Messages

1

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Scanner software

« on: May 21, 2013, 02:56:45 AM »

VueScan also continuously updated, well supported by author of the software. Good interface. Better than the manufacturer's file quality by all reviews. I use it with a Canon all-in-one MG8220, Canonscan 9000, and Epson V700. I am told it will run a Nikon CoolScan4000 slide scanner I have sitting on my shelf....

So, +1 for VueScan

2

Lighting / Re: Buff Einsteins can use any Balcar accessory?

« on: May 17, 2013, 02:37:15 PM »

I have to add that being able to run a head way down to that lowest setting with just a rocker switch is a powerful capability for location or even product photography. Food photos come to mind, real estate. With the big Normans (admittedly the old series 2000d packs) we were adding heads just to split power, or madly swapping connectors to move ratios around. Sometimes if an assistant moved too fast through that process there would be a loud bang and we'd have to pick the guy off the floor <grin>.

Ah, the good old days...

3

Lighting / Re: Buff Einsteins can use any Balcar accessory?

« on: May 17, 2013, 02:26:45 PM »

Paul, thanks, I will start reading that forum and join if I need further help. The Buff modifiers seem OK. The honeycombs are good... I unpacked the heads and agree. What an advance from the Normans I used for so long. I am looking forward to lighting event rooms with one or two of these and Odin triggers, although the Buff commander might be worth buying to control ratios on the fly during the event.

I have a Kacey beauty dish and some of that company's attachment goodies on order. Also bought one Buff battery pack so I'd have a higher output available for appropriate outdoor situations.

Wish only that Buff's shipping costs to Hawaii weren't higher than the products when ordering some smaler goods.
I do like the customer support a lot.

Yes, I am willing -- and now equipped -- to give up my 2000WS packs!   

4

Lighting / Re: Buff Einsteins can use any Balcar accessory?

« on: May 15, 2013, 03:42:42 PM »

Balcar-branded strobes have been around for a long time. Are there interesting Balcar accessories that Einstein users reading this forum have used? Are there any fit/usage issues due to Einstein peculiarities? For instance, are the Einstein head clips able to hold accessories that have some weight? Holding a softbox horizontal without sag is one issue.

An east coast friend once showed me a small (8x5-inch?) hard case softbox from Balcar (will call him...) and I remember lots of interesting modifiers at his studio.

I plan to use the Buff products to continue small product and advertising tabletop, real estate, architecture, portraiture - both usual and environmental, wedding/event use, location in general, etc.

The Einsteins arrive late today. I admit it feels like Christmas.

5

Lighting / Buff Einsteins can use any Balcar accessory?

« on: May 14, 2013, 03:23:50 PM »

I have a few Einstein heads and reflectors on the way to me. To my surprise a Buff employee told me during transit that these heads take Balcar accessories. I had not seen that on the Buff website.

Has anyone here tried out (successfully?) Balcar modifiers, reflectors, etc., on the Einsteins? Willing to share your experiences?

I have some modifiers here that require a 6-inch flange of thin metal as a connector/attachment. Now I am searching for source(s) of a Balcar-to-6 inch pieces. Buff doesn't have such a thing. Living way out in the boonies I hope to avoid too much shipping cost to try out possibilities. Looks like Kacey Enterprises has one excellent alternative sold specifically for Buff, and I ordered that. Page about this flange shows it on Alien Bees, not Einsteins.

6

Software & Accessories / Re: arca swiss help please.

« on: May 08, 2013, 04:06:40 AM »

I just switched from Manfrotto RC4 and RC2 quick release plates to Arca-Swiss (AS) clamps and rails/plates. I decided I needed to try panoramas with the lens shifted back to the nodal point so that was the impetus for the wholesale change. In my case I liked my Manfrotto 410 geared head and there were no obvious (better for about the same money) AS system alternatives. I also have and like OK a Manfrotto 322 side grip ball head.

So I ended up getting retrofit pieces machined and sold by Hejnar Photo: www.hejnarphotostore.com partly because he was available for advice on some of the bottom or foot  plate choices. The owner is a photographer, too.  Seemed to offer common-sense advice. Among his line are AS base clamp pieces machined to bolt right on the core castings of my two Manfrotto heads retaining the height and solidity.

I regret that I didn't start out in this system so have to sell my Manfrotto plates and the Manfrotto L-bracket (based on the better RC-4 plate) but I will benefit in future fast-moving shoots calling for the tripod to shift  constantly.

7

Lighting / Re: Stands made for assistant carry/point?

« on: May 03, 2013, 01:53:40 PM »

Great! Thank you Chris, Neuro, PbD, for reminding me about Kaycee. I stumbled on their site a long time ago and was impressed with the range of solutions they offer. But I always thought about their gear when not at a computer. There's other gear I need available there, too.

8

Lighting / Stands made for assistant carry/point?

