Messages

961

Canon General / Re: An article Canon should read.

« on: August 31, 2011, 12:43:28 PM »

Well, this certainly confirms that there is nothing quite like Apple to get the juices flowing on both sides (all started by one person re-posting a rather silly p.r. story masquerading as commentary).

Archangelrichard, you do realize that your extreme reaction only reinforces the impression that many have about the cult-like loyalty that Apple inspires in some users?

Apple and Canon are both successful companies. They are in the business to make money. It is very tragic that Mr. Jobs is apparently in the end stages of pancreatic cancer (I have had two friends die of this disease in the last several years and I hate to see anyone with this disease), but he is and always was a businessman, not a saint. To suggest that Mr. Jobs did not care about profit is silly. He returned to Apple in order to return it to profitability.

What I take issue with is the suggestion that somehow Canon should be "more like Apple" when people don't really think through the consequences of that kind of statement.

On this forum people endlessly debate the relative merits of esoteric technologies and standards. Some people actually get angry that Canon has so far been unable to produce a camera that shares or exceeds the human eye's ability to reconcile range, tone, speed, focus, etc. (in fact there are even those who get angry because Canon hasn't yet produced a sensor that exceeds the human eye in low-light sensitivity).

The fact is that each new generation of today's digital cameras are improving upon the image quality of previous generations. The quality and flexibility available today was completely unimaginable just a few short years ago when film dominated the marketplace.

This has happened because Canon and Nikon have not (at least so far) abandoned the quality-conscious consumer and professional markets, even though they could certainly do so and probably increase their profits and reduce costs. 

In contrast, Apple has undeniably "dumbed-down" the audio quality of recorded music. As a result of Apple's admittedly impressive ability to innovate and market its innovations, all of us are condemned to a marketplace where recorded music sounds less, not more, like real life.

I am able to enjoy my 7D and the quality of images it produces because Canon has integrated my narrow market segment into their business plan. I know they are doing that because it makes them money, but none-the-less I appreciate their investment in quality and willingness to serve a niche market.

Wherever I travel I see people happily snapping pictures with their phones and it reminds me what I dinosaur I am with my big, heavy SLR. I hope that there will always be a market for consumers like myself, but I have to admit I am fearful that "innovative" products like the iPhone and iPad will further erode the camera market. I really don't want photography to suffer the same fate that recorded music has, where "good enough" displaces great.

I may be on the path to extinction, but for the time being, I'm kind of happy that companies like Canon and Nikon continue to compete for my money.

962

Canon General / Re: An article Canon should read.

« on: August 30, 2011, 04:18:53 PM »

I agree that Apple is a terrifically run company. But let's not pretend that their practice transcends the rules and norms of business. I really hate Apple worship.

+1

Let's see...if Canon were more like Apple we would have a proprietary file format for all images that would allow us to view, print and manipulate those images using only Canon hardware and software.

Canon would create a lens mount that would only function with Canon lenses, so that no third-party lenses could be used on its cameras.

Canon would abandon all but the low and highest-end markets, creating only mass consumer products and specialized products for a very narrow segment of the professional class.

If it continued to offer any mid-range products (Such as DSLRs) it would charge significantly more than Nikon or other competitors for products that have poorer specs.

It would constantly change the form factor and design of its cameras, so that every year the previous year's models would be obsolete.

It would find a way to charge consumers for each image and lock up the marketplace so that consumers could not freely exchange their own images.

If other companies (Adobe) developed industry-dominant applications, Canon would hobble their cameras so that the applications would not run on their cameras.

It would abandon full-frame and probably APS-C sensors and instead compress images into a more narrow dynamic range, figuring that eventually everyone would get so used to seeing the compressed images that they would forget what it is like to see an image with a full range of tones and colors.

Eyeone, I share your pain. I too, tire of the Apple worship.

When it comes to pictures, I'll take stodgy, conservative Canon any day.

963

EOS Bodies / Re: According to NL 5Diii is a late 2012 camera at the very earliest

« on: August 29, 2011, 04:05:54 PM »

In this economy, other than the cream of the crop, high budget, agency and or freelance photographers, who would plop 8 grand down, or even 7 grand on a new top of the line camera? 

That's a very good argument in favor of releasing a 1dsIV before a new 5D. The market for flagship products is always less sensitive to the economy. 1Ds customers fall into two categories – those who need the product to earn a living and can't afford to risk losing work because their equipment isn't equal to their competitors and those who have the disposable income to spend as much as they want on a product. Neither of these targets are impacted as much by the economy as customers at the 5D end of the scale.

If this was my product range I would launch the 1D (of whatever version:s, mk4, mk5 whatever) first to a place stake in the ground and say "beat this".  Then the 5Dmk3 would come out later with a reduced feature set.

Exactly.

My example, after the original statement of principle, cited the 1D and 5D.  They sit in a very different category to the 1000D, 600D, 60D and 7D.

Just because it's fun to cause problems, I will quibble. I think there are really three categories. I would put the 1D bodies into one category, the 5D and 7D into another and all the others into a third. While this forum is dominated by full-frame enthusiasts, my personal, non-scientific observation of the real world is that individuals who earn their living from photography at the modest/middle-class level (wedding photographers, freelancers, small and mid-market photojournalists) seem to be a mixture of 5D and 7D users.

