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06/15/2007 01:38:32 AM · #1
Okay, some of you may know that I picked up the new Canon 1D Mark III this week. I used it for the first time on Monday for an engagement shoot. And while the pictures are good, it didn't really represent anything I couldn't have gotten just as easily with the Canon 5D (actually, it would have been easier since I the engagement shoot was only hours after I picked up the camera and all of the controls were still very new and very foreign to me).

HOWEVER... today I got to shoot 8 games of Lacrosse and I can officially say it: I'M IN LOVE!!!

I'm in love for three reasons: 1) the "keeper" hit rate appears to be much higher than what I was getting with the 20D, and 2) the frame rate is astounding, and 3) even the FIRST shot is faster.

More on point #3: I swear, if you had told me there was a delay in shooting with the 20D I would have laughed at you. To me, the 20D was near instantaneous. Anything a DSLR does compared to the delay you see when shooting with a P&S camera is near instantaneous! But, wow! I swear, I hit the shutter button on the MkIII and it *takes* the shot!

On the 20D, the number of times I miss an important "single shot" thinking it was my poor timing (and probably was due to my poor timing) is much more frequent than what I found tonight. I was "bang on". I fired away and there it was, perfect timing.

Anyway... you all probably want to see pictures. So here are a few.

This image is an unsharpened, unedited, 100% crop of this image . Look at how SHARP and IN FOCUS this image is! Totally amazing.

Next, take a look at these two sequences of photos:



Or, how about this one... 13 images in less than 2 seconds!



All of these were shot at ISO 200 with the new Canon 100-400 4.5-5.6L lens that I also picked up at the same time.


06/15/2007 01:40:25 AM · #2
i am thinking you are a bit of a camera/lens hog now and need to get rid of some to oz :)
seriously, congrats on your new purchases :) cant wait to feel the same :)
06/15/2007 01:46:43 AM · #3
i don't think i got a response last time but how did you get one so early? are you CPS?
06/15/2007 01:49:48 AM · #4
Originally posted by dwterry:

. Look at how SHARP and IN FOCUS this image is! Totally amazing.


Gotta love 45 AF points.
06/15/2007 01:49:52 AM · #5
Originally posted by noisemaker:

i don't think i got a response last time but how did you get one so early? are you CPS?


Sorry, I must have missed the question. Nope, I just paid the money in mid-April, figuring I'd get myself on the list.

I went through the local Ritz Camera / Inkley's store. I figured they were a national chain and that, due to their size, they might be high on the list to receive cameras from Canon. I also figured every store out there is going to be charging exactly the same price, so it really didn't matter who I bought it from, it might as well be a local store.

Message edited by author 2007-06-15 01:50:25.
06/15/2007 01:54:53 AM · #6
Originally posted by NstiG8tr:

Gotta love 45 AF points.


I shot half of the games (the first four) using a single focus point (the center focus point), and the other half I turned all of the focus points on. I was hoping to see a difference in the focus accuracy. I think I found that the single focus point had a higher hit rate (more accurate) than what I got with all 45 AF points turned on.

That seems contrary to what I expected.

According to the manual, if you use a single focus point, then AI Servo mode attempts to keep the subject (under that focus point) in focus at all times by tracking and predicting the movement of the subject.

But if you turn on all 45 focus points, then it uses the center point FIRST to acquire the subject, but the rest of the AF points come into play to "follow the subject" as it moves within the frame. And since the players are bouncing all around, I expected this to be the more accurate method of focusing. That's why I'm a bit surprised at my results.

I'll probably try the experiment again tomorrow just to see if I get the same results.


06/15/2007 02:03:33 AM · #7
Enjoy the new toy man and post lots of pics. You can also send me your 5D if you won't be needin' it anymore. Hell I'll even take the 20D off your hands. Maybe that Tammy 28-75 F2.8 since you have the Canon 24-70 F2.8. Don't need that stuff gettin' dusty just sittin' 'round. You have way too much stuff.
06/15/2007 02:06:07 AM · #8
Still plan on using the 5D and the 20D (5D for portraits, 20D as a backup to the MkIII). But I have a spare 20D now, and that Tammy really hasn't been used for awhile. I just have such a hard time SELLING ANYTHING! I'm a pack rat. I keep everything I ever buy....

