The Learning Curve

[tyedye]

Not sure if this is a question for this thread or not but...
I am trying to learn about IS, VR, etc and I understand that some cameras have the IS/Vr built into the body (like Pentax, Oly, Sony) and some build it into the lenses (like Nikon, Canon). So if you are using a monopod or tripod for taking action pictures would you want the IS/VR turned off? Would the in camera or in lens stabilization be working against you instead of for you or would it only help to insure a clearer picture? Obviously when taking action pictures, you'll need a fast shutter speed to stop the action so at what point would the IS/VR not be useful if using a monopod/tripod?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It's a great question, tyedye. And the answer is, yes, when using a tripod, you can shut your IS off, as it can work against you.

Mark explains why, here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1871142&referrerid=70088 (Other threads of his are linked on page 11 here for easy reference.)

The big thing is remembering to shut if off. But for your own situation, maybe try some both ways (IS on, and off) to see what happens. Post your examples here if you do, it would be interesting to see results.

 

[loopner67]

Great thread! Wish I had found it sooner. I can see myself up 'til midnight tonight going thru every page.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Would anyone like to take a shot at explaining it to me like I'm a 3 year old?

 

[dr_zero]

Would anyone like to take a shot at explaining it to me like I'm a 3 year old?

Firmware is the instructions built into the camera that tell it what it is and how to do what it does.

Without it all the parts are there but they dont know each other and how to work together.

When you upgrade it its kinda like refining a skill or making oneself smarter they can adjust how images are stored with a new algorithm or make the shutter more responsive or even add more options to the menu.

Does that help any?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Yes, thank you. I knew it had to do with the "software" inside the camera.

I've read that there are some upgrades for my camera, but I guess I wasn't sure how to go about actually doing it. From what I gather, I download the upgrade instructions, and then somehow get them into the camera. (You know how much I love this technical stuff ).

I will read my instruction manual, but I thought a discussion about Firmware in general might be helpful to others also. It's not something you see discussed much.

 

[InsertWittyNameHere]

Yes, thank you. I knew it had to do with the "software" inside the camera.

I've read that there are some upgrades for my camera, but I guess I wasn't sure how to go about actually doing it. From what I gather, I download the upgrade instructions, and then somehow get them into the camera. (You know how much I love this technical stuff ).

I will read my instruction manual, but I thought a discussion about Firmware in general might be helpful to others also. It's not something you see discussed much.

In your case, you can download any firmware using the Olympus Master software. I'm not positive but I think that by doing so, your camera will be reset to factory defaults so you will most likely need to go back into the menu for any tweaks that you had previously applied.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Firmware is the software that is part of a piece of hardware. It is the program that your camera, your network equipment, your TV, and other stuff uses.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

In your case, you can download any firmware using the Olympus Master software. I'm not positive but I think that by doing so, your camera will be reset to factory defaults so you will most likely need to go back into the menu for any tweaks that you had previously applied.

Thanks. I see that firmware updates are available on the Olympus website. I'll follow it from there.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Just wanted to say that the "Indicating Correct Exposure" discussion we had on the last page has been hugely helpful to me over the past couple of weeks.

For the first time ever, I've begun shooting manually and consistently getting good exposures that way.

Thank you!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Also adding

The downside to having a DSLR here

and How to Shoot: SpectroMagic to Mark's threads on page 11

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Also adding

The downside to having a DSLR here

and How to Shoot: SpectroMagic to Mark's threads on page 11

If you want to get fancy with your indexing, you can post links to posts within a thread. Here is the basic format:

Address: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php
Topic: t=1794070
Page: page=11
Post: post=160

You put the address (which is the same for all Disboard threads), followed by "?", "t=", followed by the thread number (open the thread and get the number off of the URL), followed by "&page=", followed by the page within the thread, followed by "&post=#", followed by the post number (which is show in the upper right corner of each post).

So a link to the posting that shows "Mark's Threads" would be:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1794070&page=11&post=#160

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Got it.

My hope was that in fishing around a bit, people might see something of interest to them, and participate.

