Messages

1

Animal Kingdom / Re: Your best animal shots!

« on: May 15, 2013, 08:33:19 PM »

After spending quite a bit of time standing on a rock in the middle of a swamp I was happy to have been able to capture these shots of Dragonflys.

I got many shots of them resting on bits of grass, but what I was really after was shots of them in flight.

I was using my 7D with an old ef-s 55-250mm lens.

Mate, I'm impressed. What is your technique for getting one in flight?

2

EOS Bodies / Re: EOS 6D Review - Real World

« on: May 15, 2013, 02:54:46 AM »

More and more users keep reporting how much they enjoy and are satisfied by the 6D.

It just goes to show how an excellent camera cannot be seen beyond its specs by the spec sheet nazis who wanted to leave Canon as soon as it was announced.

3

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 7D L Announced, Shipping in May

« on: April 01, 2013, 02:54:22 PM »

Now I feel sorry for the plight of left-handed photographers!

4

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS-b Images Leak & a New Kit Lens

« on: March 19, 2013, 09:34:41 AM »

The weight is in the panasonic G3 class - amazing. And the lens mount looks h-u-g-e!

5

Canon General / Re: Canon Announces the Development of New High Sensitivity Sensor

« on: March 04, 2013, 09:25:51 PM »

I remember a canon experimental camera from a while ago, a weird white spaceship looking thing, talking about the future of photography being the imager videoing the subject then selecting the best frames. This is NOT a direction I want things going;

That reminds me a bit of the Canon N that came out last year.

All changes that happen in all areas happen despite the Old School moaning and fighting and withholding their credit cards at every step.

I am also reminded when Nintendo brought out the Wii. The Old School of video gamers pilloried and blasted and canned it from wall to wall and announced that this is the end of Nintendo because no one will buy it. They wanted a standard machine but with more video resolution, more speed, more audio. Just keep the same old formula but ever better.

Is there a parallel in photography, I wonder.

6

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: DPReview: Canon EOS 6D Reviewed

« on: February 13, 2013, 08:10:01 PM »

... I was just wondering if I can use contrast af for shooting test charts after getting a new lens, or if I have to take multiple exposures to allow for some af error - but as I understand now high-contrast b/w charts should achieve good focus.

Correct, you will have no problem. Simple to check if AF is on target: chimp and zoom in.

7

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: DPReview: Canon EOS 6D Reviewed

« on: February 13, 2013, 04:34:36 PM »

In FoCal's test, the rather big surprise is how inaccurate and variable contrast-detect AF is on both the 5DII and the 7D.

I didn't know that and expected my 60d af to be always spot on - is this your personal experience or do you have sources on that? Afaik even lensrentals uses contrast af as the comparison for perfect af accuracy?

The 'inaccuracy' refers to low-contrast scenes -- obviously.

Don't use contrast AF for low contrast focus points -- unless you are not a photographer but a camera tester instead.

(PS I am amazed by posters on canonrumors -- all wannabe camera testers instead of being photographers after cameras that meet their *real* needs. We can all make up 'pretend' needs for excellent focus on low contrast areas using contrast-detect AF -- but IMHO you are an idiot if you can't work around such a silly need).

(PPS I suppose as soon as a camera comes out with focus points in all four extreme corners of the frame, 99% of canonrumors posters are going to 'need' it in their cameras --- it will become a 'deal breaker'. When that happens I will be laughing at you even harder than I am today).

8

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Call that a review?

« on: February 13, 2013, 06:40:05 AM »

Silver award and score a couple of percentage points less than the Nikon, gee that's OK.

Stop being so negative and letting your canon-hate show.

I think dpreview are really long on reviews but surely it is a copout to mark a camera up or down by comparing the spec sheets? We all did that 5 secs after the cameras were announced.

They have their hands on the cameras, so what we want to see are hands-on comments. Don't tell me it has less resolution if you are only basing it on reading spec sheets; tell me what you thought of the resolution when examining the images!

