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Posts Tagged ‘Point’

Mirrorless, DSLR or Point and Shoot: Which Camera is Best for Macro Photography?

23 May

Editor’s Note: This is part a series on macro photography this week. Look for a new one each day. The next newsletter will have them all if you miss any!

Cameras

Macro photographers have a plethora of choices when it comes to selecting a camera with this feature. From DSLRs to even cell phones, the macro function is becoming a standard add-on to most forms of digital photography. But, when put to the test, which type of camera will give you the best macro photography results? This article compares the macro photography functions of a DSLR, mirrorless, and point-and-shoot camera to evaluate the pros and cons of using each to shoot extreme close-ups.

To start, can you tell which of the below images were shot with either a DSLR (Canon 6D with 100mm f/2.8 macro lens), mirrorless (Fujifilm x100s), or point-and-shoot (Olympus Stylus TG-2 Tough)? The answers, listed in sequential order below the image, may surprise you.

Fuj Oly Can

1) Fujifilm x100s

The image on the far left in the above montage was shot using the macro function of the Fujifilm x100s mirrorless camera. The x100s has a macro mode and can shoot images as close-up as 3.9 inches (10 cm). Accessing the macro mode is simple, requiring just a quick dial turn; the results can be seen below.

Fuj Dragon

Pros:

Besides being an attractive camera with its retro body, the x100s has become popular among both professional and amateur photographers, thanks to its high quality features and ability to produce stunning images with its fixed Fujinon 23mm f/2.0 lens. At 15.7oz (445g), this camera is significantly smaller and lighter than a DSLR, yet it is relatively more affordable costing around $ 900. It also offers a unique hybrid viewfinder, meaning shots can be taken using the built-in optical viewfinder, or an electronic one.

Fuj Flowers

Cons:

The fixed lens might bug some photographers since it can’t be swapped out, and the 23mm focal range means you have to get really close to your photo subject. This could produce shadows or block natural lighting, which can’t be overridden without purchasing the optional external flash unit. An additional possible grievance is the 3.9 inch maximum focusing distance. Some of the other cameras mentioned below allow you to get much closer.

These shots were taken at an aperture of f/2.8 using natural lighting, in JPG format (RAW shooting is also available) with no post-processing.

2) Olympus Stylus TG-2 Tough

This little camera shot the middle image in the above photo montage. One of the most sophisticated, prettiest, and most durable point-and-shoots on the market today is the Olympus Tough line. It is your best friend for taking high quality photos while engaging in extreme outdoor adventures, and it has a superb macro mode.

Oly Dragon

Pros:

Waterproof, freeze-proof, crushproof, and shockproof, the TG-2 also has a 12 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and a high-speed f/2.0 lens. It is pocket-sized, although a little bulkier than most other point-and-shoots, and it only costs around $ 350 (TG-4 is the current model). This camera also has many shooting modes including two macro options: Super Macro and Underwater Macro. Both allow you to get as close as 1 cm to the photo subject, and additional magnification of up to 7x with the optical zoom, and 14x with Super Resolution zoom, which is closer than either the x100s or Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro lens offer. Its unique 5:1 magnification really makes macro photography a joy on this little camera.

Oly Flowers

Cons:

This is the only camera of the bunch that doesn’t offer RAW shooting or an optical viewfinder, but it is the only one that has a built-in flash. While the flash produces a balanced output in most situations, it isn’t helpful when shooting in macro mode since it tends to blow out the image due to being too close to the photo subject. Along those lines, shooting in macro mode on the TG-2 does require the camera to be very physically close to the subject, again making it easy to obstruct lighting.

3) Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens

The final image on the far right of the montage above was snapped with the Canon 100mm macro lens. A newer version of this lens recently debuted featuring Image Stabilization and extra goodies, but the older model still boasts spectacular, sharp optics at a relatively lower price ($ 549 versus $ 899).

Can Dragon

Pros:

Canon has a small but mighty line of macro lenses, and the 100mm is arguably the best choice. Its longer focal length causes images to be rendered at 1:1 magnification, giving you more working distance so you don’t scare away your living photo subjects, or cast shadows. Since this lens is paired with a DSLR, image resolution can be up to an astounding 50.6 megapixels if it is used with the Canon 5DS. That’s a huge number compared to the 16.3 megapixels on the Fujifilm or 12 megapixels on the Olympus.

Can Flowers

Cons:

At 20.6 oz (584.2 g), the 100mm macro lens is by far the bigger, heavier, option of the three. With a cost of $ 550-899, and the requirement of using it with a Canon DSLR, this is also the most expensive macro photography tool.

Conclusion

So which camera option is the best for macro photography? It truly depends on how you define “best.” In moments when you need a compact option, the Fujifilm x100s or Olympus Tough point and shoot are the better options, the latter being the better deal for budget or extreme sports shooters. However, if high-quality, professional imagery is your goal, a DSLR with a macro lens is your best bet.


macro-coverWant to learn more about macro photography? Check out Ed Versosky’s Introduction to Close-Up & Macro Photography ebook – just $ 10 (over 30% off) this week with coupon code: DPS. You will need to enter the code to apply the discount.

