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f13.net General Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: NiX on August 25, 2008, 03:35:27 PM



Title: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NiX on August 25, 2008, 03:35:27 PM
I've wanted to start a thread like this for awhile knowing that some of you are photography nuts and photoshop geeks. The fact that Ookii said there needed to be a thread teaching people how to fix the colours in their pictures reminded me, so here it is.

Just so it doesn't look like I was taking Ookii's idea. My only three tips that are pretty basic:

1. Learn to use flash - Natural light trumps your flash any day. Take some nice pictures with both and you'll see the difference between the two. Sometimes it even creates unexpected results that can make a great picture even better. Extreme example below.

(http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/3523/camping116jz0.th.jpg) (http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=camping116jz0.jpg) (http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/4686/camping117az4.th.jpg) (http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=camping117az4.jpg)

2. Exposure time - A lot of people rely on the automatic setting of your camera, but sometimes it's not able to understand what you're trying to do. Think night shots are impossible with your point and shoot? Not really. Fiddle with the manual controls of your camera and find out where the exposure time setting is. Next time you want to take a shot that turns out to be nothing but darkness, just change the exposure time to be longer, but you need to hold the camera still for that time or else it'll blur. A tripod comes in handy if it's not an instant shot or you have the time. Example below. First one with Auto setting and the second with a 10 second exposure time. Not the greatest, but it gives you an idea.

(http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/4892/camping171rh6.th.jpg) (http://img529.imageshack.us/my.php?image=camping171rh6.jpg) (http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/5779/camping172rp5.th.jpg) (http://img523.imageshack.us/my.php?image=camping172rp5.jpg)

3. Macro setting - Another feature your Auto setting won't use when needed (for the most part.) Macro, for those who don't know or care, from what I understand it takes whichever object is the center of focus and applies the entire lens to that causing the background to be out of focus, but it catches a lot more detail within the object of focus. For example.. my two pictures below.

(http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/7948/camping104fi9.th.jpg) (http://img520.imageshack.us/my.php?image=camping104fi9.jpg) (http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/5288/camping081tz9.th.jpg) (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=camping081tz9.jpg)



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on August 25, 2008, 03:46:27 PM
2. Exposure time - A lot of people rely on the automatic setting of your camera, but sometimes it's not able to understand what you're trying to do.
Kids these days with their auto-everything cameras. Back in my day we learned on all-manual cameras (the K1000) and liked it!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NiX on August 25, 2008, 03:49:04 PM
Kids these days with their auto-everything cameras. Back in my day we learned on all-manual cameras (the K1000) and liked it!
I'd prefer more manual controls. The auto-everything is actually removing some peoples ability to take the pictures they want. I think I'm most annoyed by Sony's "Smile Snap" or whatever the hell they call it. Do you really need the camera to make sure everyone is smiling?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on August 25, 2008, 04:01:45 PM
I don't think I have the smile feature on my sony (got two of them actually). That said, Sony cameras suck anyways. Couple that with the fact that I suck with this stuff just makes for... well... a truly sucky picture from me.

Do you have specific tips for portraits, by the way? That's what I'm really not good at.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NiX on August 25, 2008, 04:16:57 PM
Portraits rely heavily on good lighting to frame the facial features. I emphasized good because some people think you need lots of it. You just need soft light and that's not flooding the person you're taking a picture of. Everyone has had the dreaded white wash or shadow face. I find the best portraits I've taken were done sometime around sunset.

This (http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=424&pq-locale=en_US) Kodak article has some good advice and explains why certain lighting isn't good for portraits.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on August 25, 2008, 04:34:37 PM
On the topic of manual vs automatic, I'm always using the auto-focus on my DSLR because I cannot for the life of me seem to get the right focus by manually adjusting. Do you have any tips for how to get better at this, or little ways I could practise focusing on stuff?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on August 25, 2008, 07:18:56 PM
I don't think I have the smile feature on my sony (got two of them actually). That said, Sony cameras suck anyways. Couple that with the fact that I suck with this stuff just makes for... well... a truly sucky picture from me.

Do you have specific tips for portraits, by the way? That's what I'm really not good at.

At the absolute basic level, "rule of thirds". Divide your frame in three, set the subjects eye's one third from the top. Never in the middle of the frame.

As Nix says, soft light is a must. If all you have is your on camera flash, try to avoid using it. Don't try taking portraits in a dim room without proper lights. Take the subject outside.

If shooting out doors, do not have subjects in direct sunlight unless its sunrise or sunset. Put them in the shade.

Learn to use whatever manual settings your camera has. A low F-stop is your friend for bluring out the background of a portrait.

Angles are usualy more flattering than stright on.

My best advise, tell your subject not to pose. Seriously. Make them laugh, do something, anything is better than "say cheese!"



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on August 25, 2008, 07:20:58 PM
As for the photoshop and light stuff - if your camera has a RAW format setting, use it! I don't give a shit if it takes up 10x more space on your memory card than a jpg, it's worth learning how to use. Having the ability to manualy adjust your white balance and exposure in post-proccessing is huge.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Furiously on August 25, 2008, 08:08:16 PM
http://photo.net/


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on August 25, 2008, 08:13:24 PM
Thanks guys. Good thread.  :-)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 25, 2008, 10:24:26 PM
I was more talking about this type of stuff (I did a quick job, original on the right):

(http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/6290/pikestestauf3.jpg)

You can really make colors pop if you want them to (original is on the bottom):

(http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2707/camping081tz9acopyov7.jpg)

If I saw this thread more than 10 minutes before going to sleep I might of been able to play around a little more.  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on August 26, 2008, 12:17:23 AM
On the topic of manual vs automatic, I'm always using the auto-focus on my DSLR because I cannot for the life of me seem to get the right focus by manually adjusting. Do you have any tips for how to get better at this, or little ways I could practise focusing on stuff?
Generally speaking digital camera manual focus UIs suck donkey balls.

If you have a DSLR that has lenses with real manual focusing rings (some autofocus SLR lenses do not allow for that) *and* you have a true through the lens optical viewfinder then you should be able to manually focus to your heart's content. If you have an electronic viewfinder (which is most likely the case) then you have to deal with the low resolution viewfinder/LCD and zoom in crap.

The other thing you can do is learn how to "trick" the AF mode(s) to focus on what you want it to. E.g. in a very simple center mode focus setting you can focus on something that's not in the center of the frame by moving the frame so that object is in the center, locking the focus at that point (e.g. by pushing the shutter button half-way down) and then moving back to the original position.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on August 26, 2008, 04:07:42 AM
As for the photoshop and light stuff - if your camera has a RAW format setting, use it! I don't give a shit if it takes up 10x more space on your memory card than a jpg, it's worth learning how to use. Having the ability to manualy adjust your white balance and exposure in post-proccessing is huge.


YES YES YES YES. 

People argue all the fucking time about this because they read Ken Rockwell and think he's the ubergod of photography or something.  Except he's so god damn wrong.

JPEG is great if you want to take snapshots.   If you even think you want to do any type of work on the photo to do correction or effects, you will use RAW.   I shot JPEG for years while I didn't know any better.  I shot RAW ONCE to try it out for myself.  I've never looked back.

Flash is the devil, but if  you must use it, bounce it.

Your camera has many modes, sometimes they are useful, but the greatest mode of them all is Manual.  Go take some alone time and just play with your ISO/Aperature/Shutter Speed settings and get a feel for how they relate to each other.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on August 26, 2008, 04:24:54 AM
Unfortunately very few P&S cameras these days support RAW. It used to be there were quite a few. Now it's a feature almost exclusively for DSLRs or "DSLR-like" models. E.g. my Canon S70 supports RAW (which is one of the reasons why I got it) but they took it out of the S80 for some inexplicable reason. They also took it out of the G7 though apparently enough people complained that they added it back into the G9.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NiX on August 26, 2008, 04:44:08 AM
You can really make colors pop if you want them to (original is on the bottom):
The only problem is you can't teach someone moderation. The original of the rope is much closer to its actual colour than the fixed one. It was a really old rope that we use every year we go camping, of course it depends on what you're trying to go for in the picture. We were just messing around with the macro setting, but if I were taking an actual shot I'd want to show off that the rope isn't brand new.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Salamok on August 26, 2008, 07:40:10 AM
I already muddled my way through it with semi decent results (a bit grainy) but I sure wish I had had some tips on how to take better photo's from a helicopter (vibration forced me to shoot at a very high speed).  Also I shot these in jpeg (took over 500 photos and I simply couldn't have done that in RAW) but it still isn't hard to adjust the contrast/saturation/brightness even if they aren't in RAW although adjusting a RAW image combines all of the steps into 1 easy WYSIWYG step.  I mostly shoot RAW but there are times when jpeg is fine or maybe even the only option.

(http://www.devotia.com/img/banda1.jpg)
(http://www.devotia.com/img/banda2.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on August 26, 2008, 09:21:21 AM
The two things I hate about my p&s are the flash recovery time, and the fact that anything taken without a flash is blurry as shit because I don't carry a tripod with me when I go hiking. I got some great shots from the top of Mt Batty at sunset, but had to throw most of them out due to camera shake (I was using a parapet to steady it somewhat). I hate missing so many great shots because of that, I'd rarely use the flash if I could keep it steady for the exposure time.

I've played with macro stuff, that's fun. I definitely want to do more f-stop and exposures, but I've forgotten most of what I learned in school. And that pesky blur thing.

Ookii: more tell with your show, please :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Salamok on August 26, 2008, 09:34:19 AM
The two things I hate about my p&s are the flash recovery time, and the fact that anything taken without a flash is blurry as shit because I don't carry a tripod with me when I go hiking. I got some great shots from the top of Mt Batty at sunset, but had to throw most of them out due to camera shake (I was using a parapet to steady it somewhat). I hate missing so many great shots because of that, I'd rarely use the flash if I could keep it steady for the exposure time.

I've played with macro stuff, that's fun. I definitely want to do more f-stop and exposures, but I've forgotten most of what I learned in school. And that pesky blur thing.

Ookii: more tell with your show, please :)

The flip side of this is you are far more likely to have your point and shoot on you at all times than a DSLR.  Sounds like you may have some camera holding technique issues.

edit: remember to keep those elbows down and tucked http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/guides/technique/handholding1.html (http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/guides/technique/handholding1.html)

edit #2: For the itty bitty camera types http://www.pcmag.com/image_popup/0,1871,iid=205011,00.asp (http://www.pcmag.com/image_popup/0,1871,iid=205011,00.asp)

also helps to control your breathing which may be a bit tough if you are running/jogging/backpacking or somtin


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on August 26, 2008, 09:59:35 AM
I already muddled my way through it with semi decent results (a bit grainy) but I sure wish I had had some tips on how to take better photo's from a helicopter (vibration forced me to shoot at a very high speed).  Also I shot these in jpeg (took over 500 photos and I simply couldn't have done that in RAW) but it still isn't hard to adjust the contrast/saturation/brightness even if they aren't in RAW although adjusting a RAW image combines all of the steps into 1 easy WYSIWYG step.  I mostly shoot RAW but there are times when jpeg is fine or maybe even the only option.


The thing to realize is, that making adjustments in RAW is more than just one easy step, its about adjustments without losing data. Any time you make an edit like you just did on those photos as .jpgs, you are stripping out data. The more adjustments, the more data loss, the grainier your picture looks. It really would be worth your while to shoot those in RAW.

My 8MP DSLR in RAW fits about 300 shots to a 2GB memory card. You can get a 2GB card for under $50 these days.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Salamok on August 26, 2008, 01:06:49 PM
I already muddled my way through it with semi decent results (a bit grainy) but I sure wish I had had some tips on how to take better photo's from a helicopter (vibration forced me to shoot at a very high speed).  Also I shot these in jpeg (took over 500 photos and I simply couldn't have done that in RAW) but it still isn't hard to adjust the contrast/saturation/brightness even if they aren't in RAW although adjusting a RAW image combines all of the steps into 1 easy WYSIWYG step.  I mostly shoot RAW but there are times when jpeg is fine or maybe even the only option.

My 8MP DSLR in RAW fits about 300 shots to a 2GB memory card. You can get a 2GB card for under $50 these days.

when I shot those my 1gig card was about $80  and a 2g card was like $130.  editing jpeg is fine as long as you do it all in 1 session, it's the many opens/many edits/many saves that screw up your quality.  If you do it in 1 session it's the same as converting jpeg to a lossless format then editing it then converting it back to jpeg.  but yes RAW is better not argung that.

edit: the reason my pictures are grainy have nothing to do with RAW vs. jpeg and everything to do with it being a low visibility day and helicopters (and the passengers inside them) vibrate quite a bit.

(http://www.devotia.com/img/shutterspeed.jpg)
of course if I had taken thisin RAW format I could tell you what the shutter speed was.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Salamok on August 26, 2008, 01:26:53 PM
hmm then again maybe not, seems like i wasn't able to see the rotor from within the cabin that must be some black trim around the window.. glanced through some other photo's and this is probably the only shot with window trim visible at the top of the photo butit looks sort of like the window trim i see at the bottom of the other photo's.  been so long i can't remember.

hehe on closer examination my camera stores the image stats on jpegs too, exposure timeon that shot was 1/2500 of a second.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on August 26, 2008, 01:43:19 PM
Yea, based on shooting at that speed, I'd just advise waiting for a really sunny day to take pictures  :grin:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Salamok on August 26, 2008, 02:17:29 PM
Yea, based on shooting at that speed, I'd just advise waiting for a really sunny day to take pictures  :grin:


Pretty much had to take what we could get with the weather, helicopters go for a premium in the gulf (almost all of em tied up for transport to and fro oil platforms) we lucked out and a friend of a friend of a friend allowed us to rent his private copter for half a day at a modestly insane rate (a bit over 2k i think).  same flight in austin probably would have cost under $500. 

I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.  On top of getting a free 3 hour helicopter tour, my boss gave me the day off work (with pay), the person I was taking pictures for gave me a $200 lowes card for xmas and it was easily the most fascinating experience I had in a long time.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Viin on August 26, 2008, 06:13:13 PM
Is there a free app that lets you make these types of adjustments to RAW image files?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Salamok on August 26, 2008, 08:43:21 PM
maybe gimp or the software that comes with your camera


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on August 26, 2008, 10:33:11 PM
GIMP doesn't support it directly (last I checked). UFRraw may support it, depending on your camera and RAW format, and it can be used as a GIMP plug-in.

http://ufraw.sourceforge.net/


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on August 28, 2008, 06:57:38 AM
I use software that came with my Canon - "Digital Photo Professional" they call it. There is also a free Photoshop Plugin available, if you have access to Photoshop.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Salamok on August 28, 2008, 02:23:07 PM
shit now i need to upgrade my camera ;(

http://chsvimg.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/d90/en/d-movie/ (http://chsvimg.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/d90/en/d-movie/)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on August 28, 2008, 07:44:12 PM
David Pogue is all hot and bothered about the movie record feature but the fact that each clip can only be a few minutes in length (otherwise the sensor overheats) means it's not a real substitute for a camcorder for making movies.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Salamok on August 28, 2008, 08:21:10 PM
still a fairly large step forward for a DSLR 2 minutes is plenty for youtube ;P


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on August 28, 2008, 11:57:41 PM
Oh wow, that's awesome.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Furiously on August 29, 2008, 12:26:16 AM
Damn. I'm going to have to go get one... And a fisheye lens.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 17, 2008, 06:21:48 AM
Man, I'm so getting a DSLR asap. My camera (p&s 7 megapixel) is shit. Shit. How does anyone get a good photo out of these damn things? Kinda wish I didn't purchase a new guitar recently, but hey..

Just for reference, what's a good start? Under $500 if possible (not including mem card).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on September 17, 2008, 06:42:56 AM
under $500? With a lens? You are looking at an outdated used camera for that range I'm afraid.

If you are talking new, and want to keep the budget down, for Canon I'd look at the Rebel XTi:
http://cameras.pricegrabber.com/digital/m/24712314/ (http://cameras.pricegrabber.com/digital/m/24712314/)

$600 - $700 with a kit lens. Basically the same camera I have.

If you have a little more budget, the Canon 40D can be gotten for a pretty good deal right now, because the 50D is just coming out.
Buddy of mine picked one up for just under $1k without a lens.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 17, 2008, 06:48:11 AM
OK then.. How about something that bridges the gap. A P&S that isn't complete crap?

[edit] Uh nevermind. Apparently, Canon does a good job in this category too. The G9 is supposed to be good, but the G10 is out next month. Just in time.

Either that, or a Panasonic LX-3. Anyone use one of these yet?



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on September 17, 2008, 10:48:12 AM
Since my buddy just got that new Canon 40D, we went out and took some shots in a local park last night.

This shot was taken on the 40D at 1600 ISO:

(http://www.bunkphotos.com/files/09-16-08%20050.jpg)

I wouldn't even consider shooting at 1600 ISO on my camera because of the noise, so I'm really impressed by the improvements in this new processor


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 17, 2008, 10:51:04 AM
Was he doing it just to test, or is it actually darker than it seems there?

[edit] Also, is there a lower iso version? looks like a cool place for pics


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Stewie on September 17, 2008, 11:01:32 AM
Hi, I'm Bunks buddy with the 40d.
I can't emphasize enough how much I love this camera. The feel is great, it is so well sorted, everything is easy to access(seperate shutter, f-stop and iso buttons all at your fingertips) it is oh so fast, the colour is great the 6.5fps and large buffer (17 frames raw, 75 frames jpg) are awesome.
Did I mention that I love my new 40D!
Here is another image taken at 1600 ISO. I dont have the exact info on it at work but I believe I took it a 1/60 second f5.6 (handheld). Also this was saved in PS for the web so it has been compressed quite a bit.
(http://www.topproducerwebsite.com/users/20814/images/pic2.jpg?id=0.8539014)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Stewie on September 17, 2008, 11:06:03 AM
Stray,
For the most part I was just putting the camera through its paces and expecting to get somewhat unusable results at 1600iso.
Needless to say when I got home and opened em up in PS I was floored by how little noise there was at 1600iso.
The camera has an ISO range of 100-1600 normally and and goes up by 1/4 iso for teh most part. (ie: 100, 125, 150...)
I am going to head back there with my tripod once I get my new wireless remote and get some serious shots.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on September 17, 2008, 12:26:29 PM
Was he doing it just to test, or is it actually darker than it seems there?

[edit] Also, is there a lower iso version? looks like a cool place for pics

It was in the late afternoon and rather dark actually. If I were shooting indoor in the same lighting I would have been using a flash.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on September 17, 2008, 05:00:41 PM
OK then.. How about something that bridges the gap. A P&S that isn't complete crap?

[edit] Uh nevermind. Apparently, Canon does a good job in this category too. The G9 is supposed to be good, but the G10 is out next month. Just in time.

Either that, or a Panasonic LX-3. Anyone use one of these yet?
The Panasonic stuff was very noisy. Dunno if that's still true (check dpreview.com).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 17, 2008, 07:47:38 PM
I haven't read anything about sounds yet, but it seems like the the way to go. Lots of good image samples (http://www.flickr.com/groups/843626@N22/). And instead of upping the megapixel count (like Canon), they've up everything else. And it trumps Canon on consumer features as well, like being more compact and doing 720p video. Seems perfect for my "amateur, fairly lazy and poor, yet deeply in need of good quality in low light" requirements ( :awesome_for_real:).

[edit] omfg, i can't believe i interpreted "noisy" as referring to sounds. haha

anyways, apparently, it does pretty good with noise, even in 800 iso (here's one good (http://www.lawrenceripsher.com/blog/2008/08/panasonic-lx3-review---image-quality-part-3.html) review that touches on it.). even my non-pro eyes are impressed. it's a nifty little p&s. it might even be useful to you guys..just for having a good convenience camera. i'm gonna wait and see just exactly what else is released after this big photo convention passes, but it looks like a good buy without fully going dslr.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Stewie on September 17, 2008, 08:40:49 PM
If you are looking for good independent camera reviews I'd suggest dpreview (http://www.dpreview.com/)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 17, 2008, 08:48:15 PM
Yeah, I've been reading up there. They're all fans of the LX3 it seems. The Canon G10 hasn't been released yet though, but they tend to diss it just for falling short on specs (in comparison to the Panny). The f2.0 seems to be the main kicker (?).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Kitsune on September 18, 2008, 12:00:17 AM
Funny that this thread should appear now; I'm just about to turn in a pile of points from my sony credit card for a camera.  At the moment I'm looking at the DSC-W170 as my best option; I had been planning on the brand-new DSC-T77, but the first review (http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2008/09/15/Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-T77/p1) that popped up on it a couple days ago showed absolutely horrifying JPEG compression damage on its photos.  So I'm opting instead for the less-small and hopefully better-image-qualitied W series camera, unless I spy anything in the next couple of weeks to change my mind on the issue.

Given that it's a sony reward card, I'm rather restricted to sony product here.  I'm willing to accept rather less than perfection, given the sub-$300 price tag and the fact that I'm looking for a constant-carry camera that by necessity will be much smaller than a SLR, but I do at least want the pictures to not be ugly with pixel blotches on everything.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on September 18, 2008, 12:24:50 AM
OK then.. How about something that bridges the gap. A P&S that isn't complete crap?

[edit] Uh nevermind. Apparently, Canon does a good job in this category too. The G9 is supposed to be good, but the G10 is out next month. Just in time.

Either that, or a Panasonic LX-3. Anyone use one of these yet?



Sorry, bit late to this, but thought I'd chip in with a thumbs-up for the Canon G's. I've had a G6 for a few years now as a smaller alternative to my SLR's and I adore it. The G6/7/9 are perfect bridges between the compacts & SLR's and I've even used my G6 for some freelance work. I deeply want a G9 (awesome screen on the back!) and I'm intrigued to see what the G10 will be like. I'm a Nikon guy with my "proper" cameras, but the G6 is a RAW-shooting, fully manual camera with ISO50, flash sync at up to 1/2000s and an f2.0 lens and that's just awesome.

On the subject of quality and noise with small-sensor cameras one thing that can make a huge difference is good light. ISO800 with good good lighting looks way better than ISO100 with bad light on pretty much any camera!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 18, 2008, 03:14:22 AM
Yet another cam that has come to my attention is the Sigma DP1. The sensor is dslr sized.

Some interesting samples (http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/dp1) of what people have done with it.


Anyways, I don't mean to carry on about the subject, but it seems to me that this is sort of the holy grail for non-pros -- high quality point and shoots.

[edit] Bah! It looks like the wide angle of the LX3 is bogus for portraits. And the DP1 is supposedly sluggish, however good the iq.

This is bullshit. Just need a good camera for lowlight, that works fast for candids, doesn't make people look wide and distorted, and is sufficiently versatile for scenic shots.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Salamok on September 18, 2008, 06:37:45 AM
OK then.. How about something that bridges the gap. A P&S that isn't complete crap?

[edit] Uh nevermind. Apparently, Canon does a good job in this category too. The G9 is supposed to be good, but the G10 is out next month. Just in time.

Either that, or a Panasonic LX-3. Anyone use one of these yet?

I think if I was going to go non slr i'd have to say the casio exilim pro, then again it costs as much as an slr and is about as big as an slr so I suppose that sort of defeats the purpose...

Man, I'm so getting a DSLR asap. My camera (p&s 7 megapixel) is shit. Shit. How does anyone get a good photo out of these damn things? Kinda wish I didn't purchase a new guitar recently, but hey..

Just for reference, what's a good start? Under $500 if possible (not including mem card).

go get a nikon d70s, this is what I have had for a few years now and last time I looked it could be had cheap due to it being 2 models out of date.  6 megapixels of awesome >>>>> whatever megapixels of pure shit yer standard point and shoots are up to.  I suppose the d40 is now a camera with similar specs as well and I think you can grab that for under $500.

Of course the nikon d80 is like 2x the camera as the d70 and the upcoming d90 looks to be as large a leap forward from the d80 as it was to the d70.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 18, 2008, 06:52:17 AM
Those look cool, but as I was leading on to, I think I'm better off with something more compact. Something not too bulky, good for many uses, candid shots, low light situations like parties or the occasional gig, basic scenery pics... Just like any compact, but something with an image quality that isn't complete shit. DSLR would be nice, but it's bulky (along with pricey and sort of high maintenance).

The cams I've been listing seem to fall under this category at first, but I've discovered that they all have a wide lens. Excluding the G9, but that's about to be superceded by the G10 (which will have a wide lens as well, supposedly). People would be my main subject, so it's not a good choice (?). Seems like the G9 may be my best bet -- but apparently, it's going to start getting pulled after the G10 release...so now I have to hurry.  :uhrr:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on September 18, 2008, 11:20:32 AM
Took a quick look at the G10 review, looks like a nice setup. Uses the new digic 4 processor, 28 - 140mm equivilent lens (140 is long enough for portrait shots), RAW format, and a nice 3" screen on back. It's not a compact point and shoot, but it's not huge or heavy either.

No idea what it will cost though.

Looking at the G9, it does have longer range with the 35mm to 210mm equiv, but you lose out on the wideangle of the G10.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Stewie on September 18, 2008, 03:41:36 PM
Hey Stray, from reading the thread and getting an idea of what you are looking for Id strongly recommend the canon G series. Don't get to caught up on the whole mega pixel issue. i was pretty happy at 6MP and was able to squeeze out a 3'x2' poster from that. anything that is 8mp and up will serve your purpose just fine. 
Seeing as you are not looking for a pro or even a prosumer level camera. the big things you want are easy to use, quality images and colour across a wide range of lighting and other than that a quality build of the camera. The canon will alway have all this in spades.

As for the range of the zoom anything in the 24-100ish range would be great for portraits (most of the time you will probably be in the 50mm range for a good portrait) The one thing you do want to make sure, is that the zoom is optical and not digital (optical means the glass is doing the work, digital means the camera is artificially "zooming")
Another thing you want to take into consideration is the company that is making the camera. For Canon and Nikkon, cameras are their prime focus and I always found that theirs were always a notch above the rest.

If you do want a DSLR at any point the main thing is to look at the lenses that you want because once you go down one road there is no real turning back (unless you want to spend a shitload of money) whenever buying a SLR camera you are buying into a whole system of gear and lenses.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 18, 2008, 04:39:52 PM
Thanks guys. Yeah, I think I'll do just that (G9 or 10).

I still can't get over the flickr samples from that Sigma DP1 though. They look as good as some DSLRs.. Even better in cases.. Definitely better than all of these other P&S models. Something clear, with a lot of depth, but smooth and silky about the pics. If it wasn't for all of the supposed operational faults and the wide angle, I'd get it. The imagery is distinctive. Not the typical, dare I say, clinical look, that a lot of cameras limit you with.

And again, sorry for carrying on. You can't blame me for not keeping this thread alive, I guess!  :grin:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Teleku on September 19, 2008, 08:53:19 AM
You should do well with a G9/G10.  Its the next step up from the camera I used for a few years, the S60, which is a bit more compact shape (Still big and bulky, but I could jam it into a pocket).  Even though it was a point and shoot, I felt I was able to do some good shots with it:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Telekuu/Photos#

All of those except for the last 2 rows were taking with my S60.  Once you get the feel of any camera, you can do good things with it.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on September 19, 2008, 03:58:21 PM
The problem with the G9/G10 is that it's still large enough that you have to consciously make a decision to take it with you everytime you think you might want to take a picture somewhere, unless you carry a backpack around with you all the time. With a smaller camera that can slide into a pocket you can just carry it around with you all the time like an extra slightly bulky cell phone.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on September 19, 2008, 04:20:12 PM
I'm thinking I'm ready to go up to a DSLR, I'm just a bit paralyzed by all the different models, lenses, product lines. I've liked Canon so far--my first digital was a S40.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on September 19, 2008, 04:35:39 PM
What's your budget and what do you plan on using the camera for?

My preference is Canon (been a Canon guy since the AE-1 days) but you can't go wrong with either that or Nikon. The Canon Digital Rebel set the benchmark for entry-level DSLRs (actually it invented the entire category) so some recent form of that (e.g. XS or XSi) is what you should compare other cameras in that price range to.

If you have existing Flash memory cards that may influence which camera you'll want. E.g. cameras that take CF cards typically don't take SD as well and vice versa.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 19, 2008, 05:16:53 PM
The problem with the G9/G10 is that it's still large enough that you have to consciously make a decision to take it with you everytime you think you might want to take a picture somewhere, unless you carry a backpack around with you all the time. With a smaller camera that can slide into a pocket you can just carry it around with you all the time like an extra slightly bulky cell phone.


Ugh, yeah.. I know. The G9 quality is decent enough, and the lens is just right, but it's pretty bulky.

I keep talking about it, but I really am blown away by that Sigma DP1. The image quality is so damn good, I want to ignore the faults. The size of the camera is thin as well. I took a closer look at "people" pics, and the wide angle doesn't seem too bad at all (except for closeups, of course). In fact, 24mm may be cool anyways, if I'm gonna be shooting multiple people and such (Example (http://www.flickr.com/photos/intosite/2336597693/in/pool-sigma-dp1)). Plus, the whole idea of street photography (another thing I'd like to do) is to get candid shots. Having some bulky thing around is counter-productive to that.

Still not sure though.

I'm gonna wait maybe, and see if they release a DP2 or 3 this year (there are rumors). Something without a fixed lenses, or something that can do 50mm would be an easier sell to me.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on September 19, 2008, 05:45:13 PM
One of the things I actually want to do are some still-life set-ups, actually. I have a tripod, even. It's just that my current camera really doesn't take shots quite of the quality that I like and might want to do more with. But also, I'm interested in getting better action shots of children, dogs, life, and better shots at lower-light conditions. I'm thinking at the lower end of the price range: $700-800.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on September 19, 2008, 06:14:18 PM
One of the things I actually want to do are some still-life set-ups, actually. I have a tripod, even. It's just that my current camera really doesn't take shots quite of the quality that I like and might want to do more with. But also, I'm interested in getting better action shots of children, dogs, life, and better shots at lower-light conditions. I'm thinking at the lower end of the price range: $700-800.

Start here:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-Camera-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B0012YA85A

However, if you are looking for something to capture "spur of the moment" shots around the house a fast operating P&S (something that can go from off to "ready to take a picture" as fast as possible) is actually more handy than a DSLR.

For still life and composed shots a DSLR will give you better quality/control than your typical P&S.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 19, 2008, 06:56:02 PM
One of the p&s cameras I keep hearing being talked about is the Fuji f-20/30/31d models. They were supposed to be the best of the best at low light and quick shooting, but have been superseded by inferior models. Now they're so coveted, they're selling over $400 on ebay (and they were mere dinky, ho-hum looking compacts).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Salamok on September 20, 2008, 10:29:18 AM
One of the things I actually want to do are some still-life set-ups, actually. I have a tripod, even. It's just that my current camera really doesn't take shots quite of the quality that I like and might want to do more with. But also, I'm interested in getting better action shots of children, dogs, life, and better shots at lower-light conditions. I'm thinking at the lower end of the price range: $700-800.


IF the release of the nikon D90 drives the price down for the D80 you MIGHT be able to pick one up for under $800.  It is certainly something worth keeping an eye on.  The biggest problem I had with the digital rebel was it's size, it's too big to be considered convenient to carry around (like a point and shoot) and yet it just felt too small when holding it.  My hand felt alot more at home wrapped around the Nikon d70 (which is sort of mid way in size between the pro level stuff and a rebel).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: eldaec on September 21, 2008, 07:02:41 AM
Digital camera tip to Canon: STOP RELEASING A NEW MIDRANGE MODEL EVERY TWO MONTHS GODDAMMIT.


I had my 20D stolen a couple of months back.

Yay - new camera on insurance I thought.

All set up to buy the 40D, which by all accounts was the pure robot jesus returned to us in camera form, and was only launched at the end of last year, then BAM. 50D released with DIGIC 4, and apparently a new super-splenda auto-focus system hand built by the camera gnomes of Antioch.

I don't think I'll be able to wait long enough for the 50 to fall to reasonable prices, depends when I next go somewhere that requires me to take pictures I guess...


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on September 21, 2008, 08:11:03 AM
Digital camera tip to Canon: STOP RELEASING A NEW MIDRANGE MODEL EVERY TWO MONTHS GODDAMMIT.

You just have to ignore them. Whenever you buy a new camera you know that there'll be a new model with more whizzbangkablooie than the last one any minute now. 99% of the whizzbangkablooie is totally unimportant when it comes to taking good pictures. That snazzy new DSLR you bought just after it was released 2 years ago when it was the ultranewubercamera still takes pictures just as well now that there's one with 2.6 gigadoohickies more on the shelves as it did back then when 1.2 gigadoohickeys was the holy grail.

Canon and Nikon are both very good at two things: making good cameras and SELLING good cameras.

My current fave cameras are the Nikon D70s (2+ years old, has an electronic shutter so I can sync it with flash at just about any shutter speed) and Canon G6 (3+ years old). These are now so cheap on eBay that I can almost consider them disposable yet they're both awesome cameras that do everything I need. Sure, I'd love a D3 and a 5DmkII but the existence of new models doesn't turn old ones into shit overnight ;)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on September 23, 2008, 12:20:12 AM
I'm gonna wait maybe, and see if they release a DP2 or 3 this year (there are rumors). Something without a fixed lenses, or something that can do 50mm would be an easier sell to me.

Sigma DP2 announced (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08092305sigma_dp2.asp).

24.2mm f2.8 lens (equiv to a 41mm on 35mm film), 14 megapix FOVEON sensor (same groovy type as the DP1). Hopefully they'll have fixed the excruciatingly slow performance of the DP1 :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 23, 2008, 12:34:58 AM
Ah, badass. I'll get it then. It's not exactly the ideal lens, but it's more versatile than before. Good enough. I don't think I'll be all that happy with these other compact cams when I know such a thing as the DP1/2 exists. That Foveon seems to shit out art, even with mundane imagery.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on September 26, 2008, 02:33:00 AM
The Sigma DP1's performance (speedwise) is hte only reason I didn't bite the bullet when I wasn't flat broke. When I have money again I'll get the DP2 or whatever is out. I'm still using a 4-5 year old Sony DSC (which I think stands for dicksuckingcrap).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on September 26, 2008, 10:05:26 AM
I'll just recomend that if the first one in the line was known for speed issues, make sure to check the specs on the new version. A 14MP camera is great, until you find out the buffer is so slow that you can only take 5 pictures inside of a minute.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 26, 2008, 10:58:38 AM
They're actually not 14 MP. The Foveon sensor is strange. Technically, they're only 4MP or something, but colors are taken in via a different method. But the results speak for themselves.

The speed on the dp1 was apparently due to RAW processing apparently. Not JPG's. Also, a lot of people seemed to alleviate it by getting SanDisk Extreme III's.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on September 27, 2008, 01:34:44 PM
If you are getting a camera strictly because of it's color capabilites, you are going to be wanting to shoot in RAW. Just saying, check the reviews in detail before you jump in.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 27, 2008, 01:48:06 PM
Yeah, I've checked dozens of em out. I want it. I never had a problem with the speed too much in the first place. Schild did. I just didn't like the wide angle on the first model too much.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on September 28, 2008, 06:38:18 AM
Anyone have any tips on indoor/dark photography (without flash)?

Inevitably I have to take pictures of something dark which means I'm usually using a full aperture with either a very high ISO (800/1600 on my D40) or a really slow shutter speed. I don't have a tripod and usually can't be arsed to set one up so using the slow shutter speed can completely kill some of my photos, but so can using a high ISO!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on September 28, 2008, 07:29:05 AM
Unfortunately there's no easy solution to that Mosesandstick.

You can practice hand-holding at slow shutter speeds (entirely possible to get shake-free at down to about 1/10 sec if you're really good) but of course that limits you to static subjects.

You can get a camera with really good high-ISO performance but you're talking about the Nikon D3/Canon 5D MkII end of the camera market for that kind of low light, i.e. several 1000's of £$. Small sensor cameras have high ISO settings just for giggles really. I don't know a single point-n-shoot with usable performance above ISO 400 and even that's pushing it often.

Really, flash can be a very good solution... but NOT on-camera flash. On-camera flash gives you flat lighting, harsh shadows, unflattering looks and is generally really nasty. Off-camera flash is something that involves learning a fair amount and getting some (potentially fairly cheap) specific gear, i.e. a manually-controllable flash and some way of firing it off-camera.

With a D40 you can get an SB600, 800 or 900 (I'd recommend the SB800, amazing flash and a lot cheaper than the new SB900) and fire it off-camera with the D40's built-in flash using Nikon's "creative lighting system" (CLS) which saves you spending money on wireless flash triggers. One flash can be used in so many ways that once you start experimenting and learning about flash lighting you'll wonder how you ever managed before with just on-camera flash :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Salamok on September 28, 2008, 08:47:03 AM
another solution would be using a big ass lens.  but this is generally the most expensive option.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on September 28, 2008, 09:10:26 AM
Anyone have any tips on indoor/dark photography (without flash)?

Inevitably I have to take pictures of something dark which means I'm usually using a full aperture with either a very high ISO (800/1600 on my D40) or a really slow shutter speed. I don't have a tripod and usually can't be arsed to set one up so using the slow shutter speed can completely kill some of my photos, but so can using a high ISO!

The usual cheap answer to this is the manual focus (on the D40) 50mm 1.8 prime.  Or for a few hundred more the 1.4mm which will do even better. It's not perfect, but good glass can help you gain some shutter speed which can make all the difference in the world.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on September 28, 2008, 10:00:11 AM
Yeah, nice fast lenses can help too, good point guys :)

Remember though that shooting at such wide apertures will give you very shallow depth of field, which can be it's own problem. Give me a nice white ceiling, 2 flashes at 1/4 power up in opposite corners of almost any room smaller than a football field and I'll happily snap away at f5.6-8/iso400 with a huge zone of bi-directional, soft light that you just can't hide from :p

Yeah yeah, I know, I'm a strobe-whore  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on September 28, 2008, 10:54:41 AM
*chuckles*.

I forgot to mention I'm still a student. It's ok.. I'll get my financial whore of a brother to pay for the expensive stuff :grin:.

You guys got any general tips for learning to use the good old DSLR? I'm doing a physics degree so the optics and the tech stuff comes easily to me ;), the art side is a bit difficult. Practice makes perfect?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NiX on September 28, 2008, 05:52:27 PM
Art is what you make of it. Just go nuts and find your niche.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on September 28, 2008, 06:12:36 PM
Yeah, nice fast lenses can help too, good point guys :)

Remember though that shooting at such wide apertures will give you very shallow depth of field, which can be it's own problem. Give me a nice white ceiling, 2 flashes at 1/4 power up in opposite corners of almost any room smaller than a football field and I'll happily snap away at f5.6-8/iso400 with a huge zone of bi-directional, soft light that you just can't hide from :p

Yeah yeah, I know, I'm a strobe-whore  :awesome_for_real:

I really do want to buy a flash at some point.   My hatred of flash photography absolutely stems from the lack of a proper off camera flash, so I've instead had to spend a lot of time learning how to breathe and what does and doesn't work in  poor lighting.    Sounds like apoc is at least doing the sane and proper use of flash - bouncing it and using it to fill the shadow as opposed to producing 100 perfectly exposed completely flat photos.   

Poor lighting and bad shutter speed will give you blurry and underexposed photographs.

Bad use of flash will give you blown out backgrounds and awful flat foregrounds.     

I was running around an indoor sporting event at the beginning of summer with my puny little D40 and no flash.  There were guys there staking out  large swaths of track and hanging multiple flashes to be triggered by their D80's or the like.  But they never took the time to do some practice shots, or bounced the flash or anything else, so when they posted their pictures, they were all uniformly flat and awful.

Good gear helps, but technique makes or breaks it.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on September 29, 2008, 01:03:09 AM
Good gear helps, but technique makes or breaks it.


Amen to that 1000 times over! I've got access to a huge amount of gear because I do some freelancing for a local commercial studio and they're really cool about letting me borrow stuff. And I've taken a whole lot of really crappy photos with awesomely expensive gear :D  I've also got a few photos I really like taken with old, cheap and crap gear.

As for composition and stuff, yeah, just practice and find what you like. Learning from other people is great too - there's so many fantastic photographers out there and you can get a million ideas from them whether you're trying to make art, take great family snaps or do commercial work but you gotta just takes loads yourself :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on September 29, 2008, 06:10:00 AM
*chuckles*.

I forgot to mention I'm still a student. It's ok.. I'll get my financial whore of a brother to pay for the expensive stuff :grin:.

You guys got any general tips for learning to use the good old DSLR? I'm doing a physics degree so the optics and the tech stuff comes easily to me ;), the art side is a bit difficult. Practice makes perfect?

As for staying cheap, the 50mm 1.8 prime mentioned above is a great option. I picked mine up for just over $100. As long as you aren't worried about the background being a giant blur, it works great in lowlight situations.

My best advise on the art and composition side, is to practice by trying to replicate someone else's work - especially regarding shooting people.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on September 29, 2008, 07:01:52 AM
practice by trying to replicate someone else's work - especially regarding shooting people.
:awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on September 29, 2008, 10:50:21 AM
I am serious, other than the fact that my quote sounds like I'm suggesting duplicating Lee Harvey Oswald.

Understanding what makes a good picture often comes out of practicing the technical aspects. For example, if you see a portrait with really stunning lighting and shadows, trying to replicate the shot will teach you a ton about how lighting works in the shot, composition, etc.

Of course you should be out there doing your own thing, but using other peoples' work to help you learn is just smart.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: eldaec on October 21, 2008, 06:34:18 AM
Anyone have any tips on indoor/dark photography (without flash)?

Image stablizer lens.

Use timer mode.
Carry a beanbag to use as a makeshit tripod.
Big Aperture.
Camera that can shoot iso 1600 and not look like shit.
Wear a beret and wander about claiming that blur/soft focus is 'arty'.

IMAGE STABLIZER LENS.


__________


In other news, I'm rebuilding the PC and considering whether to install different RAW processing software.

I've used breezebrowser for a while, and not had any complaints, but recommendations are welcome.

http://www.breezesys.com/


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on October 22, 2008, 08:55:12 AM
In other news, I'm rebuilding the PC and considering whether to install different RAW processing software.

I've used breezebrowser for a while, and not had any complaints, but recommendations are welcome.

http://www.breezesys.com/


I've always just used Adobe Camera RAW with Photoshop/Bridge, never had any problems. Edit: I also use Phase One Capture One in some situations because the workflow of it is so nice - it's great for location shooting direct to a laptop, but don't bother with it on a PC at all, it's just too slow on anything other than a Mac.

Edit: As far as I know, using ACR is also the only way to do zero-slider colour management and calibration, but that's just me being photonerdy.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Miguel on October 22, 2008, 11:43:22 AM
I have a few basic questions.

I just got a new Canon lens for my Rebel XT...it's a 50mm prime at f1.4.

So if I understand correctly, shooting at f1.4 means the aperture opens very wide, meaning that I can use a very fast shutter speed to let in the same amount of light as compared to shooting at a larger fstop and a slower shutter speed.  This is why they call this called a 'fast' lens, correct?  I do notice that when shooting at f2.0, I get much clearer pictures due to the faster shutter speed as opposed to the crappy kit lens, which only goes down to f3.5ish.  I also find with this lens that I don't need the flash except when it's *really* dark, especially at low fstops.

So the only trade-off would be depth of field?  So as I shoot from f1.4 to smaller apertures, I need to make the shutter speed slower in order to compensate for light, but also my depth of field increases?   


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on October 22, 2008, 10:31:50 PM
Yes (to all your questions).

And grats on your lens. I have a 50mm f1.4 on my ancient Canon AE-1 I loved that lens back when I was shooting film.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on October 22, 2008, 10:47:35 PM
Depth of field won't be the only trade-off, you also tend to lose sharpness at the edges at such low apertures. However, this will be offset by the fact that a fast prime lens like that will have much better optics than a variable-aperture zoom anyway, so don't worry about it :)  I've got a Sigma 30mm f1.4 that I love, great lenses.

At f1.4 your dof will be *very* shallow however - you'll need to pay close attention to exactly where you (or your camera) is focusing. Go for the eyes Boo! :P


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Miguel on October 23, 2008, 12:56:15 AM
Quote
At f1.4 your dof will be *very* shallow however - you'll need to pay close attention to exactly where you (or your camera) is focusing. Go for the eyes Boo! :P

Yes I learned this the hard way when shooting pics of my newborn twin son and daughter.  If they were laying next to each other, and I was shooting at f1.8, I found that I could not focus on both at the same time even though they were laying only a few inches apart.  Which is actually kind of cool, since you can put one face in focus and the other slightly blurred.

In addition to the 50mm f1.4 prime, I also picked up a Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM.  Although to be honest, my wife and I love this prime lens so much it hasn't been removed from the camera yet!

This is what I really want:

[drool]
Canon EOS 5D Mark II (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=17662)
[/drool]



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on October 23, 2008, 01:12:41 AM
This is what I really want:

[drool]
Canon EOS 5D Mark II (http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=17662)
[/drool]

Haha yeah, that looks like an awesome bit of kit :)  I've been jonesing after a D3 for a while now but I'll see what Nikon throw out in response to the 5D MkII in 6 months time.

Quick note about the Canon lenses - the L series ones (with a red ring round them) are simply amazing lenses. I've played with a 70-200 2.8 L on a 5D for a bit and I've never seen a tele zoom with sharpness like that, just superb. Mucho £$ though :/


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on October 23, 2008, 07:34:24 AM
Since the 2.8 was out of my price range, I picked up the 70-200 4.0 L Series a couple years ago, and I am very, very happy with it. Was around $800.00.

I've shot with my buddy's 2.8, and it's beautiful, but its mighty heavy for non-tripod use.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: nurtsi on October 23, 2008, 12:41:03 PM
If any other folks are using Canons (I have the 400D, whatever that is called in the US) I can recommend a dirt cheap lens for it: the EF 50mm f/1.8 II. I paid 98 € for it last week (brand new) and it freaking owns. Took a load of photos during last weekend and I can recommend it to anyone.

With the widest aperture, you can get good photos in very low-light environments (like candle light) just snapping handheld shots. The only trouble I had is because the depth of field with the widest aperture is really narrow, sometimes getting everything to stay focused is hard (like you focus on the tip of the nose and the eyes will get blurred). Of course this was my first time shooting with it, I'm sure it gets easier with practice.

Taking macro shots of food is cool as well since the depth of field is something like less than an inch. You can't really go wrong with this lens, I love it. Personally I hate flash and finally got a lens that allows me to take pictures in low-light.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Miguel on October 23, 2008, 01:02:19 PM
Quote
the EF 50mm f/1.8 II

I had the hardest time choosing between the f1.4 and the f1.8.  I thought,  is one more fstop worth three times the price?

Other than the metal lens mount on the f1.4, and the 8 blade aperture (versus 5 blade on the f1.8), I don't see any differences spec-wise.  I am happy with the very solid construction of the f1.4 since we take this lens everywhere with us, and it goes in and out of the bag lots of times.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on October 23, 2008, 01:44:31 PM
I love my 1.8
This shot was a real challenge to get all of her face in to focus, but I love the effect it had on the background.

(http://www.lowermainlandphotography.com/photos/329573945_oMVvT-L.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on October 23, 2008, 11:28:09 PM
I love my 1.8
This shot was a real challenge to get all of her face in to focus, but I love the effect it had on the background.
Nice shot Bunk, you got a reflector low front right there? I'm guessing that wasn't wide open too, f4-ish? And yeah, very nice bokeh :)

Personally I hate flash
Do you hate flash full stop or just hate horrible, on-camera flash? Off-camera and controlled it's just another light source, but one you can do so much with. Sorry, strobe-geek. Can't help myself :D


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on October 23, 2008, 11:34:35 PM
(http://www.lowermainlandphotography.com/photos/329573945_oMVvT-L.jpg)

a/s/l? and possible  :hello_thar:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on October 23, 2008, 11:35:59 PM
Yes, I realize the above post not only makes me a horrible person but kind of creepy. But hell, why not. Internets.

Edit: I can't even type correctly tonight.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on October 24, 2008, 12:07:06 AM
Jesus, I just noticed that I asked sex and location also.

You know what. Just ignore me. It's bed time.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: nurtsi on October 24, 2008, 12:26:58 AM
Do you hate flash full stop or just hate horrible, on-camera flash? Off-camera and controlled it's just another light source, but one you can do so much with. Sorry, strobe-geek. Can't help myself :D

Well, I've only got experience with on-camera flashes. I'm on my first DSLR and haven't even thought about getting external flashes. I can't really think of a situation where I would want to use external flash other than when shooting fast-moving sports. My problem with on-camera flash is the standard "deer in headlights": you lose the colors, get reflections and burn the image.

