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Business Cards for Photographers
A few years ago when I was trying to establish myself as a photographer I was looking for good business cards. There were some “free” options. I put free in quotes because, if I recall correctly, the company’s logo would be on the card somewhere. Then I discovered MOO cards. Funny name. Great cards.
What I loved about MOO is that you can choose their pre-designed cards or upload your own images to get customized cards. So theoretically, in a pack of 50 cards, you can have 50 different images. Well, I wanted to keep it a secret because I didn’t want other photographers to have the cool cards I had! Of course, that’s ridiculous and the cat is apparently out of the bag. Readers of Lifehacker.com named MOO the Most Popular Business Card Printing Site.
I just ran across some of their pre-designed cards for photographers and thought they were pretty cool. The design at the top of this post features four vintage cameras fused into one image. Of course the designs are customizable so you can substitute your own images into the grid.
This next one features seven vintage cameras including an old Brownie.
Finally a quirky twist on the vintage camera design with these illustrated versions of 10 cameras including a Polaroid, Holga, Hasselblad and Rolleiflex.
If you like these cards or want your own custom cards, give MOO a try. I’m not getting anything from the company to write this post, but I can get a credit and you can get a 10% discount if you order through this link.
Why My Next Camera Will Be Mirrorless Pt. II
Sony RX1
So as the title implies, this is a follow-up to the “Why My Next Camera Will Be Mirrorless” post written in July of 2012. Back then, I hadn’t purchased the Canon 5D MKIII yet and Canon had not yet released its own mirrorless camera; and I had my eye on the Sony NEX-7 with its 24 megapixel, APS-C sensor. With interchangeable lenses, I was considering the Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 lens. Then everything changed when Sony announced the RX1.
First, let me say, that I as I indicated in the post, I did indeed get the 5D MKIII. I need it for my profession; shooting interiors. But I never got excited about it. It’s a tool that I need for work. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great camera and I wouldn’t part with it…but it’s a tool none the less. The RX1 is the first camera in a long time that I can remember actually being excited about.
You may have heard by now that the RX1 is the world’s first full frame compact camera. That’s right, it packs a 24MP full frame sensor in a small body with a fixed 35mm f/2 lens. Just how small is it? Do a Google image search of “RX1″ and you’ll see some images of it in people’s hands.
The reviews have been off the charts. Steve Huff did an extensive two-part review of the RX1 and calls it one of the best cameras ever. Additionally, you can read reviews at Pop-Photo with lab test results and it was rated right up there with the Nikon D800. Here’s another in-depth review calling the RX1 “the best lightweight digital camera I’ve ever put my hands on, and has become one of my favorite cameras ever. Period.”
Why am I so excited about this camera? As I mentioned in Part 1 of this post, I want a camera I can travel with that has the quality of a DSLR but not the size and weight. I have some trips planned this year, including a 2-week visit to Italy in the Spring. I really don’t want to lug around my MKIII and worry about it getting damaged, lost or stolen. Yes, I have insurance, but if something happens to it, I can’t go right back to work when I return from the trip. It’s my bread and butter. The iPhone and compacts just don’t have large enough sensors to produce quality results. That’s why I was looking at the NEX-7.
I do have a few concerns; not the least of which is the $2800 price tag. I could save money and get an NEX (I’ve read the NEX-6 is slightly better than the 7). OR, I could just buy a lens; perhaps a 24-105 or 35mm for my Canon. But I don’t think I would get the same results from the NEX and the second option still has me travelling with a big DSLR.
There is no viewfinder; you compose images from the LCD screen. You can buy an optical or electronic viewfinder, but those are really expensive. Even the lens hood is an optional and expensive accessory.
I also worry about the fixed 35mm lens. Will I be restricted? It’s a classic travel photography focal length; just not one I am used to.
