Pinoy Photographer

Canon is working on the “Black Dots” issue

Posted by tekgik under kaBlog, News, Tips & Tricks

Canon released press releases of the “Black Dots” issue plaguing the newly released EOS 5D Mark II. Mine has it but It doesnt bother me even though Im very meticulous on details (sharpeness, clarity & etc). Its just that, I have to focus my time on others things like shooting and quality time with my family.

Heres the excerpt of the press release at Canon USA website:

Thank you for using Canon products.

We have learned that some users of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR camera have identified two types of image quality phenomena that appear under certain shooting conditions.

1. “Black dot” phenomenon (the right side of point light sources becomes black)
2. Vertical banding noise

We are currently investigating and analysing the causes, and examining measures to reduce or eliminate these phenomena by providing correction firmware.  An announcement will be made on the Canon Web site when such measures have been determined.

Details of the phenomena and shooting conditions under which they are likely to occur are as follows.

1. “Black dot” phenomenon (the right side of point light sources becomes black)
   When shooting night scenes, the right side of point light sources (such as lights from building windows) may become black. The phenomenon may become visible if the images are enlarged to 100% or above on a monitor or, if large prints of the images are made.
2. Vertical banding noise
   If the recording format is set to sRAW1, vertical banding noise may become visible depending on the camera settings, subject, and background.

Canon USA Press Release

Canon Europe Press Release

We will have to wait for that fix… While waiting, Im planning to have a good photo trip with its full black dots potential (pun-intended) with the family this coming loooong holiday. BTW im enjoying the HD video!!

Canon EOS 5D Mark II RAW .CR2 now compatible with OSX

Posted by tekgik under apple, kaBlog, News, Tech, Tips & Tricks

Apple just released an update of their Camera Raw Compatibility for some of the previously released digital cameras. The Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 2.4 now supports the EOS 5D Mark II, the powershot G10 and many others. The only one left for me is my Panasonic Lumix LX3. The RAW files of the said camera can now be natively viewable in Finder and iPhoto.

Update: No finder compatibility

Apple’s support release:

About Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update 2.4

This update extends RAW file compatibility for Aperture 2 and iPhoto 08 for the following cameras:

• Canon EOS 5D Mark II
• Canon PowerShot G10
• Pentax K2000/K-m
• Leaf AFi-II 6
• Leaf AFi-II 7
• Leaf Aptus-II 6
• Leaf Aptus-II 7
• Leica M8.2

It also addresses issues related to specific cameras and overall stability.

Fire up your software update or manually download it here

imagesmith’s photo gear

Posted by tekgik under kaBlog, product

Heres the current line up of our photo gear

taken with the mighty Lumix LX3

• Canon EOS 5D Mark II
• Canon EOS 5D (sold)
• Canon EOS 40D
• EF 70-200 f2.8 L IS
• EF 24-70 f2.8 L
• EF 17-40 f4.0 L
• EF 50mm f1.4
• EF 100mm f2.8 Macro
• Speedlight 580 EX
• Speedlight 550 EX

I invested on pro graded lenses recently. I sold all my 3rd party lenses. Don’t get me wrong, but my previous 3rd party lenses performed well and served me well, published some great photos with it. But of course there are some shortcomings in every product and It was frustrating at times. Now with my new 21MP 5D Mark II some of my consumer lenses showed some poor perfromance. Hopefully as budget and business will let me, next year  I can add these lenses to my arsenal EF 135 f2.0 L, EF 15mm f2.8 fisheye, TS-E 24mm, EF 50mm f1.2 L and EF 85mm f1.2 L, oh well i will be a happy kid again Thats what you called day dreaming Seriously, I dont want to shortcharge my clients and il give them the best output that skills and equipment can provide.

new cam.. new creative flair?.. my 5D Mark II impressions

Posted by tekgik under kaBlog, Reviews

After two years of using the original 5D now comes the 5D Mark II model. Full of feats and extras from the 3 years old tech of the first version. I got mine last friday from Canon Marketing Philippines Inc. Im actually satisfied with the 5D but the demands of commercial photography commands me to do the upgrade. And being an artist and tech-geeky sometimes needs some new brush (camera) to renew its passion and creative flair

Moving on…Initial impressions of this camera.

Physical

I salute Canon maintaining a separate body + grip design (form factor).  Obviously lugging heavy gear for long periods of time is no fun, so sometimes if you want to reduce weight you just unscrew the grip and saves you from body pain. It still doesn’t have a pop-up flash which you wont need anyway since you have up to ISO 3200 usable.

The body is more curvier specially at the Canon logo area (pentrapism). The buttons at back are adjusted to make room for the new 3.0″ LCD. Yes, there is AF-on button now working for both stills & video. It also has some nice touch of  weather sealing. The mode dial markings are now engraved and wrapped with rubber grip.

Usage

I just had my unit last friday and since im very familiar with Canon cameras i dont need to tinker  the manual page by page. The 5D Mark II’s menu system is now like the familar 40D /50D cameras that was also first introduced on the high speed 1D Mark III. Its more easy to navigate, more user friendly including the custom functions.

The 5D and 5D Mark II are virtually the same but packed with plus features. The imaging sensor is now at 21 megapixels and it now houses the latest DIGIC IV imaging processor. AF points are pretty the same to me but Canon stated that it better? I noticed some tiny-weeny-bit improvement in speed or probably Im just excited? Really, nothing to write home about it, it is exactly the same.

