I own a cheap 75-300mm lens by Canon. Quality is not that great. Any tips to improve quality?

dslr camera with twin lens kit image

007

I purchased a Canon EOS 1100D DSLR with a twins lens kit. I use the Canon 75-300mm lens very much as I usually photograph long distance subjects. I am into wildlife photography greatly (I go to my local park and photograph birds) and astrophotography plays a small part (I only shoot the moon in my spare time).

My photographs are not as sharp (or high in quality). I believe it is the inexpensive 75-300mm lens that causes this. It's not fast too so that becomes a problem when photographing flying birds. Unfortunately I cannot afford the Canon L-Series lens, a 400mm though that would be ideal for wildlife photography. 600mm would be a dream.

In fact, in the past, I thought of getting teleconverters to make is a 600mm lens but then I did research. My lens quality is not that great then it'll be even worse with teleconverters.

Anyhoo, are there any tips or advice I can get to improve picture quality while taking photographs of wildlife and the moon especially? I heard having a DSLRs aperture on lowest makes a camera not work as well than in quality than around f/8 for example but I am not sure if that is true. I hope this is not too much to ask for a single question posted. Thanks in advance.
This purchase of an EOS 1100D (twins lens kit) was done almost 2 years ago. I was not well educated on cameras and listened to the salesman. What a foolish move.

Answer
Any of the Canon 70-300 mm lenses are good ones. The Canon 75-300 mm is one of the only dog lenses Canon ever made

I am visiting Alabama from the UK next week.Where is the cheapest place to buy Digital SLR cameras(not online)

Ben Wren

I am hoping to buy an Olympus E-510 DSLR (twin lens kit) and will not be able to order anything online, so would like to know the best places in Alabama to buy such a camera cheaply.

Answer
I am a retired professional photographer. Over the years the camera store as I use to know it is disappearing. Ritz is good. But my purchases have been by phone to either B & H Photo 1-800-947-6933 in New York or Adorama 1-800-223-2500. Costco, Circuit City, and some other "big box" retailers would probably fit your needs. I would also suggest reading my comments on returning cameras in other questions found here.

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What is the best source or site that explains how to build a telescope with a camera?

best camera lens for group portraits image

Abeer s

I have plenty of time, so I decided to build a telescope. I want to attach a camera to it to take photos. Please tell me what is the best source or book or site to do this.
please help I really want this.

Answer
You can fit a camera to almost any telescope. If you use a standard 1 1/4" focuser you can get adapters of all sorts for fitting a camera to it directly.
They are also made for 2" focusers but are more expensive.
Put telescope ATM in the search box....ATM is Amateur Telescope Making. There are thousands of sites.
http://www.google.com/search?q=telescope+atm&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a . . . . . .
A very good site is this one but look at lots and see what suits you for the sort of telescope you want.
http://www.atm-workshop.com/ . . . . . .
The spiritual home for ATM is Stellafane at Springfield in lovely Vermont.
It was started by the great Russell Porter, who began the big effort of making home made telescopes popular when he started his mirror grinding classes.
http://stellafane.org/ . . . . . .
There is no problem finding parts to build telescopes with. I've built nine decent ones and several more rushed-up jobs for quick events that have come up. Some people have built over a hundred telescopes, grinding and polishing the mirrors and making the tubes and mountings.
You can get focusers, diagonal mirrors and all the other bits very easily.
http://datscope.wikispaces.com/file/view/18_inch_F5_Dobsonian.jpg/52136033/18_inch_F5_Dobsonian.jpg . . . . .
This guy made five good telescopes.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://members.ziggo.nl/jhm.vangastel/Astronomy/30cmscope/30cm_bestanden/alle%2520vijf.jpg&imgrefurl=http://members.ziggo.nl/jhm.vangastel/Astronomy/30cmscope/5_30cm.htm&usg=__DzTxVL3S7AanlbcF4zpw_DHNHbs=&h=634&w=845&sz=186&hl=en&start=27&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=umxySrOV9M6OfM:&tbnh=109&tbnw=145&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfive%2Bdobsonians%26start%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26ndsp%3D20%26tbs%3Disch:1 . . . . .
For refractors you can buy objective lenses and focusers and make the tubes fairly easily but it takes a bit of care to get it right.
Thousands of people make telescopes...it isn't so rare that you'll be in a lonesome land with no resources available.There are forums, Yahoo Groups, all sorts of info and help available.
Telescope making is not dying out, it is increasing. Ask the guys and girls at star parties.

A digital camera used with a telescope for taking pictures is called by the ugly sounding word digiscoping.
One way to do it is to get a filter thread adapter to fit a T2 mount, which you can find easily for standard 1 1/4 inch focusers, screw it onto the filter thread round the lens and put the adapter in the focusing tube like a normal eyepiece.
The camera then mounts directly onto the focusing tube with no worries about bits of complicated mounting adapters catching on things. It's exactly the same as having a huge telephoto lens mounted onto the camera. For mounting a heavy Nikon FM or an old-style brass-bodied Canon FTb,I use a body mount adapter straight onto the T2 adapter on the focusing tube.
All Newtonians and all normal telescopes are photo-telescopes. You can mount cameras easily on all of them.

