Need advice on buying a digital SLR

[JimS]

You got a good camera that will serve you quite well for a long time.  I have both the 20D and a 5D.  I have found that for print sizes up to 11X17 or in some cases, 13X19, I can see very little difference in the image quality between the two.  At sizes of 17X22, I can start to see some difference but not much at normal viewing distances.

At 8X10, the pictures of the 40D will look great!

I use Photoshop CS2 and I have found that with judicious sharpening, you can rez up to fairly large prints with the 20D and still look very good, with resolution set at 240 DPI.  Do your sharpening last!  I also use the PhotoKit sharpening plugin.  Works very well.

The 40D has greater resolution than my 20D so you should be very happy with the images it can produce!

If you shoot in the RAW mode, which I recommend for best image quality, you can generally add about 20% more saturation to really bring out the color!

Also, go to a book store as there are books specifically for the 40D that go into much more detail on the various functions and settings than the manual.  I think there is also a DVD on its opperation as well.  I found the DVD's for my 20D and 5D at Calumet in Sants Ana, McFadden off ramp, and in the same shopping center as REI.  There is also one in LA.  Also, check out Samy's as well.  That is where I purchased my photo printer.  Both places are very helpfull with your questions.

Digital photography is a lot of fun.  While I miss the darkroom, and now that all my equipment is in boxes in the basement, I can still do my photography with a lot less mess and time, and still get very good and in some instances better results than my old darkroom prints.  Yes, I have done side by side comparisons!

Another important point is to get a monitor callibration kit and callibrate your monitor.  Otherwise, you will be pulling your hair out trying to get the print to look like the image on the monitor.  Also, your monitor will probably be too bright and you will have to adjust it down.  I have the brightness setting on my Dell monitor set to just 5 out of 100, just enough to keep it from flickering.  With the callibration, my prints match the image on the monitor by about 95%.  Remember also that the image on the monitor is back lit, while a print is front lit so they never will match perfectly.

I will stop rambling now, so go out and have fun with your new camera.

Jim

[austinado16]

Thanks for all the tips Jim!

This camera did come with that thick aftermarket 40D book, so I've been bouncing around in it, reading and testing on the camera.

Need to buy that zoom lens next, along with some version of photoshop, and maybe noise ninja.  

I also need to learn about all this post processing "stuff" and shooting in RAW vs. Jpeg, etc.  Gonna take some time to get up over this learning curve.

[GrizzlyTaco]

Here's a really nice camera, with no shutter delay and takes great pics and at a reasonable price. http://shop3.frys.com/product/5748612?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

[austinado16]

Hey Jim, quick question:

This camera didn't come with a compact flash card, so on the way home from buying it, I purchased a 4GB SanDisk ExtremeIII card.  Today I was reading specs on the Canon website and it only lists the 40d and 50d as being compatible with version I and II.   For as nice a camera as this is, it's performance in the gym is very poor.  Any chance the version III card could be causing problems?  

In manual mode with ISO at either 1600 or 3200, 24mm f2.8 lens and adjusting the shutter speed to center the light meter (minimum of 1/125th to 1/250th) I'm getting sort of dark, noisey, poor quality shots.......using spot metering and AI Servo focus.

[waygard33]

Hey Jim, quick question:

This camera didn't come with a compact flash card, so on the way home from buying it, I purchased a 4GB SanDisk ExtremeIII card.  Today I was reading specs on the Canon website and it only lists the 40d and 50d as being compatible with version I and II.   For as nice a camera as this is, it's performance in the gym is very poor.  Any chance the version III card could be causing problems?  

I'm not completely sure but I don't believe the card will damage your camera. I think your older camera will just not be able to take advantage of the speed the Extreme III offers. If there was a chance for damage, the card makers would have to do a much better job of warning potential customers as I know you're not the first guy to stick a new memory card in an older camera.

In manual mode with ISO at either 1600 or 3200, 24mm f2.8 lens and adjusting the shutter speed to center the light meter (minimum of 1/125th to 1/250th) I'm getting sort of dark, noisey, poor quality shots.......using spot metering and AI Servo focus.

