camera gear

It is great to hear about your camera choices. Great pictures, Squirrel and Blackbird.

I am finding that photo-editing software is so useful for bringing back the colour in the pictures that cameras seems to somehow miss - especially invaluable for underwater photography. Another great thing is to be able to crop the picture and correct the small but inevitable slopes we all sometimes get in the horizon.....  I use Photoshop Elements 7 (I gather version 8 is just now available) and it does everything I need and more. The frustrating thing is that manufacturers don't include a manual with these things, which makes it very difficult to get the best out of it. Fortunately I discovered the Missing Manual series, which are brilliant user-friendly manuals that everyone can follow easily to get the best out of the editing software.

I gave up on my trusty old SLR only two and a half years ago, and like so many of you, went for a bridge camera. Mine is a Fuji Finepix 9600, which handles in a similar way to an SLR, and is similar weight to an SLR with a 35-70mm zoom, but has a range of 28-300mm. It takes good pictures that I am happy with, but since I haven't tried using the Lumix or any others, I don't know how the quality compares. It does have, however, two features that most other bridge cameras don't, and which I would not be without. First of all a MANUAL ZOOM - no need to faff around with buttons and use up the juice in the battery. Secondly, a flip-up screen - great for those low shots for eyeballing the lizard or making the bear look even more impressive - all without the need to crawl in the dirt to look through a viewfinder!

Thanks for the compliment on the photos Trochilus. My Pentax DSLR always does great photos - as long as the user (me) gets it right, which the user (me) doesn't always! I do need to learn more of the manual side of it, though, as sometimes it takes so long for the autofocus to focus that the subject has got bored and flown away. On editing software, that which came with my Pentax isn't a patch on that which came with the little Samsung compact digi I bought a few months back. That little camera was worth buying just for the software alone.

Ooooh - scarey monster!!!  Good pic though ;)

Cracking shot of a Garden cross spider. Thanks for the heads up on the +4 close up filter. I have been toying with the idea of a set of extension tubes for my new Canon, but a filter on the end of a 50mm seems a much better choice.

Jennifer T said:

Cracking shot of a Garden cross spider. Thanks for the heads up on the +4 close up filter. I have been toying with the idea of a set of extension tubes for my new Canon, but a filter on the end of a 50mm seems a much better choice.

Hi Mrs T, having investigated all manner of lenses etc. recently, I have been advised against using extension tubes because (apparently) they push the lens out of its normal working parameters and so the pictures lose a lot of quality. And I almost understand that - which is little short of a miracle when it comes to me v camera technical!

Hi everyone.

Something I'd recommmend is getting a hold of a book or two on the subject.  I purchased the RSPB Guide To Digital Wildlife Photography, a few months back, and have found some quite good tips.  Don't want to go into the more technical aspects like histograms etc as there's many people more wise on the subject than me.  However whatever your level, there's definitely at least a couple of books (or websites) that might help.  Hope this isn't stating the obvious and appologies if it is.  The thoughts on books just popped into my head and I thought I'd post them here.  Of course it goes without saying that the average standard of photography in this forum is excellent.

Paul

Hi folks, the best advice I was given many years ago was always invest in good lenses. A an optical craftsman, I always believe in getting good 'glass' for your camera. If you put a good lens on a cheaper camera, you can get great results. However, putting a cheap lens on an expensive camera, will not be as rewarding.

It is horses for courses, and to be honest, some of the bridge cameras are excellent. The best camera is the one you have with you. In other words, there is no point in buying a camera that sits in a cupboard in the house. I carry heavy lenses etc, and am used to it now, but I have seen cracking shots from bridge cameras etc. People ask me all the time at the photos society, which camera is best. If you have been into photography for years then a good DSLR and Lenses is my answer, but if you are learning, buy one that you like and dont mind carrying. Most important of all, is learn how to use it as even the 'cheaper' digital cameras are very advanced.

What im trying to say is, for example..I dont play a guitar, therefore I wouldnt go out and buy a Les Paul or Gibson, I would go to a cheaper model and learn how to use it. Same with Golf, I dont play as im hopeless, so I wouldnt buy a really expensive set of clubs.

Buy within your means, and learn all of its functions. MOST IMPORTANT, enjoy it.

KInd regards

Allan

I use a Canon powershot for digiscoping-  see my gallery for details:)

S

I use two DSLR's from Canon,  Canon 50d and Canon 5d MKII. I usually have one of those paired to my Canon 400mm f5.6 L lens when shooting birds, depending on the light, i.e if the light is poor I will use the 5d MKII as it takes excellent  low noise high ISO images but  not as quick as the 50d. I also have the 1.4 x MKII teleconverter from Canon but must admit, I don't use it very often as it won't auto focus with my 400 f5.6 unless some pins are taped. I also have a Canon 70-200mm f4.0  and a 17-40mm f4.0 L that I use for landscape photography. I also use a Skywatcher 80ED rafractor telescope as I am interested in astronomy and astrophotography and I usually have that mounted on my Manfrotto 055xprob tripod if shooting wildlife.

Here are a few images from the 50d and 400mm f5.6 and one from the skywatcher refractor. I've also posted some images in the gallery

Hello every one, hope its ok to ask a Camera question here...

I currently have a Pentax SLR MZ-30

And 2 Tamron Lenses.  A Tamron 80-210mm  and a Tamron 28-80mm Lens.

I would really like to go Digital and have been looking at a Pentax KD20D, or the Pentax K10D (its about the price i can manage),

Now my question is, will my Current lens's fit this new camera..?  or after reading your posts, should I trade the lot in and get the new camera and better lenses.

I'm interested in snapping insects and flowers, I've been told Sigma Lenses are good, those around 90mm to 150mm.

Any body shed any light on that for me.  Hope it made sense, I think I lost myself.

:-?