Messages

406

Lenses / Next lens in my bag query

« on: October 10, 2012, 07:19:45 PM »

So….my lens lineup got all jumbled and rearranged when I went from the 7D to the 5D3. I had this setup:

10-22
35 f/2
50 1.4
24-70 2.8 L
70-200 f/4


I now have:
17-35 Tamron (love it)
40 Flapjack
24-70 2.8 L
70-200 f/4

Funny how the two niches I am spending most of my time and actually making money from these days don't have lenses represented in that lineup.

I'm missing a low light prime (50/85/100)
Dedicated Macro (EF 100 2.8 or Tamron 90 SP Di 2.

It's hard for me to pick up a FL too close to the 40 because the 5D3 does so well in low light but I'd like something with more and better blades. The 85 1.8 vs 100 f/2 conundrum is swirling in my head as well as the Macro need and not wanting a redundant or similar  FL with these two lenses. I've had a 85 before but that was with a T2i. Will I experience it in a different light? And I don't mean focal length but sharpness; center and corner, CA etc.

I've been using the 24-70 and 70-200 for portraiture (group/family outdoors)
and a Lensbaby Macro kit for …Macro.

Do you see the need for me to get a sub 2.8 lens? I WILL be getting a dedicated Macro but will it be fast enough for portraiture? I know it's sharp enough

Thanks in advance for your thoughts y'all.

407

Software & Accessories / Re: The tripod I want isn't available so…..I might cut one down…*gasp*

« on: October 10, 2012, 06:22:40 PM »

I wonder what's so tough about shipping to the Colonies?

408

5D MK III Sample Images / Re: Ultra long daytime exposures - 5D mkiii

« on: October 09, 2012, 08:16:15 PM »

Now this is what I love about photography!

409

Lenses / Re: A final goodbye to my 50mm f1.4 lens

« on: October 09, 2012, 06:27:58 PM »

I too only had one for a short time albeit it was on a crop. My copy had to be WAY stopped down to get sharp, hardly a good use for a 1.4. I'll try out a Sigma one of these days until then the flapjack and 24-70 do me just fine.  (funny though how one is a feather and the other a brick.)

I took some tests the day I got mine, filling the house with the frame and focusing on the roofline.  The white plumbing stacks towards the corners had white "shadows"/smears coming sideways off them through F2.8 it was so soft in the corners.  The trees in the corners were garbage till hell F8 probably.  So just now I took this sigma 1.4 out and did the same thing to see if it at least wasn't going to be worse(with my only real hope was to not have the coma stuff at night with stars/lights).  Holy hell what a freaking difference.  And it is cloudy and windy, yet just the tree(moving in wind no less) difference in the corners way open is so silly to what the Canon was. 

I just went full frame again recently and now have 3 new lenses to sorta "review".  14mm Samyang, a 24L that was pretty damn far off(decentered and tilted focal plane) that I got used that is now fixed, and this sigma 50 I can compare to the canon 50 1.4.  Been getting some pretty big eye openers through this.  But now I want to see how close to typical the full frame corners were for that Canon 50 F1.4 to what I just briefly had.  It was at least a sharp lens way stopped down.  I was scared swapping it for the Sigma I might go backwards, but just looking at the zoomed in samples on my cam with the Sigma of the same scene......it's crazy crazy better.

Yep it took to about 7.1 for me to get sharp but that only lasted until about 11 or a bit less. Pretty lame range. Funny how I have had unsharp 'sharp ' Canon(50 1.8, 50 1.4, 35 f/2) lenses but all the Sigma's I have had were awesome. Awesome on a crop that is.

410

Lenses / Re: A final goodbye to my 50mm f1.4 lens

« on: October 09, 2012, 04:31:07 PM »

I too only had one for a short time albeit it was on a crop. My copy had to be WAY stopped down to get sharp, hardly a good use for a 1.4. I'll try out a Sigma one of these days until then the flapjack and 24-70 do me just fine.  (funny though how one is a feather and the other a brick.)

411

Software & Accessories / Re: The tripod I want isn't available so…..I might cut one down…*gasp*

« on: October 09, 2012, 12:05:12 PM »

Have you looked at, for example, the Velbon SHERPA630 Grounder?  You remove the threaded center column and the legs spread wide and puts you inches from ground.  This tripod works great with my 5D3 + 100mm macro.

http://www.velbon.biz/product/sherpa/sherpa630-530.html

I like most of the specs on the Velbons except for closed length and corresponding load for the shorter models. Thanks for the tip though. It's still the Redged for me.

