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 Monday, November 21, 2022

Just posted: Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Lens Review.

This is an interesting lens — compact, lightweight, affordable, and a good performer. Sometimes, the 20-40mm focal length range is ideal, avoiding frequent lens changes.

Support this site by ordering the Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Lens from B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX

Rent the Tamron 20-40mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Lens from Lensrentals.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Camera Gear Review News
Post Date: 11/21/2022 7:50:39 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Sunday, November 20, 2022

The big super-telephoto lenses deliver the ultimate wildlife image quality. The Canon RF 600mm F4 L IS USM Lens and Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS Lens are my favorite wildlife lenses, and they are my easy first choices for photographing elk.

However, there are times when wider would be helpful — a wider focal length and a wider aperture. In those cases, the Canon RF 400mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens and Sony FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS Lens become my first choices. Unfortunately, flying with and managing two big lenses in the field is challenging.

This year, I opted to take on that challenge, taking a lens from each class to Rocky Mountain National Park.

The Pelican 1615 Air Wheeled Hard Case was the primary solution to the mentioned challenge. When flying, the camera bodies were unmounted, the big lens hoods were reversed, pads were added, and additional lenses were included in the case — up to the airline-checked bag weight limit. The case was locked and checked.

In the field, the configuration shown below worked great. With the Robus monopods removed, the Pelican case closed, enabling easy and safe transport to and from my room.

Pelican 1615 Air Wheeled Hard Case Loaded

As pictured, both lenses in their LensCoat covers were immediately available for roadside opportunities or for the long stalk.

This bull elk, fresh out of the wallow, was proud of his muddy (and smelly) coat and looking for cows. When photographing wildlife, predicting behavior correctly delivers the ultimate shots, and I guessed this one right.

Seeing the relatively short working distance available for the potential water crossing, the Canon RF 400mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens got the call. This lens's angle of view was just wide enough to fit the elk in the frame, and the f/2.8 aperture strongly blurred the background, which is not easy to do while fitting a large elk in the frame.


A larger version of this image is available here.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Photo Tips and Stories
Post Date: 11/20/2022 6:30:00 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Wednesday, November 16, 2022
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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Sony Announcements
Post Date: 11/16/2022 8:06:01 PM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Tuesday, November 15, 2022

From ProGrade Digital

PROGRADE DIGITAL ANNOUNCES A HIGHER CAPACITY 512GB MEMORY CARD

SDXC V60 512GB Enables You to Capture a Larger Number of Stills and Record Extended Number of Video Clips at a New Price Point

San Jose, CA November 15, 2022, 8:00 am —ProGrade Digital, Inc., founded with a mission to provide the highest quality professional grade digital memory cards and workflow solutions, announces its higher capacity SDXC UHS-II V60 512GB memory card. With the same sustained read speeds of up to 250MB/s and sustained write speed of up to 130MB/s as our other SD V60 Gold memory cards professionals can now capture even longer clips of high-resolution video and/or greater amount of still images. ProGrade Digital SDXC UHS-II, U3, Class 10, V60 cards bring high performance to digital cinema cameras, DSLRs, and mirrorless cameras, which produce incredibly rich data streams and require greater capacity from a memory card.

“The addition of an SD V60, 512GB capacity point into our Gold product line provides a nice option for those shooting large amounts of 4K video at bit rates that don’t demand a V90 performance level,” said Wes Brewer, founder, and CEO of ProGrade Digital. We see this capacity and performance level providing a great value to less demanding photography and videography needs with a very attractive price point just under $200 USD.” This card will also be compatible with our unique Refresh Pro™ software, allowing professionals to refresh their ProGrade Digital cards back to factory condition and monitor the health of their cards.

