Messages

76

United States / Re: picking out lens

« on: July 09, 2011, 03:32:45 PM »

With that budget, I'd go for the EF-S 60mm Macro, the EF-S 10-22mm for wide landscapes, and the 70-200mm f/4 IS for the sports and telephoto landscapes.  I've used that lens for several equestrian events and it is perfect for them.  You could also ditch the EF-S 60mm and buy an extension tube to use with the 70-200mm to give it a closer minimum focusing distance. 

77

Software & Accessories / Re: Graduated Neutral Density

« on: July 07, 2011, 10:45:23 PM »

I definitely understand what you're saying with loss of detail.  I'm wondering if I just haven't used the L3 feature enough, since I've never lost enough detail to really notice, but then again, we're essentially talking about one to three stops of light.  I don't have my filters anymore to do a side by side comparison.  Would someone mind posting a pair of images, one with the grad nd and one with post-processing?

78

Software & Accessories / Graduated Neutral Density

« on: July 07, 2011, 09:21:31 PM »

So I made a claim in a recent post that Lightroom 3's capabilities essentially negate the need for carrying a graduated neutral density filter.  Perhaps a premature assertion.  I'd be curious to hear from the forum on the matter and I'd rather avoid the 'purist' argument (though I do respect it).  I'm interested more in whether landscape photographers and the like have found the graduated neutral density feature on Lightroom as technically effective as I have.

79

Lenses / Re: Where to from here?

« on: July 07, 2011, 09:14:19 PM »

Just FYI, the Tiffen filters are going to cause vignetting on the 10-22mm at the 10mm focal length. 

80

Lenses / Re: List of rumored lenses

« on: July 07, 2011, 09:12:18 PM »

EF 10-200mm f/2.8L Macro.  IT'S COMING.

81

Lenses / Re: EF Lens Adaptor for iPhone 3 & 4!

« on: July 07, 2011, 09:11:29 PM »

For that price you could buy a used 20D and take some excellent pictures.  It's not like the iPhone makes it more convenient.  Who just carries a lens with them?

82

Lenses / Re: EF Lens Adaptor for iPhone 3 & 4!

« on: July 07, 2011, 08:36:34 PM »

I...don't know what to say.   WHAT?

83

Software & Accessories / Re: Need Backpack recommendations

« on: July 07, 2011, 07:52:42 PM »

I've tried a few, too, and my favorite is the Lowepro Flipside 400.  I've worn it in the Appalachians, Alps, and around various cities.  It is RIDICULOUSLY comfortable and will hold everything you're looking for.

84

Software & Accessories / Re: Filters - Screw on or not ?

« on: July 07, 2011, 07:46:58 PM »

I'm going to get kicked to the curb for saying this, but in my opinion graduated neutral density filters are done.  I had a nice set and sold them along with things like the enhancing filter.  Lightroom Tres does the work for you in post-processing without degrading your image with another piece of glass to filter light through.  For polarizers and ND, the two filters I still can't do without, I stick with B+W.  The quality is unbeatable and they will last forever.  The filters are very thin for screw-on, and won't cause any vignetting on the 15-85mm.  NDs are available in a very wide range.  Plus, they come in a plastic box.  Who doesn't love plastic boxes??

85

Lenses / Re: New lens or body?

« on: July 07, 2011, 07:40:43 PM »

You just cannot go wrong with the 17-40mm.  While slower and a little less range than the 17-55, it will make the jump with you when/if you go to full frame and you will not be disappointed.  That said, what about looking at some fast primes?  For about the cost of the 17-40, you could pick up a 35mm f/2 and a 50mm f/1.4.  I would think about what you think is technically limiting your creativity at this point and buy to compensate.  If your 18-55 lives on the camera but you just aren't happy with the results, buy a mid-range zoom.  If none of your lenses function well enough in low light, fast primes. 

86

Lenses / Re: EF 20 mm f.2,8

« on: July 05, 2011, 02:38:07 PM »

There is nothing wrong with the 20/2.8:

Love it.

87

EOS Bodies / Re: End of the APS-H sized CMOS?

« on: July 05, 2011, 01:43:13 PM »

Good riddance.  The 1.3x has little use once a full-frame high fps camera is released.  Anyone who can't afford the lenses will go to the 7D with a grip, a solid camera for sports.  The 1D has always been confused as to whether it was a studio camera or a sports camera, though granted it does both VERY well.  It's time to move on.  I would also surmise that the next 1Ds or equivalent will have a crop mode. 

88

EOS Bodies / Re: August Nikon D4, D400... how and when will Canon respond?

« on: July 05, 2011, 01:39:49 PM »

Who cares?  Canon is still pulling the majority share in the SLR market.  There is no rush for them to come out with a product to "compete" with Nikon.  Nikon is competing with Canon, not the other way around.  It will likely not be that way for long, as Nikon has been aggressively pushing their R&D for new models, but Canon has time now, especially in this economy, to milk their existing technologies.  From a corporate perspective, this allows Canon to maximize profits while minimizing expenditures.  I'd expect to see modest steps forward in the coming year. 

89

EOS Bodies / Re: Will Canon Withdraw from the Megapixel War?

« on: July 05, 2011, 01:36:50 PM »

It's not really a megapixel war as much as it is an effort to push sensor technology to the limit.  Canon has no competition; they've just been pushing forward on their own to design sensors that reach up the upper limits of what a traditional SLR lens can resolve.  Keep in mind that recent Canon cameras have offered the sRAW format for those who are file size conscious.  In the next few years, I would anticipate Canon focusing more on issues you mention, such as dynamic range.  For all the whining about Canon's lack of ingenuity, they have set the bar for resolution and can only improve from there.  If Canon is designing a new small sensor for a mirrorless, I'd expect to see some of the gifts of that R&D showing up in the D!GIC 5 and 6 processors. 

90

EOS Bodies / Re: Which Canon 60D Kit Lens? (Plus 550D)

« on: July 05, 2011, 01:31:39 PM »

I agree on getting the basic kit lens and then branching out with older inexpensive primes.  If you're taking the time to set up the shots, you'll use them more than the zoom anyway.  If you only want one lens that does it all, I'd do the 15-85mm.  If it's out of your budget, go with the 17-85mm.  The 18-135mm is a stronger lens than the latter optically, but lacks the quiet autofocus (though the focus is still fast and the manuel focus works just fine).