Which camera- film and digital- is better for close up pics?

best camera lens for headshots image

mahesh b

I am trying to select camera as photography is my hobby. Would like to know which will suit for professional type photography as well as for family pics

Answer
the medium - film or digi is less important than the optics for close ups. By close ups do you mean close up/head shots or close up / macro?

for headshots a 85mm F1.8 is good, for nature type macro stuff a 50, 60 or 100mm macro lens is the way.

A slr or dslr is the way with a good macro lens.

what kinda of camera to buy for professional headshot photography?

natasha

I am looking to buy a new camera. My sister is wanting to have headshots done and I love photography so I want these to look very professional. What are the best kinds of cameras to use?

Answer
The camera is not as important as the lens. If your budget is limited spend cash on a good lens and the leftover on a more average camera (if you have enough get both ;-).
Portrait lenses would be as from 50mm on a crop format camera (Nikon D5000, D3000, D90) or 85mm on a full format camera (ie Nikon D700, D3).

Proper lighting and sharpness are also vital. Take pictures in the shade on a sunny day. Or near a window.

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Is this a good deal on a Canon XS camera?

best canon lens cleaning kit image

Raivey

I found a Canon XS camera on ebay for 483.00 It comes with a EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens, Battery Charger, Camera Bag, Extra Battery, Extra Memory, 8GB SD Memory Card, Lens, Lens Cleaning Kit, Memory Reader, Neck Strap, Tripod, cords, strap, Free shipping too!
Is this a good deal? The company selling it has had great reviews. What is the catch here?

Answer
The catch is probably that they replaced the Canon parts with no name parts or it is grey market. Meaning that it is not intended for sale in the U.S. and therefore will not carry a U.S. warranty. Any tripod they are giving you is worthless. It wont be able to hold up the camera. The bag and other stuff is certainly junk as well. Spend a few extra dollars and get it from a reputable dealer.

The camera should come from the factory with the following.

EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Autofocus Lens for Select Digital SLR Cameras
Front & Rear Lens Caps
LP-E5 Battery Pack
LC-E5 Battery Charger
IFC-200U USB Interface Cable
VC-100 Video Cable
Ef Eyecup
EW-100DBIII Wide Neck Strap
EOS Digital Solution Disk and Instruction Manuals on CD-ROM
"Great Photography is Easy" Booklet and "Do More with Macro" Booklet
1-Year Manufacturers Limited Warranty (U.S.A. & Canada)

Cost at B&H Photo which is a very reputable site is $524 now.

What is the best way to clean a lens on a 35mm camera?

Angellover

I've got a Cannon Sure Shot Owl 115. It is a 35mm camera. When I look through the shutter window (the little window that you look through to focus and capture the object) I have a little white smear on my lens unless it is zoomed to 10x. That is too large for most short range photos. The lens isn't removable. How can I clean that off without damaging my camera? I don't want that smear in my holiday photos, Thanks.

Answer
Hi AngelLover, that Canon sureshot is a great little camera.

Remember that any smear you see thru the viewfinder window is NOT going to show up in your photos.

That smear is simply on the front viewfinder lens. It is the tiny glass lens above the main lens of the camera.

Here is what you do.

In a bright room place the camera on its back on a table.

Look at the front viewfinder lens from different angles until you can see the smear.

If the smear is on the front of the lens it is probably one of two things, either a fingerprint, or possibly some other sticky debris.

Most drugstores, camera shops or big discount stores sell cheap lens cleaning kits for less than $5. They come with a brush, a rubber blower to blow dust off, special tissue paper, and a bottle of cleaner.

First blow any dust off the viewfinder lens. Then brush the lens gently.

Next moisten the special tissue with a drop of fluid. Dab at the lens gently. Wipe dry with another cleaning tissue.

If this does not work, try cleaning the back viewfinder lens.

If the smear is inside the camera, don't worry because it will not show up in your photos.

Cleaning an older camera at a shop is not worthwhile unless you are under warranty.

Best of luck.

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How to get a blurryer background on a canon 600d?

best canon lens 600d image

Reece

so i have just purcheased the canon 600d, and i would like to make the background more bluryer, is this possible, if so could you tell em how?

Answer
Assuming you have the 18-55 kit lens.

Get as much distance between the main subject and background as you can
Put your camera in Av mode
Set the aperture to the largest available (F3.5 at 18mm or F5.6 at 55)
Get as close to the subject as you can
Focus on the part of the subject closest to you
Take the shot.

If you have any cash then get a 50mm f/1.8 lens and repeat the above at F/1.8.

What canon lens do you think would suit me?

Len A

I've been doing photography for almost a year now with my canon 600d 18-55 lens kit. Now, I'm planning to buy a new lens that would give me more variety with my shots. most of the time, I travel so I use my camera for scenery or people, problem is 18-55mm isn't good for zooming. Then sometimes, when I'm not travelling, I just love to take pictures of around me, mostly people and scenery or random stuffs. My budget is 100$ to 400$. What can you suggest?

Answer
"problem is 18-55mm isn't good for zooming." what does that mean ? It is a zoom lens, and it covers the most used focal lengths.

I would suggest a second zoom lens like sort of in the 50-200 range.

Or a prime lens wider than 18mm
Or a fast mid range prime between 50 to 100

But the longer zoom as suggested above would give you the most choices of new focal lengths.

And remember...

A camera and lens is but a paint brush, it is more important who is holding the brush than which brush it is.  All decent cameras can take wonderful pictures in the right hands. Spend your time studying great lighting and composition because even a great camera can not fix bad lighting or composition.  And have fun with whichever brush you buy or use.

