Messages

1

EOS Bodies / Re: SL1 as a "travel" body

« on: June 17, 2013, 12:33:40 AM »

I do my serious shooting with a 5D III, but I had been looking for a while for a small, lightweight camera for family pics and travel. I had considered a high end compact but it somehow seemed too much of a compromise, particularly in operation (shutter lag, viewfinder, etc). When the SL1 came out it seemed an ideal solution, and after having spent some time with it I can say that for me this camera (with the 40mm pancake)  is almost perfect as a lightweight complement to the 5D/III. The great thing, for me, is that both cameras share so many things - the optical view finder (obviously), the Canon layout of the buttons, and the general shooting method. The only real difference in operation is the lack of back button focus (and the lack of the second wheel).

I feel Canon produced a wonderful little camera in the SL1, and for me it is the perfect "informal" complement to the amazing 5D III. I figured others might be wondering about this so I thought I'd share my positive experience!

I still think the missing piece for the SL1 is the wide angle pancake.  The pocketability of that camera lives or dies with a tiny lens (as it does the EOS-M), so pancakes are vital.  But the EF 40mm pancake scales to 64mm FF equivalent on a crop, which is functional for portraits but too long for general walkaround, IMHO.

So the missing piece is what they do offer for the EF-M mount but not for the EF-S mount: a 22mm pancake.  That scales to 35mm, and then you have a truly high-end compact 2nd camera.

- A

2

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Is it time to consider Sigma lenses seriously?? competitive to Canon?

« on: June 16, 2013, 09:27:51 PM »

This thread title made me very angry - it's Canon fanboys like OP that drive the insane Canon glass prices up. 3rd party lenses can be just as good as Canon's at fraction of the cost. Don't blindly recommend Canon's glass against Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, Samyang etc. - they all have some outstanding products, while having to reverse-engineer the AF communication.

The flip side is to get angry at Sigma, etc. fanboys for not being picky enough. This keeps the QC of the Sigma, etc., low; and allows Canon to keep high prices!

I hear both sides of this debate.  Canon does prey on our wallets, but they've done that from the high ground of providing an all-around high quality product.  Sigma has only starting providing such quality recently.

Sigma's only value proposition can't just be 'same as Canon for less money' because discerning professionals will see exactly how 3rd party lenses saved that money.  In many cases, things other than the brute force metrics of sharpness and widest aperture are sacrificed to keep those lenses cheaper than Canon.

Remember that for a very long time, Sigma had quality issues: paint peeling, AF issues, odd copy to copy variation, etc.  I am not a fanboy saying this -- Bryan Carnathan and Roger Cicala were saying this based on using, tearing down and repairing a ton of their products.

That said, Sigma is starting to move past being a 2nd-tier manufacturer and is finally making products that out-perform the Canon lenses.  I cannot say enough how a single lens -- the new 35 prime -- is changing people's opinion of Sigma.

So Sigma getting better is a problem for Canon but a gift for us.  Here's to seeing more lenses like that 35 prime.

- A

3

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Is it time to consider Sigma lenses seriously?? competitive to Canon?

« on: June 14, 2013, 02:12:23 PM »

The new 35 FF prime is supposed to be a complete game changer for them -- I've not tried it on my 5D3 but I'm keen to rent it soon.  Many reviewers have noted that 35's sharpness is spectacular, and the build quality, feel, and user experience is all significantly upgraded from their past offerings.

- A

4

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 DC Available for Preorder

« on: June 14, 2013, 02:04:58 PM »

Not too suprised about the price.  Sigma has found a nice spot shy of 1k.  If it were FF, then it'd be 2k or more, depending on it's peformance.

I do have a question about its design, though.  It's heavier and longer than the 16-35L II, so is this lens essentially a 16-35 FF UWA design with a speedbooster added?  If it is, does that imply that a fast FF zoom would be similar is size to a medium format lens?

You raise a fair question -- if Sigma made the ultrafast zoom for FF many in this forum would want, it likely would be a pickle jar of a lens.  One might imagine it would be a standard zoom with the size and weight of the 70-200 F/2.8 IS.

Your analogy is a good one.  I've tinkered briefly with the Leica medium format SLR and everything about it was comically large for obvious (huge sensor/ 'anti-crop') reasons.  A lens like that on a FF SLR would be a major chore to lug around.

- A

5

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 DC Available for Preorder

« on: June 14, 2013, 12:19:36 PM »

Well that didn't take long:
http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/14/sigma-18-35mm-f-1-8-lens-only-800/

Make fun of tech blogs all you want, at least Engadget fesses up when they miss the mark so badly.  Respect.

- A

6

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 DC Available for Preorder

« on: June 14, 2013, 12:11:32 PM »

I've not used 3rd party lenses before.  How do they usually stack up against OEM?   This is an interesting lens to me.  Can't wait to read more reviews about it.

