roamingstudio

Someone else now posted that the image is also gettng clearer... as on my version I see the word Canon clearly

displayed across the top; a blocked out lens etc. If you dont see it you might need to refresh your page / cache

 

http://www.photo.net/canon-eos-digital-camera-forum/00QnuH

Is it my imagination; or does each time it load (different day) the image gets increasingly stronger...?

The new sony Alpha...

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/09/09/sony_a900

 

Well lets see what they announce... but perhaps the moon is a bit too crpytic. Although you never know... announcement at the full moon which occurs in Europe in around 5 days.(someone can correct my lack of diary).

Couple of places in Switzerland listing Body and Kits... with ahem 14 days delivery.

 

Kits include Body + EF-S17-85 IS (with and without) EF70-300 IS; Body + EF-S18-200 IS

If true, it would seem Santa will be very busy this Christmas...

40D, 50D, 5DMKII, new lenses... and thats only Canon.. ;-)

Adri

 

Would be interesting in hearing outcome as I live near zurich and have a lot of lowepro stuff. I also looked for thinktank - found some from time to time in Media markt Dietlikon but never what I needed - and never available to order... :(

 

Save the hard earned bucks for travel to thinktank land...

General question: with such high pixel counts how would the 50D now compare with the resolution from a full frame 5D? In fact what is the real benefit from full frame when the sweet spot of each lens can be optimised through the focusing? (ok I keep out the MKII discussion and 16MP+).

 

Perhaps this is the 5DMKII hiding in sheeps clothing ;)

I missed this thread when I posted earlier. The UK link is

http://www.canon.co.uk/About_Us/News/Consumer_Releases/2008_News/Speedlite_EX430_II.asp

Here is the link to the Swiss-German info;

http://de.canon.ch/About_Us/News/Consumer_Releases/Speedlite_430EX_II.asp

and UK version

http://www.canon.co.uk/About_Us/News/Consumer_Releases/2008_News/Speedlite_EX430_II.asp

 

Price is basically the same as the existing 430 in Swiss Francs.

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/204864/canon-replaces-400d-with-new-budget-dslr.html

 

Also added news that there will be a new speedlite 430 version upto 20x faster.

 

So is Canon finally breaking their normal procedures of new products in Feb / August....

I have the Gorillapod SLR - and use it with the 100macro lens. As mentioned - in good conditions it is great little thing; easy to chuck in the back back and travel; place on a table and take a photo etc. However windy conditions can be a problem; as with large heavy lenses. It also helps to use timer, and mirror lock up also helps.

 

Consider it as a cheap, interesting gadget which makes great birthday / christmas present... ;-)

Yakim

 

Great to see the setup you mentioned many moons ago is now working nicely. Me-thinks I will be heading back to RRS now the dollar is so low...

I know a few people who have bought L's on ebay and been satisified - including someone who bought from a (0) feedback seller. It worked out in the end - he was lucky.

 

But a comment from a different side.... I recently sold an old Sigma zoom lens on ebay which I had tested before posting. It seemed ok and I was happy with the description. However by the time it arrived with the buyer somehow the rubber outersleeve, and internal elements had become unstuck, and autofocus had stopped working. A full refund was given; but somehow the lens had self-destructed in the trans-europe post despite being wrapped in 1m+ of bubble wrap (yes I will claim on the post insurance).

 

Thus my feeling now: if buying used make sure it is with someone / companu who cares and will accept to refund in case of problems with postage etc. Dont skimp by choosing users with cheap postage; and think in terms of getting a good deal and not necessarily the best price.

Transcend tend to be more for industrial embedded CF cards often running as the primary equivalent to HDD. Thus they should be good for the high end cameras if the DMA is supported; and definitely faster read times if the CF reader supports fast DMA.

Well had to happen - suspect a big rush to buy lenses this weekend. Just hope it does not effect the strong swiss franc...

@ Wesley:

Are you using a colour calibrated monitor?

 

When I pitch my laptop screen at different angles I see patterns in the sky - but only because im looking off axis and the screen is not rendering 8 bit per channel. Even then most of this is due to the way JPEG compression works.

 

When I look on my colour calibrated monitor they are very hard to see.

Ebay was more for ease: but if it is better to go with something from Adorama etc then it is also an option (although postage is expensive).

Well thanks for the tips - the Cokin P holder it is then... Ive only heard good things about them - and it seems the holder is good for different filters. I read somewhere about removing the outer holder to reduce vinegetting...

 

Are ebay equivalents of the holders worth it - or should I get original? I would go for a 58mm and 72mm adapter to the Cokin P.

e.g. ebay.co.uk item 220223373993 or 220223371065

For many years Ive used my Canon (and previously Pentax K1000+ Sigma) lenses for

landscapes mainly with a circular polariser. Most of the time im happy with the

results. However I see that ND Grad filters can help with the 'pop' factor

especially with complicated skies.

 

There are obviously many threads about filters: Cokin types, slot ins, Singh

etc. However is there a 'starters pack' for beginners? Im happy to spend the

money to get quality filters which last... (id rather get one / two quality

filters which last than 4 / 5 which hardly get used). Since ones birthday is

arriving soon I wanted to find out rough prices, types and what adapters to get

for following lenses with 1.6 crop and or full frame (is there really a

difference?).

