hello canon people let's talk flashes... say i was just given some money to buy a flash for my XTi. And it's enough to cover a 430 EX, but not enough to cover the 580 EX II. Is it worth the extra cost to upgrade to the 580, or is the 430 all that an average user needs? I have done a bunch of reading and like everything else in this game it sounds like it boils down to personal preference, although a lot of people mention using the 580 as a master. I don't know if I'll ever get into the whole studio thing where I have to use multiple flashes, etc. So... what are you guys using for external flashes... and should I keep waiting until the 430 EX II comes out?

8/24/2008 11:24:38 PM

the biggest advantage, as what I've heard, between the 430ex and the newer version II is that the recycling rate if faster that and I think it's designed to work better with the 40D and newer 1D's. I have the 430ex and it's fine. Bright enough to do most things. If you want to do studio stuff, it's better to get studio lighting since they are actually cheaper than getting a whole set of 430 or 580's with stands and modifiers. Plus studio lighting is much more powerful.

There are a few neat features that the 500's have that lacks from the 400 series. I know the multiple flash (frequency setting) is pretty neat of where you can do multiple flashes for one exposure. I've only seen this used for golf though. The 580's are only one stop more powerful than the 400's, have the ability to control other speedlites, external power adapter (for battery pack) and I believe the latest ones have a PC sync port.

If you haven't played with flash photography before, the 430 (even the older 420's) would be more than enough for you.

8/25/2008 12:14:15 AM

Oh shit, 50D just announced!

http://www.usa.canon.com/templatedata/pressrelease/20080826_eos50d.html

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=17499

8/26/2008 12:33:59 AM

WANT

8/26/2008 12:38:50 AM

I guess all those rumors 2 weeks ago were true... I'm dumbfounded that they released the successor to the 40D this early! But it's a good answer to the D300. Now they need the new 5D mkII to answer the D700.

8/26/2008 12:45:32 AM

humm... the sample shots don't really look that good. The features really jump out, but the pics doesn't. More like eww with the IQ.

8/26/2008 1:07:08 AM

http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=30517

Everybody is chomping at the bit for a 5D replacement, myself included. This past Friday was it's 3rd birthday, a whole year older than any other camera in its current lineup. In electronics, that's ancient!. C'mon Canon!

8/26/2008 8:35:21 PM

From a recent trip to the Wind River Range

8/26/2008 10:55:29 PM

8/26/2008 11:14:37 PM

I wouldn't mind seeing the new updated LCD's refreshed on all of canon's current like up, just up-rev their like with the "N" model like my 1D mkIIN which all it was an updated lcd screen...

Canon, you can send the check to my house now as a marketing consultant...

8/27/2008 12:49:48 AM

Quote :

"I wouldn't mind seeing the new updated LCD's refreshed on all of canon's current like up, just up-rev their like with the "N" model like my 1D mkIIN which all it was an updated lcd screen..."

Me sure that big help to marketing Canon.

8/27/2008 12:54:52 AM

Quote :

"Me sure that big help to marketing Canon."

wat?

But seriously, a high res rear screen would be a nice and usable feature for previewing. Canon, the only way you can stay really competitive now with Nikon's new D90 announced today would be builtin wifi with all of the abilities of your add in device (ftp up and such) with the live thumbnail viewing like the current new Nikons have but as standard. Plus a multi touch rear LCD, mp3 & video player and web browser all in one...

Shoot while we are at it, just add a cell phone feature in it. Please please please, if you do this, don't be restrictive to one carrier like AT&T.

8/27/2008 1:04:57 AM

What would you guys recommend as a decent used model to go for? I don't mind going for something older so I can learn how to use an SLR and then upgrading later. Or would that be a waste of my money and should I just get a mid-range new model?

8/27/2008 1:05:51 AM

what do you have now? Get something cheap and used. D40, D80, D60 on the nikon sides are pretty good. Anything Rebel, 20D, 30D (probably could pick up a used 40D for cheap now ) on Canon's side. Samsung, pentax, olympus, sony and other big names have entry level SLR's now with competitive features and price.

I honestly would say if you are looking to get into the hobby just more than an amateur or advance shooter, I'd stick with Canon or Nikon since those two are the market leaders in SLR, plus your investment in glass would be better. Plus those two already have a huge accessories market in lens, flash, etc...

8/27/2008 1:16:09 AM

Yeah, I've pretty much narrowed down my choices between the Canon and Nikon, though I like the Sonys too. But like you said, they don't seem to have much in the range of options like the big two.

