Messages

31

5D MK III Sample Images / Re: Macro Images with 5D MkIII

« on: September 29, 2012, 02:43:41 PM »

Here is a fun one I shot the other night.  I found this spider dead so I decided to shoot it and use focus stacking.  Shot with 29 images stacked together.

Canon 5DIII + 100mm f2.8 macro + 37mm extension tubes.  Manual exposure, manual focus, ISO 1000, f3.2

32

EOS Bodies / Re: 46.1mp Canon DSLR Previewed at PhotoPlus 2012? [CR1]

« on: September 29, 2012, 02:38:25 PM »

Otherwise, have fun pretending you know something about economics.

Actually... I have a degree hanging on my wall in... you guessed it:  "Economics."

But really... who cares...

33

Software & Accessories / Re: Are lens skins worth it?

« on: September 29, 2012, 01:04:20 PM »

Personally, I don't see the point from a protection standpoint. Lenses are tools, yes, they'll collect signs of use over time, but I buy them to use them, not to keep them pretty.  As a kid, I had an aunt with a formal living room filled with clear plastic-covered furniture and vinyl carpet runners... I didn't see the point then, and I don't now.

The only exception would be a camo skin for birds/wildlife, when the business end of the supertele is the only thing sticking out of a blind.

I use Lens coat camo for my long lenses.  300 and 600 respectively and for the purpose of wildlife photography.  I dont use skins on any of my shorter lenses.  Lenses are tools.  You take care of them and they last  a long time... Sometimes the coat prevents scuffs and such, but thats not why I use them.  It's to tone down that giant white thing lurking in the bushes..

34

Software & Accessories / Re: who uses Focal or similar?

« on: September 29, 2012, 12:59:16 PM »

purchased the Focal software and just did it on my kit 24-105 @105 and my 50 1.4.

results:
50mm 1.4 needed +9 adjust
24-105 needed +5 adjust at 105mm

is that usual?

not at all.

as long as it is within the afma range of -20 to 20... it doesnt really matter.

35

EOS Bodies / Re: 46.1mp Canon DSLR Previewed at PhotoPlus 2012? [CR1]

« on: September 29, 2012, 12:24:33 PM »

Or that the nikkei is down 15% and there is a broad global economic slowdown and it has nothing to do with canon. You are all speculating way too much...

That was more or less the point I was getting at.  Way too much narrow thinking and too many bad economics lessons going on here in this thread.

+1... moving along now.... Who out there is interested in this camera?  Any excitement?  What kind of photography do you do and why would you like one of these in your Kit?

36

EOS Bodies / Re: 46.1mp Canon DSLR Previewed at PhotoPlus 2012? [CR1]

« on: September 29, 2012, 09:59:04 AM »

Or that the nikkei is down 15% and there is a broad global economic slowdown and it has nothing to do with canon. You are all speculating way too much...

37

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Who upgraded from 5d mk2 to mk3 ?

« on: September 26, 2012, 11:53:38 AM »

Tron,

I shoot Raw.  Convert to DNG and then process with Photoshop CS5 and/or Lightroom 4.

My comments refer to then entire ISO Range.

Lenses I have noticed my statements to hold true: 24-105mm f4, 17-40mm f4, 100mm f2.8 Macro, 70-200mm f4, 300mm f2.8, 600mm f4

Mounted on a Gitzo Systematic Carbon Tribod with WH200 Wimberley Head.

Anything else you curious about?

Thanks for answering 

Keep in mind that Lightroom 4 was reported for not producing ultra sharp 5D3 images!
I didn't make it up I read it in THIS forum (Sometime in April or May I think). You are doing something very interesting though. You convert to DNG first. That's another step and maybe a good one as it seems. Thanks again...

P.S I do not believe that there are problems with bodies. At least not often. They are not lenses. I have a fine 5DII and I try to gather as much info as possible about 5DMKIII. I am thinking of bying it and this thread is definitely a suitable one for this purpose.

