Messages

1

Lenses / Re: Infra red filter - question

« on: May 20, 2013, 08:09:00 PM »

I had my 40D converted by LifePixel - they are great! One thing I ran up against pretty quickly, tho, is that a lot of lenses, in particular the 16-35 I was hoping to use for landscapes, have a nasty PITA "hot spot" of reduced exposure in the center of every shot [due to the way IR reflects inside the optics]. I'm currently looking at the Sigma 15mm to use on WA shots, since it is reportedly better. It would pay to research your current lenses before you commit to IR.

The 16-35mm is indeed not recommended for IR work. Here's a link on which lenses are suitable or not for IR photography: http://www.lensplay.com/lenses/lens_infra_red_IR.html

Cheers. 

It seems to be a rather "old" list.
In the list the Canon 16-35mm is mentioned but not the MKII. Does it mean that the MKII does not have the hotspot problem?
I also do not see the Canon 24-105.
Are there any updated resources of what lens to use and what not?

the mk2 does have the problem as i've tried it its not good

2

Street & City / Re: Superstrikes South Africa

« on: May 20, 2013, 02:23:51 AM »

wow you weren't exagerating using the term HUGE!

3

Canon General / Re: I have more money than I do needs... so what should be my next step?

« on: May 20, 2013, 02:11:25 AM »

I've been a SLR owner for about nearly 4 years now.  I own a 60D body, 24-105mm f/4L IS, 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro, and 50mm f/1.4.  I also have a 430ex II speedlite.  I have about $1600 in cash and I'm not quite sure what to spend it on.  I have a 9 year old so she is my main subject.  In the past 12 months I have photographed indoor plays, outdoor Easter egg hunts, night time "bonfires", swimming pool shots, football games (she's a cheerleader but I really enjoy photographing the players), and I will be photographing indoor basketball games under crappy gym lighting. I don't shoot a lot of wide angle and a bunch of my shots would be considered sports action or portraiture with pleasing blurry bokehs. 

No one probably cares about the process, but I want to illustrate that I have had a ton of different lenses.  I started with a Canon XS which was upgraded to a 60D after two years.  In regards to lenses, I had the kit lens (18-55mm) which I eventually upgraded to a 24-105mm f/4L USM.  I started with a 75-300mm which was upgraded to a 55-250mm after one year to a 70-300mm (briefly) to a 70-200mm f/4L USM (briefly) to a 70-200mm f/2.8L USM (briefly), to finally nothing.  Finally, I had a 50mm f/1.8 which I upgraded to the 50mmm f/1.4.  And I picked up a 100mm f/2.8L IS macro along the way. 

I like my 60D, but I would seriously consider upgrading to a 5D mkii if I find a deal for around $1200 which isn't completely out of the realm of reason if I sell a bundled printer and the kit lens (24-105mm). 

I think the biggest thing about upgrading bodies is that I will have Micro auto focus adjustment... and while I was underwhelmed by both 70-200's I had, I think if I am able to 100% lock into my target, I would be substantially more pleased with the results.  But I'm not sure I'm willing to go back to that well of disappointment.  Maybe I might dip into 70-200mm f/4L IS or the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS mkii (the non IS f/2.8 was heavy, but it really didn't bother me so I doubt the IS version would cause me to complain).  But IS shouldn't be a factor since the shots I were taking were at 1/4000 of a second or faster... so it really comes down to the performance of the lens v. the quality of shot I received using the 100mm f/2.8L Macro. 

Having said that, if I buy the 5dmkii, I will only have 400 left in reserves to get anything else.  I really don't want to part with my 60d, but I know selling the used body for $650 (if I'm lucky) would then bump me back up to $1050 and again can buy another lens.

I've also considered a refurb 135mm f/2L direct from Canon.  The best case scenario is if I buy one during their sales and I pay around $740.  That would leave me with $860 and maybe I go ahead and dip my toe back into the 70-200's and get the f/4L IS.  That would be $914, but I can get away with spending $55 over my budget. 

I know there is a huge fight between those who prefer primes over zooms and I don't want to start one of those, but I've also considered a 300mm f/4L IS prime.  But I read reviews that it is not good for panning and it is older technology from 2008 (which sounds silly) but I do have concerns shooting with a 300mm prime with limited IS on a crop sensor. 

I've also considered a fisheye... but that's just for fun and is really low on my priority list. 

So my question is... would an upgrade to the body with one additional lens (whether it is the 135mm f/2 or the 300mm f/4L IS or even the 70-200mm f/4L IS) be the best bang for my respective buck.  Or should I stick with my 60D which has good low light performance (though not on par with the 5dmk ii or the 5dmk iii) and just get new lenses.  It's not an easy decision. 

OR is there something I'm not considering that would be an even better fit that I'm just completely ignorant about (and if someone mentions Nikon, I'll punch you in the face!).

Thanks for your help because I really have ambivalent feelings about both directions.

If i were in your situation I would do either of 2 options
option 1) get a sigma 35 f1.4 and the canon 135 f2L (I did get both of these and they are awesome)

option 2) get the 135 f2L now and keep saving and grab a 6D, keep an eye out for a good deal in the mean time
then down the track look at a fast 35

4

Lenses / Re: When is the New 100-400 Coming?

