Messages

1

Lenses / Re: Soon to be Launched EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x

« on: January 03, 2013, 08:59:02 PM »

Woohoo...oh right I'll never be able to afford it. 200-400 without the extender please canon at maybe a price similar to the Nikon?

+1.  Hopefully with better optics then Nikon's. 

2

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D III and 300 2.8 II hit rate for sharp pictures very low

« on: December 30, 2012, 06:19:38 AM »

Use a smaller aperture as well.  Your depth of field is extremely small at f2.8 with that lens.  At ISO 100 if you are shooting at 1/4000 sec there is no need to shoot wide open.  Assuming that that image is not cropped then your DOF on is only a couple of inches.  If you shoot at f/7.1 or f/8 you would have more of the subject in sharper focus.

On a static subject like that to freeze motion and eliminate camera shake issues you really only need a SS of 1/500.

The firmware update is a good suggestion as well.

3

Canon General / Re: some money left. what should I buy?

« on: December 19, 2012, 05:23:53 AM »

Do you have any need for a supertele? 

If you can't go over your budget then go pre-owned on a version I.

Canon 500mm f4 IS I and 600 f4 IS I are excellent lenses and selling for 5K and 7K respectively in "9-10" condition.

Happy shooting,

4

Software & Accessories / Re: Best panorama photo stitching software.

« on: December 19, 2012, 05:21:49 AM »

I own PTGui Pro and CS6.  For simple and easy to align images ptgui will suffice but for anything with complex situations, i.e. difficult to assign control points, or super large with multi-laters PS6 has a much better stitching engine.

If you already have PS6 and you are not getting results you are happy with then you might want to learn the software a little better.  There are several auto align selections and each one is tailored to a specific type of panorama and depending on lens characteristics one may perform better then another.

IMO PS6 is the best one out there and I have demoed several and have extensive experience with PTGui Pro.  Nice thing is PTGui is cheap.

5

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Birds in flight, advice wanted

« on: November 29, 2012, 07:18:49 PM »

If you are having problems stopping action at slower then 1/4000 sec then there may be an issue with the camera.

Assuming that you are using good technique and the lens is functioning (which it sounds like it is) you might have a loose shutter box.  I have known three cameras that this has happened with and it results in extra mirror slap causing blurring in the image. 

You can test this out by shooting a static subject with your camera/lens fixed on the tripod.  Just shoot your subject at various shutter speeds from say 1/500 to 1/4000.  If you are noticing blur then this could be the problem.

It is quite rare but does happen and canon should warranty it if it is a new camera.   Just thought I would mention this in the off chance you have something wrong with your gear.  1/1000 should be plenty fast enough.

good luck.

6

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Birds in flight, advice wanted

« on: November 29, 2012, 06:04:33 AM »

Shooting Geese and Cranes you will be able to stop motion at anything faster then 1/1000 sec.  Not sure why you are having trouble at faster then that. 

You are probably experiencing a lot of noise because your images are underexposed.  The image that you posted is way underexposed and that will magnify the noise dramatically.

Use your exposure override if you are shooting in AV mode to boost the exposure, or shoot in Manual so that your metering is not effected by when you hit on a goose or the sky behind it.

I shoot BIF all the time and with these large birds they omve so slowly that you really dont need that fast of a shutter speed.  1/4000 would be more for stopping a chickadee or other fast song bird.

Have fun,

7

Macro / Re: stacked spider husk

« on: November 24, 2012, 08:47:24 AM »

Hah!  Very cool.  How many images were stacked?  I love the detail focus stacking can bring out.  I'm pretty new to this technique.  Here is one I took recently also of a dead spider husk that I found. 
Canon 5DIII, 100mm Macro, 37mm extension tubes, 29 images stacked in PS5 and touched up in LR4.

8

Street & City / Re: Pictures in DC

« on: November 22, 2012, 06:38:14 PM »

Shoot the White House from Pennsylvania Ave at night.

9

Canon General / Re: Canon Professional Services

« on: November 21, 2012, 12:13:25 PM »

You don't need one. 

10

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D mark III or 7D and 5D mark II

« on: November 20, 2012, 05:58:38 PM »

Thanks for sharing your experiences, i'm more and more convinced about the 5D mark III as my next dslr body 

I've owned all the cameras you are asking about and currently shoot with a pair of 5DIII's.  I would much rather have 1 5DIII then a 7D and a 5DII.

It seems that most everyone has given you great reasons so I won't write a book, but will just state that the image quality at high ISO is the kicker for me.

11

Canon General / Re: Travel to Thailand/Laos should I bring my 5d mkiii?

« on: November 17, 2012, 08:13:44 AM »

I spent 10 weeks in Thailand and 1 week in Laos with my Dslr and never had any issues. Just use common sense when traveling especially in bigger cities and high tourist traffic areas.

When in Laos you should be careful taking photo of anything military. They can be sensitive about that.

Otherwise just have fun and be respectful (as any tourist should be)

Have fun!

12

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Are you maybe using any kind of screen-protector to your new 5D Mark III?

« on: November 08, 2012, 08:57:53 AM »

I use one.  Some people will tell you that you dont need one because you can easily replace the canon lcd cover that comes on the camera.  If you want to spend $100 and deal with the PIA that it is to change it then take their advice and do nothing.

If you want to do it cheaply and easily get XO skins. 

Works like a charm and you won't even notice it is there.   

http://xoskins.com/canon-5d-mark-iii-screen-protector

Happy shooting...

13

Lenses / Re: 400 2.8L, 500 4L or 600 4L for wildlife

« on: November 02, 2012, 01:59:03 PM »

Has anyone had the opportunity to compare the 600 f4 IS with the MKII version with and without extenders?  From an IQ perspective, how much difference is there really (lighter weight and improved IS aside)?

Use this: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=748&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=336&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

14

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Alaska: 5D2 or 1D4

« on: November 01, 2012, 09:09:38 PM »

I live in Vermont.  The weather here is just as mixed and harsh as Alaska.

Vermont is not as mixed and harsh as Alaska, but I think the 5D3 would most likely fill his needs just as well as the 1D4, and possibly better.  It doesn't sound like he is going to be out on glaciers on a regular basis, and since he didn't mention what type of photography he is doing its kind of a guess on all of our parts.   

PS- I love Vermont, and I'm not sure there is a more beautiful state to be in the fall.

True.  I'll concede that AK is perhaps harsher... but sleet, freezing rain, snow, hot and humid... we get it all.  And regularly see below Zero (F) with wind chills.  Typical Vermont Weather Report: "6-42 inches of snow followed by a tropical blast with thundertorms in the afternoon followed by a deep freeze and no sunshine for a month"  Lets just say that it gets cold enough where even the heariest of us won't go out.   

15

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Alaska: 5D2 or 1D4

« on: November 01, 2012, 11:10:19 AM »

If I were you, I'd get a 5DIII.  Better in low light... (Which you will have seasonally), better for wildlife then the 5DII, and the weather sealing is just fine.  If you are careful with your gear I wouldnt worry about weather sealing.  I live in Vermont.  The weather here is just as mixed and harsh as Alaska.  I shoot all year round with my cameras in the green mountains, the white mountains, winter camping, climbing...etc..

I have owned the 1DIV and sold it to buy a second 5DIII.  I could not be happier with my decision.

Have fun.