Messages

1

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: SL1 or Fuji X-EX1 or Sony Nex 6?? Would like your thoughts

« on: May 21, 2013, 06:00:23 PM »

A friend of mine just did a nice review of the SL1 after deciding to rent it (over the Fuji or NEX) from LensRentals as a travel camera for a short trip to New Orleans:

http://www.addrummimages.com/2013/05/19/new-orleans-and-the-canon-sl1/

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Canon General / Re: Beach Vacation in a month... & I'm scared for my gear.

« on: May 19, 2013, 09:46:41 PM »

I've just brought it - having it with is more fun than not.   

(With that said, I have contemplated an Outex cover a couple of times.   http://outex.com/ )

3

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

« on: May 18, 2013, 11:54:28 AM »

I don't know much about Windows Phone 8, but I'd imagine your app choices would be more limited due to there being less developers.

This was my main concern I guess.
I really like the Nokia Lumia, both for its design and the legendary durability of some Nokia models.
...

I've happily used, and recommend, DSLR Controller on my Nexus7.

No official wi-fi app for Windows 8 is in the works per Canon:
http://forums.usa.canon.com/t5/Software/EOS-Remote-for-Windows-Phone-8/td-p/6833

The spiffy iOS hardware enabler: http://www.camranger.com/features/ is priced such that I would rather just buy one or two Nexus devices and use DSLR Controller.  And this from a family with one or two iDevices per member.  (BTW, the latest DSLR Controller update included 6D and WFT support.)

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Color Bombs Kill Cameras

« on: May 10, 2013, 10:27:02 AM »

Saw dust is biodegradable too ... it's the size of the particle that is worrisome.

Note the size for corn-starch and the definition of "respirable dust".
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/particle-sizes-d_934.html
"Respirable Dust: Particles that will penetrate into the gas exchange region of the lungs. A hazardous particulate size less than 5 microns. Particle sizes of 2.5 micron (PM2.5) are often used in USA."

Just like radiation - the health risk is based on amount and duration of exposure.

- Another Brian

Boy, everyone is on the fine particle band wagon today.

Corn starch is biodegrabable.  It will become dissolved in the body, and eventually processed out. 

Saw dust, asbetos, brake pad powder are not.  They are bad for your lungs. 

I don't know what they use in India, but at the color run by us last year it was all essetnially food coloring. 

I'm still not sure I want to bring my DSLR though....

-Brian

5

HDR - High Dynamic Range / Re: Post your HDR images:

« on: April 22, 2013, 09:31:26 AM »

Here are two HDR pictures I took at Arches National Park.   The first is at dawn facing the Three Gossips and the Pipe Organ.  The second is of Sand Dune Arch about a half hour later.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Which would you pick for a wife camera sony nex 6 or eos sl1?

« on: March 23, 2013, 11:39:31 AM »

We are going on a vacation in a few weeks and my wife wanted a new camera with video capabilities and the ability to take good landscapes.  The s95 has served her well when traveling before but all I've been able to do to date is get her to shoot RAW so I have a bit more ability in post.   

I showed her the various choices.   At micro4/3 the Panasonic GH2/3 looked really good but were over budget and were impractical to tap into our existing EF lens collection.   The various premium compacts were nice, but about the same price as the GH* to hit something much better than the s95.   The EOS-m, fit the bill but I know she would have killed me over missed shots from the slow focus.  We ended up with a T4i and she really likes it.  The Q menu and touch screen makes it much easier to understand settings.   I put a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM on it that I had picked up a month or so ago on fire-sale.  I explained aperture to her (at which point she watched several YouTube videos to find a better teacher) and she was off and thrilled.   She shared that she always felt intimidated by the 40D and 7D we have but loves the T4i.

The SL1 might have been an even better fit but it wasn't available.

7

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 100D Detailed Specs Appear

« on: March 18, 2013, 08:48:01 AM »

My wife bought a T4i two weeks ago and is thrilled.  A good part of that happiness is the touch screen which does a very nice job of creating a unified user interface for someone starting out.   She commented that our 7D and 40D were intimidating in the past when she has tried to learn how to use them.

I see the rumored 100D being a nice addition to the entry market:

• T4i - biggest with a pivot screen that is handy for video.
• 100D - smaller and lighter but still with fast focusing for photos.
• M - really small at the loss of focus speed.

Obviously the three cameras have almost identical internals and that the difference is in the form.     If the rumored 100D were available two weeks ago I think it might have won out over the T4i for my wife.

All of these cameras are answers to someone considering a micro4/3 camera but who likes the idea of getting into a lens-lineup that can grow with them in the future.

8

Lenses / Re: Do you use lens correction profiles when processing raw files or not with LR4

« on: March 15, 2013, 01:37:38 PM »

As "privatebydesign" mentioned, it's a style choice.  Obviously any transformation like distortion removal has the potential to soften detail to some extent as new pixels are being interpreted to allow for the correction.  The great thing with LR is that it's non destructive to your original so that if you decide in the future you need a version where ultimate sharpness is more important than distortion correction, you can undo it or create a new virtual copy without it.

