Canon T5 DSLR--Review Update

I have had the Canon T5 DSLR for just over a year now. When I first got it I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. I was used to having and using a electronic viewfinder (EVF) and was having difficulty making the transition to an optical viewfinder (OVF). I still wish the T5 had a EVF but I am getting used to the OVF.

One other thing I wish it had was more options as far as focus points, I am used to the Fujifilm cameras where you can focus on just about anywhere on the sensor. The Canon only has nine focus points to use. The Fuji's are much nicer to use in this aspect. They are also easier to see and use on the Fuji's. I find the focus points are hard to see on the Canon's viewfinder. You can always hit the AV button that makes the focus points light up red, then you can move your focal point around on the Canon.

Another thing I didn't like at first was the menu system that the Canon uses. But the more I get used to it I like it, especially the "Q" or Quick menu that is on the view screen. Almost everything you need is on the screen and can easily accessed making it easy to change basic settings. Again I don't find it as easy to navigate as the one on the Fujifilm X30 but it works well and as I get used to it I have grown to like it.

I wish the T5 had similar "film simulations" to that of the Fuji's but I can't complain with the colours that the camera produces. They are sharp and generally bright with rich colours. I am loving the pictures I am getting out of the camera.

This photo was taken in AV mode @  f11. 1/500sec, iso100, -1 exposure, auto WB taken with 55-250mm lens @ 171mm

The T5 is a good size camera for the type of shooting I enjoy, primarily street photography and because I have small hands. It is light (being made mostly of plastic it better be) and has good handling. It feels good in my hand, not too large or heavy which again is great for street photography. The button and control layout is nice, nothing is too far away, nor too close that you hit something accidentally. It handles and feels really nice. Even with the larger 55-250mm lens on the camera it doesn't feel too heavy or awkward to carry and use.

There are however a couple of things I wish the camera had though, of course. Like I said above I wish it had an EVF. I also wish the screen was better and tilted. And as I said I wish the focus point options were better. And the camera could have better low light performance but for a camera at this price point you can't expect pro performance out of it. With a external flash it works great.

I had the opportunity to use the camera to shoot with a local model, using the 55-250mm lens and it worked really well, I was very pleased with the results I received with the combination.

                                   

I recently used the camera with the 50mm f1.8 lens to shoot our annual Santa Claus pictures that we do to raise money for the local food bank. I used the camera, on a tripod and with a remote shutter release. The camera handled very well and I was pleased with the results.

The Canon T5 is considered as a beginners/hobbyist DSLR camera, and it does not have all the "bells and whistles" that more expensive, high end, professional grade cameras. It is however, for the money, a very good camera and it takes really nice photos and when I am able to upgrade to a more advanced camera, the T5 will make a great backup camera for shoots.

Canon's amazing budget zoom lens...further review of the 55-250mm lens

I have had the 55-250mm IS II lens from Canon for almost a year, and I have to say it is an amazing lens, especially for the price of the lens. I love it so much that my wife (who bought me mine) had to go out and buy herself the newer STM version. The lens is the one that spends the most time on my camera, along with the amazing 50mm f1.8 lens. I won't get into all the technical details about the lens, I will leave that more gear orientated sites and reviewers. This will be just my general opinions of this amazing lens. Take into account that I am also using this lens on a budget DSLR camera, the Canon T5.



















The lens could be a little faster at a max aperture of f4 and a little sharper wide open but it is nice and sharp at anything over f5.6. The lens doesn't have a constant aperture when wide open, meaning that it is at f4 at 55mm and stops down to 5.6 at 250mm. This means if you are using this for video you should start at aperture f5.6 to avoid the exposure dropping down as you zoom in.  It is not a lens that one would use for sports or moving objects but it is great for just about everything else. The Image Stabilization (IS) is amazing for such a inexpensive lens, that I would have no problem using this lens for portraits, which I have done with it. One downside of this lens is that the Image Stabilization is loud with an audible clicking sound that could be heard on the video if you are not using an external microphone. For video I would recommend upgrading to the newer STM version that has a lot quieter image stabilization.

I have used this lens for landscapes, 

wildlife,

macro, 

portraits, 

                              

                                     

and artistic shots.

                         

All and all Canon's 55-250mm lens for EF-S cameras is an amazing lens, definitely don't let the "cheap" price tag on it scare you away. The lens' quality and the quality of the pictures you will get with it make the lens feel like it should be way more expensive. It is a lens that I would highly recommend to anyone with a Canon crop sensor camera who is looking for a good zoom lens.

