Messages

16

EOS Bodies / Re: The sound of silence

« on: April 24, 2013, 11:48:32 AM »

was getting burned out recently... slapped my nifty fifty on my 7D and just went for a walk around town... best thing i could have done... usually shoot sports... took a week off and shot everything but...

hadnt used that lens in a few months, got in a rut with my 70-200 and 28-75...

threw my 70-200 on my 40D, switched to B&W and shot a whole soccer game with burst mode off... forced me to change my 'spray and pray' midset with my 7D and focus (no pun intended) on my shooting...

read about the 36 challege... only take 36 shots at an event as if i only had a roll of film in the camera... that about killed me off... used to running 700-1000 shots per game/event... but i really tried (took 54) but it took less time to edit them down (shoot for a local paper) and i appreciated the shots more...

Blessings,
paul

Definitely enjoyed the spray and pray comment.... and having come from the world of 35mm film where even 2fps was astonishing, I for one value the burst mode.  But I totally agree that one must strike the right balance and use burst mode as a tool when it is warranted, and not just for the sound effects .   I really like the above-mentioned exercise -- one must not lose the skill of finger/eye coordination and capturing the right moment.  Here's an example where I'm likely to use burst mode without apology:  You're at an air show and you want to blur the prop on the P51, and so your shutter speed is slower than the rule of thumb for handheld photos.  It may take a few frames to get the plane itself tack sharp.  Yea I’m not a fan of seeing P51s hanging in the sky as if suspended by a string.  If it has a prop, blur it

17

EOS Bodies / Re: The sound of silence

« on: April 23, 2013, 01:08:11 PM »

silence is golden...#1 DSLR maker .... 

translation:  shut up and get rich

18

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Dynamic range, high lights information D800 vs 5dmk2

« on: April 23, 2013, 01:08:00 AM »

I find Mikael's contrived tests amusing because they are clearly not intended to contribute to good photography  they are just examples of how to get the worst possible result out of a tool.  Thats not a skill that I particularly admire.

I think he works for a QA department. The ability to break things is appreciated in that area.

lol.  or maybe he gets paid for every posted reference against Canon equipment. 

19

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Dynamic range, high lights information D800 vs 5dmk2

« on: April 23, 2013, 12:35:36 AM »

I find Mikael's contrived tests amusing because they are clearly not intended to contribute to good photography  they are just examples of how to get the worst possible result out of a tool.  Thats not a skill that I particularly admire.

20

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Dynamic range, high lights information D800 vs 5dmk2

« on: April 22, 2013, 06:21:19 PM »

I'm just surprised it took this long for the same old stuff to emerge under one of mikaels new personas.   Popcorn anyone?

21

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: mini review: Yongnuo 568EX

« on: April 17, 2013, 12:05:11 AM »

Yongnuo 568EX is available here on amazon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/YN-568EX-Speed-Flash-Speedlite-Canon/dp/B00C584074/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1366167953&sr=1-2-fkmr2&keywords=refone+Yongnuo+568EX

yes, very attractive -- 0% positive reviews on that seller!  are you that seller or somthing?  seriously do people just buy from anywhere that puts up a picture and a shopping cart?   thats not a risk I'm willing to take.  There are some important details to keep in mind when purchasing third party offshore equipment outside of the normal dist channels (trusted suppliers):

1.  The seller might be a A U.S. seller but that doesn't guarentee fresh inventory or a return policy.  theres a reason why the lead time is short -- they are adding value by storing inventory.

2.  there are retailers claiming to be official yongnuo retailers that are not.  There are storefronts and sellers on Ebay and Amazon that are not reputable.

3.  pick a reliable seller that has a reputation and a known interest in satisfying customers.  yes I'm quite pleased with thephotogadget.com and I wouldn't order Yongnuo from anyone else, frankly.  If you can find a U.S. based retailer that you know has fresh inventory, good customer service,  and a good return policy for tjhe same price as buying direct from China, then you will know that something is goofy. 

22

EOS Bodies / Re: A Bit of EOS 70D Info [CR1-CR2]

« on: April 15, 2013, 09:34:51 PM »

Depending on what real-world autofocus performance is like, this could give the current 7D a run for its money the same way the 6D bests the 5DII.

