Stephan Paukner :: syslog

It took me some time to write a post about photo gear.

As my Canon EOS 40D is now really becoming old, I’m looking for an upgrade. Sadly, my photography hasn’t evolved much, so I most probably won’t wait for the 7D Mk II (if that one still makes sense, given the 6D) and will stay with their prosumer x0D line. Surprisingly, it took Canon three years to introduce a successor to the 60D: The EOS 70D. Although I originally considered the 60D a downgrade within that line, my view has changed with its successor: The reduced weight is not something negative, the reduced size is minimal, the plastic housing at least has got weather sealing, and the swivel screen perfectly fits the camera’s video capabilities. I’d get (compared to the 40D):

• 20 MP instead of 10 MP,
• DIGIC 5+ processor instead of DIGIC 3,
• ISO 12800 max. instead of ISO 1600,
• 19 AF points instead of 9,
• Dual-pixel AF in Live View instead of a manual trigger with mirror flip,
• 98% viewfinder coverage instead of 95%,
• [Update: Viewfinder with switchable gridline overlay and electronic level,]
  
• HD movies instead of no movies at all,
• HDMI output instead of plain old analog,
• Weather sealing instead of none,
• High-res swivel touch screen instead of low-res static plain LCD,
• Built-in Wi-Fi for remote operation using Canon’s smartphone app(!!),
• Built-in flash as off-camera remote flash controller!
• Continuous shooting with a rate of 7 fps instead of 6.5 fps, but the RAW image burst goes down from 17 to 16 and the JPEG burst from 75 to 65.

So, quite a jump in technology during the last six years. I plan my purchase for the end of this year.

Apparently, it’s time for my yearly follow-up on Canon’s releases.

Canon announced the EOS 60D. It’s interesting that their prosumer “x0D” line now got downgraded in a certain sense: This DSLR became more similar to a cheaper bridge camera, with a vari-angle LCD, less weight, plastic housing, fewer fps and SD cards instead of CF. This is probably a measure for increasing the difference to their EOS 7D, which should attract the more dedicated amateur.

However, there won’t be a 7D or 5D Mk II in my hands at all. My 40D is just working fine for me; unfortunately, I hardly found time to hold dedicated photography sessions apart from the obvious ones with my child. There’s still a lot of potential with and within my camera, although the maximum (unboosted) ISO of only 1600 is rather limiting sometimes, given that one could have ISO 6400 with current models.

And the limited number of occasions I mentioned is also a reason why there was no “lens p0rn” in my blog recently. Although I had predicted the purchase of a tele lens for fall 2008 and then for the end of 2009, I didn’t buy one, as I rarely missed such a tool. However, there seems to be the ultimate candidate for me to finally put one into my bag at the end of 2010: Canon’s newly introduced EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L(!) IS USM. It’s rather compact and doesn’t possess the disputed design of their aging 100-400mm. It appears to me as a 70-200mm f/4 “with the 1.4× extender included” in some sense. It’ll be available by October for €1,400. Let’s see if that’ll be my Xmas present for me, or if I rather go for a completely different gadget (namely an Android tablet).

The longer I own my DSLR, the less important it becomes, and the more important it is to focus on the pictures rather than the gear. However, Canon’s annual DSLR presentation was due, and so I had a peek on their new release: The EOS 7D, placed between the prosumer x0D-line (10D and up) and the professional 5D. What’s technically interesting me are

• 8 fps continuous shooting with a burst of 126 JPEGs or 15 RAWs
• 19-point AF with new modes
• Viewfinder with 1.0× magnification, 100% coverage and LCD overlay
• iFCL metering system that respects color
• HD-movie mode
• Dual 14-bit DIGIC 4 processing

It’s probably targeted against (the successor of) Nikon’s D300 that’s placed between their D90 and D700. While the D90 could be compared to the Canon 50D and the D700 to the Canon 5D, Canon lacked something in between so far.

The current hype to include a movie mode into DSLRs isn’t quite comprehensible to me. Maybe time will show whether video photography will become a style of its own. It appears to me that video capability and operability are rather limited, although the ability to choose between lenses is a big advantage. I’ll rather go for a dedicated camcorder nonetheless.

