"Photokps. Lets talk dslrs." Sun Jun-29-08 07:00 AM by dj bee-can
feel free to throw up your own questions as well. im sure someone in here can answer.
-whatcha usin?
pentax k100d super
-why did u choose that particular camera?
price!!! shake reduction in the body can be used with EVERY lens pentax has ever created dust removal system (sensor shakes when u turn on the camera to shake off any dust)
-what lenses do u have and of them which do u prefer?
the 24-60 is my everyday since it performs well in low light. absolutely love the 50 though and is my favorite.
-what lenses are u looking to add?
eventually i wanna add a couple more primes...maybe a 135 or 200 for some candid stuff. also a superwide of some sort even though i dont do much land/cityscape work. might be nice to do some other creative stuff with it.
-do u get caught up in how many MP a digital camera has?
no since megapixels really dont hold much meaning unless u r printing large sized photos. my camera is 6.1 but prints 8x10s exceptionally well. thats all i need. at most ill be doing web stuff or prints no bigger than 5x7...with the exception of portfolio prints.
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1. "a question or two as well" In response to Reply # 0 Sun Jun-29-08 08:42 AM by kanino
>-whatcha usin? Canon EOS 10D
>-why did u choose that particular camera?
I didn't really choose it, it was my mentor's camera. bought it from her for $300 along with some old batteries, 4x 128MB CF cards, two lenses, plus a cord that extends the flash.
>-what lenses do u have and of them which do u prefer?
I'm just starting out so...
35-80 and a fixed 50 mm
of course, the 35-80's the one I prefer right now.
>-what lenses are u looking to add?
a macro for close ups
I gotta know what's good for action shots? for sports?
>-do u get caught up in how many MP a digital camera has?
I got all I need (6.3) since most of the photos I print are either 4x6 or 5x7.
how long does a battery last for you? how long is it supposed to last?
do you ever shoot RAW?
I'm moving back to the States...do photographers (the ones that actually own studios) back in the States have/look for apprentices?
5. "RE: a question or two as well" In response to Reply # 1 Sun Jun-29-08 09:37 AM by dj bee-can
>how long does a battery last for you? how long is it supposed >to last?
my cam uses 4 aa's which i prefer in cases of emergencies. i use sanyo eneloops which are the best rechargables on the market. i can shoot for several days on a single charge.
>do you ever shoot RAW?
ALWAYS!!! granted they take up more space but RAW allows for so much more control on the post processing end.
>I'm moving back to the States...do photographers (the ones >that actually own studios) back in the States have/look for >apprentices?
im pretty sure they do considering all that can go into a shoot. ive been an assistant and assist friends with lighting and some post processing work as well.
action and sports: something maybe in the 200-500 range depending on where u will be shooting from.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ weigh your words to waste no sound.
2. "RE: Photokps. Lets talk dslrs." In response to Reply # 0
>feel free to throw up your own questions as well. im sure >someone in here can answer. > > >-whatcha usin? > Nikon D40 > > >-why did u choose that particular camera? > read about it and apparently its a good beginners dslr. also recommended by a photographer at work. > > >-what lenses do u have and of them which do u prefer? > >18-55 lense that came w/the camera > > >-what lenses are u looking to add? > >not sure yet. they're pretty expensive and i'm just getting into this... maybe a zoom lens of some sort. > > >-do u get caught up in how many MP a digital camera has? > Nope.
anyone else doing the OKP photo contest in General?
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9. "RE: Photokps. Lets talk dslrs." In response to Reply # 2
do you feel restricted yet in purchasing lenses based on the D40 having no internal focus motor and instead leaving it to be built into lenses? I heard that they're more expensive and harder to come by a good amount of them...
6. "RE: I'm looking for a starter camera" In response to Reply # 4 Sun Jun-29-08 10:01 AM by dj bee-can
most starter cameras can be purchased with a standard kit lens, usually an 18-55. the 18 is more than wide enuf for architecture and the 55 will get u close enuf to shoot kids. if you plan to do mostly outdoor shooting then the kit lens will suffice. the downside though is that these lenses are usually no good for indoor stuff in low light conditions so most people end up upgrading as opposed to having to switch lenses between indoor shots and outdoor shots. anything with an f/2.8 or higher (f/2, f/1.8) will be great for both. if u use flash then forget everything i just said about shooting in low light. i dont use flash ever so i upgraded since i shoot indoors and outdoors.
as far as cameras go, mine is a great entry level in the price range u are looking for (i havent used any other brands but i know my camera offers features that other brands only offer in their high end dslrs..or dont offer at all). not the most popular brand in the states so not everybody carries their products and accessories but because they are the only brand that allows u to use every lens that theyve ever created, it means u can cop the older film slr lenses for dirt cheap.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ weigh your words to waste no sound.
