Messages

16

Lenses / Re: Wide Angle on a Budget

« on: November 28, 2012, 09:45:30 PM »

I know it's not f2.8, but consider getting the EF-S 10-22 f3.5-4.5.  When dealing with wide angle, losing one stop is not a huge deal.  A used or refurbished version should be less than your budget.

17

EOS Bodies / Re: EOS M or ...???

« on: November 28, 2012, 04:48:56 PM »

It never ceases to amaze me how wife’s on this forum aren’t capable of picking there own cameras.
Go on take her to a camera shop and let her decide. Who’s the camera really for?

Some people still like to keep gifts a SURPRISE.

18

Landscape / Re: Help Me Get Better - Crashing Waves - Round 2

« on: November 27, 2012, 06:57:32 PM »

Anyways, your wave shots are all learning experiance, as are all shots. The more you shoot the more you will learn to see the scene as your camera will. You are not bad, I feel bad offering advice, as if you are BAD. you are doing great, and we all will have our own tastes in what a great shot should be. If you are happy with a shot, thats what counts

I appreciate the feedback.  My Lensrentals sale EF-S 10-22 came today and my other support equipment should be here by the end of the week.  I intend to reshot this scene several times, in the hopes that by practicing on one scene, I will learn how to shoot others.  I already like some of the shots I took, but I want them to be even better.

19

EOS Bodies / Re: EOS M or ...???

« on: November 27, 2012, 02:47:13 AM »

Thanks all for your input.  I still haven't decided on which to get yet.
My budget is around $600.
Yes, her main usage will be for easy carry-around (specially vacations, and weekend outings).  I want to get her something simple and not too complicated, but yet something she can grow upon.  iPhone 5's and the 'simplier' versions of P&S will not due, as I wanted a little more but perhaps something just below a Rebel lineup or similar.

Easy carry-around means slim and doesn't take up much space in her purse.  Get her an S110 and she will be more than happy with the quality and it even has some manual settings.

20

Landscape / Re: Help Me Get Better - Crashing Waves - Round 2

« on: November 27, 2012, 12:57:27 AM »

Thank you, but you may get in trouble pricing me so openly... I am a "black sheep" around here, I dare to criticize canon
And to top it of (God have mercy) I hate HDR!!!

Haha, no problem.  I am with you about HDR to some degree.  I don't mind when it looks natural, but after a certain point it just looks overdone and/or fake.  That's why I am buying a graduated ND filter and and polarizing filter; I'd rather get the shot right with optics so that the end photo remains true to the scene.

21

Landscape / Re: Help Me Get Better - Crashing Waves - Round 2

« on: November 26, 2012, 08:06:13 PM »

Very cool, thank you for sharing.

22

Landscape / Help Me Get Better - Crashing Waves - Round 2

« on: November 24, 2012, 08:32:00 PM »

Ok, still waiting for my tripod and polarizer and grad ND filter, so these were all handheld.  Please let me know what you think about the compositions.  Also, should I speed up or slow down the shutter?  My wife doesn't like all the motion, so I want to hear what other people think.  The only post processing was to add a graduated ND filter on the sky and increase the exposure on the beach.
Image 2541 was shot using a parking bollard for stabilization.  ISO 100, 55mm, f5.6, 1/4s
Image 2568 - ISO 100, 28mm, f8, 1/20s
Image 2662 - ISO 100, 55mm, f16, 1/30s
Image 2701 - ISO 100, 55mm, f16, 1/30s

23

Software & Accessories / Re: Lessons Learned - Landscape Photography Necessitities

« on: November 24, 2012, 03:25:24 AM »

Wow, definately gives you a lot of flexibility.  I obviously have a lot to learn.  Thank you for the help.

24

Software & Accessories / Re: Lessons Learned - Landscape Photography Necessitities

« on: November 24, 2012, 02:55:19 AM »

If you really want a better dynamic range consider Nikon cameras.  Some have 3 stops more DR than your T2i.  But graduated ND filters can also be used as mentioned to work with the limitations of your camera.

