20D and Sigma 70-200 2.8 is here!

[Scott_F]

Just popped in a 1 GB CF card, the battery and wow. I already love it.

As soon as I connected the Sigma long lens, I got the err 1 warning. Contacts weren't lining up or something. Unfastened the lens, twisted it back on and the problem went away. I'll have to keep an eye on that.

I've already got a Canon S410 so I'm pretty familiar with the menus. No problems there.

Buttons are starting to make sense. But, I'll be keeping the manual with me for a while!

There's an 8th grade game across the street tomorrow night, so I'm going to go practice on them. ;)

I'm totally stoked. I've owned a Canon TX, an AE-1, and one of the early Rebels. This 20D feels solid as heck. The Sigma lens (I got the DG version) is a bit of a beast. But, I'm 6'4", 275lbs and I'm sure I won't have any problems.

Thanks for the advice on this lens guys. I'm guessing it's going to kick butt when I try it tomorrow.

Also, I do have a quick question, the Sigma came with a tulip looking shade. Would you guys recommend using that at night? I'm not sure if this matters, but I put a UV filter on the Sigma just for protection.

Thanks for all the help lately.

Oh yeah, why does an increase in ISO add more megabytes to the file size? That doesn't make much sense to me.

[Scott_F]

Oh yeah, what a rush when I put it in spray and pray mode! 5 fps is just freaking outstanding.

[JSPhoto]

Oh yeah, what a rush when I put it in spray and pray mode! 5 fps is just freaking outstanding.

Worse than a kid with a new toy...oh, wait, he IS a kid with a new toy

Sorry, couldn't resist that one Scott.


Well that was quick service. Glad you like it too. I'd answer your ISO ? but I forgot the answer to that one years ago ... gettin old

I'll be looking for some pictures tomorrow night..... now what the ----- did Canon do with my 1D??????????? I want it back!!!!!!!!! They said it was fixed last week

JS

[JSPhoto]

next you will be adding hard drives, DVD burner (double sided) and memory to your computer... hmmm, not my job though!!!!!!!!!!

JS

[masdog]

And that is when the fun starts, JS.

Scott, I hope you know your way around the inside of your computer or know a good computer tech to upgrade your machine.

[masdog]

Spray and Pray? I haven't heard that term in a long time.

[JSPhoto]

Spray and Pray? I haven't heard that term in a long time.

lol. me either....not since I was getting into a chopper headed to some hostile country in the 80 when the chopper pilot was telling me what to do if we found any "unfriendly" types. See I just joined the ship two days earlier and was "volunteered" to work a .50cal on a mission that didn't happen in a foriegn nation.... odd, if it didn't happen how did those pictures get in the papers, Time, Newsweek... etc. Well I sprayed and prayed... I think I'm still here.... I know the guy on the recieving end isn't.... Typical US intelligence - clean LZ my A_ _......

JS

[mjs1973]

Also, I do have a quick question, the Sigma came with a tulip looking shade. Would you guys recommend using that at night? I'm not sure if this matters, but I put a UV filter on the Sigma just for protection.

Congrats on your new purchase! As for the lens hood, I would leave it on at all times. If your shooting at night, the lights can still cause flare, especially with an extras piece of glass in front of your lens. The companines now adays, have some great coating on their lenses and filters to help control flare and ghosting, but the hood is still better IMO. I've never regretted having a hood on my lens, but I sure have regretted not having one.

[Scott_F]

thanks. do you guys recommend the uv filter for protection? I know back in my old 35mm days, it was conventional thinking

ps. my bro in law was a door gunner in Nam.

[mjs1973]

Scott,

You will find varying opinons on the UV filter. Some people don't leave home without them, others think they do more harm than good. Check out the link to the thread below. Be sure to check out the other links within that thread for more opinions. There are even some examples of shots with and without a UV filter.

JETA - re new lens

[JSPhoto]

Scott,

I am one who advocates using a specific filter... the Hoya UV (0) note the the (0). Reason being that this filter saves the lens from being scratched or worse by something that gets past the hood (yes, use the hood!). I would have lost my lens more than once with that filter. And it dosn't alter colors in any way as others will.

Invariably kids will be kids and try to put their fingers on the lens... having the filter keeps their fingers from scratching the lens. I had a football player do it Friday playing around.
Anything you can do to prevent damage to your gear is a good thing.

JS

[Lionheart]

Yes, always use the lens hood. It doesn't hurt the images, blocks out side glare, and if nothing else, helps to protect that front lens element, especially if you're not using a clear filter on that lens. Congrats on the new toy, nothing like the exhilaration of a new lens and camera, and an event to use it on. Really watch that Err 01 though. It may be the beginning of a lens/camera failure. I was getting that with my 70-200 f2.8L IS on all my EOS dslr's, and turns out to be failed IS unit on the lens (it's fixed now-only took 10 days total turnaround time).

[mjs1973]

Yes, keep an eye on the Err 01 message. I have read that there have been some problems with Sigma lenses giving this message on EOS bodies. It's usually the result of the chip in the lens from what I remember reading. Don't be surprised if you have to send it to Sigma to be rechipped.

[Scott_F]

I think I'll send it back to Amazon if it does it again. I've got 30 days. Let them deal with it. ;)

[JSPhoto]

This can happen with any lens, it's not always the lens that causes it. My first 1D body had the error the first time I turned it on. Turned it off re-installed the lens, turned it back on and it came on for an instant and shut off, never to turn on again. The body had internal problems. I still have the lens, and it still works.

JS

[Scott_F]

I've had the lens off and on about 4 times now and it hasn't reoccured. I'm wondering if the camera was powered up when I put it on the first time. I've since made sure to keep the camera off when changing lenses.

[JSPhoto]

I've had the lens off and on about 4 times now and it hasn't reoccured. I'm wondering if the camera was powered up when I put it on the first time. I've since made sure to keep the camera off when changing lenses.

Yeah, I have seen the Canon techs remove lens w/power on...argh! Just one short and it's done for.

JS

[JETA]

I got the Hoya JS recommended. The more I take pics of football I see why I need it. Flying debris, rain.... Not to mention my butt was almost run over the last two games I shot. For me it just doesn't make sense to have a expensive lens open to all of the elements I'm exposing it to. Including myself.

[JSPhoto]

I got the Hoya JS recommended. The more I take pics of football I see why I need it. Flying debris, rain.... Not to mention my butt was almost run over the last two games I shot. For me it just doesn't make sense to have a expensive lens open to all of the elements I'm exposing it to. Including myself.

And there are still those who go without that filter and then whine when the glass gets sratched, chipped or worse. I think the paper went through six or seven before they finally managed hurt the glass. Now it needs some serious regrinding to get the chips out... will cost $300 to fix it! Think how much they saved though before that. I saw one of the filters and it had hundreds of chips and scratches...

JS