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Automated Cloud Backup – I’m Testing CrashPlan For Photographers

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I’m forever tweaking my backup routine to suit my evolving business, and refine my workflow. For a long time I have ignored cloud backup services like BackBlaze and CrashPlan because I wasn’t sure if my glacial Canadian upload speeds would work well for something like that. CrashPlan For Photographers Recently I was having a re-think about this though, and since I’ve received so many questions about these kinds of services in the past, I decided to give it a try. Given that a year’s subscription to CrashPlan for unlimited uploads is only $59.99, it’s not the end of the world …

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I Sold My Sony Cameras – Here’s Why…

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Some of you may remember that last year I purchased both the Sony RX100 IV and the RX10 II. I primarily wanted the smaller RX100 IV as a camera that I would always have in my pocket, and the larger RX10 II was the camera I used in my office to record all my Youtube videos. I recently sold both of these cameras, despite them being critically acclaimed cameras! Here’s why… Both cameras used the same sensor, so there was nothing to choose between them in terms of image quality. For a point and shoot camera, there’s no doubt that …

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Reader Question: Which Kayak Do You Use to Photograph From?

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Photos of my kayak photography setup always draw a lot of attention and result in a lot of questions. In order to answer these definitively, I’ve added a new “Photography from a Kayak” section to my Gear Guide that explains which kayak I use, why I chose it, and what other accessories are needed to complete the whole setup. PS. Did you check out the Photography EDC kit section that I also added recently?

Gear Check: BG-E20 Battery Grip for Canon 5D Mark IV

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Continuing my coverage of the Canon 5D Mark IV, today we’re taking a first look at the BG-E20 battery grip for this exciting new camera. A battery grip serves two main purposes: firstly it allows you to use two batteries simultaneously, thus prolonging the period between needing to actually swap batteries, and secondly it mimics the main camera controls when it’s held in a vertical orientation. If you find yourself shooting with the camera in portrait orientation a lot, there’s no denying that a battery grip is a heck of a lot more comfortable, and it gives you a sturdier …

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5D Mark IV Is Here! Initial thoughts and Unboxing

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The Canon 5D Mark IV began shipping this week and I was able to pick mine up immediately. As has become traditional, I recorded a short video for those that want to live vicariously and see what comes in the box. You can find the video a little further down the page. The video also contains a side-by-side comparison with the 5D Mark III. The first thing I noticed about the camera after unboxing it was that the 10% weight saving from the Mark III is noticeable. I’m pretty pleased about this, and I think it’s a great achievement when …

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Am I Buying the New Canon 5D Mark IV??

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I wanted to write more about this camera a few days ago when it was first announced, but I’ve simply been swamped with work this week! Canon finally announced the 5D Mark IV and from my perspective, it really didn’t disappoint me apart from the fact that is uses the old CF cards when everyone, including Canon with the 1DX Mark II, is moving to CFast cards. I ordered my new 5D Mark IV the second I was able to, and it should be here in the first half of September. I’m also going to check out the newly announced …

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Gear Check: Canon Extension Tubes

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Extension tubes are a great little lens accessory, and I almost always have at least one of the Canon ones in my bag these days. At first glance they look like small, black extenders (sometimes called teleconverters), but actually they don’t have any optics inside them at all. It can be a bit confusing because extenders and extension tubes look similar, so let’s be clear from the start which is which, and what they do: Extension Tubes (what we’re talking about today) These sit between the lens and the camera body and act as a spacer to move the lens …

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Gear Check: New Canon 400mm f/4 DO IS II

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It’s always an exciting day when a big brown box arrives, especially when it says Canon on the side. This year, due to economical situations in Canada (where I live) and Japan, Canon raised their prices on all their lenses and cameras. Whilst this is always a bit of a blow, they were at least kind enough to let people know that the increases was coming, and they even honoured the old pricing for people that placed orders before the April 1st deadline on out-of-stock equipment. Some of the price increases were close to 20% on big ticket items, so …

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My Canon 11-24mm Is Here! Unboxing + First Look

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This year (2016 for those reading later) there were some hefty price increases on Canon lenses here in Canada. Thankfully the increase was known to be on the way, so I thought I’d order a few lenses that I’ve had my eye on, to make sure I got them at the lower price point. One of the ones I ordered is the crazy looking Canon 11-24mm f/4 L, the world’s widest rectilinear lens at the time of writing this. Canon have really been at the forefront of photographic lens design for some time now, and their innovation never ceases to …

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Inside the Canon 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x

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I was fascinated by this video because I own one of these lenses, but I think it’s worth sharing with you guys as well. This lens is a huge optical achievement from Canon and it puts a smile on my face every time I use it. The built-in 1.4x extender is still a unique feature in the photo world, and it makes this lens design extremely complex. Just look how many pieces there are in this thing! Should you wish to buy one (warming, you will get sticker shock), they have them at B&H Photo and Amazon. Here’s my one …

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How Do You Protect Cameras Inside a Regular Bag?

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Here’s a question that comes in pretty regularly from readers: What’s the best way to protect camera gear inside a bag that’s not specifically designed for photography?” Whilst it’s usually best to use one of the many excellent camera bags that are available, there are times when it’s not possible or practical. When I get sent this question, it’s very often from someone who is about to undertake a long trek, and they are using a large 60-80 litre trekking pack. Other times it’s the opposite end of the spectrum, where someone just has a small shoulder bag and they …

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Gear Check: Red Bull NordiX Assignment

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I’ve just returned from a trip to the Canadian Rockies where I was on assignment for Red Bull to cover their NordiX skiing event. I thought I’d take this opportunity to walk through some of the gear that I used for this job, and talk a little bit about some specific things that worked really well for this kind of event photography. The event took place at Lake Louise ski resort in Alberta, and was a cross between cross country skiing and skier-x. Cross country skiers don’t usually hit jumps as part of their sport, but this being a Red …

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