OK, OK, so this isn’t explicitly a camera topic; however, it is what I edit my photos on (an Apple). The old Macbook Pro was doing well and good, but my dad decided he wanted a laptop and it was a good excuse to get a little bump in speed and an updated machine (other machine is in the mail to him now). Surprisingly little has changed on the insides in the past 2.5 years that I had the old machine — now: a little more speed, a little more storage, and a little sleeker look. Sounds good.

So to photos, and where things stand. Sadly I didn’t do the side-by-side precision testing before boxing up the last-gen laptop. But here are a few numbers in photo terms on the new one: from a cold boot Photoshop CS4 loads in 5 seconds (if you quit it and re-open drop that to 2 sec). Lightroom 2 in the same manner loads in 6 seconds (and 3 secs with the quit/re-open maneuver). Speedy. Processing is definitely sped up as well; although, as with any computer (even a Mac Pro w/ 8Gbs of RAM) I can bring it to a crawl if I really want to. That said, a nice tidy boost is appreciated when editing 16.7 MP images. If you do the math and visualize the 30+ hrs of rendering time the 4122 photos from my last wedding took to process from RAW to JPEG w/ settings and compare that to some increased speed, well that is quite a bit of saved time.

OK, closing remarks. I am extremely impressed to date with the new unibody. It is solid, rigid, and performs. The new LED LCD made my old CCFL look like it was off. It is very bright. Glare is definitely there with the switch from mat to glass, and I will have to accustom to seeing my ugly mug all the time. You tune it out after a bit. The microphone is much more sensitive (the better to record my thoughts, classes, and chat with), and the speakers are equally louder. The smarter touchpad is great!, and means real four-finger fun, zoom, and multi-directional pan. Awesome. If I had a “highly recommended” sticker, it would be placed on this mini-review. Love. It.

Unibody Macbook Pro Specs:
15.4″ Glossy LED LCD, 1440×900
2.8 Ghz Core 2 Duo (T9600, 6M Cache)
4 GB DDR3 1066 Mhz SDRAM
320 GB HD (SSD, someday)
512 MB GDDR3 NVIDIA 9600M GT (+ onboard 256 MB NVIDIA 9400M)

In April 2007 Canon announced an update to one of my favorite lenses, it is the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM super wide-angle lens. Yeah I am a little behind the times, but I tend to be cautious and patient about most of my camera purchases and don’t make them until I do the heavy research and read all of the reviews.

Well, this lens has been out more than a year and a half and I still haven’t found a satisfactory answer to my simple question — is it really improved? I have found a lot of very good reviews, including those from Digital Picture and multiple users on Fred Miranda, but I have yet to see an in depth side-by-side comparison of the two (they may be out there, but I haven’t found one yet). The general consensus appears to be it is, but it is marginal. I haven’t found that result very helpful in deciding if I should upgrade my v1 of the lens.

Canon claims this lens has been entirely redesigned, with 16 elements in 12 groups (here is a link to the block diagram). In their words: “It has been specifically designed for improved edge-to-edge image quality that will meet the strict requirements of professional and high-end amateur photographers.”

So, I finally decided to put my wallet into the equation and see for myself. I ordered one over the holidays and it arrived right before my NY trip for New Years. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate and my camera didn’t get much use (a few pictures here). It is time for a little more of a close look and a controlled comparison between these two. Just to set the background, I am comparing a USxxxx (2004) manufactured lens that I purchased in late 2004 before my Antarctica trip to a UWxxxx (2008) lens.

For the comparison I locked my 1Ds Mark II to a tripod, with MLU (mirror lockup), and used a remote trigger. All shots were at ISO 100. The camera was set to aperture priority, and each lens was sequentially mounted to the camera for the test scene below (note: I shot multiple test scenes, but this one is quite representative of my findings). As a landscape photographer I care most about edge performance, and not just sharpness, but overall clarity, color, and control of aberration. Here’s a 700px version of the scene and representative 100% crops.

Scene:
16-35 @ f/8
700px Version

100% Comparisons: center, edges

Conclusions:
Unfortunately the new lens back-focuses significantly — to the point where determining any differences in image quality (IQ) becomes a mute point. The options now are either to send the lens into Canon for repair, or simply to return the lens. I will do the latter, as if the problems are more than focus there is no reason to keep the lens and I will be outside of the window to return. I’m sad and a bit disappointed. =[ Look for another review when I receive the new copy.

UPDATE 11-Jan-09: This past Friday I received a new copy of the Canon EF 16-35 II, and it correctly focuses via AF. Yeah! I repeated the test and here are my updated conclusions.

Revised Conclusions:
My latest copy of the 16-35 II performs better at 16mm than my original 16-35 (which I think was a pretty darn good copy!) in terms of sharpness (center & edge), color rendition, and especially in CA. Yippie! They are quite close in center sharpness at f/8 and smaller apertures, although I give a slight edge to the new version. At 35mm, the two versions are almost indistinguishable — this is at both the center and edges. It looks like I have updated my arsenal and have a v1 for sale.

Here are the test results and images for comparison. In this revised test, I shot two scenes. While auto-focus (AF) was performing correctly on both lenses I instead shot the comparison with manual focus (MF) to avoid any discrepancies in focus and solely examine image quality. To note: the difference in apparently field of view is due to the 16-35 II being 8.6 mm longer in length than the 16-35 (which changes your view, even though you have locked the camera to a tripod)!!

Comparison @ 16mm

Backyard -
Full scene @ f/8 (1500px version): 16-35, 16-35 II.
100% Crops: center, edges

Brick Wall -
Full scene @ f/8 (1500px version): 16-35, 16-35 II
100% Crops: center, edges

Comparison @ 35mm

Backyard –
Full scene @ f/8 (1500px version): 16-35, 16-35 II
100% Crops: center, edges

Pictured Above: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II, Canon EOS 5D + BGE4 (grip), Canon EF 16-35 F/2.8L, Canon EF 24-70 F/2.8L, Canon EF 70-200 F/2.8L IS, Canon EF 50 F/1.2L, Canon EF 1.4x Extender II, Canon 500D (close up lens), Kenko Extension Tubes (12, 20, 36mm), Canon EF 580 EX x 2, Stofen Omnibounce x 2, Gitzo GT2540, RRS BH-40 + LR II, RRS B57L & BGE4-L, RRS L84, B+W 77mm UV Haze 010 MRC x 4, B+W 77mm Kaeseman Circular Polarizer MRC Slim, B+W 72mm UV Haze 010 MRC, Lee .9 GND (3-stop),, Pocket Wizard Plus II x 2, Canon TC-80N3 (timer remote), Sandisk CF (1, 2, 4, 8 GB Extreme 4 & Ultra II) & SD (8 GB Extreme 3) cards, batteries, batteries, cables, umbrellas x 2, light stands x 2, Canon OC-E3 (off camera flash cord), Manfratto monopod, superclamp, lens cleaner, sensor brushes, et al, etc, etc.

Oh man.

I haven’t blogged on this site in a while, but did something today that I figured should go up. I bought a used Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II DSLR. It was quite the story. I decided a while ago I wanted another camera, initially as a backup to the 5D after I gave away my old 20D. I contemplated and waited. This week I started looking around and found a 5D I was about ready to purchase, and then I saw this camera on eBay yesterday from a local studio / stock photographer, got a hold of him and dropped by to check it out. Wow. I had played with them before at Glazers, but the build is truly amazing. He let me shoot around and download the files to his computer to check them out. They were beautiful. The unfortunate part was that the auction was about to end and he had no way to stop it. We decided that I would just try to win the auction and we could go from there. Long story short, I didn’t win. I went back to work and was in meetings the remainder of the afternoon. I checked the auction late afternoon and it had gone for an incredibly low price (lower than what we had discussed… and I was happy with the discussed price). It sucked to see it slip, but ah well and I moved on. This morning, however, I got a call that the deal had fallen through because the buyer was from Canada (and the auction specifically said no out of country bids) — the camera was mine if I wanted it. Really? OK, awesome.

Tonight I own a new-to-me 1Ds Mark II, Canon’s very recently replaced (by a 1Ds Mark III) flagship. There’s a great review of it (linked above) on Dpreview or another from here.

Unfortunate part number 2. Monday I mailed out my 5D + all my lenses (yep, all of them) to Canon Irvine for cleaning and calibration. I have a fantastic new camera body and nothing to attach to it to shoot with. Fortunately Shelby let me shoot around at his place after picking up the camera, then my brother stepped in and was kind enough to let me borrow a couple of lenses (his 24-70 and 70-200 2.8 IS). Definitely smiling. =]

Here are a couple of the first few photos I shot while playing around. After the third are some 100% crops. These files are almost 5000 px in greatest dimension straight out of the camera — that’s huge! File size is about 47.5 MB for an 8-bit TIFF and a whopping 97.5 MB for a 16-bit version. Perhaps it is time to invest in some more storage.. Much more to come. =]

100% Crops:

Ah, the completion of my tripod setup. Tripods are a hard thing to spend money on; they aren’t as sexy as a camera purchase, and don’t necessarily give you more ability or another perspective as a lens purchase might do… they can be, however, almost, if not equally, important for the end result. I have wanted to complete my tripod setup for a long time (eluded to in my prior post about Really Right Stuff). This meant spending money I didn’t necessarily have nor want to spend at the time. Well, I took the final steps: I bought a Gitzo GT2540 tripod to add to my RRS BH-40.

