ernie_targonski

<p>Unfortunatly, this is the way of the world. I am the North American Customer Support Manager for a large Japanese company that makes contruction and stamping (automotive) machinery. A business model that has emerged some years ago relys on "market segmentation". This sales tool is not new, but using it on the service end is. How it works is this: your customers are segmented by how much money they spend, this determines how much attention they receive. Customers at the top of the list get special promotions and special deals on parts / service, as well as more attention to being kept "happy". Customers near the bottom of the list do not receive this type of attention. I don't consider this fair, but from a sales and business standpoint, the customers who spend the most are encouraged to keep spending. Right, wrong, or indifferent, the CPS situation does not suprise me, nor would suprise any other Service / Sales Manager today.</p>

I'm with Yakim and Puppy Face. I have an EOS 3 and still use allot to this day. I also have a 30D, 40D, and Elan 7NE. IMHO, in no way shape or form does the AF on my 30D, 40D, or 7NE compare to the 45 point AF on my EOS 3. I have shot (but do not own) 1D series and cameras and their AF is more akin to my EOS 3. Without ever actually shooting a 5D or 5DmkII, I fail to see how 9 point AF can possibly compare with 45 point in AI servo. I too would love to have the digital equiv of my EOS 3. And as far a build quality, IMHO, the cameras I have don't even come close to my EOS 3.

Just my opinions. Your mileage may vary.

The HP B9180 uses pigment ink and cannot be used with HP "swellable" media. I have had for over a year and have been very pleased. B&W is great on non-glossy papers such as Moab Entrada. No clogging. Built like a tank.

I have EOS3, 7NE, and 30D. All my EF lenses work on all my bodies. BTW, I would never part with my EOS3, great machine.

Bob,

I have Vista Home Premium running on a Dell. I am no pro photog, or computer expert. What I can tell you is that Canon has updates that work, my 30D and G7 work just like they did under XP. Ny Nikon Coolscan 5000 works fine, Nikonscan and all. My HP B9180 works just fine.... HP has updates. Elements 5.0 is fine. Spyder Pro is fine. What didn't work was older printer drivers for my HP7960, and HP hasn't updated that driver.... so most of the utility is lost for that printer due to the use of generic MS driver.

I have had no "blue screen of death" and the system on the whole seems to be running just fine.

I have a HP B9180 that produces exellent B&W prints. Costs less than $700, up to 13"x19", uses pigment ink, and doesn't clog nozzles. As with ANY pigment inkjet, paper choice and set up is critical.

Ronaldo,

 

I took delivery of a Dell XPS system (box only) with Vista Home Preminum this past Monday. I had minimal problems getting all my peripherals to work. HP9180 (HP has software upgrade), Nikon Coolscan 5000, PSE5, PS5.5, display driver, Spyder Pro, Epson PictureMate, all installed fine and seem stable. My HP7960 driver would not load (HP had no update), but Vista has an "in the can" driver that is alittle stripped down, but works. The only issue I have is with Canon EOS Utility. Although the EOS utility, DPP, and EXbrowser will load and operate, Canon cameras cannot connect with the EOS Utility via USB, you must use a card reader or the Photo application within Vista. I called Canon, and they are aware of the problem. All in all, I'm happy.

Although I have no experience with the Epson 2400, when I decided to go pigment and get wider than 8.5 x 11, I chose the HPB9180. Have been very happy. Color is fantastic and matches my calibrated monitor. B&W is as good as my HP7960 dye based printer. Do some reasearch on the Epson, Canon, and HP's..... don't mix apples and oranges though; size, type of ink, etc. Check features that are important to you. I'm sure any one of them will produce great prints. Good Luck

Robert,

 

I use PS ver 5.5 and the PS plug in does not work with that early ver. Color management is being handled by the printer and not PS. I have tried both ways, and the print matches my profiled display better than if color management was controlled by PS 5.5. Was (is) the same with my 7960. Actually I tried the Premium Plus paper, which is not supposed to be used with th B9180, and the b&w output is better. The soft gloss Prm + seems to be more matte like than the Advanced, so you may be right. I'll get my hands on some Advanced matte, or soft matte I think they call it and see. Thanks

I have been working with a HP B9180 for a couple weeks now. Color output is

great. B&W seems have a magenta cast to it..... especially when viewed from an

angle. I have compared, side by side, to b&w prints made with my HP 7960. The

7960's have no apparent color cast. I have been using only the "Advanced" soft

gloss HP photo paper in the B9180 and HP Premium Plus soft gloss for my 7960. I

am using a b&w file and have set the B9180 driver to print in color, grayscale

composite, and grayscale gray ink only. All seem to have the same cast to

varying degrees. BTW, using the color driver option for the 7960 produced the

best b&w when using a b&w file. All the reviews and discussions I have read

indicate that b&w output from the B9180 is neutral with no color cast. Anybody

else with a B9180 see this??

Thanks in advance....

I use the 300mm f4 IS hand held all the time with great results. It's great at the zoo and for bird flight shots..... especially with the IS set to panning mode.