If it's for a compact camera, what I did was to make a simple box from a scrap of thin ply with a grip to go over the outside of the focusing tube so I can use the camera with an eyepiece in place. It can be rotated easily for horizontal or vertical pictures (called landscape and portrait format in photography) because it just slides firmly over the focusing tube.
The box has some padding inside so the camera doesn't get scratched and it makes a nice firm fit.
It has to be measured up properly so the camera lens is central against the eyepiece but it's not a hard job. The back is cut out so the controls and screen are available and the top doesn't exist either, so it's more of a frame than a box. My first one was made from stiff card and worked fine for weeks till I made the wooden one.
I use it on 3-inch and 4-inch refractors and an 8-inch Maksutov for wildlife photography and occasionally on a Newtonian or the Maksutov for astro.
On a Newtonian the balance won't be affected greatly with the weight involved...4 -5 ounzes....I've got eyepieces heavier than that.. but if you want to fine tune the balance a simple solution is just to wrap something round the mirror end of the tube and fix it with string or a small bungee cord or sticky tape. Move it up and down till the balance is just right then fix it in place.
You can get balancing rods with a sliding weight for any telescope, or make one easily.
Just move the weight along a bar that's fixed to the the tube until the telescope is balanced and tighten the locking screw.
If there's a friction adjustment on the mount just increase it a bit and you'll probably find no re-balancing is necessary anyway.
A Dobsonian is OK for bright stuff like the Moon and even bright star clusters like the Pleiades or Jupiter at 80x. Take a dozen or more pics for planets and stars and stack them with Registax free software to improve the signal to noise ratio and contrast.
http://www.astronomie.be/registax/ . . . . . . .
I won a Philips Toucam Pro webcam in the raffle at Astrofest, which is the preferred webcam for astro pics. It does a good job when used with Registax.
For faint objects a motor-driven equatorial mount with manual override of the speed and a vibration-free slow motion control of declination are required for accurate guiding, using exposures of a minute or two up to over an hour.
It can be done with just manual slow motion controls but it's not fun and can be very tiring.
A separate guide scope is used, with a power a bit higher than that of the photographic scope to keep the guiding more accurate.
Otherwise you can buy an off-axis guider or an autoguider which can be expensive.

What lenses should I rent for my first wedding using a canon eos 60D?

Dash Dash

Im shooting my first wedding in October! Ill be shooting indoors but I dont plan on bringing a flash seeing as ive always used natural light in my photos. Ive never shot a wedding though as I stated before, and I dont really know what lenses to use with a 60D seeing as its not a full frame camera. The lens I use daily is the 50mm 1.8 and I planned on either taking that or renting the 1.4, So other then that, what other lenses should i look to get?

Answer
Tough to say, as a fast midrange zoom is usually best for weddings but most are only full frame. A 17-55mm f/2.8 IS would probably be the best for the job, and it is an EF-S lens so it won't weigh as much as a boat anchor.

If you can't do that, you will need a normal and perhaps a wide lens... like a 35mm or a 24mm. And if I was going to be carrying around and switching primes, I would rent another body too... most likely a 5D or 6D with a 35mm for group shots and keep the 50 1.8 on the 60D for close ups and portraits..... but a zoom will make it much easier for you and less annoying for your subjects.

Also make sure you have a speedlight with a diffuser. Though natural light is great, it is often too contrasty for good photos. Even a pop up fill flash will fill in shadows wonderfully and actually make it look more natural.

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What are the best lens to use for Canon 7d Video?

best canon lens 7d video image

Q. I'm not quite sure what to purchase and would enjoy help considering quality and budget, i'm looking lenses that i'll be able to get a very thin depth of fields as well as full focus wide angle shots.

Answer
I would consider Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

EF mount; standard zoom lens; Comes with Lens Cap E77U, Rear Lens Cap, Lens Hood EW-83F, Soft Lens Case 1219.
Ultra-low Dispersion glass with Fluorite elements; inner focusing ring; full-time manual focus; aspherical lens
24-70mm focal length
f/2.8 constant maximum aperture
UltraSonic Motor (USM) AF actuator

What is a good price for a decent, semi-expensive video camera?

Ryan

(TL;DR: What video camera would you suggest in the 1000-2000$ price range? Feel free to deviate a little bit from that price, but stay close.)


I'm an independent film creator, and I'm looking to buy a new camera. The camera I currently have only cost 135 dollars. It was good for what I used it for, but since eveything on the camera was automatic, I couldn't adjust the Zoom, change the White balance, etc. The megapixels weren't that good either. I just had a hard time making my videos look professional. What camera would you suggest that I buy in the one to two thousand dollar price range? Lenses to go with it?

