Photographers: tips, tricks, equipment, etc

[doc73]

I currently use a Canon SX530HS. Still a point and shoot but has a HUGE zoom. Looks like a mini DSLR but still is easy to use in P mode or Auto mode. Can be manual as well. I agree, a DSLR is a serious hobbyist camera (assuming you are not a pro obviously).

[Triguy]

Originally Posted by itat

I just found this thread so maybe I can ask for some advice on a new camera. We've had our Canon SX110is for several years and it takes decent photographs but I want to replace it with something with more zoom and that won't eat batteries for breakfast! We attending our oldest DS's university grad last month and really wished we had a better zoom for the dark auditorium shots. The lens on the SX110is says it's a 6.0-60.0mm and 1:2.8-4.3.

I'll likely never be into manual photography since I find f-stops, apertures, etc. to be very confusing, so the vast majority of my photography would be using the Auto-mode. I'm considering a basic DSLR like a Nikon D3300 with the standard "AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II zoom lens". Is this a good choice for a very amateur photographer? Would I need a longer lens for more zoom (for indoor and outdoor shots)?

Its going to be a little difficult not knowing your budget, so I'm going to assume that you are willing to pay about the same amount as for that Nikon kit (~$550). Correct me if I am wrong in that.

The category called bridge cameras is what I think you need to look at. People like these for their reach (up to the equivalent of 600mm and beyond in zoom optically) and many offer a bright fast lens.

I second Oakman's suggestion about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ300.

Its not the cheapest at about $500 at amazon but its a really great all-rounder. Panasonic does a very good JPEG engine for those who don't want to fiddle around with processing and its a nice bright lens (f/2.8). At 600mm, it is quite a bit longer than what you have today. You could happily leave it on Auto, but it will offer all of the PASM options in case you ever want to branch out.

The downside is the cost and larger size over the cannon. Also, even this camera might not help you make the pictures you want to make in very low light situations. Physics plays a part here and just need to have reasonable expectations.

All in all, though, a big step up over the Cannon SX110.


The term DSLR got thrown around. As already mentioned here, I don't think any DSLR is right for you. Only because the reason to own any interchangeable lens system (like the Nikon D3300) is the actual lenses.

That kit lens is fine but (as someone also mentioned) considered to be slow, which means it is not going to work well for you in darker indoor shooting. Its is also a wide to standard length so you are giving up a lot in terms of zoom compared to your current Cannon, I think.

That camera with its larger crop sensor, excellent auto-focus and other attributes would be a very good starter camera for you if you eventually wanted to invest into some more capable lenses. But that is generally a rabbit hole and I suggest you not start down that hole unless you intend to move off of Auto.

Good luck with your purchase decision.

[itat]

Thanks, Triguy. You're right. I don't see us carrying around a large camera bag and changing lenses. The camera would be used by both myself and my DW and I think a "bridge" camera will fit our needs well.

I am looking at the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 that Oakman suggested. I don't need the extra features of the FZ300 like 4K video and WiFi - and the FZ300 is CDN$300 more than the FZ200. I just have to convince DW to spend CDN$450 on a camera. It'll probably have to be a Christmas present and I'll pick up some lithium AAs in the meantime.

[Triguy]

Here are a few of this year's fireworks from last night.

These were shot into the water. Wait 5 seconds and then you get this ...


A bunch right over head. Kind of an interesting mess of explosions.


Beginning of the finale



Lots of fun. Certainly the nicest fireworks I've ever seen from a private party.

It was a really interesting setup in that we were on lake Michigan with the fireworks beings set off just a few houses down the beach from my sister's place. Her neighbor has been doing this for decades for their little beachfront community. He must had had a 100 mortars of all different sizes lined up for the show.

Being this close, the fireworks exploded either right over us or in the water directly in front of us.

[Oakman]

Great photos of fireworks Triguy. I've never attempted to take pics of fireworks with my P&S camera. Some day when I'm not the one actually setting off the fireworks I might try.

[Triguy]

Thanks Oakman!

[Oakman]

I was getting ready to download some photos from my camera and as I was about to sit down to the computer I looked out the patio door and saw this. I thought for sure I was about to watch raw nature play out in my backyard so I set my camera for continuous shooting. Nothing happened. Even so I think I have a rather unusual shot. The squirrels got their fill of sunflower seeds and departed. The hawk flew off a bit later. Click on the pictures to see them larger.

In the lower left of the photo you can see two squirrels under the bird feeder. In the upper right of the photo you can see the hawk sitting on the fence. I call this photo “Tempting Fate.”



Here’s another picture of the hawk. I don’t know for sure but I think it is a Red-tailed hawk.

[Oakman]

I mentioned these batteries in a previous post so I thought I’d post an image of the batteries. The energizer lithiums are the best battery for electronics in my opinion. I can’t vouch for the 9X longer but I will say the last a heck of a lot longer in my cameras than regular energizers. These are not rechargeable and they are a bit pricey but they’re worth it as far as I’m concerned.

At the Walmart store where I shop you have to ask for them because they are kept under the counter in the photo department. I guess this is a popular item to shoplift since I can’t think of any other reason for not having them on the store shelves with the other batteries.

[doc73]

I also use the eneloop rechargeable batteries for things like my GPS (handheld) and cameras. I with X2 the lithiums. I use them in things were there are wide swings in temp. For example a safe I keep in the trailer. They handle it much better than regular batteries.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Shutterbug]

Originally Posted by Triguy

Here are a few of this year's fireworks from last night.

These were shot into the water. Wait 5 seconds and then you get this ...
Attachment 112958

A bunch right over head. Kind of an interesting mess of explosions.
Attachment 112959

Beginning of the finale
Attachment 112960


Lots of fun. Certainly the nicest fireworks I've ever seen from a private party.

It was a really interesting setup in that we were on lake Michigan with the fireworks beings set off just a few houses down the beach from my sister's place. Her neighbor has been doing this for decades for their little beachfront community. He must had had a 100 mortars of all different sizes lined up for the show.

Being this close, the fireworks exploded either right over us or in the water directly in front of us.

Great shots

[doc73]

A recent thread got me a thinking....

WHAT DO YOU SHOOT WITH?

I hate the "Wow your camera looks expensive must shoot great photos" but I am still curious.. What do you photogs use? Make, model, lens favorites and point and shoot, APS-C,vfull frame or micro 4-3rds?

I am using a Canon SX530HS. It is a "bridge camera." Looks like a DSLR but is really a point and shoot with manual options. It looks like it has a 5x crop factor and its range is 18mm to 600mm (with full digital zoom engaged).

Looking at an APS-c Canon Rebel T6i 18-135mm in the near future.

[dbarr]

Whatever fits in my pocket. I was looking at the T6i too but not sure I want to carry a big camera again.

Towards the end of my last trip I was using my iphone more than my little camera.

[doc73]

I did leave that out.. I do also use my Samsung S7. It is a GREAT camera and even shoots in RAW which is nice for the right shots.

Phones have come a LONG way that is for sure!

[SKnight]

My current kit consists of;

All Canon hardware
1DX
7D
24-105L f4
70-200L f2.8
EX600RT Flash

I'll admit, I've been wanting to get a P&S to slip into my pocket for a long time, that stuff gets heavy to lug around.

[dbarr]

I do like the wifi capabilities of some of the new cameras.

[doc73]

Yes I use it for remote control and like the app for geotagging things when I want to.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S7

[Oakman]

I don’t like to carry a lot of weight with me so I prefer point and shoot cameras. If I’m camping or traveling with the RV I usually take my Fuji Finepix S8200. It’s a bridge camera with some great features and has a 40X zoom (24-960mm).

If I’m on a trip that requires me to fly, I take my Canon SX160is for the small size. It too has some nice features and a 16X zoom (28-448mm).

If I’m on a trip where I will be snorkeling I take my cheapie underwater Nikon Coolpix S33. I also take a backup camera when traveling and that’s my SX110is. The SX110 camera just keeps going and going. I’ve worn out 3 digital cameras, an Olympus Stylus, a Samsung HZ30, and a Kodak Easyshare.

Many years ago when my daughter was in sports I used to have a Canon Rebel SLR and one of my favorite lenses was a 70-210mm f2.8 that I used for shooting in gymnasiums. It took me a long time to embrace digital photography.

Funny thing, because of their strong film business, Kodak didn’t embrace digital photography either. The irony is, an engineer at Kodak was the one who invented digital photography.

[Triguy]

Currently, I use two mirrorless systems - Olympus m4/3 and Sony full frame and a variety of lenses. I also have a Sony RX100 pocket cam.

The idea over the last few years was that the Oly and Sony systems would provide substantially different capabilities but I'm finding the lens overlap, overall cost and differences in user interface to be more bother than it's worth. Sure, the differences are there and they each have their strengths, but it's no longer worth it to me to run two systems side-by-side. So, I'm planning to slim down from using both a M4/3 (Oly E-M1) and Sony (A7r and a6000).

The problem is deciding which to keep going ahead with. The m4/3 is excellent for most of my needs -it's relatively smaller than the Sony A7r (but larger than the Sony 6000), most prime lenses are tiny and of high quality (and Zuiko lenses are excellent), the af is very good, and the overall cost is less than the Sony. Also, JPEGs are nice when I don't want to do much in Lightroom.

But, it's not all it's cracked up to be. The problem (for me) is that I prefer the better tonality of the A7R for landscapes when printed, my main photography pursuit, and the dynamic range is noticeably better. Also, I like the low light capabilities of the larger sensor and the much better ability to crop when needed (I know, I know, "real photographers" get it right in the viewfinder and don't need to crop. Moving on...).

Decisions, decisions. After making pictures with the Sony for several years and the Olympus m4/3 for the last year, I'll likely sell my m4/3 kit and some of the Sony and consolidate:

Sony A7rii for landscapes, portraits, high ISO, and generally when printing large. Lenses are 16-35f4, 35f1.8, 55f1.8, 85f2.8, 135f2.8, 70-200 f4.

Sony RX10iii for a traveling camera. This 1" sensor is a bit smaller than the m4/3 but the camera sports a crazy nice Zeiss lens that covers 24-600mm f2.4-4. It's a really nice all-purpose camera. Excellent video.

The only thing missing with this is the better af of the Olympus E-M1 and that may be important as my oldest daughter will be a freshman in high school and is wildly involved with volleyball and basketball.

[Kenz]

Currently use a Olympus SZ-10 pocket camera because it fits nice in my back pocket. I also use a Konica/Minolta 7d with an assortment of lenses. Also still use my Minolta 7 and SRT-101 as I still fancy the film more than the digital (I know, stuck in the past). I am planning on upgrading to a newer Sony alpha, as current as I can get and still use the minolta A mount lenses. Mainly because I have to many to just walk away.

[Shutterbug]

Here is something I posted on a Facebook group. Thought it might help some of you....


For those of you that like to photograph sunsets. Here is a tip to saturate the colors.

This particular sunset was quite bland, as it was still too bright. I knew with the vertical clouds it would make the sun look like fire.

The trick is to under expose to saturate the color, and highlight the yellows, and oranges.

Both of these shots are straight out of the camera. No post processing. The more saturated of the two was under exposed by 2 full stops.

When shooting sunsets. Try multiple levels of under exposure. Each sunset is different.

This particular shot looks quite a bit better printed. Back lit computer screens can't show the full effect. But you get the idea.

Happy shooting.