The Photographers Q&A

[Shug]

There have been a few requests for more space for photography issues, so here's a sticky thread to post queries and solutions in. Please don't clog it up with thanks or random comments - thank people by PM on this, we want to distil the info into pure question/answer form. Point being that people should be able to look through the thread and find answers, not inane chat. This means I'm liable to go through this thread and delete stuff if it's dross or not adding anything

If this thread proves too popular to be manageable, the mods will then look to the possibility of a Photography questions sub-forum.

Ask away!

[Rag_It]

Okay, so as someone who was pro the photography sub forum, I'll kick off with the first question, and it is a simple one, but something that I think is all too often forgotten, due to the number of photos that actually make it from camera to computer to print.

So here is the question:-

Q: What are the effects of croping a picture when it comes to actually wanting to get it printed, so it looks good when blown up?

For example, I cropped this picture after having taken it to a size I felt provided the most impact:-

Click for large here http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2615/370 ... 111d_b.jpg

For a change i am quite tempted to have it blown up, and not sure to what size I will be able to comfortably blow it up to. Now, i realise that the size i want is not going to be bigger than A3, more like possibly A4 max. I just wonder by cropping out areas of the picture that you do not like, how much does this degrade the quality of the shot, when printed, if at all? It is worth pointing out that i have the original, before Flickr degrades the quality.

Cheers,

Dave

[Mikie711]

Question 2 Can anyone recommend a good tripod that doesn't cost the earth ? . Now if got the panny G1 with the 45-200 lens figure I'll need one sooner or later.

Mike

[fd]

For most printing you want to have the largest number of pixels possible, ie. the largest image possible and if in JPEG format you want the quality to be maximum (100% usually) . . . the only place I have had problems with image sizes being too large is when printing photo books with the likes of blurb (I usually do a photo book per holiday for example) and they require specific resolutions of images . . . but that's the exception . . .

Do not 'upscale' the image, ie. increase it's dimensions after you crop it, as this can lead to a loss of quality also, however there is specialist software to do this if you want poster size images . . .

Ultimately any cropping reduces image quality when printed, however with modern high res cameras and the print sizes you are talking about, it's unlikely you will have any real issues . . . thankfully it's not too expensive to experiment either . . .

. . . and then there are colour space issues . . . best to use sRGB and leave it at that . . . for now

Fd

[jason]

...I'll add a couple comments on printing size.

The larger the print then the further away it is normally viewed from. So, you can get away with lower dpi (dots per inch) on an A2 print than an A4 print.

I've had prints made at 20"x16" which worked-out at approx 200dpi (I didn't bother re-scaling to any specific dpi) and they look fantastic even at arm's length. Your orig is 4458px wide, so would print approx 22" width @ 200dpi (be fine even down to 150dpi at that print size IMHO). A 22" wide print is not going to be viewed with your nose pressed against the glass.

[BiggestNizzy]

I fancy a nice starting DSLR camera and as my B-day is soon what is a good (cheap) starting camera I can point the misses towards

[Rag_It]

I would suggest, if you feel a DSLR is the way you want to go, then have a look at the Nikon D60 or the Canon 400d (if they can still be had) or the Canon 450d - both great starter packages, and usually come with a kit lens as standard.

Make no mistake though, that unless you are prepared to put in the time and effort required to learn about how the camera works, the basics of photography, then a DSLR is a bit of a waste of money - a couple of friends have assigned their DSLR's to the cupboard or ebay due to never changing out of AUTO mode, and only ever using their 18-55mm kit lens, thus are better with a decent point and shoot, or a 'bridge' type camera which allows you more control, but you have a decent length optical zoom, and the ability to play with settings.

Just my 2p!

Photography is always something i have enjoyed, and not having had a decent car for the last 3 years (more if I am honest!) has been helped by having a hobby that requires some thought, and can produce some good images! It is also a hobby, that the results can make others happy, which is a nice feeling at times!
Anyway, I will put my man bag and metrosexual cardigan away, and tell you to make up your own mind, give it some thought, and go and play with a few in Jessops etc.

