Messages

1

EOS Bodies / Re: Need help. Canon 60D for sports--is it better to pony up for the 7D?

« on: March 05, 2013, 11:55:25 PM »

As 60D owner who likes to shoot sports on occasions (soccer), you can get some good shots with it.

If you'd asked this question before you'd bought the camera, I'd say go for a 7D - a second hand one considering it's going to be superseded within the next 6 months. However, as the 60D is already in your hands I'd say hang on to it til you feel you are being held back by it.

Why? Because you'll take a loss on selling the 60D plus the price difference with the 7D - that $500-$700 would be better put towards a decent lens, a lens that you can use with your next body when you are ready to take the plunge again. Good glass helps tremendously as you can keep your shutter speed up high whilst at the same time having enough light to expose the subject correctly or to go for a narrow depth of field to isolate an athlete. A 70-200 f/2.8 IS (I or II) helps produce excellent images, even on a 60D.

I understand that there are better bodies out there for sports, but for a novice the 60D is acceptable. With the better AF you will get more keepers with a 7D, and with more focus points you won't be as constrained with your framing. However, as you become more experienced, you'll get more and more keepers and better and better shots, than you may currently.

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Reviews / Re: Review - Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS II

« on: January 17, 2013, 12:14:15 AM »

70-200s are mid-range teles which do best in smaller venues...when used for large football fields by usually eager parents it happens in less formal play, school, or local teams and they can get closer to the action by foot by crossing the green or moving to the perimeter of the field where action is closest.... In big ticket professional games, 200mm will not get you close to even the mid field action from the bleachers...let alone far field...you can always crop.  Extenders are possible for the price of a few IQ points but ... even they will fall short for really far field scrums. 400mm is a fair bet and 600mm is a sure thing...whichever way you can achieve those...via native zooms, primes, or extender combos... Mind you, a lot of great sports shots have been taken with 70-200 ...however, you gotta be in the right place, is all.

I got some shots that I was very happy with, so I know it can do the job, provided I'm in the right place of course. As a somewhat aspirational amateur, limited on most occasions by stadium rules, the longest lens I can carry in is 200mm. Next time I hire one I might try it with an extender, just to see the difference. Thanks for the reply.

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Reviews / Re: Review - Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS II

« on: January 16, 2013, 08:57:32 PM »

Excellent review. I've had this lens for nearly 2 years and use it primarily for shooting football (soccer) matches and it is just superb. Matched with the 1Dx I rarely miss a shot and if I do its usually my fault for setting the camera/autofocus wrong. I agree the only real downside is the weight, it really is heavy at circa 1.4kg. The use of a Black Rapid strap has helped big time though.

If you can afford it this lens is without doubt the medium tele-zoom to buy. That said I've considered re-purchasing the F4 non IS, just for its low weight, it is a great lens too.

Quick question, you're using it with a 1.4x or 2x? The one time I used it, I found shooting football (soccer) that the long end on a crop is good to just over the half way line. Would you agree?

4

Lenses / Re: Canon are obsessed with an IS version of the 24-70

« on: November 28, 2012, 11:55:39 PM »

Perhaps the "2.8" is the typo? 

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Lenses / Re: New EF-S Lenses Are Coming [CR2]

« on: November 21, 2012, 07:51:34 PM »

i think there is no question that these upgraded lenses will be a lot more expensive.

it´s canon after all...

New things are more expensive, who'd have thunk it?

...a new “pro” APS-C camera, currently expected to be the EOS 7D Mark II.

I'm interested in this.  I wonder what 'pro' means?  I'd love a redesigned APS-C sensor with significantly lower high ISO noise, in a 1-series style body with the 1D X's AF system.  That's what 'pro' means to me... 

This is interesting to me, as well.

And when it is released, I won't expect it to come at a lower pricepoint than the 6D.

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Lenses / Re: Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS Coming [CR3]

« on: October 31, 2012, 08:14:39 PM »

The point I'm trying to make is that if Canon intends to replace or supplement the 24-105 f4L IS (kit) lens with a new 24-70 f4L IS (kit) lens, that in itself won't make a lot of difference to me and, I suspect, probably not to many others who already own the 24-105.

I don't think that owners of the 24-105L are the target market for this lens. It will be mostly for people new to FF, such as 6D purchasers. It will cost less to manufacture than the 24-105 and probably sell for around the same price circa $800-900, I reckon.

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Lenses / Re: Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS Coming [CR3]

« on: October 31, 2012, 04:22:54 AM »

All specs aside, I really think that this is a knee-jerk reaction to the market / sales.

With the Tamron getting to market first, many fans held out.  But as delays came on folk began to jump ship - especially when the price was verified by the vendors.

With the v1 24-70 gone, all of the sudden sales are down, even with a proported fatter margin on the v2.

We've all read the rumors that there was an IS version being tested - but this all went out the window once the v2 was Announced.

I disagree. It's not like they could design/test/set-up for manufacturing all since the 24-70 MkII came out. That's too little time for such a reaction. I'd be very surprised if they ever update the 24-105L after this new lens is on the market. With rationalisation of their zoom range, Canon's new blurb after December:

"Complementing the EF 17-40mm f4L USM and EF 70-200mm f4L USM, the 24-70 f4L IS STM lens completes Canon's f4L-series zoom lens range."

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Lenses / Re: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS [CR1]

« on: October 29, 2012, 11:18:12 PM »

For me, it would have to be lower than the cost of the 70-200/2.8L IS II, which is a bigger lens, with bigger elements, spectacular optics, and IS.  To get there, they'd likely have to reduce the cost of the II non IS.

As a response to this I can only think of a famous remark once made by the eminent John McEnroe Jnr. whilst cordially discussing the call made on the previous point with the central umpire.

9

EOS Bodies / Re: Looks like the 6D may not be so bad after all

« on: October 07, 2012, 08:25:14 PM »

I don't usually mind a bit of a wait from announcement until release but this seems to long, made worse by the fact Nikon had theirs on shelfs the next week, and Apple releases their products within 2 weeks of announcements.

That's why Apple stopped having an official presence at these tech events. They want to set their own schedule.

10

EOS Bodies / Re: Comparing 6D with 5D3

« on: October 03, 2012, 01:35:35 AM »

I thought it was pretty obvious that the 5DMk3 replaces the 5dMk2. The 6D is a new addition to the product line. For a short while it will overlap price-wise with the 4 year-old 5DMk2, however, just until new stock of the latter is finally sold off. That's how I see it.

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Lenses / Re: The First Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L II Review

« on: September 10, 2012, 03:30:47 AM »

definitely australian.

who gives a crap how someone says a word?

I don't mind an Australian accent placed upon English words, but he is mispronouncing a foreign cognate and as a speaker of Japanese, it irks me very much.  It was just distracting if anything.

Even allowing for the fact that he has an Australian accent, he is mispronouncing the word. As an Australian and a Japanese and Chinese speaker, it didn't bother me too much, however.