Posts

slclick · Dec 17, 2016

The more and more I read, the Sigma C is the best bang for your buck of all 3 150-600 variants, especially when you factor in CA and corner sharpness.

becceric · Dec 17, 2016

Unfortunately, the 10.12.2 update just turned my imac into a black monitor of nothingness. i had to boot into revovery mode and restore from Time Machine to get back running. I'd suggest for folks to hold off a few days before updating.

JPAZ · Dec 17, 2016

Mikehit said:
1986 - load film, take pictures. Send to the photo lab and get pictures back 2 days after you took them.
2016 - lad 64MB CF card, take 3,000 pictures in a day, spend 3 hours loading them onto the computer, hours sorting through them and end up processing your images 2 days after you took them.

Progress?

;D

Wait! Weren't there 2 hour photo kiosks?

But I do remember sending off a roll of film that might have images from last year along with yesterday's since the roll sat in the camera that long.

Larsskv · Dec 17, 2016

Eldar said:
Photography gear is like sail boats. If you calculate the cost/trip (cost/image ... worth having I might add ...), you could not justify it and you´d sell it the next day. To me it is sunk cost and I am to let it remain that way (the boat is still floating though :)

Cost/image ratio is (as you imply!) irrelevant to me. I enjoy my equipment when I am using it, and when I am thinking about using it. Do I need my equipment to produce the images I take? Not really. Most people wouldn't see/care about the difference of the results I get, and what I could have achieved with gear thar cost 1/10 of what I use. But having great equipment inspires me to take more photos, and in the end that results in better pictures.

LordofTackle · Dec 17, 2016

Great pictures Glenn

I really like the frog, that's an amazing shot

-Sebastian

Alex_M · Dec 16, 2016

There are images of a tree branches shot at a various aperture. You can click through and see how the focus has shifted Towards infinity. Quite a substantial focus shift for such a wide lens.

Chapman Baxter said:
Alex_M said:

Hence my strong opinion: This focus shift issue is not by design. It was either overlooked at design or production stage or what is more likely: TDP reviewed somewhat flwaed copy of the lens.
I am not saying that minor focus shift is an issue. I am saying: whai is evident in the images provided by TDP hardly can be called minor focus shift. In fact it is very substantial focus shift no matter how we look at it.

Click to expand...

Which images are you referring to? If it's the images of the jewellery, that's not focus shift, it's Bryan deliberately focusing manually in front of and behind the plane of sharp focus to evaluate longitudinal chromatic aberation.

As Dustin says, at such wide focal lengths, practically everything is in sharp focus regardless. I can set my 12-24mm Mk II so that everything from 3m to infinity is sharp without ever readjusting focus. As far as I'm concerned, focus-shift with this lens , of all lenses, is being blown out of proportion.

retroreflection · Dec 16, 2016

A person says "I have a problem."
It is good to take them seriously, unless it isn't.
"And I want it fixed this way..."
Be very careful of taking that part seriously.
The problem statement is, "Sometimes I film, or shoot, stuff that has the potential to anger powerful and violent people. I wish to maximize the chance that the images can be retained and shared with others."
I accept the fact that that is a problem.
The suggested fix is misguided.
Encryption in camera does nothing. Physical security through stealth, misdirection, luck, or your own application of power and violence is required until such time as you have reached a place of relative safety. At that point it is time for you and the bits to part ways. Major camera manufacturers should have nothing to do with things at that point. Keep the cameras innocent, that will minimize collateral damage for ordinary folks.
It is also probable that the inconvenience of using an encrypted camera will induce users to use shortcuts and weak passwords to "fix" the inconvenience, thus breaking the security.

GN Photos · Dec 16, 2016

Amazing photos of another beautiful creature. Thank you listing your equipment and settings. Your talent and technique makes these captures so special. Thank you for sharing.

cervantes · Dec 15, 2016

Maximilian said:
Hi Ben!

Again some very good pictures with some additional very nice story telling as well.
I love those colorful Grand Canyon pictures. A really good prove that you'll have to camp there to get the right light

What time of the year have you been there?
I just wondered as there is so much greening in the valleys.

