Messages

1

Software & Accessories / Re: Black Rapid and dropped camera?

« on: January 07, 2013, 08:49:06 AM »

JPAZ

You've got absolutely nothing to worry about. 

I have the RS-7 and what I put it through on a trip to Maui was last year would make anybody a believer in its capability. 

I ziplined carrying a gripped 5dmk2 w/100-400, and the only thing between the gear and a few hundred feet free fall was the trusty RS-7.  I had it connected directly to tripod collar nothing fancy.  I figured the best way to go was to keep on my back, so it was completely dangling as I was zipping 30mph across the line.  I will admit that I was terrified, the prospect of not even being able to recover the gear if it fell was weighing on my mind - it did add quite a bit of suspense to the ziplining though.

Couldn't recommend it any higher, great product.

2

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 7D Mark II Information [CR1]

« on: December 18, 2012, 04:41:08 PM »

Now that the 6D is in the mix, and the 5D3 feature set is clearly way beyond what the 5dmk2 offered, Canon has definitely created another tier within the xD series of cameras.

If there is no drastic departure from the original 7D - and this rumor indicates that it will still be APS-C, fast shooter, better-than-similarly-priced-FF AF.  I see the 6D & 7D positioned how the 1D bodies were before the release of the 1DX.  One is for the landscape and portrait shooter, the other for the wildlife and sports shooter.  Note: I didn't feel like the 5Dmk2 and 7D did that due to the ~$800 price difference, considering that was 50% of the 7D price.

Canon has decided at least for the time being and for those who buy 1D series body - you don't have to make a compromise with your purchase (you shouldn't for $7k). 

That won't be true for the lower xD class, I would guess that the 7D might be priced equal to the 6D.  If that is the case though don't expect the 7D to beat the 6D at high ISO performance, but cleaner 100-400 should be expected.  So upgraders will have a difficult choice to make, which suits their needs better, rather than just what suits their budgets.  And it probably makes more sense for that type of choice to be made at this price point than at the top.  Good move by Canon if this truly the direction.

 

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D Mark III Frustrated Focusing problem

« on: December 10, 2012, 03:24:50 PM »

Wow, someone new into photography and already got a 5D3…yikes…reminds me of how some people's first car is a ferrari..

It isn't that big a deal...the 5D3 was my first DSLR too...and I'm having a blast with it.

I did my research, was about to get the 5D2....saw the 3 was coming out so gave me a few more months to save and research more.

But if he's like me....when jumping into something, you research it till you can quote every spec by heart...and then, try to buy the absolute best you can afford to start with...I do that with most any 'toy' I want to get.

I'm constantly amazed by this attitude about noobs buying nice equipment....why not buy the best that you can afford when getting something...?

Absolutely nothing wrong with getting the best you can afford.

But....

I can afford a $200 basketball shoe, but its not going to make me a better shooter.  I don't think anybody would disagree with that.  It takes a lot of skill which is developed by many many hours of practice.  If I blame the shoes for not making my shots, it sort of implies that I expected by virtue of buying them  that my shots should start falling at a higher rate - essentially I bought my way out of practicing.

I get what you're saying, but take into consideration the type of question the OP asked.  This is clearly someone who knew very little to nothing about how an AF system works or what DoF is (perhaps a sign of lack of research/practice done on/with photography or using a DSLR), and yet is blaming the camera.  For many enthusiasts that's not easy to take with a grain of salt.  We spend a ton of time trying to get better at this and to try and create a great image, which shows a respect for the craft/art, so they are not really going to take kindly to perceived disrespect.

4

Lenses / Re: Lens to take to Ireland

« on: December 04, 2012, 01:20:47 PM »

I know that you are trying to lighten the load that you will be carrying, but take everything you can.  When I travel I like to take a single bag for gear, everything I can fit in it goes with me whether I think I really need that focal length or not.  You just never know when an opportunity may come up that requires it.

I feel if its not that much of an inconvenience.....take it, its better than regretting not having it.

If I had to choose 2 of those 3 lenses you mentioned though, I would probably take the 17-40 & 70-200.  You should be good with the landscape and street shots with that setup.

5

EOS Bodies / Re: Downgrade to crop

« on: December 03, 2012, 12:19:43 PM »

The benefit of moving from APS-C to FF, or FF to APS-C should be a decision based on two factors. 

First, what do I intend to shoot and in what conditions?

Secondly, how much money do I have to spend?

There are better tools for the different conditions.  I find the high ISO capability of the FF to come in handy lots of times, and for many reasons.  Ultrawide angle lens options are much better I believe on FF.  Unfortunately, the affordable sub $3000 FF options leave a lot to be desired from an AF perspective.

