Messages

76

EOS Bodies / Revolutionary digital camera?

« on: September 12, 2012, 02:44:19 PM »

Here's one for you photo geeks.  How about a simplified digital body that would accept native FD lenses.  Sort of
a digital AE1 - no autofocus, no video, no frills, just a base camera that is completely controlled by the user. 
Should be priced at or below the price of the cheapest Rebel (T3 is currently about $500).  Would appeal to
"basics" crowd, owners of legacy lenses, excellent intro to photography tool for education users, and possibly
others.  Oh yea, need not weigh a whole lot more than a mirrorless with eos lens.

77

Third Party Manufacturers / Photo vendors in five years?

« on: September 12, 2012, 02:38:12 PM »

As I look out and try to figure out what's going on in the photo market, I'd predict several things coming down
the road.  Canon has everything to lose, as the current market leader covering nearly all the bases, any shift
in market share has to effect them the most.  They do have a significant advantage however, vertical integration.
In that sense I would predict the leading brands in five years will be Canon, Fuji, Panasonic (probably buying
sickly Olympus) Samsung.  Nikon and Leica are too dependent on chip vendors, Sony couldn't market most of
their stuff no matter how good.  Pentax/Ricoh has a chance, if they can get their combined act togather.
The point and shoot market will be decreasing in market share due to better smart phone camera integration,
and that will hurt Canon and Nikon most at the benefit of Apple and Samsung.   Video capabilities will improve
to the point that dedicated video cameras are redundant - and that will hurt Canon, Panasonic and Sony.
Better ISO performance may decrease the need for fast, and expensive, lenses and optical manufacturing techniques will improve so that high quality lenses can be made in volume - hurting Leica, Nikon and Canon.
Prices will continue to escalate and digital imaging software will continue to improve around the margins to
provide excellent images but without the "feel" of darkroom processing.  All told, an exciting time to be interested in photography.

78

Lenses / Re: lens recommendations for a vacation

« on: September 10, 2012, 07:02:14 PM »

I've learned to travel light and that no matter which lens I needed it was never on the camera.  Therefore I now
have a standard travel pack - body with a cushioned strap, two battery packs (no grip - too big, too heavy) charger, 35mm and 85mm lenses.  One on the camera, the other in my jacket pocket. Aside from not being
exhausted carrying gear I never use, it also forces me to compose mentally and consider the effects.  I feel I
get better images, and as a charter member of the zoom lenses encourage sloppiness brigade, I satisfied with
the ones I get.

79

Lenses / Re: How to complete my lens lineup? Help!

« on: September 03, 2012, 04:21:28 PM »

Buy the 2.0 teleconverter for the70-200.  ($450) Then add a 35mm f2.0 (~$450), the 85mm f1.8 (~400)
a Domke F2 bag ($125), add 100 for filters and save the rest of the money for a chiropractor.

80

Canon General / Re: Large Prints

« on: August 20, 2012, 03:06:42 PM »

There are several packages on the market as photoshop add-ins that do an excellent job of resampling.
My favorite is Genuine fractals- developed at Pasadena's space lab to enhance data streams from satellites
)think photos from mars) and later made commercially available.  Extensis and Corel both had similar programs
and each was about 100-150 bucks.  I've used them to take low res web files (like gif logos) to put in business
show displays at about 3 feet square with excellent results.  Routinely take 8 -10 meg digital camera files to
print at 24X36 or 30X40 sizes with excellent results.  Photoshop's getting better at resampling, but these programs specialize in it and do an excellent job.

81

Lenses / Re: 85mm f/1.2 ii or 135mm f/2

« on: August 14, 2012, 03:17:57 PM »

I'd take the money and buy the 135 f2.0 - and then use what's left over for the 85mm f1.8.  Both are incredibly
sharp and have their own uses.  While I covet the 85mm f1.2, the 400% price difference is just too much for me
for a couple of stops. 

82

Lenses / Re: If you can have ONLY 3 lenses, what would they...???

« on: August 14, 2012, 03:15:02 PM »

Easy - 24mm f1.4, 50mm f1.4, 70-200 f4 is

83

Lenses / Re: upgrading to full frame + seeking suggestions on what to replace 60mm macro with

« on: August 13, 2012, 02:30:45 PM »

Given your parameters - used to a crop 60, budget restraints, etc. - the 100mm f2.8 macro - the version without the IS and the extra
$400 premium - would more than suffice for your requirement. 

84

Canon General / Re: "Time for a Change at Canon?" -Barons

« on: July 28, 2012, 06:01:22 PM »

"What's mediocre about it?"
Almost everything! 

 "A higher pixel count and larger sensor than most of its competitors?"
Don't confuse pixel count with pixel density. 

"Access to an established and widely varying system of lenses?"
Which via the same adapter route work with almost every other camera in this segment.

Personally, I think Canon would have been better served to put a EOS mount adapter on the G1X,
not withstanding the modifications that would have had to be made to the viewfinder.  Perhaps, over
time the M series of lenses will mature, the body will gain a viewfinder, and all will be right in "purse candy"
land.

85

Canon General / Re: Suggestsions for nooby photographer's first DSLR

« on: July 27, 2012, 01:44:35 PM »

For a first DSLR I would buy the Canon T3 and spend the rest of the budget on lenses.  Reasoning is that a T3 with the 18-55 kit lens can be found for less than $500.  For another $200 (less if you find the rebate bargains) you can add the 55-250 or the 70-300.  Add $125 for the 50mm f1.8 and you still have $350 for "accessories"
like a bag, a flash, several filters or pocket change.  What you end up with is an extremely serviceable kit that doesn't break the bank and will allow you to experiment to your heart's content.  Some would argue that SLRs
only come into favor above 135mm.   If you really want to learn photography with an slr, I'll give you an alternative way to spend your money - buy the T3 body only (~$400) and buy two lenses - my personal choices would be the 35mm f2.0 and the 85mm f1.8 each around $400.  The 35mm is an excellent "street" lens and both are significantly "faster" than the kit lens.  Each will challenge you to "see" photographs and will provide you
with excellent files.  Good luck

86

Canon General / Re: "Time for a Change at Canon?" -Barons

« on: July 27, 2012, 01:33:35 PM »

Canon is suffering from the inertia of a large corporate environment - delicately balancing new products and innovation with protecting it's product install base.  Incremental improvement with minimum risk is the rule, and
maintaining or slightly improving overall company financials is the goal.  They are suffering increased competition
from Brother and Samsung in the small laser printer markets, from Nikon is the DSLR arena, from Apple's Iphone in the point and shoot market, Xerox in high volume copiers and others who have a desire and incentive to knock the "king off the throne."  I wouldn't look for any breakthrough products - look at the mediocre mirrorless offering as an example - but maybe some pricing actions since financial stability is a Canon strength. 

87

EOS Bodies / Re: Should/can Canon keep making its own sensors?

« on: July 20, 2012, 01:35:38 PM »

It depends on whether or not they want to stay in the camera business.  I will predict that within ten years time
the largest camera manufacturers will be Panasonic, Fuji, Samsung, Canon and Sony - mainly because they make
their own sensors and can control the manufacturing and delivery of improvements.  Companies that use OEM
chips, fabricators or modified "custom" chips from the above will always be behind the eight ball.  Look at the
dilemma that Leica faces since Kodak gave up the chip business. 

88

EOS Bodies / Re: Mark III price dropping

« on: July 20, 2012, 01:30:32 PM »

Doesn't matter where you buy, it's still an inventory unit produced by Canon.  They get their markup from the
initial sale to a distributor, to a dealer or direct channel (where they get the dealer's share also).  The pricing
on the 5DMkIII is Canon's call - but a Nikon 800 at $2999 is appealing to a number of current Canon  users.
As Canon releases more MarkII lenses with a 100% price increase from the "older" models - buying all new
lenses for an 800 is not as terrifying as it once was (and still is!),

89

EOS Bodies / Re: first pic of canon mirrorless?

« on: July 20, 2012, 01:21:41 PM »

The Canon Camel of Design has struck again?  Tell me again why I would want one of these things - or better
yet, why would I want one of these rather than even the cheapest Rebel?  A mad desire to buy new lenses?
A use for my old speedlite?  An excuse to get bigger pockets on my field jacket?  If this is truely "the answer",
then I don't understand the question.  Hello Fuji!

90

Lenses / Re: 50mm 1.4 or 40mm 2.8?

« on: July 17, 2012, 01:28:54 PM »

I'd vote "neither" - with a crop body I'd look at the 24 or the 28 f2.8.  They're as fast as the 40mm with what's to
me a more "natural" FOV.  The 50 f1.4 is a great lens - particularly for portraits on the crop body - but unless you
need the speed - and don't like the look of a couple of clicks on the ISO setting -  at a third the price the 50 f1.8
is a winner for me.