Here are some recent posts containing useful information for photographers using Canon digital SLR cameras:

1. The “crop factor” on Canon digital cameras with sub full-frame sensors takes the “wow” factor out of many Canon wide angle lenses by effectively “lengthening” them by 1.6x or 60%. Canon’s range of EF-S lenses have helped by offering additional wide angle options, but many of the lenses in this line-up are fairly basic and of flimy build. There are, however, two EF-S lenses that stand out from the crowd — see Two Stand-Out EF-S Lenses from Canon for more.

2. While image stabilization (IS) is extremely useful for wildlife photographers using telephoto lenses, it can lead to over-dependance on the technology, resulting in disappointing results when the IS doesn’t live up to expectations. Savvy and experienced wildlife photographers will always opt for some form of camera support where possible. Even though it’s often not feasible to use a tripod in a game drive vehicle, there are alternatives — see Using a Camera Support to Counter Camera Shake for more.

3. A popular lens for wildlife photography is Canon’s EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM telephoto zoom because of its wide zoom range and image stabilization. It is not excessively expensive, mainly because of the slow maximum aperture of f/5.6 at 400mm, even though it is an L-series lens. You can find out more about this particular lens and L lenses in general from this blog post: Cheetah Picture Using Canon L-Series Lens.

4. One normally associates wildlife photography in general, and bird photography in particular, with long telephoto lenses. However, it’s always worth experimenting and searching for a different “look”, especially as affordable compact cameras sporting powerful 24x ultra zoom lenses make wildlife photography more accessible to the man in the street. Read about one such experiment — Using a Canon Wide Angle Lens to Show Location — where the camera was placed on the ground and the photo taken using an electronic cable release.

5. If you’re a photographer using a digital SLR camera, then you’ll definitely want to make sure you have a wide angle lens in your arsenal of photographic gear. Of course, if you’re a Canon shooter, then it should be a Canon wide angle in your camera bag — or possibly one of the lenses made by independent manufacturers like Tamron or Sigma — but you do need a wide angle! For more on this, and the reasons supporting the recommendation, see Make Sure You Have a Wide Angle Lens in Your Camera Bag.

6. Telephoto lenses prove invaluable when you can’t get near enough to the subject you’re photographing, as in most sports, where you have to shoot from the grandstand or sidelines. See Telephoto Lenses are Essential Tools for Sports Photography to find out more and understand the differences between prime and zoom tele lenses when it comes to shooting sports pictures.

Caption: Leopard (Panthera pardus) lying in the grass after nightfall, Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sand, South Africa.

Photo Info: Canon EOS 400D (Digital Rebel XTi); Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM; Focal Length: 170mm; Shutter speed: 1/80; Aperture: f2.8; ISO: 800.

The leopard picture above was taken at night, without flash. The available light was provided by a hand-held spotlight of the type used on safari night drives, aimed towards the side of the animal by the tracker on our safari vehice.

As can be seen from the Photo Info, the ISO was pushed up to 800, which allowed a shutter-speed of 1/80 at an aperture of f/2.8. Luckily I was using a borrowed lens — a “fast” Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM zoom that helped me get the picture without resorting to flash.

The EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS is a superb lens for wildlife photography with its fast f/2.8 maximum aperture throughout the zoom range. This allows shooting in low light at shutter speeds that are sufficiently fast to counter the camera shake that’s inevitable when using a long lens.

For the above picture, even with limited available light from the spot, I was able to shoot at 1/80 by keeping the aperture wide open and cranking up the ISO. In these situations image stabilization is a huge help, but it’s doubtful if I’d have been able to keep the picture sharp at a slower shutter speed, which would have been necessary had I been forced to use a smaller aperture.

The one drawback of this lens that photographers complain about is its bulk and weight — a natural result of the many glass elements needed to provide the constant maximum f/2.8 aperture, while still providing the superior image quality that photographers expect of a Canon L-series lens.

A highly recommended alternative is the f/2.8’s more compact sibling, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM. With a maximum aperture of f/4 there is a loss of one stop, but the image and build quality easily match that of the larger lens. Some users even insist that the f/4 produces sharper images.

The main advantage however is its smaller size and significantly lighter weight — 1.67 lbs (760g) vs 3.24 lbs (1470g) for the f/2.8.

This makes it ideal for travel and other assignments where weight is critical. The second generation image stabilizer provides up to four stops of camera shake correction, making it easy to hand hold. Certainly a lens with a top pedigree that offers a viable alternative to its big brother — and at considerable cost saving. For user comments and reviews, see Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM user ratings.