Messages

91

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Waiting for a Sigma 50 "A" like their 35 to appear?

« on: April 21, 2013, 02:44:19 AM »

I foolishly sold a very good EF 50 f/1.4 and replaced it with the well reviewed Sigma 50 F/1.4. When it nailed focus it was fantastic, but the AF was so inconsistent that the lens couldn't be trusted and sat unused.

But a new Sigma 50 as good as the new 35? That would be interesting and would likely sell its socks off. Personally I wouldn't get one or any other prime in the 24-70 range because the new EF 24-70 f/2.8II has rendered every prime in that range obsolete for the way I shoot. I've sold my Sigma 50 f/1.4, my 24 f/1.4II and if I had a 35 that would be gone too. The new zoom is amazing and primes just sat unused.

But that's just me. There is a huge market for stellar primes and an update from Sigma would be a welcome big seller.

-PW

Let's not forget that Sigma is likely to update their 24-70 f/2.8 to fit under their new company model. If they stick up with their "L Glass Killer" releases, a lens like that might be, likewise, more worth getting than any of their primes in that range.

Agreed, and the price might be comparable to the Tamron...or even beneath it, if there's no "OS".  But Sigma are slow to release new lenses...so that would be a 2014 or 2015 lens, wouldn't it?

92

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma Announces 18-35 f/1.8 DC HSM Art for APS-C

« on: April 21, 2013, 02:39:27 AM »

AdamJ, rs, and Albi86, I admire your convictions on this subject.  It’s also impressive that a Sigma branded lens, has sparked so much discussion on a canon forum!

Radiating, that’s a nice chart.  I’m going cross-eyed looking at it, along with the long prose after.  Interesting points…thank you!

93

EOS Bodies / Re: 21mp Sensor in the 7D Mark II? [CR1]

« on: April 21, 2013, 02:16:57 AM »

[...]

I see several reasons:
  * Programming a firmware which uses two or more CPUs needs a lot of development to parallelize "jobs" on different CPUs
  * PC board layout and thermal management has to be codeveloped/improved
  * If there is a need for a 2nd CPU the hardware is more powerful (120point AF system, 40 MPix sensor) and this will increase the system cost.

A specialized camera will see a lower count of bodies produced so the development cost will be higher on a per-body-perspective.

My 2ct.

You do realize the current 7D Mark I already uses dual DIGIC 4 chips, right? It never cost $2000, let alone $3000. Making use of dual processors in a 7D II would be a no brainer, and would NOT require the creation of DIGIC 6. The 1D X already uses dual DIGIC 5+ chips, and repurposing that design in a cheaper body would be a hell of a lot cheaper for Canon than designing something completely new from scratch. It also proves that the firmware ALREADY supports parallel processing, so there really isn't any extra work there, either.

You are essentially right. There exist four (?) models which use 2 CPUs and the EOS 1D X which uses 3 DIGICs -  some basic development will be there. But never underestimate adaption of existing code for new CPUs with new (totally new?) additional components. And it depends on how you use the CPUs: Sharing load for different tasks is easy, but parallelizing one task is hard to do (except it is sth. like calculating noise reduction for different regions of the sensor).

My third point was perhaps the most important: If there is a need for a 2nd high power CPU the hardware will drive cost - extraordinary fps, a very advanced AF chip, etc. So the additional CPU will only add 100 or 200 EUR/USD but the things that made it necessary are really expensive (high speed mirror mechanism, shutter system, complex and specialized AF chip, ultra fast  FADCs, etc,).

Mb66energy, excellent post!  With that many autofocus points, it does sound like a lot of processing going on.  This is the first I've ever seen speculation about so many points.  However, that also seems like a bit of a stretch.

So...Canon is going to provide some sort of pioneering phase or hybrid autofocus system having twice as many points as the 1DX/5D3, within the fov of a 1.6x sensor having at least 21 MP resolution, with at least dual digic 5+, if not dual digic 6...(and likely require even more CPU's than this)...fire at 10 fps...all for a price that is closer to $2k than $3k...and the target market will purchase it in droves?  All of this together seems unlikely, but maybe part of it will turn out to be true.

94

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Waiting for a Sigma 50 "A" like their 35 to appear?

« on: April 21, 2013, 01:57:32 AM »

My Voigtlander Nokton SLii 58mm f/1.4, has across the frame sharpness wide open, along with fantastic color and contrast.  It's just a manual Nikon-mount lens, but I really don't feel the need to buy another 50mm lens.  Its focus confirmation works great, via the adapter.  And the focus ring is a pleasure to use.

In my opinion, Sigma (or anyone) should make a faster lens, such as an f/0.9 in EF mount.  That would be interesting.  It might be worth paying over $2k (even for a Sigma!)...provided of course that it was decently sharp and focused well.  Better would be a 95mm version, even at a correspondingly higher cost.

95

Abstract / Re: A crack in the universe

« on: April 21, 2013, 01:44:09 AM »

Chauncey, if the Planck image inspired your picture, then that's great!  If you decided it looked like it after the fact, I guess that's interesting too.

96

Lenses / Re: Just got the canon 16-35 ii and having a hard time seeing the value in this uwa

« on: April 19, 2013, 04:53:01 PM »

the upcoming comet which is supposedly going to be gigantic and bright in the sky

Sorry to off-topic, but which comet are you referring to?
Been wanting to get into astro photographs for a while, and that sounds like a good reason for a trip to the darkness

The name escapes me at the moment and I'm in a hurry...late as usual.  Try googling "fall 2013 comet".

97

Software & Accessories / Re: How do you print your photos for those who still do?

