Description: review, evaluation, examination, study, analysis, audit, check, consideration, file, inspection, reassessment, reconsideration, reflection, report, rethink, retrospect, revision, scan, scrutiny, study, survey, view
May include: criticism, judgement
Notes: criticism is an evaluation or judgement of something, while critique is a somewhat elevated term for the same thing; review is used as a synonym for these but may also imply a more comprehensive study
Sixty three great sample photos from the new Canon EOS 5D Mark III on http://www.photographyblog.com. Click to see the article...
Earlier this month I did a review of the New Canon EOS 5D Mark III. At ‘Focus on Imaging’, the UK’s premier camera and equipment show, I was able to briefly try one out myself (See my comments for more). So I am excited to see some photos from the newly released Canon 5D Mk III. The folks over at PhotographyBlog have got some sample shots out for you to see. An array of shots aiming to put the camera through its paces. There is a movie too, so you can see the video capabilities.
It’s worth a quick look over there if you are in the market for a new top-of-the-line camera. It is expected that the Canon EOS 5D Mark III will be available in the UK in early April. We will give you a date when we know more.
Looking for an affordable top quality DSLR? Look no further...
Affordable DSLRs today offer unprecedented quality of images and wide flexibility in functions and control.
The Digital SLR market is a competitive place. Without getting too specialist the main-stream manufacturers that generate the most sales for first time DSLRs are Canon and Nikon. They have managed to edge ahead of other manufacturers because they recognise that the key to a good photographic system is actually the lenses – not the camera. Both these companies have a broad range of excellent lenses. Good quality lenses will last you a lifetime. They are also interchangeable with other cameras in the same brand range. More important, quality lenses will determine the quality of your pictures much more than the camera bodies. So if you think you will want to move on in photography, invest in a mid-range camera and quality lenses. The lenses will stay with you. The camera bodies can be upgraded when you are ready.
There is little to choose between Canon and Nikon. They have both mastered the major features that modern camera users demand. They also cater in full for the more exacting demands of the discerning professional and advanced hobbyist. Both these manufacturers can provide you with lens ranges and camera bodies that will provide for you from starter to advanced career professional – and for life! So any investment in either company is likely to be a long and secure one with plenty of variation and development.
Nikon and Canon both provide the camera features and functions every beginner needs and many more than they will probably use. The camera and lenses will probably perform well beyond the demands of the starter or even the experienced amateur. The picture quality is excellent too. The difference between any of the equivalent cameras in their ranges lies in personal choice only. Your guide is therefore what you feel you need. Buying your first SLR is about fulfilment of your photographic dream. All the SLRs will be more than sufficient to meet your needs.
So, which camera? Here are some ideas to help you make up your mind and two recommendations.
Price
The first guide is how much you can afford. The first DSLR is a big decision. It a lot of money and you are probably not very confident in your knowledge. Secondly, your first purchase will commit you to a brand. Spending a lot of money on one brand, then investing in other accessories adds up to a lot of expense. It costs a lot to drop that investment and start again with another brand. So your decision is a commitment.
Set a budget. Most first time buyers have a budget in mind. However, do not just set a budget for a camera. You will actually need to buy more than just a camera. Consider some of the first-time package deals. They usually include a camera body, a battery, small memory card and a kit lens. Sometimes packages include some ancillary equipment too which might be persuasive – a camera bag or an extra lens for example. However, before you buy these consider what you will need over and above these. Do you need extra lenses? Are you going to need an off camera flash? Tripods are one of the three most essential pieces of equipment. So don’t leave them out.
If you are going to buy lenses spend as much money as you can to buy good quality lenses. A cheap, poor quality lens ruins your experience. A great lens will live with you for years, through several camera bodies if you treat it right. Buy a duff one and you will always regret it. So budget accordingly.
