The Learning Curve

[handicap18]

Pea-n-Me,,, you might want to put the Mark B links on the first page. With the way this thread is going it will get lost here on page 11.

You can also put direct links to the pages if you like. Just go to the page and copy what comes up in the address line. Might make it easier. Then again, it might not.

Anyway, this certainly is a great thread and we've seen a lot of great questions and advise given out. Once again another win for the DISboards Photography Board!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

This is a question that really can only be answered once you get to the venue. Light is the key. You might be able to get away with the f/4 at ISO1600. I certainly would bring it and also bring the 50 f/1.8. With the 70-200 f/4, I would shoot in Av mode. Set your ISO to 1600 and your f/stop to f/4. If the shutter speeds are fast enough (no less than 1/50th or so) then you should do well. Try to time things when there is a pause in the action. Try to get there early and get a seat close to the stage. If your close enough you can just use the 50mm. Again use Av and ISO1600. Check your shutter speeds. If they're fast you can also cut down to ISO800 or use a smaller aperture (f/2.8 or so). Again, the lighting is the biggest factor.

Thanks, I'll do that... Av Av Av... I'll take my whole camera bag.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

In addition to Handicap's suggestion, If you have a monopod, that will help as well.

Nope, no monopod. I have a tripod, but I think it would be too big to take in there. That might be something on my wish list though.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

I've been to many that said no flash photography (can be distracting and dangerous for dancers supposedly), that's partly why I bought the 85/1.8 and 50/1.8 (along w/ my tripod). There have also been a couple that said no photography period, but it was because they were selling photos/video of the event. Like we don't pay them enough in our montly dues as it is...

Mickey88 and DisneySuiteFreak, I'm not sure about it. I called my sister, she had not heard that you would not be allowed to take pictures, but she wasn't positive. Although she's been telling me all year to come and take pictures. I guess I'll take my camera and wait and see. I would not even bother trying to take pictures with the flash, mostly because we have tons of pictures of the peoples' heads in front of my mother at our concerts!

 

[Cyndibear]

Hi i've also been reading this board and love it. I have a canon rebel xti i was wondering if any of you have the image stabilization lenses and if they work.

Thank you for any help.

Was wondering the same thing, anyone?

 

[boBQuincy]

Yep, IS lenses work! I was skeptical but purchased a Canon 24-105 and it is usually good down to 1/15 at 105mm and maybe 1/4 at 24mm.

DPReview tested Canon's 17-85 and found similar results.

 

[DVC Eric]

I was looking at both lenses good to hear you like yours.
Thank you.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Bumping for those who helped the economy by buying new cameras this week!

 

[loveGoofy]

So my simple advice to people learning is to pick one thing - aperture, ISO, using a polarizer, shooting a sunrise, shooting your dog, capturing a sense of motion, whatever - then practice that one thing until you feel you understand it. Then move on to something else. Slowly but surely, it will start making sense.

I think this is the advice that I will take away from my reading today. I just go a Sony A300 last week and took my first practice photos today. Right now I am just trying to get a basic feel for the camera by shooting in Auto... but will take your advice and pick one thing to practice with.

Right now, I feel pretty clueless about what it all means and am a little intimidated by all of the buttons, but am SO excited to learn. Having seen many of your photos, and those of the other members of this photography board, I know that you will have lots to teach me.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I think I'd like to tackle Exposure Compensation next.

Who wants to help?

A few articles to get started:

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/key=exposure+compensation

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=exposure+compensation+digital+photography

http://www.digicamhelp.com/camera-features/advanced-settings/ec.php

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Why Exposture Compensation?

This is one example from a whole group of pictures that I took on a very bright, sunny day. I should have gone down one stop so they weren't as overexposed with blown highlights. (Had I not been so busy yacking with my SIL I might have noticed they were too bright on the Histogram.)

I can't pull up the EXIF data but I believe I was shooting in Aperture Priority.

Comments.

 

[WVDisGeek]

Question of the Day

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why did you buy the camera you did, and would you do anything differently if you were buying for the first time today?

I bought a Pentax K200D about 3 weeks ago. I bought it for two compelling reasons. The first, and it may not apply to your situation, was that I had several old Pentax lenses from my film SLR days that would fit the new body. The second was that from all of the reviews I read, the Pentax was as good in most areas as the other "entry level" DSLRs out there. It was slightly less so in some areas (ISO only goes to 1600) but much better in others, fully sealed body and lenses (DA* Only!). I have several co-workers that recently bought DSLRs. Two have Nikon D200s (they have more disposable income than me! ) and one just bought a Canon XSI. I tried the XSI at a local photo shop and it just didn't feel as substantial as my K200.

In the end it is a personal decision. I would echo what others have said. Try them, find one that feels right to you and do your homework to make sure it will have the features that are important to you!