APS-C, on the other hand, give you a bit more reach with full resolution than the FF and you can get a much better AF system in the 7D than you can with a more expensive FF option.

So if the sky isn't the limit in your budget, think about what attributes are most important to you.  A 2-4 stop improvement in high ISO noise vs better AF, a 1.6x factor on your zooms vs shallower DoF with similar framing etc.

It's easy for some to say if you shoot wildlife and sports outdoors in good light than you are better of with the APS-C, and for landscapes, people, and lower light conditions get a FF.  The problem with that is most enthusiasts/hobbyists do a bit of everything so its always going to be a tough trade off to give up something when you want everything.  That's why so many questions are always posed regarding the upgrade or new lens issue, this stuff isn't cheap and you really want to get the most out of your purchase.  That's bound to happen when you are limited by budget...it sucks that we can't all have 2 1DXs.

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Pricewatch Deals / Re: Canon EOS 6D Body Only in Stock at B&H

« on: November 30, 2012, 03:08:52 PM »

With the kit prices being dropped on the 24-105L kits with the 5Ds and now the 6D...sure seems like it will be replaced by the new 24-70 f4L

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: T3i vs T4i for first dslr

« on: November 27, 2012, 09:55:39 AM »

Don't be afraid to buy used.  You can get so much more for your $$$.

If you are a fast learner and are at least moderately serious about your photography you may find that you grow out of that rebel a lot faster than you anticipated.

I suggest searching your local craigslist, ebay or here http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800901467-USE/Canon_2807b006_EOS_50D_SLR_Digital.html for a deal on at least an xxD body.  I'm not totally against APS-C as a trusty one can serve as a nice back-up or a very good 1.6x teleconverter if you decided to move to full frame in the future. 

You can find a 50D which gives you a lot more than those rebels in terms of having AFMA, better build quality, and a faster frame rate for around $500. 

Those kit lenses you will find are not worth keeping once you use some better glass, so why bother paying for them to start.

50mm 1.8 for under $100 or the 40mm pancake for $150 would be a great starter lens.

Used 50D + 40mm pancake ~ $650 - you may never sell either and it would be hard to say the same for one of those rebel kits.

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Lenses / Re: 24-70/4 MFT charts

« on: November 06, 2012, 05:52:41 PM »

Weddings?  With ISO 6400 or higher delivering good results on new bodies, f/4 isn't the handicap it was, plus sometimes f/2.8 is a compromise between enough light and not enough DoF.  Near macro for ring/flower shots.

I still don't see it as a popular lens, though, with the 24-105mm still available as a kit lens.

I can't imagine the 24-70 f/4 being the kit-lens for the 6D - form price point of view (even if the price will drop a little) I can see however the 24-105 as kit-lens. Also because it will offer the entry FF market a real walkaround from focal length point of view and having no telezoom

I get what you are saying about it being a kit lens but if you look at the discount from the $1150 price of the 24-105 to $800 (30% off) for the kit a similar discount on the 24-70f4 would put it at $1000.  A $200 price increase on their kits would seem a bit modest for Canon as of late.  The more I think about it the more I think it might actually end up being the kit lens.  I guess we'll have to wait and see. 

Personally I feel that if they don't make it the kit lens and off the 24-105 its not likely this lens will be any sort of success.

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Pricewatch Deals / Re: EF 24-70 f/4L IS & EF 35 f/2 IS Preorders

« on: November 06, 2012, 10:07:12 AM »

Trying to figure out what this will mean for the 24-105?  Seems like many believe these 2 lenses can't coexist in the Canon lineup and if they do it's too pricey to be a kit lens.

This is how I break it down:

24-105L MSRP is $1149, when purchased in a kit you save $349.  A savings of ~ 30%.

Use that example in trying to determine whether the 24-70f4 will be a kit or not you end up with this:

30% off the $1500 MSRP will give you $1000 addition to the body only price to make it a kt, or if you use the $350 number it would be $1150 adder. 

6D kits would either be $3099 or $3249 - MSRP

5Dmk3 kits would either be $4499 or $4649 - MSRP

At those prices I would say it's plausible that this may replace the 24-105L as the new kit lens.  Everything else is getting more expensive why wouldn't the kit??

10

Lenses / Re: Guess what Canon's next wide angle zoom will be

« on: November 01, 2012, 05:38:31 PM »

The way things are going my best guess is:

17-40mm f4L IS

Just to keep in-line with the pointless "IS-on-wide-angle-lenses" kick that Canon seems to be on these days, oh yeah and a lens nobody is asking for either!!

