Pretty happy with it!

For a 300 dollar lens, I’m kinda of trippin’ out. This is shot at f/1.4. Click link under image for 100% view of focused area. Not as much CA as I expected coming from a non L lens. WOW.

View 100% crop

So with a few jobs coming up, I decided to get a carry-on ready case that would fit enough gear for a destination shoot. My co-worker Ryan was sporting a Pelican 1510 in military green and it was looking pretty damn sweet. Literally minutes later, I bought one from Amazon in desert tan.

Being that I have this problem of wanting something and wanting it now, I ended up ordering the wrong case. These cases either come with foam padding, padded dividers, or no padding at all. I originally wanted the padded dividers but mistook foam padding for the dividers. So I’m pretty much stuck with these foam pieces because I don’t want to ship this back to amazon and re-order the case with the padded dividers. They do sell the dividers separately, so I guess I’ll just wait and see how this foam padding works out.

Anyway, this case is awesome. It’s rugged, sturdy, acts as a stool on location and rolls really well. The only thing I think would be an issue is the weight. Obviously, being a hard case, it’s packing some weight without gear inside. But that’s ok with me. I figure this is a case to get me to an on location shoot rather then a case I plan to tour cities with.

So far, I’m able to fit the following:

Speed light
Pocket wizard flex x2
Canon 85L
Canon 200L (2.8)
Canon 5dmk II Gripped with r-strap connector, 35L and hand grip
R-Strap
Blower and lens brush
Batteries
Diffuser
CF cards
Lens hoods

Keep in mind, this was all pretty much impromptu because I wasn’t sure I was going to even give this foam set a try but I think I’ll see how it goes. I pretty much just plucked away until the specific gear fit. I have to admit, I did this carelessly but I’m fine with the outcome. Anyway, see pics below… doesn’t my LV bag match perfectly? Now I just gotta find some awesome stickers to personalize it. I’m thinking an Apple logo would fit nicely.

Continuing my Love with fast primes.

Took out zefron this weekend. Nice ride up to Del Mar with a few miles clocked in on the 101. Then we stopped for some refreshments and a fresh sandwich. Not much shooting but managed to snap some foodie pics.

Also, the images have a cool vibe to them. I wasn’t sure which way to go, cool or warm. I decided that even though the sun was out, the air was so crisp making the ride feel really cool. I figure it’s getting warmer by the day so gotta enjoy what’s left of this cool air. Hope everyone’s weekend was wonderful. Happy Tuesday and bring on the sun!

Update: I just checked the weather and apparently it’s going to rain in a few days lol. Pretty much cancels out my post… whatever! Summer is still coming!

If you recall, I reviewed the Olympus E-P1 with very high remarks here. Since then, I’ve added a black leatherette, Lumix 20mm f/1.7, ditched the OVF and never looked back. With the announcement of the Panasonic GF1, the E-P2 and the latest E-PL1, I really did think about “upgrading” however the E-P2 isn’t much of an upgrade and the GF1, though faster in operation, lacks some key features I love about the E-P1. Those features being the in-body stabilization and retro design. I can’t get enough of how this amazing this camera looks.

I never realized how useful IBIS is until using this camera. I have Canon lenses with IS and it works great but to think about having it for every lens is pretty awesome. The fact that I could shoot at slower shutter speeds with the f/1.7 lens is just amazing. Most of my subjects aren’t moving, people I’m shooting are adults so they could pose for a second or two without moving and my dog… well, if I have a treat she will pretty much wait for anything, so the IBIS really shines for me. The art filters are pretty cool too, esp. pinhole. Some say it’s a gimmick, but I find them to be pretty useful.

Unlike the Sigma DP2, I found the E-P1 operation to still be fantastic. I reviewed the DP2 awhile back and loved the image quality and felt that was more than enough to carry the weight of the horrendous operation of the camera… but after a month of shooting, it took it’s toll. The E-P1 on the other hand, is just a joy to use.

Anyway, there’s not much more I can say about the camera except that it’s the perfect companion for that photographer who doesn’t want to lug around 6 pounds worth of equipment on a weekends walk. It’s for the photographer looking for a mini dslr because the compact piece of shit sensor they have is just not cuttin’ it in the IQ department. It’s for me, the guy that likes to take pictures of crap on his desk, snap away at random things because in my head, I’m seeing something really fantastic or take quality photos of friends and family even if it’s just at a coffee shop.

Here are a few images taken with the E-P1. My little diamond in a rough mini workhorse:

iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad
iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad iPad

Yes. I am getting one. Yes. It will be lovely. And no. You can’t touch it.

Something I say quite often. Here’s a couple more from that day:

At home and at work!

Mark doesn’t like the pic cause it makes him look like he has a belly… I assured him it was the wind and that people would realize it’s the wind. But just in case, it’s the wind hah!

Yet another sleepless night calls for another boring photo. If I had one, and only one f-stop to shoot at, it would be without a doubt, f/2. I love the razor thin depth of field it provides but also love it’s versatility.

Much like Ansel Adams was an f/22 kind of photographer. I am very much so, an f/2 kind of lover. f/1.2 is nice to have on my 85L, but f/2 is my go to aperture.

So far, I’m diggin’ it. Feels real sturdy and it gets the camera to your face like no other. This is how straps should be designed.

I will constantly check to make sure the connector is screwed in tight but I have no problem going a day without checking. Just gotta make habit of checking it before you start shooting cause something might happen during transport.

With Canon’s latest cameras like the 5dmkII, they have made it possible to micro adjust your specific lens to insure quality photos through the accuracy of its focal point. There have been times in my career where I’ve picked up lenses that I thought were awful.

I focused dead center on something and that focal point came out fuzzy and blurry. What gives? “Must be a bad a copy.”

