Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: nemophoto on September 18, 2014, 09:55:58 am

Title: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 18, 2014, 09:55:58 am
Don't get me wrong, the 7D Mark II seems like a very nice camera. I'd even consider getting one as backup, or perhaps even as my primary camera -- if I didn't already own a 1Dx. To me, though, the lack of any real announcements for a camera that TRULY succeeds my 6-year old 1Ds Mark III, shows the company has truly split in a way. One segment is focused on consumer and Prosumer products, while the other focuses on cinema oriented products. Truly sad to see when I look back at the history of Canon, especially with the revolutionary development of the EOS1 and on. I've shot with Canon since 1980, and now, I'm truly disgusted. They have abandoned the true pro PHOTOGRAPHER.

I really don't care about video in my camera body. (In fact, I actually start doing cinematography in about 1970, and before becoming a photographer, thought I'd have a career in film.) As a friend suggested, I should just buy a Nikon D810 and a couple of lenses to fulfill the high res needs. (I shoot 8-foot tall instore posters for a client almost every month.) Or, maybe I'll go back to medium format and pickup a Pentax 645Z. If it weren't for the dearth of lenses for the system, I would have purchased one already. Am I alone in the frustration that Canon seems to have slipped from being a leader and even pioneer, to a virtual also-ran?

Nemo
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: torger on September 18, 2014, 10:15:45 am
No, you're not alone. Waiting for the high MP body with image quality at base ISO comparable to the Sony Exmor ever since the D800 came out. Ie the next camera to fill the "1Ds3" niche.

I think they have technical difficulties in competing with sensor technology with it comes to high MP small pixel sensors though. If they had the technology I think we would have seen a high MP camera already. But while Canon sensors perform very well at high ISO, I haven't seen a single Canon sensor so far that can compete with Sony Exmor (D800, D810, Sony A7r) when it comes to signal-to-noise performance at base ISO, and I think that metric is important for a high MP camera to become successful.

I think it would be unwise by Canon to release a full-frame high MP body without solving the dynamic range issue.

The 7D mark II shows interesting new sensor technology with phase detect over the whole surface. Unfortunately I think it will still show the same DR at base ISO as we are used to seeing in Canon sensors...
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Paul2660 on September 18, 2014, 10:29:08 am
You may not be waiting too long.

Lots of buzz on Canon rumors about a 46mp full frame coming. Announcement in October at Photoexpo. Times with history as Conin does seem to make the big announcements in NY.

Hope to see it

Paul
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: allegretto on September 18, 2014, 10:53:00 am
When I got back into photography seriously, went full-on Nikon and the colors always bothered me, especially flesh tones. The RX-1 Sony is a helluva camera and I love it, but same thing on colors

Canon is far more pleasing color and balance to my eye and that is more important than having 6.023 X 10^23 pixels

However I do understand why for some the count, counts...
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: MrSmith on September 18, 2014, 11:01:47 am
"They have abandoned the true pro PHOTOGRAPHER”

what’s a true pro photographer?  :-\ 
i can appreciate that somebody who earns a significant proportion of their income from selling photographic imagery would be classed as ‘professional’
but speaking as somebody who owns some canon equipment (amongst other brands) and derives all their income from photography I dont feel abandoned by anyone.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on September 18, 2014, 11:24:12 am
...  Am I alone in the frustration that Canon seems to have slipped from being a leader and even pioneer, to a virtual also-ran?

Hell, no!
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 18, 2014, 11:31:44 am
Don't get me wrong, the 7D Mark II seems like a very nice camera. I'd even consider getting one as backup, or perhaps even as my primary camera -- if I didn't already own a 1Dx. To me, though, the lack of any real announcements for a camera that TRULY succeeds my 6-year old 1Ds Mark III, shows the company has truly split in a way. One segment is focused on consumer and Prosumer products, while the other focuses on cinema oriented products. Truly sad to see when I look back at the history of Canon, especially with the revolutionary development of the EOS1 and on. I've shot with Canon since 1980, and now, I'm truly disgusted. They have abandoned the true pro PHOTOGRAPHER.

Am I alone in the frustration that Canon seems to have slipped from being a leader and even pioneer, to a virtual also-ran?

Nemo

Huh? I see tons of pros using Canon gear.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: DeanChriss on September 18, 2014, 11:42:38 am
Whoever Canon has abandoned, it's not the professional video photographer.

See http://cinemaeos.usa.canon.com/.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: MoreOrLess on September 18, 2014, 12:02:07 pm
I would say its less Canon giving up on the pro's so much as seeming to focus more on action and event pro's.

In a way I can see the logic to this as you could argue Canon's system is the absolute top of the line equipment for this next to Nikon, when it comes to studio/landscape cameras though I'd guess the feeling was they would always be playing second fiddle to digital MF.

Just how much of that market the D800's seem to have captured does perhaps show that was a mistake though.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: John Koerner on September 18, 2014, 12:28:38 pm
Don't get me wrong, the 7D Mark II seems like a very nice camera. I'd even consider getting one as backup, or perhaps even as my primary camera -- if I didn't already own a 1Dx. To me, though, the lack of any real announcements for a camera that TRULY succeeds my 6-year old 1Ds Mark III, shows the company has truly split in a way. One segment is focused on consumer and Prosumer products, while the other focuses on cinema oriented products. Truly sad to see when I look back at the history of Canon, especially with the revolutionary development of the EOS1 and on. I've shot with Canon since 1980, and now, I'm truly disgusted. They have abandoned the true pro PHOTOGRAPHER.

I really don't care about video in my camera body. (In fact, I actually start doing cinematography in about 1970, and before becoming a photographer, thought I'd have a career in film.) As a friend suggested, I should just buy a Nikon D810 and a couple of lenses to fulfill the high res needs. (I shoot 8-foot tall instore posters for a client almost every month.) Or, maybe I'll go back to medium format and pickup a Pentax 645Z. If it weren't for the dearth of lenses for the system, I would have purchased one already. Am I alone in the frustration that Canon seems to have slipped from being a leader and even pioneer, to a virtual also-ran?

Nemo

Abandoning the pros?

You might be surprised to learn that not all pros seek "single image resolution/DR" as their most important consideration. Not everyone is trying to shoot the aurora borealis at optimal light.

As I put on another thread, it's funny, because back when the sensor "size" war started, everyone was crying (bitching, moaning) about "full functionality" over sensor size.

Now everyone is complaining about "single image resolution/DR," as if that is the only consideration for all photographers.

Now that Canon has produced a camera that is more focused on full-functionality (and less on "the best sensor") everyone is crying (bitching, moaning) about the sensor  ;D

The 7D II may not have the best single-image production capability of any camera, but it has the, broadest "high level" capabilities of any ASP-C camera, with the availability of the most lens choices. It rivals (and in some cases exceeds) full-frame sports cameras for 1/4 the cost.

That makes it a pretty useful tool for a broad scope of professional users, whose main focus (pardon the pun) is not "singe image resolution/DR."

Jack
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: John Koerner on September 18, 2014, 12:44:36 pm
You may not be waiting too long.
Lots of buzz on Canon rumors about a 46mp full frame coming. Announcement in October at Photoexpo. Times with history as Conin does seem to make the big announcements in NY.
Hope to see it
Paul


If this is true, and if the specs/actual performance of this new FF meet/exceed the D810, then in a 2-month step, Canon will have taken over the ASP-C and FF market again, and they already have the widest array of top-shelf lenses.

I personally am waiting till the end of December to invest in a whole new system (be that back to Canon again or switching over to Nikon). After using the original 7D for several years, I want something better, and I personally seek single-image quality. If Canon steps back up to the plate, and produces this kind of camera again, I will probably stay with them.

However, I was really taken aback by the DxO scores on the Nikon 810 + 200mm micro-Nikkor lens, versus the Canon (which sucked and scored about half) by comparison. In macro, absolute resolution and detail are everything.

So I have a few months of chin-rubbing to do. Because (while I do appreciate the new 7D II) it ultimately isn't really what I want. I want the resolution and DR. So I will wait till the end of this year to see if Canon can produce it. If they can, I will remain among them. If they can't, then I am going for the D810. Because, either way, I want Bernard to stop trying to convert me to Nikon already ( :P)

Jack
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: NancyP on September 18, 2014, 12:56:21 pm
Allegretto has upped the demands! Avogadro's number of pixels    ::)  Well, that's a nice round number - I will have to take that one over to Canon Rumors and throw it out, see if anyone recognizes it.

There are pros and then there are pros. Pros who shoot sports, weddings, other events, portraits, and other moving-subject work are well enough served by Canon. Architecture shooters are all off with MF tech cameras along the lines of Alpa. And so on. Canon is not likely to be loved at a landscape-dominant forum.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: DeanChriss on September 18, 2014, 02:00:41 pm
In one way or another what I'll say here has probably been said before. To make up for that it's long, so feel free to skip to the next post.

I've used Canon cameras since 1978, starting with the A-1 and F1-n. When the EOS system came along and obsoleted all of my FD lenses I was incredibly upset and really wanted to buy a Nikon system because of that. Many did. When I tried out a Nikon F4 and a Canon EOS-1, the Canon was for me ergonomically much nicer and more intuitive to use. In switching back and forth between the two once I knew how to use both, the Nikon felt awkward. Not wanting to punish myself because I was mad at Canon, I ended up purchasing the EOS-1 and a pile of EF lenses. Since then I've owned most of the 1-series film and digital cameras that Canon has made. They have been bullet proof and the couple times service was needed it was fast and flawless. These cameras have done everything I have needed them to do, sometimes in conditions a camera shouldn't be exposed to. This may sound like Canon "fanboy" talk but it's the simple truth. I'm sure there are Nikon users who'd say similar things.

Unfortunately Canon's present cameras like the 1DX and 5D3 offer vast improvements in terms of auto-focus, auto-exposure, LCD monitor, live view, video, and nearly everything else, except low ISO image quality. If you look at the DXO scores, or your old images if you have had the previous cameras, you'll see that at ISO 100 - 200 the image quality of Canon's best cameras is nearly unchanged since the introduction of the 1DS3 in 2007. That's upsetting, not because the image quality is bad, but because better exists, and like most I want to make the best images possible.

But as others have mentioned there are many shades of gray in the Canon v. Nikon debate, and the "best" system really depends on exactly what you're doing with it. In some situations a lower frame rate can mean lots of missed shots. If you need a light 70-200mm zoom that you'll use under adverse conditions, you'll notice Nikon's F/4 version lacks sealing. The Canon 24-70 F/2.8 is considerably better than the Nikon equivalent. A camera like the D810 using the Nikon lens still beats the IQ of a Canon camera using the better Canon lens, but by less than it ought to. See http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/01/a-24-70mm-system-comparison. For ultimate image quality there are primes like those from Zeiss, but those aren't weather sealed either, and the practicality of dragging around a half dozen or more primes on top of a couple long lenses to 600mm is a non-starter if you need the ability to travel with all of this stuff. You get the idea. There is no single ideal camera or system.

It would be very odd to lose a client or a sale only because you used a Canon instead of a Nikon, or nearly anything else for that matter. An image buyer's deciding criteria is far more likely to be subject matter, artistic qualities, or the color of their couch than pixel quality. Without side by side comparisons of the same image taken with both systems under identical circumstances how could anyone judge? Heck, I still sell prints of a few images that were shot in the early 1980s using a Canon F1-N, a zoom lens, and Kodachrome 25. They hang next to prints taken with a 1DS3 and 1DX, but people still like them. I have a friend who does well with beautiful pinhole camera images, and another who has sold more than I'd ever hope to, who has often deliberately cranked up the ISO on a digital camera to "bring out that beautiful noise". Regardless, IQ is meaningless if you can't capture the shot you want or need, and you are probably the only person who will ever care about or notice IQ differences in your images that are due to the camera used. There's really a lot more to photography than IQ.
 
Still, Canon's continuing willingness to let low ISO image quality stagnate in favor of developing everything else under the sun bugs the living hell out of me! Of course Canon isn't developing a camera for me, they're doing what they think will provide the biggest return on their investments. The only real solution for anyone doing a wide range of different kinds of photography would seem to be owning multiple systems and handling the more complex logistics, or compromising on some aspects of some types of photography.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on September 18, 2014, 02:06:59 pm
...not because the image quality is bad, but because better exists...

Well put and a good post otherwise.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: allegretto on September 18, 2014, 02:09:07 pm
Allegretto has upped the demands! Avogadro's number of pixels    ::)  Well, that's a nice round number - I will have to take that one over to Canon Rumors and throw it out, see if anyone recognizes it.

There are pros and then there are pros. Pros who shoot sports, weddings, other events, portraits, and other moving-subject work are well enough served by Canon. Architecture shooters are all off with MF tech cameras along the lines of Alpa. And so on. Canon is not likely to be loved at a landscape-dominant forum.

Chem much Nancy…?

We will employ the new pixel-metric… molar expression. With 6.023 X 10^23 being a "1 Molar" chip. the advantage here is that as you know "molar" is concentration based scalar so it would define density as well. Sweet…!

Whaddya think…?
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: uaiomex on September 18, 2014, 02:36:41 pm
I feel your frustation Nemo.
This is what I see as a possible scenario. Just an exercise in imagination to undertand the Canon IQ leadership demise.

Canon found through industrial spying that Sony had a huge breaktrhough in sensor technology. As this technology was heavily patented they knew then, they were about to be years behind in this department.
They had to come with an alternative strategy to stay put. This strategy had two main points:

One, revamping all those lenses that lacked image quality. They pushed their lens r&d to the limit. It paid off as they could release so many improved lenses that left Nikon behind in this department. Result : Forced loyalty.

Two, it was easy for them to see that video was going to get really hot. They again told their enginners to push video research to the limits. They won the race when they released the 5DII. After the tremendously market acceptance of this camera, the management gave the nod to fully develop the cinema system. Result: it seems they just completely woke the cinema tiger that was half asleep in Sony quarters.

It is now 6 years later. By now, Canon should know for sure if they stay in the sensor race or sacrifice a little pride and start buying Sony big sensors.
When will our frustation end? Hard to tell. It can be this October or in the next few years.

Eduardo


Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 18, 2014, 03:06:17 pm
You may not be waiting too long.

Lots of buzz on Canon rumors about a 46mp full frame coming. Announcement in October at Photoexpo. Times with history as Conin does seem to make the big announcements in NY.

Hope to see it

Paul


Hate to say it, but the rumored 46MP camera has been touted as the next great thing for years... and has yet to materialize. I'll be truly surprised if it's announced at Photo Expo versus Photokina, since there is no comparison in size and prestige of the two.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 18, 2014, 03:11:07 pm
Whoever Canon has abandoned, it's not the professional video photographer.

See http://cinemaeos.usa.canon.com/.

My point exactly. Canon has placed far more emphasis on their CinemaEOS cameras than anything in the 1D line.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: DeanChriss on September 18, 2014, 03:39:04 pm
Hate to say it, but the rumored 46MP camera has been touted as the next great thing for years...

Literally years. When the rumored 46 or more megapixel camera does not materialize as rumored there is immediately a replacement rumor about what show it really will appear at, and so on. Personally, I go to the Canon rumors site when I'm not sure what to be disappointed about next.  ;)
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: NancyP on September 18, 2014, 03:43:21 pm
What is the market share of Cinema EOS? Are they competing with RED? Garden-variety broadcast video cameras from Panasonic (If it bleeds, it leads...)? Are Cinema EOS being used routinely for news? shooting low-end TV commercials (Carpet City)? independent documentaries? narrative cable TV projects? high-end Hollywood productions?
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: uaiomex on September 18, 2014, 03:52:41 pm
I truly believe that Cinema EOS was a wrong turn. Wil it work? Possibly. Will it turn to be worthy for Canon? At the price Canon is paying nowadays, probably not.

What is the market share of Cinema EOS? Are they competing with RED? Garden-variety broadcast video cameras from Panasonic (If it bleeds, it leads...)? Are Cinema EOS being used routinely for news? shooting low-end TV commercials (Carpet City)? independent documentaries? narrative cable TV projects? high-end Hollywood productions?
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: pegelli on September 18, 2014, 04:24:37 pm
If it weren't for the dearth of lenses for the system, I would have purchased one already.

How about a Sony a7 (24 MP) or a7R (36 MP) body and a Metabones smart adapter (http://www.metabones.com/products/details/MB-EF-E-BM4) which gives you Electronic aperture, EXIF, image stabilization and autofocus. It will probably lag in ergonomics and AF speed but it gives you options w/o having to get into a completely new lens lineup.

Probably not your desired end-point, but it could be a "fill in the gap until Canon produces something with a better sensor" tactic.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 18, 2014, 04:31:38 pm
I feel your frustation Nemo.
This is what I see as a possible scenario. Just an exercise in imagination to undertand the Canon IQ leadership demise.

Canon found through industrial spying that Sony had a huge breaktrhough in sensor technology. As this technology was heavily patented they knew then, they were about to be years behind in this department.
They had to come with an alternative strategy to stay put. This strategy had two main points:

One, revamping all those lenses that lacked image quality. They pushed their lens r&d to the limit. It paid off as they could release so many improved lenses that left Nikon behind in this department. Result : Forced loyalty.

Two, it was easy for them to see that video was going to get really hot. They again told their enginners to push video research to the limits. They won the race when they released the 5DII. After the tremendously market acceptance of this camera, the management gave the nod to fully develop the cinema system. Result: it seems they just completely woke the cinema tiger that was half asleep in Sony quarters.

It is now 6 years later. By now, Canon should know for sure if they stay in the sensor race or sacrifice a little pride and start buying Sony big sensors.
When will our frustation end? Hard to tell. It can be this October or in the next few years.

Eduardo




I think you nailed it pretty well, Eduardo. The irony is, Canon was light years ahead of most companies in sensor development. They were the first to push CMOS instead of CCD (which at the time, many thought Canon was out of it's collective minds). I think, as often happens, they rested a tad too long on their laurels, and found others (Sony) leap frogging ahead. Although, until lately, Canon STILL held the advantage for high ISO compared to Sony. Pity nothing came of the demo chip Canon created a number of years ago -- approx 125MP in the 1D format (1.3x crop factor).
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: David Anderson on September 18, 2014, 07:30:23 pm
I gave up on Canon replacing my ancient 1DsIII's last year and haven't looked back.
Canon have no answer to the 800e - nothing - not a hint, sniff or wish for anything that even comes close to the image quality of the Nikon.
No, I won't debate various Canon vs. Nikon lenses anymore because it's pointless until Canon pulls their finger out and makes a sensor of the same quality as the 800e.


