Canon | The Learning Lensman

Recap: Canon PhotoMarathon 2011 – Manila Leg

Nov 262011

The Manila leg of the Canon PhotoMarathon Philippines 2011 was held at the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) in Pasay City last 12 November 2011. The event is the culmination of this year’s Canon PhotoMarathon for the Philippines, which kicked off with the Cagayan de Oro City leg in Mindanao on the 27h of August then went up northwards with another leg every week: Bohol’s Tagbilaran City for the Visayas area, Iloos Sur’s Vigan City for Northern Luzon and Albay’s Legazpi City for the Bicol/Southern Region.

The Canon PhotoMarathon has become a yearly activity organized by Canon Marketing Philippines, Inc. (CMPI) for users of its imaging products like Point-and-Shoot compact, DSLR and video cameras. It is basically an On-The-Spot photography contest where participants are given themes to interpret through photography, with the resulting pictures are submitted for judging on the same day. Participants in the video-making category were allowed to submit their videos after the event to allow for editing.

"costume de rigueur"

Ownership of a Canon camera isn’t required, so people without cameras or those who use another brand are welcome to join provided that they use a Canon camera during the event. No participation fee is collected, everything is provided by CMPI: a participant’s kit with the PhotoMarathon shirt, cap and ID, lunch, snack, dinner and drinks. All one needs to do is to register online, show up with a Canon camera and sign a waiver form.

Now on its 5th year, the PhotoMarathon has become so popular and highly anticipated, so much so that the online registration website was overwhelmed when it opened at 8:00PM on the 28th of October. Everyone was trying to register and the system was congested. I waited it out and registered at 1:30AM, when the rush to register had abated.

Excited PhotoMarathoners

Two weeks later, the participants trooped to the PTTC early on a Saturday morning, greeted by large inflatable Canon cameras and a loud rhythm band. Registration was done with multiple booths, segregated by surnames so that a large number of registrants could be accommodated at the same time. After registering and getting the participant’s kit, a PhotoMarathoner could now go into the big assembly hall within the PTTC and wait for the event proper, or hang around in the lobby and visit the sponsor booths set up there. Canon had their product display, free camera/lens cleaning, and an on-the-spot printing station, There was also a Canon photobooth set up where participants could get their souvenir pictures taken. Other sponsors such as Abacus Computer and iMag photography magazine also had booths set up. A concessionaire where people could buy breakfast was also present, if one was hungry.

The Red Sea

Those who weren’t able to sign up online beforehand still had a chance to join the PhotoMarathon by showing up on the day itself and be put on the waitlist in case slots open up because some of the online registrants weren’t able to make it. After a couple of hours processing the online registrants, the unclaimed slots were opened to people on the waitlist. I have never heard of anybody on the waitlist being turned away in the past two PhotoMarathon, so I assume that everyone on the waitlist was accommodated.

After registration closed, everyone was asked to go to the PTTC main hall. There were just so many people seated at the round tables and with with everyone wearing the red Canon PhotoMarathon cap and shirt, the hall became a sea of red.

Canon Crusader of Light Jo Avila gives tips.

CMPI head Alan Chng came out onstage to open the Canon PhotoMarathon and announced that this was the biggest Canon PhotoMarathon yet, with more than two thousand participants. After that, the Canon Brand Ambassadors for this year, now dubbed the Canon Crusaders of Light, came out and were introduced to the crowd. Each of them offered tips for the PhotoMarathon, and posed for a group picture before they left the stage.

The CMPI managers then came out and read out the rules of the PhotoMarathon, They only had two themes this year to allow for more shooting time. Participants in the photography contest had to choose to enter either DSLR or P&S category, but not both. Both themes applied to both categories, and the first theme was flashed on the screen: “In the Concrete Jungle of our Nation, Find the Beauty of Your Own Imagination. Use Your Creative Passion to Showcase this Beautiful Creation.”

Canon Crusaders of Light Group Picture

Before being let out to start taking pictures, everyone was asked to face a camera on an upper floor for a group picture to be taken by Wendy Garrido, CMPI’s Coordinator for Service and also the “official group shot photographer” for all Canon PhotoMarathons. Another group picture of the participants was taken at the entrance to PTTC, and finally everyone was free to shoot.

Participants were pretty much free to shoot wherever they want, as long as they were back in 3.5 hours (time to upload submissions for the contest included). Being on a Saturday with heavy traffic on the road, many chose to shoot around the surrounding areas. Permits to shoot in the cities of Manila and Pasay were acquired by Canon and copies were made available to participants for use in case they were accosted by law enforcement officials or private security guards.

PhotoMarathoners... ARE GO!

PhotoMarathoners returned to find that the registration booths earlier in the morning had been converted into download stations for picture submissions. Each participant had to pick one image for submission and it was transferred to a computer for judging. After submitting a picture, the participant could proceed to the main hall and get a lunch pack and drinks. There was also a photo exhibit set up beside the stage which featured the shots of the Canon Crusaders of Light.

After the meal, the second theme was flashed on screen: “In This City of Wonderful People, Different Lifestyle, We Venture a Mirror of Our Colorful Culture Truly Preserved for our Future“. People went out to shoot, and everyone had to be back in 3.5 hours if they wanted to submit their entries.

A common sight around Manila that day.

The PhotoMarathoners started returning early in the afternoon. Some of them were visibly tired from shooting in a warm and sunny day (a Canon PhotoMarathon can be quite exhausting and a participant is required to be reasonably fit to join and advised to take the necessary precautions for heat and hydration). Snacks in the form of cup noodles were served, but there was a long queue at the hot water station so it was a good thing that dinner was to be served later.

After submissions were closed, the judging panel composed of Canon’s Crusaders of Light began judging in earnest. There were literally thousands of submissions that had to be reviewed so it took hours for them to deliberate. In the meantime, the participants were entertained by celebrities and Canon endorsers “Kuya Kim” Atienza and Piolo Pascual, raffle prizes and audience-participated contests (dancing, singing, “Youngest Photographer”, “Oldest Photographer”, etc). Models were also brought out on stage for photographers to shoot. After all this, a band came out and sang a lot of songs pretty much non-stop for more than an hour (I was amazed at the sheer lung endurance).

Canon Crusader of Light John Chua laughs the onstage antics

After the long wait (as long as judging thousands of entries on-the-spot can take), the finalists were announced and their pictures flashed on screen. The winners were announced from 2nd runner up to the 1st-placer, starting with the P&S Shoot Category, then the same for the DSLR categories. Prizes at stake were very desirable, including Canon’s current DSLR models, and the Grand Prize for the DSLR category was the EOS 5D Mk II with EF 24-105mm f/4L IS lens kit (valued around P150,000/US$3,000).

Ms. Jackielou Garcera won 1st place in the P&S category with her Canon Powershot SX20IS compact camera, and won a Canon EOS 600D DSLR, a trip to korea for two, benro tripod, benro bag, Lenspen and sensor cleaning kit.

Mr. Jerome Ross Lacbayan won 1st place in the DSLR category with a shot taken with his Canon EOS 50D, and won the EOS 5D Mk II and 24-105 L lens, a trip to korea for two, benro tripod, benro bag, Lenspen and sensor cleaning kit.

Canon Photomarathon 2011 Grand Prize Winner

The Canon PhotoMarathon Grand Prize-winning shot (Photo courtesy of Jerome Ross Lacbayan.

I went with my photography club, the Mandaluyong-San Juan Photographers Club (a.k.a. the MaSaJistas) and went to historic Intramuros and Rizal/Luneta Parks. None of us won this time (hehe), but we did have a lot of fun bonding and getting to know other photographers.

MaSaJistas (MAndaluyong-SAn Juan Photographers club members)

MaSaJistas Represent! (PhotoMarathon 2010 Champion Jesse Abad on the left)

What is great about the Canon PhotoMarathon is that you’re going to be sure that some of the best photographers will be in the contest as well (including past PhotoMarathon champions and first-placers of the other legs), and one gets an opportunity to see how these people “see” the same places you’ve been to. There’s nothing like an on-the-spot photo contest to make one ask “why didn’t I see that?”

Once again, Canon has hosted a successful event. The event was pretty much well-organized considering the logistics involved in dealing with more than 2,000 participants and while it is very expensive to host just one leg, Canon spent for five this year!

Congratulations to Canon Marketing Philippines, Inc., and thank you for continuing to Delight Us Always!

Cardboard Crusaders

(Note: Thanks to my fellow MaSaJista Dember Castaneda for helping me remember the themes word-for-word.)

Did you attend this year’s Canon PhotoMarathon? Want to provide feedback? Have your say in the comments box below!

Technorati Tags: canon, contest, philippines, photography, photomarathon

Two Months with a Mark II: An Updated EOS 1Ds Mark II Review

Features, Reviews 5 Responses »

Feb 092011

Three months ago, I was able to acquire a used Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II in very good condition. To a hobbyist who as been using semi-professional DSLRs (40D and 20D), the professional-grade 1Ds Mark II was a strange beast, both familiar and strange. I have written about my initial impression of that camera in a previous blog post, you can read it here.

