Messages

226

Reviews / Re: Review - Canon EF 50 f/1.2L

« on: January 13, 2013, 09:24:41 AM »

Justin...for all of the hits you are taking here, about this review, I just want to say to you how GREAT and REFRESHING your reviews are!
You give us "real-world" reviews off the cuff AND you back up your take on whatever you are reviewing with SOLID photography...(many reviewers do not have that ability!).
The thing is...when you give us your input, I listen to what you have to say because your images give you credibility...so I listen when you talk. If people want a super-analytical, technical review from some dweeb who can't shoot...let them go elsewhere. Your discussions are relaxed, intelligent and informative.
Just keep doing what you are doing...You have brought new life to this website and I for one am enjoying your presentations here.

Thank you! You just made my morning

That being said...I use the Sigma f/1.4. LOL! Great for my needs. I have mostly L Glass...but I just didn't see the benefit for my shooting needs to spend more than twice as much for the L (I put the Sigma ahead of the Canon f/1.4 for "image look and feel" and bokeh...also build quality...so the Sigma is priced right) ...I have the Canon 85mm f.1.2L  when I need the ultimate in sharpness and bokeh...so I think I have it covered.
Great review for the Canon f/1.2, though! Great lens....but your review also reaffirms my 50mm prime choice.

227

Reviews / Re: Review - Canon EF 50 f/1.2L

« on: January 12, 2013, 11:50:12 PM »

Justin...for all of the hits you are taking here, about this review, I just want to say to you how GREAT and REFRESHING your reviews are!
You give us "real-world" reviews off the cuff AND you back up your take on whatever you are reviewing with SOLID photography...(many reviewers do not have that ability!).
The thing is...when you give us your input, I listen to what you have to say because your images give you credibility...so I listen when you talk. If people want a super-analytical, technical review from some dweeb who can't shoot...let them go elsewhere. Your discussions are relaxed, intelligent and informative.
Just keep doing what you are doing...You have brought new life to this website and I for one am enjoying your presentations here.

228

Lenses / Re: 17-40 vs 16-35, which one got the mojo ?

« on: January 12, 2013, 05:05:35 PM »

I choose the super sharp, fast focusing Canon 14-24mm f/2.8L !     .
(Well...maybe next year?)

229

Lenses / Re: How many times did you return (L) lenses to get a good copy?

« on: January 12, 2013, 04:33:01 AM »

Actually I'll be going to the post office in 5 minutes to send back my new Sigma 35mm 1.4 because it can't lock focus properly (changes between front, back, and no proper focus at all), and AMFA seems to be unable to correct the irregular focus (obviously since the lens can never decide what to do). But I am definitely getting a new copy and not just making a return - the shots I did manage to get were amazing, and the lens holds a lot of promise.

Btw - that was my first Sigma lens in a lineup of Canon and Tokina lenses - none of which have ever had to be returned.

(But judging from the general comments all over the place I got a very rare lemon).

I know this comment is off topic,sorry...but  mad spill did you read the review about your lens at The Digital Picture?

"About auto-focus:

While it is not perfect, I’m finding the Sigma 35 to perform close to the Canon 35 L in AF accuracy. A somewhat consistent and quite noticeable front focus problem on both of my 5D Mark III bodies required AFMA to correct. You may want to capture multiple images in situations with especially shallow DOF – which will be closer to MFD (Minimum Focus Distance). Note that the focus-and-recompose technique can begin to fail as shallower DOF is achieved."

230

Canon General / Re: Canon Experience Stores Coming Soon [CR3]

« on: January 11, 2013, 11:04:55 AM »

WHY DOES EVERY THREAD START WITH AT LEAST 3 PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT PRICE?

umm, that would be because at least 3 people in each thread are annoyed with Canon gear being priced above the competition. Sorry, just couldn't resist! 

+1
(yes, we know this is off-topic)
Yes..that would be because I bought an Olympus OM-D Body 9 months ago for $999 and it is sold for only $50 under the list price now. I bought a Canon 5D III Body 6 months ago for $3499 and is can be had for $600-$900 below list now. I find that to be a LITTLE more than annoying. :-)

231

Lenses / 85mm f/1.2L II plus Canon 12mm Extension Tube II Questions

« on: January 11, 2013, 09:01:47 AM »

As many of you may know...The 85 L II is a special lens...but not the closest focusing lens out there. I find that, sometimes to get in tight I am using a (3rd-party) 12mm extension tube...but I am having some issues with this set-up on my 5DIII... (BTW my copy of the lens is spot-on with AF accuracy,i.e. AF micro adjustment is zero.).

1. When I use my 3rd party extension tube...I find that I have to set the AF Micro Adjustment to +20.
    Does anyone using this set-up with the Canon 12mm Extension Tube II have this much variation in AF?
2. When I use my set-up with the 3rd-party tube, in the AF Micro Adjustment Menu my 5DIII recognizes my set-up as           
    "only" the 85mm lens (not lens plus tube)...and therefore each time I use this set-up I have to manually enter the
     AF Micro Adjustment and then set the MA back to zero or it will throw off my AF the next time I use the 85mm   
     without the ext tube.
     My 2nd question is: If I use the 85mm with the Canon 12mm Extension Tube II does the AF Micro adjustment
     menu on my 5D III recognize this set-up as 85mm PLUS 12mm Ext. Tube and keep it separate from the AF Micro
     Adjustment for the 85mm by itself? (i.e. does the AF Micro Adjustment Menu treat this situation the same as it
     does when I use a Canon Tele Extender on a Canon Lens?)
Thanks.

