Eldar said:

Thanks for the review. Interesting read. I am a bit puzzled though. I have been through a number of 35 and 50 Art lenses, with very inconsistent AF. I am currently on my third 50 Art copy, which I have not used enough to judge.

How can Sigma then suddenly deliver a zoom lens with AF that apparently outperform a couple of (classic) Canon L-primes?

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My 50 art was great straight out of the box but yes there are reports of problems with it. So far my Sigma experience has been pretty good.

I'm in my third 50 Art and 5th Art lens overall. This current 50 is the only one without the inconsistent focus, and it's bought most recently. I bought the docking, but what I have learned is that when you get a working Art lens, the docking is absolutely not needed. My current 50 missed by the same at EVERY distance , so I set the afma in camera. And that was what other said when I had my problems, "I have a working copy, no afma or docking needed".

If it's not the same afma value at every distance you will never get it to work.

Buy the docking only if a new firmware comes out, if you're buying the 50, no need.

Mt Spokane Photography said:

I mostly use Adorama, but I've bought equipment from almost everybody (It Seems). Everyone I've used has delivered, but then, I research a company before I purchase. We have two local Camera stores that I also frequent, and have dropped several thousand dollars into their coffers.

its just by accident that my last 4 or 5 orders were from B&H, they had a sale on what I wanted in those cases. I seldom pre-order a new Canon camera from B&H. I'll never order one from Amazon.

Adorama has always shipped new models to me when pre-ordered from the first batch of received items, so I've no reason to change. I've read too many reports of those pre-ordering from B&H on the first day who were still waiting after I had my equipment for two weeks. I pre-ordered the original 7D from Amazon, and after 3 or 4 weeks they cancelled my pre-order due to a listing error, and invited me to order again going to the end of the line. No thanks. Even pre-ordering it 4 weeks after the announcement, Adorama got the camera to me from the first batch. That impressed me, and I've always had a similar experience. I like B&H but not for pre-orders of new models.

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Good to know.

I avoid amazon for new items. They seem to get them long after others.

Wonder if you success with adorama is due to frequent shopping (high $ volume) or just lower demand.

Canon Rumors said:

The owners of LRC are seizing this opportunity to reconnect with their passion of photography and explore the globe.

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Good luck following your dreams and passion, I envy your decision

This also highlights a related issue – focus/recompose with a very shallow DoF can result in your intended point of focus falling outside the focal plane.

Regarding things not being perfect, while the focal plane of a lens should be flat (it's callec a plane for a reason), some lenses exhibit noticeable field curvature – the original 24-70/2.8L is one example.

Just sold one of them. Did not get the best price though. Sold for $5555.
Bit sad...
Am thinking I will not sell the other one. Lets see what Canon comes out with on !dx2 and 5d4.
Thank you again for the advice.

I've shot alot with the 100-400mm II and have no dust issue.
Maybe if you are living in a desert if might be more difficult.

There are ways of speaking to people. He is at least consistent.

I read this rumor at http://photorumors.com:

Sigma is working on a new 12-24mm lens
http://photorumors.com/2015/08/03/sigma-is-working-on-a-new-12-24mm-lens/

chauncey said:

My questions are...would my large, merged images, equal the print IQ as might be obtained
by that high MP body, assuming my skills were up to the task and equal pixel/dpi numbers?

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YES

but you DO have to use your skills, and time, to equalize all those other variables that creep in when stitching large merged images.

MiamiC70 said:

Sorry to rehash this old thread. But how was BR granted a patent on what is basically a single point rifle sling? Also, there ar numerous versions that slide and convert from single point to dual point rifle sling using same principal as BR

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They get a patent by convincing the patent office that they meet the requirements for getting one. The invention doesn't even have to work. Applying the single point rifle sling to a camera may qualify as an invention, but I agree with you that it appears to be an obvious application. Nevertheless BR has a patent, it may or may not be enforceable. This can only be determined at the point when they try to enforce their patent rights in court. They won the case because CarrySpeed did not show up to defend against the claim of infringement. Defending against a claim of infringement can be very expensive.

I believe there is a point in the patent process when interested parties may contest the validity of the patent claims. At this point it would be relatively inexpensive to prevent the patent from being issued. If no one contests the claims and the patent office is convinced then the patent gets granted. It is then very expensive to defend against infringement, particularly by claiming that the patent is not valid because the invention is obvious.

Patents are designed to keep lawyers and patent agents busy.

