Two weeks ago my camera, a Canon EOS 40D, developed a fatal problem. The much talked about (on web forums) Error 99. This issue started mild. One error. Than a couple of days later a few errors. At this point I researched the problem on line and found some DIY fixes. Tried them and it seemed to do the trick. Then a few a days later the problem returned with a vengeance. While shooting a job the camera kept telling me "Error 99..." about every other shot. Sometimes I was able to go for about 10 shots or so, than it would yell at me again. By the end of the job the camera completely quite on me.
YIKES
I called Canon immediately upon returning to my office. They had me try a few things out and determined it had to come in for repair. Off it went. Bad thing was, my camera is just out of the 1 year warranty period! another Yikes. However, the Canon repair person told me that they do not advertise this, but they usually give a 90 day grace period on out of warranty issues such as this! So I was saved from the expense of paying for the repair.
One other quip about this ordeal is the fact that I have belonged to the network of Canon professional users for 5 years, CPS. They offer expedited repairs for their members, as well as loaners. Well this year they changed some of their requirements. One of which was what equipment allowed you to qualify for membership. I have lots of Canon gear, all of which qualified last year... but not this year, some of the stuff they consider too old, even though I use it all to earn a living everyday. Because of this I had to go through regular repair channels and wait 10 days for the repair/return instead of the CPS time frame of 3 days!
Well, I just found out that my repaired main camera is on it's way back to me. Can't wait to start shooting with it again!
Showing posts with label Camera Equipment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Camera Equipment. Show all posts
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Canon 40D LCD Screen
I have been working on creating a small review of this camera. Hopefully that will come in the next week or 2. But for now I just wanted to comment on one aspect of the camera: It's LCD Screen. People on the net have been complaining about the resolution of the screen, and how the preview jpg is worthless (because it is only about 2mp). The complaint is that you can't really judge sharpness on the lcd screen based on the (...tiny...)jpg preview.
When I first bought the camera I thought the same thing: " Man, even zooming in to 10x I can't tell what is in focus!!" I have since resolved this issue (well enough for my uses now right now, anyway). And I thought, for sure, that I would read about this idea some where else on the net. But so far I have yet to see any one else talk about it, and there are some very creative thinkers that post to the different photography forums.
Well, here it is: I always shoot raw, so any image parameters I set in camera don't affect my final image quality. So I experimented and used one of the user presets, in the picture styles menu, and set the sharpness all the way to 7. Although these settings have no effect on my raw file, they do effect the camera created jpg preview. Voila! The jpg preview is now clear enough to judge sharpness at a zoom level of about 5-7 (this is dependent on subject matter)
No more complaints from me about the LCD screen!
When I first bought the camera I thought the same thing: " Man, even zooming in to 10x I can't tell what is in focus!!" I have since resolved this issue (well enough for my uses now right now, anyway). And I thought, for sure, that I would read about this idea some where else on the net. But so far I have yet to see any one else talk about it, and there are some very creative thinkers that post to the different photography forums.
Well, here it is: I always shoot raw, so any image parameters I set in camera don't affect my final image quality. So I experimented and used one of the user presets, in the picture styles menu, and set the sharpness all the way to 7. Although these settings have no effect on my raw file, they do effect the camera created jpg preview. Voila! The jpg preview is now clear enough to judge sharpness at a zoom level of about 5-7 (this is dependent on subject matter)
No more complaints from me about the LCD screen!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
New Toys!
I love gadgets and technology. I have also always loved art AND science. Photography was my destiny! Art, Science, and techy gadgets!! What could be better?
When digital photography became truly accessible to me (circa December 2002) I was ecstatic! Not only was I going to save some money on film and processing, but new avenues for creativity were openening up.
At that point I bought a used Canon D30 from my local shop, Fine Art Photo. At first I shot jpg files. After about 4 months of this I discovered the joys (and at the time headaches) of shooting RAW. I started using Phase One's Capture 1 for my Raw processing. That program instantly brought new life to my D30. I again found wondrous joys in photography!
During the last several years digital photography has seen a whirlwind of changes. For any body who has been paying attention, you will know that the rate of new slr cameras is about every 18 months, or so. I just could not imagine upgrading that often. I did however, upgrade to a used D60 in 2005. But did not feel that any of the new cameras that came out after that one were really worthy of my upgrading. So I used my D60 for better than 2 years.
Now, finally, a camera has been released that was worthy of my hard earned cash- the Canon 40d. In early 2008 I bought one, along with a Canon G9 (probably one of the nicest "Pocket" cameras currently available). All I can say is WOW! I am so excited to own both of these cameras! The G9 is a great little camera that I feel can take pro-grade images (in certain situations) when it is all I have on me. And the 40d is an Amazing upgrade from the older cameras that I had been using. In terms of speed of handling to ulimate image quality.
What is my definition of ultimate image quality:
1) Good resolution
2) Low signal to noise ratio
3) Great color
4) Great Dynamic range
The 40d has these in spades. In the coming weeks I plan on writing a small review of both cameras itemizing what I feel are their strengths and weekness' for the way I work.
When digital photography became truly accessible to me (circa December 2002) I was ecstatic! Not only was I going to save some money on film and processing, but new avenues for creativity were openening up.
At that point I bought a used Canon D30 from my local shop, Fine Art Photo. At first I shot jpg files. After about 4 months of this I discovered the joys (and at the time headaches) of shooting RAW. I started using Phase One's Capture 1 for my Raw processing. That program instantly brought new life to my D30. I again found wondrous joys in photography!
During the last several years digital photography has seen a whirlwind of changes. For any body who has been paying attention, you will know that the rate of new slr cameras is about every 18 months, or so. I just could not imagine upgrading that often. I did however, upgrade to a used D60 in 2005. But did not feel that any of the new cameras that came out after that one were really worthy of my upgrading. So I used my D60 for better than 2 years.
Now, finally, a camera has been released that was worthy of my hard earned cash- the Canon 40d. In early 2008 I bought one, along with a Canon G9 (probably one of the nicest "Pocket" cameras currently available). All I can say is WOW! I am so excited to own both of these cameras! The G9 is a great little camera that I feel can take pro-grade images (in certain situations) when it is all I have on me. And the 40d is an Amazing upgrade from the older cameras that I had been using. In terms of speed of handling to ulimate image quality.
What is my definition of ultimate image quality:
1) Good resolution
2) Low signal to noise ratio
3) Great color
4) Great Dynamic range
The 40d has these in spades. In the coming weeks I plan on writing a small review of both cameras itemizing what I feel are their strengths and weekness' for the way I work.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)