Messages

1

Pricewatch Deals / Re: 600EX-RT speedlite deals?

« on: Today at 03:07:59 PM »

I'm toying with the idea of one 600.

But thinking for multiple lights...getting them to work with cheaper ones.

I saw a GREAT set of classes on Creative Live, about flash, and doing it manual and how that with some rules of thumb, it wasn't that much harder to figure things out, especially for environments you have control over.

With a few charts/cards to look at...you could do a LOT manual with multiple flashes/strobes on the cheap for great results.
I'm looking to go that way to start out maybe.

Thoughts?

All manual flash is definitely the way to start!

I've been using a 430EX II (bought used for $170), three YN560s ($60 each), and Phottix Stratos triggers ($90 for the transmitter/receiver kit). A four-light kit with on-camera ETTL capability if needed and manual radio triggering all the for the price of just one 600EX-RT. Definitely a lot of bang for the buck and this setup can take amazing photographs.

Don't hesitate to pick up a couple YN560s and get started with manual flash. Make sure you go through strobist.com.

However, I've been doing a lot more paid shoots lately and troubleshooting issues with radios, batteries, and optical slaves in front of clients (who are often in a hurry) is just not going to work for me. That's why I've decided to go with the Canon RT system.

2

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 6D accessories?

« on: Today at 02:33:28 PM »

Meike makes a battery grip for the 6D that is just as good as the Canon one. You can get it on Amazon for less than $40.

As for batteries, STK/SterlingTek makes one of the few LP-E6 batteries that work correctly with the 6D. I bought one and I feel like it doesn't work as well as the Canon one (the battery dies quickly with no warning unlike Canon's and the overall life isn't as great as the Canon's) but it does work.

For other things such as gear carrying solutions and lighting setups, it's pretty much trial-and-error. You can ask around for suggestions and do a lot of research, but the best way to find out what works for you is to buy things that look like what you want, use them for a while, and then reevaluate and decide if you want to sell it and get something else that meets your needs better. At least, that's how it goes for me

3

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Advice on 1st flash

« on: May 16, 2013, 06:33:08 PM »

I have a 600EX-RT, 430 EX II, and Yongnuo YN568EX.  All good, but I mostly do off camera.  If you are going with on camera, and on a budget, the 430 EX II is the best choice to start with.  While I like the Yongnuo, I find the AF assist beam to be hit/miss (with more miss) and not even close to the center AF point.  My two cents on Yongnuo is they are best for off camera work.  But they are workhorses and usable.  It is just the 430 EX II is a better choice for the first speedlite.  Best of luck.

I agree. I have a couple of Yongnuo YN560s and they are great manual flashes. I also wouldn't hesitate to buy one or two YN565/YN568s instead of a second Canon flash, but I would definitely get the Canon as a first flash. It's less likely to have problems with current and future DSLR bodies and the warranty is there if you ever need it fixed. (Yongnuo offers a comparable warranty on their own flashes but there is no service center in the USA -- you'll have to ship it to China for repair/replacement!)

4

Pricewatch Deals / 600EX-RT speedlite deals?

« on: May 16, 2013, 04:38:54 AM »

Hey guys... sold my 430EX II setup and looking for a deal on a couple of 600EX-RTs... The current price of $499 is pretty great, but I'd take the refurbs from Canon direct for $380 if they would get them back in stock (not likely).

Are there any other deals on the 600EX-RT? I saw some of the ebay ones going for $480ish a while back but they've disappeared!

5

Lighting / Re: Issue with 600ex flash

« on: May 15, 2013, 07:07:54 PM »

I think this can happen if there are problems with the connection from the camera hotshoe to the flash. Maybe your flash cord is damaged and you should try a different one.

6

Lighting / Re: Buff Einsteins can use any Balcar accessory?

« on: May 14, 2013, 05:52:54 PM »

I'm pretty sure the AlienBees and Einsteins have always used the Balcar mount. PCB doesn't call it that on their website but it should be the same thing.

7

EOS Bodies / Re: No 7D Mark II in 2013? [CR2]

« on: May 14, 2013, 05:37:14 PM »

Can't you do that with the 6D?

There's not much range on the little canon remote, plus you have to be in front of the camera. It's nice to stay hidden, 30 or 40 feet away, and be able to see what the lens sees.... You should be able to do anything over wireless that you can do tethered, plus using the tablet to do intervals, trigger on sound, changes in exposure, movement......

He's not talking about the Canon remote shutter, he's talking about the 6D's integrated Wi-Fi. Canon has released an app for Apple and Android devices called EOS Remote, which can remotely control the 6D completely from the phone.

8

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Advice on 1st flash

« on: May 14, 2013, 02:59:04 PM »

The 430EX II is an excellent first flash. It has Canon build quality and reliability, TTL, zoom, decent power, and quick recycle. If you become a professional shooter and need a more powerful flash in the future, you can still keep it and use it as a slave to a 580EX, 600EX, or Phottix Mitros.

The 430EX II will last as long (probably longer) than your camera body and you'll find constant use out of it.

9

Canon General / Re: Lost a 5DIII. Deciding how to replace. Big Value = Bad Idea?

« on: April 26, 2013, 06:32:01 PM »

Anyone know if DigitalRev is an authorized reseller?  Their prices seem pretty good. 
http://www.digitalrev.com/product/canon-eos-5d-mark-iii/MTAwMDQwNQ_A_A

I would not purchase from DigitalRev, especially after this fiasco... 
http://fstoppers.com/digitalrev-allegedly-selling-used-cameras-as-new-and-are-yet-to-issue-a-response

DigitalRev offers their own 1 year warranty on all their Canon products, so in the event that you purchase a defective Canon camera and Canon refuses to service it under warranty, DigitalRev will cover the cost of repair or replacement. I forgot where I read this but it's somewhere on the DigitalRev site and I believe it to be true.

