The Unique Lens That Had Autofocus Over 40 Years Ago

Canon introduced the EF mount in 1987, and it brought with it a number of innovations while ushering in the autofocus era for the company. Before that, though, was the FD mount, and while it had almost exclusively manual focus lenses, one special lens, the FD 35-70mm f/4 AF, actually had a very strange and unique autofocus system, and this neat video shows what it was like to shoot with.

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A Resource for Astrophotographers: ‘The Backyard Astronomer’s Guide’

In a previous article (Easing into Astrophotography with a Telescope), I listed a few resources for stepping up to telescopic astrophotography. Beyond learning the basics of sky navigation and learning to extend your photographic equipment knowledge into long exposures, an introductory overview of astronomy is a good idea so that you are aware of the photographic possibilities available to you and the wide array of equipment that may be needed.

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A Constellation Astrophotography Project

Fall tends to be a “transitional” season for the astrophotographer. Summer constellations are still visible for early evening, but are quickly fading into the sunset. Late in the evening, some of the prominent Winter constellations are starting to come into view. In a few months these winter constellations will be high in the sky and well placed for astrophotography, so now is the time to do some planning.

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9 Things to Think About Before Buying Your First Video Camera

Buying your first camera is certainly an exciting time, but it is also a significant investment and one that should be considered very carefully before you pull out your credit card. If you are thinking about purchasing your first video camera and need a bit of advice on how to go about it, this excellent video tutorial will give you nine tips to help ensure you do not experience any buyer’s remorse down the road.

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