Officially a Canonnite...or however the heck you spell it

[nightOwl]

Well today I finally broke down and purchased an entry level DSLR after months of debate. I have been reading threads and looking at pictures taken by the Canon and Nikon sects and decided on a Canon Rebel XSI. After getting the hang of things I will post some pictures. I look forward to honest critiques, tips, and words of encouragement from you guys so help me out if you something I can improve on. I think tomorrow I will go purchase Adobe LightRoom as I have heard great things about the program. I currently have an older version of PhotoShop.

With that being said here are a few of my favorites from my good ole Olympus C770 that will be laid to rest shortly...

 

[jthao]

from the looks of the pictures.... there was no need to upgrade. that olympus took some really really nice pics.

 

[nightOwl]

jthao,
Thanks for the kind words. It was was because of this forum and a few others that I learned to try to get the best pictures I could out of my camera. I am still going to keep it for a few shots and as my new play camera. I loved that camera but it lacked being able to take pictures in RAW. Now I can finally get actinic shots of my tank woo hoo .

 

[Reef Bass]

I like that last one. Are you using "Save for Web" in Photoshop? All the EXIF info has been stripped from your images.

I look forward to seeing some pics with the new camera! What lens did you plan to use with it?

 

[nightOwl]

Reef Bass,
I have never used the save for the web feature in PhotoShop. I am not the greatest at PhotoShop so I am probably be doing it all wrong! Here is how I go about editing my images. Once I have them loaded I usually hit auto color or auto contrast and tweak a few things then I shrink the image down. I have a background/layer/template I use for most of my tank pictures so I cut the shrunken image and paste into my background and save as .jpeg. Probably the most convoluted process ever but its been working. I am actually going to pick up a book on PhotoShop now that I have a new camera.

I am not sure on the lens just yet as they are so expensive. I want the 100m macro and might get a 75-200 or something like that I have to wade back through the suggestions two guys (?surfer and beerguy) had for some people with the camera. I think I have seen posts before from you shooting with a Canon. What lenses do you have or suggest?

 

[Reef Bass]

You can't be doing it all wrong as your pics look good! Your workflow is pretty straightforward and not that complicated. It may be when you are incorporating the image into your template that the exif info goes bye-bye. Just a guess. And no exif info is not a crime.

TitusvilleSurfer and beerguy know their lenses. Check out the post from beerguy about Frankenlens.

Yes, I fly the Canon banner . 30 years ago when I shot film, I was a Nikon guy. I have an EOS 50D and I'm very happy with it. Now, to be sure, I'd give it up in a heartbeat for a 5D MkII with its full frame image sensor (Homer drooling smilie here).

When asking about my lens, you should understand that I have been bitten hard by the macro bug. In fact, I think it still has its teeth in my jugular like some kind of angry pitbull. When I couldn't get the shots I wanted with my point and shoot, I decided to breakout the Benjamins for the dSLR and Canon 100mm f2.8 macro lens. And I am SO glad I did.

That said, a 100mm macro lens is not a great all purpose lens. I will be getting the 24-70mm f2.8 USM L lens down the road. My birthday seems like a good excuse, er, I mean, occasion. I expect that will be my primary "walking around" lens. Add to that the 75-200mm f2.8 L and I will have a high quality, well rounded camera system.

I should also confess that my images didn't go from bad to marginally acceptable with the purchase of the hardware. Turned out my skills needed improving too.

 

[nightOwl]

I will try the save for the web thing next time and see if gives me the information or if I still loose it.

When I first started looking I would see someone post a question and they were quick to chime in on what to buy, etc. So it has been a big help. I just came back from an unsuccessful lens run. Sticker shock made me come back home and do some more research on prices. I saw some good deals on a 55-200 mm but no one has suggested that lens. I think it was too cheap which means its probably crap.

Don't worry about the macro bug biting you I can hear her buzzing around my ears as we speak (type)...lol. She sounds oh so lovely in my ear but not lovely enough to spend $599 in BestBuy. I have a few spots to check out today to see I can buy one, the Canon 100 mm .

I figure I will play with the one that came with over the next few weeks and see if I can get any quality shots. I still need to buy a memory card which is also on my list.

Any particular brand to use with these cameras or are they
just about the same?

I am not expecting to become a photographer over night by any means. I know this new purchase has signed me up for hours of headaches! I now have to get use to shooting through a viewfinder...yuck. I think I will go buy a padded helmet today and mark a big circle on the wall for when I have one of those "*** did I buy this camera for" moments.

