Messages

76

Canon General / Re: The Palouse

« on: November 29, 2012, 04:15:15 PM »

I live south of there, just past the border in Oregon. If you're making a spring trip, mid-May to early June is generally the best time to go, depending on climate conditions that particular year. If you get much earlier than that, then the winter wheat hasn't had much of a chance to show up. Go later and your colors go from greens to yellows/greens, and every shade in between. However, I have seen some great shots that time of the year as well.

It's good that you're planning on spending multiple days. If you get a cloud cover, than you won't get those evening shadows that Steptoe Butte is so famous for. Another place you'll want to visit nearby is Palouse Falls. If clouds are moving on a given evening, you can get some spectacular images from there.

I will likely be making a trip there in the spring, so drop me a line if you make it. I can show you around. Don't pay somebody to show you the place. It's easily accessible if you have a decent roadmap and do your homework first. Glad you're planning on making the trip; it will be worth the effort.

77

Canon General / Re: Suggestions for website hosting?

« on: November 29, 2012, 04:01:42 PM »

Godaddy... I made my own website from scratch so i dont need any other service... I'm in the process now of rebuilding my website...  hopefully will have the new site launched in a week

I've been with them for 5+ years and am getting ready to switch. I've recently had some bad service with them that I can't just blame on somebody having a bad day at work.

78

Canon General / Re: Selling question...

« on: November 29, 2012, 03:58:54 PM »

Hmmm, kind of makes me not feel bad now about 9k shots on my year-old 5DmkII.

79

Lenses / Re: Don't want to make a rookie mistake

« on: November 28, 2012, 12:43:03 PM »

The t4i shoots up to 6400 iso. It appears with a side job I just landed this morning, the 70-200 2.8 non IS will be in reach.

Got it. The last Rebel I shot with was an XSi (350D).  Not a bad sensor at all, but that max ISO 1600 could be really limiting at times.

80

Lenses / Re: Don't want to make a rookie mistake

« on: November 28, 2012, 11:28:15 AM »

- Sell your 55-250, and purchase the EF 70-200 f/4L (non IS) $629 today at B&H.  For outdoor sports, wildlife, etc.  You don't need IS for sports because your shutter speed will need to be approx 1/500 and at that point IS isn't going to add value.  This is one of the best value L lenses and one of the sharpest 70-200 lenses.

No. Although the 70-200 f/4 L (non-IS) is really good (I have one), it's not ideal for indoor sports.  And more so if you're shooting with a Rebel. Do those still max out at ISO 1600? If so, you're not going to get near enough shutter speed in the average gym. Choir concerts will be even worse.

I'm still saying that a 135mm f/2 L is your best bet for those things, especially if you don't have the coin for a 70-200 f/2.8 L non-IS.

81

Lenses / Re: Don't want to make a rookie mistake

« on: November 28, 2012, 11:25:01 AM »

For what it's worth... if F4 isn't enough to stop action, F2.8 likely wont either,

Huh? Then why do lens companies spend the extra R&D money developing lenses an entire stop faster?

OP: For $1200, you should be able to get the 135 f/2 L as well as a 50mm f/1.4.  Those two lenses would go a long ways in shooting the events you described.

82

Canon General / Re: A Lion Eats an EOS 5D Mark II & EF 16-35 f/2.8L II

« on: November 27, 2012, 01:31:38 PM »

Interesting. That baboon must have been a Nikon guy.

83

Lenses / Re: Just pulled trigger on 70-200 2.8L IS II USM - NEW - $1625.99

« on: November 27, 2012, 01:30:25 PM »

Congratulations on the new addition to your family. :-)

84

Lenses / Re: 50mm 1.2

« on: November 26, 2012, 08:56:48 PM »

If you're going to shoot between f/1.2 and f/2, or need weather sealing, or need amazing bokeh, then yes.

+1 What he said.

