Topics

1

5D MK III Sample Images / Ultra long daytime exposures - 5D mkiii

« on: October 09, 2012, 01:53:57 PM »

Been playing around with some black glass (or film) recently.  Here are a few of my first attempts.  I can get up to 20 minute exposures in broad daylight if I push everything to its max (or should I say min), but these are all around 4-5 minutes each.  All shot with the 5D mkiii and the 14mm 2.8 L II.


Empty at Rush Hour by @!ex, on Flickr


Road to Eldorado by @!ex, on Flickr


Neutral Density Time Warp by @!ex, on Flickr

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5D MK III Sample Images / The Milky Way, portrait edition (5d mkiii and astrophotography)

« on: August 20, 2012, 01:06:13 AM »

OK, so Saturday night I was up at my family's cabin in Breckenridge CO for a relaxing weekend away from the city.  I almost always do some star trails when I'm up there and so after a few cocktails (more than a few) I took the camera out and set up a shot.  Right after we started shooting my brother noticed how bright the milky way was.  After a few test shots I realized that I coud get amazing shots of it Straight from camera!.  I threw my new baby into high noise reduction mode and then shot at f2.8 (14mm prime), 30 sec, 8000ISO.  I was able to get great stuff, with star/galaxy detail I had never seen before and with little to no noise (since it was a 30 sec exp, and a bit windy everything was going to be a bit blurry anyhow, so noise reduction loss of sharpness was of little worry).  This is a JPEG straight from camera!  Ok, not exactly fully straight from camera, I did a tiny contrast and sharpness adjustment, but that is all.  It was hard to sit still for 30 seconds with a few drinks in the veins and the wind blowing, but we tried pretty hard (note the blurriness)....  I'l post some of the other amazing shots I got, including a star trail and a time-lapse, but this unconventional portrait was just too cool for me not to show you guys/gals...


Hold Still by @!ex, on Flickr

3

Lighting / Smallest capable speedlight for 5D m3

« on: August 08, 2012, 01:30:05 PM »

So I totally love my new 5D miii, but I have noticed that there are certain situations that I really miss a built in flash.  I only really use it for extreme backlight portraits, as I normally much prefer natural light, but in certain cases flash is indispensable.  I was just on vacation and I was shooting some family stuff on the beach with a sunset in the background and it was killing me not to have a built-in.  My Aunt kept wanting to use my "fancy" camera instead of here nikon d5000, but I had to concede to her that since she had a flash her camera was better off for that situation.  I was able to get a bracketed shot of my mom (attached) but it was lees than ideal in this situation (I made her stand very still). 

That being said, I started looking at extremely light, extremely small, speed light/flash options.  Portability is of the highest order here, because I will only use it in these situations if I have it, and I always pack very light.  I want it to basically be a replacement for a built in flash.  The best option I can find so far (I've only looked at canon flashes, but am open to 3rd party) is the 270exII.  It seems small and light, has ETTL-II, has a remote release (handy, I guess) and can even be used as a slave (I imagine that I would have to buy another flash to be the master though because I assume that functionality is not built into the 5d mmiii).  the only little thing I see missing is IR focus assist and radio transmitter slave mode.  I would like to have those features as well, but not at the cost of a lot of extra size.

Thanks in advance for your expert knowledge and help...

4

Landscape / Alien Landscapes

« on: July 22, 2012, 02:49:43 PM »

Post your best otherworldly landscapes.  This is one I just processed from a couple weeks ago...


Life on Mars by @!ex, on Flickr

5

Site Information / Put a link to your pictures in your footer!

« on: July 19, 2012, 02:14:05 AM »

I would just like to start a new trend on CR.  I must admit that I am new here and don't want to step on any toes, that being said I often find people posting critiques and advice on here which is what this amazing space is for but I alway have this curiosity about the quality of their images.  If I am impressed with someones images then I often take their advice much more seriously, but I often find that there are a lot of armchair professionals in forums like this.  For me the great equalizer in photography, is your photography.  So I propose that everyone post a link to a website where they post their photography, be it a blog or a dedicated photography community such as flickr, in their footer/signature.  I think it would add a lot to this community if we could see each others work, and in doing so become more intimate with each other and get more aquatinted.  In addition it would add to your credibility and overall make this site more photo-centric.

This is just a thought/suggestion, but I would like to hear everyones opinion on this.  Talk amongst yourselves (said in jewish Mike Myers voice). 

6

Animal Kingdom / Post your landscapes where animals play a major role...

« on: July 17, 2012, 06:18:55 PM »

I'll start with a couple I am currently working on from a vacation a few weeks ago.  I only had a couple brief minutes to capture these shots as I was with my GF and her parents and we just happened to drive through this park as the sun was setting on two consecutive evenings.  They all waited in the car will I snapped a few frames.  Comments, questions and critiques are welcome in this thread.  Lets see yours.


Supper by @!ex, on Flickr


The Wind Over Wind Cave by @!ex, on Flickr


Sunset on the King by @!ex, on Flickr

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5D MK III Sample Images / Post your vacation wildlife shots!

« on: July 10, 2012, 01:24:02 AM »

Here are a couple of shots I snapped of the majestic bison while I was up in South Dakota a couple weeks ago.  I just got really lucky as we happened to be driving through Wind Cave National park two days in a row right when amazing sunsets were happening and buffalo were right next to and on the road (there are no fences).  Really magical.  I feel like I've been getting a lot more keepers with my shiny (not as clean anymore) new 5D mkiii.  Let's see what you've snapped.


The Wind Over Wind Cave by @!ex, on Flickr


King of Wind Cave by @!ex, on Flickr


Sunset on the King by @!ex, on Flickr

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EOS Bodies / Kirk L-bracket 5Dmk3 (DIY pano head)

« on: April 21, 2012, 01:30:55 PM »

I just ordered a kirk L-bracket for my 5Dmk3 and on their website it says that it is a preorder.  I'm going to call on monday and see when the ETA is, bt thought I would check here in the meantime to see if anyone has already talked to them...

http://www.kirkphoto.com/L-Braket_for_Canon_5D_Mark_III.html 

FYI, I'm using the L-bracket, their long focus rail, another quick release, and a novaflex pano plate to make a very lightweight, relatively cheap pano/nodal point head, for pano as well as vertorama.  Pic below (idea from Klaus Herrmann)  note, L bracket not for D90, for 5Dmk3 hence the point of this thread.  Also, I haven't ordered the novaflex plate yet, does anyone have an idea for a similar option for cheaper?  It def needs to lock, and if it had clicking rotation points that would be a big bonus.  The novaflex is around $191, so it would need to be either similar or better for cheaper.

9

EOS Bodies / Poll: 5Dmkiii top LCD malfunction

« on: April 06, 2012, 01:21:21 AM »

Just noticed this today while shooting with a friend.  She was using exposure compensation a lot (the way she shoots, rather than meter locking she just leaves in it evaluative and uses EV comp, I know kind inefficient but thats another story, anywho...), and she kept wondering why the little marker under the compensation scale on the top lcd wasn't moving.  it was, but we realized that when it went over +1/3 it would disappear, the exposure values would still increase as you scrolled up but on the lcd the little moving mark would just disappear until you went over +3 then the little arrow would show up informing you that you are over +3 EV comp.  on the negative EV comp side of the scale everything works perfectly, and in the optical viewfinder the EV comp scale on the bottom everything works fine + and -.  I am gonna have to exchange the body tomorrow, but just wanted to see if anyone else has this problem, and also make sure that everyone checks, because i might not have noticed this for a while as I normally just use it in the viewfinder.

10

EOS Bodies / Letter to Mr Rockwell in regards to his 5Dmkiii review

« on: April 04, 2012, 06:56:27 PM »

I sent this to him.  This guy seriously bugs me.  How can you write a review on something you don't even read the manual or check all the options on?  Crazy that he gets mentioned so often on forums all over the interwebs.

Here is a link to the comparison chart in his d800 review that I reference....

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d800.htm

Mr. Rockwell,
I have read both your reviews of the 5Dmkiii and the D800.

I just would like to inform you that some of your major concerns with the 5d that you harp on a LOT in the review are not in fact a reality.  These so called problems are echoed with big red no's on the comparison chart that you made at the bottom of the d800 review.

1) problem: AF marks hide subject.  Truth: it is fully customizable, in the 5th AF menu second item down "AF point display during focus", you can have the box on at all times, you can have all the AF boxes on all the time, you can have the AF box disappear once focus is achieved (best case scenario), or you can have it always gone.

2) problem: no one touch ability to switch between commonly used AF modes.  Truth:  Fully customizable.  I set the DOF button to switch to AI servo, so when I'm shooting in single shot mode, if I wanna quick switch to servo without taking my eye off the subject I just hold the DOF button and then it goes AI servo until I let go and then it's right back to single shot.  You can also set other buttons to perform this as well (if you actually use the DOF preview that much), IMHO it's actually much better than a physical toggle like on the older nikons and pentax because I would accidentally hit it and be in servo or vice versus all the time.

3) problem: no ability to select various AF points without multiple button presses.  Truth:  Can easily set this.  Again, under button customization, if you go to the the options for the multi selector (the joystick) the other option beside default is direct AF point selection.  If you set it this way you don't even need to hold the joystick down, just select away, no need to push the AF selector button first then hit the joystick (not that that is really hard, and I imagine they have this as the default so you don't accidentally move you AF point).

Just a thought, might be a good idea to read the manual and or check all the menus before writing a review on the web that tries to act informed, and sway people's purchasing opinions.

