The big Question
December 30th, 2009 | Author: admin
Sunset in Valdres, Norway
After a heavy snowfall and some cold clear weather I’ve been shooting some magical winter landscapes not far from home. During the Christmas break I have also been thinking about what this web site should provide. As a photographer I am much more interested in creating pictures than testing camera equipment. My question for you: Do you only want field reviews of Canon cameras and equipment, or do you want information about how to use your equipment for creating better pictures?
I’ve already started taking some HD-video clips on location to show “behind the scenes” and I also talk about how I take pictures in different settings. Is this information interesting and informative? Will this just be a waste of time producing video tutorials and “How to do” articles?
I appreciate all of your comments!
OJL
79 Responses to “The big Question”
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1st June – Sandwich Terns
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Since it’s Canon Field Reviews, I think readers will appreciate your reviews of camera equipment more! I think many readers find your reviews on the 7D extremely helpful and unique in this matter. Lots of others are doing “How to do” articles and I suggest you be unique, publish your field test reviews which so many of us find useful, and keep up the good work!
There are plenty of sites doing boring tutorials that we’ve all seen a hundred times before and plenty of sites that get a camera and take a few shots to do some tests that don’t tell you how the camera will function in the real world. The wonderful thing about your site and reviews are the extreme conditions you put your cameras to and the in-depth real-use reviews!
The world doesn’t need more white-background tutorials, but behind the scenes looks at shooting in the extreme climes you find yourself in would be fascinating, especially to us who don’t get more exotic than a winter beach…. I would be very interesting to hear about your trip to the arctic to shoot 10,000 stock shots in only a couple weeks – that is good stuff that will help me!
I personally dont think it will be a waste of time. i loved your site ever since i found and have been anxiously waiting for the last 2 parts of your 7D review.
I find that seeing how other photographers shoot is extremely useful for me to learn and try different techniques. I would love to see how you shoot with your 7D and see what kind of settings you use for different situations, because I think that will help me a lot!
Keep up the great work!
I think the main focus should be the review of Canon equipment. However, there is only so much equipment and new equipment releases aren’t continuous so filling in this gap with the other material would be great I think. Great site by the way, much appreciated.
I agree with kc. It would only be consistent to stick with gear reviews.
Having said that, I am only to a certain degree tech nerd, and I am very quickly personally much more interested in how tos. So I sort of want everything
I found your blog by searching for hardware reviews, but now that I know about it, I’d love to read about behind-the-scene stuff.
While I respect what kc is saying I would love some ‘how to’ articles and videos as well as your reviews on equipment. Maybe you could start by sharing how you took that shot? That is definitely a HDR image. What did you use to create it? Most of the software i’ve used makes it look too fake.
Thanks
can’t we have both?
While I am interested in both “how-tos” and equipment reviews, I enjoy your posts concerning how equipment performs when challenged by the environment more. Reviews of that sort are much harder to find than how-to articles.
I agree with Adam; your reviews are great, but I think if you want to do some extra info stuff you should go for it.
Of course you can have both. Field reviews are very useful and I value your contribution to the Canon DSLR community with this respect. I am sure there are many people out there that would like to see what tips and suggestions you can offer to creating better pictures! I know I would! I love your articles!
Bring it on! I would eagerly anticipate any info you would be willing to share! Instructional videos would be a great idea too.
I think you bring a different point of view than other more “traditionnal” camera review websites. It’s almost like we can feel how it is to work with the camera ! Like Adam said, I would also be interested to ear about how you do your work. If I had to make a choice between the two, I would stick with field reviews because I think it really adds value to the community. I understand your feeling about creating pictures, and whatever your decision is, I’m still going to read your posts anyway..
Both!, but I’d have to say the “how to” section would be more favorable… Thanks for providing all this great info!
I would personally love to hear from the expert on how to use the equipment. The test alone only tell 10% of the story. I am amazed to see beautiful landscapes today still being shot by XTi’s and 20D’s. Obviously I do not fully understand how to use my equipment, even though I know it’s the best
I love the equipment reviews as you are about the only person do these extreme condition tests in the field. I would love to see similar tests for Canon lenses!
As for How To videos, i agree with KC, although some How Tos on shooting in real-life extreme conditions would be useful. Inviting some other canon photographers to share their experiences with equipment in extreme conditions would also be helpful, and would make your site a true go-to site for this sort of information.
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your expertise with us!
There’re tons of “Field test” articles out there so to be unique, it very important to write “How to do”. The photographer skills make your review unique and make us understand why you do the field test like this. So I think the how to do article is the rock base of the field test, the more the better.
Both would be ideal if you could find the time. I find this site quite honest regarding what abuse the equipment can take and not seen another site with picture of the camera driping wet and buried in snow.