Answer
The Canon Vixia HF G20 is about $1100 at Amazon and is a very good "prosumer" model. The XA10 is a professional model and is about $1700. You can read about both at the link I've given below. They will shoot about the same videos (they have the same sensor and processor), but the XA10 has better connections for external mics and much more manual control.

There are no "lenses to go with it." The lens is built in.

I have the G10 (previous model of the G20) and am VERY happy with it. Heck, I also have the strictly consumer M400 (current version is the M500 or maybe even one model later) and I think you'd be very happy with that too.

Frankly, I think that if you step all the way up from a toy camera (sorry) to a $1000 or more prosumer camera you are going to leave most of the new camera's capabilities unused for a long time. (A friend of mine did that and has never taken the G10 off of "full auto".) I certainly wouldn't get something like the XA10 in your position. You need to keep some of your budget for decent mics, a GOOD tripod with a ball fluid head, etc.

Another option would be something like the Canon 7d DSLR. Then you do have to buy lenses. But DSLRs are really set up more for taking pictures than movies.

Verb. Sap.: Ignore anyone who tells you that you should buy a miniDV or HDV camera, or that DSLRs invariably overheat when shooting video over a few minutes long - that advice is YEARS out of date. miniDV and HDV formats are all but dead!!

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How to take pictures of Las Vegas lights at night without a tripod?

best camera lens for las vegas image

Cary M

I am not a beginner at photography but definitely a novice. I have a compact digital camera with quite a few settings options. A tripod is out of the question, so how do I get decent shots with a fast shutter speed to eliminate blur from camera shake? The camera does have image stabilization but I'm not too sure how effective it will be.

Answer
Depends on how long you want to expose for.
If you just want to get the lights and no "fancy" effects then bracing yourself against something solid and with a standard to wide angle lens then you should be able to hand hold to about 1/15 without getting movement blur.
Alternatively, prop the camera on a solid object (wall, car roof etc).

What am I looking for in a lens for airplane photography?

armenharou

I am looking for a good DSLR and Lens to start off my aviation photography hobby. I will be spotting at Imperial Hill at LAX mostly and some near airports like Las Vegas and San Franscisco, etc. I was looking at a 70-300mm lens but wondering if I need image stabilization. The Nikon, Canon? Which one I am looking at just does. Budget is around 800-900 dollars. I also wouldnt mind getting a kit with the 18-55mm lens. Ebay has Great deals but Which camera?
Nikon D40 with 18-55mm, D50, D70s
Canon XT Kit, XTi

Answer
The Canon XTi is slightly better than the Nikon D40 because it has more features. I personally don't think the body is that important. I'd rather get a cheap body and a good lens. I've seen some awesome photos taken by the original Canon Digital Rebel (300D). I think the lens with the combination of good composition (framing) is more important than a camera body.

If you have the budget to get a 70-300mm with IS, that would be awesome. It won't help if you can find a lens with IS because you can always use it for other things, such as candid people shots. IS will also help on overcast days if you need to use slower shutter speeds or for those 300mm long shots.

You can check out http://pbase.com/cameras for real world samples. You can lookup by lenses and bodies to see samples.

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what type of dslr camera do ulzzangs use?

dslr camera lens mm image

Dewi AnneC

im planning to buy one and i would like a dslr camera that can shot ulzzang-y photos. I know most of them do photoshop but still i want a camera like they use.i like D550. Any recommendations?

Answer
The last Korean photographer I ran into was using a Nikon D3 with 70-200 mm and 200-400 mm lens at an airshow.

My guess is that those Ulzzang photos are taken using just about any dSLR camera. The style and quality has more to do with the skills of the photographer, than the actual camera brand they use

So, if you like the Canon 550D, go for it, but the camera will not do anything until you tell it to and that means that you must be able to control it.

What is the hottest dslr camera out there with from $500 to $800?

Jack

I want the coolest features on the dslr camera in the market. I know much about canon Camera's.i don't really know much about nikon Camera's or there. So pls tell me what camera out there has at least 16 to 24 mega pixels and lens from 70 to 200 or 300 mml.

No crappy fijifilm or and crappy names I never heard of.

Answer
Yes you may think you know about Canon cameras, but it is clear you do not.

To answer your question, the Nikon D3200 and Canon 1100D/T3 are the least expensive dSLR's right now.

However, you seem to be fixated on the number of pixels on their sensors. That is not necessarily the first criteria to consider. Sensor performance is most important.

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/(appareil1)/801%7C0/(brand)/Nikon/(appareil2)/693%7C0/(brand2)/Canon

More on pixels.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.htm

Now as far as a lens that is 70-200 mm it will cost you an additional $2,400 and a 70-300 mm, $590

Just the lenses alone will break your budget.

You need to spend some time on the Nikon and Canon websites looking at the cost of the inexpensive entry level cameras and the cost of various lenses.

If you don't know about the field of view of the various focal lengths, you can visit this site

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/simulator/index.htm

Once you have done your independent research, you need to visit a proper camera shop and look a the cameras and lenses for yourself.

