Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

British Columbia Sport & Outdoor Lounge => Outdoor Photography => Topic started by: Trophy Fisher on July 26, 2009, 09:14:51 PM

Title: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Trophy Fisher on July 26, 2009, 09:14:51 PM
What type of camera do you use?


I'm new to the photography game and my introductory camera is the Sony Alpha 200 and love it.
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: DragonSpeed on July 26, 2009, 11:39:38 PM
What type of camera do you use?


I'm new to the photography game and my introductory camera is the Sony Alpha 200 and love it.
I've been shooting in earnest for the past 3 years.  Previously it was back in University and High School and school darkrooms.

I shoot with a Canon 50D.  Lenses are 17-55 2.8IS, 17-85 4-5.6IS, 100-400L, 70-200 2.8IS, 2x teleconverter

The 50D has much faster tracking on AF than the base model XSi, T1i etc...  It also has great response at high ISO.  These features make it and my lenses of choice great for shooting indoor Judo and outdoor birds and other animals.
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: fishersak on July 26, 2009, 11:49:10 PM
I just got the Nikon D90 with the AF-S Zoom-Nikkor ED 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF DX VR ....I'm loving my camera, even though I have no idea what I'm doing.

Like fishing...it's a whole new addiction...and I can see myself spending way too much money on this...(mostly on stuff that I could probably do without).  2 months in and I am aleady wanting a 105mm fixed micro lens for insects, and a zoom that takes me out to about 400 for birds. 
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Fish Assassin on July 27, 2009, 12:08:02 AM
I'm partial to Canon. Thinking of buying the Canon D10
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: DragonSpeed on July 27, 2009, 07:26:58 AM
I just got the Nikon D90 with the AF-S Zoom-Nikkor ED 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF DX VR ....I'm loving my camera, even though I have no idea what I'm doing.

Like fishing...it's a whole new addiction...and I can see myself spending way too much money on this

Oh yeah... second mortage, line  of credit  ;)
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Eagleye on July 27, 2009, 02:01:09 PM
Canon Rebel XS; 18-55mm kit lens, 70-300mm IS with recently purchased not yet used 1.4X Kenko Teleconverter. along with numerous accessories like wireless remote, waterproof Pelican case etc.  Camera accessories are like fishing paraphenalia the want and selection is endless and costly.  :).  I went for the Rebel XS because I got an exceptional package deal with the sweet 70-300mm lens.  I also have a Pentax Optio W30 for underwater pics and rainy weather.

Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: labmik on July 27, 2009, 03:01:05 PM
I use an Olympus 1030 SW, mostly because it's bombproof.  I can wet wade with it in my pocket and not have to worry.
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: silverslab on July 27, 2009, 03:41:04 PM
I agree on the olympus stylus, great little camera for the money, the basic features are simple to use, buttons ar located well for one hand operation.  I wont say it's indestructable but it sure takes a beating (ans still totally waterproof)
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Trophy Fisher on July 27, 2009, 07:08:36 PM
I use an Olympus 1030 SW, mostly because it's bombproof.  I can wet wade with it in my pocket and not have to worry.
I need a new point and shoot a and after seeing the responses to the thread that I created a little wile ago on the general discussion, I think that when I start work I'll be picking up a Olympus 1030 SW.

 ;D Only one more day of classes and I will graduate from UBC  and be able to start work ;D
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Keener on July 28, 2009, 08:30:21 AM
I use a Canon Xti with a Sigma 18-55mm and 75-300mm kit. I recently bought it ... and I would have to say I would have definately upgraded the lenses. Mine tends to turn out slightly blurry and needs adjusting on the computer afterwards. I also have a Canon sd850 as well and I'm extremely happy with that camera. Wonder if it's the quality of the lenses or if something is broken to cause the blurryness.
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Shooter on July 28, 2009, 08:56:21 AM
i just recently bought a Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 with a 18-70mm lens and i also have the 75-300mm lens for those long shots!  not quite sure how to use it quite yet... most of the pics are taken with the 'auto' function!  looking forward to taking some great shots once i figure the thing out!  its quite a step up from the usual point and shoot camera.
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Eagleye on July 28, 2009, 09:05:28 AM
I use a Canon Xti with a Sigma 18-55mm and 75-300mm kit. I recently bought it ... and I would have to say I would have definately upgraded the lenses. Mine tends to turn out slightly blurry and needs adjusting on the computer afterwards. I also have a Canon sd850 as well and I'm extremely happy with that camera. Wonder if it's the quality of the lenses or if something is broken to cause the blurryness.

