jrista said:

just like Canon, they are repositioning their ILC cameras to pick up the slack, which means GROWTH on the DSLR front. For both companies.

Click to expand...

No. Canon expects their DSLR sales to crash with just over 11% this year according to their pre 2014 year-to-year market guidance. Since they have not sent out any corrections on projected sales for 2014 the general number should still be close to 8 mill. DSLR units 2014.

I think it is remarkable how Nikon DSLR sales exploded in 2013 given how Canon's are imploding from 2012 to 2013 and 2014. From being the undisputed market leader Canon will lag Nikon in DSLR sales by a margin in 2015 unless Canon reverses the current trend (if the Nikon numbers given above are correct).

This topic has been moved to Third Party Manufacturers.

http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=22681.0

Thank you, Click. It's all about the light, isn't it?

Click said:

ChristopherMarkPerez said:

Ninja ~ out of the Age of Steam

Click to expand...

Great portrait. Well done ChristopherMarkPerez.

Click to expand...

I gotta say that I'm with RLPhoto on this. I just received the EOS M and while it's nice, it's honestly more of a toy than a useful tool. My S95 is even easier to use. Definitely my SL1 is easier to use. In other words, there are other options that simply work better. Granted the EOS M, while not junk, is not as well done as the Sony (et al) ML offerings but it's still a very convoluted and limited market.

If ML ever becomes as prolific and adoptable as the SLR, that is still many years away. For many of the reasons RLPhoto already mentioned. Just making a camera smaller/lighter with decent IQ does not make it a camera to rely on for universal professional use. There is so much more to the equation not the least of which is trust in the company that stands behind it for years/decades to come.

Re: Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 Full Frame Lens to be Announced Tomorrow

tron said:

Khalai said:

tron said:

Khalai said:

From the images, it looks like a built-in hood with slightly bulbous front element. That's a bad news for filter users

Click to expand...

+1 Exactly! Add 1mm and you get a 2.8 zoom lens that takes filters!

Click to expand...

I can only assume, that filter users will opt for 16-35/4 anyway, as you usually use filters on tripod at f/8+ and don't care much for the speed of the lens. Conversely, action shooters could not care less about filters and will go for this lens, if it proves to be better than C16-35v2 or T16-28...

Click to expand...

Landscape Astrophotographers though will either continue using a 14mm which has a bulbuous front element too or will opt for a 2.8 zoom lens with no bulbuous element for better protection (from light) via a hood. At least this is what I need for that kind of photography...

That, and a coma free lens ...

Click to expand...

Let's see what that Samyang 12mm fisheye will bring. Could be a nice astro UWA prime, if coma is controlled as well as CA

Re: New Canon XF205 And XF200 Professional Camcorders Deliver Ideal Performance For Run-And-Gun, Cin

Further building upon the successful features of the XF105 and XF100 Professional Camcorders, the Canon XF205 and XF200 Professional Camcorders support two recording formats – MXF, a file format used by broadcast stations, and MP4, which offers high versatility through its compatibility with various viewing and content providers such as web browsers and television news outlets. The new camcorders each have a compact, lightweight body with approximately 58 percent of the mass and volume of the XF305/XF300 models.

I just bumped the Initial Otus impressions.

Matt Duclos posted a video test between the Otus and some other lenses, and the Otus seems to be the only one suffering from severe onion rings. So.... it's not just about the lighting. There must be something going on with the Otus glass...?

Back on page 16 or so there was a debate about onion rings...

Unfortunately, it seems they are back.... in the 85

Take a look at this video: four lenses are tested, and the Otus 85 is the only one showing severe onion rings in the bokeh.

https://vimeo.com/105732432

Glad to see the trip went well and the choice of gear

Long awaited. They had really shitty filters and extenders... I hope they will be as good as anything Sigma has brought to us in the last years

Well, I'll live on with my 12-24 and 24-70 combo then... *sigh*

This is pretty remarkable, I had considered non-L full frame zooms to be all but dead. When was the last one they put out? The non-L 70-300?

I've also came across this but couldn't remember where, all I remember there was a quick dismissal on the topic.

Good thing its being discussed again. Thank you, new thing to keep in mind and I've learned a thing today.

Steve said:

jrista said:

I'm curious what 300 f/2.8 you were using. The original, or the Mark II?

Click to expand...

