Now available to pre-order from Amazon, Canon’s new 200-400mm f/4L lens. Features image stabilization, USM for fast autofocusing, and a built-in extender that takes the lens to 280-560mm at f/5.6.
So the price is quite steep, but this is a heck of a lens!
Canon is entering the mirrorless camera market with its first entry, the EOS M. Releasing in October 2012, this camera is sure to be a great Christmas gift! $800 for a compact 18 MP camera. Of course, Canon owners will want to get the EF-M lens adapter so any of your EF and EF-S lenses will work.
Got a Canon DSLR camera and its built-in flash doesn’t want to pop up? Seemingly this has been a mechanical design issue for some time afflicting many models. The likely fix? Unjam the sensor in the flash hot shoe so it doesn’t think there’s an external flash mounted.
Here’s an old discussion on Flickr about this topic including a pic of the external flash detection switch/sensor.
Update: I tried propping up the metal tab covering the switch and sure enough with a bit more room, the external flash detection switch raised and now my built-in flash works once again.
The new Canon EOS 60D DSLR is now available on Amazon. With or without a lens.
The new Canon EOS 60D DSLR camera is releasing soon, and you can pre-order on Amazon. The 60D is an upgrade to the T2i which is the step up from the T1i and incorporates a swiveling (articulating) screen. Also the 60D improves on video and “button-ology.”
Here’s an early review at dpreview.com.
Still leaning towards the Crumpler 5 Million Dollar Home, but in the black or brown color.
After looking a more camera bags from Lowepro, Kata, and Crumpler, I keep coming back to the styling of Crumpler.
Yes, all the bags I’ve looked at are perfectly functional, but it’s that bit of pizazz that makes Crumpler coveted (but I’m not talking about their confusing Flash-based web site). Lots of good reviews and recommendations too for Crumpler products and after witnessing the Industry Disgrace, I’m poised to buy an “everyday” bag for my basic camera gear.
Don’t forget that I did get the Lowepro FastPack 250, but with its carrying capacity, it’s not the ideal take everywhere pack. Great for traveling, sure, but not so much for grab and run. I need something smaller and more portable, and Crumpler keeps coming to mind.
Add another accessory to my DSLR Camera Starter Kit. That would be the Crumpler Industry Disgrace neck strap. Yeah, so your DSLR camera comes with a neck strap already, but it sucks. It’s stiff, it’s rough, it cuts into your neck, and when slung over your shoulder, it slides off too easily. Trust your beaten skin, a replacement is in order.
That’s where Crumpler’s Industry Disgrace comes in. A little pricey especially if you get a cool urban camo print, but it’s worth the comfort. The Disgrace is softer and comfily padded (yeah, if comfy is a word so is comfily). There’s a real soft neoprene strip right where the weight of the camera meets your neck so instead of the edge of the strap digging into your neck, all you feel is that soft cool padding.
And stylistically done is Crumpler’s name on the underside of the strap, providing grip. Instead of coating the entire underside with grip (for too much traction), only Crumper’s logo-ed name is the grippy part. Nice.
So yeah, get the Industry Disgrace
Not as snazzy as the brown camo design that’s unavailable from Amazon, but this brown Crumpler “The Industry Disgrace” looks comfy and slip proof.
Not quite Starter Kit material, but this extra purchase should prevent some aches and scratches.
After talking camera lenses with those who know and knowing my reluctance to put down the big bucks for serious glass, how about the well reviewed Canon 55-250mm IS telephoto lens?
Just adding to the DSLR Camera Starter Kit.
After going on a short jaunt with my new Lowepro Fastpack 250 backpack, here are a few things I noticed. Â
The bag is tough, providing enough protection for all the gear inside. Â It also has a semi-rigid structure to help retain its shape and not cave in on your equipment.
At first glance, the 250 is large.  Bigger than I had imagined.  It’s not necessarily the right size for casual toting of your DSLR equipment, but it can hold it all.  The 250 has a laptop pocket which is more than spacious enough for a 15-in MacBook Pro.  The MBP slides in easily without worrying about getting scratches from the bag’s zippers.  This laptop space is also good for a notebook since it can’t fit anywhere else.  The bottom half of the bag held my camera and gear and a bunch of chargers, cables, GPS, and other junk.  I put the easily accessible items in the top half of the 250, stuff like my iPod, earphones, snacks, and reading material.
Although the Fastpack 250 is big, it easily fits in the airplane. Â The bag has lots of room in the overhead bins and slides in nicely under the seat. Â Because the bag is a semi-rigid and retains its shape well, it’s easy to stow without spilling over.
Even fully loaded, the Fastpack 250 was comfortable to wear. Â I more or less wore the backpack everywhere, not wanting to leave behind my equipment. Still there were no straps cutting into my shoulders and no backaches. Â I didn’t use the waist strap, instead using it like a bumper against the small of my back.
What makes the 250 a solid pack are its simple pleasures. The adjustable side pocket for water bottles – excellent! This pocket can accommodate small or large (1 liter) bottles of water. The side zipping access for the laptop and camera are are more useful in my opinion.
All in all, I’m happy to travel with my Lowepro Fastpack 250.
I’m still learning how to control my Canon Rebel T1i DSLR camera. While it takes great pictures, sometimes, it does things I don’t want it to do. The main thing I’m working on is focusing on the right subject and getting the right depth of field. Here are some examples of my untamed photography.
