Messages

1

Lenses / Re: EF 24-70mm F2.8 L ver 2 or 3 Prime Lens

« on: May 15, 2013, 11:04:58 AM »

If I may, I'd like to buck the trend here a bit.  We do not really know what the OP wants out of the equipment.  If one were to want discrete shooting in the street and interiors, then a 24-70 would be a rather poor selection.  For convenience and overall sharpness, then the zoom will come out on top but if the OP wants to frame something that the 100mm does well, then the 24-70 will have to be shot wide and then cropped in post.  If shooting film, this may be more hassle than it is worth.
There are just so many possible photographic situations with ideal equipment selections for each that it is truly impossible to suggest an ideal without knowing the use scenario.
That said, why not get the 50, 100, and the zoom?  50 is inexpensive and a low light monster, the 100 covers a focal length the zoom does not cover, and the zoom can be used when the focal range is right and IQ is paramount.

2

Pricewatch Deals / Re: Preorder the EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x TC

« on: May 14, 2013, 11:20:49 AM »

Separate Canon case is showing as $699 today from B&H and Adorama.  $649 was too much of a bargain I guess!    Not including a case would be just stupid on Canon's part.  It is the best way to get the lens in for service to CPS IMHO and there would be needless damages made to the lens in the first year.  Public responses have to be at least somewhat of a priority to Canon.  My guess is a separate SKU for the case allows those who want more than one; maybe for an on-location case and one for inside storage.  Reaching for straws here.  Also, I guess cases could get destroyed going to far-flung world destinations so a replacement case would be warranted though I'd imagine third party cases would be available and made excellently for under the $699 mark.

3

PowerShot / Re: Two New PowerShot Cameras Leaked

« on: May 13, 2013, 12:03:11 PM »

I thought a 1200mm equivalent lens length in the SX50 HS was pretty interesting even though I found it a bit too challenging to use.  I'd love to see the next iteration of this camera have a smartphone app for remote focus/lock and shutter control.  At 1200mm equivalent, I found the image to be too shaky even with IS on when handheld  but on a tripod, the image could be stabilized.  However, since I had to depress the clunky shutter button, there was no way the image would stay stable.  A remote triggering via phone would be great.

4

Software & Accessories / Re: If buying last standalone CS6: Mac or Windows version for longevity?

« on: May 10, 2013, 12:06:56 PM »

Without a doubt, programs made to run in Windows have the advantage of an environment that does not deprecate applications like the Apple environment.  If Apple decides something should not run in their OS, they just make it so.  There are millions of PCs out there running software from 15-20 years ago and Windows OSes are often supported for much longer than Apple.  Windows XP was introduced in October of 2001 and they fully supported that for 7 1/2 years with continued security support ending in 2014!  I don't think Apple supports an OS variant for even 2 years.
Get a PC with Windows 7 and CS6 and it should last you until at least 2020.  The PC hardware will probably crap out long before the OS support does.

5

Pricewatch Deals / Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM $1000 gift certificate Adorama Deal

« on: May 09, 2013, 08:06:30 PM »

Saw this deal mentioned over on Ken Rockwell's site.  At Adorama, the 800mm super lens is available for a mere $13,249 which is the same as places like Amazon but Adorama is throwing into the deal a $1000 gift card and a $10 software package.

http://www.adorama.com/CA80056ISUZ.html?utm_term=Other&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=Other&utm_source=rflAID021866

So, Neuroanatomist, have you got your 800mm yet? 

6

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 6D + Samyang 24 Visits Badlands Milky Way Extreme ISOs

« on: May 08, 2013, 05:05:56 PM »

Wow, loved your website's shots and story.  Got me seriously looking at this $349 UWA.  Love my Tamron 17-35 2.8-4 I picked up wicked cheap used but this 14mm could really come in handy when I go to San Francisco at the end of the month.

For anyone else considering this lens, check out Dan Carr's review here. http://dancarrphotography.com/blog/2012/07/18/rokinon-14mm-f2-8-review/

Note in the review that Dan links to another photographer's site, Thomas Berndt, who made a custom distortion profile on this lens for Lightroom.  Here is the direct link to the profile.  http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30251825/5dmk2Samyang14profile.zip

Instructions for installation of profile:

Download the Lens Profile
Open the profile in TextEdit
Find the line that reads: ” False”
Change the word “False” to “True”
Save it with a new name
Copy the profile to
User profiles location:
Mac OSX: /Users/(User Name)/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/LensProfiles/1.0/Canon
Windows 7 or Vista: C:\User(User Name)\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\CameraRaw\LensProfiles\1.0\Canon
Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings(User Name)\Application Data\Adobe\CameraRaw\LensProfiles\1.0\Canon
or
Shared profiles location:
Mac OSX: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw/LensProfiles/1.0/Canon
Windows 7 or Vista: C:\ProgramData\Adobe\CameraRaw\LensProfiles\1.0\Canon
Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\CameraRaw\LensProfiles\1.0\Canon
Restart Lightroom
Your new lens will now be in the Canon section (if you put it in a Canon folder, you could also create a Rokinon folder)

7

Software & Accessories / Re: Adobe to Stop Making Packaged Software

« on: May 06, 2013, 07:43:10 PM »

LR 5 is in beta. Does this mean no release except by subscription?  I've got CS6, and I'm quite happy with DxO and Aperture, but maybe it's worth buying LR while I can, just in case...   

