Messages

1

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

« on: May 13, 2013, 09:49:00 PM »

My Tamron 24-70VC went back after the AF got spastic.

I got a Canon 24-70 f/2.8L II - haven't missed the VC (IS) yet but definitely appreciate the noticeably faster AF.

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EOS Bodies / Re: AF "Cases" for use with Dance Photography

« on: May 07, 2013, 09:57:02 PM »

I've been shooting pics of my daughters dance recitals for years.

On my 5D3 I've just shot my oldest daughter's (9 yr) dance competition with the camera set to AF Case #6 (erratic motion as the dancers stop, reverse direction, jump, etc), one of the center column cross focus points in 9 point expansion, sometimes the chosen focus point was at either near the top or bottom and not center to eliminate as much of the stage front as possible.  For her dancing I manually set F/2.8 at 1/500s which generally freezes motion with stage lighting causing ISO to go from 1600 - 12800 (auto ISO). I shoot RAW and clean up noise with LR4 and/or Dfine 2 in CS5 plus white balance is custom set in each photo depending on what the lighting is on that part of the stage. Exposure is spot or focus point linked as if I use evaluative the whites on some dresses gets blown out.

For the 5 year old same setup except I probably only need 1/250 - 1/320s to get a relatively blur free photo.

Both shot in AI Servo mode. I also use the silent 3 FPS mode which is so quiet that nobody around me can hear the camera but there seems to be a noticeable lag when pressing the shutter button in the silent modes so a bit more anticipation is required on my part.

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Lenses / Re: Stuck on whether to return sigma 35mm for 35mm 1.4L or 35f2 is

« on: April 09, 2013, 09:57:00 PM »

To the OP...isn't the new Sigma 35mm f/1.4 the one that can be configured via a computer without having to send the lens to Sigma?  I thought it had the ability to adjust front / back focusing issues until you get it correct. 

Yes it is but the USB adapter isn't available yet (delayed a month or two) so I assume the OP has to make his return or keep decision before then.

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Pricewatch Deals / Re: Nik Collection Bundle for $126.65

« on: April 06, 2013, 06:19:23 PM »

color/silver efex seem to have issues with my HD7970.
Does anyone have hd7000 family card here to confirm that it is not only my card?

No issues with running Google NIK CEP/SEP on my HD7700 running the WHQL driver package (9.012-121219a-152192C-ATI) under Windows 8 64 bit.

5

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: New MFA method

« on: February 11, 2013, 02:18:40 PM »

Focal has the advantage of doing everything automatically (when it works as I've had the odd crash plus 5D3 is semi-auto) plus providing some data analysis and documentation that you can refer to later.

The question is whether that is of any tangible $ value to you if the end result is the same. I like automation (not having to touch the camera once the test is set up) and documentation so it would probably be worth it for me.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Upgrading from Rebel XT

« on: February 11, 2013, 02:14:01 PM »

Go with the 7D now to start enjoying it ASAP!

I went from an XT to 7D several years ago and noted many useful advantages:
- more and faster AF points (check the web to see articles where 7D focus sensor is MUCH larger than the red box onscreen which can cause focus not to be exactly where you think it is)
- faster frame rate allows a better chance of actually capturing the action you want
- more solid rugged body feels better in hand with better control layout
- more pixels allowing creative cropping to get the framing you want while maintaining detail
- much larger ISO range (including AUTO) which allowed me to take better high ISO shots in varying low light while setting the aperature and shutter speed I want.
- top screen which allows a rapid check of camera settings
- larger brighter viewfinder (100%) which allows you to see exactly what is going to end up in the picture and not guess about the edges
- larger brighter back LCD screen

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EOS Bodies / Re: DSLR & Lens Coming on January 15, 2013? [CR1]

« on: January 12, 2013, 06:55:54 PM »

Two lenses were anounced last week but they weren't the L photography lenses expected but two Cinema lenses instead.

I'm thinking that CR was right about the number of lenses to be announced a couple of times over the last year but wrong about the type of lens (all were Cinema 15-60 plus two last week) instead of the L's assumed.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: My never ending Focus woes with my 5DMK3

« on: January 12, 2013, 06:52:57 PM »

I track manually with the camera as well rather than relying on the focus points to follow the subject.

I posted this as I thought it might help the OP with his problem.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: My never ending Focus woes with my 5DMK3

« on: January 12, 2013, 03:04:01 PM »

At about 19 minutes in the first B&H video it says for AI Servo that the camera starts to track with the CENTER AF point and if the subject moves off center the camera now uses the outer AF points to continue to follow it.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: My never ending Focus woes with my 5DMK3

« on: January 12, 2013, 11:07:28 AM »

Somehow the camera needs to know where to start which is why you have to manually pick a point over the object you want to track. After that the camera will try to keep focus on that object if it moves by selecting different AF points.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: My never ending Focus woes with my 5DMK3

« on: January 12, 2013, 09:22:29 AM »

Do you have the center AF point selected first? If so then it's waiting for that object at the focus point to move it appears.

When using [Auto selection of 61 AF points]
during [AI Servo AF], focusing will start from
the manually selected AF point, the camera will
the automatically change the AF point selecting
from all 61 points as the subject moves.

From Bottom Left on Page 34: http://cpn.canon-europe.com/files/product/cameras/eos_5d_mark_iii/EOS_5D_Mark_III_AF_setting_guidebook.pdf

12

Canon General / Re: Canon Experience Stores Coming Soon [CR3]

« on: January 11, 2013, 08:43:28 AM »

Do they intend to sell product there (Calgary Store) to compete with Vistek/Saneal/TheCameraStore/etc.?

If so then they're competition for those stores who might then tend to push other product.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: The AF Setting Guide Book for 5DM3 and 1DX

« on: January 08, 2013, 10:48:22 PM »

There is a more specific 5D3 version which doesn't contain stuff only found on the 1Dx but is otherwise almost identical. It explains things a lot better than the manual.

http://cpn.canon-europe.com/files/product/cameras/eos_5d_mark_iii/EOS_5D_Mark_III_AF_setting_guidebook.pdf

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Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma Launches the 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM

« on: January 08, 2013, 08:27:25 PM »

Yes it was announced then but now it is released (i.e. in production and in stores to buy).

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Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma Launches the 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM

« on: January 08, 2013, 10:06:29 AM »

This is an update of the 120-300 f/2.8 OS EX HSM version released a couple of years ago with some changes as noted.

I think the non-OS version was discontinued when the initial OS version came out.