I also use the 28-135 IS as my walk around lens. Love it.

IS is no gimmick. It's a tool that you decide when to use or not use.

Check out Arthur Morris. He is probabley THE premier bird guy. He lives in FL. Has acouple books out that outline his favorite spots to shoot. Check his website www.birdsasart.com too.

I have both EOS3 and Elan 7n. EOS3 is louder in the shutter department, but as outlined here, never had any complaints or startled any animal. Have had EOS3 with PBE2 for over 3 yrs. now and shoot at least 1 roll a week, on average. No problems. I love the camera. One thing you will notice is EOS3 is allot heavier than 7n, I personally like the heft.

Greetings,

 

I am an avid EOS film shooter, EOS 1V, EOS 3, EOS 7n, and have recently

taken the digitle plunge with a 30D. My question concerns the lens mount. It

seems all of my exsisiting Canon lens twist tighter on the 30D mount than the

film bodies. Has anybody else noticed this?

 

Thank You in advance.

 

Ernie

What RML said. Spend your time making photographs instead or arguing about the capture. Senseless. A cheap P&S in the hands of a true photographer will produce images far beyond any poser with a top of the line anything.

I have been using PS 5.5 for quite awhile at work. I would like to

purcahse a copy of PS for home, but don't necessarily believe I need

full blown CS2. Does anybody know how 5.5 compares to Elements 4,

especially the editing tools such as curves and color balance? I have

heard that ealier versions of Elements do have these tools.

 

Thanks in advance.

Although I am a dedicated 35mm film user, I do enjoy the convenience

(and quality) of the digital darkroom. My question concerns scans

from E6 slides and color / B&W negatives. It seems for me, that E6

always scans "cleaner", I'm not talking about dust or scratches, but

the scan just looks so clear and true to the slide. Negeatives on the

other hand always seems to scan "grainy". Why is this if negative

films seem to have allot better diffuse RMS granularity? I use a

Minolta scan dual III (for quite awhile) and have tried tweeking

every driver adjustment there is, all with the same outcome: slides

scan superior to negatives for me. Thanks in advance.

All will have to believe that I am no "weirdo".....at least no "weirder" than anybody else.

 

As I check out all of the great shots in this forum, most with people in them seemingly not careing they are being photographed.... I wondered if anybody had the same experiences as I.

 

Thanks for all the replys.

Although my main interest is nature photography, I find myself more

and more taking a camera with me while doing other things. "Street"

photograhy and general photograhy is becoming more of an interest.

Something has happened to me a couple times now, and I just wanted to

know if it happens to anybody else.

Sometimes people get defensive about having their picture taken, or

being included in a shot. I've actually had a guy and his son come up

to me and ask if I was some kinda "weirdo". Now, looking back on the

situation, I could maybe see his concern, but I was taking a shot of

a building as they were walking by. I've also had people come up to

me and ask why I'm taking pictures of them.... and when I explain my

shot, they get a look as if they don't believe me.

Any thoughts??

 

Thanks in advance

 

PS, I'm not using any big white Canon L lenses or any scary looking

camera stuff. I usually use an old Nikon FG with 50mm for street

stuff as I find it so much easier than my nature rig.

Another vote for HP7960.

I have EOS3 and purchased 7NE for lighter work when I don't want to carry the 3 and 550EX, like family functions or casual vacation snaps. I also carry the 7NE in the car for impromptu shots. When out in the field, my 3 is primary workhorse and 7NE stays behind unless I decide to shoot two different films. All in all, I very happy with the combo. Unfortunatly, I have no experience with earlier 7's.

I have two EOS 3's and a 7N. Use the 3's like Derek C. when I'm out in the field, sometimes with different film in each. Use the 7N for more casual and when I want to travel lite, snaps. The 7N also rides in the car to and from my day job. I wouldn't consider the 7N a "backup", but used for different reasons.

Jonathan,

 

I printed out of the HP director as well and got "better" results just as yourself. I did this to make sure my photo editing software was not the problem.

BTW, no problems printing the same file from a buddys computer, using same photo editing software, to an Epson.

Seems to lead ya to believe this is an HP issue.

I have an HP7960 photo printer. Been using for about a year and am

happy with it. I usually print 8.5x11 or 4x6 borderless prints with

no problems. Currently, I am encountering a problem with centering an

8x10 image on 8.5x11 photopaper. The image will measure exactly 8x10

on the paper, but I do not get an even border all the way around. I

have tried a myriad of setting in the driver to no avail. Also spent

too much time with HP online tech support..... to no avail. All I

want to do is center the image. Any thoughts??

 

Thanks in adavnce

Thanks everybody.

I did take the back cover off, as described by HP, cleaned the rollers and checked for debris. Had the paper tray out too. No avail.

FYI... I have performed mutliple calibrations and the problem is getting better and now somewhat intermittent. I'm going to take apart what I can and see if I can trace paper path and find any other problems. Hopefully I'll be able to staighten this out... I really like the printer, especially for B&W. Again... thanks for all the advice. I was considering the 8750.......