Messages

61

EOS Bodies / Re: The Mirrorless Future

« on: September 06, 2012, 01:46:12 PM »

@apw100

If I was Leica, I would be very concerned right now.

Leica have their niche users, and though I am not one, they have seen off many challenges in the past (I covet a contax G2, logically, operationally, technologically and dare I say optically a better camera, where are contax now?) voigtlander, Minolta CLE (miles ahead of Leica at the time), EPSON RD-1, compact form high quality compact cameras like the Nikon and Canon rangefinders, British Reids, and still folk flock to the red dot.

I kind of hanker after a Panasonic L-1, which can be bought for peanuts.  The same camera with a red dot has held its value.

Leica M are lovely objects to behold, and handle, but give me a SLR form anyday.  For the folk who 'get' rangefinders nothing else will do, and it seems for many, the appeal of the Leica brand cannot be bettered.

Surprised not to have seen a Panasonic GF-1 or GX-1 rebranded, and sold for 2x the money with a leica M adaptor.

Still not a fan personally, but the brand endures.

With the price of  1Dx , The M9 does not sound so expensive anymore. Lens rental did a 50mm shoot out test. The M9 witht f1.4 beats everyone. This is a "professional mirrorless" with an optical view finder.

62

EOS Bodies / Re: The Mirrorless Future

« on: September 06, 2012, 01:41:47 PM »

I really, really don't get all they hoopla about mirror-less. What exactly is wrong with having a mirror? As a wedding photographer, I don't find the mirror ever gets in the way of me doing my job. Sure, the mirror makes a bit of noise when it moves, but the 5d3 can be pretty quiet when it needs to.

What benefit would a mirrorless system bring to me? Even if the mirrorless technology was perfect. Even if the af is just as fast as current af systems, why do I need to change things up? Why do I need an EVF? So my battery can drain faster? SO I can use live view all the time, and not be able to stabilize the camera against my face?

If the sensor is always on, doesn't it heat up? And doesn't it heating up cause more image noise?

Did I mention the reduced battery life?

I just don't understand all the hate for the good ol' mirror. As I understand it, mirrorless cameras still have a shutter. Wouldn't a shutter-less camera be more exciting? That is the one component that we always talk about as having a finite life expectancy. And that is the component that limits us to a shutter speed of 1/200 on most cameras when using flash. After the mirror is locked up, its the one making all that noise, and causing a blackout in an EVF. And it is what prevents us from taking stills DURING video recording (without interrupting the video) like you can do on some cell phones now. If there was no physical shutter, wouldn't it maybe be theoretically possible to take multiple exposures from a single exposure just by recording the sensor data multiple times at different points during an exposure? Infinite dynamic range anyone (or at least never a blown highlight)??

What does the mirror prevent us from doing? Don't say it limits the FPS cause I'm pretty sure the 1dx has that all figured out.

Sorry for the rant, but I just feel the desire for EVERYTHING to be mirrorless is ridiculous. Mirrors are awesome cause they can be down when you need them, and LOCK UP for when you don't.

Feel free to let me know if I've missed the point entirely or if I'm not making any sense. /rant

Very good reason. Totally agreed. 
"Street shooter needs mirroless To be discreed" it seems to be a misleading statement.  When you are 6 or 10 feet from your subject, it will get noticed regardless what camera you are holding to your eye. Sticking the camera out to look at the LCD screen is even worst.  A real street shooter should be someone "shooting from the hip". So whether it is an SLR or a small P & S will not be noticed.  As with a SLR will make you look like a tourist in foreign country, this is an even more misleading statement.  In a foreign country, the way that you dress,  your skin color will make you standout without a camera. A mirrorless will not fix the about two situation.

63

Software & Accessories / Re: Is there a good looking camera bag anywhere in the world??