The f/1.4 is fairly soft wide open, but has excellent sharpness after about f/2.  I find myself shooting portraits at f/2.8 or so. 

If you get the 50L, and plan on shooting at f/1.2 on a regular basis, get ready to reject a lot of photos until you get that kind of thin DOF figured out. It's tougher than it looks, but worth the effort in the long run.

85

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Where to get photography training?

« on: November 26, 2012, 08:49:58 PM »

Behind the Camera. 

+1

Just don't pay somebody to teach this stuff to you. You learn by doing and by networking from others. After awhile, you kind of find your own vision and how to translate it to pixels in a RAW file. You'll get it; just keep at it.

86

EOS Bodies - For Stills / How to price my gear?

« on: November 23, 2012, 04:58:59 PM »

I moved up from a Rebel XSi to a 5DmkII about a year ago. I had planned on keeping it around for a second body, but so far it's just been sitting in the drawer with little to no use. I figured I might as well unload it on somebody to start my fund for my next L lens.

How do I go about pricing this stuff? I've got the body, the kit lens, a couple of batteries, USB cord, even the book (I never read it). I would think it would appeal to somebody looking for a good entry level dslr kit who doesn't want to pay the going rate for the current Rebel kit at CostCo. I've looked around a little on eBay, but there seems to be a pretty wide range of prices there. Any thoughts on how to go about this? Thanks in advance for your advice. 

87

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Off-Topic Fun: How are YOU spending your Black Friday (week)

« on: November 23, 2012, 10:46:20 AM »

1. Staying home and making coffee while my spouse runs around town grabbing good deals.
2.  Marking off the calendar for when my 135mm f/2 L rental gets here
3. Scratching myself
4. Preparing some images for print for a few clients and family
5. Sending this link to somebody who has my name for Christmas
6. Getting ready for the big game tomorrow.

88

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Buying Used Equipment on LensRentals.com

« on: November 20, 2012, 07:22:25 PM »

As to rental cars, rental companies have been recently cited over and over for not incorporating safety recalls, and they likely scrimp on maintenance.  I'd pass on a used rental car, even though most probably will last for many years.

True that, so I'll put my faith in a good compression test first.

89

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Buying Used Equipment on LensRentals.com

« on: November 20, 2012, 07:02:00 PM »

Ok, so does anyone have any experience with getting used equipment from them.  I hesitate because rented stuff (e.g., cars) are usually not treated all that well, so what you usually get is some very beat up equipment that won't last as long.  I was hoping to get some feedback from the community as to whether this is an acceptable way of getting good equipment a little cheaper.

Your analogy is a little off. Late model rental cars tend to make more reliable used autos because they've been maintained routinely. It's in the rental companies' best interests to make sure their stuff is working properly and that everybody is happy. There's some competition in the business. If that's true for rental cars, I would think it's true for rental lenses also. Disclosure: I've never bought a rented lens. However, I've heard only good things about the company you mentioned. I'm renting a 135mm f/2 from them coming up, and this will be my first ever lens rental. I see that they have that same lens for sale for about 80% the cost of brand new, and that just might tempt me in the next year or so. Stay tuned for more details.

90

EOS Bodies / Re: 7D vs 5D2???

« on: November 20, 2012, 06:36:32 PM »

I'm basically looking for a new camera so I can carry 2 bodies with me to limit the amount of lens changes I have to make.  I've had my t2I for maybe 3yrs and have always been happy with it.  I've just recently gotten more into it as a more serious hobby. I bought all of those lenses last spring.  I just figured as my skills gradually improve and I want a 2nd body anyway I should try to upgrade on it (I have a few friends who never shoot outside of automatic yet they're using t2i's).  The 5D3 is out of my price range.  I'm thinking $2000 tops.

What kind of glass do you have? When I was still shooting with a Rebel, I filled out my focal length needs with Canon L lenses. Only after that did I improve my camera body by moving to a 5DmkII.