Messages

1

EOS Bodies / Re: The Future of EOS M [CR1]

« on: April 26, 2013, 10:08:08 PM »

yeah...if Canon can keep the price reasonable (good luck with that, tho), make it focus uber fast, have a great viewfinder and and comes out with some small fast primes people would want it to complement their FF or CF kit...but certainly as I mention in my post (you cut and copied the above out of context just to bash!) as the M is now...I cannot see many people who come to this site considering it for anything. :-)

The ironic thing for me is that dispite only having two lenses this is the area where Canon seems already to be to have an advanatge over Sony. Obviously the lineup is smaller but in terms of lenses I'd actually want to use the 22mm is both cheaper and faster than the Sony equivilent while the kit lens seems like it outperforms the Sony to a considerable degree aswell.

Personally I'd say the M's failiure thus far seems to partly be down to Canon's very SLR like approach to the market being a mismatch for mirrorless. Its a market where "sexy" rather than "dependable" sells IMHO, the casual user probabley has no idea of lens performance while the more serious user probabley looks past cheaper lenses.

The AF is obviously an issue but the original X100 was by all accounts hardly a speed demon but we heard much less about it because the camera had more in the way of "sexy" features.

2

EOS Bodies / Re: Future of APS-C Given 6D Pricing

« on: March 27, 2013, 07:07:44 AM »

i think the chance that the 7D MK2 will be fullframe is way below 1%.   

APS-C will still be wanted and needed by some for the extra reach.
even when you have a 800mm and a TC you will still have more reach using an APS-C camera. 

so a PRO 7D MK2 makes absolute sense.

Indeed, I'd expect something pretty similar to the 5D3 but with an ASPC sensor, 10-12 FP, priced around the same as the 6D at launch but maybe dropping a bit less over time.

That still leaves room for say a non sealed, 5-6 FPS, old 7D AF 70D with the same sensor priced around the same as the D7100.

3

Lenses / Re: small primes to go with SL1?

« on: March 23, 2013, 12:00:04 PM »

I don't see wide angle primes in pan cake format for EF/EF-S mount because the flange distance doesn't allow very small lenses with high quality. You have to use a retrofocus design which needs negative lenses in front of positive groups and therefore consumes space. A very contrasty, sharp and distortion free lens like a f/4.0 25mm seems possible with perhaps 30mm length. But nothing more.

One existing pancake like lens is the Color Skopar of Voigtlander:
  * NO AF
  * Moderate IQ
but
  * small size
  * great mechanics
I never used it and I am not interested because I have the old 24mm f/2.8 from
Canon which is a little bit larger but gives me the IQ I need and is made from sturdy
but light plastics. Perhaps that lens is another alternative for the 100D (and should
be cheaply available).

SL II lens collection of voigtlander (except 58mm lens available for EF mount):
  http://www.voigtlaender.de/cms/voigtlaender/voigtlaender_cms.nsf/id/pa_fdih7pyj95.html

A test of the 20mm:
  http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/504-voigtlander20f35eosff

Best  - Michael

Some of Pentax's limated primes manage to be very small dispite being retrofocal and having AF.

http://www.photozone.de/pentax/662-pentax21f32

I'm guessing you might need to make an SLR lens slower to get it down to the same size but if your looking at a cheaper EF-S lens f2.8 is probabley fast enough.

I wouldnt be supprized if the SL1 was devolped pretty quickly, faster maybe than any more compact lenses for it could be. The new 18-55mm while actually larger than the previous lens does at least offer things like fulltime manual focusing, a focus ring and a non rotating front element, makes for a smaller alternative to the likes of the 17-85mm, 15-85mm and 18-135mm if you want those things and not the range.

4

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS-b Images Leak & a New Kit Lens

« on: March 21, 2013, 02:11:15 PM »

I'd love a small camera with EF mount, that would be awesome, but this is not it for me. I have to say that very small DSLR are very ugly, this being the ugliest of all. I'm sure that it has the build quality of a Bic pen. If it had the smooth design of a NEX for example it would totally hit the spot and I think it would sell like crazy..

