Messages

31

Lenses / Re: DPReview: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L II Review

« on: March 07, 2013, 11:33:55 PM »

Sold my 24-105mm right after getting the 24-70mm f/2.8L II.  Also sold a 35mm f/1.4 and 24mm f/3.5L TS-E II.  I probably should sell the 50mm f/1.2L too, but....

Don't get it, if you don't want your primes to collect dust.

More high praise for the 24-70 II, with the usual caveat of price.

Question for people who've bought the 24-70 II and had/have the 24-105mm f/4L IS 'kit lens'.  Did you keep the 24-105L, and if so, now that you have the 24-70/2.8 II, do you use the 24-105L any more?

32

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Keep or sell my 7D

« on: March 07, 2013, 08:18:30 PM »

Sell sell sell...before no the 70D or 7D II is announced.  This is why I recently bought a 60D used for $500 as my travel / walk-about camera.  I figure is T2i's are selling for $400 used, I won't take a bath re selling a 60D when the 70D comes out. But I think the 7D has much more room to fall.  Recently sold a 7D body for 850.00.

But the paramount question is what are you planning to shoot with the 300mm f/2.8.  If it is action related, then I'd probably just keep the 7D. 

33

Lenses / Re: 200-400 f/4 L IS vs 100-400 vII (hypothetical)

« on: March 07, 2013, 03:02:59 PM »

I would forget about the 200-400mm L.  It has been announced for over 2 years (I think) and has yet to come out.  I wonder why it is taking so long to come out with that lens...makes you wonder.

I would get the 300mm f/2.8L IS II.  Armed with the 1.4x and 2x III converters you have a very capable 420mm f/4 and 600mm f/5.6 lens.  It is cut your eyes sharp using either extender wide open.  Fast AF too.

Plus it is probably lighter and cheaper than the 200-400mm will be.

Cheers,
Jason

34

EOS Bodies / Re: Need help. Canon 60D for sports--is it better to pony up for the 7D?

« on: March 06, 2013, 05:03:58 PM »

If all you have is the 18-135mm kit lens, then the 7D will be of little value.  Do yourself a big favor and keep the 60D, but get a lens with USM.  The 70-200mm f/4L USM is around $600 or less and you will get killer action shots.  Just my two cents.

The way I would look at this would be...... are you being paid for the photographs you take or are they just for yourself, friends,  family maybe the local high school? if you are being paid maybe it's worth considering an upgrade if not then the 60D will be more than enough, apart from the frame rate and auto focus, they have the same M.P. and sensor and will produce a quality shot. get a better lens  with more range, the 70-200's are great for this sort of thing, you bought the 60D for a reason what were those reasons?

I would like to post them on a site eventually.  It will be a high school football site kept up by me and it is not for pay but I do want other people to freely look through the photos and enjoy shots of the games I see across the state of Texas.  I also hope to take video clips (nothing too long) of scoring plays.  I really appreciate how the 60D and 7D can handle video and a good lens can even make recording that even better.

I got the 60D because it was a great price, had good reviews, it felt comfortable in my hands, the shutter speed, and decent video recording.  The 60D was my second choice because the 7D was just out of reach.  I said I had got it last week.  That was my fault.  It was two weeks ago.  The sale at Best Buy and the opportunity to get the 60D in hand pressed me to get it.

Don't get me wrong.  So far, I like the 60D and many of the shots I have taken during the day are nice.  I have been just trying the camera out for outside shots and a soccer game during the day.  I want to take some more shots with it at a baseball game this week, if the game is played at night.  There should be a soccer game for high school during the evening this week as well so I could try it more.  Like I said, I think the night shots I had were off due to me still learning the camera. To be honest with you, I've been using manual focus for the shots I have taken.  I'm used to messing with manual focus from the Sony digital camera I once had.  I'll take some more and I'll try to post them here later this week, if I can.

I plan to have this camera for at least two years.  I can still return the 60D and get the 7D at Best Buy with the 18-135 lens for around $1448.  I'm very apprecitative of the lens recommendations and I can work extra to get a good lens around July or August.  Maybe by June if all goes well.   I'd only sell the 60D or 7D if the 70D and the 7D Mark II are signifigantly better and can get a decent price (not likely to happen for a while).

I got a couple of weeks before the 30 days is up.  I'm going to stay with Canon.  I have nothing really against the Nikon but I feel more comfortable with the Canons.  I'll keep absorbing all the information y'all have provided and I really appreciate all the info that has been provided.

Thanks!

35

Lenses / Re: EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM or EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM

« on: March 05, 2013, 04:25:01 PM »

That's a pretty big field (for soccer) but I think the 400mm f/2.8L II is going to be your best option.  I think you might find 600mm too long.  You probably want to have a second body with a 70-200mm attached also.   

The choice, 400mm or 600mm, depends on where you will be in relation to the athletes.  If on the side lines, I think 400mm is enough.  You can crop some and, if you have one, use a 1.4x extender on the 400mm.  That will give you 560mm f/4.  Not shabby and on a 1Dx should still AF very fast. 