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can you clean your camera lens using the same cloth for your glasses?

best camera lens cloth image

Lelu

or can you only use a special cloth for the camera lens?
also, it's a digital camera. i wouldn't even think about touching it... but someone has, and there's an oily fingerprint smack center of the lens >:(

Answer
If it's a nice and clean microfiber cloth, or even cotton, then yes. I know of some people wearing glasses that are more expensive than my SLR lens (just the lenses, leave alone the designer frame), so if they can entrust their $1000 glasses to that piece of cloth, why not your lens?

Here's a link to all you wanted to know about lens cleaning and more:
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/cleaning.htm

LEM.

Can I use a shoe mitt to clean my camera lens?

Alexis

I picked up a shoe mitt from the hotel I was just staying at thinking it might come in handy for cleaning my camera lens. However, I do not want to scratch my lens and I'm not sure if it will or not. If anyone knows whether or not a shoe mitt would be a good lens cleaning tool, could you please let me know? Thanks!

Answer
If you never touch your lens, you'll never need to clean it. Use a rocket blocker to remove dust.

If you do need to remove a finger print, use a microfibre cloth specifically for the purpose, they are cheap so why bother with something else?

I can't remember the last time I needed to clean my lenses.

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Which Tamron lens should I get for my Canon camera?

best canon lens video image

Ryan Prive

I am trying to decide between the Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 with the Vibration Compensation, or without. Other than that little feature it seems like the same lens, but the one with VC is about $150 more. I will be using this mostly for video, not pictures. I appreciate any help, but no answers like "get a Canon lens" please. Thanks.

Answer
The VC version can be just as sharp as the non-VC one, but based on my own experience it may have a backfocus at 50mm and wide open. If such issues are not recognized and accounted for, then that may seem like the lens is less good than it actually is.

Here is a comparison between the VC and the non VC version:
http://thrillmere.com/2010/09/tamron-17-50mm-f2-8-vc-v-s-non-vc-comparison/

The second set of shots (with the green bottle) are my own. As you can see, the copy of the VC version that i used there (with the 50mm backfocus corrected) is much better than the one used by the author of the article (who might not have had a misfocus corrected).

Myself, i find the minor misfocus at 50mm wide open to be worth having Tamron's excellent VC on the lens, as i do a lot of low light handheld photography. If you on the other hand are much into shallow depth of field work and therefore need a very accurate AF at 50mm, then the non-VC version would be better for you.

Is the Canon 18-135mm Lens good for general purpose shooting?

Joshua

I would like to use a lens for video and photo on my canon 60d. It's just for general use, I'm not trying to use it as a point and shoot camera, I'm just 16 and can't afford a lens for each purpose. Is a good lens or have you any ideas on a similar lens for my uses.

Answer
Yes - it covers moderate wide angle to moderate telephoto.

You will probably want to manual focus it during video or get an external microphone (as the camera will record the noise from the autofocus motor).

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First DSLR Camera? Sony, Nikon, and Canon? Help!?

sony� a35 dslr camera + zoom lens image

Joyce

Okay so I am 13, a girl, and I really love photography. I was supposed to get my first DSLR camera for Christmas but I don't know what kind to get.
My friend got a Sony a580 or something like that and the pictures are awesome. Except then I heard that Sony isn't as food as Canon and Nikon, since it's new. I was going to get the same camera as my friend because I'm not sure if I need like a bajillion different lenses that Canon and Nikon have.
I was going to get the Samsung ST550, a digital camera that was dual screen, because I heard it has a great "beauty" feature. And I wish that they made a DSLR that also had a beauty feature, because I'm not getting the Samsung. And it's not like I can just bring a DSLR camera to school and take pictures with my friends, so I'm using my iPhone 4 as my "digital" camera. Or like a camera I can take anywhere. I like to take pictures of random things, ahahaha. Self portraits for Facebook profile pictures, my dog, babies and toddlers from church, nature, and flowers, and jumping/moving pictures. And over Spring Break, our whole entire extended family is going to Hawaii and I want to take pictures, and I don't think my phone will cut it.
So what DSLR camera should I get? And I probably wont get a lot of lenses.

I want the Sony a580.
Model Features: 16.2MP, Exmor⢠APS sensor, 1080/60i Full HD movies, two types of Live View, Face Detection, 3D Sweep Panorama, tiltable 3.0" LCD, up to 7 fps continuous shooting, 18-55mm DT zoom lens included.

Sony a55.
Model Features: 16.2MP, Translucent Mirror Technologyâ¢, Quick AF Full HD Movie, GPS tagging, Live View with Phase detection, 10 fps, 15-point auto focus, 18-55mm zoom lens included.

Sony a35
Model Features: 16.2MP, Translucent Mirror Technologyâ¢, Quick AF Full HD Movie, Main sensor Live View with Phase detection, Face Detection, 3D Sweep Panorama, 3.0" LCD, up to 7 fps continuous shooting, 18-55 zoom lens included.

So it's up to those 3. You can suggest another brand/model.anything!

Answer
Well. you're proving my point. Sony is very good at marketing cameras with just the right feature set to appeal to the uninformed bebinner.

It all depends. If you want to get serious about photography then look at a nikon d3100 with an 18-105 lens. If you want to stay in the "let\s keep it on full auto and pump out a steady stream of shots typical for my age" then any DSLR will do and sony will add the bonus of perhaps the best liveview system

Sony SLT a35 is it any good?