This has all changed for me and many others out there. I have micro adjusted every lens I own making “bad” lenses now amazingly sharp and accurate and “good” lenses even better. The samples below show two states. The first being the lens straight out of the box, onto the camera, shot in raw and handled in CS4 with minor color and exposure adjustments. The second image is the lens after having been micro adjusted +15 on my 5dmkII.

This was a QUICK test, shot with the camera sitting on a table propped up by a box, iso 100, f/1.4 and on auto WB. The focal point was set to the word iron. I’ll use a tripod in my real test, but I just took two quick snaps just to see. I’m sure the camera shoot a tiny bit lol. Following the images are their respective 100% crops:

No adjustments

Micro adjusted by +15

100% Crops:

I only had time for 2 shots so I’ll have to go back and take a few more. I’m guessing I’ll be in the +13-16 range. But already, with this one adjustment, you can see how much more clear my lens is.

So to all you photographers out there… if your camera has the ability to micro adjust different lenses, you should really take advantage. If not for you, do it for your happy clients.

Just another test image. Trying to test how well this Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L will work in my arsenal and I think it’s holding up.

Testing out some lighting for an upcoming shoot. Lending my 5dmkII to my brother so I used my EP1 with 20mm f/1.7. Pretty freakin’ impressed by this little camera.

Ideally I would have liked some fill light but I didn’t have an extra strobe with me. I thought about using my ringflash on camera and the beauty dish above but I don’t have my 5dmkII. Anyway, here’s the result:

Self portrait w/ EP1 and beauty dish

Just a random clip using the EP1 video capabilities in low light with the Lumix 20mm f/1.7. I’m starting to like shooting video. I’ve had the 5dmkII for awhile now, but who really wants to shoot video with that thing for “fun”?

Gonna start experimenting. Who knows, maybe a Director of Photography for movies is in my future? How sick would that be… to be honest I’m not even sure what that entails lol

Haven’t had time to go out and shoot but this Lumix 20mm f/1.7 pancake lens is pretty freakin’ awesome on my Olympus EP1:

All at f/1.7. Oh and Bamboo Hut is also good Great sushi in San Diego. Check my Yelp review here.

Olympus EP1 w/ 17mm pancake f/2.8

I’ve decide to do my own, non-scientific, quick review of the Olympus EP1 since most of the reviews online managed to all remain non original by slamming the weak points of the EP1. My review will based on my style of shooting for this camera. Street photography, portraits, urban type images. I don’t plan to use this for any work related material nor is it my main rig.

This review is to simply state that the short comings the reviewers are saying about the EP1 are rubbish. I guess it’s a good thing because when I went to the store, I was expecting some really awful sluggish focusing speeds with a horrible LCD.

To my surprise, none of that was true and I hope this helps people with their online purchase. Especially those that don’t have the benefit of trying it out beforehand.

Read More…

The day was beautiful as were the couple and company. Just a great day all together.

View the rest here

I have to say that the quality of this is fantastic. Prior to this, I made a book with iPhoto and this Blurb book is miles better in construction, quality, size, finish, etc.

Their program is simple to use and connects with your flickr directly. Depending on how many photos you have on flickr, you may be leaving your computer on all night to let it access/download all the files. You can also import images from your computer. Keep in mind, doing all this makes a file on your computer. This book ended up being about 1gb.

Turn around time was actually pretty quick considering they have to print and construct the book. I also did ground shipping and all in all, it was just a little over a week. I’m sure choosing a faster shipping guarantees the book to be delivered sooner.

This particular book isn’t for sale since I have a few images here without a model release form and at the end of the book is fun drunken images of my friends. I don’t think this would be an appropriate coffee table book to sell, but I’m definitely going to be making another that will be commercial ready for coffee tables around the world!

Specs: 12″ x 12″ Premium paper, image wrapped, 70 page contemporary photo book.

View more sample pages here

For all you strobists out there, eat your heart out…

We (5byseven.com) just picked one up and should receive it shortly. After two weekends of lugging around strobist gear, I think it’s time to do so in style. Check back for a review on how cool it is haha!

Just a few shots I’ve taken with my new lens. This thing is monstrous and I love every bit of it:

So I just picked up a Canon T1i as a backup camera for weddings and events. It’s also going to be used as my sister’s main camera, so only paying half for it to use at jobs is pretty sweet.

After reviews and forum discussions, a lot of people advised me to stick with similar camera interfaces – such as canon XXd’s or an older 5d. For me, the buttons of the T1i were learned in 5 seconds.

As a backup camera, I will be needing to adjust iso, exposure compensation and aperture. Anything beyond that and I’ve probably lost the shot. So the “stick with a similar interface” doesn’t apply to me.

Secondly, the body is small and lightweight. It’s actually a nice change of pace. I would 100% recommend this to any starting photographer or photo/hobby enthusiast.

I would also highly recommend it as a professional back up camera. Performance so far has been stellar in both speed and image quality. To put it simply, using the T1i doesn’t leave me feeling I wish I had my 5dmkII. This is by no means an easy feat so kudos to Canon. Though the 5dmkII is just absolutely brilliant in most aspects, the T1i does hold it’s own.

The screen on the T1i is out of this world, much like the 5dmkII. It’s a great feature to allow you to see if you’ve got a sharp image. HD capture is nice and so is CA (creative auto).

Check out some sample pics shot with a Sigma 24mm F1.8 macro:

Went hiking yesterday at Black Mountain Open Space Park in 85 degree weather so I didn’t want to lug around my dslr… this is where the DP2 excels. Didn’t feel pulled down by any weight at all. About a 2 hour hike up and down and the DP2 lasted the whole way.

I love the peacefulness that comes with hiking. I’m no expert hiker with hiking shoes and gear, but I do appreciate a nice – somewhat challenging – elevating destination with amazing views.

