Messages

1

EOS-M / Re: EOS M Announcement in the Summer? [CR2]

« on: May 17, 2013, 07:46:04 AM »

It was mentioned that Canon doesn’t have plans currently to launch more EOS M prime lenses, as they see the segment as “entry level”. I’m not sure I agree with that if true.

Nor I and if Canon have said that then it shows a rather remarkable disconnect with where digital photography is going.

Yeah same here. More and more I see really good photographers drawn towards smaller powerful bodies. This confirms that Canon is completely lost. Maybe they see is as entry level because their current offering is half baked and not selling well.

So could you please elaborate on this subject instead of coming up with these blanket statements?

I don't know about Very Serious Photo Enthusiasts, but some Pro shooters are switching to mirrorless.

Hers's one http://www.damianmcgillicuddy.com/journal/2013/5/15/m43-strutting-its-stuff

And here's another "Good enough for Vogue Italia, good enough for me." http://jonathanposner.tumblr.com/post/40780795719/my-olympus-challenge-10

And a third https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3dSWa5rcVlw

Hi, thanks for the links, checked out Posner and McGillicuddy. It probably makes sense to some people shooting in certain situations. I guess where resolution, AF and probably other areas I can't think of now matters, people will need DSLRs even in the future. This Posner guy doesn't really come out as very confident explaining his choice. It seems to me he has to justify it to the reader. Does he believe in himself or is it a way of creating buzz around him?

Anyway, as said by me and many, competition is good. It'll be interesting to see where we are in five years.

Thom Hogan basically ditched his DX kit for an OMD kit... If Canon doesn't get the M up to speed soon, they will have very serious issues in the near future...

2

EOS-M / Re: EOS M Announcement in the Summer? [CR2]

« on: May 16, 2013, 03:01:42 PM »

Canon just can't figure the market out. Just because a camera isn't full frame, doesn't mean that "pro's" won't like it. Many professional photographers (and un-professionals, the highly skilled amateurs) have uses for cameras which are not huge, heavy, and expensive. They can't figure out that there is a market for a compact high quality camera. Fuji with their 18-55 2.8-4 seem to be figuring this out. Also, Sigma has figured out that the APS/DX world is more than thirsty for a good wide zoom - the new 18-35 f1.8 fills this nicely. If Canon wants to stay relavent, they need to figure out what people actually want, and what they actually use cameras for. For example, a 1DX with 16-35 weighs a whole lot. It is big. If someone would make a 10-20 2.8, this would pony well on the EOS-M. But, the stupid M seems to lack most easy means of manual control; this and more is why I pass over it. Canon made Yet Another Mount, then has failed to back it up, when they could running this for all it's worth, if they would make a "professional" model.

3

Reviews / Re: Review - Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II

« on: May 15, 2013, 10:21:09 PM »

"Cons

Potential gateway lens leading to even longer lenses that cost even more crazy amounts of money"

Indeed, this gateway drug is about to be the ruin of me, as I spy out the 600 F4...

4

Lenses / Re: One lens for vacation

« on: May 13, 2013, 06:14:58 PM »

I would say a 300 2.8!!!

Or, maybe  15-85...

5

EOS Bodies / Re: Sensor Going? Purple Shots 5DMKII

« on: May 13, 2013, 04:47:24 PM »

I had similar happen to me; the images were coming out pink, and it was the previous image reshown as pink, not what I was pointing at. I sent it to Canon; they fixed a PCB assembly or something like that.

6

EOS Bodies / Re: Bye Canon?

« on: May 11, 2013, 03:25:50 AM »

Ok let's examine history to determine who's correct.

35mm film vs MF film. - MF wins.

Canon 1ds vs kodak DCS MF back - MF wins. (Available on Luminous landscape)

Canon 5D2 vs Hasselblad MF backs 40MP variety - MF wins.

D800 vs IQ180 - MF wins.

D900 56MP camera vs next gen MF 120+ MP - MF will win.

This is because MF is bigger than 35mm. MF has a specific use for low ISOs and slow subjects. There is no replacement for displacement. The bigger sensor/film will always serve better in those situations.

I can only imagine what will be possible when MF will move to full CMOS tech, then you will have the pixel density of a d800 + all the advantages of MF. It's just a better tool for what it does.

Doesn't matter.

Exactly.

Okay, that was funny! 

The 7D MK II will trump them all!!! "One camera to rule them all, one camera to find them; one camera to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them!!!"

7

Site Information / Re: Membership Approval Now Required

« on: May 11, 2013, 03:24:23 AM »

We will not approve membership if the account name looks like a advertisement, is a e-mail address, or just sounds phoney,  It is definitely better if a account name has some recognizable link to photography.

This is way too subjective and what may be an advertisement / email / phoney to you may just be perfect for someone else. Compound this by the fact that the username will be rejected after one day I doubt a genuine user who is rejected will bother to try again (I certainly wouldn't, but that's just me).

