Digital Cameras - what do you like?

[SkyWestOKC]

I have a Canon 400D (A.k.a XTi in the USA). Canon EF 70-200 f/4L USM, and some cheaper lenses. I used to be big into photography, despite my thousands of dollars of investment, I am slowly but surely losing interest. Not because I don't like it, but because of how busy I have been the past year.

[PennyQuilts]

I have a Canon 400D (A.k.a XTi in the USA). Canon EF 70-200 f/4L USM, and some cheaper lenses. I used to be big into photography, despite my thousands of dollars of investment, I am slowly but surely losing interest. Not because I don't like it, but because of how busy I have been the past year.

Yeah, it sounds like something that, in theory, doesn't have to be all that time consuming. When the spirit falls on you, it can take over. Quilting is that way, too.

[PennyQuilts]

Bought me a Sony a320 DSLR today as well. Now for better OKCTalk pics! Can someone teach me more about filters and macro's? I got a bunch with the camera for free but don't know much about them.

I certainly can't help you but CONGRATULATIONS! The Sony owners that have talked to me about their camera seem to stay in love, long term. Did you get yours online or local?

[metro]

Local, I had one for my last job and loved it, and found a steal on one locally so will continue to grow my amateur skills, it came with a macro, HD lens, UV lens and of course a 18-55mm as well as some other stuff I have yet to learn about.

[PennyQuilts]

it came with a macro, HD lens, UV lens and of course a 18-55mm as well as some other stuff I have yet to learn about.

I working on the learning curve and still in the stage of finding out just how much I am clueless. I am gratified at how generous photography buffs have been with their time and advice.

[HewenttoJared]

We just got in the T2i's at work. Pretty slick.

[PennyQuilts]

My best friend has the T1i and loves it.

My 60D arrived, yesterday. I want to read the manual but everytime I do, I get excited about something it can do and go take pictures. My dogs are sick of me.

[Kerry]

Bought me a Sony a320 DSLR today as well. Now for better OKCTalk pics! Can someone teach me more about filters and macro's? I got a bunch with the camera for free but don't know much about them.

For starters, get a polarizing filter. It will improve every picture you take the second you put it on.

[metro]

Kerry, thankfully it came with an HD polarizing filter, 2 macros, and a UV filter, but from what I read they are a waste of money on DSLR's, since they are more for protecing the lens now more than light issues with film. Nonetheless, I use it anyway, unless it is cloudy.

[TaoMaas]

Kerry, thankfully it came with an HD polarizing filter, 2 macros, and a UV filter, but from what I read they are a waste of money on DSLR's, since they are more for protecing the lens now more than light issues with film.

It's the UV filter that is more useful for just protecting the lens. The polarizing filter is a completely different animal. It's purpose is to kill reflections. It's effectiveness depends upon the angle of the sun. It's most effective at 90 degrees from the direction of the sun. What it does is kill reflections, thereby allowing more of the natural color of an object to come through.

[PennyQuilts]

It's the UV filter that is more useful for just protecting the lens. The polarizing filter is a completely different animal. It's purpose is to kill reflections. It's effectiveness depends upon the angle of the sun. It's most effective at 90 degrees from the direction of the sun. What it does is kill reflections, thereby allowing more of the natural color of an object to come through.

I'd read that but the way you put it made better sense to me. Thanks.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

I know this is an old thread...But congrats on the 60D! I have one as well...Along with several lenses/flash/strobes/etc.

Lets see some pics!

[okc_bel_air]

I just went from a Sony Point and Shoot to a Canon T3i, Merry Christmas to me . Now I have to figure all these settings out. Anybody got any advice for a beginner using a DSLR?

[BBatesokc]

I just went from a Sony Point and Shoot to a Canon T3i, Merry Christmas to me . Now I have to figure all these settings out. Anybody got any advice for a beginner using a DSLR?

There are several 3rd party books on that model camera. I learn best by buying a book and going through it cover-to-cover. Not the manual, but a 'How To' book.

Other than that there are a few different classes around town. I find them to be pricey and only as good as the particular instructor. I find most teach out of a book - so might as well just save some money and teach yourself from the same book.

Or, team up with a friend who is a serious hobbits and take a few days to play around with different settings.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

There are several 3rd party books on that model camera. I learn best by buying a book and going through it cover-to-cover. Not the manual, but a 'How To' book.

Other than that there are a few different classes around town. I find them to be pricey and only as good as the particular instructor. I find most teach out of a book - so might as well just save some money and teach yourself from the same book.

Or, team up with a friend who is a serious hobbits and take a few days to play around with different settings.

I find that teaming up with hobbits tends to get me chased by a bunch of undead guys on horses with pinkeye as well as a wirey little doucher that wants to steal a ring of mine. Exciting? Sure. But I'll be steering clear of hobbits thank you very much.

Filthy hobbitses. Tricksy. FALSE!

okc_bel_air, pick up a book by Brian Peterson called "Understanding Exposure". It starts with some basics in how each setting on your camera works and works up to walking you through getting your desired results. Be careful if you buy it used though, as it's updated frequently (it's been out for many moons) to include the digital side. He's also got quite a few short but very useful videos on Youtube.

[BBatesokc]

I find that teaming up with hobbits tends to get me chased by a bunch of undead guys on horses with pinkeye as well as a wirey little doucher that wants to steal a ring of mine. Exciting? Sure. But I'll be steering clear of hobbits thank you very much.

Filthy hobbitses. Tricksy. FALSE!

okc_bel_air, pick up a book by Brian Peterson called "Understanding Exposure". It starts with some basics in how each setting on your camera works and works up to walking you through getting your desired results. Be careful if you buy it used though, as it's updated frequently (it's been out for many moons) to include the digital side. He's also got quite a few short but very useful videos on Youtube.

Hmmmmm, just realized my computer's dictionary doesn't know the word "hobbyist" and does indeed change it to "Hobbits." Why not just change it to "Hobby"? It used to not know the word "prostitutes" and would change it to "prostrates" - which led to some interesting sentences.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

LMAO! I bet it did!

Soooo...Filming many prostates lately?

[easternobserver]

I have two work cameras that I use a lot -- one is a Panasonic DMC-TZ5 "point and shoot" -- that has got to be the easiest camera I have ever used, and some of the photos I have taken with it have impressed me. I also have a Nikon D300 -- about all I know how to do is hit the autofocus button and take a picture. I really would like to learn about this camera, but I also know that its capabilities far exceed my abilities as a photographer....

[drumsncode]

It's too bad that all the people who've grown up with automatic cameras didn't have the education that comes with owning one of the old, manual SLR's. In those days, you chose the shutter speed and the F-stop, then focused it yourself. You quickly learned from reading the manual that F-stop affects depth-of-field, and that your shutter speed is essential to avoid blur. Each photo is the combination of those two factors.

Once you learn those concepts, you will look at a potential photograph and make those decisions before you ever shoot the pic. The trick to using a new, high-tech DSLR is to read up on what those various "Automatic" settings do in terms of shutter speed and F-stops, so you can get the type of shot you want.

And something that some people never seem to get is that you should be squeezing off that shutter button as gently as if you were shooting a rifle from 500 yards. That alone will improve your pics.

[MadMonk]

I bought a Nikon S9100 this past summer on the recommendation of a photographer friend of mine and have been very happy with it (after initial problems were resolved with a lemon on my first purchase). It does more than I will probably use, but the pictures are fantastic, even in low light. After researching, experimenting and playing with the settings I was even able to take a reasonably clear full moon closeup. I'm happy I didn't have to figure out how to do that with a film camera, it would've cost a fortune in film!

[drumsncode]

I bought a Nikon S9100 this past summer on the recommendation of a photographer friend of mine and have been very happy with it (after initial problems were resolved with a lemon on my first purchase). It does more than I will probably use, but the pictures are fantastic, even in low light. After researching, experimenting and playing with the settings I was even able to take a reasonably clear full moon closeup. I'm happy I didn't have to figure out how to do that with a film camera, it would've cost a fortune in film!

You're right. Back in the day, you felt lucky if half the roll turned out nicely. And mistakes back then were "fatal" if you were on vacation, because by the time you developed the film, vacation was over! No do-overs!

That's the beauty of digital. You get to see the problem immediately and attempt to correct it.

But I guess the best advice I can give to anyone is to work on your "soft hands" when pressing the shutter. I took some indoor shots last weekend and the camera chose 1/13th of a second for the shutter-speed (it was low light!), but the picture was not blurred. Gotta love it.

I just wish I could remember all those goofy buttons on the camera, and all the new ones are so covered with buttons that you feel like there's no place to grip the camera!