Photographers input please

[Country Girl 43]

I know we have some good photographers here. I don't care if you are not professionals I just want to know what kind of camera you are using and why.

I am wanting to do some photography over the summer to bring is some extra money. It will be mostly outdoor photography and action shots.

I know Equine Woman is a photgrapher..... :D

So please tell me the make AND model of your cameras and WHY you like them.


I appreciate all input. :D

[CaddoCinnamon]

I'm not a professional by no means. The camera I use is a Sony cyber shot. I like it because it has many different features on it and I can take videos as well.

[Country Girl 43]

I'm not a professional by no means. The camera I use is a Sony cyber shot. I like it because it has many different features on it and I can take videos as well.

Thanks... yeah I have all those types of cameras. ;) Those are "point and shoot". I am talking more about the ones with the lens that can be changed out. Canon and Nikon make several semi pro and pro cameras. I am just wondering what our semi pro's use. ;)

I know one of our local photographers uses a Canon D20.

[Equine_Woman]

Canon Rebel series. Any of them. Invest in a better lens. For sports you really need a fast lens (which adds price!) anything with an f/2 or higher (lower on the bottom number) is faster. Let me know if you want some lens recommendations, although I'll warn you, you pay for what you get with lenses.

I shoot with a Rebel XTi and cheep lenses that drive me insane! They work but I have to do a lot of post processing to get them to where I like them. I was going to upgrade this year but since I'm so busy in my Real Estate business I haven't had time! However the mustang photography has me lined up this spring for photoshoots. . . not sure how I'm going to find time to brush my teeth. . .

[JackieB]

Let me know if you want some lens recommendations, although I'll warn you, you pay for what you get with lenses.


This is really good advice. The photo can only be as good as the glass it just came through. When I was into nature photography, I invested exclusively in Nikkor (this is Nikon's lens division) lenses after being dissatisfied with my pictures with cheap lenses. It's absolutely OK to buy used if they are in good shape.

I had a 300mm f2.8 that I paid $2,000 for used, and 80-200 f2.8 that I bought new for $1,200, a 55mm 2.8 macro that I bought used for about $250 and a 20mm 2.8 wide angle lens that I paid about $400 for used.

I didn't buy this stuff all at once. I built my lens collection up over time. I was shooting film, so the camera wasn't very expensive.

I wouldn't go out and buy a ton of expensive equipment all at once even if you have the money. You may not like photography. But I'd get a good digital SLR (either Canon or Nikon) and a good lens like one of their EF-S zoom lenses to get you started. The 18-55 one would provide really wide angle for landscapes and would be good for candids if you are close to your subject. It wouldn't have enough focal length (i.e. more mm's) for most action shots. If you want to get really good shots of what's going on in an arena, you will want 300 mm or more.

Good luck. Let us know what you decide.

[XshadowfoxX]

I love my Nikon d 5000, Im not much of a photographer I am just good at photocomposition and such lol. If you are looking for an 'idiot proof' camera that takes great pictures w/ video capabilites I would suggest that route. But like others have said, if you REALLY want to get into it, invest in better lenses. I DO need a different lense but for what I am doing now it doesnt really matter lol. good luck!

[CaddoCinnamon]

Sorry that I couldn't be of any help but hey some of those cameras look nice. I did a research on some of them. They really are good cameras.

[JetLagaside]

I've always been a Cannon girl but my husband bought a Nikon D90 and I couldn't be happier with it.
I'll second what everyone else has already said upgrade the lens :)

[Rant]

I use a Canon Rebel XTI. I have always been a Canon fan. To me, the camera is only half of it. The lens is what matters. I use an Canon EF 70-200 f 2.8. To me that lens is every equine photographers best friend.

[doc_western]

I have a Pentax SPII (old school film SLR :innocent: ), so I guess I'm not a huge help. :o My aunt has a Nikon D40 and loves it, though. Not sure what lenses she has/uses.

[Country Girl 43]

Well, I borrowed my friends new Nikon this weekend and took several photos with it, then I used my Kodak p850 and I can tell you, my old syle Kodak blew the doors off her Nikon!

I think I am going to hold off on getting a new camera and focus on getting some lenses for my camera. I can buy an adaptor for it and then I can put lens on it. So now is the difficult thing. I am totally lost with all the names and measurements of the lenses.

Can I put any type of lens on it, or does it specifically need to be made for Kodak?? :huh:

[XshadowfoxX]

Well, I borrowed my friends new Nikon this weekend and took several photos with it, then I used my Kodak p850 and I can tell you, my old syle Kodak blew the doors off her Nikon!

I think I am going to hold off on getting a new camera and focus on getting some lenses for my camera. I can buy an adaptor for it and then I can put lens on it. So now is the difficult thing. I am totally lost with all the names and measurements of the lenses.

