Ready for RAW & 100/400 L IS

[Barto]

I have a party to go to this weekend, 90th birthday for a very close friend of the family (more like my adopted grandpa)
party is being held at the old family homestead, built in the 1880's and recently remodeled but maintains many original features & rustic charm
I expect upwards of 120 guests.

Local camera shop rents the 100/400 L IS, I'm thinking about snagging it for the weekend. I should be able to get lots of candid people shots without anyone noticing me.
I wish they rented the 70/200 L I think that would suit the occasion better, but for 40 bucks I get to play with a new toy all weekend

I've been playing with CS and "think" I'm ready to shoot a batch in RAW and figure out how all that comes together.

I'll be using my XT

Any tips?

wish me luck & if I do any good I'll post something

 

[gregr]

If you plan on shooting handheld you'll probably be using the IS- that uses batteries faster than otherwise so hopefully you'll have a couple of spares (or more even if you can get them from the shop).
The rule of thumb for handholding is: the average person can get sharp results by using a shutter speed of 1/focal length. That translates to 1/400th of a second if you're zoomed all the way in. Wait- multiply that times 1.6... point being- you need a lot of speed The IS feature saves you roughly two stops- so if my math is correct, you need 1/640, subtract two stops and you get 1/160th- something to keep in mind.

 

[Barto]

thanks for the battery usage info, I did not know that.
I ordered some spares this week, don't expect them in time for the weekend.
As of now I only have one, will have to check to see if they have extras availalble.

 

[Misled]

Agree with gregr, the extra batteries are a must. In the setting just under raw, I've taken over 200 picswithout battery trouble. In raw power was waining after 50. Also consider a couple extra memory cards. Raw can take up some room.

 

[Barto]

maybe my new camera batery combo lasts a little longer, I've fired off in excess of 500 frames using auto modes in .jpg & never seen battery life below half

or would RAW really eat that much more power?

memory cards I've got, 3 @ 2GB

 

[Misled]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10613640#post10613640 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigSkyBart
or would RAW really eat that much more power?

Seemed to on my camera,(minolta dimage a200). When shooting highest res jpeg got just over 200 pics and didn't notice where the battery indicator was but still had more juice but was done taking pics. Also never saw my data transfer light more than flash. When in raw mode, the data light would run sometimes 15 to 20 seconds, (which I imagin was what was using the power). After 50 to 60 pics the batt indicator was down to 1/4.

 

[BlueCorn]

Bart - I can get 500 to 600 shots per charge on my 30D. I have no idea what it'd do in JPG as I've never used it that way. That being said, I always carry a spare battery.

 

[danskim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10614449#post10614449 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beerguy
Bart - I can get 500 to 600 shots per charge on my 30D. I have no idea what it'd do in JPG as I've never used it that way. That being said, I always carry a spare battery.

I've gotten up to 700 some on my 30D with both my OEM and aftermarket (higher mAh) betteries.

With my IS lenses, it goes down a bit, but I've never shot 700 at one time, so there is discharge effects as well.
But I would suggest the 70-200L (in any variety). It will be sharper than the 100-400L. And 400mm is probably longer than you'll need.
the 70-200 f/4L IS is the sharper of the 4 models (now 3 I hear), so if you can get that, you'll probably be pleased especially because it has the newest generation image stabilization (4 stops). I doubt you'll be needing the movement-stopping abilities of the f/2,8.

 

[Dino]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10614449#post10614449 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beerguy
Bart - I can get 500 to 600 shots per charge on my 30D. I have no idea what it'd do in JPG as I've never used it that way. That being said, I always carry a spare battery.

Same here except with my XTi, at the county fair here couple weeks back I comfortably shot over 400 RAW shots (no true number on exactly how many as I was going through and deleting ones that didn't make me happy in the process) and then later that night shot over 100 more RAW files at a friend's softball game! And it STILL had plenty of charge left, only reason I stopped was because of lack of light.

RAW is really nice, I'm sure you'll learn to enjoy it . I use DPP since my version of PS isn't that suited for working on RAW files but I'm sure its not any more complicated working with them in CS.

70-200mm probably would be better suited for the occasion but if the camera shop doesn't have one for rent not much can do about it is there? What time of day will the birthday party be? If its late evening/dusk you might run into problems with there just not being enough light (of course depends on the shooting you're doing - still life/scenery won't matter a heck of a lot. Freeze motion will be tough though, even with bumping up the ISO) as the 100-400 is only f/5.6 on the long end. If its during the day/afternoon just bump the ISO up to 200 or 400 to get you a little bit of extra speed if you need it and go . The 100-400 is a great lens, one I've gone back and forth between or the 400mmL prime. Be careful! After using it you might be looking to shell out the money for it afterwards! If you can you might rent it for a couple days in advance to practice with it, lot of the L lenses, especially the longer ones just need practiced with before delivering really good results.

