Wildlife Photography - Photo Shoot in South Africa, Day 11

African lion's rude awakening

Reflection of a pretty mare in a watering hole

Happiness is celebrating World Rhino Day with Mom

                                    * * *  Read travel log from Day 8 and Day 6  * * *

More of the same. Settling into a daily routine now. Going out on two jeep safaris a day - early morning and late afternoon. On days that are not too hot, I will go on a late morning safari walk. Still having difficulty in finding Leopards and getting a good, clean shot at them. Most of the encounters are in thick, heavy bush and they rarely stay put for me.

I will keep this schedule up unless something changes in terms of wildlife encounters or weather. The guide and tracker I have are simply phenomenal in their knowledge and ability. It is a great help to have them assisting me in my wildlife search. The equipment I brought are the Canon EOS-1D X and EOS-1D Mk IV cameras, EF 200-400mm f/4L IS, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS and EF 24-105mm f/4L IS lenses.The roads are very bumpy and dusty but the gear is holding up very well. Visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see more photos from my shoots.

Wildlife Photography - Photo Shoot in South Africa, Day 8

African lion patrolling his territory and keeping rivals at bay

African leopard hiding in thick bush cover

Young African elephant feeding in the early morning hours

                                  * * *  Read travel log from Day 11 and Day 6  * * *


The lodges I am staying is in a savanna bushveld type of woodland. Wildebeest, Cape Buffaloes, Warthogs and other grazing animals come right up to my room and it is a wonderful experience to see and feel nature close up. At night, I can hear lions calling to each other and other animals moving in the bush in complete darkness, except for the thousands of twinkling stars overhead in the black sky.

Lions are not too difficult to locate but tracking the Leopards are proving quite a challenge. When a Leopard is found, it is usually hiding in thick bush and that makes photographing them a nightmare. So far no luck on finding Cheetahs and African wild dogs. Everyday I go on two safari photo shoots - early morning and late afternoon. Mid afternoon is usually too hot and is reserved for rest and relaxation. Weather is dry and hot but the insects and mosquitoes are practically non existent, unlike the Pantanals in Brazil, a couple of weeks ago.

I had no time to post and keep up with news from Photokina 2014, Canon and the photography world in general until my return. Visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see photos from my previous trips.

Wildlife Photography - Photo Shoot in South Africa, Day 6

African Lion ready to see off rivals

Juvenile leopard on a night hunt with mom

* * *  Read travel log from Day 11 and Day 8  * * *

I had a harrowing flight from Frankfurt to Johannesburg. Came across three separate thunder storms replete with severe lighting. The whole sky lit up like the Fourth of July. The plane was tossed around like a kite in a wind storm. I am used to being tossed around in jeeps, zodiacs, small boats and planes but when one is hurling through a pitch black, lighting filled sky, inside an aluminum tube at 550+ mph, 40,000 feet in the air, it's too close for comfort.

Went on a night safari and came across this juvenile Leopard and its mother. It was completely dark and all I had was a small spotlight. The Leopard was about 80 feet away so it is not a great photo but there is nothing like seeing the apex night predator in action.

The Lion action is quite good. Came across two mating pairs and they were busy. Don't have a lot of time looking through my photos because I am mostly very tired at the end of each day. Visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see more photos from previous trips.

Wildlife Photography - Photo Shoot In South Africa

African lion roaring in Masai Mara, Kenya

I am off on a safari photo shoot in South Africa this week. My journey takes me to Kruger National Park and several neighboring game reserves. Kruger is one of the largest national parks in Africa, with an area of about 7,600 square miles. That is larger than a few states in the New England region of the U.S.

The park and surrounding reserves are excellent places to capture 'Big Five' images of Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos and Cape Buffalo plus Giraffes, Zebras, Cheetahs, Hippos and many more. There are also hundreds of species of birds to marvel and photograph for the ornithologist in many of us.

Majestic Leopard in tree, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

The area is characterized as ‘savanna bushveld’ with 6 different landscape types : acacia woodland, open woodland, mopane woodland, combretum woodland, mixed combretum woodland and mixed veld. The critically endangered African wild dog is also a regular visitor to the Reserve. The larger and rarer antelopes such as Roan, Eland and Tsessebe may also be seen but their numbers are still critically low.

African elephant making a stand against photographer

Africa is a far away continent, especially for those who reside in North America but it is a fascinating region of the world and I will be concentrating on wildlife photography, with a bit of cultural discovery mixed in, time permitting.

