Olympus Evolt Series

I just got the E-450 and used it for the first time. I am a total newbie to the dslr world. It has a fireworks setting, does anyone know what I need to do to use it. I think it is an auto setting. I have read the manual and cannot figure it out. I took some pictures last night on the auto setting an I really like how they came out. They were of my son and his friends before the eigth grade dance. I will probably start off by using mostly the auto settings. If someone could post the exact steps that I need to do that would be great.

I haven't seen the 450, but if it's anything like my 520, there's a "scene" position on the dial you turn at the top of the camera. When you turn it to the scene position, you'll be able to scroll through all the scene settings on the LCD screen and choose which one you'd like to use. When you get to the fireworks setting, just push the ok button and you'll be set.

Remember though, that it uses a slower shutter speed so a tripod will be useful. I did get a few good fireworks shots at my DD's graduation last month handheld, but many more that were blurry.

Hope this helps!
 
I agree, your best fireworks results will absolutely be using a tripod. I took a bunch last July 4th using the fireworks setting, a tripod and the two second timer. I'll see if I can find some to post.

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I agree, your best fireworks results will absolutely be using a tripod. I took a bunch last July 4th using the fireworks setting, a tripod and the two second timer. I'll see if I can find some to post.

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Thanks! I found the scene selections ! What is the two second timer? Forgive me, I am just so used to my mostly auto point and shoot. Is their a smaller tripod that you would suggest to carry in a backpack for a disney trip?

I was going to head up north to the lake and take some pictures today, but it is raining. Then I also remembered that it is the start of bike week and on top of the rain it would be crazy up there!

The 450 is similiar to the 420 and was made just for QVC. I thought for the features that I was wanted it was a good buy. I have a lot to learn!

Thanks, Vickey
 
Thanks! I found the scene selections ! What is the two second timer? Forgive me, I am just so used to my mostly auto point and shoot. Is their a smaller tripod that you would suggest to carry in a backpack for a disney trip?

I was going to head up north to the lake and take some pictures today, but it is raining. Then I also remembered that it is the start of bike week and on top of the rain it would be crazy up there!

The 450 is similiar to the 420 and was made just for QVC. I thought for the features that I was wanted it was a good buy. I have a lot to learn!

Thanks, Vickey


Remember to read the manual and when done, read it again. Before you know it all those buttons and knobs will begin to make sense.

There is a great thread on here titled "The Learning Curve". If I can find it I'll post the link.
 

You're going to get the most out of your camera if you start to learn some basic stuff. Cause although these are great cameras, they definitely need some help from us (quite a bit, actually; that's true of any dSLR). Learning a little will go a really long way. I'm going to suggest you start with a book called The Kodak Most Basic Book of Digital Photograpy, and read it cover to cover. It'll help a lot. Then you can begin to branch out a bit. There are other books to read after that first one, and most people here buy Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. He also has other books in the series that are awesome, like Understanding Shutter Speed, and others that I can't name right now. Check Amazon to see them all.

Taking good fireworks involves using a slow shutter speed. That means any movement with the camera while the shutter's open will cause blur - even with Image Stabilization. Handholding the camera you might get a few decent ones if you stay really, really still. But a tripod will yield best results by far. The two second timer (along with the tripod) helps keep the camera still also, because when you depress the shutter, it causes the camera to shake a bit, too. On the top left corner is the timer. Press the button and it will bring the timer screen up. Set it to two seconds. Then, when your camera is on the tripod and you hear the firework go up, press the button, and hopefully in two seconds you'll have the "burst" of the firework and you'll be able to capture it. (Another thing you'll want to invest in at some point is a wireless shutter release and then you don't have to use the timer - you can just hit the button and it'll take the shot wirelessly so as not to shake; but I assume you don't have one of those yet so the timer works fine.)

