Simple hints and tips that help you make the most of your Canon DSLR

Get to grips with your EOSHolding your EOS correctly will help to avoid camera shake. Pick up your EOS by the grip with your right hand, leaving your index finger free for the Shutter Button and Main Dial. Your thumb should naturally sit across the back of the camera. Then cup the camera in the palm of your left hand to support it, using your thumb and index finger to operate the lens as required.

Filter your resultsA polarising filter can create effects that are difficult or impossible to achieve digitally. This filter can turn a blue sky more intense, making clouds stand out; alternatively it can remove unwanted reflections from water or glass. As you rotate the filter you can see its effect through your viewfinder or on your LCD monitor in Live View mode.

Give yourself room in your moviesWhen films are shot, the cameras roll before the action starts to help with editing. So when you shoot video, leave a couple of seconds at the beginning and end of your clip. If you start recording action straight away, it is more difficult to get exactly the start and finish points you want when you edit.

Closer without a macro lensYou don’t need a specialist Macro lens to take close-up photos. Canon’s EF12 II and EF25 II Extension Tubes are hollow tubes that fit between your lens and camera body. They move the lens away from the sensor, so you can focus much closer than normal. It isn’t true macro, but it’s a great starter. There are no additional optics, so picture quality is maintained.

What does the name of a lens mean?Let’s take an example: EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM •   EF – stands for Electrofocus, the lens mount on EOS cameras •   24 – the focal length in mm at the lens’s widest angle of view •   105 – the focal length in mm at the lens’s narrowest angle of view •   f/4 – the maximum (widest) aperture of the lens •   L – L-series lenses are the “Luxury” professional lens in the EF range •   IS – IS denotes Image Stabilizer, which detects and corrects camera shake •   USM – an ultrasonic motor within a lens makes autofocus quieter and faster

Conserving battery lifeMake sure that your camera is always ready for action. Set the ‘Auto power off’ function on your EOS to 1 minute so that the camera will go sleep after that time. To reactivate it, simply half depress the shutter button. Another power-saving measure is to switch off the LCD display(s) and metering on your camera, so you can keep shooting for even longer.

Get the right stabilization for panningYour Canon IS lens has a switch on the side of the barrel which can improve your panning shots. Normally the switch is in Mode 1 which offers stabilization in both vertical and horizontal directions. Switch to Mode 2 and stabilization is then given only in a vertical direction only; perfect for panning action shots.

The widest panoramaOne of the software packages supplied with your EOS is PhotoStitch which joins a series of overlapping photos together to create an ultra wide-angle image. When you take your photos, make sure that all the settings (exposure, lens focal length, focus) on your EOS are constant. Download the pictures onto your computer, open PhotoStitch and in five minutes you will have an amazing panorama.

The point of focusYour EOS allows you to control how much of your photo is in focus so you can create an image with a pin sharp subject and blurred background and foreground. Select Aperture Priority (Av) on the Mode Dial and adjust the aperture on the Main Dial; the lower the aperture number, the less foreground and background will be in focus.

Add a little colourIf your landscape photo lacks a little of the colour you can clearly see, try switching the White Balance from Auto to Daylight. In Auto setting your EOS is trying to normalise colours; for example it will remove warm oranges from a sunrise. Switch to Daylight and the full colours will flood back.

Hints and tips for your PowerShot and IXUS

Switch your Grid Lines on  If your camera supports it, you can use the Grid Lines display mode on the LCD screen of your camera can improve your photos. As well as making sure that your horizons are level, it also makes it easier to use the ‘Rule of Thirds’ which can help to balance your photo.

Horizontal versus Vertical Most of the pictures taken are horizontal (landscape), mainly because that is the most natural way to hold a camera. But you can turn your camera through 90° to create a vertical (Portrait) shot. And just because they are called portrait and landscape don’t think you can’t experiment. Try taking portraits in landscape format and vice versa.

The power of the line Lines within photos lead viewers into the image. A classic example of a successful line is a road leading into the distance - the converging lines create a strong focus. Alternatively look for diagonals such as a mountain ridge or the curves of a river to create interest.

