Messages

16

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x TC Information

« on: December 01, 2012, 05:18:07 PM »

Hello Forum Readers!

I was on Canon´s the PRO Imaging Sales exhibition today (1st of December -12) for nature photographers, here in Stockholm, and the Swedish Canon PRO Photo Specialist Mr. K. Mörck was expecting that Canon probably will make an official announcement about when the first production lenses will be available for sales, later on this month of December 2012. I think many has eagerly been waiting for this lens!

/C

17

Lenses / Re: Please - I do need some wise advise 2choose: EF500II/EF600II/EF200-400?

« on: November 22, 2012, 02:25:09 PM »

just got my EF600 II Lens today. Wow that was really quick. I had only to wait one month. instead of the 5 month they told me first.
Just want to let everyone know that it fits fine into the Loewepro Flipside 500AW.
With and without attached lenshood. This makes air travel very comfortable and also trekking with a lens like this.
I could also put my 5D III with 70-200 2.8 IS II in it and my 16-35 II and there is some space left.
Sorry for the bad pic quality. It from my phone. Haven´t ordered my 1DX yet.
I hope for some better weather on the weekend to take my new lens out for a test drive.

Hello Florian!
What a great news! A warm congratulations to you and your brand-new super-tele-lens that will give you most outstanding photos and the new lens will most likely also set your photographs apart from the crowd, and also being a very nice and of course a great addition to your kit! (not even yet mentioning your future ownership of the flagship - the 1Dx!)

I am glad to read that you can also travel comfortably using your Lowepro Flipside 500AW, with your new EF600 II! Very good and excellent and handy!

Wishing you Florian many wonderful moments outdoors, when you approach the wildlife together with your brand-new equipement the outstanding EF600 II!

Best Greetings from Sweden!

Charl

18

Lenses / Re: Hand held wildlife shoot 500 f4mk2

« on: November 22, 2012, 02:06:46 PM »

As usual I took my tripod, gimbal 1D4extenders etc. After setting up the Red Kites arrived and I thought I'd try a few handheld. Well it didn't take to long to figure out the new lens can be handheld all day doing wildlife. New needed to use the tripod. Could never do that with the old one. Pics are sharp even at 500mm and 500th sec. This is worth every penny. Im no body builder either.
 

Hello Mick!

Congratulations to your new super-tele-lens Mick!

(Noted that the new EF600mm f/4L IS USM II, is almost in the same weight-class, as the old Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM I was.)

I am interested what you think about your new excellent equipement - if you did think that the reach would be enough (with the EF 500 II vs EF 600 II, for your photography, if you in future will mostly photographing birds with a full-frame DSLR?

I have 7D as I see that you also have - how is the IQ if you use the EF500mm f/4L IS USM II with your 7D?
By the way, the smaller crop-sensor also using the so called "sweet spot" of the centre-of-the-lens and there would be even maybe a bit less vignetting tendency.


Are you often using your Extenders with your new EF 500 II? What do you think about the IQ with the Extender between your DSLR and your lens?

Was it maybe a bit difficult choice for you to purchase the EF500 II vs EF600 II? (Reach/weight reduce)

Isn´t there also this factor, that if you using often a quite heavy lens that you are being used to handle this a bit heavier lens hand held, when not even being a body-builder?

Thanks for sharing Mick and wishing you happy shootings with great photos outdoors!

All the Best!
C

19

Lenses / Re: Is the EF 800 f/5.6L IS Due for Replacement? [CR2]

« on: November 21, 2012, 04:54:11 AM »

But with the 600mm + 1.4TC delivering almost as good IQ, there's not going to be many more sales of the 800mm (except for those who 'must' have 1600mm).

Actually, I think the 600/4 II + 1.4xIII actually delivers slightly better IQ than the 800/5.6, and the 600/4 II + 1.4xIII delivers better IQ than the 800/5.6 + 1.4xIII, as well.  In both cases, in addition to better IQ, the 600+TC is lighter, cheaper, and slightly longer in focal length.  So, the 800/5.6 really has no remaining advantages, except as you note to achieve 1600mm (at the cost of loss of AF at f/11 and a big IQ hit, such that cropping from 1200mm is probably better). 

Personally, I think it's likely we'll see an updated 800/5.6 sooner than expected, and the main reason is that the current one cannot compete with the new 600 II (and secondarily, because Nikon is releasing one).

Hello Neuroanatomist!
Thank you again for your very good thoughts - as always coming from you sir!

