Foo - What are you shooting this holiday season? Camera wise.

Since I work for EK I'm using film and some digital.

Kodak Easy Share C663 - bad redeye

Canon AE1 - needs a rehab but I'm going to use it anyway.

Konica point and shoot - this is an early 80s camera, very early, and takes really nice snapshots.

Do you mean what are we shooting with???

Nikon D40 50mm 1.4 lens. As per usual.

Do you mean what are we shooting with???

Nikon D40 50mm 1.4 lens. As per usual.

Mainly I'm interested in format but also cameras.

Olympus OM10 w/ 55mm lens and Fujicolor 200. Probably no flash.

My super awesome Kodak z950.

Will probably end up with 301 photos of my wife when she doesn't know she is being photographed, another 250 photos of the baby, and maybe 3 photos of the holiday season.

I guess I won't be shooting Kodachrome in the FM2 or N90s. :(

My Christmas present to myself a Nikon D40 with some lenses. I am still trying to figure out how to use it. Generally this time of year I like to walk around and shoot Christmas lights. Tonight headed over to Balboa Island to shoot the boat parade.

Luddite I notice you have the same camera... What our your thoughts about it? What does it seem to shoot best. What lenses do you like to work with?

I meant to take my Pentax Asahi K1000 out (it has film in it) buuuut I aint gotten around to it yet.

I will as usual forget the camera and the battery on my phone will be dead.

My Christmas present to myself a Nikon D40 with some lenses. I am still trying to figure out how to use it. Generally this time of year I like to walk around and shoot Christmas lights. Tonight headed over to Balboa Island to shoot the boat parade.

Luddite I notice you have the same camera... What our your thoughts about it? What does it seem to shoot best. What lenses do you like to work with?

I love the D40! I've had mine since Oct 2008. I nearly always use the 50mm 1.4 lens I bought for it last spring mind you, but it suits the kind of stuff I like to shoot, generally. This camera is great, it's small, light easy to carry around. My suggestion is to start off by setting it to "P" if you are a n00b to shooting with a "regular" camera. Also, choose a focal length and move yourself instead of zooming in and out constantly.

www.flickr.com/nerdycanadian most of what's on my flickr is what I've shot with my Nikon D40. Also, get Lightroom if you can, and shoot in RAW.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d40.htm read this.

Let me know what lenses you have, eh? Also you might want to pick up the inexpensive flash that works with the D40, I use the built in one in a pinch, but the separate flash is good because you can bounce it off walls etc.

The big question - Why do you chose digital over film or vice versa?

DSLR is cheaper to use, in the long run. Plus I can quickly get the photos off the camera and put them on my computer. With film, I have to pay for processing and then if the photos mostly suck, waste of $.

Canon Rebel XT with various lenses, but now have an M42 mount Jupiter-9 85mm f/2 to try out on it (and on the camera below) so I'll stick with that a bit. My Sigma 17-70 lives on it most of the time.

And my trusty old Pentax Spotmatic and 50mm f/1.4 with Kodak Professional 400 B&W film :)

Luddite: Funny I choose the D40 after reviewing it and buying it through Ken Rockwell's website. I only just got the camera last week and went out with the standard 18-55 lens last weekend to shoot scenary while hiking. I ordered the 50mm len and just got that yesterday. WIll play with it this weekend. I am shooting basically on Program mode but am finding the photos alittle "washed out" My little Canon point and shoot takes more vibrant photos but I'm sure its something I have to adjust.

The big question - Why do you chose digital over film or vice versa?

No question photo quality is still better with film and many professionals still shoot with both formats. For an amateur like me... digital is heaven sent. I can shoot and shoot and shoot without worrying about using up film and if the photo it no good =poof= it's deleted. I also have the option of enhancing the photo via computer software> Plus there's the fun of going out, shooting digital, coming home and loading it and then sending it out to everyone. Doesn't take time at all. If you are concerned about quality, than stay old school but I believe some of my digital shots are just as beautiful.

For more info go to kenrockwell.com

Canon Rebel XT with various lenses, but now have an M42 mount Jupiter-9 85mm f/2 to try out on it (and on the camera below) so I'll stick with that a bit. My Sigma 17-70 lives on it most of the time.

And my trusty old Pentax Spotmatic and 50mm f/1.4 with Kodak Professional 400 B&W film :)

:thumb: There were 60,000 employees in Rochester when I started at EK in 1981, there are less than 5,000 today. Oh the downsizings I have survived.