 

[Misled]

I think I need a new camera!!!!

 

[Dino]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10615405#post10615405 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Misled
I think I need a new camera!!!!

Are we making you jealous? Now what kind of camera do you want? Hmmmm? You know, Canon is supposedly releasing its new 40D in just a few weeks (if it avoids the production problems of the 1DMIII). Its a very nice looking camera and still very affordable. C'mon, you know you want it don't you? What good is that money for sitting in the bank?!

 

[KurtsReef]

It takes a little more time for a camera to write the RAW image to the CF card but I cannot believe its enough to really effect battery life.

I only shoot RAW or RAW + JPEG on occasions, and get well over 700 shots with the D200 over a period of days and if shooting with the D2x at a sporting tourniment have shot 3000 images over 10 games in a day (cold weather too) so I think the difference between shooting RAW and JPEG should not really effect battery life.

The IS portion however does suck battery power...extra battery is never a bad thing, even if you do not need it.

Do you have a monopod? If not, I would pick one up. A 100-400mm lens should be kind of heavy and even with the IS you would get tired of lugging it around all day.

 

[Misled]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10615429#post10615429 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dinoman
Are we making you jealous? Now what kind of camera do you want? Hmmmm? You know, Canon is supposedly releasing its new 40D in just a few weeks

One of the things I want to see. I have kinda been leaning to VR's side of the road. The body's seem a bit less expensive, then I can put my money into lenses.

 

[Dino]

NO! Don't become an evil....*GASP* NIKON user! Everybody knows they almost could put their stuff as toys in cereal boxes! :eek1:

I'm kidding Nikon users, I'm kidding...no really, you can put the sticks and rocks down!

 

[Barto]

Party starts at 5PM, I should have good light for a few hours

I know that the 100/400 is more lens than I need for people pictures, but I'm almost positive it's the only one they have for rent.
Getting it for a few days ahead of time isn't really an option, not at 40 bucks a day. They are closed on Sunday, if I pick it up at closing time Friday night, I'm only paying for Saturday rental and have to have it back Monday AM when they open. Thats a pretty good amount of time for the money.
They said it (the rental lens) goes to Yellowstone Park at least 50% of the time it leaves the store, maybe I'll wait for the elk rut to take it out & go to the park.

thanks for the advice everyone, I'm going to try to sneak into the shop this morning & pick their brains about my specific usage needs for the weekend & see what they say.

no monopod, I have a tripod with a quick release base

 

[KurtsReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10615521#post10615521 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dinoman
NO! Don't become an evil....*GASP* NIKON user! Everybody knows they almost could put their stuff as toys in cereal boxes! :eek1:

I'm kidding Nikon users, I'm kidding...no really, you can put the sticks and rocks down!

:lol:

Sorry, its the Canon users I see running for cover or pulling out garbage bags in the rain...no stones or rocks/sticks will be thrown

Nikon has FF now, no more too be envious about (well come November)

 

[danskim]

You mean the D3?
Looks like a nice camera, but I'd like to see how well it shoots in lowlight. Just because it has support up to 6400 and 25600 doesn't mean anything yet.

But it does seem like a nice update to the Nikon lineup.

 

[Dino]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10615752#post10615752 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KurtsReef
:lol:

Sorry, its the Canon users I see running for cover or pulling out garbage bags in the rain...no stones or rocks/sticks will be thrown

Nikon has FF now, no more too be envious about (well come November)

Pffftttt, I've never ran for cover when it starts to rain! The most I ever do is put a hand over the viewfinder so there isn't spots when I'm looking through it and dust the snow off once and a while! And I've shot in blizzards so thick you could hardly BREATHE!

I can't help it if some of the other canon shooters are pansies .

 

[BlueCorn]

I did a 4 day shoot in Yosemite in February with about 12 people. The gear that folks used was distributed about the same as the current market. 60% Canon, 30% Nikon and a few Sony, Pentax, etc.....

We had rain, snow and mix of the two every single day. 2 people had cameras fail due to moisture problems; both were D200s. Speculate all you'd like but real world experience tells me that your assessment is wrong.

 

[BlueCorn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10615752#post10615752 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by KurtsReef

Nikon has FF now, no more too be envious about (well come November)

Unless you don't like noise when you're shooting above 400-800 ISO. In that case you'll still have plenty to be envious about. :lol: