Full Frame vs. DX Sensor--Which is right for you?

Submitted by David Cardinal on Fri, 08/27/2010 - 13:01

As some of you have noticed I've started blogging for the new B&H blog site, bhinsights. B&H has been a partner of ours for a long time, in particular they've been great at supporting the Africa safaris with do with Journeys Unforgettable and Wilderness Safaris. So it is great to be able to contribute by posting articles of interest to their customers.

Today's post is about the not so easy decision about whether you consider going back to full size (e.g. 35mm film size) sensor cameras now that they are available for digital--unless you have already of course. So if you get a chance check out the Should you go full frame? and let us know what you think and how your decision process is working.--David

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Canon Announces Canon 60D--Pushing the Envelope for Consumer D-SLRs

Submitted by David Cardinal on Wed, 08/25/2010 - 23:14

In the continuing barrage of new digital cameras, Canon has fired the most recent shot with the new 60D mid-range consumer/prosumer D-SLR--a solid upgrade to the popular 50D. With a stunning 18MP sensor firing away at over 5 frames per second the Canon certainly doesn't have entry level specs. One nice twist (if you'll pardon the pun) is the addition of a fully adjustable LCD, typically only found on video cameras and some point and shoots.

You can drool over the Canon 60D page at B&H, but it isn't expected to ship until September. Canon estimates the sale price as $1099. You can read the full release online.

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HDR: When Even Magic Has Its Limits

Submitted by David Cardinal on Tue, 08/24/2010 - 12:44

Used properly, High-Dyanmic Range (HDR) imaging can almost do magic. Scenes with huge contrast and uneven lighting can be turned into pristine almost studio quality images. Like many tools it can also be a great crutch. While I certainly don't take professional pride in using techniques that way sometimes it is the only option available. That's the situation I was in when visiting Niagra Falls recently. We arrived to a gray sky, mid-day, and traveling quickly. I didn't expect to get anything great, but I did want to capture some "snaps" of the falls, so here's what I did and how it worked out...

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Nikon Announces Four New AF-S Lenses: DX 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G VR, 24-120mm f/4G VR and 85mm f/1.4G

Submitted by David Cardinal on Thu, 08/19/2010 - 05:41

New NIKKOR Glass Yields an Unprecedented Seven Lenses Released to Date in 2010

MELVILLE, N.Y. Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Nikon Inc. announced four new lenses to the legendary NIKKOR line to meet the needs of all types of photographers, from those looking for the ideal lens for capturing memories of the school play to pro glass that captures client work in the studio. The new AF-S DX 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR, AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR and AF-S 85mm f/1.4G deliver the optical excellence and stunning image quality that consumers have become accustomed to with AF-S NIKKOR lenses. Nikon's optical engineering experience and devotion to extraordinary standards of excellence have contributed to the strength and legend of the NIKKOR brand. With the addition of these four lenses, 2010 has seen the introduction of a total of seven new NIKKOR lenses, reinforcing Nikon's role as the world leader in optics.

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Nikon D3100 adds 1080p to 14MP for $699 with Lens

Submitted by David Cardinal on Thu, 08/19/2010 - 05:33

Nikon has pushed the entry level "convergence" D-SLR bar up yet again with the D3100, more than just a minor update to the popular D3000. Now supporting a 14.2MP sensor the new camera offers the much requested 1080p video format for "true HD" along with some nice interface simplifications that will make it easier to get started with video and to have the Auto-Focus always active. They've also beefed up the Guide Mode and Scene Selection options which will will be particularly appealing to beginners. For $699 (expected in September) with 18-55 kit lens it's hard to go wrong. We do want to note though that the continuous AF with video is the mediocre "contrast AF" which is still no match for the snappy AF used in still mode. The camera also features a native ISO of up to 3200, amazing for an entry level model.

Pre-order the Nikon D3100 with 18-55mm Lens for $699 from B&H

Full press release follows...

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Does Your Town Have a Mud Run? Maybe it Should

Submitted by David Cardinal on Sun, 08/08/2010 - 17:53

If a mud run isn’t on your bucket list, you might want to consider it. Along with tractor pulls and cook-offs the annual run of trucks large and small through a course of, well yes, mud is a big deal in Northern Michigan. We were fortunate enough to be here this year in time for the Boyne Falls Annual Mud Run, where amateurs and pros alike took their straight up SUVs, pick-ups, and highly modified terrain warrior vehicles through a quarter mile of wheel deep mud—provided courtesy of the local fire departments’ hydrants and volunteers…edl_mudrun_0029

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Africa Book Available—Support it with a Vote in PBN Contest

Submitted by David Cardinal on Mon, 08/02/2010 - 17:40

Click to preview bookWe’re very pleased with the way our Africa book--compiled over several years of leading safaris--has turned out. Early copies are off the press and as usual blurb.com has done a great job with the printing. The book has been nominated for their Reader’s Choice award so we hope you’ll take the time to check out the Preview (online and free) and vote for it if you like it. You can see it and vote for it online….

