Messages

61

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

« on: May 06, 2013, 10:53:29 PM »

Kind of disappointing that CR has nothing better to report than yet another camera no one really needs not coming out anytime soon to sit on the shelves collecting dust because as soon as it is announced everyone is instantly waiting for the next model.

Look, there are probably two (maybe three) people on the planet who have actually exceeded the capabilities of the equipment they already own. Everyone else just wants to be part of a social discussion and complain about what each new model should have had, needs to have, doesn't have, etc etc.. The reality is that consumers themselves are responsible for what new models do not have because the manufacturers feel they have to instantly gratify the squeaky wheels in order to be successful. If people would simply use what they have until it stops working then the manufacturers would only release a new body in each tier maybe every three/four years. Then when they did it would actually be the latest and greatest and would hold you for the rest of its life, certainly until technology advances to the point a new model is even warranted. (Megapixels are not technology in a photographic context, sorry.)

I will offer two pieces of wisdom to the 'photographers' out there in the form of advice and a bit of reality:
1) It does not matter who you are or who you think you are, you are not even a fraction as capable as the camera you already hold in your hand..
2) Spend your money on the only piece/s of equipment that will ever improve your photography - lenses.. If you have anything left over and just have to spend it on something, take a class or attend a symposium to learn how to be a better photographer.

OH MY GOSH!  THANK YOU SO MUCH!  I'M ALREADY A BETTER PHOTOGRAPHER BECAUSE OF YOU!!

I'm really laughing as I write this ON AN IPOD!!!! It really hurts to be told that I am nowhere near as capable as the camera in my hand when that camera is ON AN IPOD..... and not even the latest generation!

62

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: May 06, 2013, 10:28:34 PM »

Does anyone know what type of bird this one is? The photo was taken in eastern Ontario, Canada, on the edge of a marsh. I tried to ID it with a couple of bird books and just got confused....

Thanks!

Looks like a Yellow Warbler. If it has orange streaks on it's chest and belly, it's a male. If not, it's a female.

Nice shot!

Thanks for the ID... I rechecked by bird books and it looks like you are right. The shot was with a 60D, 100 percent cropped, 70-200 at 200mm, from a canoe.. I can only say good things about IS.....

63

Animal Kingdom / Re: Show your Bird Portraits

« on: May 06, 2013, 09:53:18 PM »

Does anyone know what type of bird this one is? The photo was taken in eastern Ontario, Canada, on the edge of a marsh. I tried to ID it with a couple of bird books and just got confused....

Thanks!

64

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Do you trust your camera?

« on: May 06, 2013, 09:37:54 PM »

I don't trust my camera.... that's why I never leave it home alone... who knows what it will be up to.

Seriously though, I trust it for landscape shooting, but when it comes to wildlife I just seem to keep shooting.... the little varmints move so it's hard to know what will be a good shot until you get it home and look at it on a big screen.
I was out in the canoe on saturday and came back with 240 or so turtle pictures... you know how it is....

I find that the 100L and the 70-200, and even the 50F1.8 are just bang-on focus every time.... it is amazing! I have an 18-200 that has about a 90% hit rate and a Sigma 120-400 that has about a 80% hit rate. For me it's not a question of trusting the camera (60D), it's a question of trusting the lens.

65

Lenses / Re: Poll: Most Wanted New Lenses of 2013.

« on: May 06, 2013, 09:26:58 PM »

400 F5.6 II with IS and sharper optics.

and a new version of the 1200 F5.6, one that none of us can ever afford to buy but can drool over. (must be waterdroolproof)

66

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

« on: May 06, 2013, 03:15:20 PM »

come on people.... haven't you figured it out yet? The 7D2 will have a mode dial that goes all the way around!

67

EOS Bodies / Re: Why no crop mode on 5d mkiii 1dx

« on: May 06, 2013, 01:18:40 PM »

Is it possible that there is only so much space in the firmware and they have to pick and choose what to leave in and what to leave out? I don't know.... just asking the question..

68

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

« on: May 06, 2013, 01:16:47 PM »

Somewhere in my mind I have the feeling Canon might not be doing the 0.18 micron process at all, but instead going directly to the next one (0.12, 0.09 or 0.065 maybe?), and that is why they have such problems in getting it to roll.

