Category Archives: Cameras

Cameras

What is the difference between a Canon 5D Mk III and a Canon SL1

  • The Canon SL1 body costs $399.
  • The Canon 5D Mk III body costs $2,599.

What is the difference in image quality and low light performance?

There is almost no difference in the test shown at the link.

Click through the link to see the photo comparisons for yourself.

Source: Canon 5D Mark III vs. SL1 Resolution and High ISO Comparison

There are two possible differences, not shown at the link. Larger sensors and lenses enable a narrower depth of field, all else being equal. Second, lens quality and sharpness matters and generally, less expensive lenses are less sharp.

For many use scenarios and many consumers, neither of those issues matters a lot.

Smaller and lighter cameras are much easier to carry. Size and weight – and your willingness to carry a lighter or heavier load – should be taken into account when making purchase decisions, together with your intended applications.

The point is that many consumers might be buying the wrong camera for their needs.

3D, Cameras, Techniques

3D photos shot with dual Lumix GH-2 cameras

I used two Lumix GH-2 micro four thirds cameras, and two wireless remote controls. A remote receiver was used on each camera to activate the shutter, with a single remote control transmitter. Surprisingly (to me!) the two cameras synchronized very well.

I used two of these wireless remotes. Amazon says they work with any of these cameras – Panasonic: DMC G1, G2, G3, G6, G7, G10, GF1, GH1, GH2, GH3, GH4, GX1, GX7, L1, L10, LC-1, FZ20, FZ20K, FZ20S, FZ20S, FZ30, FZ30K, FZ50, FZ50K, FZ50S, FZ100, FZ200; Leica: DigiLux 2, DigiLux 3, V-Lux 4

This image is in cross-eyed viewing format – both trains were moving in these shots:

P1050159X (Large)

Side by Side for parallel or 3D monitor viewing:

P1050159SxS (Large)

Red/cyan anaglyph version:

P1050159RC

I have used the dual Lumix GH-2 cameras before but had to manually press the shutters on both cameras at “roughly the same time” – with the manual shutter control, I could not have photographed a subject like these two moving trains.

The inter-axial lens spacing is about 6 inches or 15 cm.

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Cameras

Using the Olympus TCON 17 1.7x teleconverter with a Nikon 1

These three photos were taken with a Nikon 1 V2, the 1 Nikkor 30-110mm zoom, and an Olympus TCON-17 1.7x teleconverter. I am extremely pleased with the results using the teleconverter.

On the Nikon 1, I use a 55 to 52mm adapter ring, and then a 52mm to 40.5mm adapter ring to mount on the Nikon 1. (I could not find a 55 to 40.5 mm adapter).

I bought the TCON17, used, on Ebay, for $15. That is not the normal price – prices are usually closer to $80 to $110 U.S. I think the person who sold this one did not know what they had.

Olympus had made 4 teleconverter lenses that appear to be essentially identical – the B300, the unlabeled TCON17, the TCON-17, and the TCON-17x. I have what I believe is the “unlabeled” version. I understand the early models did not include the TCON-17 model # on the lens.

I also did tests on a micro four thirds camera using the TCON17 with the Olympus f/1.8 45mm lens – works great (makes a 150mm FF equivalent). I tried the Lumix 45-200mm, but the TCON17 made the images soft and with much chromatic aberration.

DSC_3148

DSC_3161

The shot below was to test for chromatic aberration, by having the high contrast areas of the branches against the gray background. DSC_3160

Not surprisingly, contrast is a little soft with the teleconverter, but that is easily corrected either in camera or using Lightroom.

I will post more photos in the future, but it is hard to get out taking photos right now as we live in a rainy climate.