Messages

31

Canon General / Re: Tips for Shooting Fireworks

« on: July 05, 2012, 03:42:23 AM »

bdunbar is not far off the mark.
I've found that you need to ge tthe exposure up around 3-3.5 seconds and use F8-F11 and 200ISO so you do'nt overexpose the image.
It's overexposure that makes most fireworks photos look colourless as they get blown out.
You will need to do test shots first and check them on the screen, but the above should be a good start for you.

You MUST have a tripod!

I used my Canon 60D and a 24-105L for these shots I took last New Years Eve, but it really depends on how far away you are and how big the fireworks are as to exactly what lens you use.

32

EOS Bodies / Re: Another 5D mkIII Poll

« on: July 05, 2012, 03:29:37 AM »

I answered Other, as I think it is just a great all-around camera.
The IQ is terrific, the focus fast and accurate and it handles everything I have put to it so far extremely well.

I don't think there is really any other camera that can compare to it for a "compact" DSLR, IMHO, that is so good at virtually anything you'd want a camera to do.

33

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Any reliable & cheap parallel product to the Canon Tc-80n3?

« on: July 03, 2012, 06:20:20 AM »

Hahnel giga t pro for canon works really well with the 5 d mark III. So reliable is covered and it's right at $100 which is slightly cheaper than the Canon version. Also you can set 2 timers so it loops continuously.

Another vote for the Hahnel, and it comes with both the small jack plug lead and the 3 pin lead, so it can be used on any Canon.
Also does delayed shooting so great for self portraits, and it's small and lightweight and being wireless, it works from quite far away which is great for remote shooting of wild life.

34

EOS Bodies / Re: Any Hope/Options? Submerged 5DM3 & 70-200

« on: July 03, 2012, 06:13:48 AM »

If you drop your electronics or camera into salt water, the first thing you should do, immediately, is to dunk it into clean, fresh water to get the salt out.
Pull it apart as far as you can and wash it out in fresh water, then mop it up with clean soft towels or paper towels making sure you don't leave any fluff or paper residue behind, and let it dry for a good few hours in a warm shaded spot.

Generally, if you do that, the item should be OK and should work.

If you leave the salt on it for even an hour, the salt will destroy the electronics as it will start to corrode the contacts.

35

EOS Bodies / Re: How much will the 5d3 cost at the end of 2012?

« on: July 03, 2012, 06:08:27 AM »

Nikon's manufacturing facilities are small compared to Canon's.

Worldwide, Canon's far outsell Nikon, always have and probably always will.

Sure, the D800 is a wanted camera, it's just that Nikon doesn't have the facilities or the money to make more of them.

Anyway, I'm VERY happy with my 5D3 and wouldn't change it for a D800, even if the D800 was half the price and was sitting on the shelf.
There's far more to good camera than just a sensor, like good lens selection, service and reliability.

36

EOS Bodies / Re: 1dx in India

« on: July 02, 2012, 07:31:47 PM »

Oh, my Goodness Gracious Me!

37

EOS Bodies / Re: Is SLR dead?

« on: June 29, 2012, 02:44:03 AM »

The old 35mm rangefinder cameras didn't oust SLR's back in the film days, even thought their lenses may have been just as good, and the quality of the film was obviously identical, and neither will mirrorless oust the DSLR.
SLR's have been around for a long, long time and many see DSLR's as something to aspire to, as well as those people that want good images.
I got my first SLR in 1966, and it was about 10 years old then!
While today's mirrorless cameras will improve, and their sales should also, DSLR's will also improve and will still have a large share of the camera market for decades to come.

Mirrorless cameras may be selling well in Japan and Taiwan, but they tend to go with fads far more than most Western coultures, and they love miniaturisation far more than we do.
Let's see how their sales are in a few more years, as I believe even they will realise that there just isn't anything as good as a DSLR in the long run.

38

EOS Bodies / Re: 5D Mk III vs D800/E, is the 5D3 better at anything?