7. "RE: Photokps. Lets talk dslrs." In response to Reply # 0
> >-whatcha usin? > ----------Canon Rebel XTi > > >-why did u choose that particular camera? > ---------It's exactly what i wanted and i had the cash. i've had point and shoots and i decided i am done with those forever. >-what lenses do u have and of them which do u prefer? > ---------18-55 kit that came with it i have a few other lens be i never used them and i'm looking to go to b and h to cop a new prime and a telephoto zoom. i'd prefer 2-4 more with USM/IS. I have a monopod but it scares folks to see me with my ninja camera bag with an ASP on it. I was stopped in the mall last year because he thought it was a weapon lol >
>-what lenses are u looking to add? > ---------Prime 50mm, 24-90 with USM and IS > > >-do u get caught up in how many MP a digital camera has? > ---------i post em up on flickr and i rarely print em out. i should print a few. all i've been shooting lately is picks of my daughter...LINK IN THE SIG
26. "thats exactly the reason i copped it." In response to Reply # 22 Wed Jul-02-08 05:55 PM by dj bee-can
i love doing portraits. it has super quick AF to help catch that perfect moment. id love to have something fast in the 135-200 range for some more candid stuff as well.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ weigh your words to waste no sound.
8. "RE: Photokps. Lets talk dslrs." In response to Reply # 0
-whatcha usin? Canon 350D canon 5D canon AE1
Why did you choose? Canon's lens line up had me desiring nothing more.period.
What lenses, which do I prefer...? (I have a bunch, here's what gets play) canon: 17-40 F4L 50mm 1.8 700-200 f2.8 IS Peleng 8mm fisheye
What lenses am i looking to add? I like the width of the 8mm but the distortion and quality loss on the edges is slightly too much for professional image quality, so I'd like to add something like the sigma 10-20 f4.
MP? Nah, they aint shit... as long as a Dslr has ehhhh over 6? mp i can edit the raw files to my liking. Anything under that I'm seeing pixels and therefore not happy.
Anyone else do this for more than a hobby? Make any money with the expensive toys we love?
17. "a coupla mo ?'s:" In response to Reply # 0 Mon Jun-30-08 12:38 PM by dj bee-can
- what mode do u normally shoot in? any full manual users out there?
i havent gone completely manual yet. i shoot in AV (aperture value). i love having control of DOF. i let the shutter work itself out.
- what software do u use to catalog your photos?
i use adobe lightroom. have aperture as well but never even looked at it. for those not familiar with lightroom, adobe basically stripped all of the features directly related to photography out of photoshop and made a program strictly for photographers (and not image editors). allows for cataloging, editing, and web publishing directly from its interface. 2 beta is available now.
- ever been stopped by the cops while out shooting?
i havent yet but i did get harrassed by the security guard at the museum of natural history while trying to sneak off some flashless point and shoots at the gold exhibit.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ weigh your words to waste no sound.
19. "RE: a coupla mo ?'s:" In response to Reply # 17
pretty much always full manual, there are times when I want to make sure I can achieve a specific depth of field and I will keep it in aperture priority in order to leave it constantly at 1.8 or whatever. Also when doing car "rolling" shots its always a good idea to do shutter priority, this because you're able to pan on the subject and choose a long enough shutter to blur the wheels and background. A good rule for shutter priority is 1/(# of mm your lens is at) usually does the trick.
31. "RE: a coupla mo ?'s:" In response to Reply # 17 Thu Jul-03-08 12:29 PM by luvlee2003
>- what mode do u normally shoot in? any full manual users out >there? >
Since I've had the 5D I've been shooting in manual most of the time. With the Rebel I really couldn't afford to do that because the grey card was cumbersome and what I'd end up with on film would always be a crapshoot.