Functionality
Almost every camera in a range has similar features as the equivalent in another brand – with minor variations. First time DSLR buyers often don’t appreciate this simple fact. They spend hours pouring over the slightest variations in ‘essential’ elements of the competing cameras. Actually when they buy their first DSLR, they are not able to use it to its full extent – after all they are not experts. So the camera is pretty likely to be able to perform well beyond their competence and comfort zone. The minor variations in performance for specific functions are rarely important to the new DSLR user. So you should be doing two things. Buying a camera that enables you to grow into it, but which stretches your ability.
Buy your camera to be excited and challenged by it. Searching for just the right type of functionality and features is probably misguided. Your first DSLR should enable you to try out some of the things you want to do – but be flexible enough to extend you in areas you have not explored yet. Mid-range DSLRs are pretty amazing in what they can do. They are more capable in a wide range of uses and conditions than any cameras of the past. So buy something that will provide for the future, give you scope to buy quality glass (lenses) and enable you to meet your aspirations. The features and functions of a modern camera are likely to be less important than practice and practical experience. So here is a list of things you should think of which have a real impact on your shots…
Weight… Buy a camera you can hold up for long periods
weight… go lighter for family and general recreational photography
Size… Smaller people are more comfortable with smaller cameras
Size… Some activities suit small cameras (street photogs go smaller, landscapers > bigger)
Speed… High speed sports shots? Look for high shot repeats
Shape… Be sure you can hold it comfortably
Shape… be sure the buttons are suitably placed
Family… make sure the flash is easily controlled for portraits
Serious? Make sure you have full manual control available
Lens mounts… make sure you can use professional quality lenses
Lens mounts… ensure the manufacturer produces professional quality lenses
File format… discerning photogs use RAW. Ensure it is available.
Note… RAW, is the file format that keeps all the data the camera captures. Only RAW allows you to exploit the full potential of your shots. If you are serious about your photography, you will eventually want to use the RAW format. Secondly, if a camera manufacturer does not produce professional quality lenses it is questionable whether they have aspirations for top quality images. That may not be important for you now, but it will be if you take your photography beyond your first DSLR to more challenging photography.
OK… so what should you buy?
Here are two hot selling, mid-range cameras. They both meet the needs of first-time DSLR buyers. They are feature rich and capable of providing a challenge for at least the first few years of the enthusiasts photography. The prices are pretty keen. If you have scope in your budget, go for quality lenses too.
I have chosen the Canon 650D and the Nikon D5100. Both are reasonably priced. They have much the same specifications with equivalent kit lenses included in the package. The features and functions will handle a wide range of uses and the image quality on both these cameras is excellent. They are not too big, and will be usable by most people. They support mounts that have superb quality lenses available. They will both perform reliably in difficult photographic conditions and far beyond the starting ability of most first-time DSLR owners. They are both fun cameras to use!
Updated to most recent models 18/Oct/2012
Canon EOS 650D Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm IS II Lens
Nikon D3200 Black Digital SLR with 18-55mm VR Lens
By Damon Guy (author and Photokonnexion editor)
Damon Guy (Netkonnexion)
Damon is a writer-photog and editor of this site. He has run some major websites, a computing department and a digital image library. He started out as a trained teacher and now runs training for digital photographers. See also: Editors ‘Bio’.
Wow! The Canon Powershot G1 X review I wrote recently seems to be coming good. Here is a specification.
Large 14.3 MP CMOS, DIGIC 5, HS System
Compact 4x zoom; Intelligent IS
3.0 inch vari-angle 920k dots LCD
Real-image zoom (live video zoom), optical viewfinder
Full Manual, RAW, DPP
Full HD, HDMI
High-speed Burst HQ
Smart Auto
Extensive accessories
HDR mode and ND filter
Via ISO1200.com/
A great spec. for a great looking camera. Fitting into the range of the keen shooter, this great little camera should provide a great stepping-off point. On one hand it is a really flexible for those who want to move up from the straight forward P&S crowd. It also has some cool social networking features for those who want to improve their social photography. On the other hand it looks powerful and full-featured as a pocket camera for the expert and professional shooters. Reports say it has great image quality.
