Messages

31

Lenses / Re: New camera or new lens? Need advice

« on: October 30, 2012, 11:04:15 AM »

I don't see the 5DII as enough of an upgrade over the 5D, unless you 'need' the megapixels.  There are some nice features, but I kept mine through the 5DII and just recently got one of the discounted MKIIIs (that is a HUGE upgrade).

Glass is a better investment at this point.  I have the canon 85 1.8, and the 135F2L.  The 85 is a great lens.  The 135 blows it away.  Currently under rebate for less than $900...buy two!  Excellent headshot and portrait lens.  Just stunning.

The 100mm macro is an awesome lens as well, but i'd get the 135 for portrait/general work.  If you want to do macro, get the macro.  (I have both). 

32

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS [CR1]

« on: October 30, 2012, 10:42:23 AM »

I am not sure I get the point with another 24-70mm. Then why release the v2 ?

Think of 2012 as the year in which Canon made multiple tactical errors with their camera/lens lineup for EOS still cameras.

What do I mean by that?

The 24-70/2.8II would have been in the planning for quite some number of years prior and at that time Tamron was developing their 24-70/2.8 VC. Come announcement time, Canon delivers a lens at around twice the price of the Tamron with marginally better IQ and no image stabilisation. Oops. Tamron out played Canon.

The announcement of the 5D Mark III delivered a camera with marginally more pixels and almost the same IQ as the 5D Mark II. Sure the autofocus is better, but it has been outclassed by Nikon's D800 that intro'd at $600 less, only for the 5D Mark III to have since dropped in price to match the Nikon. Oops, Canon picked the wrong sensor to put in the 5D Mark III. Nikon out played Canon.

I see a lot of folks who are happy with the Tamron, but haven't heard of too many who think it out performs the new Canon (optically speaking anyway.  Price/value ratio is subjective and may be a different story).  The 5dMKiii outclasses the D800 in many types of photography.  Other than price class these two camera's cannot be compared, and even that is a meaningless comparison. 

Back to the 24-70...I don't really think Canon has room 'above' the V2 price wise.   I think if there is going to be another one in the line up, it would have to be a less expensive model with a simpler optical system to save cost.  Maybe it would be a fast non-L zoom for consumers, or maybe it would go asn an L series in the $1500 range as a step up from the slower 24-105, still with IS, though lacking the prime-like performance of the V2.

-Brian

33

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS [CR1]

« on: October 30, 2012, 08:28:11 AM »

What if this were really an non-L consumer FF lens designed to be paired with a 6D and future 'entry level' FF offerings?

-Brian

34

Lenses / Re: Are Lens Hoods Universal?

« on: October 26, 2012, 10:42:35 AM »

Protection filters are a controversy.  Some love, some hate.  I tend not to use them unless in harsh circumstances.  The hood does a pretty good job of protecting the lens as well. 

If you walk around outside a lot, a decent Circular Polarizer can act as both a protective, and functional filter.  I got a 77mm Marumi for I think like $70 from amazon.  Great reviews and a lot cheaper than B&W and Hoya. 

-Brian

35

Lighting / Re: Phottix Odin: Inaccuate high-ISO metering problem

« on: October 26, 2012, 10:25:48 AM »

Remember that when using flash in Av mode, the camera sets teh shutter speed to properly expose the BACKGROUND.  I believe it assumes there is little to no impact of the flash on the background.  That means in addition to changing the flash power, it is also adjusting the shutter speed to compensate for your ISO changes.  I don't have software on this computer that can read the exif, but check your shutter speeds.  It may be a case that the scene has fooled the metering calculation, and some of the extra light is due to too much ambient being added to the flash exposure by a slower than appropriate shutter. 

I, personally, have never had as much luck with ETTL in Av or Tv mode as I have in manual.  In manual, the camera can only control one vairable, and it seems to have a much easier time doing that.  I set the aperture for DOF, shutter to either kill ambient or balance the flash with ambient, and the camera takes care of the flash power to expose the target. 

-Brian

36

Lenses / Re: Guesses on lenses for Photoplus

« on: October 25, 2012, 03:28:00 PM »

Maybe price and availability of the Samyang 24mm TSE?  That would be cool.

I bought the 135L in May when it was on rebate, figuring the new one would be 2x the cost....may be years before I find out if I was right!  Honestly love it the way it is.  One of my favorite lenses.

-Brian

37

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Chipworks low level sensor reviews: Canon vs Nikon vs Sony

« on: October 25, 2012, 08:41:19 AM »

An alternate view could also be that, given what Canon has pulled out of a 0.5µm process, it bodes well for what Canon can do with a 0.18µm process. 

No.  Sorry.  The only allowable alternative view on the internet is 'sell all your gear and switch to Nikon'.  Actual sensor performance in the real world need not apply. 

