Canon U.S.A has announced a firmware update is being worked on to address the ‘phenomenon’ wherein its EOS-1D X Mark III DSLR camera will lock up under certain conditions.
Previously, we reported on a number of incidents wherein Canon’s latest flagship DSLR would lock up when pressing down the shutter in certain modes. While the exact cause remains unconfirmed, Canon’s changelog for the forthcoming firmware update suggests the bug is caused when the electronic level is turned on in the viewfinder display. Below is the exact text from Canon:
‘The phenomenon may occur when the camera is being used with the electronic level set to “Show” in the viewfinder display. In rare cases, the camera may not perform as it was designed to when operating the AF-ON button or shutter button.’
Note the magnified section, which appears to show a part of the interface used for the OVF level function. This would suggest Canon’s diagnosis of the level feature causing the lockups is accurate for at least one of the original cases we reported on.
Below is a video provided by DPReview reader Hamilton Pytluk, who showed how the bug was affecting shooting. At the time of our initial coverage, it wasn’t known what was causing this issue, but if you look closely (it’s only visible for a few frames), it does appear as though Pytluk had the level showing in the optical viewfinder, which Canon is suggesting is the problem causing the lockups.
Canon says the firmware update will be available in ‘early April,’ but in the meantime, it’s possible to prevent the locking by hiding the ‘Electronic level’ within the ‘Viewfinder display’ sub-menu, as shown in the below menu screenshots provided by Canon. Canon has provided a guide to disabling the viewfinder on its update page.
We will cover the release when the firmware is published, but you can also keep an eye out on the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III product support page.
Photographer and DIY camera-extraordinaire Brendan Barry has shared a how-to video showing how you can turn a room in your home into a camera, and how to record the images it creates. Throughout the 30-minute video, he shows whole process from finding a suitable room and picking a lens right through to making the exposure and then creating a positive print. Although he shows the process using black and white photographic paper he also explains how pictures can be made using digital cameras.
‘It’s a bit of fun really’ Brendan explained to DPReview, ‘and a fun way to do something creative if you are confined to the house during this Coronavirus outbreak. I love the process as it playfully breaks down how pictures are made and allows us to see photography in a different way.’
In the video Brendan shows the effects of a series of lenses mounted onto a blacked out window, including a lens from a pair of glasses and a magnifying glass, but says if DPR readers want to get the best possible quality they should be picky about what lens they use. ‘In the video I quickly show a process lens. If you have one, this is what will give you the best results. They are designed to make very big prints and will allow you extra clarity and resolution. They don’t have to be expensive, and decent ones can be found on auction sites. If you measure your wall and find it is 2 metres across you’ll need a 2500mm lens, but you don’t have to make prints that big!’
‘If you are going to use a magnifying glass find a good quality one, not one with a cheap plastic lens – and the bigger the better. If it turns out to be too big you can always reduce the aperture by cutting a circular hole in a disc of card and sticking it over the lens. This will control the amount of light passing through it on a bright day. In the video I show a very roughly cut-out hole, but a smooth and even hole will produce better results. You can also buy great meniscus lenses from Amazing Camera Obscura that are ideal for making a room-sized camera.’
The projected image from the window shown from behind on a sheet of diffusing material
The tutorial shows Brendan mounting a sheet of photographic paper to make a paper negative that, once processed, is then contact printed with another sheet to create a final positive print. ‘I really like this process, and making the contact print while the original negative is still wet creates a beautiful soft look that can’t be got back once the negative has dried. However, if you’d rather shoot using a digital camera you can photograph the projected image from behind, as I show in the video, or you can project the image onto a high quality smooth white surface and photograph that from the front. Position your camera right next to the lens mounted on the window. You won’t be able to shoot it absolutely square-on, but you can fix the distortion in software afterward.’
‘Blacking out the window and mounting the lens only takes about an hour, but there are days of entertainment to be had once you get going.’
Making a room into a camera is one of Brendan’s more straight-forward projects; in the past he’s made a camera from a melon, another from a loaf of bread and one from a slab of cheese. He also has a shipping container that serves as camera and darkroom all-in-one.
