I have had some issues with poor AI Servo function on the 60D, but only with fast, small objects (flying birds). Otherwise I'm pretty happy to use center point combined with back-button focus.

At least for my own use, I think I'd miss more shots from accidentally turning the mode dial and inadvertently setting it to some completely inappropriate setting than I would from some difference in AF ability. The mode dial lock was a big reason I upgraded from the t2i. That being said, I don't do much video so that isn't a factor for me.

canon japan is still saying the first 10 days of July for the release

Astro said:

well if you call that working then it might be so.
i call it pretty useless if you adjust for just one end of the focal length....

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Great. If you think it is useless then I certainly don't recommend getting it for yourself.

I have a 70-200 f4, 24-105, 17-40 zoom lenses and focal has worked like a charm for me on my 1DIV and 5DII.

If you are like me (which I am not saying you are) I tend to shoot at the max end of my focal length on my tele zooms. Because I shoot here 90% of the time then it makes sense to calibrate my lens for the longer focal length. If you are a shooter who uses the short end of the focal length often you could just calibrate it for the short end using FoCal, remember the MA setting, and change it manually when you are going to shoot at that shorter focal distance.

I have the MA adjustment menu on my custom functions menu on my camera so I can easily adjust the MA on the fly. FoCal will help you determine the optimal MA setting for any focal lenght and you can simply change it as needed if you are using using a specific range on your zoom lens.

Also, at very short focal lengths, unless you are shooting really really close to your subject.... the wide depth of field renders the MA argument moot. If you are shooting at subjects very close to the minimum focusing distance then it is VERY important that the optimal MA setting be accurate at that short focal length.

Every shooter uses their gear differently and for me, FoCal has been priceless. We have only begun to scratch the surface of the uses of this software in this thread. I have done testing to compare WH200 setups to sidekicks, hand placement locations to mitigate vibration, etc....

Just make sure you shoot in a controlled environment with a consistent light source. I shoot indoors with two 500 watt floodlights on my target. The literature with the software explains all of this very clearly.

No one really knows what the 24-70 II is like, but based on the MTF charts and the few bits I've heard from people that played with it (most of them just briefly) it's an amazing lens. The 24-70mm 1 is a great lens as well but I've seen quite a bit of variation from copy to copy, some are much sharper than others.

But I agree with most on here, 17-55 for APS-C and 24-70 or 24-105 for FF (depends on your needs and available lenses really).

I may still go for a D800E, but I want to sell the D800 first. I will also want a faster computer, and to do that will not be a minor upgrade, since my 64 bit i7 with SSD is pretty fast already. I'll need everything new and upgraded to get the power to efficiently handle those huge files. They are 100-200mb when uncompressed.

My 24-70G lens is sold, I found f/2.8 to be too slow for my low light usage, even f/2 and f/1.4 is marginal.

I really want IT!!! ^^
A camera with that features, I buy it immediately! ...

wickidwombat said:

people seem to be forgetting ergonomics completely in all of this the DSLR form factor has evolved over time for comfort of use too, and any extended shooting you need to be comfortable as cramps in you hands are a nightmare, could imagine trying to shoot a wedding with sony nex or pens, way too small and fiddly

even if they go evil i bet the form factor of the pro bodies are not going to shrink for this reason

(also big camera have more cred than little ones )

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Yes. Miniaturization is only desirable so long as it helps, and does not hinder, natural functional ergonomics. The technology to make tiny shovels has been around for thousands of years, yet 9 out of 10 shovel-users today still prefer a 4-foot-long model over one 4 inches long....

Marine03 said:

briansquibb said:

I could easily use a 1DX however an A3 print IS better with 21mp than 18mp - 18 is not quite enough with modern hires printers.

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18 not enough for an A3 print size????????? come on by the house later for a beer I'll show you a 40x28 that I shot with 12 MP and it was more than enough. A3 is like a 5MP shot. :

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Sure I know it can be done - however to get max detail at native resolution you need more. My 1D4 images are at larger then life for a portrait - but not the resolution I want.

My guess is there is another factor: the high yen.

The yen is so high that Japanese mfrs are not making much money in the States. They need to keep prices near where they used to be, but margins are cut. That leaves them trying to make money anywhere else they can.

