[[HyuNi]]

No, I know I need a flash, but on my cropped sensor camera, the 50mm I use is still way, way, way too tight. That's why I was asking for recommendations on a wide angle lens.

Ah, well. I think I've decided on the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8.

-ginger

agreed. Although I LOVE my sigma 50 1.4, I thought it was WAY too long for my 40D 1.6x cropped camera. Now that I have a 1.3x crop 1D Mark II, I think it's the perfect focal length!

You should check out sample images of the ultra wide angle lenses. If you plan to shoot people, UWA's isn't probably what you want. Except for the center of the frame, the photos to the left, right, top, and bottom are going to look stretched and distorted, which makes people look distorted. UWA's are usually for real estate or landscape shots. If you buy the Tokina, I can almost guarantee that you'll be using the 16mm side of it close to 90% of the time. You might as well save some $$$ and invest in a good flash and the affordable 18-55 VR lens and your photos will come out significantly better.

Here's an example of a shot with my 16-35mm on my 1.3x crop body (equivalent of 13mm on 1.6x crop):
http://minihp.cyworld.com/36087945/1524060946
Notice how the photo seems a bit stretched on the edges and the woman to the left is distorted and unflattering.
(I only took the shot this way because I wanted that effect to focus on the child)

Like I suggested above, the 18-55 VR kit lens might suit you well. It's not ultra wide, but it's still a wide angle lens that is very capable in cramped spaces. It might not have the wide aperture of the Tokina or the Tamron 17-50, but if you'll be shooting in extremely difficult lighting situations like clubs, there's no lens that will be fast enough to capture the shot. Flash, if used correctly will do wonders, no joke!

[[HyuNi]]

Thanks--I actually do a lot of post-work with my shots. Mainly messing around with color temp in Lightroom and messing around with the saturation.

did you use a snoot for those night club shots or was it a pp vigenetting feature?
I like how it blows everything else except for the subject into the dark.

I was thinking about making a DIY snoot, but haven't had time to make one. The weather is too nice and there's not enough time!

[Nerdy]

did you use a snoot for those night club shots or was it a pp vigenetting feature?
I like how it blows everything else except for the subject into the dark.

I was thinking about making a DIY snoot, but haven't had time to make one. The weather is too nice and there's not enough time!

I can't remember exactly, since those were taken in 2007, but I'm pretty sure it was a combo of having the flash head pointed directly @ 85mm with like 1/32-1/64 power and then raising the blacks a bit in post.

A snoot would've been great at the time, but I hadn't even thought of it when I was there. Gotta remember for future reference, though

[phantompc4]

just ordered the tamron 17-50 f2.8
should be coming thursday

next month ill be getting the sb900 and tamron 90mm macro
it's a good summer ^^

[zgnoud]

^Not the original poster, but I'm saving up for the sb600. Know where I can get it cheap and ships international/Canada? I wish I could buy from Amazon.com
Btw, you're a great help in answering questions Props to you!

Haha its ironic, i actually bought my sb-600 from a canadian seller on ebay - Though it was listed as a refurbished item, it looked and felt like new. It came with a year warranty and ended up saving me about $100~150 AU. So yeah try ebay too!
Not sure about the sb-600 retail price in Canada... but have a look at this site and compare the prices to the official retail price you'll find in a store.
http://www.photoprice.ca/product/00203

The first store; "The Camera Store" lists their sb-600 for $273 which includes tax+shipping. Now im not sure how much the sb600 retails for... but if you convert that to $AU (291.256), i would say the price is pretty fricken good - about 70~150 cheaper than you can get it over here. So yeah good luck with that

I'm also saving up for a SB600, *sigh* so much money I already have a SB400, and it's very limited to what it can do.

Yeah, I say try and sell that sb400 towards the sb600 - its just So much better.

@zgnoud: Thanks! Heaps of information. Well, I mostly do use my camera indoors. I'll invest in a SB600 then. Thank you~

I'm wondering as well, where CAN you find a cheap one?
I'm in Hong Kong right now and it seems like the places I've been looking at have it around either the same price as Amazon or is more expensive by around $50 USD. I'd like to get it here since I am going to a wedding soon and would like to take pictures with NICE lighting haha.

