Street photography of Vrindavan-Mathura

On this Saturday/Sunday I visited Vrindavan-Mathura. I took along my new pocket camera and left Nikon D80 at home. Here is street gallery for you.

I can say that Instead of DSLRs for Street photography pocket cams are best. It can capture the real emotions without interfering normal life of people.

1.

Lots of flower vendors

2.

3.

Sweets for Prasad

4.

5.

6. Small shops for Puja, People buy from these shops to decorate temples at their homes

7.

8. Vrindavan Street of a market

9. There are lots of flowers at very nominal prices to buy for Lord Krishna- Banke Bihari.

10. Radha Vallabh, This is very old temple but very spiritual.

11. Radha Vallabh

12.

13. Vrindavan Streets, lots of Rikshaws there.

14.

15. Famous Lassi (Sweet curd)

16.

17. Krishna in Shops

18. Iskcon-Inside yard at temple. Photography is prohibited there, earlier it was freely allowed but now days due to security reasons its banned and even mobile phones not allowed inside.

19. For religious items Shop here.

20. Some lemons with local cold-drink

21.

22.Not fitting in frame

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25.

Leica M9 on September 9, 2009

Leica M9 (on 9.09.009)(Post Updated on 10th Sep)

The M9 has an 18-megapixel, full-frame CCD sensor.

The image area is 23.9 x 35.8 millimeters and image size is 5212 x 3472 pixels.

• ISO 80 - 2,500.
• Fastest speed with flash 1/180.
• Auto: stepless from 1/4,000 ~ 32 seconds. Manual: half-stop clicks from 1/4,000 ~ 8 seconds.
• Bulb and Time settings.

It will come in "steel grey paint or black paint."

The camera comes with its own copy of Adobe Lightroom equipped to handle the camera's 16-bit DNG raw files.

Here are the Leica M9 specs:

• Full frame CCD 24×36mm 18.2 mp sensor
• Improved image noise performance at high ISO settings
• Improved operation reactivity
• SD card slot
• LCD monitor 2.5" 230,000 pixels 'brighter output'
• Weight : 589g
  
• Focusing • Manual focus via lens ring• Superimposed focusing system via viewfinder
• Bundled with Adobe Lightroom 2
  

Rangefinder advantages (or disadvantages)

• Fewer moving parts (no mirror or diaphragm) means slower shutter speeds possible (-2 EV)
• More compact, discrete and quieter than an SLR
• Shorter shutter lag
• Lenses are considerably smaller than an equivalent SLR lens
• No auto-focus makes them less suitable for action shots (or at least doing so requires a lot more skill)
• Many users claim rangefinder focusing is faster than using a focusing screen
• Longer minimum focus distances compared to an SLR
• Virtually no telephoto lenses beyond 135mm
• Rangefinder
  • You are not looking through the lens itself and do not have a focusing screen hence it is more difficult to get a sense of depth-of-field
  • Framelines indicate the field of view of different lenses
  • Because there is no mirror you have no mirror black-out
  • Brighter than any SLR viewfinder, and not affected by lens maximum aperture
  • Not as accurate as an SLR viewfinder, especially with longer lenses (or close subjects)

It is now the first choice of the serious digital travel, nature and landscape photographer because it offers the highest possible quality available in digital capture coupled with its small size and weight. There is no other Full-frame digital camera anywhere near this small, and regardless of size, there is no line of optics which offers the always superior performance of Leica lenses. I personally happen to be admirer or rangefinders and Leica image quality, seen a lot of images from these cameras. Its affectionate a bit different from others

Price • US: $6,995 (body only)• UK: £4,850 inc VAT (body only)

Availability: M9 will be available for sale next week.

Visit the link for live webcast

But the real surprise is the X1,

which'll supposedly have a 12 megapixel APS-C sensor, a fixed 24mm lens and that cool grip

handle.

Here are some of the specs :

• 12 mp APSC CEMOS sensor
• Leica Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH lens (equivalent to 35mm)
• Manual exposure operations (shutter dial/aperture dial
• Autofocus
• Built-in flash (this is the circle cover on top right)
• Bundled with Adobe Lightroom

The LEICA X1 will be available in the UK from January 2010. Pricing will be available nearer to date of launch but estimated price is 1800 USD


Preview: Here
Samples : Here

How to choose the best camera

This is the typical question in everybody's mind who are looking to buy a new cam. Before buying camera or any gadget we want to make sure that its best value for our money and meets all our requirements.

