General Photography

dts said:
can anyone suggest a good quality tripod. I dont really know the manufacturers or what to look out for when buying a tripod. I have a Canon 400D if that helps..
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Manfrotto! They are awesome!
 
I'm very very happy with my Gitzo Mountaineer GT0541 legs. They're carbon fibre, can set up quite high, exceptional build quality, and doesn't weigh anything. I have a Velbon QHD-61Q head on it, which is fairly basic - but still much better than the built-in ones you get on cheap tripods.
 
Mac or PC? Would do anything to start upgrading equipment.....starting with a iMac :)
 
Anyone else with a Canon 500d that feels their pictures are not AS sharp as they should be? I got a Sigma 28-200 IS lens on it... which MAY the cause... but don't have another lens atm to swop it out with... Also read a few mixed reviews on the 500D body...
 
MartieS said:
Anyone else with a Canon 500d that feels their pictures are not AS sharp as they should be? I got a Sigma 28-200 IS lens on it... which MAY the cause... but don't have another lens atm to swop it out with... Also read a few mixed reviews on the 500D body...
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The 500D is as sharp as the 50D, which is plenty sharp (in fact, the sensor is slightly better, even though it's the same resolution). Are you looking at JPEG or CR2 files? CR2 (raw) generally needs a little bit of sharpening applied.

Otherwise, yes, the lens might be the problem. Invest in the 50mm f/1.8 II - it's very cheap and very sharp - should give you a good idea.
 
It's generally NOT the camera that produces less sharp images. It may be though but unlikely.

I'm assuming you meant the 18-200 Sigma and if so this lens is not the sharpest if you compare ISO crops at the-digital-picture comparing it to the Canon 15-85.

Maybe borrow someone else's lens and do some tests.
 
hilton said:
I'm assuming you meant the 18-200 Sigma and if so this lens is not the sharpest
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That lens was my biggest disappointment. It compromises every aspect of image quality for the extra range. It's not sharp, it vignettes really badly (even at f/8), barrel distortion is bad, CA is bad, colour is poor. The 18-55mm IS + 50-250mm IS gives better everything at any focal length.
 
MartieS said:
Anyone else with a Canon 500d that feels their pictures are not AS sharp as they should be? I got a Sigma 28-200 IS lens on it... which MAY the cause... but don't have another lens atm to swop it out with... Also read a few mixed reviews on the 500D body...
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It may also be that you're not properly post processing RAW files. All the things the camera used to do for you are up to you now.
 
So on Friday I will be using a Nikon D3s for the first time with a 400mm F2.8. Probably also the 70-200mm on my D3100.

Excited but also intimidated a bit. Not sure what to expect and how I will handle that big brute of a setup. (D3100 excl)

Will post a few pics after the weekend.
 
APoc84 said:
So on Friday I will be using a Nikon D3s for the first time with a 400mm F2.8. Probably also the 70-200mm on my D3100.

Excited but also intimidated a bit. Not sure what to expect and how I will handle that big brute of a setup. (D3100 excl)

Will post a few pics after the weekend.
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Enjoy it - and don't forget your monopod! :)
 
mercurial said:
Woah. 400mm f2.8? That must be one huge lens :p
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It is actually :)

bwana said:
Enjoy it - and don't forget your monopod! :)
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Thanks. Yeah. No way I'm going to try and shoot out of hand with that.

I'm actually thinking of putting the 400mm on my D3100 and the 70-200mm F2.8 on the D3s. I'm keen on getting getting close to the action with the better and faster camera. Then I will still have the 400mm on my slower body for the action a bit further away.

Will play around when I arrive at Loftus on Friday and decide from that.
 
APoc84 said:
Thanks. Yeah. No way I'm going to try and shoot out of hand with that.

I'm actually thinking of putting the 400mm on my D3100 and the 70-200mm F2.8 on the D3s. I'm keen on getting getting close to the action with the better and faster camera. Then I will still have the 400mm on my slower body for the action a bit further away.

Will play around when I arrive at Loftus on Friday and decide from that.
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Might not be a bad plan. 400mm can be a bit long when it comes to try line action if you're not positioned properly. One of the only reasons why I haven't got one of my own yet is that I would probably use it mostly for cricket, the 300 just works so well for rugby . . . plus I can hand hold it with ease. :)

Give yourself time to familiarise yourself with the body too.
 
How Photography Geeks See the World

carfire.jpg


source
 
Voider72 said:
I have a 450D which i use on Auto-Mode, wish I understood apertures and F-stops etc
Asked a guy at work and he basically told me how amazing he is and self taught and how creative he is :-/
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Watch this video. It covers the basics of Aperture, Shutter and ISO.

[video=youtube;Dt6AvJ7WZSI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt6AvJ7WZSI[/video]
 
Voider72 said:
I have a 450D which i use on Auto-Mode, wish I understood apertures and F-stops etc
Asked a guy at work and he basically told me how amazing he is and self taught and how creative he is :-/
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Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO are the holy trinity of exposure. This infograph might help put things into perspective

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Source: http://livinginthestills.tumblr.com/cheatsheet
 
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