And all y'all complaining about the megapickle count? You're just being silly.

I'm hoping the complaints are about how good the MP are, not how many of them there are.   "18MP" sounds too much like they are four years old. 

23

EOS Bodies / Re: A Bit of EOS 70D Info [CR1-CR2]

« on: April 15, 2013, 09:26:25 PM »

Hmm, I don't buy it.
This rumor looks like it's been put together from previous rumors.

you picked up on that?  sorry I couldn't resist a friendly jab:  As stated,  "Below is a spec list put together from various sources that have written in."  nice analysis, though,  esp for not knowing it was a platypus rumor lol

24

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: mini review: Yongnuo 568EX

« on: April 06, 2013, 11:40:39 PM »

The unit performed flawlessly in all the above-mentioned areas.  For example, the photo below shows my YN-568EX firing in optical slave mode, using ETTL metering, HSS and 8:1 ratio set via the camera menu.  Fantastic!   To obtain the photo below I mounted my 580EX ii master inside an Apollo Orb softbox at camera right.

I have the 580EX II and YN-568EX also.  How did you connect your camera to the 580EX II which is off-camera in Apollo?

ahh -- good catch.  I used Syl Arena's ETTL extension cord from OCF gear.   Both camera and flash think the flash is mounted atop the camera.   ETTL works beautifully

my order for two additional 568EXs just arrived; that took about 9 days.  two 568's and the 580 go in the softox, one 568EX outside for rim or other fun.

25

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: mini review: Yongnuo 568EX

« on: April 04, 2013, 07:34:25 AM »

Compatibility is going to be an ever increasing problem for third party flash manufacturers, sure they can update new production, after they have reverse engineered the tweaks Canon do to stymy them, but that does nothing for the dealer stock and flashes already sold, especially if they don't have a way to update the firmware in them, ie no micro usb port.

Expect huge depreciation on third party flashes. 550EX's sell for between $120 and $150 on eBay almost every day, there will never be an issue using them on EOS cameras, that piece of mind alone is worth the money to me over a Yongnuo.

Don't think for one second I am a third party hater, I highly recommend Yongnuo triggers, the 602's I use have been 100% reliable for two years, the 603's are a great upgrade to them too.

no argument here. in fact, this is the very point and value proposition of the yonguo 568EX, in my opinion.  When you buy Canon you are making a substantial long term investment "up front" to obtain guarenteed compatibility and good resale value.  For $167 delivered via registered mail, you are making a relatively meger investment up front for the Yongnuo, in return  for a product that meets your immediate needs now.  For that price you can buy it again and again over the next several years, and every time you do that you get a new flash tube.  The key to this kind of investement, in my opinion, is to bring in one flash unit and test. if it doesn't work, send it back and you're only out the cost of return shipping for the experiment. If it works, buy more if you need them..   frankly if it were not for my discovery of thephotogadget, I would have put my $510 towards one 600EX-rt instead of three Yonguos.  But the Yongnuos give me extraordinary flexibility -- with a total of four flashguns I can load them up in softboxes, gang them up to fight the sun like Syl Arena does, or spread them around and light up a room from different locations, gell them for effect, etc. 

The more expensive third party flashguns like the new Odins are a connundrum to me.  way too expensive to qualify as a cost-effective alternative to the genuine article, in my opinion.  the value proposition is just not there for me.    yes, you get USB updates for bug fixes and compatibility updates in the field, and every time you update your flash you decide to keep wearing out the  cheep flashtube therin.   yes, you get an external power connection, so the new Ondin is starting to look more like a real 580EX ii.    But by the time you spend $400 on a third party 580 EX ii clone with the hope of future compatibiltgy you'd be better off buying a real 580EX ii with guarenteed compatibility.    or better yet, spend $150  more and buy a 600-rt. 

