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Beginner with a 450d looking for help please??
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Hey people :wink:
Havent been on this for a while but I have been using my camera a lot and even carry it around with me fairly often when going for a spin in the car for example.
What I basically have is a 450d (box, manuals, VGC), Kit lens (18-55), Hama UV filter, 3 batteries and a Canon 400d leatherette protective case. I also have a backpack I stuck a load of scarves into it for carrying it around with me which seems to do the job until I get into better funds for a proper camera bag.
Anyways, I only have the kit 18-55 IS lens. Found it very good but has let me done on some pictures due to ‘zoomability’ limits.
There are main 3 lens that I know a ‘bit of stuff’ about and am a bit interested in:
– 17-85mm lens (I heard a lot of people use it as an all rounder lens, so would do me grand)
– 50mm fish eye lens (a lot of people have it and can produce some cool pics, especially nice cars, people..)
– Canon EF 90-300mm F4.5-5.6 Zoom Lens (thinking this is good for long shots? Could be wrong?)What basically interests me are pictures of city life. Capturing all the grittiness or beauty of a moment in inner city life. I love good graffiti as well. Im fond of black and white pictures. Love artists like Banksy including a Dublin artist Maser.
I am thinking of going for the 17-85mm lens as a ‘walk around lens’ as people say. Theres also a Canon 90-300 (spec listed above) I have my eye on but I want that more so to capture long distance shots (like what the paparazzi have). Sorry not very good at explaining. Finally I will buy the fish eye lens later on.
Ive been looking at lenses on the normal places like Ebay and Adverts.ie, Argos catalog….. I have found out that there is a good bit to know about lenses and prices vary!! A lot of terminology to learn.
Finally my last couple of questions, very important ones!
I have after getting my hands on CS3 Photoshop :D Is there any other software people on here always use and couldnt live without it?? Dont mind paying a few quid for something very useful. I know photoshop elements is good.
I am also thinking about books and DVDs to teach my self the basics. Anyone recommend anything?Thanking you in advance for any help. I’ll update with any progress I get. This photography thing is more a lifestyle than a hobby thing :lol:
Hi Pedro-
Won’t spend long – but here are my very quick tips.
Get ‘Practical Photography’ magazine every month.
Forget the 17-85mm & the 90-300mm – and get the Canon 55-250mm instead. It gets the best magazine reviews for a lens in this focal range and your budget range – and is approx €200.
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/reviews/canon-ef-s-55-250mm-f-4-5.6-is-lens-review.aspx
http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/592701/art/canon/ef-s-55-250mm-f-4-5-6-is.htmlThe 50mm is not a fisheye – its a prime. The 50mm f1/8 will cost €90-100 new – maybe €60 2nd hand. Its nickname is the “nifty 50”. Well worth getting for the shallow DOF it offers.
You can do (almost) everything with Photoshop CS3- so no other software required for now.
A really really good book to get is “Understanding Exposure – Bryan Peterson”
YouTube is a great resource for alomost everything to do with Photography & Photoshop tips & tricks. Use the money you would have spent on a DVD and get a really good Polariser and ND8 filter.
Hope this help a little.
bren
Hey Pedro,
The 50mm 1.8 is a must have really. Cheap, super quality, great for street.
By the way, there is a site get together in Dublin (and other places) November 8th at night time for some photography
if you’re interested.pi-dublin-nationwide-night-shoot-event-t40663.html
On lenses, what sort of budget do you have ? It’ll help people figure out the best lens for the money.
Mark
bren
I’ll get a copy of ‘Practical Photography’ tomorrow in Easons. Have already looked up on the net and looks good.
http://www.photoanswers.co.uk/Photography-Magazines/Practical-Photography-Magazine/Practical-Photography—October-2010/I think i will get the 50mm f1/8 first, sounds cool :wink: Are second hand lenses safe to buy or do you need to look at certain things?
Thats the 2nd time ive heard of “Understanding Exposure – Bryan Peterson”. That’ll be going on my crimbo list. Might look at it in Easons if they have it tomorrow.
Never even thought of YouTube! I have just installed and used very quickly CS3. Looks good, a bit tricky mind you. Youtube will be helpful I think.
Mark
Budget wise? Just came into some money I wasnt expecting but dont want to blow it all on lenses! I’ll be buying the 50mm f1/8 (“nifty 50”) like you and Bren have suggested that’s for sure. I’ll be concentrating on ‘Street Photography’ I think. So lenses for that type of ‘work’.Might look at getting a Polariser and ND8 filter. Found a Polariser in the Argos catalog and like the idea of it.
I would be interested indeed. Cheers for that. Will defo look into it! I used to live in the North Inner City in Dublin and could have taken some great shots at times if i had a camera earlier :roll: But sometimes its not too safe to be walking around with a few hundred euros around your neck!
Thanks for the help by the way :wink:Well following advice from here and another forum I ended up buying the Nifty 50 :D
Bought a couple of books as well:
• Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson (recommended to me on this thread, cheers Brendancullen :wink: )
• Digital Photography ‘Just the Steps’ For Dummies
• Bought ‘Canon 450d for Dummies’ from Amazon.co.uk and just waiting for it from Postman PatI bought and have been bought a few magazines by family:
• Practical Photography (November)
• PhotoPlus (November)
• Photography Monthly (December)
So plenty of reading to do! Havent read too much yet but have taken some pictures and tried getting to know the camera better.Things to do :
• Need to buy a proper bag
• Another lens? (Either a Canon 55-250mm (or a shorter non Canon 2.8lens depending on money ?I?)
• Get Lightroom? Heard its much better than Photoshop
• Read the 450d instruction manual. Should have done it a long time ago!Great thread! Giving me something to start on, going to see can I find some of the mentioned books tomorrow.
Thanks
On books – I have found that the Scot Kelby “The Digital Photography Book”, Volume 1,2,3 are great for getting immediate improvements in your photography. They are written like a collection of tips, well written and you’ll get through the books in no time and soon start to see improvements.
Paul
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