Messages

61

EOS Bodies / 1DX - The Workhorse?

« on: January 27, 2013, 08:54:26 PM »

So I was reading the rumor on Canon's roadmap for 2013 and got me to thinking...  Is the 1DX really Canon's workhorse?

I'm a beginning fashion and beauty photographer that is working to get bigger and higher profile jobs.  I currently have a 5D Mark II which has served me quite well for many things in this arena.  However it's not as great an all-arounder that I would like for my non-fashion jobs which helps circulate my name and get me some additional income.

The 5D Mark III is a great camera.  But the lack of a user-replaceable focus-screen and no pro body is a downside.  It's fast enough and the AF is more than adequate.  But not sure if it's something I would be happy with for 4 or more years.  Which is what I expect from a pro camera.

The 1DX is what I want except that it doesn't have the higher MP of the 5D series.  Well, I was a little disappointed when it didn't have built-in WiFi...  But overall, it's pretty darn nice.  The way I look at it, as long as I have the appropriate lens, it can pretty much handle anything I throw at it.  Which would allow me to take more jobs that I know technical limitations won't be an issue.

However, I'm a little concerned about the 18MP.  For publication in large format magazines, I think 18MP would still be fine.  For fashion and beauty, is there a big advantage to go with 22MP?  The only step-up I see would be Medium Format which I don't see a need for at least a couple of years.  How much of an advantage would that be over a 1DX/5D3 in the fashion/beauty markets?

62

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon's Roadmap for 2013 [CR2]

« on: January 27, 2013, 08:21:01 PM »

I try not to put too much stock into rumors this early in the game.  But it's nice to get some kind of idea where things MIGHT go in the year...

2012 was a big year for Canon, so I wouldn't be too surprised if they throttled back a bit for 2013.  Let us not forget...  The 5D Mark III won camera of the year from several big-name magazines and websites for 2012.  The 1DX and 1DC are damn fine cameras.  So with that, I'd be fine with Canon releasing some great low and mid-range bodies and some refreshed lenses for 2013.  It can't always be high-end every year.  I know people want that 'perfect' camera...  Which will never exist. 

I am not surprised that the big MP is not on the list.  I think it will be announced sometime during the year and will probably be available by spring/summer 2014.  The 1DX is a hella of a camera, but not really a 1Ds Mark III replacement.  Who needs 12fps for fashion and beauty work.

I think 2014 is going to be a HUGE year for Canon.  The big MP camera will be out of the gate first and a few months later, the 5D Mark IV with some tech of the big MP will be out.  Canon may have two cameras competing for yearly awards in 2014...

63

Canon General / Re: Why buy from a bricks and mortar store?

« on: January 18, 2013, 09:20:01 PM »

This is a touchy subject always. But personally I do my best to support my local vendors. I'm fine with spending a little extra on gear at a local shop. Up to point.  Taxes on a $3000 priced matched item is about my limit. No way I would buy anything much more expensive from a shop. That's what shows and factory reps are for.

I purchased a reflector from a vendor in which the price was a bit more than online. I didn't mind because I've saved so much money from them on rental gear. I figured it was the least I could.

Trying out gear at a shop and then going online to purchase it..  I look at those people with disgust. I saw a family come into a shop to give their opinion on what camera bag there daughter should buy. They spent at least 30 minutes with the salesperson, going through at least a dozen bags asking questions because they didn't do any research whatsoever...  And bought NOTHING...  You know what happened 15 minutes after they got home...  If I were the store manager, I would have the persons photo in the back and label it "Bottom feeder. Don't spend much time with them".

We have one and soon TWO excellent camera stores and I don't want them to go anywhere. I can buy about 90% of what I need for a very reasonable price. Part of the reason is I live in a part of the country that is flush with cash. It's not uncommon for a newbie/ignorant person to blow $5k on something that looks cool. I saw a father blow $7k on gear for his 14-year old daughter. So this shop is definitely an exception to most I think. My shop can sell things at online-competitive prices to those who ask. Love when they have all the major reps in there showing gear and their classes are great. I'm really lucky...

64

Canon General / Re: After CES Whats Next for Canon?

« on: January 18, 2013, 08:31:17 PM »

Yes. I think new sensor technology will be announced one way or another. I really hope the big MP camera is at least announced as "in development" Better to have an actual release date...  ;-)

65

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon DSLR Body Rumors for 2013

« on: January 03, 2013, 08:02:46 PM »

There will be a real (big megapixel) replacement for the 1Ds Mark III with an outstanding image quality.

All big megapixel sensors (prototypes) are in an 1D X style body.

Can you comment on difference in sensors among 1Ds3, 5D3, and 1DX?  Thanks for your knowledge.

M.S.T has never backed up one single thing they have said and they have claimed some pretty NDA covered type stuff. But when you can't even post an image from an NDA free, fully released lens you claim to own, or even an image of the lens, then I think that is a good measure of their real knowledge.

LOL!!!  I thought the same thing :-D

66

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon DSLR Body Rumors for 2013

« on: January 01, 2013, 06:25:46 PM »

You can't show me the new 'big megapixel' camera fast enough!  I hope it's:  1DX + 39MP+ + 16-bit A/D + 6-8fps + WiFi + GPS + Crop Mode.  This would be a camera I would be happy to use for the next 5 years...  Like all the full-time pros I know still using their 10MP cameras....  I don't want to upgrade for a while after my 5D MKII...

You can do it Canon!

