[John Bennett]

Jay if you’d taken the time to see the custom on the 1D, as I said its pretty easy.The guy in the vid took some time but its an instructional vid Once your used to it you ca do it in a few, just as you said the nikon takes a few. Its fast and fairly easy. Agee the 5D looks like a chore 🙂

So are many others. Once your used to the menus they are pretty easy. chaning from ring af to ring is cake.It might take me 2 seconds. How often do I need to change faster than that, in 2 years I can honesty say its nver cost me a shot

Changing to 1 of the 3 persoanal functions (sets of custom fuctions is cake). If you switch often say some low light sports (various custom functions) to wedding (differnent custom functions) ……

Theres fewer buttons and dials. Makes some things easier and some things harder. So Jay what to do you when you want to change someting your dont do often in the dead of night?
I can do it on the fly pretty much.

Back to ISO.
If I want ISO 200 I want ISO 200, not 250 or 320. if I decide the shot realy needs 250 or 320 I decide (not the camera) and my buttonless, dial less 1D takes me about 1/8th of a seocnd to do it without taking my eye of the viewfinder. I can increase increase ISO 1/3 and open teh lens 1/3 and drop ss 1/3 all on the fly wihout taking my off the shot in less than .25 second. Atleast I know ISO is increased 1/3 at the critical moment and the camera doesnt bump it 1 stop because you say upto 400 is ok…ISO affects more than just noise.

At the end of the day has your D700 got anything like this

Thats full frame at bout 15 feet. Tthe AF speed/accuracy needed for that because its so close, is well….off the charts and I personally have only seen shots like come from Canon 1DMKII, MKIIns and MKIIIs.

Not quite as difficult but almost

When I read people rave about one system and in the same breath knock others I just dont get it, especially when I know differently 🙂

Bottom line
Both systems are top notch, each has some strengths and weakness compared to the other but c’mon.

The truth is any one of us could be given a free body but have to choose blind folded………and we couldnt pick wrong

[John Bennett]

🙂 Brett please, please don’t take this wrong. I just found it kind of humorous and it sort of jumped out at me.

First, Canon and Nikon are the world leaders and they both make excellent gear.  Of all the factors that influence a great photograph, the majority involve the photographer and not the body.

With that said, think of your image as a destination.  Getting there with a Canon (to me) is like taking surface streets in a car, and Nikon is more like taking the freeway.  Nikon firmware and ergonomics just get out of your way and get you to the results.

One great example is ISO.  On Canon, I would always be watching for the point when my exposure began dropping off to bump up the ISO.   Using Nikon, I simply tell the camera where I want my maximum ISO, and it will automatically bump it up as needed.  You set this once, when you get the camera, and then forget about it.

Sort of a conflict there in so much as the camera is dertiming a critica setting for you…atleast up t a maximum 🙂

That said I’ve handled a couple Nikons, Hands down their entry/prosumer bodies felt better in my hands relative to the Canon counterparts. Don’t think I can say that with their Pro. Dunno really

A friend of mine (who reads this board) recently said to me of the Nikon d300/Canon 50D that the 50D seemed more intuitive and he prefered the controls..Again I dont know.

I will say that my 1D is both fairly easy and fairly complex. Some things I can do with my eyes closed as fast as I can think, others I have to go into the menus and with 21 custom functions menus and 3 more  separate, it can be a bit if its a setting I dont change often.

For example I constantly change from sinle point af to what we Canones refer to as the ring of fire (either 11 or 17 points) around the active when contrast is low. Its custom function menu screen 17. I can do it in about 1 to 2 seconds. Manually setting my WB is pretty easy as well.

Shooting 1D’s do take some time, especially when you are coming from bodies with dials for tv,av,p etc but frankly I can change the most commonly used settings as fast as anyone who uses dials. But mostly, like anything once you use it enough, it becomes second nature regardless of the system.

Never understood the whole Nikon is easier to use debates myself but definately undertsand the ergonomics in the entry/pro sumer lines.

[John Bennett]

I only brought up the 1D as it was mentioned.
A 1D’s af I would stack against the D700, they wont be the same.

With regards to the Canons Pro sumers bodies, I agree, as I said I, think the gap between their Pro bodies and Pro sumers are too large. To me Nikons offerings in the D300,D700 are more what Pro sumer bodies should be…But with that comes additional cost and the question also becomes ok what to add?

A Pro AF system?
I wouldnt bet on it. That’s one of the largest things that sets Pro bodies aside. Why would a Pro Sports shooter for example spend 5 to 8 grand when they could get the same fast/reliable AF in a body half the price? If you want Pro grade AF both makers will force you to pay for it

Weather sealing?
In Canons case absolutely

More AF points?
Yeah that could be done as well…but its going to cost.

etc, etc

Just for clarity if you put 1D grade AF in the 5D you largely have a 1Ds. Why would Pro wedding, fashion, etc type shooters be inclined to buy the 1Ds at 8g? Many already use the 5Dmkii as back ups or mains.

