Messages

1

Lenses / Re: Who has pre-ordered or will order 200-400

« on: May 14, 2013, 09:50:57 PM »

Help, I only have one kidney.  I'm conducting a poll: which organ should I sell to finance my 200-400 purchase?

2

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: i need a new tripod, any recommendations? please help.

« on: April 13, 2013, 12:31:15 AM »

It has been quite a few years since I was a teen, but, if memory serves me right, I used to pinch pennies so hard it made Honest Abe cry. So, my recommendation is to get a cheap and sturdy tripod/ballhead combo from Costco for under $100.  And, nothing beats Costco's return policy.

3

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: DxOMark trashes the Leica M9 sensor

« on: April 07, 2013, 01:39:57 AM »

How is that an insult?  To who?  Fox News?  What?

I'll remove it for the sensitive people on here who have no idea what anything anyone posts means.  Sorry.

I thought it was fun.

You can't have fun on here anymore.  You really can't.

I'm sorry.  I was making a joke -- obviously not a good one.

4

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: DxOMark trashes the Leica M9 sensor

« on: April 06, 2013, 11:06:36 PM »

DXO mark means nothing. They take their objective tests and interpret them in completely subjective ways, all (as it would seem) on Nikon's dime. Super biased, all rubbish, especially their ISO scores. Canon should be top of the mark for every camera they've put out in the ISO division, right next to Pentax, and Nikon and Sony should be right in the bin every time. But it's absolutely the opposite. If you've ever seen the DPReview studio comparison tool, I highly recommend cranking up the ISO on there and seeing for yourself what I'm talking about. D5200? Rubbish. D800? Rubbish at anything above or below ISO 200. 5DIII? A f@ck!ng mint. DXO scores the opposite in every case.

Can't agree with you without knowing specifically WHY you think this.  Not sure I would if I did, I don't care for the one-number DxO score either.
However...
Have a close look at the full test results for each camera sensor and compare those.  To start with, look carefully at the full range signal to noise tests and you'll likely see results closer to your expectations.

I'm gonna start this off by saying I was always a journalist first and a photographer second. Deep, borderline-invasive research is in my bones. I've definitely combed DXO's tests and scores thoroughly before any camera review I've written, and often something seemed a little off.
The whole thing was exacerbated when I helped start up this large-format print shop up north http://www.counterfeitink.com (wait till the third banner to pop up on the homepage and you'll see my ridiculous cigarette-bearing face top left on the Canuck-style $5 bill) and got to see the results of all these cameras first hand. I was the one optimizing photos for print, doing the upsizing and re-sharpening, and priming the finished prints for delivery. When a camera that prints a perfectly sharp upsized landscape print at 4x8' with no noise or lack of dynamic range scores 8 points lower than a camera with no details in the shadows, noise at near-base ISO and smudgy-looking detail only a touch above its native resolution, there is a fault in the system.
I've since left that print shop and started up a medium format photography studio, specializing in large prints. I run photography lessons, edit other photographers' photos and I still write the occasional review. I know using Phase One — with even just the Schneider kit lens that's sharp enough to shave with — is like touching perfection, because it's my main setup on the job. I know where "the bar" is set.
I can't emphasize this enough: You can read all the books and studies you want on Irish boxing but it doesn't mean anything until you've been in at least your first handful of Canadian bar fights. Having used, tested and reviewed a huge range of these cameras, having made large prints for every soccer mom with an SLR, having cycled through my share of gear and having cycled through my share of assistants with their own wide range of cameras and lenses, I know an 85 vs. a 60 on DXO means literally almost nothing when you've really put a setup through a hard day's work.
I'm not asking anyone to take my word for it, either. Again, check out the DPReview Studio Comparison Tool or better yet, put Best Buy's über-flexible return policy to work and try a few out for yourself, side-by-side and you'll indefinitely come to the same conclusion.

Unless of course you're a journalist for FOX News.

