Messages

31

EOS Bodies / Re: Announcement Date? [CR1]

« on: January 24, 2012, 01:23:13 AM »

It's all falling in to place isn't it. Nikon 'leaked' their own D800 ages ago and now Canon 'leak' their next generation full frame and it's all in time for a major show in both company's homeland in 2 weeks time.

Gripping stuff!

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EOS Bodies / Re: *UPDATE* 5D Mark III Sighting?

« on: January 23, 2012, 05:42:07 PM »

I'd be very surprised if this was a replacement for the 5D2 as it's got so much of the 7D about it. Also why would you test a 5D replacement on wildlife? That's 7D territory isn't it?

The large pentaprism housing could simply be that large for aesthetics / ergonomics and it is still APS-C or maybe H.

Interesting that no-one seems all that bothered that the 200-400 and 600 lenses are clearly on show here but all we care about is what body he's using them on!

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Why canon?

« on: January 19, 2012, 05:49:41 PM »

For me the decision as to why I stay with Canon is down to the lenses. I look at the Nikon lens range and they just don't have the variety of choices in the various price brackets. The killer for me is that there is no direct competitor for the Canon 24-105 F4L IS. That lens alone keeps me in the Canon camp as Nikon's 24-120 is a stinker apparently! 

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Site Information / Re: a thank you letter to Canon Rumors

« on: January 18, 2012, 02:48:30 PM »

I thought the site had been hacked and If I clicked the video link it would download some horrible virus onto my PC 

35

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon 1DX pricing in Australia

« on: January 17, 2012, 05:46:25 PM »

I live in New Zealand and have the same problem with the pricing of Canon gear. I find it hard to justify supporting my local camera shop when their price is 30% higher than on Amazon USA. Parrallel importers (with an office and back-up in Auckland) are a good 30% cheaper on some lenses.

I too believe that it is Canon NZ keeping the price artificially high for whatever reason. Maybe because they need higher margin to support the cost of having offices in a country with a much smaller market?

Whatever it is, I can buy a brand new 5Dmk2 on Amazon for less than a used one on internet auction site here in NZ. You do the math 

I'd love to buy the next generation full frame 5D equivalent but I know it will be daylight robbery for the first 6 months of being available.

36

Contests / Re: Contest Winners Announcement

« on: January 17, 2012, 01:25:24 AM »

Congratulations!

The contest has been very exciting and the anticipation of having one's efforts thrown into the ring for the possibility of winning a great lens is awesome. It's also been interesting to see what other people judge to be a good photo. Clearly I need to brush-up on my black and white!

Thanks CR

37

Lens Giveaway Contest / Re: Contest Announcement!

« on: December 19, 2011, 02:36:08 PM »

Some exceptional images there and best of luck to the finalists. One or two of the selections left me a bit baffled I must admit but they'll get filtered out in the next stage.

Wildlife carries the highest standard by far in my opinion and it will be a hard call to pick the top 1.

Interesting times ahead!

38

Canon General / Re: The Jump To Full Frame

« on: December 18, 2011, 06:57:45 PM »

I upgraded to a 5D MK1 last year from a 30D. I don't think I will ever buy another APS-C camera!

Sure the LCD screen is crap but I'm more interested in the histogram so it's no biggy for me. People rage about the autofocus being ancient but I have never been able to attribute a poorly focused shot on the camera's inefficiencies. It works just fine for me, don't understand why so many people hate it. Maybe if you shoot flying birds I can understand but the 5D isn't built for that, buy a 7D and get your point and shoot focus with a bit of noise. The 5D was built for landscapes and portraits. Portraits are just awesome with full frame and if you get it right you can capture a kind of texture and dimension impossible with APS-C.

I have considered going for a 2nd hand 5d2 but I'm not sure what extra quality my images would gleen from it. I don't need HD video and can live without a better LCD. I have a good focus technique so don't need 4000 extra focus points to help me out!

I would echo other people's views on pro film cameras too. I bought a Canon EOS 1n recently. Beautiful camera which handles better than my 5D. It's very, very tactile, why can't they use the same ergonomics on the 5D?

39

Lens Giveaway Contest / Re: Contest Announcement!

« on: December 14, 2011, 10:56:47 PM »

Personally even if I dont get a picture in the top ten I'll have still enjoyed the buzz of 'maybe'.

Like a lot of people I take lots of pictures which very few other people get to see let alone judge. Also having looked through the remaining categories I honestly can't see how one could pull out the best ten. The level is so consistently high throughout. There are some killer shots there which wont make the top ten for sure.

Thanks CR for the opportunity and thrill of the chase! 

40

Lenses / Re: EF 35 f/1.4L II & EF 24-70 f/2.8L II on January 3, 2012? [CR2]

« on: December 10, 2011, 05:47:12 PM »

If you need a lens with IS buy the 24 - 105mm !

It's not f2.8! Jeez. What's wrong with wanting an 2.8 IS Zoom for the 5D2 that's equivalent to the 17-55 for the crop? Seriously, this is not a trivial matter. Some of us want to hand hold in lowish light.

I read on a recent thread here that the reason the 24-70 doesnt have IS is because it's technically very difficult to achieve without dramatically increasing the overall size and weight of the lens. That's why Nikon haven't done it on their 24-70 either.

Presumabley the 17-55 2.8 IS has smaller glass due to it's reduced image circle and therefore is easier to put IS on it and keep the size of the lens reasonable.

Personally I see the 24-70 as more of a studio zoom and the 24-105 IS as an outdoor low-lighter. Don't need IS in the studio. It's horses for courses I suppose.

41

Lenses / Re: Zoom for new 5D Mark II -- 24-70 or 24-105

« on: December 02, 2011, 07:22:55 PM »

I haven't used the 24-70 but do own a 24-105 which I use with a 5D mk1. It's an absolutely outstanding all rounder. If you're going mainly for primes and want just one zoom I'd pick the 24-105 every time. longer range, lighter, IS is a massive differentiator considering you want an all-rounder.

I have a 2 year old who tears around the house and usable shots of him with ANY lens camera combo are going to be few and far between regardless of your technique. Without a 50mm 1.4 or something you'll get 90% failure rate so I wouldnt decide between the 24-70 and 24-105 purely on low light rug rat shots!

As I say, the 24-105 continues to please and surprise me with its performance even after 4 years of use. It's got to be more versatile than the 24-70 in every way bar a stop or two of bokeh but as any well read photographer will tell you - you need to pay attention to your background.

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Lens Giveaway Contest / Re: *Contest* Flora - Post Here.

« on: November 07, 2011, 12:40:47 AM »

Silver Tree Fern - New Zealand

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Lens Giveaway Contest / Re: *Contest* Black & White - Post Your Images in This Thread.

« on: October 04, 2011, 03:19:31 AM »

City Limits

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Lens Giveaway Contest / Re: *Contest* People - Post Here.

« on: October 04, 2011, 03:07:19 AM »

Negotiating on the beach

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Lens Giveaway Contest / Re: *Contest* Street - Post Your Images in This Thread.

« on: October 04, 2011, 02:26:30 AM »

Crushed car after magnitude 6.3 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.