Sign:

Starting our hike on level ground:

The light was gorgeous, our hike stared around 5:40. Perfect light for me:

The green on this tree was really interesting for me, post process a little much, but that’s my style:

More gorgeous light infusing through nature:

View from atop:

Lastly, the end of the day drawing near:

Great place to go for beginners like myself. It did get kind of scary an hour into the hike because we weren’t sure if we were still on the loop trail. So instead of continuing (the sun was just starting to set and the gates closed soon) we backtracked the way we came. Definitely need some good shoes as the hills get pretty steep, but other than that… a nice walk.

Another good hike around the area is the Rancho Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve which is made up of mostly flat lands to which a 3 mile hike to a waterfall and 3 mile hike back makes for a great workout while enjoying the outdoors.

I 100% firmly believe these results (for me and my liking) would not have been achieved by any of the compact cameras I’ve owned taking in consideration color, dynamic range, low noise, quality of the image and I’ve owned many compacts including the G10 and LX3. Still fascinated with my Sigma DP2!!

Some cool stuff. Peep it here.

On a cloudy day. WOW.

No need to review. It’s awesome. Get it now if you are an iPhone user and photographer. No brainer and you can get it for $27.99 shipped from Griffin’s website. The end.’

I traded in my Panasonic TZ5 for the TS1. Originally I bought the TZ5 as my “party cam” to go along with my Sigma DP2 (compact travel cam) and Canon 5dmkII (money maker cam). Though the TZ5 is a gem of a camera, I felt like I needed something a little more chic and pocketable. This is where the TS1 comes in.

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These speakers are pretty bad ass. The sound quality is really really great. Almost comparable to that of my mom’s bose dock. What really interested me in purchasing these speakers was the form, color and look. It goes really well with my contemporary/moderns interior aesthetics so it’s definitely a keeper.

In some reviews, the cons listed was that this isn’t portable. For one, I don’t see how that could be a con as it’s not marketed as a portable speaker set, hence the chargeable battery that doesn’t exist. Duh right? Instead they should have listed it’s portability as a pro because I really do feel it’s portable. It’s lightweight and the form factor lends itself to fitting in a carry on. I could totally see myself taking this on a trip to some place like Vegas where we’d need some jams for pre-party festivities. I mean, who doesn’t get ready in Vegas by blasting music, taking a few shots and dancing with friends in the hotel room? Read More…

Did a combo with the metallic gold and added the gun metal color for the bottom piece… and vice versa. I’m using the majority metallic gold piece and given the other combo to the hubby. I think he’ll be stoked. I sure am!

Quick links: Part I | Low light performance

I wanted to do a second review of the Sigma DP2, post field work, and since today was so gorgeous, I decided to take a ride on my bike around Lake Miramar for lunch and snap away. All images are clickable to 100% original files (the quality is out of this world). The only photoshop work done to these images are for resizing blog purposes and a bit of sharpening after the resize. The originals have absolutely no photoshop applied. All images were shot in raw, aperture priority mode and developed in Sigma DPP.

Also note that these images are after the latest firmware update and I can honestly say, autofocus really has improved.

So because I didn’t have a model with me, my bike became my muse. I’m sure I looked a little crazy in my normal clothes, in the middle of a reservation, taking pictures of a bike lol… but whatever. That kinda stuff doesn’t bother me all that much anymore.

So here’s my bike. At 100%, you can really see the amazing depth this camera captures:
Read More…

I like Safari. I like that it’s fast with little bullshit. One thing I miss when using Safari is all my cool little add ons for firefox. Like Firebug! The best add on for any web designer or curious blogger. I also missed being able to stumble. StumbleUpon for me at work, is like the ultimate creative block antidote. Not only does it take my mind of the road block, but there’s also the possibility of being inspired through some amazing designs, photographs and sites I may happen to stumble upon.

So with a little digging, I found a java script code that acts as a bookmark so that when you click on it, it gives you a Stumble Upon toolbar. It’s not hideous either. It’s pretty stealth and mac-like and I’m all about the mac-like of anything. Call me a fan boy, but they sure know their minimalism.

So anyway, make a new bookmark in Safari (I happen to set mine in the bookmarks bar so it’s easily accessible). Name the bookmark “StumbleUpon” or whatever you like and link it to:

javascript:(function(){location.href=’http://www.stumbleupon.com/toolbar/#url=’ + encodeURIComponent(window.location.href);})()

Open a new tab, click that link and you’ll see a toolbar on top where you can log in. Pretty awesome stuff. And to make things easier for you, go ahead and click and drag on the link below and put it in your bookmarks bar. Enjoy!:

StumbleUpon

Here’s how it looks:

Lovin’ the new iPhone 3G S. So much that I can’t put this piece of shit down. It’s so damn fast. I feel so disconnected with the world because in the last few days I’ve been glued to it’s screen. Ahhhh! And I’m lovin’ BeeJiveIM with push. Freakin’ fantastic.

I also bought the incase slider, both Gunmetal and Metallic Gold. Waiting for the gold to come so I can do some switcharoos. And I found a sweet car charger by Griffin (Power Jolt Reserve) that doubles as both a car charger and battery on the go:

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I find it to be stylish, old school and cool.

I’ve seen these all over flickr and also on a few blogs and never got around to doing it… until today. I didn’t realize how awful I laid my stuff out until I downloaded the images onto my mac, but shit… I ain’t laying that shit out again and retaking the image. Plus, the contractors doing our master bath will wonder WTF I’m doing lol!!

Somewhat from left to right:

Louis Vuitton Beaubourg bag
13″ Macbook Pro (4gb ram)
Cheap sun glasses
Panasonic TZ5 (party camera, on sale at Frys for $200!)
Louis Vuitton Brazza wallet
Louis Vuitton coin purse (hangs inside the Beaubourg)
Calumet CF card reader
WD 250gb portable hard drive
Sigma DP2
iPhone 3G
Bose noise canceling headphones (sometimes essential in the office)
Purell hand sanitizer
Keys and LA fitness pass
Portable Energizer iPhone/iPod charger (takes AA batteries)
Matches from Butter restaurant
Black book for quick notes, ideas, grocery lists, etc.
Altoids
Small screw driver set
Dinky little tripod

and yes, it totally all fits!

