Messages

481

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake Coming [CR3]

« on: May 22, 2012, 01:45:42 PM »

I would really like this pancake lens to be f2.0 or even better f1.4 ... also if it would make it a little bigger ... that would make an awesome lens for natural light under difficult conditions and still light to always have with you on a FF body ... f2.8 is too slow here ...

So, you basically want the 35 f/2 or the 35 f/1.4L....Canon already makes those lenses for you. Unless the f/2 is no good and you absolutely have to save that extra 3/4" in lens length; or 7oz is too heavy.

I'd imagine one of the few ways they could make a pancake f/1.4 lens would not involve an EF mount, which would piss people off more than this thing being f/2.8. Or it'd cost more than the 35L, cause it'd have to use some specialty glass to accomplish as much with fewer elements

Also, its not like there are a wealth of low-light pancake lenses out there. I think Samsung has a 30mm f/2, Panasonic has their 20mm f/1.7, there's the Voigtlander 40mm f/2, what else? Most I've seen are at f/2.8, probably for a reason

482

Lenses / Re: Would anyone consider this to be "pro-level" lens choices? Read on..

« on: May 22, 2012, 12:06:43 PM »

like paul13walnut5, I also don't see the point of the 24-105 when you have all those other lenses

* 17-40 f/4L (or upgrade to 16-35 f/2.8L)
* 35 f/1.4L
* 50 f/1.8
* 100 macro
* 70-200

looks like a great collection to me

I'd only add the 24-105 or 24-70 if I wanted to have a zoom so I could leave everything else at home, and for some reason I didn't deem the 17-40 good enough for that

as for the 70-200, I think I'd go for one of these:
* canon 70-200 f/4L IS if I want IS and a smaller lens
* tamron 70-200 f/2.8 if I need the speed
* canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS II if I have money to spare and don't mind the extra weight

Yeah, I was thinking the same, and depending on your usage, the 70-200 f/2.8L II IS would end up costing you just slightly more than the 24-105 and 70-200 f/4's combined. You've got the wide covered with the 17-40. You've got the normal range covered with primes (35 and 50), and you've got the longer side covered with the 70-200 you get. Depending on how much macro you do, that would decide whether you keep that.

Another play, if you don't want to lug around the heavier 70-200 f/2.8, is to get the 70-200 f/4L IS, then take the $8-900 you'd have spent on the 24-105 and update your 50mm prime and get the 85mm prime. Then you'd be set for low light (primes), landscape (17-40), and portrait/travel (70-200 and primes).

Also, I owned the Tamron 28-75, and I now own the 70-200 f4L IS. There's really no comparison, I liked the Tamron, but I found the AF lacking and the image quality, while nice, doesn't match the L's. If you're other lenses are Canon, you'll notice the difference in color and contrast as well. I love the 70-200, it's on my camera probably 75% of the time.

483

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake Coming [CR3]

« on: May 22, 2012, 09:59:45 AM »

That said, I would still love to see an updated 35mm f/2 with USM, and perhaps a high quality 50mm f/1.8 or f/2 with USM.

Well, the 50mm f/1.4 has USM, so that would fit your needs in regards to "high quality 50mm", and the price is within this realm (usually <$400). Aside from adding IS, Canon doesnt seem eager to update their non-L primes, so, I wouldn't expect too much. But, an EF mount mirrorless would mean they might start updating primes more, and that'd trickle down to the DSLR side too.

40mm on a 2x crop would be 80mm...  I'm not expecting the mirrorless to be anything more than APS-C, it is just as likely to be the same size as a 4/3rds sensor, EF-M ?  (micro) in a way of beating Nikon on sensor size (Nikon 1), but not suffering a problem of having to build masses of new lenses, as it would be EF or EF-S comparable.

So, could we also expect a cheap 12mm and 24mm pancake too ?, giving 24mm and 48mm focal lengths ?

I was thinking the same thing originally. This would be the portrait lens, and then they'd have a few other pancakes and a 14-42 and 14-100+ zoom that would come out eventually too. But, that there haven't been any rumors, and I don't really remember patents for them, so who knows

484

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake Coming [CR3]

« on: May 21, 2012, 11:30:13 PM »

I'm also curious about the speed. Maybe someone who knows more about lens design could comment on it. Is it harder to make a useable pancake with speeds greater then 2.8? I've been reading about micro 4/3rds lately and they all seem to complain about slow prime pancakes.

Well, the point of a pancake lens is to be as small as possible. If you look at Canon lens design (for example, the 35mm lenses), the lower the aperture, the wider the diameter and the more elements. The 35mm f/2 has 7 elements in 5 groups, the 35mm f/1.4 has 11 elements in 9 groups. It's twice the length as a result...which would destroy the pancake design. Seems to go away with the longer focal lengths to a point. Also, Canon doesn't offer any cheap wide angles under f/2.8 anymore.

The other factor is that mirrorless is working with a smaller sensor, so they need even faster primes to begin with, by about 2/3rd's a stop to APS-C. So they'd have to pump out f/1.4 primes to match something like the 50mm f/1,8

485

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake Coming [CR3]

« on: May 21, 2012, 08:58:03 PM »

If that is the case, it would stand to reason that the sensor in the mirrorless will either be full framed or perhaps APS-H (1.3x) since that would be fairly close to a 50mm "standard" focal length.

I agree with you its odd on a DSLR, especially since the 50mm f/1.8 isn't exactly large (1.5" basically).

But if it means the mirror less is EF mount, then it makes it interesting. Though I'd probably rather it had the ability to use FD lenses in addition to EF with an adapter

486

Canon General / Re: Official Discontinued List

« on: May 21, 2012, 08:26:19 PM »

I cannot see why they're discontinuing it. Anyone shooting with an APS-C body who wishes to use HSS will automatically opt for a new/used 580EX.

You answered your own confusion with the next statement. It gives people another option...which means Canon has to keep up the manufacturing line to produce it, stock the spare parts to repair and replace it, and provide tech support for it. MUCH easier to go with the new flash they just released.

That said, you'll see the 580ex in their refurb store for a while I'd imagine. So it's not like you can't get it; it's just that Canon won't cannibalize its own new item sales by offering too many options

487

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 70D & EOS 7D Mark II Speculation [CR1]

« on: May 21, 2012, 02:45:50 PM »

70d would be getting the 100% VF, new AF system, same sensor (although one could hope they refined it to give better ISO, DR, etc), continuous AF, etc... a pretty decent upgrade... I just hope it returns to a mag alloy body.  If so I may retire my 7d and pick this up as my backup body.

Unless your 7D is near death, you'd be retiring it for the exact same camera. Cause the "new" 70D is just the 7D with whatever this continuous auto-focus does.

If they did that, put MFA back in, they'd seriously have a contender, that's for sure.

Wouldn't surprise me if they left it out. Keep the 70D body similar, so its better than the Ti cameras, but not weather-sealed and full-pro style like the 7D, and leave out MFA to make people who want it buy the new 7D. Cause that's one feature they can easily differentiate that will get people to upgrade.

488

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

« on: May 18, 2012, 03:54:40 PM »

The real competition is Nikon, and Canon cannot go to 24mp - so why rock the boat? Another problem with a better sensor in the 650d is that it would cannibalize the 60d which is feature-cut in comparison to the 40d and 50d you cited.

Which is why they'll release a 70D sometime in the early fall with some upgrades to counter that.

There's still be reasons to get the 60D over the T4i (ergonomics, burst rate, button layout, etc)...they'd be the same as the T3i really, with the exception of the auto-focus.

489

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

« on: May 18, 2012, 12:46:38 PM »

Don't confuse the Nikon D5100 auto-focus, with a Sony auto-focus. My NEX 5n, using face detection, does a good job of keeping a person in focus as they walk around a room, even at f/2.8. If Sony can do this, why not Canon

Well, part of it is that they are different technologies. The way a Canon camera autofocuses for pictures is different than how it does in Live View, and video uses the Live View technology. Canon would have to adapt the SLT technology with a translucent mirror to auto-focus in the exact same way a Sony does. In doing so, they'd give up all the photographic advantages of the mirror, which isn't worth it. Basically, the Nikon autofocus sucks because it doesn't use the focus sensor (due to the mirror being up). I doubt Canon will have solved this in a way that makes it comparable with what sony has in their SLT's, let alone what the FS-700 has.

The FS-700's AF is impressive (though he admitted it makes mistakes that he doesn't show), but, it's also technology from a $10k plus camera...I don't expect Canon to implement that in their Rebel line and have skipped the 5DIII with it.

490

Canon General / Re: Suggestions on new Canon DSLR -- thinking 60D

« on: May 18, 2012, 12:21:34 PM »

P.S. Don't bother with the 18-135 - what a piece of junk.  Not even a lens creep lock (18-200 does have a lock).  I do like the 15-85 but really not long enough for traveling.

