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Electro-Optical System

Canon EOS Badge

Canon EOS Badge

It’s been twenty-two years now since the debut of Canon’s Electro-Optical System. Usually referred to, of course, as EOS, borrowing its name from the Greek goddess of the dawn.And, I have to say, it wasn’t a bad choice of names for the system. EOS was possibly the first entire system to decide to forgo mechanical operations between the lens and the mount (such as screw drive AF, which still leads to occasional problems for Nikon and Pentax users to this day). Since its inception EOS lenses (designed for the new EF mount, which boldly replaced the popular FD mount entirely) have had built-in AF focus motors. For pushing that envelope alone Canon is to be commended, as far as I’m concerned. The EOS system has gone on to be a massive giant in the camera scene, with something like 40 bodies, and gave the world the first “affordable” consumer DSLR in the form of the original Digital Rebel.

Despite changes in optics and motor technology, the distressingly forward-looking decision to switch to an all-electric mount has meant Canon has been able to increase functionallity without altering the mounts, and has lead to them having perhaps the largest and most comprehensive lens line-up on the market (although 22 years of history means the occasional confusion or overlap as better optics replace or slot in beside older ones).

So, this Friday, stop in and check out the current line of EOS products (including many impressive bodies, whose design by the way is influenced by work done in the past by renowned designer Luigi Colani).



Back in Black

So, I realized the most fatal error in this blogging thing we’re doing: We’re called “Raw” and our site said “clean and elegant.”  So, check us out now! Still clean, I abhor unusable design, but we’ve got a bit of je ne sais quoi going on now. Like DSLRs, we’re now clad in “edgy” black. Me, I think it’s a step forward. You? Well, that’s what polls are for! Look to your right and throw out your voice (kinda like having been to a rock show and trying to out-sing a stack of 15″ drivers— not that I’ve tried, mind you).



Quick Print

Yesterday, about 35 minutes before the closing bell rang on the sales floor, one of my co-workers (Micheal Wilson if you need to put a name to the mention) brought Mr. Jim Alkire, a friend of his to me for a little information and help on printers. His desire was a lab quality printer that would print up to 11×14. The Canon 9000 and 9500 immediately came to mind. The problem was we didn’t have any on hand and there is scuttlebutt that Mark II versions are soon to be shipping from Canon. Jim asked if there was a good Canon printer at the 8 1/2 by 11 size that might fill the bill. He also asked if he could print from his Canon Digital SLR camera or memory card, could his wife also print from her Olympus Digital point and shoot camera? I led him to the Canon printers and started to recommendpixma-mp980 the Pixma MP980 mutli-purpose printer that has built in card reader, document, print, slide and film scanning capabilities. He said that did much more that he needed his printer to do. Right next to that stack of printers was another stack of new Canon Pixma iP3600 printers. I said this a a very good inexpensive photo printer and has Pict Bridge input to direct print right from the both cameras.

“Do you have one on display?” He asked as time was winding down on the retail day. “No, but I can open this up and set it up if you would like a demonstration, ” I offered. Please was the response.

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Photo Walk Tomorrow

Just a reminder for you all in the Indy area, join Nick and I tomorrow morning at 8am for our usual photo walk. Be astounded at our magnificent vocabularies, rejoice in our aimless wandering, click shutters at things to slow to move away. Bring forth your Canon Digital Rebel cameras and your Nikon Coolpix cameras and, if you’re insane like Nick and I, bring forth your Evolt Olympus digital cameras and we shall verily rock the block party.

8 o’clock AM, intersection of South and Meridian in Indianapolis, be there. We will.



Tripods and Pinched Fingers

So, as my co-worker beside me works on finding a tripod for a customer who insists on flip-locks over twist locks, I thought I should take a moment to talk about my thoughts on these two popular ways of telescoping tripod legs.

Twist locks are actually my preferred method, I find them faster, more comfortable, and considerably less likely to end in me yelling profanities after catching some soft, fleshy bit of my finger in a lever of DOOM.

However, some people have had problems with over-tightening twist locks, which strips them and makes keeping their camera tripods upright a very difficult chore. Flip locks are much more difficult to do this with, in general you set the initial tension to the right level and then it’s either on or off.