IMHO a captcha is a better idea as suggested above.

Of course, we use captcha. 

With human assisted spambots, its no barrier, and most robots read it as well.  Those who think captcha is fool proof are out of date, 10 years out.  Captcha is like a screen on the front end, each step filters out a few potential spammers.  We don't reject someone unless their user name is clearly out of line.  Rules are not posted just to help spammers get around them.

We check new signups for duplicate ip's, internet providers, and a warning pops up if they have been banned before.  Its far from fool proof, just another screen to filter out what we can.

No security is fool proof and I wouldn't dare to say that a captcha is the "only" solution. That said, I guess we are on opposite sides of the table here with users wanting easier access and the mods wanting a better QC over the sign up process.

Cheers ... J.R.

When a forum gets too hard to join, it slowly dies off. Most forums which make it hard for me to join or do stuff on I never use, even if I get accepted. I think that the combination of captcha and a set of questions would stop a lot of bots... stopping human spammers is more difficult... If, somehow, it can be programmed that they cannot enter links anywhere for about 15 posts, that should help things... Though that also might alienate a few new posters. This is a little like the debate of liberty vs. security, or strength vs. mobility...

8

Animal Kingdom / Re: Wrong Photography Ethics?

« on: May 11, 2013, 03:05:53 AM »

I found the sky boring and added clouds to make it more interesting.

Do you think this is cheating? I really want to know.

Am very confused. I have made changes but not altered nature. Have I done something wrong?

Thx

Read the birdsasart-blog.com, and Alain Briot's articles on luminous-landscape.com...

9

Lenses / Re: 100mm f/2.8L with a diopter?

« on: May 11, 2013, 03:02:27 AM »

Try extension tubing...

10

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Looking for an Mirorrless or Compact for climbing/high altitude hiking

« on: May 08, 2013, 01:55:19 PM »

EOS 100D/SL1 + Sigma 8-16 DC HSM ?

Actually too wide to be usefull in most instances...

11

Software & Accessories / Re: Honda to start selling ONLY stretch limos

« on: May 08, 2013, 01:26:08 PM »

Now, if they would only lease one to you, required you to buy gas from their stations, and automatically disabled it when you were a day late on your lease payment, and locked the doors with your kids in the car, I'd be upset.

That would be my fear about it.

12

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Disposable film cameras

« on: May 08, 2013, 10:21:37 AM »

I always wondered...

13

Software & Accessories / Re: Alternatives to Adobe Software

« on: May 07, 2013, 08:48:35 AM »

The rant thread about Adobe's new subscription model is 6 pages long and growing fast. The thread about alternatives is a mere four posts long, only one of which actually names any software.  Makes it pretty clear that no matter how much ranting there is, Adobe can do what they like.

I have the same sick feeling. The two best competitors seem to be GIMP and Paintshop. Neither really cut the mustard. So what remains? Shell out WAY TOO MUCH (seems like twice as much!!!) for Photoshop, the only program I really use (and can we quit calling them apps, Adobe? THEY ARE PROGRAMS!!! Let them be themselves.) 50 bucks a month over 4 years (my update period) is a LOT MORE than PS. This is a major increase in price, and Adobe is well aware of that. They think they can sit in their ivory towers and forever dictate an increasing tax on the serfs to use their software. I have no issue with a company selling its product for an honest price, but this is rather a monopoly, with a keen edge on gold extraction.

14

EOS Bodies / Re: No 7D Mark II in 2013? [CR2]

« on: May 06, 2013, 08:59:42 AM »

 

I am guessing that getting the new 18 micron process thang is not going as well as they would like... The 7D mk II will probably be the first to be released using the new process, somewhere around 24 MP with ISO up to 102,400... probably the new 3200 ISO will be as good as the old 400 ISO...

15

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Looking for an Mirorrless or Compact for climbing/high altitude hiking

« on: May 03, 2013, 01:23:39 AM »

Note, I would recommend against using/taking a DSLR because you will want to have it attached to various buckles, etc, so that in the event that you slip, tip, etc, that the camera doesn't end up in a ravine. And similarly, you don't want it on a long lead where it will swing and smash into the side of the mountain.

My mountain kit is a 70-200 on a 7D, and a 24-105 on a 5D mkII (formerly 5D mk I... I like the 7D better, but canon does not make a 16-85 f2.5....)

I keep the one in a Toploader, and the other on my side on an r-strap. If it gets dicey, it can go in my backpack. This combo would work pretty well for most Kilimanjaro stuff, from what I have read of the routes; they're not too technical... This combo might be a bit heavy for Kili, but with proper acclimitization, not too bad. Comparatively,  Kilimanjaro is not too high... You should be fine with a light SLR, if you are in good shape. A lot of people hump an SLR up Everest (check the blogs...)!!!