The Canon EOS 5D Mark II is avaiable for preorder at amazon.com. You can either buy the body alone or in combination with the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens.
Click the links below for more information (left is body only, right with the 4/24-105):
| Body only | with 4/24-105 |
Adobe has released a release candidate (well testet but not yet the final version) of Adobe Camera Raw 4.6. The new version adds support for the Nikon D700 and Nikon D90 DSLRs and also for the Fuji Finepix IS Pro and
Nikon Coolpix P6000.
It works with Photoshop CS3, that is people who buy the new D90 or D700 won’t have to upgrade to the upcoming Photohshop CS4 to work with RAW files from the D90 and D700.
Once Adobe Camera Raw 4.6 is final, there should also be an update for Lightroom 2 with support for those cameras.
After a long period of waiting and speculation in many forums and on many websites, the new Canon EOS 5D Mark II is finally out.
Let’s look at the important features of the EOS 5D Mark II and see if it really is a worthy upgrade from the old EOS 5D.
This is a huge increase from the 12 megapixel sensor of the old EOS 5D. The sensor is similar to that in the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III but with some improvements. It is supposed to offer the best image quality of all Canon EOS cameras so far. The 5D Mark II is also supposed to offer the lowest noise of all Canon EOS cameras. The ISO can be adjusted up to 25.600. If this is usable or was just included to have the same number as Nikon with the D3 remains to bee seen.
If the camera is as good as Canon says, then I think this alone will make the camera very popular for studio and landscape photographers and for everyone who shoots in low light conditions. I hope the first tests confirm this.
All new Canon EOS DSLRs offer sensor cleaning. It really works very well with my EOS 40D. It was no surprise than the EOS 5D Mark II also offers this feature.
This is only a small increase from the 3 fps of the old EOS 5D. But given this huge increase in resolution, I think 3.9 fps is not too bad.
It’s not 100% but close. Many non professional DSLR only have a 95 or sometimes smaller viewfinder. This can be annoying when you want to make sure that there are no distracting elements or colors at the side of the image. With a 98% viewfinder this should no longer be problem.
After the Nikon D90 introduced video functionality, it was clear that other cameras would follow. The EOS 5D Mark II provides movie recording with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. You can record movies up to 12 minutes in lenght (in VGA mode up to 24 minutes). This is more than the Nikon D90.
Some people think this is useless, others are very excited about it. I think most future DSLRs will provide movie recording.
No matter if you like it or not, it is definitely a step forward from the EOS 5D.
It’s a little strange that the recently introduced Canon EOS 50D does not offer movie recording. Maybe Canon wanted to keep the prices down.
Sound recording is supported in both mono (built in) or stereo mode (via an external stereo microphone).
The new 3 inches LCD has a resolution of 920,000 pixels. This is a huge step forward from the EOS 5D and seems to be the same display as in the new EOS 50D.
The autofocus system of the EOS 5D Mark II is similar to the EOS 5D. New features are micro adjustments and the ability to detect the color temperature.
I think the new AF system is not much of an improvement. After all I’ve read it still works only up to f5.6 which means if you have an f4 lens (like many wildlife and sport photographers with their 4/500 and 4/600) lenses, you won’t be able to autofocus with a 2x extender.
If you shoot shy animals and small birds, using a 2x extender is often necessary. It’s a disappointment that the new EOS 5D Mark II does not support AF up to f8.
If you like live view, the 5D Mark II now supports this feature including autofocus while using live view.
These are not all of the improvements. For a full list, see the links below. But these are what I think the most important improvements compared to the old EOS 5D.
Overall I think the EOS 5D Mark II is a real upgrade to the old EOS 5D. The much higher resolution and the (according to Canon) even better image are a huge step forward.
The very attractive price of US: $ 2,699 (EU: € 2,499, UK: £ 2,299) is way below the EOS 1Ds Mark III and also below the Sony A900 and the Nikon D700.
The new camera is not the right tool for everyone.
I think the EOS 5D Mark II is for photographers who want a high resolution but don’t shoot a lot of action. That makes the EOS 5D Mark II very interesting for studio and landscape photographers.
The situation is different for photographers who shoot a lot of action scenes. The AF is not very exciting (although probably not bad) and the 3.9 frames per second are good but not great if you shoot moving subjects like sports or flying birds.
If you want a faster camera for wildlife and sport photography, the new EOS 50D or the 1D Mark III are better suited. As is the Nikon D700 which has “only” 12 megapixel but a better AF and can shoot up to 8 frames per second.
I think Canon has shown that they are still one of the leading manufacturers and I am sure this new Camera will be a huge success among landscape and studio photographers who want high resolution, great image quality and don’t want to spend more than 6.000 Dollars or Euros for a 1Ds Mark III.
