Messages

1

Canon General / Re: Beach Vacation in a month... & I'm scared for my gear.

« on: May 20, 2013, 11:41:12 AM »

If you're going to go the plastic bag route, I would use one of these instead of a generic plastic bag. They're cheap and you can re-use them, plus if you don't mind having the bottom portion open then you can still control the camera. I use them when I'm going to be out in the rain for a while.

FWIW I've used my 60D/5D2 on the beach (without protection) and have had no issues. I'll be using my 5D3 this week - I won't bother with the sleeves unless the weather is really bad. Everything will be in a Lowepro AW bag (with the cover on it) when not in use.

http://www.amazon.com/OP-TECH-USA-Rainsleeve-18-Inch/dp/B000PTFDYO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369061853&sr=8-1&keywords=optech+rainsleeve

http://www.amazon.com/OP-TECH-USA-Rainsleeve-14-Inch/dp/B002TI71HQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1369061853&sr=8-2&keywords=optech+rainsleeve

I second the rain sleeves from Op-Tech. They're not expensive, and they are shaped to a camera's form better than a plastic bag.

I gave one a workout yesterday with my gripped 7D plus 100-400L. It kept everything nice and dry, even when my hood was channeling water onto it.

My only complaint is the drawstring closure. Between that, the slippery plastic and my lens hood, the front kept sliding backwards. Maybe I should get another "BGN" hood from KEH, and lay down a bead of silicone to keep that from happening...

2

EOS Bodies / Re: Patent: More DO Supertelephoto Lenses

« on: May 17, 2013, 01:54:04 PM »

Greetings from So Cal.
I've never heard of a "DO" lens.  Could you explain what it is and its purpose?
Thank you,
Ed

"DO" stands for "Diffractive Optics". Canon use it as a method to make lenses smaller and lighter. They currently offer two "Green ring" lenses: the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM ($6,469 list), and the 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM ($1,399).

3

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

« on: May 17, 2013, 09:20:32 AM »

If they produce a 100-400 that's a "twist" and is as light and small as my 70-200 F/4 IS with 4 stop IS and IQ as good as what we've got now, and if the price is less than $2000, I would jump.  But, that is impossible form an engineering and design and financial perspective.

If I were to just guess (I obviously have NO inside information) I would say that it would look like the bigger (and  heavier) brother of 70-300L ... Now the price would be higher too...

I'd hope so! I love the compactness of the current 100-400 at 100. Fits nicely in a sling backpack.

4

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

« on: May 17, 2013, 09:17:56 AM »

Canon would make a lot of money if the 100-400 were to be released alongside the 7D Mark II.
So either both will be released in July, or in 2014...

+1

Though my wallet is hoping Canon staggers the introductions... 

5

Lenses / Re: EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x Announcement Tonight

« on: May 13, 2013, 11:57:29 PM »

I wonder if the flip on/off function can be built into a separate 1.4x TC.  That would be a killer accessory.

I would doubt it. Maybe a 1.4x/2x, but not a 1.4x/0x. Not without redesigning the lenses, too.

How would they account for the length of the empty extender? If the lens is designed to work at the normal registration distance, the "empty" extender would act like an extension tube.

By integrating it in the lens design, the 200-400 f/4L 1.4x accounts for things like that.

6

Lenses / Re: If the 7D M2 will be delayed until 2014, will the 100-400 also be delayed?

« on: May 08, 2013, 12:14:05 PM »

I hope not...

It would be a LOT easier for me to spend $2,500+ twice rather than $5,000+ all at once! 

7

Lenses / Re: Poll: Most Wanted New Lenses of 2013.

« on: May 07, 2013, 03:20:43 PM »

The masses aren't likely to have the $3,000+  needed to get the telephoto goodnes you are proposing. 

Oh, I don't know. Two and a half years ago, I blanched at the thought of $1,000+ lenses, now I own two. If a new 100-400 comes in at $2,500-$3,000 I'm sure there will be many takers, myself included. Particularly if it has 4-stop (or better) IS, and improved IQ.

Of course, there would be many more if the price were in the $2,000-$2,500 range...

Don't forget, Canon's next new option "up" from a hypothetical $3,000 100-400LII, the 300mm f/2.8L II, costs over $7,000...

8

EOS Bodies / Re: No 7D Mark II in 2013? [CR2]

« on: May 07, 2013, 11:59:05 AM »

I'll be somewhat disappointed if the 7DII isn't available in 2013, but if a 100-400 II is available in 2013, it makes the decision easier on which to buy when!

