Messages

1

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Want to start shooting professionally aNy suggestions?

« on: October 16, 2012, 10:51:14 AM »

You could do a lot worse than spend some time reading Keith Cooper's stuff over at Northlight:
http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/stuff2/?cat=14

Lots of good stuff about turning pro and running a photography business.

Personally it just confirmed that I'll be a lot happier as a hobbyist!

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Regrets -- Your One Missed Picture?

« on: September 06, 2012, 09:15:16 AM »

Ha! More than I care to think about.

Probably the best was on holiday in Barbados - we had monkeys visit the hotel every dawn to steal mangoes from trees around the pool.  So I was up & waiting, and the gang came along including some young.

After a while they had their fill and started  to move off, and a great big mango fell out of the tree beside me. So I picked it up and tossed it to one of the young in the hopes they'd stick around. Then I turned (still don't know why) and right next to me, hanging upside down with teeth bared and paws grasping was Dadmonkey, extremely hacked off that I just nicked his prize mango.

Did I get the shot? Did I hell. I backed away screaming quietly and firing the flash in the hopes of scaring him off. And then I changed my trousers.

3

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: What to tell a newbie?

« on: August 15, 2012, 03:59:31 AM »

Now newbies don't have a clue about ISO and shutterspeed and aperture and focal length etc - they want to push the button and get a great shot. Of course they will be disappointed and then they want to learn more on how to get the better shot.

I think you've answered your own question.  If people are interested enough to take one of your courses and learn more about photography, it shouldn't really matter what camera body they start with.  What's more important is buying into a system that gives flexibility and options.  Because, as newcomers, they're probably not going to know initially where their long term interests really lie. 

Completely agree - when I got my first SLR I knew I was going to take photography more seriously, but really couldn't have cared about Canon or Nikon. And being a complete newbie, I didn't know enough to ask any sensible questions about them. Unknown unknowns 

What swung me Canon's way was that I could see far more options for stepping up lenses over time. Nikon seemed to go from entry-level to staggeringly expensive with little inbetween. Canon seemed to offer a more gradual development route. I may be doing Nikon a disservice - just the way it seemed to me.

I have no problem recommending Nikon to friends, especially if they're just looking for something that'll help get better pictures of their kids & holidays and will probably never take it off auto modes. Interestingly, nobody ever wants to hear "get a high-end compact / bridge " - £300 is far too much for something with a built-in lens, apparently, but they're happy to drop double that on kit that probably won't serve them as well!

But those who say they want to take it more seriously, I'll generally point towards Canon.

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Lenses / Re: lens recommendations for a vacation

« on: August 09, 2012, 09:51:08 AM »

Don't forget it's summer here in England, so bring your waterproofs Some ND grads would be a good call too.

Personally I like getting detail shots so the 70-200 would be on my list but of course it depends what you like shooting. And as others have commented, there's a LOT of walking to be done, so it's much better to have limited kit than to dread picking up the camera bag each day. "Would I be happy carrying this for 6 hours?" is a very good question to ask yourself when packing.

But certainly the 24-105 for walkaround, 14 for wideys if you like, and the 50 for low light should see you nicely.

Be prepared for historic buildings to prohibit flash, and some to bar photography altogether. Not such an issue in London, in my experience, but I've come across it a lot in other countries (lots in Spain for example). "If you want a picture, buy our postcards" sort of thing.

I'd take 3 batteries - one in the camera, one in the bag and one charging. It's dashed annoying to run out of juice in a great location, and I speak from sorry experience here.


Hope you have a great time.

5

Technical Support / Re: How much space to get to macro?

« on: July 04, 2012, 03:35:35 AM »

Here's something I've never got round to trying - invest in some Pringles and (in theory) you can make a zoom!

http://www.pixiq.com/article/macro-photography-on-a-budget

Personally I just stick a cheap kit lens on backwards. Started off simply holding it in place with my hand, but I liked it so much that in the end I blew a whole £1.17 on a reversing ring.

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Lenses / Re: Faster cheapish prime for a wedding?

« on: June 22, 2012, 11:17:18 AM »

Again, lots of very useful stuff there - thank you all. Seriously looking at a 5D now, rather than a lens.

On the long lens argument (gosh, so sorry - I didn't mean to start a fight but really appreciate that you care  ), I take the point on the 70-200 and will consider renting though there aren't many options locally.

I think I'd probably only use the 70-300 for outdoor candids from an unobtrusive distance. And I'm very happy to let the wifesistant lug it around.

Interesting comments on the wireless flash for the reception. I do have wireless triggers but had originally discounted it as too much faffing around, potentially intrusive and at risk of kids booting the light stands over. But I'll take them with me when I go to check the venue, see how it looks.

7

Lenses / Re: Faster cheapish prime for a wedding?

« on: June 22, 2012, 03:59:18 AM »

Thanks all - really helpful.

I should perhaps have said I've done a fair few non-wedding events so not completely out of my depth, and this is very low-key affair: the happy couple weren't planning on a 'tog at all - just rely on guests (of whom I'd be one anyway).

So the pressure is relatively low and I'm more giving a bit of structure - someone to do formals etc. But of course they're my friends and I want to do the best I can for them.

I have been on the receiving end of a useless "pro" wedding photographer (wife's arm cut off, flash directly into mirrors during ceremony, the ones of us & my mother completely lost . . .  don't get me started) so I know the perils and what it means.

So on one level I'm completely confident - no way are my friends going to go through that.

Thanks for the tips though - I'll certainly visit the locations in advance, and have booked a couple of evenings in the pub with the couple for planning key shots. The style will be quite informal / reportage - suits me and them.

Sounds like the primes should do the job, and I'll pack the reflector. I'm swinging between the sigma 30mm 1.4, and a 5Dc - though possibly that's just wishing for new toys.   

8

Lenses / Re: Faster cheapish prime for a wedding?

« on: June 21, 2012, 04:34:14 PM »

Thanks for that - good call on the flash. I'm comfortable with the manual flashes (they're all I've got so I've had to learn!) but can still pull some shockers out . . .

9

Lenses / Faster cheapish prime for a wedding?

« on: June 21, 2012, 03:57:42 PM »

Hi all,

Hope you can help me out a bit here - I've recklessly agreed to shoot a friend's wedding and wonder if I need something extra in the bag.

My main kit is 7D, 24-70L, 70-300L, 50 1.8, 85 1.8, Sigma 10-20. And my little 400D for backup. Also got a couple of YN560 flashes

So with my fastest being f1.8 and anticipating dark reception etc, I'm wondering if it's worth looking at something faster?

I really can't justify any more posh glass yet (the 70-300 was my silly spend for this year) so if anything it's got to be at the cheaper end - under £500.

I've been considering the 50 f1.4 or, given the crop of the 7D, the Sigma 30 f1.4 - any views on these? I've seen very mixed comments about both.

Or if you think the kit is OK as is, that would be a great reassurance - I'm sure some of you remember First-Wedding Fear!

I also thought of a used 5D classic instead - it's at the outer end of sensible budget but I could always lie to the wife...

Any wisdom would be very gratefully received.

Pete

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EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: 350D/Rebel XT Upgrade Thoughts

« on: April 12, 2012, 12:20:51 PM »

I was in much the same boat about a year ago - upgrading from 400D with some L glass. I mulled it over for ages and ultimately went for the 7D - the combination of price, AF and reach (I do fair bit of sport / event stuff) swinging me away from the 5DmkII.

I love my 7D and no matter what gripes you hear about ISO & IQ, it's a zillion times better than the 400D gave me.

BUT, and here's the killer, I'm still kind of kicking myself for not going full frame. From all you've said about what you shoot, the 5DmkII sounds ideal - especially if it leaves budget for more lenses. Maybe I'm odd but I found a new body wasn't nearly as exciting as a new lens.

That said, and with all respect to your 350, whatever you get is likely to make you go Wooo! Enjoy it.

11

Canon General / UK cashbacks - Euro 2012

« on: April 05, 2012, 04:39:40 AM »

Hi all,

Long time lurker here, finally signed up.

I've just stumbled across another batch of cashbacks in the UK if it's of interest - this time to go with the Euro 2012 kickball.

http://www.canon.co.uk/euro2012cashback/

It includes some powershots, and the 550D & 600D, but mainly a big bunch of lovely glass. Haven't been through in depth but it looks like roughly 10% off current prices.

Means I can just about sneak the 70-300L under £1,000 - might just force me to pull the trigger . . .

Pete

PS. Apologies if this has done the rounds already - had a quick search and couldn't see anything obvious