There are mane-many sites available these days where reviews and user experiences can be found. But finding the best available option is not that easy due to heap of information on Net.

So we have to finally take decision ourselves.
Lets see what are the basic things to keep in mind before arriving at any conclusion.

What is Camera's basic function:

What a camera does while capturing the scene? If we know the answer then we can better judge the camera, how far it justifies with its basic function.
The basic function of camera is to record the light on digital sensor.
So what camera does is, it judges the light and stores the reflected data accurately. In photography world this process is exposure and metering. Both these words have a different meaning. So we need to understand whats it means and how much it can effect our photographic journey.

How to analyze Exposure/Metering
When you read reviews; read carefully what reviewer has to say about its exposure and metering. Camera is exposing over or under or just accurately? Although that exposure can be adjusted while shooting; with Exposure adjustment settings, but it can be cumbersome to adjust for each shot when there are difference lighting situations. So best thing is to choose the camera that accurately exposes the shot.

Metering : To explain Metering we can say that what part of the final image should be properly exposed and other remaining area can be over or under exposed. Like at night portrait shots, if we want to just expose the face of our subject and background can be under exposed then we may use Spot metering. There only the area under focus point will be given more weightage.
And in Matrix metering whole area is averaged and exposed properly, but there also more weightage is on focus point.

Most of the cameras from reputed brands, measure accurate exposure.

Noise at high ISO
We are seeing small digicams displaying ISO settings at as high as ISO 1600 or even ISO 3200.
at such high sensitivity settings only DSLR's can give respectable image quality and many such SLRs are available in market. For digicams its tough task, although they claim that pictures can be taken on these settings but images are horrible. Due to too much noise reduction, images looks like water color effect. Small sensors of digicams can not handle too much pixels and if they are charged beyond their limit to gain light then you will see too much noise.

To be frank if you are going to shoot in deep dark then pls opt for going to DSLR. Digicams can perform better upto 400 ISO range and some of new ones can even give good image quality upto ISO 800 or so.

So the lesson is to see the high ISO performance of Cams before finalizing, but that is not critical as nobody shoots at that much high ISO anyways, its just marketing gimmick.

Lens min/max aperture
Other thing to note here is what is the minimum and maximum aperture or F number of the lens used in digicams. If maximum aperture at wide angle can be wide open to 2.8 or even 2 then it will be better to take shot in low light. And if maximum aperture at Tele end (long end) is around 4.5 or below then it will be fine. Else at long tele end if F number cant open beyond 5.6 then there will be very less light that will reach sensor and camera will boost ISO for proper exposure, which is not good as high ISO will reduce image quality. So look for camera whose lens aperture can open wide.

Higher the F number lower the light passes through to the sensor so look for camera which has smaller F numbers.

Solution can be to use flash in dim light but that also restricts photography is some situtations as we can use flash every time or distant subjects cant be lit fully by flash.

View Finder (OVF or EVF)
Cameras have two types of view finders, Either Optical or Electronic. Most digicam/pocket cams have EVF. If ur selected camera has EVF then look the resolution of it. Resolution should be adequate to see the image clearly in bright and low light.
Optical viewfinders are great to shoot with. In DSLRs we have always Optical VF. We see through the lens and it is live as it is so no motion delay or flickering in VF. Now we are having Live view features too in DSLRs, but that is too slow to be used for any action shots as its in initial stages and may improve in future.

View finders should cover maximum image area, normally VF covers 95 % to 100 % image area.

Image Stabilization
This is another important feature which is must for digicams. This Image stabilization or Vibration reduction or shock reduction whatever is said by different brands, is must for low light shooting. As with help of this feature we can hand hold camera even in very low shutter speeds. Other wise if we are holding camera without Image stabilization then there will be blur in our images or you can say images will be not at all sharp due to shaking of our hands. So this is a must feature in every cam.

