This isn’t a scientific example by any stretch of the imagination. And comparing one lens from Nikon vs. one lens from Canon isn’t fair especially since we have so many other factors that are different such as sensor size, different sensors, autofocus systems, metering systems. I did edit both photos using Adobe Camera Raw with the same settings. The cameras in question are the Nikon D90 and the Canon 5DII.

Just in handling and auto focus I like the Nikon’s capture of the subjects – I was able to nail the shot in one try. And it took several attempts to get the Canon to duplicate the shot made by the Nikon D90. But here you can see side by side comparisons at about 100%. These were cropped so you can see the difference.

Nikon 105mm VR vs Canon 100mm IS

Nikon 105mm VR vs Canon 100mm IS

If I was to pick a winner I would go with the Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR. A lot of that is just from my gut in my selection. In testing the Canon 100mm f/2.8 IS this week I have been feeling the Nikon just gives me better results. And I think that is one reason I decided to keep photographing with both camera systems. I was really close to selling my Nikon gear to replace it all with Canon. But that 105mm is hard to beat. If you don’t have one you should go out and buy one.

Or get it from amazon.com.

One of my dream lenses has been upgraded to a version 2 – the Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 VRII is brand new and weighs in at about $6999. I am drooling already. Will I ever own this lens? Probably not – I really don’t photograph enough events or sporting events that would use this lens. And this wouldn’t be very good for indoor sporting events because you want to have an f/2.8 to try and freeze the action with a 1/1000 of a second shutter speed.

I can see using a really long lens for models or fashion because you can make the person look thinner with the compression available with really long lenses (one reason you don’t photograph models with a wide angle lenses). And you get the really blurry backgrounds behind the subject.

AF-S Nikkor 200–400mm f/4G ED VR II

So, yeah, the lens isn’t practical but it is really cool. It would be perfect for outdoor sporting events. All you would ever need for outdoor football would be a 70-200mm and the 200-400mm lens. And with improving ISO capabilities on these camera bodies this lens may soon work for indoor sports photography.

And this lens doesn’t have a Canon counterpart. And Nikon is the king of zoom lenses (Canon is the king of prime lenses.)

It has been raining and raining for the past 3 days. At least it isn’t snowing.

Tomorrow there is going to be the annual Walk MS in Salt Lake City, Utah and I will be going to help photograph the event. It should be fun and hopefully not wet. Last time I was caught in an all day event in the rain I was prepared enough with plastic trash bags. They kept the equipment safe in the rain but damn it was difficult to photograph.

So I have my eye on the Think Tank Photo Hydrophobia. It helps protect your camera gear in the rain while letting you access the buttons and controls and continue to photograph. This is on my Amazon.com wishlist and so hopefully I will buy it soon. And I will review it once I do.

There are versions that will even support the big lenses at 600mm! All I will need is the one for my 70-200mm.

As for that rain day last year, I was surprised to see how many photographers were not even protecting their cameras in the rain – I was passing out plastic garbage bags to them and encouraging them to keep their gear safe.

I have finally caved in and purchase a Hoodman Loupe – and like a lot of people I want to know why I waited so long to buy one. Maybe it is because what it does is so simple and the price seems pretty dang pricey. The Hoodman Loupe is placed over the LCD screen of your digital camera so you can see the screen if you are outside in bright sunlight.

It took me a while to figure out how to get the Hoodman Loupe to focus properly. You twist the eyepiece till things come into focus. At first the twisting felt like I was going to break it – it was so tight. But once I got it going focusing was easy. And I won’t have to focus again, unless my vision changes.

$79 sounds like a lot of money – but I imagine you could do this with an empty toilet paper cardboard roll. And with how often I photograph outdoors this will definitely make things easier to know when things are exposed properly and if focus is sharp.

Meet the latest addition to my very big camera bag (ok, I have several camera bags to hold this stuff). I bought the Lensbabies Soft Focus Optic. I will be creating some photographs with this optic in the next few days to show off what it does. But if you don’t have a Lensbaby – you really should get one. It is a unique creative tool that will challenge you – because you will be photographing in manual mode and manual focus. But you will also find that you create photographs that are truly unique and creative.

Practice makes perfect.

I have the whole set of Lensbaby optics – and they are the opposite to the quality of a Canon L series lens or to a Nikon high end lens. These are full of imperfections – that is what makes them appealing. It is my way of creating vintage photographs with digital tools. And without spending hours and hours in Photoshop.

The following photograph was taken with my Canon Lensbaby and the double glass optic.

Lensbaby Soft Focus Optic