DSLR's Taking Over

I have been researching video cameras for the past few months. After time and time again of saying “That’s the one I want!”, I finally made my decision of which camera I would choose to buy. I didn’t want to spend my bank account so I didn’t buy top-of-the-line cameras like the 5D from Canon or an over-priced Sony.

So, what camera did I settle with?

I bought the T2i from Canon which is part of the Rebel series. It is one of the best cameras on the market right now for its price and its quality. It cost me $1,100 and it came with the 18-55mm lens as well as the 55-250mm lens which I got $100 less than retail value because I bought everything together. I also bought a UV filter, and I ordered a 3-way bracket which is currently housing the RODE mic I purchased and soon will also be housing a light kit. I also purchased a fish eye lens, and I am saving up some more money to purchase a HD LED screen to film videos more easily.  

The camera is great, and the quality is one word: STUNNING.  I couldn't believe at how crystal clear the images and the videos were.  If you're looking into buying a DSLR, go with the T2i.  It's affordable and provides you with a ton of features and superior quality. 

Below is a test video I made the day I bought the camera. Don't forget to watch it in HD ;)

YouTube

Canon T3i Becomes Official

The Canon Rebel T2i was widely popular among that of consumerists showing up from camera bag to camera bag. Well the T2i successor, the Canon Rebel T3i is now official and it seems like Canon has gotten it right yet again. The camera carries almost all the sames features that the T2i had such as having the same sensor and video capabilities. But the price point is what really stands out bringing 60D ranged features inside of a $800 body.

The most notable addiction to the T3i is the devices 3-inch swivel out LCD display. This feature in itself makes a world of difference as I personally have known a bevy of people that originally purchased the Canon T2i, and sold the DSLR once the 60D was announced solely based on the cameras swivel display. Being a cinematographer and photographer myself I can tell you that awkward angles in many situations will lead to a better image, as long as you can actually view what you are capturing. Another feature added to the Canon T3i is the ability to digital zoom while shooting video. The T3i is the first Canon DSLR to bring digital zoom to the tablet, but personally I find this to be a feature that not many cinematographers find that handy, as digital zooming can hurt or in some cases damage the perspective of your video. But regardless the feature otherwise is nice to have in such situations where a little extension is just needed. As far as the photography aspect goes we see no improvement what so ever except for filter effects to add to your pictures (also found on 60D).

The overall package the T3i offers is rather humble. However it would not surprise me to see if the inter webs began going mad or criticizing the T3i, but in my opinion I recommend staying away. I will agree when people say that the T3i really only comes with one new feature and that its swivel LCD display, but in my opinion these writers don't necessarily understand that it is rare that we see an update come about to a DSLR within almost a year of its predecessor. If the T3i was announced in 2013 and featured theses updates yes I would be disappointed, but I don't find myself being disappointed right now. The T3i is really marketed towards those people that are purchasing a brand new DSLR or upgrading their beginner DSLR, and not for those that already own a T2i or a 60D. The T3i should be available in March and the DSLR will be available for purchase at the price of $800 with just a standard body, and $900 with a kit lens.  

Why Everybody Needs the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens

Sitting in at around $100, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 is Canon's most inexpensive lens to date. I was lucky enough to receive this lens as a gift, but it is safe to say this is one of the most fun to use lenses in my camera bag. The small and compact body is made completely from a hard plastic, including the mount. This in turn allows the lens to be very light weight.

This post is dedicated to all of my friends and followers who have started up a hobby in DSLR photography and HDSLR video production. With the start of your new hobby, I advice you to look into the future purchases of a good piece of glass. Now that doesn't mean you have to drop two grand on a new lens, but just be advised of what the quality of the lens you are buying. In this instance, and at this point in time, I recommend all of my friends to consider the purchase of this Canon prime lens. The 50mm f/1.8 lens is not only something to consider because of its price, but instead its useful features.

