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F.A.Q.s Which digital SLR should I buy?

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I get asked this question quite a lot, and in all honesty, I am not really the right person to answer. The only digital camera I currently use is my little point & shoot W60, while for work I still use my Pentax 67II medium format film camera.

Getting balanced opinions isn’t made easier by the fact that many photographers are extremely proud (or defensive) of the brand they use. The situation is akin to sports teams. Asking a Nikon user about the quality of Canon’s gear, is similar to asking a Liverpool fan about Manchester United. You may get an honest answer, but you are more likely to be told the other brand is trash or that Rooney looks like  Shrek.

Photography magazines are usually better, but you have to raise an eyebrow when the glowing review for a particular camera is followed by a two page paid advertisement for the exact same camera.

I would first take a look at the digital SLR buyers guide at Digital Photography Review. Another good introduction to the variety of digital cameras available is B&H Photo’s buyers guide. As a camera store they are of course hoping you will buy things from them, but they seem more balanced than other sites when comparing the pros and cons of different brands or sensor sizes.

The B&H buyers guides are divided into three sections based on price.

Entry-Level DSLRs

Mid-Range DSLRs

Pro-Level DSLRs

These introductions were released just before Christmas but I don’t think too many new models arrived in the last couple of months. Also they don’t  include every brand, the Sigma DSLRs for example are not discussed.

Hopefully these sites will be able to answer some of your questions without turning everyone into hooligans.

On the Bookshelf: Within the Frame by David duChemin

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Within the Frame by David duChemin

Within the Frame by David duChemin

Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision is a new book on travel photography by David duChemin. The quality of both the writing and photography along with its focus on vision rather than equipment means that the book, already a bestseller, is destined to become a classic. Simply put, it should be on the bookshelf of any aspiring travel photographer.

“Vision is the beginning and end of photography. It’s the thing that moves you to pick up the camera, and it determines what you look at and what you see and what you do. It determines how you shoot and why. Without vision the photographer perishes.”          David duChemin

There are chapters on the basics such as the rule of thirds, exposure, depth of field and varying angles. The book also delves into issues that are more specific to travel photographers such as whether to give money to beggars, or issues to consider when photographing poverty, children or the elderly. Overall, however, the book is about how to improve your craft, and expand your view of the world.

On duChemin’s blog it states “Gear is Good. Vision is Better.” Above all, what you get from his book is a sense of  passion. His love of photography, of travel, and for the people he encounters, is clear on every page.

“Most Interesting” images on Flickr

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My 36 "most interesting" images on Flickr

My 36 "most interesting" images on Flickr

One clever feature on Flickr is the ability to track the popularity of your images. There is a program that will determine your most interesting images based on comments and views. It then creates a special set for your Photostream. My top 36 “most interesting” images as of March 15th are those above. It appears that women in bikinis and men’s bottoms are popular favorites. Nice to see that my labrador Bear sneaked in there at number 36.

PocketWizards in the field

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PocketWizards also allow you to easily use off-camera flash when shooting in the field. Connect one PocketWizard to your camera and then the second Pocket Wizard  to the flash. I use a transceiver caddy to mount the PocketWizard to the handle of an old hammerhead flash. Press the shutter and, wirelessly, the flash will trigger. You could add a second off-camera flash by setting the second flash to slave mode.

PocketWizard attached to a Pentax AF400T flash

PocketWizard attached to a Pentax AF400T flash

Another useful thing to consider if you are taking PocketWizards into the field is a hard case which will protect the antenna while it is bouncing around your bag. Some are designed to fit with the transceiver caddy making things even easier. This one is by Hildozine.

PocketWizard Hard Case by Hildozine

PocketWizard Hard Case by Hildozine

PocketWizards in the studio

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PocketWizard Plus II

PocketWizard Plus II

I got a set of PocketWizards recently and tested them out in the studio with fellow photographer Eboh. One PocketWizard was connected to the power pack. The second PocketWizard was attached to my camera via the x-sync socket as I don’t have a hot-shoe on the Pentax 67.

Sekonic L-358 light meter with RT-32 radio transmitter module

Sekonic L-358 light meter with RT-32 radio transmitter module

I  put a Radio Triggering Module in the back of my light meter so that I could trigger the strobe when I took a light reading. Simply select the digital transmitter mode on the light meter and confirm both PocketWizards and light meter are on the same channel.

Sekonic L-358 in Wireless flash radio triggering mode

Sekonic L-358 in Wireless flash radio triggering mode

Make-up artist Kim Clay and Eboh’s wife Ursula then posed for some shots.

Make-up artist Kim Clay

Make-up artist Kim Clay

Model Ursula Ajeroh

Model Ursula Ajeroh

Overall the PocketWizards work really well in the studio. They remove many of the wires making things easier and safer. Their popularity with studio photographers is such that many power packs come with PocketWizard receivers built in. They’re not cheap, but they are a quality product.

Okinawan Lizard

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I found this little creature in the bathroom this morning. He was quite cold so easy to catch and happy to sunbathe while I took some photos. (In fact, once I had finished taking photos with my point & shoot I went back in the house got out my Pentax 67, changed lenses, attached a 1:1 macro adapter, inserted film, found light meter, and he was still relaxing on the shell when I came back.)

I have field guides for Japanese birds, and even a list of Okinawan dragonflies, I don’t however have a list of herps (This is where my friend Matt would step in when I lived in Peru ). Does anyone out there now what species this is?

Okinawan Lizard (Pentax W60)

Okinawan Lizard (Pentax W60)

Okinawan Lizard (Pentax W60)

Okinawan Lizard (Pentax W60)

“The Pacific” a new HBO miniseries

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The Pacific HBO miniseries

The Pacific a new HBO miniseries

Yesterday I watched an interview with Tom Hanks on The Colbert Report. Hanks discussed his latest project, the HBO miniseries titled The Pacific. Following on from the critically acclaimed Band of Brothers that was based on  events in Europe during WWII, The Pacific will look  at the Pacific Theater of Operations. Events in the series include the invasions of Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

I am very interested to see how the invasion of Okinawa is portrayed. The Battle of Okinawa, also known as the Typhoon of Steel was one of the most horrific events in history. Thousands of American and Japanese troops were killed, and along with them approximately 140,000 civilians. Some died during the air assault, others from malaria, starvation and forced mass suicides. Trapped between two warring powers, the Okinawans were killed by both sides.

Okinawans that survived the war, have told me that by remembering the events it will hopefully prevent a similar tragedy from ever happening again. Having heard some of their stories, it is hard to visit places like the cliffs of Cape Zampa without thinking about the Okinawan men, women and children forced into lines by Japanese soldiers then told to step off the edge.