G5 and CA - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

07/02/2004 05:06:25 AM · #1

I'm considering upgrading to a G5-had a A40 before.
Lots of folks say that the CA can be avoided by using f4 and above, does an increase in the 'f number' affect the rest of the picture in any other way?
What does it actually do ?
One more final thing-can I increase to f4 and keep it like that in auto mode-or is it necessary to be in a manual mode?
If you can tell me any thing else about the camera from your personal experience please do.
I need all the help I can get.
Thanks in advance
Cheers all
Kaush J

mocabela

Canon EOS-20D

07/02/2004 06:58:49 AM · #2

I'm far from an expert in these things, but I have a G5 so I'll give it my best shot. Increasing the F number will deepen the DOF and darken the photograph overall; you can slow the shutter speed to keep the photograph from darkening too much, or you can use flash if it's a short distance picture. Tweaking that would be up to you. As for automatic settings, you can shoot in aperture priority mode, which allows you to change the f number while the rest of the settings stay pretty much automatic. If you want to set both the shutter speed and the aperture, though, you'll have to go into manual, which is very easy to use.

Julia

07/02/2004 07:41:22 AM · #3

Try THIS review.

07/02/2004 09:25:16 AM · #4

Well the thing is why im so worried about CA is coz- as soon as buy the cam- my fiance's sisters wedding is coming up in october - so its going to be like a project for me.
Just want to take some good pics.But the hotels have the perfect lighting conditions for CA production.
Thats why im in a bit of dilema to go for the G5 or to buy the Oly 5060.
I've read all the reviews - Dcresource, DPreview and Steves.
But they all point to the same problem - and plus -Dcresource says that -there was always a shadow (from the lens) in the lower right corner of flash photos taken at wide-angle in the G5.
So all these is running around my head and I start to get a headache.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/02/2004 09:45:30 AM · #5

Will the CA go away if the ND filter is turned on?
But how will that affect normal pictures, will they be too dark?
Even if I use a slow shutter speed - I will need to use a tripod for every shot.

notonline

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

07/02/2004 09:57:46 AM · #6

I have the G2 and am very happy with it. I am just learning the manual controls but and very please with it overall. I usually have my camera set to ISO 50 and with little or no noise. If I had to buy a new camera I would probably look at the powershot pro 1. dollar for dollar its a great camera.

Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 M.Zuiko Digital

07/02/2004 10:35:50 AM · #7

If shooting a wedding, I'd strongly recommend the use of an external flash (like the 420ex) for either camera. A built-in flash won't have sufficient strength for indoor shots of large groups, and you'll have problems with redeye. With an external flash, CA from secondary light sources will be reduced, redeye is gone, and there would be NO shadow from the lens (I've used a Powershot G2 and 420ex at three weddings).

Getting back to your earlier thread though, I would STRONGLY recommend you take a look at the Canon Powershot S1 IS. With this cheaper camera, you'll get a better zoom range, won't have to worry about CA, have a fabulous movie mode, and the IS will help greatly with indoor shots. The pop-up flash means little or no redeye, too- even if you don't get an external flash.

Message edited by author 2004-07-02 10:37:02.

redmoon

Olympus PEN E-PL2

07/02/2004 10:53:17 AM · #8

i'm sure you're all just teasing us amatuers by making things up, but if not, could one of you lovely folks advise what CA is?

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

07/02/2004 10:54:45 AM · #9

Chromatic Abrasion - its kinda like purple edges around high contrast areas and stuff :)

redmoon

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 M.Zuiko Digital

07/02/2004 11:10:24 AM · #10

ahhh, right. thank you. actually, this would be a good thing for this weeks challenge, right?

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

07/02/2004 11:10:57 AM · #11

Here's an explanation of Chromatic Aberration. Konador is apparently thinking of lens scratches. ;-)

MrAkamai

Canon EOS-50D

07/02/2004 11:45:27 AM · #12

If you get an external flash, I'd highly suggest you get some cool toys from Lumiquest to soften the shadows created by the flash (//www.lumiquest.com). I have the big bounce and the ProMax system. I bought them so I can take better pictures for the company catalog but the advantages will also work for your application. Take a look at their sample pictures and you can choose the best one for your needs. Good luck!

Malokata

Canon PowerShot G6

07/02/2004 11:48:04 AM · #13

Soon as they put a G5 in a Powerbook, I might upgrade, too...

Yeah, I know you're talking about cameras.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

07/02/2004 12:04:36 PM · #14

Originally posted by Malokata:

Soon as they put a G5 in a Powerbook, I might upgrade, too...

Given the G5's current heat dissipation, you might be seeing a different type of flash if they rush this. Not a pretty picture.

Malokata

Canon PowerShot G6

07/02/2004 12:29:03 PM · #15

I'm counting on it taking a while. I won't be able to afford one until well past spring '05, which is when I expect there to be at least credible rumors of a crippled 90 nm in a one-inch case.

