Thursday, November 26, 2009

Canon G-11



December 2009 - A second camera. I have been waiting for a few years to replace my favorite "G" series Canon [G2} and have finally done it ! Canon took a few detours with the product and is finally heading back in the right direction again with features, quality and price. The G11 is nice to use as a step between a basic small point and shoot and the larger DSLR and has included technology from their higher product models. So far it seems to be a good fit.

Even though I finally own a DSLR, I still longed for the days when my Canon G2 [which handled almost any shooting situation] went everywhere with me. I was only waiting for a current Canon "G" model that met my qualifications for replacement.



In 2008 the G10 introduced some exciting new manual dials for exposure and ISO which allowed manual [instead of indirect menu control]. This new feature married the best of the old film cameras with the digital technology. The G11 added technology to improve low light shooting and noise control, and reintroduced the swivel screen.




If you're looking for something smaller that shoots the same quality [but has a bit less zoom] try the new Canon S90 [below]. The S90 is the sister camera to the G11 using the same processor in a smaller camera.



While not a perfect camera, the G11 does a lot of things right - like taking excellent pictures ! I have been extremely impressed with picture quality and have included some samples from my first shoots. In good light at low ISO it rivals my T1i DSLR. In low light and higher ISO the smaller sensor introduces noise, but it still does a nice job and offers some manual options to improve picture quality.



I have posted a couple of new galleries [Tower Hill and Still Life] which include samples from my first G11 shoots.

r.w. Steffen site r.w. steffen

Here are some links to full reviews of the camera and some sample shots.

Canon G11 Review DCRP

Canon G11 and S90 Review and samples Ken Rockwell

G11 samples flickr G11 photos

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Canon T1i



July 2009 - Finally ! Technology and price meet at the perfect time ! At this writing I've had this camera for only a few months, but after a few successful shoots, I am beginning to fall in LOVE with this camera ! Its small size plus the ease of use and picture quality make this camera the perfect fit !

Here is a link to some recent photo shoots in Burlington, Vt., Boston, Ma., and Harvard, Ma., as well as some recent artwork.

6 studio blog r.w. steffen


Here are some links to some Camera Reviews of the Canon T1i which include photo samples
.

Canon T1i Review Digital Camera Resource

Canon T1i Review Digital Photography Review

Canon T1i Review Ken Rockwell

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Canon G2



Year 2000 - The technology moved along quickly, soon 4MP was now cutting edge, and digital cameras were beginning to be taken more seriously, though I was still one of the few guys out using one. At each point I was waiting for the camera that made a major step forward in quality.

Digital SLR's were still way above the consumer price range so we had to be content with what the that market had to offer and they were still very expensive. The Canon G2 was the next serious development and I used this camera happily for 8 years. It was bigger and heavier and felt like a serious camera, but still small enough to take everywhere. Its greatest quality was the F2 lens that allowed low light shooting almost anywhere without flash.

My artwork was now reaching a certain level and it was finally time to look for more pixels so I could do some enlargements. DSLR's were now improving and becoming affordable. I was just waiting for the right model features and price point.

Olympus D400



Year 1999 - After watching the early digital camera market intently for a couple of years, I waited until the technology and the market produced a camera considered to be a serious camera, one that produced consistent results and clean color-true images.

I bought this 1.3 MP camera and used it successfully for a year or two. It was accepted as state of the art at the time and though 1.3 MP was not really enough for enlargement, good medium size prints were possible and the photos still look good when displayed on our HD TV. It fit my needs and served me well.

Beginnings