Once when I was mountain biking my buddy and I went to shoot pictures of the other guys riding. It was getting dark already and on my shots the riders were practically all blurred to hell (bikes move pretty fast). My friend on the other hand had two external flashes that had some sort of radio trigger on them (there was no wires to the flashes but they fired when he took a shot). He planted those things in the ground and got some really cool (and sharp) images. That's probably the only time I've really seen flashes being useful.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on October 24, 2008, 01:15:52 AM
Yup, that's exactly what I mean. Off-camera flash is so awesome once you start thinking about photography in terms of light. Available light becomes just another light you can use - flash becomes something you can shape and control available light with. There's lots of ways of triggering off-camera flashes too. Your buddy might have been using PocketWizards (gold standard of triggers, v expensive though) or any one of a number of cheaper alternatives. You can get some pretty decent radio triggers (Cactus Infinity V2's are one example) for under US$40.

On-camera light has it's place, for sure, and I'm just starting to experiment with using it as fill light, to lift shadows a fraction and sculpt a shot a bit more, but full-on, TTL, on-axis flash as main light is... ugh.

Edit: 10 min example of light control with a single flash. These aren't meant to show that flash makes any picture better, just that it gives you more control.

1: No flash, exposed for some detail outside. Me = v dark, outside = OK.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2969190020_f6a8a69638_m.jpg) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2969190020_229227ff2b_o.jpg)

2: No flash, exposed for detail inside. Me = better, outside now v overexposed.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/2969189944_401b44376d_m.jpg) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/2969189944_3f88fd72f1_o.jpg)

3: Flash bounced into opposite corner of room. Good detail on both me and the outside.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3148/2968345079_f62fb7cdb7_m.jpg) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3148/2968345079_50ef1ebb6a_o.jpg)

4: Flash turned up full, shutter speed dropped to make outside look lots darker.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/2968344973_bc5e0fd558_m.jpg) (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/2968344973_0fb0429e7b_o.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on October 24, 2008, 05:16:56 AM
 When I actually get around to buying an off camera flash, I'm going to take a month sabbatical and got stalk apocrypha and make him teach me how to use it. 


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on October 24, 2008, 06:07:35 AM
Nice sample there Apoc. I love my off camera speedlight. I love my strobes more, but they don't fit in the side of my bag like the speedlight does.

And yes Schild most of the models we used when I was taking classes, including the one above, were generally  :pedobear:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Miguel on October 24, 2008, 02:49:46 PM
Quote
...but I love the effect it had on the background...

There was a background? ;)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on October 25, 2008, 07:30:34 AM
Cool stuff guys.  :-)

I really need a good camera still. Really wish I could learn/experiment more right now.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: nurtsi on October 25, 2008, 09:59:29 AM
Those were good examples. I can see how flash is useful when you have time to setup your environment (like in a studio). Currently I'm more of an opportunistic photographer, I don't really plan my stuff before hand.

At the moment I get my kicks shooting people in normal situations. I don't ask them to pose or anything, I try to take pictures when the targets are unaware of it. It might be a bit awkward at first, but usually if you just shoot a lot people will soon pay no attention to you and you can capture people as they really are.

Although now that winter's approaching northern Europe, I've been toying with the idea of shooting the night sky. It can be pretty spectacular on the countryside on a cold, clear night. Anyone got tips/experience in shooting the milkyway and stars? I guess I need a sturdy tripod at least, but what kind of a lens would be suited for it?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on October 25, 2008, 10:35:32 AM
Yeah strobe is not really suited to street-photography and related styles (although it's not impossible (http://www.amazon.com/Philip-Lorca-diCorcia-Heads/dp/3882434414)). It's also not limited to studios - those 4 shots took me about 10 minutes from deciding to do it and posting them on Flickr. But yes, the dynamic is very different from run'n'gun photography.

Night sky shooting definitely needs a good tripod, but lens choice isn't your 2nd problem - the right lens is whatever lens suits the purpose of your shot. Do you want a wideangle landscape with stars whirling above it or do you want a closeup of the moon? Your 2nd problem is fixed shot or driven shot. Fixed means that the stars will make tracks in the sky around the Earth's orbit point, driven means you move the lens to follow the stars for clear shots of celestial objects. Your shutter speeds are going to be in the range that makes the Earth's rotation a serious factor :)

Edit: was thinking too and I reckon you'll want to be very careful with other light sources for night sky photos. No streetlights mainly, but any other light sources in your frame will be very difficult to balance with starlight. Clear, frosty nights camping in the mountains would be awesome :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on November 04, 2008, 03:07:06 AM
Just started taking photos in RAW. Wow you can do funky stuff to your photos.

Any advice on post-processing (or whatever they call it) work?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on November 04, 2008, 04:53:45 AM
Don't overdo it. Yeah you can do some mad stuff but you do too much and it starts to look obvious and cliched. You also want to avoid degrading the image too much - keep an eye on your histogram during post, if you start to see big gaps in it then you're losing data which degrades image quality.

If you do have an image that you need/want to do a lot of pp on then you can always try opening it from RAW as a 16-bit file. This can help reduce image degradation caused by too much processing but it also greatly increases the file size and can slow down processing considerably.

Of course, having said all this, remember that your RAW file is your effective negative. Whatever you do to an image after converting it from RAW doesn't affect the RAW file, so you can experiment to your hearts content safe in the knowledge that you've always got the original RAW file available to try something different on :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: bhodikhan on November 04, 2008, 07:14:16 AM
The Canon EOS 5D Mark II is amazing. I was able to use one for a day last week.  You can shoot indoors without a flash at very high ISO numbers and there is no (nada) grain. I was shooting with my 85mm F1.2L and  the camera was incredible. I don't care what it's going to cost. Most of my professional work is corporate and usually indoors and not having to use strobe lighting except for certain 'looks' will be fantastic.

 :heart:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on November 04, 2008, 11:35:04 PM
What kind of ISO you talking about using for pro work bhodikhan? I mean, would you print 12x18" ISO 3200 or we talking about 800 for headshots for a corporate webpage?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: eldaec on November 08, 2008, 08:46:56 AM
You might want to apply software noise reduction, but no reason you can't make a 3200 iso shot usable even larger than 12x8.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 08, 2008, 08:41:17 AM
I am hoping one of you knows of a good 300mm lense for a Nikon d40x before I have to go do research.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 09, 2008, 02:54:25 AM
Not a huge choice of 300mm primes, either of the current Nikon AF ones look great, fantastic quality, the VR is a lot more expensive ofc. Nikon 300mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Nikkor  (http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/108/cat/all) and Nikon 300mm f/2.8D ED-IF II AF-S Nikkor (http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/107/cat/all). There's an f4 (http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/106/cat/all) too but dunno if that'll be easy to get hold of or not.

The cheaper option is the Sigma f2.8 (http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/227/cat/all) but I'd look at prices and compare weights etc, don't think there's a vast amount to choose between them all in terms of image quality.

Since I got a VR 70-200mm though I've become a convert to VR, it rocks, but it ain't cheap, £3500ish for the 300mm VR  :uhrr:



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on December 09, 2008, 03:16:07 AM
Sigma can be hit or miss.  Definetely read up on them as sometimes they'll cheap out on the glass ot construction quality. 


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 09, 2008, 11:20:43 PM
While that is true for their older primes and a lot of their zooms their newer primes are generally superb. That 300mm gets some very good reviews and from all accounts is very sharp, even wide open, and not read anything bad about the build quality.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on December 16, 2008, 05:29:19 AM
In my quest for a nice low light compact, I bought a Canon 880. Seems to be well liked on dpreview. This guy (http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/compacts/sd880.htm) even says it's better than a G10.. and has some pics to justify it.

Still waiting on that Sigma DP2 to come out though.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on December 16, 2008, 07:45:11 AM
By the way, what the hell do some of you use anyways.. for impromptu shots? Surely you don't like carrying all of that kit around.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on December 16, 2008, 07:58:42 AM
By the way, what the hell do some of you use anyways.. for impromptu shots? Surely you don't like carrying all of that kit around.

It's my camera phone or I'm lugging the kit around. 



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on December 16, 2008, 08:35:33 AM
See to me, the holy grail is trying to get a little both in one. Fuck camera phones and fuck dslrs (no offense to you, just saying :P ). I want quality shots coming out of something in my pocket.. and I want to do it in an unobstrusive, less nerdy kind of way.

It seems to me that there is a helluva lot more technical possibility for this too, but not exactly marketable possibility. Either they're catering to auto-moded phone cam shit or pro dslr stuff. The cameras I'm liking - these premium compacts - they seem like they could be better (although, I'm not complaining much on this new one.. it's pretty nice).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on December 16, 2008, 08:40:28 AM
See to me, the holy grail is trying to get a little both in one. Fuck camera phones and fuck dslrs (no offense to you, just saying :P ). I want quality shots coming out of something in my pocket.. and I want to do it in an unobstrusive, less nerdy kind of way.

It seems to me that there is a helluva lot more technical possibility for this too, but not exactly marketable possibility. Either they're catering to auto-moded phone cam shit or pro dslr stuff. The cameras I'm liking - these premium compacts - they seem like they could be better (although, I'm not complaining much on this new one.. it's pretty nice).

There's nothing wrong with a good P&S and quite honestly, most people lugging around DSLRs have no fucking need for them.  If you can get what you want out of a P&S, then go for it.   


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: bhodikhan on December 16, 2008, 10:35:24 AM
What kind of ISO you talking about using for pro work bhodikhan? I mean, would you print 12x18" ISO 3200 or we talking about 800 for headshots for a corporate webpage?

Just got my production camera. The 5DMK2 can shoot corporate stuff at ISO 3200 with very little grain. A quick noise removal if needed and you've got a nice 20 megapixel image to work with. Just playing with the video feature has really blown me away. You have to manual focus and setup each shot but the footage is great. It should be. The detector is huge compared to almost every video camera I've worked with.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on December 16, 2008, 06:17:42 PM
BTW, how much into post processing are you guys? To me, that's a fun part. Not photoshopping per se.. just colorizing. Do you still bother with your dslr photos?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on December 16, 2008, 07:15:50 PM
BTW, how much into post processing are you guys? To me, that's a fun part. Not photoshopping per se.. just colorizing. Do you still bother with your dslr photos?


To an extent.  My personal preference is a minimum of cropping and post processing.   Maybe a bit of saturation and exposure, but I prefer to try and keep it somewhat natural and get it right when I take the shot. 


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 16, 2008, 11:56:06 PM
By the way, what the hell do some of you use anyways.. for impromptu shots? Surely you don't like carrying all of that kit around.

Canon G6. Pretty much always with me. Bit large, would love a G9, but awesome small camera.

BTW, how much into post processing are you guys? To me, that's a fun part. Not photoshopping per se.. just colorizing. Do you still bother with your dslr photos?

Really varies a lot. I always shoot RAW so there's a minimum of RAW conversion (and usually dust spot cleaning, heh, must get round to cleaning the sensors) and I always do some work on people shots - getting rid of zits, some wrinkle smoothing, etc. Some shots I can spend hours in PP, some 5 mins. It just depends on what I'm aiming for really. Minimising PP is always a good idea because you always get some image degradation with too much manipulation.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on December 17, 2008, 06:45:29 AM
This is actually my first Canon btw. I like the way it's designed. Maybe I will just settle for a cheaper dslr down the road/next few months. I like the quality and convenience in this compact already, but could do with more control and speed. There doesn't seem to be any Digital Rebel models with the Digic 4 like this though. Weird.

[edit] BTW, this had one of those color swapping features built in. Just did this on a cig break. Pretty nice shot.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/lonestar627/IMG_0083.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on December 17, 2008, 08:07:49 AM
The Digic 4 is quite new, and as far as I know none of the current Rebels has it.

The camera I hope on getting this coming year, the 50D does:  http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos50d/ (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos50d/)

I'd love the 5d MarkII mentioned above, but it's two to three times the price.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on December 17, 2008, 08:31:09 AM
Hmm.. I guess they'll probably roll something out soon enough.

That 50D is out of my budget unfortunately. Like the MarkII is for you. ;)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on January 30, 2009, 11:40:34 AM
This is kind of cool, has anyone tried it out before?

http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh (http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on January 31, 2009, 01:10:32 AM
Haha cool idea. I can't think of any use for it that wouldn't look gimmicky but sometimes gimmicky is just what you need  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on February 04, 2009, 02:28:15 PM
DAM software. Yes, put an N on the end once you have to spend the cash on it. What do you use?

Right now I'm using the freebie version of Nikon's software to import, getting rid of the shit using the OS's image viewing capabilities, and then importing into Aperture. I like what Aperture does for project management and cataloging and its file conversion is good, but I hate its speed at transfer and I hate the way it stores everything in a fucking huge database instead of under the filesystem where it is trivial to manage archiving. However, I never upgraded, so now that I have a D90, it just plain doesn't work. The freebie Nikon software is quick(ish) at importing but worthless in previewing and almost everything else. Native slideshows under the Finder are fairly quick (quicker than the freebie Nikon Capture by a country mile, and more convenient than Aperture for pre-project destruction of junk images), and keystrokes let me bin stuff I don't want to archive very quickly.

So, I'm going to start evaluating some tools before I throw some money at this - I'll look at the the Aperture 2, Lightroom, Capture NX, Bibble and Capture One trials. But I'm not going to limit myself to a one-size-fits-all program if there are multiple tools that will make the process faster or more convenient for me - especially if the all-in-one tools use a stupid proprietary database. What else should I look at? What tools do you use for transfer, previewing, archiving, cataloging, conversion, etc?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on February 05, 2009, 01:39:56 AM
On Macs, Capture One. On PC's, Photoshop suite - Bridge, ACR, PS.

I don't like Lightroom or Aperture, they're both cumbersome IMO. I'm a believer in keeping things simple and I also always store files on network drives - only Capture One and Bridge (CS3 Bridge an upwards anyway) cope with this properly. One thing I'll say though, if you do end up using Bridge on multiple computers all accessing the same network directories then you have to give Bridge time to refresh it's previews properly, which can take several minutes on startup. Capture One is much better at this and in a proper multi-workstation environment I really don't think there's an alternative to Capture One on Macs.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on February 05, 2009, 06:30:46 AM
Picked up the 50D I've been wanting. The camera store I deal with didn't have any body only in stock (their price was $1319 CDN), so we stopped at Future Shop on the way home. They told me they had them for $1399. My buddy asks them to check the website, and low and behold, it says $1299 on the website.

They run it through, and the bill comes up at $1249.00.

I didn't complain.

Put my 2GB memory card in, went from ~ 200 shots on my old camera to ~ 80 - yeah, I'm going to go buy an 8GB card now.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on February 05, 2009, 08:23:42 AM
Going off Stewie's stuff in the "daily" pic thread, can I do HDR with my p&s canon? I do have an old tripod, but the camera still moves when I press the button.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on February 05, 2009, 09:11:48 AM
If it moves when you press the release, the tripod isn't your friend. You may do better bracing yourself and sighting something at the border of the frame to line up the shots. Assuming your P&S offers sufficient manual control over exposure, you can do HDR on a P&S just fine however.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on February 05, 2009, 09:20:04 AM
I guess I should learn how to use the manual controls properly!  :uhrr:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on February 05, 2009, 02:01:03 PM
If your camera moves when you press the button just set the self timer on, it's annoying but you'll get a movement free shot.

It's also more of a squeeze and not a push if you want to keep the camera steady.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Stewie on February 05, 2009, 02:16:10 PM
Hey Sky, You can indeed use your point and shoot to do some HDRs, as long as they have raw.

The last image I uploaded was actually a 1 shot HDR
What I did was take the shot in raw and then in Photoshop Raw I set it to 2 stops underexposed and saved it, then reopened it up in PS raw and set it to 2 stops over exposed saved it again and did this a 3rd time with it correctly exposed. then I took all 3 images and generated a hdr in photomatix.
That being said if you really wanted to you could just make 3 copies of the exact same jpg and use that but you will not get the balanced exposure that HDR gives you but this will give you the ability to apply some tone mapping which is what many people want to do.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on February 05, 2009, 03:08:43 PM
Here are what I came up with for workflow software on the Mac:

Bibble Labs Bibble Lite         $90
LaserSoft SilverFast DC VLT         $99
Phase One Capture One         $129
ISL Silkypix               $149
Bibble Labs Bibble Pro            $160
Nikon Capture NX2            $180
Apple Aperture 2            $199
Microsoft Expression Media         $199
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom      $299
LaserSoft SilverFast DC Pro         $299
Phase One Capture One Pro         $469
Adobe Photoshop CS4            $699

After a lot of nonsense registrations, I was able to download trial versions of everything. So I thought I'd start at the cheapest end and work upwards. Ran into the first problem - Bibble (in any form) doesn't support the Nikon D90 NEF format and will not until version 5 is released. I'll put it to the end of the queue for now, but I'll take a look using images from my old D50 later since Bibble 5 is supposed to be imminent.

So, on the Capture One, which version do you use Apoc?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Stewie on February 06, 2009, 09:27:48 AM
hey Righ,

I just thought I'd trow in my 2 cents. I user Adobe bridge and PS CS3
I tried the demo of CS4 and the adobe bridge in it seemed to just have a better flow. I really liked it but can't afford it and can't find the *cheaper* alternative option for 64 bit vista.

I tried light room but really did not like it at all. Ultimately PS is what you want on mac or PC and everything else is either just a pale imitation or an add on to your PS workflow.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on February 06, 2009, 10:14:58 AM
So, on the Capture One, which version do you use Apoc?

I think we were using Pro 4.something at the studio. I've tried 3.something on the PC and it was much harder to use. For personal use you'd probably be ok with just Capture One, although we absolutely used a lot of the Pro-only features for studio work. Particularly lacking from non-Pro version is tethered shooting and customisable workspaces.

End of the day though, you're gonna need Photoshop anyway right? So why not just start with that and see if Bridge works for you. Unless you're writing this all off as business costs anyway...  :why_so_serious:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on February 06, 2009, 03:05:45 PM
End of the day though, you're gonna need Photoshop anyway right?

I hope not. That seems like a complete toolshed to crack a nut. As much as I might like to dick around in Photoshop for fun, I don't need to be layering stuff, compositing, titling or applying effects. I'm mostly interested in event photography, particularly concerts. Its challenging from a photography standpoint, particularly on a budget with less than optimal equipment, but the 'darkroom' side of things is fairly straightforward. I need to shoot RAW and have control over tuning the exposure and colour balance. As far as I'm concerned, I think the following are what I need:

1. Image transfer to computer
2. Archival of images
3. Import of images into a package than can provide sufficient non-destructive editing of light, cropping, etc
4. Cataloguing images by project/quality
5. Selection of images in a project by quality
6. Group export/conversion
7. Archival of processed images

Fairly simple needs at this point, but more than your average iPhoto hobby package. I like Aperture apart from its idiotic database.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on February 06, 2009, 11:32:26 PM
Ahh ok gotcha.

Well my only personal experience of that kind of workflow then is with Capture One, but my stuff has always been much more processing-orientated. Give Lightroom a go to compare to Aperture, from my brief playing with it it seems as if that's exactly what it's aimed at.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on February 07, 2009, 01:47:55 AM
I'm going to beat on Lightroom (and then Capture One) next. I've been distracted by discovering that recent versions of Aperture can maintain masters by reference, allowing them to exist outside the database. This sort of gets me what I want, but I would still rather not have to import things into the database before the initial 'light table'. I probably have a slightly odd set of needs in my work flow. Concert lighting means that I fire off a lot of shots, many of which are disposable. But I don't want to really throw anything out, I want to put it on DVD and get it off my computer. Once I've done the fast first pass through the many hundreds of shots, those than aren't 'discarded' are ones I'll want to look at in more detail and rate.

I think I can force Aperture to work if I use a different tool to import, burn everything to DVD and use Quicklook in Finder to pare down the images. If I can use Automator to build a plugin for the Finder, I might even be able to supplement the "Add To iPhoto" button in Quicklook with something to add to Aperture. Then if can assign that to a key press, I'm in business.

But before I get into that, I'll see what the other packages give me - I've already discarded SilverFast, Silkypix and Expression. Bibble doesn't currently do the asset management things I need, but allegedly will in the version that will support my camera. No way to try it currently though. Capture NX doesn't do the management stuff either but might do some other stuff that is useful before the catalogue tool. I still have 28 days left on all the evaluation periods. Finding a efficient work flow system is a tough job.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on February 07, 2009, 10:44:39 AM
What the hell? The Lightroom UI looks like Goo. I suppose for Adobe, $300 puts you in the Happy Fun Toy market. And is it too much to ask to be able to easily put the light table into full screen mode so I can use all the limited number of pixels I have on my laptop? Shift-tab, f, f, t, l, l. Brilliant. I have a feeling this one won't work for me, but I'm not ready to can it until I see how it performs.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: nurtsi on February 08, 2009, 01:04:55 AM
I broke my 50mm f/1.8 II lens :sad: I guess it got hit by something from the front as I've just kept my camera in my backpack. If I put it on manual focus and try to turn the focus ring, it doesn't move freely at one point. It seems the  lens assembly inside the housing is tilted. If I use auto focus, I get this horrible screech from the motor when it tries to focus the lens but it resists.

I haven't asked a shop to repair it yet, as I'm pretty sure it would be more expensive than buying a new one (if it even is possible to fix it). As this is dirt cheap lens (< 100€), I guess I'll just buy a new one, but any idea if I could fix this by myself somehow?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on February 08, 2009, 01:53:54 AM
Well if you're already resigned to buying a new one then you've got nothing to lose by trying to take it apart and having a go yourself, right? Autofocus lenses are complicated beasties though, chances are low that you'll be able to do much yourself. Just be careful about putting it back on the camera - would be bad to fuck the AF mechanism or lens mount up.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on February 08, 2009, 03:12:43 PM
Trying out Capture One Pro now. it knocks everything else into a cocked hat as far as ease of light and colour control is concerned. Makes it much simpler to pull details out of difficult partially lit stage photos. On the other hand it's pretty dreadful compared to either Aperture of Lightroom as a fast cataloguing tool. As far as I can tell the big things the Pro version adds over the standard one are tethered shooting, support for Phase One backs and (heh) the cataloguing. The normal version is probably something of a bargain if you use another tool for the cataloguing features then.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on February 11, 2009, 12:01:54 AM
I came across this page (http://osp.wikidot.com/) which got me to boot my PC notebook into Ubuntu, so that I could look at some of the software mentioned here (http://osp.wikidot.com/the-big-picture). I'm very impressed at how far open source photography software has come. UFRaw handles Nikon curves, digiKam is an astonishingly good photo management package. I'm not likely to make Linux my normal platform (not least because my PC notebook is a beast to lug around) but its good to know that it's viable if I don't have access to other tools. I might put a system packed with all the tools on a USB pen drive to go in my camera bag.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: eldaec on February 11, 2009, 03:56:23 PM
Just started using Bibble (http://bibblelabs.com/), it blows away anything I've ever tried. The interface doesn't look as cool as some products, but you get past that and this is a fantastic product for image processing - I take a lot of indoor no-flash images, which often need a lot of work to really shine (either that or my photos just need a lot of work because I'm shit), I'm finding I just get stuff done fast, found it far more intuitive than the other products, and I have yet to come across a feature that is missing or not as powerful as I'd like it to be.

Admittedly I'm not fussed by cataloguing tools which are largely absent, so ymmv in this respect.



Fake Edit: I tried Lightroom last year, and I agree with Righ, the UI sucks monkey balls, plus Adobe have been a little too obvious in the features they've crippled to defend photoshop's territory. The designer of that godawful curves tool needs to be shot.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: nurtsi on February 12, 2009, 04:24:26 AM
I don't get all this Lightroom dislike. I think the UI is pretty good. I use it to catalogue and develop my photos (only shoot RAW). It's really quick to go though hundreds of shots and flag the good ones, then work on those and develop them. Of course the software has loads of features I never use, but it does the basics really well.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on February 12, 2009, 01:55:58 PM
Took a trip out to home depot and the various craptastic shit stores in search of supplies to put together this:
http://diyphotography.net/readers-projects-the-midas-umbrella-touch

I'm using an assortment of spring clamps to hold it on an old tripod I have from Best Buy.  So far, it is WEIRD AS SHIT TO SHOOT WITH as I've NEVER done anything with off camera lighting before ever.   Paint isn't fully dry, but this is going to be fun as hell.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on February 13, 2009, 03:19:58 AM
Righ - I've been intending to check out open source photo tools for years now, never got round to it. I think that one time I managed to install linux on a PC and then sat there with a command prompt blinking at me thinking "ok, what now?" put me off  :uhrr:

JWIV - awesome, have fun with it :)  Important thing to learn with an umbrella are that there are two distances that make a huge difference - the distance between your subject and the umbrella, and the distance between your subject (and light) and the background. Play around with those and you'll have all the control over tonal ranges you could ever want!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on February 13, 2009, 04:52:41 AM
Umbrella is a bit larger than I realized when I bought it, but it's still awesome.   I'll probably pick up a second smaller one (and another can of chrome paint) just to have some options.     The next project is to try and put together the backdrop I think, but that'll take some time.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3350/3275822393_160cd95c90.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on February 13, 2009, 05:55:18 AM
This is purely conjecture:

Since you are using a hot light instead of a strobe wouldn't you have to get the umbrella super close to the subject you're shooting?

The aforementioned reason is why I want to buy a white umbrella.  And a light stand.  And a clamp.  And a SC-28.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on February 13, 2009, 06:02:16 AM
Probably.  The rule of thumb I came across is apparently if you're not cussing that the umbrella is in the way, it' s not close enough.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on February 13, 2009, 07:51:26 AM
Depends what look you want.

The softness of a light (i.e. how soft the shadows are, how slowly the falloff from light to dark happens on your subject) is purely a function of it's effective size from the subjects point of view. Big light source = soft. Small source = hard.

So, take your silver umbrella and put it 20m away and it'll be a pretty hard light source. Put it right next to your subject and it'll be soft. The sun is 865,000 miles in diameter, which is a pretty damn big source, but it's also 83,000,000 miles away so it's effective size is tiny and thus very hard. You don't always want soft lighting, and being able to choose exactly how hard or soft you want your light is the key.

Plus, light has depth of field. Further away it is, the greater the light's depth of field. Closer it is, the shallower it's depth of field. This means that a (really) large light source a long way away will have a softer falloff on your subject than the same light close in.

The problem with using a hot light in your umbrella is that it reduces your ability to balance flash and ambient. With a strobe in the brolly you can control the flash exposure with flash output + aperture and you control ambient with shutter speed. Since your umbrella light is also effectively ambient the only control you have over the flash:ambient ratio is with light to subject distance and subject to background distance. I'd strongly advise getting a flash for the brolly if you can :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on February 13, 2009, 08:09:14 AM
Oh I want a flash.  But between baby proofing the house  and diapers the buy myself toys fund is a bit strained at the moment. 


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on February 13, 2009, 02:51:18 PM
I might of spent some money today:

(http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/8489/photowj5.jpg)

Wasn't too much though.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on February 15, 2009, 03:17:54 PM
Ok I keep buying things.

(http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/6857/img0089au4.jpg)

(http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/491/img0090ub6.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on February 15, 2009, 03:21:53 PM
Didn't know you had kids.

Or do you just like rubber duckies?  :grin:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on February 15, 2009, 05:55:43 PM
Came with the house sir.  I'm trying to do this with one light in the beginning but it's hard.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on February 16, 2009, 02:11:37 PM
One light's fine if you have enough things to bounce the light off of.

I'll admit though, I have two and wish I had three.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on February 16, 2009, 02:47:18 PM
I really want to get one or two to overexpose the backdrop so I can get a really clean white.

That said I need to get the basics down first.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on February 16, 2009, 02:48:53 PM
Pardon my ignorance, but what's the best use for those setups? Portraits, right?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on February 16, 2009, 05:00:18 PM
Pardon my ignorance, but what's the best use for those setups? Portraits, right?

Portraits and stills.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on February 16, 2009, 05:37:47 PM
What is the benefit for portraits? Again! Pardon my ignorance. I know shit about lighting and wish I did.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on February 17, 2009, 06:08:41 AM
Take a look at a picture you took of someone using an on camera flash. Everything is stark, there's usually a big obvious shadow on the wall behind them, etc.

The umbrella Ooki has there will let him spread the light of the flash around, making it softer, with way less harsh of a shadow. Plus he can choose which angle it hits the subject from. Take a look at most good portraits, and you will find the light hits the subject from an angle, creating interesting shadows on thier face.

He wants the second light to point at the background. For example, if the person has a white wall behind them, pointing a flash at that wall will negate any shadows and make the wall look pure white, which can be very nice for portraits.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on February 17, 2009, 07:33:42 AM
I WANT A SECOND LIGHT SO BAD.

Do you think I could overexpose the background with some bare CFLs?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on February 17, 2009, 09:07:17 AM
Drool. New "cheap" Nikon street lens for compact sensor bodies:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0902/09020901nikon35mm1p8.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/gallery/nikon_35_1p8_preview/

Added to the long list of lenses I want. Being at the lower cost end of the list, I can see myself getting one fairly soon. A long time before I get my 70-200 2.8 VR. Sniff.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on February 17, 2009, 09:09:39 AM
Drool. New "cheap" Nikon street lens for compact sensor bodies:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0902/09020901nikon35mm1p8.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/gallery/nikon_35_1p8_preview/

Added to the long list of lenses I want. Being at the lower cost end of the list, I can see myself getting one fairly soon. A long time before I get my 70-200 2.8 VR. Sniff.

OH SHIT.  It's AF-S as well, so will auto focus on a D40/D40x/D60 body.   


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on February 17, 2009, 09:34:53 AM
Thanks for the find, might purchase one as I don't have a prime lens yet for my D40.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on February 17, 2009, 11:03:45 AM
I WANT A SECOND LIGHT SO BAD.

Do you think I could overexpose the background with some bare CFLs?

Well, you generally need more light on the backdrop than you have on the subject, so it could be tough to get what you want from a CFL.

A small strobe with a stand would run you about $250 from alienbees. No idea what you paid for your first light though.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on February 17, 2009, 01:01:53 PM
A long time before I get my 70-200 2.8 VR. Sniff.

Ha, that one does cost a wee bit.  The 18-200 mm is supposed to kick ass, I'm sure you could hold yourself over with that one.  Or the 80-200mm 2.8 if you want to spend a bit more.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on February 17, 2009, 01:59:58 PM
I have an AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm F3.5-5.6 G ED VR II. It's very nice - a killer mid-price lens that most everybody with a Nikon DX body should own. Its limitations are that its not a great low-light lens, its not the fastest AF in the world and it suffers creep in the mid-zoom at angles over 60 degrees. Other than that I love it. The expensive 2.8 glass is on my wish list because I'm into concert photography. The cheap 35mm F1.8 will be awesome for being slap up against the stage in small clubs where my 50mm is too much. There's also a rumor of a 135mm F1.8 DX being launched soon. However, If I get the promised photo pass I'm hoping for a tour this fall, I'll probably try and rent a 70-200mm F2.8 because it'll be great for decent sized venues with a photo pit.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on February 17, 2009, 06:29:46 PM
Okay here is a very dapper Cory Jacobs who is my only model to date.

(http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/9595/img0129fq1.jpg)

It's not that great, I'm trying to figure stuff out first.  What is it lacking?  Besides the pose, he literally sat down for 5 seconds as he was rushing to work.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on February 17, 2009, 06:36:13 PM
Other than perfectly lighting him to give him a black eye (probably doesn't help that he's not been getting enough sleep), its a decent shot.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NiX on February 18, 2009, 07:10:05 AM
What is it lacking?
Boobs.

Seriously, what Righ said and the pose, which you already pointed out. Otherwise, it's fine.

On another note, I need advice for long distance shooting with a point and shoot digital camera. I'm heading out to Alberta in a week, so I'll be visiting the mountain region, need to know the best way to capture these shots without them looking like I just stopped, took a picture and kept walking.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on February 18, 2009, 07:35:01 AM
The usual answer is a haze filter and/or ND gradient to help with sky/ground exposure, neither of which is any use to you.  Maybe exposure bracket and then do some exposure blending.  Other than that, pray for good conditions and composition will probably reign supreme.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on February 18, 2009, 08:23:32 AM
What's the model and brand of your point and shoot?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Stewie on February 18, 2009, 08:37:45 AM
Quote
On another note, I need advice for long distance shooting with a point and shoot digital camera. I'm heading out to Alberta in a week, so I'll be visiting the mountain region, need to know the best way to capture these shots without them looking like I just stopped, took a picture and kept walking.

Doesnt matter what kind of camera you are using. The most important thing when taking landscapes is a good tripod. I cannot stress this enough.
Also instead of a uv filter you want a polarizer to get those rich colours and remove any unnecessary glare. As far as the "long Distance" shooting you mentioned,  unless you are shooting wildlife just shoot wider and you should be ok. (if you are shooting wildlife, get as clos as possible without getting eaten :why_so_serious:)
Alway keep in mind good composition. IE: rule of thirds, good leading lines, foreground interest and good contrasting subjects. Of course these rules are more guidelines but if you stay close to them you will generally be ok.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on February 18, 2009, 09:09:23 AM
Except if his camera can do some manual stuff.  Or has preprogrammed modes that do manual stuff for you.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Stewie on February 18, 2009, 09:11:48 AM
Of course you are correct, but I am assuming that most all point and shoots nowadays have some manual functions and the ability to set your own aperture and shutter speed at the very least :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NiX on February 18, 2009, 09:15:46 AM
What's the model and brand of your point and shoot?
Don't remember the exact model number. It's the Canon SD750 I think. Unfortunately it doesn't have IS.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Stewie on February 18, 2009, 09:33:33 AM
If you are doing landscape photography you do not need IS, just a good tripod.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on February 18, 2009, 09:34:39 AM
Just because my uncle swears by his (mostly because it's stupid convenient), a good monopod is also an alternative if you don't want to lug about a tripod.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on February 18, 2009, 10:23:37 AM
Of course you are correct, but I am assuming that most all point and shoots nowadays have some manual functions and the ability to set your own aperture and shutter speed at the very least :)
That would be incorrect :awesome_for_real:

E.g. the Canon SD1100IS I got for my mom for Christmas has no manual controls over stutter speed or the aperature and that's true for almost all of Canon's newer P&S cameras.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Stewie on February 18, 2009, 10:35:16 AM
huh, I was not aware of that. That's kinda silly but I guess they are trying to dumb things down as much as possible.

I guess the old adage of what happens when you assume applies to me :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on February 18, 2009, 10:52:32 AM
Nix - I'll agree with Stewie on paying attention to composition basics. For example - if shooting a landscape - don't stick the horizon dead center of the frame. If you are shooting something in the distance like a mountain, consider having something also in the foreground. Puting a tree in the edge of the image, that sort of thing.


Ooki - move his head down a little in the frame - right now the focus of the picture is on his chin, it should be on his eyes. Also, most of time portraits look better with the subject at a bit more of an angle. You want shadows across the face like you have, but having him turn a bit would remove the blackeye look.

If you find the light/shadows to be too much of a contrast, stick a big white reflector opposite the light, to difuse the shadows.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on February 18, 2009, 12:28:54 PM
If you find the light/shadows to be too much of a contrast, stick a big white reflector opposite the light, to difuse the shadows.

I HAVE ONE AND I STILL COULDN'T GET RID OF THE BLACK EYE THING.

I spent like an hour on that yesterday, my reflector is a white foam board on a pvc stand.  I was having no luck, I could illuminate the whole side of the face but not that stupid quarter size area to the size of the nose and below the brow.

I eventually just started taking pictures without facing the camera directly, instead I pointed the head more towards the light source.  That did the trick, I'll have to keep playing to get the direct on thing working.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on February 18, 2009, 01:19:09 PM
Lol.

As you said, turn his head. When shooting a subject straight on, you might see the photographer use two light sources, say straight out either side.
For one light, you might have also simply moved the light more to the front, instead of turning him.

Get HAMMER FRENZY to come over a point a flashlight directly at Jacob's left eye - that'll do it!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on February 19, 2009, 12:22:07 AM
Righ: the 70-200 VR is fucking gorgeous, and a beaut to use. I'm doing physiotherapy like a mofo so I can get out there and use the damn thing more  :awesome_for_real:

Nix: most important thing for good landscape pictures is patience. Waiting until you find the right picture (this is an active process... *looking* for it) and the right light. If you find a spot that looks really, really good, would it look better if the light was different? Ansel Adams would go to the same spot every single day, over and over and over again for *years* until he got the shots that have been on people's walls for decades ever since.

Ookii: To get rid of the dark eye bring the light more towards the camera. Start at 45 degrees, move it around, left/right/up/down, until it looks better. Get the subject to point their face in exactly the right direction for the light - hold you finger up and tell them to point their nose at your finger while keeping their eyes locked on the camera. That makes most people concentrate and they lose their "camera face" often too :p  Also, try bringing your light and reflector closer. Just out of frame. Adjust the ratio of light:dark by changing those distances - light further away + reflector closer = less contrast between the two sides and vice versa.

You also have very little contrast separation between subject & background. Move subject further away from background to make it darker or put more light on it to make it lighter. Or put a tungsten light on the background and a flash light (or daylight from a window, diffused through a sheet) on the subject and set the camera white balance to daylight - gives you a colour separation, or reverse that, daylight on the background, tungsten on the subject and set white balance to tungsten, gives a nice blue tinge to the background. Two lights is nice, gives you more control, but you can do a huge amount with one light and some experimentation!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on February 19, 2009, 07:49:03 AM
Get HAMMER FRENZY to come over a point a flashlight directly at Jacob's left eye - that'll do it!
Have HAMMER pose him  :why_so_serious:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on February 19, 2009, 08:17:04 PM
OMFG i :heartbreak: lightroom.

I didn't even know this shit existed before I watched Zack Arias's OneLight DVD thingie, which is AWESOME btw.  I know you guys talked about it on the last page, I just had no clue what it did.

I barely have to use Photoshop now!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on February 19, 2009, 10:54:50 PM
I've still never used it (granted, I'm just noob at this stuff, but I have used Aperture a bit). I like the idea of quick launching editors, and keeping organization separately.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on February 19, 2009, 11:58:26 PM
OMFG i :heartbreak: lightroom.

I didn't even know this shit existed before I watched Zack Arias's OneLight DVD thingie, which is AWESOME btw.  I know you guys talked about it on the last page, I just had no clue what it did.

I barely have to use Photoshop now!

I find it impossible that you'd never used or knew of Lightroom before a dvd.

Seriously. Insane.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on February 20, 2009, 07:08:55 AM
So I changed my photo in Lightroom and then did a little more editing in Photoshop with it.  After I looked at the picture in ACDsee and it didn't look the same.  I figured it was the ICC Color Profile so once I turned on "Use profiles if they are embedded in the image" it started looking correct.  The only problem is I don't know what the pictures would look like on someone else s stuff, anyone have any idea?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on February 24, 2009, 12:02:39 AM
Welcome to the wonderful world of colour management. There are 100s of books written just about this. Cambridge in Colour (http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/) is probably the best online set of guides to it.
 
It's a nightmare. You're pretty much never certain how your stuff will look on other people's systems unless they've got calibrated monitors and a correct colour workflow. All you can do is work to best practices yourself - get a hardware monitor calibration device and use it regularly.

Working for print is a lot easier once you calibrate, working for digital display sucks. This is why the Flickr "most interesting" photos are often very over-saturated and strong in primary colours, because subtle shades and colours are lost on most people's monitors.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on March 06, 2009, 08:46:06 PM
Schmap decided to use my SF Japanese Tea Garden Photo for their San Francisco guide or something.  It's just a small photo but it's still kind of cool, there was a whole submission process and stuff.

http://www.schmap.com/sanfrancisco/sights_goldengatepark/#p=20654&i=20654_30.jpg (http://www.schmap.com/sanfrancisco/sights_goldengatepark/#p=20654&i=20654_30.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on March 07, 2009, 08:10:23 AM
Schmap decided to use my SF Japanese Tea Garden Photo for their San Francisco guide or something.  It's just a small photo but it's still kind of cool, there was a whole submission process and stuff.

http://www.schmap.com/sanfrancisco/sights_goldengatepark/#p=20654&i=20654_30.jpg (http://www.schmap.com/sanfrancisco/sights_goldengatepark/#p=20654&i=20654_30.jpg)

Dude, it's awesome.  Congratulations!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on March 10, 2009, 12:44:08 PM
I highly recommend checking out Zack Arias's new critique video, it's pretty awesome.

http://www.zarias.com/?p=303 (http://www.zarias.com/?p=303)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on March 12, 2009, 09:19:44 PM
Drool. New "cheap" Nikon street lens for compact sensor bodies:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0902/09020901nikon35mm1p8.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/gallery/nikon_35_1p8_preview/

Added to the long list of lenses I want. Being at the lower cost end of the list, I can see myself getting one fairly soon. A long time before I get my 70-200 2.8 VR. Sniff.

Available early next week from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-35mm-AF-S-Digital-Cameras/dp/B001S2PPT0/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1236911688&sr=8-1) who closed their pre-order page weeks ago and shipped those pre-orders today. Adorama (http://www.adorama.com/NK3518U.html) got ~500 and pre-orders took care of all of them - they'll have more later this month. B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/606792-USA/Nikon_2183_35mm_f_1_8G_NIKKOR_DX.html) sold all theirs on day one and are awaiting resupply.

While you ponder that, Best Buy has the Nikon D200 body for $600 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7633313&st=nikon+d200&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1130987191339). I wouldn't normally suggest an older D-SLR since the rate of camera improvement is dramatic (the D300 knocks it into a cocked hat), and more modern lower-end models may outperform them making even cheap older high-end cameras of questionable value. But the D200 has a few "pro" features not on lower-end cameras that people might really like at this price point, most notably the ability to meter using old manual focus Nikon AIS lenses and supporting higher frame rate using a battery grip. Which is great for using relatively inexpensive fast primes and shooting action. However, it has a CCD rather than CMOS sensor, so its noisier in low light than the D90 and likely whatever replaces the D40 at the bottom end (probably mid-late this year). But a good price from a presumably reliable reseller if you want to shoot AIS glass or fast action on the cheap.

The D40 was discontinued and no new SLR was announced by Nikon at PMA, making the D60 the low-end model for now. I can't see that situation lasting out the year. The D60 is too pricey compared to the newer higher-end cameras in Nikon's range - they should bring out a low-end model with the D300/D90 sensor at some point.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on March 13, 2009, 06:31:23 AM
Schmap decided to use my SF Japanese Tea Garden Photo for their San Francisco guide or something.  It's just a small photo but it's still kind of cool, there was a whole submission process and stuff.

http://www.schmap.com/sanfrancisco/sights_goldengatepark/#p=20654&i=20654_30.jpg (http://www.schmap.com/sanfrancisco/sights_goldengatepark/#p=20654&i=20654_30.jpg)

Ookii that's awesome, grats :)


Anyone interested in off-camera lighting might wanna have a look at a new flash that's just been released, the LumoPro LP120 (http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,12311.html).

It's been custom designed for manual, off-camera work with an eye to very low cost. It has no auto flash or TTL or any of that stuff, just manual power settings down to 1/32 (GN80) but it has four way sync - hot shoe, external PC jack, 1/8" jack and built-in optical slave, which is just the most awesome collection of sync options ever :)  Plus cos it hasn't got all that TTL crap it's only $130. I'd rather have 3 of them than 1 SB-900 any day  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on March 13, 2009, 02:05:41 PM
Damn, that lens has to be one of the few things in my life I've bought as soon as it's come out.

As soon as I get the lens I'll probably try to take some indoors shots of my martial arts peeps. Will tell you how it works out  :grin:.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on March 20, 2009, 01:53:57 PM
People, I need tips.

I want to go hiking (I live in the UK) and take some nice scenic shots. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am thinking I need a tripod. My main issues are how on Earth I'm going to carry my stuff. Carrying hiking crap I can deal with (though I haven't really done any serious hiking, I've got the huge bag and everything), and carrying photography stuff I can handle. Both at the same time? Not so easy. The lenses I have are:

18-55
55-200 VR
35 prime

Which should be good to handle anything I can think of, though any recommendations for lenses will be appreciated. Also would love recommendations for locations to visit in the UK. Thanks in advance.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on March 22, 2009, 10:19:34 AM
What I'd take is a single body, a tripod and a suitably wide lens for the scenery shots. Your most useful lens will be the 18-55mm - at the widest, it is currently the equivalent of 27mm on a 35mm frame. You'll find yourself bang up against that a lot of the time and sometimes wanting more. The good news is that you don't need speed for landscapes, especially with a tripod, so that lens will serve you well. Depending on how much you want to spend there are several ways you can go.

Tripod - if you don't have one, this is most likely where you want to spend money first. It needs to be solid enough to hold your camera and lens safely, it needs to be well built enough to be easy to adjust and less likely to wear out as a result of heavy use. If you're hiking, you almost certainly want carbon-fiber legs to reduce weight. Legs with three sections are more stable than those with four, but those with four will fit on smaller packs. You don't have to buy stuff as expensive as Gitzo & Really Right Stuff, but it may pay you back in the long run if you can. The Manfrotto stuff is a good price for acceptable gear.

Superzoom - the 18-200mm VR doesn't go any wider than you have but it is a great hiking lens since it covers anything you might happen upon to shoot without carrying other lenses.

Go wide - Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S DX. Equivalent to 18-36mm in 35mm terms. It's THE landscape lens for Nikon DX sensors. It'll cost the best part of a grand though.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Stewie on March 23, 2009, 09:34:56 AM
One thing I would recommend with your tripod is that you get a pan head with a level on it. This will help if you wants to take a few panoramic shots.

Personally I have a ball head which is nice as it doesn't have the handles and stuff hanging off of it and it is super easy to adjust (one lever) but there have been many times I would have liked to have the ability to keep my camera level and just swivel it slightly.

The other thing is that you might not want to shoot at 18mm as most lenses aren't at their best at the extreme ends. You will usually have a sweet spot but generally speaking most decent lenses produce better results when not at their limits.

Oh and definately get the carbon fiber if you can afford it. My tripod is a manfrotto and is hella heavy. Although on the plus side if I run into any bears I have a weapon to defend myself with.
 


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on March 23, 2009, 11:32:50 AM
Sweet advice guys, thanks a lot.

Unfortunately those lenses are out of my price range (I'll stop being a student eventually...)

I think I will try and get one of those serious wide angle lens next, maybe I'll sell a kidney. I tried taking shots in Prague during sunrise (without a tripod  :awesome_for_real:) at 18mm on my 18-55 and the results weren't exactly as I expected. Serious, serious, vignetting and god knows what else.

I'll take a look at the carbon fibre tripods. I don't need to worry about bears cos I can just use my martial arts skills.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on March 24, 2009, 09:25:10 AM
While you ponder that, Best Buy has the Nikon D200 body for $600 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7633313&st=nikon+d200&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1130987191339). I wouldn't normally suggest an older D-SLR since the rate of camera improvement is dramatic (the D300 knocks it into a cocked hat), and more modern lower-end models may outperform them making even cheap older high-end cameras of questionable value. But the D200 has a few "pro" features not on lower-end cameras that people might really like at this price point, most notably the ability to meter using old manual focus Nikon AIS lenses and supporting higher frame rate using a battery grip. Which is great for using relatively inexpensive fast primes and shooting action. However, it has a CCD rather than CMOS sensor, so its noisier in low light than the D90 and likely whatever replaces the D40 at the bottom end (probably mid-late this year). But a good price from a presumably reliable reseller if you want to shoot AIS glass or fast action on the cheap.

The D40 was discontinued and no new SLR was announced by Nikon at PMA, making the D60 the low-end model for now. I can't see that situation lasting out the year. The D60 is too pricey compared to the newer higher-end cameras in Nikon's range - they should bring out a low-end model with the D300/D90 sensor at some point.

So this seems to be the thread to ask in, and I'll quote Righ since he was the last one talking about it:

The wife and I got a grand from Mom to buy something "from Dad" since his passing.  We're budgeting about ~500 to buy a new digital camera, and I'd like to get an SLR-type instead of just a point and shoot POS.  Neither of us has experience with such a camera, but my sister is a photography major and can assist in learning how to fiddle with all the settings. I'll be getting her input on a camera, too, but I like opinions from a wide variety of sources.

We'd primarily be using it for photos on vacations, around the house, birthdays, etc but I'd want to use it in the field at times, too, for shots on-site or of my companty's/ competetor's product.  Thus, my desire for more of an SLR than a point and shoot, since the lens-swapping would help me on Architecture shots while we could have a more standard 30mm for 'everyday' type shots.

Or hey, maybe just one of the advanced point and shoots like the Sony Cybershot would serve us better.  I'll be honest, I'm not entirely certain.

 Reccommendations?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on March 24, 2009, 10:51:19 AM
You're going to be severely limited in your choice of D-SLRs at the $500 price point, particularly since you will need at least a basic kit lens as well as the body. There are actually few if any current D-SLR cameras including lenses retailing at this price point now that Nikon have discontinued the D40 (though there are a handful that regularly discount under $500). However, where the older models are sill available new they still have the full warranties, so unless you need the latest features they're still good candidates.

The Nikon D40 is still the bargain D-SLR, costing less than the cheapest of the Canon Rebels. But the older Rebels are still in the shops and represent pretty good value too. Between them, Nikon and Canon have owned the SLR world for a while, and they have the most lenses available for them, both in their own ranges and from third parties. So if you envisage yourself spending many thousands of dollars on lenses in the future, it might be better to stick to one of these two manufacturers simply because you'll have the greatest chance of finding the lenses you need and using those lenses on future cameras.

Sony's cameras and lenses have come a long way in a short time, and they represent pretty good value - you can get a Sony A200 and lens for $499 pretty easily. At least one of the Olympus and Pentax models should be selling under $500 in most places too. One other option, somewhat above your price point (around $800) is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, which is not an SLR, but probably fits your requirements. Its the first shutterless digicam with removable lenses. So it has some of the properties of an SLR without being anywhere near as large. With an adapter you can even use all the lenses made for Olympus SLRs.

If you want something compact with a fixed lens, nothing beats the Canon PowerShot G10 at the moment. Its the king of the pocket digicams.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on March 24, 2009, 12:30:36 PM
Agreeing with Righ here, $500 is right at the low end for a DSLR.

In my view the advantage of an SLR is that you buy good lenses that you then continue to use forever, replacing the body as technology leaves it behind. Unfortunately to get the best out of this approach means buying good lenses, which really aren't cheap. However, if you spend $1000+ on a good Nikon or Canon lens then you'll probably still be using it in 20 years time, unlike the DSLR body you buy now for 3x that price.

I'd vote going for a good bridging camera at that price point - something larger and with a better lens than a standard compact but not as comlex or bulky or expensive as a full DSLR. Something like a Canon G10 maybe? The DMC-G1 is a very interesting camera but I have a bit of a Betamax feeling about the Four-thirds system. It *might* be an awesome system that survives and leads the way for mirrorless cameras in the future..... or it might fail horribly and disappear into obscurity. I'm hoping it survives but I'm a terrible judge of such things :P


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on March 24, 2009, 12:39:27 PM
You can get a new d40 for a little less than 500 and a refurb one for 375!  They're both kits so you get the basic 18-55 3.5, and if you get the refurb you could buy something else.  :drill:

http://www.adorama.com/INKD40KR.html?searchinfo=d40 (http://www.adorama.com/INKD40KR.html?searchinfo=d40)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on March 24, 2009, 01:24:33 PM
That pricepoint is a bit tough. With Canon, the Rebel XSi looks to be sitting around the $600 - $700 range right now.

If you don't mind last years model though, B&H has the Rebel XS at under $500 with a kit lens:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/571144-REG/Canon_2762B003_EOS_Rebel_XS_a_k_a_.html (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/571144-REG/Canon_2762B003_EOS_Rebel_XS_a_k_a_.html)

It's actually a great starter DSLR.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Salamok on March 24, 2009, 01:37:56 PM
When you hit the $600-$700 price range it gets mighty tempting to bump it anoth $100 and go for a Nikon D80.  Whatever your choice you are pretty much buying into the brand as cannon and nikon lenses are not interchangeable.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on March 24, 2009, 01:55:40 PM
Yeah I was worried about the price range being too low to get into SLRs, but in the long term it really does seem to be the best bet.  I just can't justify spending the price on a decent one right now, plus lenses.

How do folks feel about the "Advanced" point and shoots with higher zoom factors than 5x.  Things like the 9.1 Cybershot (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8757268&type=product&id=1202650703335) or(the one my wife liked when we were checking them out at Best Buy the Canon Power Shot (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9051045&type=product&id=1218012527719)?

I liked the feel of the Nikon (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9223743&type=product&id=1218062139060) when we looked, now that I see it on the page at BB.

Tho a refurb'd D40 might work out, too.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on March 24, 2009, 02:07:02 PM
Once you get used to a DSLR, you won't want to touch a point and shoot, even an "advanced" one.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on March 24, 2009, 02:09:34 PM
Yeah I know that, which is why I'm hesitant to make the leap to even a cheap one, knowing it'll obsolete itself pretty quick and leave me Jonesin for a new camera for years.  Still paying off big debits so the constraint is a real and tight one.  The rest of the cash is going towards a replacement dishwasher and a heirloom clock of some sort.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Salamok on March 24, 2009, 02:52:45 PM
and the prices people are quoting come with at least 1 lens.  The nikon kit lens for the d70 was amazing enough to where I really didn't need another lens, my kit came with 2 lenses but i rarely ever bother loading up the 70-200 lens as i just don't shoot things that far away.  The standard 18-70mm lens that came with my D70s is just pure awesome (I think it retails over $400 by itself).

A dedicated macro lens would be nice but for $50 i can just buy the attachment that converts my existing lens to a macro lens the quality is still decent.  I also wouldn't mind one of those nifty 360 mirror/lenses for virtual tours but these are all addons that wouldn't even be an option with a non SLR.

The other cool thing is I can upgrade my D70 to a D90 for under $900, this isn't just a whistful thought as I am definately going to do this when the next gen beyond the D90 comes out and I can pick up a D90 body for $600 or so.

When looking at a DSLR you should also check out what lens it comes with/read the review and check pricing for the lens by itself.
With some certainty I can tell you 1 thing, if you buy a point and shoot it will be a total peice of shit in 5 years (if it even works), a DSLR will still take awesome pics though.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on March 24, 2009, 11:36:10 PM
One of the things to remember is that buying lenses for a DSLR is an investment. Your cameras tend to expire and get thrown away  :awesome_for_real:.

I  :heart: my D40, but there are two issues that bug me.

1. Buying the kit new always comes with the 18-55, which has now been superseded by the 18-55 VR. If you're shooting hand-held inside or low-light VR is a god send. Roughly speaking VR corresponds to about 3 stops worth of change which if I remember correctly is around 2^3 = 8 times the light collecting power.

2. Getting a wide-angle lens (which we were just discussing!). The Nikon D40 has an "AF-S" system, meaning any lens you buy has to have the motor inbuilt which often means buying a Nikkor lens. For a lot of things this is alright, getting the Nikon lenses (as opposed to a 3rd party) usually suffices. But the Nikkor 12-24mm is.... expensive.

For the D40 the baseline is that if you get the 18-55 and buy the 55-200 you can basically cover a range of 18-200 which is pretty much all you will need for a very long time. If you need more or less, move. The 55-200 VR is a pretty cheap lens as well.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on March 25, 2009, 03:57:34 AM
Yeah I've decided to get an SLR after reading y'alls feedback and talking to my sister last night.  I've been price shopping online and found a hell of a lot of scams, jebus christ New York state needs to ratchet-down on it's bait and switch laws.   It's soooo tempting to just get the 2 VR lens D60 package at Ritz Camera, but that's a lot more than I wanted to spend and screws the Dishwasher we need.  :awesome_for_real:  Damn purchasing.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on March 25, 2009, 05:58:01 AM
If you are in or near New York, B&H is where you want to be looking.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on March 25, 2009, 07:39:19 AM
Nope, nowhere near.  I'd found out about them on my searches and they weren't any better than Ritz for online prices.   Worse warranty program from what I read, too.  Ritz was replacement of anything for any reason except fire and theft, B&H was only 'normal wear and tear.'


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Salamok on March 25, 2009, 08:32:17 AM
Yeah I've decided to get an SLR after reading y'alls feedback and talking to my sister last night.  I've been price shopping online and found a hell of a lot of scams, jebus christ New York state needs to ratchet-down on it's bait and switch laws.   It's soooo tempting to just get the 2 VR lens D60 package at Ritz Camera, but that's a lot more than I wanted to spend and screws the Dishwasher we need.  :awesome_for_real:  Damn purchasing.

I ran into the same confusion and ended up purchasing it locally.  There are 2 types of camera shops, 1 for the enthusiast and 1 run by shady new yorkers scamming the tourists.  Not to say you can't get a good camera from the latter but you seem to be running a greater risk of getting fleeced in the process.

edit -  Also I'm not implying that a new yorker isn't capable of owning a camera shop of the 1st variety.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Arinon on March 25, 2009, 12:57:36 PM
I used to work in Nikon's Tech support and can speak first hand about all the scams and bait and switches that come out of the New York area.  I don't think I ever encountered an issue like that that didn't originate there.

I don't have much respect for any point and shoot camera, advanced or not.  You are either at camera phone level or at the point you can get an entry level D-SLR.  The middle ground tends to be filled with gimmicks and convenience things that don't impact image quality.  Photography is about light and you need real lenses to gather enough of it.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Stewie on March 25, 2009, 03:32:27 PM
One of the nice things about getting an entry level dslr is that the big box's carry em (Nikon/Canon) and you can always use them as a fall back to purchase.
That being said, you might even try craigslist for a good used body like a 30d for cheap if at all possible and then just get the kit lens separately.

Oh and imho opinion stick to either Nikon or Canon (personally I prefer Canon) as these give you the best lens options and best proven track records. All the pros use em, why not you?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on March 25, 2009, 04:23:11 PM
Got a nice package on a D60 from Sam's with the 18-55 VR lens. $539 total, so I can't complain.  I pick it up & pay on Saturday, woo!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on March 26, 2009, 12:34:19 AM
I don't have much respect for any point and shoot camera, advanced or not.  You are either at camera phone level or at the point you can get an entry level D-SLR.  The middle ground tends to be filled with gimmicks and convenience things that don't impact image quality.  Photography is about light and you need real lenses to gather enough of it.

That's a bit unfair, there's many awesome photos taken with compact cameras, just have a look on Flickr's camera search. Pretty much any compact camera you search for will turn up some great photos. And there are a few sub-SLRs out there that are superb cameras with pretty decent lenses.

I've been a bit of an evangelist for the Canon G series in this respect. The G6 in particular had a fantastic lens and the G9 is a superb emergency backup camera - I know a couple of pros who use them as just that. The old cliche about the most important part of a camera being the person holding it is very true I think. I mean you can even find some great photos taken with iPhones ffs! Sure, they'd suffer if you printed them out at A2 but how many of the photos most people take get printed out that size?

SLRs and nice lenses give you more control, better quality and get in the way of a great photo less than a compact camera or a poor lens, but they don't take great pictures by themselves.

Aaaaanyway, back on-track, the D60 is a great camera Merusk :)  One thing that in my view makes the Nikons a better bet than Canons is the flashes. Nikon flashes are so much better than Canons for off-camera use. Canon still haven't learned that sync ports and manual slaves are essential for off-camera use and given that they've just released a new flash (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09032503canonspeedlite270ex.asp) that appears to *again* have neither of those things, well, I don't think they're ever going to learn that, silly buggers.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on March 26, 2009, 01:53:54 AM
Grats! Now just wait till you start playing with the camera and start thinking about having a lens with a longer zoom. Or a wider field of view. Or a faster lens. Or one with less distortion. Or one with less chromatic aberration, etc. The real problem comes when you start buying everything you want.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on March 26, 2009, 03:47:11 AM
Well, TBH the driving force behind buying a Nikon was both my sisters have one as well.  The p.j. one is graduating soon and has a D90, and the other one bought her old D40 so I've already got a few lenses I can borrow.   Well, I can borrow them from my p.j. sis if I'm willing to put-up a kid as collateral, she said.   I'm pretty sure she wasn't joking.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on April 13, 2009, 01:14:02 PM
Nikon's 11am press release tomorrow is presumably this:

http://niksthailand.co.th/

The 50000 is a typo, its a D5000, the replacement for the D40. Note also the AFS DX 10-24 ED.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on April 13, 2009, 01:28:49 PM


Aaaaanyway, back on-track, the D60 is a great camera Merusk :)  One thing that in my view makes the Nikons a better bet than Canons is the flashes. Nikon flashes are so much better than Canons for off-camera use. Canon still haven't learned that sync ports and manual slaves are essential for off-camera use and given that they've just released a new flash (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0903/09032503canonspeedlite270ex.asp) that appears to *again* have neither of those things, well, I don't think they're ever going to learn that, silly buggers.

Bah! Skip the Nikor/Canon Flashes all together and get yourself proper strobes like I did!

Seriously though, funny thing is, my strobes actually ended up cheaper than one of the high end flashes. I use my $200 used speedlight for simple stuff and fill, setup my strobes for anything more complex.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on April 13, 2009, 02:42:18 PM
Nikon's 11am press release tomorrow is presumably this:

http://niksthailand.co.th/

The 50000 is a typo, its a D5000, the replacement for the D40. Note also the AFS DX 10-24 ED.

DX + ED = Affordable? I hope so! Is the 10-24 designed to be a replacement for the 12-24?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on April 13, 2009, 06:41:31 PM
If a grand is affordable, sure. It's almost certainly going to replace the 12-24mm f4, so I expect it to cost around the same.

Pictures of camera and lens:

http://press.nikon.se/D-SLR/
http://press.nikon.se/Objektiv/


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on April 14, 2009, 12:42:35 AM
Ah shit. For some reason at first I thought it was one of their 'G' gelded options. So much for buying a wide-angle lens any time soon, haha.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on April 14, 2009, 12:50:24 AM
€849 (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0904/09041401nikon10mm24mmlens.asp) so yeah, $1000+ probably.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on April 14, 2009, 01:02:50 AM
If I didn't have a D40 I'd get the damn Tokina 11-16. But then autofocus isn't so important on wide angel lenses. So confused  :uhrr:.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on April 14, 2009, 12:44:42 PM
Well yeah, for the price of the Nikon lens, you could buy the Tokina and a used D70 for those times when you need autofocus.

The D5000 is an interesting camera. It's clearly not a replacement for anything - its something different. And if the 10-24 lens is 850 Euro, we'll probably get it for around $900 over here. Yes, we get that big a break.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on April 14, 2009, 11:08:37 PM
I think there's going to be a few cameras like the D5000 over the next 12 months or so - squarely aimed at the crossover between high-end compacts and bottom end DSLRs.

Oh and you don't get a break on prices, we get shafted  :wink:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on May 21, 2009, 07:30:54 AM
Question!

What do you people use for printing photos? I'm 'specially interested in photobooks. It helps if it's UK based =P.

I also need help editing photos (photoshop!). I took some photos at a dance performance a wee bit ago that I want touched up. Most of the photos sort of look OK-ish at certain sizes (I'm looking at it on a 17" monitor), but the problem is that I need to blow the photos up. To cut a long story short most of what I've got in my photo is just useless. I was taking these photos practically as far as I could push the camera, ~1/100s, 1.8, 800 iso (prob. shouldve used 1600).

Now I need to perform digital magic and make the photos look nicer. Unfortunately the lighting flat-out sucked. Uneven, harsh colours and very, very, dim. I've read about using noise-reducing filters and all sorts of Gaussian magic and that sort of thing, and I'll spend some time playing with thoese things. I'm probably going to spend a lot of time playing with the colour and lighting curves as well. Anyone have any advice to offer?

I've got a picture of what I'm working with below: (and this is one of the better shots)

Another picture:

After some shopping:

The second shot looks a bit grey and washed out, but it doesn't have the exaggerated highlights of the previous.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on May 21, 2009, 08:16:53 AM
For printing I use this (http://www.proamimaging.com/) place. They're based near me (Bradford) and are pretty cheap and excellent quality. They only print up to 16"x12" and you have to prepare your files very specifically (calibrated monitor, correct DPI, etc) and put them on a CD in correctly labelled folders etc so they can just stick it in their machine and press the GO button, which is partly why they're so cheap. I used to print my own on an Epson R800 but worked out that unless I was printing 10 or more prints a week it was cheaper and easier to just get ProAm to print them. Ink wastage in low-volume printers is a bitch.

Not sure what to suggest with the photos. I'm a bit rubbish at dealing with noise and recovering badly exposed photos (no offense, looks like you did pretty well in a shitty situation!), I seem to find that if the info ain't there then there's not much I can manage to do to rescue it. Noise Ninja is a good noise reduction filter for Photoshop, but with high ISO noise there comes a point when you're just destroying what little detail there is. You can do heavy noise reduction on a separate layer and blend it in with a mask only in the areas where it shows, and mask it off on edges and fine detail areas, but it's time consuming and at the end of the day the results are limited.

Same with the clipped highlights. If you've shot in RAW then you can use the highlight recovery slider in the Adobe RAW conversion dialogue and then use that as a separate layer again and carefully blend in but if you've already done that and not got any more information out of those clipped pixels then there's not much you can do other than draw it in yourself, which unless you're way way better at it than me tends to look shit :/ 

Stage performances are really hard to photograph. I got offered a job a couple of years ago to shoot a performance of dance students at a college and when I asked about using strobes they flat out refused, saying it would be too distracting for the dancers. I turned the job down.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on May 24, 2009, 05:18:33 PM
I'm stoked, the Sigma DP2 is more widely available now in EU and can be ordered.. think it's coming to US officially next month. I'm definitely getting it.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on May 24, 2009, 05:36:15 PM
I'm stoked, the Sigma DP2 is more widely available now in EU and can be ordered.. think it's coming to US officially next month. I'm definitely getting it.
People are saying it's a pain in the ass, as much if not moreso than the first, to get good pictures out of.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on May 24, 2009, 05:55:31 PM
I've heard there have been faulty models/screwed up mechanics, but picture quality so far looks as great as DP1, but without the wide lens. A lot of them are showing up on flickr. But there's a guy with a private blog with a slew of good examples. Wish I knew the address now. Anyways I guess I can only hope I don't get a broken one..

You will not sway me ;) I'm begging for a cam like this.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on May 24, 2009, 06:08:21 PM
Some nice examples:

good casual portrait here..

(http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss244/straykat627/Misc/3555028312_6dc95ae90cjpg.jpg)

cool bokeh
(http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss244/straykat627/Misc/3542187259_ddf6d0f1d4jpg.jpg)

nice landscape
(http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss244/straykat627/Misc/3517730886_bcde5eeb98jpg.jpg)

foods
(http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss244/straykat627/Misc/3516641206_d713cc598cjpg.jpg)

i dunno, this is just a damn good shot
(http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss244/straykat627/Misc/3516648520_5dbf4cf278jpg.jpg)

[edit] not that i can achieve that..who knows..maybe 1 out 50 images. but it'd be nice to have a compact around that's capable of it though. i'd say it's already difficult to get worthwhile images out of compacts, so no loss there. but i do love the autonomy/informality that compacts grant.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: nurtsi on May 26, 2009, 05:03:40 AM
Anyone have experience with ring flashes (or ring flash adapters/prisms)? The few I've seen look pretty big, are they something you'd considering taking with you out of the studio if you want to shoot some stuff outside?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on May 26, 2009, 07:10:55 AM
Anyone have experience with ring flashes (or ring flash adapters/prisms)? The few I've seen look pretty big, are they something you'd considering taking with you out of the studio if you want to shoot some stuff outside?

Not I, but I was thinking of making a DIY version sometime soon. There a bunch posted on DIYPhotography.net (http://www.diyphotography.net/search/node/ring+flash), and they always post pictures of the results.

As for outdoors, I'm sure someone here knows the answer (or googles it and looks like they know the answer).  I'd think I'd use one if I did an outdoor portrait and needed to use on-camera flash.  It seems like the best option when you can go off axis with a softbox or whatnot.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Salamok on May 26, 2009, 12:08:39 PM
Anyone have experience with ring flashes (or ring flash adapters/prisms)? The few I've seen look pretty big, are they something you'd considering taking with you out of the studio if you want to shoot some stuff outside?

Not I, but I was thinking of making a DIY version sometime soon. There a bunch posted on DIYPhotography.net (http://www.diyphotography.net/search/node/ring+flash), and they always post pictures of the results.

As for outdoors, I'm sure someone here knows the answer (or googles it and looks like they know the answer).  I'd think I'd use one if I did an outdoor portrait and needed to use on-camera flash.  It seems like the best option when you can go off axis with a softbox or whatnot.

Another portable lighting solution that could work in some portrait type of scenarios are reflectors.  I have seen some fabric ones on the twisty/collapsible wire frames that you could probably just carry around under the seat of your car and whip out whenever needed.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on May 26, 2009, 01:36:55 PM
I always have a fold up reflector disk in my car. White one side, silver the other, folds up to the size of a frizbee. Was worth the $40.

As to portrait lighting where you don't want to pack around strobes, having an extension cord for your speedlite works well.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on May 26, 2009, 11:52:15 PM
DIY ringflash, made out of 2 bits of perspex, lined with aluminium foil, gaffer-taped together and stuck on top of an SB800 fired with the Nikon CLS:
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2417/1559681988_f4611358ec.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/1559681988/)

It eats a lot of light (like 2 stops), has very shallow lighting depth of field (gotta be close to your subject) and the light isn't completely even - it's got a hot spot near the flash and a dark spot on the other side, about 1 stop difference.

Some pics taken with it (click for bigger):

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/1559707166_bbe5f008fc_m.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/1559707166/)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2193/2071629593_a03705d59c_m.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/2071629593/)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2376/2049147735_80bb18f0d3_m.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/2049147735/)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2402/1603078273_e579842e62_m.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/1603078273/)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/2655824494_d987c061d1_m.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/2655824494/)

You can see the unevenness if you look at the reflections in the eyes. Using it outside is difficult because it eats so much light so it becomes difficult to overpower the ambient unless it's quite dark. There's a few decent store-bought ones that do the same job - the Orbis and Ray Flash ones are pretty good - and they eat less light and are more even but they cost more like $200 instead of the £10 it cost to make mine :p 

Of course you can get a lot more carried away with building them... here's David Hobby (Strobist (http://strobist.blogspot.com) with his "HD (Home Depot) ring flash" made out of concrete forming tube and using 2 SB800s:
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2142/2011940148_59005a0171.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/31454864@N00/2011940148/) (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2286/2026212558_d43abe6d3e.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidhobby/2026212558/)

I keep planning to improve mine and try using it more, but it needs some creative thought to avoid clichéd looks with it - I've seen some nice use of ringflashes as part of multi-light setups and as on-axis fill, not just the old "supermodel up against a blank wall" look :p


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on May 27, 2009, 05:53:03 AM
Could've at least spray-painted the tube before he modded it, to look a bit nicer.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on May 27, 2009, 06:45:25 AM
I think he made that exact comment on his blog after making it :p


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on June 08, 2009, 10:07:34 AM
ah, so i splurged on that sigma. pretty nice! haven't had time for good example pics, and i'm waiting for better mem cards atm. but i like it. some of it could be better.. i think the LCD is a bit wonky for a camera like this. i've seen better lcd's on cheaper compacts. but once you feed the raws into your machine, there isn't a compact like this.

i'm tempted to get pro software now, but the sigma software isn't bad. this guy makes a pretty cool case for it : sigma vs adobe raw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bF9p2DhNKE&feature=player_embedded). organization wise, i only have iphoto. not sure if i need aperture. probably not [still a noob]


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on June 09, 2009, 07:27:32 AM
I dislike iPhoto. I guess the program may have some nifty features, but when I just want to move a bunch of photos, it wants to do it the iPhoto way. Only one person here is using it, everyone else uses Image Capture to put their photos in a sensible location.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on June 09, 2009, 10:14:51 AM
Well, it sucks atm just because it can't read Sigma RAW (at least the DP2). Not even sure if Aperture does now - I was under the impression that RAW compatibility was the same between the two (any Apple raw update seems to update both apps, if you have them). Picasa reads the Sigma files for a sec, but crashes. I suppose Adobe is the way to go for nifty organizing features, but if you glance at that vid above, it's not the way to go for editing these pics. Sigma Photo Pro is the best editor for them... while otoh, it's just a quick and dirty app otherwise.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Obo on June 11, 2009, 04:33:13 PM
I just got a gift of a Canon EOS 10D body to use for astrophotography with my telescope. I'd also like to use it for some normal use too, but I'm obviously missing a lens. So I was wondering if anyone had any advice on what I should be looking for in terms of sizes etc. for just a standard lens. It's been at least fifteen years since I've used anything other than a cheap point and shoot so I'm trying to wrap my head around what all these numbers mean again!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on June 12, 2009, 12:20:12 AM
If you want a super-cheap lens the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 is supposed to be decent, but I'd recommend a cheapish zoom for an all-purpose main lens. There's a Canon 28-135mm f3.5-f5.6 that seems to be the default kit lens, no idea what the quality is like though but I'm sure it'd be plenty good enough.

The number with the mm is the focal length. On a small-sensor (or APS-C as they're known) camera like the 10D a focal length of about 35mm approximates a "normal" view, i.e. roughly how the human eye sees. Smaller focal lengths than that are wide angle, longer are telephoto. So 28-135mm gives you a range from moderate wide angle to decent telephoto.

The f number is the maximum aperture. This is the maximum size of the hole that opens up to let light through the lens when you take a picture and it's a ratio, i.e. the physical size of the opening relative to the focal length of the lens, which is why it varies on many zoom lenses. The smaller the number the larger the maximum aperture. The larger the aperture the more light can be let into the lens, allowing you to shoot in darker conditions relatively. It's also more difficult to make lenses with large maximum apertures, requiring better glass and more advanced construction internally, so the larger the maximum aperture of a lens, generally, the better quality the lens will be.

An f1.2 lens will be better quality than an f3.5 lens. A zoom with a max aperture of f2.8 at all focal lengths will be much better quality than the same zoom with a variable max aperture of f3.5-f5.6 for instance. The price differential is also, often, huge. e.g. the Nikon 55-200mm F4.5-5.6 is under £200, the 70-210mm f2.8 is over £1400. One is a decent lens, the other is a fucking awesome beautiful monster  :awesome_for_real:

Hope that's helpful, shout if you need to know more, or less :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on June 12, 2009, 07:48:06 PM
Argh. I am having no fun trying to find a nice tripod and head. I want to go light and get something like the carbon graphite  manfrottos, but ideally I'm trying to keep my budget under 150 quid. I realise that the legs will keep and might serve me for a long time but my current financial situation means I'd rather go simple now and upgrade/replace later. It probably helps that I'm over 6 foot and can probably take the weight of a heavier tripod. Trying to look online is an absolute clusterfuck. There's nothing intuitive what so ever about any of the sites I've visited (gitzo, manfrotto). I might decide to go with a Slik. Anyone used those before?

Edit: Considering the D40 and the lenses I have, that's less than a kilo (excl. head) that needs to be supported by my tripod. That's like, nothing?
http://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk/Manfrotto_055XDB_Tripod_With_804RC_Head#product

Any thoughts? 3 sections, quite long closed (61cm). Not that light (2.1kg). Max payload 7kg. Includes a 3-way head with a quick release system.

I don't know how many Nikon DX users we have here, but if people are interested in the 35mm/1.8 I can write a bit about it.

Thanks for all the advice guys.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: IainC on June 13, 2009, 05:39:17 AM
At the moment I have a cheap and cheerful compact digital camera (a Panasonic Lumix of around 3 year vintage). I'm looking to replace it with a 'proper' camera as I want to take better quality pictures of my miniatures and I live in an area that practically begs to be photographed nicely. I know very little about cameras but I do know that I want a digital SLR that can deal with macro lenses as well as general-duty zooms for outdoor work. My budget is about 500€ (call it $750) and I'll be in the US for three weeks of July so I can look at US resellers too.

What would the group consciousness here suggest?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on June 13, 2009, 06:03:19 AM
At the moment I have a cheap and cheerful compact digital camera (a Panasonic Lumix of around 3 year vintage). I'm looking to replace it with a 'proper' camera as I want to take better quality pictures of my miniatures and I live in an area that practically begs to be photographed nicely. I know very little about cameras but I do know that I want a digital SLR that can deal with macro lenses as well as general-duty zooms for outdoor work. My budget is about 500€ (call it $750) and I'll be in the US for three weeks of July so I can look at US resellers too.

What would the group consciousness here suggest?
Does that budget include a separate macro lens or is that extra?

In either case I'd suggest starting your research with the Nikon D60 and the Canon Digital Rebel XS (Canon EOS 1000D outside US).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: IainC on June 13, 2009, 06:13:47 AM
At the moment I have a cheap and cheerful compact digital camera (a Panasonic Lumix of around 3 year vintage). I'm looking to replace it with a 'proper' camera as I want to take better quality pictures of my miniatures and I live in an area that practically begs to be photographed nicely. I know very little about cameras but I do know that I want a digital SLR that can deal with macro lenses as well as general-duty zooms for outdoor work. My budget is about 500€ (call it $750) and I'll be in the US for three weeks of July so I can look at US resellers too.

What would the group consciousness here suggest?
Does that budget include a separate macro lens or is that extra?

In either case I'd suggest starting your research with the Nikon D60 and the Canon Digital Rebel XS (Canon EOS 1000D outside US).


Ideally it would include the macro lens although I have no real idea what the cost is for that kind of thing. Some googling turns up lenses that cost 500€ as well as some for 50€ and it's not entirely clear what the differences are apart from price and brand. That's why I'm asking here rather than walking into my local camera store and asking them to load up my credit card for me.

Secondly, where is a good place to buy cameras? There is a very well stocked photography store just around the corner but I'm guessing that kit will be cheaper on Amazon or from a purely online retailer. Is the best price always the best deal or is there an advantage to paying a bit more and buying from a 'real dealer'? Is it worth looking at second hand equipment on Ebay or should I stay away if I don't really know what I'm looking at?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on June 13, 2009, 06:51:05 AM
It's like anything else you can buy online -- if you know what you want and don't need a store person to help you out it and you don't mind the hassle of having to possibly return/exchange something through the mail then online ordering is fine. I've purchased quite of bit of stuff online (and over the phone before that) from B&H Photo Video, for example. They also have a retail store in NYC.

Edit: I should add in here that B&H mentioned above was where I went to for online camera/video stuff in the past. Now with Amazon having dramatically expanded the stuff they carry themselves I would definitely consider buying camera/video gear from them as well, particularly since I have an Amazon Prime account so 2 day shipping on a lot of their items is free.

One thing to watch out for with camera equipment, though, is the warranty you are getting. Not sure how it works in Europe but here in the US camera dealers often carry both "domestic" and imported products from a manufacturer and that can affect the warranty coverage. E.g. for Canon stuff the products the retailer gets from Canon USA distributors come with Canon USA warranties (i.e. Canon USA warranties the product) and products bought from overseas distributors (aka "grey market" products) either don't have any warranty coverage at all in the US or are warrantied by the retailer. So if you buy something over here that has a territory specific warranty I'm not sure how the warranty would work back in Europe, if at all.

I've never used a macro lens before myself so somebody else will need to help you with that.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: IainC on June 13, 2009, 07:57:40 AM
I went and spoke to the guy in the camera store and despite my terrible German he pointed at two cameras - an EOS 500D for 800€ (which Amazon lists for 750€) and a Nikon D60 at 400€ (which is pretty much smack on Amazon's price). The macro lens for the EOS is 450€ while the one for the Nikon runs at 700€ ish. Apparently macro lenses are horribly expensive. I really wasn't planning on dropping over a grand on a camera setup right off the bat, so what are my other options?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on June 13, 2009, 08:47:39 AM
Yeah true macro lenses aren't cheap. There are Sigma and Tamron ones, but I don't know a lot about how good they are. There's a really good database of lens reviews here (http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/index.php), but it'll require some time to go through them I reckon.

You can get "macro" filters that screw onto the front of a normal lens that are very cheap (example (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lensbaby-AMACK-Macro-Kit/dp/B000GAOFGO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1244903864&sr=1-3)) but the quality is terrible and you don't get much macro-ness from them. You can also use extension tubes but again, they're a poor substitute for a dedicated macro lens, and they reduce your effective aperture a lot.

However, many standard "kit" lenses have some macro ability, and although it's often not as good as a true macro lens it's usually better than extension tubes or +dioptre filters. Here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamron-55-200mm-F4-5-6-Macro-Canon/dp/B000BONMLY/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1244903864&sr=1-11)'s a Tamron example in a Canon fit.

I'd suggest doing some searching on Amazon with the keyword "macro", checking lenses that seem to fit your budget on that lens review site and then going back to a large camera shop and asking to have a play with cameras and lenses. I think it's really important that you get to try the cameras out before you plonk down €500+. Try the 500D and the D60, for example. See how they feel in your hand, see how you like the menu systems, see how the controls seem to you. Get them to put a card in and a lens on, preferably one of the macro-capable zooms you've researched, and see how it feels in action. You can hopefully see just how macro the macro lens gets too.

There's not much to choose between Nikon & Canon really, they both make excellent cameras. The Nikon flashes have the edge over the Canon ones (marginally) and I prefer the build quality and feel of Nikons, but that's a personal thing. Canon just about have the edge in terms of resolution while Nikon tend to have better high-ISO performance at the moment, but they're all tiny differences.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on June 13, 2009, 08:57:20 AM
Not sure which macro lenses he showed you but Canon has one around US$275:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12145-USA/Canon_2537A003_50mm_f_2_5_Compact_Macro.html

Nikon's cheapest macro is more expensive at ~US$475:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/66987-USA/Nikon_1987_60mm_f_2_8D_Macro_Autofocus.html

The EOS 500D (Rebel T1i) is the newest and most expensive of the Digital Rebels (it can record HD video). There are cheaper ones like the 450D (XSi) and the 1000D (XS) like I mentioned above.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Obo on June 22, 2009, 12:14:19 PM
Thanks apocrypha. Picked up a 50mm f/1.8, though not as super cheap as it could have been. €135 brand new, rather than the typical €70-80 second-hand... if I could have found one.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: nurtsi on June 23, 2009, 07:07:11 AM
Thanks apocrypha. Picked up a 50mm f/1.8, though not as super cheap as it could have been. €135 brand new, rather than the typical €70-80 second-hand... if I could have found one.

Where did you get it from? The thing is 99€ brand new in Finland and we're not exactly known for our cheapness.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Obo on June 23, 2009, 10:18:13 AM
Dublin. Renowned for our gouging. Everywhere seems to be in the €130-140 range. One place even had the list price as €159 before a small 'discount'.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on June 26, 2009, 06:54:11 AM
Has anyone ever used a contrast based autofocus before? This thing, I must admit, despite it being a sweet cam, is a bitch. It's really not very straightforward to shoot with at all. Especially in low light. I'm learning to just go old school and do everything manually... maybe that's not a bad idea in general anyways. I dunno.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on June 26, 2009, 07:24:35 AM
I'd suggest doing some searching on Amazon with the keyword "macro", checking lenses that seem to fit your budget on that lens review site and then going back to a large camera shop and asking to have a play with cameras and lenses.

n.b Apparently Nikon call all their macro lenses 'micro' as I have learnt recently; I guess this might affect search results.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on June 26, 2009, 08:03:25 AM
Has anyone ever used a contrast based autofocus before? This thing, I must admit, despite it being a sweet cam, is a bitch. It's really not very straightforward to shoot with at all. Especially in low light. I'm learning to just go old school and do everything manually... maybe that's not a bad idea in general anyways. I dunno.

What camera? Contrast-based AF is kinda new and meant for use with liveview systems. If you can turn it off and you don't need to use liveview I would do so. I'm kind of old fashioned anyway and rarely trust *any* AF fully. They tend to focus on the nose not the eyes for instance, and there are plenty of times when that's a problem.

n.b Apparently Nikon call all their macro lenses 'micro' as I have learnt recently; I guess this might affect search results.
True but the description and/or keywords should still contain the word macro.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on June 26, 2009, 08:14:06 AM
Has anyone ever used a contrast based autofocus before? This thing, I must admit, despite it being a sweet cam, is a bitch. It's really not very straightforward to shoot with at all. Especially in low light. I'm learning to just go old school and do everything manually... maybe that's not a bad idea in general anyways. I dunno.

What camera? Contrast-based AF is kinda new and meant for use with liveview systems. If you can turn it off and you don't need to use liveview I would do so. I'm kind of old fashioned anyway and rarely trust *any* AF fully. They tend to focus on the nose not the eyes for instance, and there are plenty of times when that's a problem.

It's the sigma dp2 i've been chatting about a bit in this thread. (YEs! Sigma also makes cameras ;D) All of their models use this contrast system, I believe.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on June 26, 2009, 08:21:17 AM
Ah yeah, ofc.

The slow (and noisy) autofocus is one of the two main criticisms I've read in DP2 reviews, the other being the build quality (for the price). The gist of the reviews I've read seem to say that the image quality is great but those are the downsides.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on June 26, 2009, 08:46:51 AM
The build quality is ok.. the autofocus has improved with firmware updates, but it could be better. No image stabilization either, and my hands are prone to shake. Umm, battery life is subpar as well.

I'm a beginner photographer in general, but I've gotten a few good images. It's hard not to, if you just shoot something mildly interesting. I just haven't used it enough to show what it can do. I will say that I was pretty inspired by this guy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/noisyparadise/) in particular, who was also impressing me with the DP1 a year ago. I wish he wouldn't hide metadata though.. I'd like to rip him off.  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on June 26, 2009, 10:45:00 AM
inspired by this guy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/noisyparadise/) in particular, who was also impressing me with the DP1 a year ago. I wish he wouldn't hide metadata though.. I'd like to rip him off.  :awesome_for_real:

Some nice pics there, but a lot of the look he's getting there is post-processing. Metadata isn't important usually, take inspiration from his compositions :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on June 26, 2009, 11:38:43 AM
Yeah, but I'm curious about his PP. Just how much/little. There are other good photographers, who take a more natural approach, and their shit is good too - but his stand out to me. I'd like to know what the camera is or isn't capable of alone. He also has good subject matter... Tokyo is already colorful as it is. There might be less editing than it might seem.

The florals are post-processed, but not much. Or so I think. A simple negative adjustment with the fill light slider does the trick on my shots (not sure how other fill light implementations work.. i'm using sigma's raw editor. the fill light feature there is foveon specific).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on June 28, 2009, 03:29:36 AM
Looking specifically at the first few flower pics on his stream I think he's cranking up the contrast and saturation and applying some curves, but I think he's also doing it selectively, i.e. using masks.

For example, this (http://www.flickr.com/photos/noisyparadise/3659180113/) one has (I think) different curves applied to the flower and to the background. Also the way the reds blend and change into greens at the tips of the petals make me think he's done some channel mixing which has actually resulted in the reds in particular clipping quite badly. Same with this (http://www.flickr.com/photos/noisyparadise/3653250001/) one - he's upped the saturation in the yellow channel on a separate layer with a mask to exclude the background and he's reduced the exposure (or brightness) on the background layer. It's hard to make anything more than educated guesses given the low resolution of the pics but I reckon that's the kind of thing going on there.

This (http://This) one is obviously massively processed. Here's (http://www.flickr.com/photos/noisyparadise/3607471828/) another example - selective toning and channel mixers and VAST amounts of sharpening applied to some areas and masked off of others.

I like his stuff, there's some good techniques there and he gets some great results, but it's definitely a heavily processed look in general.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on June 28, 2009, 04:39:11 PM
Hey Noisy, how are you?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on June 29, 2009, 01:15:40 AM
Hey I'm just guessing, I could be completely wrong. In fact I had a very brief go at emulating the look he gets myself yesterday and couldn't get it at all, so I probably am full of crap  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on July 06, 2009, 11:22:38 AM
@apocrypha

another criticism of the dp2...

got to use it more... not sure if i said it, but it's a serious pain in low light. i know people are doing it, but i can't figure out how some are getting good shots at low iso. it's really pissing me off because the ideal photography i have in mind are night snapshots in color. black and white ain't bad, but not always my thing (and on that note, while low iso is incredible with Sigma cams, high iso is colorless and extremely noisy - worse than usual - but the good thing is, they look rather cool in monochrome - like iso800 or higher. 1600 and 3200 are very grainy, but appealing. so if you did like nighttime black and white, it's got something going for it there).

in daylight, it serves it's purpose though... it's just that i don't care to convey "happy sunny daytime snapshot photography" all of the time.  :awesome_for_real: i might have to find another cam for nighttime, if i can't pull it off here..


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Furiously on July 09, 2009, 05:11:44 PM
Tripod. It makes a big difference.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on July 09, 2009, 09:08:24 PM
Squeezing the trigger instead of pushing it works too.  Also make sure to brace it against yourself.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on July 09, 2009, 11:40:20 PM
Thanks guys.. Yeah, I had a tripod in mind, but trying to save some cash atm. I plan on it though. That said, it isn't the greatest performer in low light. While otoh, it is the sweetest compact in existence in good light.

I'm also considering Oly's EP-1 now though (their new micro 4/3). Around the same price, same size, but better consumer features like good HD video recording, etc.. as well as better low light performance. Not to mention the benefits of interchangeable lenses. It's not going to get better images out than the DP2 (the DP2 sensor is APS-C sized btw), but the Oly sounds more up my alley. I think it's up a shitload of people's alleys, in fact. The thing seems to already be selling like hotcakes.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on July 09, 2009, 11:47:16 PM
DIY ringflash, made out of 2 bits of perspex, lined with aluminium foil, gaffer-taped together and stuck on top of an SB800 fired with the Nikon CLS:
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2417/1559681988_f4611358ec.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/1559681988/)

Hey, you know I noticed that a lot of gonzo porn is filmed like this.  :why_so_serious:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on July 10, 2009, 08:46:18 AM
Getting pocket wizards for my birthday!  Now I just need to get a 60" umbrella (i got a small one before I knew what I was doing), and I'll be set on stuff for awhile.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on July 22, 2009, 06:55:52 PM
I now have the pocket wizards, but I can't get them to fucking work.  The 60 dollar hotshoe to pc adapter I bought isn't cutting it, or it's something else.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 22, 2009, 11:47:28 PM
Hotshoe to PC adapters are notoriously shit actually. I've got 2 that don't work and an SB600 that I almost never use because it doesn't have a built-in sync port.

Do the wizards themselves work, i.e. if you press the test button on one does the little red light come on on another one? Check that all the wizards you have both send and receive OK and if there's no problem there then check the hotshoe adapter by plugging the other end straight into a camera and seeing if you can fire the strobe that way.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on July 23, 2009, 09:56:08 AM
I've got another one coming, I just feel bad I spent WAY too much money on one that didn't work.  At least now I can take any antiquated flash and stick it on my camera, it stops them all down to a safe voltage.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on July 24, 2009, 09:49:09 AM
Enough nikon nuts here that I'll post this (http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/07/entire-nikon-2009-2010-dslr-product-roadmap-leaked/).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on July 30, 2009, 02:15:21 AM
If you want to watch that sort of thing, keep an eye on this site (http://nikonrumors.com/) which was the source.

Lots of new toys announced today, the most important of which (to Nikon) is the new budget D3000. The most wonderful is of course the new 70-200 2.8 VR II. If it really does have greatly superior corner sharpness on full frame sensors, I imagine lots of people will be looking to sell the old model which is perfect for DX. And that would do me nicely.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on July 30, 2009, 11:25:20 AM
I'm thinking exactly the same thing Righ. I just bought a Tammy 17-50 f/2.8, and am looking to get a fast telephoto. Was thinking of getting a used 80 200 but with this might see if I can get my hands on a 70 200. Just wondering how long I'll have to wait.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 30, 2009, 12:20:01 PM
Well I'm pissed cos I bought the 70-200 f2.8 VR a few months ago. Still an awesome lens though, but if I move to a full frame sensor, which is likely with the D700x, then I might be one of those people looking to trade up to the new VRII one. Depends just how much edge softness I see from the existing lens.

D4 looks interesting, especially the fact that they've not gone 20MP+ and instead are going for a low noise/high sensitivity route. I was thinking it might be an attempt to get out of the "megapixel wars", but then I noticed the D4x at 30MP  :why_so_serious:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on July 30, 2009, 06:21:16 PM
Sell me yours Apoc? I'll even come up to Leeds  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 31, 2009, 05:11:29 AM
Hehe, well I've just seen that the price for the new one is going to be £2k most likely and given that the old one cost me £1300 I don't think I'll be trading up after all  :uhrr:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 04, 2009, 07:56:41 AM
The new Nikon Coolpix (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-S1000pj-Projector-Vibration-Reduction/dp/B002KANWQ2%3FSubscriptionId%3D0PZ7TM66EXQCXFVTMTR2%26tag%3Ddpsgeneral-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB002KANWQ2) S1000pj has a built in projector!

(http://imgur.com/aCb2n.jpg)

430 buckaroos.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on August 04, 2009, 08:43:00 PM
So you can display your 12.1 megapixel photos in 640x480 resolution on a wall. Great idea, pointless execution.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on August 05, 2009, 03:53:26 AM
Subtle spam post is subtle


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on August 05, 2009, 04:59:51 AM
They'd be easier to spot if you fuckers didn't keep replying to them.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 08, 2009, 01:27:06 AM
I booked a model shoot for this Sunday, I was going to do it inside and do some outside stuff while it was sunset.  Went to the place tonight and took some test shots, nothing came out well!  The place is too dark, ambient takes like half a sec with f/4 to shoot, not to mention if I have to bump it down when I use a strobe.

I rescheduled so I could have natural light come in, thank god I did the test shoots.  What a rookie mistake.  Now I'm just freaking out when it comes to what I want her to do, I find it hard to come up with ideas.  It also doesn't help she'll be naked, it's my first one of those too.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on August 08, 2009, 01:56:00 AM
The new Nikon Coolpix (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-S1000pj-Projector-Vibration-Reduction/dp/B002KANWQ2%3FSubscriptionId%3D0PZ7TM66EXQCXFVTMTR2%26tag%3Ddpsgeneral-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB002KANWQ2) S1000pj has a built in projector!

(http://imgur.com/aCb2n.jpg)

430 buckaroos.

It also has the most amazing fucking redeye fix ever.

(http://dl-client.getdropbox.com/u/39720/f13/nikon_s1000pj_redeye_fix.png)
It can turn one picture into a COMPLETELY different one.

AMAZING.

Quote
Now I'm just freaking out when it comes to what I want her to do, I find it hard to come up with ideas.  It also doesn't help she'll be naked, it's my first one of those too.

I have some ideas, but I'd imagine you're still hung up on porn as art rather than porn as porn.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on August 08, 2009, 02:11:49 AM
Porn as art? What is that, some kind of Mapplethorpe thing?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on August 08, 2009, 03:22:34 AM
It also has the most amazing fucking redeye fix ever.

(http://dl-client.getdropbox.com/u/39720/f13/nikon_s1000pj_redeye_fix.png)
It can turn one picture into a COMPLETELY different one.

AMAZING.

Haha superb  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 09, 2009, 01:27:50 AM
This thread is not for schildy.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on August 09, 2009, 01:40:26 AM
This thread is not for schildy.
Couldn't come up with anything snappy, could you?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 11, 2009, 03:01:29 PM
I've made the decision to start shooting WAY more so I put a TFCD proposal out on Craigslist and I've gotten a few emails already. This could go good or REALLY badly, but the less I'm a pussy the better it will turn out (and the better I'll get).

Ever do anything similar apoc or bunk?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on August 11, 2009, 04:36:06 PM
I believe you can use modelmayhem for that too.

edit: chances are, the girls will be cuter fyi


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 11, 2009, 06:18:27 PM
I believe you can use modelmayhem for that too.

edit: chances are, the girls will be cuter fyi

I'm all up in that shit yo, but with CL people can't view my crappy port.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on August 11, 2009, 07:04:01 PM
TFCD proposal out on Craigslist

Quote
It is not in your interest to receive a copy of every photograph taken. The photographer should take the time to edit the photos and only give you a selection of the best. You do not have the expertise to select the right images from a large collection.

Models are stupid.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 11, 2009, 07:08:25 PM
TFCD proposal out on Craigslist

Quote
It is not in your interest to receive a copy of every photograph taken. The photographer should take the time to edit the photos and only give you a selection of the best. You do not have the expertise to select the right images from a large collection.

Models are stupid.

Photographers are assholes > Models are stupid


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on August 15, 2009, 09:08:40 AM
I've made the decision to start shooting WAY more so I put a TFCD proposal out on Craigslist and I've gotten a few emails already. This could go good or REALLY badly, but the less I'm a pussy the better it will turn out (and the better I'll get).

Ever do anything similar apoc or bunk?

I was actually trying to arrange something like this myself just before I did my back last year. Kinda got forgotten about in the pain & synthetic opioids that followed  :why_so_serious:

I do remember finding it difficult to sort out. Most of the potential models I found on various sites either never replied, were fronts for prostitution or said they weren't doing the modelling any more. It could be because I had no portfolio to speak of at the time or because I got unlucky or because I was looking in the wrong places. I was approaching the conclusion that it'd be simpler to just hire a real model and practice on friends & family.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 15, 2009, 11:06:02 PM
I did a Craigslist post, I lucked out with at least one (well she was the first one out of 5 or so I have lined up).  She was here for like 6 hours too.  What a trooper.

God knows when I'll have time to go through all the photos.

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/Shoot-1.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on August 16, 2009, 01:05:46 AM
Nice one Ookii! Hope you get some good stuff out of it, let us see your faves when you do get round to pp'ing them  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 17, 2009, 01:42:39 AM
Okay, a couple quickies.

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/Shoot-5.jpg)


I also made a ringflash for 20 bucks!

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/Shoot-4.jpg)

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/Shoot-3.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on August 17, 2009, 01:47:30 AM
Is that first ringflash one the same session/ time of day (more or less) as the railroad tracks?

edit: err wait, obviously not, since she's got different clothes.

anyways, i was just wondering if the lighting was similar.. because the pic is more flattering for her, whatever you did


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on August 17, 2009, 07:56:24 AM
I've made the decision to start shooting WAY more so I put a TFCD proposal out on Craigslist and I've gotten a few emails already. This could go good or REALLY badly, but the less I'm a pussy the better it will turn out (and the better I'll get).

Ever do anything similar apoc or bunk?

This is something I've wanted to start doing, so I'm interested to hear how it turns out for you. The models I've worked with have almost exclusively been through the courses I took.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on August 17, 2009, 08:09:12 AM
You need to get a makeup artist, girlfriend.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 17, 2009, 09:11:35 AM
I'm not sure exactly what you mean Stray. The picture of her in the black jacket is sundown and the pic of her in the green jacket is complete darkness. It's not so fun using a ringflash in darkness when it obscures the autofocusing light.

So far it's working out Bunk, I have a couple more models lined up, though I've already have one not show up.

And yes, a MUA and a hair stylist would be great. I don't see that happening anytime soon.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on August 17, 2009, 12:30:25 PM
Nice work Ookii. You got another flash you can remote trigger? A backlight in some of them would give some really nice separation from the background.

You've inspired me to have another go, just signed up on Model Mayhem :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 17, 2009, 12:41:21 PM
Nice work Ookii. You got another flash you can remote trigger? A backlight in some of them would give some really nice separation from the background.

You've inspired me to have another go, just signed up on Model Mayhem :)

I wish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That would make things so much easier, and I could use my home studio much more effectively (not to mention I could get specular highlights on hair and pure white backdrops).

I'm going by the advice of Zack Arias, stick with one flash and a 60" umbrella for a year.  So that's what I'm doing.

I haven't tried a casting call on model mayhem yet, I've only been doing Craigslist.  I have a shitty port on MM right now, soon I can update it and actually show it to people.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on August 17, 2009, 08:48:15 PM
And yes, a MUA and a hair stylist would be great. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Photoshop.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 17, 2009, 10:27:01 PM
And yes, a MUA and a hair stylist would be great. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Photoshop.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHA.

You serious dude?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on August 17, 2009, 10:56:35 PM
I would definitely not want to photoshop faces too much.. But if I were like you, and interested in nudes, I'd more likely photoshop an ass or two. Heh


Yeah anyways, finding a makeup artist or stylist interested in free/amateur work seems like it might be harder than finding a model. You could always learn yourself too though.  :ye_gods: :grin:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on August 18, 2009, 03:26:29 AM
Nice photos Ooki! I'd going to have to agree with everyone who says either MUA or PS. There are some clear blemishes and there's some bruising on the legs of the first model (women bruise much easier than men, something to be wary of). Unless you're purposefully going for a 'natural' look I guess.

I recently got some photos printed off photobox.co.uk and the results were  :uhrr:. I've tried calibrating my monitor and I just can't get the settings to fit exactly. The site I use I think basically prints the photos as they are with pretty much no adjustment. I think it might also have something to do with printing at 6x4. It just seems like without heavily saturated colours the photos seem very bland. My landscape photos seem 'insignificant', and I'm guessing this is the transferring of a huge scene to a tiny photo  :|.

Anyone had similar experience?

I just got a D90 and a UWA, and I'd like to print some photos I took at a really large size, maybe even a 30x20. I viewed some on a friend's 24" Dell and it just seems like a totally different experience.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on August 18, 2009, 04:18:58 AM
Were you really nervous around the nude model? She looks scared/ uncomfortable to me in both pics. Nice shots, you can just see the tension in her face and postures.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on August 18, 2009, 04:46:29 AM
I recently got some photos printed off photobox.co.uk and the results were  :uhrr:. I've tried calibrating my monitor and I just can't get the settings to fit exactly. The site I use I think basically prints the photos as they are with pretty much no adjustment. I think it might also have something to do with printing at 6x4. It just seems like without heavily saturated colours the photos seem very bland. My landscape photos seem 'insignificant', and I'm guessing this is the transferring of a huge scene to a tiny photo  :|.

Anyone had similar experience?

I just got a D90 and a UWA, and I'd like to print some photos I took at a really large size, maybe even a 30x20. I viewed some on a friend's 24" Dell and it just seems like a totally different experience.

Definitely get or borrow a monitor calibrator if you can. It is difficult to get prints to look like how they do on a monitor though - monitors are emissive (emitting? Glowy anyway!), prints are reflective for starters, but if you incorporate colour management throughout your workflow, keep your monitor calibrated and use a good print lab you'll be able to get pretty decent results.

I use a place called ProAm (http://www.proamimaging.com/) in Bradford. You have to jump through a few hoops for them like using their printer profile and correct sizing and folder labelling on the CD you send them, but their prints are excellent and pretty cheap (59p 12"x8", £1.22 18"x12").

Printing at 30"x20" is possibly pushing it for a 12MP image. You'd need to res up and that might look crappy, but it totally depends on the photo and just how good you need it to look. You get far enough away from any image printed at any size and it'll look ok  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on August 18, 2009, 07:03:16 AM
And yes, a MUA and a hair stylist would be great. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Photoshop.

Wider shots that aren't closeups of the face can be doctored a little to remove blemishes  - healing brush for the win.

Beyond that though - no thanks.

Not only is finding a makeup artist to work with tough, finding one that has skills beyond "slap on five pounds of foundation" seems to be even harder.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on August 18, 2009, 08:02:56 AM
Thanks as always Apoc.

I like that site you showed me, there prices seem dirt cheap. Unfortunately I'm also interested in things like photobooks so I've got to use a site like photobox for those.

I don't understand fully how the software works  :uhrr:. For example, if I have a calibration print (physically and on my computer), could I use those with the calibration software to calibrate my monitor?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 18, 2009, 09:20:45 AM
Were you really nervous around the nude model? She looks scared/ uncomfortable to me in both pics. Nice shots, you can just see the tension in her face and postures.

Really? I don't see that at all, we got along great. I wasn't really nervous, she knows exactly what to do as a model.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Teleku on August 18, 2009, 09:23:11 AM
Yeah, I'm not seeing it either.  She looks pretty relaxed to me.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: lamaros on August 18, 2009, 11:42:37 PM
Were you really nervous around the nude model? She looks scared/ uncomfortable to me in both pics. Nice shots, you can just see the tension in her face and postures.

I got the exact opposite feeling from the shots. Thought maybe the expression in her face in the full body pic actually might even have taken away a bit from the shot overall because it was a bit too confident or whatever (nice expression, just not sure it worked with the shot, though I'm not sure what you were going for with it, so...).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Nerf on August 19, 2009, 12:18:48 AM
Maybe you should get naked too Ookii.  You know, to make them feel more comfortable.  You could probably sell the ensuing photo set for more too.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on August 19, 2009, 04:39:46 AM
Upon review it was just the 2nd shot I really saw it in.  I only peeked at the nude for a moment yesterday morning since the kids were up and about and I didn't want them walking up while I was looking.  Yeah, the full body shot looks relaxed.   The face shot, though I still see some tension around the eyes and something about her posture says 'tense' to me. Since that was the one I was focusing on I must have projected that impression on the quick view of the body shot.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 19, 2009, 12:29:37 PM
I've made a deal with myself to shoot everyone who responds to my request, but we'll have to see how that works. There are some people out there who want to model for some odd reason, but really shouldn't. I have to figure out how to shoot less nice looking people.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Jherad on August 19, 2009, 04:21:28 PM
I have to figure out how to shoot less nice looking people.

 :awesome_for_real:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1EIOLOzYyo

I liked the second nude pic - didn't look tense to me. She has a great face.

This thread has been an eyeopener, I had no idea how much thought/prep goes into good photography.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on August 19, 2009, 05:31:56 PM
I've made a deal with myself to shoot everyone who responds to my request, but we'll have to see how that works. There are some people out there who want to model for some odd reason, but really shouldn't. I have to figure out how to shoot less nice looking people.

My drawing teacher freshman year in college made a point of hiring only 'funny' looking people for our 3 weeks of life drawing.  Ultra fat women, overly-muscled short & stocky men, ultra skinny women with odd bony bodies.  Her feeling was that the varied body types were far more interesting than just some chiseled & sculpted Adonis or Aphrodite.   Looking back, I'm inclined to agree when doing art.  Think about it that way and you'll find the shots.

  Just make sure the ultra-hung black dude doesn't make a point of stretching in front of the 19 year old girls.  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on August 19, 2009, 08:33:49 PM
And yes, a MUA and a hair stylist would be great. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Photoshop.

I made these back in 2003 for a Fark Photoshop contest.


Unfortunately, I did not win.

Edit: Spoilered, a little scrolly.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Miguel on August 20, 2009, 06:04:13 PM
Quote
Unfortunately, I did not win.

Hell, I'd say we all won with those. :drill:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 24, 2009, 11:17:24 PM
Look what I found out how to do tonight!

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/comparison.jpg)

IT'S AMAZING.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on August 28, 2009, 09:31:18 PM
Also:

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/cshoot.jpg)

And two more this weekend.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on August 28, 2009, 11:42:46 PM
What's the skin cleanup technique you're using there Ookii?

I've got a couple of models from ModelMayhem lined up for the next week or two. Had one no-show yesterday. Tut, 20-yr olds, unreliable!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on September 01, 2009, 02:09:34 AM
Enough nikon nuts here that I'll post this (http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/07/entire-nikon-2009-2010-dslr-product-roadmap-leaked/).

If you want to watch that sort of thing, keep an eye on this site (http://nikonrumors.com/) which was the source.

Lots of new toys announced today, the most important of which (to Nikon) is the new budget D3000. The most wonderful is of course the new 70-200 2.8 VR II. If it really does have greatly superior corner sharpness on full frame sensors, I imagine lots of people will be looking to sell the old model which is perfect for DX. And that would do me nicely.

Following up on this, it's looking like the D700? announcement is going to be D700S (pretty much just D700 with video and costing more $£) instead of the D700X (rumoured to be a 24MP beastie).

This probably means that the D700 will be discontinued and prices of remaining stock will rise, since it'll be replaced with the D700S which will be more expensive. So.... if you're a Nikon APS-C user thinking of switching to a full-frame camera now might be a really good time to get a D700 while the prices are where they are now.

Of course that's all rumour & speculation  :why_so_serious:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 01, 2009, 02:23:55 AM
Hey, am I imagining things, or was film ever as unflattering for skin/pores as digital is?

Also, we don't see the world this way either. I think having high detail is great for some things, but wonder if there's something that can be done to tone it down a bit just with camera settings/lighting, instead of post processing? Something that approximates human vision.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on September 01, 2009, 04:25:25 AM
Hey, am I imagining things, or was film ever as unflattering for skin/pores as digital is?

Also, we don't see the world this way either. I think having high detail is great for some things, but wonder if there's something that can be done to tone it down a bit just with camera settings/lighting, instead of post processing? Something that approximates human vision.
It has nothing to do with film vs. digital. Film is just as harsh as digital as is made evident by the pore-revealing nature of blu-ray. In fact, I'd say film is probably worse if you really got into it. It was just a matter of us not having a high-enough resolution monitor/tv at home to reveal said things and the lack of formats that film would benefit from (being that we just broke the 480p barrier within the last decade for video.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on September 01, 2009, 04:39:13 AM
Also, we don't see the world this way either. I think having high detail is great for some things, but wonder if there's something that can be done to tone it down a bit just with camera settings/lighting, instead of post processing? Something that approximates human vision.

Human vision works very differently from cameras though. We see a small area in high detail and the rest in pretty low detail but we move the small area around lots and have an awesome brain that fills in the rest.

In many ways photography is an abstract media compared to the way our brain and eyes really see things. You're not really creating a perfect rendition of any scene except in the narrow sense of how the camera records light. We do a lot of things to make images that give the impression of the things we want - slow shutter speed and rear-curtain flash to create the feeling of movement for instance - but a high level of artificiality is kinda inherent to the medium I think.

That said, if you want, for instance, portraits with a more natural, flattering look then you can easily do things like shoot at very wide apertures (very good for blurring skin textures, as long as you've got a good sharp point on an eye or whatever), use very soft lighting (big huge light sources like flash bouncing off a white wall or a cloudy sky) which softens texture a lot and overexpose on faces a touch (a trick often used by celebrity magazines on ageing film stars).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 02, 2009, 12:54:05 PM
Thanks for the tips..

re: "high level of artificiality.." Besides natural shots, I think it's best to just play this up on the other extreme too. One thing I like about the DP2 I have is that it's 41mm (which is pretty close to a "natural" perspective, I think), yet the IQ can be surreal at times. I mean, it's possible to make things look even more surreal because the focal length kind of parallels how we view the world -- yet, what is seen is shit you'll probably never exactly see with your eyes. If that makes sense...


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on September 02, 2009, 04:31:31 PM
I find personally, that around 40-60mm  is around the area that we naturally percieve, excluding the peripherals. No image taken with a camera will simulate what we see with our eyes, unless you print a photo that's capable of filling a room and we can naturally 'ignore' the edges of the photo.

I find that people arguing over IQ and PS/PPing a bit irrelevent. I doubt any of us (since we're mainly male) hasn't thought a girl was really pretty and then when once we've started talking to her being surprised at how her skin looks (the number of beers helps too...). I think it's unreal to expect a photo on a computer screen to look like a real woman. If I wanted it to I'd go and find one  :awesome_for_real:.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 02, 2009, 04:58:45 PM
Uh, I'm not just talking about women. I'm an equal opportunity "doens't like anybody looking like shit" photographer. ;) So far, my only guarantee is just kids. Seeing that they always have extremely smooth skin as to make an unflattering image impossible.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on September 02, 2009, 06:41:44 PM
Sorry, maybe my mind was still preoccupied with all the talk about models and studios...  :awesome_for_real:

I understand what you mean, my general point is that we rarely ever see someone's face as close as we do when we take a photo. Then it's a photographer's choice whether he wants to keep things looking natural or PP things away. If you want to print or display things very large it's probably undesirable to heavily PP things; it seems to me that we are more naturally drawn towards the falseness of a photo at significant sizes. When something is small it seems more visually pleasing for things to be smoothed over where we will be easily drawn to blemishes or 'flaws'.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on September 03, 2009, 08:25:24 AM
The overwhelming majority of photos are retouched, that's just how things are.

Whether it's a couple clicks of the healing brush are low and high frequency retouching though, that's a bit different!  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 03, 2009, 12:13:40 PM
Well to get back to that, you did a good job btw. Nothing against retouching. I was just looking for tips to bypass it, if possible. Also, I refuse to buy Photoshop these days (or pirate it), so it's almost a necessity to think of different methods. The only tool I have made for retouching is the little bullshit feature in iPhoto. It's good for small spots, but if I were to work on a whole cheek, it'd come out like a Dior ad.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mrbloodworth on September 03, 2009, 01:23:21 PM

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/cshoot.jpg)



 :grin:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mrbloodworth on September 03, 2009, 01:33:00 PM
I'm not sure exactly what you mean Stray. The picture of her in the black jacket is sundown and the pic of her in the green jacket is complete darkness. It's not so fun using a ringflash in darkness when it obscures the autofocusing light.

So far it's working out Bunk, I have a couple more models lined up, though I've already have one not show up.

And yes, a MUA and a hair stylist would be great. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

What is it you do? This a hobby or professional start-up?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on September 04, 2009, 04:09:37 AM
Following up on this, it's looking like the D700? announcement is going to be D700S (pretty much just D700 with video and costing more $£) instead of the D700X (rumoured to be a 24MP beastie).

Not any more. Looks like the D700x rumor mill is strong again (http://nikonrumors.com/2009/09/02/hot-nikon-news-that-might-have-lots-of-canon-gear-going-cheap-nikon-d700x.aspx).



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on September 04, 2009, 05:12:16 PM
I'm not sure exactly what you mean Stray. The picture of her in the black jacket is sundown and the pic of her in the green jacket is complete darkness. It's not so fun using a ringflash in darkness when it obscures the autofocusing light.

So far it's working out Bunk, I have a couple more models lined up, though I've already have one not show up.

And yes, a MUA and a hair stylist would be great. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

What is it you do? This a hobby or professional start-up?

Just for fun, I'm not idealistic enough to think someone could do this for a living.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on September 04, 2009, 05:15:26 PM
Are you talking about photograph in general or studio photography ooki?

There's always money to be made as a wedding photographer (people should read ken rockwell's page on wedding photographers, pretty damn funny).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on September 04, 2009, 11:38:57 PM
Not any more. Looks like the D700x rumor mill is strong again (http://nikonrumors.com/2009/09/02/hot-nikon-news-that-might-have-lots-of-canon-gear-going-cheap-nikon-d700x.aspx).


Heh, yeah, who the fuck knows any more?  Thinking about it, I still think a D700 would be a better bet for me than a D700X too. I'm far more interested in high ISO performance than MP and the X *will* be considerably more expensive than the vanilla 700. Ah well, whatever.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on September 05, 2009, 07:15:29 PM
Gimmicks....


You know, touchscreen cams are the shit. I bought one, curious, but thinking it'd be a nuisance... but it turned out even easier to operate than usual. I since turned it back.. I didn't realize it was a wide angle, so I need to find another.. Basically, you didn't have to go through many tree menus or dials. You'd touch an icon to adjust flash or whatnot, and if you switched shooting modes, there'd be a dock on the bottom that changed for every mode. This was just a midrange compact, but I think it'd be nice on an DSLR too.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mrbloodworth on September 07, 2009, 11:12:14 AM
I'm not sure exactly what you mean Stray. The picture of her in the black jacket is sundown and the pic of her in the green jacket is complete darkness. It's not so fun using a ringflash in darkness when it obscures the autofocusing light.

So far it's working out Bunk, I have a couple more models lined up, though I've already have one not show up.

And yes, a MUA and a hair stylist would be great. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

What is it you do? This a hobby or professional start-up?



Just for fun, I'm not idealistic enough to think someone could do this for a living.

Ah cool, well you seem to have a Nack for it, from the photographs to the logistics.


Title: Re: Take a picture once a day, whether you need to or not
Post by: Phire on October 20, 2009, 11:21:48 AM
F13 I need your opinions!

I am looking to purchase my first DSLR and have narrowed  my choices down to the following two cameras for the following reasons:

1. Price point is under $600 CDN
2. Beginners DSLR


Canon Rebel XS
+Live View
+Will auto focus older lenses
+Dedicated ISO button

Nikon D3000
+Guide
+11 AF points
+3" screen
+ISO 3200
-Will not Auto Focus older non-AF-S lenses

Both can be had for around $490 so price is not the deciding factor. Based on features and ease of use which would you recommend?

Also have to mention that I did go in a store and handled each one and they were both comfortable to hold however they were not on for me to test






Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NiX on October 20, 2009, 11:32:07 AM
I'd just like to add that he'll be taking pictures of himself covered in baby oil, so the camera has to be able to handle serious amounts of glare. :pedobear:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on October 20, 2009, 01:07:41 PM
Flip a coin?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on October 20, 2009, 01:19:33 PM
Nikon D3000 Nikon's Worst DSLR — Ever. (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3000.htm)

This is the first hit I got when I Googled on "nikon d3000 live histogram" :awesome_for_real:

I'm a Canon man myself so I'm biased but if you are new to "manual" photography (i.e. where you set the shutter speed and aperture), between those two cameras, I'd go with the Canon just for the live histogram feature (that's why I Googled on it, to check if the Nikon had it).

Edit: fixed link


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on October 20, 2009, 03:23:10 PM
Ken Rockwell is an idiot, so I wouldn't take anything he says to heart.  That said Canon is more innovative nowadays, and if you're just getting in the game I'd probably go with them.  I also saw some comparison pictures and the picture out of the Canon is significantly better.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on October 20, 2009, 03:34:47 PM
I'm not sure what's wrong with him saying the D3000 is their worst DSLR ever. He's comparing it to the rest of the Nikon camera line. He's not saying it's the worst DSLR ever. His reasoning seems relatively sane.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on October 21, 2009, 12:41:53 AM
Just seconding that Ken Rockwell is indeed a fucktard. Ignore him  :awesome_for_real:

That said, the D3000 does sound like a bit of a lemon, especially the slow performance of it. Canon (in my opinion) are better than Nikon at the lower end of the DSLR price range but that difference disappears at the higher end. Is the D5000 out of your budget, because that looks like a much better camera than the 3000.

If you want to get into Strobist (http://strobist.blogspot.com/) type flash photography then Nikon are a better bet than Canon, but only marginally.

I'd strongly recommend trying to find a shop that will let you actually try the cameras out for real, turned on and with a memory card in them. And shop that refuses to let you do that is a steaming pile of fucking shit and should be burned to the ground avoided.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on October 21, 2009, 06:35:48 AM
I'm going to second the d3000 being a bit of a lemon, though Ken Rockwell is an idiot.

My only advice would be to try both out (for an extended period of time) and see which you enjoy more. Without getting into the technical details try looking at some of the olympus cameras and if you see one you like.

I've never used canon's extensively, but I've always found nikons slightly more user friendly and fun to shoot with. You're at the point where you're just starting, start shooting, enjoy it, and once you get a bit more technical then you can make a more serious decision over which route you want to go down. At the entry level both cameras are technically so similar that finding the one you enjoy shooting with is much more important.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on October 21, 2009, 08:16:56 AM
I am a Canon guy as well, and had the Rebel one model before that one, and was very happy with it.

As to the Nikon's selling points - the 3" screen is nice, but remember that with a DSLR, you are not looking at the screen to take the picture. The Canon is 2.5".
3200 iso is a non-factor, simply because the picture quality at that iso will be so bad, you'll never use it.
And finally - 11 AF points sounds nice, but I find I use a single AF point 99% of the time, because I'd rather have full control over it.

Looking for a couple details that matter to me:
Canon:
3 fps JPEG/1.5 fps RAW
Li-ion Battery
450 grams
10.1 MP 1.6 ratio
iso 100 - 1600

Nikon
3 FPS (Raw not specified)
Li-ion Battery
485 grams
10.2 MP 1.5 ratio
iso 100 - 3200


Pretty comparable, honestly. Given a fairly even choice, I prefer Canon's lenses. Honestly though, if you can afford it, I'd consider spending the extra $200 on the XSi. Then again, once you commit to that extra money, then you start thinking about a few hundred more for say a 50D... Hey, it's only money :)





Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on October 21, 2009, 09:36:21 AM
Taking shots in 3200 is fun if you end going monochrome though. ;D Err, at least on the Sigma DP it's cool. Nice grainy effect.

I think Rockwell was only knocking it in comparison to the D40. I guess to him that's still the better value for cheap DSLR. From what I can tell, it seems to be one of his favorite cameras, period. Doesn't seem like hate to me, as that's obviously Nikon too.


Title: Re: Take a picture once a day, whether you need to or not
Post by: Righ on October 22, 2009, 10:40:33 AM
F13 I need your opinions!

I am looking to purchase my first DSLR and have narrowed  my choices down to the following two cameras for the following reasons:

1. Price point is under $600 CDN
2. Beginners DSLR

Don't discount the Nikon D40. One thing that Ken Rockwell is right about is that this camera was the greatest bargain in the D-SLR market. You can still find them around - and the prices on the kits with the VR lenses will be in your price range. Neither the latest generation of Canon or Nikon entry level cameras will help you take better pictures than the D40 and will leave you with less money for lenses - and just a little more spent on lenses will help you take better shots.

Heck, buy a Nikon refurbished camera from a reputable dealer and use the savings on lenses - I bought my first D50 refurbished and it was as good as new with a three month warranty. Several years on, it still works fine.

http://www.adorama.com/INKD40KR.html
http://www.adorama.com/INKD40XR.html

Get a refurb camera and the 35mm DX (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-35mm-AF-S-Digital-Cameras/dp/B001S2PPT0/) IMO. Worry about zooms later - framing shots with a fairly fast single prime will better help train your eye anyhow.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NowhereMan on October 23, 2009, 07:18:27 AM
Hey, so I'm thinking of getting a new digital camera since my old one is 1) Kinda crappy 2) Semi-functional ever since a burglar dropped it and most importantly 3) Doesn't have any underwater housing available for it. As 3 might suggest the 'main' reason for having it is underwater photography, I'd love to say I plan on really getting into photograhpy but it's really going to be more for getting some neat pictures to show people. Basically I'd like to get a point and shoot that has underwater housing available for it and can shoot in RAW (since colour balance is a nightmare shooting underwater and being able to alter red light levels is pretty much a must). Ideally a decent white balance feature would be good too. I'm not fabulously wealthy and don't want to spend a fortune on it, ideally something under £200. Anyone have any suggestions or even a point to a good comparison site?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on October 23, 2009, 09:16:25 AM
You might find plenty of p&s that are rugged/underwater ready in that price range, but definitely not any that shoot in raw. Any of the p&s models that shoot raw are still in the $500(US) range at least. And none of them are rugged right out of the box. You'll have to pay more for an underwater casing.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NowhereMan on October 23, 2009, 09:38:50 AM
Yeah the casing is definite, I don't know if there even are dedicated underwater cameras. Hmmm... it's gonna suck if there really aren't any cheap raw capable cameras, I've got the choice between expensive or horrible quality then.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on October 23, 2009, 10:36:51 AM
Keep in mind too that so far, the raw capable point and shoots (which is somewhat like the holy grail to me..) aren't the easiest to operate. They all need a little fidgeting or particular lighting conditions to get the most out of them. They will be a bitch within casing, I think. Besides that, I don't think you'll be happy with them for underwater action simply because of speed.. they're not close to being as fast as a full fledged dslr - or even a smaller point and shoot.

That said, some of those small point and shoots don't produce bad pictures. I've messed with some models for regular shooting - or models that are close to them but aren't rugged - and the pics are alright. Just don't expect National Geographic quality.

edit: You might want to research older dslr models that underwater photographers have depended on, and just find a used one. That's still going to be more than 200 euros, but you'll probably find something both cheap "enough" and fun to work with.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on October 23, 2009, 11:00:28 AM
Keep in mind too that so far, the raw capable point and shoots (which is somewhat like the holy grail to me..) aren't the easiest to operate. They all need a little fidgeting or particular lighting conditions to get the most out of them. They will be a bitch within casing, I think. Besides that, I don't think you'll be happy with them for underwater action simply because of speed.. they're not close to being as fast as a full fledged dslr - or even a smaller point and shoot.
I have no idea what you are talking about. RAW-capable P&S cameras typically have more manual controls than the non-RAW capable versions but you can still use them as fully-automatic cameras and I'm not sure why you would even think they don't operate as fast as non-RAW P&S cameras as they tend to be at the high-end of P&S line so they are stuffed with the latest tech at the time they were released. E.g. Canon's newest RAW-capable P&S cameras use their latest DIGIC 4 processor.

As an aside I'm actually thinking of getting an Canon S90 to replace my S70. The S70 is still too bulky to carry around regularly even though it's smaller than the Canon G series and DSLRs.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on October 23, 2009, 11:24:48 AM
I'm more referring to the ones with dslr type of sensors. I don't know exactly why, but they are definitely not "action oriented" cams. Seems like the other parts are sacrificed for the sake of a quality sensor. The Sigma models in particular have the biggest sensor of the bunch, but they are slow as fuck. The new Olympus isn't a speedy performer either. Besides that, that Sigma in particular has a tough time focusing because of the wonky "contrast" system it employs. I think that alone will cause problems being underwater, in a case, with lack of light, and fish with colors that sort of blend into the environment.

I don't know what Canons you're talking about exactly. The G10 is close to as fast as most point and shoots, I guess, but then, for all of their manual controls and raw mode, their photo quality isn't that much better than other Canon p&s models that run a $100 or more less. I have a smaller non-RAW Canon with the digic4 that came out around the same time as the G10, and the pics both produce are almost identical (haha.. in fact, I think Ken Rockwell has an article on that.. but I'll spare you.. no one seems to like him).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on October 23, 2009, 12:54:08 PM
The G11 and the S90 are the newest Canon P&S cameras that can save as RAW.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on October 23, 2009, 01:17:27 PM
Yeah, I had a brainfart when you mentioned the S90 before. Rockwell puts them head to head too (like he does with the 880/90 series against the G10) and prefers the S90 to the G11.


That all that said, when Nowhereman said he wanted raw + p&s + photos to impress, I assumed he meant a P&S dslr.. In which case, he's better getting a DSLR because the p&s dlsrs aren't up to par in speed for that sort of thing.

As an aside, the S90 seems interesting.. I want to play with one now. Doesn't have the big sensor of m4/3 or the DP2, but maybe it's a good middle ground? Why it's priced like them though, I can't figure out. Apparently the sensor is Sony made.. So I wonder if Sony has their own model (and cheaper). It's also wide angle. Bleh.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on October 24, 2009, 05:21:56 AM
You may be able to pick up one of the older Canon G series for less - the G6 and G9 have been the pick of the crop so far afaik.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on November 02, 2009, 08:47:07 PM
Which picture is better?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on November 02, 2009, 09:17:10 PM
1.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Viin on November 02, 2009, 09:35:10 PM
I think 1 would be a great picture if it was trimmed a bit at the bottom.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Nerf on November 02, 2009, 09:41:00 PM
1.
Also, ITT Ooki's photo site is offering a $4.99 introductory offer for HOT UNCENSORED ACTION! ACT NOW!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NowhereMan on November 02, 2009, 10:06:25 PM
Just a note saying thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll look into the older Canons.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on November 02, 2009, 10:14:41 PM
I think 1 would be a great picture if it was trimmed a bit at the bottom.
i lolled


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on November 02, 2009, 10:59:37 PM
I also like 1. That's a horrible, horrible bra she has on though.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on November 03, 2009, 01:34:27 AM
1 is better... 2 would work with a more innocent/loli model (looks like you're trapping her  :grin:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on November 03, 2009, 06:30:36 AM
Though the angle on two flatters her shape more I think, one is the better picture.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on November 03, 2009, 07:11:22 AM
The lighting in 1 looks almost like a ring light, have you got the brolly right in close on-axis? Looks nice :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on November 03, 2009, 08:21:41 AM
The lighting in 1 looks almost like a ring light, have you got the brolly right in close on-axis? Looks nice :)

Yeah, I made a ring light out of tinfoil and some plastic bowls.  I actually bought a cheapy one off ebay that looked more professional, and it sucks. I really like ringflash light, so I'll probably have to pony up for the Alien Bees one, or spend 200 hundred on an orbis or rayflash.  It just seems WAY too expensive for a piece of plastic that redirects light.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on November 03, 2009, 11:33:23 PM
Yeah I've been eyeing the Orbis & RayFlash ones for a bit but I don't think the improvement over my homemade one is worth the money. The ABR looks great and much better value for money but they don't do international orders any more and I'd need a transformer so, well, fuck that  :oh_i_see:

Your homemade one gives a nice light though, good work :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NowhereMan on November 06, 2009, 03:06:58 AM
Doing some more research, I think I'm going to either get myself an S70 or an S90 if I can get the cash together for a newer camera. They've got the raw capability and the housing for them isn't too much more (though if I get an S70 the housing will be more than the camera). DSLR housing is itself out of my budget so they're all well and truly out. Hopefully I'll be able to get a few semi-pretty shots though unless I go abroad with it picture quality won't be too much of an issue since I'll mostly be taking pictures of murky water.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on November 06, 2009, 04:50:18 AM
All I'll say is that like in over-water photography, you can still take fantastic photos with a little camera as long as you have the right lighting conditions. Generally whilst diving you're going to be strobing those conditions so it's even better!

A diving buddy of mine's stream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/75284237@N00/)

He used a FinePix F50fd.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on November 06, 2009, 04:00:33 PM
Since this is the discussion thread as opposed to the picture thread, I'm going to put this here.   My sister just shared it on Facebook and we have a lot of hobbists here.

Help-Portrait day, Dec 12. 

Info: http://www.photographyblogger.net/giving-pictures-not-taking-them-help-portrait/

Site: http://help-portrait.com/


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on November 06, 2009, 04:49:18 PM
I've been reading about it since I follow Chase Jarvis, I'm not really sure what to make of it.  They make it seem like you're changing the world by taking pictures.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 03, 2009, 11:47:43 AM
This thread is being neglected, I kind of like this one:

(http://shutternaut.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/NM-3.jpg)

I'm sure Apoc and Bunk are up to something.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on December 03, 2009, 02:25:50 PM
Nice colors.

I neglect this thread because I'm a noob and I suck and live in an unphotogenic shithole. ;) No really, I need to experiment more.. Haven't "nurtured" my hobby, so to speak.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 03, 2009, 10:05:50 PM
Nice Ookii, although she does look a bit constipated...  :why_so_serious:

I have to admit I've hardly taken a single photo for several weeks. I've got a metric fuckton of college work I'm supposed to be doing but I also seem to be suffering badly from easilydistractedness at the moment. Got a shoot booked for next week though, I'll get my act together soon!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on December 04, 2009, 12:25:49 PM
Wish I were up to something. I'm trying to sell my condo and it's taking up all my spare time.

Mind you, I 've already planned out my studio space requirements for when I do move. Scouting out potential work/live zoned lofts in the city.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 06, 2009, 09:36:49 PM
Another one!

(http://shutternaut.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/L-6.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on December 06, 2009, 11:40:49 PM
Going for the obvious symbolism, I see.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on December 07, 2009, 10:22:10 AM
Close to being lewd  :awesome_for_real:, but it's really a nice shot. I love using natural backlighting like that.


*edited for grammar more bizarre than usual for me


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 07, 2009, 12:09:07 PM
Ha, are people implying that this is somewhat phallic?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on December 07, 2009, 12:54:16 PM
Well, I was refering more to the near upskirtedness.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on December 07, 2009, 03:17:14 PM
Ha, are people implying that this is somewhat phallic?

I was. It could be a scene from a Cher video. Apart from the lack of Cher.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 07, 2009, 10:04:42 PM
Nice location Ookii! Nice model! Nice shot! Nice!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on December 08, 2009, 06:01:52 AM
I still really like it, but upon closer inspection, you need to shop out the blue nail polish. Doesn't work.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on December 08, 2009, 06:32:14 AM
I still really like it, but upon closer inspection, you need to shop out the blue nail polish. Doesn't work.
   Damn, beat me to it.  Her choice of nail polish leaves much to be desired. 


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Pennilenko on December 12, 2009, 11:12:00 PM
Funny I didn't give two shits about the polish.... :grin:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on December 15, 2009, 04:53:23 AM
I've actually noticed that that is a sad side effect of really getting in to photography. You stop noticing the pretty girl as much and start paying more attention to the shadow her nose makes or the color of her toenails.

I find myself in the mall looking at the giant posters outside the Gap or La Senza, actually thinking about the photography and the lighting - and then realize that everyone else sees me as a weird guy in the mall staring at posters of girls.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 15, 2009, 05:12:01 AM
Oh god I do that all the time. For the first time in my life I can happily spend ages looking at the trashiest magazines in the world just cos I'm looking at the photos. Films are the worst. The lighting in films and TV is often just amazing and my GF is getting very fed up with me commenting on it...


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on December 16, 2009, 03:30:51 AM
Guys, stop complaining. We can look at any picture of a woman we want and pretend we're looking for it's artistic merit or technical qualities!  :awesome_for_real:
 
Anyways, digital photo frames. Advice? Looking to buy the parents one.

Edit: Especially in regards to ratio. My Dad and I both shoot Nikon so that's 3:2. He doesn't do much PPing for his stuff (silly luddite) so the photo frame's going to distort his photos..


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on December 16, 2009, 08:06:18 AM
Philips digital photo frames are decent quality and have the unusual distinction of being true 3:2 displays.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 16, 2009, 09:10:54 AM
Oh, fuck picture frames, look at this pic of a guy who responded to my model casting call.

(http://imgur.com/TGOaH.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NowhereMan on December 16, 2009, 10:44:17 AM
Clearly you must take pictures of him. Just make sure it's somewhere relatively busy and that plenty of people know exactly where you went and who you're with. Possibly invest in a taser as well.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 16, 2009, 10:55:57 PM
Hahhahaha  :awesome_for_real:

Ask him what costumes he's got, I dare ya!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 22, 2009, 08:45:28 PM
Spontaneous shoot tonight, it took me awhile to get used to the contacts.

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/C-1.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on December 22, 2009, 08:46:37 PM
Oh, fuck picture frames, look at this pic of a guy who responded to my model casting call.

(http://imgur.com/TGOaH.jpg)
Best model yet.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on December 23, 2009, 12:39:02 AM
Spontaneous shoot tonight, it took me awhile to get used to the contacts.

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/C-1.jpg)

Nice. Sort of Milfy. I'd hit it. But only with the contacts on.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on December 23, 2009, 04:10:15 PM
Best model yet.

Without a doubt.  Personality * 10^23 there.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 28, 2009, 08:18:33 PM
Goth Girl!

(http://shutternaut.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Jessica-11.jpg)

Look at her back:


Spoilered in case you don't want to see 36 piercings on someone's back.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on December 28, 2009, 08:36:41 PM
Cool. Why no laces?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on December 28, 2009, 08:42:17 PM
She didn't have them in that day.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 28, 2009, 08:54:01 PM
She brought some cord to use, but it didn't work out when I was threading it through. Really she should of brought LACE and since it was Christmas nothing was open.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 28, 2009, 10:54:49 PM
Very nice. Those are BIG shoes  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: 01101010 on December 29, 2009, 05:21:15 AM
I take it she doesn't wear sweaters anymore? At least not the large cord type.  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 29, 2009, 05:30:08 PM
It's only temporary, I assume she doesn't have them anymore by this point.

I shot a lot of people over xmas break:

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/Ti-2.jpg)

It would be better if I had more than one light!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 29, 2009, 10:15:56 PM
It would be better if I had more than one light!

Get another for $129 (http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,12311.html)!  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NowhereMan on December 30, 2009, 02:46:30 PM
Forget the light how much does the model cost? :why_so_serious:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on December 30, 2009, 11:57:15 PM
Given the back thigh, a ham sandwich.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on December 30, 2009, 11:57:19 PM
OH SNAP


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: stray on December 31, 2009, 03:31:11 AM
She's only borderline chubs.

I still think that MILF-with-contacts is the hottest of the bunch though. Haha


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 31, 2009, 02:31:12 PM
She's only borderline chubs.

I still think that MILF-with-contacts is the hottest of the bunch though. Haha

That is true, but there is a liberal amount of photoshop being done on that picture.

Oh, and I have like a million pictures of your MILF, we're buddies now.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on January 18, 2010, 07:04:55 AM
(http://shutternaut.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Brawyn-3.jpg)

Apoc and Bunk are slacking, where are all of your new pics.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on January 19, 2010, 06:15:02 AM
Ooh, I like that one.

Yea I know, I haven't shot anything in months. My brain's a little tied up with (procrastinating about) trying to sell my condo.

Also, I don't have Arizona winter to shoot outside in.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on January 19, 2010, 07:43:15 AM
Yeah that's very nice Ookii, liking your stuff a lot.

I've also not shot for ages, for various reasons. Had a lot of shitty weather here and not been able to book the studio plus had 2 shoots cancelled due to illness. Got a studio shoot booked for next week though, fingers crossed it actually happens this time!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on January 23, 2010, 07:21:11 PM
So, I know people have already asked this question in this thread, but I'm sure the camera geeks never get tired of answering it, and the answer probably changes anyway as new models come out.

I feel like I should get a better camera, but I've never spent more than $200 on one and I don't feel like I necessarily know enough about cameras to gamble any more money than that.  In particular I'd like to be able to take better pictures in low-light outdoor settings, and maybe to be able to get recognizable photos of birds in flight.  I almost never take portrait-type pictures, and my current camera does well enough on those anyway as far as I'm concerned.

Portability and some level of durability is key; if a camera is awkward to lug around or if I'm scared I'll break it by bumping it against a rock I'm clambering up it'll just stay in my closet gathering dust.  And, obviously, cheaper is better.

What's the camera for me?   :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on January 24, 2010, 10:01:06 AM
I'm really not much use with advice in that kind of price range any more I'm afraid, I just don't know anything about compact cameras these days :(

Low light photography is difficult at the cheap end, mostly because with digital your low light performance is largely determined by the size of the photosites on the sensor - which means a large sensor is better. Most compacts and $200 range cameras have tiny sensors and correspondingly appalling low light performance.

Similarly, photographing birds in flight is hard. Birds are small and move damn fast. That means long telephoto lenses with wide apertures and good high-ISO performance, all of which adds up to a lot more than $200.

I spent about 3 hours trying to photograph small birds on a bird table about 2m away over Christmas, using a D700, 70-200mm f2.8 lens and 2 SB800 strobes, and only managed to get 3 "OK" shots:

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4301155896_9b8c31f3b1.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/4301155896/)

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/4300409879_714df833bf.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/4300409879/)

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4300410613_5672a04780.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/4300410613/)

I'd say your best bet might be to get a 2nd hand SLR and lens maybe. Even then you're going to struggle to get anything that'll do what you want for $200 I'm afraid :(


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on January 24, 2010, 10:19:09 AM
I didn't say I was limited to $200, I just said that to give you an idea of my current level of camera.  I did say I was looking to move up -- just not without someone steering me a little so I don't get scammed.   :awesome_for_real:  It seems like the next tier of camera is somewhere around $500-$600?

Re: birds in flight, I'm not thinking fast-moving stuff like songbirds -- more like when I'm out on a walk and I see a hawk lazily gliding overhead with the sun hitting him just so, I always go "wow, cool" and wish I could get a photo that didn't look like a black speck (http://leadtogold.com/pics/nature/angel/0409/IMG_1842.jpg).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on January 24, 2010, 09:10:43 PM
You do want an SLR. Unless you have well over $2000 to spend, low light and telephoto zoom are best left to different lenses. The good news is that for your needs, you can probably get an SLR body, an f/1.8 35mm prime for natural light photography and an f/4-5.6 55-200mm telezoom for well under a grand, and you can probably get bargain older gear in refurbished condition for much less.

You can get a Nikon D3000 kit with both an 18-55mm and a 55-200mm lens for under $600. A 35mm f/1.8 will set you back around $200. Shop around (try Adorama and B&H)  and you could get a refurbished D3000 (or D40x or D60) body for around $350 and the Nikon f/4-5.6 55-200mm lens in excellent used condition for around $125. You probably won't find the f/1.8 35mm used or at much discount because they're still flying off the shelves. If you want to autofocus the inexpensive Nikon f/1.8 50mm lens (which is an incredible natural light portrait lens for around $100) you'll need a camera with a motor in the body. It isn't too hard to find an inexpensive one of those - D70 & D80 refurbs are your best bet, but even the old 6MP D50 is an option (cheapest Nikon to have a focus motor).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on January 24, 2010, 11:08:08 PM
Ah ok, if you're not limited to $200 then yeah, a DSLR is where you wanna be for sure.

As ever Righ is spot on with his suggestions. I'd also recommend a flash that you can use off-camera if your budget can stretch to one. The D50/70/80 all have a built-in flash that can be used to trigger an off camera flash (eg. SB600 or the super-cheap LP120 (http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,12311.html)). Learning to use even a single off-camera strobe will open up awesome possibilities.

On the Canon side I dunno, 20D, 40D? I'd guess they'd be in about the same price range as the D50/200?

A tripod would be a very good investment too - just check out some of Mosesandstick's shots in the "take a picture once a day" thread.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on January 25, 2010, 11:16:40 PM
Let me know if I'm interpreting this right... I'm looking at the specs for a Nikon D3000, and it says:

Quote
Focus Lens servo:Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A);predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status
Manual focus (MF): Electronic rangefinder can be used

Does this mean it's got the motor gizmo to support autofocus?  Or does that word not mean what I think it means?

Also, I get nervous when I see the word "kit" -- to what extent would I need to know what I was doing before I could start taking pictures?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on January 25, 2010, 11:53:27 PM
The D3000 does not have autofocus motor built into the camera body so the autofocus features of the camera itself only work with lenses that have an auto-focus motor built into them and are compatible with the Nikon system. Basically if it's an AF-S lens you are good to go (there are also AF-I lens that have built-in AF motors but those aren't made anymore). If it's an AF lens you have to read the specs.

Or you could just go with a Canon DSLR and not worry about such crap :awesome_for_real:

Most of the entry level DSLRs have a "kit lens" which is (relatively) cheap and works okay and you might as well get if you are just starting out unless you know you are getting another lens (or lenses) that will do everything the kit lens does. E.g. the Canon entry DSLRs kit lens is a $200, 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (Image Stabilizer) lens with an effective focal length of ~32-100mm (because of the relative sensor size you get a "zoom" effect of 1.8x when used on the entry-level DSLRs).

Some of the photography-focused retailers also carry their own "kits" where they bundle extra stuff with the camera (flash memory card, extra battery, bag, tripod, lens filters, so on and so forth). You'll have to do some research to decide if any of those are worth it. If you get serious about photography you will need most or all of that stuff though you might not want the particular items in the kit itself.

If you do get a DSLR you'll want to learn the basics of setting the shutter speed and aperture manually and how those settings affect the picture (depth of field, "freezing" or blurring a moving subject, etc.). If your current P&S is advanced enough it might have a full manual mode you can practice with right now.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on January 26, 2010, 06:35:24 AM
Get an EVIL! Panasonic's Lumix DMC-G1, it's not cheap but it's portable.

Also a Powershot G11 would work, it just doesn't seem like you're the kind of guy who wants to lug around a DSLR.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: nurtsi on January 26, 2010, 08:22:54 AM
I've noticed myself drooling for a full-frame Canon. This would be the 5D Mk II since that is still small enough to carry around.

The problem is, I love my EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS which wouldn't fit the EF mount on the full-frame bodies. Anyone know if there is something similar for the EF mount? It can be L-series, but  I probably can't justify the upgrade then. I mostly shoot people in natural light, so the lens needs to be fast (pref. with IS).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on January 26, 2010, 11:41:08 AM
The problem is, I love my EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS which wouldn't fit the EF mount on the full-frame bodies. Anyone know if there is something similar for the EF mount? It can be L-series, but  I probably can't justify the upgrade then. I mostly shoot people in natural light, so the lens needs to be fast (pref. with IS).
These:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=149&modelid=7337
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=149&modelid=11924

Neither will be as compact as your lens though.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on January 26, 2010, 11:52:33 AM
Or you could just go with a Canon DSLR and not worry about such crap :awesome_for_real:

You could, but if autofocus is very important to you, that happens to be one of the areas in which Nikon has outperformed Canon for several years. Despite Canon having a much better range of high-end lenses for sports and concert photography you see a lot of people using Nikons primarily for the speed and accuracy of the autofocus. AF-S lenses are very impressive performers - I rented a lovely one for some concert photography and was blown away by what it could do. For a lot of shots that I would normally have had to shoot manual focus (and get lucky) the f/2.8 70-200 AF-S had no trouble instantly focusing. It's nice to have a body that has a motor to drive older (often cheaper) lenses but being limited to AF-S isn't a hardship - it isn't as if the motor-free Canon lenses save you a lot of money over Nikon AF-S lenses.

The simple truth of the matter though is that unless you're a professional photographer with very demanding requirements, the Canon & Nikon ranges offer very similar value across the board, and other things (such as what lenses you have from film days, what other people you know use - so that you can borrow their lenses  :wink: or what is best value at the time of your first purchase) are better discriminators. The people for whom one system is significantly more effective than another are either earning enough from their photography that they should own both systems anyway or are specialising so much that they're entirely aware of the gear that they need to buy.

BTW, the cheapest model in the Nikon range today that has a focus motor in the body is the D90, which is the body that I'm using now. It's a simply fantastic camera, and I'd recommend it to anybody who can drop a grand on an SLR, but really more for features other than the AF motor alone. If you're on a tight budget and want to use inexpensive AF lenses the old D70 & D80 are both solid cameras with most of the same killer mid-range features such as more focus points than the entry-level models, flash commander ability, etc.

Samwise - the word 'kit' in SLR speak simply means that it is a complete and functional camera, including a starter lens, and sometimes a measly little - and probably slow - memory card. The camera bodies are also sold on their own so that people who owned earlier cameras and who have enough entry-level lenses can save a couple of hundred dollars. The official 'kits' usually represent a decent and worthwhile saving if you need a lens of the type offered. Just watch out for dealer bundles that base their 'kit' savings on crap that you don't need (flimsy tripods) or that's usually heavily discounted anyway (cleaning products, memory). The first D-SLR that I bought was a refurbished D50 body (still works fine as my backup camera) cheap from a camera shop and I bought the f/1.8 50mm AF via Amazon. That helped me save up for an 18-200mm superzoom - what people often call a 'travel lens' because it covers a lot of range in one lens. I think over time that's worked out cheaper and more convenient than several kit lenses, but you have to make your purchasing decisions based on what you can afford and what you most want to take photos of at the time. :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on January 26, 2010, 12:17:09 PM
My model shoots are jinxed atm. Had one booked tomorrow via Model Mayhem so a week ago I dropped the 2 models a line just to confirm details. No reply. Sent another message this morning and both their profiles have been deleted  :oh_i_see: Never mind, in the process of trying to set more up.

Also, just possibly accepted a wedding shoot commission! It's a work colleague of my girlfriends who is trying to get married for as little money as possible. I've done my best to convince her to hire an experienced pro but I suspect they may still decide to ask me to do it. This scares me a lot! If I pull it off it'll be great experience and very good for my earning potential, but if I fuck it up.....  :uhrr:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on January 26, 2010, 12:35:59 PM
Based on what I've seen of your photos, I don't think you need to worry too much. I've never done wedding photography, but I have a few friends who have done it semi-pro (as in they make a living as IT dudes but do photography as a side gig) and their work is often as good as and always more original than most professional wedding photographers. Probably the best advice I can give based on what I've seen them do would be to get a second pair of hands who can run around with another camera taking candids while you work composition and light for the staged shots. Even if it's an untrained pair of hands shooting full auto, it'll add a lot of charm that even the pros often miss.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on January 26, 2010, 12:54:18 PM
Also, just possibly accepted a wedding shoot commission! It's a work colleague of my girlfriends who is trying to get married for as little money as possible. I've done my best to convince her to hire an experienced pro but I suspect they may still decide to ask me to do it. This scares me a lot! If I pull it off it'll be great experience and very good for my earning potential, but if I fuck it up.....  :uhrr:

That's scary as shit! You have to find those wedding photographer checklists of what and who to shoot, they'll be invaluable the day of.

I'd go and help but you're a bit far away.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on January 26, 2010, 01:22:21 PM
Samwise - the word 'kit' in SLR speak simply means that it is a complete and functional camera, including a starter lens

What if it's explicitly called "camera body kit"?  That's what the Adorama listing I was looking at said, and I couldn't figure out if it came with a lens or not.

If I could actually get a fully functional camera that outperforms my P&S for under $400 and then gradually buy fancier lenses later for it to do more specialized stuff, that's much more appealing than dropping $600-$800 all in one shot.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on January 26, 2010, 01:29:27 PM
I've done it, and it is scary as shit. Having a second shooter is a huge advantage, especially when it comes to getting angles of the ceremony. If you decide to do it, make sure you get a look at the venue in advance to figure out your lighting - it's amazing how badly lit churches are. It took me three days of post process work with a third party noise reduction filter in CS3 to get the shots of the ceremony to look "acceptable". Also, pre-plan the portraits. Ideally, talk the couple in to getting dressed up and doing the portraits of them in advance, then just worry about some family group shots at the actual wedding.

Lastly, if you decide to do it, read the Wedding forums at Fred Miranda for about three straight days first. :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on January 26, 2010, 01:34:21 PM
Samwise - the word 'kit' in SLR speak simply means that it is a complete and functional camera, including a starter lens

What if it's explicitly called "camera body kit"?  That's what the Adorama listing I was looking at said, and I couldn't figure out if it came with a lens or not.

If I could actually get a fully functional camera that outperforms my P&S for under $400 and then gradually buy fancier lenses later for it to do more specialized stuff, that's much more appealing than dropping $600-$800 all in one shot.

Camera Body kit probably just refers to body only.

Being a Canon guy, i'd look at options like:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=542180&Q=&is=REG&A=details (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=542180&Q=&is=REG&A=details)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on January 26, 2010, 02:02:21 PM
Take a look at getting a compact with a larger sensor like a Canon S90 (or G11 like Ooki already mentioned). Carrying a DSLR is a huge hassle for some people. If you don't want the DSLR, you can get an EVIL camera but they're pretty expensive right now.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on January 26, 2010, 02:07:21 PM
If I could actually get a fully functional camera that outperforms my P&S for under $400 and then gradually buy fancier lenses later for it to do more specialized stuff, that's much more appealing than dropping $600-$800 all in one shot.
You won't get a new DSLR with lens for $400, unless it's coming out of the back of a truck or something. If you don't want to spend so much right now there are better P&S/non-DSLR cameras you can get that you can use to learn more about photography before deciding if you want to jump to a DSLR.

The Canon S90, for example, is a P&S form-factor camera that has enough advanced controls to learn more about photography. It's similar to the G11 mentioned above except in a smaller body. The Panasonic LX3 is another camera with advanced controls in a P&S body. Both the S90 and LX3 are specifically designed to do better than the norm in low lighting shooting conditions (the LX3 was the benchmark Canon used when the designed the S90). Note though that they both still use sensors smaller than what are used in DSLR cameras so low light performance still won't be as good as a DSLR.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on January 26, 2010, 02:43:47 PM
Craigslist is your friend, here you go:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/pho/1567556502.html

Then you can buy a telephoto lens later. Make sure you inquire how many actuations it has, like cars a camera could be relatively new but have high mileage.  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on January 26, 2010, 04:26:46 PM
I wouldn't buy from Craigslist, cameras are complex little things and existing faults aren't always obvious. If you buy used from a retailer with a credit card you've got easy options if it turns out to be partially buggered.

Here are complete used SLR cameras on under $400 on Adorama:

http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20370881.html
http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20371809.html
http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20370967.html

But for under $400 you can have factory refurbished rather than used:

http://www.adorama.com/INKD40KR.html
http://www.adorama.com/ICADRXSKBR.html

The cheapest D3000 with a lens on Adorama is nearly $500:

http://www.adorama.com/INKD3000K.html

If you wanted to do some low light shooting on a budget, I'd pick up a used Nikon D50 body (the more pro-oriented D100 is heavier and gets you little besides additional older lens compatibility because it was designed a couple of years before the budget D50) and a $99 factory refurbished 50mm f/1.8 AF lens:

http://www.adorama.com/US%20%20%20%20370878.html
http://www.adorama.com/NK5018AFDR.html


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on January 26, 2010, 10:53:34 PM
Thanks for the wedding shoot ideas & comments guys :)  I'm definitely planning to do a pre-wedding shoot with the couple, just some nice portrait type stuff, get us all used to working together and help them relax a bit infront of the camera.

Also totally going to check out the venue first, possibly quite soon, do some practice shots and get a feel for the place.

An assistant is a given, a 2nd shooter might be more difficult to arrange, although there's a couple of students on my course who aren't completely terrible, one of them could always tote my D80 around, good idea :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on January 27, 2010, 03:51:46 AM
If you can't find an assistant I'll go  :awesome_for_real:. Being a 2nd photog is about the only way you can get real experience whilst getting none of the blame.

Refurbed stuff is often quite good. As far as I know they're usually individually looked at by engineers and as a result are in tip-top shape and well calibrated.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on January 27, 2010, 08:39:47 AM
The refurbished D50 is sounding pretty appealing.  I've put myself on a large purchase freeze until after I do my taxes, so this may give me added incentive to get that done sooner.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on February 23, 2010, 07:00:39 PM
Ordered!   :drill:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: nurtsi on February 23, 2010, 10:31:56 PM
I have an opportunity to photograph my now very pregnant friend.  It would be an indoor shoot in her house. I'd like to use natural light (weather allowing). I have some ideas for poses, like looking out through a window, with hands on exposed belly etc.

Any tips or ideas how to approach the situation? If you have ever shot pregnant women or been photographed pregnant? how did it go? Anything I should definitely avoid?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on February 23, 2010, 10:47:51 PM
Ordered!   :drill:

Woohoo  :awesome_for_real:

I have an opportunity to photograph my now very pregnant friend.  It would be an indoor shoot in her house. I'd like to use natural light (weather allowing). I have some ideas for poses, like looking out through a window, with hands on exposed belly etc.

Any tips or ideas how to approach the situation? If you have ever shot pregnant women or been photographed pregnant? how did it go? Anything I should definitely avoid?

Find a couple of shots of pregnant women that you like and would like to aim for, and take them along to show her and say "how about we try this kind of look?".

Other than that, you want big, soft light. And black and white is very popular for pregnant shoots.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on February 24, 2010, 07:20:14 AM
As Apoc says - big soft light, so using a large window as the primary light source is a good option.

Generally from what've seen of pregnancy photos, the key is focusing on the mood and emotion. Typically you'll see shots with the mother's eyes averted down, or looking off in the distance. No big cheezy smiles - go for serenity.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on February 24, 2010, 07:51:09 AM
an indoor shoot in her house. I'd like to use natural light

Way to set yourself up with a difficult task - available light portrait in a domestic building. You'll need a keen eye for light, and the house and time of day will dictate where you stage the shots, so you'll need to be prepared to move things around. You won't necessarily be able to use furniture where it is placed, and depending on the owners you may not be able to move it. Where direct and reflected light (and shadows) work for you may not give you an ideal background - nobody wants laundry or the husband's Barry Manilow shrine as a background. It'll be a challenge, but the longer you stay the more options you'll have as the sun moves round the house.

Think about stools and seats that can be moved, as well as nice objects that can be moved as part of the background. If there's some large mirrors in the house don't be afraid to 'cheat' and move some light around yourself. Even working with natural light you might still want a diffusing sheet. However if the light and staging can be worked to your advantage, you'll probably get some really great shots. Good luck!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Furiously on February 24, 2010, 07:23:35 PM
I remember watching a frontline or something about a large format photographer who took all these amazing portraits in NY.  The amazing part is she would spend 2 hours with each couple or person just talking the first hour and 45 minutes. Then take one photo once the person was at ease. I've done two weddings and I wish I had had the 105 soft focus lens on the second.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NowhereMan on March 04, 2010, 07:07:55 AM
Ok so I've been playing about with photoshop in some of my sub-aqua shots and had some pleasant results. The original version of this is pretty much shades of green, though some of the other shots really were just green (playing with colour balance resulted in bits just getting brighter or darker). I also tried Noise ninja to filter out some of the noise, which worked pretty well but the licence fee seems a bit much to me and having a grid overlaid on my pictures is less than ideal.

(http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8519/1755.jpg) (http://img291.imageshack.us/i/1755.jpg/)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: 01101010 on March 26, 2010, 07:15:33 AM
Anyone see this or am I just behind the times again?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH0aEp1oDOI


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on March 26, 2010, 07:19:44 AM
Yeah I've seen it. They've been spamming that after they announced their announcement for CS5.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on March 26, 2010, 05:47:12 PM
Apparently GIMP has been doing this for years. (http://o3.tumblr.com/post/470608946/photoshops-caf-content-aware-fill-unbelievable)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on March 26, 2010, 10:32:50 PM
The paper Adobe presented on the technique they are using doesn't mention Harrison's papers (the person who did the GIMP plug-in) so I can't tell at a glance what the differences might be.

http://www.cs.princeton.edu/gfx/pubs/Barnes_2009_PAR/index.php (Adobe's SIGGRAPH paper)

http://www.logarithmic.net/pfh/resynthesizer (GIMP plug-in info)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on March 27, 2010, 01:47:57 AM
I get the feeling we'll learn more when it actually comes out and gets tested. And anyways how hard can this've been. PS has been doing interpolative techniques for yonks, now they just had to extrapolate instead  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mandrel on March 27, 2010, 07:39:03 AM
I just got my first real "big boy" camera after really wanting one for a while.  $599 for a refurb T1i from Adorama.  I haven't had much time to play around with it yet, but man the LCD on this thing is gorgeous.

Anyone know of a backpack that can be primarily used as a usual school- type (needs to be able to carry a shitton of heavy books/ papers) but also has a padded area for a DSLR and maybe an extra lens?  I may look into the Kata backpack/ waistbelt combos if I can get one to try on.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on March 27, 2010, 10:52:10 AM
I bought a Lowepro Rover II a couple weeks back. It was the most suited bag for my needs, it can't fit that much, though the camera department is surprisingly big and can fit a professional zoom lens.

However it can't even fit a netbook (outside of the camera department). I'm pretty sure if you want a backpack that can fit stuff, just get a normal backpack and put your camera in and be careful (they are pretty tough though).

What you can do though, is that if you don't need to carry books and camera stuff at the same time, remove the padded dividers, and it'll be a good, sturdy backpack.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on March 29, 2010, 06:07:24 PM
So apparently the camera I ordered from Adorama is on backorder.  After a month I'm starting to get antsy, and I haven't heard anything from them other than "we'll get it to you as soon as we can," so I sent them an email today, only to get an autoreply telling me they're closed for Passover and I can try emailing them again in two weeks.  WTF?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on March 30, 2010, 03:54:20 AM
So by "Backorder" I assumethey mean "Nobody's sold us the camera you wanted yet, please hold."  They haven't charged you yet have they?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on March 30, 2010, 07:52:59 AM
No, they won't charge me until they actually have the thing I want.  Still, I'd like to have some vague idea of how often they get these things in.  If it's going to be a year I'll pick something else out.  :-P


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on April 04, 2010, 05:41:41 AM
Well, after a looooooooong hiatus I finally managed a photoshoot yesterday. Extremely skinny 16 year old model, accompanied by her mum, who was really nice. I no longer have access to a free studio so had to shoot in my house, which is less than ideal, but you make do with what you've got sometimes!

Didn't get anything exactly amazing, but good to be shooting again at least.

(http://modelmayhm-7.vo.llnwd.net/d1/photos/100403/12/4bb799769de9e_m.jpg) (http://modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/17097404)

(http://modelmayhm-7.vo.llnwd.net/d1/photos/100403/12/4bb799052cdaa_m.jpg) (http://modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/17097376)

Oh yeah, lighting info: First one is 2 speedlights with grids, up high, one each side, second one is just 1 gridded light top right plus a bit of fill from a ringflash, and about 2 stops under ambient fill on both.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on April 05, 2010, 08:09:25 AM
I love the light on her face in the second one. If I were to critique at all, the strong shadow over her arm just doesn't quite work. The intentionally strong shadows on the top pic are kiind of cool though.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on April 06, 2010, 05:26:09 AM
Cheers. I know what you mean about the shadows. Problem was I wanted to crosslight with 2 hard lights to get that nice sculpted effect, and cos we were actually shooting in my bedroom there just wasn't enough space to get any more distance from the wall behind her. As it was I had to grid the flashes to keep them from bouncing off of the ceiling too much!

Curse these tiny British council houses!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on April 11, 2010, 09:01:39 AM
So as I'm approaching 10k pictures I'm discovering my method of Folder>Subfolder>Day-Place is getting cumbersome.  I'd like something to index pics, and cross reference some of them as well, since the Architectural pics tend to show the same elements on different buildings. "Cornice Detail," "Soffit Detail"

What's everyone using to keep their stuff sorted? I saw some mentions of iPhoto earlier in the thread. Any experience with FastStone, Picasa or other freewares.. or some affordable purchased software? (~$40-$60)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on April 20, 2010, 01:12:30 PM
First day (evening, rather) with my new camera, seeing how it does in poor light with no flash.  So far I'm pleased.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on April 20, 2010, 01:36:40 PM
What ISO were those at? The noise is evident in a couple places, but not that bad overall.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on April 20, 2010, 01:45:46 PM
Camera says "ISO auto" right now.  So... that?

This is my first "nice" camera and I haven't gotten past the "getting started" section of the manual yet.   :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on April 20, 2010, 01:48:12 PM
You will soon love the fine balance work of ISO, appeture, shutterspeed, etc...

Once you grasp the basics, that AUTO feature will never be seen again. Even if it would be a hell of a lot easier to go back to it.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on April 20, 2010, 01:58:23 PM
Another shot of the sundew on my windowsill, this time taken in the full light of day.  Looking forward to taking this thing to the park.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on April 20, 2010, 02:13:48 PM
Welcome to the wonderful world of DSLRS. Just wait till you need a new portrait lens, a new macro lens, a flash, a tripod, spare batteries, a grip, gps, lighting stands, umbrellas, and so on!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on April 20, 2010, 02:18:47 PM
What ISO were those at? The noise is evident in a couple places, but not that bad overall.

   Camera Model:   NIKON D50
   Lens Type:   Nikon D Series
   Lens Range:   28.0 - 80.0 mm; f/3.3 - f/5.6

Picture 1:
   EXIF Summary:   1/160s f/6.3 ISO200 40mm (35mm eq:60mm)
Picture 2:
   EXIF Summary:   1/100s f/9.0 ISO400 48mm (35mm eq:72mm)
Picture 3:
   EXIF Summary:   1/25s f/7.1 ISO800 48mm (35mm eq:72mm)
Picture 4:
   EXIF Summary:   1/5s f/3.3 ISO800 28mm (35mm eq:42mm)



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on April 20, 2010, 02:34:03 PM
 :ye_gods:

Burn the witch!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on April 20, 2010, 02:54:39 PM
I used a tool called EXIF Viewer (http://homepage.mac.com/aozer/EV/) on my Mac and just dragged your pictures to it. There are plenty of similar tools on Windows too. If you don't want to share your camera settings with the world (why not?) you can strip part or all of the EXIF data from the image - a lot of workflow software can do this when it creates output files, Adobe Bridge & Photoshop included and there are lots of little utilities that specifically address stripping the EXIF data too.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on April 20, 2010, 02:57:49 PM
You can also check how many actuations you've put your shutter through!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Famine on April 23, 2010, 06:47:24 PM
I just recently bought a D40 myself and have been hooked on taking pictures wherever I go. The Nikon's seem worth the investment for me and this is basically the entry model to the entire line. However, I also recently discovered HDR photography and some handy HDR tools. It basically takes multiple exposures of the same shot and mends them together to create some very eye-popping photographs. Here are some I made with the D40 by manually adjusting the exposures with Photoshop and combining them toghether using some trial software of various sorts.


Downtown in Oslo, Norway (5 exposures)


Bee on a flower in North Carolina (3 exposures)


My niece in the dark looking up at me (5 exposures)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on April 24, 2010, 03:28:25 AM
I'm not a fan of heavily tone-mapped photos, but I think you've done a good job of capturing the style in the first one. I don't know how you managed to get your niece to stay still for 5 exposures, but if you shoot a RAW photo that covers all the light you need (i.e. all the dark and bright areas), you can 'pseudo-HDR' using one photo, though this depends on the software you use, photomatix definitely does it.

One of the more annoying things with the D40 is if you like taking HDRs, you have to set the controls manually, when all the higher level cameras can do it automatically  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Famine on April 24, 2010, 06:54:24 PM
I'm not a fan of heavily tone-mapped photos, but I think you've done a good job of capturing the style in the first one. I don't know how you managed to get your niece to stay still for 5 exposures, but if you shoot a RAW photo that covers all the light you need (i.e. all the dark and bright areas), you can 'pseudo-HDR' using one photo, though this depends on the software you use, photomatix definitely does it.

One of the more annoying things with the D40 is if you like taking HDRs, you have to set the controls manually, when all the higher level cameras can do it automatically  :awesome_for_real:

I manually edited the exposures using a tool from just one exposure. I don't think you can set it manually, unless you just mean the shutter speed. ;)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on April 24, 2010, 10:39:35 PM
No, I suspect he means the exposure compensation - it forces the metering to overexpose or underexpose - you could let the camera set the aperture and/or shutter speed and the exposure compensation will take care of the adjustment. But yes, you can also leave the metering unaffected, switch it to a manual setting and just adjust the exposure manually too. The D40 doesn't do automatic exposure bracketing unlike some of the more expensive bodies.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on April 25, 2010, 04:54:49 AM
Yeah, kind of. An HDR is supposed to be a composite of multiple photographs (usually taken at different shutter speeds) so that your photo can display a bigger range of light. One of the ways in which you then compress these photos in to one is called 'tone-mapping', which is what produces the 'HDR-look'. If you just want a photo to have the same look without actually taking multiple photos, you can do what you did, and adjust the exposure in post-processing, get multiple photos and then 'tone-map', which is generally called 'pseudo-HDR'. I thought you'd actually taken multiple photos, which would've made you a miracle worker. Kids are notorious for staying still for only a couple of nanoseconds  :grin:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on April 25, 2010, 07:05:09 AM
CS5 Content Aware Fill doesn't work perfectly:

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/85586/F13/contentawarefill.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NiX on April 25, 2010, 02:18:02 PM
It was saving you from yourself.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on April 25, 2010, 10:06:01 PM
I'm impressed how well it did with the hair.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on April 28, 2010, 10:21:08 PM
Playing around with nighttime photography.  Got this picture by balancing my camera on the roof of my car and doing a 10 second exposure:


I think I need to study the manual more so I can remember how to fiddle with all the knobs when it's dark out and I can't see them.  What I really wanted was a clear shot of the moon, but I think that'd require setting the aperture and the shutter speed independently so as to make the whole image darker, right?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Furiously on April 28, 2010, 11:46:36 PM
Moon is basically a daytime picture... F5 or so at 125 I think....


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on April 29, 2010, 03:00:28 AM
You're camera probably has an "info" button, if you press that it'll give you your shutter speed/aperture/etc. on the LCD screen. The info button is usually somewhere on the back.

The 'easy' solution I find is to shoot manual. It's digital, so keep playing with your ISO/SS/aperture until you get an image that looks like something you want. If not, you can either adjust the exposure compensation so the camera takes a darker picture, or you can change the metering mode (which is how the camera chooses how bright your photo should be).  The metering mode is a button that looks like a little matrix with 4 corners and a circle inside.

There are 3 modes of metering: matrix, centre-weighted and spot. Matrix takes some complex sum of most of the photo, centre-weighted includes the whole thing but gives the centre more weighting, and spot only evaluates a spot in the centre. For objects like the moon which are much brighter, one way to get it right is to choose spot metering, then put in some exposure compensation (probably between around +2 and +3), point at the moon, press 'exposure-lock' (so the camera keeps the same exposure details), then readjust your camera to the photo you want to take. (This is only if you're shooting in a mode other than manual)

Sorry if that's a mouthful, it's why I'd shoot manual if you have the time to set it up at night.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Famine on April 29, 2010, 04:37:58 AM
I can never get a good shot of the moon over Oslo, Norway. It looks so big from my flat on the mountain, but the moon always comes out too bright. :(

Here is some I took at night too (need a tripod):




Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on April 29, 2010, 06:21:13 AM
Nice effect on those, I like em.

You have to manually set your exposure when it comes to the moon. Setup a tripod, ignore the meter, and start trying different exposure lengths. Once you have one that the moon shows nice detail on, rather than being over exposed, then you adjust to take a slow exposure of the sky around it. Merge the two together and you have a nice shot.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on May 16, 2010, 08:05:54 AM
Nother couple of recent model shoots. I really need to start using new locations!

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3310/4563453106_2e7b74600f_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/4611426857/)

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1235/4611426857_c9b0091e81_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/4563453106/)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: IainC on May 16, 2010, 10:26:22 AM
My camera is a harsh critic. I've noticed it before but it's particularly evident in the last set of pictures (http://www.antipwn.com/paint/pictures/belial/) I took of a figure I painted. If you look at those pictures (concentrate on the final ones rather than the work in progress shots - these would be the ones where the base is painted) then you'll see that the figure looks very messy and rough, the gradients between colours are sharp instead of smoothly blended and there are a lot of scrappy little details all over the figure that basically make it look as though I painted it whilst in the throes of a seizure.

Now in reality the figure doesn't look anything like that, it's smooth and tidy looking, I spend a lot of time around exquisitely painted figures and I'm confident that the standard of my work is up there with professional painters. The camera I'm using isn't anything particularly impressive, just a 7.2Mpixel Panasonic point and shoot thing of around 5 years vintage. Normally I use it in the macro mode as the normal picture mode doesn't focus well on the figures - for those unfamiliar that figure is about 2.5" tall to the top of his banner pole. What can I do to try and smooth out the image?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on May 16, 2010, 11:58:23 AM
Use a softer light source, i.e. a light source that is larger in relation to the figure. Put a sheet of white A4 paper between whatever your light is and the figure, close to the model but out of frame. Put another one on the other side to reflect some soft light back into the shadows.

Then photoshop the crap out of any rough bits that you still see in the photos. Our eyes are very good at missing rough and harsh things in real life that cameras are very good at picking up. Cameras and eyes+brain work very differently, don't be afraid of technologyising the shit out of things to get a more pleasing final effect  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: IainC on May 16, 2010, 12:49:05 PM
Hmm, thanks for that. I'll try and build a lightbox/photography booth and see if that helps. Currently I'm using the natural light augmented by the camera's flash which has a couple of layers of white printer paper taped over it to diffuse it a little.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on May 16, 2010, 01:49:08 PM
I really like the first pic Apoc. There's something off with the bokeh on the second shot...


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on May 16, 2010, 11:11:56 PM
So there is, I hadn't noticed that. How odd, I'll have a play with it later and soften it off a bit, see if it looks better.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on May 17, 2010, 11:00:07 AM
I love the second shot actually. It's like everything about the whole shot is a little off kilter, and it works.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on May 17, 2010, 11:25:21 PM
Cheers :)  The model wants to do another shoot when we've both got some free time, and she says she has an old wedding dress. Time to find an abandoned mental hospital or textile mill or something  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Righ on May 18, 2010, 09:20:30 AM
Hunslet Mills.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on May 18, 2010, 12:02:56 PM
Looks nice, good call. Dunno how accessible it is now, will go hunting next week. Got a very similar location that's a lot less run down lined up however, have to see if it comes off :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Nerf on May 31, 2010, 08:36:34 PM
We're finally biting the bullet and ditching the shit point and shoot cameras - I've been browsing adorama and found this:

http://www.adorama.com/Als/ProductPage/INKD3000KR.html


What we want to use it for:

Indoor shots - people, dog, closeup stuff (like the engagement ring)
Outdoor shots - both night and day, sun/shade

Basically, we want to be able to take nice pictures.  We picked up a Samsung SL605 P&S at Fry's the other day on the "camera guy's" recommendation and it is a piece of shit - 80% of the shots come out incredibly blurry, even if both camera and subject are still.

Would really like to keep the whole thing under $500, so if that camera/lens combo isn't our best bet, what would be? Adorama has D60 bodies for $350, is there a $100-150 lens that will do most stuff well?

Shopping for this stuff is so much more complicated than shopping for guns.  :uhrr:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: tgr on June 01, 2010, 12:42:42 AM
I've had no issues with the nikon 18-200 (as opposed to the sigma 18-200 I had, which was just always slightly soft/off), but I fear it's a bit outside your pricerange. Having said that, isn't the default kit lens that come with most nikons okay for normal use?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on June 01, 2010, 03:33:29 AM
Yes. It's an 18-55mm f5.4 vibration-reducing lens these days.  They used to sell D40 and D60 kits that came with an 55-200mm zoom as well, but I don't know if that's still the case.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on June 01, 2010, 06:03:29 AM
Yea, an 18-55 will work fine for the type of stuff Nerf is asking about. About the only thing those kit lenses are weak on is low light situations, due to the relatively narrow aperture range. The quality tends to be pretty good on them though.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on June 02, 2010, 11:56:41 AM
Thanks to the ring discussion, here's some pics from this afternoon:

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1296/4663540215_8ef4e8d8e2.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/4663540215/)

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4664161482_9a51b59cb5.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/4664161482/)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on June 04, 2010, 02:00:46 AM
Indoor shots - people, dog, closeup stuff (like the engagement ring)
Outdoor shots - both night and day, sun/shade

Probably getting a bit over your head, but if you want indoor shots, the cheapest way to get decent photos is to buy a bouncable flash. The "SB-400" is dirt cheap and works like magic. For outdoor shots you just need a decently sturdy tripod, but that's always a hassle. If you get those, you'll pretty much be able to take photos of the things you want without any problems.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on June 04, 2010, 04:30:44 AM
Thanks to the ring discussion, here's some pics from this afternoon:

(http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1296/4663540215_8ef4e8d8e2.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/4663540215/)

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4664161482_9a51b59cb5.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/apocrypha/4664161482/)

The ring one is really good. The necklace image just looks a bit cluttered, I'm not sure why, although the way you have the reflections set up is a really nice touch. Your partner made all the items?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on June 05, 2010, 12:32:37 AM
Probably getting a bit over your head, but if you want indoor shots, the cheapest way to get decent photos is to buy a bouncable flash. The "SB-400" is dirt cheap and works like magic. For outdoor shots you just need a decently sturdy tripod, but that's always a hassle. If you get those, you'll pretty much be able to take photos of the things you want without any problems.

If you do decide to look into flash photography then getting the flash off-camera and find out a little bit about lighting will make a *huge* difference to the kind of things you can do and the control you'll get. You can learn more at Strobist (http://strobist.blogspot.com/) and there's cheap ways to do it, including this flash (http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,14648.html) designed specifically for the job.

The ring one is really good. The necklace image just looks a bit cluttered, I'm not sure why, although the way you have the reflections set up is a really nice touch. Your partner made all the items?

Cheers, and I totally agree about the necklace one. I took about 30 shots of different arrangements and wasn't really happy with any of them in the end! The set-up is actually really simple - just a sheet of white acrylic, a large white backdrop and large white bounce cards all round, then one light on the background and one tight gridded one on-axis for sparkle.

She made everything except the glass/ceramic beads. She really wants a kiln to do ceramics but they're kinda expensive...


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on August 25, 2010, 10:31:21 AM
So, I'm having a lot of fun with my D40, but I'm looking into getting another lens for it. The 18-55mm kit lens is really good and has done me really well, but I have come to realise that there are some situations where it falls a bit short. The two main situations are, when I can't get close enough to something and want to take a bigger picture of it, and low-light situations. From what I have read on Ken Rockwell's site (which as far as I know is a good guide), he reccomends the 35mm f/1.8 (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/35mm-f18.htm) and the 55-220mm VR (http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/55-200mm-vr.htm) which are both within the range of what I can afford and seem to cover the places where the kit lens feels a little weak.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any comments on these lenses, or can suggest similar alternatives. Also, any advice on situations where these lenses would be good, and the sort of things they are suited to photograph would be welcome. The situations where I have recently felt a bit stuck with the kit lens were trying to take photos in a restaurant at a friends birthday, and then again at an evening BBQ (low light), and then trying to photograph deer in Richmond Park, where a bit of zoom would have been handy. I'm also not sure what else the 35mm f/1.8 lens would be good for other than low-light shots.

Cheers.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on August 25, 2010, 10:57:36 AM
Hmm, I really don't know what to say about those lenses. First off, Ken Rockwell is a wanker. He makes a living from Adorama click-throughs, his photography is rubbish, so he will say nice things about whatever he thinks people are going to buy.

They're both OK lenses, but only OK. The zoom is a standard kit zoom really, just one with a longer reach than your existing one. Yeah it's cheap, in fact very cheap, which is a good thing. You'll get marginally better low-light ability with that than with your existing because of the VR but it means you'll be hand-holding at something around 1/15th-1/60th second depending on how far you're zoomed, so you're only going to be getting a stop or two more than your existing lens. The quality is only going to be so-so and you'll notice edge softness at anything much outside f7-f11 probably. But it's only £140 so whatever. It's not a lens for life, it's a short-term stop-gap. And remember it's a DX lens so it won't be much use to you in 2-4 years time if you move up to a full-frame sensor.

The 35mm is a more classic lens for a DX sensor, roughly equivalent to a 50mm on a full-frame. A prime lens of that focal length though is, in my opinion, a difficult lens to use. It's a very "purist" type lens. You're gonna have to move to frame your shots and if you do decide to open up to f1.8 you're going to get a VERY shallow depth of field - you'll struggle to get both eyes in focus on a portrait for instance. I've got a Sigma 30mm f1.4 DX lens that I got when I was shooting with a D80, and I hardly ever used it. I dunno, I just think that if you're wanting to do dusk BBQ type shots then you'll find that with a 30mm shooting at f1.8 that almost everyone in the shot is going to be out of focus. You'd be better off with an off-camera flash or two and/or a tripod IMO.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on August 25, 2010, 11:11:03 AM
Agreed, I learned the hard way that shooting at f1.8 is not a good alternative to a good flash most of the time. That being said, I do love my 50mm 1.8 prime for portraits, though I seldom shoot all the way down to 1.8 due to the depth of field issues.

I actually enjoy using a prime and having to move around to frame a shot. Saves me from myself, as with zooms I tend to always go to the extremes, rather than sticking to the "sweet spot" ranges. Plus, I got my prime for under $150 and it's nearly as sharp as my L-Series lens.

My experience with lower priced zooms with big ranges, is that they generally suck. Poor results at either end of the range, and generally poor sharpness.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on August 25, 2010, 11:27:20 AM
This is exactly the sort of stuff I need to be told, thanks a lot. From my point of view, I'm still learning so stop-gap lenses that just give me room to practise before I move onto the next step is fine by me. Not that I can afford to shell out a grand or five for some awesome lens, but equally I doubt that I'd be able to make the most out of it. I take your point about Ken Rockwell, if you have any other sites you'd suggest I'd gladly read them.

In place of the 35mm lens, are there any other practical lenses that would fill a similar void, or should I just forget about fixed-focus lenses until I'm a bit more experienced? I have learned a lot about framing pictures and placing myself in relation to what I am photographing, but I'd hardly say I'm a pro. A decent flash is also something I'm in the market for, my issue is that I don't want to be toting around a ton of gear to small stuff like BBQs and dinners, so tripods and multiple off-camera flashes are a bit impractical in that regard. If there's no cheap and simple way no worries. Part of me suspects that an off-camera flash and a zoom lens might cover my bases better, I'd value your opinion on that though.

Thanks again for the help, trying to understand the difference between lenses without the benefit of actually playing with them is proving difficult.

Agreed, I learned the hard way that shooting at f1.8 is not a good alternative to a good flash most of the time. That being said, I do love my 50mm 1.8 prime for portraits, though I seldom shoot all the way down to 1.8 due to the depth of field issues.

I actually enjoy using a prime and having to move around to frame a shot. Saves me from myself, as with zooms I tend to always go to the extremes, rather than sticking to the "sweet spot" ranges. Plus, I got my prime for under $150 and it's nearly as sharp as my L-Series lens.

My experience with lower priced zooms with big ranges, is that they generally suck. Poor results at either end of the range, and generally poor sharpness.

Thanks too. Looking at Nikon's list, the 28-70mm (http://www.europe-nikon.com/en_GB/products/product_details.page?ParamValue=NIKKOR%20Lenses&Subnav1Param=Auto%20Focus%20Lenses&Subnav2Param=0&Subnav3Param=0&RunQuery=l2&ID=405) and 24-120mm (http://www.europe-nikon.com/en_GB/products/product_details.page?ParamValue=NIKKOR%20Lenses&Subnav1Param=Auto%20Focus%20Lenses&Subnav2Param=0&Subnav3Param=0&RunQuery=l2&ID=400) lenses aren't realistic for me pricewise. Would you think the 18-135mm (http://www.europe-nikon.com/en_GB/products/product_details.page?ParamValue=NIKKOR%20Lenses&Subnav1Param=Auto%20Focus%20Lenses&Subnav2Param=0&Subnav3Param=0&RunQuery=l2&ID=1117) or 18-70mm (http://www.europe-nikon.com/en_GB/products/product_details.page?ParamValue=NIKKOR%20Lenses&Subnav1Param=Auto%20Focus%20Lenses&Subnav2Param=0&Subnav3Param=0&RunQuery=l2&ID=393) lenses would be a better call than the 55-200mm? My main feeling is that I wouldn't mind a bit more zoom when I'm out and about, since I often feel that even as close as I can get to an object of interest, it still comes out small and insignificant in the resulting photo. I don't know where the limit of usefulness on a zoom is though, is 200mm too much? My main photographic targets are friends, food and scenery out and about. I realise this is fairly typical, but finding a tool that will help me do this better would be nice.

Cheers for the help


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: tgr on August 25, 2010, 11:51:24 AM
You haven't thought about looking at the Nikon 18-200mm VR (http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/nikon_18-200_3p5-5p6_vr_afs_n15/) one? I'm not using it too much myself, but the times I have used it it's been damn sharp, and should be plenty versatile for most people.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on August 25, 2010, 11:57:39 AM
£600 is a bit more than I was looking to spend right now, otherwise I'd be seriously considering it.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on August 25, 2010, 01:14:51 PM
Don't buy the 55-200. There's a new 55-300 coming out to replace it, which chances are will be better than the 55-200 in most ways. Better to wait and see.

I also wouldn't get the 18-200 VR. The 18-55 and 55-200 cover the same range, will produce better looking pictures, and due to the physics the 18-200 doesn't always function as a 200mm lens.

I'd really recommend buying the 35 1.8. Nothing will improve your photography like a prime lens. You stop thinking about 'zooming' and start thinking about perspective, space, framing, etc. Combining the low-light capabilities with it's price makes it awesome. For outdoor low-light photographs like at a BBQ, nothing I can think of will beat a prime lens with a bit of fill flash. A zoom lens with VR would also be useful, but in my past experience the kind of shutter speeds you need are too slow even to get people to stand still (unless posed).

If you're looking for just a bit more range in zoom I'd recommend the 16-85 or 18-105 VR. VR is really worth it's weight in gold for these kinds of lenses, don't go without it.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on August 25, 2010, 02:19:10 PM
A prime is a good idea yeah, but I find myself wanting a longer lens than 30mm most of the time. I do shoot full frame, granted, so I'm eyeing up an 85mm atm, but I'm caught choosing between that or a set of studio strobes, so I dunno. My reasons for wanting a prime aren't the low-light capability of an f1.4, they're the quality and the ability to blow the DOF if I want.

I've linked both of these before, but if you wanna think about going down the off-camera flash route then check out the LP160 (http://lumopro.com/product.php?id=25) which is a very cheap manual flash and Strobist (http://strobist.blogspot.com/) for how to think about using them.

As for gear websites, DPReview (http://www.dpreview.com/) is kinda the king. Take their review conclusions with a pinch of salt, as with all of these things, but they have very good technical data and test very thoroughly. Their new lens review system is excellent and really lets you compare lens qualities. DXOMark (http://www.dxomark.com/index.php) also have a plethora of lens + body information if you wanna get downright geeky with comparisons.

Edit: I used the word but waaayyyy too many times in that 1st paragraph  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on August 25, 2010, 02:59:31 PM
Yeah, I have read strobist when you have linked it before, but I end up getting down a wormhole of fascinating things that ends up way over my head and me loosing a day of work  :grin: I'll give it a more structured peruse though, as I think I have a better idea what I want.

Don't buy the 55-200. There's a new 55-300 coming out to replace it, which chances are will be better than the 55-200 in most ways. Better to wait and see.

I also wouldn't get the 18-200 VR. The 18-55 and 55-200 cover the same range, will produce better looking pictures, and due to the physics the 18-200 doesn't always function as a 200mm lens.

I'd really recommend buying the 35 1.8. Nothing will improve your photography like a prime lens. You stop thinking about 'zooming' and start thinking about perspective, space, framing, etc. Combining the low-light capabilities with it's price makes it awesome. For outdoor low-light photographs like at a BBQ, nothing I can think of will beat a prime lens with a bit of fill flash. A zoom lens with VR would also be useful, but in my past experience the kind of shutter speeds you need are too slow even to get people to stand still (unless posed).

If you're looking for just a bit more range in zoom I'd recommend the 16-85 or 18-105 VR. VR is really worth it's weight in gold for these kinds of lenses, don't go without it.

This 18-105 (http://www.europe-nikon.com/en_GB/products/product_details.page?ParamValue=NIKKOR%20Lenses&Subnav1Param=Auto%20Focus%20Lenses&Subnav2Param=0&Subnav3Param=0&RunQuery=l2&ID=1634)? I somehow missed it earlier, but this would actually be about right for me. The 55-300 is probably too much, but a mid-range zoom lens would give me room to practise before stepping up. I also figure that if I look after the lens I can always re-sell it for a reasonable price.

So I guess my options are the 18-105 or the 35mm. What else is the prime lens good for other than low light? Could it substitute in for the 18-55 kit lens for day to day, out and about snapping, or is it less practical than the zoom? Does it have any particularly interesting applications?

Thanks again for all your helpful comments and advice.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: tgr on August 25, 2010, 03:28:58 PM
I don't know about the 35mm, but sigma's 30mm f/1.4 is pretty good as well (at least I think so).

Alternative to the 18-200 could be http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/28200g.htm, but I don't know. 28 is a bit far off for my liking for a proper all-round lens. I'm lazy, I don't really like having to swap lenses if I don't have to. It's bad enough when I have to swap between the 180mm macro and 150-500mm sigma or the 30mm, if I shouldn't have to swap between a 18-55 and a 55-200 as well. But it's a bit pricy, I'll admit.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on August 25, 2010, 03:49:06 PM
Yup, that 18 105. It's cheap and produces good quality photos for what it is. The main reason people get a prime lens like the 35 1.8 is for the 'bokeh' and having a narrow focus region (though the bokeh can be a bit 'nervous' at 1.8).

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4258708723_b7ee549e0a.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/27727892@N06/4258708723/)

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4255917451_aca3892e0c.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/27727892@N06/4255917451/)

The 35 1.8 rates pretty much as high as you can get for a budget prime lens. The other advantage of a fast prime lens is that you can stop it down and get near unbeatable image quality, and still be at a relatively fast aperture.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2725/4431919556_00d7b1fa66.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/27727892@N06/4431919556/)

Just as a reminder, the light difference between a lens like 35 1.8 and a kit lens, i.e. the 18-55 is ~f4.5 @ 35mm (if I remember correctly), is around 3 stops. That's the difference between ISO200 and ISO1600 =P


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on August 25, 2010, 04:04:31 PM
The 55-300 is probably too much, but a mid-range zoom lens would give me room to practise before stepping up. I

I bought This one (http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/541536017.htm?bct=%3Bcilenses-for-digital-cameras%3Bcislr-lens%3Bcilenses-for-nikon) because it was a 300mm zoom and I don't regret it.  If anything there's times I wish I had just a little more zoom.  Of course, I doubt you're going to be taking detail shots of private houses or multi-story buildings from a sidewalk on a regular basis like I do.  It does let you get right up on the animals at the zoo, though.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on September 05, 2010, 12:55:30 PM
Just going to toss this in here instead of the pic a day thread because it's the tips thread.  I'm struggling to get good, clear pics in general.  Most that I take look good when reduced down 3-4 times from their original size, but look blurry and indistinct at 100%.   I think I'm not adjusting my shutter speed and ISO quite right and as a result I'm getting this blurring effect.  It's particularly noticible on shots I take with the telephoto lens that aren't in bight ultra-intense sunlight.

Very large pic I took at the zoo recently, but I'll attach it at full-size to show what I'm talking about. It's a nice shot when downsized but it looks awful at full scale.  Any tips or, critiques for me?  The camera's only a D60 but I've seen better shots than I'm getting out on the web using the same machine.  I'm going with "its a poor craftsman that blames their tools" here.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: TripleDES on September 05, 2010, 01:25:13 PM
Try to widen the aperture and increase the ISO to 200 or 400. This should increase shutter speed quite a bit. At 185mm at 1/60sec, it might just be shaking. At least the way the whiskers are blurred might suggest that.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: tgr on September 05, 2010, 02:01:02 PM
The whiskers isn't where I'd look to for confirmation on this, as it might very well be in motion. I'd rather point out the grass, where it seems to be a bit harder to see.

I'd wager that it's more a case of slow shutterspeed (the tiger's moving, after all, you can see that on his front paw), combined with possibly a bad lens as well. What kind of lens is this, and can you go out and take sample pictures of something with the same settings but different lenses (just to test/eliminate/confirm the lens)? i.e. same/similar focal length, same shutter speed, aperture, ISO and motive.

I had a friend of mine finally realize why his pictures sucked so much ass, after I pointed out his lens was giving him pictures that were generally just slightly out of focus, but he didn't have the potential problems that stems from a slow shutter. I'm not saying it IS the lens, I'm just saying it's something you could test if you have another lens on hand.

Finally, if that doesn't expose the lens, then yes, dropping the ISO should allow you to up the shutter speed. Stopping down the apertue a bit might also help with sharpness (most lenses tend to be a bit soft around max aperture), but that's probably more something to think about at a later date.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on September 05, 2010, 02:07:05 PM
The rough rule is your shutter speed should be 1/focal length, though that's to account for hand shake. If you've got a lens that is VR, then you can usually go to around shutter speeds 4 or 8 times slower. If you're photographic moving subjects, you usuallly want to shoot between 1/50 and 1/200. Fast moving subjects like sports and you want to be at around 1/250 or higher. My advice, if you're shooting moving subjects, shoot in shutter priority mode, or shoot manually with as fast a SS as possible, wide open aperture, and then ISO high enough to get a bright photo.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on September 05, 2010, 11:35:32 PM
Yeah that's motion blur. As Moses says 1/focal length is a good guide but it depends on how good you are at hand-holding. Balancing shutter speed, aperture and ISO is hard to get right and depends on a lot of things. Faster shutter speed means less motion blur, but the trade-offs can be wider aperture which means shallower depth of field and thus more blur and/or higher ISO which means more noise.

I'm pretty bad at hand-holding and it doesn't help that I wear glasses - means it's harder to jam the camera up against your face to steady it. You do get better with practice though - think of it like firing a rifle! You want a stable, steady shooting position. Get your legs apart a bit, drop down to 1 knee, lean against something. You want the camera and lens and yourself all well braced. You want to hold it very firmly but also be relaxed. I actually hold my breath for 1/2 a second when shooting too.

A tripod is always good too! And of course shooting with flash means you can freeze motion very effectively. A full-power pop from a hotshoe type flash is about 1/1000th sec, but that's a whole other way of shooting.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: TripleDES on September 06, 2010, 05:52:12 AM
I don't know about the 35mm, but sigma's 30mm f/1.4 is pretty good as well (at least I think so).
I like my Sigma 30mm f1.4 (especially since I like playing with shallow DOF), but sometimes, when doing random urban photography, I feel I could need a wider lens. I'd like to try 35mm f1.8 on a full-frame or something for that. A 5D MkII would be nice to have, but still way too expensive.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on September 06, 2010, 06:01:46 AM
Thanks guys, you've given me a bunch to consider.

tgr, the lens I was using was the 70-300 I linked in the post right above the question.  I was hand-holding and IIRC, relying on the N60's "P" setting to give a proper combination of aperture and stop based on what I selected.  I wasn't paying enough attention I guess, because my sister had also warned me about hand holding at 1/60 or slower, particularly with a longer focal length.    

I didn't know about the 1/focal length tip, thanks I'll keep it in mind.  I'm always hesitant to lower my iso because it seems like the sensor on the N60 adds a lot of digital noise.  Perhaps it's just because I'm always using shutter speeds that are ridiculously long because I don't compensate with iso. I'm a noob, after all. The way the tiger enclosures are set-up (with a good 4'-2" wall in front of you) I just need to take my tripod and try next time and see if I still get bad results, I suppose.

I don't think the flash would work, apoc, because the tiger was between 75'-100' away.  If that's not the case, then a hotshoe will be my next purchase for certain.

I really need to stop relying on the automatic stuff and play with full-manual more.  I'm getting comfortable with it after having my first SLR camera for a year now, but it still makes me nervous thinking I'll completely screw up a nice shot.

Whoops it's the "P" setting not "S" as that's shutter priority.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: TripleDES on September 06, 2010, 06:31:41 AM
I practically only shoot in aperture priority and manual modes.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: tgr on September 06, 2010, 06:44:21 AM
I practically only shoot in shutter priority mode, or manual mode. I care more about the shutter speed being predictable, than the aperture being predictable. About the only time where I consistently control both is when I do macro photography.

My career began with the canon 350d, which decided to eat tons of my pictures until I decided that the camera did, in fact, not know better than me in most normal cases, and should not be allowed to set a ridiculously small aperture AND ridiculously long shutter speed (think 1/10th and f/30+ on a bright summer's day, I forget the exact settings).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on September 06, 2010, 06:55:17 AM
I thought the N60 was a film camera?

One (more) thing to remember is that the 70-300 VR allows you to hold your lens at slower shutter speeds then you usually need, but VR doesn't stop the subject from moving. If you look at the picture you took, everything's blurry which indicates that the SS was too slow to properly handhold, but if you look at the tiger (particularly the front paw) it's even more blurred. The tiger's moving too fast for you to take a proper shot at that speed. My advice would be bump ISO until you get a decent picture. Assuming you're using a D60, the noise isn't fantastic, but when you downsample a photo a lot of that noise just goes away. If you plop your camera on a tripod and stabilise it properly, you should turn VR off. If you shoot at SS > 1/250s, then VR needs to be turned off again.

The 35 1.8 will only show a full image on a full-frame camera at close focuses. At longer ones you can always crop. Or there might be a new Nikon 35 1.4 FF that you can buy (I guess) for around 1000+ bucks  :grin:

If you shoot in aperture/shutter priority modes you've got to learn to tackle your camera's exposure meter modes (more to think about  :awesome_for_real:).

It's actually kind of rediculous the amount of small, niggly things you have to do to get a 'perfect exposure'.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on September 06, 2010, 07:20:50 AM
It probably is.. I'm more tired than I thought as I have a D60, not an N60.  :awesome_for_real:  Early to bed tonight.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on September 07, 2010, 02:35:52 AM
I don't think the flash would work, apoc, because the tiger was between 75'-100' away.  If that's not the case, then a hotshoe will be my next purchase for certain.

Yeah, I kinda meant generally, not for that specific picture. Would be possible... but damned difficult to set up and arrange and we're into the realms of pro photo shoot and getting silly then  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on September 07, 2010, 07:06:26 AM
Yea, ok, so you shot that at 185 mm at 1/60th. That's camera shake you are seeing.
The farther in you zoom, the more dramatic the shake.

I have no idea how good or bad the auto setting is on my current body - I've never used it. Don't get me wrong, I still screw shots all by myself, but at least then it's my fault and not the camera's.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: TripleDES on September 07, 2010, 12:53:00 PM
I'm planning to upgrade from my EOS 400D by end of the year, but I still ain't sure whether I should go 60D or 7D. I don't really need all the mongo much AF points, nor the dual DIGIC, but it has micro-AF, which is nice to fix these Sigma primes with.  :oh_i_see:

I'd like a 5D MkII, but that's kinda completely out of budget.  :grin:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on September 07, 2010, 02:29:28 PM
I really don't even want to know what those models are. As soon as I buy a new body (50D last year) I stop looking at the sites for at least a couple years, to preserve my sanity.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: TripleDES on September 17, 2010, 02:28:27 PM
Got myself a 550D today.  :grin: The upper models didn't cut it after all. 60D is a lackluster and the 7D is overspecced for what I do.

Video is nice to have, tho. Never thought I'd say that. Gonna try it tomorrow on a bike park visit. Sadly I was so stupid and bought a class 4 SD card only instead of a class 6. But apparently turning off audio saved my ass for tomorrow, since the camera doesn't do a buffer overrun after 10-15 seconds anymore with sound disabled.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on September 27, 2010, 05:09:33 AM
Was playing with a friend's 7D's video during our martial arts session on Saturday.  Holding a DSLR like that for an hour is really tiring  :uhrr:. Controls are a bit fiddly, especially with a lens,  but the quality is pure, unadulterated joy.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on September 28, 2010, 12:33:43 PM
Got a Nikon d3100 w/the kit lens last week. Spent three hours on the weekend just taking the same shot of an interior at different aperture and ISO, camera resting on the arm of my chair. Was instructive. Have a lot to learn.

Gonna need a tripod. Also have to build lightbox for one of the uses I have in mind.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on October 04, 2010, 06:41:17 AM
If you can spare the cash, buy a good tripod and be happy for the next 20 years of life.

Saw this article on street photography in the beeb (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/photoblog/2010/10/street_photography_now.html) and found it quite interesting. Street photography has always fascinated me, but it's not something I'd ever do as I can't bring myself to take photos of people I don't know without their permission.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: TripleDES on October 04, 2010, 12:01:39 PM
I noticed that lens hoods have a huge influence on other people's perception of you and your DSLR. Especially the tulip ones.

Unless you're carrying around a 500mm tele, then they're always suspicious.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on October 04, 2010, 07:07:47 PM
I find myself doing this while out taking photos on my own and it's probably more enjoyable to me than buildings or scenes.  Finding an old lady reading on a park bench, or a couple that's just chatting away while out for a walk. Or the crowds at events, just so you can pick out individual moments and make-up stories later.  I've always been a people watcher, though. 


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on October 05, 2010, 12:54:26 PM
Bought tripod, lights and inexpensive light box.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: OcellotJenkins on October 28, 2010, 08:03:13 AM
Just placed an order for my first DSLR, a Canon Rebel T2i (http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/slr_cameras/eos_rebel_t2i_ef_s_18_55mm_is_kit) with an assortment of 3 starter lenses.  B&H is unbeatable with their free shipping and no tax.  I've enjoyed this thread, you guys have inspired me! 


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on November 14, 2010, 12:41:14 PM
A few of us have already talked about the benefits of shooting in RAW, namely how much you can adjust the image. I just came across a piece of software called photivo (http://code.google.com/p/photivo/). It's not that intuitive to use, but I think it's even more powerful than ACR, the software used to adjust camera RAW files with photoshop. This software basically allows you to adjust colour, B&W, contrast, saturation, etc. It probably works with jpegs as well (haven't checked), but it works best with the RAW files from your camera. Oh yeah, it's free!

I've also been trying out HDR and stitching software, including some free ones. I'll write a bit more when I've found some good solutions.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: OcellotJenkins on November 22, 2010, 08:32:34 AM
I don't know how I managed to go so long without trying Adobe Lightroom.  This is a fantastic piece of software.  Building or downloading presets saves so much time as does not having to go into full blown photoshop for most adjustments.  The only downside I've experienced is with trying to keep catalogs on a desktop and laptop synced (works, but it's a bit sloppy).  Regarding HDR, I've tried a number of plug-ins for both Lightroom and Photoshop but nothing has come close to touching stand alone Photomatix in terms of ease of use and quality of results.

Loving the new camera gear by the way.  The video quality of the T2i is ridiculously good.  I'm also surprised at how well these relatively cheap canon lenses are working.  The 50 mm f1.8 lens ($100) has eliminated my need for a flash.  Lowlight portraits of the wife and babies are stunning with this thing.

The most challenging thing I've tried to do so far is photograph the night sky.  I setup a tripod on my deck with hopes of catching some Leonid action but wound up struggling to get any clear pictures at all.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  I seemed to have the best luck with f5.6 and about a 10 to 15 second shutter speed anything slower blurred bad.  I concluded that part of my blurring problem resulted from some very slight movement of my deck in the night breeze.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on November 22, 2010, 08:48:30 AM
Weight your tripod? I'm planning to try and shoot some stuff at night soon, so I'm interested in tips for this too. I'm not sure what exposure length you have to be considering before the rotation of the earth starts to be an issue, but I suspect it's pretty long.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on November 22, 2010, 11:12:06 PM
10 seconds or so is enough for the Earth's rotation to be an issue. Problem is that stars are point sources so they show up any movement at all very clearly.

You can always build yourself a tracking device (http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/09/on-assignment-how-to-light-comet.html) to compensate for it, but that's getting in a little deep.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on November 23, 2010, 01:20:20 AM
Hm, pre-finding focus, wider angle lenses, bumping up the ISO are all the easy solutions I can think of. Going somewhere with less light pollution?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: OcellotJenkins on November 23, 2010, 07:14:00 AM
Come to think of it, the lens I used for the night sky the other night didn't have image stabilization so that could have been part of the problem.  Next time I'll try the kit lens at a wider angle since it has IS.  I was curious about the earth rotation issue as well and am surprised to hear it can be noticeable in 10 seconds.  Light pollution is pretty bad where I'm at but made worse with the moon right now.  Apparently the next two year's Leonids are during periods of new moons.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on November 23, 2010, 09:13:54 AM
Don't use IS when you're tripod-mounted, I've been told it fucks the IS up!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Yoshimaru on November 23, 2010, 03:25:29 PM
I've tried astrophotography a few time with varying degrees of success. The biggest things you can do are: Pre-focus on infinity before it gets dark, trying to get stars in focus at night is a bitch. Make sure your tripod is secure, and use a remote or time-delay release, the movement caused by pressing the shutter button is enough to cause noticeable blurriness. Bump up your ISO as far as it will go before too much noise starts showing up. Try and get as far away from light sources as you can, the amount of time that you can expose for relies on this.

On a more artistic note, silhouetting things against the sky easy and pretty cool.

Here are a few decent shots that I've gotten in the past.

All were taken with a Nikon D60 with the stock 18-55mm lens.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on November 23, 2010, 03:35:27 PM
Those aren't half bad, nice.

On an unrelated note, I'm having an issue with Lightroom where the final image I see inside the program does not tally with what gets exported. Generally the contrast seems to get exaggerated in the export process. Is this an artifact of tweaking the image too much, or is it a fundamental issue with the exporting process or .jpeg file format? I'm opting to export to the highest quality jpeg I can, but this is bugging me still.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on November 23, 2010, 06:11:59 PM
On an unrelated note, I'm having an issue with Lightroom where the final image I see inside the program does not tally with what gets exported. Generally the contrast seems to get exaggerated in the export process. Is this an artifact of tweaking the image too much, or is it a fundamental issue with the exporting process or .jpeg file format? I'm opting to export to the highest quality jpeg I can, but this is bugging me still.

I hadn't exported more than a few images so I wasn't comparing but just did so.  Yeah, in LR3 the exported .jpg is definitely darker than what I'm seeing on screen in the program.  Even on shots I haven't played with at all.  Tweaking the color format of the .jpg and quality on export does nothing but make them darker.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on November 24, 2010, 01:13:45 AM
The only thing I can guess of from the top of my head is that you're using uncalibrated monitors, and the jpeg compression causes the tonal range to go wonky.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on November 24, 2010, 01:31:45 AM
hmm, I have no idea how to calibrate my monitor, I'll give it a go though


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on November 24, 2010, 03:41:15 AM
The only thing I can guess of from the top of my head is that you're using uncalibrated monitors, and the jpeg compression causes the tonal range to go wonky.

I thought I'd calibrated it properly, but I didn't use a piece of hardware, only a manual calibration program.   However, since both are being viewed on the same monitor, it doesn't make sense to me why it would look different.  Even if it was the .jpg compression doing it, I exported to a TIFF as well and had the same result.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on November 24, 2010, 03:59:28 AM
What programs are you using the view the jpgs and tiffs?

Edit: What colour space are you using as well?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on November 24, 2010, 04:06:49 AM
The only thing I can guess of from the top of my head is that you're using uncalibrated monitors, and the jpeg compression causes the tonal range to go wonky.

I thought I'd calibrated it properly, but I didn't use a piece of hardware, only a manual calibration program.   However, since both are being viewed on the same monitor, it doesn't make sense to me why it would look different.  Even if it was the .jpg compression doing it, I exported to a TIFF as well and had the same result.

This was my experience too. I tried viewing the images in both windows photo viewer and windows photo gallery


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on November 24, 2010, 04:45:21 AM
Some programs don't correct images for the colour space used, which is what could be causing the problem.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on November 24, 2010, 06:27:56 AM
Same thing i was going to say - different colorspace makes images in my CS3 look distinctly different from the default windows viewer.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on November 24, 2010, 04:05:25 PM
Some programs don't correct images for the colour space used, which is what could be causing the problem.

This is the case.  My default .jpg viewer is an old, old, ooooold version of PaintShopPro I actually own. (ver 6.0 when it was still Jasc.. from sometime around 1999)  I opened the file in a new trial version of Pro Ultimate and, hey, it looks like it should.  Thanks for the heads up, I had no idea about this stuff. Good to know.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on November 25, 2010, 02:41:23 AM
 :yahoo:

I just hope we don't move on to printer calibration anytime soon  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on November 25, 2010, 03:25:05 AM
So, with respect to getting photos printed, I should probably just trust LR3? Even if the picture looks a tad screwy in other viewers?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on November 25, 2010, 04:01:46 AM
If you're going to be using a lab, or online service of any kind for printing then I highly recommend a batch of test prints before doing a large run. Getting 2-4 10x8" prints done for this is money well spent in the long run.

You can get a colour checker chart (used to be called a Gretag-Macbeth) to do this, but that's kinda expensive. You'll probably be fine with few photos with a range of colours and some skin tones, and compare the prints to how they look on your monitor.

Ideally you'd view the prints under a daylight lamp and have photos shot under sunlight, indoors with tungsten and flash-only lit, but again it depends on how anal you want to be about it.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on November 25, 2010, 04:52:59 AM
:yahoo:

I just hope we don't move on to printer calibration anytime soon  :awesome_for_real:

Nah, printer color calibration is something I'm aware of and have had to deal with before due to rendering outputs.  The past few months have been my first serious foray into image processing and manipulation so wasn't aware of the whole color space issue thing with my old viewer.  Again, many thanks for that.  I suppose I should read a book instead of just playing "fiddle with the programs" like I do with everything else.  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Soln on November 26, 2010, 11:39:06 AM
can someone please recommend a good and reliable scanner for photo slides and old film?  It seems after reading Amazon reviews a lot of them are dodgy on quality and adaptability.  Asking for a parental gift.  Thanks.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 02, 2010, 08:43:54 PM
Hello

I am somewhat happy with this picture, I didn't really know how to punch it up. I think this works, though I wish I took a better picture in the first goddamn place.

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/SBCombined.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 03, 2010, 05:15:28 AM
Nice. You know I'm no photoshop expert, but a couple of things I'd say would be don't be afraid to get a bit crazy with levels/curves adjustments and blow some of the highlights out to get the wall to go white, and similarly crank the shadows down deeper, but I do like my high contrast!

One tiny thing that I notice is the flash shadow on the wall from her dress on the right hand side. I'd try softening that myself.

Have you ever tried any "manual HDR" type stuff too? I.e. layering different exposures (from a single RAW) and painting them in through a mask with a very low opacity brush? Joey Lawrence (http://www.joeyl.com/) is very, very good at it, and it's a great way to a) selectively increase local contrast and b) waste hours of your life!  :grin:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on December 03, 2010, 08:59:57 AM
One tiny thing that I notice is the flash shadow on the wall from her dress on the right hand side. I'd try softening that myself.

THAT's the thing you notice in that picture?  I am obviously not cut out to be a photographer.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 03, 2010, 10:43:30 AM
It's an affliction. I need help, clearly.  :ye_gods:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 03, 2010, 02:40:43 PM
Nice. You know I'm no photoshop expert, but a couple of things I'd say would be don't be afraid to get a bit crazy with levels/curves adjustments and blow some of the highlights out to get the wall to go white, and similarly crank the shadows down deeper, but I do like my high contrast!

One tiny thing that I notice is the flash shadow on the wall from her dress on the right hand side. I'd try softening that myself.

Have you ever tried any "manual HDR" type stuff too? I.e. layering different exposures (from a single RAW) and painting them in through a mask with a very low opacity brush? Joey Lawrence (http://www.joeyl.com/) is very, very good at it, and it's a great way to a) selectively increase local contrast and b) waste hours of your life!  :grin:

Yeah, I actually screwed around with the levels quite a bit until I settled on that. I was trying to avoid harsh shadows, though what I do really just depends on my mood.

I hate HDR pictures, including JoeyL's which is suprising. That guy's personal work is fantastic, who brings a blad and a 8 foot octobox into the most remote places on earth?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on December 03, 2010, 03:05:41 PM
It's an affliction. I need help, clearly.  :ye_gods:

Crap, I saw it too.

To my credit AFTER the boobs, but I still saw it.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 03, 2010, 09:51:01 PM
I hate HDR pictures, including JoeyL's which is suprising. That guy's personal work is fantastic, who brings a blad and a 8 foot octobox into the most remote places on earth?

Yeah, that's why I put it in ""'s, cos it's not really HDR - I also find the usual HDR look very boring and contrived now. I mean it more as a tool for very selectively changing highlight and shadow tone, often just in tiny areas of a photo.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on December 05, 2010, 03:08:54 PM
On the topic of HDR, I've been trying out different programs to see whether I could get something I liked. The main programs I've played with are CS4, photomatix, SNS-HDR and Oloneo. Imho CS4 doesn't deliver at all, though CS5 supposedly does. Photomatix is (I think) the most popular HDR software around, but I'm still ambivalent towards it. SNS-HDR is the easiest program I've ever seen to creating these. Oloneo is currently free, which makes it my recommendation =) Will try and post some samples of what I've played around with soon.

With photo calibration, some programs (not sure if LR does it) will do a "preview" of what a photo looks like if you can supply an ICC printer profile.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: TripleDES on December 05, 2010, 03:42:03 PM
In regards to Lightroom and color calibration, at some point it all just pissed me off and stripped all ICM profiles out of Windows' display settings. Virtually no one has properly calibrated monitors, not even speaking of displays actually capable of showing decent colors (i.e. anything that ain't TN panels). And I'm not going to send them to print.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 14, 2010, 08:51:47 PM
Another one!

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/SB_2.jpg)

I'm not having any luck finding models out here, it was much easier in AZ. Bah.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on December 15, 2010, 07:31:47 AM
Yea, not my favorite of your models. Do like the lighting though.

Where did you end up moving to again?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 15, 2010, 11:23:42 AM
Yea, not my favorite of your models. Do like the lighting though.

Where did you end up moving to again?

Back to Maryland.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on December 15, 2010, 02:17:29 PM
Not near a college or are all the college girls near you not hungry or big enough drinkers that they'll model for $50?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 16, 2010, 08:00:10 AM
Not near a college or are all the college girls near you not hungry or big enough drinkers that they'll model for $50?

This is where it gets interesting. I actually happen to be really close to GMU, but generally I find my models on ModelMayhem. In this area most models don't do TFP (trade for print, aka free) it seems, so I put out an ad for 25 bucks an hour. I got a ton of responses, but most of the models are not worthy of paying. I'm also not making any money off this, so it seems silly sometimes to pay people.

It also looks like there are a ton of creepy photographers in this area, so I can understand why models tend to only look for paid assignments. I guess I'll have to network or something.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 16, 2010, 11:01:53 PM
I've been having similar problems actually.

I've got really fed up with the models that will do TFP being completely unreliable - turning up late, not turning up at all, not replying to emails for weeks, cancelling at the last minute etc. So I started looking for models who did paid assignments and there's this enormous gulf between unattractive models (and I mean REALLY unattractive sometimes) wanting £25/hour to get their kit off and obviously pro models wanting £60/hour minimum 3 hour shoots for normal modelling.

I'm not interested in doing nude shots, I'm trying to build a business portfolio and I don't see that as a major market, I just want people who are going to be reliable, professional and reasonably priced.

Ah well, mostly on hold for a while anyway. Not having studio access means location shoots and the weather here is so foul at the moment that location shoots are just unpleasant. If I ever get paid for some of the freelance jobs I've done over the last couple of months I'll set up a couple of studio shoots with proper models.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on December 17, 2010, 05:41:02 AM
Out of curiosity, are you only looking to shoot girls?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 17, 2010, 10:13:15 AM
Nope, I've shot a couple of guys, but men are less of a market for portraits than women are, apart from corporate type stuff.

I'm on the lookout for older guys to shoot (30+) but in my area Model Mayhem seems to only have gothy/alternative types, and a druid. For real.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 17, 2010, 10:42:29 AM
I find it hard to find guys who have the right "look", the acceptable deviation of attractiveness for girls is greater than that of guys.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 17, 2010, 10:25:23 PM
Agreed, although what the guys do is the same as what a lot of models do - they put that ONE pouty, moody look on their faces and that's it. Yeah, this ain't a Vogue shoot. You're chances of getting Vogue shoots are slim to none, you're gonna be modelling washing-up brushes and stuff if you're lucky. SMILE FFS!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on December 18, 2010, 06:20:12 AM
I think you should photograph the druid; while you do it, ask him to do some shots in Bear Form  :why_so_serious:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 19, 2010, 05:33:34 AM
:facepalm:  :awesome_for_real:  :uhrr:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 19, 2010, 05:28:28 PM
Since there's nobody new to shoot, I'm redoing old pictures.

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/NM1.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on December 20, 2010, 06:55:45 AM
Hmm, I'm not sure what to think of that. Just something disturbing about her expression. Lighting is good, and the color is beautiful, but its just such an unsettling expression.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Furiously on December 20, 2010, 06:21:01 PM
It's a total, "you want me to do what?????" look.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on December 24, 2010, 12:49:38 PM
Here's two more.

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/Ashlee.jpg)
(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/Mandy.jpg)

Do you think they work? I would remove the out of focus branch on the first, but not the leaves.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on January 07, 2011, 06:59:08 AM
I prefer the 2nd one, which is really nice. First one I find the background a bit distracting and the foreground is *too* out of focus and not obvious enough - at first glance it looks like flare or something.

I had a really good shoot on Wednesday, got about 20 images that I'd consider good enough to use! Here's the first few I've processed. Will process some non-nude ones from the shoot next. Links probably don't work unless you have a Model Mayhem account 'cos they're flagged 18+.

NSFW!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on January 07, 2011, 08:39:51 AM
Oh bravo, those are some fantastic shots. The model looks nice and relaxed too, and the lighting is superb.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on January 07, 2011, 09:13:58 AM
Yeah those are great.  Did you use a flash to freeze her hair like that, because I didn't think it'd be captured so well at 1/160.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on January 07, 2011, 10:08:06 AM
Thankyou, the model was great, really easy to work with :)

And yeah Merusk, it's all flash. In that one there's 2 strobes with shoot-through brollies to the right, one above the other, forming a big soft bank of light and then 2 strobes in mini-softboxes (about A4 size) to the left and back giving a slightly harder edge light.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on January 08, 2011, 11:54:01 AM
So I think I'm getting a fairly good handle on manual setting work with my new Nikon. Next tough choice: a better, more specialized lens. I've done some insect and flora work even with my old P&S and I'd like to have a good macro lens to do far better stuff with this camera. But for some related reasons, I'd love to have a very good zoom lens for nature photography as well as city-life shots of the kind that it's best to take from a distance. Was just out on a hike in some CA tidepools and I simply couldn't get a really compelling shot of some harbor seals that were in fact quite close to me in relative terms.

The variety of lenses is a bit dizzying, particularly when I consider the full range of manufacturers.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on January 10, 2011, 02:40:21 AM
Didn't actually see a question there...  :awesome_for_real:

Lens choice is really hard to advise on. Lenses are fucking expensive and how much value you get out of a lens purchase depends on how much you end up using it! I've got a macro lens that cost me something daft like £700 which rarely gets used. When I *do* need it then it's great and I'm really glad I have it.... but could I have got more value out of a £700 wide zoom or some softboxes? Possibly... no way of knowing.

I also think that high-end Nikon/Canon lenses don't give nearly as good a bang-for-your-buck as the best of the cheaper makes, eg. the Sigma ones etc. Depends on the lens and your needs, but often you pay double the price for a pro Nikon lens when a similar Sigma could have done 95% as good a job most of the time. Definitely check lens reviews when you narrow your choices down though. DPreview and DxOMarks have very detailed lens reviews.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on January 10, 2011, 06:16:54 AM
What he said.

Also, don't be afraid of primes if they will fit what you are planning on using them for. They tend to be both sharper and cheaper than similar range zooms.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on January 10, 2011, 06:54:27 AM
Also, macro zooms pretty much don't exist anymore. And street shooting is generally done with a prime lens (fast and small).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on January 10, 2011, 10:54:18 AM
Forgive the noobulosity of how to think about all of this--the learning curve beyond a P&S approach is pretty steep. You guys are suggesting a prime telephoto lens, maybe a 105mm focal length, would be the way to go for something like street shots where you're trying to quietly shoot candid or slice-of-life shots from a distance, and that would also do for something like getting a good shot of resting or slow-moving animals that are also at a distance? Maybe a Sigma or Tamron if I'm hoping to save a bit of money?

The one photo type I don't have that much interest in at the moment is action shooting of various kinds. I'm interested in getting good shots of insects/flowers/flora; long-distance street candids or nature shots. Some interest but less in landscape and portrait photography. It's clear to me that the 55m zoom lens that came w/the d3100 is a good middle-of-the-road lens but it is going to impede me from making progress on some of these fronts. Just don't know whether all I need is one prime lens at another focal length, a couple of specialist lenses, or what.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on January 10, 2011, 12:54:35 PM
There are some lenses that can double as macros and fast lenses. 105 is quite long for street-shooting, have you tried seeing what focal lengths you try and take shots at?

The lens I think that would be most suitable is the Tamron 60mm f/2, which is a fast macro lens, cheap(ish) and has good reviews. Generally people prefer taking street shots with wider focal lengths, but I don't do and ymmv!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on January 10, 2011, 01:21:13 PM
He said candid street shots though, Moose. If he feels the 55mm isn't close enough I don't think the 60mm will be, either.

I've got a Nikon 70-300 f4.5-5.6 that doesn't do macro and it worked well in D.C. but DC isn't a really closed-in city with lots of shadows.  If I were in downtown Manhattan or any kind of similar heavy shadow I'd have to up the iso to expose properly.  On my D60 that means I'm starting to get a lot of noise* but I'm not sure what the prime iso range for your 3100 is. Tamron and Sigma sell 70-300 macros that have the same f-stop range as my lens, though they lack the VR of the Nikon lens they're also about 1/3 the price.

My sister has this one (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/550953-REG/Tamron_AF017NII_700_70_300mm_f_4_5_6_Di_LD.html) which is what prompted me to get a 70-300. I liked it a lot and it took some pretty sharp photos of the marathon my daughter ran but I felt I needed the extra zoom for building details.  While I do use the 300 end a lot it means I'm going to have to buy another lens if I want to do Macro.  (if you REALLY want to splurge, Nikon also makes an f2.0 70-200 that's "only" $2,100)

*Which has made me want to invest in a better body next.  You guys were right this gets expensive fast, but it's damn fun.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on January 10, 2011, 02:20:35 PM
I'm thinking of the "yeah, here I am sitting in this park and that homeless guy down the block would make a compelling picture but I don't want to have to walk up to him and be obviously taking his picture" kind of shot. I guess I don't really have a sense other than looking at other people's photos and lens demo shots of the physical difference between 70 and 105 in terms of my own aspirations. I probably ought to go to one of the few remaining good camera stores in the city and get a real world sense of the difference between the two.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on January 10, 2011, 04:30:41 PM
The sort of lens that's going to let you get good photos of people without them being able to see you obviously photographing them isn't going to be the sort you want to lug around all day  :awesome_for_real:

Just man up and give the hobo $5 for a picture.  :why_so_serious:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on January 10, 2011, 05:07:18 PM
Yeah, I suppose so. Plus that kind of lens is apparently $$$$$. I dunno. I'd settle for something that would have let me get good pictures of these seals I was relatively near to. They wouldn't need $5, just a better lens.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on January 11, 2011, 11:24:16 AM
It's fun trying to figure this stuff out and how the hell you are going to pay for it!

Currently in my bag I carry a Canon F1.8 50mm, a Canon 70-200mm L series, a Tamron F2.8 28-75mm, and a Sigma 10-20mm.

The Tamron and the Sigma get the majority of use when I'm just doing walkaround stuff. I love the 50mm for portraits, and mainly use the L for long range stuff like animals and birds.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on January 21, 2011, 03:25:27 PM
An interesting thing I read today. Apparently, while filming Cate Blanchett as Galadriel in the Lord of the Rings movies, the crew set up a bank of fairy lights behind the camera, so she would have multiple sources of light reflecting from her eyes. This was done to make her look more ethereal.

It has a nice effect.

(http://i.min.us/iciecM.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: TripleDES on January 22, 2011, 10:28:28 AM
You can achieve a pretty much same effect using a ring light. It's a circular panel lens with lights arranged the way you want them to reflect them from the eyes. I figure you can DYI an el-cheapo version with plywood and some LED diodes or small CFL tubes. Obviously, the ring light adds to the overall lighting. You can either make it big and free standing (and shoot through the hole in it), or create a more mobile version and attach it to your camera.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on January 23, 2011, 02:26:13 AM
That's a really nice idea, I may have to give that a go if I can find some fairy lights that are bright enough.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on January 24, 2011, 08:00:46 AM
(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/20110123_TR.jpg)

Yea or nay? I'm resisting the urge to futz with it more.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on January 24, 2011, 08:25:36 AM
I don't like the way her left (our right) shoulder, hand, bicep and forearm are blending into the background.  Something about her right arm tricep, too.  It makes her elbow look really big, like a knee.  Maybe you can darken the one side and lighten the other.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Engels on January 24, 2011, 09:08:27 AM
Could it be your monitor, Merusk? On mine, the left arm is clearly defined against the background.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on January 24, 2011, 09:42:28 AM
Yep, it was. Forgotten I was in gaming mode and had turned up my gamma a lot. Whoops.  The shoulder still looks to be blending, but the arm is defined now.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on January 24, 2011, 11:28:40 AM
Yep, it was. Forgotten I was in gaming mode and had turned up my gamma a lot. Whoops.  The shoulder still looks to be blending, but the arm is defined now.

Yeah that shoulder needs a bit of work, I'll have to fix that. Upon closer examination, her wrinkled dress also bugs the hell out of me. Also, she recently lost a ton of weight, so she still has chubby arms (thus the elbow-knee), so I wonder if I should just go with one of these:

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/TR-52.jpg) (http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/TR-66.jpg)

I lean towards the left one, but I'm not sure if having her look up like that is too goofy to everyone else.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on January 24, 2011, 12:07:46 PM
I'm partial to the left one as well. It's the light in her eyes and the composition and pose tell more of a story.  She's thinking about something or looking up at something and you wonder what.  It's a little cliched, but it works.  Even if you could get that light into the right pic she'd need more expression than the standard bored gothic look.   Any where she's smiling?

On a personal note;  It's been cloudy and overcast here for a few days now. I wish I'd gone out to get the stream pictures I want when it was nice and bright, 12 degree temps be damned.  Anyone got advice for shooting in really cold weather? I'm worried about possibly damaging my camera.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on January 24, 2011, 12:27:36 PM
On a personal note;  It's been cloudy and overcast here for a few days now. I wish I'd gone out to get the stream pictures I want when it was nice and bright, 12 degree temps be damned.  Anyone got advice for shooting in really cold weather? I'm worried about possibly damaging my camera.

I was curious so I did a google search, this seems to be a good thread:

http://forums.steves-digicams.com/general-discussion/164961-hints-tricks-extremely-cold-weather-dslr-use.html

Mostly from that Norwegian's post. Other threads mention using silica packets to help control moisture when coming in from the cold, as in you put your camera into a ziploc bag with a silica packet.

And the girl in the picture doesn't smile! She had a really hard time posing and changing her expression, then again she's really pretty so she can get away with it for the most part.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on January 24, 2011, 01:12:51 PM
Ziplocks the main thing in my experience. Condensation is a PITA and takes time to get rid off. If stuff stops working you can always try warming it up manually and then starting it again.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on January 25, 2011, 02:42:40 AM
Ookii they're nice, but I think you've already pointed out yourself what their weak points are - it's not the posing, expression or lighting, it's the attention to detail. Photoshopping those creases out of the dress is a difficult and time-consuming process, several hours work to get a good result. Ironing the dress beforehand takes 5 mins.

I'm finding more and more that it's my ability to spot these details during a shoot that makes the difference between an OK image and a really good one. I pay particular attention to hair and make-up. A stray lock of hair across an eye or sticking out of the top of a head isn't a huge cleanup job but to notice it at the time does 2 things - it makes that cleanup much easier and it demonstrates to your subject that you've got an eye for detail that's a cut above the average and thus gives them confidence in your skills, which in turn leads to better interaction and expressions etc.

The thing that I say multiple times to models before a photoshoot is "don't forget to bring a hairbrush!". It's the most commonly forgotten thing, nobody likes using someone else's hairbrush and a 10 second brush before a shot makes a massive difference.

The other thing that I strongly recommend is, if possible, to take a 5 min break after 20-30 mins shooting and look at what you've got so far on a monitor. Show the model too. You spot all sorts of things (like clothing issues, smudged eyeliner, wayward hairs etc) and get a much better idea of what's working and what isn't.

In terms of processing on those images, personally I'd amp it up a bit. More contrast, more glow on the skin, lighten and colour up the eyes a bit. More saturation (carefully layered & blended) on the hair and lips, make the eyes pop a bit more - put some fake catchlights in maybe. But that's just me, you've seen my stuff, you know I have a tendency to go overboard on the processing!  :why_so_serious:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: tgr on January 25, 2011, 03:59:35 AM
I lean towards the left one, but I'm not sure if having her look up like that is too goofy to everyone else.
Of those two I would lean towards a modified/improved right. The left strikes me as too facebookish "I'm trying to be cool". The only thing I would do to the picture on the right (if this was going to be in some sort of profile) is maybe lower the ambient light a bit from above and raise it slightly from the front/towards the eyes to make the eyecolor easier to see. But that's more me, because I like to see the eyecolor someone has, I've never actually taken portraits (nor do I really desire to do so). vOv


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on January 25, 2011, 06:47:51 AM
The other thing that I strongly recommend is, if possible, to take a 5 min break after 20-30 mins shooting and look at what you've got so far on a monitor. Show the model too. You spot all sorts of things (like clothing issues, smudged eyeliner, wayward hairs etc) and get a much better idea of what's working and what isn't.

Really, you know I've never done this. Most of the models I work with are new, and I thought showing them the pictures during the shoot makes them more self conscious (in a bad way). I'll have to give it a shot for the next shoot though.

Generally I'm better about catching the wrinkles, I think in this case my lighting brought them out more. In this instance, she has a 60" bounce umbrella directly overhead, just like you'd use if it were raining. I'll have to chimp during every look in the future to make sure everything is okay.

To each their own tgr, what do you like to shoot? Do you have it online anywhere?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on January 25, 2011, 06:59:21 AM
I like that one more than the others. There's a lot more going on, although the pose is erring ever so slightly on the tryhard, not enough to cause a problem though.

I'm hardly an expert, but how important is it to shoot against a white background? It seems that pale girls on a white background end up looking a bit lost. Could you shoot them against a black canvas perhaps?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: tgr on January 25, 2011, 07:16:23 AM
To each their own tgr, what do you like to shoot? Do you have it online anywhere?
Used to be trackday pictures, but got bored after two years of taking mostly the same picture over and over, so moved over to have it more a thing I do during the summer holidays. I bought a gigapan epic pro (yes, I know the name is awful) to better take good panorama pictures, but I've yet to manage to take something I find adequate enough to actually put up online from that era.

Actually I haven't really put up much of my pictures on my own gallery, I should sit down and really go through my collection. I keep saying that, one of these days...


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on January 25, 2011, 01:01:13 PM
Know what sucks?  Going to take photos of a stream and hearing a hawk as you're taking a few shots.  You realize it's flying right overhead, so you swing the whole tripod up and around only to catch... a blur because you were still at only 1/80th of a second.  Sonofabitch.  That hawk is mocking me.  It flew over my house 3-4 times this summer, always when my camera wasn't set-up.  I finally left it set it up once and... the hawk stopped coming.  :tantrum:

Got a few I'd like any critiques on.  I think I may have added too much yellow in trying to warm them up, but given the cheapness of my monitor I can't be certain.

Not sure which of these two I like better.  I'm leaning towards the B&W but I think the color has merit as well.

As I was packing up I heard these Jays screaming down the river at each other.  I got a few at range before I walked down to them and they flew off, and this was the best of those.  I can't enlarge them too much more because this is already cropped.  Damn nature being all scared of me and natural.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on January 25, 2011, 03:10:46 PM
The photo of the jays is pretty irredeemable I think, there's just too much uninteresting foliage. Unless you get wacky with the effects, I don't see that one going anywhere.

For the picture of the flower, I'm leaning with you that the coloured one is actually really nice, the light shades work well I think. The black and white version just seems a lot less interesting.

I would be interested to see the first shot in black and white. Are you using lightroom (or similar) to work on these? On my screen the tone seems fine, I'd say you could probably toy with the saturation and contrast a bit.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on January 25, 2011, 05:32:19 PM
Yeah, I believe the first is too yellow, I'd also try and brighten the whole thing up in general.

I'd definitely go with the black and white! I usually crank up the contrast on b&w stuff, but it does look nice. I'm also the kind of person who would get rid of the branches in the background.

It doesn't look like you got a clear shot of those two, there's too many branches for a clean composition. It also looks like you cropped it at full size, so it's a bit too sharp. An unfortunate side effect of having a less than 2000 dollar camera with a 1500 dollar lens.

I also decided to go with this:

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/KB-183-Edit.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on January 26, 2011, 06:23:01 AM
Nice. There's a few little details one could nitpick, but I really like the composition as a whole. At first glance I thought she had rainbow colored hair, then I looked more at the lighting, then back to her hair, then the Monroe shirt caught my attention - in otherwords, its an engaging shot.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on January 28, 2011, 08:43:11 AM
Been a few days since I was able to go back and revisit them but thanks for the comments guys.


The photo of the jays is pretty irredeemable I think, there's just too much uninteresting foliage. Unless you get wacky with the effects, I don't see that one going anywhere.

For the picture of the flower, I'm leaning with you that the coloured one is actually really nice, the light shades work well I think. The black and white version just seems a lot less interesting.

I would be interested to see the first shot in black and white. Are you using lightroom (or similar) to work on these? On my screen the tone seems fine, I'd say you could probably toy with the saturation and contrast a bit.

The Jays are interesting to me just because they're two spots of color in such a mass of uninteresting foilage.  I'll also say that I'm a big fan of texture over color, something that doesn't work so well in photography, I know, but is a holdout from Architecture.  One of the reasons I love Alvar Aalto's work and a lot of the craftsmen is that they were the same way.  So, where some see uninteresting foilage I see rough tree bark, intertwining with smoother branches and then the bright spots of the Jays.   I've just gone ahead and cheesed it out in the revision, though.  It feels like a Franklin Mint Collector plate now.. which is also amusing.

Tried fading the background more on the thistle shots.  I think I should post the full-rez version because you're losing a lot of texture on these smaller versions, and that's what makes it for me.   I think I agree with whoever said the branches were getting distracting.  I originally thought they were helping to lead the eye but I'm not seeing it in these versions.

I dropped the icicles into B&W and added a blue filter to bring out the clarity of the ice on the color version.  I toned down the kelvin, too but punched up the saturation.  I haven't punched the b&w contrast up a lot because it starts to blend things together too much.

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/704172/F13%20Photos/Icicle%20Stream%20Color-Revised.jpg)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/704172/F13%20Photos/Icicle%20Stream-B%26W-Revised.jpg)
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/704172/F13%20Photos/Icicle%203-B%26W.jpg)



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on February 03, 2011, 07:21:05 PM
(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/20110130_ED-2.jpg)(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/20110130_ED-61.jpg)

Which one do you like better? I'm having a tough time deciding. I'm leaning towards the one on the right.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Furiously on February 03, 2011, 10:13:55 PM
One on the left has too soft of a focus in the face. That being said, it looks a lot more casual. And the outfit is more appealing in my mind.

One thing I am noticing is your poses look like....poses. Not that I want slouched over models, but something that doesn't look forced would be better in my mind.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on February 03, 2011, 11:59:44 PM
I'd say the one on the right. I think the pose and lighting suits her face better (noticable jaw). I also think the white top and the grey background don't provide enough contrast for a B & W.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on February 04, 2011, 05:42:43 AM
Sign me up for team right too. She has a stronger pose, everything is clearer. It is definitely the one I would pick.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on February 05, 2011, 01:30:18 AM
I prefer the photo on the right and the outfit on the left.  :drill:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on February 05, 2011, 06:46:26 AM
I like the outfit on the right, but I've always been a fan of one-piece dresses.   Consensus has already determined it's all about the right for the photo.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: NiX on February 07, 2011, 05:55:18 PM
The one on the right and her number too. She's quite pretty.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Furiously on February 07, 2011, 10:07:26 PM
I'm giving some consideration to getting a Nikon P7000.  I have fairly old digital SLR and a few nice lenses but I never pull them out.
http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/coolpix/performance/p7000/ (http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/coolpix/performance/p7000/)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on February 08, 2011, 06:07:18 AM
I prefer the pose and the outfit on the left one, though it is a bit soft in the face. I like the lighting on her, but that distinct a shadow on the background always bugs me.

I actually like the fact that the left one shows her strong jawline.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on February 08, 2011, 10:13:20 AM
I like the shadows on the face, the expression, the hand touching the hair in the left one, otherwise the right. Both have some nice elements.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on February 08, 2011, 01:03:16 PM
I'm giving some consideration to getting a Nikon P7000.  I have fairly old digital SLR and a few nice lenses but I never pull them out.
http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/coolpix/performance/p7000/ (http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/coolpix/performance/p7000/)

Have you looked at the Canon G12 or Lumix LX-5? I think they rate better than the P7000.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on February 08, 2011, 11:20:50 PM
I'm giving some consideration to getting a Nikon P7000.  I have fairly old digital SLR and a few nice lenses but I never pull them out.
http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/coolpix/performance/p7000/ (http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/coolpix/performance/p7000/)

Have you looked at the Canon G12 or Lumix LX-5? I think they rate better than the P7000.

^^ This for sure. The P7000 hasn't had great reviews - it's chunkier than other similarly-spec'd cameras, not very responsive (lots of talk of button lag) and overpriced. For that size of camera the Canon G-series are amazing little cameras in my book.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: MisterNoisy on March 03, 2011, 07:04:58 PM
So I've been reading/enjoying this thread and sellout.woot was recently selling the Pentax K-x with the 18-55 kit lens for $440.  After a bit of research at dpreview (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxkx) and photographyblog (http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/pentax_kx_review/), I jumped.  Any of the diehards here have any recommendations as to additional kit/gear that I'd want or need right out of the gate?  I've already got tons of SD cards/rechargeable batteries.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on March 03, 2011, 10:57:15 PM
The cheapest thing that'll make the biggest difference to the range of photographs you can take is a decent tripod.

At a later date, if you feel your photography needs a boost then I'd recommend a cheap, manual flash (http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,14648.html) and a simple remote trigger (http://www.mpex.com/browse.cfm/4,514.html) and  learning (http://strobist.blogspot.com/) off-camera lighting.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on March 04, 2011, 01:45:22 AM
Pentax might have the best range of lenses available at the moment. Try and grab a prime lens as well, such as the 35mm f/2.4.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 07, 2011, 11:40:05 PM
I've forgotten what we decided about which thread to put these in, but this thread feels neglected!  :awesome_for_real: More of my usual kind of stuff:


Quite like this one, took a lot of setting up, but looking at it again now I don't like the processing, far too orange, may revisit it soon.

And then a couple from a shoot with a friend earlier in the week. Mostly it was just about seeing what we could get from a very small space.


Edit: Another from the same shoot, went a bit more nuts with the processing for a different feel.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on July 10, 2011, 06:33:13 PM
I've forgotten what we decided about which thread to put these in, but this thread feels neglected!  :awesome_for_real: More of my usual kind of stuff:


Quite like this one, took a lot of setting up, but looking at it again now I don't like the processing, far too orange, may revisit it soon.

And then a couple from a shoot with a friend earlier in the week. Mostly it was just about seeing what we could get from a very small space.


Edit: Another from the same shoot, went a bit more nuts with the processing for a different feel.


Nice, did you use surface blur on the first pic? It seems surface blurry to me.

It's funny, it looks like 3 and 4 are on the same couch, but I guess you desaturated the fourth? Methinks number three is a bit bright, that would definitely be my fav if that was toned down.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 10, 2011, 10:22:39 PM
Used the Portraiture Photoshop plugin on the first one, but actually on some fairly subtle settings - she did have excellent skin, plus the very soft fill light smooths skin out a lot.

And yep, 3 & 4 are indeed on the same couch, just with very different processing used on them. I'm not intending those as portfolio shots but much more experimenting with things. She's a friend who's a keen photographer herself, which is great for this kind of shoot because there's no pressure at all to produce anything specific - I can just mess around to my heart's content and go all out whacky with the post  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on July 11, 2011, 03:39:06 AM
I like the first one, I don't think it is noticeably too orange.  With such a cold background, I think it does well to have some warmth in the model's skin.

The second is definitely my favourite though, the light, the pose, the dressing, the background are all right and make for a lovely picture.

The only element of any of the pictures that I find a little jarring in any of these pictures is in the third, which like Ookii, I think is too bright, too luminous; particularly her skin.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 12, 2011, 02:36:21 AM
Done a reprocess of that one, more gentle on the colour pop & contrast. Hopefully working on some more from the same shoot today too, got a quiet day :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on July 14, 2011, 01:07:33 AM
I would keep the contrast and saturation higher like before but decrease the exposure on the face and hands. That way it still has the appeal of the original while nothing is overexposed.

This is the last photo I've taken in awhile:

(http://evilpiggie.com/imagehost/forums/SL.jpg)

Most of the other ones were not good.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 14, 2011, 10:29:14 PM
I would keep the contrast and saturation higher like before but decrease the exposure on the face and hands. That way it still has the appeal of the original while nothing is overexposed.
I have actually overexposed her face & hands in the capture, should have gobo'd at least her face off a bit. It's something I do far too often really, I need to start paying more attention to it when shooting.

Your model there has the "I'm not really a model" look on her face... Model Mayhem TF*? That look is driving me round the bend these days - so many of the aspiring models I shoot from there have no dynamism at all. I even show them YouTube vids of model presentations from agencies and shoots and they go "ohh I see, yeah!".... and then just stand there woodenly.

I find the right music helps sometimes, but not always easy on location. Got another shoot with the same girl from those last shots of mine today, we're hopefully going for a more urban and edgy look, wish us luck :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Goumindong on July 15, 2011, 02:59:27 AM
I've forgotten what we decided about which thread to put these in, but this thread feels neglected!  :awesome_for_real: More of my usual kind of stuff:


Quite like this one, took a lot of setting up, but looking at it again now I don't like the processing, far too orange, may revisit it soon.


Far far too much orange. She looks like she could be John Boehner's daughter.

The shots of your friend are gorgeous however.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on July 15, 2011, 10:02:34 AM
We should really make it a rule in this thread that all submissions need to include a before:after comparison. I would love to see what the rest of you guys are actually doing to get the end results.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on July 16, 2011, 07:02:45 PM
So on actual tips, where do you guys print stuff larger than 8x10 and what's the cost for say a 16x20?

We went to the wife's best-friend's wedding a few weeks ago and I'm going to send them one of these as their anniversary present next year.

I prefer the second as it's got this great meta heart-shape going with the light & dark of their heads & clothes.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on July 17, 2011, 01:11:57 AM
Definitely the second


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 17, 2011, 01:23:26 AM
Yup, 2nd works for me too :)

I use a local lab called ProAm (http://www.proamimaging.com/). They're very cheap and excellent quality prints. You just have to be a bit clued up about colour profiles, file sizing and ftp, although they're also very helpful if you have any problems.

Of course I can't remember if you're UK based or not... if you're not then that will be no use to you at all!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on July 17, 2011, 04:02:14 AM
What file format is it best to send pictures for printing as: Raw, Digital Negative, JPEG?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 17, 2011, 05:04:36 AM
Depends on the lab to some extent, but these days 99% will ask for jpegs. If a print lab doesn't specify DPI, colour profile and jpeg compression level then they're not offering a professional standard service and I wouldn't recommend them for anything except snaps.

Digital Negative is just a RAW file and you can't print directly from that - you need an associated .xml file at the very least and that's assuming the recipient has the same RAW conversion software as you.

TIFF's and other lossless-compression based formats are just not needed these days and are unwieldy to work with anyway. File sizes are too large and labs accepting TIFFs run the risk of receiving layered files that may not print correctly.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on July 17, 2011, 10:58:48 AM
I have used photobox.co.uk previously for some photos I needed to get printed back home while I was travelling in the US. They were pretty decent I thought, but frankly I haven't really shopped around at all, I just used them based on a recommendation.

What difference does the colour profile make? I can't remember which setting I opted for in lightroom, I know I futzed around with different ones and couldn't see any difference. I import .nef into Lightroom and then import into an uncompressed JPEG. I can't remember fiddling with DPI settings or colour profiles, beyond my brief experiments, so I assume they are set to the default.

Thanks for the notes on digital negative (what is the point of that format then?)/ Any advice on how to export things better?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on July 17, 2011, 12:45:38 PM
I'm not in the UK, but the US, so Alas. 

Color profile makes a huge difference because if they're mismatched what you see on screen won't be what's printed.   I've got a book with a nice chart that shows the differences, but here's a web page that shows how off you can be with a single color.

http://www.drycreekphoto.com/Learn/color_management.htm

If you take a look at the color spaces tab of that same site, they do an overlay that shows the difference between Adobe RGB and sRGB.  So, say your printer can only do sRGB and you're sending them ARGB jpgs.   There's going to be a large difference in color, particularly on the green & blue end of things.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 17, 2011, 11:38:33 PM
DNG is an open RAW format, as opposed to the manufacturer-specific RAW formats that are proprietary and closed. It's an attempt by Adobe to create a kind of universal standard for RAW files. RAW conversion is a huge subject, about which many books (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Raw-Conversion-Art-Quality-Converters/dp/1593270674/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310971207&sr=8-1) are written, this (http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/RAW-file-format.htm) is a good tutorial covering the basics.

Colour profile is very important, just as Merusk says. Of course you should have a calibrated monitor to make the most of it, and any pro lab will specify that too. If you don't have a calibrated monitor and/or you don't use the correct colour profile then you cannot tell what the colours you see on your monitor will look like when printed.

It's the difference between a pro lab and a consumer lab though - if all you want is snapshots then you can forget about most of that complicated stuff and just play it by ear. Get a few prints done, compare them to how they look on your monitor and tweak your files accordingly. If you want accurate and reproducible colour in your prints (which applies just as much to black & white prints too of course, they're printed on colour printers!) then you need to understand colour management I'm afraid.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on July 18, 2011, 06:19:13 AM
Thanks for the comments, I'm happy to learn, it's just knowing where to start that is (as ever) tricky. I'll read up on the links you guys have offered and do some trial runs I guess, and see how that goes.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on July 24, 2011, 08:35:28 PM
After reviewing some pics I took at the company picnic today, I just wanted to say that it's irritating that the more you learn the more you see flaws in the low-end equipment you start yourself off with.   While I'm not dissatisfied with this pic, I know it could have turned out so much better with a better piece of glass.


Mainly the fine detail feathers on the head. They're very blurry and there's some aberration going on at the green/white border.  It makes me sigh in a melancholy fashion to know it could be a lot better w/ a better body & lens.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 24, 2011, 10:15:20 PM
After reviewing some pics I took at the company picnic today, I just wanted to say that it's irritating that the more you learn the more you see flaws in the low-end equipment you start yourself off with.   While I'm not dissatisfied with this pic, I know it could have turned out so much better with a better piece of glass.


Mainly the fine detail feathers on the head. They're very blurry and there's some aberration going on at the green/white border.  It makes me sigh in a melancholy fashion to know it could be a lot better w/ a better body & lens.



Still a nice shot, but I know what you mean. The EXIF says D60/70-300, is that right? Cos that's not exactly a cheapo point'n'shoot is it? But the diff between that and a £5k setup is clear, yeah. I still have my D80 and use it sometimes because I have a couple of DX lenses that I don't have FX equivalents for (the fisheye mainly). Hate using it, it feels horrible now. It's like getting back in a Ford Focus after driving a Ferrari - nothing wrong with the Focus, but....  :drill:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on July 25, 2011, 05:03:41 AM
Thanks. I agree it's a nice shot but I *know* it could have been so much better with just a little more money in equipment.  The EXIF is correct, and the D60 is a nice camera body to have started with but I can already feel its limitations.  I've only been shooting with it two years and I'm itching to get up to a 7000 ASAP.

I don't want to upgrade to an FX sensor because of the really huge price jump, and I'm not a pro.  The 7k has a lot of features I'd love to have (and some sites even recommend it over the 300.)

Plus, I've noticed recently that the 70-300 VR Nikon lens just isn't as sharp as I'd like.  It's probably great for the price I paid ($500) but since playing with some other lenses my sister has (and the new 55mm I just got.) I can really see the lack of fine detail with it on certain things.   It's still great for buildings and other large-shaped objects, but feathers, fur and hair it falls down.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on August 13, 2011, 06:20:43 AM
I ordered a calibration print from photobox.co.uk, and having received it, I am a bit bothered by the fact that it doesn't seem to bear perfect relation to the digital version:


Specifically, while on my screen I can resolve pretty much every coloured box, on the print, the blues and greens seem to be over-saturated, or under contrasted (I can't tell which) and the seven brightest boxes in the bar all run together. The test photos look over-saturated to my eyes, and too contrasty. I have attached a photo (sorry for poor quality) of the test card below.


Would you say this is unsatisfactory?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on August 13, 2011, 08:23:08 AM
It's kind of a backwards way of calibrating to adjust the monitor to match a print they provide you tbh. The problem is that monitor gamut is always going to be larger than the print gamut, i.e. the monitor can display a wider range of colours than any print can.

What are you using to edit your images? If you're using Photoshop then make sure you correctly convert your images to the correct printer profile (which photobox should supply) and check the images for out-of-gamut warnings before sending them to print. Correct colour management starts with setting your black & white points such that your image is restricted to the range of brightness that your final intended medium can display - and those will be different for web, screen, print, etc.

What you're seeing on that calibration image is the limitations of printing - it's just not possible to print all the colours that monitors can display, and never will be, unless we develop prints that emit their own light!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on August 13, 2011, 11:21:54 AM
I'm using Lightroom; you'll have to pardon my ignorance, but I don't know what you mean by gamut, could you explain please?

Thanks for the comments though, they are helpful and reassuring!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on August 13, 2011, 11:11:29 PM
Gamut just means the range of colours that a given device or medium can display.

For instance:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/CIExy1931_srgb_gamut.png)

The grey shape is the entire range of possible colours, the coloured triangle represents the gamut of the device in question (in that case a CRT monitor). It means that the monitor is physically incapable of showing colours outside of that triangle. Because monitors are light emitting they can show a much wider range of colours (i.e. have a larger gamut) than prints, since prints rely on reflected light - the inks only reflect certain wavelengths and absorb the rest.

I've not used Lightroom so I can't give you specific help I'm afraid, but there should be a setting or button somewhere (might look like a little yellow triangle with an ! in it) to show out-of-gamut parts of your image. The colour profile you assign to the image will tell Lightroom what the gamut is, which is why you need a printer profile from photobox.

Pain in the bum innit.  :grin:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on August 14, 2011, 04:28:05 AM
Ah, that makes sense; Lightroom does have a way to show all the unresolved white and black pixels, and I guess so for other colours too (I have only used the light/dark ones though). Thanks for the explanation, I will go ahead and get some prints done and see how they turn out.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on August 14, 2011, 09:06:53 AM
Something to remember about Lightroom vs Photoshop is LR is just a virtual Darkroom.  You're handling digital negatives and working towards prints, so there's only so much you can do.  I prefer it for the way I want to take photos, but if you want something that does more post work you might want to at least try the PS Elements trial.

Because of this approach LR only manages colors on export.  I don't think you can change the profile as it's being displayed within Lightroom itself, where it uses PhotoPro RGB to show you what's happening(A very wide gamut) Link (http://help.adobe.com/en_US/Lightroom/3.0/Using/WS268F3399-80B2-4169-A598-04C7F769FFA0.html)  If you can change it, then I haven't found any place to do so or help to tell you how to do so.*

Lightroom help says that you can install custom color profiles to : WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\color folder (Windows XP) and when you restart LR it will see them.

Photobox provides .icc profiles at these links:
Matte Profile (http://photobox-en.custhelp.com/ci/fattach/get/46393/1165844865)
Glossy Profile (http://photobox-en.custhelp.com/ci/fattach/get/46394/1165844866)

You can find these by searching in their site help for calibration.  However, their help seems to imply that they'd prefer you just send them digital pics with sRGB which they'll then strip out.  Since they're a consumer site they might do additional management on their end.. but given the print they sent you, probably not.  

What color profile were you using when you exported to .jpg in Lightroom?  Also; what color profile is your camera set to capture with?

* Because it displays only in ppRGB, I don't think LR will show you out of gamut colors. The only histogram options show you where there's blow-out or too much black (underexposure?) and which color value they occur in (In the Development Module, not Library).   Here's the Histogram from the Development Module of the following (unedited - exported as AdobeRGB) pic where the bird's blue feathers are underexposed and the yellow of its beak is almost blown-out.  Note the blue and yellow triangles.

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/704172/F13%20Photos/Lightroom%20Histogram.jpg)
Here's a link for a vid about managing colors in Lightoom.  I haven't watched it yet so I don't know how useful it is. http://lightroomkillertips.com/2008/video-lightroom-photoshop-and-color-spaces/

Ed : Oh hey.. from that same site, soft-proofing in Lightroom: http://lightroomkillertips.com/2008/video-lightroom-photoshop-and-color-spaces/

Oh.. I also found out today that Firefox lies when it displays colors. You have to turn-on color management within Firefox via a hidden setting.  Link (http://www.flickr.com/groups/adobe_lightroom/discuss/72157608202947678/)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Count Nerfedalot on August 15, 2011, 03:02:46 PM
Interesting about Firefox, but that info was years old.  I don't know how version 4 handled it, but version 5 has Color Management turned ON by default.  The linked article's instructions for checking/changing the values through the about:config page still work if you want to check for yourself.  Just type "about:config" without the quotes in the address bar and be VERY careful what you change!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on October 11, 2011, 04:58:08 AM
Adobe previews their deblur tool (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxjiQoTp864&feature=player_embedded)

Pretty impressive.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: tgr on October 11, 2011, 05:00:53 AM
From what I see, that's just a motion blur removal tool, not something that'll fix out of focus pictures.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on October 11, 2011, 05:14:04 AM
Um, that's the point?  :headscratch:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Furiously on November 28, 2011, 05:25:29 PM
So - to start my research, any suggestions for the wife for a good P&S? 


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Strazos on February 09, 2012, 04:25:49 PM
Necro, sorry Trippy.  :grin:

So I finally had a decent trip upcountry which necessitated a camera...at which point I found that the little Olympus POS I have is going to be woefully insufficient for the foreseeable future. I need a big-boy camera.

I've been looking at the Nikon 1 V1 - it's pretty discrete, while still being flexible and robust enough to be worth upgrading to. The one thing I dislike is the need to buy the auxiliary flash module.

Anyone have any particular thoughts on the camera, or more worthwhile alternatives?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on February 10, 2012, 01:33:31 AM
The reviews and discussions I've seen of the Nikon mirrorless offerings (V-1 and J-1) all say that that handling isn't great, they're not very good in low light and there's very little option for manual control.

The Sony Alpha NEX-7 seems to be getting much better reviews, although it's not as beginner-friendly from what I read. I've used an earlier model (NEX-C3 maybe?) for an afternoon and was more impressed than I thought I would be, although it was SLOW! Autofocus & menus were sluggish, but I'd hope that wasn't the case with more recent ones.

Personally I'm very much in two minds about the mirrorless compacts. On the one hand they do offer better image quality than standard compacts, but they're also a lot more expensive to get into since you also have to buy seperate lenses. They also don't offer the kind of control that I would like as a photographer. To my mind the price differential between a mirrorless and a full DSLR isn't enough to justify the loss of everything else that comes with a DSLR. They are significantly smaller though which is no bad thing!



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on February 10, 2012, 04:33:58 AM
I got to play with a V1 while on holiday over Christmas. I'll echo what most of apoc says in that it doesn't offer the same control as a DSLR, that said it does offer a lot more power than a point-and-shoot, and it is remarkably portable compared to a DSLR. Its size is probably its strongest feature in contrast with say a D3100. For a casual photographer I think the picture quality is pretty good, and the settings are versatile without being overwhelming. If I had the money I might get a mirrorless compact for days when I don't want to carry a bulky DSLR around, but I can live without one.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on February 10, 2012, 07:00:58 AM
I'm still trying to figure out what I want for a high-quality low-light-friendly close-shot lens that's good for capturing spontaneous shots on my Nikon. I have a good prime lens with no AF for portraits or posed photos, but the lack of AF means it's just no good for trying to snap an interior action shot or anything else spontaneous.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on February 10, 2012, 09:39:49 AM
I'm still trying to figure out what I want for a high-quality low-light-friendly close-shot lens that's good for capturing spontaneous shots on my Nikon. I have a good prime lens with no AF for portraits or posed photos, but the lack of AF means it's just no good for trying to snap an interior action shot or anything else spontaneous.

I bought this 50mm Nikkor lens. (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/585343-USA/Nikon_2180_AF_S_Nikkor_50mm_f_1_4G.html) when it was on sale last year around June.  It rocks and at 1.4 takes fantastic low-light shots.

Trying to decide on a nice lens to take with me to Disney.  I've got the standard D60 10-55 and my 70-300 but those both have their own issues and I dislike swapping.  Anyone got a recommendation on an 18-~200 they really like and isn't junk?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on February 10, 2012, 09:56:43 AM
50 can be tight indoors. I'd recommend looking at the Nikkor 35 1.8 (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-35mm-AF-S-Digital-Cameras/dp/B001S2PPT0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328897264&sr=8-1) or one of the Sigma Primes (http://www.sigmaphoto.com/shop/wide-angle-prime-lenses).

There's also a new Nikkor 50 1.8 (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-50mm-1-8G-AF-S-NIKKOR/dp/B004Y1AYAC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328897378&sr=8-1) that will AF, I'm guessing you have a D3100?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on February 10, 2012, 10:45:18 AM
I have the 50mm Nikkor, it's a good value-for-money lens imo, I get a lot of use out of it.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on February 10, 2012, 10:50:20 AM
D3100, yup.

(My non-AF is very similar otherwise to the 50mm. It takes great pictures, pretty good in low-light, just for anything unposed, I get too many blurry pictures because someone moves just a little before the snap.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Strazos on February 11, 2012, 03:11:18 AM
Heh, keep in mind I've never bought a camera for myself (usually use someone's castoff) so most of what ya'll are talking about is unintelligible to me.  :oh_i_see:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on February 11, 2012, 03:56:28 AM
Sorry, I do tend to go off on one  :awesome_for_real:

The Nikon V-1 and J-1 are what they call "mirrorless compacts" - they are a new breed of camera that has a large sensor (which is good), interchangable lenses (good for image quality but expensive) and an electronic viewfinder rather than looking through the actual lens like an SLR (which are much bigger cameras). They're a nice middle ground between a small-sensor compact camera and a big, heavy SLR.

My advice would be to go into a camera shop and ask to have a play with a few different cameras in your price range. Take a few photos in the shop - how do the various cameras feel in your hands? Do you find they focus quickly enough for you? Do you like the layout of the main controls? Do you like the size and weight of the camera.

For most people I'd say there's not important differences in image quality between similarly-priced cameras in a given class, so ergonomics and personal preference are more important.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Strazos on February 11, 2012, 04:38:38 AM
I'll have to see, but I don't think there are camera shops in this country. Or at least, if there are, the prices are going to be inflated.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on February 11, 2012, 05:20:57 AM
Well, let's have you explain what you mean by "Big Boy Camera" then.

Do you want something that's pure point and shoot or something you can fiddle with settings on?

Do you want to be purchasing lenses or just work with what the camera comes with?
               If you're ok with buying lenses, do you want to use them with your next camera?

Is size of the camera a concern for you?  - Many people think anything they can't stick in a pocket is "too big."  Meanwhile I carry a camera bag any time I'm out and think it's fine but crosses the line into hassle when I take the tripod.  I've also seen pros with 3-5 cameras hanging off of themselves and a tripod who probably think I'm under-equipped while I think they're crazy.

Do you want the camera to be able to take video in addition to stills?

Lastly: Why were you attracted to the V1 you were looking at?  Probably an amalgam of the above but it never hurts to ask.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Strazos on February 11, 2012, 09:02:39 AM
 - I'm OK with fiddling with settings, but I'm not going to do it every other shot if I can so help it.
 - I'm OK with a few lenses, though I don't think I need to go supernuts here.
     - Again, OK with lenses, but since this will be my first real camera and I'm not super serious about the "art" of it, I don't anticipate buying another for quite some time. At which point, I may not be super crushed if the lenses don't transfer.
 - Size is a concern. SLRs have more a "ROB ME!" factor than "smaller" cameras, which is a concern when you're in a place with high petty crime. I'd be OK with a small camera bag, maybe, though I'd prefer something I can put in a day bag along with some other things and not worry too much about it.
 - Video - Yes.

I was attracted to the V1 on a friend's recommendation, as I wanted something a bit robust without the fanciness and size of a true SLR. I basically just want something that will take good pictures, and that could perhaps grow with me a bit as my camera skills increase. The ability to run around with a small body and maybe 2 lenses is attractive. The festival I posted in the other thread really exposed my need for a real camera - fast AF with quick shutter times and burst capabilities would have been much appreciated, as my current takes close to 2 seconds to actually capture a pic after focus. And clearly I wasn't able to pan with the targets quite as much as I would have liked, or I didn't have the zoom/resolution I needed, or the AF was inadequate/slow.

If it helps, budget is somewhere around ~$1200 I think - it's not like I have much else to burn cash on, so I might as well treat myself to something nice.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on February 11, 2012, 09:49:25 AM
A mirrorless does sound like a good fit for you then.

However, all the reviews I've seen seem to think that the Sony NEX-5n or NEX-7 (which is only just out though, might be hard to get for a few weeks) are better than the Nikon V-1 or J-1 in many ways. However, the Nikons do get praise for very fast autofocus and the mad 60fps burst mode on the V-1 - as long as you have good light!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Furiously on March 06, 2012, 12:59:02 PM
Well... Amazon dropped the price on the Nikon 7100, so I went ahead and ordered one... I'll give some opinions tomorrow.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: schild on April 11, 2012, 03:04:39 PM
Girlfriend wants a Sony NEX-C3 since we're traveling so much this year.

Does this shit ever go on sale? Same price at Amazon, Fry's, and Sony Style.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on April 11, 2012, 03:22:52 PM
Sony? Sale? Hahahaha. They wrote the book on price fixing.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on April 11, 2012, 03:56:46 PM
For anyone who is interested, BootsPhoto (http://www.bootsphoto.com/) are doing 50 free prints when you register, you just have to pay P&P. A nice deal if you just want a bunch of 6x4 prints. [Might be UK-only, not sure]. I got mine, and they came out fine.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on April 11, 2012, 07:20:03 PM
Snapfish also offers 50 free shots when you register and they're linked to Flickr. Did 312 vacation photos for $30 after shipping


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on April 11, 2012, 11:06:29 PM
Girlfriend wants a Sony NEX-C3 since we're traveling so much this year.

Does this shit ever go on sale? Same price at Amazon, Fry's, and Sony Style.

Yeah, in about 2 years time.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on April 26, 2012, 12:00:12 AM
Nikon D800/D7000/V1 batteries recalled due to overheating (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/04/25/nikon_en_el15_battery_recall/):

Quote
Nikon has issued a recall for the EN-EL15 Lithium Ion battery, an accessory for its D800, D800E, and D7000 digital-SLR cameras, and the Nikon 1 V1 advanced camera.

In a service advisory statement present on Nikon’s US (http://www.nikonusa.com/Service-And-Support/Service-Advisories/h0ndzaip/EN-EL15-Battery-Recall-Service-Advisory.html), European (https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/52326) and Australian (http://www.nikon.com.au/en_AU/serviceadvisory_details.page?id=templatedata/en_AU/service_advisory_notices/data/Nikon_EN-EL15_Rechargeable_Li-ion_Battery.xml) websites, the company says the battery “may contain a sub-standard component” which “In extremely rare cases … may cause the battery to overheat and the exterior casing to become deformed.”


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Pennilenko on April 27, 2012, 05:07:05 PM
Oh great and knowledgeable people of these forums. My wife and I are looking for a nice camera in the four to six hundred dollar range and I saw this on newegg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830120506 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830120506)

Is this a nice camera that will be reliable and take good shots of our son, we are both extremely novice camera users?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on April 27, 2012, 05:31:12 PM
Uh yeah it will though are you sure you want something so large? With a smaller camera you are more likely to carry it around with you.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Pennilenko on April 27, 2012, 05:33:13 PM
Uh yeah it will though are you sure you want something so large? With a smaller camera you are more likely to carry it around with you.


Yeah, I don't mind the size. Carrying around something bigger doesn't bother me.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on June 08, 2012, 12:48:41 AM
How to help your house sell with decent photographs!

My other half's job is relocating so we're having to sell our house and move to Manchester. House market in the UK is in a bad state - we're still deep in recession (depression even) and house prices have dropped 20-30% in the last few years after becoming badly over-inflated before the economic crisis. In short, it's a buyers market atm.

So we decided to pull the stops out and try to present our fairly small house in the best way possible. We spent about £1500 doing some decorating and clearing up and dressing the house, got rid of a lot of stuff, de-cluttered it a lot and made it look really nice. And rather than relying on estate agents (realtors is the US translation I think) to photograph it I did the pics.

The aim was to make it look bright, clean and tidy, but also to make it look the way your eyes see it. Cameras have a much lower dynamic range than human eyes and interior photographs tend to exacerbate this problem. Many a time when we're looking at properties for sale we walk in and are surprised by what we see - it doesn't match the photos at all. So, all of the photos are lit by a mixture of ambient and flash - sometimes multiple flashes, either hidden in the frame or out of shot, in order to bring the dynamic range of the scene down. Also I didn't want to use the extreme wide angle lenses that estate agents often use. They may make things look bigger, but they distort and again it's very misleading. These are all shot at 24-35mm on a full-frame sensor. There's no editing other than some straightening, cropping and lens correction, and some minor touch-up and sharpening.

Main bedroom:

Living room:

Kitchen:

Dining room:

Hall:

Bathroom:

Garden:

There were 20 photos in total, showing all the rooms and more angles.

House sold in 3 weeks, for 98% of the asking price. House across the street from us, which is slightly larger and semi-detached, has been on the market since November last year for £10k less than ours.

 :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on June 08, 2012, 01:24:56 AM
That's a really nice house there. If it were in London I'd go and view it.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on June 08, 2012, 02:28:34 AM
Cheers :)

It's actually a fairly normal, ex-council terraced house, we've just done it up quite carefully!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on June 08, 2012, 02:34:08 AM
Presentation is everything.  It helps sell model homes, it will help sell yours, even realtors tell folks this but so few listen.

Awesome idea and great shots.  Thanks for letting us all know the set-up.  I've been thinking about selling and I'll keep them in mind when doing my own shots.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on June 08, 2012, 06:33:33 AM
Nice job on the perspective in a lot of those - makes it almost seem like you are intentionally just shooting the corner of a big room, while I know you really are standing at the far wall - it doesn't look like you are. If that makes any sense.

Love the magnetic knife rack, want it.

Is laundry in the Kitchen a typical British thing?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on June 08, 2012, 10:04:30 AM
Thanks guys, it was actually a lot of fun doing it, I might look into the possibilities of doing it for other people too.

Is laundry in the Kitchen a typical British thing?

Yeah, very common. Often because British houses are so small that there's nowhere else to put it! Also because of only needing one drain for both kitchen sink and washing machine outflow.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on June 08, 2012, 10:59:18 AM
Brilliant job Apoc! Now we need a derail on how small British houses are.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on June 08, 2012, 03:32:06 PM
Can we throw in a derail about the London housing market without nuking the thread to Politics?  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on June 18, 2012, 04:53:47 AM
Does anyone have any experience or recommendations for small DLSR tripods? Preferably something that could fit in a small bag. I was looking at gorillapods, but if there's a cheaper option that still works I'd go for that. It needn't be very large or fancy.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on June 18, 2012, 05:09:02 AM
The Gorillapods are actually very good, I can recommend them heartily!

Another good option are beanbags - you get less flexibility of placement than with a small tripod but they're often give a much more stable platform, especially in situations where you want a tripod just for extra stability with long lenses or long exposures. They're less good if you're wanting to use a tripod for a timed release in order to photograph yourself.

The other thing you can do is just remove the ball socket head from a good tripod and attach it to a Manfrotto Super Clamp. You can then clamp your camera to all sorts of things but you only have to carry around a clamp and head instead of the whole tripod.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on June 18, 2012, 05:15:39 AM
Speaking of tripods: I'm torn between a tripod or a better bag as my next investment.  I've got a $20 tripod that's serviceable and a sling bag that's one of the old-school rectangular bags with velcro dividers.  I can't fit the camera and all my lenses in it, so I just carry the camera all the time.  Any recommendations from the crowd?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on June 18, 2012, 10:38:50 AM
Nnnggggh, if I had to choose between a good tripod or a good camera bag I think I'd have an aneurysm!

For tripods my personal choice has always been Manfrottos. They're heavy and expensive but solid as fuck. I currently have an 055, which is a decent carry-around tripod, but I am planning on getting a 475B soon, which is much heavier and has a braced central column and is therefore a *lot* more stable.

I also much prefer pan & tilt heads to ball sockets. Again, they're bulkier and heavier, and fucking awkward to fit into bags, but I much prefer them in use.

For camera bags there's enormous choice. I love Billingham shoulder bags, but to carry gear any distance it has to be a backpack one, and Kata and Lowepro are the best I've used. I would definitely say you're better off with 2 smaller bags than one huge one though.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on June 18, 2012, 10:41:54 AM
I'd go with tripod; save up and get a carbon fibre. Then bring it with you everywhere.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Count Nerfedalot on June 18, 2012, 09:18:45 PM
I'd try to figure out if I was missing out on more or better pictures due to inadequate tripod or my bag not enabling me to have what I needed with me when I needed it.  I'm gonna guess that if the bag is sufficiently lacking then you are either missing gear you could have had with you or didn't bring the camera at all because of it, so getting a bag that better meets your needs will help you get more and better pictures.  But if you take lots of long exposure or zoomed pictures that just aren't quite good enough due to a shaky tripod (or not having the tripod at all because it was too much hassle to bring it) then maybe a better tripod will help you more.

If neither of the above is true, what do you need a new one of either for?  Get another filter or memory card or something instead!  :drill:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on June 19, 2012, 04:55:28 AM
Hm.. given that list of items, the Tripod would probably serve me better.   I've definitely had enough telephotos that had a slight blur to them because of pulse movement.  I just dislike carrying the tripod I've got around because the family gives me a hard time when I set it up.  Perhaps a monopod or mini tripod instead.

The bag is bulky and the strap is pleather that feels like it's stretching and going to give out in the next two years, so I'd thought about replacing it.  It's certainly serviceable for the time being.

So really, I don't *need* either.  I could pick-up some filters or a card but those are cheap/ disposable enough they can be done without major budgeting.  I'm going for the next "investment" in equipment.


On another topic:  Anyone else use Flickr and is extremely disappointed with the "Your Stats" function?  The only list of referrers it gives are "Search engines" "Flickr" "Other Sites" and "Unknown" (wtf?) with no details on what brought any of them there.  I fail to see the point in tagging or continuing to use Flickr if I don't know which tags are getting me eyeballs.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on June 28, 2012, 01:06:40 PM
http://imgur.com/a/a4nGV#0

If anyone can help me replicate this effect I'd be really grateful, I think it looks really cool. From the reddit thread, the author says:

Quote
I photographed a silhouette that still had some detail on the model and wasn't pure black. Using curves or exposure in photoshop, bring up the exposure so that the entirety of the back is 255 (the values in the silhouette are entirely up to you). You then overlay an image onto the silhouette and change the blend mode to lighten (because everything around the silhouette is at 255 on all channels, it won't be affected by the overlay).

I am an abject novice with Photoshop, I don't even have it in fact, all I have is Gimp. If I have some photos shot against a white background, and a second image I want to overlay on the silhouette, can I do this in Gimp?

Cheers.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on June 28, 2012, 02:14:39 PM
FYI - as of version CE6 Photoshop has a $19.99 per month payment plan if you do a year, $29.95 if you go month-to-month.   I discovered this the other day and would be more tempted if we didn't have it at work.

K9 - check this out from Colossal.  From my quick review it looks like Relander gives tips on his blog for how he did each piece.
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/06/superb-multiple-exposure-portraits-by-christoffer-relander/


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on June 29, 2012, 06:31:35 AM
K9 - I'm curious as to the image, based on the described technique, however imgur is being a bitch like usual.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on June 29, 2012, 06:50:04 AM
I would be very surprised if you *couldn't* do that in Gimp, and probably using almost the exact method described in that paragraph.

Basically you want 3 layers. The bottom layer is your silhouette, then either a Curves or Levels layer on top of that, adjusted to make the white around the silhouette totally white. Then on top of that the image that will fill the black part of the silhouette, with the blend mode for that layer changed from "normal" to "lighten".

I would hope that Gimp is able to do all of those things very easily.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: murdoc on July 23, 2012, 07:11:00 AM
So, I've finally taken the first steps into actual photography and purchased a Canon Rebel T3i which I will sit down and attempt to learn.

Any tips for someone that hasn't used anything other than a point and shoot? I have actually signed up for a DSLR photography course, which I hope will be a good introduction to it all. I'm a novice at photoshop as well, but at least have been using it a little with my tablet.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on July 23, 2012, 09:35:05 AM
Read the manual. Tons and tons and TONS of good stuff in there.  If your Rebel came with a DVD like my D60 did (but not the D7000) watch it.  Don't care that most of it won't make sense at first, you're a total novice.

It took me a week of reading books, websites and the manual before 'aperture' really snapped in to place mentally as to what it did and how it affects things.  i.e. "Why wouldn't I always want a wide-open one to let lots of light in?!"

If you pick-up any books I really liked Scott Kelby's books though they were a little expensive.  They were well laid-out and spoke to me as a beginner - check them out at a bookstore before buying.

There's also another one I really like but can't recall the name of. I'll look at it when I get home.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on July 23, 2012, 10:19:22 AM
I think you should take photos and read the manual at the same time. Damn things are obtuse. Also try using manual/shutter-priority/aperture-priority/preset modes as much as possible. I think on a Canon they are Av/Sv/something like that. Shoot as much as possible and be willing to fail repeatedly.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on July 23, 2012, 10:25:28 AM
True.. I didn't mention taking pictures, did I.  Yes, lots.  Of everything.  Be annoying. When people complain.. take pictures of them doing so.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 23, 2012, 10:48:39 AM
Yup, take lots of pictures. Look at them. Decide which ones you like and try to think what would make you like them more. Try to do that.

Also, I'm a great believer in the value of looking at other people's photographs too. Old and new - look at what other people do, are doing, have done. Try and imitate/take inspiration from stuff you like. Try reverse engineering awesome photos - ask yourself how the fuck did they do that?!

Most importantly though, have fun taking pictures :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on July 23, 2012, 01:02:56 PM
What Apoc and the others said. Start out taking the pictures you want to take, not the pictures you think you should be taking, and take lots of them.

I'd toss in a recommendation for Lightroom too in due course, partly as a means to organise all your photos, and partly as a means to continue learning about what you're doing wrong.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on July 23, 2012, 03:54:24 PM
Yeah it's really affordable and powerful once you learn to use it.   Don't fall for the Picasa trap as Google says "anything you tag with our software is ours to use as we want."   If you're going for something free there's other options.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: murdoc on July 24, 2012, 07:39:57 AM
Thanks guys, basically my start to this is RTFM, when I finish that I will RTFM again, but with the camera. I've been taking a TON of pictures already - everytime I change a setting I take a new picture of the same subject to see what it does differently.

Already loving this camera - I can see how this hobby could become expensive REALLY fast.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on July 24, 2012, 07:48:11 AM
Taking a course is great, as they should properly teach you the basics of manual settings. Force yourself to always use the manual settings, and stop and think about what effect each setting is going to have when you are taking a picture. As soon as you wander off to another location, stop and think through it all again - make it habitual.

Nothing worse than not realizing you had left the ISO cranked from the night before, after taking two dozen shots.

Oh, and if it hasn't been mentioned yet - shoot in RAW only, especially if you are learning PS, and make sure you have the Canon RAW plugins installed in your PS.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Ookii on July 24, 2012, 10:22:16 AM
I would just go here:

http://kelbytraining.com/

25 bucks a month, invaluable information.

Bought a used D700 yesterday with 5600 actuations for 1700 dollars, and I think I'm going to buy a used x1600 white lightning and softbox tonight for 350, also used. At this point I've also spent about two thousand dollars on models.

I would suggest getting into nature photography - you don't need flashes or models, so it's a lot cheaper.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Nerf on October 31, 2012, 12:51:39 AM
Anyone have some thoughts on the D5100?  Cameta has a "factory demo" (popular opinion is either refurb or 'new' but used to bypass MAP, lots of people reporting <50 actuations)  for $440 with an 18-55.
http://www.cameta.com/Nikon-D5100-Digital-SLR-Camera-18-55mm-G-VR-DX-AF-S-Zoom-Lens-Factory-Demo-62311.cfm

It's the best price I've seen yet, but I've read some complaints about a lot of the manual settings being buried inside the GUI, and that while it will take pictures damned close to the D7000, it's a lot more annoying to do so.
With black friday just weeks away, should I try to hold out for something a bit more user-friendly, or just spend the money on guns?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on November 01, 2012, 02:13:42 AM
The DPReview reviews of both camera (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond5100/) and lens (http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/nikon_18-55_3p5-5p6_vr_n15/4) are good places to start, if you've not already looked at them.

A quick skim makes me think that it's a decent camera but, as you say, less than ideal menu/function design, and that the lens is pretty good optically but clearly a cheap kit lens in terms of construction.

$440 is pretty cheap though, and I am opposed to anyone buying any guns ever for any reason!  :grin:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on November 01, 2012, 07:00:33 AM
I remember looking at the 5100 instead of the 7000 and it didn't seem like enough of an upgrade to the 3100 to justify the cost to me when paying retail, but I wanted more features than the 5100 offered. (Higher ISO, Dual memory cards, many more focus points, more buttons to make adjustments instead of software menus.) If you're happy with the features then I'd compare it to other cameras in the same price as you'd pay for that camera, which means the 3xxx series.  That appears to be the 3200 right now.

The 3200 has as many focus points as the 5100 and a better sensor and higher MP count.  The 5100 has bracketing while the 3200 doesn't and the 5100 has .3, .5, .7, 1 and 2 EV beyond the max 6400 ISO that both share, while the 3200 only gets to 1 EV above.

The 3200 is on Amazon for 590 right now so, you'd be paying ~$150 less for what's a better-featured camera with a lower MP count.  MP isn't everything, particularly if you're keeping them digital, so seems like a good deal to me.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Mosesandstick on November 04, 2012, 09:22:37 AM
Not much to say about the 5100 other than that it's replacement is coming soon (the 5200). You may want to think about waiting so that you can either look at the 5200 or see whether the 5100 drops in price.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on November 05, 2012, 11:44:46 PM
D5200 announced (http://www.petapixel.com/2012/11/05/nikon-d5200-announced-a-d7000-soul-in-an-entry-level-body/).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on November 06, 2012, 05:28:06 AM
Interesting, I thought we'd see the D7100 first.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on November 06, 2012, 05:33:37 AM
Wow, I hate the body on that thing.  Not a fan of the control scheme, either.  I get where they're going with it but there's no way I'd enjoy using it and I don't consider myself at even the amateur photographer level.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on November 15, 2012, 07:08:48 PM
Really wish I had gotten around to upgrading my old 2GB sdcard and replacing it with an 8GB years ago.  While out in a gorgeous spot (Brookshire Gardens), I ended up filling the card fairly quickly and while trying to do a bi of clearing out space, ended up accidently deleting a few pictures I wish I could get back.  Lesson learned - 2GB was and is typically enough space, but a fifteen dollar upgrade could have saved me a bit of grief.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: murdoc on January 29, 2013, 06:40:16 AM
So I'm going to bump this up as I had my original Canon that was stolen replaced with a T4i and a 18-55mm lens.

I've been look at getting an upgraded lens and an external flash as a belated birthday gift to myself and cannot decide on whether or not to replace the 18-55mm kit lens with something a little more substantial such as the 25-105mm that can be found for a reasonable price used, or split up the range and get a 70-200mm zoom lens and match it with a 24-70mm, which would mean I wouldn't get the flash at this time.

I am heavily leaning towards the more general purpose lens and flash as right now there's nothing I specifically am taking pictures of and am not going on any trips etc. The nice thing is that Canon opened up their Experience Center in the building I work in so that I can take my camera down there and try out any lenses I want without being pressured into a sale (they don't actually sell anything there). I was extremely impressed with the 24-105mm and the f/4 throughout the range. Focus was silent and fast and took really nice, sharp images.

The zoom comes in an IS and non-IS version, with a rather large difference in price - but with my shaky hands I think that I would be much better served with the IS version if I went that route.

I picked up Adobe Lightroom and it's awesome for someone with partial color blindness to correct photos. Even with my very brief time with it, I've been managing to fix a lot of my early photos.

Thoughts? Opinions? Anyone have any Canon lenses they want to sell for a decent price? :)



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on January 29, 2013, 06:52:52 AM
Personally, I use my mid range lens far more than any other. I really like my 70-200L, but I really only pull it out for specific situations.

I have several lenses but the ones that get the most use are my 28-105 and my 1.8 50 prime (for portraits).

Also, a decent flash is pretty much required if you ever shoot inside without a tripod.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on January 29, 2013, 09:26:04 AM
What bunk said.  I've got the 18-200 that came with my Nikon and use that almost exclusively.  The 70-300 is only useful for very specific situations and the 1.2 55mm is for portraits and interior people shots. 

Other than that I, as an amateur, can't see a reason to pick up another lens unless I were to get an upgrade to one of those 3, moving in to the more expensive glass & manufacturing.

Seems the last major purchases I moved on to were a better bag system, tripod and flash.  The next wants are perhaps a meter or additional flash and stand to do scenes & lighting tricks.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: murdoc on January 29, 2013, 09:29:09 AM
I was really leaning towards the 24-105mm lens and flash combo. Seems like it'll cover most things I would use the camera for and will be a lens I can just keep on it. I had also grabbed the 40mm pancake lens as the price was right and it had some really nice reviews.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on January 29, 2013, 10:12:40 AM
I'm pretty much the same as Bunk & Merusk. My 24-70 gets the most use, 70-200 next, 85mm f1.2 or the 105mm macro next, but those are special purpose lenses. I am finding I want to use the 85mm more though.. it sounds odd but I find something liberating about a fixed focal length. I have to think about my framing and positioning more carefully instead of just zooming to frame.

And a decent flashgun is an awesome tool, especially if you start working with it off-camera.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on January 29, 2013, 11:21:19 AM
A friend recently was given a pile of old camera equipment his uncle had bought in the late 80's, and I ended up buying this honking old Metz flash from him. Completely manually controlled, comes with a huge bracket to mount it to the side of the camera - and looks to put out about twice the light my canon 480 does.

Merusk - if you are considering extra lights and have the room for a full strobe: http://www.paulcbuff.com/alienbees.php (http://www.paulcbuff.com/alienbees.php)
 - many of them are cheaper than standard flash units.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on January 29, 2013, 11:58:47 AM
If I was going to recommend a prime as a first or second, I would recommend a 35mm over a 50mm or 85mm, simply because it's easier to use and has more general applications. Other people might disagree, but I think the combo of a short prime, and a longer zoom is the best basis.

I wish I had money for a 24-70mm lens though, that would be sweet.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: murdoc on January 29, 2013, 12:03:22 PM
I looked at a 24-70 long enough to see the price and move on.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on January 29, 2013, 12:11:43 PM
I don't really know anything about Canon lenses, but they do a 55-250mm f4-5.6 and a 35mm f2 which both seem like reasonable starter lenses. Perhaps someone with more Canon experience could comment?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on January 29, 2013, 12:35:56 PM
Merusk - if you are considering extra lights and have the room for a full strobe: http://www.paulcbuff.com/alienbees.php (http://www.paulcbuff.com/alienbees.php)

Those are the lights I use for pro work :)  Got a couple of Einsteins that I mix in with hotshoe strobes. Good lights, and a very cheap way to get started with proper flashes.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on January 29, 2013, 02:06:23 PM
I use a 50 1.8f prime on my Nikon and like it quite a bit; 70-300 is what I mostly use if I'm street shooting or nature shooting, though I also have some cheap macro filters for it that I diddle around with now and again. I may shift towards using the 70-300 at 70 for portraits a bit more too. 35 is short for portraiture but it's good for a lot of other things--landscapes and interiors, for example. 

Mulling over getting a wide angle of some kind before travelling this summer. They're all expensive, I might settle for a Sigma Tamron lens if I do rather than the more expensive and undoubtedly better Nikon lenses. (If I went Nikon, it would probably be for the 10-24 but the $800-ish price tag is pretty hard to swing.)

Been moving into strobist territory with two YongNuo speedlights, might get a strobe flash too. I was looking at the entry level AlienBee rather than the Einstein, but they both look good. My d3100 annoyingly can't be a wireless master for flashes on its own, I have to use a trigger that sits on the camera's hot shoe. Got some backdrops and umbrellas for Christmas, have taken over a section of the basement.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on January 29, 2013, 02:21:08 PM
Tameron is rated better than Nikon on a variety of their lenses, depending on what lens and what you're concerned about.   My 70-300 Nikon VR, for example, gets a lot of bad marks for Color fringing and not being as sharp as the Tameron in the same class.

I used to have a site bookmarked that did all these really great comparisons re: fringing, bokeh, sharpness and focus creep but I don't have it anymore.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: murdoc on January 29, 2013, 03:04:01 PM
I used to have a site bookmarked that did all these really great comparisons re: fringing, bokeh, sharpness and focus creep but I don't have it anymore.

This one, perchance? http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Comparison-Tools.aspx



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on January 29, 2013, 03:39:12 PM
Nope, the one I had contained actual reviews for the Nikon stuff.  That site just has a bunch of placeholders with referral links to troll for sales on all the Nikon zoom lenses.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on January 29, 2013, 03:46:46 PM
http://www.dpreview.com/ perhaps?

I use a 50 1.8f prime on my Nikon and like it quite a bit; 70-300 is what I mostly use if I'm street shooting or nature shooting, though I also have some cheap macro filters for it that I diddle around with now and again. I may shift towards using the 70-300 at 70 for portraits a bit more too. 35 is short for portraiture but it's good for a lot of other things--landscapes and interiors, for example. 

My 50mm f1.4 is my main day-to-day lens and I love it, but there are definitely an increasing number of situations, particularly indoors, where I cannot back up enough to frame the shot well. A 35mm would be a bit more forgiving there. As far as portraiture goes, you can shoot people with a 35mm fine; it is at the low end, but it's not a ludicrous notion.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on January 29, 2013, 04:19:19 PM
So I'm going to bump this up as I had my original Canon that was stolen replaced with a T4i and a 18-55mm lens.

I've been look at getting an upgraded lens and an external flash as a belated birthday gift to myself and cannot decide on whether or not to replace the 18-55mm kit lens with something a little more substantial such as the 25-105mm that can be found for a reasonable price used, or split up the range and get a 70-200mm zoom lens and match it with a 24-70mm, which would mean I wouldn't get the flash at this time.

I am heavily leaning towards the more general purpose lens and flash as right now there's nothing I specifically am taking pictures of and am not going on any trips etc. The nice thing is that Canon opened up their Experience Center in the building I work in so that I can take my camera down there and try out any lenses I want without being pressured into a sale (they don't actually sell anything there). I was extremely impressed with the 24-105mm and the f/4 throughout the range. Focus was silent and fast and took really nice, sharp images.

The zoom comes in an IS and non-IS version, with a rather large difference in price - but with my shaky hands I think that I would be much better served with the IS version if I went that route.

I picked up Adobe Lightroom and it's awesome for someone with partial color blindness to correct photos. Even with my very brief time with it, I've been managing to fix a lot of my early photos.

Thoughts? Opinions? Anyone have any Canon lenses they want to sell for a decent price? :)
The non-IS 24-70mm is f/2.8 compared to the IS f/4.0, though, so the IS may or may not be needed. However you are paying a lot of that speed (paying for the L lens and the fast speed).

If I had a budget of ~$1500 (the retail price of the 24-70mm f/4L IS USM ) for Canon lenses on a T4i, I think I'd go with the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM (~$1200) and the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II ($300). I grew up shooting with a f/1.4 50mm lens on the classic AE-1 so I like the faster lenses which the f/2.8 with IS would give me for everyday shooting. And then I'd have the (relatively) cheap zoom for when I needed one of those.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Lt.Dan on January 29, 2013, 06:24:29 PM
Hey Murdoc, I was in the same position as you a couple of years back although mine was a new camera rather than a stolen camera.

I've been through your whole thought process and have basically come full circle based on the things I like to photograph.  I started with fast primes (I have a f1.4 50mm and f2.0 20mm) moved to a Sigma 24-70mm f2.8, currently trying out a 70-300mm f4-6.3.  Right now I'm shooting the 50mm on film camera with black and white film.  All nice to try but I think if I'd given more thought to what I shot and what I liked to shoot I would have gone a different path.  I suggest giving yourself 6 months and go and shoot with th 18-55.  See where your interest lie. The 18-55 is still a nice lense and you'll still get good photos from it.  Then take the plunge and find a lens that suits your need.  I'd also suggest doing some shooting and setting your lens to a single focal length (24, 28, 35, or 50 are common lengths) for the day.

I use mine for:
- fast 50mm as a lighter walking lens on a film camera.  I find the field of view of bit narrow on my slr unless I'm doing a lot of shots inside then the extra stops make up for it (no flash needed).  Also a good first lens as it teaches you a lot about framing and sneaker zoom.  You can try out 50mm on the 18-55 although it’ll be 2-3 stops slower so more challenging for inside/night shooting.
- 20mm I've used a bit outside or inside.  It's an odd lens on a cropped slr as it's 35mm equiv but lower magnification - basically everything looks like it's a long way away.  It's best used up close.  You'll get the same experience on the 18-55 which will only be half a stop slower at the wide end.
-  the 24-70mm is a great walk about lens but very conspicuous and heavy (about 1.5 times the weight of the camera).  Get good variety of wide and tele. The 24-105 is about the same weight.  I've used it for day trips taking 300+ photos and never felt constrained because I didn't have "the tight lens".
- the 70-300mm has been a revelation.  I’ve used it for trips to the zoo, portraits, the harbour.  Mainly it’s taught me that I don’t always need a fast lens to take good photos.  A lot of my photos are family trips during the day and I just don’t need a fast lens when I’m shooting f8 – f16.  It’s pretty cheap (maybe $350) so worth the experiment in tele lenses. 


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on January 29, 2013, 11:44:59 PM
I used to have a site bookmarked that did all these really great comparisons re: fringing, bokeh, sharpness and focus creep but I don't have it anymore.

DxO Mark (http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Lenses/Camera-Lens-Database) is very good for that kind of information.

I suggest giving yourself 6 months and go and shoot with th 18-55.  See where your interest lie. The 18-55 is still a nice lense and you'll still get good photos from it.  Then take the plunge and find a lens that suits your need.  I'd also suggest doing some shooting and setting your lens to a single focal length (24, 28, 35, or 50 are common lengths) for the day.

Very good advice :) Plus, if you get used to shooting with a kit lens when you do purchase better glass you'll appreciate it that much more!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on January 30, 2013, 10:22:14 AM
Another thing that was a big change for me was getting a circular polarizer and some neutral density filters for my prime. Lets me shoot slow-shutter on water or get a darker, softer landscape look than I could otherwise in a wider range of light. Gotta walk with a tripod for that too, of course.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: murdoc on January 30, 2013, 12:46:30 PM
I sorta/kinda get the various lenses - but I must admit, the whole filters thing has me a little confused. Other than being told I NEED a filter omg why don't you have a filter!? I don't know much else about them.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on January 30, 2013, 12:52:00 PM
Well the main reason to get a filter is that it's cheap protection for your lens. It's always a good idea to get a UV and/or Skylight filter for basic shooting.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/indepth/photography/buying-guides/uv-filters


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on January 30, 2013, 01:02:47 PM
With respect to filters I think I'd offer a modified version of apocrypha's rule on full frame sensors: if you don't know why you need a filter, you don't need a filter.

That said, my understanding of the general applications of filters are thus. Neutral Density (ND) filters allow you to artificially stop a lens down, which is equivalent to having a smaller aperture. This permits at least two effects. Firstly, you can shoot long-exposures under brighter light, which is how people get those lovely long-exposure shots of moving water, or traffic, or clouds. Secondly, you can shoot with a wider aperture under brighter conditions. If you wanted to get a shallow depth of field in very bright conditions, then you might need to use an ND filter to prevent the shot from being over-exposed, as most cameras have a fastest possible shutter speed of 1/2000-1/4000 of a second, which could still be too slow if you were shooting something very bright at f1.2 or f1.4 without a filter. Circular polarisers I don't really understand; I know they help reduce glare, so if you are photographing shiny objects, particularly surfaces like glass or water, they can cut down on reflections. If you want to take one of those photos of a lake where you can see all the way to the bottom,  think it is more or less mandatory to have a circular polariser. Other applications, and other filters I have even less clue about.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on January 30, 2013, 01:06:47 PM
The only filter you "need" is a UV filter, and really that's just about protecting the lens. It's just much easier (and less nerve wracking) to clean the dust off of a $30 filter as opposed to the actual $600 lens.

I've used a circular polarizer and they are really great if you do shoot a lot of water or blue sky nature shots. If not, don't bother.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on January 30, 2013, 02:51:08 PM
They help with street shots of things in windows, too.  I really wished I had mine when I went to Disney as I have a lot of "oh look a reflection" shots of store displays.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on January 30, 2013, 07:09:20 PM
They're good for anything where there's a reflection that might create blown highlights. But also they let you shoot through glass and get pretty good shots of what's on the other side at times. Anything where there's a lot of bright sky in the frame I also find the polarizer gets me a better-looking shot.

Took this from an Amtrak train with the polarizer on, for example:

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8500/8418829266_fce2b7ab59_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/71957441@N05/8418829266/)
the working of the world (http://www.flickr.com/photos/71957441@N05/8418829266/) by swarthmoreburke (http://www.flickr.com/people/71957441@N05/), on Flickr


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: murdoc on January 31, 2013, 09:57:48 AM
I suggest giving yourself 6 months and go and shoot with th 18-55.  See where your interest lie. The 18-55 is still a nice lense and you'll still get good photos from it.  Then take the plunge and find a lens that suits your need.  I'd also suggest doing some shooting and setting your lens to a single focal length (24, 28, 35, or 50 are common lengths) for the day.

This is really good advice - not sure I can wait 6 months as I'm impatient, but I'll definitely take some more time with the 18-55.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Warneld on February 11, 2013, 10:13:25 PM
I suggest giving yourself 6 months and go and shoot with th 18-55.  See where your interest lie. The 18-55 is still a nice lense and you'll still get good photos from it.  Then take the plunge and find a lens that suits your need.  I'd also suggest doing some shooting and setting your led bulb (http://www.niceledlights.com) lens to a single focal length (24, 28, 35, or 50 are common lengths) for the day.

This is really good advice - not sure I can wait 6 months as I'm impatient, but I'll definitely take some more time with the 18-55.



I like your thoughts. I am planning to have a photoshoot in near future and will love to have your guidance.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Draegan on March 18, 2013, 07:31:44 PM
Can anyone help me navigate through the mirrorless camera options out there? I don't want to spend the cash on a DSLR and the mirrorless models have pretty decent specs.  I'm looking to pick up something decent that will allow me to do some post processing with it.  I was bench marking on a NEX5 from Sony, so I've been looking for used ones at around 300-500 or so.

Can anyone give me any hints or link a website thats good for camera comparisons?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on March 19, 2013, 12:08:01 AM
I still find http://www.dpreview.com/ the best overall review site for cameras. It's important to have an idea of what you want from a camera before reading their reviews though, but it sounds like you already do.

I don't know enough about the mirrorless cameras to comment directly.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: tgr on March 19, 2013, 03:13:22 AM
A friend of mine is absolutely loving his canon eos m, and he seems to be producing surprisingly good results with it. He also has an adapter thingy to use his old lenses, although the super teles would look decidedly odd compared to a proper DSLR :why_so_serious:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on March 19, 2013, 06:16:18 AM
I always find snapsort (http://snapsort.com/compare) to be a really great website for raw camera comparisons and simple recommendations. I'd second DPReview for the more in-depth analyses.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Draegan on March 19, 2013, 06:39:15 AM
I always find snapsort (http://snapsort.com/compare) to be a really great website for raw camera comparisons and simple recommendations. I'd second DPReview for the more in-depth analyses.

Oh this site is great thank you.  I had found dprreview from this thread, and it's a great site to get into details, but I needed something better to give me a quick glance at things.

Their #1 mirrorless camera isn't even sold anywhere.  Heh.

Edit:
Anyone know anything about the Nikon V1 or J1


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on April 16, 2013, 07:58:00 AM
Learn how to shoot a Canon using manual settings (http://www.canonoutsideofauto.ca/)

This is a really nice website that shows what the different settings do. I'd love to see an expanded version of this that teaches how things like flash compensation and exposure compensation, and all the other settings work. I don't even have a Canon but it seemed handy.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on April 16, 2013, 08:04:50 PM
Trying to decide what the next step for me is:

1) wide or ultra-wide angle lens
2) genuine macro lens
3) specialized portrait lens (my 70-300 can shoot them ok, but can't go more open than 4.5, which leaves me with the 50mm prime lens, which also isn't totally ideal).
4) better Nikon camera body than a Nikon d3100.

Problem on 1-3 is that I've been shooting all three kinds of shots and I'm interested in all three (landscape, macros, portraits) and it's not like this is a career for me or anything, just something I like to do. Just have to figure out which of those kinds of shots I'd like to do better.

Better camera body is a more expensive step, probably. I see some shots and I think, "Ok, I can't match that on my best day with my best technique with this camera." On the other hand, it's not that often that I'm at pristine mountain lakes in the Dolomites or whatever. It would be nice not to use the hack techniques I've been using to have wireless control over my speedlight flash, though.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on April 16, 2013, 11:30:00 PM
It would be nice not to use the hack techniques I've been using to have wireless control over my speedlight flash, though.

What flash and how are you triggering it?

PocketWizard have just released a new, really cheap trigger, the PlusX (http://www.pocketwizard.com/products/transmitter_receiver/plusx/). $99 each in the US, which for the gold standard of flash triggers is awesome.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on April 17, 2013, 05:08:33 AM
I made the step-up from my D60 to my D7000 and don't regret anything except for being unable to afford the full-frame FX models instead of the DX models.  (Well that and if I'd waited a year I could have had a D7100, but c'est la vie) I've been buying DX lenses as well so I'm rather stuck in that format now.   

If you're not ready to jump to the D7000 ($1,000 now) or better, I wouldn't make the leap on the body.  Personal opinion, though. The 5100 just didn't seem to have that many additional features compared to the 3100 when I was shopping and didn't seem worth the money.   Tho I forgot the 5200 was out and those specs look solid.  I prefer to have 2SD slots and the focus motor on the camera, though, so I still wouldn't get it despite having more MP.

Lenses, though, carry across forever if you invest in them and are ok marrying to one camera manufacturer.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: murdoc on April 17, 2013, 07:17:56 AM
I picked up a used Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM Zoom Lens (http://www.vistek.ca/store/CameraLenses/221912/canon-ef-24105mm-f40l-usm-zoom-lens.aspx) from a woman who ran a pet photography business. Found it's a great general purpose lens that was a huge step up from the kit lens my camera came with.

I would love a macro lens - I think I would get more use out of it than anything else right now, but my priority is to get an external flash.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on April 17, 2013, 07:51:56 AM
It would be nice not to use the hack techniques I've been using to have wireless control over my speedlight flash, though.

What flash and how are you triggering it?

PocketWizard have just released a new, really cheap trigger, the PlusX (http://www.pocketwizard.com/products/transmitter_receiver/plusx/). $99 each in the US, which for the gold standard of flash triggers is awesome.

Using a YongNuo speedlite--equivalent of the SB-700. Have two wireless triggers, one goes on the 3100 hot shoe. Works well enough but apparently if I wanted to have a second it's quite a mess--one of the off-camera flashes has to be the commander because the camera body can't be, and lots of people say it's really fluky and difficult even if you're using the SBs themselves.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on April 17, 2013, 07:54:35 AM
I picked up a used Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS USM Zoom Lens (http://www.vistek.ca/store/CameraLenses/221912/canon-ef-24105mm-f40l-usm-zoom-lens.aspx) from a woman who ran a pet photography business. Found it's a great general purpose lens that was a huge step up from the kit lens my camera came with.

I would love a macro lens - I think I would get more use out of it than anything else right now, but my priority is to get an external flash.

I'm leaning this way. I think the macro would let me do some more experimental portrait work--extreme close-ups, etc. and to do some of the other studio stuff I'm thinking about, *plus* let me shoot insects etc. Though then comes another headache as there are really three different Micro-Nikkors to consider, and they all tend to be specialized for different things--the cheaper one doesn't do so hot with insects/small things, for example.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on April 17, 2013, 08:38:59 AM
Using a YongNuo speedlite--equivalent of the SB-700. Have two wireless triggers, one goes on the 3100 hot shoe. Works well enough but apparently if I wanted to have a second it's quite a mess--one of the off-camera flashes has to be the commander because the camera body can't be, and lots of people say it's really fluky and difficult even if you're using the SBs themselves.

Ah, I've read very bad things about some of the YN flashes, particularly the 560 and 565. The assorted cheap triggers are terrible too - especially pure infra-red ones. I've used some of them before and ended up giving up in frustration because they were so unreliable.

For a cheap off-camera flash I always recommend the LP-160 (http://mpex.com/lumopro-lp160-manual-flash.html). They're costlier than the YN's but much, much more reliable and are great little flashes. I've got 4 of them and I love them utterly. They've got a standard 1/8" jack and a really sensitive optical slave, which is what I usually trigger them with.

And decent triggers are a total revelation when you start using them. Once you get used to them and learn to check your sync cables carefully and how to maximise radio transmission you get upwards of 95% firing rates at a guess.

But I'm sure I've said all this before in this thread - at the end of the day if off camera flashes don't work properly and fire reliably they're worse than useless most of the time. If I was starting from scratch again now I'd put decent flashes and decent triggers top of my gear list.

Edit: Shit, the LP-160 is out of stock and discontinued. That sucks balls.  :heartbreak:  I don't have a cheap strobe I can recommend right now then, sorry. I'll keep my eyes open and hope LumoPro come up with something new soon.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on April 23, 2013, 06:31:51 PM
So far actually my YN is doing beautifully. It can't handle a fast shutter but generally I shouldn't be shooting in a dark studio environment with an off-camera flash that's on a fast shutter, I think. :) But yeah, it's clear that it would not stand up to anything tough or difficult, but in some sense neither will the d3100 camera body, a limitation that you can't really understand in advance of getting good enough to see what you'd like to do that the camera body can't do. Buying more camera than you know what to do with before you know what to do with it is a mistake--but then, figuring out how to pay for the next camera and gear is a trick too unless you're really wealthy or it's your only major hobby. It's starting to drift in the latter direction for me, so who knows what comes next...


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on April 24, 2013, 12:32:10 AM
Nice one, glad it's doing OK! From what I gather it's a QC issue YN have so lots of their gear is fine, just the ones that defects aren't picked up before shipping.

Your max sync speed with a flash is determined by the camera, which for the D3100 is 1/200th second.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 08, 2013, 09:43:03 AM
I seem to remember saying I'd post again here when there was an alternative to the LP160 flash.

Well, now there is, the LumoPro LP180 (http://mpex.com/lumopro-lp180-quad-sync-manual-flash.html). Just like the LP160 it's a manual strobe with 4 different ways to sync it. It's $199 and apparently built like a brick shit-house, and comes with a 2 year warranty to back that up. I will most certainly be getting a couple of these the minute any of my SB800s or LP160s finally bite the dust. Given that I've been shooting with my current SB800s for about 5 years now I'm expecting that to happen fairly soon...

There's a David Hobby (Strobist) write-up here (http://strobist.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/lumopro-lp180-speedlight-full-walk-thru.html).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on July 09, 2013, 10:52:11 AM
I'm looking to upgrade my camera body at last, from my dutiful but dated Nikon D40. I'm fairly committed to photography (not as much as apoc, but getting there), and the choice I'm weighing up at the moment is between the D600 and the D7100 (http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D600-vs-Nikon-D7100).

Both of these seem like great cameras that could last me at least the next four years, much like my D40 has lasted me four years so far. Key areas where I am looking for better performance are better autofocus, a more sensitive/less-noisy sensor, and a better burst fire. Other gubbins like better burst fire, auto-exposure bracketing, and video are all a plus, but not priorities.

On the face of it all, the D600 is the better camera, but I'm wondering if it is good enough to justify the extra £400 or so. I have never used a full frame camera, and while I have a rudimentary understanding of why I might want one, I'm not sure if it is worth the jump. So, any opinions would be welcome.

Cheers.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on July 09, 2013, 11:17:08 AM
Unless you have the budget for top quality lenses I would stick with a non-full frame sensor. A full frame sensor is better in low light conditions (larger surface area to collect light) and will make better use of wide angle lenses since the "zoom" factor (aka "crop factor") with non-full frame sensors is not present (good for architecture and landscapes). However the full frame sensor will likely reveal flaws in lens designs (typically seen in the corners), especially in wide angle lenses, that you might not see with a non-full frame sensor. The non-full frame sensor is nice for sports and wildlife photography since you get a built in zoom effect on your lenses.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 09, 2013, 11:36:41 AM
Yep, I agree completely with Trippy.

Full-frame sensors are great if you've got good glass. A huge proportion of my shooting now is restricted to a very narrow range of apertures since I need to eke out every ounce of sharpness from my lenses for the kind of product photography that I earn most of my money from. I have decent FX lenses that cost me upwards of £1000 each and I still try to stick as close to f5.6 as I can, all the time, because that's where I get the least vignetting and the most sharpness.

However, if you're a lighting photographer then larger sensors are the way forward. The larger your individual pixels are on your sensor then the more powerful your flashes etc are in comparison. It's the main reason I haven't moved up to a D800 from my D700 - much higher MP on the same size sensor means much smaller pixels and much weaker flashes as a result.

If I had the money I'd move to a medium format setup, with a Phase One back, but that shit is seriously expensive :/


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 23, 2013, 01:27:54 AM
I know I regularly link to this guy, but this is a great post on how to light 1,300 people in a sports hall:

http://strobist.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/qa-lighting-1300-person-group-shot.html

It's not the kind of thing m/any of us are likely to ever need to do, but it's a very interesting read to see how a pro would approach this. As an indication of the work involved he suggests asking a fee of $15-20k.  :ye_gods:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: K9 on July 26, 2013, 07:06:05 AM
So when are you going to be building one of these for yourself Apoc? (http://petapixel.com/2013/07/25/strobepack-wearable-portrait-studio-and-cutting-edge-fashion-statement/)  :why_so_serious:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 26, 2013, 08:06:29 AM
Haha yeah I saw that  :awesome_for_real:

I haven't got the strength to carry that thing, and tbh I don't think the pics he gets with it are all that interesting in terms of light. Both of those lights are quite close on-axis and it looks like he fires them both at the same power, which gives a really flat, even light, similar to a ring flash - which would be about 100 times cheaper and weigh half a kilo!  :why_so_serious:

Edit: The self-portrait, however, is great:

(http://i.imgur.com/tRzwuRn.jpg)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on July 26, 2013, 09:42:34 AM
Except he's not trying to do anything interesting with the light is he?   I gather the point is to illuminate so he can document moments, not do anything fantastic.  He's taking photos outside, in the dark or in bars where lighting is sub-optimal for even the naked eye, much less a camera.

I thought ring-flashes were for smaller subjects and macro photography.  How many of those shots at his Flicker would you be able to get with a large-aperture lens in a bar with 3-5 FC of illumination and a ring flash? 


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 26, 2013, 02:07:01 PM
I hadn't actually clicked through to his Flickr set, there's some much better ones there than on the PetaPixel article.

A ring flash does give a different light, but it's similar. You can get things the Orbis (http://enlightphotopro.com/gear/the-orbis-ringflash/) very cheaply. His backpack thing has 2 SB600's in, which isn't a huge amount of light, and with the umbrellas or softboxes he uses it's even less light. A ringflash like the Orbis will be more concentrated, but powered by only one flash head, so at a guess I'd say they come out roughly even in terms of power. His diffused strobes will be much softer, but being completely around the lens axis hides a lot of the hardness of a ring. Swings & roundabouts.

That strobe pack thing is fun looking, sure, and it's got him on PetaPixel, and if you'd gone to all the trouble to make it then you'd find a use for it, for sure, but it's not something I have the slightest interest in building myself. The benefits of it over a single flash bounced behind you or off a wall or channeled through a ring seem pretty marginal for a large amount of effort carrying it, not to mention serious problems with doorways, alleys, any tight spaces etc. I bet he smacks people in the head with his softboxes all the time :p

Kudos to him for making the effort, and he's got some cool shots on his stream, but they're more about the place, the people & his general photography skills than they are about the backpack lights.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on July 26, 2013, 07:43:20 PM
Off-camera light is the other big thing I really need to learn how to work with in a more relaxed way. I tend to shoot for images that are slightly underexposed--it's just a look I prefer for many subjects. But there are times where I'd really like to get the soft light of a bounce flash with some fill off a reflector or some other way without too much fuss or set up. I also really need to move back into my little basement studio space and see what I can do in it this winter.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on July 26, 2013, 10:04:27 PM
It's really easy to experiment with. Digital cameras have turned what used to be a highly technical, time-consuming, hit & miss technique into "try it, look at LCD, adjust".  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on July 27, 2013, 07:46:08 PM
I am a 100% chimp.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on November 25, 2013, 10:25:22 PM
So the old lady said she was thinking of getting me a camera for xmas and to jump on anything I wanted that turned up in a black friday deal. I told her I hadn't asked because it would be too expensive for an xmas gift and she told me $300. When I stopped laughing, I told her that would make an excellent donation to the cause and get me into a better camera than I had planned on buying in January.

THAT SAID.

I mostly photograph minis, a quick tour through my blog (linked in my sig) will show what I'm doing with my old 2005 Canon Powershot 4MP p&s. The current pic is a good example of the kind of thing I'm struggling with, lots of depth of color I can't capture. I have issues besides the camera (the light on the shadows), but one thing at a time).

I would also like to get back into nature photography, hiking pics, mountain tops and waterfalls, etc. So a basic lens (the one that comes with hopefully, since I can probably only afford one general purpose) with a slight edge to the studio miniatures stuff (which is very different than lighting and shooting stuff for product pics!).

Looking at the image comparisons on the dpreview, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 mirrorless looks pretty nifty, I'm not old school so losing the optical viewfinder that I ignore anyway isn't a big deal. (Ok I am old school enough that I have spent plenty of time in a dark room from when I was a kid until college...but I forgot everything).  It seems to come with a 12-50mm lens kit. But man, that's a lot of dough :)

I'd be much more comfortable spending what she budgeted, but I'd rather not sacrifice quality since I can get by with the crappy pics I've been taking (though it's getting old fast). What are the chances of a solid Black Friday deal (and where?), say sub-$1k with lens and some accessories? Or should I just wait until the budget is in better shape?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on November 25, 2013, 10:48:37 PM
The Lumix DMC-LX7 supposedly takes nice macro pictures and is ~$300. If you want a DSLR with interchangeable lenses I'm sure there will be deals though Canon and Nixon usually don't allow deep discounts. Amazon has been running some discounts on Canon DSLRs for a few weeks now (http://smile.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=gb1h_tit_c-3_8062_8d124983?ie=UTF8&docId=1001224801&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_s=center-new-3&pf_rd_r=0K9ASQPJ1FHABW6GCW2C&pf_rd_i=20&pf_rd_p=1674868062) and it's possible one or more of those cameras will be offered for even less on Black Friday.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on November 26, 2013, 07:57:48 AM
Ugh, a girl at work has a Canon T2i and Amazon is running a small lens deal for the Canons...and I've been using the Canon p&s for years now and I'm familiar with their layout/menus. Hmm. So maybe the T5i would be a better choice than the Olympus?

I looked at that Lumix, and while it's an improvement over what I have now, it still seems to struggle with detail which is pretty key for my 'studio' work. Though maybe exposing all the flaws isn't the best idea :p


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Lt.Dan on November 26, 2013, 12:55:55 PM
Those minis look awesome.

In terms of photography a dslr is going to give you a real lift in photo quality mainly from better control over white balance and better  ISO performance and control over depth of field.  Even a base model camera will get you this far.  To get a real pop from the photo you'll also end to look at post production which will give you more control over shadows, colour, and sharpness.  In terms of lenses you need a lense you can still focus while filling the frame with the mini and while not obscuring your lighting.  A kit lense could work here but you'll need to experiment. I played around shooting a hair clip on the kitchen counter and 50mm worked ok but I was casting a shadow.  A tripod or stand or even a sandbag

The other thing you might try is building your own light box.  I'm sure there are blogs around giving ideas.

Unfortunately, macro shooting and landscape are pretty much mutually exclusive from a specialist lense point of view. So I'd recommend something like an 18-55.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on November 26, 2013, 02:44:55 PM
Thanks, Dan. I do have a tripod and I've built a light box that services small models pretty well, though I do need to get around to lining it to remove the brown/orange cast (which I've set my white balance to compensate for, but still...). I'm still more or less using this setup:


I have since removed the top light for most things. I fiddle and tweak it every now and again, and I'm hoping a camera upgrade will help improve some of the detail and contrast. Just looking at that comparison tool at dpreview is quite enlightening.

There is also a promo for Lightroom, should I nab a copy? I can crop and resize fine with GIMP, but I suck at tweaking anything more than brightness/contrast or 'auto white balance'.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on November 26, 2013, 03:57:00 PM
There is also a promo for Lightroom, should I nab a copy? I can crop and resize fine with GIMP, but I suck at tweaking anything more than brightness/contrast or 'auto white balance'.

Yes.  Lightroom is amazing for tweaking images and archiving/ cataloging. If you're hesitant, pick up a monthly sub for it and Photoshop from Adobe's site and pay $10 for a month to try it out.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Lt.Dan on November 26, 2013, 11:10:08 PM
Nice lighting setup.  Do you use the flash on the camera or are you soft lighting only?

I have elements and lightroom and I tend to use lightroom a lot more. Elements is handy is you want to do more complex editing but lightroom does almost anything you need to improve photos out of camera.  There are any number of instructional videos on YouTube - I found the bhphoto one really good.  Go go teeth whitening!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Numtini on November 27, 2013, 05:54:41 AM
You can download a 30 day trial of lightroom straight from the Adobe site.

We're far less ambitious, but we were in the same position as you. We previously had point and shoot "bridge camera" (Fuji E900), but we stepped up to a DSLR this year and it's very very well worth it.

As a total newbie purchaser, the camera we got (Pentax K30) was offered with a couple of different kits. We went for the cheapest option 18-55 and my big regret on the purchase was not going for the upgraded 18-135 lens (upgraded quality, not just range). It was amazing out of the box, but when I put a better lens on it (ironically a vintage I got for $69--yay Pentax) it was another night and day step. So as a similar newbie, f you were looking at something like that Olympus, I'd say look at the $500 entry level bodies and then spend the other $500 on a better lens(es).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: murdoc on November 27, 2013, 10:58:32 AM
Lightroom is awesome. Highly recommend it.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on November 27, 2013, 11:14:04 PM
Since I can't really fit the t5i or olympus in the budget (I'd probably go Olympus if money weren't an issue, I like the mirrorless speed and a weathertight body), I think I'm going to sit on a t3i pending any BF deals. Without any further deals I'll get a free 32GB card and cheap case plus $30 off Lightroom ($80 total). Since that knocks $800 off the t5i+telephoto or about $500 off an Olympus+kit lens...it will be a pretty dern good upgrade and I can look at a new frame in a few years.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on November 28, 2013, 04:07:48 PM
Nooope, this just in, Canon refurb T5i with the 50-135 STM kit for $630...


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Lt.Dan on November 29, 2013, 07:31:09 PM
If you want to take landscape photos you'll find 50mm won't be wide enough but otherwise a good deal.  You'll also find that at135mm the lense is probably going to be f6.3 or so.  Probably not a big deal with you setup but you'll want to use longer exposures rather than bumping up ISO.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on November 29, 2013, 08:11:08 PM
My bad, it was a EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM, woops. I also got a refurb EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM for a couple hundred.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on December 02, 2013, 11:06:20 AM
Lightroom 5 is $70 on Amazon right now.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on December 09, 2013, 09:07:41 PM
Hm. Seems the UV filter only fits the 70-300 lens and not the 18-135 kit lens.

Also, damn there is a learning curve to this camera.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on December 09, 2013, 09:55:32 PM
It's usually printed on the lens what size filter (⌀) it accepts.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Lt.Dan on December 10, 2013, 12:25:51 AM
Hm. Seems the UV filter only fits the 70-300 lens and not the 18-135 kit lens.

Also, damn there is a learning curve to this camera.

Try relaxing just one thing at a time.  From memory I moved to aperture priority first to really get my head around f-stops and depth of field. With you lense there will also be an interaction between minimum f stop and focal length - I'd expect rift to be f3.5 or 4 at the wide end and f6.3 or so at the tele end.  In your set up you should also experiment with white balance.  Also rtfm  :awesome_for_real: It only takes 10 minutes and you'll at least know where to find things when they're referenced in articles and vids.

Good training sites are picturecorrect.com and the bhphoto on you tube.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Numtini on December 10, 2013, 05:52:36 AM
Some guy on Reddit did a course on photography and then put it up on a web page (http://www.alexandrebuisse.org/resources/photo-class). It was helpful to me, though as a newb I can't honestly tell you if any of it is tilted by opinion.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on December 10, 2013, 06:56:16 AM
Refurb, I'll have to download the manual and read it on my tv.  :oh_i_see: I did buy the dummies book for the T5i, though and it's pretty good thus far. I also spent some time on the Canon site someone linked here a while ago, to practice with the interplay of iso/aperture/shutter speed so I have a basic grasp of that. I do really need to nail down the white balance, I had the old camera's manual mode manually set to the white balance of my light box but I plan on doing a lot more with this camera in that mode, so I hesitate to do so. I've tried fixing it in both Lightroom and GIMP and results have been kind of meh thus far.

And lest I sound complainy about the learning curve (I am!), the picture quality is luscious...which does highlight my newb settings :)

And I need to dust my house.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on December 10, 2013, 08:59:08 AM
Get a white balance / color checker card, shoot in RAW mode, problem solved.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on December 10, 2013, 10:25:02 AM
Shooting in RAW was the biggest jump in my own photographic learning process. Changes everything.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Lt.Dan on December 10, 2013, 11:39:25 AM
Just to confuse you, most of the time I shoot jpg now.  The main reason is that if I can get everything almost right in camera I can then skip post prod to convert RAW to jpg.  Shooting RAW is raw - the image will need tweaking for contrast, colour, etc.  if I'm just shooting super happy fun shots of the kids or even walk around shooting for web or 4x6 photos jpg is a whole lot easier.  I do recognise that this is a very personal decision and it's one issue that can cause photography forums to implode!

If you thought the camera learning curve was steep, wait till you get to printing!


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on December 10, 2013, 11:48:11 AM
My first try was jpg, but I have it set to RAW now. Would a sheet of white paper work until I can get a card thingy? I've got to stop the wallet bleeding for reals.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on December 10, 2013, 11:58:00 AM
You can try it but the issue with printer paper is that they often have optical brighteners in them which make them look "whiter" which is actually a bluish tint and this will give your images color corrected this way a yellowish tint (to compensate for the extra blue in the white balance).


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on December 10, 2013, 12:27:21 PM
It would be multimedia paper I use for paint swatches, but comment noted. I'll play around with it to see if it's better than the mess I've been getting thus far. This pic (http://cashwiley.com/2013/12/08/asgard-archer-wip-2/) has been run through both Lightroom and GIMP trying to get the white correctly displaying. I did the tungsten (? incandescent) balance in LR, it's a warm CFL desk lamp; then ran it through auto white balance in GIMP. It's in the neighborhood of reality, at least. It's a more or less white table top and the sleeves are warm bone off-white...


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on December 10, 2013, 12:36:52 PM
Is your monitor color calibrated? Those colors don't look like what you described on my calibrated monitor.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 10, 2013, 11:02:01 PM
it's a warm CFL desk lamp

That may cause you some serious problems with white balancing. CFL lights often have very uneven emission spectrums, with odd spikes at unexpected wavelengths. You'd almost certainly get more consistent results with a standard incandescent tungsten bulb, but better yet a cheap camera flash.  :awesome_for_real:

Grey cards for colour balancing are dirt cheap - here's (http://www.ebay.com/itm/3in1-Digital-Grey-Card-White-Black-18-Gray-Color-White-Balance-Wrist-Strap-/131068793652?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e844f1334) a $0.99 one on eBay, would do fine :)  It's the 18% grey one you want, this is called a neutral grey and it's what auto-exposure tries to make everything.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on December 10, 2013, 11:22:16 PM
Gotta be careful with the plastic cards, though, as they may cause reflections if they aren't matte enough :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on December 11, 2013, 07:20:11 AM
Is your monitor color calibrated? Those colors don't look like what you described on my calibrated monitor.

Or anywhere else :)

As far as bulbs, I paint to the CFL. It's a surprisingly good bulb, a warm light (which I prefer) and almost no heat because I prefer to paint with the bulb very close to the model. I don't know the make or model, but I have to find out for when it dies. But for pictures I use a matched pair of Reveal bulbs in reflectors. Camera flash is awful for miniatures photography, it's a pretty specialized set of requirements and there is a lot of bad work being done. Mine with the compact was actually pretty decent, comparatively.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Draegan on December 13, 2013, 11:40:09 AM
Does anyone have an NEX-5N or similar NEX camera along with the 55-210mm lense? Looking at the lense but I'm trying to find people that has it and if it's worth the price.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Furiously on December 13, 2013, 05:41:25 PM
Seems dark Sky.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 13, 2013, 10:26:06 PM
Sky, can't remember if I've asked this before, but do you have any links to any miniature painters who's photos you really like? We can do some reverse-engineering maybe.

Also, I'm totally willing to take on a challenge. If you were to mail me a figure & tell me exactly how you wanted it to look I'd be happy to have a go, iterate it over email or whatever and give you complete details of how I shot it.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on December 15, 2013, 03:17:27 PM
I'm not calling it, it's way too early in the game as I'm still learning basic features of the camera. Just tough to go from decent pics with the old compact to trying to figure out how to even match that after spending $$$. I went back for a re-shoot of a problem mini, and it does show one place the DSLR shines, with a very wide value shot. Before and after:

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3667682/Minis/WIPs/Ororo/Ororo_1.JPG)(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3667682/Minis/WIPs/Ororo/Ororo_1b.JPG)

So that's a start.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on December 15, 2013, 03:37:31 PM
I really feel like you should be taking HDR shots and seeing what that gives you.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on December 15, 2013, 09:17:30 PM
I really feel like you should be taking HDR shots and seeing what that gives you.
That was my intention, but I just went into I think it was CA mode (the one that gives a bit more control than auto) just to see what a more or less p&s shot would look like. Turned out ok so I forgot to take the HDR shot  :grin:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 15, 2013, 11:49:24 PM
Something occurred to me whilst thinking about this earlier.

One of the possible goals of photography is to use light and shadow to create the illusion of depth in a 2-dimensional photograph. The type of highlights and the placement of them makes our brains reconstruct the 3-dimensional object from the flat image. (Total aside here, but the way our brains do this has recently been in the news with the discovery that schizophrenics do it differently (http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/04/schizoillusion/).)

But, that's not what you're after with these shots because you already apply shading & highlighting to the miniatures with your painting skills! So what you want is really soft, even, wrap-around lighting that doesn't create it's own shadows & highlights but instead shows the ones you've applied as clearly as possible. Does that sound right?


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Lt.Dan on December 16, 2013, 01:13:45 AM
I really feel like you should be taking HDR shots and seeing what that gives you.
That was my intention, but I just went into I think it was CA mode (the one that gives a bit more control than auto) just to see what a more or less p&s shot would look like. Turned out ok so I forgot to take the HDR shot  :grin:
HDR is useful for capturing photos where the lighting covers more than about five stops of light.  Not sure it's really needed in a studio setting where you've got complete control over lighting.



Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on December 16, 2013, 06:41:59 AM
Dan, I was thinking HDR just to catch the high values of the eyes and hair and low values of the black cloth.

Apoc, more or less. There are two schools, I prefer to see the mini as painted but most of the better painters and award winners prefer a dramatic lighting. To me, this hides some of the paint and there is a debate on this one. Generally a good painter will hold up to in-hand inspection, but I've heard of a few highly-rated (online) painters who's work doesn't hold up in hand (and they don't enter contests, unsurprisingly). Not straight up photoshopping (though I've heard of at least egregious example) but hiding poor shading and blending with dramatic lighting.

If you look at Marike Reimer's CMoN gallery (http://www.coolminiornot.com/browse/browseid/7542294), she favors light backgrounds. But even her darker shots (http://www.coolminiornot.com/322657?browseid=7542294) have a nice amount of lighting. She's a professional studio painter, so I'm pretty sure she has access to a studio (probably Dark Sword Minis').

If you look through the Top Artists (http://www.coolminiornot.com/topartists) gallery on CMoN you can get a feel for where mini photography is at. That site has a pretty bad culture of personality, but it is a great resource for phenomenally well painted minis.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Furiously on December 16, 2013, 12:07:42 PM
I'd try bracketing your shots. It seems like an additional stop of light or two would be helpful.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Lt.Dan on December 16, 2013, 12:21:49 PM
Dan, I was thinking HDR just to catch the high values of the eyes and hair and low values of the black cloth.

That's what the whites, blacks, shadows, and highlights sliders are for in LR. :grin:  or just underexpose in camera to get the blacks right and use an adjustment brush in LR to get the whites in the eyes.

Maybe try a lighter background too.  The grey you're using at the moment is tonally very similar to the colors on the mini. A lighter background might help the mini pop.  Alternative put more light on the background and expose for the mini using spot metering - that would blow out the background and make the mini stand out.  Works for portraits but don't know what look it might give here.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 16, 2013, 10:37:57 PM
If you look at Marike Reimer's CMoN gallery (http://www.coolminiornot.com/browse/browseid/7542294), she favors light backgrounds. But even her darker shots (http://www.coolminiornot.com/322657?browseid=7542294) have a nice amount of lighting. She's a professional studio painter, so I'm pretty sure she has access to a studio (probably Dark Sword Minis').

If you look through the Top Artists (http://www.coolminiornot.com/topartists) gallery on CMoN you can get a feel for where mini photography is at. That site has a pretty bad culture of personality, but it is a great resource for phenomenally well painted minis.

Yeah I see what you mean. I think Marike's shots show off the painting really well - the lighting is very even, very soft, and isn't creating it's own highlights & shadows to a great extent.

Lots of the photos on the Top Artists gallery have much more dramatic lighting, which creates a more interesting photograph but isn't necessarily as good at showing the painters skills.

I really want to have a go at photographing some of these now :)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on December 17, 2013, 06:24:34 AM
One problem is that the more elaborate the basing becomes the tougher they are to ship. And one of my recent projects (the Twilight Knight) is resin and super-fragile. His sword broke at the hand while I was assembling him, which is not uncommon. They get so fiddly that I bought a flight case with steel shelves and I'm going to magnetize the models so they stick to the shelf rather than try to pack them in foam for the trip.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: satael on January 02, 2014, 03:47:18 AM
Shooting pictures of snowflakes by some russian guy (http://chaoticmind75.blogspot.ru/2013/08/my-technique-for-snowflakes-shooting.html) (I really like how the whole contraption is built from various parts)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Bunk on January 02, 2014, 06:19:59 AM
Ok, that was actually quite cool. I have a hard time just getting the snowflakes to appear in the air in most shots.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on April 27, 2014, 06:39:05 PM
Thread necro!

I think I asked this question for myself about six years ago, now I'm asking on behalf of family since the answer has probably changed in the interim: what would be a good camera purchase for someone looking to move a step or two up from an iPhone camera but not get seriously invested in the hobby?

Back when I last asked this I wound up getting a refurbished Nikon D50 for about $200, which I've been very happy with.  I'm considering something at a similar level as a possible graduation/going-away gift for my sister -- she's not a serious photographer by any means, but she's got a good eye and always likes borrowing my camera when it's in reach, so I feel like having her own "good" camera might be a good present.  Doesn't have to be a DSLR, but if it's not a significant difference in quality from a smartphone camera I don't think there's much point.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Lightstalker on April 28, 2014, 08:59:18 PM
I went to Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/articles/4259691750/camera-roundups-2013-what-to-buy-and-why?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=mainmenu&utm_medium=text&ref=mainmenu) 3 years ago and bought the highest rated travel camera I could find (Canon PowerShot SX230 HS) and have been very happy with it.  That camera was just under $300, freakishly good for that price range, and has held up well all around the world and in the woods.  My wife's Rebel only comes out when fancy lenses are required/desired, and the PowerShot is small enough that it happens to be in your pocket when you see something worth taking a picture of.  It is down to $230 now, but I'd imagine in the last 3 years things have moved on (e.g. the PowerShot SX280 HS is the latest, $200 new, and still winning 'best travel camera' honors).

I'd pick a price range and then start with the silver/gold reviewed cameras on DPReview. 


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on April 29, 2014, 04:19:44 AM
I think a DSLR only benefits a person who is interested in learning how to shoot manual. Otherwise, yeah, go for a high-quality point-and-shoot, of which there are quite a few.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Numtini on April 29, 2014, 04:53:24 AM
I picked up a Fuji XF1 a few months ago for something to stick in my purse and it seems hard to find anything else as good for $200 new. Decent size sensor, F1.8, good to 3200 ISO. Full manual controls if she wants to get creative. Very light and cute as hell if you like retro. Weakness is only 4x zoom and no viewfinder--the latter drives me nuts.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Chimpy on April 29, 2014, 05:21:55 AM
Not having a viewfinder is really the only thing that bothers me about the ELPH I bought a couple years ago before I went on vacation to replace my old ELPH S400 which died several years before. It is almost impossible to see what you are shooting to frame a shot if it is bright out and the sun is behind you with just a screen.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on April 29, 2014, 06:27:40 AM
Yeah the image quality of decent compacts and mirrorless systems (although personally I think the mirrorless cameras are still too expensive) is really good these days. If your budget is limited then a good compact is definitely the way to go, and there's plenty now with manual control options if you want to have a go at that.

Both Canon and Fuji have some amazing small cameras now, IMO way ahead of the rest of the pack.

The "decide your budget, head to dpreview.com" advice is spot on. The compact camera market is being relentlessly squeezed by smartphones these days so there's some great deals to be had. That said, don't knock smartphone cameras. They've also come a long way in recent years and iPhones (4 or later) have amazing cameras. And there's the Lumia 1020 which has an incredible camera, but it's a Windows phone.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on April 29, 2014, 07:28:10 AM
That said, don't knock smartphone cameras. They've also come a long way in recent years and iPhones (4 or later) have amazing cameras.

I've got a 5S and the camera is definitely good "for a phone", and that is how I take most photos just because of the convenience factor, but for a lot of stuff (in particular for shooting in anything less than full sunlight) it's still worth lugging the Nikon around if I want a pretty shot.

Thanks for the tips, all, I will investigate these options further.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: IainC on April 29, 2014, 08:22:15 AM
I just dropped the cash on a shiny new EOS 70D. It'll be a lovely upgrade from my current 350D. It arrives next week and I cannot wait.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on April 29, 2014, 10:42:15 AM
Thread necro!

I think I asked this question for myself about six years ago, now I'm asking on behalf of family since the answer has probably changed in the interim: what would be a good camera purchase for someone looking to move a step or two up from an iPhone camera but not get seriously invested in the hobby?

Back when I last asked this I wound up getting a refurbished Nikon D50 for about $200, which I've been very happy with.  I'm considering something at a similar level as a possible graduation/going-away gift for my sister -- she's not a serious photographer by any means, but she's got a good eye and always likes borrowing my camera when it's in reach, so I feel like having her own "good" camera might be a good present.  Doesn't have to be a DSLR, but if it's not a significant difference in quality from a smartphone camera I don't think there's much point.
What does she like about your D50? E.g. optical viewfinder? Faster operation? Better autofocus? Able to take pictures in lower light situations? Most compact digital cameras still have bigger sensors and better lenses compared to smart phones and will take better pictures so those are still a possibility. Cameras with significantly bigger sensors compared to smartphones like DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are larger and she may not want to carry it around as much.




Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: JWIV on April 30, 2014, 08:59:26 AM
I finally got around to picking up an external flash for my camera - nothing fancy, just a Yongnuo YN-560 II Speedlight, but still a HUGE improvement over the built in camera flash (which I've refused to use for years, so taking indoor shots has always been a frustrating challenge).  Really looking forward to playing with this a bit.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: IainC on April 30, 2014, 10:53:55 AM
I have a Walimex external flash with a diffuser hood. Makes a huge difference for portraits and close-range stuff.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on April 30, 2014, 11:32:16 AM
My Yongnuo is also holding up pretty well despite a lot of predictions from folks that it wouldn't. I bought two cheap wireless communicators too since the d3100 camera body can't communicate wirelessly with flashes. So I can do some good light work w/a moveable external flash if I spend the time on a set-up.

Still toying with getting a good strobe at some point, but I think it doesn't make sense unless I upgrade to a camera body that can be a genuine commander for a multi-flash/strobe set-up. I also think this is just going to take me crossing over into much more deliberate conceptual & portrait work than I do right now, and I might really need to take some classes to fill in my spotty self-trained understanding of what I'm doing. Looking back at my 2013 photos I'm pretty pleased with about 30-40 of them out of thousands but I recognize that I've got a long way to go if I want to move up to the next level. I have noticed that I'm getting so much pickier about what I shoot and when I shoot when I'm going out on a hike or an exploration. I don't even bother taking the camera out if it's mid-day unless there is a really striking view, the weather conditions are unusual or I'm in deep forest or somewhere else that casts shadows even with the sun at its height.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on April 30, 2014, 11:34:37 AM
Back when I last asked this I wound up getting a refurbished Nikon D50 for about $200, which I've been very happy with.  I'm considering something at a similar level as a possible graduation/going-away gift for my sister -- she's not a serious photographer by any means, but she's got a good eye and always likes borrowing my camera when it's in reach, so I feel like having her own "good" camera might be a good present.  Doesn't have to be a DSLR, but if it's not a significant difference in quality from a smartphone camera I don't think there's much point.
What does she like about your D50? E.g. optical viewfinder? Faster operation? Better autofocus? Able to take pictures in lower light situations? Most compact digital cameras still have bigger sensors and better lenses compared to smart phones and will take better pictures so those are still a possibility. Cameras with significantly bigger sensors compared to smartphones like DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are larger and she may not want to carry it around as much.

I think she likes the same things I like about it, which are that it goes "click" in a very satisfying way and takes pictures that come out pretty.   :awesome_for_real:  

She's a smarty so I'm pretty sure if I got her her own DSLR she'd have fun figuring out the manual settings, but there aren't specific requirements there one way or another.  Finding the balance between "takes better enough pictures to be worth carrying an extra thing" and "too big to be worth carrying around" is the key.  I really need to get my hands on one of these modern compacts to see how good the photos are; the last compact camera I used took pictures that are significantly worse than what I can take with my new phone.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on April 30, 2014, 02:27:35 PM
Back when I last asked this I wound up getting a refurbished Nikon D50 for about $200, which I've been very happy with.  I'm considering something at a similar level as a possible graduation/going-away gift for my sister -- she's not a serious photographer by any means, but she's got a good eye and always likes borrowing my camera when it's in reach, so I feel like having her own "good" camera might be a good present.  Doesn't have to be a DSLR, but if it's not a significant difference in quality from a smartphone camera I don't think there's much point.
What does she like about your D50? E.g. optical viewfinder? Faster operation? Better autofocus? Able to take pictures in lower light situations? Most compact digital cameras still have bigger sensors and better lenses compared to smart phones and will take better pictures so those are still a possibility. Cameras with significantly bigger sensors compared to smartphones like DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are larger and she may not want to carry it around as much.
I think she likes the same things I like about it, which are that it goes "click" in a very satisfying way and takes pictures that come out pretty.   :awesome_for_real:  

She's a smarty so I'm pretty sure if I got her her own DSLR she'd have fun figuring out the manual settings, but there aren't specific requirements there one way or another. Finding the balance between "takes better enough pictures to be worth carrying an extra thing" and "too big to be worth carrying around" is the key.  I really need to get my hands on one of these modern compacts to see how good the photos are; the last compact camera I used took pictures that are significantly worse than what I can take with my new phone.
This is a good article comparing sensor sizes among the different camera ranges:

http://www.gizmag.com/camera-sensor-size-guide/26684/

In the compact camera category you can see the typical sizes that are available. I've been a fan of the Canon compact S series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_PowerShot_S) as I own the S40, S70 and S90. They have slightly larger sensors than the typical compact camera and have full manual controls and RAW support but are still "pocketable".

The benchmark right now for compact camera image quality is the Sony RX100 (http://store.sony.com/cyber-shot-digital-camera-rx100-zid27-DSCRX100/B/cat-27-catid-All-Cyber-shot-Cameras) which has a ginormous sensor for a camera that size (there's also a more expensive updated II model (http://store.sony.com/cyber-shot-digital-camera-rx100-ii-zid27-DSCRX100M2/B/cat-27-catid-All-Cyber-shot-Cameras?_t=pfm%3Dcategory)). It's about 25% larger in volume (mostly in the depth dimension), though, compared to, say, an S110 (http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/digital_cameras/powershot_s110) which may make it harder to carry around. It's also quite a bit more expensive.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on April 30, 2014, 04:55:32 PM
Thoughts on this fella? (http://www.dpreview.com/products/canon/compacts/canon_sx50hs)  (Canon SX50 HS)

The price is right, and I like the sound of the mondo optical zoom + manual controls.  Both pretty big differentiators from a smartphone.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on April 30, 2014, 04:58:11 PM
That style of "superzoom" is pretty big -- as in DSLR-sized. Probably better just to give her your camera and get something better for yourself :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Numtini on May 01, 2014, 09:38:40 AM
Thoughts on this fella? (http://www.dpreview.com/products/canon/compacts/canon_sx50hs)  (Canon SX50 HS)

The price is right, and I like the sound of the mondo optical zoom + manual controls.  Both pretty big differentiators from a smartphone.

For the same price, you could get a 3100 and kit lens (or whatever, but I think you shoot Nikon).

You might want to see if she wants portable or sophisticated. Don't know how much of a surprise you want it to be though.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Samwise on May 01, 2014, 02:04:47 PM
I'm thinking portable is better since she's not yet geographically settled.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Abagadro on May 30, 2014, 02:03:22 PM
I'm trying to get a .png of Tom's head (i.e. a transparent background which is the part I am having trouble with) in 64x64 pixels, 32x32 pixels and 24x24 pixels. 

Anybody with some skills want to do me a solid?

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y222/Abagadro/ServoImage_zpse87e59b6.png)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Kail on May 30, 2014, 07:28:06 PM
Is this roughly what you're looking for?

(http://www.kerao.net/external/Temp/servo24.png)
(http://www.kerao.net/external/Temp/servo32.png)
(http://www.kerao.net/external/Temp/servo64.png)

Or do you want the bowl transparent too, because that might be tricky.

edit:
Actually, rigged a quick version of it below:
(http://www.kerao.net/external/Temp/servo24B.png)
(http://www.kerao.net/external/Temp/servo32B.png)
(http://www.kerao.net/external/Temp/servo64B.png)

Not super high quality or anything, though.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Abagadro on May 30, 2014, 09:45:04 PM
That is AWESOME. Thank you thank you.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Hawkbit on November 30, 2016, 04:51:31 PM
I'm going to drag this out of the ground instead of making a new one.

I was a hobby photographer and lab manager in the 90s and got out as the industry shifted away from print. I had a few low and mid-range Nikon bodies and lenses and even have a few of my old lenses (52mm and a tele) in storage. I want to get a new DSLR but don't know where to start.

I'm thinking of the D3300 or D5300 to get me back into it enough before I start dumping 'real' money - any thoughts on those bodies? I'll likely snag a 50mm fast to pair with it along with all the goodies, can't find my tripod and I'll need an extra batt/charger/storage.

Any advice would be appreciated.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on November 30, 2016, 11:08:37 PM
They're both decent entry-level DSLRs, definitely, if getting slightly long in the tooth.

However if you think there's a fair chance that you'd want to upgrade in time then the problem with an entry-level camera is that it becomes mostly superfluous when you do. Have you thought about a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera? They're smaller and lighter than a full DSLR so if/when you do decide to upgrade then they remain useful as a much easier to tote around option. The downside would be that any lenses you got for the mirrorless wouldn't then be useable with a future DSLR, but they tend to be cheaper anyway.

I bought a small camera (Fuji X100S) a few years ago as a complement to my DSLRs and outside of work I use the Fuji ten times more often than the Nikons, just because it's so much easier to grab and carry around with me.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Khaldun on December 01, 2016, 08:33:54 AM
I'm kind of thinking the same way--that I want a smaller, lighter, cheaper mirrorless or p&s for doing street photography. Can't afford it just now but maybe later next year. I just can't deal with trying to pull up the big DSLR when that is what I'm interested in doing--it gets a lot of attention and spoils a lot of more spontaneous opportunities for interesting pictures in live, human contexts. I might take the DSLR if I were going to an event with crowds or a low-light situation, I guess. The DSLR feels more and more to me like something to use just for landscapes, flower/insect macros, and formal portraiture.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: IainC on December 01, 2016, 09:29:36 AM
If you already have old Nikon glass then be aware that neither the 3300 nor the 5300 have a focus drive in the body because the newer lenses that they're designed for (AF-S range) have the focus drive in the lens instead. This means that your old AF lenses will only focus manually. You'd need a 7-series body to get autofocus compatibility. If you don't mind buying used, you can get a 7100 at a good price these days.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Hawkbit on December 02, 2016, 09:47:05 AM
Lots of great advice here, thanks. I hadn't considered mirrorless, so I've looked at the options and I can't seem to find suitable sub-$1000 options in the market right now. Am I missing something with these models? The idea of having a smaller camera to take everywhere is appealing, but was really hoping to get into a $500 body and use existing lenses which sounds less optimal at this point.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: apocrypha on December 02, 2016, 10:48:42 AM
Yeah, thinking about it, that's a difficult price point for decent smaller cameras. Mostly because that market has been destroyed by smartphones, so the niche that exists is aimed at the higher end. Plus the mirrorless cameras haven't been around long enough for low prices on older models yet.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Merusk on December 02, 2016, 10:59:34 AM
I hadn't even thought of that, that the point and shoot is dead as a thing. We've all got phones that do as well as they can, excepting optical zoom. What a crazy world.


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Trippy on December 02, 2016, 11:27:46 AM
Lots of great advice here, thanks. I hadn't considered mirrorless, so I've looked at the options and I can't seem to find suitable sub-$1000 options in the market right now. Am I missing something with these models? The idea of having a smaller camera to take everywhere is appealing, but was really hoping to get into a $500 body and use existing lenses which sounds less optimal at this point.
There are sub-$1000 options. E.g.:

http://www.sony.com/electronics/interchangeable-lens-cameras/ilce-6000-body-kit ($699 with 2 lenses)


Title: Re: Digital Camera & Photoshop tips
Post by: Sky on December 02, 2016, 08:18:55 PM
My new favorite photographer https://www.facebook.com/Sheridans.Art/