Any photographers in the house?

RichyRambo wrote:
Teneman wrote:

Thanks Richy! The blog is a time commitment, but I've had a blast doing it. I've learned a ton as well, particularly back while I was doing the flame and splash shots.

And summer vacation is exactly why I picked up the Tokina. Incidentally, I was debating between the Tokina 11-16 and the Canon 10-22 you linked. The reviews I read pegged them both as excellent lenses, but came down on the side of the Tokina being slightly better in many respects. Most notable was chromatic aberration and the constant f/2.8 throughout the focal range. Unless you really need the extra 1mm on the wide side or the additional 6mm on the long side, you may want to consider the Tokina. Ends up being $150 cheaper as well.

Hmm...good points. I'll check that out, and post your thoughts after a few weeks with that new glass.

Will do. I typically only by Canon lenses, so this is a bit of an experiment for me as well!

Man, there is a serious learning-curve in camera lingo...

I'm thinking the Nikon D3100. From all the reports it's the ideal entry-level camera.

What kind of accessories are needed? I can't tell what all comes with the kit, is it just the camera, battery, cables and the lens?

Thanks for all the help, guys. This is going to be her wedding present -in addition to getting to marry me, of course- but I'm going to give it to her early so she's got time to play with it before the honeymoon.

Lester_King wrote:

Man, there is a serious learning-curve in camera lingo...

I'm thinking the Nikon D3100. From all the reports it's the ideal entry-level camera.

What kind of accessories are needed? I can't tell what all comes with the kit, is it just the camera, battery, cables and the lens?

Thanks for all the help, guys. This is going to be her wedding present -in addition to getting to marry me, of course- but I'm going to give it to her early so she's got time to play with it before the honeymoon.

That camera is basically a hugely updated version of what I have (D40x). I love the size and feel of the camera. I am jealous of all the features and the huge LCD on that D3100. One thing that's nice about it is that it's very small for a DSLR. It's definitely not intimidating.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:
Lester_King wrote:

Man, there is a serious learning-curve in camera lingo...

I'm thinking the Nikon D3100. From all the reports it's the ideal entry-level camera.

What kind of accessories are needed? I can't tell what all comes with the kit, is it just the camera, battery, cables and the lens?

Thanks for all the help, guys. This is going to be her wedding present -in addition to getting to marry me, of course- but I'm going to give it to her early so she's got time to play with it before the honeymoon.

That camera is basically a hugely updated version of what I have (D40x). I love the size and feel of the camera. I am jealous of all the features and the huge LCD on that D3100. One thing that's nice about it is that it's very small for a DSLR. It's definitely not intimidating.

Yeah, I'm kind of excited about the full HD video shooting it'll do. It should be great for filming little segments for our blog -which I'll spare y'all from.

Mostly, it'll let her catch some great shots of Charleston this summer. Since the picture of her commute has already gotten a lot of favorites on tumblr:
IMAGE(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5580195308_7f1836f8c7_z.jpg)

Her little brother has a Canon T3i -he does a lot of video shooting/editing stuff. But that might be a little too rich for my blood considering we just picked out our honeymoon location.

Lester_King wrote:

Man, there is a serious learning-curve in camera lingo...

I'm thinking the Nikon D3100. From all the reports it's the ideal entry-level camera.

What kind of accessories are needed? I can't tell what all comes with the kit, is it just the camera, battery, cables and the lens?

Thanks for all the help, guys. This is going to be her wedding present -in addition to getting to marry me, of course- but I'm going to give it to her early so she's got time to play with it before the honeymoon.

That camera was my wife's choice for an entry-level DSLR, and she knows her stuff.

Here's a good look at the D3100: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d31...

You're right on with the kit. Camera, lens, battery, charger, and cables are all there. That's about it. You'll want a decent SD card (a fast one if you want to do video), and might want the Nikon 55-200 lens (one of the best deals out there). A camera bag would be a good idea if you don't have one already. Other options would be lens filters, maybe a tripod, and a strap that doesn't scream NIKON. The strap in the kit is functional, but not very comfortable.

Lester_King wrote:

Man, there is a serious learning-curve in camera lingo...

I'm thinking the Nikon D3100. From all the reports it's the ideal entry-level camera.

What kind of accessories are needed? I can't tell what all comes with the kit, is it just the camera, battery, cables and the lens?

Thanks for all the help, guys. This is going to be her wedding present -in addition to getting to marry me, of course- but I'm going to give it to her early so she's got time to play with it before the honeymoon.

What Lou said - A fast SDHC memory card, a spare battery, and a good camera bag or pack to keep it all together.

I have a small kit and this Amazon pack serves me well

Anyone have a Black Rapid strap? I'm tempted, but $60 seems pricey for a camera strap.

