[Sticky] Digital Camera FAQ

227,137 Views | 3079 Replies | Last: 11 yr ago by Ag CPA
Guitarsoup
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Sorry to take a while, my computer is crapping out.

Flint - pass on that lens. Buy from KEH - you get 14 days to return it no questions asked!

quote:
Just curious what noise limits the MkII has over the 40 or 50 when sites like DXOmark rates the sensor in the mkii as superior in noise and in overal rating. Not trying to argue with you, I'm curious why opinions vary so greatly.

I don't know anything about that website, but I can tell you from shooting side-by-side with the 1D2 and the 40D in the same conditions with same aperture lenses that the 40D comes out less noisy and the color is much better out of camera. Additionally, the 40D shoots 14-bit RAW while the 1D2 shoots 12-bit RAW.
That website also ranked the 50D below the 40D and the D200 above both of those cameras. That is idiotic. The D200 has all kinds of noise problems and the 50D is a better sensor than the 40D.

As for AF- my 1D2 shutter died on me the day I was shooting a Houston Dynamo game vs the San Jose Earthquakes There are a lot of tracking shots, and the 40D handled it like a champ. All the exif data is embedded if you roll over and click info. If you are a birder, that is another story, but then you want a 1D3 with a 600/4.

I haven't done lab tests, but I can tell you from real life experience that the 40D easily and noticably outperforms the 1D2 in noise and I am more than happy to opt for that body in a number of situations. If the AF is more than good enough to track professional soccer or college football, there are probably very few applications where the 1D2 AF is absolutely necessary (although birding is one such application.)
Ag_of_08
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Thanks GS, that's an interesting take on it to hear.
Seven11
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Question about white balance...

Which WB mode do you guys normally use? Auto, the presets (Cloudy, Tungsten, etc.), or a custom WB? Lately I've been using the presets because I feel like my indoor shots (especially in low light) always come out too green or too yellow, but even with the presets I find myself tweaking the WB of all of my photos in Lightroom.
Guitarsoup
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wb is very important and very neglected. what you set it on totally depends on the light the camera is registering. I use custom when I have to or when I know the lights (like in stadiums I often shoot in.) I tend to correct everything in lightroom anyway, since I shoot 95% RAW
Stymied
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Just to add... if you shoot RAW, the camera's white balance setting is not important. If you have to shoot JPEG, you can either use the WB preset that best fits your condition, use auto or find a white wall in similar lighting conditions and set the camera's custom white balance.

I always shoot RAW so WB is only a concern in post processing. Unless you have to publish photos quickly (i.e. journalism), just stick to RAW and fix it in LR or PS.
Ag_of_08
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LR to save the day! Raw is a pain to deal with at times, but it certainly is nice to come home and sit down to a hundred pictures that are correctable instead of a hundred that you fudged the WB setting on....
Seven11
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I shoot almost everything in RAW, it didn't take me long to convert from JPG after seeing the advantages in post-processing, especially with WB. Thanks for the replies.
rachag03
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Indoors I usually use the Cloudy setting...it just seems to produce the best WB result for me. Sometimes I have to tweak it in ACR but usually not. And I use the flash setting if I've got my flash on. Auto WB never looks right to me.
Guitarsoup
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08 - Here are a bunch of other professionals saying the noise is better on the 40D than the Mark2.[/url]
Maybe I wasn't making it up.
Ag_of_08
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Ok look, this is ridiculous.

I say thanks for the view point, I hadn't seen that particular opinion being bantered about before. I don't ARGUE with you, I provide what I had read, tell you what I was drawing MY opinion from, then ask yours. I thanked you for your input and thought we where having a civilized conversation.

You respond with sarcasm. Thanks.

Yes I started WWIII earlier, I apologized and dropped it. I was trying to TALK to you, even brought a little evidence that I could find. Let's live it civil ok?

[This message has been edited by Ag_of_08 (edited 1/5/2009 1:01a).]
Wildmen03
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Just bought the 430EX II, with diffuser and RC1 remote, can't wait to get them.
caleblyn
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Guitar...

I am considering purchasing the Tamron 28-75 2.8.

