Improving my photography and finished result?

ben306

ben306

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Ben
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I have had my camera coming up to 2 months now, I probably take it out with me once a week or when I specifically have something I am going to.

Its not a DSLR but a fairly decent spec ultra zoom camera, a Panasonic Lumix FZ18.

You may have seen my other thread recently listing out what I consider to be my top 10 so far

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=151074

Now that Im getting familiar with the camera, and what does what (I still have a hell of a lot to learn ***), I am wanting to up the game abit on myself. I've been looking at some cheap filters to experiment with aswell as some tele/macro lens adaptors, worth bothering?

What do people do to improve? Ive just been looking at the monthly comps and the tutorials. Also, I dont have PS or anything, just a basic viewer so everything is coming straight from the camera pretty much.

Im just after pointers really. I suppose the best way is practice but my problem is I find a setting that works ok and stick with it instead of trying out new stuff constantly.
 
Just browse through here, flickr, things like that! What in particular are you interested in? You can download GIMP, which is like photoshop but completely free, which can get you started with post processing as well, you'll be surprised how a little tweak in brightness and contrast can change a shot!

Then, you said it, practice practice practice! An do try new things, try everything, see what you like and what you don't!
 
Hi, the Fz18 isnt a bad camera at all. Unless your going to buy the panasonic adapters for the lens, I wouldn't bother. The cheapys you can get off ebay are pretty poor (zoom/wide angle), sorry very poor. I would suggest the filters however that way you can give fast moving water ago and protct the font lens element. The draw back with the camera is that the smallest aperture is quite big (f/8.4 or there abouts) quite restrictive. It is a very capable camera though and I got some great results with mine. Cheers Willem.
 
Hi, the Fz18 isnt a bad camera at all. Unless your going to buy the panasonic adapters for the lens, I wouldn't bother. The cheapys you can get off ebay are pretty poor (zoom/wide angle), sorry very poor. I would suggest the filters however that way you can give fast moving water ago and protct the font lens element. The draw back with the camera is that the smallest aperture is quite big (f/8.4 or there abouts) quite restrictive. It is a very capable camera though and I got some great results with mine. Cheers Willem.
 
Hi, I've had mine for just over a year now. Yes it does have its limitations in low light and medium to high ISO due to its small sensor, but I find it excellent quality for its value. I've bought just two things in terms of mods: a polarizer and a UV filter to protect the lens.

In terms of post processing, it's easy to fall into the trap of doing too much 'turd polishing' if you will. Whilst sometimes you can get something from a poor image, it's best to concentrate a bit more and take a better shot in the first place (at least that's what I tell myself prior to getting out the 'polish'...).

I tend to work in 'P' and make changes to exposure levels, aperture etc from there; almost full manual but not quite. Have a look at my website for examples.

Good luck and enjoy the camera!
 
Hi, I've had mine for just over a year now. Yes it does have its limitations in low light and medium to high ISO due to its small sensor, but I find it excellent quality for its value. I've bought just two things in terms of mods: a polarizer and a UV filter to protect the lens.

In terms of post processing, it's easy to fall into the trap of doing too much 'turd polishing' if you will. Whilst sometimes you can get something from a poor image, it's best to concentrate a bit more and take a better shot in the first place (at least that's what I tell myself prior to getting out the 'polish'...).

I tend to work in 'P' and make changes to exposure levels, aperture etc from there; almost full manual but not quite. Have a look at my website for examples.

Good luck and enjoy the camera!
 
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