Photography Thread

[MrClean]

I could, but that would require me to actually DO something......and that's just not going to happen.

[ambientboy]

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g469/danielrwelch/Models%20etc/BMD101LR.jpg

[ambientboy]

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g469/danielrwelch/whatevs/watch.jpg

[Wolfgang]

Do any film guys out there still have a Canon EOS 1V they are willing to part with?

[MarkinAZ]

Cymbidiums are starting to open out on the patio:

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/markinca1953/Pictures012-6.jpg

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/markinca1953/Pictures013-2.jpg

[emopunker2004]

Our new pet "Skittles"

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8163/6995618148_27747712a8_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/6995618148/)
Skittles (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/6995618148/) by thestemens16 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[gbum]

currently my cutest model

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/582024_10150819076067800_657942799_9872461_4165564 96_n.jpg

[emopunker2004]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7102/7181518314_5b84719daa_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7181518314/)
DSC_3768 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7181518314/) by thestemens16 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7079/7181433260_ffe333ee66_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7181433260/)
DSC_3770 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7181433260/) by thestemens16 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7222/7181402502_307bc693c0_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7181402502/)
DSC_3776 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7181402502/) by thestemens16 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[Hooligan]

Not a great photographer at all but this is one of my favorites. (iPhone taken w/instagram)

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff233/Blackassassin1983/e3aeba5a.jpg
My daughter Madison and my Choc. Lab Sasha.

[MarkinAZ]

Our new pet "Skittles"

What type of snake is "Skittles" Justin?

[emopunker2004]

What type of snake is "Skittles" Justin?

Corn Snake :D

[MarkinAZ]

Corn Snake :D

:tu

[emopunker2004]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7105/7185248752_cf2ab07619_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7185248752/)
DSC_3769 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7185248752/) by thestemens16 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[Blak Smyth]

My flowers finally opened:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7238/7220744486_cba0094388_z.jpg

[shark]

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p42/ronman_2007/P1030374.jpg

[hammondc]

Can any of you photogs recommend a photography book? I have a D5000 and am mediocre at shooting with it. SOmeone mentioned the Magic Lantern books. Also, any books/resources for the SB600 flash?

Like I said, I do OK with the camera/flash, but feel like there is a lot more I could do. With offspring #1 due in September, I'd like to get a little better at it.

[ambientboy]

Can any of you photogs recommend a photography book? I have a D5000 and am mediocre at shooting with it. SOmeone mentioned the Magic Lantern books. Also, any books/resources for the SB600 flash?

Like I said, I do OK with the camera/flash, but feel like there is a lot more I could do. With offspring #1 due in September, I'd like to get a little better at it.

Spend some times on photog forums. Take everything with a grain of salt, as each person will think their style is best, but everyone should have their own way of tweaking technique. That being said, it's not a bad place to learn some things.

Also, check out this list: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/books.htm

and

http://www.amazon.com/Skin-Complete-Digitally-Photographing-Retouching/dp/047004733X

[hammondc]

Spend some times on photog forums. Take everything with a grain of salt, as each person will think their style is best, but everyone should have their own way of tweaking technique. That being said, it's not a bad place to learn some things.

Also, check out this list: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/books.htm

and

http://www.amazon.com/Skin-Complete-Digitally-Photographing-Retouching/dp/047004733X


Good stuff. Thanks bro. :tu

[coffeemonkey]

Can any of you photogs recommend a photography book? I have a D5000 and am mediocre at shooting with it. SOmeone mentioned the Magic Lantern books. Also, any books/resources for the SB600 flash?

Like I said, I do OK with the camera/flash, but feel like there is a lot more I could do. With offspring #1 due in September, I'd like to get a little better at it.

You will learn the most about photography by shooting and shooting a lot. I mean, every day, as much as your wife/husband/girlfriend/boyfriend/dog/pet will let you. Nothing will teach you more about photography, in my opinion, than just going out and shooting. Make mistakes, if you aren't making mistakes you aren't pushing your work to higher levels.

It is funny, I love books and have more than I can count but when I read about photography I do it on the web. I've read a number of good photography books but the place I learn the most about photography is on the web.

My number one place right now is http://pixoto.com. If you spend time studying, really studying the kind of photography you find there, you will become a better photographer.

other good websites I frequent:
http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/ (great site about off-camera small flash, Nikon shooter perspective)
http://www.confessionsofatraveljunkie.com/
http://www.stuckincustoms.com/
http://www.sylarena.com/ (another great site about off camera small flash, Canon shooter)
http://www.aphotoeditor.com/
http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/
http://www.pixelatedimage.com/blog/
http://www.joemcnally.com/blog/ (another great site about off-camera small flash, Nikon shooter)

books:
The Hot Shoe Diaries, Joe McNally
Within the Frame, David DuChemin

I realize I may have just had a soap box moment there, you'll excuse me I hope.

[hammondc]

Looks like I have a ton of reading to do. Thanks a bunch.

[MrClean]

Our town does a Community Days celebration every year around this time. They have a pageant to select a young lady to represent our town all year. My daughter decided to participate this year. She didn't win but I was sure proud of how well she did. This is one of the pics I took before the contest. Messing around in LightRoom, thought this looked pretty cool.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8145/7189751103_cf2596c765_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcarroll01/7189751103/)
Taryn - before the contest (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcarroll01/7189751103/) by Jeff Carroll01 (http://www.flickr.com/people/jeffcarroll01/), on Flickr

[shark]

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p42/ronman_2007/UpNorth2012/P1030744.jpg

[emopunker2004]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8433/7500934638_1ff9ba6809_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7500934638/)
invicta2old (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7500934638/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[emopunker2004]

Well my Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro Lens came in from Keh. Pictures soon

[emopunker2004]

Well I decided I wanted a soft/light box for some knife/cigar/watch pictures. Whipped this up using the advice of a guy over on Blade Forums:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8433/7531023380_897e9bcdfd_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7531023380/)
DSC_3941 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7531023380/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8428/7531084424_f10c6d4ae2_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7531084424/)
DSC_3951 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7531084424/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

:tu

[emopunker2004]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7138/7534965610_d51eddbd97_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7534965610/)
DSC_3995 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7534965610/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[emopunker2004]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7262/7551901492_4664a67ca8_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7551901492/)
DSC_4047 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7551901492/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[MarkinAZ]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7138/7534965610_d51eddbd97_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7534965610/)
DSC_3995 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7534965610/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr


Nice photo Justin. What type of insect?

[emopunker2004]

Nice photo Justin. What type of insect?

Thanks Mark

It's a green leaf bug of one kind or another, not really sure. He was on the railing when I got home from work the other day.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7276/7534906304_9264702fe8_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7534906304/)
DSC_3971 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7534906304/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[MarkinAZ]

Thanks Mark

It's a green leaf bug of one kind or another, not really sure. He was on the railing when I got home from work the other day.


Think your right Justin. I was Googling some images and appears to be a green wing leafhopper (of some variety)...

[emopunker2004]

It was cool. I noticed it when I got home. He stayed there for me. I went inside took off my uniform, put on shorts, grapped the camera gear, went out and set up camera and tripod and he just sat there patiently for me :tu

[emopunker2004]

New watch
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7115/7639503278_09edb1a5bd_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7639503278/)
DSC_4112 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7639503278/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8284/7639520898_137709fcb8_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7639520898/)
DSC_4104 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7639520898/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[equetefue]

I have so many... My website

www.Photo-Galleria.com

[dave]

I have so many... My website

www.Photo-Galleria.com

Great site! Clean, fast, professional.

Did you contract out for site creation/maintenance? DIY?
I'm impressed - not just the galleries, but the interface to retail is smooth, too.

[emopunker2004]

Well I have a new P&S coming in as a backup to my D90. Went with the Canon SX260HS. Going to a big cat sanctuary on Friday evening if the weather stays ok, hope to have some pix up this weekend.

[equetefue]

Great site! Clean, fast, professional.

Did you contract out for site creation/maintenance? DIY?
I'm impressed - not just the galleries, but the interface to retail is smooth, too.


Thanks :tu

I go thru Zenfolio which assists the user to create their own site. Pretty nifty.

[emopunker2004]

Just a Little Instragram

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8281/7754920350_d9d49cc19f_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7754920350/)
Newcastle Werewolf (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7754920350/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr


Picture of the wife at the Catty Shack

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7276/7755672722_a6be87e9ac_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7755672722/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7755672722/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[emopunker2004]

Pictures from the Catty Shack

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8439/7757129626_a9833f2481_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7757129626/)
DSC_4302 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7757129626/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/7757133890_7589725603_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7757133890/)
DSC_4288 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7757133890/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7120/7757138232_51e57e870c_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7757138232/)
DSC_4270 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7757138232/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7117/7757151946_e2c610f31c_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7757151946/)
DSC_4227 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7757151946/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8426/7757153336_8ac4dd1709_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7757153336/)
DSC_4219 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7757153336/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

There are more here on my flickr page. http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/sets/72157631012290080/with/7757153336/

[TJarv]

Great pictures Justin

[emopunker2004]

Thanks Tony. It's a shame they're all fenced in. makes it hard to get good pictures.

[TJarv]

I need someone to point me in the right direction of a new camera.

Less than $200

[emopunker2004]

I need someone to point me in the right direction of a new camera.

Less than $200

What features would you like?
-Panorama?
-Video?
What zoom range?
-5x
-10x
-20x

Size?

[TJarv]

What features would you like?
-Panorama?
-Video?
What zoom range?
-5x
-10x
-20x

Size?

Would like video and a zoom somewhere between 10x-20x

[emopunker2004]

How big you want?

[TJarv]

Not picky on size

[TJarv]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0073HSJR4/ref=s9_simh_gw_p421_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1A84FFHKWZG100AX5ZCR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1389517282&pf_rd_i=507846

I was looking at this one

[emopunker2004]

Ok BRB let me browse

[emopunker2004]

how firm is 200

[TJarv]

lets say under $250

[emopunker2004]

Ok this is last years model of what i just bought. My aunt/uncle have it and love it
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-Digital-Stabilized-Wide-Angle/dp/B004J3YCGM

This one seems decent too
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00728ZBA2/?tag=hyprod-20&hvadid=19393050336&hvpos=1o1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1694073112142695652&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&ref=asc_df_B00728ZBA2

[emopunker2004]

and
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B005IGVXO8


As long as you don't expect DSLR performance these 3 should suit you. Only one I'd personally testify for is the Canon SX230 HS.

Given your price range none of these will be the best at anything but should be well rounded p&s cameras for everyday pictures.

[TJarv]

Need to do some research. I'm a dummy when it comes to cameras

[emopunker2004]

:r
That's y i pre-researched for you

[TJarv]

I know. I might end up trying to save up money for one like my sister has. She bought a Rebel

[emopunker2004]

the DSLR?

[emopunker2004]

Check out both Canon and Nikon. If you don't mind buying used you can save some $
I bought my Nikon D90 body from usedcameras.com
Been running great for a long time now.

[emopunker2004]

I tell down side to a DSLR is obviously size. By the time you throw in a couple lenses to your kit it can be a bit cumbersome. That's why I bought my Canon SX260 HS the other day. I'll use that when I don't feel like carrying my backpack. Just food for thought.

[TJarv]

I tell down side to a DSLR is obviously size. By the time you throw in a couple lenses to your kit it can be a bit cumbersome. That's why I bought my Canon SX260 HS the other day. I'll use that when I don't feel like carrying my backpack. Just food for thought.

