Gear

So what can I say, sometimes I do things a little backwards. Normally, its the people who are used to their point and shoot cameras that need a little extra help with, and take a little longer to learn about the more complex settings of a Digital SLR camera. Well, after using my Canon EOS 20D for two years and picking up a Canon SD890 as an anywhere/anytime take-along camera, its the point and shoot camera that I’m still learning about after two months later.

When I tried to shoot the flurries outside here in Chicago yesterday during my lunch break, all I had with me was my SD890 (again anywhere, anytime). Trying to catch the giant snowflakes whizzing around my car window with the normal modes from the SD890 just wasn’t working. They snow was flying too fast and the shutter was taking too long. Everything was coming out blurry.

The Solution
Flipping through the Scene (SCN) options, I found the ISO 3200 setting and gave it a shot. To my amazement, the photo appeared on the screen almost instantly, way faster than using the normal shutter mode. After a few attempts, I was able to snap the photo on the right here, which was just what I was looking for. While you can only see the biggest snowflakes in this small thumbnail, click on the image to view the large size on Flickr to see the tiny flakes in more detail.

Not only was I happy to get the photo I wanted, I was also excited because I had a way to capture a wider range of photos for moments that wouldn’t be possible with slower shutter speeds. Remember, I’ve been shooting mainly with a DSLR, so this was a new problem to me.

Drawbacks
Of course, something this helpful will also come with it’s share of drawbacks. The first is in relation to the photo’s size, which isn’t too bad. Shooting with the SD890 in ISO 3200 mode puts your image size to a maximum setting of 3M, which is roughly equivalent to 3 MegePixels. It also restricts the resolution of your image to 1600×1200. Still, that’s pretty decent to use in cases where you would otherwise miss out on a shot altogether.

Now, just like with DSLR and even film cameras, the higher the ISO setting for film or an image processor, the more “noise” you will see in your photos. Depending on the situation, this can mean quite noticeable degradation in the fine details and quality of a photo. For example, the photo on the left here was taken in ISO 3200. Now, this is just a set scene and there’s no real reason why it has to be taken in the SD890′s ISO 3200, but it proves the point about the image noise that can result.

Once again, click on the photo to view the larger size on Flickr. If it was taken with the normal shooting mode of the camera (which I should have done for further comparison here), the details of the handwritten note on the Post-It would be a lot more legible, and you could probably even read my own chicken scratch on the pages underneath the bottle of water. With a proper settings and exposure time, this image, and all of the camera’s 10MP glory, would have been so much better.

What took so long?
Why did it take so long for me to figure this out? I can’t really tell you, other than the fact I don’t really read instruction guides as much as I should. I have known for years now that, for low-light and night photography, raising the ISO setting will allow you to shoot with faster shutter speeds. But I guess I never applied that line of thinking to a point and shoot camera like the SD890. Live and learn, I guess.

As a follow up to my post on my first photos with the Canon SD890, I thought I’d upload and share a few of the video clips I’ve shot with it and help give you an idea of what’s is capable of, and what it’s not.

The first one I shot was taken back in September, when it was still nice out here in Chicago. A little background, a few coworkers and I spent most of the summer rollerblading during our lunch break, and this little clip was me following them down the overpass on our normal route. As you can tell, the audio isn’t that great on a windy day when you’re whizzing down a fairly steep hill, but it kind of clears up near the end.

No doubt about it, now is certainly a great time to be a fan of digital photography and especially Digital SLR cameras. Not only is the technology making leaps and bounds over cameras from just a few years ago, competition between more than a few name brand camera makers is pushing down prices and getting that technology into the hands of consumers faster than ever.

Even though I’ve only had my new Canon Rebel XSi for about a month now, I still like to look toward the future and for a replacement for my EOS 20D. As a big fan of Canon and with an existing investment in their lenses and accessories, there’s no trouble sticking with their expansive offering of prosumer models. The trouble I’m facing right now, though, is deciding between the fan favorite and battle tested EOS 40D or the new shining star, the EOS 50D?

(Photo Credit: Amazon)

Canon EOS 40D
The Canon EOS 40D is indeed a fan favorite although it has only been out for just over a year now. It comes with a great track record and it’s 10.1MP would be a nice upgrade from the 8.1MP sported by my 20D. It can shoot at 6.5 frames/sec and utilizes the DIGIC III image processor paired with it’s CMOS sensor.

