Messages

16

EOS Bodies / Re: 1DX sample RAW images

« on: May 22, 2012, 07:55:06 AM »

I have few but not from a final version. Canon allowed me to use one for 24hrs last month!

17

EOS Bodies / Re: BG-E11 availability

« on: May 22, 2012, 07:51:09 AM »

Mine is coming in two days!! 

Feel naked shooting without one!

18

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: *UPDATED* 5D Mark III Issue with EF 200 f/2L IS Official Canon Response

« on: May 16, 2012, 08:26:21 AM »

then the 1DX will have the same issue with those lenses.

I didn't experience this when I used the 1D X few weeks ago with my 800mm. I'm not sure how accurate your statement is. We'll see.

19

EOS Bodies / Re: Any new news about Canon 1D X f/8 AF?

« on: May 11, 2012, 06:57:14 AM »

Any AF will perform a little slower using a tele-converter. I use my 1D MKIV with the 400mm f/5.6 and 1.4x TC all the time with great success.

Here is an example during my Spoonbills & More Workshop.


Canon 1D MKIV, Canon 400mm L @ f/8, 1/2000 sec, ISO 400 in Manual mode, Hand-held

20

EOS Bodies / Re: Any new news about Canon 1D X f/8 AF?

« on: May 09, 2012, 03:38:13 PM »

The way it works is:

Set shutter speed
Set aperture
Set auto iso

Regardless of the light then the camera will maintain the shutter speed and the aperture by adjusying the iso.

On the 1D4 you also get the option to set exposure compensation to ensure correct metering

If I'm shooting in Manual (that's all I do) why would I want to sacrifice image quality and noise by allowing the camera to set different ISO's?

That's what I don't understand.

The use of Auto ISO allows the camera to correct exposure when moment-changes occur. I can't say how many times I ended up underexposing because a cloud rolled in front of the sun just before I started shooting. (For all my technical knowledge, I'm still a novice when it comes to bird photography...I understand the technical factors and techniques, I'm just not that great at using them in the field yet. ) For BIF, you really can't redo the shoot. Using Auto ISO and EC, the camera could automatically compensate for the change in lighting, but you still have ultimate control over exposure.

As for noise, generally speaking if you underexpose and lift exposure in post, you'll still usually end up with more noise. Digital exposure adjustment always affects noise as well (since at that point its baked into the RAW), so lifting an underexposed photo will have as much or potentially more noise than using a higher native ISO setting. At worst the end result is roughly the same, at best using Auto ISO+EC in camera would produce better results.

Say you are shooting an Egret at 1/1000 sec @ f/8, with an ISO of 400. Perfect light and exposure confirmed by following the histogram…. Right?

A cloud comes in and diffuses the light. All I have to do is to reduce the shutter speed to say… 1/500 sec  (one f/stop) and continue achieving a good exposure without sacrificing noise by allowing the camera to chance the ISO. If the cloud rolls out, my shutter speed will of course return to 1/1000 sec which I already know is a good
and confirmed exposure based on the previous light.

That’s two or three click to the left and right on the top dial.

My point is that you can easily achieve the same results without sacrificing noise and more importantly…. Image quality.

Good talk!

Thank you

21

EOS Bodies / Re: Any new news about Canon 1D X f/8 AF?

« on: May 09, 2012, 03:08:36 PM »

The way it works is:

Set shutter speed
Set aperture
Set auto iso

Regardless of the light then the camera will maintain the shutter speed and the aperture by adjusying the iso.

On the 1D4 you also get the option to set exposure compensation to ensure correct metering

If I'm shooting in Manual (that's all I do) why would I want to sacrifice image quality and noise by allowing the camera to set different ISO's?

That's what I don't understand.

22

EOS Bodies / Re: Any new news about Canon 1D X f/8 AF?

« on: May 09, 2012, 03:00:05 PM »

Auto ISO with exposure compensationThe combination of the two is useful.

Can you give us an example?

Thanks!

1. Manual Mode, 1/1000th shutter, f/7.1:
2. Auto ISO selects ISO 800

With evaluative metering, the scene is a bit too dark. You need the DOF of f/7.1, and you can't go below 1/1000th because your already as low as you can go to freeze all but the birds wing tips. You don't have the option of using flash.

