Messages

286

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: oh oh, impulse purchase..gopro hero3...

« on: October 25, 2012, 12:31:17 PM »

It's certainly on my wish list. I was planning to go for a Hero 2, but with the announcement of the Hero 3, the 3 Black Edition seems to be the one for me!

Yeah, i ordered the black one bcause i thought the wireless remote and better low light might come in handy.  I really cant wait to try out ths camera, it has so many features and capabilities for $400.  Underwater and time lapse in places where i dont want to risk my 5d3 and L glass.

287

1D X Sample Images / Re: Any Thing shot with a 1Dx

« on: October 24, 2012, 09:12:11 PM »

Is it just me or do gary's shots of these animals on the previous pages just don't look "THAT" awesome. They seem grainy, a bit blurry here and there and the bokeh is just not beautiful. Compared to other shots posted here, these look more like rebel than 1dx. No offense, but I really want to know what's wrong cause that is not what you await from a $13000 setup (1dx+200mm 2.0)

Couldn't disagree more. I keep revisiting this thread specifically to see Gary's animal shots, which are simply amazing. Your comments and the photos I see from Gary simply don't match.
Having come on and been so rude with your first post, you now owe it to the forum to post examples of your own amazing work.
PS - how to tell when someone is going to cause offense - when they preface their remarks "no offense"

I couldn't agree more w/ Narco.  This is an online community of photographers and we should support each other as a general rule of thumb.  Life can be hard enough without someone on a forum bashing you. Especially if it's so clearly off base.  If you disagree with something you should politely, respectfully, and professionally state your contrary/different opinion or point of view.

288

Animal Kingdom / Re: Zoo Pics

« on: October 24, 2012, 08:59:08 PM »

Kansas City Zoo



St Louis Zoo

mb...nice job, i especially like the first two.

289

Third Party Manufacturers / oh oh, impulse purchase..gopro hero3...

« on: October 24, 2012, 06:36:54 AM »

Is anybody else as impressed as i am with the specs and capabilities of this tiny camera for $400?
Anyway, i decided i have to try it out. 

http://m.cnet.com/news/tiny-gopro-hero-3-black-edition-captures-4k-video/57533878?ds=1

290

5D MK III Sample Images / Re: Ocean view from the top of a hill in Encinitas

« on: October 24, 2012, 02:40:47 AM »

Beautiful shot!

291

1D X Sample Images / Re: Any Thing shot with a 1Dx

« on: October 23, 2012, 10:02:10 PM »

While I lust for a super tele like Gary's .... the shots that I want to take are often what I see of the 200 F2....  such an amazing lens...

I agree K-amps.  It is hard to believe how good the shots look nearly straight out of the camera like this from the 200 f/2 (and the 1DX)... 

very nice!

292

Animal Kingdom / Re: Zoo Pics

« on: October 23, 2012, 08:45:32 PM »

mine is a bit different, but i find myself spending time looking at it, and it's interesting IMO.

I was at the zoo, and took this shot of the two griz bears playing....what I caught in the reflection of the windows made the shot much more interesting.

this image is not edited other than a little bit of exposure/sharp/sat/contrast.

i'm curious what others think of this shot...comments welcome.

No offense, but I find the reflection distracting.  The bear action is great, but I personally would like it better if it had been taken with a polarizing filter to eliminate the reflections.

I disagree. No offence, but I think the point of this photo is missed with such a suggestion. The juxtaposition of the two different zoo inhabitants, guests and those that live there is neat. The wonder on the faces is great. I think it works well. Rather than a reflection it has a real double exposure feel to it. Good job Northstar.

Ions...Thanks, I appreciate your kind words.  You describe my thoughts well when I first saw what I had captured.  Is it "technically" a great image?  NO.  But, I've seen pictures of two bears(animals) playing together like this countless times, but this image is uniquely different, and as I said, I find the image much much more interesting.  Again, not a technically great shot....but you can't deny that you'll spend an extra second or several looking at it.

