Messages

1

Lenses / Re: 50mm.. Upgrade or not?

« on: May 22, 2013, 09:26:56 PM »

My two cents is that if I had your existing lens kit, I would wait.  I have a feeling that the next year is going to bring some interesting lenses in the 50mm department, including an ART remake from Sigma and a nice 50mm (probably with IS) from Canon.  There's a lot of good about Sigma's current 50, but the AF isn't one of them.  The enhanced build quality and AF from the 35mm f1/4 in a new 50mm from Sigma could be very interesting, and most of Canon's new primes (while expensive), have been significant optical upgrades from their predecessors.

In the meantime, I think you are pretty well covered between the 24-70II and 1.4, particularly if you are pretty satisfied with your 1.4.

2

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6L IS USM

« on: May 21, 2013, 09:52:01 AM »

It arrived!  It was super windy here today, and I didn't have much time to wander about, but I'm pretty happy with this from my first hour with the lens:


Canon 5DmkIII  |  Canon 70-300L  |  1/100s  |  f/9.0  |  ISO200  |  300mm

My refurb unit appears to be basically pristine.  No cosmetic or apparent image quality flaws, just the tiniest wiggle in the focusing ring (and only forward and back, no play in terms of turning it).  I'm absolutely loving the IS.  I know the focusing speed should be comparable to my 70-200 f4L or the 135mm f2L, but I'm not used to that smooth, non-jittery image in the view finder, which makes the whole experience feel more immediate.  I can't wait to get out with it more.

That is a beautiful image.  Bravo - and congrats on your new acquisition.  Here's one taken at 420mm (Kenko Pro 300 1.4x) and f/11.  Amazing compression at that focal length!


Blossoming by Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

3

6D Sample Images / Re: Anything shot with a 6D

« on: May 20, 2013, 06:07:52 PM »

I'd be interested in someone who shot a lot in the film era give me an approximation of what speed rating that IQ/noise/grain looks like.  I'd guess that the look is somewhere between ISO 400 and ISO 800 film.  For ISO 25,600 equivalent, this amazes me.

4

6D Sample Images / Re: Anything shot with a 6D

« on: May 20, 2013, 04:45:48 PM »

I am just starting through images I shot at an event over this weekend.  I decided to let my 6Ds (I used two at this event) pick ISO, which I don't usually do (I haven't found auto ISO very reliable in past models).  I typically shot manual everything, although on some occasions I will use AV mode if appropriate.  I was using spot metering because the lighting was very dramatic.  First of all, as long as I did my part (sometimes needs to use * to meter before recomposing), the camera was pretty much dead on with ISO.  My images need next to no editing.  This image was actually an exception:  I had recomposed without first setting metering.  As a result, this shot was overexposed.  I dropped exposure 1/2 stop in post and pulled highlights down about -50.  The only reason I point this out is to say that this shot wasn't perfectly exposed (AKA, not optimal conditions).  I was shocked when I checked ISO on this shot because it still looked so good at 100%.  This is ISO 25,600!!

Check out the full shot + 100% crop.  This has had no additional noise reduction (my standard import from RAW is 10 Luminance and 25 Color in LR noise reduction).  That has no editing other that what was described and a standard one click B&W conversion in LR on the full size image - the crop is the original color.  Once again the clean output from the 6D has blown my mind - this is perfectly usable!

5

Lens Gallery / Re: Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD

« on: May 20, 2013, 03:35:46 PM »

While there are few limitations to this lens (doesn't seem to respond to extenders well, missing a few options as compared with the Canon version), the reviews all seem to indicate that this lens holds its own (and some indicate more than holds it own) against the Canon MKII version - which is a pretty huge feat.  200mm seems to be the weak point, but this is certainly an impressive lens, and I suspect the bokeh is in fact better than the Canon version.  These pics look pretty nice - keep them coming!  I am somewhat tempted by this lens.

6

6D Sample Images / Re: Anything shot with a 6D

« on: May 19, 2013, 08:22:01 AM »

Hope I'm not annoying with too many posts.  This shot is from a pretty fair distance, cropped maybe 20%.  I've learned a little the hard way.  What helped here was setting prefocus on the 300 lens to close to infinity, otherwise the lens hunts when the birds aren't in the viewfinder.  As well I had all focus points activated and used single shot and the rest was luck.

And it's one of two shots and not a burst so I'm happy.  I feel like a baby taking its first steps (at least I imagine that's how it feels)

6D 300 X2  800th F6.3  ISO 3200

Jack

This one is very nice, Jack.  Has a nice crispness to it and the wing positioning is nice.