Can I put any type of lens on it, or does it specifically need to be made for Kodak?? :huh:

Wow, Did you have it on the right settings? Hm.. puzzling... :huh:

[Country Girl 43]

Wow, Did you have it on the right settings? Hm.. puzzling... :huh:

Oh sorry... it wasn't one of the BIG Nikons like the D50 or whatever. It was a $400 camera.

My Kodak P850 was almost $600 brand new when I first bought it 5 or 6 years ago. Great little camera and still takes awesome pictures. I can buy an adaptor for it so it will accomodate a 55mm lenses.

Here is where I am lost. Can I buy just any lens that will fit on the 55mm adaptor? :confused:

[XshadowfoxX]

Here is where I am lost. Can I buy just any lens that will fit on the 55mm adaptor? :confused:

I believe so? Not so sure, thats a question for EW, Im not THAT huge into photography.... yet;)

[Equine_Woman]

Let me look into it CG. I don't know much about those little cameras. But I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's unlikely they would all fit. The 55mm isn't the size of the actual lens, it's the size of the focal length. (I'm assuming, I've never played with a point & shoot with an adapter!) I'll get back with you tomorrow when my eyeballs will stay open, I just finished a huge day of shooting Mustangs and my brain is mush! lol

[Country Girl 43]

I appreciate the help EW. :D

[JackieB]

The 55mm isn't the size of the actual lens, it's the size of the focal length.

In this case, she is talking about the diameter, EW. I had to look it up myself. The lens adapter provides a set of 55 mm threads that you could then screw a lens into if it had the same threads. I saw a wide angle lens on the Kodak site. It doesn't have an adjustable aperature or anything (those are the f stops, CG). It's a wide angle lense, but screws on like a filter.

CG,
This definitely isn't what you're looking for. You won't find lenses that fit the adapter ring (at least I'm virtually certain that you won't) and it's not the type of setup you would need anyway.

If you really want to pursue taking photos that are marketable, I'd sell your Kodak on eBay and ask EW to help you pick out your starter kit. However, you can definitely work on composition, lighting, and in Photoshop with your Kodak. There's a lot you can do with it. And the lens on it does look like a pretty good one. It's just not going to let you do a lot, such as capturing close ups of action in the arena.

Good luck!

[Country Girl 43]

Hey JackieB, they do have a Telephoto adapter for my camera. I had to do an intense google search, but I did find a few. I would prefer to get a nice lense.

My FIL has the Canon Rebel Ti1 or something like that. I think I am just going to use my kodak for now, play with my FIL's camera so I can learn the ropes on that one, but I know my kodak takes great pics. And like you said I can play with the photos in Photo shop.

After pricing the nice Canon's I can't afford what I really want right now, so it's best if I wait and get by with what I have. ;)

[Equine_Woman]

Yeah JackieB is right, it is the diameter of the lenses it accepts. . . however I don't think the quality will be there. I agree with JackieB. Use your kodak as it's intended, practice your composition, does it have manual control? IE, can you control the aperture value, the ISO value, the shutter speed? Can you do manual focus? Those are the things that are important in photography in my eyes. While you are playing with your FIL's camera there is a book I highly recommend, Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. It's great. Within the first chapter you will likely be able to understand how a camera functions and be able to set up a shot using the manual mode, controlling those 3 parts of a photo to make a perfectly exposed image.

[JackieB]

Hey JackieB, they do have a Telephoto adapter for my camera. I had to do an intense google search, but I did find a few. I would prefer to get a nice lense.

My FIL has the Canon Rebel Ti1 or something like that. I think I am just going to use my kodak for now, play with my FIL's camera so I can learn the ropes on that one, but I know my kodak takes great pics. And like you said I can play with the photos in Photo shop.

After pricing the nice Canon's I can't afford what I really want right now, so it's best if I wait and get by with what I have. ;)

Great plan! Some people get excited about photography and then quickly decide it isn't for them. The work you have to do to get good photos definitely takes time away from just enjoying the experience. You have to really want to do it.

[Country Girl 43]

Great plan! Some people get excited about photography and then quickly decide it isn't for them. The work you have to do to get good photos definitely takes time away from just enjoying the experience. You have to really want to do it.

Yeah, I have been wanting to do it for awhile, but my mutli-tasking abilities is getting extremely limited as I get older. :crazy: My kodak was a stepping stone. At the time it was a great Starters kit. Many photography classes were using them for their students. The BIG thing for me is the "continuous shooting" mode. I LOVE that!! I am spoiled and hate that none of my pocket cameras do that.

