asimplefarmer posted a reply:
yeah I always keep the 5th battery on my sb-800 to get the fastest recycle time possible. doesnt hur that the sb-800 has an optical slave as well!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Deal on Canon 8.0MP Digital Rebel XT SLR Camera
A few days ago, I posted about three entry-level digital cameras for anyone considering getting their first digital camera or just wanting lots of bang for little buck. If that’s not you, and you are looking for more serious hardware, Sears has an upcoming deal on a Canon Digital Rebel XT with 8 megapixels of resolution. This is a substantial camera for the price of $349.99 between December 2 to December 8.
Reply to Canon 580EX II VS Nikon SB-800
jonbradbury posted a reply:
I his profile says he shoots Nikon, which would make the Nikon SB the most sensible bet, unless of course he's planning to move to Canon shortly. It supports full auto on the Nikon, as well as the nikon CLS system.
The Canon 580EX would only work in manual mode, no cls, which means for those facilities, you could buy a much much cheaper manual flash elsewhere.
Reply to Experiments With Active VR
brettm8 posted a reply:
If you already own a VR lens, you could try it yourself.
If you are thinking about buying a VR lens, I can understand why you want to see some tests before parting with your money. If this is your situation, let me know, I'll try to get my wife to take me for a drive to do some more experiments.
Reply to 55-200 mm lens
moviehawk posted a reply:
Yeah, I'm on a budget. Not nearly professional enough that I can afford something really really good.
They're basketball games, so the light is very good. You're right, though....in all the lenses I've looked at, the aperture concerns me.
Edit: Yikes! Yeah, I just looked at the 135 f/2L, and there's no way I can spend $900 on a lens. I would say that the tops I'd spend is $200. I'm just not ready for expensive lenses...yet. But I am very envious that you can have one.
Reply to The 18-200 VR lens? Worth buying ?
patrick|nordilux.com posted a reply:
i had the 18-200 for a while, it is a tad too slow for my taste, I hated how the lens traveled to the extended position by itself when I carried the camera over the shoulder etc.
I think it is a great compromise lens if you don't want to own/change a lot of glass, e.g. for travel. I prefer the output from the 17-55/2.8 but I also really dig the 18-70 DX - great inexpensive lens for travel, going to the beach, light and reasonably sharp etc.
Reply to Using Canon MR-14EX (macro ringflash) for non-macro stuff?
jonbradbury posted a reply:
You may want to check out the Sunpak DX-8R and its larger brother the DX-12R, I've got the 8R
www.flickr.com/photos/jonbradbury/1216665756/
loads of info there, which cost me £50, and sourced a 2nd one for a relative for $50 + shipping, and his was new, whereas mine was new. The 12Rs fetch a bit more over here, but still not into MR-14 money. You have to shoot in manual, but I think that is much less of an issue, if you are shooting similar subjects in similar light/distance, then the settings hardly change.
Reply to Standard Zoom Lens Suggestion?
jameshamiltonphotography posted a reply:
I would lean towards the Tamron as well. IMO I would be hard pressed to purchase a lens that does not have 2.8 throughout the zoom range but I shoot alot of low light stuff.
D300 + 2 Vivitar or go SB
ciordia9 posted a new topic:
So I've dumped..er..passed my Canon gear down to my wife as I get acclimated to the new D300. I feel so out of alignment not having my flash around and after trying every conceivable concept (to me) of getting Canon to work with Nikon, it's just not going to happen.
So I need some new flash gear. (sigh)
This is more for logic check; if I go down the Vivitar/Sunpak lineup I've lost ttl but I can bracket how I want. Which, correct me if I'm wrong, we bracket manually more times than not. Can I still run this with an off-camera cord or is it better to use the PC cord as the off camera cord? I like to hold my flashes instead of attaching them to a (strobo)frame.
The other side of the coin is to go back into CLSville with probably a SB600 for now and pick up an 800 later, probably another 600 after that. If using these guys can I override CLS with PC/cacti/PW?
Trying to find the best future path and I keep getting mired in the final understanding (probably that and looking at that SB800 price tag makes my mouth dry out).
What Pros/Cons am I dealing with that I'm not seeing?
Thoughts appreciated,
-a
Reply to D40 - unknown button on front side!
surfzone posted a reply:
No, it is not the button to release the lens, which is in the left side of the camera. This one (my D40X also has it) is on the right side:
(Please excuse me for the picture quality, it is taken with my cell phone for illustration purposes only).
Reply to Canon vs Nikon
Arne (NL) posted a reply:
But short shutter times in dark enviroment means high iso. I see most pics here are low iso high shutter times.
So, some examples of high iso dark enviroment on the D40 (not that good camera, few focus points... damnit)....
Lens: Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 HSM, Exposure: 1/30s, ISO 800
Lens: Sigma 30mm f/1.4 HSM, Exposure: 1/50s, ISO 800
Lens: Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 HSM, Exposure: 1/25s, ISO 800
Reply to The 18-200 VR lens? Worth buying ?
superyann posted a reply:
Regarding the lenses you already have, don't waste money to buy that 18-200, it does not worth it. (that's been my first lens).
If lens swapping bores you, you might use a bridge.
Reply to Getting ready to buy a Dslr
salamandertome posted a reply:
I definitely think you should hold off buying the 12-24mm - a new DSLR and one lens will give you plenty to occupy yourself, and 18mm is pretty wide; I dont think you will encounter many situations in your first few months where you miss 12-17mm! Especially not if you have two functioning legs.
Keep you mind open about the 18-135mm, its an OK lens, but better are available. You might find you want a faster lens, like the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 - be prepared for this and that this will mean selling the 18-135mm.
As pointed out the 50mm f1.8 is a "no brainer" in terms of value - dont think I would recommend not having a zoom to someone who is used to only having a zoom.
Try not to get into a mindset that you are spending a lot of cash on a kit that will last 5 years and thats it - for most people its a process of evolution, your needs, knowledge and interests will change. Hold off the 12-24mm, it doesnt mean you cant still buy it, but you might decide you'd rather have something else with a bit of experience under your belt. And have fun!
Camera Watch: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Hands-On Review
I dread falling into a techhead mode, but this Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Hands-On Review video was too funny not to post. One thing that instantly made me chuckle is the porno music and the visual inspection of the sensor which by appearance clearly demonstrates how great it is. All teasing aside if you’ve never unwrapped a Canon 1 body this is a must see. I have to admit I found the comparison of the 1Ds Mark III and 1Ds Mark II useful. Enjoy…
Technorati Tags: Canon, EOS 1Ds Mark III, review, hands-on, comparison, 1Ds Mark III, 1Ds Mark II, photography, dSLR, camera
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Reply to Lens Lubrication
OldUncleMe posted a reply:
I read an article about watch repair -- the old multi-jewel movements. It wound up being a very esoteric story about having a separate lubricant for each various type of use. One watch took like 4 or 5 different ones. This person was totally into the mechanical knowledge required to repair interesting old watches, and talked about it like everyone would know all of the ins and outs.
