Today!

[Camellia]

If you do not already have one you might want to consider a battery grip to balance that lens. Rebecca had a 70-210 on her 450D last night and without the battery grip it would have been a pain to handle.

Steve - urgent question

Would a battery grip help balance the 100-400mm L series lens on my 500D? I've brought the lens out today for the first time and I'm a bit scared of it.

Thanks

R

[Katy Noelle]

Steve - urgent question

Would a battery grip help balance the 100-400mm L series lens on my 500D? I've brought the lens out today for the first time and I'm a bit scared of it.

Thanks

R

You know, I'm feeling scared, too! I knew that it would be like this but it doesn't seem to make me not care. Now, that I have the new lens, things have shifted - in the last 48 hours, I've realized how many more technical things that I have to learn (still tired from the cold isn't helping, either.) Do y'all ever feel like you'll just never get it all together??? Never be disciplined enough?

However, like I've said, I knew that this would happen. This is how it was when I went from the point and shoot to the DSLR. I'm trying to give myself good advice like, "just wait till you feel better" and "inch by inch, anything's a cinch" but I'm a bit cranky at the moment and am telling myself to "shut up!"

Actually, Steve, I've, also, wanted this lens for landscape. I was really happy, yesterday, when I went outside. I could FINALLY fit my views and compositions into the frame. Also, I often want to bring the hills closer together. I hope that makes sense. The kit lens only went to 55mm and I was constantly finding that, for far off views, I wanted just a bit more. That's what I'm talking about when I ask if we should be, also, toting our tripods with us wherever we go. Around here, there's always a gorgeous vista!

Well, now that I've "spilled my guts"...

[Donald]

Do y'all ever feel like you'll just never get it all together???

Constantly!

Just looking at flashguns and realising how little I know about this 'other world' of photography.

[tameigh]

Wow. I really like the angel head.

http://champlainislandsfotoblog.wordpress.com/

[Colin Southern]

Would a battery grip help balance the 100-400mm L series lens on my 500D? I've brought the lens out today for the first time and I'm a bit scared of it.

Yes, but with the bigger lenses like the 100-400 and 70-200/2.8L it's more a case of "mounting the camera on the lens" than it is "mounting the lens on the camera". THat may sound a little glib, but I'm not alltogether joking; you pretty much support the whole rig from your left hand or tripod, with the right hand just doing the "light work".

[Katy Noelle]

Wow. I really like the angel head.

http://champlainislandsfotoblog.wordpress.com/

Thanks, Tim! Hey, have I welcomed you to CiC, yet? There has been a flood of people from VT joining. I wonder how many there are. Anway, I took a look at your blog. You definitely have some snow and we don't but it was lovely to see your beautiful views of this familiar countryside!

Well, welcome to CIC!

[Wirefox]

Steve - urgent question

Would a battery grip help balance the 100-400mm L series lens on my 500D? I've brought the lens out today for the first time and I'm a bit scared of it.

Congrats on the new kit Raylee. You are going to have some fun over the next few weeks. There seem to be some very competitive prices around for that lens. Good choice for a long zoom. Colin has answered perfectly above. I found that there is little to grip on the 450D and as Colin says its is more a case of carrying the lens with the camera attached. The grip at least makes things more balanced You may also want to PM Donald. He is trying to suss out a tripod mounting system for his big white one.

Katy, have to run for work. I will take a look at your posts when I get back

[Wirefox]

Do y'all ever feel like you'll just never get it all together??? Never be disciplined enough?

Oh hell aye. I am going through a Elmer Fudd phase at the moment....but I know I will get dat wabbit in the end. Just rewind go back to what you are comfortable shooting and it will click. New equipment does not mean the game has suddenly stepped up a notch in fact just the opposite you will step a few paces back before proceeding again with a spring in your step and an aria on your lips. That lens is no different to your kit lens. All the same principles apply you just need to pay a little more attention to the 3rd dimension when shooting at large apertures.

Raylee hope you got my message and also got what you needed at lunchtime.

[Katy Noelle]

Oh hell aye. I am going through a Elmer Fudd phase at the moment....but I know I will get dat wabbit in the end. Just rewind go back to what you are comfortable shooting and it will click. New equipment does not mean the game has suddenly stepped up a notch in fact just the opposite you will step a few paces back before proceeding again with a spring in your step and an aria on your lips. That lens is no different to your kit lens. All the same principles apply you just need to pay a little more attention to the 3rd dimension when shooting at large apertures.

Thanks, Steve, for your encouragement - you're brilliant, you know, you really are!

I've been trying to get used to the new lens, unravel my strange perceptions (or lack of) about post processing and get going with that, all the while, I'm eyeing the new hard drive - not sure how this all really technically works (I just know that I like the color) and I have a knot in my stomach from it all! I don't care, though! I've been having growing pains since I joined CiC in September. I'm used to them. It's either this or avoid it all together (the issues, I mean.)

I wonder if it's a general malady that the photography community in general suffers from, in January, because of all the "pressies".

