Bought my first DSLR

fish · 23 Dec 2009 at 19:06

Hi i am a long time lurker in these forums and have done a lot of thread reading. Due to the demise of my P&S panasonic i have taken the plunge and bought an entry level DSLR, namely the Sony alpha a230. I have been experimenting this weekend in Edinburgh and am very pleased so far. Can anyone suggest some good lenses for taking landscape shots? I have the 18-55 mm that came with the camera and looking around people seem to recommend the minolta 70-210 beercan and the 50mm prime. Could someone please explain what these lenses would be used for?

Many thanks

Jim

tankskun · 23 Dec 2009 at 19:08

Post us some tests shots to see what your new DSLR is like first.

Stupot_ · 23 Dec 2009 at 19:09

If you don't know what you would use them for then don't buy them... yet.

Get used to the kit lens and find its limitations, then you'll have a much better understanding of what you need

fish · 23 Dec 2009 at 19:09

where is the best lace to host photos?

Mr Jones · 23 Dec 2009 at 19:14

Photobucket is pretty cool, remembers them for you, otherwise, imageshack.

fish · 23 Dec 2009 at 19:17

right i think i have them up

http://img696.imageshack.us/g/edinburgh2009008.jpg/

These are a couple i hope you gents can see them. I am not sure about exposure and playing with them yet so these are as they came off the camera

tankskun · 23 Dec 2009 at 19:24

The lighting detail seems to represent well, good job.

p0ss3s3d · 23 Dec 2009 at 19:46

Really nice crisp shots.

Five things I'd advise.

1 - Shoot RAW files and used Adobe Photoshop to process them, this means you need to use the 'creative camera' modes so point number 2 is...

2 - Control the camera. Use Av for most purposes. Use M if subject are consistently lit but bright or dark shades.

3 - Learn what does what use this (SLRsiml)

4 - Once your sure you got this sorted buy a 50mm prime lens. This will let you work in LOW light, it will also force you to learn about composition.

5 - Know your taking good pictures further your knowladge of your camera untill you reckon you know what everything on you camera does, and this includes learning how to post process shots well.

The look at buying more lenses and tripods ect.

Merry Christmas and enjoy the camera!

Mr Jones · 23 Dec 2009 at 19:46

Quite good composition, are you happy with the results of Auto mode or are you still iffy about trying to go semi/manual?

fish · 23 Dec 2009 at 19:51

I am happy with the results on auto at the moment i have taken some shots on manual in the snow when the camera would not focus in auto mode. Low light was one of the things that made me go SLR over a P&S. I think i will look into a tripod for lower light situations due to shaky hands.

Mr Jones · 23 Dec 2009 at 19:59

Tripod is fine for still objects but any shots with people, would be wiser to invest in brighter lens for when it is dark.

fish · 23 Dec 2009 at 20:03

is a brighter lens one with a lower f number?

p0ss3s3d · 23 Dec 2009 at 20:04

fish said:
I am happy with the results on auto at the moment i have taken some shots on manual in the snow when the camera would not focus in auto mode. Low light was one of the things that made me go SLR over a P&S. I think i will look into a tripod for lower light situations due to shaky hands.

I would say by all means get a tripod but a fast prime lens like I mentioned the 50mm will be the way to go for low-light. Shaky hands wont stop people from moving!!

EDIT beaten to it!!

fish said:
is a brighter lens one with a lower f number?

Yeas f1.8 is faster than f22.

The f-stop would be as follows f1.4, f2, f2.8, f4, f5.6, f8. And things inbetween such as f1.8 is 1/3 of a stop faster than f2. Each stop- lets in twice as much light as the previous stop. So f5.6 might give a shutter speed of 1/50th f4 would give us 1/100th and f2.8 would give us 1/200th.

Infact do a test now. Go into the living room max out your ISO speed and tell us what shutter speed you would get at f5.6 then calculate it for f1.8. [DO IT NOW!!]

[COME BACK]

See how important fast apertures can be to indoor and low light photographers.

Raymond Lin · 23 Dec 2009 at 20:04

fish said:
is a brighter lens one with a lower f number?

Yup, anything under f/2.8 the price gets higher...

ScarySquirrel · 23 Dec 2009 at 20:07

I recommend Flickr for photo uploads. You can use it for free, but I would recommend the $10 yearly subscription for Flickr Pro.

fish · 23 Dec 2009 at 20:07

p0ss3s3d said:
Really nice crisp shots.

Five things I'd advise.

1 - Shoot RAW files and used Adobe Photoshop to process them, this means you need to use the 'creative camera' modes so point number 2 is...

The look at buying more lenses and tripods ect.

Merry Christmas and enjoy the camera!

Thanks for the replies so far guys

Is photo shop elements any good compared with the full monty increadably expensive version?

p0ss3s3d · 23 Dec 2009 at 20:12

Yeah I used Elements for ages and it's great, then I've been using lightroom too at the same time. Untill just a few months ago and then I bought CS3. TBH I'm a little gutted at how much it cost vs the improvement gianed. SO either Elements is a bargin or CS is a rip-off!!

ScarySquirrel said:
I recommend Flickr for photo uploads. You can use it for free, but I would recommend the $10 yearly subscription for Flickr Pro.

2nd'ed oh if you use BTinternet you get pro free!!