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The Official Camera Equipment Megathread
- Thread starter demon
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I recently bought a LowePro Fastpack 250 as a hiking/camera bag. Its similar to the sling but is a regular dual shoulder strap bag. I think a regular back pack is the way to go for hiking as it is more comfortable after a few hours. I bought the 250 model so that I could use the laptop pocket for a water-bladder and it has worked out good so far. I can get to my dslr pretty fast by swinging it off 1 shoulder and unzipping the side access pocket. I feel more secure about my camera lenses in this bag than I did with a real hiking bag. The only downside is that the back has no ventilation vs my regular hiking bag.
Oh its also a great travel bag if you are checking your luggage. I carried my camera, 3 lenses, a laptop, ipod, snacks, and other random crap on my last flight with it. The look of it doesn't scream "I'm a camera bag".
Oh its also a great travel bag if you are checking your luggage. I carried my camera, 3 lenses, a laptop, ipod, snacks, and other random crap on my last flight with it. The look of it doesn't scream "I'm a camera bag".
ana said:
why do they go so wide? If someone would just make a nice 100-500, or even a 200-500 with great optics and OS. 50-500 is too much spread. They don't need to appeal to people wanting a walkaround zoom, nobody will pay that money or lug around such a heavy lens. So its for specific tasks. That audience will I expect trade 50mm on the wide end for better optics/weight/OS/price
So after much debate I decided to replace my stock lens with an ultra wide and picked up this:
I know the Tokina 11-16 2.8 is considered the "best", but budget constraints, bigger zoom range and a good deal falling into my lap, sold me on the 12-24.
Can't wait to give it a work out!
I know the Tokina 11-16 2.8 is considered the "best", but budget constraints, bigger zoom range and a good deal falling into my lap, sold me on the 12-24.
Can't wait to give it a work out!
IJoel said:
One of the best, cheapest books on photography is an older edition of this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Photography-Barbara-London/dp/0321011082
NintendoGal
Member
BlueTsunami said:
rvd2kewl said:
Thanks guys! Think I may go with the first, but will read up on both more thoroughly.
SaitoH said:So after much debate I decided to replace my stock lens with an ultra wide and picked up this:
I know the Tokina 11-16 2.8 is considered the "best", but budget constraints, bigger zoom range and a good deal falling into my lap, sold me on the 12-24.
Can't wait to give it a work out!
I got one too since I found a nice deal on a used one. I was considering the 11-16 but didn't feel like waiting to save.
So far its challenging to use it to its full potential but it does help for taking shots in tight places.
Big Papa Husker
Member
I am thinking about getting a new camera. I really am not a photo enthusiast, so I probably only need a point and shoot. I have been looking at the Canon SD780. Can anyone give me a mini review on it? I have an old Canon A80 from 2004 and finally think it is time to upgrade.
reggieandTFE
Member
Alucrid said:
You're generally going to want a wide-angle lens with a short focal length for landscapes. Nature photography can vary. If it's birds or or creatures far away you're going to want a telephoto lens with fast autofocus.
JLateralus
Member
IJoel said:
One book I recently picked up is Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. I think it does a good job of explaining the relationship between shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.
I would go with a standard zoom. I love my 12-60, it goes from 12mm wide to short telephoto range. I end up shooting a lot of landscape around 18-35.(36-70mm on full frame)Alucrid said:
Wide angle isnt always the best for landscapes. Wide angle is going to make it look like you're further away from what your looking at than you actually are.
BlueTsunami
there is joy in sucking dick
Alucrid said:
I definitely agree with captive as far as using a Zoom. If you're set on using a Prime though (which I do mostly), I would use a 28, 35 or 50mm for a Crop camera or a 50mm for Full Frame.
Big Papa Husker
Member
Ok, I was going to order the SD780, but Amazon just sold out. I saw that the SD940 was the newer version of it. Does anyone have one? What do you think?
not necessarily true.reggieandTFE said:
I bought a 16-35 (to go on full frame) for a recent trip, have just sold it (for the same price I bought it lol). i used 24-105 much more, wished I had longer, especially for landscapes. YMMV, I prefer details/compressed landscape type shots to vistas.
