Messages

196

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 100-400 f/4-5.6L IS [CR2]

« on: June 25, 2012, 10:54:33 AM »

This lens needed a replacement far worse than the 24-70 or 70-200.

I used mine on Friday and the IS system just flat stinks compared to even the old version of the 70-200.  I lost about 90% of the shots I would have gotten with my 70-200 at the same focal lengths and shutter speeds.

I don't mind the push-pull, but the handling of the current 100-400 is the pits.  The most comfortable place to put your hand is on the locking ring and focus ring meaning your constantly messing up focus while zooming.  The focus ring should be on the very end like it is on the 70-200, and the locking ring shouldn't move the focus ring.

That is not my experience now. Before AFMA though, I was very unhappy with my shots using the 100-400. However, I shot 400 odd pictures on Saturday most of a hawk while doing AFMA. I shot about 200 after I was happy with the AFMA and all were hand shot with my 100-400 on the 5D3. All those came out sharp. I put up a few images yesterday that you can check. The link is http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=7576.msg138751#msg138751.

I hold the lens under the tripod mount as I feel that is the most balanced location for me.

This had nothing to do with AF, it had to do with IS being pretty darned worthless on this lens, at least compared to more modern lenses.

197

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 100-400 f/4-5.6L IS [CR2]

« on: June 25, 2012, 10:31:46 AM »

This lens needed a replacement far worse than the 24-70 or 70-200.

I used mine on Friday and the IS system just flat stinks compared to even the old version of the 70-200.  I lost about 90% of the shots I would have gotten with my 70-200 at the same focal lengths and shutter speeds.

I don't mind the push-pull, but the handling of the current 100-400 is the pits.  The most comfortable place to put your hand is on the locking ring and focus ring meaning your constantly messing up focus while zooming.  The focus ring should be on the very end like it is on the 70-200, and the locking ring shouldn't move the focus ring.

198

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 14-24 f/2.8L [CR2]

« on: June 15, 2012, 05:25:16 PM »

I virtually never use a rectilinear ultra-wide anymore.  I prefer my Sigma 15mm fisheye.

I've thought seriously about selling my 17-40L (which I consider to be a good lens, by the way) and I already gave away a 10-22 in favor of a Tokina 10-17 zoom fisheye.  I've kept the 17-40L mostly because I already have it, and it's useful once in a great while.

199

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 14-24 f/2.8L [CR2]

« on: June 15, 2012, 05:22:28 PM »

My $0.02 Re: CPL on wide-angles

One can't really be bothered with blanket statements like that no matter who it comes from. I use a CPL on the ultra-wide angles (10-22 & 16-35L) all the time. Tell me if you see anything wrong with the sky:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/h_ssan/6407001159/##lightbox/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/h_ssan/6900330628/##lightbox/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/h_ssan/7070347189/##lightbox/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/h_ssan/6964494411/##lightbox/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/h_ssan/6973286808/##lightbox/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/h_ssan/6609432277/##lightbox/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/h_ssan/5594147382/##lightbox/

Some have just mild problems, others are quite bad.

200

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Canon EOS Rebel T4i First Impression Review

« on: June 10, 2012, 05:00:06 PM »

One of the sites listed the digital video zoom for the T4i,...

Really?  Do you know which one?  I'd like to see it.

The implementation on the T2i and T3i was quite different.  The T2i has a 640x480 7x (100% crop) mode, while the T3i has a 1920x1080 3x (100% crop) mode with some useless digital zoom beyond that.  I was hoping for a better implementation.  Ideal would be continuous smooth zoom from full-frame to 100% crop (and not beyond) in any resolution mode.

201

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Canon EOS Rebel T4i First Impression Review

« on: June 10, 2012, 10:16:42 AM »

Even Canon wasn't able to tell me if this thing has video crop mode/digital video zoom like the T2i and T3i do or if they've really dropped this highly-useful feature.  Does anyone know?

202

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Ergonomics... Why you pay more for a 1D...

« on: June 08, 2012, 01:39:37 PM »

I agree with Smithy.  You've been using the ID for how many years and you say it's better than a camera that you've used for how long?  Oh, that's right "playing with it for a while" and you decided to share your wisdom.  My apologies for my sarcasm.

I am not judging the camera, just the grip. The camera is by far the best on the market, for now, but the ergonomics are part of the daily use. If you shot 1000 photos a day, like I do, you would understand. Amateurs won't see it anyway...
My apologies for my sarcasm...

I regularly shoot 2,000-4,000 shots in a single day, and find the 1D series to have poor ergonomics, while my 5D fits my hand like it was made just for me.

203

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Ergonomics... Why you pay more for a 1D...

« on: June 08, 2012, 12:05:05 PM »

On of the main reasons I never bought a 1D is ergonomics.  The grips are too big for my hands, and the inability to remove the portrait grip for the 95% of the time I don't need it means I'm holding it and carrying it for no reason all that time.

204

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Canon EOS 7D Firmware Version 2 Coming Soon

« on: June 08, 2012, 12:03:17 PM »

Sound's like horrible news to me on two fronts, and good news on another.

Horrible:
1)  Perhaps this means there will be no 7DII?
2)  The one feature they could have added that was a major reason I never bought a 7D in the first place still wasn't added - flexible video crop modes.  Come on Canon, even my 550D has a video crop mode!

Good:
1)  Canon usually doesn't enhance old products.  I'm still a bit bitter that a few of the very simple software-only features of the 30D weren't added to my 20D (such as better file and folder naming).  Maybe they're finally seeing the light?

205

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake

« on: June 07, 2012, 10:59:44 PM »

When did f2.8 become slow?

When you could get f/2.8 zooms.

Most zooms never have the image quality of a prime.

This era has long-since passed.  I never, ever, choose a prime over a zoom because of optical performance.  I choose them for speed or for having a focal length in which no zoom is available - like my 1900mm telescope and my 15mm fisheye (yes, I know about the 8-15 but that thing zooms in the wrong direction and it way, way overpriced, plus it's only f/4).

206

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake

« on: June 07, 2012, 10:57:37 PM »

I don't like small lenses - they give you no place to hold the camera.  I like holding my camera with my left hand under the lens.  My 35/2, 50/1.8 and 50/1.4 were too small.  My 35/1.4L is borderline but okay.

Now this is a real reason to dislike this lens.

Glad you agree.

Ergonomics are as important to me as optical quality or AF performance.  If it hurts to shoot with it hour after hour, then it's as useless as a lump of coal.

207

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Information.

« on: June 07, 2012, 10:47:11 PM »

Wait - a full-frame lens with a backfocus distance of 38.4mm?  Doesn't the EF spec set that at 44mm?

208

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake

« on: June 07, 2012, 09:28:11 AM »

When did f2.8 become slow?

When you could get f/2.8 zooms.

I only buy primes for one of two things (and I have four of them) - speed or focal lengths unavailable in any zoom.  This lens meets neither criteria.

I don't like small lenses - they give you no place to hold the camera.  I like holding my camera with my left hand under the lens.  My 35/2, 50/1.8 and 50/1.4 were too small.  My 35/1.4L is borderline but okay.

209

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 70D & 3D Prediction from Japan

« on: June 05, 2012, 12:52:12 PM »

I dont use grips and with modern batteries being so good the integrated grip is pretty much a dinosaur except for maintaining best weather sealing, intergrated grip is something i would rather not have if possible 5D sized bodies with no grip is about perfect for me.

Absolutely, 100% agree.

They did it with the 1V/1VHS, I don't see why they don't do it with the 1D bodies now.  It's the major thing that turns me off to a 1-series body and the reason I've never even considered buying one.

210

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D Specs [CR2.5]

« on: May 18, 2012, 08:13:18 PM »

The NEX 5n uses contrast detect auto-focus, just like the quick focusing Olympus cameras. If Sony, Olympus and Panasonic can build good contrast detect auto-focus, why do you feel that Canon is so incompetent that they couldn't

"Good contrast detect auto-focus" is like "tasty raw herring".  While some might taste better than others, they all still take like dog doo.