Messages

136

Lenses / Re: B&H Issues!!!

« on: October 13, 2012, 08:50:40 PM »

If its any consolation - I just got two waterproof Fuji cameras from Amazon.

Shipped by Amazon, not 3rd party.  Amazon handed off to FedEx.

FedEx handed off to the US Post Office.   Tracking on FedEx says out for delivery.

No delivery, I had folks at the house, waiting for the package.  No slip left... no nothing.

Finally - at 10pm, FedEx reports "Delivery Attempt Made".

So, I call FedEx.  They say, sorry call the Post Office.  Post Office says... Sorry, call FedEx.

I go to the local Post Office.  Guy at the counter takes the info, says it ought to be in the back.  He looks for about half an hour.  Nope.  No clue where it is.   Then he says... they're only supposed to make one delivery attempt, but "it may have gone back out".   Ok, so we wait again.  Nothing.  Next day, I go back to the Post Office.  Same guy looks again.  Nothing.  So I ask... "is it lost".  No, its not lost, since its still in their system.  He says, don't file a claim, give it another day.   Went home, and its raining really hard at that point.   Cats go nuts at the front.  I look out.  Nothing, no vehicle.  Open the door, and stuffed down inside my bougainvillaea bush (thorns!) is an Amazon box... soaked.    Inside,  I open the box and it has OBVIOUSLY been tampered with.  First off, an Amazon box is a sort of fold up affair that doesn't even have tape all the way around it.  You can slide out a "wing" and get to the contents.  In fact, small contents can fall out.   So I'm going thru things... one memory card had been opened, and inserted into the one camera, as also its battery.  Hang tag gone.  Sticker in the box with empty battery plastic bag.  There was one shot on the memory card - which had been erased, but ... was recoverable.   Shot of the inside of the Post Office!   

I probably have some sort of case, but I thought for a second... I got the cameras, and they're disposable to me anyway.  Not worth me losing more money taking off from work to go fight the Post Office.

137

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Unreliable AF on 7D with FW 2.0.3?

« on: October 13, 2012, 11:04:53 AM »

Is the cause known?

I've read reports elsewhere that extensive AFMA settings were returned to "zero", and when reset, were off by a wide margin.  I'm clueless as to their architecture but... I've experienced the same in programming issues... compounded values etc.

The hunting part...  I didn't find a lot on the web about that, but auto-off issues, and AFMA issues... they're out there.

138

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Unreliable AF on 7D with FW 2.0.3?

« on: October 13, 2012, 09:46:32 AM »

With limited, and perhaps somewhat dangerous knowledge of things...  some precautions may be in order.

Sorry to say - writing down your AFMA settings, any other "must be set" CF's, and then resetting the camera to its default BEFORE doing the upgrade, may be a safer way.

139

Software & Accessories / Re: Lens coat, any good?

« on: October 12, 2012, 09:50:40 PM »

Tell ya what works on my 300/4.0USM

I've got a length of camo cloth - tiger stripe camo to be exact - got it sewn into a "tube" and elastic put in both ends.  Done.  Works great.

I've also got a "green ghost" woodland camo personal blind, with extension for as long a lens as you might want, also with elastic on the end.  Its open in back (thank the breeze Gods!) and other than being hotter than two rats humpin' in a wool sock, is a great personal blind.  It fits head to toe, even while on a chair, sitting behind a tripod.... a nice personal piece of cover.... and it works (for the most part).

140

Software & Accessories / Re: 7D Maximum burst after FW v 2.0.0

« on: October 12, 2012, 09:27:54 PM »

Sigh... typical.

Tell ya what.... I don't look at the gosh-darn number in the display. 

Instead, I try to know the nature of the beat (the camera), as if it were an extension of me.

In that manner of familiarity, I just know I'm going to get a lot, or just a few frames, depending on how things were set.

I don't have a 7D, but I have had a 350D and 400D, and a 5DmkII... each has their own unique personality.

I may be geting a 7D soon... have not decided yet on which to get.   So, its nice to know there is an "issue", but its not a deal breaker for me.  Every camera has issues.....

141

Lenses / Re: B&H Issues!!!

« on: October 12, 2012, 04:54:22 PM »

When you ship vast quantities by UPS, the tracking number and label are generated at the shipper's end - but go into the UPS computers from there, without UPS actually having gotten the package.  When UPS does its scheduled pickup, each box is scanned into the UPS system, and from there its forwarded to its destination.

Realize that they COULD be a whole day between shipping entry and UPS getting from B&H.  Once its in UPS hands, the "next day" takes place.  Thats why there is usually a disclaimer about "orders placed by 1pm will be shipped the same day" (or other qualifying disclaimer).

So... if you called after their cutoff time, the order may be IN the system, but the box might not be there yet.

I go thru this daily in our industry (non - photo related)

142

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: SOFT BOXES - BRACKETS - STANDS - MUST BUY! (say it 3 times)

« on: October 10, 2012, 06:42:35 PM »

Just Hoping on Some Suggestions for booms, stands, soft-boxes (for speed lights) and other bits like sync cables and cheaper solutions to lighting effectors.


what are you using?

I've gotten Photflex and Chimera softboxes.... I wont ever get another Photoflex though.  They use a PVC interior coating that deteriorates.  My very old Chimera banks are still going strong.... Photoflex... has yellowed a bit, so I restrict them to monochrome use.

I'm using Matthews Beefy Baby stands.  They make some nice booms too.   If you can swing it financially, you want a big yoke, heavy stand for a boom.   Small stands like the BB are just fine for non boom use.   Can't have enough MatthClamps.