When I first got my DSLR, I was very dissapointed with the picture quality when shooting my son's basketball team in a dark gym. I was trying different lenses and changing/adjusting the light metering and focusing methods over and over. After shooting many, many games, and usually a good 300-400 pictures per game, my images gradually became better. I found where I needed to be given the limitations of my lens (50mm f/1., which meter mode worked best, and when to use AI Focus or AI Servo mode. Even then, I still had to battle borderline shutter speeds. Even if I had everything right, my lens is slow to focus and I would find many of my shots focused on the guys behind or in front of the kid I was trying to get. In the end (of basketball season), I feel like I learned a lot and ended up with quite a few decent shots. My success varied by gym and the lighting at the time. It got to where I could walk into a new gym and know right away if I was going to struggle or not.

Now I'm shooting baseball and the light is sooooo much better, although still presents plenty of challenges. I'm using slower, longer lenses so as the sun fades, I start to bump into those challenges again. Also, bright sun and shadows (high contrast) are a pain and don't lend well to nice photos. Also, the lens I have is not long enough so getting outfielders is difficult.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is...Lens, lens, lens, lens. You have to have the right lens for the job. I don't think your wide angle is helping you out. IMO, f/2.8 is still relatively slow for all but the best cameras and/or really high ISOs. I know you're looking at the 70-200 f/2.8. I want the same lens but I feel I will still struggle with that lens for the same reason (f/2.. The better quality will help some but I'm sure I would be borderline on my shutter speeds at best. I'm leaning towards primes like 100mm or 135 at f/2 or lower. Some day, a nicer camera with higher ISO capability will help although just because some cameras go higher, doesn't mean you really want to go there as the images are too noisey to use.

I'm not currently using it...I would be happy to send you my 50mm f/1.8 lens for you to play with for awhile. Let me know...

Keep working at it. I'd also suggest going outside and taking some shots of your daughter doing some gymnastics in the yard and see if your camera/lens shines in this light.

Good luck...

Wayne in Oregon

[JimS]

Hey Jim, quick question:

This camera didn't come with a compact flash card, so on the way home from buying it, I purchased a 4GB SanDisk ExtremeIII card.  Today I was reading specs on the Canon website and it only lists the 40d and 50d as being compatible with version I and II.   For as nice a camera as this is, it's performance in the gym is very poor.  Any chance the version III card could be causing problems?  

In manual mode with ISO at either 1600 or 3200, 24mm f2.8 lens and adjusting the shutter speed to center the light meter (minimum of 1/125th to 1/250th) I'm getting sort of dark, noisey, poor quality shots.......using spot metering and AI Servo focus.

I could be wrong on this but I do not think that the CF card is the problem.  If it was, you would get an error message or the image would not write to the card.  I know that other 40D users on Digital Camera and Review use Extreme cards with no problems.

As for the poor quality of the pictures, try experimenting with the mode.  Start off simple and use P mode and see what happens.  Though I do like manual, sometimes, things just might not be set just right.  I would also use the Evaluative metering mode as I have found this to be most accurate.  This is the mode that Michael Reichmann of the Luminus Landscape uses and has also found to be mostly spot on.

I would also use a lower ISO as 1600 and especially 3200 are going to have noise.  As for the dark images, they are under exposed.  Using Evaluative will hopefully correct this.

You did not mention if the images are in or out of focus but sometimes, the Canon cameras have difficulty with AI servo in poor light.  In fact, poor light focus has been a perennial complaint with most EOS's.  My 20D is rotton with the focus in poor light.  I missed a couple of great sunsets in Yellowstone because of poor focus.

Lastly, make sure that you have firmware version 1.1.1.  You can download it from the Canon website.  Go to CanonUSA then to support, consumer, EOS, and then type in the camera you have and then to downloads.

Unfortunately, I am mostly a landscape and underground photograper - don't ask - and have limited experience in event type photography.  Go to DP Review and join.  In the 50D - 10D forum, you will find many people that are more than willing to help and have much more experience with this type of photography than I do.

The 40D is a great camera and is capable of outstanding photographs.  There is a learning curve with them so be patient and try different settings.  That is the beauty of having that LCD on the back as you can take a picture and immediately see how it looks.  If it is not what you want, change a setting and try again.  Experimentation is the key; you will find what works for you.

One more thing.  If you have access to something like Photoshop Elements or another post - processing program, remarkable things can be done to correct under or over exposed images and even cleaning up some of the noise.  I have salvaged a number of pictures that I screwed up on and have actually produced decent prints from them.  Poor focus however can't be post processed.

Hope this helps,
Jim

[austinado16]

Man, a bunch of replies were lost during the forum upgrade.

Anyway, a quick recap.
1) I did have old firmware and upgraded to the latest. Thanks for that tip.
2) I loaded the Canon software CD's so I now have a decent post processing program with noise reduction, as well as Canon's EOS Utility which allows access to the camera like it was a computer.
3) Used my 70-210/4.0 Canon lens with all the gym overhead lights on and actually got some decent photos of action and candids about 2 weeks ago.
4) Today I purchased a Canon 70-200/2.8 L non-IS lens from a guy on the local Craigslist.  So I can finally get to practicing.  It gives me 1/320th at 1600ISO with only about half of the overhead lights on in the gym.  At the same time, that F4.0 zoom gives just 1/100th at 1600ISO.

So hopefully I'mnot just a poser, and am man enough to swing this bad-boy around and start taking some decent photos!

[John Madill]

i shoot a lot of high school sports in a varaiety of lighting condition.

i like to set my camera to 1200 or 1600 and put the camera on manual, perhaps a 250th or 200th on the shutter speed and an aperature of maybe 4 or 5.6.

then i dial my flash down to maybe half or one quarter power on ttl so it kicks out just a little light and most comes from the ambient lights.

experimentation is necessary.

[austinado16]

No flash allowed at any Gymnastics competition, anywhere.  Hence the need for 2.8 and 1600ISO.

[austinado16]

Just a little camera update:

Scored a Canon 50D on the local Craigslist about 2 weeks ago.  Original owner had purchased it from the local camera store in March, not registered it with Canon, and only taken 2,000 shots.  Came with a CF card and 2 batteries.  So I sold my 40D, but kept the battery grip and wound up breaking even on the deal.

The 50D really takes some nice photos in the gym!  Competition season is just 3 weeks away, so I'm back to the practices taking shots and trying to dial in my skills.

[6Quigs]

So which camera did you use on your recent trip to the grand canyon?
I am impressed with the quality of the photos.

I am looking to get a DSLR myself and like the video on the Canon T1i and see Costco cary them, but as you have pointed out, the lens is the expensive part.

[austinado16]

My point and shoot is a Panasonic Lumix FX-9 and a Lumix TZ-1.  I started with an FX-9 about 2 years ago and love it....usually.  It's not a great "sports/action" camera, and with only a 3x zoom, it's limited that way too, but it's the size of a man's wallet, and takes great movies too.  My brother and mom have both had the TZ-1's since I got the FX-9.  They bought the TZ's because of the 10x zoom.  The TZ's are great sports/action cameras and take even nice video.  So recently I bagged one on ebay for $100........and that's the camera I used this time in the GC.  I like the photos we got with it, but it was clunkier to have hanging around my neck in it's LowePro case and I got real tired of both the weight and the lens cap.  

My suggestion for a point-and-shoot would be the newer TZ-5 and ebay is probably the least expensive source right now.  They're still pretty spendy at B&H Photo (//www.bhphoto.com) and similar sites.  I'm not sure what the FX-9 was upgraded too, but with some sluething you should be able to find out at //www.dpreview.com or similar.

I don't take the big DSLR anywhere except the gymnastics gym.  It's too big, too heavy...and being that it's $2,500+ worth of gear, too expensive.

[tplife]

I was always an Oly guy in film but with digital I can't leave Canon alone, just fine glass.  If you're still shopping, the independent reviewer with hands-on info is at //www.dcresource.com.
 If you're ready to buy, save time and use //www.resellerratings.com.
 Remember, it's not just the price, but the seller you're dealing with. :frosty:

[austinado16]

I'd never had an SLR until now, but did love the Olympus "Infinity" line of 35mm point and shoots.  Remember those?  The 200 series and the 300 series?  Still have one of both and still love the photos I get with them.  Old school, I know.

I'm getting happier with the choice of Canon, although I think the Nikon may have better focusing for sports and maybe even a better sensor.  I'm still just blown away by the photos that a gal at the gym is getting with a standard Nikkor 18-200 lens and her D80.