Waterfront Festival 2013 - Tall Ships

If you live in, or close to, Toronto, and you are a lover of Tall Ships, be sure you don't miss the Redpath Waterfront Festival happening today June 20 to June 23.  Lots of activities for kids and big kids alike. There is the 1812 On Tour that gives you a taste of what life was life in 1812.  You can buy tickets and board the Tall Ships. On Sunday June 23, there is a Parade of Sail where all the Tall Ships will pass through the Harbourfront. Bring your kids, or yourself to the Harbourfront and have a good time!

Fair Jeanne - Canon 5D Mark II & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click for larger.

Sailing - Sony NEX-6 & 16-50mm f3.5-5.6. Click for larger.

My bike Bumble Bee - Canon 5D Mark II & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click for larger.

BeaverTails - Canon 5D Mark II & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click for larger.

Man made beach - Canon 5D Mark II & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click for larger.

Fair Jeanne and Bumble Bee - Canon 5D Mark II & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click for larger.

Wood Lathe - Canon 5D Mark II & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II.

Pan Alive! 2012

Pan Alive! is an annual steel pan competition in Toronto. This year, the event was held at the Lamport Stadium.  My older sons Dillon and Ryan joined the steel pan camp this summer and they were playing in the Jesse Ketchum Pan Vibrations.  It was fun and the music was great.  If you like steel pan music, be sure not to miss next year's competition.

Steel Pans - Canon 1D III & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click for larger.

JK Pan Vibrations Playing -- Canon 1D Mark III & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click for larger.

Energetic Player - Canon 1D III & EF 85mm f1.2L II & f1.4. Click for larger.

Player for the Metro Dome Group - 1D III & EF 85mm f1.2L II @ f1.4

Tommy Thompson Park - October 2011

Although Tommy Thompson Park is only about a mile from where I live, I don't visit it often enough.  The last time I went there to take pictures was back in June.  Today we invited Sally, who is a budding photographer, to join me and Dillon.

Sally -- 1D III & EF 70-200mm f2.8 IS. Click for larger.

We made it there before sun rise, and it was always great to see it, but unfortunately there wasn't any clouds today, which made it a bit less spectacular than otherwise.  But, it was Sally's first time seeing a sun rise and I am sure it was a nice experience for her.  I noticed there were lots of snails.  On the road, on the grass and small trees.  Never seen so many of them before.  Possibly because we were there very early and they were still migrating themselves from one side of the road to the other.

Snail in the morning sun -- 1D III & EF 180mm f3.5L Macro. Click for larger.

The part is transforming itself nicely.  A few areas were newly created.  Lots of birds, but not as much as early spring/summer.  As usually, many cyclists and runners were already there before 7am.  It's a great place to bike, walk, run, and of course, take pictures.

The Bridge -- 1D III & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click for larger.

Fall Leaves -- 1D III & EF 180mm f3.5 Macro. Click for larger.

We had a great time.  Can't wait to go back a bit later in the fall for some more colourful shots.

Canada Life Building

Canada Life building viewed from inside Eaton Centre - 1D IIn & EF 16-35mm f2.8L

It has been about six weeks since I traded my 100-400mm L zoom for the 16-35mm f2.8L II, and I can't be happier.  I have used the 16-35mm more in these few weeks than I have with the 100-400mm in more than two years.  The best lens is the one that's mounted on the camera and ready to shoot.  So far, I can't complain about the image quality -- totally happy with it.  It's an amazingly versatile focal length.  I only wished I had done this sooner.  I would have gotten more pictures if I had. If cost is not a factor, and you are looking for an ultra wide angle full frame zoom, be sure to test out the 16-35mm f2.8L II.  It's expensive, but you only need to buy it once.

The Sony Revenge

A few years back, Sony said that it would capture a 30% (or thereabouts) DSLR market share.  Unfortunately, it was not even close.  In fact, their market share has been sliding and at times even behind Pentax.  The excellent A900 and A850 didn't help much.  All of other Sony bodies are unexciting and even lackluster.  Lack of video in their DSLRs is probably one of the biggest marketing mistakes Sony made, as everyone else has it.