Working with an experienced model....finally!

I recently had the opportunity to attend a local photographer and model meet and greet.The meet and greet happened along the waterfront of Barrie, which is the biggest city in the area I live. It was the first time I had gone to one of these, and I didn't know what to expect. Would it be just a bunch of people hanging out and talking about photography? Would it they be passing around their portfolios for everyone to see and critique? I had no idea of what was going to happen at one of these.

I was pleasantly surprised when I got there (I was about fifteen minutes late because I wasn't sure till the last minute if I wanted to attend or not) and saw a bunch of people with cameras taking pictures of an amazingly beautiful model. I watched for a few minutes before pulling out my camera (and was so glad I did bring it) and started taking my turns taking my own pictures of the model. Over the next two to three hours we moved around the waterfront park taking pictures in different locations. Eventually another model showed up but I didn't get as many pictures I liked of her because she got there late.

As for equipment I was using my Canon T5 DSLR. I started with my 50mm lens, but quickly realized that with so many photographers trying to get their shots that the 50mm wasn't going to work because I couldn't get close enough so I switched to my 55-250mm lens. I was worried at first that I was going to be the only one with "beginner" equipment. But as I looked around saw some other people using Canon "Rebel" cameras so I started to feel a little better about my equipment.

I forgot to bring my reading glasses so when I checked my pictures on the camera's screen they would look blurry and out of focus. I was starting to worry that I wasn't getting any good shots. I was very happy when I got home and downloaded the pictures onto my computer. The pictures looked really good, especially considering that I haven't really worked with a model before.

I really enjoyed my first experience working with a model. The more comfortable I got as the day went on I started to suggest poses and locations and eventually got creative with my angles. The experience really helped to affirm that I do have some photography skills. Considering that my confidence had been suffering lately because of a wedding I shot recently that the couple were not happy with the pictures they received. I told them I wasn't an experienced wedding photography when they asked me to shoot their wedding. The brides mother is a friend of my wife's and had asked me to shoot her daughter's wedding. So this shooting experience with the model was just what I needed to lift my confidence as a portrait photographer. All and all it was a very enjoyable and enlightening experience, and one I can't wait to do again.

The Nifty Fifty!

I recently picked up a new lens, the Canon 50mm f1.8 STM. This is a highly reviewed lens. In fact the lens has gained a couple of nicknames over the years, "The Nifty Fifty" and "The Fantastic Plastic". The 50mm 1.8 is usually at the top of reviewers lists for lens to get.

On an APS-C camera such as my T5, with it's 1.6 crop factor, the lens is closer to an 80 mm lens which makes a great portrait lens. The large aperture capabilities of this lens guarantees a lot of bokeh in your photos which is a desirable quality in portraits. The fact that the lens has been upgraded with seven blades, compared to the old version's five, means the bokeh will have a nice round appearance.

These next two photo's are examples of a "Street Portrait" I took during a street fair on Canada Day 2017 in Barrie, Ontario.

                                                                f5.6, 1/60 sec, iso100

f5.6, 1/640sec, iso100

It is also a great lens for "Street Photography". It would be better on a "Full Frame Sensor" than on the APS-C sensor that my Canon has but it is still a good lens for street photography. It's small size is perfect for street photography. It takes great photos at smaller apertures such as f5.6 or f8 which makes it a great lens for the street. 

Taken @ Canada Day street fair in Barrie, Ontario.

f5.6, 1/400sec, iso100

Taken during the Barrie Pride Parade in Barrie, Ontario

f5.6, 1/500 sec, iso100

The lens is also good for nature photography, as long as you are not looking for a wide angle shot. It is good for close up or shots of buildings and animals. For actual landscape photography you would need something wider such as a lens under 20mm. However, I found the 50 mm lens a good one for photographing buildings such as this small barn. I feel that the lens gives a good perspective for shots like this, not too close, nor too wide.

f7.1, 1/80 sec, iso100

If I had any complaint and I only have one is that the lens does not have image stabilization. I am not the steadiest of shooters and I would prefer if all lens, well all camera's for that matter, had image stabilization built into them. But that is my only complaint with the lens so far.  

A Muse!

A Muse: someone...usually a woman....who inspires creativity in an artist!


I will be the first to admit that I do not have a lot experience or know a lot beyond the basics about portrait photography. There is a lot I need to learn with things like lighting, design of a shot and many more aspects of a good portrait. I could take some courses but they are expensive. I can learn a lot on YouTube, from books and in blogs. But they say the best education in something is from experience. So the best way to learn the "ins and outs" of portrait photography is to go out and actually to it.