The video shown here is a little mixed in its response. Unfortunately the review does not cover some of the more interesting under-the-bonnet possibilities. So I think there is a lot more to say yet. He is clear on one thing – the good image quality. Image quality counts for a lot. So do the other features. If you are a keen photographer and want to move up into the near SLR range this is a great opportunity. If you love photography but don’t want to carry a full size, full featured SLR everywhere, this is one to go for… remember it shoots RAW. Discerning photographers love RAW!
The monopod is an aid to providing stability for your camera during a shot. We provide a full definition of a monopod in our glossary (see: Monopod).
It is a false economy to buy the cheapest available of something. Good quality and great design are not cheap. However, popularity often brings the price down to reasonable levels. Good quality, well designed equipment, becomes affordable. This superb Monopod from Manfrotto, the quality tripod manufacturer, is a great example.
High quality and great design characterise Manfrotto photographic equipment. Shown here is the Manfrotto MM294A3 294 Aluminium Monopod in 3 Sections
Manfrotto have a wide range of monopods. The Manfrotto MM294A3 294 is a popular popular monopod in Aluminium, built in three sections. It is compact light, durable, and reasonably priced.
The fittings, especially the clamps on the leg joints, are superbly designed. Cheap monopods often suffer from poor or wobbly clamp joints which reduces the monopod stability. Another feature of this model is the aluminium mounting disc. Cheap monopods often have plastic platforms. This does not perform well, especially with bigger compacts and DSLRs. This model also features both the 1/4in and the 3/8in standard tripod screw sizes – most monopods only feature the 1/4in size.
A suitable head for this monopod is the Manfrotto 234RC monopod tilt-head (Quick Release) . It’s a simple tilt head which allows a camera to be turned through 90 degrees for either vertical or horizontal format shots. It features a quick release head for immediate release of your camera for hand-held shots.
Damon is a writer-photog and editor of this site. He has run some major websites, a computing department and a digital image library. He started out as a trained teacher and now runs training for digital photographers. See also: Editors ‘Bio’.
There is a style and design of camera bag to suit everyone
You spend a lot of money on your camera and equipment. So, you need to protect that investment. A good camera bag is an essential item. It provides housing, protection and security for your camera when shooting. It also helps organise other equipment you carry.
There’s a design of camera bag to suit everybody and every need. Before buying think carefully about why you need the bag. There are a lot of things to carry, many different types of equipment. Ultimately you need to make a choice - you cannot carry everything. So here are some questions to ask yourself when considering a camera bag…
Purpose, why do you want it? [to go from a to b; to provide a choice of equipment; to enable a holiday; to ensure you have a flexible load of equipment; to supply a shoot with equipment]
Where you are going to use it? [aeroplane; car; boat; wet; dry; sandy/dusty; UK; overseas]
What weight can you carry? What weight do you want for this trip? How heavy is the bag?
Do you need to be able to put other equipment in the bag? Flash, light modifiers, lenses etc…
What other equipment do you need for a specific trip; what sizes and shapes are your equipment and camera?
How much time are you going to need it for [big investment – do you need to spend lots for a weekend away twice a year?]
What protection will the equipment need? [Hard case vs. robust case vs. soft padded case}
What protection do YOU need? [Big expensive camera bags are an advertisement for muggers]
What shape are you? You might need to try out a few bags before you buy. Not all bags are suitable for all body shapes.
Shoulder bags
Out and about with the bear minimum? Just carrying an extra lens, sandwiches, and a few bits and pieces? Perhaps the best bag for you is a shoulder bag. They are useful for easy access to your equipment. By simply swivelling the bag around you can take out what you need. Beware, with small bags you will not have much flexibility. So be sure to buy a bag that suits the size of camera that you have and the lens(es) you need. People often buy the wrong bag because they did not think about what they normally carry.
A good shoulder bag saves time and trouble – if you are organised. They are great for a day out, the occasional shot, or to keep a low profile so you are not seen with loads of expensive equipment.