DF7 wrote:

Anyone have a Black Rapid strap? I'm tempted, but $60 seems pricey for a camera strap.

I've got an RS7 and I couldn't live without it. The only drawback is that you can't use tripod mounting plates with it, but that's a minor issue at worst. Do you have any specific questions about it?

You all just inspired me to create a Flickr account. I am purely a hobbyist photographer (I couldn't tell you the type of camera I have, it was a gift from my Father-in-Law). But I love driving to random places and looking for pictures in the scenery. My camera is old and not digital, so I only get 24 chances to take a good picture each time!

DF7 wrote:

Anyone have a Black Rapid strap? I'm tempted, but $60 seems pricey for a camera strap.

I went with a cheaper tactical strap at $16.

Landshrk83 wrote:
DF7 wrote:

Anyone have a Black Rapid strap? I'm tempted, but $60 seems pricey for a camera strap.

I've got an RS7 and I couldn't live without it. The only drawback is that you can't use tripod mounting plates with it, but that's a minor issue at worst. Do you have any specific questions about it?

I'm wondering if a) it would work on a super tall guy such as myself (6'7") and b) if there are cheaper alternatives that work just as well.

Lester_King wrote:

I'm thinking the Nikon D3100. From all the reports it's the ideal entry-level camera.

I don't have that model, but I've been using Nikon gear for a couple of years. It's very good stuff.

DF7 wrote:
Landshrk83 wrote:
DF7 wrote:

Anyone have a Black Rapid strap? I'm tempted, but $60 seems pricey for a camera strap.

I've got an RS7 and I couldn't live without it. The only drawback is that you can't use tripod mounting plates with it, but that's a minor issue at worst. Do you have any specific questions about it?

I'm wondering if a) it would work on a super tall guy such as myself (6'7") and b) if there are cheaper alternatives that work just as well.

I'm fairly tall (6'2") and I have to shorten the strap up quite a bit, so it should be tall enough for you without an issue. There are similar, cheaper alternatives like the one Richy linked, but the BlackRapid is heavier, better padded, an has a better attachment system than any of the alternatives I've seen. Also, it's possible to get some accessories for it that are really useful- I use the underarm securing strap with mine when I'm hiking to keep the camera put.

Landshrk83 wrote:

I'm fairly tall (6'2") and I have to shorten the strap up quite a bit, so it should be tall enough for you without an issue. There are similar, cheaper alternatives like the one Richy linked, but the BlackRapid is heavier, better padded, an has a better attachment system than any of the alternatives I've seen. Also, it's possible to get some accessories for it that are really useful- I use the underarm securing strap with mine when I'm hiking to keep the camera put.

That sounds good. I might have to pick one up before my trip to Alaska in June.

Anyone have any experience with Hoya G series filters? I need to pick up a 77mm circular polarizer for my new wide angle lens.

I'd planned on getting a B+W or Hoya, figuring both would be about the same cost. The B+W runs $100, and there's a Hoya at that range or higher, but the G series listed above is only $44, and is listed as more of an amateur/prosumer quality lens. I'd love the save the $55, but not if the quality takes a significant hit. I just can't see Hoya putting out a filter of that poor quality though.

Screw it, my epic impatience being what it is, I went ahead and ordered the Hoya G series. I'll let you know if it turns out to be a complete piece of junk!

I don't have any experience with the Hoya filters, but I bought one of the expensive B+W ones for my work camera. It's pretty damn nice, I wish I could afford one for my own lens.

Teneman wrote:

Screw it, my epic impatience being what it is, I went ahead and ordered the Hoya G series. I'll let you know if it turns out to be a complete piece of junk!

Ha! Camera gear is more fun than PC gear!

After playing with some borderline macro photography, I was eyeballing these extension tubes. Any one have experience with tubes in general?

RichyRambo wrote:
Teneman wrote:

Screw it, my epic impatience being what it is, I went ahead and ordered the Hoya G series. I'll let you know if it turns out to be a complete piece of junk!

Ha! Camera gear is more fun than PC gear!

After playing with some borderline macro photography, I was eyeballing these extension tubes. Any one have experience with tubes in general?

Not directly, but I've read/heard good things about them. A decent, cost effective way to extend your focal range if you can afford the loss of a stop or so of light.

I just saw this thread show up in the "popular forum threads" and thought I'd tag it. =)

For a number of years, I'd been upgrading point-and-shoots as I grew out of them, and before the NHL all-star game came to Raleigh I decided to bite the bullet and get a real camera.

I got an Olympus PEN E-PL1, with the 42mm all-purpose lens that comes with it, and the 150mm (300mm-equivalent) zoom lens for taking hockey shots. I have a couple of friends that also shoot at the hockey games, and seeing what they lug around, I have *no* regrets going with micro 4/3. I get shots as good as theirs, and I'm carrying around half as much bulk. The PEN has good low-light performance, and I can get great shots even from the upper levels (well, as good as you can get in the awful lighting conditions of hockey rinks).