 

Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 18, 2014, 07:57:32 pm
I gave up on Canon replacing my ancient 1DsIII's last year and haven't looked back.
Canon have no answer to the 800e - nothing - not a hint, sniff or wish for anything that even comes close to the image quality of the Nikon.
No, I won't debate various Canon vs. Nikon lenses anymore because it's pointless until Canon pulls their finger out and makes a sensor of the same quality as the 800e.


 



This is hilarious. Digital sucks.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Iluvmycam on September 18, 2014, 08:15:11 pm
Abandoning the pros?

You might be surprised to learn that not all pros seek "single image resolution/DR" as their most important consideration. Not everyone is trying to shoot the aurora borealis at optimal light.

As I put on another thread, it's funny, because back when the sensor "size" war started, everyone was crying (bitching, moaning) about "full functionality" over sensor size.

Now everyone is complaining about "single image resolution/DR," as if that is the only consideration for all photographers.

Now that Canon has produced a camera that is more focused on full-functionality (and less on "the best sensor") everyone is crying (bitching, moaning) about the sensor  ;D

The 7D II may not have the best single-image production capability of any camera, but it has the, broadest "high level" capabilities of any ASP-C camera, with the availability of the most lens choices. It rivals (and in some cases exceeds) full-frame sports cameras for 1/4 the cost.

That makes it a pretty useful tool for a broad scope of professional users, whose main focus (pardon the pun) is not "singe image resolution/DR."

Jack

That's right Jack! People are crazed with mp. The grass is greener delusion. Most of what I see on the forums is garbage anyway. They want hi res snapshots of garbage. 35mm color flatbed scanned film = about 4mp. Everything above 4mp is gravy.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 18, 2014, 08:29:34 pm
This is hilarious. Digital sucks.

Hmm. My best friend (also a photographer), is a bit of a techno-phobe. You sure sound like him. Get over it. Digital is here to stay. Shoot film if you like -- while you can get it.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 18, 2014, 08:38:17 pm
Hmm. My best friend (also a photographer), is a bit of a techno-phobe. You sure sound like him. Get over it. Digital is here to stay. Shoot film if you like -- while you can get it.

Film is vastly superior to digital in every way.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 18, 2014, 08:55:13 pm
That's right Jack! People are crazed with mp. The grass is greener delusion. Most of what I see on the forums is garbage anyway. They want hi res snapshots of garbage. 35mm color flatbed scanned film = about 4mp. Everything above 4mp is gravy.

There's a real need to higher MP, for certain applications. If you notice, the discussion is as it applies to professional photographers, and not whether someone wants a gazillion megapixels for their snap shots. Though, in the past, I massaged original 4MP images for my client to 8-feet, it took tremendous work and an absolutely tack sharp image -- no room for error. If you think this is all garbage, why not use a Coke bottle for lens??
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 18, 2014, 09:09:14 pm
Film is vastly superior to digital in every way.

I love film. I love digital. Two totally different mediums, like watercolor versus oils. And not unlike those mediums, either you know how to get the most out of digital, or you don't. Given a choice between a client dictating I use EPN versus my choice of the time, Provia, (which happened years ago) I'd take digital ANY day of the week and twice on Sunday. I turned to digital  in 2001, and never looked back. Perhaps you'd like to elaborate on your statement.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 18, 2014, 09:23:28 pm
I love film. I love digital. Two totally different mediums, like watercolor versus oils. And not unlike those mediums, either you know how to get the most out of digital, or you don't. Given a choice between a client dictating I use EPN versus my choice of the time, Provia, (which happened years ago) I'd take digital ANY day of the week and twice on Sunday. I turned to digital  in 2001, and never looked back. Perhaps you'd like to elaborate on your statement.

No. I'm too busy.

EPN vs Provia? are you kidding? In which format?
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on September 18, 2014, 09:33:52 pm
What is the market share of Cinema EOS? Are they competing with RED? Garden-variety broadcast video cameras from Panasonic (If it bleeds, it leads...)? Are Cinema EOS being used routinely for news? shooting low-end TV commercials (Carpet City)? independent documentaries? narrative cable TV projects? high-end Hollywood productions?
Need for Speed used a lot of Canon EOS kit (http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2014/03/need-for-speed-innovation-gear/) and it was pretty good looking film. Better than the script at least.  I saw it on the big screen too.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on September 18, 2014, 09:35:42 pm
Film is vastly superior to digital in every way.
Methinks I can smell a troll.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 18, 2014, 09:38:41 pm
Methinks I can smell a troll.

Well, except speed. I'll give you that.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: rgs on September 18, 2014, 09:42:50 pm
This is hilarious. Digital sucks.

He's back!
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: rgs on September 18, 2014, 09:45:21 pm
No. I'm too busy.

EPN vs Provia? are you kidding? In which format?

He only has time enough to throw bombs.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 18, 2014, 09:45:36 pm
He's back!

Never been here before, so I'm sorry to say I don't know who 'he' is.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 18, 2014, 09:51:59 pm
I love film. I love digital. Two totally different mediums, like watercolor versus oils. And not unlike those mediums, either you know how to get the most out of digital, or you don't. Given a choice between a client dictating I use EPN versus my choice of the time, Provia, (which happened years ago) I'd take digital ANY day of the week and twice on Sunday. I turned to digital  in 2001, and never looked back. Perhaps you'd like to elaborate on your statement.

I once saw a comparison (4x5 chromes) made by a pro of Fujichrome 100 vs EPN. The photos were of bedding (shot in studio), I believe. The color difference was considerable. The EPN was more neutral, if I recall. More accurate. I was more than a little surprised. But what I was reacting to was that the client was choosing the film. If it were 35mm, I would take PKR every time. For those who don't know, that was Kodachrome 64 professional.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: torger on September 19, 2014, 04:05:56 am
High res 135 was a big risk when D800 was introduced. Would anyone want that high resolution, or was it just a waste? It became a huge hit though, clearly there was a high res niche to fill, and since then Nikon has followed up with the D810 and Sony has released the A7r. I think it's more about reaching into the super-expensive medium format space rather than to just make high resolution pictures in the traditional 135 genres. In terms of grain-free resolution a D810 can produce prints which is really close to 4x5" large format film. That's cool.

Canon is stable in all the "old" genres of 135 photography which fills the needs of the vast majority of users, but the high res niche remains unfilled. To say that is to "abandon the pros" is a long stretch, but indeed those that did much work with the 1Ds3 probably feel let down when they've seen what's possible with a D810. I guess the best alternative you have as a Canon user is to buy an A7r body and adapters while waiting for Canon to hopefully catch up.

Probably a larger user group than pros that want a high res Canon there's amateurs too. Landscape is huge among amateurs, and that's an application when high resolution is desired by many.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Paulo Bizarro on September 19, 2014, 04:25:49 am
I can see what is going to happen when Canon introduces a new high mp count sensor in a 1 series camera: people will then complain that it will be too expensive... sigh...

Who is willing today to pay north of USD 6000 for a 1DX like camera with high +40 mp sensor?

Note that the D810, Sony A7R etc are not in the same price category as a D4 or 1DX.

To me, the only doubt is whether Canon will put such a sensor in a 1D series camera, or in the 5D type camera. In a sense, the 1D high resolution sensor camera may have died; again, the action-pro camera from Nikon is not high res sensor.

Or they may put it in both series.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on September 19, 2014, 05:04:04 am
One of the questions I think we all need to consider is whether it is enough to capture images today at 22mp when we know that they are likely to be commonly displayed in a few years on 8K screens that will be 32mp.

We can easily anticipate that the expected level will be going up steadily moving forward and that the accepted standard for detail will continue to evolve faster than we may think.

I know that I am not super comfortable posting online today landscape images I shot on film 20 years ago. Some are strong enough from a subject standpoint to overcome the limited quality, many relied on the "image quality" and they are now very far below the required threshold.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: David Anderson on September 19, 2014, 05:25:34 am

I know that I am not super comfortable posting online today landscape images I shot on film 20 years ago.

Not wrong.
I flat copied some of my old prints recently and the high ISO live music stuff could have been rendered with more detail had I done them with crayons.  ;D
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: David Anderson on September 19, 2014, 05:32:13 am
This is hilarious. Digital sucks.

It sure does.
I assume you're reading this thread on paper ? 
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Bart_van_der_Wolf on September 19, 2014, 05:42:49 am
One of the questions I think we all need to consider is whether it is enough to capture images today at 22mp when we know that they are likely to be commonly displayed in a few years on 8K screens that will be 32mp.

Hi Bernard,

But at which viewing distance ...

Sure, resolution will probably go up for certain applications (e.g. large format output), but a lot of content will only be viewed on small displays. Afterall, most of us are currently looking at 100 PPI displays, from relatively short distances, and make due. I've seen huge (2x3 metres) output from a single 24x36mm 21 MP image up close, which was stunning (given it's humble origin).

Having said that, I do plan ahead and that is why I (like you do) attempt to use stitching for increased resolution (not necessarily for wider angle vistas) if the subject may end up being displayed relatively large for the intended viewing distance.

Cheers,
Bart
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: torger on September 19, 2014, 07:08:51 am
I can see what is going to happen when Canon introduces a new high mp count sensor in a 1 series camera: people will then complain that it will be too expensive... sigh...

Who is willing today to pay north of USD 6000 for a 1DX like camera with high +40 mp sensor?

Yep, pricing won't be popular... but on the other hand, high res photography is expensive. Lenses that resolve are not cheap.

I would guess that when/if Canon launches a high res camera it will first come in a "1DXs" package (priced between 1DX and a Pentax 645z, say $7.2k or so), expensive but with all the robustness features of a pro body, and then it will launch a consumer model later on if they see they can make sales, and they will.

Some users today would like to see the Nikon D810 packaged in a pro level body, and are willing to pay for it.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: allegretto on September 19, 2014, 07:31:20 am
Putting a hi-res sensor into a 1D or D4 body has yet to be accomplished. Data handling and application in general mitigate against it with current technology. Managing all that data rapidly is quite a feat. Thus we see in Nikon you get speed or hi-res but not both. Ditto Sony.

So unless Canon scores a break thru, it's just not going to happen yet

maximizing speed is for sports etc. Thus a robust and fast camera. Resolution requires time. Can't do 11 fps at 50 Mpx… yet

So one might expect Canon to put that sensor in a smaller but still somewhat robust body. Perhaps a 5D w/good weather-seals and a 400K shutter. A silent shutter would be great too. Personally could do without the screen, but that's already considered too retro for most. One doesn't need a 3M screen for menu chomping and in reality would rather see very flexible presets that are user designated than chomping menus in the middle of things. So make that f-ing screen articulated so it's maximally useful instead of a godsend 20% of the time and a PITA 80% of the time
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: DeanChriss on September 19, 2014, 11:22:41 am
I can see what is going to happen when Canon introduces a new high mp count sensor in a 1 series camera: people will then complain that it will be too expensive... sigh...

Who is willing today to pay north of USD 6000 for a 1DX like camera with high +40 mp sensor?

There are a huge number of 1DX bodies in the field, and I think a large percentage of those who also shoot things other than action would buy. I know I'd buy it in a heartbeat plus a few months to see if there are any serious problems. I know a many who'd pre-order. These bodies are bullet proof, not to mention that buying one is a lot less hassle, and cheaper, than replacing $40K in lenses.  

[EDIT: It would need to have a serious dynamic range increase too, not just more pixels. Without the DR increase I think there would be few buyers.]
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: duane_bolland on September 19, 2014, 11:59:24 am
I'm in agreement that Canon doesn't have an answer for the Sony Exmor sensors.  But in practice, that isn't that big of a deal for most people.  I also think that Canon is very smart with regards to business.  With the A7 and D800 out there, there is much less demand for a high MP, high DR Canon camera.  The number of people that would be willing to pay $8000 for 46MP is relatively small and shrinking. 

I think it is quite likely that the contract with Nikon prevents Sony from selling the same chip to Canon and others.  But imagine what Canon could do if they were able to use Sony Exmor sensors?  Canon would save big money on R&D and eliminate their inferior chip production.  And it would instantly level the image quality playing field and focus attention back on lenses and general usability. 
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on September 19, 2014, 12:17:05 pm
One of the questions I think we all need to consider is whether it is enough to capture images today at 22mp when we know that they are likely to be commonly displayed in a few years on 8K screens that will be 32mp.
Something to consider - What won't change is normal viewing distance [for display]. People tend to stand further back from very large prints/displays and a print in the hand or magazine spread may well be viewed relatively larger than a massive print. A magazine spread takes up the same field of view as a 10' print on the wall in my lounge. I have numerous original film posters which look great at normal distances, but quite shocking if you get in close to them.
Only anal pixel peepers who go up close up to a large image will ever be bothered and frankly you'll never please them, because they are more concerned with the detail than the photo itself.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on September 19, 2014, 12:20:10 pm
I think it is quite likely that the contract with Nikon prevents Sony from selling the same chip to Canon and others.  But imagine what Canon could do if they were able to use Sony Exmor sensors?  Canon would save big money on R&D and eliminate their inferior chip production.  And it would instantly level the image quality playing field and focus attention back on lenses and general usability. 
Which would be a bit like the days of film, with Sony being the new Kodak. The drawback being some folks like Fuji and others Agfa. So having two big companies with mostly comparable bodies but different looks isn't a bad thing.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: allegretto on September 19, 2014, 01:07:46 pm
Which would be a bit like the days of film, with Sony being the new Kodak. The drawback being some folks like Fuji and others Agfa. So having two big companies with mostly comparable bodies but different looks isn't a bad thing.

this comment assumes that Canon lacks the R&D Horsepower to do it themselves

seeing as they own serious video for many, make great glass of various quality for various uses and have been innovating in usability I'm not sure the assumption is valid

let's see...
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on September 19, 2014, 01:25:36 pm
this comment assumes that Canon lacks the R&D Horsepower to do it themselves
No the comment was in reply to the concept of Canon using the same Sony sensors as other people. I'm not assuming anything about Canon's R+D.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 19, 2014, 01:39:59 pm

I know that I am not super comfortable posting online today landscape images I shot on film 20 years ago. Some are strong enough from a subject standpoint to overcome the limited quality, many relied on the "image quality" and they are now very far below the required threshold.


I know exactly what you are saying Bernard. I have an image, shot in medium format (645) B&W, from Ireland which was scanned at hi-res. The image is beautiful and sells -- usually 32x48. I went back to the same location this summer and shot essentially a new version with my 1Dx. Even though the 1Dx is "only" 18MP, the image enlarges to the same 32x48 maintaining more detail.

To say, dismissively that "digital is junk", to me questions how an image is used, enlarged, etc. I've certainly found that digital has offered me far more flexibility in interpretation than my scanned film. For whatever reason, film is, well film. What you see is what you get. With digital, especially with ever better conversion software, I can go back years later and reinterpret an image in ways I've never been able to do with any of my scanned film images.

Petapixel re-awakened the 46MP 1Dx rumor recently, saying a camera would be intro'd at Photo Expo. Price tag -- a hefty $8-9000. Well, it remains to be seen, but I do feel Canon does need to do something. For me, though I've frequently borrowed from CPS or rented the 5D Mark III, I just don't love the camera. I've always preferred the more robust 1D series. I've owned every 1D (as well as the original EOS1) since the introduction. Depending upon the specs, the camera would last me a good 5-years or more. My 1Ds Mark III has shown that. My only reservations using my 1Ds3, at this point, are strictly use issues -- slower image write speeds, lower res LCD, and compared to my 1Dx, focus. I still consider the files to be beautiful at speeds of 50-400 ISO, even occasionally higher.  Would I use a higher res camera for everything? No. Would I use it for certain commercial shoots and landscapes? Absolutely.

From the number of posts, I think this has hit a cord with Canon users.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 19, 2014, 02:00:20 pm
Something to consider - What won't change is normal viewing distance [for display]. People tend to stand further back from very large prints/displays and a print in the hand or magazine spread may well be viewed relatively larger than a massive print. A magazine spread takes up the same field of view as a 10' print on the wall in my lounge. I have numerous original film posters which look great at normal distances, but quite shocking if you get in close to them.
Only anal pixel peepers who go up close up to a large image will ever be bothered and frankly you'll never please them, because they are more concerned with the detail than the photo itself.

You're absolutely right here. My 1Dx is more than sufficient for most catalogs (who really don't want images that are too hi res anyway) and double truck magazine spreads. Hell, I have images that were shot with everything from an Olympus E10 to a Canon D30 (the original) and Canon 1D, that look great when printed on inkjet up to even 16x20 (on very select images), but certainly a full-page and even 11x17. It all depends upon the subject and detail level, etc. But some of those, even an 8x10 is pushing things a bit. Where the extra resolution REALLY comes into play (at least with fashion) is retouching, or truly fine details in a scenic. Only recently have I tried to overcome the latter by stitching. Works relatively well, but not on all things.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: allegretto on September 19, 2014, 02:27:17 pm
No the comment was in reply to the concept of Canon using the same Sony sensors as other people. I'm not assuming anything about Canon's R+D.


your quite right! I meant to quote someone else

my bad... mea culpa...
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: DeanChriss on September 19, 2014, 02:31:29 pm
From the number of posts, I think this has hit a cord with Canon users.
It did, probably because many have been wanting to replace 1DS3 bodies and there's nothing to replace them with that offers better image quality in the low ISO range. I'd love to have all the improved features (LCD, write speed, and so on) of the 1DX on the 1DS3, but I wouldn't buy such a camera unless it also offered higher resolution and dynamic range. At the moment there is no such camera in the Canon line. All of this says a lot for how good the 1DS3 was in its day, and a lot about the stagnation at Canon.

I'm currently shooting with a 1DS3 and a 1DX, and have no complaints about the 1DX for its intended use. My plan all along was to replace the 1DS3 with Canon's next high resolution / high DR camera to compliment the 1DX. This nonexistent camera would necessarily be a lot slower, but 4 or 5 FPS is plenty for trees and rocks. Ideally the bodies would share the same batteries and charger because it's a lot more convenient, but it now looks as if they may not even share the same lenses.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Hulyss on September 20, 2014, 04:03:45 am
I do not think Canon is abandoning the pros. This is just my impression but we see this only because Nikon is going faster at providing new cameras. Lets not forget that Nikon is helped by Sony ... a sort of successful synergy.

So Canon craft all by themselves, it is costly and long. About the Cinema, I heard that a lot of series in Hollywood are being partly filmed with canon gear, as main or crash cam. Cinema is a huge market because of huge budgets. I'm sure Canon gets a load of revenues with cinema stuff.

Now, for stills ... I never ever used any canon DSLR; not because I'm using Nikon, just because of karma. Forums are a huge source of propaganda and it is kinda difficult to make a choice today : Too much choice.

I'm SURE that canon will improve sensor tech any-time soon between now and 2016. If they come out with something as powerful and usable as the D810, I think I will jump just because of the lenses. For me and my business, Canon lenses are sexy, more than Nikon.

