Comments for ChinaCoop PhotoBlog

Comment on What Camera Has the Brightest Viewfinder? by Cooper Strange

Cooper Strange — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 05:39:50 +0000

Well, I very easily could have been using different max aperture lenses, but it is still not a problem, and this is why. The Sony a900 I tested did have a prime on it, but if the camera will only allow f/2.4ish. The Canon it was up against had a f/2.8 L on it, I guess the 24-105, but I cannot remember.

So, if there could be a slight brightness edge for the Sony having that extra half stop or so, depending on how the camera is actually made…but the difference in the a900 and the 5D was way more than half a stop, and that is my point here.

Comment on What Camera Has the Brightest Viewfinder? by Chae Achae

Chae Achae — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:31:53 +0000

I have to agree with Todd. Even the brightest VF will go dim if you put a F5.6 lens on the VF. That is why some cameras require a faster than F5.6 to be able to AF. In order to give fair comparison you’ll need to attach lens with same speed to both cameras. And no, this is not scientific it is just for doing apple to apple.
Scientific comparison is if you want to measure and include the true max aperture of the lens.

Comment on New Practices in the New World by Tweets that mention ChinaCoop PhotoBlog » New Practices in the New World -- Topsy.com

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:09:22 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Cooper Strange and Cooper Strange, Adam Jeske. Adam Jeske said: RT @CooperStrange: I have to adapt to shooting back in the USA instead of China. Culture affects photography. blog post: http://bit.ly/75UIgM [...]

Comment on Not an Escape from Reality by ChinaCoop PhotoBlog » Not an Escape from Reality Pixelpost

ChinaCoop PhotoBlog » Not an Escape from Reality Pixelpost — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:12:53 +0000

[...] here: ChinaCoop PhotoBlog » Not an Escape from Reality By admin | category: photoblog | tags: china, entries, escape, family, life, nnte-ein, [...]

Comment on What Camera Should I Buy on a Budget? by Cooper Strange

Cooper Strange — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:04:08 +0000

Alas! I just found out yesterday that the sister bought a 7D. Blast it. I tried. I do not know why, but I suspect the reason is that a 7D is new, whereas a 5D is used, though a professional 5D in excellent condition is much more likely to outlast a new 7D anyway…at least, I would hope as much from a professional grade camera. So, at least at the moment, that excellent plus 5D is still available from KEH for those of you out there thinking about it.

Oh, and I realized that KEH has MUCH more available on their website than they do in their eBay store. Go to KEH.com folks. Love it.

Comment on Not an Escape from Reality by Cooper Strange

Cooper Strange — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:56:32 +0000

And speaking of superficial reality, advertising, and wanting to make people perfect and thus creating a skewed ideal for the reading public, I just saw this website explaining that Demi Moore’s appearance on W magazine was only her head, arms, and legs…the body was a runway model in her 20s. To quote that page, “47-year-old women, even slender and physically fit ones, are too old and horrible to appear on the cover of a magazine.”

http://consumerist.com/2009/11/great-now-demi-moores-torso-is-missing.html

Comment on What Camera Should I Buy on a Budget? by Cooper Strange

Cooper Strange — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:01:12 +0000

Right. I could not agree more. It sure is confusing to the unwashed masses, though, that they chose the name 7D, when it sure seems like the 30,40,50D, but with video. Anyway…

No Nikon suggestion? Well, for the enlightened…nah, just joking. This guy has access to a wealth of Canon lenses, everybody else in the program is buying Canon, and the professors said, “you can buy another brand if you want, but you will be on your own”. So, Canon it is.

For Canon, I do not really think they have had any huge innovations lately, I mean big, important improvements to the cameras, with the exception of video and the improved low noise, high ISO 1D mark IV. That is not a negative statement, actually. It actually means Canon is years ahead (and Nikon just caught up with the D3 and D700). Canon is the only place to go buy a used, full-frame camera at such a low price, either the 5D or a 1Ds.

I will here publicly admit my long love affair with the 5D, though. I am a Nikon guy, and the ultimate would be the D700, technically, though this is not a technical or spec sheet decision, but a deep, gut reaction I have to the 5D.

Comment on What Camera Should I Buy on a Budget? by lane

lane — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:23:43 +0000

really good stuff sir. got to play a little with the 7D the other day. you’re right, don’t gain much other than HD video and an increase in ISO (up to 6400 although it doesn’t compare in noise to the 5DMII). the video is impressive if you want that. 24-30FPS and in 720p you can get up to 60FPS.

surprised i didn’t hear a nikon suggestion are you a canon guy now? haha.

Comment on Moments Before History Is Made by Cooper Strange

Cooper Strange — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:49:51 +0000

No kidding. They would not have recognized its importance in the heat of the moment and with the famous shot right there in front of them, but I am guessing they do not just go back through the archives for the fun of it!

