Camera Test: Canon EOS 40D Last week we presented our hands on of Canon's newest mid-level camera. This week we're back with a full battery of lab test results and a beautiful macro image gallery. Also see what creative possibilities are unleashed with the 40D's Live View function.
Camera Review: Samsung NV11
What you get with this camera is a mostly typical 10.1-megapixel compact wrapped in a gorgeous body... and something your friends will certainly notice and ask about!
The Life of a Storm Chaser
Jim Reed's new book on extreme weather events looks to drive public awareness of the coming climate crisis.
"How do you get releases for war photographs?"
That's the questions movie director Brian De Palma asks about disturbing, never-before-published photos from Iraq that got scrubbed from his latest film, titled, ironically enough, "Redacted." Watch the video exchange on the State of the Art blog.
Where to Go and What to See
This seems to be the week of big names who are known for their polish. Annie Leibovitz's beautiful retrospective moves to Washington, D.C. (Corcoran Gallery), and Herb Ritts's Celebrity work shows up in Atlanta at Fay Gold.
A PopPhoto.com reader from Wichita, KS reviews the Sigma 50mm f/2.8 Macro EX DG lens:
This is a great lens, especially for the value. I got mine for $270 and it's worth every penny. Although sometimes I wish it had wider aperture capabilities, f/2.8 is still very suitable for many different occasions. The AF limiter is handy when trying to shoot portraits or insects. It will think "nope! I can't go past this mark" which I think is about .8 feet, very handy on AF. One small drawback is that the lens hood screws on. Why? I have no clue. But you can put 77mm (or near that mark) filters on the end of the hood, which is rather strange. Anyway, It's ultra-sharp; a great lens.
What's Hot: Lifesize 1:1 macro, smooth focusing, good value, AF limiter.
What's Not: For a 50mm lens, I would expect something maybe faster than f/2.8; also screw-in lens hood.
Moony 11, 8, and 5.6 Rules: There are many different rules that work well when shooting the moon. One favorite for a proper exposure of a full moon is f/11 at one over the ISO setting. For pictures of a half moon, use the same shutter speed at f/8, and for a quarter moon, use the same shutter speed at f/5.6.
Sigma 50mm f/2.8 Macro EX DG (User Review)
