Messages

1

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: my new 5D3 battery life

« on: May 17, 2013, 01:49:21 PM »

Most shots I've taken in a day was about 1300 and I still had maybe 30% left in the battery.

I often wonder if recharging a battery from, say, 70% back to 100% prior to an important shoot (rather than allowing it to discharge to around maybe 15% or lower) significantly shortens the lifespan. Any opinions (with some techie background to back up your claims!)?

2

Portrait / Re: Post your best portraits(street, studio, candid etc...).

« on: May 16, 2013, 01:19:56 PM »

Some very nice portraits all around in this post. I am just getting started in portrait work and I have set up a simple Tumblr blog. Any feedback is very welcome. http://portraitsbyjavi.tumblr.com/

I am looking to break away a bit from the typical vertical portrait all the time and include more of the location along with the subject. Currently shooting only outdoors with available light, a 5D MKII 24-700, 85mm and the occasional shot with the pancake 40mm. Sorry if I have broken any rules by posting my tumblr. I am a newbie at posting here also but I feel like I have learned a lot from all of you.

Just a couple of minor criticisms:

The pic of Lukas (kid in front of brick wall) could have been framed better so the piece of earth in the lower left corner isn't seen. The lines of brick converging off behind Lukas looks pretty neat but the earth in the corner distracts the eye.

The shot of Avtandil would maybe be better if either the metal structure on the right of shot wasn't there or, better yet, Avtandil was interacting with it - maybe leaning his body against it or just having his hand on it.

Hope that gives you some inspiration.

Best wishes.

3

Portrait / Re: Post your best portraits(street, studio, candid etc...).

« on: May 15, 2013, 02:18:55 PM »

LostArk - nicely done. Makes you wonder what she's thinking.

4

EOS Bodies / Re: 5D Mark III with Continuous RAW Video Recording

« on: May 13, 2013, 02:40:22 PM »

This is all beautiful, and I'm very happy for 5DMarkIII owners, but... what about Canon 1Dx
Double with price, and still with no Canon or ML firmware to some major upgrade in video for our expensive camera!?
Now, 5DMarkIII will have better video capabilities, better picture in video, raw video recording... and 1Dx - NO !
Great, just great... that's why 1Dx cost more than 2 x 5DMarkIII so we could have less quality for double the price.
Wonderful... beautiful... great...   

The only reason ML doesn't release for the 1Dx is because Canon have made a very bold, public statement, that if any third party modifies any camera in the EOS 1 line at a software level then they will feel the might of Canon's entire legal team

I'm not disputing what you say about Canon and their desire to protect their intellectual property but is it not a case of, I bought the product therefore I can do whatever I like with it? Sure, if it were rented that's a different case altogether but isn't it a bit like someone buying a family car and turning it into a monster truck? The manufacturer no longer owns the vehicle therefore as long as the owner is aware the warrantly is toast then who gives a crap?

Let's say the hacked firmware gets out into the wild - how could Canon know the "end product" video comes from a hacked camera unless they had access to the raw data? If you see a video on TV or the web, can you tell what it was shot on just by the look of it?

Kinda makes you think Canon are just scare-mongering. Time will tell.

Regards.

5

Lenses / Re: EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x Announcement Around the Corner? [CR1]

« on: May 13, 2013, 02:17:05 PM »

I've been using this lately to take pics of the Loch Ness Monster and can say for sure it will be announced this month.

Ideal lens for airshows too 

Now off to do do some headshots of Elvis in his UFO. Nice.

6

Reviews / Re: Review - Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM

« on: April 28, 2013, 02:00:40 PM »

The idea of adjusting in several places sound very interesting. But with the software not controlling the lens while adjusting, not even being in the camera, how do one know how much need to be adjusted without making 200 tries?? What means -1 or +3 How much distance is that? How you know what number to put in there?

Ask yourself this, "if I have to adjust my new lens up to four times over its range to ensure sharp focus, do I feel I've wasted my money?".

7

Reviews / Re: Review - Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM

« on: April 28, 2013, 05:03:04 AM »

with that USB docking thingy from sigma it looks like we can adjust focus at 4 different focusing distances for primes. Sigma posted a video of it in action. looks very clear and powerful to me.

I'm very pleased with my Sigma 85mm 1.4 and will probably get the new 35mm at some point however I do wonder if Sigma have produced the docking gizmo to get around the fact their quality control appears to be, um, lacking if you read/believe the various posts on the net. Instead of having customers returning new lenses for exchange or service centre tweaking, the customer can do it themselves by correcting for four different focus points via their gizmo.

Sounds like Sigma might be putting the solution to their own problem into the hands of the customer and this may fool some customers into thinking that Sigma are being "customer focussed" (no pun intended). Maybe Sigma should sort out quality issues at source rather than after the purchase has been made?

Just a thought.

8

Portrait / Re: Post your best portraits(street, studio, candid etc...).

« on: April 07, 2013, 10:02:21 AM »

5D3 and 70-200 f4 IS

9

Abstract / Re: A crack in the universe

« on: April 07, 2013, 05:38:50 AM »

Actually, what we need here is some duct tape. It has a light side and a dark side and binds the universe together.

10

Abstract / Re: fragmented fractal

« on: April 07, 2013, 05:36:31 AM »

Transit of mercury?

Very droll.

11

Abstract / Re: fragmented fractal

« on: April 06, 2013, 01:01:01 PM »

Nice soap bubbles. 

12

Sports / Re: motorsport photos

« on: April 05, 2013, 01:46:05 PM »

More fantastic shots, Xavi. I'm jealous!

13

Abstract / Re: A crack in the universe

« on: March 30, 2013, 02:44:33 PM »

With my keen eye for astrophotography I'd say this is definitely a crack in the universe. An image like yours can't be faked unlike the lunar landing stuff.

The latest images from the Planck space telescope prove the whole universe is sub-standard. Shoddy workmanship if you ask me.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Planck/Planck_reveals_an_almost_perfect_Universe

14

Abstract / Re: Transit of Mercury - Hydrogen Alpha

« on: March 29, 2013, 09:51:30 AM »

the more I thought it looked a bit like the surface of the sun and the bubble suddenly became "Transit of Mercury".

I think you are the only one who thinks that
Peace

Hmmm, I seemed to initially "fool" Lilmsmaggie (it wasn't my intention to trick anyone, merely an image that reminded me of some astro pics - http://astronomy-guide.blogspot.co.uk/2010_08_01_archive.html).
Interpreting an abstract image is all in the mind of the viewer. If people don't "see" what the artist (for want of a better word) sees then does it really matter? It was just a bit of fun.

15

Abstract / Re: Transit of Mercury - Hydrogen Alpha

« on: March 29, 2013, 05:17:53 AM »

So what's in the shot?

Clearly it isn't a pic of Mercury - it would be a complete silhouette against the sun. Also if it were an astrophoto I wouldn't post in Abstract (along with the small disclaimer)!

I was cleaning out a jam jar with hot water and saw neat patterns in the dissolving jam as I swished the water around. It looked a bit interesting and I thought there must be a shot in there somewhere. Out comes the Tamron 90mm macro and the shot you see is an extreme crop to home in on an airbubble (hence you can see through it). Messing about in Photoshop with levels and colour temperature really amped up the oranges and yellows. The more I messed about with it, the more I thought it looked a bit like the surface of the sun and the bubble suddenly became "Transit of Mercury".

The shot that woollybear posted is excellent - just google "hydrogen alpha images" for more terrific images.

Oh, in case you're wondering, it was strawberry jam (very nice on a toasted bagel  ).