Photography Equipment & Software Thread

[Rev]

I coped with manual focus on a Canon 50mm 1.8 on a 350D fine due to wanting to learn to focus manually*. It's not easy, but in a controllable environment I'd save the money when it is the biggest concern.

*Obviously since Canon's are proper cameras this was due to personal choice

[sonicwave]

...A while back I was asking about 'fast glass' and all that jazz, with indoor portraiture in mind. It's totally out of my budget right now though. So I was thinking about getting a flash-you-can-wave-about-and-stuff instead. I'm guessing it would need some sort of diffuser with it....

...say £100 absolute maximum? I'm broke.

I've also heard nice things about the 35mm f/1.8, and the new 50mm f/1.8 (AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G) sounds interesting too, and will also autofocus on a D40. My local camera-store has it at half the price of the 50mm f/1.4, which should be around (maybe a bit more) than the £100 mentioned. The 50mm f/1.4 was my first extra lens (been using a D40 with the kit-lens, then a D5000 with the kit-lens), and I was blown away by the possibilities the extra stops of light provide (due to the lower f-number) - especially indoors. It also compliments the kit-lens very well, although you might find yourself only using the 50mm should you get around to buying one - that happened in my case at least...

And to add a bit:

...i am not aware of the status of the D3000 and 5000's...

No focus motor here either...

...on a D40. I am not sure what it's live view abilities are like...

Non-existing. You'll need a D9, D3100, D5000 or newer for live-view.

[mindgames]

What's the deal with camera shops, do they let you try out lenses on your own camera?

And anyone know the best camera shops in Manchester?

[Nicky]

Theres a Calumet Photographic in manchester. i've never been though but their online stuff is decent. ive bought big from them before and had decent service.

http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/

[Rev]

What's the deal with camera shops, do they let you try out lenses on your own camera?

And anyone know the best camera shops in Manchester?

Just ask. And if they say no, leave.

Last time I was buying I rammed a £79 leather case into my coat pocket after asking if I could. It got stuck and then I didn't buy it.

[Alan Stock]

What's the deal with camera shops, do they let you try out lenses on your own camera?

And anyone know the best camera shops in Manchester?

The Real Camera shop is brilliant, second hand kit of all descriptions and ages. The guys there are very knowledgeable and helpful, plus they let you try out stuff. Other than that it's mostly the high street photography chains in Manchester.

http://www.realcamera.co.uk/

[g wings]

Spent the last few days looking at Leica rangefinders and lenses. Even though I don't need one even slightly, and couldn't even afford to *rent* one for a week...

Anyone ever used an M9? Love it or hate it?

I still own an M6 (film camera). I used to have an M8 with some amazing lenses (f1 50mm Noctilux, f1.2 75mm Summilux, f2 35mm Summicron, etc). I sold the M8 in the end as the prices of used lenses had sky rocketed and I cashed-in. I regret it now of course! If it wasn't for the fact that I have a baby on the way I would probably make the switch again.

Overall the rangefinder experience is utterly different to using an SLR and, for me, much more pleasurable. I don't really enjoy taking photos with my Canon kit like I do with rangefinders. The big downside to rangefinders is that you obviously have no autofocus and no zoom lenses. The big upside is that the lenses are generally small for their quality and even moving down a grade from Leica or Zeiss glass and instead going for Voigtlander lenses will give you super fast high quality lenses.

[minkee]

Thanks for all the help on this boys and girls. It's much appreciated!

But definitely, definitely, definitely go with a lens first. A powerful flash is an excellent way to mess up lots of photos and they involve a lot of learning and practice to get right. So, lens. 50mm is lovely - I'd go with that and I'd be fairly tempted to just rely on manual focusing. You'll get used to it and if it's portraits where you've got time to get it nailed then it's not too inconvenient really.

I think you're right in that the lens would be best. In my day-to-day photography I could proooobably get away with manual focus. I guess. Although most of my friends are the 'hide from cameras' types, and I need to be quick to get them (eg. look - it's 5 "sneak attacks" to one "will look at the camera" http://screencast.com/t/LepMZYlP ) AND 90% of my photos are actually of my cats and dog.... but really, who needs to see them? Flashes are probably inappropriate in both these situations, anyway. I'd like to think that my illustrator brain 'gets' light, though. In a way that it doesn't get all the numbers involved in photography.

But the thing that has prompted me into action is that my budding games journalist friend has coerced me into going to i43 as his photographer. It's not like I expect to do anything fancy, but I'm imagining it will be all indoors lit by horrible lights and monitors. I'd like to get _something_ by then, so I don't supply him with a blurry mess. And it won't be a controlled environment (not by me, anyway) and it won't be posed shots with plenty of time to learn to focus.

