Can't Wait for Summer

Lining up for hotdog, Summer 2010 -- Canon 1D Mark IIn & Kinoptik Speciale Cine 210mm T3

If you are lucky enough to live in a place where the weather is warm all year around, you won't understand we Canadians how much we look forward to summer each year, especially if the winter is bad.  This year, other than a few very cold days, and a little bit of snow that quickly melted away, there isn't much of a winter as we normally would have.  I am certainly NOT complaining!

Can't wait for summer to roll around.

Shooting Gymnastics

Untitled -- Canon 1D IIn & EF 135mm f2 @ f2, ISO 1600. Click for larger size.

Yesterday was the last gymnastic class for Megan and her team at Jimmy Simpson.  The coaches and the team had worked very hard, and the team did great overall in the competition few weeks ago.  The Jimmy Simpson team is relatively small compared to other teams, but the team did amazingly well.

The picture above is Megan's team mate, and is one of my favourites from the competition.  There are few more that I like, but all of them show faces of team mates and I don't want to post them without their permission.  It was my first time shooting gymnastics, but I think it's easier than shooting swimming.  Thankfully the gym was relatively well lit and I was able to get very fast shutter speeds to freeze the actions at ISO 1600. The 1D IIn proved its worth with its great auto focus capabilities, and the only lenses I used were the 200mm f1.8L and the 135mm f2L.  Most of the pictures were shot wide open.  I am especially pleased with 135mm f2L.  It's one of the sharpest lenses I have used.  For the 200mm f1.8L, it's expected that it should perform well at f1.8, due to it's high price, but for the 135L, every Canon prime shooter should own one.  It's relatively cheap, very fast and usable at full aperture, and focuses extremely fast and quiet.  It's perfect for indoor sports like gymnastics.

In the air -- 1D IIn & EF 135mm f2 @ f2, ISO 1600. 

Outing with an Old Friend

Fallen Petals -- 1D IIn & EF 100mm f2.8L Macro. Click to enlarge.

Chester emailed me that he just got a 1D III the other day and I immediately felt so guilty.  I have not used my 1D IIn for a l ong time except the swim meet in March of this year.  I did invest a lot of money into the Canon system, especially the lenses, but I found myself not using it much, and instead, prefer the lightweight and small NEX-5 with manual focus lenses.  Anyway, I decided to take the 1D IIn and the 100mm f2.8L macro lens, since we have finally got some colour and the weather is quite a bit warmer as we go deeper into spring.  For macro work, nothing beats a swivel screen, or even a tilt screen, for ground level shooting.  Shooting at low angle through the viewfinder is just awkward.

The EF 100mm f2.8L macro lens is one heck of a lens.  I may have to get rid of my 100mm f2, as the Image Stablization (IS) proves to be invaluable at low shutter speeds.  I meant to do a comparison of the two lenses, but never had the drive to do it.  Perhaps I have been waiting for the full frame camera to do it :)

JOY

JOY - G1 & Canon FD 50mm f1.4 SSC

As the Christmas holiday gets closer, we see and feel more and more signs and spirit of the season.  At the same time, I feel that Christmas has become more commercial.

Empty Bench

Empty Bench -- 1D IIn & EF 100mm f2.8L Macro

The 100mm f1.28 IS Macro hasn't gotten much use after I acquired it months ago.  But each time I do use it, I am more impressed with it.  There is nothing to fault this lens optically, from wide open on, it's just amazingly sharp.  The hybrid IS works as advertised.  Consequently, I get more keepers from this lens than most others.  I find it very versatile lens, not just for macros but as a general purpose lens.  Still haven't compared this one with the 100mm f2 USM, but I think the 100mm f2 may have to go, despite the many times that I said I would never sell it.  Just finding the time/initiative to do the comparison has been a challenge.

Prelude to Winter

Lone Leaf - 1D IIn & 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click to enlarge.

Autumn has always been my favourite season.  Not too cold, not too hot.  It's Goldie Locks sort of season. Not to mention the beautiful colour that's a yummy feast for the eyes.

This year seems very warn in this time of the season.  We are in mid November but temperature is still in the low teens (Celsius).  Not that I am complaining or anything.  I rather enjoy it until the bone chilling Canadian winter hits, which won't be long.

