All the gear - no idea?

Hmmmm............has to be Branston with cheese. Colemans is for Ham. :)
 
I'm not jealous of what other people have, if i see a canon owner i obviously take the required course of action and spit at them ;) but never jealous of anyone. My D300 serves me well and is plenty big enough for me to "grow into".

I had a D60 beforehand and while the images it produced were fine I found the 3 point focus system restricting and the fact that it had no AF motor of it's own was a pain as i love my primes and there were no 35 or 50mm AF-S 's out at the time. If it wasn't for these 2 points i would have kept it but i have never regretted going for the 300 :thumbs:
 
Graham00 said:
I read somewhere some police forces use (at the tax payer's expense) the very best for their incident & forensic work, a D90 or a 450d should be sufficient enough instead of a D3 :shrug:
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I know an NHS dental hospital where the photography department got 2x D300s from the day they came out...upgrading from D200s! All they do is take shots of the inside the mouth with a ring flash...like they needed the low iso capability or 8 FPS!
 
My first guitar was a Gibson Les Paul Standard and I couldn't play a note. Having such a beautiful instrument really inspired me to stick with it, learn and improve. Maybe it can work the same with camera gear.
 
OneTen said:
My first guitar was a Gibson Les Paul Standard and I couldn't play a note. Having such a beautiful instrument really inspired me to stick with it, learn and improve. Maybe it can work the same with camera gear.
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Good post. It doesnt matter what equipment you have. Its up to you to learn to use it. Its nice to be able to ask for help on a topic you are stuck on without having some sarcastic reply just because you are stuck with something.

Gav
 
I have to say, when I got the 40D, (my first DSLR that I actually OWNED! -borrowed my cousins 450d a few times before that) I thought I had done all my homework, knew all that I needed to, and already had an idea of what to do and how to do it.

So after making the choice on getting the 40d (played about on my cousins one too, for a while) and eventually getting the lens too, I was absolutley surprised at how little I actually knew!

After all the homework, playing about, practice and comparisons! I was over confident!

no trouble though, took me a month or two to work out how to use the damn thing properly, but I loved the journey of trial-and-error. I think it helped me get a better understanding of the camera and what kind of stuff I am good at myself, than buying the camera already being all-knowledgeable!
 
OneTen said:
My first guitar was a Gibson Les Paul Standard and I couldn't play a note. Having such a beautiful instrument really inspired me to stick with it, learn and improve. Maybe it can work the same with camera gear.
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I'm more of a Fender man myself :D (to the uninitiated, the "Fender vs. Gibson" rivalry is even older and more embittered than the "Canon vs. Nikon" debate ;)). Still, I agree, the same thing applies there :thumbs:.

On guitar forums, people get very jealous of other people's equipment too and make disparaging remarks like; "What's the point in spending $XXXX on that guitar, unless you can play like Jimi Hendrix"? :shrug: If that attitude prevailed, all top-end gear would cost 8 times as much (and there'd be a lot less to choose from) and a lot less people would stick with the hobby.

Let's face it - photography is a hobby which does generally involve owning a certain amount of "kit". Some people (especially single, middle-aged men :naughty:) really like that aspect of it. It's part of the appeal to us (erm, I mean, "them" :shake:). Is that really so bad, or so hard to understand :shrug:?
 
AleksanderLoesch said:
took me a month or two to work out how to use the damn thing properly, but I loved the journey of trial-and-error. I think it helped me get a better understanding of the camera and what kind of stuff I am good at myself, than buying the camera already being all-knowledgeable!
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Absolutely, I got to the point where I knew my 5D inside out and was just starting to get some really creative stuff..........and then I bought a 1Ds and I felt like I had gone back 6 months. The temptation was then to pick up the 5D all the time just because I was more confident with it. I had to force myself to go through that painful process with the 1Ds and only now am I getting even close to what I can do intuitively with the 5D. :cuckoo:
 
AliB said:
Absolutely, I got to the point where I knew my 5D inside out and was just starting to get some really creative stuff..........and then I bought a 1Ds and I felt like I had gone back 6 months. The temptation was then to pick up the 5D all the time just because I was more confident with it. I had to force myself to go through that painful process with the 1Ds and only now am I getting even close to what I can do intuitively with the 5D. :cuckoo:
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yeah! strange isn't it! and I find its stuff that I don't usually notice that gets on my nerves as well!

though I did see the process as fun. "ooh what does this button do?"