You can see some of the other cameras Brendan has made, and how he made them, on his web site.
Slideshow: Nikon Australia Announces 2020 Surf Photo of the Year finalists
Nikon Australia has announced the finalists for its 8th annual Nikon Surf Photo and Video of the Year Awards. The leading optics and imaging company partnered with Surfing Australia to invite photographers and videographers of all skill levels to enter the competition. 20 images were selected along with three videos for consideration.
‘The Awards are a hugely important event on our calendar because they give the Australian surfing community a chance to honour our best, whether it be in the water competing or behind a lens. Inducting our latest Hall of Fame member is always a massive moment we cherish,’ says Chris Mater, CEO of Surfing Australia.
Images and videos were selected from a panel of 10 judges in the surfing industry, including seven-time World Surfing Champion and Nikon Brand Ambassador, Stephanie Gilmore. Entries were judged on the following criteria:
Innovation and creativity
Dramatic effect and sensory impact
Uniqueness
Composition of the panel
All finalist images and videos can be viewed here. Winners will be announced March 25th on what Nikon deems ‘an exciting new television format.’
Finalist: ‘Warrior’ by Greg Rugli
About this photo: ‘Motion blur photo of a surfer riding a large wave at sunset, Bronte Beach, Sydney, Australia.’
Finalist: ‘Portugal Sunset’ by Peter ‘JOLI’ Wilson
About this photo: ‘Post surf catch up after a late session near Peniche.’
Finalist: ‘Duck Dive’ by Matt Dunbar
About this photo: ‘This is from my first trip to Tahiti I really wanted to walk away with a shot that was different. I was swimming with a big dome port to try and shoot “over unders.” The water clarity was a dream and I got lucky to shoot back as a surfer duck dived. Easily the favourite swim of my life.’
Finalist: ‘The Right’ by Ren McGann
About this photo: ‘No matter how many trips you do, some waves always stand out amongst the rest.’
Finalist: ‘Froth Monster’ by Travis Johnson
About this photo: ‘I was shooting little Harry at a bit of a secret spot the groms love to frequent on the Gold Coast for shallow little drainers and close out barrels. As he took off I moved across the front of him and heard him yelling out as the barrel began to encase him, his eyes wide and looking up at the roof of the wave almost in awe. As I passed through the wave my only thought was “did he make it?” I surfaced on the other side I heard an ecstatic voice yell out “I made it! I made it!’
Finalist: ‘No Looking Back’ by Peter Jovic
About this photo: ‘Some heavy water during a solid Indian Ocean swell and an unnamed local charger racing the gauntlet as the sun begins to set in the west. There’s no helicopters, no fanfare. Just an individual dealing with what mother nature has put in front of him…or behind him. The prospect is (apart from drowning) a long swim in waters that are very lively with large marine creatures.’
Finalist: ‘Cascade’ by Ray Collins
About this photo: ‘Flowing with great rapidity and force.’
Finalist: ‘Jack in the Box’ by Tom Pearsall
About this photo: ‘Jack Robinson gritting his teeth and holding his line through a deadly section in remote Western Australia. Shot at f/3.2, a 16 thousand of a second and 160mm creates a frozen moment that in real time was violently fast, with an interesting depth of field. As the wave roared past it almost grabbed me and my housing and ground us into the reef.’
Finalist: ‘The Big Bang’ by Ray Collins
About this photo: ‘A violent ignition of hydrogen and oxygen.’
Finalist: ‘Danny Sunset Stern’ by Stu Gibson
About this photo: ‘Picture perfect arvo at Shippies.’
Finalist: ‘Breathing. Surfer Scott Whip Dennis’ by Simon Punch
About this photo: ‘A perspective from deep behind the surfer riding the barrel as the wave breathes back before spitting.’
Finalist: ‘Gun Barrel Highway’ by Peter Jovic
About this photo: ‘This is an image of local shredder, Kael Walsh shot in the South West of W.A. I was really lucky to have someone who’s so unflappable in challenging conditions taking aim straight into the barrel and seemingly doing it with complete disregard for their own well being. It’s always a really good feeling when shots like this come off.’
