10D v E1

[KiwiRob]

Had an interesting chat with my sisters wedding photographer the other day. He has just swapped his canon system for an Olympus E1 system and loves it. He was shooting with 2 D60's and an Eos 1v. Basically he was going to trade up to a 1Ds but instead bought 2 E1 bodies, 2 Fl50 flash units and three new lens for the price of the 1Ds and trade on his existing gear. I was pretty impressed with the Olympus off camera flash setup it would be great if canon could come up with the same sort of setup. I was also really impressed with the build quality of the E1 with battery grip, it looked and felt a lot better than my 10d with grip.

The other reason why he preferred the Olympus set up is that the colour was much better out of the camera than the 10d and D60, he felt it required far less post processing. As busy photographer he believes that his time is better spent in the field than sitting behind a PC fixing up photos.

I think the 4/3rds is a pretty interesting system, has anyone else here had a good look at it.

[KiwiRob]

Here is a photo of what I think is an excellent off camera flash system. Canon would do well to copy it. I would purchase something like this if Canon made it.

http://www.olympus-esystem.com/dea/products/e1/image/pu_pic_full.jpg

[CyberDyneSystems]

I was wondering what the difference would be,. I see that they incorporate controls like shutter release in the handle so you can use it on the right hand side of the Camera...

But otherwise,. how is it it any different than any other off camera handle set up?

And what is the advantage of going through all the trouble to mount it on the right hand side?.. thus REQUIRING the reproduction of shutter realease controls in the grip?

... where as if the flash handle is mounted to the left,. you simply would not need the incorporation of the duplicate controls.. (with this setup the E-1 now has three,. count 'em 3 shutter releases???)


Just curious?

[KiwiRob]

Not too sure I just thought it was a nicely intergrated piece of design.

[Belmondo]

Isn't the preferred location for the lens on the same centerline as the lens?

[CoolToolGuy]

Isn't the preferred location for the lens on the same centerline as the lens?

:?: :? :?: :? :?: :?

If you mean the flash, I don't think it should always be on the same centerline - it can act like sunlight coming at an angle. Sometimes that can create some undesireable shadows, but straight on can appear to be flat. Either position can be good or bad.

Have Fun
Rick 8)

[Belmondo]

Isn't the preferred location for the lens on the same centerline as the lens?

:?: :? :?: :? :?: :?

If you mean the flash, I don't think it should always be on the same centerline - it can act like sunlight coming at an angle. Sometimes that can create some undesireable shadows, but straight on can appear to be flat. Either position can be good or bad.

Have Fun
Rick 8) :oops: :oops: :oops:
Thanks for recognizing that my mind, my mouth, and my fingers don't always communicate well with each other. Of course I meant 'shouldn't the flash be on the same centerline as the lens'. Sadly, my fingers decided it was easier to type 'lens' twice. They just get that way every once in a while. Fortunately, I can claim senility as a cause for all this.

Tom

[Cadwell]

:oops: :oops: :oops:
Thanks for recognizing that my mind, my mouth, and my fingers don't always communicate well with each other. Of course I meant 'shouldn't the flash be on the same centerline as the lens'. Sadly, my fingers decided it was easier to type 'lens' twice. They just get that way every once in a while. Fortunately, I can claim senility as a cause for all this.

Tom

I've been looking for a "do what I thought, not what I typed" processor for my PC for years... If I find one, I'll get you a copy ;)

[CoolToolGuy]

Isn't the preferred location for the lens on the same centerline as the lens?

:?: :? :?: :? :?: :?

If you mean the flash, I don't think it should always be on the same centerline - it can act like sunlight coming at an angle. Sometimes that can create some undesireable shadows, but straight on can appear to be flat. Either position can be good or bad.

Have Fun
Rick 8) :oops: :oops: :oops:
Thanks for recognizing that my mind, my mouth, and my fingers don't always communicate well with each other. Of course I meant 'shouldn't the flash be on the same centerline as the lens'. Sadly, my fingers decided it was easier to type 'lens' twice. They just get that way every once in a while. Fortunately, I can claim senility as a cause for all this.

Tom

Well, after looking at it for a minute or two, I thought you might have meant the lens of the flash and the lens of the camera, but I caught your drift. :roll:

I know the age-related issues - I suffer from some myself. But please tell me this isn't related to your anxiety waiting for your MKII - if so, it will be very confusing by the time the first deliveries happen :wink:

Have Fun
Rick 8)

[DaveG]

Isn't the preferred location for the lens on the same centerline as the lens?

:?: :? :?: :? :?: :?

If you mean the flash, I don't think it should always be on the same centerline - it can act like sunlight coming at an angle. Sometimes that can create some undesireable shadows, but straight on can appear to be flat. Either position can be good or bad.

Have Fun
Rick 8)

No, it would never be far enough away from the lens axis to provide an interesting light, but it would give you the worst side shadow you've ever seen. All those third party brackets - flip flash or camera rotating - are designed to get the flash directly over the lens and that ain't by accident. This Olympus setup is just a horrible idea.

