hi all,

Dpreview posted their roundup for enthusiast zoom compact cameras today, in case anyone would like to take a look:
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/2367736880/roundup-enthusiast-zoom-compact-cameras

Cheers!

[Sorry, just realized I posted in the wrong area... moving to Gear Talk]

bdunbar79 said:

LOALTD said:

Mt Spokane Photography said:

Its fine, but not as useful or as sharp as my 24-105mmL for all around use. Where it comes in handy is in low light, or for a shallow depth of field.
If you a new 5D MK III user, give it a while with the 24-105, you will get used to the weight. Good lenses are heavier due to the large amount of glass in them. The 24-105 is on the light side compared to the 24-70 f/2.8 or some of the other popular "L" lenses.

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More versatile: yes
Sharper:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=355&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=0&LensComp=115&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=5

No.

I use the 50/1.4 for about 90% of my work, it's an oustanding lens. So many people on here have drank the "L" koolaid. I've borrowed the 50/1.2 from CPS and I found it quite soft.

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Yep. I dismissed the "L" bug myself when I sold my 50L and got the 50 f/1.4. The 1.4 is very sharp and I have not noticed any of the problems that some have mentioned. I typically shoot f/2 and narrower and the lens is very sharp and I don't miss the 50L. I also have the 24-70L II lens, which is just as sharp at f/2.8 at 50mm as the 50L, or even slightly sharper, but it's not much of a difference. I just do not understand the 50L's high price tag. It's the only L prime of Canon's that I dislike.

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+10, I am so happy that I disregarded the opinion on this forum and bought 50 f/1.4 and 28 f/1.8. Please try and compare with 'L' counterpart yourself before making decision.They are not perfect (neither are some L for that matter) but very good (and perfectly usable under most conditions) esp. at that price. IMO,CR crowd opinion has been wrong on these lens. I wonder if its because most people who flock here has the bigger/L/more expensive the better bug. Some people flaunt it rather obscenely. I am sure when they look at great paintings, they pay more attention to quality and graininess of canvass......

+1. Take it to an expert from Canon. They'll know what to do. Don't take apart the camera on your own unless you've already set your mind that it's fine for you whatever happens.

.
As much as I love my 135, I got my 70-200 first.

I'd do it the same way if I had to do it again.

Food photography is not easy and specialized equipment is needed to make things truly look professional. But with that being said, you can produce good, usable images if your client/friend is not looking for 1st rate images and just needs something decent to show.

Here are some shots I did for a local restaurant. I don't consider these anywhere near top rate shots, but they worked for their needs. I used a tilt shift lens and two large (30x60") softboxes, two 1300 ws mono lights and a slew of flags and grids. Trying different shadow angles helped produce the depth needed and kept the images from looking too flat. Each type of food was different as far as lighting needs.

Good luck.

One vote for the Plustek OptiFilm 7400. I purchased mine a couple of months ago. It shipped with SilverFast SE+ 6.6 but had a free upgrade to SilverFast SE+ 8. I find the scratch and dust removal in SilverFast to be heavy handed and prefer to do that in Lr and Ps but the film profiles, Multiple Exposure and other technologies are nice.

The first shot is a scan from some 110 film from 1983, the other is a 100% crop from 35mm film circa 2000. (The lens was the not so great EF 25-105 f3.5/4.5.)

Thanks all.

Must admit its now a case of 100mm f2 usm or 70-200mm f4l usm. 100mm would actually fit in my Billingham small, whilst I don't think the zoom will. Though a little concerned if the 100 is zoomed in enough for some nice tele landscapes.

HeavenHell said:

What happened to the enforcement of MAP? Seems like there have been Canon lens sales everywhere you look the past few days. Our retailers allowed to skirt the rules by forcing you to add it to your cart before showing you the price. NOT that I'm complaining.

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Leading to an e-cological disaster, as cookie directories, web caches and servers are littered with millions of abandoned shopping carts! Shame, Canon, Shame!



(This message posted using 100% recycled electrons)

rpt said:

Try another with him crossing his hands across his chest and taken at a bit of an angle say 30 degrees from the current position and head turned to look straight at the camera. That will give a bit of a perspective view. You could vary the angle and see what works best. And the lights - like everybody has said. The facial expression is good.

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+1.

It needs more dimension/angle. Turn him. Bob and weave yourself, go lower, go higher. Also, try several poses and facial expressions/moods. Some fun/playful, some mean/determined/tough, some clever, some smart-ass, etc.

You're off to a great start!

Yep I agree with Dylan. Take care of that baby first and get yourself a good point and shoot you can live with. Think of it this way, if you sell all your gear now while it is still working you will get the most cash, if that camera breaks it is worthless as well as the lenses and they all will go at some point..focus motor, shutter, etc.

Best to get as much cash as you can while it all functions properly. Don't worry about all that gear - it will be available when you get things squared away its not going anywhere. You could always rent for a day or have a friend with decent gear perhaps assist with shots. There's alternatives for you. All the best to you and your family for the holidays.