Right now I have two point and shoots, an older Sony and an Olympus. I like to do shots like this:









And I feel like if I had something better than a point and shoot and with some practice I could start taking much better shots. I've also thought about branching beyond just a hobby but I would have to see how I like playing with a better camera before I thought that far ahead

8/27/2008 1:28:10 AM

true, just don't go in over your head like I'm currently doing... I just paid off my 300 f/2.8 IS super tele today, but I'm holding out on buying anything else now. Waiting for the new 5D... unless I find a killer 16-35 mkII deal. I actually might go for a 17-40 again since, if you can get a good copy, have better IQ on a FF camera. I had one and everything I shot was blurred.

Btw, starting playing with medium format camera's at school today. Man, they are a beast. I'm totally excited to play with them in the field and learn how to use it before the digital ages. All manual. Good thing I have the Sunny 16 rule down before hand so I have a little scene of direction to start from... I hope.

Might pickup a Mamiya rb67 now since they are cheaper than I had thought.

8/27/2008 1:37:25 AM

aha, well right now I don't have the money to go in over my head, but I'm saving bit by bit. I'd kind of like to get my hands on something before I go to Vietnam in December but that probably won't happen

8/27/2008 1:51:47 AM

wait till you leave then, prices are just gonna get cheaper with new stuff coming out in October and November, not to mention Photokina trade show in late September, which everyone is expecting the announcement of the new 5D's.

8/27/2008 2:23:08 AM

Good to know! I guess I'll start seriously looking around in October

8/27/2008 2:34:29 AM

Quote :

"From a recent trip to the Wind River Range."

Love the picture. Is that N. Colorado? I've been trying to get a photo like that for a year but conditions in the Sierra have been awful for photography.

8/27/2008 3:09:33 AM

I've been researching medium format camera's all night. I guess I should go to bed...

Hi, I'm JBaz and I'm a photoholic...

8/27/2008 3:38:57 AM

Nikon replaces the D80 today...
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0808/08082702nikond90previewed.asp

8/27/2008 10:51:04 AM

We have a three-way tie so far with only 6 votes for the first week's photos.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/twwphotoclub/

this week's theme: Red (go pack!)

8/27/2008 12:13:37 PM

Quote :

"Love the picture. Is that N. Colorado? I've been trying to get a photo like that for a year but conditions in the Sierra have been awful for photography."

Thanks, its actually in northwestern Wyoming. I was lucky the moon gave just enough light for a good exposure.

8/27/2008 1:13:52 PM

Damn, if I didn't have so much invested in my Canon. I'd be tempted to try out that D90. Movie Mode, Live Viewing, and D-SLR capabilities.

8/27/2008 4:39:32 PM

^^what were the settings for that photo?

8/28/2008 1:53:47 PM

18mm
30 second exposure
f/5.6
ISO 1000

I would have done a longer exposure with a lower ISO but I didn't have my remote.

8/28/2008 5:28:14 PM

i might bite the bullet with the 50D

8/28/2008 7:55:55 PM

What do people here think of the Rebel series?

8/29/2008 2:13:57 AM

I have an xsi, so im just getting into photography. The only thing that I dont really like about it is the autofocus seems to not be all that accurate. But I havent gotten to really compare it to any other cameras. For a starting camera, it works great for me.

8/29/2008 3:11:49 AM

if you are using the kit lens, it will always seem a little blurry. Had the same issues with my XTi when I had it. Even kit lens on the 30D produced the same kind of IQ. But if you had IQ problems with multiple lens, then it could have been the submirror being out of alignment, and therefore needs to be sent to Canon to be fixed.

Best way to check this is to mount the camera on a tripod and use the AF on one object. Check the focus point and blur it out by hand. Take another test shot in manual focus mode and see if the pic is again bad.

And oh, just bought my Mamiya RB67 Pro S SLR film camera today for 286 shipped. Can't wait to use it. Bought like 300 bucks worth of film and paper. Going to motoGP in three weeks up in Indy and will most likely bring it too.

[Edited on August 29, 2008 at 3:32 AM. Reason : ]

8/29/2008 3:31:29 AM

some pics

8/29/2008 5:41:49 AM

lol, this is why I don't go to clubs.

Nice pics though

8/29/2008 10:52:28 AM

^^^is that autofocus? good deal bro. i don't think its as much the body that will kill you with those cameras but the friggin lenses and accessories and processing. or if you wanted to get a digital back to it .

8/29/2008 6:58:58 PM

I just dug my old lomo out and got the >5 year old roll in it processed. Pictures of my late grandmother at my sister's grad school graduation = sniffles.

8/29/2008 7:22:39 PM

^^ Nope, the rb67 pro s is still ALL MANUAL I got a 120 and 220 film back. I got the 90mm f3.8 normal lens, but I'll probably pick up two more lens like a 65 (or wider) and a telephoto (like a 150 or 250 if I can) later on in the year. These old lens and accessories are pretty cheap these days (in my standards).