26

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: mini review: Yongnuo 568EX

« on: April 03, 2013, 09:02:36 PM »

Do I see a mechanical On-off switch there? I hate the electronic on-off button on the YN-560 II. They warn you to remove the batteries after use to prevent drain, and I have the feeling that the battery door is about to break every time I close it.

from flashhavoc:

"New Body Design

Instead of just adding HSS to the previous YN-565EX TTL flash model (which was a close copy of the Canon 580EX II body and LCD screen), YongNuo have designed a completely new original body for the 568EX, and its mostly all the better for it. It has a large clear LCD and nice solid plastic control buttons, no more spongy rubber ones. The body had a nice square shape with matt textured finish, and its actually all just a little bit smaller than the previous 565/580EXII."

The on-off button is electronic; hold it down to turn on or off, so if you are alergic to that, then you would be dissapointed.  I have no such alergies and I don't store batteries in my flashguns anyway -- batts belong in those little yellow thingies where you can instantly tell which ones are charged by the way you put them in :-O

http://www.amazon.com/Storacell-Powerpax-Battery-Caddy-Yellow/dp/B004YG7JXW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1365037328&sr=8-3&keywords=AA+battery+holder



the battery door on the 568 is quite good.

27

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: mini review: Yongnuo 568EX

« on: April 03, 2013, 08:36:11 PM »

thanks. I can only find 550 used and for >$180. and I don't want used flash.
I very seldom use hot shoe flashes, so need a cheap main gun to use once or twice a year and ideally another tiny one for hiking to pitch in in place of the build-in. having trouble picking either...

for a new flash under $200 you have but  few options.  in fact, the 568 is the only one that comes to mind as a candidate.  If you read widely you will find that all experiences with thephotogadget are positive - including the situations where folks were hit with the dreaded "over exposure at 1/250th" problem.   

the Phottix is probably a very good bet, but its twice the price of the Yongnuo.  Others are emerging as folks figure out how to reverse engineer Canons system.  no complaints here;  in fact I just ordered two more!

28

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: mini review: Yongnuo 568EX

« on: April 03, 2013, 08:31:51 PM »

There are many reports of issues with newer cameras. If you have a 5D MkIII then don't get one until they are advertised as working with your camera.

Personally, as a budget option I would recommend the Canon 550EX, full functionality with every EOS camera past, present and future, for around $125.

pause and check the website:  they are advertized working with the 5D3 and many others

"Compatibility

     Wireless TTL Slave mode: Canon 5DIII, 7D, 60D, 600D, 650D, Yongnuo ST-E2, Canon 580EX II, Nikon SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, Commander SU-800, Camera with CLS i-TTL system:D4, D3x, D3s, D3, D2x, D700, D300s, D300, D200, D7000, D90, D80
    Hot shoe TTL mode: Canon 1Dx, 1Ds series, 1D series, 5DIII, 5DII, 5D, 7D, 650D/T4i, 600D/T3i, 550D/T2i, 500D/T1i, 450D/Xsi, 400D/Xti, 1100D, 1000D, 60D, 50D, 40D
    Not compatible with 20D, 30D" 


Part of my experience was landing on a reputable supplier.  I wouldn't trust any of  the ebay stores (except for thephotogadget.  read the reviews), nor would I trust the stores selling on amazon.  Order direct from thetphotogadget.  Avoid all the others becasue you won't know what inventory they've been storing up, and  you might get one with the old "1/250th shutter" problem and no way to return it.  ThePhotogadget will accept returns, although its true you have to pay shipping. 

29

Software & Accessories / Re: RECHARGEABLE - POWER-EX - ENLOOP - IMEDION

« on: April 03, 2013, 05:48:17 PM »

I'm using the Maha 801D.  Great charger/  individual circuits for each battery, soft and normal charge modes plus soft an normal recondition modes.  8 cells AA or AAA any combo. 

using 16 Eneloops now, but with four flashguns I'm gonna need more!  Panasonic may change things I don't know but I found that when I read the data sheets CLOSELY I found that the eneloops optimize the things important to me (charge cycles and flash recycle time).   there is no free lunch, so of the four parameters:

charge cycles  (life)
capacity (number of flashes per charge)
internal resistance  (recycle time)
self discharge rate

you can't optimize all four at the same time.    increase capacity and you will give up internal resistance and/or number of cycles and discharge rate.  Batteries with the highest charge cycles rating will tend to have a lower capacity