Canada Life Building

Canada Life building viewed from inside Eaton Centre - 1D IIn & EF 16-35mm f2.8L

It has been about six weeks since I traded my 100-400mm L zoom for the 16-35mm f2.8L II, and I can't be happier.  I have used the 16-35mm more in these few weeks than I have with the 100-400mm in more than two years.  The best lens is the one that's mounted on the camera and ready to shoot.  So far, I can't complain about the image quality -- totally happy with it.  It's an amazingly versatile focal length.  I only wished I had done this sooner.  I would have gotten more pictures if I had. If cost is not a factor, and you are looking for an ultra wide angle full frame zoom, be sure to test out the 16-35mm f2.8L II.  It's expensive, but you only need to buy it once.

William

William -- 1D IIn & EF 200mm f1.8L @ f2.2.

One of the characteristics of a very fast telephoto lens, is the very thin depth of field (DOF), even at a distance.  This thin DOF makes the subject that's in focus look like it's carve out of thin air.  Unfortunately a lens like the 200mm f1.8 is just too heavy to be used all the time.  Without a monopod or tripod, it's hard to hand hold for longer than 5 minutes at a time on the 1D II.  But, whenever I have a chance to use it, it never disappoints me.

Red Leaf

Saw this tree today with beautiful fall colours.  It really stood out among all the green trees and grass.  It actually gave me a mild shock -- Is fall already here?  Come to think of it, it's really not that far away.  After all the humid and extremely hot days this summer, I am looking forward to cooler fall temperatures and colourful leaves.

On another note, what I have missed the most from the Canon T2i and 7D (and 1D III), is the sensor dust shaker.  I never had to worry about dust in the sensor of those cameras and after getting used to dust free images, it's almost unbearable to look at pictures taken with the 1D IIn (and the 5D), especially macro shots, where the aperture is very small and shows the dust particles so clearly.  Nothing I can do, unfortunately.  I just need to clean it myself once in a while.

Red Leaf -- 1D IIn & EF 100mm f2.8L.  Click to see larger picture.

Varsity Stadium

Took Ryan and Dillon to the music exam this morning.The Royal Conservatory of Music building has been renovated and looks really nice.  Retains most of the old characteristics of the building but adds a modern touch.  Nice.  The waiting room on the fourth floor has a great view to the Varsity Stadium below.  Imagine watching a football game from this room.  It would be amazing.

 

Part of the Varsity Stadium -- 1D IIn & EF 16-35mm f2.8 II. Click to enlarge.

Canon EF 100mm f2.8L IS Macro

 just realized that I like lenses more than camera bodies.  I started my equipment reshuffle few months back, and the plan was to have a fast camera, in the case, the 1D Mark IIn, and a full frame camera, which I haven't got.  Originally, the 1Ds Mark II was my choice, but changed my mind midway and instead decided on the 5D Mark II, a more modern sensor, whose image quality I really like.  Unfortunately, the plan isn't working.  I use the money saved for the 5D II to buy the 100mm f2.8 IS macro lens instead.

This seems like a stupid idea, because I already have the 180mm f3.5L macro, which I used two to three times a year.  Besides, I have four other manual focus macro lenses in various focal lengths.  Why on earth did I buy another macro lens?  I don't even shoot macro that much.  Further more, I have had the EF 100mm f2 lens for years and really like it.  I know, I am out of my mind, but I am not regretting it.

You see, the 100mm f2.8L is such a marvelous lens, once you use it, you will immediately think it's worth every penny.  Really.

I know I have had it only two days, but it really impresses me.  The much hyped hybrid IS really does work.  The image from the viewfinder is rock solid with the IS on.  This is one of the best advantages about lens based versus camera body stabilization.  You can see the effect in the viewfinder with lens based IS.  I don't have very steady hands, but sharp pictures taken on 1/8 of a second is very repeatable.  Not every time, but very good chance.  It's less effective at minimum focusing distance, but still much better than without.

The other feature that stands out is the focusing speed.  Sure, if you rack it from closest focusing distance to infinity, it takes a couple seconds, simply because the focusing throw is very long, typical of macro lenses, but within focusing range, the subject snaps in focus instantly, even in full macro.  Much faster than the 180L in this regard.  Simply amazing. 

