Hans Martens wrote:
> Johan W. Elzenga schreef:
> > For Africa, the 1.3 crop is an advantage if you ask me.
>
> Indeed, the 1.3x factor performs practically as a built in 1.4x
> converter without the loss of light. So in practice my 500/4 performs as
> a 600/4 without the extra size and weight.
Exactly. It's even a 650mm f/4 to be precise.
>
> > I've considered a 1D MKII as my second camera (I obviously cannot afford
> > to take only one camera if I'm on an assignment). The only problem would
> > be that the 8 Mpixel is so much less than the 16.7 Mpixel of the 1Ds
> > MKII, that this would become a pretty expensive backup camera, which I
> > would not use much as long as I have the choice between the two.
>
> Well, that would depend on the type of shooting. If you are shooting
> animals and specially birds for books or magazines, the 1.3x factor is
> an added bonus and mostly 8Mp will be enough.
The problem is in the word 'mostly'. For example: Most stock libraries
want 48 MB images nowadays. If I use an 8 Mpixel camera, I'll have to
interpolate, which always goes at the expense of quality. If I shoot
16.7 Mpixels, my images can be submitted as they are.
> > OTOH, if I buy a second 1Ds MKII I will really use both (with different
> > lenses) as I used to do when I still shot on film.
>
> Having two 1Ds2 bodies would be great, though they are rather expensive.
> For the difference in price you could also get something like a very
> nice 300/2.8L IS.
Fortunately, I already have that lens and buying a second one doesn't
make sense. ;-)
> > Downloading a full 1 GB card takes about 3 to 4 minutes, so even after a
> > very successful shoot it takes less than 20 minutes to get everything in
> > the computer. It takes less than 10 minutes to backup all those files
> > over a FireWire conncetion to an external hard drive, so the total time
> > is about half an hour maximum. That means I can use my laptop without
> > recharging for at least 4 days. I've never been in a situation where I
> > couldn't recharge in 4 days.
>
> So you only load the images to your computer and back them up. You dont
> do a first scan through all the images to sort out which to keep and
> which to throw away? That would mean about an extra hour or so per day.
I do when I have electricity in the camp. If I don't have that, I save
as much battery power as I can, so I only download and backup.
> > However, I do not take any risks. I have a 12 Volt to 220 Volt (130
> > Watt) converter, that plugs into the car cigaret lighter, so I can also
> > charge laptops and cameras from the car battery if I need to.
>
> I have never used such a converter. Do they work properly? Do you have
> to keep the engine of the car running to prevent sucking the car battery
> empty? By the way, the 4x4's I have used always had a second car battery
> installed.
They work flawlessly and you do not have to keep the engine running. I
never tried how long they work before your car battery is depleted
though. ;-) The best method is to charge the laptop and/or the camera
battery while you drive, so you have two to three hours working time in
the evening.
> > summer I will probably do an assigment in Zambia, where I may spend
> > quite some time in several bush camps. I'll certainly need the converter
> > in that case!
>
> Where are you going?
The itinery is not finalized yet, but I'll certainly be in Luanga Valley
for a week or two, and perhaps some other areas as well.
> Need an assistant? :-)
I'm married to my assistant. ;-)
--
Johan W. Elzenga johan<>johanfoto.nl
Editor / Photographer http://www.johanfoto.nl/ |
