Phottix Atlas Trigger

For a long time, PocketWizard has being known as the top best wireless trigger-maker in the photography scene, particularly with their ultra popular PocketWizard Plus II™ transceiver.

PocketWizard Plus II

Until recently, Hong Kong-based company Phottix, announced the brand new Atlas Professional Wireless Flash Trigger (CE 433 MHz version) which incidentally looks very similar in design with the Plus II. Remote shutter release is also possible but you will need to purchase an optional 10-pin shutter-release cable.

© Phottix

Phottix Atlas Features

• Use as wireless flash, studio trigger or shutter release
• Automatically switches to transmit or receive mode when attached to a camera or flash, and triggers flashes
• A hot shoe port (for speedlights w/o PC-sync terminal ) and PC Sync port for attaching flashes and strobes
• Sync Speed: Up to 1/250 sec. (On compatible cameras / flashes)
• 4-channel
• Shoot from 100+ meters away (or longer, depending on actual shoot condition)
  
• Simultaneously trigger cameras, flashes, and studio strobes with a single remote
• Equipped with a two-color status LED
• Uses two AA Batteries or DC power port 
• Accessories include locking PC-sync, 3.5mm, 1/4″ mini plug, batteries and lanyard

Overview

3.5mm connections

Metal hot-shoe (You can also put another brand of wireless flash trigger on the hotshoe to trigger a different set of remote flashes in sync with the Atlas remotes.

Utilizes two AA's batteries

1/4" screw mount

Phottix Atlas + Canon 5D mark II (front)

Phottix Atlas + Canon 5D mark II (back)

Ease of operation, works flawlessly combined with great design and superb performance at only 70% price of the PocketWizard Plus II's, it's really hard to beat this kind of benchmark.

Canon Lens Code

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 USM II © dzignous

Canon have an unique way of documenting their lens manufacturing dates. Looking at the back (mount) of the lenses is a six-digit code, which indicates where and when the specific lens was manufactured.
E.g. - "UY1112"

The first letter 'U' represents the factory that made the lens:

1. U = Utsunomiya
2. F = Fukushima
3. O = Ōita

The second letter 'Y' represent the year of manufacture:

    •    A = 1986, 1960
    •    B = 1987, 1961
    •    C = 1988, 1962
    •    D = 1989, 1963
    •    E = 1990, 1964
    •    F = 1991, 1965
    •    G = 1992, 1966
    •    H = 1993, 1967
    •    I = 1994, 1968
    •    J = 1995, 1969
    •    K = 1996, 1970
    •    L = 1997, 1971
    •    M = 1998, 1972
    •    N = 1999, 1973
    •    O = 2000, 1974
    •    P = 2001, 1975
    •    Q = 2002, 1976
    •    R = 2003, 1977
    •    S = 2004, 1978
    •    T = 2005, 1979
    •    U = 2006, 1980
    •    V = 2007, 1981
    •    W = 2008, 1982
    •    X = 2009, 1983
    •    Y = 2010, 1984
    •    Z = 2011, 1985

The next two digits represent the month of the lens is manufactured. The last two digits are for internal Canon use. Thus the 16-35mm f2.8 L USM II (UX0903) shown was made in Utsunomiya, Japan factory in Sep 2009.

So the next time when you like to know how "old" is the 2nd hand Canon lenses that you are going to buy, take a look here for some general reference.

[PS] Carbon Fiber DSLR

Since film time to recent digital age , all top camera/lens models are make of either magnesium alloy/titanium or polycarbonate for entry-level models.

Nikon D3X

Canon 5D Mark II

Olympus E3

Sony A900

However, in terms of looks and durability, carbon fiber might seem to be a good choice too. Some enthusiastic (including me... hee...) had already used carbon fiber vinyl decals to gaffer their prized collection and the final result looks really good.

3M Carbon Fiber Vinyl

© dzignous

If only there is a real carbon-fiber DSLR/lens and I believe it will look damn fantastic! Agree?