Canon 300mm f2.8 non-IS and Canon 2x TC mark II. I can't really complain about the AF on my 1DIV, to be honest, just that with the TC its not as fast as the native 5.6 of my Sig 300-800. Without the TC, or even with the 1.4, the original 300 2.8 is blazing fast. Its hard to imagine a 300 2.8 IS II being even quicker although I know it is.

Click to expand...

I'd be willing to bet that the Sigma is kind of faking out the camera firmware similar to how my Kenko TC does. That's probably how they are achieving the faster AF. In some ways, Canon's AF speed throttling is artificial. It does have it's benefits, though, as it tends to guarantee a good lock more often than if they tried to focus faster. The PDAF line sensors used for the lower light stuff are not as precise. The pixels of each line are larger...to make them more sensitive. But being larger, you cannot divide them as finely, so phase detection is coarser. By throttling, Canon gives the firmware more time to accurately evaluate the information coming in from the AF unit as they more slowly shift focus. They could just try to make one single AF move to lock focus, but with the coarser phase detection, that one move wouldn't always produce the best focus.

Roger Doughty said:

The reach is somewhat comparable: (1280mm for the 800 naked with the 7D vs 1,120mm for the 5D with the 1.4 tele). Noise and cropping are always going to be a much bigger issue with the 7D BUT!!!! I am wondering if my keeper rate will go through the roof with the superior AF speed running without a tele on a naked 800. Add to that the rumored 7Dii improved AF system. . .It makes me wonder.

I am a birder. I have no illusions that noise will be a much bigger problem with the 7dii. That issue alone may force me to stay with the 5D iii.

Thoughts?

Click to expand...

The 7D focuses faster, but it is also less accurate. The Mark II may be better, we will just have to wait and see what actual users and testing tells us. One thing to remember is that a ton of AF points does not mean AF is more accurate. I'd get a 1D Mark IV over the 7D MK II, unless there is something that the specs don't reveal.

Johnathan,

No worries

"Missing flash trigger on first shot... Clients/models get nervous when this happens and I don't like using anything that makes them worry. I don't remember these "wake-up-moments" from shoots a while back before upgrading the firmware. Maybe they happened. Missing frames doesn't square with everyone's eager praise foe 100% perfect Phottix Odins. I haven't heard this described by anybody."

I have done some more checking of this with my Odins and to be honest I can't seem to get them to miss a first frame!!
That said I am sure that this does happen/has happened to me occasionally I'll just have to take more notice when it does. I have had other misfire issues at times but found them to be related to the flash or TCU not being properly seated, but that is not what I am speaking of here. Like you describe a first up "miss" then no further "misses" for an entire session has happened?.....but I can't seem to replicate it in testing.

I even just now tried a complete battery change and re set on all the odins without a first up misfire, and then tried the same using MF to ensure there was no shutter/button lag waiting for AF....same result with no misfires....BUT I KNOW IT SOMETIMES DOES HAPPEN!

HOWEVER I also took special note AND FOUND
IF the TTL comms are correctly established during setup......WHEN you engage Metering via the halfpress of the shutter button or via another assigned function button, the following happens:

a)The green LED on front of ODIN receivers stops blinking and remains on.
And IF the same button also engages AF
b) the Red LED in the 580 exii and Mitros+ Flash units (used as IR pulse) also lights up and pulse a couple of times

( Note : I could see the red pulses despite them being taped over with gaffer tape ,to block the pulsing. That pulsing annoyed me and I thought it to be superfluous when using radio!?...perhaps its not entirely? ......they might be uncovered, at least partially, now? :)

So "maybe" instead of just taking an initial shot to establish the TTL control comms and expecting it to misfire,( as my vague recollection of a "post" on another forum suggested) we should just be disciplined enough to test as above before we blaze away...just as we would if connecting by cable/IR/Optical now or "back in the day"....we sometimes are unreasonably hard task masters?....its just the way the Odins are setup to operate and not a malfunction/fault!

THAT SAID it helps when you know how the kit works in "detail" , BUT the instruction manuals leave a lot to be desired!!... BUT HEY!..we're working this stuff out through forums like this I suppose!

There is after all, a fair bit that needs to happen with RADIO TTL control as opposed to a simple manual trigger signal like a pc-sync connection ( i.e set mode, power levels & zoom for those groups/guns on the TCU then trigger) so it might be worthwhile just taking that extra step to make sure the "transport" system is working!?

Sure Radio signalling is fast but I could imagine a situation when using MF ( or when AF is already established), where the shutter is released before that initial TTL signal is established and results in a "misfire". Quirky perhaps but feasible! That is perhaps why Phottix put in the annoying IR light pulse to signal "connection established"...( No arguments that they should have better user manuals!).

