Messages

871

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

« on: December 22, 2011, 03:39:11 PM »

Thanks Fesapo. I like the middle one of the last set, it represents what I should take as a nature photographer, but is the sort of image I don't "see" and have to work at to get any sort of decent composition. It's also the sort of image you don't often see taken with the 135, but the bokeh of the lens is perfect for that sort of shot.

872

Lenses / Re: How do you correct chromatic aberrations?

« on: December 22, 2011, 03:25:47 PM »

I tried a few options, although none of the ones mentioned above, but the best I have found is Lightroom. For most images, I set the defringing to all edges, then adjust the CA sliders to match the lens/image, reviewing manually. Once i know a lens, I have a pretty good idea of where to set it. In scenes with a lot of high contrast areas, I set the defringing to highlight edges only, to prevent a grey line appearing along the transtion areas (particilarly the horizon). It isn't perfect, but it removes enough to stop it being obvious without pixel peeping (and then you have to look quite hard most of the time). I've never been able to see it in an A3 print from either the 7D or 5D MkII using this method. Mind you, the lenses I usually use with the 7D don't tend to have a large problem with fringing or CA, unlike those I tend to use on the 5D MKII.

873

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Looking for tripod advice...

« on: December 18, 2011, 10:30:40 AM »

I started off with the Manfrotto 190MF3, a relatively small mag fibre tripod (now replaced by the carbon fibre series). As Neuro said, it is handy for travelling, as it will fit in my suitcase, once the head is removed. Once I got my 300 f/2.8 though, it wasn't sturdy enough, so I started looking around for something a bit heavier duty. I looked at Gitzo, but didn't like the price and Manfrotto didn't seem to do anything with the right specs. Then when I was at the Focus show in 2010, I looked at some Giottos legs and heads. They have alternatives to Gitzo at a lower price. While the quality may not be as good as Gitzo, my model at least is a much better build quality then Manfrotto. It's much sturdier than the 190MF3, yet is lighter (although the ballhead is a big lump of steel, so adds significant weight).

http://www.giottos.com/

874

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

« on: December 18, 2011, 07:36:10 AM »

 I recently got the 24mm f/1.4 L Mk II for photographing the northern lights (although I'd been looking at it ever since release for landscapes) and am very pleased with the results its capable of. I also have the following primes.

300mm f/2.8 L IS (probably my most used and usually with a 1.4x extender)
135mm f/2 L (probably my favourite in terms of the "look" of the images)
100mm f/2.8 macro (non-L)
50mm f/1.4

The 300+1.4x does result in a little bit of CA, but it's easily corrected in Lightroom and it's still much less than the 17-40 and 24-105 and also less than the 100-400. The contrast is also higher than the 100-400, with better bokeh and faster and more accurate focusing on the 7D, but it's pretty much on the limit weight-wise for birds in flight, for when tripods aren't possible. It also gives me better low light potential and I think the combination is a little sharper than my 100-400, but that could be due to focusing accuracy.
The 500 f/4 is on my wishlist for those frequent occasions when 420mm isn't enough, but I can't justify the cost to myself. I have tried the 2x extender on the 300, but I don't like the results, although I haven't spent alot of time microadjuting the focus. I've also thought about the upcoming 200-400, which could be part of a cunning plan.

875

Landscape / Re: Some new works.

« on: December 16, 2011, 05:58:51 PM »

I think I like the first best too, it shows the near macro capabilities of the 135 f/2. I'm also drawn towards the third, possibly because it's the 135 again, but there is probably also an element of thinking about people ignoring what must have been an unusual sight of someone positioning a camera on the edge of a station platform. The middle one does show what can be done with the 25-105 though when used creatively.

876

Landscape / Re: Snow in artificial light

« on: December 16, 2011, 05:51:40 PM »

The first image probably is the "correct" colour balance, but sometimes right isn't always best. Snow will often look grey to the human eye in shadow, when there are bright lights around, because of the high contrast. As a digital sensor isn't as good as the human eye at high contrast, it makes the shadows look even duller. Artistically, I agree with everyone else, that the third one looks best and gives more of a feeling of a ski slope because of the cool temperature. The coolness helps to lift it also, so the shadows are less pronounced.

877

Canon General / Re: What Pictures Mean to You?

« on: December 15, 2011, 05:54:23 PM »

Earlier this year, I self published a book. It had been sitting around with a few chapters "missing" for quite a while. Two of those missing chapters became the first two in the book, based on my trip to Nepal in 1994. Without the photos I had taken during the trip, those chapters wouldn't have been possible, as my memory had faded, so I think memories are an important part of it. However, more recently, there has also been the challenge aspect, to take the best photo I can and try to do justice to the subject, to get as close as possible to the actual experience.

