Forum/thread	Message
Forum: Q & A Thread: Who's ordering the new Canon 5D Mk II?	Re: Who's ordering the new Canon 5D Mk II? Posted: 23 Sep 2008 at 18:59 GMT go to thread At the camera store I manage, we're about to start accepting used 5D cameras as a trade-in for the 5D MII. Prices are dropping for the 5D. Adorama is also a good source of high-quality, used cameras and information. Remember: the 5D is notorious for collecting dust and the body is not as "tight" as most think. But excellent camera. DPReview has a famous photographer lined-up to shoot a movie with the 5D MII, so keep an eye on that site for it. All of us had bets it would be over $3K ... yet it came in at just $2,699.00. Unbelievable ! alert moderator
Forum: Commercial Announce Thread: New Nodal Ninja 180	Re: New Nodal Ninja 180 Posted: 20 Sep 2008 at 2:27 GMT go to thread Bill, Is this (finally) a high-quality pano head for those that shoot with a PNS camera (G9 and G9 with wide angle lens) and are just after a one or two row 180 degree pano? Pano head mfgs always assume everyone shoots with a DSLR, but there is a large opportunity for the growing PNS market, too ! * The G9 and G10 are off-set. T-Bracket needed? * Support the new 5D MII ? With 20mm or 50mm lens? Thanks .... this might be better than my panosaurus. steve alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Pro Quality Lenses	Re: Pro Quality Lenses Posted: 18 Sep 2008 at 19:05 GMT go to thread EFS lens are specifically made for Canon DSLR's with a cropped sensor. Tests will show they are excellent value for the money --- they don't fit FF SLR's but they are quite nice. The EFS 17-55 is an excellent value and pushes the "L" glass hard. Glass is more important than bodies. Many "pros" still shoot with a 20D (8mp) but have excellent glass. For around $445 the EF 20mm f/2.8 is a nice lens, too, but not wide enough for panos. What impresses pros is the composition of your photos and the IQ you achieved ! alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: help for choosing wide angle lens	Re: help for choosing wide angle lens Posted: 10 Jul 2008 at 8:01 GMT updated: 10 Jul 2008 at 8:01 GMT go to thread I've been watching this board for some time. I'd vote along with what a lot might agree: First. Sigma 8mm F3.5 Second. Nikon 10.5mm Third. Sigma 4.5 F2.8 Of those you listed, I think the Sigma 8mm F3.5 is a dominant lens for worldwide panographers. I'll let the others give their say. Best of luck, Steve alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Lens for Still Shots	Re: Lens for Still Shots Posted: 8 Jul 2008 at 19:18 GMT go to thread I concur with Doug. I just applied for a RE photo contract job with a mainland U.S. company -- they require an SLR with a lens of 16mm or less. They HIGHLY suggest the Canon 10-22mm lens for Canon users. Been practicing with the Canon 10-22mm and it's pretty nice! All at 10mm, like Doug! I hope I get the job ! Best of luck, steve alert moderator
Forum: Tips & Tricks Thread: Canon 40D/ EFS 10-22/ NN3 MKII - trials & results - questions too!	Re: Canon 40D/ EFS 10-22/ NN3 MKII - trials & results - questions too! Posted: 7 Jul 2008 at 1:16 GMT go to thread Ayman, I have no answers, but will watch comments/suggestions very carefully. I plan to purchase very soon, the Canon 10-22mm lens and either the Canon 40D or the Canon XSi (450). I have access to both -- have done several tests -- and am having problems, too. Good luck --- and I'll await some suggestions, too! mahalo, steve alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Pole aerial VR & 5D/Sigma 8/Agnos RingT combo..	Re: Pole aerial VR & 5D/Sigma 8/Agnos RingT combo.. Posted: 1 Jul 2008 at 19:03 GMT go to thread Erik, Doug is right. I shoot PAP (pole aerial photography) and have the Manfrotto 269 HDBU tripod that goes to 25 feet. I use a Canon G9. At times, I'm not able to go above 15 feet due to the wind. I manage a pro camera store, and have put a Canon 40D, Canon 5D, Nikon D60 -- all on the tripod. It is scary. Not only might I lose a camera, but it would snap the tripod with just a small amount of wind. (A short gust of wind almost cost me a 40D!) I use a Manfrotto 488 RCO tripod head. It adds some stability, but also some weight. Weight is a HUGE consideration. I have a new web site with limited information at www.mauipanoramics.com. More to come!!! I'm also shooting Panos at 10 - 25 feet. Remember, too, you'll need good remote control software or wireless. I use two software packages and have the Canon G9 connected via USB cable. In the perfect world -- it gets no better than a Canon 5D and Sigma 8mm. But it's a lot of money -- and I'm not convinced it's worth it for PAP. I'll have more samples up on Friday, with various cameras at 15-25 feet. Mahalo, steve alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Tripod Height	Re: Tripod Height Posted: 26 Jun 2008 at 22:20 GMT go to thread Try