Expecting a brand new and also better Canon EF800/5.6L that has the new sophisticated/complex optical design(as in EF600mm f/4L IS USM II),
 that features (2) fluorite and UD lens elements to tackle aberrations and distortions,
 and also features a lightweight magnesium alloy and titanium construction,
 which reduces weight without compromising on strength and build quality - so I think I rather wait to maybe purchasing this new EF800, instead of one of the existing new ones version II super-lenses from Canon?

Let us see what the future holds!

Happy shootings!

C

20

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: DPreview adds 6D sample images to their preview

« on: November 21, 2012, 04:31:23 AM »

It's not the same sensor.  Canon's web site describes it as a new design.

Of course it's not the same - it's 20 MP, not 22 MP.  But if it uses the same production technologies found in the 5DIII and 5DII, the IQ should only be marginally different, if at all.

Hello Neuro!

I was holding the 6D in my hands and asking the Canon-representative here in Sweden about the sensor and especially the low-light-capacity and
he (K. Mörk, Svenska Canon Sweden) told me that this sensor is NOT the same as used in 5DMK3 but it is totally NEW and that he was thinking that 6D sensor will be performing a bit and slightly
 better than even the 5DMK3 but this said in the low-light-situations when using high ISO. This is from our conversation from 31st October 2012 - that is my two cents in this thread)
Have a good day!
C

21

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Do that many people use Live View for pics primarily over normal Viewfinder?

« on: November 21, 2012, 04:21:16 AM »

Why do you like it if you use it?

Thanks in advance,

cayenne

Hello Cayenne!


Good question you rised here!

* Mostly when photographing in the darkness of night-time and when the exposure simulation is particularly handy,
when camera is on tripod with different lenses after sunset in night-time-photographing.
* When using 10x magnification to set manual focus when camera is on tripod for example when using my telelens with extenders, and to
have the benefit of mirror-locking at the same time during exposure.
* When using my TS-E 17L/24LII/90mm to set the critical focus when using tilt in closeup/landscape/cityscapes

(One observation - when I am using recently the live-view with my 5DM3,  I was a bit surprised (un-scientifically noted!), that the 5DMK3 consumes battery,
 a bit faster compared with my 5MK2? I wonder if you have noted this "down-side" with live-view - but I always have at least three battery-packs with me!)

22

EOS Bodies / Re: 5D3 Mirror Lock up use and reccomendations

« on: November 18, 2012, 06:17:00 AM »

The major point - when you use live view, it's the same as mirror lockup.

Not exactly - it's better.  Live View uses an electronic first curtain, so not only do you get the reduction in vibration from MLU, you also get a small additional reduction in vibration from the first shutter curtain.

Hello Neuroanatomist! Thanks for this information about Live-view vs MLU! Thank you too wcksmith for this initial advice! I was just trying to get this fact confirmed about using live-view when the focusing is critical and when
need to reduce the vibrations from the mirror slap to minimum!
Very good to have this cleared out! Thanks a lots!

Zoe

23

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Use of 5D MarkIII Chromatic Aberration Correction feature built into the camera?

« on: November 12, 2012, 09:20:44 AM »

Dear Forum Readers who uses the new Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

The Canon 5D Mark III is the first Canon full-frame DSLR that has Chromatic Aberration Correction feature built into the camera firmware (vignetting and distortion correction have been available previously).

Just in the moment of receiving this camera - I would appreciate answer to this one question first; - are you using this feature IN CAMERA as "Enable",

OR

are you instead using .CR2 - RAW files but  WITHOUT this feature and set to "Disable" and doing the correction in DPP?

Is there any benefit of using NR for long exposures IN CAMERA when using .CR2-RAW files?

I would appreciate your advice and take on these two questions.

Happy Shootings!

C

24

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 7D Mark II Rumors Surface [CR1]

« on: November 08, 2012, 09:29:37 AM »

Gotta keep the two processors.  It's the secret to the focusing performance...

Really?  How do the dual Digic 4 processors in the 7D contribute to focusing performance?  Or is the secret that Canon is lying when they state, "The EOS 7D has a 19-point autofocus system, all of which are cross-type points, that includes a separate AF processor to help to provide fast, reliable and accurate autofocus for photographers in all shooting situations."

Hello again Neuroanatomist!

Big THANK for your excellent specs/facts about the 7D!
Appreciated much!
Wishing you a very good day sir!
/C

25

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Are you maybe using any kind of screen-protector to your new 5D Mark III?

« on: November 08, 2012, 06:37:05 AM »

To any interested Forum Readers/Writers an open question!

