Topics

1

Sports / Cycling

« on: April 28, 2013, 03:24:24 PM »

Never done any cycling shots so had a look to a local event. Got a spot pretty much on my own. Popped the 1D4 in my paws, 24-105 some Lee filters 2stop hard grad, a tweek of the focusing and just over a second burst hand held. Amazingly, it worked. Did a few others to. Wanted a few slow shutter shots but had to go home due to work.

2

Software & Accessories / Flying and foreign hols

« on: December 26, 2012, 10:03:07 AM »

Hi all, posted a similar message before but lost the paper I wrote the advice on so here goes again.

Im off on a foreign hol again and this time I'm taking the big lens. What I need is:

Im going by air so I'd like a bag or case to take on the plane. Hopefully hand luggage or if really necessary in the hold. What do you guys use to take your gear on foreign trips. Must be able to carry a couple of bodies, and lens combination. Mainly the problem wil be taking the 500 and 300 primes a few zooms and stuff for wildlife and landscapes.I keep the stuff to a minimum and if it was only wildlife it's a couple of bodies and a couple of lens would be enough but i usualy dash of for a bit of landscape aswell When I get there what I'm not taking in the field wil be left at the hotel.


Also in the market for a tough laptop. All its for is downloading pics from the camera at the end of the day and having a quick look. Need a new hard drive to.


Finally, is cs6 worth it or will Lightroom do all I want. I have cs4 and don't use what it can do. I don't know anything about Lightroom.

3

EOS Bodies / "Do you want to borrow a 1DX" ?

« on: December 22, 2012, 01:15:14 PM »

Mothers estate finally came through. approx 10mins after I got the money I'm driving to my local train station, heading south to buy a new 300 prime. Anyway in the shop, guy says fancy a 1DX? No, need reach, it's a bit short. " Fancy borrowing one for a couple of days, costs nothing, use it, don't like it bring it back, no cost he says. Stupid thing is I bloody well said no! Am I a total idiot? Free for a couple of days, no cost. Great marketing thing I thought, try before you buy. Anyway, needed to post my moment of complete and utter insanity. That said, I might go back after Xmas, they are getting an almost new used one in. I wanted to ask you x owners, he spoke of the x having a setting where if you focus on a particular spot, press the shutter button half way, a bird flys in from left of field, the camera can be set to jump to the bird, focus on it and run off a load of raw images. If true that is utterly amazing. Also, how good is the autofocus compared to my mk4? Is it really that much better? Im talking birds in flight stuff.
And is the 24-70 really that good as its the final piece in my lens jigsaw and I won't buy unless owners who have one, used it and tell me it really is a big step up from my old 24-105.


thanks and merry Xmas to all

mick

4

Lenses / 300MM lens advice

« on: December 06, 2012, 07:11:51 AM »

Hi all its that time again. Mr Claus is due to visit around xmas time so im hoping the fat man will drop something nice on the mat. As im doing loads of sport/wildlife im hoping that he will be dropping of a new lens. Ive got the 500f4 mk2, both mk3 extenders, the 70-200 2.8 but theres a big gap in my range, around 300mm. What I wonder is has anyone used the Sigma 120/300 f2.8? I ask because ive only had one Sigma lens and it was amazing. I was looking at the new 300 prime but again in tough times the Siggy might be a good alternative. I need sharpness and big aperture which both are, but also fast autofocus for birds in flight. I love my big whites, never lost a penny on them and they never let me down but in such times as these saving money is becoming more important.

So, is the Siggy a fast autofocus, well built, sharp lens and if you've used one, the latest variant, whats it like?

Merry xmas to all in Canon land.

Mick

5

Abstract / Milenium Bridge

« on: December 03, 2012, 04:16:51 PM »

A three minute exposure, ND filters, focus point adjustments and a load of other stuff in the camera and no use of photoshop to get the exact exposure matched to the bridges opening. Never seen this done on the bridge before so im well happy.

6

Lenses / Hand held wildlife shoot 500 f4mk2

« on: November 22, 2012, 04:25:18 AM »

As usual I took my tripod, gimbal 1D4extenders etc. After setting up the Red Kites arrived and I thought I'd try a few handheld. Well it didn't take to long to figure out the new lens can be handheld all day doing wildlife. New needed to use the tripod. Could never do that with the old one. Pics are sharp even at 500mm and 500th sec. This is worth every penny. Im no body builder either.
 

