Messages

481

EOS Bodies / Re: The Canon High End [CR2]

« on: December 16, 2010, 03:41:44 PM »

Can't see them reducing the resolution from the 1D Mk4, it's just not Canon's style;  The D4 will almost certainly be 18MP+.  I'm guessing there will either be a 30MP+ 1Ds Mk4 in 2011 and a 20MP+ 1D Mk5 in 2012 (Olympics year), or the rumours of an end to the 1D-1Ds divide are true and they will be a 1D mk5 in the 25-30MP in 2011. 

482

Lenses / Re: Zeiss ZE News [CR3]

« on: December 12, 2010, 04:39:28 PM »

a 135 f/2 from zeiss would be very cool ... not sure I'd ever want to use a MF zoom lens though

Maybe it will be a push-pull design. 

483

Lenses / Re: Zeiss ZE News [CR3]

« on: December 12, 2010, 04:37:51 PM »

Really... AF? I don't know of any previous EF mount Zeiss with AF.  What information do you have to make you think that this one will be?

484

EOS Bodies / Re: New 60D Firmware Coming?

« on: December 11, 2010, 02:58:54 PM »

Don't think it will have AF micro-adjust; considering the criticism that's been levelled at Canon over this, they would probably make a bigger deal over including it in a firmware upgrade -this is all a bit too low key. 

Still, if it did contain AF micro-adjust, I wonder:

1) How many 60D owners would actually use it.
2) How many of those that did would make a mess of it!   

485

Canon General / Re: Camera Body Breakdown [CR1]

« on: December 07, 2010, 01:26:11 PM »

...as are the comments about poor AF performance from those who don't use one.

"Poor AF performance" is definitely not true...but I can say from experience that the 5DII's AF performance is not as good as the 7D, and the 5DII has trouble tracking moving subjects where the direction of movement is toward or away from the camera (although that's probably a combination of less effective AF and longer shutter lag).

For stationary subjects, the 5DII's center AF point is excellent.  The off-center points, besides being insufficiently spread out, are single-orientation points that sometimes hunt for focus, in my experience.

Out of interest, do you find this holds true with slower lenses that don't activate the cross type sensors?

486

Lenses / Re: 70-300L & More

« on: December 05, 2010, 02:46:22 PM »

Quite a few people have got their's -it depends on what country you're in.  USA (oddly, as they usually get everything first) & UK dealers don't seem to have any in stock, some in continental Europe seem to have had shipments. 

No 50mm f/1.4 replacement? Disappointing, but I guess Canon's view is that you either accept its limitations or shell out for the 50mm f/1.2L.  It would be interesting to hold a poll of Canon Rumors members, who've owned this lens, to see how many have had problems with the AF mechanism jamming.  Other than that problem it seems a pretty adequate lens for the price (I don't own one).  Sure the Nikon and Sigma 50mm f/1.4s are sharper wide open, but they are much newer designs; most of the other manufacturers 50s from the same era seem to perform about the same. 

487

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 7D Mark II - sensor

« on: December 04, 2010, 08:23:57 AM »

I think that both unfocused and epsiloneri are trying to win an arguement that there is no simple answer to.  Both APS-C and Full Frame have their advantages and disadvantages; read Thom Hogan's recent articles about his wildlife workshops in Africa.  He found that the 'FX' (Nikon terminology) users on his workshop were sometimes a bit short of focal length, whereas the 'DX' users were disadvantaged in the low light at the beginning and end of the day.  This is just one type of photography, I'm sure there are other fields that have the same dilemmas, as well as others where one format or the other is definitely preferable.  A large part of the choice of format is the lenses that you wish to use, e.g. there are no ultra-wide angle APS-C tilt-shifts for architectural photography etc.

488

EOS Bodies / Re: 5D Mark II & 7D Mode Dial Lock Upgrade

« on: December 02, 2010, 05:55:53 PM »

I can't help thinking that a switch, like the one that locks the rear control dial, would be a better solution.  This would give you the choice of when/if you wish to use it. 

489

Lenses / Re: Lenses [CR2]

« on: November 28, 2010, 01:57:33 PM »

So no news about the mainstream lenses that the majority seem to be anticipating, i.e. a 14-24mm; 24-70mm, 35mm f/1.4 replacements; not to mention an 'affordable' normal prime for APS-C?

490

Lenses / Re: EF 24-105 f/3.5-5.6 IS Patent

« on: November 22, 2010, 01:55:09 PM »

If Canon did make a budget full-frame model it would have to be considerably cheaper than the A850.  Sony's 'low-cost full-frame' idea has failed to win them the market share that I think they hoped it would.  A Canon budget full-frame camera would have to be around the 7D's current retail price, or who'd bother?

