gessman Loc: Colorado

For what it's worth, ma'am, I shoot in AV mode almost exclusively and would even if my MkII had a built-in flash. We have near universality of agreement. Hip Hip Hooray! There are nice folks who would only have us to shoot in manual but my feelings are that why should I break my back to do something that the camera can often do for me even better, faster, freeing my mind up for other thoughts, like, "did I lock the car where all my other camera stuff is?"

I understand "manual" and can use it and I do - I use it to understand what the camera is going to do ahead of time so I can help the camera outsmart the dumb things it will do if I don't interject myself into the equation. That, my friend, is the only reason to know how to do manual in 2011, IMHO. What good is it to spend all the bucks for an advance camera and not take advantage of it. Indeed, why buy a computer if we only intend to write with pen and paper. Why buy a car when we can just walk? Automatic is a convenience and as long as you remain in charge, it is also a breaking of the bonds of slavery, so to speak. Have a good day. :)

nelsonauge Loc: Louisville, Kentucky

I have shot both these cameras and they are both quality digital cameras. It wasn't that long ago we were shooting with 6 megapixel cameras and loving it! Now we have 8 MP cameras in our phones!
I think the biggest difference is that the 5D Mark II has a full 35mm size chip, and will give you a wider angle with wide angle lenses. Also, it is just a bigger sensor. ( I believe this is correct, I will check)
I started shooting digital with a Nikon D1x, then bought a Canon Rebel, then a 20D, finally a 5D. I have used the 5D for advertising and magazine features and LOVE it. Many pros are using the 5D MarkII for professional video these days- amazing camera.
I prefer the "L" or prime lenses- there is a big difference here. In fact if you are on a budget, I would spend more on a better lens than a body- bodies are always getting better, lenses have a lot more lasting power, and prime (L) lenses are less contrasty, sharper, and faster. For low light it is nice to have something as fast as a 2.8, which is fairly standard on most L lenses from Canon. (L is canons prime distinction.)
I would recommend the 24-70 f2.8, an amazing all purpose lens. The 70-200 is better for people and that beautiful bokeh, or background blur.
If there is a pro camera store in your area, rent a couple and try them out for a day.
The image stabilization is nice, but not crucial, but very nice on the longer lenses if you are shooting hand-held.
I good cheaper lens is the 100mm macro- very sharp and can be used for portraits as well as the macro function.
Good luck- just let me know if you have any questions, I can try Best,
Nelson Auge, Louisville, KY 40206

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Cindy, if you have other ?'s that I could help with I would be more than glad to try and help.
Later tonite I will check out the thread.
I will also answere Gessman to the best of what I know about the sensors.
Thanks

crudasill Loc: Texas

I'll ask a few.. :)
Here's a shot of my son and his little girl,
any suggestions? I just want to learn what you look for, where to blur, why people don't like vingetting and how could I have made these guys not get lost in the business.

gessman Loc: Colorado

I have a suggestion. I suggest that you're somewhere along the banks of the Guadalupe?

crudasill Loc: Texas

I wish....
Cafe' Adobe, in Sugar Land, Texas, a few weeks ago! lol
She said, "You wanna go eat and see some ducks"? And so we did! Camera in hand, always with her! I got some great shots! That's where the duck pic came from, as well.
Smiles

gessman Loc: Colorado

But more to the point, since the new sharpshooter doesn't seem to be in town right now, that's a great pic there just as it is.

Blur, background blur, is usually done to separate your subject from messy, unnecessary, or distracting backgrounds and/or to make the subject pop out clear while everything around it is out of focus. It's both a positive and a negative thing in that you can either highlight the subject or isolate them from an undesirable background.

I think vignetting is considered to be an out of date photographic technique. If you like it, have at it. It shouldn't concern anyone but you and whoever you choose to argue with on a regular basis.

