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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: New 60D or Second-hand 7D?
« on: October 08, 2012, 07:35:46 PM »
You can get a new 7D for under $1000 these days, surely that's worth paying?
May 21, 2013, 04:31:36 PM
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62
EOS Bodies / Re: Another what to do thread... Buy now or wait 7D, 60D successor.
« on: October 08, 2012, 01:33:30 AM »
You can expect the new 60D to come after the new 7D, which itself might not be any time soon.
In principle, waiting for a new release only makes sense if it is definitely imminent. That is not true for these 2 cameras.
Based on what you have written, the 7D is the camera for you.
However, there is plenty you haven't written: about your expertise, your willingness to immerse yourself in technicalities of operation for a complex camera, and your intended main uses for the camera, so I won't actually make a recommendation for you.
What I'm trying to say is that the 7D is actually too much camera for many people who think it is 'right' for them based on spec sheet shopping. The internet is full of 'my 7D won't focus', 'my 7D won't this', 'my 7D won't that' threads from these people.
In principle, waiting for a new release only makes sense if it is definitely imminent. That is not true for these 2 cameras.
Based on what you have written, the 7D is the camera for you.
However, there is plenty you haven't written: about your expertise, your willingness to immerse yourself in technicalities of operation for a complex camera, and your intended main uses for the camera, so I won't actually make a recommendation for you.
What I'm trying to say is that the 7D is actually too much camera for many people who think it is 'right' for them based on spec sheet shopping. The internet is full of 'my 7D won't focus', 'my 7D won't this', 'my 7D won't that' threads from these people.
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EOS Bodies / Re: Who said Canon cameras suck?!?
« on: October 08, 2012, 01:22:20 AM »
Nice posts jrista 
64
EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 6D Center Cross-Type ?
« on: October 04, 2012, 11:32:37 PM »Your typical dSLR AF system doesn't focus precisely with lenses wider than f2.8.False. The AF system is specified to a given level of precision - the f/5.6 lines are precise within one depth of focus at the lens' max aperture, the f/2.8 lines within one-third the depth of focus at the lens' max aperture. It doesn't matter whether the lens has an f/2.8 or an f/1.0 max aperture, the AF system will be precise to that degree relative to the max aperture of the lens. Note that precision is specified, not accuracy. Precision ≠ accuracy.
The DoF at apertures wider than f/2.8, especially with reasonably close subjects, is so thin that any misalignment in the AF system will be exposed - that's the accuracy part. That's why we have AFMA - to correct for the inaccuracy introduced by misalignment of the AF sensor with the image sensor. A properly microadjusted lens will be accurate, and precise within the limits stated above, i.e. the obtained focus will be distributed around the 'true' focus in a manner bounded within 1/3 or 1 depth of focus (probably not hard boundaries, but likely about 3σ, which is a standard tolerance in most processes).
However, manually focusing a lens wider than f/2.8 through the viewfinder with a stock focus screen is not accurate or precise, because the stock screen does not show the true DoF of a lens faster than ~f/2.8. The AF system will do a lot better (if properly adjusted).
Apologies, thanks for correcting me on this point. I was thinking about MF, my error. With AF there is the issue of focus shift, but for phase detect AF that problem is smallest at the widest aperture, heh heh. With live view focus, focus shift might catch you out at very wide apertures because some cameras auto control the aperture during live view.
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EOS Bodies / Re: mhm... open letter to canon?
« on: October 04, 2012, 04:01:08 AM »
DKN, maybe it's because your high-end Canons have so many AF points that they struggle a bit in very low light.
The larger the elements of the AF system, the less low-light performance.
The larger the elements of the AF system, the less low-light performance.
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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 6D Center Cross-Type ?
« on: October 04, 2012, 12:43:05 AM »...When you recompose, you change the angle and can change the distance to the subject which will throw of your focus if you are shooting really shallow. This focus system is not appealing at all. ...
