Photo sharing: Sony Alpha

fractal · May 1, 2015

thmcdonald1 said:
The reviews I've read for the lenses seem to point out that the 18-55 is optically better than the 16-50. But, thank you for the info on the wide end. I didn't realize that 24 and 27 would be so different.

I have the 18-55 and know somebody with the 16-50. Both of us agree that the IQ of the 18-55 is better. The advantage of the 16-50 is how small it is and slighty wider as Havoc mentioned. It truly make the camera pocketable.

Personally, if I already had the 16-50 I don't know if I would go through the trouble of selling for the 18-55. The 35mm 1.8 is a nice lens and would do well in dark rides. The 55-210 would be great at AK if you were going to WDW.

Hockeyman · May 1, 2015

havoc315 said:
Crumpler 7 million home. Debating a backpack bag, plus a bag that can hold a tripod, for Alaska.

I should be taking delivery today of the Nikon 300/4. Assuming I like it and keep it, it's definitely coming to Alaska, along with teleconverters. Thus, it will become a 300/4-420/5.6-600/8. I will definitely bring by 18-35 for landscapes. Bring a flash. That already leaves things packed pretty tight.
If I'm bringing the 300, I won't bring my 70-200. I love the 70-200, but I'm not dragging 2 heavy lenses.
I won't bring my 105 macro.

That leaves: 50/1.8 (light weight, fast aperture, decent quality, really needs to be stopped down to 2.8 or 4, pretty weak at 1.8). 85/1.8 (light weight, but not nearly as light as the 50, amazing IQ, sharp even at 1.8) or 24-85 (so so quality, medium sized, but it has a couple stops of stabilization). I should just bring 1 of the 3, but I could stretch and bring 2 of the 3. I love the primes, but I think for this trip, I might be better served by the convenience of the zoom. Or just bring the 85 for some fantastic portraits.... I don't know.

I bought a bag from my tripod last year and was the greatest investment, just throw it over my shoulder and good to go. I like the backpack if im going on a big trip and want to bring all my gear, then ill bring my smaller shoulder bag for when im actually out and about on the trip.

Ive type 4 different responses to your lens situation and deleted them all because this is a tough choice lol.

I can see not wanting to lug around both large lenses so that is a tough choice because i like the 70-200 range but the 300 comes in handy, me personally would have gotten a 70-300 and not worried about 2 separate lenses. Id def bring the 18-35 for landscapes and even for use on the ship. As far as the other 3 Id probably bring the 50 and 24-85

thmcdonald1 · May 1, 2015

fractal said:
I have the 18-55 and know somebody with the 16-50. Both of us agree that the IQ of the 18-55 is better. The advantage of the 16-50 is how small it is and slighty wider as Havoc mentioned. It truly make the camera pocketable.

Personally, if I already had the 16-50 I don't know if I would go through the trouble of selling for the 18-55. The 35mm 1.8 is a nice lens and would do well in dark rides. The 55-210 would be great at AK if you were going to WDW.

Cool, thank you for the advice! I'll stick with the 16-50 then!

havoc315 · May 1, 2015

Hockeyman said:
I bought a bag from my tripod last year and was the greatest investment, just throw it over my shoulder and good to go. I like the backpack if im going on a big trip and want to bring all my gear, then ill bring my smaller shoulder bag for when im actually out and about on the trip.

Ive type 4 different responses to your lens situation and deleted them all because this is a tough choice lol.

I can see not wanting to lug around both large lenses so that is a tough choice because i like the 70-200 range but the 300 comes in handy, me personally would have gotten a 70-300 and not worried about 2 separate lenses. Id def bring the 18-35 for landscapes and even for use on the ship. As far as the other 3 Id probably bring the 50 and 24-85

I could have gotten the Tamron 70-300 (would have been MUCH cheaper), and as you know, it's a good lens. But talking different leagues... My 70-200 is a constant F4.. it is a noticeable step up from the variable aperture 70-300 lenses. (Yeah.. I'm becoming an IQ snob at times). And a 70-300 is 5.6 on the long end, mediocre IQ at the long end, and not really compatible with teleconverters. I really wanted at least 400mm for Alaska, without breaking my back. (The 400+ zoom lenses are HUGE). So I have a 300/4 prime, it is very low weight, its essentially the same weight as the Tamron 70-300, it's a stop faster, and it takes 1.4 and 2x teleconverters. Putting aside the big price difference, I'll be getting a superb quality 300/4, high quality 420mm/5.6, and mediocre quality 600/8 in a fairly compact package (even bringing 2 teleconverters, it weighs less than the 500-600mm lenses). If I had gotten the Nikon or Tamron 70-300... I'd simply have a fair quality 300/5.6.