For a detailed coverage of all the features of the new Canon EOS 5D, please use the following links:
anon EOS 5D Mark II Hands-on Preview at dpreview.com
Canon EOS 5D Mark II at robgalbraith.com
Preorder from amazon.com
| Body only | with 4/24-105 |
UPDATE: There is a new version of this article which has been expanded and covers all the currently available Nikon cameras.
See here for the new version:
Choosing a Nikon DSLR for nature photography
Which Nikon DSLR should you buy for bird and wildlife photography?
Nikon currently offers a large range of different digital SLR cameras, ranging from the entry level D40 to the professional Nikon D3 which costs several thousand dollars.
In this article I cover the various Nikon models and explain which one I think is best for bird and wildlife photography.
Here is an overview of the Nikon DSLR lineup:
Those are the entry level DSLRs. The D40X and D60 have 10 megapixels, the D40 only 6.1 megapixels. Although those cameras provide good value for the money spent, I don’t recommend them for the serious wildlife and bird photographer. They are not very robust, have a slow autofocus (compared to other models like the D300 and D700) and can only shoot 2.5 or 3 frames per second (fps), which is not enough for action shots like when photographing birds in flight. If at all, I would recommend using those cameras as a backup body for a larger model.
That said, it is of course possible to make great pictures with those cameras.
This is the successor to the popular D80. The Nikon D90 has a 12 megapixel sensor and offers the same image quality as the Nikon D300. The ability to shoot 4.5 fps makes it interesting for action shooters, although it lacks the really high frame rate of the more expensive models and the powerful autofocus of those cameras.
If you are just starting and don’t want to spend too much money, I think the D90 is a great camera for the price it costs.
If someone stole my current Canon equipment, I would probably switch to Nikon (at the time of this writing) and buy a Nikon D300. I think it is the best semi-professional camera currently on the market. The high frame rate of up to 8 fps (with the battery grip) and the fast autofocus with 51 AF points make the D300 a wonderful tool for shooting birds in flight and other action scenes. The 1.5 crop factor of the 12 megapixel sensor gives you more pixels per animal than the 12 megapixel full frame sensor of the D700 and D3.
The wonderful Nikon 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED VR AF-S becomes an actual 4/300-600 on the D300 which is great for wildlife and birds. Add the Nikon 600mm f/4G ED VR AF-S and you have a perfect (and expensive!) combination for almost all situations you will encounter when photographing wildlife.
The D700 is an awesome camera if you want a full frame DSLR. It has the same image quality as the D3, can shoot 8 fps and has a powerful AF. For bird and wildlife photography, I would prefer the D300 as it gives you more pixels per subject, but if you have a long lens like the Nikon 600mm f/4G ED VR AF-S and live in an area where birds and other animals are used to people, the D700 offers a better image quality than the D300 (mostly noticeable at high ISO settings).
The D700 is almost as good as the D3 but considerably cheaper. Compared to the D3 it can shoot “only” 8 fps (with battery grip) compared to the 9 fps of the D3 (11 frames in DX mode). The D700 only has a 95% viewfinder and not 100% like the D3. And the D3 can take two CF cards. If this is worth an extra 1.500 US $ is something you must decide and it depends on what and how you shoot.
One advantage of the D700 over the D3 is the self cleaning system for the sensor, which the D3 lacks.
The D3 is the ultimate Nikon DSLR. It has everything you ever want – except for sensor cleaning. It has probably the best autofocus of all DSLRs (including those from other manufacturers) currently available and the highest frame rate of all Nikon DSLRs.
The D3 has a 100% viewfinder, the sensor (the same as the D700) delivers amazing image quality, even at high ISO settings of 3.200 and even 6.400 (the D3 can even go as high as 25.600 but the image quality suffers at those numbers).
The body is the most robust and feels like a truly professional tool. If you shoot a lot under very harsh conditions like the Arctic, rain forests and deserts, the D3 may be your best choice.
Before buying the D3, I recommend giving the D700 a serious look. It might offer all you need.
And for the price of the D3, you can get a D700 and a D300.
If possible avoid the D40 and D60. They are not bad but have many limitations for the serious bird and wildlife photographer.
I think the best value for money currently is the Nikon D300. The 8 fps, the fast AF and the 1.5 crop factor are all great for wildlife and bird photographers. If the D300 is too expensive, go for the D90.
If you shoot a lot in situations that require high ISO settings, then I think the D700 is the best choice. It’s lighter and cheaper than the D3 and has built in sensor cleaning. If you can afford to two bodies, I suggest to get both the D300 and D700.