Either way atleast to me bodies arent the be all and end all.  They come and go, whats new and hot today will be old news in 8 months as both Nikon and Canon bring new tech to market.

Glass last forever

/edit add for some perspective
Nikon D300 $1700
Nikon D700 $3100
Nikon D3 $5,600

Canon 50D $1,200
Canon 5Dii $ 2,300
Canon 1DmkIII $5,200

Both of Nikons “Prosumer” offerings are relatively almost 50% more expensive than Canons “Prosumer” offerings.

So yeah, they should offer a bit more.
But then again that difference pays for some really nice glass and when you consider that bodies come and go…trust me in a year or so the D700 will look old as people rave about the Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony newest body…………………..

Like I said I do think Canon needs to up their game a bit with the Prosumer offerings, just bear in mind it means more cost, whch means more depreciation (lost capital) the next time you get an itch to change bodies.

[John Bennett]

Me neither although they’ve never POd me off.
You would have to offer me 5x it’s actual vaue to pry my 1D from me.
Canon had issues with 1 body (most makers including Nikon have) their collosal failure was how they addressed it.

Despite that many of my friends shoot with a mkiii and only 1 rarely felt it displayed the issue so many griped about. When the mkiv comes out later thi year, I may look to buy one, or I may look to buy one of my friends mkIIIs when they step up to the four
/shrug

From what Ive seen/read Nikons AF does not compare well to Canons and that includes the D3. One good freind shoots with
Canon MkIII 800mm f5.6 L and 500 f4 IS L
Nikon D3 with 500 f4 vr..btw he *hated* the 70-200 vr. Way too front heavy
Leica ( for fun)

He usually relies on the Canon and brings out the Nikon for a change of pace. That said, when hes shooting weddings its reversed, he relies on the D3 and the Canon becomes his back up.

Even Rob Galbraith who was instrumental in figuring out what was going on, last time I checked he still used it over anything else for his sports shooting and he above all wouldnt let it (the issue) go and nailed Canon to the wall, yet when money was on line..what did he use???
the MKiii

Jay not sure what you mean by Canon not being able to use TV???
And atleast for me auto iso is a bad feature, not something Id want in a body as a change in ISO much like a change in aperture can really impact the look of your output. Its a setting Id want to control 100% of the time

I will say this and its one area that I think Canon needs to improve on is that the gap between their prosumer bodies and Pro bodies is larger than nikons.. Meaning if your looking for a body thats a little more than a prosumer, but less than a Pro Body Nikon has really dialed that segment in. Canon oth has flat out said they have little interest in entering that area. If you want Pro features (build, af, etc,etc) you need to go all the way to their 1D bodies..Persoanlly I think its a mistake

We’ll see what they come out with this fall, in the never ending tit for tat they are up to bat. And Kurt I agree 100%, if you think Canons L glass is expensive your in for a shock going to Nikon, especially as you go up in focal length. Nikon also really lacks glass around 400mm, in Canon you have a couple choices, 3 if you count the f2.8
Just look at the options you have in the 70-200. Four fantastic lenses from Canon…Nikon?

Don’t get me wrong, I personally beleive people who fall into the great Nikon/Canon debates are mistaken. Both offer fantastic bodies and options, the trick is to find the one that suits *you* and what you want to shoot best.

But at the end of the day for me anyways I went Canon and still much prefer Canon due to the lens lineups and cost.

Glass last and is your investment, bodies come and go

[John Bennett]

Eric I would say it should depend on your shooting style perferences.
From what you describe I *think* if you go the 50D route and try to save some coin ( always a good thing) you will always itch for the 5D and wonder if you made the right decision. Its not that the 50D is a slouch, it’s not.

Its that the 5Dii will suit your style better.

The 50D is geared more towards action/wildlife stuff.
The 5D is geared more towards ladscape/portrait type stuff.

Every few weeks I think about buying the 5Dii and just about the time I’ve convinced myself to pull the trigger, I step back because while it will save me coin I also know the 1DMKIV (due this fall) is geared more towards my style preferences. So while I may love the 5Dii for what it does I know I will always second guess myself and think about getting the MKIV another day, because it wont have the same AF, fps, weather sealing etc

[John Bennett]

Love it Will

[John Bennett]

Wow, I had no idea there was that much water and terrain to understand up there.

Welcome to Ontario
🙂

[John Bennett]

What Morsie said about Silica, if you don’t have any rice or maybe even Orange peels until you can get some.

