Taken with Nikon D5100, AF-S 300mm F/4, and TC-20E III.
Morning time, the light was warm and soft.
Astonishing details.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Juvenile Western Scrub-Jay
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
70-200mm with two teleconverters!
I gave another try to this combo:
70-200mm VR II + TC-20E III + Kenko Teleplus Pro 300
It seems it works!
70-200mm VR II is the only telephoto lens I have right now, so I don't know how does this compare to a real super telephoto lens, but the image quality looks OK to me.
I still don't know why and when it will work. A few possible things:
1. The light might be different.
2. Whether the VR on 70-200mm is on or off.
3. Shutter speed. A fast shutter is needed, e.g., 1/2000s or so.
4. Focus accuracy.
One day I may try this combo on a solid tripod and using contrast AF.
70-200mm VR II + TC-20E III + Kenko Teleplus Pro 300
It seems it works!
70-200mm VR II is the only telephoto lens I have right now, so I don't know how does this compare to a real super telephoto lens, but the image quality looks OK to me.
I still don't know why and when it will work. A few possible things:
1. The light might be different.
2. Whether the VR on 70-200mm is on or off.
3. Shutter speed. A fast shutter is needed, e.g., 1/2000s or so.
4. Focus accuracy.
One day I may try this combo on a solid tripod and using contrast AF.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Nikon D600 photos leaked
Nikon rumors posted some leaked Nikon D600 photos:
http://nikonrumors.com/2012/06/14/first-leaked-nikon-d600-images.aspx/
The D600 looks a lot like the D7000. The MSRP of D7000 is around $1200. So the earlier rumored price of D600, $1500, is actually quite possible.
There are also rumors about the D400. If D600 is priced at $1500, it will make sense for Nikon to release a body priced between $2000-2500. The D400 might be it. But D300s is not that expensive. D400 might be priced at $1700.
Nikon will then maintain two complete lines: on the DX side, D3200, D5200, D400 (I guess D7000 will be replaced by D400); on the FX side, D600, D800, D4.
Of course, all of these are just my guesses.
http://nikonrumors.com/2012/06/14/first-leaked-nikon-d600-images.aspx/
The D600 looks a lot like the D7000. The MSRP of D7000 is around $1200. So the earlier rumored price of D600, $1500, is actually quite possible.
There are also rumors about the D400. If D600 is priced at $1500, it will make sense for Nikon to release a body priced between $2000-2500. The D400 might be it. But D300s is not that expensive. D400 might be priced at $1700.
Nikon will then maintain two complete lines: on the DX side, D3200, D5200, D400 (I guess D7000 will be replaced by D400); on the FX side, D600, D800, D4.
Of course, all of these are just my guesses.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Nikon launches AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm F3.5-4.5G ED VR and AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR lenses
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Studio Photography w. setup & lighting diagram
Studio Photography w. setup & lighting diagram, a set by Stefan Tell on Flickr.
Stefan has a wonderful flickr collection on lighting setup for studio photography.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Olympus E-PL1
I have used this camera for a couple of weeks now, with the newer version of the M.Zuiko14-42mm II R lens and some Nikon manual focus lenses. The camera is capable of producing very sharp pictures, especially at the low ISO (e.g., 200). The JPEG engine is very good. The default white balance setting gives very warm colors, pleasing to the eye (but may not be faithful to reality).
But there are a few things that make this camera really difficult to use:
1. The camera has terrible shutter lag. This makes it extremely difficult to capture moving target (such as a baby). It is hopeless to focus on a child on a swing.
2. Focus is hard. It takes many presses of the buttons to choose the correct focus point. If I let camera chooses the focus point, often it will choose the wrong subject. I am still learning. It has face-detection, but that is very confusing. Sometimes, the camera detects a face, but when I press the shutter release button, the camera will focus on something else.
3. LCD is almost not usable under sun light. I bought a VF-2 electronic viewfinder (price new is $225?! I bought it used). I bought the camera relatively cheap ($150), but with the lens and VF-2, the entire package is close to $500. That is no longer cheap. VF-2 works, but in general, electronic viewfinder does not look as good as the viewfinder on a DSLR.
