The Professional Photography and Photoshop Thread

[Lynx7725]

I understand the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR is a full frame lens (not even sure what full frame is, except that it is expensive). Curious to know if this lens is compatible with the D90. I've been seeing it paired with the D700 and that it is a pro lens. I am only considering it because I have located one for a very good deal. I believe this would be a great lens for shooting my son's sporting events and should fair well with potraits as well??? What do you guys think?

It works very well with crop DSLRs -- I should know as I slap that lens on a D70. A full frame lens is compatible with cropped sensor, it's the DX lens line that is not compatible with full frame bodies.

Basically, each lens creates an image circle at the distance the sensor (digital or film) is mounted. A full-frame would create an image circle that encompasses the chip, so every element on the chip has light falling on it. A digital sensor however, is typically smaller than the usual image circle size, so it actually utilizes less of the image circle, but provides a "zoom factor" on that area. In Nikon DSLRs, that typically is around 1.5x to 1.6x -- which means the 200mm becomes a 300mm lens, useful and cheap.

Full frame isn't expensive on the lens, it's the standard -- it's the DX lens that are cheaper, as they are engineered to have a smaller image circle (and hence not as usuable on a full-frame body). The expense of full frame is on the body, but hey, you got a body already.

If it is indeed a 70-200mm f/2.8 VR <-- and the VR is important, then you should give it a try. Check for fungus etc. That lens is very good, I have it and love to use it. Get the specs on it from the dealer (i.e., from the actual lens), then physically examine it; the deal may sound a bit too good to be true, so it is good to err on the side of caution.

[MacrossMan]

Finally made a decision on a lens. I'm going with a first generation Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G VR. My understanding is that the new "II" version only has one feature the old one doesn't that isn't significant. Hoping to get it for less than $600.

[Lynx7725]

Finally made a decision on a lens. I'm going with a first generation Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G VR. My understanding is that the new "II" version only has one feature the old one doesn't that isn't significant. Hoping to get it for less than $600.

My understanding is that it's a good lens, and it should function well for you. Be careful about picking up bad habits on the long end though.

[Lynx7725]

Oh, and here's a cute app for you nikon lovers.

[MacrossMan]

Hopefully no more crappy cell phone photos. It is finally here!

[eugimon]

Woohoo! Congrats!

[MacrossMan]

Woohoo! Congrats!

Thanks man! Took it by my local camera and video shop to have them give it a thorough work through to make sure it worked properly. Arrogant bastards were reluctant because I didn't purchase it from them. If the guy had been nicer I would have given him the commission on the lens I plan to purhcase, but after that experience he can go kick rocks. I might go by their other store on across the river. Good news is that it the body checked out just fine. It's a brand spanky new U.S. model with a clear serial number that I was able to register online for the warranty without any problems.

I'm so damn wishy-washy with choosing a lens though. One minute my mind is made up and the next minute it isn't. Quick and dumb question about lenses. I plan on doing a lot portraits and hope to be able to get wide shots. Not neccesarily super wide shots, but on the chance that a few generations of family members are at the same get together I'd like to get a nice portrait that I could get enlarged to like an 10 x 13 or larger. I see the 70-200mm, 55-105mm and so on and have no idea what those numbers mean. Can one of you provide some sort of explanation on these numbers? Many thanks! Really looking forward to getting into this whole world of photography. Been catching some really cool tutorials on Youtube. Thanks again!

[eugimon]

Well, the greater the number, the greater the zoom. So the 200mm is going to have a farther reach than the 105mm.

On a cropped body like the D90, 35mm is basically what the human eye sees. So, 35mm and lower is considered "wide angle". On a full frame, that would that cut off would be at 50mm.

You can use any lens for a "portrait", my friend's wedding photographer took amazing portraits with a 200mm lens, for example. But most people consider 35-70mm to be portrait lenses.

The type of lens you use isn't going to affect what you print to, that's going to depend on your resolution and your ISO.

What I would suggest is just go to a camera store or a store like Best Buy and ask to see the lenses mounted on one of their demo units and just see for yourself.

[Phalanix]

Don't forget to check for stuck pixels and dead pixels.