So you are probably asking yourself, why would I need a 50mm lens when I have a lens that can surpass it at 55mm and even go as wide as 18mm? The answer is simple. One of the many benefits of a prime lens (and this one in particular) is the constant aperture reading. Unlike many variable focal length lenses, prime lenses have one and only one aperture reading. Take a look at your 18-55mm kit lens. You will notice the lens probably has a reading of f/3.5-5.6. This means the lens will only have a largest aperture reading of f/3.5 at the widest 18mm, and only a maximum of f/5.6 when zoomed in to the 55mm focal length.

This particular lens offers great performance in low light situations. In detail, this lens in particular has a large aperture of 1.8. In turn, that means the tiny iris inside of your lens will be open to it's full extent allowing more light into your camera's sensor. With that large aperture, you also gain the incredible depth of field we all know and love. Considering the lens has such a wide and large aperture, the focus is very sharp. In fact, if used properly, this lens can focus on the subject's nose, and already have the eyes out of focus. In my month or two of testing, I found this lens to be sharpest at f/2.8. Since many of you are using your DSLR cameras for video productions, you most likely will be filming indoors. The Canon 50mm f/1.8 will work to your advantage because it will be able to pick up every ounce of light available in your shooting environment.

A cool "artsy" effect you can add to your images is an out-of-focus light effect, called bokeh. With the Canon 50mm f/1.8, you have the key to the ultimate bokeh experience!

No matter what you plan to use your DSLR for, or no matter what brand you use, I advice each and every one of you to invest in a "nifty-fifty" lens. The quality you can achieve with these lenses are just truly magnificent. At an inexpensive price of a $100-$150, there should be no reason this lens is not in your camera bag.

Before I end this post, I would like to remind you all that this Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 lens is in fact a full-frame lens. If you use this lens on a crop body camera, such as the Canon EOS Rebel line (XS, XSi, T1i, T2i, etc) and Canon EOS line (Canon 40D, 50D, 60D, 7D, etc), you will be getting a focal length of about 80mm (50mm x 1.6 Crop Factor). In turn, that will cause the image to appear more zoomed in, than if you were to achieve 50mm on an EF-S lens. 

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to leave a comment below and I will respond as soon as possible.

Flickr Photo Gallery: http://www.flickr.com/brandongoldman

Record Video with a Canon Rebel XSi (450D)

This video shows you how to enable movie record on the Canon Rebel XSi or any camera with live view. The following is a written tutorial on how to do it.

Step One: Download the program EOS Camera Movie Record here. If you're on a mac, download 0.1.9 Beta 2 because it is that last update that supports macs. If you're on a PC, download the latest version available.

Step Two: Plug your camera into your computer and turn it on. Make sure the setting is not on auto.

Step Three: Open up the program. To record, click the "write" button. Once you're done, click "Stop." To learn about all the features, watch the video above.

YouTube: http://youtube.com/YourTechZone

Canon EOS 500D Review

The Canon EOS 500D (also known as the T1i in the USA) is a midrange Digital SLR from Canon. I picked mine up for just $1200 AUD online, and boy for that price it's an awsome camera for both semi-pro and amateur photographers like myself.

Features: The 500D offers great features like full HD 1080p video recording at 20fps or (if you want some more fps) HD 720p at 30fps, other features include; a DIGIC IV processor for ultra clear pictures, an ISO range of 100 to 12,800(expanded), a 15.1 Megapixel image sensor and a 3" 640x480 lcd. The camera also has a 9-point autofocus system, live view and a 1 second boot up time.

Connectivity: The 500D has a fair amount of connections including/l mini-HDMI, A/V-out, mini-USB, 2.5mm jack (for a remote) and an SD card slot that supports SD and SDHC. An 8 GB card will store about 1400 pictures in JPEG, 380 pictures in RAW or 50 minutes of 720p video (the battery lasts about 1:15 recording video).

If you are on a budget but still want to have SLR features, then the 500D is for you. It's a great camera and I have had no problems with it in the 4 months I have had mine.