Messages

1

Software & Accessories / Re: Flickr is now 1 Terabytes!! For everyone!!

« on: Today at 10:44:35 AM »

I'm happy about this.  Used Flickr many moons ago, gave up because of the 300 picture limit.  I may try them again, will have to see how bad ads are and such.  I wish that Google (Picasa) would follow suit.  That's what I use for family and friends to display shots.  All in all it's a good trend, though I feel for the Pro users who seem to suffer a bit from this change.

2

Canon General / Re: Beach Vacation in a month... & I'm scared for my gear.

« on: May 19, 2013, 09:49:20 PM »

Depends on the beach and climate I would say.  Beaches with thicker sand are really no problem.  It's that powdery fine sand in windy climates that can get nasty.  I would recommend to stick a UV filter (or maybe even a circular polarizer) on your lens, and then bring a few plastic or ziplock bags that you can stick your equipment in when not in use.  Yeah, some people say the camera is made for taking pictures, and they are right, but if you don't have tons of money, you still have to worry about your expensive equipment that you saved up for.  There's nothing wrong with trying to minimize damage.

3

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Lens for European Trip

« on: May 18, 2013, 12:05:51 AM »

If I had the choice, I would take the 24-105. More reach and a little lighter.  However, for Rome, I would take a 16-35 for all those places you can't get far enough away.  That might actually be the best choice for Switzerland too with its amazing scenery. 

I took my 7D with me to Rome with the 15-85 and was wishing for wider nearly everywhere.  Don't think I took much at 85.  If I had to do it again, I would take the 5DII with the 16-35.

4

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Color Bombs Kill Cameras

« on: May 08, 2013, 10:18:20 PM »

http://thecolorrun.com/about/

It's a shame it's so hazardous to the camera and lens, looks like a really photogenic event.  Maybe my old G10 in the underwater case might survive...

5

Lighting / Re: Speedlites help

« on: May 05, 2013, 08:26:24 PM »

Lucky you. Great set up.  I don't think you'll need much more.  Maybe some flash stands and umbrellas depending on what you plan to do with all these flashes.

6

Lenses / Re: Canon 24 - 105 for event photography?

« on: May 05, 2013, 08:24:41 PM »

Do you know how close you can get to the stage?  Unless you are stuck far from the stage, the 24-105 should be excellent for this type of occasion.

7

EOS Bodies / Re: 60D on the way out?

« on: May 02, 2013, 10:36:07 PM »

I would love to know how successful the 60D was, especially compared to the XXD series. I was going to get one, hoping it would be a improved 50D, but it became a completely different camera.  I ended up getting the 7D instead.  With the cheaper 6D now, and maybe a 7DII coming, maybe they won't even release another XXD camera. T5i is great, 7DII as the next model up might cover it all.  Curious to see what they do...

8

Lighting / Re: 3rd party flashes not working with 6D

« on: May 02, 2013, 11:22:54 AM »

I have energiser batteries. Calumet batteries. Sigma lenses. A tokina lens.

I have a canon flash.

Whenever the question comes up in forums I always say 'buy a canon flash'.

This is why.

Not very helpful, but true.

The money spent on cheapies is wasted as the third party guns have no resale value, and you'll end up buying the canons anyway.  There is such a thing as a false economy.  Tripods.  Flashguns.  Don't scrimp.

I agree with you, not very helpful. I have 580EXII and a bunch of other Canon flashes.  They are great. But for controlled inside shooting, I have been using manual Yongnuo's for years. Best money ever spent.

9

Canon General / Re: How much would you pay?

« on: April 28, 2013, 12:04:47 PM »

I wouldn't pay a penny to meet any of these people.  I don't see what I have to gain from them.

10

EOS Bodies / Re: Safe to leave lens on camera?

« on: April 20, 2013, 04:12:19 PM »

I have never worried about which direction to leave my camera sit with the lenses on.  Have never had a problem either. Obviously you don't want to store it with the whole combination having stressful forces on it, but I think in general it's a non-issue.

11

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma Announces 18-35 f/1.8 DC HSM Art for APS-C

« on: April 19, 2013, 02:45:34 PM »

Lots of high tech talk I am not privy to understand or care to understand.  The lens however seems great.  Impressed with Sigma.  Unfortunately I have decided to go and stay with full frame.  If anything remotely similar was available for full frame, I would be all over it.

12

Lenses / Re: IS mandatory? 70-200 f/4 IS vs. f/2.8 Non-IS

« on: April 12, 2013, 10:22:20 AM »

All good advice here. I think I would rather have IS than 2.8.  Yes, when shooting action, 2.8 is better than IS at 4.0 to stop the action.  But once you stop down, that advantage is gone.  So, unless you mostly shoot action wide open, I think the f4 IS would be the better more versatile option.  Oh, and also lighter and smaller.

13

Lenses / Re: ok so i did it and bought into FF... now i need a good standard zoom

« on: April 08, 2013, 09:10:13 AM »

I bought a refurbished 24-70 2.8 L Mark 1 from Canon when they had a discount, it was under $1,000.  I also have a 24-105.  I prefer the 24-70, I feel it has nicer colors and feel of the resulting images.  It is a heavy, bulky brick though.

14

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Initial impression after using 6D... now 2 weeks later

« on: March 23, 2013, 11:49:34 AM »

It took me three separate attempts to get into the back button AF thing.  Couldn't live without it now.  It becomes second hand and makes you handle most situations so much better.  It's a little like in the old days where you could focus with one hand and meter and shoot with the other.  Once you master it, you have much better control over your camera and can spend more time thinking about the image.

15

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: how reliable are cheap third party flashes (yongnuo)

« on: March 09, 2013, 01:09:09 PM »

I have two Yongnuo YN560's. Usually use them manually in "studio" setups.  They have been reliable so far.  All I do is power them with whatever rechargeable AA's I have charged at the time.  No issues.