Wildlife/Sports/Airshow Lens

I have an EF 400 F2.8 IS II and it does play well with the 2X converter however adding a converter NEVER improves the optical performance so although you will like the results with the 2X because they are still sharp and high contrast be prepared to be somewhat disappointed when comparing the 2X teleconverter images to the results with the bare lens.

I have three of the Canon telephoto primes (200 F2 and 300 and 400 F2.8) and the bare results are incredible, the 1.4X results are really, really good, but the 2X takes away some of the "great white prime" magic HOWEVER a 400 F2.8 with 2X still produces better results than a multitude of lesser lens because the base lens is so incredibly good. The disappointment only comes when you do an A to B comparison of the bare lens to the converter version.

Also make sure that you very carefully dial in the microfocus adjustment with your camera body when you get into this focal length range because the decreased DoF leaves little margin for error. A 400 F2.8 plus 2X (and the same is true for the 300 F2.8 combo) is extremely good when perfectly focused and there is no motion blur from the camera or subject but if you miss the perfect setup you will have a disappointing image. Take some time with whatever setup you settle on because your initial results won't be your best as you learn the new setup so don't grow discouraged early.

And on edit, attached are a couple of photos shot this afternoon while I was adjusting the EF 400 F2.8 IS II and 2X converter to my EOS 1DX III because I hadn't fully dialed in that combo earlier. Shot at F5.6, 1/1600 handheld with IS off.
AS0I4077.JPGAS0I4165.JPG
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Newbie camera help m6 ii vs ?

Good choice, and you got one from a authorized dealer. I had a SL-2. I'd start looking to a 15-85mm lens to go with it, they are a very nice match, and used ones can often be found on Craigslist for a low price. Its a lens that works for everything but macro and longer telephoto or low light.

Low light photography may be a area she will be interested in, a 60mm EF-s Macro works for both and is very sharp.

Good to know, she definitely would like to do some night time shots.
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Canon Closing Offices -COVID-19

Its just a matter of time before manufacturing closes.

Japan has been resisting doing the things seen in the rest of the world, and Toyko has reached a explosive stage. They are counting on wishes to stop it, but in a crowded city, thats not going to help. Once the numbers got to the thousands, the progression is almost lightning fast.

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M6 mark II review

Were I inclined to buy another camera any time soon, I’d get something in the M series, but I don’t know what I’d use it for. I haven’t used my Rebel in over 2 years. Any time I want to travel lighter than with the 6D2, I find my G camera more than adequate, and it fits in my pocket. I did consider replacing my G7X II with an M50, but then the G5X II came out, so I got it.

I still enjoy following reviews of M cameras, even though I can’t think of an excuse to buy one.
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Patent: Pop up viewfinder to allow for larger rear LCD displays

* viewfinder also works well in brightly lit environments, eg. outdoors on sunny day, or in contralight - compared to using rear display: much easier to judge scene, exposure, color, etc. without glare all around = better chance to get desired image, higher chance for best possible image quality

This, precisely this.

Several years ago at the San Diego zoo, I found myself unable to tell whether my Rebel T3 was making a video or not, outside in the sun. The red dot on the screen was invisible, and it was an OVF and didn't show there. I could at least frame what I might or might not have been videoing because of the OVF. If I hadn't had that, I'd have been completely crippled.

As a result, I didn't get video of a Galapagos tortoise moving at WARP SPEED (well, okay, for a turtle) because it was feeding time.

On the upside, an M6-II at least can have an EVF attached--that actually has some advantages, such as projecting far enough from the back of the camera I don't smack my nose into the screen. I decided that was good enough and bought the camera. Would I rather have had am M5-II with a viewfinder? Sure, but I'll take a real camera over a non-existent one any day of the week.

(Some are hoping an M5-II with IBIS comes out...that would be cool and would explain why they didn't release one at the same time as the M6-II.)
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Possible Canon Cinema EOS C300 Mark III update [CR2]

RunAdGun thanks! I had no idea. Ive used that lens once. I like the range but felt like the fuji 19-90 was much better optically. I guess I want a cross between the 17-120 Lens and the 18-80 cine AF from canon. That lens is a deal breaker because its 4.4 and has no hard stops for focus. But I love that it has IS. Canon, please give us 2.8 version with hard stops maybe go 18-90. "ultra 35" coverage would be nice too, and let it play nicely with other brands of cameras. I wonder if canon will make a full frame zoom to go with the C500II? Also will there be a C700 successor? Something to really take on the high end of Arri and Red? I'd like to see that( but with a smaller form factor similar to a mini or RED).
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7D Mark ii replacement

I would give the 90D a try. It's not a big investment and the jump in image quality from the 7D2 is huge. 9 frames per second is pretty good. I've had excellent results with mine, but haven't used it for sports or birds, so can't comment on AF tracking ability.

