daddyscar

Nice camera. Hanging on to my old school 5D for now. Griot's Speed Shine is your best fried for getting the dried on caranuba wax off. Their random orbital is also a big time saver. Have three kids myself so killing a day to detail a car isn't much of an option anymore. Polished and waxed a Range Rover Classic SWB that I just picked up in no time.

f4 plt

Great pictures and good looking car. Now to the camera. I have the same lens. I'm thinking of upgrading my original Canon 5 D to the mark II and always interesed in comments before I take the plunge.

I said i had the same lenses but actually the 16-35 is still in the mail from B&H (want a wider lens than my 24-70 for Parade) . I normally keep the 70-200 on my 50D and the wider lenses on the 5 D. Again thanks for any comments you might have on the 5D MkII

LvnTheDrm

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I'm originally from East Coast, so I think I REALLY appreciate being out here--perhaps even more than "natives" can. We're down in SD, which is a great place to raise a family. Good luck in your new spot...If you do come back to SoCal--consider a Cab!

entdoc

For those of you complaining about the time and muscle aches involved in waxing your cars and wheels, I made the switch to Optimum Opti-Seal this year (no affiliation). This is the best stuff I've ever used. Wipe on / wipe off. No buffing. Lasts longer than anything else I've used and water beads like crazy. I've also been using some additional detailing spray from Optimum (I can't recall the name) which gives it a really decent gloss (also wipe on / off). I've used the Opti-Seal on my lobster fork wheels and the easy application is really appreciated there. Hope that helps someone out there.

David

kimf70

F4 PLT

I mistakenly took you for a Nikon F-series user from your log on.
I love the 5D MkII. The good: Picture quality, light weight, relatively compact, full frame. The bad: flimsy battery cover. Some plastic flimsy parts. I was using film (Nikon) until about 3 years ago then got a Canon 10D. I never looked back since. Going from 10D to 5D mkII is a world of a difference. You may have less of a wow factor given your current camera. Most of the time I have the 16-35 2.8L II on the MkII. I returned the 24-105 F4 to BH after trying it out (I need bright lenses). I had the 24-70 2.8 on it for awhile but it is just too heavy. I love the MkII with 16-35 2.8L combo for the type of pictures I take. I do alot of indoor, kids play (mostly my little ones playing) and landscapes. My second favorite lens is the 70-200 2.8 II L. It is such a great all around lens. Only downfall is its weight and size. I can't bring the 70-200 2.8L to a kid's party without becoming the center of attention. It attracts too much attention and is too big.
Last time I checked, 5DMKii was backordered at BH. Try your local bestbuy. I got mine from a local BB last year when it was first launched.

daddyscar

Try the 35mm f/1.4. Great compact lens and you can essentially shoot in the dark with 5D II. Mine was stolen which I replaced with the 50mm f/1.2. The 50 is now on my camera 75% of the time. Just wide enough for most indoor pics and very light and compact compared to the 24-70.

beachview

+1

Fantastic photography

And yes, the clear markers will transform the front end. ( in a good way of course)

f4 plt

I agree with the weight of the 24-70. I keep my 70-200 F2.8 on the 50D all the time and do over 50% of my shots with it. Once I get the 16-35 F2.8 (it is in the mail from B&H) I may get rid of the 24-70. I have given my 50mm 1.4 lens to my daughter and i may also give her the 5 D with the 24-70 and get myself a 5 D MK II and another either 50 F1.2 or better the 85 1.2 either is a great low light lens. Most of my shooting is around sports cars, airplanes and grandchildren, all require fast lens and multi-frame DSLR cameras. By the way anyone going to parade? In spite of the cold should be great for pictures.

bingjeep

Great looking car!!
I am not sure about the sitting/creeper seat but that Rightlook website has some great looking products. Thanks for the link.

kimf70

Just got the side clears installed. I was a bit nervous about slipping in the flathead between the old blinker and the car. It did work out great.

To another topic. I have been looking at the 85mm 1.2. It looks like a great lens. I am concerned about the DOF (depth of field). It has such a narrow field of viewed that I have been a bit reluntant to purchase it. Any thoughts?

allegretto

Did a full wash/clay/polish/wax (sealant) with my Basalt C2S .2 Cab (what a mouthful these model designations have become!)

Stopped using carnuba a couple of cars ago. waaay too difficult to apply/remove and the shine isn't worth it.

my car had some mild swirls, and Basalt shows swirls like crazy in sun or florescent. so after the clay (yeah, i clayed a new car, they get stuff in shipment) i used a cyclo (the best!) and did menzerna's finest polish (thanks Ben) and the swirls were truly almost gone. followed this with Klasse's sealant. extremely easy to use both going on and off.

bottom line, the car shines like crazy and the metallic nature of the Basalt really shows through. the metallic of Basalt seems to me to be the most subtle metallic i've ever owned. and when not properly highlighted just has no pop at all, just looks like dusty black. but this prep did the trick! while it did take all day since each step requires a wash in between (and dry) it really was worth it.

i don't like detailing a car, but this time i was very satisfied. the cyclo is a great tool BTW...

allegretto

unless you're a very serious amateur and do a lot of available light portraits don't bother. i had one. great looking lens for us glass junkies, but not terribly practical. heavy and very limited FOV.

i use the 16-35 L, 24-105L and rarely the 70-200L for just about everything now.

BTW, the side markers will come off by hand if you slide them

daddyscar

It never really hurts to try a lens. Unlike cars, you don't lose your shirt buying new and reselling in a couple weeks. Absolutely love my 85 1.2 II for what it is. It's as wide as you have room to step back (used it to shoot my avatar). It's a portrait lens and great for getting tight shots indoors. You can get some really cool images at f/1.2. Focus can be slow though.

allegretto

i didn't intend to shy away anyone from the lens. and although it does take a little more time for the autofocus to move all that glass, it's still quicker than i would be!

but that shot could be done with any lens of similar length. the real beauty of the 1.2 is the ability of shallowing the DOF to nearly nothing of course. just never found many shots where i 'needed" that. but not a bad effect. and you're quite right, the lens sold on eBay in a heartbeat for about $200 less than i paid from B&H as i recall.

kimf70

My main glasses are 16-35 2.8 II and 70-200 and 2.8 L II. Other lenses are mainly collecting dust. I occasionally use 100 Macro. I've always wanted the 80 mm 1.2. II L. I am not a big fan of flash and the 1.2 appeals to me. I enjoy taking candid shots (facial expressions, kid's parties, etc). 70-200 works well except for its LOUD White bazooka like appearance that frightens/intrigues the kids. I didn't care much for the 24-70. Maybe, my wife will surprise me with the 80 1.2 on Father's day. BH is having a great deal on it these days. I will need to start dropping hints to my wife.

daddyscar
You avatar is fantastic. Great picture.

Allegretto,
Do you have any pics of the basalt black detailed? I would love to see it.