Challenges include missing the burst, and being off on your aim. I took about a hundred fireworks pics on July 4th and was able to get just a handful of ones like above. It's kind of a crapshoot, but a fun and challenging one. :lmao:

I used a full tripod for these, which made it a little easier, but many people don't want to carry a full tripod around Disney (including me). Other options are a smaller tripod (which would need something stable like trashcan to lean on) or a gorillapod, which can be wrapped around a pole or fence. These fit in a (large) camera bag.

I think somewhere around the Photog Board there are threads specific to fireworks. Not sure where they are as I'm not a huge fireworks person, but either a search, or asking, I'm sure someone will know.

I don't know if you've seen The Learning Curve thread but that might be helpful to you.

Remember, in Disney, a lot of your pictures will be in low light. Many users here on the PB have invested in lenses which work well in low light (because they have a large aperture, like f/1.8 or so, and therefore are able to let more light in). The kit lenses you have are somewhat limited in low light (as they don't open that wide; however in normal light they are excellent lenses). So a tripod, even a small one, will help with those shots, as will using Aperture Priority (A) and scrolling to the largest aperture available, ie smallest number. (You will also need to raise the ISO, but only as far as you NEED to because too far up can overexpose and/or make the pics noisy/grainy.) If you study this a little before your trip, there'll be less disappointment if they don't come out quite right and you're wondering why.

Hope it's not TMI. If you have questions, everyone here, both on this thread and on the PB, is pretty helpful. I'll also post my Trip Report thread in case there's anything helpful in there for you.

Linda
 
I took the 70-300 to the zoo the other day. We didn't stay long -- it was after an all day zoo camp for DD7 and it was very hot! But I was happy with some of the shots I took.

I'm trying to get practice before our Alaska trip next month because I think I'll be using this lens a lot.

All of these are straight out of the camera.

This was taken through glass. It helps that he stayed so still!

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E510 w/11-22

exif data... ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/640 sec., 22mm.

SHQ jpeg , uncropped, no PP
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Just out playing before it gets too hot.
 
/
So I'm looking to get an external flash for my 510. Any recommendations on the FL36? I've read conflicting info regarding flash cycle time, power output, etc.

I'd really like to get the FL50 but for the limited times I use flash, $400+ seems excessive at this point
 
Sorry Joe, I can't be of much help. I wound up buying a Bower flash, because I knew I wouldn't be using it much and couldn't justify the cost of the other - especially when I had so many other things to buy. This works well in a pinch, but I find it tricky to use, as I said before. I'm sure it's just that I don't understand it well, and for all I know, that could be the case for the Oly flash as well. If the day comes when I need it more (and can't figure this one out), I'll get a better one.
 
So I'm looking to get an external flash for my 510. Any recommendations on the FL36? I've read conflicting info regarding flash cycle time, power output, etc.

I'd really like to get the FL50 but for the limited times I use flash, $400+ seems excessive at this point



I've used it on the 410, 510, and E1 without any issues. I bought the FL-36 when Circuit City closed at clearance price. I looked at the FL-50 and that sucker is huge compared to the FL-36. The recycle time is slower compared to the FL-50. It's a decent flash for the money. I'm going to give it a good workout the first part of August when we head to WDW.
 
Ok, so I've got the E450 and while I haven't really had time to play with it much, I thought I'd share just a couple of pics. This is my first DSLR, so rather than go with auto, I've been trying my hand with the manual settings. Other than auto levels and saturation, I haven't touched the pics. I really can't wait until Saturday night to take lots of pics of fireworks and Atlantic City!

kitty.jpg


globe1.jpg
 
Ok, so I've got the E450 and while I haven't really had time to play with it much, I thought I'd share just a couple of pics. This is my first DSLR, so rather than go with auto, I've been trying my hand with the manual settings. Other than auto levels and saturation, I haven't touched the pics. I really can't wait until Saturday night to take lots of pics of fireworks and Atlantic City!

kitty.jpg


globe1.jpg

Great shots. I also have the same camera and have been playing with it a bit. I used it at my sons eighth grade graduation, but the shot were general crowd shots. I was going to try the macro mode on some fkowers in my yard, but the rain has pretty much crushed them. Oh well there is always the upcoming disney trip!

