Messages

61

Software & Accessories / Re: Extreme angles photography. Which tools to use?

« on: January 04, 2013, 01:55:34 PM »

Pixel makes a wireless live-view monitor. I don't have one so can't say how good it is.

http://www.pixelhk.com/Proshow.aspx?id=111

62

Software & Accessories / Re: Oddest kit purchase?

« on: January 04, 2013, 01:45:00 PM »

I carry my lighting stands, etc. in a field hockey stick bag, bought new for £5 on Ebay.

Within my tripod bag, the optional short centre column is stored in a cyclist's 700ml plastic tool bottle (£3).

My filters are stored in an Otterbox 3500 - like a miniature Peli case, complete with pluck foam. On the whole, I seem to have an unusually strong liking for storage solutions!

I previously used cut-down Pringles tubes as snoots on my flashes but now I have one of these which I can recommend:

http://www.amazon.com/CowboyStudio-Stacking-Modifier-System-Speedlite/dp/B008OILV3A

Finally, I use clear plastic name badge holders as gel flash filter holders.

63

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: 5D mark iii & off-camera flash

« on: January 04, 2013, 10:53:20 AM »

Hello Everyone
I have been searching the forums for answers to these questions, and have found variations but not really what I was looking for, so I am hoping some one can help me out.
I recently got a 5d Mkiii. Previously was using my 60D to fire my 580 ex II remotely off camera (I don't really like having flash on camera if I can help it). Obviously with the Mkiii I can't do this, so I was weighing a few options... esp since I would like to start doing multiple flash set-ups... so this are the options I have been weighing...

A) grab an ST-E2, or decent equivalent (help), us that, and then add either another 580 or 430 down the line
B) sell my 580 and get two Yongnuo 565s for the same price, and prob even the 622s to control
C) some sort of mixture of the above... but I am not sure how that would work.

If I am not mistaken, each Yongnuo requires its own 622 to be controlled, correct? But with the canon line I get one ST-E2 and it will fire flashes off camera without receivers? And if I have a 580, should my second flash also be 580, or will a 430 suffice for fill if the 580 is the main flash?

Mostly family portraits, etc... should have mentioned that!

thanks very much!

If you go for the 622s, you'll need one 622 on the camera plus one for each flash. By the way, the 622s are compatible with the 580EX II (indeed all Canon Mk II flashes).

With an ST-E2, you don't need additional receivers. Note that the Yongnuo 565EX and 568EX are compatible (as slave units) with Canon's optical wireless system and they can be mixed with Canon flashes.

You might also consider using your 580EX II as the master and then buying an additional flash (Canon or 565EX/568EX) instead of the ST-E2.

If you're shooting your family portraits indoors with umbrellas, optical wireless is fine. If you're using the flashes in soft boxes or if you're shooting in bright sunlight, radio would be more dependable.

To answer your question about the adequacy of a 430EX II to use with your 580EX II, yes it would be plenty powerful enough for your needs.

64

Lenses / Re: Canon 35mm f/2 IS VS the Sigma 35mm f/1.4

« on: January 02, 2013, 07:47:36 PM »

dswatson83, please stop this charade - these reviews are by you! I'm personally ok for you to link us to them because they seem to me to be be perfectly honest and straightforward assessments but you're not doing yourself (or Sigma, for that matter) any favours by making out that you're a third party.

Welcome to the forum!

65

Lighting / Re: Yongnuo flash sync

« on: December 27, 2012, 08:10:41 PM »

can you mix and match the 622s and 603s ?

Starting to build my kit and looking at options at the moment. It seems the yongnuos have good feedback/reviews including their speedlights.

I have a couple of the older EZ canon speed lights and might even get anonther yongnuo.

I dont mind doing full manual but is it really worth paying extra to be able to do on camera control ?

Again, the YN-622 triggers will only fire your EZ flashes, not control them. If you want to stick with your EZ units, save your money and choose dumb triggers like the 602 or 603 triggers. I don't know if 602s or 603s work with 622s - does anyone else know?