06/15/2007 02:57:58 AM · #9
David

Stunning series of shots BUT having had a quick look at some of your portfolio images I would have to say I think it is more the photographer than just the equipment that allows you to produce such great stuff

BTW more than happy to provide free storage for that 20D if it will help out
06/15/2007 03:08:31 AM · #10
Originally posted by jonfrommk:

David

Stunning series of shots BUT having had a quick look at some of your portfolio images I would have to say I think it is more the photographer than just the equipment that allows you to produce such great stuff

BTW more than happy to provide free storage for that 20D if it will help out


And I've got the sneaky suspicion he's pretty good with Lightroom too. :P

Great pics David!
06/15/2007 05:00:27 AM · #11
Fantastic images David!. I'd be really interested to see what custom functions you have set on the new camera. I have read my manual so many times and keep changing the settings. At the moment I have the centre focus point set, but haven't had a chance to get many shots done as last weekend, and again this weekend the rain has stopped all the sport I was planning on shooting.

I found it interesting that you had it set at ISO 200, the first weekend I had my camera I had it set at ISO 400 and found the images were possibly a bit overexposed, tried ISO 100 at a school athletics carnvial on Wednesday and they were much better, even taking into account that I had accidently moved the exposure compensation to -3.3.

06/15/2007 08:07:09 AM · #12
Originally posted by yanko:

And I've got the sneaky suspicion he's pretty good with Lightroom too. :P


I love Lightroom... but it's not yet MkIII compatible. I had to process Monday night's engagement pictures using Bridge+ACR4.1. It worked, but it was tedious. One thing I did like, however, was that Bridge's handling of the images was much faster that LR!!!

And I'm sure this is obvious, but in case it's not, I never shoot raw for sports. It's just... too much data. It slows the camera down (writing to the card) and it fills the card up much too early. It would be nice though. I'd love to be able to tweak the exposure after the fact.


06/15/2007 08:17:30 AM · #13
Originally posted by Hifi:

I'd be really interested to see what custom functions you have set on the new camera.


I shot one game with the AF-on button as my focus and the shutter used only to trigger the shutter. It certainly takes a little getting used to "coordination-wise". But the reason I switched back was that my hand was tired from having to squeeze the camera (thumb on AF, index finger on shutter, I felt like I was squeeze the camera by having to push both at the same time).

I haven't experimented with the AF Tracking sensitivity yet.

But I do have the Highlight Tone Priority turned on. Doing so limits your ISO speeds to 200-1600, even if you've turned on ISO expansion. This one had me puzzled for a long time because I didn't realize this was a side-effect a first. And I kept wondering my my camera wouldn't let me drop the ISO below 100 or take it up to the famous 6400 it was supposed to do. Can't remember if I finally found the answer online or in the manual, but it wasn't obvious to me at first as I thought my camera was defective!

I have AF Expansion turned on. That may be why focusing with just the center point proved to be so accurate.

I can't remember if there is anything else I've tried yet. Have to go back through the menuing system to remember. But I *do* like the menuing system on the MkIII, very nice!


06/15/2007 08:27:16 AM · #14
I was going to try the AF-on btton this weekend, because there isn't much give between a half depression and a full depression of the shutter in my opinion. I've only got small hands so thought if I did this would need to use a monopod to help steady the camera.

What aperature did you have the camera set on for your shots?

Is the Highlight Tone Propity the function which will change your ISO setting for you if it feels a change is needed?

I have to agree the menuing system is very easy to work your way around. I was going to write down my changes as I did them, to try and keep track of them.

By the way, keep an eye on your Extension system terminal button - I don't know if mine didn't come with one or , as I think may have happened, I lost it within the first 3 weeks.
06/15/2007 09:03:58 AM · #15
Originally posted by Hifi:

I was going to try the AF-on btton this weekend, because there isn't much give between a half depression and a full depression of the shutter in my opinion. I've only got small hands so thought if I did this would need to use a monopod to help steady the camera.


Yeah, I'm on a monopod the whole time myself. That 100-400 lens gets quite heavy if you try to hand hold it for long. I shot all day with it back in February and I developed some shoulder muscles I didn't know I had.

Originally posted by Hifi:

What aperature did you have the camera set on for your shots?


I was shooting wide open. Which, for this lens, means f/5.6. I wish it were a faster lens (ideally f/2.8). But with a range of 100-400, it would be HUGE if it were a 2.8 lens!

What I think is interesting is if you look at the grass below the feet of the players, you can see that, just in front of the player, the grass is out of focus, and just behind the player the grass is out of focus again. So we're playing with some pretty shallow DOF.

I'd shoot f/8 to get sharper images ... but I actually like the shallow DOF on these sports images.

Originally posted by Hifi:

Is the Highlight Tone Propity the function which will change your ISO setting for you if it feels a change is needed?


No, there's another setting (can't remember where) that will change your ISO (or optionally the Tv or Av setting if you prefer). If I use this, I think I'd prefer to let it adjust ISO.