491

EOS Bodies / Re: March, Lenses & Stuff

« on: November 19, 2010, 01:20:19 PM »

They could give it the articulating LCD and nothing else, and call it a day (but maybe make it a little smaller than the current 3" to add a bigger feature gap with the 60D).
[/quote]

The though had crossed my mind, but it might make the 60D a little harder to market to first time buyers, who may not fully appreciate the 60D's other advantages. 

492

EOS Bodies / Re: March, Lenses & Stuff

« on: November 18, 2010, 06:42:59 PM »

Canon are apparently setting up a new lens factory, see:

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/Canon_new_lenses.html

BTW, aren't we due a new 'Rebel' around that time? It will be interesting to see what new features they'll put in it over the 550D.  Unless they plan on going to a longer release schedule, I'd think it would have to be the same 18MP sensor.

If it is the 5D Mk3, I can't believe that they'd pioneer a new high megapixel sensor in it and not the 1Ds Mk4... Unless the rumours of no 1Ds Mk4 are true (which I do not believe). 

493

EOS Bodies / Re: Design Your Own Canon Body

« on: November 14, 2010, 11:28:03 AM »

It's clear that people want a 7D with even more features from the 1D series.  So for the 7D mk2 (will this be late 2011 or 2012?):

-Sensor - hmm... Difficult.  If it's s 2011 release, then an updated 18MP with improved S:N ratio & DR would be nice.  2012 may see the game change too much to predict what would be desirable.  If the 1D line goes full-frame then APS-H might be a possiblity, but this would limit its use as a general camera and make it very sports/wildlife orientated.

-AF - 45 point from the 1D series.  I really struggle to see why Canon thought it was necessary to develop the 19 pt system in the current 7D when they could have easily put the 1D Mk 3 system in (tweaked of course).  Yes I'm sure it does improve their profit margin, but it just looks a little tight fisted compared to Nikon's offerings. 

-Dual card slots - (even the D7000 has these now) either 2 x CF, or 1 x CF & 1 x SD. 

-AF assist lamp - why did this disappear from EOS DSLRs?

-Mirror lock up button - why does this option stay buried in the menus of even pro-level Canon cameras?

Is that it? Yes, basically the 7D is a great camera.  As for the 5D Mk3:

-Sensor - an updated version of the current 21MP one, with improved S:N and DR, would be great.  It would allow the 1Ds Mk4 to have a unique slot as the high resolution pro body.  If you can afford all the glass to make the best of a 30+MP sensor, the price of the body won't be that much of a concern. 

-AF - see 7D Mk2 (above). 

-AF assist lamp

-Mirror lock up

-5-6 fps

All of the 5D Mk3s specifications that I've outline would be dependant upon a full frame version of the 1D Mk4 appearing beforehand, otherwise it would steal too many 1D series users. 

I'm going to get ridiculed by some people who will say that these cameras would be too expensive, not have high enough profit margins for Canon, or would steal too many pro-body users.  To them I say that Nikon already produces cameras in these market positions.  Yes, they may be trading some of their profitability for market share but that's going to happen in a market that's reaching saturation.  Canon gained its 'number 1' position by innovating and giving the photographer more.  They're currently losing it by adopting a "me too" attitude and trying to give their customers less. 

494

Lenses / Re: EF 100-400 Version 2 Coming [CR2]

« on: October 29, 2010, 08:13:43 AM »

A 70-400mm, like the Sony equivalen, would be good. 

Given the suggested retail price of the new 70-300mm lens, I can't see a 100-400mm selling for less than £2000 (sorry, can't be bothered to convert to US$!).

495

EOS Bodies / Re: New \

« on: October 29, 2010, 08:08:17 AM »

The third body, if it is coming, would probably be a full-frame 1D Mk4n, IMHO. 

Canon justified the APS-H sensor by claiming the advantage of shorter, lighter lenses compared to a full-frame camera and to an extent, this is an advantage.  But it loses out to full-frame cameras in the high ISO stakes and lots of professionals have been lavishing praise on the D3s in this department. 

The reason that I think the 1D line will go full-frame is the emphasis in the press releases that Canon has placed on the reduced weight of the 300mm & 400mm f/2.8L MkIIs over the Mk Is.  A 1D Mk4n would also allow them to incorporate some of the new technology found on the 7D (and other lower end cameras) that was missed on the 1D Mk4, either in the hurry to release it, or because they felt it was untested technology and unsuitable for use in their flagship.