Topics

1

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / ETTL vs Manual for fill flash

« on: March 26, 2012, 01:16:41 PM »

I've been experimenting with off camera flash for fill flash in outdoor portraits and have been getting inconsistent results - wondering if anyone could share a workflow that works for them.

My setup - 7D. 580exII, 2x430 exII.  Have both a softbox and umbrella.

What I've been trying is exposing for the background and then generally using the softbox at a 45 degree angle and about a foot above subjects about 8 feet away.  I've found ETTL sometimes works but often seems to overexpose, particularly if the background isn't bright (i.e. overcast day).   I then start futzing with modifying the ETTL to "underexpose" by 1/3 a stop at a time, but futzing to the point that I'm wondering if I should just use manual.  Some of my shots the subjects themselves look OK but they look detached from the background.

Anyone have a method that works for them?  I'm mainly looking to put a little glow/color in my subjects face on grey days.

 

2

EOS Bodies - For Stills / What should I expect with 7D + 70-200 IS II re: autofocus?

« on: January 19, 2012, 08:01:44 AM »

I'm relatively new to SLRs, starting with the t2i + kit lens several years ago and migrating to the 7D about a year ago.  I've loved the 70-200 IS II for the same reasons as everyone.

I love action photography but have found the camera misses autofocus on about half my shots when the subject is rapidly approaching the lens.  As an example I was shooting my kid sledding on a bright but overcast day - I had all the AF points enabled, AF Servo, IS mode 2,  and High frame rate.  Lens wide open - was leading him a bit coming down the hill.

My question is - am I just expecting too much from the AF?  Any suggestions for increasing my keeper rate?

SamTheFish 

3

EOS Bodies / Anyone have a good explanation of "native" vs "expanded" iso?

« on: December 02, 2011, 03:10:57 PM »

When Canon describes the 1Dx as having "100 to 51200 native ISO (expandable to ISO 50-204800)" what does that really mean?  Does "native" mean setting the sensitivity of the sensor itself and "expandable" mean setting it after the signal comes off of the sensor?  I've googled around and haven't seen a great explanation.

I'm just curious where the amplification of the signal occurs and if you would ever be better off underexposing a raw image and then upping the "gain" in post processing.

SamTheFish

4

Software & Accessories / Advice re: 1.4x III extender

« on: September 28, 2011, 02:40:34 PM »

Lemme give you an idea of my equipment:

7D, 24-105 f4L, 17-55 2.8 (EF-s), 100mm IS Macro, 70-200 IS II, Sigma 10-22, 1.4x extender

For every lens up until the 1.4x extender I've been happy with the sharpness so I've never messed with AF microadjustment.  I recently bought the 1.4x extender to add some reach to the 70-200 for sports and photos of critters in the yard.    The other day I took about 20 photographs of a chipmunk, used just the center focus point, braced myself against house and used IS mode 1, f4.0 @ 1/250.  Not one of the photos came out sharp.  I then tried mounting camera on a tripod, doing mirror lockup remote release and taking some photos of a remote squirrel with just the 70-200 (@200) and with the 1.4x extender added.  I really couldn't see any advantage of having the extender as I could get a sharper image from just enlarging the native 70-200 lens photo.

I then tried a poor man's calibration by putting a ruler at an angle and trying some different AF microadjustment settings ... the best I can figure it's best setting is about +12.  Even then it's not as sharp as native but I expected to loose some sharpness with the extender.

I realize the "every lens is different" but doesn't that seem like a lot of adjustment?  Am I better off trying to exchange it?

Also what's everyone else's experience with the extenders?  When it comes down to it I still wonder if I'm not getting an as good or better photo by just cropping the photos from the 70-200mm lens.  Also not loosing the one stop of light.

Any ideas or experiences welcome...

SamTheFish