Messages

91

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Question about BH used dept

« on: February 25, 2013, 08:50:15 AM »

A used SLR? How much is this unit worth? I have not and never will purchase an extended protection for anything I buy but that is just me. Not sure about used. I figure B&H will make sure the camera is working beyond that you just don't know. If anything breaks down it will be mechanical as there is no computer. Shutter might be first to go. Are there even parts available for that uint?         

Future shop tried to sell me extended warranty on a $45 microwave.  I have a real thorn in my side with that part of the industry.

92

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: DotTune: Video Tutorial for AF tuning without photographs

« on: February 24, 2013, 09:10:33 PM »

Oh yes. I tried DotTune with my 24-70 II using the new focus acquisition method. -1 @ 24 and +1 @ 70 which basically matched my real world results I'm getting.       

93

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: DotTune: Video Tutorial for AF tuning without photographs

« on: February 24, 2013, 09:08:12 PM »

There is no doubt that lens is out. My shooting partner has one, he tried it and found it was soft. I noticed it right away after I got it. After comparing shots @0 and +14 you could see +14 was much sharper. +14 is unacceptable for what I paid. I appreciate your support but I'm sending it in just for the piece of mind alone.   

OMG, before you spend $$$ shipping your stuff back to Canon + insurance, You better validate your results with a sloped ruler test.  Dont rely too heavily on the DT results as the AF detect systems are not very accurate.  It may get you in the ball park but unless you have a way to categorically verify your setting, it could be way off.  I cant get DT to give me an accurate AFMA.  When I compare with my lensalign target it's off by 8 AFMA and for that lens it's a full DOF.

More work needs to be done to make the AF detect system accurate and reliable.

Well DotTune did confirm my suspicions. First off the using the new method where you stop at the instant AF acquisition worked good. It only made a difference for +3 to +2 for my final MFA but still much easier to work with.



It did confirm my new 70 to 200 2.8 II is way out at 200. It still beeps at +20 and stops beeping at +7 which put me around +14. That was confirmed by real world shots. Major difference at 0 and +14. Not even thinking about a work around - it is off to Canon.

94

Software & Accessories / Re: Lightroom 4

« on: February 24, 2013, 04:45:25 PM »

One more thing about LR sharpening if anyone is interested. I must have tried the free trial 3 times before purchasing. I could not handle not having complete control of output sharpening and let LR decide by offering Low, Standard and High options.

I did some research and found the Pixel Genius group developed that output sharpening for LR. The late great Bruce Fraser who was the pioneer in sharpening (the 3 phases) was a member of the Pixel Genius group. He co-authored this famous book.

http://www.amazon.com/Sharpening-Photoshop-Camera-Lightroom-Edition/dp/0321637550   

95

Software & Accessories / Re: Lightroom 4

« on: February 24, 2013, 04:36:46 PM »

+1

And yes, you can use the "Edit In" feature of Lightroom to open a rendered photo (in PSD, TIFF, etc format) right in Photoshop Elements Editor just like full Photoshop. When you save the photo and return to LR it's in the catalog as another version of the original, and you can even do LR editing on top of it (but opening it back in PS makes more sense to me). The nice thing is you can export, watermark, print etc the PSD/TIFF right from LR just like RAW/DNG files you've edited in LR natively. Very seamless.

A PS instructor at our University told us Elements was released as a light version optimized for photo editing, so what you mainly loose are some of the exotic design tools. I think LR 4 + PS Elements 10/11 is a killer combo.

This is what I do.

1. After saving in PS, LR shows two files of the same image.

2. The new TIFF (which I select to use) is labelled 1/2 and the existing CR2 file is labelled 2/2.

3. I immediately flag the CR2 file (2/2) and hide it under under the new TIFF (1/2). 

4. At export I "Select Flagged Photos"

5. Then I "Invert Selection" which deselects all the flagged photos and selects all the un-flagged photos

LR does not export the flagged photos. It may not be the best way to do that but I only edit about 10% of the images  in PS so it is easier to flag those as I work on them rather than flagging the other 90% for export.

LR used to have a "Select All Un-Flagged Photos" command but must have removed it during an update. Unless I have lost my mind and just can't find it.               

96

Software & Accessories / Re: Lightroom 4

« on: February 24, 2013, 04:09:48 PM »

+1

And yes, you can use the "Edit In" feature of Lightroom to open a rendered photo (in PSD, TIFF, etc format) right in Photoshop Elements Editor just like full Photoshop. When you save the photo and return to LR it's in the catalog as another version of the original, and you can even do LR editing on top of it (but opening it back in PS makes more sense to me). The nice thing is you can export, watermark, print etc the PSD/TIFF right from LR just like RAW/DNG files you've edited in LR natively. Very seamless.

A PS instructor at our University told us Elements was released as a light version optimized for photo editing, so what you mainly loose are some of the exotic design tools. I think LR 4 + PS Elements 10/11 is a killer combo.