Maybe I just don’t trust flip locks because I’ve had the mechanism inside them snap while pulling the level down, which made me quite unhappy. I don’t tend to be much of an over-powering dude, so I’ve never killed a twist lock. To each their own, though.

If you like twist locks, Induro and Gitzo are big into those.
If you like flip locks, why not peep out some Bogen Manfrotto tripods, or maybe some Sliks?



Down With The Tyranny of Snap Caps

The 50-200mm is my favorite Olympus camera lens, Indianapolis, you know that. But, what you don’t know is that it came with a standard OEM-style “snap cap” that ticks me the heck off. I’m sure you’ve seen the type. Flat surface, adorned only with a lens manufacturer’s name, and two squeezey bits on the very edges so it can “snap” into place.

That sucks.

Promaster Pinch CapI, personally, prefer the “pinch” style caps, such as this one (from Promaster, but these handy-dandy digital camera accessories are also available from Tamron in the after-market sphere). I prefer these for one simple reason: it’s possible to take them on and off without removing or reversing the lens hood. Since I can reach in and pinch it by the middle, instead of having to squeeze the sides, I can get the cap on and off more quickly in the field.

Effeciency, it’s what all the cool kids are doing.

(Third party lens caps are available in all the standard sizes, accomodating your needs be they for Nikon lenses, Canon lenses, or 30 year old Vivitar lenses. Rock on.)



The things we do to…

Like D-mart said in a previous post, I’m borrowing his legacy prime (OM 50mm 1.8), which as forced me to move around a little more. Right now my kit is a comfortable 14-42 and 40-150, which is a 28-300 equivalent and keeps me from getting too dirty when trolling around my habitual environs trying not to chimp into chumping. Being locked into the constant focal length of 50mm on a 4/3 system is giving me a nice view of the world in telephoto, and working with an aperture wider than 3.5 is a treat.

It does, as I discussed with Mr. Martin over a pint last week, strain my discipline. I’ll be the first to say that I’m lamentable with composition, relying heavily on cranking my lenses and cropping in post. This nifty fifty (happy hun’nerd?) gave me some foot-time while I was waiting on my dearest to return from some degree related event in the morning…and as is my growing habit I took a walk to see what was around. Some waterfowl, a dramatically illuminated plaster garden statue, and a ground level AC unit.

Metal and sunlight, I like those

Metal and sunlight, I like those

And while I was crouched down and trying to balance myself and get the thing in focus I felt some water dropping. Thinking of course that since I’m near an air conditioning unit that condensation will abound I went about clicking happily in oblivious (isn’t it always?) joy. I didn’t stop to consider that with a grounded AC unit there’s nowhere for water to be dripping from above. Only later did Dearest, on her return, point out that there was something on my shirt -a gift from whichever avian was perched on the sill above the unit I was photographing.

Mr. Martin’s response to this was only that I’m a step closer to being a real artist now, and to get used to it.



Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes…

Oh ok, Mr. Martin brought it to my attention that tomorrow morning is going to be cold and rainy. Well, we’ve done that theme for a Photowalk already (heck, it’s April Showers over at the Monthly Photo Contest on the Robert’s Flickr) and I bought a pack of those happy Optech camera rain covers, so it’s not like I’m unprepared. However, we’re both thinking that Thursday’s forecast looks a lot better and only about 20F warmer.

So we’re rescheduling to Thursday morning. It’ll be nice, I think, to show up in shirtsleeves and even then I’m looking forward to showing up in shorts and sandals in a few more weeks.



The Thrifty Studio

SO, as everyone might be aware, off the clock and non-competing with Roberts, fellow Robertonian Nick and myself do miscellaneous art things around town (shooting, studio stuff, paintings). We try to get out there and experience the world, and get to know the people around here. And, in the course of things, we’re always having gigs pop up that my “ready to roam” camera kit isn’t quite tailored to handle.

Fortunately for us, right next to the best professional photo processing in Indianapolis is the best photo rental department in the nearest anywhere. Backgrounds, Pocketwizards, extra Canon flashes (gotta love that 580EX II for kickabout jobs), professional studio lighting (I used a two-light kit from our rentals department when I shot my paintings for an online gallery), we’ve got quite a good deal of stuff for rent.

So, this weekend when I’m doing a boudoir/pinup set and need some good lights, I know the rentals department has what I need to rise above. What can they help you accomplish?




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