ProGrade Digital SDXC UHS-II V60 512GB, U3, Class 10 portfolio:

  • Maximum read speed up to 250MB/s
  • Burst write speed up to 130MB/s
  • Minimum sustained write speed 60MB/s
  • Capacities: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

SD V60 Delivers:

  • High-performance speed verified to perform at a sustained read rate of up to 250MB/s
  • Video tested and certified to perform at a minimum sustained recording rate of 60MB/s
  • Recommended and tested in a wide range of DSLR, MILC, and Cinema-grade video cameras
  • Optimized for 4K, UHD, Full HD, Motion JPEG, and most high bit rate MPEG-4 CODECs
  • Laser etched unique serial numbering for the tracking of key components and manufacturing data for the highest quality control
  • Refresh Pro support to monitor card health and refresh the card back to factory-fresh condition
  • Packaging: Biodegradable fiber tray
  • 3-year warranty

Card Format: SDXC UHS-II, U3, Class 10, V60

Speed: Up to 2500 MB/s read speed, Up to 130MB/s write speed

Capacities: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

Pricing: $54.99, $104.99, $199.99 Orders

Order the ProGrade Digital SDXC Memory Cards at B&H.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: ProGrade Digital News
Post Date: 11/15/2022 10:19:22 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan

Sabrent, a popular and respected brand in the computer accessories market, is now producing memory cards and readers. I mentioned using them recently, and here is a closer look at the Sabrent CFexpress Type B and SDXC Memory Cards and Readers.

Support this site by ordering the Sabrent CFexpress Type B and SDXC Memory Cards and Readers from B&H.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Camera Gear Review News
Post Date: 11/15/2022 8:01:16 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Monday, November 14, 2022

From Lexar:

LEXAR ANNOUNCES NEW LEXAR® PROFESSIONAL CFEXPRESS™ TYPE A CARD GOLD SERIES 320GB – THE WORLD’S FASTEST CFEXPRESS TYPE A Key Features:

  • For photographers and videographers who demand superior performance with transfer speeds of up to 900MB/s1 read
  • Transfer speeds up to 900MB/s read, 800MB/s write, and minimum write speed of 700MB/s1
  • Large capacity of 320GB for professionals with demanding workloads on the go
  • Bundled with the Lexar® Professional CFexpress™ Type A / SD™ USB 3.2 Gen 2 Reader for seamless workflow4
  • Smooth and high-speed capture of high-quality images and 8K and 4K 120FPS video
  • Rated Video Performance Guarantee 400 (VPG 400)
  • Lifetime limited warranty³

San Jose, USA, November 8, 2022 — Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is proud to announce the new Lexar® Professional CFexpress™ Type A Card GOLD Series in the 320GB capacity. Ideal for professional creators, photographers, and videographers who want to capture high-quality images with superior read speed up to 900MB/s. 1 The 320GB model will be bundled with the Lexar® Professional CFexpress™ Type A / SD™ USB 3.2 Gen 2 Reader for a more seamless workflow from field to post-production.

With read speed up to 900MB/s1 and write speed up to 800MB/s1, Lexar® Professional CFexpress™ Type A Card GOLD Series 320GB is designed to seamlessly capture high-resolution images and cinema-quality 8K video. It is also ideal for professionals who need to handle demanding workflow on the go.

Also, the Lexar® Professional CFexpress™ Type A Card GOLD Series 320GB allows professional creators to get back to business without having to constantly switch cards. And for added peace of mind, the card is also rated Video Performance Guarantee 400 (VPG 400) meeting a minimum write speed of 700MB/s1 so your content is captured seamlessly without dropping a frame.

With superior performance to capture cinema-quality video, the Lexar® CFexpress™ Type A Card Gold Series in 320GB delivers the rugged durability you need to protect from temperature, shock, and vibration allowing you to capture more adventures and store valuable data in a variety of elements2.

“We are excited to announce the Lexar® Professional CFexpress™ Type A Card GOLD Series in the 320GB capacity. And, with the Lexar® Professional CFexpress™ Type A / SD™ USB 3.2 Gen 2 Reader included, professionals can expect top performance and speed up their workflow from capture to transfer and editing," said Joel Boquiren, General Manager of Lexar.

Lexar® Professional CFexpress Type A Card GOLD Series 320GB with Lexar® Professional CFexpress™ Type A/SD™ Card Reader bundle is available now for purchase online at an MSRP of $ 699.99.

Orders

The Lexar Professional CFexpress Type A Memory Card GOLD Series and reader are in stock at B&H.

1 Up to 900MB/s sustained read transfer, write speeds lower. Speeds based on internal testing. Actual sustained speed may vary depending on the host device.

2 Temperature-proof: Withstands operating temperature range from 14ºF (-10ºC) to 158ºF (70 ºC) and non-operating temperatures from -4ºF (-20ºC) or 185ºF (85 ºC).

Shock resistant (50[G], 11[ms] / half sine wave. Apply the above impact 3 times from each of 3 orthogonal directions.)

