kira_greene

July 24, 2013

Thank you! I am so very excited about the Yashica Mat 124G - I can't wait to shoot with it! :) I shot a test roll to make sure it was working (it was an ebay steal) and I am so smitten with medium format! :) :) I will definitely try to get some uploaded when I get back - as long as my film doesn't get damaged from TSA's scary x-ray machines.

July 24, 2013

Hello All,

Thank you for your thoughts and advice. I will not be taking the advice of throwing out my lenses, zoom or otherwise.

I definitely won't be checking my camera stuff - or anything at all, actually. :) Well, maybe a super cheap tripod, but if it gets lost/broken/stolen it will be more of a relief to be rid of it, so yeah, I might check that. Last time I checked a bag, it was lost, came back broken and had stuff stolen out of it.

I think I have settled on the 50mm, 11-16mm (which I don't really count this as a "zoom" lens, I mean there's not a whole lot of zooming possible on that range!), and the 18-135mm.

Christopher, I *am* bringing a TLR! I just got a Yashica Mat 124G and a boat load of 120 film for it - of course, I am worried that TSA will force me to x-ray my film. I plan on asking for a hand check for my film (and I don't go through the scanners myself) but have read horror stories about others' experiences with TSA and camera film hand checks. Naturally, my film is all lower ISO so I am really hoping to get a helpful TSA agent...hey! A helpful TSA agent, why looky there - a pig just flew past!

Does anyone have tips for flying with 120 film?

I was thinking only 2 lenses because the TLR makes the camera bag a little heavy. I can't put all of my gear in my carry on backpack as it would exceed the weight limit, so I planned for all heavy items in my personal item...it all fits, but man is it HEAVY! :) Guess I will have to get a little creative with packing my backpack and personal item.

Mary, thank you - I am looking forward to the trip and I appreciate all of your comments.

I'm not sure what I will shoot a lot of...I very much like landscapes, architecture, and portraits. I thought I might try some street photography with the TLR and the character of the German streets. It will be an adventure, that is for sure!

Thank you, I really do appreciate all of the advice. :)

July 10, 2013

LOL! Kyle...I will admit, I am seriously considering it! Your encouragement just helped me move a little closer to just bringing the 11-16mm and the 50mm! I mean, this trip is going to be a new "adventure" for me...so I should be a little daring - yes? :)

July 10, 2013

Thank you for all the great opinions!

Y'all highlighted a few of the struggles I am having...originally I was planning on the 11-16mm and the 50mm and the 18-135mm. But, when I packed everything up, plus my film camera (Yashica Mat 124G), it got to be too heavy. Plus, I don't want to be changing lenses all the time. The 50mm is on my camera 90% of the time, and I really want the 11-16mm for the Alp landscapes and outer architecture of the cathedrals, plus it is fast enough to get decent interior shots...but I keep wondering, will I really regret leaving the 18-135mm?

What I am thinking now is, omit the extra pair of pants and pack the lighter lens in my actual carry on bag, the one with the weight restrictions! :)

July 8, 2013

If you were going to southern Germany for two weeks, renting a car, and were mainly interested in the Alps, the Black Forest, cathedrals, monasteries, castles, and quaint towns AND you were trying to pack lightly AND can't buy anything new (lens wise) which of these would you take?

50mm 1.4

75-300mm 4.5-5.6

11-16mm 2.8

18-135mm 3.5-5.6

I am thinking two lenses is all I want to keep track of while traveling.

Thank you in advance!

August 4, 2010

James, your beautiful photo (and taken out the car window no less!) is compelling, and if I can find a like new A650, I'll go for it...however, I'm looking for something new. :)

All, thank you again! :)

August 4, 2010

Oh my! Thank you!

I have looked at several websites that review cameras (like dpreview), and the manufacturer's sites for each camera mentioned here, and I am torn between the Fuji HS10 and the Fuji F300EXR.

I like how slim the F300EXR is, and the description of the color modes (sepia, black and white, normal, etc.) sound divine, they are compared to fugi film - but I'm thinking the Fuji HS10 has more of the quality I'm looking for. Several of you mentioned that I'd have to compromise, and I kind of think this is the best compromise...but the F300EXR still looks good too!

