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jpw

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    Got my first paying gig with my Maxxum 7D...

    in Sony/Minolta

    Posted

    Seattle Marathon report:

    <p>

    Unfortunately, not a single shot turned out. If only the 7D could shoot at 8 frames per second, I might have gotten a couple. I'm just going to sell all my Minolta gear and get a Mark II. Then I'll get a decent photo here and there.

    <p>

    All kidding aside, I had a great time shooting the marathon, except for almost freezing. The camera also got a bit chilly, but worked fine.

    <p>

    Mostly, I did post-finish portraits (that was the assignment given to me after I got there), but I managed to get a few action shots at the finish line, just to test my new baby. The 7D did very well on Continuous focus and Focus Priority. It seemed to shoot at about the full 3 frames per second, which means it was keeping up with runners as they crossed the finish line.

    <p>

    Ocassionally, as I was shooting the portraits of runners after they had finished and as they celebrated with friends and family, I would check the LCD (zoom in on the image) to see how a shot was, and I was almost always very pleased. Good focus and good exposures, for the most part.

    <p>

    I used the VC-7D (two batteries) and shot around 400 frames with on-camera flash used with almost every shot. No problem with battery life. I shot probably 50 more frames later in the day at a friend's house (no flash) before the batteries gave out. So, I just threw my insert with its 6 rechargeables into the grip and kept going. That took around 20 seconds. Very cool.

    <p>

    Action Sports International gave me a memory card, so most of the shots I took, they have. Occasionally, I stuck my memory card into the camera (like when I took some shots at the finish line) just so I could have a few test photos to look at later. They may also send me a few to share with you guys (I asked if they would).

    <p>

    Here's a series I put together of one of the finishes I shot. I really didn't get the chance I wanted to try out the camera at the finish line and to fiddle around with settings to try and really see what it could do, so these aren't the greatest shots, but I didn't have time to perfect my technique (I've never shot runners before). If I had the chance again, I'd bump up the ISO to get a quicker shutter speed and try my 200 f/2.8 to get a shallower DOF. That would really tell me how the camera was focusing. Anyway, here's what you get this time.

    <p>

    <li>All shots are at f/5.6<br>

    <li>First 4 are at 1/90<br>

    <li>Last 3 are at 1/200<br>

    <li>Shot with Program mode<br>

    <li>Shot mid-res, Fine jpeg (that's what ASI wanted)<br>

    <li>Lens is a Tamron 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6<br>

    <li>All shots are at 135mm

    <p>

    <img src="http://www.jpwphoto.com/Finish.jpg">

    Just got my 7D and VC-7D!!!!!!!!!!

    in Sony/Minolta

    Posted

    Yeah, those are some beautiful shots, Mark.

     

    Regarding the review, unfortunately there are some real concerns, like custom white balance errors and some exposure problems. Aside from the issues I mention in the article, though, I definitely love the camera. Hey, it wasn't any easier for me to write the bad stuff than for you to read it!

    Just got my 7D and VC-7D!!!!!!!!!!

    in Sony/Minolta

    Posted

    Bill, why don't you go ahead and start a new thread and I'll jump on board.

     

    Mel, couple points.

     

    First, some Minolta lenses are great, others aren't...just like with any company. So, that won't necessarily prove anything.

     

    Second, from what I've heard, ALL digital cameras (including the 20D, etc.) apply in-camera digital sharpening. The Minoltas are just conservative in this area. Again, just repeating what I've hear. So, looked at this way, there is nothing wrong with the Minolta. In fact, one could argue that the Minolta is better for this reason. You've got more control over the image, instead of just getting what the camera spits out after it does its post-processing.

     

    Third, your sharpened image looks great. Looks like you applied the perfect amount of sharpening (for the web, anyway).

    How much should I charge for a job?

    in Business of Photography

    Posted

    Hi,

    <p>

    I have pretty limited pro experience (a few weddings, a few

    portraits, a gathering of vets) and so don't know how to price this

    job. There is a company in Houston who wants to do an article reprint

    (that's all I know). Apparently (based on the message left on my

    answering machine a few minutes ago), I would have "one hour of the

    executive's time." I would be driving about 45 minutes to Microsoft's

    main campus for the shoot. The gal left a few questions for me to

    answer. Am I available on the day of the shoot (Tuesday!), have I

    done a shoot at MS before, and what would I charge. I can answer the

    first two questions. :) I just need help with the third. Please give

    me a suggestion!

    <p>

    Thanks,

    Jay

    <p>

    <a href="http://www.jpwphoto.com">www.jpwphoto.com</a>

    Put the 7D Where the Sun Don't .....

    in Sony/Minolta

    Posted

    <p style="font-weight:bold; color:#003366; margin-bottom:10px;">Check out my 7D review...<p>

    <p>

    <i>What does Minolta have that Canon and Nikon (or even Pentax) doesn't?</i>

    <p>

    What about built-in wireless flash capability? Nikon just came out with wireless a couple years ago, right? And with Canon, don't you have to mount a dedicated flash on the camera to control another dedicated flash off-camera? Minolta has offered it built-in for years and years.