Perhaps a bit off topic. So you take a 24-105/4 and have 800g (1.7 pounds) spare. Would you take a a 200/2.8 (or 70-200/4) or a Surui T-025X tripod for this multi-day hike in the mountains?
I've taken tripods in the past but the weight, even at 1.5 kg, is more than the DSLR plus 24-105/4. But the Surui has my interest tweaked.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/MTF.aspx?Lens=941&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=917&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0&CT=ISO30

I'm posting this here because I thought the Sigma 50A and Zeiss Otus were particularly interesting when viewed in this manner.

It looks like Sigma went for a sharper center where Zeiss has more consistent IQ across the frame.
Of course we already knew that, but this visual helps me see how it might be applied.
And you can see how the Sigma is probably the better choice on a crop body, the shape of the sharp patch in the middle looks just about perfect for an APS-C sensor.

unfocused said:

The most interesting takeaways:

DSLRs: In all regions except Japan and Europe (Americas, Asia and everyone else) the volume of units is up year-over-year slightly (101%-109%) but the value of those units is up significantly (107%-146%). So, people in Asia, the Americas and elsewhere are apparently spending more. Since we know prices haven't risen much, it can be assumed that buyers are going for the more costly DSLRs.

That's also the case with mirrorless cameras "everywhere else" but not in Asia and the Americas. Since the number of mirrorless units being shipped "everywhere else" is relatively small, it would be dangerous to try to identify a trend from such limited data.

Mirrorless sales are pretty dismal in the Americas, despite some growth. Mirrorless in the Americas are about one-fifth of DSLR sales. Interestingly, in Asia, where many predicted that Mirrorless would overtakes DSLRs that's not happening. Year-over-year unit sales of DSLRs and Mirrorless are both just 1% over the previous year and mirrorless remains at about 1/3 the number of units as DSLRs. So, Mirrorless cameras are more popular in Asia, but not so much so that it appears they will ever overtake DSLRs unless something significant changes.

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Be aware that prices can be submitted in yen, so the high US dollar against the yen distorts the situation. Prices are down in the US and buyers are spending less, but because of exchange rates, Canon gets more Yen.

Here are some of the graphs.

Maybe this will shake the TV crime show scene up a bit. Getting a bit tired of seeing all those yellow straps on NCIS.

josephz1994 said:

Worth waiting for the Canon 5D Mark IV? or just purchase the 5D iii now ?

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Hi Joseph!

It always depends on what you need and when you need it. And of course on your bank account

If you buy a 5D3 now, you'll get an extraordinary tool, mechanical built, AF technology, etc. for a great price right now but a sensor and IQ that is 4 years old but not limiting a whole bunch of pros and amateurs around the world.

If you can afford to wait some extra months - maybe more than a year, because we don't know when the 5D4 will be released - then you'll get an extraordinary tool with everything a little bit better, maybe quite notable better than the 5D3 but also for an extraordinary price close to the MRSP and not getting lower for the first 6 months.

By the way: Lately all manufacturers had some flaws with their cameras during the first few months after the market introductions. (hoping, the 5D4 will be perfect)

As we know, Canon XC10 can record 4K and 1080p high definition video using MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression and the footage is wrapped in an MXF container. However, MXF format can't be natively supported by many professional video editing applications including FCP 6, FCP 7 and even the Final Cut Pro X. In addition, it also would be a bit hard to handle 4K video with Final Cut Pro 6/7. That's reason why so many users are facing troubles when transferring Canon XC10 MXF files into Final Cut Pro. That's the reason why I get some help from third-party software.

gregborkman said:

I bought two of the custom ones today. The EC-A and the S Type.
Looking forward to getting using them both! Thanks for the recommendations and the helpful hints about JIS vs Philips head, will be using JIS to put these in.

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A strange coincidence, I had bought a new leather belt that was supposedly reversible, and when I went to reverse it Friday, I could not take the tiny screws out with my high quality Phillips screwdrivers.\

Then, a light bulb went on - JIS I took the belt out to my studio and workshop, pulled out my JIS screwdrivers, and it worked easily. The heads were so small, and my vision so poor that I did not see the lack of a radius in the cross.

jthomson said:

Very definitely agree about testing independent of camera bodies. Look at the DxO mark scores for the Nikon and Canon 500mm f4 lenses. Which lens would you rather have, knowing that sensors keep improving?

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Test values can only be compared against the same body. Unless you use a optical bench. This is the second optical bench for lens rentals, their earlier one may still be in use.

I had a optical bench in my lab where I worked. We used it to test fiber optic components from various sources and worked with them to improve the connection methods. The telecom industries used single mode fiber and fused the joints, but for our industry, we were using short runs of multimode and used various types of connectors. Those connectors sometimes had lenses in them.