August 3, 2010

Bill - thank you - I am looking into the Fuji F300EXR you mentioned. For the size, I'm not that picky, I just want something relatively compact - meaning superzooms are probably not out of my interest range.

Leslie - thank you - I'm looking for something with excellent image quality, and the ability to be used in a wide variety of shooting situations. My current DSLR doesn't have video...so getting the lens you suggest wouldn't work, video is a must have.

I understand that each element won't be the best of the best, but the more specific I was, I thought would help point me to a camera the is the best of this kind.

:) Thanks!

August 3, 2010

I have never been let down by the advice I have received from these forums...so here is (yet another) question:

What's a good point and shoot? I don't care about brand (although I shoot Nikon) and my budget is $600 plus tax.

Ok, I want:

1. the ability to set my own shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance, etc., just like my DLSR

1a. I want pre-progammed modes too (macro, for example) so I don't always have to set the settings

2. a really good auto focus system

3. the ability to get wide angle and still have a good zoom

4. I want video...I really do!

5. good glass - I only get one lens on this baby, I want it to be fabulous

6. high ISO capabilities that look better than my cell phone photos. if it says ISO 6400, then I want it to be not very noisy (I know this is a stretch, but surely there is a point and shoot that at higher than ISO 200 doesn't give me the noise I can get on my cell phone camera!)

7. I want to be able to get big prints (so is that lots of megapixels?)

8. built in flash

9. the ability to shoot vivid color AND black and white (and sepia!)

10. it needs to fit in a small bag, but not a pocket

What doesn't matter:

1. what kind of battery/memory cards it takes (but it must need a memory card - I take far too many photos to rely only on the built in memory)

2. if it has "smile mode"

3. selective color selection...(I don't want that option, actually)

4. if the onboard flash should only be used in a pinch

5. the brand (which is why I posted this here...hope I picked the right forum!)

Gosh, I'm not picky at all! :)

I am considering the Nikon Coolpix P6000 with a wide angle adapter. However, I know Olympus has fabulous zoom capabilities on their point and shoots. I'd rather get a really good zoom and have to use a wide angle converter. (Yes, I use my 11-16mm a lot, almost as much as my 50mm.)

Why do I want this? I was on a trip recently, and carrying my camera, three lenses (50mm, 11-16mm, 75-300mm), flash, etc. and the friend I was travelling with was not so understanding that I was there for good photos as well as the trip...I figured with a good point and shoot, I could get nearly the same results as lugging all my gear.

DISCLAIMER: I completely understand that I will not have the same capability as my DSLR and lenses. I am looking for a high quality, versatile, compact camera. It will be used for everything from impromptu portraits to landscapes to macro (not true macro, I know, but close up) to night life to etc. etc. Video is a must.

Thanks in advance! :)

May 21, 2010

Hello All,

Thank you for your responses. :)

Charles - I absolutely agree with what you said, and even though I don't want to start a business, I will still read the books you suggested because being well informed is always a good idea.

Michael - I thought of that. But, I'm not good about asking people to pay me for my services...which is why I know that being a businesswoman is not my career path. :) I had hoped that they would have simply offered, I mean even a $5 gift card to starbucks or something, you know?

Erik - It's not that I want to make money from family/friends...it's more of a frustration. It's hard to say no, because I want the best for my family/friends and if they ask me to take photos I am honored by the request...but these are events/sessions they would willingly pay someone else for...so why not pay me? Or at least send me a nice thank you! And, yes, money under the table is illegal, I know that. Any income at all would be claimed. Since there's none, I have nothing to claim - LOL! My motive is I like taking pictures, pure and simple. I don't go to these people, they come to me. When I go looking for a service, I expect to pay - even if it if from a family member. When they tell me don't worry about it, I don't (but I always always ALWAYS send a handwritten thank you note). Otherwise, I open the purse strings. :)