I also understand about the work and time involved. I sat in my office for hours going through the 1200 photos I took on Saturday, trying to find the perfect shots, cropping, and doing some fun stuff with them. I will be selling these to the parents in my league but for a fraction of the cost of what the professionals charge.

I can say that my Kodak out performed my friends Nikon. She has the one similiar to this
http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/coolpix/life/l110/index.htm
The pics just were not as clear as my older Kodak.

After staying up till almost 2AM, I figure I can get the adapter, a telephoto lens and a couple of filters, UV in particular and I will be good to go for now and not break the bank. I can get some really nice shots, they just won't be professional quality, hence I would not charge professional prices when I do offer the photo's for sale.

Many photographers charge $6 to $7 for a 4x6 photo. I would not charge that much. ;) In the begining I will probably only charge $1 to $2. That will cover my cost and still give me some profit. ( I have to be at my fields and the gymkhana's anyway) Then I will know if buying a more expensive camera is worth it. ;)

[Country Girl 43]

Hey EW.... do you have a photo hosting website? If so can I take a peek?? :innocent:

This is my friends hosting sight. http://www.silverbucklephoto.com/Events/P/11608530_39fnu#818360992_xuJtJ

[Equine_Woman]

Sure. I haven't updated with any of my events lately but here is my pro site

www.lightningbugcreek.photoreflect.com

[valleyrider]

I have a Canon Rebel XSi I love the pics I can get with it. Hubby got it for me for Christmas last year and I still don't understand all it can do:huh:
BTW,, EW, your pics are aw some!:)

[Country Girl 43]

did you take those pics Valleyrider? Those are nice!!

[valleyrider]

Yes I did:) Thanks.. I have so many it was hard to choose ones to show you what I took with my camera. When I went to the beach I just put the camera on the sports shot. It takes rapid frame after frame. Love using that feature. Then you can pick the best shot out of 5 or 6 pics of what ever you are shooting. Looks like an old fashion movie when you click threw the pics.

[Country Girl 43]

hmmmm.... running off to see how that camera costs.....

Oh... can you add lenses to your camera Valleyrider?

[XshadowfoxX]

Im still rooting for the Nikons out there.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i249/28546L/DSC_0203.jpg?t=1269971813



http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i249/28546L/DSC_0201-1.jpg?t=1269971843

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i249/28546L/DSC_0114.jpg?t=1269971892

[Country Girl 43]

Im still rooting for the Nikons out there.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i249/28546L/DSC_0114.jpg?t=1269971892

LOL xshadowfox.... but I have found that the Nikons aren't as good for the action shots that I take. The Canon Rebel seems to so better as well as my trusty little Kodak. ;)

[XshadowfoxX]

like this one?
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs479.ash1/26261_1407186624694_1383274656_31096823_1902297_n. jpg (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31096824&id=1383274656)
=P

[valleyrider]

Yes CG I have 2 lenses for my camera. I have taken a lot of great action shots but I do not know how to load them here big like xshadowfox did.:huh: I got a few Eye shots too, just can't find them:( Found these I thought you might enjoy seeing though

[Country Girl 43]

Wow Valleyrider... I like those shots!

These are some of the photos I took this past weekend...

Nikon
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t56/Thunderalleyphotos/Spring%202010/DSCN0066.jpg

Kodak
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t56/Thunderalleyphotos/Spring%202010/100B7150-2.jpg

Nikon
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t56/Thunderalleyphotos/Spring%202010/DSCN0599-2.jpg

Kodak
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t56/Thunderalleyphotos/Spring%202010/100B7280copy.jpg

[Rant]

More Canon evidence. ;)


Canon Rebel XTI 70-200 f 2.8

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3601664583_0340500dfd_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3632/3586632911_d0ac6699a1_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3606035930_b90456e2f0_b.jpg



And with the Canon XTI and the "kit lens".

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2253/2468915321_87e37cb6e2_b.jpg

[valleyrider]

Thanks CG.. I just wish I could post them big for you to see better Like yours and Rant's pics are.Your Nikon takes good action shots.. WOW Rant your pics are great! Love the eye shot. My Niece just got a Canon XTi to take pictures of her twins baby girls. What does 70-200 f 2.8 mean:huh:? I will have to set my Canon to that when I do action shots...

[Rant]

Thanks CG.. I just wish I could post them big for you to see better Like yours and Rant's pics are.Your Nikon takes good action shots.. WOW Rant your pics are great! Love the eye shot. My Niece just got a Canon XTi to take pictures of her twins baby girls. What does 70-200 f 2.8 mean:huh:? I will have to set my Canon to that when I do action shots...


70-200 f 2.8 is my lens.

http://www.camera-catalog.com/_modules/_glens/images/canon_ef_70-200_f28l_is_usm_1.jpg

[Country Girl 43]

THAT'S IT!!!!!