The 100mm f2.8 IS is sharper than your mother-in-law's tongue.  Much much sharper.  Easily one of the sharpest lenses I have used.  I am talking about sharp wide open, not stopped down.  Stopping down only improves sharpness marginally.  The colour and contrast is typical L lens.  Oh, the bokeh is amazingly good and pleasing.
 
If I have to find fault with this lens, it would be the missing tripod collar that should be included with the lens, and instead, Canon charges something like $200 for it!  Insanely greedy on Canon's part.  The other thing is the depth of field is not as shallow as I would like, even at f2.8, but I am splitting hair here.

If you are looking for a macro lens, please try the 100mm f2.8L.  You will be sorry if you don't and end up with something else later on.

Is it time for me to get rid of the 180L macro, and the 100mm f2 L like lens?  Not right now, but intend to test the two 100mm lenses, not for their close up capabilities, but the affect of one stop of light on depth of field.  Stay tuned.

Flower at f2.8 -- 1D IIn & EF 100mm f2.8L IS. Click to see larger.

Bee -- 1D Mark IIn & EF 100mm f2.8L IS. Click to see larger.

 

Street Musician -- 1D IIn & EF 100mm f2.8L IS @ f2.8. Click for larger

Men at Work

Men at Work -- 1D IIn & Kinopik Special Cine 210mm f2.8

Feeling lazy lately and wasn't actively taking pictures, even though I have had my camera with me.  Decided to take a walk around the back of AGO, and saw these two men working on the chimney.  Took along the Kinoptik 210mm f2.8 (T3) cine lens, but somehow, this lens works best with the 5D.  I mean it works fine on the 1D IIn, but it seems to lack something that was present on the pictures taken with the 5D.  In any case, this Kinoptik is one of my favourite cine lenses, certainly one of the most expensive cine lens I have paid for, and I am sure it will also be the last.

Sharing a Moment

A moment shared -- 1D IIn & EF 85mm f1.2L @ f1.2, ISO 400. Click to see larger

One of the biggest advantage of having a very fast lens is that you can shoot in dim lights with relatively low ISO and fast speed.  Even better if the lens is usable at it's widest aperture.  The Canon EF 85mm f1.2L is such a lens.  Absolutely my favourite next to the 200mm f1.8L.  It's much more portable, and a full stop faster than the 200mm f1.8.  The 85L is stunningly sharp at f1.2, if focus is nailed, which is quite often with the 5D/1DII.  Less so with other cameras I have tried.  To be sure, there are drawbacks.  Mainly the high price, slow(ish) focus, prone to purple fringing (so is the 50L), and a bit heavy (although after using the 200mm f1.8L, the 85L is featherweight).

The 85L is a lens I always take with me when shooting in dim lights.  It does not have the focus shift problem of the 50mm f1.2L, and I can always count on its image quality, even shooting at f1.2.  If you can justify it, you will love it, and may never shoot another 85mm lens again.

Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8L II - First Impressions

So this is my second try with the EF 16-35mm f2.8L lens -- the widest full frame flagship zoom lens that Canon makes.  My first one was the original version, which I wasn't quite impressed with the edges on full frame.  When introduced, this lens was expensive and only recently has the price dropped a bit.  I saw someone on Craigslist who wanted to trade this lens for a 100-400L so I went for it.  Really can't justify keeping the 100-400L and used it once or twice a year.

I am more than happy with the optical performance of the lens.  Very sharp wide open at the center, and the edges (on the Mark IIn anyway) is vastly improved over the original version.  As with most wide angle lenses, this one can focus really close.  So, in a pinch, you can use it as a mini macro lens, which was what I did to photograph the butterflies in the Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls.  I meant to bring my 180L macro lens, but forgot to at the last minute.  The 50mm f1.2L that I also brought has an even less magnification ratio than the 16-35.