So when it comes to learning the art of portrait photography I have come to feel that I need to find a model that I can work with on a regular basis....a Muse! I hope to find a model, male or female, hopefully someone with some experience, that I can work with on a regular basis. I want to find someone who I can experiment with lighting, themes and other issues that one deals with this type of photography.

Hopefully I can find a model who is willing to do a series of projects with on a "Time for Print" basis for now, someone who is content with getting shots for their own portfolio. That way we both get some shots to hopefully advance our careers, I have some ideas for shoots I would love to do, such as a "Urban Dance" project with a model who can do dance moves such as ballet but in an urban environment. If I can find a "Muse" model it would have to be someone who also creative, come up with their own ideas for shoots to try. It would be an equal collaboration between myself and them.

I am of course open to working with other models, but I am looking for that one model who can develop on ongoing working relationship with. Someone who gets my creativity working, who inspires me and challenges me to be a better photographer!

A great place to get photography accessories!

My wife and I discovered the shopping website Wish about a year ago and since then I have "purchased" many photography accessories from the site. I put purchased in quotations because due to Wish's own rules, if a product isn't delivered by a specified delivery date they will return your money and you still get to keep the item if it comes in afterwards. Some of the accessories I have received I have paid for, some I have gotten after I was refunded.

The accessories I have ordered and received have ranged from lens hoods, to flash reflectors to backdrops to remote flash triggers to a softbox. So far all have been really good quality. I will give a review of some of my favourite purchases.

One of the first things I ordered was a Christmas themed backdrop. I wanted in time for the annual charity Santa pictures my wife and I do at the Walmart where she works. We do it to raise money for the local food bank over a two day weekend. The backdrop came in too late for last year's shoots but I will be using it for this years shoot. The colours are a little muted then they looked like in the pictures but overall I am pleased. It is 5' x 7' in size. I have also received a black backdrop that was kinda of canvas/plastic material and a grey patterned paper backdrop that are really nice as well.

Another of my favourite item kinda go hand and hand. They are a flash bracket and a set of three flash remote trigger set. So far they all are working great and will be a big addition to my photo shoots. The trigger set has three different channels I hope will work with my strobe set as well, they work great with my flash gun.

I also ordered a softbox which I was surprised by the size and quality of it. I was very pleased it when I received it. I will be definitely ordering another one soon. It works great with my strobes. 

These have been the bigger items I have ordered I have also ordered some smaller accessories that so far I am very please with. These include some flash reflectors (one of which is a snoot), a shutter remote, a couple of lens hoods, a bracket to hold a reflector, some lens bags and more. 

I plan to do some more in depth reviews of some of the larger items such as the soft box and the flash triggers with some test shots taken while using those items in future blog entries. But for now I highly recommend anyone who is looking for studio and photography accessories at prices that won't bankrupt you to check out Wish. I know I will be ordering more, in fact I am waiting for the delivery of a small flash unit that I plan on using with my Fujfilm X30 and a "Grey Card" set. I may do future reviews of those when they come in. 

My favourite Fujifilm X30 feature: Film Simulations

It should be clear by now that I am a huge fan of the FujiFilm X30 advanced compact camera. In my mind it may be the perfect "street" camera. Unfortunately the X100T (and now the X100F) and the X70 got the majority of the Fuji "press" when it comes to their advanced compact category of cameras. Which in my opinion is a real shame because the X30 is an amazing camera. There are many things I love about the X30 and Fuji cameras in general. I plan on doing a series of posts to discuss the various options and features that the X30 has that make it such a great camera. The first such post will be on FujiFilm's film simulations!

                                                      Film Simulations

One of the things I love about the X30, and something it shares with most Fuji cameras is the film simulation settings. The film simulations that Fuji puts into their cameras are simply amazing. Each has its benefits and uses. On the X30 I changed the video button (customization of the controls is another great thing about the X30) to be the control for the film simulations. That way I can just push a button and have access to the simulations. 

There are film simulations that will fit anyone's choice or preference. Regardless of how you want to shoot, or how you want your photos to look. My personal favourite settings are Vivid (which gives you amazing colours, especially greens and reds), Classic Chrome (which gives your pictures a, well classic look to them) and Monochrome with red filter. In fact, these three are the ones I use in the camera's "Film Bracketing" mode. The film bracketing mode allows you to set three different film simulations and then each time you take a shot it gives you three copies, one in each of the three simulations you set. 

