Messages

1

Lenses / Re: EF 24-70 f/4L IS Resolution Tests

« on: January 04, 2013, 06:42:17 PM »

I guess. I just figure that if I care enough to take a DSLR then I want better than the 24-105 delivers on FF (or wider and better (and for less) on APS-C). And walking around and travel and such are often when I come upon the best scenes where I'd want the most quality if anything.

I never, ever, ever got the whole leave the good stuff home when you are traveling (or even walking about)! That is when you are in interesting places! Why leave the good stuff home when you are around all these amazing and unique opportunities and then bring it out when you are back in the same old whatever? But to each their own. But for me, travel is when I'd most of all want the tops. I sooner use the convenient lower stuff for someones cat wandering through my backyard and the good stuff for the Seychelles or Paris or the Big Sur or what not.

Obviously many love the 24-105 though. It often comes up the tops in most favorite lens posts. (Then again it also comes up most often of any lens in least favorite lens posts too  ). I tried to like it three times and quickly returned or solid it all three times. But obviously while many agree with me, very many also disagree.

I agree 100% with this. I have tried 3 copies of the 24-105 and owned one for about 6 months, but was never happy with it at the wide end where I would use it most. The corners never looked good for serious landscape work on full frame or even on a 1D4 at 24mm. While overpriced at the moment, it could possibly be a great landscape lens. Unfortunately these tests don't tell us much about that. Corner sharpness at 24mm stopped down a bit to maybe f8 is what I'm most interested in. Comparing this new lens wide open to f2.8 lenses stopped down just isn't a reasonable comparison IMO. According to the charts in the article, this lens is sharper wide open at 24mm than any of those f2.8 lenses wide open including the L II.  With its small size I think it really has potential to be the lens I have been waiting for for travel and hiking. Yeah, it really should come down in price a few hundred dollars. I expect that this lens will have a similar fate to the 70-300L that a few years ago many felt was an unneeded and overpriced lens for Canon to come out with. The 70-300L has since become generally well liked and the price has also come down with frequent rebates, etc.

2

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Canon Deals at Adorama, EOS 6D, EOS 7D, 70-300L & 50 f/1.8 II

« on: December 27, 2012, 10:38:18 PM »

That's an incredible price for the 70-300 "L"  Lowest ever. It's a great lens and I strongly urge anyone considering it to act on this. I love mine.

I also agree. This also should give some hope to those of us who are looking at some of the seemingly ridiculous prices on the latest lenses. If you're willing to wait, there will eventually be some good deals out there.

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EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 7D Mark II Information [CR1]

« on: December 01, 2012, 10:42:00 AM »

I believe the APS-H sensor is the perfect combination between extra reach and low noise at high ISO.

I agree. As for whether Canon will ever produce a professional model of the quality of the 1D4 and its predecessors again with that sensor, I am doubtful. Meanwhile I love my 2 1D4's and have no plans on replacing them any time soon.

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EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 7D Mark II Information [CR1]

« on: November 30, 2012, 11:02:18 PM »

The only real way that Canon is going to plug the hole left by the APS-H sensors for the wildlife and bird photographers who have used the 1D series cameras exclusively for the past 10 years is with a 1D Mark5. Another 7D ain't going to cut it or get much interest, at least with Canon's current sensor technology.

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Lenses / Re: Is the EF 800 f/5.6L IS Due for Replacement? [CR2]

« on: November 20, 2012, 11:48:21 AM »

This is all just more bad news for current 800mm owners who may want to sell their lens without taking a big hit in the wallet. It really lowers the resale value of the lens even more, which is currently a very tough sell with the new 600 now available.

6

Pricewatch Deals / Re: EF 24-70 f/4L IS & EF 35 f/2 IS Preorders

« on: November 05, 2012, 11:44:36 PM »

Canon USA has the MTF charts up on their site :

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_24_70mm_f_4l_is_usm#Overview

As expected it is much better than the 24-105 at the wide end, but still the very corners at 24mm don't look quite as promising as the new 24-70 f2.8II. There is also no mention of distortion at the wide end and that is anyone's guess at this point. Chances are that the price will come down a bit for those willing to wait a bit and it likely will show up with rebates too eventually. I think I'd like this lens, but I will definitely wait to hear real world reports and reviews before preordering one.

7

Lenses / Re: EF 24-70 f/4L IS & EF 35 f/2 IS

« on: November 05, 2012, 11:00:03 AM »

I think it will be a let's wait and see situation for the new zoom. The 24-105 isn't at its best at the very wide end where I want to use it the most. It also has a lot of distortion at that end. If the new zoom improves the wide end significantly over the 24-105 in a smaller package I will get it probably. It would be a nice lightweight travel lens to pair with one of the 70-something lenses. I hope the MTF charts come out soon.

