PR Photogblog

Super-zoom Love: Canon sx40hs

2011-10-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

My first digital camera with manual controls was a Panasonic Lumix FZ20, and I loved it. It had a 35mm-430mm F2.8 (35mm equivalent) lens with image stabilization and all that glass was "Leica" glass, YEAH! Ok, so it probably wasn't the same as a Leica Vario Elmarit it was named after but it was sharp edge to edge, and it was fast, and it was a pretty awesome little camera. I used it a lot, and when I upgraded to a DSLR I missed many things about it, I really did. Which brings me to the point of this post. This is my mini-review (with a subjective emphasis on why super-zooms are super-great) of my new Canon sx40hs.

So why do I want a super-zoom? After all, I have a Canon 5DMkii, the dream of every photographer, and a Canon 60D the latest addition to the Canon Prosumer DSLR lineup. I've also got an Android phone with a decent little camera in it. What do I need a super-zoom camera for? Here are the reasons that I wanted a superzoom:

1. The swiss army knife lens: all the focal lengths, small, light, and no lens changing. This is the difference between getting the shot and not getting the shot in some cases.

2. The huge depth of field: there are times when you don't want your band of focus to be a couple of millimeters thick. How-to photos and videos benefit from having everything, or most everything in focus. DSLR video is bokehlicious, but sometimes seeing stuff in context is better. The bottom line on depth of field (focus) is that compact digital cameras and super-zooms in particular are different than DSLRs, and their lens is just another and different tool for exploring the world. Sometimes it is definitely not the right tool, other times it is the right tool. This doesn't replace the DSLR it just augments it.

3. Video autofocus: right along with the depth of field above is the ability to auto-focus and zoom smoothly in video. This helps you follow a story, or capture action, that can be a big challenge for a DSLR, especially without a full-blown shoulder rig.

4. Mechanical shutter for high speed sync with flashes: the shutters in compact cameras are different than the curtain shutters used in DSLRs. The DSLR curtain shutter has a limitation when synchronizing with strobes that the mechanical shutter doesn't. My DSLR's sync up to about 1/200th of a second. My new Canon sx40hs syncs up to 1250th of a second even when fired by radio remote.
5. Size matters: I have five kids and travelling light is a definite advantage in many circumstances. The super-zoom is not small compared to pocket cameras, but it is very small compared to a DSLR kit with similar focal length lenses.

So that's why I "needed" a super-zoom. Now lets take a look at my new Canon sx40hs. The sx40 is a really just an updated sx30. Key features are a 35x optical zoom with a 35mm focal length equivalent of 24-840mm (just, wow), with image stabilization, of course. It does that by having a tiny a 1/2.3 inch CMOS sensor. The sensor in the sx40 is the new "backlit" sensor with the circuitry moved to the back of the sensor to make the sensor cleaner and more efficient. It has a tilty-flippy screen (thank you, digitalrev tv), a rather tiny EVF (electronic view finder), and a pretty decent set of controls. This camera also has an outstanding video mode which, while lacking manual controls, does a great job auto-focusing, auto-exposing, and zooming in and out during video recording. Canon's control systems are consistently good but not quite perfect, and this camera fits well into their general trend. Let's look at some sample images to show what this camera is about.

Zoom Range
I wanted to show the zoom range inside. Most example show you how your zoom range brings distant objects nearer, but zoom also has more compositional function of either giving context or isolating objects. That is what I find most compelling about the zoom range of super zooms.

wide:

zoom:

Why this matters, really:
The ability to compose images exactly the way you want without any focal length friction. The chances are you have the focal length to do what you want to, with the flick of a zoom lever.

Wide angle for context:

Zoom to isolate and compose:

New Sensor and Image Stabilization
The sx40hs has the new CMOS sensor, and I think the high ISO performance is really quite good on this camera. It is not a Canon DSLR, however, it does remind me quite a lot of the Lumix LX3 I used to own, and even a bit of the the Olympus EPL-1 I had for a while (that is in sensor performance, not senor size: Bokeh is much harder to get with the sx40 than the Olympus).

I am not presenting the super scientific review here so I combined my ISO and my Image Stabilization tests. All photos are hand-held. The 100% crops are listed below. The focal length on this about 300mm equivalent and is close to the minimum focus distance. The image stabilization on this camera is about what I've seen in other image stabilization systems, and that is remarkable because of the increased focal length in this camera and the sx30. And the image stabilization in video is really good as well--usable hand-held video at 840mm equivalent is real, and quite amazing.

ISO 100 at 1/5 second shutter

ISO 200 at 1/6 second shutter

ISO 400 at 1/20th second shutter

ISO 800 at 1/30th second shutter

ISO 1600 at 1/80th second shutter

ISO 3200 at 1/160th second shutter

White balance and color transitions:
I have not fully explored the white balance and the color controls in the sx40. I'm used to working with RAW files where white balance is something I figure out afterwards. The two images below show the difference between auto white balance and the custom white balance.

Compared to the 5D MKii
5D Mkii image using the AWB to compare to the sx40 image above (minimal RAW editing)

5D Mkii Portrait edited in ACR

sx40hs Portrait edited in ACR

Conclusions
The Canon sx40hs has everything necessary to renew my Super-zoom Love. A super-zoom is just another kind of camera, a different tool. It is not a DSLR, and it isn't supposed to be. The comparison photos are put in not to show how the sx40 can replace my 5D, but how it contrasts with my 5D, and why I really want to have both cameras, and want to shoot pictures with both cameras.

The contrasts are really the reasons I gave at the beginning for why I like super-zooms. There are some weaknesses of the camera such as the data depth/tonal behaviors (especially in skin) and of course things like the lack of bokeh at most focal lengths is both a feature and a fault depending on what you are doing. Like so many things, at the end of the day, you need to basically understand what you are going to do with this tool, and whether it fits your needs and your desires.

The bottom line is that these tools are really quite remarkable and I think that sometimes they get a bad rap as being merely cameras for "birding" enthusiasts. They are certainly good for "birding" but the are for a lot more than that. For proof I definitely commend much of the fine photographic work of Phil Douglis also in my "Resources" links at the side.

As far as I can tell the Canon sx40hs is the best camera in this category. And I definitely recommend it, and this category overall. Give the super-zoom a try. They are very fun little cameras, and really can do things that only "Supers" can.

Sample Images

Personal Video Samples

Palouse Harvest

2011-08-31T22:09:00.000-07:00

Just finished my favorite assignment so far this year. The complete set of proofs are here:

http://peterroise.com/Clients/Idaho-Wheat-Council/

In the Surf 2

2011-07-29T08:12:00.000-07:00

Here's another set of images taken in the surf with the DiCAPac WPS10 Waterproof Case. You can see the photos from both surf sessions here.

Underwater (Rush 1)

2011-07-28T22:59:00.001-07:00

This is a rather quick edit with a first take audio track, but overall I'm really quite happy with the result.

In the Surf

2011-07-27T00:39:00.000-07:00

Got a DiCAPac WPS10 Waterproof Case for Christmas. I've used it a couple of times (still figuring this out). These photos are from the first time in the ocean. So far the camera comes out bone dry, the images are real, and the water is very cold. I'll be posting more as I make improvements (hopefully). You can see the other photos here.

Photoshop Class 2011

2011-06-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

Hey, Folks.

Joel Penney (fine art printer) and Peter Roise (photographer/me) are offering an intensive summer Photoshop class. There will be 6x2hour classes. The following is our general plan for now, but it may be subject to changes:

1. Tues July 5: Intro to Adobe Photoshop and family (Bridge and Camera Raw)
2. Thurs July 7: Basic tasks, basic concepts, and workflow
3. Tues July 12: Masking and masking techniques
4. Thurs July 14: Filters, selections, and brush tools
5. Tues July 19: Special functions (photomerge, HDR, video, etc.)
6. Thurs July 21 Cool stuff and miscellaneous extras

The class will cost $150 per student if you register before June 22nd and $200 after June 22nd. We do have limited spaces in the class. Also, it is strongly recommended that students have access to Photoshop; and it's even better if they have it on a laptop computer so we can do hands-on training in class. Classes will probably be held in our studio space in downtown Moscow, and probably from 7:30-10:30 pm.

