Roger Clark has completed his review of the 7D mk II (including sensor analysis):


http://www.clarkvision.com/reviews/evaluation-canon-7dii/index.html

I like my playback card to be CF (primarily because I use it to copy to my computer, but also for speed when I occasionally record video). I've noticed that, quite often, the camera reverts to SD, which although being the secondary slot, and slower, is maybe the default in firmware.

I haven't pinned down what causes it to change from CF to SD. It may either be pulling the battery out for a long charge (merely removing it for a few seconds cause it), pulling the CF out long enough to copy to computer (merely pulling it out for a few seconds doesn't cause it), or a combination of the two.

Has anyone else noticed this, and is there a way to lock it into slot 1 (CF) being the playback slot?

So, I just got my Sigma 50 mm 1.4 Art lens and I'm comparing it to my Sigma 24-105 mm Art lens. And, honestly for $900, the difference is really minimal, and after you run it through just the most basic default DxO program, the difference almost completely disappears. I knew the 24-105mm was good, but thought I'd see a bigger difference. So, I was starting to agree with Ken Rockwell on equipment specifications. But, this weekend, I did something I almost never do, which is go out retail shopping, or at least window shopping, specifically to see what my pics would look like on a 4K screen. I put a couple of photographs on a thumb drive, and went to Best Buy, and plugged it into a couple of 4K TV's, including a Sony 65 inch X950B. Oh, my stars, you want to see something that makes an enormous difference in what you see in your photographs, try doing that! Not only was I able to see the intricacies in the grain on this table, I was able to see the *dust* on the table. It looked like I was looking at the table in real life, like I could reach out and touch it. I've spent a lot of money in the last 10 months on new camera stuff. Canon 6D, Canon 300mm 2.8 ii, 70-200mm 2.8 ii, Sigma Art lenses, wide-angles, teleconverters, etc. And, while the 300mm 2.8 is
*slightly* better than the 70-200 mm with 1.4 TC, for most photography,
(with objects not in the same focal plane being slightly out of focus), there
wasn't all that much difference. But, I can tell you, that without a doubt the
absolute biggest difference in looking at my photographs I have seen this year is *not* which lens I am using, it was this TV/monitor. And I haven't been using a bad monitor, a
one-year-old top-of-the-line Dell XPS 17 inch laptop, and, at home, a Samsung 55
inch 1080p 18-month-old TV. So, it now seems, if you've got an 18MP (or better) DSLR camera anything above, say, a T4i, and any fairly recent Canon L lenses, you don't need new camera equipment, you need a Sony 4K monitor (the Samsung, Sharp and LG had a tendency to blow out the highlights a wee bit). But, with the Sony, I was simply stunned. It was almost like the first time I saw a plasma TV 15 years ago. Now, I'd like to see what the difference between my Sigma 50 1.4 Art and Sigma 24-105 Art is like on the Sony TV...

http://optimagroup.smugmug.com/Brown-Co/i-GrnWcdN/A

I've had my 100-400L since borrowing one from the CPS folks at the 1999 Daytona 500. It's been a great lens. However, I must admit I have the "II" version on pre-order (and the current one sold). As the 28-300L is now 10-years-old, I hope it will be the next zoom lens on Canon's list to get a make over.

My 28-300L is the lens I pick when I want to keep things simple. Not having to change lenses on the move and the ability to cover just about every subject, has made it my "Go To" travel lens, mounted on one of my FF bodies. Although I've never had an issue with the push-pull design of either lenses, I can see the logic in moving away from that type of zoom operation.

So, the question is, will we see a redesigned 28-300L anytime soon?

Hi guys.

Has anyone used one of these? (e.g. http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-ioptron-skyguider-dslr-camera-mount/p1557710 ) It's the big brother to the Skytracker, which I have used a few times this year with good results. The one downside to the latter is its weight limit, which won't allow me to use my 500mm lens - which really limits my options with smaller subjects like the Pleiades, M31, etc. (and I've seen amazing shots taken with this lens of such things).

