DP Review's Hands On With Rebel XSI

Still waiting...

Phil Askey has just posted a hands on preview for the 12 megapixel Canon Rebel XSI. It's not the full package we've been waiting for, but contains plenty of info on the new features, controls, buttons and knobs. Still a good read if you're planning on familiarizing yourself with the camera before purchase.

Follow this link to DP Review to read the article and check out the sample photos.

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Rebel XSI Review Lite At Bob Atkins

The reviews are coming...

I stopped by Bob Atkins site to read his first look review of the Canon EOS Rebel XSI ( 450D ) and kit lens. Nothing unexpected in his appraisal of the camera and typical kudos and complaints about the kit lens. Still waiting for the exhaustive beat down from the guys at DP Review, who are, I hear thru the grapevine, getting ready to post the full monty on the XSI.

If your wondering why there is so much excitement about this Pro-Sumer camera, then you probably have your head up you - know - where. The reality is, that today's pro-sumer, off - the - shelf at Best Buy DSLR, has twice the features, file size and image quality of yesterday's pro model cameras and at 1/3rd the price!

Don't let equipment snobbery stop you from buying a great camera. With all the money you'll have left over, you can purchase better glass and be ahead of the game in the long haul.

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Radio Popper Transmitters On Their Way...

More photo goodies!

If you've been looking for an alternative to the expensive Pocket Wizard radio flash triggers that currently rule the photo universe, you might just have a new 'expensive' option coming in the first weeks of January. Radio Poppers from Kevin King, Phoenix Arizona based wedding shooter, promises to be a revolutionary new transmitter / receiver flash trigger for working with E-TTL and Canon / Nikon cameras. His tiny Radio Popper receiver units promise more flexibility with shutter speed sync, increased transmitter working distance and flawless reliability in bright daylight. You can read more about his Radio Poppers on the STROBIST website, where you can follow links to an original article from September of this year.

There still seem to be a lot of skeptics and Pocket Wizard true-believers out there who want to cast doubt on his invention and scheduled January 2008 release date. You can check out the Radio Popper Website and decide for yourself.

* If you're reading this article, I would love to hear from you! Please take a second to respond by clicking the POST A COMMENT Link below.

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Images From The Canon EOS-1 Ds Mark III

My response is wow!

Canon USA has posted 3 new sample pics from the EOS 1Ds Mark III, for a total of 4 images. One night scene, a landscape, a very colorful culinary image and a portrait of a lovely young lady. Download the high res versions of each to see the incredible detail and to really appreciate the skin tones on that portrait!

Wow!

* If you're reading this article, I would love to hear from you! Please take a second to respond by clicking the POST A COMMENT Link below.

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Canon Zoom or Sigma ?

After a careful examination of my Google Analytics Data, it comes to my attention that there is a strong correlation between high page views and the word Canon, Canon Camera, Canon lens etc... used in the Blog Post Title. This leaves me with no other choice but to include those three words in various ways in every Blog Title. How about these ideas as Blog Post Banners.

• Happy Birthday to me... and Canon Camera
• 10 things every Photographer should know... about Canon Lenses
• Software to improve workflow...with your Canon Camera
• 15 Photographers killed in tragic tour bus accident...all Canon shooters
• Tokina's latest super zoom... it's not a Canon!

or how about the Ultimate Blog Post Title :

• Canon Releases New Canon Camera with Canon Lens...it's a Canon!

Take that you evil Googlebots!

Now to the real subject of this post as described in the title " Canon Zoom Or Sigma?"

I really and truly intended to discuss my dilemma over picking a zoom lens for my new 12 mega pixel Canon 40D ( That one alone should guarantee at least 1000 page hits tomorrow morning! ) but the whole Google Analytics thing really got me thinking...about Canon Cameras and Canon Lenses, especially the Canon Zooms!

Now that I have assured myself a page in Photo Blog Page Hit History I can ask my friends and readers to help me with a decision on my next big lens purchase. Canon or Sigma? To IS or not to IS?

