Messages

136

EOS Bodies / Re: More new 5D MK III sample pics from Bert...

« on: March 05, 2012, 12:24:18 AM »

Considering the high ISO used, I think these shots are amazing!

The shots at 12,800 and 25,600 look as smooth and good as many SLR's at 400-800 ISO.

Looks like you'll be able to get a good shot of a black cat in a coal bin at midnight, without flash!

No wonder the 5D3 doesn't have a built-in flash.
It would rarely need one!

137

EOS Bodies / Re: Apparently, Nikon users are switching to Canon...

« on: March 05, 2012, 12:06:31 AM »

I'm pretty sure I'll be getting a 5d3, but not for a couple of months yet, as I want to read a few non-biased reports about it first and let Canon get some of the bugs out of it with the second or third batch they manufacture.

Some years ago I decided to go to the Canon system, mainly because I thought there was a better choice of lenses and the lenses were a bit cheaper than Nikons.
As far as the camera go, Nikon have some better features than Canon, but then again, the Canon cameras have some better features than Nikon, so it is really just a moot point as far as I'm concerned as they really are pretty equal on a model for model basis.

Hearing all these people whinging on about changing brands because this new model doesn't have what they think they need is really pretty frivolous in my opinion as wasting your investment in lenses and accessories just because one camera has a higher megapixel count, or has USB 3 instead of USB2 is just nuts.
Just as a difference of $500 on a $3K body over the 3 or 4 years you'll be using it is pretty silly too and you would lose far more than that by having to sell all your accessories and buying new ones to replace them.
You often won't find out why there is a $500 difference in the cameras until you really get to know it, and then you might realise that the extra $500 was well worth it as it is more solidly contructed, and the low light performance is spectacular, and to me, having a useable 25,000 ISO as against 6,400 would be well worth the extra $500.

138

EOS Bodies / Re: What would make $3500 for 5DmIII justifiable for you?

« on: March 03, 2012, 08:32:04 PM »

From a report I read from a pro photographer that has had a 5D3 for a couple of weeks, he reckons it is a big step forward, especially for high ISO photos.

You can read it here.
http://blog.jeffascough.com/photographers/2012/03/canon-eos-5d-mark-iii-review.html

To me, the 5D3 is really most of a 1Dx for a lot less money.

139

EOS Bodies / Re: buying a 5DIII overseas or local?

« on: March 03, 2012, 08:28:14 PM »

If you're in Oz and you buy it from Singapore, Hong Kong or the US, the chances are you won't pay any GST.
However, as the purchase is over $1,000, legally, they can charge you GST on the import, but with all the gear I've imported over the years, I've never had to pay it, and the goods have just arrived on my doorstep.
But there is still a chance.

As far as warranty is concerned, forget about Canon Australia covering the warranty, and if something goes wrong with the camera, you'll have to return it to the seller to get warranty work done on it.

If you buy from the US and have to return it to the US, there is some quaestion about whether the warranty will be valid, as Canon US has some sort of fine print in their warranties about the goods being exported out of the country and hence voiding the warranty, but you'd have to get an assurance from the seller to verify this.

140

EOS Bodies / Re: 5dmkIII- No video autofocus?

« on: March 02, 2012, 06:12:42 AM »

It's amazing how well you can manually focus if you have some practice, but a good autofocus system would come in handy occasionally.
Hey, if they can do it on a $99 handy cam, why not on a $3.5K camera?

141

EOS Bodies / Re: Hugely Disappointed In 5D III Price

« on: March 02, 2012, 06:08:03 AM »

You guys in Europe should realise that your wonderful socialist governments are charging you around 20 -25% in taxes (VAT or GST or whatever they call it over there), so there's a chunk of the difference, + you also have heavy import duties on anything not made in Europe.

Here in Australia, our tax is 10%, which is reasonable, while in the US if you buy something from another state, you pay no sales tax, but if you live in New York and buy from B&H, you have to pay around 8-9% state sales tax on top of the price?

American has the cheapest prices, except for Hong Kong perhaps, but the US buys such huge quantities compared to other countries that the factory gives the US distributors the best deals too.

The distributors in the US pay relatively low wages to their staff too, especially with the minimum wage requirements in Europe or Australia (where the minimum wage is around US$20/hour compared to around US$7.50/hour in the US), so their overheads are less, and hence, they can sell it cheaper to the stores.

There's lots of things to consider when you compare retail prices from one country to another.

142

EOS Bodies / Re: Hugely Disappointed In 5D III Price

« on: March 02, 2012, 02:05:44 AM »

As DP Review says, this is not so much a replacement for the 5D2 (as it will remain in production for a reduced price), but halfway model between the 5D2 and 1Dx.
If you look at it this way, and seeing it has the 1Dx focussing, weather sealing, faster FPS etc etc, it doesn't look so expensive anymore.
We'll see in the near future how the Nikon D800 and the 5D3 compare when all the reviewers do their comparisons, but I think the 5D3 will hold its own.
Megapixels aren't everything, that's for sure.

