Team-BHP - The DSLR Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by HellwratH (Post 1832089)

I had a very interesting experience shooting birds, especially the ones with white feathers that they were being marked as overexposed, even though I had set the EV to -1 and below. While researching about it today, I came to know that it is actually the JPEG created by the camera to display on the lcd that is blown out and it may not be so in the actual RAW file. I know I should have figured this out earlier, but yes, I learnt something new today. Then, I came across a very interesting concept called the UniWB. Has anyone tried it here? To keep it simple, using this technique, the histogram on your camera's lcd (the jpeg one) would be as close as to the real information in RAW format. So, that would help us achieve correct exposure that was earlier under-exposed (like in my case of shooting birds). Here are some links,

Camera's histogram reliable to the RAW data - Luminous Landscape Forum

GUILLERMO LUIJK >> TUTORIALS >> UNIWB. MAKE CAMERA DISPLAY RELIABLE

HW: I am yet to read and understand the links you've posted but thought of mentioning that you don't have to worry about your EV setting if you're shooting RAW, you can always adjust it while processing the RAW..

Quote:

Originally Posted by clevermax (Post 1832796)

Clevermax,

That's right. But I'd like to get the right exposure in the camera itself so that I don't have to worry much later on. And sometimes under-exposing a lot will cause a kind of "posterization" when adjusted during PP. So, I just want to make sure the histogram that I see is as close to the data that is on the RAW file.

Photograhy enthusiasts,

I have been contemplating for a while now between taking a deep breath and deep diving to get the Canon EOS 550D or hold my horses and just go for the FujiFilm FinePix HS10. I saw some photos posted by our member Vivekiny2k but I'm not wow-ed by them, of course, without any disrespect for his purchase decision. Like he has said himself, the image quality isn't laudable.

So I have (temporarily) decided to go for the EOS 550D. The camera comes with 18-55 IS kit lens. Apart from that, which telephoto zoom lens do you enthusiasts think is a good buy amongst Canon, Tamron and Sigma for 70-300 IS (USM type) lens? Is there a good telephoto lens for about 13K or lesser?

Thanks
aK

Quote:

Originally Posted by shajufx (Post 1833867)

Your post is a bit contradictory. You are not that happy with the 550D (from user opinions) but temporarily deciding to buy one. Do we miss something from the message ?:)

Shaju, sorry if my post didn't outline; I meant I wasn't wow-ed by the pics from FujiFilm FinePix HS10, which is what fellow member Vivekiny2k has purchased. Let me see if I can edit my previous post [doubt it]..

Btw, some great pics from your Nikon.. Keep them coming :)

Cheers
aK

Thanks ajay. The Canon 550D is reported to be a nice cam with lot of features. Unni is also looking for the similar line, I think there is a 3rd person who posted here about a canon. If you guys could get a quote for 3 or 4 DSLRs from Jayesh (photocircle) or Naresh (RK), you would get a nice deal.

Read the maximum reviews possible once you are clear with your short listed model (dpreviews, dcviews, dcresource etc). It will give plenty of reasons to fix on one. Another place is the flickr groups (specified groups on different cams and lenses) where you will read lot of good and bad about most models.

Quote:

Originally Posted by k_ajay (Post 1833791)

The Canon 70-300 is not a good lens optically, especially on a sensor as densely packed as on the 550D as it picks up flaws in the lenses very easily. If you are considering the 550D I would suggest you be prepared to spend a substantial amount of money on L glass :). Though the 55-250 IS is pretty decent at the price point you have mentioned, I would suggest you save money for a few months and go for the 70-200l f4 USM, you won't regret it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979 (Post 1833923)

I am also planning to go for HS10, but it will be a supplementary cam. As for IQ, I am aware that tweaking RAW images is what is required to get the max out of HS10. but the 700mm+ reach is wonderful. To get such a reach on my DSLR I need to invest 1000s of dollars!

Tanveer, unless one is adept or knows how to work with RAW images on photoshop, the results from the HS10 won't be magical?? I agree the focal range is brilliant, but extremely stable environment coupled with good tripod is a must for range beyond 300?? Under what conditions would you recommend getting the HS10 against C 550D?