Hippopotamus in Hippo pool, Serengeti National Park

While I am away, the big 2014 Photokina Show will be taking place in Cologne, Germany. Canon has announced the EOS-7D Mk II camera , EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II Super Telephoto lens , PowerShot SX60 and PowerShot G7 X cameras. I have waited years for the EOS-7D Mk II and EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II to be released and have placed my order for these gear.

Planning to take the new equipment to the sub Arctic in Autumn and give them a thorough field test. If I come across any WiFi signal while on location, I will try and make a few blog posts. In the meantime, you can visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see more wildlife photos from my previous trips while I am away.

Wildlife Photography - Jaguars in the Pantanal, Brazil

* * *  Back from my trip. Visit my Jaguar page to see latest photos  * * *

I am off on a wildlife photo shoot in the Pantanal, Brazil. Brazil is the largest country in South America and shares a common border with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador. Brazil comprises almost half the South American continent (47.3%), has a population of over 200 million and is the fifth largest country in the world, after the Russian Federation, Canada, the United States and China. The Equator line crosses Brazil at the Northern region; the Tropic of Capricorn crosses the country at the Southeastern region.

The Pantanal is located in the Center West region of Brazil. “Pantanal” is a Portuguese word for marshland and is considered the biggest swamp area of the world. It covers an area of between 54,000 to 75,000 square miles, in the states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and areas of Paraguay. It is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Area. About 650 different species of birds, 80 of mammals, 260 of fish, and 50 of reptiles live there. This region is similar to the U.S. Florida's Everglades.

The Jaguar (Panthera onca) is a big cat belonging to the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. It ranks third in size after the tiger and the lion, and the largest cat in the Western Hemisphere. The Jaguar's present range extends from Southwestern United States and Mexico across much of Central America and south to Paraguay and northern Argentina. Apart from a very small population in Arizona (southeast of Tucson), the cat has largely been exterminated from the United States since the early 20th century.

It is a spotted cat that is often mistaken for a leopard. Jaguars are usually larger and of sturdier build and its behavioral and habitat characteristics are closer to those of the Tiger. While dense rain forest is its preferred habitat, the Jaguar will range across a variety of forested and open terrains. It is strongly associated with the presence of water and is notable, along with the tiger, as a feline that enjoys swimming.

The female Jaguar can weigh anywhere up to over 200 pounds while the much larger males have been recorded to weigh as much as 350 pounds. They can range in length up to 6.5 feet, from the nose to the base of the tail and stand about 2 to 2 1/2 feet tall at the shoulder.

Jaguars are apex predators and largely a solitary, opportunistic, stalk-and-ambush hunter.  They have an exceptionally powerful bite, relative to the other big cats. Unlike other big cats that kill by strangulation, Jaguars kill their prey by biting directly through the skull of their victim to deliver a fatal blow. Their diet even include caimans (South American crocodiles).

The Jaguar is a near threatened species and its numbers are declining. Threats include loss and fragmentation of habitat. While international trade in Jaguars or their parts is prohibited, the cat is still frequently killed by humans, particularly in conflicts with ranchers and farmers in South America.

Bringing my trusted duo, Canon EOS-1D X and EOS-1D Mk IV cameras, together with the EF 200-400mm f/4L and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L lenses. I will not be able to write this blog till my return. You can visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see images from my worldwide photo shoots and follow my travels on Facebook and Twitter.

Canon EOS-7D Discontinued by Amazon.com

* * *  EOS-7D Mk II camera specifications finalized and images revealed  * * *

I am still on my Alaskan photo shoot. Down in SE Alaska now for some whale photography. Brought with me the Canon EOS-1D X, Mk IV, EOS-7D bodies plus the EF 200-400mm and EF 100-400mm lenses.

The EOS-7D is my favorite APS-C camera for wildlife photography. The EOS-7D Mk II should be coming out at the end of the first week of September. In fact, Amazon has already stopped carrying the camera on their website. It seems they have drawn down their inventory of 7Ds to zero.

I am quite enamored of the EOS-7D's performance as a cropped frame camera provided the light is good and high ISO is not required. The Achilles heel of the camera is its mediocre ISO performance but the Mk II will address that 'weakness.' Visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see photos taken with the above cameras from my worldwide photo shoots.

