Messages

16

Lenses / Re: Help with event lens ( weddings, anniversary's, etc)

« on: April 30, 2012, 04:18:19 PM »

At least one observer thinks the 24-105 is parfocal:

Quote from The Digital Picture review:  "The 24-105 L is deemed a parfocal lens - "There's a cam inside the 24-105mm lens that is designed to maintain an accurate focus when the lens is zoomed from tele towards wide." [Chuck Westfall, Canon USA] Though the image remains mostly in focus during focal length change, it is best to focus at the desired focal length."

But I'm not sure whether being "deemed" parfocal is the same as actually being parfocal?

17

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: What makes a photographer, a photographer?

« on: January 18, 2012, 07:48:45 PM »

Amateurs worry about gear, pros worry about sales, photographers worry about light.     

I like that, but what do you mean by worry about gear?  Like someone worried that they are lacking gear or worried about getting new gear?  Or just putting too much emphasis on gear in the general?  I know a guy that makes stupid amounts of money off stock and he loves his toys.  But he'll admit that his favorite pics were his 5DII/24-70 even though he has tons of other lenses and a that 40mp Hasselblad cam.  That's a pro.

I think Zdog is dead on.  I confess:  I worry about gear.  Do I have the right gear?  Can I afford better gear?  Is my lens as good as another lens I might have bought?  What gear should I bring?  How do I carry it?  Etc.  And, yes, I am an amateur.  I will never be a professional.  I already have a different profession.  If I had it (life) to do over again, would I move in a different (perhaps photographic) direction.  Different, probably.  Photographic, who knows?

But, can I become a photographer?  Perhaps.  Someday.  I've been working on it, off and on, for a long time now.  That's why I follow this forum.  I started with a gear issue (when will that 60D come out?).  Now, I follow and try to learn what I can.

Like the guy Axilrod knows, those of my photos that I like aren't dependent upon the gear I used.  Could they have been better technically with better gear?  Sure.  Will anyone else like them?  Who knows?  I'm going to go worry about light for a while and see if it helps. 

18

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Canon 5D Classic/Mark 1 - Still worth the buy now?

« on: January 17, 2012, 08:24:03 PM »

One major issue you should be aware of is that the 5D has a design flaw that may cause the mirror to be detached from its housing. The fix is fast and free but it's still a hairy moment when the camera stops working and you hear something is rattling inside. Also, damage to the rear element of the lens is theoretically possible but not likely. I don't know if the issue was fixed from the factory at a later stage but I have a '06 model that it happen to.

Having seen this and subsequent posts regarding the mirror issue and planning to take my 5Dc to Italy in May, I called Canon today to see whether they will fix the mirror before it comes loose.  Turns out they will send you a free shipping label to send in your 5Dc to have the mirror fixed and the camera cleaned and reset to factory specs.  Mine is going as soon as the label arrives.  Planning to also send my 24-105 for whatever it might need (they will prepare an estimate and only proceed if you authorize the work).  Does anyone think that sending the lens is a good idea?  Bad idea?

19

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Canon EF to Sony NEX Adaptor with Electronic Aperture Control

« on: January 17, 2012, 02:09:59 PM »

.....and when do they announce their adapter for the Fujifilm X-Pro1 ?

20

Lenses / Re: OT-photography and (incurring the wrath) of our better halves

« on: January 17, 2012, 12:36:13 AM »

I must say:  my wife is very tolerant of my photography.  So long as she isn't around.  Her kid and my kids (not the same) are grown, so Neuro's suggestion, while excellent, doesn't help me.  I have tried to get her interested in photography.  A few years ago, we went to Yosemite over New Year's.  I set her up with my 30D and the 28-135.  I think she took some very credible shots.  But she says she doesn't want to be bothered carrying around a big camera.  So, I bought her a small Canon point and shoot.  She will take some shots on occasion, but not enough to give me time to set up and do what I want to do.  And, she always has Paris to remind me of (Honeymoon, I took at least one photo of the Eiffel Tower every day we were there, I never went shopping with her and she incurred a broken arm outside the Louvre, which we didn't get checked out until we got home).  On the plus side, she did buy me a 24 TS-E (I, not II, which I don't use nearly enough).  And she is OK when I go out for a weekend on my own.  But, it is a fine balance when we take a vacation together.   