I'm thinking of selling my current tracker and moving up at some point. Any thoughts? I've avoided telescope guided mounts because they seem more complicated.

Has anyone had any luck mounting a GoPro on a lens hood (or somewhere else on the lens/body)? I mostly shot youth soccer (indoor and outdoor) and it seems like it might be a fun way to get some game footage for the kids.

Have a GREAT day!
tom

Last year Adorama had a 6ft... maybe 7ft umbrella for $50... and I was hoping that shooting star would be seen again. But no. Also last year, Buydig via ebay was selling a 100L for $700ish after rebate... but again, not this year. Having said that, I just sold my 2nd 100L, so I really should just stay out of the 100L business.

I was also hoping that Amazon would have a deal like they have had in past years... where you buy an entry level body with a kit lens and then they practically give you the 55-250 and the 75-300 for free. But no.

Having said that, I think I got in on the photo deal of the season... Kohls was selling a t5, kit lens, and a 75-300mm for 449 plus 6% tax, but then you could get 9 or 10% back using a cash back site, plus getting $15 kohl's cash for every $50 you spend, plus this yes 2 you points... so I bought the maximum allowed of 5.

So I paid $2380, but I'm getting $675 in kohl's cash (the wife is going on a shopping spree), $112.50 in the yes to you points, and $202 in cash back... so my total for 5 bodies and 10 lenses my cost is $1390.50.

So I'm pretty psyched about that.

Dear friends,
Just read this review on http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/reviews/dslrs/canon-eos-7d-mark-ii-review , and to my surprise, the measured dynamic range value of 7D Mk2 at 100 ISO is...12.7!!! Opening up other reviews on the site, looking only at DR values, i found out that, at 100 ISO:

Nikon D750 = 12.71
Sony A77 MK2 = 11.94
Nikon D810 = 12.79
Nikon D4S = 12.66
Nikon DF = 12.66 (at 200 ISO) and finally
Nikon d3300 = 12.98.

Taking into consideration that, the specific review is not all bells and whistles about the 7D Mk2 but seems to point out the "goods" and the "bads" of the camera in quite a seemingly unbiased way, i feel no hesitation to say that the so called "guru-of-metrics" DXOMark is, some kind of, officially humiliated! Myself, shooting (as an owner) with the 7D Mk2 at present time and having tested (thoroughly) the D810, A77 Mk2 and D3300, i was sure that 7D Mk2 was very underrated by DXOMark and some other (strikingly) biased towards SO-NIKON sites, in terms of IQ and dynamic range; let alone the incredible high ISO performance and the AF system.

That's, for now, what i'd like to share with you; my thought, my opinion. Be lucky, be healthy, keep on living strong the joy of life.

Yours faithfully
Yiannis.

Hello!

I was wondering if anyone could explain how the "High ISO speed NR" works and what does it do? (I have a 7D Mark II). Does it apply NR only to some ISO?

Should I set this value to off? (I'm using "normal/standard" right now)

Does this affect JPG only or RAW as well?

Thank you!

Not working today, although lots of homework to do. But, Adorama had delivery of my Sigma 50 1.4 Art as being today through UPS. So, I went to the office, opened all the doors, turned on the lights, so clearly we could received inside delivery. So, it's 4 PM, still no delivery, so I check UPS tracking again. "Delivered 12:30 PM outside". Sure enough, the bastard had dropped it 3+ feet into our outdoor box (onto the hard concrete/steel floor) for when we're not at the office. Lazy bastard. Merry Christmas to you, too. If started to drop one of my cherished lens over three feet onto concrete (in boxing or not), it'd risk injury to dive onto the ground under it. I understand it was in a decent lens case. But the sudden deceleration can be good for it. Goll-dang it!

I need some help with the default numbering on my new Canon 7D Mark 2.

I just purchased this camera from a local Best Buy. I made to sure to verify that this was a brand new camera that had never been sold or returned. They assured me it was brand new.

