New Camera... test photos....

[summoner12]

This weekend I picked up my first DSLR.... My first SLR (and only up until now) was an EOS 3. all my photos on the forum are either from my camera phone or POS PAS camera (AKA Piece Of Sh** Point And Shoot).


This camera came from a pro photographer who had this camera body as a soul back up cam.... Only shot less than 100 photos on the camera. It is in like new condition and I am stoked about it!

I have a 28-135mm canon EF lens with IS and USM, a 550EX flash, quantum turbo battery, vertical grip/motor drive for the EOS 3 and a tamrac bag..... The new camera is a 50D... It came with a vertical grip, AC wall power pack with euro power connectors, four batteries total, a car/wall charger, the normal canon charger, a quantum battery cable and a AA battery holder.

Here is the pretty girl.... (yes, the lens is a mess... it's old and a friend used it and broke the filter..... it has miles....)

I ran some test shots... a couple have been recropped but none have had any post shoot editing...

These last three pics are of SS4luck's cham. I am cham sitting three of his chams. The bugger was pretty fast to get his food.... so I didn't have time to set up the shot... I placed the worm and he charged through the cage at it like he hasn't eaten in days LOL. I love young veileds... so feisty

 

[sallyb]

Congrats, brilliant pictures ! Wish I had a camera like that

 

[DGray]

nice camera, good pictures

Nice camera; you can do great things with a 50D! I'm a Canon guy, and really appreciate their technology.

Good pictures of your guys and your boarders. Have fun.

Let me know if you want pointers.

 

[laurie]

Those are some great photos. The 3 shots of the veiled & worm are way beyond anything I can ever do!!! I has always enjoyed your photo, now I will enyou even more so.


Just so you understand my skill level you described it well, all my photos on the forum are from POS PAS camera (AKA Piece Of Sh** Point And Shoot).
I am still learning to use my new cannon power shot.

 

[ijmccollum]

WOW! That is impressive. I expect we will be seeing some great pics coming from your direction.

 

[ChameleonAlley]

I have camera envy.

 

[jessica]

Soo... does the new camera mean more pictures of your Melleri family?

 

[QuioteCham]

That's Right! Chomp that worm!!!!

 

[summoner12]

Yes, many more pictures I love playing with this thing!

 

[robmd1]

hey man nice camera, look forward to many more pics....

 

[warpdrive]

the 50D is a workhorse and a fun camera to use.
grats on the camera, it's nice.

Harry

 

[HecticZ]

Nice Camera and great composition on your shots.

 

[reptimom]

You have made us all incredibly jealous! Will be watching for more pics - lovin the Mellers

 

[gholston]

I am a professional Photographer and use Canon exclusively. The 50D is a great camera for sure. The only issue I have with it is the flash. I would suggest getting a 580EXII or 580 EX flash for it. You will notice a lot of your photos will be "blown out" in the highlight areas with the on camera flash.

Also, you may want to look into a 50mm macro lens for photographing reptiles up close

congrats on the new camera.

I use the 5d Mark 2, but also have a 40D and a 50D...

 

[summoner12]

I am a professional Photographer and use Canon exclusively. The 50D is a great camera for sure. The only issue I have with it is the flash. I would suggest getting a 580EXII or 580 EX flash for it. You will notice a lot of your photos will be "blown out" in the highlight areas with the on camera flash.

Also, you may want to look into a 50mm macro lens for photographing reptiles up close

congrats on the new camera.

I use the 5d Mark 2, but also have a 40D and a 50D...

I have the 550EX.... I should prolly upgrade... haha I was thinking of finding another one cheap because my IR emitter for the focus is kinda scratched up Maybe I can buy another plastic piece or polis this one...

Here are a couple of pics when I used my friend's Rebel with my 550EX. This is my GF's sister's wedding... The place was outside but had these big white sail like canopies over the patio... I did most of my photos with the flash bouncing off these 'sail'.

You can see the focus isn't great.... I felt the rebel was pretty weak when it came to fast focusing with my lens.

Here is one of Hoover Dam....

(obviously no flash... )

Here I bounced off the ceiling like in the other pics... You can see the flash on the ceiling in the mirror behind my friends...

 

[HecticZ]

^^^
I think it might be time to get a diffuser, so you don't have to worry about the harsh lighting or the over shadowing behind your subject. I just ordered a Lightsphere, here is the link if you are interested.

http://store.garyfonginc.com/licl.html

 

[summoner12]

wow 50 bucks?! yeesh! looks neat though. thanks for the tip!

 

[gholston]

Those are actually some pretty well lit shots.
I think the 550 EX is a decent flash too. I was just suggesting something other than the on camera flash, as you cannot really bounce that... It is always going to be a straightforward flash, which is terrible for subjects close to the camera.

As far as dark backgrounds go, yes, a diffuser ( i like the Gary Fong Lightsphere http://store.garyfonginc.com/ ) helps... but the BEST way to get good ambient light in a room is to have a fast lens. ie an F 2.8 . This way, the lens takes in most of the room's ambient light.

That is why on most little point and shoot cameras you see what is called the "cave effect" where the subject has been decently well lit by the flash, but the background is totally dark. The lenses on these cameras do not open up wide enough to let in the ambient light in the room even at ISO 1600.

Of course, on your 50D, you can set your ISO to 12-1600, but you will get "noise" (pixel artifacts, generally orange in color)

Greg

 

[summoner12]

 

[summoner12]

Here is henry shooting at some crickets in a cup. I shot with a slow shutter so the tongue is blurry...