67

EOS Bodies / Re: Does a 39.3mp Sensor Exist? [CR1]

« on: December 31, 2012, 02:02:57 AM »

Another rumor was 16-bit A/D which would also increase processing demands a pretty big chunk.  But remember the 1DX has DUAL DIGIC-5+ processors.  From what I know, there is still horsepower left over..  So I would think it might be able to handle 39.9mp AND 16-bit A/D..  Maybe, maybe at 6fps..  But that would be pushing it I would think.

68

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Shooting With the EOS 6D Part 2: Costa Rica

« on: December 29, 2012, 11:11:39 PM »

Yup.  Mighty capable camera.

69

EOS Bodies / Re: An EOS 3D Mention [CR1]

« on: December 28, 2012, 04:52:36 PM »

This sounds pretty realistic to me.  If new sensor technology is going into this 50MP set-up, it's going to be a pro camera and go into a 1-series body.  The 5DMK4 will get the tech but not until 2014 and at a twenty-something MP range.  Really, who needs 50MP except for the commercial pros or hardcore/wealthy enthusiast. 

I do hope they are really taking their time to get it right.  I love the 1DX but it doesn't have the MP I want.  With this camera, give me a minimum of 6fps in RAW, a crop-mode, the new tech and I'd be very happy.  Oh yes...  Canon, will you PLEASE build-in WiFi and GPS?  Seriously.  :-D

$9k - $10k.  Sure if it's done right.  End of 2013 or early 2014.  I'd be cool.  I know I'll be upgrading around that time.

70

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: World's First EOS-1D C Motion Image Shoot

« on: December 25, 2012, 04:22:56 AM »

"This is the future".  Sure.  But with the 1DC?  I don't think so.

Motion blur is a big problem.  Since this shoots at 24fps, you're basically talking 1/24 shutter speed.  Right?  Well even relatively slow studio shooting is done at 1/160.  Right?  To guarantee you don't get any motion blur.  The technological leap to go from 1/24 - 1/160 is quite huge.  I mean, you can probably drop that down to 1/60 but your subjects will have to be moving pretty slow or very still.  Maybe for studio work.

And let's talk about lighting.   

There's another reason why we have 1/8000 shutter.  Right?  For those bright outdoors...  And you can get a picture by using one or two flashes...  To re-create in video, you'd have to use much more and/or possibly different tools.  More expensive tools.  To get a certain brightness from a still is relatively cheap and easy compared to video.

At this point, I think the 1DC MAY lessen the chance of missing a particular pic, but it doesn't guarantee it.  Also a possible 2 - 4 fold increase in price not just for the camera, but all supporting gear.  Do you want to go through 256GB of footage to find even 50 great stills?  Okay, there will be software that will search through your footage for frames that show minimal blur.  If you must shoot in 4K for stills with minimal blur, you really need at least a Cinema C500 video cam.  That's a $25k investment.  I was talking to a Canon Cinema Rep a few weeks ago and he was really pushing the Cinema video cam for high volume imaging.  Like catalog work.

While 4k is the future, how often is it used?  I have a Producer/Director friend whose shot several short films on his rigged Canon 60D and it looked FABULOUS!  I was blown away how great it looked.  You can get totally professional results on much less expensive gear.  Again, it's all about the operator.  Not the gear.

I think the 1DC is still two more generations from being what Canon is trying to sell it as.  If you want to shoot great stills and 4k video, the 1DC is definitely on the table.  But to get great stills from the video, it needs some work.  You're getting the 1DX and much of the Cinema C100.  I would say that it's future-proofed since it shoots 4k.  But the camera would need to be upgradeable via firmware to shoot RAW AND a shutter speed increase.  Doubts that's going to happen with a software upgrade.  The 1DC is $12k.  That's almost the price of the 1DX and a C100 separately.  WHEN the C100 get's upgraded, you only need to spend the money to replace that cam versus a 1DC Mark II.  The upgrade cost is half the price with a dedicated video cam.

The 1DX is a perfectly fine camera that will be more than enough to give excellent stills performance for at least 5 years.  But if you want to shoot 4k video, more versatility, less compromises and a less expensive long-term investment, get a dedicated video cam.

71

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5d2 officially discontinued.

« on: December 23, 2012, 11:04:58 PM »

Love my 5D MKII! Used by so many bad-ass photographers...

72

Lenses / Re: Patent: A New Canon EF 50 f/1.2 & Suggestion of a Full Frame Mirrorless?

« on: December 16, 2012, 06:54:08 PM »

Okay..  Can someone inform me why full frame-mirrorless would be a good thing?  Since I only really care about DSLRs, I don't bother keeping up with the benefits of mirrorless cameras...

73

EOS Bodies / Re: First Round of EOS 7D Mark II Specs [CR1]

« on: November 26, 2012, 05:27:21 PM »

Wow, I like!  Pretty sweet sports-action shooter.  If that was my thing, I'd be very interested...

74

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma 35 f/1.4 DG HSM First Impressions

« on: November 22, 2012, 01:32:15 PM »

I used to use a Zeiss 35mm 1.4 with my Canon 50D and it was an amazing combination. I hope Sigma keeps up the good work...

75

EOS Bodies / Re: February & March are Announcement Months for Canon [CR2]

« on: November 16, 2012, 12:17:00 PM »

As long as the big MP camera blows away the D800, I'm okay with it having the same sensor as the 1DX.  I would hope that a new sensor that would provide them 5 years or more of amazing cameras...