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StephenElia

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Posts posted by StephenElia

    Haoda Split screen

    in Canon EOS Mount

    Posted

    I have been using the Haoda 5L cross split prism screen for over a year without any issues. It has helped considerably with manual focusing. The Haoda screen has helped me with birds in flight (you will see when focus is no longer on the subject) and macro photography. It seems that Haoda and SLR Daren use the same Canon Ec-L screen as the base for their screens.

    EOS 5D, C.Fn 17: AF Point Activation Area

    in Canon EOS Mount

    Posted

    Eric,

    According to the manual. These extra "helper" points are only active in AI SERVO AF. If you are doing portrait work I would expect One SHOT AF.

     

    From my experience with my 5D (with 37,000 frames on it) I have had ~65% of my shots in focus using AI SERVO AF with C.Fn 17 set to 0 (off). I have turned on C.Fn 17 (set to 1) and my ratio of in focus shots has went up to ~85%. This being said, I am a sample of 1... And only used this with one lens (85mm f/1.8).

     

    I am curious if others could turn on this function and see if there is an improvement with their AI SERVO AF shots (birds in flight, sports, etc).

    EOS 5D, C.Fn 17: AF Point Activation Area

    in Canon EOS Mount

    Posted

    Has anyone had any issues with C.Fn 17 on the 5D for AI SERVO AF? I have

    recently turned this function on and it has increased my keeper ratio for my

    kids indoor sports. I have only used it with my 85mm f/1.8, but plan to try

    it on the 100-400mm as well. I am curious why Canon has left this function

    disabled by default. Below is a description of C.Fn 17 from the EOS 5D

    Instruction Manual (p.156).

     

     

    C.Fn 17 on EOS 5D: AF point activation area

    0: Standard

    1: Expanded

    In the AI SERVO AF mode when the center AF point is selected, six

    invisible Assist AF points within the spot metering circle also become

    active. Therefore, seven AF points will track the subject (p.76). This is

    effective for subjects that move erratically, making it difficult for only the

    center AF point to track it.

    Lens Decisions (any thoughts) "L" for 20D's

    in Canon EOS Mount

    Posted

    Dave,

    You have some nice shots @ your website. I would keep the 17-40 for your landscape work, keep your 70-200 f/4L for the event stuff and pick up a 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS (or 400 f/5.6L prime) for the Wildlife. I think the flexibility of the zoom fits your needs. I have a 100-400 L and it takes great pictures @ 400mm wide open. It does take practice of your long lens technique to consistently produce excellent shots, but many hand held telephotos will. The 100-400 does not autofocus (400 f/5.6 does not as well) with the 1.4x TC, but produces decent images. I think you will find the 300 f/4 a little short for wildlife, sxpecially photographing birds in flight. Here are a few examples of a 100-400L @400mm, wide open:

     

    http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/4424686-lg.jpg

     

    http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/4933082-lg.jpg

     

    http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/4970545-lg.jpg

     

    http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/4993038-lg.jpg

     

    http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/4369112-lg.jpg

    Unfortunate Event...

    in Canon EOS Mount

    Posted

    Yesterday I took the entire family to one of our favorite places to play in

    the water, Sauvie Island (see Picture #1). As we all know camera gear, water

    and sand do not mix well. When I was leaving I did not notice that my TC-80N3

    was missing, in fact, I did not notice until late last night. I searched the

    house, My trunk in my car, under the car, etc. I was about to pull out all my

    hair when I was describing it to my wife... She said she seen something like

    that when we were walking back to the car from the beach... This morning I

    decided to go back and check if it was possibly even still there. It was right

    where she said, in about 6 inches of water. It had spent 17 hours in the water

    & sand (see Picture #2). When I opened it my heart sank... It really did not

    look salvageable (see Picture #3). I cleaned everything I could (there was

    already corrosion starting on some of the metals). I even re-installed the

    original battery. After 17 hours in water and sand the TC-80N3 is back alive.

    I have tested it out with my EOS 5d and there does not seem to be anything

    wrong with it (see Picture #4). It is always nice when an unfortunate event

    seems to work itself out in a positive way. Thanks for your time.

     

    Picture #1

    http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/4926524-lg.jpg

     

    Picture #2

    http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/4926489-lg.jpg

     

    Picture #3

    http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/4926504-lg.jpg

     

    Picture #4

    http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/4926492-lg.jpg

    Is there something wrong with this lens?

    in Canon EOS Mount

    Posted

    Allen,

    Try not to stop down to f/22. You could be losing some sharpness by stopping down more than is required for the scene.

     

    With your lens @ f/22, 13mm and the Rebel XT as your camera the DOF would be somewhere around .29m - Infinity...

     

    You could obtain the same results with f/9 and have a DOF 1171m deep (.5m to 1172m). I think the sharpness is due to Diffraction Limitations of f/22 on your lens.

    Flash: 430EX vs 580EX vs Sigma EF-500 DG Super

    in Canon EOS Mount

    Posted

    I can only say that the 430ex does have a tilt head. I have a 5D and it works great for my needs. I use it primarily for fill flash in landscape shots. I have not used the 580ex or the Sigma. I did have a Quantaray flash (900WDC) that worked with my 20D, and did not work with my 5D. That is why I went with the Canon flash. Guaranteed to work with you Canon now and in the future.
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