Tag Archives: camera

Commentary, Equipment

Shopping for your first DSLR? Some Advice

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Recently I’ve seen a lot of posts around the web by individuals looking to upgrade from point and shoot cameras to their first DSLR – and in a few cases by folks who intend to bypass the P&S step entirely and just start right out with a DSLR.

Among these folks the questions are usually “which camera should I get?” and “what lens(es) should I get?” These questions are phrased in various ways: “Is camera X a good choice?” “What is the best lens for Camera Y?” “I hear that lens/camera Z is the best – is this right?” “I’m just getting started and I plan to get the very best camera and lens available.” “What lenses do I need to complete my setup?”

While there are exceptions to almost every rule, in the case of new DSLR shooters I have some strong opinions about what the best approach will be in most cases. The good news is that the “right” answer is probably also the least expensive, the most conducive to learning about your relationship to DSLR photography, and the most adaptable to a variety of future directions that you might find your photography taking. Continue reading Shopping for your first DSLR? Some Advice →

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Quick Note: ‘Live View’ post updated

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Earlier today I updated my post about the “live view” feature on the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, and added a couple additional reasons why the feature is so useful. See the post here: Why I Like ‘Live View’ on my Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

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Another note about Canon EOS 5D Mark II battery performance

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This past weekend I did something I usually do not do – I shot a wedding! My niece got married in Spokane, so I flew up there and did the wedding photographer thing. Actually, my brother and I did the photography. Fortunately, he is more experienced than I at the portrait and lighting stuff. (No, you won’t see those photos here! :-)

For those of you still trying to figure out how many Canon LP-E6 5D II batteries you might need, I shot about 650 frames using the 5D II. At the end of this process the battery level indicator still showed two of four bars.

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Quick Report on Canon EOS 5D Mark II Battery Performance

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After four days photographing – in sometimes stunning conditions – in the Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite, it seems odd to make my first post about a technical issue. But, here I go.

People wonder about the LP-E6 battery performance of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera. While I haven’t conducted and “scientific” tests of battery performance, what I have observed thus far is quite encouraging. Over the past three and a half days or so I made 533 exposures plus a few more that I deleted in the camera. I do a fair amount of “chimping” and I used the live view feature just a bit. After all of that the battery life indicator still showed two our of four bars.

All in all, I think this seems like great battery life. Many 5D II shooters will find that one battery is sufficient, and very few  should need more than one spare. (I currently have one spare. Because of some unusual use patterns – including backcountry pack trips of one to two weeks duration – I’m considering one more spare.)

If you are purchasing a 5D II, an extra LP-E6 battery for your 5D II, or other camera gear, doing so at B&H Photo Video via links at this site helps support this blog.