But, times are a changing.  The introduction of the NEX series surprised many.  It's selling extremely well,  in no small part due to the radical design and small footprint, not to mention the very short lens register, which allows pretty much any kind of SLR lenses to be used with adapters. 

The just introduced A33 and A55 can be a game changer. Specifically, the A55 has some real features that other manufacturers haven't used in their DSLRs.  Not only did Sony include 1080P video, but it's the only DSLR that provide very fast continuous phase detect AF in both video and still, thanks to the use of a translucent mirror (pellicle mirror).  This mirror is fixed and does not need to be flipped up like a conventional mirror to take a picutre/video.  Sure the Nikon D3100 has continuous AF in video, but uses slow contrast detect method.  This will be great news for most amateur users who use the DSRL for home and casual video, where auto focus in video is important.  Another surprising feature is the speed of still capture at 10 frames per second, also thanks to the pellicle mirror design.  This kind of speed is unheard of in a consumer digital camera.

This camera may be the first to signal the start of electronic view finders in DSLRs.  Frankly, I am not against electronic view finders, after using the G1.  In fact, I prefer it for manual focus lenses.  I have no doubt that in 5 year's time, the EVF will be good enough to replace the optical mirror.

I think Sony will sell a boat load of the A55, especially if image quality is good (at least better than the 7D in low ISO).  I am tempted to try (buy) one.

 

Hotdog Stand at Union Station -- 1D IIn & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click to see larger.

Waiting

Ryan -- 1D IIn & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click to enlarge

I am not a big fan of zooms, but I find the 16-35mm focal length very versatile and convenient.  The image quality is close enough to primes when stopped down a bit, though the maximum f2.8 aperture is a bit slow for indoors use. So far, very satisfied with the lens.

Varsity Stadium

Took Ryan and Dillon to the music exam this morning.The Royal Conservatory of Music building has been renovated and looks really nice.  Retains most of the old characteristics of the building but adds a modern touch.  Nice.  The waiting room on the fourth floor has a great view to the Varsity Stadium below.  Imagine watching a football game from this room.  It would be amazing.

 

Part of the Varsity Stadium -- 1D IIn & EF 16-35mm f2.8 II. Click to enlarge.

Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8L II - First Impressions

So this is my second try with the EF 16-35mm f2.8L lens -- the widest full frame flagship zoom lens that Canon makes.  My first one was the original version, which I wasn't quite impressed with the edges on full frame.  When introduced, this lens was expensive and only recently has the price dropped a bit.  I saw someone on Craigslist who wanted to trade this lens for a 100-400L so I went for it.  Really can't justify keeping the 100-400L and used it once or twice a year.

I am more than happy with the optical performance of the lens.  Very sharp wide open at the center, and the edges (on the Mark IIn anyway) is vastly improved over the original version.  As with most wide angle lenses, this one can focus really close.  So, in a pinch, you can use it as a mini macro lens, which was what I did to photograph the butterflies in the Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls.  I meant to bring my 180L macro lens, but forgot to at the last minute.  The 50mm f1.2L that I also brought has an even less magnification ratio than the 16-35.

It's normal to expect great colour and contrast from Canon L lenses, and this one is no exception.  Distortion is well controlled and focusing is very accurate, at least with my copy.  I am surprised to see that the bokeh is actually quite nice, for an ultra wide angle lens with three aspherical lens elements.  The size is similar in both versions.  The only thing I am complaining about is the huge filter size at 82mm, from 77mm of the original version.  A good 82mm circular polarizing filter could put a small dent in your bank account.

Overall, it's a great lens, albeit expensive.  A worthy upgrade from the original version.

Niagara Falls looking down from the 20th Floor -- Canon 1D IIn & EF 16-35mnm f2.8 II. Click picture to see larger.

Night Rider -- 1D IIn & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click to see larger.

Butterfly - 1D IIn & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click to see larger.