Messages

1861

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: New Canon Speedlites and ST-E3!

« on: June 15, 2012, 10:27:52 AM »

You're referring to the statement by an anonymous poster that 'a Canon rep told me...'  Not the most reliable of sources...

Yep, I know - that's why I was asking here. Waiting for a Canon legacy trigger wouldn't be a problem for many, but it would be bad if they *only* could trigger Canon flashes and not dumb, cheaper ttl ones. Do you think Canon would do that to its valued customers? Without this information, it's very hard what way to go - 3rd party or Canon.

1862

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: So Nikon D600 is real after all

« on: June 15, 2012, 10:25:00 AM »

ISO 50 -200   I think even the Rebel can be noise free. or am i not picky at all?

No, this iso range is fine with the 18mp sensor, unless you are trying to pull shadows and the dr limitations show.

Second the 5D2n as a direct competition to the D600, with let say just a 7D AF system and Metering, but that would upset a lot of 5D3 buyers, as the 7D system is very capable already

For many lenses, the 7d system is even more capable as the 1dx/5d3 one - I just learned that the af system of the latter doesn't degrade only with max. open aperture, but Canon specifically puts lenses in Groups, leaving only their top lenses to fully use the af system - see 5d3 manual, pp78.

On the other hand, the 7d system is at least up to par because it always uses cross type sensors on the edges, with my 70-300L and the 5d3 I'd only get horizontal and thus worse af performance in difficult situations!

1863

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Real world impact of 5d3/1dx af system with slower apertures than f4?

« on: June 15, 2012, 10:17:57 AM »

Realistically, I think the 70-300mm L will do fine with the horizontal line points - the DoF with an f/4-5.6 lens is pretty deep, the more accurate sensors are primarily beneficial with the thinner DoF of faster lenses.

The dof might be not razor thin at tele range, but that's no substitute for pattern detection as you know. But you don't have the 70-300L, so I guess you cannot tell how good it really is.

Thanks for telling me about the groups, just looked it up in the 5d3 manual an this isn't specified in any other 1dx/5d3 af reviews I looked at. Even the 180mm macro is a "Group G". Is this Canon marketing at work, or is this due to some real hardware considerations? 

* The 24-70 is Group B, while the older 28-70 is Group A???

* Both the oldest 100mm non-L *non-USM* macro and the new 100L macro are  listed as Group C, while the 100mm non-L *USM* is only "Group E" without cross-point sensors to the side. And why isn't the 100mm L macro "Group A" like the 70-200/2.8?

* What about 3rd party lenses like the Tamron 24-70: What group rating do they get?

* What about the Kenko extenders, do they impact the group rating like the Canon extenders do?

1864

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: New Canon Speedlites and ST-E3!

« on: June 15, 2012, 09:17:41 AM »

I will wait to see, whether or not Canon brings out RT-receivers to include existing Speedlites (especially 580/II and 430/II) as well as monolights in a wireless setup and updates  their wireless ETTL-protocol  to include 2nd curtain flash.

The only indication I've seen is a post here: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/indepth/canon/announcements/new-canon-600ex-rt-speedlite-flash-powerhouse stating that Canon will release a legacy radio trigger add-on, I guess once everybody who is in a hurry bought multiple 600rt flashes.

Any news/schedule on the radio tigger add-ons, or if they'll be able to trigger non-Canon flashes as well?

If they are, except for 2nd curtain x-sync the 3rd party alternatives become obsolete, but on the other hand Canon might be hesitant to radio-trigger cheap Yongnuos cannibalizing their own expensiv flash sales. What do you think?

1865

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: 430EX II Price Drops

« on: June 15, 2012, 09:10:59 AM »

I've been noticing the recent price drops on the 430EX II.  Do you think this is a sign that the 440EX-RT is imminent?

What I'm seeing in Germany, the price didn't change, but even jumped a little due to a current rebate program. But I'm sure Canon will update the 430ex2 sooner or later, maybe photokina - the only question is if they'll introduce radio receivers for optical legacy flashes, too (430ex2, 580ex2).

1866

EOS Bodies / Re: 60D owners...help, i need reassurance before i pull the trigger

« on: June 15, 2012, 06:32:58 AM »

magic lanter runs in my 50D also, but i never installed; it's not a canon product, it's something that you use at your own risk

I was concerned at first about this, too. But at least the unified port nowadays is very stable, and it just sets a flag in camera to enable it to boot from the card - you can reverse this at any time. Given the features ml adds to still shooing, live view and video, I'd say it's worth the extremely tiny risk anytime.

1867

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D mk II still a viable option?

« on: June 15, 2012, 06:24:32 AM »

3rd: They crippled it on purpose. With a 17 times more powerful processor they could make it 7 or 8 fps.

Don't worry, in 3 years they might release a firmware upgrade like on the 7d enabling the faster fps :-p

1868

Lenses / Re: Upgrade 70-200 2.8 is to version II and add 2x TC, or get 100-400L?