According to "The Queen" of Lightroom, it appears we are OK.  Lightroom will exist in the cloud model but not exclusively.

http://www.lightroomqueen.com/2013/05/06/adobe-subscription-only-but-not-lightroom/

8

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma 35 1.4 compatibility with future canon cameras

« on: May 03, 2013, 03:30:53 PM »

Keep in mind too that there is more than a little risk for any camera manufacturer who would completely shut out third-party lens makers.

They'd have to consider the ill-will they'd be generating among their best customers, since those who buy third-party lenses are also the ones with the discretionary income to buy Canon lenses and Canon cameras. Is it really worth it to antagonize those customers?

Canon doesn't operate a monopoly. If they make it impossible to use third-party lenses, that will only drive customers to Nikon. Right now, the two companies compete relentlessly over insignificant differences in their products. Ceding the third-party compatibility issue to the other side would be handing them a massive competitive advantage.

Shutting out Sigma, Tokina or Tamron would also mean shutting out Zeiss. Granted, it's a very small market, but I don't think either Canon nor Nikon would want to hand over these high-end luxury buyers to the other side.

Yes, I can see Canon and Nikon engineering new features into their lenses and trying to keep those features from being accessible by third party lenses, but that's a far different case than completely shutting out a competitor's lenses.

While there would be backlash, do not think companies are afraid to do so.  For proof, just look at what Canon did in 1987 with the development of the EF mount.

9

Lenses / Re: Do you still love 24-105L?

« on: April 26, 2013, 05:32:12 PM »

I use mine for non-critical stuff, Like ebay photos, vacation photos and personal stuff. When I do use it for clients it's usually at F/8 so no-one could tell. It's a great lens if your using flash...

Good point Ramon.  The 430ex flash is tailor-made for the EF 24-105 f/4L as its head extension matches the focal range perfectly.

I like the lens out in the daylight but I've been trying to get as compact a camera as possible so I've been leaning towards primes lately.

10

EOS Bodies / Re: The Future of EOS M [CR1]

« on: April 26, 2013, 11:54:00 AM »

Hello
The problem is that the eos M looks like a plastic toy .
The Fuji looks good , even the nikon looks good
It's a meter of What Is transceiver.
Unfortunately, Canon's camera looks cheap plastic .
The canon design is ugly .
And last very Important detail - they must use - WI-FI & GPS - this is MUST !
Thanks every body
SHAI

If the EOS-M had Wi-Fi and GPS running along with a lens with IS going, the battery may only get like 40 shots on a charge!  They may need to develop a battery grip for the body to drive all these extra features.

11

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Just when I was about to buy an M...

« on: April 22, 2013, 11:33:50 AM »

And the Sigma DP series if you are looking for a different photographic experience and challenges.  All depends on the intended purpose of the body.

12

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: 135mm f/1.8 DG OS ART Next from Sigma? [CR1]

« on: April 22, 2013, 11:30:36 AM »

If these new lenses actually happen and are all as good as the 35, wonder what Sigma's roadmap is for their bodies?

Well Sigma only makes bodies around the Foveon sensor with their current flagship being the SD1 Merrill.  It is "only" an APS-C sized sensor and I think was originally sold for like $9000 though it is currently about $1800.  Unless Sigma has a huge secret they have kept under wraps about making a full 24 x 36 mm sensor, they do not make a single camera that can fully utilize DG series lenses.  They would be happy with all DC series if making lenses solely for their own line.

So it appears Sigma is still quite committed to being a third party lens line for the other major manufacturer bodies.

13

PowerShot / Re: SX50 outperforming 5DIII +100-400mm

« on: April 19, 2013, 04:14:28 PM »

Awesome guys....

This just tells me Canon has lots of tech to make crazy good sensors. Imagine if this tech was applied to full frame sensors.....

Then you would be dealing with 366.8 megapixel files!  SX50 has 12.1 MP on a sensor surface area of 28.5 mm² while the 5D mark iii has 22.3 MP on a sensor surface of 864 mm².

http://www.digicamdb.com/compare/canon_powershot-sx50-hs-vs-canon_eos-5d-mark-iii/

14

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Sigma Announces 18-35 f/1.8 DC HSM Art for APS-C

« on: April 18, 2013, 12:16:43 PM »

Some have been wondering why APS-C?  Well, Sigma does make cameras and they are all of the crop variety (1.5x) so the glass will natively work.  The 35 1.4 is the oddity; a quite beautiful oddity.

15

Lenses / Re: Speedy Manual Focusing?

« on: April 17, 2013, 12:57:15 PM »

I believe innately knowing this concept and how it applied to their cameras helped a lot especially when street shooting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperfocal_distance