Thinking about a new Camera - Page 2

Debra Norton · 01-08-2009, 11:16 PM

Hi Clayton, I was thinking of the 300 more for getting that heron I can't sneak up on or my grandson's kite at the beach type of photography. As for landscape painting, I try to do a plein air study and take photos too, but I usually use the wide angle lense for that. I consider myself still a beginner in landscape painting, but I definitely try to go for the natural look.

I've never used a 300mm lense, do you know what the difference between a 200 and a 300 would be? I'm not sure I'm even asking this question correctly, but if I took a picture of the same thing from the same place with both lenses how much bigger would the object be with a 300mm lense than a 200? Is there some kind of formula for this?

Julie Deane · 01-09-2009, 09:05 AM

This link may be helpful in seeing differences between lenses:

http://www.tamron.com/lenses/fundamentals.asp

Julie Deane · 01-09-2009, 09:08 AM

Actually, this is a better link.

http://www.tamron.com/lenses/learnin...comparison.php

Clayton J. Beck III · 01-09-2009, 02:01 PM

Hi Debra, the 200mm will 1.5 times more of the scene in the image. Each time the number goes up the image captured is proportionately smaller. So, since 300 is 1 1/2 times larger than 200, the 200mm image is 1.5 times more of the scene.

If you are shooting landscape for painting, a 50 - 75mm is the most natural look. Roughly what you can cover of your subject with your hand at arm's length and your fingers spread out. Any more than that and things begin to look 'fisheyed' and smaller looks 'telephoto' and compressed in depth.

Try an experiment, put your camera on a tripod and zoom your lens out all the way. Take a shot and zoom in 10 points, shoot, another 10 points and so on until you reach the capacity of your lens. Open your image editing program (Photoshop, GIMP etc.) and open all the images so you can see them all on the screen at the same time (Ctrl + the minus sign usually reduces the size of the image in most programs). Study all of them for depth of field, focus and just simple which ones look 'normal'. After that zoom in to 100% view and study each for detail and sharpness. Most zoom lenses have a sweet spot where they work best. Find yours and try to use that setting most. Good luck.

ps - expect to spend more on your lens than the camera body.

Mary Sparrow · 01-09-2009, 04:58 PM

Well, I went ahead and jumped over the rebel series and went for the 40d. I couldn't justify switching brands when I have several lenses for the Canon. I went up to our local Canon dealership and handled it and loved the way it felt, it was clearly not my old rebel.

I found a better price online so I just ordered it and now wait. Is time for me to revisit all the old threads on photography.

Does anyone else have the canon 40d?

Clayton J. Beck III · 01-09-2009, 05:21 PM

Hi Mary, Clayton here ... I have the 20d. Yours will have a much larger viewing screen on the back. Good camera in the price range. Be very careful about buying 'great deals' on line. There is what is called a gray market. I usually buy from B&H in NY and have not been steered wrong. I pay a little extra ( about 5%) but I have had wonderful experiences.

Mary Sparrow · 01-09-2009, 05:32 PM

Yes, got it from them. A couple hundred less than the local shop!

Debra Norton · 01-10-2009, 12:42 PM

Clayton and Julie, thank you both for the info! And Clayton, I will try that experiment.