How A Canon Image Stabilization Lens Works

A line of Canon EF lenses some equipped with Image Stabilization 

* * *  Canon EOS-7D Mk II camera images finally revealed  * * *

I have been a wildlife photographer for 25 years using Canon gear and can attest to the real benefits of Image Stabilization lens technology, especially the latest generation, with a 4 stop advantage. You can read my FAQs on equipment and see my works on MichaelDanielHo.com. Below is an excerpt from Canon Professional Services, explaining how their IS equipment work.

"Camera shake is the thief of sharpness. If you are hand-holding a camera and lens, they will move as you press the shutter release. Movement during exposure blurs the image.

Much of the time, you will not notice the effects of camera shake. If you are shooting with a fast shutter speed or a wide-angle lens, the blurring may not be significant? but it will still be there, and might appear if you have a big enlargement made from the image.

The only way to overcome camera shake is to eliminate the movement of the camera and lens during the exposure. The obvious way to do this is by taking the camera out of your hands and fixing it to something that will not move, such as a photographic tripod. However a tripod is only effective if it is sturdy, which usually means heavy.

Fortunately, Canon offers another method of reducing, if not eliminating, the effects of camera shake. Image stabilization lenses, first seen in 1995, approach the problem laterally. Rather than trying to stop the movement of a hand-held camera, they seek to introduce an opposing movement within the lens. The aim is to keep the image static on the sensor or film, despite the movement of the camera.

How image stabilization works

Image stabilization was available for camcorders long before it was introduced in EF lenses. Both electronic and optical systems were available, but size or weight constraints meant that neither was suitable for EOS cameras. So Canon went back to the drawing board and took a fresh look at the problem.

Its solution is a group of elements inside the lens that moves perpendicular to the lens axis. The movement of this special lens group is controlled by an on-board microcomputer and counteracts the shaking of the camera.

The following sequence of events takes place when the camera shutter release button is partially depressed :

• The special stabilizer lens group, which is locked in a central position when not active, is released.
• Two gyro sensors start up and detect the speed and angle of any camera movement.
• The sensor data is passed to a microcomputer in the lens that analyses it and prepares an instruction for the special stabilizer lens group.
• This instruction is transmitted to the stabilizer lens group that moves at a speed and direction to counteract the camera movement.

This complete sequence is repeated continuously so that there is an instant reaction to any change in the amount or direction of the camera shake.
When the first EF IS lens was introduced, it was the first time that a high speed 16-bit microcomputer had been incorporated in a lens. The computer simultaneously controls the Image Stabilizer, ultrasonic motor (for focusing the lens) and the electromagnetic diaphragm (for setting the lens aperture).

Image stabilization is effective with movement from 0.5Hz to 20Hz (1Hz is one movement cycle per second). This will cope not only with situations from simple camera shake (0.5Hz to 3Hz), but also the engine vibrations encountered when shooting from a moving vehicle or helicopter (10Hz to 20Hz).

There is no reduction in the optical performance of the lens. Power for image stabilization lenses comes from the camera battery, so there will be fewer exposures per battery charge when an image stabilization lens is attached to the camera and switched on.

• Camera shake is detected by two gyro sensors in the lens one for yaw and one for pitch. The sensors detect both the angle and speed of the movement.
• When the camera is static, the rays of light pass through the lens and form an image on the film or digital sensor.
• When the camera moves, the rays of light from the subject are bent relative to the optical axis and the image shifts slightly on the film or digital sensor. You can see this effect in the camera viewfinder if you gently shake the camera while viewing a subject.
• With an IS lens, the gyro sensors detect the camera movement and pass the data to a microcomputer in the lens. This instructs a special group of lens elements to move at right angles to the lens axis. The amount and direction of this movement is just enough to counteract the amount and direction of the camera shake. The result is that the paths of rays of light passing through the lens are adjusted so that the image remains stationary relative to the film or digital sensor.

Image Stabilizer modes

One problem with the first two EF IS lenses produced is that the system regards panning as camera shake, and tries to overcome it. This causes the viewfinder image to jump about, making it difficult to see and frame the subject accurately.

On the later lenses, you have the option of two IS modes. Mode 1 is the same as before and is used when you are shooting static subjects.

Mode 2 can be set when following a moving subject with the camera (panning). The lens detects the sweeping movement and switches off the IS correction in that direction (horizontal or vertical). IS correction in the direction perpendicular to the panning movement continues as normal to help give a sharper image.

When panning the camera to follow a moving subject, use Mode 2, if available. This switches off the Image Stabilizer in the direction of camera movement to avoid confusing the image stabilisation system. Image stabilisation for movement at right-angles to the direction of panning is not affected.

