Impressions of the Leica X1

The X1 was launched by Leica alongside the M9 back in September 2009 and a new all black version was displayed at Photokina this year, set to ship within the next month.  For those unfamiliar with this camera there are a few stand out features that immediately set this camera apart from other compacts.  Firstly Leica have managed to squeeze a 12MP APS-C sized sensor into the diminutive X1 body which is an impressive achievement and immediately gives it an advantage over most other compact cameras.  Secondly the X1 features a fixed 24mm Leica Elmarit lens.  Elmarit in Leica land means that it has a maximum aperture of f2.8 and the 24mm on the APS-C sensor gives it an equivalent focal length of about 35mm.

CalDigit AV Drive Review - USB 3.0 comes to the Mac

Let’s face it, we all spend more time at our computers than we want to these days.  With digital camera manufacturers pushing megapixel and file sizes higher and higher, and HD video becoming the norm, we are constantly in need of more hard drives.  On top of a need for reliable storage space I’m always looking for a way to speed up my workflow and hence spend less time in front of the monitor.  A couple of months ago storage solution specialists CalDigit announced a new addition to their external drive lineup, the USB 3.0 packing AV Drive.  On top of this they simultaneously released a Mac compatible PCI USB 3.0 cards as well as an Expresscard USB 3.0 adapter for Mac laptops with expresscard slots.

A look at the new F-Stop Loka photo backpack for outdoor and adventure photography

When you are heading out to a remote location or trying to shoot photos of any kind of adventure sport, your need a camera bag with different features and priorities to the majority of bags out there.  F-Stop makes bags and packs specifically designed for outdoor and adventure photograhers.  They have just launched the new Loka backpack and a new system for carrying your gear.  Let’s take a look!

Behind the scenes on a commercial ski resort photo shoot. What do I actually do ?

This week I thought I would do something a bit different.  I’m currently putting some interesting and very cool products through some testing but in the meantime I decided to show a little bit of my regular work because blogging, reviewing and writing is only a part-time gig for me.  The majority of my time is spent shooting commercial and editorial action sports and tourism photos.  So let’s take a quick look at some photos that I shot in the spring time for my home ski resort Whistler Blackcomb, which you may recognize as a host venue for the Olympic Winter Games which took place there earlier in the year.

Elinchrom Quadra review compared to Ranger

For the last three years I have been using the Elinchrom Ranger RX for the majority of my strobed work.  Sometimes I use some Nikon speedlights for fill, but the Ranger is my key light.  I have used it in the rain, in blizzards, in -32 degrees Celsius and it has traveled around the world to Alaska, Japan, New Zealand twice and everywhere in between.  I can depend on this strobe, and it has never let me down.  I have the RX version which is slightly lighter weight than the RX Speed.  For me, recycling time is not such a big deal as most of what I am shooting is one off action that normally requires at least several minutes between shots anyway.  Despite being the lighter weight version of the Ranger RX family, it still weighs in at a hefty 8KG just for the pack (no heads or cables).  Last year Elinchrom announced the new Elinchrom Quadra.  A lower powered sibling to my big Ranger, that weighed in at a much more tolerable 3.65KG.  Recently I finally got the opportunity to test a Quadra setup so here are some thoughts on it and something of a comparison to my now very rugged looking Ranger RX………….

Letus Hawk Viewfinder with Quick Release system review

For serious video shooting with a DSLR you need to have a separate viewfinder that magnifies the image on your LCD.  Not only do they keep the sun from your screen to aid your framing and composition but they also allow you to accurately focus with the very narrow DOF that comes from shooting with these types of cameras.  There are already many viewfinders out there but the Hawk VF from Letus is one of the newer ones.  Let’s take a look at the new aluminum version and also reveal their brand new quick release system!

Pushing flash X-sync to the limit

As Photokina is fast approaching us there has been a fair bit of new gear to discuss in the last couple of weeks.  I would expect this to continue for a little while longer but I also wanted to get this quick strobe technique article up as well. 

For people that shoot fast moving action with strobes like myself, we are always worrying about sync speeds and flash durations.  Today I’m going to talk a little bit about flash sync and give a quick example of how you can push the boundaries of what can often seem like a very limiting factor with DSLRs.

Thoughts on the newly updated Canon super telephoto lenses.

The final installment this week of information on the recent Canon lens announcements.  This time we are taking a closer look at the updated super telephone lenses.  The “Big Whites”.  Newly updated versions of the 300mm and 400mm will be available by the end of the year and uncharacteristically, Canon also allowed us a glimpse at some updates to follow next year!

A look at the Canon 70-300 f4-5.6 L IS

A few days ago I began to take a closer look at some of Canon’s newly announced lenses.  Starting off with the 8-15mm f4 L and now moving on to another totally new lens for the Canon L series lineup.  The 70-300 f4-5.6 L IS zoom.  A lens that offers a larger than normal zoom range in a small, weather sealed package with the latest image stabilization.

Thoughts on the Canon 8-15mm f4 L

Last week I wrote some of my thoughts on the new Canon EOS 60D and compared it to the already popular 7D.  This week I’m going to take a look at some of the lenses that Canon announced on the same day as the 60D.  Personally I can’t remember a day when Canon has announced so many new products all in one day, and some of the new lenses they introduced are worth taking a look at.  First up, the 8-15mm fisheye zoom.

Really Right Stuff BH-40 ballhead review

A solid ballhead is something that every good photographer should have in their kit.  Just like buying a tripod, if you buy the right one it will last a lifetime because unlike today’s cameras and lenses, technology of modern ballheads is relatively simple and changes very little.  Instead it all comes down to manufacturing quality and machining accuracy to produce a perfect, solid platform for your camera. 

Canon 60D Vs 7D

Browsing some websites and forums this morning I noticed a lot of discussion about the new Canon 60D and how it compares with the 7D.  I can understand this, at first glance it might seem like the 60D has made the 7D somewhat obsolete but that really is not the case.  A closer look at the specs reveals a camera that more carefully fits into the “advanced amateur” category than previous XXD line cameras because of course the 7D did not exist when the 50D was released.  The camera that is best for you will depend partly on your budget (there is a $400 price difference) but also partly on your intended shooting medium.  Video or photos ? 

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