Topics

1

Lighting / looking for portable background stand for botero 7x5feet background

« on: August 01, 2012, 03:55:06 PM »

Hello,

I'm looking for a cheap ( preferable 40-60 euro) portable background stand.
My eye fell on the "http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/62542-REG/Westcott_1103_Background_Stand_for_Illuminator.html which supports backgrounds up to 8 feet - but the problem is that I can't seem to get it here in europe (netherlands/germany).

I found this one "savage LS-C" http://www.cameranu.nl/nl/studio-accessoires/achtergrond-systemen/savage/savage-ls-c8-background-stand-voor-collapsibles/h5084_21604_183854/ but it's for another background and I'm not sure it'll fit ( it's for 1,83 - which would be 17 cm's too short... or maybe it'll just fit?)..
Does someone have this stand + botero background (200cm x 150cm which is +/- 7x5 feet ) and knows if it's usable?

Or are there alternatives I could look at ?

2

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Upgrade from 550d (t2i) to 5d II (autofocus)

« on: March 05, 2012, 07:58:40 AM »

Hello,

I currently own a 550D with 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 F4 lenses. With introduction of the new MK3 I was wondering if it might be interesting for me to upgrade to a 5D2 (+ a 16-35 or 17-40 lens in the not-too distant future). My main area is portrait, zoo-photography (esp. flying bird-of-prey shows) and landscapes.

Now I've been scavenging the internet to see how these camera's compare (besides FF, micro-adjustment, higher mpix, iso performance). You mainly see the 5D2 (advised for studio/portrait/low-light 3,9fps) compared to the 7D (with quick AF, advised for sports)

Now my main questions is how the AF of the 550D compares to the AF of the 5D2 - especially in the case of (flying) bird photography ? 
I know I'm able to capture that with the 550D (with a pretty high miss-rate, admittedly - but that's not necessarily the camera's fault ^^ ) -

Below an example I shot with the 550D -  how would the 5D2 do in this scenario?

Regards

3

Software & Accessories / Difference between B+W POL "E" vs "MRC"

« on: January 27, 2012, 03:18:11 PM »

I just noticed that besides an MRC (Multi Resistant Coating) and a non-MRC one, there is yet another filter with an "E" classification.

They all share the same basic properties ( reduce reflection, improve colors, ...), and besides that I could get the following (translated from dutch).

for the "E" : Käsemann filters offer the highest optical quality and are more resistant against extreme klimatologic conditions because the filter is 'sealed' from the inside.

for "MRC" : does not only have an extremely effective multilayer coating, but is harder then glass so it protects the filter from scratches - water and dusparticles almost don't attach to the filter-surface improving long-term high optical quality.

Ok... so E-ones are sealed from inside (and probably also from the outside?) and MRC ones protected from the outsides (and not from the inside?)... so "E" ones are "better"?