Topics

1

Lighting / Emergency help-wedding tomorrow

« on: May 17, 2013, 02:45:12 AM »

I have been having a problem with my flash for a while. But i dont think it is with my flash i believe it with the user.
I have a 600ex and a 5dm3 and 5dm2.
Whenever typically for a wedding since the shots are moving fast and i do not have time to continually adjust stuff i put my cam on av and my flash on ettl.
with my 5d2 it works out just fine.
with my m3 tho it always seems to be off. like the flash all the suddent becomes under powered and isnt bounce flashing correctly(typically pointed up with gary fong)
whenever i change one setting it doenst seem to effect anything-i understand because it is in av and ettl both semi-automatic modes changing something means the camera will compensate for it.
but ill change flash to +1 to add more to it and it does nothing. ill change it to -2 no noticeable difference in image quality.
it makes me almost want to use my m2 more! so frustrating. it has been going on for a while now and i cannot seem to figure it out.
could it be a metering mode? did they change the way the m3 works with flash? is it a new ettl? please help with any ideas as i have a wedding tomorrow and this has been driving me mad.
thanks

2

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Street Photography Advice...

« on: April 26, 2013, 10:30:31 AM »

I have a 14 day trip to indonesia at the end of the summer. I love street photography and would like that to be a huge part of the trip while i am there.
I currently have a canon 5d III, 5d II, 24-105,70-2002.8 ii, 85 1.8, 50 1.8, 16-35 ii, 100mm 2.8.
I also have the canon AE-1 and a 50mm 1.8.
I feel like having the AE-1 has changed the way i look at street photography.
Its such an easier smaller form.
So i have been looking at a few options as i dont want to take this full list of lenses to Indonesia.
1-Fuji Film X100s-fast focusing(sorta), small form, good focal length-fixed lens
2-Sigma 35 F/1.4 incredible sharp(apparently), works with 5d iii
3-renting a leica for that time period and see if that is the way i want to go

I shoot in such a photojournalistic style at what ever i do(event, wedding, street, portraits) i want to make sure the equipment i have fits that agenda.
I have been hoping forever that canon would come out with some digital randefinder but unless this new EOS M rumors comes true and is out of character for canon i am still back to these 3 options as far as i can tell...Thanks in advance for all your help.

3

Third Party Manufacturers / 35mm 1.4

« on: February 26, 2013, 08:45:11 AM »

I am currently missing a large aperture lens. I am really looking for one for portraits And wedding/event environments. I looked at the sigma compared to the canon and it is way better based of the digital picture ISO 12800. Also there is the 35mm f2 is that looks pretty amazing but I first want to know if there is a huge difference between 1.4 And 2 at 35mm. If not that huge the is on the f2 would be amazing for video for me.
I have wanted a 50mm for a while but am just waiting because I would like to see a new one. The 50mm 1.2 and 1.4 is so close in quality but I would like to buy a sealed lens that isn't one I am going to want to upgrade Down the road.

Is a 35mm tight enough that the background stays blurred? Or would waiting for a upgraded 50 be better?

4

Lighting / How to use flash with av,tv

« on: February 10, 2013, 01:51:11 AM »

I have a question that has been plaguing me for quite some time. I have searches every where but apparently I am not typing in the right search terms.
Whenever I have a flash on either 5d2/3 and it is in av,tv mode I feel as though the camera is not compensating for the flash. IE instead of an appropriate exposure of 1/60 it will be at 1" as though I didn't even have a flash on there. I felt as though it did this on my 60d when I still had it. By my 5d2 didn't. I assumed it was like the ISO 400 thing and would be fixed on 5d3.
However after using the 600exrt and 5d3 tonight it seems much more likely user error.
Please can someone explain this and possible some other flash thing like why it goes to ISo 400 ??
Or tell me where to look or how to play and figure it out.
This forum is so useful to me in learning the functions of some of the more technical sides of cameras.

