I want a pole or stand that my assistant can hold to point a small softbox at an event or outdoor shoot that calls for a two-legged-lightstand. Yes, I can offer him or her a folded lightstand but I wonder if anyone has seen a pole with better handle, grip surfaces -- to make pointing, lifting, holding easier?

As I was typing I thought to check Lastolite. They offer this one:
http://www.lastolite.com/extending-handles.php
which seems well thought out.

Alternatives? Experience to share with this kind of solution?

I am going to Munich (Germany) in the middle of May. Has any of you knowing this city some tips for interesting photo locations as well as photo stores offering also second hand lenses? Thanks in advance.

I've got a Canon 1100D. I've invested in buying a Canon 100mm IS macro lens

The pictures I've taken are pretty good - but I know they need working on

Can someone give advice on the settings I need to us

So far, I've just put a macro setting and taken pics using daylight - put near the window

- Should I put on manual setting and not macro?
- I have 6 daylight lamps (40w) - are these better than a lightbox?
- I have the use of a professional lightbox - but I've struggled to take pictures with this
- Even though it's the IS model - should I use a tripod?

- I take 10 shots. 3 of these will come out slightly darker than the others - why is this?

Anything else I should be doing?

Thanks


Omar

Super dumb question: What's wrong with a grey import?

The price difference is about £170

I want to buy a 60D. A can get a kit for £530 from a retailer (online) that 'looks' reputable
I called and they are imports and the warranty is given by them - not Canon

Else, I can buy from a Canon approved centre for £700 + Canon have a cashback of £65 (if bought before the end of May)
Should I pay £100 more and buy a model that has a valid UK warranty?

Thanks


Omar

Is the tripod collar removeable on the big white telephoto lenses? Thank you.

Is there any reason to believe that this sigma lens won't be compatible with future Canon camera? I have never used non-canon lenses before. Can someone shed some light on this issue? Or is it just made-up nonsense? By the way, it's a wonderful lens priced fairly and made with sincerity.

And normal shooting sounds like a canon (no pun intended). This is very disappointing, any suggestions other than earplugs?

..details from SonyAlpha rumours.

Said to be "affordable for amateurs".

Absolutely no sign of a new 400/4 coming from Canon ie a scaled up version of the superlative 300/2.8 II would be just fine - very little R&D required!. With slightly smaller aperture it would be slightly lighter and approx same price.

A very sharp 400/4 weighing at about 2.5Kg would be a best seller for Canon IMO.

Funny why Nikon haven't thought of making one for their new high res cameras.

I recently went from the 24-70 mk I to the 24-70 mk II. This means I have to add all new sets of filters (why I chose the 17-40 over the 16-35). In anyevent, I have always used B&W. But I can't find any 82mm GND filters (I saw one from Tiffen, but I prefer to buy a better brand). Any ideas? Thanks...

I was wondering what successes people have had with the various (free) picture profiles for their
5d3s using the uncompressed firmware, and a recorder.

Previously, I was a big fan of CineStyle... but since the upgrade, I think it looks a bit off going out to an
Atomos. Maybe it wasn't designed with that color space in mind?

So far, I've tested CineStyle, Marvels Cine, and Similaar's Flaat_10 & Flaat_11.

Out of the 4, I would say I liked the look of Flaat_10 the best. The colors looked rich, and the skin tones looked amazing.

I would say it is the closest I've seen to looking like footage from a C300.

What have all of you tried and what experiences have you had? Next up for me is R6L-Flat Soda.

Thanks,
Harold.

Hi folks

I've a beachtek DXA-4 XLR interface which was designed for use with video cameras like the Sony VX2000 and FX1 etc.

I've recently sold my FX1 and so this is going to get punted.

It has a VHS pin which would be easily removed with a sharp pair or pliers or small hacksaw, then it'll bolt straight onto a 5D3.

It's a pretty basic unit, it gives you 2 x XLR inputs, which can be switched between mic and line level, and have rotary level controls, on each channel. The device can be set up to work in stereo (seperate audio on each stereo track) or mono (same on both stereo tracks) and connects via a 3.5mm jack.

It does not provide phantom power, so you'll need a hot mic like a K6/ME66, or a line from a mixer.

This will let you record XLR audio in the camera, in the one file along with your video, no synching, no forgetting to hit record on a second device, no charging, no batteries to run out.

This will of course work on any DSLR, however I recommend for use with a 5D3 as this has the headphone monitor from the camera, so you can keep an ear on sound.

I'm the UK, and am open to offers, no matter how ridiculous. The current equivalent is the DXA-2T which sells for around $180us and £160. The unit is very lightly used and in full working order. I'm going to put it on an auction site in a week or so, but thought I would run it past here first.

I've been tasked with providing prints as prizes for the best dressed male, female and couple at a local community event in a village hall and I'm undecided on what lighting setup to use.

I'd like to keep the kit as simple as possible, consistent with shooting quickly and providing good quality results that will promote my photography services in the local community.