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The post Mirrorless, DSLR or Point and Shoot: Which Camera is Best for Macro Photography? by Suzi Pratt appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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Mesmerizing Motion Capture: Dance as Point Cloud Data

14 Apr

[ By Steph in Art & Photography & Video. ]

motion capture 1

The graceful movements of a professional dancer are rendered as a cloud of flickering metallic dots using inexpensive Xbox Kinect sensors and 3D tools. Constantly shifting and changing even as the dancer stands still, the data points create a ghostly impression against a black backdrop, seeming to embody motion itself.

motion capture 8

motion capture 6

motion capture 4

Asphyxia is a collaborative experimental film project by Maria Takeuchi and Federico Phillips, performed by Shiho Tanaka, combining various technologies to stress “the desire to be expressive without limits.” The sensors scanned data points on Tanaka’s body, which were then combined and used as the basis for the creative development of the film.

motion capture 3

motion capture 5

motion capture 2

The filmmakers rendered the data into this hauntingly abstract form, placing it in a photorealistic environment to add to the eerie quality of the finished product. Check out the behind-the-scenes process above to learn more about how it was made.

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[ By Steph in Art & Photography & Video. ]

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Posted in Creativity

 

Point & Shoot: 8-Bit Gameboy Gun Takes and Prints Pictures

02 Apr

[ By Steph in Gaming & Computing & Technology. ]

photo gun 1

This fun bit of retrofuturistic tech genius looks like an ‘80s designer’s idea of a high-tech camera smashed up with a toy gun, and it actually works, taking and printing photos. Russian artist Dmitry Morozov combined a GameBoy screen with an Arduino processor, a camera, optical relays and an original GameBoy thermal printer.

photo gun 2

The ‘gbg-8’ is attached to a plastic toy gun so you can literally ‘point and shoot.’ To take a photo, you pull the trigger (which might make selfies a bit… uncomfortable.)

photo gun 4

photo gun 3

As soon as the image is captured, the gadget prints out a streaky, blurry, pixelated image, just like we remember from the heyday of Nintendo. It may not be the greatest quality, but that’s hardly the point.

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[ By Steph in Gaming & Computing & Technology. ]

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On point: Steve Vaccariello’s dance photography

16 Feb

‘I do not touch my dance work with Photoshop. Never!’ says portrait photographer Steve Vaccariello – a bold statement in the digital age. But he’s no luddite. His extended portfolio of commercial, celebrity and beauty work has certainly seen its share of image enhancement. When working with dancers, Vaccariello likes to use reductionist lighting designed to stay out of the way of the movements of the performers. See his work and find out more about him. See gallery

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon announces ‘G3 X’ with 25x zoom, to become available… at some point

07 Feb

Canon has announced plans for a ‘PowerShot G3 X’ enthusiast compact with a 1-inch type sensor and a 24-600mm equivalent lens. The company hasn’t released much more detail at this time, but it’s obvious from appearances that the G3 X is close in spirit to both the PowerShot G7 X and the G1 X Mark II. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Tamron announces SP 15-30mm F/2.8 release date and $1200 price point

24 Jan

Tamron has announced availability and pricing for its much-anticipated 15-30mm F/2.8 stabilized wide angle zoom. Set for availability on January 30th in Canon and Nikon mounts with Sony to follow later, the lens will retail for $ 1199. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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B&W Challenge Day 1 – Point Reyes National Seashore Clouds

29 Oct

My friend Kelly Castro recently challenged me to the 5 Day B&W Photo Challenge on Facebook so I thought I would share my entries. The challenge is merely for fun and an exercise to think creatively. Having been in Dad mode the past several months I thought this would be a good way to get back in the game.

The photo above was taken in the Point Reyes National Seashore where I was tuning up and trying out some new gear. Taken mid-day on a bright sunny day I was trying out a Singh-ray More-Slo 10-stop filter. The effort was experimental and the output translated nicely to a textured black and white image.  Stay tuned for more B&W.

I should also note that the B&W challenge requires that I invite another photographer to take part each day. Today I nominate Richard Wong.

Copyright Jim M. Goldstein, All Rights Reserved

B&W Challenge Day 1 – Point Reyes National Seashore Clouds

The post B&W Challenge Day 1 – Point Reyes National Seashore Clouds appeared first on JMG-Galleries – Landscape, Nature & Travel Photography.

       

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Opinion: Why the death of the point and shoot benefits photographers

19 Sep

The death of the point-and-shoot compact has been disastrous for all the major camera manufacturers, but it’s not all bad news. Manufacturers  are clambering over themselves to offer the most attractive features to the last group of people willing to pay for a good camera, spurring the kind of innovation we’ve not seen in a long time. Find out why we think photographers are reaping the greatest benefits from the decline of the point-and-shoot. Read more

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Amazon launch planned for June 18, rumors point to 3D eye-tracking phone

06 Jun

amazon_device.jpg

Amazon has scheduled a product launch for later this month at its headquarters in Seattle, WA. We are not being told what type of device we should expect but Amazon has started to tease the new model with a picture of one of its corners and a video showing users looking down at a device and reacting with statements like “It moved with me”. The teaser seems to support rumors from late last year that Amazon could be planning a smartphone with a 3D eye-tracking user interface using multiple cameras. Click through for more information at connect.dpreview.com.

