Messages

496

Canon General / Re: Equipment for travel/vacationphotos

« on: January 30, 2012, 07:12:46 AM »

I currently own a 450D and the prefered lens is a 70-200mm 4.5-5.6. Yesterday I shot my nieces first Rytmic Gymnastic competition and the outcome was rather poor. I think I neeed to upgrade so I can shoot better photos of this, although my main interest is probably taking photos when on vacation.

I´ve been looking at the Canon Zoom EF 70-200 mm 2.8 IS II USM online and it looks really good, but from what I read it´s plain out silly to combine it with the camera I have? Do I also need a new body?

What SLR body and lense do you recommend for travelling (having in mind I´m a girl who gets tired of too heavy stuff) + the perfect small compact for when I don´t feel like taking the SLR with me. I´m so lost in the jungle of choices!!

There are several questions here.  The 70-200 f/2.8L IS II is a wonderful lens that is sharp and renders very nicely.  I highly recommend it.  You do not need a new camera to enjoy its benefits.  If you are shooting gymnastics, it will permit you to get a much faster shutter speed than your existing lens.  The challenge will be rapid firing.  The 450D will only shoot 3.5 frames per second.  You may want to consider upgrading so that you can shoot more rapidly.  The 7D would be a great upgrade in AF performance and firing speed.

The appropriate travelling lens is a tougher question.  It depends on what you shoot.  If you want to go simple, it is hard to go wrong with the 50mm f/1.4, which is fast and light.  My walk around lens is the 24-105mm f/4L IS, which I recommend highly.  It covers most of the focal lengths I usually shoot at.  It's not light, but it's not heavy either, and it is lighter than the 24-70mm f/2.8L.  However, f/4 is fairly slow, and so I always bring a fast lens like the 50mm f/1.4 which is a life saver in low light.

As for the possibility of a small, non-SLR camera, I have the Canon S95 point and shoot, which takes great shots and is tiny.  It will fit in a small bag.

497

Lenses / Re: Canon 16-35mm L IS USM - Need ND Filters, recommendations ? Question

« on: January 29, 2012, 02:08:49 PM »

I personally use a LEE filter holder (Foundation Kit)  that can hold 4x6 Graduated ND filters or 4x4 ND  filters.  I certainly love the flexibility/control  of moving the filter/s up or down to balance the scene.

Ditto.  I have the Foundation Kit plus several additional 4x6 graduated ND filters.  I recommend 4x6 because the are a little bigger and can be easier to maneuver if you end up hand-holding the ND filters, which I do often.  I have the 5-stop Formatt ND filter (77mm) and the 10-stop B+W ND filter (77mm), which is equivalent to a Lee Big Stopper.  I use the 5-stop when I am shooting in lower light and can get the same effect, but with a shorter exposure time.  I am considering buying the Singh-Ray Vari-ND, which is nice because you can put it on your lens, focus with only 2-stops removed, then adjust it to up to 8-stops of light removal (which is an issue with a 10-stop ND filter like the Big Stopper).  All of this kit is expensive, though.   

498

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon 1D-X: "Full" 2-Stops ISO Improvment...only in JPEG??

« on: January 29, 2012, 09:25:17 AM »

Don't a number of pro sports photographers (football, hockey) shoot jpeg, due to the large number of images they take during games and the push to get them out to the newspapers immediately (especially for late games)?

I watched an interview with a pro sports photographer for Getty Images.  He stated that he only shoots jpeg.  In the interview, he mentioned shooting football and basketball.

499

Lenses / Re: Cokin and Lee .. supplies

« on: January 28, 2012, 12:24:03 PM »

I was able to get two 4x6 graduated ND filters on ebay (2 stop hard, 3 stop hard) for about 50% of their regular price.  This was better and cheaper than having to wait for the stores to stock them.

500

Lenses / Re: How do you pay for your lenses?