 

[Reef Bass]

Just to be clear, Save for Web removes exif info. So don't do that. I thought perhaps you had used that and that was why your pics were exif infoless.

Lenses tend to be a "you get what you pay for" type item, to a point anyway. My two cents - get the Canon 100mm f2.8 macro lens. It has more image goodness inside it than its competitors' products. Period. It's almost L glass image quality for the price of a "regular" lens.

I've heard of closeout deals at Circuit City for $300 for the Canon lens. That would be worth some driving. I paid $450ish at B&H Photo.

I like SanDisk cards but it's not a huge deal. The speed of transfer is more important than brand. I'm using SanDisk Extreme III CF cards in my 50D with a 20MB/s, 133x read / write transfer rate. Considering each time I press the shutter release about 15meg of RAW data is generated, transfer rate is important for me.

I hear your point about the viewfinder. My 50D display has a good sized smudge on it where my large Anglo nose touches the display while I peer through the viewfinder. Fortunately, with stationary targets, I can shoot with LiveView so my face isn't pressed against the camera. I also enjoy remote LiveView shooting where my nose is nowhere near the surface of my laptop display.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

Some CF cards are more reliable than others. I use an "eFilm" 4gig myself, and it has preformed just fine and dandy. "Sandisk" is more or less the industry standard.

I like the 55-200mm, it really is a pretty decent lens. I personally would never use it because it's just so slow, but if you don't need the speed this lens is sharp, colorful, and all around good.

The 100mm Macro is the macro lens to get IMO. Nikon guys often look to Tamaron or Sigma or other 3rd party manufacturers for their macro lenses, but for us, the Canon 100mm f/2.8 is the golden ticket.

Welcome to Club Canon!

 

[nightOwl]

Reef Bass,
Thanks for the clarification with the save for the web trick.

Circuit City let me down today I tried two of them and neither had one brand new in a box. One actually had the display model available but that thing looked like it had been in a few scuffles and they were not taking any additional off.

I am feeling lazy tonight after a visit to the wine tasking expo and may venture out tomorrow to look for a cheap card to shot with until I order one of those super extreme cards you mentioned. Until then its more reading on tips and tricks and just holding my camera like someone is going to take it from me .

I think I will also look for some LCD covers to avoid that smudge thing you mentioned.


TitusvileSurfer,
Thanks for chiming in. When you mention the 55-250 mm lens is pretty good but slow would it work as an everyday walk around lens or should I seek the 24-70 mm? I am still trying to learn as much as I can about what lenses are used for what and it starting to get a bit overwhelming.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

No the 24-70 is a different ball park.
You should decide between the 55-200 IS and a 70-200. The 70-200 f/4 is a little slow (but still a lot faster than the 55-200), and it is relatively inexpensive. For image quality the 70-200 f/4 is one of the best zoom lenses in the world. There is also a 70-200 f/4 IS, 70-200 f/2.8 and my own beloved 70-200 f/2.8 IS. The f/2.8 IS is really perfect in every way shape and form. It is of course expensive. The 24-70 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8 IS make one hell of a team and are by far my two favorite lenses.

For the cheap route (like a Hyundai or Kia), you can take the 18-55 and 55-200.
For the luxury route (like a BMW or Lexus), you can take the 24-70 and 70-200.
The luxury route costs substantially more, but it comes with substantial benefits. Again I like the 55-200 and think it is an excellent economy lens. Concerning the 18-55 however I am not a fan. That said I have no direct experience with the new 18-55 IS. The old 18-55 is a paperweight though.
If you want to go the 55-200 route, there is another option. The 17-55 f/2.8 IS is an excellent lens which would fit perfectly with the 55-200. It is expensive but...its a Lexus.

I don't think IS is any big deal in the 17-55 or 18-55 range. If I had IS on my 24-70 I would use it occasionally just because I could...but I've never really said to myself "Gee, I wish I had IS right now!". On my 70-200 that is not the case. After about 150mm or so IS starts to show its worth. IS is useless if you are using a tripod, and I would take speed (f/2.8) over IS (f/4 IS) any day of the week. A *good* tripod truly is the ultimate IS.

 

[nightOwl]

TitusvileSurfer,
Thanks again for the suggestions! I started looking at prices on some of these lenses and they look like they start at Land Rovers and work their way up...lol. I am still fairly new to the lens terminology but I noticed that 70-200 mm option you mentioned does not seem to come in a non L series model.

Would you suggest the the USM option whenever possible?

Being fairly new to the DSLR world (all of 2 days) is there a non
Canon brand that is somewhere in the ballpark?