Seriously though, this is a good point.  You see it with computer processors all the time.  The new, smaller achitecture comes out, but for a time there is the older, larger achritecture in the market place with it.  And the real world performance is very small, if noticeable (in processors, its ususally power efficiency that is the major difference, not speed). 

Canon's latest sensors have been of very high quality, and have upped the bar on high ISO performance compared to previous generations.  Has the cow been milked for the last time?  I dont know, and neither does anyone but the Canon engineers.  The technology will reach a limit, and they will have to go to the next genearation, eventually.  We've been conditioned to think that something that was 'state of the art' in technology a few years ago MUST be obsoloete by now (whenever 'now' is).  But that is not always the case.  There are many layers that go in to performance of systems like this, and just because one layer has not changed in its base architecture doesn't mean advancements havent been made in the execution of that architecture, or that advancements in other areas of the system have unlocked more performance from system as a whole.

-Brian

38

Lenses / Re: Lens combos under $1000

« on: October 23, 2012, 12:06:01 PM »

How about a used 24-105, and one of the Samyang 14mm lenses for the missing wide side?  I think you could do that for $1k used. 

-Brian

39

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Canon EOS 5D Mark III Firmware adds HDMI & AF Upgrades

« on: October 23, 2012, 09:35:07 AM »

I'm a bit shocked about the missing red AF points in AI servo...would have thought the AF part of the upgrade would be identical to that of the 1Dx.  OR that we'd have gotten the red points, but not F/8 AF since that's been a 1D series feature exclusively to this point. 

Also wonder why they'd announce this 6 months before it was availabile....not like its killing me not to have it.  Just seems really strange to announce something so far in advance.  The 1Dx and 7D firmwares were available almost the same day, right? 

-Brian

40

Lenses / Re: IQ of 24-105 and 700-300 lenses

« on: October 23, 2012, 08:29:39 AM »

The 24-105, IMO, is one of those lenses that gets a bad rep just because so much stuff is repeated second hand on the internet.  The 'distortion' everyone talks about is there, but in most cases hardly noticeable and even then easily correctable with the excellent lens profiles availble in DPP and the Adobe products.  'Sharpness' is subjective, as what is sharp enough for one may not be for another.  Pixel peepers are often disappointed with gear that others are making excellent large quality prints with, so I tend to consider that fact when discussing sharpness.

I 'upgraded' to the 24-105 recenty from a 28-70 F2.8.  My old lens is in need of repair and I'm looking for a shop that still has parts.  In the mean time, i did not want to pay the current prices for a 24-70 F2.8 because they were in high demand and expensive even used.  The V II is way out of my range. 

I thought at the time i would be 'settling' for the slower lens, but it only took about 5 minutes after I put it on the camera to ask myself how I lived without the 24-105 for so long!  It is lighter and more versatile than the 2.8 lenses in the standard zoom range, and i find the IQ to be very similar.  With the newer bodies having higher ISO performance, I hardly if ever miss the extra stop of light.  Though, of course you can't recreate the F2.8 depth of field with an F4 lens at any ISO . 

In summary, the 24-105 is an excellent lens, particularly considering is versatility and weight. 

-Brian

41

EOS Bodies / Re: Trading 7D for 1D4 with high shutter count

« on: October 19, 2012, 11:50:15 AM »

If the money is not an issue...I'd do it.  Both camreas are roughly 1/3 of the way through their average expected shutter life.  (125k on the 7D, and 300k on the 1D series, IIRC). 

-Brian

42

EOS Bodies / Re: Red AF in AI-Servo fixed in 1D-X before 5D Mk III

« on: October 18, 2012, 08:52:14 AM »

I know it shouldn't by now, but it always surprises me when people take this stuff personally....

Its been pretty good to see some features being added via firmware to the 7D and now 1DX.  I'm sure we'll get something for the 5DIII eventually.  In the mean time I'll just have to resign myself to thoroughly enjoying the most versatile camera I have ever owned.  Darn those Canon b@stards.

-Brian

43

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Thoughts on the New EOS-1D X Firmware 1.1.1

« on: October 18, 2012, 08:36:16 AM »

In one of the original articles, its said there were three modes to chosese from: Brighter, Normal, Non-Illuminated.  I don't have a 1DX so I don't know for sure, but it appears the answer to your question is YES.

-Brian

44

Lenses / Re: "Zoom Creep" on the 24-105L : My Solution

« on: October 17, 2012, 12:45:12 PM »

I bought a used one that creeps.  Kind of annoying but really not that big a deal.  I figure it could be refurbed if necessary. 

-Brian

45

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Canon EOS-1D X Firmware Update Addresses f/8 & Red AF Points in AI Servo

« on: October 17, 2012, 10:33:04 AM »

I'll add my vote that we need the same for the 5DIII.  Though F8 AF has always been a point of differentiation on the pro bodies, I would at least like the red AF points. 

I wonder how many folks jumped to Nikon over the F8 AF issue, and now wish they hadn't? 

-Brian