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[skgore]

Great Pictures!

 

[ColleenG]

I'm pretty set on getting the Canon Rebel XSi with the 2 kit lenses. It only goes up to ISO 1600. At 1600 will I be able to get decent shots on the dark rides and at night? From what I have learned from everyone here a prime is probably my best bet, but I don't have enough in the budget for one yet. We don't have a trip planned as of right now so I may be able to get one some day before we make it back to the World. Thanks for all the great advice. I really am starting to feel like I have a clue about all this fun stuff.

 

[scoot241]

I have an XSi and will most likely be turning the ISO up to 1600 on dark rides. I do think it's going to be necessary for you to get a fast lens to get some decent pictures on the dark rides. I bought the Sigma 30mm f/1.4; maybe a Canon 50mm f/1.8 would be more in line with your budget since it's around $100.

 

[tndisneyfan]

I have the Rebel XS and I'm curious about this too.

 

[ColleenG]

Thanks Scoot! After I posted I checked out Canon's website. I didn't realize the 50mm was relatively inexpensive. At first I saw the L series and my jaw hit the floor. Definately don't need that. But the 50mm f/1.8 is definately something I can swing soon after I scratch up the $$$ for the camera kit. It's off to work I go!

If you don't mind my asking, what do the Sigma 30mm run cost wise?

 

[annnewjerz]

I would agree, a prime is probably a must. Most people either use prime lenses or fast zoom lenses (like the 24-70 f/2.8) but the fast zoom lenses tend to be extremely expensive.

For $100, I would find a way to get the 50mm f/1.8. You may be able to look on KEH.com and find one used so you can spend less than the $100.

ISO 1600 will probably not get you some of the great results that you see posted on this board, but you should definitely be able to get some usable ones on the brighter dark rides, like Small World, Splash Mountain, etc.

Good luck!

 

[annnewjerz]

If you don't mind my asking, what do the Sigma 30mm run cost wise?

Around $400, give or take depending on where you buy it from (at least Nikon's version and I'm sure Canon's isn't too far off).

 

[ColleenG]

Thanks. 30mm would have to wait. I'll start the 50mm fund!

 

[scoot241]

If you don't mind my asking, what do the Sigma 30mm run cost wise?

I got mine like new on eBay for $325.

 

[Merrywheather]

Hi Colleen,
I have the Canon XTi and the 50mm 1.8 lens. I got some keepers on POTC and Buzz at ISO1600. The Haunted Mansion was a different story - only one or two were worth keeping. IMO you can't go wrong with the 50mm 1.8 for the price. (You can see some example pics in the link in my siggie. I did run them thru the community version of noiseware, but even at ISO 1600 they weren't too grainy to start with). The Spectro shots were all taken with this lens and the same settings, as well. I have more pics from my April trip that I have yet to upload.

 

[boBQuincy]

I have not used my Xsi much in dark rides yet but here are some from a fairly dark ride:

Night photos are no problem, actually this is at ISO 200 (with a monopod)

All of these were with a f/4 lens, f/1.8 is more than 2 stops wider! I would not expect problems with POTC but Peter Pan and HM might be tough.

Of course if you don't mind carrying a tripod the Xsi can deliver some great night photos!

 

[saturndb]

I have not used my Xsi much in dark rides yet but here are some from a fairly dark ride:

Night photos are no problem, actually this is at ISO 200 (with a monopod)

All of these were with a f/4 lens, f/1.8 is more than 2 stops wider! I would not expect problems with POTC but Peter Pan and HM might be tough.

Of course if you don't mind carrying a tripod the Xsi can deliver some great night photos!

Those last two pictures are amazing!

Dave

 

[ColleenG]

Thanks for sharing your pictures! Those are some great shots. I'm sold on the 50mm! boBQuincy, the pic of the castle at ISO 200, what shutter speed did you use?

 

[handicap18]

I'm pretty set on getting the Canon Rebel XSi with the 2 kit lenses. It only goes up to ISO 1600. At 1600 will I be able to get decent shots on the dark rides and at night? From what I have learned from everyone here a prime is probably my best bet, but I don't have enough in the budget for one yet. We don't have a trip planned as of right now so I may be able to get one some day before we make it back to the World. Thanks for all the great advice. I really am starting to feel like I have a clue about all this fun stuff.