>- what software do u use to catalog your photos?
Right now I'm using the Canon RAW software that came with my camera. So far I have no complaints but then again I don't really know what all I'm doing yet.
>- ever been stopped by the cops while out shooting?
Ha! no thankfully. I did get stopped by some beach patrol on Coney Island. They made small talk but actually just wanted to pose for a picture lol
44. "RE: a coupla mo ?'s:" In response to Reply # 17
>- what mode do u normally shoot in? any full manual users out >there?
I shoot manual, mostly because shooting in those other modes makes my shots come out blurry or overexposed. I kinda actually don't even get the modes. Like I'll try aperture priority and it will give me these crazy slow shutter speeds where everything comes out super bright.
>- what software do u use to catalog your photos?
iPhoto. Played around with lightroom and I really like it, but I don't have the money for it.
>- ever been stopped by the cops while out shooting?
Nope, but security almost got me at the Roots Picnic until I name dropped a few people.
54. "RE: a coupla mo ?'s:" In response to Reply # 17
>- what mode do u normally shoot in? any full manual users out >there? > i shoot in full manual 90% of the time. occasionally, i will use aperture priority mode or shutter priority mode. > > >- what software do u use to catalog your photos? > adobe lightroom 2. > > >- ever been stopped by the cops while out shooting? > nah. security guards have stopped me a few times regarding bs tripod policies.
23. "I'll play" In response to Reply # 0 Wed Jul-02-08 09:38 AM by Warp and Woof
>-whatcha usin?
Canon EOS 5D
>-why did u choose that particular camera?
Since I prefer getting up close and personal with my subjects, instead of staying at a distance and zooming in, I need the full frame sensor for the wide angle benefit. Its build quality is also quite sturdy, and color reproduction is very good as well.
>-what lenses do u have and of them which do u prefer?
Canon L series 24-70mm 2.8. Canon EF 50mm 1.8
I hardly use the 50mm anymore since the 24-70 provides better image quality and I rarely use a really small depth of field on 50mm work.
>-what lenses are u looking to add?
A prime lens with plenty of wide angle. Prime because of image quality and lens size. I hate lugging around the 24-70mm for candid work, it's too intimidating for people that aren't familiar with me. I might also need the L 70-200mm 2.8 if I intend to keep doing event registrations, although that one would purely be a professional purchase, since I don't really care for tele work.
>-do u get caught up in how many MP a digital camera has?
I don't under- or overestimate it. Shooting for magazines is just fine at 6 mp's and up, but I've blown up prints to A0 format before, and then the 5D's 12.1 really makes a difference.
As for your other questions:
I'm a professional, mainly doing portrait work for magazines & the music industry. Also some event registration work for the cash & connections.
I've never been bothered by cops, but then again, I don't do a lot of street photography (although Martin Parr is my hero).
I mostly shoot on AV, but when using external lighting I often switch to full manual for complete control.
56. "i love your use of a light in your work!" In response to Reply # 23
great job!
i've also been considering the 70-200mm, but mainly for professional work. its a great studio lens as well. it wouldn't be my ideal focal range if i was going to really get deep into telephoto work. i'd prefer to go even higher, but price is a bitch beyond the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS and that shit is nothing to spit at either. ------------------------------------------- INFIN8 Photography http://www.infin8photography.com
30. "quick question on the 85mm 1.2" In response to Reply # 28
I'm thinking of getting the 85mm 1.8 instead (for budgetary reasons lol). Other than the obvious aperture difference have you heard any major issues people have had with the 1.8?
55. "RE: quick question on the 85mm 1.2" In response to Reply # 30
>I'm thinking of getting the 85mm 1.8 instead (for budgetary >reasons lol). Other than the obvious aperture difference have >you heard any major issues people have had with the 1.8? > > i've used them both, but only own the f/1.8. the f/1.2 will be my next purchase.
there are no major issues with the 1.8. its still a great lens. its not as sharp as the 1.2 as you start to approach shooting wide open. but a great lens for sure.
with the 1.2, the autofocus is slower than on the 1.8, and is quite a bit heavier and certainly a lot more expensive. depends on your needs really.
