Messages

31

Lenses / Re: 24-105 f/4 & 5d3 vs 24-70 f/2.8 & 5d2

« on: April 02, 2012, 03:49:17 PM »

It doesn't matter how fast your expensive prime lens is, when you need some depth of field you have to stop down, and f/5.6 is f/5.6 on all lenses.  This is where the IS shines and being able to capture shots at 1/6 sec is what sets the 24 - 105mm IS L apart.

On the 70 - 200mm I'd say that this is where is it worth buying the faster lens, because at this focal length you can blur the background more than on the 24 - 70mm f/2.8, but also consider the Sigma 120 - 300mm f/2.8 OS which gives a longer reach.

And do consider a flash even if it's the 270EX II, the 5D series has no pop up flash and it really is missed if you don't have one.

32

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: New to flash photography - softbox or diffuser and other must have accessories

« on: April 02, 2012, 01:45:38 PM »

An absolute must for you is the Speedlighters Handbook by Syl Arena, you've paid a lot of money for a complex flash unit & that just can't happen by posting questions on a forum, besides which you'll forget the answers anyway.  The book is a reference and compared to the price of the flash gun it's price is insignificant.  Amazon stock it so treat yourself.  The 600EX is too new to be included in any book as yet, but the priciples remain the same.

33

Lenses / Re: Filters - Help!

« on: April 01, 2012, 09:26:56 AM »

The best filters money can buy are Lee they're the brand that all the top landscape photographers use               ( http://www.leefilters.com/ ).  Then there is the Hitech brand which are probably as good http://www.formatt.co.uk/default.aspx  Nothing else even comes close when you need the very best, but expect to pay for either of them.

34

Lenses / Re: Whats a good walk around lens to put on a new 5d Mk iii

« on: April 01, 2012, 05:25:34 AM »

I have this lens, and dust has never been a problem for me, the push pull zoom is great when you have such a large focal range to get through.  Can you imagine the number of turns needed to get a lens from 28 - 300mm? Push pull means it's almost instant.

It's not a walk around lens though, unless you're really well built, you'll need a monopod to rest it on, and forget using the camera strap, you'll need a special one for the tripod mount and then it'll give you back problems if you wander around for any time!

It's a big white and really attracts unwanted attention at times, but on the other hand there's no alternative if you want to capture everything in only one lens.  The question I suggest you ask yourself is how much will you need the 100 - 300mm focal length while out? The 24 - 105mm covers such a useful range with little weight and lower profile that it's almost a no brainer.  The lens suffers from poor close focus and magnification so a set of 72mm close up filters is useful.  Other than that it's a great all rounder and it's with good reason it's bundled as a kit.  You should consider buying the kit as this saves some money over buying seperately.

And thank Canon for providing such a choice, if you were a Nikon shooter you have the 24 - 70mm f/2.8 and that's it, or compromise IQ with a much lesser lens.

35

Lenses / Re: 72mm-77mm Step-Up Ring with Canon 35mm F/1.4

« on: April 01, 2012, 03:51:02 AM »

35mm isn't particularly wide angle so you shouldn't have a problem, you could probably step down without introducing vignetting, obviously going the other way is less of an issue.  Step up rings are so cheap that you can try it out for yourself and if you don't like them there's not much lost.  Just remember to add a couple of filter wrenches (again cheap) for the inevitable time they do get stuck together.

36

PowerShot Cameras / Re: Anyone have the g1x and are happy with when your dslr is not around?

« on: March 30, 2012, 03:35:07 AM »

It's not that expensive once you see the results!  Imagine a camera not much bigger than a G12 capable of image quality as good if not better than cameras like the 7D or Nikons D7000.  The lens is of 'L' quality with low dispersion elements, which is another reason it can outperform a DSLR with kit lens.

If what you need is a carry round with amazing image quality then there's never been a camera as good as this one, made better because of the hotshoe and the fast sync speed.

37

PowerShot Cameras / Re: Canon G1 X - Now in stock at B&H

« on: March 29, 2012, 02:35:01 PM »

I've had mine for a month, and it's an amazing camera, images as good as the 7D and nearly as good as the 5D MkII.  The only downside is the lens has little magnification, and doesn't close focus, so even close ups are out of the question without a magnifying filter.

I can see many photographers dumping the DSLR when the IQ is as good as this little camera is capable of.

38

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Noob first Canon camera: 5DMk3, You can't use the RAW stills yet?

« on: March 28, 2012, 04:28:26 PM »

It's amazing that no one has mentioned that there is free image processing software which comes with the camera, and allows you not only to convert the RAW files to other formats, but also to manipulate the files to some extent as well.  It's obviously nothing like as complex as Photoshop, but for photography it's pretty good.