Have no idea about the prices in HK, but i say if the prices are similar...you might as well buy the sb-600 back home. That way you'll deal with Nikon US (saves you a little grief in the scenario of claim warranty). Again since i live in Australia, i dont have a reference for the retail price in the US, but have a look at this.
http://www.pricescan.com/Nikon-SB-600-Spee...t/dp/48217.html
Several site list their sb600 for about $217~218 with free ground shipping. Have a look around im sure your bound to find a great deal.
The Sb600 on Amazon is listed as free shipping too i think so have a look at that too ($218).

[ginger]

Ok, I ended up getting the Sigma 10-20mm and a Nikon SB400 flash. Here are two test shots I took as soon as I got the lens:






It's certainly different to use. After feeling trapped in the 50mm, this feels insane. I love it, but it'll take some getting used to. I can't wait to use this when I go to Boracay next month!

-ginger

[d0wne]

Ok, I ended up getting the Sigma 10-20mm and a Nikon SB400 flash. Here are two test shots I took as soon as I got the lens:

[img]http://img.photobuck...28_32125288.jpg

[img]http://img.photobuck...28_32125290.jpg


It's certainly different to use. After feeling trapped in the 50mm, this feels insane. I love it, but it'll take some getting used to. I can't wait to use this when I go to Boracay next month!

-ginger

Good job at how you're using it.
Wide angles are really hard to use properly. People think they're used to get get as much as possible in the frame. I believe the main purpose is to exaggerate certain things in the frame whether it's an object or your perspective.

Good luck!

[yuns]

I finally got to test out my 17-50mm Tamron on some landscapes and I love it. I can see why people recommend it as a wide angle lens.



I'm thinking of a getting a Canon f1.8 50mm next since I'm feeling the limits of my Tamron in social situations. Does anyone have any other prime lens recommendations? The f1.4 costs so much more than the f1.8.

[dhillman]

here's a pic i took last weekend

ahh i love this photo so much. its so crisp and dramatic. awesome.

[Goombi]

I finally got to test out my 17-50mm Tamron on some landscapes and I love it. I can see why people recommend it as a wide angle lens.

[img]http://farm3.static...._e9f805bba2.jpg

I'm thinking of a getting a Canon f1.8 50mm next since I'm feeling the limits of my Tamron in social situations. Does anyone have any other prime lens recommendations? The f1.4 costs so much more than the f1.8.

Nice pic!

I've had my 50mm for a couple months now. I've felt no regrets getting the 1.8 since it does the job fine at parties and on the street. The only thing, the framing is SO tight on a crop body.

[misaberry]

i got my d60 recently, on my dad's bday

the box = his present
the camera = mine

ahhaha
(jokes i actually got him something else ^^)

edit: wow sorry for huge pic ><

[brian032]

I'm thinking of a getting a Canon f1.8 50mm next since I'm feeling the limits of my Tamron in social situations. Does anyone have any other prime lens recommendations? The f1.4 costs so much more than the f1.8.

On a crop-sensor camera 30 or 35mm is the way to go (to me at least), so I say you should look at either a Sigma 30/1.4 (light-hog) or either a 35 Canon/Nikon (whichever brand you're using). You should also check out pixel-peeper to look at pictures of your desired lens on various settings and cameras.

http://pixel-peeper.com/lenses/sigma/

[[HyuNi]]

^
completely agree with brian.
I love my Sigma 50mm 1.4 but when I had it on my 40D, I always had to step a few feet back to get everything in the frame.
For example, when I busted out my camera during dinner with a friend, I had to get out of the seat and take the photo where now, with my 1.3x crop 1D, the length is perfect. The 30/35mm equivalent will do you well.

[epark1281]

so i finally got my AF confirm chip installed on my OM to 4/3rds mount adapter and i just gave it a test run.
I popped on my 35 dollar JCPenny 135mm f2.8 lens and shot it wide open (assuming this was the worst case scenario for back/front focusing).
Here's the result (some random kitty)

a closer crop reveals slight softness, so perhaps a bit of backfocusing (bricks remain sharper)


Taken indoors, it did a decent job at a closer focus distance:

(i'm getting more and more pleased with the bokeh of the JCpenny lens the more i use it)

On the other hand, i've also had time to use the Rokkor 50mm f1.7 with the XXX-to 4/3rds adapter with AF confirm
Here are the initial results:



i have only 3 (minor) gripes about the universal adapter.
1. It does not catch the aperture pin for OM lenses, so you'll end up shooting wide open even though you're messing with the aperture ring.
2. You've gotta center the lens around the adapter ring as best as you can, otherwise you'll end up with funky out of focus areas towards the side of your shots
3. for MD and MC lenses, the lens is not seated properly in respect to the sensor, so it will not focus at infinity.