If you have questions please call or email:

208-874-3433

peterroise@gmail.com

Test Post/What is this.

2011-03-20T17:43:00.001-07:00

Can you tell what this is?

Photoshelter's Favorite Blog Posts of 2010:

2010-12-22T14:26:00.000-08:00

Some real gems in the mix. Haven't had a chance to check them all out myself yet.

BEST OF 2010 BLOG POSTS by Photoshelter

Fun Example of Photojournalism at Its Best

2010-12-09T22:10:00.000-08:00

The American family farm gives way to a subdivision - a critical cultural shift across the U.S. Common Ground is a 14-year document of this transition, through the Cagwins and the Grabenhofers, two families who love the same plot of land. See the project at http://mediastorm.com/publication/common-ground

Chase Jarvis On Social Art: Interesting

2010-11-30T15:11:00.000-08:00

DSLR Durability Test: Funny and Interesting

2010-11-10T09:48:00.000-08:00

Part 1:

Part 2:

Seven Deadly Sins Assignment

2010-10-21T10:11:00.000-07:00

This is a duplicate of my post from the class blog here:

Seven Deadly Sins in Faces

I decided to try and use the power of expression in the human face (primarily) to communicate the Seven Deadly Sins, which was our assignment for this week. The sins are Greed, Gluttony, Lust, Sloth, Anger, Envy, and Pride.

Huge thanks and props are due to the volunteer talent from U of I that I worked with. And to Nellie Dimeler kindly helped me get connected with them and contributed her talent as well. I thought they all did a tremendous job! It was very difficult to choose just seven images for this post. When you're done identifying the sins in the comments you can click over to my web site gallery with the rest of the images.

But first you should help me with the final stage of this experiment as you tell me which photo corresponds to which sin. Thanks!

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Photoshop Forensics Video

2010-10-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

Very interesting... and kinda long. Still, interesting.

About Photo Software

2010-10-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

This is a response to a question I got on Facebook, based on a conversation I had with a friend several months ago. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it give you a place to start if you're looking for free photo software. Ultimately, I recommend Photoshop, or Photoshop Elements when you are sure you're going to do this more. There are many reasons that Adobe dominates this space, but the one that really stands out to me is the way their software integrates/lays out an efficient workflow. Also, if you have photoshop, take time to understand the workflow from Bridge, to ACR, to Photoshop, to me it's THE reason to use Adobe. However, Adobe is expensive and requires a nice fast and powerful computer, so the options below can be a great place to start your exploration of this photo-editing world.

RE: "What was that software you said was like Photoshop and can be downloaded from the internet?" (a paraphrase)

Well, there's GIMP which is open source but needs to be installed on the computer. It's pretty good, and getting better every year.

www.gimp.org

At "Aviary" you can actually use a web-app that is a pretty good as well. You want to use the "Image Editor."

www.aviary.com

I also like Faststone Image Viewer (www.faststone.org), Picasa which is good but I don't use it (picasa.google.com), and a very powerful free raw processing software Raw Therapee (rawtherapee.com) it can be used on JPG images as well. These last programs are not really a replacement for Photoshop as much as organizer/developing tools. Which is a very important task often overlooked when you first decide that you want to do something with your images.

Hope that helps,

Peter

9 minutes ago ·

Annie and the Queen

2010-10-08T12:49:00.001-07:00

Here's another stand out photography video:

Redwoods

2010-10-07T18:53:00.001-07:00

Henri Cartier-Bresson Interview

2010-10-06T23:28:00.000-07:00

The greatest photographer of the 20th Century (or one of them at least)... fun interview with Charlie Rose. Great to listen to while you sort and edit images. Watch out though, or you'll be distracted by his photos, and you'll have to sort and edit you own later.

More Resources: Lens Reviews

2010-10-06T21:49:00.000-07:00

Along with the new resolution to post more often, I have also realized I need to post many more of the resources. Some of the super cool sites I use regularly are not linked here, and that is just a shame. Look for these in the resources links at the side as well.

First Off: Lens Reviews

SLR Gear: Look for their little lens sharpness graph thing. Very slick.

Photozone: Great collection of lenses that have been reviewed in detail by Germans. Yeah!

FredMiranda: Personal evaluations of lenses from hundreds of different users. Just to get that other angle or perspective on gear before you spend your hard earned money on it.

Depth of Field Demonstration

2010-10-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

I often try to explain the effect that sensor size has on depth of field. This demonstration of three levels of sensor is a great example. Please check it out. Also, note that one is not always better than the others. There are times when you want the depth of field possible with the compact sensor; and that APS-C sensor on the 40D is a real sweet-spot in my opinion. This is a visual argument for the fact that APS-C is with us for good, I think. Of course, the 5D is lovely as well.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1032&thread=36514473

Metaphor Assignment

2010-09-29T21:44:00.000-07:00

I really had fun with the Metaphorical Photograph assignment from Mark LaMoreaux's Advanced Photography class I'm taking. Check out my post here. Then browse around and see other folks work too.

New Resolutions

2010-09-28T21:59:00.000-07:00

I need to post more frequently here, so first I'm going to link to a couple of old Rainbow Panorama's I've posted to TwitPic in the last 6 months or so.

Mini-Moscow

2010-09-22T16:04:00.000-07:00

I'm enjoying playing with my Olympus EPL-1 and the "Diorama" Art Filter. Fun stuff. Click the "facebook" in the upper left corner to view in HD.

Mark and Ed at Bucers

2010-09-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

I remember the jam sessions at the LaMoreaux Studio. Who-knew they were practicing to perform in a venue that didn't even exist back then?

Nissin Di866

2010-05-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

I got my Nissin Di866 back from Minox (had to send the first one back because High Speed Sync didn't work with my 5D MkII). Now it works, and I'm thinking there have been some other improvements as well. Also impressed with Minox support for the product. More on that later... maybe a video review.

A Gem From Strobist

2010-05-27T10:09:00.000-07:00

Check this post out, if you haven't already.

Photography Is Art

2010-03-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

We like to hang this art in our house and now I'm teaming up with Joel Penney Fine Art Printing and Poised Fine Woodworking Guild to create framed fine art prints for you and your home/office/etc. The site is still in BETA but I want to release early and often so enjoy, and feedback is welcome.

PETERoise.com

Lighting at 7000 Feet

2010-03-20T14:29:00.001-07:00

Mitchelldyer Photography is sponsoring a workshop on Mount Hood on March 31st. "Lighting at 7000 Feet"

Check it out here http://bit.ly/bNSkcM And you can still sign up... there are open seats!

Book Sale at the Studio: Fri-Sat

2010-01-20T16:55:00.000-08:00

This Friday and Saturday there will be a book sale at my office/studio. The photo is probably half of the books that will actually be there. There are Great Books, and Church Fathers, and Cookbooks, and Folio Editions, and even a set of Herodotus in Loeb edition. So c'mon by Friday 12-5 and Saturday 10-3.

116 E 3rd St. Ste 203, Moscow, ID

New Downtown Location

2009-11-05T08:44:00.000-08:00

Peter Roise Photography is going to have a new home. Even now the digs are being prepared for occupation. Joel Penney Fine Art Printing and I are going to share a couple of suites (202 and 203) in the upper floor of the building across from Keeney Bros Music Store. Here are couple shots of the street-level view of the entrance. Consider this a preliminary report... stay tuned.

Portland Workshop Audio

2009-10-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

Here are my audio files from the Portland Photography Workshop on Taking your Photography Business to the Next Level, sponsored by Mitchelldyer Photography. Lots of great info from a bunch of super cool photographers, and Grover (of Photoshelter fame).