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Which Camera to buy in below 35000 price range?

dslr camera lenses prices in india image

Neeraj

Hi..actually it was a dream for me to buy a camera(NIKON or CANON) for many year i was wishing ,so when it comes closer to buy a camera i am actually confused.its because i am confuse with DSLR or Bridge camera(Long Zoom-Point and Shoot) to buy.also adding more detail i actually like to take distance photos(long zoom) also meeting low light conditions in the night photos.also adding i like to buy a DSLR camera but with the money in my hand (about 35000) i cannot but a long ranged(in zoom) DSLR camera..
some of the cameras that i have researched through this period : Nikon series P510,D3100,D3200,D5100 & CANON series SX40HS,1100D,550D
also Its not a case of mixing both DSLR and point and shoot ...i am actually confused with long zoom range of point and shoot(bridge) cameras and DSLR's long shoot camera lens are high price range(and mine only a budget of 35000)
so kindly please provide a suitable suggestion for which camera (also any other cameras u can suggest) to buy within my price range


thanks in advance
Suggest a Camera to buy in below 35000 price range?

Answer
True you can get a DSLR with the 18-55mm kit lens for 35k
but long zoom or low light will mean additional lenses
and mind you quality lenses cost money ... loads of money

35k for a bridge sounds more reasonable
Panasonic have launched the Lumix FZ200, unfortunately yet to be launched in India
Ditto features as the FZ150, http://www.panasonic.co.in/wps/portal/home/products/digitalav/digitalstillcamera/superzoom/dmcfz150
but with a constant aperture of F/2.8 throughout its zoom range + more
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-by-side?products=panasonic_dmcfz150&products=panasonic_dmcfz200

Hopefully price will be 35 to 40k
check if it suits you

I want your guidance on DSLR & Lens available ?

phatkar

I want to purchase DSLR, I am new to digital photography & want to purchase one good camera along with one lens.

Mainly I want to use it for day to day photography, surely not for fashion or wildlife photography.

After looking at catalogues related to cameras & lens, I am confused & not able to make my decision.

I like canon EOS 400D & 450D with good zoom capabilities (may be 30X) but not sure about Nikon & I have no idea about lens & its functions.

Can all masters here suggest me one ??

Budget 30000 Indian Rupees

Answer
The Canon 400D and 450D are very good cameras. The 450D is newer and it has more megapixels, a slightly larger LCD screen, and it has Live-View (which lets you use the LCD screen to take pictures). These are minor improvements, but nice to have. The image quality and all of the other important things are the same.

Canon also makes a 1000D model. The 1000D is also newer than the 400D, but these two cameras are almost identical. And like the 400D, it is cheaper than the 450D.

Personally, I think that the only real advantage of the 450D is the slightly larger LCD screen. I would not pay the higher price for that. (In the USA the price difference between the 400D and 450D is $80.)

Instead, I would get either the 400D or the 1000D - whichever one you can find cheaper in India. In the USA the price is almost the same... because the camera is almost the same.

Lenses...

All three of these cameras can be purchased as a kit with the Canon 18-55mm zoom lens. This is only 3x zoom, but that is enough for about 80% of what most people photograph. You can buy lenses with a lot more zoom range, but that would go over your budget. For example, Canon has an 18-200mm zoom (11x zoom) and Tamron has an 18-270mm zoom (15x zoom) for Canon cameras. (This Tamron lens has the biggest zoom range of any lens for a dSLR camera. A 30x zoom lens does not even exist.)

If you want to get the most zoom range within your budget, purchase the camera with two lenses: the 18-55mm and either an inexpensive 55-200mm lens or a cheap 70-300mm lens. But since you do not mention anything that requires a lot of zoom range, I would start out with simply the 18-55mm lens. You can always purchase an additional lens later on.

Nikon...

The Nikon D60 and the cheaper D40 are also within your budget. The D40 is actually cheaper than all of the Canon models, but it is also the least advanced of all of these options. Still, even the D40 can produce fantastic images. The only thing that it really misses compared to the rest, is that it only has 6 megapixels. This matters if you want to create large prints (larger than a full page) but otherwise it's not that important - the number of pixels says nothing about image quality.

If you have the opportunity, compare some of these cameras in your hands at a camera shop. You might find that you prefer the way a particular brand feels or works. If so, let that be the deciding factor, because this image quality and the important functions are the same with all (five!) of these cameras.

If price alone is the deciding factor, I would get the Nikon D40. It is perfectly good and it is the cheapest of the bunch. This would leave the most money for (extra) lenses or other items.