293

Lenses / Re: Need comparisons between Canon 135L vs 100L

« on: October 23, 2012, 08:00:40 PM »

I own the 135 and 70-2002.8ii 

If you're looking for a sports lens, then you have to go with the 70-200 2.8ii. end of story.  the versatility of the zoom range combined with the IQ and low light capability of this lens are unmatched.  THE IQ IS EQUAL TO THE 135.  The 135 can throw off a little bit better bokeh, but it's not worth the zoom range capability of the 70-200 2.8.

the first image (both shots taken within minutes of one another on the same ice) is from the 70-200 and the second is from the 135.

for sports, the ability to zoom in or out as athletes move towards you or away is invaluable.

ALSO...the 70-200 2.8ii with either extender is fantastic.  with the 2Xiii, it's a very good 140-400 for field sports.

294

1D X Sample Images / Re: Any Thing shot with a 1Dx

« on: October 22, 2012, 06:21:24 AM »

1Dx
f2.0 200mm

Is it just me or do gary's shots of these animals on the previous pages just don't look "THAT" awesome. They seem grainy, a bit blurry here and there and the bokeh is just not beautiful. Compared to other shots posted here, these look more like rebel than 1dx. No offense, but I really want to know what's wrong cause that is not what you await from a $13000 setup (1dx+200mm 2.0)

Your first post ever (at least under this alias) and you put down a guy? Go find something better to do with your time.

+1...pretty rude comment, especially on your 1st post in CR.

295

EOS Bodies / Re: 5D Mark III - Extended Warranty $469

« on: October 20, 2012, 08:21:41 PM »

NO WAY...98% of cameras are built very well without defect....use the almost $500 to buy a nice prime like the 85 or 50 instead.

296

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: October 19, 2012, 07:12:50 PM »

California Brown Pelican taken with a Canon 7D, 70-200 2.8 IS II, 580 EX II flash and a Better Beamer flash extender, 1/1600th at 2.8 with flash on high speed sync. 

Sadly, my whole bag of gear was stolen shortly after this with almost $18,000 lost and no insurance.  I had sold everything to buy a sailboat and do an adventure travel show from LA to Australia over 6 months and shoot a ton of still as well.  The theft kind of killed my budget and after a few more setbacks, I had to bail on the trip.  Anyone want to buy a boat?

Still don't have another camera and almost throw up when I think of my gear, see shots I want to take or people with their cameras. So pretty much constantly.  Protect your gear and make sure you have proper insurance when traveling.

Sheldon (Jon) Charron

John...sorry to hear that news...I feel for ya.   I'm going to take your advice about the insurance.  Thx.

297

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: October 19, 2012, 07:09:51 PM »

All shots: 40D and 300mm f2.8 IS mk1.

During a falconry display there were 3 or 4 gulls mobbing the eagle which didn't seem to get too stressed. The shot kinda makes it look like a well-trained stunt team 

The shot of the cygnet was just dumb luck - hey look ma! I can wheelie!

Guy...fantastic shots.   Really like the second and third..in the second, it looks like the eagle is about to catch the gull, did it?

298

1D X Sample Images / Re: Any Thing shot with a 1Dx

« on: October 12, 2012, 11:50:19 PM »

1Dx
f/2.0 200mm

Fantastic..I'm a fan Gary.

299

Canon General / Re: DxO: Current phone-cameras beat 5 yr old digital still cameras

« on: October 11, 2012, 10:29:34 AM »

the gap between a dslr and a mobile phone camera will decrease significantly over the next 5 years.

my new samsung galaxy iii takes great pictures ...and the video is also very good. 

300

Software & Accessories / Re: Poll: What NR do you use

« on: October 10, 2012, 07:45:45 AM »

I'm using Aperture but I don't feel that it deals with Noise very well at all.  Does someone know of a good aperture Plug-In for NR?  I Just don't like exporting a pict to another program for a fix and then back again.  I did try LR 4 but while it dealt with noise very well, I found the rest of the interface Wonky.

I used Aperture but felt the same as you so I tried Nik Dfine and really like it.   It works much better than Aperture noise reduction. 

I would also say that the Nik sharpener pro is also much better than the Aperture sharpening tools.  These two products have made my images better...no doubt about it.

Also, there is no importing or exporting with Nik...which I really like.  When in Aperture on the adjustments tab, you simply hit the "edit with plug-in" button, and nik launches a new window in front of aperture.  When you've finished, you just click the save button and the nik software quickly closes and the new and original image are now in the aperture...very simple and easy to use.