Topics

16

Third Party Manufacturers / Lensbaby - any users out there ?

« on: December 10, 2012, 04:02:03 PM »

My wife was lost for a gift to for me this Christmas, after a discussion over lunch, we went and ordered a Lensbaby Composer for me...   

Any users out there, any tips for a beginner ?

17

Lenses / 100mm 2.8L vs 135mm 2.0L

« on: December 09, 2012, 05:35:01 PM »

I'd like to start doing macro photography, I'm not into faffing with flash, tripods and such, I like to handhold and shoot...  I have a 135mm 2.0L and was pondering if I got a 100mm 2.8L macro, would I still use the 135mm ?  It's currently one of the three lenses I use most.  I'm aware of focal length change, but what about the look of the images ?  The colour and soft focus areas, Is there a difference to the look when used as a normal telephoto at similar lengths to the 135mm ?

18

EOS Bodies / 450D to 6D

« on: September 23, 2012, 02:27:04 PM »

Given the recent announcement and the affordable price of a 6D with a 24-105mm kit, I'm starting to seriously consider the full benefits of a move from using a 450D with a 15-85mm to a 6D with the 24-105, specifically in terms of shooting in low light, depth of field and so on...    Whilst I'm sure some will shout, buy a 5D III, but seriously folks, I'm not happy to invest that level of my cash into a camera, so...  Please, given my current lens line up, consideration of keeping the 450D with the 10-22, perhaps trading my 15-85 & 18-55, what can I expect and are there any pitfalls I need to think about ?

19

Third Party Manufacturers / Billipixels ? Coming to your Canon 20 yrs from now

« on: April 26, 2012, 05:20:36 PM »

Caught this on a IT site...  Things to come, if you don't mind a 3 tonne camera ;-)

Billipixel Camera

20

Lenses / Canon 8-15mm and filters

« on: April 11, 2012, 03:56:19 PM »

Had a play with a Canon 8-15mm and 10-22mm at the weekend, liked the 10-22mm until I handled and viewed the wide aspect of the 8-15mm on my crop body.  I'm warming towards getting my second L lens right now, want an ultra wide and already have 15mm rectalinier in the 15-85mm I already own.  The slight niggle I have on returning home is thinking about the use of ND gel filters for long exposures, what the deal, are they difficult to use, are the gel filters flimsy film, inflexible plates are somewhere in-between ?

Thoughts please ?

21

EOS Bodies / Anyone for a cheap FF 9D ?

« on: March 02, 2012, 07:59:31 AM »

With the price of the 5DMk3 going up so much, currently at about 80% more than the Mk2, the rumour mill is suggesting that both will remain on sale, indeed, both are still shown on the Canon UK site, could this be a testing of the market for a value FF model, a 9D perhaps, sharing either the 18 or 22mpx sensor to finally replace the Mk2 towards the end of the year ?  Priced at 7D levels, basic AF and functions.

22

Lenses / Extending my options

« on: December 30, 2011, 06:40:23 PM »

Been looking at my photos over the last few months and I'm starting to feel want a few more lens options, namely a long reach tele and a low light wide.  My current gear is in my sig, but I'm considering buying the Canon 28mm f1.8 and the 400mm f5.6, perhaps with a 1.4x extender at a later stage.  I'm not ready to buy yet, the wide is probably priority in the next few months, the 400mm later in the year, maybe next, but both lens have mixed reviews, both good and bad, but im mindful that a replacement 400mm would probably have IS and be priced above my comfort level. 

Whats the feelings on here, anyone own either, good/bad experiences...  Is the Sigma 30mm better, would a 300mm f4 IS with a 1.4x be better ?  I just don't think that a 17-55mm f2.8 will cut it in the low light I'm taking photos in and struggling to justify £2k extra on a 5DII/III, plus the 400mm I want in the longer term.

I'm Still considering a longer term replacement for the 70-300mm non L, but that's a few years off, I'm generally happy with that apart from the AF and long end, so a 70-200mm F4 or 70-300mm L are looking like good contenders a few years down the line, with a replacement camera at that time too.

23

EOS Bodies / iPhone 4S vs Canon 5DII

« on: December 04, 2011, 06:06:57 AM »

Interesting but no scientific comparison of the iPhone 4S against a Canon 5DII

Guardian Online

Demonstrate that the iPhone 4S still has a long way to go in terms of picture quality, but in my opinion can't be beaten on convenience.

24

PowerShot Cameras / Low light compact for £250

« on: September 29, 2011, 04:57:38 PM »

A friend at work is looking for a new camera, she's asking me about the Samsung MV800 but she's wanting something for taking pictures at weddings and family gatherings, in particular where light is a poor.  She isn't wanting a DSLR and I'm not sure she would be up for a second hand G Series... 

Any suggestions for £250 that will fit in a pocket ?

25

EOS Bodies / Exposure Compensation

« on: August 28, 2011, 05:04:46 PM »

I'm away on holiday a the moment, so taking quite a few photos, but realised tonight that most of my photos in the last two days have involved me tweaking the exposure compensation.  Out of curiosity, is this normal ? Do others tweak all the time, much of the time or not at all ?   Do others tweak a little or a lot ?

