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24-105L or 70-200L f/2.8?

Currently in the market for a 6D and was wondering which lens should I buy with it? If I were to go for the body only ($1,699) instead of the 24-105 kit ($2,329), I'd be basically getting a 600$+ head start on the 70-200 f/2.8 ($1,300). These lenses would both serve as general purpose lenses but the 70-200 f/2.8 would benefit me more in my work of field (automotive photography). Also note that right now I have exactly enough for the kit. So if I decide to get the 70-200 f/2.8 I'd still need about $600-700. Thanks in advance!

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Kickstarter: Wanderlust 4x5 - Point&Shoot Large Format for $99

OK, so it's not exactly a rumour, it's a definite thing if they get more supporters, so I'm doing my bit by sharing.
As you all might know, i've gone a bit film nutty lately. I've been shooting 135 and 120 film a lot, and I've been spending some time over at the APUG forums. Two things there recently caught my eye.

Firstly, is that Velvia (the best landscape film available, the one that killed Kodachrome) went out of production in large sheet sizes, followed quickly by being back in production. I was so happy about that, that Fuji are still making a concerted effort to support their film division, that I was almost contemplating buying a LF camera in celebration.

Secondly, and by strange coincidence very soon after, I see this:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wanderlust/travelwide-45-camera
It's a kickstarter project for a travel-sized LF camera, smaller than your average DSLR.
Two versions, 90mm f/6.8 with focussing helicoid (which translates to FF 25mm f/1.8 if you crop the LF to a 3:2 ratio, 21mm if you crop FF to a 4:5 ratio), and a 65mm f/8 version, pre-set at hyperfocal (18mm or 16mm depending on how you crop to compare).
Scan it to a mere 2400dpi (i've scanned velvia to 3200dpi and can't see grain) and you get a 120MP image. Even at 1200dpi you get a modest 30MP image. Take that, D800.
And the best part is, it's only $99 plus a lens (lens is probably about $200). Film's not even expensive either, $2 a shot or so (As in, you could get about 1500 frames in for the same price as a 5D3+lens).

I'm in for the 65mm version, although I may swap to a 90mm (or get both) depending on how easy it is to get a lens. They're already $57k out of $75k, if they get to $85k then everyone gets a free pinhole (which will save me needing a lens for a while).

So, who else would like to support this? Even if not, share it around your friends, you never know who'd be interested...

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Anyone compared sirui and benro carbon tripods?

I'm into a new tripod but the RRS and gitzo's are to expensive for the few times a year I want the use them. (I'm not a pro). Surfing the net, I've found carbon tripods from Sirui and Benro and they look nice stuff for the money.

I'm thinking about the Sirui N2204 or the Benro C2580T.
Has anyone experience with these brands and tripods?

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Maybe I need to relearn how to focus

A couple of months ago, I bought a new 5D MK II. I've only been able to play with it recently. The first time was about a week ago. I used it for about 3 hrs. with my 24-105. Initially, I didn't see any major issues. Images were a bit soft but not overly so. Then this past weekend, I had an opportunity to visit a flower farm located in the wine country of Amador county, CA. I originally only planned on visiting the place on Saturday, but I wasn't happy with the results I achieved (handheld) with my 100 2.8L IS Macro so the next day (Sunday), I went back - this time with a tripod. Long story short -- I could not get the camera/lens combo to focus. I mean it looked like I achieved focus but viewing the images later on my computer monitor elicited a WTF !!!

Maybe my eyes are going bad and I'm getting too old for this hobby but nothing and I mean not one image was sharply focused. When I first got the 100 2.8L IS Macro, I put it on my T3i and I was able to get some really nice handheld shots. Totally different experience with the 5D MK II.

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Stuck on whether to return sigma 35mm for 35mm 1.4L or 35f2 is

I just got the sigma 35mm 1.4. I thought that the lens would be a dream come true. The truth is the af seems to front focus. It has a hard time focusing in aiservo mode. Also further subjects are not that sharp. The 1.4 aperature is nice and the colors are good but am unsure if I should go with one of the canon offerings. I use it for indoor candids of the kids and a walkabout lens since a 50mm is a little tight and the 40mm only does 2.8. Should I go thru the trouble of sending it in to sigma for a look or is the Canon better in the L or IS version. I have used mostly f2.8 and higher to 5.6. This is only being used on a canon 5d mark iii. I only have 9 days to get it returned. Is this the norm for a 35mm or should I stick with OEM even though it costs more and is much older?

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Blackmagic wows NAB with New Cinema Cameras!

http://www.eoshd.com/content/10027/live-coverage-blackmagic-production-camera-4k-and-pocket-cinema-camera

Blackmagic Production Camera:
4K Super 35mm sized Sensor
Global Shutter (No more rolling shutter)
Compressed RAW!
$3995 and available in July!

