The Photography Thread

[Tyche]

Anyone care to recommend a tripod that doesn't cost as much as the camera I bought?

[mootsfox]

Anyone care to recommend a tripod that doesn't cost as much as the camera I bought?

How much did you spend on the camera?

[Nightbreed]

This is my tripod of choice, $147.00

http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-055X...1526046&sr=8-1

BUT

I used this one for quite a bit with zero issues, if you are sticking with the kit lens for a while you can give this one a shot, ~$25ish

http://www.amazon.com/Sunpak-620-020...1526166&sr=1-5

How often will it get used, and where she is going to use the Tripod will factor in alot to what you need.

[Tyche]

Paid $750 for the camera. It's a Canon 500D. The biggest lens I'll stick on it for the time being is a Sigma 70-300mm, with, possibly a kenko extension tube set. I can't imagine myself buy anything larger for now. Only lenses I plan on buying for a while is the 70-300mm, and a 50mm prime.

Will Probably use the tripod a bit for the video feature, and I'd like something that will collapse to a low enough height to get some macro shots with the sigma lens, as well as whatever other misc uses we see fit.

[mootsfox]

I've got both the 055XPROB and the 190XPROB legs. Both are great. The 055's are heavier and higher (wanna say around 16" taller at full height) but weigh more and the legs are a fair bit longer, even folded up. The 055's also feel stronger and better built, but that's probably just from the weight increase.

If you go with the Manfrotto legs, be sure to get the XPROB model, since it's the one with the rotating and flipping center pole.

I use a 484 mini ball head on my monopod and a 488RC2 as my main head.
http://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-488R.../dp/B00009R6N0

You're looking at about $230-270 for that setup depending on how good of a deal you can find.

[Nightbreed]

Agreed with mootsfox, if you are planning on a longer lens stick with some Manfrotto legs, they will last a very long time and are quite durable.

[zoobernut]

Moots have you ever used Gitzo legs? I have heard good things about them as well though they tend to be more towards the expensive side.

[mootsfox]

Moots have you ever used Gitzo legs? I have heard good things about them as well though they tend to be more towards the expensive side.

I haven't used any outside of a store. They feel great, but I don't really have $300 to drop on legs alone, and I'm still not sold on the twistlock style legs, which is all Gitzo sells.

I know someone with set of Gitzo legs and a Wimberly head and they absolutly love it, but it's supporting a D3 and 10k in glass.

[zoobernut]

So did anyone get any new equipment for the holidays? My good friend got me my first medium format camera so I am going to have some fun playing around with it. 100% manual no light meter so it will be a learning curve but it is nice, Lubitel 166B takes 6x6 pictures on 120 film.

Moots you have any good tips for figuring out shutter speed/aperture by eye?

[Tyche]

So did anyone get any new equipment for the holidays? My good friend got me my first medium format camera so I am going to have some fun playing around with it. 100% manual no light meter so it will be a learning curve but it is nice, Lubitel 166B takes 6x6 pictures on 120 film.

Moots you have any good tips for figuring out shutter speed/aperture by eye?

You can get a light meter. Or, Kodak has formula's for estimating exposure. "Sunny F/16 rule: Set aperture to F/16 and your shutter speed to the closest number to your ISO".

I got a gadget bag and "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. Wonderful book.

[mootsfox]

So did anyone get any new equipment for the holidays? My good friend got me my first medium format camera so I am going to have some fun playing around with it. 100% manual no light meter so it will be a learning curve but it is nice, Lubitel 166B takes 6x6 pictures on 120 film.

Moots you have any good tips for figuring out shutter speed/aperture by eye?

As Tyche said, the Sunny 16 rule works wonders once you know equivalent exposures. If you have 400 ISO film, in a sunny situation you'd be at f/16 and 1/400" of a second.

Or you can get a handheld light meter. Old ones are almost free and would be helpful if you're shooting on 120, which is not cheap to develop.

I bought myself a 17-55mm f/2.8 zoom for my bday/xmas, and used gift cards to buy a clearance bag and battery at Best Buy.

[zoobernut]

Yeah I have heard the sunny 16 rule but I usually shoot in cloudy or overcast conditions or at sunset/sunrise. Reminds me now I need to get a tripod for this thing.

Also I did find a light meter I might pick up but it is $180 and I am not quite sure it will be worth it. I can just use my digital camera as a light meter for now I guess.

I will try to post pictures as soon as I have some good ones from this new camera. I am almost done with my first roll of film in it.


Yeah processing on 120 film is not cheap. I am going to start with less expensive film to start then once I get the hang of it I want to try out some Fujifilm Velvia 100 I hear great things about the colors you can get from that film.

[mootsfox]

You can use f/11 for overcast and f/8 for cloudy, with the same rules otherwise.

Check eBay for older light meters. The newer ones have way more features then you'll need for that camera in regular light.

[zoobernut]

Thanks for the tip. I will check it out and see if I can find a cheap one.

[Tyche]

Found this while I was trying to find those old Kodak Formula's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposure_value#EV_as_an_indicator_of_camera_settin gs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposur...xposure_values

If you want to trot that table around, more power to you.

[zoobernut]

Yeah in my little experiment, first foray into trying to do this by eye I have been using a chart similar to that in order to figure it out. It will be interesting to see if it turns out.

[Tyche]

I was screwing with the kit lens, a table lamp, and the cliche scrabble board. I shot these wide open at 55mm. 100 ISO. Only PP I did was white balance adjustment, which I'm not sure I like. Makes it seem underexposed to me, but probably my newbie eyes.



100% crop

Also, My wife's aunt adopted a Guatemalan girl. She is absolutely adorable. I got a few shots of her at christmas. Everything at Christmas was shot in low quality JPEG, but I just wanted to post the picture because I laughed when I first looked at it. I hope it's noticeable in this picture, but if you look closely, the focus point was a couple strands of hair in front of her face. I was shocked the camera picked that up. Maybe I shouldn't be.


I wish I hadn't shot this in low quality JPEG, because I loved how the colors turned out, especially with the lights and shirt...


It's OK to tell me what I did wrong, I'm new at this, so ripping me is welcomed. I just finished Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure", I think I'm going to read Ansel Adams "The Camera" next. I wish I had the time to take some classes. I'm having a lot of fun with this.

[Swatt]

http://nickzkcin.com/tw/DSC_0031.jpg

http://nickzkcin.com/tw/DSC_0033.jpg

http://nickzkcin.com/tw/DSC_0034.jpg

http://nickzkcin.com/tw/DSC_0041.jpg

http://nickzkcin.com/tw/DSC_0043.jpg

got a 55-200 for real cheap ($150) and spent a morning putzing around with it.

contemplating a 10-24mm now

[wipers]

Those pictures are great. Swatt. They look professional.

[Swatt]

thanks

have only had the D60 for a few months but i'm learning the best I can. one of my 2010 resolutions is to learn to be a better photographer overall.

one of the projects i'm undertaking for 2010 is a 'Project 365' thing where I take at least a picture a day and upload one, no more no less. its like a photo journal of sorts. i'll update this thread at the end of January once I get it started... right now its got just 2 test pictures in it.

anyone in BG care to join me? =)