Finalist: ‘Flume’ by Paul Smith
About this photo: ‘Taken at Sunshine Beach on the Sunshine Coast while most people were still sleeping. It was one of those perfect swells, and all the elements lined-up wave size, an offshore wind, and just enough light to illuminate the sea spray.’
Lens manufacturer TTArtisan has released information on a new limited-edition 50mm F0.95 manual focus lens. According to Japanese photo gear distributor Shoten Kobo, TTArtisan will be making only 40 lenses: 20 with a Sony E-mount and 20 with a Fujifilm X-mount.
According to the product text, the lens is ‘designed for old lens fans.’ The manual focus lens is constructed of 12 elements in 7 groups, features a 12-blade aperture diaphragm, has a minimum focusing distance of 50cm (20in) and offers an aperture range of F0.95-F16.
The lens measures in at 69mm (2.72in) in diameter, 88mm (3.46in) in length and weighs roughly 725g (1.6lbs). Shoten Kobo says the lens will retail for ¥42,800 (~$ 410), but no release date is given.
The post Artists and Explorers – What Photographer Type Are You? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Mat Coker.
What drives you to pull out your camera and take a picture? The answer to this question will help you understand your photographer type.
Does an image of a finished photo jump into your mind, and then you have to go out and make it? Perhaps you pick up your camera and walk out the door, not knowing where it will lead you.
Maybe you’re only compelled to photograph new places you’re traveling to, or your (grand) children as they grow up.
Understanding yourself as a photographer, and knowing what inspires you, is one of the best ways to grow. Once you know your photographer type, you can focus on the photography you love without feeling the pressure to be like other photographers.
“As a photographer, you need to develop a way of working that suits your personality.”
Tim Hetherington, Photojournalist
Let’s look at four photographer types; the traveler, the parent, the artist, and the explorer so that you can discover where you fit in and what your strengths are.
ISO 400 f/11 1/640 sec 14mm I began my journey as the traveler type, mostly picking up my camera when I was on a road trip.
The traveler photographer type
You know you’re the traveler photographer type if you only pull out your camera when you go on a trip. You’re probably not concerned with being called a photographer and mainly want to take snapshots to capture places you travel to. But unlike typical tourists, you want those snapshots to look really good.
Here are some quick tips for the traveler photographer type:
Learn how your camera works, so you’re not distracted and miss the joy of traveling.
Master some useful composition elements to elevate your photos above sloppy snapshots.
Learn to see light and your photos will begin to look beautiful.
Practice new techniques on short day trips before you go on major travels.
As a traveler, some of my favorite places are the South West (USA), the East Coast of Canada, and Niagara Falls.
The parent photographer type
You know you’re the parent photographer type if your baby or children inspired you to get a camera. Like the traveler photographer type, you might not be concerned with being called a photographer. You just want to take snapshots and capture special family memories.
But unlike most other parents or grandparents, you want those snapshots to look really good.
Here are some quick tips for the parent photographer type:
Learn how your camera works, so you’re not fumbling and missing moments.
Master some creative composition elements to elevate your photos above sloppy snapshots.
Learn to see light so that your photos will look beautiful.
Your daily family life will provide you with infinite opportunities to practice these techniques, and you’ll capture a lot of memories along the way.
Once my kids came along, I became the parent photographer type and no longer thought of myself as the traveler.
It’s okay to just want good photos
If you’re the traveler or the parent photographer type, it’s okay to want good photos of your travels and your children without being totally obsessed with photography.
Learn the most powerful camera settings, the best compositional techniques, play with the light, and your photos will begin to transcend sloppy snapshots.
ISO 200 f/4 1/2000 sec 23mm Perhaps you’re even a blend of the traveler and parent photographer types. Things become more exciting when you blend two types together.
The artist photographer type
How do you know you’re the artist photographer type?
Easy! If you talk about making art with your photography, then you’re the artist type. Artists have a vision of exactly how they want their photos to look. Their goal is to go out and make the photo they’ve envisioned.
As an artist, you begin with a vision or at least a basic concept. You work toward making it turn out, and then produce a finished product like a print or collection of photos for some purpose.
