Messages

61

Lenses / Re: Is this inconsistency acceptable? Sigma 85 1.4 question.

« on: February 12, 2013, 01:51:58 PM »

If its not acceptable to you, thats the only thing that counts!  Return it!

+1
Ultimately, if you have the impression that it is off in one corner or the other, enough of an impression to put it in writing with example pictures, as you have done here, that's what matters...you will always have that view whatever is said here...return it.

+1

62

Lenses / Re: New Member / Lens Recs

« on: February 12, 2013, 04:04:21 AM »

Wider angle lenses will help tell the "story" of a scene while telephotos will give you a more "intimate" look. 

I think the 24-105 is a great lens to start out with.  I'd start with that (in the kit, as suggested in prior recommendations) before you purchase your second lens.  See what focal length you like using.  most people choose between the 35mm and the 50mm, and sometimes the 85mm.  I personally went with the 35mm f/1.4L.  It suited my tastes.

63

Canon General / Re: anyone had someone over their shoulder on a job?

« on: February 07, 2013, 04:36:27 AM »

LOL.  I actually think I was one of the annoying guests/photographers at my cousins wedding last December.  I shoot weddings every once in a while.  for my cousin... of course I'm gonna take pictures.  The paid photographer was most definitely annoyed by all the other guests with DSLRs.  (I was not the only one).  The MC even made an announcement over the PA for everyone to "not to get in the way of the professional photographer".... it (the announcement) was pretty f'n douchey if you ask me. 

To be honest, you get no sympathy from me.  When I'm at a wedding gig, I've just learned to deal with others who own cameras.  It doesn't annoy me.  You work around it.  Hell, take a picture of them taking a picture.  Get the subjects attention if they're trying to figure out which camera to look at.  It's just gonna happen....it'll get worse for you if you don't change your attitude.

remember: a reasonable man adapts to his environment.  an unreasonable man will expect his environment to adapt to him.... think about it

btw, I saw the guys work afterwards.   it was "aight"... seems to me, the photographers who are having trouble getting the job done "because guests are in the way" are the same ones who need a little more practice.

64

Lenses / Re: Which 15mm f2.8?

« on: February 04, 2013, 09:20:44 PM »

I think the 8-15 fisheye is plenty sharp.  One of my funnest lenses.

65

EOS Bodies / Re: on the verge of buying, just need some final moral support

« on: February 04, 2013, 09:16:37 PM »

I say go for the 6D (and I'm a 5d3 owner).

Buy what you need when you need it.  It doesn't sound like the mk3 is a MUST. 

If you find you outgrow the 6D, sell it and go for the 5dmk3 when that time comes.  In the meantime, you'll have a great camera that you can afford and you can start shooting today.  There's value in that (shooting now, instead of shooting later), too!

66

Canon General / Re: Why did you choose Canon?

« on: January 31, 2013, 09:33:16 PM »

most of my buddies had Canon stuff when I started out (lenses, flashes, etc.) so I decided to go that route so we could trade lenses when needed.

67

Lenses / Re: Have 5D3, will shoot... but which lens?

« on: January 29, 2013, 02:33:30 PM »

I think to get the best AF response from the 5D MK3, you need to use the newest glass...
I sold all my L primes and the 16-35 F/2.8 II because the 24-70 F/2.8 II is better than all of them combined.
I particularly dislike both the 16-35 F/2.8 II and the 24-105 F/4 because they are not sharp enough for my taste.

The 24-70 F/2.8 II is another thing entirely.
I must have got a good copy because I got another copy of the Sigma 35mm F/1.4 and I think the Canon is sharper @ F/2.8.

The newer IS primes are all very good, very sharp and focus much better than old glass too.
They just have a 2 dimensional rendering that I don't care for.

I'm currently down to the 24-70 F/2.8 II, 70-200 F/2.8 II and Sigma 35mm F/1.4, which are arguably amongst the sharpest Canon lenses available. To be a prime lover and end up with mostly zooms is a shock to me, but the Canon primes are all old and need updating and in the normal range, the 24-70 is as good or better than everything available (and yes, I had a 24 F/1.4 II and immediately sold it when I got the 24-70).

My advice - save up and get the 24-70 F/2.8 II - it really is made for the 5D MK3, IDX and 6D

ET

+1

68

Canon General / Re: Curious Distraction: Explain your username, avatar picture, etc...

« on: January 26, 2013, 12:39:05 PM »

My name is Glenn.  I'm an audio engineer.

I try to use the same or a similar user name on any forums I'm a part of.  (AVID forum, Mac Rumors, etc.)... sometimes I use glennaudio....same thing.  I figured it would be a little more formal than my xBOX user name FoShizzle222...which has no meaning other than my birthday being 2/22

=)

No avatar.

69

Canon General / Re: Is it worth it...for me?

