Recent content by spjwebster

I can't speak to LR, but I'm happily using my mid-2011 MacBook Air (1.8GHz i7, 4GB RAM) to post process photos using Aperture. That said, the displays on the Air are very sensitive to pressure on the other side of the lid which, being an Air, isn't very thick at all. I had several bright spots...

Inspired by the POTY 2014 technique for January, I dusted off my extension tubes, congratulated myself on not giving in to the temptation to buy a dedicated macro lens, and set about some macro water droplet shots. I hadn't tried these before, but I'm pretty happy with the results. I really...

This is probably my most disappointing photography techniques book purchase to date. The lighting and photography portions are dwarfed by post-processing, so much so that it feels like a Photoshop book with a bit about photography and lighting tacked on to appeal to a wider audience. Of the...

I got my 60D from HDEW 9 months ago, and although it came with a manual it was a PDF printout - two pages per sheet with a giant staple through the middle so you have zero chance of folding it - and with some of the pages out of order. Thankfully I'm not the manual-reading type.

Looks like that was some time ago (Nov 2010), and they've since been bought by Kenko-Tokina: http://www.dpreview.com/news/2011/7/12/cokinbuyout No more recent news of administration for Cokin that I could find, so I wouldn't be too worried about stock.

Having received mine from Cotswold Photo I can say they look remarkably similar, right down to the screen printed bag (albeit the Cotswold Photo one is branded HoBo Lighting). The only difference I could spot is that mine uses snap hooks to attach the inner diffuser rather than poppers. Other...

I've never been really sure of the linking policy here, so I erred on the side of caution. The above link is correct though.

Agreed that they both have their advantages. I often shoot without the capacity for a voice operated light stand, so being able to set my softboxes up and leave them is quite important to me. That's why I opted for the CotswoldPhoto one, despite it being more expensive than the Chinese...

I can't honestly say as I've never had a Phottix. I looked at a bunch of reviews of the Phottix and Apollo on YouTube and wasn't sure the umbrella style was quite what I was looking for. I did the same with the Lastolite Ezybox and was very close to buying one, then I noticed that CotswoldPhoto...

I was recently in the market for a softbox and considered the Phottix, but in the end opted for one from CotswoldPhoto (on eBay) as I've bought a few bits of kit from them before and not been disappointed. Theirs looks to be... umm... inspired by the Lastolite Ezybox, which doesn't have the same...

Thanks Paul. I'm in a very similar situation, having agreed to shoot my sister-in-law's wedding at the end of the month, and am going through much the same prep. Good to hear I'm not necessarily on a path to total failure.

Ah, I missed that bit in the FAQ: That might be a deal breaker for me. I'd be better of sticking with Canon's built-in wireless E-TTL in that case and breaking out the PT-04s for manual mode when line of sight isn't an option. At least, that is, until I can justify some PWs. Thanks Phil.

Has anyone had any hands-on time with these (new, I think) TTL wireless triggers from Hahnel? http://www.hahnel.ie/index.cfm/action/productSearch/pid/121 At £89 for a transmitter and receiver pair I'm really tempted to upgrade from my eBay-special iShoot PT-04s. They've served me well...

I got my 60D body-only from there recently. Great price and fast delivery, but there were a few negatives: - it arrived in a proper Canon box, but one that was for a 60D plus 18-55 kit lens, suggesting they've broken apart a set - it had a home printed unfolded, unbound manual with giant...

FWIW I recently traded in my 55-250mm for a 70-200mm f/4 L. I would do it again in a heartbeat - the difference in image quality is simply staggering. I think I'll eventually upgrade to the IS version, which should be fine as the resale price on these lenses is strong, but for now I'm happy.