*bang*

"ooh, I better not press that button again"......





click-BANG

:lol:

perhaps not like that, but hey! we were all noobs to a camera at one point.

if only just once, we read the manual before using the camera:lol:
 
AliB said:
The temptation was then to pick up the 5D all the time just because I was more confident with it. I had to force myself to go through that painful process with the 1Ds and only now am I getting even close to what I can do intuitively with the 5D. :cuckoo:
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Painful process? That sounds like a classic example of poor product design to me. Things should be designed so that users can simply use them.

They aren't of course - there are LOADS of products out there that are so complex they baffle their users.
 
What's wrong with a beginner buying the best of the best if they can afford it?

We all have start somewhere and if they enjoy owning good equipment then I see nothing wrong with that at all.

I spent two very good years learning the ropes with my 30D but if I'd got the money at the time I'd have gone straight to the 1D, no question.
 
Organic said:
What's wrong with a beginner buying the best of the best if they can afford it?

We all have start somewhere and if they enjoy owning good equipment then I see nothing wrong with that at all.

I spent two very good years learning the ropes with my 30D but if I'd got the money at the time I'd have gone straight to the 1D, no question.
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I can think of some instances where buying the best as a beginner could be counter-productive. Giving a new driver a Ferrari would be a nightmare as they wouldn't have the experience/control to handle it safely. If you gave a complete newbie a 1D MKIII and a 400 f2.8 IS I suspect they'd struggle for a while when a 40D + 17-55 would be a (far from cheap) better newbie choice.

Phil
 
philthejuggler said:
I can think of some instances where buying the best as a beginner could be counter-productive. Giving a new driver a Ferrari would be a nightmare as they wouldn't have the experience/control to handle it safely. If you gave a complete newbie a 1D MKIII and a 400 f2.8 IS I suspect they'd struggle for a while when a 40D + 17-55 would be a (far from cheap) better newbie choice.

Phil
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to be fair, (as i'm a learner driver) I would give you a metaphorical slap:lol:

ME WANT FERRARI! :lol::lol::lol:

i will drive it safely. pwomise;)
 
It's exactly this sort of attitude that puts a lot of people off - feeling embarassed because they'll be perceived as "not good enough" or "doing it wrong", or "all the gear, no idea".

We all start somewhere. I mean - personally speaking; I've barely even done that.

On here I did learn an internet acronym that I ashley like, and it amuses me no end in light of threads like this, when surrounded by of questions of "How do I ...?".

The acronym, and indeed, the phrase it was used in, was "Maybe I should just RTFM".
 
hyakuhei said:
Question:
Is it just me that gets annoyed when people turn up with a 5D, D3 etc and start asking what flash will work and will so and so lens fit? Oh and what mode to use for weddings... :bang:

Answers on the back of a CF card please. :wave:
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Thats a scandalous statement and one that I hope newcomers will not think everyone on here shares (let alone not in keeping with the 'friendliest forum on the internet' blurb) and one that, had I been stupid/ pompous/ inebriated enough to post, (delete as applicable!) would have been begging administrators to remove in the cold light of day...personally I've just bought a flashgun (a canon 430 EXII), cost around 200 quid (as pounds, shillings and pence seem to be the main factor here) that I haven't got a clue how to use or which end to plug into the camera (you do look through the round part at what appears to be the front donn't you?? :lol:) I did intend to buy the top of the range canon, but decided against it due to bulk issues (but I do like to get the best! ;)) so will refrain from asking for help for fear of being ridiculed and will figure it out for myself.... might I be so bold as to suggest that the author creates a signature along the lines of 'requests for help etc will not be entertained for newcomers to our hobby with equipment costing above <author to insert the maximum figure that he feels a newcomer should spend here> ;)' or maybe just ignore such requests.......

Disclaimer: I hope this has not caused offence as some of it was posted tongue in cheek.... ;)


:lol:
 
philthejuggler said:
I can think of some instances where buying the best as a beginner could be counter-productive. Giving a new driver a Ferrari would be a nightmare as they wouldn't have the experience/control to handle it safely. If you gave a complete newbie a 1D MKIII and a 400 f2.8 IS I suspect they'd struggle for a while when a 40D + 17-55 would be a (far from cheap) better newbie choice.