Decisions decisions. Best solution would be to find a local photographer friend whose stuff I can borrow. Maybe I should be looking out for one of those, instead

Or make some friggin money.

[Rev]

For the home stuff, I'd probably be tempted to save up and spend the money on an autofocus lens - animals and manual focus aren't a perfect combination. I wouldn't use a flash for those though, you'll just make yourself unpopular!

For the event, have you considered hiring?

http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/nikon-af-s-24-70mm-f28-g-ed-56-p.asp

That'd be great, especially if you charge your friend.

[Nicky]

if your choice is a manual focus 50mm 1.8, or an AF capable 35 1.8, on your body go for the AF one. a manual lens on your d40 with no live view and a poor viewfinder is going to be fucking horrible to use.

[futureshock]

Totally agree - manual focusing with the aperture wide open is going to be murder, and yet it's the reason you're buying it in the first place.

[minkee]

Thank you again, clever people. I will definitely save for one of them, then. And keep an eye out for a cheap one on ebay etc (is that a bad idea with camera equipment?).

Also, I DID NOT KNOW YOU COULD HIRE STUFF. You guys are great. <3

edit: that one you linked to - what does it do? ;x I know it should get easier, but these things just don't translate in my brain to anything meaningful. It's a problem.

[futureshock]

Don't hire that lens! It'll make you sad when you have to return it

[Rev]

Basically what your kit lens does, but better. PUNCHMANS 9000 (or other Nikon type) is the guy to ask, but that one looks pretty good to me.

[minkee]

Haha, I was thinking exactly that, too [edit: that I'd be sad to send it back, I mean. too slow!]

I KNOW I must sound terribly dense and all (and I know I keep saying that too!), but now you've got me looking at AF-S (inbuilt motor so I can autofocus), f1.8 (really big aperture [hole] for letting lots of light through) 35mm and 50mm lenses. I don't really get what the last part means. I tried to look it up too, but it just confused me even more, talking about digital lenses and true slr lenses and wide angles and telephotos all kinds of crap that I don't understand.

What's the difference between the 35mm and the 50mm? If I'm going to have to save up / cross my fingers that this big job that I've got lined up comes off / spend a fair amount of money anyway, is it worth spending the difference for one over the other?

[Rev]

Here ya go:

http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator.html

http://www.tamron-usa.com/a20special/zoom.asp

Not perfect, but it's a good start.

[sonicwave]

As you can probably see from the simulator linked in the previous post, the "mm" number is basically the amount you are zooming in. You probably have the standard 18-55mm kit lens for your D40, right? That will zoom from 18mm (the wide end - takes in a lot of the scene) to 55mm (zoomed in - much narrower field of view). The 35mm and 50mm lenses are fixed, so to change what gets into the picture, you'll have to physically move around (can be a bit annoying if you are used to being able to zoom, but shouldn't take long to get used to).

You can get a feel for what it will be like shooting with the 35mm or 50mm lenses, by simply setting your own 18-55mm to either 35 or 50mm, and keeping it there (just use the markings on the lens). Of course, it wont give you the advantage of the f/1.8 though (which will allow you to take in much more light, and also have a much shallower depth of field - helpful for getting those shots with blurred backgrounds)

[Rev]

Can we recommend it again? I think we can:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Exposure-3rd-Photographs-Camera/dp/0817439390/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310487405&sr=1-1

Minkee: Buy this. Read it (it won't take too long). All photography will make more sense. If you're still feeling a bit less than confident:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Langfords-Basic-Photography-Serious-Photographers/dp/0240521684/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310487502&sr=1-1

Is probably the best straight text book I've come across. LOTS of reading in that. Maybe more of a borrow from a library one...

[gerald.d]

Totally agree - manual focusing with the aperture wide open is going to be murder

But oh so rewarding.

[futureshock]

But oh so rewarding.

I spent years with manual SLRs...it's not something I miss.

edit - if only because I've never found a focus system within a DSLR that was as as good as the old stuff.

[Rev]

The 14mm I got the other week is ace for manual focus - anything beyond 3m (ie. Most Things) is at infinity.

This is convenient as it doesn't actually have AF.

[minkee]

Thank you all, again I understand perfectly now! \o/

Also that book looks good, reading through the 'look inside'.

[rundll]

I still own an M6 (film camera). I used to have an M8 with some amazing lenses (f1 50mm Noctilux, f1.2 75mm Summilux, f2 35mm Summicron, etc). I sold the M8 in the end as the prices of used lenses had sky rocketed and I cashed-in. I regret it now of course! If it wasn't for the fact that I have a baby on the way I would probably make the switch again.