Louis Vuitton Damier Canvas 13 inch laptop case. And my heart melts…

So I just installed 3.0 on the iPhone 3g (google for the BitTorrent) and the iPhone is definitely much snappier. Getting into mail has zero lag. Typing is also speedy, so fast that I actually have to type slower than usual. And did the camera really get better or am I trippin?! Check out a sample here.

Crazy. Another cool ass feature that would have helped me a year ago when I lost my iPhone is the Find my iPhone feature available to mobile me customers. I was contemplating whether or not to stick with my me account since it’s 100 bucks a year, but with this feature, I’m definitely renewing. See the magic for yourself here:

I find this totally usable. I actually don’t even mind this kind of noise. It has that film grain quality to it and actually looks quite good when converted to black and white. I never went above iso 400 on my G10 or LX3.

full size sample

Yall must be likin’ that Sigma DP2 as much as me!

Quick links: Part II | Low light performance

If you aren’t a camera geek, I suggest you just look at the pictures and skip all the text. It will be a boring ass read for you.

This thing is BAD ASS but give it to someone who doesn’t know the quality it produces and first thought is, “This is wack.” On the contrary, give it to someone who has seen sample images and their thought is, “GIMMEE!!!!”

With all that’s said and done, there is one thing certain about this camera. The images it can produce in the right hands, rivals those of entry level DSLRs with good glass.

Before reading this, I suggest you use google for those reviews that tell you this camera is slow in functioning, has an awful LCD screen, etc., etc., because I won’t get into that jibberish. This isn’t really a review as I’m sure I’ll jump all over the place.

Quite frankly, those reviews are CRAP anyway and only made me wait longer till I actually jumped the gun with this. I only wish I had it last week for my trip to NYC.

The only disclaimer about this camera that I will point out is that, this isn’t the point and shoot turned dslr for the average consumer. Not by any means and I don’t think it was intended that way. This is strictly for that photographer/enthusiast that values quality over quantity and ease. Cause I’ll tell you now… Pimpin’ ain’t easy.

UPDATE: This also isn’t the kind of camera you can take to the clubs and use the flash. There is no AF assist light to help you focus so you’d probably end up with all blurry images. Looks like I’ll have to invest in a club camera… I’m thinking the Panasonic ZS3

Read More…

I am so excited to test this thing out. Was browsing around flickr and the results of some of the images this beast puts out are kind of amazing. This is crazy good. The depth, color and character this thing produces is just mighty. So damn amazing from a compact digital camera.

WTF right? Ok here’s the thing. I love it when friends talk about cool new gadgets and toys… but I also hate it because that thing inside me says, “OMG I need one.”

Thanks to shant, I coerced my better half (and I really do mean better) to buying me the HP mini 1030nr netbook instead of the Sigma DP2 for my birthday. Better for him since it was half the price and I got a $50 gift card from my awesome co-workers which was just icing on the gadget goodness. So in the end, there wasn’t much coercion to be done.

Anyway, I love it. It’s great to keep in my LV tote at all times. The biggest thing that sucks is that it runs on the piece of shit OS, Windows XP. Ugh, my fingers are mad even typing windows. It brings me back to those days when I was 15 and spent half my day trouble shooting, taking off viruses and trying to make shit run more smoothly. Not cute.

Besides that, it’s great lol. I’m upgrading it to 2GBs of ram for only 25 bucks from Frys. I’m also looking into actually hackintoshing it and putting in mac OS X. The process doesn’t look as easy as other netbooks so I’m still debating. I also have a local computer guy who might be willing to do it so we’ll see. I’m waiting on an estimate to see if it’s worth it.

Keep reading for a short list of pros and cons and more images: Read More…

Cavit? Ghetto bird for “Can I have it?”

Offering all of the features that Panasonic’s multiple award winning TZ range of cameras is renowned for – including a remarkable 12x optical zoom in a compact, stylish body and 25mm ultra wide angle lens – the TZ7 goes one step further to offer AVCHD Lite*1 motion picture recording, making the TZ7 a truly versatile proposition.

via dpreview

Basically, a compact camera with a 25mm-300mm range (crazy!) and records AVCHD video, which is basically HD video at half the size. AVCHD is what HD camcorders use and allows for HD footage to be captured in less space. Downside is, it’s harder to edit the video clips, but eh… I’m not much of an editor. You can however, continue to shoot in motion image HD (which most do now) but it will of course be a larger file size.

I also want the new Sigma DP2 (even more):

This is, in a nutshell, a compact digital camera with a fixed focal length with the same sized sensor as a dslr. What does that mean? Basically, the quality of your photos will be dslr-like in a little tiny ass body. The fixed focal length of the DP2 is close to 40mm, perfect for portraits and street photography on the go. This is gonna be a gem!! I’d totally sell my G10 for this thing.

You can see the craziness in quality from their sample gallery here.

The ZS3 is available now overseas (as the TZ7) and is expected in us stores sometime in April, which leaves a couple weeks. Sigma has not yet announced when it’s DP2 will be out.

Cavit?

Oh hell yes I did. I ended up selling my beloved Macbook Pro. Good thing is, Mark needed a laptop for work, thus he became the happy buyer, along with a dashing 23in Cinema Display. So you know what this means right? That shit is still within my reach! LOL. But for real, that machine was and is still a work horse. The only thing is, it started to lag big time with my Canon 5dmkII files and I hate lag. That rainbow ball of death is one thing that I will never have patience for.

Anyway, this 3.06 GHz 24in iMac is a beast. I loaded CS4 and Lightroom 2 and WOW. No lag. None. I can work at peace again. It’s even faster than the fucking MacPro I have at work. Crazy right?! I don’t know why, but that thing can be a piece of shit sometimes lol. I think it’s because it’s pissed off that there is only 4GB of ram and it’s like, “Bitch please.”

