Arca Swiss PU Plates

Today I ditched three different Manfrotto plate systems and simplified into the Arca Swiss system, initially with a very cool Induro BHL2 ballhead and a couple of QRT70 to go on the monopods.
http://www.indurogear.com/products/bhl-series-ballheads/
http://www.indurogear.com/products/induro-qrt-series-qr-clamps-qrt70.aspx to go on the monopods.

Needing to quickly expand, I'm stunned how cheap the Arca Swiss PU plates are on eBay...under $10.00 and free delivery from China.

Has anyone used these? Are they complete junk or are they OK? What could possibly go wrong?

-pw

Ditching One Shot and shooting AI Servo fulltime

So I've never owned a camera I felt confident enough to trust in AI Servo until I started shooting with the 1Dx. Old habits die hard though, and I'd still been toggling between one shot and AI-Servo based on subject matter. I've always held this pre-conceived, personally unfounded notion that One Shot would be more accurate than AI Servo on stationary subjects. Given how amazing I found AF accuracy to be on the 1Dx, I decided to test my theory by exclusively using Servo mode for all non moving subjects.

In the past month I've shot mostly portraits, some landscape, and quite a bit of macro. At the pixel level, I can't tell any difference in regards to focus accuracy between shots taken using One Shot vs. AI-Servo based on my real world use. Granted, I have my shutter release priority biased towards focus as opposed to release. I don't see myself using One Shot ever again as far as I'm concerned, and I appreciate not having to press a button or switch modes to engage Servo if something does start to happen unexpectedly.

Can anyone think of any cons to using AI servo fulltime and ditching One Shot if I I'm able to achieve the same level of accuracy? (ok yes, as a concession I'm taxing the battery, but battery life has become a total non issue for me having moved to a 1D body)

Thanks in advance!

3D Printed Lightboxes Mounted on Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro

Hey everyone, this is a project I've been working on for the past few weeks.

These are LED Lightboxes mounted on Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro made from 3D printing.
Prototype version 1.0, LEDs are working at 2/3 power.

Total work time about 20 hours, including initial ideation, modelling, refinements, painting, cutting, assembling electronics, testing.

Video recording and editing also done by myself.

Check out the video below!
https://vimeo.com/87435981

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Canon to Leave the Entry Level Point & Shoot Market?

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<p>There are couple of reports today saying that Canon plans to leave the sub $200 compact point and shoot market. The segment has been decimated by smartphones over the last 3-5 years and sales are no where near what they were.</p>
<p>The move makes a lot of sense, Canon would be better suited putting development dollars into DSLRs, lenses, advanced compacts and the Cinema EOS lines.</p>
<p>Source: [<a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fdigicame-info.com%2F2014%2F02%2Fpost-570.html" target="_blank">DCI</a>] via [<a href="http://photorumors.com/2014/02/24/canon-is-considering-to-withdraw-from-the-low-priced-compact-digital-camera-market/" target="_blank">PR</a>]</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