Yeah but how much difference is their in picture quality

[emopunker2004]

Yeah but how much difference is their in picture quality

If you're just talking 8x10 size there is only a minimal difference. DSLR do better in low light than a p&s. The thing I LOVE about DSLR cameras is that YOU are in control. If you're not going to take the time to learn how ISO, Aperature, and Shutter Speed interact and produce pictures than you're honestly throwing your money away IMO. A DSLR can produce great pictures on auto but they are usually just plain old pictures. When you start putting in the settings you can create art. If you're not going to put forth the effort to get somewhat creative in your exposures then you're better off with a P&S or Interchangeable Lens Compact. If you are thinking about the DSLR route I would recommend picking up the book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson

[emopunker2004]

Decide on anything yet?

[TJarv]

I think I'm going with this one http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-COOLPIX-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B005IGVXO8

[OLS]

I am glad you avoided the Canon....I bought two used cams off of B&H 16 months ago.
One was the vaunted and much loved S5 IS at a mere 8MP....Or what I like to call the
last good camera made before it all got MegaPixel crazy. If you read my blog you'd know
that I fell in the river with it up to my neck, dried it out for two days and it works again.

My other camera was the SX1 IS, at that time the supposed summit of P&S long lens
cameras from Canon. And almost as soon as it was out they started disowning it.
THOUSANDS of buyers were getting a debilitating Lens Error issue with it, I had for the
most part avoided it. I do not use mine at the beach or in dusty conditions. But you
could also get the error simply from not USING the camera often enough, [SOMEHOW].
Well after dunking my S5, I thought, 'no biggie, I have my 'good camera". Not so fast.
Lens error, out of warranty, no workee, lucky only that I got it as a 100% refurb and
only paid half of what it was supposedly worth. No more Canons for me, they basically
deny this issue is the fault of the manufacturer. Make sure to check B&H Photo online
before making the buy. You might find a NICE used one, a 100% refurb or a good
price on a new one.

[OLS]

Here are a few standouts from the used pages of BHphotovideo.com

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800881649-USE/Fujifilm_15976371_S200EXR_FinePix_Super_Zoom.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800883898-USE/Panasonic_dmc_fz35k_Lumix_DMC_FZ35_Digital_Camera. html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/766987-REF/Nikon_26233B_CoolPix_P7000_Digital_Camera.html

[TJarv]

Here are a few standouts from the used pages of BHphotovideo.com

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800881649-USE/Fujifilm_15976371_S200EXR_FinePix_Super_Zoom.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800883898-USE/Panasonic_dmc_fz35k_Lumix_DMC_FZ35_Digital_Camera. html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/766987-REF/Nikon_26233B_CoolPix_P7000_Digital_Camera.html

Brad would you take one of these over the NIKON I'm looking at

[OLS]

Sorry about that....just took my own advice and bought the Fujifilm
S200EXR they had used....$189, couldn't complain. THEY DO have the
highly capable and perhaps better standard feature-having SX100FS in
slightly lesser condition for 40 bucks more. It has the articulating LCD
which I have come to nearly depend on. But both are EXCELLENT bridge
cameras.

[OLS]

Brad would you take one of these over the NIKON I'm looking at

Well they DO HAVE a refurb for only 135 HERE: (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/840172-REF/Nikon_26288B_COOLPIX_S8200_Digital_Camera.html)
and I DO REALLY LOVE that 1080p video, which I just lost with my nearly new boat anchor CANON SX1 IS....

But in this particular case, owing to the fact that I just BOUGHT one of the three cameras I linked
it's hard to say that I would, lol. FOR ME, I like to have a traditional bodied camera. Makes it seem
more intuitive to me. But as I said, they are making cameras now that look like pocket zooms that are
SUPER-capable. SO count another thing that makes me a dinosaur. NOW, would I forego new camera
for a B&H-sold refurb model to save $65 bucks...yes. But not on a CANON. Never again on a Canon.

This item I just bought, effectively snatching it out from under you, has the lens barrel zoom and
focus controls which I sorely miss in modern cameras. That was what sold me. If you also like to
get as close as possible to a 'pro" style camera AROUND your price range, You should look here (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800870397-USE/Fujifilm_15781764_FinePix_S100fs_Digital_Camera.ht ml)
and read this (http://www.photographyblog.com/news/fujifilm_finepix_s100fs_review7/)

[OLS]

Any one of the three cameras I linked to were outstanding cameras in their time.
And all are priced in your range. However the camera you have chosen is also priced in your range,
is a solid model, AND has trueHDvideo. Tough to match up with that in every way BUT body style.
Also out of all the other cameras, the Coolpix 8200 buys into that "more megapixels is better" hype
that is killing the industry right now. Give me a nice imaging 8-10 MP camera all day long, if its a CCD
imager.

In my only semi-experienced opinion, I would say that if image quality is of utmost concern to you,
skip that one you were looking at and look at one of the ones I have linked to. You can go to
photography blog and enter the camera name and search for thier review, even skippig to the "Conclusion" section
and cutting to the chase. I find it interesting that they sort of BAG the image quality of the 8200 while STILL
calling it a really good camera. Must be a lot of nice features that make them less picky about IQ.

I have a philosophy about cameras and computers...stay one or even two generations behind
on cameras and save money. The newest is rarely the best, and if it IS the best, waiting can
offer a good savings. I like to troll the used and refurbs at B&H and if they have something
cheap, go back to the reviews and see if it was once a great camera before the herd migrated
away. It's how I ended up with the Canon S5 IS, a SUPER lil camera.

[OLS]

Sheesh, how can you ever read through all the glut I posted...I still suggset doing it, lol, but I am beginning
to see a crack in the plan here...You seemed to indicate you want a capable camera in the STYLE of a DSLR or
even "like your sister's Rebel". If that is indeed the case, and you want to tweak knobs and hold a camera that
looks and feels capable of getting the close-to-pro images of a DSLR, then I would simply say, clear the decks,
blow off the HD video and go for this camera. (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800870397-USE/Fujifilm_15781764_FinePix_S100fs_Digital_Camera.ht ml)

I respect the hell out of Canon, but now they scare me to death. I like all the big names like Olympus and Nikon.
But Fujifilm quietly makes a really nice camera and for the price I think it is tough to beat the style, features
and image quality of that S100 FS. Or even that P7000. I think that the one you are looking at is woefully
short in user controls and image quality. CMOS is great for video and for giant Megapixel counts, but not a good
way to get solid image performance under an array of lighting conditions.

Keep in mind the model I linked to IS A USED camera, and while 8+ is fairly high on the B&H condition scale for
used gear, it might be a bit nicked, usually simply scratches in the LCD coating. It's only a factor when it is OFF,
I personally find...purely cosmetic. I have three used B&H cameras and they are all great, except for the devil
Canon which I intend to toss into a dumpster. It's Canon's fault, not B&H.

[OLS]

Jarvis, I PMed you a link....read the reviews on that camera and tell me if you think it is worth your money.

[LostAbbott]

Wow, just dropped in to see what was going on in here and it is like a huge brain dump going on... all I would suggest when buying a camera is go to you nearest quality camera story try them all out and buy from them. They typically carry used as well and will offer a great return and service policy to compete with online.
Posted via Mobile Device

[OLS]

What TJarv failed to state at the outset was that he preferred to use Am@zon so that he could use
his large collection of gift cards. Shot my whole rap out of the water. Yours too, it would seem, Mychal.

[TJarv]

What TJarv failed to state at the outset was that he preferred to use Am@zon so that he could use
his large collection of gift cards. Shot my whole rap out of the water. Yours too, it would seem, Mychal.

But I do appreciate all the help Justin Brad and Mychal

[OLS]

Yeah, I realize that sounded harsh, not meant that way. I just have no advice for the typical Am@zon
purchase other than plain old research. At Am@zon I can't find a super-deal on a camera that has fallen
out of style, or something that is a trade-in, etc. It is going to come down to two things, I think. Do you
want to shoot top quality video TOO or are you looking for a dedicated, excellent still camera. That seems
to be a real linchpin. A lot of companies stumble when trying to keep up with the Joneses, forcing a HD video
camera onto a still camera and therein crippling low light capabilities due to chip capabilities. You will likely not
find a HD video capable still camera that produces top notch pics in a variety of light levels. And certainly not
for 200 bucks. The other thing is the importance of image quality as a primary factor. You can get a dozen good
cheap superzoom cameras if all you want is zoom and versatility regardless of pixel-peeping specs. You can buy
JUST for what kind of batteries power it, I used to choose only cameras that used AA batteries. I also choose
only cameras that save data on SD cards.

[LostAbbott]

I know he wanted to go to Amazon to buy his camera, I would strongly suggest against it. It seems Tony that you do not know what your really want in a camera and heading down to your "local" (not best buy, not even ritz) but a locally owned high end professional camera store and talk to the guys there and play with what they have. Maybe even rent a few of the lower end cameras they offer. (mostly only rent high end pro level cameras) That will give you a great idea of what you are looking for and most places will give you the rental cost towards your purchase.

[emopunker2004]

I know he wanted to go to Amazon to buy his camera, I would strongly suggest against it. It seems Tony that you do not know what your really want in a camera and heading down to your "local" (not best buy, not even ritz) but a locally owned high end professional camera store and talk to the guys there and play with what they have. Maybe even rent a few of the lower end cameras they offer. (mostly only rent high end pro level cameras) That will give you a great idea of what you are looking for and most places will give you the rental cost towards your purchase.

I've never seen any place rent out P&S cameras.

[ashtonlady]

This one does. http://www.borrowlenses.com/category/point_and_shoot I hope this helps.

[emopunker2004]

He picked up the S8200.

[TJarv]

He picked up the S8200.

After my gift cards and paying for 2 day shipping, its gonna cost me a whopping $25

[emopunker2004]

After my gift cards and paying for 2 day shipping, its gonna cost me a whopping $25

:r :tu

[TJarv]

Camera came in just now
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r552/TJarv/003.jpg

[OLS]

I ended up buying this camera after sending TJarv the link to it. It was a one of a kind
item at B&H, and now it is a none of a kind.....$180 and its the cleanest used camera
I ever saw. Not a blemish on the screen or the lens.

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/JAMpromotionsMKTG/FujiFinePixS200EXR.jpg

I like the combination of the manual zoom and the choice of either manual focus or autofocus.
In practice its a lot more work than I am used to, so spoiled by a superzoom lately, but when I actually
take it out for a walk or on a trip, I have no problem believing that I will dig it. All my 58mm filters
are useless, haha. Its as close to a DSLR as I think you can get in a bridge camera. The low light
performance is about perfect in relation to what I am used to. All the controls you need on the camera
are on it with only the obscurities hidden in menus.

[Mr.Maduro]

A few recent shots....

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n36/MrMaduro/8058A9AC-E057-4872-AA98-A71727C49080-14685-00001459A8E69133.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n36/MrMaduro/AB63F375-8504-436D-9E10-4A1B00F89E8D-14685-00001459A0FBFADC.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n36/MrMaduro/597215FC-7003-4363-816F-DE2E49BA9FAE-14685-00001459B164364F.jpg

[OLS]

I can't take a pic yet, but maybe there is someone who can answer this question without a pic.
I have a tulip type lens hood that is marked Fujifilm...it looks like anormal tupil hood, but one side of the hood
has a slide-out section to actually open a square hole in the tulip petal. Not sure why you would want this, since
blocking the sun is the goal.... anyone know why this item would have such a feature?

[jkim05]

I can't take a pic yet, but maybe there is someone who can answer this question without a pic.
I have a tulip type lens hood that is marked Fujifilm...it looks like anormal tupil hood, but one side of the hood
has a slide-out section to actually open a square hole in the tulip petal. Not sure why you would want this, since
blocking the sun is the goal.... anyone know why this item would have such a feature?

It gives you access so you can rotate a circular polarizing filter.

