[typeOnegative]

Originally Posted by HellwratH

You can check with Hayath as well,
Flickr: Hayath's Photostream

He has been posting some amazing photographs taken with this lens.

Thanks for passing me the link. Those are truly awesome shots.

Originally Posted by shajufx

My King, I wish one day I could have the most sophisticated studio of its kind here, ....

I have too many friends having 150-500. Birding on a budget, there is no other alternative. .....

Dear Saint, thanks for the pointers. Will be pinging you in a bit.

[naveen.raju]

Guys, planning to get a DSLR. An entry level model would do since am not an expert photographer. My friend had suggested D3100 and asked me to go for that. I will only use it for still photography and video will be rarely used. Open to suggestions as brand is not an issue. Something reasonable would do. Kindly let me know the best place to get the and the approx price.
Thanks in advance.

[manim]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

Guys, planning to get a DSLR. An entry level model would do since am not an expert photographer. My friend had suggested D3100 and asked me to go for that. I will only use it for still photography and video will be rarely used. Open to suggestions as brand is not an issue. Something reasonable would do. Kindly let me know the best place to get the and the approx price.
Thanks in advance.

I bought my D3100 in August this year for 27K and am very pleased with the image quality.

[shajufx]

Both my FX200 lights went frozen after using it for around 30 mts last night. I am yet to figure out where it went wrong. First I thought the fuses would have been blown, but it can not happen to both simultaneously. Model lights would work but the flash would not fire. Waited for the heat fan to settle, later switched it off for over 5 mts, tried manual, nothing worked.

An hour later, tried connecting it and firing, its all back to 100% life. Anyone had a similar experience with strobes ? I know there are auto thermal cut off functions for such strobes to avoid over heating. But strange thing is one was at full power (No-5) and other was just at 1/5th (No-1).

If I figure out the reason, I will post it here for the benefit of others.

[Saanil]

Hey Guys, I am not sure if I am posting this in the right section but since my query is related to Photography I thought it would be better to post here rather than create a separate thread. After looking at some of the amazing pictures I am somewhat inclined into learning photography. Does anyone knows about Photography classes in Mumbai or has personally enrolled in one of them? I was looking for some weekend photography lessons in Mumbai.

[Rudra Sen]

Originally Posted by shajufx

Both my FX200 lights went frozen after using it for around 30 mts last night. I am yet to figure out where it went wrong. First I thought the fuses would have been blown, but it can not happen to both simultaneously. Model lights would work but the flash would not fire. Waited for the heat fan to settle, later switched it off for over 5 mts, tried manual, nothing worked.

FX200 is not a very heavy duty unit. Switch off model lamp/s (if it's not a big botheration) after you're through with your lighting arrangement. With repeat fast flashing, unit heats up pretty fast and that too without model lamp on. Air conditioned studio helps to a great extent though.

[swarnava.m]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

Guys, planning to get a DSLR. An entry level model would do since am not an expert photographer. My friend had suggested D3100 and asked me to go for that. I will only use it for still photography and video will be rarely used. Open to suggestions as brand is not an issue. Something reasonable would do. Kindly let me know the best place to get the and the approx price.
Thanks in advance.

Go for a Canon 550D. Excellent performance, and the default package includes an 18-55mm Zoom Lens. Compared to Nikon, Canon lenses are cheaper too.

Your best bet would be to look online. You can find legit listings along with proper warranty, and a host of goodies like SDHC Xtreme Memory Card, Tripod Stand, and Digital Photo viewer. Should cost somewhere around 35k.

Let us know how it goes. Happy clicking.!!

[download2live]

I want to use a regular bright 50mm prime lens.
This will be the sole reason I will be going for a DSLR actually. Otherwise I am happy with my LX3.

LX3 is good but that creamy bokeh is something that it does not really excel at because of its small sensor.

I was looking around for a cheap DSLR on which I could latch on a good Prime Lens.
Nikon low end starts with 22k something without kit lens. Add prime to that and package is around 30k.

Problem is that prime lens wont come with an autofocus motor. And neither does the DSLR. Infact the inbuilt motor starts of with D90 which will be around 40k.

So it will be a manual focus thing totally. What I want to know is that while I twist the focus ring around will there be at least a beep or a light glowing when the focus is perfect?

Any other small and cheap DSLR I can look around for?
All I want is Image stabilization and Autofocus. Will be good if both are built inside the DSLR.
Also I am not really interested in the included kit lens.
EVIL cameras with Prime lens are turning out to be on rather expensive side.

[sumannandy]

Originally Posted by swarnava.m

Go for a Canon 550D. Excellent performance, and the default package includes an 18-55mm Zoom Lens. Compared to Nikon, Canon lenses are cheaper too.

