Messages

31

Software & Accessories / Re: Magic Lantern 2.3 Available as Free Download

« on: August 23, 2012, 11:00:39 PM »

I have a very silly question. I am a still photographer, I don't do video, how do all these great features benefit still shots?

Live view configuration options (focus peaking, zoom options, shortcuts for ISO/WB, crop marks, extra sharpness), UI customizing, histograms on quick review, shutter count, quick zoom, intelligent intervalometer, etc. There's probably something you'd find useful

32

Software & Accessories / Re: Variable ND question

« on: August 22, 2012, 12:12:14 PM »

Thank you for your replies.

I'm torn as to what I want to do. I use only L glass (70-200, 24-105, 24), so I know I want quality glass to be putting in front of that quality glass 

Now, I'm honestly torn between getting the SinghRay (like I mentioned, I have good experience with it, and my friends over at http://www.wagenwerks.net/ and http://www.awol.tv/ also use it on their videos, which turn out fantastic) or getting a 2-stop in addition to a 5 stop.

I can't honestly remember using the variable to either of it's extreme settings, so I don't think I need anything more than a 5 stop on my 24 f1./4 and a 2 stop would be fine on the 70-200 f2.8.

Decision needs to made soon, I have a huge photographic weekend coming up (one month) where I'll put close to 2000 images on my cards...

Try "renting" one and trying it out. I often buy lenses or other big items used, then sell them on Amazon if they're not what I wanted. I had a Canon video camera for two years, and after I sold it I about broke even, even after selling fees/shipping. Look at the used prices on Amazon and see if you can pick one up for a similar price. Selling on Amazon is really easy

33

Software & Accessories / Re: Magic Lantern 2.3 Available as Free Download

« on: August 21, 2012, 09:53:01 PM »

Thank you!  Now for another luddite question....if I have ML on my card then take photos on this card, do I use MOVE instead of COPY when uploading to Lightroom?  My usual workflow is to copy, not move, leaving the images on the card until I am certain they properly uploaded and are backed up in two places.  Then I will do a low-level format on the card before shooting again.  But I'm gathering with ML on the card, I don't want to do a low-level format, correct?  What if I do a normal, not low-level, format...will that remove the images but leave the ML files intact?
Diane

When you do a format on the card with ML installed, it is set to keep ML installed by default. It allows you to do a complete format and remove ML if you hit the func. key before formatting. I normally just delete all images, rather than format.

34

Software & Accessories / Re: Magic Lantern 2.3 Available as Free Download

« on: August 21, 2012, 01:22:41 AM »

Focus peaking for video mode is enough to make me love Magic Lantern. Not to mention it actually gives my 50D a video mode in the first place

35

Software & Accessories / Re: Variable ND question

« on: August 20, 2012, 02:29:18 PM »

I would have to recommend Neewer for their ND faders, AKA variable ND filters.  I got a 52mm thread one for my Canon 50mm 1.8 II and love it so much, it only cost $5 with another $5 for shipping, I would say I have gotten a lot more use out of it then $10.  Just one photo using it earned me enough money to buy over 10 of them.  It does not reduce sharpness all that much, it is almost unnoticeable, you are more likely to lose sharpness from your subject or your tripod moving slightly.  My only complaint about it is that it changes from a 52mm thread to a 54mm thread so I can't put on my hood for my 50mm but most lenses have another mount for their hoods so this isn't even that much of a problem.  Here is a link to the 77mm Neewer ND fader on Amazon for $11.32, http://www.amazon.com/NEEWER%C2%AE-Neutral-Density-Adjustable-Variable/dp/B0059ATVJW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345425685&sr=8-1&keywords=neewer+77mm .  Neewer does a great job of making ND faders and I would recommend them to anyone because of their cost and performance.  You might have to do a little bit of color correction in post but that is something you should do no matter if you have the filter on or off and at high densities it suffers from weird pattern problems, but not worse then $400 ND faders, if anything better then them. 
Here is just one of the amazing shots I've gotten from this great filter

 


Also, love the name, I've got a '11 GTI, LOVE the sound of a VR6, what is it in?

I have the 77mm Neweer variable ND filter. It reduces my sharpness way more than I am comfortable with, especially for video work. I can't say I would recommend it over a normal ND filter

36

Lenses / Re: Lens Filters etc.

