Messages

1

Lenses / Re: Best step up/down threads for filters?

« on: April 15, 2013, 10:10:26 PM »

it's not my  $$ but those stepping rings are a p.i.ta.  Sometimes the filter gets stuck on the ring and then you are out of luck.   they also add some thickness so, that compounds the problem w/vignetting w/a wide angle lens.  I hate to spend the $$(esp w/polarizers...) but I invest in the filter and try to keep it forever.

2

Lenses / Re: New Canon USA Lens & Speedlite Rebates

« on: February 17, 2013, 03:02:12 PM »

woops, I read that all wrong.... I think the 1459 includes rebate. The Canon Rebate form is only $150.00 which is not a big deal at all, given the price.

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Lenses / Re: New Canon USA Lens & Speedlite Rebates

« on: February 17, 2013, 02:54:44 PM »

maybe a good sign for those of us who yearn for a 100-400 IS USM L II...300.00 rebatem down to 1150.00 US Amazon w/2% off.   if you don't yearn for a Mark II,  this is a good deal on the original.

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Lenses / Re: Is your midrange gear insured?

« on: February 16, 2013, 11:34:44 PM »

Here in the USA, get a rider on your homeowners where you itemize all your equipment, including your laptop. Make sure the rider covers "all losses"...eg, gets stolen out of your car... It won't be the cheapest insurance, but certainly gives you peace of mind.  You don't travel around w/your TV or home equipment but you want to be free from worry when you travel w/your cameras.   I dropped a Canon and lens in a river once, and they paid w/no problem.

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Canon General / Re: Physical Ailments From Heavy Gear

« on: February 13, 2013, 06:33:55 PM »

I have many back issues, not caused by my photography, but aggravated by prolonged shooting sessions.  since I'm not a pro, i can try to limit my time, but it's hard since I love shooting . I'm actually "trading down" in equipment, not for $$$ reasons, but for weight.  It's just a fact of life.  I use a carbon fiber monopod often to help me hold up the camera lens.  I use a Cotton Carrier Vest if I'm using a telephoto. not perfect. I rarely carry two kits at a time like I used to.

The problem isn't just weight. Having any weight hanging from the neck is bad, and the position of holding a camera steady w/arms close to the body, and focusing for a long time is very bad for our muscles..

I wish the camera and accessory mfrs. would take into account the number of aging or aching photographers, pro or amateur who have limitations. Like more DO type lenses, decent mid range SLR's that don't weigh a ton, etc.    As far as carry the stuff around, there are so many products, but none seem to hit the mark yet.

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Software & Accessories / Re: Best Practices for using a Monopod

« on: February 13, 2013, 04:41:27 PM »

to the OP, first I feel your pain. I have arthritis in my neck that has crippled my left arm/hand.  Can't handhold a 100-400 IS at all, hard to carry around a tripod.  Have been using a monopod for years w/my 1.6 AP-C cameras.

I use the Carbon Fiber Manfrotto 694 w/the tilt head.  Mount the lens shoe on the QR plate. Rarely even use the tilt feature and I rotate the lens w/in the collar for vertical. But the head has the QR for easy removal.

I try to hold my arms close to my body as I do w/just a camera, and keep them there as I tilt or rotate the whole assembly. Always use the vertical grip on the EOS to keep from needing to hook the elbow over the camera.

Keep IS on in all directions w/the monopod except for birds in flight..

Everything is a trade off. So I may have to use a higher ISO, like 800-1000 to get a sufficient shutter speed.  Am hoping like others for a newer 100-400 IS w/better Stablization. I hate the push pull because the motion to extend the lens is literally a pain in the neck.

7

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon's Roadmap for 2013 [CR2]

« on: January 27, 2013, 11:11:29 AM »

Pleaaase give us a new 100- 400 IS L lens..

I've been saving my unemployment checks

8

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon DSLR Body Rumors for 2013

« on: January 01, 2013, 12:16:24 PM »

yeah, hard to believe they would make the fps of the 70D less than the 650D/T4i. Who would buy it???

9

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon T4i or wait for T5i?

« on: December 27, 2012, 11:39:32 AM »

The t4i is excellent. It just came out in June, so how long will  you have to wait for a "T5i".

After a month w/it, it's met my expectations re: Image quality, and exceeded my expectations re: Handling.

As far as the 60D vs t4i, given the prices are almost the same, go to a store and handle each one. The T4i is ligher, smaller, has a touch screen and very quiet fast focusing.  You miss the rear dial and some other settings.  Shooting speed about the same.   Consider the T4i +18-135 STM kit if you can get a good deal under 900.00 for the kit. Enjoy it.   

10

EOS Bodies / Re: Any update to the 60D in next 6months?

« on: December 27, 2012, 11:35:41 AM »

honestly, you don't say what your needs are in a camera, so it's hard to say. My thing is get it now, but get the most recent technology you can at the best price.