Regarding whether it's worth buying into a system that is entirely controllable from the camera, that's debatable if you already have a couple of EZs which wouldn't fit into such a system. The advantages of a menu controlled system are convenience (not having to walk to each flash to change it) and automatic (E-TTL II) exposure. The benefit of E-TTL II is itself debatable in a multi-flash set-up because you usually have the time in that scenario to set your flashes manually by trial and error. However, it is nice to be able to change ratios at the touch of a button, knowing that exposure will be taken care of automatically.

Edit: Has anyone ever wondered how E-TTL II gets the ratio right, regardless of the relative power of the flashguns? It's voodoo!

66

Lighting / Re: Yongnuo flash sync

« on: December 27, 2012, 10:13:13 AM »

You can fire YN-560II flashes using the 622 triggers but that's all. The YN-560II is a fully manual flash and can't be controlled using the camera flash menu (whether on camera or off camera via the 622 trigger). If you want flash menu control (on camera or off camera via the 622), your Yongnuo options are the 565EX, 568EX or the cheaper but less powerful YN-468II.

67

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Flash transceiver

« on: December 23, 2012, 09:07:55 AM »

You may find the info in my "The Other YN-622C User Guide" of interest:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B77OmmGIg0gMVFpqNkpBYXBHajA

Clive, welcome to the forum. Your user guide is an invaluable resource for users of the 622. Thanks for producing it.

68

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Macro pics - FF or APS-C

« on: December 23, 2012, 08:46:21 AM »

With a 1:1 macro lens on (Canon) aps-c, you get a 1.6:1 FF equiv. magnification.

We have to be careful with semantics when describing macro with a crop sensor. With a 1:1 lens, the image on the sensor is 1:1 regardless of sensor size. Pixel density is the upside of APS-C.

Concerning the OP's calculation, it assumes the same subject distance. In reality, at 1:1 the 100mm will have a greater subject distance than the 60mm.

69

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: I feel like a kid again....

« on: December 20, 2012, 08:41:13 PM »

Today (21 Dec) is the big day. The world is going to end and we're all going to die. Remind your wife of this and suggest to her that you open your presents this morning.

Then, pretend to be surprised when the world doesn't end (unless, of course, the Eta Carinae hypernova event happens today and we actually do all die).

70

Canon General / Re: some money left. what should I buy?

« on: December 19, 2012, 07:15:16 AM »

I've edited your post to reflect more accurately what you really wanted to say.

I have almost $9000 left for spending on some canon gear :-)

what would you suggest to buy?

I have got:
2 x 1DX
5DMKII
60D
24-70 L 2.8 II
70-200 L 2.8 II IS
24-105 L 4.0 IS
70-200 L 4.0 IS
17-40 L 4.0
100 2.8 L Macro

some speedlites and some other small things.

71

EOS Bodies / Re: YN 622; Is this the/a solution to 5D3 + AF beam = slower focus???

« on: December 17, 2012, 03:04:36 AM »

I just tested all four of my 622s and here's my report:

The hot shoe mounts on the 622s are not quite perpendicular - enough to be visually discernible. However, there are a few degrees of wiggle-room available in the hot shoe, allowing the AF beams on two of my 622s to be centred laterally. The beams on the other two remain offset slightly to the right.

The beams on all four units aim above the central focus point, due to the vertical offset of the 622 relative to the lens. All four of my units show the same amount of offset. At subject distances below about 4ft, the offset is such that the outer portion of the beam misses the central AF box. Above that, the offset diminishes so that at 5ft, the central AF box is partially covered and at about 7ft, it's fully covered.

Obviously, focal length determines how big the beam is in relation to the image area so the longer the focal length, the more surrounding AF points are covered.