Shooting 'really shallow' is best done with MF using live view and magnified view. Your typical dSLR AF system doesn't focus precisely with lenses wider than f2.8.
A focusing system isn't meant to 'appeal', it is meant to perform. And that is yet to be seen.
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EOS Bodies / Re: Looks like the 6D may not be so bad after all
« on: October 04, 2012, 12:37:19 AM »
Still too much vitriol about a camera that none of you have tried, or even read a review.
Where will you all be if the hands-on reviews come in praising how well it focuses? Too busy poisoning some other thread or product I suppose.
BTW it IS a cross-type AF sensor with f2.8 lenses.
Where will you all be if the hands-on reviews come in praising how well it focuses? Too busy poisoning some other thread or product I suppose.
BTW it IS a cross-type AF sensor with f2.8 lenses.
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Lenses / Re: What lenses do you own?
« on: October 02, 2012, 04:48:02 AM »...My questions for you all are:
1) What lenses do you own and why do you love/hate each of them?
2) How long have you been into photography?
3) Any random tips for a noob like myself?...
1)
EF-S 10-22mm. Probably the best ultra wide lens out there for a 28mm sensor. Compact too. Not so keen on the distortion of off-centre faces at the wide end.... maybe it is unavoidable?
EF 17-55mm f2.8 IS. Simply love it. Feels like I have IS primes of 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm (equivalent) all rolled into one. When I reveiw its images I never 'wish I'd used a prime'.
Nifty fifty. Doesn't get a lot of use (50mm is a bit long for a 28mm sensor as a walk-around) but it is sharp.
EF-S 55-250mm IS. Delightfully light and compact with respectable image quality. Not as high a keeper ratio as my other lenses, I think the AF needs care to get right.
EF 100mm f2.8 L IS Macro. An absolute delight. My 'razor' lens; any aperture, any point on the frame. AF can get a bit lost if it starts from a wildly blurred point on the focusing ring, understandably.
2) I got my first SLR in 1979 and have never been without one since then.
3) Maybe you're not so much a noob, but for true noobs my first tip is to get a hotshoe flash with a swivel head and use it A LOT. Will transform your photography more than ANY lens.
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Lenses / Re: If you can have ONLY 3 lenses, what would they...???
« on: October 02, 2012, 04:22:14 AM »Well, I used this thread and some others to help me decide on this trio during the 20% refurb sale:
EF-S 17-55 f2.8
EF 85 f1.8
EF 70-200 f4 (non-IS, shooting kids sports outdoors in sunny Florida)
I know it doesn't sound very impressive against everyone's dream list that costs $10k+, but I'd say I did alright for $1.5k and got 95% of the performance those lists offered.
Excellent lenses, you are in for a treat!
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Lenses / Re: What 3 lenses do you dream of and long to own?
« on: October 02, 2012, 04:18:26 AM »
I notice a lot of Wide Aperture Worship in this thread. 
I don't really dream of lenses that are very big and heavy.
1. I would love one of those Canon tilt-shift lenses, I have never had such a thing and the possibilities are exciting.
2. The new EF 28mm f2.8 IS is a dream standard lens for me on my 28mm sensor camera. But I will probably never get it because the practical guy inside me keeps saying "your 17-55 includes 28mm, includes f2.8, and includes IS, so what are you thinking!?!"
3. The EF 70-300mm L IS, I dream of this one A LOT because it is probably my next lens purchase!
I don't really dream of lenses that are very big and heavy.
1. I would love one of those Canon tilt-shift lenses, I have never had such a thing and the possibilities are exciting.
2. The new EF 28mm f2.8 IS is a dream standard lens for me on my 28mm sensor camera. But I will probably never get it because the practical guy inside me keeps saying "your 17-55 includes 28mm, includes f2.8, and includes IS, so what are you thinking!?!"
3. The EF 70-300mm L IS, I dream of this one A LOT because it is probably my next lens purchase!
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Lenses / Re: About to buy the 135L, and then saw this....