Your best bet would be to look online. You can find legit listings along with proper warranty, and a host of goodies like SDHC Xtreme Memory Card, Tripod Stand, and Digital Photo viewer. Should cost somewhere around 35k.

Let us know how it goes. Happy clicking.!!

When you buy a DSLR, you might want to go for a body that has image stabilization, so the lens will be cheaper as it does not need image stabilization. Sony has it in the body of the camera, so the lens would be cheap if you would like to buy additional lens, and you could use any old lens from the old Minolta days as well.

Canon and Nikon possibly do not have it in the body, so the lens would be expensive.

[HellwratH]

Originally Posted by download2live

I want to use a regular bright 50mm prime lens.
This will be the sole reason I will be going for a DSLR actually. Otherwise I am happy with my LX3.

LX3 is good but that creamy bokeh is something that it does not really excel at because of its small sensor.

I was looking around for a cheap DSLR on which I could latch on a good Prime Lens.
Nikon low end starts with 22k something without kit lens. Add prime to that and package is around 30k.

Problem is that prime lens wont come with an autofocus motor. And neither does the DSLR. Infact the inbuilt motor starts of with D90 which will be around 40k.

So it will be a manual focus thing totally. What I want to know is that while I twist the focus ring around will there be at least a beep or a light glowing when the focus is perfect?

Any other small and cheap DSLR I can look around for?
All I want is Image stabilization and Autofocus. Will be good if both are built inside the DSLR.
Also I am not really interested in the included kit lens.
EVIL cameras with Prime lens are turning out to be on rather expensive side.

Umm, why not Canon 1100D with the 50mm? Yes, you won't get IS which you wouldn't get with Nikon either. The other option is that you could get a used DSLR and buy a 50mm.

Unfortunately, as you mentioned, in India EVIL is still an expensive option. If you can source an EVIL camera from US of A, it will be pretty cheap and you will get IBIS if you buy Olympus cameras.

[Aroy]

Till fifteen years ago, most of us used manual focus lenses with no stabilization, and it was fine. Auto Focus and image stabilization helps a lot, but is not necessary. In fact not having these features, gives you more control and ensures that your technique is good and hands are steady.

Ensure that the DSLR body supports manual focus lenses. Some do, some do not. Once you are comfortable with manual focus, non stabilized lenses, you can get a plethora of lenses dirt cheap, stating from ultra wides to super telephoto in the pre owned market. In fact most of the good macro lenses require manual focus to get the subject razor sharp.

[alpha1]

The DSLR that come these days don't have the focusing screen built for manual focus.
15 years ago we used tools like split screen and micro prism to aid us, and not our naked eyes only to determine the focus.

[swarnava.m]

Originally Posted by sumannandy

When you buy a DSLR, you might want to go for a body that has image stabilization, so the lens will be cheaper as it does not need image stabilization. Sony has it in the body of the camera, so the lens would be cheap if you would like to buy additional lens, and you could use any old lens from the old Minolta days as well.

Canon and Nikon possibly do not have it in the body, so the lens would be expensive.

True, but being a beginner, it is not very likely for him to buy another new lens anytime soon. Also, with IS being in the lens, it is convenient to use the same lens for another body as well. And finally, the sensors of Nikon and Canon are more superior to that of Sony. Just my personal experience.

[Daewood]

Is there a way to find out the date of manufacture of a DSLR, other than from the sticker which is a pasted by the importer?
Asking because i want to buy a Canon 1000d body. But in developed markets, Canon has replaced the model with 1100d. So if i buy a 1000d now, will it be something manufactured 2 years back or so?

[shajufx]

Originally Posted by Rudra Sen

FX200 is not a very heavy duty unit. Switch off model lamp/s (if it's not a big botheration) after you're through with your lighting arrangement. With repeat fast flashing, unit heats up pretty fast and that too without model lamp on. Air conditioned studio helps to a great extent though.

Rudraji, I am learning through the hard and painful path. On a rechecking last night, one flash tube got fused after couple of dozen firing. Its just 25 days and hardly 100 total firing, its not supposed to go off like this. So much for relying on a brand. Simpex kit was available for half the price. Need to check and see if they can replace the unit free of cost, if not I have to live with it by replacing the tube that would be around 3k+. And about the temperature, we have a room temperature of less than 22º this season, wondering how it would impact in the summer situation of Rajasthan !!

Originally Posted by swarnava.m

..... the sensors of Nikon and Canon are more superior to that of Sony. Just my personal experience.

Are you sure about that ? Someone told me few months back that Sony made sensors for many brands. No idea if they still make it for others now.