Funny, I had the opposite experience, I hated the 18-200 (found it unusable for wide shots because of the distortion, and not very sharp on the long end), but I liked the 18-135, even though its far from perfect. And I never had issues with zoom creep on the 18-135, but the 18-200 needed the lock badly

That said, my suggestion is that you go with a T3i over the 60D and use the extra money to get the 50mm f/1.8. If what you're finding frustrating is the lack of speed, the ultra-zooms won't solve that problem. All of them are gonna be f/5.6 for most of their range, which won't be any faster or handle low-light any better than your point and shoot. The 50mm f/1.8 will, and by a significant margin. You'd still get one of the zooms, because they'll work great outdoors, but you'll have versatility that way.

Another way you could consider going is getting one of the 17-50 f/2.8 lenses from Tamron. It's basically the same cost as the 18-135, but, you'll likely find it much more useful. Then you can supplement that with the 55-250 for use outdoors when you want more range. Also, many places are currently running promos, you can probably get the 55-250 for damn near free, since its $150 off when purchased with one of the bodies. At that price, its worth it.

491

Lenses / Re: 70-200: 2.8L vs 4L IS?

« on: May 17, 2012, 05:42:05 PM »

Do you need f2.8 and are happy carrying the extra weight?

Yep, I'd say look at your pictures right now. Are a lot of them shot at f/2.8? Or, are a lot of them shot at lower shutter speeds (where IS would help)? Do you need to freeze subjects a lot (f/2.8 means faster shutter speed)? And, do you shoot a lot of the pictures at one end or the other (70mm, 200mm, etc)?

Just going from the T2i to a FF body will improve your light handling, so you might not need f/2.8 as much. Going to FF you'll lose some of the reach of the lens, but, also gain some on the wide end. If you use it at 70-135 a lot, you'll like that, if you use it at 200mm a lot, you might find you want more reach. In that case, there'd be some other things to consider.

492

Lenses / Re: 24-105mm f/4 L IS on a crop camera

« on: May 17, 2012, 05:36:26 PM »

So if the OP is looking for a one-lens solution with very little compromise in the optics, then 15-85 is a good choice.

Yeah, this would work if you want to give your wife one lens and let her use it without borrowing any of your gear. Otherwise, the compromises it makes (EF-S, stop less light at tele end, etc) probably aren't worth it.

While you probably won't be upgrading to full-frame anytime soon, with your current gear, you don't need a lens that goes ultra-wide, the Tokina covers that. I'd say 24-105 makes a lot of sense, since it complements your gear set well and sets you up perfectly if you do ever go full frame. And, it allows you two different walk-around lenses, rather than having multiple lenses with the exact same focal range (17-50ish).

493

Lenses / Re: Samyang 85 1.4 vs canon ef 85 1.8 - which one to choose?

« on: May 17, 2012, 05:17:21 PM »

Since the price difference is so small (<$100), I'd have to say that the Canon version and having AF is worth it. Both are generally graded out as equals i terms of image quality; the Samyang lenses have a little different look to them, so, its really up to what your eye likes more. The 85mm f/1.8's only problem is CA, but, that can be fixed pretty easily in post.

At the 14mm and 35mm end, the Samyang lenses make sense. They are 1/4 the price of the L lenses, and yet largely deliver amazing IQ on a budget, with the tradeoff being AF. When you're saving $1000, its worth the loss. Or if the 85mm f/18 wasn't known for great AF, it might be worth it. But, for how often you'd really use f/1.4, especially manually focusing, it seems a silly tradeoff

494

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D II/24-70L II OR 5D III/24-70L

« on: May 17, 2012, 02:51:09 PM »

As an alternative, how about 5d2, 17-40 f4, 24-105 f4. You might even be able to get an 85 1.8 in budget which would be great for people?

That's an interesting alternative. The 24-104 with the 5DIII would be a really good all-around combo as well, though I think a 5dII combo with 2 lenses (whether they be WA, general zoom or tele) would probably be more versatile and more useful.

The camera itself does not provide 4 stops improvement in high ISO performance over the MkII.

But it does over a T1i, which the OP has now. Both cameras will be a BIG step up ISO wise.

The point was more that, unless you are shooting at f/2,8 a lot for DOF, you'll be able to freeze action and shoot in low-light perfectly fine with f/4 lenses if you're used to a T1i with EF-S lenses.

495

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

« on: May 17, 2012, 02:39:09 PM »

If the t4i is announced in June, how long will it take for the body to become available in stores in the US?

I'd doubt you would have one in your hands by June 11th, unless they announced it June 1st or sooner. With the rebel line, they are usually available within the month of its announcement (unlike say, the 1DX), but, Canon's production may be slow enough that that is not true this time. They might also have held off the announcement until they had enough stock to meet initial demand.