11

EOS Bodies / Awesome use of DOF preview button on 5dmk3

« on: April 04, 2012, 02:18:30 AM »

Ok, so I don't really use the DOF preview button much, because I am A) shooting wide open, so what you see is what you get, B) stop down a bit and am not too critical of the DOF as in most of these cases I can just recompose if need be.  I just realized that in the custom button function (accessed either through the menu or the quick menu) you can set the DOF button (which is in perfect position for quick access) to engage AI servo when you are in single shot mode.  This make AI servo soooo much more accessible because you can turn it on at any point, if you subject begins moving, or if you have a moving subject on occasion, but you like the focus confirm of single shot most of the time.  you do have to hold it to keep AI servo on, but that is even better because you can dynamically turn it on and off with the tip of your ring finger.

Also, I'm kinda bugged by people complaining about the speed of the AF in low light and missing potential shots.  If you want less AF accuracy and more shutter release speed just change the third AF menu box "one-shot AF release prior." more toward shutter.  The default is to max AF accuracy priority.  Sorry for the rant.  I have seen a TON of complaints about minor things that can be easily changed in the menus (I'm looking at you ken rockwell, "this ugly AF box is always getting in the way of my cat pictures" and "I am too busy fiddling with the AF mode to get a picture of my grandkid", learn to use the M-fn button with your pointer finger and the AF select button with your thumb).

12

EOS Bodies / Help me test large aperture Prime AF accuracy

« on: March 27, 2012, 01:40:57 PM »

So I have a the new 5dmk3 and a 50mm 1.2L.  I have been trying to get the micro adjustment on the lens just right, but but I figured out why it had been a bit confusing up to this point.  If I use the center point (or any AF point within the metering ring) I get spot on tack sharp AF on like 90% of the shots with 0 MFA.  BUT, if I use one of the outer AF spots I get pretty bad back focusing (like +15).  I thought maybe it was the body I had, so I just went back to the camera store and exchanged it for another body hoping that I would at least be able to figure out if that was the variable.  Turns out this body is exactly the same.  This makes me think it is either difficult for the AF to get a good lock due to the aberrations of the glass the closer you get to the edge, or something wrong with the lens itself (it is brand new and date code is uz0909).  I'm also just wondering if this is the price you pay with AF on really fast glass.  That is where you come in.  If you have fast glass (1.2) try checking the AF accuracy on center point and a more lateral point and lets see if we can come to a consensus.  I'm especially interested in 50mm 1.2 as thats what I'm working with.  I tested my 70-200 2.8 and it's pretty spot on with no MFA, on both center and lateral AF points.  I'll post a few test shots of my 50 when I get home later.

13

EOS Bodies / A thought about 5dMK3 "softness"

« on: March 26, 2012, 12:23:39 PM »

I'm new to canon and along with my new 5Dmk3 I am also breaking in some awesome new L glass.  I will agree that I was a bit disappointed with what seemed to be soft images at first, but I quickly realized that the focus was a bit off on both lenses.  I just did a little micro adjust and it made a HUGE difference.  I bought the SpyderLensCal a while back and I know that it is way overpriced and I could easly build one for next to nothing, but the convenience of it almost mitigates the annoyance of micro adjusting.  Just shoot, review, adjust and bang your done.  I think this may be the cause of the discrepancy of so many different people either saying they are getting sharp images or not and then attributing it to the camera body, DPP or JPEG engine and saying maybe I just got a bad unit.  If the camera was back focusing by just a little it would be really hard to tell it was not just a soft image because you wouldn't see the sharp in focus region.  Anyway, try checking for focus adjustments I've noticed a lot of the people getting good results on other forums are noticing this as well.  Nice thing is you can also enter in the serial number after you adjust a lens and it can store up to 40 individual lenses, so hopefully once you get one dialed it will be go for a long time.

if your curious about the lens cal thingamajig here is a link to a vid of how easy it is to use, or it will give you a good idea of how to make one yourself.

http://spyder.datacolor.com/learn_videos_spyderlenscal1.php

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EOS Bodies / Just a street portrait 5Dkm3 and 50mm 1.2 L

« on: March 26, 2012, 03:46:52 AM »

I am just getting into portrait, street shooting and using Canon and a full frame with a 50mm 1.2.  You only have one chance at a shot like this on the street.  I met this graffiti artist yesterday and lets just say he wasn't going to stand still for a portrait for more than one shot.  example of the AF, especially on a 50 1.2 which has been historically plagued by AF issues.  Also detail and FF DOF.  Let me know what you think...

15

EOS Bodies / I don’t think the D800 is a general purpose tool. A real world review.

« on: March 24, 2012, 03:41:22 PM »

I'm loving my 5dmk3 and my new L lenses, but for those of you still drooling over the d800 (not that it matters because a camera itself can't take creative interesting photos), check out this real world review, very interesting....

http://blog.mingthein.com/2012/03/23/first-impressions-review-the-nikon-d800/