During that time, I’ve used it as my everyday camera and have used it on photowalks, a running event, a studio shoot and even a couple of weddings. I have become quite comfortable with its controls and have explored its capabilities.

And what a fine camera it is.

The camera feels really solid, like a rock chiseled out into the shape of a camera and holes carved out to accomodate the lens mount, buttons and battery. The smoothly-contoured vertical grip also feels better in the hand than the blockier vertical battery grips one screws into other cameras. The 1Ds Mark II has the one of the highest levels of weathersealing available in a camera, but I wasn’t able to test this out as it never rained when I used this camera. I will just take the word of the real professionals who count on this camera to take awesome pictures even through mud, rain, snow and ocean waves.

45 AF Points, and Two Meters on the side. (Picture from Canon)

The viewfinder is very large and very bright compared to one on a DSLR with a smaller sensor. The exposure meter inside the viewfinder is on the right side, and not on the bottom unlike most cameras, and the 1Ds Mark II actually has two meters on the side, one for exposure and the other for a useful feature called Multi-spot metering.

Multi-spot metering is a feature of Canon’s 1-series DSLRs that allows a photographer to take multiple exposure readings of the same scene and then average those readings into an exposure setting that will have the best results. This is very useful in the case of challenging scenes that have a wide disparity between bright and dark areas. The Canon Digital Learning Center has a very good article on Multi-spot metering which can be read here.

Autofocus is spot-on most of the time. I’ve written in the local forums saying that the AF of the 40D is comparable to the 1Ds Mark II’s, but I take that back. I’ve shot with both bodies at a fun run event and observed that while the 40D has a fast AF system that quickly locks on to the runners, the 1Ds Mark II is just as fast and more importantly, more accurate. I noticed that I ended up with more in-focus keepers with the 1Ds Mark II and I attribute that to a more accurate AF system. That or my photography skills have instantaneously improved in that short time, so I’m thinking it’s the 1-series AF system. (Before any of you 40D fans start sending me angry emails about that camera’s AF system, I would like to emphasize that I do use a 40D and don’t think that it has a bad AF system. It’s just that the 1Ds Mark II is noticeably better).

And as I’ve mentioned in my first blog post about this camera, the 45 AF points do wonders for AF accuracy. The outer AF points are mostly accurate too and one is really spoiled for choice with regards to the number of AF points. If one is overwhelmed by the number of selectable AF points, one can always select them in groups (this is enabled via Custom Function).

Never seen a shot like this from my 40D.

The 16-megapixel full-frame sensor may have since been overtaken by newer cameras like the 21-megapixel 5D Mark II and even the 18-megapixel 550D and 7D, but it is still impressive. The first time I viewed pictures taken with the 1Ds Mark II on my computer, I couldn’t believe that I had taken those images. There was a different look to my pictures (In retrospect this might have been the effect of a full-frame sensor having a shallower depth-of-field than a crop sensor given the same cropping), and the detail captured was frankly amazing to someone who’s been shooting with a 40D. In fact, the sensor is so good that it shows the flaws of excellent lenses like Canon’s top standard zoom, the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, which exhibits chromatic aberration (purple fringing) in high contrast areas of the image.

ISO800 at 1/30 sec. Not bad for an old camera.

High ISO performance is actually decent given that this is a camera with a maximum ISO speed of 1600, expandable to 3200. I’ve shot indoor events and found that shots taken at ISO800 and ISO1600 were very much useable. There is a bit of noise at those levels, but these can be easily removed with post-processing. For shots re-sized for the web, noise isn’t noticeable even if noise reduction was applied in post. I was shooting at those ISO speeds with confidence.

The battery life is stupendous. I’ve never really run its battery dry, even after more than a thousand shots with a considerable amount of chimping (reviewing pictures on the rear LCD) and deleting stuff. I always carry a charged extra battery in my bag, but I’ve never had to change batteries on the field with this camera.

I realized that I may be portraying the 1Ds Mark II as the perfect camera. Which it isn’t.

Heavy Metal

My first complaint will be the heft. It is heavy camera on its own, but once you add a good lens (a 24-70 lens isn’t a lightweight) it becomes heavier. And since the 1Ds Mark II doesn’t have a built-in flash, you’d have to put an external flash on the hotshoe, which makes it even heavier. This setup can be quite a load, so much so that if I shot the camera for a whole day, my hands would ache for a couple of days afterward. Having it hang around your neck or shoulder isn’t a joke, your upper body will certainly feel the weight. A neoprene stretchable neck/shoulder strap helps, and a handstrap like Canon’s E-1 strap is really a must, in my experience.

Along with a heavy NiMH battery, the 1Ds Mark II comes with a battery charger that is as big as a kid’s shoe box. It’s not heavy, but it is bulky and will take up luggage space when traveling.

Even the lowliest current Canon DSLR has a bigger LCD.

The rear LCD screen was small, had a narrow viewing angle, and not conducive to reviewing pictures. To go through different pictures I had to press down a button while rotating a dial. Reviewing pictures is a bit slow too, there is a noticeable lag when reviewing pictures and it seems that the camera’s processor cannot read the big image files quickly; this can get pretty annoying when you need to quickly check a shot. When viewing magnified pictures, I had to scroll up/down and left/right using the two dials on the 1Ds Mark II.

The two-handed way of changing the 1Ds Mark II’s settings was something that I got used to, to the point that I was using the two-handed operation on my 40D and wondered why the settings wouldn’t change. But to be honest I found myself wishing for the ease of use that I had with my 40D. Even the 20D allowed me to change settings faster via the multi-directional joystick at the back.

And as much as I like its fast AF, it’s quite cumbersome to select AF points because you can’t select one directly; to change AF points, one has to use a control dial to scroll left/right across a row of AF points, then up/down using the other dial. By comparison, on a 40D you just use the small joystick to go directly to the AF point you want. And since I’ve used the 1Ds Mark II in events, I’ve found that the camera’s AF will hunt in low-light situations.

Compared to newer DSLRs, the 1Ds Mark II shows its age. Even the lowest-end DSLRs in the market now have bigger and more brilliant rear LCDs and are easier to use. The price of a used one isn’t exactly cheap too; As much as the price has gone down from its original MSRP of US$8,000, a used 1Ds Mark II commands the same price as a brand new Canon 7D.

Old, but still excellence exemplified.

But when one actually picks up the camera, peers into its big and bright viewfinder, sees the AF lock confirmation dot come on instantly, and hear the shutter click in the way only a 1-series camera can, one immediately forgets about all the bad things about this camera. I can try to explain it in words, but there really is a certain pleasure and satisfaction in shooting a 1-series body that may only be understood if one has shot with one.

In the past several weeks, I have noticed that more and more local photographers have acquired used 1-series bodies given that they have become affordable to more people. A number of them have contacted me and told me that they’re loving their new-to-them old 1-series cameras and would be hard-pressed to go back to a non-1-series camera, even if it was a newer and more modern one.

I’m inclined to agree.

Have you used a professional-grade DSLR body? How was it? Have questions about the 1Ds Mark II? Have your say in the comments section below!

Technorati Tags: 1ds mkII, camera, canon, DSLR, EOS, review

A Big Day For Canon: 2 DSLRs, 2 Speedlite Flashes, 4 New Lenses, 5 Compact Digital Cameras Announced

News 1 Response »

Feb 082011

This week, Canon announced at the Japanese CP+ photography trade fair two new EOS cameras, two new external flash units for its DSLRs, four DSLR lenses, and five compact digital cameras.

The Canon EOS 600D and 1100D DSLR cameras were announced, and they will be replacing the 550D and 1000D in the current lineup, respectively.

Canon EOS 600D

The 600D (Rebel T3i in the US market, Kiss X5 in Japan) uses the same 18-megapixel sensor found in the 550D, and adds a 3-inch articulated rear LCD screen and wireless external flash control capability. It also comes with the DIGIC IV image processor, 3.7 frames per second (FPS) shooting speed, 9-point AF system, the 63-zone iFCL metering system from the higher-spec 7D and high-definition 1080p video recording. The 600D also comes with the Basic+ and Creative Auto features for adding image-effects in camera. Read the 600D preview by Digital Photography Review here.

Japan gets a red 1100D. Rest of us gets black.

The 12-megapixel 1100D (Rebel T3 in the US market, Kiss X50 in Japan) is the smallest and lightest camera in Canon’s EOS line up and improves upon the 1000D with DIGIC 4 processing power, 9 AF points, 63-zone iFCL metering system from the 7D and 600D, ISO speeds up to 6400, and 720p HD video recording. The 1100D comes with Basic+ and Creative Auto features, like the 600D and 60D. Interestingly, the Japanese-market 1100D/X50 also comes in a red color, the first Canon DSLR to be in that shade. Read the 1100D preview by Digital Photography Review here.

New kit lens for Canon DSLRs

To go with these new entry-level DSLRs, the new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II lens has also been introduced. An affordable image-stabilized lens with a general-purposes focal length range ideal for those starting out in photography. Based on the spec sheet, the new lens is identical to the original version with features like a 4-stop image stablization, circular aperture diaphragm for smoother background blur (bokeh) and an aspherical lens element with Super Spectra coating that results in sharp high-contrast pictures with less ghosting and flaring. The product picture does show what seems to be a body texture similar to Canon’s L lenses, so the change seems to be more cosmetic in nature, unless Canon has made internal changes. This new version of the lens will replace the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS that has been bundled with Canon’s DSLRs for the past few years. Read more about it at the Canon Europe site here.