I'm guessing Canon's view is that they'll target the market that cares more about "style" with the EOS M and the market that just wants a smaller body but the functions of a DSLR with the 100D.

What is I'd say really lacking at the moment is compact lens support for the 100D, add an EF-S version of the 22mm F/2 EF-M and I think your looking at a potentially very popular camera.

5

EOS Bodies / Re: Canon EOS 100D Detailed Specs Appear

« on: March 18, 2013, 08:11:11 AM »

If I wanted a body this small I'd invest in a m4/3 mirrorless system instead.  When I think of wanting something more compact, I think of both the body AND the lenses.  A super small body will be really unbalanced when you add larger lenses to it, even EF-S.  Pricing is kind of out there too.  Meh.

I think it makes more sense when you consider it agenst m43, you want a body with an SLR form factor and an EVF and your paying a significant amount more than this.

It also of course offers an option to existing EF/EF-S lens users looking for a smaller second camera with the same mount.

We don't of course know what kind of lens support Canon might offer in the future, maybe a powered zoom or a wider pancake?

6

EOS Bodies / Re: EOS 100D Coming? [CR1]

« on: March 18, 2013, 07:36:44 AM »

We don't of course know what kind of standard this camera might be built to, it maybe of a higher quality than the Rebel line. Even if its not though I'm guessing Canon are banking on its compact nature to sell at a prenium, not really that unrealistic considering the prenium you pay for m43 bodies with DSLR like form factor and an EVF.

The other side I spose is lens size, the 40mm pancake is an option I spose but a bit long, a shorter EF-S pancake or a powered zoom would IMHO help such a camera alot.

7

EOS Bodies / Re: A New DSLR Line from Canon? [CR1]

« on: March 12, 2013, 01:02:34 PM »

why does this have to be entry level? why cant Canon make a full frame interchangeable lens camera with a form smaller than a DSLR.
I know some of you out there cant hold tiny cameras, but for me, walking or carrying a backpack for 8 or 12 hours in a day around town, or walking to work, traveling, size and quality is everything... along with quick and accurate AF.
Canon, please make this dream of mine come true.

The 6D does seem to be looking to cater for a smaller FF body so I'm not sure we'll see something similar released in the next couple of years.

To me the most obvious gap in Canon's DSLR lineup seems to a be a high end but compact ASPC body akin to say the K-5, perhaps taken even further. Canon still seems to hold to the "bigger = better" line of marketing but I think were starting to see a change there with the likes of the NEX 7 and the XE-1. Of course bigger does equal better within those lineups but the higher end mirrorless bodies are I'd guess taking more of there market share from DSLR's than entry level mirrorless.

A Rebel sized(but nicer styled) body with say the latest sensor, 7D AF/FPS and metal/sealed build would IMHO do alot to combat this.

8

EOS Bodies / Re: What about a more versatile sensor dimensions?

« on: March 04, 2013, 04:15:37 PM »

I'm guessing too many lenses like the 24-105mm have plastic covering the image circle that would be needed for a square sensor, might be interesting for a new system though.

I'v always thought going the other way might be interesting, more panoramic rather than squarer. Some people preffer the wider aspect and having say a sensor the width of FF but the height of ASPC would potentially save money on the sensor/mirror/viewfinder while still allowing EF lenses. Heck if were really getting fantasy make it mirrorless and include a built in shift function so you can use as much image circle as on FF.

