With the rumored specifications for an entry-level full frame DSLR, coupled with the announcements of the past year, it seems to me that Canon's product road map for the near future is coming into focus.

My guess is that the rapid pace of advancements in DSLR technology during the first decade of this century made it difficult to plan new product releases with any consistency. As the market and technology matures, I think we will see a more consistent approach from both Canon and Nikon.

I'm more familiar with Canon, so I'll use their products, but I think the same will essentially apply to Nikon.

Entry-level DSLRs: Canon has consistently offered several choices in the Rebel line, from a very low cost budget model up to a fully tricked-out version. The aim was to make sure they leave no potential customers on the table due to budget constraints, while at the same time having sufficient models to allow retailers to up-sell customers. With the T4i, I don't see that changing. The only change is that the bar keeps getting raised.

Step-up/enthusiasts DSLRs: Canon and Nikon currently have only one model each in this category. For Canon it is the 60D. While many 40D users were surprised when Canon seemed to "downgrade" this model, it is quite clear from their sales that they knew what they were doing. It appears that this line will soon split in two. An APS-C version and a full-frame version. Aside from the sensor, expect that these two cameras will be essentially the same – composite body, flip-screen, touch-screen, same or similar autofocus, etc. Given the differences in sensor size, the APS-C version will have a faster frame rate, while the full-frame version will have better high ISO performance. I will be surprised if either one offers micro-focus adjustment. (I think Canon feels the hassle of dealing with customers who screw up their lens' focusing isn't worth the effort. I know people on this forum consider it an important feature, but this forum is not typical of the customer base.)

Professional/pro-sumer DSLRs: This category has been filled by the 7D and the 5D. The problem in the past though, was that the pace of change was so fast that in the year between the 5D and 7D releases, the technology and market changed enough that Canon ended up with a 5DII that lacked many of the features found in the 7D. Just as the 60D and the "entry-level" full frame will likely mirror each other, I expect the 7DII and the 5DIII to mirror each other in features as well, with the size of the sensor being the main differentiating factor. The 7D, with its APS-C sensor, will likely have a higher frame rate, while the 5DIII will have a one-to-two stop advantage in ISO performance. But, other than those differences, necessitated by the sensor sizes, expect the two to share almost all other features.

Finally, of course, both Nikon and Canon have their flagship DSLRs. We've seen their offerings there and I don't expect it to change.

The wild card, of course, is the rumored high resolution DSLR from Canon. If it materializes, I expect it to be the same body as the 5DIII, but with a slower frame rate and lower maximum ISO. I expect the pricing to be identical to the 5DIII. Buyers can pick their poison – the 5DIII with superior low-light performance or the 5D HD with up to 46mp resolution.

This all seems logical and consistent with both Canon's and Nikon's actions of the past year.

I've done research on lenses and cameras but when it comes to studio lighting and equipment, I have very limited knowledge about them. I only know about the ones my friends uses such as alien bees, profotos, and elinchromes. But when it comes to prices and other brands, I know next to nothing.

I have been given two photoflex starflash 650 which I plan to use as kickers and/or rim hair lights.
Now I have a list of things I need to use for catalog shooting in a relatively small studio.

-A main light
-60 inch to 74 inch octodome
-backdrop support stand
-a heavy duty light stand with boom, preferably with wheels
-a couple of sand bags.

I have a budget of between $1500-2000 for my list. Is it possible? And if you guys have any recommendations, a link would be greatly appreciated so I can buy it asap. Amazon would be better since I have amazon prime.

I have the 5DIII, The 600EX-RT and the ST-E3-RT. I have a full set of Gary Fong accessories but no flash stand or other modifiers.

I am looking to expand my lighting capabilities to take better pictures at home (portraiture, jewelry shots for my wife, attempts at creativity).

Reading through McNally's Hot Shoe Diaries, I was think of getting a second flash, a Lastolite Skylite panel and a stand to hold the whole contraption. Any thoughts, points, tips, advice or admonishments would be very welcome. Thank you in advance.

Has anyone who is shooting natural light, wide open weddings with the 50 f1.2, 85 f1.2, with both the 5d MKII and 5D MKIII compared colors and WB from each with the same settings, and had good luck in matching?
We tried this with the 5D MKII and the 7D and forget it, because they are completely different with the same settings, in fact the 7D is so full of noise with any L lens set at wide open with an ISO above 400 it's almost non-usable. Any help before we buy would be great. Also has the noise issue with the 5D MKIII and the EF 200 f2.0 been fixed.
Thanks

Hi !

With entry level mirrorless info out let's start sharing our thoughts about next possible announcements

There has been a lot of rumors and chatter so you can post your ideas or info here.

I've seen info about 70D moving up to 7D level, 7D moving to FF, 70D moving to FF etc. There was some sort of info that high MPx body is in testing (NI) - 47 MPx body with 5D Mk III-like housing (body)...

What do you think ?

The LC-E4N battery charger for the new 1D X is quite large and requires a separate power cord. It will charge two LP-E4N batteries at one time as well as measure the battery performance (although the camera will do this as well).