John O'Keefe-Odom - absolutely hilarious! You had me cracking up, but I did read between the lines. :)

John Henneberger - yeah....you're right. This isn't really a business question. It's more of a reaching out to others to see what they think/do in such situations. The wedding I declined was hard to say 'No' (and quite honestly, I think I offended her. I just told her I don't have the right equipment for a wedding, and I don't! I have a nikon D80 and my best zoom lens is a 5.6), simply because it was for family, and they asked me. But, I also know (from this site and my own life) that weddings can bring out some interesting events and photographers get caught in the cross hairs a lot. If I wasn't going to be paid for it, there was no way I was going to take that kind of possible drama. Since you're 100% correct, I have caused myself to have a reputation as free...I guess I'm going to have to say "no" more often!

I have enormous respect for those of you who have thriving photography businesses. Thank you again for your responses, I very much appreciate them. :)

May 21, 2010

I am an amateur photographer. I have read books, and haunted online forums to learn about photography. I don't think I'm the most talented or gifted photographer, but I'm definitely not at the bottom of the barrel either.

More and more of my friends and family have been asking me to take photographs for them. Some friends were selling their house and didn't like the realtor's photos. (They then sold the house in under a week, for asking price - not just one, but two offers!) Another asked me to do photos of a youth conference, to be used for a local newspaper (story never ran) and the group website, several have asked me to do family portraits, and still another asked me to do her wedding. Some of my husband's colleagues are wondering if I would take photographs for their events.

No one has paid me, and no one has offered to pay me. I'm sure that my husband's colleagues will, since it's actually on the company dime, but since that hasn't happened yet, I don't count it.

I do the very best I can with what I have, which is not even full frame, and I shoot RAW, in order to get more out of post processing. My laptop isn't the fastest, so even simple editing takes some time. Of course, there is no way for them to know about that, and I don't blame them for it, and even if I had a newer laptop, it would still take time, BUT...when do I stop giving away my work? Some of my stuff has looked as good as images displayed on professional websites. I think I deserve a little more than "thanks." for that.

How do I charge people I know? Or, rather, how do I make it (very politely and nicely) known that I'm not free? Of course, I don't even know what I would charge at this point, but that's something else entirely.

I don't want to be one of those "Look I have a clever business name and a blog with an about me page where I ramble about how I've always loved photography, and a logo so I am a professional" photographers. What I mean is, I don't want to jump into business to show people I deserve to get paid for my work. I don't mind being the girl with a camera, but I'm getting a little tired of doing it all for FREE. It is a lot of work, and while it's enjoyable...I'd like to be compensated - especially if I am going to be the "photographer on record". And, if that happens enough then maybe I'll quit grad school and start a blog. (Just kidding.)

I don't mean to whine...if I am, tell me to go find some vintage cheese to go with it. :) Oh, and I said no to the wedding...I don't want to take away from the wedding photographers in the area.

Also, I wasn't sure if this was the right forum to post this in? If I guessed incorrectly, I do apologize.

January 21, 2010

Eric,

no, I am not dead set on a prime, the 35 was listed on nikons page as wide angle and it was in my price range. I'm pretty interested in that sigma you mentioned, and will definitely be looking into it.

Tom, oh wow - you weren't kidding around about distortion...I might take some heat for this, but I actually kind of like that picture - it looks like an effect you can use in GIMP called wave or swirl or something like that.

To everyone who responded, thank you! I appreciate the insight and advice offered here. Armed with the information and ideas presented here always makes for an easier time at the store. :)

January 20, 2010

Thank you all!

I didn't realize that the 35mm would be just like a 50mm on FF or film...but, I try to think long term on lenses and wasn't sure if investing in the DX was worth it. My move to FF isn't as close as I'd like it to be, but I know eventually I'll get there. :) So, when I do get there, I want a great little lens collection all ready to go. I am going to be going to a working ranch and I wanted to be able to get the types of photos that show the place - kind of like <a href="http://audreyhannahphoto.com/oldblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/33.jpg">this photo</a>. I think she used a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-28mm-Wide-Angle-Cameras/dp/B00009R6WU">28mm</a> for that shot. I especially appreciate the information on the Sigma lens; I'm never sure about third party equipment. Now to compare the 35mm f/2 to the sigma 30mm f/1.4. :) If I play my cards right, I might be able to get a lens baby too! Now, wouldn't that be fun? :)

Thank you again - it was good to read that the 35 f/2 was not a clunky lens, because that was my original choice...which I might stick with. A trip to the camera store is in the very near future! :)

January 20, 2010

Fellow photographers - I need your help.

