Messages

1

Lenses / Re: Best lens for capturing the Milky Way?

« on: May 13, 2013, 11:46:01 PM »

Awesome!  Thanks for the links!

I've noticed your images look SIGNIFICANTLY less noisy than mine (taken on a 5D Mk III), what kind of noise-reduction are you using, if any?  A lot of your ISO 20k images look better than my 6400 images! (such as this one: http://500px.com/photo/33608607)  Are you just using LR's chroma noise reduction?

Great website, love the analysis, super-helpful!

Thanks.  If you look at the second page linked on there those full size examples have zero noise reduction done other than color.  I tried to do some on the smaller sized versions but pretty much it wasn't helping any of them and making them look worse, so most of those don't even have any sized down.  But the full sized crops on the second page were left alone to show the noise/lack of noise.  Pretty amazing sensor up in those extreme ranges.  But a lot of it can just be the scene.  Like if you have any haze or fog it will obviously show noise a lot quicker.  THis was very clear and so also there are a lot more stars too and that added detail tends to hide noise/make it appear better. 

2

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 6D + Samyang 24 Visits Badlands Milky Way Extreme ISOs

« on: May 10, 2013, 11:44:41 PM »

In your opinion, may I acheive a good result with canon 7D too at high iso? better to shoot in RAW I think...

Might get something worthwhile at F1.4 yeah.  Not sure what ISO I'd expect to get away with.  3200 maybe.

I can't go wider than 15 f/3.5 in this moment.... (budget problems!)
Any advices?

All you can do is try and see what happens. Can always shoot moonlit scenes or star trails instead easily enough with slower glass and lower ISOs. 

3

Lenses / Re: Best lens for capturing the Milky Way?

« on: May 10, 2013, 11:28:31 PM »

I’ve rented the Zeiss 15 and 21’s but I never had good skies while I was renting them so I couldn’t test them.  Anyone test these bad boys out yet?  Curious if the coma is well-controlled or not.

I own the 21 and have at least one example on this page I posted the other day here.  http://www.extremeinstability.com/2013-5-4.htm  Second page has full sized crops of several lenses.

Extreme corner crop here at full size 20,000 ISO on 6D.  http://www.extremeinstability.com/stormpics/2013/2013_05_04_50971zeiss20000rightcorner.jpg  Some coma on just the brightest stars.

4

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 6D + Samyang 24 Visits Badlands Milky Way Extreme ISOs

« on: May 09, 2013, 02:52:09 PM »

Oh and nice shots OP, if only there had been a new moon huh?  And yes the 24L II does have a coma issue even though it's a great lens overall, might have to grab a Samyang.  I haven't experienced coma issues with the 14LII, but I have heard that the Samyang is about just as good (better if you consider the price).  Nice shots/comparison

Yeah I need to get out for the no morning moon/higher Milky Way op.  Kinda wanted the moon for part of it for that op too anyway but for sure now want a no moon op.  May give it a whirl next couple nights but sadly looking at Omaha about 50 miles south.  Getting a completely clear night this year is not an easy task. 

5

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 6D + Samyang 24 Visits Badlands Milky Way Extreme ISOs

« on: May 09, 2013, 02:45:05 PM »

In your opinion, may I acheive a good result with canon 7D too at high iso? better to shoot in RAW I think...

Might get something worthwhile at F1.4 yeah.  Not sure what ISO I'd expect to get away with.  3200 maybe. 

6

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 6D + Samyang 24 Visits Badlands Milky Way Extreme ISOs

« on: May 09, 2013, 02:42:22 PM »

I am thinking about the Samyang 14 too. Is this the VDSLR or just the normal one?

Looks great.

It's this one right here currently on sale till 20th.  http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/849815-REG/Bower_SLY2414C_24mm_f_1_4_Wide_Angle_Lens.html 

7

Lenses / Re: Best lens for capturing the Milky Way?

« on: May 08, 2013, 07:47:23 PM »

She uses many of Canon's UWA and WA lenses including the 24 1.4L to photography the night sky.
Granted, she has access to high quality gear via CPS but she recommends stopping this lens down to 2.8 or even 5.6 to reduce coma. 