Even so, I wouldn't feel too out of place using something like a graphite or teflon grease to lube a lens mechanism, but maybe it bears looking into more: there are groups specific to lens repair; maybe it's in a faq.
/..
Reply to what lens is she using ?
Mute* posted a reply:
It's not the Sigma 30mm, that has no writing on the front.
From what we can see it looks like the 50mm f1.4.
Reply to Nikon vs. Canon
Dean Holtz posted a reply:
For me, better reviews, better handling, more user friendly. Also, Nikon is a world leader in optics. I know this because I used to make glasses and the only other manufacturer that compares to Nikon for optics is Carl Zeiss.
Nikon uses CCD so the colours are usually more vibrant than the CMOS on the Canons, but the CMOS definitely performs better in low light. Funny, the new D300 and D3 have gone to CMOS.
I am totally a Nikon Nerd!
Here's one to chew on though, the Rebel XT has the potential fo a screw to come loose inside and Canon will NOT cover the cost of damages caused to internal parts...yet another reason why I buy Nikon.
Lastly, most pros I have ever come across and most SLR users I have come across use Nikon. I was at the Toronto Zoo this summer and 80% of the SLR's that I saw were Nikons...Boo-Yah!
Reply to what lens is she using ?
Mute* posted a reply:
It's not the Sigma 30mm, that has no writing on the front.
From what we can see it looks like the 50mm f1.4.
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Reply to Problems focusing
rich_gersh posted a reply:
Which lens do you mean when you say "standard lens?" Also, I think you're mistaken when you say "macro shots."
If by "macro shots" you mean "close up," then you should check your focus distance. You may be trying to focus on an object closer than the lens's closest focusing distance.
If by "standard lens" you mean any of the kit lenses (18-55, 18-70, 18-135 or 18-200 VR), you should understand that none of these are macro lenses (actually, micro is a more accurate term, but I'll get into that later).
Try backing up and putting more distance between you and your subject.
What most people mean when they say "macro," is actually "close up photography." Macro photography means creating a image-to-actual-size ratio greater than 1:1. In other words, the image on the sensor is greater than the actual subject. That is why Nikkor calls its close up lenses "Micro Nikkors," because the greatest reproduction ratios they create are 1:1.
Close up photography does require special tools, but they don't necessarily need to be expensive. You could get some close up filters to screw onto your existing lenses, reverse a 50mm lens onto the end of one of your existing lenses, or get yourseslf a dedicated micro lens like the Tamron 90 or Nikkor 105 VR.
Edit: Also, it would help if you allow others to view your stream so we can view the image in its original size.
Reply to Speedlite 430EX vs Popup Flash - Basic Comparison Shots
Daniel Greene posted a reply:
Depending on the length and width of the lens, the difference can be more dramatic. With big lenses like the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM, you need an external flash to get over the "hump" of the lens so you don't see the shadow of the lens at the bottom of the photo.
You can see the convex curved shadow at the bottom of the frame in the photo below, even though I used a LumiQuest SoftScreen to soften the shadow (and I cropped some of the bottom of the photo):
I find an external Speedlite to be essential whenever I'm using the larger lenses; it's just a matter of whether or not I'm willing to carry the extra weight of both the heavy lens and the heavy Speedlite 430EX.
Reply to new lens....how to chk for errors
kapowdude posted a reply:
A 70 - 300 vr as a first lens? That's an unusual choice.
Check to make sure that there are no chips in the lens (invest in a UV filter), the focusing and the VR work. You should also make sure the focusing and zooming are smooth.
Reply to Canon DSLR body without AF and light metering
artistgmg posted a reply:
The cost of the autofocus system is probably negligible since that technology has been around since the late 70's/early 80's maybe even earlier. What you are really paying for in a DSLR is the sensor chip and the on-board computer that manages the display and all of the other functions besides autofocus (exif data, histograms, etc..)
Reply to Speedlite 430EX vs Popup Flash - Basic Comparison Shots
Daniel Greene posted a reply:
Depending on the length and width of the lens, the difference can be more dramatic. With big lenses like the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM, you need an external flash to get over the "hump" of the lens so you don't see the shadow of the lens at the bottom of the photo.
You can see the convex curved shadow at the bottom of the frame in the photo below, even though I used a LumiQuest SoftScreen to soften the shadow (and I cropped some of the bottom of the photo):
I find an external Speedlite to be essential whenever I'm using the larger lenses; it's just a matter of whether or not I'm willing to carry the extra weight of both the heavy lens and the heavy Speedlite 430EX.
Reply to Final Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM question then I shut up
scubapup posted a reply:
proper shooting technique is important no matter what you do
too many variables on your end for you to say that the 1/focal length etc formula is junk, i could certainly take a blurry picture even if my shutter speed was several magnitudes faster than my focal length and all that even if i have the fanciest IS in the world
Reply to Speedlite 430EX vs Popup Flash - Basic Comparison Shots
Daniel Greene posted a reply:
Depending on the length and width of the lens, the difference can be more dramatic. With big lenses like the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM, you need an external flash to get over the "hump" of the lens so you don't see the shadow of the lens at the bottom of the photo.
You can see the convex curved shadow at the bottom of the frame in the photo below, even though I used a LumiQuest SoftScreen to soften the shadow (and I cropped some of the bottom of the photo):
I find an external Speedlite to be essential whenever I'm using the larger lenses; it's just a matter of whether or not I'm willing to carry the extra weight of both the heavy lens and the heavy Speedlite 430EX.
what will this lens fit
ultracameo posted a reply:
I have the 17-55mm nikkor and love it. The build is much better compared to third party lenses and the pictures are amazing. Spend the extra $ and you wont regret it.
Canon PowerShot SD1000
My mother was likely be the last person to move to digital age of photography, but moved she has. I bought her a new PowerShot for Christmas and gave it to her early so she’d have it for both holidays … and immediately regretted it.
Not that the camera was a bad purchase. I bought it because I went with a PowerShot a few years ago when I purchased digital and felt I could easily help her through the features. What I hated was that now my mother has a better camera than I! My old PowerShot is too large to slip into my back or shirt pocket, it has less than half the features and megapixels.
Now I have to talk myself into not spending another $200 to replace my camera.
Reply to (Need advise) Canon 50mm f1.4 or Sigma 30mm f1.4?
BoldPuppy posted a reply:
Photozone has this review of the 30mm sigma.