I am looking into wide angle lenses. I want a 35mm lens. I have a photoshoot coming up and I really want the effects this lens can deliver. At least, I think I want the 35mm.

I have read reviews on both the 35mm f/2, and the 35mm f/1.4 DX. Now, I am initially pulled to the faster lens (my 50mm is a 1.4 and I absolutely love it) BUT the 1.4 in the 35mm is a DX lens, and eventually I am going to move to FF. However, I have read (on this forum) that the f/2 has sort of a clunky feel to it, and doesn't handle as well as you'd expect it to, that the DX is better.

I shoot with a Nikon D80 - so the DX lens isn't a problem, neither are regular lenses (for metering - the D80 is fully compatible. I know I am not getting true focal length on my non-DXlenses, but that doesn't bother me so much), but like I said, I am going to move up to full frame soon, so I don't want a lot of DX lenses. You can use the 1.4 DX on a FF camera body, BUT it has to be in DX mode, unless if you want vignetting.

UGH!

What would you do?

Oh, I looked into Zeiss, and at 1K for the 35 mm there is almost NO way I'll ever own that lens, as fabulous as it sounds. I have not looked into Sigma or Tokina - if you have experience or info on them, I'm all ears. :) I can spend about $400, tops.

October 12, 2009

Dawn,

I agree with everyone who said to NOT refund their money, and retract the offer to do so. Your images are SUPERB.

I worked with two different wedding photographers this summer, and your images blow both of theirs out of the water. One photographer has been doing weddings for about 2 years, the other has been doing them for about 10 years.

I don't really want to be a wedding photographer, but in my area the only people who get paid for their images photograph either high school seniors or weddings. I wanted to gain more experience, so I worked for whoever I could. :)

Best of luck to you. :)

August 19, 2009

Hi,

I am on vacation right now, and my D80 has chosen to misbehave. This happned several times. The first time I had the camera off for about 20 minutes, after taking photos with my SB 600 attached and flashing. The flash and the camera were off, I removed the flash. The top LCD display flashed the settings, like blinking on and off until I turned the camera back on and off again.

Then, later I was not using the flash, and it was not attached or anything and after I'd get done taking photos, it would do the same thing after I turn the camera off - only for longer periods of time.

It hasn't done it the very last time I took photos.

Has anyone had this happen? All my firmware is up to date. I think my warranty is expired.

Advice besides calling Nikon?

Thanks!

:)

August 1, 2009

Thank you for all the answers. :)

I asked because, recently I was talking with a group of wedding photographers (in my area, it is next to impossible to find people who shoot anything else) and they ALL said they changed their ISO frequently. Even in between shots, where the pose was the same, and the light was the same, they still said they changed their ISO, I asked them why, what effect did it have?

They said to get different 'looks', and one said so that in some photos the background would be sharp, and in the same pose, different shot, changed the ISO, the background would be blurry.

I thought that sharpness/blurriness of background was controlled by aperture first and shutter speed second.

I had started thinking I was crazy - they made me feel like I know nothing about photography, and even though I shoot manually, I was forgetting the most important part of the exposure settings, and therefore I have no particular photography style. I have only changed it to suit conditions, particularly low light shots where you need to hand hold the camera. But I still find I keep it low, due to unwanted noise.

I set mine and leave it, but I am shooting with a Nikon D80. While it is a great camera, it's noisy at higher ISOs.

If I had a D300, or (drool) a D700, or even a D90 yeah, I'd probably do more ISO adjusting - because I could still get a no-low noise photo. As for now, I am working with what I have, and relying on a tripod, or table, or whatever for those low light shots.

