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Reviews / Re: Review - Canon EF 40 f/2.8 STM

« on: February 13, 2013, 10:53:59 AM »

Not sure I understand the people complaining about this review. Since when have the reviews here been anything more than personal, real-world usage? That's what's good about them. If you want the technical, $1000 worth of software and optic-testing equipment reviews, you know where to go to get that.

I thought it was a good review, and provided some real-world perspective. If I had to complain, and this isn't a complaint so much as a question, why didn't you use it for some short videos. I mean, isn't this lens primarily aimed at DSLR video use over still photo?

I would totally buy this lens over the nifty-50 based on the tighter build quality alone, not to mention the focusing system.

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EOS Bodies / Re: Canon Cannot Keep Screwing It's Customers Over

« on: January 09, 2013, 02:19:23 PM »

I have a Tamron 24-70, and the build quality is solid. The glass falling out seems to be a defect and is certainly not widespread.

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Lenses / Re: 24-70 or 24-105

« on: January 09, 2013, 12:43:28 PM »

I have the Tamron 24-70/2.8 and a 6D, and I love the combo, save for one thing - My lens is currently on it's way back to Tamron for a firmware upgrade, as there seems to be a bug between the 6D and the lens that allows the lens to draw power even if the 6D is switched completely off.

I was getting battery drain at the rate of 4% per hour with the Tamron attached. If I put my Canon 50mm/1.4 on, it doesn't drain at all. (before anyone says it, the wifi/gps are all off)

When the lens isn't draining the battery, it's a pretty wicked combo - focus is smooth, fast, and fantastic in low-light. The IQ is great across the range, better than the Canon 24-105L if you ask me.

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EOS Bodies / Re: 6D's Wifi Drain on Battery (?)

« on: January 05, 2013, 03:15:01 PM »

I think my 6D may be defective. I have the GPS and Wifi off, and I've shot about a total of 19 photos on the current charge, and with the camera sitting off in my bag for 3 days, the battery is stone cold dead. I'm using the OEM battery that was included with the cam, and another Canon LP-E6 that I picked up from Amazon (not third party seller either, so it's a legit canon battery).

I've had my Tamron 24-70 F2.8 on the camera the entire time. I've read where people have some issues with the 5D3 and third party lenses, so I hope that's not the case, as I love the lens and prefer to leave it on the body...

EDIT~ As an update to my original post, apparently there is a well-documented issue with the Tamron 24-70/2.8 and the newer Canon bodies, like the T4i and 6D, where the lens drains the battery even if the camera is off. Mine battery showed 98% charge, and then after sitting for roughly 2 hours, completely off, it's down to 91%. So I put my Canon 50mm/1.4 on it, and let it sit for 2 hours...and it's still at 91%.

The POTN forum post I saw regarding the T4i said Tamron knows about it and will exchange the lens with one that doesn't drain the battery. I friggin hope so, cause I'm loving the quality on this lens.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 6D Bg-E13 Discrepancies

« on: January 02, 2013, 01:54:08 PM »

So has anyone actually bought and received a BG-E13 yet?

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 6D or wait for New 7D?

« on: December 31, 2012, 10:52:51 AM »

But really, I'm so sick of the spec list comparison and the pixel peeping crowd bashing every camera that comes out. If people spent half as much time working on their skills and just shooting with the equipment they have instead of bitching, they would be better photographers.

Sure, but what good is it for being a good photographer, if you're images are to noisy or soft, due to the equipment?

I don't know what to say, other than deal with it. In the film days, I dealt with it by pushing, which blew out the grain, and if it really needed it, Pull it into Photoshop (or more accurately for me back then Jasc PaintShop Pro) and cut the grain a bit. Same now...there's a lot that can be done with noise in Lightroom.

Softness is a different animal though - I've only gotten soft images one of a few ways, most notably through AF weaknesses (half the time, I should have manually focused anyways so it was really the next reason), or through my own errors in focusing.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: I bought/would buy a 6D and not a D600 because...

« on: December 31, 2012, 10:46:05 AM »

I chose the 6D based on a few things, but mostly because I've always shot Canon. Despite only having 4 lenses and a flash and some other extraneous accessories, it would still be a hassle and relatively expensive (as an advanced hobbyist, semi-pro, whatever you want to call me) to chuck it all and go Nikon.

I actually have no issues with Nikon. They make good S___. It's the same argument, to me at least, as Apple vs. Microsoft, iPhone vs. Android, XBOX vs. PS3. I love tech, I am platform agnostic, and can/will change at any time. The D600 (and the D800 by extension) are pretty superb cameras, as is the Sony Alpha. I handled a D600, and it's nice, but the 6D just feels more solid. And it's probably just muscle memory, but the Nikon's "thinner" grips always feel slightly cramped to me vs. Canon, almost as if the edges are harder/sharper.

But what it all comes down to is that the differences are negligible - both cameras/systems have pros and cons. Just choose one, stick with it, and go shoot and have fun. Life is too short to agonize over the most minute detail.  For every 3 shots you miss with a 6D and it's "supposed AF weaknesses", the D600 will miss on sharpness on 3 photos that you will be upset about. I just want to shoot, use what I know, and be done with it, regardless of what badge is on it - because the photos matter more to me. I'm more concerned with making sure my knowledge base is solid, the mathematics and settings and framing and my own stability/grip - those things make infinitely more difference than a couple of MP or whatever else the spec-sheet elitists want to crow about with any given camera. 

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 6D Bg-E13 Discrepancies

« on: December 27, 2012, 03:33:19 PM »

Canon has, indeed, gone crazy with the pricing for the Battery Grips. If they actually came with the respective batteries, it would be an easier pill to swallow, but they don't.

Has anyone had any success with any off-brand batteries yet? I've seen several reports of camera/battery communication issues. I usually buy an extra OEM battery so I have 2 for a grip, and an off-brand backup set. But it looks like I may be waiting a while on the 6D...

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Natural Progression of Camera Bodies. Type Your story below.

« on: December 27, 2012, 03:18:36 PM »

Whoa this thread brings back some memories...it's interesting reading how long people have had the passion for shooting...

My family has always taken a decent amount of pics - My grandfather worked for Eastman-Kodak in the 50's/early 60's, and when I was a kid there were always videos and photos being taken at home and on vacations. I always had a little 110 film cam or a Polaroid or something as a kid. I ran through most of high school (96 grad) with a fixed focus Yashica 35mm f2.8 pocket cam. I didn't start to get serious until college, and I'm completely self taught. I read books, played with the cameras, and learned to develop my natural eye for composition and perspective. Aside from various cheap Polaroid instant cams from flea markets, etc, the major cameras that I've used are...

1997-98: Picked up my dad's Canon AE-2 and started to learn
1999: Given a Canon Rebel 2000 w/ Tamron 28-80 kit for Xmas (by said grandfather).
2000: Tamron 100-300 added to the kit
2001: Canon Elan 7E added to the kit
2002: Canon Powershot A60 is my first digital!
2003: sold the A60 to fund a Canon S50 (and that sucker was awesome at the time)
2005: Sold the S50 and the 7E to fund a Canon Rebel XT (body only) and the EF-S 17-85mm lens. later bought a Casio EX-Z750 for a pocket cam.
2010: Sold the Rebel XT to buy a Canon Rebel T2i and BG-E8 grip. Later sold 17-85 for an EF-S 15-85 upgrade, and EF 50mm 1.4
2012: Picked up a Canon S100 on Black Friday cheap for a pocket cam. Sold EF-S 15-85 to fund Tamron 24-70 f2.8. EOS 6D ordered, T2i up for sale. Looking for a BG-E13 deal.

I'm still buying some old film cams when I can find them cheap... Looking towards 2013, I want a vintage Russian twin lens Rollei-knockoff to play with, will probably spring (in the spring, no less) for a Lensbaby Composer, and maybe save up for a Canon or Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 IS. I kinda want one of the new Polaroids, or perhaps a Lytro.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 6D or wait for New 7D?

« on: December 27, 2012, 02:29:12 PM »

I jumped on the 6D from Amazon with the 6% cash back, moving up from my trusty T2i. The T2i served me well for 2.5 years, but I've outgrown the feature set much faster than I thought I would, and I'm missing shots because of it. Part of it is me, part of it was limitations of the equipment. I guess I'll just have to deal with the 6D's "lackluster" or "crippled" or "inferior" AF 

But really, I'm so sick of the spec list comparison and the pixel peeping crowd bashing every camera that comes out. If people spent half as much time working on their skills and just shooting with the equipment they have instead of bitching, they would be better photographers.

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Contests / Re: Gura Gear Giveaway!

« on: December 08, 2012, 11:43:55 AM »

I'm all about Think Tank Photo bags, but I could be swayed. Bring it!