**Photography Talk**

[MCObray]

Got out and enjoyed the weather today! Finally had the opportunity to put the new lens to work.

Big ol'e blue. by Bucky Images, on Flickr

Wicked. by Bucky Images, on Flickr

Cheese. by Bucky Images, on Flickr

Smile! by Bucky Images, on Flickr

The Runner. by Bucky Images, on Flickr

 

[GentryGoon]

Hey everyone. I'm looking to buy a new tripod. My 40 dollar amazon one is starting to crap out (the head literally wobbles, and two of the leg clamps have broken off). I shouldn't have bought such a cheap one. Is there anything in the 140 dollar range that would be worth buying? I found this Amazon.com: Manfrotto MK294A3-A0RC2 294 Aluminum Tripod Kit with Ball Head with Quick Release: Camera & Photo It's a brand a few of you have recommended. Should I get it or hold off until I can get something better?

 

[Stick Figure]

I found this Amazon.com: Manfrotto MK294A3-A0RC2 294 Aluminum Tripod Kit with Ball Head with Quick Release: Camera & Photo It's a brand a few of you have recommended. Should I get it or hold off until I can get something better?

That looks like the exact model that I have, I just don't have the part number of mine memorized to be certain and its actually laying in the back of the 4Runner.

On mine the tripod itself is marked as made in Italy, and I don't have any complaints with it after a couple months of use. The head is marked as China and up until a couple weeks ago I was more than happy with it. The first problem I had was the latch for quick release plate had loosened up and was falling off. Luckily I caught it before it fell off completely. The other issue I have noticed is after switching to the new camera (magnesium skeleton vs all plastic) the plate has a noticeable amount of slop in the mount. It wasn't something I even noticed with the lighter camera attached.

All in all I'm not sorry I bought it or anything. It is a pretty good value, and eventually I'll pick up a better head for it since that is something that is easily replaceable.

 

[GentryGoon]

That looks like the exact model that I have, I just don't have the part number of mine memorized to be certain and its actually laying in the back of the 4Runner.

On mine the tripod itself is marked as made in Italy, and I don't have any complaints with it after a couple months of use. The head is marked as China and up until a couple weeks ago I was more than happy with it. The first problem I had was the latch for quick release plate had loosened up and was falling off. Luckily I caught it before it fell off completely. The other issue I have noticed is after switching to the new camera (magnesium skeleton vs all plastic) the plate has a noticeable amount of slop in the mount. It wasn't something I even noticed with the lighter camera attached.

All in all I'm not sorry I bought it or anything. It is a pretty good value, and eventually I'll pick up a better head for it since that is something that is easily replaceable.

Thanks for the input! I guess I'll just wait until i can buy manfrotto legs and head separately..

 

[the great him]

what do you guys who shoot canon think of the EF-S 10-22 USM? ive been looking for a new lense and this one has caught my eye... it will give me back that wide angle that most of us with the digital lose... whats your thoughts on the lense? yay or nay? i know its not super fast, its pretty standard but im more looking for the wide angle aspect of things than speed at the moment

 

[MCObray]

Hey everyone. I'm looking to buy a new tripod. My 40 dollar amazon one is starting to crap out (the head literally wobbles, and two of the leg clamps have broken off). I shouldn't have bought such a cheap one. Is there anything in the 140 dollar range that would be worth buying? I found this Amazon.com: Manfrotto MK294A3-A0RC2 294 Aluminum Tripod Kit with Ball Head with Quick Release: Camera & Photo It's a brand a few of you have recommended. Should I get it or hold off until I can get something better?

I have this tripod. Quality and affordable tripod and have no complaints of their products. I almost use it every time I have got my 7D out.

what do you guys who shoot canon think of the EF-S 10-22 USM? ive been looking for a new lense and this one has caught my eye... it will give me back that wide angle that most of us with the digital lose... whats your thoughts on the lense? yay or nay? i know its not super fast, its pretty standard but im more looking for the wide angle aspect of things than speed at the moment

Check out Rokinon f/3.5 FE8M-C. Manual lens, but very very easy to work. Captures great images and has a price around $270. The first few images posted above were taken with that lens.