Perhaps Canon should have called it the 3 or 4D just to say hey! This is a new camera, instead of calling it the 5D3, and then we would probably be happier about paying $3500 for it.

143

EOS Bodies / Re: Biggest Hardware Issue still not fixed?

« on: March 01, 2012, 08:51:08 PM »

I had the same problem with the Canon grip on my 60D, so much so that one of the brass gears inside the grip broke within a few days of purchasing it.
So, I got a Zeikos grip, and after some months of usage, it is still performing really well and feels more solid than the Canon one.
Sometimes the aftermarket accessories work better, and for a lot less money, than the originals.

144

EOS Bodies / Re: Second DSLR Announcement ?

« on: February 27, 2012, 10:10:34 PM »

Why would they bring out a 650D, when the 60D is less than 18months old and still selling well?

The new 7D will come out before the new 60D, as the new 60D will inherit the new 7D's sensor etc, and the 7d is older.
The 600D is even newer than the 60D, so apart from the 7D (and the new 5D MkIII), I think Canon would only bring out a new DSLR into a new category and not to replace any current models for the time being at least.

I could understand that Canon would bring out a mirrorless camera, using the new sensor from the GX1 and the ability to use EF-S lenses, as this would be a great idea for Canon and would give them an instant large range of lenses for the new mirrorless camera, but I doubt they will bring this out for another year or so, so that the GX1 can get some runs on the board first.

Maybe they will bring out the mythical 4000K video camera?

145

EOS Bodies / Re: The new 5D Mark III ?!?! PICS!

« on: February 27, 2012, 05:23:59 PM »

I can see that Canon have included the button on the top of the mode dial to prevent accidental rotation of the mode dial like they have on the 60D.
Great idea.

Can't wait for the full specs.

146

Lenses / Re: In praise of the Canon EF-S 60mm f2.8 USM Macro Lens

« on: February 27, 2012, 01:28:26 AM »

I love my EF-S 600mm macro lens too.
Great for product shots and insects too.

147

EOS Bodies / Re: How much will these new cameras cost?

« on: February 20, 2012, 05:22:00 AM »

We'll have to wait and see what Canon thinks we are willing to pay.

One thing for sure, the new 5 series has been in the wings for quite a while as it must take at least 12 months (and probably more like 24 months) from deciding on the exact specifications, to getting it manufactured as there are so many things to organise like getting the sensors produced and even the packaging takes time to design and make.
There's no way that Canon, or any other manufacturer can decide on the specs, then produce the new camera within a few weeks. There's just too much tooling and moulding required, let alone testing of new sensors, firmware and software.

Funny how the retail price of the 5d MkII has gone up in the US, as we can get them off websites here in Australia cheaper than you can get them from B&H for example.
One website that I've bought lots of stuff from is selling the 5D MkII for A$2049.00 inc. shipping, while B&H are now charging A$2249 + freight. A$1 = US$1.07.
Maybe the US retailers are ramping up the prices in anticipation of the new MkIII and want to price the MkII around $500 cheaper than the new MkII will be?
It makes sense to me.

148

EOS Bodies / Re: Mirrorless Wish

« on: February 19, 2012, 06:26:50 PM »

I wouldn't be at all suprised if Canon releases an interchangeable lens camera using the sensor and body of the new GX-1.
Larger sensor than most of the mirrorless cameras, yet almost APS-C sized, and the EF-S lenses would work well with it too.

The Fuji X-Pro1 looks really nice, but the price is just stratopheric!
You could almost buy a 5D MkII for around the same money!

That's what bugs me about some of these mirrorless cameras, the price of them!
A small DSLR is much better value IMHO.

149

EOS Bodies / Re: Announcement Soon [CR3]

« on: February 18, 2012, 12:48:53 AM »

There is a chinese webby stating the supposed specs for the 5DIII that reads :

26.4MP, 19pt AF, Digic V, 4.9fps, 63 zone Metering , 1040K LCD, 100% viewfinder

http://detail.zol.com.cn/240/239857/param.shtml

Don't tell me that the Chinese have copied it already!! 

150

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon 5D Mark III/X Commercials Being Shot? [CR1]

« on: February 16, 2012, 11:36:12 PM »

Video on DSLR's is here to stay, regardless of what you may think.
I've found it very handy from time to time to take a video instead of stills, but it doesn't mean I'll stop taking stills 80% of the time.

I also have a very good Sony HD camcorder, but find that my 60D takes better video than the specialised camera. I don't mind focussing manually, as when I started taking photos 50 years ago, that's all that was, and I still take many of my shots using manual focus.
Once you're used to focussing manually, it can be pretty quick and accurate.

I like the fact that I only have to take one camera with me when I go out on a shoot, and be able to take stills or video with the turn of a knob and the press of a button depending on what I see and want to record.