IS Mode 3

IS Mode 3 was announced with the EF-300mm f/2.8L IS II USM and EF-400mm f/2.8L IS II USM lenses, and is also in the EF-500mm f/4L IS II USM and EF-600mm f/4L IS II USM telephoto lenses. IS Mode 3 takes the benefits of standard IS (effective for both horizontal and vertical camera motion) but, instead of it being active all the time, it only activates when you fully press the shutter button to take an image. It is especially useful for sports photography where you are likely to be moving between subjects quickly.

In IS Mode 1 this can create a bump or jump within the viewfinder as the IS motor races to keep up with extensive lens movements. Instead, by not activating until the shutter button is fully pressed it saves the system trying to compensate for random, rapid lens motion and only compensates at the point you are taking an image.

Hybrid IS

Introduced with the EF-100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens, Hybrid IS takes the image stabilization concept and applies to it to macro photography. When using longer lenses or for general purpose shooting, any camera shake appears to be rotational - i.e. an up and down or side-to-side movement around a point - that point being the camera. This is effectively corrected by the IS motors contained in the lenses. However, when you move in close for macro photography the camera shake motion appears to be less rotational and more shift based - as if the whole frame is shifting up and down or side-to-side parallel to the subject. This is what Shift IS found in the Hybrid IS system of the EF-100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens aims to correct.

How effective is image stabilization?

The earliest IS lenses give a gain of about two shutter speed steps. This means, for example, if you shoot with a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second with IS, it will be the equivalent of 1/250th of a second if you shoot without the Image Stabilizer switched on. Or if you can obtain a sharp image without image stabilization at a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second, you will produce results of similar sharpness at 1/15th of a second with image stabilization, other factors staying the same.

One of these factors is focal length. Increasing focal length not only magnifies the subject ? it also magnifies the effects of camera shake. A useful guide is that you should use a shutter speed at least equal to the reciprocal of the focal length when holding the camera and lens by hand. So if the focal length of the lens is 200mm, the shutter speed should be at least 1/200th of a second.

More recent IS lenses have improved their effectiveness, giving a three-step, or even a four-step gain. A four-step gain means that shooting with a shutter speed of 1/15th of a second with image stabilization gives the same image sharpness as shooting at 1/250th of a second without image stabilization.

Recent lenses also have the IS system up and running within 0.5 second of partial pressure on the shutter button, rather than the 1 second delay with earlier lenses.

Keep in mind that image stabilization only reduces the effect of camera shake ? it has no effect on subject movement.

Camera compatibility

IS lenses work with all EOS cameras, regardless of when they were introduced. The IS system ? gyros, microcomputer and special lens group ? is part of the lens, not the camera. However, there is some communication with the camera and there are some operational differences between the EOS SLR models.

• If you are using the EOS 10, 1000-series, 600, 620, 650 or RT, you will see the viewfinder image shake a little immediately after an exposure. This does not affect the sharpness of the exposed image.
• If you are using the built-in flash of early EOS models (EOS 10, 100, 1000-series, 700, 750), you will see the viewfinder image shake while the flash is recycling. This will not affect the sharpness of an exposed image.
• There is some shaking of the viewfinder image after exposures in the DEP mode with the EOS-1, 1N, 10, 100, 5, 600, 650 and RT. This does not affect the sharpness of the exposed image.
• When an extender is attached to the lens, image stabilization does not operate with the EOS 1, 10, 100, 1000-series, 5, 600, 620, 650, 700, 750, 850 and RT cameras.
• During a bulb (B) exposure, image stabilization does not operate with most EOS models. It continues with the EOS 1000-series, 5, 500 and 700. It stops immediately after the exposure starts with the EOS 1, 10, 100, 600, 620, 650 and RT. In all cases, image stabilization is unlikely to be effective with long exposures. Canon recommends that the Image Stabilizer is switched off for bulb exposures.
• With the EOS 3, 50, 50E, IX and IX7, image stabilization does not work when the self-timer is used.
• With the EOS 10, 5, 600 and RT set to AI Servo, and with the film advance mode set to continuous, autofocusing will not resume after the AF Stop button has been used until partial pressure is reapplied to the camera shutter button. This also applies to the EOS 5 and 10 set to Sports mode.

We do not have full data for every IS lens/EOS camera combination. Before taking a picture, look through the viewfinder to check that the IS system is operating correctly (remember to allow up to 1 second for the system to start up after the shutter button is partially depressed). If there does not appear to be any increase in the steadiness of the image, or the image is jumping around in the viewfinder, there is probably an incompatibility. Movement of the image in the viewfinder immediately after an exposure is not usually a problem and will not affect the sharpness of the exposed image.