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I need a digital DSLR camera!:) Do you know of any reasonably-priced, really good ones?

d5000 dslr camera with 18-55mm lens - black image

Thanks sooo much!:)

Answer
The Pentax K-x performs better than any other camera in its price range and as well or better than some more expensive models (test comparisons below). Check prices from B&H in USD then see test comparisons below

Pentax K-x w/18-55 $521 HD video
Pentax K-x w/18-55 and 50-200 $625 HD video
Pentax K-x w/18-55mm and 55-300mm $715 HD video
Nikon D5000 w/18-55 $700 HD video
Rebel XSi (450D) w/18-55 $560 No video
Nikon D3000 w/18-55 $550 No video
Canon T2i w/18-55 $900 HD video
Canon 7D body only $1700 HD video
Canon 50D body only $930 No video

With the K-x Image Stabilization and Auto-focus are both in the body. No need to pay for IS or AF with each and every lens you buy as with Nikon and Canon. This will save you significant cash throughout the years you own the camera.

http://www.pentaximaging.com/slr/K-x_Black/

See performance comparisons for the Canon 1000D, Nikon D3000 and Pentax K-x here
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/Image-Quality-Database/Compare-cameras/(appareil1)/268|0/(appareil2)/331|0/(appareil3)/345|0/(onglet)/0/(brand)/Canon/(brand2)/Nikon/(brand3)/Pentax

Performance between the K-x and Nikon D5000 is very close as shown in this comparison
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/Image-Quality-Database/Compare-cameras/(appareil1)/320|0/(appareil2)/345|0/(onglet)/0/(brand)/Nikon/(brand2)/Pentax

The K-x outperforms the Canon T2i and Canon 50D See the comparison here
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/Image-Quality-Database/Compare-cameras/(appareil1)/345|0/(appareil2)/338|0/(appareil3)/267|0/(onglet)/0/(brand)/Pentax/(brand2)/Canon/(brand3)/Canon

And the K-x outperforms the Canon 7D here with just a hair advantage to the 7D at high ISO
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/eng/Image-Quality-Database/Compare-cameras/(appareil1)/345|0/(appareil2)/329|0/(onglet)/0/(brand)/Pentax/(brand2)/Canon

The Pentax K-x is a beginner friendly camera.

ImagingResource
âThe Pentax Kx has enormous value, thanks to its remarkable image and print quality, fine build, and class-leading burst speed, all combining to make one impressive digital SLR camera. The Pentax Kx is a Daveâs Pick. For sheer image quality at a wide range of ISOs, the Pentax Kx is tough to beat, especially for the price.â

DCResource
âThe Pentax K-x is an impressive entry-level digital SLR. It brings very good image quality (especially with a decent lens), snappy performance, tons of features, HD movie recording, and good build quality to the table. If youâre looking for your first digital SLR, then the K-x should be high on your list.â

MacWorld.uk (Editorâs Choice)
âUltimately, this is a beginner-friendly model featuring most of the latest must-havesâ
http://www.digitalcameratracker.com/pentax-k-x-reviews-sample-photos/

Its true there are more Nikon and Canon lenses available. Check the prices. Can you afford all the lenses available? If you can do you plan on buying each and every one? There are more than enough Pentax and third party lenses available for any photographer.

What lens fits the Pentax K-x?

Vernan

and which camera has the widest available lenses:
Sony Alpha A380
Olympus E-620
Pentax K-x.

Thanks!
I have decided for the D5000 but now I am considering other options because of price...But I know I have to look on the system and its future.

Answer
The Pentax K-x uses the "K" lens mount first introduced in 1975 so any "K" mount lens ever made can be used on the K-x. If its an auto focus lens from circa 1988 it will auto focus on the K-x as it should.

The Pentax K-x was chosen as the 2010 "Best DSLR Entry Level" by the 'Technical Image Press Association'.

Here is a review of the K-x:
http://www.shutterbug.net/equipmentreviews/amateur_digital_slrs/0510pentax/index.html

In my opinion a comparison of the Pentax K-x and the Nikon D5000 finds the D5000 lacking. The Pentax K-x has:

1) A CMOS sensor.

2) Live View.

3) HD Video.

4) Double/multiple exposure capability of from 2 to 9 pictures on a singlr frame with Auto EV Compensation.

5) A focusing motor in the camera body.

6) Image Stabilization in the camera body so any lens used becomes, in effect, an IS lens.

The Nikon D5000 has features 1, 2 & 3 but NOT 4, 5 & 6. If you want auto focus with the D5000 you must buy Nikon's AF-I or AF-S lenses. If you want IS (VR in nikonspeak) you have a limited number of Nikon lenses with that technology. In both cases you pay again and again for features found in the camera body of the K-x.

Current prices w/18-55mm lens from http://www.bhphotovideo.com

Pentax K-x, $499.79

Nikon D5000, $699.95 after a $50.00 Instant Savings from B&H. Offer ends 9-18-2010.

If you're bored with black cameras, the Pentax K-x also comes in colors.
http://www.pentaximaging.com/slr

The Sony A380 can use all the legacy Minolta Maxxum AF lenses dating back to 1985 and they will auto focus as they should.

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What can anyone tell me about 35mm cameras?

best camera lenses for beginners image

Greenie

I have always been interested in photography but all I have ever had was a low class digital camera. I'm really wanting a beginners 35mm and want to learn to develop my own photos. What can you tell me about different camera lenses and how to go about developing my own pictures?

