What camera do you have?

bloody hell - with those prices ill just stick to been an amature thanks

 

This is going to rub a few photographers up the WRONG way...

I agree 100% that a good camera can do so much more than a simple "mik - en - drik"... I would shudder if a photographer arrived at my wedding with a plain and simple digital camera, because the higher end camera's offer so much with the lenses and functions.

BUT

I have seen people with a fairly basic entry level digital "mik and drik" camera take pictures that make the professionals look like beginners.A lot of the smaller digitals offer a range of settings as well, (daylight, moonlight, portrait etc), as well as macro functions, (which is usually kr@p in anycase)... but if you know how to use the camera, with the ISO settings, and the light settings, you generally can get a decent photo. Spend a little bit of time with your camera, buy a "digital photography for idiots" book, and play around. Don't feel disheartened because you can't take the pictures that the professionals take... because I believe that the professionals is only as good as their camera. Give them a "mik and drik" and they will produce some of the worst pictures!

At my wedding we had a professional photographer with all her fancy equipment. We paid a fortune for her. She provided some AMAZING pictures. My aunt was also there. She used my father-in-law's phillips "mik and drik" thing... meaning she didn't know the camera... but because she is a professional artist and painter, she understood light, colour, and correct composition. In our home, 75% of our wedding photo's that we printed and hung up are the ones my aunt took, not the professional shoot. The one we had blown up and printed onto canvas is one my aunt did!

I'm not dissing the D90x 55 zoom xlr Macro things that need to be financed... all I am saying is that with a bit of patience, your Sony cybershot can also provide generally good pictures!

(Also bear in mind guys, that the person that is going to go and spend R30k on a camera, and R20k on a lense... they generally have a strong interest in the hobby, and know what they are doing before they buy the camera too.)

 

Agreed. In order of importance for taking a good photo:
1. Photographer
2. Lens
3. Camera

I think however that if you are a "pro" level photographer and you want the camera to do something specific then you might get a bit frustrated trying to use a superzoom and just give up using a mik en druk.

 

Blackberry bold 9700. Absolute crap

 

As a camera... yes. As a phone... nothing tops it.

(Actually, I've had some nice photo's come out of my bold!)

 

Yup the fone is tops,would really appreciate a larger screen though,,still have a year to go before considering the torch or whatevers new at that time

 

hello guys

i use my wife's canon eos 40D and the lens says 17-85mm no flash and i try to stay away from manual settings(for me its not a natural look when i change the settings) and mainly shoot in auto without a flash

truth be told it would matter which camera i'm using as i take about 200 pics in a session and maybe end up with 8 useful pics...i'm no photographer

 

you are lucky... me got only my nokia 5800 and panasonic lumix dmc-f2

 

Fujifilm Finepix S1800

 

YEAH BOI! I have the same one. Please tell me what aperture and shutter speed you are using for fish.

 

Nobody using sony here? check out this link . . .

www.wix.com/jeromedavidphoto/jdphoto

 

@Firefly - Only got the camera this week, so don't know the technical stuff yet :-( But I have been trying the micro button, and the pics are alot better. What method are you using? Sorry could not help much.

 

No prob. I'm using the custom setting.
TM. What's the site for?

 

Yeah, I got a Cybershot. Not the greatest when you compare to what is out there.... but does more than what most "mik-en-druks" can do. Just need to master all the settings, light setting etc, because I still maintain that 99% of the good (GENERAL) camera pictures is based on using the right settings.

 

I use a Kodak Z612
It has 12X Optical Zoom and 15X Digital Zoom. Has standard Schneider Kreuznach lens. I think the photo's are good enough for me and have seen what it can do in the more experienced hands. Will take some photo's later and post them.

 

I shoot a Canon SX20IS with 20x optical zoom at 12.1MP. I enjoy shooting macro and this lens has a 0mm focus, so it's perfect for me!

 

Got my Nikon D7000 last week. I love it. Getting some macro lenses soon can't wait

 

I imported my UV, CP and IR filters a week ago. Can't wait for them to arrive! CPL makes shooting aquariums very easy!

 

Why import them when you can source these filters quite easily? Is it a hasselblad filter? For those who don't know what a CPF is . . it's Circular Polarizing Filter . . .

You are right about getting better tank shots. . if you have the right (fast) lens. Why?

A fast lens is any lens that can open its aperture below F5.6 over the full range (In zoom lenses) i.e. if you have a 22-55 zoom lens . .the camera allows the lens to stay at F1.4 from 22mm-55mm. This allows you to take well exposed pictures without the use of a flash. The CPF can eliminate glare and some reflection but it's not going to save you when you have a standard 18-55 F3.5-F5.6 lens (Does not allow wide aperture over FULL range) . .

Buying a FEW macro lenses is very expensive (If you're not a millionaire). Google 'Close up filters' and 'extension tubes'

If you want an all-round package . .buy a 70-200 F2.8 lens . . Macro, portraits . .basically anything can be shot with this lens. . . Price? R9 000 - R18000 depending on brand.

If you are not in the dosh like some . ..get a standard 50mm F1.8 (prime lens) . . it offers a reasonably close focus distance and a wide aperture for shooting in low light. Just remember to get a lens hood for it or you are going to get flare from your tank light when shooting from below.

@Zoom . .

There is no way that your everyday camera can match up to an SLR. Sure. .your pictures may look appealing with it's rad composition etc . . but take into consideration the image sensor size in your compact vs an SLR . . its like comparing a 10c coin to a R5 coin . .

I would say that your aunt is a good photographer. . .but giver her an SLR and she will no doubt be better. You have more control and also the stance you use is way different . . this reduces the chance of getting that shitty camera shake.

Try shooting at 1/4000th of a second with a point-and -shoot. .

I have seen better images on Sony Cybershots vs SLR's . . .but the camera was doing most of the work not the person holding it.

Nice to see you guys getting into the photography thing . . .anyone shoot under-water stuff?

TM

 

A lecturer of mine from college days was hectic into his photography as a way to subsidize his income. To a point he made more money on his camera and photography than he did on his lecturing.... You know what he did... SIMPLE...
IMPORTED lenses, filters and other hardware from the UK and USA and sold them at a 15-20% markup in SA and STILL beat the local prices. Dunno how ANYONE would want to buy local when you see the prices to import. Put it this way... 7 years ago when I purchased my Sony Cybershot I got it at R5k. The EXACT same camera could be landed in the country from the UK, with a 15% markup and sold at R3500.00 (I wasn't friends with this lecturer at the time, hence I paid the R5k.)

And I agree with you 100% TM that you can't compare a "muk-en-druk" to an SLR, especially when you get into those special action shots and difficult to get poses... that was never my argument. But you even contradicted YOURSELF and voiced the SAME opinion as me that sometimes a "Muk-en-druk" can take 10x better pictures than a SLR if it is just a plain and simple shot, with no special features.