EOS 650D and its New Feature

This is my first post in Mikoy's blog Slide and Tap.

Camera technology is keeping pace with the fast advancement in technology and is also following trends of the latest gadgets. It is evident in the latest entry level DSLR from Canon, the EOS 650D/T4i DSLR. Among it's features is an 18 Megapixel Hybrid CMOS sensor with the power of Canon’s latest DIGIC 5 processor, a burst rate of 5 frames per second (on a xxxD body) plus a swivel screen that we’ve seen from it’s bigger and older brother, the 60D. Also, as a new standard to DSLRs, this camera can also shoot video. But other than those, EOS 650D sports a technology that is bound to be applied to this level of  cameras sooner or later and that is a touch screen interface.

Touch interface is now widely adapted to a lot of gadgets, most are on mobile phones, and it’s no surprise that they would try to incorporate it to DSLRs as well. Arguably, having this in a DSLR is either a good thing or probably just a gimmick to entice new customers. For me it’s a good thing since the small body of the xxxD line of Canon cameras have limited space in the back for buttons and this just makes use of that 3-inch screen well. Of course there are still buttons for those of us who still prefer a tactile response on their cameras. Changing settings or browsing through pictures with a simple touch of finger to the screen doesn’t seem much though since we’re all used to it by now so most people wouldn’t care if they have this in their camera. Even point and shoot cameras have adapted this for quite some time now.

www.nextwavedv.com

But there is one feature with this model that surprised me, even though I expected it to happen soon anyway, and that is Touch Shutter. What it does is it allows you point at any part of the image you see on your LCD screen in Live View and the camera focuses on that part and automatically takes a picture based from your settings. It’s the the next step from the Live View feature that was introduced to DSLRs 4-5 years ago. It’s a good feature and I actually like it because it is as close to a WYSWIG type of capturing a images we can get with this camera since the 650D has 95% viewfinder frame coverage, meaning there is this 5% that you can’t see in your viewfinder that might be a difference between having a foot or not in your frame. This feature also makes it easy for you to take overhead (hail mary) shots because with the swivel screen, you can just raise your camera, tilt the screen, and see where your camera is pointing then with touch shutter, pick the subject and the camera takes a picture or taking worm's-eyeview photos without the need to drop to your belly on the ground. It also means that you don’t need to press the shutter button when taking a shot. Composing with this feature is definitely a  lot easier and I can imagine this to be very helpful to macro photography. Open Live View, turn on the touch shutter and select the focus then BOOM, you have a picture.

Since it’s a new feature, there is bound to be some things with it that needs ironing out. Kai from Digitalrev pointed (no pun intended) this out in their review of the 650D and Touch Shutter has shutter lag, something that shouldn’t exist on DSLRs. It means that it takes sometime for the camera to focus on the point you selected on the screen before it actually takes the picture, something you'll be familiar with if you've used old point and shoot cameras. Having said that, this feature won’t be useful to street photography unless you’re shooting still-stills, as seen on the video.

Canon 650D/T4i Hands-on Review by DigitalRev


But there is something more about the touch shutter that doesn’t really sit well with me even though I think that it’s a really convenient feature. Touch shutter takes away the feeling of looking at the viewfinder and pressing the shutter button while you’re face is planted on the back of your camera. I don’t know how other photographers feel about this simple gesture but it’s something I like when I use a DSLR, this is coming from a person that values the sound of a shutter in a camera. Call me old school, relative to this feature, but I like framing my images in the viewfinder and pressing the shutter button. It has a mechanical feeling to it when I take a picture from that perspective and it also feels that the camera is an extension of my body. Kai also pointed out in his video that it looks like Canon thinks of this feature as something that pro-photographers don’t really need that’s why Canon haven’t applied this to their high-end cameras. Or maybe Canon is making sure that Touch Shutter works perfectly before they add this features to the future 1Ds, 5Ds and 7Ds. Maybe it will become a standard feature and I'll get the hang of using Touch Shutter since I mentioned that it’s actually a convenient way to shoot sans the shutter lag, but there is still something inside me that prefer my face to pressed at the back of a black box with my eye on a prism in the viewfinder framing the world on small box and having to half press a button to focus then pressing it completely to capture the moment.

