*OFFICIAL* general photography conversation thread

[dcstep]

The voting poll for the latest Photo Contest, "Blur", is up at:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1297460

Vote for your favorites and anyone can vote.

[- Paul -]

I so need to get back into photography!

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by - Paul -

I so need to get back into photography!

You'd be welcome here.

[Weebl]

Has anyone bought the 5Ds yet? I'm feeling the urge to go very deep into debt and knock off at least a few hundred points off of my credit score.
Always thought of getting a 5D iteration but always liked the crop factor of my 7D. I was contemplating the 7Dii and then the 5Ds came out.
Getting anything longer than 400 isn't ever going to happen so the crop will have to be my zoom. Maybe 5-10% of my shots are wide and very few per year are not wide enough.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Weebl

Has anyone bought the 5Ds yet? I'm feeling the urge to go very deep into debt and knock off at least a few hundred points off of my credit score.
Always thought of getting a 5D iteration but always liked the crop factor of my 7D. I was contemplating the 7Dii and then the 5Ds came out.
Getting anything longer than 400 isn't ever going to happen so the crop will have to be my zoom. Maybe 5-10% of my shots are wide and very few per year are not wide enough.

I've been using a 5DS R for over a year now. I work with a two-body kit when shooting wildlife. I have a 7D2 with my 500/f4 mounted and my 5DS R with my 70-200/f4 mounted. I move the 1.4x TC-III back and forth, depending on subjects. For travel, I take only the 5DS R, unless there'll be birds and wildlife, then I take the whole kit.

The AF systems are essentially the same on the 5DS R and 7D2, but the 7D2 is way more responsive at 10-fps. The file quality of the 5DS R at higher ISOs is a little bit better, but nothing earth shattering. The two bodies have the same pixel-density, so you get the "crop factor" with either.

If I could have only one body, I'd think long and hard about the 5D MkIV, with improved AF. Until we see the tests, we can't be sure about IQ, but I suspect that it has better high-ISO performance than the 5DS R, but, of course, not near the resolution. The burst rate goes up to something like 7 or 8-fps. It'll be a great all around body, only missing that last degree of resolution.

I've printed 5D2 images up to 50", so I have no doubt that you'll be happy with IQ of the 5D4 up to that size. I have visions of printing an image from my 5DS R at 72", but, so far, haven't taken the image that would command that much wall space. Waiting... and hoping.

BTW, I've not had a single image where I had to remove moire'. The IQ between the S and the S R is very small, but I think that it shows in shots of feathers and fur.

If you go with the S, then be prepared for 80MB Raw files. It does, indeed, put a strain on your Raw conversion software and more than doubles your storage load vs. the 7D2 or even a 6D3 or 4. (The 4 wouldn't be a doubling). You'll want a processor up near 4mkz, 16GB of Ram and a fast video/image card. I think it's worth the extra trouble and expense.

Dave

[dcstep]

Here's what you want a 5DS for:

Paddling Toward Mt. Evans by David Stephens, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Here's what you want a 7D2 for:

Pelican Landing by David Stephens, on Flickr

[dcstep]

Just to further complicate things, look at this discussion of the dynamic range improvement from the 5DS to the 5D4:

https://www.dpreview.com/news/322975...to-the-5d-line

That's MAJOR. Of course, you must realize that you give up substantial resolution to get dynamic range and they're purposely under-exposing by -5EV. That's a HUGE under-exposure situation that you'd generally try to avoid. You'd have to be asleep at the wheel, or a Nikon shooter, to get the exposure that wrong. Still, you can see the difference the new sensor makes.

Set the 5D4 and the 5DS R to 0EV and compare the hair detail in the brush and the properly exposed 5DS R image blows away the 5D4 image in terms of detail resolution. I'm not ready to give up that detail by underexposing.

Time for a 5DS R II.

Dave

[Weebl]

Thank you Dave. I've been leaning toward the 7Dii and thought that I could have the best of both worlds with the 5Ds but at 80mb and a new computer..... delegates that to the list for now.
Being in Kalifornistan, I need to spend some some money on another type of Canon before years end so the 80mb killed that for now.
Besides, I prefer the 7D series more.
As always thank you for the insight and details.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Weebl

Thank you Dave. I've been leaning toward the 7Dii and thought that I could have the best of both worlds with the 5Ds but at 80mb and a new computer..... delegates that to the list for now.
Being in Kalifornistan, I need to spend some some money on another type of Canon before years end so the 80mb killed that for now.
Besides, I prefer the 7D series more.
As always thank you for the insight and details.

Glad to help. In your new 'stan, you'll still have plenty of sun, resulting in excellent files with the 7D2.

Dave

[Weebl]

Originally Posted by Weebl

Being in Kalifornistan, I need to spend some some money on another type of Canon before years end ...

That would be a rifle before they get banned. and I might just throw in the 7Dii for good measure.

[GoHokiesGo]

Hey guys - thought I'd join the discussion here as a new guy on the forums. Photography is probably my biggest hobby, even more so than cars realistically. My wife and I travel a ton due to our jobs, so I picked up photography a few years back to capture pictures of all the places we go.

Most of my pictures are travel and landscape photos from a number of trips around the globe. I have my own website, but it's mostly just for sharing photos with family and friends at:
www.jasonpeacottphotography.com

I'm a Canon shooter with my main kit consisting of a Canon 6D with a few L-lenses.

Favorite photo trips - Iceland and New Zealand for awe-inspiring landscapes all over, and Kenya for the amazing safaris!

