Messages

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: What made you choose Canon in the first place?

« on: April 16, 2013, 10:55:10 PM »

I learned how to shoot on my dads AE-1 when I was a teenager. When I decided to get my own it was the Rebel G,(which I still use). I was a skeptical adapter to digital, I made the plunge in 05 and bought the silver Rebel. I was hooked!! After that I upgraded to the 40D in 08 and have since purchased 2-5D II's, 5D III and 7D.. I shoot professionally, and have what I truly believe is superior glass in Canon lenses. My partner shoots Nikon, I don't find it to be very user friendly in both operations and ergonomics. When we have big shoots, she always makes me do it with my Canon's :-)

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Canon General / Re: Curious Distraction: Explain your username, avatar picture, etc...

« on: March 11, 2013, 03:42:56 PM »

I started doing photography about 20 yrs ago when I was 15. I grew up in Providence RI and spent a lot of time in NYC as a kid with my mother's family. I've always been fascinated with cities. Coupled with my interest and subsequent career in the fire service. I started with fire photography and it branched out from there. Every fire photographer has something fire related, however I wanted to put a little different spin on it hence "UrbanImages". I keep it separate from my photography business in order to preserve the professional aspect.

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Canon General / Re: your scariest photography moment?

« on: March 11, 2013, 03:33:47 PM »

While photographing a dwelling fire in Detroit last spring, the homeowner came upon the scene and pulled out a gun and started firing into the crowd... Not a cop in sight and when the Battalion Chief radio for "PD Urgent", "no scout cars available" came over as a response. Got the hell out FAST

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Canon General / Re: Why did you choose Canon?

« on: January 30, 2013, 08:10:42 AM »

My father taught me how to use his AE-1 when I was around 12. (35 now) When the Rebel G came out I bought one along with some third party lenses. I later upgraded to a 7E and in 2005 bought my 1st digital DSLR, the 300D and I was hooked. Having shot film for so long I was resistant at first, but after shooting with it for the first time I was hooked. From then on I got serious and moved on to a 40D and started upgrading my lenses and bodies to the collection I have now. I have tried friends' Nikons and I don't like the way they feel nor do I find them user friendly. Ironically enough my business partner shoots Nikon and she picked up my 5DII and 7D yesterday and she found them to feel better in her hands than her D3. She also acknowledges that Canon has superior glass so the die hard Nikon girl is exploring a switch. At least we would no longer be a divided studio... 

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Lenses / Re: Canon EF 28-135mm

« on: November 02, 2012, 03:24:18 PM »

I agree that the lens creep can be extremely annoying. I love this lens however and I have a very sharp copy. I found the solution to be taking one of those Livestrong like bracelets and putting it around the barrel and the zoom ring. The tension betweeen the rubber holds it in place and when you need to zoom, it still turns rather easy. I prefer this lens to the 24-105L that I had. I keep it on my 7D which is my back up camera. Just a suggestion of an easy solution.

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Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Considering switching to Nikon

« on: October 23, 2012, 11:41:10 PM »

Soooooo... Where is "RGF" and his contributions to the thread he/she started???

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Once you go "L" you'll never go back....

« on: October 04, 2012, 10:26:17 AM »

Actually I agree with this to a point. I own non-L primes such as the 50 1.4, 85 1.8, 100 2.8 macro and they are on point. I also have the 28-135 and that lense is sharp as well. I'm picky when it comes to lenses, the only non Canon one I own is a Sigma 15mm fisheye. For me it's all L from here on in for zooms. In the end it's the creativity and knowledge of the photographer.  But top shelf well chosen tools make this easier.

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Lenses / Insuring Gear...

« on: September 28, 2012, 07:36:11 PM »

Question for the crowd... I am in the process of selling my condo and will be renting. My gear is currently covered under my homeowners policy, but I'm looking to separate it with a separate policy. Anybody have any info on insurance programs for photo gear??? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!!!

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Lenses / Re: Why would you get this lens?

« on: September 28, 2012, 07:31:39 PM »

Owning both of these lenses makes it a tough call. My 70-300L is a great copy; sharp end to end but does lack the speed. I would go with the 70-200L II.

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Lenses / Re: 70-300mm For my 5DM2

« on: September 24, 2012, 06:47:16 PM »

Having had both the 70-300 in both versions, there is a HUGE difference in image quality from the the non-L to L. I recommend the L highly and having used it in shooting airshows it worked flawlessly. I would sell the non IS 70-200 and use that to fund the purchase of a used 24-105 to fill out your range. just my .02 cents.

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Lenses / Re: If you can have ONLY 3 lenses, what would they...???

« on: September 19, 2012, 10:15:46 PM »

Well since I have them and are the most used: 17-40 4L, 24-70L and 70-200L II

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Canon General / Re: Loving Canon right now.

« on: September 18, 2012, 09:29:35 AM »

As far as the 6D is concerned, people need to realize that it is not targeted towards the professionals/serious amateurs, but rather those who are looking to break into FF. I for one wouldn't buy it, but I knew and expected this prior to official announcement. I also wouldn't buy a 1Dx, doesn't fit into my needs. For what I shoot, my 5D's (both I and II) and my 7D fit my needs. I will eventually move up to 5D III by the end of the year. I do believe that there is a place for the 6D, it's a direct competitor to the D600 and is targeted as such. I believe that Canon has overstuffed their DSLR's with things such as video, GPS and the like. I learned to shoot on film, I started with a Rebel nearly 20 yrs. ago. I shoot my digitals as I did that camera. Canon surely has a sizable edge in glass. That is the biggest complaint I have found with Nikon shooters, their glass isn't even in the ballpark to Canon. One guy I know has a complete Sigma lineup for glass because he hates Nikon glass. In the end ability, creativity and knowledge of equipment make the photographer. The bodies and glass are just tools to that end. Canon must know what the market demand is, I doubt they would release a camera, putting all that money into R&D and production if they just wanted to throw a camera out there for the sake of it. Only time will tell, when the prototypes and reviews come out, judge then.

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Lenses / Re: What lenses do you own?

« on: September 11, 2012, 11:58:55 PM »

24-70 2.8L, 70-200 2.8L II, 70-300 4-5.6L, 17-40 4L, 28-135 4-5.6, 100 2.8 Macro, 50 1.4, 85 1.8, 40 2.8, Sigma 15 2.8 Fisheye...

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Lenses / Re: How to complete my lens lineup? Help!

« on: September 03, 2012, 11:50:52 PM »

I don't use primes very often however I have both the 85 1.8 and the 50 1.4 and I feel that they do just fine for what I need them for; i.e.: portraits and other work where I can take my time and set the shot right. However a lens I might recommend looking at is the 24-70L. Covers a good amount and is fast as well. You can still find new copies of the Mark I if you don't feel like shelling out and waiting for the Mark II. This leaves enough to diversify. I also have the 40 2.8 pancake. Short money and very sharp, even wide open.

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Lenses / Re: 100-400mm vs. 70-300L for basically the same exact price used? Which one?

« on: May 26, 2012, 09:24:32 PM »

Having rented a 100-400 and owning a 70-300L, I would take the 70-300L all day over the 100-400. Lighter, shorter, better IS and tack sharp throughout. I just did a long weekend in Detroit, doing some "urban pioneering" including about 23 building fires. I had my 70-200 2.8L nonIS on my 7D and after the 2nd night fire I changed it for the 70-300. Never put the 70-200 back on. Images were sharper than my 24-70L which was on my 5DII. I highly recommend the 70-300L, truly a sleeper in Canon's L series lineup.