At the time, use of fiberoptics in our industry was in a development phase, data speeds have leapfrogged since then. We were the first to use a production fiberoptic lan in our product back in the mid 1990's.

dilbert said:

... Canon needs a new camera naming convention.

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Would you prefer A + randomNumber? Or D + randomNumber? Or should they go with Alice and Bob?

Eldar said:

Sometimes I´m a bit slow ... and when I finally get a selfie rig, they ban them ... :

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That's great! Don't forget the duck lips!

Hi,
Sometimes I like to put the camera on easy mode (Aperture Priority+auto shutter+auto ISO).

The 7D2's firmware appears to default to 1/focal length for shutter speed when metering if auto ISO is on.

Is there any way to dynamically have it calculate shutter speed to 1/(focal length*2) instead? I know min shutter speed can be set but that is static as far as I know.

EDIT: Found it, under ISO Speed setting.

Valvebounce said:

Hi Gregory.
Just had a quick skim through your holiday shots. Very nice, you have captured the scenery in all its glory. We visited the Grand Canyon, did dusk and dawn, the colours are glorious.

Cheers, Graham.

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Thanks, Graham. I really enjoyed shooting there and I had never seen it before. We are thinking about going back and taking a hike or horseback ride to the bottom. I would love to have some shots from the bottom.

Greg

josephz1994 said:

Hi, i'm wanting to purchase a Canon full frame 5D camera, just wanting to know if i should purchase the 5D iiii or wait for the 5D IV (also known as 5D X). I've currently got an photography business that does birthdays, engagements and christening, and hopefully weddings in the future, and i'm wanting to upgrade to full frame.

Rumours are suggesting that the new 5D IV or (also known as 5D X) will be launched in Q1 2016
Rumoured specs are:
24MP
new DIGIC processor
4K video
12fps
Dual CFast
61 AF Points (all cross-type)
ISO 100-204,800

Is it worth waiting or should i just purchase the 5D Mark iii now?
Also 5D IV might hit AUD $5,000+ body only, so again, is it even worth it?
Would love your thoughts
Thanks

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The 5D3 can be bought new for about $2,000 right now. It is currently the king of wedding photography. Countless wedding pros run this very camera, and the results are incredible. Excellent for events of all kinds and portraits. Based on what you've described, this is the camera for you.

There will always be newer and better cameras coming out. But your jump to FF will not be matched by crop sensors for a few generations.

The 5D4 is going to be better. But your rumored specs are very exaggerated. It will be an evolutionary improvement, not a revolutionary one.

However, it will run at least $3,500 USD. 5D3 is $2,000 right now, if you shop around.


$1,500 is a lot of cash. This is a killer 1.4 prime. Or, a 24-70. Depending on what you pick, it gets you a good portable strobe. Things which will immediately and instantly impact the quality of your photography. Things which will make a difference that the 5D4 cannot make alone. But with the 5D3 will.


In other words, good glass and good lighting with a 5D3 will always blow away a 5D4 whatever its specs are with inferior glass or lighting.

This is a fact, because competent pros running the 5D2 with a good system of glass and lighting produce better images than newbie entry level pros with just a 5D3. I've seen it with my own eyes many times. Yes, there are wedding pros still running the 5D2 and creating stunning, incredible images.

The 5D3 is in the hands of wedding shooters will be cranking out wonderful images 4-5 years from now.


Just because new stuff comes out, doesn't mean what is out there today somehow becomes worse. In the early days of digital, there was more of a push for upgrading because there were limits to print size and quality issues. Technology has reached a point now, that for a wedding shooter, 20-22mp FF is more than enough to print any wedding album at the highest quality. This is why there's a lot of 5D2's out there.

When the question is asked "Do I need more" ...the upgrade becomes more difficult to justify.

When asking several different wedding photographers about camera gear, there is a common kind of response that I hear. On image quality, they are all satisfied with current technology. For an upgrade to be a no-brainer, there has to be a lot of advancements and a lot of new features that all come together to actually make a meaningful difference in the process of shooting photos. In other words, things that make it easier, faster and better. Not so much more megapixels or better AF.

jeffa4444 said:

Im used to signing off on Arri Alexa or Amira cameras etc. for features & broadcast their is no way I would sanction paying $ 30K for this camera Canon have truly lost the plot.

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different cameras, those are way better for that stuff, but they can't do what this does in one important regard

is this one priced to give it a huge profit margin? probably but there is nothing else out there and it is low volume which does cut back the margin since less units to spread development over

i agree they have lost a lot of the plot these days, but maybe not this time (at least not for now when they ahve zero competition regarding the things this can do in a somewhat low volume niche)