Advice for almost zero knowledge on camera/photography dude (me)

[rhino123]

I havnt start learning any post processing yet... Don't even hv a photoshop software yet
get photoshop to reduce bbb effect lol. Tilt shift lens sounds expensive~

Get the GIMP. It is free, just download it online... heard that it had around 80% of what photoshop had. I had been using GIMP for awhile now... but is really bad at post processing, I lack the patient to do it properly.

 

[Halfgeek]

Hi rhino bro and sky strike bro, hp network getting laggy can't qoute reply.

Ya I got a lil confused. Now I know wide angle lens and f aperture size is different. And only a fix focal length is a prime those vary ones are zoom. Thanks will keep for 2nd time reading to further digest thanks

 

[Halfgeek]

And hope you don't catch the BBB so soon (but sure sounds like you already caught it...) Just a piece of advice, "Don't be too eager to upgrade your gear by blaming your gear. Use your existing. Limitations? work around it." I'm now stuck with great lens with noob photos...

Ya, it's mainly the user not the equipment usually. My photos are like that because of my skills, my gear has high capabilities and potential, the question is if I can reach that max level of it's capabilities will be using my kit lens for a long time. I hvnt reach my kit lens max capabilities yet so no point doing a upgrade on lens. More practical to upgrade myself instead haha. Currently My gear is not a liability to me, I'm a liability to my gear!

As for tripod, will get next month.

Get the GIMP. It is free, just download it online... heard that it had around 80% of what photoshop had. I had been using GIMP for awhile now... but is really bad at post processing, I lack the patient to do it properly.

Ok will check it out thanks!

 

[HighTone]

You can fix it in post processing, provided you don't over-do the tilting.

Next solution is to get a tilt-shift lens.

Anyway, tilting the lens upwards will induce the keystone effect.

Agree on tilting downwards, you should try to level as much as possible to avoid distortion, learn photoshop lens correction, will help u to straighten more.

As for tilt shift, you need bright light to do tilt shift, I'm a fan of tilt shift technology too but having a tilt shift lens cost a bomb, so again photoshop does magic or some cameras can do that with the miniature effect.

 

[HighTone]

Don't worry about closing your aperture more and have a longer shutter speed when you are using tripod. To ensure that your tripod is more stable, pile some sand bags to the leg... and you can try duct taping the head to make it more stable. Since you are taking night scenery or landscape, there is no fear for the landscape to run away, so you can take as much time as you want in preparation for the shot. Use a remote control for long exposure shot to prevent or minimise any contact with your NEX 5N because even when pressing the shutter button can cause some slight shivering of the camera that will cause blur shot. if you do not have a remote control, use timer (set to 2sec) so you can completely remove your hand from your camera when taking the shot.

IMHO, 1st and foremost.... Get a gooooood tripod, best get a carbon tripod which can last you for life if possible.

Then aperture set between f11 - f16 for landscape will be ideal. Any smaller than that will somehow get some kind of fuzzy image, or I feel it not sharp.

If possible, set mirror up then shoot. Will help to minimize slightest bit of shake.

Use a spirit leveler to eliminate any tilting.

 

[HighTone]

I think I shouldn't complain about my tripod. As a newbie I think I just hv to make do with my "trijelly". If I can master decent shots with it a better tripod would make my shoot easier. Besides this month quite budget. Will get next month near Xmas. Budget I think not more than 250. I very noob about tripod don't know what brand, what ball head thing

This location is at bukit batok, near MRT and west mall. There's a tall condo and beside the condo there's a tall 30 storey building. Took picture from the stairways. And ya! It abit tilted

For $250, you can get quite a good range of tripod already, then again, I would rather you endure abit, save up to get a carbon rather than aluminum tripod. Get 1 which can last rather than getting a aluminum then few months or 1 year down the road you upgrade to better ones. Just my opinion.

 

[Halfgeek]

For $250, you can get quite a good range of tripod already, then again, I would rather you endure abit, save up to get a carbon rather than aluminum tripod. Get 1 which can last rather than getting a aluminum then few months or 1 year down the road you upgrade to better ones. Just my opinion.

Hi thank you for your inputs, greatly appreciate it. how much is a carbon fibre tripod? Any brands recommendation that has good reputation of making solid tripods?

 

[rhino123]

IMHO, 1st and foremost.... Get a gooooood tripod, best get a carbon tripod which can last you for life if possible.

Then aperture set between f11 - f16 for landscape will be ideal. Any smaller than that will somehow get some kind of fuzzy image, or I feel it not sharp.

