Canon Test Center by Steve Garfield

Fotodiox 37mm-58mm Step Up Ring

2010-12-03T14:13:00.001-08:00

Fotodiox 37mm-58mm Step Up Ring, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

"Fotodiox Metal Step Up Ring, Anodized Black Metal 37mm-58mm" allowed Canon Wide Angle to Panasonic HD Video camera.

Amazon affiliate link:
http://amzn.to/i8hvlZ

Canon Wide Angle Lens on Panasonic HD Camera

2010-12-03T14:12:00.001-08:00

Canon Wide Angle Lens on Panasonic HD Camera, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

7D 1000 fps

2010-09-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

7D 1000 fps from Oton Bačar on Vimeo.

7D slow motion test footage of my friend doing bmx tricks.
Everything was shot in 720p 60fps.

Edited with Twixtor in After Effects.

Music: "Fly Away"
Composed by:Niklas Aman, STIM
Published by: Freeplaymusic, BMI

7D slow motion test footage of my friend doing bmx tricks.
Everything was shot in 720p 60fps.

Edited with Twixtor in After Effects.

Music: "Fly Away"
Composed by:Niklas Aman, STIM
Published by: Freeplaymusic, BMI

Awesome.

Piano Playing - Shot with Canon 550D (Digital Rebel T2i) 50mm 1.2 Lens

2010-07-13T02:37:00.000-07:00

Heather Rogers Riley

Life at Jamaica Pond: Baby Geese

2010-07-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

Recorded with Canon 550D (Digital Rebel T2i) with 50mm 1.2 lens.

Music: Secrets in Stereo

Front View: Canon EOS 550D (Rebel T2i / Kiss X4 Digital)

2010-06-08T13:31:00.001-07:00

Front View: Canon EOS 550D (Rebel T2i / Kiss X4 Digital), originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Canon EOS 550D / Rebel T2i Review

2010-06-07T09:57:00.000-07:00

I was lucky to get a Canon 550D (Rebel T2i) for a two week review. Out of the box, this camera is impressive.

I mainly focused on experimenting how to shoot videos with the camera, but also had fun using the camera's 50mm 1.4 lens to shoot some photos.

When I was offered the Canon 550 D to evaluate I was excited because I was closely looking at the both the Canon 5D and 7D. My friends, the Bui brothers, use these cameras to shoot broadcast quality TV commercials and the video quality on them is amazing, so I was excited to get the opportunity to try out the Canon 550 D.

I own a Canon Digital Rebel, which has a normal lens, so I asked if I could try out the 50 mm 1.4 lens. That lens seems to make photos look amazing. I wondered how it would work with video, so when the camera arrived as happy to see it came with the 50 mm lens. First off I went crazy taking photos.

Really great quality. Next up was video.

When the camera was en route to me I got an e-mail asking if I'd be interested in testing out the fly pack II from ikan. It's one of those huge professional rigs that help you shoot video with a digital SLR, much like the one I was getting, so I said yes.

It came along, and it was really fun to try because it has a little HD monitor that allows you to really check the focus when shoting video. That was one of most important things I found when shooting with this camera. I'm used to either automatic focus our fixed focus. With this camera you have to be careful especially when using the lens with like the 50 mm 1.4 which has a shallow depth of field. You have to be very careful where you're focusing, so the ikan rig, with the additional monitor, let's you see where your focus is.

The first problem I encountered was shooting video of yourself. In order to set the focus you need to push the focus button, but if you are sitting in a chair you need to be close enough to press the shutter to autofocus on yourself, but then you're too close.

Using manual focus, to focus on a prop at the location where you'll be seating seems like a good solution, but auto-focus while recording would be even better.

Maybe a remote will help fix that. Maybe a lens with a wider depth of field would help too, but I was so enamored with the 1.4 that I pretty much used it for all my testing, and quality of the video is amazing.

I looked the manual and found out that I could change my settings. You can change your aperture and you can change your shutter speed. This is what everybody is very excited about with this kind of camera, the control over all of your video settings. So far, in the videos I've experimented with, with aperture priority and a really shallow depth of field, they look really cool.