[KiwiRob]

Rubbish most of the barckets that get the flash off the top of the camera and to the side do this to get the flash away from the lens axis, from all that I have read and learnt the main reason behind this is to reduce red eye. If you remember back far enough the Nikon F3 had the flash mounted on the side of the camera as did many Pentax models. Manufacturers put them on the pentaprisism because it't the easiest place to place them not the the best place, it's a compromise.

[Tom W]

Rubbish most of the barckets that get the flash off the top of the camera and to the side do this to get the flash away from the lens axis, from all that I have read and learnt the main reason behind this is to reduce red eye. If you remember back far enough the Nikon F3 had the flash mounted on the side of the camera as did many Pentax models. Manufacturers put them on the pentaprisism because it't the easiest place to place them not the the best place, it's a compromise.

Getting away from the lens reduces redeye - getting away from the lens axis (or more correctly, the lens vertical axis) induces side shadows.

[KiwiRob]

to induce noticable shadow you would have to be quite some way off the camera I hardly feel that a few cm's is going to cause any issues.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Heck I allways pointed my flash up and or to the side anyways for bounce... :roll:

[DaveG]

Rubbish most of the barckets that get the flash off the top of the camera and to the side do this to get the flash away from the lens axis, from all that I have read and learnt the main reason behind this is to reduce red eye. If you remember back far enough the Nikon F3 had the flash mounted on the side of the camera as did many Pentax models. Manufacturers put them on the pentaprisism because it't the easiest place to place them not the the best place, it's a compromise.

Actually the hotshoe, prism mounted or rewind mounted, is enough to defeat red eye. You don't specifically need the flash to be above the lens - like on a bracket. All you need to do is to get the flash a little distance away - in any direction - from the lens.

Nikon was afraid to have a prism mounted hotshoe at first. The original Nikon F had an interchangeable prism and Nikon feared that any force on the flash might shear off the prism, as it would have. That's why the F, F2 and F3 all had hot shoes that mounted over the rewind knob. One presumes that they had more confidence in the interchangable prisms of the F4 & F5.

I had an F, F2 and F3 and they would all throw a side shadow in both vertical AND horizontal shots. It may well have been a good idea to keep from damaging the camera but it was terrible for taking flash pictures. At least with a prism mounted hotshoe you would have the flash over the lens in at least the horizontal shooting orientation.

By the way that amount of off centered flash is more than enough to cause side shadow. And it was unacceptable to pass in any shots with side shadow in any newpaper I ever worked for. It just screams amateur.

Back then I'd have a Vivitar 283 on a cord and I'd hold it directly above the lens, and as high as I could. Then the shadow would fall behind the subject and the lens, being lower, couldn't "see" it. Then I got a bracket to do it for me.

[photography By Evangelos]

I had a chance to use the E1 in New York and I was not at all impressed with the camera slow is the word. I think the next camera will be a hit E2 but not this camera at all. Also ISO suffers when it gets higher. This camera is no 10D by far. But this said the out of camera colors were great.

Angelo

[Ballen Photo]

Here is a photo of what I think is an excellent off camera flash system. Canon would do well to copy it. I would purchase something like this if Canon made it.


Rob, First of all, Have you ever looked at Canons 480G handlemount flash? No, it doesn't have another shutter button, but why would you need it? http://www.usa.canon.com/html/cameras_speedlite/480eg.html
Also, Why on Earth would you give up the choice of Canons vast array of lenses? The E-1 has what, four?
Now I did buy into the Olympus camp for a while with the E-10, and I still think it's a fine camera, but will Oly stop support for the E-1 as they have with the E-10/20 when they decided to change their format all together?
BTW, I'm real happy with the 550EX flash, and have NEVER been let down by or dissapointed with Canon equipment. Their lenses are second to none, their speed the mark to catch by all the other brands.
Why would Canon need to copy ANYONE? They are the leader. :D
..........Bruce[/url]

[KiwiRob]

I don't think Olympus will stop support for the E1, they still support the om series and that's pretty old. Canon didn't stop supporting their old mount when they went EOS, nor did Minolta when they went AF.

I have had a couple of different systems and had I known that Minolta were bringing out a digital SLR (yes I know it was obvious that they would but I wanted one now not later) I would have stuck with them, I'll say it right now I liked Minolta gear better than Canon gear, now I have the EOS system and it's too expensive to go back. I will have a good look at the Minolta digital slr when it comes out and I think they will be quite innovative as they always have been. In camera image stabilisation is a better idea than in lense, I kinda think canon and nikon missed the boat with that one.

All said and done the 10d is a great camera and canon make great lens. But as they say the grass is always greener.

[rodbunn]

On the Oly, when you have your hand on the bracket, don't
you have to adjust any wheels on the body for apateur or shutter?
How would you be able to do that with your right hand if it's on
the bracket? All I see is a shutter release that you can use without
moving your hand.

Or, exposure lock button (essential)? Is there one you can hold down to lock
exposure and how could you reach it?

I don't know anything about the Oly, just asking to clear it up.

Thanks, Rod