(Happily, that other thread has made me laugh so hard that, combined with your encouragement, I can think straight, again! - you must know what I mean...)

[Wirefox]

We cant allow our rising talents to decline into the dark void that is photographic depression you know. If we can save one tortured soul from the depths of the green box that is purgatory we can go home happy. Besides if you get too confused and disillusioned with your equipment we will lose you to POTN and that would never do. You realise that your threads attract more posts than almost any other member. I think we need to ask the Mods for a new category....'Aunty Katy's Agony Column'. It would attract more new members than any nude and glamour section.

[Katy Noelle]

We cant allow our rising talents to decline into the dark void that is photographic depression you know. If we can save one tortured soul from the depths of the green box that is purgatory we can go home happy. Besides if you get too confused and disillusioned with your equipment we will lose you to POTN and that would never do. You realise that your threads attract more posts than almost any other member. I think we need to ask the Mods for a new category....'Aunty Katy's Agony Column'. It would attract more new members than any nude and glamour section.

Oh, dear, Steve! I think I'm losing it! I can't tell if I'm laughing or crying hysterically! phew.

[Donald]

Oh, dear, Steve! I think I'm losing it! I can't tell if I'm laughing or crying hysterically! phew.

It's probably shock.

[Wirefox]

I can't tell if I'm laughing or crying hysterically!

Strange...that is word for word what WireVixen said on our wedding night

[Katy Noelle]

Speaking of things that I don't know.....er, what's the "3rd dimension" issue that you're all talking about. Maybe, now, is a good time to get a clue. Do you mean, somehow, making everything too "flat"?

[wilgk]

sorry Katy I'm coming a penny short and a day late - but it's been so hot, I've spent the last 2 days wallowing in the pool like a .....anyway image not required

using my limited photographers knowledge I would be no good at answering your question - but a quick way to think of this would be to make a comparison using my sonograoher/radiographer knowledge, add to that a healthy dose of cynicism....you'll see why soon.

just get yourself 2 images of baby ultrasounds, like they give the parents at the end of a scan....or look them up on google, get one from back when fashionista was a foetus and another from the present day and compare.

The latter will likely be a 3D image or one having depth rather than just 2 dimensional...
Now for the cynicism - does this added use of 3D actually assist in the detection of abnormalities or is it used as a marketing tool in the completely normal population to get parents to pay more to doctors for their scans.....? gee I wonder.

Sorry for turning your thread into this soapbox - and Steve should be back soon with a real answer from a real photographer soon

[Colin Southern]

does this added use of 3D actually assist in the detection of abnormalities or is it used as a marketing tool in the completely normal population to get parents to pay more to doctors for their scans.....? gee I wonder.

It beats me how anyone can figure out those things, 3D or otherwise!

[Wirefox]

Katy

My terminology was confusing. The third dimension refers to depth of field. I was trying to get over that compositionally we tend to work in 2 dimensions e.g. rule of thirds etc. Depth of field introduced by the use of large apertures adds a third dimension to the compositional elements. Where the focus is sharp, blurred or in transition suddenly become a a very important consideration in how we compose our image. If the area that is in focus is in the wrong place or perhaps more importantly if the out of focus or transitional areas of the image are in the wrong place the photograph looks all wrong. This is more noticeable close up where both the foreground and the background can be out of focus. The transitional areas can omit details we should have shown or can reveal more detail than is good for the overall effect of the image.

This is a complex mix because the variables include focal length, distance from object and aperture setting. The depth of field preview button can help but is of limited value since it darkens the image in an already small view finder. It is often best to take several shots of the subject varying the distance to subject and angle of view. This is made easier with a prime since with a zoom you also might want to introduce focal length into the mix.

A very simple example is shown below. The image looks OK compositionally but try to imagine if the field of focus were further back, say in the middle of the frame. It would look all wrong since the blur at the front and the back would confuse the eye. Add multiple transitional areas into the mix and you would have a very poor composition

[Katy Noelle]

Thanks for the explanation, Steve! I've been working on "how much depth of field" to use, since Octoberish, from comments that others had made but haven't really spoken a whole lot about it. I'm relieved it's mostly nothing new except for terminology BUT with the new lens, it, still, does feel a bit new (if that makes any sense.) Also, this fits in with what Dave said about hyperfocal distance which, although I read the tutorial, ages ago, I had completely forgotten. I've been just naturally wondering about it and that circle of confusion, as I've been taking photos, though. I had a dream last night about Wendy's "Predicting Bokeh" thread and felt another thread with a question similar to that one, regarding this issue, coming on. Later, though! I'm going back to bed, where, I might dream up the answer, too. (I'm only up because of insistent puppies and need tired and dragging smilie so that i can fully express myself. Here, change this one from "eek" to "YAWN!" )

[Colin Southern]

I've been just naturally wondering about it and that circle of confusion

I think an alternative definition of "circle of confusion" is "a group of photographers in a circle discussing depth of field"!

[Wirefox]

For gods sake put us out of our misery Colin. You have the ability to explain these things with far more clarity than we can