Camera Corner (What Kind of Camera Do You Use, Vol.3)

Good for you!. You're gonna love it. Be sure to look at the site linthicum gave you. You might even find some tutorials on YouTtube for the E620. Like CousinDave said, Olympus make some fine stuff.

You may want to invest in a good tripod, especially, when shooting long ranges with telephoto.

Have fun and share with us.

Hack

This message was edited Sep 10, 2010 11:13 PM

That is a great site! Thanks for sharing! I've bookmarked it for future reference. Also gives me something to be checking out while I wait for the box to come lol

Mrs. Ed ... I know I will be frustrated - for sure! Any 'new' digital stuff always frustrates me, but I spend time with it and mess with it, mess up some stuff, then we are best friends lol

Hack - my son & I have been on youtube today & there are many great tutorials with tips & tricks & tons of info. I haven't really thought about a tripod but I see I will need it. That is going on my to-do list as of now. :)

Kristy

Congrats on your new camera! Stick around Dave's Garden and you will learn quite a bit...and everyone is always helpful when one has a question. Ive been here for about 18 months and can hardly believe how much Ive advanced my camera skills and my birdwatching knowledge. Have Fun!

Burd

Yeah, 2racingboys, you'll need a tripod, I've tried a few styles, but one with a ball head is what I evolved up to. On bright sunny days you can eliminate using the tripod by using super fast shutter speeds. But, I find that on overcast days, or early AM, or late PM, I have to use the tripod or else my pics are blurred because I can't hold the camera still enough (called camera shake). When my camera is on the tripod, I even use a remote shutter release so I don't have to touch the camera at all - other than to zero it in on what I snapping a picture of.

Hack

This message was edited Sep 10, 2010 11:23 PM

Check out http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1124599/#new and you'll see a lot of Burd's photos. I have some on there, too.

And one of my particular favorites is http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1126822/ you'll see tons of magnificent pics taken by members of Daves Garden.

Hack

Got the new camera today whoo hoo!! I will say this thing is like learning a new language lol
I've been reading the manual going cross-eyed over stuff I've never even heard of lol Oh the joys of new toys lol

Here is a random pic from a clematis at the front door. Terrible lighting & user makes a blah picture lol

Congrats I know you will be elated, then frustrated, then elated again. LOL Enjoy and don't take the not so perfect shots to heart that's how we learn. From the photo looks like you made a good choice. Nothing Blah about a photo with a beautiful flower in it. Good Luck Cindy

Congrats, 2racingboys, I was wondering if you'd gotten it yet.

It took a great pic of the clematis, nice color and detail

I use a variety of settings. I see you used Creative Program (based towards depth of field) on the clematis. Try Aperture priority. Set your ISO to around 400. Adjust your f-stop to get a faster shutter snap. That's one of my "I'm in a hurry, haven't got time to fool around" methods

But that is just a suggestion. Your pic is real nice like it is.

Hack

Hack, when using your AP method, what do you like to set the aperture to? I've been reading lots of good things about aperture priority and would like to give it a try. I've read that if set properly it gives you decent DOF combined with the fastest possible shutter speed. I have an older Canon 350XT and a newer Canon G10. The G10 is horrible with noise if I set the ISO much above 200, so that's probably the ISO I would choose. I take a lot of bird photos in the woods where it is a little on the dark side so I really need to optimize my light to get decent photos. The 350XT is better with noise but it seems like I always have the G10 along (because it's smaller and lighter-bad habit!).
Thanks!
Deb

Hi Deb, in AP mode, on my 400L telephoto lens, it is f5.6, wide open. If I go higher, my shutter speed slows down and I want a real fast shutter speed. If its its bright, I use an ISO of between 400 and 1200, but again, I am looking for the fastest shutter speed I can get.

Hack

Thanks Hack :) That makes sense! I'm in the same boat-my longest lens is an f4.0 (70-200)-sometimes what I wouldn't give for a faster lens (maybe I'll win the lottery someday!)
Deb

Six months ago a friend of my sister in law's, who lives up in Maryland called me and asked if I would be interested in shooting her wedding.

I have never shot a wedding, although I have shot over the shoulder of a few professional wedding photographers and I did shoot candid's at the reception for my niece two years ago. The girl who is getting married attended that reception and had liked the pictures I took.

