What are you shooting with

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#200610 (In Topic #11112)
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Especially for Matt

I had a visit from Matt last week and we were discussing camera's and stuff. Mines was buried under a pile of boxes ( filled with railway stuff ) so was not easily accessible so I did say I would rake it out with a view to maybe going on a shoot ( as the auld yin has just invested in a very nice Canon DLSR )

 

So here we go ( you can play with them in the flesh when you are over next )

A Canon 7D with a 70 - 200 F2.8 attached and a Canon 40D with a 150 - 500mm lens on.

Both are fitted with battery grips.



another of the 7D



another of the 40D



One showing bodies only with a clearer shot of the battery grips

 



 

a shot of some of lens arsenal



A 75 - 300mm ( my go everywhere lens of choice as it has a great focal length ) A 24 - 70 F2.8 another great ( fast ) lens and a 105 prime macro lens for bugs and an ideal portraiture lens.

I also have a 10 - 20mm landscape lens ( which is being borrowed by a trusted source ) at the moment. camera guaranteed Fungus free.

 

and now some accessories,



A Sigma flash gun with a cable which allows use independently of the cameras hot shoe and a light meter. never bothered with the abundance of memory cards and batteries as they are tucked away in my rucksack pockets. All lenses have UV filters to protect the lens glass. I also have a ring flash for macro work. ( I haven't tried it yet. It was the best bargain I have ever bought. Imported from China for £ 10.00. I have seen the same version used by a friend and it is amazing and disposable at that price if it gets dropped or damaged.

Anyway, there we are. The camera I use as an every day camera ( and for the forum / shed ) is a Panasonic Lumix FZ/45 and its a great camera for the money.

fill yer boots Matt.







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#200614
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I'm not letting teh Mrs see the size o' your lenze boy !   Some good gear there Tom.. Been practising with mine a bit, took a few shots on full Auto….then took the lenze cap off…..better…..THEN turned the camera round the right way…..much better !….then took the Mrs up to Anstruther….nice coastal drive , fish and chips on the harbour front  then a stroll along the coastal path to try a few snaps…..so I took 4 or 5….said to teh Mrs. " you have a go , just so you know how to switch it on…take a photo in Auto mode…etc."…..yup last I saw of it apart from looking at the lenze side…..being told " move there….no over a bit. ….sit …stand…beg….."…you get the picture……welll I didn't… She did….about 70 of em.  :mutley:mutley:mutley


Cheers


    Matt
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#200617
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I've been totally inactive with mines since this malarkey came along. It's all about making time. Also, since I started working away I have not been back to my camera club which I would recommend anyone to join one. You skills will come on leaps and bounds.

My club semester starts in September so I'm going to make an attempt to try and do at least one night a week and get out on so e shoots again. I done a few wildlife courses with a guy called Laurie Campbell who provides material for the National Geographic amongst other photographic magazines. Also a guy called Neil McIntyre. Well worth looking up on the web.

I'd like to do the great European predators shoot over in Bavaria. Brown bears, wolves, lynx and also birds of prey, otters and more. It's my 50th next year and I have had SWMBO's nod in the past to go so I will see.

I also fancy Pripyat ( Chernobyl ) and some of the highland and Island tours. We'll see.

Meanwhile, maybe one or two railway and tram shoots to get myself back into it as I wouldn't know one end from the other at the moment:mutley

Get practicing and we'll have an away day, maybe at the Bo'ness and Kinneil preservation railway. Good place to start.

Cheers

Toto
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#200618
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For pics of the model railway it's often best to use a compact rather than a DSLR, due to the much shorter actual focal length of the lens  (ignore the often quoted 35mm equivalent) which gives a greater depth of field. This means that instead of just having the chimney in focus and the cab a blur, on a 3/4 front view with a compact you can usually focus near the middle of the loco (say level with centre driver on an 0-6-0T) and have acceptable focus on both chimney and cab.