« on: April 19, 2013, 04:51:03 PM »

3. Bayphoto (I'll have to look that up, first I've heard of them)
4. Smugmug (new to me too).

How is it you have not heard of these?  Bayphoto's ads are literally all throughout every USA photo magazine...and smugmug has had a web presence for quite a few years.

Pick up a photography magazine every now and then, at least!

98

EOS Bodies / Re: 21mp Sensor in the 7D Mark II? [CR1]

« on: April 19, 2013, 04:46:18 PM »

I hope for the best about 7D2: new dual DIGIC 6 and new CMOS (NEW Technolgy, NOT the same CMOS as on 1DX, 5D3 edition customized for 7D2).


10x!

No need to be "furious with Canon".  And where did you read a rumor that the 7D2 would get "dual digic 6"?  I must have missed that.  Seems very unlikely to me, unless the price is more in the $3k+ range.  Which would be absurd...a 1.6x crop sensor is a silly compromise in the first place (at least now in 2013).  To attempt to sell one at such a high price, would be a disaster.  1.6x crop, is so very 2002...it's time to move on to something else, something bigger.  I mean, if "reach" is all they care about, they might as well go smaller and make a micro 4/3 size, 3:2 sensor for the 7D2.  But they won't.

99

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma Announces 18-35 f/1.8 DC HSM Art for APS-C

« on: April 19, 2013, 04:33:27 PM »

There has been a lot of nonsense on this thread. It's pointless contributing now because the ones spreading the nonsense have entrenched themselves so deeply that they have no prospect of coming out of this with any dignity or credibility.

Let's not say these people have no dignity...that's personal and uncalled for.  They're simply sharing their opinion.

However, I agree...the discussion has turned rather silly it seems.  And there's nothing "epic" about this lens.  "Epic" is such a silly slang word these days, overused by teenage pop culture...it's time to retire it.

via google: ep·ic 

/ˈepik/

Noun

A long poem, typically derived from oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of...

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epic

The word really does not apply.  There actually have been other fast zooms, such as Olympus' f/2.  Just because this is the first f/1.8 zoom, does not make it "epic".

I mean, the above exchanges seem to have to do with light intensity, etc.  A crop sensor uses only part of a full frame lens' image circle.  Since the lens in question, is designed for a smaller image circle, then it can't really be compared to a lens that is designed to output a larger image circle to a larger sensor.  Can it?  Sure, you can attempt to calculate, and approximate...but does it really matter as much as those above think it does?  No.

Let's just all go full frame, and forget crop sensors, especially for anything less than telephoto focal lengths (such as over 100mm).
 

100

Lenses / Re: Just got the canon 16-35 ii and having a hard time seeing the value in this uwa

« on: April 19, 2013, 06:15:03 AM »

Interesting, I've not seen flare like that before.  I'll see if I can get my friend to let me try the lens at night.

This is the wide zoom I was working toward purchasing for myself.  I don't anticipate shooting many street light scenes with my night photography, though.  I prefer to shoot the Milky Way...and the upcoming comet which is supposedly going to be gigantic and bright in the sky.  If it is, of course there will be billions of photos shot of it...so mine probably won't matter much.  I guess it would help if it didn't have some weird flare around it...but maybe it could be cloned out.

101

Lenses / Re: 17-40 F4L or Wide Angle Prime?

« on: April 19, 2013, 06:10:45 AM »

It seems like it would depend on the DOF you want, or if you are shooting in low light.  I haven't done much video with a DSLR.  Mainly I've used my Rokinon 85mm f/1.4, got some footage of my nephews shooting firecrackers after sunset.

A zoom is a lot more versatile...that's why you use a zoom, whether it's for stills or video.  Weather sealing is a plus.

102

Software & Accessories / Re: How do you print your photos for those who still do?

« on: April 19, 2013, 06:05:29 AM »

Drugstore printing has been hit or miss for me.  The deciding factor, seems to be if it's on photo paper.  It's usually better if it's not done on photo paper.  The price is great, though, compared to the specialized online print stores and labs.  I have yet to try these stores' metal prints, but will do so soon. 

103

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 DG OS HSM Delayed

« on: April 19, 2013, 05:55:30 AM »

"Sport" is just a marketing gimmick anyway.  The aesthetics of the new lens' body look a lot better than the 2011 version, though.  If it's true that the optical formula is not new, then I'm not sure the new lens is worth buying.

I wasn't trying to minimize the importance of fertilizer...just wondered why people would buy pictures of fertilizer shot with a supertelephoto (if indeed they do). 

I know the lens is sharp...in the center.  My problem is, I like zooms, but I also want to be able to take the lens to 600mm and get good sharpness.  I guess I'm out of luck, but that's ok, I don't yet have the funding to purchase.  I'm leaning back towards a great white I suppose...In the meantime I'll enjoy the Sigma zoom lens I recently bought.

Since you mention food crops...I would like to make one point.  The ethanol mandate needs to go away...permanently...:-D.  That way you can grow your maze for what God intended it for...food...:-D.  And our government has one less drop in the ocean of wasted trillions that our children and grandchildren will fight and die over...and LNG needs to take its place.  It's the only true bridge fuel.  And public "investing" in "renewables" needs to go away forever also...

104

Lenses / Re: Just got the canon 16-35 ii and having a hard time seeing the value in this uwa

« on: April 19, 2013, 05:39:41 AM »

Marsu, excellent point.  However, I did shoot the Tokina outdoors and into the sun today.  I saw no flare.  If there ever is some, surely it is minimal. 

105

Lenses / Re: 400 mm f5.6 non-IS / 300 mm f4 IS with extender 1.4 III or waiting?

« on: April 19, 2013, 05:10:05 AM »

That looks like several of my shots done at much shorter focal length...of course I was at a closer distance.