I'm slowly learning the equipment, and finally worked my way up to shooting in "manual" and working on getting the right white-balance and such. I look back at the shots I took even 2 months ago and it's night and day from what I'm getting now, so I must be getting the hang of it.

IMAGE(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5611499907_ef4c1b75bf.jpg)
Joni Pitkanen sees something shiny! by RangerRick, on Flickr

Anyone else got micro 4/3 equipment? Have you looked at any other lenses? Does anyone have experience with the adapters that let you use Canon/Nikon/etc. lenses?

Rick, I would wholeheartedly recommend the 20mm Panny prime. I really love this lens and it takes great photos on my GF1.

IMAGE(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_vvADLohO3wE/TZjNaxCOOuI/AAAAAAAAEbQ/jxx_ylK9Xq0/s800/P1010616.JPG)

IMAGE(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_vvADLohO3wE/TZjNX2BV7BI/AAAAAAAAEbI/qJXB_9fvs3Y/s800/P1010613.JPG)

Haakon7 wrote:

Rick, I would wholeheartedly recommend the 20mm Panny prime. I really love this lens and it takes great photos on my GF1.

Nice! I'll have to take a look at it...

Anyone know any good photography forums to lurk on? I've been lurking on Fred Miranda for the past year or so, but I'm getting sick of the snobby attitude they have. When every answer to the question "What should I get to take a picture of my kids?" is "Oh, you'll need a 70-200 f/2.8 IS for that, or maybe a 400L*" you know they are elitist.

*Really expensive lenses.

This is canon-specific, but I tend to lurk here when I want to get a photo fix:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/

There is certainly a lot of the high-end gear lust present there as well, but plenty of regular folks with less expensive equipment too. In fact, one of my favorite threads on there is in the lens sample photos archive, it's all people posting really fantastic photos taken with the basic canon 18-55 kit lens.http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=185522

fleabagmatt wrote:

This is canon-specific, but I tend to lurk here when I want to get a photo fix:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/

There is certainly a lot of the high-end gear lust present there as well, but plenty of regular folks with less expensive equipment too. In fact, one of my favorite threads on there is in the lens sample photos archive, it's all people posting really fantastic photos taken with the basic canon 18-55 kit lens.http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=185522

it really is the photographer that makes the shot. I am having a really hard time convincing myself I want to drop a 1000 on a lens atm. I still have my kit lens and I guess I just dont know better / have no experience with better glass.

nice link, some of those people just love their hdr

Yeah, I'm generally not fond of the HDR, and there are a bunch of people on that forum that abuse it. Usually, if you can tell at a glance that it's HDR it's too much.

The Canon 17-55 2.8 IS was my first real expensive glass purchase and I was pretty nervous about spending that much on a lens. I am really really fond of this lens, though, and don't regret the purchase at all. First thing I noticed was an immediate increase in the ratio of keeper shots to throwaways. Between the image stabilization and the fast focus it just works so much better for me. I don't generally zoom way in and examine my images at 100%, but when I do I've been quite impressed with how much sharper they've been than many of my kit lens shots.

Blotto The Clown wrote:

it really is the photographer that makes the shot. I am having a really hard time convincing myself I want to drop a 1000 on a lens atm. I still have my kit lens and I guess I just dont know better / have no experience with better glass.

I agree in as far as expensive lenses vs. kit or comparable lenses are concerned. I don't have any "L" grade glass, and don't see a need to upgrade anytime in the near future.

Where I've spent my money on lenses is in adding variety. My kit is 18-55. Over the last two years I've added a 70-300mm, a 100mm macro, and most recently the 11-16mm wide angle. I can do things with the three of them that I simply could not with the kit lens. Even so, my fast 50mm is probably one of my most used lenses.

Right now the only lens I have is the 50 f/1.4 and I've been toying with the idea of a 17-55 f/2.8 but I think I'll get a really nice light kit instead. It seems like really good lenses can compensate for bad light, but if you have good light you can work more with the glass you have. Would be nice to have something wider than 50mm on a crop body though.

I am planning on getting the 1.4 50mm myself. Id really like to get a 24-70mm 2.8 L lens, but I also am contemplating straight up replacing my kit lens (15-85mm 3.5) with a 17-40mm 4.0 L lens... sigh. Not sure what I want to do

here's a shot I took for the heck of it:
IMAGE(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5190/5615509864_44739c4e27_z.jpg)

Blotto The Clown wrote:

I am planning on getting the 1.4 50mm myself.

Be aware that the 50mm is not a good general purpose lens on a crop body. If I had to do it all over again I would go with the Sigma 30mm f/1.4.