Thank you! Yes, camping is probably the only viable option if you don't want to drive through the night. You have to be there at sunrise and it's quite far away from any town.

I was there mid August.

MrFotoFool said:
Enjoyed it, as I do all your blog posts. Although I live in Arizona, I am in the southern part so I have only photographed South Rim of Grand Canyon. As you say there are no bridges, so to get to North Rim is another few hours drive around the canyon. You had trouble with road closure as North Rim is only open in summer and according to your report they also close the road at night even then? The advantage to South Rim is road is open 24 hours a day year round.

Thanks!
AFAIK they don't usually close the road but there was a fire or something in the area and the rangers had safety concerns, so they closed it that day.

Canon Rumors · Dec 15, 2016

HTML:

The long awaited firmware for the Cinema EOS C300 and Cinema EOS C300 Mark II has been released.</p>
<p>Please be sure to download the appropriate firmware for your Cinema EOS C300, as there is a version for cameras with and with Duel Pixel AF.</p>
<p>All of the firmware links are after the break.</p>
<p><!--more--></p>
<p><strong>Canon Cinema EOS C300 (with the Dual Pixel CMOS AF Feature Upgrade applied) v.2.1.8.1.00 </strong>

Firmware Version 2.1.8.1.00 incorporates the following enhancements:</p>
<ol>
<li>With the CN7x17 KAS S/E1 *1, CN-E18-80mm T4.4 L IS KAS, or CN20x50 IAS H/E1 ¹ attached, the following functions are available:
<ul>
<li>Autofocus using Dual Pixel CMOS AF is possible (with the exception of CN20x50 IAS H/E1)</li>
<li>Metadata, such as the model name and focal distance of the lens attached, can be acquired and displayed on the camera. ²</li>
<li>Peripheral illumination correction is supported.²</li>
<li>Aperture can be adjusted manually by operating the camera’s Control Dial.²</li>
<li>Settings can be made so that the zoom can be operated using the joystick on the grip unit of the camera.</li>
<li>The zoom/focus*2/iris*2 can be operated using the separately-sold RC-V100 Remote Controller.</li>
<li>The focus and iris can be operated via Wi-Fi Remote.²</li>
<li>The automatic aperture and Push Auto Iris functions can be used.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Support for the WFT-E8 has been added.</li>
<li>Support for peripheral illumination correction when the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM is attached has been added.</li>
</ol>
<p>*1 The firmware of the lenses also need to be updated.

*2 For CN7x17 KAS S/E1, support has already been provided in Firmware Version 2.1.7.1.00 or later.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/cameras/cinema-eos/eos-c300/eos-c300#drivers_downloads_tab" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Download Canon EOS C300 Firmware Version 2.1.8.1.00</a> </strong>

<strong> </strong>

<strong>Canon Cinema EOS C300 / EOS C300 PL Firmware v.1.1.8.1.00 </strong>

Firmware Version 1.1.8.1.00 incorporates the following enhancements:</p>
<p>For EOS C300 EF only</p>
<ol>
<li>With the CN7x17 KAS S/E1 *1, CN-E18-80mm T4.4 L IS KAS, or CN20x50 IAS H/E1¹ attached, the following functions are available:
<ul>
<li>Metadata, such as the model name and focal distance of the lens attached, can be acquired and displayed on the camera.²</li>
<li>Peripheral illumination correction is supported.²</li>
<li>Aperture can be adjusted manually by operating the camera’s Control Dial.²</li>
<li>Settings can be made so that the zoom can be operated using the joystick on the grip unit of the camera.</li>
<li>The zoom/focus*2/iris*2 can be operated using the separately-sold RC-V100 Remote Controller.</li>
<li>The focus and iris can be operated via Wi-Fi Remote.²</li>
<li>The automatic aperture and Push Auto Iris functions can be used.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Support for peripheral illumination correction when the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM is attached has been added.</li>
</ol>
<p>For EOS C300 EF/PL</p>
<ol>
<li>Support for the WFT-E8 has been added.</li>
</ol>
<p>*1 The firmware of the lenses also need to be updated.

