-=1DS Mark II Admirers, congregate!

Thanks! correct; 16-35 II @ f/2.8. Some of these would be traditionally shot with something longer, like a 50 or 85 but I find that DOF too thin unless you can stop down for action shots. I don't need every single detail blurred to oblivion as I like some sense of background and context. Plus, having a wide zoom lets you interact with the kids and get them involved with you (as long as they like you, that is! otherwise, maybe stay further back...)

My processing is pretty simple; I think all 3 of these were based on the Direct Positive preset which I tone down a bit and minus some saturation.

great shots Hoff,

Love the second one.

ef2 wrote in post #7384764
Adorama processed a return for me, but they never sent me a shipping label, so I can only assume they do not pay for your shipping back to them (and I believe they state their shipping cost for the order is nonrefundable).

Their return policy does state that they do not cover shipping. But since they sent me a defective product, I'll ask them. I'll let you know what happens.

BTW.....if anyone knows who the Adorama rep is on the forum here, please point me in her direction.

I had made a comment in another thread that the 17-40L and 16-35L lenses weren't traditionally known to be stellar portrait lenses but after looking at the shots that The Hoff just posted, I think I have to eat those words!

Nice shooting, Hoff!

Cheers!

TheHoff wrote in post #7385415
The AF is like a guided laser on fast moving kids... loved it. As long as I had the right point selected and fired at the right time, the shots were fast and sharp.

THIS is one of the main reasons for wanting a 1D/1Ds. I've had SO many shots where the kid is moving, and it's 'just' out of focus. It just can't lock on consistently as I would like. Great shot on this one.

Good shots Hoff! Was this using AI Servo? ROF or center point?

Thanks for the nice comments, everyone.

AI Servo, manually selecting the points, almost always off-center, I believe. I used to stay with the 7 cross-type but even the very outer points work well for me. I keep my thumb on the * AF-on and rotate the AF point around with the wheels when necessary.

TheHoff wrote in post #7385415
The AF is like a guided laser on fast moving kids... loved it. As long as I had the right point selected and fired at the right time, the shots were fast and sharp.

wow - very nice!!!

jra wrote in post #7386595
Their return policy does state that they do not cover shipping. But since they sent me a defective product, I'll ask them. I'll let you know what happens.

BTW.....if anyone knows who the Adorama rep is on the forum here, please point me in her direction.

Look for Helen Oster or Joel Meisels, they sorted me out very good!!! Check out the "Buy at Adorama" thread in "market watch" they have contact there and they are checking the forum from time to time. All I can say as they did a SUPER job for me!!!

Awesome shots Hoff, the 16-35 II is a sweet lens.

kenoath, your bike shot are nice too. Looks like it can handle sports action.

I am seriously considering this body or a 1dmkIII, like a previous poster. The 1DsMkII to maintain the resolution and FF I have now (yes, I realize it's a few more mp) and to add some speed/durability vs. the 1DmkIII for speed, durability, great high ISO and great AF (for what I shoot).

I'm definitely leaning towards the 1DsmkII, I think, but argh!

(there is no point to this post other than to express my anguish and envy!)

Markitos wrote in post #7392744
I am seriously considering this body or a 1dmkIII, like a previous poster. The 1DsMkII to maintain the resolution and FF I have now (yes, I realize it's a few more mp) and to add some speed/durability vs. the 1DmkIII for speed, durability, great high ISO and great AF (for what I shoot).

I'm definitely leaning towards the 1DsmkII, I think, but argh!

(there is no point to this post other than to express my anguish and envy!)

I go through the same torments in my head daily. LOL. But for me, I've decided that if I'm going to have to spend this much money, I better be getting a nice resolution bump from my 20D. I'm not sure I can justify the big jump if I'm only getting 10mp from 8mp. I also figure that if I want cleaner high ISOs, if I were to downsample to 10mp (or if I'm simply printing at the same size as I would have with the 10mp file), the noise is not as much of an issue at all. So the main issue for me is those beautiful 10fps and slightly better autofocus. If you actually crop out a 10mp image from the 1Ds2, you're actually getting a 1.3x crop. Just like the 1D2.

Good points!

zincozinco wrote in post #7390525
Look for Helen Oster or Joel Meisels, they sorted me out very good!!! Check out the "Buy at Adorama" thread in "market watch" they have contact there and they are checking the forum from time to time. All I can say as they did a SUPER job for me!!!

Thanks for the info. I shot Helen an e-mail this morning and advised her of the situation. Hopefully I can get this resolved and end up with a good working camera without being eaten alive by shipping charges.

Just wanted to update my situation for any interested. I just talked to Joel at Adorama (Helen had forwarded him the e-mail and had him call me) and they are awesome. Adorama is crediting back all shipping charges and another unit is on its way. Assuming the next one works as advertised, I would say that Adorama is an absolutely wonderful company to do business with. This was my first deal with them and so far I'm impressed even though I had some problems with my first camera. They were so helpful and more than willing to make things right.