72

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 14-24 f/2.8L in Late 2013 [CR2]

« on: December 16, 2012, 01:40:16 PM »

I can see it being $2499+ (hopefully Canon prepares it's 2.8 trinity of the 14-24, 24-70, 70-200 2.8 IS within the $2-2.5k mark), though I am personally prepared and set aside up to $3k for this lens!

Besides optics, I just hope they don't screw up the lens cap design with the protruding glass front with a cheap plastic cap cover that just comes right off in your bag like on the Canon 8-15mm fisheye, Nikon 14-24mm or like the the slide in caps on the Zeiss 15mm or Canon 14mm II that over time and use will show noticeable wear on the built in lens hood. Hopefully Canon can get it done right like the twist-on cap design on the 17mm ts-e!

My Sigma has a flock-lined metal slide-on cap that fits over the metal petal hood. I don't use it; instead I use a LensCoat Hoodie which is made of stretchy neoprene with a rigid disc in the base which abuts the petal hood and protects the front element. It fits very nicely with no chance of scuffing the hood, yet tightly enough not to come off accidentally. They come in lots of sizes.

@AdamJ: and how is your Sigma doing so far. I do nightsky/nightscapes at ISOs 6400 or so. How does it behave? Would it work out well, as my exposures avoid stars from trailing? 25 sec ISO 6400 to 8000 on the 5DIII is that an okay value for enough light? I guess so, my 28 F/2.8 does well even wide open...So I'd like to hear some Sigma results...as the price of the Canon lens will be very high...Thanks!

I've never tried astrophotography, Pedro, but I would guess that the Sigma's f/4.5-5.6 maximum aperture does not make it a very good choice for that application.

73

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 14-24 f/2.8L in Late 2013 [CR2]

« on: December 16, 2012, 01:32:33 PM »

prediction - many will buy this out of the gate, then there will will be plenty of used ones available once they've actually taken it out and used it.

From your earlier post, I think I see where you're coming from. I guess it depends on one's motive for buying a lens in the first place. It's easy to be seduced by the reputation of a lens without first thinking about one's need for it. For example, I'd love to have a 135mm L but I know I'd hardly ever use it. Nikon's 14-24mm is almost legendary, which enhances its desirability but not its usefulness.

For most users, 14-24mm is not a general-use focal range. As long as buyers recognise that this lens will be one to pull out of the bag when needed rather than to remain mounted as a general-use zoom, they won't be buying with their eyes shut. $3,000 is a lot to pay for something that just weighs down your bag.

74

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 14-24 f/2.8L in Late 2013 [CR2]

« on: December 15, 2012, 08:11:11 PM »

I can see it being $2499+ (hopefully Canon prepares it's 2.8 trinity of the 14-24, 24-70, 70-200 2.8 IS within the $2-2.5k mark), though I am personally prepared and set aside up to $3k for this lens!

Besides optics, I just hope they don't screw up the lens cap design with the protruding glass front with a cheap plastic cap cover that just comes right off in your bag like on the Canon 8-15mm fisheye, Nikon 14-24mm or like the the slide in caps on the Zeiss 15mm or Canon 14mm II that over time and use will show noticeable wear on the built in lens hood. Hopefully Canon can get it done right like the twist-on cap design on the 17mm ts-e!

My Sigma has a flock-lined metal slide-on cap that fits over the metal petal hood. I don't use it; instead I use a LensCoat Hoodie which is made of stretchy neoprene with a rigid disc in the base which abuts the petal hood and protects the front element. It fits very nicely with no chance of scuffing the hood, yet tightly enough not to come off accidentally. They come in lots of sizes.

75

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 14-24 f/2.8L in Late 2013 [CR2]

« on: December 15, 2012, 12:40:57 AM »

Why has no one asked about the use of filters on this lens. How wide is the front element likely to be and will it be designed to accommodate filters?

I shouldn't think there will be any native provision for front-mounted filters (rear gels only) but third party front filters and filter holders are available for the Nikon from Lee (150mm square) and Photodiox (145mm circular), so I'm sure they will be on the case.