Canon EOS 550D DSLR Review

Canon has now released their latest DSLR camera: the EOS 550D.

Again, main selling point is its 18-megapixel sensor.

But will it sell?

For those who thinks that the higher the megapixel, the better, then the Canon EOS 550D will probably make sense.

But at its initial release, the camera unit is quite expensive.

And besides, compared to the Nikon D40, although already considered an obsolete model, the higher sensor resolution doesn't really quite deliver a very distinctive quality!

What's more, higher megapixel could mean 1 or more of the below problems:

• The files are twice as big
• Shooting in RAW and JPEG will be exacting to your camera unit
  
• Your SD cards will fill up faster with the bigger file size
• Your HDD will fill up faster as well
• Your PC will be slow when opening/editing RAW files

To think really that something can be done doesn't mean that you simply do it.

So will the 18-megapixel help sell the Canon EOS 550D camera?
Maybe. But then again, maybe not.


Have you anything to say about this?

 

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Book review: The Digital SLR Expert Portraits

Image via Wikipedia

If there is one book on photography that deals mainly on one topic, and focus solely on one area, this is that book.

The Digital SLR Expert Portraits
essential advice from top pros

Not authored by just one, but five, professional portrait photographers. And if that isn't saying anything yet, wait till you begin flipping the pages, and learning of their styles, hints and techniques.

Will it be possible that you become like them, and shot your portrait photos the way they do?

Yes and no. yes, in that they offer their advice (it's what the book says, advise from top pros), and that is one of the priceless gems in this book. No, in that you should be you, and you should have your own style and techniques.

Here's one from page 76, which is about low-key photos:

---

"
Some people feel they can't shoot low-key images because they can't black out their room enough, but this is a fallacy. You can have all the light on in the room but compared to the flash going off they will be like a glow-worm, contributing nothing to the exposure at all. Press the shutter button and a bright room will be dark and black.
"

---

I do agree with that. I've seen another book, the review of which I didn't include in this site, which says that put up the flash power, and everything else goes darker. Of course, post-editing can help a lot afterward.

Low-key photo in a bright room? They have done it, I have done it myself, and so can you!

Having said much, know this: the camera is but a tool. If a tool is defined as 'an extension of the hands' which basically means some help or assistance, it should be noted that the tool will be used in ways and means that is mostly dependent on the user.

Thus, given the same camera unit and the same subject to shoot, 10 photographers will compose frames and shoot pictures differently, coming up with 10 different renditions of the one and the same subject.

Photography is but one of the very subjective hobby, and the photographer always applies his own artistic principles and discretion when clicking the button.

Finally, do take note that this book only mentions 1 camera brand: Canon.

If you are using the same brand, then this book is mainly for you. But if not, this book is still for you.

What's your say?

 

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Before I bought my DSLR...

Image via Wikipedia

When I started considering the purchase of a DSLR unit, which means an upgrade from my use of a compact point-and-shoot digital camera, I made it a point to do a thorough check. Basically since the price of an average DSLR camera is not something that can be joked about. Who's to throw away a thousand dollars or something nowadays?

So around August 2009 timeframe, I started visiting review sites and reading on brochures, looking out for promotional items posted on dailies, store fliers, etc., etc. That was when I was introduced to the world of the digital photography through the use of DSLR. I read the specs of the units, and along with the step-by-step learning of the terminologies of the technical aspects of the DSLR, as well as the layman terms, I was reviewing the very small knowledge about snalog SLR cameras that I had from long time ago.

After that exercise, I frequented the store nearest my office, which is just at the mall along the way to my home - where our shuttle bus usually drops us off. I started conversing with the salesmen, befriending them in the process, a 10- to 15-min visit every other day or so, and trying to get a feel by getting a hands-on of the camera units - up close and personal.

I got the package I was waiting for - a Nikon D5000 that has a twin lens kit, a short glass 918- to 55-mm) and a medium telephoto 955- to 200-mm) glass, and a ton of other freebies. The price, if something to be thought of, as I would discover, is just the same as offered in other stores, but of course, without the freebies. The freebies made all the difference, if, when bought separately, would be about 30% of the price of the promotional package.

Of course, not everyone would agree to my liking or have the same taste or preference as me. So whenever I see other brands of DSLR coming into view (like when we have occasions or events) where a handful of photographers come around to do shoots, be they beginners or not, i don't close my mind to considering the other brand. My analog SLR was a Canon, which I passed down to my sister. Bought in 1998, it was still in good condition 12 years later. I just didn't know anything about photography then, or, should I say, wasn't that much considering photography as a hobby.

Things are different now, 12 years later. Having 4 daughters should be enough reason for me to get into the art of photography. The skills can be used not only for hobby purposes, but for livelihood as well. For who can tell what's in the future? Only that we have to be prepared, and what better way to do something that is of your interest?

In my family, it is a long line already...

My grandfather owned a darkroom.

My father bought a number of those cameras in the 1960s, and I remember using those 'boxes' which you have to open up on top, see the view, then take a picture. I even burned the front lens of one of the units - I mean, as a child, we are so curious - to the point of causing some irreversible damages to who knows what?

But the one thing that I liked that my father did was to spruce up my sister's 8x10 black-and-white picture with a very subtle oil paint. Hey, that is Photoshop the manual way!

I guess that if Photoshop were that thing of the past, he would be one of those very early users of this software...

One thing I got from his vault is a 1965 metallic tripod. Not a very sturdy one, a lightweight, and still useable tripod. Still shiny, still rugged. Older than me, but still working.

Hopefully, today's DSLRs can be passed down to our next generation, just like the olden days' camera units.

But then again, that remains to be seen...

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