We all know that zoom lenses are compromises regarding speed and performance but we expect fix-focals to perform better than that. Sigma AF 30mm f/1.4 EX HSM DC may perform pretty good in absolute terms but for a fix-focal the lens disappoints a little. The center performance is exceptionally high but the borders are not all that impressive. The other image parameters such as distortions, vignetting and CAs are Okay but nothing to rave about. So at the end of the day the only differentiator is its ultra-large aperture - it's up to you whether this is good enough compared to classic 28mm or 35mm lenses.
Reply to Which of my lenses shoudl I take to China and India?
Peafowl posted a reply:
I think you will do just fine with the Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS. Staying low profile is important in both these countries. If you are planning on doing candids and landscapes this lens will suffice most of the time. Take a small prime lens just in case. And make sure you pack enough cleaning equipment as dust is a major problem over there. I'dnt recommend leaving any valuables in the hotel unless it's a high end hotel.
Themes, assignments, ... are you pro or con?
Tavisor posted a new topic:
At some point one of our fellow Canon DSLR users was looking for inspiration. Seeing the thread it gave me an idea that I mentioned once before in a thread dedicated to something else.
What if we had a weekly theme? No contests, no grades, no comparisons between photos but just people posting photos (and maybe relevant parts of the EXIF data for others to learn from it) related to a theme.
Reply to what lens is she using ?
DSLR_mania posted a reply:
She takes a lot of people pictures, the camera looks like a 5D , could the lens be identified by the pictures?
Canon powershot digital camera
Robert Seber posted a reply:
Personally:
Canon:
MP-E65mm 5x macro lens
Well established full-frame capability
Nikon:
Creative lighting system
VR macro lens
Compatibility with Fuji S5 high dynamic range sensor
Overall I'd go with Canon again.
Reply to Canon or Nikon?
Robert Seber posted a reply:
Personally:
Canon:
MP-E65mm 5x macro lens
Well established full-frame capability
Nikon:
Creative lighting system
VR macro lens
Compatibility with Fuji S5 high dynamic range sensor
Overall I'd go with Canon again.
Reply to Comparison between lens side by side different trademark, looking for
black_wolf posted a reply:
try www.photozone.de he's done a lot of reviews and comparison tests on a wide range of lenses
Canon A720 IS Digital Camera
Canon A720 IS Digital Camera
ABC News
Digital cameras, with light sensors the size of your pinky nail, have spurred the phenomenon of camera as fashion item. Many manufacturers — Canon included — are churning out pocket-size cameras in designer colors, with Wi-Fi connectivity, big screens for showing pictures to your friends.
The pictures from these cameras, frankly, often stink. But their buyers don’t terribly mind. They’re looking for the snapshot they can post on Facebook or MySpace.
So, what do you do if you don’t have the four-digit budget for a really serious camera with interchangeable lenses but you still want to take decent photos — you know, real pictures? That’s where Canon’s A Series comes in.
The A720 IS is a case in point: 8 megapixels, a 6x zoom lens with macro capability, image stabilization, face detection, and it lets you override the automatic settings when you want.
It does not have a built-in mp3 player, cell phone, address book, Web browser, or key chain. It comes in silver. It’s designed for taking pictures.
And they’re not bad. Canon is one of the holdouts for an optical viewfinder, useful if you want to hold the camera steady against your forehead, or not have to squint at the LCD screen in bright sunlight.
The camera has a hand grip on the right side and cleverly runs on AA batteries. If you’re far from home and forgot to recharge, you can run into any drugstore for replacements.
Other models in the A series — the A650, 640 and 630, for instance &#`151; have a wonderful feature, which is gradually disappearing: the LCD screen is mounted so it can tilt and swivel. Want to take a shot of your cat? Bend down, twist the screen upward and you can shoot at cat’s-eye level — for a much more interesting picture.
One last feature: The A Series is for the budget-minded. Street price is around $200, and other models can be had for less.
Reply to Lens hire in Melbourne
phunkdust posted a reply:
Although the choice of Canon lenses there is quite limited... the prices are good though and availability is often good.
Michaels have a few more but their fees are daylight robbery.
Also Baltronics has Canon lenses, but I cant remember if they're still doing business in Melbourne or not
Canon A720 IS Digital Camera
Canon A720 IS Digital Camera
ABC News
Digital cameras, with light sensors the size of your pinky nail, have spurred the phenomenon of camera as fashion item. Many manufacturers — Canon included — are churning out pocket-size cameras in designer colors, with Wi-Fi connectivity, big screens for showing pictures to your friends.
The pictures from these cameras, frankly, often stink. But their buyers don’t terribly mind. They’re looking for the snapshot they can post on Facebook or MySpace.
So, what do you do if you don’t have the four-digit budget for a really serious camera with interchangeable lenses but you still want to take decent photos — you know, real pictures? That’s where Canon’s A Series comes in.
The A720 IS is a case in point: 8 megapixels, a 6x zoom lens with macro capability, image stabilization, face detection, and it lets you override the automatic settings when you want.
It does not have a built-in mp3 player, cell phone, address book, Web browser, or key chain. It comes in silver. It’s designed for taking pictures.
And they’re not bad. Canon is one of the holdouts for an optical viewfinder, useful if you want to hold the camera steady against your forehead, or not have to squint at the LCD screen in bright sunlight.
The camera has a hand grip on the right side and cleverly runs on AA batteries. If you’re far from home and forgot to recharge, you can run into any drugstore for replacements.
Other models in the A series — the A650, 640 and 630, for instance &#`151; have a wonderful feature, which is gradually disappearing: the LCD screen is mounted so it can tilt and swivel. Want to take a shot of your cat? Bend down, twist the screen upward and you can shoot at cat’s-eye level — for a much more interesting picture.
One last feature: The A Series is for the budget-minded. Street price is around $200, and other models can be had for less.
Reply to Lens hire in Melbourne
phunkdust posted a reply:
Although the choice of Canon lenses there is quite limited... the prices are good though and availability is often good.
Michaels have a few more but their fees are daylight robbery.
Also Baltronics has Canon lenses, but I cant remember if they're still doing business in Melbourne or not
Canon A720 IS Digital Camera
Canon A720 IS Digital Camera
ABC News
Digital cameras, with light sensors the size of your pinky nail, have spurred the phenomenon of camera as fashion item. Many manufacturers — Canon included — are churning out pocket-size cameras in designer colors, with Wi-Fi connectivity, big screens for showing pictures to your friends.
The pictures from these cameras, frankly, often stink. But their buyers don’t terribly mind. They’re looking for the snapshot they can post on Facebook or MySpace.
So, what do you do if you don’t have the four-digit budget for a really serious camera with interchangeable lenses but you still want to take decent photos — you know, real pictures? That’s where Canon’s A Series comes in.
The A720 IS is a case in point: 8 megapixels, a 6x zoom lens with macro capability, image stabilization, face detection, and it lets you override the automatic settings when you want.
