Messages

406

Software & Accessories / Re: Photo editing software for a new user...

« on: February 27, 2012, 09:34:44 PM »

Lightroom 3 for $75.00 at Buy.com tonight (7:30 PM AZ time).  This is the student teacher edition    which to me is very odd.

http://www.buy.com/prod/adobe-photoshop-lightroom-3-mac-win-student-and-teacher-edition/220969029.html

407

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Finally! Shutter count made easy for almost all EOS cameras

« on: February 23, 2012, 06:50:24 PM »

Well, yesterday i found this usefull information. I tried it and works so I shared it with you guys...

What I found today? just suspicious about virus?? Nowbody will ever be grateful for this great info?

For those 7D users like me there is no way to know shutter count if you don't install ubuntu and I don't know what other crap in your PC.

I am really sorry about you guys... I thought it was a good place to share information with other Canon users but it seems I was wrong.

Hmmm,  Don't take the virus suspicion personally, no one wants to get their system hosed.  I'm grateful and I appreciate you sharing this little tool!  I downloaded the file, scanned it then ran it, and it worked great.  So I posted my (positive) results and then gave you an applaud.  Since then I received a smite, I hope it wasn't for being cautious with a downloaded file from an unknown source. 

408

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Finally! Shutter count made easy for almost all EOS cameras

« on: February 22, 2012, 11:52:02 PM »

 Cool!  Works on a 7D.   

(file is safe, scanned using Trend)

409

Lenses / Re: New Lenses Coming [CR3]

« on: February 22, 2012, 08:43:01 PM »

Nothing exciting about the lens announcement for me.    Where's the 35 1.4 II and anything 50? 

Ok, what is with pancake lens?    Not the focal length, even though that is weird unless its an EF-S.  Why a stubby little lens?  Seems to me something has to be compromised else more lens would be nice and compact.  Someone educate me on "pancake" lenses please.  Thanks

410

Lighting / Re: Do I need the 580?

« on: February 22, 2012, 08:23:51 PM »

By the way, I just ordered it and think of cancelling the order - don't you think it's feasible to wait for the next top-in-line flash to get it work during videos for additional light?

If the new one is announced then expect to see lots of 580's pop up on used sites, so it might be best to wait if you can. It is intriguing that the new 590 rumour makes mention of wireless but we have not heard much of that in recent camera rumours. If the new 5D3 has wireless flash support I will sell you my two 580 EX II 's for a good price 

...or the price of the 580 EXII might go up if the EOL rumor becomes true and the new 590 is significantly more money.  If it were I, I'd grab a 580 now, learn it, use it, and enjoy it.  You can always sell it or I'm sure it can be used as secondary flash with radio setup.

Too many unknowns with the next gen of Speedlights.

411

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: New speedlites - Am I the only one...

« on: February 22, 2012, 08:14:38 PM »

With the upcoming [CR3] announcements... am I the only one who's equally excited by the idea of a new speedlite with radio signalling built in?? The creative possibilities without spending literally thousands of dollars on expensive ETTL third party triggers - I'm nearly salivating.

Perhaps I'm getting a bit ahead of myself... it is still a rumour!

The only problem I face now is I currently have 3 580 EX IIs - Canon releasing a radio add-on for legacy speedlites really would be wishful thinking, wouldn't it?

Very exciting for me and I'm just a hobbyist.  Question is will Canon offer transmitters and receivers for non radio bodies and Speedlights, and if so will they be affordable (love to have radio control over my 580 and 430s with my current body).  I doubt they will be offered and I expect the 590 EX will be a couple hundred bucks (US) above the current price of the 580 EXII.

So if the 580 is rumored to be EOL, do you expect the 430 also to be EOL?  If so that doesn't leave much desirable with the current Canon Speedlight lineup.  Hmmm, maybe more new radio controlled units will follow the 590.  Lots of excitement in the air right now.

412

Lighting / Re: Do I need the 580?