I love the picture just as it is. They're having some quality time together, in a quality if not low key setting, and there's no need to worry about the surroundings. It is doubtful that you could do much to improve the picture by trying to get rid of the surroundings. It could be cropped as below but I'm not sure that it's an improvement although it does get rid of the clutter. Problem is, it no longer tells the same story of a little girl and her dad walking along the banks of the river having a good time. It's a matter of choice and taste and it's yours. That's my humble opinion.

crudasill Loc: Texas

You wouldm't think you would lose so much clarity when cropping if you used a 7D, I thought the pixels let you do that...am I wrong...I'm thinking I am! hehe

gessman Loc: Colorado

[quote=crudasill][quote=gessman][quote=gessman]

I don't think that's where we lost it. I resized the image to only 600 megapixels wide which is what the admin here on UHH wants. I think that's where it went. The UHH software resized your submission to 600 and then I cut a chunk off of both ends which cut it down in to the 200s wide and then I resized it back up to 600. I think that's what you're seeing. It wouldn't look that way if the original was resized to 600 wide. :)

crudasill Loc: Texas

[quote=gessman][quote=crudasill][quote=gessman][quote=gessman][quote=crudasill]

You wouldm't think you would lose so much clarity when cropping if you used a 7D, I thought the pixels let you do that...am I wrong...I'm thinking I am! hehe[/quote

I don't think that's where we lost it. I resized the image to only 600 megapixels wide which is what the admin here on UHH wants. I think that's where it went. The UHH software resized your submission to 600 and then I cut a chunk off of both ends which cut it down in to the 200s wide and then I resized it back up to 600. I think that's what you're seeing. It wouldn't look that way if the original was resized to 600 wide. :)[/quote]

OK......thanks
I'm going to post another, simply because it's cool!
:)

gessman Loc: Colorado

[quote=crudasill][quote=gessman][quote=crudasill][quote=gessman][quote=gessman]

Very cool! Nice picture. I love to see when lil' kiddos do everything they see their favorite people do. It's really cute. I'm betting you have a lot of fun with your granddaughter. Do you have others? I have 3 sons and 3 granddaughters. They're quite a change from boys, as I'm sure you know better than me. A whole different world. You can keep the pictures coming. That's what this place is all about - pictures. That location is interesting. I used Google Earth and had a little visit and saw the water running along beside the Cafe. Pretty neat, I'd say. It's not the Guadalupe but then it isn't the Trinity either. :-) I was in Waco those years in TX. The Brazos is good. They've done a lot with it through downtown Waco. Nice place to spend some time along the banks, picnic, strolling, etc. :)

WildBill Loc: South West Florida

http://www.neutralday.com/canon-eos-7d-vs-canon-eos-5d-mark-ii-iso-comparison-2/

http://www.cameratown.com/reviews/canon7d/

OK, side by side (crop and full picture) comparisons from 2 sites. I have searched for side by side photos to see the crop of the 1.6 sensor but this was the best I have found so far. I wish one of the people with a 7D and a 5D MarkII would post side by side because I really want to see that too. What these sites do show is that there is more difference in the price than in the image quality between the cameras. The 5D has the advantage but the 7D holds near equal till you get up into the high ISO settings. You can see the difference the 19AF points make over the 5D's 9AF points too.

Hope someone will finish this up with side by sides for us. Maybe someone from a retail store?

nelsonauge Loc: Louisville, Kentucky

Excellent examples, great comparisons.

gessman Loc: Colorado

There is a link in our "link section" that speaks to the issue but without actual pictures. It just showed up in recent days and I haven't taken the time to read all of it just yet. You might want to look at it: http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/tutorials/crop_sensor_cameras_and_lenses.html

nolte1964 Loc: Des Moines, Iowa

I pondered this choice about a month ago and decided at this time the 7D was for me a better value. When Canon decides to release the next incantation of the 5D ll I may reconsider but right now the 7D has a lot going for it especially for action shots. I have been extremely pleased with my camera and the flexibility it offers.