Originally posted by Hifi:

By the way, keep an eye on your Extension system terminal button - I don't know if mine didn't come with one or , as I think may have happened, I lost it within the first 3 weeks.


What the heck is that?!?!?! Maybe I've lost mine already! LOL

06/15/2007 10:49:20 AM · #16
All looks good - but the main question is, "What's the shutter click sound like?" I mean, compared to the 350D the 5D's shutter sounds like someone dropping something on the floor. An ugly sound (until one gets used to it). I'm guessing it is a nicely sharp, precise click, not too noisy, just enough to say "I'm the man.."

As for that first frame click being faster. I think the first frame is slightly faster on the 350D than the 5D. But then again, those two cameras are not in the same league as your new money-maker.
06/15/2007 10:57:31 AM · #17
is the shutter real sensitive? when i put my 30d to 5fps it seems like if i breath on it it starts firing.
06/15/2007 07:59:11 PM · #18
YES! the shutter is real sensitive - but in a good way. The first time using the camera I was very cautious about using too many frames at a time but having seen what it can do, I have just come to the conclusion that a new shutter will happen sooner rather than later and just go with it! Having said that, you do end up taking heaps of photos (well I do). For example in a 20 minute under 6's soccer game I managed to take 1150 photos. Unfortunately there weren't 1150 keepers but definitately enough to pick from for my liking.

There is no compasion between the shutter sound of the 5D and this camera. In a previous thread sombody described it like a machine gun - I would have to agree this would be the closest thing to compare the sound with.

David tyou would know if you lost the cap I'm referring to - it leaves some terminals exposed and you can't miss it. To find it (and I still don't know what it is used for), when holding your camera it is on the left hand side just above the battery compartment
06/15/2007 08:03:34 PM · #19
sweeeeeeet!
06/15/2007 08:04:48 PM · #20
Clearly based on that 100% crop alone you have a defective camera - Sent it off to me and I will check it and send it back in the fullness of time :-) I never read ads but I read the glossy on it that came with the latest rangefinder and it seems like a pretty cool body. Enjoy and go take some sharper pics will you :-)
06/15/2007 10:39:28 PM · #21
Originally posted by pineapple:

"What's the shutter click sound like?" I mean, compared to the 350D the 5D's shutter sounds like someone dropping something on the floor. An ugly sound (until one gets used to it). I'm guessing it is a nicely sharp, precise click, not too noisy, just enough to say "I'm the man.."


On the two 20D's that I have, the shutter is a clunky sound. But I met someone at the Lacrosse tournament last night that was shooting a 20D and it didn't sound at all like mine. It was much quieter ... closer to the sound of the 5D. Maybe the more recent 20Ds sound different???

The MkIII, terms of noise level, is about that of the 5D. It's crisp and quick. But hold the shutter button down and it definitely sounds like a machine gun. It just makes me tingle all over! LOL

Originally posted by pineapple:

As for that first frame click being faster. I think the first frame is slightly faster on the 350D than the 5D. But then again, those two cameras are not in the same league as your new money-maker.


I've never really noticed the difference between the 20D and the 5D. But then, I don't shoot sports with the 5D so that may be why I haven't noticed. But the MkIII definitely feels more responsive than the 20D. I still had that impression today (all day Lacrosse). It just snaps. I think about it and it's there already.

06/15/2007 10:43:49 PM · #22
Originally posted by Elvis_L:

is the shutter real sensitive? when i put my 30d to 5fps it seems like if i breath on it it starts firing.


Yes.

At first, I couldn't help but take at least two frames every time I pressed the shutter. Today's shoot (Lacrosse) I was much much better at it. I could fire single shots when I wanted them, and I wasn't so afraid to hold down the shutter when I needed it.

It's starting to grow on me! :-)

06/15/2007 10:46:34 PM · #23
Tell the truth you put where you can see it when you first wake up in the morning right?

:-P

Congrats on the new machine gun just looks like an awesome camera!
06/15/2007 10:52:11 PM · #24
Originally posted by Hifi:

David tyou would know if you lost the cap I'm referring to - it leaves some terminals exposed and you can't miss it. To find it (and I still don't know what it is used for), when holding your camera it is on the left hand side just above the battery compartment


WHOA! I guess I lost mine too. I have an opening on my MkIII on the left side with a connector that is exposed. That's not very "weather proof"! Wonder what's up with that? A defect in the camera? Is everyone losing it?
06/15/2007 10:53:04 PM · #25
Originally posted by thegrandwazoo:

Tell the truth you put where you can see it when you first wake up in the morning right?


I tried sleeping with it, but I keep accidentally hitting the shutter and waking up again. :-)

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