I am pretty sure you own this lens. I think you spoke about it somewhere in this thread, but I am too lazy to go search for it. A

Anyhow, my recent vacation on a cruise boat was really nice and I was able to get some great pics. However, I ran into some physical problems. I own an XSi with the "kit" 18-55 IS lens and the 50mm 1.8. I found myself using the 50 the majority of the time because of low-light situations. The 18-55 just wasn't cutting it. The problem that I had was that the 50 was putting me into a corner. Since the boat was tight-quarters, I found myself trying to get a pic of my daughter with a princess and having to stand way too far away to get what I wanted, and most likely running out of real estate to get the perfect pic.

So, here is my plan...I am going to get rid of my 18-55 and get something faster. The price on the Tamron 28-75 2.8 is very nice and is more in my price range.

Okay, so what is your recommendation? The Tamron that you own, or maybe another lens that would be around $500 or less.


tia
Guitarsoup
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It really depends what you think you need.

If you really think you are going to need to shoot in tight spaces a lot, a lens like the 17-40mm F4L may be your best bet - but at F/4, it isn't extremely fast. (It is easier to hold wider lenses than longer lenses.)

I think the 28-75mm 2.8 Tamron lens is spectacular and highly suggest it for the money.

If you are really going to shoot a lot of really wide stuff and find yourself wanting to shoot at the wide end of your current lens, maybe check out the 11-16mm 2.8 lens by Tokina. I hear great things about it.

I have the Sigma 10-20mm 4-5.6 lens and while it isn't that fast, it is a very solid lens.

Other thing you could look at would be the Sigma 24mm 1.8 prime lens, which you could get for under $200 used.
caleblyn
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Well, I really like the range of the 28-75. I'm going to keep the 50 which is still a great portrait style lens to have in the bag. However, if I find myself in a situation where I need something wider, I would like to have something faster. The 28-75 gives me some range that I wouldn't have if I were to go after a wide-angle fixed lens. The Sigma 24mm 1.8 looks nice, but I think I would rather the range of the 28-75.

Sigma makes a 28-70 2.8. What do you know about this lens?


This photo taking stuff is pretty addictive! My wife will be sending you a bill pretty soon!
AggieDruggist89
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Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 is the only non Canon lens I own. It is my main walkaround lens. I like it.

Here is a link to a site with sample pictures with this lens.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=145586

[This message has been edited by AggieDruggist89 (edited 1/5/2009 12:19p).]
Guitarsoup
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quote:
Sigma makes a 28-70 2.8. What do you know about this lens?


I know the Sigma is not nearly as good as the Tamron.

Eventually, I am going to come up with test shots I have taken with different lenses, so you can check it out. I have such a wide array of lenses.

But for now, you can also search for certain lenses on Flickr and see what other people have done with them.

The Tamron range is great.

If you really wanted to save up, my opinion has turned on the 24-105 F4L IS and I am a huge fan. I know AeroAg03 has it. I used it to shoot some 1/6th second portraits in low light that turned out great. That lens is on my list for new things to get.

Updated Equipment:
Canon 1DmarkII
Canon 1DsmarkII
Canon 40D+Grip
Canon 10D+Grip

Canon 580EX II (2x)
Canon 550EX (2x)

Canon:
Prime:
14mm 2.8L II
50mm 1.8
85mm 1.8
400mm 5.6L
Zoom:
16-35mm 2.8L II
17-40mm fL
24-70mm 2.8L (2x)
70-200mm 2.8L non-IS (2x)

Sigma:
70-200mm 2.8 EX DG HSM
10-20mm 4-5.6
150mm 2.8 Macro
300mm 2.8 EX HSM APO
1.4x teleconverter
2.0x teleconverter

Tamron:
28-75mm 2.8 Di XR LD IF

Lensbaby 2.0

In order of what I will buy):
Canon 50D (probably will buy this tonight) (~$1100)
580EX II (Want 4 of them at $370each)
Canon 24-105mm F4L IS (~$950)
Canon 70-200mm 2.8L IS (~$1500)
Yet to be released 1DMark4 (~$4500)
Canon 5DmarkII (~$2700)

I am also thinking about selling my Sigma 10-20mm lens to get the Tokina 11-16 2.8 lens. That would only be about $100 out of pocket to change.
caleblyn
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For the shooting that I am doing, all I need is a nice range from wide to about 200. I don't need the tele just yet but in about a year my daughter will be in tee-ball and then it will be a desire. So, the Tamron 24-75 + a 70-200 lens would take care of me for a long time.


thanks for the help, and Aggiedrug...I am very much aware of that site. I have wasted many hours rummaging around in there!