                                                                            Vivid

                                                                   Classic Chrome

 Monochrome with red filter

There are other simulations to choose from including Monochrome without filters and with various other filters. sepia and more. The three above are my favourite ones to use. Of course all of these film simulations can only be used with the JPEG's and don't affect RAW images. That being said the FujiFilm JPEG's are so amazing I have never been tempted to shoot in RAW. The Fuji film simulations is something that I recommend that everyone look into if they are looking for a new camera, the newer Fuji cameras have even more simulation options such as Acros Monochrome and more. The film simulations are a feature that sets the FujiFilm cameras apart from most of the competition.

Favourite Portrait Photographers!

There have been many amazing portrait photographers whose work I admire and am inspired by. Some are old school and shot only in black and white and some shot in color. Some of them are no longer with us and some are still shooting today.

One of my all time favourite portrait photographers is Yousef Karsh! Karsh is known for some of the most famous portraits of the twentieth century such as the iconic shot of Churchill standing with one hand on his hip and the other on the back of a chair. Karsh is also a favourite because he was a Canadian photographer. Karsh was so in demand that he shot everyone from Churchill to Queen Elizabeth to JFK and celebrities like Hemingway, Einstein and many more. His black and white portraits always look more like paintings than photographs. I have a book about Karsh that has many of his best photographs with details about how the pictures were taken. It is full of great stories and insights on how Karsh photographed his subjects. The book came from my cousin who live out in Nova Scotia, I think he found it in the basement of his house.

Annie Leibovitz is another inspirational portrait photographer whose work I love. The people who have posed for her are the "Whose Who" of pop culture and public figures. Her photos can be almost be divided into two categories. Her black and white portraits have a classic formal feel and look to them. However a lot of her color shots almost have a fantasy feel and look to them.

Jason Lenier is a current photographer that I discovered through his YouTube channel. His channel has behind the scenes videos of a lot of his workshops and photoshoots. He likes to shoot in unique places like abandoned buildings, graveyards, caves and abandoned amusement parks. I have found a lot of inspiration in his shoots.

These are just three photographers for now, this post will edit as I come up with more and discover more photographers that inspire me.

Trying A Boudoir Photo Shoot!

Boudoir photography is an interesting field of photography. The pictures are both sexy and artistic. Boudoir photography can do a lot to take the models out of the comfort levels and at the same time give them self confidence and make them feel good about themselves.

I recently did a boudoir shoot with my wife as the model. It took her out of her comfort zone, and I would like to think it made her feel good about herself. The following are some of the shots we captured. It is a field of photography that I would like to experiment more with.

All of these shots were taken with a Canon T5 (1200D) using the 18-55mm kit lens. 

Canon's 55-250mm "Budget" lens

I received Canon's 55-250 mm is II EF-S lens (for Canon APS-C sensor cameras only)for Christmas this year from my wife. It is a cheaper alternative to the 75-200 mm lens that is so popular with sports, photojournalists and wildlife photographers. The 55-250 mm lens is a really good lens that is far better than what the price would lead you to believe, it usually runs under $200 (the newer STM version runs closer to $300). The focal range is great, with the shorter end of 55 mm taking over where the 18-55 mm kit lens ends and the 250 mm is actually further than the "pro" zoom lens of 200 mm. The lens is pretty sharp and so far I don't have any complains about the quality of the pictures taken with this lens.

This is a shot I took just of our Christmas tree, using the Canon T5 at 250 mm, f5.6, 1/6 sec,  iso 1600. I have no complaints with the sharpness and the bokeh is nice, even at f5.6.

This is a picture I took out my back door of a neighbours birdhouse in a snow storm. I took it using my Canon T5 at 250 mm, f5.6, 1/320 sec, iso125.

I took this picture of a sunrise over Lake Simcoe in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. I took it at 123mm at f5, 1/1000 sec using iso100. This is a picture right out of camera with no editing. I love the colours.

If I were to have any complaints about the lens there would be two. Firstly, the max aperture is only f4 at the 55 mm end of the zoom and drops to f5.6 at the 250 mm end. I would have preferred a larger aperture, at least one of f2.8 and for it to be a constant aperture.

Another complaint, well not so much for me but it will for others, and that is that the Image Stabilization is on the loud side. There is an audible clicking sound from the I.S. and for anyone wanting to use this lens for video will have a problem with the clicking sound being heard on the video. If anyone is shopping for one of these lenses for video I would recommend they spend the extra money for the newer STM version, the STM (short for STepping Motor) is a quieter image stabilization mechanism that Canon designed with video in mind. However if you are like me and only take photos, then the "is II" version is a good options, the clicking noise is a bit annoying but if not doing video then it is a minor annoyance.

