First 50mm lens shots - any advice/C&C?

shaolin101 · 04-01-2008, 10:59 AM

Hi All,

These are a few of the first shots taken with the 50mm f1.8 on my D80 - just after any thoughts on them, advice for better shots next time - all in all though I am enjoying this lens although having some trouble getting a good sharpness - but that is likely my technique! And of course some grainyness due to the old 'i forgot to check the iso before shooting' chestnut...

Just snapshots of the kids and tradtitional type christmas pics

ps - i think the santa photo on the tree may have a had a close up filter on but i cant remember!

many thanks

theo cupier · 04-01-2008, 11:20 AM

They all look really nice (sorry if I'm being too technical!), my kids have a tendency to over-pose when they know a camera is on...

I'm sure this is a dumb question, but how bright is it in your house? Compared to the indoor shots I took with my D80 and the 18-135 kit lens, you might as well be living on the surface of the sun (or me in a cave)!

I got my D80 a couple of days ago and wandered into the living room to take photos of the family, just to try it out. All my shots looked underexposed.

Is that going to be down to the difference between your f1.8 lens and my f3.5-5.6, or do you have lots of extra flash working there (I'm only using the built-in flash), or is your house very bright (mine is apparently full of dingy rooms)? Have you done lots of PP on these?

Or is my problem behind the viewfinder/between keyboard and chair?

I'll try and upload one of my shots later so you can see what I mean...

U'R'ss · 04-01-2008, 11:22 AM

Just a little hint. chopping heads is never good

shaolin101 · 04-01-2008, 12:19 PM

Thanks - I dont mind the chopping heads sometimes, but it was a practice run and i realise the limitations of a fixed lens now - if something is behind me I cant zoom back - its just tough luck!

the cupier; My house is quite dimly lit - energy saving bulbs are not too bright! Some where at iso1600 so that may have brightened them somewhat - but yes I can notice that the 1.8 is much brighter and can get a quicker shutter speed than my 18-135 in dim light. An example was when i took a pic of the tree with the hous lights off and fairy lights on - the 1.8 managed to let me get it hand held when the 18-135 would have needed a longer shutter speed.

They probably have some pp - just levels and curves to brighten and increase contrast - nothing that changes white balance etc as i dont know how to do it! Hence some of my shots look a bit yellow at times.

Its quite a learning curve but a ver fun lens!

dazza74 · 04-01-2008, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaolin101

Thanks - I dont mind the chopping heads sometimes, but it was a practice run and i realise the limitations of a fixed lens now - if something is behind me I cant zoom back - its just tough luck!

the cupier; My house is quite dimly lit - energy saving bulbs are not too bright! Some where at iso1600 so that may have brightened them somewhat - but yes I can notice that the 1.8 is much brighter and can get a quicker shutter speed than my 18-135 in dim light. An example was when i took a pic of the tree with the hous lights off and fairy lights on - the 1.8 managed to let me get it hand held when the 18-135 would have needed a longer shutter speed.

They probably have some pp - just levels and curves to brighten and increase contrast - nothing that changes white balance etc as i dont know how to do it! Hence some of my shots look a bit yellow at times.

Its quite a learning curve but a ver fun lens!

I've found that "ISO Auto" function on the D80 quite useful, you can set a limit on it as well (I'd probably not try to venture beyond about 800 if possible keeps the noise down) and the camera supposedly sets the right ISO level for the picture your taking.

theo cupier · 04-01-2008, 1:19 PM

Thanks guys.

I've got ISO Auto on, but I'm trying to play with Shutter priority program mode a bit at the moment, because that's what I'm most familiar (least unfamiliar, anyway) with from my Canon AE-1 days. I'm either using that or some of the specific scene modes: sports (for birds/squirrels in the garden) and macro for some closeups. May go back to trying some portrait stuff again later, but there are so many variables to try and juggle at the moment.

shaolin101 · 04-01-2008, 4:56 PM

funny enough i thought i had auto iso on - will have to have another look. Probably 'fiddled around' and changed it back and left it!

Liquid101 · 04-01-2008, 5:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by U'R'ss

Just a little hint. chopping heads is never good

Completely disagree with this. Afterall, David Baliey made a career from it. Rules are there to be broken, otherwise we'd all end up with very dull photographs.

Apart from the 4th one which doesn't connect me with the subject, I think they are well exposed and framed. You made nice creative use of the limited depth of field, and the other portraits are relaxed and have some personality to them.

My only negative would be that the colour looks slightly over saturated. Have you adjusted this afterwards?

stevegreen · 04-01-2008, 5:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by U'R'ss

Just a little hint. chopping heads is never good

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liquid101

Completrely disagree with this.

I agree with your disagreement

Radiohead · 04-01-2008, 5:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by U'R'ss

Just a little hint. chopping heads is never good

In a word, rubbish.

PoisonJam · 04-01-2008, 7:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theo cupier

my kids have a tendency to over-pose when they know a camera is on...

How often do you use the camera around them? I find if you're using it constantly they just get used to it and the novelty wears off. They'll get bored of posing soon enough, especially if you're either constantly snapping or looking through the viewfinder at them but not actually shooting most of the time.