McBain Camera
1010 Mayor Magrath Dr. South T1K 2P8 Lethbridge, AB, Canada

ATTENTION CUSTOMERS: Our Lethbridge is temporarily closed due to a potential exposure to COVID-19. While there have been no positive tests at this time we will remained closed until all our Lethbridge staff test negative. We will keep you apprised of any developments and will continue to do all that we can to keep our staff and customers safe.

I know we have quite a few video enthusiasts out there, so this Friday, we will cover the fundamentals of cinematic footage. The first and possibly the most important piece of the puzzle is framerate and shutter speed. Cinematic features will always be played back in 24 frames per second, so if you want that Hollywood look, shoot in 24. With video, as a general rule of thumb, you want your shutter speed to double your framerate, so the correct shutter speed to match this fram...erate is 1/50s. 1/48s would be the actual double, but our cameras won't shoot this speed, so we use the next closest. If you start to shoot at a slower shutter speed, the footage looks choppy and unclear; if you shoot faster, motion becomes too sharp, and things can almost look as if they are too slow. Often, we associate a cinematic look with a shallow depth of field, and it is an easy way to isolate the subject and bring a clear focus to what you are watching. Unless you want a razor-thin depth of field, shooting at F3.5-F4 will give you that soft background bokeh to appear cinematic. If you are shooting outdoors and trying to keep a low F-stop, your shutter speed will want to jump up, contradicting our first rule; this is why variable ND filters are prevalent in video production. They darken the lens to allow you to use the aperture you want without compromising shutter speed. You can use your ISO to help compensate for the other two main settings to dial in the exposure, but you should maintain the camera's native ISO whenever possible. Your video will look cleanest at whatever setting this is, and it will allow you to shoot log footage if your camera supports it. Log video is a flat profile that captures more information to colour grade your footage in post-production, but on most cameras, it will need to be used at ISO 500, 800, or even higher, depending on the sensor. Each camera is different, so you will have to check yours to find out the native video ISO. These are just a few simple pointers to help you get started in the world of cinematic videography, but there is much more to learn! Let us know if you would like to know more about video, and we can get started on more tips!

Do you recognize this shelf from our shop? It looks nice with all the equipment on it, but it's not necessarily practical for using and moving gear around. This week's Friday Fundamentals tackles gear storage and bag organization. Unless you have a display shelf safely out of the way, your gear should probably not be stored long term out of a bag or case. It raises the risk of an expensive lens or body being bumped off and hitting the ground. The safest way to store equipment... at home is either in a hard case or drawer with padded dividers. The briefcase style in image two isn't made anymore, but it's perfect for sliding under a table or desk and will keep equipment from being damaged in any way, but it's not designed for field use. An alternative to this would be something like a Nanuk hard case or an air travel rolling bag. As far as taking your gear out with you, it will depend on where you are going and what you plan to shoot. For example, if you are shooting landscapes, you won't need any lighting equipment, but you will need a tripod (img. 3). The opposite is true for many portrait sessions. Usually, the sessions can be shot handheld, but proper lighting makes all the difference, so you will need to add speed lights or strobes to your kit (img.4). You also won't always need all of your lenses; if you're shooting wildlife, you won't need that super wide-angle lens weighing you down! (img.5) Not many of us can afford to have a specific bag for each situation, but it's essential to know where each will perform its best. A large backpack will hold all of the gear you might use on any given shoot, but it may not be ideal if you are hiking, cycling, or shooting street. In these cases, something lightweight is preferred, such as a sling (img.6). A backpack insert with minimal gear is the ideal route on long hikes, like the Tenba BYOB or Peak Design's camera cube. Still have questions? Come on down to McBain or contact us online; we'll make sure you've got everything you need to protect and transport your photography equipment. . #cameragear #organizationideas #organizationtips #cameracollection #portraitsession #yegbusiness #edmontonphotography #camerabags

