Messages

106

Pricewatch Deals / Re: What is the best place to sell your equipment?

« on: January 23, 2013, 11:10:18 PM »

I'm not a huge CraigsList veteran but I've listed a lot on eBay every since '98.  It used to be fun and profitable.  Now it is a huge scam.  The eBay+PayPal Buyer Protection system is a huge risk and ripoff for the seller.  I wouldn't risk anything on eBay that you don't mind losing and having to issue a full refund to the buyer no questions asked after the scammer buyer reports any number of complaints.  It's criminal how bad they treat the sellers now.  Treat eBay literally like a garage sale and expect a certain amount of theft and loss.  And if you don't have the money in your PayPal account  to issue a refund, PayPal will do it anyway and put your PayPal account into negative balance and then sic the Credit Agency Gestapo on you.  It's essentially legalized online highway robbery.  You've been warned!

107

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

« on: January 23, 2013, 06:41:45 PM »

I've been thinking about getting a proper rucksack camera bag for a while now. I've had a Billingham 335 for about 17 years now but I don't use it as it is too conspicuous to carry around.


For this reason, I've been using an old sports rucksack with a sweater in it for padding. It's not ideal, but at least it doesn't advertise its contents.


The Lowepro bags seem the least like they advertise what's in the bag, but is there anything that really doesn't look like a camera bag at all out there?

Totally agree.  Packing thousands of dollars worth of heavy camera gear in a dedicated photo backpack only seems to accomplish two things...

-  Advertise a lot of expensive camera gear is here
-  Guarantee that you'll be doing nothing other than shooting pictures since there is no room for anything else

I typically use normal daypacks or backpacks and put the camera gear in individual protection, whatever that might be.  Lens cases, fleece jackets, clothes for the hike, whatever.  I need a backpack that is a backpack, not a lens case with straps.  I'm almost always doing more on the trip than just taking pictures and I hate advertising that I'm carrying even more equipment as expensive as the camera I have in my hand.

108

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Kenrockwell comments on Canon 6d

« on: January 23, 2013, 05:39:14 PM »

Wow.  At first I was thinking about Scotty on the new Star Trek exclaiming on the bridge (after Kirk and Spock fight) that he likes this ship, it's exciting!  Then as I read further I found a new and deeper appreciation and respect for Paul's attitude and posts, among others'.  But finally here at the end I just wish I had a bit of my life back.

And FWIW, KR is fine.  He's just Ken.  Take him or leave him.  He seems to mean well.  When he cracks me up, that's great.  Some of his info is helpful.  The rest I just ignore or take with a grain of salt.  My brain has had that ability all my life.  Enjoy the best, leave the rest.  Try to wear a smile and keep moving forward.  Have compassion and patience.

No one is perfect but some are not content to see that simple fact stand on its own and for some reason must expend energy pointing out and judging others' imperfections while inadvertently but simultaneously exposing their own.  Amazingly, this behavior is self perpetuating and all consuming and as it continues, like a tar baby it simply gets more and more ugly and inescapable.  What started out as curious and interesting to watch ends up just being sad and pathetic.

109

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Canon 5d Mark III Eyepiece cover

« on: January 23, 2013, 04:01:33 PM »

Ditto on black gaffers tape.  I use it for several unorthodox things.  I have thin ~3/8" strips of black gaffers tape around all my L lenses to protect/hide the red ring area from thieves and scuffs.  I use it over some of the lens slide switches when they rub my leg as I carry them hanging to the side and they get switched without my knowledge.  I use it to protect other parts of the camera.  I use it to hide the Mark III logo on my 5D3.  I use it to hide the Tamron logo on all my lens caps.  I use it to provide rubbery grip areas on my S95. 

110

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: canon 20d

« on: January 23, 2013, 03:52:29 PM »

Good price.  Good camera but pretty dated.  Personally, I don't think I would be happy with anything older than a 30D, but that's because I still have one.  If I had nothing yet, I would probably stick with a 40D or newer due to better weather sealing, faster fps, better menus, etc.  One really nice thing about having a newer camera as a backup is the battery is the same.  Not a big deal but still nice.  60D (fairly inexpensive compared to other newer bodies) + some other newer main body gets you the new battery design.

