Messages

1

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Need tips for shooting auto racing video

« on: May 19, 2013, 10:45:30 PM »

I've shot onboard videos (motorcycle) with both 720p@60fps and 1080p@30fps, using a ContourHD camera.
My experience was that 60fps gave a better video quality (even when played at 30/25fps).
Since the camera is fully self-contained, I cannot advice on the shutter, beyond guessing that a faster shutter will most likely help.

2

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Lens for European Trip

« on: May 19, 2013, 10:39:17 PM »

To be honest, I bought the 24-105L a few months ago when it was on sale, but have not use it much. I will definitely give it a good test before the trip. Would like to do some video as well, so the IS might come in handy.

I've been contemplating whether to take the 17-40L along or not.

The 17-40L was my first lens (bought for my 10D) and it has been my main 'walk-around' lens on APS-C bodies. With my 5DF3, I tend to use the 24-70 more, but still the 17-40L is an excellent addition for close quarters and when you need to take in the wide views.
Also, the size and weight is really nice 

3

Sports / Re: MotoGP Austin

« on: May 17, 2013, 10:24:12 AM »

Very nice pictures, especially with one of Marc Marquez elbow-scraping.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Lens for European Trip

« on: May 17, 2013, 10:22:31 AM »

I think that you will be fine with either for both cities and landscapes. I would probably choose the 24-105, just from the point of having a bit more focal length to play with.

5

Lenses / Re: Can someone explain the Canon 50mmL f/1.2 "backfocus problem" ?

« on: May 17, 2013, 09:14:36 AM »

http://toothwalker.org/optics/spherical.html

Thanks for the link, neuro, that explained it so even I could understand it 

This might also explain why I see my 70-200IS MkI needs different AFMA at 200mm MFD than at "reasonable" distance. IIRC, there were 6 AFMA points between the best MFD setting and the "normal" setting.

6

HDR - High Dynamic Range / Re: Post your HDR images:

« on: May 16, 2013, 09:45:22 PM »

Can I suggest that you try some HDR on this shot to improve the rather dark areas in the canyon. It could look much better then.

While your improving it you might like to put in a bit of foreground so the river is not clipped at the bottom of the frame. At the moment it looks like the water might leak out and get the viewers feet wet. 

Actually, it wasn't ankorwatt's shot but mine. It is a HDR shot. There's a 300m drop to the Colorado river, so I wasn't prepared to get any closer to the edge than the 0.5m I was.

But thank you to ankorwatt for showing what a bit of "anti-haze" can do to my picture - I've now learned how to do that in PS and it does indeed improve the picture.
Only it didn't look like that when I took the picture

7

HDR - High Dynamic Range / Re: Post your HDR images:

« on: May 07, 2013, 07:30:43 AM »

Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ. Photos were taken on October 14th last year at around 9:30am.
Details: Canon 5D3 and 17-40mm f/4L at 20mm. Three RAW shots at f/8: 1/30s, 1/125s, and 1/500s.
Merged using DPP and just tweaked a little - I like taking pictures, not PPing

8

Lenses / Re: 300 f/2.8L and 400 f/2.8 at f/2.8

« on: April 27, 2013, 11:21:09 PM »

Quick test: if it's due to a tilted lens element, it should follow the orientation, right?. So shooting the same situation in portrait and landscape should settle whether this is the root cause.

9

Lenses / Re: 300 f/2.8L and 400 f/2.8 at f/2.8

« on: April 27, 2013, 10:33:09 PM »

You're right, that is very strange.  I didn't notice that before.  How do you check it and/or get it fixed?  Thanks.

I was just noticing the same thing, going "that's odd....". My gut feeling is that this could be misalignment of some elements inside the lens.
As for testing it, I guess you could take some shots on a test chart and analyse them with imatest, but I don't expect you to have that available. Baring that, I'd talk to CPS and show them some pictures to explain the issue. From reading Roger Cicala's blog, I understand that it can be difficult to get CPS to fix issues like these unless you show them exact the problem.

10

Lenses / Re: EF 300mm f/2.8 ( non IS ) AF ISSUES

« on: April 27, 2013, 09:06:10 PM »

I think the OP is in Brazil (since he mentions São Paulo), so a US 3rd-party repair center may not help him that much.
Since Canon has stopped servicing them, they might be willing to point to a 3rd party in Brazil that could help.