For the more advanced or professional-level Canon DSLR camera users, 3 new lenses were announced.

EF 500mm f/4L IS USM II and EF 600mm f/4L IS USM II

500mm II on top, 600mm II below. Not to scale.

The supertelephoto-class EF 500mm f/4L IS USM and EF 600mm f/4L IS USM lenses received their much-awaited respective “II” versions. Both the EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM and EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM feature redesigned optical elements with fluorite components for sharp and contrasty elements, and have improved Ultrasonic Motor (USM) autofocus performance. The Image-Stabilization (IS) systems in the lenses have also been improved and now have a third mode, which activates IS only on exposure, helping the photographer track fast-moving subjects better. Both weather-proofed lenses are made up of magnesium alloy and titanium components and are considerably lighter than their predecessors, much to the relief of wildlife and sports photographers who have to carry them around. Read more about the EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM here, and the EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM here. Both links go to the Canon USA website.

EF 200-400mm x 1.4 = 280-560mm lens.

The most intriguing of the new lenses announced was the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x. A supertelephoto zoom lens with the 200-400mm focal length range and a constant maximum aperture of f/4 is already very notable on its own and the addition of an image stabilization (IS) system will make this a very useful and desirable lens. But Canon didn’t stop there, and built a 1.4x teleconverter (an “Extender” in Canon nomenclature, usually an accessory sold separately) into the lens, which when used, turns this lens into a 280mm-560mm lens with a constant aperture of f/5.6. This lens is scheduled to be launched this year, and will be very much anticipated by many photographers amateurs and professionals alike. Read more about this lens at Digital Photography Review here.

Additionally, Canon also introduced two new Speedlite external flash units for the EOS camera line, the 320EX and the 270EX II.

Speedlites 270EX II (L) and 320EX (R)

The 320EX is used in still photography as a normal flash with a Guide Number of 32 at ISO100. It also has a tilt-and-swivel head for bouncing flash and can be controlled wirelessly. It looks to be a capable external flash but the kicker is that it has a built-in LED video light. This continuous light helps illuminate the subject in low-light subjects when using a DSLR for video capture. When shooting a movie with a 600D or 1100D in Auto Light mode, the LED light turns on and off automatically depending on the lighting present.

The 270EX II is a refresh of Canon’s 270EX Speedlite, the latter of which is a very compact and basic external flash which had a head that can be tilted up to bounce its light output. The 270EX II improves upon the old one by being capable of acting as a wireless slave, and by having flash settings settable in a camera’s menu.

The 320EX and the 270EX II also share a new Canon Speedlite feature called Remote Release, which allows a photographer to trigger his camera using the flash. This will save a photographer the time and effort of having to walk back to the camera after setting up lighting. Canon Japan MSRP for a 320EX is JPY25,000 and JPY17,000 for the 27oEX II, both slated for an April 2011 release. Read more about the 270EX II here, the 320EX here. Both links go to the Canon USA website.

Don’t want to carry heavy cameras, lenses and flashes? Canon also announced no less than five new compact digital cameras in IXUS and Powershot SX lines. Read more about the upcoming ultra-compact IXUS 115 HS, the premium ultra-compact IXUS 220 HS, the 14x superzoom compacts SX220 HS and the GPS-enabled SX230 HS, and the manual-control premium compact IXUS 310 HS. These links go to Digital Photography Review.

In summary, it’s been a pretty good round of announcements from Canon with something for everyone: the point-and-shoot user, the amateur DSLR user, DSLR videographers, and professional photographers. A good start to the year in terms of gear we can look forward to.

What do you think about Canon’s new offerings? Have your say in the comments section below!

Photos courtesy of the Canon Europe and Canon Japan website.

Technorati Tags: camera, canon, DSLR, EOS, ixus, lens, powershot

PhotoWorld Asia 2011

Features, Where-To 1 Response »

Jan 302011

PhotoWorld Asia is the country’s prime photography tradeshow, and there’s something for every photographer, from product displays to seminar sessions. For 2011, the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF)-organized event is being held from the 27th of January up to the 1st of February in Makati City. The trade show booths are set up at the Glorietta Activity Center, while the seminars are conducted at the Asian Institute of Management along Paseo De Roxas.

I went to PhotoWorld Asia’s tradeshow section on their third day of exhibition and my initial impression is that there are more visitors than last year’s edition. This reflects the recent increase in number of people going into photography for pleasure or business, and I think this is good for the local photography industry; the more buyers there are, the more great stuff gets brought in.

Quite a lot of visitors.

The usual big camera brands were there. Nikon had their latest cameras and flash on display. Olympus had their E-5 DSLR, fast telephoto zooms lens and mock-up copies of their upcoming E-PL2 EVIL camera. Camerahaus represented Pentax. Even relatively-new camera manufacturer Samsung also had a booth featuring their latest compacts and interchangeable lens cameras.

Canon had the biggest manufacturer booth there and in addition to having product displays there was free printing and free camera and lens cleaning (the latter available only on the weekends).

Canon... Delighting You Always. With a 500mm.

They also had some of their nicer lenses for visitors to touch and try, including the “ultimate walk-around-if-a-bit-heavy” 28-300 L lens, a TS-E tilt-shift lens, and the “many-a-wedding-photographer’s-favorite” 85mm f/1.2L lens. The crowd favorite was obviously the cannon-like 500mm supertelephoto lens.

My personal favorite lens among those available to try out was the EF 15mm f/2.8 fisheye lens. I had brought a full-frame DSLR body to the event, and wanted to see what a fisheye can do. The Canon people were nice enough to let me try it out to my heart’s content. It’s a fun lens to have on full-frame. Canon Ambassador and veteran commercial photographer John Chua saw me with the fisheye lens and humorously challenged me to shoot the model with it.

My attempt at model shooting with a borrowed fisheye.

Aside from the camera companies, there were also other photography vendors such as Aperture Trading (PocketWizards, Eureka dry cabinets, Hiti printers, video and studio lighting/setup specialist), Vet Specialists (Op/Tech straps, Lowepro bags and Elinchrom lights), JT Photoworld (Sigma lenses and Tamrac bags), Island Photo (Manfrotto tripods, National Geographic bags), Abacus Computer (Western Digital Hard Disks, QNAP storage arrays and CF/SD cards), Benro (tripods). Avenue (general photography products) and Echostore (Think Tank Photo products and then some) shared a booth.

There were also booths that displayed other photography-related products, such as photographic paper, photo albums, large-format tarpaulin printers, and consumables. While these items are aimed towards those who have photography-related businesses, it’s also a great way for enthusiasts to know more about their chosen hobby.

With regards to discounts, the discounts weren’t really immediately obvious. Elinchrom strobe sets , Op/Tech straps, picture frames, and Think Tank products were some of the items that caught my eye; none of the big camera brands had discounts on bodies or lenses. However, there were some booths who would offer discounts on items if one specifically asked. In these cases, one should always try to ask for a discount.

The seminar series, conducted by prominent professional photographers, were 10-15 minutes’ walk away at the AIM conference rooms and had applicable attendance fees. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to list up for those, so I really can’t comment on those.

Ever-friendly Canon Ambassador John Chua mixes in with the crowd.

Best of all, PhotoWorld Asia is a good place to meet fellow photography enthusiasts. One meets old shutterbug friends, make new ones, and if one is a member of the local photography forums, get to see other forum members in person. I met a lot of people I know there and had a great time catching up.

PhotoWorld Asia 2011 is the country’s biggest photography event, and while it doesn’t compare to the really big photography trade shows in other countries, there’s still really a lot of stuff here for local photographers of all levels. Hopefully the next one will be bigger.

More information on the event is available at their website.

Were you at PhotoWorld Asia 2011? How did you find it? Please do let us know in the comments section below.

Technorati Tags: canon, nikon, olympus, pentax, philippines, photography, photoworld, show

The Learning Lensman’s Gift Guide for Christmas 2010 – Part Two

Features, Where-To 2 Responses »

Dec 172010

Roughly a week to go and still don’t have something to put under your favorite photographer’s tree? Want to spend more than P10,000 for that person(s), or yourself?

Let The Learning Lensman help you (spend more money)!

In Part One of The Learning Lensman’s Gift Guide for Christmas this year, the gift suggestions ranged from below P500 up to P10,000. Admittedly those are still on the lower end of the photography spending spectrum.

Lower end? P10,000 is still considered “LOWER END”?

Yessir. There are more expensive ways to gift the favorite photographer(s) in your life.

Read on to find out what’s available out there, and links are provided per item for more information.

