A500/550 Users .... Come in!!!

[tobiewee]

ermmm... nice playground shot, the lights flare are abit distracting as well as the background. In the end, ask yourself what do you want the viewer to focus on ?

Did you purchased the A390 lens kit ? ...if you can still purchase the DT 50mm 1.8 SAM prime lens together with your DSLR receipt, I strongely urge you to do so !

Yup. Bought it with the lens kit. =D
Might consider investing in the 50mm as you suggested. However, I doubt I'll be able to find the 50mm f1.8 SAM at AudioHouse from which I bought it, at the Expo...

Lens seems pretty good... Might consider getting it when I enter and get my allowance from NS... xD

I'm currently more into taking macro, on plants and flowers... although the occasional family shoots. Maybe some advise on lens choice would be good.

 

[Galdor]

Yup. Bought it with the lens kit. =D
Might consider investing in the 50mm as you suggested. However, I doubt I'll be able to find the 50mm f1.8 SAM at AudioHouse from which I bought it, at the Expo...

Lens seems pretty good... Might consider getting it when I enter and get my allowance from NS... xD

I'm currently more into taking macro, on plants and flowers... although the occasional family shoots. Maybe some advise on lens choice would be good.

The Sony 30/50mm Macro is good for flower/plant/product. For insects, the 100mm would be better. For cheaper options, you look at Sigma 70/105mm or Tamron 90mm.

 

[tobiewee]

The Sony 30/50mm Macro is good for flower/plant/product. For insects, the 100mm would be better. For cheaper options, you look at Sigma 70/105mm or Tamron 90mm.

Thanks Galdor. Will have a look at those lenses.

 

[stanycjw]

Yup. Bought it with the lens kit. =D
Might consider investing in the 50mm as you suggested. However, I doubt I'll be able to find the 50mm f1.8 SAM at AudioHouse from which I bought it, at the Expo...

Lens seems pretty good... Might consider getting it when I enter and get my allowance from NS... xD

I'm currently more into taking macro, on plants and flowers... although the occasional family shoots. Maybe some advise on lens choice would be good.

If you have a Canon 550D, I suggest you get the canon 100mm IS USM lens for Marco as I have this len and it a hidden "L". you may see my FLICKR on flower took with this lens.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanycjw2008/3727519067/meta/in/set-72157616982745992/

 

[Ghostfit]

Yup. Bought it with the lens kit. =D
Might consider investing in the 50mm as you suggested. However, I doubt I'll be able to find the 50mm f1.8 SAM at AudioHouse from which I bought it, at the Expo...

Lens seems pretty good... Might consider getting it when I enter and get my allowance from NS... xD

I'm currently more into taking macro, on plants and flowers... although the occasional family shoots. Maybe some advise on lens choice would be good.

Last April, Sony started a promotion where you are entitled to $100 off any Sony lens when you purchase an Alpha body or kit. I got my A500 around mid June and paid $119 (retail $219) for the 50/1.8 ...I guess there's no harm asking AudioHouse or maybe even Sony Centres since you still got the receipts to show it's not even 2 weeks old.

The standard 18-55mm kit lens is quite good, served me well during the recent SGF2010 shoot (Singapore Flower Garden 2010) pics here: http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=732873 Comments welcome (I'm a beginner too!) :embrass:

I think I'll stick to flowers and plants, ...got myself a raynox 250 macro and spent a whole day chasing butterflies, dragonflies and houseflies ! darn insects flew away before my lens could even smell 1/10 the focusing distance required (100mm to 90mm).
Managed to find a few stupid spiders that won't 'fly' away but they kept jumping onto my camera and leaving behind their web trails on my 'unprotected' raynox lens ...stupid spiders!
Shooting Ants is no joy either, especially if you find you've been squating on top of their nest while you were setting up your camera.

sigh ! ...I think macro photography is overrated ! :cry:

 

[tobiewee]

If you have a Canon 550D, I suggest you get the canon 100mm IS USM lens for Marco as I have this len and it a hidden "L". you may see my FLICKR on flower took with this lens.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanycjw2008/3727519067/meta/in/set-72157616982745992/

Nice. =D 550D is being used by my bro... although sometimes I do take it for shoots. Thanks for the suggestion.

