Ask Your Photographer (13)

March 28, 2009

“I get emails all the time from different people asking similar Photography, Wedding and Portrait related questions, and Ask Your Photographer is an attempt to answer them.”

I have received quite a few blog comments and an email or 2 regarding my recent purchase of a Canon 5DmkII. The discussion got a little heated between 2 readers, and I had to close the comments. Either way, I thought it a good idea to bring the topic up again!!

Question. “Why did you choose to get a 5D mkII…?” etc…  (Including “why do you need a 5DmkII?” and “what do you like about the 5DmkII?”.)

Answer: – For my Clients, they deserve the best.

And isn’t that the most important reason a photographer purchases anything?  -  YES !!

 

And while some might like me to feebly attempt to state in a clear and concise manor all the reasons why the 5Dmk II is better for my clients… I wont. Because nobody really wants to read my raving on about something as simple as a camera body, now do they? Nope.

But many of my regular readers will remember my strongly worded post regarding Back-up Equipment and may recall me stating that Camera’s Fail, and nothing lasts forever. Yes?

Well, before the 5DmkII came along, I still had perfectly good equipment, with my trusty original 5D as my main camera, and a 30D as a back-up. But due to their age, I made the decision to retire my 30D and use the older 5D as my backup and purchase a 5DmkII as my main camera.

But thats not the only reason I have just spent nearly $4000 on a new camera.  

The higher resolution sensor allows me to easily print much larger images, which is great for Family Portrait sittings as well as Weddings, and it gives me more flexibility in cropping an image for use in a wedding album (especially the larger 15″ – 17″ Albums when you are running an image as a full page) and it handles higher ISO much better, allowing me to shoot indoors without flash if I want to.

Like I said, I could go on and on and on, but thats what Camera Review sites are for, so if you feel you need more, check out the best 5DmkII review on the web.

And in case you are wondering, the image above was captured with my 5DmkII & 17-40mm lens @ 21mm. ISO 3200 – 1/30sec @ f/11

Please feel free to comment nicely!

Filed Under Ask Your Photographer | 6 Comments 

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Image of the week (6)

March 27, 2009

Image of the week is a regular blog post thats supposed to run every Friday (But I have missed a couple and this is only the sixth post… so who knows !) The aim is to show you a little more of what I love to shoot, and sometimes its something a little different.

We went out last week for a little lighting demo shoot, to get my assistant Ryan up to speed on lighting, Kristie assisted with lighting, and I was the model… … ( hence the reason I cut the head off this shot… because we can only take so much of me before we all start getting queezy… right…? )

Photographer in a Kilt.

Shot with some simple cross lighting and I just love the colour !!

And for those that are interested, it was captured by :- Canon 5DmkII & 50mm/1.4 – ISO 400 – 1/100sec @ f/5.0 (shot at f/5.0 to get the camera and lens in focus as well as the “subject”)

And for those who are interested, I was holding my faithful Canon 5D & 70-200/2.8 IS

So there you have it. Oh, and please feel free to comment

Filed Under Image of the week, Photography, Portrait Photography | 9 Comments 

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Just like Mary Poppins

March 26, 2009

I have been dying to post the awesome news that I have added a new Camera to my bag !!

Its not a secret, its just that I have been to busy with Weddings, Family Portraits, Websites, Album design and well, Life in general to really get the time to sit down and write blog posts!!

Here is the first shot with my new 5D mkII, fresh out of the box (apologies for the messy desk and the fact that this post could get a little camera geek-ish!!).

 

 

First impressions, *smiles*… its just like Mary Poppins.

That’s right, “Practically perfect in every way”…  or, if you are not that into old school disney… then, well…  it’s just awesome.

Compared to the original 5D, its a big improvement in lots of little ways. Apart from the increased low light performance due to higher usable ISO settings, the level of detail in a 21mp RAW file is something that you just have to see to believe !! And its weather proof, so a little rain wont be a problem. Roll on winter weddings and those rainy day family portrait sessions I say!!

I have to admit, that I do own a number of different Canon D-SLR bodies now (too many if you ask my wife !! but I am not one to let go of things, and every photographer should have quality backup equipment and thats my excuse and I am sticking to it!!) and I can safely say that the new 5D is the cream of the crop. 

And yes, you are right, I could go on and on about it for hours, days even, but I wont bore you with that !!

Filed Under Photography, news | 13 Comments 

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Image of the week (5)

March 23, 2009

Image of the week is a regular blog post thats supposed to run every Friday (But I have missed a couple and this is only the fifth post… so who knows !)  The aim is to show you a little more of what I love to shoot, and sometimes its something a little different.

This post was supposed to be up on Friday Morning, but due to my busy self not being in the office most of the day, I didn’t get time!!

Better late than never – here is last weeks image !!

 

 

And for those that are interested, it was captured by :- Canon 5D & 70-200mm/2.8 IS @ 200mm – ISO200 – f/2.8 @ 1/3200sec.

So there you have it. Oh, and please feel free to comment

Filed Under Image of the week, Photography | 3 Comments 

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