[OLS]

I never would have figured that one out.....luckily I HAVE a CPF, so I will test that, lol.
Thanks JK

[OLS]

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/JAMpromotionsMKTG/alumcave269.jpg

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/JAMpromotionsMKTG/alumcave319copyxx.jpg

[hammondc]

Any suggestions for a tripod in the $75 range? Do not need something to stand up to hurricane force winds, but do not want something that will fall apart either.

[emopunker2004]

Any suggestions for a tripod in the $75 range? Do not need something to stand up to hurricane force winds, but do not want something that will fall apart either.

What will you be putting on the tripod? What kind of camera. I'm looking at the Induro AKB1 or AKB0 and those run $160 and $140 respectively. I wouldn't trust my DSLR on a tripod much cheaper than that. You may be better off getting a used tripod so you'd get more bang for your buck.

[emopunker2004]

Looking at renting at least these two lenses for my trip to New England in October.
https://www.lensrentals.com/rent/nikon/lenses/wide-angle/tokina-11-16mm-f2.8-at-x-pro-dx-for-nikon
https://www.lensrentals.com/rent/nikon/lenses/wide-angle/tamron-17-50mm-f2.8-xr-di-ii-vc-for-nikon-dx

[LostAbbott]

Is anyone every looking for critique when posting their shots? Or just sharing? if you are looking for critique maybe post it so at least I will know if you want any advice or not...

[MarkinAZ]

Two beautiful shots you took there Brad:tu (Post #1836)...

[hammondc]

what will you be putting on the tripod? What kind of camera. I'm looking at the induro akb1 or akb0 and those run $160 and $140 respectively. I wouldn't trust my dslr on a tripod much cheaper than that. You may be better off getting a used tripod so you'd get more bang for your buck.

Nikon D5000

[hammondc]

ended up with this one. I know a few people with them and no one has anything but good things to say. I guess if I was using a huge telephoto lens I would opt for something else.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RBX0GO?tag=photoblog0c7-20

[ashtonlady]

Looks good.

[emopunker2004]

never heard of it but it got good reviews.

[emopunker2004]

OK I need a laptop/desktop in the sub $600 range that is capable of running PS6 without bogging down. My little netbook just isn't cutting it lol.

[LostAbbott]

OK I need a laptop/desktop in the sub $600 range that is capable of running PS6 without bogging down. My little netbook just isn't cutting it lol.

Desktop maybe, Laptop, not likely. I however run a lot of images through my system and expect really fast performance... Start with dell for something around $600

[emopunker2004]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8303/7910152026_c30641f6cb_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7910152026/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7910152026/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8456/7910156988_336eedc74b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7910156988/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/7910156988/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[OLS]

Went down to New Orleans to see my Mother and Sister and her son for a long weekend
while they rented a condo for a week. I get down there all the time but rarely get a
chance to hang around with a camera. And this year conspired against me too.
Rained on and off all day, took along a ziplock bag that I put the camera in when I couldn't
be under cover....wasn't enough, the camera absolutely revolted. Had to take it in to have
it repaired after a long dry-out failed to kick her back in. I like this camera, it has skills with
dynamic range that are elbowing some DSLRs for attention. I like the manual zoom lens barrel, too.

The weekend was great, nothing I haven't seen a thousand times, but I still just love that city.
There is a lot of magic left in her yet.

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/JAMpromotionsMKTG/DSCF5389X.jpg

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/JAMpromotionsMKTG/DSCF5406X.jpg

[ashtonlady]

OLS, great pictures. Crop out the truck and pole on the 2nd one. I love the color in it. These pictures make me want to go back with my camera.

[Beagleone]

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i272/beagleonenet/Latex_09-17-12_0932_zps91ca648d.jpg

[mahtofire14]

Our Ladder holding the Flag at the dedication of the MN Fallen Firefighters Memeorial.

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/601457_666632477951_1215128430_n.jpg

[emopunker2004]

hey guys just to give you a heads up I put my D90 body and a lens up in the WTS section.

[Rob_M]

Sunset out my window.......http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/album.php?albumid=941&pictureid=7384
Ok, here's a thumbnail since I failed at adding photo to post :sh

[mmblz]

this morning

[hammondc]

ended up with this one. I know a few people with them and no one has anything but good things to say. I guess if I was using a huge telephoto lens I would opt for something else.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RBX0GO?tag=photoblog0c7-20

Just an update. LOVE this tripod. Very stable and fairly lightweight. Easy adjustments and the ball joint locks down very tight.

[hotreds]

MIG high speed pass

http://images3a.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp73488%3Enu%3D3292%3E%3B78%3E732%3EWS NRCG%3D383672944832%3Bnu0mrj

[hammondc]

well done.

[Blak Smyth]

Camera on Woot today:
Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18MP Digital SLR and 18-55 IS II Lens Kit

http://d3gqasl9vmjfd8.cloudfront.net/2e786125-d6cd-47a7-82e0-03ab4cdc4a57.png
http://d3gqasl9vmjfd8.cloudfront.net/d8c71f85-98ad-4f22-9b24-11d3d4db4ab9.png (http://www.woot.com/offers/canon-eos-rebel-t3i-18mp-digital-slr)

[OLS]

I guess this is also a thread for rants. I had finally found a camera I really liked. It was as
high end as a point and shoot gets, it was the Fujifilm S200EXR. Granted, it is a reasonably
OLD point and shoot, as good as it gets, but it was too good for it's own good, I guess.
The camera wars are ongoing as fast and furious as ever, and things are obsolete in a year.
So I take it to get it repaired, since it died in New Orleans from getting FAR too moist. (never WET)
So the repair shop has it for 23 months. When I finally holler, they say its a Sandy thing, the NJ facility
is hanging on by a thread. So the next week they tell me that there will BE no DC-DC board forthcoming,
Fujinon is offering me a direct swap for a re-furb. I am thrilled. I love the camera and dfon't care how
another one gets into my hands. So I go to pick it up when they call me in, and Fuji has at the last minute,
flim-flammed me and substituted a HS20EXR for our agreed deal. And they AREN'T coming off it. The guy
at the shop is telling me that I am crazy not to be thrilled, it's "Such a great camera, with MUCH better specs
and blablabla". It's a CMOS sensor. I gave up a virtually NOISELESS CCD-based camera for stupid-a55
CMOS-based noise creator. And you know what? You CAN'T hurt these companies. They absolutely do not
care. And it's ALL OF EM. It's Canon first, though, they are really a55holes. But now Fuji just made the list,
Francis. I can't think of a single way I can hurt them. SO I wrote an angry email to them, then copied and
pasted into a text document and saved it. And everyday I am going to send the same email to tech support.

[hammondc]

Rant on their Facebook? I know a few people that have gone this route and had success with other companies.

[OLS]

You have to be a member of Facebook to do that. I would never join Facebook...NEVAH!

Besides what is done is done, there is no getting my broken camera back, and where would
it get me anyway? There are supposedly no parts available, or no DC converter boards available.
I just hate what they gave me. I liked what I had. Now I get to hate everything about them
for as long as I can continue to be interested in doing it. Its like computers, I know people
who hoard computers with WindowsXP on em. Cameras turn over far too fast in that segment
of the lineup. "I want more zoom!, I want HD movies, I want angry birds..." Its a FU(&ING still
camera, people....why you gotta mess me up?

[Sauer Grapes]

The wife and I were greeted with this on our Christmas evening walk. It was so cloudy 15 minutes before this that we were headed back to the car because I was convinced it was going to be a grey and bland sunset.

This is the .jpg straight out of the camera and the only thing done to it is imageshack's resizing.

http://imageshack.us/a/img407/7818/img3049qb.jpg

[dave]

Nice pic - great sunset. Looks like Point Loma shot from Coronado

[Sauer Grapes]

Nice pic - great sunset. Looks like Point Loma shot from Coronado

That it is. Good eye!

[emopunker2004]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8502/8384507787_f7f01c3b19_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8384507787/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8384507787/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[emopunker2004]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8192/8424743001_3e64cc4a8c_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8424743001/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8424743001/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[Ncpsycho]

The wife and I were greeted with this on our Christmas evening walk. It was so cloudy 15 minutes before this that we were headed back to the car because I was convinced it was going to be a grey and bland sunset.

This is the .jpg straight out of the camera and the only thing done to it is imageshack's resizing.

http://imageshack.us/a/img407/7818/img3049qb.jpg

Amazing shot

[emopunker2004]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8098/8469542464_0b98acdb1e_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8469542464/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8469542464/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[OLS]

[http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8524/8468448662_a122f7cea0.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57220843@N08/8468448662/)
Keep Watching the Sky (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57220843@N08/8468448662/) by MemphisBrad (http://www.flickr.com/people/57220843@N08/), on Flickr]

[LostAbbott]

[http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8524/8468448662_a122f7cea0.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57220843@N08/8468448662/)
Keep Watching the Sky (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57220843@N08/8468448662/) by MemphisBrad (http://www.flickr.com/people/57220843@N08/), on Flickr]

Really??? Getting little kids high for your photography now? seriously though I really like the finger prints all over the glasses...
Posted via Mobile Device

[OLS]

I need to find the one of the 5 year old smoking the BBF at the Bacchus Parade a few years back.
NOW THAT was exploitation. I am not talking about HOLDING the BBF, girl was SMOKING it. Her dad
grinning nearby. Fun day.

[OLS]

Hey boys and maybe girls....I have too many cameras, BUT naturally I am always shopping for another one.
I never buy anything new, and B&H Photo always has a nice selection of used cameras. Since I can't
in good conscience BUY this camera, maybe someone out there in the halls of the asylum CAN. It is not
a outstanding camera by any stretch, but it reviewd pretty good back in the day, and it offers full manual
controls in a compact body, still has a very respectable megapixel count, you know, before everything got
out of control and people started thinking more always meant better? And I guess about the only thing out of
date on this camera is the fact that 12x zoom on a 'super-zoom" is not all that super anymore. But for $75??
You could do A HELL OF A LOT WORSE. Maybe you need a glove-box cam, or have a child whom you'd like to
see become a shutterbug, just not using YOUR 5hiT, lol....it is a condition 8+, which on their scale
means it has a few scuffs and maybe some of the coating is scratched on the LCD screen, but once the light
comes on, that is meaningless anyway. but if they are selling it, it works fine and again, its not a bad lil camera.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800929257-USE/fujifilm_15929469_finepix_s1500_digital_camera.htm l

If you buy it, drop me a quick PM....I'd kind of like to know someone here got it.

[OLS]

Too late...I broke down.

[emopunker2004]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8235/8490869923_38c59b3161_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8490869923/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8490869923/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[OLS]

I have no comment on a photo that wacked over with effects, Justin, lol.

I will say that it is always best to just go with your first instincts though.
It was an hour after I ordered that used $75 camera before I found out
it didn't have a diopter adjustment wheel. What the hell is a viewfinder guy
gonna do with a viewfinder that's only good for young folks with good eyes?
Use the LCD??
Come on.

:r

[OLS]

[http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8371/8487065871_500522cc99.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57220843@N08/8487065871/)
House Finch (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57220843@N08/8487065871/) by MemphisBrad (http://www.flickr.com/people/57220843@N08/), on Flickr]

Cropped it unbalanced for some reason.

[emopunker2004]

I have no comment on a photo that wacked over with effects, Justin, lol.

I will say that it is always best to just go with your first instincts though.
It was an hour after I ordered that used $75 camera before I found out
it didn't have a diopter adjustment wheel. What the hell is a viewfinder guy
gonna do with a viewfinder that's only good for young folks with good eyes?
Use the LCD??
Come on.

:r

Lol heck, pretty soon there won't be any viewfinders

[emopunker2004]

Ok guys. Sold my rifle to get back into photography. Ammo prices are stupid right now and will be for a good time to come. So I'm back.

