***DSLR/Photography MegaThread***

***DSLR THREAD*** revisited...

Funny thing, I had a few hours to kill and decided to read this thread from cover to cover and its cool to see how everyone has evolved over the past 2 years.

Glenn, you go through bodies like frigg'n Jeffery Dahmer dude.

The biggest change for me has been being able to not feel as if I'm ruining the 'spirit' of the photo by adjusting its original attributes via post pic processing.

Coming from a 35mm SLR background, I felt as if too many people were using processing software to make up for inadequacies in their shot selections, subjects, and settings. I always had a "...yea, but its been photoshopped..." attitude towards heavy processing, almost a elitist attitude...in a small way.

Fast Forward to now, Ive let that view almost completely dissipate. I still however tend to lean towards basic processing, Crop, Contrast, color balance, etc. I look at it this way, I was doing the same thing I moaned about with 35mm SLR stuff by way of filters and scissors anyway. Now its just easier, less frustrating, less expensive, and less time consuming.

And with all artistic media, everything is pleasing in its own way, processed or not.

The toughest thing for me since going digital has been learning the DSLR camera and all its little buttons and knobs. Even after 2 years of owning this D80, I still find new things to toy with.

My New Years Resolution is to be more involved in the thread I started and you guys sustained for 2 years...its been a awesome journey...

Here's to 2 more...:greenbeer:
 
nocturn said:
Glenn, you go through bodies like frigg'n Jeffery Dahmer dude.
Click to expand...

Hah! I'm only on my third! And this one should last me a long, long time. Besides, rinkrat is right up there with me going from his Rebel to his 30D to his 50D.

With processing, I very very rarely use Photoshop. When I do, it is usually with help (like my wife or ValleyFan) because I don't know jack **** about the program. In Lightroom, I do the basics that a camera-processed .jpg file would have, and then maybe tweak the black levels a tad and fiddle with the vignette a little. I try hard to process each image in a similar manner...my "style" if you will, but I rarely over-process in an attempt to get something from the image that I didn't see when I shot it. I just keep in mind that scene and try to recall it when I'm processing, realizing that the image sensor sees very differently from the human eye.

This thread is two years old (and then some) now. My gear bag has gone from a D100 and a consumer-zoom to a D200 and a bit of pro-glass (the 10.5 and 70-200 f/2.8 lenses) to a D3 and all pro-level glass (adding the 14 f/2.8, the 24-70 f/2.8, and the 50mm f/1.4), four flash units with a remote commander, a professional tripod and ball-head (which is about to be replaced with a pistol grip), a website where I sell prints of my best stuff, and a couple of published images. I've pretty much done the basics of what I want to do, which is compiling a portfolio I can be proud of and gaining the knowledge and ability to consider this hobby as a "backup career."

What else do I want? Well there's still a ton of gear I'd like. I'm thinking about a D700 body, a couple of the prime lenses like the 85 f/1.4 and the 135 f/2 Defocus portrait lenses and the 20 f/2.8 or 24 f/2.8 for a compact wide-angle. I'd also like a nice studio lighting kit and a couple of pocket wizards. But that's all stuff that's a ways down the road, I think.
 
Don't get me wrong Glenn. None of my previous post was directed to anyone here. It was more towards photography as a whole in the past say, 10 years or so. To me, the lines were very black and white between 'as shot' and post processing for a while. Now they are a darker shade of grey.

I would like to think I've expanded my views on the art, current. I just personally prefer 'simple' as reflected in my work.
 
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Wasn't thinking that at all, Randy. Was just continuing the conversation.

Everyone has their own techniques to make fantastic images. Those techniques range from your simple to PuckMonkey's complex. Each has their own merits. I'm equally blown away by images on both ends of the spectrum.
 
while I was waiting for an hour in the will call line last night.... hmm.....

3142232510_c921b1f1f1_b.jpg
 
FlyBoeingJets said:
Wasn't thinking that at all, Randy. Was just continuing the conversation.

Everyone has their own techniques to make fantastic images. Those techniques range from your simple to PuckMonkey's complex. Each has their own merits. I'm equally blown away by images on both ends of the spectrum.
Click to expand...

Right on Glenn. I honestly didn't think you were thinking that, I just felt as if needed to clarify my previous post. It was probably all on my end.

BTW, after reading the thread again, what did you end up doing for a watermark? I don't recall reading about it after your query back in late 07'. I probably should add one being my Photobucket account is starting to fill up.
 
I am into the real look also and do very little post-processing. I can't remember the last time I did an HDR. My whole approach now seems to be capturing images in fast moving situations and it's a rush. I wish I could do some of these things every night.
 
Well that was with my good ol standard SLR (Canon Rebel EOS Ti) with a Tamron 28-300 lens. I just got my wife the Rebel XS with the 2 lens package (standard and the 17-200) so I should have some more pics up soon
 
So I'm looking for some lens advice.

I'm on a Canon XTi with no plans of upgrading bodies in the near future. I've been rolling for almost 2 years with the fairly crappy 18-55 kit lens and am about to drop some $$ on a longer set of glass.

My so-far limited searching on Amazon has me looking at the [ame="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0011NVMO8/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=A1J7WSBJHTGUFA&v=glance"]Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS[/ame] or the [ame="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000ALLMI8/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance"]Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto[/ame]

I also ran across this Amazon deal for a [ame="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B001JHZ7KG/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=A1P9QRDRYY6FXL&v=glance"]pair of Sigma lenses[/ame] but I'm sure they're not great quality. A 28-70mm DG and a 70-300mm DG for under $200 combined seems way too good to be true. (I don't know what DG stands for, could be "Definately Garbage" for all I know)
I KNOW there are better lenses and/or deals available out there, and like I said I'm just getting started on the searching... Any advice/ideas you guys have would be helpful.

I was also considering a trip to Sammy's and/or Simon's to take a look at the used lenses. I'm also flipping through the used inventory on KEH Camera's website but I'm not sure about buying used gear online.

Any help would be appreciated.

And I have NO IDEA what's up with the formatting on those links. Weird.
 
Blurker said:
So I'm looking for some lens advice.
Click to expand...

By the lenses linked, it looks like you are wanting to spend about $200. Unfortunately the longer you get, the harder it is to find a quality lens at a bargain. Are you open to looking at prime lenses? You would be able to get a bit more quality for your money. The EF 85mm f/1.8 is a fantastic lens, as is the EF 100mm f/2.8 macro, but both are a bit over what you are looking at. I'll keep thinking of stuff.

Buy the way, this tread sucks to read on a mobile device, I'll have to take a look at all the images posted when I get home.
 
ValleyFan said:
By the lenses linked, it looks like you are wanting to spend about $200. Unfortunately the longer you get, the harder it is to find a quality lens at a bargain. Are you open to looking at prime lenses? You would be able to get a bit more quality for your money. The EF 85mm f/1.8 is a fantastic lens, as is the EF 100mm f/2.8 macro, but both are a bit over what you are looking at. I'll keep thinking of stuff.

Buy the way, this tread sucks to read on a mobile device, I'll have to take a look at all the images posted when I get home.
Click to expand...

I went ahead with the Canon 55-250 IS. I picked it up yesterday and paid a bit more for it locally than I would have online. But, I'll have it for my daytrip to the snow tomorrow and I get to play with it now instead of later.

I'm sure I'll have some shots up soon.
 
With big purchases like glass and camera bodies, I'd rather frequent my local camera shop even though I'll pay a tad more. It's a peace-of-mind thing...knowing that if the thing is boogered right out of the box, I can take it back without any hassle.
 
Okay some more (from my cheating) SLR. Black and White pro grade film. Can't wait til my wife's lens comes in to Silvio's. (They sold so many of the DSLR Rebel XS packages that they ran out of the telephoto lens)

14220002.jpg


14220034.jpg


14220027.jpg
 
Blurker said:
So I'm looking for some lens advice.

I'm on a Canon XTi with no plans of upgrading bodies in the near future. I've been rolling for almost 2 years with the fairly crappy 18-55 kit lens and am about to drop some $$ on a longer set of glass.

My so-far limited searching on Amazon has me looking at the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS or the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto

I also ran across this Amazon deal for a pair of Sigma lenses but I'm sure they're not great quality. A 28-70mm DG and a 70-300mm DG for under $200 combined seems way too good to be true. (I don't know what DG stands for, could be "Definately Garbage" for all I know)
I KNOW there are better lenses and/or deals available out there, and like I said I'm just getting started on the searching... Any advice/ideas you guys have would be helpful.

I was also considering a trip to Sammy's and/or Simon's to take a look at the used lenses. I'm also flipping through the used inventory on KEH Camera's website but I'm not sure about buying used gear online.

Any help would be appreciated.

And I have NO IDEA what's up with the formatting on those links. Weird.
Click to expand...




I will never regret the day I got my
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Canon-EF-S-17-55mm-Lens-Cameras/dp/B000EW8074]Amazon.com: Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras: Camera & Photo[/ame]

This lens will change your life.
 
It's an amazing lens and can make any situation seem magical when you see the shots afterwards.
 
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