Canon Announces New Firmware Updates for Cinema Cameras & Camcorders

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<p><strong>Canon Announces New Firmware Updates for Cinema Cameras and Camcorders Along with Optional Cinema EOS C300 Camera Dual Pixel AF Upgrade</strong></p>
<p>Announcements Include a New Canon RC-V100 Remote Control and Firmware Updates for Peripheral Illumination Correction Support and Continuous Recording for EOS C100 Video Camera</p>
<p>MELVILLE, N.Y., February 24, 2014 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, has announced a variety of performance updates for cameras in its Cinema EOS and XF professional camcorder line. Announced today is a new optional feature upgrade for the EOS C300 Cinema camera which will support Canon’s innovative Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus (AF) technology and enable continuous autofocusing with the entire line of Canon EF lenses and optimized for Canon’s stepping motor (STM) line of lenses when used with the EOS C300 camera. This optional feature upgrade is expected to be available in May 2014 for a cost of $500.00 and will require the EOS C300 camera body to be shipped to an authorized Canon service center for installation.</p>
<p>In addition to the optional feature upgrade for the EOS C300 camera, Canon has also announced the new RC-V100 remote control for Cinema EOS cameras and the XF Series professional HD camcorders; a firmware update that allows for Peripheral Illumination Correction when using the Canon CN-E35mm T1.5 L F Cinema prime lens or the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM telephoto zoom lens with the EOS C500, EOS C300, or EOS C100 cameras and a Continuous Recording function for the EOS C100 Digital Video Camera to help ensure capture of crucial shots in unpredictable situations, such as wedding/event videography, documentary, news, or wildlife production.</p>
<p><!--more--></p>
<p>“We continue to strive to demonstrate our support of filmmaking and television production professionals through innovative new updates and equipment upgrades that allow our products to better serve these visual storytellers,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. “By listening to our customers and responding to the various ways our equipment is used in the marketplace, we look to continually advance the capabilities and features inherent in our cameras, lenses, and accessories.”</p>
<div><strong>EOS C300 Dual Pixel CMOS AF Feature Upgrade</strong></div>
<p>Originally introduced in the Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR camera, Canon Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology is designed to provide continuous autofocus when shooting in single operator, or run-and-gun set-ups like documentaries, weddings, events, or electronic news gathering (ENG). When used in combination with an STM lens, this technology allows for the capture of high quality video without the interruption of noise by the focusing motor.</p>
<p>Dual Pixel CMOS AF is an innovative image-plane phase-detection AF technology that employs a CMOS sensor on which all of the effective pixels are able to perform both imaging and phase-detection AF simultaneously. Although camera operators can still focus manually, this new optional feature upgrade can enable smooth continuous AF with phase detection, a particularly useful feature when shooting with a small crew or single-operator run-and-gun filming and cinéma vérité style shoots.</p>
<p>The optional Dual Pixel CMOS AF feature upgrade for the EOS C300 Cinema camera supports continuous AF with all compatible Canon EF series lenses when shooting subjects positioned in the center of the imaging area. The technology involves complementary use of a contrast signal to achieve advanced autofocus stability that helps reduce the occurrence of loss of focus on a subject. Also included is an AF Lock which allows users to lock a focus point once AF is achieved and recompose the shot. Canon Dual Pixel CMOS AF also nearly doubles the speed of the EOS C300 Cinema camera’s One-Shot AF function, which enables a DP to focus on a subject located at the center of the screen with the push of a button, a feature that is currently supported on 104 Canon EF lens modelsi.</p>
<p>The Dual Pixel CMOS AF feature upgrade for the EOS C300 Cinema camera will be made available to users through an authorized Canon service center. For more information please visit the Canon U.S.A. website at<a href="http://pro.usa.canon.com/EOSC300FeatureUpgrade" target="_blank">http://pro.usa.canon.com/EOSC300FeatureUpgrade</a>.</p>
<div><strong>Canon RC-V100 Remote Control</strong></div>
<p>The Canon RC-V100 Remote Control is designed to respond to a diverse array of production needs requiring remote camera operation. The RC-V100 Remote Control enables users to remotely control main camera functions and is compatible with the XF Series professional HD camcorders and Canon’s Cinema EOS C500, Cinema EOS C300 and Cinema EOS C100 cameras. It allows users to remotely control a wide variety of functions built into the cameras, as well as adjust and set various controls, such as exposure and white balance.</p>
<p>The RC-V100 Remote Control is expected to be available in June 2014 at a suggested retail price of $2,999.</p>
<div><strong>Peripheral Illumination Correction</strong></div>
<p>This firmware performance update adds two additional Canon lenses to the list of lens models that maintain even illumination across an image plane, and virtually eliminates vignetting when used in combination with the EOS C500 and EOS C300 Cinema cameras, and the EOS C100 Digital Video Camera. This latest update adds the CN-E35mm T1.5 L F Cinema prime lens and the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM telephoto zoom lens to the seven other Canon CN-E Series Cinema Lenses that share this performance advantage, including the CN-E15.5-47mm and CN-E30-105mm T2.8 L S compact Cinema zooms, and the 14mm, 24mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 135mm Canon CN-E Cinema prime lenses. Fourteen other Canon EF-Series photographic lenses also deliver Peripheral Illumination Correction in combination with these cameras.</p>
<p>The EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM telephoto zoom lens offers high magnification in a compact and lightweight telephoto zoom lens with an Optical Image Stabilizer for up to 3.5* equivalent stops for shake correction. The lens’ ultra-quiet stepping motor and focus mechanism support the Canon Dual Pixel CMOS AF autofocus optional upgrade for the Cinema EOS C300 and EOS C100 cameras, providing smooth, continuous autofocusing during video shooting on upgraded models.</p>
<div>EOS C100 Camera Continuous Recording Function Firmware Update</div>
<p>Designed for the capture of crucial, unpredictable scenes during wedding/event, documentary, news, or wildlife filming, the Continuous Recording Function firmware update for the EOS C100 Digital Video Camera enables videographers to insert metadata markers identifying crucial scenes and moments in their footage while continuously recording to the memory capacity. These markers — for both “in” and “out” points — can be set with the press of a button without interrupting the recording process. These markers are identified in metadata as separate “shots,” and are simultaneously recorded to both SD card slots of the EOS C100 camera.</p>
<p>A recap and availability timeline of the feature upgrades and firmware updates detailed in this release can be found in the grid below. For more information, please visit the Canon U.S.A. website at<a href="http://usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/standard_display/cinema-firmware" target="_self">http://usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/standard_display/cinema-firmware</a>.</p>
<div>
<table width="540" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>EOS C500</td>
<td>EOS C300</td>
<td>EOS C100</td>
<td>XF305</td>
<td>XF300</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Feature:</td>
<td>Scheduled availability</td>
<td>Scheduled availability</td>
<td>Scheduled availability</td>
<td>Scheduled availability</td>
<td>Scheduled availability</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dual Pixel