I started with PCBuff White Lightning Ultras, and have been picking them up used ever since.  Still going strong, with occasional tube replacements.  They do take a funky modeling light, not too bright, but you can sub in household bulbs if the pattern is not super critical (such as umbrella or box use).

I've used 36x48 boxes a lot, but am also using some 60" umbrellas, and some Matthews silks.  Shooting thru a silk or double silk is very flattering.   I can set up two 60x60 silks about six inches apart from each other, and put a monolight behind it about six feet.  You get a huge wall of light that is very soft.  Then you can single silk a smaller frame say... 48 square and use that with another light as a main light.

There's no end to stuff.  Get a Matthews catalog and you'll get some ideas.

143

Technical Support / Re: 1100D changing focus screen!

« on: October 10, 2012, 06:45:53 AM »

Manually focusing from the screen is something thats going to be poor in that camera. 

I wont go into all the specifics, but in "the old days" before AF, low/medium price SLR's were focus adjusted by tilting the mirror such that the center of the screen was "in focus", and thus making the focusing aid - such as the split image - work with good accuracy.

Better cameras, Nikon F  series, Canon F1 series, etc... had their screens set into a holder that was shimmed at the factory (at considerable pain in the butt too I might add).  The shimming allowed a perfect 45 degree mirror, which kept the image "square" (no tilts), and it also allowed focusing on any part of the screen.

The 1100D/T3i is not made with either of those benefits, so focusing off the screen is "catch as catch can..."

Sorry.

144

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: The Unholy Trinity of Non-L Primes?

« on: October 07, 2012, 11:51:31 PM »

the 100mm f2 is better then the 85mm f1.8.

i don´t know why everyone recommends the 85mm.
the purple fringing of that lens, even when fixable in post, is annoying.

Yup +1

I've got the 28/1.8, and have tested it against the 24-105L at 28mm and F/4.0.   The 28/1.8 is much better than the 24-105L at F/4.0.  And, you can let things suffer a little, and open it up 2-1/3 more stops if need be.

If I had three, and only three CANON lenses to pick... whew... tough choice. 

I'd go 100/2.8 macro, non-L over the 100/2.0

I'd go 50/1.4 but if I could find a version-I of the 50/1.8, I'd get it.

And,  28/1.8 easily for wide.

And thats IF my only choice was three.

People hate it, but the 20/2.8 is not a bad performer... especially when you have peripheral illumination correction.

145

Software & Accessories / Re: Needing a primer on batteries

« on: October 07, 2012, 11:44:11 PM »

I got two off brand batteries from B&H for my old Rebel / 400D

They worked just the same as the OEM Canon battery.  No difference I could tell...

If you shop, you can get a spare Canon battery for a little bit less.....

146

Software & Accessories / Re: Help suggest a Tripod for Landscape, low angle shots

« on: October 07, 2012, 11:41:57 PM »

There is no one good tripod for all occasions...

I've got a 18+ lb Majestic that I used to carry thru the Everglades.  Whew...

Old "Leica Tiltall" still going after 35 years

Assorted table top tinker-pods....

Think with tripods, is to be really good at stability, they have to have some weight.   

Almost any tripod will work well _IF_ you add a sandbag from its column.

147

Lenses / Re: First Portrait Lens, Need Suggestions

« on: October 06, 2012, 11:02:44 PM »

I'm a huge fan of the 100/2.0 - - - even though I'm using the 100/2.8macro

Had the 85/1.8... never really cozied up to it, but that was FF, not crop.

I think if I was shooting all crop sensors, the 85/1.8 might be worth another look.

I like the foreshortening that the added length gives.  For me, on FF, a 135mm is about the best for portrait work, but camera-subject distance becomes a problem indoors many times.

The one and only "fashion" shoot I did, was with an F1 and 200/2.8 back in film days.  It did GREAT because the entire shoot was in a silk top courtyard.  Add a little fill for specularity sake, and whammo... done deal!

148

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Finnish wearing on my 5D Mark III

« on: October 06, 2012, 01:13:07 PM »

yes..when it represents years of hard shooting...but in less the 6 months....??

You're doing 4 to 8 weddings a month.  Shutter actuations have nothing to do with finish wear.  But in six months someplace between 24 and 36 weddings.

Jeeze, I've been there, and weddings are rough on equipment.  You're a one man whirlwind, with hopefully an assistant to help carry stuff, arrange shots, and keep an extra eye on security matters.  It is a photographic zoo doing most weddings.  I hated them at times, but never once regretted coming home with sore back, sore legs, sore feet, soaked in sweat..... and having to sit down and clean equipment of grunge, sweat and grime, and at times icing, and champagne... it is hell on photographers AND their equipment.

You're shooting weddings with the camera.  You no doubt have a backup as well.  you're making money, as I did.   Equipment at that point was, not expendable, but it was depreciated.  I got good life out of brand H medium format, but...  did manage to go thru a body and a few backs just due to wear.

149

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Finnish wearing on my 5D Mark III

« on: October 06, 2012, 10:07:29 AM »

Some folks would call that a badge of honor... not quite as bad a Willie Nelson's guitar....

I've had black Nikons back in the day... much much worse.  I remember one Nikkormat FT2 that was... way more brass than black.... I kept that camera with me daily with 35/2.0 on it "just in case"

First wear is always the hardest to stomach.  Just keep goin' with the flow. 

150

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Once you go "L" you'll never go back....

« on: October 05, 2012, 11:31:40 PM »

L glass never sold a shot that was crap to begin with.... that was the photographer's problem.

L glass never got a bird to turn its head and face the sun so you'd get a nice catchlight in its eye....

L glass never forced a bride to give you that cute look that her family enjoys

L glass never cured a pixel peeper of their pixel peepin'

Get the lens that does the job.