Anyway, I live in the UK and you can't just do the exchange rate to figure out how much things cost. Things are more expensive here - that's how it is.

Just FYI but I received my BG-E11 yesterday. I went through all my L brackets looking for a possible short term solution while I'm waiting for my RRS and Kirk orders for their official L bracket for the grip. I found that the 60D L bracket from Kirk fit just fine. Now it is true that it blocked the right most door so I won't have access to the HDMI port for my field monitor but the Canon screen is so good already that I rarely use the field monitor for that camera anyway.

As a result the Kirk L bracket for the 60D (in stock I believe) does work in a fashion while you are waiting for them to design something better.
Bruce

pwp said:

Ellen Schmidtee said:

Surely there are Chinese factories that can make grips...

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There sure are, and available right now for $98 on eBay...
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PRE-ORDER-Pixel-BG-E11-Alternative-Battery-Grip-Canon-EOS-5D-III-Free-Ship-/140755377672?pt=US_Camera_Battery_Grips&hash=item20c5ac9e08

PW

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Lol

I probably don't take the best care of my gear as some of you, but probably better than most. I think gear is meant to be used. A great lens sitting the the condo is not going to get me a single great shot.
What's more, I bought an SLR *because* I can switch lenses, not so that I'd have a machine so delicate that I couldn't use it half the time.
Of course, I am not going to switch lenses in blowing sand, and I do take care to keep things as clean as possible. Just like insuring your gear, I think it's a good idea to mentally set aside the cash to get the stuff cleaned thoroughly every now and again. Once you've embraced that, its pretty liberating.
+1 on filters, too. Guess how long it took me to buy a UV filter to protect my 10-22 after I took this shot :

Untitled by dawgfanjeff, on Flickr

It threw dirt all over the inside of my camera bag, too. Lesson learned-close the bag!

aloper: Thank you for your feedback!

JEAraman said:

briansquibb said:

RLPhoto said:

1D cameras are more high speed, low drag but not so much when you lug em around all day. You'll be high drag, low speed. ;D

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200/f2.

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I want!!!!

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From this morning - 1ds3, 200 @f/2.8, iso800, 1/800. With flash on PW. No pp except a little sharpening

I use a Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod - built like a BMW, rock solid, total quality. I also have a Manfrotto 561BHDV Monopod that is also top notch that cost more than 5x the 785b tripod which is not really meant for DSLR use (unless you're talking a Rebel series with plastic kit lens). For example, my gripped 7D + 24-70mm lens + flashgun is more than DOUBLE the maximum weight for this 785b tripod kit.

Read the following 61 reviews for this product from a major retailers website:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/427320-REG/Manfrotto_785B_785B_Modo_Maxi_Tripod.html

All of the negative comments/reviews say the same thing - NOT SUITABLE FOR DSLR

Physicx said:

wickidwombat said:

BozillaNZ said:

The op has some very valid point.

I just got back from Tahiti & Bora-Bora honeymoon last week, sort of like a once in life time trip really. I took all I had by the time, 17-40L for UWA, 50 1.4 for low light, 70-200 IS II for portait of my wife, 1Ds2 for stills, 50D (magic lantern rules!) for movie with underwater package. and a second hand beaten up 24-105L I got for fun.

Guess what, 90% of pictures came from the 24-105. When you are travelling, that single convenient lens mounted right on your camera is the most valuable one. Not the other $3000 big white lens which rests in the hotel room.

So, shooting is a different thing to talking. Sometimes they are even contradicting.

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I carried my 70-200 around china for 3 weeks with my 5D2, 16-35 and 50 f1.4

I only used the 70-200 twice
once shooting a really cool play at night using a tripod
and the other on a boat cruise down the yangtze river i used a 2x tc with it on this too
the rest of the time I basically used the 16-35 or the 50 and the rest of my gear stayed in the hotel room
my wife pretty much just shot with the 24-105 and her 5Dmk2

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Yes it was the same for me when I was out there. When I had my 70-200 on my 5DII I got some great shots. Unfortunately it wasnt wise to have it on there all the time. So most of my shots came from the 16-35, and in the end I was just happy shooting with my 50mm 1.4 as it was so light. And yes, you just shoot with what ever you have.