I have a 60D and new t4i.  If I could only keep one, I'd keep the T4i.  I feel the focusing is faster, I love the touchscreen, and the light weight.  I miss the rear dial and slightly larger viewfinder on the 60D

 Forget about the replacement for the 7d/60 D because you're going to be well over 1,000 body only...depending on how they position it my guess is 1200-1500 at first.  Forget the t5i because it won't be at least 6 months till it's on the street.

Look for the t4i 18-135 STM kit on Amazon...I got it for 899.

11

Lenses / Re: 2013 - The Year for 400mm Lenses? [CR1]

« on: December 16, 2012, 05:18:35 PM »

They sell a lot more of the 100-400's than the 400 f5.6. My contact at Henry's said 20 to 1, if not higher.

I have a Sigma 120-400 and access to a 100-400 at work. The Sigma beats the Canon.... this has to be putting pressure on Canon to upgrade it.

I played a few times with the 400 5.6 and greatly prefer it, except no IS for my shaky hands... I tend to shoot a lot from a canoe so IS is a big thing for me. If a 400 5.6 with IS came out I would be sorely tempted.... or maybe a 500 f6.3 IS? I can't afford the $10,000 chunks of glass so something a bit more moderate would be greatly appreciated.

Don, can you elaborate on the Sigma vs Canon comparison??? If I tire of waiting for the "new" 100-400 I might buy the Sigma.  I was never quite happy w/the 100-400 and sold it, still rent one now and then.   The reviews I read of the two Sigmas (120-400, 120-500) werent' great.  Tx.

12

Lenses / Re: Keep Tamron 70-300 VC USD or get the 1.4x to go with the 70-200 II

« on: December 13, 2012, 05:24:09 PM »

all I can say is that as much as I like my Tamron 70-300, it could not be slower, very useless for birds in flight.   I've used the 300 4.0 L +1.4x, it was faster.  the faster canon lens+converter might be faster, and sharper.

13

Software & Accessories / Re: Adobe Camera Raw 7.1 not reading Canon Raw file colors correctly

« on: December 09, 2012, 10:41:36 PM »

Hi.  I can't be certain, but I would not call it "upgrading" from Canon DPP to Adobe, it's more of a lateral move.   By definition most raw files lack some punch, sharpness, when you open in ACR.   You have to play w/color balance, and the sliders. If you have "AUTO" selected in ACR it makes some adjustments to the image, if you  have "as shot" which is my setting, you need to adjust everything yourself to get an approximation of what a jpg would have looked like.

  I never use DPP, but it's possible that DPP is doing more with the image by default since it's dedicated Canon S/W

I hope this might help.

14

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: T3i vs T4i for first dslr

« on: December 05, 2012, 11:21:09 PM »

you will be happy. (See my post on T4i vs 60D)

I was tempted to buy the T3i to save a few dollars, but cameras are computers w/a lens and whatever you buy becomes "obsolete" quickly, in terms of features.  It doesn't pay to buy an older model, because you start out behind the curve.,  yeah, I know that these changes are very incremental and image quality isn't changing so fast, but my evaluation was that the T4i beat the 60D in many features(not all). The live view/touch screen makes live view a much better option than it has been, and the speed has been decent in the right conditions.

 Also the 18-135 STM which I did not mention in my other post has surprised me...way above the 18-55 IS imho.   My main lens is the 15-85 IS USM, which is super sharp.  The STM has been fine.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: T4i vs 60D comparisons

« on: December 03, 2012, 07:52:20 PM »

1. ISO in between settings. T4i only has 400, 800, 1600
3. Do miss the rear wheel dial a bit.

Fyi: Once Magic Lantern is available for the 650d intermediate iso steps should be available (I didn't try though, I've got a 60d) ... that's a plus for the 60d: It runs ml now. Btw, all your preferences are rather individual and according to shooting habits and circumstances - but for me, I'd never want to do without a top lcd and back wheel which I use with every other shot. If shooting a lot, ergonomics matter more and more - just like the larger viewfinder on full frame.

tx for the heads up on Magic lantern. I have never downloaded it and will research it.

I agree completely on individual preferences.  For me, weight is now a major feature, it effects all my choices.  IQ is most important, and I feel they are equal.

 Handling is important and that's where sacrifices are made.  I had the camera out all day today and didn't mind lack of the top LCD screen, except that once in a while I was confused as to when I was on the "shooting info" screen vs the "Q" control screen.

 The 4 way controllers are smaller and more indented on the T4i than they were way back on the  xsi. but I don't change shooting mode, etc that often.

However, I constantly shift ISO and exposure comp.  The big ISO button, by itself, actually is easier imho than trying to feel from 4 buttons on top of the 60D. Canon did us no favors by putting a tiny raised dot on the ISO button on 60D.  The exp. comp button I found is easy to reach for me..