Fill the frame When you are photographing a subject make sure that it fills the whole picture; then there is nothing to distract the viewer so their focus will go to the subject. Don’t just use the zoom, changing your position to be nearer your subject will also change the perspective and importance of the elements in your photo.

Get up close and concentrate on the detail Often it is the small things that make a scene special. So use the Macro setting on your camera to capture a close-up. And remember that you will actually get larger magnification with wide angle than zooming in – you get much closer to your subject.

Foreground interest to add scale and depth When you are shooting a landscape, include an object of interest in the foreground. This could be a gate, wall, tree, person or building and helps lead the eye of the viewer into the picture as well as giving scale to your photo.

Great group shots It’s obvious but do make sure everyone is in a group photo! Your camera needs to be far enough away; but not so far that you can’t recognise people. Encourage your group to talk amongst themselves until you’re ready so that they are relaxed (make sure you leave room for yourself). Then get their attention and everyone will appear engaged, looking at the camera at the same time. Set the self-timer, FaceSelf-Timer or WinkSelf-Timer and then go and join the action.

Capture the real person in a portrait If you are shooting a head and shoulders portrait, ask your subject to stand at an angle to the camera, with their head turned towards it to creative a lively, more active shot. If they are standing, give them something relevant to hold or lean against as it will add a context to your photo. Then set your camera to Portrait mode which will set the camera up to produce natural skin tones and help to blur the background so the main focus is on your subject.

Take away colours Black & White and sepia photos are easy with a PowerShot or IXUS either by using the “My Colors” feature or the Monochrome setting in the “Creative Filters” in more recent models . Black & White shots let you discover interesting new perspectives on familiar views as they emphasise the forms and shapes within a photo whilst sepia immediately gives images an older look and feel.

Know your colours Colours change the mood of a photo. Red is a warm colour and tends to dominate, so even a small amount will attract attention. Blue is cool so appears to recede in a photo and is soothing. As one of nature’s colours, green is typically fresh and relaxing. Being the colour of earth, brown is a good canvas for other colours but is rarely a suitable main tone. You can even try using the Colour Accent feature you can pick out one color within the scene and leave the rest black & white to emphasise just one colour.

'Colour me Pretty' - the title of our latest competition. Take part for a chance to win a 200 Euro voucher!

Submit a photo fit for the theme 'Colour me Pretty'.  Photos must be posted on our facebook wall (facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/canonmalta)

Submitted photos may be used for other promotional material, such as our blog, for posters, for showroom display and/or other marketing material.

Winner will be selected by Avantech Ltd. and will win a 200 Euro voucher redeemable on any Canon photo-video product of their choice.  

HOW TO APPLY:

Post ONE photo on our wall.  Please make sure you caption it as 'competition entry'.

RULES:

1. This competition is not open to employees of Avantech Ltd. or their immediate family members.

2. Only one photo per entrant is allowed.

3. Photos must be the original work of the named entrants, respectively.

3. Competition closes at midday Friday 7th February.

4. Competition entrants must be 18 and over, unless we have written consent by a parent/guardian.  Entrants must be residents of the Maltese Islands.

5.  The winner must agree to a photo of Avantech Ltd presenting the prize, along with the photo being used for marketing activities.  The winner will always be notified in such cases.

Avantech Ltd. reserves the right to refuse any entry and/or disqualify any entrant if the above rules are not adhered to.

JUDGING PROCESS: 70% of the votes will be submitted by Avantech judges; whilst the remaining 30% will be based on 'LIKES' - so ask your friends to like our page, and then like your photo.

Good luck!!

Canon EOS C100: the ideal camera for independent videographers

The EOS C100 interchangeable-lens Digital Cinema Camera is the entry-level model in Canon’s Cinema EOS System and offers high resolution, Full HD capture in an ultra-compact body.

The C100 fuses Canon’s proven video technology and lens heritage with the creativity of the Cinema EOS System. As an EF mount camera the EOS C100 accepts Canon's EF and EF-S lenses for DSLRs, plus the EF mount Cinema Lenses to provide videographers with a wide choice of creative shooting options.

