Messages

1

Canon General / Re: Canon direct mail marketing

« on: May 24, 2013, 11:58:36 PM »

I see a new "must have" for Neuro!

sek

I have dutifully registered my Canon products, using their online registration tool.  Thus, they have my address.  Their database should also tell them that I have a fair amount of gear registered with them, pretty much all of it high end stuff.  By 'fair amount', I mean $40K worth at current retail prices.  You'd think, armed with that knowledge, they'd be able to have a pretty good idea of what would interest me as a consumer, right? 

Today, I received my first direct (snail) mailing from Canon.  A brochure for the new EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x, perhaps?  An ad highlighting the benefits of their excellent RT flash system, GPS accessories, etc.?

Nope.  A little brochure highlighting the features of a pair of dSLRs sure to be of interest to a 1D X owner...

2

Lenses / Re: Help with Long Lens + Backup Body choice for Iceland

« on: May 24, 2013, 11:43:30 PM »

This is off topic, but..

be sure to bring at least a few extra batteries and cards. 

sek

Hi

This topic may have been beaten to death and I have tried to read whatever I could find for Iceland but haven't yet decided the way to go so hopefully you guys that have been there could advice. I'll be there this summer and being one of those one in a lifetime trips you want to ensure all bases are covered. My current equipment consist of:

5D III
Zeiss 2.8/21
Sigma 35 1.4 HSM Art
Zeiss 2/50 MP
Canon 85L II
Zeiss 2/100 MP
Canon 70-200 F4 IS (+ 1.4extender II)

I got therefore a nice focal range covered but the question I may need your advice with concerns the darn Puffins, the occasional bird in the Myvatn area and the long reach landscape shots. I think this will in turn also influence the choice for the backup body to get:

From what I read (or not???) a 200mm may be a bit short for Puffins or the birds at the Myvatn area and  I'm not impressed by the 70-200 F4 IS coupled with the 1.4x extender I currently have. The options I can think of is to selling the 70-200 F4 IS and getting a 70-200 2.8 II (keeping the 1.4 extender) or to get a used Canon 100-400 instead.

Regarding the backup body I would consider the following options:
1) any used APS-C (7D that I know well or 60D or even a 650D etc): I can get them cheap used. APS-C has the added crop factor bonus so the option to take a 70-200 II with extender becomes very versatile for the birding. However in the eventuality the 5DIII fails then I'll have only an APS-C so my 21mm becomes effectivelly a 35mm which is not very nice for a place such as Iceland...

2) a cheap used 5D II:  whatever happens with the 5DIII I still have the wide end properly covered with the 21mm but then I may need to get the 100-400 (?)

So, to end a long post what would you do:

-Used APS-C as backup body, selling 70-200 F4 IS and getting 70-200 2.8 II (I keep the 1.4 extender anyway)
-Used 5DII as backup body, selling the 70-200 F4 IS and getting the Canon 100-400

Nota: I plan to resell whatever backup body I get after returning.

Thanks for the help!

3

Lenses / Re: Help with Long Lens + Backup Body choice for Iceland

« on: May 24, 2013, 11:39:04 PM »

I haven't been to Iceland, but sounds great- congrats!

My 2cents- get a 7D for the reach and focus.  I have the 70-200 f4l and 2.8II- love them both.  Remember that the latter is very heavy to carry, and on a full frame, doesn't get that much reach. 

You may want to hold on the 2.8 for now and spend the $ on the trip.  I also always carry 2 bodies when I go on an important trip just because I am paranoid.  Just saying.

sek

Hi Fegari, We may see each other, I'm in Iceland July 08th through July 24th.

If Rental was an Option I'de suggest the 7D & 70-200f/2.8 II, combined with a Series III 1.4x Extender, and your 5DMK III plus WA lenses, you should be sweet.

I'm arriving Iceland after 4 weeks in Tanzania, so I've had to bring 2 different set ups, Long for Tanzania, WA for Iceland, luckily I have my Son the Sherpa with me.

I bought the 17 & 24 TSE lenses especially for this trip so will be interesting to see how well, they perform.

Have a great trip & maybe we'll cross paths.

Try to hit Tarangire National Park- it is totally awesome!

4

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: CamRanger,anyone tried it?

« on: May 19, 2013, 10:38:46 PM »

Hi Guys.

That is a really cool gizmo.  I love tech gizmos, and the price isn't a non-starter.  But I have to ask what would I use it for?  I like the idea of live view.  I mostly shoot wildlife.  I can't see leaving my camera on a tripod hoping something will walk in front of it.  So how will this benefit me?

