Messages

4801

EOS Bodies / Re: Our Coverage of CES 2012

« on: January 10, 2012, 01:47:20 PM »

With LG and Samsung once again promising OLED TV's this year, it might be interesting to look into their booths and ask about laptops and monitors.  If its true as they claim that colors are more accurate along with better and more even brightness, even better than tube monitors, news of a new monitor might be something to look forward to.

Supposedly, they have overcome the problem with lifetime of blue phosphors, but can they make high enough resolution for a computer monitor?

4802

Japan / Re: Will major retailers in Japan get stock of new model earlier than those in US?

« on: January 10, 2012, 01:32:12 PM »

They often appear in Hong kong one or two days earlier.  Canon is said to place a embargo on sales before the official sales date, but I usually see images from a excited new owner a couple of days to a week before Adorama has them.

4803

PowerShot Cameras / Re: Canon PowerShot G1 X Announced

« on: January 09, 2012, 11:23:52 PM »

I have one on pre-order, but when Chuck Westfal noted that the camera could not be tethered to a pc, that was a disappointment.  Its not a deal breaker, but would certainly be a feature I would use.

February delivery ...  Lets see, is it Leap Year?  Only 28 days in February, so they don't have that extra one day cushion.

4804

Software & Accessories / Re: EdMika adapter launch - 0.5mm FD-EOS dual-orientation adapter for super-teles

« on: January 09, 2012, 08:57:59 PM »

I tried to buy a FD 800mm f/5.6 from a Craigsliist seller today, he had it listed for $950, but it sold before I could get it.   So, I'll keep looking for some reason to buy that adapter.

4805

Software & Accessories / Re: Canon SDK +iOS/Android

« on: January 09, 2012, 05:24:53 PM »

I haven't heard of it. 

Acer and Lenovo are said to be releasing windows8  based tablets this fall, with a lot more computing power.  I would expect usb ports, memory card slots, and other features that would appeal to photographers.

I'm holding off on a tablet until one that is more suited for photography shows up.

4806

Lenses / Re: Wide Angle Lens - 16-28 F2.8 Tokina vs Canon 17-40 F4

« on: January 09, 2012, 05:12:04 PM »

I almost bought the tokina, they have been good lenses for me.  However, lots of buyers were complaining about QA issues, the lens must be very difficult to adjust to spec.  Photozone noted the same thing.

4807

Software & Accessories / Re: Automatic Microfocus adjustment software

« on: January 09, 2012, 05:08:57 PM »

I finished with my 5D this morning.  The full auto gives repeatable results every time I've tried it.  As you can see, there is no direct corelation between settings on the 7D and the 5D MK II.  I measured the zooms at 3 different focal lengths, but picked the one I most often used to put in the camera.  By looking at the bell curve, its easy to select a value that will do well for all.  Even the 100-400mm L has a very wide bell curve and should be fine at 100mm with it set to +4.

Only my od 300mm f/4L was at zero on both bodies.  Thats a beatup lens that I expected to be off, so you can't tell by the looks.  The 15mm FE also seems to be a ananomoly, I tested it three times, moving the camera and re-aligning, but it always came out the same.

FoCal Lens Calibration Results
         7D      5D MK II
Lens            
Canon 15mm FE      +2      -15
Tokina 17mm f/3.5      +4      +2
Canon 35mm f/1.4      +4      +5
Canon 50mm f/1.4      +4      -8
Canon 85mm f/1.8      -12      -14
Canon 100mm L         -1          -5
Canon 135mm L         -10        -3
Canon 300mm f/4 L IS   +0      +0
Canon 15-85mm EF-s   +0

Canon 24-105mm L      
      24mm   +0      -6
      50mm   -3      -7
      105mm   -2      -2
(Set to -4)

Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS      
      70mm   -5      -3
      100mm   -3      -3
      200mm   -3      -3

Canon 100-400mm L IS      
      100mm   -7      -5
      250mm   +1      +4
      400mm   +1      +4
(set to +4)

4808

Software & Accessories / Re: Automatic Microfocus adjustment software

« on: January 09, 2012, 12:51:59 PM »

The larger adjustment range is a promised feature at some time in the future.

"And the following tests coming shortly after release:  

Out of range testing - take the AF Micro adjustment value outside of the normal +/-20 range for problematic lenses.

Yes, I read that, too - that was the point of my question. When I read that, it suggests to me that the testing will be capable of going beyond the normal range, but it does not indicate that it will be possible to actually set an in-camera AFMA outside the normal range.  Do you think the latter would be possible without altering the firmware? 

Looking at the plots you posted, I'd bet the shape of the curves would be pretty similar for a given lens, or perhaps class of lenses. So, given sufficient data on those lenses, if a curve is 'trending up but starting to approach a peak' between, say, +14 and +20, but hasn't peaked yet, the software will extrapolate the curve and report that you'd need a +23 adjustment, even though it didn't test +23. Alternatively, since the software can measure the time between initiating focus and focus lock each time, and also the direction, it could apply a 'manual focus' adjustment equal to one AFMA unit for values beyond 20, and measure the sharpness at those expanded settings, providing real data for the plots.

