Messages

1

Lenses / Re: my new 24-105

« on: May 15, 2013, 10:17:29 PM »

Thank you for helping i have a 50mm f/1.4 and thinking of buying 85mm f/1.8 would either of these be good for macro is so would you recommend the 50mm or the 85?

I'd recommend you use the magnification calculator at http://www.mystd.de/album/calculator/. You'll need the sensor size of your camera, focal length of the lens, extension tube size. Plug those in, hit calculate, and it'll give you the magnification. 1 is 1:1 (or 100%), while >1 is more larger than life, and less than 1 is smaller than life.

Based on the specs of the 50 1.4 and 85 1.8, the 50 1.4 would be better as you get a higher magnification. But it's still not great, only 0.39x or 1:2.6 with 12mm extension tube on FF 35mm sensor. The 50mm Compact Macro is actually cheaper than the 85 1.8, gives you 0.5x out of the box and with 12mm extension tube gives you 0.71x magnification which is getting a lot closer to true macro (1:1).

If you get an extension tube set, you can generally stack then (although you get accompanying light loss from any extension tube), which means you can probably start with just the tube set, use your current 50 1.4, start figuring out best practices and how it works for you (don't forget a reasonably sturdy tripod, mirror lock up, remote shutter release). Once you have the basic technique down, start looking to see if you want to invest in a better lens, or better mounting/tripod system, bellows, etc.

2

Lenses / Re: my new 24-105

« on: May 15, 2013, 04:56:33 PM »

This calculator http://www.mystd.de/album/calculator/ can be of help, and this has some good Macro information http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/macro-lenses.htm.

I'd actually recommend an inexpensive prime with an extension tube or reversing ring rather than a zoom. While the 24-105 is a good general purpose lens, it won't perform as good for macro, even with extension tubes.

I'd really recommend something like the 40mm f/2.8 or even the 50mm f/2.5 compact macro (only $300). That 50 + 12 or 20mm extension tube will be pretty good, or you could go for the 100mm f/2.8 Macro (non-L) for $600 and not need an extension tube for 1:1, or get one and get more magnification.

3

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Help with transition shooting from dark place to light place

« on: May 15, 2013, 03:29:23 PM »

You can also try and mess with the new MagicLantern RAW video recording which will help with your DR, however I think paul13walnut5 has some better suggestions. Mask or rent a clickless manual lens such as a Samyang/Rokinon.

4

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: I've had a revelation

« on: May 15, 2013, 12:37:22 PM »

Ok, got my scans done and a few bits of editing, mostly just removing dust and specks from the scan. Here ya go whoever wants to see them https://plus.google.com/photos/102378497314145496618/albums/5876055902888292097

Nice images ... I would guess the slides would be even more impressive.

Definitely. I tried to match the slides pretty closely, but I think I'd need to spend a lot more time tweaking the scan process to get closer, and even then I probably won't quite match it.

5

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: I've had a revelation

« on: May 15, 2013, 03:32:47 AM »

Ok, got my scans done and a few bits of editing, mostly just removing dust and specks from the scan. Here ya go whoever wants to see them https://plus.google.com/photos/102378497314145496618/albums/5876055902888292097

6

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Need help with video lighting!!!

« on: May 15, 2013, 01:33:14 AM »

First, are you being paid? If you are going to be shooting for paid stuff, roll the cost of renting any lighting that you need for that particular shoot. Even if this is a no/ultra-low budget short or teaser or reel you're trying to get off the ground, it'd be worth it to put the money you'd spend trying to cobble something together on renting some actual lighting, even if you only get 1 or 2 lights and use reflectors instead of having a whole bunch of smaller lights.

If this is something you're going to use a lot for personal stuff and you can't afford to rent as many times as you'll need it, I'd say put whatever money you'd spend towards trying to get something together to buying a quality low-end light, even if it's just a single used kino-flow that you managed to scrape together the money for. Then buy some lighting modifiers (flags, reflectors, etc) which can help make up for only having the 1 light.

If you're just wanting to get something that's better then nothing, get a cheapo 1 or 2 head fluorescent kit from Samy's or Calumet and know you're likely to be limited in some of what you're going to do.

7

Technical Support / Re: Urgent Help Please on Eos Utility for canon

« on: May 14, 2013, 09:17:16 PM »

Just wondering.... I have never tried this on a windows box....

Could you set up three virtual machines on the laptop and have each control a single camera?

In theory, should be possible, yes. You'll run into Windows licensing limits, and you'll have to use USB pass-through to individual VM's so that only that VM will have access to that USB port.

8

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Magic Lantern... CONTINUOUS raw recording @ 24fps on 5D3

« on: May 14, 2013, 05:51:53 PM »

A (perhaps) stupid question. What software do you use to edit the raw video output? I'm very interested in installing this and giving it a go on my camera but my video experience is about nil.

The EosHD has a better, full description. It looks like you need to convert it with another tool into something that pulls the DNGs apart so that something like After Effects can pull them in as a sequence. See the Workflow section on the link.

