[SR71-Blackbird]

Guys, Where/How do you print your photos?
Not sure if this is off topic, but wasn't able to find any other thread to post this.

I till now do all my printing online with zoomin.com as I wasn't able to find any good local printer.
It usually takes 2-3 attempts to get the colours and brightness right with zoomin as I can never calibrate my monitor with their printers.
But this time, they have messed up full time and I do not have the patience any more for multiple attempts.

I am on the lookout for a local option where I can sit with them adjust the brightness/saturation before printing. Do you any of you know of any good places for printing in Bangalore (preferably East Bangalore)?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by SR71-Blackbird

Guys, Where/How do you print your photos?
Not sure if this is off topic, but wasn't able to find any other thread to post this.

I mostly keep colour profile with sRGB. With that have tried online GK Vale photo books. Worked quite well for me. Dont have the patience and time to sit with them. Hence working with sRGB seems to work for me. Initially thought of working through the local route. But then gave up.

[kaushik_s]

Originally Posted by SR71-Blackbird

Guys, Where/How do you print your photos?
Not sure if this is off topic, but wasn't able to find any other thread to post this.

I till now do all my printing online with zoomin.com as I wasn't able to find any good local printer.
It usually takes 2-3 attempts to get the colours and brightness right with zoomin as I can never calibrate my monitor with their printers.
But this time, they have messed up full time and I do not have the patience any more for multiple attempts.

I am on the lookout for a local option where I can sit with them adjust the brightness/saturation before printing. Do you any of you know of any good places for printing in Bangalore (preferably East Bangalore)?

Not sure about East Bangalore but you can try Prabhu Digital if they still exists. They are in Brigade Road.
As of now, I get my prints done at a place in Jayanagar, the owner's name is Manjunath and he does an excellent job of printing. He uses Epson printer and mainly Epson fine art papers. He also uses Huhnemule fine art papers and canvas. If you have your own papers then he can print on them too. But his cost might look a bit on higher side, mainly due to the papers he uses I guess, but work is pretty good. His place is near the Ashoka pillar road (not on the main road but inside).. There is another guy called Vijay who also does similar work and some of my photographer friends get their prints done at his place. Although I personally don't have any experience with him..
PS: if you need photo book then I don't know if these guys do that. I'm talking about big sized prints for exhibition/sale/display..

[venuvedam]

I have a neighborhood studio (one man shop) who does an excellent work picking up the usb stick and delivering the photos to the doorstep. Very much satisfied with him.

However, these days, I don't print much. Maybe around 10 photos a year

this is in Hyderabad - Nallagandla area - SR Photo is the name of the shop. It is next to Aparna Cyber Commune.

[latentpotential]

Got a new bag: http://store.lowepro.com/nova-sport-17l-aw quite nice, and much better in feel than my earlier nova 180 aw. Only shortcoming in a comparison is lesser pockets.

[sdp1975]

What's the difference between "standard definition"and "high definition" prints in http://www.gkvale.com/static/price-list.php ?

Is there a perceptual difference when seen visually ?

[directinjection]

I'm new to DSLRs, having bought a Nikon D 7000 a few months back. The camera came with 18-105 zoom lens. I have no other lense. While doing close ups, I find 105 inadequate. I find changing lenses extremely cumbersome and so am feeling tempted to buy Nikkor 18-300 which should take care of all my needs.

I read a few reviews of the lens on the Internet and most gurus don't hold a high opinion of this lens or for that matter any zoom lens with such a wide range. However, my photographic needs aren't professional. So the question is: Should I buy 18-300? I know it's expensive (over Rs. 60,000/- at amazon, flipkart, etc.) but not having to change lenses will be a huge convenience for me.

Nikkor has 2 models in 18-300, both priced the same. The heavier one has a bigger aperture (f/3.5-5.6 as opposed to f/3.5-6.3) so I suppose it is better than the lighter version? Gurus, kindly advise!

[ampere]

Originally Posted by sdp1975

Is there a perceptual difference when seen visually ?

Dont know much about it. But I think it may have some thing to do with what their printer can accommodate. I have taken the HD version and was quite satisfied. However do note the price shoots up exponentially as you keep adding papers.

[architect]

Originally Posted by directinjection

I read a few reviews of the lens on the Internet and most gurus don't hold a high opinion of this lens or for that matter any zoom lens with such a wide range. However, my photographic needs aren't professional. So the question is: Should I buy 18-300? I know it's expensive (over Rs. 60,000/- at amazon, flipkart, etc.) but not having to change lenses will be a huge convenience for me.

As a hobbyist, you need to decide whether the shortcomings of a lens in terms of colour rendition, contrast, auto-focussing ability, vignetting, fall-off, distortion, chromatic aberration etc. are of an acceptable level. For the technical scores, check DXOMark.com for each lens. I always try to buy the best I can afford (which is not a lot).

Sometimes, going for a really long range lens can be convenient, but its other qualities may not make it worth it. I personally find a 18-55 + 70-200/70-300 a decent combination to carry around for a crop sensor camera like yours. (But then, whenever I am travelling nowadays, my wife's DSLR is always fitted with the 'other' lens, so it works just fine for us, we exchange cameras!)

Originally Posted by directinjection

Nikkor has 2 models in 18-300, both priced the same. The heavier one has a bigger aperture (f/3.5-5.6 as opposed to f/3.5-6.3) so I suppose it is better than the lighter version? Gurus, kindly advise!

Bigger aperture is better but I would like to see whether that extra weight is worth just one-third of an F-stop more from the lighter one.