Cheers,

Dave

[smee]

Question 2 Can anyone recommend a good tripod that doesn't cost the earth ? . Now if got the panny G1 with the 45-200 lens figure I'll need one sooner or later.

Mike

My 1st tripod was a £20 amazon special, was ok but not sturdy or tall enough. Manfrotto 055 is good, lightweight and sturdy

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/cat ... /Show.html Use voucer code VC5 at checkout for 5% off

I got the carbon fibre one from Bristol cameras for £190 but it took ages to arrive and took the threat of cancelling before they delivered.

but you'll need to buy the head separately for any proper tripod and I cannot recommend this one highly enough and good price here

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manfrotto-322RC ... 550&sr=8-2

Very easy to use and a lot better than the faff of every other head.

[Skyenet]

Question 2 Can anyone recommend a good tripod that doesn't cost the earth ? . Now if got the panny G1 with the 45-200 lens figure I'll need one sooner or later.

Mike

I was recommended a Manfrotto Modo Maxi 785B Compact Tripod by a few guys on the UKGSers site and have been delighted with it. Cost less than £50, packs up small (fits in panniers or backpack), extends quite high, lightweight and I like the Grip action ball head. Light enough to carry around London on tubes/street yet stable enough to take long exposure night shots. Packs up small for travel or on the motorbike. Not suitable for cameras over 1kg

The Manfrotto 785B Modo Maxi tripod gives you the height that you need, but folds up to a compact 43.5 cm. The 785B is ideal for travelling, hiking, sports or even web photo/video applications and is suitable for lightweight video camcorders, compact cameras & SLR/lens combinations up to 1kg in weight.

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-man ... d/p1014517

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manfrotto-785B- ... B000RBFPPC

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/cat ... /Show.html

[Peter]

On the Camera front - The Cannon EOS1000D is very similar in spec to the old 400D (has some extras as well) and can be had for under £400 with a kit lens.

On the Tripod front, the 785B (as per Skyenet) gets a vote from me to. I've had one for a couple of years and it's an excellent piece of kit.

[jen]

Another question: I would like to sell an old camera and lens to buy a new lens for my new camera. Does anyone recommend a store or company who would buy my old equipment from me?

TIA
Jen

[Rag_It]

Jen,

All depends what kit you have, if it is Nikon then try here http://www.graysofwestminster.co.uk/wanted.php

or alterantively you could use a generic classified section such as

1) Digital Camera Mag (soon to be Photoradar.com) http://www.dcmag.co.uk/Classifieds.aOMzvD0.html

2) Pistonheads http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?p=1&s=763

Cheers,

Dave

[jason]

Jen,

All depends what kit you have, if it is Nikon then try here http://www.graysofwestminster.co.uk/wanted.php

or alterantively you could use a generic classified section such as

1) Digital Camera Mag (soon to be Photoradar.com) http://www.dcmag.co.uk/Classifieds.aOMzvD0.html

2) Pistonheads http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?p=1&s=763

Cheers,

Dave

I would favour eBay (so long as it's on buyers' current 'desirability list') over Grays/A.N.Other dealer, unless it's something special/collectible. Have a look at what similar condition examples of your gear are currently selling for.

[smee]

Speedlite advice please

Please could someone explain the differences between the 580ex and 580ex MkII, bit of a price difference. I'm doing a couple of friends weddings (poor them) and need to upgrade my flash. Is the 480 worth a look?

Thanks in advance

[flat-planedCrank]

Speedlite advice please

Please could someone explain the differences between the 580ex and 580ex MkII, bit of a price difference. I'm doing a couple of friends weddings (poor them) and need to upgrade my flash. Is the 480 worth a look?

Thanks in advance

IIRC the 580ex mk2 got 20% faster recharging times (also quieter recharge - may be an issue for weddings?), metal hotshoe connection, weather sealing... there is a detailed comparison here - http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Revi ... eview.aspx

Compared to the 480ex mk2 - Main differences are the 580 has more power, and is able to act as a master (to fire other flashes remotely)or slave (the 480 can only act as a slave).

There is also a good detailed breakdown of the differing features in this post - http://photography-on-the.net/forum/sho ... ostcount=3




Cheers.