Messages

1

Landscape / Re: Jippieeee! It's spring! Post your first spring pictures here.

« on: May 13, 2013, 11:12:29 AM »

Two early morning examples as the sun has just come up in the desert on the garden. Its a bit late spring as the temp is already 90f and will reach 110f today. Sorry about the snow Edmonton.

2

Lenses / Re: One lens for vacation

« on: May 10, 2013, 05:20:21 PM »

I am heading back home for a month in the summer and showing Europe to my wife. My one lens solution is the 24-70L 2.8 II. I have used it for about 2 months now and its versatile with exceptional quality.

3

Animal Kingdom / Re: Wrong Photography Ethics?

« on: May 09, 2013, 04:48:31 PM »

This is the "I remember when......., things were so much better back in the day" argument. We are in today not in the past and today provides the tools to do all sorts of magical things. It amazes me how we torture innovators to desperately cling to the past. Turner, one of the worlds great painters was roundly abused in his day for his vision which was only reality as he saw it, now of course we recognize his genius. Surely photography is art, not just a representation or photocopy of the world around us. Manipulate your photo's however you wish and I for one will judge them purely based upon my own taste and not on others rules of right or wrong.     

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5DMK3 new firmware - Silent shooting in "one shot" is now very loud???

« on: May 03, 2013, 12:53:49 PM »

Silent shooting is just as it was for me.
Other than the focus speed for assist beam, I have only been affected negatively by the 3rd party battery support, so I guess I am wondering, was this firmware worth all the wait and the hype.
I have noticed that Canon seem to spending their time on firmware for video, new lenses and cameras for video and point and shoots. The professional and advanced amateur have a bone thrown their way occasionally, am I exaggerating. 

5

Software & Accessories / Re: Lowepro Toploader 80/85 Pro AW

« on: April 23, 2013, 07:34:06 PM »

Have you considered a Lowepro slingshot 32AW. I bought one last year and currently it holds, 5dmkiii, 50d both with battery packs, lenses, 16-35L, 24-70L and 70-200, 580EX flash and light meter. I have spare batteries/chargers cards, cleaning items and there is still a little room for a converter. This may work for you better.

6

Lenses / Re: Just got the canon 16-35 ii and having a hard time seeing the value in this uwa

« on: April 19, 2013, 05:35:56 PM »

I am surprised that you find the 16-35 uninspired. I have similar lenses to you and each of them serve a different and sometimes overlapping function. I have only recently acquired the 16-35 but had a clear idea what I was looking for it to be. For me spending a large amount of money on a lens is everything to do with need and knowing in advance what I want to use it for and of course getting lots of advice, but I would never buy a lens with a single purpose in mind unless I am looking to a prime. The 16-35 provides the opportunity to be creative, perhaps more creative than with the other lenses in the bag. I have bought mine primarily for landscapes/seascapes but also intend to use it for portrait and architecture. Experiment with it and I am sure you will be surprised at its flexibility. Good luck, don't give up. 

7

Technical Support / Re: MacBook Pro : Best RAW Processing Software?

« on: April 16, 2013, 09:53:52 PM »

I use both Lightroom and Capture One and find them both straight forward to use Capture One is slightly cheaper but not so its noticeable. I have PS5 but rarely use it especially as the other programs develop further. I use the NIK and Alienskin plugins which I like and compliment LR and Capture One well.

8

Lenses / Re: Which Lens Canon 85mm 1.8 or 135 L

« on: April 12, 2013, 06:58:58 PM »

I enjoy the 85 1.8 and have not had any problems with the sharpness or overall image quality. I have not used the 135 but have seen pictures from it which are very good indeed. In a smaller environment I would suggest the 85 may be the better option. The 85 is great value for money and maybe I would even argue that it is Canons best lens for the price.

9

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Please share your camera settings

« on: April 12, 2013, 06:54:31 PM »

I only shoot RAW and convert out of Lightroom which I use for noise reduction, also use NIK for noise reduction if needed.

10

Lenses / Re: Which Lens ... 24-70 II or primes?

« on: April 10, 2013, 09:27:05 AM »

My new 24-70 mk2 arrived yesterday and having used it even for a short while I have no regrets, its just that good. I tried the 50L and 85L extensively and am still pleased with the decision I made, its just more versatile. There are certain low light situations where I may have thought differently, but the 5D mkiii and its low light capabilities go a long way to compensate for that.

11

Lenses / Re: Canon 24-70mmL II v Canon 50mmL 1.2

« on: April 09, 2013, 09:07:24 PM »

Having taken advice, the 24-70 arrived today and I have been playing with it this afternoon. Too soon to publish any pictures yet, maybe next week. It operates extremely smoothly, super sharp with lightening focus. Not disappointed, its everything that people who have tried it and love it, say it is. Thanks again for the advice.

Gary   

12

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Anyone compared sirui and benro carbon tripods?

« on: April 08, 2013, 06:01:48 PM »

I have a Benro C-258EX tripod and MC-91EX monopod, both are great quality and have never let me down. The savings I made on price I put to a new lens.

13

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Can anyone explain what on Earth DXOMark is on about?

« on: April 05, 2013, 02:19:44 PM »

Having read the parameters for testing I have to say I am more than a little confused. Comparing apples and oranges is not very scientific unless of course you are testing to see that an orange tastes like an orange. As a camera doesn't really function well without a lens I have tended to ignore pure sensor tests so was intrigued to see a test of bodies and lens. I was then sadly let down when I didn't see side by side like for like comparisons. I think I will just stick to looking at the photo's I take and make my own judgement.

14

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Lightroom 4 and .CR2 files from 5DM3 and 7D - Can't Import!!

« on: April 03, 2013, 05:45:00 PM »

Hi,

I had a problem uploading raw files from a 5dmk3 directly from the camera into LR4 when it was first released. Someone suggested I use a card reader and it works fine. I had never used a reader with the 50d and no problem. But now I use a Delkin without problems, Fingers crossed. Hope this helps.

15

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Does Canon really have a Flagship Stills Camera?

« on: April 01, 2013, 11:42:08 AM »

The notion of a 'Flagship' is ridiculous and is the problem when we look for something to be everything for everyone when we all want something different albeit slightly. Why not ask the question what is the Flagship lens, as each of our requirements are different we are likely to disagree. Can anyone tell me what BMW's flagship is, or Mercedes, Porsche, we may well all have our own idea's. Perhaps a better way to view it would be to say, 'Which of canons camera's leads the way with cutting edge technology and how does it compete with the competition'.
It seems to me that we spend way too much time being critical when a newly released camera doesn't meet our individual needs. It seems to me that Canon made the first steps towards improving low light resolution with their recent camera's 1DX, 5D3, something that people had been critical of for some years. This is a journey and not everything will be resolved in one camera.
So if we are to have a flagship, then for me its the 5D3 as it meets my requirements at this time.