Messages

1

Software & Accessories / Re: Adobe to Stop Making Packaged Software

« on: May 06, 2013, 09:44:46 PM »

Why is Adobe so afraid of letting customers decide?  They could still save on boxes and discs by making their products available as one-time purchases via download.

C'mon, Adobe, give us a choice.  If we want to pay full-price up front, you get a little surge of revenue.  If we want to pay by the month, you get your stream.

I just hate how Adobe keeps lying to us by saying it is better for the customer this way.

And for those Adobe apologists (fewer and fewer), what is wrong with choice?

The best comments on this thread are the ones that point out this should open the door for competition.

As for me, PS CS6 will suffice for several years; hopefully during that time, the CEO who has sanctioned this will get thrown out on his arse, as did the JC Penny arrogant fool. 

And maybe that will also be time enough for savvy competitors to come up with something as good or better than PS CS6, which, powerful as it is, still relies heavily on aftermarket plug-ins to be efficient enough for many professional photographers and photo-editors.

2

Lenses / Re: 1.4 TC III vs 60D, Is this test accurate?

« on: April 02, 2013, 04:06:25 PM »

Well, we do lose a stop, right?  I guess the OP believes the 1.4 TC III reduces sharpness slightly...? 

3

Lenses / Re: Fingerprint "investigation"? (ef 35mm f/1.4L)

« on: April 02, 2013, 04:03:39 PM »

Update:  Amazon suddenly had the 35mm 1.4's back in stock.  Quick investigation.

They are sending a replacement.  If I'm buying new, and have a choice, I'd rather not take the one with fingerprints on the front element.  Don't the factory workers who put the lens caps on wear gloves?

Funny was how these fingerprints really looked like they belong to a child.

4

Lenses / Fingerprint "investigation"? (ef 35mm f/1.4L)

« on: April 02, 2013, 11:13:15 AM »

Received new ef 35mm f/1.4L from AMZN this morning.  Had a tiny person's fingerprints smeared in an arc across front element.  Also had the faintest of scratches around contacts, very minor, but indicating somebody had already tried the lens.

Expected usual replacement scenario, but was told by a rep and a supervisor that this item was under investigation by AMZN because of many similar complaints from customers.

Sure enough, even though over the weekend there was no note about "Only XX left in stock; more on the way," the item is currently only available from third-party sellers.

Now, I've done a preliminary check of the lens.  Seems wonderful, indoors by incandescent and outside in super-bright daylight. Image quality great, and I love that shallow depth of field and minimal distortion. The fingerprints wiped off and the front element looks to be scratch free, as does the rear.

Question:  Who would keep, who would return for refund?

Another question:  Has anybody else received a new Canon lens with fingerprints?  (This is my first time seeing them.)

Thanks!

5

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Speeding AF point selection on 5d Mark III

« on: March 24, 2013, 11:46:07 PM »

I think you would be better off with the 7D, I prefer the AF on the 7D vs the one in the 1d mkiv.

I ain't the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I think a 7D would be a step down from my 5DIII...

I'm EXTREMELY happy with the AF results--once I get the point where I want it to be.  Just talking about a more efficient way to use the multi-controller.

I know that the multi-controller can be used for continuous movement of various menu choices and the Quick menu, so I wonder if Canon can apply the same type of movement to the AF point selection function.  Does seem like firmware could be programmed for this.

6

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Speeding AF point selection on 5d Mark III

« on: March 24, 2013, 11:17:37 PM »

You can program the quick selection dial to quickly move thru the points by rotating the dial right or left. It's the first thing i did when i got the camera.

When you do this, do you sometimes want to apply exposure compensation but move the AF points instead?  And vise versa?

Or are you reassigning EC too?

7

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Speeding AF point selection on 5d Mark III

« on: March 24, 2013, 08:05:14 PM »

Maybe this is of help for you http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=13269.msg238526#msg238526 this does not describe how to cycle through the AF points the way you would like it to be but at least you can quickly switch between 2 different AF points.

Thanks!  I'm going to try this ASAP.  Wonderful to have an AF guide tailored specifically to the 5DIII!

8

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Speeding AF point selection on 5d Mark III

« on: March 24, 2013, 04:56:47 PM »

Has anybody else wished that the multi-controller would allow continuous movement from AF point to AF point when held?  As it is, we have to keep thumbing it, as it stops at each AF point.

I know we can do this with the Quick Control Dial; however, being able to stop at each point or continue moving until we get to the AF point, using just one control--the multi-controller--would be a very efficient way to work.

I'm finding that I'm simply missing focus on occasions because it takes too many thumb motions to get to an AF point.  As a work around, when anticipating moderate to quick action, I limit the number of AF points to choose from and also choose AF-Point Expansion, but even when configured this way, I'd love for the multi-controller to allow continuous movement from AF point to point until I release it.  (I do like the wrap-around ability very much, and I keep mine set that way.)