5

Software & Accessories / Lightroom and SDXC

« on: February 09, 2013, 06:39:54 PM »

My lightroom has been giving me problems ever since i purchased an sdxc and my 5dmarkiii. I dont believe its my mark3 since it works great with other memory cards.
If i use a USB to Camera it goes sometimes extremely fast or it will say there is an error with each file.
I i plug it directly in to the computer(macbook sdxc slot) it will go EXTREMELY slow or not at all.
Sometimes Finder even takes forever to find it. So i am trying to see if anyone else is having any problems with their memory cards and connection to lightroom to narrow down what my issue is.
The memory card i have is "PNY pro-elite x 128gb 45mb/s"
the version of lightroom is 4.3.
Thanks for any input as i am about to throw this thing out the window..

6

Lenses / Lens recommendations for wildlife

« on: January 29, 2013, 08:52:29 AM »

I am look at a longer lens for wildlife  and I need help picking out a lens.
Here I the options I see so far
1-70-200 already have but if I add an extender
2-100-400
3-400 5.6.

I don't know if I would miss the extra versatility of the 100-400 over the 400 5.6. And I am hesitant of a extender setup because I have heard image quality can be pretty bad.
I mostly looking at elk, deer, foxes from a pretty good distance.
Does anyone have any recommendations?

7

Lighting / Constant lighting vs strobe

« on: January 23, 2013, 10:18:16 AM »

I have become extremely happy with all of my lenses and bodies. I have been thinking for a while about investing in lighting. The only problem is I shoot a fair amount of video as well as pictures. I have heard of people using constant lighting for photographs but I am not sure of how good it is. I have seen these 1x1.5ft or so led light boards that are amazingly bright and have a color temp dial as well. Would that be the ticket?
Anyone have any experience or brands to recommend that will help get me started?

8

EOS Bodies / CES 2013

« on: January 03, 2013, 12:18:01 AM »

I havent been around long enough to see what canon does at CES. DO they even announce anything? Or is it just a place to showcase what they already have?
I do know what I am looking from them-some APS-C updates(70d or 7d markii), And a new 50mm F?.?(i am not to worried about which lineup it replaces but L would be nice but my guess it will replace the gold ring and not red)
So what do you want? What do you think is realistic?

9

Software & Accessories / Filter help!

« on: December 26, 2012, 11:24:42 PM »

I am currently looking for good filters for my lenses. I have 3x77mm,1x82mm,1x67mm,1x52mm.
I have basic cheap filters on there that are good for basic stuff. How i use my filters is- I take them off when i am taking pictures of things i am getting paid for, pictures i know are valuable/useful, or where they could create an issue.
I leave them on most any other time. It helps a lot to keep my lenses clean and me not have to wipe them up or protect my nephew from actually touching a lens element.
Should i just keep to my basic extra protection i have and just buy a nice CPL in those sizes? or is there some reason i should buy all nice ones?
In my searching i found a great review that really seemed to enjoy the HOYA filters but it doesn't review CPL just the UV. ANy different recommendations for CPL?

10

EOS Bodies - For Video / Do you miss APS-C?

« on: December 05, 2012, 11:44:15 AM »

I have a 60d but I have an opportunity to upgrade it at a reasonable price and get a 5d Mark III. My only worry is that I will miss the extra reach I was getting with APS-C and the vari-angle screen(but thats more of a minor concern). I have a 5d Mark II and love the full frame but worried I am going to miss the reach.
I do weddings, portraits, concerts and videos of all sorts. I dont have any ef-s lenses.
Is the image quality worth the difference and loss in reach?

11

Lenses / Unable to AFMA 70-200mm 2.8 is II

« on: November 27, 2012, 07:48:06 PM »

So i am so excited that i finally got this lens. Sad part is no matter what i do i cannot get it into focus. It always seems to be just a bit off. On closer inspection i noticed i had it at +20 the highest AFMA available and it cannot get accurate focus. It is just a slight bit front focused. I feel like for a 2500 lens I would want it to be acurate. As i am typing this i am wondering if its on when its at 70. The sample images are all cropped and shot at 200. Should i send it and the camera to canon? I have acquired what i consider to be  a set of bodies and lenses i am content with(minus 5d mark iii) and i have heard you can send all you equipment to canon and have it all calibrated to each other. If so what does it cost? Or am i being to picky?