7

6D Sample Images / Re: Anything shot with a 6D

« on: May 16, 2013, 09:32:01 PM »

Thanks carlTN,

That is indeed amazing about your mother.  Both my mother, and father desceased some 10 years now, were outdoors nature lovers, birds, animals, rocks, hiking, boating - it was every childs dream.  In my early teens I did taxidermy and later gravitated away from shooting and eventually took up photography with film way back.  But family life with 4 kids is demanding and it's just now that the last one is leaving home and I've got this wonderful gear!

My father loved to build but was never formally trained.  Never the less he did an awful lot and gave me the desire to create stuff out of whatever materials are available.  I like to machine and weld and create mechanical things like this treepod.  Thirty years ago I dreamed of a remote release and a tree mount camera and now that it's finally possible for me, it's proving to be tricky.  I used to climb like a monkey but those days are over so I'm not sure how high I'll get.  I don't want to be a fatality!

6D 300 2.8 II X2 III 1000th F5.6  ISO 1600

Jack

That's a very nice shot for 2x Tele wide open.  I would call that a very usable result under the circumstance.   That's a lens I think I would like to have, but I couldn't  currently justify it for the type of shooting I typically do.  I wouldn't use it enough (or professionally) right now.  Still, it looks like a treat optically!

8

Lens Gallery / Re: Canon EF135mm f/2L USM

« on: May 16, 2013, 04:41:21 PM »

I've had my 135L for 4 years, love it.  Probably never sell it.  However, color rendition isn't necessarily its strongest asset.  It's really just part of the whole package that makes it such a great lens.  The color balance itself is a tad cooler than I like, and sometimes too green, so I compensate with some magenta bias in-camera.  In my opinion, bokeh smoothness is its strongest asset.  Sharpness, and both global and micro-contrast, are all a close second.  I will find it hard to believe any current or future lenses in the 135mm focal length, will be a better overall lens.  An f/1.4 or faster zoom of some kind, could possibly be a better overall lens, but would be pricey and hard to design and build.  I find that much of the wildlife I like to shoot, needs such fast aperture for the low light...that none exist.

I certainly would be interested in a replacement with IS (which would be huge for my event work), and I wouldn't mind if they could tighten up the CA a bit.  It isn't as bad as my 85mm f/1.8, but still shows it on occasion.  It's interesting what you say about color.  It probably is a bit cool, which is ironic, since I'm partial to my Tamron 24-70VC which is probably on the warm side.

Canon color rendition overall, is generally considered to be "cool".  I've read it many places...but certainly not all Canon lenses have a cool temperature.  Interesting you mention CA.  My copy really doesn't have any, or if it does, I haven't found it.  One troubling thing I'm noticing with the 6D, is that with the 135...sometimes AF is slower than my 70-200 f/4...especially in servo mode.  Hard to believe.  Also seems to hunt a bit more in very low light, than the "slower aperture" f/4 zoom.  Very odd.

As far as color goes, I have never seen a color rendition and spectrum, as good as the 200 f/2L that I rented.  I want one...but again, would prefer something a bit shorter that is an even faster zoom, with identical optical performance.  I think it could be done, but if Canon did it, it would cost $15k !!

The Zeiss 100mm f/2 I rented, might have the best color for fall foliage, or possibly even green foliage.  However, it also had some weird contrast, where it didn't go "black" enough...yet the bright end seemed very contrasty.  The red end of the color spectrum was really alive and "analogue" looking.

I could really tell a difference when I was doing a head to head between the 24-105L and the Tamron 24-70 VC for my lens review.  The color temperature was noticeably cooler on the 24-105L, and when I was comparing them side by side, my preference was always the Tamron (that is certainly just a matter of taste).  What the 135L does so wonderfully well is the transitions in color and focus.  So smooth, and the end result is typically very pleasing.

Very well said, and I'll take it one step farther.  The end result...is...PURE ART.  Most everything out of either of the 3 cameras I have shot with the 135 f/2, looks like some kind of art piece...to varying degrees of success, of course.  I will post a few images in the future...don't have time to sift through and edit them now.

Btw Dustin, any thoughts or tips about LR 4?  I only recently bought it for use with the 6D.  I'm used to CS5 and ACR.  I kind of am getting used to how to make use of the changes to the sliders in the basic section (the "fill light" is gone, etc.)...but frankly, my main complaint is that I am a slow learner, and there are just too many choices and customizations in LR...regarding file management...where they get imported and exported, and how they're archived...etc.  Once I get more used to it, I will make use of it.

Carl, one of my best recommendations is to watch some of these tutorials (the LR specific ones, obviously).  This woman from Adobe is a whiz with LR and it really helped unleash my creativity and flexibility in LR.  http://tv.adobe.com/show/the-complete-picture-with-julieanne-kost/ 

Secondly, I would encourage to either purchase or create some good presets.  The use of the presets saves so much work in LR.  I use import presets that add metadata, basic lens specific settings, and even common keywords.  I have a ton of develop presets.  The image I posted in the thread today literally took me about 30 seconds to process in LR other than writing the description.

