Robert DeCandido PhD

<p>one more: http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1366195</p>

<p>Yes the Lightware Cases are wonderful - they cannot be used as "backpacks" to carry the lens - but in the car or at home, they protect the lens very well. Here is a link to the Lightware pack for the 600mm (or 500mm) lens:<br /> http://www.lightwareinc.com/site/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.product_display&Prod_ID=100&Cat_Name=Video&Cat_ID=17<br /> someone is selling (for a really good price) the z400 that fits a 400mm F2.8 lens:<br /> http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1365586/0#13037814<br> On the other hand, if you want something to carry a long lens into the field, here is a good discussion: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3017423<br> and: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1248354<br> Kinesis Long Lens Pack for the 500mm lens - for carrying the lens in the field: http://www.kgear.com/l522-polycore-long-lens-case-500.html</p>

<p>all the birds in flight images in these two portfolios made from 2012-2014 were taken with the 800mm F5.6 and 5D3 combination...<br> Nepal: http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=1021128<br> Thailand: http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=714849<br> I need to shoot often at 1600 asa - either version of the 7D shows too much grain (noise) in the image; my significant other shoots with the 7D2 and I see results all the time. (IMO) That camera can do a well-exposed 800 iso image...but I don't like the 1600 iso images. The 5d3 is better at 1600 iso but Nikon/Sony sensors leave Canon far behind (in terms of noise; detail in shadows...and Canon (5d3) suffers from color shifts at high iso that cannot be corrected in post-processing as can images from Sony sensors (I have the RX-1 and can shoot/accept images to 3200 iso).<br> No big deal - we can agree to disagree - whatever folks feel comfortable with is fine...I was just offering options - but I would opt for the 600mm F4 version II over the 500 version II...but yes, that is a lot of additional money. The 600mm F4 II weighs less than the 800mm F5.6 that I hand-hold all the time...so it can be done and without much problem.</p>

<p>Why not the 600mm F4 version II rather than the 500mm F4? One can never have enough reach with telephoto lenses.<br> I am not as impressed with image quality of the new 7D2 compared to version 1. Handling is better on the newer camera body...but my recommendation would be to get the 5D3 for about $1900.<br> You might look into a heavy duty CF Benro tripod if you want good quality, enough support and a reasonable price.<br> Price differences between Canada and the USA lenses (Canon) are not as sharp as previously...but definitely worth exploring especially if you are a Canon Platinum level member. (See the Camera Canada web site for details.)</p>

<p>Red Maple - Central Park, NYC<br> http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=17999494</p>

<p><strong>Here are comments from FM forums</strong>:<br /><br /> Yes, had mine for about a month. Just fantastic piece of hardware. I would suggest custom calibration and turn off the Super Resolution +. Not sure if this was a default or I accidentally turned it on - but it needs to be off for photographers, for sure. This is a big deal.<br /><br /> The one button menu took awhile to understand. It's really like any other monitor once you figure out this menu.<br /><br /> Another advantage is the brightness - if you need it in a well lit room. Can always turn it down appropriate for printing.<br /><br /> I'm using Windows 8.1, 64 bit with a Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 with 4GB GDDR5, so the native resolution is great and no problem with speed. DisplayPort as well.<br /><br /> Just a special monitor with unique options. The best monitor I have seen for photography.<br /> =============================<br /> Well, here's my 4k update. Maybe someone can get some inspiration from this. For a few weeks, I've working behind my Dell P2715q (Hackintosh with Gigabyte GTX 760). The transition has been quite smooth. I don't quite understand people complaining compatibility. Maybe it depends what you need (more pixels vs "cleaner" output). I run the monitor in HiDPi mode, meaning I cannot get more pixels, indeed, but this is giving me the crisp text and extremely detailed pictures on the canvas at the same time. So finally got rid of that "blurred" text that has annoyed me for so many years..<br /><br /> As I have Windows machines too then tried the 4k on Win 8 also. Windows applications are much less compatible, I must say. But after making software for Windows for over 17 years I also understand why the scaling is such a pain ... In general I must say that this has been the biggest technology jump I've done in years. Quite affordable too, comparing to other expenses in this hobby (or work for some).<br /> ===============================<br /> Just bought the LG 31MU97-B and started using it last Monday.<br /><br /> First of all - it's flat out beautiful. I only have Dell Ultrasharp IPS panels and the LG 31MU97-B is just a different looking beast. I would say it's other worldly great. Viewing Nikon D800E raw files at 100% is so good (in Bridge) that I may need to reconsider my post processing technique.<br /><br /> The extra wide 4K explains the brilliant detail. I am able to use brighter settings (view only, not for printing) and get a gallery type image. Trying to profile it with my i1Display Pro has been a problem. The single button OSD is a weak option - not to even discuss understanding the menu options. The good news is that setting it on Adobe RGB is working for now.<br /><br /> The OP did a great job in his detailed description and I see the same. Hope I get the profiling figure out, but for now, just really enjoying this viewing experience.<br /> ===================================<br /> I just snagged one of these (31MU97) last night to compare with my (still within return period) Dell UP3214Q and the display itself is gorgeous, but I think it's going back.<br /><br /> There seem to be some weird bugs with the Mac OS X implementation of SST at high resolutions.<br /><br /> If I hot plug the monitor into my machine, I get 4096x2160 @ 50Hz.<br /><br /> If I then reboot, the FileVault unlock screen is retinized full-screen. Unlock that and it boots to the desktop at 3840x2160 @ 30Hz.<br /><br /> Go into system prefs and option click "Scaled" and there's no option for 4096x2160.<br /><br /> Unplug/plug the MDP cable from the Mac and now I'll get 4096x2160 @ 50Hz as an option.<br /><br /> This behavior remains through two cable swaps (three different cables, including the one that came with it).<br /><br /> I also occasionally get "glitches" that range from little flashes of bars of static to a full screen "blink". I'm pretty sure Apple's SST implementation is to blame here... because it's acting like a software issue. This is on a 2014 15" rMBP with the discrete graphics chip. Mac OS X 10.10.1. Lid closed.<br /> =================================</p>