So you can export into elements. I guess LR automatically detects another Adobe product. I never had elements so did not know how to answer that one.

97

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: DotTune: Video Tutorial for AF tuning without photographs

« on: February 24, 2013, 01:37:52 PM »

Well DotTune did confirm my suspicions. First off the using the new method where you stop at the instant AF acquisition worked good. It only made a difference for +3 to +2 for my final MFA but still much easier to work with.

It did confirm my new 70 to 200 2.8 II is way out at 200. It still beeps at +20 and stops beeping at +7 which put me around +14. That was confirmed by real world shots. Major difference at 0 and +14. Not even thinking about a work around - it is off to Canon.

98

Software & Accessories / Re: Lightroom 4

« on: February 24, 2013, 10:44:53 AM »

What is your application? Photoshop was made for the designer, LR was made for the photographer. LR is an excellent catalogue based, non destructive software which today I could not live without for mass edits. It pretty much has everything you need under one roof. At times I will export an image to PS for advanced editing and after you save it it will open again in LR as a Tiff. There will be two images, the original and the tiff.

I too used DPP (for years) converted to Tiff and edited in PS which increased file storage. LR just remembers the edits and keeps them. I don't even save the exported Jpeg's anymore because if I need them I can just export them out of LR again.

You have elements so I'm not sure you can export into elements for advanced editing but you may not need to do that. I don't know what features PS have that elements does not which you'd miss. I hate LR's clone tool so for complex cloning I export to PS and that is probably one of the main reasons I export.

LR is a great tool but it lacks some things. You cannot run actions. I have several sharpening actions (I'm a sharpening geek) so for my hobby shots I use PS. For mass edits I use LR. You are a bit of a slave to LR's catalogue system. You have to be careful where you set up the catalogue and after import you must move folders/ files within LR. If you don't you will lose all the previous edits. It is not a big deal, you just have to be aware of it.

As for that sharpening thing. LR does a pretty good job. PS has the sharpening while you edit feature which I'm sure elements has. When finished with your edits you select export and a page opens which has all types of features. There is a sharpening dialogue box where you can select type of media - screen, gloss or matt paper and 3 levels of sharpening.

Like I said I have my own sharpening actions so I see the final product before saving using PS. Using LR you see the final product after you select save in the export page and then it is too late. If I don't like the sharpening using Photo shop I just go a step back. LR you have to export again. OK for 10 images but it just takes more time if you have 500.  You can do some tests to see what works for you.  I did that and now have presets in the export page for type of media, etc.

We have a local award winning photographer that works exclusively with LR. Best thing is to try the 30 day free trial and see for yourself. Just be very careful where you place your catalogue when you first open LR. Mine is on my external, back up hard drive. Take your time and don't rush through this.

Good luck.       

99

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: New MFA method

« on: February 24, 2013, 03:02:18 AM »

DotTune coming to Magic Lantern!	Small | Large

100

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: New MFA method

« on: February 21, 2013, 10:48:34 PM »

No because Dot Tune uses AF detect, others do not.

Repeat these steps after restarting your camera. It will give you different values.

This should apply to all MFA methods then.

So then what difference would it make using AF detect compared to other methods. Does the power only shut of to AF detect and not to other parts of my camera?

101

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: New MFA method

« on: February 21, 2013, 06:40:44 PM »

Repeat these steps after restarting your camera. It will give you different values.

This should apply to all MFA methods then. 

102

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D3 & 600ex-rt + AF assist beam = slower focus

« on: February 20, 2013, 01:19:54 PM »

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer?pageKeyCode=prdAdvDetail&docId=0901e024807f5f70

103

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Can we all send a complaint to Canon to fix the AF-Assist focusing on the 5D3?

« on: February 20, 2013, 01:18:22 PM »

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer?pageKeyCode=prdAdvDetail&docId=0901e024807f5f70

104

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: New MFA method

« on: February 20, 2013, 01:12:28 PM »

The photos with the 50mm 1.4 are significantly sharper now that i found its "sweet spot". I knew that the 50mm 1.4 wasn't the sharpest lens wide open and i thought this would be normal, but now the photos have a good sharpness even wide open.

That is good to hear. The author is getting some heat on this method here and I don't really know (and I have absolutely no interest) the technical aspects as to why or why not it would not work. All I need to know is that it works for me. I've been busy but I want to try it on one my suspect lenses with the new focus acquisition method.   

It is getting good reviews on other sites. Fred Miranda is a pretty respected photographer and he liked it.           

105

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: New MFA method

« on: February 20, 2013, 12:53:46 PM »

Just found out my 50mm 1.4 is -11 on my 5D Mark II.  The difference is mind-blowing. Thank you so much for this.

So there is a noticeable difference in your shots now or you just providing the values after testing with DotTune?