I've got 3 DSLRs, and about a dozen lenses,  3 compacts, 4 film cameras and 3 video cams, and about 4 or 5 bags to put them in, a couple of tripods and a monopod



My set up for a day out, brolly and tripod strapped on, 2 camera bags hung on, snacks and juice in a cool box under the seat; Also got a couple of these now to clamp on and not need a tripod

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Pro%C2%AE-Friction-Articulating-Camera-Ex-Pro/dp/B00MEL4JQY/ref=pd_sim_sbs_23_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0E3FZNX0B7JKPS7ZQ14N

Last edit: by Dorsetmike


Cheers MIKE
I'm like my avatar - a local ruin!
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#200619
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Hi Mike,

I use the Panasonic point and shoot in the shed. Not as unwieldy. I don't put any effort in at all as most of the shots are quick reference shots but once I progress and get more detailed stuff going, I'll make the effort.

You are right with the DoF though. If you are not comfortable on fully manual mode, just switch to aperture priority mode and you can have some great results blurring out backgrounds and varying depth of field.

The thing is, when people learn how to do it, they do it to death and forget that there are other creative ways of turning a standard walk up shot to something a little more interesting. If photographing moving stock, switch over to shutter priority and have fun illustrating movement, possibly even light trails.
Once you get " in to it " it gets contagious.

Happy snapping

Toto
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#200620
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Yup  :shock:. Switch on….point at layout….press button…..I'm learning….IM LEARNING !!     :mutley:mutley:mutley
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#200621
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That's ok then,

Top tip to anyone starting out. Buy a copy of understanding exposure by Bryan Peterson.

I guarantee you it will improve your understanding 10 fold. A truly excellent book. He's an American author and explains things very well in easy to understand terms.

No relation just a happy reader / purchaser.

Cheers

Toto
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#200622
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Mike,

That's a neat gizmo, the clamp. I've got enough great with what I have. I can cover most focal lengths but admittedly all my lenses are not " fast " glass. Still, it's all about what you can afford to buy and I'm happy with my lot.

Not just that but I have to ask if the results would be any better with me behind the viewfinder:mutley

Sounds like you have the kit list in the bag for when you go on a shoot though. Especially the munchy box.:mutley got your priorities right as there is nothing worse than heading out for the day, arriving somewhere a bit remote ………… Then hunger strikes.:thud

Cheers

Toto
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This is helpful in the shed!



For video's as well!

Cheers
Ron

Proper Preparation makes for Perfect Performance!!

http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=13331&forum_id=21
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Yes,

I've seen them. Very handy. They are idea for lighter cameras. Would be fine for my Lumix but not so sure about a fully loaded DSLR.

You could tether it to a laptop and get to some of those hard to reach angles and places.

Good stuff


Toto


Away to B & Q for some 2.5 mm BUS cable.

Happy snapping.
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#200670
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I have a selection to use. My main cameras are both Nikon's. A D3100 DSLR and a D3200 DSLR. To go with these I have a Nikon 18/55 lens, a Nikon 70/300 VR lens, a Tamron 70/300 macro and a Tamron 18/200. For ease I use a Panasonic FZ28 for videos, gives a good one and is dead simple to use and for just general odds & sods and one that I carry everywhere just in case is a Samsung L100. This gives me a great range of choices although the 2 DSLR do get most on the use.

I'm old, that's why I'm allowed to change my mind, when I can find it.

My Website: index
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Ahhhhh …… A Nikon man…….the enemym:mutley.

I was torn between the two when deciding which way to go. They are both neck and neck. The deciding factor at the time ended up being the deal that Jessops done for me at the time. The 40D with two kit lens.
17 - 55 and a 75 - 300 which were both Image Stabilised lens and covered a good focal range for a beginner. Both the camera and lens have went well and in fact the lens are still as new as they have been well looked after.

I dare say we will have similarities there as Nikon are the muts nuts as well. I think we all keep a point and shoot in our armoury as they are just so much more flexible and convenient for quick everyday use. Grab it and shoot.

Cheers

Toto.