« on: January 26, 2013, 12:25:32 PM »

to the OP.  nice work man.  keep up the shooting

I know this is an older thread but I would just like to add my votes for new gear purchases.  I'm all for the newest/latest/greatest gadgets but frankly I'm surprised by all the recommendations for "specialty" lenses considering what you own and don't own.

I think at first, we need to shop for things offer quality (IQ), versatility, and value.  This helps us learn more about what we want/need.  We can then make more informed decisions about future purchases/upgrades.  As an example, I thought I wanted to go ALL primes, but for my style of shooting, I found that I could do more with 2.8 zooms and in the end, save tons of money (at least before I decide I want all the prime lenses again!)

There are a handful of pieces of gear that really made a huge change to my photography. The most important purchases I made (for my style) when I first started were the following:

1) flash....get it off camera.  get 2 if you can.  when you have time to play with lighting setups, you can really change the look of your photos.  Also, you don't have to worry so much about high ISO noise performance.  Your t3i can already trigger a flash wirelessly.  have fun with that.

2) ultra wide angle lens.  (I got a used Canon 10-22mm when I first started).  a very different look and one that I found I loved... especially for "fun" shots (family parties, dance floor at a wedding reception, etc.)  I love playing with the distortion of a wide angle

3) 70-200 2.8 IS II sharpest lens I own.  AWESOME bokeh.  I thought you could only get this look from primes but the 70-200 is a beast.  the longer focal lengths helps create a shallower depth of field.  pair this up with a FF camera  and you'll have TONS to play with.  Not sure if I'd recommend an 85 1.2 before this (as some people have stated).  The 70-200 is way more versatile and it's in the same price range.

4) Adobe Lightroom 4... not sure what you're using for post but this is a must.  It's always a pain to learn new software (I came from Aperture) but this was probably one of my best (top 3) investments ever.

5) 5d mk3.  FF has many advantages over crop.  I didn't appreciate the differences in details until I tried it.  (I borrowed a friends mk2)

on a side note: AFMA is very useful.  It turned my old 50 1.4 into a lens that shined.  Still found I was using it at 2.8 though so I sold it and bought a 24-70 II.

Best of luck to you.  Keep us posted on your purchases.  =) 

70

Canon General / Re: Is it worth it...for me?

« on: January 26, 2013, 11:48:29 AM »

If you are happy with what you are doing u are a good photographer.

amen

71

Lenses / Re: Workaround for Loose Lens Cap on 8-15mm Fisheye

« on: January 26, 2013, 11:28:58 AM »

so I've had about a month with this lens.  I took it to the NAMM show yesterday.  While I walk around, I try to keep the lens cap on to help protect the exposed front element. 

I went to take a leak with my camera around my neck... of all the disgusting places for this lens cap to randomly come off.... dammit, the cap fell right into the URINAL...while I was peeing on it.  LOL

I rinsed it off in the hottest water available but DAMN... really.  looks like I'm super gluing this fu&%#r onto the hood.  Maybe I should get a generic/off-brand hood and cap.  Any one know if there are any generic hoods/caps available for this lens?

72

Technical Support / Re: at what shutter speed you turn IS off?

« on: January 25, 2013, 11:58:06 PM »

If I have it on a lens, I just keep it on.  It doesn't seem to hurt my battery all that much or AF performance.

I guess I could turn it off if I'm shooting at 1/1000th but I might forget to turn it back on when I need a slower shutter speed.

73

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: I love big gear

« on: January 25, 2013, 01:12:18 PM »

what a fun thread.

I like the big gear too.  It feels good in the hands.  If you think a 5-10 lb camera load is too heavy to "lug" around, you really do need to start working out!  (Unless, of course, you have some sort of medical condition preventing you from lifting/carrying too much for extended periods of time.)  Or you can hang out with all the wives and sip on you fruity drink while the rest of us get those great shots you only wish you could get.

74

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Best carry set-up for 7D & 70-200 f/2.8L

« on: January 25, 2013, 01:00:19 PM »

+1 vote for the Think Tank Stuff.....quality is king

+1 another vote for working out, regardless of what bag you use.  I had to start lifting again ever since I started photography.  It's made a world of difference.

75

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 5D3 & 600ex-rt + AF assist beam = slower focus

« on: January 24, 2013, 02:44:58 PM »

Next to that, the af assist on a €3000 camera should probably just work.

point taken... you're absolutely right on that one.  Big deal indeed.  =)

On a side note, I'm going to the NAMM convention this week.  I'll be testing more there with and without AF assist beam.  I am actually very concerned about this issue.  I don't want to find out I can't do something in the middle of an important shoot, hence all the testing beforehand on my end.  I'll continue to post any new findings if I come across more data/ideas that will make our jobs easier.

Thanks to all who are contributing to the discussion here