« on: June 28, 2012, 07:23:07 AM »

Some guys on the Australian forums are having trouble with the AF on their D800's too.
I know of one that has been back to Nikon to get fixed, and it came back exactly the same.
His test shots are terrible, and he is a very accomplished photographer and is getting really pissed off.

I think that for my types of photography, which is a lot of different types, if I didn't have any lenses, I'd still go for the 5D3 over the D800.
The D800 is good for one or two genres of photography, but the 5D3 is good at ALL of them.

I'm very happy with mine.
I've pushed it in all sorts of ways and it always comes up trumps.
It focuses well when I can't even see the object I'm photographing through the viewfinder because it's so dark!

39

Software & Accessories / Re: Alternative Battery Grip for 5D Mark III (pics inside)

« on: June 27, 2012, 08:14:01 PM »

So how are you finding this Chinese grip guys?

I need to buy one, and if I don't have have to spend big$$$ on an original, I'll be a happy camper.

Is the tripod thread solid?
I need to carry the camera around using a Black Rapid strap, and the security of the tripod mount is important to me as I'd hate to have the camera fall to the ground because the thread on the bottom of the grip fell out!

40

EOS Bodies / Re: My 5D mkIII AWB is Warm - Help

« on: June 27, 2012, 07:58:20 PM »

I only got my 5D3 a couple of weeks ago, but I am also finding that the images are a little warm even with shots taken outside in the shade.
No problem with shots taken in sunlight or using flash though.
Not a big deal to correct in RAW for a few shots here and there, but it will be when I take it for jobs where I have to work on 500+ photos!

41

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Secret Canon Powershot killer due in a week or two

« on: June 25, 2012, 06:26:12 AM »

And radio controlled dogs! 

42

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Pentax to also use the 24MP Sony FF sensor?

« on: June 25, 2012, 06:24:29 AM »

Goes to show that Sony will sell their sensors to anyone.
Sensor whores, that's what they are!

Just think what would happen if Sony went belly up?
What would Nikon and Pentax do for sensors then?

Personally, I think that the current crop of Canon sensors are excellent.
Sure, some of Sony's sensors may be better in some regards, but Canon's are better in other ways.

While the sensor is certainly important in a camera, there are many more things that are important for serious shooters like lens choices and availability and other accessories like flashes and other bibs and bobs at reasonable prices.
This is where Canon really beats the competition, in their range of lenses and accessories.
That's why Pentaxs don't sell so well. While they are good cameras and well priced, they have a poor range of lenses, and let's face it, it's really the lens that is responsible for at least 50% of the image.

43

EOS Bodies / Re: I bought a 5D Mark III and...

« on: June 25, 2012, 06:01:02 AM »

I love the smart viewfinder.
The grid is great for lining stuff up and making sure you have a straight horizon.

I've found it easy to use after my 60D and the IQ is fabulous.

Just wish it had a pull-out screen like the 60d.
That's about the only thing I can find against it.

44

EOS Bodies / Re: What will a mirror less camera offer

« on: June 25, 2012, 05:58:00 AM »

To me, mirrorless means a lot of money for a small camera that is not as comfortable to use nor as fast as a DSLR to focus, and when you want to change something you have to delve into the on-screen menus because the body is too small to have a dedicated button to do so.
It also means paying a lot of money for a lousy choice of lenses and every time you change the lens, that dirt will fall onto the sensor as there is no mirror in front of it to protect it.
I think they are a fad, and they aren't selling anywhere near as many of them in Australia or the US as the importers would like them too, as they just don't offer good value for money.
I see the Nikon V1's and J1's gathering dust on the retailers' shelves along with other similar brands, and while the salesmen push them hard, most thinking people walk out with a decent DSLR instead.

I reckon a good quality P&S like a Canon G1X is a much better proposition IMHO.

45

PowerShot Cameras / Re: Anyone have the g1x and are happy with when your dslr is not around?

« on: June 20, 2012, 07:54:41 AM »

Nice shots Willerty.

I had a job to do on Saturday night, and took the G1X with me to do the video work in a very dark pub.
I used an LED light on top of the camera, and it did a really good job, and even the built-in mic worked pretty well.