Messages

1

Lenses / Re: Telezoom lens (70-300L vs 70-200 vs 100-400)- Advice

« on: May 19, 2013, 08:41:35 AM »

I have both the 70-200 f/4 IS and the 100-400 on a 7d. I shoot everything landscapes to portraits to birds. I can tell you that there have been several times when the 70-200 was not long enough for those distant landscape details, and that's on a crop, so on FF it will seem even shorter. That said the 70-200 is without a doubt the sharpest of the bunch. And it is sharp! The 100-400 is great for its versatility. I use it mainly for wildlife, but I have used it for outdoor sports as well. It is a sharp lens, but anytime I can switch to the 70-200 I do because it is sharper. The 70-200 is also considerably lighter and weather sealed. Weather sealing is actually something to consider with the 100-400, as it is less weather sealed than most lenses as the push pull design lends itself to the possibility of moisture on the barrel getting in the lens and damaging the tension ring. I do not have hands on experience with the 70-300L, but the 100% crops from it do look great. Not sure I can give you a definitive answer, but it sounds like for your needs the 70-200 or 70-300L would fit the bill.

2

Software & Accessories / Re: Filter Holder for Tiffen ND Grads

« on: May 06, 2013, 10:40:29 PM »

Gary, take this with a grain of salt, but do you really need a filter set? I know you get 3 filters for $260 vs $108 a piece, but if you had 3 filters you really don't need to all be hard or soft edge. Probably a 0.6 soft, 0.9 hard, and a 0.6 reverse grad. That's what I have been thinking about anyway.

3

Software & Accessories / Re: Filter Holder for Tiffen ND Grads

« on: May 05, 2013, 09:31:04 PM »

thanks for the responses so far. Since taking up photography as a hobby a while back I am far too familiar with buying something that suits me now, only to upgrade a few months later so I think I will look at a 4x6 filter as neuro suggest. I decided to look at lee filters again as their 4x6 system is considerable cheaper than tiffen's. the only thing that bugs me, besides resin scratching easier than glass, is that the adapter ring for the Lee filter holder is $60+. I don't mind paying for quality, and I find the $88 for the filter holder to be reasonable, but over $60 for an adapter ring seems a bit ridiculous. Has anyone tried any of the 3rd party adapter rings? are there any differences compared to the Lee adapter rings? For example I found this one on ebay for $29

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-77mm-LEE-Compatible-Wide-Angle-Adapter-Ring-for-Filter-Holder-/330905233352?pt=Camera_Filters&hash=item4d0b7d27c8

thanks

4

Software & Accessories / Filter Holder for Tiffen ND Grads

« on: May 05, 2013, 01:17:57 AM »

Hi,

I am looking at buying one or two Tiffen ND Grads. I have decided to go with Tiffen due to their renown color neutrality. Also I like that glass is much more resistant to scratching than resin. Previously I bought a set of Hitech resin filters and they came scratched out of the sealed packaging! So that doesn't give me much faith in resin. Anyway I initially wanted to go with the 100mm filters and accompany them with the Lee Foundation Kit Filter Holder....until I saw that the Tiffen 4x6 (100mm) ND Grads are over $400 a piece! WOW! Way too much. As I actually don't need filters that big I started to look at the Tiffen "P" series filters which are much more reasonable; roughly $160.

My question is, is there a "P" series filter holder that is more robust than the standard Cokin "P" series holder? Something more like the Lee filter holders? I found this aluminum 85mm holder from Hitech

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/884360-REG/Hitech_ht85amh_85mm_Aluminum_Modular_Filter.html

does anyone have any experience with this holder? moreover does anyone have experience with this holder and tiffen filters?

is there something else I should be looking at? is the cokin "P" series holder really all I need/the quality is actually pretty good?

Thanks in advance for your help!

5

Software & Accessories / Re: Adobe Lightroom 5 Public Beta Available

« on: April 16, 2013, 08:27:04 AM »

When I first started playing with LR5 I was pretty underwhelmed, as it doesn't seem all that different from LR4, but the radial filters are cool. Allows you to put a whole new swing on photos. The new spot healing and cloning is nice, but I feel like larger touch ups will still require PS. Also I haven't tried it, but the new perspective tools would be cool so long as they work.

