The Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM

Canon's second-tier 4x zoom is this 70-300mm with a two-stage Image Stabilization(IS) system. For $750, including lens hood, you can buy this lens direct from Canon.

My only tip?

Shoot it stopped down. F10 is supreme. Yes, I would rather shoot at an open aperture, and this lens does not accommodate that.

But, it is still an awesome, capable lens. With the Ultrasonic Motor and Image Stabilization, this lens is a good choice for a "walkaround" lens.

At 70mm, wide open is a decent landscape view. At 300mm, the lens can get close to your subject.

The IS system is a two-stage system designed for both horizontal and vertical handshake. Canon claims up to four stops of image control, which can be super-useful on a telephoto lens, especially at longer focal points.

The 70-300 is a nice grade of plastic, one can tell this is not an entry-level lens. Switches are solid and purposeful. The zoom ring is a bit clunky, but adequate.

All in all, this lens is a fine addition to your camera bag.

Enjoy.

Five Photography Tips Where You Won't Go Wrong

The price of technology is steep. But, it is also forgiving. For two-hundred dollars, one can afford a DSLR camera and a lens, a brand new price for a very capable camera.

Consider Canon's T3 and T5i, the staples of entry-level Canon DSLRs. These cameras come in kits and can be found for a few hundred bucks, if one searches enough. With Christmas just around the corner, these deals will be hot.

Tip #1
Research is immeasurable. Use the internet to find reviews of cameras and lenses, to search bargains and tutorials, and to learn the technical depths of the camera. Keep using the search engines to hone skills.

The camera's manual is a valuable resource. Learn every aspect of it. Be patient and learn the functions in real time, learn from experience.

Magazines and websites are a great place to learn about photography. Invest your time in education about prints, RAW files, white balance, etc...

This tip is about staying sharp. Just do it, as the saying goes.

Tip #2
Flash is large part of photography. Invest in a high quality, wireless, high speed flash. Then, learn it well. These units are not lights, they are complicated tools. It takes time to learn them. Take that time and use it to your advantage.

Tip #3
Tripods are an essential part of photography. A state of the art tripod will run $500, but, don't despair, decent tripods range from $100 to $300, and will be acceptable for small crop-sensor cameras with smallish lenses.

Shoot a large lens or a huge camera like the Canon 7D and you will need a more-than-stout tripod.

Tip #4
Buy fast memory cards, not the slow and inexpensive Class 4 cards. Your camera has a lot of work to do. Shooting continuous frames or video, requires a memory card that can keep up. And, the more expensive cards will last longer and have more write/erase capability. Spend the extra money.

Tip #5
Accessories for camera gear range from ultra-useful to brand new garbage. Take for example, those cheap, twenty-dollar extenders. Garbage.

Some gear is absolutely needed. Good filters are a must. UV filters will protect the lens, while high-quality polarizers and neutral density filters will enhance your photography.

Lens hoods make great rain covers in addition to cutting glare.

Rain shields, light meters, padded straps, wireless triggers... these can make your photography more comfortable.

The key here is to be aware of your gear and what you need, not what they want to sell you.

Copyright Ronald Borst 2015

12/12

Ronald Borst Photography

Copyright 2015

Photography Tips From the Field, Editing & Storage

Sure, I have a few nice cameras. I have never owned one brand new.

My workflow is similar. I have some memory and editing software, but it is poor man's gear. I shoot with a Canon 7D, a T3, and a very old 5D. I edit in Photoshop CS5. I have a small, 1TB external storage drive.

What can we do with second-rate gear, and what can we do with the photos we get?

Tip #1
Edit immediately, if possible. Keeping a clean inventory is important.

Tip #2
Edits should be clean and realistic. Generally speaking, edits should be subtle and most importantly- edits should reflect what the eye saw.

Tip #3
Storage on external drives is optimum. If you have friends or clients, use memory cards to back-up their saved data.

Tip #4
Often, the only edits you will need are slight adjustments of white balance, highlights, and cropping.

Tip #5
Storing files in folders and labeling folders and memory cards is essential for long-term identification and workflow ease.

Tip #6
Editing is a personal preference, and watermarks are no different. I try to keep mine from being distracting. Others, want to distract. The watermark is a great way to advertise copyright ownership.

Tip #7
Be picky. Throw away garbage photos. Anything mediocre is garbage.

Tip #8
Cropping is sometimes necessary. But, try to compose your photos so they don't need cropped.

Tip #9
Edits should have integrity to them. Using filters is fine, and playing with color and contrast is part of the art, just be sure you retain some artistic relevance to the scene.

Tip #10
Stay busy. Edit constantly, and research editing and storage options. Learn while you shoot and while you edit.