Mt Spokane: I think the part you linked appears to for the IS MkI version. A focus unit for the non-IS seems to be like $1250:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-CANON-EF-300mm-1-2-8-L-USM-FOCUSING-UNIT-AL-625-/390183359378?pt=Digital_Camera_Accessories&hash=item5ad8bd9392

11

Lenses / Re: Canon L Glass is currently priced at over $1200 / pound

« on: April 25, 2013, 02:22:50 AM »

Always fun with a little data analysis 

A couple of observations from my side and a suggestion for improving the predictions:
- Confining the starting point to zero cost is not realistic - there is a transaction cost (salaries etc), so a positive cost at zero lbs would make more sense to me.
- There seems to be two regimes - one for the light/"cheap" lenses up to about 4 lbs, and the other regime for the Big Whites. It would be interesting if the OP could go back and see how much such a division would effect the outcome ($/lbs).

Maybe add parameters like IS/non-IS and aperture  so see if their impact.

12

Lenses / Re: 300 f/2.8L and 400 f/2.8 at f/2.8

« on: April 21, 2013, 09:34:40 PM »

I'm not sure if the 400 focuses slow, but it definitely does "slower" vs. the 300.  I'm serious, as I've noticed this even before you asked.

I think you're right, that the 300mm focuses faster than the 400mm. The 400mm is no dog, but I remember being surprised at how much quicker the AF of the 300mm felt, when I played with it some time ago.
I can't recall which body I used, but it could be on my old 50D (your 1Dx can drive the AF motor faster due to the higher battery voltage).

13

Lenses / Re: 300 f/2.8L and 400 f/2.8 at f/2.8

« on: April 20, 2013, 10:05:31 PM »

I did realize of course that with the 300 the runners are closer to me when I fire the shutter, vs. the 400, which could matter. 

Is DOF (f/2.8 is pretty thin) more difficult to manage at longer focal lengths?

bdunbar79,

Just how closer were the runners when you used the 300mm?

Assuming that you want the subject to fill approximately the same amount of the frame, you're likely to shoot at, say, 30ft with the 300mm but at 40ft with the 400mm. And if you do that, you get the same DOF from those two combinations (6").

BTW, I think you've just explained why I've had problems in getting tack-sharp images shooting motorcyclists on a track, when using my 400mm too

14

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Where are European rebates

« on: April 19, 2013, 09:25:11 PM »

I just got an email from my preferred shop in Denmark (photografica.com), and they announced that Canon starts a cashback campaign on Monday (April 22nd), running until June 30th. It's a fairly limited list of items:

380DKK cashback:
Canon EF 40/2,8 STM
Canon 430EX II Speedlite
500DKK cashback:
Canon EOS 700D
520DKK cashback:
Canon EFS 18-200/3,5-5,6 IS
Canon EF 70-300/4,0-5,6 IS USM
Canon EFS 60/2,8 Macro USM
600DKK cashback:
Canon EOS 60D
750DKK cashback:
Canon EOS 7D
Canon EFS 10-22/3,5-4,5 USM
Canon EFS 17-55/2,8 IS USM
Canon EF 17-40/4,0 L USM
Canon EF 100/2,8 L MACRO IS USM
Canon 600EX RT Speedlite
1.500DKK cashback:
Canon EF 16-35/2,8 L II USM
Canon EF 8-15/4,0 L USM Fisheye
2.240DKK cashback:
Canon EF 24-70/2,8 L II USM
Canon EF 70-200/2,8 L IS II USM

If you're living outside of the EU, you can get the 25% VAT returned when you leave the country (ticket, passport, receipt and item must be shown to the customs).

With the cashback and getting the VAT back, the 70-200/2,8 II is about USD2.280, which is an okay price considering that you get a 2 year warranty due to the Danish legislation.

15

Canon General / Re: Slot canyon advice

« on: April 19, 2013, 01:37:29 AM »

I was in both upper and lower Antelope slot canyons of Page, AZ in October (I guess these are the slot canyons you refer too).
In upper, I brought both my 5D3 with 17-40L and my 50D with 24-70L II. I didn't use the 50D, so I brought only the 5D3+17-40L in lower.

From your gear, I'd choose the 16-35L and bring the tripod - especially in lower Antelope. They will give you a 2 hours "ticket" for you to explore the canyon on your own. Consider bringing a remote trigger also for long exposures.

Research how much sun there is at what time of the day in August - the canyons get a very dull brownish look without sunlight. Upper is kinda A-shaped (narrow in the top, wide in the bottom), whereas the lower is V-shaped. This suggests that you should pick Upper during midday, and Lower in either morning/afternoon.

Since you're in Page, AZ, anyway, I'd suggest you consider going to the "Horseshoe Bend" of the Colorado river on the other side of the town too. This is a sunrise adventure - bring a flashlight.