A Workshop on Wedding and Portraiture

Note: I just recently calibrated my screen and if you have anything to say about the color, kindly drop a comment here or send me a message on my Twitter, Facebook or email. Thanks!

totovillaruel.com

Yep, it's time for another workshop for me and this time I attended A Workshop by Toto Villaruel. Some of my friends ask me all the time, why do I still attend workshops since I've already been shooting for a hobby for I think four years now. My answer is because I need the experience, specifically, the experience that the pros on the field share in their workshops. All workshops offer basics on photography and there is nothing new on it since aperture, shutter speed and ISO were linked together. But what's new is the techniques and ideologies that each photographer follow when they shoot and that is something I'll only learn if I shoot a lot or if I attend workshops.

I really don't want to do events photography, let alone do a wedding, but what I'm interested to learn on this workshop is portraiture and creativity. Well, creativity can't be taught but one can get inspired by attending workshops. Toto is good at both. He admit that he didn't learn photography from any school and he's self taught but he was a photojournalist before and I'm sure that experience taught him more than any school can teach. When he was starting to learn the ropes of wedding photography, he was a member of Imagine Nation, a photography group that mostly does weddings and coincidentally where my former college professor Glenn Tan is a member of as well. That is where he learned the tricks of the trade. Jaja Samaniego, a guest speaker in the workshop, also came from Imagine Nation and also does wedding photography. More of them on my previous post.

So about the workshop. There were 13 of us students in batch 1 and most already have backgrounds in photography. Some already shooting weddings, based from their Facebook profiles. We were given handouts for the topics to be discussed on the workshop but it was bundled together with photos from the speakers. It was like I a brochure but with beautiful photos and summarized topics. I think it was a nice touch and in away cements an idea to the the students saying "this is what we do and we do it well and we know what we're saying.".

The workshop started with us jogging through the basics of photography as everyone is already familiar with the technicalities. After Exposure and Light, the remaining topics were mostly drawn from the speakers' experiences on the field, which is the very thing that I'm looking for. There were a lot of examples and stories in between each topic explaining to us why they adopted this and that or why they think that something is important or not. It was very educational and fun at the same time because it felt like I was talking to a barkada.

cameras used by Toto. Both Toto and Jaja are Nikon shooters using manual focusing lenses

Toto Villaruel

Jaja Smaniego

We had the lecture in the morning, KFC fully loaded meal for lunch, then in the afternoon, we went out to shoot with three models. I liked this part of the workshop as well because I remember most photographers always say, just go out and shoot and this is what they basically did. There was a graffiti wall near us and thats where our first location was then we headed to the railroad tracks. Yes! The railroad tracks! (I always wanted to shoot in the railroad tracks!) It was a bit uncomfortable for me walking around Makati with a DSLR but I figured that we're a big group anyway, we're all safe. I wasn't actually prepared for the shoot and I had a blank mind, trying to determine what I want to get in my camera. So I just went out and shoot. When we were already in the railroad tracks, I was just walking around admiring the location and didn't really concentrated on the shoot. Stupid me. But it was still fun!

Pilar, Bruce, Jill

our second location!

On the second day, we all came back with 3 of our best photos and we showed them to the rest of the class and had the speakers critique our work. Their comments on my photos were mostly the cropping and I admit, I suck at it right now. How I wish I have a 5DM2 or a 7D that can give me 100% viewfinder. Then we went to the last part of the workshop which was post processing. Toto and Jaja don't shoot with RAW files and they don't always retouch their images. They capture their photos as is and just like what Nathaniel Salang said to me on my first basic photography workshop, get it right in your camera!

On the afternoon, we went out to shoot again but this time, we're all paired with one another and our task was to take a portrait of our partners. Then on the last part, the 3 best photos from yesterday's shoot were printed and was awarded to their respective owners. Congratulations to those who won!

