Messages

16

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Tripod - Help

« on: October 24, 2012, 03:26:35 PM »

you get what you pay for with tripods
I bought a $300 tripod.  It's foldable, it's heavier by almost 2 lbs compared to carbon fiber units, the head is not perfect and sags with my 50d and 24-70 2.8 mounted (meaning, I set it at a certain level and droops 1-2mm after I let go of the body).
I read this several years and did not follow the advice.  I should have.  Save up and buy the right one the first time.  Now, I am $400 invested and wishing for more; wishing for the $700-800 unit I should have bought to begin with.
http://www.bythom.com/support.htm

17

EOS Bodies / Re: Dynamic Range & Camera IQ

« on: September 26, 2012, 03:47:37 PM »

I'm a 550D user who has just yesterday ordered a 7D. I've never even looked through the viewfinder on a FF camera, let alone held one.

I do know my way around my camera, but on these boards I keep hearing people talking about Dynamic Range when comparing cameras or making wish lists of improvements.

Can somebody please point towards a good explanation of DR and also comparisons between similar cameras (e.g. D800 and 5D M2/3) so I can understand it better and how it impacts me? Also any explanation of camera IQ would be helpful.

Cheers.

did you think 7d is a full frame camera?

18

Site Information / Re: Are you guys crazy?

« on: July 12, 2012, 04:34:56 PM »

I understand why your perspective
no, they are not crazy.  Just geeks
They like to say theirs is bigger or straighter or sharper or better packaged or better functionality or it's more compact.  Oh, that's what they like to say about their Canon gear, too.

19

EOS Bodies / Re: Is the DSLR in danger of becomming an endangered species?

« on: June 01, 2012, 11:49:14 AM »

yes, in time everything (almost) gets replaced.
The combustion engine has been around for 100 yrs, but with the advances in other technologies(battery) electric cars are starting to look more and more appealing.
The human drive for improvement is one of the great things in this world.  The DSLR will be replaced.  Don't ask me when.

20

Lenses / Re: Which lens(es) to take to NYC?

« on: May 04, 2012, 05:50:04 PM »

15-85 for walkaround and if you can take the 50 1.8 for night shots or rent another fast lens such as 28mm 1.4.

21

EOS Bodies / Re: 7D - buy now or hold off?

« on: May 04, 2012, 05:48:41 PM »

couple of options.
1. Buy used 7d for about $1K now.  If current trend is any indication, 7D mKII will be much more expensive which would mean your used 7D won't lose much value. Sell the used 7D in a year and get the mkII.

2 .Another option is to buy a used 50d.  They go for about $500 now. 50d shoots 6.3 fps 7d=8fps, 60d 5.3 fps.
Used 50d's are likely to lose another $200-300 in value at most in the next year(I am guessing).

22

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: The 5D Mark III Fix

« on: May 02, 2012, 02:50:31 PM »

there will be those gear snobs who will have a stroke over this simple solution.  Because it's not becoming of pro level camera and that it's plastic and etc etc.
Do you know your car door has plastic to keep things dry?  And it stays put for decades.  So you say it does not go through heat cycles.
If you bought a car in the last 10 years, your engine bay has tons of plastic that goes through thousands of heat cycles and much broader temp range.  Guess what, that plastic is still there.
Solutions need not be complex nor expensive.
Ever heard of US Space program developing a zero gravity pen that ended up costing $$$$$$$$$.  The Russians used a pencil.

23

Lenses / Re: What's the best deal you've ever gotten on a lens?

« on: April 30, 2012, 03:10:27 PM »

canon 24-70 L 2.8 used
canon 100-400 L used
both for $2300 3 years ago.

24

Lenses / Re: Sport Photography: Targeting 400mm preferably with a zoom range

« on: April 19, 2012, 02:07:55 PM »

hi

i recently took some shots of a humming bird with a 70-200 L II lens and a 2x extender on a 5D MkIII - i thought they came out pretty well to be honest, i understand that they arent pinpoint crisp, whether that was my newness at the camera or the limitations of the extender im not sure but I can happily send you examples?

cheers
scott

look at the last 2 pictures on this page and you'll see what the extender does to image quality.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/400v400.shtml

25

Lenses / Re: Sport Photography: Targeting 400mm preferably with a zoom range

« on: April 19, 2012, 02:05:08 PM »

I was in a similar situation as you.
I decided against 70-200 plus extender after reviewing this site.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/400v400.shtml
I am very happy with my 100-400.  But I will eventually get a 70-200 2.8 IS.

26

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Peace of mind for high end gear

« on: March 21, 2012, 12:20:05 PM »

renter's insurance may cover your items.  It covers ALL OF MY GEAR (camera, ski, bicycles, tv,tools) whether I am home or traveling.

27

EOS Bodies / Re: Humidity

« on: March 21, 2012, 12:14:54 PM »

It'll work fine.  Just don't expect it to last years and years without rusting or corrosion or oxidation.
Whenever you bring your camera outside (in extremely humid places- not limited to FL), put it in a dry bag/sack.  Let the body acclimate to the temperature and pull it out of the bag.  This will minimize condensation on the lens and inside/outside of the body.  Repeat process when bringing indoors as well. 
With precautions, you should see years of good use before the salt and humidity gets to it.

28

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Zeiss 70-200 f/2.8 Coming to Canon for NAB 2012?

« on: March 19, 2012, 06:24:55 PM »

I'm sorry if any Zeiss fans find my opinion insulting, but to me this looks like yet another solution to a non-existing problem - at least as far as Canon cameras are concerned.  I am not even going to consider the possibility that this would be a Tamron/Tokina "cheap" alternative - this is Zeiss, after all - so the only way to market this lens would be on the basis of quality.

Now, the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS II is good.  Really, really good - so good in fact that a "better" lens would probably not produce any meaningful improvements for most users - so why should anyone want this lens - for the "snob" factor, yes, but what else?

Then there is the issue of IS and AF - sure, a MF lens like the 15mm one may be just fine, but for a zoom?  This lens would need AF to be competitive - otherwise it would just be a way for people to show that have more money than common sense.

to use your argument of "solution to a non-existing problem".
Do you know you only need 40 hp in your car to drive 65 mph?  So why a 300 hp or 400 hp or 500 hp Mustang?  Why even a 150 hp Accord?  Because people want it.
There is more to a price of item than "snob" factor.  Zeiss knows how many lenses they can sell.  Any good company with a half decent marketing dept knows how many widgets they can sell.  So when you are armed with this information combined with cost of production, you can MSRP your widget.
As other posters have mentioned, there are videographers who could use this lens as well as photographers.
When you purchase Zeiss, you are also purchasing an extremely well engineered product combined with high quality materials.  Nobody needs a handbuilt swiss watch.  A $2watch does the same exact job.  However, pick up a Rolex, Tag, Patek Philipe and you know you are holding something special. 

29

EOS Bodies / Re: Is 5dmkiii a good investment in the long run?

« on: March 02, 2012, 12:33:09 PM »

have you thought about getting a 5dmkII and a used 70-200 2.8?

30

EOS Bodies / Re: What is the new 5d3 Groundbreaking Feature that will shake the industry?

« on: March 01, 2012, 01:23:46 PM »

pop out jackhammer.