Mirrorless, St Nicholas, Dual pixel and the 7D

Again I see that ages have gone by and I've written nothing. Sorry about that.
Here then, is a "round-up" of items from the last month or three.......................

The Fuji XE2, XT1 and XE1.

I wont bore you with which or when, nor why I own(ed), any of these cameras, but I WILL easily sum up my personal perspective on all of them at once.
Nice build, outstanding lenses, brilliant noise control at high sensitivity, great colour, nice feel, small, handy, versatile, characterful. That's these Fuji cameras.
Why then, have I bought 2 more Canon EOS 70D's?
Unfortunately, there is one reason and only one reason for me. The best way I can explain it, is by an example:

I'm amongst a crowd...... In an opening between seas of folks, I see Mr and Mrs Super Famous/interesting/infamous walking through. I have 10 seconds to get focussed, set exposure and shoot one or maybe two frames. Fuji, "erm... ok, don't hassle me man.......  Ooops! missed"
......... Canon: "click"
That's why.

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What has St Nicholas night in Alcester, got to do with Plato?

Nothing really, but whilst shooting St Nicholas Night, (more later), I saw this accidental projection on the church wall. It just reminded me of this, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_Cave

I sent it to "Nick" who I knew would "get it" when he saw it.

Anyway, St Nicholas Night 2014  

 http://www.alcester.roundtable.co.uk/events/2558/alcester-round-table-st-nicks-night-6th-december/  Actually, I think this link is a year out of date..........

Here are a few pics:

So, there it is.

Canon 70D. Why I like this camera.

I owned 2x Canon EOS 7D's until a few weeks ago, and sold both in favour of 70D's, even though the 7D was currently  £100 cheaper. The 7D has reached the end of it's production, which is why it's cheap, btw.  (December 2014).

The 70D is a lighter, less durable body than the 7 series, lacks some weather sealing and has a slightly less complex focussing system than the 7.  It's classed as an "enthusiasts" camera, which means that if I'm working on a job I'm not enthusiastic about, I have to get a different camera. Fortunately, I'm always enthusiastic.

Anyway, first off, I actually bought a Fuji XT1. It's a fantastic camera, but you know how that story ends, (sadly). So, I bought one 70D and tried it out. I have to say that it's turning out to be my favourite Canon yet. The results are more "rounded", the handling easier, (for me, anyway). I cant really explain it without going all techno-boring, so I'll just leave the fact that I just like it, to be my reason for liking it. (Logical huh?).

Shortly after this, I bought another 70D, and the two sit playing cards together when there's no work on.

Ah, yes......... I do still own a Fuji XE2, which is great. Hesitant, but great.

I'm writing this on Friday 19th December, following a spiffing night with old friends. I actually feel like falling asleep........ In fact, I.......zzz....zzzzz....zzzzzzzz........

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The end of the line for the DSLR?

Well no, actually I just like the header.
I must say though, that as I get older, (I'm over 21 now), my two Canon 7Ds, two zoom lenses, 2 flashguns, and assorted batteries, cards, notebooks and dog biscuits are getting heavier. Why this is, I don't know. I think they sneak off to Mac Canon's for fries when I'm not looking. I looked at them today and couldn't help thinking how they were like me, old, fat, and overcomplicated.
So, there was some disturbance in the ether when Shaun from Doverow Studios turned up with a model of a 1970s camera.......  Didn't he? "Seriously, Shaun, what's that?" Ok, it looks fantastic, but it's £1300 with the lens? Hmmmm..... expensive for a mere model, cheap for a workman's pro camera.  Is this a joke?
In the hand, it doesn't feel like a joke. It's metal, substantial and precise. It has dials and buttons everywhere, like a real camera! It has an aperture ring too!
Shaun had with him, the camera body, "standard" prime lens, a semi wide and a wide. He also had a 70-200, (roughly), zoom.  After much fussing and poking at the camera, we went out to test the new beastie against my EOS 7D and a 15-85 which have paid for themselves many times over; surely this upstart would be shamed?
Shaun and I travelled a mile or two and visited Alcester, Weethley and Kinwarton, shooting all the time and wondering how the images would compare back at base. I used the upstart camera a few times and deliberately pushed it to shoot ISO 6400, f2.8 at 1/20th, handheld in a little unlit church as I was told that noise was low, and stabilisation very good:  but was it true?
REVELATION
I have to admit this, though it pains me..... This upstart was far better than my Canon; back at base, the upstart images shone. They exhibited better noise control, better dynamics, better sharpness - better everything really. Originally, I paid about £1900 for the Canon and this one lens, and this lens is slower than Shaun's, plus, stabilisation is not as effective. Overall, the Canon is 3 times the size of the upstart and at least twice the weight for about 2/3 the performance. What’s going on?
All I can say against the upstart is this: It may not be fast enough in it's focusing for high speed sports and sudden action, (maybe some wildlife). Other than that, I'm yet to figure out what to complain about:  and I have tried! Oh, what is it? It's a Fujifilm XT1.
ADDED FOR CLARIFICATION....... I WANT ONE!!!

See some pictures from the Fujifilm XT1

..... And now for something almost completely different.....