 

[Quicklabs]

Just want to say thanks to Pea-n-Me for starting this thread and to everyone who contributed their expertise to it....
I've learned so much in the past year from you guys. I hope it shows in my photos from time to time.

 

[wenrob]

I'll participate.

My question has to do w/external flash. I have an SB400 that I bought when I realized the pop up wouldn't get up over the lens(18-200mm). My issue here is that I have vaulted ceilings so can't bounce and the SB400 can't be shifted to the side only flipped up and in any case my walls are "adobe white" aka "tan." I bought a pocket bouncer but it's too big for it and so I got a diffuser. That of course severely limits my reach. It does great during daylight hours when I have the curtains open but in the evenings, forgettaboutit. Yet I can't bring myself to take it off and go back to "in your face" flash. Since getting the SB600 and painting the houselmao: ) aren't viable options at the moment and my kids tend to do cute things in the evening what advice would you all give to using the flash I have to get better pics?

 

[Groucho]

I'll participate.

My question has to do w/external flash. I have an SB400 that I bought when I realized the pop up wouldn't get up over the lens(18-200mm). My issue here is that I have vaulted ceilings so can't bounce and the SB400 can't be shifted to the side only flipped up and in any case my walls are "adobe white" aka "tan." I bought a pocket bouncer but it's too big for it and so I got a diffuser. That of course severely limits my reach. It does great during daylight hours when I have the curtains open but in the evenings, forgettaboutit. Yet I can't bring myself to take it off and go back to "in your face" flash. Since getting the SB600 and painting the houselmao: ) aren't viable options at the moment and my kids tend to do cute things in the evening what advice would you all give to using the flash I have to get better pics?

Perhaps try a smaller diffuser? My main flash has a built-in slide-out-and-flip-down diffuser, it doesn't dim the light too much but does soften it slightly (but again, not too much!) I have seen the diffusers that slide over the end of the flash like a cap, they may help. Also, maybe try a bouncer that is the right size for your lens.

You can find all sorts of these type of things for very cheap on eBay. They are probably going to be your best bet if you want to use the flash.

The alternative is to forget the flash entirely and make sure your ISO is set to go pretty high and invest in a faster lens. I'm not sure what speed your 18-200mm is but if you're trying to shoot far enough away that the diffused flash is useless, I'm sure the lens is zoomed enough to be very slow. A cheapie 50mm F1.8 (or even better, a 50mm F1.4 or maybe 30mm F1.4) will made a huge difference!

 

[wenrob]

The diffuser is one of the cap ones. I haven't found a bounce small enough for the SB400. I've tried to google it and done searches in various stores but no luck. My 18-200mm is 3.5 and so is my 18-105mm. I have to bring the ISO up really high and it's not pretty. There is NO light in this house, it drives me crazy. I have the 50mm 1.8 on my Christmas wish list, it just remains to be seen if Santa will visit me too this year. (we pretty much stick to the kids)

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Wendy, I bought an external/bounce flash when I bought my camera but I haven't used it yet. I have get it up and running one of these days. But what I wanted to say was that using my prime lens has made a big difference in the way my low light pictures are coming out, even just using the camera's flash. I've used it quite a bit in the last couple of weeks at some indoor, dark parties and I was surprised at how the pictures came out ok (I'm not a big fan of flash to begin with). Without a flash, I think I could have gotten some decent ones, too, especially if I took the time to really work at it (kids' bdays rocknbowl and Halloween parties so I really didn't have a lot of time). So I think you'll see a difference with your prime.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Just want to say thanks to Pea-n-Me for starting this thread

Thank you!

and to everyone who contributed their expertise to it....
I've learned so much in the past year from you guys.

Ditto!

 

[InsertWittyNameHere]

Just wanted to say that the "Indicating Correct Exposure" discussion we had on the last page has been hugely helpful to me over the past couple of weeks.

For the first time ever, I've begun shooting manually and consistently getting good exposures that way.

Thank you!!

That discussion also got me to venture from the A and S modes and try shooting manually as well. While aperture priority is still my main shooting mode I do occasionally switch to manual and have gotten good results.