Apple has the option of putting in 8GB of ram into their new iMacs, but they stupid with tryin’ to charge an extra G for that. I’m gonna just have to wait till cheaper 3rd party ram comes out. This thing is gonna FLY with 8GB of ram. And damn, moving computer files over is like moving for real. Throwin’ out shit you’ve been holding on to but is really just unnecessary (porn) or reminiscing about old photos and thinking, “Damn I look tore up,” or even stressing out hoping you get everything important. I’m even drinking wine while packing! It’s so the same lol. This new home should last me a few years.

Went out to Mission Trails in San Diego to test out a new lens. We’re doing a Spring Fashion Shoot here for work (djpremium.com) and it was beautiful out. This 12mm is really fantastic for landscapes. Here are some test shots:

Have some big shoots coming up!

Updated our growing gear and added a Sigma 24mm f1.8 Macro EX DG. This lens is amazing. Though the AF is a bit slow and noisy, the lens itself is sharp. So sharp it’s almost comparable to the Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro. Here are some sample images! Oh, also just ordered a Boda Dry Lens Bag for shooting on the go. Check it out here and a video here.

Here are the samples for the new Sigma 24mm f1.8 Macro!

Yes, it’s growing and it’s totally and absolutely out of control. Someone stop me.

Canon 5dmkII w/ BG-E6 – but only one battery, doh’!
Canon 24-105mm f4L
Canon 16-35mm f2.8L (sold to matt!)
Canon 85mm f1.8 (selling this one)
Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro (sharpest lens ever)
Sigma 50mm f1.4
Sigma 12-24mm f4.5
Sigma 24mm f1.8 Macro
580EX Speedlight
Rayflash Ringlight
Set of three 750 strobes with backdrops and stands

I want a Lumiquest Softbox III and a Boda Dry Lens Bag. Ahhhhhh.

March 2009: Pretec creator of the highest capacity CompactFlash card in the world (100GB) and the fastest CF card in the world (433X), continues today its record breaking history in the field of speed and capacity by unveiling the extraordinary 666X CF card, the world’s fastest CF card.

Four times faster than a typical CF card, Pretec 666X CF’s dazzling 100MB/s speed is the largest speed boost in CF history. 666X CF card is the newest member of Pretec’s family of innovative flash memory cards, consistently first to market in high speed and capacity products; 233X and 333X CF cards were introduced by Pretec at Taipei in 2007, 64GB CF card started shipping in Sept. 2008, and 433X CF card were launched at Birmingham UK in Feb. 2009. -dpreview

Ok, who really needs a 64GB CF card? Who would rely on a 64GB CF card to put all their images in from a shoot or vacation? For real? 64GB of images?! That’s kinda ridiculous and it’s even more ridiculous that I want one (lol!) sans the 666x write speed. That fucking number keeps following me. Argh.

So I know that I said that Beaubourg tote would be my last Louis piece for awhile… but… I totally lied (thank you tax return!). I had to get this wallet since it’s been sold out for the longest time everywhere! It just so happens that the Louis Vuitton store in Fashion Valley had one in stock so it was a must get, otherwise I’d be waiting another 6 months for this wallet.

I wanted a large wallet. The monogram print wallet I have is nice, but I think it’s time for an upgrade. I’ll probably hold onto that one for a more low key look I guess. Anyway, this Brazza wallet is perfect. Not too big and not too small and my iPhone fits perfectly in the coin pouch. Yes! Crazy right?

I haven’t transfered all my wallet goodness into yet but I did take a few snap shots to share. FOR REAL, this is the last LV piece I’m buying till at least 6 months!

Quick review of this cool gadget. If you’re looking for some scientific bullshit analysis of the light output, don’t bother reading on. The only thing I will say is that so far, there seems to be a loss of one stop in your flash unit with this on.

I’m currently shooting with a canon 5dmkII and 24-105mm f4L.

At any rate… this thing is bad ass! The fact that I could achieve this type of lighting pretty much anywhere I go is awesome. It’s portability is one of the main reasons I decided to go with it. There are no cables, batteries, electronics of any sort. Just snap and play. That’s the best thing about this ray flash ring light.


I’ve tested it a bit outdoors as well and it’s provided me some really nice fill light. The colors are fantastically natural and the output does not feel harsh at all. Also, my friend was standing a few feet away from me and from where I was the flash lit her really well while still maintaining the beautiful orange light that was hitting her from the setting sun.

I haven’t had a chance yet to post all images, but if you’re interested, please visit my flickr page for updates on this amazing little unit. Highly recommended!!

Befriend me on flickr.

ExpoImaging Ray Flash:

Geeks like me. My personal favorite, though I use canon:

Read More…

When I saw this through my view finder, I automatically thought of Final Fantasy. It just looked so dreamy to me and felt like at any second, some creature was going to walk about behind the shrub. WTF right? I guess this new camera is making me feel giddy about photography again. I’ve been caught up so much in doing events and studio work that I forgot how freakin’ fun it is shooting for yourself.

Looking through the view finder for your eyes and not the eyes of a client. This is the first time in YEARS I went out and shot for myself. As in like, I did it for fun and as a hobby. I can’t remember the last time I went out to shoot without any objective, clients, or pay. It was kinda… amazing.

Ok, so I just bought myself a Nintendo DS Lite last Friday and I can tell you now, this thing is the fountain of youth. I’m pretty sure that over the weekend, I’ve managed to age backwards.

I found myself waking up at 7am on both Saturday AND Sunday to play video games. The difference was that I didn’t have to get out of bed, turn the TV on and grab the controller. No, instead, I woke up, turned to my newly charged DS Lite and played straight from my bed. Before I knew it, it was already 10 muthafuckingAM. Was this how 3 hours felt as a kid?

