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1

5D MK III Sample Images / 12,800ISO 5DMKIII Images

« on: February 26, 2013, 10:28:08 AM »

So this is the first time I have really used the camera above 3200ISO as I think the results at 3200 are amazing. In this case I couldn't be bothered to set up a tripod or my flash set up, so used this as a little test.

My car was in for a service and BMW gave me a new F30 3 series as a courtesy car. First time I have driven one and the interiors are really nice so thought I would take a few pics add them to the BMW forum im apart of.

Anyway the results are incredible. Minimal editing in post with a little NR 30 luminance on PS CS5.5. All was shot with available light, shot at night so that was the interior light of the car. Shot with my 24-105mm L and 100mm L.

Anyway if anyone else has any other images at 12,800 add them! What a camera.


BMW F30 3 Series interior by tom_scott88, on Flickr


BMW F30 3 Series interior, light console by tom_scott88, on Flickr


BMW F30 3 Series interior, centre console climate control by tom_scott88, on Flickr


BMW F30 3 Series interior, multifunction steering wheel by tom_scott88, on Flickr


BMW F30 3 Series interior, iDrive screen by tom_scott88, on Flickr

2

EOS Bodies - For Stills / 5D MKIII vs 1Ds MKIII

« on: April 01, 2012, 06:42:55 PM »

So I have £3.5k to spend on upgrading to a new body.

Choice was originally to go straight for the 5D MKIII because I think it is pretty much the perfect camera they are currently selling for £3000 in the UK body only.

Question is a fairly low actuation second hand 1Ds MKIII is around £2500.

So what do you think the 1Ds with extra pro features (extra weather sealing etc) and 1 less FPS or the 5D MKIII.

Or save £500 and get some more glass. (been after an 85mm)

Currently shoot on a 40D because I haven't seen a massive improvement to upgrade it to any of the newer bodies and don't need to print bigger than A3 and most of my stuff is for newspapers so the res has been fine. 50D wasn't a good upgrade. I was keen on the 7D but I have mastered the shortcomings of the 40Ds AF and IQ in the 7D didn't seem much better apart from the much much better high ISO quality and the AF was amazing but like I said i get the shots I need and didn't get many more keepers from the 7D. I also felt that the 7D was slightly noisier at ISO100-200 and shoot a lot in this range. But didn't feel the need to spend £1500 on the upgrade when I didn't feel it added much to my 40D. I also wanted the 5D MKII but again the AF put me off having the same as the 40D although the IQ is amazing the other shortcomings didn't fit my need I need an all-round fairly quick camera. Again wasn't worth the £2500 upgrade and if it had the benefit of the better AF I would take it. The 60D is a massive disappointment so not even a choice.

So basically been waiting for the perfect affordable camera which has arrived.

I want to upgrade to FF and the 1Ds was out of my budget until recently, and now the 5D MKIII has been supercharged and is basically a full frame 40D with much better AF, ISO and IQ in my budget I was like perfect. Until I was looking around and saw the 1Ds at this price point.

My 40D is seriously ready for retirement it needs a big service and replacement shutter as it is about 140,000 actuations. Don't really want to spend any money on it.

In relation to what I shoot. A bit of everything professionally - Weddings, motorsport, automotive and advertising photography mainly. But also shoot a fair amount of fine art photography.

But for personal usage I shoot pretty much everything so looking for an all round camera. I shoot with a grip atm but like taking it off for street photography and generally chuck it in the bag less weight etc.

Lenses -
EFs 17-55mm 2.8 IS
EFs 10-22mm
EF 70-200mm 2.8 IS
EF 50mm 1.4
EF 100mm 2.8 Macro
EF 2x extender MKII

Will be selling the 17-55 and the 10-22 for FF equivalents. If i got the 5D I would buy the lens kit with the 24-105mm for the saving.

So what you guys think!??

Thanks for the help in advance

Heres a few shots.


Royal Opera House, London by tom_scott88, on Flickr


Women, St. Pauls, Millennium bridge, London by tom_scott88, on Flickr


Couple, Covent Garden by tom_scott88, on Flickr


Conison Water Feb 2011 by tom_scott88, on Flickr


BMW Z4M Coupe by tom_scott88, on Flickr


IMG_5504colour by tom_scott88, on Flickr


IMG_9407 by tom_scott88, on Flickr


320si BTCC by tom_scott88, on Flickr


M3 by tom_scott88, on Flickr

3

Lenses / Sigma 50-500mm Opinions

« on: March 31, 2011, 07:03:14 PM »

Hi Canon Rumors

Im looking for a new tele, Ive used the Canon 100-400mm, probs shot about 2000 photos with one (without owning it, borrowed one from a friend) and i do really like it! But i do prefer the zoom ring rather than a push pull, also i feel like it could do with a little extra length and im not prepared to spend a lot of money on a prime. Also i feel primes are cumbersome and can reduce the probability of getting some shots just because of there size and the use of a tripod.

The problem with length could be sorted with a 1.4x or 2x extender but the100-400mm lens would not autofocus on my crop body, also the F number is far too small for everyday shooting even with a high iso. Unless you were in the Savana with the intense light.