What bugs me is that the camera doesn't have a flip out view screen like the Panasonic G1 does. I would like that.

Shooting Video

Here's how you shoot a video:

1. Put camera in Movie mode
2. Focus by pressing the Shutter button half-way
3. Start recording a movie by pressing the Movie button on the back of the camera, NOT the Shutter.

This procedure caused me lots of issues. It would be a lot simpler if you could record movies by pressing hte Shutter button. Many times I pressed the Shutter and nothing happend. I'd miss the shot. It's not intuitive. The Shutter button should function a a Movie Start/Stop button.

Here's a video I shot using auto-focus. Most of the people in this video are at the same distance from the camera, so I auto-focused on the first person, then as I walked along, I tried to keep everyone at the same distance to keep them in focus. In the video you can see the effects of using hte 50mm 1.4 lens.

Live Preview

Here's another thing that ls not intuitive, Live Preview.

I didn't figure out that the 550D has a live preview for shooting photos until my last day of testing. It's not intuitive, but it is in the manual.

On my other cameras, when you pwer them on, they give you a Live Preview on the display screen. The Canon 550D does not. I finally figured out that you have to press the Movie button, while in any of the photo modes, to turn on Live Preview. That makes no semse to me. There should be an option to have Live Preview be the default setting.

Audio
I didn't have enough time to do a thorough test of audio. The on camera audio for the things I filmed was fine.

I plugged in a few external mics and the Auto Gain Control took over when I wasn't speaking and made the background noise too loud. It would be nice if hte camera had an option to shut off auto gain control.

Conclusion
I would have liked more time with this camera. I would have liked more time to try out different microphones. I would have liked more time to try out different settings. I would have liked more time to experiment more with manual focus.

The quality that comes of of this camera makes you stop and say "whoa!" It's very impressive.

I'd love to get the next model of the Panasonic GH1 to try out for comparison and there's also the new Samsung NX10 and Olympus PEN.

Front View: Canon EOS 550D (Rebel T2i / Kiss X4 Digital)

2010-06-07T08:44:00.001-07:00

Front View: Canon EOS 550D (Rebel T2i / Kiss X4 Digital), originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Boston Media Makers 06/06/10

2010-06-07T04:36:00.001-07:00

Boston Media Makers 06/06/10, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Boston Media Makers 06/06/10

2010-06-07T04:35:00.003-07:00

Boston Media Makers 06/06/10, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Boston Media Makers 06/06/10

2010-06-07T04:35:00.001-07:00

Boston Media Makers 06/06/10, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Boston Media Makers Roll Call 06/06/10

2010-06-07T04:34:00.000-07:00

Shot with Canon 550D and ikan rig.

Boston Media Makers.

Steve Garfield gives short ikan rig demo

2010-06-06T15:02:00.000-07:00

Wooden Sign: Piano Instruction

2010-06-04T12:36:00.003-07:00

Wooden Sign: Piano Instruction, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Sheet Music: rit. un poco

2010-06-04T12:36:00.001-07:00

Sheet Music: rit. un poco, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Queen Cookie Ship Boats at Jamiaca Pond

2010-06-03T06:53:00.003-07:00

Queen Cookie Ship Boats at Jamiaca Pond, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Hello Gosling!

2010-06-03T06:53:00.001-07:00

Hello Gosling!, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Gossling Close Up

2010-06-03T06:52:00.001-07:00

Gossling Close Up, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

ikan Super Fly Kit

2010-06-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

ikan Super Fly Kit with ikan v5600 HD monitor and MicroPro LitePanel

I received an ikan Flypack II which included a Super Fly Kit and an ikan v5600 HD monitor to evaluate along with a Canon 550D. I thought it would be a good time to test one of these camera rigs since I'm also testing the Canon 550D.

Check a video of it:

I'm used shooting stills in creative ways with the Panasonic G1. The nice feature on that camera is that it has a flip out display that lets you hold the camera in many different angles and still get a clear shot at what you are shooting. I don't have the video model of the G1, the GH1.