« on: September 05, 2012, 04:31:32 PM »

Most of the "messenger " style bag looks a lot better than the "regular" camera bag. However, they do not offer protection to the gears

64

Lighting / Re: Buying a Canon Speedlite 430 EX II - Advice Needed

« on: September 02, 2012, 03:52:51 PM »

Get the most powerful flash if the size and momey is no objection. The EX600 is more powerful. A flash can never be too powerful. On the otherhand, if you start using diffuser., reflectotor , light box, etc. Your actual output from the flash will be cut down by a factior of 2 to 4 easily. That is where a powerful flash will be good. Even no attchment is used, the powerful flash will get you more depth of field by allowing you to use smaller aperture.

65

Canon General / Re: Do you feel your photos have improved proportionally to the cost of your gear?

« on: August 30, 2012, 07:07:43 PM »

I have a 60D, 24-105mm f/4L IS, 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro, 50mm f/1.4 USM, and a 70-200mm f/4L USM.  I'm happy with the assortment of lenses, but it occurs to me that I'm not sure my photos are that much better than when I was shooting with a $150 - $200 Sony (7mp) point and shoot.

Just adding up the retail value of my gear ($4500), I'm not so sure that I'm 22X a better photographer than I was.  That's not to say I don't do a good job with my gear... I compose a shot well, I bounce light like a champ, and I get a ton of complements... but I think people take me more seriously because of the size of my camera than the relative improvement of the shots. 

I might just be having a bit of an existential crisis and I'm merely romanticizing the "quality" of my photos with the P&S... but still.  Do y'all think the gear has substantially advanced your product?

Looking at the picture is only part of the equation. Getting it is another part. With what you got (60D and lenses etc), you are having speed in shutter  lag, AF, frame per second, shot to shot delay that the Sony P & S that cannot even come close. Therfore you will not miss as much shots as the P & S.  You can also catch the right expression of people at the right moment. Also the 200 mm lense is 320mm equilvalent telelens that the P & S does not have. These are the things that are beyond the final picture.  Your "expensive gear" is giving you all the above.

As for picture quality, it all depends how you look at the picture.  If you look at the picture from the computer sceen., all you need is about 2 Mp.  A 7 Mp and a 18 Mp picture will have the same resolution. In fact BOTH will not look good unless you use PhhtoShop to down size them such that you can look at the WHOLE picture  in pixel level on the screen. if you do not print pictures bigger than 11 x 14, Both the 7 Mp and the 18 Mp camera will have ths same virtual resolution. The DR on the crop body (60D) is not much better than a point and shoot.  Therfore you will not see any improvemen tin this area. If you shoot  a lot of low-light photo, than the 60D will definitely  have the advantage .

Just as the other posts says: "cost and quality is not linear".  It is an exponential curve. small improvement will cost you big buck.

66

Portrait / Re: Need help with group picture!!

« on: August 29, 2012, 03:52:42 PM »

I took this picture yesterday, and I really want to give this guys the best picture (and memory) possible.
So I would love to have some input from you guys on how to make the best out of this on Aperture or Photoshop.

So far I've done these changes:

Appreciate any help!

With that many people, there will always be someone that does not look good  or even turns the head  tos omewhere else.  Next time, you should take 5 to 10 pictures consecutively. Photo shop have a "photomerge Group Shot" function that you can "replce the indivual head  from another picture. That will give you a better change to make everyboy in the picture looks good.

67

EOS Bodies / Re: 7d noise question is it normal?

« on: August 27, 2012, 06:09:36 PM »

May I play the Devail's avocate??? Everybody is hammering on the nise of 7D here. But the DXO mmark proclaims that 7D has got better noise than 50D and 40D. Whats is going on???  P.S. I  have no intension of taking side. I just want some explanation.

68

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Focus issues - a different analysis

« on: August 27, 2012, 02:03:58 PM »

Judging by all the responses above, it would seem that on mid range dslr's (and possibly higher models), relying on the view finder for manual focus sharpness can produce worse focus problems compared to using auto focus despite front/back focus issues relating to auto focus.

