Canon 5d Mk II first digital camera used for official presidential portrait
 

This is, of course, not very relevant, yet I thought it a fun fact given the upcoming weekend:

The First Official Presidential Portrait Taken With a Digital Camera

(EXIF data reveals that it is the 5D2).

That's a nice bit of trivia.... and on a related note:

1. Name the first U.S. President to appear on television.

2. Name the first U.S. President to appear on motion picture film.

3. Name the first U.S. President to sit for a portrait via photographic process.

on TV... Franklin Delano Roosevelt

in a motion picture.... William McKinley

and a photographic portrait.... Abraham Lincoln

At CES, Canon showed some large prints from their EOS line, including the 5D MkII. Some were simply gorgeous.

I should really get one of my better photos printed and framed - even if it's not a presidential portrait.

Does anybody know what the sweet spot is for nice largish prints (say, up to 20-inches long) at cheapskate prices?

Canon has a 13x19 printer (the PIXMA Pro9000) for under $400; offer its large prints as part of your business services and let it pay for itself.

Shutterfly offers 8x10 prints for $3.99, 11x14 for $7.99, 16x20 for $17.99 and 20x30 for $22.99. Unless you make a lot of prints and get really good deals on photo paper and ink, ordering your prints from such suppliers may be cheaper than trying to do it yourself at home.

Chris & Kevin,

Thanks for the info. I don't offer business services, and don't need many prints, so the Shutterfly route is attractive. For five extra bucks, I might as well get a 30" print, rather than a 20".

Mpix also offers those services, and I've heard good things about them from a professional photographer I know:

Mpix.com - Print Pricing

the shame to me is that this photo looks like a passport photo.... compared to all the fantastic photographs of Barack over the past year.... the cover of Fastcompany mag, Wired, Time, etc.

I don't know... maybe there is a marketing approach to plane jane.... simple.... less is more?

Well, it's a presidential portrait, not a magazine cover. I think it's perfectly appropriate.