Having said all that, I am not saying YOU need to go out and buy an RX1. But it occurred to me that if someone asked me what camera they should buy, I would tell them to get a mirrorless camera. The average person thinks they need a DSLR, but that’s just not true anymore. I would point them to the popular Olympus OMD-5 ranked by readers of Digital Photography Review as the 2012 Camera of the Year; ahead of the MKIII and D800! I would tell them about the new line of Fuji X-series cameras. I would still recommend Sony’s NEX line. Yes, Nikon has a line but it’s been met with lukewarm reception; and Canon’s foray into the mirrorless party with the EOS-M is likewise less than inspiring. Speaking of mirrorless party, check out this video which kind of sums it up:
There will always be a need for DSLRs among professionals. But the parent who wants to take pictures of their kids or a tourist on vacation doesn’t really need one. I think mirrorless cameras fill the space between the cell phone Instagramer and the pro shooter. Someone who just wants a good camera without the size, weight and price (the RX1 excluded on that count) of a DSLR.
Apps to Track the Sun
If you’re a photographer and you shoot outdoors then you know how important it is to shoot when the light is just right. For me, I have to time the angle of the sun to shoot the front of houses and pools. So you’ll understand if I’m a little obsessed with tracking the sun.
I’ve previously written about the Sun Seeker app in the “Must Have Apps for Photographers” and the LightTrac app in “A Must Have App for Outdoor Photographers“. I’ve run across two more apps that track the sun, but first I want to review the LightTrac app since it’s what I use the most.
I have a couple of complaints about the app. First, it works differently on the iPhone than on the iPad. On the iPad, if you want to search for a location, just hit the “location” button and type in the address. On the iPhone, however, when you type in an address, you first have to save the location before you can see the angle of the sun. My second qualm about the iPhone version is that I often get that “Compass Interference” message. I know that’s an issue with the phone and not the app, but it’s annoying nonetheless. To be fair, I get the interference when using the Sun Seeker app as well.
The next two issues I have are with the maps in the iPad version. I shoot houses, so I need to pinpoint a location. Sometimes, when I enter an address, the marker is on a street or a nearby house. So I usually use Google maps to pinpoint the house and then compare it to the map on LightTrac to make sure I have the right location.
Secondly, when you zoom in all the way, the streets do not follow the map. Let me explain: Imagine the base map as a layer in Photoshop. The streets are “drawn” onto a layer on top of the map. When you zoom in all the way, the street lines do not line up with the street on the map. You can see in the iPad screen grab above how Archfeld Blvd. does not line up with the road on the map. All in all, my complaints are not enough to render the app unusable and I still rely on it for almost every shoot I do.
Alright… on to the new apps! The first is called “Magic Hour“. This app simply lets you plan to shoot during that magic hour a half hour before and after sunset when the sky displays those beautiful colors. Photographers usually call this the “golden hour”.
As you can see, you enter your location and the app tells you when magic hour begins and ends and even displays a countdown timer. Simple, but useful.
The next app is called “Sol” and I really love the graphical presentation.
Your location at present time is placed on top of a sphere. You use your finger to rotate the times of day around your location. So, for example, in the screen grab above, if I were to rotate “Golden Hour” above my location, the clock would tell me what time it would be. You can then transition to the phases of twilight until you get to nighttime and eventually back to the phases of twilight in the morning.
I think this is an excellent way to visualize the phases of twilight, understand there are two times of the day that mirror each other in terms of light and see how long each one lasts. If you want to learn more about shooting in twilight check out my “Twilight Photography” post.
There you have it; four apps to track the sun and figure out the best time of day to shoot. I linked to the apps in the iTunes store, but I believe most of them work on Android devices as well.
Why My Next Camera Will be Mirrorless: Part 1
Sony NEX-7
I’ll admit I was a little late to the mirrorless party. I’d heard about Micro 4/3rds, EVIL, MILC, etc. and I was just too busy or too arrogant to pay attention. I figured anything with a small sensor wasn’t worth my time. In truth, my next camera will be the Canon 5D MKIII; I still need the full frame capabilities for my profession.
My interest in mirrorless cameras came from a desire for a system I can use for my personal use. I hate lugging around a big DSLR when traveling and a point-and-shoot or iPhone just doesn’t get me the quality I need. Enter mirrorless cameras: small form factor with a sensor larger than point-and shoots; in some cases just as large as a DSLR.
In case you’re new to this too, let me go over a few things. First, terminology:
- Micro 4/3 (four-thirds) refers to the size of the sensor. Check out “Size Matters in Photography” for an explanation on sensor sizes.
- “EVIL” stands for “Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens”. Most mirrorless cameras do not have an optical viewfinder, but an electronic one instead.
- MILC stand for “Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera”.
In case you don’t know how a DSLR works, check out the diagram below:
Image from Vimeo Video School
When you look through the viewfinder, you can see through the lens because light bounces off a mirror which gets reflected off a prism and then through the viewfinder. When you click the shutter, the mirror flips up and light hits the sensor directly. This is why your viewfinder goes black when you press the shutter.
The prism inside a DSLR is also what makes it so bulky. The mirror is, of course, a moving part which fails after time. That’s why cameras are rated at certain “shutter actuations” or the number of shots you can take. Most are in the 50,000 to 150,000 range. Some high-end DSLRs are rated at 200,000 actuations.
So naturally, a mirrorless camera does not have a mirror or a prism which allows for a more compact body. It also means super fast frames per second, because there is no mirror that needs to flip up and reset before the next shot.
As I mentioned before, I am looking for something I can travel with that’s small enough to pack but that has DSLR-like quality. The guy who created the Instapaper App recently blogged about transitioning from DSLRs to an iPhone. When he wanted high-resolution images for his retina display he found the iPhone images just were not good enough. My first reaction was “did you really think the tiny sensor in an iPhone would give you quality good enough for a retina display?” My thoughts were echoed in this Cult of Mac article. But I also felt empathy.
On a recent trip to St. Thomas I decided not to bring my DSLR. I took pictures with my iPhone primarily so I could quickly share photos on Facebook. I also used a Canon Powershot 310HS when I wanted a little better quality. Below is an image from my iPhone 4S:
iPhone 4S: f/2.4, 1/15, ISO 800.
I find the noise from the iPhone to be unacceptable, even in broad daylight at ISO 64.
iPhone 4S: f/2.4, 1/3000, ISO 64
Look at all the noise in the sky. It’s only slightly better on the Powershot (granted it was at ISO 1600).
Powershot 310HS: f/3.2, 1/8, ISO 1600
It all has to do with the size of the sensor. A bigger sensor, among other things, will allow for less noise (up to a point). The Sony NEX-7 (pictured at the top of this post) has a 24-megapixel APS-C sized sensor; the same size found on most consumer Canon and Nikon DSLRs.
I really believe we are at a point where the market is going in three directions: One is DSLRs, the other is small cameras with larger sensors. Everything else is taken by camera phones because they are so accessible. But anyone who wants quality photos will fall in one or both of the other camps. Check out this blog post about a CNBC reporter forecasting the death of point-and-shoots.
The New York Times recently reviewed the new Sony RX100 and David Pouge raved about the 1-inch sensor on a tiny body. Some of the comments and even a blog attacked him for his praise; but they miss the point. What Pouge is saying is that a sensor that big on a camera small enough to fit in your pocket is going to rival other point-and-shoots with smaller sensors.
Now, mind you, you can’t fit most mirrorless cameras in your pocket due to the size of the lenses. But that’s something I like: big sensor, big lens, small body. Small and light enough for me to pack on a trip.
I credit well-known photographer Trey Ratcliff for enlightening me to the possibilities of mirrorless cameras. He makes a very good case in his “DLSRs Are a Dying Breed” blog post. Definitely worth a read.
You have a lot of choices when it comes to mirrorless cameras; from Olympus to Sony and even Nikon. Fuji made a big splash with its X100 and X10. Now, Canon is rumored to introduce a mirrorless later this month. Some have interchangeable lenses and others do not. The sensor sizes also vary, so you’ll have to do some research.
For a good primer on mirrorless cameras, check out this guide by Neo Camera.
So if you’re looking for a camera that’s small enough to carry around but will still deliver DSLR-like quality, I suggest you take a look at mirrorless cameras. It’s what I’ll be carrying on my next trip.
You can read Part 2 of this blog by clicking here
Canon 5D MKII Price Drop Begins
Let the price drop begin. When Canon announced the 5D MKIII two days ago, I was expecting the price of the MKII to drop in the coming weeks (the MKIII is expected to begin shipping in late March). I had no idea how soon the price would drop.