WHO IS IT FOR?
The EOS C100 Digital Cinema Camera is an ultra-compact, highly versatile camera that will appeal to a wide spectrum of independent videographers including corporate video makers, wedding and event video producers, small video production companies, film schools, and more.

Sophisticated Canon camera technologies – many of which are inherited from Canon’s high-spec EOS C300 camera – and an AVCHD MPEG-4 4:2:0 codec delivers superb imaging performance for videographers.

The C100 offers a potent combination of exceptional imaging performance, compatibility with Canon’s EF mount Cinema Lenses for optimal optical performance, and ultra-compact form factor, allied with extensive customisation options to suit individual users.


KEY FEATURES

• Super 35mm-equivalent 8.3 Megapixel Canon CMOS sensor with Bayer pattern filter.
• EF lens mount; over 60 EF lenses available for the EOS C100.
• One-Shot AF/Push Auto Iris/Auto White Balance features; optimised for single operator use.
• Compact, modular design; 15% smaller than EOS C300.
• 24Mbps (Max) MPEG-4 AVCHD/H.264 recording, 4:2:0 colour sampling.
• ISO range of 320-20,000 with wide dynamic range (800%; achievable when shooting Canon Log Gamma or Wide DR Gamma).
• Stereo microphones built in to detachable handle, Pro XLR connectors included on the handle.
• New Wide Dynamic Range (Wide DR) Gamma setting.
• Two SD memory card slots with relay record or simultaneous record options. SDHC/SDXC supported.
• Built-in, manually controlled glass ND filters; 2, 4 and 6 stops.
• Low power consumption with supplied BP-955 battery.
• DIGIC DV III image processor.
• Comprehensive NLE support; Data Import Utility software included.

8.3 MEGAPIXEL SUPER 35MM CMOS SENSOR FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION

The C100 features the same, large 8.3 Megapixel Super 35mm-equivalent CMOS sensor as the EOS C300 and C300 PL cameras for video capture that provides three-channel RGB processing for Full HD. The sensor has a pixel size larger than that for conventional professional camcorders enabling greater light-gathering capabilities for superb high-resolution images with enhanced sensitivity, low noise, reduced shutter artefacts and low power consumption, along with typical large sensor benefits such as beautifully shallow depth-of-field.

NEW AUTO FEATURES FOR EASE OF USE

The EOS C100 inherits many of the features from Canon’s high-spec EOS C300 Digital Cinema Camera, but also incorporates a number of newly enhanced auto functions such as One-Shot AF, Push Auto Iris and Auto White Balance, which make it ideal for single operator use.

Pushing the One-Shot AF button before recording starts, ensures the camera focuses on the subject at the centre of the screen. Push Auto Iris is a recording assist function that automatically adjusts the aperture in accordance with the brightness during recording. The Auto White Balance feature automatically normalises the colour temperature by correcting warm or cool tones. Note that One-Shot AF and Push Auto Iris functions are not available when shooting with Canon Cinema Lenses.

WIDESPREAD LENS COMPATIBILITY

The creative possibilities of the EOS C100 Digital Cinema Camera are greatly enhanced by its compatibility to Canon’s wide range of EF mount lenses. Canon’s extensive EF lens range encompasses over 60 different lenses for a total focal length range that stretches from 8mm up to 800mm to open up an incredibly wide range of shooting possibilities. Filmmakers already shooting with EF mount lenses can now take advantage of the widespread compatibility of the Cinema EOS System.

The C100 is also compatible with the EF mount lenses in Canon’s Cinema Lens range – these lenses deliver exceptional optical performance and offer compatibility with Super 35mm-equivalent sensors.

ULTRA-COMPACT, MODULAR, LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN

The EOS C100 Digital Cinema Camera has an ultra-compact body (approximately 15% smaller than the EOS C300) that has a modular design for superb mobility. The body weighs just 1020g (410g lighter than the EOS C300). Removable grip, handle and multi-angle control panel components ensure maximum manoeuvrability, whilst the robust body features magnesium alloy components for additional rigidity and toughness.