CMOS AF</td>
<td></td>
<td>May 2014</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Support for RC-V100</td>
<td>June 2014</td>
<td>June 2014</td>
<td>June 2014</td>
<td>June 2014</td>
<td>June 2014</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Peripheral Illumination Correction Lens Additions</td>
<td>June 2014</td>
<td>June 2014</td>
<td>June 2014</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Continuous Recording</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>Feb. 2014</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div></div>
<div>About Canon U.S.A., Inc.</div>
<p>Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. With approximately $36 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents registered in 2013† and is one of Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies in 2013. In 2013, Canon U.S.A. has received the PCMag.com Readers’ Choice Award for Service and Reliability in the digital camera and printer categories for the tenth consecutive year, and for camcorders for the past three years. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/rss" target="_self">www.usa.canon.com/rss</a> and follow us on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/CanonUSA" target="_blank">@CanonUSA</a>.</p>
<p>For media inquiries, please contact <a href="mailto: [email protected]">[email protected]</a>.</p>

Monitor & Color Questions

Open ended question: I am shopping for a monitor within $400 or so & wanted to ask general advice from folks. Mainly, I wanted to ask what is the make, model & technology (IPS vs TN) do you guys use and would you recommend the monitor you have or any other monitors in general? Does it make sense to spend the extra on IPS when you have to calibrate it anyway, and does a calibrated IPS monitor show the same colors as a calibrated non-IPS monitor? Any thoughts on these questions are appreciated.

Thanks!

Crop sensors better than full frame for macro photography?

Many people claim that cropped sensors are actually better than full frame and larger sensors for macro applications.
Here is an example:
http://www.43rumors.com/micro-four-thirds-and-macro-photography-by-eugene-kitsios/

Their argument is that for macro photography DoF is the limiting factor. They say that to get the same DoF, the larger the sensor, the smaller the aperture needs to be, which would offsett the light gathering capacity of larger sensors.