    <p>

    For more of what I think about the 7D, read <a href="http://www.jpwphoto.com">my review</a>.

    Just got my 7D and VC-7D!!!!!!!!!!

    in Sony/Minolta

    Posted

    Mel,

    <p>

    Did you look at any of the sample photos in my review? I think the one of the leaves is pretty sharp. Download it and tell me what you think. Make sure you view it at something like 25%, 50%, or 100% in PS, so interpolation doesn't hurt the quality. That would give me some idea what you consider to be sharp, as the discussion of sharpness is quite subjective, I think.

    <p>

    My review is on <a href="http://www.jpwphoto.com">www.jpwphoto.com</a>

    Just got my 7D and VC-7D!!!!!!!!!!

    in Sony/Minolta

    Posted

    On a forum on dpreview, someone said that with digital they don't meter off the CCD like they do off the film (OTF) with film cameras. This makes sense, since light will reflect off of a CCD very differently than it will film, possibly in unexpected ways (microlenses in the way and so on). This might be one of the hurdles that DSLR makers are having to overcome in getting good flash exposure.

     

    I also just talked to a Sigma technical rep on the phone and he said their 12-24mm lens should be fully compatible with the 7D. He also said that it's not surprising that I'm having some flash exposure inconsistencies and that other digital camera makers are facing the same challenges, and some other cameras have had similar issues.

    Just got my 7D and VC-7D!!!!!!!!!!

    in Sony/Minolta

    Posted

    In reading some of the Minolta DSLR forum threads on <a href="http://www.dpreview.com">dpreview</a>, I've come to wonder if some of my lenses could use firmware or chip upgrades. Specifically the Sigma 12-24mm and the Tamron 24-135mm SP.

    <p>

    What lenses are you using, Bill?

    <p>

    I just whipped out my new baby and put on my new 85mm f/1.4G (D) (I love this lens--I've wanted one for years and finally got one just before getting the 7D). It gives perfect exposure every time with on-camera flash or 5600HS, in either Pre-flash or ADI mode. The problem is that I need to use other lenses!!! I'd be thrilled if I could just use this lens all the time. Really! Unfortunately, I need that wide angle and that zoom.

    <p>

    It would be great if Minolta could shed some light on this.

    <p>

    I did, however, just e-mail Tamron asking about this (firmware or chip upgrade) and will call Sigma tomorrow and ask them the same thing. I'll post whatever I learn.

    Just got my 7D and VC-7D!!!!!!!!!!

    in Sony/Minolta

    Posted

    John,

     

    You've got some great lenses! 70-200 SSM! Cool!

     

    A fellow posted on my site that he thought my sample photos lacked sharpness (compared with the 20D, at least). I agreed with him on one, but that conceivably might be blamed on the lens. Not sure. I'll be interested to hear what you think once you get yours. I know this has been a question with other Minolta cameras (e.g., A2 and others in that family). Some people believe it might simply be that Minolta is more conservative with their in-camera sharpening. It's really hard to know what might cause something like this unless you're one of the engineers that built the camera.

     

    Also, I think some of my underexposures with flash (which I mention in my review) might be due to the fact that I had it set on ISO 100. Switching to Auto or a higher ISO (e.g., 1600), seems to help. Maybe I'll be shooting events more with the Auto ISO setting rather than pinning it on 100. Besides, I'm really impressed with the quality of images at ISO 400.

    Just got my 7D and VC-7D!!!!!!!!!!

    in Sony/Minolta

    Posted

    Yeah, after I got the e-mail stating that the camera had been shipped, I could hardly stand it. :) Where did you buy yours, just out of curiosity. You must've pre-ordered it, too, since it looks like everyone is sold out.

     

    I'll be very interested to hear what you think. In particular, I'll be interested to hear what you think of flash exposure. Of course, you'll probably be using different lenses, so that will impact your results. Will you be using on-camera flash only, or do you have any dedicated flashes? I'm still concerned about some of my flash results (still experimenting--thankfully very easy to do with digital!!!), but overall, I'm just thrilled.

     

    Let us know what you think.

    Inconsistent colors viewing in PS CS and Windows Fax & Picture Viewer

    in The Digital Darkroom: Process, Technique & Printing

    Posted

    Look people. When I made the comment about P&F Viewer ignoring the sRGB color space, I was simply bouncing around the comment that Carl had mader earlier. I didn't come up with that on my own. Anyway, P&F Viewer does seem to be ignoring it, based on how the photo looks when using it.

     

    Why would I want to convert it to sRGB in PS? The image already has the sRGB color space embedded in it. Or am I missing something?

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