Canon EOS 1d2

[Les Pattison]

I've been looking forward to the arrival of the Canon EOS 1d mark 2, here in Spain & suddenly the first bad words are said. So far all I've read are the pros & this is the 1st con I've come across.

I came across this:
http://www.quesabesde.com/camdig/not...p?noticia=1281
(in the original Spanish)

Translated version:
http://translate.google.com/translat...p?noticia=1281

A problem with the focussing, a lack of clearness when shooting in JPEG.
I'm not sure if this refers to the output.
Does anyone have any extra info on this?
Please tell me there is no basis to this!:-?

[eric s]

Google didn't do a very good job translating. It *seems* to be saying that there is a lack of sharpness and problems focusing.

First the focusing issue:

Every electronic object as complex as that will have manufacturing problems. After one is built it is checked and if it has problems it is sent to be fixed. I don't know if they check every camera, but they might. Either way, some bad cameras will get through. So their camera could have a focusing problem (particularly in the motor that drives it.) I know others who have the camera and it focuses very quickly. So this is not an endemic problem in the entire line of cameras. Don't worry about it.

Soft images:

This is something else. I've heard a variety of complains about this. The cannon engineers seem to have used a stronger anti-aliasing filter than other cameras. This produces softer images. But from all I've heard, they take sharpening very well. So you just load the image into photoshop (or your favorite editor) and post process it. If you have a question about image quality, go look at some images. www.steves-digicams.com, www.dpreview.com, www.imaging-resource.com(oops, the haven't posted their 1D-II review yet.)

I know many professionals who use the 1D-II and love it. If this were a show-stopper they wouldn't use it.

Eric

[Les Pattison]

Thanks Eric, that was the reassurance I was after. :-)

& yes, Google is a bit lame. In one article on that site:
"The bottoms: further on in photography" made for some interesting reading!

http://translate.google.com/translat...Farticulo%3D72

It was about "backgrounds" not bottoms, unfortunately.

______

Are they any common faults to look out for when I do finally get hold of the 1d2?
I'm not familiar with Canon.
Most of my working life was with Sony, Panasonic, Micron & Sennheiser to name but a few.
I know what to watch out for in Betacam SP & radio mics, but not still stuff.

Thanks again,
Les

[eric s]

There is a rather long thread that I haven't read a lot of on www.robgalbraith.com about a low-light focusing issue on the 1DM2. I am going to read it at some point.

http://www.robgalbraith.com/ubbthrea...art=1&vc=1

This is worth of more investigation. It sounds like its really really low light, but the 1d was able to focus so why not the 1DM2?

Eric

[Les Pattison]

Thanks Eric,

Very useful link that. Very informative.
Just taking a break from it.

Steve's Forums & Rob Galbraith are definitely gonna stay on my bookmarks.

[eric s]

Rob's is very good. They have a Canon employee who posts there with the title "Director/Technical Information". His name is Chuck Westfall. Very nice, very well informed and does this on his own time. Well worth reading there on occasion just to see what he has to say.

I bumped into Chuck's reply where he reviews the results of a lot of testing he did on this issue (see why I like this man?) In case you haven't seen that thread, look at this:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/ubbthrea...ev=#Post245591

Eric

[Les Pattison]

Well Eric,

Chuck certainly knows what he's talking about.
In that 1st link you gave me, I kept seeing references to him being on hols.
Now I see why he was sadly missed.
With your 2nd link, I have been going through a load of his posts. He knows his stuff.
Some great advice. Some of it, over my head but a nice tool for learning.
Even got a hold of the 1d2 manual.

So, you & Chuck are the man. Cheers. :|
I will welcome your help anytime & maybe someday can repay in same.
Thanks again & take care,
Les

[eric s]

Glad I could help.

What Chuck says is over my head some times too. But I always learn something from his posts. He has a great tone and expresses himself well. There are times when I just go there and look at his back posts, as there is always something good there.

Eric