A quick guide for Gitzo tripods I found online when trying to decide between the GT1540 and GT2540. Read their catalog for more information.

1540 is Series 1, up to 135mm under any conditions, 200mm with caution.
2540 is Series 2, up to 200mm under any conditions.

If you shoot in low light, shoot high-dynamic-range (HDR), shoot panoramas, or want to produce critically sharp images then you need a tripod. Inexpensive tripods support the camera, but the short answer is that the more stable your camera is the better and sharper your image will be. More expensive tripods simply control vibration better, while usually being made from more exotic [read: lighter] materials (e.g. carbon fiber). There are a LOT of ways to compromise, and if you want ideas I would be happy to offer advice. I could go into more detail, but will spare you for now.

Here’s a photo of the before, and after. What I gained: a lighter, much more compact setup with the ability to support more weight and better minimize vibration. What I lost: $$$. Eh, I’m satisfied. ;-]

Sandy at right with the 20D+BG-E2 grip.
—–

Memories. I purchased my Canon EOS 20D DSLR almost exactly three years ago (22-Oct-04, precisely). It was a different time, I was making drives down to Portland often and found a Shutterbug there that had stock before B&H and most other companies did — just after the announcement. The 20D, for me, leapt above the Nikon D70, the competition at the time, in most aspects: resolution (8MP vs 6MP), speed (5fps vs 3fps), high ISO performance (CMOS vs CCD), and many other qualities. Coming from an old Minolta Dimage 7 I wasn’t tied to any lens system and was free to make a choice; i.e. whereas these days ’switching’ isn’t something I can take as lightly. That decision was hands down an easy choice. Read my original post after the purchase.

The 20D was the best prosumer camera body on the market for the duration of its product-life, and it really didn’t face competition until the Canon EOS Rebel XT (350D) and Canon EOS 5D were announced (and those realistically were for different market segments). These days, Canon & Nikon seem to be at each other’s throats (1,2). Even the Canon EOS 30D didn’t have much on the original — the noticeable updates were a slightly bigger LCD (2.5-in vs 1.8-in), spot-metering, and “picture styles.” Nice, but I think many 20D shooters happily smiled at the 30D and continued shooting without an upgrade.

Yes, the 20D was quite a camera. I shot a modest [approximate] 20,000 images with it. Many do far more, but this was quite a bit for my first real DSLR. The 20D along with a new Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is going to my brother Mike, whom will hopefully use it for many more happy days of shooting. Cheers my friend, you were great to me.

Another weekend, another wedding! This weekend I am heading down to Ashland, OR to photograph my cousin’s wedding. It should be a lot of fun and is at the very photogenic Buckhorn Springs.

As an aside… I have been lusting after the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II lens for some time now, and decided rather than spending that $1700+ I should rent it (attached, above) and see what all the hype is about. Probably a poor choice, the lens is awesome and now I want one. =] It is the wedding / portrait photographers lens (other than the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS), and there are many reasons for this prestige (read a review of the lens here). It, along with the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L and Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II would complete my prime / zoom round-out. Small steps. ;-]

I have wanted a new tripod setup for a long time: my ideal setup would include some nice Gitzo legs (i.e. GT1540), and a Really Right Stuff (RRS) ballhead & L-bracket… they are about the highest quality products you can get, and are priced at that level. While I haven’t quite been there yet with the finances for the whole package, I did make a step towards the end result. I recently acquired an RRS BGE4-L bracket for the Canon 5D + grip and an RRS BH-40 ballhead. What a difference! My old setup was a Manfratto 3030 3-way pan/tilt head. While relatively inexpensive and versatile, it wasn’t the most compact package nor did it lock into place as tightly as I would have liked.

RRS gear is SOLID, light weight, and built to last — the new setup is far more compact and rigid than the old. Pretty happy about the upgrade, hopefully some legs will be in the not-so-distant future!

New ballhead:

The old setup with the 3030 head:

The new setup (notice Ver & Hor framing while still centered over the legs):

Front view:

Heading out to the Gorge this weekend to shoot my friend Marcus Eaton and also Dave Matthews. Marcus has a side-stage and plays from 4-7pm each day; Dave plays from 7-10pm. Awesome for Marcus, and should be a great time. Not knowing how close I will be able to get I rented a Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS lens from Glazers… should make for a very fun weekend!

Here’s a couple of fun around-the-house photos. Check out the shallow dof at that focal length. =]

Another follow-up on the new Canon & Nikon announcements… one online user posted a comment I full-heartedly agree with: “I love photography more than I love any camera system.” Competition is good for everyone. Still can’t help but smile at this graphic from Flickr (beware: camera geek humor).