I'm going to buy a Canon Rebel.... something! :confused:
I have been looking at the t1i. I think that is the newest model?

So after talking with hubby, I have my choice of a new saddle or a new camera, but I can't have both. :(

I'm thinking maybe I should buy the camera and I can earn the money to buy my saddle. :rolleyes:

[Country Girl 43]

70-200 f 2.8 is my lens.

http://www.camera-catalog.com/_modules/_glens/images/canon_ef_70-200_f28l_is_usm_1.jpg

HOLY MOLY!!!!! :jawdrop: I could buy TWO brand new cameras for what THAT lens costs!!

[valleyrider]

Duh me . That is what my other lens looks like but mine is all black.

[Rant]

HOLY MOLY!!!!! :jawdrop: I could buy TWO brand new cameras for what THAT lens costs!!


I saved up for a while for it. It's a nice lens. I love it a lot. My camera isn't the best. The camera that took the above photos is a three year old six mega pixel Canon Rebel XTI.

So I mean, yeah my photos are not going to be as sharp as the Mark II or something even with the 70-200 lens but all things considering I cannot complain about the quality of the photos.

The Canon Rebel XTI model that I have you can buy the "body only" for like 300 bucks. LOL. But it's just that. Body Only. Nothing else. So I mean it's not a really expensive camera. Not anymore but out of all the dSLR's I've used it's been my favorite.


When I do upgrade cameras it's going to be a massive upgrade. It'll be an upgrade to a Mark II or something. Of course that's in the future...one day over the rainbow.

[Rant]

I saved up for a while for it. It's a nice lens. I love it a lot. My camera isn't the best. The camera that took the above photos is a three year old six mega pixel Canon Rebel XTI.

So I mean, yeah my photos are not going to be as sharp as the Mark II or something even with the 70-200 lens but all things considering I cannot complain about the quality of the photos.

The Canon Rebel XTI model that I have you can buy the "body only" for like 300 bucks. LOL. But it's just that. Body Only. Nothing else. So I mean it's not a really expensive camera. Not anymore but out of all the dSLR's I've used it's been my favorite.


When I do upgrade cameras it's going to be a massive upgrade. It'll be an upgrade to a Mark II or something. Of course that's in the future...one day over the rainbow.



Duh me . That is what my other lens looks like but mine is all black.


There are a bunch of lenses that look like this. I think Sigma has their version and so does Tamron and they are black. The EF L Series by Canon is white though. I've not seen one that's all black.

[Country Girl 43]

Well my cheap lenses came in and they don't work right with my camera or I am doing something wrong. :(

I got the 2.0x telephoto lens and also the Wideangle/Macro lens.

For closeups the Macro worked great! I loved the photos, but on the telephoto lens when I zoomed in on my subjects, it got blurry, especially on the outsides of the picture. I tried in the general mode, in the portrait mode and also in the sports mode (which is what I need)... all of the photos were crap!! :(

[Equine_Woman]

It's likely that the camera can't compensate for the increase in focal length. It would have to speed itself up quite a bit to save from being blurry when you zoom out on stuff. The further you zoom out the faster the frame has to be photographed. . .not sure if your cheap lenses are able to communicate with your camera. Sorry they didn't work out.

[Country Girl 43]

Thanks EW.
I just used the adapter today with a UV filter and the pics came out really good.

[WashingtonBay]

Hi and welcome to the forum snipe67 :)

[Country Girl 43]

EW and Rant... what model Rebel do you have?

I know Valleyrider has the XSi. Looks like it takes great pictures too.

[Equine_Woman]

I have an XTi. Any of the Rebel series works great. I was going to upgrade this year but now I have to buy a new saddle instead. Boo. I guess I could technically go out and get some more photography gigs for a few months and do both but I REALLY hate doing photography on a deadline. lol

[Rant]

I also have an XTI.

[Country Girl 43]

OK... Great! :) Now...if you were to upgrade.....within your budget ;) which one would you get?

I am looking at the XSi and the T1i, because they have the "live view" which I am assuiming means I can look through the LCD to take the shots instead of the tiny view finder.

[Equine_Woman]

Either of those would be fine. If I were going to upgrade it wouldn't be a Rebel series. I don't think I'd use live view. . maybe I would but part of the fun of photography is seeing through the lens and framing my shot just right!

[Country Girl 43]

I like the T1i for the 15megapix and also it records videos.

The XSi has 12megapix which is good too. I think I am going to try the XSi this week and see how I like it. Costco has a 90 day return policy, so I can return it for any reason if I don't like it or can't figure out how to use it. :rolleyes: