Messages

76

Lenses / Re: Ultra-Wide-Angle (UWA) wishlist

« on: March 18, 2012, 01:22:14 PM »

Canon lens range is covered from 8mm on
8-15mm ; 16-35,...
but I agreee and wish too for an overlap fixed focal lens - like a 14-21 or so, or even a prime in the mid of that range with AF and at least 2.8

Hi Phil, thanks for your thoughts.

Agree that the 8-15mm may be an option if I was after a fisheye.  Unfortunately, I'm chasing something rectilinear, but forgot to mention that in the post.  Isn't the 8-15mm also bulbous?

Many owners have mentioned that the 16-35 suffers badly from hotspot in near-IR, which is why I did not look at it.

not as much as the TS-E 17mm ...
at 14mm fixed, you have the rokinon and their knock-offs (samyang and bower) and the canon ef 14mm,
I think sigma has a decent 15mm
My hopes are in a new mid-range UWA-WA or a 17-18 prime for canon.
Zeiss has a good 18mm and outstanding 21, but they are not wide enough for me

77

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Equipment for landscape & travel photography - advice needed please!

« on: March 16, 2012, 05:16:59 PM »

what about renting a 5Dmk2 or if available the mk3?
Then when you return, you can finally finalize your decision.
Lens kit wise, you are fine for FF - maybe adding the rokinon 14mm?
A tripod will be great for some low light situations - but get a travel/light one.
Yes, a CPL and a grad nd6  filters would be great, along with a corded or wireless remote.
Not so sure about a flash.
You can/will have a lot of fun shooting  tropical flowers and bugs with the 100mm macro, which can replace the 85mm
So:
rent a 5D (even the clasiic is worth)
take the 24-70, 70-200 and 100
consider to rent or buy the rokinon 14mm and/or the canon 50mm 1.8 ( I would get both)

78

Lenses / Re: Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/15 super wide angle lens

« on: March 16, 2012, 09:43:43 AM »

sweet lens - but almost 3k- ouch!!

79

Lenses / Re: Ultra-Wide-Angle (UWA) wishlist

« on: March 15, 2012, 09:55:29 AM »

Canon lens range is covered from 8mm on
8-15mm ; 16-35,...
but I agreee and wish too for an overlap fixed focal lens - like a 14-21 or so, or even a prime in the mid of that range with AF and at least 2.8

80

Technical Support / Canon and lens calibration

« on: March 08, 2012, 10:15:39 AM »

How come Canon does allow for lens calibration in some camera models, and yet does not supply any sort of software or technicalsupport for such?
Do they rather have people keep on sending lenses back and forth with those silly complaints about being not sharp/focusing well, etc?
Why are they letting others make money out of something they could easly provide for a small fee? - actually should be free, or with a simpler free version available

Does not make sense to me.
Yes, I like the fact I can micro-adjust focus  of a specific lens to a specific camera - I don't like that Canon does not provide any help  or support for it.
Shame on you Canon

81

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Anyone bought a 5DMkII in the last 6 months and now regretting it?

« on: March 08, 2012, 10:08:41 AM »

Nope.
I am not a gear head - tech junkie - or need the new features do my job.
Photography is my hobby; my knowledge and technique did not match yet what the 5D2 can do.
Rather spend money in quality glass

82

Technical Support / Re: Manual Focusing screen replacement?

« on: March 06, 2012, 10:12:45 AM »

question should, can it be done in a safe way?
Yes, but can you?
There are a few demo videos, if you do a related search, but still a risk of bringing more dust, scratching the mirror, etc.
Take it to a good reputable local camera store, and ask about the costs. More often, they might give you a labor discount, if you buy from them, aside of having some sort of warranty on services and parts.
It's done often, and I have done it on my 40D with success. However, I won't do it again, and for sure not on the 5D2 myself.

83

Lenses / Re: Replacement suggestions for 17-40mm f/4 L

« on: March 05, 2012, 01:32:05 PM »

You're familiar with the shortcomings of the 17-40mm f/4 L, so I won't go into those here. Suffice it say when I compare  sharpness and clarity to that of my 50mm f/1.4 and 70-200mm f/4 L, it comes up a little short.

Here's my question to you: If I were to replace it, what's your recommendation, keeping in mind a similar focal range to complement the two other lenses I mentioned? I'd like something under $1,000 USD, without regards to what I could get for my 17-40.  I'm willing to consider an off-brand lens, if it meets all of those guidelines and still outperforms the Canon I already have.  Oh, and I shoot with a 5DmkII, so I'll need to stay away from anything EF-S.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

better than the 17-40@ f8 in that price range...I don't think there is anything
If you double that budget and even consider used/refurbished, then you have options on primes

84

EOS Bodies / Re: Buy the 5D III or wait for the 5D IV?

« on: March 02, 2012, 01:52:04 PM »

I'm already thinking about the 5DV.  There are two fives in it, so it has to be waaaaaaay better.  By the current pricing hikes it might retail for $55,555.55 though.  So I think I will wait for the 5DV to come out and get the 5DIV on sale.

Darn, I got here too late...was thinking about that too LOL - I don't we are going to see a 5D-six (name prone to too many associations/confusions/misspellings)

85

Lenses / Re: What's your favorite Canon lens and why?

« on: February 23, 2012, 12:23:08 AM »

Now: Canon TS-E 24mm 3.5L II
because the great IQ and being manual focus - with a very craetive DOF

previously : Canon 17-40 4L
because is light and covers all needs for landscaping while hiking

before 5Dmk2, on a 40D:
Canon EF-s 10-22mm
same as 17-40 on a FF body

ps: don't tell the TS-e 24, but once I can get my hands on the TS-e 17 or another great prime between 16 to 20  - if one ever shows up, she will be on "previously" status

86

Lenses / Re: cheap macro: raynox 250

« on: February 16, 2012, 01:12:16 AM »

wel, I did research a little bit about it, but decided go a different way
However, check this site:
photography-on-the.net, then forums/talk about photography/macro talk and use the "search this forum" tab - just type raynox, and voila' : plenty to read, and if you register, then you will be able to post questions too.
Good luck

87

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Safari Photos

« on: February 15, 2012, 02:21:04 AM »

I have a 40D that is about 4 years old.  We are going on a safri trip this summer.  My current lenses are 24-105 4L and a 100-400 4.5-5.6L IS  The f stops are not all that fantastic, even though they were not inexpensive.  My question is should I be happy with my lenses as are and get a FF 5D(hopefuly new one is not THAT much more than the current) or look at getting a faster prime lens such as the Canon 24 f/1.4L.

My oher interest are primarily very still photos, landscape and people

Hi there,
I was in Tanzania back in 2010, and took a 40D too. I had a 10-22 and the older 80-200mm 2.8L with a 2x. Yes, you will need the the 400 range and more for birds and some other animals. In most cases, it will bright enough, meaning you will be able to use the lens wide open in the morning or at dusk and closing down and/or using low iso during the day. I do recommend an UWA lens - the 10-22 for the crop body does wonders, as the lens distortion is not the worst - not a bad as the 15mm F.E. on ff. You will need the wide angles for landscaping - yes, africa is big and with wide spaces, but even at 17mm not everything will "fit" in.
The 24-105(36-170 on 1.6x) will cover most of people and closer animals shots. The 100-400 will do a good job on most animals, except in heavy shade situations; so in my opnion, you need to cover below the 36mm range - hence the 10-22mm.
No question you will benefit with a ff body, and your kit still works very well with one, but in that case you would need the 17-40 or 16-35 lens.
IF you can, rent the 5dc or 5d2 with the 16-35 or 17-40 combo - too many chances to shoot, but probably not so many chances to go in safari every year
besides, you want to avoid lens changes while on the safari - bumps, shakes and plenty of dust all  the time

88

Lenses / Re: Best lens for photographing product...

« on: February 11, 2012, 11:10:07 AM »

It's probably best you avoid the 16-35 for shooting products due to the distortion that lens may introduce. Is there an unmovable requirement that you have to shoot from so close?

90% of my product work is done with either EF 90mm TS-E  or EF 45mm TS-E lenses. The flexibility and extreme precision available with these two great lenses makes them the "go-to" lens for a very large number of product shooters.

Rent one for a week and see how you go.

Paul Wright

+1 For that

The shift feature means you can do an accurate pano as well - means you can get 1.5 x the mps into the image when stitching - so turning your 18np into 27mp image. Do that with a 5DII and you have as high a resolution than a D800 can do for a single image

The use of the TS-E means you can take from quite close to the subject

The best TS-E is the 24 II. It also doubles up as a top 24mm lens as well

2+
for both comments - however you need a full fame body, and indeed the 5dmk2 with live view will help quite a bit.

89

Lenses / Re: 5D Focusing screen shim advice

« on: February 03, 2012, 09:55:30 AM »

Hello All,
I just installed a split image focusing screen from focusingscreen.com. I notices the second inner circle does not match up perfectly. I think they are slightly different sizes so shimming the screen horizontally or vertically might not fix the alignment. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks for looking.

check this forum thread:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1078226

90

Lenses / Re: fill the void -17mm to 24mm

« on: January 22, 2012, 08:46:58 PM »

1++ Neuro
it would be a waste to 'just' use it as a 24, because has so much more to give.
I never tried the 24efII, but I really love the 24 ts-e. Next upgrade I will make will be the TS-e17mm
Still think Canon is missing something between 14 and 24 as worth consideing prime - they can't/won't ever have every number in between(as prime) but seem logic that they should consider a 20mm (1.8?) or whatever they can make with low CA and soft edges
Zeiss has the 18 and 21, altough the 18 is a lesser performer - so there you have it 19-1/2