Thanks! ! !

Answer
If you want to go into film you could not have picked a better time. True professional quality SLR that a couple of years ago were a few thousand for the body you can now get for a few hundred. The lenses are readily available just make sure you get FX not DX lenses. I had a darkroom in my basement for years. If you are doing black and white its not hard and again you can pick up enlargers right now for a song.

I like Nikon so I would say go to adorama.com and browse the used gear, Others make good cameras also though.

What is a good camera for beginners in photography?

Cairistion

What is a good camera for beginners in photography? I need one that is good quality and will last a long time. Does anyone have any suggestions? And the price range needs to be from 200-300 dollars.

Thanks :)

Answer
A Lumix (like a DMC-FZ40) perhaps. Excellent optics and quality. Don't neccesarily buy new, go to ebay and find someone with excellent feedback and possibly with a memory card thrown it.

Takes lots of pictures. Look at other people's and decide what it is you like and find your own style. Learn to use Photoshop (your 'darkroom') or a cheap alternative - they all do the same thing.

See www.kenrockwell.com for excellent articles on photography that don't just dwell on equipment and lenses. Good luck!

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Is this a good camera?

nikon d3100 dslr camera 2 lens bundle image

whoaitsme

I'm looking for a good photography type camera and this one caught my eye, would it be a good buy? If not, what should I look at? Give me possible links too.
The camera: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Canon-EOS-Rebel-T3-Black-12.2MP-DSLR-Camera-EF-S-18-55mm-1-3.5-5.6-IS-II-Lens-2.7-LCD-EOS-Full-HD-Movie-Mode-Value-Bundle/17133280

Answer
I would prefer a Nikon D3100 over the Canon T3, for the same price
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Nikon-D3100-14.2MP-DSLR-Camera-with-18-55mm-VR-Lens-3-LCD-HD-Video/15222286

Nothing to worry about the T3, as with any and any DSLR

Looking for a professional camera bundle....help!?

**Molly**

I am looking for a good brand camera for a christmas present. I would like it to be in a bundle. With the camera case and SD card included. Im not really familiar with camera's so a good name brand is a must. The price can vary from $200 to $700. Also it must be a camera that you can put different lens on & 10mp or higher. Any websites or name brands to look for.
Please help! Thanks

Answer
The best value for your money is the DSLR chosen by the Technical Image Press Association as their 2010 "Best DSLR Entry Level" - the Pentax K-x. Here is what it offers:

1) A CMOS sensor that gives superior performance at high ISO settings.

2) Live View.

3) HD Video.

4) Double/multiple exposure capability of from 2 to 9 images on a single frame with Auto EV Compensation. This opens up a whole new world of creativity to you.

5) A focusing motor in the camera body so any Pentax AF lens made since 1988 can be used on the K-x and will auto focus as it should.

6) Image Stabilization in the camera body so every lens used becomes an IS lens.

7) A choice of camera body colors so you don't have to settle for a black camera unless you want to.
http://www.pentaximaging.com/slr

Here is a hands-on review of the K-x:
http://www.shutterbug.net/equipmentreviews/amateur_digital_slrs/0510pentax/index.html

The often-recommended Nikon D3000 has exactly NONE of the features of the Pentax K-x. NONE.

The Canon XS is an almost 3 year old model so its behind in technology. It has a CMOS sensor and Live View but NONE of the other features of the Pentax K-x.

The Nikon D3100 has a CMOS sensor, Live View and HD Video but NONE of the other features of the K-x.

With the Nikon D3000 and D3100 you must use Nikon's AF-S lenses if you want auto focus.

Here are the current prices w/18-55mm zoom lens from B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com

Pentax K-x, $489.95

Nikon D3000, $479.00

Nikon D3100, $639.00

Canon XS, $499.95 after a $50.00 Instant Savings from B&H. Ends 01-08-2011.

Pentax introduced the first Japanese-made 35mm Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera in 1952. They have a long history with cameras and lenses. The Pentax K-x uses the legacy Pentax "K" lens mount introduced in 1975 so all those legacy lenses can be used on the K-x.

So don't overlook Pentax. The K-x is a lot of camera for the money and has features not found on other cameras in its price range.

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Is it possible to get a lens filter that works for my GE x500?

best quality camera lens filters image

TurtleTech

Got this camera recently after seening phenomenal picture quality (and the design, which is great). Can I get a lens filter for this? What about an adaptor?

Answer
Did the camera come with a lens cap?

Just looking at the camera, I cannot see any filter threads on the lens, nor when the lens is withdrawn into the lens barrel when not in use is there enough extended lens to hold any kind of adapter.

Unless the user menu lists some filters as accessories, then probably not.

Usually one needs tp spend somewhat in the range of $300 before cameras have such features

What is the best way to clean the lens of my Canon Powershot 850 IS?