© dzignous

© dzignous

Photoshop or not?

Some might think that an image which had undergo photoshop (PS) treatment is not a "real" photograph. And there's even a small portion which will say that film is the only true and "non-processed" image. However they forgot that from developing of negative to print out, certain degree of touch-up (lightness/contrast/saturation) had already being applied during the process. B/W developing involving dodging and burning which are also part of "processing". Same goes for digital jpeg images.

Photoshop-ing is more essential for digital images as CCD/CMOS sensor does not have the same dynamic range as silver halide prints yet (newer full-frame DSLR have better DR).

One best solution will be to shoot RAW as that will ensure all information to be intact and can be further tweak to own liking. What matters most is to present one very own interpretation of their final piece be it whether the image had undergone PS treatment or not.

Digital processing is also part of photography fun and I totally dig it!

Hong Kong © dzignous

Hong Kong © dzignous

Players in DSLR market

Major players in the market now consist of Canon, Nikon, Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Olympus, Pentax and maybe Leica (niche market).

However, Canon, Sony, Panasonic and Samsung have the biggest advantage among all as they have the CCD/CMOS sensor-making technology.

© Canon

Canon -
With more than 70 years of experiences, Canon held the biggest pie with their ultra-successful EOS cameras and tons of superior EF/EFS lenses. They were once the ONLY brand with the highest megapixel full-frame DSLR system (1Ds -11mp, 1Ds Mark 2 -16mp, 1Ds Mark 3 -21mp) after Contax and Kodak dropped from the market, but was de-throned by Sony in 2008 after they introduced A900 (24.6mp) and subsequently the Nikon D3X (24.5mp).

© Sony

Sony - 
Supplier of sensors for many brands (including Nikon!), Sony is fast catching up after the merging with the failing Konica/Minolta camera division along their anti-shake (the FIRST in-camera anti-shake system in a DSLR) technology. From the very first APS-C A100 to full-frame A900/A850, the recent NEX/SLT cameras also helps Sony grabbing more shares than ever.

© Nikon

Nikon -
The world's no. 2 player had one of the longest history and famed for its legacy F-mount (you can even use a 1950s lens for your D7000!). Although they were late in entering the full-frame market with the legendary D3 in 2008, lots were re-written in history.

• First ever camera to hit ISO 12800
• Noise-less ISO 6400 images
• The only full-frame camera to be able to use both FX and DX lenses
• First 3 inch VGA LCD with 307,000 pixels (922,000 dots)
• Camera grip and body style designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and lots more
  
  

© Panasonic

Panasonic -
Panasonic enters the market with their Lumix 4/3 system,  DMC-L1 and follow up with newer micro 4/3 cameras such as G, GH and GF series. 

© Olympus

Olympus - 
Designed from ground up, Olympus and Kodak pioneered the open-format Four Thirds system and the very first E1 was introduced in Nov 2003. Their initial marketing concept was to have smaller sensor size so as to make possible smaller, lighter camera bodies and lenses. However small sensors suffered from various problems like lower dynamic range, noise, limited shallow DOF etc.

The size and weight of their flagship camera bodies (E1, E3, E5) were not having obvious advantages over other brands. Thus in 2008, Olympus and Panasonic finally introduced the Micro Four Thirds system (MFT), reliving their very first aim of creating a small, light system with the benefits of having interchangeable lens and easy controls for point-and-shoot users to upgrade from their compact cams.

Following the success with the EP/EPL/G/GH/GF series, both manufacturers began to chunk out newer MFT models and lenses. Four-third system looks set to RIP soon.

© Sony

Nevertheless, Sony NEX, Samsung NX series (mirror-less cams), both using APS-C sensors (bigger than MFT) and the rumored Canon/Nikon similar concept cameras look set to be a tough competitors to the MFT as the bigger sensors still have the obvious advantages. 


Not long in the future, we should be able to see more similar small mirror-less cameras in the market and probably one that comes with a full-frame sensor.