Dead Pixels:

Manually focus and take a picture of a white wall/paper, try a 2-3 second exposure. Check the image to see if there are any dead (black) pixels.

Stuck Pixels:

Keep the lens cap on, manual focus, try a 5 second exposure at various ISOs. You'll probably see some hot pixels, having some at higher ISOs is pretty much the norm. Take note of the location of the hot pixels, if they're still showing up when taking a normal picture, it may be stuck.

,

Edited December 16, 2009 by Phalanix

[Lynx7725]

Well, the greater the number, the greater the zoom. So the 200mm is going to have a farther reach than the 105mm.

There's some physics involved too, but eugimon got the gist of it. The bigger the number, the further away the lens can bring objects into focus (infinity doesn't count as all lens can do that...). Of course, typically, the bigger the number, the more glass (or more complicated techniques) is involved, so the more expensive it tends to be.

Important thing is not so much what the number is, but how far you want to shoot from the subject. If say you are shooting a baseball game, physically you are restrained from being that close as to be able to use a 35mm, then you need something a wee bit longer. Probably something from 105mm to 200mm, but rarely higher -- most 300+ mm lens are specialist lens used for very long range shooting of small subjects, most of us won't use that capability.

My rule of thumbs on a DSLR with crop factor:

• <35mm -- for wide perspective. Group shots and parorama etc. Tends to be specialist lens, with funky effects like fisheye.
• 35mm to 70mm -- general purpose "walkabout lens". Some are specialists. Good for short range, portraits and "I was here" shots. Bread-and-butter lens, to be honest.
• 70mm to 200mm -- general purpose lens, but more for mid to long distance shooting. Concerts, sports, stalking (!), etc.
• >200mm -- specialist telephoto lens for bird watching, sports, etc.

Personally, I believe in fast lens to give me more latitude, so I prefer 2 or 3 lens to cover the range rather than one GP lens. my stable currently has 4 lens, a 18-70mm DX "came with the body" GP lens, a 35mm "walkabout" lens, a 70-200mm "I'm seriously shooting" lens, and a 60mm "I'm never going to use this" macro lens. As you can see, my lens stable covers the GP range which I normally shoot at, so I'm fairly happy there -- though I wish I didn't get certain lens...

Main thing is not to get bitten by the glass disease. You don't need that many lens -- just enough. You'll know when it's not enough, when you repeatedly try to get a shot.. and fail.

On a cropped body like the D90, 35mm is basically what the human eye sees. So, 35mm and lower is considered "wide angle". On a full frame, that would that cut off would be at 50mm.

You can use any lens for a "portrait", my friend's wedding photographer took amazing portraits with a 200mm lens, for example. But most people consider 35-70mm to be portrait lenses.

A Portrait is actually an end result, not a process. A 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens actually takes good portraits, it's just that you have to stand a bit further away.

Taking portraits with a short lens takes you closer in to the subject, and has pros and cons -- you get to interact with your subject more, but they also grow more self-conscious. You might also need to cater more for lighting with a short lens, as you are closure and potentially you might end up blocking the light.

A long lens let you stand further back, and you can get candid portraits that way as people aren't so aware of the lens. They are two different approaches, with 2 different "feel" in the end result, but both products may be called portraits. It really depends on how the photographer wants to bring out the story in the image.

[anime52k8]

Main thing is not to get bitten by the glass disease. You don't need that many lens -- just enough. You'll know when it's not enough, when you repeatedly try to get a shot.. and fail.

pffff, you can never have to many lenses

also, with portraits you want to have a very blurred background so your subject stands out. to do this you need a fast lens (high f-stop). you can also get a more diffused background by using a longer lens.

[Dante74]

Wiki on focal lenght with comparison shots.

And another. Scroll down past all the math stuff to see some more comparison shots.

You'll still need to take crop factor into account with any focal lenght number you see. For Nikon that's x1.5, for Canon it's x1.6.

And here's my to cents on purchasing a lens.