Q. Is it a good camera? Because i really want a DSLR but i cant find the right one for me. I am looking for one between $500-$1000 which why it think the a35 would be perfect. I was just wondering if it was any good?

Answer
The Sony SLT A35 is an upgrade of the earlier SLT A33. However, the SLT A65 is an even more advanced version of the A35.

Here is a hands-on preview of the SLT A65:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/AA65/AA65A.HTM

Here is a review of the SLT A35:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/AA35/AA35A.HTM

Yes, the SLT A65 is more expensive.

Sony SLT A65 w/18-55mm zoom lens, $999.99 at B&H.
Sony SLT A35 w/18-55mm zoom lens, $699.99 at B&H.
B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com

By using Translucent Mirror Technology in their SLT series Sony has eliminated the decades old moving mirror still used by Nikon and Canon in their comparably-priced DSLR cameras. The TMT allows for full-time phase-detect auto focus whether you're shooting still pictures or 1080p HD video. Although Canon and Nikon have models that allow for auto focus during video they both use contrast-detect auto focus which is slower and produces a visible choppiness in the video. Another advantage of the TMT is that the viewfinder never goes dark. You are literally watching the scene even as the shutter is firing to make the exposure.

All Sony DSLR camera models use the legacy Minolta Maxxum "A" lens mount that dates back to 1985. This means that you have access to a large selection of previously owned lenses of excellent quality. Sony also placed a focusing motor in their camera bodies so those legacy Maxxum AF lenses will auto focus on the SLT A35 or A65 as they should. With Nikon you have to buy either the D90 (about to be discontinued) or the D7000 if you want a focusing motor in the camera body.

Another Sony feature is the in-camera Image Stabilization. Any lens used, even a Maxxum AF 70-210mm zoom made in 1985, becomes an IS lens. Nikon and Canon certainly can't say that since they have their versions of IS in some but not all of their lenses and you pay for it over and over. So if you ever decide to add a 50mm f1.4 prime lens to your kit it will be an IS lens on any Sony DSLR.

I suggest seriously considering spending the extra $300.00 and buying the Sony SLT A65.

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How do you clean your DSLR camera?

dslr camera lens cleaning kit image

Macky R.

I have a Sony a390 DSLR camera and my original lens that came with the camera is getting dust and other particles in it from switching to my zoom lens. I need to know how to clean it properly. I also want to know id there is a way you can clean the mirrors inside the actual camera when you have the lens off.

Answer
DO NOT touch the inside of your camera! Take it to a professional to get the inside cleaned. You can end up completely ruining your camera if you do it wrong yourself.

For the outside, I suggest you buy a camera cleaning kit. You can but them very cheap on ebay. It should tell you how to use it on the back of the pack too.

What should i look for when shopping for a DSLR camera?

zerodfgh

I am looking to replace my point and shoot camera with a DSLR camera. Does anyone have any suggestions to a camera for a beginner? What specs should i look for?

Answer
Any of the entry level DSLRs would keep you happy for a few years. I'd pick either Canon or Nikon. I have a LOT of contact with other photographers and time and time again it seems that either one of those are most likely to make their owners happy.

The most important part is to buy only the best lenses - camera bodies get upgraded, lenses stay with us.
You WILL regret buying cheap lenses.
Don't rush into buying lenses. Start with a kit lens, get to know your camera, that lens, and all photographic principles.
Through time and through use, you will eventually KNOW what other lenses you'll need/want.
The more time you'll take, the less likely you are to regret your choices.

If you know anyone close to you with a camera, consider borrowing lenses and "picking their brain" about their camera and whatever else they know.

Go to a store and hold a few cameras, see how they feel to YOU.

Do lots of research before you buy, and start learning about photography, too.

Keep in mind that buying a DSLR isn't cheap, even if you find a good deal for body and kit lens.

You'll also want and/or need a few other things such as tripod, filters, a bag, sensor cleaning gear, a second battery, memory cards, perhaps a remote shutter release etc.

That's just the small stuff - I can guarantee you that you'll also want more and more lenses.
You'll also want a decent flash some day.

See how that list just goes on and on?
Owning a DSLR isn't cheap - at least not until you have built up a nice stash of gear.

Just some food for thought........

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I want to buy a DSLR camera, what's a good brand/model?

sony a55 dslr camera and lens review image

Samantha

I want to get a DSLR camera, it doesn't have to be 'the best' but i just want a good camera with a fast capture that produces clear photos. Any suggestions?
**moneys not an issue. i have a good paying job. i want to do some band photography in my hometown.

Answer
The Pavlovian response in here is "Canon" or "Nikon" since those are brands people are familiar with.

However, there are other brands worth considering that have features not found on any Canon or Nikon - at least not yet.

Sony is one to consider. They have two models - the SLT A33 and the SLT A55 - that allow full-time continuous auto focus whether you're shooting still pictures or 1080 video. This is made possible by what Sony calls Translucent Mirror Technology (TMT). This also allows shooting at 7fps with the A33 and 10fps with the A55 (fps = frames per second). Canon and Nikon have models that allow auto focus when shooting video but only then. The A33 and A55 both have 2D or 3D Sweep Panorama as well.

The A33 and A55 have a focusing motor in the camera body. They also have Sony's version of Image Stabilization (IS) in the camera body so any lens used becomes an IS lens. Nikon and Canon have their versions of IS is in some but not all of their lenses so you have to pay for it with every lens. The lower-level Nikon DSLRs such as the D3000, D3100, D5000 and D5100 all require use of the more expensive Nikon AF-S lenses for auto focus.