When showing their photographs, the artist often says, “look what I made.” Whereas the explorer type often says, “look what I discovered,” or “look what I saw.”
Artists usually take a higher degree of control over the moment and their images. They are happy to transcend the original photo, adding textures, film grains, or swapping backgrounds, etc. Nothing will stand in the way of your vision!
Here are a number of other things that characterize the artist photographer type:
Posing and direction in portraits
The use of advanced Photoshop techniques
Referring to their work as fine art
Specializing in one form of photography
Selling prints
Food photography
Fashion photography
Stylized shoots
Studio lighting
Sticking with things for a long time
ISO 400 f/4 1/2000 sec 56mm I’ve always hesitated to call myself an artist because whenever I meet an artist photographer, I realize how unalike we are. We both have a camera, love photography, study light, and composition, but it seems like we have totally different goals for our work.
The explorer photographer type
If you’re the explorer photographer type then you don’t necessarily have much in mind when you pick up your camera. You wander off into the world and photograph new places, people, and things that you discover.
You might happen to travel the world, but you don’t have to travel far to be fulfilled as an explorer. Your own backyard or city likely keeps you busy.
When you photograph people, you’re not just making portraits, you’re exploring the people and relationships that you photograph.
Often enough, when you photograph an object, it’s more about the interesting light than the object itself.
You often find yourself telling others about what you discovered or learned while exploring.
This list characterizes many explorer type photographers:
Street photography
Travel photography
Nature and landscapes
You’re more of a generalist photographer
Photojournalism
Natural light
Candid, natural
New and unexpected situations
Lifestyle photography
Constantly moving on to new things
ISO 400 f/5.6 1/1000 sec 45mm Explorers are willing to go just a little bit further into the unknown. Just a little further into the murky places.
When it comes to photography, my mind is blank. I have no vision, no idea what I should do, not a clue about how my photos will turn out.
I’m more comfortable heading off into the unknown.
Throw me into a situation that I’m completely unprepared for and I’ll figure it out. That’s because I’m an explorer. I want to learn new things. I want to be thrown into situations that I’m not familiar with. And, for some strange reason, I want to do it with a camera in my hand.
“Taking pictures is like tiptoeing into the kitchen late at night and stealing Oreo cookies.”
Diane Arbus
How are the traveler and the explorer different from each other?
The traveler may only pick up the camera occasionally, and only during times of travel. The explorer is likely dedicated to daily or at least weekly uses of the camera.
The explorer can’t help but pick up the camera more often and is not limited to landscapes and new locations. They also explore relationships. Often, the explorer learns new techniques, not because the technique is necessary, but simply because they are compelled to learn new things.
ISO 1600 f/2.8 1/1000 sec 23mm
The common link between artists and explorers
Even if we have different goals, the common link between artists and explorers is our creativity. When a photographer picks up their Fuji mirrorless to explore the streets, they’re no less interested in light, moment, and composition than the fashion photographer who reaches for their medium format camera.
Perhaps one is more interested in documenting and learning about human nature, while the other is creating art pieces. Photography is big enough for all sorts of intentions.
Exploration and artistry as a supertype
Just as the traveler and parent types can be merged to create a deeper type, so can the artist and the explorer.
If you’re the explorer type, you may find that you have a huge body of work that you’ve done nothing with. Perhaps it’s time to elevate your exploration toward something that approaches art.
Every now and then, an artist might do well to wander off into the world without intentions to create but to just see what they discover. Your art may reach a deeper level the more you explore your world.
Don’t be surprised if your type seems a little fuzzy at first, but pay attention and it will come into focus.
What photographer type are you?
Are you the traveler, the parent, an artist or an explorer?
Let me know your photographer type in the comments and add a link to your photos if you can.
The post Artists and Explorers – What Photographer Type Are You? appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Mat Coker.
In a recent episode of DPReview TV, new host (and mad scientist) Don Komarechka introduced us to the magical world of frozen soap bubbles. Take a look at some of the fantastical images he captured.
View the frozen soap bubble sample gallery
This was a really fun video, so if you missed it you’ll want to give it a watch. You can see it below or watch it on YouTube.
