Messages

61

Software & Accessories / Re: What’s up with Lightroom Magazine?

« on: April 06, 2013, 02:53:57 AM »

Plenty of other high quality LR related sites:

http://mulita.com/blog/ George Jardine on Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Digital Photography
http://www.lightroomqueen.com/ Victoria Bampton, Lightroom Queen
http://lightroomkillertips.com/ Adobe Lightroom Killer Tips
http://www.jkost.com/lightroom.html  Julieanne Kost tutorials
http://layersmagazine.com/category/lightroom Lightroom Tutorials & News
http://inside-lightroom.com/ Lightroom news etc

This lot should give you plenty of highly relevant reading matter.

-PW

62

Lenses / Re: Migration from zooms to primes...your suggestions?

« on: April 04, 2013, 02:10:18 AM »

My question has to do with my desire to gradually convert my lenses from zooms to primes and more importantly, which primes should I plan to purchase?
My current zooms are:

• 16-35mm f/2.8L II
• 24-70mm f/2.8L
• 70-200mm f/2.8L

Why change? Get a grip. Stay with zooms would be my advice. I can understand if the older model 24-70 f/2.8 has left you feeling somewhat underwhelmed, but consider updating to the astounding new 24-70 f/2.8II. Plenty of photographers, myself included are selling off their primes in this zoom range because the new zoom outperforms those primes...the amazing 24 f/1.4II included. You don't have to dig too deep to discover that the 70-200 f/2.8isII is probably the finest zoom on the planet.

These lenses along with your 16-35 f/2.8II are what are sometimes extravagantly described as the Holy Trinity of zooms. You'll have a compact bag, a lighter bag and an ultimately more flexible kit than a collection of primes. Primes are fine, but I believe somewhat over-rated. They're not some kind of Holy Grail that will transport your images into some ethereal plane. 

-PW

63

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: straps

« on: April 03, 2013, 07:12:03 AM »

FWIW, I also use a Spider Holster.  I liked the idea, but avoided them because of a lack of compatibility with Arca plates (would have needed to remove the QR plate and install the Spider plate.  But then they came out with an Arca clamp.  The system works quite well, and with Arca-compatible clamps on the BR straps and for the Spider Holster, I can switch as needed.

I'm another long term user of the Spider Holster system. I use their twin holster belt.  For sports I have three bodies, the 300 f/2.8 on a monopod, the 70-200 f/2.8isII on the belt plus the third body with a suitable wide also on the belt. I can run with this setup. For events it's two bodies on the belt, with 70-200 on one side & 24-70 on the other.

Unique, remarkably clever piece of design/hardware.

-PW 

64

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Nik Collection Bundle for $126.65

« on: April 01, 2013, 08:17:00 PM »

It's still April 2 where I live. The $149 offer is still up but the coupon codes "stuckincustoms" and "northlight" are being rejected. Is there another coupon code?

-PW

Just answered my own question..."hdrsoftware15" is still active.

-PW

65

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Nik Collection Bundle for $126.65

« on: April 01, 2013, 08:05:25 PM »

It's still April 2 where I live. The $149 offer is still up but the coupon codes "stuckincustoms" and "northlight" are being rejected. Is there another coupon code?

-PW

66

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 7D L Announced, Shipping in May

« on: April 01, 2013, 05:22:40 PM »

Really? We're all 12 years old now? *sigh*

Okay, just because it's a joke, doesn't mean we can slack off people:
I'm switching to Nikon.

Awwww...lighten up!! 
On a ridiculously serious planet, April 1 fun helps make the world a better place.
I love it. And I'm not even a lefty.

-PW

67

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Does Canon really have a Flagship Stills Camera?

« on: March 31, 2013, 01:02:17 AM »

So, I throw this question out there.  Does Canon make a body that is just flat out great? 

Errrm...the 1DX. Have you used one?

-PW

68

Software & Accessories / Re: CF card health

« on: March 31, 2013, 12:57:01 AM »

PWP's advice is thoughtful, but definitely overkill....

Yes I alluded to the fact that it was probably half mumbo-jumbo. Hah! These harmless habits were established at the dawn of time and hey, none of them are time wasters. But I'm sure you're right, what was good practice at the turn of the Millennium may have been overtaken by OS smarts. That's a good thing.

-PW

69

Software & Accessories / Re: CF card health

« on: March 30, 2013, 08:30:03 PM »

Lucky me, never lost a card in 13 years of heavy daily use. However, I do follow a few rules.

1. I always format in the camera I'm going to use it in.
2. I never delete images off the card "in camera"
3. I never expose the cards to strong fields...meaning I don't put used cards in a pocket with a phone.
4. I replace the cards after 18-24 months.
    This may be overkill but my career and professional reputation didn't come cheap. Cards are cheap.
5. I don't drop the cards.
6. I never use the cards in different devices. Canon EOS cameras only.
7. Download the images with a card reader, then extract it. Left in the computer it will continuously access the directory, checking the byte order, to see if there are any changes etc. This action is identical to a write cycle so the life of your card may be reduced.
8. Don’t work on the image while it’s still on the card. You could possibly reduce the life expectancy of the card just by doing that with a single image.
9. Some say it's good practice not to fill a card completely. I've never really worried about it. But it's true for a DVD burn or pushing HDD capacity to the limit.

Half of this might well be pointless mumbo-jumbo, but which half? Who knows...it's worked for me.

-PW

70

Lenses / Re: canon 24L 1.4 ii lemon

« on: March 29, 2013, 08:01:49 AM »

You've got a fizzer. They're rare but they happen. You probably did your research, it's no surprise that most photographers who have this lens regard it as one of the finest lenses they have ever owned. You know not all 24 f/1.4II lenses are not like yours.

If it's doing what you describe, you should have taken it back straight away. Your seller may have a 7 day DOA policy. However if it should be a simple matter to change it over. It's Easter now, so send them an email (which is dated) immediately with a technical description and examples that describe the fault. As soon as they reopen after Easter, call, make an appointment and do what needed to done within 24 hours from when you bought it.

As an aside, have you tried the lens on more than one body? There's a chance you are wildly out with your AFMA adjustments, or your AFMA technique is giving false data. When in doubt, zero everything and start again.

Good luck with it.

-PW

71

EOS Bodies / Re: What is missing from the 7DII specs

« on: March 29, 2013, 12:21:55 AM »

Is this the 7DII? I doubt it. Relax. The good stuff is coming....

-PW

72

Lenses / Re: 24-70 f2.8L II or.....

« on: March 29, 2013, 12:17:35 AM »

It only took one hour into a 48 hour test drive (courtesy CPS) of the new 24-70 f/2.8II and I was 110% convinced. This is an extraordinary lens. It's a game changer.

After five original 24-70 f/2.8 lenses which were all shockers, this lens is in another galaxy altogether. I thought my old 24-105 would be a keeper, only for the extra reach which is handy for some event work plus I wouldn't get much $$ for it anyway. But it's been unused since the 24-70 f/2.8II landed so I'll probably sell it.

My 24 f/1.4II will be up for sale soon...it's just not necessary any more. My Sigma 50 f/1.4 is gone...unnecessary too. I'll only be using my 16-35 f/2.8II up to 24mm. Am I getting through? The new lens is awesome.

If the budget is there, without question get the new 24-70. As a bonus it will future proof your system to some extent. If you update in a couple of years to the inevitable 40-50+ mp bodies, you'll be glad to own a lens that the new monster sensors won't punish.

-PW

73

Lighting / Re: Phottix Odins, monolights, and HSS

« on: March 27, 2013, 08:35:40 PM »

I recall reading somewhere (maybe here!) that Yongnuo YN622C http://flashhavoc.com/yn622c_review/ will deliver HSS for Einsteins.
I'm hoping so as I have six Einsteins and searching for an HSS solution.
That's unfortunate that the Odins deliver for Elincrom but not Einstein...sigh...

Has anyone hooked up their Einsteins to Yongnuo YN622C's?

-PW

74

Lenses / Re: Lens serial codes

« on: March 27, 2013, 08:26:06 PM »

FYI
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Canon-Lens-Aging.aspx

-PW

75

Lenses / Re: 50mm: Wich one?

« on: March 27, 2013, 08:24:40 PM »

I second the notion that sigma update the 50mm 1.4 to join the art line

I third that, hoping it would happen if enough people kept saying it    Dare I even wish for f/1.2?

1.0, like the 50L from the days of yore? 

F/1 as the EF 50 replacement? Sure...and will you relish the weight and price penalty? Make it an f/2 but get the optics perfect and the weight realistic and the pricepoint somewhere where volume sales would happen. But the L 50? Now that might be a viable candidate for heavyweight, high priced f/1 goodness...

-PW