111

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

« on: January 23, 2013, 03:42:04 PM »

So you can keep your puny girly man Leica; it's a DSLR for me anyway.

LOL.

I agree.  This is why I don't see the point in a G-series type camera, for me.  The PowerShot S100 fits in the pocket of a tight pair of jeans.  That's my definition of 'small' and 'easy to carry'.  Any bigger than that, it might as well be a 1-series body and a bag of lenses....so usually, it is.

+1111  -  Total Ditto.  I've been saying this for years.  And I also have a S95.  For me it's either super portable (for low key or stealth) or a DSLR.  While the G series is nice, once it's too big to have on your waist (like a phone) or in your pocket, it might as well be a DSLR.  And if you've ever picked up the G1X, well, it's as heavy as a DSLR so....

I drag a couple bodies, multiple lenses, monopod, flashes, batteries, media, misc other necessities etc to summer camps and all other scout activities.  If I do that, it's obvious that I'm not pining after 4/3 systems or G series cameras.  Maybe someday but not today!!

112

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

« on: January 23, 2013, 03:36:02 PM »

Keep it up guys, keep it up!  I'm going back to Philmont in 2014 and I want the encouragement.  Next time, I'm going to take a DSLR + lenses for sure, not just the D20 Tough P&S on my pack.  It's only 10 days on the trail (8500 - 12K mountain trails) with just my backpack and the crew.  This past summer, we hiked close to 90 miles over the ten day trek but since it was my first trek, I didn't want to take all the camera gear and regret it.  Now that I've done it, I'm confident I can manage the extra weight of the camera gear.  Boo-Yah!

113

Lenses / Re: Fast lens for indoor use

« on: January 17, 2013, 11:39:20 PM »

Sigma 35mm 1.4 or Canon 24L II

Either would be great.

+1    I have the 24L, very nice.  Had the 35L once.  Both great, just depends on how you shoot.  Also, don't rule out a 16-35 f/2.8 zoom.  Very handy indoors unless you need the extra stop of the primes.  Someone mentioned the 28/1.8 USM.  Love that lens too, it was my first prime, it works great esp on FF and it's affordable.

114

Canon General / Re: Don't order camera gear from Dell.com online store

« on: January 17, 2013, 10:54:26 PM »

The retail and consumer sales business has a name for this... it's called "Rocks in Box".  It happens more than you might think.  I remember several years back when an elderly couple received a bottle of spaghetti sauce instead of a new camcorder while travelling around Thankgiving.  That made national news and they still didn't get a refund or a camcorder from Best Buy.

Back when Western Digital Raptor 10K RPM SATA Hard Drives were all the rage, I drove around to 3 Best Buy stores with my son and bought up 11 units because they were being clearance priced for an unbelievable $99.  The best price anywhere was $150 online or local.  I sold all but a couple on eBay easily for $140 each BuyItNow.  Then I got a message stating that I had sent one buyer phone book pages!  Turns out, I could peek in through a crack in one of the boxes I kept and it had phone book pages in it too!  And they were shrink wrapped and everything.  I had the guy return his phone book pages and I took them and the unopened box I still had back to the store.  Best Buy wouldn't admit any wrong doing.  And at that time, I was buying over $30K of stuff from Best Buy a year through my IT consulting business.  I never would have received any refund or help if I hadn't known the "secret" contact info of several high ranking execs.  Pathetic.

People (and service managers) forget that all this stuff travels through many channels and storage/logistics facilities before it arrives in the store or on the doorstep.  Little theft rings can pop up just about anywhere!

