A Tiny Wonder: my Canon G12 Update

Today I continue on my quest, testing the Canon G12. I was able to get out to Key Biscayne and do some shooting. At the Dinner Key Marina and Kendall Metro Rail Station, I shot  video using the miniature effect (tilt/shift) filter. The filter is pretty cool and easy to use. A lot of the video setting are automated, but the camera does a very nice job. I shot this video in 640 on tripod. I also took several photographs with the camera set to aperture priority, most were shot at F8.  I am really enjoying this camera. It is very light to carry around, but does produce the good quality images and video Below are several images I shot today. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.  In the mean-time Please keep shooting!!!

A Tiny Wonder: my Canon G12

Finally got the Canon G12. Went out to do some test shots two days ago. After owning a G9, this camera came with significant improvements. Looking thought the menu, I find it very easy and pleasant to use. Some of the important controls are at immediate reach with manual dials and buttons. The addition of the front dial to me is the most significant improvement in this camera. Adjusting aperture and shutter speeds is no different than setting them on an SLR. The camera has a solid feel, and is very well made. The lens is a 28mm- 140mm (equivalent in 35mm). It is sharp and of good quality. The lens has variable apertures of F2.8-4.5. Not bad for low light shooting as long as you are shooting wide. The noise is not bad shooting at 400 ISO. Below is an HDR I shot two nights ago using the auto bracketing feature. I set the camera to auto- bracketing, self timer, on tripod, and got this image. I am also working with the video. I will update my review as I test the different features of this tiny machine. In the meantime, please keep shooting!

The Forgotten Lens

  The 50mm lens is probably my favorite lens of all. If I could only pick one lens to shoot it would be the 50mm. A 50mm lens on a full frame digital camera will give you an angle of view very close to that of the human eye. The 50mm lens is sharp, inexpensive, and lightweight, just to name a few advantages. For a long time the 50mm lens was the kit lens that came with film cameras. Today they have been replaced with the compact zooms. Let me list some the advantages that 50mm lenses have over the consumer grade zooms. Usually these zooms have variable aperture starting at F3.5 and going up to 5.6 depending on the focal lengths of the lens. A 50mm 1.8 lens can cost a little over one-hundred dollars. Zoom are considerably more expensive. If you are like me and hate to use flash this lens is a must. I do a lot of existing light in-door photography. The 50mm fits right in. I also own a Canon 24-70mm L 2.8 lens that cost me over a thousand dollars, when set to 50mm the images are almost identical in sharpness to a prime 50mm 1.8. I have argued at times that images taken with a 50mm (prime), seen on the monitor at 100%, are as sharp if not sharper than images taken with the 24-70mm L zoom lens set at 50mm.

If you like a shallow depth of field this lens will do it well.  If your camera has an APS-C sensor then the lens will have an angle of coverage close to an 80mm lens. 80mm is great for portrait photography. The convenience of a zoom gives the photographer the flexibility to stand in one place and zoom in and out to compose the image. With the 50mm you will need to move (walk) in or away from the subject to compose the image you want. Some photographers see this as a disadvantage; I see it as an advantage to learn better composition. With a prime lens the photographer must look closely though the viewfinder to compose the shot. With a zoom the photographer tends to zoom in and out quickly, taking less time to compose, and does not get the same results in the final product. Some of the worlds’ best photographers have shot all their lives using a 50mm lens. Most different manufactures have a 50mm lens in their line-up. I know that Canon, Nikon, Leica, Pentax offer the 50mm in several different flavors. They can cost from one-hundred to several thousands dollars. 50mm lens come in F1.8, F1.4, F1.2, F1.0 etc. The difference between these lenses is their light gathering capabilities.  

If you are a photographer on a budget, but want professional results, go back to basics and buy a 50mm lens.

Thanks for reading and KEEP SHOOTING…… 

HDR Photography Explained

HDR Photography

    HDR photography, HDR stands for high dynamic range.  The human eye has an incredible ability to adapt and see different intensities of light in a lot wider spectrum than does the camera sensor.

    When we photograph a scene where there are areas that are beyond the capable range of the camera, the camera will under/over expose the photograph. A good example of this would be the inside of a church. You photograph the inside of the church, and the inside of the church is properly exposed, but windows where the sunlight is coming through are completely blown out (white and without detail).  This makes your photograph look unappealing.

    An HDR image can correct this, making your photograph look natural as you probably saw it the moment you took it.

    How do we create an HDR?

First and foremost you need a tripod. The camera must be perfectly still. A strong tripod and head will yield best results.  The camera must be set to auto exposure-bracketing ( bracketing can also be done manually). I like to set it to plus and minus 2 stops along with the correct exposure. Set your camera's drive to continuous shooting. A good cable release or setting the camera to self timer is also recommended. Images can be recorded in JPEG or RAW formats. Once the images are recorded on your card, transfer them to your PC. Once in your PC you must have HDR software installed. I use Photomatix and really like it. Once you start to process the images with the program, the program will align the images, and start to correct highlight and shadow areas. The processed image will appear on the screen. The program has numerous adjustments where you can tailor the image to your taste. Later you can open the image in Photoshop for further adjustments.

   Several cameras on the market have an HDR filter, and the process is done in-camera. I have not tested them so really do not know how good they work. Does HDR photography always work well, in my opinion NO! With some images your get excessive noise and extreme contrast, but for the most part the images are beautiful and artistic. Explorer another facet of photography and let me know how it goes. Thanks for reading. HAPPY SHOOTING .....Your friend, Jerry LLanes 

Example of photograph I took at Jimbo's on Key Biscayne. This photographs illustrates how HDR can balance a scene where both highlights and shadows are extreme.

HDR photography

I have had several friends requesting information in HDR photography. Tomorrow I will start a section on this. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Canon G12

   I have been looking at the Canon G12. This is a Canon point and shoot size, with features that rival an SLR. It comes with the basic features and some creative modes. It also has several filters, one being the recently popular tilt-shift lens one. This filter makes subjects in your photographs and videos look like miniatures.
The G12 also has an electronic viewfinder that is very rare on cameras this size. If you are looking for a great point and shoot ( mini pro like camera), you should consider the Canon G12.