Topics

1

Landscape / Show me cactus!

« on: April 11, 2013, 11:22:30 AM »

Post your favorite cactus photos here.

I got this one last weekend at Gates Pass in Tucson, a popular overlook for watching the sunset.  On the shadow side of the pass, the last rays of the sun can strike individual saguaro cacti like this one.

2

EOS Bodies - For Stills / removing odor from camera

« on: March 19, 2013, 11:49:55 AM »

Well here is a really bizarre question.  I just opened a package from KEH - a used 50D body that I bought for a backup camera.  Looks to be in excellent condition, except that it smells of cigarette smoke.  The previous owner must have been a chain smoker (yuck).  Is there any (camera safe) solution I can rub on the camera to remove the odor?  Or if I just leave it out in the air for a while do you think it will go away?

3

Third Party Manufacturers / sigma 85 1.4 focus problem

« on: February 27, 2013, 01:08:31 AM »

I bought a Sigma 85 1.4 about 8 months ago and am looking for feedback from other users.  It focuses fine at longer distances, but at or near the close focus limit it hunts continuously and will not autofocus.  I have to switch to manual focus to shoot close subjects.  Is this just a quirk of my copy or does this happen to others?  I am using a 5D2, which I know is not the fastest focusing camera, but I have it locked on center focus point and this problem happens even with still subjects (and does not happen with any other lens).

Also, is this something Sigma would or could fix under warranty if I contact them?  (I will likely try anyway, just wondering if anyone else has done this with success).

4

Animal Kingdom / Zoo Pics 2

« on: December 31, 2012, 11:55:20 AM »

Since the Zoo Pics thread is getting quite long, I thought I would start a new one.  Here is a shot from Christmas Day at Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium in my state of Arizona.  (One of the few zoos I know that is open on Christmas).

Canon 5D2 with Sigma 85 1.4.

5

Canon General / Canon sent me an opinion survey

« on: December 23, 2012, 06:06:38 PM »

If this topic has already been posted, please forgive me.  (I am not a frequent poster on this site).

Last week I got an opinion survey from Canon emailed to me and I am just curious how many other people got it?  For those who think Canon do not pay attention to you, this is your chance to make your opinion known.  I had recently registered a new lens, so maybe they send it everytime someone registers?  Or maybe it is a random thing?

Anyway, after clicking the various boxes about how you use various products, the last question was "What one lens would you like to see Canon build?"  I know A LOT of people on this forum would love to tell Canon.  The one I put is probably not exciting to most of you, but I answered 80-300 constant f/4 (internal zoom).  The lens I was using was pretty close to this - a Sigma 100-300 f/4 and I loved it.  Sadly the autofocus stopped working and since it is out of production Sigma says it cannot be fixed.

6

Animal Kingdom / panorama to blur zoo fences

« on: December 15, 2012, 06:25:59 PM »

As we all know, to blur out a zoo fence you need a telephoto lens and large aperture.  The problem sometimes is that when you are zoomed in, you only get part of the animal.  But when you zoom back to get the whole animal, then the fence shows up.  Here is one solution.  I zoomed in (200mm wide open with a 70-200 2. and did a series of three vertical shots.  Start at the head and work my way down, with manual focus and manual exposure.  Then put them in the panorama builder in Photoshop Elements 9 and there you have it!  (Just a few minor tweaks afterwards, including Tonal Contrast in Nik Color Efex 4).

Canon 5d2, 70-200 2.8L (non IS), great hornbill, Reid Park Zoo (Tucson, USA)

7

Animal Kingdom / show me NIGHT ZOO

« on: October 28, 2012, 06:51:21 PM »

Here in (hot) Arizona, a few zoos wisely decided to start opening at night on select days during the summer.  The famous San Diego Zoo also does this.  And Singapore Zoo opened a separate night only wildlife park called Night Safari.  I will kick things off, but I would love to see some other photos taken at zoos and wildlife parks during evening hours.  On two of these (porcupine and screamer/capybara) I used a small LED pocket flashlight to highlight the animals.  All with 5D2.

Porcupine at Arizona Sonora Desert Museum (Tucson, Arizona)
Mountain Lion at San Diego Zoo (San Diego, California)
Grevy Zebra at Phoenix Zoo (Phoenix, Arizona)
Crested Screamer and Capybara at Reid Park Zoo (Tucson, Arizona)

8

Third Party Manufacturers / Sigma lens repair

« on: October 21, 2012, 06:21:39 PM »

I have a Sigma 100-300 f/4 that I love - very sharp and the ideal range and aperture.  (As we all know Canon does not offer a lens like this).  However, a couple months ago the autofocus stopped working.  I contacted CRIS Camera, which is one of Sigma's authorized service centers (and is in my state) and they said because the lens is no longer made they cannot repair it.  They were not even willing to look at it.  I think (my memory is faulty here) I emailed Sigma afterwards and they did not reply.  Just wondering if anyone knows of a reliable camera repair that would likely be able to fix it?

9

Lenses / Sigma 100-300 f/4 AF problems

« on: October 08, 2012, 01:05:32 PM »

I bought the Sigma 100-300 f/4 HSM a few months ago used (good price).  On a trip last month, the autofocus stopped working.  It still works fine in manual focus.  Has anyone else had this problem, with this lens specifically or with Sigma lenses in general?

Annoyingly, I contacted one of their official service centers (CRIS Camera Repair) and they said they cannot repair it because it is no longer made and parts are no longer available.  I mean, they were not even willing to let me send it in just to have them look at it.  A local camera shop in my city does some repair work and they are looking at it now.  I love this lens and would possibly replace it with the same thing if this is just a fluke.  But if Sigmas are notorious for the autofocus failing, I will just have to get a 70-200 2.8 and use it with a 1.4X converter.