Messages

1

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

« on: May 16, 2013, 01:19:15 PM »

I originally did not like the idea of a push-pull design, but have changed my mind after using my 400L for a few years.
Some of the advantages that this design made available when it was designed are:
 
     Short Storage length, shorter than the 70-200mmL
     Close focusing, for filling a frame with small birds which often let you get close.
     Is has worked for me down to 1/20 sec, far better than the IS on my 400mm f/5.6.
 
 
Newer lens technology now allows for shorter lens designs, better IS,  all with close focusing.  I'd certainly welcome a new model that  had those attributes, push pull or not.  I'd prefer the smallest one, whichever it is.
 
My 400mm f/5.6 is too long to easily store, and won't focus closely, plus a lack of IS can be a issue for stills where light in not its best.  Having to use a high shutter speed requires high ISO's unless I have bright light.

+1

+2

2

Landscape / Re: Jippieeee! It's spring! Post your first spring pictures here.

« on: May 13, 2013, 12:40:46 PM »

What the hell... I haven't posted any photos in a long time, here's some from last night at a local park:

3

Site Information / Re: Membership Approval Now Required

« on: May 10, 2013, 09:50:25 AM »

We will not approve membership if the account name looks like a advertisement, is a e-mail address, or just sounds phoney,  It is definitely better if a account name has some recognizable link to photography.

This is way too subjective and what may be an advertisement / email / phoney to you may just be perfect for someone else. Compound this by the fact that the username will be rejected after one day I doubt a genuine user who is rejected will bother to try again (I certainly wouldn't, but that's just me).

IMHO a captcha is a better idea as suggested above.

You'd be surprised how non-ambiguous some of the attempts are...

khlhkjh001
khlhkjh002
khlhkjh003
...
khlhkjh999

All signed up in a matter of minutes from the same IP address.

Usernames that are obvious spam URLs...

And also the people that set up sock-puppet accounts.

4

Site Information / Re: Membership Approval Now Required

« on: May 10, 2013, 09:44:10 AM »

Fair enough ... but a day for approval?

It's usually more like an hour or two max.

And the only person I've rejected so far was someone that already had two accounts, and for some reason felt the need to sign up for a third.

5

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Constant charger for the 60D

« on: May 09, 2013, 11:37:20 AM »

@neuroanatomist that is awesome
not sure why i didn't find myself

problem: canon original, i am getting a best price of £110. non canon, i can get for £9
which one do i go for? what would u recommend?

thanks

I've looked at 3rd party ones, and have yet to find one with even remotely favorable reviews.  I'm all in favor of 3rd party for small accessories that Canon usually charges a ton for, but this is one where I haven't found a suitable replacement for OEM.

6

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 6D + Samyang 24 Visits Badlands Milky Way Extreme ISOs

« on: May 09, 2013, 11:14:36 AM »

I've been looking at Samyang 14 & 24 lenses just for this reason, these wonderful pictures serve to reinforce that decision greatly.

Side note, because I've never seen it mentioned, the 40/2.8 STM has some strong coma in the corners on FF.  I never saw any on the 50/1.4, but I haven't shot stars with that on FF yet only crop.  I'll have to check next time I'm out.

7

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

« on: May 07, 2013, 03:16:22 AM »

Joking aside, for me it's the 135L (1.8 or 2, either one, but with IS and even better optics) or the 14-24 2.8 that has little distortion and is very sharp.

Just curious, what's wrong with the current 135L? 

Nothing... but modern coatings and possibly f/1.8 would be even better.  I'd like IS in concept, but I don't think I'd like the price tag.  The current one is a bargain at ~$1000; an updated one would lose some of it's charm if it's was twice that.

8

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

« on: May 07, 2013, 03:08:06 AM »

Re: Poll: Most Wanted New Lenses of 2013.
« Reply #31 on: Today at 12:47:58 AM »
Quote  florianbieler.de
I'd like Sigma to add a 50 1.4 and 85 1.4 to their Art line.
Sigma has $50.00 instant savings on 50 1.4 and $75.00 instant savings on 85 1.4 posted on their website under Standard lenses. I just found it because your post made me go look because I thought you wanted them to make these lenses. I guess you want them updated. Why would they add them to an Art Line when they are Standard Lenses?

Probably because when they took the 35mm from their standard line, and released it under their art line it went from "ok" to awesome.

9

Lenses / Re: Need advice taking pictures of jewellery

« on: May 03, 2013, 11:52:52 PM »

- I take 10 shots. 3 of these will come out slightly darker than the others - why is this?

If it's florescent lighting, you're probably using too fast of a shutter speed.  The lighting is actually turning on and off at 120 times per second (if you have 60Hz power or 100 times for 50Hz, locale dependent), so fast shutter speeds may be capturing between cycles.  Try slowing your shutter speed down to 1/30th and see if that helps.

LED lighting may flicker, depends on the quality of the bulb.  Good quality LED bulbs convert to filtered DC, and provide continuous light.  Medium quality bulbs use a full wave bridge rectifier and will flash at 120Hz(100Hz).  Low quality bulbs (commonly Christmas lights), use a half wave rectifier, and the pulses of light have the same duration as the "medium" quality one, but every other one is missing so it's flashing at 60Hz(50Hz), but is off half the time.

10

Lighting / Re: Knockoff Speedlights

« on: April 30, 2013, 04:22:20 PM »

The 560 is manual only
The 565 is ETTL and supports an external battery pack
The 568 is ETTL and HSS but loses the battery pack

All will trigger through a YN-622C, the 565 and 568 allow you to adjust the settings from a supported body over wireless.

11

Lenses / Re: EF 100-400 Replacement in 2013? [CR2]

« on: April 29, 2013, 10:03:37 AM »

I'll go on record... here: 

Canon will price it higher than the Nikkor equivalent... 

I would not be surprised if the initial price is in the $3500 region....

Hopefully once they have a production surplus, then 2500 might be feasible in a couple of years.

I would expect a similar, if slightly higher, trajectory as the 70-200/2.8IS II.  Start at about $2800, settle at $2300 after 18-24 months.

12

Lenses / Re: EF 100-400 Replacement in 2013? [CR2]

« on: April 29, 2013, 10:00:21 AM »

I just can't see this lens coming out before the hugely delayed 200-400/560.

based on what?

why should they delay one lens only because they have problems with another?

the 100-400mm will sure be sold more often then the 200-400mm.
the 100-400mm is a more attractive lens (money wise) for many photographer.

i see no reason, except in case they share the same production problems, that canon will not just release the lens when it is ready.

...could be a marketing nightmare selling expensive zooms coming out at the same time (approx) with overlapping focal lengths..

With the 4-5x difference in price, I think the only real nightmare will be for lowly slobs like me that can only afford the 100-400, but would gladly trade our left (insert favored body part of choice here) for the 200-400. 

13

Lenses / Re: 24-70L II is fantastic

« on: April 26, 2013, 06:44:08 PM »

Scanning the City by Jesse Herzog, on Flickr

Cool and creative first shot, but the shaddow of the person seems amiss. Is it pp later on?

I was going to ask the same thing, the shadow is upside down.

14

EOS Bodies / Re: The sound of silence

« on: April 23, 2013, 01:33:11 PM »

I had to chuckle; this date, and silence, means something completely different to whovians...

https://plus.google.com/u/0/s/%23SilenceWillFall/posts

15

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Waiting for a Sigma 50 "A" like their 35 to appear?

« on: April 20, 2013, 06:20:19 PM »

I'm more interested in the 85, but the 50 would be nice too.