Messages

226

Canada / Re: Questions about crossing the border with your gear

« on: July 23, 2011, 01:22:04 PM »

I don't really have anything new to add. I've had no problems crossing the border with my gear but decided to get the green card anyway. I've yet to need it.

227

Lenses / Re: List of rumored lenses

« on: July 23, 2011, 01:16:56 PM »

Canon has developed a sub-L build quality with the L label (100mm f/2.8L MACRO).

How is the build quality of the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS 'sub-L'?  Mine feels quite solid, definitely a step up from my EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS.  The 100L Macro is weather-sealed, many of my other L lenses are not.  If you think it's 'sub-L' because the barrel is 'engineering plastic', well, most black L lens barrels are the same material.

the debunked rumor about Canon getting rid of the non-L EF-lenses.

How and when was the idea that Canon is done with non-L EF lenses debunked?  The only non-L EF lens released since the launch of the first Canon APS-C camera was the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS lens, and it's pretty well known that the cost savings from EF-S telephoto lenses are a diminishing return.  There hasn't been a new non-L EF prime lens since well before the D30.

I'm curious to hear how the 100L is sub L quality too.

228

Landscape / Re: Buying a Camera

« on: July 23, 2011, 01:00:38 PM »

Whenever weather sealing and the 7D are mentioned together I think of this

Youtube	Small | Large

review where the guy puts the camera in the shower with a 24-70 attached! In the shower!! Makes me laugh every time. I'll take his word for it that the camera is... shower ready.  And yeah, as you said, I've been pretty lucky with poorly sealed equipment too. For the longest time I shot with three older Sigma EX lenses which do not have any sealing and they were fine. There are always freak occurrences but I think for the most part the average user is over-protective of their equipment in terms or weather. A good thing.

That's more or less how I use AF as well except with a slight twist that is specific to 7D focusing. This is of course dependent on what I'm shooting. I can trust the AF on that to do everything I've tried so far. Once I figured it out and got the custom functions where I wanted them - which did not happen overnight. Too many people on forums are blaming the cameras for their reluctance to climb the learning curve.

Another thing to consider is video. Yeah, if you're going to do video get a proper video setup and blah blah bah. First of all there are many people doing amazing stuff with these improper video setups. I personally don't care much for video except for one aspect. It's there if I want to capture a moment of a loved one, a chance encounter with wildlife etc. Will any of my videos be among those doing amazing stuff? No, I'm more interested in taking stills, but I have many times taken a video of a scene just so I can say "hey mom, check this out" and her appreciation of it is well worth having the video. Not a big deal and not landscape photography-centric, but it's there if I need it.

I can't speak to the Rebels/60D but I do know the viewfinder on the 7D is just a touch darker than the 5D II with the same lens attached on each. People who have those cameras (not the 60D) that have checked out mine have noted that the 7D viewfinder is brighter than their cameras. I feel a bit bad flogging the 7D the way I have considering the OP didn't list it as an option... oh well   I guess I'm trying to say is what the 7D is best at is that it does a lot of things very well.

I WAS NOT looking through the viewfinder for this shot.  Nor did I use a tripod, as the hillside was sufficiently steep that the tripod would just tumble downhill.  To put things in perspective, the largest/closest flower, (an avalanche lily) was about 8 inches (or 20 cm) from the front of my lens.  I had to look at the scene through the viewfinder, prefocus, switch the focus to manual to keep it from moving, and lastly, point my camera at all those nice avalanche lilies without looking through the viewfinder and press the shutter while hoping for the best.  I knew the composition that I wanted, but that I wouldn't be able to see it through the viewfinder (with the foreground flowers at least)...so I had to shoot this shot about 50 times until everything was lined up perfectly.  This would have been much easier using a 60D/600D/T3i and that wonderful tilting LCD screen and live view.

The articulating screens look handy but I worry about the long term durability of them. Time and subsequent designs will tell I guess. Have you looked into back button focusing? Fantastic tool when you need to recompose as you have described.

Thanks documentaryman.  All three are single exposure, while using a circular polarizer and graduated neutral density filters.  The first shot is basically straight out of camera, minus a few dust and water spots that I removed.  I don't do HDR.

After seeing these images, I am convinced now I need to add a graduated neutral density filter to my camera gear.

Amen to that! The price and limited availability of the Lee system makes me want to cry. Definitely a long term investment. Having a good filter set and using it properly certainly minimizes the amount of post processing work required. A ND grad alone would cut my post processing time in half!

229

Landscape / Re: Skyscapes

« on: July 22, 2011, 04:15:46 PM »

Trucking Along the Trans Canada Highway in Saskatchewan by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr


Stormy Station, Filling up in South Dakota by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr


Swans at the Beach, Toronto, Ontario by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr

230

Landscape / Re: Buying a Camera

« on: July 22, 2011, 01:38:49 PM »

Agreed, ultimately it is about what camera works best for a particular person. The large majority of amateurs are buying cameras for all their shooting, the idea of more than 1 body is a luxury they're not going to indulge in. Getting the camera that can handle all one's needs really should be the goal of someone just getting into photography. Especially if they have to ask the question "what camera should I get?"

I gotta disagree with you on some points though. Particularly "mis-allocation" . The 7D makes itself a good landscape camera simply for the weather sealing. A MASSIVELY important issue in landscape photography. Mine has been in pouring rain and blizzards. It has better sealing than the 5D does I believe... not positive on that. It's also far more customizable than the 5D or the Rebels, XXD series cameras etc. Plus it has a much more rugged build that can be relied upon than the Rebels/XXD series cameras which is also important when shooting landscape. Yeah, I take care of my gear but it's nice to know my gear can take care of itself.

I disagree with you about the need for AF in Landscape. The 7D, and the Rebels, XXD do not come with good focus screens for manual. If you're as blind as I am and have difficulty jamming your glasses wearing face into the viewfinder, especially when trying to get real low to the ground, having an autofocus you can trust is priceless. On my recent trip to Yellowstone the AF on my 24-70 went wonky and I had to shoot manual. Because of the above situation I have a couple of shots that are softer than they should be. In the bright sun they looked ok from the back screen, which, on the 7D is quite superior to the 5Ds(just sayin), but when I got them home, a little off. And when you want an AF system you can trust the 7D is really really hard to beat once you're learned it. Although, I do concede it's not crucial that it's fantastic for landscape.

The other thing the crop sensors get dinged with all the time is "it's not wide enough!!! waaaa!" Sometimes the waaaa really is there. That depends on how you shoot doesn't it? I tend to shoot on the longer side. The extra reach I get on the crop with my 70-200 has proven useful many times. I recently bought a 24-70 in the face of "it's not good on a crop" type BS. "It's not gonna be wide enough for you!!" The kicker? The difference in view between the 24-70 on my camera and full frame is one 12" step back. One. Not kidding. I tested and measured. Fine, if I were in a cramped room and had a wall at my back it would be an issue. For me that's not a problem because if I were in that situation I'd be looking for the door so I could get outside and shoot something good. But that's me, I understand the need for shooting indoors sometimes, but this is the landscape area right? On my recent trip to Yellowstone and Banff I pulled my Tokina 11-16 out of the bag only a handful of times because the 24-70 was wide enough for what I wanted. The times that it wasn't wide enough were times that it also wouldn't have been wide enough on a FF camera either. An UWA was what was needed.

I can't disagree with you that the 5D/II has a superior sensor and can output a better picture. My issue is that you're talking about the very pointy end of needs that not everyone, very few, will properly take advantage of. I can't count all the times I've heard people whine about needing full frame and the fact is they suck. Now, them aside some of your points while valid aren't particularly important and provide only the most modest of advantages. Advantages so modest that better glass should be considered before thinking that these advantages are particularly worthwhile. You notice them, I notice them but really only a small percentage of people notice them. The Nikon guys do very well not having ISO 50 for example. I'm quite happy with ISO 100. That's just one thing, I'm not going to go through them all because it's pointless to and it's been done so many times before.

While I'm reluctant to post my images alongside yours as quite clearly you are talented (and how much of the quality of your images do you really want to put down to the camera?). Because you are quite good, I've looked through your flickr, fantastic stuff it makes you frustrating to argue this point with. And, actually, this is the crux of it. Most people who debate these points aren't as capable as you. Not everyone is gonna pick up a 5D and get the stuff you have. There's just no way. Most are gonna whine about their perceived limitations of crop and then HDR the poo out of everything they shoot in the face of good taste and to the detriment of my retina. I can confidently say that cause I've seen it now, sadly, literally hundreds of times. I post the following only to suggest that someone with a year and a half of experience in digital and hopefully a kernel of talent somewhere can get some decent results out of a crop sensor.

All were taken with the 7D and are single exposures, no filters (man I'd love me a Lee setup), and processed in Lightroom, which I'm getting better with but still learning. I still feel there's more I can be getting out of this camera/sensor before I start worrying about lower ISO, better dynamic range, etc.

Some of these are double posts from the Landscapes thread, sorry about that.