Cougar

Rebel
f/6.3
1/320
iso 1600

You might consider this tripod. Aluminum model, much cheaper than its $665 carbon counterpart:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/655225-REG/Induro_472_413_Alloy_8M_AT413_Tripod.html

http://www.indurogear.com/products_details_AT413.html#5

I love my 16-35 for its versatility as a travel lens
non extending, weather sealed with filter quite light and compact
however I love the 20mm focal length for landscapes and have long been considering the
zeiss 21mm which by all accounts is the king of sharpness
http://www.thedigitalpicture.com/Reviews/Zeiss-21mm-f-2.8-ZE-Distagon-Lens-Review.aspx

eninja - This has been asked before and in general, the answer you will hear most often is: go shoot with it and see how it works. I suspect your concerns merely indicate a 'new camera' learning curve for you. I wouldn't suspect camera problems until you've used the camera a while and become more familiar with the settings, menus and instruction manual. Which camera did you have prior to the 6D? Perhaps you can use that experience to help give you perspective on the 6D performance and functions. Good luck and enjoy your new camera!

Dylan777 said:

I got my 5D III from 1st patch...and it starts from 99. I'm guessing your had 1300clicks on it - that is nothing if you got some great discount from your dealer.

FoCal also shows shutter count after you run AFMA.

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Thanks @Dylan777 - I do have a license for FoCal Pro - and have done AFMA - so I had forgotten that it also shows the shutter count!

Regarding the discount - I got a 5D3 and 24-70LII for a great price at the time (a month ago) - now the market forces are making the difference reduce - BUT - I love the combo and from my point of view, the price you pay is like what you pay for a car - the value is in the use you get from it!

Cheers

aaronh said:

I asked him about some of the more serious high-tech they must use (he works for Homeland Security) and they do have all that stuff. He just needed something small and simple to keep with him for when he was out doing whatever it is he does. He said he mostly needs it for taking pictures of license plates and stuff like that.

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If that's the case, I would have suggested the Panasonic FZ200 for compactness (smaller than a DSLR+lens) and versatility (25-600mm f/2.8 lens). Although the AF speed would likely have disappointed and resulted in lost photo opportunities (and it would be pretty worthless in the dark).

1.)


2.)


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4.)

Thanks for looking

Its always possible that it was accidentally deleted. Patents are public publications.

http://www.canonrumors.com/2012/12/eos-m-with-viewfinder-coming-late-2013-cr/ This post seems to refer to it with a dead link.

tbisu said:

Anyone have an personal experience to report about this lens? We're in the market for a good 35mm and am wondering if this is a good choice over Canon's 35 1.4L. Lots of reports about how shart it is, but I'm more curious about the focus accuracy - anyone have information about the AF performance?

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Af performance is very good. Just as fast as the Canon. It uses Sigmas high speed motor too so everything has been very good. This review pointed out something interesting with the focusing though vs the Canon. The throw for the focus in the Sigma is shorter than the Canon so it creates an interesting illusion that was pointed out in depth in this video:
http://learningcameras.com/reviews/7-lenses/87-sigma-35mm-f14-vs-canon-35mm-f14

Enjoy that zeiss 15mm, Its the greatest UW ever-made.

crasher8 said:

RLPhoto said:

You get my digital thumbs up.
_
( ((
\ =\
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(____))( \----
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(____))____/----

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omg you DIDN'T just make one of those goofy drawings? lmao.

Hey btw, when are you going to do another review/comparison of primes on your blog? good reads.

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The 135L is next but I've been side tracked lately.

Dylan777 said:

PavelR said:

Yes, I'm comparing because OP asking to compare primes vs zooms and I choose primes 98% of the time.
I do not usually shoot architecture, thus I can use "feet zoom" and pick up 85,200 anytime against 24-70 + 70-200.
I tested new 24-70 taking several shots and difference between 2.8 and 3.5 was clearly seen on the camera display...
So, there is no FF AF prime wider than 85 matching the IQ 85+ (only TS24II w/o AF), thus I use 85+ 98% of the time...

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Everyone can say my lens is SUPER sharp at bla-bla-bla....it's difficult to debate when there no hard facts included.

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I do not need to convince anybody to use any lens, I'm only saying what I found out and what I use the most...
You can try yourself and if you do not see the difference, you will be happy - carrying less weight and keep zoom versatility...
BTW: http://the-digital-picture.com/ database of the lenses is pretty good - I usually compare the IQ here before buying lens and than my test shots confirm almost all the time match the conclusion I did online. (DB is correct at least for Canon and Sigma, some Nikkor lenses I own are better than seen there...)

Do you miss APS-C?

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No, but I miss high pixel density FF, like 4.3µm (46mp).

neuroanatomist said:

Drizzt321 said:

frozengogo said:

Is it like freeway numbers? Take the 55 to the 5 to the 10 the 15 to the 395 or take CA55 to I5 to I10 to I15 to US395. :-X

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You left out the 405 to the 101 to the 170 to the 118 to the 210

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Won't you get hip to this timely tip
When you make that Photography trip
A-get your kicks on efff five-point-six

--Nat King Cole (well...sort of )

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I was hearing Depeche Mode...