[watcher]

how big of a print have you done before? would i have to somehow resize them? because some of my pics are cropped... so the length/width ratio is off.

the website has requirements on pixel dimensions for different print sizes. i've done as big as 16x20, and small as 3x5. they should provide wide prints as well. i forget what sizes they offer, but do check them out and see.

[felinewong]

oo, i'm renting the 12-24 for the long weekend, i get to keep it for 4 days for the price of 1 day rental
gonna go try it out on a 5d if i can to see how insanely wide it is!

[watcher]

oo, i'm renting the 12-24 for the long weekend, i get to keep it for 4 days for the price of 1 day rental
gonna go try it out on a 5d if i can to see how insanely wide it is!

im guessing it's the sigma??
never heard of anyone mounting the tokina on a full frame... hmmm

[felinewong]

^yea, its the sigma alright, i ended up not able to rent that sucker

i just came home from a short 2 hr wedding for my friends brother and i'm drunk!!!!

[EYJAYJAY]

^yea, its the sigma alright, i ended up not able to rent that sucker

i just came home from a short 2 hr wedding for my friends brother and i'm drunk!!!!

go take some shots when u are drunk. might end up with some interesting results.. or stories

[watcher]

go take some shots when u are drunk. might end up with some interesting results.. or stories

wedding + white L lens = lots of phone numbers

[watcher]

went to the beach today... so thought i'd share a pic

[latina]

can someone explain to me what a telephoto lens is and its use?

I just started to gain interest in photography. But I still get lost most of the time (like..what's the purpose of a telephoto lens.. etc. etc). I'm currently saving money for a DSLR and most of you recommend Canon Rebel Xti or Nikon D40. However, I'm eyeing the Sony Alpha but I'm not to sure if that DLSR is perfect for a beginner like me. I want the Sony Alpha only because it has the Anti-Dust vibration and it allows me to shoot continuously at three frames per second. To be specific, I'm into macro photography. Is the lens that comes with Canon Rebel Xti or Nikon D40 already enough for macro photography? Remember, I'm just a budding 'photographer'

I'm so embarassed to ask questions like these.. But I think it's a smart way to seek advice from people who actually know their stuff. So come on photographers, enlighten me!!!!

[erure]

can someone explain to me what a telephoto lens is and its use?

I just started to gain interest in photography. But I still get lost most of the time (like..what's the purpose of a telephoto lens.. etc. etc). I'm currently saving money for a DSLR and most of you recommend Canon Rebel Xti or Nikon D40. However, I'm eyeing the Sony Alpha but I'm not to sure if that DLSR is perfect for a beginner like me. I want the Sony Alpha only because it has the Anti-Dust vibration and it allows me to shoot continuously at three frames per second. To be specific, I'm into macro photography. Is the lens that comes with Canon Rebel Xti or Nikon D40 already enough for macro photography? Remember, I'm just a budding 'photographer'

I'm so embarassed to ask questions like these.. But I think it's a smart way to seek advice from people who actually know their stuff. So come on photographers, enlighten me!!!!

The Sony Alpha is a good DSLR for a beginner but you have a lot more room for improvement when you go with a Canon or a Nikon, imo (more bodies, more lenses, etc). The XTi also has a sensor cleaning capability and I think all DSLRs can shoot three frames per second continuously. Macro photography requires a macro lens which is not a part of the kit lens (at least the macro lenses are better at taking macro pictures).

A telephoto lens is basically a lens that can shoot things far away since its focal length is a lot longer than your average lens. It's kind of like a small telescope but a lens (hence telephoto). I like to use my telephoto lens for taking pictures at the zoo (pictures on top of the page) since it makes you feel a lot closer to the animals than you really are... I also put it to good use during the lunar eclipse which was very recent but the pictures aren't superb because I'm not that good ^^; You can notice that a lot of newspaper photographers use telephoto lenses to take pictures of celebrities since they can do it far away. Like when you see photographers on the news they all have telephoto lenses and a big external flash. I don't think you need a telephoto lens right when you start (they cost a pretty penny - my lens is considered the beginner's telephoto lens and it cost a grand, more than my DSLR body cost)... Plus it's very bulky and difficult to carry around daily.

