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EOS Bodies / Re: what to do
« on: May 23, 2013, 07:40:10 PM »
Yes. Glass is always a better investment than bodies. If you're asking the question, glass will be a better benefit than a new body.
May 24, 2013, 01:06:42 PM
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Lighting / Re: Emergency help-wedding tomorrow
« on: May 17, 2013, 10:42:51 PM »
on camera? off camera? I assume one flash? flash sync? How far away are you trying to bounce? might it be firing at full power and just not able to do what you're asking of it? Kind of reaching a bit with these questions, but more info always helps.
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Lenses / Re: New EF-S Lenses Are Coming [CR2]
« on: May 17, 2013, 02:07:18 PM »What happened to this rumour? With the EOS 100D, small and compact EF-S primes are a must ... otherwise there's just no purpose in the camera. But on the other hand, Canon crippled the darned thing so much, it in fact does have no purpose ... just like this post, I guess.I love stream-of-consciousness posts.
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Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Advice on 1st flash
« on: May 14, 2013, 07:33:44 PM »
Another +1 on the 430. For all the already-mentioned reasons.
It was my first flash, I learned a lot, then got a 580 to act as a master so I could avoid the popup all together, now contemplating another 430 since they're only $203 in the canon refurb store (which is where I got my first one, for all intents an purposes new.)
It was my first flash, I learned a lot, then got a 580 to act as a master so I could avoid the popup all together, now contemplating another 430 since they're only $203 in the canon refurb store (which is where I got my first one, for all intents an purposes new.)
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EOS Bodies / Re: 5D Mark III with Continuous RAW Video Recording
« on: May 13, 2013, 08:22:05 AM »
In other news, canon discontinues the Cinema EOS line, 5d3 sold out everywhere...
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Canon General / Re: new canon lens caps
« on: May 10, 2013, 01:09:55 PM »however, I am willing to bet that the circular cap shows up rectangular...
I bet if you used the 8-15 set to 8mm, you'd get a blacker black circle in the middle, and the vignette would look gray...
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Lighting / Re: 270 ex ii or 430 exii for vacation
« on: May 10, 2013, 01:04:23 PM »with a Stofen.
why? for outdoor shots, it's not like the flash is going to bounce off of anything... a sto-fen would just cost you flash power.
People shots, fill flash, softening, don't see how your going to be able to us a bounce flash much if at all at Disneyland.
I'd also use manual and dial it down a bit too for close-ups
That's the point. the sto-fen Omni Bounce is exactly that: it simulates a bare-bulb effect, throwing light everywhere, so it bounces off of every available surface. It's not a softbox, and the apparent flash head size is the same, so you'll still get the same shadows you'd get without it. You're just throwing light in other directions that will be wasted instead of landing on your subject. Might as well not use it and just use a bare flash head. Or, get something like a Lumiquest softbox that goes onto the flash head and softens the light, if that's your goal.
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Lighting / Re: 270 ex ii or 430 exii for vacation
« on: May 10, 2013, 09:38:44 AM »with a Stofen.
why? for outdoor shots, it's not like the flash is going to bounce off of anything... a sto-fen would just cost you flash power.
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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Color Bombs Kill Cameras
« on: May 10, 2013, 09:34:36 AM »So, seems to be a lot of mis-conceptions here.
The powder is cornstarch with food coloring. Unless you have a food coloring allergy, respiratory issues or are allergic to corn there isn't much to worry about. I have shot 3-4 of these for my local paper and two for the company that runs them and feel just fine afterwards. A painters mask reduces the amount you inhale by quite a large margin. If you want to filter it all out you will need a good respirator.
It's cornstarch, it dissolves quickly. It'd be a different thing if it was silicone based powder as that would sit in the lungs forever.
I wouldn't go leaping to conclusions that just because it's corn, it's safe...
http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/21/4/646.full
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Lenses / Re: Lens Not Focusing
« on: May 10, 2013, 08:43:16 AM »
Is it not locking focus, or are the actual lens elements not moving?
When it tries to focus, you should be able to tell if the physical focus is at least changing. If you can hear things moving and the actual focus of the lens is not changing at all, my guess would be that somehow the motor has become disconnected from the focus group, and you'll have to send it back to Canon.
If it's trying to focus, and just not confirming or locking focus, I'd be curious what you're shooting. Can you add more light, or focus on something higher-contrast? What focusing mode on the camera are you using? Is there another camera you can borrow from someone to test it? If you throw on a speedlite, does the AF assist beam help at all?
Just my initial thoughts on how to better diagnose the matter...
When it tries to focus, you should be able to tell if the physical focus is at least changing. If you can hear things moving and the actual focus of the lens is not changing at all, my guess would be that somehow the motor has become disconnected from the focus group, and you'll have to send it back to Canon.
If it's trying to focus, and just not confirming or locking focus, I'd be curious what you're shooting. Can you add more light, or focus on something higher-contrast? What focusing mode on the camera are you using? Is there another camera you can borrow from someone to test it? If you throw on a speedlite, does the AF assist beam help at all?
Just my initial thoughts on how to better diagnose the matter...
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Lighting / Re: 270 ex ii or 430 exii for vacation
« on: May 10, 2013, 08:24:20 AM »
I will say that I've not used anything below the 430, but I think for $203 right now on the refurb store a 430 is a steal. Great value. And I've never had any issue carrying it, and I do find it noticeably smaller and lighter than my 580, and especially if you're already bringing a 5d sized camera with a 24-70, I don't think the 430 would be the straw that breaks your back...
Have fun! I've been wanting to get back to disney for a while now...
Have fun! I've been wanting to get back to disney for a while now...
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Lenses / Re: Taking the next step
« on: May 08, 2013, 09:24:43 AM »I know you're asking about lenses, but how are you doing about lighting? You mentioned your 580exii, but portraiture is one that usually calls for more complex set-ups. We all know pictures are made or break by their light.
TL;DR summary: Lots of options, depends on your style and what you want to prioritize.
I agree with this. I'd say at least one more speedlite to be used off-camera would be huge. That probably also means getting a light stand, umbrella, some flash gels... the works. At least for formals.
As far as lenses go, a 100L is good for ring shots and other details. Other than that, while it does make a very nice portrait lens, it won't do anything your 70-200 won't (although it will be a bit sharper). The 135 is bokehlicious for portraits, and some other fast primes (even without spending on L lenses, like 50 1.4 or the sigma 30 1.4) could be useful for low-light situations.
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EOS Bodies / Re: No 7D Mark II in 2013? [CR2]
« on: May 07, 2013, 08:04:04 AM »
From time to time i bump into this pearl of wisdom.
Since this is CR and not Instagram's "#look what i ate today!" lets see some examples of how difficult it really is to exceeded the capabilities of the 7d in question:
- Do you still get random OOFs when tracking even though you played with the settings and your technique is adequate?
- Have you ever hit buffer limit?
- Ever disappointed by WB under artificial lighting?
- You tried to lift shadows only to find the surprise underneath?
- You get sky noise even though you're shooting below 400?
- You dont get useful 1600s+?
- Did you ever tried autoiso only to find its a slopy implementation?
- Weak AF under low light?
- Meter goes bananas in challenging situations?
Have you ever bumped into any of the situations above? Well congrats you are one of the "two (maybe three) people on the planet who have actually exceeded the capabilities of the equipment they already own" according to SiliconVoiD
Yesss I knew I was something special
and despite the random OOF shots, I love the beautifully sharp in-focus shot I got when the AF decided to wake up, and I am learning to rely less on the meter and pick my own exposures, and by nailing exposures don't have to lift shadows. I would wholeheartedly reccomend the 7d to anyone who wants more out of a camera, but doesn't have the money to go FF: hell, they're available on the refurb store for $1019. Anyway, the light's nice this morning, I'm going outside now.
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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: First photos with the EOS Kiss X7 (aka Rebel SL1 / 100D)
« on: May 06, 2013, 03:34:42 PM »
Well if you slapped a $2000 70-200 IS II or 24-70 2.8 II on the X7/SL1/100D, I'm sure you'd be a lot closer to those D3200 pics, which I'm sure were taken with the best lenses that Nikon corporate could use to maximize the camera...
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5D MK III Sample Images / Re: New Real Estate Photography - What do you think?
« on: May 01, 2013, 07:43:46 PM »
Not much to comment on- I generally like them, especially keeping in mind who these pictures are really intended for (buyers looking for a house.)
For me, the outdoor colors are too vivid and saturated. I like the indoor ones- but the exterior shots I just find a little overwhelming. Particularly the blues, but they don't feel "cool", like the white balance is off. I think there's just a lot of blue, and the overall saturation makes it feel overwhelming. I'd dial that back a bit. Otherwise, the composition looks interesting, helps to visualize the house, etc.
For me, the outdoor colors are too vivid and saturated. I like the indoor ones- but the exterior shots I just find a little overwhelming. Particularly the blues, but they don't feel "cool", like the white balance is off. I think there's just a lot of blue, and the overall saturation makes it feel overwhelming. I'd dial that back a bit. Otherwise, the composition looks interesting, helps to visualize the house, etc.