« on: June 15, 2012, 06:21:54 AM »

For me, it would be much more annoying if I had to carry 70-200 II Plus a 300 or 400 mm lens.

Well, there is the 70-300L which is rather inexpensive in comparison to the 70-200+tc alternative and more suited for travel. But the 70-300L is a less frightening travel/walkaround lens with a native/fast af @300mm, and not designed for low-light shooting when the (max.) open aperture matters. For professional use and manual exposure, the way to go is a fixed aperture lens.

1869

EOS Bodies / Re: 60D owners...help, i need reassurance before i pull the trigger

« on: June 15, 2012, 06:09:26 AM »

well the co9mparison between 5dmk3 and d800 is a non-sense. the 5d is better in several areas than d800, the 60D is worst than k5/d7000 in everything (except lens selection, but this is not a feature of the camera)

... I don't think a 5d3/d800 discussion refresh is necessary, but to stay on topic while outclassed by the d7000 the 60d runs magic lantern while Nikon doesn't have any 3rd party firmware add-ons - this was the decisive reason back when I decided to go the Canon path.

1870

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Should wait for a new EOS body?

« on: June 15, 2012, 05:54:56 AM »

I like my 60D body but i would like a better one.

"Better" is relative - what exactly do you expect from a camera body upgrade, and how do you think it'll affect your shots?

1871

Lenses / Re: Upgrade 70-200 2.8 is to version II and add 2x TC, or get 100-400L?

« on: June 15, 2012, 05:50:00 AM »

70-200II + TC, since you'll use it for your living.

Indeed, but if you (or anybody else) would do it during your spare time for fun, constantly putting on & off a tc is a major annoyance, with the 1.4x tc I have I'm always thinking if it's worth the hassle for one shot.

1872

EOS Bodies / Re: 60D owners...help, i need reassurance before i pull the trigger

« on: June 15, 2012, 05:42:43 AM »

buying 2day it's really foolish for someone that is staring with photography, infact all advantage except ergonomics over the rebel line are gone, and at the same price you can buy a nikon D7000 (slightly more expensive) or a pentax K5 (less expensive)

I agree the 60d is overpriced in comparison to the d7000, this wasn't like that on 60d release, but so is the 5d3 to the d800 - Canon nowadays is just more expensive, like it or not. Pentax is no alternative due to limited lens selection.

But you're saying all advantages over the rebel line are gone except - very important - ergonomics (back dial, top lcd, pentarprism, better sealing)? Well, except higher shutter rating, 1/8000s speed, 1/250s x-sync, faster fps, much larger buffer that is. For still shooting, the 60d is still a good option, but it's due to replacement next - at a much higher price again, talking about compromise.

1873

Lenses / Re: Battle of the 50mm's (1.2L , ZE 1.4, ZE 2.0)

« on: June 15, 2012, 04:43:33 AM »

You'd almost certainly need a high precision focusing screen (3rd party in the case of the 5DIII) instead of the stock screen.

Do you know where to get these 3rd party screens for the 5d3, and how much an exchange costs? It won't be cheap I guess if this is one of the reasons for people getting a 1dx instead?

1874

EOS Bodies / Re: 60D owners...help, i need reassurance before i pull the trigger

« on: June 15, 2012, 04:20:00 AM »

There is much to be desired in the 60D

Of course there is - that's why it's priced at it is! But as a compromise - any camera or lens is - it served me well. It just feels strange to 40d/50d shooters, because Canon split the xxd line and the 60d isn't a clear successor.

Looking "below": much better ergonomics and specs (except afma, but you can work around this) than any xxxd which make it good for a stepping stone into dslrs, because you can learn a lot with the 60d.

Looking "above": A lot cheaper than 7d, and while the price difference might look tiny to red ring customers, it is a lot if buying first dlsr equipment and deciding if to get a kit lens or at least a efs15-85 or the like. And 60d runs full magic lantern, which is a killer feature for me.

Calling any camera body a "joke" is rather trollish, because it just depends on the budget, experience and usage scenario for each individual person. You could as well calling getting an 1dx to shoot your grandchildren a joke, but this isn't helpful either. Not because I would feel bad because some doesn't like my 60d camera baby, but because it ignores that camera equipment is about making compromise choices.

1875

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: right time to turn pro...?

« on: June 14, 2012, 02:22:41 PM »

Frankly, I think this is a horrible time to "go pro".  Especially if you're just starting out and haven't developed a niche.  SO MANY people nowadays come home from Wal Mart with a Rebel and a kit lens, and start watermarking every bad shot they take with "My Name Photography" and call themselves a pro and charge a fraction of what you'd need to actually make a living.

On the other hand, this will only get worse, won't it? So isn't the reverse thing also true - if you want to go pro do it right now, because in the future all possible niches will get more and more occupied by competition?