I also have the Canon 70-200mm F2.8 and love this lens because of its F stop you can literally shoot anything in any light and on my camera its getting about 320mm with a 2x converter 640mm 5.6 lens. Basically the same as if i had a 100-400 although as everyone knows using the 2x extender doesn't produce the best image quality. Also my 70-200 is not image stabilised so i have to use a monopod or tripod at F5.6 to guarantee a sharp shot which is hard with the 2x extender anyway, as it is pretty soft. 

So as 400mm is the biggest zoom Canon offer and it push pulls, I started to look further afield and started to look at the Sigma 50-500mm OS lens. Now i wasnt expecting anything from this lens as the range is massive and basically the best of both worlds usually means some horrendous vignetting, chromatic aberration and softness at the extremes. Now i know that this lens does not produce miracles but i have read nothing but good things about this lens. It does the impossible.. although not as sharp as the 100-400mm but offers an extra 100mm so i think it could be forgiven for being slightly less sharp. Also on my crop body i would be looking at 80-800mm which is HUGE!

Before pixel pickers start, im not selling my photos to national geographic so im not looking for impeccable quality. I am looking for a lens that would suit my budget of £1400 give me enough range, and most of all be able to cary around, and the weight specifications of this lens dont worry me.

So basically what i want to know is owners opinions. Whats it like? comparisons to the 100-400mm etc. Sigma are known for having great and poor lenses in the same model, like all but third party vendors more likely. I usually wouldn't buy anything but canon but in this situation I decided to look afield.

My dealings with sigma have not been good thus far, about 8 years ago as a first lens I bought a 24-300mm which was cheap but after 3 months the front element fell out.. so then i decided never to buy another sigma, regardless of cost no lens should have the front element drop off. But the 50-500mm is the EX range so should be good.
 
Thanks

Tom Scott

4

EOS Bodies / Canon 40D Shutter button **FAILURE**

« on: February 09, 2011, 10:20:33 AM »

Hi CR,

Im new to CR and love the site and forums. Keep up the good work.

So to my First post, my trusty Canon 40D has just effectively died. It has the dreaded Sticking Shutter Button, the grip button doesn't have any problems, it would seem from a quick google that all the XXXXD, XXXD and XXD suffer from this illness.

The diagnosis is confirmed by the button pressing half way to focus, focusing successfully and when the button is completely depressed the shutter does not go off. This is not a problem with the AF and it having problems with the exposure therefore not firing, it is a mechanical problem where the button gets dirt etc into the shutter button contacts.

Until it happened to mine i had no idea about the problem but it has been a problem since the 10D and canon has done nothing about it. There are a few remedies... Press the button in hard and twist to help remove dirt... if that doesn't work... Send it to Canon and have it repaired which is £150, this sounds steep but from people who have had it done, thier cameras came back immaculate. With Replacement panels, LCD's, updates, complete cleaning, and with adjustments to make your body the same as it was. But... and a big but is do you want to spend a third of the value of the camera on a repair, or buy a new body? the 40D is a great camera but she is getting on abit...

The second is by using contact cleaner and spraying it down the hole, and using compressed air to get the dirt out. This sounds hazardous but the contact cleaner evaporates on contact, and leaves no residue. But it is obviously a massive risk. The third is to completely take the camera apart, you have to remove the rubber covers, which im sure are a pain to get back on, the front panel the rear panel with the LCD, remove 3-4 ribbon cables and then you can get to the shutter button, which needs to be taken away from the body, and the release deconstructed to remove two press contacts, which then need to be cleaned with contact cleaner to remedy. Did i mention the 100+ screws that are mostly different and need to go back in their specific places.

This is a monstrous task which, if you are not competent you will ruin your camera. I am competent at such tasks but i am not quite ready to go to these lengths yet. My 40D is my backup body and has had just over 11,000 actuations, and is nearly 3 years old. Apparently the lower the use the more likely it is to happen, but if the fault is known then why have canon continued to produce the same design and for something so simple as cleaning the contact, you would think they would have made it easier to get to!??

I am obviously very disappointed and gutted, because it is a soldier! and has seen me through alot, and it produces great image quality and is a joy to use. In my opinion there isnt another APC sized camera that i would like to replace it with. The 50D was a marginal upgrade so wasn't worth it (now you cant get them new), the 60D is a massive disappointment in comparison to previous XXD's and that screen i know for sure would come off at some point! (and is slower), the 7D is more than half way through its product cycle so i dont really want to spend £1100 for an older camera for my backup and the XXXXD's or the XXXD's are not suitable. Once you get used to a camera of such quality its hard to go back to the amateur models. I also dont shoot video so its not an important feature for me.

I will try to repair the body before buying a new one, but i wanted some reactions/opinions/advice from the knowledgeable CR forum about what to do and how you feel about this issue that basically makes the rest of the body redundant! My main body is a 7D just to let people no, and dont fancy buying another although i love it, but theres no need to buy another when the 7D could transition in the next year. I have 3 wedding coming up in the next 2 months so i need to get cracking to sort it out. My initial thought was to buy a 50D (there about £500-550 second hand) and just wait.

Thanks

Tom Scott