Messages

526

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon EF70-200mm f/4L USM

« on: January 10, 2012, 07:50:58 PM »

Here are a few taken with the 70-200 f/4L IS.  It is an amazing lens.  The Osprey shot was taken hand held, hanging my arm out over the river, out of plain view of the bird.  The 60D swivel screen enabled me to frame the shot.  The gull was taken hand held at the ocean.  The Red Panda was taken at the zoo on a tripod.  I love my 70-200 f/2.8L IS II, but there is no chance that I could have gotten the Osprey shot with its weight.  The f/4L is staying in my bag.

527

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon 85mm f/1.8

« on: January 10, 2012, 12:14:51 AM »

A couple more shots.  These are landscapes, which compliment the great portraits that have been posted.  The lens is sharp and fast.

528

Software & Accessories / Re: Canon Handstrap

« on: January 09, 2012, 11:08:51 PM »

If you are willing to consider at 3rd party solutions, I have the Opteka, which is inexpensive but works great on my 60D.  The Opteka has a plastic plate on the bottom.  I took it off and attached it directly to my RRS L-Bracket.  The drawback to the Opteka, compared to the Canon, is that you cannot attach a wireless remote to the outside section of the padded faux-leather part of the strap.

529

Landscape / Re: Winter Milky Way Time Lapse - (Canon 5D MK II)

« on: January 09, 2012, 09:32:23 PM »

I really enjoyed the time lapse.  Good job!  The Mickey Mouse shaped cactus was a nice touch.    What was the delay between exposures?

530

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

« on: January 09, 2012, 09:12:17 PM »

Another shot taken with the lens over the weekend.  It was shot at 70mm, f/11, 1/4 sec, ISO 100.  This is a 100% crop taken from a long distance away.  I was on the fence about getting this glass since I have the f/4 IS, but it is in a league of its own.

531

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon 85mm f/1.8

« on: January 09, 2012, 08:26:17 PM »

On the one hand, the 85 (or at least my copy) produces more CA than any lens I own. AF is snappy and accurate in good light...

You are not alone.  My lens produces much more CA than any other lens I own.  That said, it focuses fast and I get a lot of keepers.  I have not noticed the low light AF hunting, but I have not fully tested the lens yet.  Although I hate the CA issue, it's definitely a keeper.

Attached are a couple shots taken with the lens at f/1.8.  Both were in the same poorly lit indoor area in the zoo, behind reflective glass covered with fingerprints.  They aren't very good shots, but they show the output in adverse conditions.

532

Landscape / Re: Bridge.

« on: January 08, 2012, 12:03:45 AM »

I take a lot of bridge shots.  Here are a couple.  The B&W was taken with a Holga lens on my 60D.  The color shot was taken with the 24-105, I think.

533

Landscape / Re: Look up

« on: January 07, 2012, 03:31:42 PM »

The first shot is the Canon 10-22mm @ 22mm, f/6.3, 1/320, ISO 400.  The second shot is the Rokinon 8mm f/3.5 fisheye @ 1/1,600, ISO 400.  Both taken on a 60D.

534

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

« on: January 05, 2012, 11:22:35 PM »

I just took a whole bunch of shots at the zoo with my new 70-200 f/2.8L IS II.  Love the lens.  Some of the shots are incredibly sharp, even at long distances.

535

Software & Accessories / Re: ANOTHER tripod topic!

« on: January 04, 2012, 07:37:10 AM »

I have two tripods.  The first is the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 + RRS BH-55 ball head.  It's moderately heavy and fairly large in size.  It is transportable, but it will only fit in a check in suitcase.  On your back, it is hard to fit it comfortably on a camera backpack.  Hence, I generally carry it in my hand or I mount my camera on it and walk around with it slinged over my shoulder.  It is very steady.

The second tripod is the Gitzo GT1542T + Markins Q3T ball head.  This tripod is small, very light, and fairly solid.  It will pack in a backpack, and is much easier to transport.  The ball head is great.  I just went to the zoo with my 60D and 70-200 f/2.8 and it worked great.

Since you want to shoot for landscape and portrait, you may want to consider an L-bracket.  Both of my tripod heads will allow me to flip the camera down to portrait mode through notches in the heads.  Both have panning bases which allow me to adjust the camera positioning.  In comparison, the L-bracket permits you to take the camera off the head, flip it, and lock it in without having to adjust your tripod or head at all.  My L-bracket is made by RRS, but other vendors make them too.

One last tip is to look out for deals.  I got my Gitzo "used" on Amazon for 1/2 price.  I think it was purchased by someone who put grease on the middle section threads.  Amazon could not resell the unit as "new" so they sold it as used.  It appears to be near brand new.  I got a steal.

536

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: First Kodachrome, now Kodak?

« on: January 04, 2012, 07:13:43 AM »

... they could just as easily consolidate the shares 10:1 or 100:1, then each share would be worth $6.50 or $65 (I've never heard of that $1 rule in Australia, i've bought and sold shares here from 1.000 to 1.010 cents and made a profit).

The $1 rule is a listing standard of the NYSE.  If they are delisted, their shares could still sell on the OTC market, which is the realm of penny stocks and foreign stock with ADRs (e.g., Nintendo).  As you note, they can also conduct a reverse stock split to boost the share price.

It would be really crap to lose such an iconic company though...

+1

537

EOS Bodies / Re: tips on getting started shooting in raw?

« on: January 03, 2012, 06:46:09 PM »

The viewer is available and is not a hack

Do you have a link?  I'm assuming you are referencing the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack that works with Microsoft Photo Viewer.  I have a 60D.  The Microsoft Codec Pack does not support the 60D.  The Canon RAW Codec Software does not support Windows 7 64x, which is my operating system.

538

EOS Bodies / Re: tips on getting started shooting in raw?

« on: January 03, 2012, 12:52:57 PM »

Like most people, I highly recommend shooting in RAW.  The files are larger, but the white balance adjust without IQ penalty is worth it alone IMO.  I would never go back to JPEG. 

I only use Photoshop, and the Adobe RAW built in to Photoshop, for my editing.  Lightroom and many other tools have RAW editors.

Note that Windows does not permit you to view RAW thumbnails in its default configuration (assuming you have a Windows system).  There is a workaround for this, but it is a hack. 

539

Animal Kingdom / Re: Zoo Pics

« on: January 02, 2012, 10:19:08 PM »

I just went to the zoo today to test my new 70-200 f/2.8L IS II.  Great lens.  This is a 100% crop.

540

Software & Accessories / Re: Tripod case for airplane carry-on

« on: January 02, 2012, 07:02:50 AM »

The head you choose can make a big difference in the weight.  Try to get a good quality head that is light.  I have the RRS BH-55 with a panning clamp on my big tripod and a Markins Q3T head on my travel tripod.  The BH-55 is wonderful, but it is heavy and feels heavy even on my travel tripod.  In comparison, the Markins is light and it works flawlessly.  Try to stay at or below one pound (16 oz) of weight for the head if you can.  Markins, Acratech, and other reputable companies make good quality lightweight heads.