The Photographers Q&A

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smee
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Re: The Photographers Q&A

Post by smee » Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:23 pm

graeme wrote:I got a 18-200 IS with my 500D as a kit. Best price I can find online is £799 here:

http://simplyelectronics.net/mainproduct.php?pid=6932

Jessops will be probably still be £999.

The 18-200 IS is good for days when you only want to take one lens with you. It has barrel distortion at the very wide end, and it's a bit dark at the zoom end, but it's a good all-rounder.
did you get yours from that site? I think i've looked at stuff from there before but there were complaints about gettng hit with import duty as products come from overseas. Think 500d with 18-200 is winning so far even if beyond budget but she doesn't seem to mind, going to have a shot of our receptionists Nikon however first, dare we go over to the dark side?!

Thanks rag it and graeme for your help with this.
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Re: The Photographers Q&A

Post by vxc » Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:04 pm

maybe off topic, i didnt read the whole post but i am going to buy a camera in the next week or so as i am flying out and want to take advantage of the duty free at airport.

looking to spend say 400-450 on SLR camera is this too tight?

looking for most bang for buck and only be using it fill in a current interest in photography that may or may not be gone by next year!

so any help

cheers
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Re: The Photographers Q&A

Post by fd » Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:08 pm

smee wrote:dare we go over to the dark side?!
Nikon clearly have the techincal lead at the moment, the D3 is a Canon killer, the D3x is another, as is the D700 and probably D90 also . . . Nikon also (in my direct experience of having used both) have the simplest and most intuitive user interface . . . so the fact that Nikon also tend to have better quality 'kit' lenses should also not be ignored . . . perhaps consider a D90 . . .

Having said all that . . . you have to try them out in your hand . . . they all take great pictures . . .

Fd

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smee
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Re: The Photographers Q&A

Post by smee » Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:17 pm

vxc wrote:maybe off topic, i didnt read the whole post but i am going to buy a camera in the next week or so as i am flying out and want to take advantage of the duty free at airport.

looking to spend say 400-450 on SLR camera is this too tight?

looking for most bang for buck and only be using it fill in a current interest in photography that may or may not be gone by next year!

so any help

cheers
you have pm. :thumbsup prices are just a guide, amazon handy for reviews.
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smee
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Re: The Photographers Q&A

Post by smee » Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:21 pm

fd wrote:
Nikon clearly have the techincal lead at the moment, the D3 is a Canon killer, the D3x is another, as is the D700 and probably D90 also . . . Nikon also (in my direct experience of having used both) have the simplest and most intuitive user interface . . . so the fact that Nikon also tend to have better quality 'kit' lenses should also not be ignored . . . perhaps consider a D90 . . .

Having said all that . . . you have to try them out in your hand . . . they all take great pictures . . .

Fd
Agreed Nikon much more intuative to pick up, canon menus are just strange but when you get used to canon it's difficult to go back and reviews difficult to ignore.
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Rag_It
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Re: The Photographers Q&A

Post by Rag_It » Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:48 pm

Love my D90! :D

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Re: The Photographers Q&A

Post by jen » Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:01 pm

Does anyone recommend any online or self study photography courses? I was going to apply to do a part time course at Aberdeen college but they either run during the day (when Im teaching at school) or at night on days Im not available. Now Im off work on two weeks school holidays :twisted: I have decided to look at another way at learning my way round my camera. I have read the Understanding Exposure book, which has helped me understand more about what is needed to take a creatively correct exposure but Id like to work towards something now. :thumbsup TIA

Jen

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smee
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Re: The Photographers Q&A

Post by smee » Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:56 pm

Don't go on a course, use the 2 weeks to go out and practice and have some fun :thumbsup
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Re: The Photographers Q&A

Post by Skyenet » Sat Oct 17, 2009 12:30 am

Rag_It wrote:Love my D90! :D

Plus 1 :thumbsup

Well it was Dave that encouraged me to get one and don't regret it one bit :wink:
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smee
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Re: The Photographers Q&A

Post by smee » Sun Oct 18, 2009 3:26 pm

EF ii 2x extender onto 70-200 L F4

I bought a 2x extender mkII but the autofocus doesn't work, according to the manual it should, if a little slower and it is compatible with my 70-200. Is it a dudor is there something I need to do. It is on a 40d.

Thanks
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Re: The Photographers Q&A

Post by flat-planedCrank » Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:45 pm

smee wrote:EF ii 2x extender onto 70-200 L F4

I bought a 2x extender mkII but the autofocus doesn't work, according to the manual it should, if a little slower and it is compatible with my 70-200. Is it a dudor is there something I need to do. It is on a 40d.

Thanks
AFAIK autofocus and 2x extender won't work on the 40D + 70-200 f4.
The working autofocus limit on the 40D (like all non-1D canon dslrs iirc) is f5.6. The 2x extender should lose you 2 stops of light, making the lens effectively a 140-400mm f8 - which is less light than required.

(The 1.4x extender should work though - should only lose you 1 stop. 70-200mm f4 will effectively become a 98-280mm f5.6)

Does it currently attempt to autofocus at all? Think I read somewhere it reports the max-aperture to the body and disables the af?

(A while back I did read about some guys using autofocus with the 100-400mm f5.6 + 1.4x extender by taping up some of the electrical connectors linking the lens to the body. IIRC Think it managed to af in bright conditions, but even then hunted around. Personally its not something I would try - not sure I like the idea of fooling the lens af motor to continually hunt back and forth.)



Cheers.

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smee
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Re: The Photographers Q&A

Post by smee » Sun Oct 18, 2009 8:21 pm

yeah I noticed it going to F8, doesn't even attempt to focus, hmmm bummer should have researched first and bought later :lol: Anyone want to swap for a 1.4x :wink:
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smee
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Re: The Photographers Q&A

Post by smee » Sun Oct 25, 2009 2:42 pm

Bargain Bag

Ian Mac put me onto this one, Currys are selling the Lowepro Vertex 100AW for £39!
I have the 200 and it's a great bag, bought the 100 for Ro's Dad's Christmas, wish I had bought 2, they are nearly £90 on amazon.

Be quick though

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lowepro-Vertex- ... 045&sr=8-1
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Re: The Photographers Q&A

Post by davy » Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:06 pm

where is this amazing road never mind cameras

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Re: The Photographers Q&A

Post by ~ ~ Cal ~ ~ » Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:25 pm

Nice heads up Smee - I am struggling to find that model though @ that price ( perhaps Curry's got wise !?)

http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=Lowe ... &scoring=p

http://www.currys.co.uk:80/martprd/stor ... &sm=4&tm=0

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