I see a lot of people buying a DSLR thinking they'll automatically get better pics and be disapointed when their holiday/family snapshots look just like the ones they took with their old point 'n shoot camera. There are three reasons for that;

1. They only used the program modes. Forget about the 'landscape, portrait, sports program modes on your camera. Experiment with the aperture and timer priority mode and especially the manual mode. Only then will you use the full potential of a DSLR camera and get those shots that make people want a camera just like that.
2. They got a slow cheap kitlens. Save up and invest in a good lens. Glass is more important then your camera's body because in a couple of years you'll want to get a newer body, but you'll be using your lenses a lot longer. In photography more money means better equipment means better pics. (You'll also need skill and creativity! )

   a cheap slow lens will not get you that blurred background (it's called bokeh, and the 'creamier' the better) you want when making a portrait of your kid and also it won't be as sharp as a good lens.

3. They didn't invest in a stand-alone flash meaning every family pic has those awfull hard shadows on the walls behind the subject and red eyes.

Like I said, just my two cents and that's all I could spare cause I'm saving up for an extremely wide angle 10-22 mm lens. (which, with Canon's x1.6 crop factor means it's actually a 16-35 mm)

[MacrossMan]

Excellent info here guys! Thanks! It's amazing that with the little bit of information I have been reading about and watching tutorials that I now see errors in a lot of the picitures I had been taking of my Macross collection. Not that I was attempting to take good photos, it's just odd looking at them now and recognizing depth of field and how I might have made them better with subtle adjustments to the camera.

Question about the D90. Before I took the body to the store to be tested [ - E - ] showed in the display. Now the display shows 483. I read the manual and it states this number represents the number of images remaining. Problem is is that I do not have media card in the camera. Does this number represent the number of images that remained on the card that the sales guy used at the store? Thanks again!

[eugimon]

he must have left the card in there, the counter should go to -E- immediately after removing the memory card.

[MacrossMan]

he must have left the card in there, the counter should go to -E- immediately after removing the memory card.

Oh snap! You're right eugimon! There is a 2GB SD card still in the camera! After being arrogant and all the bastard left a card in the camera. I was just about search for a high speed card. The old me would keep his card and say his loss, but I plan on taking it back to them. Once I took the card out the display went back to showing the "E". Now let me see what kind of pictures he was able to get yesterday. Thanks man!

[Vegas]

congrats macrossman! hope to see some dslr picture goodness from you soon

[MacrossMan]

congrats macrossman! hope to see some dslr picture goodness from you soon

I will undoubtedly be posting up some cool pics as soon as I learn to shoot. Hope to meet some local guys to go out on photo adventures and fine tune my skills. Where have you been man? You've been missing in action.

[Vegas]

I will undoubtedly be posting up some cool pics as soon as I learn to shoot. Hope to meet some local guys to go out on photo adventures and fine tune my skills. Where have you been man? You've been missing in action.

been busy playing modern warfare 2 and getting a new house. :lol:

congrats again.

[anime52k8]

Oh snap! You're right eugimon! There is a 2GB SD card still in the camera! After being arrogant and all the bastard left a card in the camera. I was just about search for a high speed card. The old me would keep his card and say his loss, but I plan on taking it back to them. Once I took the card out the display went back to showing the "E". Now let me see what kind of pictures he was able to get yesterday. Thanks man!

keep the card... it's free

[MacrossMan]

So when you guys say a "prime" lens what do you mean? Is that just a lens that isn't one that comes with the camera or not a "kit" lens? I ended up getting the Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-200mm IF-ED Zoom Lens that I plan to use as my primary lens and I plan on ordering the 35mm 1.8 DX as well. This the lens I want to use for my toys.

[eugimon]

So when you guys say a "prime" lens what do you mean? Is that just a lens that isn't one that comes with the camera or not a "kit" lens? I ended up getting the Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-200mm IF-ED Zoom Lens that I plan to use as my primary lens and I plan on ordering the 35mm 1.8 DX as well. This the lens I want to use for my toys.

A prime lens is one that transforms into the leader of the camerabots, a race of autonomous cybernetic organisms from the plant oneexpensivefreakinghobby-tron.

It just means it has a fixed focal length like "35mm" or "5omm" as opposed to a "zoom" lens which is a lens with some sort of mechanism that allows it to vary it's focal length like "18-55mm"

Nice lens selection btw

[MacrossMan]

A prime lens is one that transforms into the leader of the camerabots, a race of autonomous cybernetic organisms from the plant oneexpensivefreakinghobby-tron.