Vibration resistant (10[Hz] to 2000[Hz] to 10[Hz], Sweep time: 20 minutes. 12 cycles per axis, (36 cycles for 3 axes), Test time: 12[hr]).

3 Lifetime limited warranty is limited to 10 years from purchase in Germany and regions not recognizing lifetime warranty.

4 Bundle for CFexpress Type A GOLD Series 320GB ONLY

Lexar is not liable for any loss of data or images.

Warning: CFexpress™ Type A cards are only compatible with devices that support the CFexpress™ format. Highest transfer speed achieved only when used with a CFexpress™ Type-A reader, indicated by a boxed USB logo on the product. Contact your device manufacturer for details.

Warning: Compatible with CFexpress™ Type A memory cards and SD™ memory cards only, as clearly indicated by the framed USB label on the card. The use of incompatible memory cards will result in data loss. For more information on memory cards, please consult the card manufacturer

[Note:]

[Product page only:] Product appearance, performance, software offerings, and packaging may vary depending on ship date and available inventory.

Actual usable memory capacity may vary. 1GB equals 1 billion bytes.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Lexar News
Post Date: 11/14/2022 10:00:00 PM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Thursday, November 10, 2022

From Portkeys:

PortKeys PT6 Live Streaming Assist Monitor

PortKeys has launched the PT6 Live Streaming Assist Monitor, a 600-nit budget-friendly monitor packed with content creation and live streaming assist features.

PortKeys PT6 4K HDMI Touchscreen Monitor 3D LUT Output

The touchscreen display is a 5.2", 1920x1080 resolution monitor featuring a 600-nit peak brightness with a 1500:1 contrast ratio. The screen can display a 100% P3 colour gamut at 10-bit depth.

The display supports inputs up to 4096 x 2160 at 24hz. This wide range allows support for even the latest professional cameras.

PortKeys PT6 4K HDMI Touchscreen Monitor Color Gamut

As a live streaming assist monitor, the PT6 has an HDMI Output and Input. The PT6 can output a 1920x1080p signal at 60Hz. The PT6 can output a signal which includes a 3D LUT, Anamorphic De-Squeeze, UI from the Camera and the Stretch Legs feature. Live streaming can be achieved with only the PT6, a compatible camera and a live streaming box.

PortKeys PT6 4K HDMI Touchscreen Monitor 3D LUT Output

The Stretch Legs feature allows the user to stretch the image below a chosen point when shooting vertically. Alongside this feature, the PT6 has a customizable menu to access features such as Zebras, 3D Lut, and Luma Histograms.

PortKeys PT6 4K HDMI Touchscreen Monitor Stretch

The PT6 can de-squeeze anamorphic footage in a wide range of aspect ratios listed below.

PortKeys PT6 4K HDMI Touchscreen Monitor Anamorphic

The image brightness, tint and contrast can all be adjusted on the PT6, ready for perfect live-streaming output.

PortKeys PT6 4K HDMI Touchscreen Monitor Brightness

The PT6 has several options for peaking, which can be customized in the UI to help you nail focus every time.

PortKeys PT6 4K HDMI Touchscreen Monitor Peaking

A customized image crop can be applied on the PT6 and adjusted in the UI for the perfect output frame.

PortKeys PT6 4K HDMI Touchscreen Monitor Crop

The PT6 has multiple power options. It supports Sony NP-F970/F960/F750/F550 and Canon LP-E6 batteries. Alternatively, the PT6 can also be powered with a 7~24V power supply. The battery tray features a lock to avoid heavier batteries falling out of place.

PortKeys PT6 4K HDMI Touchscreen Monitor Power

Additional interface features are a USB-A port that can be used for future firmware updates and 3D LUT importing. Alongside this, there is a 3.5mm microphone jack for audio monitoring. Included are the PT6 monitor, an MH-2 Mount, HDMI Cable, HDMI - Micro HDMI Cable, User Manual, Carrying Box and a Sunshade for outdoor monitoring.

PortKeys PT6 4K HDMI Touchscreen Monitor Diagram

Overall, for $169, the PT6 is a feature-packed monitor that will assist the video creation process for creators of all levels.

