Canon 400D (Rebel Xti, Kiss X)

[Lost n' Translation]

Received my new XTi at work yesterday. Put the kit lens on and went outside to take some pics. This was one of the first few pics I got. Went home and did a quick photoshop.

Comments are welcome!

Here is the original.

 

[Maude4Disney]

Very cool pic!

 

[MICKEY88]

Received my new XTi at work yesterday. Put the kit lens on and went outside to take some pics. This was one of the first few pics I got. Went home and did a quick photoshop.

Comments are welcome!

next time try posing your model so they are facing the camera....

just kidding... awesome shot,, looks like the first of many great shots you'll be sharing with us..

 

[Lost n' Translation]

I asked him to turn around, but he would not listen. I was actually only about 1ft away and did not want to stay around much longer than I did.

 

[jann1033]

so take that all you canon kit lens naysayers
great photo of a somewhat fearsome subject

 

[jenn-]

Great image. Just out of curiousity can we see the non PS version? I just want to see how it did with all the different colors.

 

[DVC Jen]

great shot. you are braver than i am.

 

[mikamah]

That's a great picture. I wouldn't want to stay around very long either, figuring he must have friends nearby.

 

[dpuck1998]

Cool pic...just did my first one a couple days ago with the XTi and photoshop....fun ain't it

 

[AndrewWG]

don't go use a 30 d...it might change your mind... even my husband was shocked...so i better never see the mark111 or i'll be selling a kidney to get it

Ok, Jan, I didn't take your advice and I went and used a 30D.... that was my first mistake. I've been saving money for some time now and trying to get the camera of my dreams. I just wasn't making the money that I really needed, but I kept scraping and pinching my pennies. I was close to what I needed, but then there were lenses to think of.... My Lord what a choice! Well, to make a long story short, I will owe my parents forever. Out of the blue, they matched my money (and then some) and I made my purchase. It arrived today. Please, someone tell me I did the right thing here! Here it is:

Some first pics:

Smokey:

Field at night:

Interesting view through the fence:

Safe at 2nd:

A run scores:

The wind up... and the pitch:

I had trouble getting a real nice sharp focus with the 70-200 lens. I am assuming that due to it's massive weight, I should be using some sort of tripod/monopod when using it. It has the IS, but I don't know if it is enough.

The 50mm DOF is so shallow, I get almost nothing in focus. I'll be playing with that one for awhile before mastering it, I would guess. Looks great in the viewfinder, but the pics are out of focus.

I opted to buy the 30D body only and get the 17-85IS lens as I thought 28-135 was a bit too wide and would overlap the 70-200 too much. Plus I have not heard great things about some of those lenses. Hit or Miss I suppose. The 17-85 seems great! A little slow, but I'll live.

Now I'm saving for a flash and a macro lens of some sort. Any suggestions on those items?

Wish me luck. I'm now on another massive learning curve...

Andy

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Good luck, Andrew. Mind if I live vicariously through you for a while?

 

[AndrewWG]

Good luck, Andrew. Mind if I live vicariously through you for a while?

Thanks! You can live vicariously through me but not until I figure this thing out! I have alot of reading to do, I guess. I'll get the hang of it though (I hope).

Andy

 

[handicap18]

Ok, Jan, I didn't take your advice and I went and used a 30D.... that was my first mistake. I've been saving money for some time now and trying to get the camera of my dreams. I just wasn't making the money that I really needed, but I kept scraping and pinching my pennies. I was close to what I needed, but then there were lenses to think of.... My Lord what a choice! Well, to make a long story short, I will owe my parents forever. Out of the blue, they matched my money (and then some) and I made my purchase. It arrived today. Please, someone tell me I did the right thing here! Here it is:

I had trouble getting a real nice sharp focus with the 70-200 lens. I am assuming that due to it's massive weight, I should be using some sort of tripod/monopod when using it. It has the IS, but I don't know if it is enough.

The 50mm DOF is so shallow, I get almost nothing in focus. I'll be playing with that one for awhile before mastering it, I would guess. Looks great in the viewfinder, but the pics are out of focus.

I opted to buy the 30D body only and get the 17-85IS lens as I thought 28-135 was a bit too wide and would overlap the 70-200 too much. Plus I have not heard great things about some of those lenses. Hit or Miss I suppose. The 17-85 seems great! A little slow, but I'll live.

