Messages

1

Lenses / Re: EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x Availability

« on: April 16, 2013, 03:47:24 PM »

So basically this is a 200-560mm f/4-5.6 lens? Now, due to the IS, if it is a highly portable (hand-holdable) lens ... great for sport and stalking game. If not, still, what's the point?

I believe the IS in super-telephotos are not necessarily for hand-holding- at those focal lengths minor movements such as mirror slaps are exaggerated greatly, so you'd need it even on a tripod (which is why they HAVE either a tripod mode or tripod-sensing tech.)
Plus, hand-holdability is somewhat relative up to a point. Reportedly, Neuro handholds (and sometimes runs with) his 600 II.

2

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: "I am boycotting Nikon" campaign

« on: April 15, 2013, 12:37:49 PM »

if your are really concerned.. go VEGAN!!

Sorry to disagree, but plants are living too!
And they give us oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.
In fact, it is only out of my concern for them that I eat meat... 

3

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 7D L Announced, Shipping in May

« on: April 01, 2013, 11:51:43 AM »

ʇnoqɐ sı ʇuǝɯǝʇıɔxǝ ǝɥʇ ןןɐ ʇɐɥʍ ǝǝs oʇ ןıɐɟ ı

How'd you do that? 

4

EOS Bodies / Re: EOS 7D Mark II Test Camera [CR1]

« on: March 30, 2013, 08:26:59 PM »

If this camera is better than the 5D Mk3, then it will cost more than the 5D Mk3.
By the way, why would Canon create a camera thats a huge leap from the 5D Mk3, when the 5D Mk3 was released last year?
Also, back to pricing... why would they create a cheaper APS-C camera with better specs than the 5D Mk3? If you were a business man... and this is your business, would you think that this is a smart maneuver? Losing potential customers of FF?

If Canon EVER came up with a sensor that allowed an APS-C to be a HUGE LEAP from their newest FF, then they would shut down everything else and start building new FF cameras, buyers remorse of 1Dx and 5DIII owners be damned. And Canon engineers would be booking flights to Stockholm, and Nikon and Leica will focus solely on microscopy and I'd be selling everything to buy Canon shares!
None of the above is happening right now, so relax. Hopefully the new sensor will be sufficient to improve APS-C performance by 1-2 stops. That's all. FF will still rule IQ, sensitivity, etc. and no one who can afford an equivalent FF setup (that means appropriate super-telephotos for those who will immediately start clamoring about the APS-C "reach") will buy APS-C.

Canon may attempt to impress  us with some new solutions, but as long as they stay behind with theirs old sensor technology it is mostly cosmetic solutions compared to Sony/Aptina/Panasonic and others

I think the thread started with rumors about a new sensor technology in the 7DII. Either you believe it (and stop complaining about old sensor technology) or don't (since it's only a rumor) and move on with life (outside a rumor website).

5

Lenses / Re: EF or EF-S for 7D/70D

« on: March 29, 2013, 10:06:29 PM »

My 7D body has been shipped and should be delivered tomorrow, hopefully. So for now it will be the 18-55 kit lens I have. But since my full frame camera purchase is years away, I'm going to take the suggestions/advice of sticking to EF-S for the near future.

I'm still flip-flopping between the Canon EF-S 17-55 and the EF-S 15-85 as my "walkabout" lens. I know the 17-55 is better for low light and the 15-85 has more range.

Either way I hope to pair the "walkabout" with an ultrawide, either the Canon 10-22 or the Sigma 10-20.

My budget is limited so, I may only be able to get one lens for now and maybe another next year, in that case I'm leaning towards the Canon 15-85.

Thanks for all the input.

I have only one suggestion based on my own experience.
Considering the fact that you are losing both exposure and shallowness of field (at equivalent FoV) with a smaller sensor, I'd recommend the fastest zoom you can get. In this case it is the 17-55, which incidentally is very sharp even wide open (won't compare it with my 70-200 II, but let's just say I spend a lot of time blurring skin in PP unless it's a child's portrait ).

6

Lenses / Re: 400 2.8

« on: March 29, 2013, 09:47:15 PM »

Are you expecting different answers than when you asked basically the same question, just two days ago?

