Messages

61

EOS Bodies / Re: Brand New 5d3 with 1500 shutter counts.

« on: May 13, 2012, 06:06:12 PM »

Have you checked the file number of your last image to confirm the count is the same as eoscount says it is?

Their website does not show that it supports the 5DIII (although the site might not be updated to include that body).

62

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon, STOP shipping defective products!!!

« on: April 24, 2012, 12:43:54 PM »

I suppose the OP never took delivery of a new automobile until the manufacturer was able to certify that it had been tested for every conceivable set of circumstances that might slightly cause the automobile to perform less than perfectly and would never, ever need to be returned to the dealer for service or adjustment.

I suppose that the OP also performs perfectly in every way possible in his or her job or profession, each and every minute of each and every day of each and every year.

Listening to the rants about something that would never have an impact in any way 99.9999999% of the time blows my mind.  And to read that an individual has 2 of these bodies that have been working great, is going to return them, makes me shake my head.

People..... instead of sitting at the keyboard typing this nonsense, GO OUT AND TAKE SOME PICTURES.

63

Lenses / Re: 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS vs 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS

« on: April 18, 2012, 03:42:56 PM »

With the resolution of the 70-300 L and the 5D3, you should be able to crop fairly deep if needed.  The IQ and IS of the 70-300 is much, much better than the 100-400.  I have owned both and can say that from experience.

64

Lenses / Re: 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS vs 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS

« on: April 18, 2012, 03:41:08 PM »

Why not get the Canon Extender 1.4x II or 2x III? 

The 70-300 L does not accept an extender.

65

Lenses / Re: 300/2.8 L (IS MK1) or 400/2.8 L (non-IS)

« on: April 16, 2012, 04:44:14 PM »

In my personal opinion, the 300 f/2.8L IS gives you a lot of flexibility when coupled with extenders.  For years, I used a 500 f/4L IS and finally gave up on it because of the weight.  The 400 f/2.8L IS is even heavier than the 500.  It's a brute and weighs over 6 pounds more than the 300.  I am not familiar with the non-IS version, but I'm sure it's a pretty heavy lens as well.  Monopod or not, you still have to carry your gear around.

I shoot mostly motorsports and birds and am amazed at how the 300 performs in those venues.  The AF is incredibly fast and accurate.  The image quality, simply put..... is outstanding.

Don't forget to click on the images to enlarge them.

Here are some images using the lens without a converter (300mm).....







Here are some images using the 1.4x converter (420mm).....









Here are some images using the 2x converter (600mm).....









I'm using the Mark III converters and found the 2x is much better than the previous model, although did not see much difference with the 1.4x to the older model.

I normally shoot a 1D Mark IV but also use the above combos on a 7D which also handles them very well.

They will have to pry my 300 f/2.8L IS from my cold, dead hands.

66

Technical Support / Re: What impacts does a metal L lens take without any iq degradation?

« on: April 16, 2012, 02:48:04 PM »

Have you ever seen how a professional handles his/her gear at a fast paced event?  I have.  The stuff gets beat up and banged around like you wouldn't believe.  The professional grade gear is built to take a beating and keep on ticking.

I was following a friend one day who had his 500/4 and 1D combo come loose from the tripod while he carried it on his shoulder.  It hit the pavement in front of me and took a good bounce.  That was 3 years ago and it has worked just fine ever since.

I had my 400/4 come lose from my 1D one day when I accidentally hit the release button and hit the pavement at my feet.  It never missed a beat and I used it a long while after with no ill effects.

Don't go out of your way to test the limits, but there is no need to be paranoid about it either.   Use it and enjoy.  If you worry about marks, just get a LensCoat for it.  I have them on all my large lenses.  It makes it easier to handle the gear in cold weather and provides a layer of protection for the finish as well as small bumps etc..

67

Lenses / Re: 7D + 300/2.8 + 1.4x or 5D3 + 300/2.8 + 2.0x

« on: April 01, 2012, 10:12:08 AM »

It was mentioned that she could consider a 1D MK IV and 400/5.6L with a 1.4x extender.  The AF speed is horrible and locking on the subject is chancy at best.  I don't advise using that combo.  For action, it would never work.  It barely works for static subjects.

Is the focus speed "issue" related to the f5.6 apeture? I guess it is almost f8 with the 1.4x extender.

With the extender, it becomes f/8 and that is what impacts the AF speed.

68

Lenses / Re: 7D + 300/2.8 + 1.4x or 5D3 + 300/2.8 + 2.0x

« on: April 01, 2012, 08:27:36 AM »

I was really just going to watch this thread and say nothing but decided to jump in and offer an opinion.  I do so on the basis of having some personal experience with the gear in question.  The qualifier is that I owned the 5D MkII, not the MkIII, so I can't speak to hands on experience with the new 5D.

I presently shoot with a 1D Mk IV and a 7D.  I have also owned the 1D Mk IIn and MK III.

I have owned several copies of the 100-400 and gave them up because of less than optimum IQ at the long end.  It was also a light hog and deadly slow.  I presently shoot a number of 'L' lenses, including the 300 f/2.8L IS with both 1.4x III and 2x III extenders.  I also shoot with a 400/5.6L.

It was mentioned that she could consider a 1D MK IV and 400/5.6L with a 1.4x extender.  The AF speed is horrible and locking on the subject is chancy at best.  I don't advise using that combo.  For action, it would never work.  It barely works for static subjects.

I find very little slowing of AF with the 1.4x on the 300/2.8 and the IQ is still excellent.  On either of my bodies.  The 2x really slows the AF down a lot... even on the 1D Mk IV and I use it only for static subjects.  The IQ takes a hit as well, although not as bad with the MkIII extender as it did with the MkII.

Keep in mind that the 300/2.8 is not a light lens, but it performs like a champ.  Mine will go into the grave with me.  One of the best sports lenses ever made.

For what it's worth, the 7D AF is no slouch and the IQ is very good.  The 7D is not up to the standards of my 1D MK IV, but it is still a serious camera.  I can't compare it to the new 5D.  I'm comfortable shooting the 7D up to around ISO800.  Beyond that, I find it needs some work on noise reduction.

With a $10,000 budget, your friend can have the best of both worlds.  She can have a 7D, 5D III and a really good used 300/2.8L IS with a 1.4x extender.  A really nice, clean 300/2.8 can be bought used around $4,000.  Don't waste the money on a 2x extender for action sports.  It slows down AF too much for rapidly developing action.

Just my 2 cents worth.

I'm back.

After my original post, I felt I could have expanded a little on the AF capabilities of the 7D.  If someone has used both the new 5DIII and the 7D for sports or action photography, they could offer a better comparison between those two cameras than I could.

Having said that, I normally use my 1D Mk IV for that type of shooting, but have had occasion to use the 7D in that application.  I have used it to photograph birds in flight, Grand Prix auto racing and horse racing.  It always performed extremely well and provided a high percentage of keepers.

69

Lenses / Re: 7D + 300/2.8 + 1.4x or 5D3 + 300/2.8 + 2.0x

« on: March 31, 2012, 07:52:03 PM »

I was really just going to watch this thread and say nothing but decided to jump in and offer an opinion.  I do so on the basis of having some personal experience with the gear in question.  The qualifier is that I owned the 5D MkII, not the MkIII, so I can't speak to hands on experience with the new 5D.

I presently shoot with a 1D Mk IV and a 7D.  I have also owned the 1D Mk IIn and MK III.

I have owned several copies of the 100-400 and gave them up because of less than optimum IQ at the long end.  It was also a light hog and deadly slow.  I presently shoot a number of 'L' lenses, including the 300 f/2.8L IS with both 1.4x III and 2x III extenders.  I also shoot with a 400/5.6L.

It was mentioned that she could consider a 1D MK IV and 400/5.6L with a 1.4x extender.  The AF speed is horrible and locking on the subject is chancy at best.  I don't advise using that combo.  For action, it would never work.  It barely works for static subjects.

I find very little slowing of AF with the 1.4x on the 300/2.8 and the IQ is still excellent.  On either of my bodies.  The 2x really slows the AF down a lot... even on the 1D Mk IV and I use it only for static subjects.  The IQ takes a hit as well, although not as bad with the MkIII extender as it did with the MkII.

Keep in mind that the 300/2.8 is not a light lens, but it performs like a champ.  Mine will go into the grave with me.  One of the best sports lenses ever made.

For what it's worth, the 7D AF is no slouch and the IQ is very good.  The 7D is not up to the standards of my 1D MK IV, but it is still a serious camera.  I can't compare it to the new 5D.  I'm comfortable shooting the 7D up to around ISO800.  Beyond that, I find it needs some work on noise reduction.

With a $10,000 budget, your friend can have the best of both worlds.  She can have a 7D, 5D III and a really good used 300/2.8L IS with a 1.4x extender.  A really nice, clean 300/2.8 can be bought used around $4,000.  Don't waste the money on a 2x extender for action sports.  It slows down AF too much for rapidly developing action.

Just my 2 cents worth.

70

EOS Bodies / Re: Get some perspective... [Humour!]

« on: March 31, 2012, 04:51:07 PM »

I absolutely loved it.  Just too funny.... and just too true.

71

EOS Bodies / Re: 1d mk iv or 5d mkiii?

« on: March 13, 2012, 07:37:03 PM »

They will have to pry my 1D Mark IV from my cold, dead hands.   

72

Lens Gallery / EF 70-300 f/4-5.6L IS

« on: March 12, 2012, 06:49:42 PM »

I purchased the EF 70-300 f/4-5.6L IS recently to evaluate for a specific application.  I ultimately felt it was too slow for the application and sold it yesterday.  However, while I had it, I shot some bird images with it and was impressed with the IQ the lens delivered.  I will be using my EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS II and EF 300 f/2.8L IS for my application but thought some folks out there who are looking at this lens might appreciate seeing just how good an image it can produce.

I wish I could have justified keeping the lens but it would have seen very little use with me, if any.  However, if someone out there is considering one, don't hesitate.  The lens delivers as promised.  It's also built like a tank.

73

Lenses / Re: Lens suggestion - Alternatives to 24-105

« on: March 04, 2012, 09:01:53 AM »

Yes, the 24-105 is a full stop slower than some of it's f/2.8 cousins, but remember it has IS which more than makes up for the one stop.

I currently use a 24-70 f/2.8L which replaced my original 24-105.  I sometimes wish I still had the 24-105 for the long end.  It's an excellent lens.

74

EOS Bodies / Re: Best part about 5D III?

« on: February 29, 2012, 05:25:23 PM »

Personally, I intend to wait for the 5D Mk V which I believe will include artificial intelligence far superior to my natural intelligence, making it possible for me to capture good images.   

75

EOS Bodies / Re: How many of you actually have money to buy the new 5D Mark III?

« on: February 29, 2012, 05:22:33 PM »

How many, or which, forum members have the funds to purchase a 5D MkIII is nobody's business but their own.

( I can't believe I am actually posting on this thread  )