JFK 2/20/2011

[ANITIX87]

Here are mine from yesterday, guys.

All completely unprocessed except for cropping. These are straight out of my camera, as the light was so perfect I didn't need to change anything.










TIS

[gonzalu]

You are right about that... light was simply superb... my exposures were so dead on I would do two corrections and look at the original and notice nothing different. Nice 31L banking shots... I have to process my BAW one and post it to A.net

[steve1840]

Nice shots Tis. I can only dream of light that good on my next trip to JFK.

[ANITIX87]

Thanks, Steve.

Manny, I think you've had your share of HoBe shots on a.net in the last couple of weeks, no? No need for another kick-ass BAW shot. Time to put your ridiculous lens away and give others a chance. Thanks.

TIS

[gonzalu]

Antonis, I sensed a bit of annoyance on your forum comments on A.net and now here... what's with it man?

[ANITIX87]

Antonis, I sensed a bit of annoyance on your forum comments on A.net and now here... what's with it man?

Hahah. Manny, it's purely sarcasm, I promise. I'm just jealous of your gear, so it's more fun to be sarcastic. No hard feelings at all. You're a fantastic photographer and a chill dude.

(Out of curiosity, where on the a.net forums did I come off as aggressive?)

Sorry for coming off wrong!

TIS

[gonzalu]

Thanks Antonis, I just wondered. Since there was no or next to them I started to get a feeling I was coming off as arrogant and annoying some :-)

This is the line that made me wonder:

Manny,

Looks like, even with your camera and lens, you've simply had to crop too much.

so when I saw your post here I felt maybe there was something to it. To be honest with you, my camera is ONLY good at high frame rates and low light situations... the quality of the pixels is also great, but for spotting from a distance, it sucks big time :-( Full Frame sensors shine with subject distance being short. A crop sensor can put a lot more pixels and density on a subject making them ideal for HoBe shots :-) The D3/D3s/D700 is actually worse than a D300s/D300/D2Xs in Nikon world for spotting from a distance. I actually was considering a D7000 for the extra few pixels. The more you put on the subject, the more resolution you have to play with in post, and then more is better ..

My D2Xs [was] a terrific camera for a crop sensor but the D300 and D300s kicked its ass years ago. I can't trust the AF or meter on it for spotting that much so I don;t use it as often and whenever I do, it bites me in the butt :-( so I stick to my D3 FF sensor and try to get lucky with the distance from HoBe given a particular airraft and the use of KK or full length.

As for the ridiculous lens, believe me, it is also a curse ! The lens is absolutely sharp even at f/4. It really shines wide open. It is also devoid of any CA to my eyes and so it is my fave lens for the subject.
But the zoom range is a hindrance as is the weight and utility in stealth situations. I can say a 80-400 VRII if it ever comes is on my list of buys because of the flexibility and portability. The current model hass a bit of CA at 400mm especially around the edges and that kills me. I use my gear to actually make money primarily shooting High School sports and events etc. so I try to have good quality glass.

Bottom line, I use the beast because I have no other choice lol. [IT] is all the long tele I have. So Antonis, I am glad we're cool. I hate to come off as arrogant ! ... If I had a dime for each time I get a message asking what lens/camera I used on a shot, I'd be rich... so I post the gear used on each image to reduce the mystery.

[ANITIX87]

Interesting analysis. I've considered getting a 5D (full-frame) because I'm getting into weddings and I love doing short depth of field stuff. But my 100-400 would be less effective, since I'd lose on the focal length. I think, therefore, the 1D is the way to go, when (if) I can afford it. It's a 1.3x crop, and the larger sensor plays nicely into depth of field work. It also has far superior noise performance, which is one thing I absolutely despise about my 50D. However, I used a 1D at the last wedding I did, and found that my 50D actually focuses much, much faster in low light. So I'd probably have to keep two bodies on me.

With the way these camera companies work, it will never, ever be possible to have ONE body that does everything you want it to. You'll get the best of one world, and have to sacrifice something else. It's how they keep us spending money and buying upgraded equipment.

TIS

[gonzalu]

Yeah, same feeling here. I was hoping the D3X would deliver AT LEAST 12MP in crop mode but it only reached 10MP which is not enough for my base print sizes. A 12MP crop would be incredible in that it would give you essentially a 2x crop factor almost ... imagine a 400mm at 800mm equiv and then a 1.4x TC? Can you say Bayswater? LOL.

I would recosnider the 5D for your wedding work. The pixel quality is what is all about, especially for portraits and closeups/macros of the rings, cake details etc. If I were you, my setup would be a 5D with a mounted flash and a 24-70mm and the 1D with a 70-200mm no flash ... some sort of sling harness and be done. I use ThinkTank Photo gear exclusively and have the skin set waist kit and that holds a 50mm, 85mm and 135mm for specials... it also has the 14-24mm when I absolutely have to go ultra wide. Batteries, cards, blah blah... the setup works very well and it does not stress my neck and shoulders that much after an entire day of shooting.

Bottom line, do not discount the quality of the pixels on the 5D for critical skin tones and detail. Crop sensors just can't deliver the same quality. Well, at least in the land of Nikon that is. For Canon, it may well be that the 1D delivers far better results than the equivalent Nikon D2Xs/D300/D300s

[ANITIX87]

I would recosnider the 5D for your wedding work.

Oops, I should been more clear, sorry. My fault. The 5D is the PERFECT camera for wedding work. The guy I shoot events with uses a 5D + 35L and 1D + 70-200 (exactly what you recommended). But I can't justify spending money on a 1D AND a 5D anytime soon. I have loans to pay back, a car to buy, and want to move out of my parents' house eventually! Hahaha.

Therefore, the 1D will be my first buy, since spotting is my main photography endeavor, and it will crossover nicely for both tasks if need-be. I can only dream of owning the 1D + 5D combo in my lifetime. Lottery, anyone???

TIS

[steve1840]

I can only dream of owning the 1D + 5D combo in my lifetime. Lottery, anyone???

TIS

I feel you on that Tis. Although I currently have the 5D, I would like to have a second body but cannot afford to get one right now as I am currently paying off this body and lenses. I am shooting my first wedding this summer and am very thankful that I have the 5D to use for that. I just need to get a 50mm prime for the occasion. And hopefully I can borrow another Canon body from a friend of mine for a backup. As with you spotting has become my primary use for my camera gear as of late. Now that I have been learning more about this camera, I have been more than happy with the results I have been getting from it when out spotting. Even with the bad light I had a few weeks ago, I was happy with most of the shots I took. I now need to figure out the best settings on it to take the same shots as the sun is setting. Hopefully this coming weekend I'll get the chance to do so.