Category Archives: Canon Cameras

List of Canon Cameras with Time Lapse Feature

November 5, 2010 11:52 pm /

I’ve been looking for a replacement camera ever since my Canon Powershot SD790 experienced its first “Lens Error. Restart camera” problem. One of my favorite features in the camera is the time lapse, where a photo is taken every few seconds and merged into a video. Unfortunately, this feature is no longer offered.
Here is a list of Canon Cameras with the time lapse feature:

G9, SD750, SD770 IS, SD790 IS, SD850 IS, SD870 IS, SD890 IS, SD950 IS, SD1000, and SD1100 IS.

There are two options if you want to still do time lapse photography. The solutions are not as convenient as the time lapse feature built-in to the camera, but provide a work-around to getting the end result.

1) Install CHDK software to modify the firmware on your camera. I take no responsibility for any information regarding modifications to your camera. Use at your own risk. It’ll require some time installing the CHDK onto the camera and then loading a script to do the time lapse photograhy.

2) For G10/G11 or Canon DSLR owners (5D Mark II, 7D, etc): Purchase a timer remote cord. Satechi TR-A Timer Remote Control Shutter for Canon EOS has good reviews on Amazon as a Canon RS-80N3 compatible remote.  This is probably the best option as it will give you a lot more options in setting the duration between each photo.

 

The remote gives the option to record set-intervals in time ranging from a few seconds to several minutes. Using software, you can stitch all these photos together into a continuous movie. This also gives the option to create time lapse videos in HD as opposed to the 640×480 movie mode on the Canon Powershot cameras.

List Source: dpreview.com.

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Canon 5D Mark II Firmware Update 10/21

October 21, 2010 12:02 pm /

New firmware update for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR has been released. All of the changes appear to be bugfixes for the camera.

This firmware update (Version 2.0.8) incorporates the following changes and fixes.

  1. Fixes a phenomenon in which movies are not taken at the shooting mode registered in the user’s settings if a shooting mode Aperture priority (or Shutter priority) is registered in any of the camera’s user settings (C1, C2, C3) and the user attempts to shoot a movie.
  2. Fixes a phenomenon in which the shutter will not release when pressing the shutter button when the auto power off function is set to on.
  3. Fixes a phenomenon in which overexposure occurs when shooting a Live View shooting simulation with the ISO speed set to L.
  4. Fixes a phenomenon in which the settings of the Speedlite transmitter ST-E2 revert to the default settings when both the camera and the ST-E2 are set to auto power off.
  5. Fixes a phenomenon in which the Macro Ring Lite (MR-14EX, MT-24EX) and slave flash do not sync while shooting wirelessly.

Source: Canon Website

Posted in: Canon Cameras / Tagged:

Importing Canon MTS video into Final Cut Express

April 23, 2010 1:10 am /

As a new Mac owner, I recently purchased Final Cut Express 4 to see if I can transition from my Sony Vegas Pro 8 setup on the PC. The Sony Vegas Pro 8 software will run the Canon MTS files natively, which is a very convenient for quickly editing files. As I was importing the files onto the Mac, I noticed that Final Cut Express 4 wasn’t recognizing the video format. It was displaying “Error: Unknown format” messages.

Solution: The workaround is to use iMovie ’09 to import the video files from the camera. Connect the Canon camcorder to the Mac via USB cable. Open up iMovie ’09 and go to File->Import from Camera. It should recognize the files and allow you to convert to a MOV format movie. You have the option to use the native resolution or encode to a lower resolution file. This should allow you to then open the newly encoded MOV file into Final Cut Express 4.

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Canon Spring 2010 Rebates

March 6, 2010 12:10 am /

If you are in the market for a Canon 7D or a Canon 5D Mark II and a lens, March 7, 2010 – April 3, 2010 is a great time to buy one. Canon is offering 2x the rebates for lenses if you pick up the 5D Mark II at the same time.

Historically, the 580 EX II had a $50 instant rebate during Winter 2009, so the rebate isn’t as good (unless you buy the 5D Mark II at the same time) The $100 off on the 7D looks like a great deal, especially for such a new camera. One of my favorite lenses for indoor use is the 16-35mm, $200 off w/ the 5D II is a good deal.

I typed up the hightlights from the flyers below.

Flashes:
$15 instant rebate for the Canon 430 EX II ($30 if you buy the 5D Mark II)
$25 instant rebate for the Canon 580 EX II ($50 if you buy the 5D Mark II)

Lenses:
$30 instant rebate for the Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM ($60 if you buy the 5D Mark II)
$80 instant rebate for the Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L USM ($160 if you buy the 5D Mark II)
$100 instant rebate for the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II SM ($200 if you buy the 5D Mark II)
$130 instant rebate for the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM ($260 if you buy the 5D Mark II)
$500 instant rebate for the Canon EF 200mm f/2L IS USM ($1000 if you buy the 5D Mark II)

Cameras:
Canon 7D (body only) $100 instant rebate = $1699 – $100 rebate = $1599 MSRP
Canon 7D EF 28-135mm IS kit $100 instant rebate = $1899 – $100 rebate = $1799
Canon 7D EF 18-135mm IS kit $100 instant rebate = $1999 – $100 rebate = $1899

Source:
http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/03/05/its-spring-rebate-season-for-canon/

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