ldavidson

<p><strong></strong>I have one day left on Kauia, Hawaii. This afternoon at the incredibly beautiful botanical gardens my auto focus and shutter stopped working. There is a number 8 in the view finder when I press the shutter buttom but the shutter does not move. When I switch to manual focus the shutter works, but I have difficulty focusing as I am a senior. My lens is a EF 24-70mm 1:2.8 L. <br>

If anyone has advice I would be so grateful. I was looking forward to one more day of shooting.<br>

Thanks!<br>

Linda</p>

<p>The person who called you SICKO probably thought that you were violating the privacy rights of others. Apparently you believe your desire to photograph a person (woman) overrides her right to privacy. Unless it is a public person, a celebrity, or someone doing something newsworthy, you should always ask permission. You may not be legally required to do so, but it is the most ethical approach in my mind.</p>

<p>Regarding the angry woman photo; ”Martin says, “I happened upon a young lady in the street who was behaving very strangely. So I took her picture. She was very upset about it so I took another...the latter was the better shot.” Martin, she didn’t want you taking her picture! If it were a large muscular man would you continue to shoot? Richard says, “Women are biologically and evolutionarily pre-wired to require permission, much more than men are”. Andre says, “first woman just jealous no one pointing camera her way.” Are you kidding me? Is this sex or photography we are talking about. Either way I find your comments creepy.</p>

<p>I want to capture beauty, joy, and happiness in my photos. I like to see the same thing other's work. I want to be enchanted, taken to a magical place. I don't want to ignore all the misery in the world but looking at beauty makes me feel hopeful. I can believe that there is still goodness and magic in the world worth capturing, celebrating, and sharing. This is why, I think, people love sunsets, simply because they are beautiful and stir the soul. You can be drawn in and held up by that beauty. All the hatred, the poverty, the violence, bigotry, pollution etc. in the world is forgotten and you sigh "Awwwh" and for that moment you are transformed and enchanted. It is a healing meditation. I get that feeling when I see a sparkling raindrop on a flower petal, a wild animal grazing in the wild, or a sensational sunset. It doesn't always have to be traditional; it can be dark and mysterious, or it can be ordinary every day stuff. I can see magic in a polished fender at a car show or ever at a salad bar; beauty is everywhere. Some people only see it in a limited way, in specific areas, because their eyes and minds haven't fully opened yet. Like children who have only tasted vanilla ice cream and don't want to try the other flavors because they know that vanilla is good.</p>

<p><strong>Thank you all for your helpful information! </strong><br>

I appreciate you taking the time to do this. I haven't had time to follow your suggestions yet. Hopefully this weekend I will. You’re the best!</p>

<p>Ken, I didn't know about the Custom Function 1. I will try that. Also thanks for the tip about AV. I knew that I couldn't use full auto, creative auto, or bulb. I have the book by Charlotte K. Lowrie which has been very helpful, but she has missed a few things. I appreciate your advice. Thanks so much. </p>

<p>I hope that someone here can help me. I am trying to experiment with HDR. I am supposed to be able to get three exposures when I use the 7D's Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB). I go to the Exposure Compensation/AEB setting screen and set it in while in P, TV, or AV mode. I then shoot in either Low or High Speed Continuous. I have followed the instructions carefully but I must be missing something because I never get three exposures. Does anyone know what I am missing? I would appreciate any advice.<br>

Thank you.<br>

Linda</p>

<p>I bought the book "Canon EOS 7D" Digital Feild Guide by Charlotte K. Lowrie and published by Wiley Publishing, $20. USD. It is excellent. I would never have figured out how to use many of the 7D's features on my own. Sure, you can keep it on auto, and you will get good shots, but you can get good shots with a point and shoot. Since you paid for all that leading edge technology, why not learn to use it to your advantage. You can do so much with this camera, it is amazing. The videos are also very good, but you can't take them with you.</p>

<p>I bought the book "Canon EOS 7D" Digital Feild Guide by Charlotte K. Lowrie and published by Wiley Publishing, $20. USD. It is excellent. I would never have figured out how to use many of the 7D's features on my own. Sure, you can keep it on auto, and you will get good shots, but you can get good shots with a point and shoot. Since you paid for all that leading edge technology, why not learn to use it to your advantage. You can do so much with this camera, it is amazing. The videos are also very good, but you can't take them with you.</p>

<p>I also have the 7D and the 24-70 L 2.8 lens. This is my first prime lens, and I love it. It is versitile and sharp. I am very happy with it.</p>

<p>Thank you all so much for your advice. I appreciate it.</p>

<p>Jamie, the 300 mm f4L IS with the 1.4X extender is one of the suggestions my friend gave me. I am so glad to hear that this works well for you. This is something I am going to consider. Thanks!</p>