1. Grover's Talk (1:35)

2. Panel Discussion (1:50)

3. Thomas Boyd (31)

4. David Bergman (2:24)

To find out more about the workshop and the speakers look at this post on Craig's blog.

Photography Workshop In Portland, OR

2009-10-05T10:03:00.020-07:00

So I went to photography workshop hosted by Craig Michelldyer Photography of Portland, OR. 170+ photographers were crammed into Conference Room A at the Oregonian on SW Broadway, for 9ish hours of photog fun. Here are some of the photos and if you click on the show it will take you to Craig's blog for more information.

New "Friend Rates"

2009-09-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

I end up taking photos at lots of different events, many times because I'm there with my kids. In the course of doing that I get lots of photos of friends and acquaintances. Now you can get some of those photos at a new "Friends Rate" on my web site. So, if you were somewhere where I was taking photos of my kids (and yours) mosey on over to the "Clients" link at my web site and look for your event. Chances are there are some photos there and that you can buy a full resolution (usually 10-20 MP) download with a license for personal use for just $1. Here are some of the galleries that feature this pricing:

Friends at the Park

Katie Saunders Dance Recital 2009

Singing Class

TRC Spring Bash

Reforming Business Class

Christian Karate Class

Farm Photos

2009-09-05T08:26:00.000-07:00

Here's a collection of photos of the Jones Farm out here on the Palouse. I'm thinking about turning this idea into something I do. I have to say I really enjoy the photojournalistic process involved in talking to folks, learning about what they do, and the stories they tell. So mostly I'm just looking for excuses to do more of this stuff. You can click on the slide show to get in and see the photos big and beautiful at my regular site.

Head Shot Special on NOW!

2009-07-31T16:52:00.001-07:00

If you've been thinking of getting a head shot for your website, advertising, publications, or marketing material, your ship has come in. I need to build up my head shot portfolio so for a short time you can get a head shot and the rights to use it for $25, as long as you let me use the shot for promotional use.

Call: 208-874-3433 or

Email: peterroise@gmail.com

New Look and Feel

2009-07-29T22:22:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a new look and feel for the "Official Site" at peterroise.com. Nip over and check it out. Please let me know what you think, if you think anything.

Hi, I'm Charlie

2009-06-27T14:07:00.001-07:00

Charlie is a handsome guy. Don't you agree?

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

Twitpic Post: Hats

2009-06-01T21:41:00.001-07:00

Kids and I got hats at the outlet mall today. :)

My Current Wall-Paper

2009-05-22T13:11:00.000-07:00

I really liked this photo. Hope you do too.

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

Recent Wedding

2009-05-04T14:44:00.001-07:00

After a late start on photos (about an hour)... stuff happens, luckily it wasn't my fault... I think we got some great photos. Everybody did a good job and kept their sense of humor. Thanks!

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

Brightrock Group

2009-05-04T14:32:00.001-07:00

So here's the new web site that is still in development but is open for review. I welcome comments and suggestions.

Blog Vs. Web Site: A Question for You

2009-04-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

Why would someone want to use a web site for their business when they could use a blog instead?

In a way this blog is one of the answers. Originally this space was a place to sell my photography services. Eventually, it became clear that this wasn't the best tool for delivering proofs to my clients, so I started looking at sites like Zenfolio and SmugMug. And I hope you agree that my SmugMug site rocks! Still, as a place to start, this blog was a great! It cost $0 and I spent much less time on the technical side of developing the site.

I found this article examining the same question. And I'm building up a web presence for a new business venture I'm working on here.

Please let me know what you think. Why would a business want a website and not a blog? And, of course I mean a blog that has been modified to work as a dynamic website. Comments? Question? I really want feedback if you have any. Thanks!

What DOES it mean?!

2009-03-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

One thing it means is that we're only beginning to see the changes that right around the corner. And I think it means that we need to think creatively and be flexible.

Nuart Multimedia Project

2009-03-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a multimedia project for the Nuart Theater in Moscow over the last couple of months. Here's a little preview of stuff we're working on. ***SPECIAL NOTE*** these are projects still in progress--read "Not Finished."

Recent Senior

2009-02-21T14:34:00.000-08:00

I did a senior session yesterday. Had fun with it. Here are a couple of the interesting ones.

Another Favorite

2009-02-18T21:50:00.001-08:00

One of the Best

2009-02-10T20:46:00.000-08:00

Best of the Week (Or Something....)

2009-01-21T10:23:00.000-08:00

So here's a favorite photo from the last month. Yes, I'm still way behind on photos of the week. I think I may have to change the name.

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

Panasonic Lumix LX3 Personal Report

2009-01-15T21:27:00.000-08:00

Now I know that no one needs me to tell them that the Lumix LX3 is a pretty cool compact digital camera. I don't think you even need me to point out that it's small and quiet and can be added to the photographic tool-bag in a position kinda like the Rangefinder used to occupy. However, I have seen a few discussions about the LX3 that, I think, miss the point; and I also think that some who have gotten or are considering getting the LX3 might like to hear how another person has found it fitting into his photographic efforts. So here's my personal report on the LX3. I do heartily recommend the camera.

Let me say, by way of background, that my first two real digital cameras (we did have a Sony Mavica with VGA resolution before that) were Lumix cameras (LC33 and FZ20) and I've been a big fan all along, even though now I shoot Canon DSLRs most of the time. I've toyed around with getting back into Lumix cameras at a number of different times but couldn't ever quite justify it--that is, until the LX3.

The mere announcement about this camera on Digital Photography Review convinced me it was a camera I needed to own. So I sold my Canon 30D backup camera (which I rarely used since it was so similar to my 40D) and I bought a Lumix LX3 to take its place. I bought it for the change of pace, and because the specs were interesting and unique. From an econmic perspective, a 24-60 F2.0-F2.8 Leica lens all by itself would easily cost me $1000, so the price looks reasonable, even though I know the sensor is smaller and noisier than my DSLR.

But really, the differences were exactly why I wanted this camera. I don't want it to be my SLR, or better than my SLR, or even like my SLR in most respects. I'm interested in the differences. The idea that one camera is "THE BEST," is just a mistake--the question always needs to be asked "best for what?" My 40D is best for formal wedding portraits and groups. My LX3 is best for carrying in my pocket on an evening out, and for being unobtrusive, and has the biggest depth of focus even at low aperture. I also think there is something about the compact digitals that makes them better for exploring different angles and unusual photo ideas.

Of course, the lists of which is better for what don't stop there--in fact, there were three main differences that attracted me to the LX3. First, the fact that it can sync with strobes at a higher shutter speed because of its different shutter; second, the fact that it takes HD (720p) video, and finally, the fact that it is small and quiet. It does go with me places I wouldn't have taken the DSLR and has given me some great photos (and videos), that I'm glad to have. And, with decent quality video that is easy for me to work with (it shows up and previews flawlessly in Adobe Bridge), I am becoming a videographer as well as a photographer. I have yet to do too much with the high-speed sync, but I expect to use that more this summer.

Here are the technical highlights from my perspective, so far:

The LX3 syncs just fine with my Elinchrom Skyports and my external Quantaray and Promaster flashes. I can sync up to 1/1000 without darkening. 1/1300 is darker, 1/2000 is too dark. On the other hand if you use a hotshoe flash as a trigger for optical slaves you can sync up to 1/2000 (max shutter) no problem. I found a smallish $.49 flash at Goodwill (and I checked the voltage ***WARNING*** ALWAYS CHECK THE VOLTAGE OF AN UNKNOWN FLASH BEFORE YOU USE IT ON YOUR DIGITAL CAMERA) and made a little paper diffuser/director for it and it's working well as a trigger for my optically triggered flashes. It worked great even outside in overcast weather. Can't say whether it will work in broad daylight, although of course that has nothing to do with the LX3, since we're talking about the slave flash and trigger flash.