Uzi900

What is the best way to clean my camera lens? I noticed that there are a few dust specs on it and I don't want to compromise my picture quality. What is the best way to clean it? Thanks

Answer
First get a bulb-type blower brush to remove the dust. Then get a lens cloth at the camera store. You can breathe on the lens for stubborn smudges. If your lens accepts filters, buy a HAZE/UV filter or a Skylight filter - or both - and keep one of them on your lens at all times unless using a polarizer. The filter protects your lens from dust as well as the possibility of getting scratched or getting an acidic smudge or fingerprint on it. Plus, the HAZE/UV filter removes atmospheric haze in scenics; the Skylight removes the bluish tint seen in shaded mountains or snow.

If your lens doesn't accept filters, the manufacturer probably offers an adapter so that it can. Buy it and the filters.

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What camera should I buy? Also can someone explain the differences between Nikon and Canon?

dslr camera lens for video image

Kathleen E

I am a photography student and I am looking for a good intermediate dslr camera. I am familiar with the Olympus E-PL1 and I have been shooting with the Pentax K-1000 for a year now. I am at that time in my studies were I am switching from film to digital and need a more professional camera. I am looking for a good overall camera that works well in most conditions. I would like to stay in the $1000 price range or lower. I have been looking at the Nikon D7000. Any thoughts?

Answer
Of course there are differences beyond ergonomics, Canon use old sensor technology, Nikon cripple their entry level DSLR cameras (doesn't apply to the D7000), both charge extra per lens for image stabilisation, Nikon charge extra for auto focus on their entry level models.

Why not the Pentax K5? All your Pentax lenses will work as designed, all will be image stabilised as it's built into the camera, it has functions not available on the Nikon, such as Tav mode where you set the aperture and shutter speed and the camera alters the ISO, multi frame up to 7 images in one frame both with and without exposure compensation, capture in focus is another function unique to Pentax and it uses the same sensor as the Nikon D7000, but the Pentax imaging engine gets slightly more out of it.

Compared here, I'm comparing them with a full frame Canon 5D Mk11

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Compare-Camera-Sensors/Compare-cameras-side-by-side/%28appareil1%29/676|0/%28brand%29/Pentax/%28appareil2%29/680|0/%28brand2%29/Nikon/%28appareil3%29/483|0/%28brand3%29/Canon

Chris

I will say that video is very much an afterthought with Pentax (not much better with Nikon - but some), but as a stills camera it can't be beat for low noise high ISO stills within it's price range, very nearly (and I really mean very nearly) as good as my Nikon D3s which is a full frame low pixel density camera specifically designed for low noise images in low light, at 4 times the price.

Chris

What is the difference between DSLR video and the video from bigger professional cameras?

colin2210

The Canon XF series are all big camcorders that say the shoot full 1080p video and there are also the EOS Mark series that are all DSLR cameras but also say they shoot full 1080p video. Is the other one actually better quality or what? Is it different frame rates? And what is the difference in how they capture video? As you can see, I'm lost. Thanks a lot for any help.

Answer
They are very different cameras. The Canon XF series are great video cameras and they give you all the needed features for video cameras such as auto focus, built in nd filters, motorized zooms, and others. The only downside is the sensor that records the video on the cameras is small. This means that they will struggle a little in low light and will not offer the depth of field (blurred out background look) and large sensor cameras. This is the best/easiest way to go in most circumstances unless you are particularly needing to control the depth of field.

The DSLR cameras like the Canon EOS series have very large sensors that allow for great depth of field and low light performance. Unfortunately these cameras lack alot of the features you need in a video camera like auto focus (some have what they say is auto focus but it is useless in real life...you will need to focus manually) and motorized zooms. DSLR's give great quality but only if you can manually focus which will be difficult for moving subjects, don't plan on zooming often or at all, and have some form of stabilizer. Still you will have more issues with a DSLR than a regular video camera. I have seen some amazing results with DSLRs and use one myself, but you will need to pay great attention to every detail and will probably need to invest in some other equipment like a stabilizer or stabilized lens, variable ND filter, external mic (built in one is useless), follow focus, and a prime lens or one with a max aperture of f/2.8 throughout the zoom range (otherwise you won't get great depth of field).
www.learningcameras.com

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What kind of Canon Lens should I get to do HD filming/photography of concerts?

best canon lens kit image

landsteine

I'm going to be filming/photographing a concert next month and am looking to find the best canon(or at least compatible with a canon camera) lens for the job.I already have the kit lens and the 50mm 1.8. I'm looking for something specifically for the shots that are slightly more at a distance.

Answer
85mm f/1.8 (or f/1.2 if it's in your budget)
135mm f/2
70-200mm f/2.8 IS

Should I buy a Canon Lens or a comparable third party lens for my Canon EOS digital?

Christina

Does anyone with a Canon EOS digital camera use a third party telephoto lens?

If so:

1. Which lens do you use?
2. From which company did you buy it?
3. Do you like it?

I plan to use the lens for photographing events around my community (rodeo, softball, etc.). What I am trying to decide is whether to buy a Canon lens or a less expensive third party lens.