Looks like we might be spending a lot of time in the house with our immediate family these days. Maybe that family includes kids. And maybe they are starting to go a little stir crazy.
Keep reading for some ideas for any lighting photographer who might be looking to make the best of some unscheduled family time.Read more » Strobist
Comments Off on SLC-1L-10: [COVID DIARIES] Shoot the Kids
The COVID-19 pandemic has caught more than a few of us off-guard, and its impact is likely to roll on for months to come.
Advice in many countries is to stay at home and minimize your contact with other people. This isn’t an easy thing to do, and for a lot of people it’ll mean having to find additional ways to stay occupied.
Photography can provide plenty of ways of keeping yourself entertained and committing yourself to a project now might be a chance to emerge with new skills and new ambition when things start to get back to, well, whatever future normal looks like.
This is the first part of a series where we’ll put forward ideas for things to do. But we want your input, too. Throughout this article will be links to forum threads where we look to hear your suggestions.
Organize your images
You keep promising yourself you’ll do this. Whether it’s going through and trying to tag things in a coherent way, honing your catalogue by deleting the images you know you’ll never use, or importing and arranging those memory cards and old hard drives of images that aren’t stored in a systematic manner, there’s always an organizational project that you’ve been putting off.
Are you ever going to get a better time than now? Even as someone working from home, I’ve gained all the time I’d usually spend commuting, so there’s no excuse for me to put off getting my images organized.
It might sound dull, but an organized set of images makes it easier to do the more fun suggestions we’re just about to get to…
Revisit your existing shots
Coming at it with a fresh pair of eyes, is there something you could do differently with a favorite image?
I’ve found myself wondering whether some of the shots I’ve taken in the past might benefit from split toning, which isn’t a technique I’ve often used in the past. But it may simply be a case of starting again and seeing whether there’s a different crop or a different ‘look’ that might work better for images you’ve not looked at for a while.
Find new favorites
The other option is to look for new favorites in your back-catalogue. What about those shots that didn’t make the cut, first time ’round? Are there some hidden gems that, re-appraised, turn out to be more interesting than you thought?
Curate a photo book
Mpix is a great option if you’re looking to make prints or a photo book.
Even if you don’t get it printed right away, now might be a great time to organize a set of images into book form.
It’s easy to think of shoeboxes full of prints and negatives as wasted or lost, but they have a certain permanence that a well-organized hard drive or database probably doesn’t. Photo books can be the best of both worlds: gaining the visibility and (comparative) permanence of prints but in a more accessible, curated format.
Use your photos to stay engaged with loved ones
Instagram is a great way to curate and share photos with friends and loved ones.
Find old photos of friends and family in your archive and share them on social media. This could be a nostalgic way to stay engaged with loved ones while you’re all isolated from one another.
Maybe consider putting together a selection of your favorite photos from the last year. Keep the selection tight: you don’t want to stray into ‘making everyone view your holiday slides’ territory, but think about a highlights reel. Maybe try to weave a narrative together or add some anecdotes, to try to capture the experiences you perhaps weren’t able to share at the time.
Look through photo books by some of the greats
A great way to gain inspiration and to learn something is to take a close look at the work of established photographers.
Perhaps choose a single image: take your time thinking about what make it stand out to you. Analyzing great photos is, along with learning to select your own best work, one of the best ways to help you ‘see’ the best photo in a situation, next time you’re out shooting.
William Eggleston – Chromes
Sebastião Salgado – Migrations
Elliott Erwitt – Personal Best
Yousuf Karsh – Stern Portfolio
Galen Rowell – Mountain Light
Alex Webb – Istanbul: City of a Hundred Names
Robert Frank – The Americans
Dorothea Lang – Photographs of a lifetime
Vivian Maier – Finding Vivian Maier
Joel Meyerowitz – Where I find myself
Ansel Adams – Yosemite
Ansel Adams – Examples: The Making of 40 Photographs
Magnum – Contact Sheets
Annie Leibovitz – Portraits 2005-2016
Nan Goldin – The Ballad of Sexual Dependency
If there are any you’ve found particularly inspirational, let us know in this forum thread.
