Photography related discussions

[MidnightSensi2]

i use a lowepro primus AW backpack for travelling (it's the bomb in terms of comfort)

i've tried to bring a 5D2 + 24-70 2.8 + 50 1.8 (no flash) one tme thinking i didn't need flash with the fast lenses + high ISO capability ... that didn't turn out well.

nowadays i bring a 7D + 17-50 2.8 VC + 430EX + tripod (all my backpacks can carry tripods, but i put it in checkin backage when flying)

if i'm expecting great views or tight spaces, i bring the 5D2 + 17-40 UWA or my zoom fisheye 10-17 (the zoom fisheye [which would also work on the 5D2 even though it's a crop lens] has saved me a lot of shots, tight spaces taking pics of the family)

don't forget to bring a remote for shutter release (useful if you want yourself in the picture)

i don't have cards bigger than 16gb, unless i was shooting raw, i don't find it necessary (i've never filled a card in a single day, so i can change card before the next day)

i'd recommend the sandisk extreme 60mbps. transcend does have a cheaper counterpart (i use the transcend sd on a point and shoot) but i don't really like gambling on the card. sandisk has proven to be reliable.

I have a Canon backpack which works well for me. It has a tripod holder, it's more the weight of my tripod that concerns me.

Yeah, I call it a 5D, but it's a 5D Mark II like yours. What I shoot is generally pretty wide, so the full frame is nice - telephoto I gotta save up for that lens we talked about .

I'd carry on the camera and lenses and check the tripod, I'm more worried about once I get there with the tripod, but, I guess I might as well just check it since its really no difference (and I'm going for 5 days, so tucking it in my check luggage isn't an issue and it's not a long enough trip where I'm worried about space) - if I don't use it, doesn't matter.

Can I carry AA batteries on an airplane or do those need to be checked? I guess I can check with my carrier, but, anyone have any experience with that?

I'll take your advice and get the SanDisk. I shoot RAW+JPEG, so, I gobble up space pretty quick. Plus if I do take the tripod and shoot some B-roll it gobbles space ffasssttt. I do agree about going with the smaller size, I just don't like everything on one card. I've noticed a lot of pros are shooting with bags of 8s and 16s, so, I think there might be something to that.

Then, at night, I generally edit the obvious duds anyways (I have C1 set to servo and silent mode, and often hip shoot candids...sometimes you get awesome stuff of people in their natural unarmed state...plus obviously duds too).

For sure I'll take the remote shutter release. This is more for work than for play, but, remote shutter still comes in handy and it's super light/takes no space.

I travel all the time..it's just my first time travelling with a bag of electronics and it worries me a bit. :/ Between my camera, lenses, cards. two flashes, ipod and Shure headphones, I'll have at least 4k worth of **** in that bag. :/

Cheers for all the help.

 

[Ito]

Just had a set back...my Canon 70-300 3.5-5.6/f IS lens fell out of my bag and onto a concrete floor...$130 repair, yey!

 

[CaliHwyPatrol]

I have a Canon backpack which works well for me. It has a tripod holder, it's more the weight of my tripod that concerns me.

Yeah, I call it a 5D, but it's a 5D Mark II like yours. What I shoot is generally pretty wide, so the full frame is nice - telephoto I gotta save up for that lens we talked about .

I'd carry on the camera and lenses and check the tripod, I'm more worried about once I get there with the tripod, but, I guess I might as well just check it since its really no difference (and I'm going for 5 days, so tucking it in my check luggage isn't an issue and it's not a long enough trip where I'm worried about space) - if I don't use it, doesn't matter.

Can I carry AA batteries on an airplane or do those need to be checked? I guess I can check with my carrier, but, anyone have any experience with that?

I'll take your advice and get the SanDisk. I shoot RAW+JPEG, so, I gobble up space pretty quick. Plus if I do take the tripod and shoot some B-roll it gobbles space ffasssttt. I do agree about going with the smaller size, I just don't like everything on one card. I've noticed a lot of pros are shooting with bags of 8s and 16s, so, I think there might be something to that.

Then, at night, I generally edit the obvious duds anyways (I have C1 set to servo and silent mode, and often hip shoot candids...sometimes you get awesome stuff of people in their natural unarmed state...plus obviously duds too).

