Practical camera help
- Thread starter micheleq
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micheleq
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Thanks everyone! I pulled the trigger on a Panasonic Lumix G6 today. Went to look at a Canon SL1 (in person) and this Lumix popped up as a comparable. Seemed to fit all of our needs. Maybe I will get bitten by the bug and this will be the first of many more cameras...
micheleq
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14-42 lens. It all seems pretty compact! The body and lens came to just under $600 so it was right on point for price. Good reviews on it for low light and decent speed for some hockey pics. He does like to take nature pics as well so I think that's where this camera will really draw him in.
His birthday is Thursday and I'm a little excited to try it out myself
I got a 64gb SDXC card to go with it which should be enough memory for tons of video and photos.
His birthday is Thursday and I'm a little excited to try it out myself
I got a 64gb SDXC card to go with it which should be enough memory for tons of video and photos.
boBQuincy
<font color=green>I am not carrying three pods<br>
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Welcome to the micro 4/3 group, I think you will find us a friendly and helpful bunch! After using a G3 for years my upgrade list shows either a G6 or GX7.
While using the camera for hockey photos you will probably find yourself wanting a longer lens. The best choice may be Panasonic's 35-100 f/2.8. Few (none?) other micro 4/3 long lenses have that wide an aperture which is good for those conditions (relatively low light, fast action). At a lot less $$$ Panasonic's 45-175 is a good lens but the smaller aperture makes it less desirable for indoor action photos. A 35-100 is also on my upgrade list.
Micro 4/3 cameras focus quickly and accurately but are not the best for tracking a fast moving subject, for best results try to pre-focus on where the action will be or choose a subject that is not rapidly changing distance from you.
One of the big advantages of micro 4/3 is that you can use Olympus lenses as if they were made for your Panasonic, because they are! Micro 4/3 is one of those very rare lens mounts that is not brand-specific. Have fun with your new camera! Oh, and get a spare battery!
While using the camera for hockey photos you will probably find yourself wanting a longer lens. The best choice may be Panasonic's 35-100 f/2.8. Few (none?) other micro 4/3 long lenses have that wide an aperture which is good for those conditions (relatively low light, fast action). At a lot less $$$ Panasonic's 45-175 is a good lens but the smaller aperture makes it less desirable for indoor action photos. A 35-100 is also on my upgrade list.
Micro 4/3 cameras focus quickly and accurately but are not the best for tracking a fast moving subject, for best results try to pre-focus on where the action will be or choose a subject that is not rapidly changing distance from you.
One of the big advantages of micro 4/3 is that you can use Olympus lenses as if they were made for your Panasonic, because they are! Micro 4/3 is one of those very rare lens mounts that is not brand-specific. Have fun with your new camera!
Oh, and get a spare battery!All of the above is GREAT and AWESOME advice!
I would take the list that your may or may not get as far as "wishes a camera will do" and take it to a camera center.
Take along with you one or more of his old lenses and take them along. Put them on the cameras there for testing. As a person taking the photos you get a much better feel if the camera is "right" for him.
Tell them what you are looking for.
Most Camera Professional places know that it's a huge investment and typically don't pressure you into buying in the store that day. They are typically very happy to explain things and how they work as well. You can look on-line for certified Cannon and Nikon dealers in your area. Driving a few extra miles to test run a camera may save you a couple hundred or a thousand dollars in the end.
Just browse and compare.
Don't forget to look at the screens and if they make sense to YOU.
Look at the functions it allows you to do in "automatic" mode.
Go outside if they allow you to and take some shots of a moving car for speed comparisons or a bird possibly flying. Or have someone along like a grandchild willing to run a bit for you.
The Cannon 5i and 3i have different features for the user to consider when making their shots.
BUT... Above all else. It comes down to the lens and the camera talking to that lens. You can get a very nice basic camera kit of the 3i with lenses with anti shake at SamsClub or a wholesale box store, however, the lenses themselves don't go down to a 2.8f-stop, so you would want to consider getting an additional lens, so why pay the extra if you aren't going to use what you get in the kit? You don't have to. You can buy the camera body from a local certified retailer or on-line and purchase the lens separately.
Very little known lens secret is that the Sygma lenses were bought out by Cannon and are the only "non-cannon" brand lenses recommended to be used on a Cannon camera and will continue to be branded as Sygma lenses as the competition to Cannon and are a very high quality lens manufacturer.
You also have to consider the RAW file factor in any camera. Raw files let you take all of the data that the camera captures and manipulate it in editing programs, but if you are not someone that knows how to do this, the benefit doesn't out-weigh the cost.
REMEMBER: A Camera NEVER knows what you want to see in your final shot. That is up to the photographer and their knowledge of the equipment and how to manipulate it to get what you want.
Cannon has some nice on-line tutorials and there are thousands of YouTube videos explaining this and that along with hundreds of published books and websites supporting cannon users.
My personal vote would be to... Go Cannon because I like them. I've used them since I was 15 yrs old, But I have a friend and colleague that loves his Nikon and likes how it function. But YOU have to pick the one that works for THEM, not necessarily the professional, but one that can get you the professional shot.
If professional shots is NOT what they like to capture images for, then camera phones and smaller options like the Nikon with interchangeable lenses may be the better way to go on this one.
There are so many options and opinions and information out there. Good Luck Choosing One!
I would take the list that your may or may not get as far as "wishes a camera will do" and take it to a camera center.
