The wife is an hobbyist/enthusiast photographer and I has a D40, I know she doesn't like pics with the flash and without she usually has blurry pics. As a christmas gift I was thinking monopod or better flash and bracket setup. which would you rather get and/or whats the best bang for the buck?
Quote from: dmanben on December 15, 2008, 11:33:16 AM
The wife is an hobbyist/enthusiast photographer and I has a D40, I know she doesn't like pics with the flash and without she usually has blurry pics. As a christmas gift I was thinking monopod or better flash and bracket setup. which would you rather get and/or whats the best bang for the buck?
What she really needs is a faster lens equipped with vibration reduction! ;) Unfortunately, that's an expensive upgrade.
What sort of photography does your wife prefer: landscape/stills or action? If she likes landscape settings, you should get her a sturdy tripod. If she prefers action shots (sporting events, bird watching), the monopod will work well.
Why doesn't your wife like flash? Many photographers don't like to use flash because it has limited application: portraits, outdoor fill flash, etc. Flash is most useful when you won't annoy your subject with flash bulbs going off. If your wife feels that flash is in appropriate in the settings she likes to photograph, a better flash won't be of much use.
p.s. I'm not a pro photographer... just another amateur hobbyist.
I know everyones answer is usually "get a better camera" but it was a combo "best we could afford/as much as an amauter needs" deal. Her complaints about flash are usually washout, redeye, loss of background. Thought maybe a bounce flash with an arm that sets it farther from the angle of the lens would help reduce some of that. She did a friends wedding this month and was just pretty aggrevated with the lighting options, too dark for without but the usual problems as above with the flash.
I'm not stuck with just those options. If there's a better lens or so forth let me know what would work best. Remember she's the photog I'm just buying her a xmas gift.
I'm extremely anti flash unless I'm in the studio. I say figure out what sort of reach she needs with her lenses, and buy her a fast prime lens. Don't have much experience with Nikon, I'm a canon guy, but my buddy w/ a D40 uses a few manual focusing prime lens (non-zooming) and they are wonderful in low light. There's a focus assist light for manual focusing (lights up when you're in focus) so manual focusing lenses is still plenty useful. You want something w/ F stop at lease 2.8, 1.8 or 1.4 would be even better.
if she uses the "shutter priority" setting she can weight the exposure to the shutter speed (good rule of thumb is shutter speed should be equivalent to focal lenght: i.e. 200mm lens should have a shutter speed of around 1/200sec -however if subject matter is moving, speed will have to be ramped up more). also a straight "side on" shot will require a faster shutter speed than subject moving toward/away at an angle. another approach would be to "pan" the shot, resulting in a blurred background, but a sharp central subject matter.
what ISO setting does she use? she may be able to bump the iso up to yeild a faster shutter speed.
Thanks for the help but this is all greek to me, actually since I kow a little greek (That's him in the corner) maybe chinese.
But getting back to the idea of xmas gift? Ideas?
Vibration reduction lenses are expensive however depending on the lens has already you can do the following.
1. get a VR lens (even without the F/2.8 - which is ideal but highly pricey.
2. Get a flash bounce (for either external/internal on board). people dont like flash because its too harsh, however with a bounce you get better results. I am a canon user and I have an external flash with a Stofen bounce and a home made directional bounce.
Links:
www.photozone.de (for reviews of lenses)
www.fredmiranda.com (for deals and other photography stuff)
Many years ago when 6cm x 6cm rollfilm was the order of the day I was a pro photographer and still maintain an ongoing interest. I avoid flash wherever possible and it is often prohibited in galleries and ancient buildings etc where i tend to take a lot of pics these days. I have gone for the vibration reduction option but the D40 is a good workhorse camera with a lot going for it, I think a monopod would make a great addition to her kit or I sometimes use a mini-pod, only because I can put it in a pocket.
+1 for the monopod, and a bounce flash.
i have a d40 also, and have found the best effects happen with a nice stabile mount when the light is not cooperating.
the d40's flash is harsh, i'll agree completely there. it's longish reaching also, compared to point-n-shoot cameras.
funny how a really nice d-slr takes care of everything except the lighting, huh ? :)
i'm only an amateur myself, but loving every chance i get to shoot !
this is stitch, but the amount of light you can capture with a good tripod and slower speeds is really neat !
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/3039160109_3d633ff6f6_b.jpg)
I may want to get a monopod then.. but then all my lenses are VR (except for 1 the 50mm f1.8). You could get the 50mm f1.8 for the Nikon, its a great portrait lens and much better built than the canon nifty fifty.
What I own/use:
Canon 40D with EFs 18-55 IS, EF 28-135 IS, EF 70-300 IS, EF 50mm f1.8, EX430II flash, Bounces, Tripod
My favorite walk around lens is the 28-135 (though it misses out on the wide) but for portraits and sharpness I love the 50mm.
Quote from: TheGoodGuy on December 16, 2008, 06:46:53 PM
I may want to get a monopod then.. but then all my lenses are VR (except for 1 the 50mm f1.8). You could get the 50mm f1.8 for the Nikon, its a great portrait lens and much better built than the canon nifty fifty.
What I own/use:
Canon 40D with EFs 18-55 IS, EF 28-135 IS, EF 70-300 IS, EF 50mm f1.8, EX430II flash, Bounces, Tripod
My favorite walk around lens is the 28-135 (though it misses out on the wide) but for portraits and sharpness I love the 50mm.
there was a 18-100 on craigslist (or similar, i don't recall the exact) and it was sold in an hour. :( very nice range with one of those.
the 18-whatever is definitely what i want, a little zoom is always fun, but rarely needed for what we do. :)