Happy snapping.
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These are some of my target subjects for days out, sitting there all day Saturday and Sunday while the dance teams perform;


Spank the Planks Appalachian dance side, Wimborne Folk Festival June 2015


Morena Slovak dance side, also Wimborne FF June 2015

It's an 'ard life but somebody's gotta do it! It can have its advantages though



I also use the chair rig for Bournemouth Air show, the rose gardens at Mottisfont Abbey, feathered birds and red squirrels on Brownsea Island reserve, and Swanage Railway, among other venues; it saves lugging camera bags on me back which usually gives me a sore neck &/or shoulders.

My DSLRs are anti Canon & Nikon!!! Sony A350, SonyA200 and Minolta 5D, compact Minolta A200 and Panasonic TZ35 (also does Video) main video cam is a JVC Everio. Lenses I have 4 f2.8 zooms Tokina 11-16, Tamron  17 - 50, Minolta 28-70 and Minolta 80-200, other zooms Tamron 18-270  & 70 -300, Tokina 80-400, primes Minolta 50/1.8, Tamron 90/2.8 macro and Minolta 600 f8 mirror, I do have a few other lenses I no longer use; I tend to use the Minolta 5D and Sony A200 more than the Sony A350, the Minolta A200 compact gets used mostly for model railway shots and "grab shots".

I should really get shot of some of the stuff that doesn't get used, the Sony A350 with a Minolta 18-70 and a Tamron 28-105 could go, the Panasonic TZ35 also, plus 3 Ziess 120 film folding ones, one is a Super Ikonta rangefinder with 3.5 Tessar, collectors piece now!

Last edit: by Dorsetmike


Cheers MIKE
I'm like my avatar - a local ruin!
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Besides my Panasonic I have 2 Canons;

1100d with 18-55 and a 50-200 lens also an adaptor to use on my birdwatching scope.

1000d which has been astro-modded by removing the infra red filter so as to allow more red light from nebula and galaxy's enter the camera which is set at prime focus on either of my telescopes.

(Used to be a Pentax man but most astro stuff is geared to Canon's!)

Cheers
Ron

Last edit: by g0ibi


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I looked at Scopes at an open day at the north Berwick bird centre. Impressive optics but were coming in at about two grand. Out of my league. Swakorski or something. I know I have the spelling of that wrong.

Stunningly clear.

Toto
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They're top spec optics Tom, too much for me as well!
This is my scope; http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/channel/reviewitem.asp?c=11&review=3288
Nice ED optics and a reasonable price, had it 2 years now!

Cheers
Ron

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Ok tom, Pictures of the clouds as requested :mutley 

Before




To this




Then this




And finaly








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Well, well, well. One has been a busy boy. Very good. …….. Where's the seagulls:mutley these will be the dales you were talking about in line with the master plan.

A few trees, and your baseboard landscape and all will blend in nicely. Now all you need to do is get Alan to transfer the post to a new thread and introduce everyone to the layout. Remember the storyline behind it as it explains things very well. A bit of a geographical explanation of what's happening with the baseboard as well. No half measures.

Well ……… What are you waiting for……….. Go get em Floyd.

Great stuff Matt.
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Looking good Matt, well done! :pathead

Cheers
Ron

Proper Preparation makes for Perfect Performance!!

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Canon EOS7D here for most general photography and the better quality shots intended for sale at some future time.  

I find it's a bit bulky for model railway use though and have stuck with my Nikon L120 and occasionally the iPhone 4S both of which get in where a DSLR can't.

Then there's the Minolta Dynax which requires the addition of something called film.  I can still get supplies of pro-quality Fuji slide film but it's getting harder every time and only one place (in a city of 4.2 million souls) will process it.  Guess what - that's nowhere near home!

A random sample from the EOS 7D - this one using the 55-250mm lens



And a typical one off the midrange Nikon L120 fixed-lens which is really only a better quality point 'n'squirt



Finally a scanned slide from the Minolta


Rick
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