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera
About the Size of an iPhone
Same sensor as current Blackmagic Cinema Camera
Super 16mm sized Crop 1080p
$995

I hope Canon is taking notes...

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Is it too late to buy a Canon 7D?

Hi all, I'm looking to upgrade my Canon 500D. I've been looking into getting full frame but I've got some reservations about the 6D. Although I tried it out and loved the low light performance but the cost of the full frame kit is also holding me back. I want to do more sport photography and I'm looking into getting a 7D with either a 70-200 f2.8 non IS or a 70-200 F.4.
Has anyone got any thoughts on this? Has the new firmware 2.0 helped the 7D in any way? I would greatly appreciate any feedback! Thank you for your time!

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Lenses for carpets photography

i am planning to buy either Canon 5 d mark2 or 3,.we deal in hand made carpets,and since hand made carpets are quiet expensive,our customers need as precise details about the product as possible.
can you please help me choose the best top quality lens in the budget of £1500.
the pictures of carpets needs to have detail.
also please note that the sizes of the carpet could be as little as 6 feet by 4 feet and maximum size up to 14 feet by 10 feet.

i will be thanks ful if you help me sort out this problem thanks.

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Conflicting results between The-Digital-Picture & Photozone

Is anyone else confused by the apparent differences in resolution tests performed by The Digital Picture and Photozone ?

On TDP's ISO 12233 charts they can show very different results to photozone's MTF graphs.

For example take the 70-300L and 70-200 f4 IS results; two lenses which people looking for a tele zoom are very likely to be having to decide between. Using 70mm as an example, on TDP's 12233 charts the 70-200 is clearly ( pun intended ) way ahead of the 70-300L, I mean it is like night and day, whereas on Photozone's graphs the 70-300L is clearly showing better results.

Another example is the resolution of the 24-105L. TDP clearly shows this lens to be at its over-the-frame best at 70mm / f8, whereas photozone's results do not confirm this - at all. They show it to be better in the 35-50 region.

In 'field' applications my experiences would suggest photozone is giving a truer picture.

Could these differences be the result of copy variances ? if so it is very disturbing for someone wanting to purchase a high quality lens.

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Wedding with crop bodies, help with rentals.

Well, my group and I have a wedding to shoot in two weeks. My girlfriend and my friend will be the photographer. They aren't well equipped though. They'll be running with a Canon 500D and 600D. I understand the the low light will be a struggle for us. Luckily for us, the ceremony and the reception will take place outdoors. I'm just hoping that the weather permits to use low ISO. The wedding will be at around 8:00am and the reception will be at like 12:00pm What I'm suggesting we do is have the main photographer carry an UWA and a Telephoto. He is in charge of getting the shots of the Bride and Groom mainly. My girlfriend will be the pickup photographer, getting shots that my friend might miss.

The main photographer has a Sigma 10-20 for UWA so we plan on renting a Canon 70-200 f/4
My girlfriend needs a normal-tele zoom so should I rent a Canon 17-55mm or the Canon 24-105mm

Also, we aren't really prepared but were doing this as a favor for a close relative and we aren't really getting financially aids. It's just nice to have some great photos for our portfolio.

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CF card recommendation for 1DX

Hi

I am considering a 1Dx and also about to buy a few extra CF cards (32 GB). At times I fill the buffer on my 1D M4 (which the 1DX would replace) and would like to know if there is any difference between SanDisk Extreme Pro and Lexar 1000x cards as far (1) ability to empty the buffer/keep up with the camera and (2) reliability. Until recently I have had excellent success with the Sandisk cards but have added a few Lexar cards to my pool to test on my 5D M3 (slightly faster).

Also any other cards recommended?

San Francisco Sunrise to Yosemite Sunset in a Day

Hello all!

I recently shot the Golden Gate Bridge during sunrise, and then drove 160 miles to Yosemite for the sunset. One of the amazing things about living in San Francisco is that you're so close to such awesome places!

No photoshop, ND grad filters used for both, Canon 17-40mm L, Canon EOS 6D, B+W Circular Polarizer 77mm

If you have any questions or comments please let me know!

Graham

San-Francisco-Sunrise1.jpg


Yosemite-Sunset.jpg

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Light Meter & SpeedLites

Hello All,
I live on the emerald coast, between Panama City Beach and Destin, Florida. As a hobbyist photographer, I went out to shoot two young ladies today against a 1 o'clock sun sky with a canon 6d, a canon 430ex II, Yongnuo YN568EX, beauty dish, reflectors, umbrellas and soon on. Needless to say, I didn't have enough power. Just learning, it took me a good 30 minutes to figure it all out. In this environment would a light meter had help me out? I'm learning, and I'm not sure how well a bright day, speed lites and a light meter would work together. The meter I'm wondering about is the Sekonic L-358 Flash Master Light Meter.

