Messages

16

Canon General / Re: Buy canon gear from the States (for Europe)

« on: September 13, 2012, 07:40:15 AM »

There are reputable ( I think ) dealers in the UK who import, some from the US some from Hong Kong, possibly breaking up kits, bolting on longer warranties who sell at very good prices.  Obviously not as good as buying from a Canon authorised dealer but then there are some difficulties with buying in the US or Dubai and importing yourself ( I don't think throwing the box away gets you off a potential import duty liabilty)

17

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: EDIT: A smaller DSLR "replacement" camera? Mirco 4/3erds or different option.

« on: September 10, 2012, 01:08:42 PM »

on my last holiday I took a G1x in a waterproof case and a 5DII with different uses for each in mind.  In the end I used them both interchangeably for stills and video admittedly not in situations playing to eithers strengths or weaknesses.  People do mention the slow focus of the G1x which is fair comment but in reasonable light and for many purposes I think the IQ is brilliant.  As others have said I can't see what a G12 replacement has that isn't the G1x.

18

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 7D and 5D II that different?

« on: August 08, 2012, 01:01:33 PM »

I am a pure hobbyist and have had a 7D for a couple of years and a 5DII for a couple of months ( couldn't resist trying FF).  I suppose a lot of my pics are sports related but even so if I had to buy one camera it would be the 7D by a mile.  Fast fps, good AF, Ef-s lens compatibilty, flash control, extra reach and much cheaper.  If you are heavily landscape/ weddings/low light then the 5DII may well be a lot better ( and I have taken some nice low light shots with the Zeiss 18 mm lens) but at a price.  In goodish light shooting raw pros might tell the difference but I couldn't - obviously the lens collection you have could be relevant.

19

EOS Bodies / Re: Is SLR dead?

« on: June 29, 2012, 05:40:55 PM »

Interesting article in to-days London Daily Telegraph. Sales of digital cameras have fallen by 30% ( value)  between 2006 and 2011 and are forecast to continue downwards ( mirrored by camcorder sales) All down to smartphones and helped by fact that 25% upload to web and 33% burn to disc rather than print. The message is optical quality is of less importance, megapixels and optical zoom are dead, web services or other new capabilities are key to attracting sales....The article I assume is geared at the P&S market but it must have something to say about how firms like Canon see the market.  IMV 10 years time  - no P&S. 10 years time 2 or 3 DSLRs,  Mirrorless to rule with no entry level SLR for keen photographers.  Did you see the post the other day comparing the Hasselblad and the G10?  I have a 7D, a 5D11 and a G1x - the difference is not sensor size, IQ or DR - it's size,  fps, dof  weather sealing etc etc and a great mirrorless could take them all out

20

EOS Bodies / Re: Will there be a 7d2 at all?

« on: June 10, 2012, 04:41:32 PM »

No way a 7Dii.  An acquaintance works for Nikon and he opines ( not an official view but one I suspect reflects official thinking) that the future is mirrorless. He tells me a Canon mirrorless, high end is coming, and the future of the DSLR is pro only. If this is the Nikon view it must be the Canon view and you see Sony, Lumix etx already heavily in this boat.  Canon now have the 1DX, the 5 Diii and the 7D all targetted at very different markets all at very different price points. Arguably all the camera types required as things stand at the higher end.  I have a 7 D which has the reach, the fps, the off camera flash control, the EF-s lens compatibilty and while it may not be able to take pics in total blackness does OK at £900.  A lot of hobbyists concentrate on wildlife and sports so for a serious camera it is perfect - a 7Dii at £1500 I think not.  The 5Diii will be the wedding camera and the 1 DX the commercial pro camera.  Perfect market segmentation  .  FF entry I think not also - no hobbyist wants FF ahead of 7D unless they are serious enough to go 5Dii and that like me is as well rather than instead.  I am sure many on this forum will not agree but there is my twopennorth

21

Lenses / Re: Sport Photography: Targeting 400mm preferably with a zoom range

« on: April 19, 2012, 10:01:00 AM »

I use a 7D with a 70-300 L with Kenko 1.4 TC as needed which autofocuses - sold the 100-400 as too cumbersome