I was a little upset by the lack of changes in the book modules, but at least you can create custom templates now.

The videos about the new features are helpful.
http://blogs.adobe.com/photoshopdotcom/2013/04/lightroom-5-beta-now-available.html

It's hard to tell if performance is better though as lightroom always performs better with a fresh library...see what happens after you add and edit a few thousand photos..

6

Software & Accessories / Induro C314 vs CT314

« on: April 13, 2013, 02:00:58 PM »

Hi, I am looking to get a sturdy tripod for landscape and wildlife. It needs to be able to support a gripped 7D with 100-400. I have ready very good things about the Induro CT314. When I was looking for the best price I found someone selling the "C314" on eBay for $100 less than the CT314 currently goes for. Turns out the C314 is the previous model. The features look generally the same, the specs looks quite different. However, I believe the difference in specs could just be marketing talk..maximum load 22lbs vs 39lbs. I read a very good review of the "C413" (the same production year as the C314) on Luminous Landscapes so I believe the Induro CF tripods to be very capable.

Anyway does anyone have experience with either the C314 or CT314? any real life differences?

Also I have researched manfrotto, gitzo, RRR, and others and am pretty set on the induro based on price, value, and favorable reviews. That said I am not looking for "well you should really get a Gitzo for $800 or a RRR for $1000." My budget allows <= $1000 for legs and a gimbal head...so with the induro I can easily stay within budget.

Thanks for your help!!!

http://www.indurogear.com/products_details_C314.html#specs
http://www.indurogear.com/products_details_CT314.html

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/accessories/indiro413.shtml

7

EOS Bodies / Re: Is it too late to buy a Canon 7D?

« on: April 09, 2013, 10:09:21 AM »

I was in the same boat as you. I had a 550d and wanted an upgrade I could not justify spending ~$2500 on the 5d3 and I wanted better AF than the 5d2 or 6d would provide so I bought a new 7d for $1k. I immediately found that I like the camera a lot more than I thought I would. I though it would just be an incremental upgrade since the sensor was the same...so just an upgrade in AF and FPS. Not true at all, the ergonomics, 100% viewfinder, wireless flash (though I still need pocket wizards for high speed), and many more customizable features all left me feeling completely satisfied withy purchase. No regrets at all. So if you are looking for an upgrade from the 500d I would highly recommend the 7d. For the record I shoot landscapes, family events, travel, and wildlife and the 7d works great for all. I would like to piggyback on what someone said about good glass though. I got rid of my kit glass early a while back ago. Getting nice lenses like the 15-85 and the 70-200 really transformed even the 550d I had.

8

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Anyone compared sirui and benro carbon tripods?

« on: April 09, 2013, 12:05:29 AM »

I have not compares sirui to benro, but I did but a sirui travel tripod. I think it's the t1005x or something like that. The quality is okay. The compression twists for the legs are not made well and occasionally allow the legs to twist when the compression is loosened. When they twist from their  normal spot the legs don't want to contract/expand freely. I have had it for a year, and while the quality bothers me it has not let me down and I don't think I would want to travel with anything heavier. That said I am now on the market for an at home studio/landscape/wildlife tripod and for that I would not consider sirui. I do not think their products are stable enough. Though as I mentioned be the one i have is great for travel and has allowede to get a lot of shots I would otherwise not have gotten (night long exposures, group portraits, etc)

9

Lenses / Re: Aftermarket tripod rings vs OEM

« on: April 08, 2013, 11:59:35 PM »

I bought a $10 tripod ring on eBay for my 70-200 f4 is. I have no doubts about the strength of the tripod ring, though I will say a) the lining is not up to canon standards and b) on the ring I bought there is a light bump on the inside of the clasp. What this amounts to is that if I loosen the ring to rotate to portrait it does not rotate smoothly and rubs off the cheap liner in the barrel of the lens...leaving ugly black marks, which fortunately come off. The ring does greatly improve balance though. So I would say if you have no intention or rotating then get the ring. It's strong and improves balance. If you wants to rotate to portrait then you better buy original canon. Occasionally I see genuine canon rings sell for about $75 on eBay.

