phillip s cheng

<p>If the 70-200 f/2.8 IS is a pain, may I suggest my favorite lens, the 70-200 f/4L, it's considerably lighter (I was able to get my hands on a 70-200 f/2.8 and it's significantly clunkier and heavier than my previous f/4L).<br>

I have no problems using my 70-200f/4L indoors at ISO 800, fully open, at around 1/200. So depending on whether or not you absolutely need that wide aperture and IS, you might want to consider a lighter (and cheaper) alternative. Also I have a rather poor ISO noise level, so with a more modern camera you shouldn't have an issue pushing the ISO up further.</p>

<p>I just did a comparison of a Tiffen vs B+W vs no filter if you're interested. I never considered a Canon filter. Maybe next time I'm up for a filter purchase.<br>

<a href="http://kloudvine.com/?q=node/327">http://kloudvine.com/?q=node/327</a></p>

<p>Thanks to all for their responses,<br>

I guess it was a little silly to think that I would be able to make a purchase on a 7D mkII before March 31st. March 31st is the optimal date for me because after March 31st I lose a 5% cashback reward on my Chase Freedom card. Additionally, I wanted a few weeks at least to acclimate to the camera before I take it on my summer job.<br>

I would like to insert a small note about my 400D, as of today it still functions beautifully, there were a few niggles with a few botched exposures, but those problems seem to have disappeared. It's survived a 18 inch drop onto a rug, many rainshowers, and toting around on 2 trips around the world, about 10 trips to various locations across the nation, most of the humid, moist, sandy, and hot. It's lost an eyecup (on order), been through quite possibly the worst aftermarket grip (which itself has been repaired many times), and generally has been a very faithful camera. I keep all my gear in a nicely padded bag (that however falls off various surfaces), but in general I keep my gear pretty well taken care of.<br>

That being said, it is aging extensively.<br>

The very irritating thing about where I live is apparently every camera store I walk into either a) has a 60D, or a rebel, or both, but very few (I havent seen any, but I assume they exist somewhere) seem to have a 60D and a 7D. <br>

Back to my story, I do plan on one day getting a full frame camera, but I honestly cannot afford one in the near future. I'd estimate well after my studies (which are going to take me a long time, I plan on going to graduate school, and from what I see it doesn't pay well enough to afford a 5Dmk II or its equivalent.)<br>

So the way I see it the 7D has got to last me at least 6 years, preferably more of course, but new technology has a way of being very tempting. <br>

I'm still questioning my sanity as a college student to purchase a 7D to be quite honest, I absolutely love the way it felt in my hand when i picked it up many months ago, and I loved how responsive it was. But given the two are so similar in size, the feel is probably the same, I just don't remember.<br>

So, Sanity check? Is it crazy for me to be buying a 7D and expecting it to run for 6 years, and for a 6 year investment, is the extra money on the 7D rational for someone who will be only indirectly earning any funds from his camera? How many here have purchased a 7D without intending on getting paid from it? Am I crazy and should just go with the 60D?</p>

<p>Thanks again to everyone.</p>

<p>Thanks Alan and Matthijs.<br /> I did see the D10, but the D10 really is comparatively cheap enough that if there's no better option, it's quite attractive. Has anyone tried those waterproof camera bag housings?<br /> Just to clarify the question, I realized the comma was somewhat ambiguously placed. I was more wondering if the 7D chassis is more reliable than the 60D chassis in experience. <br /> And if users who have both recall if one is quieter than the other.<br>

Also while I did have the luxury of being able to try the 7d for about a week, and I did go to a brick and mortar store to play with the 60d, the two experiences are so far apart in time that it's hard to describe the feel of the cameras in a rational and evidence based method.<br>

I did very much like how the 7D felt when I used it. I would have gladly bought it at the time if I had the money. When I used the 60d in store(sadly for only 10-15 minutes) it didn't have the same "at home" feeling I had with the 7D.<br>

But at the same time, I wanted a sanity check, is the 7D <em>really</em> worth all (well to me $600 is a lot) that extra money?</p>

<p>What do you mean by stuck in the up position? Can it not be pushed down at all, or will it not latch?<br>

If it cannot be pushed down at all, likely it is a mechanical problem and needs to be sent in for repairs. <br>

