Calgary Photography

[Tobyoby]

Some photos from the Red Bull X-fighters

From http://www.flickr.com/photos/ian_hylands/

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Ferreth

Try shooting with IS at dusk/night. I find it's what makes the difference between having to carry a tripod or not. During the day, IS helps mostly on the tele-end of things - at 300mm, you can get usable shots at 1/60th with IS, rather than the 1/200th I'd need for 300mm. My pics shot from Cresent Heights hill were dead sharp, and I was shooting around 1/15th sec @50mm - would not be sharp otherwise. I'm sold on IS - will not buy a long lens without it now, unless I'm willing to haul a tripod around with it.

I agree - as far as consumerism goes, I don't see much of a recession happening. I never let my SD card out of my camera now - the transfer rate is plenty fast and this way I don't end up with your tragedy .

Even with IS my dusk/night shots look like Shakes The Clown was holding the camera.

I prefer taking the card out, just because that little access door for the usb cable seems so freakin' flimsy. I usually don't make the same mistake twice, so I'm hoping that's the last time I forget my card.

[defaultuser]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

Even with IS my dusk/night shots look like Shakes The Clown was holding the camera.

I prefer taking the card out, just because that little access door for the usb cable seems so freakin' flimsy. I usually don't make the same mistake twice, so I'm hoping that's the last time I forget my card.

Go to Menu>shoot w/o card and make sure it's set to "off." That way you won't even be able to snap a frame without the card. It's saved me a few times.

And while we're on the subject of lenses for sale... I have a Canon EF 17-85 4-5.6 IS and Canon EF 70-300 4-5.6 IS on the market, as I have recently upgraded. If anyone is interested just shoot me a PM.

[Ferreth]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

Even with IS my dusk/night shots look like Shakes The Clown was holding the camera.

I prefer taking the card out, just because that little access door for the usb cable seems so freakin' flimsy. I usually don't make the same mistake twice, so I'm hoping that's the last time I forget my card.

^^Good tip Defautuser, I just turned my off. Why it's not off by default (no pun intended) is beyond me.

I'm surprised Ramsayf, that you're seeing so little gain from the IS. I find that it steadys what I see in the viewfinder, you might want to compare on and off IS and see. Perhaps you're even more shaky with IS off?

I spent the afternoon at the zoo with the 70-200 F4 IS + 1.4X extender and I LOVE IT! I have some great lion, zebra, buffalo, crane, and others that I just wouldn've have gotten without this combo. Even looking at the camera previews, I can see when I get it right they are tack-sharp. I'll post some once I get my main computer fixed up again. (drive by virus got me ) B'tway, what is your Flickr ID Ramsay - I can't seem to find you in my list!

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by defaultuser

Go to Menu>shoot w/o card and make sure it's set to "off." That way you won't even be able to snap a frame without the card. It's saved me a few times.

And while we're on the subject of lenses for sale... I have a Canon EF 17-85 4-5.6 IS and Canon EF 70-300 4-5.6 IS on the market, as I have recently upgraded. If anyone is interested just shoot me a PM.

Thanks for the tip.

I was wondering if we should start another thread for photo related posts. ie questions, tips, tricks etc. Or is everyone cool with us posting here in this thread?

[Ferreth]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

Thanks for the tip.

I was wondering if we should start another thread for photo related posts. ie questions, tips, tricks etc. Or is everyone cool with us posting here in this thread?

Personally, I think there are too many threads already. I'm happy with photo-related discussion and photos for this group.

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Ferreth

^^Good tip Defautuser, I just turned my off. Why it's not off by default (no pun intended) is beyond me.

I'm surprised Ramsayf, that you're seeing so little gain from the IS. I find that it steadys what I see in the viewfinder, you might want to compare on and off IS and see. Perhaps you're even more shaky with IS off?

I spent the afternoon at the zoo with the 70-200 F4 IS + 1.4X extender and I LOVE IT! I have some great lion, zebra, buffalo, crane, and others that I just wouldn've have gotten without this combo. Even looking at the camera previews, I can see when I get it right they are tack-sharp. I'll post some once I get my main computer fixed up again. (drive by virus got me ) B'tway, what is your Flickr ID Ramsay - I can't seem to find you in my list!