Nicole with her dog whilst we wait for others outside.

To summarize the experience, it was a fun workshop and something I would want to do again! Not only was I able to meet one of my idol photographers but I was also able to learn from him and his colleagues. I was able to shoot in one of the locations that I always wanted to visit (although I wasn't able to maximize it)  and I was able to meet new friends. It was a bit tiring because I don't really shoot outdoors that much but I must say, this workshop rekindled my love for photography.

Our teachers with the models. (From Toto's Facebook)

A Workshop Batch 1

Jaja, Nicole, Toto

 PS: Another thing that I learned from this workshop is that I really want a full frame camera, a couple of 1.4 prime lenses and that freaking iPad that they used during the lecture. :)

Photography Idols [Toto & Jaja]

This time, I'm featuring a couple of amazing wedding photographers whom I had the pleasure of meeting in the workshop I attended last week. Actually I already knew one of them for some time now because I like his style of taking photos and I get to know the other because she is one of the our instructors in that workshop and I'm glad I did.

Ladies first.

Jaja Samaniego

(Philippines)

Facebook | Blog | Twitter

Hers is a style with simple and clean compositions and natural colors. She trained from Imagine-nation photography and it shows in her pro event photographs. She's been in the industry for 3 years now and she proves to have the eye for amazing light, the very ability I want to learn. What she originally wanted to do is take videos but when her dad gave him a DSLR, she fell in love with stills and the rest is history. I think she's a really good people person and this profession of doing weddings is right for her. Although she mentioned that she also do portraits though I don't see it on her blog. Here are some of her photos lifted from her blog. (I know I said she uses natural colors, but the picks I made are more of my personal taste.)

Toto Villaruel

(Philippines)

Facebook | Blog | Twitter

I don't recall where I saw his photos first but I know I had a Red Mango moment, where I was just wow-ed by what I see, when I saw his wedding shots. His has the color and tone that I like but with simplicity and the look that other wedding photographers don't subscribe to. He shoots weddings with his girlfriend Nicolai who is also has an eye for amazing photos. Both of them are living together right now and together, they make a very good team to capture such events. From what he told us in the workshop, he started as a photojournalist then crossed over to taking wedding photos. The thing that is amazing with Toto as well as Jaja, other than their photos, is that they both shoot with manual focus. Not just manual exposure but also manual focus and that made me say wow! Imagine doing a fast paced event with manual focus and capturing the right moments with manual focus. Now that's an eye for photography indeed. Here are some of his photos.

So if you're planning a wedding, I suggest you ask these amazing photographers first because I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised.

As for the workshop that I attended, I'll make a post soon.

Photography Idols [Nirrimi & DigitalPimp]

I think I haven't made a photographer feature for the longest time so let me start it again. I have a couple of photographers that I would like to share to you guys. One I've been following for quite some time now and the other I just discovered in PinoyPhotography forum. Their photos are the ones I want to be taking as they have the aesthetics and the emotions I want to capture in my photos.

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There are some really young talented photographers down under and one of them is 19 year old Nirrimi Firebrace. As well as a very good photographer, she also is a good writer. She maintains a blog (see below) and she recently had a baby that she documented on her blog of course accompanied by wonderful photos. She was able to travel to the US for a campaign and recently Europe for another campaign. She's mostly shoots fashion and portraits but sometimes a slice of life.

What I like with her photos are the simplicity of each photo, the vintage feel, the beauty of the subjects perfectly captured, her ability to see beautiful light and the feeling I get when I look at her photos. It's calming in a way because the colors and facial expressions just works for me. Here are some of her latest photos from her blog. Visit her blog, bigger photos does make a difference when you look at them.