So all and all I am very happy with the 55-250 mm is II lens. It is a great "budget" zoom lens that doesn't behave or shoot like a cheap lens. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a good zoom lens for their Canon APS-C sensor cameras. It is great lens for general landscape and still wildlife photography. I would not recommend it for sports or moving animals, it just isn't a fast enough lens for that. However for most other types of photography it is a very good zoom lens.

Urban vs Street

The common definition of Street Photography is that they are essentially candid photos of people going about their daily life, usually without even knowing that the picture was taken. If a photo doesn't have some aspect of people in it then it isn't usually considered as a Street Photograph.

I prefer the term Urban Photography for my approach to taking photographs in urban settings. Some of my photographs have people of them, but not all of them. However they are all taken in urban settings. Some of my photographs are of buildings, or different features I find of interest such as this fire alarm I found on the side of a building in Saint John, New Brunswick. 

This alarm caught my eye because it is something I have never seen before. That is the type of things I like to photograph, stuff I haven't seen before, or don't see often. I am also fond of graffiti and street art (I know that is cliche for a Urban photographer). When I find some street art that I find interesting I try and find an angle that would give the photograph a different perspective, such as this huge piece of street art that is in Barrie, Ontario, Canada.

Urban photography is much more of a definition for my type of photography, without coming into conflict with those who strictly adhere to the "traditional" definition of what makes Street Photography....well according to them...."Street". 

Compact Love!

If you have been reading any of my Blog posts you have probably noticed that that I have a love for the category of camera referred to as Advanced Compact cameras. The Advanced Compact (AC) cameras is definitely my favorite type of camera. Why?

Well lets start with other type of cameras and then I will go on to the  AC's. I do have a Canon T5 DSLR and hope to upgrade to either a T5I or a T6I in the spring. DSLR's are great for weddings, portraits, landscapes and basically every other type of photography. The versatility of the lenses offers a tone of options for your photography. I do enjoy using my T5 for portraits and once I get some more lenses I will enjoy using it for landscapes and more. DSLR's are definitely the benchmark cameras by which every other is compared too.

The newest craze in photography is definitely the Mirrorless or Compact Camera Systems cameras. Most of these offer all the advantages of DSLR's in a much smaller body. Most use an electronic view finder over the optical ones that DSLR's use. I haven't actually used any of these cameras but have done a lot of research on them. The main reason I haven't tried one is due to the price of these systems. For the good ones, they are generally very expensive and the lenses are too.

Now on to why I love the Advanced Compact style cameras so much.The main reason why I love these cameras has to do with my main photography focus of Street/Urban photography. Small but advanced cameras like these are perfect for that type of photography. They are small, like their "little brothers", the point and shoot cameras, but much more powerful. They don't draw a lot of attention when you use them on the street, unlike the larger DSLR's. When you are using one on the street people think you are just a tourist, if they notice you at all. They are also good for other types of photography such as Macro, Product, Artistic and Conceptual genres. Most of these cameras offer great Macro settings that make them very versatile cameras.

There a ton of options out there for anyone looking to add a Advanced Compact camera to their bag. Almost every camera company offers some form of Advanced Compact camera, it all depends on what you want or which company is your favorite. There are cameras out there utilizing all kinds of different sensors, different megapixels and different lenses. Some use 2/3 sensors such as the X30 that I own, some are Micro Four-Thirds, some offer 1" sensors and some even offer CMOS and "Full Frame" sensors.

There are a ton of lens offerings out there to chose from too. There are some cameras like the Ricoh GR, FujiFilm X100T and X70 which offer single focal lengths lens. And a lot more offer medium length zoom lenses, such as the FujiFilm X30 which offers a 4X zoom (28-112mm). It all depends on what you need.

There are also a lot of advanced options that a lot of these cameras offer as well. Most offer both JPEG and RAW shooting options. Most have really good "film simulations" settings that gives you a lot of options for shooting. Most of these cameras offer similar "Manual" controls that bigger cameras offer such as shooting in Aperture, Shutter and full Manual modes, some utilize them better than others but they are usually there for you to use. Some of these cameras are also very good for video, some are not, it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.

The price range for AC's also vary from company to company. You can get great cameras for as little as $400 or you can spent over a thousand dollars for some models. There are tons of options out there in every price range. They make the perfect travel and street camera.