I tracked price fluctuations last year; from a hike to about $2,700 after the Japan earthquake to a low of about $2,100 for the Christmas shopping season. It stabilized to the usual $2,500 after the holidays.
Now it’s down to $2,200 on Amazon. [UPDATE 3/5/12: Another $50 drop. It's down to $2,149.] How low will it go? We’ll see in the next few weeks. So if you’ve been eyeing a full frame camera, you might save some money by opting for the MKII over the newer MKIII.
Is the MKIII worth the extra $1,300? I did a comparison using SnapSort and found mostly minor differences.
- A screen that is .2-inches larger with better resolution. The image on the screen does not reflect what you’ll see on your computer or print.
- 6 frames per second vs. 3.9. If you don’t shoot action, then this won’t matter to you.
- 22.1 megapixels vs. 21. ‘Nuff said.
The differences that might sway me are:
- ISO 25,600 vs. 6,400
- 100% viewfinder coverage vs. 98%. As an interior photographer, this is actually a big deal for me
Other features that might interest you:
- More focus points and more cross type focus points
- In camera HDR
- Silent mode for video recording
The question is: is that worth the extra money? Hit me up in the comments with your thoughts. If the MKII drops to $2,000 would you get it instead of the MKIII or is the MKIII clearly superior?
Must Have Apps for Photographers
There is no shortage of apps for photographers. While most of them focus on actually taking pictures, editing or adding effects with your phone I want to point out a few that are more utilitarian.
In a previous blog post, I told you about the LightTrac app. I’ve since discovered a similar app that allows you to track the direction and angle of the sun. It’s called Sun Seeker (the lite version is free). It works similar to the compass on the Iphone. Just hold it up in the direction you want to shoot and you’ll see where the sun is going to be. Now, I don’t like it as much as LightTrac, because just like the compass tool, it’s prone to interference and you’re prompted to wave your phone in a figure eight pattern. Granted, this has happened before with LightTrac, but it’s more often with Sun Seeker and I also don’t trust the compass 100%; I’ve found the direction can change depending on how I’m holding the phone. The one cool thing about the full version ($4.99) of Sun Seeker is the “augmented reality” feature. Using your phone’s camera, you get a display of the sun’s path.
Contract Maker Elite is a little pricey at $19.99; but if you’re an on-the-go photographer, you can create and edit contracts right from your phone or tablet. You can then have a client sign it on your device and email it to them as a .pdf, JPEG or both. The app comes with starter templates, including a sales receipt.
Easy Release is another time and paper saving app for the on-the-go photographer. If you need a model or property release, this $9.99 app lets you collect all the information you need on your device. You can even take a snapshot of your client and add embed it into the release. Like Contract Maker, you can also email a .pdf or JPEG of the release.
Do you know of any other useful apps for photographers? Let me know…
Black Friday/Cyber Monday Deals for Photographers
I haven’t seen too many Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals of interest for photographers recently. So on this Thanksgiving-eve, I thought I’d pass along a couple of items.
First up, I got an email from Adobe offering deals on its software titles until November 29. I’m always a little skeptical because I can usually find better prices on Amazon; but this is actually a good one. You can buy the full version of Photoshop CS5 for $549. The best price I found on Amazon was $610. Lightroom 3 is $199 which is about 3-dollars less than the price on Amazon. The fine print says you have to click the “buy” button and the discount will be applied when you add it to your cart. Click the image above for the link.
This may not be breaking news, but did you know you can subscribe to Adobe titles instead of paying the full price? In the screen where you select the version, platform etc.; click the drop down menu for “version” and select “subscription”. For Photoshop CS5, for example, you can pay $49 every month or $35 a month with a yearly plan. Excluding the deal mentioned above, it could save you money over buying the full version; not to mention having to pay the upgrade price when a new version comes out.
Speaking of which, Scott Kelby recently wrote Adobe a letter regarding their upgrade policy. You can read it over at his blog.
That leads me to the next Cyber Monday deal: UPDATE 11/29/11: The following offer from NAPP and Kelby Training have been extended through Tuesday.