P10,001 to P25,000

Fujifilm Finepix XP10: A 12-megapixel compact digital camera that’s built to resist water (submerged up to 3m for a limited time), shock, dust and freezing. Has a 5x Fujinon lens, and has built-in picture editing features so you can resize, make adjustments (brightness and contrast) within the camera, and instantly upload the pictures when connected to a computer with internet connection. Great for those who want a life-proof outdoors camera for a relatively low price. P10,260 with 2GB SD Card from Fujifilm Digital Imaging Megamall.
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-f/5.6 IS Lens: Canon’s entry-level image-stabilized telephoto zoom lens for 1.6x crop DSLR bodies (all Canon EOS bodies except for the 5D and 1D cameras). Ideal complement to the 18-55 kit lens that comes with most Canon DSLRs. P10,500 from Mayer.
Nikon SB-600 AF Speedlight Flash: Nikon’s mid-level flash unit. Great value, and with a flash head that can swivel and tilt for bouncing the light off other surfaces. It’s slated to be replaced by the SB-700 soon but it’s still a good first external flash for Nikon users. P11,800 from Mayer with CDSC (Official Nikon Distributor) warranty.
Canon Pixma iX4000 Printer: An inkjet printer that can print up to A3+ paper size (13″ x 19″). Has 4800 x 1200 dpi print resolution and 4 individual ChromaLife100 inks. Great for those who want to print their special photos in larger sizes at home. P12,695 from Silicon Valley Megamall.
Infrared (IR) Conversion for DSLR: Infrared photographs have a very surreal quality about them, and are usually taken with infrared filters that are screwed into a DSLR lens. These are taken using long exposures, and you have to pre-focus and meter before you put the filter on. With the IR conversion, a DSLR camera is converted to shoot in infrared and one can use it the same way a normal DSLR would be used. The IR conversion is permanent, so one should have it done on a spare DSLR, unless that person really loves infrared photos. 17,000 from Filters Exchange (not including cost of camera).
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens: A step up from the budget EF 50mm f/1.8 lens, the f/1.4 version has Ultrasonic Motor autofocus for more accurate and quieter focusing, more robust construction, and more aperture blades for smoother background blur. Ideal for those who shoot indoors with available light, or those who like a nicer background blur effect. P17,500 from Mayer Photo.
Pentax Optio w90 Digital Compact: A tough 12-megapixel with 5x camera that can go down to 6m under water. Everything about it screams RUGGED, and its strap is a carabiner like what mountaineers use to secure ropes. Very good companion for those who are adventurous. P18,990 with case and 4GB SD card, from Camerahaus Megamall.
PocketWizard MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 Wireless Flash Trigger Set: These are used to pop external flashes by remote control (you’ve probably seen this at work during weddings, where the photographer has this thing with antennas on top of his camera, and an assistant holding his flash off to his side). The MiniTT1 is a radio transmitter you put on a DSLR’s flash hotshoe, while the FlexTT5 goes under the flash unit itself (FlexTT5 can also act as a transmitter). In addition, the PocketWizard system can read the DSLR’s readings and make adjustments automatically, and also allows one to use flashes at shutter speeds much higher than the usual. There are more affordable radio trigger sets out there from China and Korea, but the PocketWizard ones are just more dependable and can be used over a longer working distance. Ideal for photographers who need a radio trigger system that they can depend on for their off-camera flash/strobe work. P21,000 for the Canon version from Aperture Trading.
Canon Speedlite 580Ex II Flash: Canon’s top-of-the-line flash. Powerful, faster-cycling, a flash head that can tilt and swivel, comes with a bounce card to put catchlights in subjects’ eyes. It is also rugged, weatherproof and can be used as a wireless commander for other Canon flashes for off-camera flash use. Ideal for photographers who need a dependable flash in all situations. P21,500 from Pixel Pro Megamall.
Tamron SP 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical [IF] Lens: This is a “standard zoom” lens for Canon and Nikon digital cameras with cropped sensor, has very good image quality and has a large maximum aperture that means that it is usable for indoor available light shooting. Its focal length range of 17-55mm means that this is an upgrade for the 18-55mm kit lens that typically comes with cameras, and it is a very good alternative to the similar, but much pricier, offerings from Canon or Nikon. P21,990 for either Canon or Nikon mount, from Pixel Pro Megamall.
Olympus µ TOUGH-8010 Digital Compact: One of the latest in the line of venerable Olympus TOUGH compact cameras, this water-, dust-, freeze- and shock-resistant compact digital cameras packs 14 megapixels and 5x optical zoom in a slim and stylish body. Features improved double waterproofing that lets it go up to 10 meters under water. P22,995 with 4GB Card, Speedo watch and Olympus Lenspen from SM Department Store.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5: A worthy successor of the excellent Panasonic LX3, and regarded as one of the best point-and-shoot compact digital cameras of the year with excellent ambient light shooting capability. It has a 10-megapixel sensor (less megapixels in a small sensor = better low light performance and image quality), manual controls, optical image stabilization and a lens designed by Leica of Germany (yes, the same Leica that sells a P500,000 lens). It is ideal for those who want a great compact camera that has manual controls and very good image quality, or those who want a less-bulkier alternative to their DSLRs. P23,000 from Mayer with 1 year service warranty and 6 months on parts.
Canon EOS 1000D with 18-55mm IS Lens Kit: Canon’s entry-level 10.1 megapixel 1.6x crop DSLR camera. With Live View and will work with all Canon EF lenses. A great way to get into DSLR photography if on a budget. P24,500 at Mayer with 3-year Canon Philippines warranty.
Tokina AT-X M100 f/2.8 Pro Macro: This 100mm macro lens can do 1:1 life-sized pictures of small things, and has received good reviews. Ideal for photographers who love shooting small creepy-crawlies or fine details, and is also a very good lens for portraits. Competitively priced against the Canon or Nikon counterparts. P24,990 for either Canon or Nikon mount, from Pixel Pro Megamall.

P25,000-P50,000

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Lens: Sigma’s equivalent of the Canon and Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. While not up to the level of the Canon and Nikon offerings in terms of image and build quality, it is very good for the price one pays for it. It is a very good fast zoom lens for those on a budget. P25,500 from JT Photoworld. HSM version (faster and more accurate autofocus) is P43,000.
Canon S95 Digital Compact Camera: The 10-megapixel S95 is Canon’s latest premium compact and has the features that put it above your average point-and-shoot: a fast f/2.0 lens (big maximum lens opening allows more light), very good low-light performance, optical image stabilization, RAW image files, and full manual control. All these in an elegant slim-profile (probably the most compact among its direct competitors). Ideal for those who want a pocketable camera with full creative control, and it can also be a good companion for a DSLR. P27,950 at SM Appliance Center.
Canon PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II Printer: One of Canon’s professional-grade inkjet printers, the Pro9000 Mk II can print A3+ size (13″ x 19″) prints at 4800 x 2400 dpi resolution. It has excellent color reproduction and long-lasting prints, made possible by 8 different ChromaLife100+ ink colors in individual cartridges. This is a very good printer for those who want to print out their special photographs in bigger sizes. P29,995 from Silicon Valley Megamall.
Nikon AF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G IF-ED VR II DX Lens: This is an 11x superzoom lens with the Vibration Reduction mechanism designed for Nikon’s DX-format (1.5x crop) DSLR cameras. It is a very versatile lens and ideal for Nikon users who want to take only one lens on their travels. P32,990 from Pixel Pro Megamall.
Nikon D3100 with 18-55mm VR Lens Kit: Nikon’s new 14-megapixel entry-level 1.5x crop DSLR, 11-point AF, 3 frames-per-second shooting, and now with 1080p high-definition video. Does not have a built-in lens motor, so only motor-equipped Nikon lenses will autofocus on this one. A great way to get into photography with the Nikon brand. P32,000 from Mayer Photo.
Olympus E-PL1 with 14-45mm Lens Kit: The 12-megapixel E-PL1 is Olympus’ third entry in the Micro Four Thirds 2x crop format, and belongs to the EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens) category of cameras by virtue of having a DSLR-sized image sensor in a smaller body (made possible by eliminating the mirror box/optical viewfinder of a traditional DSLR. It has DSLR-quality images, built-in image stabilization (all lens you attach to it are automatically stabilized to reduce blurring), pretty good high ISO performance and can do 720p video. It is actually more of a compact camera with a DSLR-sized sensor rather than a shrunken DSLR, because its manual controls are relatively simplified. The E-PL1 is a good alternative to traditional and bulkier DSLRs, and can even be used as a back-up camera by those already with DSLRs. P33,995 from Pixel Pro Megamall.
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Lens: As one of Canon’s red-ringed L lenses (L for Luxury, Canon’s designation for its high-end lenses) lens is very sharp, has great color rendition, a max aperture of f/4 at all focal lengths, robust construction and is weather-sealed against the elements. Its focal range on both 1.6 crop cameras and full-frame cameras are on the wide side, and this lens is a great walk-around lens. It also happens to be one of the more affordable L lenses available . Very good upgrade for those with the Canon 18-55mm kit lens, or as an ultrawide angle lens for a full-frame camera. P34,500 from Mayer Photo.
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens: The best ultrawide angle (UWA) lens for Canon’s 1.6x crop DSLR bodies (all Canon EOS bodies except for the 5D and 1D cameras). Has professional-grade optics and is very sharp. Lens barrel is made of plastic, but it’s tough plastic and the lens feels quite solid. Ideal for those who like to take landscape shots and/or those who want to take it all into the frame. P36,120 from JT Photoworld.
Sony NEX-5 with 18-55 Lens Kit: The higher-end model of Sony’s EVIL cameras, the 14-megapixel NEX-5 has a DSLR-sized 1.5x crop image sensor in a very compact body, and offers the flexibility of interchangeable lenses. It can also do full HD video recording. A very good camera for people who are moving up from point-and-shoot cameras, or even as a back-up camera to a DSLR. P37,999 from Sony Shop Megamall.
Canon EOS 550D with 18-55mm IS Lens Kit: Canon’s latest upper entry-level 1.6x crop camera with 18-megapixel resolution, 3.7 frames-per-second shooting, 63-zone dual-layer metering system and 1080p high-definition video. Aside from being a very good DSLR, it’s also the choice HD-DSLR of many professional videographers. Excellent first DSLR, or as a backup to a higher-end DSLR. P41,500 from Mayer Photo.
Pentax K-x with Dual Lens Kit: This 12-megapixel entry-level 1.5x crop DSLR from Pentax is actually equipped with features normally found on higher-spec’d DSLRs, such as 11-point autofocus, 4.7 Frames Per Second shooting, and built-in Shake Reduction (all lenses you put on it are image-stabilized to reduce blurring). It has a small compact body and even comes in 12 different colors (Black, Navy Blue, Red and White available locally)! With the included 18-55mm and 55-300mm lenses in the dual kit, one can immediately start shooting almost anything. It is also made in the Philippines, so you’re supporting the local economy if you get it. Ideal for first DSLR, and as a compact digital body for those with old Pentax K-mount lenses. P46,990 from CameraHaus Megamall.
Canon EOS 60D DSLR Body Only: Canon’s latest advanced amateur level 1.6x crop camera. 18 megapixels, 5.3 Frames Per Second shooting speed, 1080p high-definition video, articulated screen. A great upgrade for those already using Canon’s entry-level DSLRs and have at least one lens, or you can pair this body with a lens of your choice. P49,000 with official Canon Philippines 3-year warranty, from Mayer Photo.

