Photography Tips & Tricks

[HK]

Oh the shame of a camera phone!


Actually I'm with Zirc, I put my camera on automatic a lot of the time, mainly when I'm outside. For indoor shots though it never seems to know what's best for itself, so then I have to fiddle about with the settings. I really need to write myself a cheat sheet for the right settings for indoor, low lighting events.

 

[Siphorous]

*points to last comp winner, where two of the three winners were P&S* :nod:

 

[Tuffdisc]

Good camera tips alert
http://www.photozz.com/fizz/20545518.aspx

 

[purpledove]

Does anyone have any idea or experience with lens extenders ?? What are the pros and cons? I was advised that instead of buying an additional lens, might as well buy an extender.

Is a lens hood advisable for light control/glare ? Does it help? Is it worth the $$ ??

Thanks

 

[Siphorous]

Hopefully, someone else with more experience of both of those things will provide some advice but from my perspective - what I've read previously about extenders may be similar to that of the 'macro' gizmos like this for example:

That being, they can do a reasonable job - but perhaps not as well as a true macro lens. However, I can't personally vouch for those type of things as I've not used them.

Also - another point to bear in mind, the quality of your shot will only be as good as your weakest link.

So for example - you may have a fantastic camera with an awesome lens but if you shove a two dollar extender in the middle - it may not result in a great shot.

 

[Tuffdisc]

Does anyone have any idea or experience with lens extenders ?? What are the pros and cons? I was advised that instead of buying an additional lens, might as well buy an extender.

Is a lens hood advisable for light control/glare ? Does it help? Is it worth the $$ ??

Thanks

Pricey, though not as pricey as buying a bigger lens. You have to take into account that they will only fit EF type lenses, they won't fit EF-S lenses (you will see the markings on the lens itself). Apart from the nifty fifty (50mm f/1.8 MkII) most EF lenses are a bit pricey.

Lens hood is primarily used for controlling the glare though not the amount of light going through the lens, that is done depending on the exposure.

Lens hood is stop or limit this going on http://digital-photography-school.com/wp-content/lens-flare.jpg, source of lens flare (glare) can be the sun or street lamps

 

[purpledove]

That being, they can do a reasonable job - but perhaps not as well as a true macro lens. However, I can't personally vouch for those type of things as I've not used them.

I was planning of getting the nifty fifty and/or 70-300 mm lens. The guy who uses extenders does lots of wedding/portrait shots and has pretty good pics, although he maybe limited. I think I'll be doing more landscape and flower,insect etc shots over portraits/wedding hence am looking for a good lens to cover those.

[Also - another point to bear in mind, the quality of your shot will only be as good as your weakest link.

So for example - you may have a fantastic camera with an awesome lens but if you shove a two dollar extender in the middle - it may not result in a great shot.

The extenders i had seen so far are not really cheap as one can just get them singly hence maybe can be done in increments for the next sizes :unsure: But you have a good point .

 

[purpledove]

Pricey, though not as pricey as buying a bigger lens. You have to take into account that they will only fit EF type lenses, they won't fit EF-S lenses (you will see the markings on the lens itself). Apart from the nifty fifty (50mm f/1.8 MkII) most EF lenses are a bit pricey.

What's the difference between EF and EF S lenses? Shall i look at my manual to be able to know what fits my camera ?? I think i should eh.

Lens hood is primarily used for controlling the glare though not the amount of light going through the lens, that is done depending on the exposure.

Lens hood is stop or limit this going on http://digital-photography-school.com/wp-content/lens-flare.jpg, source of lens flare (glare) can be the sun or street lamps

I got lots of glare while doing a waterfall and some sunset shots over the weekend. Although then, I only had my P&S as i didnt know how rough the mountain trail was but that was the problem i encountered. So i guess the hood helps in this situation then as the pic you attached was exactly what i had with the waterfall shot. I had to only get the lower portion of the waterfall where the glare wasn't directly affecting my shot.

 

[Tuffdisc]

What's the difference between EF and EF S lenses? Shall i look at my manual to be able to know what fits my camera ?? I think i should eh.




I got lots of glare while doing a waterfall and some sunset shots over the weekend. Although then, I only had my P&S as i didnt know how rough the mountain trail was but that was the problem i encountered. So i guess the hood helps in this situation then as the pic you attached was exactly what i had with the waterfall shot. I had to only get the lower portion of the waterfall where the glare wasn't directly affecting my shot.