High Megapixels is good, but it comes with a price, I initially tested one of my favorite primes, the EF 50mm f1.4 and disappointingly it performs below my expectations. It cannot resolve the resolution that the 5D Mark II is giving, plus the CA (Chromatic Aberration) is now more pronounced. Fortunately, my recently acquired EF 70-200 f2.8 L IS and EF 24-70 f2.8 L doesn’t suffer with the same fate like my other consumer lenses. From my initial testing inside my studio, the 5D I renders more 3d’ish detail than the 5D Mark II. This is now getting more confusing?? Yes and yes IQ from the original 5D is better by 10%. Il perform another set of testing tomorrow with my L lenses to nail my observations. Could it be that these days monitor resolution cant display the level of detail in 21mp? Or does our eyes cant see those resolution by near distance? I dont know but again from my initial observations the 5D’s images have better shadow detail, clarity and sharpness. Although what I can tell now is that, 5D Mark II colors are more accurate.

Video: Nothing to compare right now, in terms of DSLR video quality. The D90 has it but very premature falls behind with the quality from the 5D Mark II. The video feature is just great the only downside is the lack of manual settings. I have to fiddle with it more since im very new to this video thing. Actually, this is the feature of the cam im more excited, il be making some personal projects and im now imagining the possibilities it can provide. I will start to learn and study videography.

So by far here are my quick impressions… Il probably make a complete review during the long holidays this December.

As a tradition of course. I took some “binyag” shots of my new baby.

more in the coming days…

Batanes…6 hrs to go…

Posted by tekgik under kaBlog, Travel

Im pretty excited, but my wife is more excited than me.

I need to travel light since Il be the daddy-husband-yayo photographer.. as always

Ok heres the first ever travel light gear.

Lowepro Computrekker

• Canon EOS 5D w/o battery grip
• EF 17-40 f4L
• EF 50mm f1.4
• 580 EX1
• Nodal Ninja 3II
• Giottos Rocket blower (medium)
• Apple 15″ MacBook Pro
• Total of 28GB compact flash
• 320GB Western Digital Passport
• 2 Blank DVD -R
• 2 Blank CD-R
• Sandisk FW 800 Compact Flash Reader
• Compact 61 in 1 USB reader
• 1 extra BP-511
• 1 extra LX3 battery
• 1 ND4 filter
• 1 ND8 filter
• 1 NGD4 square filter
• 1 NGD8 square filter
• 1 Circular Polarizer
• 1 80N3 Remote shutter
• 1 BP-511 travel charger
• 1 LX3 travel battery charger
• 1 MBP charger
• 1 Nokia e71 charger
• 1 set of flash waves RF trigger
• 1 optech rainsleeve
• 1 black bag
• 1 plastic as raincoat
• 1 set of medicine
• 1 multi-purpose knife (victorinox)
• Lenspen
• Soft cloth
• Parker ballpen
• Small notebook

Lowepro Inverse 200

• EF 70-200 f2.8 L IS

Think Tank Strobe Skin

Giottos 8241 Ultra light tripod (Thanks to Uncle Shooter)

Panasonic Lumix LX3

This is what i meant by travelling light!

Sea Air’s hand carry limit is only 3kg.. I think these weighs almost..

Im bringing my Lowepro inverse 200 so that i can leave the computrekker at the hotel

What I left in the studio are:

Canon EOS 40D

Tamron 28-75

EF 100mm macro

and lotsa nifty accessories..

Hope weather will be GREAT!

PiPho Nifty Fifty

Posted by tekgik under News

PiPho Nifty FIfty A PiPho Photo EB

SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City Metro Manila
November 8, 2008
Registration starts at 10:00am

Activities:
PiPho Org Photo Exhibit
All 50mm On-The-Spot Photo Contest
Shootout: Cosplay by LAME and Power Kite Manila

Poster Design by: Mon “Super_ed” Corpuz

Visit www.pinoyphotography.org

IS wins..

Posted by tekgik under kaBlog, Reviews

I sold my Sigma 70-200 f2.8 lens last week. I have no telephoto lens to use and was really contemplating on what lens to get. Canon 70-200 f2.8 L or 70-200 f2.8 L IS? With all that research and sleepless nights I bought a new one last Monday, the Canon EF 70-200 f2.8 L IS version. I closed my eyes signed the check and bought the lens…Whoa! Goodbye good earned moolah!

Well, the Sigma served me well! Very well! It is true that its not the equipment nor the technology but after using this bazooka lens, I kinda disagree. This lens is a remarkable one, it is sharp at f2.8 wide end (70mm) and especially on the long end (200mm). The Image Stabilizer really helps and it will give you sharper images. The output photos are more punchier because of the better contrast from its glass. And yo-yeah its Bokehlicious among the Canon 70-200 family. Almost No CA (Chromatic Aberration). These are the image characteristics that I’ve been longing from my Sigma since 2003.

Watch out for my Miss Earth 2008 press presentation pics soon. Images are from the lovely 70-200 2.8 IS without PP only cropping on some.

Thanks to Jan Tan of JT Photo World for reserving me the last one.

Metrophoto’s review of the EOS 5D Mark II

Posted by tekgik under kaBlog

Oly Ruiz together with Chax Patulot and Rache Resurrection (Metrophotography) took the EOS 5D Mark II pre-prod unit for a test drive in their latest e-session (pre-nuptial pictorial).

I admire their style, they are one of the uprising heavies in Philippine weddings and Im proud to say that they are my colleagues from PiPho.

See their blog entry