I recommend taking the the ISO decision away from the camera. The LX3 is still a compact camera and the noise can still look pretty bad at higher ISO. However, at ISO 200 the images are smooth, and with the fast lens and OIS, ISO 200 covers most situations.

One other comment--I haven't settled into using RAW format yet because of the lack of support in ACR and because I don't want to mess with Silkypix. I have used RAW Therapee a bit, but am still not comfortable enough with it to give a full report. On paper RAW Therapee offers even more control than ACR and apparently better algorithms. Workflow seems to be more difficult than Adobe (big surprise) but getting better with each new version (I'm on my second version), I'm definitely going to keep RAW Therapee around and use it more. For now, though, I'm shooting JPG and editing in ACR, and it's working great. I've been pleasantly surprised while working on some ISO 200 JPGs. The image doesn't seem brittle or inflexible like JPGs can sometimes be. I'm very happy with the results even adding as much as 1.5 stops to the exposure, and using Recovery and Fill Light to increase dynamic range.

Here's an example I was especially pleased with. It was a difficult photo to expose properly and as you can see I exposed for the slide that was being shown.
Using Adobe ACR on the Lumix LX3 JPG I was able to achieve the version below. It is also worth noting that in this meeting a DSLR would have been distracting and disruptive, where my little LX3 was discreet enough to get by.

The video files are no problem to work with in Adobe Premiere Elements 4, Premiere Pro, and Corel Video Studio, but will not work in Windows Movie Maker. I'm not an expert with video, but I do know that I much prefer dealing with precompressed video from a workflow/ease-of-use standpoint. The HD video (720p) is about 5min 15sec per 1 GB. The audio quality on the LX is improved from earlier Lumix models but is still pretty bad. To try to cope with this problem I purchased an Olympus audio recorder which I use to record audio seperately when I need a higher quality audio track. The LX3 mic helps with syncing the tracks in post production.

The video below doesn't show the full quality resolution of the LX3, but it does demonstrate how the LX3 can be used as a makeshift but rather capable video camera. You can follow this link to a full resolution video--although it has been formatted by SmugMug's uploading process.

So, there's my two cents on the subject. I hope you find it useful. Please feel free to comment, ask questions, or even buy the LX3 through the amazon link to the right. ;)

Best of the Week

2008-12-23T14:56:00.001-08:00

This is, of course, a few weeks late. Still, I'll be catching up a little bit this week. :)

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

Recommendations

2008-12-16T15:33:00.001-08:00

So periodically folks will ask me what I can recommend for expanding their understanding of photography. I recently realized I really ought to put this in one place so that I can point to it. It'll save me time and help anyone who asks get a timely and complete answer.

For beginners I would recommend National Geographic Photography Field Guide: Secrets to Making Great Pictures, Second Edition. I have a new edition which is also good, but I still think the 2nd edition is the best version I've spent any time with. It covers the basics, gives lots of good inspiration, and is, of course, loaded with great photos to illustrate principle of composition, lighting, and technique. I've got a link on the sidebar to the amazon listing for this book.

If you get this book you absolutely must, read about shutter, aperture, and film speed, and make sure you read the explanation of depth of field. You need to know how your camera works, and this book does a good job explaining that to you. Finally, the tips from NG photographers are great fun and helpful too.

There are a probably any number of web sites that have these basic ideas explained on them, but not with such good example photos, and not in such detail. The book is really worth getting.

Once you have the NG book under your belt, or even before if you like to skip ahead, you should go over to Phil Douglis's web site and look at his pictures and read his explanations. It's an absolutely dynamite education in creating meaningful images using all the elements of composition, timing, and technique. Periodically I'll go and read look through some of Phil's photos to improve my own composition. His images are very thoughtful. At one point in time I worked through every photo in every gallery on his site. You have to make sure you read his explanations as well.

Eventually, you'll want to understand light. The NG book and Phil Douglis will definitely get you started, but until you start thinking in terms of controlling light you probably won't be thinking about light nearly as much as you should be. The Strobist web site is a great way to wade into the lighting world from the shallow, cheap, and light (no pun intended) end. Even if you aren't to the place where you can buy and use the strobist stuff, read his "Lighting 101" and you'll learn a lot.

So there's a start. I'm sure I'll expand this post as time goes on, and perhaps supplement with other recommendations. The focus of these recommendations is, of course, on the capture end of the process. Today, and really it has always been this way at some level, photography is much more than the capture of images. The eye to see the good ones you got, the know-how to sort them and organize them out of the rest of the mess, and the ability to develop, edit, and deliver them in whatever form they are needed are all part of the process--and that's a story for a different day.

Best of the Week

2008-12-11T16:29:00.000-08:00

This photo looks a little plain at first but it keeps growing on me.

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

Photo of the Week

2008-11-29T14:28:00.000-08:00

I took some food photos this week for Nectar Restaurant and Wine Bar I was pretty happy with most of them but this one of the Fillet Skewers is probably the one that makes my mouth water the most.

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

Photo of the Week

2008-11-22T11:51:00.000-08:00

Best of the Week

2008-11-05T17:33:00.001-08:00

Best of the Week

2008-10-20T12:18:00.000-07:00

A little foray into beauty photography. I'll have to do some more, this was fun--especially with my lovely wife.

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

Best of the Week

2008-10-09T19:15:00.000-07:00

Photokina--My Picks... Part 2

2008-10-09T16:24:00.000-07:00

In fact, there weren't any second round picks from my perspective. Here's what I wish I had seen.

1. I'd love to see a Sigma 50-150 F2.8 without front focus issues, and with Sigma's image stabilization (OS). Heck, I'd take any medium telephoto with IS that would challenge and serve as an alternative to the Canon 70-200 IS's that are $1100 and $1600... yikes.

2. I'd love to see some fisheye lenses, espeically from Tamron or Sigma--again affordable, please!

3. I'd love to see some of these HD video featured cameras coming with external audio, and manual video controls like focus and aperture. Obviously the Canon 5d Mark II has some of these and that's a good sign. More please!

4. What happened to printing innovation? Can we have some more affordable wide format printers? I'm still loving my Epson 1400, especially now that I've found 3rd party ink that claims to have the same characteristics as Claria ink. More of this would be good. How about better ways to display and package prints. Surely there are other photographers out there wanting some better more affordable solutions... or maybe I just haven't found them yet.

5. Strobist is a force in the photography world, when is Canon going to get with the program and add something like the Nikon CLS to their camera/flash system. Also, every time I start to get a little interested in a Sony DSLR I bump into the backward proprietary attitude that is so disappointing where ever it is found, but perhaps that most agregious example of this problem is the old Minolta Flash Hot Shoe, and Sony hasn't changed it. I really feel for folks who struggle with those. The point of all this? It's time to see the big players recognize the brave new world of photography where almost every serious photographer uses portable light for something--and demands a system that plays well with the various options that are out there.

So there's my little rant to wind up Photokina.

Photokina--My Picks... Part 1

2008-09-23T12:04:00.001-07:00

With Photokina underway (follow the photography news at www.dpreview.com), I thought I'd list the stuff that has most piqued my interest. And some of my take-aways as I look at the various new products out there. These are listed in order of interest to me.

