Introducing the Canon EOS R

I bought a new camera (the one on the right)!

I've had my Canon 6D for six years now, and while the image quality from it still impresses, focusing systems have come a long way during that time. My new Canon R can recognize faces. Here's one of my first shots taken with it:

Switching to a new camera usually results in a drop in quality at first, and that is true in this case while I learn how to properly use it. I've also had trouble with both my photo and video editing software recognizing the new formats it shoots. I'm still working on being able to edit RAW images again.

I was forced to figure out the video side of things quick because two days after I got the camera, I had one of my biggest shoots yet: capturing an orchestra concert. Here's a rough cut of the two minute version (I'm also working on a 45 minute version and a one minute version), if you'd like to have a look:


Anyway, that's the gear update. Stay tuned for more results with the new camera.

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Second roll of film

I already mentioned this on Instagram, but I want to have a record of it here too. My second roll of film didn't turn out at all. The print you see in the iPhone photo below is the only one I got back, and that was not exactly the intended result. I had carefully considered each shot I took on that roll over the course of three months. The back of the camera had opened halfway through the roll and apparently ruined it all.

If you recall, the back of the camera opened up during my first roll too. However, that time, the first half of the roll still developed okay, even though the photography itself was mostly garbage. I learned a lot from that half roll and applied it to my second, which makes this loss even more painful.

The first exposure on it would have been a group shot of my sister-in-law's family, having just arrived in Minnesota from Argentina. It was the first time two of them had ever set foot in the United States. Another lesson learned: take back-up photos with the iPhone!

The good news is I switched to another old camera (pictured below) found in another in-law's basement. I already shot a roll of film on it and 23 exposures were returned to me! I plan to show some of the results next week.

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Check out this baby

My father-in-law gave me his old 35 mm camera from 1966:

This is a classic! I just finished shooting my first roll of film and will be sending it in for development today. I have no idea what to expect.

You can see me in action in this short video below that somebody else made at a recent gathering for photographers who have a soft spot for film:

A post shared by Fast Foto Film Lab (@fast.foto) on Jun 16, 2018 at 11:26am PDT

Happy shooting!

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One last wide angle

This will likely be the last photo I take with my cherished 10-22mm EF-S lens, as it is not compatible with my new (!) camera:

If you're interested in buying the lens, here's the Craiglist ad.  Let me know.

Yes, I have a new camera!  I will have less focal range at my disposal, at least for a while, but the trade off is more than worth it.  Not only does it produce great image quality, even in low light, it also opens up new possibilities for me in HDR and video.  I'm excited and have a few projects already in the works.

Photo samples coming soon...

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Camera notes

I've been thinking a lot about cameras lately.  My Rebel XT is pretty old.  And my most versatile lens appears to have a problem (doesn't focus, especially at lower f-stops).  You've probably noticed I've been taking more shots with my iPhone lately than anything else.  I'm going to bring the lens in to the local camera shop to see what they can do with it.  I may also let them talk me into a new camera body. The time to upgrade is upon us.

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