[I feel bad discussing Nikon on the Sony board.... But compare the Tamron 70-300 to the new Nikon 300, and you'll understand my decision:
http://www.lenstip.com/284.4-Lens_review-Tamron_SP_70-300_mm_f_4-5.6_Di_VC_USD_Image_resolution.html
http://www.lenstip.com/431.4-Lens_r...-S_300_mm_f_4E_PF_ED_VR_Image_resolution.html
]

As the 50 is tiny, I was thinking along your lines, the 50 and the 24-85. Problem is, I could see myself never putting either on the camera, in which case I'm carrying them for no reason. The 85mm is really superb quality, becoming 1 of my favorite lenses (finally a Nikon lens to love as much as my Minolta 200/2.8... ok, not quite). Of course, it's not stabilized, and I really wouldn't walk around the ship with it, without another lens. The 24-85 would at least let me just do regular walk-about the ship photos, without carrying extra lenses. I can still get 85mm portraits with the 24-85, though I really need to stop down to 6.3 range, to get good quality. Maybe I'll just bring the 24-85, solely for the convenience factor. While super light weight, probably leave the 50 at home. (Without stabilization, a 50/1.8 really isn't a great low light lens and I don't see Alaska as the shallow-DOF type shooting). I really want to bring the 24-85 and the 85/1.8, but that is starting to tip the scales of excess.

saintstickets · May 1, 2015

havoc315 said:
Both, but with almost 4 months to go, I'm already fretting about what to bring... Should I get a new camera bag, do I go with 4 lenses or 3... and of course which lenses.

We are going to Alaska on the 8/24 DCL cruise. I did find that on some of the excursions (helicopter or seaplane) that you cannot bring a bag of any kind. They will let you bring your camera but no bag for other lenses. If you're going on any of these, check with the operator beforehand. Space is limited inside and instead of putting a size limitation on the carry-ons like the airlines do, many just say no bags.

havoc315 · May 1, 2015

saintstickets said:
We are going to Alaska on the 8/24 DCL cruise. I did find that on some of the excursions (helicopter or seaplane) that you cannot bring a bag of any kind. They will let you bring your camera but no bag for other lenses. If you're going on any of these, check with the operator beforehand. Space is limited inside and instead of putting a size limitation on the carry-ons like the airlines do, many just say no bags.

I'll see you there!! We are on Deck 7. I'll be the one with lugging around way too much camera equipment. Yes, we are doing a flightplane... Already know I can't bring a camera bag. I'll have my 18-35 on the camera, and I might sneak a second lens into a pocket. (And my RX100 into another pocket!).
Doing a driving tour in Skagway.. that's the place I'll have the entire camera bag + tripod.
Whale watch in Juneau, I'll probably bring the bag, but not fully loaded. (will leave behind the tripod, may even leave behind a lens).

saintstickets · May 3, 2015

saintstickets said:
We are going to Alaska on the 8/24 DCL cruise. I did find that on some of the excursions (helicopter or seaplane) that you cannot bring a bag of any kind. They will let you bring your camera but no bag for other lenses. If you're going on any of these, check with the operator beforehand. Space is limited inside and instead of putting a size limitation on the carry-ons like the airlines do, many just say no bags.

havoc315 said:
I'll see you there!! We are on Deck 7. I'll be the one with lugging around way too much camera equipment. Yes, we are doing a flightplane... Already know I can't bring a camera bag. I'll have my 18-35 on the camera, and I might sneak a second lens into a pocket. (And my RX100 into another pocket!).
Doing a driving tour in Skagway.. that's the place I'll have the entire camera bag + tripod.
Whale watch in Juneau, I'll probably bring the bag, but not fully loaded. (will leave behind the tripod, may even leave behind a lens).

