Messages

1

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Recommendations for a friend

« on: January 27, 2013, 10:36:03 PM »

If possible, new T3i and 50 1.8. This lens is simply amazing, both on crop and full frame, and I'm sure you have heard all about it from so many Canon shooters so I wont repeat hehe.

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Software & Accessories / Re: Recommendations for light meter?

« on: January 16, 2013, 10:58:08 AM »

A bit off topic here, but I've been having trouble exposing with Velvia 50 film because of the narrow dynamic range. Will a good light meter help me or the metering inside a digital camera like the 5D2 is good enough? Thanks!

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Lenses / Re: Canon 85mm f/1.8 vs Other L and non-L Canon Primes

« on: January 13, 2013, 01:29:11 AM »

85 1.8, 100L, and 85L, I've used all three, though I don't own any. Three fantastic lenses if put in the right hands and the right budget. The 85 1.8 is the best bang for your buck, that's for sure at 359$ right now at B&H. But some people have more bucks than others and that's where the 85L steps in. This monster is an absolute beast, but you gotta know how to handle it. I like to call it a "speciality" lens. If you're getting this lens, it's to shoot it wide open, and that takes a lot of skill. The DoF is so thin that some focussing techniques don't work, such as focus and recompose. By pointing your lens up and down, the subject is already out of focus. And as for the 100 range, I never used the f2.0, but the L is a katana, sharp like no other lens. Shot flowers with it for a project and the results are astonishing. But as I always say, sharpness is overrated, but that's just me. Although for portraits, I find 100mm kinda weird to work with. Again, getting personal here.

Best way to find out is to rent the lenses or get them for a short while to play with them, as I did. I had to choose between the 85 1.8, the Sigma 85 1.4, the Samyang 85 1.4 manual focus, and the Zeiss 85 1.4. Tried them all, and decided to save up for the Zeiss.

Oh and screw the IS version. It's gonna cost 800$-1000$ and it's gonna come in yeah 2547. You want something, get it. Oftentimes, the said "replacements" are way off what we predict. I got a 24-105mm a bit before the new 24-70 f4 IS was announced, and I couldn't be happier.

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Software & Accessories / Re: Manfrotto 055 vs 190, 498 vs 496

« on: January 10, 2013, 01:15:23 AM »

Thanks for the quick feedback guys! The L-plate thing is not a bad point at all. Never thought about it. But at the same time, I'll be losing a lot of flexibility when doing landscapes... Photography is all about trade-offs...

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Software & Accessories / Manfrotto 055 vs 190, 498 vs 496

« on: January 10, 2013, 12:47:50 AM »

Hey folks, I'm in the market for a decent tripod without breaking the bank. Since I made the switch to full frame, everything is heavier and my old Manfrotto compact just doesn't cut it anymore. Now I have a few options in front of me: the 055XPROB vs the 190XPROB and the 498RC2 vs the 496RC2.

I am 5'10 and using a 5D Mark II with the 24-105mm being my heaviest lens. My biggest concern is how the heads will perform at 90 degrees sideways in portrait orientation. Are the extra 2kg of support of the 498 going to be beneficial for me and my 5D2 + 24-105 combo?

B&H has the 190 with the 496 in a bundle for 186$ and the 055 with the 498 for 250$. I'm just wondering if the difference is significant enough to justify the price difference if I only use a 5D2 with a 24-105.

Thanks a lot!

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Lenses / Re: Educate me about why 70mm <> 70mm...

« on: January 05, 2013, 11:12:43 AM »

It could be the reasons you listed, but it could also be the fact that the same distance from the subject is not at the same spot on the lenses' focussing distances. On the 24-70 it might be at halfway between macro and infinity but on the 70-200 it will surely be closer to its closest focussing distance. And because of focus breathing, the angle of view changes. I don't know how much either of the lenses breathe, but the Nikon 70-200 gives an angle of 135mm at 200mm and closest focussing so there's lots of room for imprecision.