Dual card slots would be nice for pro use, but I haven't had a card fail in over a decade, so it's not really an issue for me.

The jump in image quality is almost all below ISO 400, which is not where the 7D Mark II is normally used for sports and action. Mine lives at ISO 3200 when shooting under the lights, and at ISO 3200 the difference between the 90D and 7D mark II is 0.09 stops DR. The 90D AF system is not much better than the 80D AF system from which it is derived. The 7D Mark II AF system is better for tracking fast moving subjects than the 90D.
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Canon Medical to Commence Development of a Rapid Genetic Testing System for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Canon Medical is a completely different division, has nothing to do with the imaging division.

Canon at a high level has just 4 operating units:
  • Office which includes laser printers, including large presses.
  • Imaging which includes cameras and inkjet printers, image scanners, and the ever important calculators.
  • Medical with x-ray, ultrasound, ophthalmic, and MRI equipment.
  • Finally, there is Industry and Others which includes a wide array of Semiconductor equipment, cinema, surveillance cameras, and industrial cameras, micro motors and document scanners.
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Small Test on Audiorecording on Cameras from DPreview

Nobody noticed that we are comparing the $5500 1DX mark II against the $2000 Sony A7III ? I own the EOS R, I can tell you that the preamp is garbage... just like every single other canon camera that is not a 1DX or possibly a 5D series.
Canon have terrible audio (even worse than that A7III) unless you are using top tier cameras.
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Canon confirms that the EOS R5 is the 5D series equivalent for mirrorless

I hope it too...
Nothing beats a DSLR's viewfinder,

I agree with you, though technology; diopter adjustment, LCD overlays etc have distracted from the purity of a DSLR's viewfinder. Look through a SLR's viewfinder that had a genuine ground glass screen and nothing else - for instance my Pentax 67, and the experience is in a difference league to what we have now.
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Camera for a Beginner

Thinking about this it rather depends on how old the budding young photographer is, but for a budget of $150 I'd recommend a good, mint-in-box Canon G1X - $130, and a used hand held light meter, $20, and as others have said, a good book on basic photographic technique, $10. OK so that's $160 :unsure:

The G1X is capable of very good flexibility and IQ in a very small, albeit complicated package - hence me asking the age of the individual.

The light meter is essential IMO for someone to learn what is actually happening with exposure, and therefor how to light and expose something to get the effect you envisage. Real photography is about visualising the picture as you want it be and then placing the image on the sensor to achieve that. Of course this isn't just about exposure, it is also lighting and subject, angle, framing etc etc. The G1X has basically the same sensor as a 7D but chopped off at the ends, giving more of a 7x5 format, and as with all those Canon 18mp sensors it doesn't like either over or under exposure. Expose correctly on that sensor and it is really very good, and I can remember the comments on DRP saving that the Sony Exmor 1" sensor was better and it drove me mad because I have both ( actually sold the G3X now) and it just isn't in the same league IMO. Pictures from the 1" sensor look like they have come from a small sensor, the "1.5" sensor in the G1X doesn't.

A failing of this camera is that it tends to over expose, and this spoils the quality so a separate light meter will give the person an opportunity to understand the differences. It also allows someone to find out that accurate exposure in constant light outside is easy to judge very accurately by eye - starting from the "sunny 16" rule. In time the hand held meter won't be used anymore but it will have done it's work of education.

When the G1X was introduced Lens Rentals did a test on it and were surprised to find it's IQ was roughly similar to a 7D with 17-55 f/2.8 lens. Not bad for $130 used now.

The only caveats are that as with all these Canon cameras up until the latest models, if your budding photographer's tastes are towards cartoon-like, tone mapped type images then the any of those Canons are not for them. Also make sure that the used light meter is actually still accurate. This could be tested on a Grey Card and compared to your camera. Bear in mind that digital camera ISO are often not the real ones ! For instance 100 ISO on a G1X is really about 80, so for 100 on the camera set 80 on the light meter. ( My 5DS is really about 70 ISO at 100). There are new light meters available on eBay for about $13 but I have no idea how accurate or reliable they would be.

A good grounding in the basic and important principles of photography will allow someone to develop with a solid foundation
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Photokina 2020 cancelled, the next show will be May 18-21, 2022

By the spring of 2022 it will be canceled also. There will be no need for a large trade show because vendors will have shifted to a on-line product introduction strategy and/or individual events. The large gap between Photokina shows have shown it was not indispensable to the photo industry for anything other than resume sharing and partying.
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