The Grand Teton Mountains from Colter Bay, Wyoming, USA by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr


Sunset North of Thermopolis Wyoming, USA by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr


Flooding in Macoun, Southern Saskatchewan, Canada by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr


Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada (Explored!) by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr


Autumn at Rattlesnake Point, Milton, Ontario by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr


Ultra Wide Angle Lake Erie Sunset at Nanticoke Ontario by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr


Albion Falls, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr

231

Landscape / Re: Post Your Best Landscapes

« on: July 22, 2011, 12:12:53 AM »

Snake River at the Grand Tetons, Wyoming, USA by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr

232

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: July 21, 2011, 05:30:13 PM »

Sand Piper in Port Dalhousie by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr

Iconic Loon profile from too far away:


Loon on Lake Oudaze by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr


Torrence Barrens Common Nighthawks by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr


Captain Jack Sparrow by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr

For some reason this is one of my favourite shots... I can't put my finger on it but I quite like it.


The Unfairly Maligned Canada Goose by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr

233

Animal Kingdom / Re: Some Animals!

« on: July 21, 2011, 05:26:36 PM »

Thanks for the compliments. Yeah, certainly not hard to tell the difference in quality between my very old Sigma 70-200 and the new Mk II Canon which I had rented. It's also a much easier lens to use, focus was faster and much quieter, all that good stuff.

234

Landscape / Re: Buying a Camera

« on: July 21, 2011, 05:23:13 PM »

None of that is news to me and I only disagree with a few things there, and not even completely. Minor points not worth quibbling over. The real problem is they don't add up to "crushes" for the vast majority of people. Most of the time when people whine and cry about the superiority of FF they don't back it up with great images. You would be a rare exception. Could your stuff have been done with a crop? Maybe. It'd be a tough go though and some filters would help. Other problem is, and the bigger issue for me at least, is the 7D for example, is a better camera in every way other than the sensor than the 5D II and that's the 5D II. There are also a bunch of perks related to APSC that I'm not gonna list here cause it's a lame debate. Although the sensor is a massively important part of the camera, particularly for landscape, it is not the complete camera. Would I like a 5dII? Sure, great camera, but the 7Ds versatility is greater and undeniable.

My point in pointing out that "crushes" is a vast overstatement was not really directed at you, in fact it was for other readers of this thread who come across it in the hopes that they don't fall for the weak and easy FF fanaticism that is far too rampant on the boards. Look on flickr and you'll see people with older Rebels, 30Ds or whatever else still pulling off kickbutt stuff. What makes a good landscape camera? An owner that points it at great landscapes. Yes yes, by that reasoning every tourist would be a great photographer but you gotta admit without pretty places there are no pretty photos. A new Rebel, 60D whatever is quite capable of beautiful landscapes and many other things that a used warrantlyless piece of equipment is not quite as capable of that new users may appreciate.

235

Landscape / Re: Buying a Camera

« on: July 21, 2011, 03:04:18 PM »

I love your stuff pinnacle but "crushes" is a bit of a stretch to say the least.

236

Landscape / Re: Post Your Best Landscapes

« on: July 21, 2011, 03:01:43 PM »

The Bleached Cliffs of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr

237

Sports / Re: Cars cars cars (and some bikes)

« on: July 20, 2011, 10:33:24 AM »

From the Bucyrus 200 in WI this year:


Another Image of Jacques Villeneuve Qualifying for the Road America Bucyrus 200 by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr


Ron Fellows Qualifying for the Road America Bucyrus 200 by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr


Jennifer Jo Cobb Qualifying at the Nascar Nationwide Bucyrus 200 June 2011 by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr


GAINSCO-Bob Stallings Motorsport Daytona Prototype at Road America Rolex Sports Car Series by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr


Starworks Motorsport Daytona Prototype at Road America Rolex Sports Car Series by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr


Brumos Racing Porsche GT3 at Road America Rolex Sports Car Series Practice by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr

238

Landscape / Re: Post Your Best Landscapes

« on: July 20, 2011, 10:25:11 AM »

Lower Falls, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA by Christopher Brian's Photography, on Flickr

239

Animal Kingdom / Re: Some Animals!

« on: July 20, 2011, 10:23:46 AM »

I was about.... 12' from the Lynx I'd guess. Although not tame the animals at the Muskoka Wildlife Centre in Ontario are used to people as they're refuge animals that are now used in movies and educational programs.

240

Animal Kingdom / Re: Bacon Face - Its Alive!

« on: July 19, 2011, 10:47:47 PM »

That's gross! Awesome.