In depth explorations of the latest canon cameras...

Canon White Papers:
Beyond the Manual

Canon's White Papers are not manuals. They are:

* A detailed, in-depth look at the major features within each specific camera

* An exploration of new system enhancements, with an explanation of the technology behind each one.

* A comprehensive overview of Canon software and accessories compatible with each model.

White Papers are traditionally created for product marketing -- but we also want to offer these informative documents to any photographer wanting to learn more.

All of the White Papers below are free to download, easy to read, and we hope they help Canon shooters take the fullest possible advantage of their cameras.

NEW! EOS 5D Mark II
Click here to download the EOS 5D Mark II White Paper (4.2 MB)

EOS 5D
Click here to download the EOS 5D White Paper (1.4 MB)

NEW! EOS 50D
Click here to download the EOS 50D White Paper (4.2 MB)

EOS-1Ds Mark III Click here to download the EOS-1Ds Mark III White Paper (2.3 MB)

EOS-1D Mark III
Click here to download the EOS-1D Mark III White Paper (3.3 MB)

EOS-1Ds Mark II
Click here to download the EOS-1Ds Mark II White Paper (2.6 MB)

EOS-1D Mark IIN
Click here to download the EOS-1D Mark IIN White Paper (1.1 MB)

EOS 40D
Click here to download the EOS 40D White Paper (2.8 MB)

EOS 30D
Click here to download the EOS 30D White Paper (1.5MB)

EOS 20D
Click here to download the EOS 20D White Paper (996 KB)

EOS Rebel XTi
Click here to download the EOS Rebel XTi White Paper (5.1 MB)

EOS Rebel XT
Click here to download the EOS Rebel XT White Paper (3.7 MB)

CMOS Sensor
Click here to download the CMOS White Paper (1.1 MB)

Adobe Reader is required to view and print the White Papers. Click here to download Adobe Reader.

And remember...

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Live-View and Movie-Mode with any SLR

how to get live-view and movie-mode with a 5D :), originally uploaded by miami fever.

DIY Canon 5D mkII

From Carlos aka- Miami Fever over on Flickr. Perhaps this is Canon Inc's inspiration for including video into their new 5DmkII. Even if it isn't the idea is genius. Now all of us SLR users can reap the benefit of the live view and movie modes available in nearly all of today's point and shoots.

From Miami Fever's Flickr photostream:

"I would find myself having to put down the 5D when I wanted to shoot a video, and vice-versa.
It's really nice to be able to shoot a video of some subjects whose motion and sounds (such as cars) add interest as you photograph them.
I don't do this for street shooting, since discretion is key, the 5D is big enough as it is, and video wouldn't really be as interesting as a still.
This should work with any camera with a hot-shoe and any point and shoot with movie mode and a standard 1/4" tripod mount."

Carlos gives the details of the hardware used in his custom mount over at flickr where he goes by Miami Fever. Pay him a visit and let him know how much you like his creation! You can also compliment him on his amazing street photography taken on the streets of Miami. Most of his great images are what can be described as available dark, capturing the vibrant night scene in Miami without the use of a flash. It doesn't hurt that his images often include many of the beautiful women seemingly roaming the streets of Miami. You can also check out Carlos's blog: http://www.miami-fever.com/ where he posts additional photos and information about his photo documentary of life in Miami.

Carlos is also adept at converting all manner of lenses for use on his Canon 5D. Check out his flickr "Gear" set to see many of his lens adaptations. Additionally Carlos runs a photography and gear oriented blog: Ask Carlos where he elaborates and answers questions about photo equipment, lens compatibility, and his overall shooting technique.

And remember...

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DIY Camera Lens

Teach an Old Camera
New Tricks!

(Photo: Zeiss Ikon on a Sony Alpha A100)

Make an old camera useful again. Many old film cameras and lenses can easily be adapted for use with todays Digital SLR's. The science for which cameras and lenses make good DSLR adaptations is simple. The lens needs to go from a thicker camera body to a thinner body (with the adapter thickness making up the difference).

If you transfer to a thicker body then the lens will only focus for a couple of feet like a macro lens and everything else beyond will be out of focus. An optical element (lens) can be fitted into an adapter to correct this but they 1.) are very hard to find 2.) are very expensive 3.) you lose some quality and perhaps 1 f-stop of speed.

Kimmo Kulovesi (who took the photo above) writes about his adaptation on Yahoo flickr:

Contessa Nettel Cocarette on the Sony DSLR A100

"A Contessa Nettel Cocarette camera attached to my Sony DSLR A100 by means of sticking an 11mm M42 extension tube to the rear port of the camera. The moving lens assembly allows infinity focus to be achieved, enabling the 105mm f/4.5 Carl Zeiss Tessar lens to be utilized with the DSLR. (Or indeed, almost any SLR capable of accepting M42 lenses either directly or with an adapter..."

"from 1923... it's about as sharp as any lens I have."

-Arkku from Flickr

Lens adaptations or hacks have been around for as long as there have been cameras. Since there has never been a agreed upon standard mount between manufactures there has always been the case of certain special lenses that photographers could not live without and were adapted over when the photographer changed or updated camera systems. Some lenses like the 1920's Kodak Pocket Folder lens have been considered so special for their soft focus portraiture that they have been sought out, and modified to work in modern portrait studios.