Luddite: Funny I choose the D40 after reviewing it and buying it through Ken Rockwell's website. I only just got the camera last week and went out with the standard 18-55 lens last weekend to shoot scenary while hiking. I ordered the 50mm len and just got that yesterday. WIll play with it this weekend. I am shooting basically on Program mode but am finding the photos alittle "washed out" My little Canon point and shoot takes more vibrant photos but I'm sure its something I have to adjust.

Perhaps it's the white balance? Plus, with lightroom you can fiddle with saturation and such. Some stuff is still a little technical for me too hehe. Before the D40 I was shooting with a Pentax Asahi K1000.

Check my flickr, I mostly shoot with that 50mm f1.4 (you're getting that one, right?) I freaking LOVE that lens. It requires less light than the lens the camera comes with, so you don't always need a flash. If you go back many pages you will find I shot fireworks with that lens (my photos suck a bit, I'm a total amateur, but I try!) I suggest you pick up an inexpensive tripod, too. I scratched the hell out of the screen on my cam accidentally, get an LCD protector at the very least.

I have a friend who is a photography **** and knows more about my camera than I do (he told me to get the 50mm f1.4 in the first place hah) I'll mention your washed out prob to him. Can you show me the washed out photos? Sign up for a flickr account or something. :)

I have a bunch of inexpensive cameras, none of which take really great pictures, but all of which serve the purpose of being a camera I don't care too much if it gets banged around in a backpack or my pocket.

Camera on my phone
Cheap Fuji point-n-shoot 10MP
Cheap and old Kodak point-n-shoot 5MP
VholdR (non-HD) video camera

I have a friend who is a photography **** and knows more about my camera than I do (he told me to get the 50mm f1.4 in the first place hah) I'll mention your washed out prob to him. Can you show me the washed out photos? Sign up for a flickr account or something. :)

When I get home tonight - I will upload some photos for you to see. I was really disappointed but I know its the way the camera is set. My buddy was messing with it. I should have just left it alone and shot auto...

Sometimes shooting P won't work though. I'm curious to see your photos. I'm still an amateur but it helps me to talk about cameras/photography. My best piece of advice, practice, practice, practice.

Nikon P80 for around the tree.

Nikkormat with Ektar 1000 for some more personal family prints. I might try Ektar 25 with some really slower speeds and see if I'm as creative as I tell myself I am.

Pam and Ludd have the D40, crap, my Christmas is shot. I just got hit with waves of "covetousness!"

Dude, it's a cheap camera...save up for one? I got mine for the paltry sum of $419.99. The 50mm lens was (ouch) $500 though.

5D mark2

503cw
and
1922 Voightlander Brilliant

I feel the need to reek of fixer.

Pam and Ludd have the D40, crap, my Christmas is shot. I just got hit with waves of "covetousness!"

I was just going to say cheap... I got the camera body, the 18-55 lens, a $50 case and the 4 g card for $459 at Adorama... and yes the 50mm lens was the biggest investment!!! but the lens that comes with the camera is just fine.

5D mark2

OK now I am coveting...:(

Pam, are the photos overexposed???

Also, the contrast settings...talking to my photography guru friend. Who's an opinionated blasted 18 year old guy btw. You owe me big time for this. :P

OK here are the photos. It was a hazy overcast day and the sky was washed out. The first photo is on program, the second on auto. Note the difference in "warmth". The third I took with my Canon A1100 last winter. I know I need to just play with the camera more.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o288/bcipam/Program.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o288/bcipam/Auto.jpg

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o288/bcipam/Pointandshoot.jpg

I think perhaps it's a white balance issue. Try switching between the white balance settings and see if that helps. I showed these to my friend, waiting to see what he says, too.

eta: plus the first one looks kinda overexposed...

In contrast here's one I took last week on my MTB ride with my Canon A720 - never have the overexposure problem with that camera
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o288/bcipam/ChinoHillsNorthRidge.jpg

is an A270 a P&S?

"regular" cameras are different than P&S cameras, obviously. If you look at my flickr, I don't seem to have that prob you have (the goose photo way back that's overexposed was due to the fact it was extremely bright out and I was using my 50mm lens, it's not "meant" for bright situations like that.)