It does not have a built-in mp3 player, cell phone, address book, Web browser, or key chain. It comes in silver. It’s designed for taking pictures.
And they’re not bad. Canon is one of the holdouts for an optical viewfinder, useful if you want to hold the camera steady against your forehead, or not have to squint at the LCD screen in bright sunlight.
The camera has a hand grip on the right side and cleverly runs on AA batteries. If you’re far from home and forgot to recharge, you can run into any drugstore for replacements.
Other models in the A series — the A650, 640 and 630, for instance &#`151; have a wonderful feature, which is gradually disappearing: the LCD screen is mounted so it can tilt and swivel. Want to take a shot of your cat? Bend down, twist the screen upward and you can shoot at cat’s-eye level — for a much more interesting picture.
One last feature: The A Series is for the budget-minded. Street price is around $200, and other models can be had for less.
Reply to Lens hire in Melbourne
Serge Marx posted a reply:
yep they do indeed. Turn left at Michaels, up lonsdale (towards queen) and look out for the sign.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Reply to Canon 580EX - Hi Speed Sync in Manual Mode?
mortonphotographic posted a reply:
Yeah I know! That is the worst part. I have found that simply shading the red IR sensor cover in the receiving helps out with that a lot. I also point my on-camera flash at the off-camera flash when it is set to no contribute.
Beginner-ish Canon shooter - what should I buy?
mjpatey posted a new topic:
Hi, group-
I've been silently reading the blog for a while now, and have tried various DIY-style workarounds to get nice lighting. Just today, I bought a 1,000-Watt dual-head halogen worklamp, which I was going to diffuse with a white sheet or something. Well, even without diffusion, it's not nearly bright enough. With my Canon Digital Rebel XTi and the Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens, I shot at f/3.2, ISO 400, and my exposures were around 1/40 second. Just not enough light, about 3 stops shy of what I'd like. I'd love to shoot at f/5.6, ISO 100-200, with a shutter speed of around 1/100 or so.
So... I think I'm ready to bite the bullet and get a couple of flash units.
I'll back up a tad and explain specifically what I want to do... at first, I'm hoping to shoot my own family portrait in my living room in the evening. Down the road, maybe more.
Can I do something nice for $700-800? I'm thinking I'll need 2 flash units, with some sort of diffusion for each, stands, mounting hardware, etc. Or, alternately, would a single nice off-camera flash with diffusion work, if I add a big reflector to cover the opposite side?
I'm just trying to get something I can start and learn with and immediately get decent results without breaking the bank, but something I can grow with and add to later.
Am I being realistic? If you were in my position, what would you buy?
Thanks for any insight you may have!
-Mark
Reply to Digital age and lens buying compulsion?
iomarch posted a reply:
You're right, nothing wrong with that. I think it's better to start with the 50/1.8 rather than the kit lens for sure. It just confuses me when people buy the kit - the whole point of SLR is to be able to pick the lenses, so why just take what it comes with instead of picking? But I have nothing major against the kit lens, just seems a poor choice to stick on a $600 body. But maybe that's cuz I don't like using flash.
Just seems to me like if you really wore out your point and shoot then you'd have a somewhat decent idea of what you want to photograph, so it makes sense in my mind to think about how that translates in terms of lens choice before buying rather than the "get the kit and figure it out" mentality.
Reply to Jumping ship to the D300
f8onmyside posted a reply:
You guys are making me so want the D300 even MORE, if that was possible! But I'm sticking to my plan of buying one of the new 2.8 lenses and holding out for the d300 for a few months...I think I'm going to have to give my credit card to a friend so I don't click 'buy' in a weak moment, hehe.
cosmolito - I just returned from the UK yesterday. The exchange rate coming from the US was horrifying. Why not hop a plane and pick up a d300 at B&H in NYC? Everyone should see B&H at least once anyway ;)
Seriously, enjoy the D300. I don't blame you for keeping up with this group. It rocks.
Reply to Digital age and lens buying compulsion?
iomarch posted a reply:
We hear about these shopping sprees more now that we're connected to more people online than we were before. I'm sure there were many lens gulpers before, but it was less likely your average hobbyist would know one. Now we can see all those "I bought 49304 lenses" posts on these forums and it makes us want a little too...
I spent a lot of time with advanced point and shoot so that by the time I was ready for SLR, I already knew exactly what I wanted and didn't want, so why not get everything in a short period of time? I don't think buying a lot of lenses is pure consumerism unless you're doing it not from experience or research but to keep up with the Jonses.
It's always bothered me that beginners are adviced to start with the kit lens. I don't think it's always a good idea. If the kit lens disappoints, then it could well be the end of their attempt to learn photography, or they'll just have to buy another better lens and sit on a kit lens that gathers dust and has no resale value. If you're really so basic that you'd benefit from using the kit lens, why not just start with an advanced point and shoot you can get for half the price? By the time you're through with the p&s, you'll have learned that no one lens can do it all...
Reply to Lens dilemma
littlehudit posted a reply:
I use my 18-200 mm mostly for travel as it's fairly lightweight and gives me a nice wide focal range. It isn't a fast lens and doesn't give the same quality and sharpness as my 17-55mm f/2.8, but the VR is great when travelling because you don't have to lug a tripod around unless you're shooting in low light. I also have a 50 mm prime lens which is a nice compliment to the 18-200 mm. For what you are looking to shoot, though it may not be the best choice. Splurge and buy the Nikon 17-55 f/2.8.
Canon HG10 Review at Videomaker
Videomaker reviews the Canon HG10 camcorder in their December issue. In summary, the reviewer found the HG10 to produce great quality video in different lighting situations, and auto-focus and auto white balance were spot on. Really the only things mentioned that were not liked were the lack of a manual focus ring and manual audio [...]
Canon HG10 Review
Videomaker reviews the Canon HG10 camcorder in their December issue. In summary, the reviewer found the HG10 to produce great quality video in different lighting situations, and auto-focus and auto white balance were spot on. Really the only things mentioned that were not liked were the lack of a manual focus ring and manual audio [...]
Canon HG10 Review at Videomaker
Videomaker reviews the Canon HG10 camcorder in their December issue. In summary, the reviewer found the HG10 to produce great quality video in different lighting situations, and auto-focus and auto white balance were spot on. Really the only things mentioned that were not liked were the lack of a manual focus ring and manual audio [...]
This Week In Digital Camcorder News
Sony HVR-Z7U and HVR-S270U Camcorders4K Resolution ComparisonsCanon HR10 Review at CNETAnother DIY Green ScreenAdobe Photoshop Express Beta Coming This YearOptronics Microcast HD is 1080P and 4 OuncesJVC GZ-MG555 Review at Videomaker
Reply to Canon or Nikon?
rippo posted a reply:
Fuji S5. you can use nikon mount lenses, and still not look like a canon/nikon lemming.