Battery Life
Look cameras that have enough battery life for your single day shooting. Like most cams take 200-300 images in single charge which is very less in normal usage so advised to keep one spare battery. DSLRs can shoot upto 500 to 1100 images in single charge and even battery grip can also be used to double the battery life by putting extra battery there.

Budget
We need to arrive how much money we can spend. As from personal experiences I know that enthusiast photographers (not Pros) do not have fixed budget. They tend to increase the budget gradually, as they will earn from camera. But we amateur hobbiest need to decide our range and look cameras in that range. Most decent digicams are available in $200-$500 range

Lot of fine cameras available in mid to low ranges from brands like Canon,Fuji,Nikon, Panasonic & Sony.

If ur budget allows go for DSLR, You can find excellent value from DSLRs around $600-$800 range.

I hope of covering all points which I normally checks in any new cam. If this article is useful to you in any sense pls put a comment here.

Video Tests : Panasonic GF1 Digital Camera

Engadget has provided some video tests of the newly announced Panasonic GF1…

Read More...

ORDER NOW FROM PHOTOGRAPHY24X7(AN AMAZON AFFILIATE)

OPTION 1 Panasonic DMC-GF1K-K 12.1MP Micro Four-Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 14-45mm Lens

OPTION 2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 12.1MP Micro Four-Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with LUMIX G 20mm f/1.7 Aspherical Lens

Panasonic introduced Pocket DSLR DMC-GF1

SLR market is getting hot
Earlier we saw competition in Live view, then Movie mode and now minimal size, smallest DSLRs.

Olympus introduced E-P1 and now comes Panasonic with DMC-GF1. Its good that those who are just entering the SLR arena and dont have the habit of carrying of load of lenses and body they can prefer to stay light and enjoy the quality/features of SLR with these new cameras.

September 2, 2009: Panasonic has added a powerful new model, the DMC-GF1, to its LUMIX G Micro System lineup of next-generation digital interchangeable lens system cameras. Distinguished by an artistic flat body that is both elegant and compact, the new DMC-GF1 debuts as the world's smallest and lightest system camera with a built-in flash*1. The new GF1 takes its place as the third model in the revolutionary G series of digital interchangeable lens system cameras based on the Micro Four Thirds system standard. Panasonic took the market by storm with the series' first model – the DMC-G1, with its convenient size and brilliant image quality. The company broke more new ground when it launched the DMC-GH1, which added creative AVCHD full-HD movie recording.

Panasonic GF1 key advantages

• Faster autofocus and AF subject tracking
• Higher resolution screen (twice as many dots)
• Built in flash
• Optional Viewfinder
• AVCHD Lite
• Fast (F1.7) pancake
  

Olympus E-P1 key advantages

• Currently supports autofocus on a wider range of Olympus Four Thirds lenses
• In-body IS
• Collapsible kit zoom
• Stereo Sound
• Dual control dials
• Art Filters

Read : Preview
View : Samples

Canon EOS 7D Announced

As anticipated Canon has today announced the EOS 7D digital SLR. It boasts a new 18MP CMOS sensor, Dual DIGIC 4 processors, ISO range expandable to 12800, continuous shooting at 8 fps and full HD video recording. It also incorporates a new viewfinder with 1.0x magnification and 100% coverage and a 3 inch LCD with 920k dot resolution.

London, UK, 1 September 2009: Canon today unveils the EOS 7D digital SLR camera – a completely new design to meet the specific demands of photographers. Incorporating a new 18MP APS-C CMOS Sensor, developed by Canon, the EOS 7D also features: Dual “DIGIC 4” processors to offer fast, high-quality performance in all light conditions, an ISO range expandable to 12,800 and continuous shooting at 8 frames per second – without the need for additional accessories. Impressive technologies are matched by excellent build-quality designed with the photographer in mind – to create a whole new photographic experience.

Key features

• 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor
• 8 frames per second continuous shooting
• 1080p HD video recording with manual controls
• 3.0 inch Clear View II LCD screen with 920,000 dots
• 19-point AF system (all cross-type)
• 1.0x magnification and 100% coverage viewfinder
• Wireless flash control
• Environmental sealing

Price: is $1,699 body-only or $1,899 with an EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens, and target launch is set for end of September.


