Topics

1

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Just Got Camera Back from Canon Service and the Graininess is unnacceptable

« on: January 12, 2013, 10:47:59 PM »

I am attempting to sort out any resets the service center may have done but most of them including AFMA are all in place for all lenses.

However, after taking several outdoor photos today @ 1000 ISO I don't recall ever seeing this much graininess and trying to figure out what's changed.  Is it likely any of these settings would cause this appearance:
High ISO NR was on Standard..just changed to "OFF"
Highlight Tone Priority was on, now off

If there's anything else one can think of to turn "off or "on" please advise.  I've shot at ISO 3200 indoors without flash and shots were amazing.  I'm not sure what the issue could be..  Every shot taken was grainy. Lens used 400mm 5.6 L.  I used the 24-105 the other day outdoors (after picked up from service) and strangely I had no issues with graininess.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / 5DM3 Custom Function / reassign button and GP-E2 Glitches

« on: January 11, 2013, 01:17:17 AM »

With respect to the Custom Function reassign options on the 5D Mark III, I saw one that Neuro suggested and that was to reassign the DOF button to One Shot > AI Servo and visa versa.  After setting this up and pressing the "Q" button I noted all the settings including One Shot as displayed on the screen.  However pressing the DOF button did not alter the One Shot mode on the back menu via the Q button.  In calling Canon this is apparently is now a bug as you can only see this toggle occur on the Top of the camera or by pressing the INFO button 3x.  I guess its not safe to say 2 out 3 ain't bad.  The tech took the report I had offered and listed it as a flaw and hope we see this update in the firmware forthcoming.

Onto the GP-E2  (GPS) - I've noted this phenomena several times where the time stamp on the camera has been altered by an hour when the GPS is connected.  Of course one has to supercede the other..either the camera time or the GPS clock.  Basically with the correct time zone and DLS "on" the clock goes off by an hour.  I ultimately opted to go into the GPS settings and turn off Daylight Savings time and this seemed to cure the issue. The tech was able to repeat this same issue and advised I turn daylight savings back on in the spring.  Not so.  That defeats the whole purpose of DLS to begin with.  This is clearly a bug.  He ultimately agreed when I presented "my PC is on DLS I don't ever mess with that time why should I have to do this with your GPS device"?  I hope in this next firmware release we will see resolutions to both of the above issues. 

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / The AF Setting Guide Book for 5DM3 and 1DX

« on: January 08, 2013, 12:27:55 AM »

A trip to the Irvine service center today produced a good conversation with one of the tech reps.  In short, I do quite a bit of BIF shooting (birds in flight) and focusing is a challenge when you have 6 cases in the 5DM3 menu (and 1DX) to choose from.  I've read some articles that explain to be the holy grail in AF settings for BIFS but I have found them so-so.  The service center had recommended this link which I thought to share with AI Servo users

http://learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2012/1dx_guidebook.shtml

scroll down a bit and check out the PDF file for an in depth 48 page tutorial on AF for either of these two cameras.  Hope this helps some of you...Rev

4

Technical Support / Possible Mirror Scratches..went against my better judgment

« on: January 05, 2013, 07:29:32 PM »

I've been extremely meticulous as to pop lenses on and off as quickly as possibly and in sheltered environments such as a back pack, in a car,etc but finally it happened..spec of dirt within the 5D M3.  A blower didn't get it off initially after repeated attempts.  Then I went against my better judgement and used an eye glass cloth that brought on more lint but removed the first dirt particle.  I ultimately found myself in an endless loop..got rid of one but others would get on the mirror.  Things got worse went I used (alcohol free) eye glass cleaner on the mirror and screen by gently wiping off the dirt with ever so slight pressure.  After about 40 minutes of this ordeal I gave up when what appeared to possibly be a scuff or two on the screen or mirror appeared.  I wonder what that bill is gonna run?  I read elsewhere that this doesn't affect any photos so if out of pocket is ridiculous I may not get this repaired.  Still, hoping it is cleanable and that nothing is scratched.
I knew never to touch that mirror but the annoying dirt particle got the best of me..any thoughts?  anyone ever have a mirror replacement done and know approx cost?  I was told by canon support that the screen filter on the 5D with an EVF is not replaceable.

5

5D MK III Sample Images / Autumn/Fall Color Photos on 5D Mark III - Any Lens

« on: November 24, 2012, 12:21:09 PM »

Didn't see any recent threads on this except for a 24-70 - thought to give this topic a whirl before the season is over

Here's a few to get started:


Burst Of Orange..Colts Neck Farm, New Jersey by Revup67, on Flickr

6

Software & Accessories / Do It Yourself Black Rapid type Strap

« on: November 17, 2012, 06:02:02 PM »

You will need:

1)Camera Bag Strap preferably with metal clips or sturdy clips with adjusters of course
2)Key Chain Ring or some type of ring that has a locking mechanism
3)threaded screw that fits into the base of your camera that has a loop on one end such as the type you find on the base of a tripod mount.  I took the screw out of Flash Bracket

All photos attached.  This is very comfortable and secure.

