811
Lenses / Re: Canon EF 50mm f1.4
« on: April 19, 2012, 09:43:40 PM »
Either way it sounds like a bargain to me!
Paul Wright
Paul Wright
May 22, 2013, 03:13:48 AM
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812
Software & Accessories / Re: 5D Mark III - Sandisk or Lexar CF Cards
« on: April 19, 2012, 07:00:02 AM »Anyone have any experience with the Sandisk "SanDisk ImageMate All-in-One USB 3.0 Reader / Writer" mentioned above or could you recommend one that has similar features?
More Lexar vs Sandisk here... My first USB-3 reader was Lexar and it was as unstable as hell on my system. Half the time it would not "show" as a drive unless you unplugged it and plugged it back in again. Often it returned reads at below USB-2 speeds. What a piece of garbage. It works OK as a USB-2 reader and now lives in my laptop bag.
Last week I bought the Sandisk. http://www.sandisk.com/products/readers-accessories/imagemate-all-in-one-usb-30-reader
Thankfully that vulgar "look at me" stand detaches easily (magnetic). It's very compact and so far there have been no connectivity issues. Speed is around the same as the Lexar when it worked. But to be honest, I see the major flaw in the design comes from Sandisk's desire to keep the reader very compact. The insert depth from the front of the reader to the gold pins is the shallowest I have ever seen. CF cards can be fiddly to align and it's disturbingly easy to bend the pins in the reader. I've straightened mine twice in the fortnight I've had it. More depth in the "mouth" helps steer the card accurately for a clean docking.
Frankly I'd look further than Lexar or Sandisk for a new USB-3 reader.
Paul Wright
813
Software & Accessories / Re: 5D Mark III - Sandisk or Lexar CF Cards
« on: April 19, 2012, 06:42:26 AM »
Over the years, anecdotally Lexar products have presented more problems and glitches than Sandisk. Having dipped into Transcend, Lexar and the very good Ridata, Sandisk is the card that has been consistently 100% stable in my experience, all the way from the 64Mb & huge 128Mb cards of a decade ago through to the 32Gb Sandisk Extreme cards that have become my current standard card.
Cards are something you never want to have to have the slightest concern about. Sandisk has the most stable reputation. I've even washed and tumble dried them in jeans pockets and they have just come back cleaner.
Paul Wright
Cards are something you never want to have to have the slightest concern about. Sandisk has the most stable reputation. I've even washed and tumble dried them in jeans pockets and they have just come back cleaner.
Paul Wright
814
Lenses / Re: Does anyone use the lens hood on their 35/1.4L? Or any other lens?
« on: April 18, 2012, 07:14:24 PM »Always always always use a lens hood. No excuses.
Yes, what Preston said. Always, always & always.
If for absolutely no other reason the hood offers your lens about the best protection you can offer it in the form of a shock absorbing buffer that may save your lens in tthe unlikely case of a drop or a far more likely hard bump when you have your body/lens on your shoulder and the rig swings into an immovable object. If you shoot a lot, particularly when shooting with multiple bodies and you're very focused on your work on you'll quickly find this happens a LOT.
Always, always always....
Paul Wright
815
Lenses / Re: 16-35mm or 17-40mm owners--what filters do you use with your lens?
« on: April 18, 2012, 07:08:12 PM »
The money you spend on a grad ND may be better spent on getting Lightroom with it's endlessly useful Gradient tool. I use this all the time to put richness back into skies or darken up an over-bright foreground in a "flash-on-camera" shot.
Paul Wright
Paul Wright
816
Lenses / Re: How is the 24-105 vs. the old 28-135?
« on: April 18, 2012, 07:03:43 PM »
Absolutely a different class of lens...it's the L 24-105 all the way. The 28-135 is a useful budget lens that may deliver satisfactory results on a film body or an APS-C body. I had a 28-135 when I bought my then new FF 1Ds. The FF sensor absolutely punished the lens and was quickly sent off to eBay.
By comparison the 24-105 truly earns it's L stripes...most copies deliver better IQ than the much pricier though flawed 24-70 f/2.8.
It's an easy choice.
Paul Wright
By comparison the 24-105 truly earns it's L stripes...most copies deliver better IQ than the much pricier though flawed 24-70 f/2.8.
It's an easy choice.
Paul Wright
817
Lighting / Re: Wireless flash setup. Need advice!
« on: April 18, 2012, 06:11:12 AM »
As you already have Alien Bees, check out the Paul C Buff system.
http://www.paulcbuff.com/index.php
http://www.paulcbuff.com/cybersync.php
I use 4 PCB Einsteins which I control remotely with Cyber Commander and Cyber Sync hardware. The Cyber Commander gives full control over PCB lights, and a degree of control over non-PCB lights, including speedlights. The CC can control up to 16 lights. If you end up expanding on your Alien Bees and pick up a couple of Einsteins, you'll be a happy camper. They're brilliant... and about the price of a pre-owned 580exII. Amazing.
I'm not sure if the 430ex or 580ex have external plugs to accept the likes of radio receivers but the 580exII does. Someone may correct me on this.
Paul Wright
http://www.paulcbuff.com/index.php
http://www.paulcbuff.com/cybersync.php
I use 4 PCB Einsteins which I control remotely with Cyber Commander and Cyber Sync hardware. The Cyber Commander gives full control over PCB lights, and a degree of control over non-PCB lights, including speedlights. The CC can control up to 16 lights. If you end up expanding on your Alien Bees and pick up a couple of Einsteins, you'll be a happy camper. They're brilliant... and about the price of a pre-owned 580exII. Amazing.
I'm not sure if the 430ex or 580ex have external plugs to accept the likes of radio receivers but the 580exII does. Someone may correct me on this.
Paul Wright
818
Lenses / Re: 28-70mm 2.8L
« on: April 17, 2012, 06:42:27 AM »
My 28-70 f/2.8 was kind of OK on the old EOS-1n film body but was punished by the then massive sensor of the original 11.4 megapixel 1Ds of 2003. Since the update to the 24-70 f/2.8 there has been a marginal improvement but the 3 copies I've had have all been a great disappointment. There are good copies around which a few lucky photographers have, but my experience is all too common. There have been a million threads over the years discussing the feeble quality of most 24-70 f/2.8 zooms. If you have a good one treat it well!
Until the 24-70 f/2.8 MkII ships I'm getting very completely satisfying results with a pre-owned 24-105 f/4is. Definitely look at this lens ahead of an ancient 28-70 f/2.8. Most of them were dogs from an era when Canon and the rest were still learning their way around L quality zooms. Recall the dreadful 17-35mm f/2.8L of 1996. Errgh!
HTH,
Paul Wright
Until the 24-70 f/2.8 MkII ships I'm getting very completely satisfying results with a pre-owned 24-105 f/4is. Definitely look at this lens ahead of an ancient 28-70 f/2.8. Most of them were dogs from an era when Canon and the rest were still learning their way around L quality zooms. Recall the dreadful 17-35mm f/2.8L of 1996. Errgh!
HTH,
Paul Wright
819
EOS Bodies / Re: According to Ken Rockwell, you guys are NOT PHOTOGRAPHERS!
« on: April 16, 2012, 08:55:41 PM »
OMG are you guys still banging on about Ken Rockwell?
Get a life and leave him to his.
This is schoolyard standard.
Mods can you step in here?
Paul Wright
Get a life and leave him to his.
This is schoolyard standard.
Mods can you step in here?
Paul Wright
820
Technical Support / Re: What impacts does a metal L lens take without any iq degradation?
« on: April 16, 2012, 08:44:56 PM »This entirely depends on the direction and location of the shock. The G-force sine wave, and other factors. You might drop your lens from .5" and have it totally messed up, or it might fall off a table and be just fine...
Everyone has their "drop" stories, some miraculous, some tragic. I had a 70-200 f/2.8is on a 1Dmk3 body drop from waist height onto soft carpet. The body was a write-off and the lens was repaired twice but never the same and had to be replaced. Grrr...
Generally most gear is pretty tough within obvious reasonable limits. The best protection after good common sense is the lens hood, followed closely by the screw-on filter. Time and time again these two items have taken a knock and left me with a smashed filter, a bent or gouged hood but an undamaged lens.