"OK, switch to manual light output settings on some(?) or all of the channels, and there is no longer a 2.5-second gap between preflash and "real" pulse. So the meter cannot be used. No way to get a reading without using the camera sensor, I guess."

I don't understand the above. Do you mean having the flashes themselves set to manual or the TCU. If the guns are set to TTL and the TCU group is set to manual the pre flash will still pulse if USING THE TEST BUTTON! If the guns themselves are set to manual the odins behave as a simple manual trigger and no pre-flash is emitted.? why would it need to for manual? BUT you can still meter.

The only time you can't meter is when using in TTL mode ( ie TTL on The TCU for the group, and the flash itself) and shooting "live". (ie relying on the camera to trigger and NOT the Test Button of the TCU)

".........He felt I did not have to push the Measurement button again."

Correct!..if the L558 is the same as the L308 in non cord mode (I think it is) when the gap is 2.5 seconds it firstly records the pre-flash and then records the main pulse and overwrites the initial pre flash reading on the LCD...no need to press the "meter" button again.

Andrew

neuroanatomist said:

eyeland said:

Would you guys advice against getting the yongnuo st e3 to save a few bucks? Also, is there a reason why you cant get an st e3 receiver/transceiver?

Click to expand...

For me, a key benefit of the Canon -RT system is reliability. Personally, I wouldn't compromise that with a YN transmitter.

There's no receiver because it's really not in Canon's best interest to make something that allows cheap, 3rd party flashes to be added (but I wish they would, to add in monolights).

Click to expand...

If my livelihood depended on it I would go Canon all the way. For me at this stage in my photography (I do automotive product photography as a secondary business) I find the YN stuff to be quite good. the three YN flashes and four 622 triggers haven't missed a beat. solid performers on my 5D3. no experience with their YN-E3-RT though -- I'd be careful there as I'm hearing it may have pushed to market too soon. gotta be careful with the reverse engineered stuff.

I realize this is an old thread but I thought I would offer an important observations

1. The IDC tripple threat works wonderfully on Canon. I like the billet design which is very solid, and the non-adjustable foot is a nice bonus.

2. After I purchased these, I found that they didn't marry as well to my Yongnuo flash feet. Now that I have converted to all-Yongnuo flash I find that I don't need these anymore

if anyone is interested in my IDC triple threats I have a pair for sale.

I'm starting to wonder if Canon pulled any replacement to look at producing a longer zoom. A 100-500mm f/5.6 might be possible. It would be larger and a lot more expensive, but might compete with the Sigma or Tamron 150-600 which are f/6.3 lenses.

For now, I'm hanging on to my 100-400. I like it, and use it at 400 mostly, even with a 1.4X TC on my 5D MK III. I've ordered a 2nd 1.4X TC (Kenko) to see if I can make it work with my 100L by taping pins. I can shutoff the AFMA, but my 100L needs 10 points, so that's not a option.

Maximilian said:

whothafunk said:

neuroanatomist said:

Personally, I'd choose the 70-200 II + 1.4xIII for the better IS and AF with similar IQ.

Click to expand...

I tried the 1.4xII (yes, version 2) with my 70D and 70-200L f2.8 and while I was satisfied with the IQ, i was not nearly satisfied with the AF.

Click to expand...

I have heard but not personally tested that the v3 converter should have a significant improvement in AF speed over the v2. Maybe someone can confirm this by personal experience.
I also cannot believe, that the 70D should be the limiting factor.
I have experience with 5D3 and v3 converter and here the AF speed slows down a little, but not so much that it would limit me in normal situations (not high speed or BIF tracking).

Click to expand...

I have used both 70-200 IS (f/2.8 II & 4) with the Mk II and III extenders and have found no difference in terms of AF. I have only used the Mk III with the Mk II 300 f/2.8 so I can't comment on the differences there, though.

I guess what I was saying is that from my experience, the 70-200 (f/4 IS & f/2.8 IS II) both work very well with the Mk II & III extenders and if you're not happy with the AF performance, it's likely the camera body (or your AF settings - sorry I didn't mention that earlier). It's one of my favorite combos and I've had great results with it AF and otherwise with bodies ranging from the XSi/450D to the 1D X, so I found your post surprising. I don't believe the 70D is any better than the 7D in terms of AI Servo, but to be fair, I haven't used one. The 5DIII and 1D X bodies are noticeably better, but at quite a price, of course.

What AF settings did you use? Maybe that's the culprit.