One warning though. The eighty pages of stunning photography from our trips to Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe may make you really jealous. So of course we’d love to have you join us on our next Botswana safari in May, 2011 if you can make it. We guarantee you’ll get some awesome photos and make a book like this one of your very own!

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Full-frame Ultra-Wide Zoom Lens Face-off: Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 versus the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G Lens

Submitted by David Cardinal on Thu, 07/29/2010 - 10:41

I really enjoyed shooting with the Nikon 14-24mm AF-S f/2.8G ED lens which was released as part of Nikon’s foray into full-frame cameras along with the D3. It takes incredible images and was a pleasure to use. But for most of us it has several drawbacks which make it a difficult acquisition. First is price. At $1800 for the US version it is a large investment for a lens that typically gets used a lot less than a mid-range zoom. Second, it is large and heavy. If you lug your gear with you the 2.2 lb. weight and 4”x5” size create quite an impact on your photo pack. Finally the “domed” front makes it difficult and expensive to use filters with it (an expensive add-on adapter is needed).

Pl_MidwayBasinYNP_0067

Grand Prismatic, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Nikon D700, Sigma 12-24mm Lens at 12mm, f/22@1/250s, ISO 800
Going ultra-wide is the only way to get the full scene, as the moving steam rules out a pano

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Puffins: Comedians of the Sky

Submitted by David Cardinal on Fri, 07/23/2010 - 12:18

I’m sure Puffins don’t think of themselves as funny, but it is difficult to watch them when in breeding plumage and not imagine that they are wearing a clown suit and make up. ...

djc_2718

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Turning a Mountain Inside-Out One Scoop At A Time

Submitted by David Cardinal on Mon, 06/28/2010 - 22:33

Whatever you think of open-pit mining the sheer scale of turning a mountain into the world’s largest hole to provide millions of miles of telephone wire, countless feet of trendy house siding, and billions of feet of plumbing pipe is breathtaking. If it was a stadium Kennecott Copper’s (now RIo TInto’s) Bingham Canyon Mine could seat over 9 million people…

pl_binghamcanyonmineut_0002

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Fathers’ Day: A Walk in the Park (Avenue)

Submitted by David Cardinal on Sun, 06/20/2010 - 21:42

A walk down Park Avenue in New York would be a lot of fun anytime, especially Fathers’ Day, but a walk down Park Avenue Canyon in Arches National Park was a great treat. Annie and I braved the 105 degree temps (but it was a dry heat:-)) to be amazed by the stunning vistas and tiny critters that make up the canyon….

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Grand Canyon: North Rim or South Rim?

Submitted by David Cardinal on Sun, 06/20/2010 - 08:15


Having been to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon before we decided to spend a few days at the North Rim this trip. Especially since we are traveling in June which we knew would be packed full in both places. For those considering a trip there and wondering which to visit if you don’t have time for both here are our thoughts… 

Grand Canyon North Rim looking at Transept CanyonGrand Canyon North Rim looking at Transept Canyon

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Majesty of the Desert

Submitted by David Cardinal on Sat, 06/12/2010 - 08:07

Standing on a hill and looking out at the vast spaces of a desert like the Mojave is just plain thrilling. It is so hard to drink it all in.

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Sigma 24-70, Another "Pro Value" Champ from Sigma

Sigma continues to impress me with their updated versions of pro and semi-pro lense for D-SLRs. They provide excellent value with pricing below the Nikon and Canon versions while not sacrificing image quality. Their new 24-70mm f/2.8 full frame HSM (same as USM or AF-S) is no exception...

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Deluxe African Photo Safari May, 2011

Submitted by David Cardinal on Tue, 01/05/2010 - 13:07
Dates: 
May 08, 2011 - May 22, 2011

Deluxe Modular Digital Photo Safari to Botswana, May, 2011

[Maximum 10 photographers, 5 spots available, main trip May 8-21, extension May 21-27]

 

 

Female Leopard (Legadima) scouting for Prey
Okavango Delta, May 2008 Photo Safari

I'm very excited to be going back to Southern Africa after the great trips we've had in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and our just completed 2009 trip. Our next scheduled trip--May, 2011--features a uniquely modular design so you can go on all or just some parts of it to accomodate your time and budget.

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Southeast Asia Photo Safari

Submitted by David Cardinal on Sat, 12/05/2009 - 09:04
Dates: 
Nov 30, 2010 - Dec 13, 2010

Cambodia and Burma (Myanmar) 14 days, 13 nights

Main trip: November 30 - December 13, 2010 (only 2 openings left!)
[+optional extension to Inle Lake and the Shan State in Burma.]

Angkor Wat

Southeast Asia is one of the world's most exotic destinations, and one of the most photogenic. The great monument sites of Southeast Asia are unique in their variety and scale. Taken together, sites in Siem Reap (the Angkor Wat temple complex and surrounding sites), along with Yangon, Bagan, and Mandalay in Burma (Myanmar) offer the opportunity of a lifetime to discover the legacy of several of the important cultures which form the Southeast Asian mosaic, as well as the chance to capture stunning images of lasting interest.

[Our last trip Sold-Out so sign up soon!]

 

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