11

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS Coming [CR3]

« on: October 30, 2012, 03:22:46 PM »

Does this mean the end of the 24-105L?

Or will this lens be similarly priced to the new 24-70 2.8L II with similarly stellar resolution, therefore keeping the 24-105L the kit lens and affordable FF walk-around?

12

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Future of APS-C

« on: October 09, 2012, 04:14:02 PM »

Please bear in mind that I'm not intending to be disrespectful to any of the other posters on this thread when I say...
Full frame or crop sensor doesn't matter a damn - what's important is what you choose to photograph and the creativity and skill you apply to it. Great photographers have been making fantastic images for decades with little more than a lightproof box with a glass lens to focus the light. Many fantastic cameras and top of the range lenses are wasted on photographers with less talent than finances. What is really important is YOU 1) make the most of what you have 2) recognise when what you have is insufficient for what is required for the task you face (especially if being paid) so you can rent/borrow or buy the appropriate tool and 3) don't kid yourself that better equipment will make you a better photographer. It will make you a better equipped photographer but unless you can make creative use of it it is just expensive jewellery!

No disrespect taken, but....

This is a forum for photography and photography equipment enthusiasts so many threads are dedicated to discussing and dissecting the minutia with regards to the release of new equipment and the use of current equipment and what the indications recent rumors and releases mean to the future of how we practice our hobby/profession.

I'm sure you can understand that, right?

I'll just leave it at that.

13

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Future of APS-C

« on: October 09, 2012, 12:07:33 PM »

I shoot with an "entry-level" FF camera the 5D2, and I'm in the market to upgrade my APS-C body from a 50D to 7D.  Which means I will have made 3 different APS-C body purchases over the same span that I bought 1 FF body(started with a 500D).

The logic that many have already pointed out is fully evident in my own purchase history.  This is a high volume segment for Canon and others.

I think enough has been said about the crop factor, but to elaborate on the "other" feature that some of the higher-end APS-C cameras (just one from Canon) have is improved AF over the entry FF bodies.  I don't like using/am not that great with a flash, and for 80% of what I shoot the 5D2 with its much improved over APS-C low-light performance is more than enough camera.  Which is why it made sense for me (not to mention the other options at the time were way out of my budget).  For the other 20% of the time I could really use better AF, and most of those situations require a little extra reach as well, so rather than buy a couple of extenders and lose my already substandard AF, I can grab decent second hand 7D, and all my needs are taken care of.  Granted more space is taken up in my bag but a bigger bag is much easier on the pocket book than a 1DX.

APS-C ain't going anywhere...at least I hope not! 

14

Lenses / Re: Patent: Canon EF 300 f/4L IS II

« on: August 24, 2012, 03:20:21 PM »

Here is a patent filing that made CR over a year ago....

http://www.canonrumors.com/2011/05/patent-ef-300-f4l-is-ii/

The current version was released in March of 1997, so an update would be nice sometime within the decade.

Price-wise, look on the bright side, however much the II costs ($2000+ ??) went does get released it will be a fraction of what you would have to pay to get your hands on a 200-400 1.4x.  We should all be happy that there are a few big whites we can get our hands on under $3000, and count our lucky stars there are a few under $2000 (at least for now)... right Canon? right?

15

Lenses / Re: If you can have ONLY 3 lenses, what would they...???

« on: August 14, 2012, 02:33:23 PM »

This, to me, is like asking an auto mechanic which three wrenches he would choose if he could only have three. He'd end up with three adjustable wrenches and screw up or miss a lot of jobs.

I guess I just don't like thinking in terms of limitations if I don't have to.

Well, as a cyclist I can tell you that I don't tow my toolbox behind me, but there are a few essentials that I stick in my saddle pack or jersey pocket.  Likewise in "terms of limitations" most people have a limited budget, and often limited space or inclination to carry around a dozen leses.  So I find it to be a perfectly reasonable question.

My $.02:
70-200 2.8 IS
A wide zoom of choice depending on shooting style/subjects
A fast prime in focal length of choice

+1: The 70-200 2.8 mk.ii is about 140 primes in one... most excellent choice!

Technically speaking it would be 131 primes but who's counting...totally agree though!

to pretty much be able to get 90% of possible subjects you would need the most range, so for range I think you would almost have to go:

24-70 II
70-200 2.8 IS II
200-400 1.4x

No gaps no overlaps!!

These below would take care of about 8% of the remaining 10, but we only get 3...booo!!!

17 TSE
100 2.8L macro
600