david_eppstein

90mm. I can go for long times with just a 50mm on my DSLR (so 80mm-equivalent). But I'd

occasionally be sad to miss some wide angle shots.

I'm still very happy with my D60, but auto focus in low light is one of its weakest points. The

newer models are much better for that.

<p align=center><img src="http://www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/pix/j4p05/PinkHair-

m.jpg"></p>

<p>Actually, the saturation on this one is pretty much untweaked, as you can probably tell

from the skin tone, but I think it fits anyway...</p>

For low-light sports photography you need speed first (to freeze the motion) and then

length. The 70-300 is f5.6 at max zoom, right? That doesn't sound fast enough to me even

if you're willing to accept the image quality you get with it wide open.

<p align=center><img src="http://www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/pix/boobash04/LeeUndead-

m.jpg"></p>

I haven't shot anything like this, but it's my understanding that the moon's surface exposure

is daylight level (after all, it's daylight on the bright part of the moon). So if you want any

detail at all of the moon itself, other than a big white circle, you need to expose for that and

use your flash to illuminate not just the b&g but any surrounding scenery that you want

visible.

<p align=center><img src="http://www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/pix/campsurf/HeadingOut3-

m.jpg"></p>

<p align=center><img src="http://www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/pix/j4p05/Tattoo-

m.jpg"></p>

Definitely noise not complexion. It's in her hair, not just on her skin. But without knowing

what sort of noise reduction has been applied it's hard to tell whether it's something to be

concerned about.

I think the EXIF data is somewhere in the CRW but it's easier to extract from the THM, and

having the thumb around makes Canon's software run a little faster. The THM is just a very

low resolution JPEG file. It's small, so there's no harm keeping it.

I love my D60 and am not convinced that more recent Canon DSLRs (20D or rebel) are

sufficiently better to make upgrading worthwhile for me. I guess that's a different question

than whether you should buy one now, but, yes, it's a great camera.

I'd take the 16-35 as it covers a more useful range of lengths in complement with the

70-200. The 24 would give you better low light capabilities but DSLR sensors are good

enough these days that you don't have to worry about that so often. If you're using film I

suppose that would be more of an issue.

On the other hand, I traveled to Pisa recently with only a 50/1.4 and 28/2.8, leaving my

70-200 at home, and was very happy with the results. Would have been almost as happy if

I'd only brought the 50 since that's what I used for almost all of my keepers.

Wouldn't you be happier just putting an unobtrusive lens (like a 50) on your D70?

I just came back from a trip to Italy where I brought only a DSLR, 50, and 28. Was quite

happy with the results.

I think the noiselessness of the images has a lot more to do with sensor size than sensor

type. The smaller digicams are not set up optically to take such a large sensor as the ones in

the DSLRs.

In-camera format in my D60. But I have no real reason for thinking that it's better than erase

all.

I like nos 1, 2, and especially 5. They remind me a lot of the vampire sequence towards the

end of <i>A Short Film About John Bolton</i>.

If you ever shoot handheld in conditions other than bright sunlight, get the IS. It will let you

shoot in conditions two or maybe three stops darker than you otherwise could. Not hype.

<p align=center><img src="http://www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/pix/ditr/huskies/Sunset3-

m.jpg"><br><i>Evening Softball</i></p>

<p align=center><img src="http://www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/pix/josh5/Timothy3-

m.jpg"></p>

I haven't had any trouble walking into Angel Stadium with a Canon D60, 70-200/2.8, and

1.4x extender. I also haven't had seats anywhere near close enough to get decent action

shots with that gear. Unless you know you have excellent seats, I'd go with a wider faster

prime and look for people shots of audience, vendors, etc with the stadium as backdrop.

Another one from last week. Deeply cropped, through a glass window.

<p align=center><img src="http://www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/pix/sdz4/PygmyChimp-

m.jpg"></p>

Canon D60, 70-200/2.8 with 1.4x TC

<p align=center><img src="http://www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/pix/sdz4/Zebra-

m.jpg"></p>