The kit lens is collecting dust. That 50mm is a beast. I absolutely adore that lens. I'm still trying to figure out where to fit in the 24-85 lens even though I really like its range and the fact that its technically faster than the 17-40mm. I got the 17-40mm two weeks ago and used it as a walk around lens in NYC last week. So far I'm a fan.
>-what lenses are u looking to add?
I want to add a 85mm 1.8 lens as a portrait lens. Other than that I'm not sure. Getting another flash and possibly radio poppers is a more pressing issue.
>-do u get caught up in how many MP a digital camera has?
No not really even though the 5D has plenty. My main concern was price point, full frame, and actual camera ratings. The 5D has its faults (no dust reduction) but its been rated so highly I really couldn't see getting anything else.
42. "I'm late, but didn't feel like making a new DSLR post" In response to Reply # 0
>-whatcha usin?
Nikon D60.
>-why did u choose that particular camera?
Price. I needed a new camera and I needed one quick. Also, I take pictures at shows as part of my part time job and most of the time the other people are using Nikons so I figured I'd go with that. Plus it came with a photo printer all for $550.
>-what lenses do u have and of them which do u prefer?
18-55 VR kit 55 - 200 (not VR. Costed $100 w the camera) 35mm 1.8 AF-S.
The 35 1.8 is what I use 90% of the time since it works a lot better in low light and is relatively sharp. Also the 35mm is more like a 50mm on this camera
>-what lenses are u looking to add?
I'd love a fisheye, maybe a fast 50mm prime, and to toss my kit for the 18-105 kit that comes with the D90. I just got my camera in May and added the 35 and an SB-600 since then, so I'm gonna chill out on buying camera stuff for a little bit. I might get a tripod and remote as a birthday gift to myself tho.
>-do u get caught up in how many MP a digital camera has?
No. Most of my stuff goes online in photo galleries like this:
57. "i rock the D40 + 1.8 50mm" In response to Reply # 51
picked up that lens last year and couldnt be happier. true its manual focus, but thats a skill that imo is important. especially when you're dealing w/a thin dof. plus you should have that little green focus light that can help you out in the view finder.
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59. "My problem is that I work with a lot of moving subjects" In response to Reply # 57
in low light and I have no where near 20/20 vision, even with my contacts in.
I kinda need that autofocus, and sometimes even that red light on my SB-600 to make sure things are in focus. The green light is cool, but that works the same way as autofocus does from what I hear.
Still, there's a nice amount of AF-S lenses out now, more than I'll be able to afford for a good while, and the three I have are suiting my needs so far. I'm not complaining, but I still kinda wish I could get a D90 or D300s.
65. "RE: My problem is that I work with a lot of moving subjects" In response to Reply # 59
yeah, i hear you. i missed more than a few shots because the focus wasn't right... its annoying, but i figure in the lifetime of photography, there was a time photographers did just fine w/o AF, yknow?
(laugh, just read what i wrote and i dont mean to sound pretentious or anything... just trying to justify NOT having to buy a body w/a motor in it)
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46. "its cool guys, im here now. lol" In response to Reply # 0 Thu Nov-12-09 07:17 PM by Mic_Specialist
>-whatcha usin?
canon g10 nikon d90 (sold it with a 24-70mm lens on ebay to move up to a d700)
>-why did u choose that particular camera?
g10 was a birthday present but its light and shoots RAW d90 i was trying to do more studio stuff that fell through, so i sold it for the full frame of d700, that way i can shoot with my 35mm lens.
>-what lenses do u have and of them which do u prefer? had a 24-70 2.8 nikon lens. (sold) 35mm 2.0
i like shooting wide angle because i feel most of my stuff is meant to be seen that way. >-what lenses are u looking to add?
looking to get a 50mm and thats about it until i probably get mamiya 7II or a large format camera.
>-do u get caught up in how many MP a digital camera has?
only because i do print out my work usually at 17 x 22, the d700 should be fine if im printing that large, if i want to print large id probably shoot with a medium format camera. (mamiya 7 or mamiya 645)
here is a link to the work, let me know what you guys think? ive shot with everything from 35mm film, to medium format, to large format, to digital. so holler.