<p>4K monitor - LG 31MU97-B - for about $1k.:<br> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-Digital-31MU97-B-31-0-Inch/dp/B00OKSEVTY">http://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-Digital-31MU97-B-31-0-Inch/dp/B00OKSEVTY</a><br /><br /> Here is a review - I did not write it...but copied fromNewEgg web site: (<a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824025007">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824025007</a>):<br /><br /> Pros: (a) Color reproduction is one of the most accurate I've seen on 4k<br /> (b) Thin bezels!<br /> © Extra wide panel is nice to have for editing<br /> (d) Solid metal stand that isn't bulky<br /> (e) A good response time and minimal ghosting for a 4k IPS panel<br /> (f) Good contrast<br /> (g) Perfect white levels<br /><br /> Cons: (a) Some slight color shifting left to right<br /> (b) There is some back light bleed. But unless you are looking at a black screen in the pitch dark, you won't notice it.<br /> © Stand has no swivel <img src="http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/emoticons/sad.gif" alt="[]" width="15" height="15" /><br /> (d) A single button for using the monitor settings, does not work well<br /> (e) Can only modify Kelvin in intervals of 500K... should be able to have much more granularity<br /> (f) Included color correction software is bugged and unusable<br /> (g) Very poor black levels, but this is common for IPS<br /><br /> Other Thoughts: I've been waiting for a good 4k monitor for years. Only now have we finally come into line with the combination of this monitor and recent updates to Windows 8.1. The LG 31MU97 is a solid monitor. But far from perfect. A little bit about my background: I work as a professional designer and programmer, and the CEO of a software development company. I spend most of my time designing UIs in the sRGB color spectrum, programming, or editing photography in Adobe RGB. I also spend a good amount of time on After Effects doing motion graphics. I do put these monitors through their paces up to 20 hours a day, and I like my screens to be flawless. I have used the Samsung UD970, the Dell 24" 4k, 32" 4k, and their 27" 5k. The iMac retina, non retina, and thunderbolt displays. All of the professional offerings from NEC and Eizo. PA328Q, Pro Arts, PBs, Acer's 4k, the TN based 4k panels. I've really used just about every 4k panel there is, and a huge amount of the great 1440p panels out there for professional use.<br /><br /> I'm the kind of person that will run a color calibration suite on 3 different calibrators 6 times each. I'm that OCD about my monitors<br /><br /> This one beats them all, but it's far from perfect. In my opinion, it's the best 4k monitor you can buy right now. I hope that changes, and some day we can enter monitor nirvana with the perfect monitor that does everything we want perfectly. But until that day, this will be my monitor of choice. The most dissapointing part of this monitor is the slight color shifting on the left and right sides. It starts to get a little bit red. It can get frustrating at times. But until there is something better (all 4k monitors color shift a ton and this probably has the least of all, it's just very persistent) this is the one I will use for work that isn't super critical (I'll be sticking with my NEC PA272W for anything that needs to be exactly perfect, although I do love the 4k, until they get a little more accurate we will still need our good ol 1440p)</p> <p>More info - scroll through this thread: http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1338402</p>