I told her I had very little experience with wedding ceremonies or shooting formal portraits and advised her to get a professional wedding photographer. Well, as is often the case, she had already blown her budget on the reception and other "essentials" and if I didn't do it at a reasonable (translate= cheap) price, well, she probably would only have the snapshots of the ceremony that friends and family happened to take with their point and shoot cameras and whatever pictures of the reception they might get from the throw-away cameras they were planning to place on the tables.

That being the case, I agreed to shoot it for her (for free). What the heck, I thought. I'll have six months to learn. Almost immediately it became clear that she expects me to produce results comparable in quality and quantity to what she would have gotten had she hired a professional wedding photographer. I have several times attempted to lower those expectations, but I doubt she was listening. Anyway, ready or not, the wedding is coming up next Saturday, and ... well, the only thing I have learned is that shooting a wedding is far different from shooting birds. If I had any sense I'd be in a panic.

It's not that I don't have the equipment to shoot the formals and the wedding ceremony in the church. In addition to the lenses I use for birding, I also have the Canon 16-35 f/2.8L, the 28-70 f/2.8L, and the 70-200 f/2.8L zooms, the 85mm f/1.2L, the 135mm f/2.0L, and even the 15mm f/2.8 fisheye, all of which I plan to have either in my bag or out in the parking lot in the trunk of my car. Most of these lenses are fast enough to shoot without flash in that dimly lit church, which is fortunate since flash will not be allowed during several important parts of the service. The greater problem is simply my being the only photographer. Things are going to be happening very fast and I will have to hustle from one part of the sanctuary to another and remember to change settings and lenses several times as the situation dictates. My worry is that I will forget and under or overexpose something important. Of course I will be shooting in RAW so I will be able to do some correcting in post processing, if that happens. I also worry about leaving somebody out of the group shots. I don't know any of these people and so far I don't have anyone who does to help round them up.

I really am not that worried about the reception. I am comfortable shooting candid's and I'll be able to use flash and the lighting in the room should not change all that much. My DW is more worried about me running out of gas after being on the go for nine hours. After all, I will soon be 73.

Sorry this is so long. And I guess it is as far off topic as can be. I am posting it in case someone might wonder why I have not been very active on the forum lately and also to pass on this free advice: Should anyone ask you to shoot their wedding, DON'T EVEN CONSIDER IT!

This message was edited Sep 24, 2010 11:21 AM

Best of luck Dave! I know you'll do fine but I can understand how nerve wracking it must be. Can you possibly ask them for someone to round up all the people they want shots taken of?

Perhaps an understanding of this would be helpful.

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/find-your-lens-sweet-spot

Dave, best of luck. I will offer one suggestion. This is not as a photographer, but as a bride. I had no photographer and just some friends shooting pix. What I did NOT have is a list of all the shots that should be taken and wound up leaving people out. So if you haven't already, make a general list of things like. Bride with siblings, bride with groom's siblings. Groom with Sibling, Groom with Bride's siblings, All grandparents. Bride's grandparent, brides maternal grandparents, Bride, Mother, grandmother, And the list goes on for all possible family combinations. I happened to leave my Stepbrother and his wife out of the pix. D'Oh!

2dCousinDave -you're on my prayer list.
Good luck.

and GoldenDomer thanks for the link, good idea about finding the sweet spot on a lens.

Hack

Good luck! A list of the shots they want is an excellent idea. Take lots and lots of photos. Just remember, you are doing this to be nice, for free so don't be too hard on yourself. If it helps any, a few years ago, I took some wedding photos (over 300) for my husband's niece (there was a "real" photographer there, too) and I knew absolutely zippo about wedding photography (still don't!) but lots of the photos turned out great! As it turned out, they were divorced within a year, so go figure!
You'll do great!
Deb

Mrs_Ed I have an update to add to my list. I now have the Canon 5D MkII camera body.



Dave, I've been asked to do a wedding too, but I adamantly said no.

Just have the 70-200 on 1D4, 85 1.2 on the 5D and for the group shot have the 16-35 and 24-70 ready for action (1D4 or 7D). The 70-200 and 135 should be good for some candid shots at a distant. Have the wifey hold one of the camera body and lens for you so that you have 3 bodies on call...something to think about.

Man good luck



This message was edited Sep 27, 2010 10:58 PM

Thanks Al. Those camera-lens combinations are pretty close to what I plan to use, actually. But I will probably use the 24-70 zoom on a Mark 3 as my primary and the 16-35 on the 7D, remote controlled and mounted on a tripod at the front of the church, to get frontal shots of action at the altar, such as father giving the bride away, vows and ring exchange. I won't know for sure if I can do that until I talk to the minister at the rehearsal.

I did get some hopeful news yesterday. My granddaughter who is a school teacher, has volunteered to drive up to Laurel and she has a friend who shoots weddings on the side and is actually quite good at it. She may be coming along too. I sure hope it works out. Her friend is very creative, which is important in wedding photography. Tomorrow is my oldest daughter's (her mother) 50th birthday, and I will see them at the party and find out if they really plan to help or if it was just talk. I have my fingers crossed but I will be ready either way.


I told them I can't pay them but I hinted that I would let them borrow some of my equipment for some of her upcoming shoots. She currently rents a lot of the equipment she needs and she drools every time she sees my L Series lenses.

Congrats on the 5D 2. Incidentally, that is the camera of choice for wedding photographers.

Dave

UPDATE 9/30/10: I saw them last night and they are definitely planning to come! I really can't believe it but I am breathing a lot easier.

This message was edited Sep 30, 2010 6:48 AM

Ha! Yah, we drool here too, Dave!

I have an upcoming trip to the Horicon Marsh in Wisconsin (later October). I'm going to rent a lens for that time period too. I expect there'll be lots of shore and water birds going through then.

* added a Sigma 150-500 telephoto to my outfit.

Cool, Watercan, that is a great lens.

Hack

Heavy too! lol!
- Now I have to get a cotton carrier, a DSLR backpack and get more practice with my monopod because it's too heavy to handhold for more than just a few shots!

... cross out one from my wish list and add two more! lol!!

When I had mine, I usually had it on a tripod, but a monopod will do. The only reason I sold it was to get a Canon 400 mm prime.

I never had any complaints about the quality of the pix taken through 150-500.

Hack

Thanks Hack, that's good to know! ☺

Interesting article on the point and shoot Superzooms.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/q110superzoomgroup/

I would love to try that Fujifilm HS10. Aside from more zoom, I have wished for a manual zoom ring and they finally have done it.

I had some buyers remorse after I got my Canon. But now over time, as I have gotten used to it and played with more things on it, I am so glad I bought it!

But I still use the Fuji from time to time. I think it was a great beginner camera for me. And now the girls are using it and learning so much. They have no fears of playing with settings and experimenting!

I think my BIL uses a Fuji, but I don't know what kind. He gets great results.

The "point and shoot" market is really coming alive with these superzooms. the Nikon P100 even has HD video.

Hayly did some video on the fuji this weekend but she forgot to download it and I have no clue on how to do it!

I know HD is all the rage but is not a big deal to me.

Yah, 720p is probably fine for video. just amazing the technology now.

Boy, if I was in the market for a new camera, I would have to take a hard look at the Fujifilm HS10!

That article, Mrs_Ed is really informative - thanks

Hack

One of my first really nice cameras for birdwatching was a Fugi. I was using it one day and all of a sudden ZOOM ERROR came up on the screen. The zoom was stuck and would not get unstuck. Searching the web I found it was a common problem with that camera. Well, that turned me against Fugi and I would never buy another. I have been very happy with the various Olympus cameras I have.

This whole "tilting LCD screen" concept appeals to me too. Seems like there might be more to go wrong with one, but still pretty cool. I know that The Sony Alpha DSLR A390 now comes with it too. Of course, I don't shoot real time with my DSLR, but I do for the video…

Never had any problems with my zoom sticking on the Fuji. I do love the tilt screen on the Canon. I don't use it a lot, but there are times it comes in handy. Great for if I see something out the window but don't want to scare it off by the movement of me getting on my stool I stand on.

I may have to start saving for that Fuji. Looking for a good compact to carry in my purse at all times too. I could so be a serious camera junkie! :)

I got the videos the girls did on the computer & they gave us a laugh. Now I can see & hear them whenever I want. I think I will be playing with video....

Video can be fun and more and more apps are making it really easy to use.

Tried the video on the Canon...it uses quicktime and I am missing some software it says. Will have to investigate more another day. The Fuji was simple....figures they can't work the same easy way! lol

Hi guys,

I bought me one of those little wireless things (off ebay) that allows me to use my 580 flash off the camera. I tested it and it works, now I just got to find a subject to photograph.

Hack

It's top-of -the-line. You'll not be sorry you got it.

Hack

I have the canon dslr xsi, with the following lens:

1. 18-55mm
2. 55-250mm
3. 50 f1.8 ( nifty fifty )

This message was edited Nov 27, 2010 5:38 PM