9

6D Sample Images / Re: Anything shot with a 6D

« on: May 16, 2013, 09:19:51 AM »

Jack - I wish you the best of luck.  Did they have your camera body, too?  I'm wondering if they tuned the lens to your body for you.

I used the Wi-Fi functionality for macro work for the first time.  With a still subject, it is a very cool.  You aren't touching the camera at all, so no vibration, and being able to see real time adjustment to lighting is very cool.


Faded Elegance by Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

10

Reviews / Re: The Digital Picture Reviews the Tamron 24-70

« on: May 15, 2013, 10:49:13 AM »

Here's a 100% crop from the image above - this is straight from camera with no PP other conversion from RAW to jpeg.

11

Reviews / Re: The Digital Picture Reviews the Tamron 24-70

« on: May 15, 2013, 09:18:15 AM »

Wide open, 70mm, taken with ambient light in the church I pastor sitting in her mother's lap.  This is the kind of results that I am used to getting from this lens:


Timeless by Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott, on Flickr

12

Reviews / Re: The Digital Picture Reviews the Tamron 24-70

« on: May 15, 2013, 09:05:09 AM »

I imagine a few people have wondered when I would weigh in, since many of you have read my review of the lens.  First, I did return my first copy of the lens.  The IQ was great, but I didn't feel the VC was working within spec.  The online retailer I purchased from had no problem with this and had me my new copy within a week.  My second copy has been superb.  I was worried after that first copy, but am I ever glad that I stayed with it and got that second lens.  It is my most used lens, and is an incredibly useful tool that keeps impressing me with great results.

It's interesting to me that everyone here has fixated on Bryan's QC issues (thanks to whomever brought up Roger's update that the newer copies of the lens have been very reliable and that the lens has done well) and few people seem to have noted that the Tamron essentially keeps up with the image quality of the 24-70II - a lens considered to be the finest zoom lens to date.  Ummm, that ain't so shabby for a lens that costs half as much and adds a killer feature in the VC.  I do find the AF slower than L series USM, and I would agree that it wouldn't be a great sports choice because of that.  I have taken thousands of pictures with the lens, though, including a lot of time sensitive event work, and I haven't noticed the inconsistent focus that Bryan reported.  I have used the lens on a 60D, 5DMKII, and two 6D bodies.  I just shot a golf tournament and business mixer a week ago, and was consistently impressed when I zoomed in 100% in LR and saw all of the shots so beautifully sharp.  In fact, I came home from the same event and decided to run AFMA on my 85mm f/1.8 again because I was disappointed on the focus in some of its shots. 

In all fairness, though, I haven't shot a lot in AF Servo mode.  I primarily shoot One Shot mode for most of my work.  Because of the slightly slower acquisition time of the AF, I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't excel in AF Servo mode.  You have to consider the style of shooting that you will primarily do.

As far as optical quality, however, Roger's conclusions are that their copies of the Tamron are far more consistent than the MKI of the Canon 24-70.

13

EOS Bodies / Re: EOS 6D Review - Real World

« on: May 15, 2013, 08:48:17 AM »

Good, balanced review here that I agree with.  Most of you know that I am pretty fond of the 6D (I now own two).  I thought I would share this little nugget since it came up in this article and was repeated in the Q/A on the bottom.

Just as a point of information for those who have recently got a 6D or are considering one.  One significant difference from the 5D line in terms of operation is the zoom functionality.  I found it a little difficult at first, and still on occasion lapse into the other way of trying to magnify.  The 6D actually has a good, logical system after you make the mental switch.  To magnify, hit the zoom button and then you can use the scroll wheel near the shutter to zoom in and out.  It actually is smoother than button mashing, but it is very different from other bodies and takes some mental adjustment.

14

Reviews / Re: Why I Chose a Canon EOS 6D over a 5D MKIII

« on: May 15, 2013, 08:46:31 AM »

Just as a point of information for those who have recently got a 6D or are considering one.  One significant difference from the 5D line in terms of operation is the zoom functionality.  I found it a little difficult at first, and still on occasion lapse into the other way of trying to magnify.  The 6D actually has a good, logical system after you make the mental switch.  To magnify, hit the zoom button and then you can use the scroll wheel near the shutter to zoom in and out.  It actually is smoother than button mashing, but it is very different from other bodies and takes some mental adjustment.

15

Lenses / Re: Andy Rouse Reviews the EF 200-400 f/4L IS 1.4x

« on: May 14, 2013, 04:54:18 PM »

A lovely review. Worth of reading even if you never buy one of these toys.

+1  That's the truth!