What happened in that story above was a DigitalRev employee took one of the DRTV 5D3s and shipped it as new in order to improve his performance rating (they were out of stock and he would have had to cancel the order otherwise, negatively affecting his rating).

That was an isolated incident and DigitalRev has taken appropriate action against the employee and compensated the blogger who wrote the story. Additionally, they hired an internal auditor just to ensure that something like this would never happen again.

The whole incident showed that despite the bad employee, DigitalRev was really on top of their customer service. I would definitely buy from them!

10

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma Announces 18-35 f/1.8 DC HSM Art for APS-C

« on: April 26, 2013, 04:21:29 PM »

Let's say Canon releases the new 70D with a next-generation crop sensor... Now let's say this new sensor has noise performance as good as the 5D Mark II. (A stretch, but I think it's possible)

A crop camera with better ISO performance than the same manufacturer's previous full frame? Show where this has ever happened in history.

You're right, it's never happened in history. But maybe it will soon. (Yes, that's a big maybe!).

I'd guess that the noise performance of the new Rebel SL1 can't be too much worse than the original 5D's. I think the 7D Mark II has a good chance of having excellent noise performance. It will never beat the latest full frame bodies, but maybe it can give the previous generation of FF cameras a run for their money.

And what about using Sigma's f/1.8 zoom on a full frame camera? Sure, it's not designed for FF, but from the Korean site with the samples it appears to mount and work properly on a 5D Mark II (though with heavy vignetting at all FLs below 28mm). If you're willing to lose resolution by cropping out the vignetting, then you actually can achieve FF-level noise performance with this lens, and still shoot at an f/1.8 exposure. (AND get the full f/1.8 depth of field as well!)

I'm not trying to say that crop will be better than FF -- it never will be. I just want to clarify for the people who may not know or understand the facts: at the same ISO/ shutter speed, an f/1.8 crop exposure is always brighter than an f/2.8 FF exposure.

If crop performance can approach FF performance at only a fraction of the cost, then that's good news for photographers everywhere. That's why this new lens is a big deal and that's why I want to get one. (I don't even own any crop cameras right now!)

11

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma Announces 18-35 f/1.8 DC HSM Art for APS-C

« on: April 22, 2013, 03:15:27 PM »

Right, the FF lens "gathers" twice as much light, and then spreads the "gathered" light over a much larger sensor. The crop lens "gathers" less light, but then focuses the light onto a small sensor, creating a brighter exposure than the full frame lens despite having "gathered" less actual light.

12

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma Announces 18-35 f/1.8 DC HSM Art for APS-C

« on: April 22, 2013, 02:17:56 PM »

Yes, once again you're correct that the 1.8 crop lens has the same light-gathering ability as the 2.8 FF lens.

However, the important fact (to me, at least) is that the exposure from the 1.8 lens will be twice as bright-in camera than the 2.8 lens at the same ISO -- for low-light shooting this is more important to me than depth of field.

13

Lighting / Re: T3i - 600EX-RT or Canon Speedlite 580EX II

« on: April 22, 2013, 01:52:57 PM »

Also if you use the Phottix Strato's and I had them initially and they do work wonderfully for manual flash, if you're going to suggest an upgrade to them, why not the Phottix Odin?  They are superior to Yongnuo triggers all day long and I find the TTL in the Odins to work seamlessly with my Canon cameras.  The Yongnuo triggers are sketchy at best if he wants to get long service out of them imho...

The cost of the Odin system begins to approach that of the of RT system... Four YN622s cost $180, while one Odin transmitter w/three receivers costs $575.

If you're willing to shell out for TTL flashes and Odins, maybe the 600EX RT is the better way to go as you won't have to hassle with more batteries and separate triggers.

I don't think the Canon  ST-E3-RT will work on the Rebel.  The full advantages of this latest flash system can only be realised with the 5D Mark III or the 1Dx.  However, the 600EX-RT will work like the 580EX II with on camera flash & TTL metering etc. and wireless off camera flash through its line of sight light sensor.  It just won't have the radio capability with the OP's Rebel.

The ST-E3-RT should work fine on the Rebel. Some features may not be available, but from what I've read, features that are only supposed to work on the 5D3 and 1DX actually do still work on older cameras like the 5D2 and Rebels, despite the fact that Canon's documentation says otherwise.

14

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma Announces 18-35 f/1.8 DC HSM Art for APS-C

« on: April 22, 2013, 05:53:00 AM »

They also posted what it looks like when mounted to a full frame camera:

http://lcap.tistory.com/entry/Sigma-18-35mm-f18-with-5D-Mark-II

Vignetting is not too bad at 35mm, so it's like getting a 35mm f/1.8 prime for FF that works at 18-34 on crop

15

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Where is this new flash?

« on: April 22, 2013, 12:04:08 AM »

Figured I'd bump this thread. Given there's an announcement on the 23rd, anyone think a cheaper RT flash might sneak its way in? My suspicion is that a $400 RT flash will never exist, at least while the ST-E3 is around. People have been complaining that that triggering unit doesn't have AF assist, so a 440-EX RT would basically be a slightly more expensive AF assisting radio trigger. The only way I see canon getting around that is making this hypothetical flash only capable of being a radio slave, which I have a hard time seeing happen. Thoughts?

I'm with Neuro on this one.

A 400 RT flash is definitely possible, and if it does come out it will be a slave-only unit, just like the 430EX flashes are slave-only units to the 580EX.

Of course, Canon doesn't really seem to want to release a cheaper RT flash right now because it would steal sales of the 600EX.