If not it looks like I will selling frags for a while . I am all for using Canon lenses, but also want to make sure I am not overspending where a comparable lens is available for a non pro like myself. I am in no hurry to use the camera so if I need to save up for good hardware I will. I am starting to think purchasing a DSLR should also come with a warning on the package about needing a second job to afford lenses...lol. "Warning: Purchasing the following product will require a second job or a side hustle. Please proceed to the checkout."

I also noticed you mentioned a tri-pod I know my new camera will be substainatially heavier than my Olympus when I put it on my tripod.

Is there any brand of tripod you recommend?

The one I have works but I don't want to play humpty dumpty with my new camera and lenses .



Reef Bass,
I found a Canon EP-EX15 Eyepiece Extender for all EOS Cameras on Amazon. I think it may help with the smudges .

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14346582#post14346582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nightOwl
TitusvileSurfer,
Thanks again for the suggestions! I started looking at prices on some of these lenses and they look like they start at Land Rovers and work their way up...lol. I am still fairly new to the lens terminology but I noticed that 70-200 mm option you mentioned does not seem to come in a non L series model.

Correct, there are 4 70-200's to choose from. I personally own and LOVE the 70-200 f/2.8 IS.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14346582#post14346582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nightOwl
TitusvileSurfer,
Would you suggest the the USM option whenever possible?

USM is a huge deal. Nobody wants to use an auto focus lens that won't auto focus well.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14346582#post14346582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nightOwl

Being fairly new to the DSLR world (all of 2 days) is there a non Canon brand that is somewhere in the ballpark?

There are many 3rd party lenses which can be had for cheaper prices. Some of them are even quite good but I don't own nor wish to own any of them. There are acceptations, but in general I think the Canon badge comes with an increase in quality worth the increase in price.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14346582#post14346582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nightOwl
If not it looks like I will selling frags for a while .

Well look at it this way, your photographs will improve with a higher quality lens. With improved images of your frags, more people are going to want to buy them.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14346582#post14346582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nightOwl
I am all for using Canon lenses, but also want to make sure I am not overspending where a comparable lens is available for a non pro like myself.

Again there are some 3rd party lenses which do a very good job and are well worth taking a look at. I would need specific examples of a Canon lens to list (what are in my mind) worthy 3rd party replacements though.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14346582#post14346582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nightOwl

I am in no hurry to use the camera so if I need to save up for good hardware I will. I am starting to think purchasing a DSLR should also come with a warning on the package about needing a second job to afford lenses...lol. "Warning: Purchasing the following product will require a second job or a side hustle. Please proceed to the checkout."

This pleases me. DON'T BE IN A HURRY! Heck I read about DSLR's every night for a year before I even picked a brand. I've tried to drive the cost of extra necessary accessories (which are even more importiant than the camera itself) home to people. If you can't afford the extra goodies that come along with a DSLR your better off buying a quality point and shoot camera IMO.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14346582#post14346582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nightOwl

I also noticed you mentioned a tri-pod I know my new camera will be substainatially heavier than my Olympus when I put it on my tripod.

Tripods are SO SO SO importiant!!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14346582#post14346582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nightOwl

Is there any brand of tripod you recommend?

This is a can of worms. There are many good and bad tripods out there. It is difficult at best to weed out the bad ones without first having some quality experience with the good ones. You should read BeerGuy's sticky on the subject of weight, stability, and price. I like his point about generally only getting two of the three the way you want them. I personally use a Manfrotto 055XPROB (legs) with a 488RC2 (head). The head (the part the camera sits on) of a good tripod will be detachable and interchangeable with other heads which rest on the legs (I'll leave what the "legs" are to your imagination). ReefBass (I think?) purchased this tripod and head on my recommendation and he has been very pleased thus far. I wouldn't recommend it for a 600mm lens, but for anything smaller than a Canon 100-400, I think this combination does a fine job.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14346582#post14346582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nightOwl

The one I have works but I don't want to play humpty dumpty with my new camera and lenses .

A cheap tripod with a DSLR can actually be worse than no tripod at all, as I think we are experiencing in this current thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1571089

 

[Reef Bass]

Yup. Bogen / Manfrotto 055XPROB with the 488RC2 head. The quick release is a nice feature. I pretty much leave the "shoe" on my camera and put it on the tripod in about 2 seconds.

The tripod has high build quality. It does everything a tripod should, except weigh nothing. And it's black. So it's cool, particularly with my 50D on top. You could pay less for a tripod, but it would be less of a tripod - made of marginal materials and flimsy. If weight is a big deal, go carbon fiber, but you'll probably pay at least twice as much.