Just one example: I've had the misfortune to attend a number of weddings in the last couple of years and have noticed that while most use 5D's, there are a fair number of 7D users as well. Some mix the two bodies. I have yet to see any wedding photographer using a 1D. (They may be out there, but not at weddings in my socioeconomic category.)

I don't pretend to know where the market is going. I'm not convinced anyone, including Nikon and Canon really knows either. (Not that they don't do a lot of market research, but because the market itself is changing rapidly) But, it seems from my narrow vantage point that the distance between the 5D and the 1D is increasing and the distance between the 7D and the 5D is narrowing.

I still believe that one of the big challenges facing Canon is what to do about video in the 5D. I don't think they anticipated the popularity that the camera would enjoy with video and filmmakers. Now they have to figure out how to satisfy two very different markets. Some months ago, I suggested that the biggest challenge for Canon may be trying to meet both demands in a single body. I still believe they will only split the 5D line if there is absolutely no way they feel they can produce a camera optimized for both film and stills.

Finally, I tend to agree with Neuro that we could well see different sensors in the 1Ds than in the 5D. If that is the case, we could also see both bodies announced at or about the same time.

964

EOS Bodies / Re: According to NL 5Diii is a late 2012 camera at the very earliest

« on: August 29, 2011, 01:08:10 PM »

A little chilling out is in order here. Plus, a little logic.

Is any company going to release a budget model of their product that has more and better features than their flagship? Not likely. So, by logic, that puts the 5D MkIII after a IDs MkIV.

Has the competition released a superior product that Canon must compete with? Lots of rumors, but nothing yet from Nikon and there are no other competitors at the 5D or IDs level.

Where is the fiercest competition right now? Not in the DSLR lines, that's for sure. It's in the mirror-less and in the "enthusiast prestige-rangefinder" category (FUJI).

Where is the profit? Sorry to disappoint, but it's not in any full frame DSLR, it's in Point-and-Shoots, Mirror-less and entry-level DSLRs.

What REAL deadlines might Canon be facing? I see only two plausible and immovable deadlines: the 2012 Summer Olympics and Photokina 2012. It's not an absolute must that Canon has to have new product available for either event, but if they have products in the pipeline, they'd most likely want to have something available for both.

Is there a real competitor in the DSLR line that has actually been announced? The only one I am aware of is Sony's a77, which is a competitor to the 7D and not to any full-frame model.

If Canon is feeling any pressure at all, it is likely to be on the mirror-less, G12/rangefinder and 7D fronts, since that is where competitors are showing up.

So, don't shoot the messengers. Neuro's analysis may not be popular, but it's probably correct.

965

Canon General / Re: Will the new Sonys force Canon to rethink?

« on: August 20, 2011, 11:10:51 PM »

If you read the press release, that impressive looking lens was a "mock-up." Not even a prototype. I wonder how much coffee it holds.

966

Canon General / Re: Will the new Sonys force Canon to rethink?

« on: August 19, 2011, 10:30:02 PM »

why would you now buy a 7D?

That's not even worth responding to.

967

EOS Bodies / Re: *UPDATED* Big Megapixel Camera Next Week.

« on: August 18, 2011, 05:29:33 PM »

Keep in mind that the Sony Alpha a77 certainly fits into these specifications. The rumor says Aug. 25, but the date that is most often quoted is Aug. 24. I suppose it depends on what part of the world you are in, but the dates could certainly be the same.

As for a "big" megapixal camera; define big. It certainly seems that 24 mp on an APS-C camera could be considered "big" by many people.

I'm not saying that's the announcement, just that it fits the specifications. I hope that it is something  bigger and more exciting, but, I'm not going to be terribly surprised if the Alpha a77 is the "big" announcement.

Actually, I am kind of excited by the Alpha a77 announcement because, as a 7D owner, I think it ups the bar for the 7D MarkII.

968

EOS Bodies / Re: 1D Mark V Spec List [CR1]

« on: August 17, 2011, 04:57:17 PM »

Besides the sensor math being wrong, this whole list of specs seems rather nonsensical.

The described camera seems guaranteed to disappoint everyone. A bunch of half-measures and nothing that would be considered game-changing.

I have more confidence in Canon that after all this time, when they finally release a new flagship, they know it must be nothing short of awesome. These specs are frankly a little boring.

This raises a question I've been wanting to ask for quite some time. What exactly constitutes a Canon Rumors source? Not being critical of Canon Rumors Guy, but just wondering. If I make up a bunch of specs and send an email that says I have access to inside information and these are the latest specs for the new Canon 8D Mark VIII, do I become a CR1 source? Do I have to substantiate anything or what?

It's Canon Rumors Guy's website and I appreciate that. Just wondering though what exactly a "source" is.

969

Software & Accessories / Re: 7-D won't fire with Flash

« on: August 13, 2011, 12:40:30 AM »

Cards are Lexar 300X or 400X. I doubt they are the problem. I checked around and found a reference on another forum to the pop up overheating. That does seem to be the most likely culprit.