As an example, if we compare full frame vs. 4/3 sensors:
- full frame is roughly four times larger than 4/3 (measuring the surface), thus has virtually a two stop advantage in terms of light gathering capacity;
- anyhow, if with four thirds sensor we need to close the aperture to f/8, then on a full frame sensor we would need to close the aperture at f16 to get the same DoF, thus loosing two stop of light (offsetting completely the larger sensor advantage).
I am not sure if the second point is correct. The comparison shall be done considering different lenses on the two systems:
- if we use a 50mm macro on the 4/3 sensor, for correct comparison (to get the same angle of view), a 100mm lens should be used on the full frame (I know there would be slight differences in the final image due to the different aspect ratio).

I am skeptical about the above argument, anyhow I am unable to tell why it would be wrong.
What do you think, is really a crop sensor better than full frame for macro photography? Or is the full frame better? In the latter case, can you explain why?

Thanks!
Fausto

Soon to be MP-E 65 owner has a couple questions

I'd like to hear opinions on using a protective Clear filter, such as an B+W 58mm XS-Pro Clear MRC-Nano 007 Filter.

I'm not looking for the Pro filter/Anti Filter Lobbyists to chime in but the Macro shooing 'Your front element is dangerously close to stuff' group.

Then there's the hood. I have heard it's good for 'possibly' cutting down flare from the MT-24 EX. ???

I use filters on bushwhacking lenses, on my Macro 100 and in inclement weather. FWIW

Thanks!

Good lens for hiking

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a lens to do some landscape photography while hiking. I need something very lightweight since I'll use it during hikes of more than 7 days.

My gear currently :
- Canon 6D
- Canon 50mm 1.8
- Canon 24-105L

I saw the 28mm f1.8, and maybe the 24mm f1.4 from Rokinon.
My budget is under 800$, not enough for a 16-35mm ...

What do you think about these lenses ?

1DX Question from a friend of mine...

He posed the following questions. We would really appreciate any help!

Although I haven't had time do more than minimal processing, I'm pretty pleased with the results and with the camera in general. I'm puzzled by two issues - probably due to lack of knowledge about the camera settings. I've searched through the manual without success. Perhaps you know where these functions can be found.


1. I get no audible beeps for either of the self timer functions. I often use the 2 sec self timer for long lens tripod shots in lieu of the remote cable release. But the camera doesn't give me the audible tones I'm used to as it counts down.


2. I often shoot with spot metering in manual mode to give me full control over changing conditions. But the top-side display doesn't provide active meter readings in "M" mode regardless which meter mode I select. The viewfinder DOES provide a meter reading that changes with the lighting but neither the top-side display nor the live view display show active meter readings.

Trip to Sri Lanka

Hey guys,

didn't know where to exactly post this but here it goes :D

I'm going to Sri Lanka in April/May and plan to shoot a lot. We won't be going to resorts and such but more to look at temples, a nice beach or two, the cities, tea pickers, we will be going to Adams Peak and to a Natural Reserve to check out some wildlife.

My plan is to take some nice landscape and people shoots as well as usual stuff.

Do you have some good recommendations on what to bring? (Lenses, Bag, other stuff?)

Thanx :)
T

Landscape photio advice needed

I've been interested in taking landscape photos to take advantage of the numerous travels that I take for work. A few questions to seek the advise of the experts in the CR Forum:

1) what aperture do you typically use when taking seacapes, mountains, fields?
2) I've seen a few interesting photos taken at F22 - is this advisable? Don't you lose sharpness & detail due to diffraction?
3) Where do you focus when there are no special focal point?

Many thanks in advance!

