newbie wants to buy a canon 5D, is this a starter camera?

No, it had not gotten to the house before I had to leave. Fireworks are very dirty, not sure if I would have used it even if if I would have had it. We import the fireworks from China and sell to the end consumer. We (the family) have been doing this for 23 years. We sold some of the company about 5 years ago when we got too big to handle it all. So it is not as much work now, but still dirty and hot.

Can't wait to get home and start shooting.

Bart
 
Here is a couple of my first pictures. Most are taken in Canon's presets. Supposed to go to see a professional photographer next week and learn some stuff. Hopefully the images will get better.

Bart
IMG_0042.jpg
IMG_0045.jpg
 
Ok I have bought the 40d and the 24-70mm. I am ready for a macro lens. I have found a used 180mm that I think can be bought just under 1000. New they are 1300 at B&H new. Or I can buy the 100mm at B&H for 455.

My question is as a newbie, do I need, cancel that last word, will I shoot better pictures with the 180? will it offset the price of the 100mm?

Bart
 
While some folks consider the 180mm a little sharper, it's really splitting hairs. The 100 2.8 is an excellent lens so unless you're examining images with a microscope you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference.

Both the 100 and 180 are "life size" or 1:1 lenses. That means that the image, that gets projected on the sensor, is the same size as the object in real life. The difference between the two is working distance. To get 1:1 with the 100, you have to be closer to the object than with the 180. For aquarium work and general macro work, the 100 is really well suited. The 180 wins if you're looking to get further away from what you're shooting and still get 1:1. The 180 is also very large and quite heavy. I find the 100 more convenient for most things, especially working with flowers.

The 60mm macro is even less expensive but it's very short working distance doesn't make it practical for tank shots.

Cheers
 
cool, just want to make sure before I purchase anything. I think I will purchase the 100mm at B&H while it is on sale.

bart
 
Do you know what size filter the 100mm would take? I have always been told that a uv is more protection for the lens? Agree?

Bart
 
I never use a filter unless I am trying to change the image i.e. polarizing for a horizon. A lens hood is more than enough security for me and doesn't degrade the image quality, like UV filters do. With a macro lens, image quality is everything, I would think it silly to stick a cheap piece of glass on the end of a macro lens unless your shooting cacti flowers in a sand storm or something. Take your 24-70 f/2.8 for instance, :: TitusvilleSufer looks at his and gets a happy chill down his spine ::, the big hood on the end blocks rouge light which would cause flare and makes worries about bumping into things a thing of the past (in moderation). UV filter protection from dropping a lens on the ground is marginal at best. While I certainly wouldn't recommend testing the theory and have never dropped any of my cameras, I am confident a lens with a hood would survive the ordeal more often than a UV filter protected counterpart.

Oh yeah...and UV filters degrade image quality! ahhh
 
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While it pains me to say so, I agree with TS.

I don't even own a UV filter. Why buy a $1100 lens and then make it look through a $20 piece of glass?

Just leave the lens cap on when you're not shooting and don't bang it into stuff. :)
 
cool, just thought the filter helped for protection. See it proves I am still a newbie...Now a question. Does a lens hood fit every lens or do they make many different sizes to fit different lenses like a filter?

Bart
 
Most lenses come with a specific hood. I, actually, don't use those either but that's just me. I do pay very close attention to lens flare and shield the front element with my hand if necessary.
 
I don't understand why but lens hoods seem unreasonably expensive considering what they are. Each lens has its own designated hood, though a couple do share. The "L" lenses come with hoods in the box (such as our 24-70). My bag is the PERFECT fit for the 70-200 f/2.8 IS attached to the camera with hood in the "ready position". I only take the hood off if I am cleaning the lens.
 
I agree with the cheap filters are a no go. They do make very high quality big $$ filters. Yes filters can help protect your lenses. That being said they are a big pain in the but to clean without streaks. I now go without filters but never without a hood.

Get the book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Petterson and start training yourself to get out of full auto. Try aperture or shutter priority modes if manual is still to scary.
 
Thanks, just bought the book.

Is there anywhere to go to learn how to use the camera and to take good pictures? I have seen a couple of ads in the back of magazines that you can go spend a evening in discussion then go the next day and shoot pictures at a local zoo or somewhere like that? Opinions?

Bart
 
Read the book, go out and shoot, and look at your results. But mostly, just go out and shoot.
 
I have shot some stuff, not lots but around 100 pictures. Want to shoot some this weekend.

I know the old saying, practice makes perfect, but I don't believe that. Perfect practice makes perfect. I just don't want to pick up any bad habits. Just looking for guidance and a little help along the way.

I appreciate all the info freely given in this forum, thanks to all.

bart
 
Shooting for the sake of shooting won't make you better. Shooting, looking at the results, deciding what you don't like about the shot and trying again, makes you better. If you're really serious, you might try a local community college or adult ed program.

It's digital. It doesn't matter if you shoot 100 or 1000 pictures; it costs the same. No one but you needs to know how many you shot before you get a "keeper." ;)
 
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