Need Volunteers

[lextalionis]

Hey gang,

First, I hope this is appropriate and the correct forum to post. I respect and enjoy this community so be open and honest in your replies.

I’ve decided to provide prospective lens buyers a decent repository of higher resolution sample shots of particular lenses, along with all of the pertinent exif data. This effort is not aimed at a technical review; rather, this effort is to give a short summary of opinions for the lens and a series (~ 5-15) photographs taken with the lens. The reviewing user is giving the ability to directly download a 40% scaled image.

What I am able to offer to potential volunteers:

- Add photographer’s website (business, other, flickr, etc.)
- Add appropriate “artist: name” in the EXIF field of each slide
- Add appropriate “copyright: xyz” in the EXIF field of each slide
- Add image specific information provided by the volunteer (top-right section)
- Add the volunteers plug for the lens on the opening lens review slide (limited to about 4 sentences)
- Do all this and give exposure to roughly 250 unique visits per day based on Google Analytics.

Volunteers can add watermarks or signatures to the photographs if they wish. To participate, the site requires full post-processed jpg images (no less than 1024 longest side and saved with original exif data), photographers name, copyright information, image description (can be different for each image or the same for every image), and your high-level review of the lens for the opening slide.

Here’s my review site:

http://www.motleypixel.com/reviews/index.html

Here are two lenses that Brian Valentine (LordV from Flickr and FM Forums) provided images for so you can see how the presentation works:
http://www.motleypixel.com/reviews/i...%20DG%20Macro/

http://www.motleypixel.com/reviews/i...01-5X%20Macro/

Here's a Nikon review by Jason Stuck: http://www.motleypixel.com/reviews/i...0DX%20Fisheye/

I am fully sponsored by my hosting provider and I have used them for 3 years now. The hosting servers are in Orlando, FL I have unlimited BW and currently about 10gigs of space left. I also live and work here in the Austin area.

So if you have a lens that’s not covered on my site and would like to participate, then please let me know.

Thanks,
-Roy

[DanStar]

Hi Roy,

Great idea. I am like you, a serious hobbiest looking for ways to finance my gear-lust outside the normal family cashflow. So, hope this work out!

I have the Canon EF 24-70 f2.8 and would be happy to volunteer for this.

BTW, I need some advice about the tripod you sold me. First, it is great and I love it. Glad I bought it from you. Second, I was taking some pics w/ a rather heavy telephoto zoom lens (Sigma 70-200 F2.8 HSM) and put the cameral on the tripod in portrait orientation. Although I tighted the base to my Canon 30d very tight the camera still slowing turned downward due to the weight of the lens. The nub on the base, which should prevent this, does not align with the opening on the bottom of the 30d. Do you know if there is another base available from the vendor that aligns with the screw-in and nub opening on the bottom of the 30d? Or, do you have any advice on how to prevent this?

Thanks!

Dan

[lextalionis]

Dan,

I think I know what you are talking about…you mean with the quick-release plate of the Giotto’s ball-head…when attached to the bottom of the 30D the spring-loaded pin doesn’t pop-into anything to mitigate rotation? Hummm…I never had any issues simply because I don’t have any lenses that heavy. This behavior did cross my mind when first attaching it. I would think there would have to be some way around this. I honestly don’t know outside of asking at a camera shop or seeing how a lens collar would work. I will see if I can find some details out in the mean time.

Send me a PM about participating in this lens review project and we can work things out. I suppose I may want to create an ftp account for easy x-fer of the photos.

**Update, I called Precision Video and Camera here in Austin where I purchased the Ball Head and they said that pin is for Video Cameras for aligning them. He said that a tri-pod collar should be used and to be sure to tighten the quick release base down really tightly. The colar will distribute the weight better. Are you using one?

-Roy

[lextalionis]

Anyone still up for this? I've updated my OP with a few people that have already volunteered so you can get the jist of what's going on.

Thank,
Roy