Of note are the sliders at the bottom of the "Lens Corrections" pane where you can adjust the "Amount" to which the profile corrections are applied, so you can even find your own middle ground if you want.

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EOS Bodies / Re: Need help. Canon 60D for sports--is it better to pony up for the 7D?

« on: March 11, 2013, 09:01:09 AM »

...

I went ahead and got the 7D.  Now, from my first day from trying it out, it looks like will have to learn my settings, learn what each button does, learn the AI servo, etc.  It'll be a great camera for me to really learn the functions of this camera and get my technique down. 
...

Congratulations on your choice!

Here is a very good configuration for setting the 7D up for sports:

http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=34832

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Landscape / Re: How Would You Edit This Landscape Photo?

« on: March 07, 2013, 04:38:35 PM »

LR4 - HSL adjustment and then Gradient tool with exposure and saturation for the sky.   And yes, it's a bit overbaked for drama.

11

EOS Bodies / Re: Need help. Canon 60D for sports--is it better to pony up for the 7D?

« on: March 06, 2013, 10:37:12 AM »

I reread the original post:

... 
Many high school stadiums are not well lit and the 7D from what I read is good for sports and should handle the low light situations better than the 60D. Also, I hear the 7D can handle the elements better.
....

Low light performance is identical between the two.  They have the same sensor, same ISO range,  and same Digic 4 processor(s).   

Both are stated to be weather sealed although the 7D is supposed to have "better" sealing.  With that said, you have to be using a weather sealed lens and filter for the body's sealing to be of any use!   Weather sealing is available in most L lenses.

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EOS Bodies / Re: Need help. Canon 60D for sports--is it better to pony up for the 7D?

« on: March 06, 2013, 09:13:44 AM »

The camera is less important than the lens for what you are trying to do.   

When my oldest child became active in soccer I wanted pictures.  One attempt at action pictures with a Point and Shoot convinced me I needed an SLR and I purchased a 40D with a 28-135mm IS - immediately things were looking better. 

Then the next season I needed more reach as the field got bigger.  I first tried a 75-300mm, being on a budget, and the pictures in focus looked good but the number in focus was not fun at all. After one frustrating game, I picked up a 70-200mm f4L and was immediately happy.  I missed the reach of the 75-300 but the camera was a pleasure to use.    Our sponsor, Roger, puts it this way, this is a "gateway lens".
http://www.lensrentals.com/rent/canon/lenses/telephoto/canon-70-200mm-f4l

You didn't say which football games you want to shoot - if it's anything but Varsity games under the lights I would recommend spending your money on "good" but reasonably affordable lenses like the 70-200 f4L.   If it is Varsity that you really want to shoot then yes, faster lenses with IS are going to be important.  I happily shoot till sundown, but after a quick search in Lightroom found the last time I tried to shoot a game under the lights was back in 2009 and the shots weren't great.  (I need to try this again as I've upgraded to a 7D, use a monopod, and just plain have a bit more knowledge and practice.) 

The good news is your choice to move to Canon because of the huge catalog of lenses with offerings at almost every price point.   I was kind of depressed for a friend who shoots Sony when he asked for a recommendation for an upgrade to his kit lenses and it was hard to find anything between kit lenses and very-expensive lenses in Sony's lineup.  Third party lenses were the only choice for him at the price point he could afford.   (There are some good third-party lenses but you have to be a bit pickier in your shopping.)

I won't say the 7D isn't a better camera than the 60D for sports - it is and was a choice I made when upgrading last year.  It's also a more complicated camera and it's forced me to be more involved in setting the camera up to do what I want.  My main point is either body will be frustrating unless you get lenses that are appropriate for the sports and the conditions you want to shoot in.

On my sports photography journey as a hobbyist, I've learned these lessons:

• SLRs for sports,
• Better Lenses,
• Learn to Postprocess
• use a monopod
• shoot RAW if possible for more options in postprocess
• practice shooting and postprocessing.

13

EOS Bodies / Re: Bodies and cell towers?

« on: February 27, 2013, 08:25:50 PM »

Wow was it hard to find a reference to the invention of the microwave oven from a reputable source that has the melting chocolate bar story:

http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/Microwave_Ovens

I remember my electro-magnetism prof mentioning as a soldier in WWII standing in front of radar installations to get warm. (He was a bit odd.)

14

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Iphone as LCD screen?

« on: February 27, 2013, 06:57:29 PM »

Cam Ranger!!!! I love it. Everything you want and more!!!!!

For use with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.

www.camranger.com $299, so it costs a little bit, but worth it I'd say.
...

The 1Ds II isn't on the supported hardware list for presumably the same reason as dslrcontroller  - the need for liveview.  It's still neat.

15

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Iphone as LCD screen?

« on: February 25, 2013, 07:52:02 PM »

The 1Ds II is unfortunately not on DSLR Controller's device list otherwise I would suggest picking up a cheap android device:

http://dslrcontroller.com/devices.php