Kind regards,
Jason Simmons 

36

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Transition from Nikon to Canon

« on: March 02, 2013, 06:50:12 PM »

I'm a Canon shooter and feel that there is little difference between the two systems: Nikon and Canon.  Both have their merits and spectacular shots are obtainable using either.

Your shots on Flickr are fabulous.  Why would you want to change something that has been working for you?  Unless you are intrigued or feel you absolutely need a change.  Perhaps, if you have an itch to spend some cash, get some new Nikkor glass.  Or upgrade your current body to something bigger and better: maybe a D600.   I would not switch just on a whim or because your buds shoot Canon.

Besides, everything is opposite in terms of controls on the Canon... :-)

Kind regards,
Jason

37

Lenses / Re: Cheap Canon 300mm or 400mm do I Choose?

« on: March 01, 2013, 02:33:16 PM »

hmmm... if your longest focal length lens is 85mm, why not look at one of the very good 70-200mm options?  Or if you don't mine a variable aperture throughout the range, maybe look at a 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS lens.  They are super sharp and lighter than the 100-400mm and has 4th generation IS. 

If you don't need f/2.8, the Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS is very very good.  The best in this range is the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens, but if you don't need f/2.8 look at the f/4.

Hope this helps some.

38

Lenses / Re: 50mm 1.2 / 85mm 1.2 VS Zeiss 50mm1.4 / Zeiss 85mm 1.4? Which should I buy...

« on: February 25, 2013, 05:52:39 PM »

I have and use both.  I would say that the 50mm f/1.2L is going to be your more walk-around everyday prime.  The 85mm f/1.2L is a heavy beast and slower to AF.  The 85mm shines for portraits really.  Here are some samples taken with my 50mm f/1.2L:

@ f/1.2:

 
@ f/1.8:

 
@ f/2.8:

39

Lenses / Re: Best lens for baby portraits?

« on: February 25, 2013, 10:06:53 AM »

If you can fund it, I would just get the new Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II lens.  It is spectacular, very sharp, and compatible with full frame camera's should you decide to go that way some day. 

I sold my 35mm f/1.4 and 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, after getting the 24-70 II.  I have the 50L and 85L II, but rarely use them now.  Maybe that is a sign that I need to sell those off too. 

I think the best trinity at the moment is:  16-35mm II, 24-70mm II, and 70-200mm IS II.  You cannot go wrong with these and your clients will never know you did not use a prime lens...neither will they care!  Now, if you like shooting with a bunch of primes, then that's a different story.

Kind regards,
Jason S.

40

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

« on: February 22, 2013, 02:20:42 PM »

Perhaps save a little more mula ($$$) and purchase a used but nice EF 300mm f/2.8L IS lens.  They are about $4000 in mint condition and work great with a 1.4x teleconverter and make for a really good 600mm f/8 ( stopped down 1 stop) lens.

I would stick with what you already have ( 100-400mm L ), if size and weight are a concern.  You might find that you can wait even longer and maybe get a nice used 500mm f/4L IS. 

A shot using the 100-400mm on a 5D III:

41

Lenses / Re: What are Canon's sharpest lenses?

« on: February 21, 2013, 11:25:56 AM »

Well...the sharpest lens I have and have used without any doubt is the new Canon EF 300mm F/2.8L IS II.  Hell, it is even sharp with a 2x III converter on it. 

Second might be the new 600mm F/4L IS II, followed by the 200mm F/1.8L or 70-200mm F/2.8L IS II or 85mm F/1.2L II.  My 24mm F/3.5L TS-E II was also really sharp...sorry I had to let it go; just found I did not use the tilt and shift features all that much.

Kind regards,
Jason

42

Lenses / Re: Tele lens help

« on: February 20, 2013, 01:11:46 PM »

I would get the EF 70-200 f/4L USM over the consumer grade zoom.  For about the same money, you are getting excellent build quality and better optics.  It's widest aperture is a constant f/4, so you can always add a 1.4x teleconverter later to gain more reach. 

Just my 2 cents.

43

Canon General / Re: Bag question

« on: February 15, 2013, 08:59:28 AM »

Take a look at the Thinktank Streetwalker Pro HD.  Great sturdy bag.  It can hold all that you stated.  It's a backpack, though.  So you have to decide if you want a backpack or a shoulder bag.  Perhaps you should look into a roller bag, if you are not going on hikes in the woods with your gear.  I suggest the Thinktank airport line of roller bags.

44

Software & Accessories / Re: Gloves for Photography

« on: February 15, 2013, 08:53:02 AM »

Aquatech sensory gloves!  I used them on a ski trip in the blue ridge mountains of NC and they worked well!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Aqua+Tech/Ntt/Aqua+Tech+Gloves/N/0

45

Lenses / Re: lens recommendation soccer

« on: February 14, 2013, 01:18:36 PM »

I'd definitely go with 6D and 70-200mm.  No doubt.  It is in a different class than the 70-300mm (non-L).  I would keep the AF point in the center and shoot away in AI-SERVO.