Eldar said:

mackguyver said:

Eldar said:

Bryan at TDP has published his review:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/

Click to expand...

I just finished reading it - so does that report sway you towards a purchase, Eldar?

Click to expand...

I feel like an alcoholic in a liquor store ...

Trying to be a bit sober, having both the Otus 55, 85/1.2L II and the Zeiss 135/2, it is clearly not something I need and not something I can present a single rational reason for buying. But that is of course totally irrelevant and these Zeiss lenses are addictive.

I have just ordered a third party S-type focusing screen for my 5DIII (from Taiwan). If that works, I have two good bodies for manual focus and that will increase my use of these lenses even further. I don´t know why, but I make better images with primes than with zooms and I make even better images with manual focus than with auto focus. It is something with the entire compose, focus, shutter loop/process that helps.

I am also getting better and better with manual focus. I am not at my 1985 level, but probably not far off

I am now getting late for my AG meeting ... (Anonymous GASoholics)

Click to expand...

I need to attend one of those meetings, too ;D

For my use of the 85 & ~50mm focal lengths, the L lenses are plenty good enough for me because I use them almost exclusively for portraits. Above f/2.8, the 24-70 II & 70-200 II are all I need so I'm satisfied.

I also find that I generally take better photos with primes, but the new zooms are so good, it's hard for me to put a prime on my body unless it's special purpose (f/1.2, TS-E, or supertelephoto).

As for your GAS-fueled decision, I'd take a look at your ~85mm photos. If they are mostly portraits, I doubt the Otus would make a huge difference unless you hate the CA. If you use that focal length a lot with the 70-200 for landscapes on the other hand, it might be a worthwhile purchase.

My real interest in this camera is only if the firmware can be replaced with magic lantern.

unfocused said:

moreorless said:

I would actually argue that besides competition from phones a lot of the reason why the compact market was in trouble was because competition had driven prices for basic compacts so low that profit margins were limited even if sales were high. You look back 15 years and pretty basic compacts by todays standards were selling for $400+.

The big mistake that I think was made in the compact market that left it open to phones was IMHO sticking to relatively small sensors for too long, even high end compacts were stuck with 1/1.7' sensors for god knows how many years. Sticking with smaller sensors did mean that zoom ranges could increase but I'd argue that for the majority a 24-100mmish range is really all they need. Increasing sensor size sooner would have gotten more people used to higher quality phones would struggle to equal.

The future is I'd guess a move towards larger sensored more expensive compacts but I think its now much more of an uphill struggle as your having to user users back.

Click to expand...

I don't really think so. Everyone carries a phone with them at all times. So, the convenience of having a phone that takes pictures was just too great for camera manufacturers to compete with.

The small sensors of compacts are frankly quite impressive, so I don't think most people using a phone as a camera would have changed their habits for a larger sensor (and a larger body) camera.

Finally, the nail in the coffin has been social media and wifi. Camera manufacturers were slow to adapt to the realities of wireless posting and still don't have the most intuitive designs. The slow adoption of touchscreen and the difficulty of typing on a camera haven't helped either.

Neuro might make fun of the Facebook button on the Canon, but frankly that's what a lot of people want and expect -- the ability to upload an image to their Facebook page with a single button.

All manufacturers, including Canon, have been embarrassingly slow in adapting to the new realities. People whine about esoteric issues like dynamic range, but here we are in 2014 and it sounds like the 7DII won't even have an integrated touch screen and wifi, much less an interface that allows users to access Photoshop's new Ipad app from their cameras, do some quick edits and post pictures straight from the camera.

Click to expand...

I'd agree that a lot of the market loss to phones was inevitable but I think that loss was made worse by sticking to smaller sensors for so long. Greater connectivity maybe a plus but is still always going to be playing catchup to phones, larger sensors earlier could have gotten people used to greater quality.

Your talking vastly different markets between than powershot at the 7D mk2, I don't think connectivity is a massive issue with the latter.

Dear Canon:

Please honor Goro Yoshida, and as he did 80 years ago, take apart a Leica and make a camera just like it at an affordable price.

You can start with the new Leica M-P.

A full frame, Canon rangefinder with dual card slots, large buffer and a small, high quality, weather sealed metal body, would be most welcome.

Giant plastic DSLRs are no longer the way, in spite of how well they perform. We want portable but without compromise. And the ergonomic, UI and focus speed nightmare that is the EOSM will be forgiven if you build this.

Happy anniversary Mr. Yoshida!