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With the 7D, Canon has taken the crop-sensor camera to new heights. Photographers using Canon's "prosumer" xxD line of cameras are trained to expect sequential upgrades with each new model. In some cases, photographers were passing on the newer camera, lying in wait for the next model to...
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Crutchfield is full of enthusiasts — audiophiles, gamers, car audio lovers, you name it — and it has become apparent that a solid population of photographers exists here as well. So we decided to form a club that could share photos, talk about photography, and bounce ideas around. Here's...
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In our Crutchfield Alpine IXA-W404 Digital Media Receiver video , Zak outlines the key features of this remarkable in-dash unit. The Alpine IXA-W404 fits in a double-sized dashboard opening, and features a USB input for an MP3 player or thumb drive. Zak connects his iPod nano to the receiver and shows...
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Generally speaking, we think of a "one-lens" solution as being a zoom lens which covers a wide focal range . The logic behind this is infallible: I can snap a wide-angle shot one minute, then wheel around and zoom way in on something else the next. And I never have to switch lenses (switching lenses...
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Macro photography means getting really close and shooting extreme closeups of your subject. Flowers, insects, and everyday items take on a whole new meaning when you start shooting macro photographs of them. It's like a window to a world that's all around you but impossible to see — the details, in many...
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Since babies go from an environment of fairly loud, constant noise to one of relative quiet when they're born, it's no surprise that they respond well to music being played. My little daughter, for example, seems to like the strumming of a guitar. Since I can't very well sit in her room and strum all...
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1/250, ISO 200, f/8, 600mm. 5D Mark II, using "Live View" mode on a tripod, with the 10-second self-timer. Ever since the dawn of time, man has gazed at the moon. And ever since the dawn of photography, he has tried to take a picture of it. It's actually quite easy to do, especially with a digital camera...
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Travis wrote a great post recently about shooting holiday lights with just your camera in hand — truth be told, it's how I'd prefer to do it, since I'm a lazy man and like to travel light. But I got a new lens recently, and I wanted to see how it performed under a variety of circumstances. I headed to...
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A lot of people ask me what camera they should buy when they're considering a DSLR . Usually by that time they've got it narrowed down to a couple of choices, and are looking for that last piece of info to help them make their final decision. It's generally off-the-cuff, but I take that question seriously...
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Looking for gift ideas for your favorite photo nut? In a recent post, I pointed out the bare essentials all new DSLR owners need to get going. Here are a few "nice to have" accessories that make every DSLR shooter's life a little easier. 1. Extra battery . This way, there's a fully-charged battery at...
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Whether you're giving or receiving the gift of a DSLR camera this holiday season, these three accessories are essential to get up and running. DLSR kits all come with batteries, chargers, and a lens or two, so what else do you absolutely need before you start shooting? 1. Lens . Let's back up. DSLR kits...
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Canon shooters have been clamoring for an 18-200mm lens for years now. Nikon's 18-200mm VR lens is one of the most popular choices among Nikon shooters, and it's in the nature of every Canonite to want what the other guy's got. Canon jockeys, your wait is over. Canon's new EF-S 18-200mm IS lens is here...
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I was thrilled to see that Crutchfield was starting to carry a couple of great kit-lens alternatives, Tamron's 17-50mm f/2.8 and 28-75mm f/2.8 zooms. Actually, they're remarkably similar lenses, so I thought I'd share my experience with both in this post. The Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 (left) and 28-75mm f...
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Let's assume your new DSLR camera came with an image-stabilized kit lens, or offers image stabilization built into the body. So why would you want to consider adding a zoom lens with a fixed f/2.8 maximum aperture ? The answer, like with most questions involving photography, is light. You need more of...
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I took a vacation with my family in Maine recently, where our main mode of transportation was a 19-foot center-console boat with room for six. Earlier in the year, in a conversation with my father, I learned that he and my mother were occasionally toting a small battery-powered radio out on the water...