Just what one wants to have to do with the expensive as hell 24L they just bought, stop it down to F2.8 or gasp F5.6.  Must be cool to be restricted by being tied to Canon when giving recommendations. 

Stopping way down for say Milky Way shots isn't using the limitations knowledge of the gear to their advantage.    It's using just Canon gear to their disadvantage. 

8

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 6D + Samyang 24 Visits Badlands Milky Way Extreme ISOs

« on: May 08, 2013, 06:21:57 PM »

Thanks.  Yeah haven't tried the tracking thing yet but it could be fun for sky only shots of the Milky Way then stack that into some shot later. The 'oomph' from F1.4 and such high ISO ability now is almost making it so you won't even have to.  But for sure could get even more crazy views of the Milky Way that way. 

The Samyang 24 is better than I had thought it would be.  Granted I haven't really even used it except for that night stuff. 

The Samyang 14 distortion isn't much of an issue with the profile to fix it.  I have some day corner sharpness, vignetting and distortion before and after fix on that one here:  http://www.extremeinstability.com/topic-14-21-50-lenses.htm

9

EOS Bodies - For Stills / 6D + Samyang 24 Visits Badlands Milky Way Extreme ISOs

« on: May 08, 2013, 01:11:05 PM »

I did this last spring with a rented 5D III and Canon 14L.  Did it last fall with a 5D II and Canon 24L.  Now just did it again with a 6D and Samyang 24(as well as the Samyang 14 and Zeiss 21). 

The 6D is simply a beast with high ISOs and the night sky.  Even more of one than the 5D III was, easily trumping it.  12,800 was not a problem at all.  Quite amazing actually.  10,000 felt like one was starting to push it for the 5D III.  The same feeling probably comes in around 20,000 ISO or so on the 6D.

The Samyang 24 F1.4 was a load better for this than the coma abusive Canon 24L II.  Plenty fine using it at F1.4 for this.  Paired on the 6D it is pretty insane what can be had. 

The Samyang 14 also a lot better for this than the Canon 14L II. 

All images on here just one exposure, so no tracking stuff obviously.  http://www.extremeinstability.com/2013-5-4.htm 

I made a second page with full size crop examples for some 6D high ISO ideas as well as the coma of the 4 lenses.  I could probably add something if something was wanted.  It's clearly not a direct comparison as I never shot with that in mind and had the gear at completely different times.  It is what it is and I'm sure enough to give some an idea what to expect that might help.  http://www.extremeinstability.com/2013-5-4b.htm

10

Software & Accessories / Re: Alternatives to Adobe Software

« on: May 07, 2013, 08:33:06 PM »

Thank god CS6 has the ability it has.  They should have tried screwing everyone a while ago.

11

Lenses / Re: Best lens for capturing the Milky Way?

« on: April 28, 2013, 11:57:07 PM »

It's not Canon.  Probably Samyang or their other brands.  Canon is king coma both the 14L II and especially the 24L II.  I used both for that....

http://www.extremeinstability.com/2012-9-22.htm  24L II

http://www.extremeinstability.com/2012-3-30.htm  14L  II

They both have make you barf wings off points of light.  It extends so far in on full frame too.  It really has a way of killing the use for star photography. 

1.4 vs 2.8 is so huge though obviously.  So with that in mind, I'd think the Samyang 24 F1.4 would be damn tempting to give a whirl.  Wider than 24 would be nice though as it actually is limiting on Milky Way even vertical shooting.  But of course bye bye F1.4-F2.8

I now have the Zeiss 21 and Samyang 14, neither of which I've done this with yet.  Samyang 14 has some hefty vignetting wide open that may not help much.  Least it doesn't wing/coma like Canon.  I'm actually planning to take it to the Badlands for that soon on a 6D.  But really, as you can see from the F1.4 24L stuff there is potential for craziness with high ISOs.  If only 1/3 of the frame wasn't winged the hell out.  So in the end I'd say taking a 14 Samyang and 24 would be a great idea.  The 14 Rokinon version was down to what, $300 or so? 

http://www.lenstip.com/330.7-Lens_review-Samyang_24_mm_f_1.4_ED_AS_UMC_Coma__astigmatism_and_bokeh.html
http://www.lenstip.com/245.7-Lens_review-Canon_EF_24_mm_f_1.4L_II_USM_Coma_and_astigmatism.html

Least the Samyang 24 will have noticeably less wingage than the Canon.  Too bad it's not the same prices as their 14 lol. 

