wayne_seanard

In the mean time while your reading the book hit auto contrast in photoshop. It will do wonders for your flat colors.

Stevan, how can you make a statement like that when PCs control more than 80% of the consumer market place. Why do you think Bill Gates has so much money? That statement is ignorant bliss. As for the question at hand according to Adobe, PCs outperform Macs. See for yourself. You can look here or on Adobes Website.

http://www.winnetmag.com/Article/ArticleID/38445/38445.html

Hi, I shoot the S2 Pro and although I use it mostly for indoor work with high end Nikon lenses I have a Nikon 70-300 G lens that I bought for $110 new and it does just fine. I know its a quality name but it has to be a cheaper lense at that price. I use this lens in the same situations that your talking about, outside with good light, and I've always gotten good results. I've had problems with quality in low light situations with this camera but I think its just a matter of getting to know the camera. They take beautiful photos.

White Lightnings. X800s for normal portrait and if you want more then X1600s. Great lights at good prices.

http://www.white-lightning.com/

Oh I forgot also when your shooting hooked to the computer use the 110 power converter and take all batteries out of the camera. If you don't have the power pack Radio Shack sells one for $22 that works great.

I have shot using both the camera to control the shot and using the computer to control the shot and have no problems either way. If your using the computer to control the camera mak sure you click on the apply button each time you change the exposure settings or the old settings are used evan though it looks like you changed them.

these websites have some smples nudes shots with the lighting setup that was used

http://www.pjephoto.co.uk/Lighting/lighting.htm

http://www.lightingmagic.com/sgalboud.htm

I bought 2 of the 2.2gb Magicstors for my S2 Pro. I got them the day before a big shoot where I was renting a second S2. They messed up bad. Would initialize at first and then when the camera went to sleep and you wanted to shoot again they would'nt initialize. Two cameras and two cards.

 

I would say stay away.

 

Wayne

The Alien Bees are a great choice. White Styrephome works for reflectors if were're going low budget. Try to swing the 800s and what ever you get can be used for backdrop lights when you move up in the world.

I forgot, You don't need a wireless system unless your shooting where other flashes are going off. If you controll the light as in portraits you have one light on a sync cord and the other set on slave.

I'm sorry but I could'nt resist the last comment. Seriously though, you shoot digital so theres no reason for a flash meter. A good flash meter costs more than a cheap laptop and if you don't already have one you need one for digital. You can see your results immediatley. No guessing. As far as lights a pair of

White Lightning Monolights for group photos are what you need. I have X1600s and they're great. About $600 each with stand and umbrella. You only need 2 lights for large groups. If you want to go cheaper then Alien Bee's. whitelightning.com and alienbees.com. Check around the web and you'll see that they are the best.

Wow I'm impressed, you people should consider writing novels.

I've had nothing but crap luck with custom white balance. Use it if you want but try auto also and figure it out later. God bless PhotoShop CS. Thats why we shoot digital.

Congrats,

Theres nothing quite like the feeling of starting into your first business. Its like getting your first girl, well almost, no not evan. Ok well it is great. My only comment is it does'nt get any better than White Lightnings. Best of luck and get a good bookeeper but don't let anybody but you sign the checks.

I just purchased White Lightnings made by the same people that make the BEEs. I've heard nothing but good about the BEEs and since they come from the same people that make WLs they have to be good. I know nothing about the other lights but I know you will be happy with the BEEs. And if you can go another hundred bucks a light get White Lightnings and you'll be in heaven.

Hey Hal, Sorry to jump back in but had to answer on that last comment. After 30 years in construction I'd rather be talking to your face so if I did'nt like what you said I could let you know in a more personal manner.

A 1gb microdrive in the Finepix S2 Pro will hold 80 photos in RAW CCD mode. As far as Firewire I have to have it on my laptop because thats all my S2 will use for the camera shooting software. If you have to have it you can get a card for PCs or laptops for around $30.00 on the web and $50 in computer stores. It depends on your conection needs. Ones as good as the other as far as functionality. I have a Lexar 6 in 1 card reader and it works fine for downloading and erasing cards. It connects via USB 2.0.

Hal, Point made, thankyou.

I agree, Alien Bees or if you want to pay a little more and get a little more, White Lightnings by the same company. They have aluminum bodies instead of plastic and more range and adjustment.

About a hundred bucks more per light. I've heard nothing but good about the bees though.

Ahhhhh, White Lightnigs. If your budget can afford it go with strobes. And if it can't, go with strobes. The White Lightnings are wonderful lights and you'll be able to do great things with them. The X800s are about $500 a light with stand and umbrella. If you can't swing this look at Alien Bees.

Speak for yourself "Oh Mighty One"(Hal). I'm more than happy to answer any question I know the answer to. Evan the ones I feel were'nt given a lot of thought before being asked. If your to busy why do you bother at all? You could have given a nice answer in the time it took you to write the negativity. Here let me show you how, its easy.

Jay, Chimara has a web site at chimeralighting.com. You should find some useful info there.

Now that was'nt hard, was it.

I guess on such a fine camera its hard to find things to complain about.

The Radio Shack Digital Camera Ac Adapter does work fine for the S2. I paid $21.95 for mine.

I have the Fugi S2 and I'm very happy with it especially in controled lighting situations like portrait shots and outside shooting. It uses the Nikon lens so your ok there and I feel that for portraits it shoots up with the higher dollar cameras. I have the Nikon 24-85 F/2.8 that goes macro and like to shoot butterflys at Portlan Zoo and I get excellant photos. For portraits I use the Hyper Utility software and connect to my laptop shooting in Raw CCD and the results are amazing. Its just an all round great camera for the money. In all fairness I have read alot of good about the Nikon D-100 and I'm sure its a good camera to. As far as digital versus film I'll only say that the digital camera will make you a better photographer because you'll be able to shoot alot more photos and see the results immediately so if your not happy you can try something differant and figure out what works.

I have only microdrives and had very good luck with them. I use them in the Fugi S2s and I have five Ibm 1gb drives and a couple of Dane 1gb flashcards. All of them work well. I bought 2 of the Magicstor 2.2gb microdrives and my cameras did'nt like them. They would initialize part of the time and then when the camera went to sleep and you woke it up they would'nt. I've read on the web that the Nikon D-100 had the same problems so I would stay away from them. I think in my opinion for the slight difference in cost I would go with the flashcards like Lexar if I had to start over.