Learn a new photography application
Now’s the perfect time to try out new software, like Alien Skin Exposure X4, shown above.
Teach yourself to use a photo-related application you’ve been meaning to learn for a while. e.g. Have you been wanting to move from Lightroom to Capture One for a while? Now may be a good time to do it.
Alien Skin Exposure
Topaz Labs (including its AI-powered up-res and denoise apps)
On1 Raw
Capture One Pro
DxO Photolab
Affinity Photo
FastStone Image Viewer
Skylum Luminar
Again, if there are any pieces of software you’re particularly enjoying, let us know in this thread and we’ll build up the list.
Do an online photography course
Creative Live is an excellent resource for photo education.
The internet is full of advice and courses to help you improve your photography.
It’s impossible for us to be exhaustive, so we’ve created a forum thread, if there’s an online course that you’ve found useful enough to want to share. We’ll update this list with popular suggestions.
strobist.blogspot.com – is a great place to start learning about lighting
Lynda.com has lots of photo courses (access to which may be available with your local library card, depending on where you live)
Masterclass offers photography courses from Annie Leibovitz and Jimmy Chin
Creative Live
Udemy
KelbyOne
Listen to photography podcasts
The Candid Frame is one of our favorite photography podcasts.
Podcasts are another great way to learn, gain new perspectives, spark new ideas or simply keep yourself entertained.
Here are a few that we’ve enjoyed. Let us know in this forum thread if there are any you think deserve a mention.
The Candid Frame (Ibarionex Perello)
Photo Geek Weekly (Don Komarechka)
This week in Photo
Photo Active podcast (Jeff Carlson and friends)
Classic Lenses Podcast
Film Photography Podcast
A Small Voice – Conversations with Photographers
Build / rework your photography site
Format, shown above, is just one of many Website-building platforms we love.
Whether you’re using it to attract clients or just maintaining a stream to show off your work, how about showing your website a little love?
Whether it’s a question of replacing an over-familiar lead image or making sure all the best of your most recent work is included, there’s always something you can do to make your site look better.
Or, if you’ve not created one, why not now?
Learn to shoot /edit video
Chances are your camera can shoot pretty good video. Have you ever tried doing more than shooting a few clips?
Some of the skills of videography are directly transferable from photography, which means you don’t have to start from zero. But video there are also a lot of aspects of video that will be new and challenging (personally I’m finding the process of learning to shoot video to be one of the most creatively satisfying things I’ve done in many years).
So why not try setting yourself a little project? Think about what you need to shoot, how you need to shoot it and how you’re going to pull it all together.
There’s a free version of Blackmagic’s Davinci Resolve software that includes pro-level color grading and audio editing tools as well as non-linear editing capabilities. It’s not, perhaps, as immediately approachable as Apple’s Final Cut Pro X, but now’s a great time to familiarize yourself with the software.
Plan a photo trip for some time in the future
It’s too early to start booking flights or making hotel reservations, but a day will come when we can look forward to heading somewhere more ambitious than out front doors.
Why not give yourself something to look forward to by planning-out your next big photo expedition?
Ricoh has announced it will release a new wide-aperture portrait lens for its full-frame cameras late this year, and that it will use the company’s Supersonic Direct-drive Motor to power the focusing system. The HD Pentax -D FA* 85mm F1.4 SDM AW with join the existing HD Pentax-D FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW and HD PENTAX-D FA* 70-200mm F2.8ED DC AW in a line-up of three models in the FA* range. Like the DA* lenses designed for APS-C cameras, these FA* models are intended to be premium quality and to represent a step-up from the standard lens series.
Pentax says that the new portrait lens uses three Super ED lenses to suppress chromatic errors while boosting contrast, and a single aspherical element to retain high resolution and focus across the frame. The aperture will be made from nine blades and the closest focusing distance will be 2.8ft. Although designed for the full-frame K-1 cameras, the KAF4 lens will also work on the company’s APS-C sensor cameras – due to the smaller sensor area it will offer the view that a 130mm focal length would on a full-frame model.
Pentax has yet to release the pricing of this new lens, but to give you an idea, the 50mm F1.4 FA* lens costs $ 1100/£1050 compared to $ 350/£400 for the standard SMC FA version. For more information see the Pentax website.