Please don't get the 70-300mm, unless the L lens (pro) is in your budget, focusing is really naff

You have the 7D, so both will fit, but like I said you won't be able to use the extender with the EF-S lenses

 

[Guyzerr]

PD try and stay away from extenders if you can. I've used both the 1.4X and the 2x and you do loose some sharpness. Another negative issue with them is you loose 1 stop on the 1.4 and two stops on the 2X. That can be huge and it will annoy you to no end. I ended up selling both of mine and I won't buy another.

Buy the best lens your pocket book will allow and other than the nifty 50 try and stay away from the cheap stuff. The nifty 50 is the best prime deal on the planet but you have to keep in mind it's still a 50mm lens. If you want good reach it will cost you plenty. By deciding exactly what you need and can afford to spend and getting what will do the job for you can mean the difference between enjoying your hobby or continuously being annoyed.

As far as a lens hood is concerned it's like an Amex card. I wouldn't leave home without one. They accomplish two things. ) They stop a lot of unwanted light / glare / reflection from entering the lens. ) They act as a lens protector and protect the outer edge of your lens from bumps and scrapes.

 

[Alien Allen]

ok so tell me what is the nifty 50 great to use for??

 

[freakofnature]

Nikon included a lens hood with both lenses that I bought for my camera. Canon doesn't do this? :unsure:

 

[Guyzerr]

Nikon included a lens hood with both lenses that I bought for my camera. Canon doesn't do this? :unsure:

It depends on the lens. On the cheaper ones no .... but that seems to be changing somewhat.

 

[Guyzerr]

ok so tell me what is the nifty 50 great to use for??

I used mine mainly for inside the house stuff and for flowers. It's a very sharp lens and gives excellent results but being a 50mm it isn't much good for landscape stuff imo.

 

[Siphorous]

Thoughts on this? :

Bear in mind I often do try to look for very cheap things that don't require another mortgage if I feel they can do a job that's good enough for me (even if not for perfectionists ).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Samyang-650-1300mm-Tele-Lens-Sony-Alpha-A350-A900-/180634849857

A vid of someone using this with a 2x converter too.

[video=youtube;n32SJufZNk0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n32SJufZNk0[/video]

 

[Guyzerr]

Thoughts on this? :

1 - http://www.epinions.com/review/pr-P...us_Lens_T-Mount_Required/content_105195015812

2 - Max. Aperture: f/8.0

:eek

 

[Siphorous]

1 - http://www.epinions.com/review/pr-P...us_Lens_T-Mount_Required/content_105195015812

2 - Max. Aperture: f/8.0

:eek

Hmm. Good points. I was considering it for some experimental photography because of it being so cheap for what it was - but perhaps the bad points do outweigh any good points it had (the extreme range).

 

[Guyzerr]

Hmm. Good points. I was considering it for some experimental photography because of it being so cheap for what it was - but perhaps the bad points do outweigh any good points it had (the extreme range).

Well it is only 229 quid or what ever you call 'em and if you can afford to piss it away it could be an interesting experiment. If I was to fool around with something like that it would have to be mounted to a real heavy duty tripod but even at that I wouldn't expect much from it.

 

[Francis]

1 - http://www.epinions.com/review/pr-P...us_Lens_T-Mount_Required/content_105195015812

2 - Max. Aperture: f/8.0

:eek

I was looking at Telescopes and f/8.0 is the norm even on Professional ones for the Camera :eek

I think it has to do with the fact you are taking a picture of space and nothing will be really close.. Does the f/8.0 really matter when the Moon is 384403 km (238857 miles) away ?

http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes...h-GoTo-Controller/pc/-1/c/1/sc/23/p/24729.uts

 

[Guyzerr]

I was looking at Telescopes and f/8.0 is the norm even on Professional ones for the Camera :eek

There's a big difference in the quality of the glass from what Siphy is looking at and what you showed ( note price difference ).

I think it has to do with the fact you are taking a picture of space and nothing will be really close.. Does the f/8.0 really matter when the Moon is 384403 km (238857 miles) away ?

http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes...h-GoTo-Controller/pc/-1/c/1/sc/23/p/24729.uts

Beats the hell out of me cuz I'm too lazy to check my moon shots to see what f stop I was at but ya... f8 would probably work depending on a lot of other things like shutter speed, ISO etc. That said.... I doubt anyone that bought that lens would use it just to shoot the moon unless they were to cheap or poor to spend the dough on a decent telescope. Most photographers would want to take pictures of ... um... say ... fly shit on the wall at 100 paces or in the alternative some sort of landscape stuff or... naked women in the highrise across town.