Messages

31

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 7D Mark II Information [CR1]

« on: March 07, 2013, 09:26:40 AM »

It is very interesting and very hard to believe. Canon can be a BIG game changer if it can release such a camera.

I think this would be a game changer IF it comes in under $2.5k. If the initial release price is much more than that, then it'll just be a case of moving the 7d up in the marketplace, which really isn't remarkable. Moving the featureset up and keeping the price reasonable (note I consider $2k or $2100 reasonable, in this case) would be the market-defining move.

You mean to potentially be the replacement of the 1DIV?  Maybe not remarkable, but a very interesting and, assuming some other improvements, a very desirable camera to many photographers. 

32

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 7D Mark II Information [CR1]

« on: March 07, 2013, 09:22:55 AM »

This could make a lot of sense.  But it does not sound like a $2,000 camera body.  I'd expect a "mini-1Dx" to be significantly more than $2k.  We may learn a lot with the 70D announcement.  If the 70D has the features of the current 7D (with a few enhancements) and is priced ~$1,400-$1,700 it will look like Canon is setting up the 7DII to be a "mini-1Dx."

This path would make both the 70D and 7DII very interesting cameras with distinct niches.  Wow.  I'll be impressed.

33

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Nikon to announce a new 80-400 VR lens this week?

« on: March 05, 2013, 02:18:24 PM »

The Nikon 80-400 should be as good as the Canon 24-70 ii 2.8.

I wouldn't consider the 100-400L as good as the Canon 24-70 f/2.8 II, and I will certainly be shocked if this new 80-400 is that good. 

At f/8, it is very good.  I don't think it is up to the 24-70 f/2.8 II.  Wide open, it isn't that close.  Still, good, but the 24-70 f/2.8 II starts in the >0.9 range even wide open.  The 80-400 is around 0.85 to 0.87 range.  Close, but not "as good" in either instance.

But I do think it is a fair point that there will be differences between Canon and Nikon. 

34

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Nikon to announce a new 80-400 VR lens this week?

« on: March 05, 2013, 09:13:16 AM »

I am not too used to reading Nikon's MTF charts, but first glance, it looks like the 100-400 L is still better @ 400 mm.

35

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Good TripodHead

« on: February 27, 2013, 05:50:55 PM »

The ultimate in support would be a Arca-Swiss Z1 or RRS BH-55.  Given your current tripod and what you are planning on supporting, it seems that a Markins Q3T, Markins M10, or a RRS BH-40 would be perfect.

36

Canon General / Re: With the Yen plunging, will we see price drops now?

« on: February 23, 2013, 08:24:51 AM »

I think we are already seeing the "prices drop."  But the version we are seeing is mostly in extended rebates and lower costs on camera bodies.  But the 5DIII and 6D prices have dropped almost in proportion to the devaluation of the yen over the same time (at least against USD).  Same with the prices of the 24 mm f/2.8 IS and 28 mm f/2.8 IS.  Granted, everyone thought those were overpriced when announced, so it could be market adjustment, but it is in line with the yen devaluation.

What will be interesting is if canon keeps offering long and deep----almost permanent--rebates or if they actually decrease the cost of their products.

37

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Nikon 7100 has been anounced

« on: February 21, 2013, 09:36:34 AM »

The specs and price look impressive.  And Nikon has been doing a lot of that lately.  Good for them.  But I am not ready to abandon the good ship Canon over a camera that I will likely never own.

Also, the whole "spec" thing....I remember threads bashing the Canon 6D and praising the D600....but once people actually started taking pictures with the 6D...turns out, it was a pretty darn nice camera.  Good enough for Roger/Lens Rentals.  And while I am sure the D600 is a nice camera, it wasn't crushing the 6D in hands-on reviews that I've seen...

38

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 7D Mark II Spec List [CR2]

« on: February 19, 2013, 10:10:17 AM »

I think the potential for this to be correct is very real.  But it isn't just noise where the 7D sensor needs to improve, but include DR and color.  I just upgraded from the 7D to the 5DIII and multiple aspects of IQ are standing out...not just noise.  The images are just richer...and, this surprised me, easier to post-process.

Love the 7D, and honestly, I was waiting on a 7DII with much the same specs posted in the rumor.  But it is going to take a lot of hands-on reviews before I am convinced the IQ is equal to FF.

39

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 7D - Worth Buying ???

« on: February 14, 2013, 07:10:35 AM »

The 7D is an amazing camera that will likely be all that most enthusiast photographers need.  But, if you are planning on going FF already, I agree, save your money to at least get the 6D on your way to the 1DX.  Then the lens kit that you build will grow with your bodies in a consistent manner.

40

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 7D or 5D3 for low light candids?

« on: February 13, 2013, 09:54:11 AM »

I have owned the 7D and just bought the 5DIII.  So I am still putting the 5DIII through it's tests, but the 5DIII is easily better than the 7D for low light candids.  And I say that as a huge fan of the 7D.  The two main advantages are better control of noise at higher ISO, as already mentioned, but also, the 5DIII AF is sensitive down to -2 EV versus -0.5 EV for the 7D.  In other words, I can focus in deep shadows/near dark with the 5DIII (there is some hunting).  But the 7D AF would hunt all the time.