21

United States / Re: Printing photos in Los Angeles area

« on: January 06, 2012, 03:42:19 PM »

@ vowing.dad:  Samy's on Fairfax, for one.

22

Landscape / Re: Snow in artificial light

« on: December 16, 2011, 08:40:10 PM »

Number 3

Of the new ones.

23

Site Information / Re: Applaud or smite?

« on: December 16, 2011, 05:44:10 PM »

However just today I have 2 new smites and I have no idea why (nor do I know the reason for my today's applaud), but I can guarantee you that I'm not insulting anyone.

If the idea is that being smitten (smited?) or applauded helps encourage or discourage certain behaviour, not having it tied to a post or having any other feedback with it seems to make it somewhat less than useful.  This is especially true when you have a troll show up and just start smiting people and thereby possibly discouraging or scaring off productive members.

+1

24

Landscape / Re: Snow in artificial light

« on: December 16, 2011, 03:49:21 PM »

To my eye, the snow in number 3 looks right, but everything above the crest of the snow (buildings and lift) is too blue/cold.  However, the exposure of the buildings in #3 strikes me as better.  How would the OP warm the buildings and leave the snow as is?

25

EOS Bodies / Re: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder?

« on: December 09, 2011, 08:42:14 PM »

Pancakeman:  I think you are dead on.  To prove your point, let's play "what's wrong with this photo?"  Anyone have some examples to post for others to react to?  See if we observe differing sensibilities.

26

Canon General / Re: NEX-7 vs 5D Mark II

« on: December 09, 2011, 08:36:12 PM »

Fascinating.

27

United States / Re: Prime lenses you currently own or on your wishlist.

« on: December 02, 2011, 04:00:15 PM »

Only one prime, the TS 24 (Mk1).  All else is zoom (24-105, 70-200 4 IS, 100-400 --- and a 28-135 that I need to sell).  I shoot on both FF and crop (5D classic and its little brother, the 30D)

My current modest wish list:

50 1.4
100 L Macro

I could easily add to that list, but funds are always a consideration.

28

EOS Bodies / Re: How often do you go through a body? Why do you upgrade?

« on: November 17, 2011, 05:12:08 PM »

My first digital was a G-1 in 2001 (I continued to shoot film in my used T-90 for anything that moved).  In 2004, a Digital Rebel.  In 2006, a 30D (I wanted two bodies and the 30D seemed like an obvious upgrade to the Rebel as well).  Shortly thereafter, my first L glass (100-400).  In 2008, added a 5D with the 27-105L (I think its was 2008 - but anyway it was just before the 5DII came out --- I was setting up two cameras with different lens and changing between them as subjects (trains) moved through the scene.  I found it difficult to switch between the Rebel and the 30D because of different control locations, etc.  The 5D and 30D controls are nearly identical so, problem solved).  Since then, I have added the 24L T&S (Version I) and the 70-200 4 L.  I continue to lust after a 5DII and a 7D, but every time I think about it, I think of new glass I would rather have (50 1.4; 100 L macro; an UW).  I am not professional, so (as someone else has said), until I win the lottery, I will probably stick with what I have.   Although not relevant, really, to this forum, I did buy a Crown Graphic on E-bay last year and just took my first shots with it (finally) last weekend.  Light years apart from any DSLR.

29

Site Information / Re: Karma

« on: September 02, 2011, 04:27:06 PM »

OK, I signed in.  But I still don't see buttons to give Karma.  Do I have to increase my post count before I get the buttons.  Or, am I just not seeing them?   

30

Contests / Re: Holga Giveaway

« on: July 19, 2011, 03:51:29 PM »

WOW!  I would love to have the Holga Kitchen Sink!