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Video: Canon's Locking Mode Dial Mod for 5D Mark II

See what the $100 upgrade will get you.

By Dan Bracaglia on December 8, 2010

For $100 Canon is offering 5D Mark II and 7D owners a chance to send their cameras in and have a locking mode dial installed. Technical Editor Philip Ryan takes a closer look at one of the very first 5D Mark II's to feature this upgraded dial and compares it to the locking mode dial on the Canon 60D:

Professor Has Camera Implanted In the Back of His Own Head

That's one way to skip the camera strap.

On December 7, 2010

New York University photography professor Wafaa Bilal’s latest project, “The 3rd I,” goes live on December 15 at the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Qatar.

2010 Camera of the Year: Sony A55

The decision of our editors was unanimous: It could only be Sony’s unique take on the single-lens reflex.

By Dan Richards on December 7, 2010

A really good measure of the strength of a technology company is how well it does things that can’t be done.

How To: Use Content-Aware Fill

This new Photoshop-CS5 feature makes cleaning up images a breeze.

On December 7, 2010

One of the most talked-about features of Adobe Photoshop CS5 is Content-Aware Fill, which can intelligently, and almost magically, replace image data you don’t want with image data you do want. The healing Brush now uses Content-Aware Fill’s algorithm by default. But for areas too big to correct with the healing Brush, try using it with the Fill command.

How To: Photograph Nature From Your Car

Wildlife drives can be the best and safest way to get close to the action.

By Jeff Wignall on December 7, 2010

Wildlife drives can get you surprisingly close to scenes like Jon McRay’s image of two foxes fighting in Bombay Hook NWR. Photographed with a Nikon D300 and 80–400mm f/4.5–5.6 VR Nikkor lens; 1/800 sec at f/7.1, ISO 500. It may be the easiest way of getting close to nature: taking a wildlife drive through a wildlife refuge. These routes, designed for the best views of birds and beasts, also provide one of the best ways to photograph them.

How To: Use Fog and Mist to Your Advantage in Landscape Photography

Fog, mist, smoke and haze can all act as an excellent natural filter.

By Peter Kolonia on December 6, 2010

Ethan Welty shot this with a Canon EOS 40D and 17–55mm f/2.8L Canon zoom. Exposure: 1/125 sec at f/5.6, ISO 200.Landscape photographers who respond to saturated color and sharpness will often pack up and leave if fog, mist, smoke, or haze moves in. Whoops! They miss a lot. Atmospheric conditions in which dry particles or water droplets are visibly suspended in air can add a lot to a landscape.

2nd Annual Sigma Scholarship Contest Aimed at High School Seniors

Sigma Corporation will be awarding cash and prizes to students majoring in photography and photo-related disciplines.

On December 3, 2010

Jamie Russell of Cheektowaga was the winner of last year’s scholarship for her series of photos depicting poverty in her hometown (seen above). Are you a senior in high school planning on majoring in photography or something related to the photo industry in college? If so, considering entering Sigma’s second annual Scholarship Contest for a chance to win up to $6000 in cash and photography gear.

How To: Use Second-Curtain Sync

A nifty function for using a flash with a slow shutter.

On December 3, 2010

Electronic flash is ordinarily synchronized to fire as soon as the first curtain of your shutter opens. This is usually the safest bet—you get the flash to fire quickly to catch a fleeting expression or peak action. But with slow shutter speeds, this can cause motion blur to go in the wrong way—in front of your subject. Trailing sync (a.k.a. second- curtain or rear-curtain sync) fixes it.

Tested: Olympus E5

Olympus’s rugged flagship DSLR serves up beautiful images.

By Philip Ryan on December 3, 2010

For the past couple of years, Olympus has focused mostly on its Micro Four Thirds line. But, as the new E-5 ($1,700, street, body only) shows, the company hasn’t forgotten about regular Four Thirds at all. The latest update of its flagship DSLR steps up to a 12.3MP Live MOS sensor (from 10.1MP in the E-3), adds a stop of sensitivity for a top of ISO 6400, and adds 1280x720-pixel 30-fps HD video capture.

Canon Offers 5D Mark II and 7D Owners $100 Locking Mode Dial Upgrade

Never accidentally shoot in full-auto again.

By Stan Horaczek on December 1, 2010

We have seen a couple of hacks out there on the web to try and keep mode dials from changing when you don't want them to. But starting on December 6th, Canon will be offering an official solution to 7D and 5D Mark II owners. For $100, US residents will be able to mail their camera body to Canon HQ and have a locking mode dial -- like the one found on the 60D -- installed at the factory. The new dials don't move unless the button in the center is depressed.