Thoughts and Non Thoughts

Initial test for a newly bought K&F Concept Nano-C circular polarizer.  The first image has the polarizer set to minimize the reflection and glare from the flower and leaves.  The second image has the polarizer rotated 90 degrees.  The light was harsh and directional. To me, the polarizer did reduce the glare and reflections from the flower and leaves, particularly visible in the second image. The first image, however, looks a little flat to me. The polarizer works, but shooting these hibiscus flowers under better lighting conditions, i.e., even and less directional, would do wonders.  --- Handling of reflections from water or glass would be an interesting next test. --- Canon EOS M6 Canon EFM 15-45mm pancake lens K&F Concept Nano-C HMC CPL 49mm Both images shot in raw and converted via Canon DPP4.0 and slightly cropped.

 Long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... I posted a DIY method for cleaning my Canon DSLR sensor .  It's been a while and the universe has moved on. Today I use a better, and I believe safer, method. The wipes are specific for a particular sensor (I can't believe how small the APS-C sensor is). There's a small bottle for the liquid (only one drop per cleaning).  The wipes are single use, but a pack of 10 costs less than eight dollars online. Happy with the results on my Canon EOS M6!

Canon DLSRs of recent years have in-camera features that are supposed to extend Dynamic Range. One feature - Highlight Tone Priority (HTP) - aims to retain details and prevent clipping of highlights (bright areas). Another feature - Auto Lighting Optimizer (ALO) - aims to lift details from shadows (darker areas). ALO is deemed useful for high contrast scenes, eg, backlit subjects; HTP is deemed useful for high-key shots. Both are used on jpegs. For the Canon 550D, HTP is enabled or disabled within the menu (Cn Fn 6), while ALO has four settings (Off, Low, Standard, Strong). ALO is disabled if HTP is turned on. I did a few test shots using the EF 17-40 mm F4/L lens. The images below were taken a few seconds of each other and have not been edited except for resizing. Aperture f/5.6 and shutter speed at 640 and ISO 100, except for the image with HTP on at shutter speed of 1250 and ISO 200. The effects of HTP and ALO are not s...

For a nice Tagaytay experience, Breakfast at Antonio's is a popular destination.   It's along the main highway at the west end of Tagaytay, on the ridge side, so it has some views of Taal Lake.   The food is good, probably at the same level as coffee shops in international hotels in Manila.      There's  nothing like a waffle to satisfy one's palette after the hour-and-a-half drive from Manila. Anotonio's version of Eggs Benedict. Smoked salmon for something light and savory. And you can go with good old BLT and chips for a filling meal. Expect to spend between P400 - P700 per head. The waiting line can be 30 -45 minutes but it passes by quickly in the cool breeze of Tagaytay. Service is quick and courteous. There's also a bakeshop cum deli where you can get bread or their bacon and chorizo if you want to take some home. Recommended to try at least once.

The Denon 16611UD is a Universal Player that can play Blue Ray, DVDs, CDs and, most of all, SACDs.   I use it purely as a SACD Stereo player through its 2-channel analog outs.       It connects via a NAD304 used as a line pre-amp into a Conrad Johnson MV55 tube amp.     This is where the alchemy begins. With the superb SACD playback of the Denon feeding the CJ, it is as close to analog as digital can be.   At the end of the chain are the LSA2 Towers giving out a full range rendition.   The first time I heard SACD many years ago, I was wowed. When I heard this combination play in my system, I felt that "wow factor" again. Priceless. Cables: Acoustic Zen Reference and MIT T5 interconnects, Rega Duet speaker cables  (Shot with a Canon 6D using a 40mm 2.8 STM pancake lens)

When I bought the 550D with the 18-55 IS kit lens three years ago, I got a good deal since the 600D was just coming out. I was impressed at how much Canon DSLR's image quality has jumped since the 10D, but I always considered the 550D a "bridge" camera for casual  use while waiting for full frame to come down in prices.  I finally got my wish and bought the 6D a few months back. Full frame just felt right. My enthusiasm for photography was rekindled. Ironically, the 6D has also made me appreciate the 550D even more. It does not give away much to the best DSLRs in the market today. It focuses fast and fits nicely in the hand. With the kit lens, it makes for a very handy travel camera, which is not bulkier than a SL1 or EOS-M fitted with a similar lens. I don't do video and don't care for articulated LCD in DSLRs, so the latest enhancements on the 600d to 700d don't mean much to me. With the same 18 megapixel count and arguably simi...

This lens continues to pleasantly surprise. Raindrops EOS 550D, f8, 1/100s, ISO 1000, handheld

The Face Saigon by Night

(Click for larger image) Canon 6D, 50 mm 1.8II at f/2.8 Monochrome Picture Style (crop) 

The Canon EOS 6D is a fantastic camera. Full frame in a well-built body -- and at a good price, specially when bundled with the 24-105 IS L lens. I was curious how my old 28-135 IS USM lens will fare with a 6D. Wood, light, and shadows (Canon EOS 6D with 28-135 IS USM lens, ISO 12,800, handheld at f5.6 and 1/8s.) The low light handling of the Canon 6D is quite impressive at ISO 12,800. Well, despite showing its age with the old generation IS, the tad slower focusing, and the well-known zoom "creep", it is still a good lens. Somehow it feels at home with a full frame body, perhaps because it was a lens made for film cameras?

The sun rises above Nonoc Island and Siargao. View from The Tavern. Taken with Canon EOS550D.

I figured I can't wait till full frame becomes more affordable and got an EOS 550D in the meantime. What a revelation! Canon's DSLR technology has moved in leaps and bounds since my EOS 10D. The higher resolution megapixel count of the 550D really matters in improving image quality, and the low-light ability is amazing. The kit lens (efs 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS ) is quite sharp too. Perfect companion for a day trip when one wants to travel light.

Canon EOS 10D + 28-135 IS lens.

While we're on the subject of the University of the Philippines, here are some of the other photos taken on Dec 12. Quezon Hall On weekends the Diliman campus turns into a park. A father and son navigating the Beta Way. But you still find the typical student cramming for that exam. And the usual taho and Ikot jeepney in front of the AS Steps. Camera used was a Canon EOS10D. Shots with film here .

I've been using a Canon EOS 10D for the last five years. It's a dinosaur by tech standards but still takes good pictures as the day I got them. The build quality is top notch. Aside from megapixel count, it does lack some of the features of the newer models, including the image sensor "cleaning". But there is a way, and the one I found seems to work well. Here are the basic starting materials. They are a wooden spatula (given out with some ice cream cups) and an anti-static wipe such as Dust Off (Pledge Wipes also work). Cut the wide end of the wooden spatula with a knife to have a straight beveled edge. Cut a 3 inch square piece of the wipe. Wrap the wipe around the spatula end. Wipe the sensor gently but with single strokes. Disclaimer: It works for me, but your mileage may vary. I am not responsible for any damage caused to your equipment from using my method.

How I wish I could use this camera more often... there's something about mechanical cameras that makes it a different experience.