Messages

16

Software & Accessories / Re: Lessons Learned - Landscape Photography Necessitities

« on: November 26, 2012, 05:48:51 PM »

Is there a need for ND filters if you bracket your exposures and use photoshop to blend in the correct exposures?  I took a course at Maine Multimedia this summer and my instructor said she quit using ND graduated filters and used photoshop with multiple exposures.

Good question. I have been experimenting with a 58mm Hoya graduated ND4 filter for my 50mm f/1.4 and have found that it plays havoc with the focus mechanism - of my old 50D and now my 5Dmk3. Focus is slow (partly a property of this lens) and I suspect due to using Evaluative TTL - although Center-weighted average doesn't make it noticeably better.

I have conducted some test shots recently to see if there's a better way - and like your experience, have found that I can get as-good or better using photoshop, provided I prepare a little more and do some Exposure bracketing.

What I see as the advantage of using post, is that you can make the exposure look anyway you like - whereas once you have shot it with an Grad-ND filter - there's no way back.

The IQ on the 5D3 is so much better than my old 50D, that I'm quite happy to do it in software now.

17

EOS Bodies / Re: Hydroscopic coatings

« on: November 05, 2012, 11:28:42 PM »

Oh, the problem of me being pedantic! I should have double-checked before posting!
Of course you are correct!

What we want is 'Hydrophilic' - water-repelling.

Correct term - as used by the BBC in the above program, which I watched with interest, too - is hydrophobic ('tending to repel or fail to mix with water'). This is actually the exact opposite of 'hydrophilic' (lit. 'brother to water'). ...

Following up the rest of your post:

The difficulty with that solution is electric currents. The smallest scratch in such a coating, e.g. on the contacts of a memory card or in a switch, which tend to be vulnerable to scratches anyway -  and the conductivity of water would render your device useless.  A phone without an sd-slot, without mechanical switches, with a soldered-in battery and with a properly sealed sim-card slot might be commercially waterproofed using hydrophobic coatings. For electromechanical devices such as dslr's, current solutions are regrettably as pricey and cumbersome as they are optimal, if you ask me.

Mind you, I'm talking about fully waterproofing a camera here. Obviously such a coating could go a long way in making a camera more water-repellant.

Not only is there the issue of surface damage to the coating creating the risk of electrical problems - there's also the risk of any captured water retained in voids in the equipment - whilst not immediately corrosive, it can cause deposition of dissolved solids (minerals), and suspended matter (dirt) that can further harm the camera.

Keep it all out, I say! 

18

EOS Bodies / Re: Hydroscopic coatings

« on: November 05, 2012, 06:33:21 PM »

After watching the BBC program Miracles of Nature in which a treated mobile phone was dropped down a toilet and survived, can we urge Canon  to consider weatherproofing bodies and lenses in the same way.
Consider shooting in a monsoon  and not having to worry about water damage.

A small, pedantic thing - not intended to de-rail this thread. Hydroscopic / Hygroscopic actually means 'water-absorbing'. See http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hygroscopic

What we want is 'Hydrophilic' - water-repelling.

Regardless of dictionary definitions, water-profing requires more than a water-repellent coating.

It also requires careful engineering so that all potential points of water ingress (think buttons, switches, displays, battery-compartment, CF-card case, electronic interface points (HDMI, USB, N3, X-Sync, etc.) are also made to resist water ingress.

Not a simple task.

Many of us complain about the cost of new Canon bodies - being this waterproof would add to the cost (unless you buy a 1Dx - which is largely already water-resistant, but won't survive a swim at all.

The immersible cameras that are on the market are often mono-bloc in construction, with few external controls or parts, in order to limit water ingress.

Cheers

19

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Shutter Issue with 5D Mk3

« on: October 31, 2012, 11:47:17 PM »

Could it be that you are shooting JPEG, and have extreme low-light Noise Reduction on?
As I understand it - if you have it on, it will take a long time to process then store each picture under these circumstances.

Just an idea.

20

Lighting / Re: Current state of 5Dmk3 compatibility with triggers and strobes

« on: October 29, 2012, 07:56:09 AM »

Slightly off-topic, but maybe not so.

I have a Canon 580 EXII and an old 420EX as well as a Yongnuo 565EX, and a bunch of YN-622 wireless triggers.

I'm happy with the triggers, and want to extend my flash collection affordably to be all HSS-capable, controlled-from-the-camera.

The Canon 420-EX supports HSS but only by manual switch control, and the YN565EX has no HSS.

Has anyone got any experience with YN-568EX flashes coupled with a Canon 580EXII that they can share?

21

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D Mark III sensor cleaning noise (squeaks)

« on: October 25, 2012, 10:55:36 PM »

I wonder how you folks go when you stand near people operating hair dryers or power tools - the high-frequency harmonics must drive you nuts!

22

EOS Bodies / Re: Excellent service at canon customer service centre- beyond words

« on: October 24, 2012, 06:21:19 AM »

This mirrors my long-term experience with CPS in Sydney. They're the best.

I echo the experience with Canon service in Sydney (though I'm not a CPS member - I'm just a keen hobbyist).
They're quick and do a great job!