A simple kit would be a "D810 like" canon camera + 50f1.2 + 85f1.2 + a wide TS lens + either the 135f2 L or the Zeiss 135 f2. If the camera is robust and serious,I might not need more gear for the next 5 to 6 years. Apart the TS, all lenses I have mentioned do not really exist (AF wise) in Nikon land.

So I hope Canon is announcing something cool before December otherwise I will be forced to buy two D810 body and using it for the Next 5 years. (But I really want to try out a very high MP canon cam just for portraitures... and I absolutely love f1.2 lenses...).
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on September 20, 2014, 06:30:13 am
A simple kit would be a "D810 like" canon camera + 50f1.2 + 85f1.2 + a wide TS lens + either the 135f2 L or the Zeiss 135 f2. If the camera is robust and serious,I might not need more gear for the next 5 to 6 years. Apart the TS, all lenses I have mentioned do not really exist (AF wise) in Nikon land.

So I hope Canon is announcing something cool before December otherwise I will be forced to buy two D810 body and using it for the Next 5 years. (But I really want to try out a very high MP canon cam just for portraitures... and I absolutely love f1.2 lenses...).

It will be interesting to see how these lenses perform on a 46mp body.

Nikon has already played a remarkable card with their 58mm f1.4 (imho best bokeh with the Canon 85mm f1.2 of anything shorter than the Nikon 200mm f2.0) and they are likely to release soon their new 135mm f2.0. I would expect Sato san to have led that project too. He will probably have focused on look instead of emotionless technical perfection.

The Canon 85mm f1.2 is very special, no doubt.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: David Anderson on September 20, 2014, 08:46:38 am

The Canon 85mm f1.2 is very special, no doubt.


Sure is.
One of Canons best IMHO and a lens Nikon has no answer for.
It's the first lens I'll buy for my new 46 mp 5DIV ..  ;)

Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: dwswager on September 20, 2014, 10:41:47 am
When I got back into photography seriously, went full-on Nikon and the colors always bothered me, especially flesh tones. The RX-1 Sony is a helluva camera and I love it, but same thing on colors

Canon is far more pleasing color and balance to my eye and that is more important than having 6.023 X 10^23 pixels

However I do understand why for some the count, counts...

I find Canon oversaturates the Reds and Nikon oversaturates the greens.  Of course, depending on the camera model, you can customize this to some extent or 'correct' it globally on a per camera basis in your post processing software.  And most digital cameras want to shift blues toward purple.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: NashvilleMike on September 20, 2014, 11:18:37 am

Nikon has already played a remarkable card with their 58mm f1.4 (imho best bokeh with the Canon 85mm f1.2 of anything shorter than the Nikon 200mm f2.0) and they are likely to release soon their new 135mm f2.0. I would expect Sato san to have led that project too. He will probably have focused on look instead of emotionless technical perfection.




Going off topic a bit here, but Sato doesn't generally do the tele's. The patents I've seen for the rumored 135 Nikkor have (If I recall correctly) Tomoki Ito's name on them. He's got a good history with the teles. IMO what's needed in the 135 length is something with decent bokeh as well as the technicals; while I love my Zeiss apo sonnar 135, I seriously need a very high quality autofocus 135mm lens and Nikons current offerings do not meet my standards on the 800E. It will be interesting to see who gets there first: Sigma with their art series or Nikon. Sadly, I'm betting Sigma...

Now, so I don't remain completely off topic, my thoughts on the Canon thing are simply that while I'm a bit amazed they have not yet come out with a D800/D800e/D810 competitor, that they will. Canon has quietly building some very nice lenses lately (the 24-70 II, the new 16-35) so they'll have some things that are ready. But IMO the reality is that in the 135 frame size, I think the gains by resolution much above where we are now are going to be splitting hairs and other than the fanboy competition of "I have xx megapixel and you only have yy megapixel" nonsense, I think it's going to take a new technology (Foveon like change in sensor, etc) from the big players to move into the next neighborhood of quality. But I think Canon will eventually get to a higher mp / cleaner shadow sensor fairly soon, and they'll probably be "ahead" of Nikon in the numbers race for a few years. Always seems to go back and forth when you look at things across a wider timeframe with those two players.

Sorry for the thread hijack, just wanted to stick that in there
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on September 20, 2014, 11:29:12 am
your quite right! I meant to quote someone else

my bad... mea culpa...
No problem.   :)
We all make mistakes, it's how you deal with them that counts.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on September 20, 2014, 11:39:12 am
I find Canon oversaturates the Reds and Nikon oversaturates the greens.  Of course, depending on the camera model, you can customize this to some extent or 'correct' it globally on a per camera basis in your post processing software.  And most digital cameras want to shift blues toward purple.
Do you use LR/ACR to process your raw files, if so are you using the Canon profiles in the Calibration tab? These profiles were added some years back and they solved the red/orange rendition problem that was an issue when using Adobe profiles.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on September 20, 2014, 11:45:20 am
I do not think Canon is abandoning the pros...

And the basis for your opinion is...?

Quote
... I never ever used any canon DSLR

Ah!  ;)
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: allegretto on September 21, 2014, 12:36:22 pm
now you've done it... where's the popcorn... popcorn...
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on September 21, 2014, 09:47:19 pm
While some pros are abandoning Canon, some others are jumping at the chance to use it:

(From a Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/SirBankWells)
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 21, 2014, 10:01:41 pm
While some pros are abandoning Canon, some others are jumping at the chance to use it:


Pros are just a tiny portion of the market.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 21, 2014, 11:17:53 pm
Ah yes. Perhaps they may be lower in numbers, but more influential and visible. Look at any ad from almost any major manufacturer. Frequently, they tout the work of a pro, not Aunt Mary down the street. When beta testing, manufacturers use pros (such as Canon with sports shooters at the World Cup or Olympics), not the Oshkosh Camera Club.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: allegretto on September 22, 2014, 08:45:31 am
Ah yes. Perhaps they may be lower in numbers, but more influential and visible. Look at any ad from almost any major manufacturer. Frequently, they tout the work of a pro, not Aunt Mary down the street. When beta testing, manufacturers use pros (such as Canon with sports shooters at the World Cup or Olympics), not the Oshkosh Camera Club.

No...???

well there goes my chance at being beta-tester...

damn, I thought for sure this time...
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 22, 2014, 10:18:40 am
Ah yes. Perhaps they may be lower in numbers, but more influential and visible. Look at any ad from almost any major manufacturer. Frequently, they tout the work of a pro, not Aunt Mary down the street. When beta testing, manufacturers use pros (such as Canon with sports shooters at the World Cup or Olympics), not the Oshkosh Camera Club.

But they sell more to amateurs, by far, even of the high-end cameras. Apparently you don't know many cardiologists or dentists. When you make $30-40K per month you can buy all the camera gear you want, provided that you don't have too many ex-wives to support.

The most expensive lenses are generally not owned by the pros but by newspapers or news agencies; or they are rented.

It cracks me up to see those ads...they should be showing doctors and dentists, who are often better photographers anyway.

Would you buy one brand of pasta over another just because you see an ad showing some chef holding the package? Or would you try different brands and use your own taste buds as the final arbiter?
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on September 22, 2014, 01:12:28 pm
From recent threads in the For Sale forum:

Quote
Lots of high end Canon gear. Price drop😃...I am switching to Nikon from Canon

Quote
Canon 5d Mark 3 in MINT condition, like new in box... Reason for sale: switching to another system.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 22, 2014, 01:56:36 pm
From recent threads in the For Sale forum:


A local camera shop reports that Canon sells slightly better than Nikon, even though the shop owner prefers Nikon. Most of the staff own Canon. I have heard several people complain that Canon's pro program is much better, and that would be a real consideration. They say Nikon USA does not care....I hear the same thing about how the two companies treat dealers. Nikon is uncooperative in the extreme.

I have no horse in this race, but if I didn't own Leicaflexes I would not buy Nikon under any circumstances. Ever.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: NancyP on September 22, 2014, 02:19:31 pm
Oh, so THAT'S what people mean by saying that Canon caters to wildlife photographers.....
Fine humor, Slobodan!
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: DeanChriss on September 22, 2014, 02:50:11 pm
A local camera shop reports that Canon sells slightly better than Nikon, even though the shop owner prefers Nikon. Most of the staff own Canon. I have heard several people complain that Canon's pro program is much better, and that would be a real consideration. They say Nikon USA does not care....I hear the same thing about how the two companies treat dealers. Nikon is uncooperative in the extreme.

I have no horse in this race, but if I didn't own Leicaflexes I would not buy Nikon under any circumstances. Ever.

This is a very good point, and as a potential switcher I'd be very interested to hear about anyone's experience getting Nikon equipment repaired. CPS members get repair turnaround times of 2 days and 30% repair discount with a Platinum membership, and up to 5-7 days and no discount with a free "Silver" membership. There are also lots of other perks in the program. Based on my own experience the repairs are flawless and you get back a camera that's cleaned inside and out and looks like new. I've heard that non-CPS repairs of "professional equipment" (1-series and 5D series bodies, and I think L-series lenses) is also 5-7 days, but I'm not sure if that's always true.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 22, 2014, 03:06:40 pm
This is a very good point, and as a potential switcher I'd be very interested to hear about anyone's experience getting Nikon equipment repaired. CPS members get repair turnaround times of 2 days and 30% repair discount with a Platinum membership, and up to 5-7 days and no discount with a free "Silver" membership. There are also lots of other perks in the program. Based on my own experience the repairs are flawless and you get back a camera that's cleaned inside and out and looks like new. I've heard that non-CPS repairs of "professional equipment" (1-series and 5D series bodies, and I think L-series lenses) is also 5-7 days, but I'm not sure if that's always true.

From the horse's mouth, I hear that Nikon treats dealers poorly, and has very poor service to pro club members, if there still is one.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on September 22, 2014, 03:21:59 pm
It's not like that cameras go to service every 5,000 shutter clicks, like cars. In 40 years of photography, I had to send a camera for repair only once (Canon 40D for a faulty CF slot). When on assignment or trip, service time does not matter much, that is why we have back up cameras.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 22, 2014, 03:31:32 pm
It's not like that cameras go to service every 5,000 shutter clicks, like cars. In 40 years of photography, I had to send a camera for repair only once (Canon 40D for a faulty CF slot). When on assignment or trip, service time does not matter much, that is why we have back up cameras.

Pros need it. They drop cameras, and even though they have multiples they still need service.

Pros use their cameras much more than amateurs. I would imagine that today's cameras are much more fragile because of all the electronics and plastic do-dads on them.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: kers on September 22, 2014, 04:39:06 pm
From the horse's mouth, I hear that Nikon treats dealers poorly, and has very poor service to pro club members, if there still is one.
Well i cannot complain about the nikon professional service here in Holland; The Nikon service is very good. For the time of repair you can have a replacement of your equipment if you like..
and repairs usually take only a few days; If you need a replacement while working you can have it in a few hours...
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 22, 2014, 04:43:09 pm
Well i cannot complain about the nikon professional service here in Holland; The Nikon service is very good. For the time of repair you can have a replacement of your equipment if you like..
and repairs usually take only a few days; If you need a replacement while working you can have it in a few hours...


That is good, but apparently the situation in the United Snakes is different.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Misirlou on September 22, 2014, 04:56:24 pm
Pros need it. They drop cameras, and even though they have multiples they still need service.

Pros use their cameras much more than amateurs. I would imagine that today's cameras are much more fragile because of all the electronics and plastic do-dads on them.

Interesting observation. I've been shooting for decades, but only really selling in the last 6 years or so. Never dropped or broke any camera, until I started to make money with them. And Canon fixed them quickly and completely when I did so.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: DeanChriss on September 22, 2014, 05:01:03 pm
It's not like that cameras go to service every 5,000 shutter clicks, like cars. In 40 years of photography, I had to send a camera for repair only once (Canon 40D for a faulty CF slot). When on assignment or trip, service time does not matter much, that is why we have back up cameras.

I wouldn't base my entire decision on this one point, but for me it's one of several factors. I've had to send cameras in about 5 times more than you, which actually isn't a lot. The problems ranged from "doesn't work at all" to "doesn't focus accurately" to just some dirt in the prism of a new camera. If repairs took weeks instead of days I'd be pretty concerned. A day or two longer wouldn't be as much of an issue. Between now and mid December I'm only home for about 4 weeks between 2 trips. If something happened to a camera on the first trip I'd send it for repair from one of three places I'll be staying. If the repair took "weeks" I'd need to use a backup until I got home. Then, if repairs took ~4 weeks (can't imagine that, but I suppose it's possible) I'd have to leave on the second trip without that camera, and I'm moving around too much on that trip to have it shipped to a motel. It's not always like that, but Murphy says repairs are needed when they're the least convenient. Sometimes, a few days turnaround (even for a mirror box replacement) is very nice.

Of course the quality of a repair is as or more important than how long it takes. In my fairly limited experience Canon's repairs have always been perfect.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 22, 2014, 05:01:10 pm
Interesting observation. I've been shooting for decades, but only really selling in the last 6 years or so. Never dropped or broke any camera, until I started to make money with them. And Canon fixed them quickly and completely when I did so.

http://darrenstone1.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/apocalypse_now_dennis_hopper.jpg

Those cameras are all period-correct (1960s models), by the way.

Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on September 22, 2014, 05:04:55 pm
Frankly repair turn around time/temporary replacement provision for DSLRs should be mostly irrelevant for pros considering the price of bodies such as the D750. If you cannot afford to buy one such back up you have most certainly picked the wrong business line by a huge stretch.

It is a different story for lenses, in particular the big guns because most people cannot afford to own back ups due to their much higher prices.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: ErikKaffehr on September 22, 2014, 05:09:04 pm
Hi,

Foxes are known to be smart customers, hey may know what the future holds.

Best regards
Erik


Oh, so THAT'S what people mean by saying that Canon caters to wildlife photographers.....
Fine humor, Slobodan!
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 22, 2014, 05:19:11 pm
Frankly repair turn around time/temporary replacement provision for DSLRs should be mostly irrelevant for pros considering the price of bodies such as the D750. If you cannot afford to buy one such back up you have most certainly picked the wrong business line by a huge stretch.

It is a different story for lenses, in particular the big guns because most people cannot afford to own back ups due to their much higher prices.

Cheers,
Bernard

I would argue that quick turn-around time is valuable no matter how many you own.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Misirlou on September 22, 2014, 05:50:49 pm
Hi,

Foxes are known to be smart customers, hey may know what the future holds.

Best regards
Erik



Horses aren't quite that smart. They sometimes prefer obsolete cameras...

I've posted this one before, from the very first time I ever shot 4X5 in the field. I walked away from my camera for just a few minutes to check out another angle, and when I turned around, there was a horse slobbering all over my precious Schneider glass. Thankfully, I had a 35mm camera (Bolsey B2) with which, arguably, I took a more interesting picture than I had with the 4X5...
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: robdickinson on September 22, 2014, 05:52:41 pm
What a terrible thread, this forum seems packed full of whiners at the moment.

Canon release a new major upgrade semi pro level sports camera and a new 400 DO yet they are abandoning pro's? wow really...
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on September 22, 2014, 06:10:11 pm
I would argue that quick turn-around time is valuable no matter how many you own.

Why?

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: chbla on September 22, 2014, 06:32:49 pm
It's really funny to read this thread

I know a couple of other forums where it's exactly the opposite, Nikon users turning their back to Nikon
because of the 7D MKII which seems to be a missing thing in Nikons lineup

I agree to the previous poster, all this complaining is more than pointless, especially since canon
announced another model for the next months.. "abandons the pros" is ridiculous in every way
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on September 22, 2014, 06:38:49 pm
...since canon announced another model for the next months...

Announced!? Where?
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: robdickinson on September 22, 2014, 06:53:26 pm
Canons schedule for camera releases is pretty static. Sometimes they drag things on a little but over the next 6 months we will see a new 5d, then an update to the 1dx.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on September 22, 2014, 07:05:48 pm
...over the next 6 months we will see a new 5d, then an update to the 1dx.

What's that sound? 2012 calling?  ;)
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on September 22, 2014, 07:33:53 pm
Of course the quality of a repair is as or more important than how long it takes. In my fairly limited experience Canon's repairs have always been perfect.
I had a 16-35mm fixed by CPS UK a while back and it came back with the focus marks on the wrong way around. But it seems from more recent experience, that CPS here is a lot better and faster too.
As for repairs, the 16-35 has been repaired twice and needs a third visit - all different faults, my 35mm f2 once [annoyingly it broke the one time I decided to travel light and only take that single lens with me and it was new] and my 24-70 needs currently needs an overhaul as randomly the left hand side of picture is not sharp. The camera bodies, never had an issue with them. They will now probably break next week!
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on September 22, 2014, 07:38:07 pm
Frankly repair turn around time/temporary replacement provision for DSLRs should be mostly irrelevant for pros considering the price of bodies such as the D750. If you cannot afford to buy one such back up you have most certainly picked the wrong business line by a huge stretch.
Depends if the case with both cameras are in get damaged and knackers both cameras together, crap like that does happen.

Quote
It is a different story for lenses, in particular the big guns because most people cannot afford to own back ups due to their much higher prices.
Carrying them would be the bigger issue. They make up a large part of the weight of my bag.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Harold Clark on September 22, 2014, 07:45:59 pm
I am disappointed that Canon seems to have stalled as far as TSE lens development goes. After release of the spectacular 17mm and equally great redesigned 24mm a few years ago there have been no new announcements. The 45mm needs an upgrade, and something new in the 32-35mm range would be most welcome.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 22, 2014, 08:18:10 pm
Why?

Cheers,
Bernard

Do you really not understand, or are you making a special effort to be obtuse here?
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on September 22, 2014, 08:28:14 pm
Do you really not understand, or are you making a special effort to be obtuse here?

I really don't understand what the difference is in terms of actual impact between 2 and 4 days TAT on bodies repair for working pros. Especially if you use Canon or Nikon whose bodies are so cheap that owning 2 back up bodies should be a no brainer for any profitable business.

Why don't you spell it out for me?

I understand the difference btwn one hour and one day with a committed TAT though but I don't think it's the point being discussed here, is it?

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 22, 2014, 08:30:10 pm
I really don't understand what the difference is between 2 and 4 days TAT on bodies repair for working pros. Especially if you use Canon or Nikon whose bodies are so cheap that owning 2 back up bodies should be a no brainer for any profitable business.

I understand the difference btwn one hour and one day though but I don't think it's the point being discussed here, is it?

Cheers,
Bernard


2 or 4 days is not the issue. Repairs can drag on for weeks or months. In the case of lenses, it is not always possible to have a spare due to cost, and rental may be unavailable. Having the benefit of a loaner if repairs cannot be quickly performed can be a lifesaver.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on September 22, 2014, 08:33:01 pm
2 or 4 days is not the issue. Repairs can drag on for weeks or months. In the case of lenses, it is not always possible to have a spare due to cost, and rental may be unavailable. Having the benefit of a loaner can be a lifesaver.