Loss of automation is something to consider if you do desire to do an adaptation. Today's DSLR wonder-cams have a lot of integration between the camera and the lens. Without a modern electronic lens attached you will lose some automation that we take for granted today. Some of the biggies include:

Autofocus

You will surely lose Autofocus and the ability of the camera to determine when the shot is in focus using the focusing points. You will have to twist the focus knob yourself and then eyeball the image in the viewfinder to determine if the focus is correct.

Creative Modes

You will be stuck using the camera set to manual "M" mode or (if you are lucky depending on the camera make) possibly Aperture priority, if your camera can still meter light properly without an electronic lens, (Sorry Nikon DSLR users you lose your lightmeter!)

Auto Diaphragm

Modern cameras allow you to meter and focus with the lens iris wide open, then as the shutter is pressed the lens automatically stops down to the preset opening just before the shutter fires. The reason for composing with the lens wide open is to give a brighter viewfinder and to ease in focusing. With an adapted lens you will need to set the lens iris manually before you press the shutter.

To the modern DSLR user the loss of automation alone can be daunting. For those of us that used film cameras it will be like stepping back in time. Either way it is surely more work to adapt and use a non system lens than to just buy one made for your camera. However for many of us Do-It-Yourselfers hours of enjoyment can be had by adapting and using these older lenses and cameras.

And remember...

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Free Canon RAW Image Processor - DPP

Canon Digital Photo Professional
Free RAW photo editor
Updated version to 3.2 with new website and tutorials.

Canon has released another free update to its free RAW photo processor. DPP (Digital Photo Professional) 3.2 is now available.

Digital Photo Professional 3.2 is software
exclusively for editing and converting RAW
images shot by EOS Digital cameras.
Users of EOS Digital cameras can install
Digital Photo Professional 3.2
by downloading Digital Photo
Professional 3.2 Updater for Windows.

DPP 3.2 also has a new website devoted to the
new version with updated video tutorials.

DPP 3.2 features:

1. Added support for EOS 40D and EOS-1Ds Mark III.

2. Added Lens aberration correction function
(for correcting peripheral illumination, distortion,
chromatic aberration, and color blur). 

   Please refer to User's Manuals (PDF)
for the supported models
and the target lens in Digital Photo Professional 3.2.

3. Highlight/shadow warning function has been added.
Now check for blown highlight and shadowing on the screen. 

4. High speed (moiré reduction off) has been added to the
High Quality display mode for RAW images. 

5. Retain sort order function in the
main window has been added. 

6. 100% has been added to the enlargement ratio that
appears on the Quick Check window.
(Previously 50% only) 

From my earlier DPP post:

I generally shoot in RAW format, and I rely heavily on the DPP program. With the release of Version 3 Canon has given its customers a fantastic tool for free. I can often achieve fantastic results processing my RAW images in DPP and never have to adjust them in PhotoShop.

The ability to shoot RAW images is a feature of higher end cameras and allows for you to have all the raw sensor data from the digital camera without the camera making any automated image enhancements like it would to make a .Jpg image.

This RAW file really is raw data, think of it like a film negative, and must be processed in conversion software and made into a .Jpg or .tiff file.

This conversion software allows me to make decisions on brightness, tone, contrast, color temperature, color saturation, and grain sharpness. By allowing me to make these decisions I can fine tune my pictures, often far better than the logic built into the camera.

Canon in addition to providing the RAW software DPP provides a detailed 106 page user manual, and goes one better providing intensive online tutorials that are easy to understand with video examples by world class photographers and Canon reps.

Unfortunately Canon's Digital Photo Professional will only work with RAW files generated by its EOS line of Digital SLR's. For those with RAW files generated by Canon p&s cameras like the G6 or other manufactures RAW files they will sadly not work with DPP.

And remember...

Please share this link, and let everyone know you found it here at: freephotostuff.blogspot.com

Thanks.

Canon's DPP Updated to 3.0.2

Canon's

Digital Photo Professional (DPP)

Free Software to unleash
the RAW power of the EOS Digital SLR

Canon Inc. has just released the latest update to their free RAW processing and workflow software DPP. Version 3.0.2 replaces 3.0.1.5 and includes a major update for Windows Vista and a couple of minor fixes for Mac and non-Vista users.

I generally shoot in RAW format, and I rely heavily on the DPP program. With the release of Version 3 Canon has given its customers a fantastic tool for free. I can often achieve fantastic results processing my RAW images in DPP and never have to adjust them in PhotoShop.

The ability to shoot RAW images is a feature of higher end cameras and allows for you to have all the raw sensor data from the digital camera without the camera making any automated image enhancements like it would to make a .Jpg image.

This RAW file really is raw data, think of it like a film negative, and must be processed in conversion software and made into a .Jpg or .tiff file.

This conversion software allows me to make decisions on brightness, tone, contrast, color temperature, color saturation, and grain sharpness. By allowing me to make these decisions I can fine tune my pictures, often far better than the logic built into the camera.

Canon in addition to providing the RAW software DPP provides a detailed 106 page user manual, and goes one better providing intensive online tutorials that are easy to understand with video examples by world class photographers and Canon reps.

Unfortunately Canon's Digital Photo Professional will only work with RAW files generated by its EOS line of Digital SLR's. For those with RAW files generated by Canon p&s cameras like the G6 or other manufactures RAW files they will sadly not work with DPP.

Canon's DPP software can be downloaded here:
Digital Photo Professional 3.0.2

The DPP manual (106 pages) is here:
support page

Visit the Online learning center for DPP tutorials and video lessons:
DPP Canon's Digital Photo Professional

If you share this link please let everyone know you found it here at: freephotostuff.blogspot.com

Thanks.