Team-BHP - The DSLR Thread

Guys, Has anyone here tried out the new canon EFS 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6?
It currently seems to be unavailable in India, but seems to retail at $299 in the US.

It seems to be one of the cheapest wide angles available and the reviews so
far seem to be good too except for its construction quality.

I am confused whether to go for the canon 10-18mm or the proven tokina 11-16mm f/2.8!
Note that the tokina is almost double the price of the canon, but has f/2.8! and better construction quality! :D

@SR71 - Tokina, even if it is twice as expensive ..

Quote:

Originally Posted by ani_meher (Post 3470623)

Nikon ML-L3 remote is available at Amazon at around 350rs, it generally retails at about 700rs. A great deal for Nikonites, original accessory at the price of a generic one.

Link please. I dont see that .. only see the regular prices / generics at higher price than mentioned

Quote:

Originally Posted by SR71-Blackbird (Post 3470663)

Guys, Has anyone here tried out the new canon EFS 10-18mm f/1.5-5.6?

I am confused whether to go for the canon 10-18mm or the proven tokina 11-16mm f/2.8!
Note that the tokina is almost double the price of the canon, but has f/2.8! and better construction quality! :D

As far as i know its f4.5-5.6 not 1.5 to 5.6.
Regarding Tokina its a very good lens. Am using it for 3 years now. Its a sharp lens which gives good color. :thumbs up

The only negative is you have to check for chromatic aberration. In many pics you have to get the purple/green fringe edited in Photoshop.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samba (Post 3470694)

Sorry, that was a typo! :Frustrati I meant 4.5. I have requested the mods to correct it!
And thanks for the feedback about the tokina! :thumbs up

Quote:

Originally Posted by condor (Post 3470692)

Link please. I dont see that .. only see the regular prices / generics at higher price than mentioned

http://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B000...duct_refresh_C

I bought it for 359 couple of weeks back. It was a Gray market product. Given that its just a simple IR remote, Gray market did not matter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ani_meher (Post 3472363)

I have not yet started to use the RAW files, as I feel jpg do very good job. Any reading material that will convert/challenge my thinking?

The current Nikon sensors have a dynamic range between 13 and 15, while what we see on the screen, print or in jpeg is maximum of 8. What this means is that there is a lot of data in the image which is not visible - shadows and highlights. Here is what is available in RAW (from my D3300) but not in jpeg :
. At least 1EV of highlight recovery.
. At least 4EV of shadow details.
The following image manipulations are easy on RAW files :
. User controlled white balance. You can fiddle with WB till you get your colours correct. In jpeg once you have set the WB it is more or less there permanently.
. User controlled noise control.
. User controlled sharpness.
. Colour and tone control. You can do a bit in jpeg, but RAW gives you much more latitude.

What you have to bear in mind that even the 12 bit image data (in the D3xxx series) has more information than the 8 bit jpeg - you get extra 4 bits to play with in the D3xxx series and 6 bits in the other bodies (14 bit data).

This is what the jpeg would look like.

Here the shadows have been recovered from the RAW file

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aroy (Post 3472391)

Here is what is available in RAW (from my D3300) but not in jpeg :

Thanks for the writeup and the comparable image. Perhaps I should try clicking both JPG and RAW, and maybe I too will convert to RAW!

How do people keep their lenses dry and free from fungus? Do you keep silicon gel? Do rice packets work?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ani_meher (Post 3472873)

How do people keep their lenses dry and free from fungus? Do you keep silicon gel? Do rice packets work?

In Mumbai kind of weather the best thing is dehumidifying cabinet. Silicon gel packets are OK but they need continues care to remove moisture. Besides you do need proper air tight container to keep your camera.

For dehumidifying cabinet, check here: http://kalabhai.com/products/photooptics/digicabi.htm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ani_meher (Post 3472873)

In Delhi, which is very dry except during monsoons, all I do is to keep the lenses in a well ventilated place. In coastal regions where heat and humidity is high you need to use some sort of desiccant - silica gel is the best as it can be regenerated by heating it. I have no idea if rice grains will do.

Hi,

Need clarification - what are the significant differences between these 2 lenses?
1. Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 55 - 200 mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED Lens (Rs. 7372 @ FK)
2. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200 mm f/4-5.6 G ED Lens (Rs. 11290 @FK).
(comparison link: click here)
I see that 2nd one has 2 ED elements compared to 1st one. 1st one is an IF lens and helps in not rotating the filter (am I right? focus speed is impacted?).

What is the difference? why is the price difference so huge? Is there some significant focusing benefit in the 2nd one? (2 glass elements? faster & silent motor?) Isn't the 1st one better value for money?

Can one of you pl. explain?

Quote:

Originally Posted by null (Post 3473484)

I see that 2nd one has 2 ED elements compared to 1st one. 1st one is an IF lens and helps in not rotating the filter (am I right? focus speed is impacted?).

Confusing - more becuase the cheaper one has the image of a VR enabled lens, while the other one doesnt seem to have VR

2. Both are AF-S, so should have the motor in the lens itself.

I have not relied too much on the details provided on these web-sites, so here also I cannot say if they have provided all the details. I suggest you check if Nikon's website itself has two such lenses listed

Is one of these an older lens ?

Check a few pages back where the current lens catalog has been posted

Quote:

Originally Posted by condor (Post 3473587)

Yes. I missed on the VR part. 1st lens has VR and is newer than the 2nd lens and is priced lower. I just noticed the MRP of both - VR one (1st -16k) > non-VR one(2nd - 12k).

So, isn't the 1st one a better buy?