I had the opportunity last week to cover the California Gift Show in LA for a couple days.
The first day, I shot with the 1D Mark II, using the 24-70L, mostly shooting at ISO 800, f/4.5-5.6 @ 1/50-1/80. I found some shots unexpectedly OOF (back focus) when reviewing after the first day, then sent the 1D2 off to Canon, and switched to the 60D with 15-85 IS. Settings were the same with the 60D. 580EX flash used on both bodies.
I won't play any guessing games as to which was best -- both performed beautifully. My only complaint is that I could have used a few mm's wider on the 1D2 -- 24mm comes out to about 31mm AOV. The 15-85 was perfect on the 60D.
I'll break these shots down by camera in two categories: exhibitors (people) this entry, and products in the next.
Please feel free to post your photos with either or both of these camera/lens combinations.
My second day was spend at the LA Convention Center's South Hall/Kentia Hall. The flavor is a little different from the established showrooms at the LA Mart. Existing lighting is certainly different! LA Mart is almost exclusively tungsten-based and I use a correcting gel over my flash to balance. The Convention Center is daylight in the outer areas, mixed in South Hall, and mostly tungsten in the Kentia Hall. A real mixed bag of ambient lighting!
I wish Canon featured a lens for full frame that matches the 15-85, which I find almost perfect for these types of photo-shoots. 24-105L is close, but I really miss the added 31mm at the long end. A 22-90/4 IS would be just about perfect for me, and would work a bit better on 1.3X format. Still, the 60D performs admirably with this lens, and DOF is awesome at the wider focal lengths and f/5.6!
besides not owning a cropper anymore, i would never buy the 15-85 IS due to its variable aperture. Thats what a kit lens is for. Canon royally screwed up what could have been an ever better lens.
it is super sharp though with great colors, at least the one i played with, but just too slow.
misternikko -- To each his own, but not too slow for me. I would prefer a steady f/4 (or faster), but at what price? You seem to feel the 60D/15-85 pictures came out okay though?
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Side note: The 1D2 body arrived from Canon CPS (Gold) repair this afternoon. Not bad -- dropped off at Post Office on Saturday, returned repaired on Wednesday (all Southern CA area). No charge for the repair or return shipping. Service details indicate, ". . .the adjustment of the AF assembly was incorrect causing inaccurate auto focus. Electrical adjustments were carried out on the AF assembly. Product functions were confirmed." Gotta love the CPS service! Just going to review test shots now. . .
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The focus looks pretty good so far. I'll give it some more extensive shooting soon.
I'll give it some more extensive shooting soon.