The Sony DSLR cameras use the legacy Minolta Maxxum "A" lens mount introduced in 1985. Any Maxxum AF lens ever made can be used on the A33 and A55 and they will auto focus as they should and be, in effect, an IS lens. In my opinion having access to all those legacy lenses that will auto focus on the A33 and A55 is a major plus.

A33 review: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/AA33/AA33A.HTM

A55 review: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/AA55/AA55A.HTM

The differences between the two models:

http://www.digitalphotographywriter.com/2010/08/sony-a33-vs-a55-whats-difference.html

The determining factor in the quality of the pictures from any camera is the person using the camera. Always remember this: "It isn't the camera its the photographer". You must be willing to spend time reading and studying the Owner's Manual for whatever camera you buy. You must also be willing to spend time learning about photography. There is more - much, much more - to photography than just buying a camera and pointing it at something and clicking the shutter release.
You must learn about light, composition and exposure and then practice using that knowledge until you're skilled in combining the light, composition and exposure to make the picture you want to make. These sites will help you:

http://www.digital-photography-school.com Tutorials from beginner to professional. Free weekly enewsletter with photography tips and how-to articles.

http://www.kamerasimulator.se/eng/?page_id=2 Interactive learning.

http://www.adorama.com/alc/

http://www.illustratedphotography.com/photography-tips/basic

http://www.photonhead.com

Since you say you want to do some band photography you need to know that a lens purchase is in your future. Although the 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 zoom lens that comes with the A33 or A55 is a reasonably decent lens it really isn't suited for use indoors in low-light situations without using the flash. For those conditions you'll need a fast prime lens like a Maxxum 50mm f1.4 (prime is a term used for a fixed focal length lens - it has no zoom feature). A 50mm f1.4 lens also allows you to use a lower ISO indoors and still maintain a fast shutter speed. This site will help you understand the idea: http://www.calcualtor.org/exposure.aspx Look at the Scene 'Domestic interiors at night, subject lit by campfire or bonfire' and choose ISO 400. At f1.4 your shutter speed will be around 1/60 sec. - a bit slow if there is any subject movement. However, at f3.5 your shutter speed will be approximately 1/10 sec. and the slightest subject movement will be blurry. (Since there is no f3.5 shown and I know that f3.5 is 1/3 stop faster than f4.0 I extrapolated a shutter speed by adding 33% to the shutter speed shown for f4.0 on the chart). Now look at the shutter speed for f5.6 - 1/4 sec. At this slow of a shutter speed camera movement as well as subject movement will result in a blurry image. To achieve a shutter speed equal to or greater than 1/60 sec. at f1.4 at ISO 800 the f3.5 lens will require using ISO 3200. At f5.6 an ISO of 6400 is needed to produce a 1/60 sec. shutter speed.

So take a serious look at the Sony SLT A33 and SLT A55. Spend time at the sites referenced. Photography is a never-ending learning experience.

is a nex 7 good for camera beginners?

momo

thinking about getting it, but im not sure if its really that worth it, i mean the whole 24 megapixles thing, that would take way to much space and while i would imagine there'd be a diffrence in crisp image quality, i could get a 16 mp camera. is 24 mp that good? i know megapixles is not everything. and i know the nex 7 was just announced so i should just wait.

Answer
Although the Sony NEX series of cameras are interesting, you'll find very few lenses for them and the ones available are fairly pricey. Carl Zeiss, Tamron, Sigma and Cosina are licensed to bulid lenses with the new "E" mount but they haven't, to my knowledge, come to market yet.

In my opinion you'd be wise to consider the Sony SLT series - A35, A55, A65 and A77 - simply because they use the legacy Minolta Maxxum "A" lens mount and there are plenty of affordable pre-owned Maxxum AF lenses available for them.

With Sony's Translucent Mirror Technology the SLT series DSLR cameras are the only DSLRs currently available that allow you full-time continuous auto focus whether you're shooting still images or 1080 HD video.

So do a web search for reviews of the Sony SLT models and judge for yourself.

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Can I use a camera iPhone 4/s camera lens on my iPhone 5?

best camera lens for iphone 5 image

Marcos

I cracked my 5 camera lens when I dropped it and I can save $30 if I just use an iPhone 4/s camera lens on it. Is it worth it?

Answer
ohh you should ask apple about that

How can i fix my iphone 4g after dropping it in the pool?

elmira

So i dropped it in the pool. it was under for a good 5 secon ds. I took it out and put it in the sun. i was able to turn it on. and everything works perfectly fine... except i cant hear caller on the phone. they can hear me, i just cant hear them. and also there is some water in the camera lens so the pictures come out blurry. would the rice bag trick be useless at this point. i really dont want to buy another one.

Answer
Do the bag of rice, it should work since you are getting some functions to work. May take a day or more.

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How to clean my digital camera lens without the products?

best camera lens cleaning cloth image

Natasha G

i have a sony cyber-shot and i have gotten some smudges on the lens. i need something that would work besides a cleaning cloth made for a camera. anything at home? like a cotton wool bud? or what else??
thankyou
i dont have time to go to the store i just wont to clean it tonite.

Answer
Its really easy i recently cleaned mine with my eye glasses cloth, or you can use any other cloth like that.

Dont use a tissue or a towel even if it seems soft, that will scratch it. Use those soft clothes that you get when you buy, glasses, or an Iphone.

How can I clean a cellphone camera lens without scratching it or damaging it?

John Alder

How can I clean a cellphone camera lens without scratching it or damaging it?

