Category Archives: Hardware

New Zoom

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Chuck_Maas

Canon has (finally) officially announced their new EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4X zoom lens.  Hardly a secret, info has been floating around since February 2011 and the big questions have been when and how much.  Now you can … Continue reading →

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Data Storage

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Chuck_Maas

In a world focused on mobile consumption, the process of creating photographs still requires some pretty basic tools and methods.  Image files, many of considerable size, need to be stored, managed, backed up, and archived.  Storage media are still a … Continue reading →

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Finding the Right Compromise

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Chuck_Maas

One of the most intriguing balancing acts is the set of competing features that makes one camera appeal more than another for a specific purpose.  Size and weight are two important factors, both of which have made m4/3 and mirrorless … Continue reading →

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Niche Products

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Chuck_Maas

Now and then an individual has a particular need in a camera specification that trumps all others and leads to a choice of make and model that might not suit all situations.  A good example might be Canon’s PowerShot SX50 … Continue reading →

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Small Tools

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Chuck_Maas

When the photographic “negative” evolved from a processed piece of film to a digital file (at least metaphorically, if not in the pure technical sense), the requirement for pieces of gear to complete the imaging cycle expanded greatly.  And among … Continue reading →

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Another Option

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Chuck_Maas

Once in a while a new device comes along that’s just different enough and has the right combination of features to really stand out.  Enter Microsoft’s Surface Pro. Tablets aren’t new.  Apple’s iPad has become a runaway success and the … Continue reading →

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APS-C Semi-Pro Bodies

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Chuck_Maas

Top-end 1.5x or 1.6x crop-sensor bodies from Canon and Nikon (like the 7D and D300S respectively) have been immensely popular with wildlife photographers who almost always benefit from a little extra reach.  But each of these models has gone a … Continue reading →

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Sign of the Times

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Chuck_Maas

If there’s any doubt that images made with smartphones have gained legitimacy on a much broader scale, here are some indicators:  use on front covers of national magazines; acceptance by a major stock agency; and Really Right Stuff building an … Continue reading →

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Inflation

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Chuck_Maas

Along with the general economic pressures of the last four years, there’s been a steep increase in the cost of certain photographic tools, particularly at the high end.  Take the Canon EF 500/4L IS telephoto, for example, one of Canon’s … Continue reading →

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Alternative Big Glass

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Chuck_Maas

I’ve long been a proponent of using the same brand of lenses as your camera body (or bodies), for both practical and aesthetic reasons.  But there are limits to this philosophy including availability of the lens you need for a … Continue reading →

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