I really like what I have done so far with mine. Have fun!

Vickey
 
Ok, so I've got the E450 and while I haven't really had time to play with it much, I thought I'd share just a couple of pics. This is my first DSLR, so rather than go with auto, I've been trying my hand with the manual settings. Other than auto levels and saturation, I haven't touched the pics. I really can't wait until Saturday night to take lots of pics of fireworks and Atlantic City!

kitty.jpg


globe1.jpg


Really good images. Nice detail and color and the lighting is :thumbsup2
 
Very nice, Mr.MouseFan. :thumbsup2

Have fun this weekend and be sure to post some pics on the Assignment thread!
 
Last week I picked up a Sigma 24mm f/1.8 Macro by chance when the person I was buying some other Olympus stuff from offered it for sale.

I'm really enjoying this lens!

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Ok, so I've got the E450 and while I haven't really had time to play with it much, I thought I'd share just a couple of pics. This is my first DSLR, so rather than go with auto, I've been trying my hand with the manual settings. Other than auto levels and saturation, I haven't touched the pics. I really can't wait until Saturday night to take lots of pics of fireworks and Atlantic City!

kitty.jpg


globe1.jpg

I can't see the pictures! I thought it might be my browser but I also tried in Internet Explorer and they still didn't show up.:confused3
 
Thanks for the compliments everyone! Pugrpooh, not sure what's going on, it's working for me...:confused3, Pea-n-Me, I most definitely plan on it! Great pics! I want one of those lenses now! LOL
 
Thanks for the compliments everyone! Pugrpooh, not sure what's going on, it's working for me...:confused3, Pea-n-Me, I most definitely plan on it! Great pics! I want one of those lenses now! LOL

I don't know, but I still can't see them.:confused3

I'm also having this strange craving for French fries! Great pics Pea-n-Me. Does the Sigma autofocus?
 
I'm also having this strange craving for French fries!
I know. And let me tell you, those were some really great fries. :goodvibes

Great pics Pea-n-Me. Does the Sigma autofocus?
Thanks. Yes, it does, and very quickly, it's nice. (It's huge and heavy though, but that I can live with.) I can't believe how fortunate I was to get it - and ready for this: for $125. I also bought both the FL50 and FL36 flashes for $300 (total) :thumbsup2 all on Craigslist. As my brother says, you've got to be lucky occasionally. I haven't had a lot of opportunities to use the flashes, just the 50 once, and it worked beautifully to shoot my son's baseball team. The guy showed me how to use them but I think it's going to take me a while to figure them out.

I took some more pics with the Sigma this morning, in the rain. :scared: (I haven't taken it off my camera, LOL.) Hopefully I'll have something worthy of posting on the Assignment thread.

Joe, did you get your flash?

ETA Gdad has a Sigma thread going for those with similar lenses.
 
Linda,

Really great pics with the new Sigma---I love the shot of the hand in the popcorn, and $125?! :scared1: Insane!!

I have the Sigma 30 1.4 for my D90 and it is probably my favorite lens (although I only have 4 lenses so that might not be saying much :rolleyes1). I love the shallow DOF, the color rendition with the lens is really nice and I just find that the pictures have a different "feel" straight out of the camera without any PP. It seems that no matter which version, all Sigma fast prime lenses end up getting :thumbsup2 :thumbsup2 from anyone who owns one.

Other than the fact that I find things getting a little blown out when I shoot wide open in the daylight (for this, I guess I should start looking into the use of exposure compensation)---I can't think of anything about it I don't like.

Looking forward to seeing some more shots. I'll be toting mine to a Phillies game and a picnic this weekend to get a couple options to use on the assignment thread!
 

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