How can I clean a cellphone screen without scratching it or damaging it?

How can I clean a computer monitor without scratching it or damaging it?

Answer
The safest way is with bottled water and the same lens cleaning cloths you get from the places that sell eyeglasses.

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Would a Sony a 77 be an acceptable camera for professional wedding photography?

best canon 7d lens for weddings image

Amickeal83

Im wondering at the quality of their optics say compared to a nikon D7000 which is my 2nd choice
I forgot to mention I already have a Nikon D3100 that I wanted to upgrade from. I was going to buy the Nikon D7000 but when I read about the new technology in Sony's A-77 I started to question my investment (such as 12fps shooting, Continuous Auto focus*****)

Answer
The Sony A77 is an amazing camera. It can do things that no Canon or Nikon can do at any price.

However, that does not mean it's the best camera in all situations. Sony's decision to go with 24 megapixels hurts low light high ISO performance. And every wedding I've been to has horrid light. So no, it's not the best choice. stills and video will have more noise, and if you leave it to the camera to handle noise reduction, there will be a loss of detail, video and photos will have that smeared look.

The optics for all the big camera companies are very good, but each has their star lenses. So if you spend a lot on a 24-70 f/2.8 from Sony which will be a Zeiss branded lens, Canon or Nikon, you will be getting a stunning lens, same for most of their primes and high end zooms.

But be warned, there are so many fan boys answering questions telling you that Canon has the best glass or Nikon has the best etc, ignore it. Every brand also has duds, lenses that have just never been very good, and most of those are the cheaper lenses.

So while the Sony can do things like shoot more fps, and make use of fast auto focus when shooting video, the image sensor is just too noisy by ISO 800-1000. Sure you can clean it up in post, but it's better to get the cleanest image you can from the get go.

Honestly, in the price range of the A77, D7000, Canon 7D, I don't think there is a really good camera that shoots clean wedding video in low light. Check out a used Canon 5D mark II or wait for Sony's A99, that camera is going to be a game changer, but it's going to cost you.

If the rumors are true, whenever Nikon releases their lower cost full frame dSLR, it should shoot video and with Sony's full frame sensor, it should be a stunner, but again, expect a higher price tag than the D7000 when it was new, it will probably run closer to the D300 when it was new, or even more.

If you shoot outdoor weddings, or you have full lighting for a wedding or any other situation, the A77 is an amazing camera, I hope Sony updates that camera and puts a better, lower pixel count sensor or just bumps it to full frame.

Im getting a canon 7d, what lenses are good to get?

ashley S

Should I just get the camera body? or get the lens that comes with it?
i love taking portraits, and nature photos.

Answer
Buy the 7D body, anyone with a great deal of photography experience will tell you to avoid kit lenses 90% of the time.

I generally stick to prime lenses for portraiture. 85mm f/1.8 is reasonable cheap, great bokeh, sharp and stunning colours. 50mm f/1.8 (also known as the "Nifty Fifty") is only approximately $100 and an absolutely amazing lens! Another popular prime lens is the 135mm, although it is a little dearer.

I shoot with a 5DmkII and these are the lenses I use for each type of photography I do (Keep in mind, 5DmkII is FF):

Portraiture + Low Light / Live music:
85mm f/1.4 + 50mm f/1.2

Large Group + Band Promo:
17-40mm f/4

Weddings:
24-70mm f/2.8 + 70-200mm f/2.8 IS + 85mm f/1.4



I can genuinely say once I started collecting lenses my photography improved greatly.

But yeah, as I said, I particularly recommend the 50mm f/1.8. $100 and SO much better than any kit lens you'll ever get.

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How to shoot fast shutter speeds on my camera at night?

dslr camera lens 101 image

tihsman219

I was shooting a bmx scene at night and i needed a fast shutter speed in order to capture the rider. I had no outside light so i set up 3 freestanding lights that lit up the jump and him in the air. The only problem is he would turn out blury even when i used a faster speed. what should i be doing to help ?

Answer
I'll asume you have a DSLR, if not, much of my advice won;t be so useful.

Short of using a handfull of flashes on tripods with triggers, there's not much you can do.

You can increase your ISO, the higher the ISO the more sensitive the sensor is to light but then the images will have alot of noise in them.

You could also shoot with what is known as "fast glass" ... lenses that can open up wide so and fstop of 2.8, 1.8, 1.4, 1.2. There are a few problems with these lenses.

Problem 1: A higher fstop reduces the Depth of Field (DoF). The Dpeth of Field is how thick the area that is in focus is. The wider the lens opens the thinner this field is ... it's not a huge obstacle once you get used to it but when you start it's a little tough figuring it out.

Problem 2: Most lenses that can open wide like this cost a fortune. in the Canon lineup, the typical wedding / event lenses are the 24-70 f2.8 (1500$) and the 70-200 f2.8 (2500$). There is a cheap 50mm plastic lens you can (and really should) get for 130 - 150$Can but it's what is known as a "prime" lens ... it doesn't zoom in or out. It's a great portrait lens but it's not so good as an event lens.

If you decide to get some flashes and triggers, I'd suggest you look at the following site to start http://strobist.blogspot.com This is THE best site for off camera lighting. Their Lighting 101 tutorial is the best place to start.

I would also suggest you get some cheap manual only flashes off ebay (40$Can each) and some cheap remote flash triggers (40$ for a kit of 2 receivers and a transmitter). You can get some lightstands or get some cheapo camera tripods to use as lightstands if you want to save a bit of money. Lightstands are better but cheap tripods can fill in for much less (12$ tripods).

