16
Canon General / Re: Advice, canon 1ds mark II and canon 20-35 2.8L
« on: June 10, 2013, 11:20:01 PM »
Buy it if you're planning to give it to me for my birthday. 
June 19, 2013, 08:05:41 AM
Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
17
EOS-M / Re: How many people actually like the EOS-M?
« on: June 09, 2013, 08:09:33 AM »
For all its atrocious reviews, I actually like the M. I'm planning to get one but after I get a 6D. I'll replace my G11 with it. I'm guessing that an 18-55 lens will suffice for most applications where I don't plan to bring my DSLR. Hopefully, the next version will have a built-in flash. I like having something for fill-in flash. The viewfinder isn't much a problem for most of the time since I'm actually using my G11's viewfinder around 5% of the time only. If the 90EX will just be a little bit smaller and cheaper, it'll be enough. AF wise, it's not a problem really unless you're shooting action.
18
EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: 60D over exposed in sunlight - how do I control?
« on: June 08, 2013, 08:47:41 PM »
+1, use ND if it's too bright. Use spot metering on your subject to make sure that your subject is properly exposed. This is very important since exposure isn't 100% correct most of the time for high contrast scenes. Also use reflector when you can to lighten those shadows.
19
EOS-M / Re: Can't shoot the world at 4.5-5.6....
« on: June 07, 2013, 06:00:36 AM »You can't really shoot the world at 4.5-5.6... Maybe during the day.
This is why I'll stick with my 11-16 f2.8.
That said: the 10-22, Sigmas 8-16 & 10-20 and 12-24 all have medium and variable apertures (I know there is the f3.5 version of the 10-20, but anyway..) so Canon are really no worse off than the competition, in price or spec.
or with tripod (or mini-pod or gorrilla pod) unless you're shooting moving things which I think isn't the primary intention of the 11-22 and of EOS-M given its crappy AF.
20
Canon General / Re: EOS 5D Mark III w/24-70 f/4L IS Kit Coming Soon
« on: June 06, 2013, 02:58:04 AM »I bought my 6D with the 24-70 kit lens in Feb. here in Canada and I don't regret it. The macro is so quick and easy to use and is great for a holiday person who likes to get shots of small things and I love the lens. F4 is fine with the high ISO of the 6D. The macro mode is a gimmick just like WiFi.
I have a DSLR for about 5 years, and have never bought a macro lens, because it doesn't interest me. I do like having more focal length on my kit lens.
Then I guess, the kit's not for you. There are other kits that includes 24-105 or 24-70 F2.8. I think people complaints are unwarranted since other choices still remain.
21
EOS-M / Re: EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Announcement Soon? [CR2]
« on: June 04, 2013, 05:47:21 AM »This maybe a stupid question, but anyway..
Do these EF-M lenses work on Canon's other APS-C cameras such as 600D and 7D?
No. Only for EOS M.
22
Lenses / Re: If you could only have three lenses...
« on: June 02, 2013, 10:35:39 PM »Three lenses? Yeah, I'd freak out, and quit shooting...otherwise, for video and stills, 17 TS-E, Zeiss 50/2 Makro-Planar, Zeiss 135/2 APO Sonnar...and a 1Dx Body.
Why use a 1DX body for manual focus lenses? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of having 1DX? Why not a 5D3 instead? With ML, you can get some very good raw video aside from high resolution stills.
23
Lenses / Re: If you could only have three lenses...
« on: June 02, 2013, 08:39:23 PM »
Tamron 24-70, 100mm macro usm L, 135mm L. I can't live without macro. 
24
Software & Accessories / Re: any wood tripod users here?
« on: June 02, 2013, 08:34:17 PM »
Tried one, local brand. It's heavy. I can't imagine bringing it out in the open. I think it's excellent for studio though. A good light tripod and some bag for center weight seems enough for me.
25
EOS Bodies / Re: New AF Technology Coming in July? [CR1]
« on: June 01, 2013, 12:29:27 AM »If the 7d2 focusing is not at par with 5d3 I will switch brands.
I do not want to switch.
You'll never find AF as good as 5D3 in other brands except those at almost the same price level or higher. D600? Nope. A99? Yup, might be a tad better. D800? Nope. Wishful thinking 7D2, might be but don't expect too much. It's Canon after all.