Regarding the pictures: While it’s still okay for me to be involved in casual techie debates (e.g. about astro photography), they become less interesting when it’s just about cameras. Only the output matters, so I don’t feel an urge to follow current developments in that detail. Unfortunately, I didn’t find the time to go out shooting as much as I had wished, due to priority reasons. However, my next main genre will apparently be child photography in great profusion.

While I’m at it, I was struggling a lot what tele lens I’d finally buy, thinking of getting things closer “out there”. Although Canon’s EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 [review] has a disputed design and is more than 10 years old, Sigma’s recently introduced 120-400mm and 150-500mm lenses can’t outperform it. So it’ll probably join my gear in a few months. I also had tested Zeiss’ ZE Planar T* 50mm f/1.4, but I’m not sure whether I’d use such a lens often. Maybe Canon’s cheap EF 50mm f/1.8 II might be an option.

I was really surprised when I read that Canon itself leaked a webpage describing an EOS 50D! The surprise was due to the usual timespan of 1½ years after which Canon presented a successor of their respective EOS line. As the EOS 40D was presented in fall 2007, I didn’t expect a 50D to come before spring 2009. But probably the 50D came a little earlier to be placed against Nikon’s D300 that really outperforms the 40D.

Having a brief look at the specs I have the impression that it’s rather a minor advance compared to the 40D, fortifying the impression of a pure marketing decision rather than a real technology jump. The significant changes in my eyes are

• 15 MP compared to 10 MP,
• DIGIC IV processor compared to DIGIC III, and
• ISO 12800 max. compared to ISO 3200.

In the end only the last one in that list could be of interest if it implies a lower noise behavior at the same ISO speed. The jump from 30D to 40D was much more significant in my eyes, while that from 20D to 30D was only a cosmetic one in a similar way. However, as there obviously won’t be another successor in spring 2009, I can now be sure that my EOS 40D will stay a top camera for at least another year.

Much more interesting in my eyes is the upcoming EOS 5D Mk II, Canon’s updated “cheap” FF DSLR. Nikon aimed their D700—a FF DSLR as well—at the same target audience. It’s interesting also that Nikon now has two FF DSLRs on the market, both from this year, while Canon announced their first FF DSLR, the EOS-1Ds, already in 2002.

I finally bought the EF-S 10-22mm lens, although I promised myself to already buy it together with the tripod. I couldn’t wait any longer, as I noticed more and more often that the most incredible landscape shots simply were taken at a (miniature equivalent) 16mm focal length. For the 1.6× cropped sensor of my EOS 40D I thus need a real focal length of 10mm, what this lens provides. I had already noticed myself that the lower 17mm (equ. 27mm) of my standard zoom provide a little too narrow view at e.g. the sky or a room or a yard or a building or the surroundings of an object. Also, wide angle views turn out to look more creative, as the object of interest appears huge while you get closer to it. However, I often hear that beginners are better equipped with a lens at the upper focal length range; a telephoto lens. It’s said that this makes it easier for them to compose images and push disturbing objects out of view. Nevertheless, I simply didn’t feel an urge for higher focal lengths, quite the opposite.

Well, and although I originally wanted to plan far into the future by only buying lenses that could be used on FF sensors one day, this is already my second lens that just fits on crop sensors. So, what about that? I finally came to an opinion that I found best expressed in the 10-22mm lens review by Bob Atkins:

Some people refuse to buy EF-S or other APS-C coverage lenses because “one day” they intend to own a full frame DSLR and I guess that’s a valid viewpoint. It would be more valid if they actually owned a full frame DLSR now, but I suppose they are planning ahead. Personally I think I’ll be shooting with a 1.6x DSLR for at least the next 3-4 years, and even if I buy a full frame DLSR at that point I’ll probably keep a 1.6x body for backup.

’Nuff said.

The first serious use of that lens will be the documentation of our current and our new lodging that’s currently under construction. But I’ll mainly aim that tool at landscapes.

Meanwhile two more tools went into my gear: A pricey outdoor photo backpack (Lowepro Primus AW) and a tripod (Manfrotto 190XPROB with 3D head 804RC2). I need the tripod to make nice long exposures, e.g. in low light or for flowing water, and the backpack is able to carry it.