[This message has been edited by caleblyn (edited 1/5/2009 1:31p).]
Guitarsoup
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quote:
So, the Tamron 24-75 + a 70-200 lens would take care of me for a long time.


Yeah, absolutely. I picked up my Sigma 70-200 for 550 and my Tamron 28-75 2.8 for 275. Generally that is what my hired second shooters use, but the quality is great and that is just wonderful for paying about 800. For about 100, you can add a sigma 1.4x to your sigma 70-200 2.8 and have basically a 100-280mm F4 lens for TeeBall (assuming they are daytime Sat games.)
caleblyn
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You must get some special prices because I haven't seen neither of those lenses for that cheap! The best price I have seen on the Tamron was about 329!
Guitarsoup
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I bought both used. I am generally very picky about my equipment and will wait until I get the copy I want. That is why all my equipment is in excellent shape and works perfectly. I was just patient enough to wait for the right deals.
Maximus_Meridius
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The Tamron is definitely worth it. Very fast, and very sharp. You'll wanna use that kit lens as a baseball or something.

[This message has been edited by Maximus_Meridius (edited 1/5/2009 3:30p).]
Guitarsoup
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There are lots of great uses for a kit lens:
agracer
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Got to play with a D90 last week and used it to remote fire my SB-600 flash....oh man camera lust is starting to get to me...
Guitarsoup
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Well, I ordered four new things last night.


10" screen (1024x600 resolution)
1.6ghz Intel Atom Processor
2 GIG RAM
160 GIG HD
6 Cell - 7 hour battery
Windows XP
This will be my dedicated work computer (bought by my company, only used for work.) Be nice to carry around a lighter laptop when on location and can use it to trigger my camera using Canon software. Also it has WIFI so I can use it to transmit images on location/on deadline.


Canon 50D
15.1 MP
DIGIC 4
ISO up to 12,800 (great for the dark arenas I sometimes shoot in)
3.0" LCD with 920,000 pixels
Micro-adjustment of AF for my lenses


I also got the BG-E2N battery grip and an extra 16GIG CF Card.
caleblyn
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You know what you outta do? Since you can't physically carry all of this stuff, you should just give me your Tammy and your Sigma 70-200. Just think, it would help us both...I would get the setup I am looking for and you could get rid some unneeded weight!

Guitarsoup
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Then what would my second or third shooter use?

When I shoot a wedding or event, I try to have duplicates of all equipment. Camera bodies (now have 5 bodies) lenses, batteries, flashes, you name it. You can never be overprepared.
caleblyn
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The Canon lenses of the same spec!


Another benefit for yourself is that you could call it a tax write-off!
tlepoC
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How about you train me to be your third shooter?
Guitarsoup
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I can be hired to give lessons. If I really like someone's work and personality, then I could hire them on a shoot-by-shoot basis as a 2nd/3rd or assistant.
3 Dollar Bill
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question about flying with camera:

i am flying for the first time with my camera tomorrow. does it hurt it to go through the x-rays? i'm taking it in my bag as a carry-on?
Guitarsoup
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Don't check it for any reason, and xrays won't hurt it.

XRays hurt high speed (i.e. extra sensitive) film because it exposed it. None of that will hurt flash memory or a camera. Same as sending your laptop or iPod through.
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3 Dollar Bill
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guitar

have you ever had any problem with them wanting you to check it? if so, how did you handle it?

thanks
Stymied
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I've never had a problem taking cameras as a carry on. Heck... I've taken my 1D, 6 lenses and a tripod inside a carry on. You will be fine.
3 Dollar Bill
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oh ok....sweet
 
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