Messages

391

Lighting / Re: looking for my 1st flash

« on: May 21, 2012, 02:14:38 AM »

What is your purpose of high speed sync? Is it really needed with outdoor portraits?

If it is because you want to use wide apertures for artistic effect, which will kick your shutter speed way up in outdoor light, and that is the only real issue, why not just use an ND filter?

That will allow you to control the DOF and ambient light without the need for hss.

392

PowerShot / Canon PowerShot D20 hands on + photos

« on: May 21, 2012, 01:30:55 AM »

So I wrote this whole long hands-on recap/ review of using this camera over the last week while I was on vacation in Turks & Caicos with my family. But then I went to post it and got an "Access denied error"... So there went that.

To sum up:

I got this camera because it looked cool, then learned that the odd design shape is brilliant & actually allows you to hold it in a more natural way (groove is for left thumb- think like how you hold a lens in your left hand)

There are also some BAD design choices- like the top 3 buttons (power/ shutter/ playback) all being basically the same size, shape & height. I turned the camera off a few times while about to capture the greatest photos of my life. Why.

There were other things I wrote too, like how it's basically a fully auto camera with very few creative controls & there is noise all over the place, blah, blah, blah, but it's late now & I don't want to re-type it all. Thanks CR.

I still fell in love with this stupid camera because it actually is really smart, and nails exposure, white balance, focus, etc on every shot!? And the dynamic range rivals the Nikon D800. Probably not. But I'm happy when I can take a photo in the middle of the day on the beach, or in a pool/ large body of water- and there is sky and people exposed properly


With all that said (and not said), here are a few pics.


Pool View by Philip DiResta, on Flickr


Violet in paradise by Philip DiResta, on Flickr


Beach Girls by Philip DiResta, on Flickr


Blue by Philip DiResta, on Flickr


Beach Entrance by Philip DiResta, on Flickr

393

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Film is still hard to beat

« on: May 20, 2012, 08:51:40 PM »

Crayola is better than roseart.

I just registered http://CrayolaRumors.com

Lol. This thread just got fun!

The digital vs film debate is old.

394

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Film is still hard to beat

« on: May 20, 2012, 08:13:21 PM »

I thinks there is no debate or comparing "film vs digital".

It's like trying to compare a painting to a digital photoshop illustration. They are completely different in every way. One is organic and the other is digital art.

The process of making an exposure on film, developing that film in a dark room, optically making a print on an enlarger, and developing the print has nothing to do with the digital workflow process.

Why can't they just be different forms of art?

Let me guess... you prefer film?

The reason they are considered the same artform is because they are both photography. ;-)

I don't prefer film. I use both. I also use photoshop sometimes, and illustrator other times. And oil paints other times, and crayons when I color with my daughter.

Crayola is better than roseart.

395

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Film is still hard to beat

« on: May 20, 2012, 07:46:03 PM »

I thinks there is no debate or comparing "film vs digital".

It's like trying to compare a painting to a digital photoshop illustration. They are completely different in every way. One is organic and the other is digital art.

The process of making an exposure on film, developing that film in a dark room, optically making a print on an enlarger, and developing the print has nothing to do with the digital workflow process.

Why can't they just be different forms of art?

396

EOS Bodies / Re: Thoughts on new high megapixel Canon DSLR ?

« on: May 19, 2012, 12:50:42 PM »

I thought 18-22mp was a high megapixel count for a 35mm sensor. I like how all of a sudden, just because one company makes a "higher" mega pixy camera, all others are now considered not high enough. Isn't Nikon's flagship like 16 mega peepers? What a joke that thing will be, probably just good enough to shoot Facebook profile pics!

397

EOS Bodies / Re: Mirrorless Vs Regular DSLR -- Your thoughts???

« on: May 17, 2012, 09:50:56 PM »

It's beyond me why a full frame mirrorless camera still does not exist.  Not only would it sell like hotcakes, but it would be SO COOL 

Leica?

398

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Waiting for the EOS-1P?

« on: May 12, 2012, 06:38:42 PM »

When I have my 7D in AI Servo with one focus box, I find I get an insane number of photos in exacting sharp focus exactly where I want it. I even use a bunch of old canon primes- 24 f2.8, 35 f2 and a 50 f1.8 mkI. Those lenses are spot on all day long. I actually leave my camera in AI Servo, then program the DOF preview button to switch to One Shot for when I'm shooting a "still" shot. I photograph a lot of kids these days, and they don't stop moving!

I think there is definitely a learning curve with the 7D, and what I learned us that One Shot isn't as accurate as Servo.

Noise? Never really had an issue at low ISOs. High ISOs I just move a reduce luminance/ color noise slider to the right a bit. Then when I downsize the photo and hit print, never see a problem.