Answer
To answer your questions:

Yes, in addition to some canon lenses (100mm macro, 50mm 1.4) I use a non-canon lens for my primary walk around lens.

1. I have the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8.
2. I bought it from Amazon.com most likely. I generally either buy from Amazon or B&H Photo & Video.
3. I like the Tamron lens just fine. I bought it mainly as an upgrade to the kit lens that came with camera. Generally the kit lenses only top out at f4.0 or f5.0 for their widest aperture and that can be limiting if you want to do low light photography without flash. I found that to be the case and I wanted to upgrade to an all-purpose lens that was faster than that.

Unfortunately, some of the Canon lenses at f2.8 can be a bit spendy (but worth every penny I'm sure) so I settled in the middle ground with this Tamron lens which had a good reputation. I've been pleased with the results. While not comparable to "L" glass (but what mid-range lenses do?), it produces excellent images with good sharpness and color that unless you're a hard-core pixel peeper you'll have nothing to complain about.

For the purposes you're talking about, it would make a fine all purpose lens particularly if you have to take photos at indoor events without a separate flash unit.

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Do photos come out the same using the same lens on any camera?

best lens canon 1100d image

Q. By this I mean, if I used a 18-55mm lens on a Canon 1100D and took a photo of a flower and if I used the 18-55mm lens on a Canon 7D will the photos come out the same?
I could be completely wrong here but thanks for reading

Answer
for the most part yes. But no.
The 7D has a better sensor than the 1100D and that will impact the quality of the image. The size of the image will also be larger in pixels. You will find that the settings on the 7D are more accurate than the 1100D.
As for the focal length and the basics? yes it will be the same.
Now, if you go to a full frame sensor it wouldn't. First of all the 18-55 won't even work on a full frame sensor. But if you had say a 50mm lens and used it on a 1100D or a 7D and then used it on a full frame sensor it would have a wider frame of view-or less zoom at 50mm on a full frame than on a crop. There would be more on the sides in the full frame image.

Do you reckon it is worth buying the Canon 800mm lens for AU $14685 or not?

007

That is, if I save up. 15 dollars each day for 979 days. By then, I have the money. I am planning to use it for the moon, sun (with solar filter), and some planets. I can already see a bulge of Saturn which is its rings with my 300mm lens from my Canon EOS 1100D.

I also have a 2x teleconverter. So it will be 1600mm instead of 800mm.
The moon and sun (with solar filter of course) will look fairly large on the 1600mm.
Do you think it is worth the effort? I think it is but am still not 100% sure.
This is for astrophotography.
I am a bit uneducated in this topic but will start to research.
I do know that astrophotography is NOT cheap.

Answer
Astrophotography is best done using a telescope with a motorized accessory that keeps it aimed at the stars or planets during long exposures.

Just visit one of the astronomy clubs in your area.

For the kind of money you are intending to spend on the lens will buy you an amazing telescope and a Canon 60Da, a camera that is specifically made for astronomy and have money left over.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/slr_cameras/eos_60da

http://www.opticsplanet.com/celestron-cge-pro-1400-hd-computerized-telescope-11094.html

The cost of adapting the Canon 60Da to such a telescope is under $50.

I suggest that you spend some time looking for telescopes on line so you have an idea of what options you have and then when you visit your local astronomy club, you will have an idea of what you are seeing when they meet to view the heavens.

800 mm photographic lenses are more for shooting wildlife, maybe surveillance by government agencies and shooting some sporting events.

You do NOT need auto focus, nor a aperture when shooting planets and stars.

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what camera bracket allows front mounted flash?

best camera and lens for portraits image

M D

I saw a youtube vid where the photographer had a flash mounted in front of the camera body and right of the camera lens. She uses it for portrait and runway photography.
anyone know what it is? or who makes it?
thanks
thanks! your link was exactly what I was looking for. CB/Custom Brackets.. i will put the order in.
thanks again!

Answer
Many event and wedding photographers use flash brackets. There a many different brands. If you like the one she uses, email her and ask with one she has.

Or you can spend some time on the B&H Photo site and look at what they have to offer. You may too have noticed that she had a diffuser on the flash as well. THE most popular one now is the Gary Fong brand.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?N=4294540373+4291101460+4289361368+4291201569+4291265053

Which is a good semi professional camera and lens to buy?

Deepu

I am teaching myself photography as a hobby and would like to make it my second profession eventually. I would like to go in for a DSLR camera (second hand (body only) costing around 400 dollars (300euros)) and a good lens for portrait and landscape.

I would prefer a Nikon or a Canon camera. Please advice.

Answer
You can find the lens best suited for portrait by visiting the canon web site. Also the Landscape lens (a wide angle) is NOT the same as a portrait lens.

Why don't you buy the cheapest camera with a short (range) zoom lens and go from their. Then you could have your scenic lens at one end and your portrait lens at the other end!

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