You bet. 

I tend to agree with you about body issues being rare, however I have personally known of 4 bodies from both Nikon and Canon that had a shutter issue.  Apparently a shutter can become loose and will cause a slight amount of vibration which can result in sharpness issues.  All of these bodies were repaired by the manufacturer at no charge.  A system such as FoCal can show these issues if you compare IQ from two bodies that are the same model and use the same lens.

Mainly I convert to DNG so that I will always have access to my RAW files in the future.  Support for old bodies in current editing software is starting to wane, and by converting to DNG you will always be able to edit your old files with future editing programs.

Naturally there are some people who feel that the 5DIII is not worth the upgrade, and I completely respect that opinion.  For me... It's worth 10 times the cost.  The 5DIII is the best camera I have ever had the pleasure of shooting with.  (I have not shot a 1DX)

38

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Who upgraded from 5d mk2 to mk3 ?

« on: September 26, 2012, 08:21:16 AM »

Tron,

I shoot Raw.  Convert to DNG and then process with Photoshop CS5 and/or Lightroom 4.

My comments refer to then entire ISO Range.

Lenses I have noticed my statements to hold true: 24-105mm f4, 17-40mm f4, 100mm f2.8 Macro, 70-200mm f4, 300mm f2.8, 600mm f4

Mounted on a Gitzo Systematic Carbon Tribod with WH200 Wimberley Head.

Anything else you curious about?

39

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Who upgraded from 5d mk2 to mk3 ?

« on: September 25, 2012, 07:37:39 PM »

Tron.

Interesting.

Both of my 5DIII bodies produce cleaner, crisper, sharper images then my 5DII.  I wonder if your 5DIII copy had a problem or my 5DII body had a problem.

Both 5DIII bodies are also much better IQ then my 1DIV and my 7D.

40

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Who upgraded from 5d mk2 to mk3 ?

« on: September 24, 2012, 06:51:43 PM »

1. Is anybody aware of the stronger AA filter?

2. Or the fact that raw files at high ISO are not that different - according to DPreview samples -between 5D2 and 5D3? Are all of you shooting jpgs only and are so impressed with 5D3?

In order to not be misunderstood: I am interested in 5D3 too. I am just having second thoughts ...

I upgraded from the 5DII to a 5DIII.  Well worth it in every respect!  AF performance, FPS, customizable menus, etc...

And yes... noise.  It is a huge upgrade from the 5DII.  I will admit that at a glance the noise improvement does not appear that significant and DP Review samples indicate this.  The part that makes them very different is the quality of the noise and the detail retained at higher ISO. 

With the 5DIII the noise is a white pixel noise with very little color noise.  I find this is much easier to work with and eliminate in post processing without heavy NR.... however the big thing for me is that there is so much more detail to work with.  Edge detail really falls off on the 5DII after you get above ISO 3200 while the 5DIII just holds on right up through 12,800.  Even after reducing noise on high ISO shots with a 5DIII the details are amazing.

Without reservation... it is well worth the $$$.  (I even sold my 1DIV to pick up another 5DIII !)

41

EOS Bodies / Re: 46.1mp Canon DSLR Previewed at PhotoPlus 2012? [CR1]

« on: September 24, 2012, 06:26:19 PM »

definately not somethign to pre-order without seeing test results   I'm just wondering how much ISO performance has to give in order to get the DR.  its gonna be a good show to watch, but from preliminary indications this won't be seen at very many weddings  .  In order to make an industry contribution is appears Canon has to make a fairly sharp distinction between the studio/'scape body and the wedding/event body.

If these specs are correct... this camera will be ideal for landscape and studio photogs....  not weddings or sports/wildlife.

Oh I think it would be quite excellent for wildlife because when you crop the picture, you'll have the same ability to crop as with the 7D. It would be the full frame version of the 7D, except perhaps in fps. Birders would love it.

I also see it as being used by quite a number of wedding photographers (that aren't amateurs pretending.)