What tools do I need for opening a home digital photography studio?

ABC

I'd like to start a small home digital photography studio but with minimum budget (around 3000 $) but I feel its impossible. also What are the main equipments needed plus any recomended websites portrait snaps training?
Am shocked! spending that much? Well thank you all for help and I'll think I keep up with an SLR ( D40 Nikon) alright?

Answer
The D40 is a good entry level DSLR. Westcott makes an entry level lighting kit that even has a floormat to tell you where to set the lights. It goes for about 500 for the 3 light set up with stands umbreallas and backdrop. Using the mat you will get what I call the "department store lighting set up" pretty traditional but its a good start and as you learn you can vary the setup. These are not top of the line lights and in a year or two you will outgrow them; but again a goot starter kit. You could do the same things with strobes and lightstands on your D40 . If you want to do location shoots go this way instead of the westcott set up which is better suited to an indoor location.

Next go for a good prime lens for portraits. On the D40 if you get a Nikor 50 mm 1.8 or better yet 1.4 you have a crop factor of a 75mm lens ( which gets you in the bottom end of what is traditionally seen as a portrait lens) and an aperature that will give you good bokeh. The 1.8 can be gotten at a good price the 1.4 will cost you a bit more.

Go to the Nikon site and look at the creative lighting system for using strobes for location portraits. Then invest some time to go to strobist.com and go thought the lighting 101 section.

Take notes and make cheat cards to remember what lighting setups worked well with your equipment. If you look a picture, find you really like it, and do not know how you set it up on lighting position and ratios its hard to re-create the effect on demand

With digital its 0s and1s so the cost is minimal so before you take shots for hire practice practice practice on your family, neighbors anyone you can get to sit still. You must know your equipment cold. Its almost embarrasing to the profession the amount of people who want to call themselves photographers and they cannot work the equipment they have and seem unwilling to put in the time to learn to do so

Contact your local camera club and camera store, they often have lighting classes. Community colleges and parks and rec also sometimes do this. Look in photo magazines for seminars and workshops near you to hone your skills.

http://www.amazon.com/Westcott-Photo-Basics-503-Three-Light/dp/B000P43MM4

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What is a good digital camera for taking pictures with friends?

sony a55 dslr camera and lens image

Kawaii

Need to have more than or equal to 14 megapixels. Have to have awesome quality. When I take pictures, how can I cover my blemishes? Is there any mode that can do that? If there is, I want the camera to have it too. What is beauty mode? I'm just going to take pictures of me and my friends together. Maybe a little of scenery.

Answer
Below are listed a bunch of entry and mid-level DSLR cameras and approximate prices in US dollars, Australian Dollars and UK pounds. I think pretty much all of these will do a very good job. I have preferences amongst them....I guess in the entry level cameras, the Nikon D3100, the Canon EOS 600D and the Pentax K-r are the picks.
All of the mid level cameras are great.

In regards to megapixels.....I think you should just completely forget about it. Any camera with more than 8 megapixels is going to do the job. Honestly it's largely used as a sales tool to sell cameras to people who don't know about cameras.

I don't know what beauty mode is, but in portrait mode the camera just opens the aperture really wide. To soften blemishes, you need to think about how the subject is lit. Soft lighting (don't use the pop-up flash) or even using a sheet of white cardboard to reflect light onto the subject will work. Move the subject out of strong sunlight.


Entry level:
Nikon D3100 (18-55mm lens) --- US$550 / AU$740 / UK£440
Canon EOS 600D / Rebel T3i (18-55mm lens) --- US$900 / AU$1090 / UK£750
Pentax K-x (18-55mm lens) --- US$500 / AU$610 / UK£380
Pentax K-r (18-55mm lens) --- US$640 / AU$870 / UK£470
Sony Alpha A390 (18-55mm lens) --- US$500 / AU$560 / UK£390
Sony Alpha A55 (18-55mm lens) --- US$850 / AU$1100 / UK£600

Enthusiast / Mid-level:

Nikon D90 (18-105mm lens) --- US$960 / AU$1100 / UK£680
Nikon D7000 (18-105mm lens) --- US$1500 / AU$1500 / UK£1060
Canon EOS 60D (18-135mm lens) --- US$1300 / AU$1450 / UK£990
Pentax K-7 (18-55mm lens) --- US$980 / AU$1260 / UK£720

What camera should a beginner filmmaker buy?

Sam

Hello.
I've gotten really into movies and am interested in being exposed to that world in any way I can. I'm not expecting to be making Hollywood quality things or anything, just something to get me introduced to filming. The only thing is I have no idea where to start. What do I need? Do I buy a digital camera or do I buy one that uses film? I'm not looking to buy professional grade equipment either, just a beginner's camera that will give me an idea of whether or not I even have any ability in the field.

Thank you very much for any help, I really appreciate it!
I'm not even sure if I'm posting this in the right spot.
Wow, thank you very much! I would give you a thumbs up, but I guess I'm not a high enough 'level' yet

Answer
An entry level DSLR is a popular choice for many beginner filmmakers, such as the Canon t5i, Sony A55 - that price bracket of cameras.
The reason for this is that they're inexpensive (compared to other cameras), large sensor (gives more cinematic look and more lighting flexibility) and have interchangeable lenses (allows you to start off with a basic kit lens but then upgrade as you wish)...among other things.
So picking up a camera kit (such as this one http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/982342-REG/canon_eos_rebel_t5i_dslr.html) is generally enough to get you shooting.
If a kit like this is out of your budget consider looking for lesser expensive DSLRs, in recent years the price has fallen dramatically so it's a great time to buy.
There's a huge grey market for camera gear - if it looks to good to be true, it is
Keep your purchase with popular sellers such as
bhphoto.com
adorama.com
abelcine.com
high rated sellers on eBay

It's a lot of fun researching the gear to get started but always remember it's about YOU and not your gear - the best gear in the world won't make you a better film maker - find a kit that's right for you and get out and practice - you'd be surprised how far ahead that gets you.