232

Canon General / Re: Canon Experience Stores Coming Soon [CR3]

« on: January 11, 2013, 07:58:44 AM »

Now I know where that $1000 premium that I paid on my 5D Mark III went ...To open a Canapple Store. LOL!
I thought it was for the facilities that got destroyed in the Tsunami?
I hope my investment was used for the LED Tunnel.....that would REALLY excite me.
( BTW the new white Canon N is looking very "Applish")

233

Lenses / Re: How many times did you return (L) lenses to get a good copy?

« on: January 10, 2013, 10:29:05 PM »

Hmmm...I have 8 lenses and I have never tested ( with a chart), any of them. I did go out and run them thru the paces and give a real close look to the clarity, sharpness across the frame, and AF accuracy...but only real world images.
That's good enough for me....if you have a great shot...nobody notices any of the super, analysis tweaking anyway....
Just a fact.

234

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS II with EF 2x Extender III vs Sigma 150-500 OS

« on: January 10, 2013, 06:26:14 PM »

This post is too funny. I just posted something similar the other day with the announcement of the Sigma 120-300mm!  I want to see the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L II w/1.4X go up against that Sigma. Put all three in one review and it would be very interesting to see all of the results!!!!!!! (In this case I am betting on the Canon kickin some %&@!!!!!!

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=803&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=6&API=3&LensComp=687&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=5&APIComp=2 there it is; vs 120-300 the new one as the same optics as the ''old'' one. only cosmetics  changes and focus limit switch

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!  The Canon Kicks the Sigma's butt with the 2X extender and completely BLOWS IT AWAY with the 1.4X.
Gee...you can pick up the Canon lens for about $2100 and I think the extender is about $500...so you can save
$900.00, have way better image quality, faster focusing, have a smaller, lighter, more versatile setup and tons more resale value...um..exactly WHY would anyone buy the Sigma?

235

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 L IS II with EF 2x Extender III vs Sigma 150-500 OS

« on: January 10, 2013, 05:41:17 PM »

This post is too funny. I just posted something similar the other day with the announcement of the Sigma 120-300mm!  I want to see the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L II w/1.4X go up against that Sigma. Put all three in one review and it would be very interesting to see all of the results!!!!!!! (In this case I am betting on the Canon kickin some %&@!!!!!!

236

Lenses / Re: EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x Production to Begin in Q2

« on: January 10, 2013, 09:49:45 AM »

Ahhhhhh....ahhhhhhh....lte me catch my breath!

237

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma Launches the 120-300mm F2.8 DG OS HSM

« on: January 10, 2013, 05:21:17 AM »

If this lens remains optically the same as the old model, and now costs $3500, aren't I better off (I.e. sharper, more compact, lighter and more versatile), with a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II and a Canon 1.4X III?  After reading reviews of the current Sigma's IQ (which will stay the same for the new lens), at The Photozone and The Digital Picture...it seems to me that the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II is that much sharper. I would also be saving a bundle of money! Am I missing something???
I would be missing 20mm of reach...that is about it.

238

Technical Support / Re: Press shutter once to take picture, it stays closed, press again and it opens

« on: January 09, 2013, 03:43:04 PM »

Sweet, thanks all. I definitely didn't switch it on purpose. I took a picture of some Thai kids and showed them the result. One got all excited and started pressing buttons. Perhaps that's what happened.

Any who, after reading about it, it actually seems handy.

Do you guys use the mirror lock up feature often?? I enjoy night photography and it seems useful.

I agree about Mirror Lock up being useful for slow exposures on a tripod.
Liveview is a good way to go too as it locks up the mirror. Use Liveview  ESPECIALLY  if you are doing multiple exposures for say, HDR. Much faster. The mirror locks up just once and all the exposures are made, and then the mirror goes back down. Very convenient.
Vibrations for the mirror are significant. I was in an abandoned factory a couple of weeks back and was using a carbon fiber tripod, with weigh on it for added stability. I was shooting on a solid concrete floor.  I could actually feel the vibrations from the mirror in the balls of my feet when I was doing my test shots. At first I thought I was mistaken...but I did some more tests and amazingly it was true. To me...that was significant vibrations from that mirror. Amazing.

239

Technical Support / Re: Press shutter once to take picture, it stays closed, press again and it opens

« on: January 09, 2013, 07:39:25 AM »

[/quote]

Sounds like you have 'Mirror Lockup' enabled. Look through the manual and your cameras settings on how to change it.
[/quote]

+1

240

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Anyone else intrigued by the new Fuji X20 and X100s

« on: January 08, 2013, 10:18:31 PM »

Seems like the X-Pro 2 is the camera that everybody is going to like the most.