Messages

1

EOS Bodies / Re: Patent: Canon Foveon Sensor

« on: May 22, 2013, 01:17:58 PM »

A layered, Foveon-style sensor is definitely intriguing. It has a lot to offer, but at the same time, it also has it's limitations. From a raw spatial resolution standpoint, Foveon will probably never compete with Bayer...at least, not with the same low levels of noise. Foveon can be upscaled, but the results are not quite the same (remember, bayer has limited color resolution, but it still has full luminance resolution.)

The most intriguing technology I've seen to date that maximizes resolution and light gathering/quantum efficiency is Panasonic's MCS, or Micro Color Splitting. Instead of FILTERING colors, red light is split from the incoming light at each pixel, and directed to the appropriate neighboring pixels. The result is White + Red and White - Red pixels that, when interpolated, contain all of the color and luminance information that reached the sensor (there can still be losses due to IR Cut and transmission losses, as well as due to Q.E. losses).

Unlike either Foveon or Bayer, an MCS sensor achieves high spatial resolution as well as low noise. I'd really like to see Canon develop something like this, instead of a layered sensor...I think the end result is even better high ISO performance as well as more color-rich low ISO performance. (And, theoretically, by gathering more light overall, one would suspect dynamic range to improve as well...but I don't really know how an MCS design might affect read noise...which is really the fundamental issue Canon faces these days...noisy high frequency downstream components adding gobs of read noise.)

2

EOS Bodies / Re: Patent: More DO Supertelephoto Lenses

« on: May 21, 2013, 09:35:13 AM »

However, as with all patents, its easier said than done, so I'm not overly optimistic about seeing a low cost DO implementation soon.

Very true...however the entire optical engineering world told Canon that making a viable diffractive grating lens was impossible, and yet, Canon persisted and eventually succeeded. ;P I suspect Canon will figure out a way to make a diffractive particle dispersion lens at some point as well...or something else sufficiently superior to their grating lenses as to solve the IQ problems, and still support the construction of smaller, lighter weight lenses for long focal lengths. Canon is nothing if not persistent.

3

EOS Bodies / Re: Patent: More DO Supertelephoto Lenses

« on: May 20, 2013, 08:11:08 PM »

I owned the 70-300 DO lens for a couple of years. While it wasn't a bad lens, the DO did take a bit of a toll on IQ, particularly in situations where lens flare was likely (strong light source striking the front element). Bokeh was a little awkward/choppy at times also. I understand that the 400/4 DO is a very good lens.

I'd like to see a refinement in the DO design that would produce an even better optical quality. The light weight and relatively small package makes a strong selling point for this technology.

Canon has a number of recent patents for new DO lens technology, but it seems to be exceedingly difficult to manufacture.  It is based on small particles immersed in a resin compound.  The resultant radial dispersion of particles can produce a superior lens element that varies its properties radially.  The issue is getting the spacing of the particles right in a consistent way, and that may never happen.  You can't just pour a powder in a vat of resin and mold a bunch of identical lens elements.  Every one will be different.
 
They did not specifically mention this technology in the patent, but did talk about a resin compound, so its in there somewhere.

It may not be as easy as simply mixing "power" with resin an getting ideal results every time...but I would be willing to bet they could mix lightly charged particles with slightly varying charges in resin, and before it cools use a magnetic or electromagnetic field to disperse them properly.

4

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: May 19, 2013, 11:35:13 PM »

American Kestrel brunch

Nice shot. Might want to heal/clone out the bits of the leaf that encroach on the bird...otherwise, he's a beauty.

5

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: May 19, 2013, 11:34:35 PM »

Everglades Osprey dining.

Awesome shot! Love the sharpness and clarity of the bird...I love Ospreys, beautiful creatures!

6

EOS Bodies / Re: How will Canon respond to Magic Lantern's raw video hack?

« on: May 19, 2013, 09:25:54 PM »

simples.

canon will sell a ton more 5Dmk3 bodies and a couple of tons more L glass to video people or all these new IS prime lenses
same thing that happened when the 5Dmk2 hit the scene
Sold like hot cakes

I agree.

