Magic Lantern adds 5D MK II Enhancements

A few weeks ago, Canon released a firmware update for the 5D Mark II, 1.1.0, which added the ability for photographers to capture video with manual control over exposure and ISO settings. Now, a hacker, Trammell Hudson, has released a beta update to the firmware which allows the photographer even more control over the video settings!

Full release notes:

Only works with Canon firmware version 1.1.0

Only the external mic input is supported

Canon firmware will restart if LiveView mode is exited or powersave

HDMI, USB and composite video output are disabled

Zebras can not be disabled, threshold is not configurable, color can not be changed

Canon’s onscreen menus will not function correctly (configure everything before booting the Magic Lantern firmware)

Picture Style button will bring up an event viewer

Digital zoom works

Button remapping is currently disabled

ALC is disabled

Digital gain is fixed at +12 dB

Analog gain is set to +10 dB

Windcut (highpass filter) is disabled

Lowpass filter is enabled with default params

EQ params are at the default settings

Magic Lantern warns that this is a beta and if it should turn your camera into a brick, you are welcome to keep both pieces! With that caveat – the firmware hack can be downloaded at: HERE!

Strobist Boot Camp II

A friend and I decided to participate in the latest Strobist Boot Camp II exercises by David Hobby, (Strobist Blogspot) and for my head shot, I wanted to see if I could use an MR-14EX macro ring flash as an on-camera fill. This image is the result of my test.

The posted head shot here (courtesy of my friend, Fred!) is the result. I had a Canon 580Ex off to the subject’s right with a Honl grid, set on slave and triggered by the MR-14ex on the camera. The MR-14ex was set on manual and since the two strobes are already on banks A and B, I set the 580Ex on bank C. I manually set A and B to 1/64 power and the C bank (580EX) to 1/16 power so it would act as the key.

The result: I believe the MR-14EX can act as an on-camera fill for short distances, perhaps up to 8 – 10 feet. The biggest disadvantage is that one is limited to the Canon macro lenses that support the MR-14EX! In this case, I used the 100mm macro, which is a great lens and the length is good for portraiture.

I shot this with a Canon 5D MK II set on manual mode – 1/50 sec and f/6.3. I am pleased enough to continue experimenting with this setup!!

Radiopoppers

Radio Popper with mounting system

I’ve been waiting for the Radiopopper Jr. system since last year when they were first announced.  However, the designers/manufacturers of the “Poppers” decided they weren’t happy with the design and decided to pull back and add all the new features that they were going to save for future models.  Now it appears the Jrx. Popper is finally going to be released next month!

What is the Radiopopper?  For all you Strobist junkies out there, the Popper is a radio remote unit for your flash units.  If you are familiar with the PocketWizard, then you know what a Radio Popper is, except the Poppers are full TTL!!  That means the flash units can be used on automatic as well as manual!  These clever guys figured out how to take the infrared (IR) signal that flash units use to communicate TTL information and convert that into a radio signal that can be sent hundreds of feet, instead of ten to fifteen feet.  Even better, since these are radio units, the units do not have to have a direct ‘line of sight’ in order to operate – put ‘em anywhere!  The Px units are now on the market and cost about $250 each for the transmitter and receiver.  However, the JRx model is suppose to come in around $50 each and will also work with the Px transmitter unit!

I’ve been using the eBay $25 Hong Kong units, which are unfortunately not that reliable (lots of misfires) and don’t have much range, so I’m really looking forward to trying out the new Jrx which are suppose to be released late next month.  For more information, check out http://radiopopper.com/ and click on their blog link for current status.  As soon as I get my hands on one I will post a review here and at my new forum at www.elusiveimage.net/forum.

Camdapter(tm) Handstrap

Camdapter(tm) strap

Now and then I run across a product that not only performs better than promised, but the company that produces that product also has outstanding customer service.  A recent purchase of the Camdaper(TM) is such a product!

The Camdapter(TM) is a handstrap system that consists of two parts: an optional adapter that bolts to the bottom of the camera (if required) and the straps themselves.

Camdapter(TM) makes a number of different adapter plates and I decided to purchase the Arca  Neoprene plate which not only has strap holders for a neck strap and handstrap, but also serves as an Arca quick release plate for my ball head.

I opted for the Top Grain prostrap for the actual handgrip. This is a nice leather strap that not only looks great, but is nice and thick and should last forever!  There are other options listed, but apparently not currently available – other colors and designs, but I prefer the plain black strap anyway.

Camdapter(tm) plate on camera

 Just minutes after I placed my order, I received, not an order confirmation notice, but a shipping notice along with a nice note from Jim Garavuso, the owner of the company and designer of the strap.  My order was placed on Friday and my order arrived on Monday!   Now that is service!

My strap was already partially assembled on the adapter plate and was very easy to attach to my camera with an alan wrench that was included.  The wrench was even attached to a piece of leather to allow it to be attached to a strap or vest ring to take it along with you should you need to tighten or remove the adapter.