For sure I'll take the remote shutter release. This is more for work than for play, but, remote shutter still comes in handy and it's super light/takes no space.

I travel all the time..it's just my first time travelling with a bag of electronics and it worries me a bit. :/ Between my camera, lenses, cards. two flashes, ipod and Shure headphones, I'll have at least 4k worth of **** in that bag. :/

Cheers for all the help.

Haha my carry on always gets a little extra attention when going through security. I have enough electronic equipment with me to start my own Radio Shack.

That being said, you can take as much e^- crap as you can fit in your bag. I don't trust checked baggage, so all of the important stuff stays with me.

 

[mike c]

i think you're SUPPOSED to carry (not check-in) the batteries (for plane safety reasons and stuff i think)

don't worry, i'd be more afraid with equipment that's checkin than carried. one advantage of the lowepro primus though is they open at the backside ... so i'm sure noones getting their hands into my backpack

the primus doesn't have much camera space (unlike the flipside series) but has nifty pockets for jackets, gloves, food and stuff.

-0-

sorry to hear Ito, check out the L version of that lens or i would have recommended the 55-250 if you were using a crop camera [that is, if you didn't want to have it repaired]

-0-

just came from hong kong myself. was eyeing: 60D or Zeiss 100 f/2 macro [manual focus]

didn't buy either - eventhough they were cheaper than amazon, was too obsessed with another "collection". and the absence of "Free" money. sigh ... sucks to come home empty handed

 

[Highlander]

Happy New Year folks,

The 32gb gets a little big, I kinda like splitting the photos up a bit, plus you start to pay a big premium. I donno, what do you guys think? Is the transfer speed just to your computer?

Card speed is typically faster when reading data than when writing data. Some cards are equally fast at both. UDMA enabled cards are faster than not but cost a bit more.

A faster card will allow a greater number of images to be taken during a burst than one that is slower because the camera can write data to the card quicker and so will take longer to fill up its buffer. That said, you are unlikely to experience any problem with your 5D Mk2, so I wouldn't worry about card speed.

When transferring data to your computer use a card reader (cheap) with the card instead of transferring data via USB cable from your camera as you will not drain your camera battery needlessly.

I do agree about going with the smaller size, I just don't like everything on one card. I've noticed a lot of pros are shooting with bags of 8s and 16s, so, I think there might be something to that.

They are spreading risk. A single, large capacity card may be convenient, but if it fails you lose everything. By using a greater number of cards of reduced capacity you only lose a proportion of your images if a card fails.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

BACKUP YOUR IMAGES !!! Especially the RAW - I shoot everything in RAW and never delete the originals.
BACKUP ! BACKUP ! BACKUP !
Doesn't matter if you got cheapest of most expensive flash card - both could potentially fail.
Also regarding card speed : I believe (and please correct me if I wrong) - Slower card will limit your burst shooting speed capacity (especially with RAW in the mix)
Like Highlander mention you should care about write speeds more than read.
I also found that in general using decent card reader file transfer in faster than straight from camera body

 

[Ito]

Like Highlander mention you should care about write speeds more than read.
I also found that in general using decent card reader file transfer in faster than straight from camera body

I have found that to be true as well, as my old computer had a card reader and my new one doesn't and I am noticing drastically reduced transfer speeds.

 

[MidnightSensi2]

That trip and shoot went really well.

Anyone own Pocket Wizards?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/441353-REG/PocketWizard_801_125_Plus_II_Transceiver_Radio.html

It looks like it's going to be my next buy, because I can't find anything cheaper except for some really cheap-rinky-dinky ones. But, man, just for one for the camera, and one for each off camera strobe it's over 500 bucks.

 

[emorphien]

I don't own but I've used many Pocket Wizards over the years and have more to say on them than I have time to write here. They are effectively a defacto industry standard but I don't love the things, they have issues. They're awfully expensive and could be better built.

There are a lot of options, I believe Elinchrom has their own brand of wireless triggers, Paul C Bluff has a set, and I know there are one or two other biggies that aren't coming to mind this very moment.

The various cheap Chinese knockoff triggers vary in quality, some being quite good (and affordable) to some being more trouble than they're worth. Some of my favorite transmitter/receivers have been from a company called Yongnuo. They don't have the range of the Pocket Wizards but they have some neat features and design wise they're reasonably well thought out (easier to work with if you use speedlights than PWs).