7

EOS Bodies / Re: EOS not good for NASA?

« on: May 19, 2013, 09:19:07 PM »

well  you are wrong about high iso, if you shall have the same results from 1dx and D4 and brightness in the images you have to expose the Canon more/richer/longer  than Nikon, so overall there is no difference in high iso between the two cameras if you look at the raw file regarding signal /noise. About DR and low iso, base iso the 1dx has no chance against D4 due the signal/noise, go out and try d4 and 1dx side by side at high iso and you know/ se  what Im is talking about "real life shooting as some people called it"

Please, take a look at my "real life shooting":

http://jonrista.com/photography/

Everything here is taken with a lowly 7D with its utterly crappy sensor and excessively inferior technology. Put a 1D X in my hands, and I'll do and order of magnitude better. But, of course, my work can't possibly be better than anyone's work shot with a Nikon camera...oh, no! Not a chance!

Oh, and regarding "real life"...show me some real-world D4 photos that exhibit better high ISO performance than the 1D X. ISO 25600 and 51200 are both digital boosts on the D4...that results in more read noise intruding into the image, and it is usually quite apparent. I've seen near-noiseless photos taken with a 1D X at ISO 51200...stuff that compares to my 7D at ISO 800!!! I've never seen anything even remotely resembling that from a D4, D800, or any other Nikon camera.

8

Lenses / Re: Canon Tele lenses vs Nikon tele lenses ( both with converters )

« on: May 19, 2013, 06:05:56 PM »

Yes the 300/2.8mk2  from  canon looks very good in the MTF lab and Hasselblads measurements

and much more importantly it works well when you use it to take real photographs. 

Had a good time with mine today.

Do you use it with the 2x converter at times?

Also im close to ordering the 500 lens foot to put on the 300 for comfort!, i hope that it will fit....
Since the 500 comes with both a small and big foot , and the small one looks identical to the 300 foot I am kinda anticipating it will!

Will provide a bit more comfort for handholding with my hands

I use the 2x TC MKIII and find it very good indeed, that's what I was using today.

here is a shot taken yesterday with mkII 300 f2.8 and mkIII 2x TC. i underexposed by 1 stop that i pulled back in PP. It was overcast and raining but i was looking for a gritty look to match the wire.

I like it. The deeper contrast on the barbed wire definitely looks better.

(Note: Although I suspect you could have achieved the same thing (and with less noise) by exposing to the right, and correcting in post. Contrast of a RAW is really all about the default tone curve...fundamentally, digital sensors are nearly linear devices (there might be some slight attenuation due to the electronics). You never really lose anything with ETTR in a digital camera, and you'll always improve your SNR (and thus, reduce noise.) Think of a raw image more as a digital signal than as an image...it is very fluid and flexible in post.)

9

Lenses / Re: Canon Tele lenses vs Nikon tele lenses ( both with converters )

« on: May 19, 2013, 06:03:10 PM »

Yes the 300/2.8mk2  from  canon looks very good in the MTF lab and Hasselblads measurements

and much more importantly it works well when you use it to take real photographs. 

Had a good time with mine today.

Do you use it with the 2x converter at times?

Also im close to ordering the 500 lens foot to put on the 300 for comfort!, i hope that it will fit....
Since the 500 comes with both a small and big foot , and the small one looks identical to the 300 foot I am kinda anticipating it will!

Will provide a bit more comfort for handholding with my hands

I've used the 2x TC with the EF 300mm f/2.8 L II, and the IQ is phenomenal. Even with the 2x TC, it is still one of the sharpest lenses on earth. Sharper than my 100-400mm at is BEST, by a long shot. Background blur is also dependent upon the ENTRANCE pupil, so even with a 2x TC, your background blur is effectively the same as an f/2.8 lens...so it is a fantastic combination. You really couldn't go wrong with it.

Dear Sir,
Thank you for this posting! I really needed to hear this from someone using the EF 300mm f/2.8 L II together with the 2x TC.
I was reminded that Bryan C in TDP maybe for first time admitted that the 2x TC III from Canon together with this lens was useable.
Of course that is based in the top-notch optical quality from the lens itself because we all know that all flaws and weaknesses from the lens that is in front of the TC will be also magnified.
Thank you jrista for all your postings!
Wish you a very good weekend!
All the Best!