30

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: mini review: Yongnuo 568EX

« on: April 03, 2013, 03:50:02 PM »

PART 3 of 3

Focus on HSS

The importance of a well-implemented high-speed sync feature is critical to me, so I spent considerable time playing with this.  With my subject placed deliberately in front of a brightly-lit window on a sunny day, I set up a three-light configuration:  The sunlight coming in through the window formed the rim light, my 580EX ii Master served as fill, and my YN-568EX slave  served as the key light.  I used 1:4 ratio selected via the camera menu, and set the camera manually to 1/2000th sec shutter and f/2.8.   ETTL properly exposed the subject but the background sky was still too bright:    Raising the shutter speed to 1/8000th sec allowed me to under expose the background enough to make the subject stand out. HSS worked perfectly in concert with the 580EX ii -- very gratifying.   

While on the subject of HSS I wish to highlight the findings of flashhavoc.com, which found the HSS output of the YN-568EX to be on par with the 580EX ii.  This pleased me greatly, as HSS is one of the most important reasons I use speedlites.

Beyond the basics

The various features and specs of the YN-568EX are detailed in various other reviews, but here the things I particularly like:

•   The buttons!  They just feel great to me, and the instant-on custom feature is especially good. The orange back-it LCD is easy to read as well. 
•   The build quality is great. In fact, the click adjustment of the head is quite strong, which I like:  My 580EX ii struggles under the load of my large Rogue flashbender, but the YN-568EX does just fine.   
•   The YN-568EX has an audible beep when ready to fire, and a different beep to warn you about underexposure due to insufficient re-cycle time.  This is particularly important when the flash is buried inside of a softbox. 
•   One interesting feature worth mentioning is that you can select up to 5 stops of exposure compensation via the flash controls themselves.  This level of control is not available via the Canon menu system
•   Did I mention that I like the 1/8000th second HSS?


Conclusions

At just over 1/4th of the cost, the YN-568EX is a very attractive and capable alternative to the Canon flagship flash.  While it does not possess master capabilities, the Yongnuo makes a great optical slave flash inside of a softbox or umbrella, for example when combined with my 580EX ii as the master (triggered via my off-camera TTL extension cord).   This configuration is currently my primary use case and particularly appealing to me because it does not require the use of radio triggers.   Ratios and manual operation are controlled via the on-camera menu, without the need to look at or touch either of the flash units. 

Yongnuo has opted not to provide a USB update feature, and I presume this is to keep the cost down.  Consider that to offer end-user installable updates requires more expensive hardware, a software release process, a website for downloads, end-user documentation, and a support process wrapped around all of that.  Instead of offering a higher purchase price up front for such a capability, Yongnuo offers a lower purchase price which allows the customer to bank more money up front for future hardware purchases:  Note that the nearest competition for the YN-568EX is twice the price.

Do I miss the lack of an external power capability?  Not at all -- I prefer the extraordinary portability afforded by AA-powered Speedlites, and I carry enough Sanyo Eneloops to do the job.  The Eneloops also yield a very good recycle time, especially when using multiple strobes. 

I wish now that I had ordered two YN-568EX’s, as I could then install the pair onto a triple flash bracket along with my 580EXii (on an ETTL cord)  to form a three-strobe softbox/umbrella configuration with very short recycle times – all while maintaining full ETTL and HSS capability.

Purchasing from China

I note that there is one influential blogger who specifically recommended against purchasing anything direct from China, citing quality issues and lack of a value-adding U.S based retail channel for customer support.  I found his advice to be inaccurate.

One thing that convinced me to purchase my Yongnuo from ThePhotoGadget was the way the two companies reacted to the discovery that early YN-568EX production units failed to achieve proper TTL exposure at 1/250th shutter speed:  Yongnuo immediately fixed the problem, and customers of ThePhotoGadget received replacement units under warranty.   I thought that was impressive, demonstrating a commitment to customer satisfaction and product quality.   

Incidentally, I received my flash in eleven days after ordering -- and when they say “price includes shipping” they mean all shipping costs are taken care of, AND the package is sent via US registered mail (signature required).   


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