Messages

31

EOS Bodies / Re: 5D Mark III/X Information [CR1]

« on: February 14, 2012, 12:20:47 PM »

5d2 is coming to an end, or Canon would never have dumped inventory the way they did in the USA this last December.

Doesn't matter if the tooling is paid for, it still costs to run production lines.

Consumers aren't total idiots about technology, and crazy house money is spent and gone forever. Don't expect swarms of average people to buy a $3K FF 30+ megapixel camera.

There WILL be massive internet P&M about the new Nikons when it's realized that that sensor resolution is not a playground for the clueless.

32

Lenses / Re: Pricing of the New Lenses

« on: February 07, 2012, 08:49:50 AM »

24-105 f/4 IS L FTW!

Seriously, pros can afford this lens, and might buy it for f/2.8 and that just slightly better perimeter optics...but the rest of us? The lack of IS at this price point is stupefying.

The economy has tightened up and likely will never return to the flush days...you have to take seriously your equipment expenditures, truly evaluate how an item will make you money you couldn't get other ways.

That 24-105 always astonishes me with it's value. You can readily find mint used copies for well under $1K.

Of course, it DOES lack  a zoom lock switch....

33

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: D800 is finally here

« on: February 06, 2012, 11:03:08 PM »

DPreview has it:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/02/07/Nikon_D800_D800E_launch

34

Software & Accessories / Re: Breeze Browser vs. Lightroom

« on: January 19, 2012, 11:33:41 PM »

I use both. Yes, AM swears by it, but then, he doesn't use Lightroom. He downloads with Downloader Pro. He has gone back and forth over the years between using ACR in Photoshop and developing Raws in BB. I don't know what he currently uses, but I suspect it's not BB as he hasn't really mentioned using it in his blog or newsletters.

That used to be my workflow, too. I still have Breeze Browser, and I use it for limited purposes. All my importing, selections, Raw developing and output is done in Lightroom. Needless to say, Lightroom is my "DAM" (digital asset manager).

ACR, as found in Lightroom, is far more capable and robust than Breezebrowser. I won't go into all the advantages of Lightroom; I'll just say that I mostly now only use BB for a quick check of jpegs that I've exported, just to make sure that what I'm about to send out is what I think it is. Belt and suspenders.

In addition, not every picture on my system is imported into Lightroom....other people's shots, random pics from email or the web, these kinds of things I view in Breezebrowser. It's quick, and since it is a direct file system browser, it shows me exactly where the file I am looking at/for is located.s

I didn't upgrade to the new version, the one requiring yearly subscriptions....ver1.9.3 and still going strong!

35

EOS Bodies / Re: 1D X Limitations Fixable?

« on: January 08, 2012, 11:36:49 AM »

Canon must be extremely sensitive to AF complaints, after the 1D3 debacle. Perhaps the AF is not up to par on the 1DX above f/5.6.....I do know from experience that the super telephotos will attempt to AF with stacked extenders; I used to get "close" at f/11 and then dial it in. Granted, at around 2000mm effective focal length, the subject was so distant that it was merely documentation for later review, rather than a nice wildlife capture.

Bird photographers may buy the 1DX, but they will always consider it crippled if they can't get accurate AF with the 2X on it; why do you need "throw-away" pixels (crop) if you can't get good AF on a distant subject?

36

EOS Bodies / Re: Upgrade to 5dmk2 or wait for 5dmk3?

« on: December 17, 2011, 03:20:03 PM »

The only reason you give to buy is because the prices are low. Really?

Absolutely you should buy now, the replacement camera may cost more, might not be out for another 6-9 months or more, and you might not be able to actually get your hands on one the first few months. The price on the 5DII may go back up and stay up, especially if Canon stop producing them to clear the lines for the MkIII.

It doesn't matter what you will use the camera for, or why you want one. Throw it in the closet after you get it, the price will still be good. But it will be a waste of your money.

There are lots of reasons to buy gear that come before looking at the price. Think about it, and tell us a little about how you will use it and we will give more useful advice.

37

Software & Accessories / Re: To HDR or Not To HDR

« on: November 29, 2011, 09:41:48 AM »

LR/Enfuse http://www.photographers-toolbox.com/products/lrenfuse.php

Exposure blending software, is donation-ware (cheap) plugin operates in Lightroom. No nasty HDR effects.

Highly recommend.

38

Software & Accessories / Re: Is $650+ too much for a 6hr (one day) Lightroom session?

« on: November 29, 2011, 09:34:11 AM »

$650 is way too much for your situation.

You could subscribe to Lynda.com and have year long access to instruction, whenever you want it.

The best series of video on Lightroom is found here, and it's on sale :
http://store.luminous-landscape.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=244

If you wanted to take a class and dump some bucks, you can get 4 days for $1100 from Seth Resnick at D-65
http://www.d-65.com/workshops.html

The best, exhaustive coverage book is from Martin Evening: The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Book (Adobe Press)

39

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 100-400 f/4-5.6L IS "Soonish" [CR2]

« on: November 14, 2011, 12:21:19 AM »

Will it take the 1.4x or 2x extenders?

Not on the 1DX.....

40

EOS Bodies / Re: Next EOS not a 1Ds4 or 5D3.... could be a 1D Mark 5? [CR2]

« on: October 10, 2011, 11:49:46 PM »

Two full-frame 1 series bodies, 1.3 crop sensor is gone, maybe to be revived down the road as a pro-sumer sensor. Why not?

1DV gets full frame, 20 megapixels, 10 frames/sec, for around $5k. Clean enough you can crop down if you want, something I personally found wanting in the 1Ds3. There will always be demand for this price point, it hits a comfort zone that's well established. Not every working photog or agency can afford to pay for one or more flagship bodies.

1DsV full frame, of course, around 4 or 5 frames/sec, mid-30's plus megapixels, sees introduction of some new trend setting tech. Bumps up to $9K or $10K. Maybe $12K if it's a serious MF challenger (in terms of file size)
We can assume the earthquake interrupted the staging of new models. If production was so compromised on components of existing models (have ya tried to buy a new 1DIV lately?) that restarting wasn't realistic, then the 1DV suggested in the thread doesn't seem so outta left field to me....

41

EOS Bodies / Re: Why Do You Need 250 60D's?

« on: July 29, 2011, 02:27:19 AM »

Actually, it looks like a video shoot done with Canon Marketing input.

42

Lenses / Re: EF 8-15 Fisheye Coming Soon?

« on: April 19, 2011, 11:42:40 PM »

should be very handy for interior architecture....I'll be shooting B&B interiors in the UK for 4 weeks this fall, I've had one of these on pre-order since they were announced.

I guess I'll sell my 600 f/4 IS before I go, clearly that lens would be useless for my purpose...wonder why Canon bothered to make THAT lens...

43

United States / Re: Insurance policies for photographers

« on: March 08, 2011, 10:45:01 AM »

Don't use your homeowner's policy, you risk a premium increase if you have a claim. And, if you have ever made a nickle from anyone through photography, they can deny your claim.
Join NAPP and get insurance through them, or go direct:

http://www.tcpinsurance.com/photographer.html

44

Lenses / Re: 24 - 105 mm f/4 L IS II

« on: February 11, 2011, 01:48:47 PM »

I've got one, it's a decent kit lens....but have you ever watched when you apply lens correction in ACR?
I would definitely replace it if a new version came out.

45

Lenses / Re: Zeiss 35 f/1.4 Official

« on: September 01, 2010, 10:46:29 AM »

Negative comments by people who have never used a Zeiss lens...why am I shocked?

Why aren't you embarrassed?