It just means it has a fixed focal length like "35mm" or "5omm" as opposed to a "zoom" lens which is a lens with some sort of mechanism that allows it to vary it's focal length like "18-55mm"

Nice lens selection btw

Nikonous Prime

Anywho, thanks for the explanation. That makes perfect sense. I guess it's like knives or something. You can have a general purpose knife that can be used for a number of things, then you have specialized or "prime" knives like a filet or cleaver. You wouldn't use a cleaver to peel an apple just as you wouldn't use a fisheye lens to do family portraits or wedding pictures. I'm guessing prime is more of a specialized lens and it will more than likely have a fixed focal length.

After reading until my brain was tired I finally decided the 18-200 was the lens I was looking for as my "general purpose" lens. Everywhere I looked everyone had pretty much the same thing to say about it; even Ken Rockwell to a certain extent. The only problem I saw with it was the "creep" issue which shouldn't be too much of an issue as long as I stay level while shooting. I plan on purchasing a nice holster to keep my camera in when i'm on the go that I don't have to worry about holding it and the lens "creeping" out.

You guys have a been a great help and I really appreciate it. Hope to have the lens on Monday. The 35mm 1.8 is sold out everywhere locally so I'll end up picking it up online. Most stores have it for $199 shipped. Locally it's $219.99 plus tax.

Edited December 17, 2009 by MacrossMan

[eugimon]

I wouldn't say a prime is a specialized lens.. that would be more like a fish eye or other effect type lenses. It's just the basic lens that usually offers the best IQ and speed while sacrificing versatility.

If you're looking for camera bags, I recommend lowepro camera bags. I have the slingshot model and I love it.

[MacrossMan]

I wouldn't say a prime is a specialized lens.. that would be more like a fish eye or other effect type lenses. It's just the basic lens that usually offers the best IQ and speed while sacrificing versatility.

If you're looking for camera bags, I recommend lowepro camera bags. I have the slingshot model and I love it.

Yeah, I guess specialized is too specific of a term. The prime means this specific lens is the "prime lens for these shooting conditions" but probably won't do as well in other conditions.

I had been looking at a really nice leather holster type case for my camera, but after seeing lowepro bags I will be ordering one tonight! It is exactly what I envisioned for hauling my stuff around. I'll still get the leather case, but that will be more for travel or a family get together because it's freaking stylish!

[m0n5t3r]

@MM - enough talk!... show us some test shots already!

[anime52k8]

Yeah, I guess specialized is too specific of a term. The prime means this specific lens is the "prime lens for these shooting conditions" but probably won't do as well in other conditions.

I had been looking at a really nice leather holster type case for my camera, but after seeing lowepro bags I will be ordering one tonight! It is exactly what I envisioned for hauling my stuff around. I'll still get the leather case, but that will be more for travel or a family get together because it's freaking stylish!

a prime lens is just a fixed focal length lens, simple as that. If a lens has 1 focal length (i.e. 35mm) it's a prime lens. if it has a range of focal lengths (i.e. 18-200mm) it's a zoom lens.

as for bags, there's really no further discussion beyond get a lowepro. The slingshot is good of you like cross body backpacks (also the slingshot 100 is one of the few compact backpacks that comes with a built in all weather cover). I personally have a flipside 200 and I'm looking into getting a fastpack 250 so I can carry my laptop and camera in one bag.

[Dante74]

I started out with a Fastpack 200 and loved it untill I got the big 70-200 f2.8 lens. I want the abillity to bring other non-camera related stuff when I'm on a daytrip without having to use another bag. Which is why I got the Computrekker AW. It holds all my camera goodies (incl. a tripod) with room to spare for future lenses and I can bring a laptop, waterbottle, a book etc. It's big, but I won't have to shop for a new bag for years to come.

[MacrossMan]

@MM - enough talk!... show us some test shots already!

Patience young padiwan! My lenses havne't shown up yet, so talking is all I can do for now!