Overall the rangefinder experience is utterly different to using an SLR and, for me, much more pleasurable. I don't really enjoy taking photos with my Canon kit like I do with rangefinders. The big downside to rangefinders is that you obviously have no autofocus and no zoom lenses. The big upside is that the lenses are generally small for their quality and even moving down a grade from Leica or Zeiss glass and instead going for Voigtlander lenses will give you super fast high quality lenses.

A film version is tempting. It seems that the film bodies and M lenses will retain their value well, whereas a digital Leica could lose value fast. Though it's hard to tell if the M8 being so reportedly half-baked didn't help reduce it's price. I assume you liked your M8?

There also seems to be wide ranging opinions about which is the best film version to get. And which is the best rangefinder magnification, something I have no way perspective on having never used one. I actually quite like the 'tunnel' I get in my cheaper canon dSLR.

[g wings]

A film version is tempting. It seems that the film bodies and M lenses will retain their value well, whereas a digital Leica could lose value fast. Though it's hard to tell if the M8 being so reportedly half-baked didn't help reduce it's price. I assume you liked your M8?

There also seems to be wide ranging opinions about which is the best film version to get. And which is the best rangefinder magnification, something I have no way perspective on having never used one. I actually quite like the 'tunnel' I get in my cheaper canon dSLR.

The M8 was pretty flawed but still a joy to use. They have held their value better than I was expecting to be honest. I had the Epson R-D1 before the M8. it was the first digital rangefinder and it had a 1.0 magnification. 1.0 was brilliant in lots of ways but the standard .72 is more all purpose for various focal lengths and you can always use a finder magnifier when needed. If I were buying a film M it would be the M7. Not the ultimate Leica elitists choice I guess but certainly very practical, user-friendly and lasts forever.

If you want to dabble first then you can't go wrong with a Bessa as a cheap, but still excellent, intro to rangefinders.

[joshi.4176]

Get your free copy of Capture One! (Digital Photographer giveaway)

Saw this on another forum and thought I would post it here. Not my preferred software but for free you can't argue .

[T Pot]

I'm heading to the Wickerman festival next weekend and I'm taking my camera gear with me. Two questions though...

Early weather report says its going to be wet... What should I do to protect my camera in the rain (if it is really heavy)

I have a Canon 50mm F1.8 and a Tamron 18-270 F3.5-6.3 lens. What tips could you give me for when the bit gets dark? I've never taken photos at a gig/of crowds in the dark.

Cheers

[Nicky]

as soon as it gets dark, ditch the zoom. then the 50mm will be your bitch. keep it wide open, and get your ISO as wide as you can at satisfactory quality. one thing to note though is, you can get away with a fair amount of noise for band shots, mostly becuase it can be quite atmospheric. as long as you make sure its monochromatic noise and not colour noise.

as for weather. try find a large enough resealable clear bag. like these things if you can find a big enough one

.

Does teh canon 50mm 1.8 extend out of the body on focusing? i cant remember. either way you can cut a lens size hole out of the plastic bag, poke the end of the lens through it, then tape it around the barrel. that way you'll have a nice makeshift waterproof camera

oh and position the bag with the opening at the bottom of the camera, that way you can still get your hands inside for the controls without rain getting in.

the joys of ghetto weatherproofing!

[NecroMorrius]

Quick tip:

The lynda.com Lightroom Essentials 3 training sessions are really excellent. I'm whizzing through them to plug any gaps in knowledge and learn some new stuff. You can watch a few videos from the sessions on their site to get a taster.

There are a couple of ways to get ahold of them, you can purchase the DVD (it's a bit expensive at $99) or get a subscription to lynda for about $25 a month. Alternatively you could Jack Sparrow them if you're feeling adventurous.

[Rev]

My camera is allegedly repaired. This is significantly scarier than handing it over - going to get it back tomorrow.

Fingers crossed.

[88h88]

as soon as it gets dark, ditch the zoom. then the 50mm will be your bitch. keep it wide open, and get your ISO as wide as you can at satisfactory quality. one thing to note though is, you can get away with a fair amount of noise for band shots, mostly becuase it can be quite atmospheric. as long as you make sure its monochromatic noise and not colour noise.

I took these on my old 350D using the 50mm 1.8 in the dingiest, darkest cellar club in Rotherham a few years back. Manual focus as auto just couldn't work fast enough and snapsnapsnap. Out of 1200 shots I got maybe 150 usable ones, out of that 150 only a few dozen are what I'd class as 'good' photos. Noisetacular due to there being fuck all constant lighting and my poor little 350 struggling.

Tiny piddly Facebook uploads;