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What is a fair price for a used camera and lenses?

dslr camera old lenses image

Mouse

A friend is offering me a Cannon A-1 35mm camera(about 20 years old)+ several lenses. These include a macro zoom lens and a wide angle lens, as well as a 28-50mm zoom lens and a few others that are just basic lenses. All together about 7 lenses. Also an auto winder attachment, a couple of cable releases, about 12 filters, several lens adapters, a light meter and a bellows. I need to figure out what to offer her, but I don't know what is a fair price. I don't want to cheat either one of us. Does anybody have any idea what would be a fair price to offer for these items. I must have the camera and at least a couple of lenses, along with the cable releases, and at least a couple of filters. So an idea of what to offer for the smaller number of items would also be helpful. Thank you.

Answer
Since Canon developed the EOS camera system, the A-1 vintage cameras became obsolete ... sort of. While they are still great cameras and can shoot amazing images. What you will not get is auto-focus and the ability to use the new Canon EOS and DSLR's cameras.

A fair price could be as low as $200 for the whole kit. You will not be cheating anyone by knowing the limitations of the camera and lenses.

What is the best dslr camera for beginners?

Shannon Y

I'm wanting to purchase a DSLR camera so I can start taking better quality photos and hopefully someday pursue photography as my career path. I've been looking at a canon t3i and a t4i and I was wondering if either one of those would be a good choice or if there are any other cameras that would be good too. Wanting to stay under $1200. I will have a lot to learn about DSLR and I'm prepared for that and very excited to switch to DSLR. So what would you suggest for a beginner DSLR camera that wouldn't need to be upgraded for a while.
Sorry I didn't want to type a 10 paragraph question, sometimes people decide not to read these if they are too long. I just wanted a suggestion from someone experienced in photography. I've already searched google just wanted some other options.

Answer
You have to try every brand. Everyone for some reason automatically chooses Canon because they don't know any better.

Look at Sony,Nikon and Pentax too. You'll find that all of these brands will give you just the same and in allot of cases more bang for your buck then Canon. What you need to do is go to an actual camera store. not a Best Buy or Costco.

At a camera store you will get help from individuals that actually know what they are talking about. When you ask a question on the internet you get biased answers from both Canon and Nikon fanboys.

If you go to a big box store you will get help from someone who is simply looking to make a sale and will just tell you anything you want to hear.

My advice to you is to look into the Nikon D3200,D5200 /Pentax K-5 or the Sony a57 and a65.

Nikon doesn't skimp out on their lower end lenses the way canon does, Pentax uses weather sealing and makes all of their bodies out of magnesium (no one in the industry does this until you spend over a grand for just the body), and finally Sony has the most affordable prime lenses out of the bunch.

There are allot of choices. Think about what your going to invest you money into. All of these brands produce products that will give you amazing images when used properly. How ever if you use a DSLR just to take snap shots then you will find your images will look much that same as if they were taken with a point and shoot camera.

Case in point my 9 year old Nikon D70 can produce images that will amaze you. However someone with a brand new Canon T4i or Nikon D5200 that has no idea what they are doing will produce pictures that look like crap. One needs to understand how the cameras AF system works, how to adjust the cameras settings for available light, White Balance, shutter speed, aperture. The type of subject or situation needs to be taken into account to. Its not all about just clicking away. If you don't have the vision or the know how then your just using an electronic device that won't do much for you.

Like I said before you have to thoroughly look into each brand to weigh out the differences. The pros and cons of each brand. Then you just need to learn more and more. Its quiet fun once you get the hang of it. Maybe you'll find an artistic side you never knew you had.

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How much impact will a 1.6x crop factor have on my photography?

dslr camera lens number meaning image

lollerskat

I am planning to buy a dSLR camera soon, the Rebel XSi and because it has a APS-C sensor, there will be a crop factor of 1.6x when I use an EF lens for it. I am told to invest in EF lenses but I am worried if the crop factor will have a large impact on it. What if I wanted a wide angle lens? How much will the crop factor impact the ability of this wide-angle lens?

Answer
A great answer by Pooky, my compliments to him on such a clear explanation of the visual effect of this - it's a good question too.

If you know about lenses in 35mm terms the 1.6 factor will make a big difference:
10mm > (acts like) 16mm (in comparison to 35mm)
20mm > 32mm
28mm > 45mm (so a normally pretty wide lens on a 35mm camera will act like a standard 50mm!)
50mm > 80mm (a standard 35mm lens would act like a moderate telephoto / portrait type lens)
75mm > 120mm

This means many digital SLR digital photographers don't have anything more than a moderately wide lens in their armoury, this is a very limiting factor for a surprising number of photographic situations - interiors, candid work in crowded spaces, low light situations, places where you can't step back any further, etc.

The implication is that you need to think very differently for what would normally (in 35mm terms) be considered a very wide lens.. and what may initially seem really wide, isn't at all!

To put this into context, this is not going to worry a wildlife, sports, or paparazzi / surveillance photographer at all. For most other purposes it's like losing a key part of your armoury.

