Messages

1

Lenses / Re: Canon 35 2.0 IS vs Sigma 35 1.4

« on: February 23, 2013, 08:52:41 AM »

What's everyone's take on an upcoming 35L II?  Is that going to happen any time soon?  I thought it was rumored for Jan but then just never materialized.

I was thinking about this recently.  I wonder if the new Sigma 35mm f/1.4 caught Canon with their pants down.  They can reasonably release an IS f/2 35mm that is optically inferior to the Sigma, because there are differentiators between those lenses (IS, smaller size & weight, etc).  But a non-IS 35LII would be a direct competitor to the Sigma, so it had better be a LOT better for the price they're likely to charge!  And how much better than the Sigma can you realistically get?

Anyway, given recent market developments, I wouldn't be surprised if the 35LII is a ways off now.  I could be totally wrong though.

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Pricewatch Deals / Re: Sigma 35 f/1.4 Available for Preorder

« on: November 07, 2012, 11:39:02 AM »

Just checked B&H's listing for the new 35/2 IS and the "What's in the Box" list includes "Lens Hood" and "Lens Case."  This is a nice surprise - hope it's not a typo!
 

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Pricewatch Deals / Re: Sigma 35 f/1.4 Available for Preorder

« on: November 07, 2012, 11:08:25 AM »

I thought the reasons we buy prime lenses: sharp and bigger aperture(faster shutter speed)

"IS"....ummm I'm not sure.

I also buy them for small size.  If I had the option of an IS vs. a cheaper, otherwise identical non-IS lens, I'd go non-IS, but I don't see IS as a negative.

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Pricewatch Deals / Re: Sigma 35 f/1.4 Available for Preorder

« on: November 07, 2012, 10:59:04 AM »

I've been pining for a 35mm prime for a long while now.  The 35L put me off because of cost and bulk.  The old 35/2 just seemed too dated in too many ways.  Now there are two new options: this sigma, and the new EF 35/2 IS.  Similar price - high but doable.  Sigma is significantly bulkier (twice the weight, a bit longer).  Sigma has f/1.4, but Canon has IS.  Tough decision.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: a used Canon 5D, a budget way to go full frame?

« on: November 05, 2012, 12:09:50 PM »

It is

http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_EOS_5D-vs-Canon_EOS_7D

Tom, if you read down in the link you sent, one of the advantages to the 5D in this comparison is "better image quality."  That was the only point RLPhoto was making, and your link helps make it for him.

Of course, the 7D is superior in a multitude of other ways. 

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: a used Canon 5D, a budget way to go full frame?

« on: November 05, 2012, 10:59:29 AM »

I have the 28 f1.8, 50 f1.4, 100 macro IS USM, 24-105 f4, and my DSLR is the t3.

I think you have two questions here:

1. Will a full-frame camera be beneficial to me with my current lenses?  In my opinion, absolutely.  I upgraded from a 40D to a 5Dc about a year ago with a very similar lens lineup (28/1.8, 50/1.4, 85/1.8 ) and I've barely touched the 40D since.  The 5Dc image quality is noticeably better than the 40D, and my lenses (similar to yours) shine on the full frame format.  Yes, this is true even for the 28/1.8 with its supposedly soft corners - it's better on full frame.  Maybe you'll be less happy for your landscape work, but for my indoor family shots, I love 28/1.8 with 5Dc - probably my most used combination.

2. Is a 5Dc the right full frame camera to get right now, given the current prices?  In my opinion, not really, unless you simply can't afford a 5D2.  When I bought the 5Dc, the price difference was huge ($800-ish vs. $2300-ish) so the choice was easier.  Now.... 5Dc has come down a bit ($600-ish used) but the 5D2 has come down a LOT ($1300-ish used, can get as low as $1500 brand new).  If I was a buyer right now, I think I'd pinch my pennies and go for the 5D2.  This is nothing against the 5Dc - if it's all you can afford I still think you should do it - it's just that the 5D2 offers a lot of upgrades for not that much more money.

Hope this helps.
 

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Canon 5Dc as an entry for FF? yay or nay?

« on: September 26, 2012, 10:01:41 PM »

Given that your original post demonstrates you're aware of its shortcomings, I give an enthusiastic "yay!"

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EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 6D Announcement Soon? [CR1]

« on: September 07, 2012, 06:00:17 PM »

please be true please be true please be true please be true please be true please be true please be true please be true

+1.  I'd buy one immediately.

9

Software & Accessories / Re: Cheap student and teacher Lightroom 4

« on: September 06, 2012, 02:36:54 PM »

I'm suprised that a student version is shipped by Amazon.  My son (a student) has bought the student version in the past, and Adobe always shipped it, but only after he sent a photo of his student ID, or some other way of proving he was a student.
Maybe with the lower prices, its no longer required?

