Photography Questions and Tips

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Slats
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by Slats »

Fling Wing wrote:I'm kind of looking at the Nikon D50, but wonder if that older technology is any better then a $400-$500 point and shoot these days.
In my opinion yes, for the simple reason that I feel that the glass hanging off the front of the camera has more to do with quality of shots than the fancy bells and whistles. My 10 megapixel D80 takes better quality shots than my 12 megapixel point and shoot, even with relatively cheap lenses. The point and shoot is great for capturing spur-of-the-moment shots, but I always reach for the D80 when taking "serious" or "artistic" shots. I think you would find that even the "older technology" D50 paired with decent lenses will outperform any point and shoot for serious photography.
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Prairie Chicken
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by Prairie Chicken »

I'm with Slats. If you have any interest in creative photography at all, an SLR is the only way to go! An SLR & associated lenses is something you grow with. Choose your camera maker carefully, as those lenses you buy today as part of your $500 will likely still be with you in 10 years or more even though you may change out the body at some point. When choosing the body, handle it. How it feels in your hand, & how comfortable you feel with the controls is an important factor.

I'm a Nikon person too; you can't go wrong with Nikon.
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by Fling Wing »

Ok, thanks for the advice slats and prairie chicken, SLR it is... when I raise some money.
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squirrely
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by squirrely »

Hello Everyone!

Does anyone have "gently used" equipment their looking to sell? I'm wanting to buy my first DSLR without breaking the bank. Any general advice you could offer me would also be appreciated.

Thanks!
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by Prairie Chicken »

I know I said earlier to go with a DSLR over a point 'n shoot, but the best option is to have both. I carried my little Sony DSC with me everywhere on holidays, and wouldn't have had the Nikon with me when I found this ...
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Rowdy
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by Rowdy »

So I'm lookin for a half decent wide angle prime (canon) and wondering what the best for the cost would happen to be.

I've got the tamron 10-24 f3.5-4.5 on my crop body prettttttyyyy much all the time and when it's not that it's the 50mm f1.4. Figure I'd like something a little bit faster and am considering the 24mm f2.8 or the 28mm f2.8..

Opinions always muchly appreciated...
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enbt
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by enbt »

I've got a friend who is looking to sell a Canon 5D MK2, 24-70 2.8L lens and a few other accessories. He's looking for $3250 or so. PM me for details if interested.
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Lost in Saigon
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by Lost in Saigon »

Rowdy wrote:So I'm lookin for a half decent wide angle prime (canon) and wondering what the best for the cost would happen to be.

I've got the tamron 10-24 f3.5-4.5 on my crop body prettttttyyyy much all the time and when it's not that it's the 50mm f1.4. Figure I'd like something a little bit faster and am considering the 24mm f2.8 or the 28mm f2.8..

Opinions always muchly appreciated...

I used the Canon EF 24mm 2.8 for a while with my 40D. It is a really nice lens with good colour and contrast, but I found it wasn't much faster than my Sigma 17-70mm 2.8-4.5 so I sold it and bought a EF 28mm 1.8

I eventually sold that as well and now use the following lenses with my 7D....

Tokina 11-16mm 2.8, Canon EF 35mm 1.4, Canon EF-S 15-85mm 3.5-5.6, Canon EF 70-200mm 2.8 IS II

I'm very happy with that line-up but might add a Canon 2x II or new 2x III soon.
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Rowdy
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by Rowdy »

Lost.. thanks for the heads up! That does sound like a fantastic line up. Especially the 70-200. I'd like to get my hands on the tokina 11-16 as well. I'll keep my lil 10-24 for now though..

Was the 28mm f1.8 that much of an improvement over the 24mm f2.8 overall?

Ian, thanks for the heads up, but I'm looking almost exclusively at the 7D now.. (ruled out the 60D)
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Lost in Saigon
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by Lost in Saigon »

I have owned the Canon 24mm 2.8, 28mm 2.8, 35mm 2.0 and the old 50mm 1.8 Mk I. They are all very good in terms of image quality, but all share the same basic build quality, and old "Arc Form Drive focus motor. It is pretty quick but also kind of noisy.