Nirrimi Firebrace 

(Australia)

Twitter / Facebook / Blog

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Nathan Hayag, also known as digitalpimp, has a couple of threads in Pipho forum titled Everyday People and Everyday Places that he maintains. Both started on 2009 and now has a lot pages worth of fantastic photos! He's also friendly and gives advices to forumers who asks about his photos. Let me concentrate on his Everyday People photos. As the title suggests, they are mostly street photos of people. His works are mostly from other countries like Singapore and Malaysia. I'm not sure if he is associated to a photography group or works solo as well as what his forte is but he takes very beautiful landscape and street photos.

What I like about his photos are his compositions, wonderful realistic colors as well as his artistic take on some of his street photos, just like the first photographer I mentioned, his eye for amazing light. Some people I see post process their photos too much for my taste. His are just right and that "just right" touch is perfect! Here are some of his photos from his Flickr stream.

Nathan Hayag 

(Philippines, Singapore)

Flickr / Website

I hope you guys saw what I saw in the photos from these photographers and why I like them. I suggest you guys follow their Twitter streams.

Camera Options for Me (And You)

bleed-the-sky.deviantart.com/

There are a bunch of new and beautiful cameras out there right now and it's like a surge of options in the market for all those who are in the market for a new camera. Thing is, even though Canon has released the much awaited update for the 5D Mark II in the form of EOS 5D Mark III, it's not on the top of my list right now. Sure it's a powerhouse of a full frame camera with a finally "working" autofocus but the trend now, in PiPho at least, is that hobbyists are thinking of switching to the micro four-thirds (m4/3, mirrorless) system. Other than the m4/3s cameras, there are also a bunch of point & shoot cameras out there that will give you the image quality you're looking for less the weight (and sometimes the price) of those big black boxes of a DSLR.

Fuji X100

theonlinephotographer.typepad.com

It all started with the Fuji X100. Remember that I wanted to have this camera last year? Until I found out that the price was a bit too much for me. It's still one of the good options out there and I'm sure you guys have already heard about this amazing camera. Even Zack Arias has high praises for this little beast. It's not really put-in-your-pocket compact but it's not a heavy weight either and since it's a fixed lens and fixed zoom camera, you don't need to worry about getting other lenses (not unless that's a con for you). This little baby retails locally at around Php 50,000 on grey and around 5,000 more to get it from autorize resellers. Retro looks is a BIG PLUS!

Fuji X10

theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/

If you think that the X100 is still a big camera, then worry no more because it has a little brother in the form of the Fuji X10. With half the price of the X100, this is the compact version. Smaller size means smaller sensor but this time with a zoom lens equipped with image stabilization. The optical viewfinder doesn't have the gizmos of the X100 though but it zooms with the lens. It has the same color filter effects that replicates the renowned Fuji films such as Provia and Astia found in the X100 which I really like. This can fit in your pocket for sure! Image quality is really really good for it's class which is point and shoot. This baby is priced at Php 30,000 in The Digital Walker. Not bad eh?

Another image of the X10 with additional bottom grip. (Because I like it very much)

garynylander.blogspot.com/

Canon Powershot S100

www.theverge.com

Not to be outdone, Canon too has a couple of new cameras on the compact level. First, the S100. In true point and shoot compact form, this is the update of the famous S95. Priced at Php 21,000 on grey, it gives decent images although others said that it's not that much different to the S95 (click on the image to read TheVerge review). I haven't dived in to the details of this camera but if it's predecessor was praised then I guess the S100 will give you the same or even better images. If you can't pocket this, you don't have a pocket!

Canon Powershot G1X

technogra.ph

Then we have the more rugged looking Canon G1X. To be honest, I don't really look at the Powershot G series of Canon because I find them too bulky for my taste. It's like in the middle option and I would have opted for a DSLR but with this latest model, the G1X now sports a CMOS sensor. A definite bump in image quality, that's for sure! A bit pricey though at Php 36,000 on grey (I bought my old EOS 450D with the same price 3 years ago). But hey, it's not a big camera and security guards won't hassle you when they see you shooting with this. You can't put it in your pocket unless you want to rip your pocket open though but this will give you the shots you are looking for.

