I Finally Went SLR - Ducati.ms

DUCeditor · Dec 13th, 2010, 8:32 am

Early on in this forum I told a bit about my personal history of running a specialized imaging service for some 30 or so years and how, although I had successfully made the changeover to digital in the workplace I had decided to stick with just a good pocket camera for my own use.

Image quality-wise I must say my Canon Elph really did the job but a few months back a family member asked me for imaging lessons. Alas, handling her Nikon SLR re-lit the fire and I knew I'd have to get an SLR system myself.

My first impulse was to stay with Nikon if only because I had a large collection of fine pre-auto focus lenses in that system. But upon learning that most of the newer Nikon bodies will not mate at all to the old lenses and those that will do so with only limited capability I decided to think it all through afresh.

To cut to the chase I finally, after some research, settled on buying into the Canon small sensor system including a T2i body, a 18-55 zoom, a 55-250 zoom and a 60mm Macro. In the future I will add the 10-22 zoom,

I am just getting to know the system but must say I am in all respects so far very pleased.

Test shots aside here is my first image with the new system...

More to come!

-don

**scott** · Dec 13th, 2010, 11:06 am

Great minds think alike, I just purchased a T2i last week. Mine will spend most of it's time housed in a Nauticam underwater case for our scuba diving adventures. I use a 5D for my above H20 shooting.

DUCeditor · Dec 13th, 2010, 11:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott

I just purchased a T2i last week. Mine will spend most of it's time housed in a Nauticam underwater case for our scuba diving adventures.

I can see the T2i being a great choice for underwater use. Its ability to automatically utalize the entire available contrast range could be a boon!

Will you use auto white level? That is what I did/do with my encased Elph such as in this snorkeling shot taken in the Bahamas. Frankly I was surprised at how well it rendered the colors doing that.

Greater depth of course increases the color balance challenge.

-don

Bill_Anderson · Dec 13th, 2010, 12:47 pm

Welcome back to the world of SLR. I must warn you, beware of the slippery slope of continuing to upgrade your camera bodies and lenses. Guess how I know?

After your initial investment in equipment, you will be amazed at how much fun you can have for very little expense. I have taken as many as 1,500 photos a day and kept the best 100. You cannot do that with film.

DUCeditor · Dec 13th, 2010, 6:15 pm

Bill, You are speaking to a guy with three Nikon F3s with over a half dozen Nikkor lenses and several finders, three Pentax 6x7 bodies with numerous SMC lenses and finders, plus a Rollieflex with sheet film back, Minolta mini 16, etc., etc. etc.

I used to gobble film (processed it myself, b/w and E6 color) like it was candy - especially when on vacation. Now compare: I just bought two 8 gig Series 10 cards for $12 a piece. How many rolls of film is that even if they were not reusable?

Nah! This is cheap.

Well, everything but that 10-22 zoom. That's $700+. It'll have to wait a while. (but I bet it'll become my main lens once I have it!)

-don

**desmoworks** · Dec 13th, 2010, 6:58 pm

I recently got a 7D (as I wanted it for HD video mostly), but the images it takes are quite nice as well. Canon makes a good product.

Bill_Anderson · Dec 14th, 2010, 3:57 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by DUCeditor

Well, everything but that 10-22 zoom. That's $700+. It'll have to wait a while. (but I bet it'll become my main lens once I have it!)

-don

Check my new thread on photo arsenals. You may find that a zoom in the 18-135 range will make for a better main lens, or what my friends and I call a "walk-around" lens.

Bill_Anderson · Dec 14th, 2010, 3:58 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by desmoworks

I recently got a 7D (as I wanted it for HD video mostly), but the images it takes are quite nice as well. Canon makes a good product.

Check my eagle and bird photos thread. Those shots were all taken with a 7D and Canon's 100-400 zoom.

DUCeditor · Dec 14th, 2010, 5:16 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill_Anderson

Check my new thread on photo arsenals. You may find that a zoom in the 18-135 range will make for a better main lens, or what my friends and I call a "walk-around" lens.

Thanks for the suggestion Bill, I already have an 18-55 and a 55-250. In 35mm terms that gives me a field of view equivalent of 29mm to about 400mm. Or, put another way, moderate wide angle to fairly strong tele.

My shooting style, however, favors shorter focal lengths. My most used nikkor (outside of the studio) was a 24mm 2.8. The 18-55 will cover that and indeed provide a yet wider, but still rectilinear, field of view plus enormous depth of field. Just the stuff I like! It also has a sterling reputation for edge to edge sharpness and little vignetting. Too, it uses a quick ultrasonic focusing motor which means it can be manually focused without the trouble of decoupling the focusing ring from the motor - something that is required on both my present zooms (although not the 60mm macro).

-don