Although, I did find a use case this weekend for a second body with a shorter lens. Actually, it wasn't so much the focal length as the minimum focus distance. Had a couple of tree frogs right alongside the trail. I wanted to get closer, but couldn't!

9

Lenses / Re: 70-200mm f/4L IS USM for $629 at RitzCamera -mistake or fake?

« on: May 06, 2013, 04:50:35 PM »

Just called their CS line... Seems it was a "glitch", and the order will not be fulfilled. 

Cancellation notices are supposed to be going out...

Considering my CC co flagged this, I wonder how many "glitches" Ritz has had lately?

10

Lenses / Re: 70-200mm f/4L IS USM for $629 at RitzCamera -mistake or fake?

« on: May 06, 2013, 04:43:08 PM »

Hmmm...

Seems they tried to charge my CC the $650 something ($611.09 + 7% tax) earlier today.

My CC co flagged it, and that prevented me from using that card got some car repairs...

They called me, I said it would be OK, and they reactivated my card.

But still no e-mail confirmation, 8+ hours after placing the order...

11

Software & Accessories / Re: What external 'scratch' disk setup do you use/recommend?

« on: April 25, 2013, 03:07:57 PM »

For your MBP, Thunderbolt is the way to go. No, you can't daisy-chain from your monitor, but if you select the right bits, you can have the monitor at the end of the chain.

There are several Thunderbolt Hubs (plug that into Google, and look at this:http://www.macrumors.com/2013/04/09/caldigit-thunderbolt-station-adds-to-growing-ranks-of-thunderbolt-docks/) out there these days. Belkin, Matrox, CalDigit and a few others. Some have many different ports, others are one-trick ponies.

I have a Retina MBP, so I have two TB ports, and USB3. For external storage, I went with LaCie Thunderbolt to ESATA hubs ($180-$200 plus cables. I got my last as a refurb from LaCie for $99.) These connect to your TB bus, and you can connect two external drives via ESATA. I chose this mainly because I already had drives with ESATA (I was using the FW800 ports on them previously). They also have two TB ports, so I now have one TB-ESATA daisy-chained off another TB-ESATA. I could still plug in my external monitor with a MDP-DVI adapter, or another TB device.

Now I didn't really need extra USB3 ports (I use a Belkin hub for those), but many of the TB hubs will have some combination of FW800, Ethernet, USB3, USB2, MDP, ESATA, etc. You'll need to shop around for the one that you like best. One added bonus, is if you take the MBP places, you only have to disconect one TB cable!

I have to say that in addition to a much faster MBP (quad i7/16GB/512GB), the drive I/O speed has dramatically improved by putting everything on either USB3 or ESATA. Dumping 1000+ RAWs, with rename and back up, from a 32GB card is very quick with the Hoodman USB3 reader and UDMA7 CF cards. Oh, and my only solid-state storage is in the MBP with just the system and apps. Everything else is on spinning platters...

12

Lenses / Re: Canon 100-400mm L EF mount alignment question

« on: April 22, 2013, 04:21:05 PM »

Mine can be a little finicky, but it always mounts up properly in the end. Part of it is simply the weight of this lens. At 3 lbs plus, it's a heavyweight, and if your hands aren't used to it, it may take you a couple tries.

13

Animal Kingdom / Re: Help with Bird ID?

« on: April 16, 2013, 12:39:12 PM »

Agreed. Great Crested Flycatcher! Nice shots!

14

EOS Bodies / Re: A Bit of EOS 70D Info [CR1-CR2]

« on: April 16, 2013, 12:24:01 AM »

Add the 19 pt AF system from the 7D to this and it would fly off the shelves. (I would like digic 6, better hi-ISO, and wide-tele AFMA also). If these things come through, the 70D will be many peoples choice instead of the 7D.

Perhaps. But if all that goes into the 70D, I can't wait for the announcement of the 7DII!

15

Lenses / Re: Best step up/down threads for filters?

« on: April 15, 2013, 09:46:42 PM »

There are two ways to go. Either with round filters by buying the largest size you need, and getting the step rings, or by buying into one of the square filter systems from Cokin or Lee, etc.

In either event, you will likely not be using the lens hood that came with the lens, because a too large filter will end up preventing you from mounting it.

If you plan on shooting landscapes, you might end up with a square system, anyway, so you can use graduated ND filters to best effect.

I bought into the Cokin system, but for circular polarizers, I have filters for two of my lens thread sizes. The Cokin is nice, and necessary for some things, but I'm leaning toward the individual size round filters, as you can keep the lens hood, and they are much quicker to mount & dismount. And, if you are paying Canon "L" lens prices, what's a hundred bucks or so for a good filter?