I've been professional for 18 years now and all but a few dozen images out of many thousands were taken on lenses under 100mm in 35mm terms. It's subject driven but I'd guess I use wide lenses probably around 15-30% of the time.

How to make use of ultrazoom 30x point nd shoot camera effectively?

princess

1)How to make use of ultrazoom 30x point nd shoot camera effectively?
2)How to take cool pics (esp. macros) like dslr cameras with a point nd shoot camera?

Thank you so much
Tnx fhotoace
the camera s olympus sp 800 uz!!

Answer
It would be helpful in the future to tell us what camera brand and model number you have so we can answer you question more definitively. Since there is only one camera with a 30x optical zoom, I will have to assume that you have the Fujifilm FinePix HS10. Is that right?

As with any zoom lens that reaches beyond about 200 mm (Yours can reach out to 720 mm, 35 mm equivalent), you will at some point need a tripod or other means to secure the camera to avoid blurry images caused by camera movement.

Shooting from 24 mm (nice wide angle) to 720 mm (super telephoto) will give you a lot of versatility, but require you to spend some time learning how to use the camera under various lighting conditions and using the various focal lengths.

Macro is a different issue. If you really mean shooting closeup photos, then the HS-10 can focus with the lens 1 cm from the subject. Depending upon which focal length you choose, the magnification will vary.

A true macro lens, has markings on its lens barrel to allow the user the specify specific image to subject ratios like 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4. These exact ratios are important when shooting forensic, medical and scientific assignments, but are not critical when shooting close ups of your favorite object.

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I am looking for a camera with fast multi-point autofocus, image stabilization, low noise at high ISO settings?

nikon d5100 dslr camera + vr lens image

lookingfor

I need a good camera for photography. Most importantly I want it to have fast shutter speed. Also, easy to use, but a lot of good features.

Answer
You've described most modern DSLR's, so let your budget help you decide.

An excellent entry level choice would be the Nikon D5100.
11 autofocus points with 3d tracking
Image stabilization with the 18-55mm VR lens.
ISO range up to 25,600 and some of the lowest digital noise in its class.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond5100/
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d5100.htm

If you still want more, look at the Nikon D7000.
39 focus points

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond7000/
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d7000.htm

Which one is the best DSLR camera for buying?

Arunraj

Hi, i'm going to buy a dslr which one is best rated, best price, (above 18mega pixel) please give me your ideas.

Answer
I have a list of the top DSLR cameras available now:

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&ref_=lp_281052_nr_n_1&bbn=281052&qid=1316690337&rnid=281052&rh=n%3A172282%2Cn%3A!493964%2Cn%3A502394%2Cn%3A281052%2Cn%3A3017941&_encoding=UTF8&tag=faumioew-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

Out of these i recommend Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens:

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-16-2MP-Digital-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B004V4IWKG/ref=sr_1_4?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1334672255&sr=1-4&tag=faumioe-20

Some of its features are:

- 3-inch, 921,000-dot Super-Density horizontal type Vari-Angle LCD Monitor
- In-camera Special Effects Mode
- In-camera HDR (High Dynamic Range)
- Stunning Full 1080p HD Movies with Full Time Autofocus

Read this review by a user about the overall performance of the camera:

http://www.amazon.com/review/R3RXULR8A4H60T/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B004V4IWKG&nodeID=&linkCode=&tag=faumioe-20

Hope this helps.

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Digital SLR Camera body for my Minolta lenses?

dslr camera lenses 101 image

bee

My dad just gave me his old Minolta film camera with 3 lenses. Minolta went out of business since he's had it but I would like to get a digital SLR camera body that would fit all the lenses he gave me. Anyone know of a digital camera body that would fit Minolta's film lenses?

Answer
If the lenses are the older SR mount used on the SRT-100, 101, 102, 200, 201, 202 and X series, XG-9, XD-11, XE-7, X-700 then you can buy an adapter to use them on the current Sony DSLR cameras.

If the lenses are the A-mount first introduced on the Maxxum 7000 and still used by Sony then all you need is a Sony A230/330/380,700,850900 and your Maxxum AF lenses will work perfectly. The A850 & A900 are Sony's full-frame (24x36) DSLRs.

Which fisheye lens should I get for my Canon XSi?

Patrick M

hey have a Canon XSi and had it for awhile but I really want the fisheye lens. I don't know much about camera for I'm a beginner, but I really like the pictures that you can take with a fisheye. but anyways, can anyone suggest a fisheye lens that I can get, why, if it's worth the money, and where I can get it.

Answer
A true fisheye lens is not going to be cheap. They will cost more than your camera costs. Only you can decide if it is worth it. Many people think its cool and play around with them for a while. Then it sits in their camera bag. So I suggest you think about it before spending the money.
Canon does not currently make a fisheye lens for the cropped sensor DSLR's like yours. The Canon fisheyes are designed for the full frame or film cameras and will not give the true fisheye effect on your camera. This is because the sensor in your camera is smaller than that of full frame cameras. That said here are a couple of fisheye lenses from Sigma that will do the trick. There are two types of fisheye lenses.
1. Circular Fisheye. These will have a circular image with black around the edges.
2. Rectangular fisheye. These will give that warped fisheye effect but will fill the rectagular frame of your picture.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/535763-USA/Sigma_477_101_10mm_f_2_8_EX_DC.html#features

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/535757-USA/Sigma_486_101_4_5mm_f_2_8_EX_DC.html#features

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