panos at different heights. Doug is right about 4ft to 4 1/2ft -- but try it high, too. I have the Manfrotto 269 HDBU tripod that goes to 25feet. I shot an inside pano of my camera store at 8 feet and 10 feet -- pretty cool! Outside, I've been playing with 10 feet, 12 feet and up to 15 feet. If you want a "unique" perspective -- try a bit higher and lower. Just my 1/2 cent worth of opinion. mahalo, steve alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Panosaurus Head	Re: Panosaurus Head Posted: 26 Jun 2008 at 2:56 GMT go to thread I use mine all the time. Good Value for the money. I'm still learning -- use a Canon G9 with wide angle lens. Had to cut it down a bit for the Canon wide angle -- very happy with it. Have a Manfrotto 269 HDBU 25ft tripod for Pole Aerial Photography, and weight (or lack thereof) was very important. When I get a Canon 40D, I'll re-evaluate it. But in the meantime, it's been very nice to use ! mahalo steve alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Tips for my first residential job?	Re: Tips for my first residential job? Posted: 25 Jun 2008 at 19:53 GMT go to thread Get a DOG in the a shot. People love to see a dog .... or a cat. Just kidding !! Good luck. Take notes and share with us your workflow. steve alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Try Before You Buy!	Re: Try Before You Buy! Posted: 25 Jun 2008 at 19:51 GMT go to thread Come to my store --- Lighthouse Camera, right here on Dickenson Stree, Lahaina Town, just north of Ka'anapali, on the 'isle of Mau'i. You can take out any camera-lens combo you want and play with it. Open 9 to 7. Look forward to seeing you soon! steve (just kidding, of course!) Don't spend significant coins without getting it in your hands and playing with it !!!! alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: Just ONE format (Java or Flash)..?	Re: Just ONE format (Java or Flash)..? Posted: 25 Jun 2008 at 19:38 GMT updated: 25 Jun 2008 at 19:47 GMT go to thread Make sure you understand your market, also ! Prior to moving to Hawai'i three years ago, I was a Global Account Manager for Dell Computer, managing: - American Airlines - Texas Instruments - EDS - Perot Systems NONE of them would allow downloads of software or anything like a "viewer". They spent millions to build a singular "image" for each of their PC's. No one could download anything. They did put Flash and MS Window Media Player, and of course, had JAVA. But nothing else was allowed. It took a VP to approve a "special" case .... like CAD software, or something different than the software image that came with a new computer. It was all about "licensing" and being legal. An employee caught with software not "approved" was terminated immediately --- and it happened often ! Summary: FLASH is a bit of a standard. Great corporate support, with teams helping corporate FLASH teams. I did a start-up here on Maui with a JAVA-based media player, which meant no third-party media player was needed to show videos over the Internet. It's VX30 ! Incredible technology!! We shut down a year ago --- could not make a go of it. Only the Education marketspace bought it. So ... be considerate of this if your market is the big corporate market. Best to all, steve alert moderator
Forum: Galleries Thread: Panos from Maramures	Re: Panos from Maramures Posted: 25 Jun 2008 at 19:32 GMT go to thread As a side note --- the owners of the four camera stores where I work, will NOT let us download software or "viewers" to the PC's. So, I could not see your pano. Not unusual. Prior to moving to Hawai'i three years ago --- I was a Global Account Manager for Dell Computer. None of them allowed employees to download anything to their computer. Each company had a "corporate" image that was put on each system. - American Airlines - Texas Instruments - Perot Systems - EDS This is over 180,000 employees that could not see videos and "view" with a media player other than MS Windows Media Player and Flash. Mahalo, steve alert moderator
Forum: Tips & Tricks Thread: Have a look at Googles streetview setup	Re: Have a look at Googles streetview setup Posted: 19 Jun 2008 at 23:02 GMT go to thread I can just see his expense report now: 1. Ticket for driving too fast --- much money! 2. Court Costs ---- even more money! 3. Illegal Turn --- Who Knows ? Pretty Funny. steve alert moderator
Forum: Q & A Thread: question about upgrading my kit	Re: question about upgrading my kit Posted: 18 Jun 2008 at 19:22 GMT go to thread Sorry --- but if you can, go to a local camera store and put that 16-35 lens on a 40D .... and then slap that bad-boy on a Canon 1Ds Mark III. I just did that --- and for once, I am tremendously overwhelmed by what I saw outside, shooting landscape images. That's the most fun I've had in a long time. But with over $10,000 in my hands, it should have also made me a cup of coffee !! best to you, steve alert moderator