Photographers - what equipment do you use?

nate42nd · 28 Mar 2010

I looked around a little for a thread on photography. It seems to me computers and photography go hand in hand. I would like to know what you use and how long you've been into photography. I have a Canon T1i Digital / 500D. (digital DSLR) and also a Canon 780 IS. I have been into photography for about 30 years. I am in my mid 30s and got my 1st film camera when I was very young.

Also, I noticed my import settings on Pro 64 bit OEM Windows 7 were set to name the pictures starting at 001 every time I imported. It created it's own folder I had many, many, 001-120 duplicates. It was set like this by default. If you are having this problem...here is how to fix it. Just change the import settings....if you know a different way to get to the import settings besides plugging your camera into the USB port....let me know.

Photographers - what equipment do you use?-import.png

Photographers - what equipment do you use?-importsettings.png

Anyway, are you serious hobbyist or just like to mess around?

Here's a night shot I took this morning at 3:30 AM of the valley where I live. I had to expose it for 13 seconds. It didn't turn out very good but next time I know the changes I need to make.....It's a lot of fun.

Photographers - what equipment do you use?-img_1209r.jpg

johnwillyums · 28 Mar 2010

Hi Nate. I'm into photography, primarily as a hobby although I do the occasional wedding with a friend.
I use a Canon 40D DSLR with a Canon 18-75 IS zoom lens, a Sigma 10-20 wide zoom, a Sigma 105 Macro and a Sigma 200-300 APO zoom.
In terms of the computer I always shoot RAW and use Adobe Lightroom to process/edit the images followed by PS Elements 7.
I also use Google's free Picasa software which I think is an excellent product and ideal if the images do not require much post capture treatment.
It's been a hobby for thirty years and I used to have my own darkroom etc.

The best thing about having photography as a hobby, I think, is that, whether you have a camera with you or not, you always see things in terms of image and composition.
It makes you look for beauty or statement wherever you look and changes the way you view of the world around you.
Great hobby

nate42nd · 28 Mar 2010

johnwillyums said:

Hi Nate. I'm into photography, primarily as a hobby although I do the occasional wedding with a friend.
I use a Canon 40D DSLR with a Canon 18-75 IS zoom lens, a Sigma 10-20 wide zoom, a Sigma 105 Macro and a Sigma 200-300 APO zoom.
In terms of the computer I always shoot RAW and use Adobe Lightroom to process/edit the images followed by PS Elements 7.
I also use Google's free Picasa software which I think is an excellent product and ideal if the images do not require much post capture treatment.
It's been a hobby for thirty years and I used to have my own darkroom etc.

The best thing about having photography as a hobby, I think, is that, whether you have a camera with you or not, you always see things in terms of image and composition.
It makes you look for beauty or statement wherever you look and changes the way you view of the world around you.
Great hobby

Very nice johnwillyums. I am sitting here right now trying to decide what lens to get (for about $500 or less)

I too have been shooting RAW with my G9 for the last 3 years. I too use Picasa, it's very handy. I have always used Canon's bundled software to edit the RAW images. The latest DPP (Digital photo Pro) is pretty good, but Adobe would be nice.

That 40D is a nice camera.

I had 35mm film cameras back in the day. It's a lot of fun. I have been neglecting my duties here at the forum because I have been busy shooting and precessing pictures.

You're right about it changing the way you look at the world. It's a great thing.

Barman58 · 28 Mar 2010

Hi Nate,

I have had cameras around for many years but at the moment am using a fuji Bridge camera, s5700 UK

you may want to check out the downloader I use, which can build the filename fron exif and IPTC metadata. teh options for freeware are amazing

http://www.nabocorp.com/cam2pc/freeware.php

nate42nd · 28 Mar 2010

Barman58 said:

Hi Nate,

I have had cameras around for many years but at the moment am using a fuji Bridge camera, s5700 UK

you may want to check out the downloader I use, which can build the filename fron exif and IPTC metadata. teh options for freeware are amazing

cam2pc - Image Viewer and fully featured Digital Imaging software to Download, Organize, Modify and Share your photos

Hey Barman, that looks very cool. I will check it out. That might be useful.

