chris_shawn

Jonathan, thank you very much for your long response. I really appreciate it. I will practice and try out things.

Hello, I just bought a light meter (Minolta Auto Meter VF) to use it

with flash. I read the instruction manual but it was lacking

information on where to place the meter exactly. I have no experience

with meters, can somebody please answer my simple questions:

 

- Where do I meter? Nose? Cheek? Forehead? Or is it all the same (as

long as the part of the face will be part of my photograph)?

- How close do I have to be at the subject with my meter?

Almost "touching" the face with the meter I suppose.

- How many different parts (face, hands, etc.) should I meter? Should

I meter several parts and calculate a mixed exposure then?

- I point the meter in the direction of the camera always, right?

 

Thanks a lot for answering my beginner's questions.

 

Thanks!

I am trying to buy that lens for more than 2 months already. Canon is unable to produce enough of these lenses. Yesterday I got the response that 6 lenses were just produced in Japan and shipped to Germany. But obviously other people had ordered them prior to me. Somehow I don't like the fact that I have to order something and then wait several months (they cannot even give an estimate how long I'd have to wait) until I receive it.

 

I know this was a little off-topic, but I am still disappointed about Canon's production delay...

Hello, I am trying to buy the Canon lens EF 35mm 1:1.4L USM for 2

months already but cannot find any store that can deliver. There were

some rumours about new lenses. But noone can really give me much

information (not even Canon). Does anybody know a place that is able

to deliver that lens?

 

Thanks a lot!

If I am a company that wants to sell a 1.200$ lens, I should be able to tell the customer if he can get it in 2, 3 or 6 weeks or not at all. If Canon is unable to do that it makes me feel like living in a communist country. Sorry.

I am not complaining that shops are out of stock. But Canon should tell the shops a date when they will get a delivery. E.g. they could say, in 6 weeks we can deliver the lens. But Canon only says "we don't know and will deliver as soon as possible". But that can mean 3 months, maybe more, maybe less. And I am not willing to wait when I don't even know how long I should wait.

I was just about to pose the same question! I tried 7 shops in Germany, 2 in the UK and 3 in the US. None of them had the lens and none of them could tell me a delivery date!

 

I then contacted Canon directly to ask them about the subject. And their response was extremely lousy. They just said "We produce as fast as possible and then deliver to the shops in the order of their requests.".

 

I haven't heard about new product announcements but I am very keen on hearing them.

Hello,

 

do you know if the aftermarket offers "focus screens" for Canon EOS

10D? I would like to have a focus screen that makes manual focussing

easier. Maybe also a larger "viewfinder". I hope I use the correct

english terms for what I am trying to ask. I mean, the little window

I look through when taking photos is just so lousy small sometimes on

the EOS 10D, I wish I could make it larger or have something that

helps making it sharper.

 

It is not a big deal. Just in case you know extra equipment that is

available I would love to know.

 

Thanks a lot!

Thanks a lot for your professional comments and hints. I am going to save for the 1.4L :-)

Hello, I want to get a Canon EF35 lense for my EOS 10D. The L-lens

costs 1000 EUR more than the regular lens. Now I wonder if the L-lens

is that much better?

 

I know the USM probably is nicer and everything but is there much of

a difference in image quality?

And one more question: Are the pictures from those photographers rather real or is there a lot (I mean really a lot) of retouching in the pictures? How much can be achieved through setting the light correctly and how much is photoshop work in the end?

Hello, I love photos from http://www.stevecarty.com or

http://www.mullerphoto.com. I want to improve my skills in setting

light and take photos like they do.

 

Now my question: Do you know books that describe exactly how to set

lights like this? Is there complicated light construction behind

those photos? Or is it rather easy to achieve?

 

When taking photos outside, will a large Sunbounce Reflector be

enough? Or do such photographers work with large softboxes or

anything when taking photos outside?

 

Thanks for any advice.

Hello,

 

I am interested in a book that explains how to hit a pose when you

want to become a photo model. I am sure there are certain things

(legs slightly apart, a lot of tension, expressing breast and behind,

mouth slightly open, etc.). My descriptions are pretty bad but maybe

it gives you an idea what I am seeking.

