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Photography Equipment & Software Thread

rundll

By rundll
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Metallichick

Metallichick

Posted
Posted

Noob alert.

Right, basically I'm leaving to go to Canada (Whistler) at the end of the year. There's a job that I'm going to apply for, which is working as a photographer up the mountain, I guess most likely taking photos of families and groups skiing etc, and stuff like that, but possibly (hopefully) some action stuff too. Can anyone recommend some appropriate lenses I should be looking at? I have the 350D body and around £300 to spend (but preferably a little less as this trip's going to cost a fair amount).

Many thanks :angry:

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Calum

Calum

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Been looking for a general street-photography/photojournalist lens (to use with my 30D), and currently considering the Canon EF 24-105mm. Any opinions on this one at all? I used to have both a 10-22 (EFS) and 70-200 and found the wide-angle a fantastic lens, but looking at getting a 5D in a few years time (or an equiv. full-frame camera) maybe so don't want to have to re-buy the EFS. However I am looking for an excellent all-round lens for the 30D now, so does the 24-105 work out?

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Dork Knight

Dork Knight

Posted
Posted
Noob alert.

Right, basically I'm leaving to go to Canada (Whistler) at the end of the year. There's a job that I'm going to apply for, which is working as a photographer up the mountain, I guess most likely taking photos of families and groups skiing etc, and stuff like that, but possibly (hopefully) some action stuff too. Can anyone recommend some appropriate lenses I should be looking at? I have the 350D body and around £300 to spend (but preferably a little less as this trip's going to cost a fair amount).

Many thanks :wub:

It would be best to really know what you would be photographing.

As an example the Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L (second hand) would be ace if the weight is not a problem, you could get up close with the people and should provide you with excellent quality - The down side is no IS, possibly weight and it will not be wide for group shots;

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/de....aspx?sku=12848

At the other end of the scale you have the Nifty Two Fifty, kinda complements the kit lens;

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/de...spx?sku=1021795

Then you have many in between by different manufacturers like the following;

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/de...spx?sku=1031775

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product/de...spx?sku=1003299

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Dork Knight

Dork Knight

Posted
Posted
Been looking for a general street-photography/photojournalist lens (to use with my 30D), and currently considering the Canon EF 24-105mm. Any opinions on this one at all? I used to have both a 10-22 (EFS) and 70-200 and found the wide-angle a fantastic lens, but looking at getting a 5D in a few years time (or an equiv. full-frame camera) maybe so don't want to have to re-buy the EFS. However I am looking for an excellent all-round lens for the 30D now, so does the 24-105 work out?

If you're looking at the 24-105mm you'll no doubt be going around in circles like many of us do, the main ones which crop up are;

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM,

Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8 L USM,

Canon EF 24-105mm f4 L IS USM

I opted for the 24-70, it's a heavy beast and of course it doesn not have IS or the extra reach of the 24-105 - I would have thought the 24-105 would be ace as a walkaround lens for the extra reach and IS.

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rev-happy performance

rev-happy performance

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The new Sigma 24-70 f2.8 HSM is supposed to be very good, and cheaper (and lighter!) than the Canon, here's a pool:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/sigma24-70_hsm/pool/

Note that there's also the non-HSM version, which is the older (and quite a bit cheaper still) version. If you don't need high-speed autofocus this might do you well as well, and all are full-frame compatible.

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Agent L

Agent L

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DK, this is probably a question that you can answer easily, I hopefully have a job lined up soon for a motorbike product shoot that the client wants to look like your white background shots:

3546103540_834762b11d_o.jpg

My main question is, whilst I think I'm happy lighting the bike itself, how do you get the background so white? Are you lighting it and therefore overexposing the backdrop? Or is there some other trick?

The shoot will probably be at a studio that has a white floor and wall with an infinity cove so the backdrop shouldn't be a problem. I have the option of using/hiring the full studio light setup and was thinking a 3 light shoot for the bike, when side on, one on the nose, one on the tail and one lighting the whole side. Think softboxes are the way forward to eliminate reflections? Would be grateful of any thoughts.

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Dork Knight

Dork Knight

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You basically want to blow the background, as a general rule you would want your background about 1.5 stops brighter than the subject.

You could have a light either side of the subject to light the background, one would probably do it if powerful enough and you would also need flags or whatnot to stop the light spill - You could also get away with one light directly behind the subject but that would be a challenge for the experienced IMO.

I would say softboxes would be ace, something I want to get in the future as I currently use shoot through umbrellas.

You could also get creative and turn the white background black based on the inverse square law, I don't have the room to do this so looking at alternatives - You could also grab some black straws and make a snoot/grid for creative lighting.

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Agent L

Agent L

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Cheers mate, will have to see what I can do. I'm glad all that you said is pretty much what I was expecting. Apart from the white to black thing, no idea on that. As it'll be a paid for studio there'll be no time to 'get creative'!

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Dork Knight

Dork Knight

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Just something which I thought I would mention, if on the day you find yourself having one or two problems check the histogram and image on the camera - If you're finding it's over exposing you'll lose detail where the light is wrapping around the bike from the background.

If this is the case and you start to lose time, you could always drop the power on the background lights and start to underexpose the background so it starts to turn slightly grey - At least you can resolve this during post.

If you find this is the case let me know and I can post a fix for you - But good luck, hopefully all will go well.

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scribble

scribble

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Posted
Think softboxes are the way forward to eliminate reflections? Would be grateful of any thoughts.

I've got a 60 inch octobox. Its amazing. Get a really nice even light from it. If you're shooting motorbikes I'm not sure umbrellas will give enough coverage to give a good looking highlight.

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Dork Knight

Dork Knight

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Man, I dribble at the thought of a proper Octa, way too expensive for me at the moment though.

A 60" shoot through with a studio light will give you a ridiculous spread of light, you're right if you'll be using single flash heads though, they just won't give you enough coverage.

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mercenarri

mercenarri

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Posted

Latest Nikon rumours suggest the D300 is being discontinued and replaced by the D300s, the same camera but with HD video capabilities, dual memory card slots, and Q-release.

Also hints of another FX camera between the D3 and D3X, which should pull the prices down on the D3 and D700, expected around autumn.

Also, new iPhone app that lets you control your camera as a remote. I'm fucking getting one!

nikon_iphone_app.jpg

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mercenarri

mercenarri

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Yeah, but doesn't your camera have to be plugged into your laptop for it to work? :o

I think that's only the case for LiveView? If not, then its not as awesome as initially thought. Still quite useful for studio/laptop work I suppose.

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Calum

Calum

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In addition to the lens queries earlier, looking for a much sooner purchase: I need a cheap (but good!) lens for product photography, not necessarily a macro lens but something that can get some great photos of watches and other small products. Shooting with a Canon 30D right now; any recommendations? Remember reading about sub-£100 Canon lens that everyone raves about but not certain if it's suitable (nor can I remember its name...)

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