If it can be pushed down and will not latch, try it when the camera is off, it should latch when the camera is on also, but the motor that drives the flash unit latch may not have released the latch after unlatching. <br>

Otherwise, it should be sent in for service.</p>

<p>I tried the 70-200f/2.8L USM for a few weeks, and I own the 70-200 f/4L USM. I will say quite honestly, even with a maximum usable ISO of 800-1600, the 70-200 f/4L hasn't let me down even in auditoriums, and indoor shooting environments. Outdoors, I've never had a problem with the f/4 aperture. When I used the f/2.8 it just felt too bulky. When I go on long trips, the smaller weight, size, and cost of the f/4 is definitely appreciated.<br>

I bought the f/4 about 4-5 years ago and I've never regretted it.<br>

That being said, I can understand why you'd want the f/2.8 and the IS, but personally, I don't find it necessary outdoors, useful or handy, yes. But you can usually skirt around it. Especially since your 60D has a much higher usable ISO.</p>

<p>So I've been using my 400D for about 6 years give or take, and I think it's time to upgrade.<br>

I'm considering the 7D or the 60D. </p>

<p>Things about the 400D that I disliked greatly and want to be rid of:<br>

<strong>95% viewfinder</strong>. It's really annoying having to compensate for extra bits showing up later, while it doesn't matter so much with post processing crop, the <strong>small viewfinder</strong> itself is annoying.<br>

<strong>Small body.</strong> I simply can no longer use the 400D without a body grip. I have also realized the perils of third party body grips. Don't do it. I also shoot in portrait alot with a relatively heavy lens (compared to the structural integrity of the body grip).<br>

<strong>1600 max ISO.</strong> (And a noisy 1600 too.) I work in dark environments (indoors in poorly lit areas) quite often, and would appreciate a higher ISO limit.<br>

Lack of an<strong> LCD settings display</strong>.<br>

<strong>3FPS</strong> max.</p>

<p>7D Features the 60D doesn't have that I like.<br>

I do like the <strong>AF system on the 7D</strong>, while I've only used it on a limited basis, I do feel it performs somewhat better (I wasn't able to use both 7D and 60D at the same time, so your input is appreciated).<br>

7D Controls and feel. I like the <strong>video mode switch</strong>, the <strong>joystick</strong>, and the <strong>larger grip</strong>.<br>

<strong>Full viewfinder</strong>. I love the 7D viewfinder<br>

<strong>Transmissive LCD focusing screen</strong>.<br>

<strong>Magnesium body. </strong>I am however unsure of how much difference this makes over the life of the camera.</p>

<p>Features the 60D has that the 7D doesn't. <br>

<strong>Articulated LCD</strong>. I like the 3:2 aspect ratio also. <br>

<strong>Lower price</strong>. I'm a poor college student. I am not going to pursue any money for my photography, but I do enjoy photography quite a bit, and use my camera extensively. (Sadly I don't use photo.net to post pictures often.) I do however use my camera for work.</p>

<p>What I want to know from you guys, is if you had enough money to buy either camera with a lens, which would you buy? Another reason this is giving me so much trouble, is the 7Ds age.<strong> I feel like the 7D mkII is about to come out this year also. </strong>However I want to make a <strong>purchase before March 31st</strong>. <br>

Additionally with the 60D I'd likely get a 17-40 F/4L, and with the 7D I'd likely get a 15-85 IS USM EF-S.<br>

Other questions: Is the 7D shutter quieter, is the 7D any more durable over time (Also I work in a marine environment). Any suggestions for lenses, underwater housings, or just general suggestions overall would be appreciated.</p>

 

Are these lenses something like what everyone gets? If so, maybe I should buy them and screw the credit card bill.

No im not carrying it all around. Just two lenses one body. Ill probably stuff one lens in my backpack while I stroll. (Anybody done this w/ back pain? How's it after a few days do you get used to it?)

Uhh its two weeks, im evaluating which one im going to buy and whether or not the Mark II, although I might forgoe that one. I was sort of kidding about the lugging them arround all day. Apparently they can according to Flying with Fish. Ill leave some in a friend's house I'm mainly taking maybe the 24-70 and the 70-200 out with me. Im not quite sure about renting the 100-400 yet.

 

Uhh based on the price, not renting the body. I figure this is better than buying a lens and hating it. And I feel kind of guilty if I buy them and then return the one's i don't like, but if I keep at least one its not so bad right?

