Topics

16

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Image Review Camera vs Lightroom

« on: May 29, 2012, 09:29:16 PM »

Why is it that my 5D3 can very quickly render a 100% view of my image and Lightroom takes a lot longer?  It isn't like I have a slow computer.  I have an imac with a 3Ghz processor and 16GB of RAM.  I don't even shoot RAW just JPEG.  I am considering connecting my camera to a TV or monitor to rate images before I import them into Lightroom.  Has anyone done that and if so how do you like it?

17

Lenses / 85mm f/1.2 vs 200mm f/2

« on: May 29, 2012, 07:39:22 PM »

I want both of these lenses badly. I love a very shallow DOF and even use the Brenizer Method to get an even shallower DOF. My question is to those who have used both lenses which lens has better bokeh?  Or are they even comparable? 

18

Technical Support / Lexar 64GB & 32GB SD cards

« on: May 10, 2012, 02:16:13 PM »

When I got 2 5D3s I bought Sandisk 64GB & 32GB cards and I also bought a Lexar Professional 64GB & 32GB cards.  I have noticed that when I put the Sandisks into my laptop the show up instantly on the desktop.  When I put the Lexar cards in the SD slot on my laptop they often don't show up the first time or take a minute or two.  Anyone else experience this?  I am just a little concerned there is something not right about them.  They seem to be fine in the camera.  Maybe I am overreacting.   

19

EOS Bodies - For Stills / 5D3 Dynamic Range

« on: May 04, 2012, 04:53:01 PM »

I have a quick question about the dynamic range of the 5D3 which from what I have been reading is behind the D800.  I have never owned a nikon and currently own two 5D3s.  I understand what dynamic range is and how it is important for retaining details in the highlights and shadows of an image.  I guess I would like to know from one who has seen the differences in the two cameras is what am I missing out on?  How does a really high DR (better than the 5D3) help unless I am mostly shooting in high contrast lighting situations or am trying to push or pull and image by more than a couple of stops.  I have always been really happy with the DR of my 5D2 and now my 5D3 and being a wedding photographer I shoot in about every lighting condition possible.  I always shoot JPEG with highlight tone priority enabled and do my best to get the exposure and WB spot on.  I also shoot in Faithful picture mode with the contrast turned down one notch.  I end up with pretty flat images out of the camera with plenty of details in the highlights and shadows.  Unless I really mis the exposure I have never been unhappy with the DR.  I almost always end up adding contrast to the picture because there is too much DR and the image looks too flat.  I probably won't own a Nikon so I am just curious from those who have seen the difference hands on how big of a difference is it and in what situations will it really be beneficial.  It seems like low ISO high DR performance has become more important than high ISO low noise performance.  I am not trying to start another debate over the two cameras I just want to know how much better it is and how much of a difference it would really make.   

20

Lenses / Advice on Telephoto Lens

« on: April 30, 2012, 10:47:54 AM »

I am a wedding photographer and currently my longest lens is the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II.  I used to have a 5D2 and a 7D and during the ceremony I would put the 70-200 on the 7D which gave me about 320mm.  I really never found myself needing much more reach than that.  I recently sold both my cameras and bought two 5D3s.  I love them but I have a feeling there will be several times this wedding season that I will be wishing I had the additional reach.  The big problem I have found as that most telephoto lenses are very expensive being that I won't need it 95% of the time.  I would love to have the new version of the 100-400 but who knows when that is going to come out and what it will cost.  I was thinking about the 300mm f/4L and maybe getting the 1.4 extender just in case I need the extra reach.  Any thoughts on a reasonably prices telephoto with IS that will get me the reach I need?