Reply to Final Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM question then I shut up
Andreas Helke posted a reply:
a lot of portraits and landscape photos with shutter speeds that are too long for handholding.
Here is one with 28mm taken with 1/13 seconds f3.5 ISO 1600:
Reply to Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC MACRO
mantras siva posted a reply:
yes thanks
i knew the links
i know canon is the best
but my question is the sigma so inferior, lesser, lower about optics performance then the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L
and Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC MACRO is an EF or EF-s ? does it work with full format too?
Reply to Final Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM question then I shut up
Art- posted a reply:
I think Image Stabilization in normal range lenses is a gimmick being pushed on the consumer to entice them to purchase slow lenses that don’t (by the way), even keep up with the auto focus capabilities of the cameras they are mounted on. IS on an 18-55 lens is about as ridiculous as it gets, next I suppose we’ll start seeing it on the 10-22. I know we all have different needs and capabilities but there is never an excuse for consistent bad technique, after all an almost sharp image is never acceptable. I do have IS on some of my longer lenses, but do not miss it in any lens under 200mm. Fast lenses that take advantage of your cameras design, solid shooting technique and the ever improving IQ at higher ISO’s will give you the same results.
Do We Need a Literary Canon?
In earlier ages, there were men who were recognised by their contemporaries as among the supreme imaginations of all time. The people who first entered Chartres Cathedral or looked up at the ceiling of the Sistine chapel or heard Beethoven's 9th knew that they were at the birth of creations that equalled and perhaps surpassed anything of their kind that had gone before. That is not an experience that has been available to anyone in the last 100 years. (There is one 20th-century megastar, Albert Einstein, but he is not an artist.) None the less, modernism was a mighty creative force, and 50 years ago people still felt that there were giants upon the earth: Picasso, Stravinsky, Eliot, Le Corbusier. Perhaps not all these reputations will stand the test of time, but the question is one of perception. Our age lacks living cultural heroes, and it should be no surprise if this leads some commentators to lay more weight on our inheritance from the past—that is, on the canon.
Another reason for canon anxiety may be a feeling that the political and media elite have either lost interest or lost their nerve. . . .
Canon SD870 IS
The Real Bear posted a reply:
Ignore the rather rude remarks above. Some people just don't remember that they were once "ignorant" and "annoying" too (and some of them probably still are!).
Personal view is get the battery grip. Do you really need a 40D? Probably not, but a battery-grip (and maybe a good lens, as suggested above) will make it far easier to do portrait-oriented shots.
Reply to New Camera
blooper posted a reply:
yes, it greatly depends on the type of photos you shoot. there are several topics on lenses and such in this group. take some time and browse them.
Reply to Canon 580's vs. Vivitar 285's
lightzoneindia posted a reply:
@nadtz
Any specific reason that you would prefer Metz & auto mode over canon's ETTL.
I am just trying to make my1st set of strobes & have bought 580EXII as of now & have been experimenting with borrowed 580ex from a friend.
I have 2 choices either use ETTL & stick with canon or go vivitar 285HV/metz in auto mode.
Mainly I would be using this for studio still life, shooting interiors & location portraits. The best thing about ETTL with my 40D is that I can control all A:B:C via camera menu without walking up to the lights.
Reply to What am I'm missing??? More lights, better lens, better flash,?????
mtreinik posted a reply:
Folks, I'm a bit off topic with this, but wouldn't it be common courtesy to do make-overs of others' photos only when explicitly requested? They are his photos, his copyright etc, you know.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Focus points for landscape shots?
*Lemon posted a new topic:
I'm quite an amateur at photography and have some general questions about focus points. I'll try to make it sound simple and I'm using a Canon 20D with a Canon 17-55mm f/2.8 as my primary lens at the moment.
1. When shooting a general landscape with no real focus point i.e the whole scene is the focus point whats the best way to utilize the Canon 20Ds focus points "AF point"?
Would just using the center focus point be best or would using all 9 focus points be best to make sure everything is in focus?
2. I'm just confused what area is in focus if using the one center focus point.
3. When taking a picture where theres 2 main focus points i.e maybe someone standing in front of a mountain range and I want the whole scene to be in focus with no bokeh. What focus points should I use?
I know using a aperture of maybe f16 would make the whole scene in focus but what focus point should I use? Just the center point or all 9 AF points? Or is manual focus the answer?
Thanks for any help!
Reply to Canon 18-55IS or 18-55 USM
Tavisor posted a reply:
I vote with Andreas and Monkey.
IS is much better optically than the non IS or the 17-85mm as far as I could read the charts.
Reply to Canon 18-55IS or 18-55 USM
Jayanth Sharma posted a reply:
I honestly find it very funny to see them provide Image Stabilization for such a lens.
While traveling recently, i met a canon evangelist who told me, sometimes they have to do all such funny things to please the end users who not necessarily know what is a requirement and what is not at times.
This issue was discussed in detail and the consensus was:
Most amatuers like us, are not reviewing our pictures sensibly. We see photographs being soft/blurred and we ask for Image Stabilizers. In fact we would be shooting at funny situations where the exposure would be so slow that the blur/shake/softness would be because of the long exposure. We immediately exaggerate the role of Image Stabilizer, make it larger than life and assume that we would get razor sharp images with IS even if we are shooting at 1/10th of a second hand held!!!
You are right my friend, dont waste 4 or 5K unnecesarily.
Olympus digital camera - spy camera (Printing:)
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Samsung D830: Organize Your Personal And Business Life
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Thriftster: November 26 - 29
Spent all your cash on girlie drinks and shattered dreams again this weekend, didn’t you? No worries - Thriftster gives you the lowdown on cheap stuff to do until Paycheck Friday. Monday: Movie…, treat your music loving self to cheap food at Mai’s (3403 Milam). Wednesday: Sure you could get…: Calling all camera nerds - head over to the Houston Center for Photography for Open Digital Darkroom Lab night ! Scan, print and Photoshop to your heart’s content for $7/hour and $0.05/inch printing
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Reply to Is the kit lens really as bad as people say?
Miss Emily goes bananas posted a reply:
I use the kit lens all the time. The 50mm drives me crazy becuase I have to stand so far away from what I'm shooting. And I do a lot of SP's and it's next to impossible to do handheld with the 50mm. I tried to have someone take a picture of me on a couch in a small living room and they were backed up against the wall trying to get the person sititng right next to me in the picture completely.
If I want an alternative to the kit, that you don't have to back way up to shoot, what would that be? Wide angle? I am interested in that I think.