8

Lenses / Re: A New EF 800 f/5.6L IS II? [CR2]

« on: October 22, 2012, 02:48:32 PM »

It doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. The current 800 already is pretty light, only 1 pound heavier than the 600II, and has the 4 stop IS. Maybe they could shave one more pound off of it, add the IS3 mode, and make it the new color, but I doubt that anyone with the current 800 would go to the cost and hassle of replacing the one they already have for that, especially if it means a price increase.

9

EOS Bodies / Re: POLL: Potential 1D X buyers - still 1D X or 5D Mark III now?

« on: March 01, 2012, 08:34:06 PM »

How about none of the above? Neither focus with an 800mm + !.4x? Then long live the 1D4. I wouldn't waste my money on either of these 2 manual focus cameras. I'd rather they left out the exposure meter than the AF with f8. To each his own, and these 2 cameras ain't mine.

10

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 24 f/2.8 IS USM

« on: February 06, 2012, 12:44:56 PM »

Canon has needed to update their selection of non-L primes for a while now, and these seem to be a good start. I think that these IS lenses would be good for all sorts of outdoor use such as hiking without a tripod. It's often necessary to stop down for dof in low light. If the IQ is there, and the price and weight are low, I think these will be a great addition to any camera bag. There are already faster lenses in these lengths.

11

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS-1D X f/8 to be Added? [CR1]

« on: February 05, 2012, 11:25:25 AM »

Only *two* random emails? I'll send another and maybe it would become a CR2 rumor . This f/8 non-issue is overwrought as it is. I suspect this is because that's the only feature that the D4 has over the 1Dx. Everything else is inferior on the D4. Did it occur to the fanbois that the previous Nikons didn't have this f/8 capability while the EOS-1 series has had it since the mid-90s? No one has trumpeted it as a huge advantage until now that the shoe is on the other foot.

Nikon cameras have never disabled af with an f8 lens, and they have always worked fairly well with them (so I am told). Nikon also doesn't offer a 800 f5.6 lens (or a 400 f5.6) that is frequently used with a 1.4x by Canon owners. It is also no secret that Canon's new 2xIII teleconverters work very well with the current 500 f4 and 600 f4 lenses and that Nikon's current 2x TC is not of the same quality. If you were a bird photographer using Canon cameras and had tens of thousands of dollars invested in big white lenses, the loss of af at f8 is not a trivial matter.

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EOS Bodies / Re: New DSLR on Tuesday, October 18, 2011. [CR3]

« on: October 13, 2011, 01:15:45 AM »

Whatever this camera is called, it definitely won't replace the current 1D4 for a lot of people. It would be a huge step down for most wildlife  and some sports photographers who use telephoto lenses. Suddenly you're going to have to be 30% closer to your subjects or have to crop and get less pixels on your subject than with the current 1D4. Although I have absolutely no interest or need for a fast full frame camera, it sounds from this thread that some people want such a contraption. I hope Canon makes them happy.

13

Canon General / Re: New 65 f/2.8 & 180 f/3.5 Macro Patents

« on: October 11, 2011, 11:56:17 AM »

These lenses don't have IS? I don't see Canon releasing new macro lenses without the same hybrid IS in the 100L. The current 180 macro is already a great lens. I think only IS would give anyone a reason to switch to a newer model or attract new buyers.

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EOS Bodies / Re: Next EOS not a 1Ds4 or 5D3.... could be a 1D Mark 5? [CR2]

« on: October 11, 2011, 12:27:46 AM »

That camera, if this rumor is true, would have to be at least 26mp or it would be a step down for all the many the wildlife photographers who use and love the 1D MarkIV. Suddenly their 500, 600, and 800mm lenses will gather less pixels or they they are going to have to get 30% closer to their subjects. A lot of folks ain't gonna be happy. They better keep making the 1D4 also if this is true.

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EOS Bodies / Re: 1D Mark V [CR1]

« on: July 13, 2011, 11:30:26 PM »

The 1D IV has only been around for about a year and a half. Why would Canon be replacing that fantastic camera already? There are people out there who like its crop believe it or not. It's ideal for many big telephoto users. If Canon is coming out with a Mark V that has full frame for a lot more money, I will happily pass on it. The current Mark IV is just about perfect to me. There is apparently a lot of whining on the internet for a fast full frame camera. I do hope Canon comes out with one so they can be happy.