[watcher]

^ dun listen to minji, she's just high maintenance!! hehehehe... im just kiddin minji. but i disagree about the 'starter telephoto' lens. the sigma 70-300 APO DG is a reliable enough telephoto lens that takes some decent pictures. priced at $200 new, and can reach an extra 100mm than ur 7-2/4 IS to boot! of course, you wont get the color, contrast, bokeh, build etc that the canon L provides, but hey, that's what you pay for getting premium glass

also, the sony alpha is a fine starter dslr. if you dont intend on getting too deep into photography, but just want dslr quality, sony's a good choice IMO. but as minji stated, dont pick the alpha if all you want is the anti-dust and fps. the xti can do both, and has better noise performance, which will come in handy when taking shots in low light.

if you can afford it, i'd say go with the xti + sigma 17-70/2.8~4.5 macro. it's a good walkaround length, with mild telephoto and a little bit of macro. (this is not a dedicated macro lens, but at this point, i think it's the best jack of all trades out there). the sigma 18-50/2.8 macro is also a nice option, but i find the 50mm too short for my preferences. but if that works for you, it makes as a great macro lens. the lens hood gets in the way before the lens is not able to focus on a nearby subject.

[edit] btw... the sigma 70-300 also has some macro capability. just make sure you get the macro version. wont be nearly as good as minji's 60mm macro, but given a limited budget, you make do with what u have, right?

[lackluster]

i like standard kit lens..

makes me work harder for the pictures i really want.

plus i'm to poor to afford L series

[EYJAYJAY]

i like standard kit lens..

makes me work harder for the pictures i really want.

plus i'm to poor to afford L series

there are always lenses that are not from L series!

[joonage]

Took this last night. Had some crazy lightning storm here in Seattle area.

Tried editing a little. Pretty bad ... but eh, it's hard to edit, let alone take, a lightning picture. xD



Here's the original if anybody's bored and wants to try editing it. xD

[Xarthan]

Took this last night. Had some crazy lightning storm here in Seattle area.

Tried editing a little. Pretty bad ... but eh, it's hard to edit, let alone take, a lightning picture. xD



Here's the original if anybody's bored and wants to try editing it. xD

yeah i heard em yesterday night, cauz i was in seattle and i was thinking, damnit where's my DSLR?

[wangta]

Took this last night. Had some crazy lightning storm here in Seattle area.Tried editing a little. Pretty bad ... but eh, it's hard to edit, let alone take, a lightning picture. xDHere's the original if anybody's bored and wants to try editing it. xD

nice, any tips on shooting lightning? i've never tried, its too fast for me haha

well my lens finally came in yesterday so here are some pics of the unboxing haha




the lens hood is sitting in the soft case, forgot to take it out for this shot


shots of it on the camera, taken with an sd630




without the hood on the lens



this shot was kinda weird to take. i got really close to the fly and it didnt even fly away at all, i thought it was dead. its no where near as sharp as it could be because i was hand holding and the wind was blowing moving the leaf a lot so my focus would go in and out but it was the best i could do

[joonage]

nice, any tips on shooting lightning? i've never tried, its too fast for me haha

well my lens finally came in yesterday so here are some pics of the unboxing

Adjust to a quick shutter speed.
Keep snapping like crazy.
Hope you get lucky.

That's what I did. I took like 25 pictures straight trying to get that one picture. haha

Oh, and don't forget a tripod. My picture would've probably come out MUCH better if I used mine.

And also, sexy lens ... How much was it?

[erure]

nice, any tips on shooting lightning? i've never tried, its too fast for me haha

well my lens finally came in yesterday

Sweeeeeeeeeet lens. The focal length is 2.5 times longer than mine haha what a beast +_+ Have you thought about getting the ring flash as well?

[wangta]

Adjust to a quick shutter speed.
Keep snapping like crazy.
Hope you get lucky.

That's what I did. I took like 25 pictures straight trying to get that one picture. haha

Oh, and don't forget a tripod. My picture would've probably come out MUCH better if I used mine.

And also, sexy lens ... How much was it?

i'll be sure to try that some time when the storms start rolling in haha

it was around $600 from b&h plus the filter. i probably coulda got it cheaper at sigma4less but i just dont trust them so i went with b&h

Sweeeeeeeeeet lens. The focal length is 2.5 times longer than mine haha what a beast +_+ Have you thought about getting the ring flash as well?

yeah i wanna get a ring flash i think i'm gonna need one but its soo expensive plus i needa get a shutter release cable and some macro rails. too much moniessss

[joonage]

^^^ Wanna go all out don't you? lol

I got a regular UV filter for $25 and I think that's shelling out a lot.

And I think I got ripped off too ... xD

Man ... the 150mm is making me drool still ... twice as good as mine. One day I'll have enough money ... One day. haha

[watcher]

^ as long as it's multicoated, you should be fine. (no reason to go all pro filters ^^)