Messages

16

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Medium Format Film

« on: March 12, 2013, 07:37:19 PM »

Anybody else here shoot medium format film cameras?
I recently started shooting with a fold out camera I aquired, and really enjoy using it, now im considering heading for one of the waist level slrs, likley not a hassie but im very interested in the old bronica line, mostly because I really like the 6x6 format and would like to stay that way, mamiya looks interesting but I dont like the fact that you focous with a knob on the side with bellows, and having to adjust for light fall off in stead of just being able to foucs the lens traditionsally, any one have any reccomendations for me?
I think I wont spen over £800 if I can, but ill see what come's up, Thanks!

I shoot MF from time to time.  I have several of the nice "pocket" folders in 6x9, and a couple of Rollei TLR's.

Note that I do not own any of the SLR variety, and my advice would be to try one before you buy one.

I found that with my glasses/eyesight, I simply could not see through the viewfinder on a Hassy.  I wanted one, and found several at tolerable price, but once I held it in my hand and looked through it, no sale.

Yet I have no problem with a TLR, or the waist level finder on the old Canon F-1 35mm, or a Right Angle Finder B on my 5D3.

Since the Mamiya (or the Rollei SL66) are very similar, it is quite possible I would have found the same problem (although I never tried).  Hence my advice.

It's like any tool, some fit the hand/work better for one person than another.

17

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Red light a challenge for band photos. Strategies for red light?

« on: March 06, 2013, 07:14:25 PM »

I'd heard this from another photog I read about..I think it was the "Fro".....but red lit concert stages make for FANTASTIC black and white photos!!

+1

18

Lenses / Re: 50mm 1.2 / 85mm 1.2 VS Zeiss 50mm1.4 / Zeiss 85mm 1.4? Which should I buy...

« on: February 25, 2013, 10:07:42 PM »

I also plan to upgrade to the 5D Mark3 within a few months, if that makes any difference...

I have the 5D3, and the Zeiss 50 f1.4 is my favorite lens.

That being said, it is not the lens I use the most.  For much of my photography, I need the AF; there isn't time for the critical focusing that a MF lens calls for.  But when there is time (landscapes etc), the images I get from the Zeiss are just beautiful.  They remind me of the results I get from my Rollei TLR.

FYI, I had a Sigma 50 f1.4, and the Canon as well.  I didn't like them as much.  Which is why I sold them in favor of the Zeiss.

I am thinking of getting a replacement screen for the 5D3 (I do wish Canon had made them available rather than having to do something aftermarket) to make MF easier.  Wish I could afford a 1Dx, but that's outside the budget.

19

EOS-M / Re: The Next EOS M? [CR1]

« on: February 24, 2013, 12:41:28 PM »

24mp APS-C Sensor = no sale here

Canon might want to look around before they come to market.

Perhaps if they offered full frame instead of APS-C and fewer mp in exchange for a much higher ISO, they might have something.

They're not going to compete with Sony et al with this product, but they have the opportunity to compete with Leica etc.  Especially at the proposed price point.  And they can do it.

Repackage the 6D sensor perhaps?

20

Lenses / Re: Need advice on telephoto zoom Lens

« on: February 08, 2013, 02:34:28 PM »

I would pack up the 40D, 70-300 non-L, and the 28-135, and send them to either KEH or B&H in partial trade for a 5D3 with the 24-105L, then, if money permits, buy the 70-300L.

That is what I have, and am very pleased.

I tried the 28-135 on my 5D3, and was not impressed.  The 24-105 is a vastly superior lens, and the slight difference at the long end is more than made up for by the better IQ.

I found the difference between the 70-300 non-L and the L equally stark.  It is unlikely you will be happy with the non-L lens on a 5D3.

Right now, though, my favorite lens is the Zeiss 50mm f1.4 manual focus...

21

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 2nd camera body with a twist -

« on: February 05, 2013, 07:37:46 PM »

I have found several threads where people have compared the 1ds Mark 3 to the 5 D 3 and say there's very little real world difference.

There is one HUGE difference between the 1Ds and the 5D3.

The 5D3 has a warranty.  The 1Ds doesn't.

Do you really want to put your money into a 3-5 year old piece of equipment that might very well die at any moment, or a piece of equipment that if it does die will be fixed for free?

Especially since the newer one will in reality be better (especially at high ISO's).  There actually is a difference, it's just perhaps not quite enough for some people to upgrade (which I don't agree with, but then, I use 12800 ISO all the time).

22

Pricewatch Deals / Re: What is the best place to sell your equipment?

« on: January 23, 2013, 10:09:57 PM »

Since my purpose in parting with gear has always been to get new equipment, I've always traded in to either KEH or B&H.

Yes, they perhaps offer a little less than I might get elsewhere, but they have been no hassle at all, and I get nice new items from them in about two weeks.

Considering the time and effort involved in eBay or CL, it's worked out for the best for me.

23

Animal Kingdom / Re: Kitty

« on: January 06, 2013, 05:12:33 PM »

Frodo taking a nap...

5D3 with a 135mm f4.7 Graphex Optar lens adapted via a kludge (bellows extension, bored out C to EOS adapter).

I used the iris on the lens and the shutter on the body for this one.  I've taken others where I've used the iris and shutter on the lens and simply set the body for "B".

With Live View the whole process becomes fairly straightforward and enjoyable, if somewhat difficult to hand hold.

24

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon DSLR Body Rumors for 2013

« on: January 01, 2013, 09:31:24 PM »

Can someone who reads Japanese let us know what it says about the EOS-M2, please?

I'm hoping for full frame...

Thanks!

25

PowerShot Cameras / Re: Canon France Teases New Products

« on: December 28, 2012, 01:49:24 PM »

The next camera they're going to announce will be so expensive not only will you not be able to afford it, but just standing there imagining holding in your hand will drain your bank account to the point where you won't even be able to afford a ping pong ball.

26

Lenses / Re: What lenses should I take to India?

« on: December 28, 2012, 01:39:15 PM »

Don't forget a polarizing filter.

27

Macro / Re: Couldn't do this again if I tried

« on: December 25, 2012, 06:03:53 PM »

Killer shot, yes that bee does look angry. He might be an assassin! 

He does, doesn't he?

Brilliant photograph.  I hope the following frame wasn't a random shot of the ground with you running away...

28

Lenses / Re: Infinity and Cold

« on: December 22, 2012, 07:33:23 PM »

I must admit that I've never understood why my Canon FD lenses can have a nice convenient hard stop at infinity and never suffered from any noticeable focus shift with temperature (and I did use them over a huge range) while my EF's don't have a stop and apparently have to be that way to deal with temperature extremes?

29

Canon General / Re: some money left. what should I buy?

« on: December 21, 2012, 10:16:44 AM »

You seem to be missing:

1. High capacity high speed memory cards
2. Filters (Polarizer, ND's, Gradient, etc.)

30

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: My brand new 5D Mark III - what am I doing wrong, please help!

« on: December 20, 2012, 02:39:29 PM »

LED's (the future) may or may not blink depending on the power supply they have.  LED's run on DC (which shouldn't blink), but some of the power supplies are simply AC rectified (all the humps are on one side of zero), which on average looks like DC, but which to a fast acting LED is (again) 120 peaks per second.

You also have to watch out for LED Christmas lights, they usually only have a half wave rectifier, so you only have 60 peaks per second, and half of each cycle is at zero.

Thank you for that warning, I didn't know that (although I suppose I am not surprised).

I run a number of LED lights around the house, and use 'wallwart' power supplies to supply them.  I make certain that the supplies are regulated DC to both protect the LED's (which still aren't cheap), and to avoid all these issues.