9

EOS Bodies / Re: Big Megapixel Camera in 2014

« on: February 10, 2013, 10:50:44 PM »

Third, who the heck is 'the entire Canon community'?  I can only assume you're referring to the tiny minority of people here bitching about Canon's 'terribly low DR' and 'horrible, shot-destroying pattern noise.'  The 'Canon community' and in fact, the dSLR-buying community at large seems to be quite pleased with the 5DIII, and with Canon in general.  Have a look at Amazon.com's Top Rated dSLRs (note - top rated by customer reviews, not top selling, although Canon owns the top of that list, too).  The 5DIII tops the Top Rated list, and Canon holds the entire top 15.  Then we see Sony...but where's Nikon?  One Nikon camera in the top 20, a total of 5 in the top 40.  And the D800?  Based on customer feedback, it's not even in the Top 100 at all (the D4 and D700 are in the top 50, but only barely).  So I'd have to say WTF to your claim that 'the entire Canon community' is dissatisfied with the 5DIII.  A 'community' of about ten (excuse me, now about nine) naysayers here such as yourself, perhaps.

I'd say that the issue your dealing with is that the "Megapixel/DR" community tends to be the most vocal on the net. Partly I'd say because the serious landscape/macro market naturally tends to be a bit more "techy" and so involved in gear forums but mostly because these elements obviously count for more with the for the want of a better word "measurebators".

On this forum I'v no doubt most of those after more Megapixels/DR are in the first group but on the net as a whole I think the vast majority are in the latter. These are elements that can be tested to your hearts content shooting brick walls (or more likely looking at other peoples shots of brock walls for cameras you'll never own) where as the benefits of improved AF, FPS, weather sealing etc will be felt more when actually using a camera to take photos out in the world

Its not as if there isnt discontent on the Nikon side aswell though, head over to any Nikon forum and you'll find people bemoaning a lack of a true sucessor to the D700.

10

EOS Bodies / Re: making a case for that crop body camera

« on: February 03, 2013, 02:45:15 PM »

If you need a larger image in a landscape scenario...photomerge is a no-brainer, just use a longer lens.

I see this arguement alot but honiest to me the majority of merged pics look like exactly that, merged pics with fairly uninteresting composition.

11

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

« on: December 03, 2012, 01:32:43 AM »

I actually have been thinking the same, that the 7D mk II would likely fill the hole left by the 1D MK IV. Those things sold really well (considering all around...)... I bet we will pay more for it, but get more for it. Expect the 70D to bounce up a bit.

A key example of this: The T4i. A seriously roided out rebel. Expect big things next year!

Seems to make the most sense to me, the 7D2 aiming at a higher end market and the 70D aiming for the 7D's current market.

It would make the most of the ASPC situation for Canon aswell, as a general purpose body a 1.6 rather than 1.5 crop is always going to make it difficult for them to compete on IQ but for an action/wildlife/sports specific body the extra range is a clear advanatge.

12

EOS Bodies / Re: Why do you want a FF Mirrorless?

« on: November 23, 2012, 07:28:50 AM »

So, i've been bored at work today, reading stuff about lenses (like every other day, really), and found some more interesting information on the problems on the angle of incidence.

I've come across this article. It's a fairly long-winded history of wide-angle lenses from Zeiss. But read page 12 in particular (you can just skip straight there if you know the difference between a Distagon and Biogon).

The long and short of it is this:
Take a regular wide-angle lens for an SLR, FF or APS-C, the light waves are going to hit the sensor a lot closer to orthogonal (that's a right angle, fyi).
Reduce this down into a mirrorless design, the lenses will be smaller, because there's no mirror in the way, right?
Well, maybe. If you want a smaller lens to put on your thinner FF mirrorless body, it's not as easy as just reusing the same sensor from your 5D. I already knew that leica had some fancy micro-lens arrays going on in front of their sensors. But according to this article, you also need a much much thinner IR Filter (and AA filter, and bayer array, and protective glass) in front of your sensor. That's probably why leica 'forgot' to put in the IR filter on their first M8. That's also probably why Leica has no AA filter. It's not for better IQ like it is in the D800E, it's because there can't be one. Well, OK, there can, but you're going to have to pay for it. (maybe this also explains that $3000 Sony FF P&S? Any cheaper and it'd be huge).
Leave in the regular-sized IR filter, bayer array, protective glass from your 5D, put it into a thin mirrorless body, with a thin pancake wide-angle lens? Your corners will not only look horrid, but you introduce field-curvature too.

