Messages

556

Portrait / Re: Let There Be Light!

« on: January 03, 2011, 03:06:28 AM »

Thanks for taking the time for the explanation.  We all have our rhymes and reasons don't we? Your's being less stuff to carry around.  I had one guy start bashing me because I bought the 1.4 for its lightweight attributes and razor sharp resolution at around 2.8-3.x vs. other lenses where you have to get up in the higher F stops to hit their sweet spots.  I mean it really irked his nerves enough to comment like I was nuts. 

You are lucky to have such good patients / subjects to work with you.  My wife is fairly patient but like most people does not like to be photographed.  Once in awhile I photograph band mates and then alter in photoshop such as this one inserted here shot with the 50mm @ 1.4 - was going for the bokeh effect on this one plus I shamefully didn't have a flash at that moment.

I checked out the strobist link you had listed to improve my flash photography - its pretty good so thanks for that.  As an indoor photographer, are you using Custom White Balance?  I have found the WhiBal card to make a huge difference on indoor light.  It is dead on accurate vs AWB or the presets on the Canon 7D.  I can post a few test shots if its of interest.

557

Macro / Re: Canon 100mm IS USM L Macro Photos

« on: January 02, 2011, 07:22:13 PM »

Just by coincidence I found another lethargic bee today on our BBQ counter.  Temps were in the low 50sº F and this guy was fairly lethargic until I tried to manipulate him for the ideal shot.  He awakened and tried to muster up enough energy to fly away in which he eventually did but not before I fired off two shots.  Improper planning on my part was to get a larger depth of field forgetting he might move thus the shutter was a bit to slow at 1/25 hence the slight blur.  Should have increased the ISO or used the flash..live and learn

558

Macro / Re: Canon 100mm IS USM L Macro Photos

« on: January 02, 2011, 07:16:58 PM »

Thanks for the kind words.  No macro rail just a Bogen tripod #3021 with a Manfrotto HD701 fluid head, EOS 7D, 100mm IS USM L macro lens 1x.  Settings were 1/10 @ F11 manual focus AWB.  The bee was completely stationary. 

Speaking of Macro Rails, the cool thing about the quick release plate on this head is that you can slide it back and forth by a few inches if I ever needed the macro rail "feel".  It also has an emergency brake in case you forget to lock the plate in place.  Fantastic product.

559

Macro / Canon 100mm IS USM L Macro Photos

« on: January 02, 2011, 02:23:35 PM »

Honey bee hanging on as temperatures drop here in southern Cal.  Image stacked with Helicon Software.  Tripod mounted camera.

560

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon EF50mm f/1.4 USM

« on: January 01, 2011, 12:22:10 PM »

Photo taken of Ludwig 6 ½ x 14 Chrome Snare drum @ 1.4.  No flash hand held with Canon EOS 7D

561

Portrait / Re: Let There Be Light!

« on: December 30, 2010, 09:34:12 PM »

Hello JRSJ - it appears you truly have a knack for portraits especially the female musician posted earlier - really excellent planning and thought process here especially with the flash use outdoors and bounce object.  One question I have is that (from what I've read) zoom lenses typically don't have the strengths such as sharpness, low distortion, lower pincushioning, etc. that prime lenses do.  I noticed you are shooting with some fine zooms but is there a particular reason you don't utilize the prime lenses?  The Canon 100m 2.8 L macro IS USM has some outstanding results in the tests I've reviewed as well as the 50mm prime 1.4 or 1.2 with excellent bokeh results.  Just curious to your thoughts.

PS - I acquired two ND filters the 3 stop and 9 stop (tough to use the latter however) for the same reasons you've implied - to shoot with a wider aperture vs. meaning smaller (F16 or smaller).  I think a lot of folks over look the "sweet spots" on lenses and these ND's give you that control in bright daylight.  Good stuff!

562

Lenses / Re: Which 50mm prime?

« on: December 30, 2010, 02:08:17 PM »

If you want the highest possible resolution and nothing else, none of the 50's should even be considered.

I said the 24-70 as an example- You don't buy a standard zoom for bokeh and shallow depth and fast aperture. But that's why one normally buys a 1,4 prime. To buy a 50 to use at f4 because it gives best sharpness, for what? What type of things do you shoot? In studio with a plain background it makes sense, but then you would get a better lens.

Viggo - The 24-70 was a misleading example.  The article (below) illustrates why one would want a 50mm prime instead of a "zoom".  It also points out that yes, some people are sticklers and shoot the middle apertures for sharpness (it's just a preference the same way you may have unique preferences from everyone else in this forum)  have you not heard of aperture priority?.  By getting the zoom you recommend in your example you lose sharpness over the 50mm across the board and also must shoot at a smaller aperture to get anywhere near the crispness the 50mm shoots at a larger aperture.  Get a better lens for what purpose?  the LP/PW on the 50mm prime beat out some of the L series zooms with respect to sharpness.   I suggest you go here for starters and learn more about primes vs. zooms.

http://www.adorama.com/ALC/Article.aspx?alias=50mm-lens-shoot-out-f18-or-f14&utm_source=ET&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=EmailALC122910

563

Lenses / Re: Which 50mm prime?

« on: December 30, 2010, 01:29:46 PM »

Adorama article on which 50mm (1.8 or 1.4) just released and good reasons why this is not the same as just buying a zoom lens which covers the same 50mm range:

http://www.adorama.com/ALC/Article.aspx?alias=50mm-lens-shoot-out-f18-or-f14&utm_source=ET&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=EmailALC122910

564

EOS Bodies / Re: Disappointed with Canon?

