poucherw

<p>You can adjust the camera for each of your lenses, however, it may be the type of autofocus you chose. Try spot metering with only the center spot. Look at the pixel level for focus.</p>

<p>If you want to take stunning pictures, you need to practice, you need an excellent dark room, you need an excellent lens, you need a body with a good sensor properly aligned to the lens, and you need to control the motion of the lens during exposure.<br>

Here is my recommendation. Prices are from B&H and Amazon. Price tag: under $5,000</p>

<ul>

<li>Darkroom: Adobe Photoshop, Bridge, Camera Raw. Install Canon software and profiles.</li>

<li>$200-$700. You may be eligible for educational pricing.</li>

<li>No substitutions! (You could do LightRoom or Aperture, but you wanted stunning!)</li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li>Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens w/hood (about $1,400)</li>

<li>B&W 77mm UV Haze 010 F-Pro MRC Filter (about $90)</li>

<li>$1,500 for 10 years use.</li>

<li>No substitutions!</li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li>Camera Body: Canon 5DMk2 body (about $2500)</li>

<li>Reliable UDMA 600X Compact Flash Card (16GB or 32GB) $100-$200</li>

<li>If this is a problem, buy a Canon 5D used and save.</li>

<li>Alignment: Canon factory calibration about $75</li>

<li>This is essential.</li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li>A Steady Hand:</li>

<li>Opteka CFM300 Monopod (carbon fiber) about $60</li>

<li>Giottos MH1304-110C Pro Mini Ballhead about $20</li>

<li>This is essential.</li>

</ul>

<p>Advise:<br>

Don't substitute equipment. If you really must, then buy a used 5D and send it in to Canon with the lens for calibration. Save money for a 5DMk2 or the Mk3 when they come out next year. Wait 6 months, or until the second firmware release before buying a new release camera.<br>

Getting Started: (takes two weeks)<br>

The first think to do is take a few photos and make sure that the camera and lens are working fine. This lens will focus extremely quickly. Put the camera in spot auto-focus. Choose only the center spot. Take a number of photos at different settings. Look at 100% to see if the focus spot is pixel accurate. If not (and it won't be), send the camera and lens to Canon for calibration. When you get it back, it will be spot on.<br>

Develop a Game Plan:<br>

When you get it back, make sure the filter and lens are clean. Put the filter on the lens and leave it. Make sure you use the lens hood for every shot you make. It makes a big difference.<br>

Make sure that any photo that you take with a shutter speed of 1/60 or below is stabilized by the monopod. The purpose of the ball is to let the monopod have the freedom of placement without restricting the plane of camera. Use the monopod as much as you can. It's really light.<br>

Take all of your exposures in RAW. Learn to use the darkroom (your software). The art is done in the darkroom. That's straight from Ansel Adams to me to you. <br>

In the matter of making an action shot, choose shutter speed over aperture over iso sensitivity. Learn to use the autofocus. Leave room for cropping with the center of attention in the center of the exposure. Use the rule of 1/3s in the darkroom.<br>

Practice:<br>

When you practice, compose 3 shots but don't press the shutter release. Then, think back through each of those shots. Think about the composition, why you placed the camera where you did, and why you chose your settings. Did you get the shot you wanted? OK, now make those shots. Repeat for 20 minutes. Do it 3 times a day. Do it every day for 30 days.<br>

Use f5.6 or f8 if you can. If you need f4 or f11, they are available. Use something else if the composition demands it. To use the macro capability, you will need to study lighting.<br>

Share your first stunning photos:<br>

If you don't produce a stunning shot after practicing 30 days (total elapsed time 60 days from arrival of equipment), I'll be surprised. <br>

Master, then invest:<br>

Don't buy any more equipment until you can take stunning shots routinely with this equipment. Your next investment will likely be an EF 35mm f/1.4L lens or the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS. You might want to pick up another body for the lens. It's good to have a pair and to not disturb the factory alignment. With the 5DMk2, you can also fine focus each lens. But the factory can make adjustments that you can't.<br>

Hope this helps.</p>