Messages

1

EOS Bodies / Re: Patent: EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS

« on: June 13, 2013, 03:00:51 PM »

double the price.. as expected.

If this thing comes in at $2,500 I'd be relieved given what Canon has been doing lately with pricing.  (Of course, the quote is "north of" $2,500.)

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EOS Bodies / Re: Patent: EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS

« on: June 13, 2013, 02:59:18 PM »

Don't know how difficult it may be to weatherseal push-pull zooms. Not interested in those.

What I am observing however, is that Canon is withholding wheathersealing in anything other than expensive Luxury products. In reality, wheathersealing of DSLRs and lenses is really simple and does not cause significant additional R&D and production costs. As demonstrated by Pentax over and over again. All it takes is a few O-rings in the right places:

That's what cheap kit-lenses look like at Pentax these days:


http://www.photoscala.de/Artikel/Pentax-K-50-Wetterfest-und-robust [and sorry, got it in German only at the moment]

I think we've seen example after example over the last few years that suggest Canon's philosophy is to give consumers as little as they can get away with and still move product.  Exhibit A: the T5i; Exhibit B: the 50D, complete with video capabilities that were disabled prior to release.

Now, before anyone says anything, I'm not saying this isn't their right.  It is something to be aware of before jumping on the Canon bandwagon.  Pentax, for example, offers more for your dollar but if you want to use a high end tilt-shift lens or an elaborate Speedlite system Pentax may not be the best choice.

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Pricewatch Deals / Re: 600EX-RT speedlite deals?

« on: June 11, 2013, 02:17:16 PM »

They just went back in stock. I was soo close to pulling the trigger on a couple of AlienBees but I bought two more of these instead. XD

I gotta pay for this months purchases already...and 2x of the 600EXRT's are part of that. I'll play with these, maybe buy 1-2 more, and learn to use all these effectively.

Alien Bees are next on the block after that...the prices on those look quite reasonable for starting a studio type setup. I'm still trying to figure what remote system to get and works best with the AB's...their site has multiple of them, and I can't figure out easily the difference between them all....

Wish there was some way to fire off Alien Bees with 600EXRTs together, I've not figure that out yet....

cayenne

When using the 600EX-RTs in manual (M) with radio control there is no pre-flash making the use of optical triggers with studio flashes possible.  Having said that, I don't know if Alien Bees have this capability but optical triggering is one of the advantages of the 600EX-RT's.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Canon 5D Mark III Rear LCD Screen Cover Scratched - Is it replaceable?

« on: May 02, 2013, 03:08:21 PM »

I read the same thing as you, avatar13.  The Mark III's screen is integrated into the LCD and cannot be replaced separately.  I also recall reading that it is glass.  I'm not sure how this affects the use of scratch filler.  I would be hesitant to buff the LCD with any type of cleaner at all because it appears to be coated.  Buffing might make a small problem into a big one. 

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EOS Bodies / Re: The Future of EOS M [CR1]

« on: April 26, 2013, 02:58:15 PM »

I have to admit that I'm happy the response to this product has been tepid.  Sometimes I think that Canon believes it can put out a product which isn't remotely competitive and, because it says "Canon" on it, people will pay whatever price Canon chooses to charge.  Maybe someone over at Canon HQ will realize that protecting their existing product line is not the best long term strategy.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: DPReview: Canon EOS 6D Reviewed

« on: February 15, 2013, 07:36:04 PM »

I would not be posting except for CR's comment about the AF.  I've found the improved AF of the 5D3 has expanded the type of subject matter that I shoot.  For me, it is a revolutionary improvement.  I could not go back to my 5D2—ever.  To be clear, my point is not to denigrate the 6D but rather to provide an alternative viewpoint to CR's "it's better but it doesn't really matter" view on the 5D3's AF.

Having said that, I have to chime in with the subsequent poster who lamented Canon's pathetic DR limitations on all its DSLR's.  Canon has stood still in this critical area of IQ while Sony (and thus Nikon) has lapped them several times over.  It is completely appropriate that we, Canon customers, share our disappointment.  Part of getting this message to Canon is getting it to others who may not be aware of just how much better other sensors are in this regard.