Is there any need of adding a screen protector to the LCD screen to the new 5D Mark III?

I search this forum about the need of screen protector to the new 5D Mark III and I tried to find out if there is any real need for to add a screen protector to the the LCD screen on the 5D Mark III that seems to be gorgeous?

OTOH Canon has used hardened glass protector in front of the LCD with anti-reflective coating to 5D Mark III, - so I started to question/doubt IF there is a real need, to add a additionally screen protector of good quality to a new 5D Mark III?

I would appreciate some thoughts and opinions about this need, if someone had dug into this minor detail of the need of screen protector?

(A short note - I think I do prefer thin protective film  if there is a real need instead of a more "ugly-looking" bigger plastic LCD-protector type.)

All the Best wishes to you all!

/C

26

Lenses / Re: Bokeh Quality from Different Fullframes vs APS-C´s DLSRs?

« on: November 07, 2012, 06:43:56 AM »

This guy's definition of "good Bokeh" is similar to that of Ken Rockwell

http://www.bokehtests.com/styled/index.html

Thanks to you DB for your provided link above!Very interesting discussion in the article!

On this same site I also found some additional discussion about:
 if IS/VR would change the BOKEH - with beginning from this thread:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=a33e61c03e2a6e5b88205711ffaf8755&topic=19642.20

and further into the same questions this same subject was discussed again in more analysis in this link:

http://www.bokehtests.com/page2/index.html

So maybe someone here on this forum has also had this thought - if the image stabilization (IS) would in some special cases actually impact your image and the background bokeh in some way?

Wishing you a wonderful new day!

/C

27

Lenses / Bokeh Quality from Different Fullframes vs APS-C´s DLSRs?

« on: November 06, 2012, 09:34:11 AM »

Dear Forum Readers/Writers!

Maybe my question is not interesting or not relevant to be answered?

I searched the forum for the quality of the bokeh, and find a tread about bokeh from different fast Canon lenses.
However - my question is - could different sizes of the sensor affect the end result how the quality of the bokeh will appear in the photo? The quality of bokeh in for example flower-images has made me interested and open my eyes for the right use of bokeh in order to create a photo that will be a complete in relation between sharpness and bokeh. Maybe here is others who has already dug into this subject much more profoundly and solidly?

For example can 5DMKII vs 5DMKIII vs 1DX produce slightly different character of how the bokeh will be formed in the photo when comparing the three full-format-sensors - due to the different mega-pixel-numbers?

Is the bokeh from an APS-C DSLR different in quality from the look from a full-frame DSLR´s?

Is the bokeh produced by the super-tele-lenses the most soft-edged, even with the quite "poor" MFD ((Minimum Focus Distance)?

(How about using many Extension Tubes, how many have you tested to stack when using for example the EF300/500/600mm, in order to not get vignetting?
And last q - will the use of an additional and different Extender affect the bokeh in some way by prolonging the focal-lenght- when using either the APS-C vs full-frame sensor DSLR?

I would appreciate if someone maybe happens to have some experience of the bokeh result that you value and are satisfied with!

Wishing you all happy shootings!

//C

PS. The photo is with full-frame 5DMKII with EF100mm f/2.8L IS USM @ f/2.8 and the yellowish flowers are Rudbeckia which is an ancient flower named after Carl von Linné professor Olof Rudbeck Jr in Uppsala Sweden and the blue is a field of Cornflower, Bachelors button, Bluebottle, Boutonniere flower, Hurtsickle, or Cyani flower.

28

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: How to LOCK Exposure with only the Shutter-button MarkIII?

« on: November 02, 2012, 03:40:21 PM »

Using Custom Controls, you can assign AE Lock to the shutter half-press (you can do that on the 7D, as well).

Didnt know this....

Why is this not the default setting?

So doe sthis mean, if I choose spot metering and center AF and lock AE the way you have described, that I essentially have a 1 D series exposure lock synced with the AF, albeit only center point?

If it were the default setting, you'd have to take the shot - your metering would be locked until you took the shot or it timed out.  You may not want AE Lock with anything but spot metering, anyway, I suspect.

Don't have my 1D X or 7D with me, but in the custom controls for the shutter button, I think the options are metering + AF start, metering only, or AE Lock.  I think if you assign AE Lock to the shutter, you need to assign another button (AF-ON or AE Lock) to AF start. Not sure, though - I'd have to check.

But on my 7D, I'd often set spot metering, and I use back-button AF, so I'd center the subject, hit those two buttons (which are conviently close) to lock focus and exposure on the subject, then recompose and shoot.