The folks over at NAPP and KelbyTraining.com are offering some pretty sweet deals on Monday. NOTE: I did read on Facebook that these deals are active now, so you don’t have to wait; but I haven’t tested it myself. Some of the deals include 6-months added to your NAPP subscription, $50 off one year of KelbyTraining or get one year of both NAPP and KelbyTraining for $199. If you’ve never heard of it, KelbyTraining is a great educational resource with online courses covering photography and software training. I credit it with teaching me Photoshop. Check out NAPP, if for nothing else, the discounts they offer on products and services photographers use. The discounts I got from Adobe and Apple more than paid for my membership fee.
That’s it for now. If you see any deals out there, let me know. Until then, Happy Thanksgiving and happy shopping!
Holiday Gifts for Photographers 2011
I like to live in a state of denial. Florida doesn’t really have “seasons”, but when the weather got cooler and I had to start raking my front yard, I had to admit it was Fall (or at least Fall-ish). I’m still not used to the time change and despite the commercials, ads and displays, I don’t want to think about Christmas just yet. But alas time marches on without me. So with that, I want to start sharing some gift ideas for photographers in case you’re the type that likes to wrap presents before you dress your turkey.
Let’s begin with Adorama’s “100 Photo-tastic Gifts for under $100.” Considering most photography gear is in the hundreds or thousands of dollars, this is a good list of stuff that is actually useful; from camera bags and light modifiers, to memory, software and books.
I am a dork. (You see how I moved past denial and straight into acceptance?) My mouse pad has a camera dial on it and I have two Canon lens mugs. I also like to wear photography-related t-shirts. The best place to find them is over at Cafe Press. They’re having a sale right now, so most shirts will run you in the $23 range. Here’s a tip: don’t pay extra for faster shipping; I got my most recent order much faster than anticipated. Try coupon code “GLOW” for an extra 15% off.
Since I mentioned mouse pads, there’s one for Nikon shooters here; and more designs here.
UPDATE 11/29/11: I just ran across this link from the LensPro To Go blog. I like how they divide the categories based on price range. Check out the $100-$200 category. The Steadicam Smoothee is an interesting item. A DSLR steadicam will run you about 800-bucks! Also, check out the Spider Holster which I mentioned in a past blog post.
Lastly, check out the posts I wrote last year in case you missed them:
Stocking Stuffers For Your Favorite Photographers
That’s it for now. As the holiday’s get closer and retailers announce deals, I’ll try to post them. If you noticed, I’m looking for items that won’t break the bank; because let’s face it, no one in my family is going to get me the $2,400 5D MKII…which is why I’m giving them socks.
Adobe Photoshop Touch for Android Tablets
Adobe just announced a tablet application for Photoshop. It’s called Photoshop Touch and right now it’s just for Android tablets. That alone is a bit puzzling given the dominance of the iPad, but I’m sure it had something to do with programming on the Android platform that’s a bit over my head. Over on the Chase Jarvis blog, however, he says it’s coming to iOS.
The video looks like it has some pretty cool features including some quick search tools and compositing tools. I’m still trying to figure out who it’s for or what direction Adobe wants to go in. On the one hand, lots of people use their phones to take pictures and then use apps to add effects. Photoshop Touch might be useful to an on-the-go photographer who can’t be tied down to a desktop or might not have Photoshop on a laptop. Then again, this initial roll-out seems aimed at the more casual photographer; giving them some basic tools to start with. Adobe also seems to be emphasizing the social sharing and cloud-based aspects as it did when it announced Carousel a few weeks ago. From the Photoshop blog:
Photoshop users interested in mobile design and photo editing will have the freedom to brainstorm and create in Photoshop Touch, and then access their artwork through the newly announced Adobe Creative Cloud to take it further in Photoshop CS5. Anyone can enjoy Photoshop Touch for quick social photo compositing…and share it out with friends.
Assuming you had an Android tablet, would you use Photoshop Touch?
Nikon’s New Red D3100
Last June, Canon launched a red Rebel T3. Now Nikon is out with a red version of its D3100 DSLR. Monkey see, monkey do?
Would you buy a red DSLR? Do you wish other models came in a color other than black? If so, what color would you want?