Weapon of choice? Final Fantasy IV, the remake for DS. For those FF geeks out there, to put into perspective the amount of playing time I’ve invested over the weekend… I am now in the underworld reunited with an all grown up Rydia.

/geek

This game console is so much better suited for me than PSP. I ended up giving that shit to my nephew. Ok, the PSP graphics are so much better, but the double screen for the DS Lite is perfect for Final Fantasy and it’s just so much more fun! It’s straight up Nintendo again!

And guess what else? My super sic co-worker noogs just bought one too! Aww snaps.

Matt, Migs, Apes:

The above photo was taken with the 5D mkII with a 16-35mm f2.8 lens. This thing is bad.ass.

This hobby of mine is fucking expensive. I’m eying the new 5D mkII. My bestbuy card is currently at a 0 balance awaiting 18 months of glorious no interest. Now only if they would stock this bad boy. It seems nearly impossible to get.

I did hear about some bad copies being distributed with some sort of black dots appearing in images, so I guess it’s good I wait a little. But those that know me understand that, waiting sometimes isn’t in an option. Not for this brat.

I’m crazy. I know. Stop. Don’t even say anything. Video after the jump (I’ve always wanted to say that):

Especially with a gold backpack. Unless of course that shit has speakers.
For some weird reason, UPS decided to drop my package off at 10pm. It was a shady drop too. Some dude literally jumped out of his cargo van, dropped off my package, and left. All this at 10pm. WTH right? Whatever, I’m totally stoked with my new toy or bag?

I guess I’m either going to look pretty damn cool with this thing on while riding my Vespa… or look like a total douche bag, no pun intended. I don’t care though. I love it!

Read More…

Seriously, this is one of the MUST HAVE FREE applications for mac. Forget stickies. This is the app it should have been and more. You can actually draw on your post-its, write notes and set alarms. Since I have a tablet, I’m gonna find this extremely useful at jotting down notes and to-dos on the fly. Yes. Check out a screen cap:

Download here

Needed some fresh air today:

Never used this function before but I think I like what I see. Saw someone post about it over at Dpreview and took a snap of my desk at the moment. Kinda gross.

Samuel Adams Oktoberfest. Lotion. Baby cologne. G10. Dayquil. Green tea. Can of dog food. SDHC and CF card readers. Blank CD. Edge of a macbook pro.

This thing is sweet. Who would have thought you could instantly print images from your camera through a pocketable printer that uses inkless technology? Hey, it’s no high quality print, but it’s something awesome you can bring forth to the table with clients, especially at weddings.

I made a new action for my photos specifically for my blog and who better to test on than Matt?? I think I like it. Polaroid like, but not. Perhaps this is fitting since I have my eyes set on the Polaroid PoGo!

A few photographers over at Dpreview wanted to know what I thought of both the LX3 and G10 so I kindly obliged. Thought I’d share over here:

I’ll tell you now that if you’re wondering whether to get a Panasonic LX3 of a Canon G10, it’s gonna be a TOUGH decision.

Like the LX3, I love the G10 look and build of the body. It’s almost at opposite sides of the spectrum, but not… if that makes sense. With the G10, you could really feel its sturdiness but at the same time, the look does not match the weight. It looks much heavier than it actually feels.

The LX3 looks a lot more delicate but still pretty darn sturdy and weighs more than it looks. I don’t find these to be pros or cons. Just the way they are and rightfully so.

In terms of controls, I think the Canon outshines Panasonic for me just because access to certain things like iso, exposure compensation and the wheel are so useful. However, it’s a personal preference as well. I like both almost equally but like I said, the G10 has a slight advantage.

The G10 screen is amazing. More so than the LX3 even though they almost have the exact same resolution. Canon is up by 461,000 to panny’s 460,000. It doesn’t appear to be such a small margin to my eyes for some reason. The G10 is stunning. Almost too stunning. I was a bit shocked at how dull the images looked on my apple cinema display compared to the cameras screen.

Hmm, what else? Outdoor images… I took a quick snap with the G10 in the parking lot at work. What I like about the quality of these images is that it has a dslr look to them. Straight out of jpeg mode, they don’t look over processed. The LX3, though sharp and vivid, almost sometimes looks over processed to me, especially since I love leaving the magic at the post process stage.

So if you like photoshopping to get your results, the G10 provides amazing images. If you like your images to look really fantastic straight out of camera with little work, the LX3 does the job quite well though sometimes for my taste is too much. Keep in mind, I haven’t been shooting in RAW with the LX3 since it isn’t supported and I refuse to use a program like silky pix. So results can vary.

Noise. That dreadful topic. I won’t go into too much about this but I will say that with the fast lens the LX3 offers, it beats the G10 hands down. ISO 400 and above at the same focal lengths, shutter speed, fstop, the LX3 manages to produce less noise and more detail. I might use 800iso on the LX3 but never on the G10. Proof that more megapixels doesn’t always mean better images.

That’s all I will say about noise because to be honest, I’m a little sick of the noise phenomena over compact cameras. Get a DSLR and a good lens if you’re so worried about noise and shoot in poor lit conditions frequently. Though the LX3 can handle it quite well for a compact, it’s still a compact.

However, at lower ISOs I still prefer the canon images. I might be biased because I’ve used canon DSLRs since the beginning, but I prefer that it doesn’t look overly processed. That’s not to say this panny isn’t amazing either. Just a matter of preference. Again, I have no RAW comparisons so that might be a factor.

So there you have it. Not sure if that was much help. Maybe I confused you even more. I’m sure saying, “If the LX3 and G10 were combined, it would be the perfect compact for me,” doesn’t help either, but it’s true.

