[Sticky] Digital Camera FAQ

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rachag03
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9:39p, 7/9/08
Hey Guitarsoup...I got my 40D in the mail today. Haven't had much time to play, but I noticed the shutter sound is WAY different than the XT. Louder and almost more mechanical I guess? Is that normal? I'm thinking yes, just wanted some confirmation
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Guitarsoup
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10:04a, 7/10/08
I have absolutely no clue. I have never shot with any digital rebel.

My timeline of cameras:
Canon Powershot
Rebel X (Film)
Canon 10D
Canon 40D
Canon 1D Mark II
Canon 1Ds Mark II

I can't say I have ever listened to the shutter when shooting. Usually thinking about other stuff, I guess. Or talking. I talk a lot.
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Stymied
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12:04p, 7/10/08
Yes, the sound is quite a bit different. Your camera is working fine.

[This message has been edited by AeroAg2003 (edited 7/10/2008 11:05a).]
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rachag03
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4:56p, 7/10/08
Well, since I don't have anyone to talk to but a 2 year old all day I guess I hear it more!

I love the feel of this camera, but the things I heard about a learning curve are right. My images sure are sucking right now compared to my XT, especially in the focus category. I'm sure it will improve with practice, though!
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Rex Racer
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10:00a, 7/11/08
Learn to set which focus point the camera uses, and that will help a LOT.

Read, read, and read the manual some more.

I have had my 40D for about 5 weeks, and I'm still studying the manual.
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Guitarsoup
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10:01a, 7/11/08
On every camera I use, I nearly always use the center focus point only. Sometimes I will use one on the right when I am shooting portraits.
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rachag03
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10:43a, 7/11/08
I've got it set on the center one. I tend to use that one 99% of the time...I'll change it every once in a while just to catch an eye in the right place.

I got some with bad focus at 1/400 yesterday, and a couple with decent focus at 1/100. Definitely user error! The husband is going to let me practice on him this weekend because the toddler is tired of cameras.
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Rex Racer
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10:52a, 7/11/08
quote:
On every camera I use, I nearly always use the center focus point only. Sometimes I will use one on the right when I am shooting portraits.
I didn't have mine set on one particular focus point so it was grabbing several of them, or the wrong one, and I was getting some out of focus shots.

If you nearly always use the center focus point only, then how do you get shots of things that are off center? Do you focus on something with it in the center, and then move the camera a bit until the subject is off to one side?




[This message has been edited by Rex Racer (edited 7/11/2008 9:54a).]
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Tabasco
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11:19a, 7/11/08
quote:
The husband is going to let me practice on him this weekend


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rachag03
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11:29a, 7/11/08
Tabasco, oh please. LOL!

Rex, I know you were asking Guitarsoup but I just wanted to say I don't normally use the center point and recompose because I'm not great at getting good focus that way. I'll sometimes switch to another focal point, but most of the time I just crop the picture a little bit in PS to give it a little better composition. I'm not doing pictures for anyone but myself, though...so that way works for me.
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Guitarsoup
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12:02p, 7/11/08
quote:
If you nearly always use the center focus point only, then how do you get shots of things that are off center? Do you focus on something with it in the center, and then move the camera a bit until the subject is off to one side?

It depends on the subject, but yes.

In something fast moving like football or basketball, I have the center focus set and try to keep the center on the numbers of the jersey. Then the face is where I want it and they are probably in the same focal plane.

If I am shooting portraits, I will bring my focus point up to where I want the face.

If I am shooting other random stuff, I will focus, AE lock and adjust the frame.

Crop the composition if I have to, but I prefer to shoot everything correctly and minimize my PS time. I ****ing hate wasting my day on PS, which is what I am doing right now between shoots.

A week like today-next friday is a place where I just don't have time to sit in PS all day. I just did a HS science camp this morning. I am shooting studio stuff for a brochure all afternoon. Monday I have to art direct graphics and a shoot, then have my own shoot of kids doing art camp. Then profiling two large donors on Tuesday, then an 8-5 shoot Wed, 8-12 dignitary shoot Thursday, 1-5 mag shoot Thursday, and a 8-5 mag shoot Friday. Friday night Astros-Cubs game. If I don't shoot right the first time, my life would be consumed by photoshop.
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Rex Racer
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1:01p, 7/11/08
quote:
Crop the composition if I have to, but I prefer to shoot everything correctly and minimize my PS time.
As do I. Thanks for the informative post!
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rachag03
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1:29p, 7/11/08
Guitarsoup's method is definitely much better...I only PS like 10 photos a week so I've got way less stuff to do of course

I also have this really bad habit of being WAY too close to my subject, so most of the time there isn't much to crop if any. I need to learn to back up a bit.
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Guitarsoup
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1:34p, 7/11/08
I generally shoot pretty tight, but I am having fun with wide shots now that I have a 16-35mm 2.8L II and a 14mm 2.8L>
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wessimo
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12:30p, 7/12/08
Thanks for the excellent thread!

Just pulled the trigger on the Rebel XSI (w/EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens)- found it on Newegg for $784 shipped. Also picked up the Kelby book so we can figure out how to use the thing before our trip to Hawaii in Sept.

[This message has been edited by wessimo (edited 7/13/2008 2:34p).]
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Tabasco
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10:57p, 7/12/08
Wessimo, I would recommend taking a circular polarizer filter. It will bring out all of the blues, and you can cut out the reflection off the water so you can see the underlying reef and contrasting colors.

Here is an example, although they were taken on different days/times. The body/lens/local is the same.

Without polarizer. Notice blues not as vibrant and the sun reflects on the water.


Canon XTI
Tameron 17-50mm F/2.8 Di-II LD Aspherical lens
1/60s
f/9
iso 100

I used a polarizer here, and you can see the blues are more vibrant and you can see the varying hues under the water because there is no water surface reflection.

example:

Canon XTI
Tameron 17-50mm F/2.8 Di-II LD Aspherical lens
1/4000s
f/4
iso 400

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wessimo
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10:02a, 7/14/08
Thanks for the tip. At a minimum we'll pick up UV, Polarizing, and ND filters.
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Skinny Wrinkles
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7:33p, 7/17/08
Ags-R-Better
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9:23a, 7/18/08
How does everyone backup their pics? Burn to CD, External Hard drive, USB Memory Sticks?

Advice and recommendations are appreciated.
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Guitarsoup
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9:29a, 7/18/08
dvd-r, external hd, unlimited space on my two websites
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wessimo
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9:59a, 7/18/08
I backup in three locations - internal 250GB HD, external 250GB HD, and DVD. Every so often I make a fresh updated set of DVDs and take them to a safe deposit box. This has worked pretty well up till now because we only have about 15GB of photos. That is going to ramp up quickly now that we have a 12MP DSLR.
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chopperdave06
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4:50p, 7/18/08
tabasco how do you like that 17-50 2.8 tamron?
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Tabasco
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11:36p, 7/18/08
Love it. As a comparison, my other two lenses are the Canon 50mm 1.4, and the Canon 70-200 f/4 IS. The vast majority of the time, I have the Tamaron on my camera. It takes incredible pics.

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chopperdave06
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1:00a, 7/22/08
why the unamused face?
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wessimo
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8:16a, 7/22/08
i think that is tabasco's default setting
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Tabasco
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3:04p, 7/22/08
correct. Ironically, in real life, I am full of amusement.

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chopperdave06
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7:21p, 7/22/08
i believe you.
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RandomAg09
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9:58a, 7/24/08
So I read the whole thread last night, and now I'm probably more confused than when I started. Basically, I'm completely new to photography and looking for an entry level DSLR. My end goal is probably going to be to take decent sports shots.

From what I've looked at, I'm thinking that a Rebel XTi and a Tamron 28-75 mm lens would be a good start. I was also thinking about getting the Plastic Fantastic lens from the first page. So do I have the right idea or should I be looking at some other body/lens/everything? Budget's about $1000 for the initial purchases.
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Guitarsoup
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10:01a, 7/24/08
That is a good way to start. The only real problem with the 28-75 for sports is that you will need to be pretty close to the sport. For Basketball or volleyball or something like that it should be no problem. For soccer, baseball or football, you will eventually want a lens that reaches further - the most useful all around lens being a 70-200mm 2.8 lens. I recommend the Sigma model for cost effectiveness.


But the XTI and the Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 is a great start. That is how I suggest starting, then starting to save for the Sigma 70-200mm 2.8, which is probably the best all around lens for the money that you can buy.
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RandomAg09
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10:16a, 7/24/08
Wow, quick reply. Yeah, I realize I'll need a 70-200 or something later, but I figure I should probably get my feet wet first. Since the Tamron 28-75 appears sold out on all 3 of the sites on the first page, I think I'll try to get the body and 50 mm first and pick up the Tamron once it's available. Thanks.
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Guitarsoup
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10:21a, 7/24/08
That's a good idea.

I think I bought my Tamron from KEH.com and got it used.

I still like it as much as my Canon 24-70mm 2.8L.

Although lately I have been shooting everything really wide and have been mainly using my 16-35mm 2.8L.
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Tabasco
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3:40p, 7/24/08
What about the Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 (I have this lens)? My understanding is it is the newer version of the 28-75... because for a cropped sensor, the 17-50 is suppose to give similar range as a 28-75 on a Full frame. In other words, it would give you roughly the same range on the XTi as GS's lens on his full frame.
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=308&sort=7&cat=43&page=1

Just looked, and it is sold out on B&H and Androma, but found it on Best Buy of all places on sale with free shipping (but tax).
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8796378&type=product&id=1205537743380&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=8796378

Also, I just stumbled across Tamron's new 70-200 2.8:
http://www.popphoto.com/cameralenses/5436/tamron-70-200mm-f28-di-ld-macro-af-sp-lens-test.html



[This message has been edited by Tabasco (edited 7/24/2008 2:45p).]
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Guitarsoup
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3:46p, 7/24/08
If he is doing sports, having the extra length is probably worth more than getting wider.
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Tabasco
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4:30p, 7/24/08
I assumed he just *eventually* wanted to get a sports lens (e.g. 70-200). Probably depends on the sport (table tennis vs. football).

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RandomAg09
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12:47p, 7/29/08
How long does it normally take to restock on these main sites? Everywhere I look, people are sold out of new Tamron 28-75 mm lenses. I know that KEH has some used ones up, but they're almost the same price as a new lens on the other ones. I'm having trouble bringing myself to pay for a used lens when I could get a new one for almost the same price.
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