larry_gindhart

<p>I have had consistently positive experiences with getting my Canon gear repaired at both the Jamesburg New Jersey and Newport News Virginia locations. I, too, received a free repair of a 580 EXII that had been repaired but a few months later had stopped working correctly. Canon Service Center VA took care of it.</p>

<p>I have had consistently positive experiences with Canon repair services at both the New Jersey and Newport News locations.</p>

<p>Great Battery Life! This is an excellent, practical article on battery life for photographers by Ken Rockwell that is the guidance I've used with my Li-Ion batteries for a very long time. I operate on the idea that Li-Ions LOVE to be charged! I charge my batteries frequently and try never to let them run down all the way. I have BP511s that I've been using since 2003 that have been recharged at least 300 or 400 times.<br>

Here's a link to the Great Battery Life article: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/battery-life.htm</p>

<p>I shoot crop bodies and I love the 17-55/2.8 IS! I second Mark Pierlot's comment re: comparable image quality to the 24-70/2.8 L.</p>

<p>Through the years I've had at least fifteen repairs done by Canon at the New Jersey and Virginia facilities. In all cases the repairs were done well, completed in a timely manner, packaged carefully for shipping and returned promptly after the repair was complete.</p>

<p>580 EX II would still turn on but not fire. Still under warranty. Shipped to Canon Factory Service Center in New Jersey on Friday, March 10 via FedEX. Canon received the unit on Mon, March. They made the repair, shipped it back to me FedEx and it arrived today, Wednesday, March 17. So, from their hands to mine in three days total. Each time I've needed Canon Service, the workmanship has been excellent and the service very fast. This one was so fast I was a little amazed. Thanks, Canon!</p>

<p>You will be able to get some or most of the info you want here: http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/best_canon_eos_lenses.html, and here: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/</p>

<p>Ditto for rubber plugs on the 580 EXs. They just won't reseat and stay in place.</p>

<p>My Canon repair & parts ordering experience has been with Canon NJ exclusively. I have utilized their services at least 8 times and in all cases services were completed professionally and delivered quickly.</p>

<p>I've heard that the battery packs on eBay from China are good? There are several models. Some sport space for 6 AAs, while others have space for 8. Anyone have any experience with them? Heres a link to one item: http://cgi.ebay.com/Flash-Battery-Pack-for-Canon-580EX-II-550EX-CP-E4-8xAA_W0QQitemZ230344488000QQihZ013QQcategoryZ64354QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem<br>

And, here's another link to a list of them: http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?ht=1&from=R4&satitle=Battery+pack+for+580ex+II&sacat=625%26catref%3DC6</p>

 

<p>I have done some used business with KEH. For each of my transactions I can rate them highly. Good prices, quick service, excellent packaging. Condition of goods received matched condition described on website. I almost always check ResellerRatings.com before I make online purchases to see what kinds of experiences others are having with retailers. Here's the link for their KEH ratings: http://www.resellerratings.com/store/KEH_Camera_Brokers</p>

<p>That lens isn't designed to be used on tripod with IS switched on. If on tripod, shut IS off. The results you got are exactly what they should have been, Marcelo. How does IS work on your lens when you hand hold?</p>

<p>For one shot I use a flashlight and AF. For more than one shot; flashlight and AF to set focus, then switch AF off.</p>

<p>Yes! It is not only normal but also necessary. It's an ETTL preflash for sure and not a problem of any kind. To test, just use this setup and look at the angle/direction of the light in the test image. Good shooting.</p>

<p>Currently using 8 Transcend 2 & 4GB 80x, 120x & 133x CF cards. Have been using this brand for years. Only one card failed and it was immediately replaced (lifetime warranty).</p>

<p>I have WPPI and got insurance through them - Hill & Usher/The Hartford. Business insurance that covers gear and liability. They are now using Wells Fargo for business insurance: http://www.wppionline.com/membership/index.taf?_function=benp2. One of my colleagues wasn't insured and got almost $10K worth of gear stolen while shooting a wedding. Enough said!</p>

Another excellent err99 resource: http://exploded.awcr.org/30Derr99

I've had excellent experience with many retailers. B & H is where I get most of my stuff but it's certainly not the only place. If I'm internet shopping for a deal I always check out the retailer first here: http://www.resellerratings.com/rlist-s1-n2.html

Derek, This is the best err99 info I've seen to date: http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2005/04/29/50mm-lens-contact-points/. Please check it out if you haven't looked at it already. If the error is happening with all your lenses then it's a camera problem, not a lens problem.

Thank you Mark. I'll contact Tamron.

I'm getting err99 on both a 10D and 30D with Tamron SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di in the 55-58mm to 75mm range. This

error happens almost every time I press the shutter when in this range and I get this result whether shooting

auto or manual focus. I also get this result regardless of the f/stop, so it doesn't matter if I'm shooting at

f/2.8 or f/16, the result is the same--err99 at 55-58mm to 75mm. The lens functions perfectly when shooting in

the 28mm to 50-55mm range on both cameras an any f/stop. Both cameras function perfectly with other lenses,

whether Canon EF or Tamron.

 

Are you familiar with this problem? Any ideas as to what's wrong? The lens worked perfectly then suddenly this

problem started. I'm guessing I'll need to send the lens in for repair. Any recommendations for quality Tamron

lens repair?

 

Thanks,

Larry

For Canon 580s & 550s I was under the impression that when running an on-camera master with remote slaves that second curtain was not available. If there is a way around this I'd love to know about it.

Detailed bokeh test with image comparisons is here

 

http://www.rickdenney.com/bokeh_test.htm

 

"To demonstrate and compare bokeh, I have assembled a range of lenses all in the 120-135mm focal length. These are commonly used as short portrait lenses in medium format and long portrait lenses in 35mm."

Also at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh

 

Mike Johnston, former editor of Photo Techniques magazine, claims to have coined the bokeh spelling to suggest the correct pronunciation to English speakers,[2] replacing the previous spelling boke that derived directly from the Japanese word for "fuzzy" and had been in use at least since 1996.[3]

 

The term bokeh has appeared in photography books at least since 2000.[4]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh

 

Bokeh (from the Japanese boke, "blur") is a photographic term referring to the appearance of out-of-focus areas in an image produced by a camera lens.[1] Different lens bokeh produces different aesthetic qualities in out-of-focus backgrounds, which are often used to reduce distractions and emphasize the primary subject. The effect itself is the circle of confusion, an image of the aperture convolved by the image itself.