Last April, Sony started a promotion where you are entitled to $100 off any Sony lens when you purchase an Alpha body or kit. I got my A500 around mid June and paid $119 (retail $219) for the 50/1.8 ...I guess there's no harm asking AudioHouse or maybe even Sony Centres since you still got the receipts to show it's not even 2 weeks old.

The standard 18-55mm kit lens is quite good, served me well during the recent SGF2010 shoot (Singapore Flower Garden 2010) pics here: http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=732873 Comments welcome (I'm a beginner too!) :embrass:

I think I'll stick to flowers and plants, ...got myself a raynox 250 macro and spent a whole day chasing butterflies, dragonflies and houseflies ! darn insects flew away before my lens could even smell 1/10 the focusing distance required (100mm to 90mm).
Managed to find a few stupid spiders that won't 'fly' away but they kept jumping onto my camera and leaving behind their web trails on my 'unprotected' raynox lens ...stupid spiders!
Shooting Ants is no joy either, especially if you find you've been squating on top of their nest while you were setting up your camera.

sigh ! ...I think macro photography is overrated ! :cry:

Haha... For me... I think macro shots will mostly be on plants or maybe water droplets. Insects are just so hard to find and they probably won't keep still for you...
I got lucky once where this dragonfly just stayed still on the leaf... images were a crop off the 18MP the 550D captured...

http://tobiewee.deviantart.com/art/Red-Dragonfly-Wings-168599103
http://tobiewee.deviantart.com/art/Red-Dragonfly-168598593

Raynox seems cool. Maybe can use that on the 50mm f1.8 if I get one? But to what I am hearing, a dedicated macro lens is always better right?

 

[Ghostfit]

Nice dragon picts ! :thumbsup:

I dun really recommend the Raynox, you need to get much too close to the subject! A dedicated Macro lens would be great but expensive.

I'm considering the tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DI LD Macro ...seems cheap and good ! :think:

 

[tobiewee]

Nice dragon picts ! :thumbsup:

I dun really recommend the Raynox, you need to get much too close to the subject! A dedicated Macro lens would be great but expensive.

I'm considering the tamron 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DI LD Macro ...seems cheap and good ! :think:

Thanks!
I guess I better start saving for a dedicated macro lens too then... =D

 

[Galdor]

Thanks!
I guess I better start saving for a dedicated macro lens too then... =D

Bro, since you have used both the Canon and Sony, care to share what you like and don't like about each system?

 

[tobiewee]

Bro, since you have used both the Canon and Sony, care to share what you like and don't like about each system?

Things I like about Sony A390:
-Quick AF
-Tiltable Screen
-The choice of MSPD or SDHC
-Fast Live View Capture

Things I like About Canon 550D:
-Better Screen Resolution
-Kit Lens' Zoom is much Smoother
-Image Processing Seems to be faster in low light conditions (e.g. Night Shot on tripod)

Holding the camera wise, I think both are pretty nice to hold, the Sony being a tad bigger.
Sony's LV mode makes capturing images much faster, however, the live view preview is a little lower quality as compared to the image taken (not sure about other cams...as I've been using Sony more). Besides that, I feel that the 550D is much more friendlier when it comes to adjusting the settings compared to the A390, in the sense that it gives you much easier access to more settings.

Other than the above mentioned, I am starting to feel that there is a certain truth to what Galdor's Signature says. I feel that good photos doesn't depend on the camera, as the camera is only a tool for you to adjust settings and make the shot. It all boils down to the photographer who is taking the photos, how he chooses the settings and composes the shots, and how much experience he has to allow him to choose the right settings for the right situation.

Thus, I can only say, practice is the key to good photos. Not the camera.

 

[Ghostfit]

hmm, I dun think a sub $1K DSLR should be compared to a $1,600 DSLR :think:

Nevertheless, I totally agree with you on Galdor's Signature :thumbsup:

Lately, I've been playing around alot with my 7 year old, 2mp, PnS Lumix. I found that I'm forced to 'think' and find 'work-arounds' for the limitations of this camera, but when everythings right, I get impressive results.

