Comments on: San Diego IPT; Mark IV and 7D AF Comments…

By: birdsasart

birdsasart — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:59:15 +0000

Thank you for your kind words. I try not to worry about noise until after the fact.

By: Mike Vanecek

Mike Vanecek — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 20:41:30 +0000

Art, thank you for the comments. I was watching my histogram and pushing up the exposure. However, the harsh conditions did not provide much latitude in settings.

I am definitely thinking I need to move to a professional body. One of the reasons I rent items (“test”) is due to a limited budget and these toys are rather costly. Canon seems to be releasing new cameras that have increased effective pixels at the cost of pixel density. One might think that increasing pixel density would increase noise. However, changes in the pixel design and A/D processors may compensate. Other than spending some time with the camera and all the many settings I do not know how to determine the effective signal-to-noise and sharpness of the new cameras other than to take lots of photographs under varying conditions.

I am continually awed by the results of your images.

Mike

By: birdsasart

birdsasart — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:52:50 +0000

Hi Mike, You are photographing in abysmal conditions, are probably underexposing your image while fighting for shutter speed, and expect great results with pro-sumer rather than professional camera bodies…. Seems to me that your expectations are unrealistic. In a recent e-mail to George Lepp I wrote: When I desperately need speed I just raise the ISO high enough to get the shutter speed that I need and worry about the noise later. With only limited use of the higher ISOs with my MIV bodies, I find that the noise control at high ISOs is indeed at least a bit better than it was with the MIII. I thought that MIII high ISO noise control was pretty darned good…. BTW, I have yet to “test” any camera or lens. I simply use them to make images and if I like the results I am good to go.

Final answer: you are likely hoping for too much from the MIV.

By: birdsasart

birdsasart — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:40:06 +0000

Hey Markus, Thanks for your kind words.

By: Mike Vanecek

Mike Vanecek — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:10:24 +0000

I was in Iowa photographing eagles as they were diving to pick up fish. Unfortunately the weather was foggy, damp, cold, and otherwise yucky. I tried using a 50D the first day but found I needed as least ISO of 2000 to use a high enough shutter speed to catch anything (70-200 f2.8 with 2x TC – handheld with IS). Needless to say, the first day was pretty much a disaster since anything over 800 had major noise and sharpness issues.

The next day I used a 1D MK III (tripod with a Jobu gimbal at the start and for the last hour, handheld) which was better, but still did not provide me the noise level (or lack thereof) for which I hoped. Since the light was even worse, I started out at 2000 ISO and 1/2500 and found myself at 3200 ISO and 1/3200 by the end of the day. The results were better than the 50D, but still had a lot of noise. I culled around 1000 images for the 2 days down to about 5 somewhat usable ones.

I have been told that the 7D would not be much better than the 50D under these circumstances. The owner of the 1DMk3 was testing a 1DMk4 and told me that it was marginally better than the 1DMk3 (he said the noise seemed to have a purple tint).

I will be testing 1DMk4 with a 500mm early next month. I also plan on renting a 400mm DO later in February.

Am I hoping for too much from the 1DMk4 under those terrible lighting conditions? The 1DMk4 has increased its pixel size over the III, what impact on noise will result?

By: Markus Jais Photography » Blog Archive » Art Morris on the autofocus of the Canon EOS 7D and EOS 1D Mark IV

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:29:35 +0000

[...] Morrisis one of the best bird and nature photographers of our time. In a recent blog post about the AF of the EOS 7D and EOS 1D Mark IV he writes: My initial impression is that the Mark IV is surely the best ever Canon body when it [...]

By: birdsasart

birdsasart — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:57:24 +0000

Thanks David for your kind words. Love to Mom and Dad. My only wish is that each day had 72 hours so that I could do more with the blog, more on BPN, more with Facebook (I am totally lost there), and even learn to Twitter…. Have you seen any of the stuff that Scott Bourne has done in those areas? The guy is amazing.

By: birdsasart

birdsasart — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:55:35 +0000

Part of my problem is that I am modern technology deficient. I am hoping that Robert O’Toole can come over and help me get a better understanding of both Word Press and Facebook. Hey, with digital it is possible for anyone, even beginners, to create images that any professional would be glad to have in their files!

By: birdsasart

birdsasart — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:53:32 +0000

Hi John, It is good to hear from you. I have been using both cameras out of the box with all lenses without calibrating any of them. With great results.

By: Keith Kennedy

Keith Kennedy — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:45:09 +0000

Artie, I continue to enjoy your blog–I check it everyday. Excellent information! Even though I learned about head angle from participating in several of your IPT’s, I found your blog on this topic to be most helpful. Articles and comments that re-enforce core principles is a good thing especially for those of us who are now ‘mature’ photographers and may be prone to forget a thing or two.

By the way, the incoming image of the mallard drake is terrific. Keep the blogs coming!