 

Rent is about a $100 per lens with insurance. Im heading off to Taiwan, and they're pretty relaxed with photography policies. I might make a stop in Japan too. I havnt completely finished planning this out. By a few months I meant ehh lets see. Hmm 14-26 months.

 

The pelican fits ona plane carry on apparently. Im not sure if it will fit under the seat in front though. Anybody know?

(with thick steel cable.)Anybody know of a better temporary insurance policy?

oh its lensrentals.com

okay. They cover all damages except for 10%. I need to call them first. And apparently thefts are NOT covered. So I need to like tie them to me 24/7.

This is a more far fetched solution.

 

You could build your own. There are many ways to do this. There are plans all over the net if you're handy with a soldering iron. Mind, unless you want to incorporate a lithium ion charge circuit into the system this will still require a wall wart. Advantages include customized systems, lower cost, and you can add a battery so you can charge at night too. Hehe I'm excited. Although it'll cost you a bundle if you make it super awe inspiring. A less powerful one should be okay in price. Its worth building though. Have fun

It's not february yet right? Sorry I just forgot that this is an old post. I could be somewhat lost.

28-300 F/4.5-5.6 L? Its a tad (lot) more than your budget though... Im not sure how great this is. It just seems to cover everything you need.

I'm not sure using that backup thing would be any better other than being a safety net. Maybe you could try burning them to disks TOO as a backup? Or if there's internet access at all uploading to a webserver somewhere. (I dunno never been to antarctica.)(If you have any answers I wanna know, this is cool, going to antarctica.)

hey I think flash memory will be fine. Your battery will be severaly p/od though. I might advise using some sort of power cord connected to the camera and into a jacket or something... Antarctica. Man. I am freakin jealous. Im not sure how well the shutter mechanism will work, given teh cold climate and possible condensation in teh system freezing up and jamming it only to be jarred loose spraying the interior with melting ice crystals and creating some sort of electrical havoc. By that I mean maybe you should put it in a waterproof housing or something. The manual says something about this, concerning bags. I'm not entirely sure. (This is all in theory so... add several grains of salt) I wonder, will the lenses crack going from hot to cold? Any ideas? Man I wish I were you.

I need a year like that. Nice gallery!

agg thats not a f/2.8 on teh 100-400 thats a 4.5-5.6 so its still pretty big. (I wish there was a 2.8)

<p>Sorry guys forgot to check for a day or two. Well anyway I am considering the Pelican case now. From what I've read at Flying with Fish (thanks Alistair!) and at this forum, it sounds pretty sturdy and I haven't heard of anybody breaking it. I'm going to try to carry on everything.</p>

<p></p>

<p>I'm planning on taking </p>

<p>1 EOS Rebel</P>

<p>1 RENTED Mark IIN (just to say I've used one)</p>

<p>1 70-200 f/2.8 L RENTED }</p>

<p>1 24-70 f/2.8 L RENTED } These three will be evaluated for purchase</p>

<p>1 100-400 f/2.8 L RENTED }</p>

<p>2 Extension tubes</p>

<p>1 1.4x Teleextender</p>

<p>1 tripod</p>

<p>Lots of odds and ends (memory cards/ readers/ chargers/ batteries/ batteries/ batteries/ and lots of cabling and adaptors/ entertainment devices)</p>

<p></p>

<p>Anybody have any other candidates for rental? This trip is part of my grand master plan/vacation to figure out what to end up drooling over.</p>

<p></p>

<p>I'm expanding in the future so I will need more room.</p>

<p></p>

<p>All this junk is canon.</p>

<p></p>

<p>I think that's everything.</p>

<p></p>

Thanks</p>

Hmm. I didn't know that. Thanks! I guess I should go check.

I found this. http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1248.shtm

Apparently they allow TWO bags now for carry on so I should be fine. Thanks though everyone.

I'm leaving for a foriegn country in a few months. I need to check my cameras

and/or lenses. (International flight, not much room for several big lenses)

I've heard of Pelican cases. are those okay?

 

Any other dangers I need to watch out for? (Temperature? Condensation?)

 

Any other ideas for packing?

This is all sort of theoretical since I don't have a wide angle lens yet, but lets say 18mm lens and a 58 to 118mm step up ring, and related filters. If we ignore image quality it would work right?