C

You are welcome. Glad to be of service.

To be clear, there is definitely a drop in sharpness when using either TC, however the 300/2.8 II with 2x was still sharper than my 100-400mm at f/7.1 or f/8 (the two ideal apertures). In my experience, ANY of the Canon great whites, at any aperture with or without any TC, are all sharper than pretty much any other lens in the Canon lineup, with perhaps the 70-200/2.8 II as an exception.

I had a long, hard debate about which lens to get next, between the 300/2.8 II and 600/4 II. In the end, I decided the 600/4 II offered me more for the kind of photography I do most (birds, wildlife, and some aerial stuff for model planes and air shows), than the 300mm with a teleconverter. I'll probably still pick up the 300/2.8 II, but it'll be a couple years, as I'll have to recover from the 600mm purchase this year. Regardless...whether you intend to use teleconverters or not, you really can't go wrong with any of the Great Whites.

10

EOS Bodies / Re: EOS not good for NASA?

« on: May 19, 2013, 12:01:54 PM »

It's not a secret that NASA uses Nikon cameras and lenses (http://www.nikon.com/news/2009/1221_NASA-D3S_01.htm) after using Hasselblad cameras during the Apollo mission.
Could we reveal the reason?

very, very simple reason:

Hassy has a bigger camera body ( more easy to manipulate the settings in a space suit)

Nikon sensors have better DR than Canon.... and in space this performance is crucial.

Yes it must be the DR. NASA has been awaiting that for years up until last year when Nikon introduced the D800...

Do you believe yourself what you're writing?

You.... again 

Well, factually speaking, DR is NOT the most important thing in space. NASA bought into Nikon a few years back because at the time Nikon was the king of HIGH ISO. You don't shoot the dark side of the Earth from space at ISO 100...you shoot it at ISO 6400, 12800 and at high shutter speeds to freeze the motion of 17,500mph! At High ISO, DR is physically limited. You lose about 1 stop DR per stop of ISO increase...you have only 7 or 8 stops at those high ISO, so the most important thing is the total electrons per pixel at maximum saturation. The higher the charge, the lower the noise.

Today, Canon rules the high ISO/SNR realm. By a relatively small margin compared to how much Nikon rules the low ISO/DR realm, but enough to give them an edge now. I believe the only reason NASA currently uses Nikon and has not changed to Canon is there really isn't any reason to. They are invested. They have the gear, have the lenses. Why change? They don't need the compelling features of the 1D X...it was built for sports, so it has an AF system and frame rate to match. I'd figure the most compelling Canon camera for NASA would be a 40-50mp FF monster with good ISO 25600 performance...which doesn't exist quite yet.

hmm what do you mean in all this text?

If you brush up on your English, you might understand it. Everything you need to know, my entire meaning, is in the text above.

11

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: May 19, 2013, 11:33:19 AM »

Wilson's Phalaropes, females in this case (which tend to be flashier than the males), out at Cherry Creek State Park in Colorado:

12

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: May 19, 2013, 11:30:54 AM »

Black-bellied Plover - Martha's Vineyard
60d + 100-400 mm

Nice shot! Like the lower angle perspective.

13

EOS Bodies / Re: EOS 70D & EOS 7D Mark II

« on: May 19, 2013, 12:02:01 AM »

I don't know how or if this fits into this argument, but I think that the essential element  in Betamax v. VHS was that VHS out marketed Betamax, and won the war despite being the inferior technology.  Not sure if this applies in this debate.

Neuro, you have a habit to answer with sails

Sales drive revenue. Revenue drives profit. Profit is a major driver of share price and shareholder value.  Share price and shareholder value determine whether a public company thrives, survives, or fails.

Betamax was better quality than VHS.  VHS sold better. Betamax failed and was abandoned.