The number one factor probably is that the 75-300mm lens does not have image stabilization (as well as not having UD glass elements).  Try using a tripod or faster shutter speeds to minimize the blur.  That said I have a Canon 70-300mm IS lens and I still find that my pictures benefit from some unsharp mask (anywhere from 100-300% usuall I use %150).  I think Canon aims for a less processed output and leaves the fine tuning to the photographer.  I always shoot in RAW + JPEG so I can edit afterwards.  Since I am new to photography the RAW feature is great because I can better correct my mistakes with exposure. 
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Keener on July 28, 2009, 03:07:58 PM
Thanks Eagleye. I'll give that a try next time. I wonder if spending that extra $$ to get that lense would actually make the difference. I think my next investment would be some polarize lenses as I've seen the difference it makes
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: DragonSpeed on July 28, 2009, 03:16:38 PM
I use a Canon Xti with a Sigma 18-55mm and 75-300mm kit. I recently bought it ... and I would have to say I would have definately upgraded the lenses. Mine tends to turn out slightly blurry and needs adjusting on the computer afterwards. I also have a Canon sd850 as well and I'm extremely happy with that camera. Wonder if it's the quality of the lenses or if something is broken to cause the blurryness.

Keep your shutter speed to at least the mm of your lens otherwise you end up with lens shake.

i.e. 

If you're shooting 75mm make sure your shutter speed is at least 1/75s
If you're shooting 300mm make sure your shutter speed is at least 1/300s

Also- what are you shooting?  Moving animals, still objects?  XTi may not track as well.
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: DragonSpeed on July 28, 2009, 03:22:51 PM
Thanks Eagleye. I'll give that a try next time. I wonder if spending that extra $$ to get that lense would actually make the difference. I think my next investment would be some polarize lenses as I've seen the difference it makes

Polariizer is just a filter you attach to your lens.  More pieces of glass = worse picture... more light distortion.  Only use if if you need it for the polarizing abilities.

Would a high end lens shoot better?  Perhaps, but not until you start getting a high percentage of "keeper" shots from your cheaper lens first.  Usually the photographer is the limiting factor when first shooting with a new camera/lens combo.  Then, when the lens becomes the factor, you've saved up the 2K for the next step up in Zoom lenses (Yes - that's right - the step up from the various middle of the line 7x-300's of Canon is the 100-400L)
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Keener on July 29, 2009, 07:44:36 AM
Okay. With that being said.. I think photography courses wouldn't be a bad idea before the lens upgrades. I've just been experimenting and learning by trial and error so far with discouraging results, hence the downgrade to my point-and-shoot investment.
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: DragonSpeed on July 29, 2009, 09:19:38 AM
http://photography-on-the.net

for Canon shooters.
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Eagleye on July 29, 2009, 12:01:01 PM
If you do get a polarizer I would recommend B+W because they have the best optical quality.  The 100-400L is top notch but I do think the 70-300 IS lens is a step up from the 75-300 since it does have UD elements but it doesn't have the focusing motor that the L lens has so it is not best suited for action shots.  I have been pleased with my lens anyways but I am no expert.  Here is a review of the lens http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/70-300mm-is.htm I would agree that learning how to use the camera should be done before spending more $$$.
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Trophy Fisher on August 01, 2009, 10:35:40 PM
Okay. With that being said.. I think photography courses wouldn't be a bad idea before the lens upgrades. I've just been experimenting and learning by trial and error so far with discouraging results, hence the downgrade to my point-and-shoot investment.

London Drugs puts on free basic photography coarse, that's were I have learned the bulk of my knowledge ( ;D but that's not too much ;D).
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Keener on August 03, 2009, 11:04:03 AM
Thanks for the help guys. I'll post some pics and get some critique.
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: oni_kage on August 04, 2009, 08:01:14 AM
I shoot with an older canon 30d.
I manly shoot with a Tamron 17-50 f2.8. Sometimes I use a Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM however the 1.6 sensor crop ruins its true ability. I can't wait to try this lense on a full frame one day.
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Tee on August 09, 2009, 10:20:18 PM
Nikon D90 with the following lenses:

Nikkor 18-105 kit lense,
Nikkor 50 f1.8 prime lense (really happy with this lense),
Nikkor 55-200 vr lense,
Tamron 10-24 f3.5-5.6 ultra wide lense.

Below are some shots from the above lenses.

