Photo Walks Today

Every Photographer Loves A Leica!

Want to buy your beloved photographer a gift more decadent than a box of chocolates?

Here’s a camera that every serious shutter bug would love to own, no matter how many professional DSLR cameras or gadgets they already own.

There’s something about (well there are lots of something’s, really) the Leica name that brings out the longing in every photographer. Maybe it’s the stellar optics of a Leicia, or maybe it’s the rich photographic history they symbolize.

Leicas have been used by many famous photographers, including names your beloved shutterbug will recognize like:

Diane Arbus

Alfred Eisenstadt

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Of course, love doesn’t come cheap. A Leica D-Lux 4 Digital Camera will cost you $700 -1,000. And it will look like a regular digital point and shoot camera.

But, oh… it can do so much more…. And it has that wonderful red dot that will make your photographer the envy of all their peers.

You’ll be the tops on your valentine’s heart.

If you are looking for a few little items – that won’t break the bank, but are useful to your favorite shutterbug – let me suggest a few.

The 18% Gray Card

Yes, I know it sounds like a weird gift, but trust me, your photographer will love this tool.

Here’s why:

• Target makes it for easy auto focus lens to see
• Heavy duty nylon will outlast cardboard by years!
• Lightweight, makes it easy to carry
• White reverse side allows you to custom white balance your camera settings
• Folds neatly into a small three inch case for portability
• Comes with a zippered carrying case to keep the card clean when not in use

This is an absolute must for the creative photographer who wants to experiment with manual settings and still get an accurate exposure.

Fits perfectly with your buget as well – only $24.95 on eBay!

Flash Diffuser

Yes, another weird little ‘must have’ accessory for a photographer. This little tool fits over the on camera pop-up flash and softens the light. This makes for very complementarly lighting for Christmas eve portait shots done around tree.

This softbox can be used to improve portrait photos, given the subject a nice diffused lighting effect.

• Fill light
• Flash burst when a regular flash is to strong
• A way to reduce shadows when using a flash

Economical price of $19.99 on eBay

Camera Rain Cover

This one speaks for itself – here in the Northwest photographers will never get a chance to take pictures if they wait for sunshine. Help them protect their cameras with this nifty little device.

Less than $15.00 on eBay

The Canon EOS 50D

Should I Wait?

   I’ve been considering purchasing a new camera. Having purchased my first Canon SLR camera in the 1970’s, it’s not a choice of Canon verses Nikon – I’m an Canon gal.

  My indecision comes from the announced arrival in October of the new and improved 50D. I know I don’t need a super-professional camera, so I know I don’t need an EOS Mark 1D super-fancy-top-of-the-line $7,000 camera (although, if my budget allowed you better believe I’d grab one – LOL).

  So, here’s the rub. I can purchase a 40D from Amazon with 24 month, no interest financing. I love that! With a minimum monthly payment I’d have it paid off before the end the contract. I have until the end of September to decide.

 However, if I wait until October the new Canon 50D will arrive. It’s more expensive but has some promising features. Of course, it’s got more megapixel at 15.1 which is a good thing. More interesting to me is the higher ISO range. Lately I’ve spent a great deal of my shooting before dawn, at sunset and after. The long exposures are always noisy and there is the purple fringing problem as well. I just read an article from B&H photo that claims the 50D camera is so good at photographing people in the dark you can read their thoughts (LOL).

Help me decide – please let me know what you think in the comments. Should I grab the financing on the 40D or wait and pay extra for the 50D?