Re the lens
If your gear is insured Id go that route. If for no other reason than the potential for fungus to develop inside the lens down the road.

[John Bennett]

Not sure whats causing the problem. the guy on the left is nice and clean, the right half……………..

IMO the image is saveable, especially if someone whos good at selective colour reproduction/copying can work on it and do it without needing to be aggressive with noise cleaning. So no worries there.

I’ll see what I can do later today/tomorrow but this level manipulation is more agressive than I do, so no doubt someone whos practiced can do better.

J

[John Bennett]

good deal 🙂

Have fun Jarrod, some beautiful country your heading into.

[John Bennett]

Theres a western fly fishing board you can check. The only person I can think of thats out that way is Courteny Oglivie (spey).

Just an fyi BCs non resident liscensing is fairly over he top. They really stick it to non residents, especially if you want Steel. You need a regular non resident, then pay surcharges for some species, then date and water specific liscences..

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish/licences/

[John Bennett]

Lol David.
You know I’d gladly be your assistant for 6 months.Rugrats and all 🙂

As an aside my real estate agent, after seeing my framed covers at home is going to try to hook me up with the person they use for their home promo packages. Looking at the guys work………..he’s good, very good. According to my agent he’s swamped as he does the entire geo region by himself, cant keep up and could use an assistant to handle the modest homes.

Migtbe a steadier weekend gig if hes willing to ramp up my learning curve. From what little I know this stuff is fairly lucrative.

Back to the topic of earning a buck rather than spending 5.
Anyone notce that the “buyers” who have the hardest time parting with $$ is Johny Q public who wants prints or copies of digital files?
The old can I have a copy/print and when you explain why your askin for $$ ( paper and ink arent cheap, my time/expenses getting the image in question) you dont hear from them again.

Ive had people ask for copies of *all* my images from a shoot.
🙂

[John Bennett]

Neal I would go so far as to say it starts with keeping track of what it cost to get your images, let alone hardware/office/sundries purchases and thats what I alluded to. If you end up spending hunreds of dollars (gas, hotels, fast food) to get images of ABC and you aren’t turning a small profit, its a road to insolvency. Its cost real money (and time) to go get images. Time that could be used getting images that sell. My sister is always pestering me to go to my neices Volleyball comps (beach now). Id like to, but I have to be blunt with her. Time spent doing that is time lost when I could be getting images that sell and thus pay for the gas I use to go get….and on and on.

The same person who gave me the advice of treating it like a business, also stressed the importance of trying to maximise my time, if I really want to find a measure of success.

Meaning: Its Thursday and im trying to decide what to do/shoot this weekend. My personal preference might be to go fishing for Carp..Not much of a market for Carp so while I may get a couple great images what Im not doing is getting images of something thats actually in demand.

Late October/early Nov:
I will want to fish for Migratories and maybe fall Musky.

The Market for Whitetail bucks and Moose images trumps those by a country mile. So guess where the majority of my time (and expenditures) will be. If Im out getting Steelhead on any given Saturday……Im not getting those Buck images.

The difference between a hobby and business

My “seasons” are governed by whats going to be needed “next year” as its very much a seasonal business as well, and there are short windows to go get the images. No market for White tail bucks come January. By thenits Rabbits, and predators or hardwater fishing etc.

[John Bennett]

Yep, nice shot John

[John Bennett]

/bookmarks Tosh’s website 🙂

Personally, I think you and Zach are both right and this coming from someone just starting whos trying to keep my eyes open 🙂

Tosh I think your right about both “shooters” and editors burning out.
From the shooters perspective theres an initial rush when you get something accepted/sold.. that quickly turns to disillusionment when some hard realities set in.

If you ]really want to make go of it, its work.  For lot of people the novelty wears off when the fun becomes work, a lot of work for relatively little return. Some family say “you sold that for X”? and it sound nice, but they dont see the work that goes with getting that 1 sale. I suppose if I could do that every week a few times then maybe theres a living in it but………….:)

If your not ready for that, then keep it fun ( a hobby with a little gravy)

I’ve done very well this calendar year, couple covers, bunch of full page images, some half and quarter pages and Ive got more publications wanting me to submit to them.

I shoud/might show a small profit this year.

Need/want a particular shot of something? I drove 14 hrs for this, probably spent 150 to 200 getting it.

Hasn’t made me a dime yet 🙂

Fly fishing specific?
I gave up any aspirations to that real fast. How many images of Browns/Bows on River abc do you really need? How many do your “clients” need? Ok, so you have a couple thousand images from your favorite fairly local river/species….

Now what. How many articles can those images supplement? Travel every weekend for different locals, species? While I prefer fly fishing *personally*, if I want this to grow and get to a point where it supplements my *real job* there just isn’t enough demand for it.

