All the gear, no idea

[dcw@pr]

Yay got a whole load of new stuff this morning!

now I just have to learn how to use it all

luckily for me (unluckily for the couple??? ) I had a wedding to do this afternoon

580EX - HUGE improvement over the 550EX in both performance and ergonomics, and it looks a lot nicer too . Autofocus performance in bad light is poor with the illuminator thing.

50mm f/1.4 - Looks and feels like a piece of cheap tat - I wouldn't be suprised if it fell out of a medium expensive christmas cracker. slow autofocus, especially for a USM lens. But to give it its dues, it performed pretty well - much more contrasty than my old Nikkor one, and the bokeh is a lot better too. Samples...





70-200 f/2.8 IS - What a stonking lens!!!!!!! Can't fault it at all, super autofocus, super sharpness, super contrast, it's got the whole lot. Also this is the first lens that I have ever thought was pyhsically attractive, I must really be a true camera saddo! (To get the best looks you've got to zoom out to 200mm too ) Also it's built like a tank. Sample...

[_VTEC_]

Probably just me being ignorant, but the focus seems a bit wild on those first two Dave. The last one is borderline ridiculous though. Fannytastic picture.

I might have to sell my watch collection in order to buy some of the stuff you're using mate!

[dcw@pr]

_VTEC_ said:

Probably just me being ignorant, but the focus seems a bit wild on those first two Dave

it's "artistic" and I just can't control that pesky f/1.4

_VTEC_ said:

The last one is borderline ridiculous though. Fannytastic picture.

thanks, it has come out well although the focus is only about 90% right

[stuh]

Have to agree about the feel of the f1.4, it really is pants, BUT, for the portrait shots of the kids it truly is awesome. Just takes some getting used to rthe ibcredibly shallow DOF you can get.

That last picture is wonderfully moody.

Might have to get me one of those 70-200 jobs

[LongQ]

Did you use Food mode for the salad shots?

I assume you have a Food mode?

My little Pentax does. Haven't tried it yet though. Perhaps I should?

Amazing what they dream up for people these days.

Looking for coat and hat ...

[nighthawk]

I'd be interested to hear a few more details about the 580, it's currently topping the list of flashguns for my 20D.

The 70-200 f2.8 IS is also about to replace my 75/300 IS, so i'm glad your comments reflect those of the many reviews I've read.

Re the 50mm f1.4, I was torn between that and the non usm 1.8, but now i've turned from them towards the sigma 50mm f2.8 macro.

The wedding shot is a stonker

[bacchus180]

I have the 70-200 as well.. be aware they have a design fault.. they are loose fitting. you can get movement with them on the camera.. and do have a tendency to lock up.. you get nothing and an error message through the camera.. 001 i think, just reboot, disengage and reattach and off you go. its happened to me a few times. its scarey at first. but I spoke to another tog and he told me... oh the 70-200 , thats quite normal!.. so I have got used to it.. some are better than others.. but just letting you know so when it happens you won't flap!.. "they all do that sir!"

[nighthawk]

Thats not what you want to happen on a lens costing more than some peoples car !

[V6GTO]

Nighthawk,
I have a 540EZ so was reluctant to get a 580EX for my 20D. Anyway, I let myself be talked into it and have to say I glad. It's amazing, I would say it's as important as any lens.

Martin.

[nighthawk]

V6GTO

Thanks for the advice

I've always used sunpak flashes on my previous cameras. I'm off on a little jaunt to the canaries this week, i'll keep my eyes peeled for one.

Is it's use really as easy as E-TTL 2 makes it sound?
All my sunpak's were manual jobs.

[V6GTO]

nighthawk said:

Is it's use really as easy as E-TTL 2 makes it sound?

Absolutly. You could stick the camera on P (allthough I think this is a hanging offence!) and it really is a point and shoot. The flash has never given the wrong exposure yet!

Martin.

[nighthawk]

Thanks Martin

I'll be spending a day or so searching Gran Canaria looking for one i think




Brian

[V6GTO]

Bare this in mind...

www.7dayshop.com/catalog/normal_search_result.php?PHPSESSID=&keywords=580EX&x=4&y=10

Martin.

[rude girl]

_VTEC_ said:

The last one is borderline ridiculous though.

Why ridiculous? If I had an arse like that, I'd pay people to take photos of it!

I think it's a fabulous picture, and I'd be proud to have it in a wedding album. I'd rather see 20 like this than one of those with the bride resting her chins on the back of her hand.

I thought the food ones looked good too, though there is a dodgy looking piece of cucumber in the first one. I'm hoping that it's a feature of the dressing, rather than a recent caterpillar visit...

[rico]

rude girl said:

_VTEC_ said: The last one is borderline ridiculous though. Why ridiculous?

I think he was saying it was "ridiculously good"

Especially when his next sentence was:

_VTEC_ said:

Fannytastic picture.

[406]

rude girl said:

If I had an arse like that, I'd pay people to take photos of it!

[_VTEC_]

rico said:

rude girl said: _VTEC_ said: The last one is borderline ridiculous though. Why ridiculous? I think he was saying it was "ridiculously good" Especially when his next sentence was: _VTEC_ said: Fannytastic picture.

[dcw@pr]

rude girl said:

I thought the food ones looked good too, though there is a dodgy looking piece of cucumber in the first one. I'm hoping that it's a feature of the dressing, rather than a recent caterpillar visit...

phew I'm glad someone liked them! Even if there is a bit of mutant cucumber in there. Here's another couple in a similar vein







>> Edited by dcw@pr on Monday 16th May 01:43

[simpo two]

I like them all (well maybe not the salad ones)

Very nice treatment of colour and b/w. You've done something to the colour but I'm not sure what - photo filter?

[dcw@pr]

LongQ said:

My little Pentax does. Haven't tried it yet though. Perhaps I should?

does it really have a food mode?