I was going to experiment with the IS on and off this weekend.

I've been meaning to go to the zoo one of these days, but every time I drive by the parking lot is just rammed. Mind you the more cars mean more yummy mummies. I'm looking forward to seeing your shots. I'm curious to see how the extender worked. Did you take any photos without it?

I just joined Flickr so I don't have a lot of photos up yet. I can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/coomber/

I took the hounds on a small photo road trip today. There's a windmill east of Langdon that I've been meaning to take a photo off for about 10 years now. I can now cross that one off my list. I then headed towards Vulcan and Nanton then back to Calgary. All in all, it was a fun trip.

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Ferreth

Personally, I think there are too many threads already. I'm happy with photo-related discussion and photos for this group.

That what I was kind of thinking. There's so many talented photogs here, it's a shame to let it go to waste. I guess we can keep posting until we hear otherwise.

[Ferreth]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

I was going to experiment with the IS on and off this weekend.

I've been meaning to go to the zoo one of these days, but every time I drive by the parking lot is just rammed. Mind you the more cars mean more yummy mummies. I'm looking forward to seeing your shots. I'm curious to see how the extender worked. Did you take any photos without it?

The zoo would be an *AWESOME* place for the 35-350. That lens will cover pretty much everything you'll ever shoot at the zoo. Try going late in the day, say after 3pm. They don't kick you out until 6pm and you'll find that people are really starting to clear out by 3:30pm to avoid the rush hour(s). Weekends may be different.

Yes, I shot a bunch with, and without the extender. The 1.4X has a more subtle difference that the 2X extender. The 1.4X like downgrading to a 70-300 F4-5.6, which is a big reason I bought the 70-200 F4 + extender versus the 70-300 F4-5.6. I can't really see the difference on the camera preview at this point. The reason I didn't buy the 2X extender is that it doesn't autofocus with anything less than and EOS 1 bodies (I think). I also would say that for anyone on a budget, the 70-300 F4-5.6 is going to be perfectly fine for anything than the most demanding autofocus speed (can we say flying birds?) and pixel quality.

Oh, and by the way, for anyone view these pictures on the forum only, there is no difference - the resolution viewed on screen does *not* show the subtle differences you are going to get. You need to look at full resolution shots - so anyone on the internet just looking for some wallpaper candy is not going to care one way or the other!

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Ferreth

The zoo would be an *AWESOME* place for the 35-350. That lens will cover pretty much everything you'll ever shoot at the zoo. Try going late in the day, say after 3pm. They don't kick you out until 6pm and you'll find that people are really starting to clear out by 3:30pm to avoid the rush hour(s). Weekends may be different.

Yes, I shot a bunch with, and without the extender. The 1.4X has a more subtle difference that the 2X extender. The 1.4X like downgrading to a 70-300 F4-5.6, which is a big reason I bought the 70-200 F4 + extender versus the 70-300 F4-5.6. I can't really see the difference on the camera preview at this point. The reason I didn't buy the 2X extender is that it doesn't autofocus with anything less than and EOS 1 bodies (I think). I also would say that for anyone on a budget, the 70-300 F4-5.6 is going to be perfectly fine for anything than the most demanding autofocus speed (can we say flying birds?) and pixel quality.

Oh, and by the way, for anyone view these pictures on the forum only, there is no difference - the resolution viewed on screen does *not* show the subtle differences you are going to get. You need to look at full resolution shots - so anyone on the internet just looking for some wallpaper candy is not going to care one way or the other!

I might hit the zoo next week then.

Someone recently had both the 1.4 and the 2x extender listed on Kijiji. I almost bought the 1.4x, but waffled. I'm kicking myself now.

[Ramsayfarian]

Here's a few photos to make up for all our talking.