« on: October 02, 2012, 04:02:29 AM »....In the case of lenses, they are reporting resolution as a peak measurement - the highest resolution measured at any location in the lens' FoV, at any aperture setting, and for zooms at any point in the focal range. Maybe the lens is crap wide open and crap through most of the zoom range - DxOMark's resolution score doesn't care....
So they measure the wrong thing then. Any chinese $50 lens maker can make a lens that has spectacular resolution at *one* point in the field and at *one* aperture setting. Silly DxOMark.
Quote
....the real problem with the DxOMark scoring ....they make it far too easy for human nature to pounce on that number and say, "This one is the best."
To sum up, IMO, DxO's Measurements are valid and useful, their Scores are meaningless, and the inappropriate interpretation that many forum posters apply to their conflated scores is reprehensible.
Nah sorry, if they publish data that is inconsistent with human nature, then I don't know what species they think they are talking to!
And I wouldn't blame forum posters for 'inappropriate interpretation' in this case. If DxOMark publish a number called 'resolution score' which makes good lenses look bad and bad lenses look good, then I will accuse them of 'mischievous obfuscation'! And that's being kind; I could have accused them of deliberate deception and spectacularly incompetent data presentation.
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Lenses / Re: If you can have ONLY 3 lenses, what would they...???
« on: October 02, 2012, 03:34:18 AM »
For all-round general purpose flexibility and a 28mm sensor,
EF-S 10-22mm
EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS - mounted on the camera!
EF 70-300mm L IS
However if macro is a serious priority,
EF 100mm f2.8 L IS - doubles as a portrait lens
EF-S 15-85mm IS
EF 70-300mm IS
EF-S 10-22mm
EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS - mounted on the camera!
EF 70-300mm L IS
However if macro is a serious priority,
EF 100mm f2.8 L IS - doubles as a portrait lens
EF-S 15-85mm IS
EF 70-300mm IS
73
EOS Bodies / Re: mhm... open letter to canon?
« on: September 27, 2012, 09:31:22 PM »
DKN, you are diverting discussion from your original claim that Canon's claim the 6D has good low light AF is 'bull'. I can't see why you doubt it.
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EOS Bodies / Re: Who said Canon cameras suck?!?
« on: September 27, 2012, 09:26:04 PM »...I am happy with my 5D3. However, I also agree Nikon has better sensor. ...
Nikon don't make better sensors, though. It's an open secret that Nikon uses Sony sensors.
This means if Sony catches a cold, Nikon develop pneumonia. If Sony has a production problem, Nikon has a supply problem and a recall problem. If Sony's FF sensor production stalls or has issues, how much will it hurt Sony? Ah, but how much will it hurt Nikon?Also, Nikon are therefore losing their in-house sensor capability. If Canon have a particular area they want to research and develop their sensors, they just power ahead and do it. If Nikon have a similar wish, they write a begging letter to Sony. If Sony's imaging priorities start to diverge from what Nikon would like, too bad, Nikon products will suffer.
And this flows on to the issue of integration. By controlling all aspects of product development, Canon can develop fully integrated products. One can expect them to use this to make better *cameras*. A sensor is not a camera.
If you are wondering if this is terribly important, ask Apple. Nikon are becoming the PC of cameras next to Canon's Apple. The PC might have a CPU with a few more 0.1 GHz and an extra MB of cache, but in terms of integrated performance for the end user...... It is impossible for them to keep up for long while they have to take what Sony delivers and built a camera and processor around it with falling in-house sensor tech capability. IMHO.
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EOS Bodies / Re: 7D!
« on: September 23, 2012, 09:23:04 PM »
....So basically to get a true comparison I need to photograph one subject with both cameras but with the 40D zoom to 180% to get the same magnification to accurately compare?...
Mate, are you a camera reviewer? What's the point? Go read a real reviewer's test of the 7D e.g. dpreview.com: they thought the IQ was fine.