I'm still looking through more discussion threads, I may have mssed a relevant one...but most say to buy the 50mm or something similar. I want something wider than 50mm, I just don't know how wide. And I don't need telephoto, just a little zoom.
yes yes...another lens question
tomjgibbs posted a new topic:
got the kit lens, got the fab fifty 1.8, so now what?
I'm looking at going to east asia next year, so my budget isnt too high, but i want some nice glass to take with me.
im not sure whether to go for the wide angle for the lovely landscapes there, as i already have the 50mm for portraits?
and the kit lens is fucking awful, but as my budget is £300 max, maybe i should deal with it and go for the wide angle?
tell me what you think.
Reply to Telephoto Lens Recommendation...
Ian_Leyland posted a reply:
Best value for money would in my opinion would be the 70-300 Af-S VR, as long as you have reasonable light you'll get good photos. I use it mainly for kids sports. This shot was taken at 145mm, at the full 300 the focus isn't quite as sharp. The VR works really well, with my previous 55-200 kit lens (no VR) it was essential to use a monpod. With VR you can get away without one.
Reply to MB-D80
fishing4me posted a reply:
I love added balance you have with another battery... It really makes using longer lenses that much easier.
Reply to OT: Telephoto zoom Lens
eduardo_frances posted a reply:
the advantage goes for the 75-300mm USM for two reasons
It has USM -ultrasonic motor- it will focus somewhat faster, and quality control, Sigma and Tamron have some serious with sample variation -front focus, back focus, de centered elements, etc-
Even when Sigma and Tamron want to label those lenses as macro they aren't true macro lenses.
My experience with sigma lenses is very bad i worked at an studio where they had the Sigma 10-20mm and 18-50mm f/2.8 EX. the 10-20mm vigneting was weirdly more darker on the upper corner and had a very ugly geometric distortion - it looked like the step of a ladder in the borders, not a gradual spherical distortion- and the 18-50mm misfocused all the time, and at f/2.8 it was ugly soft....
Hope it helps :)
Reply to WARNING - cactus/e-bay triggers affect CMOS sensors.
Grafic House posted a reply:
I use my 5D for commercial work, if sheilding in general is an issue and I use it on a job where there is a lot of RF and i don't realise this till after the job I'm gonna lose work for bad quality images.
Canon's gonna start getting nasty letters from people.
OT: Telephoto zoom Lens
rfdphoto posted a new topic:
I'm trying to pick up an additional lens to bulk up my focal range. (so far all i have is a 17-85mm and a 50mm). I'm going on a trip for about 13 days and was thinking about renting some L gass, but for about the same price I could just buy a new lens - though no L glass sadly.
I'm looking at the Canon 75-300mm iii USM, the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro, and the Tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD 1:2 Auto Focus Macro. I know that none of these are amazing lenses but this is what is in the budget at the present time.
My price range is as close to or under $200 as possible. I can pay a little extra for shipping but I'd like to stay close to $200.
I've used the 1st generation Canon 75-300mm before and got pretty good results but haven't touched any others. As of right now I'm leaning towards the Sigma.
I'm interested in people's experiences and opinions.
Go ahead everyone - hit me back with your wisdom.
Vegas Through the Eye (lens) of Eric Manthley
Eric Manthley of Vid2R just uploaded this video recapping his experiences at the NAR event. Well done video…have a look:
Reply to Canon vs Nikon
digi.film posted a reply:
great image!! was that hand held with IS on? have been considering that lens as a 'near' future purchase. have never owned a Sony camera, but everything else I've ever bought that had the Sony badge on it never lasted for very long. just my .02 on that issue.
Reply to Which lens would you spend £450 on?
luny posted a reply:
Sigma 30mm 1.4 is relatively cheap not sure in the UK but equiv of about 200-250GBP here in Aust. I know some guys who have it and they love it.
Canon EOS digital rebel XTi aka EOS 400D
I just bought a new camera and I’d thought to share my opinion with you guys to help you decide what you want and when.
I always get a lot of help from sites like this in deciding if I want to buy the item of my desires 
So, I just bought the Canon EOS Rebel XTi or the Canon EOS 400d, why?
Well, I had an point and shoot digital camera, also one of the higher ranking ones in the commercial market, the Canon Powershot G3, this was a very satisfying camera until I got to the limits of the zoom and focus system. I’m the kind of guy that walks and Cycles around with the camera in the back of his bag and stops to shoot nice pics anywhere. Now is the range and flexibility of a Powershot G series pretty big but its still a point and shoot machine, no flexibility with lenses at all. so if you want to get into photography a little bit more, you have to move up in the world of camera’s… Towards a digital SLR camera for one. Why? to get more out of what I see and want to keep for remembering without trying to remember it 
So, i did some research and one of the main things that came out with my asking around is:
When you go for a digital camera and especially a DSLR camera you need lenses, so what manufacturers bring good quality, a wide variety of lenses, and since I’m not a pro, also within the margins of my own wallet? Well, there are a few big DSLR manufacturers, most known are Canon, Nikon, Minolta, Fuji, Sony etc. They all have roughly the same expertise and the same specs to make choosing quite hard for a guy who doesn’t know everything about camera’s. My main goal is the impact on my wallet in the quality/price ratio so I went looking for good lenses/objectives that didn’t have a lot of economical consequences .
So what is important to know? Well for instance, what kind of Lenses you can use, a DSLR camera comes with or without a objective. If you buy one with a objective like I did, you have a starters kit, a fairly good lens that’s good for basic use. If you want to expand or specialize in depth like for instance portrait photo’s you need a different one and that’s where I want to get to, cause not all big names give you all the choice you’d want. New camera’s bring new lenses to be bought and “new”means more expensive than “older or proven” so one of the main issues is, can my camera use all the lenses available or is he limited to a special line of lenses? So first shift in what camera to buy is in the availability of lenses and of the quality. So what producers have a lot of objectives and are well known for their quality/price ratio? Well, Canon for one, it has a lot of DSLR objectives and old and new models fit on the Rebel XTi, in quality/price ratio canon objectives win it from Nikon at this moment. Especially since the competing model from Nikon the D40x is only fully capable with the new objectives and looses compatibility with older objectives. Which means bigger investments for the same results.
So I went for the Digital Rebel XTi because its compatibility with objectives is bigger than for example Nikon with the same quality/prices ratio DSLR.
The other most important fact is if you like the feel of the camera, does it fit in your hand? Some say that the EOS Digital rebel XTi is just to small for people with big hands, but that’s something you have to see for yourself.
Always go for a tryout before you buy, even if everyone online is yelling that this is the one to buy, go for a look before you buy. Talk with the people in the store, go to a few specialized camera stores and ask the people there for feedback, even ask for availability for objectives and for possibilities to buy them in a all in one deal.