 

Tokina 12-24 F2.8 (72mm)?

Canon 24-105L F4 (72mm)?

 

Are slot in filters the best (id guess so since you can adjust where the

graduation applies)?

 

And where is best to order in Europe? I dont mind going to BH or Adorama as the

exchange rate is good at the moment, but then repair / replacement is a problem

 

Thanks,

About 6 months ago I went through same dilemma and eventually chose the 70-300 for a couple of reasons...

 

10 years back I had a Pentax K1000 + equivalent 100-300mm lens (forget which) and hardly used it. With my Canon I was using the 28-135 and only rarely wished to have longer reach (now 24-105L). Buying the 70-200 F4 / F2.8 was a real option but in the end I felt it better to have a lightweight lens I could carry with me easily for the few occasions I might need it. If I find that I really start using the longer lens a lot then I would purchase either the 70-200 + TC or any new variant of the 100-300 (if one ever comes out).

 

It was also worth it because the 70-300 lens came with cashback which helped ease the initial purchase and allowed the 24-105L. Sometimes I regret not having the F2.8 24-70; but then I dont take indoor photos too often (erm 3 times / year?) or need the really small Depth of Field.

Replying for general info

 

Got the Gorillapod SLR Zoom + Screw / Quick Release Plate. Run with my camera and 24-105L lens. It is pretty stable and works... but getting camera actually level is a bit of a pig. Would be good with a small QR ball head - or sunken leveling head (like those of Acratech or Manfrotto). I use a RRS L plate so dont need the full range of ball head movement (i.e. to 90 degrees). Ok others might question practicalities.

 

So without a ball head it works well. When the exchange rate works out I might get a leveling head or ball head. Or ask for the Gorillapod SLR Zoom 4 with integrated level... ;-)

The forum is still there http://www.photo.net/bboard/forum?topic_id=1544 - it is just never listed under the drop down of the 'forums' link. I always have to go to 'Forums' - 'All Forums' - 'Filter bags and tripods'.

 

Cheap CF: Slik Velbon etc.

Gitzo 2xxx series.

 

Try to Keep the leg diameters as large as possible for the weight / size height. If you go for smaller leg diameters then aim to get 3 sections; the 4th is quite spindly and the source of most vibration. However 3 is clearly less compact than 4. So it is all a comprise.

Actually the price / conversion rates are good in the reverse direction.

 

After 25 years of royal mail service I can say that for most things they are excellent; but if you have something really special to look after then they know psychically and cause damage. Especially if it is a big parcel and gets their 'Parcel Force' service. (Parcel Forced into any opening). However that is more personal experience. If the 5D + import tax + delivery is 10-20% less than buying used on Koh, B&H etc then it is probably worth it.

 

Things I try to factor in when buying abroad

* Only if item is not available in home country

* Only if item + import tax (and handling charge) + delivery is >10% less than home country

* How much time do I spend searching for best deal and how much do I get 'paid' per hour? If I spend 10 hours searching for best deal and save 50$ is it really worth it (unless on a shoe string?).

Thanks for the comments above; currently it is resolving to using a eeepc with some upgrade / mod options.... and a portable HDD for the 'lower altitudes' (Kathmandu is not high altitude).

 

A nice thread here which others might find interesting is the incorporation of an IDE-->Conpact Flash Converter. It is fairly recent so yet to see if it is replicated.

 

In case others were not aware; there is also a wiki thread about using it for photo work... http://wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:addrawphotoediting

Im planning a long trip to Himalayas in November (>4 weeks) and am actively

checking through options for reviewing and backing up data. Obviously the 'small

portable' laptops are best options; e.g. Toshiba, Mac-Air etc. However I dont

want to be lugging expensive items around all the time (read Toshiba and Sony).

I would therefore be grateful for some general feedback on the ideas in my head.

I know there are loads of products and posts on this issue; perhaps it is time

for a 'Storage / Review FAQ'.

 

This thread (http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00OYSU) was

heading in the general direction of my thoughts for small portable review

system, e.g. using an eeepc and backing up to solid state media (CF, USB flash,

SD etc). I know of Creative Zen W + Hyperdrive products; but fear the 3" screens

are just too small to spot dirt / hair without lots of zooming (I got burnt on a

recent trip).

 

I know using Compact Flash as a HDD can work; I do this for embedded datalogging

at 40kHz. However in this case the CF is connected via a IDE bus; and not USB;

which I guess is the only option in the eeepc?

 

Even if I found a decent fast USB to CF / SD type reader then the internal SSD

space becomes problematic. E.g. of reviewing a days shoot, 3x 1GB CF cards,

keeping around 70% of photos. First copy; then review (sort) and then 'burn' to

backup. In this latter case burn to what? CF again? SD (is it faster?) USB

sticks (speed, price, size) External DVD (battery power?) External HDD (e.g.

1.8" mounted internally)?

 

In the end this sort of rules out the eeepc on its own. Perhaps an eepc with

Hyperdrive HD80 / Space or Archos / Cowan. But buying these two options quickly

comes something like 1000$. Even if sticking with 1.8" drive (e.g. LaCie Little

Disk) it is unclear whether combined battery performance is going to be

acceptable.

 

How have other people solved this issue?