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by directinjection

I'm new to DSLRs, having bought a Nikon D 7000 a few months back. The camera came with 18-105 zoom lens. I have no other lense. While doing close ups, I find 105 inadequate.

18-300 is really heavy. Weight of this lens + D7000 will be 1.5 KG (Camera 700 grams, Lens 800 grams). You need to decide if that works for you.

I will suggest that you rent a ~1 KG lens for a weekend and try for yourself.

Other then that, 18-300 is a pretty good lens for a "do anything" lens.

You can also look at 18-200. It is also expensive (55k) but it gives you better optical quality and lesser weight.

[nilanjanray]

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

18-300 is really heavy. Weight of this lens + D7000 will be 1.5 KG (Camera 700 grams, Lens 800 grams). You need to decide if that works for you.

I will suggest that you rent a ~1 KG lens for a weekend and try for yourself.

Ha! I am thinking of going for a 4 kg option for handholding - the D810 + battery grip + the Sigma 150-600mm S. Will help me tone up my muscles.

I did try out the 1.6 kg 80-400mm AF-S extensively. Handholding it (and hanging it from my neck) for 7-8 hours everyday. Once you get used to it, its ok. No neck or hand aches.

But for walking around, and hiking, the lighter kit, the better. I was once out of service for 2 months with a ligament tear, when I fell down a steep slope in the Nilgiris. Was trying to manage my camera and lens while climbing up + stooping down to pass below a thorny bush. For that matter, I had fallen down another time, while going up a watercourse in Pangot, Uttarakhand Himalayas (chasing some elusive rare bird - the bugger would keep flying off for 100 feet - up a steep ravine - alight, and then fly off again when I would catch up with it huffing and puffing. Made me climb up 600-700 feet over rocks and water). Trying to manage a camera + lens - while trying to climb some rock - was again the key factor. I probably wouldn't have fallen if I had a lighter kit.

[rameshnanda]

Originally Posted by directinjection

Nikkor has 2 models in 18-300, both priced the same. The heavier one has a bigger aperture (f/3.5-5.6 as opposed to f/3.5-6.3) so I suppose it is better than the lighter version? Gurus, kindly advise!

I would prefer to go for 28-300 (FX lens) instead. The cost is still same in the range of 60k and it would be useful when you switch to an FX camera someday.

BTW, anyone owning Nikon Df here?

[latentpotential]

Originally Posted by directinjection

I'm new to DSLRs, having bought a Nikon D 7000 a few months back. The camera came with 18-105 zoom lens. I have no other lense. While doing close ups, I find 105 inadequate. I find changing lenses extremely cumbersome and so am feeling tempted to buy Nikkor 18-300 which should take care of all my needs.

I read a few reviews of the lens on the Internet and most gurus don't hold a high opinion of this lens or for that matter any zoom lens with such a wide range. However, my photographic needs aren't professional. So the question is: Should I buy 18-300? I know it's expensive (over Rs. 60,000/- at amazon, flipkart, etc.) but not having to change lenses will be a huge convenience for me.

Nikkor has 2 models in 18-300, both priced the same. The heavier one has a bigger aperture (f/3.5-5.6 as opposed to f/3.5-6.3) so I suppose it is better than the lighter version? Gurus, kindly advise!

You could consider the Tamron 18-270 PZD lens as well, much cheaper and you may buy some additional gear like prime lenses in the balance money.

Originally Posted by nilanjanray

Ha! I am thinking of going for a 4 kg option for handholding - the D810 + battery grip + the Sigma 150-600mm S. Will help me tone up my muscles.

I did try out the 1.6 kg 80-400mm AF-S extensively. Handholding it (and hanging it from my neck) for 7-8 hours everyday. Once you get used to it, its ok. No neck or hand aches.

But for walking around, and hiking, the lighter kit, the better. I was once out of service for 2 months with a ligament tear, when I fell down a steep slope in the Nilgiris. Was trying to manage my camera and lens while climbing up + stooping down to pass below a thorny bush. For that matter, I had fallen down another time, while going up a watercourse in Pangot, Uttarakhand Himalayas (chasing some elusive rare bird - the bugger would keep flying off for 100 feet - up a steep ravine - alight, and then fly off again when I would catch up with it huffing and puffing. Made me climb up 600-700 feet over rocks and water). Trying to manage a camera + lens - while trying to climb some rock - was again the key factor. I probably wouldn't have fallen if I had a lighter kit.

I use the 5DII + 24-70L regularly. This tops out at 3Kg+ and you just get used to it in a few days, would not consider it inconvenient during safaris or trekking so far.

[M35]

Got a replacement copy of Sigma 150-500 a couple of weeks back. I am very happy with the initial test shots = looked sharp with no AF issue.

This one cropped heavily for composition.

Originally Posted by directinjection

Nikkor has 2 models in 18-300, both priced the same. The heavier one has a bigger aperture (f/3.5-5.6 as opposed to f/3.5-6.3) so I suppose it is better than the lighter version? Gurus, kindly advise!

Are they really priced the same ?
Personally I wouldn't shell out Rs.70k for a DX lens, but it's just me.
Tammy 18-270 should do just fine.

[sdp1975]

What print size do most folks order and do you crop the image ? I'd like something larger than 6x4 " and maintain the 3:2 native aspect ratio of the sensor.

But most print sizes on online print stores , and albums , don't support the 3:2 aspect ratio. Eg 8x6 " has a 4:3 " aspect ratio and 7x5 has a 1.4:1 aspect ratio.

Any suggestions ?