So, noise, color, and AF are the reasons to go with the 5DIII over the 7D for low light candids.

41

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: First big job using FF - for all the FF nay-sayers

« on: February 04, 2013, 12:13:31 PM »

Of course, we are comparing older technology to the most recent technology.  I am very curious regarding the 7DII and what a crop sensor is capable of.  For example, can the accomplishments of the D800/Sony sensor be scaled up to the equivalent of 45 FF MPs and then cropped down and put into an 18 MP APS-C sensor?  How would that cropped sensor compare to the current canon FF sensors?

Not trying to bring up Nikon/Sony, etc....just pointing out that we've seen technology that with a few more advancements could make APS-C a lot closer to FF.

But....it may never come to fruition........

42

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon Confirms 70D; Future of Semi-Pro DSLR is FF

« on: February 01, 2013, 12:37:40 PM »

Personally, Canon...if you are listening....Keep semi-pro APS-C.  I'll buy a high quality 7DII as soon as it is available for pre-order.

Even if it's just the same old 7D with built-in GPS, WiFi, new CPU and extra SD slot?

No, by "High Quality" I am refering to other improvements.  I'd like it to be slightly sharper, better performance at low ISO and hopefully some improved performance at higher ISO.

Regarding the 5DIII price, just look at the value of the yen.  February 2012 it was trading at ~75 yen per $1 USD.  Now it is trading at ~92 yen per $1 USD.  Since I don't know what BH or Adorama actually paid for a 5DIII, I'll use the street price.  The $3,500 paid for a 5DIII in February 2012 netted Canon 262,500 yen.   Assuming 262,500 yen is the "factory price" of a 5DIII, Canon is getting the same 262,500 yen for $2,850 USD today. 

Combine that with most new items dropping after initial release and you have today's sub $3k 5DIII.

Honestly, even though we are paying less (sub $3k) for a 5DIII right now, Canon may be making the same or even a little more of a profit now than last year.  That is the power of the devaluation of the yen.  Now, think about lenses.  Those prices haven't gone down.  Canon should be doing pretty well there right now.

43

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon Confirms 70D; Future of Semi-Pro DSLR is FF

« on: February 01, 2013, 07:29:08 AM »

Did we read the same article?  Did I miss something?  The 7DII isn't mentioned.  Of course, it would have been a positive sign if he had mentioned it, but it is not necessarily a bad sign for not mentioning it.  He just said "I think we will see an increase in the number of full-frame models." 

Is he talking short term future, long term future.  It isn't said. I get the speculation, but just like when pushed he confirmed you'll see a 70D, the 7DII could be in the works as well.

Personally, Canon...if you are listening....Keep semi-pro APS-C.  I'll buy a high quality 7DII as soon as it is available for pre-order.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: a digital photography noob has a question about image quality

« on: January 30, 2013, 10:42:24 AM »

If I was going to africa for 8 weeks, a once in a lifetime trip for me, build quality would be a major consideration....depending on how I was traveling, I would be very tempted to have two camera bodies just in case one failed.  But this would have me leaning to a 7D at a minimum or keeping the 5DIII between the two options you give.

Regarding image quality under good lighting conditions, there is a very small difference, but it may not be discernable unless you are pixel peeping.  Even then, it is tough.  This is a comparison of both camera bodies with the same lens under the same conditions.  The differences are there, but I can understand why you don't see a difference when printing on your printer: 

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=458&Camera=792&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=3&LensComp=458&CameraComp=808&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=3

Honestly, I was surprised by how comparable those two images were (BTW, if not familiar, you toggle back in forth between images by moving the cursor onto the image and off the image). 

I don't know where you are going on your trip, but I think you should consider that in making this selection for two reasons: light and weather sealing.  If you will always have good light, then there may not be much of an IQ difference.  However, in the rain forests of Costa Rica, I needed ISO 6400.  Amazingly little light makes it past canopies of rain forests/jungles.  You will want the 5DIII or 6D if you need to shoot at greater than ISO 1600, definitely ISO 6400.  If you will be in tough environmental situations, I can see wanting the weather sealing of a 7D or 5DIII.

So, build quality/ISO performance would be two critical factors to me in your decision making. The other would be reach.  The 650 being a cropped sensor (same with 7D) will have 1.6x more reach.  So, if you have a 200 mm lens, it will behave as a 320 mm lens would on the 5DIII.  Of course, on the wide end, you would need a 15 mm lens to give you the same field of view as a 24 mm lens would on the 5DIII.

Once in a lifetime trip to Africa, money a slight factor (no big white lenses), I am probably taking a 5dIII, 24-105 f/4, 7D, 100-400 L and something like a 50 f/1.4 or 35 f/1.4 for low light options.  If I didn't already own the 100-400L, I would consider the 70-300L or maybe the 70-200 f/2.8 II with 1.4x and 2x extenders.  Carry those around in a good backpack or something like a Storm 2500 pelican case.  Also, I'd have a CPL, and some graduated ND filters.

45

EOS Bodies / Re: DSLR & Lens Coming on January 15, 2013? [CR1]

« on: January 14, 2013, 05:29:22 PM »

Nothing yet?  Doesn't look promising for tomorrow......usually we see something more specific by now....