Possible Wombat Outage

[SmartWombat]

First of all, Merry Christmas to everyone.
Oh no, that's already happened hasn't it.

Then a Happy New Year to all (that use the Gregorian calendar anyhow).


Mrs Wombat's frustration with my old laptop reached the point of defenestration.
Fortunately she remembered how much a new double glazed pane costs.
And how cold my computer room (currently taken over by her) would get.

So instead she bought me a new machine: P4 3GHz 1GB, 2x200MB.
Might even run PS LE without wheezing and groaning

So all my profiles etc have to be moved form the old machine to this one.
So that the computer food chain passes on my old P3 640Mhz machine to her
And the 800x600 Win98 laptop can get a decent burial

IF there are any doubling of messages, strange half-messages and empty photo uploads.
It's all my fault - I do IT for a living and Iought to be able to set up a new machine ;)
I've already sent it into a BSOD in only 1/2 hour so if I vanish utterly for a while, don't panic Mr Mainwaring !

[Liz]

So instead she bought me a new machine: P4 3GHz 1GB, 2x200MB.

Now that's a VERY nice thoughtful gift! It's worth a few days work! Enjoy! ;)

Liz

[SmartWombat]

Just finishing copying my stuff of her computer.
Now I have a dilemma, do I but a 20D now for motorsport?

Angie has bought a couple more presents.
F1 Testing at Velancia for 4 days, and F1 Testing at Barcelona for 4 days.
Isn't she wonderful?
I get to take the photographs, she gets driver signatures. Later in the season she gets my photos signed (that's a thrill for both of us).

I know, it's not the equipment that takes the good photographs.
But I'm constantly fighting the Minolta A2 to get it even in focus!
I want something that gives me a fighting chance, rather than getting in the way.
Something with important (to us) photo opportunities like F1 testing isn't the best time to learn new equipment either, but I have to weigh that agianst the lost opportunities.
A2 buffer - non existent, no more than 3 frames in 1 minute 15 seconds !!
In practice that's one car per lap


So the $64000 question; do I rush out now and buy a 20D?
Or wait until after both trips for the launch of the D2X?

decisions, decisions, oh and a £6000 budget, too.

[Photo-John]

I think you should just get the 20D, now. I don't think you'll have any regrets. The autofocus is excellent and the five-frames-per-second capture rate is also very good. The D2X does look very, very good. But if you get the 20D you'll get to shoot both events. Ad even more importantly, we'll get to see photos of both events

The 20D will also cost you less, so you can invest more money in big glass. Might I suggest the fine Canon 400mm f/2.8L

[SmartWombat]

At £5549 list, I'd hope it was perfect
For the track, I want long fast primes, but can't justify the cost.
So I will have to look second hand.

But my immediate need is for the Autosport international motor show on 15 Jan.
There I get to try out the 20D and learn to use it, before we go to Valencia.

So I've narrowed it down to picking from this selection
EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM .... £579
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM ........... £939
EF 70-200mm f2.8 L IS USM ..... £1399
EF 2x II Converter ..................... £239

I know I'll lose stops and some sharpness with the converter.
But in the short term I can accept that as long as I can keep AF, which is why the f2.8 L lenses.

I'd also consider this
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM £1159
but I'm worried that if we have a grey day, then AF will be a problem at f5.6.
Last year, the rain in Spain fell mainly on the circuit

My eyesight isn't so good for manual focus, unless (like the Minolta APS SLR) there is a focus indicator even with AF off. Sometimes cheap cameras have useful facilities ;)

[Photo-John]

Also consider the sneaky 300mm f/4L. It's one of the secrets in the Canon L lineup. It's cheap and the optics are awesome. It was the first Canon AF lens I bought, after I bought my A2E, many years ago. I used it for lots and lots of motorcycle races. The 300 f/4L and 1.4x tele-extender are a really potent combo, too.

[SmartWombat]

Doesn't the F4 and the 1.4x put it on the AF aperture limit?

EF 300mm f/4.0L USM IS £977.00

I suppose compared to the EF 400mm f/2.8L USM IS, EF 500mm f/4.0L USM IS and EF 600mm f/4.0L USM IS then it's cheap

[Photo-John]

Doesn't the F4 and the 1.4x put it on the AF aperture limit?

Yes, but it doesn't matter that much. How else are you going to get that kind of reach?

I suppose compared to the EF 400mm f/2.8L USM IS, EF 500mm f/4.0L USM IS and EF 600mm f/4.0L USM IS then it's cheap

And, yes! Exactly! It's a ridiculously good deal when you look at it like that.

See if you can find an old used 300 f/4L - the non-IS version. I bought mine for $800 US, about 8 years ago. They ought to be getting very, very cheap now, if you can find one.

[SmartWombat]

The deed is done.
http://forums.photographyreview.com/...8956#post48956

[Lionheart]

Doesn't the F4 and the 1.4x put it on the AF aperture limit?

EF 300mm f/4.0L USM IS ?977.00

I suppose compared to the EF 400mm f/2.8L USM IS, EF 500mm f/4.0L USM IS and EF 600mm f/4.0L USM IS then it's cheap

I read that there's a way to keep the camera from reading the smaller aperture. Tape the last three contacts on the right side of the lens before placing the converter, and the camera doesn't know the converter is there. Theoretically exposure won't actually change since it's still metering what it sees, but your exif data will be a little off.
I haven't actually tried it myself but I read it on Fred Miranda's site somewhere.