Photographers Thread

[Ballwatch]

Semi-Pro / Pro-Sumer

Hi, sorry a bit I just bot a Sony HX1 at last week's PC Show

I know most or all of you will say its a waste of time....but I've read many reviews & comments & considered seriously between DSLRs vs Semi-Pro....& went for the latter

The single most important feature which captured my attention was the one-sweep panorama Also read many software can do that & discovered its not the 1st as claimed

But no regrets so far as I'm just learning on my own...I'm sure I'll get to a DSLR sometime later I somehow suspect / know the experience will be much more 'rewarding'

[cmsoh]

upping this post.Just bought a nikon d90 today with 18-195 VR Kit

Need to add more poison. What are the good lens nowadays? Still the holy trinity?

[CFC]

upping this post.Just bought a nikon d90 today with 18-195 VR Kit

[Hary]

found this article via WUS, related to photography

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/28/bu...adco.html?_r=3

[decksurgeon]

Regarding the 50mm, If I take that x1.6 on my 400D, it would be 80mm which is not too bad if I am taking shots of my kid and watches only? you reckon?

You own a 50mm f1.4 lens bro? I already have a 50mm f1.8 so would be buying a 50mm compact macro seem redundant? (sort off also right?)

i use the 50mm f1.4 on a 40D and 5D.
the diffence in the f1.8 and f1.4 is vast - hence the price difference also!
get the 1.4 if you can, stop up to f2 and its very sharp!

but the 50mmL f1.2 is way too much to be paying for a 50mm and the result is not that different from the f1.4 hence the price/performance ratio is not worth it unless u got cash to burn.

50mm on the FOCvof 1,6x on the xxD series is not an issue. you can still take great portraits. just stand a little further back.

with regards to your question:
The difference between say the macro 50mm and normal 50mm is that the macro lens has a much smaller min focusing distance.
you cant fit a normal 50mm F1.4 and exepct to take macro shots of the watch. it just wont focus close up.

however- the converse it true:
you can get a macro 100mm (to take close up shots of a watch), and use it like a normal 100mm prime lens. if you stand far away enuff, you can get very good portraits using a 100mm macro as if it were a normal 100mm just like Hary said.

if u not on FF body, get a EFS 10-22 wide! i have that and it a great wideangle lens for short standoff, the only thing is the distortion at the fringes with the superwide. on a FF body the equivalent is a 16-35L (10-22 multiply by 1.6 is approx 16-35mm).

hope this helps :-)

[jazz_samz]

Hmm... I think the 1.6x crop factor is making me luan... cos on my 17-55mm, sometimes I feel its too far..... so I thought the 100mm (then after 1.6 crop - 160mm) would be even further.. House not that big cannot stand too far... else would be standing outside the window.. kekekeke

I think its a good idea to test it and a fantastic bro here made me the offer.... What can I say about the community here!!!

[Hary]

Bro, if u want to take portrait of children, 100mm is quite ok on 1.6x crop body. You won't stand too near to the kids and can capture more natural shots of them.

[jazz_samz]

Bro decksurgeon, I agree that since the EF-S 60mm is the same price as the 100mm, the appeal on the EF-S lens due to price factor is not as attractive, might as well get a 100mm. However, I don't think I would be buying / migrate to a FF body one day.... nice thought but I would rather spend that money on a watch lah. hahahah...
if I DO change a camera body, it would be to a 40D or a double digit series still I guess (with crop factor).. Moreover I already have an EF-S 17-55mm.
Unless Canon progress to a stage where FF are available on all their xxD and xD series.. kekekek

Regarding the 50mm, If I take that x1.6 on my 400D, it would be 80mm which is not too bad if I am taking shots of my kid and watches only? you reckon?

You own a 50mm f1.4 lens bro? I already have a 50mm f1.8 so would be buying a 50mm compact macro seem redundant? (sort off also right?)

[decksurgeon]

my advise is to get the 100mm EF.
the reasons are:

(1) 100mm is the tried and tested and most popular for bang for buck macro. althought initial price i higher - u will go a long way. preowned is about 600-700 usually.

(2) 50mm sometimes u are too close to the subject (eg insect). so if you decide to shoot other things than watches....may scare the subject. [that is the reason why the L version macro is 180mm for a longer stand-off distance]

(3) if you go EFS mount, you are limited to non-full frame bodies. lets say you upgrade to the 5DmkII/full frame. then your EFS lens cannot fit it.
personally i use only EF lenses for this reason tho i have non-full frame canons also, basically EF fits all.

5D is a great camera (bar the black dots issue, so far no issue). the shutter sound is way different from the regular 40/50D and the ISO even at 1250 under low light is extremely clean.

5D & full frames are different animals!....just like watches, once u move up and taste the good stuff you wont go back 1Ds...the handling and shutter and feel is ultimate poison! *warning* LOL!

[jazz_samz]

I probably will some off the EFS lens. More feedback pls!!!

[jazz_samz]

thanks for sharing guys.

Decksurgeon, no it's not helping!!! Already got poison by watches, now u reignite my photography interest again. Poison alert!!!!!
U using a Canon too? Got a feeling it's a 5D. Kekekeke

I m seriously considering the 3 lens I listed. But I wonder if anyone can feedback on the performance of the 50mm compact macro???

[decksurgeon]

i second that, the local canon lens price has come down and with the current HK exchange rate the savings are next to nil.

when pushed hard, you can get a 70-200mm F2.8 IS for 2450 locally.
the best HK price at current exchange is 3 dollars cheaper. so no point.

for super telephoto like 500mm / 600mm lenses. best get from the USA. you save up to 2-3k compared to local or HK prices.

my feedback on the EF100mm macro is that it is a bang for buck macro lens and very popular. the L lens version is massive price hike and does not justify the price/performance ratio.

another macro is the MP-65 that gives you 1-5x life size (the rest of the macros are usually 1:1). the only problem is that you have very poor depth of field and therefore need to have large F stop to compensate. that means very little light getting into the camera....therefore you need a macro flash!

and you need the MT24 macro twin flash to get a good pic with macro. thats another 1++k of gear. for watch shoots dont get the ring flash, a twin flash is a must. the ring reflects off the glass of the watch and u will see the 'ring flash' in the picture. the twin flash gives you much more flexibility with lighting.

all adds up....macro is expensive hobby to shoot...but never as expensive as super telephoto!

hope this helps

[pingpong]

oracle kinda "retired" .. after Canon reduced the price of lens locally a few months ago, it is no longer cost effective to bring in lens from HK as the price diff is not that great

... nice guy to deal with i got my 24-105mm F4L from him. ..


i have the 100m F2.8... nice lens..very sharp too.. but i got mine from US

[jazz_samz]

agree. I used to be able to loan and play the 3rd party lenses as friend worked in a disty. Don't really fancy them. I have only been using Canon lenses since my EOS 3 film till now. Cos I believe their technology.

[Hary]

I am considering the following lenses...
FROM CS
EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM (Yen57,000/US$385) RS$889 - CP$710/ TK$780 / AP$730
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM (Yen82,000/US$470) RS$899 - OP$740(Local warranty) / MS$730 / CP-M$720 / CP-P $750 / TCW$780 grey
EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro (Yen42,000/US$240) RS$680 - AP$590

Anybody have any feedback on these?

Bro, no experience with EF-S 60mm and EF 50mm. I did consider EF-S 60mm due to focal length, but then u restrict yourself to EF-S mount and the price is about the same. I also considered Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro, but not satisfied with its focus speed and the noise. The USM is a plus point. Canon brand also has better resale value. The price difference between Tamron and Canon is around $150 only. Might as well get Canon.