Messages

31

Lenses / Re: 24-70 II

« on: September 19, 2012, 12:43:06 PM »

I know the 24-105 has barrel distortion, but nothing like that...

But this is coming form somebody who uses a Samyang 14mm with the most epic mustache distortion around... I just fix up those images that require it.

That being said, for a $2300 optic, I wish they were able to do a bit more correction with the distortion. But I am guessing it would take away the sharpness they were trying to obtain, or something of the sort.

I have mine pre-ordered... But I just hope I feel it is worth it. I see very mixed sample shots with this lens that worry me a bit and if I should just keep my trusty 24-105!  Worst case scenario is I return the 24-70 II and get my pancake lens back for a mid-range f/2.8 lens.

32

Lenses / Re: 24-70 II

« on: September 18, 2012, 09:41:07 PM »

Thanks!

I opened them up and surprised at the distortion... Mustache like, a little disappointing actually. Also see some CA toward the edge of the frame.

Resolution looks good for the most part. Hope when I get mine I am happy with it!

33

Lenses / Re: 24-70 II

« on: September 18, 2012, 09:15:26 PM »

Link to these samples?

34

Lenses / Re: Canon 14-24 2.8 - With our powers combined....

« on: September 17, 2012, 10:21:57 PM »

I would LOVE a 14-28 f/2.8... Would be amazing offering by Canon.

I have faith they would be able to tackle flare issues... I mean, I rented the 8-15L and I could not get that lens to flare one bit, even pointed directly in the sun. I know they are different, but it still has a bulbous front element and captures everything no matter where you point it. I think Canon has some amazing coatings, plus the felt material they use all over now inside to prevent reflections. I noticed inside the 8-15L front element, it looks like the felt is laid perpendicular to the lens orientation, around the element inside of it... Hard to explain, but they do a lot to prevent flare issues.

I probably would not like the price though... But imagine a 14-28 f/2.8, 24-70 II and 70-200 II trio... Mmmmm.

35

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L II Arrived

« on: September 17, 2012, 02:37:59 PM »

I am looking forward to this lens... I kept telling myself to wait until it was under $2,000 but the gear-head in me could not resist. Placed an order yesterday through Adorama.

I have been using the 24-105 for years... Recently alongside the 35L.

I am selling both to fund the 24-70 II... Never had the mark I, but I believe it will be a great tool for me. I have more and more events coming my way (paid work) and I think the versatility of the zoom will be a better match. Especially with my 70-200 II.

All I need now is the 16-35 II... But that will not be in any immediate future. I have my Samyang 14mm when I need the wide stuff.

Looking forward to it!

36

Canon General / Re: Do you feel your photos have improved proportionally to the cost of your gear?

« on: August 30, 2012, 04:50:06 PM »

As bad as it sounds, yes... But there is a catch.

You still need the know-how to really make use of what you buy... Basically, not buying the most expensive stuff and being clueless to how to use it properly.

As my lenses and body got better via upgrades, my images did as well. Having better high ISO, sharper/faster lenses, more specialized lenses for dramatic effects, etc... But my knowledge grew just as quickly as my gear.

My Samyang 14mm is one example, although its quite cheap at around $300... Some of my best images came from that lens simply because it was a 14mm on FF. I could not pull off those images with any other lenses. Now without the Samyang I would be stuck buying the $2000+ 14L...   So sometimes you get "stuck" buying expensive items because there simply is nothing cheaper.

Much like anything, the knowledge is backward compatible. You can give me a T1i and 18-55 and I am sure I would be able to do great things with it... But I would be very limited compared to what I own (5D3, 70-200 II, 35L, 24-105L, etc...). Much like throwing a professional race-car driver into a basic Toyota Yaris. The talents basically get wasted because the equipment does not match to potential. This really is a summary of my whole post! Wasting talents without proper tools.

So in a way, you NEED the knowledge to make the best use out of your expensive gear. Usually this happens naturally... I started with advanced point and shoots when I started to learn manual controls... Moved up to a XSI and then the T1i... Once I outgrew those I was with the 7D, then 5D and 5D2 and now the 5D3. I evolved with my gear. The more I learned, the more money I had invested in very expensive gear. So I know generally how to make the most out of what I own and how to achieve exactly what I want with what I have. You will see me changing lenses like crazy because its mandatory to get the image that I vision. It drives me nuts to keep one lens on for a long period of time because they all do something very different.