« on: December 29, 2010, 08:21:27 PM »

The D300s colors are closer to the reality, the Canon is a little bit reddish.
Zs

Try using Custom White Balance and never rely on the camera's built in presets for AWB (especially indoor light).  Use a WhiBal card (or similar) to achieve accurate color which any decent camera should offer the option of Custom WB.  You should be shooting in RAW also vs. JPG which pre-bake's the settings and much more difficult to manipulate.  In RAW you will have full control over your entire image.  You can convert to JPG after proper tweaking in DPP if you like.  JPG's are included in each RAW image by the way.

Revup67

Digital sensors only detect black and white.  The color is guessed at by the jpeg in camera processor or the raw converter, and can be set to pretty much any color you want.  I am not much concerned by the color rendering of a camera, I have lightroom set to render color the way I like it as images import.

Every person perceives color differently, and has their preferences.  Thats fine and as it should be.  Thats why I don't place much stock in the gushing descriptions of how a particular lens renders better color.  Its all in the perception of the photographer.

Digital sensors weren't actually part of the discussion it was the camera's photos appearing more red.  And sure, you can make the camera more green, magenta etc. however this can be time consuming and provide terrible results for other scenes you may be shooting especially if you forget to re-adjust.  Also, why go through "extra" post production in Lightroom or other s/w when you can get it accurate (or closer to accurate) the first time around with custom White Balance and a White Balance card?  If the camera is guessing as you say, why not make the guessing more accurate?  It is true "it's in the perception of the photographer" but it's also important to have a good starting point as well.

565

Lenses / Re: Canon MP-E 65 Add on's & Tips

« on: December 28, 2010, 10:06:09 PM »

To Flake:  I agree with the Live View, it's even better than the mirror lock up as two motion vibrations are removed from the Mirror and (Mechanical Focal Plane) shutter according to an article (with illustration) that I had read.
go here for more insight:  http://krebsmicro.com/Canon_EFSC/index.html
The writer also stated to use Live View (active) with Silent Mode turned On which induces the electronic first shutter curtain.  This gets the least amount of vibration possible of course depending on camera model in that those features exist.

Also, thanks for the tip on those Sto-Fens diffusers as I was ready to acquire those through 47st photo but from what you say not worth while.  I have not decided on the Dual Macro flash holder yet as the lens and flash have not arrived but I am leaning on it vs. others I've seen which are more $$ and less diversification - the one you recommended appears to be the best one out there.

Rev

566

EOS Bodies / Re: Disappointed with Canon?

« on: December 28, 2010, 12:24:30 PM »

The D300s colors are closer to the reality, the Canon is a little bit reddish.
Zs

Try using Custom White Balance and never rely on the camera's built in presets for AWB (especially indoor light).  Use a WhiBal card (or similar) to achieve accurate color which any decent camera should offer the option of Custom WB.  You should be shooting in RAW also vs. JPG which pre-bake's the settings and much more difficult to manipulate.  In RAW you will have full control over your entire image.  You can convert to JPG after proper tweaking in DPP if you like.  JPG's are included in each RAW image by the way.

Revup67

567

Lenses / Re: Canon MP-E 65 Add on's & Tips

« on: December 27, 2010, 11:16:46 PM »

PS apparently others have also complained about the MT 24EX - this guy writes up an excellent article
http://lifeonsixlegs.wordpress.com/2010/06/23/goodbye-canon-mt-24ex/

after 2 years he gave up and got the following F-2 Macro bracket with his 580EX II
http://www.tripodhead.com/products/flash-bracket-macro-brackets.cfm

568

Lenses / Re: Canon MP-E 65 Add on's & Tips

« on: December 27, 2010, 10:28:38 PM »

To Flake and neuroanatomist:  thanks again -  I was considering the diffusers by Sto-Fen - if I got those should I still proceed with the flex mount that Flake recommended?  The mount looks fantastic and an excellent idea.

That's really disheartening to hear that at 4x and 5x the 24ex doesn't do a sufficient job. 

It appears it is safe to say that with the 24EX and MP-E 65 you still need additional accessories.  Here's the potential shopping list so far;  UV, 58C, Sto-Fen diffusers, Macro Rail, Angle View Finder, MacroShot  Dual Mount Bracket for 24EX flash..

Flake:  with the Macroshot Dual Mount Bracket - you probably would never use the 58C adapter ring unless you were shooting with original flash mount and not going past 1-3x as stated.

569

Lenses / Re: Canon MP-E 65 Add on's & Tips

« on: December 26, 2010, 10:59:07 PM »

Neuroanatomist - thanks for that assistance as it was unclear originally on how the parts all assemble - I did order the 58C as I thought it would make good sense to protect the glass with a UV (also ordered)

On a side note:  I found an interesting article defining how to get best results at greater magnification with the MP-E 65 and that is to use Live View with First Shutter Curtain vs. Mirror Lock up or any other settings.  Charlie Krebs' accurate tests pave the way for further evidence that Live View is the way to go with this lens.

http://krebsmicro.com/Canon_EFSC/index.html

Also found quite possibly the best F-Stops with each magnification to choose on the MP-E 65 (of course depending on subject) - these were prescribed by a reknown MP-E 65 pro "Lord V" who feels these are the best F-stops at the following magnifications:  "I typically used :- 1:1 F11, 2:1 F9, 3:1 F7.1, 4:1 F6.3, 5:1 F5.0"  His incredible work can be seen on flickr and also his own web site http://lordv.smugmug.com/

Rev

570

Lenses / Re: Canon MP-E 65 Add on's & Tips

« on: December 26, 2010, 09:29:40 PM »

Thanks for all the replies everyone - it sounds like the 58C adapter ring is needed either way.

Flake do you by any chance have the web sites you are referring to bookmarked re:  the MP-E 65?  I am interested in doing the reading for sure.