3. Use EC to bump ISO up to by 2/3rds of a stop

Correct exposure now, but its still not manual ISO, so when that cloud passes in front of the sun a moment before you take the shot, evaluative metering compensates and it still exposes correctly. Oh, happy day, happy day.

Why not just change your shutter speed to whatever is needed to get a good exposure on your bird and leave alone the ISO?

BTW, do you really need to FREEZE the wing tips? I certainly hope not as long as the subject is well exposed.


Canon 30D, Canon 400mm @ f/5.6, 1/30sec, ISO 800 in Manual mode.

BTW. Thank you for your input and information.

23

EOS Bodies / Re: Any new news about Canon 1D X f/8 AF?

« on: May 09, 2012, 02:41:00 PM »

Auto ISO with exposure compensationThe combination of the two is useful.

Can you give us an example?

Thanks!

24

EOS Bodies / Re: Any new news about Canon 1D X f/8 AF?

« on: May 09, 2012, 02:31:53 PM »

One area where the 5D III would definitely win out is in the high ISO category. Pretty much all Canon cameras perform the same at ISO 100-400 due to whatever limitation Canon has in their sensor design that prevents them from improving DR past ISO 400. If you regularly shoot birds in rather low-light situations, I would expect the 5D III to do better at ISO 6400-25600 (not to mention getting the extra stop of native ISO to boot.) I think I could have used ISO 6400 and maybe 12800 on some of the darkest days I've photographed birds.

Dont bet on significantly better high iso performance to 12800 - the 1D4 is still clean to there.

Where the 1D4 will claw back is on the auto iso keeping iso to a minimum when you set the shutter speed and aperture - and you get ec at the same time. This is something the 5DIII hasn't got.

Ah, yes. The Auto ISO/EC is really a nice feature. Its too bad Canon won't put that in their other pro-grade bodies. I can understand not putting it in a Rebel...but damn, make it a standard pro feature.

Auto ISO?? what's the advantage of that?

25

EOS Bodies / Re: Any new news about Canon 1D X f/8 AF?

« on: May 08, 2012, 02:41:46 PM »

Am I the only one that prefers birding with a 5DIII over a 7D?  I had both and there was just more detail available in the 5DIII then the 7D which negated the crop advantage of the 7D completely.

I used it for 2 1/2 years before upgrading to the 1D MKIV.

26

EOS Bodies / Re: Any new news about Canon 1D X f/8 AF?

« on: May 08, 2012, 01:06:19 PM »

I still believe using a full frame for bird photography is not ideal even using a long lens like my 800mm.

I can understand that. Do you think you'd get a 7d (or an upgraded 7d) if a 1.3x crop doesn't happen again?

Just wondering what bird photographers will buy next..

If Canon drops the 7D line, and does not bring back a 1.3x crop camera, and really does indeed intend to drop f/8 AF in their Pro bodies, I think bird photographers on Canon gear are just SOL. I have a 7D now, and I would stick with that until the day it dies. I'd pick up a 1D IV if I could (they are getting rather hard to find...seems a lot of people still want the 1-series performance with a crop factor). In the absence of f/8 AF on any body and the loss of pro-grade crop bodies, I might move to Nikon. I really don't like that thought (I like Canon gear and ergonomics), but if Canon decides to ditch the bird photographers, I think bird photographers will have to ditch Canon. Reach is probably the most important factor for a birder, and being able to AF at maximum reach (which is often 600mm + 2x TC + CF... 1920mm on 1.6x or 1560mm on 1.3x) is critical. Nikon seems quite happy and capable of providing multiple f/8 sensitive AF points in their 51pt AF system, which is used on quite a few bodies.

Hang in there... I'm sure something is coming. Maybe not until late 2013 but They are well aware of our frustration. Trust me!

Well thats VERY good to hear. Thanks for the update, btw. The lack of f/8 aside, how did you like the 1D X in general? If Canon made an APS-H version of the 1D X, would it fill the role as a birders body?

The camera AF System is extremely fast. I would love to own this body but not as full frame.

27

EOS Bodies / Re: Any new news about Canon 1D X f/8 AF?

« on: May 08, 2012, 12:34:48 PM »

I still believe using a full frame for bird photography is not ideal even using a long lens like my 800mm.