Three new lenses are also announced 15-85 3.5 5.6 IS and 18-135 3.5 5.6, clearly to beat Nikon having same lineup. And also 100 mm 2.8 L USM Macro lens announced.

The Canon EOS 7D is packed with new features:

• 18 MP APS–C CMOS Sensor
  Designed and manufactured by Canon, the sensor produces an outstanding image and offers fantastic performance at high and low conditions, thanks to a new photodiode and microlens construction.
• iFCL metering system with 63-zone Dual-layer Sensor
• 8 fps image capture
  Enabled by the Dual “DIGIC 4” processors and improved electrical system, photographers can capture images at 8fps, without the need for additional accessories and in all file types.
• ISO Range
  The EOS 7D enables photographers to capture subjects in their natural light. The ISO range (100 – 6,400) is expandable to 12,800.
• 100% Viewfinder with 1.0x magnification and built in LCD overlay
• EOS Movie
  With improved operation, making it easy to switch directly to movie mode, it is now even simpler to shoot Full HD video. Users can set exposure and frame rate – with options for 24 fps to create that cinematic feel.
• Dual “DIGIC 4” processors
  By utilising Dual “DIGIC 4” processors, users of the EOS 7D never have to compromise between shooting speed, image quality and ISO performance.
• Impressive Design
  Canon has listened to photographer feedback when designing the body, as well as the internal technologies. A magnesium alloy body offers environmental protection – the tough, lightweight construction is designed to defend against moisture, and dust – equivalent to the legendary EOS–1N.