If possible, set mirror up then shoot. Will help to minimize slightest bit of shake.

Use a spirit leveler to eliminate any tilting.

Bro. TS have a mirrorless camera, there is no mirror to set up.

 

[rhino123]

Hi thank you for your inputs, greatly appreciate it. how much is a carbon fibre tripod? Any brands recommendation that has good reputation of making solid tripods?

Carbon Fibre tripod can cost somewhere around S$2xx to S$3xx for a basic type. Check out Sirui tripods from TKfoto, I have the aluminium tripod though (I am a cheapskate). For better tripods, look to Gitzo and Manfrotto... Gitzo's tripod cost around S$7xx though... and some break the S$1k mark.

Actually tripod is just half the story... another half is the tripod head. Even if you have a good tripod but a cheapo and lousy tripod head, it still amount to zero, because tripod head is the main thing that was in connection to your camera.

There are a couple of different tripod head you can look into, such as ballhead, panhead, gimbal, tilt head, gimbal, etc.

My suggestion is look to ballhead and panhead and forget the rest (they are more for specialise usage such as for mounting of heavy lens - birding, wildlife etc, and some is for 2 axis movement only)

Ballhead is the most flexible tripodhead (in my opinion) as compared to panhead though. You can look to Sirui, Manfrotto, Gitzo (the most expensive in the lot), Benro, etc for the tripodhead. Of course panhead is also good in certain way, it is excellent for panning and in my opinion for landscape too.

 

[HighTone]

Bro. TS have a mirrorless camera, there is no mirror to set up.

Oops, my bad. Sorry abt that.

Then it's better, no mirror flipping to shake yr camera. Haha.

 

[HighTone]

Carbon Fibre tripod can cost somewhere around S$2xx to S$3xx for a basic type. Check out Sirui tripods from TKfoto, I have the aluminium tripod though (I am a cheapskate). For better tripods, look to Gitzo and Manfrotto... Gitzo's tripod cost around S$7xx though... and some break the S$1k mark.

Agree with bro rhino123, a good affordable carbon tripod is benro, i'm having a fotopro C5 carbon, cheaper still but strong enough.

 

[alancwr]

i dun know if sirui can fit TS camera,
but sirui is really a good bang for buck tripod..

loving it since the day i got it...i

 

[Halfgeek]

Hey thanks everybody for advice and recommendation, I will do my bit to research more about the various type of tripods and head types. Just wanna ask if there'll be a sale during Xmas on tripods? And which place is recommended to buy tripods with wide range of brands/models?

 

[rhino123]

Hey thanks everybody for advice and recommendation, I will do my bit to research more about the various type of tripods and head types. Just wanna ask if there'll be a sale during Xmas on tripods? And which place is recommended to buy tripods with wide range of brands/models?

TK foto, Orient Photo, Cathay Photo and Benphoto.

 

[alancwr]

Hey thanks everybody for advice and recommendation, I will do my bit to research more about the various type of tripods and head types. Just wanna ask if there'll be a sale during Xmas on tripods? And which place is recommended to buy tripods with wide range of brands/models?

TK foto, Orient Photo, Cathay Photo and Benphoto.

tk foto have really a wide range of tripod plus their staff are pretty nice

 

[Halfgeek]

tk foto have really a wide range of tripod plus their staff are pretty nice

TK foto, Orient Photo, Cathay Photo and Benphoto.

Okays! thanks very much. I just joined one outing to little india this coming saturday haha

 

[luckyorange]

Okays! thanks very much. I just joined one outing to little india this coming saturday haha

have fun =), might bump into you haha as I might be going down too =) (but not with the outing)

 

[tecnica]

I have the sirui carbon fibre tripod r1204.

Light and sturdy, think I paid $340 for it plus k10-x ballhead.

Supports my 7D very well, usually with 10-22 for landscape.

 

[rhino123]

have fun =), might bump into you haha as I might be going down too =) (but not with the outing)

Okays! thanks very much. I just joined one outing to little india this coming saturday haha

I might see both of you too... I will be scouting around for the marathon road this saturday, then go and shoot some street. Have not make up my mind yet, if I wanted to go little india or not though. hahahahaha.

 

[luckyorange]

I might see both of you too... I will be scouting around for the marathon road this saturday, then go and shoot some street. Have not make up my mind yet, if I wanted to go little india or not though. hahahahaha.

oh what marathon? hmm, I still remember how you look like, but maybe you cant rem . haha so I might see you and you cant see me HAHA