Now I'm saving for a flash and a macro lens of some sort. Any suggestions on those items?

Wish me luck. I'm now on another massive learning curve...

Andy

DUDE!!!! Holly s..... mokes.

NICE. Good for you. Awesome purchase. I'm not a Canon guy, but that 30D is a nice piece of equipment. Excellent choice. And that 70-200!!!! WOW. You scored big time. That is some serious glass you got there. And with the extender its still an f/4 lens. Sweet. Nice call on the 17-85. I've said before I'm surprised Canon has gone wider on more of their lenses besides the kit and this one. Especially with the 1.6x crop.

The 50mm f/1.8 is tough to get used to at the wide end, but you don't only have to use it at the wide end. When you do, however, your focus has to be right on. So if your taking a pic of a person in real low light, make sure you focus on their eyes because at wide open the nose wont be in focus.

For macro's, Canon makes a very nice 100mm f/2.8 (or maybe f/2) macro. Otherwise the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 or Sigma 105mm f/2.8 are both very sharp lenses and can be found for a very decent price used.

Looking forward to the next game to check out the equipment. I'm still hopeing for Sat 8/4.

 

[handicap18]

Field at night:

Also wanted to ask... which field is this? Is it one of the new (well not really new any more) softball fields at the high school? I don't recoginze it.

 

[cpbjgc]

... It arrived today. Please, someone tell me I did the right thing here! Here it is:

Andy

Rest easy, YOU DID THE RIGHT THING!

Those are some nice pictures of the ballgame, the pitcher was very sharp!

As for the 50mm, keep working with it. It is tricky wide open to get the focus just right (I know I'm still working on it) but it will give you some fantastic pictures once you settle into it.

Have fun with your new gear!

 

[shancan911]

Great pic, glad you're enjoying your new XTi ! I like ours, but I'm still getting to know it. You inspired me to try and Photoshop a picture. I don't mean to hijack the thread, but would you be able to share how you were able to isolate the bee and turn everything else black & white? I found another thread here, about how to do it, but it didn't seem to work for me. I just downloaded the trial version of PS Elements 5. I'm pullin my hair out over this. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[shancan911]

So I figured out a way to do it. Don't know if it's the right way or not.....
I created a 2nd layer, and turned the top layer b&w. Then used the eraser tool on my image.
It worked, but I'm open to other methods, too!

 

[Lost n' Translation]

So I figured out a way to do it. Don't know if it's the right way or not.....
I created a 2nd layer, and turned the top layer b&w. Then used the eraser tool on my image.
It worked, but I'm open to other methods, too!

shancan 911

Good job, that is exactly how I did it. Remember to zoom in close so you can get right up to the edge. I am no PS expert, but working with layers can be lots of fun.

Lets see some of your creations.

 

[shancan911]

I've got a ways to go....I think half of it is having the perfect photo for the technique, much like lost n' translation. if anyone else has some cool ones, I would like to see!!!!

 

[AndrewWG]

Also wanted to ask... which field is this? Is it one of the new (well not really new any more) softball fields at the high school? I don't recoginze it.

Kyle,

You are right. That is the field between the bleachers and the high school. I believe that it is a softball field like you said.

As far as the camera, it is one heck of a setup and by jumping in with both feet, I am certainly in over my head. I just wish that I could find out why some photos are nice and sharp and some are not so sharp! I put away the 50mm for now and am using just the 17-85mm. Some photos are great (especially single subjects like my cat) and some aren't like the one below. I would have thought it would have been much sharper. Any suggestions on what I am doing wrong? Settings that may be wrong? I know nothing of metering, etc. Could that be it? Of course, anyone can chime in on these questions, doesn't have to be just Kyle.

Also Kyle, Aug 4th still looks pretty good for me. My family is filling up the morning and early afternoon, but later on should be ok. I think it starts at 5pm.

Andy

This photo should be completely sharp, but for some reason, it's not. I have others like it. I wonder if it is a DOF issue. Just don't know!

Our cat has been a great subject. This photo is pretty sharp. I like it!

I have, however, taken so many shots of this cat since I got the 30D, that I noticed he isn't looking quite right these days!