Messages

1

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake Coming [CR3]

« on: May 22, 2012, 01:39:20 AM »

perfect pocket lens if you don't want to carry around a zoom. i agree, a 2.0 would be nice but it would no longer be pancake-ish in design. those who say, "why wouldn't you just carry a 2.8 zoom instead" are missing the point - small, less intrusive (to the subject), lightweight and a good focal length. we'll see how it compares to the voightlander. could be a great street photo lens. carry this and an 85mm 1.8 for a nice street package.

2

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon to Announce 2 Cameras in June [CR2]

« on: May 16, 2012, 05:34:40 PM »

something to give the om-d or x-pro 1 a run for their money would be amazing. it needs to be better than the Nikon 1. i don't see Canon making new lenses that are M mount or 4/3 compatible but it sure would be nice...

as the om-d shows, sensor size is becoming less and less of a factor in determining IQ these days. still not SLR quality but some damn fine images given the size and weight of cameras in this category- one that's just going to explode in the next few years... exciting times for everyone (other than Leica...)

3

EOS Bodies / Re: Women will hate D800 *full size image*

« on: March 27, 2012, 11:23:15 AM »

is it me or some of you a bit harsh on the model? i'd like to place a wager that her "flaws" as many of you are pointing out are probably 100X better than half of yours if you were captured with this camera in this light set up. it's an unflattering portrait of a pretty woman. "women" will also hate full size images of most of us too...

4

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

« on: February 06, 2012, 10:31:07 AM »

If that's it, and it doesn't come with IS at that price, I'm very happy that I just bought the current version 

in my opinion, the current version leaves a lot to desire. In particular weak 2.8 sharpness and mediocre mid contrast killed it for me (had one, sold it). If they fix it and we see a similar improvement as the 70-200 did, I'm happy

Glad they didn't incorporate IS, for me at least. I like it on longer lenses, but I don't think I would use it a lot on this lens, and I'd still pay for it - in hard currency upon purchasing, and after a long day of shooting, in neck and shoulders since it all just adds up to the weight

Agreed. Despite the steep price, i'd certainly pay that much to actually have great 2.8 and improved image quality across the frame (and hopefully without the field curvature). if they can improve IQ similar to the 70-200mm II, i won't ever need another canon lens. Perhaps i just 3 bad versions over the years but i won't buy another normal focal length zoom until they step up their IQ.

5

PowerShot Cameras / Re: Canon Announces the PowerShot S100

« on: September 15, 2011, 11:01:01 AM »

great photos at:
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canons100/

It's funny how this site hosts pure speculation about anything and everything (which is great) yet when products are actually released, like today, other non-rumor sites already have them beat with real images and more specs. i guess it truly is a rumors site only.

6

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon Tempting Fate Being \

« on: September 08, 2011, 10:05:45 AM »

Interesting prediction: "Canon, the maker of EOS cameras, forecasts SLR camera sales will rise 24 percent this year, helping offset the fallout from the factory disruptions caused by Japan’s March 11 earthquake and tsunami." Unless, I'm reading this wrong, and I'm not sure about when their fiscal year starts, I doubt they could have an increase like that in SLRs with the current lineup and would have to provide something new that they can sell a lot of. Did they lose that many DSLR sales this year due to the earthquake? Perhaps it's just wishing, but there has to be a new body (not a rebel) in that mix to justify that percentage rise. And they won't sell that many 1Ds 4s....

7

EOS Bodies / Re: Something Coming March 1?

« on: February 19, 2011, 08:45:45 AM »

So, if you can wait about 6 months or so, the price will come down significantly and you'll sure what you'll get. That's what I did when 7D came out.

I ordered my 5D MK II minutes after the announcement well over 2 years ago, it had no issues and the price for a new one is still the same.

I agree. the Mark II has held it's price amazingly so. only a $200 decrease in over 2 years? the time to buy a new body (if you can get one) is the time it's announced. pre-order away. someone on ebay will pay you more anyway in case you don't want to keep it. if there is an initial bug, just download the fix like usual.

8

EOS Bodies / Re: Something Coming March 1?

« on: February 19, 2011, 08:41:26 AM »

waiting for the 5D III this fall with the new 24-70 II as the new kit lens. i'll buy that lens in a heartbeat with or without IS assuming it's optics are improvement (and consistent) like the new big 70-200 II.

they'll sell thousands this fall alone.

the 70-200 2.8 II already has more than 600 reviews alone just at B+H.  it's crazy how many people are snatching them up at more than $2k a pop.

9

Lenses / Re: Zeiss 35 f/1.4 Official

« on: September 03, 2010, 09:41:54 AM »

can i ask a ridiculous question? on a canon body, is this manual focus only? if i'm going to use it primarily at f1.4 i don't know if my eyeballs are good enough to focus and i don't want to insert a cross-hairs type viewfinder.....i have a canon 24mm f/1.4 II that i love, so am i better off getting the canon 35mm f/1.4?

yes, it's manual focus. many prefer to get a new focusing screen (matte) that allows for better focusing of these lenses. i have one for my 5D-it helps but it's not a night and day difference from the stock screen. it took me a while to get used to me ZE21mm. at F/1.4 on the 35, i think the focusing plane will be very narrow, and any movement in your subject (or more like yourself) could result in out of focus shots. at normal apertures, you'll be fine, especially at 35mm. I'd recommend you rent one from lensrentals.com or whomever and try one for a day or 7. i love my 21mm but the first few days, i was thinking, man, i really really like autofocus... you get better at MF quickly, but my eyes, and my hand movement still miss shots at F/2.8 on my 21.
the rental charge will be a very worthwhile investment i think. I have the 35L lens, i love it.

10

Lenses / Re: Zeiss 35 f/1.4 Official

« on: September 02, 2010, 05:06:06 AM »

as for this lens, who knows how it will perform, we're probably a year away from real testing. but given the weight (~30oz!), i think i'd rather test the ZE 35 F/2 which "they" say is great, sharp, and light enough to put in your bag. FM forum and other images i've seen from the F/2 are really nice although i'm not sure if it's the lens or pp. probably both.

I'm just having way too much fun with my 35L to even start thinking about new lenses in this focal length

11

Lenses / Re: Zeiss 35 f/1.4 Official

« on: September 02, 2010, 05:01:49 AM »

While no company has a perfect lineup--i.e. stellar lenses at all focal lengths--sounds like some folks are basing their thoughts on all zeiss lenses based on the performance of a couple--the 50 and 85 in particular. I totally get this, but i will say, owning only the ZE 21mm lens, that i've found nothing that compares to it for the photos it produces (out of the camera, pre-pp), and the sharpness at that focal length.  If you look at the digital picture's review of that lens, you'll see that it's very different than the 85mm lens review. Those who only focus on reviews from others and don't actually try lenses for themselves are missing out in my opinion. 

i think there will always be a few camps--those that swear by zeiss glass and those that "won't be caught dead" using it. ford and chevy. or in this case, BMW and Audi since these are not cheap.  for me, i pick and choose among all manufacturers products to meet my needs. Of course, i think the best photographer in the world is the one having the most fun, too...