Don't tell me it's focusing is not as effective if you haven't done focusing comparison tests of the two cameras side-by-side. You might find it is in practice the opposite of what the spec sheet shows, but we'll never know because you haven't done a proper test!

9

Canon General / Re: FYI: This Is The Gear Used To Take Obama’s New Official Portrait

« on: January 20, 2013, 10:16:06 PM »

85L at 7.1. What a waste!!!

So an 85 f1.8 and 6D would have done? More than good enough IMHO

10

Canon General / Re: Canon U.S.A. Raises Awareness About Counterfeit Accessories For Digital Cameras And Camcorders A

« on: January 20, 2013, 10:14:45 PM »

The main point is that you should buy from a established dealer.

So is the initiative just dealer-driven?

11

Canon General / Re: Hey Canon, I've got cash to burn, but...

« on: January 14, 2013, 10:33:01 PM »

Hm, you are right, the 6D has interchangeable focus screens, that's unexpected, I had read somewhere that it doesn't... However I would appreciate the 5D3/1DX AF system, too.

Uninformed rant, then?

Also note the 5D3 screen is a major upgrade, so 99% of buyers will reap the benefits while the 1% who want to use short manual lenses with large glass (invariably not made by Canon, hello Zeiss) can get a 6D 'cos they won't need the rapid-fire super AF systems of the 5D3. Or keep it simple and upgrade to EOS! (Zeiss is sooo 60's tech). 

12

Canon General / Re: DxOMark vs. Reality

« on: January 14, 2013, 10:22:55 PM »

260 posts, how about a summary? 

Well, it seems that when people legitimately criticize DxO Labs' application of their measurements, apologists rush in to defend their measurements.

That's called an air ball, guys.

And when people point out that these DxO scores (applications) are being misused by review sites etc in a way that gives the wrong impression, apologists rush in to say that's not really DxO Labs' fault.

You must be joking.

Let us say Mercedes Inc engaged you to independently measure the quality of their product vis a vis say, Ford Inc, which they had also measured and knew would favour them. They also told you to summarize your findings and publish them. You go ahead and do it but goodness gracious, what's this? Your website is technically correct and shows Mercedes' quality advantage at the deepest level, but your way of summarizing and organizing and communicating gives the general impression that Ford is the better overall vehicle!

Suddenly, due to your excellent technical reputation, the world takes notice of your findings. Reviewers start to refer to 'The Ford Advantage' on their websites. Fleet buyers start recommending to boardrooms that current Mercedes contracts for trucks and buses should not be renewed, partly due to a new quality value matrix by an industry technical expert that favours other marques. The boardroom executive gossip soon reaches the ears of Mercedes executives.

Suddenly your client is on the phone to you in an absolute Teutonic fury. Yes, they say, your base measurements are correct but what on earth have you done with it? Why the blazes that way? Don't you realize how everyone is interpreting it?

Here is your answer: (hold on, wait for it, it's a beauty): "It's not my fault if they are not well enough informed to  grasp the underlying deep measurements correctly."

pfft

Good luck getting your invoice processed.

13

EOS Bodies / Re: DSLR & Lens Coming on January 15, 2013? [CR1]

« on: January 14, 2013, 09:07:19 PM »

Why would it be a 70D when the 7D is older?

14

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: I feel like a kid again....

« on: December 20, 2012, 07:01:55 PM »

While finding a hiding spot for my wifes present at home (macbook air), i was rummaging at the back of the guest room closet to see if there was space there, i found a 5d mkiii kit!!!!

Well you had better upgrade that Air to a Pro Retina! Fair's fair! Otherwise she might swap the 5DIII back for a 6!

15

Canon General / Re: DxOMark vs. Reality

« on: December 20, 2012, 06:39:38 PM »

I do not believe the "simply summarizing" view. But then maybe in their minds they believe they are.

Have you seen their new lens scoring thingy?   

Clearly they haven't learnt their lesson. Blinkers?