Messages

1411

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Canon EOS 5D Mark III Firmware adds HDMI & AF Upgrades

« on: October 23, 2012, 09:46:05 AM »

Oh my. I see a second 5D3 in my kit soon with this update.

Good job canon.

1412

Portrait / Re: Second Portrait Shoot Ever!

« on: October 23, 2012, 09:10:22 AM »

Everything is technically correct but the posing could be tweaked a bit.

1. Have the subject smile or close they're mouth completely. A partially open mouth usually doesn't look good IMO.

2. Never have someone lock they're knee back, it destroys posture.

3. Have your subject look to the ground, then back at you and take the photo at that moment.  This will allow a true expression of the person.

Hope this helps.

1413

EOS Bodies / Re: Best low-light AF body

« on: October 22, 2012, 11:25:34 PM »

At a function last night in a very dimly lit venue I struggled yet again with low-light AF. The 5D3 with 580EXII & 24-105 f/4is was OK except for the black AF points, which made it unprofessionally slow to always be sure of correct AF, but the 1D4 with 580EXII & 70-200 f/2.8isII was absolutely hopeless with a very large number of missed shots. Both bodies were on one-shot AF mode, keeping as often as practical on the cross-type AF points.

I'm actually considering picking up a couple of pre-owned 5D2 bodies just for these type of events. They have the handy red AF points and from memory are better than than the 5D3 for very low-light AF.

Any thoughts on this? What's the red-hot very low-light hero DSLR hardware?

-PW

Nikons 51-point AF is slightly better in extreme low light but not quite enough to justify switching. My 5D3 blows my 7D and the 5Dc I had out of the water in low light. Perhaps, AF expansion mode? Or focusing on anything with a hint of contrast.

The 6D is supposedly to have -3ev AF. Which would be very useful in that situation.

Pick you poison I suppose.

1414

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Need advice for high ISO shooting / noise management

« on: October 22, 2012, 05:01:03 PM »

Hey gang,

I'm shooting handheld indoors without flash with my 5D3 all the time these days, it seems.  Shame on me, I know, but these are often social / performance events where the flash would not be welcomed.

In these situations, I leave the zooms at home and shoot either my trusty 50/1.4 or the surprisingly good new 28/2.8 IS.  To avoid wide open softness, I am pushing ISO into 3200-6400 levels to allow either lens to be stopped down a bit.  I won't lie that I push ISO even beyond 6400 periodically.

I am shooting RAW in these situations with the High ISO NR turned off as it seems to do nothing to RAW files (I presume it's a JPG-only feature?).

I generally prefer capturing sharpness + detail with noise than softening up the image by cranking up the noise reduction.  That said, if I can chase the noise intelligently without much detail being sacrificed, I'd love to hear how.

Can folks on this fine forum please give advice on:

1) Best RAW processing parameters to managing noise in Camera RAW.  I get lost on the five noise reduction sliders (Luminance, L Detail, L Contrast, Color and Color Detail) -- so pointers on which to use and when would be terrific.

2) Are there other settings in camera that are recommended for shooting in these indoor/handheld/low-light situations?

3) Is Camera RAW is the best tool for noise reduction work?  Should I use another RAW handler?  Does saving noise work for Photoshop to manage a better path to take?  Advice appreciated!

Thanks for your help!
A

I can comfortably shoot ISO 12,800 Color Images and 25,600 B&W's on my 5D3. 51,200 B&W's if needed.

I use LR4 and its Noise Reduction software. I generally apply color NR until its gone, and enough Luminance NR to lower the grain, Not to remove it. (which can be done to smooth-en portraits if needed.)

You can Use the Median Distort tool in Photoshop and selectively remove noise from an image. Its usually not needed.

The best thing for noise is to nail your exposure. I've gotten Usable ISO 3200 Files from a 5Dc because I nailed the exposure.

1415

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Upgrading from sony to canon

« on: October 22, 2012, 04:56:11 PM »

Hey i'm finnally making the move from sony to canon what i've been using is:

Sony A33
18-55 3.5-5.6
70-200 f4.0
35 f1.8

I'm upgrading to:
5d mkii
17-40 f4.0
50 1.4
135 f2.0
Battery grip
16gb Cf card
spare Battery

My predicament is weather to buy a 430ex ii with a couple triggers or a Tameron 28-75 2.8
I mostly shoot longboarding, landscapes a little bit of portraiture low-light events, day time events and quite a lot of video, but I really want to experiment with flash but not sure I want to lose the focal range capability for video or lowlight shooting, recommendations?

Thanks, Harvey

Good decision. Whilst Sony has better sensors, Canon has some of the best Lenses around. Especially they're prime selection.

1416

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon is on top again!

« on: October 22, 2012, 02:20:13 PM »

Now your getting the idea. 

1417

Lenses / Re: Next lens to purchase.

« on: October 22, 2012, 01:13:29 PM »

135L. Done. 

1418

Canon General / Re: Any Pro Music and Band Photographers?