Take along with you one or more of his old lenses and take them along. Put them on the cameras there for testing. As a person taking the photos you get a much better feel if the camera is "right" for him.
Tell them what you are looking for.
Most Camera Professional places know that it's a huge investment and typically don't pressure you into buying in the store that day. They are typically very happy to explain things and how they work as well. You can look on-line for certified Cannon and Nikon dealers in your area. Driving a few extra miles to test run a camera may save you a couple hundred or a thousand dollars in the end.
Just browse and compare.
Don't forget to look at the screens and if they make sense to YOU.
Look at the functions it allows you to do in "automatic" mode.
Go outside if they allow you to and take some shots of a moving car for speed comparisons or a bird possibly flying. Or have someone along like a grandchild willing to run a bit for you.
The Cannon 5i and 3i have different features for the user to consider when making their shots.
BUT... Above all else. It comes down to the lens and the camera talking to that lens. You can get a very nice basic camera kit of the 3i with lenses with anti shake at SamsClub or a wholesale box store, however, the lenses themselves don't go down to a 2.8f-stop, so you would want to consider getting an additional lens, so why pay the extra if you aren't going to use what you get in the kit? You don't have to. You can buy the camera body from a local certified retailer or on-line and purchase the lens separately.
Very little known lens secret is that the Sygma lenses were bought out by Cannon and are the only "non-cannon" brand lenses recommended to be used on a Cannon camera and will continue to be branded as Sygma lenses as the competition to Cannon and are a very high quality lens manufacturer.
You also have to consider the RAW file factor in any camera. Raw files let you take all of the data that the camera captures and manipulate it in editing programs, but if you are not someone that knows how to do this, the benefit doesn't out-weigh the cost.
REMEMBER: A Camera NEVER knows what you want to see in your final shot. That is up to the photographer and their knowledge of the equipment and how to manipulate it to get what you want.
Cannon has some nice on-line tutorials and there are thousands of YouTube videos explaining this and that along with hundreds of published books and websites supporting cannon users.
My personal vote would be to... Go Cannon because I like them. I've used them since I was 15 yrs old, But I have a friend and colleague that loves his Nikon and likes how it function. But YOU have to pick the one that works for THEM, not necessarily the professional, but one that can get you the professional shot.
If professional shots is NOT what they like to capture images for, then camera phones and smaller options like the Nikon with interchangeable lenses may be the better way to go on this one.
There are so many options and opinions and information out there. Good Luck Choosing One!
sjs314
"Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2010
- Messages
- 10,388
Michele I just came across your post and wish you the best with your new camera. I have a 4:3 mirrorless myself which I purchased last year before our most recent trip to Disney and I have to say I am in love with it.
I have the Olympus E-PM1 with the kit lens, 14-42 and I also purchased a 40-150 both of which I found to work excellent on my trip
Have thought of you this Winter and wondered if you were still in MI, Connecticut has been crazy weather wise this Winter
Happy New Year
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I have the Olympus E-PM1 with the kit lens, 14-42 and I also purchased a 40-150 both of which I found to work excellent on my trip
Have thought of you this Winter and wondered if you were still in MI, Connecticut has been crazy weather wise this Winter
Happy New Year
14-42 lens. It all seems pretty compact! The body and lens came to just under $600 so it was right on point for price. Good reviews on it for low light and decent speed for some hockey pics. He does like to take nature pics as well so I think that's where this camera will really draw him in.
His birthday is Thursday and I'm a little excited to try it out myself
Very Nice! I think the 64gig SDXC card will not fit in the camera though. The 32 Gig SD cards at Costco will...
Pea-n-Me
DIS Legend
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2004
- Messages
- 41,466
If you haven't already, make sure you pick up a copy of Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It will help you/your DH grasp basic principles of photography that will enable you to get better pictures, regardless of which camera you use. Indoor sports pictures are notoriously difficult due to poor lighting and fast movement. It will take some practice to get decent hockey photos, and at some point, as bobQuincy mentioned, you might find yourself wanting a faster, longer lens. Remember that, besides micro four thirds lenses, you can also use any 4:3 lens with a 4:3 adapter and they will all still auto focus (since they were designed for digital). I have gotten quite a few good lenses on Craigslist.14-42 lens. It all seems pretty compact! The body and lens came to just under $600 so it was right on point for price. Good reviews on it for low light and decent speed for some hockey pics. He does like to take nature pics as well so I think that's where this camera will really draw him in.
His birthday is Thursday and I'm a little excited to try it out myself
micheleq
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 6, 2008
- Messages
- 1,551
Michele I just came across your post and wish you the best with your new camera. I have a 4:3 mirrorless myself which I purchased last year before our most recent trip to Disney and I have to say I am in love with it.
I have the Olympus E-PM1 with the kit lens, 14-42 and I also purchased a 40-150 both of which I found to work excellent on my trip
Have thought of you this Winter and wondered if you were still in MI, Connecticut has been crazy weather wise this Winter
Happy New Year[/URL][/IMG]
Hello! It has been cold here in MI! The polar vortex whacked us good, three days of no school due to wind chills below -35, record lows. I think it was a record of days off for Grosse Pointe because we're a walking district so there's almost never snow days (no buses to worry about and the towns plow even the sidewalks). My parents said it was crazy cold in CT too.
I'm looking forward to playing around with the camera for a few weeks before DH & I take a trip to Puerto Rico for a few days in March and then we are going as a family on a Disney Cruise in April.
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