Full List of HDMI Output Features

  • 3D LUT
  • Tint
  • Contrast
  • Luma Histogram
  • Chroma
  • HDR(HLG)
  • Gesture Zooming
  • Sharpness
  • UI Interface
  • Image Brightness
  • Check Field
  • Anamorphic
  • Vertical Extension
  • Rectangle Crop

Orders

Order the B&H.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Photography Deals
Post Date: 11/10/2022 7:49:53 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Tuesday, November 8, 2022

This day was spent at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, a US Olympic & Paralympic training site, and the BMX stunt bikers were delivering incredible stunt after incredible stunt. While it was tempting to just watch the impressive action, images create a longer memory, and I had a job to do.

Fortunately, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II and Canon RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM Lens made capturing peak BMX bike stunt action easy.

The camera position for this image provided a beautiful blue sky background, and the camera angle took full advantage of the circular polarizer filter's effect. Despite the polarizer reducing light, the ultra-wide f/1.8 aperture allowed an action-stopping 1/1250 shutter speed at ISO 100.

With all focus points selected, the R6 II would pick up the stunt rider entering the frame and track them for the extent of the burst. The R6 II's 40 fps continuous shooting rate ensured that the perfect moment of every stunt was on the card.

While it was fun to shoot the stunt riders with wide-angle lenses on the ramp, the mid-telephoto 135mm focal length was ideal for keeping the rider large in the frame at the peak of the stunt, while still showing the ramp for perspective.

Note that a preproduction R6 II camera and RF 135 lens captured this image.


A larger version of this image is available here.

 
Camera and Lens Settings
135mm  f/1.8  1/1250s
ISO 100
6000 x 4000px
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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Photo Tips and Stories
Post Date: 11/8/2022 11:22:33 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan

"Capture One 23 (16.0.0) is a feature release containing new functionality, new camera and lens support, and important bug fixes."

New features and functionality

  • Smart Adjustments
  • Cull and Import upgrades
  • Layers in Styles
  • Change Capture Time
  • Capture One Live: Reviewer Management
  • Capture One Live: New Business Model

General User Experience Improvements and tweaks

  • Improved performance for Sony files
  • Improved performance for systems with multiple GPUs
  • New touchpoints for Capture One Live

Get the full details of this update in the release notes.

Support this site by ordering Capture One Pro at B&H.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Capture One News
Post Date: 11/8/2022 7:28:08 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Sunday, November 6, 2022

It seemed awkward to show up for dinner with a tripod, but I did take a camera. Then the balance of the hotel lights with the blue hour sky called.

Until this point, most of the R6 II photo opportunities involved fast action that stressed its outstanding AF capabilities and high-speed frame rate. This subject was going nowhere, but the light was dim. While the ISO settings could be increased, a clear blue sky makes high ISO noise readily apparent.

Squatted down with a Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens set to 27mm and mounted to the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, The R6 II captured mostly sharp 1-second exposures and a solid number of sharp 2-second exposures (even with ADD kicking in before a second of holding the shutter release down). While a tripod would have been the optimal support for this shot, IBIS did the job remarkably well.

The capabilities of IBIS are extremely valuable, adding versatility to the kit. The value of adding image stabilization to your current non-stabilized lenses (including EF models) is huge.

Note that a preproduction R6 II captured this image.


A larger version of this image is available here.

 
Camera and Lens Settings
27mm  f/5.6  1s
ISO 250
6000 x 4000px
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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Photo Tips and Stories
Post Date: 11/6/2022 7:00:00 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Wednesday, November 2, 2022

From Canon USA:

Boundless Creativity: Canon Announces the Canon EOS R6 Mark II Hybrid Full-Frame Camera

New RF135mm F1.8 L IS USM Lens and Speedlite EL-5 Flash Unit Also Announced

MELVILLE, NY, November 2, 2022 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, announced today the launch of the new EOS R6 Mark II camera body, Canon’s new hybrid full-frame camera, and the first EOS R series full-frame mirrorless to take the step into the second generation. In addition, Canon is also introducing the new RF135mm F1.8 L IS USM mid-telephoto portrait lens and Speedlite EL-5 flash unit.

Ideal for advanced amateurs and featuring user-friendly functions, the EOS R6 Mark II camera is a high-performance hybrid camera that’s designed to capture decisive moments in both photo and video formats. It will satisfy a wide range of needs including professional production, vlogging, still pictures, filmmaking, and more. The camera is also well-suited for various photography subjects such as portrait, landscape, sports and wildlife. With the EOS R6 Mark II camera, creativity has virtually no borders.

