From mundane to sublime! Love the curving columns! Seeing your fisheye shots motivated me to tote mine along this weekend on a trip to Napa/ wine country. I'll see what I can see.
@redy4et Oh fun! What I've learned is it works best when there are lines -- mostly for me that means architecture, but I can imagine the rows of vineyards being potentially interesting. Which one do you have? I've put the one I'm borrowing on my D90 since it's a DX lens and it's really spoiled me for a nice lens! When I need to buy mine for my FX camera body, I doubt I'll buy a Nikkor.
Look what you have done to those columns now! You are seriously having some fun with that fisheye lens.....did you buy it, or were you renting it, and what is it?!
@panthora Still borrowing my daughter-in-law's father's lens (convoluted...he has a Nikon D40 but doesn't use it anymore. So it's a DX lens. But the 610 can convert to a DX in its menu, so I've been doing that...then realized I could just put it on my D90 as a dedicated fisheye, which is what I'm doing now -- unless it's a long photowalk and I don't want to take two cameras!). I'm going to borrow it as long as I can, and then when he needs it back, if I'm still as engaged with it, will buy one. At that point, I'll decide if it's worth an investment, or buy an inexpensive one. @lesip is taking some great shots with hers, and someone else said Lensbaby makes one. I love it, but think it is a specialty lens that for me won't be worth a big investment, even though I'm really enjoying what it can do.
Well, it's a good thing they are non-descript in reality. I'd be a little scared if they really were that bent out of shape! Great shot. PS- will be out tomorrow evening and plan to bring my tripod so I can experiment with some of the ideas in your night photography lesson.
Thank you, Taffy, for your detailed (and, yes, "convoluted"....it is getting harder and harder to explain families these days!) response! Funny enough, ever since I got my 810, which can also be used as a crop sensor with the DX lenses, I have been walking around with two cameras slung around my neck! My wide angle and zoom lens are DX, but my go-to 24-70 stays on my 810. Your fisheye photos are wonderful, and they have inspired us all, but I agree with you that it is a specialty lens and not too much money should be spent on it (trust me, my lensbaby has not been out of its box in ages!).... Rokinon, actually has very good reviews, and I was considering this one for my full frame, if I get one: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/769466-REG/Rokinon_FE8M_N_8mm_Ultra_Wide_Angle.html
I also wanted to ask you about your tripod. I am in the market for a good one since I have nothing but disdain for the one I am currently using, and I saw you mention somewhere that you have a Manfrotto that you love. Could you also give me the information on that tripod, and also the head, if you are happy with that one as well? Thanks! Oh, and do you also use an L-bracket? @taffy
@taffy Thanks, Taffy! I also found your info on the tripod on your onion shot, the Manfrotto 190CX3 (which, they have now replaced with the MT190CXPRO3).....has really good reviews....tempted to go with that since you also like it.....what kind of head do you use on it? I would appreciate any recommendations since I trust your expertise and judgment.
@panthora I'm very happy with my tripod -- I have the 190cX and I have the travel one, "BeFree" by Manfroto. The latter is light weight, and has been good in most places, but NOT when we were in Death Valley. While there, I learned of Really Right Stuff tripods that are about 2 or 3 times the price of the Manfrotto, but supposed to be among the best. Here's one our instructor recommended: http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/Shop/Carbon-Fiber-Tripods/TQC-14-Quick-column-series-1-tripod.html
To me, it's a bit high priced for me to spend right now, but if I had the money, I'd get that one.
@panthora And the ball head I have is MH054 -- a good solid one that is usually recommended for the tripod I bought. It's not fancy, but it is stable and has good movement. It doesn't have the lever some do, if you prefer that format. I liked it as it's easily packed (larger suitcase, not carry-on) and stored.
@taffy Taffy, you are absolutely wonderful, and I really wish we lived closer so that we could go on photoshoots together! One of these days I promise to make it back to Chicago, and I will definitely look you up!
Thank you for all the advice on the tripod and the accessories. You are someone whose recommendations I would trust, so it means a lot! Yes, I saw a Really Right Stuff tripod at one of my outings/workshops, and I was terribly impressed with it, got the info, but when I looked it up I was deterred by the price. Maybe in a few years when I feel that I have progressed to that point, but right now I want a good, sturdy, light, and easy to use tripod in the $500-600 range, but not in the thousands! The Manfrottos fit the bill, and yes, I really like their BeFree models for travel, and will probably get one before my next trip. For my needs now I will look at the 190CX (probably the Pro3), the MH054 head, an L-bracket that someone recommended since my camera will not stand still in the vertical position on my tripod, and the tripod strap. I usually end up slipping the legs on some strap in my camera bag, but I can definitely see the value of the dedicated strap! If you can think of anything else that you have found useful just let me know. Again, thanks for everything, and I really hope we meet soon. Of course, there is always California...;-)))
@panthora I agree -- we need to meet someday! I'm glad to be of help and hope you like the choice. I can't imagine that you won't be happy with it. The manfrotto's seem very sturdy for the price (isn't it amazing that we now consider $500.00 for a tripod to be 'reasonable'???). The only thing I have that I find useful, but I bought the wrong one, is a case. I hardly use it for anything but storage because the one I bought has a separate section for the ball head, so to put it away, I have to take it apart. The reality is, I never do that so unless I'm traveling and taking the big tripod, my case is essentially useless. I'd like to have one that is padded and that works with the tripod head on it. Envious of you getting a new one!!
March 26th, 2015
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I also wanted to ask you about your tripod. I am in the market for a good one since I have nothing but disdain for the one I am currently using, and I saw you mention somewhere that you have a Manfrotto that you love. Could you also give me the information on that tripod, and also the head, if you are happy with that one as well? Thanks! Oh, and do you also use an L-bracket? @taffy
To me, it's a bit high priced for me to spend right now, but if I had the money, I'd get that one.
I didn't pay a lot for mine and it's been terrific. And I vaguely remember that it came from Hong Kong or somewhere overseas and took a few weeks.
Thank you for all the advice on the tripod and the accessories. You are someone whose recommendations I would trust, so it means a lot! Yes, I saw a Really Right Stuff tripod at one of my outings/workshops, and I was terribly impressed with it, got the info, but when I looked it up I was deterred by the price. Maybe in a few years when I feel that I have progressed to that point, but right now I want a good, sturdy, light, and easy to use tripod in the $500-600 range, but not in the thousands! The Manfrottos fit the bill, and yes, I really like their BeFree models for travel, and will probably get one before my next trip. For my needs now I will look at the 190CX (probably the Pro3), the MH054 head, an L-bracket that someone recommended since my camera will not stand still in the vertical position on my tripod, and the tripod strap. I usually end up slipping the legs on some strap in my camera bag, but I can definitely see the value of the dedicated strap! If you can think of anything else that you have found useful just let me know. Again, thanks for everything, and I really hope we meet soon. Of course, there is always California...;-)))