The newer 645 camera's are autofocus but even those are starting around 1200 used for just the body and the lens are interchangeable with the older rb/rz's. Don't really want to spend too much for the setup considering I don't know how to use it yet...

I really want to pick up a canon EOS 35mm film body so I can use it on my current EF lens.

Quote :

"lol, this is why I don't go to clubs."

awww, why's that? And yes, I get some really wild pictures to be used for blackmail (specially Bogarts) I know from one girl that lost her job because her picture was published in a few magazines. Opps.

lol I've been bitch slapped before and it caught me off guard. Mainly because I "accidentally" fought back and the girl got even more pissed. When I'm holding thousands of dollars worth of equipment in a dark situation, if I see a hand coming at me, I will defend myself. Yah for Tae Kwon-Do.

What's even really funny was that I wasn't even taking a picture of her, I was taking pictures of some other people and she happened to be in the background dancing, then she see's the flash. I probably get 1-2 random asshats who come up to me saying "dude, don't take my picture" while I'm in the middle of taking pictures of someone else.

This one girl a few months ago was harassing me (drunk white girl in her 30's) saying not to take my picture, then trying to ruin every picture of other people I was trying to take the whole night. I'm like "wtf is your problem, I don't know you and I really don't give a shit if I take your picture". Then she got all mad and tried to threaten me saying how she'll get me thrown out of the club for talking to her like that. I was like "bitch, get the fuck out, don't make me call security on your ass". Then she goes and tries to talk to security and "tattle tell". I walk up and shake hands with the security guard as he's a good friend of mine. Bitch got kicked out of the club right there on the spot. Was funny as shit.

Just last night, was outside of redroom chatting with an associate and a fight broke out not 3 feet from us. Some bitch was yelling at the security guy and started to punch and push the guy. I'm like standing there in amazement holding onto my 5D with dear life. I was also contemplating if I should take some pictures, but then decided not to. Don't want to get stabbed. (if you haven't heard, some guy got stabbed and died there recently, not the first stabbing incident at the red room).

8/29/2008 8:34:26 PM

i'd like to take some club shots at some point. they look fun. i contemplated zspotlight.com but i hear the pay sucks and they basically make you run from club to club take 10 or so pictures and bounce. point and shoot digital and all.

8/29/2008 8:51:19 PM

yeah, reason why I stopped working for them. It's really simple, but I only do high profile events, like their fashion shows or large promo parties. I really don't do club stuff for much pay as is now, but it's a great way for me to be out there shooting, and its really fun, plus viral or word of mouth marketing is crazy for me. I get a few leads here and there for shooting for other companies doing commercial photography, booking weddings or portraits on the side.

Don't work for lazy daze or twisted daze. People there aren't professional and don't know shit.

8/29/2008 9:06:20 PM

^^^ aha, yeah I'm not into drinking at places with crazy sluts and drunk lecherous guys running around. I'd rather chill in a place like Mitch's and watch some basketball while drinking

8/30/2008 6:42:52 AM

just prepping myself to go to the west coast and take nightlife pics out there. They got some sick ass clubs out west. The kind of parties and clientele to socialize with would do wonders. Shit, one party out there socializing and I could potentially own the place. Although, I'm a horrible gambler. I'd probably lose the place in a poker match.

8/30/2008 11:24:22 AM

ok here's some of my photos from a recent trip to the beach. I kinda wanted to play around with time delay stuff. D40x camera.


time delay photo at night on atlantic beach, about a 7 second delay photo.


my dog Jack


brother swinging his cell phone in a circle on atlantic beach.


houses at night on atlantic beach, about a 6 second time delay.


funny boat

8/30/2008 3:05:53 PM

Awesome nightshots what kind of camera do you have and what setting did you use?

8/30/2008 3:07:22 PM

I got a nikon D40x and I used everything on manual. I used a tripod, a remote, and I had the iso at like 800 (I think) and shutter on bulb, and used f8.

8/30/2008 3:13:10 PM

I was just kinda playin around and see what worked out. I've got some more in that same album on flicker

[Edited on August 30, 2008 at 3:15 PM. Reason : HOLLER]

8/30/2008 3:14:22 PM

Awesome

8/30/2008 3:15:59 PM

thank you, I've not used it much, so the compliments are awesome.

8/30/2008 3:19:30 PM

like this one despite the model

8/30/2008 4:05:54 PM

Quote :

"I got a nikon D40x and I used everything on manual. I used a tripod, a remote, and I had the iso at like 800 (I think) and shutter on bulb, and used f8. "

out of curiousity why did you use iso 800 when you are gonna shoot in bulb anyway?

8/30/2008 4:09:09 PM

He loves noise?

8/30/2008 4:25:13 PM

because I have no idea what the fuck I'm doing and am just seeing what happens when I press *this* button or use *this* combo.

8/30/2008 5:01:35 PM