Messages

31

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: 135mm f/2.8 (or faster) manual focus lens?

« on: May 20, 2013, 08:12:39 PM »

In your situation I would rent the 70-200 f2.8 IS MkII and the 1.4 TC MkIII. I shoot a lot of orchestras, symphony, philharmonic, chamber and concert, and as has been posted 135 is often not long enough, I too regularly shoot these gigs with a 300 f2.8 IS for portraits and as wide as the 15mm fisheye for environmental images.

When I shoot these in churches I am getting 1/80 @ f2.8 and iso 800. If you can use a monopod, even with shorter focal lengths it will dramatically increase your keeper rate.

Don't shoot in the musical pauses! Wait until there is some good sound, even silent mode will distract musicians, and conductors can be very problematic if they hear you.

32

Software & Accessories / Re: Web Gallery Plugin/Software - recommendations?

« on: May 20, 2013, 07:59:23 PM »

I just use Lightroom. I understand that they might not be up to some clients specs but for the stuff I use web galleries for they work great.

Actually I use them a lot for specific shooting scenarios.

33

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 1DX and 5D3 RAW files

« on: May 20, 2013, 06:37:50 PM »

I don't know, and I'd like to, but the same is true of 1Ds MkIII files and 5D MkII files, even though the 1Ds MkIII is older you can work the files to a greater degree than the 5D MkII files.

34

Lenses / Re: Samyang 24mm f/3.5 Tilt-Shift Lens vs Canon 24mm f/3.5 Mark I

« on: May 19, 2013, 09:57:40 AM »

Are you  saying that the Samyang is closer to the Canon 24mm TS-E Mark II than the Mark I?

In functionality yes. The Canon MkI is severely limited in the tilt to shift orientations (as are all Nikon PC-E lenses), the Canon MkII version was a vast improvement on that and offers unlimited tilt and shift orientation not only in the picture but in relation to each other, the Samyang, though obviously built to a lower price point, has the same orientation adjustments as the Canon MkII lens.

This is enough for me to recommend the Samyang. Besides, the Canon 24mm MkI is not a particularly "good" lens.

35

Lenses / Re: Samyang 24mm f/3.5 Tilt-Shift Lens vs Canon 24mm f/3.5 Mark I

« on: May 18, 2013, 11:46:42 PM »

I'd get the Samyang. IQ is similar and the Samyang has the MkII style adjustable tilt and shift planes, that is a huge practical use boost to the lens.

36

Software & Accessories / Re: question for RRS/Acratech (high-end) ballhead users

« on: May 17, 2013, 05:53:22 PM »

I have 1 series bodies, a 300 f 2.8 and an Acratech GP. It will lock the 300 and 1 series at any angle effortlessly. It isn't up to a much bigger lens though.

Having said that it is an extremely versatile head.

37

Lenses / Re: Best fisheye for canon.

« on: May 17, 2013, 09:32:02 AM »

I guess it would be nice to have the new 8-15mm zoom on site...but the cost, weight and size (vs. amount of use) deter me from that purchase...although apparently the IQ is better.  (Have looked for side-by-side image comparisons on the web @ 15mm...but am coming up empty  )

Yes, I could not find any good compaction ether...

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/reviews/lenses/canon_ef8-15f4l.html#compare_lenses

38

Lenses / Re: Best fisheye for canon.

« on: May 16, 2013, 10:21:17 PM »

As I have said I found my 15mm fisheye to be better than the two 14mm Canon lenses I have used.

Here is an image shot with the 15, the second is the same image defished with FisheyeHemi and stretched to retain aspect ratio. The third is a 100% crop from the defished image corner. No post processing other than auto Lightroom import basics.

39

Lenses / Re: Can the 70-200 2.8L II IS replace my 100L and 135L?

« on: May 16, 2013, 10:05:50 PM »

It is funny how we all get to where we are going via different routes.

I used the 135 f2 for years on film cameras, in fact I still own it. When I went EOS I got the 70-200 f2.8 IS and never found a need or desire for the EF 135. Just after the 100 IS Macro came out I got one and couldn't be happier.

I found, for me, the combination of features and versatility offered by the zoom and the macro were more than up to the task. And despite the acrimony and derision displayed in some threads, I have yet to meet a person who can reliably and consistently tell images shot with the 135 @ f2 and the 100 framed similarly and shot at f2.8 apart.

40

Lenses / Re: Best fisheye for canon.

« on: May 16, 2013, 12:11:32 PM »

so at around $600 the sharpest lens I can get is the canon 15 2.8?

Yes.

I own the Canon EF15, it is a much better lens than the 14mm for a fraction of the money (well my 15 is better than the two 14mm lenses I have used). It is not just a one trick pony either, with software being so powerful now things like FisheyeHemi make it a really useful lens.

41

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Fuji x100(s) to Supplement an SLR

« on: May 15, 2013, 01:36:05 PM »

A new question if anyone have the time....

I have been reading David Hobby's post on the X100s (strobist) and his writing on flashuse (and subsequent member comments). In his post he talks of how he has used some SB 800's  on the camera hot shoe (that's Nikon right?) and even slaved them. That made me wonder if I can use my 580 and slave my 600 and 430 on it as well? Will the shoe fit?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated

It will fit on the shoe and it will fire, but it won't work like the Nikon units. Nikon flashes have an optical trigger built in, it is just a dumb "fire now" signal but it works.

For Canon shooters the work around is to use dumb radio triggers, RF-603's and the like, you can even have a strobe on camera using the 603 through pass. As with the Nikon setup the flash will be manual only.

I have seen people use a Canon off camera cord with a 580 in their hand, but it must be in manual flash mode. I don't believe that master firing would trigger Canon remotes.

42

Lenses / Re: Andy Rouse Reviews the EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x

« on: May 14, 2013, 09:44:28 PM »

Does that imply that he does not buy his lenses?

No, he specifically stated that he purchases all his gear, whether that is always true, true now etc etc, I could not possibly know. The real point is he seems to value his tools, and his output, more than any manufacturer loyalty, and he has waked the walk previously.

43

Lenses / Re: Andy Rouse Reviews the EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x

« on: May 14, 2013, 06:20:52 PM »

I hate being cynical, but he has had the lens for 6 months and no doubt would like Canon's next toy for 6 months or so too. That does not tend to happen when one is too critical, or sometimes even negative towards the toys they offer.

Still, an interesting read, and I look forward to reading more from others.

Andy Rouse is very famous for being exceptionally outspoken about the Canon 1D MkIII AF issues, until then he was a solid Canon shooter, he very publicly trashed the camera, and Canon, and moved  to Nikon. He has since grown up a bit. He didn't get on with the Nikon D4 very well and when he compared the Nikon's he was using to some loaner 1DX's and the MkII Super Tele's he ate a bit of crow, said he was above such petty behavior as comparing manufacturers, dumped all his Nikon gear and now shoots exclusively Canon.

He has said, leading up to this, for his work the MkII tele's and the 1DX are the best available, he has also said he buys his own cameras.

44

EOS Bodies / Re: No 7D Mark II in 2013? [CR2]

« on: May 14, 2013, 03:38:40 PM »

The 6D absolutely has WiFi built in

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/02/02/canon-6d-wi-fi-the-complete-set-up-process-explained-without-all-the-jargon/

Many other cameras dating back years can use the WFT transmitters, though they are pricey and often not intuitive. Cameras with Ethernet ports like the 1DX can eve be used with very cheap wireless accesories.

45

EOS Bodies / Re: No 7D Mark II in 2013? [CR2]

« on: May 13, 2013, 01:13:02 PM »

All is not in vain 

If nothing else this thread has made me want to come over and see a couple of Western Grebes perform their mating dance. 

Trouble is I don't intend to swim one handed whilst holding the camera up above the water, and I can't afford a 600mm lens 

What to do ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOD1imznwRY