Why I’m keeping the LX3:
- Body and design
- f2.0!!!
- 24mm (though I could live with the 28mm canon offers)
- 16:9 aspect ratio
- Simple controls best for parties and gatherings
- Vivid and sharp images out of camera
- lower noise with more detail at 400iso and above
- Flash is pretty darn good at parties
- Little lag between photos (I think it might actually be faster than the G10)
- Autofocus is quick, even in dim lighting

Why I’m keeping the G10:
- Body and design
- Wheel
- ISO easily accessible
- Images at lower ISO are superior in my early opinion
- Telephoto range (I hate the limit on the LX3. I almost always stay wide because I find it’s telephoto range almost useless)
- 28mm is wide enough for me (had reservations)
- Automatic lens cap
- Viewfinder (borderline pro for me)
- Print button (sike!)
- Compatible with my 580ex
- Screen, it’s GORGEOUS
- Feel more like a mini DSLR than the LX3

Again, I hope this helps. I’ll be putting up some full size images from the G10 once I can get some images. It will be here (unprocessed):

Canon G10 full size samples

Which is the winner?

It depends lol.

For me, I think the Canon G10 suits my needs better. The LX3 is an AMAZING compact camera. If your main concern pocketability coupled with a wide and fast lens with better noise performance at lower iso… than that’s your way to go.

It’s simple, compact, sleek, stealth, cool and provides great images straight out of camera. If you also like to take video, than look no further. I sold my canon HG10 HD camcorder because the LX3 is THAT good. It’s no camcorder, but I’m a clip kinda guy so I don’t need to refocus or zoom while recording. It’s definitely not a camcorder by any means, but it fits what I need out of video.

So why, if i had to choose, pick the G10 over the LX3? The G10 feels more like a “mini dslr” both in function and at low iso image quality. I rarely shoot in low iso with anything but a DSLR. If I’m gonna shoot in low lighting with the intent to print, chances are I’ll take my DSLR with a fast lens.

I also like the range a lot better. I thought that the 28mm wouldn’t be wide enough for me but it is and 140mm will come in handy when I travel. Things like a dedicated iso dial is important to me. I hate having to press a button to get to a menu to adjust the iso.

I feel almost silly having two compact cameras, but the LX3 is truly a compact and if that was my main concern, that would have been my choice.

Luckily, I can keep both!

EDIT: 10.26.2008

I’ve come to the conclusion that I no longer need the LX3 and will be selling it. I don’t feel it’s up to par with the G10 in terms of controls and usability when out in the field. The G10 clearly outshines the LX3 when “getting the shot.” I feel the LX3 to be a lot more sluggish and less responsive. I also feel like the G10’s images are much more DSLR-like. Love the LX3, but I just don’t use it anymore.

New top case finally came in for my LX150. This thing was a BITCH to install. Actually, there is one bolt missing because it was so badly misaligned. I guess I’ll have them look at it when I get my first service.

So I just picked up a Canon G10. What am I thinking? I know right. I totally just bought a LX3 last month as a non DSLR camera and here I am with a non DSLR camera #2. Crazy as it may be, I’ve had my eyes on this camera for awhile. I’ve always wanted a Canon G series, but the lack of a wide angle always threw me off.

Now that this has a 28mm lens on the wide side, they reeled me in. Don’t get me wrong. I still love my LX3, this will just suit different needs and I can totally let Mark borrow the LX3 when he travels for work. I usually don’t like lending him my cameras because I’d miss it (gah! I know)… but now I can let one go and still be a happy camper.

Plus, this G10 is built like a tank. I like tanks.

Still testing the waters

After a pretty awful weekend, I finally had some time to try this out. All images taken at f1.8, 800iso with the exception of the second and third image which is at 400iso. Obviously at small resolution, this is not meant to show you the amazingly low levels of noise. Instead, its to show the capability of this lens in low lighting situations is just damn good.

Canon’s best bang for your buck lens:

The photography manager at work let me take the 5d home for the weekend for a test drive. I’m in the market for a full frame camera and after shooting with it for about an hour, I’m pretty much sold. Taking images feels so much more like home to me for some reason.

It feels more mechanical and raw, rather than digital. Currently, I own a 40d, but that’s going to change real soon! Actually, I’ll probably keep my 40d as a back up and get the 5d mkII when it comes out. I just need to somehow come up with $2,700.

Anyway, here are the initial images I took.

I love my new lens. Haven’t had time to take it out in the real world, but Cargo seems to love it.

Now all I need is the new Canon 5d mkII

TrekStor’s sweet new usb stick. Looks like something we could definitely utilize at work.

I finally had the chance to get out of the house this weekend since I’ve been feeling really tired and out of it. Mark and I drove our vespas to La Jolla Shores.

We started out with some sample beers at Karl Strauss

Then we parked along the cliffs

And just sat for awhile as we people watched and looked out into the ocean

Also posed for some pics

kinda sad I didn’t get to really enjoy the weekend, but looking forward to a business trip to Vegas I have coming up on Wednesday.

Panasonic LX3 Digital Camera from Migs Catacutan on Vimeo.

For my vespa… he needs a touch of class too ya know, even if it’s hanging from a key hole. Holla!

Yip to the ee!!!! Click for larger version.

How hot is this?

This is by far the sexiest piece of work I’ve seen done in a long while. Who the hell sits on Gucci? I don’t know but if my ass could sit on this on a daily basis, he’d be pretty freakin’ stoked. Fresh and Clean stamp of approval right there!

I went crazy yesterday and stayed up late customizing these awesome wordpress themes. I’m also attempting, yet again, another photoblog. I’ve titled it, “Picture this” and am so far having fun with it.

Hopefully it will also get me out there exploring again and snapping any and everything in my way. I’m starting to remember why I love photography. It’s a way for me to express the world as I see it. To view certain grievance in something as simple as a washed up sticker or feel the love in something like a landscape. God, it’s great.

And when I get my hands on this bad boy, I’m sure my ipointishoot sn will live up to it’s name once again.