But, I think the only way an out-of-range adjustment could actually be applied and used when the camera isn't connected to FoCal would be a ML-type firmware hack.  I'd be very interested to hear other opinions, or examples of other custom functions having their available parameters changed externally.

The FoCal software is the production version of the AF-MAC software.  If I read it right, the AF-Mac could not save a MA out of the -20 to +20 range, merely test for  it, which is likely done as you conjectured.  Apparently, that feature was less than production ready, so it was held back for a later date.

I really don't see a point in it, if your lens needs a +30 to correct it, it or your camera or both need to go in for adjustment.

http://www.reikan.co.uk/photography/blog/?p=1561

4809

Software & Accessories / Re: Automatic Microfocus adjustment software

« on: January 09, 2012, 11:52:51 AM »

Does FoCal actually allow you to set an adjustment outside of the -20/+20 range, or does it just report that a greater adjustment is needed?  The latter would be simple extrapolation from the testing, whereas the former would seem to require modification of the firmware...

The larger adjustment range is a promised feature at some time in the future.

"And the following tests coming shortly after release:

Storage of test runs for comparison over time
Out of range testing - take the AF Micro adjustment value outside of the normal +/-20 range for problematic lenses.
Autofocus Performance Test
Autofocus Consistency Test
Lens profiling (sharpness at different apertures, field curvature and more)
As well as the above features, FoCal Pro will be the version that any new features are added to.  So if you want to get the new features sooner, FoCal Pro is the way to go.

So, if its a successful product, we will likely see these features.


The product is not for everyone, you need to be really careful with your setup, and to understand that some lens / body combinations work poorly and testing will show this.  Its nothing new, but we can now easily see it, and the new tools in the future will make even more info available.  I can see sellers providing a copy of the test curve to show how good their lens actually is.  The repeatability of a lens body combination is likely more important than the MA setting, unless its way off.

'

4810

Lenses / Re: I guess there won't be any new lenses at CES?

« on: January 09, 2012, 11:28:39 AM »

I believe you are right.  They will announce "L" lenses with a DSLR body.

4811

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: joe mcnally talks about the D4

« on: January 09, 2012, 11:26:51 AM »

Those who can, DO.  Those who can't criticise.  It seems to hold true for most endeavors. 

BTW I'm not immune, I do it as well..

4812

PowerShot Cameras / Re: Canon PowerShot G1 X Announced

« on: January 09, 2012, 11:22:23 AM »

I don't believe in wide or telephoto add-on lenses for point and shoots.  I've a bunch of them that came with used cameras just piled in a box.

IMHO, Those plastic gears on the P&S are far too easy to damage.  However, a polarizing filter would be nice, I've a wide range of B&H circular polarizing filters.  I'll have to look into the adapter.

4813

PowerShot Cameras / Re: Canon PowerShot G1 X Announced

« on: January 09, 2012, 11:15:07 AM »

Mine is now on pre-order from Adorama.  it will replace my G11.  I find even the G11 too small for my large hands, so this should be more comfortable to hold.  I might even sell off one DSLR and use this as a walk-around camera.

++ It has a viewfinder, Canon got that right.

4814

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon promises a 'mirrorless' camera in 2012

« on: January 08, 2012, 11:02:28 PM »

Interesting to note that the rep believes while there are a lot of EVIL options out there in the market, the number of users with mirrorless bodies who actually use multiple lens is a minority (I wonder how they arrived at that conclusion). 

One final point the rep made is that there's going to be some point when they will have to consider developing an overall "smaller" system, as well as that downsizing the image sensor is the wave of the future - though there's the emphasis on "somewhen in the future".

Presumably, Canon Reps all over the world talk to their retailer customers to see whats selling.  I expect they have a good idea of the number of cameras and lenses sold.

The average consumer wants zoom lenses, while some of the more advanced photographers prefer prime lenses.  It does depend on the target market.  Canon believes their new G1X will capture a big chunk of the market.  If it doesn't, then I'm sure there is a design of a interchangable lens model on the shelf.  Its likely all priced out, and when a go-ahead is given, orders will be placed for long lead items.

4815

Software & Accessories / Re: EdMika adapter launch - 0.5mm FD-EOS dual-orientation adapter for super-teles

« on: January 08, 2012, 10:56:14 PM »

At that price, I should buy one just in case I find a deal on a FD supertelephoto.  I did not understand the bit about bending the aperture lever, but I'd figure it out quickly if I had a lens.I went back and reread the ebay listing, so I now understand the aperture lever.

If I ever am able to find a deal on a old Supertelephoto, I'll buy one of these immediately.