I'll probably be a regular in the photo section on this site moving forward - happy to be joining the site!

[jmg]

Originally Posted by GoHokiesGo

Hey guys - thought I'd join the discussion here as a new guy on the forums. Photography is probably my biggest hobby, even more so than cars realistically. My wife and I travel a ton due to our jobs, so I picked up photography a few years back to capture pictures of all the places we go.

Most of my pictures are travel and landscape photos from a number of trips around the globe. I have my own website, but it's mostly just for sharing photos with family and friends at:
www.jasonpeacottphotography.com

I'm a Canon shooter with my main kit consisting of a Canon 6D with a few L-lenses.

Favorite photo trips - Iceland and New Zealand for awe-inspiring landscapes all over, and Kenya for the amazing safaris!

I'll probably be a regular in the photo section on this site moving forward - happy to be joining the site!

Welcome and those are some really great photos!!

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by GoHokiesGo

Hey guys - thought I'd join the discussion here as a new guy on the forums. Photography is probably my biggest hobby, even more so than cars realistically. My wife and I travel a ton due to our jobs, so I picked up photography a few years back to capture pictures of all the places we go.

Most of my pictures are travel and landscape photos from a number of trips around the globe. I have my own website, but it's mostly just for sharing photos with family and friends at:
www.jasonpeacottphotography.com

I'm a Canon shooter with my main kit consisting of a Canon 6D with a few L-lenses.

Favorite photo trips - Iceland and New Zealand for awe-inspiring landscapes all over, and Kenya for the amazing safaris!

I'll probably be a regular in the photo section on this site moving forward - happy to be joining the site!

Welcome Jason. Love your portfolio. I can see that you're serious about your craft and get to some great places.

I think you'll enjoy our Snapshot of The Day thread at:
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...7#post20538947

The shots don't need to be current, just something that you like.

Go 'Noles and Go ACC,

Dave

[M_Six]

Canon's new 70-300 might just be a great lens for travel. Some cool new features. Of course, it all depends on the IQ, but I have to believe Canon won't drop the ball on that. After this last trip where I beat up my shoulder with a heavy backpack, I'm determined to travel lighter. This lens will help with that.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Canon's new 70-300 might just be a great lens for travel. Some cool new features. Of course, it all depends on the IQ, but I have to believe Canon won't drop the ball on that. After this last trip where I beat up my shoulder with a heavy backpack, I'm determined to travel lighter. This lens will help with that.

I hear you. Let me see the IQ vs. my 70-200mm L and I'll be at the front of the line, if it stands up. Did you see a price?

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by dcstep

I hear you. Let me see the IQ vs. my 70-200mm L and I'll be at the front of the line, if it stands up. Did you see a price?

$549, so cheap enough. I was contemplating selling my 70-200 f2.8 IS and buying a 70-200 f4 IS, but now I'm going to wait to see IQ pics from this lens.

Less than 2oz lighter and an inch shorter when collapsed than the 70-200 f4, but with 100mm more zoom. Whether that extra 100mm beats out the 70-200 f4 with cropping or an extender remains to be seen. You'd be losing a bit of weight and using less space when carrying it.

My 55-250STM is very sharp and quite fast to focus, so I expect to see an improvement here as well.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

$549, so cheap enough. I was contemplating selling my 70-200 f2.8 IS and buying a 70-200 f4 IS, but now I'm going to wait to see IQ pics from this lens.

Less than 2oz lighter and an inch shorter when collapsed than the 70-200 f4, but with 100mm more zoom. Whether that extra 100mm beats out the 70-200 f4 with cropping or an extender remains to be seen. You'd be losing a bit of weight and using less space when carrying it.

My 55-250STM is very sharp and quite fast to focus, so I expect to see an improvement here as well.

Remember, with an EF 1.4x TC-III, you're at f/5.6 and 280mm. My other worry is the longevity of one hanging around my neck for several hours per week, banging around, as I trek through the woods. You can't beat an L-series for that abuse, but, then again, at this price I could throw one away every couple of years.

The minimum focus distance intrigues me, as does the 4-stop IS vs. 2-stops with my Series I 70-200mm. I'm also thinking hard about the S-II 100-400mm. We'll see. That will be an early 2017 event. Trying to have a net profit in photography this year, to keep the IRS happy.

[M_Six]

I hauled the 100-400 II to the UK last week because I thought we'd be spending more time along the coast. We didn't. I did end up using it, but I have to say it wasn't worth the effort of hauling it around. I could have gotten by with less.

Still, it performed brilliantly at the airshow, so it's a keeper for sure.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I hauled the 100-400 II to the UK last week because I thought we'd be spending more time along the coast. We didn't. I did end up using it, but I have to say it wasn't worth the effort of hauling it around. I could have gotten by with less.

Still, it performed brilliantly at the airshow, so it's a keeper for sure.

My tolerance for hauling a load is probably higher than most people's. Still, I'm willing to consider paring down weight. I'm very curious about this new 70-300mm.

[Weebl]

I bought the Burton backpack and with the waist strap carrying my stuff was easy. With a regular backpack or shoulder bag a quarter mile and I'm done.

Maybe I should have gotten a hundred of the Owls Dave.😉

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by Weebl

I bought the Burton backpack and with the waist strap carrying my stuff was easy. With a regular backpack or shoulder bag a quarter mile and I'm done.

Maybe I should have gotten a hundred of the Owls Dave.😉

There are plenty more owls where that one came from:

https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_...b=1&view_all=1

Good info about the Burton. I'll look into that.

Dave