« on: October 22, 2012, 01:12:16 PM »

Hi, I'm after some insights from Pro Band photographers on how are you making money?
Not because I want to follow in your footsteps, been there, had my fun. [I always got too drunk at gigs and it became hazardous to my gear]
I ask because I have recently become aware of artists such as Coldplay, LadyGaga and the Stone Roses, are asking for full ownership of merchandising and editorial rights. As I understand, you are allowed to sell your photos to one publication just once. AND you can't even use them in your portfolio.
Now I can understand the merchandising rights because they obviously don't want their band/faces printed on condoms or something inappropriate, but can you get a percentage for the photos they actually use for marketing?
As to the editorial rights, thats just plain greed.
It seems like they are getting photographers to turn up for free, work for free and then take all ownership of the work and use it to make money. Please tell me if I am missing anything, do you get a one off fee for turning up?
From an industry that is advocating artists copyrights and cracking down on pirated music, I find it highly hypocritical and upsetting that they would start trampling other artists rights just to earn more money.
Hopefully it's just a few artists with these demands.

I've worked with many artists but mostly commercial studio stuff. I will sell all my rights if the price is right, I will sell some rights for less, and will never sell any rights for free. I usually am allowed to use them for portfolio pieces after the release of the CD/Posters/Etc...

1419

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon is on top again!

« on: October 22, 2012, 01:07:26 PM »

With the EOS 1Dx, Canon has the best AF (after the f/8 focusing and black focus point fix), best frame rates, best low light ever, and of course the best pro sensor according to the rumored DxO leaks.

And it sucks for those using lower tiered Canon products with older sensor tech, but Canon's flagship has certainly been crowned the undisputed king of pro bodies. Hopefully now the lower tiered products get the same superior sensor in the future. May be 6D is that breed of new superior sensors coming out. Watch out sonikon, Canon is back with a vengeance!

It is the best Pro camera ever made so far. Its a shame that I'll never own/use/need a 1D series camera. Perhaps a New 1Ds series camera might sway me.

1420

EOS Bodies / Re: Suggested upgrade path?

« on: October 22, 2012, 01:06:08 PM »

Current kit consists of 450D, Nifty 50, 2 Old Sigma lenses pre digital,  kit 18-55 and Yunguno 565ex.   

I do family portraits and christmas cards for friends etc, as well as an wedding as 2nd shooter.  I've done 6 this year.   

Looking at the 6D as my next body as with event photography I totally see the limits of the 450 and need better High Iso performance.     

So would it be alright to do Body and then down the road Tamron 24-70 since its half the cost of Canon 24-70L2 I know glass is a  big limiting factor in image quality but if I could only afford 1 big purchase a year what would you choose?  Camera then glass or Glass and then camera.

5Dc/5D2/5D3 are the best options. Pick yours based on your budget.

1421

EOS Bodies / Re: 6D or 5D Mk II

« on: October 22, 2012, 01:00:06 PM »

I'm considering picking up either the 6D or 5D Mk II, which camera would you expect to be better? How many 5D Mk II owners would swap their camera for the 6D? Are there any advantages the 5D Mk II holds over the 6D?

The 6D is a fail for me, because it went to the strange ergos of the 60D.

1422

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: 6D Need To Change Something..

« on: October 22, 2012, 12:55:10 PM »

Comparably Nikon D600 The Canon 6D Is Very Embarrassing..

Canon 6D Has Superb ISO Sensitivity...
But Comparing With Nikon D 600..

Nikon D600 Have :-

:- Dual Card Slot, (Canon 6D Has Single) (So,Poor)
:- 39 AF Point, (Canon 6D Has 11)
:- Built In Flash (For Trigger Off Camera Flash) - (Canon 6D Don't )
:- 1,50,000 Shutter Durability, (Canon 6D Has 1,00,000)

Canon 6D Doesn't Have Such(above) Kind Of Facility..

Is Canon Need To Replace Canon 6D Body..??

The 6D needed to have a multi-selector. Instead it went with the awkward ergos of the 60D. Ehhh.....

1423

Lenses / Re: Help me decide; keep my 35L or get a 50L?

« on: October 22, 2012, 12:47:06 PM »

Its a matter of taste, I have the 50L as I prefer the look. The 35mm has never really fit my style because the 24L is so much more awesome.

1424

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon's Reputation

« on: October 21, 2012, 09:22:22 PM »

Canon CPS service is second to none. I can get repairs, loans, and cleanings with little fuss.

All my canon bodies have been solid and have given images that would be difficult on other systems.

I've had some beefs with some lens and body combos but nothing major.

I like canon but understand they're are better sensors in Nikon/Sony cameras. In the end, the AF and unique prime lenses is what keeps me here.

1425

Lenses / Re: Lens combos under $1000

« on: October 21, 2012, 09:18:38 PM »

This would be my setup

5Dc

28mm 1.8
50mm 1.4
100mm 2.0

I could do 90% of all my work with that setup.