Messages

1

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon 1Dx Problem

« on: January 28, 2013, 02:33:11 PM »

FWIW, I also have that combination and have no issues with it.

WesternGuy

2

Lenses / Re: New 600mm f/4L IS Mk II - availability?

« on: November 02, 2012, 02:26:58 AM »

Well guys, mine finally arrived - November 1 - what a package.  This was just short of three months to the day that I ordered it.  Now the fun begins.  For those who haven't theirs yet - persevere - the fact that I have mine in such a short time (relative to the time it took to get the 1D X) tells me that they are out there, they just seem to come in bunches.

WesternGuy

3

Lenses / Re: When is the Big Glass going to be available?

« on: October 30, 2012, 09:13:22 PM »

I ordered my 600mm II two months ago and I still have no word on when they are coming to my Canadian dealer.  I would agree with the sentiment about how can they keep coming up with new lenses when they cannot keep up with the demand for some of these that were announced many months ago. 

I wish there was some way we could get some response from Canon themselves, because I tried an e-mail to Canon Canada's Customer Service and was told that they don't have any information on this type of thing and that I should contact my dealer.  I tried to tell them that my dealer did not have any information and I simply got the same old "check with your dealer" response - so much for "Customer Service".  If I wasn't so "locked in" to Canon equipment, I would be looking at Nikon, but then maybe they don't deal any better with these problems - a case of better the devil you know than the one you don't  .

WesternGuy

4

Lenses / Re: Kenko TC and AF at F8

« on: October 19, 2012, 03:28:25 AM »

Neuro, wow - that looks great - I can hardly wait to get my 600mm II.

WesternGuy

5

Lenses / Re: Kenko TC and AF at F8

« on: October 18, 2012, 06:34:27 PM »

Well, I guess this all changes for 1D X owners with the issue of the upgrade 1.1.1.  I have made the upgrade and now all I have to do is test it out and see what happens.

WesternGuy

6

Lenses / Re: New 600mm f/4L IS Mk II - availability?

« on: October 16, 2012, 08:42:59 PM »

Getting back to the genesis of this post, is anyone out there actually getting their 600's that they have ordered delivered?  Any insight as to why Canon is taking so long to get this lens to their customers.  I have had mine ordered for some time now and am still waiting to get my hands on it...thanks for your replies!

You noted that you have had  yours ordered "for some time now" - how long?  I have been waiting 2 and 1/2 months now and still no indication from either my dealer of Canon Canada when it is likely to arrive.  Greatland, where are you and who did you order it from, not that it is the dealer's fault, but it is still his "problem".  My new tripod and gimbal head should arrive in the next couple of days and I would really like to have my 600 II to test it out - obviously not yet  .

WesternGuy

7

Lenses / Re: New 600mm f/4L IS Mk II - availability?

« on: October 12, 2012, 02:12:45 AM »

vkiran, congrats on getting the 600 - I am jealous  - well not really - well maybe just a bit. 

WesternGuy

8

Lenses / Re: New 600mm f/4L IS Mk II - availability?

« on: October 12, 2012, 02:10:37 AM »

Question : I see suggestions for the GT3532... or 42. Why not the GT3531 with center column?  Will the column make it unstable?

Yes - a center column is 'for emergencies only', raising it eliminates much of the stability you're using the tripod for in the first place.  You should select a tripod that's tall enough without considering the center column in the height, and for a supertele, skip the center column altogether.  The center column also prevents you from shooting close to the ground.

One suggestion for you and WesternGuy - I recommend getting a leveling base for use with the gimbal.  With a ballhead, you can level the camera/lens with the ball, but with a gimbal you need the platform where the base of the gimbal sits to be level.  If you have to do that by adjusting the tripod leg extensions, it's a real pain - the leveling base means you don't have to worry about uneven ground, just grab the stem and level it (can easily be done with the lens mounted, try fiddling with the legs like that...).

neuroanatomist, interesting comment on the levelling base.  I have asked a few folks about that, and I have gotten mixed responses - a couple of folks have suggested that it is a "good thing" and others have indicated that it was "unnecessary".  I guess time will tell, although, I have no recollection of seeing anyone with a gimbal on a Gitzo that had a levelling base.  I will go without for now and see if it does become a requirement as I can always add it later

WesternGuy

9

Lenses / Re: New 600mm f/4L IS Mk II - availability?

« on: October 11, 2012, 08:45:05 PM »

neuroanatomist, thanks for the info on the RRS gear.  I did settle on the Gitzo GT3532LS and the gimbal from Custom Brackets.  I received very good feedback on it and the one thing that I did like about it was its capability to break down into 4 components for packing in my carryon luggage.  I guess it ultimately comes down to what works for you and I think this will work for me.