21

EOS Bodies - For Stills / 5D3 one shot AF

« on: April 23, 2012, 12:25:40 AM »

I would like to say first off I love the 5D3 AF and think it is very good.  It is very accurate and has allowed me do do things I couldn't have dreamed about with my 5D2.  However, there is one tiny issue that kind of bugs me and I was curious if anyone else has experienced this.  I have two 5D3s and they both do this.  With one shot AF in dim-dark situations it seems like it will focus quickly at first and then hunt a little before it finally gives me the red light to shoot.  During a reception last night I finally just switched over to AI servo and it was fast as lightning in pretty dim light.  Accuracy was really good as well.  I went into the menu and adjusted the setting that allows the camera to take the picture before "focus" is achieved in one shot mode and I liked it better.  It is like the camera achieves focus almost instantly but the red light has a small delay.  In a brief test I took several shots after focus but before the red light and found that almost all of the time the camera focuses just fine initially and doesn't benefit from the additional hunting before it shows red.  I hope that makes since.  Anyone else have a similar experience.

22

Lighting / 600ex-rt group mode issue

« on: April 22, 2012, 02:05:37 AM »

I have 3 600ex-rt flashes and for the most part I love them.  I was shooting a wedding reception tonight and during receptions I always have two off camera flashes and one on the camera.  The two off camera flashes are set to 1/32 and the on camera flash is always set to ETTL.  I used to do it with pocket wizards and the batteries on my flashes would always last all night long.  I expected the 600ex flashes to last a while as well.  They didn't last as long but which is okay but when one of my slaves ran out of batteries it caused my on camera flash not to fire as well.  I didn't realize what was going on because they are still fairly new to me so I changed my batteries on the on the master flash.  They lasted a few shots and the master flash stopped working again.  I kind of freaked me out because I was relying on the on camera flash to work.  I didn't expect one of my slaves to cause the master not to fire.  I didn't quite figure out what happened until I was driving home.  Sure enough when I got home I turned on my master flash only and fired off about 20 shots in a row and the flash had plenty of battery power.  Has this ever happened to anyone?  Apparently the red light on the master flash will only come back on when all of the flashes are recharged.  I will know what is going on next time but is there a way to set it up so that the master will still fire if the slave runs out of juice?   

23

5D MK III Sample Images / 5D3 HRD pretty nice

« on: April 17, 2012, 08:42:50 AM »

I had a chance to test out the HDR mode in my 5D3 and I am pretty happy.  I am sure I could have gotten a lot better image shooting raw and doing it myself but the 5D3 did a pretty good job.  I spent maybe 30 seconds in Lightroom giving it a little clarity, boosting the shadows and adding a little saturation.  Below is a link to the full resolution image.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaayres/6941058932/#

24

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / 600ex-rt group mode

« on: April 11, 2012, 02:05:54 PM »

I have a quick question.  I have 3 600ex-rt flashes and I have been experimenting with the group mode which I think is fantastic.  I have one of my slave flashes set to group B and the other to group C.  I am assuming that the master flash is group A?  I don't see a way to change the group of the master flash on the camera.  Anyone know if it can only be in group A or can you change the group of the master flash? 

25

EOS Bodies - For Stills / 5D3 at f/1.2

« on: April 02, 2012, 04:49:55 PM »

I have only had the 5D3 for a few days now and I know there are some folks complaining a little about it but I have to say I love it so much better than the 5D2.  The one thing I absolutely love is knowing that it will accurately focus almsot 100% of the time, no matter what focus point I select, at f/1.2 on my 50mm.  I love that lens and I couldn't use it much more than 1.8 on my 5D2.  At 1.2 it almost always missed focus and I had to focus and recompose which would throw it off even more.  Being able to use it whenever I want now has opened up a whole new world for me.  Anyways there is link below to a picture I took during a senior session.  It isn't supper sharp, but the 50mm 1.2 isn't a supper sharp lens at 1.2 and I don't need it to be.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaayres/7039873381/#in/photostream 

26

EOS Bodies - For Stills / 5D mark III silent shooting

« on: March 29, 2012, 08:38:34 AM »

So I just received my 5D mark III yesterday and I couldn't be happier.  I do have a quick question that I can't seem to find an answer to.  I am amazed at how quite the silent shooting mode is and would love to use it all of the time but are there any downsides to using that mode besides less frames per second?  I doesn't put any extra stress on the shutter or anything else does it?