The *Official Photography Thread*

Anyone recommend a lens worth saving up for? I've got a D3000 with just the 18-55mm, as well as a 55-200mm. I shoot mainly scenery and shots of people holding fish..It's on the river with me every time I'm out.

 

I'd get a prime next for low light/faster.

35mm f/1.8G or 50mm f/1.8G will both autofocus with your D3000 and are super cheap for the cost to quality ratio.

 

X2

I'd recommend the 35mm 1.8 DX lens as it will be a "50mm" on a crop sensor.

 

I agree with this, I haven't used my camera much recently, but after i got my 35mm 1.8g it was the only thing I used. I think its one of the best lenses for the price. Focus is good enough for action shots in decent lighting and its a good length. I think for the d3000 the 50mm 1.8g would be too long of a lense for landscapes and fish. Plus i think the 50 is a lot more expensive than the 35 if i remember correctly.

If I was using my camera more I would probably want the tokina 11-16 2.8 except i dont think autofocus works on the d3000.

 

tokina has the built in motor

 

Awesome advice, thanks guys.

 

your right. the new one has the motor, i didnt know that.

 

Nice. I've been trying to get some decent moon shots with my 55-200 but they come out horrible.....just a round blob with sloppy features. Should I even bother when the best zoom I have is a 200?

 

are you using a tripod?

 

this.

 

^This.

 

Yes, yes, and yes. Still full of fail

I'll try when the moon is on a different plane (later at night) and not near the horizon.

 

Album a came across. My trip to Montreal. Beautiful city













Ive always heard about the Gargoyles in Old Montreal, So i searched around and asked some locals. Finally found them. I was soo stoked!

 

Hey everyone, awesome pictures in this thread. I've been interested in getting a DSLR camera for a couple years. The better half has approved (within reason) purchasing one for our family finally so I've been looking around. Price range is no more than $550...I'm not looking for anything too advanced just something that will take great pics of my dogs in action and vacation...things around home too. I don't look to get into it at a professional level by any means...but would like to have maybe the capability of whatever I buy to grow with me as well once I become a little more skilled. Ease of use would be nice too. Anyone have any suggestions? A family member bought a bundle at Bestbuy for $699...Nikon D5100 I believe. Wife won't let me spend that much though...also saw a Canon T3 bundle on Amazon for $480...just not sure which route to go.
Thanks for any help all....

 

get a decent point and shoot if you are going to keep it on program mode. no need to spend all that monies if that is all you are going to do.

 

Get on sites lie B&H.com and Adorama.com and check out the prices (also look at refurbished good, I buy a lot of that ha). You will find better prices than a store 9 times out of 10 on the interwebs.

For a $550 budget I'd suggest a D5100 but you can pick up a refurbished D7000 from Adorama right now for $749 shipped and that is a GREAT price and a better camera that you can definitely grow into as you get better with it. Considering the cost to value there I would go with the D7000.

EDIT: but then again that is body only. LENSES are what are expensive. I'd rather see you get a cheap body and a really nice lens or two than the other way around. If you haven't picked up the advice in this thread yet, the number one thing you'll hear when buying is get quality Lenses. Lenses you keep forever, the body can change out later on as you get better. So depending on your budget and how much leeway you have perhaps a 5100 and a quality walk around lens + a quality prime lens . . .

 

what was your flash power? overpowering the sun is cool if your strobe is not connected to the camera

 

I am going to venture to say that you should have your shutter speed no faster than 1/250s, because if you go faster then you are also cutting into the total exposure, versus just the flash exposure, otherwise you will just burn through your speedlight batteries quicker than normal. control the flash exposure on the flash, or in the camera menu, not by the shutter speed.

since you have a d300, you can control the cls options in the camera.

if you want to cut out the background, then stop down on your lens, this will also net you more detail. or increase your shutter speed, and at some point(1/250s) you will have to increase the power of the speedlight).

 

anyone use these before

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN7WwQNrbRI?version=3