While the LC-E4N works very well and is a nice unit I am concerned about the size of the charger. As mentioned, this boy is rather large and will be difficult to pack in carry on luggage for air travel. Sure do wish Canon would offer a "travel model" charger for the 1D X for one battery at a time that would plug directly into an electrical socket without the having to use a power cord (like the charger for a 5D II.

Post your best otherworldly landscapes. This is one I just processed from a couple weeks ago...


Life on Mars by @!ex, on Flickr

It's time to upgrade my 40d. I can't decide what to get: 60d, wait for 70d to come out, mk3, mk2, 7d?

I dont mind the crop. Im also not earning money with photography, so not sure if marks are really justifiable. Perhaps getting a 60d is better?

Any thoughts?

I mostly shoot with 10_20sigma and 70_200 2.8l

Hi, not sure whether the topic belongs here, but I'll give it a try

There was a three-days festival with hundreds of street-artists (is this the correct expression?) in my hometown just now, and I managed to get a couple of nice shots (full set here http://www.flickr.com/photos/80270150@N06/sets/72157630694110542/ ). Any comments highly welcome, especially in terms of processing - all I did, was to apply the lens profile and do some cropping.


20120721-0140_Linz_Pflasterspektakel by picsig_s on Flickr


20120720-0186_Linz_Pflasterspektakel by picsig_s on Flickr


20120719-0092_Linz_Pflasterspektakel by picsig_s on Flickr


20120720-0210_Linz_Pflasterspektakel by picsig_s on Flickr

Grabbed a few decent shots this weekend, the ultra-wide ones are with my Sigma 10-20 f/3.5 (which oddly works better on my FF camera than my old T2i, vignetting aside)
Rest are 50 f/1.4 i believe

Take care!

just found this review:

http://xerodigital.ca/canon-1dx-nikon-d4/

A slightly different question to the regular onslaught of "Which L-series lens should I trade my wife for?"...

I'll be going on a trip later in the year where I might be bringing my girlfriend along with me as a 2nd shooter and assistant. I'll be working on some surfing web-clips for various websites and magazines, and am planning to have my girlfiend shoot a 2nd angle of the action. What I'll need for her is a lens that is light, and has relatively good IQ (though I understand the constraints of budget tele-zooms and am not expecting miracles - just something that will cut together with my Sigma 150-500mm without instantly being noticeable). I'll basically pre-set the focus for her, and set the camera to auto-ISO (blashpemy, I know!) so all she needs to do is hit record and pan. So MF ring quality is not an issue - nor is any other build quality seeing as the lens will pretty much be thrown away after the trip. Things that are an issue are weight, size and price.

The lens will be used only outdoors in daylight, and I'll leave the aperture at about f/8-11 in order to increase the DOF and put the lens into it's sweet spot.

So basically what I'm looking for is the best optics possible in the budget 70-300mm range, regardless of all other factors such as build quality, AF speed, USM, etc.

IS is also a consideration - with a big question being whether or not any of these lenses have an IS tripod mode that can handle pans well. The lens will always be used on a fairly decent tripod (manfrotto 502HD head) but again, my girlfriend is not a trained camera operator and will need any help she can get.

With all that in mind, can anybody recommend any particular brand/lens?

Thanks in advance!

Computers have been pretty modular for a while, cars are becoming more modular over time, even houses etc...

Why is nobody coming forth with a more modular approach to DSLRs? It seems that Canikon etc. are all stuck in the 20th century regarding certain ideas:

- Make AA filter BTO (build to order) (only D800E does this)
- Make Bayer filter BTO (only Leica M9 does this)
- Make two or three APS-C and FF bodies with different builds, then offer two or three sensors for each.

Suppose Canon had an 18 and 28 MP FF sensor, I could choose a 5D3 with 18MP and 7fps or 28MP and 4fps or a 1DX with 18MP and 12fps or 28MP and 8fps, or something like that.

If they then stopped holding back on software-only features, intentionally crippled firmware and atrocious usability issues it would be really great!

So what I'm wondering, are there technical reasons against this, or is it just the capitalist reality biting us (i.e. we get the worst possible product instead of the best possible, where worst possible is defined as just good enough to make us want to upgrade, and just good enough to keep up with the competition, but no really innovative steps forward unless absolutely forced to by outside pressure).

I am curious to learn for what situation people use spot metering. In particular, since i do mostly portrait, do any of you use it for portrait when shooting without a flash?

I usually do not play with metering myself but by mistake i took a few portraits with spot metering inside without flash and actually found the skin tone better this way. Just not sure if i risk overexposing too much other part of the picture if i use this consistently...

Thank you for your insights...

How do you pronunce the aperture of a lens? E.g. if you were telling a friend that you're shooting with an f/1.4 lens, would you say: "F one point four", "F one four", or something else?

I shot my first 300 frames with my brand new 1DX and a new 85LII today and had err80 appear 6 times telling me to power down camera and reinsert the battery back. I am using Sandisk Extreme Pro 32gb cards.

Anybody else seeing this. Someone on POTN board seems to think its temp/humidity related. I live is S Florida...

My old EOS 550D had a self timer mode I could configure to take up to 10 images. This is quite useful for family pictures.