(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/wtaksinrote/th__DSC3089.jpg) (http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/wtaksinrote/?action=view&current=_DSC3089.jpg)

(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/wtaksinrote/th__DSC2968.jpg) (http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/wtaksinrote/?action=view&current=_DSC2968.jpg)

(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/wtaksinrote/th_DSC_1007_001.jpg) (http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r271/wtaksinrote/?action=view&current=DSC_1007_001.jpg)

Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: JL on August 11, 2009, 11:01:12 PM
I use a hand me down canon 300D with the stock lense and borrow whatever lense i need from the bro and shoot as he tell me to as i currently have a very limited knowledge in photograhy.

Also, have a canon SD600
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: yamadirt 426 on August 13, 2009, 04:57:29 PM
Nikon D50 for me and a nikon point/shoot
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Trophy Fisher on August 14, 2009, 04:33:21 PM
I use a hand me down canon 300D with the stock lense and borrow whatever lense i need from the bro and shoot as he tell me to as i currently have a very limited knowledge in photograhy.

Also, have a canon SD600

I could use some advice from your bro, I am just beginning and need a lot more practice. 
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: marmot on September 04, 2009, 12:25:03 PM
I have a few canons but only one of them is working after I submersed one in salt water by accident and the other one my 2 year old got hold of and as I tried to get it from him it smashed down on the floor.  Now it works when it wants to.  The only one I have left is the new canon D10.  I'm happy with it so far.

I'm in to hiking/fishing etc. first, photography second, so I just can't lug around an SLR.  So far the closest I have got was the s5is that my kid trashed :( 
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: DragonSpeed on September 04, 2009, 01:09:06 PM
I look forward to seeing some pics from the D10.  It looked like a pretty nice piece of kit from the Canoon specs.
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: marmot on September 04, 2009, 09:41:04 PM
I have a couple of underwater rainbow pics I'll post when my wife returns with the camera :D
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Hiker on September 13, 2009, 10:05:01 PM
Courses are way to go, or if you have no time for it, you can always teach yourself. Digital cameras are really good for that, and for the absolute beginner I would say a book is a must to get ahead a bit faster. I have no time these days to fish, so I spend much more time with camera, whenever I am out in the nature. I would really recommend a book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. It is a really good book for a beginner. It doesn't focus on any camera, but rather on some of the basic principles of photography whit, I find, very good example shoots. One thing I have found in that book different than in many others, is that every picture is followed with a standard info about settings used, and additional info about why those settings were chosen. I find later info really useful.

There are many other books as well, so just pick one, but get recommendation too, as there are a lot of books I do not find that useful. This will probably increase quality of your picture taking dramatically, as long as you work on it too.
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: DragonSpeed on September 14, 2009, 12:23:02 AM
Courses are way to go, or if you have no time for it, you can always teach yourself. Digital cameras are really good for that, and for the absolute beginner I would say a book is a must to get ahead a bit faster. I have no time these days to fish, so I spend much more time with camera, whenever I am out in the nature. I would really recommend a book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. It is a really good book for a beginner. It doesn't focus on any camera, but rather on some of the basic principles of photography whit, I find, very good example shoots. One thing I have found in that book different than in many others, is that every picture is followed with a standard info about settings used, and additional info about why those settings were chosen. I find later info really useful.

There are many other books as well, so just pick one, but get recommendation too, as there are a lot of books I do not find that useful. This will probably increase quality of your picture taking dramatically, as long as you work on it too.
+1 on "Understanding Exposure"  It's really what taking pictures is about - independant of camera make/model/quality.
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: bluesteele on November 05, 2009, 11:49:57 AM
Finally took the plunge  ;D

steppin up from the point and shoot I just bought the new...I'm so excited LOL
Nikon D3000 got the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm VR  and the
Nikon 55-200mm  (AF-S DX VR) nice new Nikon bag and some more goodies.

Now just have to get out and use it...Literally just opened the package up.

Kerrisdale has a great sale on them right now if anyones interested.

Bluesteele

Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: DragonSpeed on November 05, 2009, 11:57:43 PM
Congratulations BS - Looking forward to seeing pics :)
Title: Re: What type of camera do you use?
Post by: Trophy Fisher on November 08, 2009, 11:31:01 AM
I just picked up a olympus stylus tough 8000 and it is the absolute best point and shoot camera that I have ever had. I made my dissension upon the responses that I got from a topic that I opened in the General Discussion. Thanks to all that responded.  ;D ;D