Luddite: Funny I choose the D40 after reviewing it and buying it through Ken Rockwell's website. I only just got the camera last week and went out with the standard 18-55 lens last weekend to shoot scenary while hiking. I ordered the 50mm len and just got that yesterday. WIll play with it this weekend. I am shooting basically on Program mode but am finding the photos alittle "washed out" My little Canon point and shoot takes more vibrant photos but I'm sure its something I have to adjust.

Pam, I've also got a D40. If you're in matrix metering mode, set the exposure compensation to -0.7. If you don't know how, you can find exposure compensation info in the manual. The reason is the D40 seems to expose most scenes about 2/3 of a stop to bright.

Also, I like to shoot with the "optimize image" setting accessible through the shooting menu at Vivid. In neutral, the colors are just a little bit dull.

Those settings put the colors generally on par with what my Canon SD800 produces, but of course, the D40 is sharper and has better dynamic range.

iamlucky, thanks dude...didn't know about the optimize image thing, set mine to vivid. I am shooting in single mode atm though, was having issues otherwise.

Canon T1i. I usually pop on a 50mm 1.8 mark I, or the kit lens, a 17-55.

However I may just leave it at home. Sometimes I just use the IPhone camera.

Nikon D40X and my favourite lens is the 50mm 1.8. I have a couple of zooms: the 18-55 and the 55-200VR. They're good lenses but I like the 50mm because I can only use it in manual and I'm learning how to set the shutter speed, iso, and aperture. When I was looking around for a 50mm lens I learned that thr D40X can use older lenses so I looked online and the 50mm 1.8E had decent ratings and it only cost me $60.

I also set the camera to vivid. I also like the warmth in the picture I take when I set the white balance to cloudy rather than auto.

Do you shooting in RAW or jpg? If I'm taking picture of my mom's vicious cat Freddy, I use jpeg since I can share the laughs sooner with Freddy's fans. Nearly everything else I shoot in RAW and use Photoshop Elements to process them.

My two film cameras are Lomographic plastic cameras. My fav is the fish eye. It takes ultra wide photos and it's fun but the view finder is a parallax horror. I "aim" and shoot. The colours are super vibrant and that's another reason to love the lomo fish eye. My other lomo is an octomat (I think). I don't use it as much but great for catching an active scene since it records it as 8 images on one photo.

iamlucky, thanks dude...didn't know about the optimize image thing, set mine to vivid. I am shooting in single mode atm though, was having issues otherwise.

Single mode is the mode for the autofocus or the frame rate. Matrix, spot, or center-weighted are the metering modes. Matrix is the easiest to use, so that's what most people stick with (I only use the other two only in particular situations). The tip about exposure compensation applies regardless of autofocus mode or frame rate as long as you're in matrix mode. It's not an absolute, since you encounter all sorts of different lighting scenarios, but in general -0.7 EV gives me the best exposure for the D40.

Setting the color to vivid increases the saturation slightly, and I think does a tonal adjustment. These are things you can also do in photoshop after the picture is taken, but the camera does a good job by itself.

Oh, I should also mention, the D40 shots you put up are enough different from the A720 that they're poor comparisons for colors. In the D40 shots, most of the scene is in shade. Since it metered for shaded objects and sky is very bright in comparison, the sky behind the trees is overexposed. In the A720 shot, most of it is in sunlight, so it's easier to get a good balance between the sky and ground. It's a discrepancy you don't notice with your eyeball, because it's such a superior optical instrument.

Canon HV20.

Video interests me but I have nothing to shoot.

My old reliable 6 yr old Fujifilm Finepics S3000 tank of a 3 megapixel camera that will not break for digital, and for film, my antique Rolliflex TLR.. :p

Blackberry Bold 9700.

I'll get a DSLR someday.

Canon Xti. I am looking to upgrade my POS kit lens so have rented a couple for the holidays to see which one I would like to buy. The rented lenses under consideration are:

Canon 15-85 EFS IS USM 3.5-5.6
Canon 17-55 EFS 2.8 IS USM

Image quality of both lenses is supposed to be great. I really prefer the range of the 15-85 and the build quality appears better than the 17-55 but, at $720 from B&H, I think it is a bit overpriced for as slow as it is. I wish it was a constant 2.8. The 17-55 is around $1100. I have a week from today to make up my mind (rental is up then).