 

I am not looking for a book that explains how to pose a family for a

classic portrait. I am searching a book that explains a newcomer how

to pose, etc.

 

Does anyone know a book? My bookstore doesn't have any and at

amazon.com I cannot preview the books.

 

Thanks a lot

Simon

Hello, similar topic to what was already in the forum.

<br><br>

I want to buy new lenses. I currently own the Canon 50, 1.8 and the

85, 1.8. With both lenses I am very satisfied. I photograph with the

Canon EOS 10D, mostly outdoors, travel and people (street)

photography, some portraits.

<br><br>

I want to get rid of my Tokina Wideangel 19-27 and Soligor Zoom 80 -

210. Both lenses don't have the quality I want. So I want to replace

them with better lenses.

<br><br>

My question: Should I totally get rid of zoom lenses? Are lenses with

fix length always better?

<br><br>

What should I buy as an wideangel?

Canon 14mm? Or Canon 15mm Fisheye (is that really a Fisheye with

round image and cut off edges?)?

<br><br>

And Canon 200mm? Or a zoom lens? What has the best quality?

<br><br>

Thanks a lot!

You can download a free plugin for photoshop here that helps you do such an effect:

 

http://www.autofx.com/freeplugins/dreamyphoto.asp?id=7

I will buy hoods for my lenses and am really looking forward to it. Thanks for your help!

Recently when watching TV I realised that professional photographers

often have a lens hood at the front of their lens. I don't own a lens

hood yet, so I would like to know:

 

- Is a lens hood good in general or only when you have sunlight/light

from a side angel (that you want to avoid)?

- Is it a "secret trick" of pro photographers to have the lens hood

attached always or is that just a stupid idea of mine?

- Are there any benefits/disadvantages of a lens hood?

 

Thanks!

Thanks, very good answers. Thank you!

 

P.S. No, I didn't say that my pictures on film were better. I was just satisfied with that 800 film. Anyways, using digital instead of film taught me how important a good lens is. But that is another issue...

Ok, thanks.

 

I was asking because when I used to shoot with film my favourite film was the Kodak 800. It had nice colours and a grain that wasn't to bad. It let me take great pictures even in bad light situations.

 

Now, next question: In what situation do you use settings < 100 (e.g. 50)?

Hello,

 

I use the EOS 10D and wonder if you guys ever change the ISO

settings? I always left it on ISO 100 so far after I discovered that

when I set it to 800 for example it only lead to "dirty" images.

 

Any recommendations? Just leave it at 100 always? Or are there

advantages I could profit from with changing this setting?

 

Thanks.

Ok, many thanks for those professional answers. I must have been mistaken then. I was just very unlucky and thought the wrong setting of the dioptres wheel was the fault.

This was a very stupid answer. Of course I had my lens on MF but I focussed absolutely correct and the pictures didn't come out fine nethertheless. I then found out that I accidently had changed the dioptres correction wheel. That meant that when it looked focussed for me while looking through the camera it was fine but in the result it didn't.

 

So can this dioptres correction wheel be completely turned off? I don't need it...

Hello,

 

I own the Canon EOS 10D which allows dioptres correction. The wheel

that lets you adjust the correction sits very bad though and it

happened to me recently that I turned it on accident and my pictures

where unsharp therefore.

 

Now my question: Is it possible to turn the dioptres correction

function completely off?

Ok, reading all your opinions I decided not to use the ringflash. I am not too sure if the look is too fashionate but maybe you are right. The further I am away with the ring flash (let's say 40 ft) the less the effect will show through I thought. But it is too much of a hassle with the extra equipment. And especially the weight of the equipment (the generator) is really bad.

 

Therefore I will work with sun swatter/scrim and reflector. The softbox was a good idea and probably is the instrument that helps to be on the safe side but I also need a power generator then (as I am outdoors).

 

Thanks for your help.

Thanks Eric! I will think about your softbox advice.