One thing I would like that I don't see in any tripod is a more precision / convenient way to adjust the center column than to unscrew a set screw, reposition then retighten. Of course, I'd like an all purpose, 3 dimension, micro motor, remote controlled camera mount.

The ball head was new for me. I like it overall. My old 3 way made it easy to adjust one dimension (tilt left / right for example), while holding another dimension (tilt front / back) locked down. But adjustments were tedious compared to the ball head.

 

[H@rry]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14350805#post14350805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reef Bass

One thing I would like that I don't see in any tripod is a more precision / convenient way to adjust the center column than to unscrew a set screw, reposition then retighten.

I have the same tripod and that's the only feature from my WalMart tripod that I would want. It had a crank to move the center column.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

I always keep my center column all the way down unless I absolutely have to raise it. Horizontal extension is one of those times that you just have to do it. When you raise the center column, the usefulness of a tripod declines exponentially. The camera shakes soooo much up there even if you'd think it was having a seizure. This is the case in virtually every tripod. A crank system to raise or lower the center column would take away the horizontal function of the contraption. Horizontal is the only usefulness it has in my mind to begin with, so I'll keep it the way it is. Use the legs!! If all legs are all the way down and you have to raise it over the guy's tripod directly in front of you...then so be it. He is going to get sharper images though. So make sure you aren't the guy in the back.

One thing I really love about all of my L lenses is that other photographers always think I am a pro. The most recent case was an outdoor school choir recital this weekend. I was driving out to shoot some animals when I saw a large congregation of people and a stage so I pulled over and got my gear out of curiosity. The parents were insisting I stand in front of them to get a better shot! :rollface: Even my soul isn't that black so I thanked them for their kindness and declined. The point is, this happens on a VERY regular basis. Especially if I have the 70-200 f/2.8 IS. People see me coming with my super expensive equipment and I just watch the parting of the red sea as they stampede to get out of my way and profusely apologize for blocking my view. I have never asked anyone to move while shooting in my life, the sound of my shutter does it for me. Well I can't say "never", I saw Rudi Giuliani speak at the space center and was just one of the lions chasing after a gazelle. I did get right into the press only area with a nod and a smile though!

Another example was the weekend before. I went to a reptile convention which had an $8 entry fee. I walked up with my tripod and rig, got my wallet out, and the ticket man told me to just go right in. Apparently press didn't have to pay. Once inside almost every vendor immediately gave me permission to open the animal's cages for a better shot without me even making eye contact. One beckoned me to come over and sent his kids scrambling for the car to get a black tarp so I could take pictures of his albino animals with a favorable background.

I have gotten more priority treatment and free entries to venues than I could possible remember just because I had professional-grade equipment around my shoulder and a giant backpack. Ahh life is good.

 

[nightOwl]

I went to a stored today just to touch a few lenses. Picking up a few you can tell right away when its cheaply made verse a good heavy one. The lady in the store let me play with several lenses and I see why USM is a big deal now. Tonight will be more research and reading reviews on various lenses. I am going to research tri-pods after work. I currently have a Wally World Tripod that has been working fine but I want to get something nice to put my new camera on. I figure if I spent this much for the camera might as well have a good steady tripod as well.
I got a good chuckle out of you and your camera tricks...lol. Note to self buy biggest camera lense possible for added perks . I feel like that when I am out the country with my underwater equipment for my Olympus. People walk up to me with there little underwater disposables on excursions and think I am a pro.

 

[Reef Bass]

nightOwl, thanks for noticing the eye piece extender.

TS, that's very interesting about the respect you are handed on a silver platter just lugging your gear. I'll have to try that sometime.

 

[nightOwl]

Reef Bass,
No problem on the eye piece the funny thing is its not compatible with my camera.... I had it in my cart already to go and starting looking at things to put back...lol.

I am ordering a canon backpack for my gear today. Not that I have any gear, but I am going to order it and stuff it with paper until I have lenses to put in it...lol. I may put in my old Olympus stuff just so it looks like it has weight . TitusvileSurfer won't be the only one getting this preferred treatment .

I have been spending a lot of time on the following site the last few days...Lense Info and Reviews the cool thing is you can see pictures taken from the different lenses along with some cool reviews. For newbies like myself it has proven very valuable thus far. It allows me to see what I can expect from lense at certain distances.

 

[Reef Bass]

I like your backpack idea. 12oz beer cans would make good compartment stuffers too!

Thanks for site reference. I'll check it out.