The D3 is for all who want the most robust body with the highest frame rate and a 100% viewfinder. It’s the ultimate Nikon DSLR and has everything you will ever need (except sensor cleaning). But I think the D700 provides more value for the money.
Keep in mind that the lens is more important than the camera. It’s better to have a D90 and a Nikon 500mm f/4G ED VR AF-S super telephoto lens than a D700 and just a Nikon 300mm f/4 ED-IF AF-S Nikkor. The 300mm lens is just too short for most situations (but is a great addition to a 500mm lens).
I hope I could give you an overview of what’s currently available from Nikon for wildlife and bird photographers.
This page will be updated when new Nikon DSLRs are announced.
Nikon DSLRs at amazon.com:
| D90 Body and 18-105 kit lens |
D300 Body only | D700 Body only | D3 Body only |
After the Sony Alpha 900 full frame digital SLR was announced yesterday, it has generated quite some discussion among digital photographers.
Today a first field report was published at Luminous Landscape by Nick Rains.
It’s a very interesting read and also compares Sony’s new DSLR to the Canon flagship model, the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III.
Today Sony has announced it’s new full frame digital SLR, called Alpha 900. The full details of the new camera can be viewed at dpreview.
The full frame sensor with 24.6 megapixels sounds impressive and puts Sony at the top when it comes to resolution in digital SLR cameras (except medium format). Of course than could change pretty quickly and it’s expected that both Nikon and Canon will introduce a new full frame camera soon.
The new Sony Alpha 900 can shoot 5 frames per second, which is not bad for such a high resolution. It has AF micro adjustments and weather sealing.
All in all the new features are not bad, but also not too impressive except for the 24.6 megapixels. But what I think is pretty impressive is the announced price of US $2999.99.
That’s really a very competitive price for a 24.6 megapixel full frame camera and puts a lot of pressure on Canon and Nikon.
And this is why the Alpha 900 is great news not only for Sony photographers but also for Canon and Nikon shooters. I expect to see a serious drop in prices for full frame cameras in the next 12 to 24 months.
The first images taken with the Alpha 900 that were published at the above mentioned preview at dpreview are not bad, but not very impressive either. There is a lot of noise in the images with higher ISO like 1.600. What I can see, it does not reach the quality of the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III. But this is just a preview and we should wait until more detailed reviews of a production model are available.
Many expect Nikon to use this sensor in an upcoming full frame sensor with a higher resolution than their current Nikon D3 and Nikon D700. If this is really the case, I can’t say. There is so much rumor on the internet that it’s hard to really say anything before the final camera will be released.
Does it make sense switching brands and go to Sony?
No! If you’ve already been shooting with Sony or still use Minolta film cameras, the A900 might be just what you want.
On the other side, if you are a Nikon or Canon shooter, I don’t see any reason to change brands just because the A900 has the highest megapixel count (for now). Sony does not offer the huge selection of lenses Nikon and Canon do – although Sony is constantly adding new lenses and they may be in a more competitive position here in a few years.
For now, I miss – among others – a 4/500 from Sony. This alone makes Sony not very interesting for bird and wildlife photographers as a 4/500 is the most popular choice for many bird and wildlife photographers.
Conclusion:
I think the introduction of the Sony Alpha 900 is great news for all digital photographers. More competition will result in better (and cheaper) products for all of us. Let’s see what follows from Canon and Nikon. Exciting times!
More Information about the Sony Alpha 900:
Sony Alpha DSLR-A900 Preview at dpreview.com
Sony Alpha 900 at photographyblog.com
Sony Alpha A900 Digital SLR at letgodigital.org
Sony Alpha A900 – 24MP Full Frame DSLR at bobatkins.com
Sensor dust is a real pain for many owners of a digital SLR camera. Most new DSLRs now have some form of sensor cleaning built in that has reduced the problem considerably. But none is a 100% solution and because of this it still makes sense to avoid getting dust on your sensor in the first place.
Here are some tips to avoid dust on your camera’s sensor:
Of course this is not always possible but sometimes you can find a place less dusty to change your lens.
When photographing outdoors, you often have to change the lens under windy conditions. If you can’t avoid that (for example when photographing birds at the coast), try to stand with your back against the wind and hold the camera close to your chest when changing the lens.
This will cause the dust to fall out of your camera instead of falling on the sensor.
The electrically charged sensor will attract dust. You can avoid this when you turn your camera off before changing the lens.
It’s a good idea to keep your camera clean and in clean room where there isn’t too much dust. If your camera get’s dirty, clean it.
Always clean the rear end of the lenses (for example with a blower bulb) before mounting it on your camera. If the lens mount is dirty, you might get the dirt in the camera. Take care of your lenses and avoid dust setting on the lens mount.