The 28mm 1.8 isn't really any sharper, but it has USM autofocus (which is much quieter and allows Full Time Manual focus), is about 1 stop faster, and has a little better build quality.

If you shoot Canon, you can gets tons of good information on all kinds of subjects at http://photography-on-the.net/forum/

I also really like "SLR Gear" for lens reviews: http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/
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Rowdy
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by Rowdy »

Fantastic! Leaning deff now to the 28 f1.8.

Thanks for the links.. an absolute TON of info there.
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all_ramped_up
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by all_ramped_up »

Been at photography for about two years now... Got a Rebel XSi in 2009 and have been loving it.

Especially with all the cool traffic we have through Goose.

Image

Image

Image

I'm now looking at getting something on the wider end... maybe a 30mm range prime? Anyone shoot Canon have any suggestions in that regard?
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Rowdy
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by Rowdy »

Heya E! Nice shots mate. The sigma 30mm f1.4 is pretty fantastic. I got to fool around with one last weekend, and I'm picking up said 28mm f1.8 canon next week!

For everyone else, I'm trying to fund my camera body upgrade and am reluctant to let this go.. but if anyone would like my near new sigma 18-250 f3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM.. it'll go to a happy board member for $500 plus whatever shipping is (or pick up in yvr).
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niss
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by niss »

These were a few I took from Rick's cafe in Jamaica. I like the way these came out but unfortunately I had to crank up the ISO to 1600 so it's grainy as shit. I really need to trade these stock lenses in for some IS.
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niss
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by niss »

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I really liked how these turned out. Anyone have any advice on making sure the horizon is actually level with an SLR? No crosshairs without an EFV. :(
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Prairie Chicken
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by Prairie Chicken »

niss, check your settings to see if you can view gridlines thru your viewerfinder. I have my Nikon set up for thirds, horizontal & vertical and it does help if you're on an unstable platform, a boat for example. Failing that, Photoshop straightens images very nicely.
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by Rowdy »

Nice shots niss!

If you're shooting with a canon.. go into the menu and set up the grid lines and then use live view for some of those tricky shots, at night I usually end up manually focusing too (you can zoom in electronically in livevie and check for perfect focus!). I could shoot up to about 800 ISO before the shots started to get grainy on my T1i.. My new 7D (love it BTW) has an electronic level that has come in handy a bunch of times now. I can get upto about 1600 with it before any grain is noticeable. I still havent figured out how to fix crooked shots in photoshop, so I cant help you there. A monopod/tripod also may be a good idea.

Just a couple from the new cam and gear. I also picked up the 28 f2.8 as I got a screaming deal on it and a lensbaby composer.

Image

Image

Image

Heres a handheld shot in the snow with a high ISO.. IIRC 3200..

Image
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iflyforpie
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by iflyforpie »

I use the viewfinder grid lines on my Nikon, but mine are quarters, not thirds. It mostly just reminds me to make an effort to level the camera (going back through past shots I didn't seem to do that much LOL).


What you got to watch too niss is the distortion of the lens will bend straight lines (most noticeable on zoom lenses). You can see barrel distortion on the flag pole in your second shot of Rick's cafe.

So first, you've got to make sure you don't fixate on trying to level one part of the shot at the expense of the rest. Second, you can correct distortion either post-production or in camera. My Nikon has distortion control, but it really cuts into the image buffer if I am shooting action.
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Geez did I say that....? Or just think it....?
Rowdy
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by Rowdy »

So.. it's time for a good telephoto zoom. I'm stuck between the canon 70-200f2.8 and the f4L with IS. Anyone care to comment? Wish I could afford the 2.8L IS II.... but thats some serious coin and some serious heft..
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Old Dog Flying
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Re: Photography Questions and Tips

Post by Old Dog Flying »

I`ve just purchased the Nikon D5000 kit with the 18-55 and 70-300 mm lenses and still trying to figure out all of the bloody buttons. I upgraded from a Nikon 8700 which I still use for model aircraft photography.

And I have a very oldd Canon AE-1 for sale if you can find 35mm film.

Barney Old Dog learning new tricks
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