[anime52k8]

I started out with a Fastpack 200 and loved it untill I got the big 70-200 f2.8 lens. I want the abillity to bring other non-camera related stuff when I'm on a daytrip without having to use another bag. Which is why I got the Computrekker AW. It holds all my camera goodies (incl. a tripod) with room to spare for future lenses and I can bring a laptop, waterbottle, a book etc. It's big, but I won't have to shop for a new bag for years to come.

the computrekker is a nice bag, but honestly too big and cavernous for my needs (I highly doubt I'm going to need to carry two full size bodies plus half a dozen lenses.)

If I needed 1 bag to carry everything I'd be more interested in the compuPrimus. it's got room for a body plus several large lenses and a big separate storage compartment (I never liked the idea of throwing junk in with my camera/lenses). also it's got rear access with a waist strap like the flipside and side access like the fastpack so best of both worlds.

[Phalanix]

Should definitely try to think ahead a little when buying bags, majority of the time I see people buying a certain bag only to buy a new (larger) one rather quickly as the lens collection grows. lol Happened to me a couple times, I wonder why I ever got such a small case/bag that doesn't utilize space very well.

Edited December 18, 2009 by Phalanix

[MacrossMan]

the computrekker is a nice bag, but honestly too big and cavernous for my needs (I highly doubt I'm going to need to carry two full size bodies plus half a dozen lenses.)

If I needed 1 bag to carry everything I'd be more interested in the compuPrimus. it's got room for a body plus several large lenses and a big separate storage compartment (I never liked the idea of throwing junk in with my camera/lenses). also it's got rear access with a waist strap like the flipside and side access like the fastpack so best of both worlds.

I agree. For anything I plan to shoot I probably won't need more than two lenses with me at a time. It's like with my DJ'ing; I never bring all the equipment I have to a gig. I only bring the stuff I need to get the job done. I'm looking at one of the smaller Lowepro shoulder slings.

[wizartar]

Tried this dark shot and it came out better then I'd hoped.

Edited December 19, 2009 by wizartar

[BeyondTheGrave]

Sweet!

Special K

[Dante74]

My reason for choosing the Computrekker is because it alows me to put my camera in there with any lens mounted. In some conditions (beach) you don't want to have to change lenses to fit everything into the bag. Having enough space for two telezooms means I won't have to change lenses when I need to pack up. There's also room for any lenses I'll purchase in the future.

BTW: Canon rumors says there might be a EF mount 14-24 mm f2.8 L lens coming next year. That's the best news this years IMO.

I've been pondering what wide angle lens to get next. The EF-S 10-22 mm lens is great but it won't fit a full frame body I might get in a few years. The EF 17-40 mm f4 is great but it's not really wide enough for my needs on a crop sensor camera.

a 14-24 would be perfect cause it'll be wide enough on a crop sensor camera and it work great with the 24-70 mm I plan on getting too. God, what a perfect line up 14-24 mm, 24-70 mm and the 70-200 mm I already own all with f2.8! Can't wait!!

the computrekker is a nice bag, but honestly too big and cavernous for my needs (I highly doubt I'm going to need to carry two full size bodies plus half a dozen lenses.)

If I needed 1 bag to carry everything I'd be more interested in the compuPrimus. it's got room for a body plus several large lenses and a big separate storage compartment (I never liked the idea of throwing junk in with my camera/lenses). also it's got rear access with a waist strap like the flipside and side access like the fastpack so best of both worlds.

[Vegas]

My reason for choosing the Computrekker is because it alows me to put my camera in there with any lens mounted. In some conditions (beach) you don't want to have to change lenses to fit everything into the bag. Having enough space for two telezooms means I won't have to change lenses when I need to pack up. There's also room for any lenses I'll purchase in the future.

BTW: Canon rumors says there might be a EF mount 14-24 mm f2.8 L lens coming next year. That's the best news this years IMO.

I've been pondering what wide angle lens to get next. The EF-S 10-22 mm lens is great but it won't fit a full frame body I might get in a few years. The EF 17-40 mm f4 is great but it's not really wide enough for my needs on a crop sensor camera.

a 14-24 would be perfect cause it'll be wide enough on a crop sensor camera and it work great with the 24-70 mm I plan on getting too. God, what a perfect line up 14-24 mm, 24-70 mm and the 70-200 mm I already own all with f2.8! Can't wait!!

just takeoff the canon logo.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00...p;condition=new

hey dante, just get a 5d now