« on: February 21, 2012, 09:22:45 PM »

I too am a hobbyist with a 7D which can act as a master trigger.  Without repeating others' comments too much, get a 580EX II for all the reasons already mentioned but mostly because it can act as a master where the 430s cannot. 

Trust me, if you think you are going to get into flash photography, you will want a second and possibly a 3rd flash.  Get the 580 EX II first.  I have 1 - 580 EXII and 2 - 430 EXIIs.  I often use a 3 flash setup and most of the time I use the 580 as the master trigger (via  an extra long ETTL cord, see link below).

Yes my 7D can fire all 3 of my Speedlights but I often don't use he master function on my 7D because I often place my slaves outside of the 7D's FOV.  Also, as mention in the thread, the 430 head rotation is only 270 degrees, sometimes I wish one of my 430s was a 580 just for that reason.  I love my 430s, but I love my 580 a little more.


A must have, get the 33 footer:
http://ocfgear.com/cords-for-canon-ettl/ettl-cord-extra-long/

413

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon 18-45 f/3.5-5.6 Kit Lens for APS-C Mirrorless Patent

« on: February 20, 2012, 11:56:19 AM »

Excuse me for coming off ignorant, but what is with all the hype over mirror-less cameras.  I'm serious, what am I missing?  I get the part of less mechanical, maybe higher shutter speeds (maybe not), but what about the loss of a "real" viewfinder?   

Yes, I know mirror-less have been around on and off for years, but I don't understand what market they're aimed at.  Is this to compete with the P&S market, DSLR, market or its own?  It seems to me they're targeted towards the hip, got-to-have-the-lastest, the in-thing, trendy market--at least that is what I get from the Sony commercials.

Please, someone enlighten me.

414

Lenses / Re: Grand Canyon Lens suggestions

« on: February 19, 2012, 01:58:54 PM »

Lots of tourist coming to AZ, we like the revenue   

A few more suggestions for those in the Grand Canyon vicinity:

- Walnut Canyon National Monument - cliff dwellings in side of mountain and steep canyon, cool easy all paved hike, few miles east of Flagstaff
- Wupatki National Monument - high desert Indian dwellings, about 25 miles N of Flagstaff
- Sunset Crater National Monument - Ancient volcanic activity, a few miles N of Flagstaff (you can do Wupatki and Sunset together in the same driving loop)
- Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon - just south of Flagstaff, my favorite route is to take old highway 89 down into the canyon from Flagstaff
- From Sedona, head south west to Jerome an old mining town.  Jerome is the most vertical town in the country.  Main street zig zags up a mountain.

Don't want to come across as a tourism promotion but, lots of wonderful photography opportunities.

PS, might be cheapest to buy annual NP pass to cover all parks and monuments.

415

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Eneloop batteries for my flash

« on: February 19, 2012, 11:02:32 AM »

Since we are talking about batteries, I want to share an awesome battery caddy to hold your batteries (I have 3, thanks again Syl).  Normally I don't get excited about a piece of molded plastic, but these caddies are excellent; strong non-brittle plastic, batteries snap in and will not fall out, orient your batteries up or down to indicate charged or discharged, and come in multiple sizes and colors.

http://www.amazon.com/Storacell-Powerpax-Battery-Caddy-Yellow/dp/B004YG7JXW/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1329666567&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Storacell-Powerpax-Battery-Caddy-Orange/dp/B004YG7LA8/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_b

http://www.amazon.com/Storacell-Powerpax-Battery-Caddy-Black/dp/B001AQYJI2/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1329666567&sr=1-5

416

Lenses / Re: 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 vs 17-40mm f/4L for a crop camera

« on: February 19, 2012, 10:26:20 AM »

My main problem with the 15-85mm, is the lens creep. I'm really afraid of that.

Had a new 15-85 and lens creep only occurred very little and that was when I was pointing the lens straight up such as moon shots.  Sold it because I needed weather sealing with my 7D. 