High River Rentals. Two years ago all this would have been rented out:



Near Langdon


Mossleigh


Da Moon

[Spring2008]

Beltine
Uploaded july 25, 09
By Thomas Frejek, Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasfrejek/3755523543/

[Spring2008]

Uploaded Aug 6, 09
By Nikonoclast, flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7151117@N07/3794450425/



Uploaded Aug 6, 09
By YYC Studio, flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yycstudio/3797561844/



Uploaded June 15, 09
By 2009 Alberta, flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40220795@N04/3699453547/


Uploaded July 31, 09
By RandomBarbieManiac89, flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lunacyistheway2bee/3777269050/



Uploaded June 15, 09
By 2009 Alberta, flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40220795@N04/3700265322/


Uploaded June 15, 09
By 2009 Alberta, flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40220795@N04/3699456217/in/set-72157620984672269/

[Smevo]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

I might hit the zoo next week then.

Someone recently had both the 1.4 and the 2x extender listed on Kijiji. I almost bought the 1.4x, but waffled. I'm kicking myself now.

I'm using the same camera, though mostly with film lenses, but the zoo is definitely a great place to try it out. Here's some of my pics from my excursion there.

See the rest here!













I'm still learning with it, so I take it out every chance I get. I tend to use my 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS that came with it, and my 75-300mm f4-5.6 I used with my film Rebel the most, though I have a 28-90mm f4-5.6 that came with my film Rebel as well. There have been a few shots I took with the 300mm that might have benefitted from an IS lens, but I find most of them turn out well or it's just a focusing issue which I find a bit more difficult under certain light conditions, or if I've just been peering through the viewfinder too long.

[Stang]

Originally Posted by Ferreth

I'm surprised Ramsayf, that you're seeing so little gain from the IS. I find that it steadys what I see in the viewfinder, you might want to compare on and off IS and see. Perhaps you're even more shaky with IS off?

I too am sold on IS - but I also notice some other factors that make my shots shaky:

- Breathing - slow it down a bit of you can.
- Arm fatigue - if I have been shooting for a long time, I get more shakes. My left arm is a little weaker from an old injury, so I'm sure that doesn't help either.
- Leaning - posts and walls are your friend.
- Multiple exposure mode. Burst off a few at once, even at slow shutter speeds. Even out of 3 shots, one is usually noticeably better. And it usually isn't the first one. No science to this - just anecdotal.

All of that being said, IS never replaces a tripod, but it is nice for some quick, hand held shots.

[mersar]

Yep, all good hints. Though I've noticed with my 70-300 when I have VR (the nikon version of IS) enabled and brace myself off a pole or building the shot actually comes out worse. With my wide angle though theres a definite difference even when braced.

[Stang]

Originally Posted by mersar

Yep, all good hints. Though I've noticed with my 70-300 when I have VR (the nikon version of IS) enabled and brace myself off a pole or building the shot actually comes out worse. With my wide angle though theres a definite difference even when braced.

Perhaps you're too steady when bracing yourself with VR/IS on? I have heard of the little gyro thingys actually making things worse if there's no shake to stabilize. Usually this will happen on a tripod, but maybe you've got a special skill? I wish I had that skill!

[defaultuser]

Originally Posted by Ferreth

I also would say that for anyone on a budget, the 70-300 F4-5.6 is going to be perfectly fine for anything than the most demanding autofocus speed (can we say flying birds?) and pixel quality.

Indeed, this lens served me quite well and worked out okay for the most part with fast moving objects (birds, etc.) For landscapes/cityscapes it's more than adequate. It just was the chance of moving up to some fast L series glass for a decent price that made me switch.

As for IS vs non IS. The only benefit I found was on the long end of the zoom where the stabilization kicked in and made framing a shot somewhat easier without the jerky movement. Otherwise it made little difference shooting in low-light conditions.

[Ramsayfarian]

A couple of shots from today.
Skyline:

McMansion - I know it's a duplex, but the colour scheme is exactly like Mickey Dees.


Doing a little demo by my place. Don't have a permit to take down the house yet, so this was a bit of an oops.

[BFHeadstone]

I took another walk through Fish Creek today and grabbed a bunch more shots if any one is interested

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bwfennell/sets/72157621899321245/