Lowepro shoulder bags - many different designs and styles
To be comfortable get one with wide, padded straps. If planning to walk distances make sure that the bag has a padded back. There is nothing worse than a sore hip from a heavy camera banging against you all day. To have the ability to take the odd additional equipment check the bag has fittings to add extras.
Look at the ranges provided by Lowepro, Billingham, Kata and the ‘Messenger’ range from Manfrotto. The Tamrac ‘Digital SLR Bags’ range is pretty comprehensive too.
Backpack camera bags
For rugged activities a full back pack is useful. These are built to last and house a lot of equipment. Check for a range of compartments for different types of equipment. You should be able to change configuration so you can fit specific items in place. A flexible bag adapts to your needs for different types of trip. Backpacks should be robust, light, flexible and padded. Check for accessory clips/adaptors to change its use and add-on extra units. Make sure they have a waterproof cover to put over them (usually tucked away in a pocket underneath).
Amazon back pack for camera equipment. Less expensive than some of the branded backpacks
Not all backpacks work with all body shapes. Look carefully and make sure you are comfortable. Curvy body plan? Make sure the waist belt will go all the way around. Some are cut a bit short! Waist belts are essential for distance walks. It pulls the pack to your back giving support. It is used to take the weight off your shoulders onto your hips. Comfortable fitting is essential.
Backpacks are great for lots of gear. Not so good for access. You have to take it off to get access. No good in the rush hour trains! Think carefully about using it.
Good backpack style camera bags are available from Lowepro (a big, and flexible range), Tamrac and some flexible units by Kata.
Sling bags
Lowepro slingshot 302AW - slings over one shoulder, slide around to the front to access your kit by lifting the side flap
These are great bags for day-to-day shoots. Like backpacks, but they sling over only one shoulder. You can swivle the bag around to the front for equipment when still wearing it. Everything is to hand while shooting. Compact, perhaps not very efficient for packing loads of gear, these bags score on access-on-the-move. The one shown here is made by Lowepro. They make two sizes. Loads of compartments, big capacity and some great accessories are available. Lowepro do clip-on extras able to affix to the bag too. That extends your capacity. A representative from Lowepro told me this is their best selling range. I live out of mine!
Hard Camera Cases
Solid cases are great for knocking about in vehicles, boats aeroplanes, in the field. They are heavy. So don't expect to walk far with them. The choice is wide. The original metallic cases are made of aluminium with stainless steel or moulded ABS corners. Filled with foam you cut your prefered shapes to put in equipment. Robust and lockable these are very strong for aeroplane and field expeditions. But not waterproof. Modern designs are stylish. Have a look at Pottertons Cases , but there are a number of other manufacturers.
Pelican hard cases are for rugged protection of your equipment
Modern designs are manufactured from moulded plastic. Expensive to buy, extremely robust, often waterproof - they are just what you need for really tough territory. They come in a range of sizes and designs with different inner designs. So see several types before you decide. For waterproof ones prices are higher. If you need the protection then spend the money. Do not skimp!
Robust is the name of the game. This amusing video shows a hard case put through its paces. It's designed for a specific camera, but you can find many other designs of this type. Check out the Pelican website and be sure to look over the blog for upto the minute changes and uses.
Roller bags
These are more substantial in size. Roller bags are on wheels. You can carry more but have less weight on your back. While they tend to be robust they are really about carrying more equipment. Beware of bags that exceed hand-carry size on planes and ensure that it is robust enough for your needs. If necessary some of the smaller ones can be changed into a backpack. Inside the layouts are diverse. With this size bag make sure you have flexibility to re-configure, especially if you are carrying several cameras. Ensure they have hard sides and plenty of inner padding. Accessory clips and extras are critical for larger pieces like tripods on the outside. Make sure you are happy with the measurements.
Lowepro Pro Roller X200 Rolling Photo Case
Take a look Kata and Lowepro for a choice of rolling cases. Hard cases made of aluminium are ideal for airline travel or long-term storage/protection in a range of sizes from attaché case to large trunk-types. Pelican are the leading manufacturer. This make of bag/box is very popular when transporting camera equipment abroad, and for security purposes.
