My Lost Camera Returns

[corkyg]

Last June, I went to the Med for a two week cruise, and flew to Athens via Frankfurt from LAX. Due to a lot of circumstances, I apparently left my camera bag containing my EOS 5D, a EF 24-105mm L IS lens, a EF 70-300mm DO IS lens, and a EF 50mm f/1.4 lens, a 580EX flash, two chargers, spare media, polarizing filters, etc., at the TSA screening area at Terminal 4, near Gate 18.

From there it was a long walk with about 4 moving sidewalk segments carrying lots of stuff - helping my wife and her sister. I did not realize I did not have my camera bag.

When time to board the plane came, I then realized I had no camera. I had no time to retrace my steps - bummer! I told the Lufthansa gate person, and they took notes.

Later I contacted my travel agent in L.A. to check with TSA. That did not produce any info. I gave up and bought a Canon S3 IS at the Frankfurt airport in order to finish the photo ops. It did OK, but was no EOS 5D.

Well, when I got back home, I contacted TSALAX by email and was told that they could not find my camera bag, and that it was not in their Lost & Found. So . . . I shrugged, and in August, replaced the 5D with a new one as well as two of the lenses.

Last Friday, I got a phone call from TSALAX Lost and Found. Apparently they did indeed have my bag. They were able to locate me just with my last name, cabin number and sailing date on the Crystal Cruise tag that was on the camera case.

Bottom line - if I would fill out a form (they emailed as a .doc) and give them a FedEx account number, they would send it to me.

So, I got all that done, and this morning - my camera bag and everything in it arrived safely at my front door.

That is a strange saga - and now I have TWO EOS 5Ds and TWO 24-205mm L IS lenses, and TWO 70-300mm DO IS lenses, and two flashes - a 580EX and a 580EX II.

Yeah - and I also have the S3 IS. Such a dilemma.

 

[troytime]

That ROCKS that you got your stuff back!

I know someone looking for a 5d if you want to sell it

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: troytime
I know someone looking for a 5d if you want to sell it

Well, that's something to consider. Email me privately so we don't violate any Anandtech rules.

 

[ElFenix]

wow, i'm honestly amazed that no one walked off with it.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Woohoo! That must be a heavy load off the back.

I'm actually in need of a new flash, and I've been looking at either the 580EX I/II. My current Sigma 500DG Super is really starting to die on me.

 

[corkyg]

Fuzzy - email me privately. This is doable.

 

[alfa147x]

I would buy a flash or a lens off of you but they look expensive.. Hope you can get most of your $$$ back...

 

[foghorn67]

2nd dibs on the 580EX if you decide to sell it.
That is a neat end to sad story.

 

[cthulhu]

Great news. I'm surprised no one walked off with it.

I'd love to get one of the cameras but I know I could never afford it.

 

[kalster]

interested in the 50 1.4

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: kalster
interested in the 50 1.4

Sorry - that's the only lens not duplicated. I love that little guy! Really great for low light work, especially with the 5D where 50mm is 50mm.

 

[Jawo]

What a great resolution to your sad situation! Its good to hear that there are still honest people out there in the world!

I'm hoping to get the 50 1.4 or a flash for birthday/christmas.

 

[PowerRanger]

Wow congrats man. Sounts like TSA really came through this time!

 

[Deadtrees]

That's nice to hear! I even felt the pain when I heard your stories.

Anway, if I were you, I'd sell both of 5Ds and get Nikon D3.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Anway, if I were you, I'd sell both of 5Ds and get Nikon D3.

With an existing array of Canon EOS L lenses (5 of them) - that is not a good option. I already rejected replacing BOTH 5D's with a EOS 1DS MKII, but the large size of the battery pack killed that idea.

Right now I will use both 5D's ready to shoot with different lenses, and always have a good backup. Changing from Canon to Nikon is not an option. My 35mm film camera kit is a Nikon F2AS w/MD11 motor drive and three Nikkor AS lenses. It's an old work horse, but very reliable.

In the digital world, Canon is better than Nikon when it comes to lower noise in high ISO low light work. And the available lens array is better. Next time you watch a sporting event on TV, note that most of the long lenses around the playing area are white.

 

[soydios]

FYI, Nikon makes gray lenses, too. Gray stays cooler in the sun.

But, the reason that all the sports shooters are using Canon right now is that ten-twenty years ago, when the professional world woke up to autofocus, Canon's AF was faster than Nikon's. Canon's AF lenses used a motor inside the lens, but at the cost of having to change mounts to the EOS system. Nikon, on the other hand, chose to retrofit the F-mount with an in-body autofocus system, resulting in slower autofocus, but retained compatibility with almost any F-mount Nikkor lens made in the last forty years. Most sport photographers still use Canon because they bought into the family back then; Nikon was actually the first of the two to go digital.

Now that Nikon's high-end lenses have AF-S, there is no difference in focusing speed. And, with the D3 about to come onto the market, Canon must be slightly concerned, as the current Nikon lineup is better in some ways and equal in most to Canon's. Nikon has always had the best exposure metering and flash systems, but now they've got the best high-ISO noise performance with the D3. And meh, I've always preferred Nikon's ergonomics: making shot-to-shot adjustments is very quick and easy (example: WHY would you put the power button in a place where you have to move your hand away from the shutter release button to turn the camera on?).

But, in all truth, most sports photographers don't sit on forums like these debating details and pixel-peeping. They're out there taking pictures with their equipment!

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: soydios
(example: WHY would you put the power button in a place where you have to move your hand away from the shutter release button to turn the camera on?).

i don't know and it really bugs me that canon didn't fix that oversight in the 40D (i think the power switch is perfect for the 400D, but then you can't put it there on the 40D).


of course, how often does one use the power switch?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: soydios
(example: WHY would you put the power button in a place where you have to move your hand away from the shutter release button to turn the camera on?).

i don't know and it really bugs me that canon didn't fix that oversight in the 40D (i think the power switch is perfect for the 400D, but then you can't put it there on the 40D).


of course, how often does one use the power switch?

