Posts that have the tag "camera"
Bags, Part II
I've chosen a pair of bags to purchase. The first a Kata DR-465 backpack. It's different from most camera backpacks insofar as it doesn't look like a camera backpack (and doesn't stick out like a sore thumb).
It's also differentiated further from other camera backpacks in that it's more accessible on the go. Many camera backpacks have a single large compartment and the rear of the pack is simple a cover. The zipper will extend all the way to the bottom on both sides so that the cover opens like a flap. This flap works best when the bag is lying down on the ground so that you can get to all the equipment from above. The Kata bag has pockets that are meant for swinging the bag around while it's still on the shoulders.
This sort of bag should be exactly what I need for taking my camera with me when I ride my bike around.
The other bag I've chosen is the Jansport Elefunk messenger bag. I wanted to a messenger bag to replace both of my other shoulder bags. One is a regular bag that I got for free at a bar back in college. My second bag is a cheapie laptop bag that is OK for carting a couple things with me, but easily becomes overfilled and isn't the most comfortable.
Posted on February 18, 2010 at 07:18 am. 0 comments. Tags: bags camera
A Bag
I've been on the prowl for a new bag for my camera crap. I've been unsuccessful in being able to carry my camera gear around while riding my bike. I can take it easily enough in the car, but I want to be able to ride out into the woods and stop at some of the more interesting scenic areas.
My current camera bag is a large rectangle with padded dividers that I can place where I want with velcro. This bag is good for packing a body, a selection of lenses, a flash and a few other doodads with relative ease. The problem is that it's bulky. It's OK for carrying to and from my vehicle to single destination, if I plan on setting the bag down or not going into it.
However, it is dreadful when I plan on being entirely mobile. While walking around, the flap makes on-the-go switching a pain in the butt. When I try to cinch the bag close to my body, the awkward shape of the bag makes it stick out from my body.
I have a plethora of other bags, but none of them have a particularly elegant mix of ease of access and capacity large enough to store my camera. I have a couple shoulder bags (1 laptop and 1 plain) that are fine for grabbing stuff while walking around, but have little space for a camera. I have a pair of backpacks. 1 is only just large enough to hold my camera, but is a bit thin and uncomfortable. The other is much larger and more comfortable. Neither gives me easy, quick access.
I've also decided NOT to get a camera bag. Most are too compartmentalized for my taste, making them difficult to use for other purposes. Moreover, they're ugly. They stick out like a sore thumb most of the time, making them easy targets for thieves or making people leery of me. I want something that blends in.
So, I was looking around at sling backpacks. I assume that they would be roomy, have ergonomics that would suit walking around and bike riding and would give me the ability to swing the bag around and pull a camera out. The problem is that the sling backpack selection is VERY low. There are a few out there, but of what I see, few are large enough or sturdy enough. Some look like they might work, but stick out like a sore thumb (typically with camo print).
So, I'm currently looking at messenger bags. A few messenger bags look attractive, but I'll take a look at REI tonight before I make a choice of which bag to eventually purchase. I know that it would not have the compartments like a typical camera bag, so I'll have to improvise how to carry my gear around without it whacking into each other. I'm thinking a combination of makeshift lens pouches (socks!) and foam should be enough. I'm hesitant to purchase lens and camera covers for now.
Posted on February 16, 2010 at 03:53 pm. 0 comments. Tags: bags camera
Gear Lust
I have been looking around at gear that I'd like to get for my camera. read more...
Posted on February 11, 2010 at 09:51 am. 0 comments. Tags: camera equipment
More lenses
Earlier in November I purchased the Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L USM. It was the first version. Its date code put production of the lens at 1995. It was somewhere around $550. I played with it for a couple days before deciding that I just didn't want to keep the lens. It was a lot of money and it was a focal length that I didn't plan on using very much. So, ultimately, I returned it.
After returning it, I started looking around for an alternative...
Posted on December 01, 2009 at 12:10 pm. 0 comments. Tags: Camera Canon Nikon manual focus photography
New Lens
I recently purchased the Canon EF 100mm F/2. I had been eying this lens for a while. I wanted a lens that I could use for portraits as well as a somewhat longer lens that I could use in low light. I chose 100mm over the 85mm F/1.8 because I already own the 50mm f/1.8 and I felt that 50mm and 85mm are a little too close to each other. Of course, when my 50mm F/1.8 breaks (not an if, but a when as I plan on keeping it for a while) I have to make a decision on a 50mm f/1.4 or another F/1.8 or just going with 35mm.
I had been contemplating other lenses for portraits. I was thinking about getting the 100mm F/2.8 Macro lens. At f/2.8, you still get well-difused bokeh and low-light use. However, it's more geared toward macro use, so the focus could suffer in the end. Also, Macro sounds fun, but isn't really my can o' worms. I decided to try some extension tubes for that right now.
I also contemplated purchasing the 70-200 F/4. It seemed very versatile and useful in many situations. But, in the end, I wasn't sure the F/4 aperture was going to be wide enough to get the job done. Moreover, if I was going to use the lens, I'd either need a lot of light or a flash nearby as 200mm without image stabilization could be difficult to use.
In the end, I'm excited about the prospect of getting a long portrait lens. I've used my 50mm f/1.8 from time to time. It performed decently well, but I think standing further back with a much longer focal length will really help the background look.
Posted on October 13, 2009 at 11:15 pm. 0 comments. Tags: camera lens
Long time
I've been unable to write for a while. Been busy with many things, including work, learning Java, photography, guitar, girlfriend, etc, etc, etc.
I still need to update my image gallery program so that I can delete images after the fact.
Last week, I had some DNS issues. My DSL line lost its IP address twice. The second time around, I accidentally put in the wrong IP address at my registrar, so even 12 hours after the fact, my site was down (I wish I could use a dynamic DNS service or something).
I got a new toy. A canon 5D (albeit, used) plus a 20-35mm ultra-wide zoom. I was playing around with it during some break time. An image is posted after the break....
Posted on August 28, 2009 at 09:11 pm. 0 comments. Tags: site admin camera
Camera Lens
Well, I sold my Sigma 24-60 F/2.8. I wasn't particularly happy with it. It had a loud focus motor. It back focused too much and it wasn't particularly sharp. I took too many photos that were blurry with that lens. So, I'll stick with my current 4 lenses (Canon 18-55, 55-250 and 50 and Tokina 10-17 Fisheye) and wait till I save up enough to buy a Canon 24-70 F/2.8 L.
The 24-70 will most certainly replace my kit lens, but I'm not sure if i should use it in place of the 50mm F/1.8. Moreover, I still need to test my camera out a little more to see if I do, indeed, have a focus issue with my camera body.
Posted on March 10, 2009 at 04:26 pm. 0 comments. Tags: Camera lens
Updates
I know I've been very lax in writing in the blog for a while now. Reason being that I'm moving soon. So, I've been making a lot of arrangements to pack up and get out. I'm unsure when my internet will be up and running, nor am I sure which provider I'll use. I may just stick with Comcast for the time being. read more...