Big Papa Husker
Member
So I just went to Best Buy to see the SD780. Unfortunately, they didn't carry it anymore but carry the upgrade, the SD1400. Anyway, after looking at it and its features I feel it would be a downgrade from my A80. After trying to narrow down comparable camera, I have came up with 3: The Panasonic ZS7, Sony HX5 and Canon SX210.
Does anyone have one of these? Any comments? I am looking for one with good video quality so I am leaning more towards the ZS7 and HX5 since they use the AVCHD codec. I guess the only bad thing I have been seeing about the ZS7 is that if you try to film anything bright, it can cause vertical streams like older camcorders. For anyone that has either of these cameras, does this happen constantly or is it rare?
EDIT: I was looking at test videos (downloaded originals from Vimeo) from reviews on www.cameralabs.com and the videos by both the Canon and Panasonic look choppy compared to the really smooth look by the Sony. Is it just because the Sony is 1080i or could it be some weird setting on the Panasonic and Canon?
Does anyone have one of these? Any comments? I am looking for one with good video quality so I am leaning more towards the ZS7 and HX5 since they use the AVCHD codec. I guess the only bad thing I have been seeing about the ZS7 is that if you try to film anything bright, it can cause vertical streams like older camcorders. For anyone that has either of these cameras, does this happen constantly or is it rare?
EDIT: I was looking at test videos (downloaded originals from Vimeo) from reviews on www.cameralabs.com and the videos by both the Canon and Panasonic look choppy compared to the really smooth look by the Sony. Is it just because the Sony is 1080i or could it be some weird setting on the Panasonic and Canon?
Just got a used Sigma 24mm f1.8 Macro, the guy shipped it to me poorly packed, and there's a heavy thud when I move the lens around. It doesn't seem to affect the focusing, and the optics seem ok, so I don't know if that's just the heavy focus mechanism sliding around or something.
Lightroom 3 comes with amazing non-destructive lens correction features. That's easily my top feature request. The one more thing I'd like now is channel-based curves and I'll practically never need to leave Lightroom for photo work again.
I have to throw in a recommendation for the photography blog Petavoxel, that updated today with another informative technical article about the compromises involved regarding large apertures vis-à-vis zoom lens design. There's a lot of critical content on that site about the bullshit of zooms and high density sensors that mean nothing in the pursuit of great image quality.
JLateralus
Member
Ok... so about a month ago, I purchased a refurbished Canon EF-S 55-250mm IS from Adorama. I got it out of the box, and it reeked like it was sprayed by a skunk.
I contacted Adorama about it, and they told me that "an animal must have been in contact with it after it left our warehouse", which was obviously bull. The box didn't stink, just the lens did. Anyway, they took it back and exchanged it for another copy of the lens.
Yesterday, I get the new lens... open it up and... same smell! Could it perhaps be the rubber on the lens? I hadn't purchased a refurb Canon lens before this one, but I got my 50mm brand new and it didn't have any odor. Do some of them just stink?
I contacted Adorama about it, and they told me that "an animal must have been in contact with it after it left our warehouse", which was obviously bull. The box didn't stink, just the lens did. Anyway, they took it back and exchanged it for another copy of the lens.
Yesterday, I get the new lens... open it up and... same smell! Could it perhaps be the rubber on the lens? I hadn't purchased a refurb Canon lens before this one, but I got my 50mm brand new and it didn't have any odor. Do some of them just stink?
Instigator
Banned
Canon defense force assemble!
fan-made by an individual. Don't get too excited
BlueTsunami
there is joy in sucking dick
:lol
I can't hate, Pentax and Olympus are definitely doing good shit with their cams
I can't hate, Pentax and Olympus are definitely doing good shit with their cams
Instigator
Banned
This is largely a civil thread, but sometimes, brand loyalties are just beneath the surface...
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
Capture NX2 needs to be ported to PS3 and Wii! Totally.