As the market share leader for mirrorless cameras in the United States through Q3 of 2022[i], Canon continues to strengthen its innovative EOS R lineup with the new EOS R6 Mark II camera. The EOS R6 Mark II offers enhanced video and photo functions, such as in-body Image Stabilization, as well as specifications that can satisfy video production needs, such as controlled focusing.

“As a filmmaker who is always on the move, I need a camera I can trust in a multitude of environments as well as keeping up with my fast paced style of shooting and the new Canon EOS R6 Mark II does just that.” said Canon Co-Lab Creator, Sam Newton.

Canon EOS R6 Mark II Body

In addition to its compact size and ease of use, the EOS R6 Mark II camera also features:

  • 24.2 megapixels, full-frame image sensor
  • 4K 59.94p video recording
  • External 6K RAW video recording / Internal 4K video recording oversampled from 6K
  • High-speed burst shooting
  • Canon Log 3 maximizing dynamic range
  • Autofocus (AF): highly accurate subject detection with human, animal[ii], vehicle and automatic settings
  • Horses, trains, and airplanes are newly detectable through the use of deep learning technology
  • Continuous movie recording that exceeds 30 minutes
  • Up to 12 frames per second mechanical shutter
  • Up to 40 frames per second with electronic shutter
  • In-body Image Stabilization as effective as up to 8 stops faster shutter speed[iii]

Canon RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM Lens

Alongside the new camera body, Canon has announced a new addition to its growing line of innovative RF lenses – the RF135mm F1.8 L IS USM. This is a fixed focal length mid-telephoto portrait lens that is compatible with any EOS R-series camera. The RF135mm F1.8 L IS USM achieves beautiful and generous bokeh with the large-diameter F1.8 and comes equipped with in-lens Image Stabilization. The coordinated control of this IS coupled with the in-body IS present in the EOS R6 Mark II camera and other EOS R equipped IBIS cameras helps reduce camera shake and empowers photographers to express a feel of motion when shooting in dark areas with slow shutter speeds.

“The image quality and super smooth bokeh out of the new RF135mm F1.8 L IS USM lens is absolutely spectacular and superior to the EF version.” said Canon Explorer of Light, Vanessa Joy.

Canon Speedlite EL-5 Flash

Additionally, Canon has announced the new Speedlite EL-5 flash unit, designed for superior compatibility with the new EOS R6 Mark II. The Speedlite EL-5 is Canon’s first flash product compatible with the new multi-function shoe present in the EOS R6 Mark II, EOS R3, EOS R7 and EOS R10 cameras.

“The new Canon Speedlite EL-5 flash will give that magical kiss of light that brings a picture to life and illuminates your creative vision.” said Canon Explorer of Light, Bob Davis.

Price & Availability

Canon EOS R6 Mark II camera body only and kits with either the Canon RF24-105 F4 L IS USM or the RF24-105 F4.0-7.1 IS STM USM lens will be available in late November 2022 for estimated retail prices of $2499.00, $3599.00 and $2799.00 respectively*.

The Canon RF135mm F1.8 L IS USM will be available in late January 2023 for an estimated retail price of $2099.00*.

The Canon Speedlite EL-5 flash unit will be available in late March 2023 for an estimated retail price of $399.99*.

Orders

Support this site by ordering the Canon EOS R6 Mark II from B&H | Adorama | Canon USA | WEX

Order the Canon RF 135mm F1.8 L IS USM Lens from B&H | Adorama | Canon USA | WEX

Order the Canon Speedlite EL-5 from B&H

# # #

[i] The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, U.S., Detachable Lens Cameras, Digital Lens Type: Mirrorless, Jan.- Sept. 2022 combined.

[ii] Effectiveness varies depending on the subject. In some cases, dogs, cats or birds may not be detected, while some animals other than dogs, cats or birds may be detected.

[iii] CIPA standards compliant, using RF24-105 F4 L IS USM as the lens, with a focal length of 105mm.

* Specifications, availability and prices are subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set by individual dealers and may vary.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Canon Announcements
Post Date: 11/2/2022 12:00:00 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Monday, October 24, 2022

Just posted: Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD Lens Review

This lens is currently ranked 21st among the best-selling mirrorless lenses at B&H — out of 1204 lenses.