 Click       Abstract video to my own music  

Viking Boxing in Redditch

Just a note to recognise the fantastic event at Rocklands, (Redditch), organised by Laurence O'Connor.
The all evening boxing, was organised really well, the fighters really good, the ring girls beautiful, and the crowd really buzzing.
A nicer group of people you'd rarely meet, though I wouldn't recommend upsetting them!!!!!

Thanks for a great shoot, VIKING BOXING.

Cremetti.

Images from the Christian Resources Exhibition, Exeter 2012

CRE, Christian Resources Exhibition event, Westpoint Arena, Exeter.

Back from the Christian Resources Exhibition in deepest Devon, and yet again, impressed by the size, the organisation, the atmosphere and the sheer variety of exhibitors, events, shows, acts, and displays.
I've never photographed the Exeter CRE event before, though have worked on other amazing CRE events.
It's a real pleasure to be there; exhausting for me, but exhausting in a good way!
I walk at about 4mph, take out stops to shoot and converse, then take out brief, (and they were brief), refreshment breaks.... My walking average speed is now about 1 to 2 mph. Now walk 9-5 for 2 days carrying 2 cameras, two flashguns, 24 batteris, 2 lenses, kitchen sink, 53 years and 4 extra stone in fat! That's tiring!! It's well worth it though, not because it pays large amounts, not because it's high profile, (for a photographer.... It IS high profile for exhibitors and performers), but because of the "buzz." It really is an outstandingly vibrant event. It's fast, dynamic, colourful and deep. It provides something only CRE can provide in terms of shows: HOPE.
Images will be on my main site at this address, by Monday 30th January 2012: Cremetti images of CRE Exeter 2012

New year, 2012

Ho hum..........

Good news!  The Christian Resource Exhibition visits EXETER, on 25th and 26th of January!

I'm their "official" photographer again, (I'm happy to say).

http://www.creonline.co.uk/default.asp?pageid=1

Nearing the Festive season.

This time of year, (from 5th November), gets a little silly.
Shooting fireworks, local events, reporting for Rotary, etc. I'm not knocking it, but it does divert me somewhat from my usual event/exhibition/product type work.MAIN SITE
I thought, (not mistakenly, I hope), that you might be interested to see a few of my shots from recent events.
Here we go:

The Spin Crew

Spin Crew

Redditch Lakeside

Rotary

Remembrance

Remembrance Alcester

Remembrance / Rotary Alcester

Remembrance / Rotary Alcester

Get in touch!

More things on the new site.

I've been writing about "event photography", (when I say event, you might say "exhibition"), and about the Art Fund and the Cremetti involvement again.
I can't deny that I could use some help!  Please have a look at the blog on the NEW SITE.

What is an event photographer?

I hope you've checked this out on my new site. It's been posted on the blog page, so please do have a look!
Thanks!

New site

Please have a look at my NEW SITE . It contains the FREE images, plus lots of other items. New pages/subpages/sections will appear over the next few weeks too. After that, it will be maintained and updated, (God willing), on a regular basis.

Worcester Chamber of Commerce Expo 6th October 2011

Spent the day at the Expo, and was really impressed by the quantity of people, the quality of the stands and the diversity of business. Great atmosphere, lively, cheerful, dynamic.
Great to meet lot's of folks and companies, Peter Roper, Colin Foxall, Claire and Clare  from Rapportstore, Ninetyfive Creative, Radio Wyvern, Executive Training Consultants, Oliver's Army, Noah's Ark, and many more.
Can't recommend this event enough.

DOF

So what is depth of field?
Sounds grand, doesn't it. Depth-Of Field or DOF.
Actually it's very simple in it's basic form. This is what it means:
The distance in acceptable focus, from the closest, to the farthest point.


So why does it change? Can I control it? 

OK, at a given distance and at a given aperture, DOF will (without the confusion of focal length for now), be a given value.
That is to say, that there  exist a mathematical formula for depth of field.
I'm not going to even approach it.

Whilst it is vital to understand the basic principles of DOF, it isn't necessary to delve into the science of optics and obtain a certificate!
I shall discuss DOF as though we only had one lens to hand. One lens of a fixed focal length, (known these days as a "prime" lens).
Consider the two images above. The first shows a shallow depth of field of about 9 inches.
The second shows a somewhat deeper depth of field of about 4 feet. The lens in this case, is a 60mm prime on a 1.6x APSC sensor, (Canon). The reason that the two look so different, (apart from my poor framing....Sorry), is that one is shot at an aperture of f2.8, and the other at f8. Now, f2.8 is a fairly wide aperture, that is to say, it's a fairly large hole in the lens.  F8, on the other hand, is moderately small. Which one is which?
The answer is, that the larger aperture, (in this case f2.8), produces the LEAST DOF.
As the aperture, (or hole in the lens), gets smaller, so the DOF, or area showing acceptable focus gets DEEPER.

Got to go now............. More soon.

Delighted to report

Been waiting to see if the Rotary Club at Alcester Alauna would accept me as a member.
Now they have!
Apart from meeting some great people, here's a chance to do something useful in the community too!
Have you considered the Rotary Club?

Apart from Alauna club in Alcester, there are hundreds of Rotary Club meets the world over. This isn't a breakfast networking club..... It's a breakfast networking club and far, far more.


Footnote: "Alauna" in all probability, means "fort on the river Alne."