26
EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: what to do
« on: May 30, 2013, 08:48:31 PM »If the 500D is anything like the 550D then you can take really good pictures with it - including cityscapes. I imagine it won't be so good at high ISOs but as people have mentioned a tripod is what you need not a new camera. Also shoot in RAW and get a nice long exposure with a fair amount of detail using a smaller aperture like f/8. You can then dial down the exposure and brightness in post or dodge and burn to bring out more detail where you need it. I find lightroom's adjustment brush to be quite useful for a quick fix but for more detailed work move over to photoshop and use layer masks to adjust specific areas.
Getting the color balance right in camera for night scenes can save a lot of headache - Personally I like to shoot near the tungsten side of the white balance scale for night/blue
When I first started I never could figure out why my night landscapes looked crappy. Mostly because the camera was choosing white balance, focus point and aperture for me in P mode. Shoot in manual mode, using live view to focus manually. Use mirror lock up and a remote release. helps to shoot on a calm day, with little wind.
A speedlight might help illuminate some of the foreground if nothing else. Just make sure you gel it to match the white balance setting.
is there a site or books that teach how to shoot in manual
how do you know what wb setting to use
Here:
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/
As for white balance, you can get a gray card or a white non-reflective material and take a picture of it under the lighting condition you were in, then use it as your WB (you can consult your manual on how to use custom WB, don't worry it's easy). Or, just take it with DAYLIGHT WB in RAW and adjust it in PP (lightroom or Canon's DPP) later. I always use full manual mode when taking landscapes. Expose to the right (ETTR), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposing_to_the_right, means using your histogram and make sure almost all the graphs are in the right. Just be careful of clipping. It's a technique used with RAW and later adjusted during post-processing in order to decrease noise especially in shadows. Canon cameras are famous in good highlight recovery but bad with the shadows that's why you overexpose a little bit and then just adjust (darken) it later in post process. I'm sorry but I just assumed that you don't know these and I just want to help you. Have fun!
27
Lenses / Re: 24mm f/2.8 IS - is it worth it?
« on: May 30, 2013, 08:19:07 PM »
Why not try the 18-55 IS STM first? I've used it and it's a lot better than the IS II version both in IQ and build department. It's also lightweight and fast enough. If she don't like it, it's easy to sell because it's clearly an upgrade for those 18-55 users. The 40mm 2.8 (or better yet, a 50mm 1.4) can be her portrait lens. 24mm is a little bit short for portrait and too tight for landscapes when using an APS-C though it's excellent as a normal lens.
28
EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: what to do
« on: May 30, 2013, 01:37:41 AM »
I'm a 500D user and I find ETTR helps a lot especially when using high ISOs. It helps much on retaining details even when you apply some NR. Shoot RAW when you can (for me, ALWAYS). RAW + ETTR do wonders to your photos especially for landscape photography. HDR processing also helps if you find that DR isn't enough. Just be careful when applying saturation and for those halos to help you produce realistic pictures. All-in-all 500D isn't that bad if you're just ready to give some extra effort in PP. For action shots, just get a 7D or those with better AF. 500D isn't enough to get action shots. You might get some but the hit rate is just very low. Pre-focusing and some good old panning helps though. For all its shortcomings, I think 500D is a perfect camera to hone your skills while you're saving for a better body. Go for some good primes/L first before you buy the body that you want.
P.S. If I'm going to start all over again however, I won't start with an APS-C. I'll start with a 5D and some good primes instead and a speedlight.
P.S. If I'm going to start all over again however, I won't start with an APS-C. I'll start with a 5D and some good primes instead and a speedlight.
29
Software & Accessories / Re: Flickr is now 1 Terabytes!! For everyone!!
« on: May 29, 2013, 08:12:46 AM »A pretty sizable group has developed for people who don't like the new "layout."
Not a smart move on flickr's part (and of course "there are no pros anymore) ... the preferred way in the industry when changing anything is to add an "old layout" option, and then quietly take it away again once the media coverage has ended :->
I think the move makes business sense. Instead of earning from "pros", why not earn bigger money from advertising? Being free, it will also enlarge hopefully the number of users thus effectively making ads more effective which means more business. Flickr just adopted the current business trend in the internet nowadays.
30
Lens Gallery / Re: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
« on: May 29, 2013, 03:44:57 AM »The color rendition from this lens is just so good to look at.
How good is this lens at portraits? Moarrrr please,
Portraits? You'll never go wrong with this lens. It's just a little bit hard in my case because it's a little bit long for an APS-C when used for portraits and the AF is slow relatively if compared to 50mm F1.8 II (for portraits). Taken with 500D + 100mm F2.8 lens, open wide.