I find the field reviews excellent, much better than I have found elsewhere. However I would love to read the occasional shooting tips and how to get the most out of our kit, and I’m sure you would be more excited about writing these articles than reviews!
keep up the good work!
My vote is that the site should cover how to use your equipment for creating better pictures.
The reviews are great and I’d also love to hear the how to’s as well.
I think both are very valuable. While field reviews are quite interesting, good tutorials on how to create great pictures are hard to come by. I would very much enjoy both types of information and I think many others would as well.
I appreciate your field reviews, are very interesting. I would like read another reviews, but sometimes how to use my equipment in the best way, the best settings shooting under snowing, rain or heavy conditions.
Hi L.
Field Reviews. I definitely want to read about your field testing’s of camera equipments, they are unique and very good, and they are a great complement to all the lab tests that can be found on the Internet. I really want to know how the equipment copes in the field.
Field techniques. It’s equally interesting and more important to know how to best use the camera equipment in the field to take better pictures. What equipment you should choose and how to use it in different situations, depending on eg wind, precipitation, temperature and choice of motifs etc.
I would like to see you publish articles/videos on both field reviews of camera equipments and how to to best use it in the field.
Thanks for all your comments!
This web site will off course be a site with field reviews of Canon equipment, but I´m glad to see that many of you also want to see some “How to do” tutorials etc. I agree that there are to many boring tutorials about photography, and that´s why I what to do something else! As an example, the image in this blog is not a HDR-image, and I have filmed when I was shooting this in -20 C in the field. I have also talk about important issues before shots like this (planning your picture, clothing, background, direction of light, equipment etc.). If I will produce some “How to do” tutorials it will be in the field!
I have also thought about inviting other pro photographers to this site, sharing their experiences. This might be the future, but it will also require some sponsors or income from this site. I think it might be possible.
Thanks for all your comments and also suggestions about how you want to see this site in the future.
OJL
Yes!!! this would be interesting for me!
I hope you have time to do both.
Greetings from Austria
Stefan
I think the website is great as it is, and would be much greater still when you add that other information! For some reason I suspect your how-to’s to be much more interesting than most out there because you are in the field…
Looking forward to basically anything on this site
There are so many releases each year, so some other content should be nice. I too would like to get more insight in for example your preparations for trips to extreme environments. Not just camera-wise, but other equipment and things to take in mind.
Ole – Love your site and encourage you to do some ‘how to’ tutorials in extreme conditions, but I would also like to know the behibnd the scenes stuff, like how do you clean and dry your camera and lenses after dumping them in the snow so there are no bad after effects!
Cheers
Rod (Australia)
If you can do both that would be great
I would love to read some nice How To’s. You could absolutely do both, and I think that would just make your site even better!
I also vote for both! I came upon your site by searching for tests on the Canon 1D IV and find your site unique. Will you be doing a field test for the Canon 1D IV soon? Also any idea why Canon did not make it a full frame? It seems to offer everything else.
You should definitely keep doing the Field Reviews. Additional information on how to deal with such extreme situations would be appreciated by me, since I have no experience with such weather conditions. So I need to be prepared to really enjoy such a trip.
Greetings from Germany
Andy
All your real-life tests are very interesting to many of us, even for beginners like me. Some “behind the scenes” stuff would be appreciated too, provided you keep this direct and open way of presenting your work and conclusions
Thus we could learn more and more from both your advices and field reviews without the boring side of some more austere reviews on the net…
Greetings from France !
We need both and keep up the good work …
I vote for both.
I been reading alot of reviews and magazines for years, but you have very different point of view.
The daily use and field reviews of equipment of a professional is very refreshing. Use recording from photocamera, instead of videocamera, gives me an idea how good the video feature is.
You should show photos from youre trips and youre story about it, peoples gears breaking down, or settings you used in difficult spot.
Photos with Exposure, Aperture, ISO would be great even if it is displayed on the images.
Just my feedback, and to honest Ill be a happy reader of whatever you have time to publish
I tumbled upon your website while looking for information on the 7D. I admit that I like your reviews so much that I actually bought a 7D before your series is completed… Because it’s real-life appreciations you give.
I’m not sure classic How-Tos would fit well in your blog, but you don’t have to make *classic* how-tos, and behind the scenes commentaries of your field trips for example would be very precious to us (well, me at least). That could be the video I watched where you put your camera on the water to shoot at a river. Or a video where you explain what setting you use as you prepare to shoot your dog running in the snow… Real life insights, clearly.
Anyway, thank you and keep up the good work!
I just found your site a couple days ago, and seeing the 7D in action was great (I got a 7D last month). As stated many times in the comments here, there are lots of ‘how to’s’ on other sites, though most of those are studio or portrait shots. I really like your outdoor wildlife shots and I would personally love to see more of those and ‘how to’ articles on those. Including tips on shooting wildlife, action, whatever you enjoy doing. But, gear reviews are very valuable for us fellow Canon readers. I spent yesterday trying to figure out micro focus adjustment on my 7D, so how-to’s on that kind of thing would be valuable. Also, the 7D has built-in Master flash capability now….etc. I know it’s not a 7D-specific site, but those are the kinds of things I would appreciate. Keep up the good work!
Although the field reviews would remain to be the main purpose of this site, I would be very interested in your technical how-to articles. You have inspired me to be more of a nature photographer, and since I rather like cold weather and extreme conditions, I think that’s the type of environment I’d like to photograph. Therefor, I would be very interested in learning from your experience.
mix it up. i am enjoying reading these field reviews, but if there is some behind the scenes magic you work and want to share it, then go for it!
I love the equipment reviews because so many other review sites talk about the camera in ideal conditions, controlled environments or in the studio. As a consumer and I want to know what the camera can really do.. I’m going to travel with it, get bumped in subways and by people walking by, im going to want to take it to the beach out on the camping trip and with the kids at the soccer game or the theme park. Your site is excellent for really putting the camera’s through their paces and showing what the camera can really do and where its limits really are. Yes Canon tells us that the camera is weather sealed and the glass has IS etc, but are the claims true. I appreciate your reviews and your photography and In addition to the great job that you’ve done with showing us what the camera can do, I would also appreciate in knowing how you get those shots, the conditions, the equipment, etc as well. Especially as you said, you’re starting to shoot video and if thats not something that your familiar with in terms of using a DSLR, I think some “how to’s” would be really appreciated as the cameras develop and what your experiences are with shooting video with the Canon’s.
Thanks again
I think it would be great to have some “behind the scenes” articles. Each photographer has his own technique, and sharing this can bring a lot of positive things. I like to see how other photographers work because this really helps me to improve my own technique and get better pictures.
Kind regards from France.
I’ve only just stumbled across your website and it’s been more informative and independent than any I’ve seen so far. Real world tests are great, but the thought of that mixed with real world techniques being put into practice. Awesome!
A mix of both get’s my vote!
Happy New Year,
David – N.Ireland
Dear Ole Jørgen,
Hi from Greece.
First of all, I wish you and all the people of this forum a very Happy prosperous and peaceful new year 2010. I see that is the first wish for the New Year.
I also believe that New Year brings Ole joy, beautiful expedition moments and photographic surprises!!!
I also believe it would be great to have some photocraphic advice on nature photography’s techniques; sharing them with us means a lot of positive things to us, as nature-lovers.
By the way, congratulations on the field reviews and the amazing photos!
Kind regards from Greece, Georgios Vlachos
It would be nice to have the best of both worlds.
Its already very interesting to get a review on a camera thats not been done in a very controlled environment.
If you are willing to show the tricks of the trade then that would be great too.
Very beautiful picture of the snowscape! (which camera?)
Regard and best wishes.
If you want to share some of your techniques and approaches to the way you make photographs, I for one would enjoy reading about these. You could put it in a separate section of your website for the purists (i.e., this is canonfieldreviews.com) but it is your website and you should take it where your own interests lie and evolution as an artist. I will continue to enjoy reading what you have to say – thank you.
I don’t see why anyone won’t read interesting how to material.
After all, purchasing the camera after reading your review has one motive : ‘Taking great pictures’. Then what is wrong teaching that in your website? i will be excited. really.
with regards,
jay
I think information about how to use your equipment for creating better pictures will be very useful
Also video behind the scene is great idea!
Give us more creative and beautiful photos
Respect man!
“How to” articles? That would be simply great:-)
Chidu
India
I enjoy your site very much, but would prefer if it had both. To determine what you should do, I would think about the ability to sustain your business. I would love to see both, but am appreciative of whatever you are able to provide. Your perspective as a photographer, and your ability to have new products for test are your real strengths. That is a very strong combination. There are other sites that will provide reviews that have every menu option etc… I wouldn’t try to compete with them on being thorough. Your photo of the 7D in the snow told me a lot more than a review of complaining about the direct print button and grip ergonomics. Tutorials in unique places, with interesting subjects could only draw more people to your site. I have bookmarked and plan on stopping by as often as there is new content.
Thanks,
Tom
i love the equipment field tests,its cheaper to find out how they perform in the field without the expense of buying or hiring.
information on behind the scenes of a shoot is always usefull to know regardless of experience,theres always something new to learn,everybody works differently,thats whats makes us stand out from the rest.
This is a fantastic site.