineer who started a pretty cool project concerning high altitude balloon flights. To shot images he uses a Canon PowerShot A530 (here on eBay) with CHDK installed, and a cheap Radiometrix NTX2 FSK radio module that is so small it fits into the battery compartment.
There are a lot of technical details in Chris’ post, the project is described in every detail. Not a DIY weekend project but something you could replicate with a bit of patience and some technical skills.
Ready to go high (image credit: Chris Stubbs)
[via hackaday]
DPreview added a set of studio test scenes to their ongoing review of the Canon EOS 70D. All files can be downloaded in full resolution for your viewing and pixel-peeping pleasure.
The EOS 70D is an amazing DSLR. It’s for sure the best all-round, multi-purpose APS-C DLSR on the market, and kudos Canon: you made it right. Unfortunately since I got mine I didn’t have enough time to shot and learn about the EOS 70D. It’s simply a great camera and all reviews have confirmed it so far. To get an overview below is a DigitalRev video about the EOS 70D.
I am in San Francisco now and will soon go back home. Just have a little more patience and posting will start again as usual. Have a great day.
Canon published a press release about a prototype 35mm sensor (announced in March 2013). This sensor is capable to capture images in extreme low light, less than 0.01 lux. To give an example the full moon provides approximately 0.3 lux, the crescent moon approximately 0.03 lux. If you follow this link there is a sample video that shows what it is about.
TOKYO, Japan, September 12, 2013—Canon Inc. has successfully captured video footage of Yaeyama-hime fireflies flying in darkness, a feat made possible by the high-sensitivity 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor developed by Canon for video capture that was announced in March 2013.
Yaeyama-hime fireflies amid jungle vegetation
(Photomontage created from video footage)
35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor for
Full HD video capture
The high-sensitivity, low-noise video-shooting capabilities of the dedicated 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor1for Full HD video capture were made possible not only through the integration of the high-performance sensor technologies employed in Canon’s digital SLR cameras, but also through the incorporation of new pixel and readout circuitry technologies that reduce noise.
Using a camera prototype equipped with the CMOS sensor, Canon, in cooperation with ZERO CORPORATION,2 succeeded in capturing video3 of the Yaeyama-hime fireflies that inhabit Japan’s Ishigaki Island, located off the northeastern coast of Taiwan. No artificial lighting was used during shooting, which took place after sunset amid the island’s mountains. Despite an exceptionally dark shooting environment4 of less than 0.01 lux, a level in which the naked eye would have difficulty discerning surrounding objects, the CMOS sensor was able to capture not only the color of the light emitted by the fireflies, each of which measures only a few millimeters in length, and their movements, but also the surrounding vegetation in which the species lives. Plans call for the footage to be used to benefit future research into the Yaeyama-hime firefly.
In addition to astronomical and natural observation, Canon is looking into applying this CMOS sensor to medical research purposes as well as surveillance and crime-prevention equipment. Through the further development of innovative CMOS sensors, Canon aims to expand the realm of photographic possibilities while cultivating the world of visual expression.
B&H has the Rokinon (or Samyang or Bower) 16mm T2.2 Cine Lens in stock and ready to ship for $529 (click here). Free shipping in the US, and B&H now ships worldwide too. The specs:
Focal Length
16 mm
Comparable 35mm/Full-Frame Focal Length: 25.6mm
Aperture
Maximum: T2.2
Minimum: T22
Iris Blades
8
Mount Type
Canon EF
Format Compatibility
Covers APS-C or smaller sensors
Angle of View
79.5° (Canon APS-C)
Lens Construction
13 elements in 11 groups (1 x aspherical element, and 1 x hybrid aspherical element)
Filter Size
77 mm
Minimum Focus Distance
7.87″ (20.00 cm)
Gear Pitch
0.8
Dimensions (Diam. x L)
3.3 x 3.5″ (83.0 x 89.4 mm)
Weight
20.6 oz (583.0 g
Product description after the break or check the B&H in-depth article about the Rokinon 16mm T2.2.
In the usual fun way, Kai of DigitalRev shows 10 photography life hacks that (may) make things easier for you as a photographer. The best thing: these can all be done without having to pay big dollars. The egg timer hack is my favourite. Have a great day!
This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. If you want to know more or withdraw your consent to all or some of the cookies, please refer to the cookie policy. By closing this banner you agree to the use of cookies.