7

Landscape / Re: Geminids over Pendleton, Oregon

« on: December 16, 2012, 08:27:28 PM »

I can't get this image to open.  Get an error message with both PS and Windows Photo Viewer.

8

Contests / mmmmm...Gura Gear...pick me...

« on: December 06, 2012, 07:22:48 PM »

I'm not sure I've ever won anything but you, CR guy, have the chance to change that.  Maybe now would be a good time to mention how much I love Canadians—and Canada in general!

9

Lenses / Re: EF 24-70 f/4L IS & EF 35 f/2 IS

« on: November 05, 2012, 03:04:06 PM »

Meh.  I can't speak from experience behind the counter.  I can only say that, for me, a 24-70 is not sufficient as a walk around lens.  No matter how light a 24-70 f/4L is, it still means bringing two lenses and changing them.  That means a heavier kit, not a lighter one.

Speaking of changing lenses, I hate it—particularly in adverse conditions.  For me, overlap is helpful rather than redundant.

Really, the IQ of this lens would have to be off the charts for me to even consider it—and there is definitely room for improvement vs. the 24-105 in this respect.  I'm thinking particularly of vignetting at 24mm when using even a slim filter.  This drives me crazy.  But if I were to go backwards in terms of focal range, I would probably go to a f/2.8L II.  At least I'm getting something in return for the loss of focal length and the increased cost.

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Lenses / Re: Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS Coming [CR3]

« on: October 30, 2012, 05:41:23 PM »

What if there was another loss in translation, and this will actually be a 17-70mm f/4L IS.  Now, that would be interesting...

Yes, that would be very interesting.  Otherwise, not interesting at all.

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EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Amazing new ML firmware for the 5D3! Clean HDMI, zoom box during recording, etc.

« on: October 23, 2012, 03:55:20 PM »

That's a good question.  I'd be interested too. 

I wonder how many visitors to this site are focused on video.  I know there are other video-centric sites for Canon users.  I am interested in video but I am far more interested in stills.  I'm not sure I've even tried to shoot video on my 6 month old 5D3.

12

Software & Accessories / Re: Google Buys Nik Software

« on: September 17, 2012, 02:39:10 PM »

these are by far my fav plugins.. colorFX and silverFX are phenominal.. Dfine and their new HDR 2.0 are VERY VERY good too.. i hope google takes them under their wing but doesnt ruin them.

D

Exactly.  Nik seems head and shoulders above everyone else.  I sometimes wonder if Adobe doesn't wish some of Nik's software engineers worked for them.  It would be a shame if this killed off Nik as we know it.

Having said that, Vic Gondotra is an amateur photographer himself so it's not like he doesn't appreciate what they're getting.

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Lenses / Re: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L II Arrived

« on: September 14, 2012, 02:05:15 PM »

I still get a lot of people asking why the lens has no IS. I’m of the belief a medium range lens such as this doesn’t require it. This lens is going to be most used in event photography, or portrait and that kind of thing. If you’re looking for a walkaround tourist lens, then the EF 24-105 f/4L IS exists for that purpose.

I completely disagree with this sentiment.  Though not as effective, IS can be useful at any focal length and LOTS of customers have requested it.  I'd love to know why the decision to omit it was made.  Perhaps there was an optical, size, or weight trade off which made omitting it the best compromise.

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EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 6D Announcement Soon? [CR1]

« on: September 07, 2012, 06:21:09 PM »

If these specs are accurate and if this is priced aggressively, this body would absolutely destroy the resale value of the 5D2.  Of course, I'm assuming that Canon isn't omitting some major feature (like video) that is available in the 5D2.

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EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 6D Announcement Soon? [CR1]

« on: September 07, 2012, 06:18:35 PM »

I Really hope its a newer sensor than the 5D II.

Nothing wrong with that sensor

It is certainly capable of capturing beautiful images but compared to the state-of-the-art Sony sensors Nikon is using it lags behind, particularly in terms of DR.  In fact, if you look at the capabilities of the sensor in the 5D3—and I write this as a largely satisfied 5D3 owner—Canon appears to have made absolutely no progress in this area of sensor development.