« on: May 20, 2013, 01:12:22 AM »

i'm waiting for the river of tears that comes with this lens being made of engineering plastic and not metal
if that flood co-incides with the even bigger flood that comes when the 7Dmk2 does not deliver better image quality than a 1Dx everyone had better have their arks all built and weather tested

5

HDR - High Dynamic Range / Re: Post your HDR images:

« on: May 19, 2013, 09:56:17 PM »

A question for all....I've typically held ISO and Aperture constant when bracketing for HDR, and using Shutter Speed as my variable for the bracketed shots.  I just bought a 6D and have been stunned by the high ISO performance.  It makes me wonder if I could handhold more often to bracket by allowing ISO to be the variable, with Shutter Speed and Aperture fixed.  I think I get clean shots with the 6D up to 12800 in many cases, which allows a lot of stops to bracket. 

Has anyone tried HDR with ISO as the variable?

No one has tried this?

it isnt a good idea as DR falls off rapidly in higher isos also the sharpness and colours change as iso increases
its still best to have shutter speed as the variable you can still bracket at a higher iso but be aware you are starting with an already pretty low DR base so you need more brackets to compensate. I would not go anywhere near 12800 for this MAYBE 3200 at a stretch and probably apply NR before blending then sharpen and more NR at the end.

6

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Canon 1.4X III vs Canon 2.0X III

« on: May 19, 2013, 09:14:38 PM »

The 2x does well on the 70-200 II.

+1 (2x mk 3 that is)

its also very good on the venerable 300f4L IS

7

EOS Bodies / Re: How will Canon respond to Magic Lantern's raw video hack?

« on: May 19, 2013, 09:06:02 PM »

simples.

canon will sell a ton more 5Dmk3 bodies and a couple of tons more L glass to video people or all these new IS prime lenses
same thing that happened when the 5Dmk2 hit the scene
Sold like hot cakes

8

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: F/8 Autofocusing impressions

« on: May 17, 2013, 12:24:34 AM »

i've only tested my 300f4L and 2x mk3 TC didnt test tracking

AF speed is quick if it doesnt have to rack the whole focus range using the limiter makes a difference
accuracy seems good and ability to lock in really low light seems good too much better than even fast glass with the previous firmware so far AF in general seems to have got a big boost

9

EOS Bodies / Re: EOS 70D & EOS 7D Mark II

« on: May 16, 2013, 11:57:23 PM »

wow another thread hijacked with inane drivel and crap pictures comparing some nikons and canons 

while i'm no fan of the 18mp aps-c sensor i'm even less of a fan of this perpetual dead horse beating
can you please give it a rest ankorwatt it's very old and been done to death many times your point is clear
and does not need to be re-iterated again and again and again

10

Lighting / Re: Issue with 600ex flash

« on: May 16, 2013, 02:15:07 AM »

one of my 580 exII flashes has done this once,
took the flash off cleaned the contacts with my shirt put it back on
and its been fine since

11

Lighting / Re: Urgent Help Please Elinchrom Flash lights

« on: May 16, 2013, 02:13:38 AM »

dont the Rx units have build in recievers to work with skyports?
so not sure why you are using seperate recievers

the elinchrom have 4 channels (selectable on the dip switches on the transmitter)
you need to make sure all recievers are on the same channel as the transmitter
might search youtube for a tutorial on how to change the channel for the built in recievers

to enable optical slaves make sure the button with the picture of the eye is on

12

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Canon SL1 sensor a step back?

« on: May 15, 2013, 01:26:19 AM »

i'd be interested to see it vs the eos-M sensor because I feel the eos-M is a tiny bit better than the 600D i compared its sensor to maybe 1/3 stop

13

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 7D and rear curtain flash :(

« on: May 15, 2013, 01:24:27 AM »

But how does that work? As soon as I connect the RF trigger I can no longer select to activate the flash on the second curtain. Only solution I found is to work with the internal flash and mount an optic slave to it, then connect the RF transmitter to the optical slave. Then you have to make sure that the whole thing is covered so no light from the internal flash actually gets on the subject you want to photograph. I have not yet tried this but I ordered a cheap optical slave to see if it will work. But this is an extremely cumbersome design and in my opinion absolutely unnecessary.
I mean why can't the camera simply send the flash signal? Even if you are working with Canon only flashes it renders off camera second curtain flash completely unusable. (As soon as I activate remote triggering the second curtain option is greyed out) I really can't understand the reasoning from Canon behind this.

the odins have a screen on the controller so you active all functions from this instead of the camera ie HSS and second curtain as well as group powers and ratios

14

Canon General / Re: It annoys me when camera phones try to take credit for professional level gear.

« on: May 14, 2013, 11:15:59 PM »

while i dont disagree with you at all.
my wife took a photo of our daugther the other day with her iphone 4s and ran it through an app that give it shallow dof look and I could not believe it wasn't taken with a 5D this is just viewing on the phone screen and not pixel peeping though.
In good light the iphone can take good pics It does S___ me blind when people compare camera phones to pro gear stating categorically that they are just as good.

15

Reviews / Re: The Digital Picture Reviews the Tamron 24-70

« on: May 13, 2013, 09:53:03 PM »

a good review as usual i'm a bit disappointed the 24-70 mk1 wasnt in the mix for comparison to put it all in context with that lens that so many are familiar with