Here are the contenders:

1. Sigma Zoom Telephoto 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO Macro HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS / No IS ( Image Stabilization ) $889.00@B&H Photo
2. Sigma Zoom Normal-Telephoto 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon Digital EOS /No IS $679.00@B&H Photo
3. Sigma Zoom Telephoto 100-300mm f/4 EX DG IF HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS
4. Sigma Zoom Telephoto 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS Price: $ 999.00@B&H Photo
   
5. Sigma Telephoto 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS
   No IS /USA Price: $ 399.00@B&H Photo
6. Sigma Zoom Telephoto 120-300mm f/2.8 EX APO DG IF HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS Price: $ 2,699.00
7. Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Autofocus Lens / No IS
   USA Price: $ 1,140.00@B&H Photo
8. Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens
   USA Price: $ 1,699.00@B&H Photo (SHA-WING!!)

*Cost is a consideration, f2.8 is the Maximum Aperture of choice and I love Sigma Zoom lenses for the cost versus usefulness factor. But you can't beat a Canon.

All donations will be accepted... comments or cash!

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My Camera's Better Than Yours !

Now that I have today's first post out of the way and several cups of fine java circulating thru my veins, I can get to the important task of 'Learnin you folks up about this thar Digitle Kamra Witchery. Cause you know I has a sertified degree in Think-Ology from the fedral Govm't.' With credentials like that, who can doubt me!

Canon VS Nikon VS whatever you shoot with:

Spend time on any Camera Forum and you will find the die-hards defending their particular imaging instrument against the slings and arrows of others who shoot with another brand or format. Photographers get emotionally involved with their camera choice and to hell with all the unbelievers. If you can't shoot with a _______ then you shouldn't be shooting at all. So , here I am to add to the fray and upset a few more people.

I used to shoot with Nikon.....exclusively, FE, FM, F3, F4 and F5. The last one ( F5 ) I could never afford to own, but I shot with one on more than one occasion........SweeeeeeT! So I don't have any qualms with Nikon or their optics. I made the transition to Canon Cameras when Nikon fell behind in their AF (auto focus) lens technology. Canon lenses focused faster and much quieter than any of Nikon's Professional lenses and the ergonomic design was, at least to me, a little more pleasing. To get those fine lenses, I had to switch from my beloved Nikon and start all over with a new Canon. I dove into the shallow end and got one of the consumer level cameras to test the waters and fell in love with the ( Elan 2 ) quick response, fast auto focus, and ease of use. This inexpensive little camera completely changed my thinking about Canon Cameras. Because I have at my disposal all the high end cameras and formats from 8X10 to medium format to shoot with at the studio, I don't have to personally own every piece of equipment under the sun to get my work done. When it was time to transition to Digital Capture vs Film, I had no second thoughts about going all in with a Canon Setup. Shooting with the Canon Eos 1ds mark II sealed the deal and there has been no turning back. The quality of the images produced with this camera are stunning, noise free and colorful. Having said all that...... I still shoot 99 % of my work with an 8 Megapixel Canon and Sigma lenses!

Blasphemy!!!


more on this later...

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EOS-1D Mark III... Stud or Dud!

Canon Camera has produced some of the best Pro DSLR's ever! I wouldn't want to do my job without one. So why is auto focus on these cameras appear to be getting less reliable? You can follow the link below to an in depth article by Rob Galbraith to read more on the problems with the EOS 1D mark III and autofocus reliability.

An analysis of EOS-1D Mark III autofocus performance

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Another Day Another Dollar...

Friday's shoot was a real challenge. We broke out all the "Old School Tricks" we could think of..... hot lights, Strobes, Vivitar 283's, gels, peanut slaves and dozens of rolls of background paper. We had the kitchen sink and the whole kitchen with us! Hardly a piece of equipment was left behind at the studio when we loaded for the job and the location was dusty and dirty from metal work and welding. And after all the preparation, hard work and gear delivered to the site, our hero's end up being 3 ambient light exposures (with a little help from 1/8th mile of white seamless) on a Canon EOS 1ds Mark II. Ain't digital great! But when the job was finished, there was quite a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment. You have to have a few rough days to make you appreciate the breeze jobs that start at 9:AM and end before the lunch hour starts. The lunch hour being 'THE' most important hour of any day!

Later...

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