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=13837.0

To be fair to him, it actually was different:   

Just crop, the IQ is the same. Why would anyone use a 400/2.8?
</sarcasm>

The supertele lenses are in a different IQ class.  Cropping reduces IQ, a TC reduces IQ.  There's no free lunch.  The cropped 200mm or the TC might produce an acceptable image, but it would be better with the 400/2.8.

7

EOS Bodies / Re: EOS 7D Mark II Test Camera [CR1]

« on: March 29, 2013, 09:05:51 PM »

The Nikon D4 delivered 12 of 12 images in-focus. 100%.
The Canon 1Dx gave us 9 images in focus, 1 on the nose, and two on the ears.

So, where’s the confusion? Well, when we describe what is “in-focus”, it looks like the Canon 1Dx has a different definition of the term. Those 9 images that the 1Dx delivered in-focus absolutely destroyed the Nikon D4 in terms of detail and accuracy. In fact, that one that hit the nose seemed to be a bit more like what we saw from the D4 in every shot.

Speed is not all

Definitely not cut and dried.  Do you want 9/12 shots that deliver much better detail and accuracy, or 12/12 'okay' shots that are similar in level of detail to one of the slightly OOF 3/12 shots?

Given that choice, I'd take the 9/12 @ 12 fps from the 1D X that 'absolutely destroy the Nikon D4 in terms of detail and accuracy'.

Was that your point?

The point is that we  are discussing the AF reliability. 12of 12 or 9 of 12.

If I were you, I'd read more carefully before quoting. The lines in red sort of crush your argument... it seems to say D4 "reliable" is about as good as 1Dx "unreliable" 
In any case- wasn't this a 7DII thread! Why are people who haven't even used both (or probably either) of D4 and 1Dx comparing them on a 7DII thread!!!
I am more than happy with the specs. As long as the sensor is about 2 stops higher in sensitivity- give me everything else same as the 7D, and I'd still buy it. Call it 70D, 7DII, 100k, "the eye of the tiger", I don't care- just get it out into the stores...

8

EOS Bodies / Re: Big Megapixel Development Announcement in the Fall? [CR2]

« on: March 26, 2013, 01:30:55 AM »

I saw early signs on page 1 of the thread and skipped right down to page 9, and of course, there are lengthy discussions on Nikon vs Canon, High DR vs "Non-existent" DR, crop DX mode vs sRAW.
Another predictable, uninformative, pointless thread. Keep it up!

9

EOS Bodies / Re: Congratulations Canon to another great Camera release!!

« on: March 21, 2013, 06:27:51 PM »

Still no AFMA...something that doesn't cost them a dime at this point. In fact it probably costs them extra to disable it from the common firmware code base.

Think about it... Do you complain when Starbucks charges you 1.50 for the foamed milk when you choose a latte over an espresso? The milk doesn't cost more than 5 cents, right?
Canon is here to do business and adding AFMA is not about how much it costs additionally, but about how much "value" it adds. And they want you to pay a premium for that "value". Nothing really wrong with that.
You can also wonder why non-L lenses don't come with free lens hoods. Maybe raise the price $ 20 (no one will even notice it for the higher-end non-Ls) and include the hood? But Canon wants that added "value" to bd exclusive to the Ls.
It's all marketing, and unfortunately sound marketing. There's nothing wrong in it, however the consumer may feel. Upgrade if you want that added value!

10

EOS Bodies / Re: so the EOS-Bull and T5i are announced this week... no 70D as it seems

« on: March 20, 2013, 03:38:57 PM »

People will always take better high ISO performance, always.  Yes, the latest offerings are good, but that doesn't mean it can't be better.  You're telling me that people wouldn't pounce on a camera with useable ISO at 51.2k?  Of course they would.

Agreed. Thus, I am sure Canon would pre-pone the release of updates to the 5DIII and 1Dx. But it is not as critically urgent as is an improvement of the APS-C sensor, which is already handicapped by the amount of light that is incident upon it.

If you can create a crop sensor with markedly improved high ISO performance, then you can create a FF sensor with even better.  Always.

Of course. Laws of physics.

When was the last time that Canon released a crop sensor camera that matched the performance of their latest release of FF sensors?