*2 For CN7x17 KAS S/E1, support has already been provided in Firmware Version 1.1.7.1.00 or later.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/cameras/cinema-eos/eos-c300/eos-c300#drivers_downloads_tab" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Download Canon Cinema EOS C300 / EOS C300 PL Firmware v.1.1.8.1.00</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>Canon EOS C300 Mark II / EOS C300 Mark II PL Firmware Version 1.0.6.1.00 </strong>

Firmware Version 1.0.6.1.00 incorporates the following fixes and enhancements:</p>
<ol>
<li>Support for the OLED Electronic Viewfinder EVF-V70 *1 has been added.</li>
<li>Shutter Angle Priority has been added. A constant shutter angle can now be maintained, regardless of any other camera settings being changed.</li>
<li>Support for the WFT-E8 has been added.</li>
<li>Zebra Range Expanded Below 65%.
<ul>
<li>The range of the Zebra 1 setting has been expanded to between 5% (±5%) and 95% (±5%) in steps of 5%.</li>
<li>The range of the Zebra 2 setting has been expanded to between 5% and 100% in steps of 5%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Built-in Mic Audio Off
<ul>
<li>The internal microphone on the camera body can now be turned off.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In Browser Remote, the focus guide frame can now be displayed.</li>
<li>2K Crop Audio Recording
<ul>
<li>Audio can now be recorded when the camera is set in 2K crop mode.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Support for CFast cards (VPG130) has been added.²</li>
<li>Support for peripheral illumination & chromatic aberration when the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM lens is attached, has been added.</li>
<li>Metadata related to the XF-AVC range has been corrected.
<ul>
<li>The range of Canon Log/Log2/Log3 has been corrected to full range.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The quality of autofocus has been enhanced.</li>
<li>The operation reliability after changing the recording mode has been enhanced.</li>
</ol>
<p>*1 When using the EVF-V70, magnification and the function to display the camera’s live view image on the Browser Remote screen cannot be used while recording.

*2 For detailed information about CFast cards that have been verified to work with this camera, please visit Canon’s Web site.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/cameras/cinema-eos/eos-c300-mark-ii/eos-c300-mark-ii#drivers_downloads_tab" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Download Canon EOS C300 Mark II / EOS C300 Mark II PL Firmware Version 1.0.6.1.00</a></strong></p>
<span id="pty_trigger"></span>

Kwwund · Dec 15, 2016

Re: Capture High-Quality Action Shots and Video From Afar with the New Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 I

andrei1989 said:
any news on availability? it was supposed to be november but it's already december

Available on Amazon today

Ah-Keong · Dec 15, 2016

Grant Atkinson said:
Hi Ah Keong
I use Zone AF on the 7DMark 2 when I need to find a fast-moving subject quickly, whilst it is still small in the frame (and I might miss with Single Pt), situations might be an approaching bird in a clear sky that i want to start tracking from far off. I may shift the focus mode from AF Zone to a Single Point or Single plus 4 (AF expansion) immediately after aquiring initial lock, if the bird is far enough away to give me that time. It is easy to switch on the 7d2 with that mode lever. Other times i use Zone AF on the 7D Mark 2 are when my subject is moving from one side of the frame to the other, rapidly. The advantage of Zone AF is that i can move it from left to right of the frame with just one or two clicks of the multi-controller.
Sometimes I find that Zone AF grabs the wrong part of my subject though, like the wingtip or the tail, but this might not be an issue when I am shooting with sufficient depth of field. I have spent enough time shooting the subjects I most often shoot with the 7d Mk 2 that I have a feel for how it does for me. It may just be me and the subjects that i shoot, lenses etc but i typically find that AF Zone works a tiny bit faster and more accurately on the 7D Mk2 than on my 5Dmk3 and perhaps my 1DX as well.

On the 5Dmk4, I am still evaluating my own results and building experience with the focusing modes, and so far I am getting my best results with Single Pt Af, as well as AF Point Expanded (1 plus 4) and then for instances where I may need to find a bird in the sky, exactly as described above for the 7d2, I am using AF Expansion (one plus 8 points) to give me wide coverage, at least initially. I may end up using AF Zone on the 5Dmk4 more when I have more months with the camera?