Sort of. I would say that Betamax was significantly better than VHS. In comparison, Canon sensors fail in ONE NICHE area in comparison to SOME competitors sensors, and in all other respects are highly competitive and in many respects better (i.e. high ISO noise and high ISO SNR). The SOLE area where Canon "sensors" fall behind is in the low ISO DR area. In every other respect, Canon "DSLR cameras" are superior tools, as it has been clearly demonstrated Canon's latest round of cameras, the 1D X and 5D III, outperform Canon cameras in terms of AF functionality, AF performance, metering capabilities, etc. Canon cameras are renown for their ruggedness and tank-like build (look up Digital Rev's video where they literally put the 7D through hell...tossing it down stairs, submerging it in water and freezing it, lighting it on fire...and it STILL came out swinging. And it doesn't even compare to the 1D X!)

So, while I applaud the attempt, I don't think it is really a valid comparison. Canon makes a phenomenal product, their technology, both technological and optical, is cutting edge and superior in the majority of respects to the majority of their competition. There is one, single, explicit and niche area where Canon's technology is a little behind...two stops behind, to be exact...and that is ISO 100 & 200 dynamic range.

To be frank, Canon listened to their customers. Before the D800, the supreme demand of Canon by Canon customers was "Higher ISO, Better ISO, Bigger Pixels, Fewer Pixels!!" Well, Canon delivered, and delivered exceptionally well. That was BEFORE the D800. Well, now the D800 and it's Exmor sensor have changed Canon's customers expectations. Canon will most certainly respond, but designing a brand new sensor, especially on a brand new fabrication process, is not something that happens over night. It'll take a couple years, at least. I suspect the 7D II will be the first DSLR since the introduction of the 1D X and 5D III that will use a new fabrication process, and unveil Canon's first answer to their customers Current demands: Keep the improvements they made last round (Higher, Better, Bigger, Fewer!) and add in improved low ISO DR. I don't suspect we'll see anything else for another year, as it will still take time to deliver a high MP sensor capable of fulfilling everyone's wants and desires, on both the still and video fronts, with "the best of everything". It just plain and simply does not happen over night!

14

EOS Bodies / Re: EOS 70D & EOS 7D Mark II

« on: May 18, 2013, 11:46:21 PM »

Canon have  lived on a long time  on their name and early cmos  sensor tech since 2004, sorry but this tech is old 2013 which can been seen if you compare to   Nikon, Pentax, Sony =  DXO scores etc  why are not Canon in the DXO list over best sensors at all ?
Do you have any nuanced view at all  whats going on  ?This is the real difference between 18 and 24Mp APS as one example

I debunked this already once before. Of the four cameras shown, all EXCEPT the 7D display moire, some quite pronounced. Of all the things to clean up in post...moire is THE WORST. It is a royal pain in the rear end as it has to be cleaned up manually with a localized tool...and "cleaning up" moire in post really just means "destroying detail".

On the flip side, the predictable, uniform blurring to fine detail caused by an OLPF is quite easy to clean up...as easy to clean up as diffraction softening. All one needs is a basic sharpening tool, as in this example below from your previous use of these comparisons...sharpened in PS6 with a basic unsharp mask:

15

EOS Bodies / Re: EOS 70D & EOS 7D Mark II

« on: May 18, 2013, 11:43:09 PM »

Neuro, you have a habit to answer with sails, if you told me that 50mm from Canon has the first place in a MTF measurements and Nikon is number  17 regarding 50mm measurements and shows  inferior measurements  and I answer you, well Nikon sells a lot of them, it doesn't make them better. or what do you think?
No- I think Canon needs to step up regarding sensors and  not think it is 2004 any longer . It is little bit as the canadians in is hockey, they are not number one in the world  , even if millions of Canadiens thinks they are
viva  la suecia who banged the Canadian
observe the last with a wink

Well, Neuro has a habit of answering with "sales." Sales are what REALLY differentiate one "product" from another, one "brand" from another. Canon is now, and has been for some time, the worldwide leader in photography equipment. They reign supreme when it comes to DSLRs, hands down.

Sails, on the other hand...are what drive sail boats across the sea. Not sure sails have much relevance when it comes to photography...other than potentially being an interesting subject for photographers who love to photograph sailboats...yachts...and other sail-driven watercraft.