On this week's edition of Friday Fundamentals, we dive into UV filters and some myths concerning them. UV filters are often seen as an old sales tactic to get you to spend more money, but that's not necessarily the case. We recommend them more often than not simply for protecting the front of the lens; we have seen many lenses that come in to have the filter removed because it has been smashed, but the lens itself is fine. One thing to clear up right off the bat is that they... will not improve image quality on a new digital camera, despite the manufacturers' claims. If you are shooting film, they will absolutely increase clarity, but we will focus on digital cameras today. Modern sensors have a piece of UV glass in front of them to remove atmospheric haze caused by UV rays. So why not just go with the least expensive if it's just for protection? Firstly, a cheap glass filter will not be crystal clear and will degrade the photo quality. Secondly, as you go higher up in the filter range, you begin to get better coatings that repel dust and moisture. For example, our HGX Prime filters have better resistance with the Repellamax II coating than the Kenko protector series. But then another step up again to B+W MRC nano filters will give arguably the best coatings to fight ghosting and lens flare while still repelling dirt and water. One final thing to note when choosing a filter is the materials used. Something like a brass filter ring will be much more robust and less prone to seizing onto the lens than its plastic counterpart. . #uvfilter #bwfilter #hgxprime #kenko #promaster #photographytips #productphotography #ringlight #fujifilmxt3

The golden ratio is a method of composing your photos similar to the rule of thirds but slightly more directional to guide the eye. Whilst there are many applications for the golden ratio in different aspects of design and other areas of interest, we will only focus on the photographic side. The golden ratio is visualized as a spiral that changes from a broad sweep to a tight curl where the main focus is. Perceived to be exceptionally beautiful and pleasing, it makes sure all... the proportions are correct within your image and creates interest and tension in even the most static subjects. There are eight possible configurations of the spiral, so you can choose the one best suited to your image when deciding on a composition. It can be tricky to have focal points land along the spiral, so negative space can be used instead to help guide the eye along the line. For example, with the second image, the tree is the focus, and the tight part of the spiral still lands on it, but the broad part of the spiral uses the negative space around the tree to help frame it better. There is no real "secret" to be learned about this composing method; it's more a case of practicing to see what works and what doesn't. It's fun to go on a walkabout, shoot a bunch of scenes, then play around with the different crops to learn about how you can better compose each shot while you are taking them. One more important thing to remember is that this is not a hard-fast rule, just another tool in the kit to make you a more versatile photographer! . #composition #goldenratio #ruleofthirds #photographytips #goldenspiral #jchsp400 #camerastore #lethbridgephotography #squarecomposition #squarephoto #hasselblad500cm

Check out our interview with portrait artist and local Edmonton photographer Amanda Diaz. We chat about the creative process and philosophy behind her incredible work.

McBain has bluetooth wireless speakers on sale now until Nov. 12th for only $29.95! The Naztech Cycle Speaker is built for rough outdoor play, combining great sound with a waterproof, shockproof and dust-proof body. A great gift to put under the tree, or treat yourself! It's 2020 after all, you deserve it. https://www.mcbaincamera.com/productdetail.php

We've got good news for all our film shooters out there, if you're having light leaks in your shots, we can fix that! We are now offering light seal repairs on most* 35mm and medium format cameras in our Lethbridge location. Over time, the foam seals that keep light away from the film degrade and turn into a sticky sludge. We remove the old seal material and put new light blocking foam in, as well as on the mirror box where the mirror slaps up into the camera body. Bring in your camera and we can assess what can be done, or send us a message to get things rolling! . *some cameras due to the design may be too difficult or time consuming for us to repair, subject to inspection by staff. . #filmphotography #filmcamera #camerarepair #lightseal #lightleak #mamiyarb67 #mcbaincameralethbridge #blackandwhite #lethbridgebusiness #yql #yqlbusiness

I know when you think about our store you don't necessarily think about headphones, but we're now carrying a few different types! The Panasonic RZ-S500 noise cancelling wireless ear buds are on sale until the 30th of October, now $199.95. For anyone who is doing virtual schooling, these could be a lifesaver for you to drown out noises that distract you from lectures, assignments, or studying for exams. . (Speaking from personal experience, they're great for yardwork with lawnmowers and power tools, or when you're trying to ignore the wonderful Lethbridge winds.) -Steven . #panasonicheadphones #rzs500 #wirelessearbuds #noisecancellingheadphones #virtuallearning #mcbaincameralethbridge #productphotography

The October edition of McBain Camera News is out!