Accessories for IS lenses

IS lenses work well when used with accessories. Add an EF extender and you can increase the effective focal length of the lens by 1.4x or 2x. Increased focal length means that the effects of camera shake are also magnified, so the image stabilization is very useful. EF extenders are compatible with L-series and DO lenses of focal length 135mm and greater, and a small number of wide-aperture telephoto zoom lenses.

Image stabilization also remains effective when extension tubes or close-up lenses are used. An extender can be used with many IS lenses. Image stabilization remains effective with most recent EOS camera models.

Keep a tripod

Although an IS lens gives more opportunities for hand-held shots, there will still be times when the support of a tripod is needed ? with exposure times of several seconds, for example, or when working with heavy EF-500mm or EF-600mm lenses.

With some of the earlier lenses, you need to switch the IS off when using a tripod. The lack of movement confuses the system and the image starts to jump around the viewfinder. However, using a tripod in high wind or with super telephoto lenses, often results in some camera movement, and the IS system can be invaluable. Later IS models are able to sense the use of a tripod and automatically disable the IS, if necessary.

You should also leave the Image Stabilizer on when using a monopod, as it is unlikely you will be able to keep this type of support perfectly still."

More Sigma Lens Coming To Photokina 2014

Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 APO EX DG lens

* * *  Read the latest post on Sigma lens strategy  * * *

The upcoming Photokina Show in Cologne, Germany on September 12 will be an exciting event. Canon is expected to announce the long awaited EOS-7D Mk II camera and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens.

Sigma Corp. has been doing a good job recently challenging Canon, Nikon and Zeiss with quality, high performance lenses at affordable prices. Their 50mm f/1.4 Art lens released in April 2014 performed almost as well as the Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 for a fraction of the price. They might upstage Zeiss again and announce their 85mm f/1.4 Art lens just before Photokina to steal the limelight from the expected Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 lens introduction at the show.

In addition, Sigma is rumored to be working on more new lenses. Their 24-105mm f/4 DG OS lens released last year won many good reviews and a 24-70mm f/2 DG Art lens may be in the works. Their current zoom, the 200-500mm f/2.8 APO EX DG lens is the fastest long zoom lens on the market and a 300-600mm lens may be the next to complement their high end lens offering.

Personally, I am not very fond of Sigma's long lens offering. They still have a way to go to catch up with Canon. My favorite Super Telephoto zoom is the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x Extender lens. You can read my Canon wildlife lens recommendation here and see photos taken on worldwide photos shoots on my website MichaelDanielHo.com

Wildlife Photography - Back from the High Arctic

* * *  I am in Alaska on a photo shoot right now  * * *  

I have returned from my photo shoot in Svalbard in the high Arctic. This Norwegian archipelago is about 23,500 square miles and the climate is relatively mild by Arctic standard. Temperature averages around -5 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, as compared to Hudson Bay, which can drop to -40+ degrees.

The warm West Spitsbergen Current and the ice-infested East Greenland Current are the two major currents in Fram Strait, the body of water that lies between Greenland and Svalbard. While the WSC carries warm Atlantic waters north into the Arctic Ocean, the EGC transports cold, fresh water and sea ice south out of the Arctic basin. In this manner, the currents work together to make Fram Strait the northernmost permanently ice-free ocean area in the world.

Polar bear walking on the few remaining fast ice to be found in the high Arctic summer

This time the expedition ship I was on only managed to get as high as Latitude 80 degrees and 12 minutes. The weather was poor to fair, with many foggy and dull days, making wildlife spotting and photography a challenge. Polar bear sightings were few and quite far away. Walrus and whale encounters were not spectacular either. Such is the vicissitudes of a wildlife photo shoot. One is at the mercy of chance, weather and circumstance.

The ever curious and lovable Atlantic Walrus inspecting the photographer

Summer in the high Arctic is a lean time for Polar bears. Sea ice is breaking up fast and most of the seals are in the water and that makes hunting them almost impossible. Most bears try to conserve energy by doing as little as possible, resting and sleeping most of the day. I am just beginning to look over my photos. You can visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com , Facebook and Twitter pages to see new photos as they are posted or review images from past photo shoots.

Canon EOS-1D X Camera For $5,099

Canon EOS-1D X with EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x Extender lens

There is a top-rated merchant on eBay selling the Canon EOS-1D X camera for $5,099 including shipping. Hurry, it won't last. This is an excellent price and my pick as the best full frame DSLR camera two years in a row.