How about that?! We'll have to find time to meet up. There is a facebook group meet-n-greet at 3:00 local time on the first day in the Promenade lounge if you wish to attend. We're also trying to set up some adult beverage mixology classes that should be fun. As for excursions, we are doing the helicopter/dog sled ride in Skagway, whale watching tour in Juneau and Misty Fjord seaplane trip in Ketchikan. So many opportunities during the cruise and in Vancouver to capture once in a lifetime pics. I'm still a newbie so I just hope I'm up to the task!

havoc315 · May 3, 2015

saintstickets said:
How about that?! We'll have to find time to meet up. There is a facebook group meet-n-greet at 3:00 local time on the first day in the Promenade lounge if you wish to attend. We're also trying to set up some adult beverage mixology classes that should be fun. As for excursions, we are doing the helicopter/dog sled ride in Skagway, whale watching tour in Juneau and Misty Fjord seaplane trip in Ketchikan. So many opportunities during the cruise and in Vancouver to capture once in a lifetime pics. I'm still a newbie so I just hope I'm up to the task!

So we are all doing the 8/24?

My wife and I will happily do mixology.

Misty fjord flight seeing with Island Wings. Juneau whale watching with Alaska Galore. Then might do the Mt Roberts tramway.
In Skagway, have a tour with Beyond Skagway. Definitely lots of photo opportunities.

Maybe on a sea day, we should organize a sun rise pic meetup. Though sun rise may be ridiculously early. Sunset pic meet up?

HPS3 · May 3, 2015

I've been playing with tone curves in LR and like this edit. I like the look of the VSCO film presets but I can't seem to force myself to buy them.

Ready for Flight by Harry Shields, on Flickr

Hockeyman · May 4, 2015

Swizzle lounge at Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal

The Swizzle Lounge by Mike Sperduto, on Flickr

King of the jungle at Busch Gardens Tampa

In the Jungle, The Mighty Jungle by Mike Sperduto, on Flickr

How does this look to you guys. Looks good on my SP3 but on my work monitor looks a little on the cool temp side

Dancing Dandelions by Mike Sperduto, on Flickr

HPS3 · May 4, 2015

It looks a little cool to me. Just a tiny bit.

HPS3 · May 4, 2015

Here's another one the tone curve adjustment. What do ya'll think of the edits on these past two?

Coney Tower by Harry Shields, on Flickr

fractal · May 4, 2015

@Hockeyman I agree, a bit cool.

@HPS3 I like the adjustments - gives it a more "film like" look. Classic Fuji colors?

fractal · May 5, 2015

Dandelions by the river.

HPS3 · May 5, 2015

fractal said:
Dandelions by the river.

Fractal, nice use of dof here! And by the way, those are Sony colors....A7II and Canon FD 50.

fractal · May 5, 2015

HPS3 said:
Fractal, nice use of dof here! And by the way, those are Sony colors....A7II and Canon FD 50.

Thanks Harry! How many cameras do you have??

fractal · May 6, 2015

zackiedawg · May 7, 2015

My 'Pretty in Pink' series from this weekend - various life and times of the roseated spoonbills:

Pretty in pink, yes - but a little b1tchy too:

If you're going to yell, I'm going to yell back!:

Here a spoonbill gets ready for his presentation:

And here he does his acrobatic fly by routine for the three judges:

Practicing good form in this fly by:

On the glide approach, coming in for a landing:

When you pick a spot to land, it's best not to pick a spot that already has a spoonbill standing on it:

Properly repelled, landing aborted, off to find another spot:

A nice demonstration of a high speed short landing approach, gear down and out to hit that spot on the end of the branch:

All shots with my A6000 and FE70-200mm F4 lens...this particular tree was a real hot spot - a few ibis and cormorants had also populated the tree, but it was mostly dominated by spoonbills...and they were an animated bunch - squawking, fighting, taking off, landing, and flying about. Always neat to see and shoot these vibrant pink wonders!

thmcdonald1 · May 9, 2015

I don't really want to bog down this thread with a ton of pictures, and I don't want to start a new thread for it, but does anyone want to critique the pictures I've recently taken so I can know in what ways I can improve my shooting? I just got my a6000 a week ago today (!!) and I'm loving it, but I want to make sure I'm figuring out ways to improve.

Anyway, here is a link to Flikr. I think that is how these things are done, right?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/132227640@N05/

Right now, I think my biggest area for improvement would just be finding good things to take photos of. Any advice on that front?

HPS3 · May 11, 2015

Peaking Through by Harry Shields, on Flickr

Photo sharing: Sony Alpha

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