1. Lumix LX3--this is a revolutionary camera (yes, I preorded one). First, they didn't add more pixels and they did improve and enlarge (slightly) the sensor. Second, they made the lens wider and faster. Third, they added a hotshoe. Leica's branded version is being marketed at a "compact system camera." This is not a totally new market, but I appreciate Panasonic's leadership in breaking away from the more pixel-more zoom, crazyness of current models (Nikon 5100, 6000, and Canon G7-10). Is is possible that people who want to carry a compact system camera sometimes might be satisfied with 11x14's? Is is possible that they might want to have a decent 8x10 shot at ISO 400 on the street in low light? Panasonic listened to photographers and has given us a step in the right direction, and handy little tool, judging by intial feedback from owners.
2. The Canon 50D and 5D MarkII--yes I want to consider these together. The 50D with 15 megapixels and apparent noise parity with the 40D while improving feature and adding other (especially AF microadjust) is a very interesting camera. That being said, I took a little time to do a little pixel peeping on the "comparometer" at imaging resource and the more I look the clearer it is to me that the Full Frame sensors are something special--something no amount of sensor improvement, software improvement, or added megapixels is going to match. So, the trade-up from 40D-50D... the one feature that tempts me is the AF microadjust. The 5D MarkII, on the other hand... someday... wow, what a camera.
3. Tamron 18-270 VC and Canon 18-200 IS--I really look forward to seeing these lenses. I own a Sigma 18-200 OS and it is a really great walk around lense. It allows me to travel lighter and get more in situations where flexibility is necessary. If you are going to have an APS sized sensor, you had better take advantage of that smaller sensor with smaller lenses. The one gripe I have about Sigma, is that the AF on some lenses is inconsistent, or in some cases just off (not on my 18-200). My Tamron 28-75 is spot on and sharp as a tack, and the reports about the Tamron non VC lenses are very encouraging as well. I have high hopes for this lens. The Canon lense will be interesting, I just wonder how bad the brand-name premium will be-- is that a $600, $700, $800 lens?
4. Leica S2--back on the topic of larger sensors, the medium format/large sensor world just got more interesting with the Leica S2. There are a lot of things to like about this system, but one that really caught my attention was the dual shutter system. High-sync speeds open so many more options when you are lighting. The LX3 should allow me to high-speed sync, which is one of the things I'm very excited to try with it. Back to the Leica S2, however, the system is clearly a medium format challenger, but because of its size and AF capability it will also tempt some photographers who currently own both a medium format system and a pro-series Nikon or Canon System. The Leica camera might convince some of the pros in this market to drop their medium format and their pro series body and just get a Canon 5d Mark II or a Nikon D700 to replace the pro-series bodies and a Leica S2 system to cover their high end portraiture and comercial jobs that used to require Medium Format. Whatever the case, it is new, and will allow those who can afford it to do new things which could change the industry in ways that might even effect us mere humans. And just let me say that this is clearly the Ferrari of the photography world. If money were no object...

There's a lot of other ineresting stuff like the new Lensbabies, the Olympus and Panasonic micro 4/3 format cameras, new Sigma lenses, Fuji's 3D camera and new Super CCD, and Adobe CS4. Imaging Resource and Digital Photography Review both offer full coverage of the event, along with many other sites, I'm sure.

My Kids--Photo of the Week

2008-09-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

So, I'm mostly taking photos of the kids these days--often at the park. They are beautiful models, aren't they? I try to bring you the ones I think rise above the opportunist snap.

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

Best of the Week

2008-09-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

Been a couple of weeks since I posted a best of the week. This is a recent favorite. These are my mom and dad and their grandkids.

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

Photo of the Week

2008-08-16T22:56:00.001-07:00

As you can tell, I'm a little behind in the photos of the week. These are Blue Angels at Fairchild AFB.

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

I can fly... sort of...

2008-07-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

Throughout the ages human flight has been fraught with trials and disasters. As the video below shows, I can fly... or at least I have done it. Unfortunately on my last take-off I did a bad thing and now my flying machine needs repairs. Nevertheless, I intend to keep on flying... trying that is.

And again Google Video is having a problem with the embedded video, so here's a LINK.

Best of the Week

2008-07-19T23:55:00.001-07:00

Best of the Week

2008-07-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

A week, is like, twenty days, right? Anyhow, here's one of my favorites from our vacation to the Oregon Coast.

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

Runners Up--Best of the Week

2008-06-05T22:09:00.000-07:00

I had a few other almost the best photos this week. Enjoy.

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

Photo of the Week

2008-06-05T16:45:00.000-07:00

I love airplanes, and this is a great one. A Rockwell Thrush with a Super-doer conversion. That's a B-17 (yes, the WWII bomber) engine--1200 HP.

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

Epson 1400 Review Update

2008-05-20T14:12:00.000-07:00

My Epson 1400 review still seems to be fairly popular so I though it might be worth while to post an update. A couple of things have happened since my review.

1. A few months back I started having a problem with a little blue toned band on borderless prints. I called Epson Tech Support and within half an hour they had decided to send me a replacement printer. It arrived relatively quickly and was a refurbished model, but it is working fine so far. Does this weird blue band issue worry me about the future? Yes, a little bit.

2. The printer keeps banging away and I've been rather random in the time periods between printing sessions. I always run a print head check, and I've probably only needed to run a cleaning cycle once or twice ever. This is great compared to my old Epson RX500.

Many who have come across this review were curious about the settings I used. I have answered this in the comments but I wanted to treat the whole issue again:

The first thing to say about color profiles and printing, and printer settings is that I am red/green colorblind. I can see colors and I do have detailed opinions about colors as well. I think I even often get it right. However, I am not confident enough about the color calibration of my eyes to want to venture too far from the default settings of my cameras/printers/monitors etc. I expect the average norm from which they start to keep me close to where I should be, so that I can tweak images as I see the need according to my best (if somewhat skewed) judgment. And, I use the eyes of others to double check my work and make sure there aren't any obvious problems.

So, why all that explanation? Just so you all understand why I am not doing everything I can to calibrate my monitor, use specific paper profiles, and become very sophisticated in my use of color management.

The settings that work pretty consistently for me are to allow the print driver to manage the colors.
1. Go into the "Advanced" settings in the print driver.
2. On the main tab in the "Color Management" area in the upper right-hand corner make sure the "Color Controls" radio button is filled.
3. Then in the drop down menu choose the "Epson Standard" instead of "Epson Vivid."
4. I leave the "Gamma" at 1.8. I always turn off the "high speed" unless I'm just printing a quick proof.
5. Then you just choose the paper, quality, and size options according to your needs.

This simple approach works pretty well for me. This gives me a predictable correlation between what I see on the screen and what prints out, and the two images are quite similar considering the different media. Different kinds of images can create some divergence--for instance snow shots change the color space of an image dramatically, so that I've seen some more noticeable differences from screen to print in snow photos.

Finally here's an updated photo example of the difference I talked about in the first review between lab prints and the prints from the Epson 1400. Notice the detail retained in the shadowed eye and shirt of the image on the right. That is the Epson1400 image. Again, the reproduction here of 4x6 prints do not do justice to the obvious advantages of the Epson image evident when you see the prints in real life. Hopefully this helps you see it a little better than the original example images I posted.

So, I still think the Epson 1400 is a great printer and a great deal. I'm not able to compare it to other Epson, Canon, and HP industry leading inkjet models and inks, but I strongly suspect that it would perform well against the pigment inks in terms of color gamut and dynamic range. What I can and have done is compare it to lab prints and it is clearly a winner!

Photo of the Week

2008-05-19T10:49:00.000-07:00

There can be a lot of debate about what makes a great photo, but when it comes to people the "I got it!" moments are usually facial expressions. There is incredible emotional power in the human face. Here my daughter is nodding her head and affirming something in an emphatic wide-eyed expression.

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

One More Photo of the Week (a little late)

2008-05-07T22:53:00.000-07:00

This is a macro shot of a pewter glass I received as a gift for being a groomsman in my friend Jamin's wedding. It makes a great desktop wallpaper!

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

Smugmug vs. Zenfolio and Photoshelter

2008-05-07T22:11:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed in the past few months I have switched from a Zenfolio account for delivering my photos to a Smugmug account for my main web site. Let me explain the whole process, because it's actually been something of a journey.

It all started when I wanted to deliver photos to a client--I had an offer from Photoshelter in my inbox, and I appreciated their contributions to the photography community and I'd used their "Collection" for stock photography, so I thought I'd give it a try. Within 45 minutes of starting I realized it wouldn't work. There were few options for viewing size, the upload process was complicated and the galleries seemed to be designed for some purpose that was unknown to me, with a lot of data input information required and something about "lightboxes." In the end, though, the real clincher was the missing options for viewing the images big and beautiful.