I agree about lenses as mentioned above.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 22, 2014, 08:35:11 pm
I agree about lenses as mentioned above.

Cheers,
Bernard

It's obvious you have never had a pole-vaulter drop his pole right on your Leicaflex and 250mm Telyt-R, separating them at a significant angle.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on September 22, 2014, 08:43:37 pm
It's obvious you have never had a pole-vaulter drop his pole right on your Leicaflex and 250mm Telyt-R, separating them at a significant angle.

U are right that I haven't but am not sure what U are disagreeing with.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on September 22, 2014, 08:51:09 pm
I really don't understand what the difference is in terms of actual impact between 2 and 4 days TAT on bodies repair for working pros. Especially if you use Canon or Nikon whose bodies are so cheap that owning 2 back up bodies should be a no brainer for any profitable business.
It is a different story for lenses, in particular the big guns because most people cannot afford to own back ups due to their much higher prices.
These statements seem a bit contradictory as Canon1Dx costs about the same in the UK as a 16-35mm f2.8, a 35mm f1.4, a 24-70 f2.8, an 85mm f1.2 and a 70-200mm f2.8 all L glass which would cover most photographer's needs.
A 5DIII costs the same as a 16-35mm f2.8 + a 24-70mm f2.8 which will do most of my shooting.

Not saying you shouldn't have a back-up body, but you're a bit off with your justification re prices of bodies Vs lenses. Particularly as you say two back up bodies, i.e. a total of 3 bodies, but I guess you mean two in total. :)
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 22, 2014, 08:54:27 pm
U are right that I haven't but am not sure what U are disagreeing with.

Cheers,
Bernard

Uhmmmm...how many 250mm Telyts do you think I need to have on hand in case of wayward vaulting poles?

I was positioned under the crossbar pit with a wide-angle, and had set the SL and 250mm Telyt down away from me to the side. It was a track meet. I was using the 250mm for the runners. So, the pole vaulter starts down the little path they have for this, and somehow he was unhappy with his approach, so he threw the pole to the side in disgust. It hit square on to the lens right where it mounts to the body. I just about died. The repairs were substantial, but I did have insurance.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 22, 2014, 08:55:31 pm
These statements seem a bit contradictory as Canon1Dx costs about the same in the UK as a 16-35mm f2.8, a 35mm f1.4, a 24-70 f2.8, an 85mm f1.2 and a 70-200mm f2.8 all L glass which would cover most photographer's needs.
A 5DIII costs the same as a 16-35mm f2.8 + a 24-70mm f2.8 which will do most of my shooting.

Not saying you shouldn't have a back-up body, but you're a bit off with your justification re prices of bodies Vs lenses. Particularly as you say two back up bodies, i.e. a total of 3 bodies, but I guess you mean two in total. :)

Having two or three of everything is a bit of overkill, don't you think? Who can afford that? 400mm 2.8 lenses can cost $10K or more...
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on September 22, 2014, 08:57:53 pm
Uhmmmm...how many 250mm Telyts do you think I need to have on hand in case of wayward vaulting poles?

I agree with you, never said the opposite.

If you are a pro sport shooter at the Olympics either you belong to a pool of photographers who can share spare pieces of critical equipment or you bring 2x1Dx and a 5DIII as second back up if you shoot alone.

This seems like the most basic common sense to me, is it not?

Lenswise nobody can carry 2 400f2.8 so you probably bring a 400f2.8 and a 200f2.0 + converter as back up, right?

Shorter lenses also, have one short prime 35mm as back up of the 24-70mm f2.8 sounds like a good idea to me, but what do I know?

In short, we need to distinguish the need in terms of support. Is this about hot spare during an event or about the repair time needed during "regular business" times?

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 22, 2014, 09:20:10 pm
I agree with you, never said the opposite.

If you are a pro sport shooter at the Olympics either you belong to a pool of photographers who can share spare pieces of critical equipment or you bring 2x1Dx and a 5DIII as second back up if you shoot alone.

This seems like the most basic common sense to me, is it not?

Lenswise nobody can carry 2 400f2.8 so you probably bring a 400f2.8 and a 200f2.0 + converter as back up, right?

Shorter lenses also, have one short prime 35mm as back up of the 24-70mm f2.8 sounds like a good idea to me, but what do I know?

In short, we need to distinguish the need in terms of support. Is this about hot spare during an event or about the repair time needed during "regular business" times?

Cheers,
Bernard


The point I was making was that the quicker you can get your gear back the better off you will be in the event something happens to a key piece of kit. You cannot anticipate every eventuality.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on September 22, 2014, 09:31:05 pm
The point I was making was that the quicker you can get your gear back the better off you will be in the event something happens to a key piece of kit. You cannot anticipate every eventuality.

Faster is always better, but the point I was trying to make is that the impact of TAT is probably less for some types of equipment such as DSLRs that are the more complex, therefore likely to fail and for which we will always have back ups.

Anyway, I think that we understand each others. :)

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 22, 2014, 09:44:51 pm
Faster is always better, but the point I was trying to make is that the impact of TAT is probably less for some types of equipment such as DSLRs that are the more complex, therefore likely to fail and for which we will always have back ups.

Anyway, I think that we understand each others. :)

Cheers,
Bernard

Fine, I agree.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on September 24, 2014, 04:50:11 pm
These statements seem a bit contradictory as Canon1Dx costs about the same in the UK as a 16-35mm f2.8, a 35mm f1.4, a 24-70 f2.8, an 85mm f1.2 and a 70-200mm f2.8 all L glass which would cover most photographer's needs.
A 5DIII costs the same as a 16-35mm f2.8 + a 24-70mm f2.8 which will do most of my shooting.

Not saying you shouldn't have a back-up body, but you're a bit off with your justification re prices of bodies Vs lenses. Particularly as you say two back up bodies, i.e. a total of 3 bodies, but I guess you mean two in total. :)
Having two or three of everything is a bit of overkill, don't you think? Who can afford that? 400mm 2.8 lenses can cost $10K or more...
I didn't say that, read what I actually wrote.
I'm pointing out that Bernard's justification for 3 back up bodies, because they are so cheap compared to lenses makes no sense. A pro body can cost as much as the entire lens kit that many pros need.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 24, 2014, 04:51:48 pm
Having two or three of everything is a bit of overkill, don't you think? Who can afford that? 400mm 2.8 lenses can cost $10K or more...
I didn't say that, read what I actually wrote.
I'm pointing out that Bernard's justification for 3 back up bodies, because they are so cheap compared to lenses makes no sense. A pro body can cost as much as the entire lens kit that many pros need.


Huh? It depends on which lenses you own, but regardless, quick turnaround is better than slow turnaround.

You never know when those pole-vaulters will drop their equipment on you!

http://youtu.be/TbESRGnFe5Y
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on September 24, 2014, 05:02:18 pm
Having two or three of everything is a bit of overkill, don't you think? Who can afford that? 400mm 2.8 lenses can cost $10K or more...
I didn't say that, read what I actually wrote.
I'm pointing out that Bernard's justification for 3 back up bodies, because they are so cheap compared to lenses makes no sense. A pro body can cost as much as the entire lens kit that many pros need.

The only pros needing also a 1Dx as second body (1st back up) are IMHO the sports shooters. Even for them a 5DIII is ok as 3rd body.

Two 5DIII as back up is fine for all the others that must represent 90+% of pros.

But the main point is that we DO own several back ups for bodies, whatever their price.

So I am not really sure what part of what I wrote doesn't make sense.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: David Anderson on September 24, 2014, 06:48:37 pm
The only pros needing also a 1Dx as second body (1st back up) are IMHO the sports shooters. Even for them a 5DIII is ok as 3rd body.


I always found it easier to use a matching pair of bodies when I shot Canons, but I only shot prime lenses.
Now, with Nikon I use a main body (800e) and a back-up (D7100) with a mix of prime and zoom lenses.
This is a cheaper set-up compared to 1DsIII's, but I've found it's not as quick to work with.
The problem is the different controls and menu set-ups slow me down.
(aged eye sight enemy #1 ::) ;D)
I think I'll be adding another 800 (or 810?) to get back up to speed.  ;)

All that said, I don't now see any big advantages is using 'pro' series bodies (Nikon D's or Canons) over second tier stuff like the 800's or 5d's.
In fact, I really like the weight reductions and the fact they cost much less than the heavy hitters.
Yes, I miss out on the toughness and amazing battery life, but not much else.
(I don't shoot any sports)

Also, in fairness to Canon dragging the chain on a high resolution camera, I do well remember complaining to the CPS guys that they were brining out new stuff to quickly and it was expensive to change over cameras to keep current.  ;)
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on September 25, 2014, 06:20:38 am
The only pros needing also a 1Dx as second body (1st back up) are IMHO the sports shooters. Even for them a 5DIII is ok as 3rd body.

Two 5DIII as back up is fine for all the others that must represent 90+% of pros.

But the main point is that we DO own several back ups for bodies, whatever their price.

So I am not really sure what part of what I wrote doesn't make sense.
The bit where you say bodies are really cheap compared to lenses. Nothing in this area is cheap to start with, less eye wateringly expensive would be a more accurate description. As the prices I listed above show, you can get a lot of L glass for the price of the pro camera bodies. So by your logic, as these are far less expensive than the camera bodies, you probably should get backups of them too.  :P
So for the 90+% of pros that would only need one 1DX and two 5DIII, that's still more money that the lenses they would buy would cost. I'm certainly not against having back up bodies, but saying they are cheap is the part that is a bit daft. If I spent that much money on say a bicycle or camera, most people would think it was crazy money.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on September 25, 2014, 07:03:13 am
The bit where you say bodies are really cheap compared to lenses. Nothing in this area is cheap to start with, less eye wateringly expensive would be a more accurate description. As the prices I listed above show, you can get a lot of L glass for the price of the pro camera bodies. So by your logic, as these are far less expensive than the camera bodies, you probably should get backups of them too.  :P
So for the 90+% of pros that would only need one 1DX and two 5DIII, that's still more money that the lenses they would buy would cost. I'm certainly not against having back up bodies, but saying they are cheap is the part that is a bit daft. If I spent that much money on say a bicycle or camera, most people would think it was crazy money.

Fine, some bodies are expensive relative to some lenses but lenses overall break less often (unless they are dropped of course) and using another lens is often a realistic workaround in the case a breakdown does occur. That's my understanding of the reason why people don't own back up of lenses. Would you not agree?

So, if your point is that people own back up of bodies because they are indispensable instead of because they are affordable, that works for me too.

Anyway, that was a side argument to the main point that pros needing support do own back up bodies and that turn around time is therefore less critical.

Btw, nobody would think you are crazy if you spent that much on bikes as a pro. In fact most people would think you'd be crazy to be a pro cyclist not owning 2 back ups of your 6-10 KUS$ carbon wonder bike because those DO break.

And in the end, a 3KUS$ back up body that will remain mostly un-used and will therefore last years is really nothing compared to the cost of running even a small business. Not to mention the fact that many pros keep their former generation bodies as back up. That is simply a totally negligible expenditure for a pro considering the huge risk of not owning sufficient back up.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 25, 2014, 09:25:17 am
In my days shooting film, I always traveled with four camera bodies. If you think about it, film bodies were comparatively cheap. (An EOS1n cost about $1400, compared to my 1Dx which was $6700. The original 1Ds cost me close to $9000!) Other than primes overlapping with zooms, I only travel with two digital bodies -- my 1Dx and 1ds Mark III. Since all my glass are "L" lenses, I can't afford backups to those. I've often thought of going with a 2nd 1Dx, because the camera is so sweet to shoot with and I like the ergonomics. As it is, 95% of my shots are made on that body -- hence why I keep holding out for Canon to do something significant. Maybe I'll bite the bullet and go with a 2nd 1Dx, because, if I do, you KNOW Canon will finally release something. One thing Canon use to do is release equipment in the amateur market to try out new technology, which after refined, they'd put in the pro bodies. (Almost the opposite of Nikon.)

I still assert that Canon, for their lip service, has ignored the pro market for a long time, choosing amateur and cinema over the still pro photographer. Where Canon does shine (at least until recently) is the CPS program. From all I've heard, much better and faster service than their Nikon counterpart. No such program exists for any other brand (that I know of) -- Sony, Leica, you name it. But, again, where I disparage Canon is even the CPS program is gradually turning it's back on pros. Originally, to join CPS, you have to show published work, show you were in fact a working photographer. Now, it's pony up the money and have a certain level of equipment (so in theory, any well equipped dentist could join). But what's worse is, even paying for the service now, if you say to them when sending in your 50/1.2 and a 1Dx, "Hey, it's not sharp. It's also back focusing", you end up with an $800 bill! (True story from six months ago.) If I'd sent those in for cleaning, they may or may not have caught the problem, but IF they had, it wouldn't have cost me anything since it was a "clean and check" service. Oh, and the 50 still sucks big time. (I'm getting rid of it and buying a Sigma 50 -- rented for my last shoot and a truly sharp lens.)

Unless things change dramatically, after using Canon since 1980, I believe I can say, they've abandoned the pro still shooter.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 25, 2014, 09:47:58 am
In my days shooting film, I always traveled with four camera bodies. If you think about it, film bodies were comparatively cheap. (An EOS1n cost about $1400, compared to my 1Dx which was $6700. The original 1Ds cost me close to $9000!) Other than primes overlapping with zooms, I only travel with two digital bodies -- my 1Dx and 1ds Mark III. Since all my glass are "L" lenses, I can't afford backups to those. I've often thought of going with a 2nd 1Dx, because the camera is so sweet to shoot with and I like the ergonomics. As it is, 95% of my shots are made on that body -- hence why I keep holding out for Canon to do something significant. Maybe I'll bite the bullet and go with a 2nd 1Dx, because, if I do, you KNOW Canon will finally release something. One thing Canon use to do is release equipment in the amateur market to try out new technology, which after refined, they'd put in the pro bodies. (Almost the opposite of Nikon.)

I still assert that Canon, for their lip service, has ignored the pro market for a long time, choosing amateur and cinema over the still pro photographer. Where Canon does shine (at least until recently) is the CPS program. From all I've heard, much better and faster service than their Nikon counterpart. No such program exists for any other brand (that I know of) -- Sony, Leica, you name it. But, again, where I disparage Canon is even the CPS program is gradually turning it's back on pros. Originally, to join CPS, you have to show published work, show you were in fact a working photographer. Now, it's pony up the money and have a certain level of equipment (so in theory, any well equipped dentist could join). But what's worse is, even paying for the service now, if you say to them when sending in your 50/1.2 and a 1Dx, "Hey, it's not sharp. It's also back focusing", you end up with an $800 bill! (True story from six months ago.) If I'd sent those in for cleaning, they may or may not have caught the problem, but IF they had, it wouldn't have cost me anything since it was a "clean and check" service. Oh, and the 50 still sucks big time. (I'm getting rid of it and buying a Sigma 50 -- rented for my last shoot and a truly sharp lens.)

Unless things change dramatically, after using Canon since 1980, I believe I can say, they've abandoned the pro still shooter.

Uhmmmm...the 50mm 1.2 is not a 'sharp' lens. It's a high-speed lens, and like many fast lenses suffers from focus shift as you stop down.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 25, 2014, 10:04:30 am
Uhmmmm...the 50mm 1.2 is not a 'sharp' lens. It's a high-speed lens, and like many fast lenses suffers from focus shift as you stop down.

Obviously it's not super sharp wide open. I still swear by the adage that ANY lens' sharpest aperture is generally 1-1/2 to 2 stops down from max. (There are also obviously exceptions -- my 300/2.8, and to a degree, even the 70-200/2.8 II, are very sharp wide open.) On a shoot a couple months ago, even at 4 and 4.5 it sucked on the edges -- and I'm not saying extreme, just not center. Even 5.6 was just not that great. My 24-70/2.8 is sharper at 5.6, and that is not always the greatest of lenses. By comparison, the Sigma 50 was very sharp across the field from about 3.5 on, and certainly at 4. By comparision, my 85/1.2 is a much better lens than the 50 at any given aperture, from about f2 and on. Trust me, after 35-years shooting, I think I can spot a dog among cats.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 25, 2014, 10:52:43 am
Obviously it's not super sharp wide open. I still swear by the adage that ANY lens' sharpest aperture is generally 1-1/2 to 2 stops down from max. (There are also obviously exceptions -- my 300/2.8, and to a degree, even the 70-200/2.8 II, are very sharp wide open.) On a shoot a couple months ago, even at 4 and 4.5 it sucked on the edges -- and I'm not saying extreme, just not center. Even 5.6 was just not that great. My 24-70/2.8 is sharper at 5.6, and that is not always the greatest of lenses. By comparison, the Sigma 50 was very sharp across the field from about 3.5 on, and certainly at 4. By comparision, my 85/1.2 is a much better lens than the 50 at any given aperture, from about f2 and on. Trust me, after 35-years shooting, I think I can spot a dog among cats.

Super-high speed lenses (other than Leica's) are generally not intended as general-purpose optics. Nor is it universally true that all lenses are sharpest 1-1/2 to 2 stops down from max. Some of Leica's lenses are diffraction-limited (meaning that they are best wide open and become less sharp as you stop down because of diffraction effects).

Try reading here:
http://collectiblend.com/Library/Leica_Lens_Compendium_Content.php
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Jim Pascoe on September 25, 2014, 11:20:34 am
Super-high speed lenses (other than Leica's) are generally not intended as general-purpose optics. Nor is it universally true that all lenses are sharpest 1-1/2 to 2 stops down from max. Some of Leica's lenses are diffraction-limited (meaning that they are best wide open and become less sharp as you stop down because of diffraction effects).

Try reading here:
http://collectiblend.com/Library/Leica_Lens_Compendium_Content.php

I think you ought to look at the guys work on his website before teaching him about lenses - he seems to know about photography alright.  I don't think a Leica lens will improve the pictures....

Jim
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 25, 2014, 11:23:52 am
I think you ought to look at the guys work on his website before teaching him about lenses - he seems to know about photography alright.  I don't think a Leica lens will improve the pictures....

Jim

Not the point. He expects a super-speed lens to be as good as a moderate-aperture lens. It's not gonna happen. High speed lenses have improved, but super-speed lenses still lag behind them. The latest effort from Leica, the new 50mm Noctilux-M f/0.95 (2009), is much improved over its predecessor (an f/1.0 lens from 1975), which was in turn an improvement over its predecessor from 1966 at f/1.2. But the new Noctilux costs more than $10K!

