miklosphoto

For wedding/portraits I would go for the 5D. For that kind of photography you don't need the body sealing. I am using a 5D for event and studio portraits. The only thing I miss from the 1 series cameras is the AF system. (I own an EOS 1V too).

And I completely agree. It is an amazing lens.

Hi Kevin,

for my studio sessions it is very important. It is very slow though. But fortunetally, my clients are more curious to see themselves on the screen so they do not mind the delay. I am more annoyed by the delay. What I do is use the EOS Utility and integrate it with Adobe Lightroom. So the images are saved by the EOS Utility into the Lightoom watched folder and thus automatically imported and displayed full screen. With DPP it would be faster but I hate the interface of Canon DPP so I do not use it.

So yes, it is neccessary but sometimes can be a pain if say the client is not that patient.

So I would use it case by case.

Miklos

Here I have a question to all the 5D owners out there. Want to see your opinion.

First of all I love my 5D, so it is not to complain.

How do you guys work around this issue? I do mostly portraiture and while I am

shooting I always try to get the framing right in the camera so I can print

uncropped. I love the 2x3 ration what the 5D sensor gives me. Now here comes my

problem, my favorite print size is 8 inch wide and I could not find any 8x12

paper (al least not by Epson) to print. There is no way that I would butcher my

photos to fit into 8x10 which size I find very boring when I want to show more

then just a head. Also when I shoot horizontaly, I like to include some dead

space on the sides so the portrait has some space around it.

For now I use 13x19 paper to print two shots at once.

Just want to hear from other photographers how you guys work around it. Is

there maybe another paper choice?

thanks

Miklos

The f/1.2 has a better image quality (sharpness and contrast) between 1.2 and 2.0. Also it is weather proof.

The 1.4 lens is great lens too. Unless you need the best quality at the range of 1.2-2.0 get the 1.4 lens. I had the 1.4 lens and I have the 1.2 lens now.

Miklos

I am not sure if the 30D has the same feature as the 5D. But that is not a problem.

Tom, there zillions of different ways to download your images to you r laptop. Every decent photo software has a way to set up to what folder to download and how to change the file names during the download. I think the cameras should take the pictures and your computer should do all the other stuff.

You just need a good workflow and not to blame the camera that it is not a computer.

Miklos

Andy, yes you right if we say that the 50mm lens is a perfect portrait lens on the small sensors. i agree with that.

My point was different in my post. I really meant the focal lenght and it's use(fullnes). 50mm is 50mm because of reasons. And probably it is not an objective opinion but I think it is the ideal focal lenght for 35mm. I could not travel with only 50x1.3 or 50x1.6 focal range. But if I had to choose just one lens I can take with me it is definetely the 50mm lens - and it is only because I have full frame cameras.

One more thing to my previous post:

Here in California, it gets very dusty and I happen to shoot a lot where there is a lot of sand. The f/1.2 lens is an advantage there.

Also you should consider your sensor size. I think the 50mm lens is what it is meant to be only on full size sensor.

Miklos

I think this is a subject which will be debated forever, so I do not want to add an opinion which would say this or that lens is better. They both have pros and cons. I owned the 1.4 version before and now I am using the 1.2. So here are my views on it:

1. The Price - people who have the money won't care. If you do not have that money, do not feel bad, 1.4 is an awesome lens. If you have the money, go for it.

2. Sharpness - I have never done those lens test charts. I do not care. If my photograph looks good, I am not going to zoom in 100% to see where can I see the pores on a face sharper. That is not what decides if a photograph is great or not. I made great photographs with both lenses.

3. AF Speed - none of those two lenses are designed for action style photography. So do not complain about the AF speed.

4. Weight/bulk - the 1.4 lens is a great lens to carry with you, even in your pocket. That's a feature I miss. I used to like to travel with a 24-105mm on the camera and the 1.4 in my pocket for some special low light situations. I guess I just need a bigger pocket now.

5. Bottomline - do not listen to anyone, get it try it and send it back if you do not like it. Or you realize that you have to pay you credit card balance on the next statement (-:

 

Miklos

that is exactly what I was doing.

miklos

Anyone had the same issue?

I have been printing from CS2 for ages now and everything has been working

perfectly. The right selection of paper/printer icc profile (R2400) and printer

color management turned off. Never had any problem.

