Newbie needs help --will be very much appreciated

[BES]

Thank you daniel, but it is pure accident, I really do not know what I am doing yet. I have EVERYTHING to learn. I am so impressed by all the knowledge you all share. I am trully impressed by all of you.

[Joel Bookhammer]

Great shots! my favorite is the last one. As a fairly new digitalphotographer (can count how many years on one hand) I have to say that its alittle slow at first but then the ball starts rolling. Also the "martin" talk we can help with translation for now and then you will soon be fluent in "martin" as well.


I hope the advice helps, and you were right about the dogs, it does look like a painter could capture the image as well.


thanks


joel

[BES]

[]


that is correct, they are very patient with me, I can at least practice forever on them....in different light as they will stay motionless for 20 hours if no food is present, LOL.


Thanks for kind comments, I have so much to learn and I am really happy I have found this website.

[Gian Luca]

<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"]Your Pictures are nice, the only comment I have is that the allimage is in focus, there is no blur.<o></o>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"]This is due to the focal length of your zoom, and to the f opening you are using. <o></o>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"]I agree with Dev, and with everybody suggesting the 70-200L F4 IS, or 70-200L F2.8 (non IS), also in light or your shooting program to walk around and shoot people. In this case a zoom is a lot more versatile then a fix lens.<o></o>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"]Thesearelenses you will not regret in the future, all others are not even close to this one in quality for 1.100 $. Both are very sharp wide open, color and contrast are great at all focal lengths.<o></o>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"]You should choose between them with the following criteria: If your subject is not moving, F4 and IS produce the same speed of F2.8 without IS. If you shoot action IS will not stop movement, so F2.8 will produce a faster speed, to stop movement.<o></o>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"]Also F2.8 is a better portrait lens in my opinion producing a nicer blur. F4 is lighter and smaller than f2.8.


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"]


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"]One last choice, (out of budget 1.600 $) 70-200 F2.8 IS in this case you have everything, a little heavier and bigger than f 4. The best solution is to read Bryan review of these lenses, and to watch his pictures.


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"][url="http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-Zoom-Lens-Reviews.aspx]http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-Zoom-Lens-Reviews.aspx[/url]<o></o>



<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"](sorry for my English, I hope I am clear enough [:P])<o></o>

[Colin]

I have to concede, IF you're going to keep doing this, you won't regret either of the 70-200 IS zooms. They're expensive, but they're SO much fun.


My suggestion on the 70-300 IS was based on you just getting into it, and trying to maintain a budget, which allows you to get a 50mm prime and possibly a flash, as previously suggested. If that was your budget for the near future, I'd stick by sticking by the previously suggested combination.


However, yes, if you're looking for a long term purchase, and the bug has bitten hard and won't let go, the 70-200 zooms are undeniably great investments. Using my 70-200 f/2.8 IS is a giddy experience at times. If people aren't moving too fast, and you're steady, it can even be useful indoors. Sometimes the blur of one person going totally emotive, contrasted with the clarity of somebody listening, can be pretty cool too!

[BES]

Gian, thanks for your comments.


It made perfect sense. English is my second language as well. To be honest, I have no idea what I am doing so I have ro practive with adjusting zoom and f opening and given that I only have one lens right now and absolutely no skills...well, this is going to be one Sisyphean challenge, LOL. That's OK, my dogs are quite patient and a perfect medium to take pictures of for me at least[]


I do have a question...70-200L F4 IS sounds nice because it is lighter and for me it will be one of those things where if it weighs a ton I will abhore carrying it. I do not know enought (well, nothing really) about the faster speed so I am not sure what decision to make. I need help here...If it makes sense to save and wait for F2.8, then I will do it, but I would hate to do that if I was not using it enough....I do not plan at this point making a living out of these lenses, just want to have a really good quality lens to take great pictures with. At home I am fine with what I have (17-85 IS) and I will be getting 50/1.4, but for walks outside, street, beach, travel pictures...what would be a better option for me? Any advice? Most people agree with 70-200L F/4. What is your take?

[Oren]

Hey BES. To be honest, since you keep saying that you still don't even know what effect the f/number has for example, I suggest that before you are making any buying decisions, spend a bit more time both on this site and with your camera. Read the Bryan's reviews here, read this: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm


and don't forget to ask all kind of questions.


Lastly, I want to warn you... even though what I said, once you'll know all this stuff better, not only that it won't be easier for you to decide, but it'll actually be much much **MUCH** harder [:P]

[devsalvi]

Oren, that is a wonderful link. Thank you. The weird coincidence is, a year before, my friend had emailed me PPTs from his Photography diploma school, which now seem to be a copy + paste of the website you have mentioned and they charged tons of money for it!


By the way I dont know what the policy for referring external links is for this forum but hope that Bryan won't mind helpful links like these?[]


Cheers!


Dev

[BES]

Hey BES. To be honest, since you keep saying that you still don't even know what effect the f/number has for example, I suggest that before you are making any buying decisions, spend a bit more time both on this site and with your camera. Read the Bryan's reviews here, read this: [url="http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm]http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm[/url]


and don't forget to ask all kind of questions.


Lastly, I want to warn you... even though what I said, once you'll know all this stuff better, not only that it won't be easier for you to decide, but it'll actually be much much **MUCH** harder [img]/emoticons/emotion-4.gif[/img]
<div style="clear: both;"]</div>

Agree 100%. I am very new at this and I need all help I can get. I am very confused but I keep reading up like a fiend. The problem sometimes is with (please do not laugh) trying to understand complex technical concept of photography in english with camera settings in english when english is not my first language. So I suck a bit at this technical stuff untill I get comfortable with lingo. I think it is going to be simply like learning another language. Once I get used to vocabulary, I hope it will all come together, like with everything else. But at this point I am making a very s-l-o-w progress as I have to stop and think what the heck I am reading and to translate it in my brain into something that makes sense in "real" world". I may need to look for a forum for morons, LOL.

[Gian Luca]

<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"]BES,<o></o>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"]If you can try the 50 before to purchase it, or just shoot with your 17-85 blocked at 50. You will see that specially at the beginning a zoom is much easier to use. Prime deliver a better IQ only if you do not need to crop the image to resize your picture. If you want to shoot in lower light I recommend a flash rather than a faster lens. This will open another area where you can manage the light.<o></o>


<span style="font-size: 9pt; color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif';"]You will see that even indoor the 70-200 L F/4 IS is a great lens if you have a single subject like your dog. Your pictures will be much nicer. This is a great lens very sharp vide open. The 2.8 in not better in all area, is heavier, less sharp specially on cropped sensor in my experience. I think if you go for the f4 IS you will be very happy.<o></o>