Hi there,

First up, it is nice to hear from other members experiences with their home studio kit building as I also am currently looking into setting up a small studio kit for shooting still life and portraits.

As for comments on the images you provided, they show that you can go a long way without much kit. The pistol in particular looks good to me, and that is even though I'm not really a gun lover. In general, I'd say they are nice pictures, but the devil is there, lurking in the details...

A few examples I could point out. First, the lights appear to be clearly visible as reflections on the shot glass base in a few pictures (first and last for example) and these attract attention away from the subject and make the images a bit weaker. Some images also are a bit canted to the side it seems. Finally, in the first and last image, depth of field makes the bottom of the glass fuzzy, but may be not enough to make it clear if it was intentional or accidental. I'd either go for full blown out of focus at the base or in-focus everywhere.

Worth noting is that the second images makes a good job of leaving the lights reflections out and managing the DoF, although there might have been a bit of an over correction of the canting...

These are just my opinions and reflect what I would try to correct if these images were mine. Feel free to disregard my comments if you don't agree.

Best regards,

hahahahaha free advice…..

Both good ones...I like #2 though....

ajndesign said:

In what way is the RX100 not really pocketable? its tiny! or do you mean the RX10?

I have ordered one of these over an RX100 2 because I find the Sony far too small! People keep banging on about the size of the camera, but I want something that feels substantial, with good image quality without the need to swap lenses, so this really is ideal for me. I find the smaller cameras too fiddly and not comfortable to use.

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Sorry, of course the rx100 is pockatable, but whilst it is small the lens does still protrude a bit so I know I would never shove it in my jeans pocket. I've tried this with a Rioch GR which is not much bigger.

I do a lot of stuff just to see if I could do it. This dove is 20 images, focus stacked and photo-merged using a tripod mounted 2X TC with a 300 mm 2.8 lens,
manual focusing/exposure. At full size, it would be a 20" x 30" print at 300 dpi.


.

thatguy_photography said:

check out some photographers that shoot with the a7r. 14 bit sony probably has good dynamic range. The a7s isn't for you if you only want photography but I think all of my first post was about video and in that since it is amazing. I will be selling my markii and two L series lenses and invest in a Gh4 or sony a7s and use that until canon comes out the 3d or 7dii and proves it is at least somewhat directed for people wanting the video aspect.

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That might have been true if they didn't compress the sh!t out of it in camera and never actually deliver more than 8 bits of information, which begs the question when is a RAW file no longer a RAW file?

http://diglloyd.com/blog/2014/20140214_1-SonyA7-artifacts-star-trails.html

300mm is a good focal length for piggybacking a camera on a telescope with a tracking equatorial mount. I use an older 300/4L, but there are problems when shooting with a modified camera body due to CA. Halos around stars, for example. If the Samyang 300cat lens is sharp, it would be worth a try for the right price. A niche lens to be sure, but they do have their uses.

I've used it on my 5d2 & 5d3, no problems at all. Unless you get the bleeding edge Alpha, it's generally pretty safe. Even the bleeding edge Alpha I've heard usually won't b0rk your camera, although it may not be stable.

metacove said:

So after reading your responses I ended up ordering the 135L. I thought you all might find it funny that I just pre-ordered the 50mm Art today. The 135 is an amazing lens.

Looking forward to the new art. I hope I'm not too far down the pre-order list.

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Awesome. I hope you are blown away by it... I am in the 85L camp right now, but I'm always willing to consider something else... though I think my next lens is going to be the sigma 24-70 f2... if it ever exists.

The Refurb items sell at a fantastic pace. I also think that some buyers snap up certain items by the dozens to sell on ebay for a profit.

BL said:

early adopter tax

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Indeed.

I like the lightfield concept. They have increased the "megarays" by four fold with the new design...I'm curious how that will affect the results.