Check out this...
Finally, have a look at the Lowepro website. They show their full range and you can see many of their bags in use.
A Swedish artist, Sanna Dullaway, works with some old pictures and colourises them. She does restoration work and on occasion colourises old photographs of well known people. What superb work! Here is are links to some of her work and sites where she shows colourised photographs.
Irfanview… one of the most popular viewers worldwide!
I am often asked by my students and friends what applications to use for their photography editing and file management. I use a number of different applications myself – for different purposes. However, one application I have used for many years is in my opinion the best image viewer available in the world. And, it’s a free download for home use! At the time of writing it has been downloaded over sixty million times! It’s called Irfanview (pronounced “EarfanView”).
Irfanview... one of the most popular viewers worldwide!
Features and functions
The basic list of functions in Irfanview is shown above. In fact there is much more in this excellent application. For example there is a great little image editor, while simple and rugged, it’s accurate and effective – providing simple versions of functions available in other more powerful image editors. There are facilities for straightening angled horizons, cloning out the dust spots or undesirable elements of the picture, applying special effects… and lots of other things. Advanced users might use the quick and rugged features to do many simple tasks. Photography starters would find this application excellent as a way to get started in image editing. Irfanview is a lot less scary and easier to use than many of its contemporaries in this field.
One brilliant feature allows you to edit the photo, including adding text or making other changes, but without affecting the original. So if you make a mess of doing an edit you can go back one step. Or, better still, dump all changes. Any edit you make is only saved to the original if you actually save your screen version back to the original file. A great feature!
It is a portable application too. You can load it onto a memory stick and connect it to any USB enabled computer. It will run directly from the .exe file on the stick without the need to install it.
I could wax lyrical about all the features available. Frankly, I think it would be better if you spent your time downloading it and installing it. You can get to one of the download sites from the Irfanview home page .
Installation is easy
Once you have downloaded the application double-click the saved file. Next, just follow instructions. If you are asked about installing an optional browser-toolbar make sure that option is not selected (unless you want a new toolbar in your browser – it is not a part of Irfanview).
I advise that you download and install the Irfanview plug-ins as well. These are needed to ensure that the latest file formats are usable by Irfanview. The plug-ins provide a comprehensive list of available file types that the application can use. This includes RAW files for many cameras. Installing the plug-ins is easier than the main program. Download it and double click the saved file. Done!
Using Irfanview
This is a highly intuitive application. Most things are easy to do. Try just playing around with the available functions. You cannot do any damage to your files unless you save an image back to its own file. Otherwise, have fun. It will be a long time before you manage to try out all the features. This free program is incredibly adaptable and versatile. There are hundreds of options and settings – you can pretty much customise it to behave how you want. Even though I have Photoshop, LightRoom and a number of other editors I use Irfanview daily, often many, many times. It is so quick and useful that you will soon wonder what you did without it.
Particularly useful are the file management facilities. You can view your images much faster than most other image applications; easily copy or move files and save, delete or rename files from within Irfanview (singly or in batches). You can even send the picture you have on-screen to another editor like Photoshop for more advanced work.
Oh! And, one more thing. Be sure to upgrade Irfanview regularly. It is in active development. New versions come out every couple of months. Great new features are added all the time as well as new and updated plug-ins.
Have fun!
By Damon Guy (author and Photokonnexion editor)
Damon Guy (Netkonnexion)
Damon is a writer-photog and editor of this site. He has run some major websites, a computing department and a digital image library. He started out as a trained teacher and now runs training for digital photographers. See also: Editors ‘Bio’.
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have got some sample shots out for you to see. An array of shots aiming to put the camera through its paces. There is a movie too, so you can see the video capabilities. 
. It’s a simple tilt head which allows a camera to be turned through 90 degrees for either vertical or horizontal format shots. It features a quick release head for immediate release of your camera for hand-held shots. 
