Brad Ideas - Advice on what digital camera to buy - Comments

Getting the camera

brad — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:34:05 -0700

Thanks. Though I doubt B&H will give any referrals on a phone order by name. I know you’ll be happy with the 7D and the 50mm lens — I have yet to shoot with the other two lenses so an only refer to other people’s reports on them.

When a camera gets into short supply, you should check the price for “completed auctions” on eBay, not necessarily to buy there, but to see how much people are charging over the usual retail, as a sign of how scarce the camera is getting and how long people think it will be before they become available.

I will say that often you can get really good deals on used cameras there, though.

Canon 7d and good lenses

Jim G — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 08:28:03 -0700

Brad, I "found" you while surfing for lens suggestions to go with the Canon 7d, which I had hoped to purchase very soon. Your article, "What lenses for my digital SLR (Canon)" was very helpful. I decided to go with (all Canon) the 50mm f/1.4 EF (USM) for a prime lens; the 15-85mm f/3.5-6.6 EFS USM IS; and the 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS EF-S. I also intend to purchase appropriate UV filters/hoods for the lenses, as well as a pack bag. The hang-up came when I asked about availability of the 7d. I was surprised--although, in retrospect, shouldn't have been--to hear that the camera is not available and probably won't be for some time due to the tragedy in Japan. Because of your article, I had contacted B&H Photo-Video, Inc., New York, with plans to purchase all item from that source (By the way, I mentioned your name as my link to B&H--told a sales rep. named Brian--, so, I hope you are able to collect the referral $$!). Whenever the 7d becomes available, I plan to purchase the package. Thank you for your help and for the links to many excellent resources.

Jim G
San Angelo, TX

Not usually

brad — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 15:41:26 -0800

But it should not be that hard to do by eye. And in reality you are not trying to zoom to a focal length. What you really care about is how far you are from your subject. It isn’t the focal length that distorts (except at very wide angles where staying rectilinear distorts) it’s the perspective. Get right in somebody’s face and their nose is larger compared to other features because it is closer. Get 10’ away and this is not very noticed.

So:

Get the right distance from your subjects to shoot them nicely
Set your zoom to frame as you wish.
Avoid anything in the very wide angles (less than 35mm equivalent) or it will distort.

You can “fix” the distortion of wide angle lenses with software, and it will project your image to look non-rectangular but you can then crop from it. However, you may view the non-rectilinear image to be more distorted in other ways because straight lines are no longer straight.

Setting zoom focal length

Brian Jones — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 13:05:37 -0800

I like my Canon PowerShot compact digital but I wish I could set the focal length to 50mm equivalent or so to reduce the distortions I get with family group photos (big heads at the edges, smaller heads in the middle, small feet, you know the kind of thing). I try to zoom to what could be about 50mm but it is hit-and-miss.

Is there a digital camera which allows zoom focal length to be selected?

Nikon gear

brad — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 23:08:14 -0700

I am working with some friends to do a Nikon related article but it’s not ready. The Nikon full frame (FX) cameras are pretty pricey — the more affordable ($2400) D700 is 12MP and not considered pro by some. But at the same time DX lenses on FX cameras means carrying a lot of extra weight and spending a lot of extra money.

On many P&S you can get rid of a lot of the so-called shutter lag by half-pressing to focus first, and then shooting. But if you need to focus and shoot at once, yes it’s quite annoying.

Don’t know if they have PC outlet adapters but I would imagine you could get one for the shoe in a pinch.

lens kit

Deirdre — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 11:05:28 -0700

Hi Brad,
Thanks for the lens kit info. Maybe you can help me a little more. Back in the day I was a photojournalist for a metro daily. I started out with Nikons and Canons and remained there. My lenses over the years were (depending on brand) 18mm, 20mm, 28mm, 35mm 55 macro, 100mm macro, 105mm, 180mm, 200mm and 800mm (mirror). Never a Zoom. I had Nikon F2s and Canon F1s. But I gave up my career to raise a family and just did a little freelance here and there and wound up strictly using a P&S sure shot 99% of the time. I'm frustrated with the P&S shutter lag and pretty much used a camcorder for everything in the past 10 years. But I'd like to get back in the game. Not super serious given the costs of top of the line equipment but something 'prosumer" (I believe that's the terminology being used). I looked at the NIkon 300D a couple of years ago and recently looked at the D90 (hubby likes the video capability) The only thing missing from the D90 that the 300 has is a PC outlet which I could use but I guess you can get adapters? Anyway. I very much appreciated your explanation of the difference and why there is one between the 35mm SLR film focal length lenses and the digital versions (except for high end) and wondered if you could just translate for me what I'm looking to buy. If I get the Nikon and once had an 18, 24, 50, 55 macro, 105, and 200 what do you think I could reasonably translate that into in todays digital market. BTW I REALLY appreciated your pushing people to by the 50mm 1.4 or 1.8, I loved the 105 and 85. They were pretty much my standard. I promise to use your site to get to B&H when ready to purchase. For something more on me you can go to catlifephotography.com (I did that for a while too) Thanks for any assistance you can offer.
Deirdre

Continuous focus

brad — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:04:54 -0700

Continuous focus has been a standard feature on all the cameras I have had for at least 10 years, it is quite common in the DSLR market. Of course such cameras are bigger, heavier and more expensive. The also focus much, much faster if you get the right lenses.