Spread The Word
Fun with a Fisheye Lens
A camera company by the name of the Lomographic Society International makes a number of very funky cameras. Here's the one I used to take the images below:
Some of the backstory of the Lomographic Society: "General Igor Petrowitsch Kornitzky, right-hand man to the USSR Minister of Defense and Industry, slammed a little Japanese mini-camera onto the ornate desk of his comrade Michail Panfilowitsch Panfiloff. Mr Panfiloff, Director of the powerful LOMO Russian Arms and Optical factory, examined the camera closely, noting its sharp glass lens, extremely high light sensitivity and robust casing. The two gentlemen, realizing the superior nature and extreme potential of this strange little item, gave immediate orders to copy and improve the design - with the ultimate goal of producing the largest quantity possible for the pleasure and glory of the Soviet population. It was decided - every respectable Communist should have a LOMO KOMPAKT AUTOMAT of their own." Etc.
Monday, November 26, 2007
CIBA Vision settles patent litigation
CIBA Vision and CooperVision Inc. reported they have reached an agreement to settle patent litigation that resolves all current patent infringement lawsuits between the two companies. CIBA Vision, the Duluth, Ga.-based eye-care unit of Novartis, said it has licensed its so called "Nicolson" patents to CooperVision. This will enable both companies to move forward in bringing forth new and improved products. The Nicolson patents cover high-oxygen-transmissible contact lenses, including CIBA Vision's O2OPTIX AIR OPTIXand NIGHT & DAY silicone hydrogel contact lenses. In exchange, CooperVision will pay CIBA Vision a royalty on U.S. sales of its Biofinity contact lenses until 2014 and on sales outside of the United States until 2016. CIBA Vision also has licensed two types of patents from CooperVision related to contact lens designs.
Reply to OPTEKA Converters
Engr Denz Rodriguez posted a reply:
what is your location daily? im also looking for that lens, im from philippines, where can i buy that lens? tnx,
Canon PSS5IS lenses
Engr Denz Rodriguez posted a new topic:
im looking for a lens set for canon PSS5IS, where should i buy here in the philippines? i need an IS teleconverter lens at least 3.0x. what brand name should i pick? approx. how much? tnx,
Reply to OPTEKA Converters
Engr Denz Rodriguez posted a reply:
what is your location daily? im also looking for that lens, im from philippines, where can i buy that lens? tnx,
Canon G9
Rebecca wrote,
"I'm looking for a good point and shoot camera. What do you think of the new Canon G9?"
The G9 specs look impressive, and Canon has added back a few of the features that I thought were missing when I reviewed the G7 for Monitor Magazine. I've been trying to review the G9 for a few months, but unfortunately Canon's Canadian PR rep hasn't been able to send me a loaner yet, so the best I can say is that it looks promising.
INDEPENDENT LENS PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
unknown: ITVS is an equal opportunity employer; women and people of color are encouraged to apply. Reports to: Independent Lens Assistant Producer Status: Exempt, full benefits Salary: … Field Television. Job Category Production/Programming …
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Reply to Lens & Lights For Sale
lightscameraction posted a reply:
The lens will be sold with the box and yes the lens hood is included.
Reply to Nikon or Canon?
"SIR: Poseyal Knight of the Desposyni posted a reply:
nixon d300 is probably the best out there for the money and what it does,,,,
Reply to Nikon or Canon?
"SIR: Poseyal Knight of the Desposyni posted a reply:
nixon d300 is probably the best out there for the money and what it does,,,,
Canon SD850 IS Silver 8.0 MP Digital Camera - $208.99 Shipped AR Paypal Cashback
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Canon tele converter lens
Daniele Medri posted a reply:
70-200 f2.8 IS USM
While this one is really heavy as lens (1.4kg) the price for an european is very high, especially with an exchange 1:1.4 between dollars and euro. Canon sell this product with the same numeric price. Ugly marketing strategy...
Reply to How big can you go?
jamesrdoe posted a reply:
You can do it as big as you want. You will lose detail at some point but if your viewing distances aren't really close it will probably be fine. Biggest I've done is 13x19 and they looked pretty good although a little soft up close probably due to the crappy lens I used for them both. I still have yet to frame them because after printing them I realized they were the worst of my better shots and I don't really like them much anymore.
Reply to Concerned about newer 50mm f/1.4 lenses
jamesrdoe posted a reply:
Well I don't know what the latest f1.4 is like but I don't imagine it's any worse than my AF version from around 1990 that's made in Japan. Your quality of shots won't suffer it's mainly the build quality and that reviewer is probably comparing to the 1980's AIS version which is a solid piece of metal. The f1.8 is supposed to have worse build quality than the f1.4 and no one really seems to care. They are really happy with the optics.
If you're worried about it get the f1.8 because it's much cheaper and 95% as good. The reason the price has dropped is probably because of the American dollar not because the lens is bad. I think the 50mm has been made in China for at least a few years, I don't think it's anything new.
Reply to Wedding lens?
kaiyen posted a reply:
The Tamron is a great lens. Focus is actually plenty fast as it has a very short throw. But I have not tried the Sigma and if it is indeed just as good and with the HSM, then that's probably your best bet. I can just say that the 17-50 is terrific.
allan
Canon Powershot SX100 IS review and ratings
imlou posted a reply:
Cheap, sturdy, tack sharp and light.
For something under 100$ you can't go wrong with it.
Canon EF 135mm f/2.0 L USM Intial Impressions
For those of you that haven’t been following my blog I’ll fill you in on the back story — I recently had my entire camera kit stolen and I am now rebuilding a new kit with the insurance money from my old equipment. The plan is to come up with a better and more useful set of equipment than I had before the theft. So far I’ve bought a Canon 5D and a Canon 24-70 f/2.8 L lens. My next step was to pick out a medium telephoto lens.
My original premise for building a new lens set was to put together the highest quality most versatile lens set possible. The goal is to have professional lens coverage from 16mm to 200mm by next summer. The obvious choice for medium telephoto lens was the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS L. I did a ton of research on the 70-200 and from the older reviews of that lens it seemed like a great choice, however the newer reviews of the 70-200 weren’t as kind. Photographers shooting full frame with either the Canon 5D or 1Ds complained that the 70-200 was a little soft, especially at the longer end of its zoom range. Could this be true? Is the most hyped lens in Canon’s line up and the most expensive lens in most Canon SLR shooter’s bag soft? Were these complaints from a few obsessive pixel peepers or where they legitimate? Well, I did a ton more research and found a few more reviews claiming the 70-200 was soft. With my faith in the mighty 70-200 f/2.8L shaken I started a search for other options.
I had had my eye on the Canon 135mm f/2 L for a few years. On fredmiranda.com the 135 L receives mythical reviews. Some photographers claim to get magical “nearly 3D” results from this lens. The technical reviews show that the 135 L is sharp corner to corner at f/2. I was intrigued, but was a bit frightened to pull the trigger and spend $870 for one focal length (non zoom).
