Sunday, March 29, 2015

Lighthaus Camera: ND Filters

Lighthaus Camera: ND Filters
Hawaii is one of the world's most beautiful places. There are breath taking shots everywhere you look. If you are looking to add a different look to your shots, try a ND (neutral density) filter to give your photos that "professional" look. Basically ND filters are sunglasses for your camera without polarization. They allow you to take longer exposures in the middle of the day or those dreamy water flowing type shots. This article from digitalcameraworld.com explains how strong of a filter you will need and when to use them. ND Filters.
Be sure to call one of our locations to see what sizes and options we may have for your neutral density filter needs.


Sunday, March 15, 2015

Is Film Dead?


I get asked this question several times a year. The answer is almost yes…Sadly. I like to compare film and digital photography to Acrylic and Oil painting. They are the same art medium; however they have a much different feel. A lot of digital Fuji cameras will allow you to choose one of their films as a color profile. If you were fortunate enough to shoot film, most likely you can look at a print and tell the difference. Recently on Maui film developers are becoming hard to find. Costco and Long’s Drugs stopped developing film at the store level. The Longs Drugs next to the Kihei store send their film to the mainland to be developed. The death will be when you can’t get it developed conveniently. Polaroid had an interesting problem when they ran out of the raw materials. Polaroid has such a strong cult following that they were able to bring it back. You can watch their story unfold on Netlflix by watching the documentary “Time Zero”.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Lighthaus Camera: The Olympus OMD-EM5 Mark II

Well, it's three months into the new year.  Are you excited about any new cameras coming out?  I've taken a look at several new products and came to the conclusion that the Olympus OMD-EM5 Mark II is one that I would consider purchasing. The list price for the body only is $1099, so I don't have to sell a kidney to get a new camera.  So that is a major plus, besides I want to keep my kidney.  The weight of the camera is just under 500 grams, so I don't have to have muscles like Bruce Lee to carry it around all day.  The Mark II is weather sealed so shooting in the mist of Iao Valley, on the beaches of Kihei or in the snow on Mauna Kea (snow is not present at all times) will not be a problem.  It also features 5 axis image stabilization technology in the camera body, making any lens a stabilized lens.  This is great for those of us who drink too much coffee. Another great feature of this camera is the fact that the 16 MP sensor has technology that can bring the resolution up to 40 MP.  It takes 8 slightly different photographs in a second then combines them to for the 40 MP picture.  Isn't technology a wonderful thing?  Check out the specs and videos from Olympus's website by clicking the link below.

Lighthaus Camera has three locations across the islands to serve your camera needs.  Please call ahead to see if we have what you are looking for in stock.  If we don't, we can always order it for you.
Olympus OMD-EM5 Mark II

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Lighthaus Camera: Canon's Newest 5Ds, 5Ds R, Rebel 750D, EOS M3, EF 11-24 f/4L and a few other PowerShot cameras...

Hey Canon welcome to 2012. Nikon has had high megapixel cameras for sale since the 2012 release of the D800 and D800E. I don't know why Canon has decided to wait so long to give their fan boys old technology. Are you excited for a 50+ MP camera? I'm sure you will have to have higher capacity cards, back up drives, and a faster computer to process those large files. Not to mention more time. And as you know time means money. If you are not a working photographer and just like to take pictures for fun, who cares? Having all those glorious mega pixels will allow you to shoot your subjects in fine detail. Just make sure you have the digital versions of Canon's lenses. I'm sure the version one lenses will work but will they be sharp in the corners?

Glossing over the Rebel 750D and going straight to the EOS M3, I sure hope Canon gets it right this time. The EOS M1 flopped because of its slow focusing system and the EOS M2 was only released in Asia. I'm hoping they will give a nod to the cameras of the past and make it a rangefinder style, mirror less, interchangeable lens, "compact" wonder of technology. I'm thinking if they did that, it would bring up their sales.

EF 11-24 f/4. Hmm... I've had the chance to use the Nikon 11-24 f/2.8 and I'd have to say it is one the best lenses I've ever used.

As for the new PowerShots, I'm sure they will bring out some slightly upgraded versions of last years models but do you think they will put resources into a style of camera that has been replaced by the cell phone?

FYI, I'm a Canon user. I don't like the fact that one of the worlds best camera manufactures is so behind in the times. Maybe it is because we live in an instant gratification, keep up with the Jones's kind of times. Now that I'm through venting, more information can be found by reading this article fromCanonRumors.com.





Saturday, January 17, 2015

Lighthaus Camera: Photo Opportunity, Maui Marathon

Lighthaus Camera: Photo Opportunity, Maui Marathon

Attention all Maui photographers! It's time to get up at the crack of dawn to photograph some of the islands best athletes. The race starts tomorrow in Wailea at 5:30 a.m. and ends in Lahaina at Kamehameha Iki Park near the Banyan Tree. If you don't feel like photographing the whole 26.2 miles the 15K starts in Papalau Beach to Lahaina. The 10K starts at the finish line and is an out and back oceanfront course. The 5K starts at "lone palm point" which is the 23.1 mark on the course and finishes at Kamehameha Park. Now that the marathon information is known, check out these tips from the guys over at expertphotography.com:

https://expertphotography.com/10-ways-improve-your-marathon-photography/

Saturday, December 6, 2014

Lighthaus Camera: Focus Issues?

Lighthaus Camera: Focus Issues?

It's never the camera's fault.  It is only a machine. Unless you are a Terminator with a built in camera for eyes, mistakes will happen.  For those of you who don't know Terminator Genisys is due in theaters July 2015.  And Arnold will be back!  Haha!  Sorry, I got off topic.

It really is disheartening to take a photo, check it on the 3" screen then get home and find out that the photo was not focused as you thought.  Why might this happen?  Wrong settings on the camera, wrong settings on the lens, the wrong focus point, etc..  I came across this great article from Digital Camera World.  Check it out to cure your focusing issues.

Lighthaus Camera has four locations across the island to fill your gift giving needs for that photographer in your family.  You can find cameras and accessories from the world's greatest camera manufactures like Olympus, Canon, Nikon, Ricoh (Pentax). And accessories from Think Tank, Manfrotto, Mefoto, Delkin and Lenmar.  Come on down to the nearest location and see what we have in stock.

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/09/04/avoid-focus-errors-how-to-use-autofocus-for-stationary-subjects/

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Lighthaus Camera: Intervalometer

As old man winter moves to much of the northern hemisphere, Hawaii's photographic opportunities become more spectacular.  Why?  Swells come in bringing in larger than normal waves, the humpback whales come back for a vacation, and the nights are a little more crisp.  Not just temperature wise but in terms of after dark picture taking.  One of the most awe inspiring night time subjects has to be the Milky Way.  The article linked to this post comes from PetaPixel and it is a tutorial about time lapse Milky Way shooting.

One of the tools you will need for this type of photography is an intervalometer.  Here at Lighthaus Camera we carry the DLC wired remotes for both Canon and Nikon.  It will allow you to do time lapse up to 100 hours, has a self timer up to 99 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds, long exposures up to 100 hours and timed exposures up to 399 images.  Just like always, be sure to call the Lighthaus Camera store nearest you to see if we have the remotes in stock.  If it is not, we can always get one from the other stores or order one for you.

Thanks again for choosing Lighthaus Camera for all of your photographic wants and needs.

PetaPixel Article