Messages

1

Lenses / Re: Tilt-Shift Lenses

« on: May 20, 2013, 12:55:10 PM »

I have the 17, 90, and 24 II.  The 90 is most useful for macro and product photography.  I occasionally use it for landscapes when my subject is more distant or for occasional city panos.

The 17, as already mentioned, is most useful for interiors.  It can be useful for landscapes if the scene lends itself to such a wide angle.  It is a very sharp lens but has a serious tendency to flare.  You have to be very careful with it if you are in the presence of any lights or the sun in particular.  It is therefore a very poor choice to use for sunrise/sunset shots.

The main advantages the 24 II has over the 17 are
- Much better flare control.  A very good lens for sunrise/sunset shots
- Much easier to use filters.  You can technically add filters to the 17 using special adapters, but both the adapters and the filters are pricy.
- Closer focusing distance, allowing more of a macro effect.  This is very useful for objects very close.

I primarily use my 24 for exteriors and as a walk around lens.  On vacation it is my most used lens after my 70-200/2.8 II.  The 17 is a great lens, but the 24 is more flexible due to the above.

2

Lenses / Re: What can tilt-shift lenses do that post-production cannot?

« on: May 12, 2013, 10:41:11 AM »

Beautiful shots.

Please excuse my ignorance, but where is this city located?

First one is Riomaggiore, in Cinque Terre.
Second one is Florence.
Third is Siena.

3

Lenses / Re: What can tilt-shift lenses do that post-production cannot?

« on: May 11, 2013, 11:07:31 AM »

Tilt-shifts can work fine without a tripod.  I use the setting on my 5D3 that allows me to see leveling info in the viewfinder by pressing one of the AF buttons.  Before I do that I verify focus using Live View.  The following shots were taken with a TS hand held.


JSC_2110_HDR.jpg by CalevPhoto, on Flickr


JSC_0562_HDR-Edit.jpg by CalevPhoto, on Flickr


Siena Gardens by CalevPhoto, on Flickr

4

Lenses / Re: How to shoot jewellery and NOT get reflections of the camera

« on: May 10, 2013, 12:06:39 PM »

Buy the book Photography:Light, Science & Magic.  It will answer all of your questions and questions to those questions in exhausting detail.

5

Software & Accessories / Re: Adobe to Stop Making Packaged Software

« on: May 06, 2013, 11:33:30 PM »

What I really want to know from this is what is Adobe's guarantee for quality? Most of the major services have what is called an SLA (Service Level Agreement). If they fail to provide a major feature for a certain period of time customers may receive a refund.

However, Adobe quality is simply abysmal.  In the past I have waited months after a product release for them to sort out the bugs.  I have no faith that Adobe can create a quality service.

6

Lenses / Re: What can tilt-shift lenses do that post-production cannot?

« on: May 06, 2013, 04:18:48 PM »

IN CAMERA! It's all about getting it as best as can be in camera. Post………go ahead and rely on post, if you like that sort of thing.

You cannot achieve the same effect that a TS lens can do for you in PP.  Depending on the amount of shift there are cases where you can get somewhat close, but a TS lens is the only real solution.  For details on why go back to the first page of this thread and see my post with the Burj Khalifa.

7

Lenses / Re: New Tilt-Shift Lenses in the Wild [CR2]

« on: May 02, 2013, 06:34:25 PM »

I also own the TS-E 17.  It is a nice lens but not as sharp as the TS-E 24 II and flares badly. 

I believe that comments like these should always be put into context by saying that the 17mm TS-E is widely considered to be one of the sharpest UWA lenses of all time.

Yes, in terms of sharpness it is a bit like saying a Ferrari is better than a Porsche.  Perhaps true, but few would turn down a Porsche.  That being said it does have a big issue with flare.  If you look at the front of the lens it is quite obvious why.  I have learned to just be careful where I use it, but the TS-E 24 II is far more versatile in that respect.

The other thing is the TS-E 17 is often just too wide. 

8

Lenses / Re: New Tilt-Shift Lenses in the Wild [CR2]

« on: May 02, 2013, 04:29:52 PM »

I'm thinking of soon (after saving a bit more $$) getting my first TS lens.

I was thinking of going for the 24mm one.

Would this be the best choice to start with? I don't have any primes near this focal length, so it would be something good I was thinking, for regular AND TS photography. And I figured it is good and wide enough for landscapes, building shooting...maybe even for commercial real estate.

Arguments out there pro/con for me on my first TS lens?

This is probably the best TS lens to start out with.  It works well for building exteriors and for general purposes.  It has generally been my second most used lens on vacations after my 70-200/2.8 II.  Unlike the TS-E 17 it accepts filters (well, you can technically put filters on the TS-E 17 but it is expensive and a bit bulky) and has minimal flare problems.

I also own the TS-E 17.  It is a nice lens but not as sharp as the TS-E 24 II and flares badly.  It also has a huge bulb in the front to protect.  It is definitely a wonderful lens and my primary lens for interiors, but the 24 is much more versatile.  Note that some people buy the TS-E 17 and put a 1.4 extender on it.  Yes, this will work, but you will lose sharpness and will still have the glare issues.  I would never do that.

9

Lenses / Re: New Tilt-Shift Lenses in the Wild [CR2]

« on: May 02, 2013, 12:50:06 PM »

I have a feeling by "macro TS" they mean .5x - not 1x.  This is very plausible because the Nikon PC-85 is already .5x.  If this is the case, even though macro is my specialty, I will unlikely bite because I already have the current TS-E 90 and it is not one of my more used lenses.  Of course, if they do manage 1x this lens will be at the top of my list.

The TS-E 45 II is a bit more intriguing.  I already own the TS-E 17 and TS-E 24 II and have considered the TS-E 45, but poor reviews of the current model have dissuaded me.  Schneider makes a very nice 50mm TS lens for the EF mount, but at over $3k I could not justify it.  As I have run across a number of situations where a TS-E 45 would have been useful, I would likely buy a copy.

10

5D MK III Sample Images / Re: New Real Estate Photography - What do you think?

« on: May 02, 2013, 01:16:49 AM »

You should take a look at HDR Efex 2.  I have not used Enfuse, but I did use Photomatix for awhile and I like the job HDR Efex does much better.

11

Lenses / Re: Recommendations for a 180mm macro?

« on: April 30, 2013, 07:52:20 PM »

I owned the 180L in the past, but sold it due to poor IQ.  The Sigma looks interesting, though they tend to have a huge variance in quality.

Personally I get by just fine for butterflies/flowers between my 100L macro and 300/4.  The 300/4 has .28x native magnification and with an extension tube easily does .38x.  This works for me for butterflies, larger flowers, and lizards.  When I need to be closer I just use the 100 macro.  For flowers I also sometimes use a TS-E 90.

12

Lenses / Re: EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x Available Mid 2014?

« on: April 23, 2013, 06:50:12 PM »

It is quite clear why the development is taking so long.  Clearly this lens is made possible through magical fairies.  Unfortunately they have run into a few problems.

- A number of the fairies are on strike, presumably due to poor working conditions
- The replacement fairies are too fat, explaining the heft of this lens

13

Lenses / Re: TS-E 17mm or 24mm

« on: April 22, 2013, 03:52:33 PM »

I had both and took both last August to Tuscany - including the places you mention.  The primary purpose of a TS lens is keeping your verticals straight.  In architecture for most shots if your verticals are not straight, then others will not bother looking at your work.  They're really a basic necessity type of thing.  Some may argue that you can do this in PP, but that is not true - the perspective will be different.

IMHO it's not really a one or the other proposition.  I found both necessary but if I had to take only one I would take the 24 because 17 is often too wide and it has more problems with flare.

I posted a thread here recently with examples from Tuscany with these lenses - http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=13128.0;topicseen

14

Lenses / Re: Trip to Marocco- Advice

« on: April 16, 2013, 07:58:09 PM »

We are planning a trip to Morocco next year.  No need for a Pelican case.  I would take a TTP Streetwalker Pro, which worked well for me in Tuscany.  Your equipment is decent for the situation.  Personally I would look at a TS-E 24 II and TS-E 17 instead of the 17-40.  In particular I expect my TS-E 24 II to be my most used lens there.

You may also want to look at the Singh-Ray Color Combo instead of a normal polarizer.  I would also consider dropping down to one camera body - perhaps a 5D3 or 6D if you can upgrade.  I carried a 5D2 + 7D in China, but only a 5D3 in Tuscany and I definitely preferred having the single body.  Yes, dust is a concern but I found it much better in terms of concentrating on getting the best shot.  Multiple bodies are most useful for sports and wildlife where you need to switch in a crunch.

Consider bringing a 100 macro for the markets.

15

Software & Accessories / Re: Bag while I am a "tourist"

« on: April 10, 2013, 08:47:15 AM »

You mention big telephotos for wildlife, but none of the lenses you list really qualifies as one.  Are you taking a 600L or even a 300/2.8?  If so, then a GuraGear or TTP bag is easily your best/only option.  For the lenses you mention, though, they should fit in a TTP Streetwalker Pro.

I took one of these to Italy recently and fit the following.
5D3 with 70-200/2.8 II attached
580 EX flash
TS-E 17
TS-E 24 II
8-15 fisheye
100L macro
24-105
2x extender

On wildlife trips I take my TTP Airport Accelerator.  I take the 16-35 instead of the TS-E 17 and add
MP-E 65
MT-24 EX flash
Either 300/4 or 400/5.6 depending on the wildlife