115

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

« on: January 17, 2013, 08:54:14 AM »

That's a good point Marsu42.  Using a DSLR as a non-pro in a party or wedding setting is rare.  It draws a lot of attention and even most pros don't feel like lugging a big DSLR when socializing or attending most functions where the light is in the range that is most conducive to the AF problem.  It's awkward to say the least.  So the problem goes either undiscovered or misunderstood.  IMO, it's wedding photographers, ironically the market segment Canon supposedly designed this camera for most of all, who will experience the problem the most.  All I can say is good luck!  If I primarily shot weddings, the 6D would be my main body or at least be a second body hanging to the side for the reception.  If I shot sports, then the 5D3 or many other bodies would be the way to go.  For me, the whole point of buying the 5D3 after waiting so long and skipping the 5D2 was to have a superior body to do it all and then some.  I still don't feel like I quite got that or I wouldn't have even considered, much less purchased, the 6D.  And unfortunately, the 6D fps is a bit slow for sports.  Maybe Magic Lantern will release a firmware that gives back the higher fps.  Oh well, time to go get some work done...

116

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

« on: January 16, 2013, 10:02:16 PM »

Well, I sorta did it all.  I waited years for the 5D3, bypassed the 5D2 and still love the 5D anyway.  I built up my lens collection and other needed accessories.  I took a gillion pictures and honed my skills.  I waited until a great deal on a 5D3 popped in Nov and got one.  Promptly exchanged it for another to get better but not mind blowing low light AF.  Got a 6D in Dec for another killer deal and now have much improved low light AF.  For shooting the swim team, the 5D3 is still better, higher frame rate, etc.  But otherwise, (and partly the reason I said all this) I plan to wait until the next firmware release and then sell the 5D3 if there isn't a big improvement.  If the 5D3 blows me away I'll sell the 6D.  Either way I'll know a lot about both bodies by then and in the meantime, I'm probably going to start selling a few other things.  This whole experience with the 5D3 has made me re-think how much I'm spending on this hobby and along with the sky high lens prices coming out lately, my "circuit breaker" is starting to trip.  Time to dial back and concentrate on taking pictures again, not on spending money and talking about it.  Know what I mean?

On the topic of selling, I sure wish CR would start a "market section" for members to buy/sell.  eBay is way too risky now to sell stuff.  Way too many scammers out there now using eBay and PayPal Buyer Protection to basically steal honest sellers stuff.  But I digress....

117

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

« on: January 16, 2013, 07:26:06 PM »

Agreed.  As long as Canon sees strong sales numbers and plenty of good press for the 5D3, I'll be amazed if this is addressed in any major way.  If there was some bad press and sales were off, heads would be rolling and 5D3 repairs would be a priority.  I'm afraid it's likely that simple.  I would love to be wrong and see some major changes in the next firmware release!!

118

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Thinking of downgrading my 5d3 system

« on: January 16, 2013, 07:15:49 PM »

FWIW, I think all of us question our own sanity from time to time after we think about our photography addiction and expenditures.  As for me, if I didn't shoot tons of stuff for scouts, school and church, I would probably shed a lot of gear.  For me, I feel relevant and necessary when I shoot to benefit others.  If it is just for me, that's fine for a while but I'm not a pro and if I don't have steady "jobs" to help me justify all the expenditures and equipment, I'll start to feel a little silly having all this stuff and just shooting family candids and other stuff for myself.

So I suggest the OP first consider how he can put everything to use and in perspective before he sells.  Can he become more motivated and inspired by shooting for friends, charity, volunteer, etc.  It will be challenging and rewarding.  It will add another layer of purpose to your hobby and you'll be appreciated.

Just a thought...

119

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Thinking of downgrading my 5d3 system

« on: January 16, 2013, 06:56:44 PM »

Keep it up guys, then we'll have another one of those cool geometric quote posts that looks like Bingham Copper mine.

LOL!!  I was thinking the same thing!  Love it!   

120

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

« on: January 16, 2013, 06:52:09 PM »

Hello All,

Please remember to post your findings onto this link also, http://forums.usa.canon.com/t5/EOS/5D3-AF-assist-beam-slower-focus/td-p/2277 Its Canons forum, so far we have had Canon respond twice, the more we help them look into this, the more we may get a solution,

all the best

Louis

Considering the amount of posts and information that is already here in this thread and several other threads, what do you think the chances are that someone from Canon that is reading the posts on the Canon forum might simply click over and read  the CR threads if the links are posted on their forum?  Just sayin'...