P50,001-P100,000

Sony Alpha A33 with Dual Lens Kit: The 14-megapixel Alpha A33 is one of Sony’s DSLR 1.5x mid-range cameras, with 15 autofocus points, Live View, 7 Frames Per Second shooting speed, Full HD movie recording, built-in SteadyShot Inside (all lenses you attach become image-stabilized to reduce blurring). It is also one of the two innovative Sony Alpha models that are equipped with a translucent fixed mirror, resulting in a more compact size than traditional DSLRs and the ability to smoothly autofocus in movie mode. It has very good picture and movie quality, and the included 18-55mm and 55-200 lens will allow one to shoot a great variety of subjects. A very good camera, ideal for those who want to start out in DSLRs and may want something different. P51,999 from Sony Shop Megamall.
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM: Canon’s fastest standard zoom with excellent image quality in terms of sharpness and color saturation. Big maximum aperture at f/2.8 means that this is usable for indoor available-light using. Professional grade and weather-sealed too. Very good upgrade from the kit lens, but might be a bit too long for use on 1.6x crop cameras. Ideal for those looking for a high-quality general-purpose lens for their Canon. P60,000 from Mayer Photo.
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM: One of Canon’s sharpest, and image-stabilized, 70-200mm telephoto zoom lens. Ideal for those who need that focal length and don’t need to shoot at f/2.8 aperture. Professional grade and weather-sealed too. Ideal for Canon photographers who snipe from a distance. P54,000 from Mayer Photo.
Canon EOS 7D DSLR Body Only: Canon’s most advanced prosumer 1.6x crop DSLR. 18-megapixels image sensor, 8 Frames Per Second shooting, 63-zone metering system, very fast autofocus system and very good high ISO performance (for low-light shooting). It has a rugged and weather-sealed body, and can shoot high-definition 1080p video in 24 FPS, 25 FPS and 30FPS formats. Ideal for those moving up from entry-level Canon cameras, those who need to shoot in fast-paced situations like events and sports or professional videographers who need a tested HD-DSLR for work. Makes a nice companion to full-framed cameras. P73,000 from Mayer Photo.
Pentax K-5 DSLR With 18-55 WR Lens Kit: The 16-megapixel K-5 is Pentax’s semi-professional 1.5x crop DSLR with 11-point autofocus, 7 Frames Per Second shooting rate, 1080p high-definition video, sturdy weather-sealed body and built-in Shake Reduction (any lens attached to it becomes image-stabilized to reduce blur). The included weather-resistant kit lens means that one can immediately go shooting in harsh weather conditions, straight out of the box. As with many current Pentax DSLRs, this one is proudly made in the Philippines. A great upgrade for those who use lesser Pentax models, and those who need to shoot in adverse weather conditions. P87,990 from CameraHaus Megamall.
Nikon D7000 DSLR Body Only: Nikon’s latest DX-format (1.5x crop) DSLR model as of this writing, the 16-megapixel D7000 has 6 Frames Per Second Shooting, 39-point autofocus, high-definition video. Positioned above the D90 and below the D300S in the Nikon DSLR line-up. Very good upgrade for those moving up from other Nikon models and have at least one Nikon F-mount lens. P71,990 from Pixel Pro Megamall.
Nikon D700 DSLR Body: Nikon’s most affordable full-frame (FX) DSLR. Full-frame sensors have significant advantages over the crop sensors, such as better image quality at high ISO settings, bright big viewfinder. This model has very fast autofocus and very good high ISO performance (for low-light shooting). Very good upgrade for those using Nikon DX-format (1.5x crop) cameras and want to go full-frame. P100,000 from Mayer.

Where To Buy the Stuff Above:

Aperture Trading: 5th Flr., Prosperity Bldg., 395 Banaue St., Quezon City Tel: 732-8991
CameraHaus Megamall: 5/F SM Megamall Building B, Mandaluyong City
Filters Exchange: Mezzanine-B, 632 Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong City Tel: 534-9879
Fujifilm Digital Imaging: Basement Level, SM Megamall Building A, Mandaluyong City
JT Photoworld: 1082 Pasong Tamo St., Makati City Tel: 8972561
Mayer Photo: 111, 113, 115 C. Palanca St., Quiapo, Manila Tel: 733-7598, 733-7722
Pixel Pro Megamall: Cyberzone, 4/F SM Megamall Building B, Mandaluyong City
Silicon Valley Megamall: Cyberzone, 4/F SM Megamall Building B, Mandaluyong City
SM Appliance Center: Anywhere there’s an SM mall.
Sony Shop (Avid) Megamall: 5/F SM Megamall Building B, Mandaluyong City

Want something less expensive? Check out Part One of this guide!

Still have money left? A lot of it? Check out what you can get for more than P100,001 and above in Part Three of this guide, watch out for it!

A few things to note:

This isn’t about saying that these are the best or only photography stuff out there, but about giving an idea of what’s out there from different shops, given a set price range. Given similar products with with different prices, it’s usually a “you-get-what-you-pay-for” condition when buying photography-related products. Do more research on the stuff you want, there are a lot of reviews out there on the web.

I’m only limiting the list to products from stores that I have personal experience with, and have actually shopped at.

Prices are for cash basis and are subject to change by their respective suppliers. Prices of mall-based stores may be higher by around 10% up, and is typically consistent with prices in their branches in other malls; one is basically paying for the convenience.

Prices here aren’t necessary the lowest, and are listed at MSRP as far as I know. Many items in this list are also under promo and may have further discounts or freebies so don’t be afraid to ask for them. Also ask about, and be clear, about warranty coverage (e.g. Canon 3-year warranty, CDSC 2-year warranty, or just “shop warranty”) and service centers, as these will help prevent possible misunderstandings should your purchase breakdown in the future.

Have any other gift suggestions? Put it in the comment box below!

Technorati Tags: buying, camera, canon, gift, guide, lens, nikon, olympus, pentax, philippines, photography, printer, Sony, suggestions

The Pro Experience: A Canon EOS 1Ds Mk II Review

Features, Reviews 19 Responses »

Nov 222010

Potent Combo: The Canon EOS 1Ds Mk II and EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS

Professional-grade DSLR camera bodies have a certain mystique for most photographers. They are supposed to be chock-full of features, have instant-lock autofocus, a bazillion autofocus points, blazingly-fast shooting speed and virtually indestructible. More than any other kind of DSLR, being seen with a pro body in public gives the impression that one is a professional photographer. Their single-digit model names (for Canon and Nikon, anyway) inspires awe in the wielders of lesser models.

As a user of Canon’s 40D and 20D semi-professional cameras, I have also found myself wondering what it’s like to shoot with a pro body. I’ve previously spent a few minutes with a Canon 1Ds Mk III and a Nikon D2x, and even shot them, but was only limited to clicking the shutter and looking at the resulting photographs in the rear LCD display. Those moments didn’t really tell me anything about how one uses a pro body.