Comment on What Is Our Responsibility As Photographers? by Cooper Strange

Cooper Strange — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:47:25 +0000

Well said. Absolutely. All beauty reflects the Father and thus brings glory to him. So, yes, a beautiful photo does bring glory to him, and I would say, even if we do not have such an intention. And as for “enhancing” the beauty with post-production or lighting or angle or whatever, is even better, because we are running with the idea and creating ourselves.

You can clearly see, though, that (what I have slightly derogatorily called) “flower pictures” are not my primary focus, though. I do not see that as my place, if that makes sense.

Comment on Moments Before History Is Made by Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:34:14 +0000

Wow this is really amazing … I wonder what other amazing shots are lieing around in AP archives!

Comment on What Is Our Responsibility As Photographers? by Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:24:24 +0000

Hmm, thanks, that’s good food for thought on some things I’ve been thinking about regarding the ‘what’s the higher purpose of photography’ question in the past few days myself. Listened to someone’s message yesterday about offering our talents to God purposes and was thinking about this specifically with photography in mind. This may be for the purpose of making people aware of things they need to know. But, on the other hand, God is an artist and creating beauty is one of the things He does best. If I photograph the flower for its beauty its not somehow ‘lesser’ or more selfish than the photography of some issue or situation that needs action. If I capture the beauty of a flower in a photographic image, it can be an expression of worship of the creator and that beauty brings healing and calm in places where His voice cannot be heard for all the clutter of human chaos. Art and beauty can be worship too!

Comment on Full Life Empty 己生丑牛 by Cooper Strange

Cooper Strange — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 01:27:57 +0000

Hey Gurn. I always thought your name was spelled Gern? Did you change it for some reason, some cultural spelling thing because people kept spelling it wrong? Not that I knew you all that well, anyway, since you were even older than my brothers, so I could easily have forgotten that. Regardless, glad you stopped by.

Comment on Full Life Empty 己生丑牛 by Gurn Blanston

Gurn Blanston — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:25:15 +0000

Me likey?!@

Comment on Ami Vitale, Objectivity, & Truth by Cooper Strange

Cooper Strange — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:38:32 +0000

That is a good way to say it: “even if we can’t discern the objective truth from our viewpoint doesn’t mean it isn’t there”. I do not want to be too hard on her. It seems like what she is trying to say is that we should not go into situations trying to force our perceptions and conclusions into the story we tell, but rather we need to become a part of the situation (as much as possible) and “walk a mile in another man’s shoes” kind of thing, and THEN tell the story. I think dropping the “truth” bomb makes it hard to see the rest of the comment.

Comment on Ami Vitale, Objectivity, & Truth by John O

John O — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:03:44 +0000

I think she is using the words truth and viewpoint interchangably… Even before “big-t” truth, things must get objective, even if we can’t discern the objective truth from our viewpoint doesn’t mean it isn’t there…
Perhaps she would have been more clear to say that we can’t claim to definately know the truth in many situations and the journalists job is to provide as wide a window for viewpoint as possible…?

I love trying to capture elements of the big-t Truth in photos too, though I don’t often have much success, but that’s down to my photography rather than lack of subject!

Comment on Ami Vitale, Objectivity, & Truth by Twitted by CooperStrange

Twitted by CooperStrange — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:55:29 +0000

[...] This post was Twitted by CooperStrange [...]

Comment on A la Polaroid by Cooper Strange

Cooper Strange — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:29:04 +0000

DUDE! I was just going to get started on my Polaroid mini-documentary of the family, and the first shot came out in a big photo-chemical blob. I shot again…same thing. I do not know if the film was old or the camera is not doing its thing right, but all ten shots ended up looking like some funky fire thing. So much for the Polaroid idea.

Comment on What Camera Has the Brightest Viewfinder? by Cooper Strange

Cooper Strange — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:57:08 +0000

Not necessarily. If I understand correctly, most cameras’ viewfinders (including if you press the depth of field preview button) do not show you anything more open than f/2.8 or so. The intro to this article is an interesting bit of information:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/slrs/5d/focus-screens.htm

I certainly cannot see any difference using the depth of field preview button wide open with my primes. I tried it again just yesterday, and f/1.8 is WAY more shallow than my DOF preview showed.

Yes, it still would have been best to have similar lenses on each camera, but as I said, this was not scientific test. Still, I think a little browsing online will quickly concur my findings: the Sony a900 whips them all! I still do not prefer it as a camera, but that viewfinder is questionably the best out there. What we need to see is a comparison between the D700, 5D mark II, and the a900.

Comment on What Camera Has the Brightest Viewfinder? by ToddGilbertPhoto.com

ToddGilbertPhoto.com — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:49:22 +0000

Nice writeup – however your observations are a little flawed.

Lens aperture has a direct correlation between viewfinder brightness – so for the tests to be fair they all have to be using the same max-aperture lenses.

Try it out for yourself – put a lens on your camera – go into aperture priority mode – and stop it down a bit – then press the DOF preview button on your camera. Notice it getting much dimmer? This is the same thing as having a slower lens on your camera – its just showing you the different apertures.

So if in fact you were comparing a f4 lens to a f2 lens – the results would be extremely biased towards the f2.