I can understand that. Do you think you'd get a 7d (or an upgraded 7d) if a 1.3x crop doesn't happen again?

Just wondering what bird photographers will buy next..

If Canon drops the 7D line, and does not bring back a 1.3x crop camera, and really does indeed intend to drop f/8 AF in their Pro bodies, I think bird photographers on Canon gear are just SOL. I have a 7D now, and I would stick with that until the day it dies. I'd pick up a 1D IV if I could (they are getting rather hard to find...seems a lot of people still want the 1-series performance with a crop factor). In the absence of f/8 AF on any body and the loss of pro-grade crop bodies, I might move to Nikon. I really don't like that thought (I like Canon gear and ergonomics), but if Canon decides to ditch the bird photographers, I think bird photographers will have to ditch Canon. Reach is probably the most important factor for a birder, and being able to AF at maximum reach (which is often 600mm + 2x TC + CF... 1920mm on 1.6x or 1560mm on 1.3x) is critical. Nikon seems quite happy and capable of providing multiple f/8 sensitive AF points in their 51pt AF system, which is used on quite a few bodies.

Hang in there... I'm sure something is coming. Maybe not until late 2013 but They are well aware of our frustration. Trust me!

28

EOS Bodies / Re: Any new news about Canon 1D X f/8 AF?

« on: May 08, 2012, 10:39:58 AM »

I still believe using a full frame for bird photography is not ideal even using a long lens like my 800mm.

I can understand that. Do you think you'd get a 7d (or an upgraded 7d) if a 1.3x crop doesn't happen again?

Just wondering what bird photographers will buy next..

Before I upgraded to the 1D MKIV, I used a 7D. I still have it actually.

I recently posted a picture on Facebook about that.

29

EOS Bodies / Re: Any new news about Canon 1D X f/8 AF?

« on: May 08, 2012, 10:38:41 AM »

I talked to them about the f/8 issue and the answer was the same. It's because the way they have the AF points.

I guess that for what you do, f/8 AF is important. Do you consider it an issue or not? Considering the 1Dx will be a great camera. Can it replace your 1DIV?

The AF is lightning fast and just locks! I probably had about 3 images out-of-focus during my overnight used of the camera.

I still believe using a full frame for bird photography is not ideal even using a long lens like my 800mm. I'll keep my 1D MKIV and 5D MKIII for landscapes.

can you explain to me why? is it because of the lack of the cropfactor? or the more shallow DOF?
wouldn't a 1D X with a 1.4 extender almost be the same as a 1D mk. IV? (like in autofocus speed, image quality etc.)

Hi,

If you use a 600mm lens with a 1.4x TC attached to a 1D X, you’ll get 840mm at f/5.6 while with the same set up with the 1D MKIV is 1092mm at f/5.6 with an excellent AF performance.

You won’t be able to use a 600mm with a 2x TC anymore so that’s out of question. Same goes with the 500mm.
I truly don’t see a reason to sacrifice 252mm by using the 1D X.

In other words

600mm X 1.4= 840mm (1D X with a  1.4x TC – f/5.6)
600mm X 1.3= 780mm (1D MKIV – f/4) – No tele-converter attached.
600mm X 1.3 X 1.4= 1092mm (1D MKIV with a 1.4x TC – f/5.6)
600mm X 1.3 X 2= 1560mm (1D MKIV with a 2x TC – f/8) with a not so great AF. Single point.
800mm X 1.3 X 1.4= 1456mm (1D MKIV with a 1.4x TC – f/8) with a decent AF. Single point.

As you can see, a big difference.

Thanks!

30

EOS Bodies / Re: Any new news about Canon 1D X f/8 AF?

« on: May 08, 2012, 08:58:16 AM »

I talked to them about the f/8 issue and the answer was the same. It's because the way they have the AF points.

I guess that for what you do, f/8 AF is important. Do you consider it an issue or not? Considering the 1Dx will be a great camera. Can it replace your 1DIV?

The AF is lightning fast and just locks! I probably had about 3 images out-of-focus during my overnight used of the camera.

I still believe using a full frame for bird photography is not ideal even using a long lens like my 800mm. I'll keep my 1D MKIV and 5D MKIII for landscapes.