gdp's Comments

Michael Miles Photography (Live) : ScanCafe: An un-candy coated review

Tue, 7 Jun 2011 17:10:37 +0000

Your image sizes from your links above really scare me as they are only 676 x 1024. This is less than 1MP. Their site says they scan at 7MP resolution. To get 7MP resolution, you need to scan at 2400 dpi. This would give you an image size of 3400 by 2200 (and 3400 x 2200 = 7480000 which is 7.48 MP, but there is always 'rounding' involved....7MP) Can you verify that there are not larger images? There are those they deliver via the website, but then the full resolution version should come on a DVD. Let us know what happens!

Michael Miles Photography (Live) : ScanCafe: An un-candy coated review

Sun, 5 Jun 2011 12:08:51 +0000

Thanks for the comment, There is a couple of missing pieces of information to the puzzle... What speed film was used? And what camera? The act of scanning doesn\\\'t add noise to an image and from what I can see the amount of noise is typical for a 400 to 800 speed film. What I do find interesting is the image size is only 685x1024...That isn\\\'t a very high dpi for scanning slides. I want to understand this a bit more and also going to pull up some slides I scanned to compare for you, be back soon (or later ;) it is Sunday)

Michael Miles Photography (Live) : Is the Canon 7D a lemon?

Tue, 17 May 2011 17:04:25 +0000

That looks like some great production work, good job by all!

Michael Miles Photography (Live) : Is the Canon 7D a lemon?

Tue, 17 May 2011 16:59:55 +0000

Kind of like the focus system. The fixes have it working fine, but then after a few weeks goes back to the same issues (my experience along with many others). This sounds like up your ally: http://notesonvideo.blogspot.com/2009/10/canon-7d...

Michael Miles Photography (Live) : Is the Canon 7D a lemon?

Tue, 17 May 2011 16:41:54 +0000

Sorry, I made a mistake, I got mixed up. There is a 4GIG file size limit which works out to around 12 minutes of recording time. These are stated via the 7D manual. Last I researched (last year) the word going around was the more video you do, the more the internals heat up. The more heat, the less time you can record as it will start to 'error code' and shut down for overheating. Food for thought: Canon has always taken the stand point that the camera's video option was first developed for photo journalists in the field and not for cinema, family or wedding videos. That has been their stance on all the 'negative' feedback on 'lack of abilities' (like mono audio for instance). I also read an article that stated Canon was 'blow away' by the amount of interest from the 'cinema' industry, they said they truly never expected the interest to go past photo-journalists (in regards to video on camera). My 2 cents, but I believe they would be working on better options (stereo, gain control, recording length, etc) for future product releases... As for competition, Nikon's new D3100 allows constant focus for shooting video (although reports say the video is much more grainy because of this).

Michael Miles Photography (Live) : Is the Canon 7D a lemon?

Tue, 17 May 2011 14:16:39 +0000

Also don't forget that the limit for a video clip is around 5 minutes, better to end before the limit. I'm sure you know this, but just want to emphasis, there is a tendency to overheat while shooting video....

Michael Miles Photography (Live) : Is the Canon 7D a lemon?

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:30:03 +0000

So, I'm confused. What is your argument to support your point of view? I was asked this question many times, I'm answering it with my own experiences that are built with many discussions with Canon service reps along with what little data I have available. If Canon would be so kind to release data that we all could data mine for figures like 'number of repairs made' and 'issue repaired' on each model of camera they released, boy, that sure would be nice wouldn't it? But they don't. They certainly wouldn't want that info out in the public. So, I write this to share my point of view based on what little evidence and data I have. I make no threats, I make no assumptions, I say nothing to the degree of hating or otherwise implying I don't like my camera. I certainly didn't like the experience I had though! Oh, and please don't forget the simple fact that Canon FIXED the issue. Would they spend the money for 4 repairs if they didn't see the problem? Wouldn't that be odd, to just keep sending me shipping labels at their expense (there and back) 4 times, give me a loaner even. All because they didn't think there was a problem with the camera? To soothe me over? The difference between you and me is this: I'm trying to help. What can you offer to help people understand your point of view? Stating you are curious because people "like me" are threatening a camera. I can't think of any time in my 30 year history of photography that a camera model has had so much going for it but at the same time SEEMS to have such serious issues.