Phil
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I have to disagree with you Phil in some ways as a new user would struggle just as much with a 40D combo as they would a 1D, surely?
 
ShawWellPete said:
I wish I had bought the best kit I could afford when I first bought my kit, particularly the lenses. Upgrading from cheap to mid to good glass means I have wasted a fortune.
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Indeed,likewise here.............:bang:


But then I had no idea how much I would "get into" photography.
 
One thing that bugged me at the BTCC meet at brands hatch.

A guy I was talking to had a Nikon D300 with a Sigma 50-500mm and another lens and he was saying he was going to buy a Nikon D700 and another lens, none of this bothered me and he showed me some pics and I was impressed with the sharpness on the camera. I asked what shutter speed he was using and he said 1/4000th (for panning shots). This didn't bug me either but what did bug me was when I showed him one of my shots at 1/100th that were nice and sharp and he just said, 'Not bad'.

I can't say I lost any sleep over it really, he was enjoying himself and so was I so thats all that matters really.
 
Dal said:
One thing that bugged me at the BTCC meet at brands hatch.

A guy I was talking to had a Nikon D300 with a Sigma 50-500mm and another lens and he was saying he was going to buy a Nikon D700 and another lens, none of this bothered me and he showed me some pics and I was impressed with the sharpness on the camera. I asked what shutter speed he was using and he said 1/4000th (for panning shots). This didn't bug me either but what did bug me was when I showed him one of my shots at 1/100th that were nice and sharp and he just said, 'Not bad'.

I can't say I lost any sleep over it really, he was enjoying himself and so was I so thats all that matters really.
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If anyone said my pics were "not bad" I would take that as a compliment, not bad in my opinion means literally they are not so must be good:shrug:
 
Blue Moon 7 said:
It doesn't really bother me too much. I am not the most technically gifted person in the world and sometimes wonder about some of the discussions on here. You often see people giving advice as though it is fact and there is no other possible way to do something.

You also see many dicussions where people can explain the inner working of a lens or camera and how amazingly brilliant it is and so much better than anything else, only to see it up for sale within a few weeks because there is front focussing, back focussing, distortion, or choose any other number of problems. That is cool for them. Can't really say I spend too much time looking at my gear for faults I just like using it. However, it's people's choice. Just like choosing to buy whatever they want is their choice. What makes this place pretty good is the amount of opinions expressed in response to a query. The fun is in trying what works best for you.

I have built up my gear over the years by selling prints and reinvesting the money in gear and also donating some to charity. I have some decent gear and maybe I do not know how to use it to it's full capability. :shrug: I think I know quite a bit now! People seem to like what I do because it is them that have paid for my upgrades. I learn new stuff about photography almost every day and that is part of the enjoyment

You do get some people asking basic questions (not stupid questions as per another thread), but that's life. If people want to help fine, if not move along.

Chris :)

PS my camera doesn't seem to have a wedding mode, can anyone help? :lol:
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Great Post :clap:

Best advice i've had is buy an entry level canon/ nikon body and buy some good glass - it will be years before you need to upgrade the body as it will do nearly everyting you want well. I know little enough about photography without trying to pull gear to bits - I just like going out and using it and once in a while ( hopefullly with increasing frequency!!) I get a shot i'm chuffed about
 
Im only a simple person so therefore i stand correcting But isnt the posters thinking Communism:thinking:
 
I guess I'll add my two penneth.

I started with a Nikon D50 and was happy with it for a couple of years until I bought an SB600 and wanted wireless flash control.

I was going to get an off flash cable, but they turned out to be more expensive than I had thought and it felt like I might as well put that money towards a camera which supported the remote flash natively.

The obvious contender was the D90 and I'm sure I would have been very happy with it, but the lure of the D300 pulled me in. It wasn't *that* much more expensive than the D90, but it looked like it would take me further. the fact that it said "pro", was made of posh alloy and was covered in cool switches and dials helped too :)

am I "good enough" to be using a D300, probably not, but it makes me happy to have neat stuff and I love the way it handles.

dave
 
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