You will not find a link to this eBay item because I do not accept any ad or commissioned link on my Blog. I am completely unbiased in my recommendation and have no conflict of interest. You can see travel and wildlife photos taken with this camera on my worldwide photo shoots on MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon EOS-1D X - Firmware 2.0.3 Explained

* * *  Read the nostalgic post on the Canon EOS-1 camera  * * *

The Canon EOS-1D X has been available for about two years this July. I have picked this camera as the best DSLR body on the market two years in a row. Since its announcement, there has been many improvements to the world of high tech camera equipment - the DIGIC 6 processor, Dual Pixel CMOS AF system and newer sensor technology, just to name a few.

Nikon recently released their D4S camera. Canon, in anticipation of the move, released Firmware 2.0.3 to enhance the capabilities and features of the EOS-1D X back in January. In my opinion, the camera is holding its own against the newer Nikon but Canon engineers are busy working on the Mk II version. You can see photos taken with the current camera on worldwide shoots on MichaelDanielHo.com

Below are three videos put out by Canon Digital Learning Center, describing the additional features of Firmware 2.0.3. First video is a bit tedious and the presenter can be a tad over zealous with his generous hype but I agree with most of his statements. The EOS-1D X is not a perfect camera, sometimes it is unnecessarily complicated but on the whole, it is a very impressive piece of equipment. I only wish the sensor were an APS-H. This would give me that extra reach. As a wildlife photographer, one cannot have too much focal length and I am not a big fan of extenders except in the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS lens.

Useful Tips On Buying Used Canon Equipment

My readers must have noticed there are many photography websites promoting 'good deals' from specific camera retailers. One look around these sites reveal they are also taking commissions and paid advertisement from the same merchants. I am not affiliated with any equipment manufacturer or camera stores and receive no compensation or commission from any company. Fortunately, with comparison shopping and open auction sites all over the internet, one can determine good deals without much difficulties.

Hard to believe but the world of consumer DSLR cameras is only about 14 years old. I still have my treasured Canon EOS-1 V film camera. Once in a while, I will take it out on a nice day and bring a few rolls of slide film to do some photography the old fashion way.  The photography industry is so technology driven now one can mistake it for the Computer or Smart Phone market these days. It seems every few months there is something 'faster and better' coming out to tempt consumers to trade up.

In general, Canon prices have kept up with inflation but their high end cameras and lenses retain their value quite well so there is a robust market for used equipment. For those who want to trade up but not spend too much to chase the latest technology, there is always the used equipment market. The danger here is buying from someone you don't know is a big risk on something that may not have an obvious flaw until you take the equipment out for a photo session.

Is the seller providing a warranty? The original Canon EF lens warranty indicates that it is non-transferable. However, Canon's practice has been to honor an EF lens warranty if they are provided with a valid receipt from a Canon authorized dealer. So, you just may get warranty coverage on a Canon EF lens you purchase used if you have a valid receipt. Some commercial retailers provide their own used equipment warranty. Is there a return policy if you are not satisfied with your purchase? Most commercial retailers do not allow returns on used Canon lenses if you changed your mind, but transactions with an individual depends on whatever is negotiated.

Over the years, I have purchased lightly used equipment from individuals and found the experience spotty. Camera stores rarely have the used equipment I was looking for at a good price but surprisingly I found the answer right under my nose.  As it turns out, Canon USA runs a thriving Refurbished Equipment Store. These are cameras and lenses that retailers return to them with minor 'problems' or open box items.  They are generally indistinguishable from new equipment, carries a one year warranty from Canon and ships in factory packaging to the consumers.

The only drawback is their refurbished inventory is mostly consumer items. Once in a while, they do have professional equipment for sale but they get snapped up quickly. I have bought a few pieces of equipment from them over the years, including an EOS-1 camera that I used as backup equipment. They look just like new gear and performed flawlessly for me.  If there is any problem, Canon USA stands behind it with either an exchange or repair, whichever the customer prefers.

There are stores that sell refurbished Canon equipment as well but their prices are generally higher and they do not carry the factory warranty. I am not recommending Canon USA or any other company, just sharing my experience with buying refurbished Canon equipment and saving some money while doing it. I have been a wildlife photographer for 25 years using Canon gear. You can see my equipment bag and read my FAQs on camera gear and see my Travel and Wildlife photos taken around the world, some with the refurbished equipment I bought on MichaelDanielHo.com

Bokeh : What Is It and How To Get It

Dictionary.com defines Bokeh as - A Japanese term for the subjective aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas of a photographic image. No matter how one defines it, the blurred background of most photos adds a pleasant look to the picture and leads one's attention to concentrate on the subject at hand. 

