Messages

1

Reviews / Re: Review - Canon EF 85 f/1.2L II

« on: March 05, 2013, 11:45:01 AM »

I keep the 85 on my 5DIII almost all the time.   I love it for so many reasons and often use it wide open (probably more often than I should).   I don't take pictures of fast moving things so the slow focusing speed is not an issue.  I do wish it could focus a bit closer than the 95cm MFD so would add this to the cons.

I just love the bokeh and the centre sharpness at F/1.2.   Colour and contrast are beautiful.   I have all the usual suspects and need a good reason to move to the 50 F/1.2L or the 135 F/2L. 

I have tried the 85 on an ASP-C camera a few times and have found it profoundly "meh" compared to the beautiful performance on full-frame.  I quite like the vignetting, but as the review says, this is easy to fix in post.

Of all my lenses this is the one I would replace in a heartbeat if it was lost.

2

EOS Bodies / Re: 6D or 5D Mk II

« on: September 17, 2012, 05:32:03 AM »

Depends.  For me I think the 6D could be a good upgrade form the 5D2.

I only care about the low light handling and image quality.  I have a 5D2 and a 5D3 and in the low light situations I shoot, I have really started to see the difference between both the image quality and - very significantly -  low light focussing abilities.

I couldn't really care less about anything else.  I only ever use the centre focussing point.  But if the low light handling is as good as the 5D3 I think it will make an excellent second body and I guess I will ditch the 5D2.

The thing I would miss on the 5D3 would be the quiet shooting mode.  For quiet gigs, I just love this feature.

3

Lenses / Re: Canon 50 F1.2L VS 85 F1.2L MKII Lenses

« on: September 12, 2012, 09:41:45 AM »

Like most people who have replied, I have both and the 85LII is my main lens.  The 50L gets very little use as it sits between the 35 and the 85 which are both amazing and it is less so.  My main reservations relate to its sharpness wide open.  I do a lot of low light stuff and use the 35 and 85 wide open a great deal.

The only thing I would add is that while the 85 is amazing on full frame, I was very disappointed with how ordinary it seemed when I tried it on a 7D and a 60D.

4

United Kingdom & Ireland / Jacobs Closing DOwn Sale

« on: June 28, 2012, 12:37:10 PM »

Very sad about Jacobs closing.  I always liked their stores and staff and bought a few things from them, including my 5DMkII.

I was *very* close to ordering my 5DMkIII but an odd series of events meant I ended up buying it from Jessops.

I just got an email saying they have a closing down sale in Leicester on Saturday and wondered if anyone had any inside info.

5

Lenses / Re: Which Lens 24-70 mk1 or 24-105 kit lens for Canon 5d3 purchase

« on: March 27, 2012, 11:41:50 AM »

I have had the 24-70 for a couple of years and got the 24-105 last week with the 5DIII.  I am really enjoying the 24-105.  The IS is great for video and my copy seems nice and sharp and the extra focal length is very nice to have. 

I would reiterate the simple point - if you need the F/2.8 get the 24-70.  If not the 24-105 would be my choice.  Getting the 24-105 in the kit makes it a reasonably priced option too.

6

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: 5D Mark III bug?

« on: March 23, 2012, 07:18:15 PM »

But I *do* use AF to get me started in video and I do use this technique with the MkII.

I see you also have the MkIII and the 85.  Does it work for you?  It'd be really helpful to know whether I am missing a trick.

Cheers
Ash

7

Lenses / Re: Recommendations for my first prime (5DMK3 with 24-70 II and 70-200 2.8 II)

« on: March 23, 2012, 08:53:52 AM »

I would wait to see just how good the 24-70 II is to help inform your decision.

But I have a fair few L lenses and I shoot my kids a lot and I hardly ever use anything other than the 85 or the 35.   They are both spectacular lenses. 

If I had to choose one lens on full frame over all others it would be the 85 F/1.2L II. 

8

EOS Bodies - For Video / 5D Mark III bug?

« on: March 23, 2012, 06:49:30 AM »

I have mixed feelings about finding a glitch so early on.  Do I get a prize?

It would be great if someone could confirm I am not being a doofus.

Using my 85 F/1.2L II, it seems that while in video mode I cannot use full-time manual focus if the lens is switched to AF.    I often start by using AF and then subsequently use FTM to tweak focus. 

I have "USM lens Electronic MF" set to Enable After One-Shot AF.

If the lens is set to MF I have no problem manually focusing.

Anyone else able to check this or provide a suggestion?

Ash

9

United Kingdom & Ireland / Got my 5DIII today

« on: March 21, 2012, 11:52:09 AM »

I am nauseous with the sheer cost of it, but I have my new 5DIII in my hands.  I unexpectedly bought the kit version and now need to sell my children to pay for it.

But I am VERY excited to finally have it in my hands.

10

EOS Bodies / Re: 5DIII pre-order thread

« on: March 21, 2012, 11:42:12 AM »

GOT MINE!

Just picked the kit up from Jessops.

As the young people say:  OMG!

11

Lenses / Re: Ultrawide | Prime or zoom?

« on: January 01, 2012, 08:03:35 PM »

I shoot FF on a 5DII and have both the 16-35 F/2.8L II and the mark I version of the Sigma 12-24.

The 16-35 has better IQ but the 12mm that the Sigma provides is NUTS - making the Canon lens seem a bit staid.  Obviously it depends on application but I rarely have as much fun as when I am bending space and time with the Sigma.  I have a fair few L lenses and the Sigma remains my only third party lens.  It did freak me out a bit when I first used it on a FF camera - especially at the edge of the frame - but now I am used to its particular perspective I wouldn't be without it. 

I don't go anywhere near that wide when I am shooting my normal stuff and consider UWA an effect and if I am going wide I want to go WIIIIIIIIDE.  Vignetting and CA are certainly (fixable) issues, but it is 12 fricking mm!

So I would recommend trying the 12-24 (I would welcome any info on the MkII version) on a 5DII

http://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/24192750#24135856

Cheers
Ash

12

Lenses / Re: Battle of the 50mm's - 1.8, 1.4 and 1.2L

« on: November 23, 2011, 12:42:53 PM »

I have owned the 1.8, 1.4 and currently the 1.2L
I also have the 35L, 85LII and 135L as well as a few other lenses less relevant to this discussion.

I shoot on a 5DII but also use a 60D from time to time.

I loved the 1.8, so bought the 1.4 which I loved even more.  The 1.4 I had was super sharp at F1.4 and I would recommend it in a heartbeat.  I tried lots of 50 1.2Ls before I actually bought one.  The main thing I had to do with the 1.2L was to stop testing and start shooting.  I would say that it is my least favourite out of the 35, 50 and 85 and I only use it when I can't get far enough away with the 85II which is far and away my favourite lens.

If you fo go full frame, the 85 1.8 is a superb lens and I found it perfect when I first went to FF; I only upgraded to the 85 II because I got a great price on it (mind you I would buy another one if I lost my current one because I have grown to love it so much). 

If I was shopping on a budget I would say get the 50 F/1.4.  I don't really feel I *need* the F1.2 and the F1.4 served me brilliantly.

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Lens Giveaway Contest / Re: *Contest* People - Post Here.

« on: October 12, 2011, 11:24:54 AM »

Campfire Silhouettes

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Lens Giveaway Contest / Re: *Contest* People - Post Here.

« on: October 12, 2011, 11:21:25 AM »

Dietrichesque.

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Lens Giveaway Contest / Re: *Contest* People - Post Here.

« on: October 05, 2011, 09:10:38 AM »

“The risks of using Helium-filled balloons in a balloon dancer’s outfit cannot be understated”