Messages

151

Lenses / Re: Moving to India

« on: June 22, 2012, 07:51:44 AM »

Some pics from my trip: http://likebreathing.com/india/

Nice shots... 

I think 70-200 is winning, and considering the current exchange rate means that it is actually cheaper to buy there, depending on the warranty, I'll pick it up when i get there! 

Thanks for all the advice!

152

Lenses / Re: Moving to India

« on: June 22, 2012, 07:26:33 AM »

The cameras are not much costlier here. The 5D3 is a bit cheaper than the US price. The prices on the Canon India site seem to be tax included prices as the price listed there is the price I paid. I know the UK prices are much higher. I thought the Europe prices were high too but I have not really compared them.

Hope this helps.

Awesome, thanks! I don't know how i managed to think they cost more???  That really releaves the pressure for me!

Sanj - thank you for confirming! I'm looking forward to it very much!

expatinasia - I think i'm leaning that way too...  good point on warrenty too!

153

Lenses / Re: Moving to India

« on: June 22, 2012, 07:25:04 AM »

How much time have you spent in India?

And coming from Europe, you're caucasian, right?

We went to Rajasthan for 2 weeks last November...  thats it and yes, we're caucasian?!

154

Lenses / Moving to India

« on: June 22, 2012, 05:55:33 AM »

Long story short; I’m getting married at the start of August and moving to Bangalore, India (for the next couple of years) at the end of August. Camera gear is actually more expensive (from what i have found, PLEASE correct me if i’m wrong) in India than here in Europe (not to mention the US) and apparently import tax is a bit of a bugger too. I can mentally and financially justify buying a single new lens before we go, and i’m torn between which to get. The weakest part of my set-up is at the longer end (55-250) and would like to replace it with either the 70-300L, 70-200L is 2.8 II or the 100-400L.

Regarding my photo style, I’m a bit of a Jack of all trades, master of none. I enjoy all photography; travel, street, landscape, strobist, portrait, wildlife etc... Each of these lenses has its own attributes (physical size, speed, optical-length, resolution) that make it more desirable for one style or the other. Considering I have no one specific role for lens, I find myself ping-ponging between all of them depending on the direction of the wind! I just know that I'm not happy with the results i get from my 55-250!

I’m not rich (especially with the upcoming expenses) so any purchase is a BIG one. My body will be replaced anyway in the next 9-12 months; either FF or cropped depending upon what canon has to offer...
Any advice for this rather “privileged” dilemma?

Thanks.

155

Lenses / Re: Italy Trip Lens Advice - wide angle

« on: June 22, 2012, 05:02:20 AM »

My advice (for what it is worth):

You have the 16-35, and 24-105, i think you are covered! You've got a great set-up, you will be able to do 99% of the shots you want (barring wild-life)! If I was to suggest getting one thing, it would be a nifty-fifty of some sort, 1.8 or faster, for night time street photog, because that is when Italy tends to come alive (in summer anyway)!

Forget tripods etc...  You will always find something to rest your cam on a wall (vertical or horizontal), pew, font etc… They add bulk and weight!

I travel a fair bit, and have the general conclusion that less is often more!
You’re going to have a great time, enjoy!

156

Lenses / Re: ND Filter system for landscape photography question

« on: June 18, 2012, 02:32:23 PM »

ND grads i think are bought because it helps you reduce workflow, and personally I'd wanna see the output myself then and there.

I'm using a .9,.6 SE Lee NDG 100mm filters, they're pretty good, but i dont have the money to buy the holder atm. It's easier to hand hold than the 85mm filters on wide angles. I've also used Hitech ones and they're pretty good too For ND's and CPL i use Screw in filters.

True...    I guess i should give them a go, then i can choose!    good idea to hand hold...  i guess with that method you can "feather" the filter during the shot...  Think i might buy a ND Grad minus the holder...  cheers for the tip! 

ps - here are some of my shots from a recent trip to Iceland without ND grad edited in about 5 min with photoshop (including starting PS; I timed it-ish)!   

http://www.adhocphotographer.com/photoblog/Entries/2012/5/26_Iceland.html#2

157

Lenses / Re: ND Filter system for landscape photography question

« on: June 18, 2012, 01:07:28 PM »

Thanks guys, this is somthing i've been pondering over for a while, and you have provided some useful input...