Got the idea from this video

DIY: DSLR Shoulder strap w/ quick release and tripod support (read description)	Small | Large

7

HDR - High Dynamic Range / Sepia Tone or Black and White HDR's

« on: November 11, 2012, 03:58:43 AM »

I'll start this one off with a photo taken with the 24-105 at a Historic Blacksmith Shop in Allaire Historic Town Wall, New Jersey.  Done in Photomatix using Fusion (not Tone Mapping) on 3 bracketed images then post processed in ACDSee Pro 5:


Historic Allaire Town - Wall, New Jersey by Revup67, on Flickr

8

Technical Support / Purple Sheen on Black Clothing - Canon 5D Mark III (Use Faithful not Neutral)

« on: November 11, 2012, 12:50:14 AM »

(Solved - Solution is below)

This is somewhat disturbing to see this unnatural effect on a pair of black clothes in daylight.  This happened on both my subjects that wore black.  This same effect occurred across multiple images shot in RAW.  Any ideas would be helpful.

Side Note:  PS after uploading image here to CR the image has some brightness (so it looks a bid faded) added to it vs. when I toggle back to DPP same time, same screen

9

Technical Support / DPP with HDR Tool loses GPS GP-E2 metadata on final converted file

« on: November 05, 2012, 04:37:58 PM »

DPP version 3.11.30 which offers the fairly recent HDR Tool under Tools menu encounters an issue.  When you stack say 3 bracketed images all tagged with the GPS data using the external GP-E2, then process the 3 images for HDR the GPS data is not saved on the final JPG.  This is possible as Photomatix 4.2 by HDRSoft does carry forward this data to the final JPG.

I reported this to Canon and they were unaware.  They hope to have a fix for this at some point.

10

Landscape / Autumn Colors Amidst Landscapes

« on: October 25, 2012, 12:46:55 AM »

Here's my contribution - tis the time of the season for sure.


Laird Road- Colts Neck Township, New Jersey by Revup67, on Flickr


Dorbrook Park-ColtsNeck, NJ by Revup67, on Flickr


Dorbrook Park Colts Neck, NJ by Revup67, on Flickr

11

Black & White / Shadow Casting

« on: October 24, 2012, 11:53:27 AM »

I spotted a group on Flickr called Lights and Shadows checked around in here and came up empty handed.  Thought to initiate this topic and see what a new thread on Shadows brings about with the wealth of Canon photographers that enter this forum and hopefully this thread.


Shadow Factory by Revup67, on Flickr


Domino Sugar Plant - Brooklyn, NY by Revup67, on Flickr

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5D MK III Sample Images / Canon 5D Mark III and the MP-E 65 Macro photos

« on: September 27, 2012, 09:31:54 PM »

Finally opted to place the MP-E 65 on a 5D Mark III with the MT 24EX macro flash (+ stofen filters) and snapped off this shot of a Brown Widow (female) spider from it's under carriage.  The MP-E 65 was at 3.5 magnification.  MT EX24 (manual mode 1/1) was on a pair of gorilla arms flash holders as well as a macro rail on a Bogen tripod with a Manfrotto HD 701 video head.  With the wind swaying its web back and forth it was difficult to maintain focus but was fortunate enough to grab this beauty (1920 x 1280)

13

Lenses / What 3 lenses do you dream of and long to own?

« on: September 25, 2012, 03:29:24 AM »

200mm F2 - oh so sharp, portrait heaven

600mm F4 IS USM II - I know I'll never own this in my lifetime @ 13k but it would be incredible I'm sure for wildlife (came close with a 400mm 5.6 and a 7D = 640

TS-E 17mm - the bokeh on this lens is fantastic, presently don't own a TS-E lens but would make this a first.

14

Lens Gallery / Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM

« on: September 18, 2012, 03:42:18 AM »

Recently acquired this lens and am very impressed.  It was a toss up between the F2 version for $4800 or this one for $779.  I won't compare the two however as the quality of the F2 is bar none but on a Canon 5D Mark III this 2.8 version is an excellent combo.  It's lack of IS is of no consequence as the lens is rather comfortable to hold and lightweight.  Just got this Friday 9-14-12.  Here's a first set of pics from a concert I shot on 9/17/12 (this pic was posted elsewhere in the forum under Lenses).  All photos are converted from RAW (L) to 1920 JPG then down sampled again to 1024 for this forum.  5D Mark III was set to Manual Mode except ISO set to Auto.  It would be far too confusing to have to adjust ISO for the ever changing lights and their intensity.  In certain instances (not here) I did use a 580 EX II on a bracket off camera.

Photo 1 EXIF:  F3.2, ISO 5000, 1/200s
Photo 2 EXIF:  F4, ISO 400, 1/200s
Photo 3 EXIF:  F4, ISO 400, 1/200s

15

Lenses / The 200mm Prime 2.8 II USM a real sleeper

« on: September 18, 2012, 01:17:15 AM »

After considering a 70-200 (all versions) but owning the already expensive 70-300 L IS USM I had opted for the 200mm 2.8 II prime and couldn't be more jazzed with my choice.  The attached photo taken yesterday of a singer in a local rock outfit (without flash) on a Canon 5D Mark III really makes this lens shine.  I took shots up close and from far away and quite pleased with all of the results

Anyone else out in CR land using this lens ?  From my readings it doesn't get much exposure and is overshadowed by the 70-200 IS USM 2.8 II.

On a side note, the lens hood was a struggle to get on and off.  I called Canon who were of zero hep for ideas other than to bring it to the service center.  I wouldn't mind the 30 minute drive each way if they had one to exchange but trying to obtain that info today was fruitless.  To lessen the struggle and come up with resolve, I opted to put the lens hood on and off again multiple times (forward and reverse for storage) and it seems to have loosened up quite a bit.

PS EXIF info is:  F 3.2 IS0 5000, 1/200, no flash, AI Focus.  Image is from a RAW to a 1920 JPG to a 1024 JPG