Penny Lane Backyard Film Painting Frame Rate Test – Canon 7d

Playing around conceptually with multiple film sequences – “film painting” I might call it. I also play around with frame rate with the Canon 7d. 1920 x 1080 (Full HD): 30p (29.97), 1280 x 720 (HD): 60p (59.94), 640 x 480 (SD): 60p (59.94).  Edited with Adobe After Effects 6.0.

NOTE: NO MUSIC IN VIDEO.

Canon announces new 40mm “Pancake” Lens – Buy a Pancake, Save an Elephant!

Canon announced the new 40mm “Pancake” lens.  I’m pretty excited about it and in fact pre-ordered literally 5 minutes after hearing about it for the first time.  Why?

  • Most importantly I want a new “professional”/quality lens without spending the buckaroos
  • 22.8 mm thick/ half the size of the “nifty-fifty” – one of the cheapest most durable lenses EVER
  • it’s fast with 1:2.8 Aperture
  • Close focusing distance: 0.3m

… to name a few.

Here she is:

I stumbled upon the promotional fundraiser by Canon Rumors Guy! Read more here, but basically here’s how the proceeds work out (from http://www.canonrumors.com/2012/06/pancakes-for-good-the-big-life-foundation-fundraiser/)

“How it will work
For every Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens pre-ordered and shipped from B&H Photo between Friday, June 8, 2012 @ 12:01AM EST (GMT -5) and Sunday, June 10, 2012 @ 11:59PM EST (GMT -5), I will donate the Canon Rumors affiliate commission (the small percentage I make on a sale) to the Big Life Foundation. Keep in mind, the lenses won’t be shipping this weekend, but we will count them when they do ship.”

BOTTOM LINE

Get a quality lens at an affordable price and save an elephant, what more could you ask for?

EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM Ultra-Wide Zoom – Precision Camera In-Store Test – Austin, Texas

I had to check out the EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM Ultra-Wide Zoom. So I visited my favorite photography place in Texas – Precision Camera in my favorite city in Texas – “all the way to Austin, Texas baybay!” (A little Vince Young reference).  Who else to help me out but the infamous Robert Backman?  I’m not a “technical” photographer so I’ll beg the question is this really what a fish sees?

EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM Ultra-Wide Zoom at 15 mm Focal Length on Canon 5d Mk2

EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM Ultra-Wide Zoom at 15 mm Focal Length on Canon 5d Mk2

EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM Ultra-Wide Zoom at 8 mm Focal Length on Canon 5d Mk2

EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM Ultra-Wide Zoom at 8 mm Focal Length on Canon 5d Mk2

If you’re really interested in Tech Specs visit the official Canon website at http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_8_15mm_f_4l_fisheye_usm.

cc7d 2011 and other stuff.

I’m wrapping up my film submission for cc7d. Looking to score and iron out finer details… like color balance and stuff like that.  However since I have an awesome amazing time not focusing, I’ll share with you some things that I’ve been distracted with. First I want a Leica… unfortunately I can’t afford the Leica M9 and it’s lofty $7k price… so instead I purchased a $9 skin for my iphone 4.  Thanks to PetaPixel for tweeting about that! Second is this sickly awesome video mimicking a Rube Goldberg machine… I love everything and then some about this video except they bring a hammer to a canon lens #ilovecanon.  But I’m sure it withstood it – it’s canon!

As for work I had an opportunity to work with another awesome model Thursday, July 7, 2011 as part of a Bella Bella Hair Salon Campaign. Then I had to rush over to film at Whataburger Field ….  Here’s a photo preview from that session.

She's sporting Hair extensions from Bella Bella Hair Salon

 

The last bit of news to share is that I received my 580 EX 2 Speedlite flash, and I couldn’t be happier. I was using the 320 EX and it wasn’t making me so happy.  It wasn’t communicating with my wireless flash setup and the video light, main reason for purchasing, isn’t that strong.

Bottom line: 320 EX doesn’t cut it as key light.