Hope my DSLR doesn't makes me 'lazy' :bsmilie:

 

[Hunterhelm]

hi everyone! i'm currently using A550 and am into macro photography.. was wondering if any of you guys are using Sunpak 4000AF flashgun? will it work? i have one copy and am not sure if it's suitable for use with sony dslr as it's actually for my old film minolta camera. :think:

 

[Galdor]

hi everyone! i'm currently using A550 and am into macro photography.. was wondering if any of you guys are using Sunpak 4000AF flashgun? will it work? i have one copy and am not sure if it's suitable for use with sony dslr as it's actually for my old film minolta camera. :think:

Hello...welcome.

For the flash, it should be able to work if you can mount it on your cam but it will always fire at full power or you can set it in manual control.

 

[tobiewee]

Haha. Well... forgot to add that the Canon 550D's viewfinder is larger and more confortable to use than the A390... =D

About comparing a sub 1k DSLR and a DSLR that costs more than 1k... Maybe, the features are more on the higher priced one, but fundamentally, I'm sure, a DSLR has to have some basic things to be called a DSLR, and these basic things are what we can practice on to become better photographers.

 

[Hunterhelm]

Hello...welcome.

For the flash, it should be able to work if you can mount it on your cam but it will always fire at full power or you can set it in manual control.

Thanks for your reply! guess I'll need to either buy a diffuser or get a new flash then..

 

[Ouverture]

Haha. Well... forgot to add that the Canon 550D's viewfinder is larger and more confortable to use than the A390... =D

About comparing a sub 1k DSLR and a DSLR that costs more than 1k... Maybe, the features are more on the higher priced one, but fundamentally, I'm sure, a DSLR has to have some basic things to be called a DSLR, and these basic things are what we can practice on to become better photographers.

Yes, Agreed. I have owned the 550D for a brief period and it's OVF is bigger than even A500/550.

But Sony's Eye-start AF and bigger focus point kinda makes up for the smaller OVF.

However, I still prefer the Quick LV and body IS which let me takes photos easier and can still enjoy anti-shake using prime lenses!

 

[maxwell207]

Eye sensor Auto Lcd dim , is it only on Sony? .... yesterday i tried Nikon D90 at roadshow i dont see that feature ..

 

[alphabeta93]

yes i love the eye start auto focus on the Sony. i sometimes use my friend's Canon and find it an incredible hassle to half press the shutter everytime i need it to focus. +1 for Sony!
and yes the Nikon D90 does not have a eye sensor that turns off the LCD screen but weirdly enough the D60 has it.
case about the viewfinder size: i find my A500 one abit lacking in size. D90 has a large viewfinder compared to A500/550

 

[tobiewee]

Yes, Agreed. I have owned the 550D for a brief period and it's OVF is bigger than even A500/550.

But Sony's Eye-start AF and bigger focus point kinda makes up for the smaller OVF.

However, I still prefer the Quick LV and body IS which let me takes photos easier and can still enjoy anti-shake using prime lenses!

Haha... kinda agree... Was amazed at the autofocus starting when I brought my eye up to the viewfinder without even half pressing the shutter. My friends tried it, and they were like... "Eh! How come got the autofocus is focusing without pressing anything?"

So I thought that was a kinda cool feature.

Body IS is awesome when it comes to buying lenses. You do not have to pay for IS everytime! =D

On another note, I don't seem to see any a390 threads around ya? Maybe I am not finding hard enough, or maybe lately, I'm too busy so I just enter via usercp... ;p

 

[djugashvili]

After accesssing my SD card via Macbook, my Sony A500 could not access the card and kept prompting the error "no card" even after reformatting the card.

I was able to access the same SD card via my Windows based PC and my Samsung NV9. Have formatted it via NV9 and Windows-based PC, but "no card" error on Sony A500 still persists.

What could be wrong? Anyone knows how to rectify this error?