Introduce Yourself & Welcome Other Members (archive)

[Colin Southern]

Thank you, your recommendation for reading material would be great.

I have now also been reading another thread on the 85mm f1.2 l vs 70-200 IS f2.8 l. I have the 85mm and it is my only professional quality lens. I am now wondering if I should sell it and look to get the 70-200 so that I have a more multi purpose decent lens whilst I don't have the funds to have both.

Any thoughts?

Steve

Hi Steve,

In terms of learning to use Photoshop, the two that first come to mind are both from Scott Kelby (worlds #1 selling author across ALL technical disiplines) (plus a down-to-earth goofball which makes for far more relaxed (and less rigid) learning). The first is The 7-Point System and the 2nd is The Digital Photography Handbook for CS4 (also available in CS3 & CS2 editions). If you work through these two then you'll be WELL AND TRUELY on your way (in fact I'd go so far as to say if you master the content of these two books - which isn't hard - you'll be streats ahead of most in the PP department).

In terms of EF85/1.2L -v- EF70-200/2.8L - OMG - I don't know what to say! I'd probably need to put on some vulcan ears and try to think logically like Spock as for me it would be like selling one of my own children (actually, some days that might be a much easier decision, but I digress!). For me it would be a very tough choice - but then again, I guess, it may not have to be in that they are different lenses with different purposes. Do you shoot faster than 2.8 much? Would the ability to only shoot as fast as F2.8 be a problem? Do you need the versatility of other lengths much? Could you get by with or afforn the 70-200/F4L (with or without IS) (much much cheaper, and just as sharp) (in fact sharper than the F2.8L version accorning to many) (although you need to do your capture sharpening with ANY lens for best results).

[stevewe88]

Thanks Colin
You have given me a great idea.......sell one of my children in order to buy the 70-200 so that I can have both. Any takers???
Although I wouldn't regularly need to go faster than 2.8 it is nice to have the ability to. I think I will be sensible and not rush into anything. If the weather is good this weekend, I plan to just use the 85mm prime the whole time and see how I get on. If the weather is bad I will be learning about Photoshop!
Steve

[Colin Southern]

Thanks Colin
You have given me a great idea.......sell one of my children in order to buy the 70-200 so that I can have both. Any takers???

No - my two are bad enough when they fight (which is pretty much all the time).

A technique that has always worked well for me though is "buy first, justify later" (forgiveness is much easier to get than permission!)

[stevewe88]

I am not forgiven for getting the 450d body yet so I need to rack up a few more good behaviour points first I think.

[I Simonius]

Thank you, your recommendation for reading material would be great.

I have now also been reading another thread on the 85mm f1.2 l vs 70-200 IS f2.8 l. I have the 85mm and it is my only professional quality lens. I am now wondering if I should sell it and look to get the 70-200 so that I have a more multi purpose decent lens whilst I don't have the funds to have both.

Any thoughts?

Steve

different horses, different courses.

If you are actually getting good use out of the 85 then hang onto it and wait until you can afford the zoom
just my 2p

[bricynt]

Hello all. I am a new member here. I recently purchased my first DSLR (Nikon D3000). I began shooting digital in early 2006 with a Sony DSC-W7. I found this site while searching for photography information, and I hope to learn and share experiences with others. I am an amateur, and this is something I love to do in my spare time.

[stevewe88]

different horses, different courses.

If you are actually getting good use out of the 85 then hang onto it and wait until you can afford the zoom
just my 2p

Thanks, I used it all weekend and took some good shots (well I think they are good anyway), so I think I will be hanging onto it and will just have to wait to get the 70-200 but will probably have to sacrifice IS so I can have it sooner.

[Dave Humphries]

~ so I think I will be hanging onto it and will just have to wait to get the 70-200 but will probably have to sacrifice IS so I can have it sooner.

Oooh, don't make the sacrifice
Especially if you're not into flash and shoot available light.

[Colin Southern]

Oooh, don't make the sacrifice
Especially if you're not into flash and shoot available light.

I agree with Dave.

You can take my IS functionality when you prise it from my cold dead fingers!

[stevewe88]

I agree that it would be best to have but I will have to see how impatient I get whilst putting the cash away. I will go and tell the kids that they can't have any new shoes because daddy needs IS! (Uncles Colin and Dave said so)

Steve

[Colin Southern]

I agree that it would be best to have but I will have to see how impatient I get whilst putting the cash away. I will go and tell the kids that they can't have any new shoes because daddy needs IS! (Uncles Colin and Dave said so)

Steve

This is a common problem - perhaps what we need is a dual-signature bank account where the other party won't authorise a withdrawal unless it's for the lens!

[carregwen]

...perhaps what we need is a dual-signature bank account where the other party won't authorise a withdrawal unless it's for the lens!

I think what we need is a rich widow on the side.

[Rod]

Hi I have just joined this forum as the web site appealed to me as a place where hopefully I might advance my digital techniques and find some answers to challenges I have. I take pictures to improve our web site and any slideshows etc we use as part of our flying shows. I have a Canon EOS 5d and mostly use a 24-70 zoom lens as I like to get close to my subjects. These subjects are my birds I fly with my partner Cathy, who is web designer. We are both keen learners as we see our center as an educational opportunity for clients and public alike who visit here. I have never used forums or have ever tried to use my photographs outside of our web site but would like to learn how to go about this as people say I do have some very good pictures though I know they will get better. Rod

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Rod,

Welcome to the CiC forums from me, you'll find us a friendly and helpful bunch

Fear not; I hadn't done this before I joined here either and now I have a job here

All this talk of your website and pictures, and yet you omitted to provide us with a link

You'll find I do a few birds too, but usually with a longer lens, if you can get close enough with a 24 - 70mm, I guess you and Cathy must keep (and fly) your own birds (of prey?).

Best regards,

[stevewe88]

I think what we need is a rich widow on the side.

A rich widow could be hard work but a rich widow's credit card.........now that's more like it

[fied]

Hello all,

I've recently made the jump from a film SLR (which I will still continue to use) to all this digital wizardry. I started with a cheap Olympus FE-170 to familiarise myself with on-screen directions, but have upgraded to a Canon Powershot SX110 IS because I want manual control, a reasonably good lens and reasonably sharp macro shots, as well as point-and-click. The next step will probably be a digital SLR. So far, I'm pleased with the PowerShot, but expect to have many "Arrrgh!" moments, for which the forum may come in useful. I'm not an expert photographer, but do have some knowledge of finding my way around cameras, so I hope to be able to contribute, too.

[panicich]

Hello everyone,

I am interested in image processing, but I found this great site to learn a lot of things about photography. You can guess that now I am an amateur, but I expect to learn many things joining to these forums, sharing in the future my own experience.

[Colin Southern]

Hi Fied & Panicich,

Welcome to CiC - great to have you with us

[smithy]

Hi i'm new here just posting this to see if it works not found my wat round yet

[Colin Southern]

Hi i'm new here just posting this to see if it works not found my wat round yet

Hi Smithy,

Welcome to CiC - great to have you here

What do you shoot with?