7

Lenses / Lens coat for Canon 500f4 mk2

« on: November 02, 2012, 06:49:32 PM »

Well it's arrived, sat here in front of me, feather light, sort of, best built lens ive ever had. Unfortunately being a clumsy sod, if I don't get it covered ill damage it. Anyone know if the old lens coat covers it? Best place to get a decent cover???

Mick

8

Lenses / Canon 70-200 f2.8 mk2 and MK3 x2 converter.

« on: October 02, 2012, 10:33:23 AM »

I tried out this combination today for an experiment to see how it performed. Popped them on the old 7D and took a few shots of comorants fishing in a local river. Just got them back and whilst ive never used x2 converters before im amazed at how good the shots are (quality wise not put em in Nat Geo wise). They needed a little sharpen but printing at A3 will be no problem. The 70-200 continues to amaze me at how good it is. Hand held 200mm plus converter and 7D maxed out to 640mm and it nailed them. The autofocus was a little slow but ok for static sitting birds but the sharpness was excellent. Yes a little soft but nothing too bad at all. Canons latest glass zooms, converters and primes are excellent. Now whens me new 500 f4 gonna arrive!!!!!

Mick

9

EOS Bodies / Weather sealed 1D4?

« on: August 18, 2012, 12:43:20 PM »

My 1D4 is/was in mint condition. I bought it used with a tiny number of shutter actuations. I took it out and it started to rain. No problem thinks me, its weather sealed, a little rain wont do it any harm. Well, it stopped working. Dead. Sent it to Canon repair center, just been returned, "uneconomic to repair". So a pro body, weather sealed against rain etc goes out in one rain storm and dies. Thats £3000 down the drain. I've spent many 10's of thousands on Canon gear and im furious. The 1DS in the same storm works a treat. Any advice on what should be done next other than cancelling my 500f4 and moving to Nikon?
Mick

10

Lenses / Canon 500 availability ?

« on: August 01, 2012, 07:18:15 AM »

Hi ,all just wondered if anyone out their in rumours land knows when the new 500 or 600 will be dropping into the shop. I'm a cps gold member and have asked a guy at Canon, the answer is don't know when. Got sick of waiting for the 200-400 so went mad, got drunk to drown my sorrows and hit the deposit button at the local canon dealer for a new 500,oops! Ho hum the wife understands, just wondered if anyone knows? From what I was told its the Olympics that's delaying them hitting the streets for mere mortals like me.

Mick

11

Lenses / 200-400 spotted at Wimbledon

« on: July 03, 2012, 04:11:00 PM »

My new toy is about to arrive! I live in the uk, wonder how much a train ticket to Wimbledon would cost?

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/cameras/lenses/ef_200-400mm_f4L.html

I sold my two primes for a very large profit to have the money for this baby. Funnily enough i've made quite a few £££'s over the years selling lens's. Dead easy.

Mick.

12

Technical Support / Best file stroage when travelling

« on: June 05, 2012, 05:32:45 PM »

Hi all, time to upgrade the laptop. I used an old dell laptop and external hard drive and time has come to change. Any ideas on a decent but tough laptop? Im not bothered about digital manipulation, if it run CS6 etc when away, all i want is somewhereto store my big files from my 1DS3  for access back home and a quick view whilst away. Must be able to manage sun/sea/snow/rain and a photographer who is shall we say, is a little clumsy and not to carefull with his camera gear. A further consideration is a possible move to a mac in the not to distant future. Got a chance of a decent deal on a new one. Must be the recession, lots of deals if you haggle.

Thanks everyone.

Mick

13

United Kingdom & Ireland / Best place to sell my two lens?

« on: May 24, 2012, 12:15:27 PM »

Due to ill health i have to sell my two fave lans, 500 f4 IS L and 300 f2.8 IS L. Both immaculate but dont want to get ripped  by EBAY charges. Anyone know of a decent place that buys top stuff for decent money.

Excuse me now whilst i cry at the thought of selling my two best friends. Sob!

Mick

14

Landscape / Utah Landscapes

« on: May 22, 2012, 01:42:00 PM »

Did a solo holiday from the UK. Got a few cool pics of Utah. Its just amazing. What do you guys think? First time ive posted anything.
All pin sharp but the colours are better on my monitor.

15

Site Information / Cant upload pics

« on: May 21, 2012, 04:43:36 PM »

I guess this is an old problem. How do you upload just the picture? I followed the instructions but all it uploads is the url, not just the picture. Help.

Mick