Paul Wright
821
Lenses / Re: 300/2.8 L (IS MK1) or 400/2.8 L (non-IS)
« on: April 16, 2012, 04:00:58 PM »
If you're shooting sports f/2.8 is a must. Pure & simple. You need to keep your shutter speed as high as practical. And a f/2.8 lens does focus faster... a must with sports if you want consistent results. Unless you have muscles like Mr Universe you'll need the monopod for anything longer than a couple of minutes work.
You have not mentioned the body you are working with. Plenty of photographers including myself who use the f/2.8 300 on a Mk4 with the x1.3 crop are effectively shooting at 390mm. When we transition to the FF 1DX we'll lose that reach and a 400 f/2.8 will become a required purchase.
If you shoot APS-C with x1.6 crop you'll find the 300 f/2.8 a very satisfying useful lens for sports. For birds with a 1.4 extender you'll have an f/4 420mm on FF, and a healthy 672mm f/4 on an APS-C like the 7D.
Because of the likely transition from 300 f/2.8 to 400 f/2.8 by a good number of sports shooters there MAY be more 300 f/2.8 glass coming available second hand as the 1DX reaches the market. This may also put upward pressure on pre-owned 400 f/2.8 lenses as people like me with 1DX bodies on pre-order look around for low cost entry to a good 400.
Optically and performance wise either lens is a stellar performer with the capacity to continue to surprise with its very rapid AF and unique image qualities.
Paul Wright
You have not mentioned the body you are working with. Plenty of photographers including myself who use the f/2.8 300 on a Mk4 with the x1.3 crop are effectively shooting at 390mm. When we transition to the FF 1DX we'll lose that reach and a 400 f/2.8 will become a required purchase.
If you shoot APS-C with x1.6 crop you'll find the 300 f/2.8 a very satisfying useful lens for sports. For birds with a 1.4 extender you'll have an f/4 420mm on FF, and a healthy 672mm f/4 on an APS-C like the 7D.
Because of the likely transition from 300 f/2.8 to 400 f/2.8 by a good number of sports shooters there MAY be more 300 f/2.8 glass coming available second hand as the 1DX reaches the market. This may also put upward pressure on pre-owned 400 f/2.8 lenses as people like me with 1DX bodies on pre-order look around for low cost entry to a good 400.
Optically and performance wise either lens is a stellar performer with the capacity to continue to surprise with its very rapid AF and unique image qualities.
Paul Wright
822
Software & Accessories / Re: Best resource to learn Lightroom
« on: April 15, 2012, 05:26:19 AM »
One of the most comprehensive LR tutorials is from Michael Reichmann & Jeff Schewe over at Luminous Landscape. This covers EVERYTHING.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/videos/lr4_combo.shtml
Paul Wright
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/videos/lr4_combo.shtml
Paul Wright
823
Software & Accessories / Re: Software
« on: April 14, 2012, 04:12:54 AM »
Forum rules say no selling...
http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=1442.0
Check out Craigslist as a highly viable alternative.
Paul Wright
http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=1442.0
Check out Craigslist as a highly viable alternative.
Paul Wright
824
Lenses / Re: Which 70-200?
« on: April 14, 2012, 04:02:39 AM »
I'd go for the MkII straight away. It's funny how the world works. I've found time and time again if I back myself in a capex purchase for the business, my income increases. That's why I buy 1 series bodies, buy the best L glass available and drive new cars. Sounds weird but it works.
With a 70-200 f/2.8isII in your kit straight away you'll probably take better wedding images. That usually means more business. You have only got to pick up ONE extra wedding and you've more than covered the upgrade cost of your lens. In the meantime you have an extra 12 months using a lens you always wanted and will inevitably love.
Paul Wright
With a 70-200 f/2.8isII in your kit straight away you'll probably take better wedding images. That usually means more business. You have only got to pick up ONE extra wedding and you've more than covered the upgrade cost of your lens. In the meantime you have an extra 12 months using a lens you always wanted and will inevitably love.
Paul Wright
825
Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: 600ex-RT...valid reasons to upgrade?
« on: April 14, 2012, 12:05:13 AM »
OK! Any discernible improvement in exposure control with the new flash?
Paul Wright
Paul Wright