12

Lenses / Re: Canon 24-105 F/4L

« on: March 30, 2013, 10:23:48 AM »

Just added the 6D and 24-105 2 days ago and first shot with it yesterday.  I keep trying to talk myself into selling the lens but I can't come up with a better alternative.  I'll have the 21 Zeiss on the 6D and this lens will be on the 5D II at the same time(figure it'd be best to run two bodies for the rare times a tornado is passing close by and no time to switch lenses lol).  The wide shot will be happy with the Zeiss, like a lot happy as it is amazing.  I'm having a fit in my head if I need the zoom or not for the second body and not just a 50 or 85 prime.  The thing is, at 50mm the 24-105 at F4 is dam similar to a Sigma 50 at F4.  But yeah not at F2  .  The good thing is 24mm is clearly its weak end but by quite a lot.  Need to see just where that gets better between there and 50mm.  35-90mm might be really damn "happy" with that lens and that would be great.

I'm a little shocked just how bad the color fringing is though.  Sure it can easily be removed but it sure isn't helping things.  Vignetting wouldn't be as annoying if it wasn't such a sharp change and was spread out a bit more.  For sure that would be a very damn fine lens on a crop body.  And even full it seems pretty darn happy inside 24mm and to a lesser degree also inside 105mm.  Edges are a billion times better than the 17-40 ever was anyway so there's that lol. 

I've gotten rather picky over the last few years(even when I already know it doesn't matter for the image and old original rebel kit lens images will still be selling over everything else, making the point all the more lol).  Anyway, as anal as I've gotten, even on full frame the 24-105 is trying its ass off to get me to keep it and use it.  24-70 F4 sounds like its weakness is in the middle.  Screw that then.  24-70 F2.8 I may as well just go 50mm since there will be a 21mm on another body anyway. 

I hope you got a good deal on it.  It was $2330 or something like that from Amazon, which if one then wants to sell the 24-105 anyway, for like $800, then the body was only $1500.  I think Canon's rebate deal ends today on things. 

13

Canon General / Re: Think I need a 12 step program

« on: March 29, 2013, 09:41:28 PM »

My name is Mike, I'm a camoholic. 

Last fall added the 5D II, 14 Samyang, 50 Sigma and 21 Zeiss.  Lately had a buying bug real bad and convinced myself I need to run two bodies at once.  So yesterday a 6D with 24-105 arrived.  Now I'm trying to refrain from selling the 24-105 and snatching up the 85L.  I'd finally feel rather complete after all that and having the 100-400 already as well.  Yeah right I'd feel complete. 

Sad thing is I've hardly shot a thing since all that.  If severe weather season would hurry the heck up I could probably save myself from giving into the buying bug.  Like some sort of "fix" when waiting on being able to shoot what you shoot.

14

Reviews / Re: Review - EF 24 f/1.4L II

« on: March 22, 2013, 06:02:36 PM »

I'm looking to rent a lens for a backpacking trip this summer in the Sierras and was looking at the Zeiss ZE 21mm f/2.8 would you go with the Zeiss 21 or Canon 24. Manual focus isn't an issue.

I had the 24 first on a 5D II but quickly wound up swapping it out for the 21 Zeiss.  I'd hoped to use the fastness of the 24 for night sky stuff but the coma is so extreme it rendered it useless for that and needed stopped to at least F2.8 anyway.  The Zeiss is dope. 

15

Lenses / Re: Help Me Build My Lens Stable!

« on: February 17, 2013, 11:04:50 PM »

I just made a similar jump and wound up with these and a couple in there I didn't keep...  http://www.extremeinstability.com/topic-14-21-50-lenses.htm

24L for astro I'd probably rethink that one.  Stars will have huge ol wings on full frame well in from corners and even stopped down some.