Green Bee-eater in Bandhavgarh National Park, India

DigitalRev put out the video below to illustrate how to take photos with varying bokeh. Generally, a longer lens gives more bokeh than a shorter lens with the same aperture setting. You can see more examples of different bokeh on my website - MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II Coming In September

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4-5.6L IS II zoom lens?

Now that the eagerly awaited EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens has been out for one year, attention has turned to Canon's other venerable lens, the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS. This is my other favorite zoom in Canon's  'L' lens lineup. You can read my review of this lens here.

Unfortunately, the lens is showing its age. Released in 1998, it quickly became a staple in my photography bag for wildlife photo shoots. The lens is perfect for mobility and handholding. Although not a fast lens, its versatility and great zoom range more than offset the other shortcomings. The replacement lens has been spotted out in field tests and may be slightly faster (f/4) on the short end (100mm). The current lens is one of Canon's best selling zooms and there may be plenty of inventory around the world. Some are suggesting Canon may be holding off the announcement to see how well the new EF 200-400mm f/4 lens sells.

I find that not to be a plausible scenario. The EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x is an expensive ($11,799) niche lens. Not too many photographers will opt to buy this lens unless they have a specific need for it and have the funds to do so. I own this piece of amazing glass but the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens is also on my list because the two lenses serve very different purpose.

As my readers know, I prefer to travel light and handhold my equipment while on photo shoots. The EF 200-400mm lens will be on the tripod or monopod most of the time while the EF 100-400mm II lens will offer me unmatched mobility and versatility. Cannot wait to get my hands on this replacement lens. Nikon announced their 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 AF-S zoom lens to great excitement last year. Canon will respond and may announce the EF 100-400mm II in early September, in time for the Photokina Show in mid September in Cologne, Germany. I expect the list price will be just below $3,000, similar to the EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS lens. The push/pull design will be replaced by a zoom ring. Keep checking back for the latest information and you can see my works on MichaelDanielHo.com

Canon EF 101 Video : Telephoto Lenses

Canon USA has posted a new video of their ongoing series, EF Lenses 101. This time the topic is Telephoto lenses. These lenses are used mostly to bring distant subjects closer, as in wildlife, bird or sports photography.

Matt Kloskowski is the presenter and he gives some tips on using Telephoto lenses. My favorite Super Telephoto lens is the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS. Other videos on Fisheye, Tilt-shift, Wide angle and STM lenses are here.  You can read my FAQs on Canon lens recommendation and see my work on MichaelDanielHo.com

Wildlife Photography - African and Asian Elephants

African Elephants are very protective of their calves

An emotive and iconic animal, the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the largest living terrestrial mammal, with the largest recorded individual reaching a height of over 12 feet at the shoulder and weighing over 10 tons. The African elephant’s brain is bigger than any other land animal and its skull is exceptionally large, having evolved to support the trunk and the heavy teeth and jaws. The skull comprises up to 25 percent of the elephant’s total body weight.

Elephant calves are very playful and like to hang out with each other

The Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are smaller than their African savannah relatives and have many other physical features that set them apart. Their ears are smaller and their back is more rounded so that the crown of the head is the highest point of the body. Elephants are unusual among mammals in that they continue to grow throughout their life, although the rate at which they grow slows after they reach sexual maturity. 

The African elephant occurs largely in eastern, southern and western Africa while their Asian cousins are now restricted to isolated fragments in parts of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Laos, Malaysia and Indonesia. The greatest threat to the population of the world's elephant's is the ivory trade, conducted primarily in Asia, which leads to the relentless poaching and slaughter. The secondary threat is the loss of their habitat due to human encroachment.

Asian Elephants in Kaziranga National Park, India

Photographing Elephants is one of the most enjoyable experience for me because they are very similar to humans. They have a social structure, a tight family bond and a life span of about 80 years. A female Elephant has a gestation period of over one and a half years and gives birth to one calf. She is a devoted mother and spends all her time taking care of her offspring. The young are inquisitive and playful. 