<p>Brett, thank you. You have a good point. Maybe they had bad or older models. I will have to ask.</p>

<p>Bob, thanks. Good advice.</p>

<p>Buffdr, unfortunately I live out in the boonies. I would have to travel for hours on treacherous mountain highways to reach a city and I am a senior. I don’t make long trips like that on my own anymore. I do go with my husband or son sometimes, but then returning it would be a problem. But, it’s a good idea. I should check into it see if I could mail it. Nice, crisp, clean shots. Thanks for including them.</p>

<p>Norman, it is interesting that you had the same complaints as my friends. I have to assume they had the older version too. One of my friends also mentioned the awaited 100-400 or the 200 -400mm L – I will have to do some more research. Thanks for commenting.</p>

<p>Robin, thanks. I am going to look at the 70- 300 mm L IS. I suspect the new 200-400 will be out of my league.</p>

<p>Keith, I am definitely going to check out your thread. I have heard conflicting comments about the 100-400 being used for birding. Thanks.</p>

<p>Eric, thanks, I am going to look at that lens.</p>

<p>David, thanks.</p>

<p>Mark, thank you. I am going to look.</p>

<p>John, I only have one lens now. It is the Canon 24 – 70 L 2.8. It has been amazing. I got rid of my old cheap lenses after using this one. I thought the 100-400 would be the best choice for a second lens.</p>

<p>Mendel, thanks. That is what I have been told. I am going to read this review.</p>

<p>J. Harrington, I will read this too. Thanks so much.<br />Best wishes,<br />Linda</p>

<p>I have planning to buy a Zoom Telephoto lens for my 7D for some time. After doing research on line I decided to buy the Canon 100-400 f/4.5 - 5.6 L IS. I was at my photo club meeting last night talking to some friends about this. Two photographers, who are much more accomplished and knowledgeable than I, said they had bought this lens and sold it because it did not focus clearly at maximum focal length. One said that the person he had sold it to was now trying to sell it.</p>

<p>Once again I come here for advice. Does anyone here own this lens? Have you been happy or disappointed? Is there an alternative lens in the $2000. range that you would recommend over this one?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice.<br />Linda</p>

Her images remind me a bit of Diane Arbus' work. Thanks for the link Wayne. Sorry Luis, I should have checked. I was up past my bed time.

You may have heard of this in art news, if not; this is an incredible story about the recently discovered work of an

unknown photographer, Vivian Maier. She was a street photographer in the 1950s – 1990s. I was absolutely blown

away be this, I think you will be too.

 

This is what street photography is all about.

 

 

 

Howard, I have so much to learn. I don't know what you mean by 3rd party inks. Do you mean that you purchase the inks from another manufacter, then fill the cartriges yourself? I will have to check into a ColorMunki.

 

Thanks for your input. I appreciate it.

 

Happy Holidays.

Daniel, I don't know much about the new photo papers. I have been painting watercolours all my life and I do know there is a big difference in the way different watercolour papers hold, distribute the paint, and keep the same vivid colours for hundreds of years. This is why I always use the best "rag" paper when painting. I don't want to sell someone a piece of art that will yellow and disintegrate in a few years or decades. The cheap wood fiber papers buckle, shrink in a decade or less. Some do this right away. So, I assume this is the same with photo papers. I have seen photo papers at the art supplies store that are "archival". I don't know how they are made and how long they last and I have never used them. I had a poster sized print made on watercolour rag paper at a lab and it turned out beautifully.

 

I am wary of using Walmart or Costco for prints that I am going to sell or give away as a gift. They are fine for family pictures that I don't expect to last, but if it something that is going to be professionally framed, or sold, I want it to last. People cherish portraits and want to keep them for generations. The cost of framing is astronomical. I wouldn’t want to spend money framing a print that will yellow and fade. What I have gleaned from looking around on the net is that there are different qualities of inks. Inexpensive inks don’t hold their colour very long. The expensive inks will last for a long time.

 

I guess I should ask this forum about the longevity of the inks used by Epson and Canon printers. I think this may be as important as the paper and dpi. But, I don't know.

 

Thanks so much for your thoughts. I appreciate it.

 

Happy Holidays!

And I thought the price of gas was expensive! I wonder how much those ink cartridge manufacturers net per litre (or gallon for my American friends)? You have to admire those marketing geniuses who are always figuring out new ways to give you less and charge you more. Like whoever thought of chocolate bars for the overweight; half the calories, half the size, and twice the price.