Where the 1-series with AF point-linked spot metering has a big advantage is that you can take a burst with spot metering on an off-center subject, instead of just one shot.

A really BIG THANK to you Neuroanatomist for this very good answer!
These facts I found very valued to me sir now quoting you about how to make this functional that I did not know about:
"But on my 7D, I'd often set spot metering, and I use back-button AF, so I'd center the subject, hit those two buttons (which are conviently close) to lock focus and exposure on the subject, then recompose and shoot.

Where the 1-series with AF point-linked spot metering has a big advantage is that you can take a burst with spot metering on an off-center subject, instead of just one shot."

Wishing you sir All the Best and very nice week-end!

Carl

29

Lenses / Re: Please - I do need some wise advise 2choose: EF500II/EF600II/EF200-400?

« on: November 02, 2012, 03:33:15 PM »

Hi Charl,

I went through the same for month and finally ordered my 600 II last week.
I use the 5D III and as backup the 5D II which I hope to trade in for a 1D X soon.
With the new AF Firmwareupdate you also can go 1200mm with the 2x for really small birds.
1DX give you the great benefit to give you spot metering on you focus points. This will get your wildlife shots a lot better, because sometimes you don´t have time for a second or third shot. And of course the frame rate. Thats the only things I miss on my 5D and they are only for 1D´s.

I use the Lowepro Flipside 500AW for transport and the 600 Lens will fit with no camera attached.
So perfect for the transport and Handluggage on a flight.

Delivery times in Germany are about 5 month at the moment.

Only pro for the 500 II was you save about 2500 EUR in Germany and save some weight. But I wasn´t sure if I would ask my self the whole time why I didn´t got the 600 II.

Good luck with whatever you order they are all the best lenses you can get.

I wish to address to you Florian a very BIG THANK for your most valued advice and the added points of the DSLRs 1DX and 5D MarkIII! --> "1DX give you the great benefit to give you spot metering on you focus points. This will get your wildlife shots a lot better, because sometimes you don´t have time for a second or third shot. And of course the frame rate. Thats the only things I miss on my 5D and they are only for 1D´s." This I did not know but it sounds really good to have this option in 1DX Florian!
Wishing you many happy shootings and great images and much joy with you excellent equipement!

All the Best to you Florian!

Carl

30

EOS Bodies - For Stills / How to LOCK Exposure with only the Shutter-button MarkIII?

« on: November 02, 2012, 09:40:25 AM »

About the basic using of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III ( I have just made an order for Canon EOS 5D MarkIII and I am bit novice in how to make the right options for my future photography)

Firstly how can I understand the main and functional difference between manual selections of:

1 - Single-point-Spot-AF


2 - Single-point-AF

3 - Single-point Expansion AF

4 - AF Point Expansion

and with the AI Servo AF-function - which selection is the best when for example tracking BIF (Birds In Flight)?
And is the Case number five (5) or six (6) best choice to tracking a flying bird? What are you Bird Photographers using together with your Mark III DSLRs if I may ask your valued advice?

I have lenses in these Groups of A, B, C and group E.

Another importance would be - how can I choose and LOCK the right exposure value, by only using the shutter-button and NOT using the AE-Lock button in back of the camera, so it remains as I wish if I use SPOT-METERING with Single-point-Spot-AF? Is this possible? I feel that I can not really find the answer from the English manual (I am Swedish speaking natively)

Why I am asking this is, that I have noticed on my MKII when there is this option to choosing the Evaluating Exposure Measure - option, and I do "lock" the focus with the chosen center-focus-point (that I only use with my MKII) the MarkII also keeps that EXPOSURE VALUE which was in the focus-area-center and my single center-point-focus-area kind of is guiding and "locking" and keep the EV "locked" as long as I keep the shutter-button half-way pressed down and I do not release it - have you the same experience with using your MarkII and can this same option work with Mark III?

(By the way, this is not the case with my 7D that will re-estimate the exposure-value, if I change the framed selection from where I have locked-the-focus in lens, by keeping the shutter-button pressed down half-way!)
I just wonder how this using-shutter-button half-way pressed-down, will work on my not yet received 5D Mark III?
Or is this working only together with the 1DX (namely the Single-point-Spot-AF with "locked" spot-exposure value)?
Sorry if I am a bit vague here - I do not have the Mark III DSLR in my hands yet today but wish to start the learning curve in advance!

If anyone could give me some guidance - because I really wish to know HOW to make this working and NOT using the AE-Lock Button in the back of the camera!

Wishing you all All the Best!
Charl