BlueTsunami
there is joy in sucking dick
Wario64 said:
Some sports shooters and nature photogs use them since they're constantly kneeling or completely on their knees. Though I wouldn't rock the look, even with the added comfort :lol
Technosteve
Banned
Hey cameraphiles, I need your opinion I have owned a SLR for the last 10 years and I have decided to give it up. They stop making my fav. Black and White film and processing and printing are expensive. I am thinking of getting a nice micro 4/3 camera since i'm tired of the weight and size of SLR.
So anyone of yous guys own a Olympus E-P1/2 or a Panasonic GF1, i like the form factor and feel less obtrusive in public.
So anyone of yous guys own a Olympus E-P1/2 or a Panasonic GF1, i like the form factor and feel less obtrusive in public.
I was at a nature reserve lodge type place recently and... daaaammmn, shooting wildlife is awfully troublesome.
For one I had low light conditions. For two my maximum shutter speed (Sony a380) didn't seem nowhere near fast enough*. Finally I don't have the patience for it. : (
*I've now figured out you have to time it right; these hummingbirds came to their feeders and you have to snap just as they withdraw.
I can post a few pics if anyone's interested in a festival of failure...
EDIT: I'm sure part of the problem is my crappy lense that came bundled with my camera. Haven't purchased a new one simply because I haven't had time. I was thinking of something along the lines of one of these:
Sony 75-300mm
Sigma 18-250mm
Sigma 70-300mm
Just for general purpose use. Any opinions?
For one I had low light conditions. For two my maximum shutter speed (Sony a380) didn't seem nowhere near fast enough*. Finally I don't have the patience for it. : (
*I've now figured out you have to time it right; these hummingbirds came to their feeders and you have to snap just as they withdraw.
I can post a few pics if anyone's interested in a festival of failure...
EDIT: I'm sure part of the problem is my crappy lense that came bundled with my camera. Haven't purchased a new one simply because I haven't had time. I was thinking of something along the lines of one of these:
Sony 75-300mm
Sigma 18-250mm
Sigma 70-300mm
Just for general purpose use. Any opinions?
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
If you're in low light, set up multiple flashes, kill the ambient, and freeze the hummingbirds with the flash. Hard to do, but the results can look really good.slider said:
Here's a new video that I shot of a photographer on a photoshoot. She shot on a 5D, I shot on a 7D.
http://vimeo.com/11269310
http://vimeo.com/11269310
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
If you can help it, try to keep the majority of the flash off the axis of the lens (i.e. pointing at the birds from any other direction than straight on). Off-camera flash usually looks better that way.slider said:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2008/08/art-on-wing-bradford-fullers-fly-in.htmlslider said:
this might give you somewhere to start from in terms of setup
Fanboyism for Camera's is largely pretty stupid/funny. :lol
You can nitpick over purple fringing between lens A and lens B and test with several different pieces of equipment and filters in different lighting conditions, or selectively point out features that one Camera has over some other ones, but that isn't really what photography is about. There are some very famous pictures that had very shitty conditions for taking them that ended up being pictures that anyone in this thread should know of.
I always thought photography was about Composition/Quality, communicating what the Photographer meant to portray through to the end product, instead of bickering.
You can nitpick over purple fringing between lens A and lens B and test with several different pieces of equipment and filters in different lighting conditions, or selectively point out features that one Camera has over some other ones, but that isn't really what photography is about. There are some very famous pictures that had very shitty conditions for taking them that ended up being pictures that anyone in this thread should know of.
I always thought photography was about Composition/Quality, communicating what the Photographer meant to portray through to the end product, instead of bickering.
Thanks guys. I hadn't really realised how complicated photography can be! Sometimes I find myself longing for my point and click... but I'm determined to get better.
What I think would be really good for me is going out with someone else and snapping pics. A friend of mine with some fancy Canon has promised to take me out and we can compare notes. Looking forward to it.
What I think would be really good for me is going out with someone else and snapping pics. A friend of mine with some fancy Canon has promised to take me out and we can compare notes. Looking forward to it.
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
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