« on: May 03, 2013, 01:00:59 PM »

I want a pole or stand that my assistant can hold to point a small softbox at an event or outdoor shoot that calls for a two-legged-lightstand. Yes, I can offer him or her a folded lightstand but I wonder if anyone has seen a pole with better handle, grip surfaces -- to make pointing, lifting, holding easier?

As I was typing I thought to check Lastolite. They offer this one:
http://www.lastolite.com/extending-handles.php
which seems well thought out.

Alternatives? Experience to share with this kind of solution?

9

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Best smartphone for use with Canon DSLR?

« on: April 28, 2013, 04:10:34 PM »

dslrController, in the Android market. Read either the info there or on his site about limitations concerning Android devices that work. It was just "updated"for some wireless capabilities.

It has been $8.50 for a long time and is in "Beta". When I got it, purchase guaranteed that you could have the final release for no extra $$. Completely worth $8.50 to first time you use it.
I have used it on a few little tethered product shoots to be simpler than attaching the full size laptop. The software allows easy bracketing and shows the view through the lens. Focus on the tablet screen is good. I did not buy it to use on my smartphone, though, as it requires a later version of Android than is found on my DroidX. I use the software on an ASUS Transformer 101 with keyboard dock, as it needs a USB connection. The Transformer tablet-only configuration does offer a USB adapter that will allow use of dslrController.

It does not yet offer an intervalometer or bramping. (I have not read closely the change notes for what I downloaded this morning.)

10

EOS Bodies / Re: 5D3 Pricing

« on: April 22, 2013, 02:28:00 PM »

Having seen the $23xx price in the refurb store (Canon USA) I am spoiled: will wait. Or just buy another 1DsMk3, which comes out at about the same $$. That is my current dilemma... Which body... but if 5DMk3 I will wait for refurb "sale" again.

I assume the various price watch services do NOT see the refurb data?

Last seen refurb offer is $27xx.

11

Lenses / Re: Lenses for carpets photography

« on: April 20, 2013, 04:56:31 PM »

"Distrosion" related to closeness to the 3D object like that image posted. For flat rugs laid out our hung (hanging down on platform which is lifted to be in the camera-lens axis which offers better workflow and product photo management) the wide angle less difficult to handle because distortion will be more subtle. But there will be some change in the pattern on the periphery of the [flat]rug if shoot close in with the 10-22. Nice lens, though. LR will correct the "barrel" or "pincushion" distortion. You might also look at DxO RAW processing product for other more sophisticated wide angle corrections.

I would guess that pattern distortion was a show-stopper (bad kind) in the rug business.

12

EOS Bodies / Re: 5D3 Pricing

« on: April 20, 2013, 04:44:57 PM »

To: Dittoman

That "$2199" two messages ago is a typo, right? Canon Refurb page quotes $2799, has done so for a few weeks, with the bodies in and out of stock. If not, please share!

13

EOS Bodies / Re: 5D Mark III: 3 Bad AF Points

« on: April 20, 2013, 04:42:34 PM »

Kickflip:
About Reikan or other focus tests: I believe that YES you are adjusting for that distance you chose for testing. It makes testing the long lenses more challenging as they really should be tested outdoors. (wind, earthquakes, etc., and issue.) Reikan suggests 50X the focal length if I remember correctly. Others chime in if I have this wrong; Reikan does tell you that the focus mechanism will not always hit the same point. And the testing they do "de-focuses" the lens between test exposures so the motor is exercised to go after the "spot" at which you are pointing.

14

EOS Bodies / Re: 5D Mark III: 3 Bad AF Points

« on: April 20, 2013, 04:37:36 PM »

jblake,
You were right to test a lot in the first few days. I strongly urge you to be hair-trigger ready to exchange it if Canon Tech guys cannot point out something in your settings that immediately and consistently makes it respond as you would expect. Err to the side of caution: exchange is safest.

I took delivery of my 5D3 on the way out of town for long trip that was focused on daughter's graduation and interstate college/apartment move so was distracted (read: stupid) about aggressive testing and I now have a somewhat limited body in certain focusing challenges. I did speak to Canon a bunch and even sent in the body and lens and got a terse "Cannot reproduce problem." answer back. Canon Techs, trying to be helpful, were full of (sometime conflicting) suggestions but I should have sent it back despite the hassle of my at-the-time-6,000-mile distance from dealer.

This experience has made me hesitant to buy another... and I need another (third) body now.

15

Software & Accessories / Re: Moving fm Manfrotto to RSS/Arca-Swiss but still need geared head

« on: April 16, 2013, 10:46:32 PM »

Hey Pensive, that solution from Hejnar is EXACTLY what I was looking for and I had thought I'd have to find a machine shop to do it. Great! So I will look for a simple rail from Hejnar, Kirk, or RSS to shift the camera back behind the node...