Canon launches three new lenses

Here it is on DP Review



I can't tell you how long many of my photography buddies have been talking about Canon would 'soon' be coming out with an upgrade to the Canon 24-70mm F2.8 with. Now it's here as the Canon 24-70mm F2.8 II USM...(Soon anyways). It promises a better build quality in a smaller package and better optics. Read the review at DP Review for more information on how all the optics work.

No clue as to what the street price will be, but it will certainly bring down the price of the older version by some. I'll wait and see whether or not the optics add anything special that would make it worth upgrading.

Additionally, Canon has announced 2 non-L prime lens updates, the Canon 24mm and 28mm F2.8 primes. These two bad boys will come with IS (Image Stabilization). Some may ask 'why' for such wide lenses would you want stabilization? The answer would be that some of us would like to be able to take some low light shots indoors without adjusting the aperture or ISO settings. The unfortunate side to this is that you will have to PAY for that IS. Again, not sure what the prices are going to be but I'm happy that Canon is working on non-L lenses for those of us on a budget.

D800: Another challenger from Nikon

It wasn't long ago (Just a few weeks now) that Nikon introduced us to their new flagship camera, the Nikon D4. We have yet to see real world users put this camera to the test as far as photography and video are concerned but it shouldn't be too long since we're now in February, the release date of the Nikon D4.

The D800 is set to replace the wonderful (But without video) D700. You can check out the press release HERE for all the glorious information.

First opinions on this camera as far as photography is concerned:

Nikon decided to go with 36.3 megapixels which is going to give you some seriously amazing dynamic range. However, that also means you're going to need a whole lot of extra storage space in the form of CF/SD cards (Why they didn't go with CF dual slots I don't know) and you'll need a few extra HDD's to store it all.

It's not as sensitive as the Nikon D4 is going to be (ISO 100-6400) but at a price HALF that of the Nikon D4, it doesn't matter. At ISO 6400 you're still going to be able to get some really good shots in low light situations.

There will be no Ethernet port available on the D800, which is too bad. Without it you will not be able to take advantage of the new optional WT-5 wireless transmitter that would allow you to remotely view and adjust settings via your Ipad or Iphone (And many other devices I'm sure).

The D800 will come in 2 flavors, the Nikon D800 and D800E. The E version of this camera will come WITHOUT a low pass filter. The low pass filter deals with moire and anti-aliasing. For some photographers, removing this filter will allow for sharper images. How much sharper? I'm not sure but we'll see some comparisons sometime in March.

The video: It should shoot just as nicely as the the Nikon D4, minus the ISO sensitivity. However, I don't see much of a difference with the exception of the crop factors (Available on the Nikon D4). Nikon certainly went out of their way to please many of the cinematographers this time around. I know that many photographers don't care for these 'video options' as they make the prices go up for functions they won't use. And be WARNED: If you plan on using this for video DO NOT get the D800E as it will be full of moire and anti-aliasing...not pretty.

For those planning on time-lapse shooting, those extra megapixels should be a lot of fun. Again, you will have to make sure you have the storage to do it, but I can't wait to see what people can do. As for the built-in time-lapse function, the one that stitches all your pictures together and produces a movie all inside your camera...that's not something I'm overly excited about. Being able to import your photos, adjust everything, pan and zoom effects (At a minimum) are all still part of the process of a good time-lapse.

For half the price of the Nikon D4 it might be worth getting 2 Nikon D800's if you're shooting video mainly. Unlike the Nikon D4 you won't be getting continuous shutter at 10fps but instead you'll get 4 or 5 fps (Those files are going double the size of your average files).

Now, these are all just opinions of course. We need real users in the world out there to tell us how they are getting along with the newest cameras coming from Nikon. They are certainly giving Canon a run for it's money this year. The Canon 1Dx still isn't out but already I'm wishing that it had some of the options that both the Nikon D4 and Nikon D800 have. Let's wait and see...

Joy Ride from Sandro on Vimeo.

A film by Sandro shot with the Nikon D800.

Director: Sandro
Editor: Alaster Jordan / Whitehouse
Music: Yessian
Production: Cap Gun

View the Behind the Scenes Video shot by the Nikon Crew: http://vimeo.com/36306101

New Nikon D4 Pro DSLR Camera is HERE

The Nikon D4 has been announced. Let's take a look at what we know about the FX-format 16.2-megapixel CMOS Sensor and other 'stuff' we get with this beast.


For photography: Things that I look forward to trying out on this, as far as what's been announced, first and foremost is the 51-point auto-focus system. The way it has been touted is as if you have two choices, to cast it out like a net (For subjects in motion) or to concentrate on one focus point (When shooting more controlled environments). For studio work I don't really need to worry that much about auto-focus since I'm in a controlled environment, but when shooting at an event where people are constantly on the move, that 'net' had better live up to what might well be a 6000 USD camera (Although now word on prices yet). Also there is the 'enlarge images up to 46X' ability. Getting in there to see if you're right on the mark as far as focusing is concerned. Not that big a deal for some, but for others (Perhaps those not tethered to a computer while shooting) it's great. ISO ranges are said to be as low as ISO 50 to the high of ISO 204800 equivalent. How well this ranges will work we can only know after someone out there puts it to the test, but knowing Nikon, I have a feeling it will outdo it's predecessor.