Read - Press release
Read - Hands-on-Preview

Canon EOS 7D specifications

Body material	Magnesium alloy
Sensor *	• 22.3 x 14.9 mm CMOS sensor • RGB Color Filter Array • Built-in fixed low-pass filter (with self-cleaning unit) • 19 million total pixels • 18 million effective pixels • 3:2 aspect ratio
Image processor *	Dual DIGIC 4
A/D conversion	14 bit
Image Sizes ( Still) *	RAW • 5184 x 3456 • 3888 x 2592 • 2592 x 1728 JPEG • 5184 x 3456 • 3456 x 2304 • 2592 x 1728
Image Sizes (Movie)	1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps) 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps) 640 x 480 (59.94, 50 fps)
File formats (Still)	• JPEG (EXIF 2.21) - Fine / Normal • RAW • M-RAW • S-RAW • RAW + JPEG • M-RAW + JPEG • S-RAW + JPEG
File formats (Movie)	MOV (Video: H.264, Sound: Linear PCM)
Lenses	• Canon EF / EF-S lens mount • 1.6x field of view crop
Dust reduction	• EOS integrated cleaning system with fluorine coating • Self-cleaning sensor unit (filter in front of sensor vibrates at high frequency at start-up and shutdown - can be disabled) • Dust Delete Data - Data from a test shot is used to 'map' dust spots and can be later removed using Canon DPP Software
Auto focus*	• TTL-CT-SIR CMOS sensor • 19 cross-type AF points (f/2.8 at centre) • Center point additionally sensitive with lenses of F2.8 or faster • AF working range: -0.5 - 18 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100)
Focus modes	• One shot AF • AI Servo AF • AI Focus AF • Manual focus
AF point selection	• Auto : 19 point • Manual : Single point/ Spot/ AF point Expansion/ Zone
AF Lock	Locked when shutter button is pressed half way in One Shot AF mode or AF-ON button is pressed
Predictive AF	• Up to 8 m
AF assist	• Stroboscopic flash
AF microadjust	• +/- 20 steps • Adjust all lenses by same amount/individually adjust up to 20 lenses
Metering*	• TTL full aperture metering with 63 zone Dual Layer SPC • Metering range: EV 1 - 20 EV
Metering modes*	• Evaluative metering (linked to all AF points) • Partial (9.4% at center) • Spot metering (approx. 2.3% at center) • Center-weighted average
AE lock	• Auto: One Shot AF with evaluative metering • Manual: AE lock button
Exposure compensation*	• +/-3.0 EV • 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments
Exposure bracketing	• +/- 2.0 EV • 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments
Sensitivity *	• Auto ISO (100-3200) • ISO 100-6400 in 0.3 or 1.0 EV increments • H (12800) expansion
Shutter	• Focal-plane shutter • 30 - 1/8000 sec • 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments • Flash X-Sync: 1/250 sec • Bulb
Aperture values	• 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments • Actual aperture range depends on lens used
White balance	• Auto • Daylight • Shade • Cloudy • Tungsten • White Fluorescent light • Flash • Custom • Kelvin (2500 - 10000 K in 100 K steps)
WB bracketing	• +/-3 levels • 3 images • Blue / Amber or Magenta / Green bias
WB shift	• Blue (-9) To Amber (+9) • Magenta (-9) to Green (+9)
Custom image parameters	• Sharpness: 0 to 7 • Contrast: -4 to +4 • Saturation: -4 to +4 • Color tone: -4 to +4 • B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, Gvan • B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G
Viewfinder *	• Eye-level pentaprism • 100% frame coverage • Approx. 1.0x maginification • Eyepoint: 22 mm • Fixed (Transmissive LCD screen) • Dioptric adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 diopter
Mirror	• Quick-return half mirror (transmission:reflection ratio 40:60) • Mirror lock-up (once or multiple exposures)
Viewfinder info *	• AF points • Focus confirmation light • Shutter speed • Aperture value • ISO speed (always displayed) • AE lock • Exposure level/compensation • Spot metering circle • Exposure warning • AEB. • Flash ready • High-speed sync • FE lock • Flash exposure compensation • Red-eye reduction light • White balance correction • CF card information • Monochrome shooting • Maximum burst (2 digit display) • Highlight tone priority (D+) • Grid • Dual Axis Electronic level
LCD monitor	• 3.0 " TFT LCD • 920,000 pixels • 100% coverage • 160 ° viewing angle • Coating : Anti-reflection and Solid Structure
LCD Live view	• Live TTL display of scene from CMOS image sensor • 100% frame coverage • 30 fps frame rate • Real-time evaluative metering using CMOS image sensor • Best view or exposure simulation • Silent mode • Grid optional (x2) • Magnify optional (5x or 10x at AF point) • Three AF modes - Live mode/Quick mode/Face Detection • Histogram • Remote live view using EOS Utility 2.0 (via USB or WiFi/Ethernet using WFT)
Record review	• Off • On (histogram via INFO button) • Display mode same as last used Play mode
Playback modes	1. Single image with exposure, file number, storage slot 2. As 1 but also image count and quality 3. Detailed exposure information, thumbnail and luminance histogram 4. Less detailed exposure info., thumbnail, luminance and RGB histograms
Playback features	• Optional blinking highlight alert • Optional AF point display • Magnified view (up to 1.5x - 10x) • 2x2 or 3x3 thumbnail index • Delete / Protect
Flash*	• Auto pop-up E-TTL II auto flash • FOV coverage up to15 mm (27 mm equiv.) • Guide number approx 12 m (ISO 100) • Cycle time approx. 3 sec • Flash compensation +/-3.0 EV in 0.3 or 0.5 EV increments • X-Sync: 1/250 sec
External flash	• E-TTL II auto flash with EX-series Speedlites • Wireless multi-flash support • PC Sync
Shooting modes *	• Auto • Creative auto • Program AE (P) • Shutter priority AE (Tv) • Aperture priority AE (Av) • Manual (M) Stills and Movie • Custom settings 1 • Custom settings 2 • Custom settings 3
Drive modes	• Single • High-speed continuous • Low-speed continuous • Self-timer: 2sec + remote, 10sec + remote
Burst buffer *	Approx. 8 fps (speed maintained for up to 126 JPEGs (with UDMA card), 15 images (RAW))
Orientation sensor	Yes
Auto rotation	• On (recorded and LCD display) • On (recorded only) • Off
Storage	• Compact Flash Type I or II • Supports UDMA and Microdrive cards • External storage via optional WFT-E5
Power	• Lithium-Ion LC-E6 rechargeable battery (supplied & charger) • CR1616 Lithium battery (date/time backup) • Optional AC adapter
Dimensions	148 x 111 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.3 x 2.8 in)
Weight *	• No battery: 820 g (1.8 lb)