It feels like each new generation of processor or camera that Canon bring out in the 7D, 1DX and 5D series get a little better at managing the more complex AF groupings so I am cautious not to assume that one body will be the same as another without shooting a lot with them first. Some models also have more powerful dedicated AF processors

Thanks Grant.
thank you for your time in writing this detailed explanation and sharing of your knowledge and experience.
I look forward to your videos!

Grant Atkinson · Dec 15, 2016

Monte said:
Thanks for the input guys. Yes, my thought was that the 5D mkiv with the better images at higher iso's would help "cheat" in place of gaining a stop of light with the EF200-400 over the EF100-400mkii lens. This would enable me to use higher iso's than I could get away with on the 7Dmkii, but again, less reach as well due to the crop factor. I'm also considering the 1DXmkii as well for it's superior factors in everything and still half the cost of the EF 200-400.
FEBS comment:
"Also the stop of difference between 100-400 and 200-400 on the long end means only about 10minutes more time during sunset, and most wildlife is all ready settling for the comming night at that moment. Masa Mari, has comparable light conditions with Uganda, and there the 100-400II will do a great job."
Hi Monte, i tried to send you an email, let me know if you received it

Thanks, this makes total practical sense in that all this concern and cost in reality may only gain me mere minutes at the end of the day for the stop of light difference.
As mentioned, I have the EF 400 f/2.8 mki lens and I played around with it having it on one tripod with a 7Dmkii and having my other 7Dmkii with the EF 100-400mkii on it right beside it with the cameras totally set up the same in all the settings and using auto exposure via auto iso adjustment and yea, as expected, big differences in the iso levels between the two! Makes it very hard to consider selling the 2.8 lens.
Decisions, decisions!!!! I don't want to come home and load the pictures up on the computer and live with regrets on a likely once in a lifetime trip for the five of us.

Maiaibing · Dec 15, 2016

sunnyVan said:
Why are you surprised? Capturing emotions is in some way similar to capturing actions. When that fleeting moment is gone, it's gone.

Not surprised. Simply do not believe you will have more facial expression in the box with a 5DIII compared to a 6D. 4.5 fps will capture everything 6 fps will capture.

Policar · Dec 15, 2016

Ah-Keong said:
Policar said:

Waiting a FF Foveon P+S. Sold the 5D and bought a DP Merill 2. Anyone looking for a sharp normal lens needn't look further. At small print sizes it has the look of a view camera and slide film, very sharp and clean.

Click to expand...

I believe if they have sufficient resources, the sigma body with the new sensor would have potential like the Fujifilm.

I agree, FF Foveon should look as good at low ISO as Fuji MF. I'm so impressed by this camera.

melgross · Dec 14, 2016

neuroanatomist said:
melgross said:

I don't see it as being a problem in that way. The first thing to note is that if only Canon is doing this, it's unlikely that a third party lens manufacturer would bother. Right now, optical designs are the same, and it's the minor difference of the lens mount and electronics that they match. Since they don't do that for all mounts, because of sales, can you imagine them designing lenses just for Canons' platform? That would be a difficult decision.

The second thing is that if they did decide to do it, they wouldn't need to exactly duplicate it. If there's a big enough difference, optically, between the curved sensor and the flat state, then just approaching it would result in a big improvement.

Click to expand...

My point was not that 3rd parties would design new lenses for a curved sensor, but rather that they would not need to change their flat-field designs to work with such a curved sensor.

melgross said:

Thirdly, since it appears that the curved state is functioned by an electric signal, it's possible that it can vary its curved state depending on the signal. Perhaps wide lenses could see more curvature, and tele's, less. It's even possible that the curve could vary according to the focal length in a zoom. Now, that would be something!

Click to expand...

I believe that's the whole point of this patent - a dynamically controlled amount of curvature. The necessary degree of curvature to avoid the need for in-lens optical correction is going to vary based on focal length, so a fixed sensor curvature would only be optimally effective at a single focal length. Without the ability to dynamically adjust the curvature, the application would be limited to a fixed prime lens camera, not a fized zoom lens or an ILC.

melgross said:

Lastly, what's to say that Canon would even allow the curved state to work with third party lenses?

Click to expand...

Good point, but by the same token why should they allow a 3rd party lens to work with their AF system? But...they do.