It makes sense doing something like that when you have your own factories and do not want to upgrade them too often. Going to 0.18, just to do it all over again in 2 years? I don't think so. But, leapfrogging the competition and take them by surprise, and in the same time prolonging the active time of the process platform? Yes, I think I'll vote for that.

Sounds reasonable to me.... Even if the next sensor is at .18 microns, it would still make sense to be replacing the current machines with those capable of even finer resolution so the next couple of improvements will require a minimum of retooling.

69

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

« on: May 06, 2013, 12:22:49 PM »

Sigh... no new 7D2 to take pictures of Fluffy with.... I was looking forward to posting ever higher resolution pictures of Fluffy on facebook.....

70

EOS Bodies / Re: 60D on the way out?

« on: May 03, 2013, 04:52:44 PM »

To me it always seemed that the 60D is the "slower" version of the 7D. Same sensor, nearly the same body size. Some pro features.  The extra money for the 7D went to the magnesium body, the weather-proofing, and the faster fps.  This is why I went with the 60D a year and a half ago, I'm a landscape shooter and I don't care a lick about the fps. (but the extra weatherproofing and magnesium body would have been nice, but not $600 nice) A lot of the reviews I read put the IQ of both nearly equal (with some even giving the edge to the 60D in IQ).  This leads me to believe that the 2 (potentially) upcoming cameras will have roughly the same relationship. 

Nearly equal IQ

higher fps/weatherproofing on the 7DII

$500-$700 more.

I think the biggest difference between the two is the autofocus system. Very important if you are after BIF, but not so for landscape shooters.

71

EOS Bodies / Re: 60D on the way out?

« on: May 02, 2013, 09:13:39 PM »

At Christmas time last year the 60D was on sale everywhere and it was reported that stocks were running low.
And yet, no 70D was announced in January, despite the expectations, and there's still no 70D in sight.

Also consider that the T5i and the 6D are priced exactly the same as Nikon's D5200 and D600 respectively.
That is, both Canon and Nikon have the same price gap between their respective models.

Inside this price gap, Nikon has only model - the D7100
Will Canon have two models - both the 70D and 7DII?

Don't know but I'm starting to think that the next camera from Canon will be 7DII.
And that we may not see a 70D this year - if at all.

It is an interesting point.... FF cameras have become a lot more common, and the 6D takes a good swipe at the enthusiast market. There is a definite market for a high-end APS-C body, but is there enough of a market for two? Is there space between the 7D2 and the T5i for a 70D when the main advantage of the 70D over the T5i is the shoulder display.... particularly with the 6D getting so close to where the 70D would be selling?

72

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: The Camera Store TV t5i Hands On

« on: May 02, 2013, 08:59:59 PM »

The dial goes all the way around! This will revolutionize photography! Nikon must be trembling in fear!

73

Lenses / Re: 600mm lens

« on: May 02, 2013, 08:52:31 PM »

For storage at home, I want something waterproof - the Canon case is not.  Roofs leak, pipes burst, etc.  I keep my 600 II (with the hood reversed and foot on) in a Storm im2720 hard case, along with other gear:

I agree with Neuro on cases. I have been using Pelican cases for years to protect gear. Hard shell case, waterproof, and custom foam padding. They have survived dunks into the Atlantic and run rapids with the gear staying safe and dry. It makes no sense to protect a $10,000 lens with anything less.

74

EOS Bodies / 60D on the way out?

« on: May 02, 2013, 06:50:46 PM »

Big sales on the 60D around here.... Body for $700, with 18-200 for $1000, and for some inexplicable reason, with 18-200 and tripod for $1900..... Bet they don't sell any of the last package....

Kind of looks like an attempt to clear out the 60D stock before the 70D is announced.

75

Lenses / Re: Viking Burial Fun (eral) topic!

« on: May 02, 2013, 02:14:14 PM »

I've fixed over 2 dozen bodies, and at least a dozen lenses.  I'd be taking it apart and repairing it.  Currently I'm attempting to reassemble a Nikon 35-70mm f/2.8D lens (push-pull) that I fixed.  Trying to reassemble in the same way I disassembled it has not worked and there are no complete repair manuals available (only exploded diagrams and parts lists).  Not sure if this will be a successful repair or not.

At work, I often shoot video of myself taking something apart.... lets me know what I did and in what order... I talk to the camera as I go. This strategy fails when the thing you are taking apart is your camera