Generally, I avoid them, but the Sigma 35 F/1.4 is being widely regarded as a game changer for Sigma's future prospects.  From Roger at LensRentals:

"It’s been a long time since a take was so easy. This is the sharpest 35mm made. It costs a lot less than the Canon 35 f/1.4mm or the Zeiss 35mm lenses. Any questions? It’s extremely well built and everything I’ve been able to see, inside and out, indicates quality control has really improved at Sigma.

If you’re a bokeh fanatic, you may like something else better (or maybe not, that’s a subjective call). If you need Image Stabilization, then the 35mm f/2 IS may be worthwhile. Otherwise, this is the 35mm lens.

Arguably as good or better than anything else made, and at a lower price."

That lens also won a rather odd fan-voted blinded study on best bokeh on DigitalRevTV -- they posted three shots without saying which lens was which (no EXIF data posted), and the fans chose the Sigma 35 over the Nikon and Canon.

- A

7

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Sigma 18-35 f/1.8 DC Available for Preorder

« on: June 14, 2013, 11:52:59 AM »

I started another thread on this when the price dropped yesterday...

Engagdet (not a great SLR source of insight) expected this to be priced in the $2k+ range as it was an industry first.  Cue giggling.

But even I am surprised with the $799 price including the hood.

I personally was expecting this to be coming in around $1,000-$1,200 even though it's APS-C only.  A first is still a first, and I'm not convinced something is so easily 'priced out of APS-C user territory' with so many sports / wildlife guys plugging much more expensive glass on their 7Ds.

Any of you surprised by the $799 figure?  The chatter I've seen on other announcement pages (photo rumors, Petapixel, etc.) has been very positive re: the price.

Sigma is on fire right now with that 35mm F/1.4, so people are taking them more seriously.  I still am bent out of shape that they are using whatever witchcraft they have on crop when full frame people would give their left nut for this -- where is the EF 24-50 F/2.2 for full frame?   

- A

8

Lenses / New Sigma 18-35 F/1.8 Zoom priced at only $799

« on: June 14, 2013, 03:57:25 AM »

Sigma's 18-35 F/1.8 zoom for APS-C is coming in at only $799 w/ the hood included:
http://photorumors.com/2013/06/14/simga-announces-pricing-for-the-18-35mm-f1-8-dc-hsm-lens/

LOL, Engadget thought an "industry-first" like this would cost a wee bit more:  http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/18/sigma-announces-18-35mm-f-1-8-dc-hsm/

I personally was expecting this to coming in around $1,000-$1,200 even though it's APS-C only.  A first is still a first, and I'm not convinced something is so easily 'priced out of APS-C user territory' with so many sports / wildlife guys plugging much more expensive glass on their 7Ds.

Any of you surprised by the $799 figure?

- A

9

Lenses / Re: When are we gonna get some news on canons next 50mm (hopefully with IS)

« on: June 10, 2013, 09:17:08 PM »

I just fail to see why this new 50mm will be a problem.  We will then have:

$125 or so --> 50 F/1.8: nifty fifty
$350 or so --> 50 F/1.4 (sort of) USM: a great lens for the dollar (like the 85 F/1.8:)
$800 or so --> new 50 F/? IS USM
$1300? (I have forgotten) --> the 50L F/1.2:  the high art / portraiture lens, the je ne sais quoi lens, the bokeh magic lens, etc.

That third option is perfectly placed.  Many people who feel the L is overpriced or underfeatured will jump at the new offering.  I certainly will.

- A

The problem is --- many feel that the 1.4 is the one that needs to be updated...as a 1.4!!!!  The market for primes seems to have a clear line in the sand ---the camp that wants a slower lens with IS and a camp that wants a fast lens and doesn't care for IS.  The next divide is price - the only way to please both camps is to make a 1.4 with IS but I seriously doubt such a thing would be made available under 1K - or IQ will be garbage from 1.4-2.8. 

I just want an optically improved 1.4...or, lets get it on with a 50mmL 1.2v2!

I think some of us (and this is not an indictment) are getting hung up in F/1.4 vs. F/2.  It's just one stop.  The other improvements -- general overall sharpness, internal focusing, IS, much much faster focusing, better build -- would have me buy this lens at F/2 or F/1.4. 

I know I am in the minority here, but I'd gladly give up one stop for all those improvements.

As for 50Lv2, agree.  It doesn't even stack up to the current F/1.4 in the corners.  For 3-4x the price, it should everything the cheaper one does and more.

- A

10

Lenses / Re: When are we gonna get some news on canons next 50mm (hopefully with IS)

« on: June 10, 2013, 05:10:36 PM »

I just fail to see why this new 50mm will be a problem.  We will then have:

$125 or so --> 50 F/1.8: nifty fifty
$350 or so --> 50 F/1.4 (sort of) USM: a great lens for the dollar (like the 85 F/1.8:)
$800 or so --> new 50 F/? IS USM
$1300? (I have forgotten) --> the 50L F/1.2:  the high art / portraiture lens, the je ne sais quoi lens, the bokeh magic lens, etc.