This is the most awful insult I've read on CR.  Please consider offering an apology.

5

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: March 09, 2013, 12:47:23 AM »

Kestrel with Lizard, 7D+100-400mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 160.

Lovely!

There are time I wonder if I should get a 7D for birding... I'll procrastinate a bit more - hopefully I will get a good deal...

Thanks.  I highly recommend a used 7D. I'd just gotten my used 7D a couple of weeks ago.  Great condition at under $900.

6

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: March 09, 2013, 12:12:25 AM »

Kestrel with Lizard, 7D+100-400mm, f/5.6, 1/1000, ISO 160.

7

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: FULL FRAME MIRRORLESS

« on: February 27, 2013, 01:34:29 PM »

I'm going with this

http://blog.mingthein.com/2013/02/22/2013-leica-m-typ-240-review/

price tag is?

If you had to ask the price ... then you're too smart for the product.

8

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: MTF Chart for New Nikon 800mm f/5.6

« on: January 30, 2013, 01:09:27 AM »

This is Canon's counterpart.  Looks like a great challenge for Canon to catch up.  Can't wait...

9

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: December 18, 2012, 10:26:48 PM »

White-faced Ibis at Huntington Beach Central Library iridescent in afternoon sunlight.

10

Technical Support / Re: Photos Accidentally Put in Recycling Bin But Don't Show Up There

« on: December 17, 2012, 02:28:04 AM »

You should go to your CF card manufacturer's website to download their file recovery software.  I know my Sony and Transcend cards have this option and I imagine others would have this application, too.

11

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: December 07, 2012, 09:07:23 PM »

Yellow-crowned Night Heron visits the OC for the fine-dining locally.

Wow! Great timing! I bet that bite hurt the bird. Were you already on to the bird or did its scream alert you?

Just dumb luck that I caught the epic struggle from beginning to end, 3-4 minutes. That photo showed the turning point after the bird escaped from the crab's claws and
got enough leverage to chomp the crab into 2 pieces.  Here's the Victor with the spoils.

Wow! That is something! You must have shot a pile of photos.

I also experimented with my 60D's video.  The original HD footage is much clearer -- I had reduced resolution to upload to YouTube: 

YCNH 3270	Small | Large

12

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: December 04, 2012, 10:33:09 PM »

Yellow-crowned Night Heron visits the OC for the fine-dining locally.

Wow! Great timing! I bet that bite hurt the bird. Were you already on to the bird or did its scream alert you?

Just dumb luck that I caught the epic struggle from beginning to end, 3-4 minutes. That photo showed the turning point after the bird escaped from the crab's claws and
got enough leverage to chomp the crab into 2 pieces.  Here's the Victor with the spoils.

13

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: December 03, 2012, 01:21:57 AM »

Yellow-crowned Night Heron visits the OC for the fine-dining locally.

14

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: December 03, 2012, 01:06:49 AM »

LSV - I didn't think we had any Yellow Crowned Night Herons here - though I did note you mention "rare".  According to whatbird.com this bird doesn't in southern Cal.  http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/53/_/Yellow-crowned_Night-Heron.aspx.  Was there any mention as to what the Yellow heron was doing in this part?  Fascinating and good eye !

You know birds -- the last visit to the OC was 35 years ago! It was an adult that time in 1977.  San Diego County has some coming over from Mexico from time to time.  I'd learned of this visitor from our local (very excited) birders.  Looks like he has become a permanent resident.

15

PowerShot / Re: Christmas Camera, Under $100US ??

« on: December 02, 2012, 10:29:36 PM »

Current deals:
 
Canon PowerShot SX150 14MP 12X Optical Zoom Digital Camera (RED) for $99.99 Free Shipping at Target.

Canon PowerShot ELPH 110 HS 16MP 5X Optical Zoom Digital Camera for a low $119.99 after coupon code: "TURKEY10". $5-$6 Shipping at JR.com