A few weeks ago I chanced upon a 1Ds Mark II in very good condition and with a very good price (way way way down from its release price of US$8,000). I couldn’t pass up this chance to evaluate one of Canon’s top DSLR bodies and acquired it. So what’s the fuss about pro bodies? Let’s find out!

There are already several reviews done by photography experts elsewhere on the net: Digital Photography Review, Luminous Landscape, and The-Digital-Picture.com have extensive reviews of the Canon 1Ds Mk II. This post will be about my experience with a pro-level 1Ds Mk II as an amateur who has been using semi-professional level Canon DSLRs for the past three years. And just to be clear, this is an article about a camera that was released late 2004 and has since been replaced by the 1Ds Mk III.

1Ds Mk II with optional L-Plate from Really Right Stuff

The first thing that one notices with a 1-series DSLR body is its size and shape. With its integrated vertical grip, the 1Ds Mk II looks like a square with a hump on top when it’s facing one. To many photographers this is a familiar silhouette because consumer- and semipro-level camera have optional vertical battery grips, but one will also notice that the 1Ds Mk II’s vertical grip is part of the body. The 1Ds MkII is about the size of a 40D/30D/20D with a battery grip attached. The hump housing the full-frame glass prism and viewfinder is also noticeably curvier than the ones on DSLRs with built-in flashes.

The weight and build quality are the next thing to be noticed, once it’s picked up and held. The 1Ds Mk II and its big NiMH battery feels significantly heavier than a semipro body with battery grip and two batteries (e.g. Canon 40D or Nikon D90). And it sure does feel like it could survive anything; I wouldn’t be surprised if 1Ds Mk IIs around the world will be keeping cockroaches company in a post-nuclear holocaust world.

To me, the magnesium-alloyed semipro bodies like the 20D and 40D bodies felt more solid than a plastic-covered consumer-level DSLR (these plastic-covered cameras actually have metal frames inside so they’re quite sturdy too), but the 1Ds Mk II felt like it was carved out of solid rock. The 1Ds Mk II’s integrated vertical grip added to the solid feel, primarily because my 40D’s battery grip was the typical screw-on type and had a tendency to loosen while I shot with it.

Stiff On-Off switches. To the right of the big control dial is the memory card compartment cover. To open, use the twist lock mechanism to the right of the power switch.

The weather seals around the memory card compartment and battery were made of rubber, and the rubber flaps covering the 1Ds Mk II’s interface ports fit really tight and I had to pry them open. Openings like the card compartment and the battery are secured with a twist-lock mechanism. The 13V NiMH (not Lithium-Ion unfortunately) is big and heavy. One gets the impression that the 1Ds Mk II can also be used as a deadly weapon in addition to being an excellent photographic tool.

The full-frame sensor means that one can have a large and bright viewfinder. In the case of the 1Ds Mk II, the viewfinder has 100% coverage. This means that what you see in the 1Ds Mk II’s viewfinder is what you’re going to see in your image file. With other DSLRs with less viewfinder coverage (let’s say 98%), the image sensor actually captures a bit more of the scene than what you can see through the viewfinder. The 1Ds Mk II’s viewfinder meter is also on the right side, and not on the bottom as most of us are familiar with.

The 1Ds Mk II also feels like the 20D and 40D that I’m so familiar with: the button layout, the control wheel near the shutter button is there, and there’s a big control dial at the back. So far so good, then one looks for the Mode dial… and it’s not there. Consumer- and semipro-level cameras have a Mode dial on the side of the camera. Also known as the PASM dial, it allows a photographer to choose the shooting mode by turning the knob. The 1Ds Mk II (and other 1-series camera) doesn’t have this.

Three buttons replace the Mode dial found on other DSLRs.

Instead, the 1Ds Mk II has three buttons where the Mode dial’s supposed to be. One of these buttons is the Mode button. To change between Program AE (P), Aperture Priority (Av), Shutter Priority (Tv) and Manual (M) and Bulb (Bulb shooting was considered a shutter speed in excess of 30 seconds in non-1D bodies) modes, I have to press and hold the Mode button with my left hand and select the shooting mode with the shutter control wheel with my right hand.

By comparison, I could change between P, A, S and M modes on my 20D and 40D with a simple twist of the Mode dial. The two-handed (or two-fingered) way of changing the shooting mode on a 1Ds Mk II was just my introduction to the alien world of pro-level bodies.

In fact, I found out that most of the setting changes required simultaneous two-handed operation, usually involving holding a button down while turning the shutter wheel or the control dial at the back, then releasing the button to confirm selection. There’s no “SET” button on the 1Ds Mk II’s rear dial, so confirming a settings change usually means taking your finger off the button that was held down (the 1Ds Mk III now has a “Set” button -LL). This applies to changing AF modes (One Shot/AI Servo), shooting speed (single shot, burst, timer), metering mode (evaluative, partial, spot).

Changing ISO on the 1Ds Mk II. Grand total: 3 fingers + 2 hands

Want to change ISO? You press and hold the AF and Metering buttons at the same time, then use the shutter control wheel to select the ISO setting you want. Wait. That’s THREE fingers in total. On my 40D, I only have to press the ISO button with my right finger, move that finger to the control wheel half an inch away, dial in the ISO level, then half-press the shutter button to confirm my setting and be ready to shoot. I can even change the ISO without taking my eye off the viewfinder (a dedicated ISO button has been added on the Mk III -LL). This three-finger settings change also applies to changing Bracketing and Drive settings.

Menu navigation also requires holding down the Menu button while scrolling. To zoom in and out while reviewing a shot, one has to hold the Display button while pressing the Zoom In and Zoom Out buttons. The same applies to deleting pictures.

The 1Ds Mk II is also missing the small multi-control joystick (thumbstick?) found in the xx-series of DSLRs like the 20D and 40D. This joystick is used to navigate menus, and scroll vertically/horizontally across a photo being reviewed zoomed-in, and to select AF points. The functionality offered by the joystick is facilitated through the 1Ds MkII’s dials. A bit cumbersome, compared to the joystick (this feature has since been added to the Mk III).

A busy back. Shown with optional RRS L-Plate

I may sound like I’m complaining, but I’m not. While the one-touch controls in consumer or semiprofessional cameras are admittedly easier to use, they are also easier to change accidentally.

For instance, the protruding Mode dial found on my 40D and all non-1 series bodies can be accidentally turned and set to another mode if it brushes against something, say an errant finger or shoved into a bag. One can pick up a camera and immediately shoot to capture a moment, shoot off a few frames, and find that one has been shooting in the wrong mode.

The controls of the 1D/1Ds were designed for professionals who need to deliver the pictures that count. They can’t afford to have settings changed by accident, their cameras should be ready to shoot with the settings they were left at. That is why most, if not all, settings on the 1Ds Mk II and all other 1-series bodies should be changed deliberately; one has to make a conscious decision and put a bit of effort to change the settings. Aside from the two-handed settings change, the On-Off lever switches are also stiff, and requires quite a bit of pressure from the thumb to change.

This new (to me, anyway) way of doing things isn’t difficult at all, just different. In fact, I believe that users of Canon’s consumer-grade DSLRs (e.g. those without the control dial at the back) will be somewhat familiar with the controls of a 1D-series body. This is because for them to change Aperture setting in M Mode, they have to simultaneously hold a button down with their thumb while their forefinger adjust the dial near the shutter button.

Aside from the tough construction, there are also other improvements found in professional-grade bodies which put them clearly above other models.

Canon EOS 1Ds Mk II Sample JPEG 100% Crop

100% Crop Sample with the 1Ds Mk II & EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS. Autofocus nailed it.

Autofocus performance is one. The 1Ds Mk II in particular, has 45 selectable focusing points available for focusing accuracy and these can be selected in groups. The 1Ds Mk II shares the same autofocus system as the speed-oriented 1D Mk II, with tweaks to make it more appopriate to a full-frame system. AF speed is still reasonably fast compared to today’s models, and the 45 AF points are still above what is available in the current non-1D series cameras. I recently tested the 1Ds Mk II in a shoot, and I find that being able to compose the scene and setting the focusing point exactly where you want it results in better focus accuracy than using the focus, then recompose technique on my 9-AF point 40D.

There’s also a dedicated image quality button at the back, so you can quickly select between RAW and JPEG quality levels without fiddling with a menu. 1D-series bodies also have a secondary LCD information display. This is quite useful because it’s actually easier to look at the back of the camera than having to twist your hands to look at a display on top of the camera. I also like the blue LCD display light instead of the orange one we have on other cameras.

In addition, the 1Ds Mk II has two memory card slots. One for Compact Flash, and another for SD cards. Each 1Ds Mk II also has image filename that starts with a 4-character string that is factory-programmed and unique to it (e.g. “XXXX0001.jpg). This cannot be changed and is also quite useful in quickly identifying which pictures came from the 1Ds Mk II when sorting.

Mmmm... Blue LCD lighting.

The main power switch even has settings for silent mode shooting: When switched to the normal “On” setting, the 1Ds Mk II will not beep (e.g. when it achieves focus lock). This is very useful when discretion is required in a shoot. To turn the beeps on one has to push the power switch up another notch. The first time I got the unit, I was stumped because the camera wasn’t beeping when I turned it on.

