jani_k

Hi all,

Just received a request to shoot indoor meeting of one organization. Problem is

that I mainly have been shooting macro and outdoor sports (dogs/horses).

Equipment will be 30D, 430ex with 24-105L lens. What settings do you think

would be ideal starting point? Manual/Av/Tv, Shutter speed, aperture, ISO?

I'm thinking of using Manual mode, ISO400 with flash.

Flash problems.. I don't know what kind of room meeting is held so I don't know

if flash can be bounced from walls/seiling. I do not have flash diffuser unless

I make one by myself;)

This is not paid job so pressure is not high but it would be nice to get good

results.

Jani

Hi Ron,

Are you sure you are using exposure compensation? I have 30D and I have noticed that (especially when shooting with Aeservo with 3/5fps) exposure changes from -1 to +1 stops. Really annoying sometimes..

Jani

Elaine,

Sorry, I would have posted example, but my usb memory stick broke and do not have empty cds to transfer photo from my other computer to this internet machine. And this pc do not have canon software installe;) computers....

Anyway, people and dogs on the beach look very dark and the river is ok. Even if I adjust exp.comp. (+1 stops or so). If I adjust it more of course the water get soooo overexposed.

Hi all flash experts,

I'm shooting dog show in a river (retrievers fetch birdlookalikestoys from

water). Light comes from behind where I am (beach). The whole beach is in

shadow and river is fully sunny. Dog owner is standing on a beach (in shadow)

and the dog is in water (sunny). Today I shot pictures without flash and I'm

not very satisfied (Tried different exp.compencations etc.).

Tomorror I get a new shot at this so what would you succest, fill in flash? On

camera or external unit (canon 430ex with flash 30d body), and what settings?

Today I used iso400, f6,3.

What output setting (output resolution) should I use when converting RAW files

to Jpeg?

I have used value 9600 because my printer can do that resolution. What is the

real meaning of that setting and does it affect jpeg file's picture quality?

This could be stupid one but thanks anyway, Jani

Tyler,

256mb is too little for your needs. So I suggest you get 1GB card if you shoot only jpeg and 2GB if you plan to shoot RAW. Sometimes I shoot RAW+jpeg and found out that 1GB is little bit too small if shooting sports for example.

I have been happy with Sandisk Ultra II memory cards they are fast enough for me (and I think for lots of users). There is also Sandisk Extreme that is little bit faster than Ultra II but I haven't used those. Card speeds slow down when size gets bigger but that is only problem if you shoot long bursts of images.

Some people like to use even bigger 4GB/8GB cards but I like to split my images to different cards if there is card failure.

I do not currently need to use mini drives or other portable harddrives but if you shoot a lot and are on the road long time then something like Epson's portable HD would be useful.

Hope this helps, Jani

Thanks DW for your answer and welcome to photo.net,

You haven't noticed any right side softness, focusing issues or anything other problems? You were first one to answer so I started to think that there are noone here in photo.net who use this combo.

What are you using this lens for?

Jani

Hi,

Have anyone used this combination, I have read that there has been some

focusing issues when Sigma 10-20 has been used with Canon 30D. This is

interesting lens because many don't want to spend huge amount (read Canon 10-

22) on a lens that is not ff compatible.

Any information will be usefull!

Jani

Hi Tim and wellcome to photo.net ,

Good choice for many beginners is to go with cheap kit lens (in your case 18-55). It costs almost nothing when purchased with new body. After you have practiced little then you know what you need/want. Good lenses cost pretty much so it is better to know what you need before you make the decision.

Check out recent post about lens selection (and other, there are many people who have faced same questions as you) http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00HSWo&tag=

Jani

Hi Kim,

To get more info on EOS flashes and techiques read http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash/ it is very good article!

Have fun, Jani

Thank you all very much.

I do not have very heavy tele just 300mm so weight is not that big thing.

David, Just checked that the store I buy my equipment have midi ball head only with QR plates so as Ian said maybe that QR plate is the right wawy to go.

Do you think I'm ok with ball head or do I need three way head? What are the main differences?

And what about 055CL vs 055Pro, Is that horizontal setting useful?

Jani

Just came back from hiking and it was nice to see so many good answers. Thank you all very much for your time and opinions!

In my question I forgot to mention that I have no problem using flash (430eX). Of course f4 is not fast enough without flash. I have used flash with macro shots and in outdoor sports with fill in flash). And have not used P mode or 'idiot' modes. I use M or Av (sometimes custom function 'flash sync speed in AV mode' enabled).

So Ben, There is nothing wrong with flash it actually gives some possibilities that is not available without it. That said, sometimes it can ruin the scene (try shooting romantic candle light dinner with flash..)

Thanks Dan for all that good info, Do you think 17-40L is not useful even if flash is used with it?

Looks like, good solution could be some fast prime (35/2.0). And 17-40L to use outdoors and inside with flash. (L primes are out because of their cost)

Henrik, I thought about 17-55 but the price is little high considering it is ef-s lens

Jani.

