Merry Christmas! Trail of Lights in Austin

[mercphoto]

Merry Christmas everyone! I have some shots from the Austin Trail of Lights in this gallery:

http://mercphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/327785

Haven't done any post-processing on them, but it does show what a Canon 20D at very high ISO, in darkness, no flash, with a 50mm/1.4 lens can do. I was pleasantly surprised. I do want to try some Photoshop to increase some dynamic range on a few of them. Will be good skill to learn.

[fish]

Merry Christmas everyone! I have some shots from the Austin Trail of Lights in this gallery:

http://mercphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/327785

Haven't done any post-processing on them, but it does show what a Canon 20D at very high ISO, in darkness, no flash, with a 50mm/1.4 lens can do. I was pleasantly surprised. I do want to try some Photoshop to increase some dynamic range on a few of them. Will be good skill to learn.
Nice! Were those shots handheld? ISO1600?

[mercphoto]

Nice! Were those shots handheld? ISO1600?

Thanks! Yes, all were hand-held. Av mode, usually 1.4-2.0, ISO from 800 to 3200. Each photo should have photo details enabled. I was surprised how fast a shutter I was able to get most the time, and how large a depth of field I got below f/2.

I've been very happy with what the 20D can do in difficult situations. Seldom had an auto-focus hunt, was using auto-white-balance, and no exposure compensation.

[fish]

Each photo should have photo details enabled.
Didn't see the link to EXIF data :dunno

So you like that 50/1.4, eh? I've tried my 50/1.8II in several situations, and I just can't love it. It feels like a toy, slow, loud, and contrary to many reviews, I don't think the sharpness or contrast comes anywhere near the 24-70/2.8L. At least mine doesn't.

[mercphoto]

Didn't see the link to EXIF data
My mistake. Its there now.

So you like that 50/1.4, eh? I've tried my 50/1.8II in several situations, and I just can't love it. It feels like a toy, slow, loud, and contrary to many reviews, I don't think the sharpness or contrast comes anywhere near the 24-70/2.8L. At least mine doesn't.
Yes, I like it. The 50/1.8 is not in the same league as the 50/1.4. They are much different in price, build quality, and image quality. The 1.4 is also USM. The 1.8 is a consumer lens. The 1.4 is near L-quality.

[fish]

My mistake. Its there now.


Yes, I like it. The 50/1.8 is not in the same league as the 50/1.4. They are much different in price, build quality, and image quality. The 1.4 is also USM. The 1.8 is a consumer lens. The 1.4 is near L-quality.
Sounds good.

I really really like this one:

http://mercphoto.smugmug.com/photos/13036549-M.jpg

hmmm...check out the funkiness in the smuggy EXIF data: 50mm (guess: 59mm in 35mm) Shouldn't it be more like 80mm?

[mercphoto]

hmmm...check out the funkiness in the smuggy EXIF data: 50mm (guess: 59mm in 35mm) Shouldn't it be more like 80mm?

Yes, it should be. I'm not sure why it isn't, but all my 300D and 20D guesses are wrong. On the 20D its often wrong on whether flash was used as well. (on the photo you said you did like, I used the built-in flash to soften the shadows).

Thanks for the kind words on the photos. :)