However, for a city guy like me it isn’t that easy to start doing nature photography. This weekend I had planned to capture the sunrise at a pond, hoping for nice morning fog and reasonably clear sky, as it was rather rainy. However, we met friends in the evening before, had some pizza, and I went to bed after midnight. The alarm clock was set for 4.00am. At about 2.30am I woke up with a slight heartburn, and couldn’t fall asleep again until I finally turned the planned alarm off. At about 6.30am I woke up again and had a look outside the window: Morning fog, sunrise glowing in orange and yellow. Damn!

But I think it’s just a case of getting used to that, and probably I have it in my genes anyway, as my father is a passionate huntsman and used to getting home late or up early, enjoying to sit in the dark cold for hours. Next try coming soon.

It took me long to finally get there, but the EOS 40D is now mine, all mine! I spent more than €2700 today for the body, the EF-S 17-55mm, two 4GB CF cards, a polarizer, a cleaning brush and a bag. I had some vouchers with a total of €500, and Canon’s Cashback sales promotion will decrease the amount by another €130.

The first thing I thought at home after unpacking was: What the hell am I going to do with such a big camera? I just spent an impressive amount of money on something that I’m yet unable to use! That expensive device is to be handled with care, so: Am I really willing to take it out when it’s freezing outside? Am I really willing to take an uncomfortable, rigid bag with me to crowded places? The answer obviously is: Well, if you spend so much money on such a thing, then, yes, you have to take your camera out to crowded places on freezing days!

But before I do so, I have to become acquainted with the camera. It wouldn’t make sense to try to shoot nice pictures seriously when the result isn’t predictable.

I noticed that a 24-70mm lens definitely cannot be a standard walkaround lens for a 1.6× crop camera, as the equivalent 38mm are definitely not wide angle. I’d have to switch to the dedicated wide angle lens too often. Sure, my PowerShot also starts at only 35mm, but most compact cameras simply lack wide angle focal lengths. Therefore I was thinking about a lens that starts at 17mm or 18mm, what equals 27-28mm on a crop camera. There were several candidates, and I was struggling a lot, as each had its advantages and disadvantages. One promising candidate was the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM, but although it is a Luxury (L) lens and has an ultrasonic motor, it is rather slow and has no Image Stabilizer, what actually makes it a worse choice compared to the 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM that I was considering earlier. Competing lenses from other manufactures are faster and cheaper, but they lack an ultrasonic motor and are calculated for the APS-C circle only. In addition, the upper limit of 40mm would have made a dedicated 50mm lens almost inevitable.

I finally broke it down to the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM [Review] that I already had in mind earlier. It is definitely the best choice for a crop camera today. It is fast and has an Image Stabilizer, making it a perfect lens for portraits or available light photography. In addition, it has an ultrasonic motor. It could almost be considered as an L-series lens, but it isn’t, as it’s also just calculated for APS-C sensors. All in all it’s rather expensive at €1099, but I’ll definitely make use of it.

And while I’m considering a Canon lens as primary lens, I now keep an eye on the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM [Review] lens. I just prefer it to the Sigma because it’s a Canon, is a little faster and has a little wider focal length range. It has a bit more of a plastic feeling than the Sigma, but the minor weight is no disadvantage. It’s at €759 at my preferred dealer, and I’ll buy it sometime at the beginning of 2008 together with a tripod.

The tele lens, the tele lens. Sure, the Sigma would be a great choice, but why not taking a fast lens that additionally provides image stabilization? The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM [Review] is usable without a tripod and has some reserves for being used together with a teleconverter. Sure, it’s really expensive with €1999, that’s why I won’t buy it too soon, maybe in about one year.

I still want to have a dedicated fast portrait lens like the 50mm f/1.4 by Canon. But I also consider the great Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM [Review]. It is very fast, provides a very narrow depth of field, and is rather expensive at €1369, but it’s really that good. We’ll see what my preferences will be. A flash might be more important for the first time.

The main reason for considering the f-stop of 1.2 or the IS for the other lenses is that my PowerShot also has an IS, what actually decreases the aperture values as if the lenses were faster. The following plot of focal length and aperture coverage of the desired lenses considers this by indicated dashed lines: