September 2008 Weddings
Planning bio My DIY blog The Maine Bio
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
PR: Lenses & Accessories
Since today is PR, what do you have for lenses and accessories? What is your camera? What's on your wishlist?
Jules - do you love your new bag?
I have just the two kit lenses that came with my camera (Nikon D5000). Regular lens if 18-55 and a zoom 55-200. I also have an external speedlight, SB 700.
By the end of class I hope to have an idea of my next lens. I'm leaning toward a 50mm f/1.8, but I'm not sure.
Planning bio My DIY blog The Maine Bio
Re: PR: Lenses & Accessories
We got each other a Canon Rebel T3i for Christmas, I haven't gotten a ton of chances to use it yet but I'm hoping when the weather improves I can get outside and do some things, there are so many pictures of cats you can take.
We have a 18-55 lense that came with the camera and we got a 55-200 zoom lense too. We have a good sling bag that came as part of the package, uv filters for both lenses and a cleaning brush and clip that attaches to the strap to hold your lense cap.
I think next we really want to get a couple of extra batteries and maybe a macro lense. JT does a lot of shooting video at work so the batteries would be great.
Books read in 2011: 111
Books read in 2012: 100
my read shelf:
I have the Nikon D5100 and have the following in my camera bag:
18-55 kit lens
50mm f/1.8 lens
Tamron 18-270 lens -- this is the one I keep on my camera all the time
Speedlight...not sure which one
Scooplight
I'm still drooling over this camera bag....
ETA: I also have an extra memory card, UV filters, lens cleaning cloth, remote, battery charger and extra AA batteries for my speedlight.
In JuJu - who I absolutely ADORE I have the following line-up:
~ Nikon D80 - I will be gripping in the next week or so
~ Nikon 50mm f/1.8
~ Nikon 28-80mm
~ Nikon 70-300mm
~ Tamron-F 2X (Full / true doubler)
~ SB-600 Speedlight
~ Bogen (by Manfrotto) 3011 Tripod w/ 488RC2 Ball Head
~ Plus a variety of filters, Including a close up Macro - but my mom mentioned passing along her macro lens as she doesn't use it much
~ I also have an extra battery and 6 memory cards (4G & 8G
~ 2 Camera Rain Jackets
~ Wireless Shutter Release
After the grip, the item that moves to the top of my list is:
The Black Rapid Strap
Followed by:
Nikon 24mm f/2.8
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8
Nikon 85mm f/1.8
Planning bio My DIY blog The Maine Bio
2012 Reading Challenge
The 50mm f/1.8 is a great lens! It has been my go-to lens for many occasions because it is a fast lens, but I usually stop it down because wide open is a bit soft.
I was hesitant to go with the 50mm f/1.4 because it was more $ and many reviews said that it is soft at both 1.4 and 1.8 so why would I spend the extra money to stop it down to the same as the 1.8 lens?
It is important to note that on the Nikon crop sensor a 50mm really acts like a 75mm lens (On a Canon crop snesor it acts like a 80mm lens).
So if you like shooting landscapes, street scenes, you may also be interested in the 24mm like I listed above (acts like a 36mm on a Nikon CS) or even the 35mm (acts like a 52.5 on a Nikon CS) as it will be a wider angle lens.
Now if you were more interested in people / portraits I would go the other way and talk the 50mm and the 85mm lenses
or EVEN the 105 macro because of the beautiful compression.
Planning bio My DIY blog The Maine Bio
2012 Reading Challenge
Aw shucks
My mom was a professional photographer, so I learned a lot from her at the beginning when I started shooting in high school. However, the world of photography and the technology has changed a lot since then, so I am a part of a few photography forums and I read about it all the time and just soak in as much as possible.
ETA: there are so many ladies who have shared their knowledge with me that I am in awe of!
CRAFTY ME
my read shelf:
When you look for a zoom, look for one with a fixed aperture rather than variable. For example the 80-200mm f/2.8 is a better zoom than the 55-200mm f/4-5.6.
When you use an 80mm focal length on the first you can open up to f/2.8 and you can still open up to f/2.8 at the 200mm focal length.
On the second lens, you can open up to an f/4 at the 55mm focal length, BUT at the 200mm focal length you can only open up to f/5.6 which is half the amount of light able to be let in than f/4 and one-fourth the amount of light that can be let in than the first lens at f/2.8
Now, on these particular examples, light may not be as much of a factor because with the 200mm zoom you may be looking at this lens as an outdoor lens and you would have plenty of light to work with, so other reasons (without getting too detailed) that the fixed aperture is important:
The f/2.8 of the first lens would also be sharper and give you more control over the depth of field (dependent on other factors such as focal length and distance to the subject)
Is something wrong with mine? It's SLOW on auto so I take everything in manual.
I need a good zoom lens- I'm going to reread your post to Kasi.
I have 3 kits lenses. A 24-80, 80-200, and my sisters, 17-50 I think.
I think I want this lens http://www.amazon.com/Tamron-28-75mm-Aspherical-Canon-Digital/dp/B0000A1G05/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I16ZBCE5JC31XF&colid=1DVZ7OY816JMC
I also might want an external flash.
ETA: I have a camera too. Duh! Canon T1i, think or something to that effect!
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I have a Canon Rebel T2i, the kit lens 18-55mm, and the zoom 55-200mm, a UV lens protector, and butterfly lens hood (which I have yet to use), and an assortment of props (I just scored some newborn wraps through my DSLR buddy group on FB super cheap
), bulletin board paper, and floor molding to use in sessions.
My wishlist consists of a tri-pod, remote, seamless backdrop paper, backdrop frame, speedlite, and a new lens. I am torn between a 35mm and a 50mm, but am leaning towards 35mm right now. I don't have tight spaces in my home, but I fear that most of the people I shoot for do and the 50mm wouldn't cut it in their homes.
In this instance, "fast" actually refers to the shutter speed - ie: the aperture opens up wide, thus allowing for the use of a fast shutter speed.
REGARDLESS, I have not noticed a slow focus as you are describing. Could be a few things ... Is it searching for the focus? Are you shooting in low light? Are you shooting something that is low contrast? Are you depressing the shutter release halfway to meter / focus? Does it happen when you depress the shutter release fully?
I responded but I have no idea where it went. Ugh. Anyway, I've had far too little sleep to process these questions! It is searching to focus, and I shoot in low light. I stopped testing it in automatic, but I will try to play around this weekend to see if I can figure out your answers. I know DH used the camera this weekend and had pretty good light but it still took a long time to focus and then it focused on the carpet (he needs to obviously play around with the camera but I ended up taking the camera from him and taking the pictures myself).
If it is searching and you are shooting in low light, that could be the issue. Ultimately your lens may not be able to find enough contrast to lock onto the focal point. Are you manually selecting the focal point or are you focusing and recompsing off of the one the camera is selecting for you?
Are you depressing the shutter release halfway for a long time to try and catch the focus? Sometimes short bursts work better.
Do a test with it, when you can, and shoot a strong black and white image in really good light. See if it is giving you the same issues then.
It is possible to get a lemon when it comes to lenses, unfortunately. Something could be wrong with the autofocus motor, or the lens could be "soft." That's one of the top reasons to buy from Adorama, B&H, Amazon ... you can return or exchange hassle free and NOT have to pay restocking fees.
I bought from Amazon. I bought a camera from them right before our wedding and it died on our honeymoon within 30 days of purchase and I had to pay a fee to return it. I didn't argue it at the time but should have I guess.
Hmm, I thought Amazon was one of the ones who didn't do that (I could be wrong) ... yeah if you end up having to return it, I would ask about it for sure!
I have Nikon D3000 and bought it with the lens kit. I have the 18-55 lens and a 50mm f/1.8 lens. Still learning on how to use the 50mm.
I have a bag that came with the camera and a cleaning kit with UV filter. And extra memory cards.
I am still looking at a zoom lens. And a better camera bag. Love the bag you are looking at Amanda. And a speedlight.
Love this post and getting some good ideas.
Ooh... I bought DH the Canon 60D for Christmas.
He has the Kit lense it came with and the two Tamaron lenses from his SLR. I am going to show him this post and we may go shopping this weekend. The camera store where I bought it is have a 50% off sale. I was thinking the speedlight external flash was the next thing to get him