After much thought I put together a bit of logic (others would call it an excuse) to buy this lens.
Q: What is halfway between 70mm and 200mm?
A: 135mm
Q: Did I use my previously owned 70-200 very much?
A: No
Q: Why not?
A: Because the 70-200 is too cumbersome to carry on camera. The 70-200 lives in the camera bag and a shorter lens lives on the camera 90% of the time. Most things that happen at medium telephoto distance are action and motion. These events need a quick draw/ stealthy lens. By the time the 70-200 is on the camera and ready to go the event is over.
With those things in mind I ordered a 135 f/2 L.
My initial impression of the 135 L was, “this thing is small, but look at all that glass.” the 135 L is light and slightly smaller than my 24-70 f/2.8 L. Looking at the front of the lens I am always impressed by the glass inside. Wow, f/2 is wide.
I really like working with this lens. It balances nicely on the camera, and focuses fast. The view finder is bright. The best part about this lens is I can carry it on my camera and it doesn’t create a commotion. It is so much easier to pop a quick portrait with this lens than the super imposing 70-200. I can carry the 135mm on my camera through a crowd and not get any stupid questions. So far I haven’t missed having a zoom at all
I’ve only had this lens for a few weeks and haven’t gotten any hero images yet, but here are some samples.
Above: Check out that bokeh! Pretty nice. I took this photo of Maria carrying Ella while walking through Latta Plantation here in Charlotte. It was a beautiful fall afternoon. I waited for Maria to step in front of some back li, glowing autumn foliage and snapped this photo.
Above: This is my dog Jack and another dog playing in the forest at Reedy Creek Park. This shot was taken in the shade, but as you can see f/2 was enough to stop the action even in the low light.
Above: Here is another action shot of my dog taken at f/2. Notice how sharp his head and shoulders can out and then the smooth transition into bokeh.
Above: This is the primary reason I bought this lens — natural light portraits of my baby girl. This shot was taken hand held in my living room at ISO 400 and f/2. The only light was coming through a window.
Here is a series of photos for any pixel peepers or street gang experts that might be reading this review. The photo below is a sign in my neighborhood shot at f/2 with my Canon 135 f/2 L. Can anyone tell me what the gang graffiti means?
Here is a 100% crop from the bottom of the sign post.
Here is a 100% crop from the middle of the sign post. notice the nice out of focus fence in the background.
Here’s the top of the sign, 100% crop
Conclusion: The Canon Ef 135 f/2 L is a great lens. If you are shooting a full frame camera and looking for an alternative to the bulky and expensive 70-200 f/2.8 you should check out this lens.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Reply to OT: Your lens cleaning method of choice
Specs1 posted a reply:
Ever since I visited the Leica factory repair shop that used to be here in town, it's been a squeezy-bulb blower for dust, and breath and lens tissue for smudges. Once I saw that that was all they used on their gazillion-dollar lenses, I figured it was good enough for me. The pertinent thing that the technician pointed out was that the condensation from breath is chemically inert. i.e. it won't harm the coatings on your lenses - ever. Neither, of course, will the air from that squeezy-bulb.
Canon SD1000 7.1MP + Epson Printer $210
BestBuy Canada has a door crasher special for the Canon PowerShot SD 1000 7.1MP digital camera (silver or black) for $189.99. But when you add the camera AND the Epson Stylus All-In-One Multifuntion Centre (CX7450) printer to the shopping cart you will notice the printer becomes only $20. Together it’s a good deal and comes to $210 altogether.
Reply to OT: What's on your Strobist Wish List
solophotog posted a reply:
-A Strobist seminar in Toronto, Buffalo or NYC
-any reasonably priced workshop in some exotic city (London, Paris, Rome, Tokyo . . . .)
-a shoot-through umbrella
-a Tamron 17-55 f.2.8 lens (the Canon version is just too heavy)
-something that starts at 10mm
-books
-10 pounds of muscle so I can comfortably carry my gear all day
-talent
Jay in Toronto
Reply to fun stuff for christmas?
skippywilly posted a reply:
gorilla pod... www.joby.com/products/gorillapod/slrzoom/
works great for cam as well as off camera flash....Sigma 10-20mm. Oh Yah, no lenses.......SB-600!
Reply to Which telephoto lens ?
mailmandan posted a reply:
Go for the 70-300mm with VR... it's awesome!!!
If you can't afford the extra hundred bucks for the VR model, get the 70-300 with ED glass.
Danny :o)
Reply to fun stuff for christmas?
lotherington posted a reply:
i second the 50mm 1.8 if you go with another lens. its great for low light and as above said you get the awsome dof
Reply to Lightning shots ,comment's and your ideal D80 settings ?
Walkee posted a reply:
I haven't had a chance to shoot lightning with my D80 yet but with my film camera, I would just set it on B and hold the shutter open till I saw a lightning bolt and close the shutter. Out of all my lightning shots I only got a few good ones. This one almost found me, shot with a Nikon F2 50mm lens, Kodachrome film.
Reply to Upgrade Canon 350D to what?...20D? ...30D?....40D?
th3g posted a reply:
lol!!!
if you are seriously looking to get into night photography the 5D is the best camera for the job, no question.
it's low light performance surpasses everything else and this is widely recognised in the industry.
Have chatted to several photographers at recent events who shoot on the 5D and they have all raved about it.
I am after one too but can't afford it yet, especially as I will be changing brand and will have to shell out on new glass too, but the 5D MkII will be out soon so if you are going second hand the current 5D will be significantly cheaper if you can wait.
Reply to Concerned about newer 50mm f/1.4 lenses
Trevor Hare posted a reply:
I would say get one and see for yourself.
I have the 50mm f/1.8 (made in China) and the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM and both are superb lenses.
I also had a 50mm f/1.4 on an F80 at one time. Another superb lens.
For a more balanced set of Amazon reviews check out the USA site....
www.amazon.com/review/product/B00005LENO/ref=cm_cr_pr_rec...
4.5 out of 5 averaged over 26 reviewers sounds a lot more like it. And the latest reviews are from a month ago.
Never read Ken Rockwell accept for comedic value (but he is not as humorous as he thinks) and don't rely on a sample of one to gauge the worth of a lens.
Reply to Upgrade Canon 350D to what?...20D? ...30D?....40D?
night_photographer posted a reply:
oh and i have an unused 20d lying around if you decide to go with that choice. You can have it at average ebay prices - and it's probably in a lot better nick. Considering it's only really been used at night.
I can't see there being much difference between the 350d and the 20d though, although the 20d is an legendary camera.
Reply to Which telephoto lens ?
nvdragnldy posted a reply:
all my photos have been taken with the 70 -300 VR
handheld-I do not have a tripod
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