Hello, yes I know this kind of postings are very common but I ask this anyway;)

I have been shooting very little indoors because I usually shoot outdoor sports

and macro. But now I think I need to upgrade my wide end lens (kit lens 18-55)

because I need to shoot indoor parties and want to start

landscape/sightseeing/art shooting.

I have been thinking alot of 17-40L f4. But slowish f4 aperture is causing me

to rethink and rethink my purchase.

Other option is to go with couple primes but problems with primes are that I

think f2-2.8 is not fast enough for non flash shots in dim light, so you need

flash anyway. There is not wide enough prime available and L primes are just

too expensive.

Do you think I find 17-40L useful in indoor parties, many times in dim light?

Any comments will be useful.

Jani

I'm buying my first tripod, yes really, I have been shooting handheld and with

Manfrotto Monopod. So I'm little confused when searching right compination.

This is what I have in mind:

Classic Tripod 055CL (Lightweight Pro Tripod)

with Manfrotto Compact Ball Head or Midi Ball Head

I will be shooting sightseeings, art, landscapes.. and my equipment is Canon

30D with wide angle to tele lenses.

Because this is my first tripod any comments on tripod/head selection would be

useful.

Jani

Evelyn,

If you want to use fill in flash you need to use Av/Tv or manual mode. In P mode flash tries to illuminate your main subject with flash and use handholdable shutter speed, many times leaving backgroud dark.

As Geoff said the thing you can do is to read:

http://photonotes.org/articles/eos-flash

It is very good article and not that hard to read.

Have fun!

Jani

Pete,

Make sure you use AI Servo autofocusing for those fast moving objects.

If you are shooting only one plane flying and doing its tricks you can use all points to help you focus. If all points are selected in AI servo mode the center point is first used to focus and when subject moves it is focused correctly if it is covered by one of af points.

If there is many planes or other objects that might take focus away from your main subject select focus point to help you get right plane focused. If focus point is manually selected in AI servo mode the selected point is used all the time.

I use 30D but I think in 20D AI servo works like that too.

Have fun!

-Jani

Hi,

Does anyone know where I can download user manual (english) for MR-14ex macro

flash. I have only german manual in the box and would not want to translate it

to english word by word;)

I have searched and could not find it anywhere. so any help would be useful.

jani

Hi Sunny,

I own 70-300 IS USM and like it, IS is very good.

I like to hike light and usually I do not use real camera bag when hiking. I use Camelbak Mule which is small back bag but my 30D with 70-300IS (or 100mm macro) fits nicely and it is pretty fast to get out and take a shot. Of course there is no room for other lenses but I usually decide what to shoot before I go out (macro or wildlife).

I also shoot horse racing with 70-300 IS and have not been disappointed.

Jani

Thank you all, your answers are very helpful!

I should use flash and at least monopod to get steady shots with fast enough shutter speeds. And I should use smaller apertures f11-f16 to get workable DOF.

Thank you again and I'll be asking flash recommendations soon;)

Jani

Thanks Mark for quick answer.

So 1/125 is way too slow for 1:1 shots, what speedsdo you recommend? To get faster shutter speeds I think flash has to be used. Do I need to get macro flash or can I get any help from 430EX flash?

Hi!

I have been testing my new Canon 100mm USM macro lens and like to know what I'm

doing wrong (or is there something wrong with my equipment.)

Here is sample picture (cropped). Shot handheld, almost life size 1/125,

aperture 7.1, ISO400, I focused to eyes and used autofocus. I have tried manual

focus also but results are same.

Am I using too slow shutter or is autofocus just not working at all at life

size shots? I know that my hands are not that steady and I use IS lenses to

all my other works.

What do I need monopod, macro flash?

I have Canon 30D and have been shooting sports, horse racing and wildlife but

I'm new to the macro world so any help would be usefull.

Jani

Sudhir,

Press play button to see images in lcd then press Info button to select how you want to look images in lcd. Image without any info / image with short shooting info / image with histogram and other info.

Images are previewed in same mode as you last time checked your images from lcd. Hope I understood your question correctly and this helps.

Jani

Even if 50 f/1.4 is very good lens, I think 50mm will be too long when used with Rebel.

What about Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM? I have not tried it but have heard that it is good lens. That would be about 50mm in your 350 Rebel, before zooms 50mm was considered the best general purpose lens.

I have same problem as you do and have seriously thought that Sigma lens, so if anyone has used it or know something about that lens let us know.

Jani

Jennifer,

What 75-300 lens you have? 75-300 IS USM, 75-300 III, 75-300 III USM?

Do you shoot handheld or do you use tripod or other support? If you have non IS (image stabilizer) then you need to keep shutter speed very fast when you are shooting handheld.

If you could post sample picture with shooting details it would help us to see what is wrong.

Autofocus can cause difficulties if you are shooting in low light. But if autofocus does not work at all in good light conditions it looks like your lens is not working as it should and should be changed.

Jani