 

[Highlander]

Anyone own Pocket Wizards?

I have two MultiMAX transceivers. I wanted a remote release system for when I was up in the mountains and wished to feature as a distant figure in shots I'd previsualised. My most important criterion was range, and that immediately pushed me to PocketWizards.

I had initially considered the Plus II transceivers but after reading through the manual for the MultiMAX transceivers I realised that they had additional functions that could come in handy in the future. I consider it false economy to buy (say the Plus II transceivers), then buy again (say eventually upgrading to the MultiMAX transceivers), so I went with the MultiMAX transceivers at the outset. I have no regrets; they are superb for my usage.

If you do go for (two) PocketWizard transceivers I recommend the dedicated PocketWizard G-Wiz carry case.

emorphien put it perfectly:

They are effectively a defacto industry standard...

Even those who complain about them tend still to purchase them. Says it all really.

 

[DTS]

Added a few 'budget friendly' items to my arsenal. Thought I would share in case anyone else has similar needs, or wants.

Dot Line RS-RT04/N10 Wireless RF Release - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=RS-RT04+N10+Wireless+RF+Release&N=0&InitialSearch=yes

I have the Nikon MC-30 wired remote, but wanted more freedom {like shooting birds outside from the comfort of my house} So far it has performed very well. Another handy thing about this one, over some others, is it doesn't take up your hot shoe, also on the remote is a 2 position button for focus/shoot and at under $40 a pretty good deal.

Vello BG-N1 Battery Grip for Nikon D300/300s/700 - http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/697334-REG/Vello_BG_N1_BG_N1_Battery_Grip_for.html

Been curious about a vertical grip, but not $234 curious {the Nikon MB-D10}, I would rather put that money towards some glass {next up, Nikon 105mm 2.8 micro} so I got this one for a little more than $50. Have only used a for a few shots, but it seems to have all the needed buttons/features needed. Of course its plastic, and the buttons and dials feel a bit plasticy, but work well. The rubber and the over look and feel is good. Comes with AA tray, EN-EL3e and EN-EL4a.

 

[CaliHwyPatrol]

I just got a battery grip for the 7D. Fuggin love it. This thing will crap out over 2000 RAWs on a single charge.

 

[mike c]

Zeiss 50mm f/2 Makro Planar ZE by mike_cabilangan, on Flickr

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Zeiss 50mm f/2 Makro Planar ZE

Nice glass Mike, congrats
Is it much better than Canon 50mm Macro f/2.5 EF ?

 

[mike c]

Nice glass Mike, congrats
Is it much better than Canon 50mm Macro f/2.5 EF ?

thanks! i've never tried the Canon 50 Macro, but for one, the Zeiss is manual focus only and only does 1:2 macro (so half the magnification of normal macro lenses)

this is my first manual focus lens. i was hoping to get that old school feel to taking pictures instead of concentrating on which AF point i would use, i could maybe concentrate on framing. (though i don't have good eyes)

i was supposed to buy the Canon 50 f/1.2L but got cold feet when i was in the store. i thought it might not have been worth it's cost. So i considered the Sigma 50 1.4, but was afraid i'd get focus issues, it being 3rd party and all.

the Zeiss 50 1.4 (also manual focus) but read reviews it was not sharp wide open. and had to be stopped down to at least f/2. so if i was gonna stop down to f/2 anyway, i might as well get the a sharp lens at f/2 with the bonus of close focusing (maybe for food shots)

 

[Highlander]

Hey Mike,

...this is my first manual focus lens. i was hoping to get that old school feel to taking pictures...

Could've just flicked the switch on the lens barrel.

...the Zeiss 50 1.4 (also manual focus) but read reviews it was not sharp wide open. and had to be stopped down to at least f/2. so if i was gonna stop down to f/2 anyway, i might as well get the a sharp lens at f/2 with the bonus of close focusing (maybe for food shots)

Almost all lenses benefit from being stopped down 1 or more stops from wide open. The benefit of the f/1.4 would be that it may be sharper stopped down at f/2 than the f/2 lens is wide open. It may not work that way, but it just may. Vignetting would likely work the same way.