I'm looking at a couple used bodies right now from Keh. I previously had a Nikon D90.
I'm torn between another D90 ($415), Canon 50D ($465), and Canon 60D ($619). What says the hive?

[coffeemonkey]

Ok guys. Sold my rifle to get back into photography. Ammo prices are stupid right now and will be for a good time to come. So I'm back.

I'm looking at a couple used bodies right now from Keh. I previously had a Nikon D90.
I'm torn between another D90 ($415), Canon 50D ($465), and Canon 60D ($619). What says the hive?

Buy the 50D or D90 and spend the extra on better glass. That is my opinion. You'll keep the glass for much longer than the body. :tu

[emopunker2004]

Buy the 50D or D90 and spend the extra on better glass. That is my opinion. You'll keep the glass for much longer than the body. :tu

I actually picked up the d60 new with 18-135 is lens from amazon for $998. I think that'll will be good for my cruise in April, a useful range if I only have one lens at the time.

[OLS]

Also do not forget to check B&H at bhphotovideo dot com, since they have a large used section and good prices
on new stuff as well, and take it from me, they are extremely fair at grading used gear. Bought at least 7 used
cameras there and if anything, sometimes they grade harsher than they should. Anything they say is an 8 or
higher is likely to be a good buy in good condition. The price is never "cheap", but always very fair. And in general
I find that you can shop all OVER the internet, but apples to apples, if they aren't the cheapest, they are within 5-10 bucks.

Smart timing on a gun sale, prices are right.

[emopunker2004]

I actually picked up the d60 new with 18-135 is lens from amazon for $998. I think that'll will be good for my cruise in April, a useful range if I only have one lens at the time.

DOH! I typoed! I put D60, nikon habits die hard. I actually got a Canon 60D kit :r

[emopunker2004]

Also do not forget to check B&H at bhphotovideo dot com, since they have a large used section and good prices
on new stuff as well, and take it from me, they are extremely fair at grading used gear. Bought at least 7 used
cameras there and if anything, sometimes they grade harsher than they should. Anything they say is an 8 or
higher is likely to be a good buy in good condition. The price is never "cheap", but always very fair. And in general
I find that you can shop all OVER the internet, but apples to apples, if they aren't the cheapest, they are within 5-10 bucks.

Smart timing on a gun sale, prices are right.

Indeed. I will be looking there and Adorama for some lenses eventually.

I built an AR15 for $750. Managed to sell it for $1200 cash and 180 rds of some hard to find 12ga ammo worth at least $1/per round.

[Robulous78]

What is a decent camera for someone that wants an easy to use rig with a lot of lens options.... ?

[emopunker2004]

What is a decent camera for someone that wants an easy to use rig with a lot of lens options.... ?
Something Canon or Nikon. Read up on it though. How much money u have to spend?

[Robulous78]

Haha... not much.... I would rather get a decent 2 or 300 dollar digital rig that can take a BUNCH of old school lens... this is just idle thought tho... I'm just in the R&D phase...

[emopunker2004]

Haha... not much.... I would rather get a decent 2 or 300 dollar digital rig that can take a BUNCH of old school lens... this is just idle thought tho... I'm just in the R&D phase...

Why do u want a DLSR? with your budget you might be better off getting a feature rich P&S. That said with your budget I'd go used. If you get a Nikon make sure to stay away from any of the D40, D60, D3000 or D5000 series as they lack a built in focus motor and will not work with most older lenses.

[Robulous78]

hmm... sounds like good advice... IDK anything about cameras... to be honest... I LOVE my iphone 4 Camera... its really simple and easy and the results are predictable... I want a camera like that that takes other lens because changing angles and depths to me are what makes photography magical... Perhaps you know of a simple digital that has a lot of filters and options that gives this kinda feel...?

[emopunker2004]

You're not going to be able to get the shallow depth of field with your average P&S like you can a DSLR. You can get it but not to the extent.
Shallow DOF example for you. See person in focus and the background is way blurred out.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/6855915042_4510d9c77c_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/6855915042/)
DSC_3363 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/6855915042/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[emopunker2004]

This is the P&S i have right now but in black.
http://www.adorama.com/ICASX260GN.html

I like it alot it takes good pictures and has several built in filters to use. If you want I can mail it to you for you to try out as long as you get it back to me by the end of March.

[Robulous78]

Nice Picture... :tu

Yea my old roommate had a d-60 that I used to play with... It was really complicated... but with a few tries I could get a decent picture and I loved the array of lens he had for it... like 7 different ones... I like a fisheye occasionally... a lens for panorama... and a good telephoto... he also had some wide angle close up lens that took some great shots... unfortunately it wasn't and HD rig...

[OLS]

NOW, onto my own advice. If it is true what you say, I would sell the old school lenses and buy yourself a really nice
digital bridge camera to get you out of the compact point and shoot range and into the 'trying hard to be a DSLR' camera.
Some of your lenses you could likely sell here, and some you might had to work harder at, or trade them at the
Point of Sale for your new camera.

Here are some deals from the only place I shop, (sorry)... These are all used items.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800933738-USE/panasonic_dmc_fz200k_lumix_fz200_digital_camera.ht ml
(This sucker is F2.8 at BOTH ends of the long lens...amazing for a P&S)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800891745-USE/Fujifilm_16199188_X_S1_Digital_Camera_Black.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800911895-USE/Panasonic_dmc_fz150k_DMC_FZ150_Digital_Camera_Blac k.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800931328-USE/canon_3632b001_powershot_g11_digital_camera.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800933543-USE/sony_dschx200v_b_cyber_shot_dsc_hx200v_digital_cam era.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800923667-USE/sony_dschx100v_b_cyber_shot_dsc_hx100v_digital_cam era.html

Keep in mind that outside of the Lumix FZ200 and that Sony Cyber 100v, these are not cameras that I would
necessarily say are the best non-DSLRs out there, they are simply the best ones in the used department at
B&H right now. There are other choices, maybe even better ones, but these are GOOD cameras every one.

ALMOST any one of those would be a great camera to rebuild your photography skills and give you almost everything
you need in hand to tackle any photographic situation. Do you really want to change lenses to achieve your photo-
graphic vision? A lot of people REALLY DO. They want that big sensor, they want the stunning results. But keep in
mind, stunning results do not come automatically dispensed from the cards out of these DSLRs. You still have to do
most of the work. So if you do not know what you are doing, you can get crap out of the best camera, and spend
an awful lot of money trying to get there.

I do not reject anyone's DSLR dreams out of hand. I stay JUST under the line with decent, used, large-body
point-and-shoots with full manual controls. I would love to have a DSLR, but I love owning cameras too much.
I need to have a bag full of CAMERAS, not a bag full of lenses. And even then, I do not buy the latest cameras
that pop up used. I stay a generation or two behind, just like with my desktop PCs. The links I gave you there are
for the most part VERY recent cameras and in good condition. The Panasonic FZ150 might be the loner in the
group, being a decently OLD camera, but still VERY functional.

Have someone here evaluate your stash of lenses, see if there are a few you REALLY need to keep for a possible
upgrade in the future, and sell the rest. Get a good bridge camera and re-learn some tricks and tips that maybe
you used to know, make all the mistakes first, then make a jump up to the dusty-sensor-having DSLR, lol.
I am still holding out, and I couldn't be happier with my current lineup of cameras....except that $75 used Fuji I bought
last week. I can order pizza between pressing the shutter and the pic being taken.

[Subvet642]

You're not going to be able to get the shallow depth of field with your average P&S like you can a DSLR. You can get it but not to the extent.
Shallow DOF example for you. See person in focus and the background is way blurred out.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/6855915042_4510d9c77c_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/6855915042/)
DSC_3363 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/6855915042/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

If you use the slowest ISO setting and use the shade to further reduce the light falling on the subject, you can do this with a P&S.

[OLS]

I agree...its all about what you know about how it all works.
You get the source to subject distance right, find yourself in
the right F-stop, you can pull this off. Maybe not always that level
of blur, but to me that's almost too much blur right there. To my own
eye, there is a threshold that is obviously not the same for everyone,
but I like a little, but not too much depth of field blur. But if I had access
to a superzoom P&S with a APS-C sensor and a nice, long, manual zoom lens,
I would prefer to have the larger sensor for sure. Like I said, to me its
about having more cameras, so a DSLR is definitely wrong for me. I can only
shoot one at a time, and mostly only TAKE one with me on any shoot, but
I like the buying and the owning as much as the shooting, haha.

[OLS]

I need to check Adorama....I have been seeing that name since I have been buying cameras,
and have never even LOOKED there. I am so loyal to B&H since that is where I buy all the gear I use
at work. I like to be loyal, especially when they are SO competitive on price. But for used gear,
I guess being 'competitive" on the latest gear is really not as much of a factor. I DO need to look
at their site.

[coffeemonkey]

I agree...its all about what you know about how it all works.
You get the source to subject distance right, find yourself in
the right F-stop, you can pull this off. Maybe not always that level
of blur, but to me that's almost too much blur right there. To my own
eye, there is a threshold that is obviously not the same for everyone,
but I like a little, but not too much depth of field blur. But if I had access
to a superzoom P&S with a APS-C sensor and a nice, long, manual zoom lens,
I would prefer to have the larger sensor for sure. Like I said, to me its
about having more cameras, so a DSLR is definitely wrong for me. I can only
shoot one at a time, and mostly only TAKE one with me on any shoot, but
I like the buying and the owning as much as the shooting, haha.

I guess this is an eye of the heholder type thing. I think the background in that photo is distracting (no offense!), it draws you away from the main subject. Look at these photos for a direct comparison, the fully blurred background makes for a better shot. http://www.blacks.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Depth_of_Field_Comparison.jpg

While there are things you can do to achieve bokeh with a P&S, you simply can't compete with a full framed DSLR at f1.8. The glass is better and the aperture is wider than any point and shoot can get.

[OLS]

I guess this is an eye of the heholder type thing. I think the background in that photo is distracting (no offense!), it draws you away from the main subject. Look at these photos for a direct comparison, the fully blurred background makes for a better shot.

YEP, everything ABOUT art is subjective.
But I disagree with your last line. The fully blurred background makes for a different shot.
But of course if you took it to a magazine, one photographer might get paid and one would not.
That's just entrenched subjectivity, lol.

[OLS]

I also need to re-state what I droned on and on about earlier. What I meant is that if you have the right lenses,
and you do not know a lot about the science of how light and cameras work together to do what they do, then
a few decent lens sales would give you the money you needed to pick up a good used bridge camera, a good tool
to learn on while saving you your best lenses and also perhaps a great deal of money, leaving you cash and lens
assets to employ if you decide to migrate to a camera with a larger sensor and maybe a better lens.

Or you could get a DSLR tomorrow. :)

[emopunker2004]

Here are a couple from my pictures from our vacation to New England in October of last year.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8509437998_f1b9863904_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8509437998/)
IMG_1317 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8509437998/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8388/8508329939_5fd4c53cc9_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8508329939/)
IMG_1547 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8508329939/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8105/8509438030_744bc90e2b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8509438030/)
IMG_0910 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8509438030/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[hammondc]

I need to check Adorama....I have been seeing that name since I have been buying cameras,
and have never even LOOKED there. I am so loyal to B&H since that is where I buy all the gear I use
at work. I like to be loyal, especially when they are SO competitive on price. But for used gear,
I guess being 'competitive" on the latest gear is really not as much of a factor. I DO need to look
at their site.

I tend to find Adorama cheaper. The Macbook I am looking at is about $400 cheaper there. Shipping is a bit higher though so it would be wise to factor that in. However, you can get better shipping prices if you buy through their ebay shop.

[hammondc]

Justin, are those HDR? The colors look very saturated. I like em.
.

[OLS]

I found a shot I did with blur, lol.

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/JAMpromotionsMKTG/runawaytrain.jpg


I wish I had used my time more wisely last night and
posted some pics from New Orleans I shot with my
$75 camera, but I had a delivery of computer parts and
had to assemble them. In the end I had the wrong power
supply, so the time I spent was wasted for the most part.
But I have not safari'ed out there to shoot in a long time.
I need to work out some cameras and see what comes of it.

[OLS]

Justin, are those HDR? The colors look very saturated. I like em.
.

Could also be Photoshop...Although the woodsy one looks a little HDR boosted, too.

[OLS]

I tend to find Adorama cheaper. The Macbook I am looking at is about $400 cheaper there. Shipping is a bit higher though so it would be wise to factor that in. However, you can get better shipping prices if you buy through their ebay shop.

You and me are looking for and at different things then. EVERYTHING I have ever looked to buy for
work or for me has been a virtual tie with the lowest legit price I have been able to find. Now I can find
very respectable-seeming sites offering grey market items that BEAT the hell out of B&H, but apples to apples,
I come down on the B&H side. Lemme show you,

http://www.adorama.com/BOTH770.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/576022-REG/Bescor_TH_770_TH_770_High_Performance_Tripod.html


http://www.adorama.com/SOHVRHD1000U.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/518555-REG/Sony_HVRHD1000U_HVR_HD1000U_Digital_High_Definitio n.html

It goes on like that product after product. And keep in mind, I only stay with B&H because of our track
record and their performance. I always believe if it doesn't hurt you, stay with one vendor for as much
as you can, because you are buying clout. If I bounced all over, I would be a big buyer of optical elect-
ronics, but not enough to where any one vendor could look at my records and say, 'damn, I need to get
cracking and fix this guy's issue fast." I buy a lot of pro-sumer video and audio equipment, and a lot of
personal cameras and tripods and memory cards and all sorts of photography and video-related stuff.
Almost every item I shop, they have the lowest legit price. I can get that Sony Camera for $1100-$1200
dollars if I don't mind getting a Chinese copy or one that fell off of a truck somewhere.

If you see a price a lot lower than B&H, step back and thoroughly evaluate your deal. And of
course, I only defend that statement as far as it might serve YOU. My mind is made up but by
far, I don't know all of the best websites for gear. I just can relate what has worked for me
over time. MANY SITES have the SAME price, I just prefer to accept the B&H price, all things
being equal.

[hammondc]

Looks like those are the same prices. If B&H works for you, fantastic. I was just inputting my experience at Adorama (it seemed like you were seeking input). I have bought from both places. I do agree there is a lot of benefit buying from one vendor, if possible. I just do not buy enough to have that kind of clout.

[OLS]

Looks like those are the same prices. If B&H works for you, fantastic. I was just inputting my experience at Adorama (it seemed like you were seeking input). I have bought from both places. I do agree there is a lot of benefit buying from one vendor, if possible. I just do not buy enough to have that kind of clout.

I replied pretty clumsily, I feel the same way, whatever works for you. On any given day we will all find
an item that is unique to us that bonds us forever to a vendor because of that sweet deal. Its also force
of habit.

As far as me shopping Adorama, it is more out of curiousity that made me say I would check it out, not need.
If I buy one more camera, I am turning myself in to a real asylum. I am supposed to be saving for a house,
but instead I keep coming up with half-baked excuses to spend money on cameras and video gear.

On an un-related but creepy note, I just found out I am finally gonna be forced to earn my money.
The boss is angling to get a big bed bug job, and its the perfect house to shoot the video he has been
wanting to shoot for YEARS. The Fu(kr just handed me a tyvek suit and a full faced respirator. Now for
most of the people who work here, ehh, its part of their job. I AM USED TO sitting in my office and
throwing together an occasional flyer or brochure, 30 sec commercial or something innocuous like that.
Shizle just got serus. :gary :tf :sl

[hammondc]

Bed bugs are gross.

[emopunker2004]

I didn't do the editing on those. One of the COs I work with did. I just who the image. He has a photog business on the side. He said he used Lightroom, and he used the HDR preset, reduced the noise, then tweaked color to his satisfaction.

[emopunker2004]

Oh it's on like donkey kong!



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8230/8511702234_45288eeedf_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8511702234/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8511702234/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[emopunker2004]

To me B&H and Adorama are a tie. I've hade great experience with both places and only hear great things about them.

[OLS]

OK, just to make everyone feel better, I bought a Used DSLR today, about what you would expect for someone
like me, a Nikon D70. Funny thing is, this morning, there were THREE used D70s to be had, and sometime between
leaving work at 4pm and getting home and opening up a browser at 6, somebody snatched the Grade "9"
one I had in my cart. The reason I did not buy it at work was that I figured, with all these newer and better
items for sale worldwide, who is gonna buy an ancient D70? Then by the time I got the "8+" into my cart and
paid for this evening, ALL of the D70s were gone from B&H. I thought I would have many days to make up my mind.
Quite simply I didn't need to spend any more money on cameras to tell the truth. I bailed out of checkout
at lunchtime, and then again at 4pm. I thought I could do this for a week or more, sell some cigars, maybe
sell a Point & Shoot, and then leisurely stroll over to B&H and get it next month. I KNOW this camera was great
in the early 2000s, and I know that there is a perfectly good reason to still want a 6 MP camera li9ke it in 2013,
but there is no way I thought that 3 would sell in a little under 3 hours today. I actually thought that maybe
Robulous had bought the "9" out from under me, lol. I was not so excited about getting a 1/2 grade lower model.

In the end, all I really want it for is your basic 18-55 stuff, I am not planning on shooting tele and long-reach shots
with it. I have capable P&S cameras for that and they do well enough. I am not really interested in changing lenses
and getting all caught up in what P&S makers tend to call a trap (and they can be right). For all intents, this will
end up being a large sensor, fixed lens, portraiture and landscape camera. One I will be proud to have in my bag.
Now I have to get rid of one P&S to make room.

[emopunker2004]

:r damn brad, a knockdown dragged out fight over some d70s huh? Crazy

[emopunker2004]

Snagged a shot of "Peanut" taking a lil nap.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8109/8512172926_40cdcc905d_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8512172926/)
IMG_0057 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8512172926/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[OLS]

:r damn brad, a knockdown dragged out fight over some d70s huh? Crazy

I still can't believe it...that's how I KNOW the government is watching me.

As a camera though, it is a pretty entry-level item, but I would be lying if I said I didn't KNOW why
people still want them. It remains a very solid camera even after all that has happened since it
came out. Luckily with these types of cameras, bells and whistles aren't always necessary for taking
great photos. A bigger sensor alone makes it a better alternative to my "collection" of large lens P&Ss.
Is it a Flintstones DSLR?.....I think so, yeah. That woodpecker is gonna get a workout. :D

[OLS]

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/JAMpromotionsMKTG/Whogoes_zps652d2c27.jpg

I guess in the end it has to be the Canon. It doesn't have the reach that the other P&Ss in the bag
have. The only reason I keep it is for the Flickr group for it....A LOT of people learned how to take
good photos and how to work aperture and shutter speed and other essentials on this camera, and
the group is SO SAD these days with everyone bailing to DSLRs. There are some hold-outs (including
me) and it is A REALLY GREAT LITTLE CAMERA.

The HS20EXR NEARLY obsoletes the S200EXR, but I am convinced the older camera has the better,
if shorter-reach, lens. But to keep a long reach lens in the bag, I need to carry the HS20. I think the
S200 only goes 14x. If it was even 18x, I would have sold the HS20EXR the day the camera repair shop
fobbed it off on me in exchange for the pile of parts that was my old S200EXR. If anyone is confused,
I quickly went out and bought a replacement S200EXR....might have been a bad idea, but I LOVE that
camera. What I obviously should have done was realized that THAT was the time to grab the used DSLR.
Then I would not have 4 cameras and 3 spots in the bag.

Sigh, I guess the Canon stays home.

[OLS]

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/JAMpromotionsMKTG/Whostayshome_zps7041cbe2.jpg

I guess in the end it has to be the Canon. It doesn't have the reach that the other P&Ss in the bag
have. The only reason I keep it is for the Flickr group for it....A LOT of people learned how to take
good photos and how to work aperture and shutter speed and other essentials on this camera, and
the group is SO SAD these days with everyone bailing to DSLRs. There are some hold-outs (including
me) and it is A REALLY GREAT LITTLE CAMERA. I shoot with it for the group, and because even though
it is technically obsolete with VGA video, it's 8MP sensor is sensible and effective and the damn camera
just keeps on GOING! You HAVE to pull for a Rudy like that.

The HS20EXR NEARLY obsoletes the S200EXR, but I am convinced the older camera has the better,
if shorter-reach, lens. But to keep a long reach lens in the bag, I need to carry the HS20. As I told you
all before, I am willing to own a DSLR, but I am not willing to own a lot of lenses. I draw my mania line
right there. As great a camera as the S200EXR is, I think it only goes 14x. If it was even 18x, I would
have sold the HS20EXR the day the camera repair shop fobbed it off on me in exchange for the pile of parts
that was my old S200EXR. If anyone is confused, I quickly went out and bought a replacement S200EXR....
Might have been a bad idea, but I LOVE that camera. What I obviously should have done was realized that
THAT was the time to grab the used DSLR...not invest in MORE P&Ss.
Then I would not have 4 cameras and 3 spots in the bag.


Sigh, I guess the Canon stays home.[/QUOTE]

[dave]

Girlfriend is an increasingly serious (and I'm told, talented) photographer working with a Canon T3i. Has 4 or 5 lenses, a couple of them pretty good (read expensive $700-1300 each.)

She will probably want to step up to full-frame in next year or so. I've been able to find nothing regarding use of current lenses (EF-S types.) At least nothing that I am even close to understanding. Maybe there isn't a simple yes/no answer....but, if one upgrades from crop-sensor to full-frame, are old lenses serviceable? Obsolete? Partially usable? Craigslist fodder?

Greatly appreciate an insight...in 3rd grader English, if possible.

[OLS]

I THINK, from what little I know, that there is no reason to think they may be fodder.
Certain lenses may be fodder, but I think a lens with the proper mount system, would
only affect your framing and what the camera spit out relative to what the photographer
THINKS she took a photo of. That and of course, functionality of automated processes
that might vary camera family to camera family.

But MAN, am I ever the wrong person to ask. I just emailed B&H about something,
which I think you could also do....or Adorama. Someone there could help, in the
interest of selling her a full-frame soon. And of course, someone HERE will know better.
I am just the one here NOW, lol.

Based on what I see in the Lens section of Canon at B&H, it WILL indeed be a crap shoot.
Some winners and some losers. Some lenses say 'fits all digital cameras' and some say
'for film and digital SLR cameras' and some say 'for select digital cameras'.

[emopunker2004]

I still can't believe it...that's how I KNOW the government is watching me.

As a camera though, it is a pretty entry-level item, but I would be lying if I said I didn't KNOW why
people still want them. It remains a very solid camera even after all that has happened since it
came out. Luckily with these types of cameras, bells and whistles aren't always necessary for taking
great photos. A bigger sensor alone makes it a better alternative to my "collection" of large lens P&Ss.
Is it a Flintstones DSLR?.....I think so, yeah. That woodpecker is gonna get a workout. :D

Well to me the new entry models may have upgrade software and sensors but the advantage the d70 has over those is that is has the screw drive AF motor in the body so It can use all AF lenses

[OLS]

Well to me the advantage the d70 has over those is that is has the screw drive AF motor in the body so It can use all AF lenses

That and it was cheap, lol. $139 with a $109 lens. :D
About what I paid for my replacement freaking S200EXR P&S. :(

[emopunker2004]

What lens? 18-55?