 

Some of the new papers make me drool, I would love to experiment. Sadly, photography has never been an inexpensive hobby. Back in the day, when I was a student learning to develop film and print in the darkroom we were shocked at the price of photo paper and chemicals. Now it’s ink. Sigh.

 

Thanks for all the advice and tips. There are several points made that would not have occurred to me. You have given me a lot to think about. I appreciate it your help.

 

It is interesting that no one mentioned laser printers.

 

Happy Holidays!

 

Linda

I am thinking about buying a large format printer. I have just started researching printers online and there is an

almost overwhelming amount of information to digest. I think that it may be less costly in the end to be able to do my

own quality prints on archival paper than sending them to a lab, especially when I am not always happy with the results. I wonder if I would have more control over the colour if I did my own prints. The cost of some of the high-end printers is quite high. I don't know if it is worth the investment, especially when the cost of ink is another consideration.

 

 

The Epson Stylus Pro 3800 has grabbed my attention. At $1,300. it is affordable. The company claims that their

Ultrachrome K3 ink is state-of-the-art. I am just wondering if anyone has experience with this, or some other similar

printer that works well?

 

 

I have been using a HP DeskJet 832c printer for many years. I believe I bought it in 1998. This has been the

ultimate workhorse. I use it all the time and it has never broken down, or given me any problems. While my family

and friends printers come and go this one just keeps chugging along. It has to be one of the most reliable printers

ever designed. The photography prints look good to people who aren't too picky but they aren't proffessional, and

the size is limited.

 

 

If anyone has thoughts, information or experience they would like to share I would be very grateful. I always get

great advice here at PN and I appreciate it.

 

Thank you.

 

Linda

<p>If you type your critiques into Notebook then copy and past them into the critque box it will get rid of any unwanted code. This is what I do now and no longer have problems.</p>

<p>Update: I installed Windows 7 and the problems dissappeared. The 7D software now works perfectly.</p>

<p>JDM, yes the software is good. I don't use it for editing either, but it is quick, easy to use, easy to organize your files, rename etc.</p>

<p>If anyone wonders why I love PN, the answer is right here. Thank you all so much for your advice, I appreciate it.<br>

<br />Peter Y, Puppy Face, Giampi, Manuel, JDM, I haven't tried to download directly from the memory card, I don't have the reader on my CPU. What I did try was changing cables. I used the cable from my little XTi and it worked! So that is part of the problem solved. Thank you, I would never have thought of that. I wanted to try the direct download,Carl. I looked for the "CF" slot and it isn't there, or I couldn't find it.<br>

<br />Jim, Tom, I you have a good points. I may need to get Windows 7. I will have to update Office as well if I do that, but may just have to bite the bullet.<br>

<br />Patricio, I haven't tried using the XTi's software, that is another idea I will keep on the back burner for now. I didn't report it to Canon because I always get excellent advice here and I didn't have to wait on hold for hours. I called the store where I bought the camera, they said they would replace it if I want. I of course don't want to do that until I try out all the options. So often it is just lack of knowledge, or just overlooking some small thing that causes my problems.<br>

Thank you all again for your help.<br />Best wishes,<br />Linda</p>

<p> </p>

<p>If anyone else has had this problem, or knows what I am doing wrong I would appreciate your advice.<br>

After a lot of research and advice from this forum I finally bought the EOS 7D. I was looking forward to a weekend of happy shooting. After installing the software I downloaded the first few shots, no problems. The next few shots that I tried to download were unsucessful. The software wasn't reading the camera's memory card. The software wasn't working at all. The DDP says that it doesn't work if the display isn't set at 1024 x 768 although I had and still have it set at the highest dpi. EOS utility doesn't do anything other than allow me to chose a folder. Zoom Browser opens and lets me view photos taken prior to the new 7D's shots. The first few I took have disappeared. I keep thinking it is just some little thing that I have overlooked. I have re-installed, de-installed. I re-installed Windows. I have a 2quad CPU with 2.40 GHz a 3 GBs of RAM and use Windows XP Home Edition, 2002 Version. <br>

Thank you,<br>

Linda</p>

<p>The new system doesn't like anything that has been cut and pasted from other places, even from PN. Something must have accidentlally been pasted in there, perhaps the name. Go back to the original page and open a new critique/comment window. If you type into a fresh critique/comments window, or if you cut and paste into Notebook first then cut and paste back into critique window you won't have problems. Notebook removes any coding that might be in there. </p>

<p>Bob, once again thank you! That was the problem. When I have a number of people I want to thank I cut and paste the names and comments so I don't forget anyone or what they said.<br>

Thank you to everyone, I appreciate your help.</p>

 

<p>Bob, thank you! I don't deny being an idiot at times.</p>