As already mentioned somewhere down in the replies, sometimes we talk about so much about more expensive lenses, thinking what you will be shooting, why you need this and that, but onthe field it is totally different and you quickly learn what is really needed. Which is a nice thing.

Less shooting lens charts at home with the 70-200 and more going out there with you 50mm.

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Heheh, when I was in China (and some other countries) last year, I mostly used a 10-22mm and a 70-200mm f/4L on my 40D. Yeah, the white lens drew quite a bit of attention when I was walking the streets of Beijing, but I never felt threatened or anything. The telephoto was great for candid shots, while the wide angle helped capture the grandness of the architecture.

I'm always thinking about my gear, and the best ways to get the most out of it. It helps with the JPTWF (justify purchase to wife factor).

FarQinell said:

Canon Rumors

The images look pretty sharp!

However please supply proper 100% crops so we can take judge!

Should be easy to do.

Could we have a moon shot or two as well with/without 1.4xTC when weather conditions are right.

I suspect these latest very expensive long lenses from Canon are "birder" lenses designed for max sharpness at close range - say 50Xfocal length ie not exceptionally sharp at infinity - say 300 metres and beyond.

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Just click on the image and click on it after it has loaded and you will get pretty much 100%. These files are very large JPGs so determining IQ from them is a fair assessment.

In my experience lenses that are very sharp up close are very sharp far away. As long as you are shooting with a calibrated AFMA you can expect the same IQ across the distance range. The limiting factors are not the glass, but rather less pixel density across your subject and more atmospheric factors to contend with.

I agree, it would sure be nice to see more test images, and of subjects shot at a variety of distances and not only birds but mammals, people, brick buildings.... etc...

550D is ending.

600D is sticking around to take its place in the lineup.

These were my 2nd and 3rd films. Just random stuff to know I would actually get a shot once I found something good .

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chuyvillegas/sets/72157629855138784/ <-- Hope you like them.. Feedback is welcomed.

Who is going to buy this? ;D

kdsand said:

Will the new 40 be a contender vs the nifty fifty for videos - looks like better build & has stm but $100 more and is 2.8..........

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if the auto focus works well, the 40 will be useful. however it's still only 2.8 and 2.8 is not that shallow on a crop body. 1.8 though is quite shallow.

for video. a good vintage 50 1.4 plus adapter is cheaper and massively superior in terms of handling.

airforceones25 said:

Anyone have any trouble with Syl's OCF gear before? I went ahead and ordered the product and paid via PayPal a week ago.. I received an immediate email saying i should be looking for a USPS tracking confirmation number along with my order number. I ordered the product under the assumption all cables are "in stock" according to their website. I have yet to receive my tracking confirmation or product for that matter. I've contacted them via email a few days ago and have yet to get a reply. They have no contact numbers listed anywhere on the site. Ugh... Has anyone else experienced this?

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That sounds pretty much like my experience. If I recall it took a couple of emails to get a response. I would not be concerned, too many people have bought their products , they are legit When you get your cable you will love it.

Alumina said:

I don't want to spend a bunch of money on a camera only to realize later I'd rather have FF (or not .. )

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If you buy only ef lenses, you'll be able to use them on ff, too. And if you want to do wedding photography, you'll need a second backup body in any case - so just get a good aps-c now, use it a lot and after a while you'll know when your abilities outgrow it or shooting situations are too difficult and you should switch to a ff body.

The Sigma 180mm macro won a TIPA award and that hasn't yet seen the light of day, either. It just goes to show how worthless and meaningless those awards are - no credibility or integrity.

If you guys consider the 21MP 1ds3/5d2 to be studio/resolution oriented, then the 22MP 5d3 could be considered that as well. Sure I want a corvette at a ford focus price, but it's not going to happen. Utilize what the current offering is, or switch to nikon or even better, medium format... Very few photographers will be able to out-demand the 5d3 or 1ds3 or 1dx, and if you happen to be one... if your budget and your clients demand a 40MP+ billboard producing monster, then I would think your budget and your paygrade could easily stomach such cameras... I think we are pushing the limits of the 135 sensor/medium format... Anything beyond will produce 7D quality files and low light issues... See the D800's low light results to quantify my stance.