Right now I want to work on technique and getting the composition right the first time.  Based on my current progress, it will be quite awhile before my camera is the limiting factor.

25

Software & Accessories / Re: Lessons Learned - Landscape Photography Necessitities

« on: November 24, 2012, 02:26:12 AM »

T2i, 17-55 f2.8 and getting 10-22.

26

Software & Accessories / Re: Lessons Learned - Landscape Photography Necessitities

« on: November 24, 2012, 02:16:47 AM »

Cokin holder, graduated ND, 3 stops, hard transition.  Do it now, believe me later.

I read about these in an article.  Help me out with some links on what to buy, I obviously don't know what that should be.
http://www.amazon.com/Cokin-H250-P-Series-Grad-Kit/dp/B000A40M22/ref=pd_bxgy_p_text_y

27

Landscape / Re: Help Me Get Better - Crashing Waves

« on: November 24, 2012, 12:51:20 AM »

Thank you for the advice all.  I just placed an order for the following and should be here early next week:
Manfrotto 055XDB Black Basic Tripod Legs
Markins Q3

I also had a chance today to take some more pictures, and based on those results (blown sky, dark beach), I also need a graduated ND filter and circular polarizer:
B+W 77mm Kaesemann Circular Polarizer with Multi-Resistant Coating
B+W 77mm Grad ND 0.6-4X (502)

28

Software & Accessories / Lessons Learned - Landscape Photography Necessitities

« on: November 24, 2012, 12:44:21 AM »

So, I ended up working pretty late last night and heading home I could tell I was going to be in for a treat with the sunrise.  I took tons of photos and when I got back, what did I see?  Blownout sky and no detail in the beach rocks (I'll post a picture later once I get the time).  Now, not all was lost, and some of the pictures I seemed to even recover pretty well in Lightroom.  However, I'd rather just get the lighting right so as much detail as possible is available in the image.

I already knew I needed a good tripod and ballhead (Manfrotto 055 and Markins Q3 on order).  However, I also realized that I need is a good graduated ND filter and circular polarizer.  And so, after the $500 tripod order, and I now spend another $250 on nice filters (had cheap filter before, now I only get B+W).

Oh the lessons we learn.  I'll report back after I use the new equipment, and hopefully with some nice pictures.

29

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: What would you do? Crop or FF

« on: November 22, 2012, 04:41:02 AM »

For family pictures, 5D2 or 6D(if you're willing to wait) might be enough.  That way, you can afford a more flexible lens (24-105 or 24-70 mark 1) and a flash with some diffuser.  I think having better lenses is the better way of doing it.  You won't be getting your nice DOF with just 40mm.  40mm for an FF is too short to get some DOF.

Note:  You can also retain your T2i or upgrade to 7D/60D and get a 50mm F1.4 or 85 F1.8 or their faster versions to get that nicer DOF than your present equipment.

I already have the 85 f1.8 and 70-200 f4.  My main concern is losing the wide end, the 40 f2.8 would fit that role.  Another advantage of going FF would be that getting the 135 f2 for portraits would actually make sense, as right now with a crop it would just be too long for what I would want.

30

EOS Bodies - For Stills / What would you do? Crop or FF

« on: November 22, 2012, 03:49:30 AM »

The discussion about apparent depth of field in the upcoming APS-C announcements thread got me to thinking about maybe switching over to FF.  I mostly take family pictures, so getting a nicer DoF would be welcome.  So, here's how this would go down:
1) Sell T2i with 18-135 kit lens ($600 after Amazon cut)
2) Sell 17-55 f 2.8 ($650 after Amazon cut)
3) Buy Used 5DIII (LensRentals sale) or 6D and 40mm pancake ($2300).
Total cost of coverting: $1050.

I wouldn't want to spend any more money for a zoom (24-70 or 24-105), so the pancake would have to do.

So, what you would you do?  Would it be worth $1050 and would you trade FF for the lack of a normal zoom lens?