Amazing creatures. I'm surprised they're so friendly. Glad there was a link to the still frames. They really turned out better than I thought.

neuroanatomist said:

tron said:

Don Haines said:

so it should be any day now

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Geologically speaking. Like the world was created in 6 days ;D

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So you're saying the 100-400 II will require a supreme being to will it into existence?

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Or a few centuries of accumulated lore to convince us that we could have it now if only we believe in The Holy Canon.

Or do we click our heels three times...I forget.

Dylan777 said:

I thought I have enough cameras and lenses to shoot most situation. Last week, I even talked myself out of buying the Canon 600mm f4 IS II. It should be a happy moment for not spending $10K on a single lens that doesn't get use often right?

Well....it's not that easy. I saw this photo, posted by Neuro: http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=9791.120

I'm now heading to flash photography. I'm not sure what will come after flash?

Wish me luck guys

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"I'm not sure what will come after flash?" - That is an easy one: 2nd flash, 3rd flash.....

mb66energy said:

Before I forget: I found an interesting patent about a dual photodiode per pixel architecture which is used to increase the DR to 120 dB called "Dynamic-Range Widening in a CMOS Image Sensor Through Exposure Control Over a Dual-Photodiode Pixel". They have a pixel split into a L shaped photodiode with 75% area and the 25% area which complets the L-shape to a square (might be not available at the moment due to a web site update):
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/224611868_Dynamic-Range_Widening_in_a_CMOS_Image_Sensor_Through_Exposure_Control_Over_a_Dual-Photodiode_Pixel/file/e0b495219bbfda2524.pdf

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Aye, I read about that. There are a few other patents for similar technology as well. They all use a different exposure time for the luminance pixels, though, and the way they achieve that is to extend the exposure time for the luminance pixels across frames. The majority of these sensors are used in video applications, which is the primary reason they can employ the technique. They can expose luma for two frames, and blend that single luma value into the color for both. (I cannot actually access the patent article you linked without an account, and they require an institutional email to sign up, however based on the abstract it sounds pretty much the same as other patents that use exposure control for DR improvement.)

Yes, Dear Friends and Teachers.
This Sunday Morning at 9:00AM, Bright sun shine at my Left shoulder, I take my Canon EOS-M with Canon EF 17-40 mm F/ 4.0 L USM with Both Cir. PL HOYA , and Heliopan to test.
Yes, Sir/ Madam, I find out :

1) As Mr. Mt Spokane teach me that : use my Finger form as the hand gun , poit the point finger to the subject, and the thumb at the sun location = we will get the maximum PL, Effect/ Dark blur sky with out use the cir. PL. Filter/ by natural effect.
2) For Hoya = the White mark at the Outer ring are great for the Maximum PL. Effect if the White Mark point to the location of the sun.
3) For Heliopan filter = The Maximum PL. Effect ( make the most dark blue sky) at Number "1" and at Number "26"-----If I trun the outer ring start from Number 2 to number 12, at number " 12 " the sky will be the most light blue, and start getting dark if I turn from 13 to the most dark blue sky at number " 26"-----Yes, Sir, I now Agree with our friend Mr.Phil that These Numbers from 1 to 26 on Heliopan are " WOW " Factor of high cost German made Cir. PL. filter that we can remember to use in the future shot ---Not to Light and not to super dark---Just perfected exposure in our creation/ our Idea of the look of the photos.---Yes, My number are 6 and 18.

Thank you, Sir/ Madam to all of my friends and my teachers--------In CR Posts, If we do not understand any things about photography ---( Ha, Ha, Ha, our life too---Ha, Ha, Ha)--Just ask our friends, And we will get the right answers and learn the new IDEAS, which we will get smarter in the near future.

Have a great sunday, Sir/ Madam
Surapon

PS, the Photos below are not Post processing, Just reduce the size of the Photos to fit the CR. requirement.

CliveB said:

gshocked said:

Any news on the 622-tx? The Nikon version is out but according to their Facebook page, the Canon version is still in development and will be out soon.... That was posted a few months back.