Only so many publications, only so many issues/year each. Only so many articles, so many images per article (space and cost ) and only so many of those purchased from stock. Its a numers game on top of everything else.

harsh reality #2 Assignments
I’ve got one now, its for a fairly extensive feature article, that really I’d like 2 or 3 shoots in different locals to do it right. The AD was willing to go for two. I thought about it over a couple days and heres the simple truth.

Providing weather and species co-operate during shoot #1 in local #1. If it/they don’t

[John Bennett]

I’ll second the Native.

I’ve had mine out 3 times now. On two occassions I stood up to test things, and one of those “test” had alot of my camera equipment on board so I was risking alot more than a swim.

[John Bennett]

With regards to “e-zines”

Any publications ability to purchase copyright material is driven by the ad revenue. While I’m sure they get some, I feel comfortable suggesting it pales in comparison to the rev print mgazines get. So while we as originators bemoan the lack of compensation, Im sure they might do the same. Afterall they probably have as many or more readers and thats not counting return visits. Perhaps in time if/when/as electronic publications become more the norm and print fades away, advertisors will have to pony up, and “e-zines” in turn will be able to better compensate contributors.

Pro vs amateur.
IMO the day you need to start filing tax returns for income is the day you became a Professional writer/photographer.

The difference
Sure theres a gluttony of images and photographers willing to sell photos these days. I admit it, I’m one. I’m chasing the dream. The difference is Im *working* at it.

The difference between say David A or Ben C and myself?
If Im an AD and I want/need  X and Im willing to pay for it, I’m paying David A and not John B for the simple reason with my tight budget I can rely on David A, more than I can John B to deliver. It’s nothing personal, its a *business* decision. If David A is unavailable then I turn to John B because hes more reliable than the people who have shots fall in their laps. One of my greatest accomplishments as yet is nothing more than being named as a “photographer” in a mag as opposed to just credit with each image. Every month rigt under the credits for the publishers/editors theres my name. It earns me didly to most it probably doesnt mean alot, but in reality it means a world of difference.

Tons of people can get take publishable images when everything falls into place (light, subject matter, etc.) and some happen by accident.
The people who get repeat busniess are the photographers who can do it anytime/anywhere/under all sorts of conditions and deliver. Not once, not twice consistantly and on demand.

When an AD is looking for an image. Whose libraries do you think are checked fist? The photogrpahers whom they know can deliver and for which they have proven track records, or the hundreds of “shooters” to whom its a Hobby w/ Gravy and cross their desk once in a while with a nice photo?

[John Bennett]

Jesus, Doug you couldn’t pay me enough to do that and even if you could I’d probably be spending the entire time cleaning the front element of yesterdays dinner.

Great job

[John Bennett]

Eric.

It sounds like it basically exposes the bright areas of the sensor at 1 stop slower iso speed to help reel back in some of the highlights.

 Thats pretty much what they do. Great for your highlights i your pushing the edges of blowing them, but what about shadows?

Perfect example of where you wouldnt want something like this are loons or any other image where you pushing the edges of a cameras dynamic range.

In both cases Im using center point af and spot metering because I want to expose for the black of their heads and nailed exposure perfectly, lots of detail in the blacks, you can count individual feathers. If Id been using somthing like highlight priority in an affort to save the breast, it would have lost the shadow detail. Less light in the same amount of time.

M vs AV and TV.
Similiar thing. In M your in full control, in AV and TV its split. I use AV when its advantageous to do so. All the camera will change there is my shutter speed. Unless I have a reason to maintain a slow SS most pictures will look the same whether they are shot at 1/500th or 1/1000th.

I use AV when light is intermittant (constantly changing) and I cat keep up or Im making mistakes as a result or in a case like above.
Use spot metering and AV, the slightest change will change your settings. As I was in a boat where its impossible to keep the center point on something small like a Loons head by using AV I know that when center point is on target, it metering for what I want, and Im releasing the shutter at that instant

If Im in M trying to get a meter reading is tricky..One moment black, one moment white and all over as the boat moves.

But on the whole I prefer M for that reason. Set your camera to AV/TV and point our lens at the horizon. Swing up/down and watch what happens to your setting the camera is controlling. A good example is a fish shot where dark water is the BG, change the perspective a bit so some sky is visible and the camera will change your exposure.

Why should it? The light on your subject hasnt changed.

If your in a situation where taking your reading is reliable and light is unlikekly to change, thats the settings you want and Ms the only one that does that.

Artistically you can always +/- exposure bias if you want something under/over relative to your reading, just as you can leave your settings under/over relative to your reading, so thats 6 of one, half dozen of another.

[John Bennett]

Francois Blanchett and more reels

Would pesonally love to be outfitted in Loop

[Author]

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