[OLS]

Correct. Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR DX LENS Refurb.

I thought about getting the tele, but in the end, if the
camera is going to be a 'fixed lens' camera, I want the
good wide end. I don't HAVE to never change lenses,
its just that I have an addictive personality, (along with
Type A, lol) and I can't get caught up in buying a bunch
of lenses. That's mostly why I bought advanced P&Ss
with manual controls. I wanted to have it all without
opening myself up to the quicksand of chasing better
and better lenses. That and sensor dust.

[emopunker2004]

Went to the Zoo yesterday. The sun was brutal so it was had to get some good pictures. Here are a few I took there.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8509/8514729964_7789edd9e5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8514729964/)
IMG_0284 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8514729964/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8521/8514001377_fcaaf083e5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8514001377/)
IMG_0235 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8514001377/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8226/8515246738_3549b096d6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8515246738/)
IMG_0209 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8515246738/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8091/8514147025_3a93f59465_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8514147025/)
IMG_0206 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8514147025/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8234/8515539564_79e5e620e7_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8515539564/)
IMG_0159 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8515539564/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[emopunker2004]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8228/8514533777_c082ea2bed_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8514533777/)
IMG_0119 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8514533777/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8232/8515684156_7141ce1187_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8515684156/)
IMG_0110 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8515684156/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8515757496_fcd8bc0c1a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8515757496/)
IMG_0095 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8515757496/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[OLS]

The lion saved the day....I was gonna rag you on your hoidy toidy DSLR and how it can't hang, :D but after
25 years of shooting video for my supper, I know where you are coming from. They don't have a term like
"the golden hour" for nothing. NOW, you shoulda brought along your Neutral Density Filter, lol. But what
would that REALLY change? Get you a circular polarizer, too, THAT coulda helped.

I'd be happy just being able to GO TO THE ZOO on a weekday.

Photoshop that wire out. :r

After checkingt your photostream, I actually like all the lion shots...granted, looking right at the cam has to
make the chicken dinner, but the other ones also have some kind of appeal to me, just the WAY she's not looking
at you in those is also good.

[emopunker2004]

:P
:r
I have to wait to get my tax return before I touch any of these is post process. Shouldn't be too long. Couple weeks. Alot of the pix I took were near noon and it sucked cuz everything but the subject would be blown out, or I could have the surroundings be good but the subject dark. Next time I go when they open...we have an annual membership after all.

[OLS]

: Alot of the pix I took were near noon and it sucked cuz everything but the subject would be
blown out, or I could have the surroundings be good but the subject dark. Next time I go when they open...
we have an annual membership after all.

You don't have to explain it to me, when camera owner goes to zoo, he takes pictures.
It doesn't matter what the sun is doing. Conditions are conditions. I am only glad you shared.
Animals are about my favorite subject matter. My other favorite kind of photography is
when a girl shoots a photo of herself naked in a mirror and posts it on the web.

I don't know about art, but I know what I like. :D

[hammondc]

My other favorite kind of photography is
when a girl shoots a photo of herself naked in a mirror and posts it on the web.

I don't know about art, but I know what I like. :D

Keep Calm and Chive On

[Blak Smyth]

Nice pics Justin! That baboon (Or whatever it is) is hilarious.

[OLS]

That's one of those monkeys that sleeps on a cliff face at night I think.
I need to figure out what kind of monkey that is. AHHH, its a FEMALE
Howler Monkey, that's why I didn't get it right off. Howlers are usually
Black, so it threw me, now aware the female was brown....like a gibbon,
they are two different colors. Monkeys are fascinating.

Now which one sleeps on the cliff?? Hmm, gotta look for more monkeys.

[emopunker2004]

:r the tangents my pictures cause you to go off on are amusing Brad... :r

[emopunker2004]

Some of the Cat.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8245/8511871492_b5c1eaed0b_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8511871492/)
IMG_0020 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8511871492/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8530/8511855810_38db65ed38_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8511855810/)
IMG_0027 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8511855810/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8109/8512172926_40cdcc905d_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8512172926/)
IMG_0057 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8512172926/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[Sauer Grapes]

Girlfriend is an increasingly serious (and I'm told, talented) photographer working with a Canon T3i. Has 4 or 5 lenses, a couple of them pretty good (read expensive $700-1300 each.)

She will probably want to step up to full-frame in next year or so. I've been able to find nothing regarding use of current lenses (EF-S types.) At least nothing that I am even close to understanding. Maybe there isn't a simple yes/no answer....but, if one upgrades from crop-sensor to full-frame, are old lenses serviceable? Obsolete? Partially usable? Craigslist fodder?

Greatly appreciate an insight...in 3rd grader English, if possible.

The Ef-s lenses will not work on full frame. She should sell the Ef-s to fund Ef mount lenses when the change happens. Sigma has started making some really well regarded lenses if she doesn't want to pay the canon premium.

[OLS]

This is why I hate you people with your fancy DSLRs. I bought one new camera in my life.
It was a little Canon SD200. To call it old insults old people. But it takes pics. Once I began
buying a lot of gear for my work at B&H, I started perusing the Used section there in case
I could save the boss some money. In the end i couldn't buy used gear for HIM, I couldn't take
the abuse should it come up short. But once I got used to checking out the used gear, I thought,
"Hmm, I wonder what kind of Point and Shoots i could get used. I had priced DSLRs, I never even
looked at the used ones, they were probably too expensive even used. And I often found STEALS
there in the point and shoot section, like the day I got THIS camera for $189.

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/JAMpromotionsMKTG/FujiFinePixS200EXR.jpg

I knew that DSLRs were expensive, but I thought as long as I continue to only buy real steals, I can come
pretty close to the quality of shots that these 'snobs' get. The ones that are always on about how the
sensor and the lenses and the blablabla are so great. it became a badge of honor that on a good day,
I could take a picture I found just as good as the 'snobs'. Now keep in mind, the snobs were RIGHT about
the abilities of their cameras, but to me a great photo is never about the gear, anyone can BUY a great
camera and shoot crap, and a person who sees great pics can take one with a LOMO camera or a Holga.
So I never out and out called anyone a snob, but it made me ever more determined to get great Point and
Shoots so that I could shoot good photos and 'show those snobs' and feel good about my sour grapes.

I STILL BELIEVE the basics of that. It's not the gear, its the photographer. But great gear shure helps.
So flash forward to me perusing the used gear as I always do when I get bored. I had priced DSLRs many times
and knew that I was better off just sticking with the good P&S cameras, I wasn't gonna sink a mint into a camera
just to make a pretty picture. But one day out of curiousity, I looked at used dslr bodies and saw a OLD Nikon D70
for $139. I thought $HIT, I could afford that. Sure its OLD, but it has a large sensor and I am basically a photographer.
I don't even have to get a great lens. I could get this zoom here for 69 bucks and be out the door for $200!!
WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING TO MYSELF??? DAMMIT.

So I picked it up, cranked a lens onto it and went and sat out in the BY and watched the birdies.
NOW, this shot is NOT a Nikon D70 shot, I shot it with a full frame D700 that I fell into as a result of my
newfound love of used gear. I can't go into it, but it was cheaper than I could ever expect to get it.
And the camera felt like I am sure a rabbit vibrator feels to a woman. I couldn't SHOOT the thing hard enough to
piss it off, and I felt a sexual charge as the shutter fired away effortlessly, and the camera wrote to the card
so blazingly fast. I was not in Continuous drive, but it fired like an AK in semi with a fast finger. I GET IT now.
granted I ain't spending $2000 to get that feeling, I am going to wallow in the shallow end forever. For me it
is not about the age or specs of the camera, provided I can meet a standard that I am comfortable with, which
in the case of the D70 is a sensor a bit larger than a postage stamp. I don't NEED the speed of the D700, but
damn that felt GOOOOD. ANYWAY, the reason I insulted all of you DSLR owners was to post this pic I took today.
The finch couldn't be bothered to FLY to the feeder, it hopped off the branch and onto the feeder. And I love the
way I was able to not just freeze him in mid-hop, but to see his EYE looking at me through that suet cage was something
i got a charge out of.

This was not a drive shot, just a few fast singles that got me more and more charged up the more I fired the shutter.
I always curse and mutter at those arabs that fire all the bullets we send to them off into the air whenever a cameraman
is around, to show their enthusiasm and readiness to face the enemy. But I'll be damned if I didn't want to just keep
firing the shutter on that D700. My apologies to the snobs. I don't mean that term to be TOO derogatory. I just
hated that you were basically right and I was basically damned to eternal noise and poor dynamic range with my bag
of point and shoots. i still intend to keep the one above and my Canon S5 IS. But making room for my cheap little DSLR
is going to be a pleasure. I hope you can accept my apologies, even though they aren't very convincing, lol. ONE DAY
I will be free to tell the story of the D700. From my cold, dead hand, as they say, lol.

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/JAMpromotionsMKTG/Finchhoppinga_zps2c7a9d94.jpg

[OLS]

I guess the Finch is actually ABOUT to pop out his wings and fly the 10-14 inches to the cage feeder.
But here it looked like he was just going to hop over. But man does that camera lock up a focus fast.

[emopunker2004]

So wait, D70 or D700?

[dave]

The Ef-s lenses will not work on full frame. She should sell the Ef-s to fund Ef mount lenses when the change happens. Sigma has started making some really well regarded lenses if she doesn't want to pay the canon premium.

Thanks, SG. I had been told that was the case, but didn't want to completely believe it. For Christmas, I bought her a used Canon EF-S 10-22 from a guy on Craigslist. Rather scary transaction for someone who knows absolutely nothing about cameras or lenses. But I did a little resarch and the guy made me comfortable, so I pulled the trigger. (He's the one who said that the only reason he was selling the lens was because he'd upgraded to full-frame. I thought this a little strange and couldn't validate on the interwebs.) Somehow I rationalized that the $200+ savings was worth the risk. Turns out it was and she's extremely happy with it, having placed in a couple competitions with it already.

OLS, I hear what you're saying....however, the message is twisted in my head since I can't see the pics, when reading this on work computer... :) Guess it comes down to shoot with what you like....like what you shoot with :D

[OLS]

So wait, D70 or D700?

I can only tell you that story once you are sworn to silence forevermore.
Well, no that is only half right. I HAVE a D70. And that's all you get for
free.

[OLS]

OLS, I hear what you're saying....however, the message is twisted in my head since I can't see the pics, when reading this on work computer... :) Guess it comes down to shoot with what you like....like what you shoot with :D

One never has to see MY pics, its all BS and drivel with me. You are right,
people always feel best about their work when they just do what they think
is best. My bias against the price of DSLRs almost 'cost me everything' lol.
I never dreamed I could find a body of a one-time world beater that still was a
capable camera and pay less for it than I would a lower-tier Point and shoot.
I still like the convenience of never changing lenses, but to discount the DSLR
completely was a mistake. And I mean FOR ME. I do not discount nice cameras.

[OLS]

Hey pros and semis, I am looking at a normal lens for a Nikon FX camera, and if I stick with 1.8 high end aperture,
I don't saddle myself with an extra couple hundred bucks it would take to bring down the big game, the 1.4 50 mm.
Is that extra room OVERKILL, or is it really the difference between shooting in any light and most light?

[OLS]

Went with the 1.8. If it was film I think it would matter more to me. But with a good DSLR,
if I was ever in a jam that I had to have the extra .4 aperture, I have ISO settings I can fall
back on. If I had crazy money, I am sure I would have gone for the F/1.4. That's what I get
for asking a question during the work day. Well, that and I am an a55hole no one wants to
talk to, haha.

[emopunker2004]

50mm f/1.8 is a great lens for cheap

[OLS]

It almost wasn't the 'cheap', it was the 'WHY pay' that had me hung. If someone could have
come up with a compelling reason to spring, I might have laid down the extra duckies.
I guess I wanted to know if .4 was world-saving faster or just faster. I did in fact pick up
the cheap little 1.8 which was not cheap per se, but cheap enough, and even cheaper used.

I almost wanted to pick up a 1.8 for the D70....but for now I think I will rest and evaluate.
3.5 is gonna have to be fast enough for that camera's normal lens.

[emopunker2004]

Well I ordered a desktop that should run lightroom a PS CS6 just fine and dandy. Should be here this week.

Here's some specs:
Intel Core i5-3450 3.10GHz processor (6MB Cache)
8GB of DDR3 memory
1.5TB HDD

[OLS]

Having a fast computer is a treat. For going on 30 years now I have had computers,
and one thing that was always true of my rigs, they were NOT the latest and greatest.
Staying one or two generations behind always served me well, financially. If I splurged
it was on a video card, cause I loved gaming. Now that I do a lot of 3D animation and
video editing, I don't have the luxury of a slow box, but I am still behind. I now have a
basic computer for photo work and web and DVD creation and poarn, and one smoking
fast and clean unit for Video editing. Now I just need to get out and take some photos.
Bill86 and I might get together in Nashville to smoke a little this weekend, and I guess
I will get some pics there.

[Steve]

Well I ordered a desktop that should run lightroom a PS CS6 just fine and dandy. Should be here this week.

Here's some specs:
Intel Core i5-3450 3.10GHz processor (6MB Cache)
8GB of DDR3 memory
1.5TB HDD

I just recieved my new 'puter. I've been using one that is probable aleast 12-14 years old (a 2.4 GHz w/ 2 gig of RAM).

My new screamer:

3rd Gen Intel Core i7-3770 processor 3.40 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 3.90 GHz
1 319-0938 24GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz 3 DIMMS
1 320-9396 AMD Radeon HD 7570 1GB GDDR5 for Win 8

[emopunker2004]

Hey Steve :fu :fu

[Steve]

Hey Steve :fu :fu

Howdy... :banger

[OLS]

Talk about thread jacking....nice to know I started it, lol. I talked with a guy at work who shoots a lot of
weird events, dog shows and stuff, and I told him I was ready to help split the labor on some of em for
half the take. I will probably settle for 40% though. I have a lot of 'photographic' experience, but none
for money, and not MUCH with stills. But it will be nice to squeeze a foot into an already crazy competitive
market right now. He is scared to do weddings and I don't blame him. Miss ONE little cake shot and they start
in chiseling you on your money. I can hang, though. I need to get a lil faster on the shitter, dammit, SHUTTER.

[OLS]

I am pretty sure this doesn't MATTER, but I was shooting a lens test today with a Nikkor 24mm-50mm 4-5.6 lens today
and I had the D700 all wacked out on some kind of crazy settings since I was not paying attention and was in a hurry
to get it done at lunch, and I took this shot of one of my bosses cigar figures (why he has em I have no idea) and after
the pic fired, I checked the ISO, cause it said in the info window 3200, and I thought CRAP, these are all gonna be grainy
as hell, light level or not. The room was well lit. I guess the test is a DIM room at 3200 which I will do, well hell, have done,
and see. But this shot is at 3200 ISO and it is clear as hell. I was surprised.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b611/CameraTestsPage/Indian3200_zps2d3fbd4e.jpg

94% Crop....color's for 5HI+, but I like that camera.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b611/CameraTestsPage/Indian3200-100crop_zpse0ec8294.jpg

Wide angle range test...accidentally 3200 ISO again, no flash

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b611/CameraTestsPage/widetest_zpsb23c2534.jpg

OH, yeah, OK, there's the noise....LOL. Still I do like the camera. If I ever figure out how to
keep it all together long enough to shoot well with it.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b611/CameraTestsPage/widetestcrop_zpsb52a4cd0.jpg

Might have a bad pixel, too....I can deal with that, though.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b611/CameraTestsPage/widetestcropnoise2badpixel_zpsac05a052.jpg

[emopunker2004]

That's the main advantage to a full frame DSLR Brad. They have much lower noise at higher ISOs than a crop-sensor DSLR.

[emopunker2004]

Well I got my PC in. It's set up now. Just downloaded classic skin to make this stupid Windows 8 have a classic start menu on it. Hauling the PC off to work tonight to have PS CS6 and LR4 put on it :noon

[OLS]

I already broke my pledge to only use my DSLR for normal focal length photography.
THIS IS WHAT I WAS AFRAID OF, lol. Lensalympics has begun. Damn you DSLR!
I need to actually take some photos and stop testing lenses and cameras. I have
bought FOUR DSLRs in two weeks. Shocking. If I see a good used deal, I think of a
relative that would like a DSLR, lol. The odd winner of the photo quality games was
this weird, OLD, Olympus Evolt E-330. It was the first 'live view' DSLR, and it was not
what I would call an excellent iteration of Live View. But the camera takes really great
photos, and its only a Four Thirds sensor. I am not gonna say it takes better pics than
a D700, but as I have yet to bring that wild stallion to bay, FOR NOW it does, lol. It is
NOT easy to master that D700. My photos so far are mostly high Rez mistakes, lol.

But for a $99 used camera body, and a $69 dollar used lens, I was STUNNED by the color
and clarity and contrast and quality. Stunned.

[Steve]

Well I got my PC in. It's set up now. Just downloaded classic skin to make this stupid Windows 8 have a classic start menu on it. Hauling the PC off to work tonight to have PS CS6 and LR4 put on it :noon

I wish I had LR. I have an earlier version of CS, but LR is a bit pricy for me right now. Later...

[OLS]

Pfft....I have Photoshop SIX...not CS6, but 6.
You people with your NEW software really get my grits, lol.
I may have to get off my ornery old man chair and get a newer version
though, because while I can correct for a lot of things in 6, nothing is
semi-auto like in the newer photoshop. And by that I mean barrel distortion
and what not...

[emopunker2004]

Brad, Adobe has made CS2 free to everyone now FYI, well basically.
http://majorgeeks.com/Adobe_Photoshop_CS2_Free_d8081.html

[OLS]

WHAT?!?!??? I highly doubt those tight-a55ed basterds would do THAT. Lemme check this sitcho out and
see if its not just a bootleg, lol. I'd be a fool not to upgrade if that were the case. thanks for the heads up.

Liking that new camera??


Hmmm... Sketchy.......but then again, I am a sketchy guy. Thanks.

[emopunker2004]

I mean they have the DL and they give u the key so...

[OLS]

My OLDEST digital camera, cheap is not the word for it, and apparently it wins
all kinds of awards for durability, too....well, not REAL awards, but the damn thing
is still working. If I bought it back in 2001 it HAD to be almost discontinued then.
Owing to how I'm so cheap and all. Now it serves very well as a BBQ pit 'proof of
smoking' camera.

[http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6016/5962691090_469e1bf6a4.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57220843@N08/5962691090/)
St. Louis Cathedral, NO, LA (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57220843@N08/5962691090/) by MemphisBrad (http://www.flickr.com/people/57220843@N08/), on Flickr]


http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/JAMpromotionsMKTG/sd200_front_blk_zps7d4e767d.jpg

[shark]

http://i.imgur.com/5cRnncX.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/5cRnncX)

[emopunker2004]

Had a couple cool cars set up near where I live...


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8239/8541660881_a1d8c1b664_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8541660881/)
IMG_1101 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8541660881/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8105/8541669663_fb2c1fa75d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8541669663/)
IMG_1092 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8541669663/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[emopunker2004]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8529/8542837262_526e437479_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8542837262/)
IMG_1101 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8542837262/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[emopunker2004]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8543954470_83045e8dda_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8543954470/)
IMG_1092-2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8543954470/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[OLS]

That Rat Rod VW is cool...that is an actual thing now, nice cars that look like 5hit.
I never would have guessed it but its so.

Today was a humbling experience. I am used to my good point and shoot cameras, they
have active viewfinders that SHOW you what you are doing. If your settings are going to
make you shoot a dark shot, the VIEWFINDER shows you a dark picture. If you are about
to blow it out, it blows out your viewfinder picture. These damn ACTUAL TTL viewfinders
mess me up something awful. I am SO lazy and SO used to shooting how I shoot, that today
I took 100 5hitty pictures. I was not paying attention to what I was doing, in the wrong white
balance settings half the time today, and always over-exposed and just all-around shitty.
It was humbling to say the least. I don't ever shoot AUTO with a camera, but when I shoot
in Program or Shutter Priority or aperture priority, I don't expect to come home with 5hit.
Humbling, that's all I can say. At least in the bar I had it set up right....almost.

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/JAMpromotionsMKTG/CohibaEsplendido_zps93b86591.jpg

[emopunker2004]

Brad, that's the nice thing about cameras that shoot in RAW. You can almost always go back and fix that in post

[emopunker2004]

A quick lightroom edit of a zoo pic from a lil while back


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8543022673_d41a4a404e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8543022673/)
IMG_0095 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8543022673/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[emopunker2004]

We're going to St. Augustine for the night. Hopefully I can get some nice pictures.

[OLS]

RAW wouldn't have solved NEARLY enough of the issues I had. Actually that is not all true, let's just say that when
I see that crap on a card, I FORMAT the card, I do not go home and try to fix anything. The bottom line is really
my eyes. I am so dejected that life does this to everyone someday, your eyes turn to 5hit and it takes the real joy
out of photography. It makes you SLOW and takes the flow out of your game. You have to watch everything and
you can't take your eye from the eyepiece and just punch some buttons. You have to put on glasses and make
adjustments and then you have to take em off to look in the VF again. Its just sad. As with everything that is also
sad concerning vision, though, eventually you can learn the THING and know more by feel and mental map about
what to hit and when, and to feel more confident that you can speed up the process and take a little more for granted
that you are taking good pictures. I just need to work with both my new cameras and take a LOT of pictures and
make all the mistakes.

I just thought that with all my years of digital and general photographic experience that I would have been able to
pick up that camera and basically hit the ground running. THAT'S my main issue, the disappointment that it was
not to be so easy.

[OLS]

It took me some thinking last night, not having had the memories of the control panel on my camera to tell me what
I did that was so wrong yesterday. Then in cold light of morning it dawned on me. I forgot one of the most basic
things I know. I had a FAST lens with me, and I saw a flower emerging from a very fuzzy bud, and I thought, OK,
I am gonna blur the crap out of the background. But in opening the 1.8 lens up all the way, I forgot that the camera
is only going to be able to compensate with shutter speed until it runs out of possible compensations to help me with
the proper exposure. I HAVE several neutral density filters but didn't have one with me. It was gonna be overcast,
so I didn't want to take it and lose it or scratch it. The shots I took looked like crap because I wasn't thinking about
what I was doing for long enough to make a good decision.

[OLS]

Saw a few new birds yesterday. I never really LOOKED before, even though my back yard is kind of an oasis,
and draws all the birds in the neighborhood eventually. But I saw a Brown Creeper yesterday, which
I had never seen in 50 years of knowing about birds. Not an amazing sight or anything, but still everything new
is great to me. Starting to see Goldfinches, too, that was new this year. Growing up in LA, I never really saw
Goldfinches. But the photo of the day for me is my new favorite bird, the Red-Breasted Nuthatch. These are
brave birds and they like me for some reason.

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/JAMpromotionsMKTG/Red-BreastedNuthatch1_zpsf929f8b6.jpg

[Blak Smyth]

A quick lightroom edit of a zoo pic from a lil while back


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8543022673_d41a4a404e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8543022673/)

Except for the wire that is an awesome pic. :tu

[OLS]

I am not sure if he knows the tool in Photoshop to fix it yet. He told me he was gonna fix it once he got Photoshop,
but when he DID, he used it to boost the color, lol. It's the one that looks like a rubber stamp, J-dog. Pick a radius
with the slider, then ALT-click the part of the pic you want to use to cover WITH, then rub the stamp over the area
you want to cover up. With a complicated background like that, it will be a little easier.

WAIT, he said LIGHTROOM....sorry. Proceed, lol. Justin Photoshopping photos does not necessarily decrease your
integrity. Your still the man.

[OLS]

Justin doesn't allow saving of his Flickr photos, so I had to steal it here....

Fixed it 4 ya.

Also, I was gonna post it on my photobucket so I could attach it here in
full scale, but THAT is illegal.

I also didn't like that stick pointing at her eye.

[emopunker2004]

:r i havent even opend photoshop yet. everything so far has been in Lightroom.

Thanks Brad.

[emopunker2004]

Here's two from our visit to St. Augustine yesterday. I just Fake-HDR'd them. I'll mess with them again later.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8549926658_f907f730cd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8549926658/)
Lightner Museum (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8549926658/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8548838111_05617fc542_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8548838111/)
St. Augustine Pier (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8548838111/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[emopunker2004]

More pictures from this weekend.

Wife on the beach

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8246/8549270925_1f93f30b67_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8549270925/)
IMG_1193 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8549270925/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

Sign on the pier

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8246/8550363146_6bb42163f2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8550363146/)
IMG_1113 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8550363146/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[emopunker2004]

St. Augustine Alligator Farm

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8514/8549277373_3cf577508d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8549277373/)
IMG_1234 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8549277373/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8525/8550402884_4187d794f3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8550402884/)
IMG_1317 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8550402884/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8109/8549281603_bdb76eb1cb_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8549281603/)
IMG_1252 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8549281603/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8511/8550386594_3fdcbab892_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8550386594/)
IMG_1258 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8550386594/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8110/8550395974_db2f79b0a5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8550395974/)
IMG_1268 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8550395974/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[emopunker2004]

Alligator Farm Cont.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8365/8550417506_e9b959d217_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8550417506/)
IMG_1436 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8550417506/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8549330067_f6f45b6e01_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8549330067/)
IMG_1235 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8549330067/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8239/8549324981_70cd8cd4a1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8549324981/)
IMG_1451 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8549324981/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8390/8550409668_fe5a9d1af3_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8550409668/)
IMG_1372 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8550409668/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[OLS]

Feels like I was there.

[hammondc]

I like the pier pic. What was done in post processing?

[emopunker2004]

I like the pier pic. What was done in post processing?
Messed highlights and shadows, upper the clarity and contrast. It's basically a single exposure HDR.


I have to repost the picture of my wife at the beach, I deleted it because I noticed the hair tie on her wrist. Hair tie gone now.

[hotreds]

Nice work, Justin!

[shark]

I'm seldom satisfied with my photos. What do I need to do to improve them?

[emopunker2004]

Post some examples Ron so we can get a feel for them and tell us what it is that u dislike

[OLS]

I'm seldom satisfied with my photos. What do I need to do to improve them?

I will tell you only what I know, and what I didn't learn from 30 years in television,
I have been learning lately from reading all of this (http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm)

There are enough articles in there to keep you busy for weeks. After you have read about half of it,
you realize that on one hand, the guy is extremely knowledgable and helpful, and on the other hand,
he IS ONLY one photographer, and they tend to be opinionated and think they are right all the time.
Like me.
But if you can remember he is only one guy, his help is invaluable and insightful. If you want to just
skip RIGHT TO WHY you can't take good pictures, you might find the most immediate help in the articles
that have those types of titles. He is very blunt about why most people take boring pictures and strives
to help you break out of that mold. Some people here may really benefit from this library of help,
some may even toss him a few bucks or buy gear through the links he supplies to help him avoid working
a real job ever again. Very little in there is what I would term useless.

Good luck with your quest to take better photos. I think we all want that. You should create a photobucket
or flickr page where we can check out the things you are talking about. Flickr is not the best choice because
it is usually a pride and criticism kind of environment. Photobucket is more useful for, well, like a lot of us do here,
store photos that we like to post in threads and stuff, where the pics don't clog up the asylum servers. Stuff
like this.......

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/JAMpromotionsMKTG/offtopic_zpsda1aa666.gif

But also stuff like this.....

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae23/JAMpromotionsMKTG/alumcave319copyxx.jpg

On Photobucket though, there are not the same kinds of review and criticism, so its a little safer to store
things there that you might want people here to help you with. When I say criticism, too, I do not mean
just BAD stuff, I mean Flickr is a place where people want others to see and comment on their work. If you
want to store things on the bucket, you can use their html tags to post them here like I did with my Smokies
stream shot, and we can look at what bothers you and aid you in stopping it, lol.

.

[dave]

I'm seldom satisfied with my photos. What do I need to do to improve them?

That may not be a bad place to be in. As long as your dissatisfaction doesn't discourage you too much. There is SO much info on the internet that it will be good, but possibly overwhelming. I highly suggest that you search for camera clubs or societies in your area and attend a meeting or two. You'll likely find some very passionate folks eager to help.

http://www.photo-ne.com/biglist/page13.htm

[OLS]

I agree with Dave, too. If you are not TOTALLY dejected, then striving to find ways to take better pictures
is about as healthy a place to be in as you could be. Satisfaction and complacency in any art form is a death
sentence for creativity. If you want to improve, you probably will. Read this as a start. (http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/basics.htm)

[OLS]

Another thing to note, I doubt seriously you will find many people posting anything anywhere on the net
that has not been jacked up with Photoshop or at least touched by it in some way. More brilliant colors can
be had with polarizing filters, but a lot of people can't help messing with everything in Photoshop, BECAUSE
THEY CAN, frankly. I know I don't post anything that I haven't adjusted in SOME way. Digital changed everything.
So if you feel your pics don't stack up to other photos that are essentially the same, it might also be that you have
some post-processing to do to make yourself more satisfied. HDR is all the rage now, taking everything out of the
shadows and blasting away with the electric color. I like about 1 out of every 20 HDR photos I see. I think I
am stuck in the past, where life looks normal on a photograph, because there was no such thing as HDR processing.
I will admit I really, REALLY like it when it adds to the photo. But for my narrow taste, it often doesn't.

And look at me. I wanted the photo of the Alum Cave Trail above to be just like I saw it with my eye, so I polarized
it on the camera, then took it to Photoshop and boosted the saturation til it was EXACTLY like I saw it. Then I added
more, lol. So remember, do as I say, not as I do . :r

[emopunker2004]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8529/8555876420_140745c4dd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8555876420/)
Crystal vignette (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8555876420/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8245/8554764361_02222eafd6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8554764361/)
IMG_1490 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8554764361/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[shark]

Another thing to note, I doubt seriously you will find many people posting anything anywhere on the net
that has not been jacked up with Photoshop or at least touched by it in some way. More brilliant colors can
be had with polarizing filters, but a lot of people can't help messing with everything in Photoshop, BECAUSE
THEY CAN, frankly. I know I don't post anything that I haven't adjusted in SOME way. Digital changed everything.
So if you feel your pics don't stack up to other photos that are essentially the same, it might also be that you have
some post-processing to do to make yourself more satisfied. HDR is all the rage now, taking everything out of the
shadows and blasting away with the electric color. I like about 1 out of every 20 HDR photos I see. I think I
am stuck in the past, where life looks normal on a photograph, because there was no such thing as HDR processing.
I will admit I really, REALLY like it when it adds to the photo. But for my narrow taste, it often doesn't.

And look at me. I wanted the photo of the Alum Cave Trail above to be just like I saw it with my eye, so I polarized
it on the camera, then took it to Photoshop and boosted the saturation til it was EXACTLY like I saw it. Then I added
more, lol. So remember, do as I say, not as I do . :r


I guess my main problem is I'm highly critical of myself, regardless of what I do. lol! I'm a perfectionist. I already understand the basics: f-stop, shutter speed, depth of field, the rule of thirds, optical filters, etc. IMO I need to practice more on the subject matter to make my pics more interesting. Then again, what pics that I take that I may deem boring may be raved about by someone else.

I use a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 camera, which is nice but it's limited in what it can do.

[emopunker2004]

Care to share any Ron?

[emopunker2004]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8522/8556108056_33222156bd_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8556108056/)
hmm2-3 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8556108056/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8246/8556110504_4c3bf3f9a6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8556110504/)
hmm (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thestemens16/8556110504/) by emopunker2004 (http://www.flickr.com/people/thestemens16/), on Flickr

[OLS]

I will agree with you that that Lumix is a good camera, and I think I am one of the only people on this thread
that had a LOOOOoong history of shooting super-zooms and posting that stuff here, too. There is a preponderence
of DSLRs here. Those cameras prove that a person can still take a good photo with ANY camera. I bought my sister
a FZ18 a few months ago because I believe in superzooms as an upgrade to compact point and shoots, despite
them basically both having the same sensor. I believe if you want to take nice photos, you need to be able to
turn a few knobs. Those Lumix cameras have very nice lenses, and they TRY like hell, like Fuji, to shoot as well
as possible in low light. If you DO know the ins and outs of light control, then concentrate heavily on
composition, MOSTLY remembering that anything in a photo that is not adding to the composition is taking away
from it. MOVE your body, not your zoom all the time, take a dozen photos of the same thing from 6-10 different spots.
I can't help you with the hyper-criticism, and like Emo said, if you can't show us a few photos you hate, we can't be
of much help. Share, my man.

[OLS]

[http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6095/6315112062_163775f993.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57220843@N08/6315112062/)
Fall Mosaic (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57220843@N08/6315112062/) by MemphisBrad (http://www.flickr.com/people/57220843@N08/), on Flickr]

This is one of my favorite photos I have taken, but it is not a 'good' photo. It is only fair.
You can SEE easily that had I walked to the right a few feet and recomposed, it could have
been EPIC. Instead you see brown, ugly vines and the back of a building. You can SEE that
the other BG would have been nice fall colors. Ehh...it was a picture, I saw it and took it.
I didn't THINK to take 10 pics of it. My mistake. But I LOVE IT. If I don't love a photo,
it doesn't go on my Flickr pages. I use Photobucket for the CRAP I shoot, lol.
But my photos on Flickr are pleasing to ME, and if other people like seeing them I am happy,
and if they compliment them, I am happy, but they are up there to store and share the ones
I LIKE, and somewhat to compete with my friend Jesse (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30963102@N05/), who I think has a REAL flair for seeing through a lens.
He probably hates that I even HAVE a Flickr page, I only did it because of how HIS photos
made me FEEL. I wanted to feel like that about my own photos. Go through all your stuff
in thumbnail size and see if at least ten photos JUMP off the screen at thumbnail size.
Post em up on the bucket or on flickr and share em. Share a few with us. It is obvious
you WANT some form of help or advice, so you have to prepare to GET IT, good or bad.
You can't hover on the egde.

[xxx_busa]

Awesome SHOTS Thank You !!!

[OLS]

I am sorry, Shark, I completely forgot to remember who I was talking to. You and I hung out at the Shack.
I have been way off my game for a long time. I remember your camera and everything. Now that I have the face
together with the issues, I am even leaning further in. Very interested to know the kinds of things you are shooting that
you don't care for.

[shark]

Let's start with this one. Give me an honest critique, other than the foreground grassy area is overexposed:


http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p42/ronman_2007/5cRnncX-Imgur_zps7bc64176.jpg

[emopunker2004]

Ron, it's a great shot overall. If u had that image in a RAW file, the overexposed foreground could be fixed easily.

[shark]

Ron, it's a great shot overall. If u had that image in a RAW file, the overexposed foreground could be fixed easily.

yeah, RAW files are pretty convenient!