« on: August 10, 2012, 10:11:10 PM »

How much was it to put the Katzeye focusing screen in your 50d? Id like a little info and your personal opinion if you dont mind:-)

About $115 shipped. Not hard to put in, and I really like it. Being able to see the actual DOF of faster lenses is the biggest advantage. If I had to do it again, I'd probably skip the split prism and just have the microprisms. I don't find the split prism very useful

37

Lenses / Re: Lens Filters etc.

« on: August 09, 2012, 11:04:39 PM »

I have a $30 77mm UV filter that I still can't get the mustard and water spots off of. Those water spots and mustard would be stuck on my $700 17-55 if I had not had the filter on. That said, I have been shooting without the filter on, unless I anticipate a mess headed my way in a shot

38

Software & Accessories / Universal Quick Release Suggestions

« on: August 01, 2012, 10:56:37 PM »

I'm sure this has been asked before, but I couldn't find anything in the searches. I'm looking for a universal (Arca Swiss?) quick release plate and base combo. I have an Alien Bees Ringflash that I would mount the catch/base plate mechanism on. Suggest brands or models. I'm not looking to spend more than $20-30 per plate, and not more than $40 for the base mechanism, otherwise I'd go with the Really Right Stuff plates.

Thanks!

39

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Macbook pro retina advice

« on: July 05, 2012, 08:30:37 PM »

Some good advice already. I'm tempted to wait until the tech 'matures' a bit. Also if I got a hd monitor and hooked that up to a non retina mbp, would it give a retina like output or can they only output to a certain rez?

The retina in the new MBP just means each pixel is displayed by four real pixels. It still runs at 1440x900, just sharper on optimized programs. If you hook up a high res monitor, it will be no different than a normal MBP. The retina means more pixels for the screen size.

40

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Entry-level video production

« on: July 05, 2012, 01:16:30 AM »

The Sony MDR is a pretty standard monitoring headphone for $80
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR-V6-Monitor-Headphones-Voice/dp/B00001WRSJ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341465270&sr=1-1&keywords=sony+mdr-v6

41

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Macbook pro retina advice

« on: July 05, 2012, 01:12:27 AM »

I own a 2011 15" pro. While I haven't seen a retina screen yet, I will say that the difference between 13" and 15" is huge for making sure programs have adequate space to display all the interface elements. I would also say the "normal" LED macbook pro screens are excellent, even without the retina sharpness. If you're going to upgrade to the max, the retina 15" is a good deal. If you just want to max out the ram and have a lot of drive space, get a refurb 15" and save up until retina matures and more apps take advantage of the tech

42

Lighting / Re: Fauxtographer Ruins Olympic photos.

« on: July 02, 2012, 08:21:15 PM »

Makes me wonder if this was one of those "we can't pay you, but think of the exposure you'll get!" type of jobs.

43

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Entry-level video production

« on: May 22, 2012, 03:55:31 PM »

Also, not sure if Premiere still has the demo, but you can try out a month of Creative Cloud for $50 and test drive the whole CS6 suite

44

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Entry-level video production

« on: May 22, 2012, 03:53:59 PM »

Yes, I highly recommend walking through everything with tutorials. My usual approach of figuring it out on my own frustrated me to the point of writing it off when it was released. Now that I've read up and watched videos, I appreciate it much more

45

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Entry-level video production

« on: May 22, 2012, 12:48:46 AM »

You might want to turn to Google for FCPX vs Premiere comparisons

The nutshell version of it is Apple totally revamped FCPX to cater to the amateur Uncle Bob crowd, lowering the price and leaving out a lot of pro-level features and alienating droves of professionals who've jumped ship to either Premiere or Avid.

There is nothing missing from FCPX that anyone with a budget of under $20k would miss. Most of the features of FC7 are there, they have just either been tweaked, moved, or vastly improved. The multi cam, audio sync, and little interface tweaks make me wonder how I ever survived in 7.

I can't speak to the differences between FCPX and Premiere, as the last time I used Premiere was 8 years ago. Rather than focus on the differences, maybe the question is, can I get professional results from FCPX/Premiere? I would say yes to both. It's kind of like the differences between Nikon and Canon