The lighting kit I have available:

3 x Elinchrom 600 watt monobloc studio lights
1 x Large 'Octa' light bank http://www.elinchrom.com/product/Indirect-Lightbank-Octa-190.html
1 x Small square softbox
1 x Large white umbrella
1 x Large silver umbrella
1 x Small translucent umbrella
Various other Elinchrom compatible lighting modifiers e.g. snoot, barn doors

1 x Canon 550EX speedlite
1 x Canon 580EX speedlite
1 x Elinchrom 'skyport' transmitter
2 x Elinchrom 'skyport' receivers

1 x background stand
1 x 9ft plain grey paper background
1 x Studio Decor reversible pop-up background (black/white)

I've more or less decided to use just the Octa light bank directly in front of the subject, with me standing in between the light bank and the subject (effectively using the Octa as a giant ring light). The grey paper background would be ideal should I decide to replace the background in post production with something a little more interesting. I know this isn't particularly creative lighting, but going by past experience the subjects will want to be in and out as quickly as possible so I don't want to be faffing around with background lights, hair lights, kicker lights etc.

However, I'll be grateful for your thoughts on this, particularly if you have direct experience of this sort of situation. Does my proposal sound good to you, or can you think of a better solution?

How do they stack up. I really don't need auto focus and seldom shoot wide up.

ANy other recommendations?

finally got'em

I've got a Canon 1100D
There's a mark I can clearly see when I take pictures

The mark appears in the same location on 2 lenses I have
One is brand new - just tried for the first time today

I've looked inside the camera with the lens taken off (haven't touched anything) and can't see any smudges on the mirror

Is there a fault with the camera??

See the image below - I've put a red ring around the mark to show



Thanks


Omar

Hi

I got the new firmware upgrade that will let me record clean hdmi to an "external device".

I'm windows based, and I would like to record if possible to an external hard drive. I've got a few of them with 1TB and 2TB capacity.

But they have USB 3.0 inputs.

So what can I do to take advantage of my cheap external hard drives?

Perhaps an hdmi to usb 3.0 adapter? Or do I have to route something through a laptop to the hard drive? MY laptop has hdmi out but not hdmi in. USB 3 out, however.

Any thoughts about this?

Thanks

Rowby

Big sales on the 60D around here.... Body for $700, with 18-200 for $1000, and for some inexplicable reason, with 18-200 and tripod for $1900..... Bet they don't sell any of the last package....

Kind of looks like an attempt to clear out the 60D stock before the 70D is announced.

Not really macro, but this seems the most appropriate location...

A few tulips photographed today:


7D__0295 by RCARCARCA, on Flickr

EXIF: 7D, 70 - 300mm lens @ 300mm, ISO 200, 1/160 sec, f13


2Y2A4372 by RCARCARCA, on Flickr

EXIF: 5DMkiii, 70 - 300mm lens @ 300mm, ISO 200, 1/1000 sec, f5.6


7D__0316 by RCARCARCA, on Flickr

EXIF: 7D, 70 - 300 mm @ 235mm, ISO 200, 1/160 sec, f10


7D__0321 by RCARCARCA, on Flickr

EXIF: 7D, 70 - 300 mm @ 300mm, ISO 200, 1/15 sec, f10

Enjoy! And thank you for looking.

Richard

I have a Cannon 600mm lens and a Gitzo 3541LS. I bought a WH200 Wimberly and the P50 plate to go with it. When I put the plate on the lens, I cannot get the lens back in the case that the lens came with. Anyone else have this issue? Any way to work around this?

Also, does anyone put Loctite on any of the screws to attach the plate to the lens?

Thanks,

Hi, I am planning on taking some outdoor portraits for a friend strictly for fun and I'd like some advice on what to take or use. All of my equipment info is in my signature. I plan on getting an umbrella and reflector at somepoint. What could you recommend me taking for this? We plan on going to a forrest reserve for photos about mid afternoon. The person that I will be photographing will be a female if that makes any difference to the equipment to bring. any advice and recommendations would be amazing.

Hey ,
How come that it seems that canon lenses (seems to) play a lot better with Tc's?

for example: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=653&Camera=614&Sample=0&FLI=1&API=0&LensComp=745&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=1&APIComp=1

600mm's
or: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=654&Camera=614&Sample=0&FLI=1&API=1&LensComp=748&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=1&APIComp=0

300mm's
or:http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=739&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=2&API=2&LensComp=650&CameraComp=614&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=3&APIComp=2

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=111&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=1&API=1&LensComp=651&CameraComp=614&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=1&APIComp=0

70-200's
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=687&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=7&API=2&LensComp=621&CameraComp=614&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=7&APIComp=0

It looks to consistent to be a flaw from the digital picture, also the nikon lenses without teleconverter look plenty sharp., also photographylife lens comparisons seems to confirm that the nikons are affected more by teleconverters ( in reviews i compare the crops form 300+1.4 to a 400 and the difference seems a lot more pronounced than in canon crops)


Just interested to an explanation, because it seems that the bare lenses perform really good.

They want to make you work for this freebie. http://tamron-usa.com/scavengerhunt/

http://youtu.be/wEBG4HnQ7xk


Thanks for the interest

So I updated my 5D3 with the new firmware and now I can't seem to select any focus point groupings other then: "Single-point AF. I can move the Single-point AF around but I can only select the "Single-point AF" ( the little soft cornered square). I have poured over pages 72-73 of the manual but nothin'

Am I the only one?