For video: So far all I'm curious about is how well the codec stands up against the rest of the DSLR market. Have they caught up to Canon in anyway shape or form? I see the options of shooting full 1080p at 30fps and 24fps but nothing yet on 60fps and whether it will be at 1080p or 720p (Here's hoping for 1080p because that would killer for slow motion work). And as with the photography portion, I'm curious as to how the noise will be handled when bumping it up. The ability to adjust volume and a mic jack (Something we've been waiting for on the Canon's) is also an interesting addition, and a very welcomed one at that. And of course, no more 12 minute limit on video capture. That's going to be EXTREMELY important for event cinematographers. Now we just need some video samples to see what the codec is like...

There certainly is more to the camera than what I just mentioned, but these are what I hope to get to first. Then move on to other aspects of the camera. The fact that it is weather sealed makes it great for those extreme conditions, but just how extreme can we get. Stuff like that is what will be next on my list of many 'Can it...?' list.

UPDATE: The first video from this wonderful camera. Remember to click on the 1080p option to watch it in it's full glory!


And Jared Polin had a sniff of the upcoming camera and goes into some of what he learned from his 30 minutes or so of talk time with a Nikon rep and some hands on with the camera. Sit back and grab a sandwich or something because he's got a lot to cover:

Another Kickstart Campaign makes it...and offers a lot in return.

I talked a bit about the Kickstarter success that some have had. This time around it goes to the people at Realm Pictures with their project The Underwater Realm.

I think what helped them bring in their backers was the offerings to be had: Leading up to the January 1st 2012 deadline, Eve Hazelton (The DOP on the project) managed to put together some very interesting (And free) lighting tutorials originally made for Phillip Bloom's blog. This showed her (And the studio's) keen skills on lighting a scene. So, as a backer when you pledge $50.00 or more you get some REALLY COOL rewards:

The @EveHazelton Lighting Guide! An hour long tutorial with practical examples of how to light for film and video. This will cover everything from the theory of light through to equipment demonstrations & how to plan and execute lighting setups for dramatic scenes! Available as a digital download or DVD

Ocean Fan Pack - Blu Ray (or DVD) of the final films with your name in the credits as a supporter! This compilation will include all the concept artwork, production blogs and the behind the scenes documentary. Find out in-depth exactly how the project you helped create was made and watch it all in HD on the sofa (couch)! We will also send you completely exclusive behind the scenes still photos and messages from the cast and crew during production that nobody else will see!

LED Lighting Pack - good quality soft light is hard to achieve cheaply, and almost impossible to achieve on location. We have developed a set of rugged, low power, high output, fully submersible, cinema quality, battery powered lights and are giving you the plans to build and develop this system for yourself!

All of these for $50.00...not too shabby!! It certainly beats some of what people are offering as rewards! I would suggest future Kickstarter people to take note here and learn. While there are certainly plenty of free resources online that you can learn from, for a few of your hard earned dollars you get some pretty amazing tutorials and setups, not to mention supporting a great project. If you're not already a backer, I'd suggest you take a look at their Kickstarter Page to see what they are up to. As I write this they are in their last hours, but already they've made a great impact on the indie community. I can't wait to see the final results!

Check out Eve's lovely tutorials and be sure to check out The Underwater Realm.

The Hobbit Trailer Debut: Will 48 fps be the way to go?

So we get a glimpse into the world of The Hobbit. From the trailer, it looks like it will be quite an adventure...although judging by a trailer is like judging a book by it's cover really. What I am most looking forward to, as a tech geek, is how well the 48 frames per second will look instead of the usual 24 frames. Peter Jackson had this to say about it a while back:

"We are indeed shooting at the higher frame rate. The key thing to understand is that this process requires both shooting and projecting at 48 frames/s, rather than the usual 24 frames/s (The great majority of films have been shot at 24 frames per second since the late 1920s). So the result looks like normal speed, but the image has hugely enhanced clarity and smoothness. Looking at 24 frames every second may seem ok–and we've all seen thousands of films like this over the last 90 years–but there is often quite a lot of blur in each frame, during fast movements and if the camera is moving around quickly, the image can judder or "strobe." Shooting and projecting at 48 frames/s does a lot to get rid of these issues. It looks much more lifelike and it is much easier to watch, especially in 3-D."

While I'm not a big fan of 3D (Avatar being the only movie I could really enjoy in 3D) it will be interesting to see how people take to it. I'm not sure about theaters in Canada/U.S/U.K work as far as 3D movies and glasses go, but here in Japan you buy a pair (Clean, never been used), it's add to your first 3D movie experience at $2.00 a pair. Then you bring them home with you. So long as you remember to bring your glasses the next time you watch a movie in 3D, they cut the cost by $2.00. If you forget your glasses, you pay the extra money and now you've got 2 pairs.

So, will 48 frames a second be the next step in film. Unfortunately, I can't say. Outside of those making the film I don't think anyone can say. It was only a year ago that people wanted 24p for their Canon 5D mark ii. One has to wonder if the next thing we'll be demanding is 48p? What do you think?