It's rather interesting. I would love to read the actual patent myself, but I haven't seen it yet. Again though, if the difference between the states is minor enough, it may not matter. A reason for that is that lenses are now designed, intemtially, or not, with a bit of curvature. The curvature will follow the curve of the sensor, whether or not it matches, or not. So you could very well be correct about lenses benefiting even if they aren't designed for it.

But if they are, I can see a major improvement, not in falloff, as that's still more of a front element size thing than anything else, but in most other aberrations.

The problem is whether these new lenses would perform worse on flat sensors. If so, then that would be a marketing problem, as most all cameras will still have flat sensors. What would be interesting are lens elements that themselves change shape with an electric charge. Phillips was working on such a thing around the year 2,000, if I remember correctly. That could also fix these problems, and work with any sensor.

Ozarker · Dec 14, 2016

Click said:
neuroanatomist said:

Canon didn't even have to ask customers if their service is better than Sony...

Click to expand...

;D ;D ;D

Stupid Canon fan boys. Stupid Canon.

AlanF · Dec 14, 2016

Film may or may not be still hard to beat, but discussion of this topic has been beaten to death. RIP.

hbr · Dec 14, 2016

Re: Here's an Updated 2017 Canon Roadmap

neuroanatomist,
I so love your animations! Keep it up.

Hjalmarg1 · Dec 14, 2016

Many thanks to you all!
I will take the 24-70mm lens as my primary lens with the 5D3, along with the 70-200mm lens and the 50mm lens.
I have about 20 AA Eneloop batteries for speelites and as modifiers I will take the flashbender.

Valvebounce · Dec 14, 2016

Re: Vote for Your Favourite Canon Gear of 2016

Hi bf.
it's still not Friday the 16th. Does anyone read any more? It is mentioned in the original post plus part way through the thread when someone else asked!

Cheers, Graham.

bf said:
I can't see any results?

rrcphoto · Dec 13, 2016

next things from canon?

I honestly think the next "big" thing for DSLR's is hybridization of Livewiew and OVF stills photography.

the ability to choose between an EVF feed, with mirror up or a OVF through the lens experience when you wish it - or combinations of the two with "smart" OVF overlays.

I would also love to see as a "next big thing" is smart camera grips that allow for LTE / 4G transmittal with SIM card capability with the camera able to auto-send it's JPG images to facebook, instagram, flickr,etc,etc I'd also love to see a grip with a 2x500GB SSD in a RAID 1 configuration - user changable with M.2 SSD cards.

Grant Atkinson · Dec 13, 2016

YuengLinger said:
My chance to get out to a wetlands preserve has been pushed back another week, but thank you all for the suggestions, each of which I'll try to get better, more consistent results at 400mm when on a tripod.

Hi YuengLinger, I always keep IS on when using my 100-400ii, whether on the tripod or not. Any of the 3 modes should be helpful. Just some questions - are you mounting your 100-400 via the lens collar itself to the tripod head? I also use a long(ish) lens plate as recommended by another poster in this thread, and get the setup rougly balanced. Placing a hand on top of the lens is one way to help dampen vibrations.
Cheers
Grant

tron · Dec 13, 2016

NancyP said:
Tron's got a good memory. Yes, I'd be interested, if I could handle it. I tried the Sigma Sport 150-600 mm lens at 2.86 kg - could get it on and off tripod and hand hold in shooting position for a few minutes, but my panning is not great at 600mm - need more muscle to make it readily usable. (actual efforts underway since then, but a long way to go, gym-wise). So, the 500 f/4 L IS II is 3.19 kg and the 600 f/4 L IS II is 3.92 kg. I need to rent a 500 or 600 mm 3+ kilo lens once I have built up my usually ignored arms. This takes longer every year....must get very systematic about arm/shoulder exercises, normally I have just done core and legs.

I am no fit. I just try to use the 500 on a tripod close to my car or on a car window. When I was hand-holding it almost continuously (on a boat shooting birds) for a couple of days my left hand got so tired that I switched to the 400 DO ii. Even so my hand was feeling tired (when I tried to lift even something light) for about t2 months!

Ah-Keong · Dec 13, 2016

nice pics. gonna get this glass soon!~ ;D

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