But it's great now that i get to use M42 lenses (they're a bit cheaper but still great in quality)
All in all, i'm pleased.
The Rokkor 50mm f.17 was $25
The Universal Adapter was $40 (2nd hand)
The AF confirm chip was about $25
And the JCPenny 135mm OM lens was about $35
The results i feel are more than acceptable.
A cheap alternative to getting the $750 Sigma 70-200 f2.8
and the $450 ZD 50mm f2.0 macro
(I still plan on getting that Sigma 30mm f1.4 HSM next year...baby pictures! which, btw, explains the similac)

[airfrogyto19]

I was considering getting a new canon lens. I made a good amount of money photographing a prom so feel that I can up my gear. I found myself facing a problem while photographing the prom which was a little drizzled on. I was considering the 17-55 USM, Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon 24-70 2.8 (Which I researched a lot and like) or something that is sharp and with a nice range but maintains quality, I like the 17-50 range. I liked some photos and disliked others. The 50mm 1.8 was nice when I was able to use it. I resorted to using the XTi Kit lense and didn't like the picture too much. When I photograph my Architecture work the lenses do fine but I would like them to be better for portraits and I would love your help since your photos are great Soompi photographers. Sorry for the bother but every time I ask I get more help.

50mm
[img]http://i202.photobuc...o19/Prom020.jpg[/im
Kit lens
img]http://i202.photobuc...o19/Prom133.jpg[/im
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch buddies! Maybe recommend the 430 flash instead of a lens or a lens in conjunction with a flash? I feel that the image quality is my main concern. The Nikon Kit lens has produced good quality photos. Thanks a bunch guys!

This post has been edited by awdark: 01 July 2009 - 08:22 PM
Reason for edit: Please do not quote images. Technically this is a 20 char violation as well but you want replies and didn't see my reply to you on the previous page.

[Maylinn]

Ok, I ended up getting the Sigma 10-20mm and a Nikon SB400 flash. Here are two test shots I took as soon as I got the lens:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/the...28_32125288.jpg[/img]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/the...28_32125290.jpg[/img]


It's certainly different to use. After feeling trapped in the 50mm, this feels insane. I love it, but it'll take some getting used to. I can't wait to use this when I go to Boracay next month!

-ginger

Beautiful! Really like the first one.
I wanted to get the 10-20mm too, but I ended up getting a canon 17-85mm first...the 10-20mm will come later in the fall.

[Arelly]

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w199/Bl...ctions/belt.png

I really want that necklace O_O

[airfrogyto19]

I am not searching for help on my technique, I am looking for help on what product to buy Awdwark not your amateur technique help. It seems to me anyone can post images on here, no matter what.

[[HyuNi]]

airfrogy, awdark's suggestions are very good. Those photos you posted could have been so much better had you took time to compose the shot and fit the subject into the frame. No lens is going to make those photos better had you used the same technique.
The EF-S 17-55 IS, Tamron 17-50, and 24-70L are no doubt, superb pieces of glass... but if you don't improve your technique, then the best you'll get are sharp but boring or awkward looking photos.
You said you wanted your photos to look like the babydubs, but if you read closely, she was able to get those shots with the kit lens... which is the same exact lens you have.

The difference between her shots and yours is that she took time to compose the shot, picked an interesting angle, and used light (which seems to be ambient light) to her advantage. On top of that, I think she spent a good amount of time in post production to highlight the colors, accents, and shadows.

For example, I think your first photo is decent, but you cut the guy's left shoulder off and it's a bit too zoomed into their faces where the person who looks at it doesn't know where to look. The second photo almost looks like it was taken by a regular P&S. You were standing too far away and your subjects are lit with extremely poor lighting. Also, the light post off to the right is the first thing that caught my attention, and I'm assuming that's not the subject you want accented in the photo?

Bottom line is, don't expect the equipment to fix your technique.
I'd say learn how to use your camera better before you buy more equipment because if you don't, it will be a never-ending quest to buy equipment to make up for your technique.

[epark1281]

I am not searching for help on my technique, I am looking for help on what product to buy Awdwark not your amateur technique help. It seems to me anyone can post images on here, no matter what.

an individual with a 2,000 camerabody and a 5,000 lens can take crappy pictures.
The basics of photography are learning about proper exposure and composition, and post processing.
Which explains why there are people out there that take petter pictures than I do with a $80 p+s camera.