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/05/19/revisiting-the-leica-noctilux-f0-95-by-ashwin-rao/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashwinrao1/sets/72157624075806922/

You cannot expect Canon's 1.2L lens to match it, as it is a much less costly lens. They cannot ask such a price. Not enough customers would buy an even more expensive lens from Canon. Also, the need for super-speed lenses has diminished considerably with digital cameras with super sensitivity compared to films.

Leica's is just about the only super-speed lens that could equal more moderate-aperture lenses.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Jim Pascoe on September 25, 2014, 12:18:54 pm
Not the point.

I think the pictures are exactly the point. What other point is there? The photographer makes a living from photography so I expect he knows exactly what gear he uses and what it's limitations are.  He's shooting fashion type pictures - he's more interested in feel and mode than obsessing over lens tests.  If you want to shoot at 1.2 you put up with the small deficiencies.  I've got an f0.95 lens which is soft wide open.  So what - I love the soft dreamy images.

Jim
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 25, 2014, 12:28:03 pm

You cannot expect Canon's 1.2L lens to match it, as it is a much less costly lens. They cannot ask such a price. Not enough customers would buy an even more expensive lens from Canon. Also, the need for super-speed lenses has diminished considerably with digital cameras with super sensitivity compared to films.

Leica's is just about the only super-speed lens that could equal more moderate-aperture lenses.

No, but I CAN expect good results when stopped down 3- to 4-stops from max. For a lens (the Sigma) to out resolve a lens costing twice as much for about 1/3 stop faster, is pretty laughable. Even my older 50/1.4 does better at f4-f5.6. Super speed lens ARE designed to provide excellent results at near max aperture. It's the whole reason you purchase them, rather than a slower model. It is within expectations that a 1.2 lens should be as sharp if not sharper at, say, 2.8 as the plastic barrelled 50/1.8. To not be as sharp as even my 24-70 says I have a dog. All my fast lens (85/1.2, 135/2, 300/2.8 70-200/2.8) all perform superbly (well maybe the exception being the 85), 1-stop from max. If you can't use a 50/1.2 and achieve good-excellent results at 2-2.8, then you've absolutely wasted your money on a heavy, expensive piece of glass.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 25, 2014, 12:30:02 pm
I think the pictures are exactly the point. What other point is there? The photographer makes a living from photography so I expect he knows exactly what gear he uses and what it's limitations are.  He's shooting fashion type pictures - he's more interested in feel and mode than obsessing over lens tests.  If you want to shoot at 1.2 you put up with the small deficiencies.  I've got an f0.95 lens which is soft wide open.  So what - I love the soft dreamy images.

Jim

No, they are not. If he thinks a Canon 50mm 1.2L is going to provide images that are as sharp as a slower lens he is simply mistaken. It can't be done on a practical basis. Maybe the Defense Dept. or NASA can afford million-dollar lenses (and they have such things)...but for ordinary customers it isn't practicable.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 25, 2014, 12:38:19 pm
No, but I CAN expect good results when stopped down 3- to 4-stops from max. For a lens (the Sigma) to out resolve a lens costing twice as much for about 1/3 stop faster, is pretty laughable. Even my older 50/1.4 does better at f4-f5.6. Super speed lens ARE designed to provide excellent results at near max aperture. It's the whole reason you purchase them, rather than a slower model. It is within expectations that a 1.2 lens should be as sharp if not sharper at, say, 2.8 as the plastic barrelled 50/1.8. To not be as sharp as even my 24-70 says I have a dog. All my fast lens (85/1.2, 135/2, 300/2.8 70-200/2.8) all perform superbly (well maybe the exception being the 85), 1-stop from max. If you can't use a 50/1.2 and achieve good-excellent results at 2-2.8, then you've absolutely wasted your money on a heavy, expensive piece of glass.

Nope, you are simply wrong. It's physics. You can expect it, but you won't get it. Not in a 50mm 1.2 lens for reflex cameras costing $1500.

The high-speed lenses from Leica of the 1960s and 70s were optimized for maximum aperture (in other words, the designers made them as good as they could at full aperture, sacrificing a little performance stopped down, but they still were better stopped down). Nowadays, Leica has started using aspherical surfaces and other design approaches that produces even better lenses.

The Japanese designers of the same era focused more on stopped-down performance. In both cases the lenses performed better stopped down, but the Leica lenses were better wide open and improved less as you stopped them down than did the Japanese lenses. But the Leica lenses were still better wide open and stopped down, because they used better glasses and cost tons more. In 1973 I tested my 50mm Summilux-R (reflex, $500) against a contemporary Nikon 50mm f/1.4 ($125) and there was no comparison. Leica figures you buy a fast lens to use it wide open; the Japanese think you will use it mostly stopped down, so the extra speed is just a sales gimmick.  

No, the Canon 50mm 1.2L lens is not a dog. It's the best that can be made with the technology available at a reasonable price. If you want better, be prepared to pay tens of thousands of dollars.

Here is a test of this $1,500 lens:
http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/472-canon_50_12_5d

and a test of the $11,000 Leica Noctilux:
http://www.photozone.de/leicam/860-noctilux50asph

You may find this interesting:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/50mm-f1.htm
http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/50mm-f12.htm
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Jim Pascoe on September 25, 2014, 01:48:16 pm
No, they are not. If he thinks a Canon 50mm 1.2L is going to provide images that are as sharp as a slower lens he is simply mistaken. It can't be done on a practical basis. Maybe the Defense Dept. or NASA can afford million-dollar lenses (and they have such things)...but for ordinary customers it isn't practicable.

Hang on - are we talking about lens tests or photography?  How can you possibly tell this guy, who produces superb pictures, that he doesn't know a sharp picture when he see one?
I think you are seriously deluded and all you can do is quote lens tests and reviews.  The pictures you have shown yourself do not demonstrate the superior Leica optics.  It is about pictures not tests.

Would you lecture a virtuoso violinist about why his instrument is not as good as the one you have when you are still on grade 3?
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 25, 2014, 01:57:03 pm
Hang on - are we talking about lens tests or photography?  How can you possibly tell this guy, who produces superb pictures, that he doesn't know a sharp picture when he see one?
I think you are seriously deluded and all you can do is quote lens tests and reviews.  The pictures you have shown yourself do not demonstrate the superior Leica optics.  It is about pictures not tests.


He said the lens was "no good", if you recall. I pointed out that this was false, and I maintain that it is as good as it can be at the price and speed, and given what current technology allows. You cannot expect it to be as good on an objective basis as a slower lens. This is not possible. None of this has anything to do with his skills as a photographer, or mine. I know what lenses can do and what they cannot do. Read my previous posts and see the tests, as they are objective. The tests show that the lens is sharper in the center wide open, but less sharp at the edges. This is true of every lens ever made. It's physics. Lens design is a very difficult art, and financial constraints play a big role (in addition to all the technological and production limitations). This is a $1500 lens, not a $10K or $50K lens. If you want to see what happens when you turn lens designers free, see the reports on the Leica 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux. But guess what: it's less sharp at the edges too!

Long lenses, wide-angle-lenses, and very fast lenses all perform at a lower "objective" level than moderate aperture normal lenses. You have to make allowances for those, and judge them accordingly. No commercially available 50mm f/1.0 lens is going to produce images wide open that are as good as a 50mm f/3.5 wide open, all things being equal.

You can't get 7000Hp from a 4 cylinder engine, either. It ain't gonna happen.

You haven't the faintest idea what you are talking about, and I do, so don't contradict me! I have 50 years of experience, 43 years with Leicaflex cameras and lenses, all with film. I have often been astonished at the image quality of my equipment with B&W or Kodachrome films. What you see here is mostly inexpensive sans from recent photos taken hand-held on Fuji Pro 400H high-speed color negative film with uncontrolled light, which I use because I am mostly shooting people candidly these days. I don't shoot rocks or trees or use a tripod often. Given my objectives, my photos are satisfactory for my purposes, and are not intended for large display. I could use slower films and spend more and get higher-res scans but I have no need for that. But then I would not be able to get the images I like, which require long lenses and fast films.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: NancyP on September 25, 2014, 02:05:42 pm
For fashion and portraiture, you want a different "look", not necessarily clinically sharp 100% of the time. I daresay that the bokeh is at least as important as the acutance for a fashion/portrait photographer. Hello, I am getting on in years, and do I want every single skin pore lovingly detailed? No. Do I want plasticky-looking post-processing rendering to hide the pores and make me look like Barbie? No. (OK, maybe I am blaming those G-dawful ads for portraiture post-processing software - the "after" always looks way worse than the "before" to me.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 25, 2014, 02:10:49 pm
For fashion and portraiture, you want a different "look", not necessarily clinically sharp 100% of the time. I daresay that the bokeh is at least as important as the acutance for a fashion/portrait photographer. Hello, I am getting on in years, and do I want every single skin pore lovingly detailed? No. Do I want plasticky-looking post-processing rendering to hide the pores and make me look like Barbie? No. (OK, maybe I am blaming those G-dawful ads for portraiture post-processing software - the "after" always looks way worse than the "before" to me.

Oh yes, I have seen those ads, and you are so right!
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Doug Peterson on September 25, 2014, 02:23:38 pm
Or, maybe I'll go back to medium format and pickup a Pentax 645Z. If it weren't for the dearth of lenses for the system, I would have purchased one already. Am I alone in the frustration that Canon seems to have slipped from being a leader and even pioneer, to a virtual also-ran?

A Mamiya Leaf Credo 40 kit (https://digitaltransitions.com/blog/dt-blog/mamiya-credo-special-promo) is ballpark the same price as a 645Z with a lens, and comes with a Schneider 80mm LS lens (sync@1/1600th) and has a complete line of LS lenses as well as lots of less expensive non LS glass to fill in gaps if budget requires. If you're waiting for Canon to invest heavily in competing on top 1% image quality I think you'll be waiting a long time - there is a lot more money in it for them to make their mid-tier and low-end offerings better/cheaper, at least in their minds. Do a quick google search on sales figures and you'll see what % of their revenue comes from the 1D line vs their Rebel line, and then tell me what you'd invest in if you were their CEO. In comparison Phase/Leaf can ONLY sell if they produce the absolute highest image quality solutions, so where will they invest?
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: eronald on September 25, 2014, 06:39:09 pm
A Mamiya Leaf Credo 40 kit (https://digitaltransitions.com/blog/dt-blog/mamiya-credo-special-promo) is ballpark the same price as a 645Z with a lens, and comes with a Schneider 80mm LS lens (sync@1/1600th) and has a complete line of LS lenses as well as lots of less expensive non LS glass to fill in gaps if budget requires. If you're waiting for Canon to invest heavily in competing on top 1% image quality I think you'll be waiting a long time - there is a lot more money in it for them to make their mid-tier and low-end offerings better/cheaper, at least in their minds. Do a quick google search on sales figures and you'll see what % of their revenue comes from the 1D line vs their Rebel line, and then tell me what you'd invest in if you were their CEO. In comparison Phase/Leaf can ONLY sell if they produce the absolute highest image quality solutions, so where will they invest?

Doug,

I don't think badmouthing Canon image quality will get anyone very far - they have a deserved reputation for solid pro bodies, a complete lens range, and exceptional telephoto lenses. And in fact they have been improving their mid-tier bodies a lot - because their consumer research showed them that pros are making less money and are forced to buy them to get the job done. And pro pulls consumer, as you know.

Edmund


Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: David Anderson on September 25, 2014, 06:47:58 pm

No, the Canon 50mm 1.2L lens is not a dog. It's the best that can be made with the technology available at a reasonable price. If you want better, be prepared to pay tens of thousands of dollars.


The 50 1.2 L is a superb lens.
It's brilliant for environmental portraits IMHO and (like it's 85mm cousin) has a look all it's own when shooting under f2.





Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 25, 2014, 08:16:42 pm
The 50 1.2 L is a superb lens.
It's brilliant for environmental portraits IMHO and (like it's 85mm cousin) has a look all it's own when shooting under f2.


Ok. Then MY 50/1.2 is a dog.

And another thought: the comments that fast lenses aren't really suppose to be as sharp is, honestly, crap. I'm looking at a shot, full length (and not even filling out the frame), from a catalog shoot I just did on the streets in NYC. Crap light. I shot with my 135/2. To me, it's one of the best lenses Canon produces. (Too bad no IS, but maybe in the future.) The shot was made at f3.2, 1/250. Tack sharp, resolving, on my 1Dx, individual eye-lashes. Given the exact same setup, but using the 50, sharpness would have been very disappointing.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 25, 2014, 08:19:09 pm
Ok. Then MY 50/1.2 is a dog.

And another thought: the comments that fast lenses aren't really suppose to be as sharp is, honestly, crap. I'm looking at a shot, full length (and not even filling out the frame), from a catalog shoot I just did on the streets in NYC. Crap light. I shot with my 135/2. To me, it's one of the best lenses Canon produces. (Too bad no IS, but maybe in the future.) The shot was made at f3.2, 1/250. Tack sharp, resolving, on my 1Dx, individual eye-lashes. Given the exact same setup, but using the 50, sharpness would have been very disappointing.

You obviously don't understand optics. f/2 is not f/1.2.
Haven't I explained all of this to you before? And even the way you talk gives it away. What do you mean by 'suppose to be'? Your vast ignorance of optics is showing, but at least show me that you know that the English word is 'supposed to be'. A 135mm f/2 lens is a very fast lens, but once you go past f/2 the problems really set in. Read a little and learn:

http://www.summilux.net/r_system/objectifs/LeicaRLenses.pdf

It is also possible that the lens is damaged or that the autofocus needs to be adjusted. The depth of field with such a lens is very small.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: David Anderson on September 25, 2014, 08:21:26 pm
Ok. Then MY 50/1.2 is a dog.


A real possibility unfortunately.
I returned the first copy I bought and the second was much better.

Have you had the lens projected to check for issues ?
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 25, 2014, 08:54:45 pm
The 50 1.2 L is a superb lens.
It's brilliant for environmental portraits IMHO and (like it's 85mm cousin) has a look all it's own when shooting under f2.



It seems to me likely that your experience is closer to the truth.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 25, 2014, 09:02:43 pm
A real possibility unfortunately.
I returned the first copy I bought and the second was much better.

Have you had the lens projected to check for issues ?

Canon CPS has worked on the lens several times. Most recently six months ago.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: synn on September 25, 2014, 09:32:59 pm
I have no horse in this race (Hell, I don't even shoot Canon), but it's always amusing to see a Leicaphile at work proclaiming his gear's superiority.

Especially when the person in question is some guy with a Flickr stream full of unexceptional snapshots of people trying to "Educate" a pro with an exceptional portfolio why and how the latter's equipment is crap.

Carry on.  ;D
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: NancyP on September 25, 2014, 09:40:03 pm
Wow - Mamiya body, back, and Schneider 80mm LS lens for $14,000.00. Not in the budget now. But, that is not too far off the "low-end" Pentax 645Z price. 
 :D  I come here to get a better grade of G.A.S.   ;D  Unfortunately, it is easier to upgrade your G.A.S. wants than your photography and post-processing skills. (putzes clutzily with PS masks)

I prescribe voluntary penance for the excessive gear-o-phile obsessing not related to actual image making and selling. Go Make A Pinhole Camera, and go shoot with your favorite film or direct positive paper. If nothing else, it would be fun.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: melchiorpavone on September 25, 2014, 09:43:06 pm
I have no horse in this race (Hell, I don't even shoot Canon), but it's always amusing to see a Leicaphile at work proclaiming his gear's superiority.

Especially when the person in question is some guy with a Flickr stream full of unexceptional snapshots of people trying to "Educate" a pro with an exceptional portfolio why and how the latter's equipment is crap.

Carry on.  ;D

I have no interest in your opinions. 'Pro'? are you kidding me? 'Pro'? What do pros know? Next to nothing. I have 50 years of experience in photography, 43 years with Leicaflex cameras and lenses. I have never said his equipment is "crap". He said that 50mm f/1.2 his lens sucked, which I doubt very much. Can't you read?

I have been defending the lens all along, just trying to explain to him that he has to have realistic expectations.

Here is someone else's opinion:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/50mm-f12.htm

"This Canon 50mm f/1.2L is the sharpest 50mm lens I've ever used at apertures faster than f/1.4."

and

"Autofocus Accuracy and Consistency

Sharp results at f/1.2 demand perfect focus accuracy. Depth of field is so thin at f/1.2 that any subject, other than a flat test chart, will mostly be out of focus.

If your camera has it, you may need to adjust AF Fine Tuning for perfect results at f/1.2.

If your camera lacks AF Fine Tuning, it's not likely that any given sample of lens will give perfect results on your camera at f/1.2. No worries, if shot with an older camera, learn how or where to focus for perfect results with your lens.

My 5D Mark III gives consistently great results at f/1.2.

On my original 5D in 2007, I got some frames that were way out of focus, even though the AF system assured me I was AOK. Watch for this if you're shooting this on an older camera.

For perfect results every time at every aperture, focus with Live View, but you probably won't need it. "
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: synn on September 25, 2014, 09:46:11 pm
Wow - Mamiya body, back, and Schneider 80mm LS lens for $14,000.00. Not in the budget now. But, that is not too far off the "low-end" Pentax 645Z price. 
 :D  I come here to get a better grade of G.A.S.   ;D  Unfortunately, it is easier to upgrade your G.A.S. wants than your photography and post-processing skills. (putzes clutzily with PS masks)

I prescribe voluntary penance for the excessive gear-o-phile obsessing not related to actual image making and selling. Go Make A Pinhole Camera, and go shoot with your favorite film or direct positive paper. If nothing else, it would be fun.


You can get into MFD for as little as 4K.
Depending on your style of shooting and genre, you may/ may not miss some creature comforts.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: NancyP on September 25, 2014, 10:30:47 pm
tell me more, synn. (NP slaps self upside head, tells self "go off and make and shoot that pinhole cam")

 My creature comforts require a good live view with magnification, for manual focusing in the field (landscapes). And - a proper cable release option (one of my points of irritation with Sigma DP Merrill - NO way to implement remote release).
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: synn on September 25, 2014, 11:09:58 pm
tell me more, synn. (NP slaps self upside head, tells self "go off and make and shoot that pinhole cam")

 My creature comforts require a good live view with magnification, for manual focusing in the field (landscapes). And - a proper cable release option (one of my points of irritation with Sigma DP Merrill - NO way to implement remote release).

Hi Nancy,

I was talking about the pre-owned back route. Backs have no moving parts, so one with a 100k shot count is essentially still brand new if it was properly taken care of. Some dealers offer packages that include a basic warranty as well. You can find some offers here: https://captureintegration.com/products/demo-digital-backs/ (I am not affiliated in any way). Doug from DT would also be able to offer similar deals. Fleabay would be cheaper and if the seller looks trustworthy, go for it.