970

Software & Accessories / Re: 7-D won't fire with Flash

« on: August 12, 2011, 10:22:17 PM »

Okay, I wondered about the pop up. I am not using it for the exposure, only to fire the strobes, but of course, to do so, it has to recycle and fire anyway.

It's strange because initially it all works fine. Recycles quickly without any problem. But, about halfway through a shoot it starts to hang up. I use a battery grip and the batteries are generally charged up, but maybe the pop up overheats or something after a few dozen shots.

I thought I might need to get an ST-E2, but wanted to get some confirmation before spending the money. 

Someone suggested a slower shooting style, so now I'm thinking I may try to pace myself a bit. Shoot a half dozen shots, wait a few minutes and shoot some more. Just a wild guess, but maybe if I can keep it from initially overheating it might work better than letting it overheat and then wait for it to cool down. What do others think?

971

Software & Accessories / 7-D won't fire with Flash

« on: August 12, 2011, 09:30:10 PM »

Okay, this happened to me again tonight and I'm wondering if anyone is familiar with this phenomenon.

I was shooting some portraits using my 7D with two 580 EXIIs mounted off camera and a 430 EX II as a third light to separate the subject from the background. Triggering the flash through the on-camera infrared pop up.

Shooting RAW. Initially, while shooting, everything was going fine and then I began to have a problem where the shutter button would not work and the viewfinder readout says "busy."  I'd have to pause and wait for several seconds before it would clear and let me shoot. I'd get off one shot and it would do the same thing.

When this first happened, I thought the camera was waiting for the flashes to recycle, so I bought battery packs for the 580s. But, it still happens. I thought maybe it was the 430 not recycling, so tried shutting that down. Still hangs up.

This has happened on a number of occasions and I've tried several different things, but can't seem to figure out where the problem is. One time, I tried switching out the memory card, even though it wasn't full. That seemed to help, but not consistently.

Clearly, the camera is waiting for something to clear or recycle, but I can't figure out what it might be. Anyone else ever have this problem or have any ideas.

Thanks.

972

Software & Accessories / Re: Neck strap alternatives

« on: August 12, 2011, 03:51:26 PM »

Okay, I started this thread almost four months ago. You all quickly convinced me that the Black Rapid is the way to go, I just haven't gotten around to ordering it yet.

One reason, though, is I still have one concern: there is just something about attaching the camera to the tripod socket and relying exclusively on that to keep my camera from crashing to the ground that has me a little nervous. I'm worried that the screw could work itself loose when I'm not aware and there is no safety strap or anything as a back-up. Making me even more paranoid is the fact that I use a battery grip, so in my mind there are two possible points of failure: the lug that attaches to the strap and the connection between the battery grip and the camera.

Is this an unrealistic fear? I've thought about fastening some sort of a "safety loop" attaching the regular camera strap lugs to the Black Rapid strap. Anybody consider doing that, or do you all have complete confidence that the Black Rapid lug won't work itself look while the camera is dangling from it?

973

Canon General / Re: Scans

« on: August 11, 2011, 11:21:21 PM »

Digmypics is here in the Phoenix AZ (Gilbert) area and they do their scanning in house...at that is what their website says.

I stand corrected. Perhaps they used to send them offshore or I may be confused. Anyway, I have had good results from them.

974

Canon General / Re: Scans

« on: August 11, 2011, 04:35:18 PM »

I have used DigMyPics.com. As I recall when I was reading reviews, Scancafe also had good reviews. I think the only difference is that one sends the originals to India and the other used Costa Rica. To keep costs down, almost all of these companies off-shore the actual scanning.

The results were fine (I ordered high resolution TIFFS), but these were not portfolio materials, they were family slides taken by my Dad during the 50s and 60s. They did a good job of color correcting the fading slides and there were no dust issues. But, as a say, these were family snapshots, so hard to judge the quality.

At the time I considered buying a scanner and doing it myself, but decided I could not get as good of resolution and did not want to spend the time scanning individual images for weeks on end. They do take awhile, so be aware of that.

If you aren't in any hurry, I'd send a batch to whatever vendor you choose and see how you like the results before committing to 451 slides at once. Also, since they are going overseas, it's probably safest to split the order up. (I'm superstitious).

975

EOS Bodies / Re: Where to buy the to be announced body(s)?

« on: August 10, 2011, 06:00:54 PM »

I've shopped Adorama since the 1970s and have never had a problem. I do sometimes buy from B&H and have no complaints about them either.

One thing though, seems like some people posting on this site are confused about both companies' holiday schedules. Both firms are Orthodox and honor the Jewish religious holidays and schedules. They shut down at sundown on Friday for the Sabbath and don't open up again until Sunday. They also observe holy days, so if you know you are going to be ordering something that is time-critical, it doesn't hurt to take a look at the calendar to check for Jewish holidays that might interfere. Keep in mind that the holiday begins at sunset the day before.

Adorama will usually take an order on a Saturday, but it won't get processed or packaged up until after the Sabbath. Not sure about B&H. Ordering early on a Friday or waiting until Sunday can speed things up a bit.