johannes_minkus

Mine doesn't squeak either.

Johannes

I put the battery in the recharger, leave it there for a couple of seconds, take it out for a moment and put it back in. Usually then it recarches corretly.

Johannes

Capture One LE (for $99) ist great. I work with this program for more than a year and like it a lot!

Michael Tapes is a great dealer (www.rawworkflow.com) who provides excellent support.

Johannes

I use an Apacer Disk Steno CD-burner. Its battery operated, has slots for the cf cards and burns CDs of my cf-cards without a computer. It works pretty reliable and I like having the physical CD as a backup of my pictures.

Johannes

Im about to get a 1GB CF Card. With Scandisk there is a regular model

and an "Ultra" model. I wrote to Kingston to ask if the D10 can make

use of their fast cards - they said, I should go with the standard

version. Is that true? Would it make sense to get a card with higher

read/write speed?

 

Johannes

Before you spend lots of money, check if its worth to replace the 19-35mm. Take a picture with your old lens and then with the new one. Compare the pictures. See any difference? Is THAT difference really worth hundreds of dollars?

 

In my experience lots of money is spend on expensive lenses - which are used for very average pictures.

 

Johannes

I don't have an L-lens with IS, just the 75-300 IS. I'm glad I have it. Most of the times I shoot the 300mm length handheld. IS reduces blurr a lot - up to the point, that I can use most or my 300mm handheld shots. This wasn't the case when I used the same lens without IS.

 

If its worth for you 400 $ - only you can decide. From the practical standpoint: IS makes it possible to use 300mm handheld in real world situations.

 

Johannes

Since a couple of months I am a happy EOS 1oD shooter. I enjoy the instant feedback which DSLRs give.

The last vacation however I shot mostly slides with my EOS 3. Why? Because I want to share my pictures with my friends and my family. And nothing beats a slide show - that way the pictures are appreciated the most. Its amazing how may details you see!

On the other hand, if I shoot for publication in newspapers or the internet - digital is much better and faster.

So I enjoy both.

Johannes

A lot of people around here would say: Invest your money in better lenses, because its the lens that improves the quality of the picture.

I guess this is a good advice. I did not follow it. I want to have fun taking pictures. And for that a digital body is wonderful! Its so rewardig to see how a picture comes out right away after the shot. I really don't want to spend big money on L-lenses for the last tiny bit of more picture quality. I am not selling the pictures anyway - why bother?

Last comment: If I look at pictures here on photo.web - I find that the limiting factor at a lot of pictures is *not* the lens quality...

 

Johannes

"Which two lenses for travel in Europe?"

 

Let me ask back: Which two lenses for travel in the US?

Great solution for an inexpensive reflector! I've tried a similar thing -but I find that I'm using it not very much outside my home. Its a bit annoying to walk arount with a huge reflector like this in public places. Quite often I take pictures of events in our church - so with this kind of reflector I'd become a real eyecatcher - which I sometimes try to avoid.

Here in Munich I pay about 12 Euros

I use a EOS 3 and find the price of a new lithium battery (2CR5)

always a bit high. Is there any recharchable alternative you would

know of?

Thanks,

Johannes

For sure an extra battery. The battery lasts for quite some shots - but if I get a "low" signal it doesn't take long and the camera turns off. So a second battery is very helpful. I haven't felt the need for a third one though.

 

Second: Big CF cards since I shoot in RAW.

 

Johannes

Congratulations! The resurrection of a camera - that's something new. I would just leave the camera open for a couple of days - without a lens attached to let the rest of the water dry out.

If no dirt came in during the bath that could block the mechanics - why shouldn't it work? The water alone doesn't hurt the electronic parts of a camera.

Enjoy!

Johannes

Mark,

I wouldn't spend more money on lenses. You seem to have decent lenses - 85/1.8 is fine. In my experience the limiting factor for great portraits is rarely the quality of the lens - but rather the art and skill of the photographer.

Johannes

If the 10D gives you what you wanted - buy it now. I did it and I am so glad I did - now I love to shoot. I am very happy with the 6 MP resolution.

 

Sure, you can wait half a year longer - but then - other models will be just around the corner - so again you will be thinking.

 

I'll use my 10D for a couple of years and replace it with whatever is appealing to me then.

 

Johannes

Thank you Maureen for getting first hand information! I don't have a D30 but I read a lot of rumors, speculations, hearsay etc on all kinds of issues here. And sometimes it leaves me thinking: Is it true? What should I do now? Find out for myself? It just occupies me and uses up my energy.

So its very good to have people around like you, Maureen, who go the extra mile, get the information and settle the issue.

Thanks!

 

Johannes

I am about to get a copy of Capture One software for my Canon 10D.

They offer the LE version online for 99 USD. What I found out is that

this danish company charges 25% VAT. This is quite something. So I

wonder if there are different way to buy this software? Would you

know of any?

Thanks,

 

Johannes

Don't worry too much. West European counties have a very low crime rate - compared to other parts of the world. Yes, there are pickpockets - but the worst thing that could happen is that they steal a camera or a purse. I wouldn't ruin my vacation by always being on guard - maybe its better to get an good insurance - just in case. Don't spoil your trip and the fun of taking pictures. Its not worth it. Try not to be an easy target - as you did before - and you'll be fine.

I see it that way: The more safety percautions I take, the less comfortable my journey gets. And if you go to a place known for pickpockets - just take a cheap camera that day.

And if the worst case happens and somebody tries to take you camera - let it go! No camera is so valuable to risk your health.

 

Enjoy your trip!

Johannes

Geoff,

 

if you are about to start a new system - did you consider moving to digital? I know, that's not what you asked about - but let me tell you my experience:

I bought a EOS 3 2 years ago. Its an excellent body. I use and value its features a lot. But a couple of weeks ago I bought a digital EOS 10D. This is way more fun to shoot with! Why?

I like to take all kinds of pictures - portraits, reportage, landscapes, family, etc. I love low light photography. What happend is: Since I use the 10D I try a lot more things - because the single shot doesn't cost anything. Yes, for the price of the 10D I could have gotten hundreds of film rolls - but I guess it really is a psychological thing - I was a lot more careful not to "waste" film.

Now I make 20 or 30 shots and keep maybe one, which I have printed.

I love to do the "darkroom work" on my computer. I can do so many more things than I was able to do with slides or prints before. So the EOS 3 waits at home. Sure, there will be situations where a film camera is better - but for 90% of my "everyday shots" the digital body meets my needs far more better.

Johannes

Jerry,

get the 550EX. I used a few other flashes on my EOS bodies (Metz), but since I have the 550 everything works just the way I want it to. I learned it over the years: You get what you payed for.

 

Johannes

Bhushan

 

I'd say: Go for it! Waiting for price drops can be very frustrating - I know for myself. I do not expect really significant price drops, maybe just smaller ones. Just look at the price development of other EOS bodies in the past.

I got a 10D - and I love it! It is a lot of fun to work with!

 

Johannes

I use the Vivitar 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 on a EOS 10D Body. It works fine.

Johannes

A friend warned me about using a digital body on the beach because of

the sand. It might get into the body and cause problems. The DSLR

bodies are supposed to be prone to sand damage.

I'm usig film bodies for years. I do know I have to be careful with

dust and sand - but I cannot believe that digital bodies might be

more vulnerable then film bodies - since they have less mechanical

part.

Is there anybody around with more knowledge?

Thanks,

Johannes