Pretty much all backs have cable release options and some like the P25+ or the P45+ offer very clean long exposures as well. Live view on older backs is definitely a problem because of the CCD sensors and the dated LCDs, but a good solution, that a lot of guys use is to tether to a small macbook (11" MBA for instance). Both Capture one pro (For Phase/ Leaf) and Phocus (For Blad) offer very robust tethering based live view, which should be just fine for focusing reasons.

I went down the Mamiya route because of the abundance of great lenses in the used market for incredibly cheap prices. For example, this is what a $300 35mm Mamiya lens can do on my Credo 40. (Right click the image and select "View image").

(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3803/12266936635_c92fdfd7b8_b.jpg)

Generally, there are no real "Dud" lenses in the MF world, most are fairly good-to-excellent and made even better with current day software. For example, C1P has excellent distortion correction and can specifically correct corner softness too.

Of course, if you go for the current generation lenses, the results are truly astounding. The 80mm "Kit" lens for example is eye bleedingly sharp!

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/11684716426_be2ebc0a91_b.jpg)

p.s. PM me if you would like higher resolution versions of the images.

Cheers!  :)
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: David Anderson on September 25, 2014, 11:15:59 pm
Canon CPS has worked on the lens several times. Most recently six months ago.

FWIW, I found that the 50 1.2L was a little random in it's AF accuracy unless the micro adjustment was pin-perfect.
Even then, I threw away more frames due to the AF missing than any other lens.

The 135 F2 you mention, on the other hand was dead accurate.  8)
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Jim Pascoe on September 26, 2014, 04:25:13 am

You haven't the faintest idea what you are talking about, and I do, so don't contradict me! I have 50 years of experience, 43 years with Leicaflex cameras and lenses, all with film. I have often been astonished at the image quality of my equipment with B&W or Kodachrome films. What you see here is mostly inexpensive sans from recent photos taken hand-held on Fuji Pro 400H high-speed color negative film with uncontrolled light, which I use because I am mostly shooting people candidly these days. I don't shoot rocks or trees or use a tripod often. Given my objectives, my photos are satisfactory for my purposes, and are not intended for large display. I could use slower films and spend more and get higher-res scans but I have no need for that. But then I would not be able to get the images I like, which require long lenses and fast films.

I'm sorry but this says it all......  I don't class myself as a great photographer but I can safely say that my pictures in general are better than yours.  And so are those of Nemo (much better than mine) so I think we do know what we are talking about.  I agree you know more about Leica gear than me, but don't accuse me of contradicting ridiculous statements.  You are questioning every other photographers knowledge based on your own personal bias.  How old are you?  Funny that you've been using the same gear for 40 years - all that shows is that you have your mind closed to alternatives.  But as I've said - each to their own. I'm not sure what you're getting so worked up about. The fact that you have been 'astonished' by your image quality, but then post links to slightly unsharp or out of focus pictures tells me that you do not set high standards.  Why link to snapshots?  At least show the very best of your pictures.

You question the skill and knowledge of professional photographers and think you know best.  There are lots of amateurs who are better photographers than me - but while I am prepared to listen to some of the technical gurus on LL who obviously understand the mechanics of photography in it's broadest sense even if they are not great photographers, I cannot be lectured to by an average photographer with a religious zealotry for one particular brand of camera - which quite obviously must be the best because you use it.  You may be right, but so what?  We who photograph for a living just want gear that does the job.  We are mostly enthusiasts too and love what we do.  You seem full of negativity and venom.  That is sad.

Oh, and anybody that quotes Ken Rockwell as an authority slips a little in my estimation.  Only because while I have no personal axe to grind with him, I have read some of his views and statements that just do not tally with my experience.

Jim
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: David Anderson on September 26, 2014, 05:34:56 am
Well said Jim.  8)
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Hulyss on September 26, 2014, 06:00:27 am
Guys, do not fight :)

The thing is that a lot of Canon users just wait for an high MP "pro" camera and it is very possible that will be reality. A firm like Canon is obliged to studies this option because ... it's canon !! It is not a random brand ... So it take time (and hope on our side).

The 7DMk II is a cool answer for pro who use APS-C, not like Nikon with the D7xxx line ... Most of my pro friends use multiple gear and are a bit tired lugging around tones of different material to cover their needs. Some of them found peace in the D810 while some stay with the 5DMKIII. So far, the files of the 5DMkIII are very nice and 22 MP are plenty for a lot of applications if not most.

The thing is that all Pros in photography do not need the same gear. Some pros do not even know what gear suit them the best. But the vast majority would like an "all in one", for sure. Moderate weight, high MP, good lenses, good video if needed and a good price ... and rugged.

A lot of ppl here speak about pros and I wonder what they mean, "gear wise", about being pro. I know pros in macro photography who use old DSLR you might label as crap; there is pros with full MF gear (some even say they own them, on forum, but in reality they rent them; I've busted some). Lately I do a lot of event and cross the roads of some pro (independent) event photographers ... the vast majority do not even use FF. D7000/7100 + 7D/70D  are the most common DSLR I see (and black magic cameras). When I see D700/D800/D3/D3s/1DS/1Dx/5D ... it is agency photographers and the gear is owned by the agency. I speak for France and my little finger tell me it is approximately the same in other country.

So, by observation, the photographic landscape of professionals in photography is tiny, very tiny. Pros with MF are rare; not on forums ofc but they are pretty rare. Pros who really need 36 MP files are pretty rare too. As an example, I got a commissioned work for a French wine : Domaine de la Romanée Conti. I did the shoots with two cameras a D700 and a DP3 Merril. Client was super happy and never asked or looked at my material, never. 12 MP and 16 MP. Generally, when a client want big files he ask for it. Most pros do rent the specific material today, if needed.

So ... Canon is abandoning the Pros ?? Hell no. Nonsense.

We have more tools today at our disposal than ever in history. If the goal of a society (if I'm not wrong) is making profit, renting is one if not the best option. Rent the material you need and buy the system you like (if you can ^^).



Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: NashvilleMike on September 26, 2014, 11:31:45 am
I'm sorry but this says it all......  I don't class myself as a great photographer but I can safely say that my pictures in general are better than yours.  And so are those of Nemo (much better than mine) so I think we do know what we are talking about.  I agree you know more about Leica gear than me, but don't accuse me of contradicting ridiculous statements.  You are questioning every other photographers knowledge based on your own personal bias.  How old are you?  Funny that you've been using the same gear for 40 years - all that shows is that you have your mind closed to alternatives.  But as I've said - each to their own. I'm not sure what you're getting so worked up about. The fact that you have been 'astonished' by your image quality, but then post links to slightly unsharp or out of focus pictures tells me that you do not set high standards.  Why link to snapshots?  At least show the very best of your pictures.

You question the skill and knowledge of professional photographers and think you know best.  There are lots of amateurs who are better photographers than me - but while I am prepared to listen to some of the technical gurus on LL who obviously understand the mechanics of photography in it's broadest sense even if they are not great photographers, I cannot be lectured to by an average photographer with a religious zealotry for one particular brand of camera - which quite obviously must be the best because you use it.  You may be right, but so what?  We who photograph for a living just want gear that does the job.  We are mostly enthusiasts too and love what we do.  You seem full of negativity and venom.  That is sad.

Oh, and anybody that quotes Ken Rockwell as an authority slips a little in my estimation.  Only because while I have no personal axe to grind with him, I have read some of his views and statements that just do not tally with my experience.

Jim

Another "spot on Jim" from me.

I'll be quite blunt and probably get spanked by the mods, but at this point, I don't care: ever since this Melchior guy has come into the forums, I feel the need to skip these forums. I'd rather read dpreview than come here now. Anyone who posts such grandiose comments like "Film is vastly superior to digital in every way" or "manual focus is always better than autofocus", or denounces all Japanese products as "Jap-o-crap" rings off literally every alarm bell of bullshit I have in my body. I sense xenophobia, arrogance, and technophobia in those statements.

I mean, taken logically, the odds, mathematically, that every single aspect of film is better (than digital) to a degree of magnitude that merits the word "vast" is quite minimal. I can accept "film has SOME aspects that are superior to digital" far more than "vastly superior in every way". And I can *guarantee*, speaking as a guy who has shot theater and dance, that in those situations I'll get a higher hit rate with AF than I do manual focus, and I'm a guy who has successfully shot dance in the film days with manual focus lenses, so I speak from experience. And don't get me started on his snobbery on countries. As soon as I hear that one nation, culture, gender, race or belief system has the exclusive rights to being at the top of the heap, the more I heavily discount that voice,  hard.

All I see in his postings are a closed mind and arrogance. I may "only" have 38 years photography experience in multiple formats, have images published in most every medium (newsprint, magazine, calendar, brochure, poster), and an experience set that likely at least matches his, but the older I get and the more I think I know, the more I come to realize I *don't know everything* and that I need to continually keep an open mind and learn from people who know more than I do (and that's really why I read this forum - having guys here who live on a different planet knowledge wise than I do lets me accomplish learning). Particularly as I get older, I need to remind myself that while I have deep experience in a variety of things, I always must be open to learning more and to continually question my own beliefs and biases. The day I stop doing that, is the day I stop learning and growing.

The poster we speak of would do well to take a long break from the forums and think long and hard about his attitude and his writings here.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: ErikKaffehr on September 26, 2014, 11:41:51 am
Hi,

My take on the issue is that as long as Canon has number #1 marketshare they don't need to worry. I also guess that more world class images are taken with Canons than with all other system counted together. That may change, of course, but I would be pretty sure that many or most competition winners were made by Canon.

Now, there is another side to it. Canon owners have a very significant investment in Canon gear and I have some understanding for many of those users lusting for features that Canon now lacks. The most obvious ones are high DR at base ISO and high resolution on full frame. Yes, I feel that Canon needs to care for those customers, too…

Best regards
Erik


Guys, do not fight :)

The thing is that a lot of Canon users just wait for an high MP "pro" camera and it is very possible that will be reality. A firm like Canon is obliged to studies this option because ... it's canon !! It is not a random brand ... So it take time (and hope on our side).

The 7DMk II is a cool answer for pro who use APS-C, not like Nikon with the D7xxx line ... Most of my pro friends use multiple gear and are a bit tired lugging around tones of different material to cover their needs. Some of them found peace in the D810 while some stay with the 5DMKIII. So far, the files of the 5DMkIII are very nice and 22 MP are plenty for a lot of applications if not most.

The thing is that all Pros in photography do not need the same gear. Some pros do not even know what gear suit them the best. But the vast majority would like an "all in one", for sure. Moderate weight, high MP, good lenses, good video if needed and a good price ... and rugged.

A lot of ppl here speak about pros and I wonder what they mean, "gear wise", about being pro. I know pros in macro photography who use old DSLR you might label as crap; there is pros with full MF gear (some even say they own them, on forum, but in reality they rent them; I've busted some). Lately I do a lot of event and cross the roads of some pro (independent) event photographers ... the vast majority do not even use FF. D7000/7100 + 7D/70D  are the most common DSLR I see (and black magic cameras). When I see D700/D800/D3/D3s/1DS/1Dx/5D ... it is agency photographers and the gear is owned by the agency. I speak for France and my little finger tell me it is approximately the same in other country.

So, by observation, the photographic landscape of professionals in photography is tiny, very tiny. Pros with MF are rare; not on forums ofc but they are pretty rare. Pros who really need 36 MP files are pretty rare too. As an example, I got a commissioned work for a French wine : Domaine de la Romanée Conti. I did the shoots with two cameras a D700 and a DP3 Merril. Client was super happy and never asked or looked at my material, never. 12 MP and 16 MP. Generally, when a client want big files he ask for it. Most pros do rent the specific material today, if needed.

So ... Canon is abandoning the Pros ?? Hell no. Nonsense.

We have more tools today at our disposal than ever in history. If the goal of a society (if I'm not wrong) is making profit, renting is one if not the best option. Rent the material you need and buy the system you like (if you can ^^).




Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Jim Pascoe on September 26, 2014, 12:46:56 pm
The poster we speak of would do well to take a long break from the forums and think long and hard about his attitude and his writings here.

I see his status has changed to 'guest' so I suppose either he has decided to take a break - or somebody upstairs has decided for him.....
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: NancyP on September 26, 2014, 12:53:37 pm
Hulyss, I need to hang out at your gigs - Romanee-Conti , eh (please imagine appropriate accent). You can't get any more prestigious than that in the wine universe. Period. A sniff of the cork could pay for the photographer's entire kit.  Are the photos on the Romanee-Conti website?
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: NancyP on September 26, 2014, 05:08:55 pm
One good thing Ken Rockwell has done is provide a catalogue of commonly available Nikkor production lenses (as opposed to industrial lenses, check the Red Book for that). He may not be the ultimate authority on image quality, but he has provided useful information for those of us who wonder "what are these ancient manual lenses my relative just gave me?".
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Hulyss on September 26, 2014, 05:16:42 pm
Hulyss, I need to hang out at your gigs - Romanee-Conti , eh (please imagine appropriate accent). You can't get any more prestigious than that in the wine universe. Period. A sniff of the cork could pay for the photographer's entire kit.  Are the photos on the Romanee-Conti website?

Ha ! that was luck based contract. One of my old friend (and model) was trainee in this domaine. For a project she gift my name and I got a phone call. It was not for the web site but a brochure. Anyway it was very nice :)

Quote
One good thing Ken Rockwell has done is provide a catalogue of commonly available Nikkor production lenses (as opposed to industrial lenses, check the Red Book for that). He may not be the ultimate authority on image quality, but he has provided useful information for those of us who wonder "what are these ancient manual lenses my relative just gave me?".

And I agree with you about Ken, his website is comfortable to read and roam. AT least it is not a sort of blog and I like it.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: NancyP on September 26, 2014, 07:00:55 pm
Hulyss: Were you allowed to sniff a taster's glass? That would be worth bragging rights.
Note: I am not a wine aficionado, but my dad was, he had books about wine and vineyards in the house, and about 40 years ago he took a trip-of-a-lifetime to France to tour the vineyards. I am not sure that he ever got to try a Romanee-Conti wine. This was a much better visit than his previous visit to France, which involved freezing his butt off in the Ardennes Forest getting shot at by Germans (AKA "Battle of the Bulge").
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Hulyss on September 27, 2014, 05:08:41 am
Hulyss: Were you allowed to sniff a taster's glass? That would be worth bragging rights.
Note: I am not a wine aficionado, but my dad was, he had books about wine and vineyards in the house, and about 40 years ago he took a trip-of-a-lifetime to France to tour the vineyards. I am not sure that he ever got to try a Romanee-Conti wine. This was a much better visit than his previous visit to France, which involved freezing his butt off in the Ardennes Forest getting shot at by Germans (AKA "Battle of the Bulge").

Yes I was allowed :) For sure it taste good but Bourgogne wines do not have my preference. I'm more Langedoc Roussillon wine because I love Syrat and Grenache grape varieties.
Wine is a perfect niche market ;)

I would like to tanks your father for fighting for my country back in the days :)

(But we slipped out of topic ^^)
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: hjulenissen on September 28, 2014, 04:26:18 am
I can see what is going to happen when Canon introduces a new high mp count sensor in a 1 series camera: people will then complain that it will be too expensive... sigh...

Who is willing today to pay north of USD 6000 for a 1DX like camera with high +40 mp sensor?

Note that the D810, Sony A7R etc are not in the same price category as a D4 or 1DX.

To me, the only doubt is whether Canon will put such a sensor in a 1D series camera, or in the 5D type camera. In a sense, the 1D high resolution sensor camera may have died; again, the action-pro camera from Nikon is not high res sensor.

Or they may put it in both series.
I want am hoping for a 6D/EOS-M ish high-resolution, high DR @ low ISO, compact, low cost EF compatible (possibly via converter). Let's call it a Canon "A7r" with the benefit of Canon flash compability, superior lens electronic control, familiar Canon ergonomy. Throw in some innovation (_working_ all-electronic shutter?), and my wallet is open.

I'd be willing to sacrifice AF tracking, framerate, magnesium housing (though splash-proof would be nice), abundance of dials in order to keep costs down (and to protect the margins of Canons higher-end offerings). Personally, I can live without wifi, GPS, articulated LCD and video as well, but I don't know if that is wise for sales of such a product (I realise that a successful product cannot be tailormade for me).

I guess that Canon are in for the long term. Building/purchasing a sensor plant is probably not something that you do on a whim. Thus, there is considerable delay from changes in customer preferences (e.g. HD video) or competitor improvements (e.g. Sony sensors) and until Canon can offer a response. In the mean time, they have to (like all of us, I guess) offer the best that they can, hoping that people will like their stuff, while keeping their own costs down.

-h
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on September 28, 2014, 09:09:47 am
Canon has always been totally vertical in it's approach to digital, and almost from the start has always produced their own sensors. The one exeption, it seems, based on reports, is the new Powershot G7x, which some believe uses the Sony 1" sensor. I find it a little hard to believe that Canon would source something like that from a major rival, but you never know what alliances form in Japan. Fujifilm for years used Nikon bodies with their sensors, until Nikon cut them off. In the end, Fujifilm created an arguably better camera series. Nikon was designing their own sensors initially, which generally sucked. Then they outsourced sensors to Sony, and have some of the best cameras on the market. So, I guess it's not beyond reason to think Canon might do the same.

I'm just dismayed that Canon allowed itself to squander what could have arguably been called the "world Lead" in cameras and sensors. In the end, it's all about numbers, not pros (of course). When you look at the sales numbers of Canon versus Nikon and even Sony, you see where they're headed. At one point I even thought about getting into Sony, buying the A99, but I really dislike (at least for my work), EVF versus a true viewfinder.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: John Koerner on September 28, 2014, 11:23:23 am
In the end, it's all about numbers, not pros (of course).


The truth is, in the end, most pros aren't landscape shooters.  Most pros aren't concentrating on "just the sensor" as the sole entry on their list of needs/wants.

The Canon cameras fill more checks on most checklists, which is ultimately of greater use than filling out just one.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: ErikKaffehr on September 28, 2014, 12:32:51 pm
Hi,

Personally I like GPS and articulated LCD. I also find video belongs to state of the, and it comes essentially free. You can remove that stuff and sell it cheaper, but that is a marketing decision.

I would say that it would make some sense for Canon to introduce new technology on DSLRs rather than mirrorless.

It sort of surprises me that they don't have high resolution, as the 7D has it, but high DR & base ISO may take some time.

Best regards
Erik


I want am hoping for a 6D/EOS-M ish high-resolution, high DR @ low ISO, compact, low cost EF compatible (possibly via converter). Let's call it a Canon "A7r" with the benefit of Canon flash compability, superior lens electronic control, familiar Canon ergonomy. Throw in some innovation (_working_ all-electronic shutter?), and my wallet is open.

