Messages

61

Lenses / Re: Input on Lens Decision

« on: February 18, 2013, 02:33:29 PM »

And if you find that 200mm is long enough most of the time, just sell the 300 and keep the converter and the 70-200

I guess the question is why deal with the converter? You either have to leave it on at all times (thus really owning a 100-280 f/5.6 lens) or be swapping it on and off. Going with the 70-300L, the only thing you really lose is about 1/3 stop from 100-200mm...and you gain 70mm f/4 or 300mm f/5.6 with no swapping.

Only reason not to trade out the 70-200 would be if you do video work.

62

Lenses / Re: Would a 14-28mm f/1.8 be possible?

« on: February 18, 2013, 02:02:22 PM »

Yes, but it would suck or be really expensive.

TO back this up, the only f/1.8 lens I am aware of at wider than 24mm is the 20mm f/1.8 that Sigma has, and the reviews lean towards the "suck" side of things. And that's not a zoom and not going to 14mm. Seeing how insanely large the element is at 14mm f/2.8 on the Nikon zoom, I'd shutter to think what it'd be at f/1.8

Shallow DOF helps isolate the subject, no matter the focal length. I notice a big difference between f1.8 and f2.8 @ 50mm. I imagine such a difference would exist also at 15mm.

Except at 50mm, your focus plane is maybe a foot wide at f/1.8, so, you can isolate an object fairly easily. At 15mm, your plane is now 10ft in length, so trying to isolate that same object would fail. The background would have to be 10x as far away to get a similar effect.

I'm guessing you haven't shot ultra-wide; the reality is that even at f/2.8 on anything wide than 20mm, you can pretty much set focus about 1/3 to 1/2 way into a scene and get everything in focus. Not much isolation to be had in the ultra-wide realm without T/S

63

Lenses / Re: 24TS-E Version I v. Version II

« on: February 18, 2013, 01:52:21 PM »

Just to complicate things, Samyang just announced the pricing for their 24mm T/S lens; pretty similar to what a used Mark 1 goes for. Might want to see what the reviews say about where it falls; if it's better than the Mark 1, might be the way to go. Obviously I doubt it approaches the Mark 2

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/926417-REG/Samyang_SYTS24_C_24mm_F3_5_TILT_SHIFT.html

64

EOS Bodies / Re: Bought a 7D, considering exchanging for a 60D. What would you do?

« on: February 12, 2013, 11:51:29 AM »

Currently I'm about 95% leaning toward the 7D. I almost exclusively use an external monitor for studio shots, and I don't think the 60D's 480 out is going to cut it. The more I think about it, the more I am in favor of keeping the 7D.

Yeah, really no reason to swap then. If anything, you should be looking towards the 5d3 or BMCC as a future option

65

EOS Bodies / Re: New Cinema Camera & Lenses for NAB 2013

« on: February 12, 2013, 11:50:19 AM »

Three cinema bodies that seem so similar.

I think it would make sense if this new camera was basically a C300 replacement. Make it more in line with where it should be price wise (<$15k), and then they'll actually have pretty good differentiation. The C500 is their fully-featured 4k cam, while the 1D-C is a video DSLR, and the C100 and C300 are for different levels of general production.

66

EOS Bodies / Re: 6D Likely Price Trend

« on: February 12, 2013, 11:43:40 AM »

Well remember it's still officially MSRP $2000, these are just temporary sales that I assume will stop once the 70D actually gets announced.

I'm not sure the 70D is really gonna put any pressure on prices for the 6D, just two different price points honestly. The list price of their xxD line is a good $1000 cheaper than the xD line (60D listed at $1099). Even if the 70D turns out to basically be the 7D in terms of AF, etc...do you think the 7D is influencing sales of the 6D? The informed consumers are looking for different things (landscape v sports/nature), and the uninformed are just looking at the price tag, which is 40% less with the 7D.

If the 70D came out with some amazing new sensor that was comparable to full frame....then maybe

67

EOS Bodies / Re: Bought a 7D, considering exchanging for a 60D. What would you do?

« on: February 12, 2013, 11:34:27 AM »

I thought that the 60D was rated for 100k Clicks and the 7D for 150K?

I'm not sure that is really relevant when we are talking mainly video usage. Really, the question would be more to how well each camera handles heat, etc.

I'd keep the 7d.

While the swivel screen and difference in price make the 60d appear more attractive NOW (you know, the "always greener..." sort of thing), you'll likely soon realize the advantages of the 7d (like the screen that doesn't black out when you press record) outweigh the negatives.

Also, you can make a compelling argument that while the 60D is nice for casual video use, if you are getting paid for a gig, you should be using an external monitor to check focus, etc. You client finding out you have a 60D instead of a 7D is nothing compared to the embarrassment of them finding out their interviews are all out of focus.

Likewise, AFMA is a non-issue in differentiating the two, as you'll be pulling manual focus anyway, not relying on the cameras electronics.

If you were doing casual use, Id agree with those that say 60D, because Magic Lantern support and the swivel screen are nice, cheap stand-ins for pro features. But, when you are a pro, you need the right tool for the job. A DSLR may not even be the answer for some gigs.

68

EOS Bodies / Re: New Cinema Camera & Lenses for NAB 2013

« on: February 12, 2013, 11:27:27 AM »

In other words, Canon will soon have 3 dedicated cinema bodies in the market, but still no dedicated landscape / studio body?.. Yawn.  This is just another sign that they shifting away from stills, and more towards video.

Actually, they'll have 5 dedicated cinema bodies, as they'll have the 1D-C, the C100, C300, C500, and then whatever this is.

Of course, that pales in comparison to the EOS-M/T3/T3i/T4i/60D/7D/6D/5dIII/1DX lineup they have for stills that somehow studio and landscapists have been getting by with for a while. Remember, the Canon cine line is young, so, they have a lot of niches to fill still. And, like photography, they have to cover a lot of markets that are looking for different things. The people who want the C300 are very different than those that want a C100 or C500.

69

Lenses / Re: Which pair of lenses to get?

« on: February 10, 2013, 11:03:38 PM »

Another advantage of the 5dII over the 6D is that it has Magic Lantern right now, which is something you'd likely install on Day 1 if you are doing video work.

You don't mention what you are shooting videos of; that's critical to giving any advice on lenses. If it turns out you are shooting events or weddings, that's very different than shooting outdoors or sports.

A 24-105 won't cut it indoors, whereas it'd be great outdoors. Personally, I'd consider going the Rokinon/Samyang route if you are mainly focused on video. You can get their 14mm, 24mm, 35mm, and 85mm lenses for the price of the new 24-70 f/2.8 and still have some money left over for camera support.

But knowing what you'll be shooting is key to know.

70

Lenses / Re: Resistance to Larger Filter Size, Kills Great Lenses?

« on: February 03, 2013, 11:28:38 AM »

Actually, if the 24-70 f/2.8 IS had a front element that large, wouldn't Canon just make it work with their drop-in filters? Seems silly to imagine they would even allow a 95mm front filter ring when they have another system already designed to solve the problem. And, it brings more filter customers (where a 95mm filter would mean cash for B+W, etc).

But, I agree that the premise is crap. All the lenses where they have non-IS and IS versions usually have the same filter size (70-200's for example). And they can do 24 f/2.8 IS with a 58mm filter size. So, why does it suddenly have to be 50% larger to add IS?

71

Lenses / Re: Any chance for a 18-250 or 18-300 lens from Canon in the foreseeable future?

« on: January 31, 2013, 03:58:46 PM »

My own take is that the ef-s line up is pretty well covered, between the EF-s and EF lenses, especially given the likely budgets and aspirations of the aps-c market.   Canons kit zooms between the 18-55 and 55-250 combo are pretty good, compact, light, cheap, the uwa could be faster, but how much R&D for how many units?

Canon have upgraded their ef short primes, which make great standard lenses on aps-c.

I think a wider cheap pancake, in ef mount to keep volume up and costs down.

Yep, Canon has the standard kit (18-55), standard tele (55-250), medium zoom (18-135, 15-85), faster (17-55 f/2., ultra-wide (10-22), and ultrazoom (18-200) covered, and that's not counting the 17-85. All at pretty reasonable prices relative to quality; and the ones that could stand to be better (17-85, 18-200) probably wouldn't be appealing at the resulting higher prices. An updated 17-85 would cost the same as a 15-85, so why not just get that already. And an updated 18-200 would rival the price of the 24-105, etc...it'd have to get a pretty major IQ upgrade to be worth the price.

The travel superzoom segment is already well covered by sigma and tamron, who can sell to many more potential users of different systems.

And then there is this. Making an 18-270/18-300 that is good is not easy, it's usually heavy and bulky and not as desired as people think. So, if you can make one for 3-4 mounts, maybe you can make money...but just making it for EF, that's a tougher sell. Better to release a bunch of decent travel-zoom P+S cameras instead.

I'd much rather see Canon release an EF-S 30mm or EF-S 12-14mm prime before I'd want them going super-zoom. Nikon and Sigma show that the 30/35mm aps-c specific lens can sell; and Samyang seems poised to show that a 10mm prime can sell as well

72

Lenses / Re: Rebate Ending Soon? When's The Next One?

« on: January 31, 2013, 03:46:51 PM »

In the past they ran another round of rebates right before the summer (May/June), but, that also used to coincide with an early March release of the Ti/xxxD series. So they'd have that out for 2 months, then offer a rebate (or lens combo deal) and also have other lens deals.

The best deals are usually on the rebates that come in the early fall, and the ones going around this time (Jan/Feb). So, I wouldn't expect deals as good in June if they do another rebate program. Of course, that's all subject to change depending on how Canon wants to meet sales goals, etc

73

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: can anyone share a basic easy multicam video set up with 5d3s?

« on: January 29, 2013, 10:08:44 PM »

It sounds like you want to keep both cameras rolling the entire time so that you don't have to sync them more than once in post. I have no idea how to accomplish that with a cam like the 5D, which is not intended for such use.

Yep, this is basically the answer. You'll either need to use a plug-in or hand-sync them later, as you can't even guarantee an exact time when the cam is gonna hit the 4GB limit, etc. It's why a DSLR works well on a set, but not so well at an event.

If this is something you are going to be doing often, especially for long, hours-long shoots, you may find yourself wanting another camera

74

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma Announces New 30mm f/1.4 for APS-C

« on: January 29, 2013, 03:15:38 PM »

But if people are wanting to move to ff or aps-h, the canon 28mm 1.8 or 35mm 1.4 might be a better option.

However, with this being an aps-c consumer lens, I presume we will see a cheap price tag.

The 28mm f/1.8 retails at $509, the Sigma (currently) retails at $489. So, at worst they'll cost about the same retail wise, but, more likely since the Sigma is newer, you'll see the 28mm being cheaper in street price for a while.

I think the 28mm's problem is it's an odd place to be. If you are buying it in the hopes of moving to full-frame later, 28mm isn't exactly the best focal length (compared to 24mm or 35mm). And if you don't plan on moving, then why not spend the same amount and get f/1.4 instead of f/1.8. It's where Canon is missing out by not having EF-S primes in the way that Nikon does.

75

EOS-M / Re: Why no Sigma DN lenses for Canon M?

« on: January 29, 2013, 03:11:10 PM »

I'm still blown away by the fact that Metabones believes there is a market for $600 EF to NEX/MFT speed booster adapters. The plain ones with AF go for $300. Canon will really need to up its 'M' game to make those choices moot.

I acutally considered going with that route for a 2nd body. Getting a GH2 for video or an NEX-7 for portability and using a Metabones adapter rather than amassing a new collection of glass. It's actually quite smart because neither company has a collection of lenses that even comes close to competing with the EF-mount system (both Canon and 3rd party options). Yet they had bodies that can do things their Canon counterparts can't.

I actually think that's a market that will continue to exist even if Canon steps up their M game, because they are now several years behind, and they certainly aren't making aggressive moves to match what Sony and Olympus just put out