Disney Trip + Gear: Leaving in 4 days

odd.. my experience with the tt350 in TTl is that it underexposes by a bit ...although I was at full manual (ss/iso/fstop)

Talley wrote in post #18495849
auto ISO

When using flash on the Fuji, this is the problem. You want to set ISO yourself and not use Auto. Then just use the EC dial to control the overall.

Without flash, auto ISO works great along with AV and everything else. But when using flash, auto-ISO needs to be turned off and just set a value, or it will always select a combination that overexposes the flash (I find, and others seem to confirm).

Talley wrote in post #18495837
editing fuji files is really strange... this is basically sooc other than highlights. I don't like it. I need to figure this out a bit better.

Take a look at the H tone and S tone settings and any film simulation presets. Looks to me like the curve was flattened (H & S tones are soft maybe) which lowers contrast and depending on what color setting was used, and/or what JPG settings were used, color could have been set to be soft and a little desaturated. That image with a hard contrast push and a wee bit of saturation would change quite a bit, along with a little white balance towards a warmer tone to match the theme.

I find editing the Fuji RAWs to not be that different from my Canon RAWs, but it's how I get to the TIF in the first place. But the only RAW editing I do on either is white balance and manage highlights and any potential exposure issue, then output as a TIF. I edit the TIF in CS5. Editing JPG is a total different thing. Try not to bother editing JPG hardly at all, other than straightening/cropping​/clone/healing/etc. This is where the pre-set values come in so you can tweak it to be how you want as an output and minimize editing (which is ideal when using it on a trip for sure). I'm just using Silkypix RAW converter to take my RAFs to TIFs and doing everything else in CS5.1.

+++++++++++++++

Example of flash & color output, as JPG. I shot AV, with a set ISO (because auto-ISO always had the flash over-exposing) and TTL flash set to -2/3rds (fill light) and I like the Astia film simulation. If you want more contrast, adjust the S & H tone curves (positive for a sharper contrast on the shadow & highlight, softer if you use negative values), saturation is the color +/-, and sharpening to taste (+1, +2, etc). Here my white balance is a little warmer than what the auto-WB wanted to do, but I favor warmer WB. This image is what the camera grabbed, I didn't touch it with Photoshop other than resizing it to 1024 pixels for forum use.

But turning off Auto-ISO was the key to get TTL to function flawlessly. And I actually really like Fuji's color & JPG.

I used to lug my 6D or 80D with the 24-105 f4L or 16-35 f4L attached. I'd also carry 50 1.8. I have since switched to carrying an a6500 with the 16-50 kit lens and the 18-105 f4 for reach. I went from a Peak Design 30L backpack down to a Peak Design 5L sling.

The Main Street Electrical Parade was moved to Anaheim last year in December and restarted in January of this year. It retired permanently this past August due to the floats falling apart. They no longer met safety codes and had to be shut down. However, the Paint the Night parade is due to return soon

Thanks Mal for the input. Worked great. Although this one needs work it’s sooc. This has potential after some minor post. The ones with princesses turned out just as good.

Which flash/strobe? I am thinking of taking AD200, maybe my wife can hand hold for indoor princess shots.

Edited:- Never mind, I see from previous posts. No hot shoe flash so will just take AD200 if test shots look good.

Tt350f

I bought the v860ii for the Fuji but left it at home because it was too big. The 350 is light and surprising powerful enough to be a bounce flash for what i need it for here.

Talley wrote in post #18498880
Thanks Mal for the input. Worked great. Although this one needs work it’s sooc. This has potential after some minor post. The ones with princesses turned out just as good.

Looks great, soft nice light! Excellent little flash that TT350F.

Very best,

That's the kind of trip where I'd take the new Canon M5 I just got.

That still leaves the question of which lenses.

I'd probably opt for the 70-200 f/4, buy a 40mm pancake for something to cover the 24mm to 50mm range and just move in or out, then get the Rokinon 12mm 2.0 ef-m for wide angle (skipping my 16-35mm)

12mm/2 and 23/2 is all I’ve really needed.

Used the wife’s 35 for a few shots but that’s it.

Talley wrote in post #18499765
12mm/2 and 23/2 is all I’ve really needed.

Used the wife’s 35 for a few shots but that’s it.

I've got a Canon M5 plus full frame. I was guessing you may have a mirrorless when you wrote the 12mm f/2.0

4K frame grabs from GoPro 6 are pretty good.

Does the job to me!

Very best,

Talley wrote in post #18499811
4K frame grabs from GoPro 6 are pretty good.

Hosted photo: posted by Talley in
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forum: General Photography Talk

Compared to some cell phones, probably. More frames to select from for sure, and hands free more likely.

In regards to photographic equipment, I'd say the go-pro resides between "suffice" & "good" ...

I'm wondering if the lens shown in this video link is what you have. It's an actual f/2.0 ... not the bigger f/2.8 ... aside from his humor, he shows a lot of image samples that are "pretty good" to excellent. This Roklnon is the lens I'm on the verge of getting. The only reason I'm on hold, is deciding whether to get the Zeiss 15mm 2.8 that fits full frame and M5 mirrorless, or the Rokinon f/2.4 price-reduced lately to $799 ... If I were taking a Disney trip, the Zeiss would be out of the question for me regarding size, but the bitty Rokinon would be certain ... in the video, skipping to 5:00 gets past most of the opening dialogue and into more where photos multiply. But the $300 Rokinon samples he's showing make Go-pro seem like screen captures from a 4K security camera. I love Go-pro stuff as video though. Hard to beat for it's niche.

At disneyland as we speak and besides feeling little ripped off (no night time parades, not fireworks at 6:30pm, only 9:30pm and they too weren't anything like 2 yrs ago), lenses wise, I will say 24-70mm will be more useful. Even can use 70-200mm f2.8 for different look shots, like for parade etc. And flash is a must where you need to show bg and well as your subjects, too much DR required otherwise.