Considering a DSLR Camera

[BFMF]

Very interesting. With the outside photo, the way the dog is in focus, and everything else is not, how is that done? Is it done automatically? There are times when that is a cool effect, but would certainly be annoying in other situations.

[AMDDDA]

Very interesting. With the outside photo, the way the dog is in focus, and everything else is not, how is that done? Is it done automatically? There are times when that is a cool effect, but would certainly be annoying in other situations.

I set the focus manually for that shot, just so it would blur the outside of her face and such.

If you're referring to the bordering, that is an after effect, and you can choose the intensity to the center and the opacity of the effect . (In adobe RAW, which is inside of Photoshop).

[BFMF]

Ok, I see

How long does the battery last for you?

[AMDDDA]

Ok, I see

How long does the battery last for you?

I've taken over 600 shots on the same charge and it still says it's full  :)

[BFMF]

Ok, I see

How long does the battery last for you?

I've taken over 600 shots on the same charge and it still says it's full

[Mictheslik]

Disregard the noise though, as even though it was taken at an ISO of 100, I set the shutter speed to be uberfast and that made a LOT of noise

I doubt setting the shutter speed to something fast would create the noise.....It's normally a fault of photoshop processing.....at ISO 100 you should et very little noise despite the shutter speed (as long as you're exposing it properly with the correct aperture )

Very interesting. With the outside photo, the way the dog is in focus, and everything else is not, how is that done? Is it done automatically? There are times when that is a cool effect, but would certainly be annoying in other situations.

This is achieved through depth of field....I would suggest getting a good book or reading some internet tutorials to get you started.....basically depth of field can be controlled by the aperture, generally the smaller the f number (the larger the aperture) the shallower the depth of field (i.e. the range of areas in focus is shorter). and vice versa. This effect is accentuated by using a telephoto lens which will detach the foreground from the background even more....


On the subject of which camera I would go for the 450D.....if you're just entering the dslr market it's a superb body to learn on, and you save a little money for the all important glass.....

.mic (400D user

[Omag 2.0]

I also own a 400D, simply because in the time I bought it, it costed about the same as the 40D now (body only). Next, I purchased a canon 70-300 IS lens, for my spotting-needs.

Later on, I bought a Sigma 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8. Now these truely made my eyes go open when comparing them to the kitlenses.

But I didn't buy without any thought. The 70-300 IS was the best performing telelens for a reasonable price. As downsides, it's AF isn't superfast on the 400D and 300 can be a bit short during airshows.

The Sigmas are useful in my lowlight concertwork, they perform well but not quite as nice as the genuine Canon L-lenses, but then again, they only cost half the price of the Canon variety. Add an external flash, batterygrip, extra battery, CF-cards, a backpack to it and the total sum goes up rapidly.

And that's why I suggested looking at the 400D or 450D, certainly as you don't seem to have a good knowledge of photography yet.

Sure the 40D is bigger, a bit faster, but the imagequality is about the same as the 400D. I know because I can compare shots I've taken on concerts, during which a friend used a 40D with the same lenses...

I consider the 50D a step up from the 40D, but that's a whole other budget too.


Anyway, think about what type of photography you'd like to try, check the prices of the lenses you'd need and see of they fit in your budget. If you have the funds, by all means, go for the 40D, if you are starting on a tighter budget, check out the 400D and 450D packages. But do try to get the 18-55IS and 55-250 IS lenses then.

Before you order a body, it's also a good idea to check them out in a store. Get them in your hands and see which one feels best.

Good luck.

[BFMF]

With my level, or lack of photography knowledge, I probably don't need the 40D over the 450, and I would save a couple hundred dollars, and still i'll be happy with the 450D for many years

How much difference does an IS lense make over a non IS lense?

[Mictheslik]

How much difference does an IS lense make over a non IS lense?

IS @ 1/60th second @190mm


No IS @ 1/160th second @ 160mm


As you can see, the top is just as sharp, was a much slower shutter speed and at longer length

It all depends on how steady your hand is and how many photos you're looking to take in low light.....

.mic

[BFMF]

wow, that's incredible....

[AMDDDA]

You mustn't forget that IS lenses cost MUCH more :X.

a 70-300 mm one with IS is 650$ USD, while a non IS one is 200$ USD.

[Hagar]

How much difference does an IS lense make over a non IS lense?

IS @ 1/60th second @190mm

Is that IS Mode 1 or 2?

No IS @ 1/160th second @ 160mm


As you can see, the top is just as sharp, was a much slower shutter speed and at longer length

It all depends on how steady your hand is and how many photos you're looking to take in low light.....

.mic

It also takes a lot of practice.

[Mictheslik]

IS @ 1/60th second @190mm

Is that IS Mode 1 or 2?

Mode 2....

Of course those pics aren't brilliant, I was just trying to find something that would illustrate my point that IS is useful but not necessary

I would strongly advise thinking about whether you really need IS before going out especially for it....I know that the 70-300IS is a great lens purely in terms of image quality, before you bring in the IS. It also helps to have practice on non-IS lenses so you perfect the steady hand ....I used a 75-300 non IS for a year before my current lens and it really taught me everything I needed to know, and cost a third of the price


.mic

[Hagar]

IS @ 1/60th second @190mm

Is that IS Mode 1 or 2?

Mode 2....

Of course those pics aren't brilliant, I was just trying to find something that would illustrate my point that IS is useful but not necessary

.mic

It might be an idea to explain the difference between Mode 1 & 2.

[Mictheslik]

It might be an idea to explain the difference between Mode 1 & 2.

Sure.....

Mode one is for still photographs, so the stabliser is functional both horizontally and vertically......mode two is for panning, i.e. the stabliliser only functions on the horizontal or vertical plane (whichever way you're panning it)

I believe that some of the newer canon lenses have more modes than this, so I can't be sure on all of them

.mic