Topics

1

EOS Bodies - For Stills / My next upgrade...

« on: January 19, 2013, 09:25:49 PM »

Hello all! It's been awhile. I've had my 7D for a year and a half now and I have gotten so much use out of it, still love using it.

On my list of things I "need" to get, there's the following:

• 5D Mark 3
• 16-35mm f/2.8
• 24-70mm f/2.8
• small compact for every day stuff, either a Panasonic LX-7 or the Sony RX100
• A tripod that isn't cheap/broken like mine currently is

My compact panasonic died, and I had the luxury of borrowing a friend's RX100 that day. Holy moly, the pictures on the thing were incredible for a compact. It's almost irresistable to have my new "pocket" camera be something that good. However I had been looking to eventually replace my Panasonic with the LX7, another nice model. Tough choice. After the death of my compact I realized how much I had been using/relying on it for every day photos around where I work and such. I lug around my 7D and it's a beast and gets much better DoF than the compact cameras, but it isn't as versatile (juggling 3 lenses).

However my camera fund is now up again and I can afford a 5D Mark 3 now, though my top priority is getting rid of this 17-40 (the F4 is just extremely limiting since it's my indoor lens) and replacing it with the 16-35mm. I can actually get both, and I just got paid for some commercial shots I took of a farm which would add even more to the fund.

I could get both lenses, and the compact, and thus have an upgraded set-up in both areas to what I have now. Or I can add a second body in with the 5D3 and just get the 16-35 leaving some saving room to get the next lens and compact by summer. Getting the second body would mean having a really nice camera for portraits and something that does better with wide landscapes (something I struggle with currently). But then I'd ideally have both the 16-35 and the 24-70 in order for the dual camera set-up to work well. Come summer I'll have enough for all the things on my list (horse show season all spring = $$$ for me), but I'm prioritizing in the mean time.

The tripod I'm getting either way since mine broke. Recommendations for one again would be spectacular, looking to spend < $300.

Soo... suggestions?

2

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Argh! Photos don't look like 7D photos.

« on: July 06, 2012, 01:07:50 PM »

I don't know what's going on here. One of the things I look for when shooting portraits is that the skin has almost a "creamy" look to it. I have shot portraits like this before without issue. However when I went to take some pictures as usual in the mid-afternoon sun yesterday I ended up with terrible skin detail/tone.

This is a shot where I actually managed to achieve something:


It's close to what I want, though not fully up to my standards.

This is one of my best examples, and oddly enough one of my earliest photos with this camera:


However, when I went to shoot yesterday, I got a bunch of really mediocre shots that looked like they could have been shot with my point-and-shoot. Not sure what I did wrong with the settings here.


70mm f/8 1/640

Almost all of my pictures from that day ended up with sub-tier quality.

Do you think I should have shot with a wider aperture instead? Help me out here. I've been considering adding a 5d mk iii to my camera collection so I can have a second body that's better at shots of people, but I know it won't help me take better photos.

3

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Critique my Progress?

« on: May 13, 2012, 03:29:06 AM »

I made a thread a couple of months back (can be found here) asking for advice because my pictures on my 7D seemed "dull".

I'm mostly a hobby photographer. I don't do it for money unless someone explicitly asks me to (this has happened once, but it wasn't a huge job they just wanted prints and offered to pay more than the prints would cost so I made a decent profit). I just do things for the enjoyment of documenting every day life and memories.

After seeing some of the suggestions in that last thread, I followed through, and I think I've improved a ton. Let me know what you think.

Most of my pictures can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kreebby but for the sake of keeping things specific I'll only post a few choice samples.

Same dog, though older. Same park, too.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kreebby/7180043844/#in/photostream/

Ignore the random shoe, he got in the way of my picture last minute.


Portrait of sorts (very candid)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kreebby/7180077038/#in/photostream/

Same exact water at the same part of the beach as in the other thread:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kreebby/7180084990/#in/photostream/

What do you guys think?

4

Animal Kingdom / Cats and Dogs

« on: May 10, 2012, 01:26:25 PM »

I try to make sure I get photos uploaded every week, and often take photos every day (if not every other day). My subjects usually end up being my pets, because they're there. Other times I go for plants and landscapes. I do candid shots so it's usually impossible to "set things up". I just get the camera out and hope for the best.









What do you think?

5

Software & Accessories / Tripod Suggestions

« on: May 10, 2012, 01:13:44 PM »

So I'm now finally in the market for a tripod. Awhile back on here I was told to skip any cheap tripods and go straight for the good brands like Manfrotto. Now, I'm a hobby photographer that might hope to make some money on the side (I have done so already for small stuff, no major things) but this isn't my main job. I've read through this and while the suggestions for the cheaper head and body are nice, it's out of budget. I need something for less than $600.

Here's what I need in a tripod:

• Strong enough to handle a Canon 7D with a 70-200mm lens on it.
• Adjustable/flexible legs so I can use it on hiking trails and uneven ground.
• Relatively easy to pack and take with me if I travel.
• Tall enough, without being super tall (I'd say enough to equal a person of 5'4-5'6 holding a camera and taking a shot)
• Easy to set up.

I don't need some professional tripod that can handle a 300+mm telephoto lens. I just need something versatile that can be used to take a family photo on the couch, can be used on hikes, and can be used around dog trials and horse barns without taking forever to set up. I looked myself but there are so many options even with just one brand and I'm not sure where to start. What I'd be more interested in is getting a high quality head that I can use later if I decide I need better legs. This is the best I can do for right now, and "just saving up a little more to get something better" isn't an option right now.

So any recommendations would be really great.

6

Third Party Manufacturers / Macro Adapter?

« on: May 10, 2012, 12:46:50 PM »

I was wondering if anyone knew of any inexpensive third party macro adapters that that would work with any of my lenses (50mm f/1.4, 17-40, 70-200mm f/4L). I was looking into a macro lens for canon but the price was around $200 used for the cheapest one. I am not that big of a macro photographer, but I take pictures of things from day to day and some of the things I want to photograph are very small (found a tick on my dog once that I wanted to take a shot of). So before I go investing in a used macro canon lens, are there any adapter alternatives? For me "cheap" means less than $150.

7

Lenses / Just how important is IS?

« on: February 16, 2012, 11:04:31 PM »

I did a search non it but nothing in the first few pages came up.

I went for a used 70-200mm f/4L. It's ordered. It does not have image stabilization. Why? It cost twice as much with IS and I wanted to buy an external flash and a tripod too. I plan in the future to maybe sell it and upgrade to the IS version when I can afford to. For now, expanding my arsenal is top priority. Anyway, I did a search on IS via google and found a bunch of websites talking about how everyone needs IS and people who don't get it won't get as many great photos etc etc.

What is your take on it, guys? Is it really a waste of money to buy a non-IS lens if you can't afford the IS version? Just how necessary is IS?

8

Lenses / What should my next lens be?

« on: February 15, 2012, 10:14:29 PM »

I have wanted to replace my 17-40mm with a 24-70mm for awhile now. However, I've also wanted a telephoto. I can't afford the 70-200 f/2.8 but I can get a used 70-200 f/4. I have a 50mm f/1.4 right now to cover my medium range. I do need a telephoto zoom but I had wanted to wait until I could afford the f/2.8. I also considered, in the mean time, getting a 100mm prime lens to tide me over.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kreebby

I would like a wider aperture for indoors use with my main lens (the 17-40). I'm just not sure. Can anyone help me with the pros and cons?

Contenders:

• Sell 17-40mm and buy 24-70mm f/2.8
• Buy 100mm f/2 prime.
• Suck it up and buy a 70-200mm f/4 even if I do sell it later.

9

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Off Lighting/Color With 7D

« on: February 15, 2012, 06:43:40 PM »

Not sure if this is the right section for this. I need a critique.

I've taken some photos that I consider to be excellent and others that I just sit there wondering how I could have screwed up so bad. I'm not a professional, just someone who likes taking pictures of things, but I would like to be able to make each picture look crisp, clear, and rich in color. I shoot manual. I just don't know what I'm doing wrong here so I'm coming to you guys. I have a 50mm f/1.4 and the 17-40mm f/4L.

Almost all of my photos have the exif data available on flickr, I'm just posting some examples here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kreebby

This one feels incredibly "dull" to me. I did very little post processing (changed the white balance) afterward and just uploaded it to deal with it. I can't figure out why it seems dull.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kreebby/6883229995/#in/photostream/


In this one I want his coat to pop out and be more defined, but he's almost invisible compared to the ducks in the background.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kreebby/6883198981/#in/photostream/


Again, really "dull".
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kreebby/6832025137/#in/photostream/


Another dull one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kreebby/6854830319/#in/photostream



Here are some examples of photos that turned out well for me:




This one was shot in bright daylight, I changed the aperture and shutter speed to make it look like it was dark:





It seems like the biggest problem I have is shooting specific objects. I'm pretty decent at shooting scenes, but whenever I have a person or an animal that's supposed to be front and center I falter. Any tips for this?

10

Lighting / I Need a Flash

« on: February 09, 2012, 01:12:34 AM »

I was originally planning to just wait until I could afford a 580 flash, but I'm kind of getting desperate without a proper flash. I'd need it mostly for in doors situations (such as inside a horse barn or in my small 1500 square foot house). In the house I'd probably point it at the ceiling to light up the whole room instead of directly at something. I will mostly be using it at night, in rooms that are relatively small (largest one is my loft at 500 square feet). I shoot animals and people.

Should I still wait even though I wanted to to get a new lens, or is there one you guys can recommend to me that's cheaper?

11

United States / Telephoto Zoom or Prime?

« on: November 02, 2011, 03:26:26 AM »

I'm torn right now. I cannot afford a $1500+ lens, but I find myself in need of a telephoto with a wide aperture (indoor horse shows).  Perhaps the 100mm or 200mm f/2.8L. Both are great lenses and people I know swear by them. My budget is extremely tight for this, as I'm also saving up money to get a 5D Mk ii next year. I was initially looking at the 70-200mm f/2.8L without IS, used. Is it worth it to pay the extra $500+ it would cost me for that lens or should I save money and stick with a prime? I use a 7D.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kreebby

Thanks.

12

United States / What's your favorite area of the US to shoot?

« on: July 26, 2011, 05:44:01 AM »

I just thought I'd make a fun thread to combat all the question ones. For those of you out there that enjoy shooting cities, people and scenery:

Which places in the US are your favorite to take photos of and why?

13

United States / I have to rethink my camera decision (7D vs 5d Mark II)

« on: July 26, 2011, 01:17:35 AM »

I have been sold on the EOS 7D for several months now after extensive research. Last week I went in and had a 7D with the 17-40L lens put aside for me so I can purchase it in August. Then something I did not expect happened. I got a chance to take photography classes at a photography school (private scholarship for the first year or so). I know for a fact I'm serious about photography, however I was putting off school for another year until I can get my in state residency. This DSLR will be my first DSLR purchase. I have used them briefly before, but never owned one for myself.

The classes are at a small photography center and would prepare me for entering the Commercial Photography program at Seattle Central Creative Academy in 2012/2013 like I had planned.

However, the program requires that I purchase a 35mm camera with a decent lens. This means within a year (possibly two, since I'm getting married next fall and might skip out on school that quarter) I will be upgrading to the 5D Mark II anyway. While I absolutely love the idea of having a full frame DSLR and have had my eye on the 5D Mark II since it came out, I'm torn. It would require spending an extra $2,000 on top of what I had planned to spend on a camera, and I've heard rumors about new FF DSLRs being released by Canon next year.

I sent the photography center a message asking if the 7D was an acceptable camera (I don't think it will be) and I'm waiting on them to get back to me.

SO my question is, to avoid rambling too much, should I still stick with my guns and complete my 7D purchase even if it means I might have to upgrade within a single year, or should I suck it up and get the 5D Mark II now?