News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Change Your Point of View – Literally

04 Apr
Canon Powershot G16; Exposure 1/60, f/1.8, ISO 640. Lens was zoomed all the way out to 6.1mm (28mm equivalent on a full-frame camera)

Canon Powershot G16; Exposure 1/60, f/1.8, ISO 640. Lens was zoomed all the way out to 6.1mm (28mm equivalent on a full-frame camera)

When starting out in photography, it’s easy to focus (pardon the pun) on the gear and learning about proper exposure, that you can overlook one of the easiest ways to improve your images, whether you use a DSLR, a point and shoot camera, or even just your cell phone’s camera.  It’s amazing how a simple change of your point of view can make a bland image, into something much more exciting.

Get off of the usual eye level

When presented with a scene, try and think of unique ways to view it.  Think about getting up high, getting as low as possible, or somewhere in between.  The main thing is, try to avoid viewing the scene, and shooting the scene, at eye level.  Everyone in the world sees things from eye level. To create a really eye catching photo, a good place to start is by getting out of most people’s eye level range. This can be as simple as dropping to one knee, laying on the floor, or getting up on a step ladder. Look through your viewfinder as you try different points of view. If you’re using a zoom lens, try zooming it over the entire range from these different points of view to see how that affects the image.  I find the combination of getting low and close, and then using a wide angle lens is a great way to get started.

Get down low

In the image at the top of this article, I used a Canon Powershot G16, and creeped in low and close to the birthday cake, to get my son’s expression as he blew out the candles. I wanted the glow of the candles on his face, and I wanted something with more impact than the standard eye level shot from a normal distance.  I wanted something with a little impact.  Is it the best shot I ever took? Definitely not.  But it’s probably the best “blow out your candles” shot I ever took!

EOS 5D Mark III; with EF 8-15 f/4L. 1/60, f/4, ISO 800.

EOS 5D Mark III; with EF 8-15 f/4L. 1/60, f/4, ISO 800.

Take the high road

By the same token, getting a higher angle can also add some impact to your image. In the image above, I wanted to capture the newly married couple on the dance floor, surrounded by friends and family, and the jubilation that goes with a wedding celebration. To get this shot, rather than use a step ladder, I simply mounted the camera on a monopod with the Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L fisheye zoom.  I used the TC-80N3 remote to fire the camera. The wide angle accentuates the higher point of view and allows me to get plenty of background action as well. I mounted a flash on the camera, and the light falloff created a spotlight effect on the couple, and falls off softly toward the corners.  The wide angle also helps to ensure the subject is in the frame, since I am essentially doing this shot blind, unable to see the image through the viewfinder. Ultimately, the elevated point of view is one that most people don’t see, so it adds interest to the shot that wouldn’t be there had I simply been photographing from eye level.

EOS 1D Mark III, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS. 1/80, f/8, ISO 800.

EOS 1D Mark III, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS. 1/80, f/8, ISO 800.

The same is true with landscape photography as well. In the image above, I was able to get on one of the upper floors of the Hancock Tower in Boston, which gave a spectacular view of the city. The pattern created by this Back Bay neighborhood when viewed from above made a great scene through the viewfinder.  After that, it was just a matter of framing the shot, and getting the exposure right.

EOS-1D Mark III with EF 24-105 f/4L IS. 1/60, f/8, ISO 400.

EOS-1D Mark III with EF 24-105 f/4L IS. 1/60, f/8, ISO 400.

Look in all directions

On that same day, as I was leaving the Hancock Tower, I was taken by the architecture of the building just across the street. However, I wasn’t thrilled with the scene overall, when looking directly at the building.  But then I turned around and looked at the building another way, through its reflection in the Hancock Tower. I happened to catch a businessman walking into the Hancock Tower, which added some interest as well.  The image to the left is what I captured.  By changing my point of view, through the reflection, I was able to take an average scene and add a little more interest.

Try to see these other points of view as much as possible. Make it a habit not to settle for your eye level as the only shot you take.  Look for ways to get high, or a lower angle that can really change perspective for you.  The more you force yourself to do this kind of exercise, the easier it will become for you to imagine these points of view before you even put your camera to your eye.

EOs 5D Mark II with EF 14mm f/2.8L II. 1/100, f/11, ISO 200.

EOS 5D Mark II with EF 14mm f/2.8L II. 1/100, f/11, ISO 200.

For more ideas on shifting your perspective try these articles:

  • The Power of Perspective in Photography
  • Perspective in Photography – Don’t just stand there move your feet!
  • Get Down Low For a Unique Perspective
  • Get a New Perspective By Getting High… with your Camera

The post Change Your Point of View – Literally by Rick Berk appeared first on Digital Photography School.


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