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Photography Equipment & Software Thread

rundll

By rundll
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Cheeko

Cheeko

Posted
Posted

I'd presumed that the 600D crop mode for video was just a digital zoom which personally I think are totally redundant and was suprised they seemed to be making such a fuss about it. I just found out however that it's not just that, it's actually expanding the area of the sensor that the video is recording from(as 1080p video just uses a portion of an APS-C sensor) so what you're actually doing is increasing the focal length of your lenses with no light loss which is amazing.

Here's a video of some test footage using it, you're losing sharpness when you get to 10x magnification but it's really impressive.

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Rev

Rev

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Posted

I'd presumed that the 600D crop mode for video was just a digital zoom which personally I think are totally redundant and was suprised they seemed to be making such a fuss about it. I just found out however that it's not just that, it's actually expanding the area of the sensor that the video is recording from(as 1080p video just uses a portion of an APS-C sensor) so what you're actually doing is increasing the focal length of your lenses with no light loss which is amazing.

Here's a video of some test footage using it, you're losing sharpness when you get to 10x magnification but it's really impressive.

Yeah. Amaze.

Always been easily possibe as the way the 5D gets the 1920x1080 is just using one in every three lines/columns of pixels (or whatever). It doesn't use a single chunk of pixels 1920x1080, so the zooming only alters the maths to work out which pixels end up in the video. On a 27mp sensor with a big zoom lens on it'll be very, very impressive.

Plus, as I'm sure someone will have worked out already, it means if you've got something motionless (or repeating identically) to film you could do a gigapixel-type-thing using video rather than still images.

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Phill

Phill

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What bags are you guys using to carry all your stuff around in?

I am looking to buy a bag as I seem to have more and more stuff when out and about.

Ideally I need it to hold

Slr + a few lenses (no massive ones)

Canon G11 + bits

Laptop (13" MBP)

and somewhere to put other bits and bobs.

I'm probably not going to take all this stuff out at once but it would be nice to have the option too. I've seen this but I'm not too sure how good it is!

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PopeSmokesDope

PopeSmokesDope

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I'd say go and actually check them out in a shop. The big backs are not exactly comfortable when packed full of gear and your going to need a big'ish bag for that lot. Personally I use a Kata, it's very nice, but you have the issue with it being made by an Israeli arms company...

Lowepro are great but have a massive range to chose from.

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Rev

Rev

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LOL.

/edit

I've seen that lens before, but never really thought about it.

Just occurred to me though - if they can do a constant f/2.8 aperture 200-500 zoom for that price, why don't they simply bring out a 500 f/2.8?

Presumably it doesn't save much money/size.

I was stood near someone with a 300-800mm when I was at the Royal Wedding. He was hand-holding it. On a step ladder. Then when the moment came...he moved to something 100mm ish. Rolly eyes.

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Dr Slotter

Dr Slotter

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Posted

What bags are you guys using to carry all your stuff around in?

I am looking to buy a bag as I seem to have more and more stuff when out and about.

Ideally I need it to hold

Slr + a few lenses (no massive ones)

Canon G11 + bits

Laptop

and somewhere to put other bits and bobs.

I'm probably not going to take all this stuff out at once but it would be nice to have the option too. I've seen this but I'm not too sure how good it is!

I've got a LowePro CompuDaypack and get on with fine. I can fit a 13" Macbook in a sleeve, a DSLR, 3 lenses (short prime, standard/kitlens zoom and a longer telephoto) and a P&S plus other stuff comfortably. I also use it:

- as a laptop rucksack and have no camera gear in it at all, especially when travelling. You can fit a couple of magazines, a book and there's easily accessible pockets for travels docs/passport etc.

- as a bag for DJing stuff (laptop, power supply, headphones, a few CDs and a USB breakout box).

Recommended.

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Sapa

Sapa

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I've been asked by a friend for some advice on getting a new compact camera. It's been quite some time since I switched to a DSLR and G10 so I'm not really aware of the compact market at the moment. She gave me the following criteria...

Light weight

Slim

Good optical lens

Good Pixel rating (i.e. Megapixels)

Good at Low light shots

I know the number of megapixels isn't really important, so I guess she's just after a small jeans pocket type of camera that will be decent enough indoors. I would say she wouldn't want to pay any more than £150, maybe even £100. I'm going to get back to her to find out what her budget is exactly.

I used to have a Lumix TZ3 (probably too big for her though) and have advised other Lumix cameras in the past.

edit: budget is between £200-£300. Closer to £200.

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scribble

scribble

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Posted

I just went with Photoguard. Flick back a page or two to see me enjoying spending £300.

Looks like they'll cover all my stuff for a very reasonable £20 a month. Anyone had to claim from them in the past? I'm not sure if it might be better to just boost up my contents insurance... I do need to take my laptop over too, and I'm not sure photoguard will cover that. Does specifically for photography use mean only for photography use? I hate misleading insurance wording.

