New Camera!

As you know i sent my 550D in along with my lens because i was having a front focusing issue.  The retailer (not Canon) confirmed that there was a problem with the body and as they didn't have another 550D in stock i could wait for more stock or pay to upgrade.  Given that i'd already worked out the limitations of the 550D (yes, in that short a time) i jumped at the upgrade and went for the 7D.  It arrived this past Wednesday.

After playing with the 7D on Thursday & Friday i found the focus was MUCH better but was still soft wide open, sigh.  Determined to find a solution to my problem i scoured the internet in search of 7D specific information on focusing.  Only having had the camera for a couple of days it was hard to determine if the problem was me or the lens.

Ultimately after reading everything i could find and watching a few YouTube clips i decided to set up a lens test.  I used the information and chart from this site to check my lens.

The Liveview shots were perfect, no surprises there.  The standard test shots were soft, sigh.  I tried +5 micro calibration, soft, i tried +10 and what do you know, spot on!  Just as sharp as the Liveview shots.  Woohoo!  I was beginning to think it was all in my head or i was just a cr@p photographer!

So i now have the lens set to +10 and i'm waiting for some decent weather to test it out with live subjects, not just the test chart.

I've also searched online and found 2 Australian companies which offer lens and body calibration and if i am still having trouble i will send it in and have it calibrated properly.

I am so frustrated with the retailer concerned that i will never use them again, nor will i recommend them to anyone i know.  Clearly they never took the time to properly evaluate my equipment.

I must say that i am super wrapped with the 7D, it's a beast of a camera!

Sad

My camera is having a holiday at Canon :(  It appears to have a front focusing issue causing soft focus at wide apertures.  Hopefully they will fix it all up and send it back or replace it as it's still under warranty.  In the meantime i am missing it :(

First silhouette

My very first attempt at a silhouette .  I asked my DD to put her arms in the air and she did this.

LOVE! by Amber Bates

Thanks beautiful girl, <3 you too!

Amber xxx

The Zone System

Here are some great finds explaining the zone system and it's application in digital photography.

Understanding and Using Ansel Adam's Zone System

You Tube movies

Exposing for the Highlights

Personally i think this is an excellent system for gaining more accurate exposure :)

Amber xx

In my garden today ...

I enjoyed snapping ...

Canon 550D, 50mm @ f/1.8, 1/4000, ISO 100

Lavender by Amber Bates

Canon 550D, 50mm @ f3.2, 1/1000, ISO 100

Little Ragged Blossom & Friends by Amber Bates

Canon 500D, 50mm @ f4.0, 1/640, ISO 100

Silver Princess by Amber Bates

Enjoy xx

Park Finds

Headed out on a little treasure hunt today at the local park.  I had with me the 4 kids plus our 2 dogs so it was a family walk with a spot of photography on the side LOL.  I only took 20 shots.  Here are my favourites.

Canon 550D, 50mm @ f/2.0, 1/4000, ISO 100

Bee breakfast by Amber Bates

These flowers are a border planting around part of our park.  I'd stopped and taken a couple of shots and remarked to the children there are no bee's today.  We'd not seen any anywhere at all.  Well this little fellow must of heard me because he arrived and I was able to catch him in action.

Canon 550D, 50mm @ f/2.2, 1/3200, ISO 100

Standing Tall by Amber Bates

The children spotted this fungi all alone in the grass.  I am a little annoyed with myself over this shot.  I love the composition but the depth of field was just too shallow and if you look you can see that the closest edge to the cup isn't in focus.  Note to self, yes bokeh is good but not to the detriment of your subject!  The tree trunk in the background if very obvious but there was no better view, the other options included a walkway, houses and a fountain, none of which were better than the tree trunk.

Amber xx

Shutter Speed

With the kids on the trampoline over two separate days I decided to have a little fun with shutter speed.  The best shots were obtained of Flossy who was able to jump the highest and make funny poses mid air.  Here are a couple of favourites.

Canon 550D, 50mm @ f/5.0, 1/1250, ISO 100

Trampoline Fun 2 by Amber Bates

Canon 550D, 50mm @ f/5.0, 1/1000, ISO 100

Trampoline Fun 1 by Amber Bates

Canon 550D, 50mm @ f/4.5, 1/1250, ISO 100

Trampoline Fun 3 by Amber Bates

It was far to sunny to get a creative exposure at a slow shutter speed so that exercise will have to wait for a super gloomy day or the purchase of a ND filter.

Amber xx