Though, and please forgive if i'm sounding like a newbe, can't you use multiple exposures and photoshop to simulate a grad ND filter? Thats what i do anyway... Surely that is one of the advantages of digital photography...  take one shot then stop it down as much as you want for a second, then blend in pp? just me 2 pence!

That being said i do want a "big stopper" for those water scences where i just cant slow down the shutter enough!

158

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Anyone heard of this problem before???

« on: June 14, 2012, 02:24:39 PM »

I was shooting a wedding this past week and had 2 instances with my 450 where I knew I had turned it on and a min or two later, it wont do anything, no LCD turn on or focus etc,  even after turning the switch on and off a few times.    Then magically it came back to life.     OOO and I have way less clicks than you so doubt thats the issue.

That's exactly it! makes me feel a wee bit better, though i could just mean both or cameras are dieing! 

159

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Anyone heard of this problem before???

« on: June 14, 2012, 07:23:13 AM »

Maybe clean the camera's battery contacts?  Better yet, use this opportunity to rationalize an upgrade to a 5Dmk3!

Thanks, didn't think of bat conections (doh)...  will get on it and see if it helps...  Otherwise i guess i will *have* to upgrade... 

160

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Anyone heard of this problem before???

« on: June 14, 2012, 07:04:06 AM »

For some time now, my camera (450D), intermittently decides it does not want to start. It is never permanently, lasts for about 30-60sec then decides it has finished its little tantrum and wants to play again…  It does not appear to be a battery problem as I have interchanged batteries and still won’t start. It also has happened in normal and aberrant conditions (cold/hot) alike.
It is 3 years old and only has about 140k actuations (shutter still works fine)…
So, just wondered if anyone else has come across this kind of thing?  And if so, any advice?
Don’t know if I can be bothered to send it off to Canon as it has not exactly been a big problem yet, but I know that if a miss a great shot because of it, I would be a little sad! Time for its retirement?

Thanks,

John

161

Lenses / Re: The Shorty Forty MTF Chart Comparison

« on: June 08, 2012, 10:12:18 AM »

yeah but it is f/2.8...

Sure...  but i think the point isn't to make an amazing low light lens, but a small one...  I'm now sold on it...  it is wider (focal range) and smaller than the 50 i have on my 450D almost every day... And for 200$, it is no brainer for me!

162

Pricewatch Deals / Re: New Canon Product Preorders

« on: June 08, 2012, 04:38:28 AM »

My friend just took back his 50mm 1.4 that I borrowed for six months. I was using it as my walkabout lens but I just pre-ordered the new 40mm 2.8 to see if I would like it better than the 50mm 1.4

The mtf charts of the 40 compared to the 50 1.8 and 50 1.4:



The results are impressive.  The 40 should be both contrasty and decently sharp (at f/2.8 and f/8) across most of the frame.

And just for fun:

Thanks for the MTF charts...  the 40 does look great...  i carry my 450D with me everywhere, usually with my 50 1.8, since it is small and light. I generally shoot around 2.8-4. The fact that it is smaller, slightly wider (which i would like) and has good optics means I am sold!  Do we know when it will be released???

163

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 70D & 3D Prediction from Japan

« on: June 04, 2012, 07:08:27 AM »

Sounds plausible (70D)! I’d be alright with that at the normal xxD pricing point...  A new improved sensor would be the main thing though!

164

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake Coming [CR3]

« on: May 22, 2012, 12:41:27 PM »

All good points...    And i think this will be very well matched with a mirrorless...  but i also would be interested in this for my cropped body...  i usually carry my camera with me, and on a day-to-day basis with the 50 1.8, just because it is light and small.  But i do find it a bit narrow...  i would like the extra width from the 40 and the fact it is cheap, light (probably) and really small, means my DSLR is more "toss in the bag" friendly!   Either way, i see the sense in it!  bring it on!

165

Video & Movie / Re: Incident on Marmont Avenue

« on: May 15, 2012, 09:18:15 AM »

wow! nice!