Messages

31

Lenses / Re: Sigma 120 400 vs sigma 120 300 os 2012 + 1.4tc

« on: February 19, 2013, 06:09:35 PM »

I've been using the sigma 120 400 on a 7d, 60d and 5d mk iii. Using it on the 60d did show a heavy front focus (+15) which I could correct on 7d and 5d.

It lacks contrast and is a little soft @ 5.6 but gets plenty sharp @ 6.3-7.1 and above.

I find AF on all bodies to be OK in good light, but not great. trying to track anything moving in less than good light  (i.e. under woodland cover shade), gets tricky. The AF is better on the 5d but it still hunts a bit in low light.


It was the first lens I bought after I got my 7d as I couldn't afford a big tele at the time. I've been quite happy with it in general and to be honest was a bargain @ £600 I got it for back then. But now I'm after something with a wider aperture, but hopefully with similar reach.

32

Lenses / Re: Sigma 120 400 vs sigma 120 300 os 2012 + 1.4tc

« on: February 17, 2013, 01:53:30 PM »

I would like wider aperture and good sharpness which Is why I'm looking for an alternative to my sigma 120 400. Sadly i can't afford the canon 300mm 2.8

33

Lenses / Sigma 120 400 vs sigma 120 300 os 2012 + 1.4tc

« on: February 17, 2013, 05:16:05 AM »

I have a sigma 120 400 which is an ok tele for wildlife shots. But I find it sucks in low light. The af is too slow and hints terribly.

I'm interested in last years sigma 120 300 os as I already have a canon 1.4tc mk ii. Which would yield a 400mm f4.

Does anyone know how these two lenses compare on 5d mk iii (or otherwise)? I.e 120-400 vs 120-300+tc.

I'm interested in af speed, low light capability (ie covered woodland) and iq primarily but I've always found the colour cast on sigma 120400 to not be very accurate (more of a green tinge).

Any thoughts?

34

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 7D - Worth Buying ???

« on: February 14, 2013, 08:50:44 AM »

No brainer for me. 7d is not a worthy mid-point upgrade path to full frame.

If you ultimately want to go full frame, you'd be better off saving your money for now and just buying some new EF glass, and slowing selling / trading up any EFS glass so you're ready once you switch to FF.

In my opinion, great class + entry level body is better than better body with mediokre glass.

I had the 7d until recently when I traded up to a 5dmkIII. I also have a 60d as a backup body. I would say the noise performance on 7d is slightly worse than 60d, but generally not really usable above iso1000 without lots of smudged detail. 5dmk III I have no hesitation going to iso6400.

One last thing is they will likely discontinue 7d this year with either a 70d or 7d mkii. You might as well wait for those, as they will likely be at leaest the new digic 5 or perhaps even something new. Which will blow old crop cameras out of the water.

35

Lighting / Re: How to use flash with av,tv

« on: February 10, 2013, 06:37:06 AM »

I would highly recommend this book.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Speedliters-Handbook-Learning-Craft-Speedlites/dp/032171105X

36

Lighting / Re: How to use flash with av,tv

« on: February 10, 2013, 05:36:37 AM »

For speed lite photography I remember 1 rule:

Shutter speed controls ambient light
Aperture controls flash

If your ambient it too dark/light adjust the shutter. If your fill subject is too dark/light adjust the aperture.

The only exception is if you need to be at max aperture and your fill flash it too strong. Then dial down the fec a few stops.

37

Lenses / Re: what's the best UV filter for Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II lens?

« on: February 01, 2013, 07:05:37 PM »

Why spend 2k on a lens and  have a filter sap iq, add glare and vignetting . Just look after your equipment, clean it properly and insure it against accidents?

38

Animal Kingdom / Re: Your best animal shots!

« on: January 28, 2013, 03:28:56 AM »

My birthday trip to the zoo last year.  Canon 60d, sigma 120 400



http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexturton/7475200930/#

39

Lenses / Re: Which 50mm (with AF) is best from f/1.4 - f/2.0?

« on: January 27, 2013, 10:49:14 AM »

I agree. My canon 1.4 is a little soft up to about 1.8. I found AfMA adjustments helped a little bit.

The sigma 50 1.4 is nice at 1.4 but suffers from focus shifts on stoping down.

I agree a new 'art' sigma 50 would be noce

40

Software & Accessories / Re: RAW Processing and what the hell is a DNG

« on: January 25, 2013, 03:32:46 AM »

Thanks every again for the great responses. There are lots of tips here for me to work on.

Kind regards

41

Software & Accessories / Re: Anyone hooking tablets to the 5D3?

« on: January 25, 2013, 03:28:36 AM »

I've just a 5d and I intend to hook it up using "camranger".  Full control over wireless direct.

42

Software & Accessories / Re: RAW Processing and what the hell is a DNG

« on: January 24, 2013, 01:03:56 PM »

Ok thanks for the responses.

Is there a way in Lightroom to 'copy' what settings the camera has applied to the jpeg to my raw so I can at least start the edit with the same looking file?

43

Software & Accessories / RAW Processing and what the hell is a DNG

« on: January 23, 2013, 09:20:38 AM »

I shoot with 7d and 60d generally always in RAW.

My process generally follows:

Load RAWs into lightroom
Process with standard exposure/colour adjustments
save in lightroom and export as JPEG for web publish.

Sometimes when I need to edit further I:

Open into PS for any masking/layering.
Save as TIFF to preserve the layers.
reimport backinto lightroom and export as JPEG.

I've seen people converting to DNG rather than process the raw files but I don't know why?

also when I import RAWs into lightroom, the pictures start off punchy and vibrant (like the JPEG preview on camera), and then when it renders they go all soft, mushy, lack contrast and the colours (particularly reds) become quite weak. Am I doing something wrong? I've never really touched "camera calibration" in lightroom, should I be exploting some features in there?

Thanks for your time

44

Lenses / Re: IS blurry pictures

« on: January 18, 2013, 12:53:12 PM »

Might not be the IS at all.  Could just be normal wear on the AF system.  Have you tried a micro focus adjustment to see if it's front or back focusing?

Thanks everyone for your responses

Can af wear over time? Can accuracy decrease over time?

I know my 7d front focuses by 8 mfa points following a service by canon (grrr) but I've adjusted for that

45

Lenses / IS blurry pictures

« on: January 18, 2013, 02:53:05 AM »

I've been shooting with canon 7d and 17 55 is2.8 for a while and find that At slow shutter speeds it definitely improves hit rate but at faster shutter speeds IS actually makes my shots more blurred, is that normal? Or am I doing something wrong?