The strap itself is nice and large and very comfortable.  I know it is going to last for years and it’s nice to see function and design merged together so perfectly. 

Absolutely worth the price. Highly recommended!    www.camdapter.com

DXO Labs Camera Database

  DXO labs have been accumulating a lot of data for their DXO RAW convertor, lens correction software and just recently decided to release their findings to the public.  The new site is located at http://www.dxomark.com/.  The database now consists of a number of popular cameras and lenses and you may wish to check the site out to compare your favorite brand with others.  Please keep in mind that the database is only reflecting scientific measurements and does not include subjective information such as comfort, layout of controls, reliability, etc.  However, it should provide the “pixel-peepers” lots of new ammunition to argue pros and cons about the various cameras now available!  The site is free!

Film is Dead

New Kodak Ektar film stock

Well, not according to Kodak!  Kodak has announced a new low grain ISO 100 film stock.  I guess I’ll still have something to use in my old film bodies for awhile longer (I’m running out of refrigerated Ektachrome!).  This new stock is suppose to be very low grain and therefore quite sharp.  More details can be found on the Kodak site at http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/films/ektar/ektarIndex.jhtml?id=0.2.26.14.5.14&lc=en.   Once I’ve been able to get my hands on a roll, I’ll publish my opinions here!

Canon 5D MK II HD Video

Laforet video shot with Canon 5D MK II

Canon recently announced their update to the aging 5D, the new 5D MK II.   Normally I wouldn’t get too excited except Canon added a new feature (likely inspired by Nikon’s latest release) and added HD video capability to this 21 Megapixel camera.  Since I have a background in filmmaking as well as still photography, I find this addition quite interesting.  However, just adding video capability isn’t a big deal, if the video is an after thought with low quality, jerky footage.

But, that isn’t the case – Canon added 1080P HD 30 fps capability!  What makes this so exciting is the fact you achieve the same (or similiar) look and depth of field as the ‘big guys’ do with their 35mm motion picture cameras!  Will the actual video live up to the hype?

Take a look at the following website – http://www.vincentlaforet.com/ and see what you think.  I was amazed at the quality of the video shot with this pre-production camera.  Vincent Laforet is a New York based photographer (and one of Canon’s “Explorers of Light”) who managed to get his hands on this camera for a weekend and put together some sample video that is simply incredible.

I read somewhere that National Geographic want their photographers to be versed in video as well as still photography and now one camera can do it all.

I think I want one!

John Moran

Comet Hale Bopp by John Moran

Wow! 

Now and then I will discover the work of another photographer, and I feel obliged to urge other photographers to investigate their work.  I just encountered the work of Florida based photographer, John Moran and I urge everyone to check out his website at http://www.johnmoranphoto.com. 

John was a photojournalist for 23 years in Gainesville.  He photographed comet Hale Bopp in 1997 and produced this stunning image.  Oh yea, this was before digital!  If you would like to know how it was done, head over to http://www.strobist.blogspot.com - hint:  it was all produced with a few dollars worth of hardware and a couple stobe lights,  a five minute exposure – and quite a bit of patience and ingenuity!

New Photo Blog

  Ok, for all of you who have been receiving my Photo newsletter (if not, go to my website at www.elusiveimage.net and sign up!), many have suggested that I create a Blog to more quickly reveal photo techniques, new and interesting equipment,  interviews with other photographers and interesting work that I run across. 

  Although I lean heavily toward nature and travel photography, I’m quite impressed with the work being done by the photographers over at www.strobist.blogspot.com.  Great learning center and highly recommended.  However, I began to wonder why nature photographers haven’t improved their work by practicing the techniques taught there, and then I ran across Frans Lanting who writes a column for Outdoor Photographer magazine.  Check out some of the great work he is doing at www.lanting.com.  I’m planning to apply the strobist techniques I’m learning to raise my photography to a new level!

  Ok, so on this blog I hope to create a journal of my journey to make better images, reveal new techniques and equipment, and to link to other photographers that are influencing my work.  Also, I intend to post journals during my many travels around the world well as display my travel images.  Hope you will be interested in following along!

Orbis Ring Flash

Orbis Ring Flash

Every now and then something comes along that has one intended purpose, but I see more potential for other uses!  One such product is the new, as yet to be released, Orbis Ring Flash.  The Orbis is made to work with your current strobe unit to soften and direct the light directly from the lens axis.  It is actually a type of ‘beauty light’.  However, it would appear to me that this unit might also be a subsitute for the more expensive macro ring flash units – and it would be more universal!  Best of all, the unit is suppose to cost less than $200, which makes it considerably less expensive than dedicated macro flash units.

  The unit is suppose to be released in the next month or so and you can sign up for their newsletter (and a chance to win one!) at http://www.orbisflash.com/.  I’ll be posting updates here after it has been released along with a review as to how well it might work as a macro flash unit.

 

While I don’t have a unit at the moment for testing and review, I thought it was worth bringing this to everyone’s attention.  As soon as I get a unit, I will post a complete review!