Messages

1

Canon General / Re: Beach Vacation in a month... & I'm scared for my gear.

« on: May 19, 2013, 06:33:42 PM »

I recently too my EOS 550D to the beach in Thailand. I always had it with my Sigma 18-125 in a bag, together with my Sigma 400mm lens. I only changed the lens when I was sitting on a beach chair or very sure that there was no sand in the air. Was no problem at all.
And don't forget, sand grains are normaly fairly large and don't get into the really small opening in the lens. Simply be carefull while changing it, but that's more or less.
Ah and don't drop it into the sand, or at least have a air-duster (or however it's called in english) ready to clean it

2

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Buying a new camera - 650D, 700D or 60D, thoughts and suggestions?

« on: May 14, 2013, 07:26:39 AM »

If you have to choose between those three, I guess I'd go for the 700D or if you get it way cheaper, the 650D. They are basically the same, only the body has a slightly changed. If you also need optics and wanna shoot video, go for a STM lens as kit.
The 60D is a much older model, but with more or less the exact same sensor. It might have a few more software features and is a little bit better built. On the other hand, the 650D and 700D have a really nice touchscreen.

3

Software & Accessories / Re: Bag while I am a "tourist"

« on: April 10, 2013, 12:10:27 PM »

Hi,
I just came back from 2,5 weeks of holiday in Thailand and Philippines. I also took quite a bit of equipment with me, but ended in just using my 550D (my only DSLR) and the Sigma 18-125 on it. Once I put my 400mm on it, but only once. I never used the external flash, but used the internal once or twice for a nice night portrait.
In the end I just always had the camera, the additional 400mm lens in a normal backback. The lens in a plastic bag to protect it from sand and the camera in a small camera bag from Lowepro where camera + sigma lens fit into.
That's it. Didn't use my macro, didn't use the portrait lens, nothing.
What I did use was my Gorillapod though.
Patrick

4

Reviews / Re: Hands-on Review: Canon EOS 6D

« on: March 12, 2013, 09:26:10 AM »

Website currently offline

5

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Tamron 28-300mm as walk around lens with 5D Mk III???

« on: March 11, 2013, 04:48:09 AM »

Hi Gino
I asked the same question about a week back, but with the 6D. Check here for more input (against the Tamron) http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=13228.0

6

Underwater / Re: Cheap underwater flash

« on: March 06, 2013, 01:40:09 AM »

Bought now a Sea&Sea YS-01 for a quite good price, including several accessories. Now it's time for a dive to check it out

7

Underwater / Re: Cheap underwater flash

« on: March 05, 2013, 09:45:10 AM »

Thanks for the info. Sadly all those brands aren't sold here in Switzerland

8

Lenses / Re: Any difference bw used and new 24-105mm lens?

« on: March 05, 2013, 02:57:39 AM »

My gut tells me, keep the new one. You have warranty on it, it's new, might have fixed small issues that have become known over time (I don't know if Canon would even mention this public).
But for the best test, shoot some pictures with both lenses and compare if both are equally sharp, maybe you see some difference in them. That way you can "save" a possible calibration of the not so sharp lens.

9

Underwater / Cheap underwater flash

« on: March 04, 2013, 09:34:17 AM »

Hi All
I own a Canon Ixus 960 IS with the fitting case WP-DC19. I search now for an inexpensive flash which I could use. One I saw is the Ikelite AF35 which might be useable.
It has to survive diving depths of 40 meters, should use rechargeable batteries and, most important, should work as a Slave which gets triggered by the built in flash.
Any recommendations?
Thanks

10

Lenses / Re: EOS 6D with Kit, either Canon 24-105 F4 L or Tamron 28-300mm Di VC Macro

« on: March 04, 2013, 04:48:29 AM »

Thanks all for your valuable input. I will consider it before I buy my new camera I guess it will be the Canon combo 

11

Lenses / Re: EOS 6D with Kit, either Canon 24-105 F4 L or Tamron 28-300mm Di VC Macro

« on: February 28, 2013, 02:24:36 AM »

Thank you for your replies. In this case it really sounds for the Canon, as expected
Regarding my other Canon gear, see post number 5 in this thread.
It should be my "as a good all-purpose carry-around-all-day-so-you-don't-have-to-change-lenses lens" which would be most of the time mounted, at least not while I'm trying to picture wildlife (birds and such) or portraits.
And yeah, for the reasons why I want to switch, read again the initial post. I mean I wouldn't mind getting a crop camera if it would provide the same ISO possibilities and viewfinder size, but that simply doesn't exist from Canon at the moment.
Luckily I'm in no hurry of buying a new camera (first some holiday in the Philippines and Thailand next month), so I might experience the release of the successor of the 7D or 700D before I make my buy decision.
But to summarize my thoughts about the new gear, I want a possible higher ISO for low light images the most

12

Lenses / Re: EOS 6D with Kit, either Canon 24-105 F4 L or Tamron 28-300mm Di VC Macro

« on: February 27, 2013, 07:16:27 AM »

Thanks for the replies so far. Most my pictures are shot with the 18-120 range, so I can't really say if I would shoot more with a longer lens.
The two kits cost both more or less the same (around 2850 USD inc. Taxes - 2650 CHF), so the price here is not an issue.
I know the L lenses are great, I own a great Canon 100 mm 2,8 IS USM
I also own an old Sigma 400 mm AF Macro HSM and an even old (and fairly lousy) Canon 75-300 mm without IS. Then also a Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II which is fine for portrait.
Oh, the only thing that I will really miss on the 6D is the not integrated flash For most of my pictures was the integrated enough.

13

Lenses / EOS 6D with Kit, either Canon 24-105 F4 L or Tamron 28-300mm Di VC Macro

« on: February 27, 2013, 05:36:43 AM »

Hello All
I am currently evaluating if I should upgrade my EOS 550D with a really nice 6D. The main reasons for this are:
- bigger body, but still not as big as the 550D with the battery kit mounted, thus it's better in hand
- bigger viewfinder
- MUCH better low light performance (probably the main reason)
- full frame sensor (a little bit more detail)
The main use of the camera is everyday pictures. I always carry my 550D with a Sigma 18-125 lens with me around and I like the range of this lens. I picture mostly animals, landscapes and buildings, but normally no people.
I compared the two lenses over at Dxomark, here the compare with the 5D MK2: http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Lenses/Compare-Camera-Lenses/Compare-lenses/(lens1)/211/(brand)/Tamron/(camera1)/483/(lens2)/164/(brand2)/Canon/(camera2)/483
The canon is a bit sharper, but with "only" 1/3 of reach. I don't think I'll feel the difference of 24mm to 28mm at all with my shooting habits.
What do you think, should I take the better and sharper Canon lens, but loose quite a bit reach, or is the difference in sharpness anyway not visible if I'm not going to pixel peep?
Thanks
Patrick

14

Canon General / Re: What am I doing wrong???

« on: February 25, 2013, 08:17:59 AM »

I would simply guess wrong focus point!
Which point(s) do light up when you look through the viewfinder and press the shutter halfway through?
For doing Portraits, you might want to exclusively use the center focus point, so always the center will be sharp.

15

Lenses / Re: I can't stop thinking about A MONSTER!

« on: February 08, 2013, 04:26:02 AM »

Hi,
have a look here: http://www.digitalkameraverleih.com/
The rent lenses in Austria, but sadly don't have the supertele ones. You could rent a Canon EF 300mm f/2,8 L IS II USM with 2,4 KG, just that you get a feeling of the weight
I recently bought an old 400mm Sigma lens (around 1,5 KG) and already that is quite heavy to carry around and make wildlife pictures.
But if you get it, much fun with it!