 

[JPWendtinc]

Easter pics of the kiddos

 

[submarinepirate]

Hey everyone. I'm looking to buy a new tripod. My 40 dollar amazon one is starting to crap out (the head literally wobbles, and two of the leg clamps have broken off). I shouldn't have bought such a cheap one. Is there anything in the 140 dollar range that would be worth buying? I found this Amazon.com: Manfrotto MK294A3-A0RC2 294 Aluminum Tripod Kit with Ball Head with Quick Release: Camera & Photo It's a brand a few of you have recommended. Should I get it or hold off until I can get something better?

the super sturdy ones are going to be pretty expensive, but they start going into things like carbon fiber materials. The biggest expense on them is usually the head.

However, the "Rocketfish" is the Best Buy store brand. I bought one a couple of years ago, and it's remarkably steady, sturdy, and has served me well in my bag of tricks for a few years now. And iirc it was about $60.

fwiw...Manfrotto is a good quality brand, and typically you get what you pay for.

 

[MCObray]

Hope ya'lls Easter was good! Mine was thanks to these guys. I played with the Aperture on this one.

Easter Egg Cupcakes. by Bucky Images, on Flickr

 

[Hepar]

Hey everyone. I'm looking to buy a new tripod. My 40 dollar amazon one is starting to crap out (the head literally wobbles, and two of the leg clamps have broken off). I shouldn't have bought such a cheap one. Is there anything in the 140 dollar range that would be worth buying? I found this Amazon.com: Manfrotto MK294A3-A0RC2 294 Aluminum Tripod Kit with Ball Head with Quick Release: Camera & Photo It's a brand a few of you have recommended. Should I get it or hold off until I can get something better?

What's the heaviest lens that you have?

And some shots from this weekend. Finally able to get out and shoot for fun and not work! (I know the watermark gets washed out on some of them, but was too lazy to set each one up right. Just wanted it there for watermark's sake)

14mm 1/500 f5.6 ISO 100
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkusuiphotography/8610751161/" title="DSC_0226 by Hepar1977, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8121/8610751161_03ed142ee3_b.jpg" width="1024" height="766" alt="DSC_0226"></a>

14mm 1/500 f4.5 ISO 100
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkusuiphotography/8611858700/" title="DSC_0202 by Hepar1977, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8106/8611858700_b3d1680e29_b.jpg" width="1024" height="642" alt="DSC_0202"></a>

14mm 1/320 f5.0 ISO 100
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkusuiphotography/8611854878/" title="DSC_0257 by Hepar1977, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8536/8611854878_5158cca214_b.jpg" width="1024" height="650" alt="DSC_0257"></a>

14mm 1/200 f5.0 ISO 320
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkusuiphotography/8611852702/" title="DSC_0283 by Hepar1977, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8390/8611852702_445a02a850_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="DSC_0283"></a>

14mm 1/200 f5.0 ISO 320
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkusuiphotography/8610744401/" title="DSC_0290 by Hepar1977, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8610744401_7a1214488d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="DSC_0290"></a>

 

[HedgehogOutdoors]

One of my recent pictures. This was taken 3/29/13, scouting out a road ksneubec mentioned on here years ago.

Here is the accompanying video:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vf9qCotiB4s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Stick Figure]

Little sample of what my camera is typically shooting.

Shutter Speed: 1/50 sec
Aperture: f/6.3
ISO Sensitivity: 50
Exposure Compensation: 0 EV
Metering Mode: Spot
Flash Fired: No Flash
Focal Length: 20 mm

Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec
Aperture: f/3.5
ISO Sensitivity: 50
Exposure Compensation: 0 EV
Metering Mode: Spot
Flash Fired: No Flash
Focal Length: 16 mm

If you want to check out the rest of the cars from the goodguys show Most Designs

Both of those were taken with my couple week old A77 and the 16-80 Zeiss lens with in a few hours after picking it up. I wish I would have grabbed some filters in the right size before hitting the show, but what can you do.

 

[t4r4life]

Wow saw some pics from a rx100, i am super impressed

 

[Stick Figure]

Wow saw some pics from a rx100, i am super impressed

I have no doubt it takes amazing pictures for a point and shoot, but for the price I personally would would rather have an SLR or SLT type camera that gives me more room to grow.

Heres a couple samples from my Sony A55 when it was still new to me, and I had didn't know ANYTHING about photography so these were all full automatic, no post processing. Just using it as a point and shoot.

<img src="http://www.mostdesigns.com/zgallery/albums/trips-car-shows-offroad-adventures-and-other-misc/Festival%20of%20Sails/Festival%20of%20Sails%20116.JPG" width="952" height="535" alt="festival of sails">


<img src="http://www.mostdesigns.com/zgallery/albums/trips-car-shows-offroad-adventures-and-other-misc/Festival%20of%20Sails/Festival%20of%20Sails%2031.JPG" width="952" height="535" alt="festival of sails">

 

[GentryGoon]

I kinda like this shot I got tonight. I wish I had gone with a smaller aperture to get the background in focus and bumped up the ISO to make up for it, or a longer shutter speed. There's always next time. :doh:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/willgentry/8623773690/" title="DSC_0105 by willgentry, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8120/8623773690_e4a5edc46a_b.jpg" width="683" height="1024" alt="DSC_0105"></a>

 

[Hepar]

I kinda like this shot I got tonight. I wish I had gone with a smaller aperture to get the background in focus and bumped up the ISO to make up for it, or a longer shutter speed. There's always next time. :doh:

I agree with your critique, but still a cool shot!

 

[GentryGoon]

I agree with your critique, but still a cool shot!

I'm finally starting to figure out this depth of field stuff...:hungry: I also read that you have to be careful very small apertures with cheap lenses since it can cause diffraction.

what do you think of my most recent shot? does the same lack of focus on the area past the lake ruin the shot? it's sharper than the above photo but still not as in focus as the immediate foreground.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/willgentry/8626088687/" title="ArcadiaTrail by willgentry, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8254/8626088687_58db047847_b.jpg" width="683" height="1024" alt="ArcadiaTrail"></a>

 

[rickashay]

^^Cool shot!!

I think it may have been cool if you took another single exposure with a shorter exposure and layered it on the lower section of photo. You would reduce the exposure of the foreground/midground and those lights would not be as blown out. Either that or maybe some layering and masking work in Lightroom/Photoshop.

Cool composition for sure though! Love star trails, and I like how you captured the true north (or south)? as the central point of the stars rotation.

 

[Hepar]

^^Cool shot!!

I think it may have been cool if you took another single exposure with a shorter exposure and layered it on the lower section of photo. You would reduce the exposure of the foreground/midground and those lights would not be as blown out. Either that or maybe some layering and masking work in Lightroom/Photoshop.

Cool composition for sure though! Love star trails, and I like how you captured the true north (or south)? as the central point of the stars rotation.

Great advice. This is a prime example of why I've been really enjoying this thread. Different shooters with different ways of thinking. I tend to get narrow minded and think of how to change the shot itself, but by looking at it in a single-shot way. I always forget to think outside the single-shot mentality and on ways I can shoot with post-shot editing in mind.

 

[GentryGoon]

^^Cool shot!!

I think it may have been cool if you took another single exposure with a shorter exposure and layered it on the lower section of photo. You would reduce the exposure of the foreground/midground and those lights would not be as blown out. Either that or maybe some layering and masking work in Lightroom/Photoshop.

Cool composition for sure though! Love star trails, and I like how you captured the true north (or south)? as the central point of the stars rotation.

Thank you for the awesome idea!
I have heard of doing these star trails merged on photoshop with each frame as a different layer which allows you to mask out areas of light pollution that show up on an individual frame (satellite, plane, car lights). Your idea is much simpler, I can merge the star trial on StarstaX (which is incredibly easy to use) and then combine that output with a frame exposed for everything below the sky, using Photoshop. Now I just have to wait for another clear night!

:thanks:

Edit: and yes Polaris is in the center