Michael Miles Photography (Live) : Answer: Fixing Canon 7D Focus Issue

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 03:04:03 +0000

I find that strange unless you bought the camera used? Or, is it our of warranty? They have always paid for shipping there and back on all my under warranty repair jobs. If it is under warranty, I wonder if that is a policy change?

Michael Miles Photography (Live) : Answer: Fixing Canon 7D Focus Issue

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:53:39 +0000

I couldn't say, although the last round of body updates seem to have more chatter on the net with issues than any releases prior, but take that with a grain of salt as it is only based on my own research into bodies. I haven't done any research on Nikon's side as I was already 'bought' into Canon with all my glass. Good Luck!

Michael Miles Photography (Live) : Answer: Fixing Canon 7D Focus Issue

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:31:35 +0000

Andrew, good question on being a Lemon, I have some insight in a post here on that subject: http://www.michaelmiles.com/2011/04/25/is-the-can... I think the graph of visitors is interesting. People just keep looking for help on that camera!

9 to 5 Mac | Apple Intelligence : Gift from Microsoft: Photosynth panorama taking app for iPhone (not to be missed)

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:38:48 +0000

I like how your shadow worked out.....

Michael Miles Photography : Dell UltraSharp U2410 24inch Widescreen Monitor

Fri, 8 Apr 2011 11:52:11 +0000

Thanks, updated.

Michael Miles Photography (Live) : Photo Friday – Recover those shadows!

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 01:49:09 +0000

Thanks for the kudos! Nik is great and we all keep learning what it can do....so many dials and switches! ;)

Michael Miles Photography (Live) : Answer: Fixing Canon 7D Focus Issue

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:53:37 +0000

I understand your frustration! From my experience (4 times in) they want to see what you see. But at the same time, they only fix what you say needs fixing. So, yeah....shouldn't they be able to put it through the paces with some super calibration machine and spit out a perfect camera? lens? Just not the case, I don't if it is from having such a heavy work load or are the cameras today just so complicated you can't just 'fix it'.

Michael Miles Photographs : Objects in mirror

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:54:04 +0000

I'm testing this out!

Michael Miles Photography : Aperture 3 Slideshows Update

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 19:43:00 +0000

I noticed on the demo download is states the version downloaded is 3.1. And then to use 'Software Update' (in Apple menu) to get the latest version. I have 3.1.1 which no longer has the trimming issues (I recall mine would trim, but the audio no longer matched....before the updates). Hope that helps....

Michael Miles Photography : Answer: Fixing Canon 7D Focus Issue

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:56:27 +0000

As requested, I posted some images to show the types of issues I was having. More than just focus for me as you will see: http://michaelmiles.com/7d-focus-samples/

Michael Miles Photography : Answer: Fixing Canon 7D Focus Issue

Wed, 9 Feb 2011 15:40:33 +0000

I'm digging for examples now, will post a link soon. This has been close to a year ago, so not sure if I've cleaned up my library or not.

Michael Miles Photography : Answer: Fixing Canon 7D Focus Issue

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 16:03:04 +0000

Glad to here it worked Bob, let us know if the camera falls back to it's 'old ways', thanks!

Michael Miles Photography : ScanCafe: An un-candy coated review

Sat, 29 Jan 2011 21:29:06 +0000

The images as a default will come back in .jpg format, 600dpi in a DVD disc. You can make edits yourself whether they are jpg or tiff format. What tiff format does is give you a non-compressed image, meaning no loss of data. Jpeg is a compression format, meaning you may get some artifacts due to compression. This link is a great resource to fully explain this: http://www.digitalmemoriesonline.net/scan/output/... Please note that if you want to do the editing, you need to tell ScanCafe up front to NOT do any color correction or scratch removal. They do this automatically unless told otherwise. There is a very pricy version of their service that gives you both the TIFF format and a process JPG format called ProLibrary: http://www.scancafe.com/services/pro-options My advice on my limited knowledge of how attached you are to these photos and what you want to do creatively would be to look at doing the normal service, but add the .09/cents a scan for 'Pro Resolution'. I wished I used pro resolution on my batch since I wanted to do a lot of cropping on the photos, and at the 600dpi (for normal), I was limited in what I could do. I really don't advise doing TIFF format if you are going to scan hundreds of photos, that really adds up if you aren't going to touch/print/edit 80%. What I did is take the photos I really wanted to do the cropping/editing/etc and re-scanned them myself. Saved a lot of money that way ;) I hope that is a good direction for you, let me know how it goes or if I need to be more clear to help you decide, thanks!