Most recently introduced new digital SLR cameras have a sensor cleaning system. Switch it on and use it. After changing the lens, I always switch on my Canon EOS 40D, even if I don’t plan to use it. This causes the sensor cleaning system to clean the sensor once and helps get rid of dust that has just settled on the sensor.
I use all of those measures and together with the very good self cleaning system of my Canon EOS 40D, I rarely have to clean my sensor. If I do, I either use or SensorKlear or the sensor swaps from VisibleDust. So far, those tools have worked without problems. For a more detailed overview of ways to clean your sensor, I recommend reading this article by E.J. Peiker on Naturescapes.Net.
If you want to get the most sharpness out of your digital camera, you should use the mirror lock-up feature of your camera for longer shutter speeds.
Most current digital SRL cameras (DSLRs) come with a feature called mirror lock-up. It’s used to reduce the vibrations caused the the mirror in the camera. After you press the shutter button, the mirror flips up before the shutter opens and lets light on the sensor.
This is a mechanical operation that can cause a slight shake inside the camera. It’s not really noticeable from the outside but you often can see it the effect (reduced sharpness) in the final image.
With mirror lock-up (MLU) you can tell the camera to flip up the mirror and then open the shutter only after the camera has “calmed down”. See below on how to best use mirror lock-up.
Here are two pictures taken to show the difference. Both shots are 100% crops of a picture I took today with a Canon EOS 40D and my Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM, which is one of Canon’s best lenses. The combination was mounted on a tripod and I used a cable release for all shots. The shutter speed was 1/8th second.
Without mirror lock-up
With mirror lock-up
No sharpening in Photoshop was applied to those picture. If you look closely, you can see that the shot without mirror lock-up is not nearly as sharp as the one taken with mirror lock-up. Of course you could correct it to some degree with Lightroom or Photoshop, but the better the original image, the better the results with Photoshop.
Using mirror lock-up makes sense for all images taken with a shutter speed longer than 1/30th second. For long lenses like super telephoto lenses it makes sense even for shorter shutter speeds.
Because of the delay caused by using mirror lock-up, it’s not useful for moving targets, for example, a slowly swimming duck.
Image stabilization should be turned on (if your lens supports it when used with a tripod) but is not a complete substitute for mirror lock-up.
I use mirror lock-up for all my landscape and macro shots for which I use a shutter speed longer than 1/125th or 1/60th second.
The camera must be mounted on a tripod and for best results I recommend using a cable release, as this avoid camera shake caused by the photographer when pressing the shutter button.
An alternative offered by some DSLRs is to use the self timer in combination with mirror lock-up. My Canon EOS 40D allows to set the self timer to 2 or 10 seconds. When I press the shutter (and mirror lock-up is enabled), the mirror flips up and after 2 or 10 seconds the shutter is opened and the image taken.
I hope this helps to make clear that mirror lock-up is an important feature of any DSLR camera. Almost every photographer comes into situations where he or she has to use long shutter speeds. Using mirror lock-up really can make the difference between a successful and unsuccessful picture.
If the manufacturer or the salesman in the camera shop tells you that mirror lock-up is no longer needed in modern cameras, don’t believe him.
Don’t buy a DSLR without mirror lock-up.
Unfortunately using mirror lock-up can be a pain when you need it often because some camera manufactures bury it deep inside the camera menu and you have to press several buttons to use it. But that should not keep you from using it.
The people at Photography BLOG have just published their review of the Nikon D700. It’s quite long and detailed with 6 pages. As expected, the review is very positive overall and the D700 earns a “Highly Recommended”.
So far the D700 has gotten many great reviews and Nikon really has a winner here. It will be interesting to see what Canon’s answer to the D700 will be. Many expected a successor to the Canon EOS 5D to be announced for Photokina 2008. So far we have only seen the introduction to the EOS 50D. But maybe the 5D successor will be announced soon. Or something completely different.
This are exciting times for the digital photographer and with the manufacturers pushing each other to new limits, we as photographers all benefit, no matter which brand we use.
From that point of view, the Nikon D700 is also great news for all Canon shooters.
Get the Nikon D700 from amazon:
If you own a Canon EOS 40D and want to see what the best settings for bird photography are, check out the this article by famous bird photographer Arthur Morris.
The article also includes some interesting comments on the EOS 40D and some great bird pictures.
The following follow up article includes one correction for the first article.
Arthur Morris is one of the best bird photographers in the world and I highly recommend reading his bulletin archives and subscribing to them. They contain many great images and useful tips on how to improve your bird photography.
The settings in the articles mentioned above apply not only for birds but for most other uses in nature and other types of photography.
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