417

Speedlites, Printers, Accessories / Re: Eneloop batteries for my flash

« on: February 19, 2012, 12:58:40 AM »

I use only eneloop and imedion LD-NiMH batteries in my speedlites (because they're recommended by Syl Arena) and have no regrets, I charge them in a Powerex charger. I also use Energiser re-chargables in equipment such as mouse and keyboard, I sometimes charge my energisers in the powerex charger, but would never charge the eneloops and imedions in the compact energiser charger that I have- it doesn't auto switch off when the batteries are full whereas my powerex does, and the powerex has fast and soft charge options as well.
I simply pack a set of spare fully-charged eneloops or imedions when I'm using my speedlights(and CP-e4), I find they hold their charge well for re-chargables.

Dido, I too took Syl Arena's advice and use Eneloop LD-NiMH (low discharge) for ready to go and Powerex NiMH for when I have time to charge.  I use the Powerex Maha MH-C801D charger with 8 bays that has a condition, 1 hour (rapid), and soft charge modes. 

I learned the hard way not store batteries in your Speedlight.   Canon charged me $100 to repair a alkaline battery leak in my 580 EX II.


Edit:  The leaked alkaline battery was a Rayovac.   At the same time as my damaged 580, I also had a leak in one of my 430 EX IIs, also Rayovac alk.   Based on what others have posted, never store alkalines in a flash unit and store rechargables with caution. 

418

Lenses / Re: Grand Canyon Lens suggestions

« on: February 17, 2012, 02:37:35 PM »

Also, I have a good quality circular polarizer.  While I hope to be able to shoot  early and late, I do not plan to put the camera away mid-day.  Will a neutral density filter be a must?

I'd be interested in the answer to this also, as I will be there in March.
Diane

In case you miss my previous post:

"A polarizer will be extremely useful, I don't see the need for ND filter unless you have a very fast lens you need to shoot wide open with in full sun--your 15-85 even at 3.5 will be just fine."

419

Lenses / Re: Grand Canyon Lens suggestions

« on: February 17, 2012, 02:33:50 PM »

I have been following the CR Forums for some time.  This post finally prompted me to register.  First, FSU_Dan, wishing you a safe and speedy return from Afghanistan!  Second, I hope you do not mind piggybacking on your post. 

I am also planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, etc. in May.  I will be shooting with a 7D and have an EF-S 15-85 and EF 70-300L.  My only real expertise (a stretch) is motorsports (thus the 7D).  I am wondering if I will be happy with the 15-85, or if I need wider (say the ef-s 10-22) or faster (a prime)?  I would appreciate feedback from landscape and canyon shooters regarding lenses for the 7D on this trip.

Also, I have a good quality circular polarizer.  While I hope to be able to shoot  early and late, I do not plan to put the camera away mid-day.  Will a neutral density filter be a must?

I've been up there a couple of times with my 7D and 15-85.  I never had a shot I could not get with 15 but like I mentioned on an earlier post, a little wider for some shots would have been nice.  If it is convenient and affordable, I'd rent and bring a 10-22. 

A polarizer will be extremely useful, I don't see the need for ND filter unless you have a very fast lens you need to shoot wide open with in full sun--your 15-85 even at 3.5 will be just fine.

420

Lenses / Re: Grand Canyon Lens suggestions

« on: February 17, 2012, 02:22:45 PM »

One final tip, lots of dust, so keep your gear protected.  In May it still may be a bit windy, less so in the AM.

do you have any recommendations on how to protect from dust other than the platic bag method?  Any good rain covers that double as dust covers without breaking the bank?

Nothing too special other than avoid those clouds of dust when cars pass by on gravel roads, swap lens in your car or with the wind to your back.  Might be a good idea to have a plastic bag in your pocket in case you are out a ways from your car and a wind picks up or a bunch of bikers come passing thru.  May is typically a very dry month so you shouldn't have to worry about rain but be prepared just in case.  The summer monsoon for the southwest doesn't begin until early July.

Stay safe, welcome home, and thank you!