9

Animal Kingdom / Re: Honey Bees

« on: May 10, 2013, 06:25:34 PM »

Haha, such a cute picture an anectdote!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornet

That is what stung me 3 times in the stomach, back when I was a teenager.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_jacket

That is what has stung me all over my body when I was like 3, then twice on the head when I was about 8, then numerous other times throughout my youth and adulthood.  They especially don't like it if you are mowing anywhere near their nest, a hole in the ground.

I thank God that I have never been bitten by a poisonous snake.  I've heard horror stories about anti-venom costing $40,000...so the guy had to go on without it.  He said his arm swells up huge once a year!  Was a Copperhead...I almost stepped on a baby one once...but I had thick mud boots on.  Might not have helped!  Beware of wide, triangle shaped heads and thick bodies...It's always a relief to see the non-venomous snakes around.

Oh yea, yellow jackets are NASTY. Probably stung at least 3 or 4 times when I was a kid, maybe more. Once I accidentally stepped on some ground wasp (not sure if yellow jackets or not) nest and got stung 7 or 8 times all up my leg. Wasps don't wait for you to bother them. Just by existing you bother them, and they will mess you up.

Some profanity, but otherwise SFW http://static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Wasp_e45706_742760.jpg

10

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: I've had a revelation

« on: May 10, 2013, 05:18:14 PM »

Yea, we'll see how I can do. It's the Epson v600, so decent enough. I am seriously considering getting the Plustek 120 in 6 months or so, assuming I'm still regularly shooting film. From what I've seen that's going to get me much better quality scans, but I'm in no rush right now.

I'm actually trying to look for a Mamiya Six (Not the newer Mamiya-6), although I do have a Perkeo 1 which is in good shape and shoots nice shots. I'm finding I want to do the focusing with the coupled rangefinder style, unlike the Perkeo.

11

Third Party Manufacturers / I've had a revelation

« on: May 10, 2013, 12:58:18 PM »

I have had a revelation, and seen the light. Suddenly I can see in all colors of the rainbow. Vivid greens and blues. Beautiful browns and purple that pops. Yellows that are like looking into the sun, and everything just the way it should be.

In short, I just got back my first 2 rolls of positive (slide) film. Shot a roll of Provia and one of Velvia. Wow. That's all I can say, and on 120 everything is so amazing. The Provia is of a vinyard and wine production facility from Carmel Valley, and the Velvia I shot on my way back down the cost towards LA. So traveling through Big Sur and further down the central coast. Oh. My. <DEITY>. So gorgeous. I'll have to get busy scanning, hopefully I'll be able to do them justice in the scan.

12

Canon General / Re: CPS and borrowing lenses

« on: May 09, 2013, 12:27:03 PM »

You have to email CPSloan with a request. I don't remember the email but Ill be getting 4x 600RTs from them to demo real soon.

Do you have to give them a credit card number?

No, you just need to be a CPS Gold/Platinum member. Most people register and pay with a CC for those, but I believe you can mail them a check or something similar.

I borrowed the 24mm TS-E and 100mm IS Macro, and haven't bought either yet. Probably buy one or the other eventually, but I'm in no hurry. It's pretty easy, just email them at the email address, say which lenses, when you'd like to receive them (but no guarantees), and eagerly await them   You don't specifically say "I will be wanting to buy this lens", especially because it's an evaluation program. So even if you doubt you'll buy it, they want to give you the opportunity to shoot with it because you might just find you do want it.

13

Software & Accessories / Re: Exportintensiv RAW Files from LR4.3 catalouge

« on: May 08, 2013, 08:35:21 PM »

You can select (based on whatever filters you want) a grouping of photos and export it as a second LR Catalog, and as part of that you can (I believe) tell it to copy the files to another location as well.

14

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Color Bombs Kill Cameras

« on: May 08, 2013, 08:30:50 PM »

I am not surprised.    Don't treat rental equipment any different than if you owned it

This is why insurance is an important thing to have. That and I always get the insurance waiver thingie when I rent from LensRentals. Although I don't think I'd go to something like that, at least I have some peace of mind in case life happens. And he's honoring the people who paid it, although going forward he's not going to after this.

15

Lenses / Re: Any one ever seen a zoom extender

« on: May 07, 2013, 07:50:21 PM »

Well, sure, you can stack TC's now, they just are different physical things. I imagine it'd be quite a bit more complicated to have one device that you introduce the different optics into position. More complicated mechanically, which introduces many more points of failure, and probably much more complicated optically unless it simply lifts one of the optics out of the way and puts another in it's place. Theoretically possible...but why? Just pull off the lens, and stack your TCs.

Why build a 1.4 into the 200-400?  Convenience?  Stacking TC takes time and are very discrete.  I would like to a zoom function to my 300, 400, 500 or 600 Great White

And how much more are you willing to pay? And I'll be willing to bet they would need to do at least some revision of the optical formula since the tube would now be physically longer to accommodate the built-in TC. Or something. Anyway, personally I don't see why you would need to switch on the TC that quickly on your super-teles, but if you use them all the time maybe you have a use-case that would be useful to a large number of users.