Support this site by ordering the Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD Lens from B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Camera Gear Review News
Post Date: 10/24/2022 12:00:00 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Sunday, October 23, 2022

The foreground lighting in this Badlands National Park Milky Way image is courtesy of a pair of Simorr Vibe P96L RGB Video LED Lights on Manfrotto Befree Advanced Travel Tripods.

Even at their lowest intensity settings (1%), half the light face required gaffer tape to bring the overall light balance down to Milky Way levels.

Post-processing of this image primarily involved peripheral shading correction and increasing the contrast of the foreground and background independently.


A larger version of this image is available here.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Photo Tips and Stories
Post Date: 10/23/2022 7:00:00 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Tuesday, October 18, 2022

The key to photographing at Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park is knowing when and where to point the camera. Fortunately, there are so many good options that it is easy to get some of them right.

The simplistic and distinct erosion features seen in this image held my attention long enough to create a selection problem. Today, it was time to pick one and move on. Well, that is at least until I decide it is time to pick another one.

This scene is looking into the rising sun, with reflected light creating a warm color temperature.

While a telephoto lens may not be an obvious first-choice landscape lens, the long focal lengths often provide easy compositions even in locations with limited beauty. The Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens is an outstanding choice for this purpose (and Zabriskie has unlimited beauty).


A larger version of this image is available here.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Photo Tips and Stories
Post Date: 10/18/2022 9:41:20 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Monday, October 17, 2022

It is my favorite time of the year — Fall. The landscape is taking on spectacular colors, and I feel the need to make the colors last by photographing them.

However, I frequently encounter beautiful trees in full fall color with uninspiring surroundings. The challenge is to capture the beauty without including unsupporting subjects, especially power lines, in the composition.

As the relevant example for this image, our local high school grounds have a border of large maple trees that get extraordinary color each fall. While the school property and nearby neighborhood are nice, the buildings, streets, wires, etc., are not what I'm looking for in a nature picture.

In this case, the simplest tactic is often to get out the telephoto lens and isolate a portion of the tree.

The timing of this year's peak fall leaf color coincided with the Tamron 50-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III VC VXD Lens review. This lens has the perfect range for isolating leaves (and the excellent image quality necessary to make the shoot worthwhile).

A large tree can offer many compositions, but after moving around to figure them out, I typically come back to a small number of favorites. To find these, try zooming out to the widest focal length and then zooming in as the composition is adjusted until nothing extraneous is in the frame, and the remaining limb lines and leaf clumps are balanced. Lock the tripod head, take that shot (perhaps several if the leaves are moving in the wind), create some variations, and then zoom in further to get a different look. Then, start over, perhaps after moving to a different position.

This maple tree's foliage was not solid, meaning some background showed through. The best options were to fill the foreground tree's holes with sky or, as shown here, with a background tree across the street. Note that the horizon and other orientation-identifying subjects are not discernable in this image. In this case, it is OK to tilt the camera slightly to adjust for the available details (I keep telling myself that).

This image was captured just before the sun set. The bright red leaf color lit by warm light made the red channel the one to watch for exposure. A Breakthrough Photography circular polarizer filter reduced the reflections on the leaves, further saturating the primarily red colors.


A larger version of this image is available here.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Photo Tips and Stories
Post Date: 10/17/2022 11:41:36 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Sunday, October 16, 2022

This handsome bull elk is watching his herd of cows from the forest's edge on a rainy afternoon in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Does rain keep you from your pursuit? While heavy rain hinders visibility, light rain is often not a problem. Wet foliage appears saturated, and the rain clouds create even (though dim) lighting. That combination, along with the raindrops, adds diversity to the portfolio.

Put a LensCoat rain cover on the camera and rain gear on yourself, and go out shooting.

Images captured on cloudy days or in the shade often benefit from warming the color balance — add red and subtract blue. A slight increase in vibrance brings out the colors.


A larger version of this image is available here.

 
Camera and Lens Settings
600mm  f/4.0  1/640s
ISO 2500
9621 x 5928px
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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Photo Tips and Stories
Post Date: 10/16/2022 7:07:41 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Thursday, October 13, 2022

Just posted: Canon RF 1200mm F8 L IS USM Lens Review page.

Fun, but expensive, lens.

Please share!