For someone who’s used to Canon’s semi-pro cameras, I have to admit that the 1-series of DSLRs is both reassuringly familiar and strange. It’s like an old friend: the grip feels the same, my right finger automatically finds the control wheel by the shutter button and the right thumb, the big control wheel on the back. But the 1Ds Mk II is significantly different in operation compared to the ones I’ve had, and I’m probably not going to be able to change settings on the fly as quickly as I did with my 40D and 20D.

The controls aren’t the only changes I’ll need to adjust to. When I said early on that the 1Ds Mk II was heavier, it’s really heavier. I’ve spent a day lugging around a camera bag with the 1Ds Mk II couple with the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens, and I could feel the bag’s shoulder strap digging into my shoulder; the same lens and my 40D with dual batteries in the vertical grip feels lighter.

I’ll need more experience with the camera so that I’ll get used to its operation and heft.

And what better way than to go out and shoot a lot with it?

What’s your experience with a professional-grade DSLR body? I’d like to know more about it, feel free to comment below!

Technorati Tags: 1ds mkII, canon, DSLR, gear, review

Recap: Canon PhotoMarathon 2010 – Manila Leg

Features 9 Responses »

Nov 122010

The Manila leg of the Canon PhotoMarathon Philippines 2010 was held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City last Saturday, 6 November 2010. The event is the culmination of the Canon PhotoMarathon for the Philippines, which had its Cebu City and Davao City legs held in the past few weeks.

The PhotoMarathon is a whole-day photography contest open to users of Canon point-and-shoot (P&S), DSLR and video cameras. Participants are given three themes to interpret via photography, and they are allowed to shoot in a given geographical area. Each of them are then allowed to submit one picture per theme, which will be judged by a panel that includes the current Canon Brand Ambassadors. Prizes are awarded for the best pictures as chosen by the judges.

Happy Canon PhotoMarathoners

Online registration was opened a couple of weeks before the actual event and was closed pretty quickly because the estimated 1000 slots allotted for the Manila leg were quickly filled up by interested photographers. However, those who still wanted to join but weren’t able to to do so were given another chance to do so: they could go to the venue on the day itself and register as walk-ins. The organizers had requested an additional email from those who registered online to confirm their slots, and those who did not comply had their slots opened to the walk-ins.

This was my first-ever PhotoMarathon, and I was really looking forward to joining this one as I had managed to miss the first two PhotoMarathons because of scheduling conflicts. Camera gear and waiver forms were prepared, and batteries were charged the night before. I also strapped an umbrella to my camera bag because rain was forecasted for the day.

25 Registration booths for quick processing

I arrived at the venue at around 6:30AM and there was already a long line of participants. I overheard that some of them had arrived as early as 5:00AM. We waited outside Hall 1 of the SMX Convention Center, and 20 minutes later the doors were opened and participants streamed into the assigned hall.

It was good to see that the organizers had set-up 25 registration booths segregated by surnames, which allowed them to efficiently process the large number of people who showed up. I went to my assigned queue and found no one to process us at the booth. This was remedied in a few minutes and I was given my PhotoMarathon kit which included the PhotoMarathon ID, T-Shirt and cap, along with brochures and foodstubs for lunch and dinner. Participants are required to wear the T-Shirt, Cap and ID at all times during the event, so I quickly put them on.

The Learning Lensman & John Chua

Tables and seats were laid out in the Hall, and I joined some of my photography friends at one. Registration was still ongoing so it was an opportunity to go around and meet people. I met a lot of old friends and met a lot of new people while going around. Some of the Canon Ambassadors like Jo Avila and John Chua were making the rounds of the table, saying hello to the participants. John Chua spotted me with the 200mm fast prime lens that I was going to field-test that day, and joked that I should be be disqualified. We all had a laugh about it; it was my first time to meet this legend of Philippine commercial photography and he’s a pretty cool guy.

There were also booths setup by Canon and their co-sponsors. As with any event where Canon is a major presence, there was free A4-sized printing for those who wanted to, and free camera cleaning. Canon also did a survey, and those who participated got a chance to get a CF card, Canon EOS magazines and other items. Lowepro, Western Digital, Great Taste Coffee, Digital Photographer Philippines Magazine and i-Mag Magazine also had booths that participants can visit and check out their products.

Canon Ambassadors from L-R: Romy Ocon, Jun Miranda, Dino Lara, Jo Avila

The Canon PhotoMarathon kicked off a few minutes before 9:00AM with an energetic number by a dance group. The hosts for the day, Canon’s Bong Donato and a lady from Canon (didn’t get the name, sorry) came up and welcomed everyone to the event. After a few minutes, the current Canon Brand Ambassadors were brought up on stage and introduced. They were missing a few Ambassadors at that time, but it was still great to see most of them in one place. Each of them offered their tips and encouragement to the participants.

After the Ambassadors went off the stage, the hosts read out the rules and further clarified them. One of the notable things about the rules is the enumeration of equipment that can be used. They’ve become stricter about this since last year.

Canon Ambassadors from L-R: Edwin Martinez, Raymund Isaac & Ely Teehankee

In addition, they distinguished the still photography and video aspects of the contest: the still photography entries will be judged and awarded later that night, while the video entries can be submitted in a week’s time to allow for editing. Participants can only enter either the still photography or video contest, and not both.

This year’s Manila PhotoMarathon covered Metro Manila, which is composed of several cities. Participants could shoot anywhere in the Metro as long as they did not break any laws and trespass private property. It was announced that Canon got permits from the Manila, Makati and Pasay local governments so that the participants can shoot in those cities without being bothered by law enforcement personnel.

Canon also brought winners of the Cebu and Davao legs to shoot in the Manila PhotoMarathon, and the lady from Cebu and gentleman from Davao were called upstage and presented to the audience.

This was followed by the announcement of the first contest theme of the day: “Deep and Wide, peaks and valley go inside and outside, all the places you know. Near or far, it doesn’t matter, It’s the view that counts to the photographer.” The assignment for the video category would be to make a video of that day’s PhotoMarathon, with entries to be submitted within a week. Canon personnel were also in the PhotoMarathon, but they were given a separate theme.

Canon Photographer high up on a ladder, trying to take in approximately a thousand subjects in a shot.

Before any shooting started, everyone was gathered together for a group picture. Canon’s photographer had to climb up a tall ladder to shoot us. Hopefully, he got a thousand people into the frame with his ultrawide-angle lens. This was followed by the lighting of the ceremonial torch… and then we’re off!

Participants are given 2 hours to shoot, with another 30 minutes alloted for downloading their photo submissions at the download booth. The SMX convention center was also the venue for a major cosplay event and the World Robot Olympiad, so there were photo opportunities inside and around the venue. I didn’t stray far from the venue and just went around the Mall of Asia premises.

The weather forecast for rain that day was way wrong. In fact, it was really warm. That didn’t deter the participants from going around the metro and shoot in the heat. Good thing Canon provided everyone a brimmed cap to wear.

PhotoMarathoners doing their thing, even in the baking heat.

After the shooting period ended, the download period began and lunch was served. While people were eating (and some still lining up at the food service tables), the second theme was announced: “Big or Small we come in different sizes, short or tall we grow in spurts and phases, round and round the circle of life goes, when we stop only God knows“.

Some people stopped eating and immediately went out to shoot the second theme. I had just claimed my lunch and joined some of my friends at a table, enjoying the conversation before going out to shoot.

By the end of the second shooting period, it was obvious that the sweltering heat outside was beginning to take its toll on the participants. Canon wasn’t kidding during online registration when they warned that this wasn’t going to be easy. After submitting my image I sat down to rest for a while; I’m used to carrying around heavy camera gear but the 200mm I was field-testing was in a different weight class. I also took the opportunity to check out the major prizes that will be awarded to the best pictures: let’s see now… Canon video camera, a 60D, 7D… and a 5D MkII as the grand prize! Not only that, but each camera prize came with accessories like Lowepro bags, Benro tripods, Gorillapods, etc. They certainly didn’t spare any expenses in the prize department!

Finally, the third theme was announced: “Happy, mad – sometimes we feel the blues. Angry, glad- our moods are changing hues. Up and down or lows and highs, when we close our eyes – surprise!” Everyone set off to shoot it, even if some of them were tired.

Canon Ambassador Pilar Tuason guides a PhotoMarathoner, who can't seem to believe his luck.

While going around the seaside part of the SMX, I was approached by wedding photographer and Canon Brand Ambassador Pilar Tuason. I had seen her earlier guiding other participants, but it was still a pleasant surprise when she took me aside for an impromptu portrait shoot. We took a stranger from the street as a subject, and Pilar gave me tips on how to pose and shoot him. This was definitely the highlight of my day.

In two hour’s time, shooting ended at the PhotoMarathon, and I made my way to my download station, along with the others. After I submitted my photo, I was surprised when I was handed a box containing an official Canon EF 70-200 f/4L Lens Mug! Canon had earlier announced that they had a gift for every participant, but I didn’t expect it to be this. This item was a hot commodity and is quite expensive on the market, and it was great to get one for free.

Finally, my own lens mug!