26

Lenses / Thoughts on primes

« on: July 11, 2011, 12:53:54 AM »

Having just bought a 50mm f1.4, I'm hooked on low light primes !  I've now got a christening coming up, with some opportunity for low light use both in the small (English Village) church and the pub afterwards.  I've been playing about with focal lengths in my house on my 15-85mm, I'm finding that 85mm seems a tad wide for one person shots on my 1.6x crop, 100 & 135mm about right, 200mm just silly.  Given the pub will have similar proportion rooms to my house, but the church being much bigger, I'm pondering 85mm f1.8 now and a 135mm later or 100mm f2 for both now with a mind to something longer later, either 135mm or 200mm.

I've tried the 70-200 f2.8, it's huge and I'd not wish to carry it for any length of time as a "hobbyist", I'm fairly happy with my 70-300mm non L currently, but may consider either a 70-200mm f4 or some teleconverters on a longer prime later. 

Thoughts and experiences would be helpful, especially for on crop bodies !

BTW, I'm the godfather (again) ;-)

27

Software & Accessories / Filters - Screw on or not ?

« on: July 06, 2011, 08:16:32 AM »

Bought myself a handful of Cokin (P) filters last year, along with the holder and respective step rings for my lenses.  I've found the whole system a bit of a pain to use quickly, especially after getting a screw in 10 stop filter last month which is a breeze to use.  Got me thinking about what others used...  Yes, the Cokin system is cheap, I can use any filter on any lens, but what use is a flexible system if you don't actually use it ?

I'm now considering getting a handful of ND/GND screw in filters to join my 10 stop specifically for my current most used "landscape" lens, the 72mm 15-85mm EF-S.  I'm unlikely to be buying loads of lenses in the future, there is a slim likelihood of getting a 77mm 70-200mm (f2. at some point, but then I'm not adversed to buying the odd ND specifically for that.

I'm typically using the 0.9 ND or 0.6 GND, 95% of the time I'm using filters, and hardly use the polarising filter.

So, what do others do, use, are screw in GND's a pain, thoughts please ?

28

Lenses / New EF-S Lenses ?

« on: November 20, 2010, 05:07:13 PM »

Given the 17-85mm EF-S was effectively replaced in 2009 by the 15-85mm EF-S and the chatter on here about new lenses being needed for the next big step up in sensor densities, I'm wondering if the quite old by EF-S standards 10-22mm and 17-55mm EF-S lenses are perhaps getting to a stage where a refresh is required.

Why ?  Well if the reviews are anything to go by, the 17-55mm is appearing to offer little benefit over the 15-85mm in terms of sharpness, its looking a bit out of "style" with the newer EF-S chrome ring and better looking plastics, could perhaps feature current generation IS and could in theory push the boundary further by droping another half stop to beat the competition.  The 10-22mm also has the older style and perhaps both could using newer manufacturing techniques be sold at a slightly lower price and increase profitability for canon.

Given the market share of the crop body cameras over the full frames an the push of crop bodies upmarket (7D), I'd suspect the crop specific premium lenses sell in far greater numbers than like-for-like lenses in the L ranges.

I'm also thinking that although the current lenses may well work fine for the current 18mp crop models, they may well start to show a few weaknesses perhaps not with the next step up, but maybe the step after that, thus getting new glass out over the next couple of years would set the stall out for new crop bodies in 2013 onwards, which by recent jumps could see crops at 25-30mp by 2013/14

29

Lenses / F2.8 or F4 ? Sounds easy ?

« on: November 07, 2010, 07:47:57 AM »

I'm sure many of you will have faced the same problem when considering a upgrade, mine is like many others before me in that I'm starting to consider where to go next from my current Canon 450D, which when new (July 2008) I was really rather pleased with and to be fair will be for a couple of years.  However, I could do with moving forward with my lenses, so although I've not set my mind on going full frame yet, I about 90% certain that I will in a few years.

Looking at my pictures, most are outside, most are landscape so a I'm of a mind that should I upgrade, I'm likely to go full frame so don't want to waste time getting inbetween lenses, so I'm thinking a pretty regular 17-40mm and 24-105mm combo for my current camera, which will work very nice on a full frame or new crop body should I decide to go midrange, but wait, why don't I take pictures inside ?  Is it because of my current limited functionality with my kit lens ?

What I'm wondering if going further to a 16-35mm and 24-70mm combo would change my style, have others made the leap and found a new interest in lower light photography ?  The money isn't so much of an issue, but being realistic, I'm looking to treat myself this xmas with one lens (an ultrawide), then perhaps another late next year, perhaps even with a new body if I'm ready.

Thoughts ?

30

Lens Gallery / Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

« on: November 07, 2010, 06:45:56 AM »

A few pictures taken on a cheap lens, in fact probably one most of the entry level cameras come with now, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS on a 450D.

Tree Blast was taken at f4.5, 1/1000, ISO 100 & 21mm with just a UV filter using spot metering on the tree and a slight adjustment on levels in Photoshop
Lantern was taken at f5.6, 1/200, ISO 100 & 45mm with just a UV filter
Storm Berries was taken at f10, 1/200, ISO 200 & 40mm with just a UV filter
Porthcurno was taken at f9, 1/200, ISO 100 & 18mm with just a UV filter

Overall, very happy with the results, slight issues with fine detail when zooming into the images, in particular some colour fringe between contrasting colours, but on the whole, I'm finding it difficult to justify spending big money on moving up to a 17-40 or 16-35 as I had originally intended.  Great starter lens !