Success: Youtubers vs Vimeo Users

With all the sites out there that provide services for you to upload videos and pictures to, it's sometimes hard to decide where you want to plant your feet. Let's take a look at some of the differences between the two as seen from a candid viewer like myself.

Youtube for me is a place to watch wacky clips of animals, viral videos, crazy people doing crazy stuff. But there are also quite a few Youtubers who have become quite a success. The first and possibly biggest as of late is Freddie and Brandon from freddiew and their friends Sam and Niko from Corridor Digital. These guys started off with nothing and built what is now a huge following. If you go back to some of their earliest work, you can see how well they've progressed through the years. They are visual effects masters but are always kind enough to run through tutorials on their second channels so that people like you and me can have a go at it. Their clips are short and entertaining. But now with a combined following of almost 3.5 million people (A majority going to the freddiew channel) they managed to get to a point where companies as big as EA (Electronic Arts), are impressed enough to ask them to make paid national commercials for them. The commercial is only going to add to their popularity and possible revenue to make more movies.

And speaking of movies, freddiew managed to get an insane amount of support on their Kickstarter campaign to produce what they believe to be (We'll have to wait and see) a great feature. Youtube fans have shown their appreciation for the art they've created so much so that they managed to make $273,725 in contributions when their goal was only $75,000. That's 4 times more than they asked for, give or take. Compare that to indie film DP Phillip Bloom's Kickstarter campaign which fell short almost $18,000 short of their $48,000 goal.

Which brings me to Vimeo. I like putting up my artsy stuff where someone might appreciate a little technical information or where some might be offered up concerning the video. To be honest, if I made a feature, I would like to see it up on Vimeo. For some reason the community there is far more constructive and appreciative of what you put up, as far as the comments go. The lack of trolls that are all over Youtube is what makes Vimeo very appealing to some. It's also less cluttered and simply a nicer viewing experience. Unfortunately, Vimeo does not have a system in place to monetize videos...and I don't know why with so many wonderful pieces there to watch. I admit, a different crowd would be watching, but still a great way for filmmakers to continue making more of what people like to see would be to offer a way for them to make money to budget for future videos. The limits set for regular, Plus and Pro users is either good or bad depending on who you are. Without going into too much detail, I've stayed a regular user and will upgrade to a Plus user when I am able to make better contributions to the channel I have. So who are the stars of Vimeo? Well, it's hard to say. There are some wonderfully talented people doing all sorts of creative and informative stuff. Phillip Bloom is someone I've followed. He likes to put his gear to the test and then share his experiences, and I'm glad for that. He does have a great following and I believe is very popular in the indie film world. Unfortunately, as I mentioned above, the Kickstarter campaign he was part of didn't do well at all when you compare it to freddiew and friends. That's not to say they are poor. Phillip and others like Vincent LaForet, Tom Lowe, the Stillmotion crew and others still make plenty of money doing what they love.

I'll end it like this: A friend of mine who is also a lover of films told me that his Youtube watching is like partying with a bunch of friends, eating pizza and drinking beer. Whereas Vimeo is like sitting down by yourself with a bottle of wine (Or whiskey) and enjoying the flavor in a quiet room alone and content. What do you think? Where would you put your feature? What would like Youtube or Vimeo to do to make it 'better'?

Galaxy Nexus: My change over from Blackberry

I'm going to make this short and sweet:

When I bought my Blackberry, I had decided I wanted it because of the QWERTY keyboard and because quite a few of my friends back home were using it. I has heard good things about it. But as time went by and with so many people buying iPhones (Not available with my carrier), I was feeling a bit green with envy. I wanted to take pictures and instantly upload them to my site or Facebook or any other social network. Unfortunately, the Blackberry camera is CRAP!

Then along comes the iPhone 4S and rumors that my carrier would be accepting transfers. I'm not sure how it works in other countries, or even here in Japan really, but from what I heard my carrier NTT Docomo, could technically allow the use of a Docomo SIM card in the iPhones. This was not something that Softbank (The official carrier) or NTT Docomo would confirm.

Next thing I know I have a friend talking to me about Android phones. I had never paid much attention to Android phones but when I saw the announcement of Android 4.0 for the Galaxy Nexus and it's camera functionality, I was sold.

Have it for barely 2 weeks now, I'm still getting use to things. I had a problem with it initially as it wouldn't show my contacts in order and Google Earth seemed to be missing altogether, even though it was installed. NTT Docomo advised a backup of my contacts and a factory reset. That did the trick.

Now I'm able to shoot video, take pictures and have some serious fun with my social networks...the kind I couldn't have with my Blackberry. As I am writing this I realize I should have some video and pictures to share but I don't, I'm still having a little too much fun with the other apps. I will however update this entry with content as soon as possible. I just need to get my shiznit together.

A word of advice: Turn off your Wifi and GPS as it drains the power. Also, understand that this massive screen takes a lot of juice so if you're watching videos or playing games, it's not likely to last you as long as your other phones. My wife was kind enough to supply me with a charger just in case.