After a long day shooting under the sun, everyone was exhausted and hungry. I had only went around the Dinner was served and while waiting for the winners to be announced, Canon hosted games for volunteers willing to go upstage. There was videoke singing, a dance-off, ramp-off, “Bring Me” (the oldest EOS, the oldest Ixus, etc), all of which was fair entertainment to the audience.

The first prizes to be awarded were for the “Youngest/Oldest” photographer, as well as for a “Shooting Family”. I believe a family of six won the latter award. The Canon Brand Ambassadors started appearing at this point, so they must’ve had already decided on the winners.

Canon printer evangelist Jo Avila was called up stage to award the “Best In Print” prize. I am not sure about the mechanics of this contest, but I believe that this contest was open to those who availed of the free A4 prints at the Canon booth. The eventual winner of the prize took home a Canon Pixma printer worth P20,000.00.

The Canon head honchos then went on stage. It was announced that the Davao, Cebu, and Manila legs drew approximately 1,350 Canon users, and that next time, the Philippines hopes to challenge Singapore for the most number of PhotoMarathon participants. A lot of participants had opined that if there were more slots allotted then there would have been more participants. We’ll see next year.

Mmmm... prizes: 5D MkII, 7D, 60D, HD videocam!

And finally, the awarding of prizes for the photography contest itself. Prizes were awarded for the best in each theme. These winners received a gift pack of camera accessories. The 60D and 7D, each with accessory kit, were awarded to the 3rd and 2nd prize winners. The much-wanted Canon EOS 5D MkII DSLR and accessory kit went to the Grand Prize winner, Jesse Abad. Jesse’s picture was already very nice with its use of geometric lines and curves with a human element, but what made it even more impressive was that it was taken within the venue premises. It was just a bit funny that Jesse wasn’t around to receive his prize, as he was tired and didn’t think he would win so he had already gone home when it was announced. John Chua received the prize on his behalf.

And with that, the Canon PhotoMarathon Philippines 2010 officially ended. I was already very tired, but I really had a great time. Looking forward to the Canon PhotoMarathon 2011.

I got in touch with Jesse to get his permission to use his winning picture here. He was kind enough to give it, and here it is:

PhotoMarathon Philippines 2010 Grand Prize Winner

Jesse Abad's Grand Prize-winning entry.

Did you join this year’s Canon PhotoMarathon? I’d like to hear how your experience went, so feel free to comment below!

Technorati Tags: canon, contest, philippines, photography, photomarathon

Canon PhotoMarathon 2010 – Manila Leg Updates

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Nov 032010

The Canon PhotoMarathon 2010 – Manila Leg is happening this coming Saturday, 6 November 2010. The event organizers have sent emails to participants who registered online, with instructions to download the waiver form, accomplish it and send it back via email.

Unfortunately, the email was vague on exactly what should be submitted. I looked at the Canon Philippines Facebook page and saw that they had posted this in response to someone who had the same question:

Canon Digital Cameras – Philippines

We encourage registered participants to submit online so we can ensure that they are really attending, also to give way to the wait listed aspirants.

For those who don’t have scanners at home, please do take a photo of the waiver, jpeg form…at, small.
Thank you!

I take this to mean that one has to print out the waiver form, accomplish and sign it, and either scan or take a picture of it, then send it to the PhotoMarathon’s email address. The original signed copy should also be brought along on the day itself just to be sure.

Deadline for the online submission of waiver forms is on 4th November.

Bring along the original signed copy on the 6th of November, just in cast they ask for it.

Canon Philippines also posted on its Facebook page that people who weren’t able to register online can go to the venue on the day itself for a chance to join. They will be re-opening the slots reserved for those who registered online, but didn’t show-up.

I would suggest going to SMX early, maybe earlier than the start of registration at 6AM to have better chances of joining as a walk-in.

See you there!

Technorati Tags: canon, contest, philippines, photography, photomarathon

Canon Print-Like-A-Pro PiPho Exclusive

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Oct 302010

Canon Marketing Philippines held another of its Print-Like-A-Pro seminars at the Legend Villas last Wednesday, 27th October 2010. This particular Print-Like-A-Pro was organized exclusively for the Pinoy Photography (PiPho) organization and forum members. As with all the sessions in Canon’s Print-Like-A-Pro seminar series, this seminar aims to help printer owners and photography enthusiasts achieve the best results possible from their printers.

The speaker for this event was photographer and Canon Ambassador Jo Avila. Jo Avila is one of the better-known photography instructors and his technical knowledge on printing out digital pictures make him an ideal lecturer on the subject. He is also a PiPho member who posts regularly in the forum under the handle “misterkodaker”.

Held at Legend Villas this time around.

This event was announced at the PiPho forums last 15th October and was open to all PiPho members, free of charge. There was an online sign-up sheet and 60 slots were made available to the members. This seminar actually caught me by surprise as it was previously thought that the next Print-Like-A-Pro seminars would be held outside Metro Manila.

I have previously attended the last Print-Like-A-Pro event a month ago, but I went ahead and signed up for it on PiPho. There’s always a chance that I’d pick up something new about color management and printing and I wasn’t about to pass this one up

Jo Avila helps current PiPho Org President Mon Corpuz prepare a portrait for printing.

I arrived 1.5 hour late at the venue (which seems to be a trend for me now with regards to Print-Like-A-Pro seminars). Dinner had already been served and when I got there, attendees were already dining on their set of a salad, main dish of beef and rice, and a fruit platter. There were also free-flowing iced tea and coffee. This compares well with other recent Canon events which had food for attendees.

There was quite a number of attendees this time even with the horrible traffic outside, and this is probably because the invite was through a photography organization.

Canon Feeds You Always, in addition to Delighting You Always.

A presentation on Canon printers was shown on a projector while people were still eating. After dinner, Ace Porlet of Canon Philippines’ printer group gave a talk on Canon’s line of Pixma printers, some of which were on display at the venue. Jill Santiago, also of Canon Philippines, was also on-hand to host the event and raffle off prizes, including USB drives, movie tickets and J-Lo branded sunglasses.

Jo Avila took the center stage soon after, and the flow and content of his talk was similar to the one he gave in the last one. More details about the lecture itself can be found in my write-up of the last Print-Like-A-Pro.

That said, I don’t want to give readers the impression that the lecture was just a replay of his last talk, which it isn’t. I have attended 4 of Jo Avila’s color management seminars to date (this one was already my third for this year), and I knew that I would pick up something new. I wasn’t disappointed in that regard.

In this seminar, I actually learned three new things which weren’t discussed in any of Mr. Avila’s previous color management seminars. These are namely:

The use of Ramp Sheets in color management. You can find out more about Ramp Sheets here.
When to use Relative Colorimetric and Perceptual when choosing a Rendering Intent for printing in Photoshop.
Safe values for use in the White and Black Point settings of an image, as Mr. Avila actually gave out specific numbers for specific usage (e.g. inkjet or for a color photolab)

These three new addition to my knowledge are actually practical in nature and last two are actually something I can readily integrate into my existing printing workflow (even for family prints). I’m pretty sure that these will be incorporated into Mr. Avila’s next seminar, as he’s the type of instructor who readily shares any new knowledge he gains.

Jo Avila shows the audience his color management workflow. Yes, that's a glass of water in the foreground.

Mr. Avila then walked the audience through his own preparations for printing, such as properly setting white and black points, making the necessary adjustments, soft-proofing and selecting the proper options in Photoshop before printing. This culminated in an actual print using a Canon Pixma printer.

A question-and-answer portion followed soon after, and this was made more livelier because some of the attendees knew Mr. Avila from the forums and there was some good-natured razzing going on.

To wrap up the event, everyone went to the front to have a picture (group hug) taken, after which Canon printed out a 4R print on the spot for everyone. Anybody who had something they wanted printed could also do so for free, in both 4R and A4 sizes.

Everyone who attended the Canon Print-Like-A-Pro for PiPho

Canon’s Print-Like-Pro seminar is very educational, and this particular session was no exception. One is guaranteed to learn something, even those who have attended color management seminars.

One thing that should be noted is that Canon does not require attendees of this seminar to own Canon stuff; Everybody is welcome to learn more. If you have the chance to attend one, it’s highly recommended that you go.

Barring any more surprises, the next couple of Print-Like-A-Pro seminars will be held outside Metro Manila. I was told that they will be in Visayas and Mindanao, so this will be something for people in those areas to look forward to.

Thanks to PiPho and Canon for organizing this one.

Technorati Tags: canon, photography, pinoy, pipho, pixma, printer, seminar

Canon PhotoMarathon 2010 – Manila Leg

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Oct 222010

The much-awaited Canon PhotoMarathon 2010 – Manila leg has been officially announced. This whole-day photography contest is open to all Canon point-and-shoot, DSLR and video camera users.

The event will be from 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM on Saturday, 6 November 2010 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Central Business Park, Pasay City.

Registration is still closed as of now, but will open at 1:30PM on Monday, 25 October 2010. Contest rules and registration are at the PhotoMarathon site. Registration is free, and a large number of participants are expected, so be quick to sign up on Monday if you want to join.

Technorati Tags: canon, contest, philippines, photography, photomarathon

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