So, I looked at the other hosting site advertising on the Strobist blog (yes, I'm a big fan). I was immediately much happier with Zenfolio than I had been with Photoshelter. In fact I would have remained a happy customer if it hadn't been for the fact that again I hit a wall when I wanted to deliver photos to my customers.

This time it had to do with selling digital files to customers-- something you might want to do in this new digital age. Zenfolio had no way to do that and when I asked they said that they were working on it but didn't have any definite idea when it would be available as a feature.

Now, earlier I had dabbled in Smugmug and had been impressed, but the price was almost twice as much as Zenfolio. I got an email response from someone at Smugmug about some question, I don't remember what, but clearly it was from a real person, so I shot an email back at them saying that in the mean time I had settled on Zenfolio, largely because of the better price (the meantime was probably all of a couple hours, or maybe a whole day, but it wasn't long). The Smugmug person shot back another personal email saying that competition was great, and that they actually had a coupon for those who were concerned about the price difference to make Smugmug cheaper than Zenfolio.

I was happy enough with Zenfolio at this point that I didn't switch, but when I heard that Zenfolio wouldn't allow me to sell digital files or even to control access to the digital files with my own payment solution, I decided to send Smugmug another email. Again the fast, personal response saying that they did in fact have a way to sell images with both personal and commercial licenses for use. This was perfect for me and the coupon was still in effect so I signed up right away to at least give it a try.

It worked well, comparably with Zenfolio, although the UI seemed a little less streamlined than Zenfolio. However, one of the big advantages of Smugmug was the ability to customize every aspect of your page including turning the first page into a nice flash slideshow. I didn't think I'd get to that very quickly, but following the online tutorials it was relatively easy for a guy who has only dabbled in web design to get a very decent looking site going. Pretty soon I was figuring out how to design the Smugmug site as my main business site. Meanwhile the file delivery system is really useful and helps me deliver images I would like to give away with a personal license by selling them for a $.01. The penny just makes file delivery system work, and is practically the same as giving it away, with the added benefit that the personal use license goes with the image making uses and copyright clear.

Zenfolio might eventually become a serious competitor to Smugmug, and I think that is clearly what they want to do, but for now, I'd say Smugmug is the clear winner. And with their large customer base and helpful online community, they'll be around for a while, with or without competition.

New Web Site

2008-05-07T16:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks for stopping by. Just so you know I am currently changing my main site to peterroise.com from this blog. The blog will continue to exist, but as more of a blog. For now both sites will work, but you might enjoy taking a look at the new web site for more examples and a shinier interface.

Photo of the Week 2

2008-04-22T10:35:00.001-07:00

Here's a my second post to the best of the week series. I did this child portrait in the evening but that light on his face is actually from my cto gelled flash, not the sun. I thought it looked very natural and the kid was very cooperative and cheerful--mostly thanks to the parents who were being very entertaining.

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

Best of the Week

2008-04-10T17:13:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a new series of posts with some of my personal work from each week. For now I'll be posting them on Thursday or Friday, and after a few weeks I'll provide a link to the right and at the bottom of each "Best of the Week" post so you can go back and find old bests. Thanks for clicking in, I hope you enjoy the site.

It was my daughter Michelle's birthday this past week. I got a number of pictures of her blowing out the candles but I thought this was the best. Blowing is something of an effort for her since she has a partially repaired cleft in her soft palate. She got the job done.

Please remember all images on this web site are protected by US Copyright Law and are ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. If you'd like to use an image please make sure you get permission or purchase a license. Thank you!

NSA Basketball Game

2008-02-25T09:10:00.000-08:00

So a week or so ago I tried a new thing. I did some sports photography. It was fun! In fact, I realize I really need to get to more games whether as a photog, or merely as a fan.

Click Here to see more photos from the NSA Faculty and Freshmen vs. Upperclassmen Basketball game. You can purchase a license for personal use of the digital images from the game here. If you are interested please email me.

If you want to know more about how I took these photos check this out.

Zenfolio Albums

2008-01-07T21:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I have recently settled on a web photo hosting/selling/backup service. I was considering either Zenfolio or SmugMug. I decided on Zenfolio and so far I'm very pleased with it. My site isn't very well organized yet, but I think you can see the potential.

Sony W80 vs Canon A710IS; Or What Worked For Me

2007-12-26T15:29:00.000-08:00

For Christmas this year I got a new pocket camera--or to be more precise I went out and bought myself a new pocket camera. But that's another story. I say a new pocket camera because I thought that I had discovered my perfect pocket companion last year about this time--but I was wrong. Let me explain.

In fact, I almost don't need another camera at all. I have an old Lumix camera which is great, except for the fact that it will only record videos at 320 x 240 pixels at 15 frames a second--not really very usable for anything other than an animated thumbnail. So here's the list of what I knew I'd like in a pocket camera at the end of last year:

Must Haves:
1. VGA video (640 x 480)
2. Pocketable
3. Decent image quality (4 MP or above--although not more than 8, please)
4. Good price--\Like, less than $300

Like to Haves:
5. Image stabilization
6. Good High ISO Performance
7. Standard media card and battery
8. Manual controls

Dream List:
9. Hotshoe for external Flash
10. RAW
11. Great User Controls

So, as you can see what I really wanted was a Canon G7 or now a G9--and I admit that I would probably greatly enjoy such a camera but they are not in my price range. So after careful deliberation I came to the conclusion that the Canon A710IS would be just about as close as I could get. So I ordered one and played with it, used it on occasion, and carried it with me many places, but I just didn't use it very much. After 10 months or so I decided it was time to sell it, and move on.

As I looked back on my experience with it I noted a few serious drawbacks for my use. First, it was slow and unresponsive most of the time--the AA's just didn't have enough juice to make it go fast or long. Second, although it had a number of helpful manual controls I was consistently frustrated by the fact that a number of the settings would reset to default every time I turned the camera off. I wanted to leave it on spot meter and burst mode all the time--yet there I was digging around in menus to try to get my perfect combination every time I turned it on. Argh! Third, it was bulky--just small enough you wanted to put in your pocket, but big enough that you regretted it the moment it was in there.

So my new ideal camera--similar but smaller, faster, and cheaper. I looked at Samsung, I looked at (I don't recommend it) Sanyo, I looked at Fujifilm--in the end it was a Sony on sale at Office Depot that caught my attention. The demo didn't work, of course, but the Office Depot person kindly opened a new one and turned it on for me. I took a couple of quick photos in the store and I liked them. This doesn't usually happen. I'm a little spoiled with my DSLRs. Since the store was local I decided to take it home with me without really understanding the specs. Besides, I purchased on specs last time, and that didn't go so well.

So here's how the Sony spec'd out:
1. 30 Frames Per Second VGH Video till the card is full--MPEG Format
2. Very Pocketable
3. 7.2 MP
4. $150 at Office Depot
5. Sony's very good image stabilization
6. Pretty good High ISO performance--more below.
7. Sony's silly proprietary Memory Stick Pro Duo which is just a long SD card that won't work in anything but Sony devices and without which Sony devices rarely work. Grrr. And a dedicated battery--which has good power for fast operation and pretty long battery life.
8. No manual control of shutter and aperture--but exposure compensation and a spot-meter are pretty good.
9. Hotshoe--dream on
10. Raw--are you kidding
11. Now I like the user interface on this little camera. The buttons are miniscule but their functions are logical and smart, and they are responsive. This probably isn't the best UI ever, but it certainly isn't as bad as some of the reviews I read had made it sound.