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

07/02/2004 12:41:21 PM · #16

Oh yeh Aberration. Not Abraision. No wonder I couldnt find any example photos on google, hehe.

ScottK

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

07/02/2004 01:09:19 PM · #17

To answer you question about CA and the G5, yes it can be a problem in certain lighting conditions at large aperatures (probably around f/4 and larger). (One thing I don't know is how unique this is to the G5 vs. other cameras in its same price/feature bracket.) The two conditions I've noticed it most are when there's strong backlighting of a subject with lots of light coming through, such as a bare tree, and bright reflections, particularly the sparkling reflections off water. And yes, using a smaller apperature does seem to reduce or eliminate the problem. I can't really speak to the kind of shooting conditions you're talking about (indoor/wedding) - most of my indoor photography has either been very controlled closeup shots or snapshots, but I've never noticed CA on any of my indoor shots.

Shooting in auto mode, if the conditions are right for CA, I can almost gaurantee you'll get it. In my experience (which is little - I don't use auto mode very often, mostly just for testing), auto mode doesn't seem to ever give you a smaller aperature than around f/4. So to adjust for this you would want to go to Aperature Priority mode, which lets you set the aperature (as small as f/8), then adjusts the shutter speed accordingly. The side effects of this are possibly a deeper DOF (though this is also controlled by subject distance and focal length) and a slower shutter speed. The slower shutter speed could be the primary issue, especially if it gets below 1/100 of a second or so (the camera doesn't give a camera shake warning till about 1/50, but that's overly optimistic). But if you're using a flash, that should balance out that problem.

As for the flash shadow, the only time I've really had a problem with that is when I've had the lens adapter attached (which is usually always - unless I'm shooting closeup with the flash and I remember to remove it). But like Shannon said, if your wanting to take serious wedding shots, I would definitely get an external flash. I don't have one yet, but that will probably be my next purchase. In close-up, low light shots, the bigger problem I have than the shadow of the lens barrel is the shadows it creates in the scene, especially if the subjects are close to the background. Taking a picture of someone in front of a wall will produce a very noticable shadow to their right. (I don't have any examples posted anywhere, but if you want, I can find some.) My understanding is that an external flash will fix this problem.

Depending on your budget, I think the G5 could definitely work well for you. Search through the camera page here for the G5 and see what kind of examples you can find. You should be able to find one for under $500, which would be a pretty solid deal for the features.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/02/2004 06:56:44 PM · #18

Sorry I missed your PM yesterday, Kaush. You are right... the sample image I posted in the other thread was not a good one, but I was limited to photos on hand. I was only trying to show that the purple fringing wasn't bad even with strong sunlight coming through the windows.

The examples below should be better (both shot using only the built-in flash). The G5 performs fine indoors, and focusing is not a problem with the AF assist lamp turned on. Is there CA? Absolutely. Look at the bright highlights in the kitchen shot below. There is some purple fringing, but I don't think it's terrible.

The G5 is a fine camera, but I still think the Powershot S1 IS is a fabulous bargain for your needs.

notonline

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

07/02/2004 07:23:20 PM · #19

Originally posted by scalvert:

ok if you place looks like that the feel free to come clean mine. maybe I just need a wife or maid... whats the difference??? lol j/k

07/02/2004 07:27:55 PM · #20

I wish. That's my little brother's place- 1000 miles away.

07/02/2004 08:30:33 PM · #21

Hmmmm - thanks you guys - the thing is -I find CA to be really annoying and it destroys the qulity of the picture.Unless you convert them to black and white or use a sepia tone.
Its worse than noise.
I like the idea about the S1 IS - i checked it out in a shop-its got a super fast zoom.Lce bit small - but its huge - which is what i want in a camera - Has to be big and heavy.
I hate cams that people carry around in their shirt pocket.
Is there any other camera you guys can recomend in the 4Mp and 5MP range.
And MrAkamai - Id love to get a really nice external flash- Thanks.
I really wanted the Nikon D70 - but it doesnt fit into the budget.
What to do - beggars cant be choosers.
Cheers all.

07/02/2004 08:33:24 PM · #22

I love the look on the Fuji S5000,S7000.
But these guys kill the pix by giving us just 1 compression setting.

07/02/2004 09:02:44 PM · #23

The Sony and Olympus models you were originally looking at are certainly worthy choices. I find the Sony to be too bulky and difficult to use one-handed. The Olympus 5060 eliminates two big complaints I had with earlier models by having an AF assist and accepting CF media, but I don't know if they have made the interface any friendlier.

Other excellent cameras in the same general price range include (in order of price) the Panasonic DMC-FZ10K, the Nikon Coolpix 5700 and the Minolta DiMAGE A1. Any of these will be a HUGE step up from an A40. Happy shopping.

Message edited by author 2004-07-02 21:07:22.

07/02/2004 09:16:39 PM · #24

Thanks Scalvert- well I will think about it some more and see what I will buy.
Thank you everyone for helping out - really means alot-coz I have no other friends interested in photography.
So I can only turn to you guys for help.
Cheers all!