Would this be a firmware type of modification?

9

Lenses / Re: Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG Sets New Benchmark for Excellence

« on: March 18, 2013, 06:14:47 PM »

We should ALL be grateful to Sigma for making such great lenses at half the price of Canon.  Competition is good for putting a little price pressure on Canon, and it should push them to work harder on quality too.

I always carry a two gallon Ziploc in case of rain, and it's big enough to hold my 5D3 with a 70-200mm 2.8 IS II.  Weather sealed or not, I ain't shootin' in the rain, thank you.  Singin' maybe, but not shootin'.

Now, Canon, please stop worrying so much about lenses and give us a new flash commander that has radio and optical and AF, and some alternatives to the lovely but massive 600ex-rt.

10

EOS Bodies / Re: Need help. Canon 60D for sports--is it better to pony up for the 7D?

« on: March 06, 2013, 09:29:51 AM »

My 60D works great for birds-in-flight and other AI Servo type shots.  Very fast focus, especially in lower light.  I have several friends with the 7D, and THEY swear that, even though we have the same sensor, the 60D does a slightly better job with noise in the shadows, which drives them crazy.

Fantastic camera, the 60D.  I also have a 5DIII, but I bring the 60D for nature because of the crop factor, and I love to keep it in the car with a 50mm 1.4 for quick portraits and fun shots.

Agree that the lens for the situation is the most important factor once you have a good camera, much more important than minor differences between bodies.  Get as long and fast as you can afford for football, but, as others have said, be mindful of the personal moments, for which you might need to swap to a shorter focal length.

Have fun!

11

Lenses / Re: Photozone spanks the 24-70 F4 USM L IS

« on: March 04, 2013, 03:48:55 PM »

Quasimodo, even though this is a lens I have zero interest in buying, the analysis on Photozone was fascinating.  Thanks for bringing this to CR forum!

An earlier post referred to the brilliance of the marketing team at Canon.  Was that tongue-in-cheek?  I hope so.  This is a lens looking for a market, we didn't need it, and it would be a horrible shame if it turns out to be a replacement for the more useful ef 24-105mm.  Not sure how this 24-70mm f4 can compete against a cheaper, longer lens that in many ways delivers equal or better performance.  Seems like a sad new kit lens, especially with the focus shifting problems reported in the review.

Some day, a better version of the 24-105mm would be welcome, say with better IS, less distortion at 24mm, and less "nervous" bokeh.  (Love that term, "nervous," as that is exactly the feeling it generates.)  But don't chop off 35mm from the zoom range and say you are done!

12

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: How sharp should pics from 5D3 +24-105 be?

« on: March 03, 2013, 02:06:41 PM »

It should be VERY sharp in most situations where L zooms would normally be sharp, that is, with the right lighting, aperture, etc.  (Of course if you shoot primarily with the ef 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II, or, from what I've heard, the new 24-70mm, you might be spoiled...)  The 24-105mm is a fine little workhorse, sort of a Swiss Army knife kind of lens.

I have one that was really bugging me because mine seemed to be way underperforming compared to ones owned by two other photographers with the same combo, the 5DIII and the 24-105.  A bad run of shots at an event finally prodded me to send it (under warranty) to Canon, and it came back as if it were an altogether different lens, just outstanding sharpness and all around IQ.  Now I love it.

Canon reported that they swapped out a circuit board, and because the work was done so quickly, I have the feeling this is not a rare problem, but one they knew about based on my description.

One other thing:  If you LOVE your camera, and you got it as part of a kit, I would strongly recommend keeping the camera that works great, but send the lens to Canon for repair.  I've had the frustrating experience of having one part of a kit just perfect, sending back the whole thing because the other part was questionable, and then ending up with a new set of problems.

In fact, in the future, I'd probably pass on the kit savings to make separate purchases of camera and lens, just so I don't have to worry about this scenario again.

Good luck!

13

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Can we all send a complaint to Canon to fix the AF-Assist focusing on the 5D3?

« on: December 24, 2012, 09:09:48 AM »

Despite what page 77 of the manual says about using the center single AF point, Canon Pro Services techs are now telling users to use AF point expansion with surrounding points or Zone AF.  I'm using the AF point expansion and doing somewhat better, but it is a pain to have to switch out of single AF point.

Another thing I'm finding is that my 580ex works better with the 5D3, and I clearly see that the 580ex grid of red lines is brighter and denser than the 600ex when compared on a wall.

A firmware update fixing the sluggish performance with single AF (and the slightly better but still relatively pokey with AF point expansion) would be a lot of help!

My 60D with center AF point and the 580ex is lightening fast to achieve AF.   Yes, I'm steamed.

Also, how about a small flash the size of the 270ex that has AF assist AND triggers the freaking speedlites?