« on: January 28, 2012, 12:19:09 PM »

If the price is right and I really want it, I buy it.  I figure out the financial stuff after.  I recently did this with the 70-200 f/2.8L II and 24mm f/1.4L and it has worked out fine.  I have been selling some of my lenses that I don't use often to help fund the purchases.

501

Lenses / Re: Cokin and Lee .. supplies

« on: January 27, 2012, 09:23:13 PM »

I don't know if there is news.  I was waiting for the Big Stopper for a long time until I finally just purchased the B+W equivalent, which has worked out well.  Formatt also sells ND filters.  Dealers in the USA (Adorama, B&H) and international dealers on ebay sell Lee, Cokin, Formatt, and B+W.

502

Landscape / Re: Post Your Best Landscapes

« on: January 27, 2012, 05:25:35 PM »

Here are a few shots from my recent trip to New York City.  The Statue of Liberty was taken with the 24-105 f/4L and the city panoramic views were taken with the 24mm f/1.4L II.

503

Street & City / Re: Etiquette of Street Photography

« on: January 25, 2012, 08:33:35 PM »

I don't think anyone here is insinuating that having a Leica will make you better, just that it can be easier and more discreet than an SLR. 

Agreed.  A smaller camera permits you to not stand out.  Not to divert the conversation, but has anyone tried a NEX 5n for street photography?

504

Street & City / Re: Etiquette of Street Photography

« on: January 25, 2012, 03:37:29 PM »

The problem with the M9 is: cost, poor high ISO performance, and lack of lenses :-).

Yeah, the price is the kicker.  Manual focus is a problem for some, although I am old school and I manual focus a lot, so it does not bug me.  The guy who let me fiddle with his M9 commented that he thought the shots that he took with it came out sharper than equivalent shots with his 5D2.  For him, the smaller lenses for the Leica appealed to him because of their size.  I got the sense that his 30 years of shooting Canons (with big glass) took their toll on him. 

@briansquibb: love the shots.

505

Street & City / Re: Etiquette of Street Photography

« on: January 25, 2012, 01:12:21 PM »

A DSLR is not the ideal camera for street photography. Can it be done? Sure! But it is just too big and bulky and does not allow a photographer to be discreet. No wonder then that the Leica is still the king of street photography...

Actually, I would like to get a Leica for this reason.  I was talking to a guy with Leica M9 who told me that his kids, who shoot Canon DSLRs with large glass, get barraged by tourists to take their shots while he goes unnoticed with the Leica.  He let me play with the camera and it feels good in the hand.

506

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon t4i = 7d price drop? videographers PoV

« on: January 24, 2012, 08:46:51 PM »

The 60d has weird buttons, the t3i has a better feel, light weight, and the extra zoom.
I can see a t4i and 7d mark II coming out, but not a 70 D

The 60D interface could be better, no question.  I much prefer the 7D.

507

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Lightfield Cameras - The Next Big Thing?

« on: January 24, 2012, 03:31:12 PM »

I recall reading an article that hinted that RED was conducting R&D on a similar type of technology for their cameras.  As for Apple, the guy working on Steve Job's biography stated that Jobs wanted to shake up multiple industries, one of which was photography.  I had no clue what his angle in the industry was, but this seems like a good bet.

508

Technical Support / Re: Canon 60D makes noise when cleaning sensor???

« on: January 24, 2012, 02:44:26 AM »

I can hear mine, but only in a quiet environment.

Ditto.  BTW, I am older than dirt and spent much of my youth in loud punk shows.  I can hear it.

509

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon t4i = 7d price drop? videographers PoV

« on: January 24, 2012, 02:39:29 AM »

...and the gimmick swivel Lcd...

I cannot answer your questions.  However, I have a 60D and I can assure you that the swivel LCD is not a gimmick.  I have pulled off very tricky shots using it.  For video recording, it is helpful to have a screen that articulates.

510

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 II L USM

« on: January 23, 2012, 09:58:50 AM »

Below are a few shots from my recent trip to New York City.  The shots below could be a little sharper.  My copy would not focus properly on my 60D, so I swapped it out with another Canon 24mm f/1.4L II at B&H.