On top of all the explanation from this site, there is another 'inconvenience". ALL the AF lenses have very "coarse" movement compare to the real MF lenses. That make MF a chore on the AF camera body.

69

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Cheap Camera Ideas...worth it?

« on: August 25, 2012, 02:35:44 AM »

Doesn't it depend on what the OP actually wants to achieve with photos from the India trip. If they are for commercial use as travel photos, then definitely stay with a DSLR and decent glass.

But if they are for personal use, a decent quality pocket camera is going to make for happier traveling. The number one golden rule for travel is to travel light. The Canon S100 is an obvious choice. I've recommended it to plenty of people who have absolutely fallen in love with this little gem, and thanked me for the recommendation. They have valued the comparative anonymity of a point and shoot over a DSLR, particularly in a destination like India. Sure it's a little more than the proposed $200 point and shoot, but it's IQ, build quality, low light performance and startlingly strong video performance make the S100 the travelers  friend.

-PW

+1 on this, I have also recommended the S100 to a few friends and they've been happy with it. I am very happy with mine, small, comparably rugged, great image quality and low light performance. Only thing I would criticize is battery time. Easily addressed though. Although this is out of budget, I still think it would be worth it. She has probably spent significant money on the tickets and other so this would still be a small part of the overall budget.

For a cheap traveler's lens I would recommend Sigma 18-200. Great choice for travel photography if you're learning. Obviously not the best glass in the market, but very useful.

Both of you have gone beyond the $200 budget.
Rebel XT and the 18-55 IS lens is very light.  this combination can fit in a lady'e larger purse  easily.

70

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Cheap Camera Ideas...worth it?

« on: August 23, 2012, 06:39:10 PM »

It sound crazy but it may work out well. Keep the XT and get the 18-55 IS II for $150. It is a Much Much better lens than the 18-55 non-IS that she is having now. There is no $200 P &S can beat this combination.

71

Lenses / Re: Travelling zoom

« on: August 14, 2012, 11:10:45 PM »

Please take a look at your travel pictures and find out what are focal length that you have used. If most of them are on the short end, then may be a 17-55 f2.8 IS is good enough as a general lens. then you can get a cheaper and lighter longer lens just in case. alarge zoom ration lens is always a compromise and you cannot expect a real good IQ.

72

Lenses / Re: How do you pack your lens hoods when traveling?

« on: August 11, 2012, 04:26:05 PM »

All my lens hoods are reverse mounted with the lens along with both caps in my camera case. During shooting, all my lenses can go back into the case with the hood in the normal position. I am using a crop body. therefore I can use the 17-55 f2.8 lens hood on my 17-40mm. It saves quite a bit of space.

73

Lenses / Re: Lens recommendation to replace 18-135mm IS

« on: August 11, 2012, 04:14:50 PM »

You have mentioned most of your picture are taken with 18-23mm. Why do you want to replace your 18-135 with a 24-105?? 24 mm on 60D is 38.4mm equivalent. It will be way too narrow cityscape and even landscape. I have a 17-40mm. It has been my main lens for the past 7 years and I really like it.  My main interest is cityscape and landscape. I wish that I have a 17-55 f2.8 IS instead (when I bought my 17-40, the 18-55 f2.8 IS  has not in production)

74

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Packing list for trip of a lifetime

« on: July 28, 2012, 12:56:14 PM »

The waterproof zip on the DryZone Rover can be a bit tricky until you get the hang of it, but I have not had any problems with it.

I like the Lowepro Nova AW bags. The water proof cover will cover all zipper for the compartments. If you do not need it, the cover will be tucked back inside its own compartment. Then It will be used just like an ordinary bag. So you do not need one bag for dry condition and another bag for wet condition.  I have used it in the heavy rain many times and jumped off the Zodiac many times also.

75

EOS Bodies / Re: Another Spec List for the Entry Level Full Frame EOS

« on: July 26, 2012, 11:45:57 PM »

Canon may make the entry level FF to be NO video cappability. Then it will really distinguish it from any other FF.