White Night in Melbourne with a 40mm Pancake (on a 5DIII)

Hi fellow members,

On Saturday night we had the White Night festival here in Melbourne and boy was it busy. Half a million people came into town to see it and I've never seen so many DSLR's and photographers in one location! My intention wasn't to go in fully equipped with gear but instead pass by on my way home from a card night. I was on a bicycle so I wanted to travel light and my ideal lens selection may have been my new sigma 35art but after a couple of minutes deliberating, I decided on the 40mm pancake. Easy.
Any other CR members there too?, post your pics.
http://www.freelancephotographermelbourne.com.au/Events/WhiteNight/

Canon to withdraw from the low-priced compact digital camera

Most probable and IMO well expected move from Canon is to move out of cheap (under $200) cameras due to the ever increasing market share of the phone cameras.

According to digicame-info.com Fujifilm,Olympus, Panasonic, Casio are also considering that.

As a trend below is an estimate of DSLR and DSC market shrinking with huge 15% in just 5 years:

ST+2013+Market+View-1.JPG


Picture source: image-sensors-world.blogspot.com

Help: Amateur upgrade from a t2i to....

Hi all,

This is my first post on a forum ever haha. I am a hobbyist photographer in university who until recently has been shooting as a volunteer for the school newspaper. I have been thinking about a serious upgrade for my t2i for 2 years now (i have been shooting for 3 years) and have been saving accordingly. I currently own the 18-55 EFS, the canon 24-105L and a sigma 50mm 1.4. I have been trying to shoot 8-10 hours of sports a week in order to practice and mentally justify an upgrade. Generally I have been using the school's equipment (canon 7d and 70-200 marki) but have experience using the 5d3, d800e, nikon d4, and the canon 1dx for our championship events.

What sparked my decision to upgrade is the fact that i have been offered numerous opportunities to become a paid photographer for our newspaper and shoot paid events for clubs on the side. I also have hopes to travel after completing my degree, in which i hope to be able to photograph the trip using the gear that i acquire in my last years at university. Because of this, I believe that i can't keep using the school's equipment and i should get my own.

Therefore i need my camera to have quick autofocus for fast moving subjects and a high frame rate for capturing the action. I also regularly shoot portraits for friends but not for money. I am fortunate enough to say that money isn't as big of an issue, i am looking to spend around 5000$ and with the opportunity to get a paid position, i can say that the money earned there will mostly be also funnelled into camera gear as well. Even if i wasnt shooting for money, I would still be out shooting sports just as much :P

As a young aspiring amateur photographer, I am looking for advice/comments about how to spend my savings (on either lens/camera) and which camera would be appropriate for my needs. I have done much research on my own but i am very interested to hear from other hobbyists/pros about their take on their gear.

Thanks so much,

Jon

Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm f/1.8 ZA Lens, very Close to Otus 55mm per DXO

Anybody using the Sony/Zeiss FE 55mm lens yet?

DXO testing shows results very close to the Otus 55 mm, in fact second best for any lens behind Otus and the best audiofocus lens DXO has every tested. I should receive one soon along with A7R; I just hope all the ergonomic issues, Sony-specific software/hardware issues don't make me regret buying that combo to use alongside my 5D III.

http://petapixel.com/2014/01/30/dxomark-rates-zeiss-55mm-fe-sony-a7a7r-best-autofocus-lens-ever/

Volleyball

Post your favorites from this high speed sport typically held in poorly lit arenas. A challenge for photographer and kit.

1DX, 200 f2, ISO 5000, 1/1000, f2. Serving is one time its easy to anticipate the action and catch a full frame composition.

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Pixma Pro 100 vs Pro 10 vs Pro 1

Apart from ink longevity, is there a compelling reason to choose the Pixma Pro 10 or Pro 1 over the Pro 100? I only print a dozen photos per month, with many in B&W if that makes a difference.

(With the recent rebates, there are numerous printers appearing on eBay - buying one for around $200 and paying $140 for postage still works out to be half the price that I'd normally pay for a new one here in Australia.)

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