Order the Canon RF 1200mm F8 L IS USM Lens from B&H | Adorama | Canon USA | WEX

Rent the Canon RF 1200mm F8 L IS USM Lens from Lensrentals.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Camera Gear Review News
Post Date: 10/13/2022 9:56:46 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Wednesday, October 12, 2022

This is a case of the big being ideal for the small, the big Canon RF 1200mm F8 L IS USM Lens was perfect for capturing a small eastern chipmunk.

After we placed many large rocks around the house, the local chipmunk population grew significantly. These cute little animals are frequently scurrying around, and they often sit on the rocks to watch for danger and whatever else chipmunks find interesting.

The chipmunk was doing exactly what I wanted it to do. Having finished its constant chirping (what alerted me to the photo op), it was sitting on a rock in the morning sunlight doing nothing.

It gave me time to grab the RF 1200mm already mounted on an EOS R5 and a Wimberley WH-200-S Sidemount Head on a ProMediaGear TR424L Carbon Fiber Tripod and head into the front yard.

The super long focal length meant I could move into tight framing distance without spooking the chipmunk, and the still chipmunk permitted many test images (438 to be exact) from the lens.

Upon getting a solid number of images at one position, I'd move slightly to align a different background. Eventually, a rose bush added some color to the background (the 1200mm angle of view doesn't require a large background).

A sudden itch apparently prompted a quick scratching session, and that was the end of the shoot. The chipmunk left to find more breakfast.

Long shutter speeds with image stabilization were being tested when the scratching happened, meaning there was no time to change the shutter speed. However, the motion blur created a fun variation of the otherwise still-posed chipmunk.

Captured on Sabrent. Are you familiar with this company? They recently introduced CFexpress Type B and SDXC memory cards and readers. I've been working Sabrent's cards and readers into the workflow with no issues, and the low prices are especially attractive. Find these cards and readers at B&H.


A larger version of this image is available here.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Photo Tips and Stories
Post Date: 10/12/2022 11:31:58 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Do you leave room for words?

Leaving room for words is a great excuse to pull out when focal length limited, so be sure to keep that answer ready for when the situation dictates. However, many uses for photos, especially paid uses, involve adding words.

If the subject fills the frame, overlaid words can appear awkward, with subject lines and details competing with the message. Leaving space, especially strongly blurred space, permits aesthetic message presentation.

I create invitation cards for an annual sportsman's banquet. While wildlife portrait images are plentiful in my collection, message-ready images are less so, and I've been working on changing that balance.

For this bighorn ram image, a relatively long subject distance, very distant background, long focal length, wide aperture, and low shooting position combine to provide adequate smoothly blurred space for inclusion of a message.

It is usually easier to be farther away from an animal but don't let the distance lower the quality bar. Many of the same factors important to close portraits still apply. Look for good light and body position — and spectacularly large horns are advantageous.

We encountered this big boy in Badlands National Park. Observation showed that he was eating the yellow flowers. Moving into position for the next flower patch made preparation easy.

Heatwave distortion is frequently encountered when shooting at long subject distances in direct sunlight. The solution here was to shoot many images at a fast frame rate. Periodically, a photo with a sharp sheep head was captured.


A larger version of this image is available here.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Photo Tips and Stories
Post Date: 10/11/2022 10:23:27 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
 Monday, October 10, 2022

I did not set out to photograph coyotes this evening, but Rocky Mountain National Park sometimes produces the unexpected.

While waiting for a herd of elk to do something interesting, movement in the tall grass caught my eye. It didn't take long to determine that a coyote was on the hunt. However, it was mostly obscured by the grass. Autofocusing on the coyote was impossible, and focusing on the grass at precisely the same distance was nearly as challenging.

Then, the coyote made a pounce to catch a rodent. On heightened alert, I readied to hit the shutter release on the next leap. This process was mostly waiting with little shooting, but it only takes one successful sequence to get the desired image.

As the coyote cleared the grass, a Sony Alpha 1 shutter release press instantly locked the FE 600mm F4 GM OSS Lens's focus and tracked through the leap.

Yes, this leap also resulted in dinner for the coyote. Of course, that dinner was mostly hidden by the grass.


A larger version of this image is available here.

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Posted to: Canon News, Sony News   Category: Photo Tips and Stories
Post Date: 10/10/2022 9:56:09 AM ET   Posted By: Bryan
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