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I am expecting the YN-622C-TX to be on sale in May, but that is just my reading of bits here and there. Some lucky people do have pre-production samples to test, so it is close to release.

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It's an interesting product... When it works! I shot a wedding a few months back the the two 622 transceivers were playing up. I set them for manual mode and the one on the flash wouldn't stay on the setting I wanted.

I just came in from a two month trip. In the jungle of Thailand, Hala-bala. I only have the 1D mark IV and the 7D. I love the 1D series camera. But, after some frustrating long shots with the ID-IV + 1.4 T.C. I finally put the 7D and 1.4 on my 500 mm lens. Honestly, I loved the results. So much so when in that situation I always put the 7D on the lens. Long shots AF was fine. Depth of field was pretty deep and I never missed a shot. With the mark IV I was not happy at all. The 7D saved the day.

Also shot some close shots with the 7D and mark IV. I much preferred the ID camera.

This is with the 7D + 1.4, after a frustrating time with the mark IV.


I have many many shots with the 7D and Mark IV. More with the IV for sure. It is a piece of heaven for me. But the 7D is still in my bag. I personally could care less about the tests and the technical details. I can say, for me it made a big difference.

www.flickr.com/photos/avianphotos
www.birdsthatfart.com

does on previous 1D bodies and has a cast in strap mounting point to replace it I am guessing the X would be no different

edit

Looks like not

http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/s.nl/it.A/id.2106/.f

Halifax Public Gardens, main entrance. 6D 24-105L

wickidwombat said:

if money is the issue why not look at the tamron 150-600?

I mean thats why I picked it up as its a bargain and for my usage its perfect. ie just getting into supertele shooting
and birding.

If I were shooting long stuff all the time or professionally I would opt for the 200-400 though, eventually I can see myself stepping up to this lens but until that time I think the Tamron suits my limited needs perfectly for now.

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"Not enough time in the day" is my issue. Still very busy with kids in the weekend,plus works. Maybe when the kids off to college ;D

We just got back from Spring Break, school festival - shooting with 5D III + 70-200 f2.8 IS II + 1.4x TC III = AWESOME

1kind said:

Dylan777 said:

I saw it last night, when instock showing 17 on hand. I added 4 units to basket, but for some reasons, I'm not comfortable with refur...items :-\

Came back 30mins later, 2 left and now SOLD OUT

Waiting for some decent deals, NEW. I set my price, $450(QTY:3-4 units)

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There's nothing wrong with refurbished especially when its coming from the manufacturer. Refurbished can either be items that weren't working but was repaired to spec and quality or it was items returned at stores. Items returned at store can not be resold as new. And they can be from not working or customers just simply don't want it anymore. So retailers ship it back to Canon. They check it, replace the case if anything and re-box it and sells as refurbished.

Refurbs are preferred to some people because its been checked to make sure its working properly and cleaned by a Canon tech and by a human being. With it being brand new, its never been used and no one physically checks it once it rolls off the line.

You also get a 1 year warranty.

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That is #1 reason I added 4 units to basket(and the low price of course). Let see $373 Vs $549 : : : : Next time

Great, thanks for the advice...

Great review. Every couple of months for the past few years i look on ebay to see what the price is. I've always wanted one but the price has always been the limiting factor. Even now though, when you could easily pick one up for about $400, i can't justify the cost. My Elan 7 does a great job when i still shoot film and I'd rather put the money towards glass or lighting. Someday though...

Actually it's just the teaser for the local G1X-II TVCM unveiled online on April 24, nothing else

Check PR for recent comments
http://photorumors.com/2014/04/21/new-canon-teaser-for-april-24th/

It has been known locally that Canon's ad campaigns have always been inflated and exaggerated which has caused some public furore

Until late 2012 Canon HK's agency partners included Dentsu, Edelman and Lamb.