I'd be willing to sacrifice AF tracking, framerate, magnesium housing (though splash-proof would be nice), abundance of dials in order to keep costs down (and to protect the margins of Canons higher-end offerings). Personally, I can live without wifi, GPS, articulated LCD and video as well, but I don't know if that is wise for sales of such a product (I realise that a successful product cannot be tailormade for me).

I guess that Canon are in for the long term. Building/purchasing a sensor plant is probably not something that you do on a whim. Thus, there is considerable delay from changes in customer preferences (e.g. HD video) or competitor improvements (e.g. Sony sensors) and until Canon can offer a response. In the mean time, they have to (like all of us, I guess) offer the best that they can, hoping that people will like their stuff, while keeping their own costs down.

-h
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Glenn NK on September 28, 2014, 01:46:01 pm
I still assert that Canon, for their lip service, has ignored the pro market for a long time, choosing amateur and cinema over the still pro photographer. Where Canon does shine (at least until recently) is the CPS program. From all I've heard, much better and faster service than their Nikon counterpart. No such program exists for any other brand (that I know of) -- Sony, Leica, you name it. But, again, where I disparage Canon is even the CPS program is gradually turning it's back on pros. Originally, to join CPS, you have to show published work, show you were in fact a working photographer. Now, it's pony up the money and have a certain level of equipment (so in theory, any well equipped dentist could join). But what's worse is, even paying for the service now, if you say to them when sending in your 50/1.2 and a 1Dx, "Hey, it's not sharp. It's also back focusing", you end up with an $800 bill! (True story from six months ago.) If I'd sent those in for cleaning, they may or may not have caught the problem, but IF they had, it wouldn't have cost me anything since it was a "clean and check" service. Oh, and the 50 still sucks big time. (I'm getting rid of it and buying a Sigma 50 -- rented for my last shoot and a truly sharp lens.)

Unless things change dramatically, after using Canon since 1980, I believe I can say, they've abandoned the pro still shooter.

Canon's aim it to maximize profits; that's what corporations do and must do.

If the profit lies with the cheaper consumer cameras, that's where their emphasis will be - and this will translate into less emphasis on the higher end products.

I don't think it's a matter of "Canon Abandons the Pros" as much as it is "Canon focuses where the profit is".
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on September 28, 2014, 07:23:32 pm
Fine, some bodies are expensive relative to some lenses but lenses overall break less often (unless they are dropped of course) and using another lens is often a realistic workaround in the case a breakdown does occur. That's my understanding of the reason why people don't own back up of lenses. Would you not agree?
Not some bodies - the type of bodies in question compared to the majority of lenses needed by pros. Also I've not had a camera body fail this century, even though I cracked a rear screen when it fell off a bed on location. But camera still worked fine. However times lens have been for repair - 16-35mm x3, 35mm x1, 24-70mm x1, 70-200 x2 and they've been mollycoddled compared to a lot of pro kit. No lens has ever been dropped or banged as it happens. The 35mm died, first time I used it which was particularly annoying as I decided to travel light for once and that was the only lens I had with me that weekend away.
Before digital, much the same as lenses would regularly rattle apart and bodies just kept going. I became quite adept at taking lenses apart to repair them as a result.

Quote
Btw, nobody would think you are crazy if you spent that much on bikes as a pro. In fact most people would think you'd be crazy to be a pro cyclist not owning 2 back ups of your 6-10 KUS$ carbon wonder bike because those DO break.
Like pro riders have to pay for their bikes  ::)  ....they are sponsored to ride what ever bike their team provides. Oh and carbon bikes are incredibly strong these days and I've had steel and aluminium frames snap on me BTW. Just bought a carbon seat post to replace a broken aluminium one as it happens and as I had a titanium one break previously and have bent steel ones, I thought I'd try carbon for a change. Ironically I'm a light rider but I have a long seat post with lots of layback, which makes for a big lever with lots of stress over rough terrain/roads.

Quote
And in the end, a 3KUS$ back up body that will remain mostly un-used and will therefore last years is really nothing compared to the cost of running even a small business. Not to mention the fact that many pros keep their former generation bodies as back up. That is simply a totally negligible expenditure for a pro considering the huge risk of not owning sufficient back up.
Not really sure what/who you are arguing against as folks including me seem to agree a back up body is the sensible thing to do.  ???
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on September 28, 2014, 07:37:14 pm
Oh, and anybody that quotes Ken Rockwell as an authority slips a little in my estimation.  Only because while I have no personal axe to grind with him, I have read some of his views and statements that just do not tally with my experience.
A little!? Anyone who quotes in seriousness Rockwell should immediately be discounted. Rockwell is a troll who admits to making crap up and also mentions that nothing he says should be taken seriously.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Jim Pascoe on September 29, 2014, 10:33:23 am
A little!? Anyone who quotes in seriousness Rockwell should immediately be discounted. Rockwell is a troll who admits to making crap up and also mentions that nothing he says should be taken seriously.

I was trying to be polite.... :)

And on the subject of gear reliability - over 13 years of digital I have had six lenses repaired but not a single body failure.  Between my wife and I we've had -
Canon D30, 10D, 5D, 5d2, 5D3, 1Ds, 1Ds3, Panasonic G1, GF1, GF2, GH2, plus several compact cameras.  They are all incredibly tough.  And we are using them professionally too.

Jim
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Glenn NK on October 01, 2014, 08:12:30 pm
I was trying to be polite.... :)

Jim

It's difficult to be polite with KR.  Some of the stuff he comes out with simply has me shaking my head.  But let me assure you that I DO NOT GO TO HIS SITE - I read what other people say he has written and it can stun me.  If I went to his site, he'd gain another "hit", and that I will not do.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: allegretto on October 04, 2014, 09:53:25 am
Oh c'mon guys... it's not like you will get crabs from visiting his site...
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: John Koerner on October 04, 2014, 02:24:12 pm
Here's a pro actually thanking Canon for opportunities he never had before, not whining behind a keyboard for "more DR" ...

Some (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=929166243778434&set=a.188158627879203.50392.100000552013874&type=1&theater)

Fabulous (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=927735497254842&set=a.188158627879203.50392.100000552013874&type=1&theater)

Shots (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=928585920503133&set=a.188158627879203.50392.100000552013874&type=1&theater)

(ISO 1600, 3200, and 6400 respectively)

Again, there are many awesome capabilities to be thankful for ...

Jack
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: hjulenissen on October 04, 2014, 03:11:59 pm
There can be little doubt that most current digital cameras are capable of some amazing images in the right hands and under the right circumstances.

So what? If manufacturer B is able to give amazing images under slightly more demanding circumstances or in the hands of a slightly less capable photographer, then good for them (and their customers).

-h
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: bcooter on October 04, 2014, 05:57:48 pm
I don't think it's a matter of "Canon Abandons the Pros" as much as it is "Canon focuses where the profit is".

Obviously profit is vital, but I think Canon also targets what the market is asking for, at least in the professional arena.

There are a lot of photographers  and no company can please everyone, though when you look at the whole line up, Canon comes the closest.

This forum is a home for measurebators that say a Nikon has 1.743% more DR or 10 more mpx or special lens coating sharpening, or a Sony has more mega something for 1/2 the price, but nobody covers all the basis from cinema 4k to sports cameras, to advertising cameras like Canon, especially in one lens mount.

Owning REDs, Pansonics, Sony (sold), Nikons (to be sold), Phase, Leicas all of them have a place, some are better in certain limited parameters, but I don't think I've shot a single project in in 10 years that a Canon case wasn't on set.

If anything Canon is conservative.   For a company that brought in the first digital camera that worked with the ease of a film camera, the 1ds, Canon moves one slow step at a time and introduces their higher end models what seems to be  a year too long, but the upside is their cameras are reliable, useable and well thought out.

Actually, in the last Photokina, no company really announced anything spectacular.   Canon a better built apsc, Nikon a  variant on a present camera, Pansonic, Olympus, Sony, RED had already produced the latest models months prior and Phase, Leaf, Hasselblad were virtually silent.

Even Leica has a camera you probably can't buy in a year, so nobody rocked the world.

Would I like more of everything, of course, but working professional versus photographing for the pure joy is a much different mindset.

If I have a project that requires 80mpx, 14 stops of dr (I don't) or 6k cinema (I do), then finding, buying, or renting is a very easy task.

I know few professionals that judge an image solely on 20% more detail, or dr.

Those are things that we learn to craft into a session rather than hope we can build it later or require a camera to capture perfect highlight to shadow in any light, any subject.

To me photography is art aided by science, not the other way around.

In fact when we talk image creation, the camera is important but far down the list of importance as long as it's reliable, functional and doesn't get in my way.


IMO

BC
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on October 04, 2014, 06:49:19 pm
Could it be that the the focus on DR is related to the fact the this forum is called Luminous Landscape and not Luminous studio? ;)

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: bcooter on October 04, 2014, 09:07:53 pm
Could it be that the the focus on DR is related to the fact the this forum is called Luminous Landscape and not Luminous studio? ;)


I don't know ask Michael, Chris or Kevin.  

They might appreciate your assistance as a moderator.

Actually I was responding to a thread that asked if Canon abandoned the profession market and since I make 100% of my income as a professional image maker, I thought I'd respond.

I do wish that our work was mostly studio because I probably wouldn't have to work as many hours and have a much lower overhead.

Regardless, I think you took my response wrong.   The upside to these forums is it involves a lot of different image creators which all have a different perspective.

Paid professional or rabid enthusiast everyone has a voice and I've honestly learned as much from the non paid as paid.

Then again I did enjoy the forum more when their was more professional participation and a little less chart/dxo/dr/mpx sweating and of course the big negative "brand worship".

That last one sends us to dpreview land.

But . . . everyone has a voice.

IMO

BC
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on October 04, 2014, 11:10:17 pm
Actually I was responding to a thread that asked if Canon abandoned the profession market and since I make 100% of my income as a professional image maker, I thought I'd respond.

Sure, and your response is highly appreciated, at least by me and I suspect by a large majority of readers here at LL. i also find the mix of profiles at LL very interesting, in fact it is the main reason why I spend some time around.

Regardless, I think you took my response wrong.   The upside to these forums is it involves a lot of different image creators which all have a different perspective.

I don't think so. I do understand and agree with a lot of what you write. I should have started by writing that because although it is obvious to me it may not be for others. It has never been my view that Canon is abandoning the pros and I frankly feel the very mention that they may pretty ridiculous and indeed DPreview like.

I am just pointing out that DR matters for some types of photography and that it is a legitimate need. Understanding the mention of DR as a brand centric comment today is as weird as it would have been to understand the mention of the value of high ISO as a Canon centric comment 7-8 years ago. There clearly is a value for even more DR and for even cleaner high ISO. As a reminder, DR was mentioned by most MFDB's landscape shooters until recently as the #1 reason why they were spending 10 times more than a high end DSLR. I am clearly not the only one thinking that low ISO DR is the most important characteristic of a sensor and Sony didn't invest tens of MUS$ developping the technology by chance.

Canon took the decision to invest in video instead and it probably is overall a good business decision, although i still hear a lot more mention of Red in the higher end segment.

Can we work with current equipment? Yes. Does better equipment help us work better? I think it does. At least it does help me in the context of what I do as an amateur.

Would my priorities be different if I were shooting for a living? I am sure they would and Canon would be a very appealing proposition if I were to mix still and video.

Then again I did enjoy the forum more when their was more professional participation and a little less chart/dxo/dr/mpx sweating and of course the big negative "brand worship".

Agreed. But then again, the presence of these brand centric threads doesn't affect the rest of the forum. I am not sure why some people still start such threads though. I guess you are right that some people somehow associate themselves with certain brands of equipment.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: eronald on October 06, 2014, 12:03:53 am

They might appreciate your assistance as a moderator.



J,

 I don't aspire to be a mod, but I like being devil's advocate.

 You know, I think I'd like Canon to abandon the pros.

 Throw them to the wolves - the few and the stingy.

 We might get some better form factors, quicker product cycles, better codecs, funnier advertising, quirkier toys.

 And as artists we might get tools that are more fun.

 Look at where gopro have come from and where they are now; look at the phone selfie which is now the dominant still image.

 Look at what the consumer camcorder did to weddings.

 Look at what the 5D2 did to indy "feature" and "documentary" pro moving-image capture.

 My feeling is that over the last 10 years "toys" , "amateur" and prosumer models have brought much more innovation into our everyday lives as photographers  than the pro models like the Eos 1D and other high end SLRs.

 I think that most of those who get paid for photography have forgotten that the cause of its invention was the wish to capture a lasting trace of the human experience, not just make a sale. Even today, the amateurs are more free, they capture emotion every time, even if they are not necessarily very good at it. Frankly, I prefer a mother's phonecam image of her baby to another Miley Cyrus video; the first has authentic feeling and emotion - the second generates loadsa' money for the cameraman.

 Look, I went to an iPhone forum today, and here is an image of a guy's steak (http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=501304&d=1412566278). It's like in a minute I've crossed the world. The image is nothing special but somehow the sharing is. And it's all about the consumer and spontaneity, zilch nada about "art" and "beauty" and "criticism" or "usage fees". I don't wanna say this too loudly, but it's not even about "megapixels".

 JFF (just for fun).

Edmund
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on October 06, 2014, 05:55:36 am
Oh c'mon guys... it's not like you will get crabs from visiting his site...
No, but you up his page views and therefore potential income he can make from advertisers.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on October 06, 2014, 06:06:01 am
Agreed. But then again, the presence of these brand centric threads doesn't affect the rest of the forum. I am not sure why some people still start such threads though. I guess you are right that some people somehow associate themselves with certain brands of equipment.
Did you type that with a straight face Bernard, as you come across a a massive Nikon fanboi?
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on October 06, 2014, 06:56:26 am
Did you type that with a straight face Bernard, as you come across a a massive Nikon fanboi?

I am as brand agnostic as it gets.

I'll buy anything I can afford that could help my photography and makes sense in the context of what I already own. I am not a camera collector so I avoid overlapping equipment.

I'll be as vocal in favor of Canon as I am about Nikon the day Canon delivers something superior for my needs. I am just as enthusiastic about my Sony RX100/a5100, Sigma DP2 Quattro,... like I used to be enthusiastic with my Canon S90. I own(ed) them because I think(thought) they are(were) the best, I don't think they are the best because I own them. If you can follow me?

Regardless, I don't remember ever starting a thread running down equipment from a manufacturer I don't currently use and my opinion remains that Canon offers a brilliant system for pro photographers. Feel free to disagree of course.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Bart_van_der_Wolf on October 06, 2014, 08:38:33 am
http://seeimpossible.usa.canon.com/ (http://seeimpossible.usa.canon.com/)

?
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on October 06, 2014, 08:59:25 am
I am as brand agnostic as it gets.

I'll buy anything I can afford that could help my photography and makes sense in the context of what I already own. I am not a camera collector so I avoid overlapping equipment.

I'll be as vocal in favor of Canon as I am about Nikon the day Canon delivers something superior for my needs. I am just as enthusiastic about my Sony RX100/a5100, Sigma DP2 Quattro,... like I used to be enthusiastic with my Canon S90. I own(ed) them because I think(thought) they are(were) the best, I don't think they are the best because I own them. If you can follow me?

Regardless, I don't remember ever starting a thread running down equipment from a manufacturer I don't currently use and my opinion remains that Canon offers a brilliant system for pro photographers. Feel free to disagree of course.
Yet the overwhelming impression of your posting on LuLa is Nikon, Nikon, Nikon. Someone else commented on it very recently, possibly in this thread, so not just my imagination
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: jjj on October 06, 2014, 09:01:12 am
http://seeimpossible.usa.canon.com/ (http://seeimpossible.usa.canon.com/)

?
Gah, you beat me to it.   ;D
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Chris_Brown on October 06, 2014, 09:48:03 am
http://seeimpossible.usa.canon.com

I saw the ad in the WSJ and thought somebody from LuLa wrote the copy.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Ray on October 06, 2014, 09:56:08 am
Actually, in the last Photokina, no company really announced anything spectacular.   Canon a better built apsc, Nikon a  variant on a present camera, Pansonic, Olympus, Sony, RED had already produced the latest models months prior and Phase, Leaf, Hasselblad were virtually silent.

Are you sure?

http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/09/27/photokina-interview-samsung-nx1-redefine-pro-performance-quantum-leap-tech

Here's a comment from Dave Etchells of Imaging Resource.

"Without question, the Samsung NX1 was truly one of the standout products at the Photokina 2014 tradeshow in Cologne, Germany, with top-notch performance, a sophisticated hybrid autofocus system, and an amazing "auto-shot" mode that can capture a baseball in flight at the exact moment it's coming off the bat."

And here are some comments from an interview with the Samsung senior marketing manager, Jack Kelbley:

"As we're going up in resolution, we have some advantages relative to current sensor technology in fill. Our fill efficiency is much higher than most of the industry, thanks in large part to moving to 65nm design rules for our latest sensor.

We don't have to make big, thick walls on everything. As well, when we switch to copper [replacing polysilicon for the wiring on the chip], we've moved to a much more conductive material, which helps us in heat dissipation, it helps us in reducing resistance. So we're using less material, so again, even though we're BSI, we're cutting the pixel depth even more that way, which gives us more sensitivity and efficiency. So you'll find when you actually get these to test that the high ISO noise on these is much lower than it should be, if you follow the curve down in terms of pixel pitch, because of BSI, because of copper, because of the more efficient microlenses we've put on. The microlenses on these appear to cover almost 100%

It's my understanding that we have the tightest design rules of any sensor manufacturing process used for cameras by a factor of two, and by general average probably close to a factor of four or five."


I know this camera is an APS-C or cropped format but the advances in manufacturing and major features such as the Back-illuminated design of the sensor could result in a noise performance equal to, or even greater than, any current Nikon FX. I hope so.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: eronald on October 06, 2014, 12:16:04 pm
This reminds me of the reviews explaining why the newest Intel processor PC is revolutionary.
I like eating spaghetti as much as the next guy, but more tomato sauce is just more sauce, not better sauce.



Edmund

Are you sure?

http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/09/27/photokina-interview-samsung-nx1-redefine-pro-performance-quantum-leap-tech

Here's a comment from Dave Etchells of Imaging Resource.

"Without question, the Samsung NX1 was truly one of the standout products at the Photokina 2014 tradeshow in Cologne, Germany, with top-notch performance, a sophisticated hybrid autofocus system, and an amazing "auto-shot" mode that can capture a baseball in flight at the exact moment it's coming off the bat."

And here are some comments from an interview with the Samsung senior marketing manager, Jack Kelbley:

"As we're going up in resolution, we have some advantages relative to current sensor technology in fill. Our fill efficiency is much higher than most of the industry, thanks in large part to moving to 65nm design rules for our latest sensor.