Thanks for your input.  And no, I am not a troll.

sek

5

Video & Movie / Re: The Ultimate Balls Kicking Championship

« on: May 19, 2013, 12:58:09 PM »

cant separate the content from the technical- dumb.

I just recently bought a Canon 7D. This is my first attempt with it and Final Cut Pro.

Would love to know what you think. Any feedback or advice is appreciated.

Steve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF7gcqU6kaU

6

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: New Canon 5D Mark III

« on: May 19, 2013, 12:45:57 PM »

You do have a lot to learn.

Read the manual, and everything else you can.  Then go out and shoot, shoot, shoot.
Try shooting using each feature.
It will take lots of time before you become familiar with each setting and how to apply them in a way to get the pic you want.
The autofocus alone will keep you learning.  Got mine about a year and a half ago, and am still learning.

Great choices, good luck.

This is my first post on CR. I have been following all you brilliant guys/gals for some time now.
Since 2006 I have been using my 350D, but yesterday I went crazy and bought the 5D3 I've been yearning for for sometimes now, to a large extent inspired by your posts.
With the body I bought the 24-70mm, f/2.8 II, the 50 mm, f/1.2 and the 8-15 mm fisheye - I'll probably be taken away in a straight jacket soon:-)
So far I've been blown away by the quality both resolution, sharpness and high ISO performance. It's so incredible much better than the 350D in all aspects.
I obviously have a lot to learn, but I know were to get help:-)

7

Lenses / Re: I have a weight limit....what would you bring?

« on: May 17, 2013, 03:30:45 PM »

Bring a safari vest and offload your heavies into it to meet weight.

sek

This is the kind of post for which there is no single best answer, but I am curious as to other opinions.  I will be traveling through Central Asia.  I am limited by weight restrictions and it will be quite hot so I am trying to limit my kit.  Right now, I am planning to bring my 70-200 f/4 IS, my 24-104, and my 17-40.  While I may want to do some building interiors, I am not gonna carry my 14mm and the 100-400 is just too big and heavy for this trip.  The 40 would be nice but redundant.  My high iso shots have been OK, so I think that I can get by without a lens that fast.  I have a Jobey that can squeeze into my bag, so that might be worthwhile.

My questions....anyone traveled through the 'stans before?  Does my logic make sense to you?  Would you do anything different?  Maybe I just want some re-affirmation of my logic (or lack of) here.  I tend to do "people" shots with some scenery.  Thanks.

8

EOS Bodies / Re: EOS 70D & EOS 7D Mark II

« on: May 16, 2013, 11:14:45 PM »

I don't know how or if this fits into this argument, but I think that the essential element  in Betamax v. VHS was that VHS out marketed Betamax, and won the war despite being the inferior technology.  Not sure if this applies in this debate.

Neuro, you have a habit to answer with sails

Sales drive revenue. Revenue drives profit. Profit is a major driver of share price and shareholder value.  Share price and shareholder value determine whether a public company thrives, survives, or fails.

Betamax was better quality than VHS.  VHS sold better. Betamax failed and was abandoned.

9

Animal Kingdom / Re: Your best animal shots!

« on: May 16, 2013, 01:06:26 AM »

Hornbill with snack

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Animal Kingdom / Re: Your best animal shots!

« on: May 16, 2013, 01:02:51 AM »

Hornbill

11

Animal Kingdom / Re: Your best animal shots!

« on: May 16, 2013, 12:40:54 AM »

Lion Cubs

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Animal Kingdom / Re: Your best animal shots!

« on: May 16, 2013, 12:25:19 AM »

Kingfisher with grasshopper

13

Animal Kingdom / Re: Your best animal shots!

« on: May 16, 2013, 12:23:20 AM »

Serengeti Wildebeest

14

Lenses / Re: EF 24-70mm F2.8 L ver 2 or 3 Prime Lens

« on: May 14, 2013, 11:09:54 PM »

One lens vs. three.  Something to consider for weight, and also in the field when you may need to change in dusty conditions.  Also, during lens changes, may miss a shot.

sek

Hi,
I was thinking of buying the 24-70mm ver 2 and it around 90K CMPI. With that amount of money, I can already buy 3 prime lens (non-L).
I want to know how others think, will you go for the ver 2 or 3 prime lens w/c are sharper and faster?

Prime Lens:
EF 35mm F2 IS USM
EF 50mm F1.4 USM
EF 100mm F2 USM

vs.
EF 24-70mm F2.8 USM ver 2

thanks

15

EOS Bodies / Re: Sensor Going? Purple Shots 5DMKII

« on: May 13, 2013, 02:24:30 PM »

I have been getting this with my 5DII too. It shows up immediately in the screen.  I will try a low level format.  Hopefully, it is the card, because the camera is really new, and low shutter count.

sek