When I finally got a chance to use the camera today I noticed that the first photo was numbered 8341. I expected this to be 0001 or something very close. I did use a an old CF card that was formatted for this camera as I am waiting for my new ones to arrive. I did go through all the menus before using and made quite a few changes. The numbering sequence is set up as "continuous" but I do not not know if this was the default setting or if I changed it to that. Does anybody remember the default setting for this?

I am starting to get concerned that somebody used this camera and returned it as unused and that Best Buy just put it back on the shelf. The battery was factory sealed and did have a piece of tape holding it closed. Nothing else appeared to have been opened and the camera really showed no signs of use.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

I'm almost certain I've seen moon photography where people say (can't think of his name, but has that website where he explains astrophotography, etc), they daisy-chained two Canon extenders, but, unless I'm not doing it right, it doesn't seem physically possible... Thx.

Hello,

I've been watching the canon refurb site for about 6 weeks. The 24-70 2.8ii is constantly out of stock but is listed a great price. I understand that it's a hot item... is there a trick to snagging one or is it silly to expect to land one there.

Thanks for your help

Hello,

last time i shot the sky i had a big surprise ... i think my sensor need some cleaning ...

any advice ?

have a nice day.

Hi!

Well, yesterday I succumbed to my CAS and got me the 7D II. The pictures I took today seem to be a bit OOF. I think I need to AFMA it. Unfortunately, FoCal has not yet released the version for the 7D II so I guess I will have to do it the good old way for now.

Did you guys have to AFMA? I have the kit lens - the 18-135 (not L ). I will start with that and then go to the 70-200L, and the 100-400L and then both those with the 1.4x multiplier. And then the 100L macro and the shorty forty. in that order. Lot of work - I wish FoCal was there... If wishes were horses...

Thanks in advance

I spend a few nights in Sesriem, Namibia earlier this year. I went to photograph the landscapes but every morning I found an Oryx or two juxtaposed against the most unusual backdrops.....more images and info here at: http://thelazytravelphotographer.blogspot.com/2014/11/my-namibian-journey-part-two-5-nights.html

Here are some images made in Namibia earlier this year...My wife and I stayed for four whole days in Sesriem which is the gateway to the Namib Naukluft National Park, home of some of the worlds highest dunes, and a few other interesting places to photograph...

More of my images, info and my techniques to photograph this stark, but beautiful landscape can be found here at: http://thelazytravelphotographer.blogspot.com/

Hello, Everyone.

I expect to purchase a few Einstein E640 flash units as part of a package from the Paul C. Buff website.

Buff light stands come with the package, and I am wondering whether anyone has experience with them. Is it good to go with the stands from Buff, or are there better alternatives from B&H, Manfrotto, Calumet, or other brand?

I am looking to support such things as a 30" x 60" softbox with grid and an E640 flash unit.

Anyone with experience or suggestions?

The old thread for this lens died a while back, so I thought it was an idea to start a new one.

Pretty good, apart from vignetting...

Click for review

Optical Quality: 4/5
Mechanical Quality: 4/5
Price/Performance: 5/5

Verdict: highly recommended

I have heard bokeh described as "creamy", "busy", "smooth", "harsh", and all sorts of other subjective names. But what, exactly, is good bokeh contrasted with bad bokeh? I would appreciate some real-world examples of both kinds, and just for fun, what lens gives you the best bokeh in most conditions?

CES 2015 is just over a month away, so let us start the speculation!

How will Sony, Panasonic and Samsung dazzle us this year, and how will Canon and Nikon disappoint us?

Not sure if I should post this on here but WEX are offering 10% cashback on accessories, tripods etc and 5.25% back on all other online purchases for the next few days.

I bought a 7d mk2 (in stock again at last) from them yesterday and it arrived today with £86 cashback.
Topcashback also has a voucher to receive free next day delivery.

http://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/nguttridge

Hope this saves you some money!

N

Hello, i have canon sx700 hs, the program CameraWindow work good with galaxy s4 but not work with Samsung galaxy tab s T705. I successfully connected Canon sx700 to Samsung t705 via wifi but CameraWindow not detect sx700

There is any way (ftp?) to share foto from sx700 to Samsung android tab?