I checked on my lens yesterday and my dealer has no word on it at all.  The last ones brought into Canada were brought in last January, yup, that's what he said - I just hope I don't have to wait until January 2013 for mine to show up.

WesternGuy

10

Lenses / Re: Kenko TC and AF at F8

« on: October 11, 2012, 08:35:55 PM »

neuroanatomist, thank you for the explanation.  Hopefully, someone in the Canon organization will wake up and see what the competition is doing and upgrade the firmware.  Guess I need to put a Kenko 1.4x in my next order.

WesternGuy

I'm afraid that Canon's version of Upgrade the firmware is to upgrade it so the Kenko will not work.

I am afraid that you might be right, but let's hope they don't find out -    - ya, like that's going to happen - 

WesternGuy

11

Lenses / Re: Kenko TC and AF at F8

« on: October 11, 2012, 03:35:23 PM »

I just tried my Canon 1.4x III on my 100-400 and I could not get it it AF at 100mm or at 400mm on my 1D X.  Am I doing something wrong?  If so, can anyone give me any suggestions as to how to make this happen? 

What you're doing 'wrong' is using the Canon 1.4x.  The 100-400mm is an f/4.5-5.6 lens, so putting on a 1.4x TC makes it an f/6.3-8 lens.  The 1D X requires a max aperture of f/5.6 for AF to work (note that previous 1-series bodies could AF with an f/8 combo, although only with the center AF point). 

Unlike the Canon TCs, the electronics Kenko 1.4x and 2x TCs somehow 'spoof' the camera into not seeing the TC for AF purposes (the aperture reported in EXIF does reflect the TC being there).  Side note, the 1D X also does not see the TC for metering, so you need to apply one stop of EC with the Kenko 1.4x and 2 stops with the Kenko 2x, other bodies, e.g. 5DIII, 7D, don't seem to have the metering effect, but still AF fine).

The reason (some) people are up in arms over this is that it pretty clearly shows that the 1D X (and other bodies) can AF at f/8, but Canon is locking that function out in firmware.

neuroanatomist, thank you for the explanation.  Hopefully, someone in the Canon organization will wake up and see what the competition is doing and upgrade the firmware.  Guess I need to put a Kenko 1.4x in my next order.

WesternGuy

12

Lenses / Re: Kenko TC and AF at F8

« on: October 11, 2012, 03:53:29 AM »

Okay guys, I am a bit new to this forum and it seems like I need a little help here.  I just tried my Canon 1.4x III on my 100-400 and I could not get it it AF at 100mm or at 400mm on my 1D X.  Am I doing something wrong?  If so, can anyone give me any suggestions as to how to make this happen?  Thanks.

WesternGuy

13

Lenses / Re: Kenko TC and AF at F8

« on: October 10, 2012, 09:26:10 PM »

Do you have any more test results to report?  If this unit will focus when it is on the the new 600mm f4L IS II, then it is probably worth the extra $$.  Just curious, that's all.

WesternGuy

14

Lenses / Re: New 600mm f/4L IS Mk II - availability?

« on: September 01, 2012, 03:47:47 AM »

Just curious - what is back focusing?

Presumably a reference to back-button AF, which I personally find very useful.

On topic, not sure if it means anything, but while B&H still lists the 600 II as 'temporarily out of stock' they've changed the status of two accessories for it, the Canon 600B case and ET-160W II, from 'back-ordered' to 'usually ships in 2-4 weeks.'.  That's consistent with a previous CR post that retailers should receive a bolus of the 500/600 II in mid/late September.

Thanks for the reference for the "back button focusing" - greatly appreciated. 

WRT the lens(es) - that would be great if they start shipping quantities to dealers mid/late September - nice to be aware of this possibility. 

WesternGuy

15

Lenses / Re: New 600mm f/4L IS Mk II - availability?

« on: August 20, 2012, 09:09:49 PM »

Glad it worked out.  I ordered mine a couple of weeks ago - hope I will have it by the end of the year as I want to go to Florida in mid-February 2013 for a bird shoot.  That will give me a couple of months to get used to it.

Thanks for the heads-up on the size.  It is hard to imagine what it will be like, even with my current 100-400 fully extended, I try and imagine what it will be like.   

I am also breaking in (wrong choice of words?), I mean learning a new 1D X.  So far I am incredibly happy with the tracking and fps for BIF - just grrreat! - and the ISO range and image sharpness - I used to shoot a lot of my "action" shots at ISO 400 on my 5D, with the 1D X, I can raise that to ISO 800 and still get the same IQ or better - just grrreat - oh, I said that already.

Just curious - what is back focusing?

WesternGuy