My new lens doesn't fit my 10D camera?

[bjcarlton]

Something else to keep in mind about the 10D is that it takes a second or two to wake up from sleep mode. If you're trying to do street

photography, that second can be an eternity. Also, by comparison with later cameras, I found the metering in the 10D didn't deal with

highlights all that well. For those two reasons, when I went from my 10D to a 20D, I thought I'd gone to heaven. For me, the jump in

functionality between the 10D and the 20D was bigger than I've experienced since, and I'm now using a 5D Mark III.

[jane_winfer]

<p>Thank you everyone for being so helpful! Rob, I DO already have a lens actually - a 28-135mm which has served me very well - AND it's an IS, so I know how great they are! :-) I've had my trusty old 10D for years, and it's taken me successfully all through my photography exams - but that was a long while ago now.</p>

<p>This all started out of an idle curiosity to have a crack at some street photography (I'm normally a portraitist), so I'm still wondering whether to burn my boats and undergo a complete camera change, or to just go for a lens. I suppose the outlay would be worth it in the long run, as I'm never going to stop doing photography, however broke I am - it's just that now is a difficult time. Perhaps I'll just do nothing until I've got some more dosh at my disposal (that won't be long, this is just a temporary hiatus......). I could even flog my medium format kit - I love it but doubt whether I'll be doing any film again. :-/</p>

<p>I reckon I've got a lot of thinking to do. </p>

[William Michael]

<p>If you already have a 28 to 135 and a 10D . . . what is wrong with that gear and <strong><em>what can’t you do for “Street Photography” with that lens and camera?</em></strong> These are the first two questions you need to answer.</p>

<p>Given that you have those two pieces of gear and if you do have a little money to spend, then a second hand 20D (or 30D) would reap better overall results and I agree with Sara’s points.</p>

<p>What other (if any) lens(es) do you have?</p>

<p>You are very fortunate that you can (or might be able to) return a lens, because (as it seems) you made a poor choice – I’ve made that comment before.</p>

<p>WW </p>

[jane_winfer]

<p>William, I found I couldn't get far enough away from the people I wanted to photograph without them seeing me - which led to a few difficult conversations! :-/ I just thought a lens like the one I bought might do the trick? (Until I found it was incompatible!)</p>

<p>My only other Canon lens is the one that came with my old EOS300 - a 28-90mm. (I suppose I could sell that camera too, because I don't need it any more!)</p>

<p>I can return the lens if I want to - I've checked with the supplier. However, I've asked them to sit tight until I've made my mind up about what I want to do! They're fine with it.</p>

[William Michael]

<p>You could consider changing your mindset and your approach.<br />Arguably, both would serve you better than buying a longer lens.<br />I am not suggesting that this is initially easy for some folk to do - but - a 28 to 135 lens on a 10D, I would argue is plenty long enough for mostly all 'Street Photography'.<br />The Photography which you are describing is what we term here 'Sniping'. That is a genre of 'Street Photography' for sure - and I am NOT intending to open up a divergent wandering thread arguing the merits or not of (mid to longer) telephoto lenses for 'street work'.</p>

<p>What I am suggesting is – if you encourage yourself to work a bit closer, with the gear you already have, you will get more ‘engagement’ and many other benefits, also.</p>

<p>Both these are examples made with a 24 to 105 lens on a 5D – (that’s about the equivalent of a 15mm to 66mm zoom on your camera)<br />This little girl I found in a doorway playing with her dog whilst her Mum and Dad were window shopping:<br /><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/16546075-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="680" /><br /><strong>‘Little Girl in Venice’</strong></p>

<p>Even for a distant shot – (this at 70mm, which is about 44mm on your camera) a standard zoom allows the ‘whole’ story to be told:<br /><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/16552573-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="388" /><br /><strong>‘Stand- OVER THERE!’</strong></p>

<p>WW</p>

<p>Aside - sorry, my spelling mistake in previous - 'Sarah', not 'Sara'</p>

[sanath_perera]

<p>Some from this forum said it the best: "70-300 rocks and 75-300 sucks".<br>

70-300 is lot more expensive than 75-300 ($500 vs $160 for new ; $300 vs $80 for used at KEH.com) </p>

 

[sarah_fox]

<p>Sanath, there are multiple 75-300 lenses. The Mk III non-IS, currently produced, is one that could best be described as "sucking." The old 75-300 IS, while not the most brilliant lens in the world, is "OK" by most standards. I sold mine for about $350, as I recall, when I upgraded to the newer (but still used) 70-300 IS. I think I spent less than $100 for the upgrade, which was well worth it. And then there are the non-IS MkI and MkII versions, which I presume are probably not as good as the MkIII non-IS.</p>

<p>I have to agree with William's advice; however, it does take a very positive attitude to approach people and photograph them, especially nowadays when everyone is concerned about litigation, big brother, perverts, and who knows what other possibilities. There one thing for sure, though: Nobody likes to be sniped, so if you're discovered doing it, you'll probably be dealing with an angry person. In my experience, it's much more pleasant simply to be told "no."</p>

<p>WW -- no problem re the spelling mistake. It happens all the time. It seems the more common spelling these days is without the 'h' on the end.</p>

[William Michael]

<p>. . . the 'h' is nicer - it is like the 'e' in Anne - it makes a better balanced Proper Noun. I think it was an error of typing fast, rather than a spello. . .</p>

[jane_winfer]

<p>Oh! I didn't realise 'sniping' was such a contentious issue (or even that it was called sniping!). A couple of my friends do it all the time and have never been spotted. (I suppose if one published an image of someone taken under those circumstances, then that might lead to problems.) I once spent a whole day leaning out of a hotel window by the sea, photographing people walking along the promenade. Would that be classed as sniping? <:-? (I seem to be doing nothing but putting my foot in it in this thread!)</p>

[phule]

<p>There are no photography police. You are free to photograph in any manner you see fit, including from far away using telephoto lenses. While it is likely that people will react more negatively to that method than if you photographed them more closely with a "standard" focal length, those are sometimes the trade-offs. </p>

<p>[[i once spent a whole day leaning out of a hotel window by the sea, photographing people walking along the promenade. Would that be classed as sniping?]]</p>

<p>No, but I, personally, wouldn't call that street photography either. </p>

[sarah_fox]

<p>Jane, you have to put yourself in the shoes of others. If you saw some stranger pointing a long telephoto at you, how would you feel about it? On the exact opposite side of courtesy, if someone came up to you and asked if he or she could photograph you, because he or she thought you were photographically interesting, how would you feel? I think most street photogs are somewhere inbetween -- not asking permission, but not hiding or looking sneaky either. I usually shoot first and ask permission to use the photos after. Then once I have permission, I usually shoot more. And yes, I ALWAYS take "no" for an answer. ;-)</p>

[jane_winfer]

<p>I've decided to keep the lens I've just bought, and trade in my existing kit for a better Canon SLR - 20/30D or upwards. (I've got some other lenses which only fit the other kit, so they can all go in too.) Currently looking around and making enquiries! :-)</p>

[William Michael]

<p>That's a good choice; good luck.</p>

 

[angkordave]

<p>Cameras with tilting screens are useful for Street Photography if you want to Snipe!<br>

I'd buy a camera which has one and it does not have to be an SLR to do this. I'm sure a lot of street photographers use one of the G Series: G9 G10 G11 etc.<br>

Looking down at your LCD as opposed to holding it up to your eye is less noticeable and also you can shoot over the heads of crowds that way. </p>