Olympus OM-D E-M5

www.trustedreviews.com

Now for my final camera option, I present to you the new Olympus OM-D E-M5. I know this looks very DSLR like compared to the other cameras I mentioned before but this is smaller and thinner than a DSLR because it doesn't have a mirror and this camera was actually designed to look like the old OM cameras of the film days. It has been out for quite sometime now but I really didn't pay attention to it because, as you can see, it looks a lot like a DSLR and what I'm actually looking for is a different look. But I've been reading around a PiPho thread talking about this camera and I might have been swayed by the BIs posted there. Here is a review by Robin Wong and I must say, those pictures says a lot about the camera. This is a interchangeable camera system meaning you need to buy into the whole Olympus line of lenses and since it's new, price is really steep  at Php 53,000 for a kit on grey with SRP at around Php 67,000. PRICEY and it obviously won't fit in your pocket not unless you want someone to say "... or are you just happy to see me?". But this an option indeed.

So those are the cameras that I'm looking at right now. There are a lot more in the market right now but I've thinned them out to these 5. (The first image not included.) If you feel like getting a new camera right now, you might want to give these babies a try.

One Hectic Week

It has been a hectic week at my job hence me not being my talkative self in Twitter. My team's counterpart was in town for a week and it meant that our projects was literally being closely monitored. It was at it's peak last Monday and Tuesday where I have to absorb so much information that I had a couple occasions where the stress and pressure was so close to triggering a migraine attack while I was in a meeting/presentation. Good thing I was able to keep myself together and managed to not cross that red line. It felt like that Tuesday was already a Friday, heck even Monday felt the same way.

Australia team with Andrew,  Rod from TDI (holding a plate) and our manager, Marvin.
(photo was taken by my officemate)

It's not all work and hardship though, we were treated to a dinner at TGIF (I didn't realize how I missed eating in there until I saw a full ribs rack again *drool*) and a lunch at Alex's, a restaurant that specializes in local cuisine and makes delicious bibingka. I felt I gained quite a lot just after those two meals spanning in less than 12 hours. Not to mention that our department had our delayed post-Christmas raffle and games on the night of Valentine's day. Of course we have something to eat and it was in the forms of large pizzas and some pasta. It's like my usual Friday food indulgence that I do with my team happened every time we have to eat for two days.

I managed to win a new set of speakers from the raffle but what I really wanted was the 2TB external storage which Arnold got. The speakers are playing my February playlist right right now as I compose this. Thing is, now that I have these speakers, I feel the need to get a new and proper table to accomodate my mbp. Of course more "add-ons" to my macbook pro are in line like a Rain mStand, the Apple 27" Thunderport display and an Apple wireless keyboard.

Francis, me and Rod (the host of the night for the raffle and games)

Since we're already talking about gadgets, I just wanna say that I'm excited for the upcoming Canon EOS 5D Mark 3 (or 5D X) DSLR. A lot of buzz for a possible March announcement from CanonRumors. It's not because I'll buy it (I wish) but it's because the 5D Mark 2 will surely have a price drop when it comes out and a lot of photographers will sell their 5DM2 to upgrade giving me the chance to finally afford one. Full Frame FTW! Coupled with a 50L and 85L primes and it's like I'm complete. The 5D and these lenses are actually in my Wants List, which so far only has 2 items crossed out.

Ow, and I'm also glad that I decided to buy my Macbook Pro last December because it seems like Intel is thinking of releasing their Ivy Bridge chipset late in June meaning the product refresh for the iMac, Mac Pro and Macbooks are going to a lot later than anticipated. iPad 3 with a big-ass resolution is due to be announced March 7 and hopefully the new iPod Touch as well. (please please please). But I'm not leaving the Microsoft side of the fence entirely as I'm also excited to see how the upcoming Windows 8 will work with it's sexy Metro (tile) interface. Yes, I'll keep my Macbook and still have a Windows machine with me. *geeky*

I guess that's it. Just a quick update. Over and out.

ps: As I was about to publish this, Apple just released Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion previews. You can check the details on The Verge (which is a totally cool website!)

Gen Expecting