It's normal to expect great colour and contrast from Canon L lenses, and this one is no exception.  Distortion is well controlled and focusing is very accurate, at least with my copy.  I am surprised to see that the bokeh is actually quite nice, for an ultra wide angle lens with three aspherical lens elements.  The size is similar in both versions.  The only thing I am complaining about is the huge filter size at 82mm, from 77mm of the original version.  A good 82mm circular polarizing filter could put a small dent in your bank account.

Overall, it's a great lens, albeit expensive.  A worthy upgrade from the original version.

Niagara Falls looking down from the 20th Floor -- Canon 1D IIn & EF 16-35mnm f2.8 II. Click picture to see larger.

Night Rider -- 1D IIn & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click to see larger.

Butterfly - 1D IIn & EF 16-35mm f2.8L II. Click to see larger.

Bridge and Trains

Bridge & Trainings -- 1D Mark IIn & EF 50mm f1.2L. Click to enlarge.

Kew Beach

Kew Beach -- Canon 1D Mark IIn & EF 135mm f2L. Larger.

One of the things that makes owning a flagship Canon camera is that you can trust it to give you what you expect, especially with the autofocus.  Whenever I use my 1-series camera, with the exception of the short lived (to me) 1D Mark III, I have complete trust in its autofocus system, and that's a liberating feeling.  I can concentrate of capturing the moment instead of worrying about if the picture will be in focus or not.  And, you know the image quality is the best that Canon can produce in that generation of sensor design.  I have never been disappointed with image quality, when you remember its limitations.  The original 1D and 1Ds weren't great at high ISO, but they were clean and near perfect at base ISO. With each generation of sensor design, they only get better.  Remember, I am talking about the 1-Series, not the 7D or T2i, which I wasn't impressed with at all.

So, I am quite happy with the Mark IIn.  It's a very balanced camera and the most reliable. I am sure this will be with me for a couple of years at least, until I can afford a 1D mark IV.

Port of Toronto II

Port of Toronto -- Canon 1D Mark IIn & Tamron SP Adpatall II 35-80mm f2.8-3.8. Larger.

I am really surprised how good this lens is.  I don't normally like zoom lenses, especially this kind of awkward focal length on non-full frame cameras.  But, the SP moniker is not just a marketing ploy, at least not with this one.  Besides the very sharp images with good microcontrast when stopped down a bit, one of the cool features of this lens is the very close focusing capabilities, down to 0.27 meters at 80mm, and at a 1:2.5 magnification ratio.  This is almost at the macro territory.  For a lens that costs so little used, it's indeed a bargain.  You do need to look out for loose rubber focusing/zoom grip skins.  I had to replace my rubber grip on the focusing ring with one from another lens.

Shinobi

Shinobi -- Canon 1D Mark IIn & Leica-R 90mm f2 Summicron. Larger.

I now realized why I didn't like the 7D & T2i's image quality as much as my older cameras -- the missing details in the images.  Yes, there are 18 mega pixels in the image, but these 18MP images seem to have less details than I am used to see in the 1D Mark II/5D/30D.  At low ISO, the 7D & T2i seem to contain lots of chroma noise in the shadow area, whereas in the previous cameras, like the 1D II, 5D, 30D, etc, it's very clean.  At higher ISO, the 7D & T2i seem to be muddy and lack even more details, no doubt due to the heavy noise reduction. I guess there is a price to be paid for more pixels, which I don't really care for.  Give me D700 pixel quality and resolution, I will be a very happy camper.

I hope Canon will not increase the pixel count for the 5D Mark III.  21MP is more than most sane people will ever need.  Better yet, they should reduce it to 16MP but increase the Dynamic Range and even cleaner images.

Megan

Megan -- 1D Mk IIn & 35mm f1.4L @ f1.6. Click to enlarge

It feels good to have the 1D II back.  The familiar shutter sound, the nice balanced feel in the hand,  and most of all, the split screen.  No matter how good the AF-Confirm chip is on the adapter, it can not compete with an accurate, Canon made cross split screen.  I have found that manual focusing on the 7D is very difficult, for some reason.  Perhaps it's the screen overlay inside the viewfinder that affects the perception of being in-focus; I just couldn't get very good keeper rate for in-focus pictures.  The AF-Confirm chip didn't help much either, but the AF lenses work extremely well. 

I am happy, for now.  It's almost a full frame camera, and I can live with that.