Good luck!

 

[The Grays]

Why Exposture Compensation?

This is one example from a whole group of pictures that I took on a very bright, sunny day. I should have gone down one stop so they weren't as overexposed with blown highlights. (Had I not been so busy yacking with my SIL I might have noticed they were too bright on the Histogram.)

I can't pull up the EXIF data but I believe I was shooting in Aperture Priority.

Comments.

If you are able to shoot in tiff mode or raw sometimes you are able to get a bit more out of blown out highlights. May times like a situation like that I will use the spot metering mode or bracket my shots and layer them to get the best exposure in the high lights as well as the shadows.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If you are able to shoot in tiff mode or raw sometimes you are able to get a bit more out of blown out highlights. May times like a situation like that I will use the spot metering mode or bracket my shots and layer them to get the best exposure in the high lights as well as the shadows.

Thanks, I will have to try that.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around this concept. I've been getting frustrated that some of my mid-day pictures seem overexposed. I don't know if it's me, my camera, a combination, or maybe just something I shouldn't even be bothering with.

Borrowed from another thread:

mid day is the perfect time to put the camera up and go to the pool or have a nap in the room. Mid day FL sun is tough lighting to get good pictures.

Please help! Can someone explain - is shooting in mid-day, bright sun, shall we say, known to be extremely challenging (for everyone)? And how, exactly, might use of a filter/hood/other accessories help if you do have to shoot in mid-day sun? Thanks. (I seem to be out there a lot with baseball and other daytime activities these days.)

 

[oogieboogieman]

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around this concept. I've been getting frustrated that some of my mid-day pictures seem overexposed. I don't know if it's me, my camera, a combination, or maybe just something I shouldn't even be bothering with.

Borrowed from another thread:



Please help! Can someone explain - is shooting in mid-day, bright sun, shall we say, known to be extremely challenging (for everyone)? And how, exactly, might use of a filter/hood/other accessories help if you do have to shoot in mid-day sun? Thanks. (I seem to be out there a lot with baseball and other daytime activities these days.)

It sounds like we both have the same issues, with blown highlights. I've read on DPREVIEW.COM that 410/510 has a tendency for that. I usually shoot in Aperture mode and compensate my setting to -0.7 during bright sunlight. That seems to give me, IMO the best colors. Then when I look at the histogram it is usually towards the left side. I wish my DW was in town so I could post a picture ( if she would teach me I would post all the time ). Sometimes I will have a picture with the histogram almost centered but then the colors look kinda BLAH! I think it has something to do with metering. Maybe, if I keep shooting I might someday get better!

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

I wish my DW was in town so I could post a picture ( if she would teach me I would post all the time ).

Posting a picture is easy. First you will need to create an account at a free hosting site like Photobucket. Then you need to upload your photos to Photobucket. Once that is done, you click on the links that show up under your photo that start and end w/ IMG. It automatically copies the link. From there you create a new message or thread and copy the link into your message. It's Ctrl+V to paste it into the message. Then submt the post or reply as usual. Good luck!

 

[oogieboogieman]

Posting a picture is easy. First you will need to create an account at a free hosting site like Photobucket. Then you need to upload your photos to Photobucket. Once that is done, you click on the links that show up under your photo that start and end w/ IMG. It automatically copies the link. From there you create a new message or thread and copy the link into your message. It's Ctrl+V to paste it into the message. Then submt the post or reply as usual. Good luck!

We have a Photobucket account just don't know the password, DW has that info. DW comes home this evening must have her teach me.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It sounds like we both have the same issues, with blown highlights. I've read on DPREVIEW.COM that 410/510 has a tendency for that. I usually shoot in Aperture mode and compensate my setting to -0.7 during bright sunlight. That seems to give me, IMO the best colors. Then when I look at the histogram it is usually towards the left side. Sometimes I will have a picture with the histogram almost centered but then the colors look kinda BLAH! I think it has something to do with metering. Maybe, if I keep shooting I might someday get better!

From what I can tell, it's an issue for most cameras. I think with practice and a few tricks, capturing highlights can improve. Do you use the Vivid color mode at all?

Would love to hear others' experiences with this, too.

 

[oogieboogieman]

From what I can tell, it's an issue for most cameras. I think with practice and a few tricks, capturing highlights can improve. Do you use the Vivid color mode at all?

Would love to hear others' experiences with this, too.

Most of the time I perfer the Natural color mode. I have used the Vivid mode also. I tend to spend more time tweaking the CWB settings, contrast, sharpness, and saturation levels. I find it very interesting how messing with aperture, shutter speed, and ISO moves the histogram around. BTW, I do have the book Understanding Exposure and enjoy reading it. I spend a lot of time on DP Review reading about what settings people use with success.