Messages

1

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D Mark III inability to use AV mode with any flash

« on: May 23, 2013, 11:28:15 AM »

According to p.252 of TFM, which I just re-R'd (  ), the default setting for the T3i is also Auto (1/200 - 30 s).
[/quote]

'TFM' is this 'The Freakin' Manual'  

2

Lenses / Re: EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x Announcement Tonight

« on: May 13, 2013, 07:01:44 PM »

I'll take two, please. 
Good luck to those that can afford this luxury.  Too rich for my britches.   Would love to see some shots with this one.  Wonder how soon LensRentals and BorrowLenses will get their copies.

3

Street & City / Re: San Francisco Long Exposure Cityscapes!

« on: May 08, 2013, 11:38:14 AM »

I personally like your style of portraits as seen on your Flickr pages.  As we both live in the SF Bay Area I know these places well and sometimes its just not that easy to get there and be there at the right moment. But still, well done. 

Like all else mentioned, ignore the penguin.

Keep posting your work.  Maybe you should go to SF Zoo and share your image of what a real penguin through your lens might look like. HA!

4

Video & Movie / Customer looking for videographer in SF Bay Area

« on: April 30, 2013, 09:04:20 PM »

I have a dear friend who has asked me to shoot video for a professional marketing gig however as a stills photographer, this is something I'm not comfortable with and I've told them.

I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area and this project will most likely be somewhere near the East Bay Area or if you have a studio you can work in, location may not be an issue.

Any recommendations for a videographer you can share with me would be much appreciated.  Send me your info and I'll link you two up.

Thanks,
Mark

5

Canon General / Re: Lost a 5DIII. Deciding how to replace. Big Value = Bad Idea?

« on: April 29, 2013, 12:28:29 AM »

Anyone know if DigitalRev is an authorized reseller?  Their prices seem pretty good. 
http://www.digitalrev.com/product/canon-eos-5d-mark-iii/MTAwMDQwNQ_A_A

I would not purchase from DigitalRev, especially after this fiasco... 
http://fstoppers.com/digitalrev-allegedly-selling-used-cameras-as-new-and-are-yet-to-issue-a-response

DigitalRev offers their own 1 year warranty on all their Canon products, so in the event that you purchase a defective Canon camera and Canon refuses to service it under warranty, DigitalRev will cover the cost of repair or replacement. I forgot where I read this but it's somewhere on the DigitalRev site and I believe it to be true.

What happened in that story above was a DigitalRev employee took one of the DRTV 5D3s and shipped it as new in order to improve his performance rating (they were out of stock and he would have had to cancel the order otherwise, negatively affecting his rating).

That was an isolated incident and DigitalRev has taken appropriate action against the employee and compensated the blogger who wrote the story. Additionally, they hired an internal auditor just to ensure that something like this would never happen again.

The whole incident showed that despite the bad employee, DigitalRev was really on top of their customer service. I would definitely buy from them!

In my experience with DigitalRev when I bought my RX100, you have to pay a tariff when the item arrives in the US.  As it turned out, I got a good price from DR but with the added tariff it didn't save me anything.  I would buy from a US dealer if you live in the US.

6

PowerShot Cameras / Re: Best Point & Shoot that will fit in a pocket?

« on: April 29, 2013, 12:23:13 AM »

RX100 of the three selected is by far superior in IQ to at least the S110 in my experience.  Have not used the LX7 but from I've heard from another user its not that good in low light. 

The S110 is not bad at all but not as good in low light and color rendition than the RX100.  I do however like the smaller size of the S110.  While the body of both the RX100 and the S110 are very similar the lens of the RX100 even while closed sticks out about 1/4".

7

Canon General / Re: House was robbed. Took my 5DIII. Big Value = Bad Idea?

« on: April 26, 2013, 02:39:19 PM »

Sorry for your loss even though your insurance company will replace it.  I just wanted to add that there is a website, I think its called STOLEN CAMERA FINDER, that can search for your camera if the thief posts images publicly with the stolen camera.  They apparently track this down through the metadata encoded in the images, so I'm told.  Its worth a look IMO.

Secondly, you can purchase insurance to cover your camera gear through several different insurance carriers like Farmers even if you don't have a home or auto policy with them, they will write you a policy and its much cheaper than replacement warranties.