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Replacement for Sigma 18-55

So I've lost two lenses this week. My seldom used 600mm f8 Sigma mirror lens which has been auction sited off, and my most used 18-50 f2.8 DC EX macro. Which has decided it wants to be a prime, instead of a zoom.

Visiting the repair shop tomorrow to see if they recommend reviving or giving it a viking burial (suggestions for a viking burial for a lens...)

Either way, I may be in the market for a replacement lens within this range.

The canon is too expensive, I wouldn't buy it on principle alone.

Had the 17-40, too slow for video, really needs to be a constant f2.8, as it's going to be mainly used for video.

The Sigma replacement has OS, which I don't need, and don't think is worth an extra £200 over what I paid for the old lens.

I really liked the images from the 18-55 IS kit lens (no, really I did, think they are great for the cash) but the variable slow aperture makes it a no-no.

So I've came up with a couple of ideas...

Tamron 17-50 f2.8 XR Di II. (not OS version) I've never owned a tamron. I held one yesterday, feels quite plasticky. Reviews well enough within segment. Not sure. Would be most direct replacement for what I was using.

Tokina 28-70 f2.6-2.8 SV.
Would need to be a used buy, but these lenses get a legendary reputation, based on the angenieux heritage of the design. Would lose a little on the wide end, make make it up on the tele. Quite tempted. And already happily use Tokina.

Canon 35mm f2.0 (old)
Would be a reasonable midpoint between my other two video lenses. Like the bright aperture.

Canon 28 f2.8
An old favourite of mine. But they are selling for silly prices, more used now than you could have bought for new 3 months ago. I prevously owned this lens and loved it.. But the option of a faster aperture like the above or like the...

Samyang 35mm f1.4
Would be great for video, but above budget ever so slightly.

Thoughts based on experience?

P.S. It's for a cropped sensor. And I don't have L money.

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Canon Announcement Tonight? [CR2]

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<p><strong>Update

</strong>Possibly 3 announcements tonight for the cinema/video line.</p>
<p><strong>A vague report

</strong>We’re told Canon is going to announce something tonight for the opening of NAB 2013.</p>
<p>We’ve heard in the past that an entry level Cinema EOS camera could be coming, though a confirmation of such never came.</p>
<p>We could also just get some firmware or development announcements. I do not expect an EOS DSLR.</p>
<p>We’ll post as we hear more…</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

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ok so i did it and bought into FF... now i need a good standard zoom

i thought about buying a kit but i got a very good deal for a 2 month old 6D body.

but now i need a good standard zoom for my new FF camera.

main use will be landscape photography.
ultimately i will buy a 24mm TS or 14mm one day for landscape work.
but right now i don´t have the money.
and i need a standard zoom anyway, so buying a used 24mm TS yet is not an option.

so what is the best choice for best quality at the short end?

as im not bound to a kit anymore i have more choices then the 24-70mm tamron or 24-105mm canon.

1000 euro maximum.

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Dilemma: Need new body by May 1st (7d alternatives/successor timeline?)

I've shot with Canon cameras my entire life starting with an Elan back in the 90's. A few years back I went digital with a 20D and the FANTASTIC EF-S 17-55 2.8. The 20D body was destroyed a year or so ago and I've been making do with a Canon point and shoot since then.

My first child is due on the first of May and I want to document his early months with a DSLR. Given my ownership of EF-S glass (really only the 17-55... my other Canon glass is cheap and left over from pre-DSLR days) I think APS-C is probably the way to go; but it bothers me to go after a 7d with its successor just around the corner.

Any thoughts or angles here? I'd only like to spend $2000 and need to do it pretty quickly. I'd like some reassurance that purchasing a 7d at the very twilight of its existence isn't complete folly or maybe an alternative approach I haven't considered (a $1000 EF-S lens was a bit shortsighted of me as I have a hard time justifying FF given the investment).

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Canon Announcements on April 23, 2013? [CR2]

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<strong>New Stuff!</strong>
We’re told Canon is holding press events on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. We have not seen any official invites, but this does come from a known source. I will post any invites I receive here to confirm.</p>
<p>No mention of what products to expect, though I would think an announcement for the EOS 70D must be close.</p>
<p>Pay close attention to the new sensor in the <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/945057-REG/canon_8575b001_eos_digital_rebel_sl1.html/bi/2466/kbid/3296" target="_blank">Canon EOS SL1</a> as far as performance goes. We’re told this sensor will appear in the EOS 70D, but not the EOS 7D Mark II.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

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