It's called Digital Photo Professional otherwise known as DPP and is regularly updated by Canon for free once it's installed.  You can shoot in RAW with confidence.

39

Software & Accessories / Canon RAW codec

« on: March 28, 2012, 02:16:16 PM »

Can't you tell I've got a new camera!

The Raw codec hasn't been updated since Nov 2010, it's never been Canons highest priority, but with so many new models it's becomming really out of date.

40

Lenses / Re: Advice to buy filters and lens hood for canon 500D

« on: March 26, 2012, 11:18:17 AM »

Or you could miss out the UV / Haze filter altogether?  A lens hood will protect the front element much more than a filter will, the Canon ones are expensive, but the insides are matted with a flock to prevent reflection, if you buy a third party one make sure it's not just glossy plastic on the inside.

The filters you need are polariser, Neutral density, and perhaps ND grad for taming bright sunlight.  If you are going to use these filters you will have to take off any UV/Haze filter making them even more undesireable.  Final elements on a lens are tough things, it takes a lot to scratch them, you have more danger of damage from a broken filter glass!

41

Lenses / Re: Ultra Wide Angle with Full Frame

« on: March 26, 2012, 06:50:19 AM »

Photozone have done a review of the Sigma 12 - 24mm MkII and it's not fantastic.  Problems especially at the wide end with border & corner resolution, vignetting, chromatic aberations, and barrel distortion, which don't really become acceptable until f/11  on top of all this it's as expensive as the 17 - 40mm f/4 L, and you can't use filters on the front.  I have owned the MkI version of this lens and it was not commercially useable until well up the zoom range.

The Nikon 14 - 24mm f/2.8 is perhaps the best UWA zoom available so it's a good choice if image quality is important to you.  It's manual focus, but that's not really an issue with the depth of field available from short focal lengths.

The 17 - 40mm f/4 L is cheap enough for an L lens, but it's not good wide open at the wide end, and could really do with being updated, again you will have to use this lens stopped down heavily if you want decent image quality.  You can use filters with it though.

The 16 - 35mm f/2.8 L is double the price of the 17 - 40mm but doesn't give double the performance!  Is a 2.8 aperture important to you?  You aren't going to be able to get depth of field effects with a lens this short so it's only going to be of use in low light situations.

Of course there are other options but the cost!  the 14mm prime has been mentioned but it is mega expensive, then there are the tilt shift lenses the 17 & 24mm again pricey but not as bad as the 14mm!  they do serve a purpose, and suffer less from vignetting & resolution fall off than normal lenses, the only downside is the cost.

42

PowerShot Cameras / Re: Canon FA-DC58C Filter adapter for G1X What a Rip Off !!

« on: March 22, 2012, 12:21:26 PM »

Email from lensmate.  Should anyone be interested add your name to the list to be informed when it becomes available.

Yes we are working on a Lensmate 58mm filter holder for the G1x, should be available in the next 10 days or so.

Let us know if you wish to be on an interested parties list and we can email you once we have this on our site.  We will also have some macro samples showing compatible filter/lens options.

Regards,

Susan / Lensmate

susan.sales@lensmateonline.com
www.lensmateonline.com

43

EOS Bodies / Re: DPreview - problems?

« on: March 21, 2012, 05:30:26 AM »

Yes I accept that they review production cameras, but no DSLR reviews for 5 months is a little of a concern.  The G1X has been available for some weeks now, and there's no review of that either.

44

EOS Bodies / DPreview - problems?

« on: March 21, 2012, 03:49:51 AM »

Many people including me value the in depth reviews of cameras, and following the release of so many new & exciting new DSLRs there's an expectation that one of the premier review sites will post it's findings soon.  But DPreview has not posted a DSLR review since the Sony SLT-A65 way back in mid November last year.  Since the turn of the year they have only posted  four reviews, and all of those have been compacts.

The Nikon D4 was previewed 6th January, surely there has been enough time to review one by now?  Prior to DPreview, Steves digicams was perhaps the best review site, it looks like DPreview is taking far too long, and that means it's going to lose relevance quite quickly.  A shame as it's reviews were excellent.

45

PowerShot Cameras / Re: Canon FA-DC58C Filter adapter for G1X What a Rip Off !!

« on: March 20, 2012, 05:40:57 PM »

The problem with the camera - good as it is, is that it has no magnification & no close focus ability.  Macro is a complete no no.  The way around this of course is a close up filter, and it should be a cheap cost effective solution except for the filter adaptor.

I'm sure that given this issue there will be quite a bit of demand for the adaptor, so hopefully there will be a third party solution priced more reasonably.