Quote:

Originally Posted by shajufx (Post 1833939)

Shaju, yes I'm considering purchase from Jayesh and I thought I will post in the forum here once I've decided to make the purchase, to see if anyone else is in market for a new DSLR. Thanks for the flickr groups idea, I'll check them out.. So far, the review I've managed to read of C 550D are largely positive..

Quote:

Originally Posted by teknophobia (Post 1833948)

Teknophobia, is there any other lens apart from Canon that may be good? I can wait but I am assuming that I might end up getting a bit frustrated by the limit of the 18-55 lens? Though waiting is not a problem, it's not like I'm sitting on a pile of cash for the lenses.. lol: thanks mate.

aK

Members from Bangalore,

As Shaju has pointed below, are there any of you that are interested in purchasing a DSLR camera within the next month or so? I'm currently in the evaluation phase of Canon EOS 550D but I've temporarily decided to purchase this camera within a month..

I have been given the contact of Mr. Jayesh Mehta who owns/runs FotoCircle near Majestic area in BLR. He is an authorised retailer of Canon cameras [maybe of other brands too but I haven't particularly checked others].

If there are others who are contemplating purchasing an SLR camera, I'm happy to source a group quote from Jayesh if you can list here the equipment you are sure to purchase and tahe payment method you'd prefer.

Apart from whatever cash discounts, we can bargain for any free accessories (filter, cleaning kit, memory card, discounts on lenses or tripod, whatever we can get etc.) :)

Cheers
aK

Quote:

Originally Posted by k_ajay (Post 1834063)

Well magical is very subjective.
Even if you are shooting JPEG you can get great shots, but you need to keep your expectations realistic.
For example, if you are a casual shooter, and want a cam for shooting family, landscapes, and regular stuff, hs10 will do.
However many people think the 24-720mm is a magic bullet which it is not
1. At odd angles you will get some purple fringing
2. At 400mm, you may get 2-3 stop benefit from image stabilization, but at 720mm, at best you will get 1 stop of benefit
2. For shooting sports, a DSLR AF system will be more responsive
3. ISO 400 will not be as clean as that of a dSLR

Apart from that, if you are a pixel peeper, a DSLR will give you better results.
However, remember, a 24mm lens(35mm format on a dslr) will be atleast 30000rs(Canon 15-85).
to get a 720mm lens, you need to spend approx 1200$ or so (Sigma 400mm stabilized lens or something). and that reach too will be 640mm or so only.

So given decent shooting conditions, i.e adequate light, not too fast moving objects, the hs10 will do great without a tripod. If you have a good tripod, you can get good results even in slightly lower light.

But if you want to shoot at ISO 800/1600 and want narrow DOF control, or 50mm 1.8 type of lenses etc., basically want your photography experimental and all, a DSLR is better.

So choose your poison.

Quote:

Originally Posted by k_ajay (Post 1834063)

... a pile of cash for the lenses.. lol: thanks mate.

aK

"Good" is pretty subjective in case of DSLRs. The issue here is a simple case of physics, sensors with lesser density handle softer lenses better. For example, if you were going for a cam with a 12mp APS C sensor, it would not pick up blurring caused by diffraction and chromatic aberration so easily as one with an 18 mp APS C sensor. Unfortunately, sharp lenses tend to be range from expensive to very expensive :D. If I were you, I would be taking a serious look at Nikon bodies as well. (For the record, I use a 500D)

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979 (Post 1834115)

Quote:

Originally Posted by k_ajay (Post 1833888)

one more thing I would like to add is JPEG processing corrects lens aberration in HS10, silkypix (RAW converter that comes with the cam) has it disabled and I don't intend to buy silkypix pro version just for this purpose.

Last night I took some pictures at various focal lengths with flash and realized that it's not the problem with sensor or the lens, but the lighting conditions. This camera has a steep learning curve (for me) and so I decided to take every shot in Auto mode for my sample images. But there are better pics on DPreview taken in manual mode.