4. Flare under strong sun light (could be due to the lens, the camera, or both). I bought a lens hood. Which is optional and sells for $25 separately?! I bought a third-party one from eBay. What Olympus is thinking? Anyway, the lens hood cannot eliminate the flare, it could also be focus issue. Hard to pinpoint the cause of this.
5. Not good for indoor when the light is not good (high iso performance is OK, but not as good as DSLRs).
So basically, if everything is right (the weather is greater, sunny, but not too sunny; the subject is not moving; etc.), the camera can produce very sharp and warm colored pictures. But it is very challenging. It might be good for scenic.
But there are a few things that make this camera really difficult to use:
1. The camera has terrible shutter lag. This makes it extremely difficult to capture moving target (such as a baby). It is hopeless to focus on a child on a swing.
2. Focus is hard. It takes many presses of the buttons to choose the correct focus point. If I let camera chooses the focus point, often it will choose the wrong subject. I am still learning. It has face-detection, but that is very confusing. Sometimes, the camera detects a face, but when I press the shutter release button, the camera will focus on something else.
3. LCD is almost not usable under sun light. I bought a VF-2 electronic viewfinder (price new is $225?! I bought it used). I bought the camera relatively cheap ($150), but with the lens and VF-2, the entire package is close to $500. That is no longer cheap. VF-2 works, but in general, electronic viewfinder does not look as good as the viewfinder on a DSLR.
4. Flare under strong sun light (could be due to the lens, the camera, or both). I bought a lens hood. Which is optional and sells for $25 separately?! I bought a third-party one from eBay. What Olympus is thinking? Anyway, the lens hood cannot eliminate the flare, it could also be focus issue. Hard to pinpoint the cause of this.
5. Not good for indoor when the light is not good (high iso performance is OK, but not as good as DSLRs).
So basically, if everything is right (the weather is greater, sunny, but not too sunny; the subject is not moving; etc.), the camera can produce very sharp and warm colored pictures. But it is very challenging. It might be good for scenic.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Nikon D600?
nikonrumors.com just started a rumor about the next full frame Nikon DSLR--Nikon D600. The speculation are that it will use a 24MP sensor, but it probably will not have an internal focus motor. If this turns out to be true, and the price is around $1500. That will be an instant hit.
My feeling is that the speculations about the sensor and other specs are reasonable, but I doubt it will be that cheap. My guess is that the price will be around $2000. With D600, Nikon's FF line will be complete, D4 ($6000), D800 ($3000), D600 ($1500-2000).
Of course, it will be great if it turns out to be $1500 or less. It is not totally impossible, given there is rumor that the sensor will be made by another supplier (not Sony). If you think about it, D5100's price is only $700, if Nikon put a FF sensor into D5100's body, $1500 is a reasonable price. It is just we have never seen FF body that cheap before. That will be a game changer.
On the DX side, Nikon just released the entry level D3200 ($700 with kit lens). Nikon will update at least one of D5100 or D7000, maybe both (then the D5200 and D7100 will be priced at $900 and $1200?). Or better, Nikon can replace D7000 with a D400. Then the DX line will also be very appealing.
The only problem is whether Nikon can actually keep up with producing 6 DSLRs as well as the DCs and J1/V1.
I am not a real photographer, but I like to read camera reviews/tests. Comparing specs on paper is a lot of fun :).
My feeling is that the speculations about the sensor and other specs are reasonable, but I doubt it will be that cheap. My guess is that the price will be around $2000. With D600, Nikon's FF line will be complete, D4 ($6000), D800 ($3000), D600 ($1500-2000).
Of course, it will be great if it turns out to be $1500 or less. It is not totally impossible, given there is rumor that the sensor will be made by another supplier (not Sony). If you think about it, D5100's price is only $700, if Nikon put a FF sensor into D5100's body, $1500 is a reasonable price. It is just we have never seen FF body that cheap before. That will be a game changer.
On the DX side, Nikon just released the entry level D3200 ($700 with kit lens). Nikon will update at least one of D5100 or D7000, maybe both (then the D5200 and D7100 will be priced at $900 and $1200?). Or better, Nikon can replace D7000 with a D400. Then the DX line will also be very appealing.
The only problem is whether Nikon can actually keep up with producing 6 DSLRs as well as the DCs and J1/V1.
I am not a real photographer, but I like to read camera reviews/tests. Comparing specs on paper is a lot of fun :).
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