Having said that, I'd like to think that either Zeiss would deliver stunning results. I don't own any Zeiss lenses (yet: I may one day, you never know) but my understanding is that it is their colour rendition and micro contrast that they are most famed for.

Oh, and I now own the D3x.

 

[dkane360]

I want the nikkor 10-24.


I recently got the 18-200 though, so I guess I have to wait a little while

 

[mike c]

Hey Mike,

Could've just flicked the switch on the lens barrel.

Almost all lenses benefit from being stopped down 1 or more stops from wide open. The benefit of the f/1.4 would be that it may be sharper stopped down at f/2 than the f/2 lens is wide open. It may not work that way, but it just may. Vignetting would likely work the same way.

Having said that, I'd like to think that either Zeiss would deliver stunning results. I don't own any Zeiss lenses (yet: I may one day, you never know) but my understanding is that it is their colour rendition and micro contrast that they are most famed for.

Oh, and I now own the D3x.

flicking manual focus doesn't work that way AF lenses need to have short travel in the distance to be "fast focusing" this short focus ring travel also makes it next to impossible for our fingers or hands to focus accurately (i tried to do just this on an AF 85 1.8 and i got beat by the AF 10 out of 10 times).

and i have the EG-S screen (to see thin DOF) in the viewfinder.

yes, stopping down a 1.4 should theoretically beat the native f/2 lens. but in this case, the f/2 lens is a macro lens which is super sharp wide open which beats the 1.4 at f/2 (almost across the board, saw side by side tests)

what i did wrong was this: the 50 f/2 macro has most of it's zoom ring circumference in the 1 meter and below. the 50 1.4 has "Very accurate" focus ring throw above 1 meter (as compared to the macro)

that's my predicament, i could not hit focus on subjects farther than 1.5 meters even on 10x liveview. it's not because of the lens or camera ... it's because of my finger and hand (and my eyes) being incapable of making/seeing super minute changes from 1m to 2m for example. the 50 1.4 has 3x more accuracy in the 1m to 2m department.

but i guess i should study if i shoot more <1m or >1m. (but it's moot really, since i've already bought the macro). oh well. maybe next time i can buy the 50 1.4

 

[MidnightSensi2]

i was supposed to buy the Canon 50 f/1.2L but got cold feet when i was in the store. i thought it might not have been worth it's cost. So i considered the Sigma 50 1.4, but was afraid i'd get focus issues, it being 3rd party and all.

I have a Canon f/1.4 50mm, and yeah, it's not L, but it's under 400 bucks and is great glass, compared to paying 3 times that for the 1.2L... But in Miami there are so many rental places if I want to play with something I just rent and try it out. Basically 2 HUGE studio rental places within 10 minutes of me hehe. Also, they are pretty chill, so if I want to play with a lens on the weekend I can rent it Friday night...and they charge for Saturday, and since they are closed Sunday, I can return it on Monday. So, one day rental = entire weekend to test. Pretty handy. I did this before I bought my Canon 70-200mm L IS USM ... I tried both the f/4 and f/2.4 ... and I was glad I tried it because I found out I really only needed the f/4 for what I was doing and the f/2.4 was too big and heavy for most my travel stuff. (For those in South Florida, I generally rent from http://www.carouselstudios.com/ ... there is also http://aperturepro.com/ but they are kinda ***** and charge for the weekend, versus Carousel doesn't.)

I just bought some more strobes today:
Elinchrom BX-Ri 500/500 To Go Set - 2 Monolight EL 20751KIT B&H

I've been using Elinchrom and really liking them, this is another two. I use the Skyport and these have the receivers built in so setup is super quick. Now I'll have two senders, which will be nice in case one fails on a shoot (buying the stuff separately cost the same without the SkyPort sender, so, I might as well get the kit, ya know?).

 

[MidnightSensi2]

Okay, I need a travel kit. I just got back from a trip and had too many lenses... I kinda feel like the Canon 28-300 might be a good choice. It's heavy, but, if that's the only lens, it would be pretty practical. Anyone have any experience with this lens? I'm assuming it's a bit softer than my 70-200 L, 24-105 L and 8-15mm L..... but, when I'm travelling carrying a giant backpack becomes a little silly.

What do you guys think? A 28-300 with a sling pack that can carry the body with lens attached plus a 580EXII as a good travel kit?