Hope this makes sense!

37

Lenses / Re: Just bought the shorty 40mm...

« on: August 23, 2012, 10:50:47 PM »

It is a very nice lens... I bought one and its light, sharp and quite fun. I think the novelty is wearing off though as I might sell it shortly with my 2x III to fund a different lens I would use more. If I need 40mm I tend to chose my 24-105 instead due to IS.

38

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: People with a 5D3 from first batch, did you get the light leak issue fixed?

« on: August 14, 2012, 10:00:49 PM »

I am not getting mine fixed, no way. It a silly 'issue', not a real problem.

Light leak army FTW!

39

Canon General / Re: To CPS or not to CPS...That is the question

« on: August 13, 2012, 04:08:36 PM »

You get free loaners with Gold as well... I rented a 300 f/2.8 IS last year for free (just return shipping you pay) and I am renting a 8-15L for my trip next week. Lens arrives Wednesday.

CPS Gold is fantastic... Any repairs I have done to NJ have been back to me the same week. Super fast.

40

Lenses / Re: EF 70-200 f2.8 IS L USM MKII weird noise (attached)

« on: August 08, 2012, 10:01:40 AM »

It *IS* a faulty IS unit.

How do I know? I have had three of them!

The original 70-200 II I bought did this right out of the box. I sent it back and got a replacement.

The second unit worked fine for about 8 months. After that, I start getting the grinding/grunt sound. I sent to Canon and they said the IS was not working properly and replaced IS assembly six or something of the sort. After that, it never made a noise again.

When 70-200 II's went on sale cheap during rebates, I bought another unit. Just because it would refresh my warranty another two years... That unit start doing it as well a few months in.... Sent to Canon and they replaced the same exact IS assembly part. No noises since...

41

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 1DX ISO 12,800 real-life test

« on: August 06, 2012, 12:13:01 PM »

ISO 12,800 with the 5D3 and 1Dx is nothing, at all.

I shot ISO 20,000 last week and the images looked fantastic on my 5D3. So awesome to have so much ISO range, so usable.


6M3C7107 by invertalon, on Flickr

42

Lenses / Re: Your 70-200 f/2.8L IS II...

« on: July 31, 2012, 10:52:32 PM »

1) Versatility... Can use with both 1.4x and 2x extenders with excellent results. Amazing build quality and performance.

2) Nothing really!

3) I have been through three copies so far... The original I had for a week before the IS was grinding. Sent back to B&H and got it replaced. Used the 2nd copy for about a year and the IS start grinding again, Canon repaired under warranty. The third copy was only because of rebates I was able to "refresh" my warranty with a 2-yr through my AMEX and such, so I bought another and sold the one I was using... Within 2-weeks I had the IS grinding again, sent to Canon and they again replaced the same exact IS assembly part. All has been great with it since. The IS is something else though... Three lenses and all the same issue? One of which bought well over a year after the other two.

4) The last one I got for $1974 with the $400 rebates during winter.

5) Lens performance is excellent... Amazing colors and sharpness all the way through. All three of my copies were sharper at 70mm than 200mm, but its so minimal it is non-issue. Solid performer all around.

43

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D Mark III Firmware Update Error

« on: June 26, 2012, 06:01:57 PM »

Updated just fine with my BG-E11 attached. As always.

44

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D MarkIII Low ISO performance in shadows

« on: June 21, 2012, 09:13:03 AM »

Are you by chance using LR4/LR3 to process these files?

I noticed LR has the tendency to add weird noise patterns and blotches in shadow areas... That does not happen with other RAW converter software. I believe this has been discussed in detail elsewhere as well. I have noticed this forever, even with the 5D2 and 7D prior. Only happens in the darkest shadow areas. It does NOT happen with in-camera JPEG's or if I process using DPP. But I hate DPP, so I use LR4 and suck it up.

EDIT: I saw the EXIF and see you did use LR 4.1... Try processing those in DPP or something and see if it is still there and report back.

45

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Canon EOS 5D Mark III Firmware 1.1.3

« on: June 19, 2012, 06:01:24 PM »

Just curious cayenne, when has canon EVER released a firmware that "broke" something?

At worst, they fix it quickly with another.