412

Software & Accessories / Re: The tripod I want isn't available so…..I might cut one down…*gasp*

« on: October 09, 2012, 11:57:16 AM »

I tried to buy the Redged on their website but wasn't available or able to ship to the States. NOTHING is like the RTA -320. The Slik's are ok but still not a good long term sturdy solution.

413

Software & Accessories / The tripod I want isn't available so…..I might cut one down…*gasp*

« on: October 08, 2012, 06:32:33 PM »

I really want/need a ground level tripod for macro work which will hold a 5D3 + EF 100 2.8.
 The model I want is a Redged RTA-320.
 Not available anywhere in the world at this time.
 I am not willing to shell out for a Kirk or RRS and am thinking my second choice would be a cut down standard pod. I'm thinking about perhaps a used 2001/190. It's my first choice since it's reliable and the legs are all bolt on so it would be easy to cut with a hacksaw guide. I have no problem with that since I come from a cycling wrenching background and have cut many steerer tubes etc.

Anyone here do the same? Or anyone have a recommend for something like the Redged?

TIA

414

Lenses / Re: Rumors about general porpouses lenses for APS-C

« on: October 07, 2012, 08:21:27 PM »

I had the Siggy 17-70. It's a funny bird. It's mid FL's are decent but it's widest and tele ends are super corner soft and if you really want a great lens other than the 15-85 go for the 17-55 like the rest said. It like the 10-22 is 'L' like in many ways. Another great crop walk around is the Sigma 17-50. Sharp end to end. If you like Primes, try the 40 pancake, best on a FF but you might like the equivalent 64mm length. It didn't work for me on my 7D but you might like it. Best bang for the buck in Canon's lineup iyam.

415

EOS Bodies / Pink Ladys to Blood Oranges

« on: October 07, 2012, 08:16:12 PM »

"Waiter?, check please. I just can no longer stomach these FF High ISO compared to Crop low ISO posts any longer."

416

EOS Bodies / Re: Is Canon EOS-1S the Name? [CR1]

« on: October 07, 2012, 06:12:27 PM »

Three amazing camera bodies came out of Canon this past year and folks are acting like they have their heads in the sand. With all the problems Nikon has had with their flagship models, I for one am not surprised Canon hasn't had a nee jerk response to high MP frenzy. Big picture ladies. In the meantime I am going to enjoy shooting with my 5D3 for a long time to come.

417

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Firmware Available

« on: October 07, 2012, 03:16:15 PM »

I had the problem on my 7D every time I used it. When I got the 5D3 I did not upgrade it and found I didn't need to. It has not had any issues. Go figure. Love this lens. Canon please make some more flapjacks.

418

EOS Bodies / Re: Is Canon EOS-1S the Name? [CR1]

« on: October 07, 2012, 10:38:34 AM »

Canon is thinking long term here and good for them. Maybe they missed a beat with a D800 killer (Although I'm pretty happy with my 5D3 and C glass) but they'll probably kick Nikon's ass for a few years in a row with this rumored sensor's trickle down.

419

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: The Unholy Trinity of Non-L Primes?

« on: October 07, 2012, 10:32:49 AM »

I think the 40 2.8 is my solution for a great low priced 35mm on FF. This little gem has more going for it than cons. I had the 35 f/2 and used it on both crop and FF and just couldn't deal with the CA, buzzing and hunting/seeking AF. I liked the color rendering and FL but the low blade count made the blur too choppy.

If I was to buy Primes on a semi-budget I'd get:

Sigma 30 1.4 (crop)
Canon Pancake 40 (FF-it's a weird FL on a crop)
Sigma 50 1.4 (both)
Canon 100 f/2 (Very underrated, no CA issues like the 85)
EF 135 L (This and the 70-200 f/4 L are two L lenses you should really get, best bargains in the Canon lineup)
Another great portrait lens is the Canon 100 f/2.8 Macro. Almost too sharp for some folks. Better on kids and youth portraits.

420

EOS Bodies / Re: COSTCO Deal

« on: October 06, 2012, 10:09:42 PM »

The body goes for 1050 or so on the CLP.