I miss the flip out display feature. The ikan Super Fly Kit with ikan v5600 HD monitor, although pricey, is a nice solution. What you also get with the kit is the ability to add more peripherals. This is the kind of rig that the pros use. My friends, the Bui Brothers, who shoot a lot of HD video might like something like this. Check out their SXSW 2010 DSLR Gear Presentation.

ikan Super Fly Kit

These are the pieces you get. I first assembled it one way, then after visiting the ikan site, decided to assemble it another way.

That's the beauty of this kit, it's logo-like in that you can put it together in any way you want.

The pieces themselves are very well made and fun to work with.

I felt that it was important to have hte camera controls right up near the handle.

One thing that happens when you walk around with a rig like this is that it generates a lot of interest and makes you look like you know what you are doing.

I found the handles helped distribute the weight, and I liked how I was able to add on the MicroPro LitePanel, using an ikan arm, to the the side.

You can also add a tripod or monopod mount.

I also wan to say that I really liked the IBG-TRAV ikan Traveler Bag. It has a convenient opening at the top that lets you have easy access to your camera. Having all this equiment in the bag made it pretty heavy. I used the straps to make it more comfortable to carry, but it was still pretty heavy. I've been using a wheeled travel bag when carrying equipment and adding a long handle and wheels to this bag would be a great idea.

ikan

2010-06-02T08:50:00.005-07:00

ikan, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Portugese Sweet Bread Muffin and Cheese

2010-06-02T08:50:00.003-07:00

Portugese Sweet Bread Muffin and Cheese, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

A Fridge Full of Yuengling!

2010-06-02T08:50:00.001-07:00

A Fridge Full of Yuengling!, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Carol: Happy to Sad - Canon 550D Manual Video Settings Test

2010-06-01T00:30:00.000-07:00

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov), Flash Video (.flv), MPEG-4 Video (.m4v), YouTube

Tags: canon550d

Self Portrait #5

2010-05-31T17:15:00.001-07:00

Self Portrait #5, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Beer #6

2010-05-31T15:19:00.001-07:00

Beer #6, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Self Portait #4

2010-05-31T15:18:00.001-07:00

Self Portait #4, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

You Can't Take a Bad Picture with the 50MM Lens

2010-05-26T08:11:00.001-07:00

Here's six random photos I shot with the Canon 550D and 50mm lens.

All good.

See more photos on flickr.

Prudential

2010-05-21T13:18:00.005-07:00

Prudential, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Walking with Cellphone

2010-05-21T13:18:00.003-07:00

Walking with Cellphone, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Hosta Dew II

2010-05-21T13:18:00.001-07:00

Hosta Dew II, originally uploaded by stevegarfield. CC BY-NC-SA

Behind the Scenes: Steve Garfield and Gary Lombardo - Videoblogging Webinar

2010-05-21T12:54:00.001-07:00

Here I am with Brightcove's Gary Lombardo, showing off all the technology we used for the 'How To Be a Video Blogging Powerhouse' webinar. I've got a Kodak PlaySport Pocket HD Videocamera on an X-Shot extender, and Gary is showing off his iPhone and iPad. At the front of the frame is a Creative Webcam, nad on the right is a LitePanel MicroPro LED light.

Here's a reverse angle with Gary and you can see the mic. It's an Audio Technica AT 2020 USB mic. It did a great job capture both of us speaking.

Here's what the webinar looked like online. Brighcove used the Knowledgevision Platform to inegrate the live stream, powerpoint slides and twitter stream.

There's a closer look at the audio technica AT 2020 USB mic.

Direct link to replay of the Videoblogging Webinar

Portraits

2010-05-21T09:07:00.001-07:00

Dinner

2010-05-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

1st Canon 550D 1080p Video

2010-05-21T09:05:00.000-07:00

Straight out of the box, shot from a tripod. 1920 x 1080 Video.

1st Canon 550D Movie - Spaghetti from stevegarfield on Vimeo.

Opened in iMovie and posted to YouTube. For some reason the video did not post to YouTube, so I grabbed the 720p export and posted it to Vimeo.

Testing out the new Canon EOS Rebel T2i aka. 550D

2010-05-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

I just got in a Canon 550D for testing.

Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras