Messages

316

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: New Speedlite 440EX-RT in the Fall? [CR1]

« on: April 11, 2012, 02:23:35 PM »

Rather than additional new flashes I would like to get from Canon a reasonably priced (i.e. 49,- USD) RT-receiver for all existing slve-enabled EX-flashes ... 270 EX II, 320EX, 380EX, 430EX/II, 580EX/II.
Most of us already paid for Canon speedlites!

And Canon better go back to the drawing board and design a fully-specced ST-E3-RT Mk. II with a hologram laser-AF-illuminator ... for a reasonable 149,- USD.

317

Lenses / Re: Why is Canon so slow updating (legacy) lenses?

« on: April 10, 2012, 08:59:33 AM »

compared to Nikon, Canon was exceedingly slow to update their lens line-up over the last 7+ years.

While they are very slowly completing work on the super-teles and the TS-E lineup, there are lots of major weaknesses throughout the normal range:

* 50/1.4 II ...  matching Nikon/Sigma, with new and robust Ring-USM/FTM  ... overdue for years
* 14-24 L or at least a 16-35 L III ... fully matching the Nikon optically
* 20/2.0 or 24/2.0 - instead of a 24/2.8 IS and the totally useless 28/2.8 IS
* 24-70/2.8 III WITH IS!
* 100-400/4-5.6 L II - upgrade in IQ for the long end, current 4 EV IS, turning-zoom, and still affordable price



 

318

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon 5D Mark III Light Leak?

« on: April 07, 2012, 05:54:14 PM »

my 7D does not show this problem.

it cannot be seen clearly, -> http://photorumors.com/2012/03/02/whats-inside-the-guts-of-the-canon-eos-5d-mark-iii-camera/  but there seems to be a huge gaping hole in the magnesium chassis of the 5D III underneath the senseless top-deck LCD. 

I hope the problem turns out to be real and leads Canon to just  abolish the totally unnecessary analogue-days-artefact top-LCD on all future digital cameras. That would be the best, easiest and CHEAPEST solution.

319

Canon General / Re: Why pay over the odds for 5D mkiii ??

« on: April 06, 2012, 11:33:32 AM »

No, there is nothing in the Nikon lineup like the MP-E 65mm. 

Thanks.

As for the PC-E lenses, I wonder if Nikon shooters who depend on them are still proclaiming the virtures of having a popup flash?

While it is totally crazy, that Nikon f*cked up so badly on this one in the D800 (and possibly the D4 as well!), as a 7D user I continue to sing the praise of a master-trigger-capable pop-up flash.  :-)

It should be no problems to integrate a pop-up flash into a freakin' BIG DSLR the size of a D800 (or 5D III) in such a way that TS-lenses can clear it in any position.

I will not buy a camera without integrated, master-capable flash, UNLESS it has a built-in radio-flash-trigger with more functionality than a 600EX-RT or ST-E3-RT ... specifically it also needs to have 2nd curtain sync over the air. 

320

Lenses / Re: Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 VC Available for Preorder

« on: April 06, 2012, 10:56:47 AM »

Looking at the pictures, it appears that, yet again, Tamron didn't bother to make the focus and zoom rings turn the correct direction. Do they not realize that the primary customer for this lens is going to be a professional who owns lenses such as the 70-200L and 17-40L?

This is a serious usability flaw, and a dealbreaker for me. A consistent user interface is critical, and Tamron has broken it here. They finally graduated to the late 20th century and added USM and IS to their lenses; would it kill them to make Canon-mount lenses that behave like Canon's own lenses?

+1
Really incredible to not offer "really right" lenses! Goes for  Tamron as well as for Sigma and Tokina. 

321

Canon General / Re: Why pay over the odds for 5D mkiii ??

« on: April 03, 2012, 10:15:40 PM »

I think that one point is missed by the argument that we are "trapeed" by investment is Canon glass. Personally, I don't feel trapped at all. One of the biggest reasons I shoot Canon is in fact their lens selection. And the bottom line is that for me the D800 doesn't offer anything worth missing on the 50 1.2, 85 1.2 and MPE65 for example. Regardless of price. And I am positive that many feel the same.

you are making a good  point here.

On the other hand ... I might actually prefer the new Nikon AF-S 50/1.4 over the Canon 50/1.2.
And the 85/1.2 II is a Canon treat, but the Nikon 85/1.4 is no slouch either.
As for the MPE65 I don't know whether or not there is a Nikon equivalent. 

But there is no equivalent Canon WA-zoom (or prime) to compete with the Nikon 14-24. The 16-35 does not even come close. It remains to be seen whether the new Canon prime 24mm/2.8 will beat the Nikon zoom and if so, by how much.   

The new Canon 24-70 II may be better than the current Nikon 24-70, which is slightly better than the current Canon version. And the Canon 70-200 2.8 L IS II is slightly better than the Nikon which seems to sufffer fairly heavily from lens breathing. 

The two lens types where Canon has the upper hand are the new super-Teles and the new TS-E lenses (17/4, 24/2..  Worse still, on the D800 the Nikon PCs tilt-shifts won't even work (!) - due to extremely poor design they will not clear the D800 body when trying to shift them upwards. -o-O-

So mileage will vary, depending on lenses needed and used.

322

Canon General / Re: Why pay over the odds for 5D mkiii ??

« on: April 03, 2012, 06:22:32 AM »

the issue is not only the absolute price point of the 5D 3. It is the "PAYING OVER THE ODDS" bit that irks so many of us.

Fact is, the Nikon D800 is a way better photographic tool - with the single exception of shooting speed - for 600 Euros less. 

Nikon tried it too ... with the ludicrously overpriced D3x and they hit the wall with it. NOW, all of a sudden, they are able to sell a camera that is way better than the D3x for half the price of the D3 ... we can and should expoect Canon to do the same thing. A camera better than the 1Ds III for half the price of a 1D IV ... wghich would get us to exactly the pricepoint where the D800 sits.

5D 3 is a good camera but after all only offers, what the 5D 2 should have offered from the start: a decent AF module combined with a decent sensor. IQ from ISO100 to 1600 is hardly better than the 5D 2.

3300 Euro for the 5D 3 is exactly 600 Euro too much.  Nobody in their right mind should spend 600 Euro for nothing.  Even if it still makes some economic sense, because one is TRAPPED by a bigger investment in Canon lenses. :-) 

323

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: little complain about the dual card system on 5D III

« on: April 03, 2012, 06:12:19 AM »

The Eye-Fi pro will be new for me, and will send my photos to my iPad for review, Facebook and instagram.

+1

The dual CF/SD slots can provide a multitude of new display options.  I can stream my images via WiFi to my Android tablet - and with the HDMI out on the tablet, send a direct feed to a large LCD for instant soft proofing in-studio.

+1
that is the one use I would have for a second card slot with SD. It allows us, to spit on Canon's huge, ugly, and ridiculously expensive Canon wtf-5 WIFI brick and get the job done with a small, 70 Euro Eye-Fi Card.     

324

Canon General / Re: Why pay over the odds for 5D mkiii ??

« on: April 02, 2012, 07:14:47 AM »

i totally agree with the statements in the starting post. The observation is absolutely correct.
DSLRs + lenses are seemingly the one and only product category within consumer electronics for which some  people are willing to pay significantly more for only slightly imrpoved specs, rather than demanding much better specs for somewhat less money in every new product generation.   

As to the why ... thats up for guesses. Mine are:
* even larger share of irrational "mine is bigger"males vs. female customers than for other CE products
* larger share of "old school" folks, who were "genetically imprinted during the analogue days" to accept  "photographic equipment = really expensive" ... and are therefore willing to pay almost any price for photo computers and assorted glass-lumps

325

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Customer wants to buy Nikon D800 (funny)

« on: March 31, 2012, 08:54:07 PM »

ROFL! Thanks, that's excellent! :-)

326

EOS Bodies / Re: is the 40D still a good one for 400$

« on: March 31, 2012, 08:41:33 PM »

I am curretnly using a 7D and before that I had the 40D - it was good back then, but had its shortcomings, especially the really pedestrian AF system. 

If I was looking for a used DSLR in that price range, I would try to get a used Nikon D300 for just a little more - say  around 500. It is a way better camera in really every respect. IQ, AF, metering, speed, responsivenss, sealing .. everything one or even two 2 notches above the 40D and 50D. Get a Nikon 18-105 with it and you have the best and most versatile low budget kit available today. Or if you prefer primes, try the cheap but excellent 35/1.8.

327

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5DIII has a minimum shutter speed setting!!!

« on: March 30, 2012, 09:30:51 AM »

No idea why they didn't do it. Perhaps to create a gap between the 1Dx and the 5DIII? Just a guess

I suspect that's exactly the reason.  Surprisingly to me, Canon gave the 5DIII the same AF as the 1D X - that used to be their big separator between the 1-series and everything lower.  But most of the 'little' differentiators, like full customization, are still there...

exactly this type of marketing differentiation and unnecessary firmware castration that is so often used by Canon drives me more and more towards Nikon. The D800 has full blast AF, Metering etc. - just like the D4. Apart from sensor and integrated vertical grip there is very little in the way of petty product  differentiation. And all of that for 600 Euro less.

With Canon I always feel "nickeld and dimed".

328

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5DIII has a minimum shutter speed setting!!!

« on: March 30, 2012, 05:54:15 AM »

Auto ISO on the 5DIII is an improvement but still not good enough.
For (indoor) sports you will often want shorter minimum speed than 1/250s ... on any current Nikon the minimum speed can be set to any speed, including 1/8000s, if you so desire.

329

EOS Bodies / Re: No 7D Mark II? [CR1]

« on: March 28, 2012, 04:18:31 PM »

and no 70D ... place taken over by better Rebel/650D

At 3.5 fps? - hardly likely as that would also mean the end of the xxD line

actually, I don't care, what they call the 7D successor ... 7D II or 70D ... as long as it has all the 7D features (incl. weatherseals) plus the new specs I mentioned above.   

330

EOS Bodies / Re: No 7D Mark II? [CR1]

« on: March 28, 2012, 03:34:01 PM »

I am szure there will be a 7D II ... and it will be a Canon-typical evolutionary, small step.

* APS-C, crop 1,6x - what else ... they still want to sell their higher end EF-S lenses, those are not puirhcased by typical rebel owners!
* new sensor, 21 MP and +1 stop better IQ in higher ISOs, hopefully also at base ISO 100
* same 8 fps .. plenty enough, if faster is required -> go buy 1D X !
* 61 point AF and metering module (as in 5D III =  not as good as in 1D X)
* 2x DiGIC V .. .also needed for video crap
* fully articulated display
* dual card slots CF + SD
* same pop-up flash, including master trigger capability
* will work with new radio flash technology (like 5D III and 1D X .. so without 1 stop loss in X-sync, etc.]
* improved Auto ISO plus other firmware stuff
* MSRP USD 1899 / EURO 1999

and no 70D ... place taken over by better Rebel/650D