Press release
Development of the new-generation D FA* high-performance single focus lens for digital SLR cameras
HD PENTAX-D FA* 85mmF1.4 SDM AW
RICOH COMPANY, LTD. and RICOH IMAGING EUROPE, SAS. are pleased to announce the development of the new-generation high-performance Star-series lens, the HD PENTAX-D FA* 85mmF1.4 SDM AW.
This product is the second “new generation D FA*” single focus lens following the “HD PENTAX-D FA* 50mm F1.4 SDM AW” which we presented as the first lens with a fixed focal length of the “New Generation D FA*”. This series is known for the perfect image quality and the lenses are characterized by the following parameters:
Best possible image quality with uniform sharpness from the center to the edges of the image.
Large aperture with a particularly expressive image effect.
High quality workmanship and materials with high robustness and easy handling
The D FA* 50mm quickly became one of the most popular lenses for the PENTAX 35mm system. Therefore many PENTAX photographers have demanded for an extension of this range of prime lenses. We are therefore pleased to announce the development of another lens in this series of high-performance lenses. With the HD PENTAX-D FA* 85mmF1.4 SDM AW, we follow the conquest of particularly high image quality without compromise.
Overview of the product under development
Model name: HD PENTAX-D FA* 85mmF1.4 SDM AW Launch date: Scheduled to be launched in late, 2020
By incorporating three Super ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass optical elements, it effectively compensates chromatic aberrations and produces brilliant, high-contrast images even from open aperture.
Adopts one aspherical lens and achieves high delineation performance with good correction of spherical aberration, coma and field curvature.
High speed and smooth operation with newly developed SDM (Supersonic Direct-drive Motor) equipped with high torque ring type ultrasonic motor
Developing as an AW (All Weather model) this lens features a dependable dustproof, weather-resistant structure to prevent the intrusion of water and dust into the lens interior.
The post Exploring Your Home with Close-Up Filters appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Ringsmuth.
Macro photography is all about exploring the wonders of the world around you from a very close distance. Macro lenses let you see the tiniest parts of the world in extreme detail, often exposing an array of colors and patterns hidden right before our eyes. Macro lenses are also expensive! However, if you find yourself stuck at home for a while, you can start exploring your home with close-up filters instead. They’re a cheap alternative to macro lenses and can transform the mundane into the magnificent!
The first thing to do is actually get yourself a set of close-up filters.
These are basically just magnifying glasses that you screw on to the end of your camera lens. They’re absurdly cheap, ranging in price from $ 10 to $ 30 for a set of four. Just make sure you buy a set that fits your lens! The front of your lens will have a thread size listed in millimeters; for most kit lenses it’s usually 52mm or 58mm.
Close-up filters are not a substitute for a true macro lens. But they do let you get up close and personal with everyday subjects in a way that will blow your mind. It’s amazing how simple everyday objects, even just normal items in your house, take on a whole new appearance when viewed at extremely close distances.
A normal puzzle piece looks like a work of art when shot with a close-up filter. Every detail, from the texture on the flat surface to subtle scratches in the table, becomes clear and crisp.
Nothing to see here. Just an unfinished puzzle…until you see it through a close-up filter.
What makes this sort of photography any different than just putting your camera close to your subjects? All lenses have a minimum focusing distance, which is based on how the glass elements inside the lens bend and shape incoming light. Most camera lenses are physically incapable of shooting objects closer than about 250mm. You simply can’t get very close to objects and still maintain focus
Close-up filters change all that.
All you do is screw one of them on to the front of your lens and everything gets magnified right before your very eyes. Exploring your home with close-up filters is a great way to see everyday objects in a whole new light. Suddenly you can take pictures like you never imagined, or thought you couldn’t get without spending hundreds of dollars on a macro lens.
Fun for the whole family
One of the best parts about using close-up filters is exploring your home with your kids. All their toys and games suddenly take on new life when viewed up close. Blocks, crayons, action figures, toy cars, stuffed animals, even their shoes can all make great photography subjects.