So, at the end of the day, what can you expect?
You'll get an FF mirrorless eventually, but it's either going to be the size of the 5D3 (and the lenses aren't going to be any smaller either), or it'll be the cost of the 5D3, or it'll have so bad corner performance that it may as well be APS-C anyway.

Consider aswell that Leica's flange distance is about 1cm longer than most modern mirrorless cameras.

I think its noteble that Sony's new ultrawide zoom on the NEX really isnt that compact and that ultrawide zooms generally on mirrorless are not espeically cheap.

My feeling has always been that FF mirrorless if it does take off is going to be aimed at a different market to FF DSLR's, less focus on zooms, ultrawides and long tele's and more focus on small primes in the 28-85mm range.

13

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

« on: November 09, 2012, 12:59:59 AM »

I think we’ll see the APS-C market slow down a bit, now that the D600 and EOS 6D are changing the pricing structure for consumer camera bodies.

This is a puzzling thought. It suggests a consumer who wants to try a DSLR first buys into a Rebel under $1K, and then when he wants to be better, he has two choices:

1. Get a 7D2 at over $2K. There is nothing (xxD) in between, and the 7D2 may be all wrong for him given its intended purposes.

2. Go FF with a 6D at over $2K.

I suppose a third option is a 7D2 AND a FF camera.

Seems to me that leaves a HUGE soft spot between $1K and $2K.

Surely something else is going on.

There is a gap but I wonder whether the tradisional xxD is still best suited to filling it.

I look at Nikon's recent pricing with the D3200 and D5200 both effectively shifting up a class and I wonder whether the latter isnt better suited to this market, that is a body the size of the xxxD but with a more advanced AF system.

As DSLR's look to expand beyond tradisional users(its cliched but how often do you see non pro women with something larger than an xxxD?) and come into competision with mirrorless cameras I think size will become more of an issue and build quality less of one.

14

EOS Bodies / Re: do crop sensors really add reach?

« on: October 18, 2012, 11:18:29 PM »

I have a t2I.  I've always been very happy with it, but I would like to buy a new camera.  Basically so I don't have to switch lenses as much.  I shoot pretty much anything.  Mainly wildlife, nature scenes, and old buildings.  I thought if I'm buying a new camera maybe go for the 5dmrk2.  I worry about losing reach on my wildlife pics.  Would I really lose reach or can I just crop all the way down to what I would get with my t2I?
As far as lenses go, I have a canon 24-70 2.8, 100-400L, 10-22, and 100 2.8 macro.  I think if I go with the 5dmrk2 my 24/70 would be great, but id also have to find an equivalent ultra wide angle.  Are the low light capabilities of the 5d2 really worth me adding that camera, keeping in mind I still plan on carrying my t2I on my hikes?

I'd say the main thing you need to consider is which aspct of your photography your looking to improve.

The 5D2 probabley would not help you much for shooting wildlife unless you can get very close where as it would improve IQ for closer subjects and in low light.

If you wanted up  improve that aspect perhaps consider the 7D or 1D3 used? you'dnot gain any resolution but would gainy improved AF and FPS.

15

EOS Bodies / Re: 46mp sensor useless for landscape?

« on: October 09, 2012, 05:07:51 AM »

Judging by the D800 discussion and pics I'm seeing by far the most limating factor for resolution with landscape work seems to be boarder sharpness. We might be along way off the max resolution limates of the center of lenses but even the very best wideangles seem to be struggling with both 36MP FF images and 24MP ASPC images.

Lens performance seems to me the most likely fact thats going to limate the max resolution of various sensor sizes, larger formats optics simpley won't have to work as hard as in the days of film.