Messages

46

Lens Gallery / Canon 24mm f3.5 TS mk2, the ultimate wide angle lens?

« on: November 15, 2012, 10:50:55 AM »

I have had mine for a month or two now and I am more than pleased...Its a great interior and architecture lens and now I have taken my first tentative steps to use it in my personal photography...more thoughts and photos here at...http://www.ivanmuller.co.za/blog-item/greylingstad-mpumalanga

47

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon 1D MKIV To 1DX

« on: November 06, 2012, 10:32:55 AM »

How many of you guys here have upgraded to the Canon 1DX from the 1D MKIV and never regretted it?And why?
Thanks.

I bought it and sent the 1D X back. The camera has many problems. For one thing I do not think it is natural to be able to take pictures at such a high ISO. God made noise to be viewed as noise. We shouldn't tamper with that. Also I miss the 3mp drop from the old 1Ds III. When pixel peeping at 300x on my 30" monitor I can really start to see the lack of resolution and this bugs me. The high frame rate sounds great in theory, and the improved AF system but together they create  more work. Several years ago it was very easy to sort out the non keepers from the keepers, they were obvious. With the 1D X I would have to sort through hundreds of near identical pictures that are equally in focus. I could have lived with one of these problems, but taking all of them together I decided to send the 1D X back.

I just love your sense of humour and  had a really good chuckle!!

48

EOS Bodies / Re: [Poll] Canon Reign Supreme Again?

« on: November 06, 2012, 10:27:32 AM »

This is 1dx and d800 and the same exposure  1/1600 sec F-8    6400iso


There are a lot more resolution in d800 compared to 1dx  and 6400iso .
The main difference regarding S/N will be after 12800iso (Nikon iso)


eivät suorita ralley vuonna jääkaapissa

...actually what I see here, apart from the obvious is that the 1dx resolution is not that far off from the d800, which just shows you that double the pixels does not quite equate to double resolution...what I also see is amazing quality from both cameras, the D800 is simply suberb, with the 1dx not far behind...we live in exciting times and what all this pixel peeping prove is that you really cant go wrong buying either a canon or a nikon and I am sure the sony is up there too...!(and I am not forgetting Leica)

49

EOS Bodies / Re: [Poll] Canon Reign Supreme Again?

« on: November 06, 2012, 10:09:42 AM »

Its quite amusing to read the heated discussions on which brands are better...as a Canon fan I accept that Nikon probably has better sensor technology at the moment and its cameras seem to be well priced. As a pro I also realize that most camera's quality far exceed the quality requirements of my clients...

But all this technology is like a yo yo one year canon is up and the next nikon and who knows maybe the year after that it will be sony!

Will that make me change systems? Definitely not, as a pro I need something far more than just image quality, I need a system...which btw it looks like almost all the big brands provide anyway...so we are spoiled for choice at the moment...but all the mudslinging is really more for camera collectors, the ones that worry about the street cred of their 'male jewelery'...the rest of us really don't worry about things like that.

I am much too heavily invested in canon at the moment to ever consider changing...For now I leave the battle of the 100% pixel peepers to the folks that have the time and the patience and strong eyes...me I am investing in lenses that will improve my vision, like the 24TS, the pancake and certainly the new 35mmf2 IS..also maybe a fourth 430ex2 flash to make my location portraits easier and a panhead for video, radio triggers, upgrade to CS6, more software, etc etc the list goes on and on...me I think I will wait for the 5dmk4 or the megapixel canon that is surely to come...and when it does I will have quality glass to match! In the meantime I am glad that nikon/sony is 'better' than canon, there is nothing like a bit of competition to improve matters

To see my work follow this link....http://www.ivanmuller.co.za/node/2080

50

Reviews / Re: Review - Canon TS-E 24 f/3.5L II

« on: October 09, 2012, 09:35:02 AM »

One thing I forgot, the 24mm TS-E is compatible with the extender 1.4 (though I can only speak for version 2), that gives a very decent 34mm TS-E.

I am quite interested in that 1.4 extender and would appreciate some more info if you dont mind..when you say decent, would that be at max shift also and would you say its good enough for professional use..?

51

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Considering switching to Nikon

« on: October 09, 2012, 05:24:45 AM »

Personally i think you should just go out an shoot and make images...no matter what system you are using, you will only be limited by your own capabilities and your own vision or lack there of...ask yourself this question if after you have switched systems are you going to keep on switching as each new manufacturer brings out something 'better' and if your answer is yes then by all means switch and keep on switching...but then ask yourself are you interested in making images or in mastering and owning toys...nothing wrong with the latter, i know many people who collect cameras and lenses and that always have the latest and the greatest...nothing wrong with that, but then does it really matter which toy is a bit better or a bit faster, just go for the one that you want, you wont have it for long when something  'better' comes along...the pinnacle of  'male jewellery' ownership would seem to be a Leica M and glass, the undisputed king of 'the best that money can buy'...

On the other hand if you want to be a photographer get rid of all your lenses, chooce one lens and one camera and shoot with that for at least a year..at the end of it you will be a much better photographer and you will know exactly what you want in a camera...you wont need or want to ask a bunch of faceless guys on the internet to recommend bodies and lenses...look here to see what one can do with a fixed lens camera only....http://www.ivanmuller.co.za/blog-item/centurion-weppenerthe-journey-begins.

52

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 650D Results on DxOMark

« on: October 09, 2012, 05:07:12 AM »

...the problem i have with 'jumping ship' so to speak is that who can afford that luxury ??...so imo nikon makes better sensors now, and the d800 and d800e are probably at the top of the heap...does that make my 5d2 bad ? no I dont think so, it just means that there are better cameras out there now...how much better though? One cannot quantify it...Canon also makes a superb 24ts lens, I just got one, it also makes a pancake, I also just got one, sure the new nikons look great, but so do the Sony's...so what to do? buy a whole new system everytime the competition comes out with something better? just doesn't make sense to me...so for now I am spending my money on lenses, the ones I have always wanted...buying any new camera now is not going to change my photography or put money in my bank...a new lens like the shift will, but not any new camera...so one day when the new megapixel canon comes or maybe the 5dIV then I will reconsider but for now I just cannot see how any of the latest 'male jewelery' offerings out there can replace what I have got...its simply good enough...not the best but 'good enough'...not one of my clients have ever complained about image quality or focus...yes perhaps my vision but that's not any camera's fault..personally I feel all the brands are good enough now to produce top class results,  what a great time to be a photographer! Some of my work can be seen here at...http://www.ivanmuller.co.za/blog

53

Reviews / Re: Review - Canon TS-E 24 f/3.5L II

« on: October 05, 2012, 01:44:15 AM »

I had a very interesting journey with Canon when I ordered my 24ts mk2 about 6weeks ago. I had just landed a nice interior architecture assignment and felt I could justify buying one of these...I come from a 4x5 background and have sorely missed shift and tilt!  I ordered the lens and of course as luck would have it there were a few days unexplained delays in delivery with the result that I got it in the middle of shooting the assignment. I was a bit pressed for time so I didn't even notice that they had given me the mark I instead. That evening looking at the images I wasn't very impressed with sharpness nor CA especially in the corners. Only the next morning on my way to another assignment did I notice it was the old lens! Anyway after a few stressed phone calls Canon delivered another lens to me, this time a Mark II but after a few test shots I came to the conclusion that this one was even worse than the mark I. I phoned the Canon reps and the immediate response was that I obviously don't quite know how to use it etc etc. After speaking to the local product manager it transpired that they had given me a pre production lens, the serial number was only 063...but I was assured that they will stand by me and if I am not happy with the quality they will give me another one or a different lens or my money back...eventually about a fortnight later they managed to get me a newer sample...and eventually I now have a good if not superb lens. I am still waiting for my 'own' lens as this is only a loaner...

I have shot about three house with this lens since I got it and as I get more comfortable with it I am really starting to appreciate the sharpness and shift. I have not tried the tilt yet...but so far my most expensive lens ever is living up to expectations...very little almost unnoticeable distortion. Same with CA...almost none...I saw some traces in the corners on one image ...very sharp at f11 where I use it most of the time to get max depth of field..so, so far so good...!

I will post my own impressions and sample photos on my blog in the next week or so...here at  http://www.ivanmuller.co.za/blog-item/i-love-pancakes

54

Lens Gallery / Re: First images and review of 40mm pancake...

« on: August 01, 2012, 02:25:07 AM »

Here is an image of the pancake on a 5d2 plus lenshood from the 50mm1.8....more here at...http://www.ivanmuller.co.za/blog-item/body-portraits

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

55

Portrait / BODY portrait....of Alex, 19....

« on: August 01, 2012, 02:19:33 AM »

...more images and info on technique here at...http://www.ivanmuller.co.za/blog-item/body-portraits

56

Lens Gallery / First images and review of 40mm pancake...

« on: July 24, 2012, 09:14:26 AM »

Together with my 5D2 I think the 40mm pancake can be a great walkabout lens...I have also found a solution to the 'inadequate' lens hood for the 40mm. For more images and my review please follow this link...http://www.ivanmuller.co.za/blog

57

Landscape / Re: Da Vinci's Castle at Locarno...

« on: July 18, 2012, 04:09:52 AM »

Blaydese, thanks for looking and your interesting comments..! When I travel I take the minimum of equipment with me and a flash is definitely not one of them...! I am a 'straight' type of shooting guy so the orange filters etc is not really my cup of tea, as I usually shoot for B&W,  but these sort of looked monochrome and therefore presented in colour. I have made some square crops as an alternative, that also worked well...

58

Landscape / Re: Another Wave...

« on: July 17, 2012, 09:42:13 AM »

Thanks all for looking and for taking the time and trouble to reply! I don't really record my settings but it was probably f8 and auto shutter speed with a half stop to a stop overexposure - these are my standard settings...

Regarding detail in the figures, well it is a tiny pic here on the web, but seen enlarged on my monitor or printer large there is more detail...such is life with posting on the web, its but only a fraction of the 'real' quality...

Regards,

Ivan

59

Landscape / Da Vinci's Castle at Locarno...

« on: July 17, 2012, 09:36:07 AM »

...more images of this fabulous castle here at...http://www.ivanmuller.co.za/blog-item/locarnos-visconti-castle

60

Animal Kingdom / Wildlife of the Kruger National Park

« on: July 11, 2012, 01:58:58 AM »

I have just come back from a 4 day visit to the Kruger Park. I saw an amazing variety of animal life,  many more images can be seen here at...http://www.ivanmuller.co.za/blog