Thanks

beauparc · 28 Mar 2010

I'm an enthusiastic amateur who never seems to have the time to take the hobby seriously enough.

I always used Nikon 35mm back in the days of film. Now I use Fuji - I've got 3 of them. An F31fd - a Z35 and a S9500 DSLR. I've just ordered the new S200EXR which should arrive this coming week and will replace the aging S9500.

I would love to have the time, patience and skill to master the dark art of Photoshop manipulation of images. I can just about use Paint Shop Pro - badly

My main problem is getting the printer output to match the screen image. The print always comes out much darker. Ah well, one day......

nate42nd · 28 Mar 2010

beauparc said:

I'm an enthusiastic amateur who never seems to have the time to take the hobby seriously enough.

I always used Nikon 35mm back in the days of film. Now I use Fuji - I've got 3 of them. An F31fd - a Z35 and a S9500 DSLR. I've just ordered the new S200EXR which should arrive this coming week and will replace the aging S9500.

I would love to have the time, patience and skill to master the dark art of Photoshop manipulation of images. I can just about use Paint Shop Pro - badly

My main problem is getting the printer output to match the screen image. The print always comes out much darker. Ah well, one day......

It can get complicated. Try shooting in RAW id you cameras allow it. It gives you a lot of freedom to essentially change shot settings after you shoot....on your computer. I'm surprised more computers enthusiasts are not digital photographers. I know there are many, but serious hobbyists. Time is a limited resource. That's true.

As far as your image on the monitor matching the printed image. That's probably a monitor setting issue. You could fix it.

Zepher · 28 Mar 2010

Canon 40D with a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8

this is one of the first shots I took with the Tamron lens, this is straight out of the camera, just resized.

johnwillyums · 29 Mar 2010

Hi Photographers:)

I thought there'd be a few of us. More will come along I bet.
That downloader looks interesting Nigel. However, I'm very happy with Lightroom which downloads and catalogues pictures, allows you to organise them in folders, rename them etc. and then you can edit RAW files in a non destructive way so you always have the original.
I just looked and it's a £160 which is more than I thought but still a lot less than 8 or 9 hundred for Photoshop.
I got really lucky. About 6 years ago I bought a RAW converter online. It was a free version and then go pro for 20+ pounds and it was so good I did. Adobe bought it and turned it into Lightroom. I got Lightroom 2 for free plus continuing upgrades

I sympathise beauparc. I was "gifted" PS CS2 and even did a short course on how to use it. I found some of it very useful but the guy teaching us the course kept showing us tricks like putting different heads on animals bodies or making people's expression change.
I suppose he was trying to demonstrate what photoshop could do but I'm mainly landscape and abstract in my interests and didn't find it that useful. Also bloody hard. Working with layers was mind boggling.
I can now see the virtue in some of those tricks. The friend who I do weddings with is very skilled in Photoshop. When you take group shots there's always someone with one eye shut or pulling a funny face etc and it's always the best shot in every other way.
He can transpose a smiling face onto the grimacer and you can't see the join:)

I've tried the Gimp but that is just as complex. Paint.net is a good freebie.
However for most of the kind of pics I take all I need is a little contrast boost or colour temperature alteration. I can do that in Picasa.
The problem with printer output not matching what you see on your screen is something you can fix as Nate says but if it's only slight just make allowances for it.
Here's a landscape from last year that I was pleased with. Hmmn. Forget that it's 46MB
and I don't have time to convert it from a tif. right now so here's something else. This is a pretty straight shot but I did spend time removinf floating bugs etc from the surface of the water to make the illusion work:)

nate42nd · 29 Mar 2010

I love the pictures guys!

You guys bring up photo editing software...I have to agree with most of you. These "good" programs are hard to use. If someone shows me how to use it, then I remember. YouTube is a great resource. If you can find the right person, they will show you how to use certain programs. I have learned tons from YouTube. I have Sony Vegas for video editing. Talk about complicated. I like shooting video too. Todays cameras have great HD video modes. Try those out too.