We don't have to make big, thick walls on everything. As well, when we switch to copper [replacing polysilicon for the wiring on the chip], we've moved to a much more conductive material, which helps us in heat dissipation, it helps us in reducing resistance. So we're using less material, so again, even though we're BSI, we're cutting the pixel depth even more that way, which gives us more sensitivity and efficiency. So you'll find when you actually get these to test that the high ISO noise on these is much lower than it should be, if you follow the curve down in terms of pixel pitch, because of BSI, because of copper, because of the more efficient microlenses we've put on. The microlenses on these appear to cover almost 100%

It's my understanding that we have the tightest design rules of any sensor manufacturing process used for cameras by a factor of two, and by general average probably close to a factor of four or five."


I know this camera is an APS-C or cropped format but the advances in manufacturing and major features such as the Back-illuminated design of the sensor could result in a noise performance equal to, or even greater than, any current Nikon FX. I hope so.

Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Paul2660 on October 06, 2014, 12:31:32 pm
http://seeimpossible.usa.canon.com/ (http://seeimpossible.usa.canon.com/)

?

Exictement. Good for Canon. At least they see a need to respond. LONG OVER DUE. 

I am sure Photo Expo will be interesting indeed. 

Paul
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: bcooter on October 06, 2014, 05:29:31 pm
Hell, no!

It ain't the camera as long as the camera doesn't get in the way.

"When everybody thinks the same... nobody thinks."

IMO

BC

Title: Photokina - Canon abandons some small fraction of the pros; keeps most of them
Post by: BJL on October 06, 2014, 07:16:25 pm
It ain't the camera as long as the camera doesn't get in the way.
An excellent put down of all the trash talk about "Great photographers can make great images with a pinhole camera make from an old shoe" vs "brand X is doomed because its cameras have 0.3% less foozbits".  Most of us are not going to abandon a system or revile it, so long as it keeps giving us cameras and lenses that are far enough ahead of our skills and needs that it does not hamper our results.  I would say that currently, whatever technical disadvantages Canon's sensors have compared to the best alternatives are not getting in the way of what most professional photographers are trying to do with their gear, and even less so for most amateurs.

Still, about that Canon "impossible" teaser: a lot of people will be very disappointed if it is some amazing new photocopier.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on October 06, 2014, 07:24:00 pm
... "When everybody thinks the same... nobody thinks."...

Luckily, there is hardly the sameness of thought in this thread  ;)
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: eronald on October 06, 2014, 07:55:52 pm
It ain't the camera as long as the camera doesn't get in the way.

"When everybody thinks the same... nobody thinks."

IMO

BC


All these SLRs are the same, basically. And guess what? The kids seem to be using cellphones and gopros.

I don't think we should lose more time over discussing whether camera X or Y is now perfect for sports photographers or war photographers or divers or Gursky.  I don't think most pros would have problems shooting a football match with a Canon,  it's perfectly easy to get soldiers to kill you in a war zone (http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/04/05/iraq.photographers.killed/), and I am sure even James would be happy to descend to the indignity of using a Canon rather than a Leica  to immortalize the marriage of Kate Moss.

This discussion is irrelevant. I hope Canon makes me some nice lifestyle recording devices rather than this monotonous succession of SLRS.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Ray on October 06, 2014, 08:03:46 pm
This reminds me of the reviews explaining why the newest Intel processor PC is revolutionary.
I like eating spaghetti as much as the next guy, but more tomato sauce is just more sauce, not better sauce.
Edmund


Edmund,
The improvements sound more fundamental to me than more tomato sauce. I would describe them as the equivalent of 'whole grain' spaghetti with 3x the quantity of fibre.  ;)
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: synn on October 06, 2014, 08:12:24 pm
I use a D800 and a Credo and am aware of and appreciate the benefits of having a bajillion stops of dynamic range, but I can't help but wonder if Bruce Percy ever gave up velvia because of the (as per measurbating standards) abysmally low DR it has.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: eronald on October 06, 2014, 08:13:30 pm
Edmund,
The improvements sound more fundamental to me than more tomato sauce. I would describe them as the equivalent of 'whole grain' spaghetti with 3x the quantity of fibre.  ;)
Ray,

I hear Bill Gates is helping fund a thinner condom (http://nydailynews.com/life-style/bill-gates-progress-made-new-super-thin-condom-article-1.1945616). Now, this is a man who truly appreciates the value of incremental improvement ;)

Edmund
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: bcooter on October 06, 2014, 09:42:46 pm
The kids seem to be using cellphones and gopros.

I promise this will my last response to this silly shit, but Edmund how many young photographers do you hire or even know?

Most don't own go pros, don't desire to only learn or use a dslr and actually have great hope and aspirations for a career in professional image making.

In fact most I know own a film camera and try to use it as much as possible and can afford.

You show tremendous disrespect to the beginning and accomplished professionals with your thought that photography is a democratic process (it's not)  and anyone can do it well as long as they all use a device that fits in their back pocket.

I hate to break this to you but dumbing down the industry isn't going to happen.   Major movies will not be shot with a go pro, or a 5d2 as a principle camera.

Major advertising campaigns will not be produced with a mobile phone at least not for another decade, unless your shooting a demo for Samsung or Apple.

There is nothing wrong with smaller devices, they have a place, some can be fun, but until you've graded thousands of hours of footage from all forms and sizes of devices, worked 10's of thousands still images in post production and participated in hundreds of creative briefs, most of your hypothesis  is just random speculation.  To what end I don't have a clue.

I think you should try a condom forum.  That's probably more interesting.


IMO

BC

Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: synn on October 06, 2014, 09:48:55 pm
I promise this will my last response to this silly shit, but Edmund how many young photographers do you hire or even know?

Most don't own go pros, don't desire to only learn or use a dslr and actually have great hope and aspirations for a career in professional image making.

In fact most I know own a film camera and try to use it as much as possible and can afford.

You show tremendous disrespect to the beginning and accomplished professionals with your thought that photography is a democratic process (it's not)  and anyone can do it well as long as they all use a device that fits in their back pocket.

I hate to break this to you but dumbing down the industry isn't going to happen.   Major movies will not be shot with a go pro, or a 5d2 as a principle camera.

Major advertising campaigns will not be produced with a mobile phone at least not for another decade, unless your shooting a demo for Samsung or Apple.

There is nothing wrong with smaller devices, they have a place, some can be fun, but until you've graded thousands of hours of footage from all forms and sizes of devices, worked 10's of thousands still images in post production and participated in hundreds of creative briefs, most of your hypothesis  is just random speculation.  To what end I don't have a clue.

I think you should try a condom forum.  That's probably more interesting.


IMO

BC



+1

I wish this post would get stickied on top of every forum.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: LesPalenik on October 07, 2014, 12:08:42 am
Quote
I hear Bill Gates is helping fund a thinner condom. Now, this is a man who truly appreciates the value of incremental improvement.

Not to mention enormous savings in raw materials, transportation costs, and garbage disposal.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on October 07, 2014, 05:14:50 am
Exictement. Good for Canon. At least they see a need to respond. LONG OVER DUE. 

I am sure Photo Expo will be interesting indeed. 

It seems that the countdown ends on Oct 7th. We will know tomorrow what this was about. Crossing fingers. ;)

What's the best F mount -> EOS adapter these days (mounting F mount lenses on an EOS body)?

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: synn on October 07, 2014, 05:18:24 am
Novoflex.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Mr. Rib on October 07, 2014, 06:04:27 am
(...)
Most don't own go pros, don't desire to only learn or use a dslr and actually have great hope and aspirations for a career in professional image making.

In fact most I know own a film camera and try to use it as much as possible and can afford.
(...)
I hate to break this to you but dumbing down the industry isn't going to happen.  

I can confirm the same holds in Eastern Europe (I imagine it's the same case in western parts as well). I dont know about USA but a lot of these guys shoot LF film as well here, if they can afford the proccessing. To learn, to be respectful not only towards the art, but also towards the craft. Also all Fine Art Academies here force students to go through two years of film shooting and dark room (and we're talking about graphic design faculty students, not photography/media).
There are kids of course who run around with a 5dMK2 and think that's what makes them professional, they even get commisions, but not the type of commisions that would allow them to make a living out of photography / plan the future, so, fortunately, these people are filtered out in the proccess.
I really don't like the notion that "nowadays everyone can be a photographer". It's the same when it comes to graphic design which is my main field of interest these days... But these people won't make it to the clients that matter (can I get a hallelujah)



Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: BernardLanguillier on October 07, 2014, 06:10:08 am
Novoflex.

Thks.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Paul2660 on October 07, 2014, 09:30:12 am
It seems that the countdown ends on Oct 7th. We will know tomorrow what this was about. Crossing fingers. ;)

What's the best F mount -> EOS adapter these days (mounting F mount lenses on an EOS body)?

Cheers,
Bernard


Remember you lose infinity focus with F to EOS with any mount adapter as focal flange distance is the same between the two mounts.

You can also have the actual mount changed on the lens. In the US S K Grimes used to do this not sure if they still offer it.

Paul
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: synn on October 07, 2014, 09:37:41 am
Hi Paul, the eos mount has a shorter flange distance than the f mount, so infinity is possible. F to K and A mounts will lose infinity.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Paul2660 on October 07, 2014, 11:52:54 am
Hello Synn

I got my mounts mixed up. I was thinking about the older Canon FD mount.

Thanks

Paul
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: nemophoto on October 07, 2014, 12:31:39 pm
http://seeimpossible.usa.canon.com/ (http://seeimpossible.usa.canon.com/)

?

What a big snooze. Just a marketing website it seems. No dynamic announcements. Just flashy coding.

I switched to Canon in 1980. I'm VERY heavily invested in gear and no way I'm going to switch (two bodies and almost all "L" glass: 17-40/f4, 24-70/f2.8, 50/1.2, 85/1.2, 100/f2, 135/f2, 70-200/2.8, 300/2.8). I just wish they would give me something to replace my aging 1Ds Mark III. I adore my 1Dx. One of the best cameras Canon has produced, even though it took almost a year to actually buy after it was actually introduced. But I have a guy who wants to buy my 1Ds3, and I'm stupid not to sell at this point, though I have nothing I really want to replace it with. Guess I'll just rent a backup for a while, as I need it, in hope of something happening from Canon. And hear I thought Canon's "big announcement" was going to be... well, a BIG announcement.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: NancyP on October 07, 2014, 01:58:00 pm
I have a Fotodiox Pro F mount to EOS adapter, it's less expensive ($80.00) than the Novoflex, and comes in chipped ($10.00 extra) and chip-less versions. It fits snugly, has a leaf spring in it that ensures proper fit. I had a cheaper adapter that had very loose fit (Bower). So, if you are of the mind to buy one adapter per lens, the Fotodiox Pro (not plain "Fotodiox" $20.00 version) would be one solution. I imagine that Novoflex is considerably nicer.
http://www.fotodioxpro.com/nikon-f-lens-to-canon-eos-camera-fotodiox-pro-lens-mount-adapter.html
http://www.fotodioxpro.com/nikon-f-lens-to-canon-eos-with-dandelion-focus-confirmation-chip-fotodiox-pro-lens-mount-adapter.html
Note: these two cannot be used with Nikon G series lenses, but are strictly for older lenses with aperture rings.
I enjoy using old all-manual lenses on the 6D: 105mm f/2.5, 50mm f/1.2, 55mm f/3.5 Micro-Nikkor.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons --- website usability
Post by: BJL on October 07, 2014, 02:56:44 pm
Still, about that Canon "impossible" teaser: a lot of people will be very disappointed if it is some amazing new photocopier.
Amazing: I was joking, and yet Canon delivered even less: a new pointlessly graphics-intensive and sluggish marketing website that works miserably on mobile devices. Welcome to internet marketing 1990s style, Canon.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons --- website usability
Post by: bcooter on October 07, 2014, 03:53:15 pm
Amazing: I was joking, and yet Canon delivered even less: a new pointlessly graphics-intensive and sluggish marketing website that works miserably on mobile devices. Welcome to internet marketing 1990s style, Canon.

I agree.


This is just awful marketing.

Whether it's still, cinema or medical all of those catagroies offer rich emotional opportunities for content and it's produced with zero feeling.

That's sad consider the number of great artists, known and unknown that produce such compelling work (the same can be said for all brands) and offer a world of tremendous content to draw upon.

I don't blame the people that produced it, but the ones that approved it.

Somebody went so safe that they said nothing, actually took a step back.

IMO

BC
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons --- website usability
Post by: uaiomex on October 07, 2014, 05:39:25 pm
I think Canon just augmented the around-the-world frustration and converted it into something that at moments resembles anger.
Under the circumstances in which Canon customers feel about Canon lack of new significant products for the last 5 years, it was very dumb and irresponsible to have produced this marketing stunt mainly for using precisely words and phrases like those they presented in the NYT.
Eduardo



I agree.


This is just awful marketing.

Whether it's still, cinema or medical all of those catagroies offer rich emotional opportunities for content and it's produced with zero feeling.

That's sad consider the number of great artists, known and unknown that produce such compelling work (the same can be said for all brands) and offer a world of tremendous content to draw upon.

I don't blame the people that produced it, but the ones that approved it.

Somebody went so safe that they said nothing, actually took a step back.

IMO

BC

Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons --- website usability
Post by: BernardLanguillier on October 07, 2014, 05:47:51 pm
I think Canon just augmented the around-the-world frustration and converted it into something that at moments resembles anger.
Under the circumstances in which Canon customers feel about Canon lack of new significant products for the last 5 years, it was very dumb and irresponsible to have produced this marketing stunt.

I am as disappointed as everybody else but, realistically, what were the odds that Canon would reveal a breakthrough camera a few weeks after the Kina?

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: DeanChriss on October 07, 2014, 05:49:19 pm
"If you are patient... and wait long enough... Nothing will happen!"

-Garfield
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons --- website usability
Post by: uaiomex on October 07, 2014, 05:50:58 pm
Right Bernard. But they pulled it out, not their followers. Rumors abound every single day and nothing happens. This feels like a nazi experiment.
Ed

I am as disappointed as everybody else but, realistically, what were the odds that Canon would reveal a breakthrough camera a few weeks after the Kina?

Cheers,
Bernard

Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on October 07, 2014, 06:38:53 pm
...This feels like a nazi experiment.

Baaaam! Biiiingo! Kaboooom!

This thread finally reinforced Godwin's Law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law)! And it took only 11 pages. ;D
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons --- website usability
Post by: BernardLanguillier on October 07, 2014, 06:55:22 pm
Right Bernard. But they pulled it out, not their followers. Rumors abound every single day and nothing happens. This feels like a nazi experiment.

It was a stupid move from Canon USA marketing. One that showns a strong disconnect from the web vibes.

But then again, as clearly highlighted in this thread, Canon already has an excellent system for pros. The non annoucement of a dream camera 2 weeks after the Kina doesn't change that anymore than the non annoucement of a dream camera at the Kina, does it?

Either you are happy today and you don't need to wait for something better, or you have unfullfilled needs and a Sony a7r can probably help today.

Cheers,
Bernard
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons --- website usability
Post by: nemophoto on October 07, 2014, 08:39:18 pm
I am as disappointed as everybody else but, realistically, what were the odds that Canon would reveal a breakthrough camera a few weeks after the Kina?

Cheers,
Bernard


Good point, and accurate. Unless they simply did not want to steal the thunder of the 7D2, which was a significant upgrade -- but was very long in coming.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons --- website usability
Post by: David Anderson on October 07, 2014, 09:29:40 pm
Good point, and accurate. Unless they simply did not want to steal the thunder of the 7D2, which was a significant upgrade -- but was very long in coming.

Would a new D series or 5D type camera for pro's steal the thunder from the 7DII or compliment it ?
Whatever is going on with Canon marketing, they've left updating to long given the other options out there from Nikon and the others.





Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: allegretto on October 08, 2014, 10:06:02 am
What a big snooze. Just a marketing website it seems. No dynamic announcements. Just flashy coding.

I switched to Canon in 1980. I'm VERY heavily invested in gear and no way I'm going to switch (two bodies and almost all "L" glass: 17-40/f4, 24-70/f2.8, 50/1.2, 85/1.2, 100/f2, 135/f2, 70-200/2.8, 300/2.8). I just wish they would give me something to replace my aging 1Ds Mark III. I adore my 1Dx. One of the best cameras Canon has produced, even though it took almost a year to actually buy after it was actually introduced. But I have a guy who wants to buy my 1Ds3, and I'm stupid not to sell at this point, though I have nothing I really want to replace it with. Guess I'll just rent a backup for a while, as I need it, in hope of something happening from Canon. And hear I thought Canon's "big announcement" was going to be... well, a BIG announcement.

Just curious, not arguing... what's wrong with a 6D. It certainly is a very good pice of gear? Perhaps you have special needs?
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: NancyP on October 08, 2014, 10:56:00 am
If you don't need fancy autofocus or high burst rate, the 6D is a very appealing offering in the Canon lineup. If you are a hiker, the extra 300 to 400 grams of a 1 series camera might be a reason to take a 6D instead. But I am not a pro, so I don't feel "abandoned".  :)
Godwin's law - I never thought I would see that in operation in a photo thread.

Canon needs better marketing folks. They ought to lie doggo if there's something coming out at PhotoPlus, otherwise start in on consumer marketing the 7D2.
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: powerslave12r on October 08, 2014, 11:05:27 am
Just curious, not arguing... what's wrong with a 6D. It certainly is a very good pice of gear? Perhaps you have special needs?
If I were to guess, it would be the (in)famous shadow noise when pushed.

For example: http://photographylife.com/nikon-vs-canon-dynamic-range
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on October 08, 2014, 11:40:58 am
... For example: http://photographylife.com/nikon-vs-canon-dynamic-range

Oh, no, that's just cruel!

Why can't you let us enjoy our files, admiring how much better today they are than ten years ago, without comparing it with what is really possible today? ;)
Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: powerslave12r on October 08, 2014, 12:06:40 pm
Oh, no, that's just cruel!

Why can't you let us enjoy our files, admiring how much better today they are than ten years ago, without comparing it with what is really possible today? ;)

You're right, my bad. One should work within the limitations. That's what fuels creativity. Depending on extra DR will just make you a worse photographer. Don't be lazy, use proper techniques - filters, multiple exposures and what have you.

The nerve, thinking you could get away with a single well exposed shot..

Title: Re: Photokina - Canon abandons the pros
Post by: uaiomex on October 08, 2014, 01:28:31 pm
Slobodan: Great link, thanks.
Michael: We need a Like button in here.

Baaaam! Biiiingo! Kaboooom!

This thread finally reinforced Godwin's Law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law)! And it took only 11 pages. ;D