Messages

1

Lenses / Re: Europe Vacation: Equipment Advice

« on: March 31, 2013, 12:10:51 AM »

FWIW, I rented Canon's 28-300 L for a recent trip. It's a beast to lug around (especially on a 1DX -- the combo is about 6.5 lbs), but it's hard to beat the image quality for that range.

Again, though, it's going to be about how you take photos. Me, I liked the flexibility and realized I was sacrificing a bit of IQ to get it:

http://home.comcast.net/~sal6/hawaii_select/index.html

Shawn L.

2

Landscape / Re: Beautiful sunsets

« on: January 11, 2013, 02:17:23 PM »

Here's a panorama made from several 70 mm shots (70-200 mm II L, 1/200 sec, ISO-125, f/2.

Shawn L.

3

Canon General / Re: Single point auto focus

« on: January 04, 2013, 11:09:41 AM »

Personally, I move the AF point around as needed.  I have the default points set off center, and I use orientation-linked AF point to speed things up.  The only time I use an automatic selection mode is in AI Servo for face tracking, where I've already manually selected the starting AF point.

+1

Shawn L.

4

Animal Kingdom / Re: Zoo Pics 2

« on: December 31, 2012, 12:51:23 PM »

Here's one taken yesterday (12/30) at the Oakland zoo, (200 mm, f/3.2, 1/250 sec, 100 ISO):

5

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: anger at 1 dx review on professional photographer magazine

« on: December 25, 2012, 11:58:21 AM »

I think you are complaining to the wrong source. I would send a complaint to the editorial department of the magazine. Then they will say something to him, he won't be able to give them the same lame excuses. If they get enough complaints, then he won't have the opportunity to screw up the review like this anymore.

+1

Happy Holidays!

Shawn L.

6

Software & Accessories / Re: For those using Lightroom... what are your settings

« on: December 20, 2012, 04:13:13 PM »

What I end up doing is based on what's in the photos. For instance, I process files from a trip to the zoo different than photos from an ice show. Anyhow...

If I don't like the overall color or tone of the image, I'll play with WB and/or camera calibration. I'll note that "adobe standard" really blows out saturated reds. I find "camera standard" much better for that. For pictures with crowds, "portrait" calibration brings out flesh tones (though sometimes too much). The "landscape" setting makes greens and blues pop. By trying each of these, you can get some nice results for images you weren't initially fond of.

Then, I work my way from the top of the settings downward.

For the 1DX, I find that Shadows at +50 to 75 -- especially for bright outdoor scenes -- helps bring out detail.

I'll drop vibrance back a bit for high ISO, low light images. Otherwise, colors tend to feel muddy.

In order to "fill the histogram" (when that's appropriate to do),  I've found that "exposure" often blows things out too much for my taste (ruining the darks). So I often use "white" and "highlights." When those don't work, I'll open the tone curve and drag the upper right edge of the curve toward the left until the histogram is filled. This often produces much nicer results while preserving overall tonality.

Your mileage may vary .

Shawn L.

7

Software & Accessories / Re: Stop Using Instagram

« on: December 18, 2012, 11:14:25 AM »

I thought this was an interesting quote about Facebook and its ilk:

If You're Not Paying For It, You Become The Product

More info here:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/marketshare/2012/03/05/if-youre-not-paying-for-it-you-become-the-product/

Shawn L.

8

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 1D X AF in Low Light action

« on: December 14, 2012, 02:23:16 PM »

Drizzt321:

I do have the software and I will check it out (probably won't find the time until next weekend, though).

To Studio1930's point, I've never had an issue with my 70-200 II in low light -- even inside an ice rink. Kind of sad to see the issue with the 24-70 II. Though, I will say that I have used the 24-70 II at night on a moving train and still gotten fairly good pictures (at 1/200 sec with a more fully charged battery).

Still haven't ruled out user error on my part.

Shawn L.

9

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 1D X AF in Low Light action

« on: December 14, 2012, 11:23:38 AM »

I'd say low 60s (F)

Here's the photo in question for those interested. Note that the focus is supposed to be on the chin, according to DPP.

http://home.comcast.net/~sal6/BY5R7623.CR2

(Hoping that upload worked, Comcast has been having FTP issues as of late.)

Shawn L.

10

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 1D X AF in Low Light action

« on: December 14, 2012, 10:57:15 AM »

Though, examining the photos in question again, I see that many of the really sharp ones were also taken in landscape orientation using focus points in the center three "tall" columns. Many of the soft ones were taken with points outside this region.

One of the really soft ones shot in landscape orientation at 1/500 of a sec uses points just to the right of the three tall columns.

Maybe it's time for me to read up on what's expected from the various focus points. I thought the difference was about ability to focus, not quality of it. But I could have that wrong.

Shawn L.

11

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 1D X AF in Low Light action

« on: December 14, 2012, 10:47:29 AM »

To the OP, do you happen to know how charged the 1DX's battery was?

I ask because of something I'm seeing. I bought a 24-70 II and have had somewhat mixed results with it. I've taken some really sharp photos and some (with the similar settings in similar conditions) where the focus point (as determined by DPP) simply isn't sharp.

Thinking back on it, the really sharp ones were all taken in low light at a Christmas party. The others were taken outdoors, but in the shade, so somewhat similar overall illumination. The difference is that Christmas party ones were taken with the battery fully charged. The others were taken a week or so later with the battery at 30% or so.

Not saying there's causation, but I'm looking to explain a few things myself

Cheers.

Shawn L.

12

Software & Accessories / Re: PSA: Lexar Pro USB 3.0 card reader has firmware update

« on: December 08, 2012, 03:06:45 PM »

Thanks for the heads up

Shawn L.

13

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 1DX "Caution 02" Warnings AND Filthy Sensor.

« on: December 02, 2012, 04:09:58 PM »

FWIW, my 1DX's sensor needed to be cleaned right out of the box (four or five spots).

There's still some particles either on my focus screen or within the viewfinder chamber (doesn't affect image, but shows up in viewfinder).

You'd hope for nearly $7000 they'd at least clean the things before shipping them -- or, better yet, assemble them in a clean room

Shawn L.

14

EOS Bodies / Re: Best D-SLR's

« on: November 23, 2012, 05:45:26 PM »

1Dx > D4

Yep. Someone made the same note in the comments section. Here was the reply:

Possibly, but we haven't reviewed a Canon 1D X as yet. The piece will update seasonally as and when we've seen more products.

Shawn L.

15

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D3 & 600ex-rt + AF assist beam = slower focus

« on: November 20, 2012, 01:31:39 PM »

Has to be a 1D X, right?  The 5DIII doesn't have the ability to save/load settings from a memory card.  If someone having this problem on a 1D X wants to try, PM me and I'll send you a .CSD file.

I defer to you as I simply don't know

Shawn L.