And even this time, I doubt if the beefed-up APS-C will match the FF sensors of 2012. But I am sure they will be markedly better than the current crop (pun intended). Having said that, they never really came out with revolutionary sensor technology in APS-C sensors- they merely packed in more megapixels.

11

EOS Bodies / Re: so the EOS-Bull and T5i are announced this week... no 70D as it seems

« on: March 20, 2013, 03:22:20 PM »

If Canon doesn't release a 70D or 7D2 that are really outstanding with close (but not as good) ISO performance as the 6D, 5D3 & 1DX and updated sensors i'll just have to invest into a 17-40L and 6D or move to the dark side.

You're really expecting the 70D, or even 7D2 for that matter, to have close to the same ISO performance as the latest model FF cameras?

He may be closer to the mark than you think...
Perhaps not the 70D...but I fully expect future 7D2 to rival high ISO of not just 5D3, may be even the 1DX... it will jive well with the intended use of a cropped high speed camera. The price will probably reflect that.

So you think that Canon just released 3 new FF cameras using older sensor technology, saving the latest and greatest for a crop sensor to release a year later?  Presuming it has the latest in AF to match its predecessor, don't you think that would steer a lot of the potential market away from the more expensive FF lines?

I do.
Two reasons:
1. Sensor tech is one of the fastest ones to evolve at the moment. If you invent something new, and wait until you can use it in your flagship models, competitors will bring out something better in the meantime and carve a slice out of your market share. So, whether or not they bring out newer FF upgrades sooner with the newer sensors, they will certainly bring it to the market as soon as they can. Since APS-Cs are due this year, I am sure they will have the new tech.
2. High ISO sensitivity is not a problem area for the current Canon FF sensors. True, it will be nice to have a better sensor, but that is not crippling 1Dx or 5DIII in any way (frankly, nothing really is). On the other hand, they are aware that their APS-Cs are lacking in (only) one department, high ISO performance. So doesn't it make sense for them to protect that Achilles heel and consolidate the APS-C market share?

12

EOS Bodies / Re: so the EOS-Bull and T5i are announced this week... no 70D as it seems

« on: March 20, 2013, 12:33:50 AM »

Let's be fair... Canon released three major full frame upgrades in the past 12 month cycle...3 actually before the end of the year 2012...1DX, 5D3, and 6D....

So now they are releasing a few for the average consumer aka non-fanboys... come on now boys...seriously... How many bodies more can Canon release in quick succession? If you were them, wouldn't you want to pace yourself?

How can they possibly keep on releasing major updated bodies and lenses every two weeks because forum members expect something new to chew on and dissect? hmm?

Exactly!
2012 was the year of FF, it looks like 2013 will be the year af APS-C, so count on new FF in 2014.

I am pretty sure there will be at least one, more likely two, APS-C bodies that will address high ISO performance released in 2013. Just not this March, but soon. I'd keep checking back without holding my breath. And I got the excellent 7D to keep me company till then.
And the Sigma 30mm/1.4. Yum!

13

Lenses / Re: How's the 70-300L?

« on: March 17, 2013, 01:18:50 PM »

Narrowed down to the 70-300L.  I don't think my wife will notice.  All will be well.
Thanks for the insight.

LOL!
I told my wife my 70-200 2.8 was the same black telephoto I was using previously (Tamron 70-300) but without the black covering. I don't know if she really believed me or merely pretended to, but she didn't bring that up again... 

14

Lenses / Re: How's the 70-300L?

« on: March 16, 2013, 08:57:19 PM »

I'm surprised Paul hasn't chimed in yet! Must be busy with other stuff...

Who? Me? Or another Paul? 

It's you.. someone with real-life experience with the lens and fond of it
My very brief experience reflected the same but isn't as informative.

15

Lenses / Re: Canon SX50 lens for DSLR

« on: March 16, 2013, 03:32:18 PM »

To be fair, it's not always about getting the best possible photo - sometimes you need the flexibility of superzooms and are happy to put up with their short comings.

+1
Of course, IQ is not always the most important thing. But (200-18) 182mm focal range for a 35mm sensor will likely be prohibitive in price and weight.