Stop pixel peepin' at 100% at the camera's highest resolution.

Who are all these people making >20" prints of every photo they take?

399

EOS Bodies / Re: Help with Camera decisions

« on: May 11, 2012, 11:40:05 AM »

The 5Dii does not have 720/ 60fps. It also doesn't have it's video mode features as easily integrated into the camera as the 7D.

I've been a 7D shooter for the last 3 years, and recently added a 5DII to my kit... Besides the better image quality the 5DII offers (the ONLY reason I bought it, granted a HUGE reason), the 7D in my opinion is a better all around camera. And when I say "camera" I am not referring to the sensor, just everything else.

If you combine the 7D with the 5Dii you get the 5Diii!

You could also go more budget and get a 60D with a flippy screen (some people like that), and invest the rest of your cash into glass.

I'm mainly a stills person, and a few HUGE features I love that the 7D has over the 5Dii are:
- built-in electronic level (viewfinder & LCD)
- more customizable buttons
- commander flash for off camera flash
- M-fn button
- Better AF

But then the 5Dii has the advantages of:
- full-frame sensor, so full use of your lens' potential
- better IQ, especially at higher ISOs
- Better for manual focusing (you can change the focusing screen)
- shallower DOF

So it really comes down to what YOU need.

400

EOS Bodies / Re: New Crop/APS-C Prosumer Camera Body in the Fall? [CR1]

« on: May 11, 2012, 10:04:21 AM »

I find it crazy that so many people are eager to CONSTANTLY upgrade their camera bodies. I see countless posts where people state: " I started with a T2i, then went to a 60D, then to a 7D, and now I NEED a 7D mkII (or a 70D)".

I don't know, but I'd rather sink my money into glass as opposed to constantly purchasing new camera models for modest "upgrades". What's the rush?

401

Lenses / Re: What can tilt-shift lenses do that post-production cannot?

« on: May 10, 2012, 05:03:27 PM »

Product photography would be another good use of a tilt-shift. Sometimes it is near impossible to get the whole product in focus with standard lenses.

402

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5d3 2 day experience coming from a 7D - Canon responses included...

« on: May 10, 2012, 01:04:39 PM »

I've never had a problem with banding on a low ISO photo... unless it was severely underexposed & I was attempting to save it. And in that case, it's user error not the camera's.

403

EOS Bodies / Re: After DPREVIEW of D800 would you still get the Canon 5d mark iii?

« on: May 09, 2012, 05:27:51 PM »

It's strange how people can be totally happy with a camera and as soon as they hear there is something slightly better out there it immediately becomes a useless piece of junk that's incapable of taking good images.  Just because the D800 has slightly better resolution doesn't make the 5DIII a bad camera.  It's like when the 5DIII got announced.  Up until then, most had nothing but good things to say about the 5DII, but all of a sudden people were acting like it was some ancient piece of crap camera and questioned whether it was "good enough" (even though it's plenty of camera for most).
Relativity is a bitch.

+100

I like to stay a generation behind the technology wave so I never have buyer's remorse, get an amazing price and all the quirks (firmware updates/ mass hysteria of recalls) have been fully worked out!

404

Portrait / Re: Portraits of my GF, Would like feedback!!

« on: May 09, 2012, 12:58:30 PM »

Question - why do you think the first pose looks awkward?? I can see how her arms in the second shot look cut off, but the first I really enjoy. I understand that you guys are saying the post is done too warm, but would you really be able to tell had I not posted the before pics??

Once again thanks for all the feedback. keep it coming! In a constructive way....

I think because as someone mentioned earlier I believe, you have her on the right side of the frame looking to the right. This photo reads to me: " Don't look at me, look at those 2 knots in the wood behind me, they are more interesting!"... Does that makes sense?

405

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Nikon D3200 is likely to be the real market threat

« on: May 09, 2012, 08:15:12 AM »

The only chance for mirror less cameras to erode the DSLR market is for pros to start using them. People buy affordable DSLRs to feel like they have a "pro quality" camera. Most will never bother to learn what an aperture is, nor have any idea how big their sensor is. They basically have expensive point-and-shoots.

Rubbish pros only make up around 15% of the market. Consumers make up the rest.

Not "rubbish". You missed my point. My point was that only if "pros" started using Mirrorless cameras, then consumers would be drawn to them in a way that it would erode the DSLR market. I know the pro market is the minority, but the consumers want to feel like they have a "pro-quality" camera.

The pros need to be seen on the sidelines of the SuperBowl or filming a TV show with their hot-pink-shiny- pancake-pocketable-mirrorless-camera, for the market to take a drastic shift.

A small fashionable camera at a hefty price tag is not going to inspire the masses to drop the DSLR.

After all, bigger is better right?