Your going to have to go with ISO 1600 on the dark rides. With just the kit lens the only ride you might have success with is probably IASW. That has a lot of bright area's in it. PotC is probably the next lightest and it is dark. HM is about impossible without a fast lens (at least f/1.8), Peter Pan even with my 30mm f/1.4 lens I only got IIRC 2 shots. HM I got 3, maybe 4 decent shots. Pooh isn't to bad. GMR at DHS I did pretty well with both the 50mm f/1.8 and 30mm f/1.4.

Remember your on a ride that is moving so your going to need a shutter speed fast enough to stop the motion of the ride AND let in enough light to capture your subject. Other wise you'll get a blurry photo.

If you don't have a fast lens, I would say but the camera down, sit back and enjoy the ride.

If your on a tight budget and are shooting with a Canon, the 50mm f1/8 can be found for under $100 online. Its a very sharp lens, its got the wide aperture and its small enough to easily carry around. Nikon's verion is around $120 or for around $200, the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 is a better focal length on a crop body.

 

[ColleenG]

What is crop body?

 

[boBQuincy]

Thanks for sharing your pictures! Those are some great shots. I'm sold on the 50mm! boBQuincy, the pic of the castle at ISO 200, what shutter speed did you use?

Thank you! I took a series of photos of the castle as it was being lit, the shutter speeds were between 1/10 and 1/20 (I used a monopod). Btw, these photos were not taken with a 50, it would have allowed a faster shutter speed but I didn't have it with me.

 

[scoot241]

What is crop body?

Crop body means the sensor is not equivalent to a 35mm frame of film (full-frame cameras are). To calculate the effective focal length of a lens on an XSi, you would multiply the lens' focal length by 1.6. Lenses appear to be longer on a crop body than on a full-frame.

From http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=414088

A 50mm lens on a XSi has an effective focal length of 80mm. This means the XSi's pictures appear to be closer with a crop body.

It turns out to not be as big of a deal as it sounds. However, it is one of the reasons I bought the Sigma 30mm. 30mm on the XSi is 48mm, which is about as close to 50mm as you can get. The first SLR I used was a 35mm film SLR, and most of the time I used a 50mm lens. The 50mm length most closely replicates what the eye sees, and I wanted something equivalent for my XSi.

 

[Chikabowa]

What is crop body?

The camera you are buying is a cropped sensor (or what some people refer as a crop body).

I believe I have the specifics correct... but someone else jump in and feel free to correct me if I miss a certain point below or it needs further clarification.

When digital sensors came out in SLR bodies, they were not as large as a true 35mm SLR film camera. For Canon, their sensor size on a cropped frame is 1.6 of a true 35mm camera and for Nikon the sensor is 1.5 of a true 35mm camera.

So if you put a 50mm lens on your new Canon, what you are seeing is NOT actually 50mm, but 80mm (for Nikon it is 75mm).

Now, technology has caught up, both lines have full frame sensors that you can buy. For Canon it starts at the 5D MII and upwards to the 1D MIII. For Nikon both the D700 and D3/D3X all have the full frame sensor. Meaning when you look through the view finder with a 50mm lens on the camera, you get a true 50mm focal length.

Most, if not all, consumer brand cameras have a cropped sensor - so it's not a bad thing. You, as a beginner, won't even notice and you probably wouldn't worry about it if I hadn't explained it!

The full frame sensor is nice for a lot of things... expanded ISO range (like mine can easily shoot at ISO 6400 without a massive influx of noise in my photos), plus, compositionally, it changes how you shoot a little more. But all in all, don't worry too much because it won't make that big of a difference in your photos.

 

[bob100]

I'm pretty set on getting the Canon Rebel XSi with the 2 kit lenses. It only goes up to ISO 1600. At 1600 will I be able to get decent shots on the dark rides and at night? .

I don't know how good it would be on the dark rides but the XSI kit lens is fairly decent at ISO 1600 for some night shots, here is one at night at a local carnival
(f4, 1/100, handheld)

 

[ColleenG]

Thanks for the explaination of crop body. When I went in to one of the camera shops the guy was saying something about how you multiple the lens by a certain factor and I didn't understand why. Now I get it. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge. I am learning so much from everyone here. I can't wait to get my camera and start playing around with it!