53. "RE: Photokps. Lets talk dslrs." In response to Reply # 0
>-whatcha usin?
canon 5d mark ii, and canon 20d > > >-why did u choose that particular camera?
i chose the canon 5d mark ii because i wanted to go full frame. it also performs quite well in lower light. larger prints. i'd eventually like to delve into video as well.
the canon 20d was my first dslr, and i still enjoy using this camera. i'm considering getting the color sensor converted into a black & white infrared sensor.
> > >-what lenses do u have and of them which do u prefer? > canon 24-70mm f/2.8L canon 17-40mm f/4.0L canon 85mm f/1.8 canon 50mm f.1.4 lensbaby composer
the 24-70mm is my walkaround lens.
> >-what lenses are u looking to add? >
my next purchase will be the 85mm f/1.2L II. most of my work is in portraiture. i tested this lens out on a few occasions and really love the bokeh, and ability to shoot in minimal light.
> > >-do u get caught up in how many MP a digital camera has? > yes, and no. unfortunately, that is what most people tend to consider the most important. many of my clients appreciate being able to order large sized images, so that is a plus. but too many megapixels on an aps-c sensor seems a bit like overkill. another reason i went full frame. noise levels are more of a concern to me overall since i enjoy using natural light as often as possible.
some of my work can be viewed in my signature below.
63. "RE: Photokps. Lets talk dslrs." In response to Reply # 0
-whatcha usin?
Canon 50d / Panasonic Lx-3 (Want to pick up a 5d for full frame once a good one pops up on CL)
-why did u choose that particular camera? 50d was a gift... the Lx3 I picked up for a great semi-pocketable joint to keep close most of the time
-what lenses do u have and of them which do u prefer?
28-135 Kit - This thing gets NO run anymore been benched for months need to sell it
85mm 1.8 - Picked this up as my first prime.. pretty specific use good tool to learn depth of field with + works well in a high school gym for basketball games
24-70mm 2.8L - I don't think this has come off the camera since I picked the lens up.
-what lenses are u looking to add?
looking at something with a little more reach 70-200 f4 or the 2.8... but thats waaaaaaaaaay after the holidays the budget already getting tight.
-do u get caught up in how many MP a digital camera has? Not at all... after seeing with the 10mp lx3 can do I pay much more attention to glass/ sensor type.
68. "Looking to upgrade with a Nikon for the wifey..." In response to Reply # 0
She's deadset on Nikon series but I want to make sure I buy the right one for the right price. Is there a major difference between the D80/D90 series and the D3000/D5000 series? Want to make sure I get the most bang for my buck.
70. "what does she shoot, and how often?" In response to Reply # 68
one really nice thing about the d90 is that you can adjust practically everything from the outside of the body, without having to go through menus, similar to some of the higher-end cameras. Really speeds things up when you're trying to adjust AF and metering modes.
You’d have to buy AF-S ones, which sometimes cost more ($120 50mm f/1.8 AF-D vs $450 50mm f/1.8). The D90 and D80 will focus just fine with the older lenses.
Also, the D80 and D3k use CCD sensors whereas the D5k and D90 use better CMOS sensors.
I’d say the D90 is the best bet, although you can get a refurbed D3k for $375 online.
73. "appreciate the feedback..." In response to Reply # 68
I can at least act like I know what I'm talking about when discussing the options now. One more question... is Canon or another brand comparable to Nikon or is that the equivalent to the xbox vs. ps3 argument?
74. "Yeah, Canon and Nikon are the two big dogs" In response to Reply # 73
They're generally very similar quality wise altho Canon's that shoot video do that better at the moment. Last I saw they also had similar market share (although that might be changing with all the people buying 7Ds and 5Ds to shoot video with.
You have some brand evangelist with cameras, but generally don't have the same big fanboys you find in video games (or Mac/PC, Droid/iPhone, etc.) because most photographers agree that you can make good photos with the worst pieces of shit cameras out there if you know what you're doing.
in terms of straight image quality, canon cameras generally do better than nikon, especially at this price point. nikon generally has easier-to-use software in the camera though, like menu navigation and stuff is more intuitive. these differences are really slight though, and pretty subjective.
one important thing not to overlook is how the camera feels in your hands. You want to go to a store, practice taking a few photos, then keeping your hands in position on the camera practice switching things like aperture and shutter, drive mode, AF mode, ISO, white balance, quality settings and stuff. If she's going to be using it a lot it's really important to know how it's going to handle.
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