People actually use the power switch?

I just set it to on 100% of the time. The camera shuts off by itself after a few minutes of idle and instantly turns on again with a half press of the shutter. Decrease in any battery life is totally negligible.

You know what's weird? I actually accidentally bump the power switch into the off position all the time on my 30D. Looking at the design and placement of the switch, I have no idea how.

 

[corkyg]

Having used the D60, 20D and 5D,I never move my forefinger from the shutter button to turn on the power switch. Either it stays on and then powers off automatically (like Fuzzy says), or I use my right thumb.

 

[Deadtrees]

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Anway, if I were you, I'd sell both of 5Ds and get Nikon D3.

With an existing array of Canon EOS L lenses (5 of them) - that is not a good option. I already rejected replacing BOTH 5D's with a EOS 1DS MKII, but the large size of the battery pack killed that idea.

Right now I will use both 5D's ready to shoot with different lenses, and always have a good backup. Changing from Canon to Nikon is not an option. My 35mm film camera kit is a Nikon F2AS w/MD11 motor drive and three Nikkor AS lenses. It's an old work horse, but very reliable.

In the digital world, Canon is better than Nikon when it comes to lower noise in high ISO low light work. And the available lens array is better. Next time you watch a sporting event on TV, note that most of the long lenses around the playing area are white.

Not anymore. Check out real-world beta sample shots of Nikon D3. Even ISO 25,600 looks quite good.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: Deadtrees

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Anway, if I were you, I'd sell both of 5Ds and get Nikon D3.

With an existing array of Canon EOS L lenses (5 of them) - that is not a good option. I already rejected replacing BOTH 5D's with a EOS 1DS MKII, but the large size of the battery pack killed that idea.

Right now I will use both 5D's ready to shoot with different lenses, and always have a good backup. Changing from Canon to Nikon is not an option. My 35mm film camera kit is a Nikon F2AS w/MD11 motor drive and three Nikkor AS lenses. It's an old work horse, but very reliable.

In the digital world, Canon is better than Nikon when it comes to lower noise in high ISO low light work. And the available lens array is better. Next time you watch a sporting event on TV, note that most of the long lenses around the playing area are white.

Not anymore. Check out real-world beta sample shots of Nikon D3. Even ISO 25,600 looks quite good.

Yup. That's what you get by not cramming so many pixels in a sensor like Canon's 1D and 1Ds MKIIIs. I assume dynamic range is also pretty good.

 

[ElFenix]

i wonder if the 5D Mk II will follow a similar path as the D3 with regards to resolution? keep the 5D at 12 mpix but work on the noise and dynamic range, rather than a repackaged 1Ds MkII. probably not, though. wouldn't want your lower level body out doing your top of the line body, now would you?

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: Deadtrees

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Anway, if I were you, I'd sell both of 5Ds and get Nikon D3.

With an existing array of Canon EOS L lenses (5 of them) - that is not a good option. I already rejected replacing BOTH 5D's with a EOS 1DS MKII, but the large size of the battery pack killed that idea.

Right now I will use both 5D's ready to shoot with different lenses, and always have a good backup. Changing from Canon to Nikon is not an option. My 35mm film camera kit is a Nikon F2AS w/MD11 motor drive and three Nikkor AS lenses. It's an old work horse, but very reliable.

In the digital world, Canon is better than Nikon when it comes to lower noise in high ISO low light work. And the available lens array is better. Next time you watch a sporting event on TV, note that most of the long lenses around the playing area are white.

Not anymore. Check out real-world beta sample shots of Nikon D3. Even ISO 25,600 looks quite good.

for a camera that is out now? and beta sample shots. C'mon now, the Rebel XTi's shots made it seem like a Hassleblad with a 32MP digital back.

 

[corkyg]

Good discussion points. This article deals with a lot of the aforesaid points and conjectures.

Future Looks

Fuzzy: How about posting samples and starting a flash pics thread?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: Deadtrees

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: Deadtrees
Anway, if I were you, I'd sell both of 5Ds and get Nikon D3.

With an existing array of Canon EOS L lenses (5 of them) - that is not a good option. I already rejected replacing BOTH 5D's with a EOS 1DS MKII, but the large size of the battery pack killed that idea.

Right now I will use both 5D's ready to shoot with different lenses, and always have a good backup. Changing from Canon to Nikon is not an option. My 35mm film camera kit is a Nikon F2AS w/MD11 motor drive and three Nikkor AS lenses. It's an old work horse, but very reliable.

In the digital world, Canon is better than Nikon when it comes to lower noise in high ISO low light work. And the available lens array is better. Next time you watch a sporting event on TV, note that most of the long lenses around the playing area are white.

Not anymore. Check out real-world beta sample shots of Nikon D3. Even ISO 25,600 looks quite good.

for a camera that is out now? and beta sample shots. C'mon now, the Rebel XTi's shots made it seem like a Hassleblad with a 32MP digital back.

Have you actually seen the shots? ISO1600 is almost noise free. ISO3200 is incredibly good. ISO6400 a still very good. ISO12800 starts to exhibit the noise that I get with my 30D at ISO1600. ISO25600 is noisy, a bit noisier than my 30D at ISO3200.

http://galleries.daveeinsel.co...est/content/index.html

http://ishootshows.com/2007/09...5600-samples-from-ifa/ (ISO3200 shot in here is a mis-focus - I have NO idea why the person who shot this decided to shoot wide open on a 50mm f/1.4 for these sample shots)