And after a week or so I am glad to say that I continue to really like this little camera. The high ISO performance is based on a high noise suppression default--which means that you can get pretty nice, but a bit soft, ISO 400 or even ISO 640 images. Digital noise in an image is the grainy off-color stuff that gets worse and worse in your photos the darker the room is when you don't use flash. Sony's solution on this camera is to blur some of that graininess away, but that also blurs away some of the detail; so, if you are looking for absolute resolution out of this camera you might be disappointed. Like I said before, I'm perfectly happy with 4MP resolution for a point and shoot and I think that this camera at least achieves that in its usable ISO range (I would say ISO under 800 is usable for prints). Note that this is a subjective judgment. The key things that set this little camera apart, for me are that it is a stylish, durable, metal-cased, tiny pocket camera; it has image stabilization; and I picked it up for $150. Also, its controls are fast, it has a burst mode that stays on, and the video mode is just what I was looking for.

So, is this a Canon G9, of course not. Does it fill my need for a handy photographic tool that doesn't weigh 3 pounds and has video capability, you betcha. The bottom line for me--if you get a pocket camera, don't get too bogged down in the specs (these little machines aren't really meant for making oversized prints anyhow). Instead, pick something you like and that you think is fun. The best way to figure that out--never thought this ebay bargain shopper would say it but--buy local.

FastStone Image Viewer

2007-12-26T13:01:00.000-08:00

I recently saw FastStone Image Viewer recommended on the dpreview forums as being a way to quickly view your RAW files. Since it is free to home users and easy to download and install I gave it a try. WOW, I was impressed. Within in the first day I had uninstalled my previously used software (XnView). XnView is a great product, don't get me wrong--space is at a premium on my system though (aren't 10MB RAW files fun?).

Ok, so what is so great about FastStone? First of all, it is FAST. Can you imagine looking at RAW files that fully load almost instantly? The difference between viewing RAW and JPG files in FastStone is actually almost unnoticeable. In order to achieve this, it should be noted, FastStone uses the reduced size RAW thumbnail, so you aren't looking at a full resolution RAW file that quickly, but you can change this; and in my estimation it doesn't get in the way of what this program is really good at, which is viewing and organizing. You can use FastStone to adjust exposure, rotation, sharpness, and all the other usual suspects. I like the way it handles these operations and was impressed at every level with the User Interface. Which brings me to the other things I love about FastStone.

A lovely, fast, intuitive User Interface--I admit, it was love at first sight. When you first open the program it looks like a pretty basic layout: file tree on the left, thumbnail on the right. When you double click a thumbnail it brings up a full-screen view of the photo--so far it was pretty much as expected (but faster). Then you start moving your mouse around and at the top of the screen a drop down film strip bar shows you nice big thumbnails that you can scroll through, along with some of the menu options. At the bottom of the screen you get another set of menu options; if you click on the full-screen image it goes to 100% magnification and moves around the image as you move the mouse, until you let go of the click and then you are back to the whole picture view. Nice.

Learning the shortcut keys is easy and saves a lot of time as well. The all important "Copy" function is a simple "c" while exposure is "ctrl+e" and sharpness is "ctrl+l". So you want to open an image in an external program--FastStone allows you to set these up with short-cut keys. For me it is "e" to open an image in PaintShopProX2 and "Alt+2" to open up a RAW images in Canon's Digital Photo Professional. And I think you get the picture. This is a very convenient, fast, intuitive program for viewing, sorting, and even doing minor editing with your photos.

No matter what kind of user you are, you owe it to yourself to try FastStone. Oh, and I do have one gripe--I'd really like to have a dark grey skin for it, and yes, it is skinnable and, and, and.... just get it.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-20T09:41:00.000-08:00

He is the light of the world, and light is magic that reveals beauty and truth. Enjoy the light this holiday season!

Special Offers

2007-12-10T17:31:00.000-08:00

Click here for information on print prices and delivery methods.

Books For Sale

2007-11-30T11:50:00.001-08:00

I've been selling off some of our many books. I was pleased with these shots.

New Product Shots

2007-11-01T11:13:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks back I took some time to shoot some smaller items around the house to practice my product photography. Here are a few of my favorites.

Wedding Weekend

2007-10-22T16:52:00.003-07:00

Here's a quick edit from a wedding I shot this past weekend. Watch for more images from the wedding to show up here.

Friendship Square Ghosts

2007-10-11T16:26:00.000-07:00

Do you need model releases for ghosts?

Epson 1400 Review

2007-10-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

From time to time I use the front page space on this site to create a review or comparison of some of the equipment I use. Because there are many excellent reviews already out there, I try, as much as possible, not to reproduce a test I can find somewhere else.

Recently I purchased an Epson 1400 printer to get back in the inkjet game at some level and to be able to print enlargements up to 13 inches wide. My local Staples was carrying them on a sale and with an Epson rebate. So I picked up the printer and some paper from Staples and I was in inkjet-printing-business.

A couple of years ago I bought an Epson RX500 so I already had a basic familiarity with Epson's print drivers etc. The 1400 was very similar--in fact, the color management profile that worked for me with the RX500 is the same one what works with the 1400. In the advanced setting I chose the "Standard" rather than the "Vivid" settings and disabled the high-speed printing and the edge smoothing; then set for the paper size and finish. This combination delivers very consistent results and produces an image that is a very close match to what is on my screen, although with a wider color gamut. The prints were very pleasing on all different kinds of paper. The 1400 will also print on printable CDs and the results there were also very nice.

In fact, the quality of the prints surprised me. When I compared the photos side by side with those printed by a reputable photo-lab chain, I, and everyone I asked, chose the photo from the 1400.

Here's a side by side comparison of the photos I was showing people. The difference was even more dramatic in person.

Here's another photo to give you an idea of how it showed up in other photos as well. The difference were not as dramatic in every example, but the Epson prints consistently exhibited a broader dynamic range with brighter colors, deeper blacks, and better transitions. The detail in dark areas of the photos was also dramatically improved over the lab prints.

Initially I was thinking I would get a CIS (Continuous Ink System) for the 1400 to reduce print cost and just do lots of cool enlargements on the cheap. However, after looking at the print quality and realizing that these were not just prints I could do at home that would be close to lab prints--rather they were going to be better and preferable to lab prints, I realized that I needed to look for quality ink to put in a CIS, if I was going that route. I did find a number of 3rd party manufacturers who sold compatible ink, but in each case they were careful to clarify that their inks were not rated to perform like Epson's "Claria" inks (which the 1400 uses) when it comes to print durability and lightfastness. I even talked to a representative of one of the more reputable third party ink companies and he said he had tested Claria ink and his hat was off to Epson for the good job they did with this new ink. The bottom line: there are no third party inks out there that will produce durable longlasting prints--Epson's dye based Claria inks are in their own league.

So, as you may have guessed, I'm sticking with the Epson Ink for now. But what about that lightfastness and durability? Claria Ink is tested and rated to last between 50-100 years on display and up to 200 years in an album without significant fading. It's water, smudge, and smear resistant and, as I already mentioned, looks great. The downside? You guessed it, it's very expensive. $19.95 x 6 (for each color) from my Staples. And so, of course, you want to know how long these cartridges will last. Epson doesn't supply any kind of estimate, that I've been able to find, and neither do any other reviews that I've seen. Here's my best estimate of what I printed before all the print cartridges had to be replaced.

[Clarifying comment: All the prints below (not just one line) are included in one whole set of ink cartriges]

80+ borderless 4x6
30+ borderless 5x7
15+/- 8x10 or 8.5x11 borderless
3 exactly 11x14
2 exactly 13x19 borderless prints.

All prints were made at the highest quality setting with the the high speed printing and edge smoothing off. Prints were made on matte, gloss, and semigloss photo paper. I only had to clean the nozzles once. I think the cost of printing almost keeps up with taking your prints to a lab when you are doing the smaller sizes, and enlargements should be a better deal than at the lab.

So Epson has served us up another new printer with new technology and so far we might just say, "so what else is new?" The big news here, for me, is the clear performance advantage that this printer offers even over a photo-lab. And because it is a dye ink that has been specially engineered to last, we can have every expectation that the Claria prints will not only look better today, but should continue to look better for many years to come. The only problem is, this means I have to make my own prints.... at least for customers who want premium quality and longevity.

****Comment Disclaimer****
The more I look at the example photos the more dissatisfied I am with them. I may try get some better examples here if I can get the time. PR

Review Update Posted 5/20/2008

Engagement Photos

2007-09-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

Click Here to see the engagement photos I took for Blake and Peggy. The view from the top of that hill was stunning! You've got to love the Palouse.

Latah County Fair

2007-09-24T16:48:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's "Best in Class" (Professional). Thank you, thank you, thank you very much.

Much Ado

2007-09-10T23:13:00.000-07:00

Click Here to see some of the photos I took for the play on the poster below.

Family Photo

2007-09-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

Flash Test: Canon 430ex--Sigma 500 Super DG--Quantaray 900wa

2007-09-03T10:44:00.001-07:00

Here's a brief summary of my ETTL2 comparison of the three flashes below. I took a bunch more photos but they showed, as the photos below, that there is no discernible difference between the way these flashes handle the same lighting situation. I tested direct flash, and bounce from a different angle and used a couple of different distances and subjects. The results were all very consistent. I used a Rebel XT and A Rebel XTI in the test.

Also I regularly use the Sigma and the Quantaray, and they have different strengths and weaknesses. The Quantaray has a audible squeal, occasionally seems to have a blonde moment (not firing, or delayed fire--some user error may be the cause, which I suspect) but is easier to change settings quickly. The Sigma has more settings and features, is silent, but requires more button pushing both for flash settings and for rotating and angling the flash head.

Light

2007-08-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

Playing with light is one of the funnest things about being a photographer.

Back In Town

2007-08-22T12:58:00.000-07:00

Well, we're back in town after a very nice trip. I'm starting to get booked up so if you are interested in photos don't wait!

Our Moscow phone number: 2o8-882-o423

Oregon Coast

2007-08-12T21:57:00.000-07:00

We're enjoying our time on the Oregon coast. :)

Welcome to PR Photography

2007-08-06T07:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks for checking out PR Photography. Please feel free to browse the links to the right to see some samples of my work and for more information about the services I offer.

If you have any questions please email or call. Also, I'll be out of town until August 20 so if you need to talk to me on the phone please try our cell number 2o8-691-1441.

Play Poster

2007-08-06T07:43:00.001-07:00

Here's a promotional poster/flyer I produced this week for a local play production. Look for some of the pictures of the performers in weeks to come.

Reviews

2007-07-26T12:39:00.000-07:00

Occasionally I write a review of equipment that doesn't seems to be getting enough attention, or just because I absolutely love it.

Super-zoom Love: Canon sx40hs

The Flash Down: Canon 430ex--Sigma 500 Super DG--Quantaray 900WA

The Epson 1400 and Claria Ink

Fastone Image Viewer

Sony W80 vs: Canon 710IS--What worked for me

Smugmug vs. Zenfolio and Photoshelter

Panasonic Lumix LX3 Personal Report

The Haughty Housewife

2007-07-15T18:53:00.000-07:00

Digital Image Rights:

2007-07-10T18:17:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, the digital images that I make of you become my intellectual property. I own rights to that photograph. You have to have my permission to use it--even though you can surf to my web site and right-click and it is on your hard drive. If you use the image without permission you are breaking the law. Now this paradigm for intellectual property is probably going to change, but we don't quite know how yet, so here's how I'm trying to meet the future, meet your needs, and pay my bills.

First of all, I understand that when people have photos taken they often want to have access to the digital images for propagation and sharing over the internet. In a intellectual property situation this sharing creates even more copyright violations. In order to solve this problem I offer the following customer agreement. Please also notice that neither the customer nor any of their friends or relatives have the right (by default) to substantially alter the photograph. Still, I think this kind of agreement will free you to be able to post images to your blog that Grandmas and Grandpas, and other friends and relatives can view and save and even make their own prints of, like they want to, and as they should be allowed to.

License for Personal Use:

You may use the images for personal albums (digital or printed), for personal web sites, for personal prints, greeting cards, t-shirts, posters, etc. Friends and relatives are welcome to save copies from your web site, obtain copies of up to half of the images on the disk, and make unlimited personal prints themselves.

You may not use images to advertise your business, sell the image, or prints of the image, you may not make complete copies of the disk for relatives or friends—they need to buy one from me (at the $10 plus shipping), you may not substantially edit or change images without written permission.

Wedding Packages:

2007-07-10T17:46:00.000-07:00

A Note Of Explanation:
The digital age has opened up new opportunities and new expectations. Post processing or retouching is something that I can do to add polish and refinement to your photos--however, it can take up a lot of time, as well. In order to give you the best choice for your needs I offer pared down packages that do not include post processing or retouching. You can buy this service for as many of the photos as you like, or for none in the Basic and Intermediate package-- but it will be an additional charge. In the Advanced and Super packages the Post Processing is included. I will work on photos that I think would be refined, and you can request retouching as well. This could even include up to a certain point, "compositing" or "Photoshopping" in creative ways (read: "switch heads, change location, add elf ears, etc"). The bottom line is that I want to be able to deliver the best value for you, so if you have specific services you want or don't want please feel free to ask me about them. I recognize that Photography is one of the services that is being dramatically changed by technology and I want to be as flexible as I can be without compromising the consistency of my product. Thanks for reading.

Basic: $500
Formals and Ceremony—No Post Processing—CDROM for personal copies

Intermediate: $800
All Day photos—No PP—CDROM for personal copies.

Advanced: $1200
All Day Photos—PP—Basic Print Package: 1,2, or 3 Enlargments and 1 Album

Super: $1800
All Day + Rehearsal/rehearsal dinner + Engagement session—PP—Print Package: 2 Albums, 2, 3, or 4 enlargements.

Post Processing Fees for Basic and Intermediate Packages:
$5 per image-
$75 for 20 images
$100 for 50 images

This Week

2007-07-09T21:07:00.000-07:00

The contrast between skin and size provide interest. I'm also excessively pleased with the lighting.

About Senior Photos

2007-07-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

My own senior photos were taken at a studio in a small town in the midwest. They cost my parents a rather large sum of money and the photographer was reputable and professional. But I never really liked them, and today I would rather see almost any picture of myself than those. Unfortunately, I don't think my experiences are as uncommon as they should be.

Creating exceptional images of a person who is just discovering who he will be--who may still be a bit awkward or uncomfortable with that developing personality--is a challenge, and one that deserves a lot more personal attention than a templated pose plus sports or hobby item, or a traditional background with Sunday clothes, can offer.

In order to create senior photos with class that will last and a story that means something, I have seniors follow a procedure that I believe will help me to tell their best story.

Procedure:
1. An Interview is mandatory before any senior shoot. Both the subject and I should come to this meeting hoping to learn. I will learn what the subject is like and what he or she cares about; the subject will learn what looks good in a photograph and what kinds of things can be used to communicate in a still image. Expect this meeting to take up to fifteen minutes but not longer.
2. Outfits, props, and location should be discussed at the interview. I am open to many different kinds of options but I will not photograph anything immodest or tasteless (photographer's discretion). Outfit, props, and location should all be used to tell a unified story or create a consistent mood in the photograph. We will work together to create the perfect combination to tell the best story.
2. A Review of the subject will take place once the subject arrives for the shoot, to confirm that wardrobe, makeup (where applicable), and any other props or accessories are in order. If there is any problem the subject will have the opportunity to fix the problem before the shoot. Also, if the subject is dressed immodestly or inappropriately, I reserve the right to refuse to take the picture. The sitting fee is still due in such cases, but the subject will always be given an opportunity to rectify the situation.
3. An Assistant, Parent, or Friend must always be present when I am shooting a young lady, or any minor child. This is to avoid unpleasantness, lawsuits, and--last but not least--the appearance of evil.
4. A Re-Shoot can be requested by the subject if for some reason none of the initial photographs were acceptable. This may be provided at no cost in some instances (Photographer's discretion) but will never cost more than half of the original fee.

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