My new 5D3 has a self timer but I can't find a way, to take more than one picture. Where can I find the secret magic menu entry on my 5D3?

Can anyone comment/report on battery drain issues on their Pixel Vertax BG-E11 battery grip for the 5D3? I charged up 4 LP-E6's last week (all official, no knockoffs) and put them in my 7D and 5D3 grips (attached to their respective bodies). They sat stored in the cameras inside a bag for 7-8 days. Then last night I had a gig; I pull out the 5D3 and the battery level had only 2-bars, and quickly dropped to 1-bar.

Both the 5D3 body and the grip were switched OFF while in storage. The grip was also OFF during my shoot, as I was doing landscape orientation shots. Within 45 minutes of shooting I had to swap batteries as they were fully drained. I pulled out the 7D, turned it on, and it was fully charged. I swapped the batteries into my 5D3, and it too showed a full charge.

I completed the gig with no issues, but this really got me worried that the Vertax grip has a battery drain. I'm doing a controlled test this week with fresh batteries to see what happens after a few days of storage.

Has anyone else noticed this battery drain issue or done any tests?

I have a 1DIV and a 5DII. My 1DIV is a fantastic camera and performs like a champ in every area except high ISO IQ. I am happy with images through ISO 1600. Feel that Images are Usable at ISO 2500, however at 3200 and above the IQ really drops off fast.

My 5DII produces images through ISO 3200 and 4000 that I am consistently happy with, however the performance of the camera leaves something to be desired. AF system is horrible on dynamic subjects and FPS is certainly lacking.

The 5DIII seems like a nice replacement for my 1DIV with a nice blend of superior image quality at high ISO and many "pro body" features.

This is a question only for those of you who have or have had both of these cameras....

What are your thoughts on replacing a 1DIV with a 5DIII?

... please don't post if you don't have both of these cameras. I'm looking for actual hands on comparison, not conjecture from folks who have read about it.

Thank you.

Does anybody have photos with this combo? Any advises or anything I should be aware of? Any comments on the build quality? Never had any experience with third party lenses before. :-\

I have a 5D3 right now and I want to add my first fast prime to my kit (24-105,16-35II) and I'm pretty comfortable with a 85mm lens instead of a nifty-fifty since I prefer a slightly tighter view than normal, when I'm not doing landscapes anyway.

Just some additional info, the reason I'm going for the sigma rather than the 1.8 canon equiv. is because I heard nothing but good things with the sigma's IQ and bokeh. Forgetting the autofocus since it's a hit or miss, I don't mind going through several lenses till I get a proper one. Who knows I might get a keeper on my first try.

And since we're talking sigma, anyone have experience with the sigma 20mm f 1.8 ex aspherical dg df rf on fullframe?

I shoot anything but a bit more inclined to landscapes. I'm a photography student and I'm still trying to experiment and see what really fits me but here's my flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/josephmonis/ if any of you would like to see my photos.
Ok this is getting too long ;D

Hey, as I found out a few Months back, there is still a problem with Pocket Wizards and the 5D III. I just got
My 1D X and the problem with it is worse. Even at 1/125 there is a black bar on the frame. I downloaded the latest beta for my TT-1 and it still doesn't sync my Einstein flashes
With pocket wizard PowerMC 2's.
According to PW's website, this beta release is still NOT compatible with 5D or 1DX. They claim they are working on it... Basically I have a new
Camera Which I can't use at the studio!
The system is great though with a 1D IV. I also have a PW AC-3. which lets me control power output for 3 flashes in real time from the camera.
I am really disappointed and rathet irate that they haven't fixed the problem.
I really thought the problem was the sync limitation of the 5D but it is worse
On th 1D.

This may be a dumb one for most of you all but I am trying to learn this concept, so if you can pls find a moment to share your knowledge.

I keep reading that Canon 5d3 has "advantage in resolution" compared to 1dx.
What does it exactly mean? That we can crop more? Or something else.

Would love to learn this and did not find much in Google.

Thx...

now we get the mirrorless ,the 70d should be the next DSLR from canon,any news about it？

I've been a firm believer that upgrading one's gear usually doesn't improve one's photography. However, I recently picked up the Canon 85 f/1.8, and I must say, this lens has definitely improved my work. Why? Interestingly, it's due to more than the image quality. Yes, it's a great, sharp lens, but it's really not head-and-shoulders above some of my other lenses.

So if the image quality of the lens isn't leading to noticeably better images - what's changed? Inspiration. For a number of reasons, when I shoot with the 85 I feel inspired.

First, the focal length. I spent most of last year shooting with a 50mm, so the focal length is a little longer, and it inspires me to shoot from different perspectives.

Second, the feel. The size and weight of the 85 on a 5D feels just right to me. It's light enough to not wear me out after a full day of shooting, but it's also solid enough that it doesn't look or feel like a toy.

Third, the image quality. There's no denying, this is a sharp, impressive lens. It may not produce quite the background blur of the 85 f/1.2, but the image quality is still pretty awesome. If I nail the exposure, focus, and composition, I can be quite sure that the lens will do the rest.

So, my question is: Is there a particular lens that inspires you and, as a result, makes you a better photographer? If so, what lens, and why?