Canon Xti. I am looking to upgrade my POS kit lens so have rented a couple for the holidays to see which one I would like to buy. The rented lenses under consideration are:

Canon 15-85 EFS IS USM 3.5-5.6
Canon 17-55 EFS 2.8 IS USM

Image quality of both lenses is supposed to be great. I really prefer the range of the 15-85 and the build quality appears better than the 17-55 but, at $720 from B&H, I think it is a bit overpriced for as slow as it is. I wish it was a constant 2.8. The 17-55 is around $1100. I have a week from today to make up my mind (rental is up then).

You can't ever make a f/3.5 brighter, but you can stop down an f/2.8. If you're thinking of it as an "all purpose" main lens, I really would go for the brighter lens. I use the Sigma 18-50 f2.8 and find it to be quite adequate as a normal everyday lens. You can pick one up for about $400. Doesn't have IS or a HSM/USM focusing motor, but it does nicely in 99% of party/park/etc. situations.

If things get really dark, I use a the 50 1.4 USM, but it is a bit tight. I'm really lusting after the 35 1.4L though.

Single mode is the mode for the autofocus or the frame rate. Matrix, spot, or center-weighted are the metering modes. Matrix is the easiest to use, so that's what most people stick with (I only use the other two only in particular situations). The tip about exposure compensation applies regardless of autofocus mode or frame rate as long as you're in matrix mode. It's not an absolute, since you encounter all sorts of different lighting scenarios, but in general -0.7 EV gives me the best exposure for the D40.

Setting the color to vivid increases the saturation slightly, and I think does a tonal adjustment. These are things you can also do in photoshop after the picture is taken, but the camera does a good job by itself.

Oh, I should also mention, the D40 shots you put up are enough different from the A720 that they're poor comparisons for colors. In the D40 shots, most of the scene is in shade. Since it metered for shaded objects and sky is very bright in comparison, the sky behind the trees is overexposed. In the A720 shot, most of it is in sunlight, so it's easier to get a good balance between the sky and ground. It's a discrepancy you don't notice with your eyeball, because it's such a superior optical instrument.

Thank you so much for this information. I have been a "point and shoot" person for so long, all this is way over my head. One step at a time and I hope eventually it will all make sense. I find myself using the A720 and A1100 just cause they are easier to use (and smaller - great for taking on rides) but I bought the D40 because I wanted to do more with photography. I just need some time to really mess with it... and oh yeah, I should properly read the manual (duh!).

Thanks for the all the information - it is much appreciated

I took a couple of photography classes with the local schoolboard, Pam, it helped *a lot.* I was totally flummoxed before I took those classes, it helped that the instructor was a Nikon dude too. :D

I took a couple of photography classes with the local schoolboard, Pam, it helped *a lot.* I was totally flummoxed before I took those classes, it helped that the instructor was a Nikon dude too. :D

Kindof sounds like classes are in my future as well! Reading these posts is like sitting in geometric class again (I flunked geometry) - the train left the station and I'm still sitting in the station bathroom reading comics...:o

I've had a DSLR for more than a year and I still get mixed up sometimes. It takes time to figure all of this stuff out, just play!

Kindof sounds like classes are in my future as well! Reading these posts is like sitting in geometric class again (I flunked geometry) - the train left the station and I'm still sitting in the station bathroom reading comics...:o

...and how far in straight line distance is the train from the station if it traveled for 1.5 hours at 40 mph then made a 45 degree left turn and traveled for another half hour at 50mph? ;)

No worries. We all have to start somewhere. You're just starting to gain an appreciation of how much work all the automated features of your camera do. If you keep at it, this will all eventually become pretty natural.

Oh Pam, consider picking up the remote control for the D40, too, should be cheap enough.

My old reliable 6 yr old Fujifilm Finepics S3000 tank of a 3 megapixel camera that will not break for digital, and for film, my antique Rolliflex TLR.. :p


Mostly been playing with the Mamiya of late. Might take the old Nikon or Pentax out one of these days.

Speaking of, need to take a walk out to the camera shop and drop of a few rolls.


503cw
and
1922 Voightlander Brilliant
I feel the need to reek of fixer.

Nice choices you three.:thumb:

I think I'll go for a multitude of cameras:
my Rollei DA7535 digital P&S,
my Horizont
and maybe I'll use my Mamiya C33 as well.

Oh Pam, consider picking up the remote control for the D40, too, should be cheap enough.

What? Like with a TV set? I really need to read that manual!!!! :twitchy:

^What he said.

It's handy to have.