As a wildlife photographer I shoot primarily from ISO 800 through ISO 6400.  It would be a great camera if it could hold up with high ISO, but I doubt it will. This camera will likely be a beast at ISO 100-400 and have an expanded DR which is perfect for landscapes and studio.

Until the 1DX came a long the best wildlife camera out there has been the D3S with 10mp. 

While I agree it would be nice to be able to crop and still have a ton of pixels (like a crop sensor 7D), the part that will likely disappoint here is that it will have the same IQ as a 7D... which quite frankly is not that good. 

I doubt it will be a great wedding camera for the same reasons I doubt it would be a good wildlife camera.... High ISO performance, or lack there-of. 

Just my .02

42

EOS Bodies / Re: 46.1mp Canon DSLR Previewed at PhotoPlus 2012? [CR1]

« on: September 24, 2012, 05:17:05 PM »

definately not somethign to pre-order without seeing test results   I'm just wondering how much ISO performance has to give in order to get the DR.  its gonna be a good show to watch, but from preliminary indications this won't be seen at very many weddings  .  In order to make an industry contribution is appears Canon has to make a fairly sharp distinction between the studio/'scape body and the wedding/event body.

If these specs are correct... this camera will be ideal for landscape and studio photogs....  not weddings or sports/wildlife.

43

Software & Accessories / Re: What are most people using for processing RAW

« on: September 23, 2012, 02:38:38 PM »

For my 40D raw files I've been using Elements 8 for some time.
Now I'm about to get a 5D MK III, I'll not be able to use Elements 8 as it's version of ACR isn't compatible with this camera. I can't afford a copy of Photoshop CS6 so whats my best option? What do most people use? I guess the answer is Lightroom 4.1.

If you like PS you could just get a subscription to it.  I own LR4 and have a month to month subscription of PS6.  It's only $20/ month and lets you upgrade to the newer version when its time.

If adobe continues top pump out new versions of PS every couple years then this is much cheaper then paying for an upgrade every time not to mention buying it outright the first time!

44

Software & Accessories / Re: who uses Focal or similar?

« on: September 23, 2012, 02:33:35 PM »

How many beginner/amateur/hobby photographers use some kind of adjustment method to fine-tune their lens?

I've read so many good reviews on Focal AND a few other AF adjustments but wonder how many of those are from professionals or people who earn their living from photography.

Reason I ask is, I still consider myself as a beginner and if it wasn't for someone commenting on one of my photos as "it looks as though it maybe back-focus, that's why x is not clear"  I would never have even noticed. I would have thought, camera shake, I used the wrong setting, I focused at the wrong spot, not enough light, subject moved.....

how many would:
1) buy lens
2) check lens in detail
3) fine tune AF microadjustment
finally 4) go shooting.....

The very first thing I do before I shoot with a lens is calibrate it to my camera bodies with focal..... If the AFMA is off there is no way to tell whether the lens is performing as it should.  Focal will also reveal whether there is a problem with a lens.  In very rare instances a lens can be such a bad copy that it will never work well....  I bought a $3,000 Sigma 300 f2.8 lens that could not be adjusted enough to focus properly.  Even at +20 it was still off by over 18inches on a subject only 40 feet away!!!!  This is pretty rare, but I sure was glad I had caught it before owning it for a year then realizing the issue.  (I didnt need focal to tell me this was a bad copy for my body, but it would be more common to if you found a lens copy that was unacceptably inconsistent.  )

45

EOS Bodies / Re: 46.1mp Canon DSLR Previewed at PhotoPlus 2012? [CR1]

« on: September 23, 2012, 02:27:58 PM »

Should I sell my 1dx??

Very confused: 18mpx for $7000.00
46mpx for HOW MUCH?

Paul

I bet that your 1DX will produce superior image quality at ISO 1600 and above.  Significantly superior.  But a 46mp at 5fps camera is really not geared for the same audience as an 18mp camera with 14fps...

It sure would be great to have one of each!