Wish you luck!

8

Lenses / Re: 135mm vs. 100mm macro

« on: April 25, 2013, 06:33:26 PM »

Have both but prefer the 135 for most any portrait work depending on the setting, distance.  I find the 135 has a smoother bokeh than the 100.  Don't really miss the IS but it would be nice. 

Personally, I'm excited about what Sigma has to offer with a 135 f1.8 OS.  I just rented the new Zeiss 135mm and will have that next week for testing.

I know it wasn't in your question but the 'older' 200mm f2.8L II makes a great portrait lens also, given you can step back 500 yards or so! 

You really can't go wrong with either the 100 or 135. Both are sharp and consistent.

Best of luck.

9

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: 135mm f/1.8 DG OS ART Next from Sigma? [CR1]

« on: April 24, 2013, 04:34:41 PM »

I'm very much interested in this new lens from Sigma.  If it is anywhere close to what I see with the new Art 35mm and the previous 85mm, put my name on the list of proud owners.

As much as I love my L's, Sigma and Zeiss and are making me think twice.

Has anyone heard of a release date?

10

Software & Accessories / Re: Are there any Redged Monopod RMC-532 Users

« on: April 24, 2013, 03:02:38 PM »

I've got the Redged carbon fiber tripod: RTF-428 which I use with my 5D3 and a list of lenses and I love this tripod. I've also got a carbon Gitzo and a Manfrotto but find I'm always grabbing the Redged.  One particular quality I like about the Redged is that you can loose or tighten the legs without the other portion of the leg spinning. It is a one-handed operation.

I'm using a RRS BH-55 ballhead also.  For me, this is the best package.

11

EOS Bodies / Re: EOS 7D Mark II Test Camera [CR1]

« on: April 03, 2013, 01:57:27 PM »

Canonwatch.com has noted these spex for the new 7D II:

24.1 megapixel APS-C sensor
New 61 point AutoFocus system
Larger 3.2” screen with 100% coverage
Dual DIGIC V processors
10 fps continuous shooting
Dual Memory Card slots
ISO and build quality close to the 5D Mark III
GPS and Wi-Fi built in
Around US$2,200

While I'd much prefer dual memory slots and ISO 'close to' the 5D III, I realize this too is only a rumor.  Take it for what its worth. I would consider replacing my 1D4 for the new 7D II if proven to have better IQ. The frame rates are comparable and I've got plenty of batteries that would fit the 7D....if they use the same as the previous 7D.

Your thoughts?

12

Canon General / Re: Which eye do you shoot with?

« on: March 13, 2013, 03:36:47 PM »

BOTH EYES but LEFT EYE on the VF.   There must be a correlation with the handedness of the shooter.  I'm a LEFTY and shoot left-eyed. 

Curious what the relationship is with other shooters.

13

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Obama using Canon!

« on: March 01, 2013, 01:23:36 PM »

Hey, is that a BorrowLenses sticker on the bottom side of the lens??? 

14

Canon General / Re: How well do you see color?

« on: February 25, 2013, 03:51:36 PM »

I see it well but its all a matter of interpretation, is it not?

Took the bloody test, scored 16 which is not bad IMHO for a 57 year old gentleman.  I suggest others take the same test. 

JR got a ZERO which is a perfect score! WAY to go JR!

15

EOS Bodies / Re: 5D III or 1D IV for sports!

« on: February 16, 2013, 04:31:45 PM »

I used a 7D for two seasons for sports and it was great.  I've got a 5D3 but haven't used that and don't intend to.  I bought a used 1D4 last year that had 100K clicks.  The shutter has a 300K life but two months after my purchase, it crashed. 

I'm a CPS member, so I had it replaced out of warranty in 3 days for $300.  To me, its now like a new camera even with the extra $300 paid for the new shutter.  Honestly, the body is a bit beat up but the end result is whats really important to me and my viewers.

The 1D4 iso performance and fps is so much better than the 7D imho.  I wouldn't go back to the 7D however I might consider adding the new 7D2? when it gets released depending on spex. in addition to the 1D4.  Would love to have the 1DX but its not really in the budget yet.

As you know the 1D4 has a 1.3 crop and the 7D has a 1.6 crop so you lose a little distance with the 1D4.  1D4 batteries are still very expensive.