Fancy,

via scooterwest.com

Vespa lesson #who’s counting?…

Your gas gauge is not a representative of how much gas you really have. I filled up today with my tank nearly on empty and to my surprise only filled up a little over a gallons worth of gas in my 2.4 gallon tank. Meaning, I had about 1 gallon left. Meaning, I got 70 miles in 1 gallon last week. Meaning, hell to the yes!

Here is what someone said about their gas gauge on Modern Vespa:

Mine operates the same way. I have a ‘08 LX150 and my guage works the same way. It will go from full to empty using just a little over a gallon of gas…shows the same position as yours is showing now. The tank will not really be empty until the needle is all the way at the bottom of the gas gauge, even though you look at it the way it is and think it might be almost out of gas. The fuel light will start blinking over bumps and rough road as the fuel gets lower, and then it will come on more steadily as the tank gets lower and lower. You should be able to go 20-30 miles when the yellow fuel light stays on constantly. The gas guage is not spot-on accurate like a car, but don’t worry, you’ll get used to using it!

We just bought our second Vespa LX150. A cool blue with lots of upgrades! I’m seriously considering selling my Mazdaspeed 3 since it just sits in the garage all week depreciating in value. I love that car, but I don’t love the monthly payments.

This is going to be my latest camera. Here are the reasons why…

F2.0 LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON Lens
24-60mm ultra wide
RAW Format
16:9 aspect ratio:
Full manual controls
1/1.63″ sensor
3-inch LCD with 460,000 reso
HD 16:9 aspect ratio 24fps video
Hot shoe for external flash or optical view finder!!!
Wide lens converted to 18mm + filters
Sweet old school leather case
Face detection
Mega O.I.S.

Now those are just some of the features in this jammed packed little “mini dslr” if you will. I can’t also help but feel this camera looks so old school. I loved my Leica, but I think this guy will fit my needs more. Plus it’s way more affordable.

Head here for more details. Comes out late August!

Love at first sight. It’s been a little over a week now and I don’t regret this one bit. Once I start taking this bad boy out and about (rather than just daily commutes), I think I’ll start an on location blog here, “Adventures with my cute yellow vespa”

I am so totally blogging from my iPhone. Let me add a pic:

I just picked up a Harmon Kardon GPS-810 Guide + Play. I’ve been wanting a GPS for quite some time now. I was even at Circuit City a few months ago in line, ready to pay for a 1500 nav+install on my mazda speed3. I backed out last minute. Left the papers on the counter and walked out. 9/10 times I would have jumped the gun and splurged.

Anyway, since then, I’ve come across a few friends who have portable GPS devices and from what I’ve gathered, owning one will really benefit me.

For starters, I’m horrible at maps. If I had to find my way out of a town and all I had was a map, I’d be shit out of luck. I’m also very indecisive on the go when it comes to that dreaded question, “Where do you want to eat?” With a GPS, it lists nearby restaurants based off types of food. This is awesome!

Aside from food places, you can also find ATMs, entertainment, shopping, culture, sports recreation, lodging, landmarks and more. How sic is that? This is perfect for traveling. You can even type in names of places and it will find it.

One of the coolest things about this gadget is that it comes with a wireless remote that you can attach wherever you see fit. I have a pretty sweet set up that looks like it’s actually integrated in my car. I’ll take pics soon.

As a GPS, this device is outstanding. What also drew me towards this was it’s ability to play music and video through a SD card. I just connect through my aux port in my car and that’s that. Of course it’s illegal to play video while driving, but my passengers can watch a movie (just be sure you know where you’re going because the navigation stops the moment you have your video playing). A note about converting video files. It took me awhile (and a few headaches) to figure out the best way to put video on the 810. The best way to do this is to convert your DVD or files to PSP ready settings and the video and audio will sync up and play great.

For video (when converting from a DVD), I use Instant Handbreak for mac and for converting clips or files you might already have on your computer, I use FFmpegX, also for mac. These are the best PSP to mac converters that are free and work well with the Harman Kardon 810.

Price: $400 (Frys – 30 day price match)

I purchased a new toy. My epson p-3000 will be in my hands come tomorrow afternoon.

This thing is a monster. Aside from storing and viewing RAW images on the fly, the epson p-3000 also plays music and video files. I probably won’t use those features all that much considering I have an iPhone, but I foresee them being really handy in long car trips or even during air travel.

I purchased this bad boy online through adorama.com and with two mail in rebates equaling 150, the epson p-3000 comes out to a smashing deal of 250 bones (no sales tax and free shipping if you use standard).

I just sold an image for 250, so I think it’s a perfect trade off. This thing will come in handy at shoots and the best part is I won’t have to lug around my macbook pro anymore!

Key factors as to why I chose this:

Built-in Memory Card Slots (no wires!)
Supports most RAW formats
Can zoom in on actual RAW files (previous versions used embedded jpeg)
Quick and responsive (most reviews pointed this out)
Supports a large array of formats (video, mp3)
Gorgeous, bright and HUGE 4″ Four-Color LCD
Clients can browse through images, rather than passing around the camera or laptop
Rechargeable, replaceable battery (3+ hour battery life)
Simple UI
Allows for a portable portfolio
Full USB Support
Mac friendly
Adobe RGB Color Space Support

And that’s just what hooked me. Anyway, I’ll have an informal review of this thing once I get intimate with it. Pictures and all. You know I love my gadgets.

Is it bad that I have a better setup at home than I do at work? Especially when 80% of my computer usage is at work? Sad, but I’m addicted and love me my apples.

Pictured: 2.4GHz Macbook Pro with 4GB ram installed (via crucial memory), 23in HD Apple display, Apple wireless keyboard, iPhone, Maxtor 250GB external hard drive (I prefer MyBook) and a really ugly Kensington wireless mouse… this will be updated soon =)

This is all on top of an Ikea drawing/drafting table.

I have never wanted a gadget as bad as I want this.