Just picked up a 20d, new to dslr

[Mr.Stu]

Long time listener first time poster here!

Just picked up a 20d with the stock 18-55mm (non IS) lense for the tidy sum of $150 cad. 97 quid in real money!

Currently installing the drivers and EOS utlity etc to have a play.

Also picked up that http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/20d/users-guide.htm is a pretty good ready, thanks Mr.Jones.

With this being a non-IS lense am I going to find lots of blur without using a tripod?

After getting to grips with the basics I think I will pick up another lense, everyone seems to rave about the 50mm (f 1.8) - is that a good choice? It seems to deliver super sharp images for the tiny price.

Also any newbie tips would be great - thanks

 

[Johnny|lucidcomposure]

Congrats. First DSLR i started with. 97 bucks with lens, good price!

Dont start thinking IS becomes a must and without it you are nobody because thats rubbish.

You will take blurry shots if you shoot slowly without understanding what you are doing.

Get up on some know how regarding exposure and new to photography references.

50mm F1.8 is great for getting narrow focus images and can be bought for a bottom dollar.

Tripod is good for landscape work and for being creative with long exposures which is something you can really enjoy on a instant preview Dslr..

Hope this helps.

 

[Deaco]

Depends on how steady your hands are but you shouldn't get too much blur except in low light settings, and don't be tempted to go up the high ISO's unless you really have to - try not to go above 800, I find anything above that creates too much noise.

However I do use ISO 3200 on my 20D for those times when a flash can't be used and it comes out so-so - better than not getting the image or it coming out blurred..

Which means I would get a nice fast lens for low light, like the 50mm f1.8. I finally got one myself yesterday and have been playing around with it and have to say it's a must buy for the price, and can't believe it's taken me this long.


Have to say, newbie tips..

Go out and take lots of photos, experiment with settings and get a feel for what they do and the impact they have on an image..

Shoot in RAW

Backup your keepers regularly

Grab the Lightroom Beta from adobe (or similar) and have a play, the processing of the image on the computer is a key part of taking pics.. and the sooner you get to grips with your preferred program the better.

 

[Mr.Stu]

Loving it so far - spent most of today playing with it in manual mode.

Picking up a 50mm f/1.8 Tuesday night.

Quick question, cleaning... quite a few dust spots apparent on images so I assume the sensor needs cleaning. Any advice on what cleaning kit to buy and/or good guides? Thanks.

 

[Mr.Stu]

Quick update.

Cleaned the sensor with a visible dust kit - spots still noticeable on landscape snaps.

Picked up the 50mm as predicted 4 days ago.

Tried shooting a game of pictionary with housemates, images didn't come out too great but happy with the composition in some shots.

C+C welcome: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/adam.stuart/Pictionary#

No flash, 1600/3200 iso, hand held. Tricky keeping the shutter speed quick enough even with the wide f/1.8. I guess a tripod would have helped and allowed me to shoot at a lower iso, but people may have been blurred?

What would be the solution here? Flash, better body (i.e. for better high iso images) or I guess an even wider lens.

 

[robmiller]

Proof that gear isn't everything—a six year old camera, bought for less than £100, and those are great results

No flash, 1600/3200 iso, hand held. Tricky keeping the shutter speed quick enough even with the wide f/1.8. I guess a tripod would have helped and allowed me to shoot at a lower iso, but people may have been blurred?

Yep, you'd get subject blur. If you've pushed your ISO as far as it will go and are still getting too-slow shutter speeds, or if you've pushed your ISO so far that you're sacrificing detail, pretty much all you can do is use a flash.

If you want to learn, the best route would probably be to buy the cheapest flash you can that does TTL and practice with it, including bouncing it, then buy the cheapest remote triggering method you can (most likely a PC cord, which costs a pittance) and practice with using it off-camera.

 

[Mr.Stu]

Thanks Rob.

I think I will pick up a Nissin Di622 when I am back in the UK and have a play with that.

Spotted a inquisitive little fella at dinner today, wish I had a 70-200mm in my back pocket to do him justice

More pics here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/adam.stuart/DustiesBear#

Speaking generally I'm tempted to go mad and get all manner of zooms but I'm going to stick with the prime for a few months, I find it forces me to move around which can't be a bad thing.

 

[robmiller]

Speaking generally I'm tempted to go mad and get all manner of zooms but I'm going to stick with the prime for a few months, I find it forces me to move around which can't be a bad thing.

Definitely a good idea—and there's no reason why you can't stick with primes forever, there's certainly lots of advantages to that approach

 

[Blackvault]

Proof that gear isn't everything—a six year old camera, bought for less than £100, and those are great results


Yep, you'd get subject blur. If you've pushed your ISO as far as it will go and are still getting too-slow shutter speeds, or if you've pushed your ISO so far that you're sacrificing detail, pretty much all you can do is use a flash.

If you want to learn, the best route would probably be to buy the cheapest flash you can that does TTL and practice with it, including bouncing it, then buy the cheapest remote triggering method you can (most likely a PC cord, which costs a pittance) and practice with using it off-camera.

Couldn't agree move. Here is a shot I took the other night, granted it's with a 30D but its not much newer or THAT better than the 20D. It looks fabulous for a 4 year old camera.

30D 24mm-70mm @ F/4 ISO 1600 1/125sec no flash

Mr.Stu - get out there an experiment. I'd check out these sets of videos for understanding the basics.
Digitial Photography 1 on 1

Blackvault