What also makes the 40D very appealing right now is the slight freefall that it’s price is experiencing with the recent release of the 50D (below) and the huge anticipation for the HD, 1080p video shooting EOS 5D Mark II, retailers are apparently making room on their virtual storeroom shelves by emptying out their stock in the 40D. A few hundred dollars saving on a body-only purchase of the 40D over the 50D can go along way in procuring a top notch lens that I can use for all my cameras. Very tempting.

(Photo Credit: Amazon)

Canon EOS 50D
Now, with all the advances in technology I was just mentioning earlier, the latest and greatest in the 50D sounds like a no brainer, right? On paper, the 50D boasts a 15.1 MP CMOS sensor and the new and improved DIGIC 4 image processor for quicker photo processing and writing out to storage media. It also features a brighter LCD review screen with a higher resolution than the 40D, and an HDMI output jack for viewing photos directly on your HDTV or monitor.

So where does the tough choice part come in? Even though the 50D is only beginning to make the rounds with photography enthusiasts out there, I’m starting to see a concerning contrast between the rave reviews and marketing fluff from Canon and some initial reviews and feedback from photographers that have used the 40D and made the switch to the 50D. Just this afternoon I was reading a few customer reviews over at Amazon and picked up on a theme starting that bigger isn’t necessarily better in terms of megapixels and new processor and it doesn’t automatically mean better photos. And at the end of they day, isn’t it really the photos that make all the difference?

The Verdict
Well, there really isn’t a verdict at this point. I do plan to keep an eye on the type of reception that the 50D receives as more and more people rack up the exposures with it. I realize that there is no one camera that will be perfect for everyone or every situation, but in a technology race with Nikon, Sony and others, it wouldn’t suit Canon well to just push out cameras that beat the other guys in the numbers alone at the sacrifice of quality and user satisfaction. I’m not in a position to say that is the case here, since I haven’t had the chance to use either of the cameras yet. I will say, though, if the price on the 40D continues to fall in comparison to the 50D, that might push me to try it out next year and save my coin for the EOS 5D Mark II in the years to come.

Time to wait and see.

While originally planned as a Xmas gift this year, it was featured as one of the Deals of the Day at Dell.com today and, with an existing 10% coupon code I’ve been saving, I was able to order my new Rebel XSi for only $560!!! That’s a full $100 less than Amazon, and something I knew I couldn’t pass up.

Even better, standard shipping (3-5 days) was free, although, there was a last minute shipping delay and it won’t be shipped until next week (bummer). Since I hadn’t expected to be getting it so soon, I don’t have a lot to write up yet as a preview. I guess the week delay in shipping will give me a few days, so look for that soon.

I’ve also spent my first month with my new Canon SD890, too. I owe a review on that guy as well.

Was shopping this weekend at Target (of all places) and found this little guy in the electronics section. Checking at Amazon, the Polaroid PoGo Instant Mobile Printer has only been available for a few months now, but is getting some good reviews initially.

This little gadget printer is smaller than an iPhone and only prints photos that are 2″ x 3″ in size, but Polaroid seems to be onto something new now that it’s old line of instant photo cameras are all but gone. There are a few very innovative features that make this worth a look.

Cool Features
Here’s a short list of why I stopped and checked it out in the store, and even listened to the shady sales guy (yes, at Target):

• It’s portable, really portable. Unlike other on-the-go photo printers, this one will actually fit in your pocket.
• Bluetooth compatible, this printer will connect to your phone wirelessly and print out those photos from your camera phone.
• USB connection to your camera, using Pict-Bridge technology (which is just about ever decent camera these days).
• And the best part… NO INK!!!!

One of the nagging expenses involved in printing your own photos at home is the price of ink cartridges. Sure, they have those refill shops now, but for photos, you really need the good stuff. So, how does this printer from Polaroid do it without ink? It’s in the paper.

Just like their old instant photo cameras, the film contained the ink and would expose after a few seconds of shooting. Now, they have partnered with a company called ZINK (which stand for Zero Ink) to utilize specialty paper that contains all the ink inside of it. Which means, you don’t have to buy ink, ever. Just paper, and at the moment, that’s not even that expensive.

Sure, it’s a niche little printer because it only prints 2″ x 3″ sized photos. There are those scenarios, however, where you can use it to take a photo and instantly get a print, just like the old days of Polaroids. I think this could be a start of something…

Summary
I didn’t end up buying it this weekend, but I had my eye on it for awhile. As I pick up other toys for my arsenal, I can see having a little gadget like this one. It’s a fun little idea, and part of photography for me is about having fun. From reading some of the only few reviews at Amazon, there are a few minor kinks, but that can be expected. Something I will be keeping tabs on for sure.

You can find more details on this product from Polaroid’s website.