With the switch back to Canon, I decided to join Canon Professional Services. I always send my equipment in for a checkup and cleaning so I thought this would be a more cost effect way of handling things. It also gives me an opportunity to try out the latest gear. I went for the Platinum membership, which give you 5 or 6 free cleaning and checkup in addition to 60% all repairs. Plus you get some goodies with the membership too, like a few straps, a nice bag, etc. All worth the price IMHO!
Category Archives: Photo Talk
After much thought, I decided to switch back to Canon. It was fun using Nikon equipment for a year but in the end Canon is just a better fit for my needs. Of course it’s all about the person behind the camera…but what’s the fun in that?
Saw a great deal on some used PocketWizard Plus II’s so I decided to trade in my Cybersync triggers for them. Turns out the guy I bought them from works for Pantone/x-rite and he was nice enough to include a little “gift” along with the PocketWizards, the x-rite Color Checker Passport. I’ve been using the WhiBal card for white balance purposes, but it looks like the Color Checker Passport will be taking over that duty, and then some!
While I have never ever had any issues with Cybersync triggers, PocketWizard is the industry standard and sometimes when I shoot weddings with other photographers, I either have to borrow or rent PocketWizards so that I can to feed off flashes mounted on light stands, especially during receptions. Problem solved!!!
Got 5 of these:
As you can see, the PocketWizard Plus II is more “robust” than the Cybersync triggers and it’s capable of transmitting or receiving all in one unit.
Here it is mounted on my Nikon D3.
Here’s the nice gift I got from the seller!
About 2 weeks ago, I finally did what I was thinking about doing for the past year or so. I switched to Nikon.
Why? Well let me explain!
In early April I shot a wedding with my newly acquired Canon 1D Mark IV. I also had my 5DMKII as a second body. I pretty much had the standard issue of lenses, the 24-70L on the 5DMKII and the 70-200 f2.8 L IS MKI on the 1DMKIV. Things were going fine until I was at the reception. Sure, it was low light, but that didn’t stop the 5DMKII from performing well. The 1DMkIV on the other hand struggled mightily. Just refused to lock focus in a lot of situations, making me miss some shots too! It seems like I am not the only one complaining about this. The 1DMKIII I used to own had no such issues. In fact I was shooting with someone who had the 1DMKIII. I let him use my 1DMKIV for a couple of frames and he thought it was sluggish as well! Oops!!!
Anyways, this was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. I wasn’t going to shoot with dual 5DMKII’s because I also like to shoot sports, etc and generally like the feel of the 1D series bodies much more than the 5D series bodies. I didn’t want to go “backwards” and go back to the 1DMKIII. The only other option was to switch and that I did!
It took me all but a day and a half to unload my Canon gear. Got myself a D3, D700, Sigma 50 1.4, Nikon 85 1.4D, 200VR, 14-24, 24-70, and 70-200VRII lenses. Also got myself 3 SB900 speedlites. I basically got the Nikon gear the night before I went on my Florida vacation. Actually it was perfect timing because I got to use the new gear and get used to the controls, etc.
So what’s the verdict? I am liking it a lot! Looks like I found a new home with Nikon!!!
