Topics

1

Lighting / 270 ex ii or 430 exii for vacation

« on: April 23, 2013, 10:42:15 PM »

I am going to disney with my 5d. I have a 600 ex and want a lighter speedlite for portraits on the trip. Just torn because the 270 is small and seems like it will cover with my 24-70 ii. I do like the extra power of the 430 for fighting the outdoor lighting also but double the batteries and much larger. Anyone use the 270 in a similar situation and was happy or should i just lug the 430?

2

Lenses / Just got the canon 16-35 ii and having a hard time seeing the value in this uwa

« on: April 17, 2013, 11:36:37 PM »

I never had a uwa and am going to disney for the 4th and was bringing my 24-70 and sigma 35 but when looking at photo's others were taking they seemed wider than longer. I have played with it tonight and am not sure if its going to serve much purpose since i tend to lack reach but it was highly suggested so I figured i would give it a shot. Any thoughts on how this lens is useful for anything other than landscapes?

This is an example of my vacation shots.

][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/69086871@N03/8658772983/]
Rapunzel character greeting by nvtsallo, on Flickr[/url]

3

Lenses / Stuck on whether to return sigma 35mm for 35mm 1.4L or 35f2 is

« on: April 08, 2013, 02:30:13 PM »

I just got the sigma 35mm 1.4. I thought that the lens would be a dream come true. The truth is the af seems to front focus. It has a hard time focusing in aiservo mode. Also further subjects are not that sharp. The 1.4 aperature is nice and the colors are good but am unsure if I should go with one of the canon offerings. I use it for indoor candids of the kids and a walkabout lens since a 50mm is a little tight and the 40mm only does 2.8. Should I go thru the trouble of sending it in to sigma for a look or is the Canon better in the L or IS version. I have used mostly f2.8 and higher to 5.6. This is only being used on a canon 5d mark iii. I only have 9 days to get it returned. Is this the norm for a 35mm or should I stick with OEM even though it costs more and is much older?

4

Lenses / Want to expand my gear?

« on: March 29, 2013, 08:16:02 PM »

I have a 5d3
24-70 ii
70-200 2.8ii
Sigma 35mm 1.4
600exrt

Take family portraits, vacation photos and eventially school functions.

Not sure where to invest next.
70-300l for more reach
2more 600exrt for flash photography
100mm 2.8 lens portraits and macro
16-35 2.8 for landscape

I know thats a lot of choices but just want to keep expnading and not sure which is the best for vacations and portraits
Considering what i have. I am staring to get into wildlife.

5

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Which would you pick for a wife camera sony nex 6 or eos sl1?

« on: March 22, 2013, 08:50:05 PM »

I am torn between keeping my sony nex 6 for the wife or getting her the new sl1 with a 40mm pancake. She just uses auto and wants to shove it in her purse just on occasional outings where lugging my 5d would be overkill. I think the sl1 is more versatile since all my lenses will serve a dual purpose and she like my 60d when I had it. She is just not the type to want larger heavy gear but I thought with either I could start to teach her how to use the pasm modes to control her photo's at times. Does anyone have an opinion? I just dont want to get her the eos if everyone thinks that its much larger and bulkier. I have noone else to ask.

6

Software & Accessories / Need a tripod for a canon 5d3 that i can carry for vacation

« on: March 18, 2013, 12:00:22 PM »

Taking the kids to disney for the 4th and want to grab the fireworks.
I will be using my 5d3 and 24-70ii. Need a tripod to sopport it that I can carry or stuff into a locker. Any suggestions?

7

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Sell canon 5d3 and return new macbook pro retina to buy the 1d x

« on: March 09, 2013, 06:40:08 PM »

I have always wanted the 1d x but am unsure the extra $3k is worth it for me. The pro's for me are better iso in low light and af point metering. Cons size and could that money get me a nice 35 mm prime and maybe a 1.4iii teleconverter and keep my macbook. Just stuck on the decision. Any suggestions?

8

Lenses / Looking for new lens for vacation

« on: February 20, 2013, 08:36:43 PM »

I have a 5d iii with 24-70 ii, 70-200 2.8 ii

I am going to disney and am considering a prime just not sure which one. I also miss having is in the shorter focal range.

Thinking of
35mm f2 is
35mm sigma 1.4 sounds heavy so may not be travel friendly
24-70 f4 is


Any other thoughts are welcomed

9

Software & Accessories / Suggestions on how to organize all my years of photo's in LR 4.3?

« on: February 17, 2013, 11:07:37 PM »

Currently they are in windows

Year
      Month
              Date taken folders

I tried the iphoto thing years ago and it ruined years of phot's so very hesitant to do something that will not leave them in their original repository on my server. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

10

Software & Accessories / Where are you posting your photo's?

« on: February 09, 2013, 10:44:10 PM »

Besides a custom site are there any suggestions to start a portfolio of my pics?

11

Software & Accessories / Looking for light duty pp laptop solution

« on: February 04, 2013, 10:58:09 PM »

I have a desktop with a nice 24" zr series monitor.

I also have an ipad, 15" macbook pro retina (running windows 8 only), work laptop ( thinkpad w530 1080p led)

I want to be able to proof/ light edit raw files without going into the basement on occasion and vacations.

A: Considering downgrading mbpret 15" to 13" or asus zenbook prime 13" (1080p)
B: selling mbpret15 putting cash in bank till next lens purchase or better solution comes out
C: trying to use my ipad for trips to view (not) download my photo's
D: any other suggestions ?...

12

Lenses / Good telephoto option for birds.

« on: February 03, 2013, 11:21:20 PM »

Recently I have been interested in taking shots of birds but when you stop at 200mm on ff. your limited. Any suggestions?

I grabbed a 100-400 from a friend. I don't think its that great of a lens. Just seems like my 70-200 2.8 iiis way sharper. Anyway considering 1.4 ext, 2.0 ext, 70-300l or open to other suggestions. Beyond this use I don't see much use for that range with the exception of my kids in the summer running around. One other thought was a crop body with my kit even though the iq will not be as nice. Here is an example of what I'm going after with lots of cropping. The last one was with the 100-400l at 400mm

13

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Thinking of downgrading my 5d3 system

« on: January 05, 2013, 10:52:42 PM »

I have been considering selling my setup

5d3
24-70 2.8 mkii
70-200 2.8 is mkii
Cf cards
600 exrt speedlite

To get a 6d
24-70 f4 is
70-300l
Newer speedlite 430ex ii replacement

I just spent thousands of dollars this year and have hardly used the gear. When I do its for candids or vacations. I wonder if I am wasting the money and should sell it to downgrade to something more enthusiast level and cheaper. Also it's just so much to lug around. Just not sure and wanted some opinions.

14

Software & Accessories / Need help on Jpeg export settings in Lightroom 4.3

« on: January 01, 2013, 04:34:48 PM »

I shoot with a 5d3 and my workflow is edit raw's then export them to full resolution jpegs for printing, archive etc. This is not for pro use but I was hoping the people of this forum would be able to advise the highest quality jpeg export settings to use just in case later on I want to print a large picture or something. Hd space is not a big concern since storage is cheap. Any help would be appreciated. I am unsure of the whole ppi and quality thing to be exact.

15

Lighting / Looking for an affordable softbox or umbrella setup for portraits

« on: October 15, 2012, 09:02:59 AM »

Hello I have a budget of $200 and I was looking for two umbrellas or softboxes to do portraits but wanted them portable. Any ideas.