Photo Set - Swim Meet

The Canon 1D Mark III is usually my camera of choice when it comes to shooting sports, but since I haven't used it for so long, the charger has gone missing and I have no idea where it went. So, the 5D Mark II will have to be used for shooting the kids' swim meet yesterday. Another problem is the lens. The EF 200mm f1.8L was the lens I used to shoot most of the kids' sports events but of course, it is no longer working, so I had a choice of 135mm f2L or the 70-200mm f4L IS. The 135mm is a tad too short, so I ended up using the slow 70-200mm f4 for the whole event.

It wasn't a total write off. If you time it right, you can get some decent captures. The good high ISO performance of the 5D II helped. I set the camera most of the time to Shutter Speed Priority (AT mode) at 1/320s. As with the 5D classic, the 5D II's auto focus is actually quite accurate and most of my pictures were in focus. The slow frame rate and a small buffer (compared to the 1D III), coupled with a slow lens makes it difficult to get actions in sequence.

Megan on Butterfly Style - Canon 5D II & EF 70-200mm f4

Ryan on Butterfly Style - Canon 5D II & EF 70-200mm f4

William on Back Crawl - Canon 5D II & EF 70-200mm f4

Megan after the race - Canon 5D II & EF 70-200mm f4

Coach of Team Tridents -Canon 5D II & EF 70-200mm f4 

Sign of the times - Canon 5D II & EF 70-200mm f4

Life guard - Canon 5D II & EF 70-200mm f4

Guildwood Park - October 2012

Yesterday, Sally, Lisa, Dillon and I went to Guildwood Park to shoot the autumn colours.  Guildwood Park is one of my favourite places photograph in the fall.  We also went there last year and thoroughly enjoyed it.  In addition to the 200mm f1.8L, I brought a lot more equipment this year, including the 70-200mm f4L IS that I traded the 70-200mm f2.8L IS for, and never really used it, and the NEX-5N with the Wollensak 209mm f4.5 copy lens.

As usual, the 200mm f1.8L did not disappoint, but sadly, it's now broken, and may never be working again. The 70-200mm f4L IS is fantastic.  I actually like it more than the 70-200mm f2.8L IS version.  It's a lot sharper wide open and the IS is very effective.  Due to the dim lights in the woods, I shot most pictures either wide open or 1/2 a stop down.  If you don't need f2.8 for the popular zoom range of 70-200mm, I would suggest the f4L IS.  Well worth the money, and much lighter and easier on your body (and wallet).

More interesting is the comparison of the Wollensak 209mm f4.5 and the Canon 70-200mm f4L IS at 200mm.  The Wollensak was shot on the NEX-5N and you can see the very significant colour and rendering differences between the two lenses.  The NEX-5N and the Wollensak has a lot less saturation and contrast, where the Canon is the opposite.  I can't remember, but the lighting might be slightly different as the sun was doing hide and seek.  Aside from the colours, the bokeh is night and day too.  This shows how, despite the similar focal length, pictures can be vastly different between lenses; each has its own characters.  Which one you like is a personal preference.  For black & white photography, I think the Wollensak will be excellent.  

Young Tree - NEX-5N & Wollensak Raptar 209mm f4.5 Copy Lens. Click for larger.

Young Tree - Canon 1D Mark III & EF 70-200mm f4L IS @ 200mm f4. Click for larger

Bokeh - NEX-5N & Wollensak Raptar 209mm f4.5 Copy Lens. Click for larger.

Bokeh - Canon 1D Mark III & EF 70-200mm f4L IS @ 200mm f4. Click for larger

Fallen Leaf - Canon 1D Mark III & EF 70-200mm f4L IS @ 200mm f4. Click for larger

Reflection - Canon 1D Mark III & EF 70-200mm f4L IS.