@RL Potts, why do you change it frequently, what effect does chaging it have, other than using higher shutter speeds in low light? Do you change it when lighting conditions are the same? Why? Please don't think I am rude, I just really want to know why - does altering the ISO make better photographs? How?

Thank you!

July 31, 2009

Do you set your ISO and leave it or do you change it frequently? By frequently, I mean in between shots during the same photoshoot. The light isn't different, the pose is the same, etc. Yet, the ISO gets adjusted. Other than noise, what effect does ISO really play on the final image? - especially if you can use aperture to affect DOF without sacrificing image sharpness due to slower shutter speeds. Thanks in advance!

June 21, 2009

I am planning on going to a hot air balloon launch event thing, and would love to get some good photos. I can't decide which lens I should plan on having attached to my camera. The launch will take place at twilight (that is the official time listed in the brochure) which means a fast lens is desirable. However, a zoom lens is probably a good idea too, to really get close to the action, even if I can't be. So, a fast zoom is what I need.

I don't have a fast zoom.

I do have a 50mm 1.4, an 18-135mm 3.5, and a 75-300mm 4.5. So, of the three which lens would be best? I have seen the grounds, and it is just a large open field, I don't know where I'll be or anything like that. Really, I am not quite sure what to expect, I have been to balloon launches before, but I didn't have a camera. So, I didn't look for photo opportunities or think like I do now that I have a camera. I know what to expect from the balloon launch, but not from a photographer's point of view. Besides 'which lens', any tips/recommendations are welcome.

Thank you in advance, Kira

p.s. Oh, I do have a tripod, but it is large and clunky, and if I can get away without it, I'd much rather go without.

June 20, 2009

Dan,

Does your Nikon 50mm get a lot of use? I suggest spending some QT with that lens, and see what it can do. On a recent trip, I brought my 50mm and my 18-135mm - kit lens. I also have a D80. Now, there were a few moments I longed for my 70-300mm zoom, but that was rare, and I found that my 50mm got the most use. The 50mm is fast and sharp. It works well in low light, and is good for pretty much anything. Of course, there are times you must have a zoom lens, sounds like your 70-200 would fit the bill perfectly. Or the 18-135.

If it were me, I'd trade in the Tameron you were thinking about replacing with a specialty lens, like a fisheye, or a macro lens. Or, I'd sell it and put the money towards my next vacation. :)

June 19, 2009

Insecure amateur photographers who are highly competitive and make snide remarks meant to make me feel bad about myself and my photos.

These are the same people who say to others, "When you can define aperture, then you can use my camera!"

If asked I bet they couldn't define aperture - much less explain it to someone.

June 19, 2009

I understand...as a new-ish photographer (ameteur) I sometimes feel frustrated by that comment too - because I feel like some of my photos were a lot of work on my part, and I want credit, dang it! :)

Now, I smile and say Thank you, and I find it is usually a way to break the ice into a discussion about photography. Usually the person wants to learn, and they see someone with a big camera and assume they know stuff. Sometimes that's true.

June 13, 2009

I don't have anything insightful to say (which means I am probably breaking a Pnet code), but I had to add that that email was one of the funniest things I have ever read. Ever.

Idiot - if he calls his lawyer, you have this email. ROFL - oh, wow. Even if this isn't true, it is still funny, and quite frankly, probably is true somewhere.

June 4, 2009

Hey Tyler,

Congrats on the camera! :) I wouldn't buy photoshop yet. It takes up a LOT of computer space and it is hard to learn. If you want to edit photos, download Picasa 3, from google - it is 100% FREE :D.

Does everything you'll want - at first.

Then, when you have a more extensive knowledge base, get photoshop.

:) Just my opinion.

May 27, 2009

I've actually never been to where I am about to suggest, BUT - my cousin lives in Denver area and she takes terrible pictures and still this place looked good in her photos.

Garden of the Gods

I have been to Colorado - it is beautiful. You'll find tons to photograph pretty much no matter where you go. :)

Have a fab trip!

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