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Lighting / Yongnuo flash sync

« on: December 26, 2012, 09:10:58 PM »

Hi, I currently have a 600EX-RT that I use with my yongnuo YN-622C triggers and they work great. I am wondering if the YN 560 II flashes will be controllable from my 5D2 through more YN-622C units (I still work on full manual), or is it only the twice as expensive YN-565EX that work that way. Also, is it just worth it to pay half the money and go full manual with YN-560 II and YN-RF603 and go up to the flashes to change their output?

If anyone has experience with the YN-560-IIs and the YN-622Cs help would be appreciated

Thanks

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Lenses / Re: Do other lenses compete with the "look" of L primes?

« on: December 26, 2012, 11:22:30 AM »

If you shoot mainly portraits also look into Zeiss. there manual focus only but give a great look wide open

So true. Zeiss 85 is an amazing piece of glass right up there with the 85L, at half the price. Pair that with the super-precision focussing screen and you're good to go, if you have a 5D2 or a 6D that is. But even with the regular finder it's not a challenge to manually focus if you practice.

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Lighting / Re: Confused about 600EX-RT and 5D mark II

« on: December 12, 2012, 11:33:15 PM »

I bought the 600EX-RT just for simplicity's sake. I worked with many 580EX IIs in the past (not mine) and I just can't seem to figure out the controls. For me the fact that I dont know what my equipment is doing is a big turnoff. Try one, and if you can get away with the clumsy controls and you don't need the 200mm zoom head and the RT then just grab the 580, you won't regret it, they're great.

I own a 5D2 as well and I can tell you that everything works just fine if you use one speedlite. The only problem is groups apparently.

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Lenses / Re: what 5 lenses would you want (exclude factors such as buissiness and body)

« on: December 05, 2012, 07:29:31 PM »

EF 85mm f1.2L
EF 70-200 f2.8L
TS-E 24mm f3.5L
Zeiss 135mm f1.8 T*
EF 200mm f2L

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Lighting / Re: 5D Mark II triggering 2 flashes

« on: November 16, 2012, 05:45:27 PM »

Thanks guys, that kinda answered my question. Just to clarify though, it would be a fairly static setup. The 430 is sitting on the 5DII on TTL and the 580 is separate from the rest (and not within optical reach, that's why I can't go wireless without extra triggers). The 580 will be on full manual, synced through PC with my 5DII. I was just wondering if the PC sync port would give signal if a TTL flash is mounted on the hotshoe. And "yes" seems to be the answer.

I really envy those who have 600EX-RT lol.

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Lighting / 5D Mark II triggering 2 flashes

« on: November 13, 2012, 08:42:41 PM »

Hi, I have a 5D Mark II and a 580EX II that i've always used on TTL with a cord. Now I am wondering if it's possible to mount a 430EX II on the hotshoe and have my 580 triggered through the PC all at the same time, while conserving TTL on my 430?

Thanks!

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Lenses / Re: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS [CR1]

« on: October 29, 2012, 11:56:48 AM »

If this happens I'm way more interested in a cheaper non-IS 24-70L II than the (will be) absurdly expensive IS version. If we consider the price gap in the 70-200 range I think that the non IS will be a killer deal

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Lenses / Re: 85 1.8 vs Zeiss 85 1.4

« on: October 22, 2012, 07:50:37 PM »

Thanks guys! One of my local stores offer 14-day satisfaction guarantee so, I will probably pull the trigger on the cheaper 85mm 1.8 first, then if I don't like it, get the sigma. Somehow, I'm pretty certain I'll like it though. Screw the bad reviews about CA. There are always more people saying bad things about things on the Internet than ones that say good things!

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Lenses / 85 1.8 vs Zeiss 85 1.4

« on: October 22, 2012, 10:34:17 AM »

I recently tried the Zeiss 85mm f/1.4 manual focus lens, and I must say, it is stunningly unique. Unfortunately, I would have liked to compare that lens to the EF 85mm 1.8, but none of the rental places in my area seem to have it (they only have the 85L apparently...  ). So I was just wondering is more than double the price and the lack of autofocus really justify the nice bokeh and IQ of the Zeiss? What are your experiences with the Canon? And if I'm into mid-tele portraiture, is there any other lens (preferably under 1k) that I should consider? I shoot a 5D2.

Thanks!