That third option is perfectly placed.  Many people who feel the L is overpriced or underfeatured will jump at the new offering.  I certainly will.

- A

11

Lenses / Re: When are we gonna get some news on canons next 50mm (hopefully with IS)

« on: June 10, 2013, 10:49:07 AM »

We've riffed on this a few times before.  Regardless of what you all want, here is what you are going to get in the next 50mm prime - a 100% similar version of the recent IS primes in a 50mm package:

• Non-L
• IS
• Sharpness should surpass the 50L (remember, the F/1.4 lens is currently sharper than the 50L already at a few apertures)
  
• Modern USM, Very quick AF
• Internal focusing
• Lightweight
• Vastly improved build quality over the lens it is replacing (in this case, the F/1.4).  I own the 50 F/1.4 and the new 28 F/2.8 IS and it is night and day for BQ.  Someone nearly hit me when I said the new 28 was an L lens minus the gasket, but I stand by that statement.  These new non-L primes are nearly as well built as my 100L macro, but not tank-like like my 70-200 F/2.8 IS II.

The above list is a hammerlock going-to-happen list.  Why am I so confident?  They are refreshing all non-L primes right now in this exact fashion.  They've done the 24, 28, and 35, so the 50 and likely 85 are next.  These are twenty year old lenses that need refreshes.

The only debatables are max aperture and filter size.  My vote of what we'll get (not what I want, per se) is F/2 and 67mm.  As the 24 & 28 IS refreshses got 58mm and then the 35mm F/2 IS got stepped up to 67mm, similarly stepping up the 50mm F/2 IS to a 67mm filter makes sense.  Just a hunch on aperture, though.

- A

12

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Making your expensive gear look like crap while traveling

« on: May 27, 2013, 10:44:43 PM »

Good gravy.  The hater train finally arrived.  Pull no punches, gang. 

No worries.  I appreciate the open and passionate sharing of beliefs.  Great, great thread.

In hindsight, Kai was pulled from the lens cap, but I'll leave the stamps on for this trip.  Insurance was always in place, anyway.

Who knew tape was to keep a war photog from being sniped?  Neat.   I wonder if they used tinted/matte filters or CPLs to dull the lens elements as well...

- A

13

EOS Bodies / Digitalrev speculates on D7100 vs. 7D2

« on: May 27, 2013, 03:20:10 AM »

No hard references that I can see, but here is an amusing look into the 7D2's possible future:

http://www.digitalrev.com/article/nikon-d7100-vs-canon-eos/ODkzMjU3Mzc_A

I still am firmly in the camp that the 7D2 is (a) absolutely going to be aimed at pros (for birders, sports guys, etc.) and (b) is absolutely going to cost more than the 6D.  I also am strongly leaning towards (though not prepared to guarantee) that the great 1Dx/5D3 AF system is coming to the 7D2, and Digitalrev would seem to agree.  Then again, my postings on this forum may be the basis of DR's 'rumors'.   

But it is all speculation at this point.  Here's the latest dollop on our collective plates.

- A

14

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Making your expensive gear look like crap while traveling

« on: May 27, 2013, 01:15:49 AM »

I was surprised I didn't get scolded for doing this sooner.   

I liken this to the 'UV filter as lens protection' debate -- there will always be two camps on this. 

Respectfully, those in opposition to this make excellent points.  I have to admit there is an element of irreverent dress-up going on here, but my original concern was lower the perception of value.

Who knows?  It might get snatched anyway.

- A

15

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Making your expensive gear look like crap while traveling

« on: May 26, 2013, 09:07:19 PM »

This is the tape you need from 3M Scotch:
http://www.3m.com/product/information/Scotch-Black-Paper-Tape.html
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Adhesives/Tapes/Products/~?Ntt=235&rt=s&x=0&y=0
It's perfect for making your Mk3 more invisible. One roll will be a lifetime supply.

I have a 1 inch roll. It's a similar surface to your camera, is very obedient and leaves no residue. It follows contours and curves remarkably well. It's got a strong adhesive, but removes easily leaving no residue. I even cut thin strips to cover the red line of an L lens. It stayed put for two or three years. Who invents this stuff?

This tape was originally used in film labs where you processed 6-8 rolls of film at a time, taping the film to a plastic leader which fed into the roller drive of the processor. So it's also waterproof and does not release unwanted residues in water, heat or tough chemical environments.

Also, to reduce the new, look-at-me pro-look of your 5D3 in low security environments, de-grip it & then tape it.

-PW

All good stuff.  Ended up getting this from 3M:  http://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-2-in-x-60-yds-Gaffer-s-Tape-6910/100193027#.UaJ78-tAtjY

And then covered anything with Canon, the Mark III emblem, etc.  For added magic, I put a crappy tan masking tape on top of that in a few places.  And then I decided Kai Wong needed to make an appearance.

The final product is attached.  Fun.

The ugliest 5D3 ever?  You decide.

- A