A 3.5-inch (8.8cm), 920,000-dot LCD panel can be moved upwards by up to 100 degrees for easy composition at low angles. By rotating and stowing the LCD panel DSLR-style shooting is possible with viewing through the 0.24-inch (0.65cm), 1.56-million dot EVF.

The detachable handle has a built-in stereo microphone and two channels of XLR audio input connectors.

CREATIVE ND FILTERS

A manually controlled built-in ND filter allows for keeping the iris open for shallow depth-of-field and attractive bokeh. A four-layer filter system offers three densities – 2-stop, 4-stop and 6-stop – with ND0 being clear.

RECORDING CODEC AND MODES

The camera can record MPEG-4 AVCHD files at 24Mbps (4:2:0) to two SD memory cards with relay and double slot simultaneous HD recording options available. Using two SD cards allows for up to 12 hours of continuous recording by switching from one card to the other when the maximum file capacity has been reached.

A Pre REC function in the C100 starts recording video about three seconds ahead of time to ensure that you don’t miss the shot.

HIGH SENSITIVITY, LOW NOISE IMAGE CAPTURE

The C100 features enhanced sensitivity: low noise images can be captured at up to ISO 20,000, allowing for use in almost any shooting conditions.

CANON LOG & WIDE DR GAMMA

Canon Log is a log format for realising a wide, 12-stop dynamic range close to negative film. Canon Log has adopted an 8-bit log that enables the user to easily perform post-production processes, even in a desktop environment. It enables detailed adjustment for highlight and shadow and broadens the range of colour grading.

The new Wide DR Gamma feature on the EOS C100 produces smooth changes in brightness, seamless gradations, and reproduces clear skin tones with uniform colours; thus eliminating the need for post-production processes.

SEAMLESS WORKFLOW INTEGRATION

Smooth editing workflow is key during video production and this is catered for thanks to an MPEG-4/AVCHD (H.264) system that enables the capture of extensive Full HD high resolution video recording, with less data volume, by means of highly efficient compression.

The new Data Import Utility software that comes with the EOS C100 automatically recognises divided files as a single long file and seamlessly joins together the divided video files when they exceed 2GB or when they are created during relay recording. This helps to reduce the work during editing.

An HDMI signal output function enables a timecode and 2:3 pulldown marker to be superimposed on the HDMI signal output. The non-compressed signals can be processed as SDI video signals (comparable to HD-SDI) depending on the external recorder and converter connected to the EOS C100. Footage is then compatible with NLE editing software from companies such as Apple, Adobe, AVID and Grass Valley.

AVCHD CODEC

The C100 utilises Canon’s MPEG-4, 4:2:0, 24Mbps codec, recording in the AVCHD format. The format uses 4:2:0 colour sampling, and Canon has implemented the top 24Mbits/sec data rate offered by the standard, as well as native Full HD resolution.

The AVCHD format has been widely adopted and is supported by most editing software. Canon's implementation of AVCHD maximises quality, whilst economising on storage requirements, and keeps the options entirely open for post-production.

CMOS SENSORS

Canon develops and manufactures its own sensors and has incorporated a Super 35mm-equivalent 8.3 Megapixel (effective) CMOS sensor in the EOS C100. This sensor has a pixel size that is larger than that for conventional professional camcorders, enabling greater light-gathering capabilities for enhanced sensitivity and reduced noise. The sensor reads Full HD (1920x1080 pixels) video signals for each of the three RGB primary colours, decreasing the incidence of moiré while realising high resolution with 1,000 horizontal TV lines.

Supported by a heightened signal read-out speed, the CMOS sensor reduces rolling shutter skews, a phenomenon prevalent with CMOS sensors in which fast-moving subjects may appear diagonally distorted.

DIGIC DV III PROCESSOR

The DIGIC DV III processor is the latest iteration in the DIGIC DV family. Greater processing power provides enhanced colour gradation, wide dynamic range and beautiful reproduction of skin tones, in addition to supporting features such as extensive image customisation.