For more posts on photographing other wildlife, you will find Hummingbirds, Polar bears, Bengal tigers, Killer whales and Blue whales adventures here. I have been a wildlife photographer for 25 years using Canon gear. You can read my FAQs on wildlife photography, see my equipment bag and my works on MichaelDanielHo.com. You can also follow my travels on my blog, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Photography Roundup - Tips, Tricks and Hacks

Digital Camera World came out with a list of tips and tricks for Canon DSLR camera users. Not an eye-opening revelation but worth a look for those who are looking to improve their skill in photography. I have been a wildlife photographer for 25 years using Canon gear. You can read my FAQs on equipment recommendation and see my work on MichaelDanielHo.com

How To Spot A Real vs. Fake Professional Photographer

DigitalRev is at it again. This time they are playing around with a video on how to fool others by being a fake professional photographer. On the other hand, I have been a real wildlife photographer for 25 years using Canon gear. You can read my FAQs on equipment and see my work on MichaelDanielHo.com

How The Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS Lens Is Made

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II Super Telephoto lens

The Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II is my favorite non Diffractive Optics Super Telephoto prime lens. The EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4X is my favorite Super Telephoto zoom lens and the EF 400mm f/4DO IS II is my favorite Diffractive Optics Super Telephoto prime lens.

You can see how the EF 500mm lens is manufactured from beginning to end. Take a look at my equipment bag and global wildlife photography taken with all the above lenses. Find out how Canon's Image Stabilizer lens technology works and see my works on MichaelDanielHo.com.

Canon Lens Guru App For Smartphones

Canon Lens Guru App for smartphones

Canon has introduced a Lens Guru App for smartphones. There is also a nice Canon App for the EOS-1D X camera as well. You can read my FAQ on wildlife lens recommendation and see my work on MichaelDanielHo.com

The official Canon Lens Guru app shows you how changing lenses can improve your photography. Be inspired by stunning images from leading Canon photographers, and learn how lenses enable you to see things differently.

• Discover how different lenses affect your photography, with clearly explained video tutorials
• Browse Canon lenses by category, subject matter and example photos
• Enjoy inspirational photographs from leading professional photographers, each accompanied by information about the lens type and camera settings used
• Learn how to use your EOS and get creative with different shooting modes and camera settings

FAQs

How can I get the Canon Lens Guru app on my Apple iPhone or iPod Touch?
Search for ‘Canon Lens Guru’ in the App Store on your device, and select it from the search results by tapping the icon. When the app’s page loads, tap the Free button to install it. To avoid mobile network data charges download the app over Wi-Fi.

Alternatively, download Canon Lens Guru from iTunes on your PC or Mac. Search for the app by name in the iTunes Store, and choose it from the search results by clicking its icon. Click the Free button to download. Canon Lens Guru will install on your iPhone or iPod Touch next time you sync your device with your PC or Mac.

How can I get the Canon Lens Guru app on my Android Smartphone?

Search for ‘Canon Lens Guru’ in the Play Store on your device, and select it from the search results by tapping the icon. When the app’s page loads, tap the Install button. To avoid mobile network data charges download the app over Wi-Fi.

Alternatively, download Canon Lens Guru from play.google.com/store on your PC or Mac. Search for the app by name in the Store, and choose it from the search results by clicking its icon. Click the Install button and sign-in with your Google account if requested, follow the online prompts and the app will be installed on your device.

How do I use the Canon Lens Guru app?

Start the app by tapping the icon on your device’s Home screen. When you see the Canon Lens Guru welcome screen, start navigating though the app using the menu icon in the top-left corner of the page.
To navigate to a section in the app (e.g. Getting started), tap the corresponding option in the menu. Note that some menu items expand to show sub-sections when they’re tapped.

Can I use the Canon Lens Guru without an Internet connection?

After initial installation the application will need to download video content over the internet (to avoid data charges it is recommended that this is done over Wi-Fi). After this point all content is stored on your device and can be used offline, without the need for an internet connection.

How do I update the Canon Lens Guru app?

If the Canon Lens Guru app is updated in iTunes or the Play Store you will be notified via your device.
On your iPhone or iPod Touch go to the Updates tab on the App Store app to download the update. If you have turned on automatic updates (only available in iOS7) the updated app will automatically download to your device.

On your Android smartphone follow the prompts on your device, or go to Play Store and select My apps via the menu button to download the update.

How do I feedback on the Canon Lens Guru app?

In the app’s main menu, tap on About and then Send Feedback. We’re keen to hear your feedback on the app, whether it's good or bad. We’d also love to hear your suggestions on how we could improve the ‘Canon Lens Guru’ app.