Now doing the same from Lightoom, I am getting a terrible result- all the

prints have a yellow hue and underexposed.

Any suggetions?

thanks

Miklos

Hi Chris,

did you manage to resolve the issue? I have the same issue. Calibrated monitor, using the Epson icc profiles for the right paper type and printer. CS2 gives me the right result but Lightroom gives colors totally off. It looks as if the Lightroom print module settings - turned-off printer color management - get overwtitten by the printer.

Did you find the solution?

thanks

Miklos

You need I guess the Rubber Frame Ec. It is in the Canon eStore:

http://estore.usa.canon.com/SearchResults.asp?Page=2&PARENTOID=4745&sortOption=ignore

Hi ci p,

well, here's a good reason why buy something with a rebate. I am planning to buy the 85mm f/1.2. Now if I get it $100 cheaper, I can spend those bucks on insuring my equipment for example, buying extended warranty or just buying whatever I like or just keep those extra bucks on my savings account. Anyone out there wants $100 bucks?

Oh and by the way, I have been purchasing Canon equipment with rebate for the last three years and never ever had any problem with receiving the rebate check form Canon in a timely manner.

I guess if you are buying a Canon lens without a rebate you are contributing more money to the "manufacturing gods".

And by the way, I think it has nothing to with western society. I think people count money the same way in East and West, South and North.

Miklos

M Barbu and Chris,

I agree with you guys. I just meant to make it simple. The point is the aperture not the focal lenght. The aperture is what you need for the lowlight, the focal lenght will just change your perspective (since I use the 5D, 50mm is absolutly ideal focal length for me). So to say, I would actually have both lenses. Nevertheless, I think quality-wise, the 35mm lens can not be compared to the 50mm lens.

And as for f/1.4 vs f/1.8 my consideration is based on the fact that I do not think that $300 is much for the f1.4, I think that is a bargain price for that lens. I just sold mine for 275 and got the f/1.2 version.

And one more thing, you won't even need the flash then. Remember, using flash in such situation will give you an image which has nothing to do with the real mood of the scene.

Miklos

Get the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 lens and enjoy. The lens you are using won't do the job for you, it is just not designed for that.

Miklos

I tried one out and was not really impressed. So I decided to keep my 20mm f/2.8 instead. I found the 20mm lens sharper (and it is also less than half of the price).

Miklos

I had the same dilemma but in the Caribbeans. My chioce was then a film SLR versus my 5D. I figured if something happens to my film camera I can take that hit. Came back with 30 rolls of film and was enjoying every moment spent photographing with my EOS 3.

So just want to suggest that film is a good option in such case. And it is way much better quality than any point-and-shoot digital.

Miklos

Josh,

I am using the 1.4x on the f/2.8 lens and it is good enough. Now, on the f/4 lens the 2x extender will eliminate the AF, as far as I know.

On my f2.8 the 1.4x slows down the AF somewhat but not critically so I can live with it but decided not to use the 2x on it, probably because don't really need it and also do not want a very AF.

EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM

 

EF 100mm f/2 USM

 

EF 135mm f/2.8 with Softfocus

 

EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

Hi, I did exactly the same switch a year and a half ago, except that I replaced my XT with the 20D. I never regretted not for a day.

I liked the size of the 20D much more. XT was always to small for me (I was used to bigger camera sizes from the film era) and I found the menu system on the 20D way easier and more user friendly than on the XT.

Now, as for the the 30D, I have friends who own it and they are not so happy with it. They say 20D was a better camera - I can't confirm that, since I never used a 30D.

As for the sensor cleaning, if it is just dust, I would not send it in anywhere and pay for that, just do it myself. That is easy, there are good articles on photo.net how to do correctly.

Hope this helps.

Miklos

If you want bigger prints, get the 400D. Personally, I think it is not that much of the difference. I used to have the 350D, used it for a month then tried a 20D and had not doubt that I wanted the 20D instead of the 350D. I recently played with a friend's 400D and can tell you for sure the 20D is way better camera.

Miklos

Can any one recommend me good books on expecting mothers portrature (not nude!)

thanks

Miklos

Hi Mario,

I have an EOS 3 and 1V. I still use the 1V a lot. Not the EOS 3 which is still number two best 35 mm SLR after the 1V. Therefore I will be putting it for sale very soon on eBay. Let me know if you are interested.

thanks

Miklos