I really like my Black Rapid Sport http://www.blackrapid.com/Sport-Breathe They're recently relabeled them as "Breathe."
I like the way the camera carries. I have the Manfrotto connection, so I can easily unhook the strap, and connect right to my tripod.
I have a 5D3 and can carry heavy lenses with it. I don't even know where my Canon factory strap is.
The biggest aha for me was:
1. Poor IQ may be the result of an out of cal lens. I have no idea how long my 24 to 105 was taking soft photos.
2. You can get a bad lens out of the box from Canon. That did not make me happy. For my next lenses, I might buy Canon refurbished as they supposedly go through an additional checkout.
The program let's you determine the auto-focus settings. (In a Canon - that's a close adjust and far adjust setting for a zoom lens.) The process takes about 15 minutes per lens once you figure it out. You need a test target (comes with the software), a laptop tethered to your camera, a tripod, and a place to set it up. (I used my hallway as some of the measurement were done at 25-30 feet.) Nothing is automatically adjusted in the camera.
The profile just gives you a chart with resolution vs. focal length. Like Trix said above, it let's you know which lenses are out of spec.
6 months ago I purchased Reikan FoCal (from B&H) and it was one of the best $150 investment I've made. I have a Canon 5Dlll and a number of L lenses.
Not only does it do a good job of getting the right auto-focus adjust numbers, but it also does a sweep of "sharpness" at different f-stops - and it compares it with "what it should be." It gives you a printed report and graph.
Here's why that's important. I recently purchased the same Canon 100-400 v2 that you mentioned. When I ran it through FoCal, it told me that the quality of the lens at low f-stop numbers ( f5.6) was way off. I returned the lens. In other words - bad lens out of the box. B&H had no issues with the return. At the same time, I compared the output of the Canon 100-400 with my existing Tamron 150-600 v1, and found that the "sharpness" numbers were pretty close. The Canon was better at a few f stops, but the Tamron was better at others. (So much for reading reviews.) I verified that with actual test shots.
I initially bought the software after having issues with my 24-105 v1. Sure enough, at low apatures (f4, f5.6) were way off. I sent to to Canon for repair ($350 - ouch). It now performs better than the "standards."
Nice photos. I live in WA State and have never heard the term scablands. Where is that? It looks like the Columbia river.
I just purchased a Canon 100 to 400 ll. (GAS Attack) I did a quick compare with my Tamron 150 to 600 v1 and I have to say it is a lot sharper. I need to play with it some more.
The Canon has 3 IS modes. 1-All the time, 2- Panning, and 3 - only on when shooting. (And there is Off) Does anyone have any experience with which is best? I use back-button focus on my Canon 5D lll in AI servo mode. Mostly shooting animals, birds, sports. About 50/50 hand held vs. tripod. If you use mode 3 -do you have to turn your IS Off when using a tripod?
Thanks....
I have a Tamron that does not AF as well as my Canon lenses. It's not a good thing.
Thanks - I was going to use the 50mm to replace my 24 to 105L. I have a 70 to 200 f4 that I have been using for portraits. I find that 70mm is sometimes a little too far away if I'm in tight quarters. I also have a 16 to 35 F4L. For products, I have a Tamron 90mm macro 2.8 which is OK. I've tried it for portraits with "OK" results. I've also been looking at the Canon 1.4 50mm but have seen bad reviews on the focus motors.
I was looking at the Canon 24 to 70 but am hesitant to spend big $$ until I see what the lens mount on the (to-be-announced) Canon ff mirror-less will be. The reviews on the Tamron and Sigma 24 to 70s didn't look that great.
thanks - I have the Tamron 90mm 2.8 macro and like it.
Mostly head shots. But also full body.
I'm looking at the Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art lens for portraits and products with my Canon 5D3. Any pros and cons - or recommendations? I have a 16 to 35 f4 for wide angles and 70 to 200 f4 at the telephoto end.
I'm trying to go for maximum sharpness.
Thanks.
Thanks - never had a need to repair anything.