This behemoth monster truck scaled a mountain and did it without a scratch! Luckily, I was there to capture the moment of glory with my camera. Or perhaps my oldest son and I were just playing around with some close-up filters.
That’s one of the most enjoyable parts about exploring your home with close-up filters: sharing the experience with kids. They can find fun ways to look at familiar objects and see photographic opportunities where you might have never thought to look.
When my son and I were looking throughout the house with a close-up filter on the camera, it was amazing how even the most mundane objects took on new life. Even simple things like a video game controller took on a new life of color and perspective.
The important thing to remember is that it’s about creativity, not high art. You might not find the next wall hanging for the Smithsonian in your house just by taking pictures with close-up filters. But you will see an amazing world of photography open up before your very eyes that you never knew existed.
Tips and tricks
If you’re going to give this exercise a try, here are a few things to keep in mind for good results.
1. Use a Tripod
While you may take great shots with close-up filters when shooting handheld, a tripod will almost always yield the best results. Even the smallest movements are magnified many times over, so it helps to have your camera as steady as possible. You’re also working with razor-thin depth of field, so unless you’re a neurosurgeon, it’s unlikely you will be able to keep your hands still enough to get the shot you are going for.
This was my setup for shooting the picture at the top of this article. There’s almost no way I could have gotten the shot in focus without a tripod.
2. Focus manually (using live view)
If you have never tried manual focus before, exploring your home with close-up filters might be a good time to give it a try.
Autofocus is very difficult when working with extremely close subjects because depth of field is so incredibly shallow. Manual focus gives you more control over your photos and helps make sure the results are exactly what you want.
Nikon D7100, 50mm, f/5.6, 1/30 second, ISO 1600. Is it a pile of laundry, or is it high art?
Live View is a great option if you are not used to focusing manually. Many cameras, especially mirrorless, have a feature called focus peaking that lets you know exactly what part of your picture is in focus.
DSLRs don’t usually have focus peaking, but you can often use Live View to zoom in on a selected portion of your image. This is great for making sure your close-up photos are tack-sharp right where you want them.
It’s just laundry! But shooting with close-up filters transforms normal objects into works of art.
3. Use smaller apertures
Normally when you want nice-looking, out-of-focus areas on your pictures, you use a wide aperture. The same is true when using close-up filters. But, you’ll quickly find that shooting wide open results in a depth of field that is basically unusable. Stop your lens down to f/5.6 or f/8 to get good results.
In the above image, which is just a normal washroom soap dispenser, the depth of field is so insanely shallow that just the very tip of the pump is in focus. And that’s with using a small aperture of f/5.6! Shooting at f/4, f/2.8, or f/1.8 would be a muddy, blurry mess.
4. Shoot in Manual Mode
Working with close-up filters is a great way to experiment with manual mode on your camera. Not manual focus, but manual exposure control where you set the values for aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
Each of these parameters has a specific effect on your image, and when shooting close-up, you can easily see the effects that these parameters have. The stakes are low, the creativity is high, and if you’re stuck at home, you probably have some spare time to learn something new.
If you’re not sure where to start, just keep your eye on the light meter. Adjust aperture, shutter, and ISO until the meter shows that your image is properly exposed. Take a shot, and then change the aperture so it’s smaller. You’ll need to compensate by making the shutter speed longer, but that’s okay since you’re using a tripod.
Notice how the depth of field is different on the photo with a smaller aperture.
Keep experimenting with these, and pretty soon you’ll start to develop a good understanding of how to master your camera’s manual mode.
Nikon D7100, 50mm, f/8, 1/15 second, ISO 1600, +10 close-up filter. Why did my son want to take a picture of a piece of cereal? I have no idea. He liked the final image though, and that’s what really matters to me.
Conclusion
Exploring your home with close-up filters is a great way to pass the time. Moreover, it’s also an outstanding opportunity to see the world around you in a whole new way. The possibilities really are endless. If you have ever wanted to try macro-style photography, this is a great way to do it without breaking the bank.
If you have any close-up shots you would like to share, or any tips I forgot to include, leave them in the comments below!
The post Exploring Your Home with Close-Up Filters appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Ringsmuth.
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