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Rev

Rev

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Their laptop insurance is subject to depreciation, which means it isn't ideal so I didn't look into that aspect much more. I boosted my contents insurance previously anyway (very cheap in comparison - £40 for a year), so I've kept that going too. Means gfs and my iPhones and laptops are covered.

I've not made a claim (as you'd bloody hope in two weeks) but I had a thorough scout around for opinions - obviously they don't get a 100% perfect report for paying out, but it was good enough for me to go with them.

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futureshock

futureshock

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Looks like they'll cover all my stuff for a very reasonable £20 a month. Anyone had to claim from them in the past? I'm not sure if it might be better to just boost up my contents insurance... I do need to take my laptop over too, and I'm not sure photoguard will cover that. Does specifically for photography use mean only for photography use? I hate misleading insurance wording.

Pretty sure they cover everything to do with a photo studio. I was with them years ago and I *think* they took the laptop serial numbers.

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PopeSmokesDope

PopeSmokesDope

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I'm working in Barcelona for 6 days next month, so I need to get some better insurance. What's good just now?

I dunno if you've ever been, but watch out! If you're not lugging much kit around, made sure you have one of the rucksacks with the opening that's against your back. I really can't stress enough how bad the pickpockets can be, especially aound the bottom end of Las Ramblas. If you're after a cracking bar for an evening meal/lunch try any of the beach bars towards the end of the beach here

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=41.385205,2.197663&spn=0.001517,0.004123&t=h&z=19&iwloc=lyrftr:h,13621819099401617261,41.385793,2.197456

Oh and watch out for the prossies!

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Cheeko

Cheeko

Posted
Posted

My lenses and spare battery all turned up yesterday, and I'm glad to report the camera works fine, it's just the battery which is faulty and they're replacing for me.

Now to start shooting!

Anyone here use any steadicam rigs or stabilisers?

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Rev

Rev

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My lenses and spare battery all turned up yesterday, and I'm glad to report the camera works fine, it's just the battery which is faulty and they're replacing for me.

Great news although as expected.

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NecroMorrius

NecroMorrius

Posted
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You can't go wrong with LowePro kit. There's not many "brands" I'd universally recommend but this is one. Exceptionally well made and hard wearing. I've had my MiniTrekker AW for 3 years now - and despite having been all over the UK (and to Africa, Turkey and Greece) in all weathers it still looks good as new and its always kept my stuff dry and protected. I've looked at plenty of their other bags and they all are built to the same quality.

I definitely agree with this. I don't have a massive frame of reference but I can vouch for the Lowepro stuff I own. It's top notch.

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Rev

Rev

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My small lowepro bag is ace, my bigger one Flipside...400? Is a little bit of a pain as the flap doesn't really open enough to access the things by the hinge.

But it is secure/well-made/etc.

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Alexlotl

Alexlotl

Posted
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I'd swear I'd already posted this on my iPad, but it seems not to have gone up. Let's try again.

Regarding bags, I can also recommend Kata products. Attractive, indestructable and sensibly designed, with bright orange interiors (great when you're trying to find that hotshoe cover) and unzippable compartments, plus velcro dividers etc.

Some people have ethical qualms with them, as the parent company also make kit for the Israeli Special Forces. To their credit, they don't use this as a marketing angle. Crazily high-grade stuff, though - I'd happily hang off a cliff by the straps of my bag.

I've got a DR465, which takes a laptop, DSLR, about 5 medium-sized lenses and a monopod, plus accessories and lunch. To be honest, I mostly bought it to bring my gear to NZ carry-on - if I were buying a pack just for out-and-about I'd probably get one of their x0-in-1 Slingback efforts, with no laptop storage.

Guys thinking of buying a Canon G9 which is quite old but still very good, just wondering is there anything else people can recommend. On a £300 budget.

For that budget, you could get a brand new Canon S95, or nearly a Panasonic LX5 or Olympus XZ-1. Second hand S90 or LX3 might be a good bet too (there was no LX4, but the LX3 got a big 2.0 firmware boost). If you want something chunkier, you're only £30 off an Olympus E-PL1, which would give you room for expansion.

I've not used a G series, but I don't think I understand them. They seem to be non-compact compacts, with zoom lenses but fixed optical viewfinders. Sounds like the worst of both worlds, really. No offense intended to any G series owners.

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Dr Slotter

Dr Slotter

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For that budget, you could get a brand new Canon S95, or nearly a Panasonic LX5 or Olympus XZ-1. Second hand S90 or LX3 might be a good bet too (there was no LX4, but the LX3 got a big 2.0 firmware boost). If you want something chunkier, you're only £30 off an Olympus E-PL1, which would give you room for expansion.

I've not used a G series, but I don't think I understand them. They seem to be non-compact compacts, with zoom lenses but fixed optical viewfinders. Sounds like the worst of both worlds, really. No offense intended to any G series owners.

I've just bought a Canon S95 and am rather pleased with it. The only thing that they could put on it to improve things would be a multipoint AF system, everything else is pretty good.

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