12

Lenses / 16-35 ii on crop

« on: November 08, 2012, 08:25:50 AM »

Was wondering if anyone else loved using their 16-35mm on their crop cameras. I used it the first time when my wife had dropped my 50mm and no longer af. I knew I loved that focal length so this was a temp way to get it. 16-35 on FF isn't super useful for portrait sessions but on crop at 56mm I have started to really enjoy it.
Wondering if anyone else has found this useful?
Also this is kinda making me think it might be worth looking at the 24-70 which would be much high quality. But similar focal range instead of the primes I have been thinking about....

13

Lenses / 135mm or 50mm...

« on: October 30, 2012, 08:55:55 AM »

I currently have a 5d ii, 60d, 16-35, 50 1.8(af broken), 24-105, 70-200 is ii.

If i had to narrow down the top two things i do with my stuff it would be portraits/weddings and videography.
i would like to have a prime for lower light video and better background separation in portraits. what would you suggest?
I have narrowed it down to three(sorta). The 135mm or 50mm(1.2 or 1.4).
I have tried the 85mm 1.2 and the focus will not do for video so nice lens but not something I wanna weigh myself down with. I have also used the 100L macro and it was good. I am actual sad i returned it but with focus being so slow it will have to come later as most of my shoots are candid orientated, great for video though.
I have narrowed it down to three(sorta). The 135mm or 50mm(1.2 or 1.4).
I love build quality of the L so would i regret the 50 1.4 like i did the 70-200 non is? or is the 135 really a beast like everyone claims and are we really that close to a 1.8 is that i need to hold off? either waiting for a refurb deal or using the current rebates to get one. Thanks for your input.

14

Technical Support / This Cant be Correct? Huge AFMA.

« on: October 18, 2012, 12:56:00 PM »

So I have been annoyed by the quality and the focus of my pictures with my lenses now for a while.
I have 5dmarkii, 60d, 70-200 2.8, 24-105,16-35 II.
I finally got around to building this and trying to AFMA(http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Photography-Tips/AF-Microadjustment-Tips.aspx)
All my lenses ended up being around +14 or +15. Obviously this would be mean the camera is off by that much. I thought I remembered reading somewhere that +or - 5 was a pretty huge adjustment so I can only imagine that +15 is a massive adjustment and the camera is not accurate at all! Has anyone else seen numbers this high? Is it ok?
I have heard you can send your gear to Canon for a calibration to each other. What is this cost and the worth of this? I was going to do it once I had more of a final kit but if it is so dramatic it would be worth it now.
This might explain why when i had the 100mm 2.8l macro i was unimpressed and returned it to canon.

15

Lenses / Need advice on buying equipment

« on: September 15, 2012, 12:02:22 AM »

i couldnt find this anywhere on the forum so i figured i would use this as my first post.
I currently have a 50mm 1.8, 24-105 f4, 70-200mm 2.8, 5d mark ii, 60d, 580ex ii, h4n
i have money i have to spend at Best buy and i can not decide what to get. I have thought about a studio flash or new lens.
the flash i am looking at is http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Elinchrom+-+Style+500/500BXRi+Studio+Strobe+Light+Kit/2663916.p?id=1218343206104&skuId=2663916&st=elinchrom&cp=1&lp=8
I dont exactly have a lens picked out but here is what i shoot.
I shoot equal amounts of video and pictures, I only make money off of pictures currently, for pictures i mostly do weddings, senior pic and family pics.
For video i do a wide range of things from short documentaries for my church to promo video for groups in my town.
i am open to recommendations other then just strobes or lens but those seem to be where i end up. I do want something  that can still help me make money or improve my video skill where i can start getting paid more for those things. I do believe in buying good quality equipment that will last. I will eventually buy the 70-200mm 2.8 is ii in trade for the non-is i have now. any wisdom from people smarter than me would be amazingly helpful. Love this forum and read through most post about everyday! thanks for you help!