10

Software & Accessories / Re: Bag while I am a "tourist"

« on: April 08, 2013, 11:54:50 PM »

For being a tourist I cannot say enough good things about the think tank retrospective series. The bags are well made and blend in very well. They are not as padded as some the "airport" bags, but I never found this to be a problem. I can easily fit my gripped 7d, 15-85, 70-200 f4 is, 50, speed light, filters,
Batteries etc. though if I travel with that much gear I normally lock some of it up in the hotel safe when I don't need it. I can also take my 100-400 instead of the 70-200, but that makes things a little tight.

11

Canon General / Re: European travel?

« on: April 04, 2013, 01:19:48 AM »

Last summer I traveled throughout Italy. I brought my 7d w/ battery grip, 15-85, 70-200, 50, 430 ex ii, pocket wizards, a travel sized tripod, and a host of other accessories. My main goal was photographing travel landscapes and some travel portraits. I can't say that I over packed as I did use everything I brought, but I definitely could have done without the 70-200, but that's okay as I just left it locked in the hotel safe when I didn't need it. The only piece of gear I did not list above was the Think Tank Retrospective 10. This bag proved to be invaluable to me; I was able to inconspicuously carry all of the items I listed above (besides the travel tripod which has its own 13" should bag).

In short as Alan said above 90% of the time you will use the 24-70 so really think hard about everything else you bring if space and weight are an issue. Additionally if you have a traditional camera bag thing about getting something like the retrospective so you don't look like an easy target for thieves in touristy spots. And most of all don't forget to get out from behind the camera and enjoy!

http://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/retrospective-10-pinestone-shoulder-bag.aspx

12

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D3 vs 7D AND 6D

« on: March 09, 2013, 10:57:19 PM »

Steven, thanks for your 7D to 5D3 comparison. You bring up a good point about the noise. As I shoot with the 550d, which has the same sensor (and supposedly slightly better noise handling) as the 7D, I am familiar with the noise already prevalent at ISO 400. Having better noise handling would be very beneficial.

13

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D3 vs 7D AND 6D

« on: March 09, 2013, 02:30:26 PM »

So if I go with the 5D3, if I wait for a Canon to get another refurb in stock, with my discount I can get it for $2350. Then I could sell my T2i, battery grip, and 15-85 which would fetch about $1000 and either pickup a 24-105 (total cost camera + lens = $2000) or 24-70 version 1 (total cost $2300). This just requires some waiting for either canon to get more refurbs or for one of those $2500 ebay specials.

So no one thinks there is any benefit to having two bodies? No benefit to being able to have a WA or standard lens on one camera and a telephoto or super telephoto on the other other camera? Is it nice in theory, but too cumbersome in reality?

14

EOS Bodies - For Stills / 5D3 vs 7D AND 6D

« on: March 09, 2013, 12:30:42 PM »

Hi, I am an avid hobbiest photographer. I enjoy shooting landscapes and portraits, but increasingly I am shooting birds, horses, and other fast moving subjects as well. I currently have a T2i, 15-85, 50 f/1.8, 70-200 f/4 IS, and 100-400. I am looking to upgrade bodies, but I need a little bit of advice. Obviously the 5D3 would satisfy all of these shooting requirements with only two downsides, the price and loss of "reach" that I have a with a crop. The other avenue I am thinking about going is two bodies. Sell the T2i, get a 7D as they are becoming cheaper everyday and get a 5D2 or 6D. Now you may add up the prices and say a 7D + 6D (or 5D2) is about the same price as a 5D3. I am looking for opinions on which way to go. Pros/Cons of having two bodies. For some reason I am just a bit apprehensive to get one camera for ~$2500 since I have not yet spent that much on any one piece of equipment. I might add that I currently do not get paid for any photos, but I may start picking up some paying equine photography gigs as I have quite a few friends who ride and want to set me up with some clients, but this would just be occasional "on the side" work. Thanks for you help in advance!

15

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: February 04, 2013, 10:32:28 AM »

canon 550D w/ EF 100-400 L & 430 EXII


Barn Owl


Barred Owl


Peregrine Falcon