878

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon EF50mm f/1.4 USM

« on: December 13, 2011, 02:39:45 PM »

Thanks Branden. I like Norway, but then I'm probably biased, as I lived there for ten months. Tromsø may not be everyone's cup of tea though, as for two months in the winter, the sun doesn't rise, but then you get amazing blue light when it's clear and around two hours of pre-dawn (or post-sunset, whichever way you want to look at it) instead, although that may disappear around the solstice. It's the opposite in summer, with the midnight sun.

879

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon EF50mm f/1.4 USM

« on: December 12, 2011, 04:27:35 PM »

I found this lens to be the most useful for the landscapes around Tromsø, although the 24mm was better of course for the northern lights.


Tromsø Bridge and the Arctic Cathedral by Kernuak, on Flickr


Tromsdalen in Winter by Kernuak, on Flickr

880

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 II L USM

« on: December 12, 2011, 04:23:49 PM »

A recent acquisition for a trip to Norway to see the northern lights, it blows my 24-105 out of the water even more than I expected. I haven't made use of the wide aperture beyond the northern lights yet though.


Tromsbrua by Night by Kernuak, on Flickr


Aurora Arc by Kernuak, on Flickr

881

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

« on: December 12, 2011, 04:20:34 PM »

I find the easiest way is to copy the BBcode from Flickr directly into a post, via the share link.
From a recent trip to Tromsø, with lighting I haven't seen before, courtesy of the sun not rising.


Morning Light over Tromsdalen by Kernuak, on Flickr


Tromsdalen Church  in Winter Light by Kernuak, on Flickr

882

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon EF17-40mm f/4L USM

« on: November 27, 2011, 05:28:25 PM »

Since I started using the 5D MkII, I don't use the 17-40 quite as much as I used to, as I'm restricted with filter use, but it's quite good for exaggerated perspectives. A nicer foreground would have been better, but it got the effect I was looking for. The rocks were almost directly below my feet.

Glen Shiel by Kernuak, on Flickr

883

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS C300 Price Drop Already? [CR1]

« on: November 27, 2011, 05:13:29 PM »

The bottom line - discrete filmmaking is becoming fairly standard.
The iphone 4s is nipping at the heels of professional gear as far as resolved detail.

I wouldn't get one either, but I doubt I fall in Canon's target market. Likewise, I doubt they're looking for the discrete filmmaking market either. The target market is going to be professional filmmakers, the likes of those that use other medium to high end equipment, with a much higher budget than the average person in the street or the person who is going to be using a T2i.

884

Lenses / Re: 24-70 L USM & 70-200 IS USM mk1, do these copies have problems?

« on: November 27, 2011, 05:06:02 PM »

First off, did you shoot in JPEG or RAW and did you have high ISO noise reduction on or off?. The first image is taken at ISO 1600, which is pretty high for the 500D, the noise doesn't look that bad for such an ISO, so I suspect there has been some noise reduction, which will soften the image. Also, there appears to be some motion blur if you look closely and I would say that is partly down to camera movement, as the pews have a double image. Certainly, the shutter speed is marginal at 1/60th at 59mm.
The second image - it's difficult to say where the point of focus was, but again there may be some movement, although the shutter spped should be high enough, provided the subjects weren't moving too much. However, at 24mm, the 24-70 is probably at it's weakest if it's anything like the 24-105. Certainly, there is visible fringing, which will affect image quality.
The third image looks ok to me, the depth of field is very narrow, but otherwise there are some very sharp areas and the eyes look acceptably sharp too.
The shutter speed on the final image is also marginal, although it should be fine for still subjects, provided you keep the camera steady and I can't see any sign of movement. However, the focus is off, which focus point did you choose? The centre point wouldn't have anything to focus on, so I'm assuming you must have used one of the off centre ones (unless you manually focused). It could be that there wasn't enough contrast in the hair fo rhte AF to be accurate, although the lighting appears to be good, so it shouldn't be an issue. Did you have the IS on or off?

885

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM

« on: November 27, 2011, 05:33:10 AM »

The last few weeks, it's been carnival season. For a few weeks in November, Somerset plays host to around 110-120 entries, many of which are up to 100 foot long illuminated carts. Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, where it all started over 400 years ago, is purported to be the largest illuminated carnival in the world and the third largest carnival behind Rio and Notting Hill. It's a totally different feel though, as it happens at night, sometimes in the freezing cold or heacy rain. Here are a few of the entries this year.


Boo! Haunted House Performer GC by Kernuak, on Flickr


Jungle Drums GC by Kernuak, on Flickr


Haunted Mansion by Kernuak, on Flickr


Auto-matik by Kernuak, on Flickr


Overthrow of the Tsar Perfomer by Kernuak, on Flickr