Messages

3121

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Is the blink rate fast enough for action work?

« on: October 18, 2012, 06:11:26 PM »

The "blinking" on mine is refocusing... each time it achieves focus it "blinks", which for AI Servo is all the time if you're moving at all... which is what it's supposed to do... I'm coming off of 2 1/2 years with 7Ds so this function turned off works for me... I might try it for night football but...

Not sure that's the whole story - it blinks when focusing with the lens cap on, and in that case it's clearly never achieving focus.

3122

EOS Bodies / Re: do crop sensors really add reach?

« on: October 18, 2012, 05:46:42 PM »

I've compared 5DII cropped to APS-C framing to 7D, and found the IQ to be a wash. With minimal processing, the 7D had more sharpness/detail, and the cropped 5DII had less noise.  Noise can be traded for sharpness, of course. The main difference is that the 7D is 18 MP while the cropped 5DII is 8 MP - fine for web and small prints, less desirable for large prints.

Still - I'd not recommend the 5DII for birds/wildlife due to the AF.  The 5DIII is a different story.

An APS-C sensor vs. FF is sometimes called a 'perfect teleconverter'. But that's theory - generic APS-C vs. generic FF.  I have directly compared my 7D with 100-400mm to my 1D X with a 1.4xIII behind the same lens, and at ISO 100, there's no real IQ difference, while at ISO 3200 the 1D X with TC is clearly better.

3123

Technical Support / Re: This Cant be Correct? Huge AFMA.

« on: October 18, 2012, 01:25:12 PM »

Just a question out of curiosity, the link the OP gave above talks about LensAlign MkII Focus Calibration System and SpyderLensCal Autofocus Calibration Aid by Datacolor. How does FoCal compare to these methods? I am asking because I may need to invest in one of these myself and prefer something that's quick and easy to use but of course something that will do a good job.

FoCal gives equivalent results to the LensAlign, but FoCal is much easier to use - I use and highly recommend it...

3124

Technical Support / Re: This Cant be Correct? Huge AFMA.

« on: October 18, 2012, 01:09:32 PM »

+15 is big, but within the adjustment capability of the camera, so you should be fine.  FWIW, with my 5DII I have a few lenses in the -9 to -13 range.

3125

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: *UPDATE* Canon EOS-1D X Firmware Update Addresses f/8 & Red AF Points in AI Servo

« on: October 18, 2012, 12:31:22 PM »

I beleive they left off the 400mm f/2.8L IS becuse that lens could already focus on the 1DX with the 2X extender prior to the firmware update, because it's max. aperture is only f/5.6.   

Except...they do list 300/2.8L IS, 300/2.8L IS II, and 400/2.8L IS, as well as a whole bunch of other f/2.8 primes and zooms, all of which could AF at f/5.6 with cross-type points prior to the v1.1.1 firmware.  They also list a bunch of f/2.8 and f/4 lenses on the 1.4x list, and on that list, the 400/2.8L IS II is included.  They just don't list the 400/2.8L IS II on the 2x list.

3126

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: *UPDATE* Canon EOS-1D X Firmware Update Addresses f/8 & Red AF Points in AI Servo

« on: October 18, 2012, 11:58:01 AM »

Good news. But, the Lens EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM isn't supported with EF 2x?

I'm missing the lens here: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/standard_display/EOS1DX_firmware

I'm sure they just left it off the special page...just like they put on a nonexistent lens (the 70-300L is f/4-5.6, not f/4.5-5.6), that isn't really compatible physically even ignoring the typo).

3127

Lenses / Re: Cheapish standard / short tele replacement / upgrade

« on: October 18, 2012, 11:27:59 AM »

You've got a 7D, so you have AFMA.  Given that, I'd go with the Sigma 30mm f/1.4.   

3128

Lenses / Re: Macro system-70-200 f2.8 L II IS USM + 2x extender + extension tubes ANYONE???

« on: October 18, 2012, 11:25:57 AM »

Let me just sum it up. If I wanted to take a photo of any subject is should be 19.6" from the lens and than I start to play with the zoom and aperture, right?

With the 500D, yes.  I've used the 70-200 II + 500D (but not with the 2x extender).  The bare lens + 500D gives results that are optically very similar to the 100L Macro, although the mag cannot go as high.

Here's one example from the 70-200 II + 500D, from a trip from China where bring one more lens just wasn't going to happen, so I brought the 500D instead of the 100L.