I got the student/teacher version of LR3 - also from Amazon.  If I recall, you need to get a verification code or the installation won't proceed - and you get that directly from Adobe by providing a scan of a valid student/faculty ID or something like that.  Takes only a day or so as long as you're a legit student or teacher.

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Software & Accessories / Re: Cheap student and teacher Lightroom 4

« on: September 05, 2012, 10:20:26 PM »

Thanks for the heads up.  Ordered one myself just now.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: DSLR and zoom lens for ~$1,000.00 USD?

« on: August 29, 2012, 01:38:56 PM »

Your really not wrong.
Thats not the argument but the thing is were not talking night and day in terms of IQ it is only slightly better. Night and day is a 600D VS a 5D MKIII. What we are comparing is a camera from 2005 to a 2011 camera.

The difference in IQ between the 5DC and the 600D is not huge maybe 10%. Also the full frame sensor will mean you need to buy L glass to get good results because the sensor is bigger. So your talking £1000 just for one lens being a 24-105mm. Whereas the 600D you still need good glass but you can get away with using 15-85mm or a 17-85 which are a lot cheaper.

There is a lot more to think about. The 5Dc is not a modern camera with non of the newer useful features, which kind of makes the camera. Its like the argument with the 5DMKIII, it has lower res than the D800 but its features are much better which makes the camera. If IQ is your only concern then yes go ahead. But finding a good nick camera that is 7 years old and still paying in excess of £550 is a bit mad really.

If you want full frame its worth doing it properly and buying a modern camera.

But think we are getting carried away here. The poster is after a camera, an amateur moving from a point and shoot! A 5Dc is a silly camera to advise someone to buy! No program modes... either auto or full or semi auto, no inbuilt flash! It was designed for the more professional scene! Not a beginner!

My two cents anyway.

I guess we need to agree to disagree.  My perception of the 5Dc has more to do with my style of shooting - primes, available light, etc - for this style the 5Dc has many advantages and the downsides you point out (lack of flash, program modes, etc) are of minimal impact. 

Disagree that you have to buy L lenses to get good results.  You have to buy GOOD lenses, and know how to use them best to get good results.  Of course this is true of any camera and lens (even L), but you need to pay a bit more attention on a full frame camera.  But the non-L USM primes (28/1.8, 50/1.4, 85/1.8 ) on a 5Dc are a very powerful combo and that collection is in the same price range as a single L lens (and not that much more than the 17-55 EF-S!).

I can concede that a typical beginner wouldn't be best served by a 5Dc.  I just don't think they'd be badly served by it.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: DSLR and zoom lens for ~$1,000.00 USD?

« on: August 29, 2012, 10:37:50 AM »

The 5DC might have good IQ but thats about it.

A 600D wipes the floor with it for everything but IQ

Call me crazy, but IQ matters the most to me, by a long shot.  Everything else you list falls under the category of "nice to have."  The sensor is the film, so why not buy the best sensor you can for the money you want to spend?

I'm not saying all the new bells and whistles aren't worth having - for sure I'd love to have a 5D3.  But I don't have that kind of money, so my decision is either an APS-C camera or the 5Dc.  For the way I shoot, 5Dc is way better.

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: DSLR and zoom lens for ~$1,000.00 USD?

« on: August 28, 2012, 10:19:37 PM »

5Dc

28-135mm + 50mm 1.8.

Done.

That would be my advice as well (would possibly swap in 40/2.8 for 50/1.8 ), except that the OP said it has to be new.

I like the advice of a refurbished (effectively new) T2i and 15-85.  That will be around $1000 and will be a very nice beginner setup.

14

Lenses / Re: Wider lens for new FF user - 35L vs. new 28 IS

« on: August 16, 2012, 10:31:51 PM »

bdunbar, "super focuser" isn't a term anyone uses as far as I know - I just threw it in my previous post.  The lensrentals.com blog post is worth reading if you don't like marketing jargon - Roger takes Canon to task for hiding meaningful technical information in mountains of marketing crap.  I believe he's on our side - he rents the old lenses as much as the new ones.  He just tests so he knows how they're supposed to work, so that he'll know when they need to be taken out of service and repaired.  He generously shares the results of his tests and his interpretations.  Lots of great info on that site.

15

EOS Bodies / Re: Show your love for the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS

« on: August 16, 2012, 10:17:24 PM »

One can buy this lens for $300 refurbished right now at Adorama.  I took advantage of that deal - hope to have some results to share soon.  So far, I'm pleasantly surprised with early results and the build quality (not L of course, but decent enough).