23

Software & Accessories / Re: BG-E11 weight

« on: October 07, 2012, 05:46:34 AM »

I suggest to purchase some really bulky lenses. This may provide enough weight training to be able to lug around gripped bodies without discomfort. 

Something else to consider altogether... Inertia!
One of the 'benefits' of having so much mass - is that mass requires more force to move - and so you now have the  potential 'benefit' associated with a steadycam - without the investment requirement.

Less camera shake - except when you have severe muscle fatigue from holding the kit - and then you shaking hand may be stabilised by the increased mass of the camera/lens combo. 

24

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: September 28, 2012, 04:47:52 AM »

Rainbow Lorikeet in my palm tree, hanging upside-down from the palm fronds.
50D, 70-200 f/2.8L IS II @ f/2.8 ISO 100 1/200 200mm

25

EOS Bodies / Re: mhm... open letter to canon?

« on: September 26, 2012, 07:39:08 AM »

We are all free to choose any manufacturer we want.
...
If you are saying people should cram their complaining, yeah, then I agree completely.

+1 

26

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 4D reference in Wifi remote app video

« on: September 19, 2012, 10:18:56 PM »

Chances are - it's a screenshot of a development prototype of the app. It may have had the working name of "4D" and been changed to 6D for release.
Either way, it requires a WiFi connection (which only the 6D has as a built-in feature) - so I think that's the situation.

27

Software & Accessories / Re: FoCal AFMA Software: What are your techniques and tricks?

« on: September 16, 2012, 07:05:45 AM »

I've used the software on my kit (50D, some EF-S 18-200 IS and some EF non-L and L lenses) - and love it.
What I did find is that my EF 50mm f/1.4 was the hardest to get consistent AFMA for.
I agree with the OP's remarks about getting a high level of illumination - I just used available light and found that I got inconsistent results (I have a glass-roofed conservatory where I used natural light).

What I did do (that I think helped) was to print out the targets on high-quality matte paper (I used EPSON paper) and mounted them on foam-core, and then I can use Blue-tack (removable adhesive) to mount the targets and ensure a perpendicular mount to the lens.

28

EOS Bodies / Re: What is meant by Shutter count in 5D Mk III menu?

« on: September 06, 2012, 07:35:57 AM »

As in pg 338 of your camera manual??  Its the number of shutter actuations since the battery was recharged.  Did you put a new battery  in it, or one from another camera.
The number should go to zero after you recharge your battery.

is it really going to get the shutter count from the battery?? weird..

What it says to me is: "Hey, here's how much capacity is left in the battery - you have shot a whole bunch of frames on this one".
Much more useful to me than "it's probably fully charged", "it's somewhere between fully charged and flat" and "charge me now" - which is all I get from the 'fuel-gauge' style of charge indicator on my old 50D.

Definitely, this is a sweet feature! 

29

Lenses / Re: EF 40mm STM Pancake Problem Acknowledged

« on: August 08, 2012, 12:41:28 AM »

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=2822

(I couldn't find the original thread about people saying they had a problem with it, so starting a new one).

Canon have acknowledged that there is a problem with this lens, I've had it too, where the AF just stops working occasionally.
They're blaming 'pressing the lens'. I know I haven't done it purposefully, but it could happen in my bag(s), and if it takes as little pressure as 'putting a lens cap on', then that's a design flaw.
Still, i'll do what it takes to fix it, it's otherwise a good lens.

My only concern is:
"The firmware to address this phenomenon will be available for download in late August, 2012."

This problem has only happened to me on my EOS 3, not the 7D. Are they talking about lens firmware or camera?

Here's the link to the announcement on Canon Australia's support site:
http://www.canon.com.au/Support-Services/Support-News/Service-Notices/f28-STM-Interchangeable-Lens
To Users of the EF40mm f/2.8 STM Interchangeable Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Thank you for using Canon products.

It has been confirmed that the autofocusing function of the EF40mm f/2.8 STM lens, which was released in June 2012, may not operate correctly.

The details of this phenomenon are described below.
Phenomenon

If pressure is applied to the lens barrel while the lens is mounted to the camera (pressure can be applied even while attaching the lens cap or while carrying the camera with the lens attached in a bag), the autofocusing function of the lens may stop working.

    This phenomenon does not occur during normal shooting.
    This phenomenon does not result in a malfunction of the lens.

Workaround

When the above phenomenon occurs, detach and reattach the lens, or remove and reinsert the camera battery to restore the operations.
Market Support

The firmware to address this phenomenon will be available for download in late August, 2012.

Once this firmware is ready, we will make an announcement on our Web site.
Contact Information for Inquiries

Canon Australia Services & Support 13 13 83 (Local call)

Canon New Zealand Customer Care 0800 222 666

30

Canon General / Re: "Time for a Change at Canon?" -Barons

« on: July 25, 2012, 11:04:42 PM »

I'm not a chairman of the board of a major Japanese corporation, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last  night. That qualifies me as much as anyone else here to comment on this stuff.

+1e6

Unless you are a significant stock-holder (like a pension / superannuation fund), or a senior executive of Canon, it would be hard to provide a qualified opinion of what the qualities of individuals in leadership roles of Canon should be.

I have posted before, that if you are unhappy with Canon's offerings, you should not whinge about them, rather, do not buy them.

Vote with you wallet! It's by far the most effective management and strategy tool in the market.