Newbi photographer -advice needed

bloodline76 · 24 Aug 2006 at 11:24

I have just got my first digital slr and would like some advice on taking some photos of people.

I have a canon 350d and a standard lens and 300mm one. (Dont ask which model though as im at work)

Anyway, I was wondering what basic equipment I would need to take pictures of people?

I was also wondering what Flash I should get?

Thanks for humouring me

rpstewart · 24 Aug 2006 at 11:33

What you have is fine to start with. If you start outside in good light then either lens is fine, obviously you have to be closer with the kit lens than with the 300mm. Most folk will tend to go with the wider lens for portraits but don't discount using the tele one, you can get some interesting perspective compression in the background with the tele lens.

For indoors a flash is pretty much essential, the built in one in the camera is OK but quite limited. It's not huge so the effective range is pretty poor and it's direct so the light it gives out is very harsh. A decent external flash will allow you to tilt the head upwards to bounce the light off a ceiling or the like so you get a more natural look to the final photo. Canon's 430EX & 580EX are both good but they're a bit pricy, there are a number of folk on here with Sigma flashes which are cheaper but I think they're a wee bit more complex to use.

Belly · 24 Aug 2006 at 12:39

rpstewart said:
Canon's 430EX & 580EX are both good but they're a bit pricy, there are a number of folk on here with Sigma flashes which are cheaper but I think they're a wee bit more complex to use.

Could one use an older flash on one of these cameras? I have an "Old and Bold" Cannon Speedlight 188A (for my Canon AE1 film camera), would it work on a new Canon DSLR? Obviously it has a hot shoe. Would it (Could it) cause damage to a DSLR?

I don't expect there is much that can be canabolized from a film set-up?

FD Lenses? 2x converter? I doubt it? I haven't got a problem with the tripod because someone stole that!

bloodline76 · 24 Aug 2006 at 13:10

Thanks I will have a look at those. Ive used the 300mm for some trial shots and they turned out great.

Looking forward to experimenting more

rpstewart · 24 Aug 2006 at 13:28

Belly said:
Could one use an older flash on one of these cameras? I have an "Old and Bold" Cannon Speedlight 188A (for my Canon AE1 film camera), would it work on a new Canon DSLR? Obviously it has a hot shoe. Would it (Could it) cause damage to a DSLR?

I don't expect there is much that can be canabolized from a film set-up?

FD Lenses? 2x converter? I doubt it? I haven't got a problem with the tripod because someone stole that!

FD lenses & converters won't work, the lenses need to have an EF mount to work on Canon DSLRs.

Not sure about the flash, I know there are some older Canon flashes which can be used in manual mode but I'm not sure if that's one of them.