EOS 5D Mark II, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM @ 200mm with 500D close-up lens, 1/50 s, f/2.8, ISO 3200

3129

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Canon EOS-1D X Firmware Update Addresses f/8 & Red AF Points in AI Servo

« on: October 18, 2012, 11:17:15 AM »

The Mark III versions of Canon's TC's have marked improvement in the corners and edges. Distortion was the primary improvement (its not eliminated, but definitely less),  and corner reproduction and sharpness is visibly superior on both the 1.4x and 2x III's over the II's.

Good to know, thanks.  My 2xIII is down on the loading dock right now...I suppose I could wait for it to be brought up, but maybe I'll mosey on down there. 

3130

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS-1D X Firmware 1.1.1 Now Available

« on: October 18, 2012, 10:43:14 AM »

Thanks! Just upgraded...

Me, too.  I decided it's firmware update day, so I just did the 1D X, am about to do the 40/2.8 lens update, and my PowerShot S100 too.   

Is it possible to have the point blink and not the whole VF?

Not AFAIK.  The issue is that the AF point illumination works in a fundamentally different way than before.  FOcus screens with the AF points physically etched onto them could be more selectively illuminated, whereas the transmissive LCD overlay that allows the flexibility in the display also means the illlumination is spread across the surface of the LCD to some extent, which is why the whole VF appears to blink.

3131

Lenses / Re: Lens and filter options for landscape photography

« on: October 18, 2012, 10:34:39 AM »

Just push the Info button - that cycles you through different screen display options in all modes (Live View, VF shooting, and Image Playback).  You can get the electronic level on the main LCD in both Live View and VF shooting, as well as in the VF (using the AF points). I find it especially useful when shooting with lenses that have older tripod collars (the newer ones have detents at 90° increments, which is very useful).

3132

Lenses / Re: Lens and filter options for landscape photography

« on: October 18, 2012, 10:17:52 AM »

Already have plenty of leveling bubbles: Two on the D4 head, one on the leveling base and one on the tripod. 

The problem there is that the spot bubble levels on the leveling base and on the tripod head don't help if you switch to portrait orientation for a shot (unless you're using an L-bracket).  That's where a level on the camera itself is an advantage.  But like I said, your 5DIII has one built in, so you're covered.  It can even be superimposed on the scene when shooting in live view.

3133

EOS Bodies / Re: Red AF in AI-Servo fixed in 1D-X before 5D Mk III

« on: October 18, 2012, 10:13:36 AM »

Even the best photographers take bad pictures from time to time. If you know for a fact that you want to delete picture 111 from CF1, then it should be deleted from CF2 as well. Otherwise you end up with files that you do not need or want. Those files take up space on your back up HDs and while one or two may not make a difference, they will soon begin to add up. Plus, it is a question of time. If you know for a fact that picture 111 is a throw then, it saves you time to make that decision just once, and on the camera.

At the end of the day it is a flasghip camera so it should be customisable, so I do agree that when they do implement this "fix" they allow users to choose how the delete works.

Oh, I delete plenty of images.    My point is that for my workflow, not deleting the image from CF2 at the same time has no negative impact (because I don't transfer images from that card normally, it's only in case CF1 fails), and might have a positive impact if I accidentally delete an image I shouldn't have deleted, it's still there on CF2.

But I absolutely agree that it should be customizable - that way, everyone gets what they want.  I am just expressing a hope that Canon doesn't apply an irreversible fix for a problem I don't currently have, and thereby create a potential problem for me.

3134

EOS Bodies / Re: Red AF in AI-Servo fixed in 1D-X before 5D Mk III

« on: October 18, 2012, 08:50:54 AM »

...the fact it does not sync the data on the two cards...

Personally, I'd rather it didn't.  I can see the logic of syncing when shooting RAW to one card and JPG to the other, which I suppose many 5DIII users may do because writing RAW to the SD card is a speed bottleneck.  But on the 1D X, with dual CF, I write RAW to both cards - slot 2 is a backup, and just stays in the camera until the images transferred from card 1 are processed and backed up in multiple locations.  Much like the two-step delete on most computer OS's (nove to trash, empty trash), having 'deleted' files on a backup card may be useful at some point, and simply copying them off card 2 is easier than file recovery from card 1.

But that's me.  I hope that if Canon does implement this 'fix' they make it a controllable behavior.

3135

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Thoughts on the New EOS-1D X Firmware 1.1.1

« on: October 18, 2012, 08:41:23 AM »

I'll ask in this thread also (until someone can tell me)

If I upgrade and don't like the blinking, can I set my af to behave exactly like I can with the 1.0.6?

Yes.  Just turn it off.