Sony Alpha A55

Joel Upchurch — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 03:36:32 -0700

I was just reading a review of a the Sony Alpha A55 camera that might meet your needs. The cool feature is continuous autofocus, so it can adjust the focus, even when you are shooting at 10 frames per second. It also has a large sensor, so you can use fast shutter speeds for action shooting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/technology/personaltech/23pogue.html?r...

Check out the slide show and video that go with the article.

cant decide on a camera

Anonymous — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 15:46:54 -0700

I have been looking for a camera and cannot decide on one. My daughter does gymnastics and my son bmx and i would love a camera that will take great action pictures without the blur. I love to take pictures of them and the scenery around us. I would love to get a good camera to start doing some photography. Price range would be no more than $1,300...any suggestions???? THanks

The 1ds series

brad — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:41:56 -0700

While the 1Ds cameras are indeed top quality, the reality is that a lot of the working press are carrying the 5d Mark II instead because it’s comparable and is much lighter and smaller. If you want to make it big and have a portrait grip, you can buy the battery grip. As such, many people judge it to be the best.

Hi - response to your comment on best SLR

Sue — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 07:25:58 -0700

Hi Brad,

You said:
"The best: The 5D Mark II

If you want the best, the one I personaly carry, and you have $2600 to spend, then just about every serious Canon photographer I know today today is carrying the 5D Mark II. Really."

While the 5D MK II is a great camera it is not the one carried by most serious/professional photographers. Please check the Canon 1Ds series. The top of the heap is currently the 1Ds MK III.

Good article and I enjoyed your numerous and detailed web postings!

Regards

Sue

Lens

Nalin Fernando — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:46:48 -0800

This is a great article I am going to buy the canon 5d mark 11 but still can't decide on two lenses
1. Canon 100-400mm F4.5 L is USM
2.Sigma 50-500mm F4.-6.5

I need the zoom as I do wild life photography so what do you recommend please

Thank you in advance

Nalin

Not multiply

brad — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:45:51 -0800

To be strict, while it is a common shorthand, you are not multiplying the focal length, but cropping the field of view, with a camera like the 450d. Depth of field remains as it is for the real focal length.

I have not owned the top two lenses, but my recollection is they are not top quality. That may be the same Sigma as I own. That’s an OK lens for the price but Sigma quality varies a lot — if yours is good, stick with it.

Are these the EOS EF lenses with autofocus? If not, you will want to look into newer ones, though you can get an adapter.

Compatibility of EOS lenses with Canon 450D

Agroped — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:23:17 -0800

I have a Canon EOS 600 film camera with 3 lenses:

Canon 35-70mm 1:3.5-4.5
Canon 90-300mm 1:4.5-5.6
Sigma 17-35mm 1:2.8-4

My current Fuji S9500 has just gone wrong and I am thinking of buying a Canon 450D.

I understand that I have to multiply the focal lengths by 1.6 if I fit these lenses to the digital camera.

What I need to know is: will these lenses give good results with the 450D or should I try to sell the EOS600 and the lenses and start again?

With thanks in anticipation,
Agroped

Macro photography

brad — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:15:15 -0800

What you refer to is often called “Macro photography.” Lenses marked as able to do “macro” will be able to get very close to your subjects. There are also small adapters you can buy that add a spacer so that you can use non-macro lenses for this.

Note that in macro photography, lighting can be more difficult. Cheap shooting boxes are now available because so many people sell on ebay — get one on ebay itself.

But my lesson continues to be, don’t buy just one lens.

Canon’s 100mm macro lens is very popular and all you need for your jewelry, and a lot of other interesting tele photography, but it’s about $450. There are some cheaper ones. There is an EF-S (for the prosumer DSLRs and rebels only) for about $340. It is 60mm and so would also be a good portrait and short-tele lens.

Advice on what digital camera to buy

brad — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:37:42 -0700

I do enough photography that people ask me for advice on cameras. Some time ago I wrote an article about what lenses should I buy for a Canon DSLR which has turned out to be fairly popular. The thrust of that article, by the way, is to convince you that there is only minimal point in buying a DSLR that can changes lenses and getting only one lens for it, even if you plan to get another lens later (after your camera has depreciated plenty without using its real abilities.)

However, many people come with the higher level question of which digital camera to get. There are many cameras, and lots of right answers, but hopefully I give a few in “What Digital Camera Should I Buy?.”

Here, the advice has some specifics and some generalities. Both Canon and Nikon are good, but stick with the major brands so you get accessories and an aftermarket on eBay. And the answer, if you are serious about your pictures, may be to buy more than one. We’ve got three — plus another 2 we don’t use.