Free Shipping on ALL Products
camera reviewsbest cameraslens reviewsphotography tipscamera forumvideo toursphotography bookssupport me
It is currently Thu Jun 20, 2013 7:42 am

View unanswered posts | View active topics


Board index » Getting started » Buying a new camera but undecided on brand?

All times are UTC




Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 1
  [ 15 posts ] 
  Print view Previous topic | Next topic 
Author Message
Dabb
PostPosted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:56 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:36 pm
Posts: 6
Hi,

I didn't want to make a new thread so decided to edit my original thread and keep my original posts here.

Basically I want to try a bridge camera and see if they're any better than a compact superzoom. I was looking at the FZ28 as it goes for a relatively affordable budget price and the options seem to be good enough for what I need.

However, I would prefer a 16:9 screen as I like to take photos in 16:9. Do any of you have any budget recommendations for that?

Thanks once again!

Quote:
Dear Camera Labs,

I currently have the Powershot SX210 and I've owned the Lumix TZ10. I've been doing a lot of reviews for a website lately and I've found that I want a narrow depth of field so that I can take "nice" pictures with the subject in focus and everything else blurred.

With the SX210, if I set it to Aperture mode and get the smallest f number, I can get a half decent result (I can blur the background if I shoot the picture at an angle of the subject, meaning I can only get the side view), I can't get a "close-to-perfect" result (I can't get get a blurred background from a sort of birds eye view on the subject).

I do understand that superzoom compacts are a jack of all trades and master of none but I'm a student and I simply can't afford to buy lenses for a DSLR, let alone buy a DSLR. I can only afford one camera so buying multiple cameras for different tasks is out of the question. Also, I don't like carrying tons of gear with me, hence going for a superzoom compact.

Many thanks,
Dabb


Last edited by Dabb on Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:22 am, edited 4 times in total.

Top
 Profile  
 
oldCarlos
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:18 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 7:01 pm
Posts: 1062
Location: NW England
Hi Dabb.
I'm sure you'll get some advice/ideas re cameras, from the guys on here with experience, but what sort of subjects are you shooting?
Can you isolate the subjects more from the BG & take pics from closer in?

Also, have you considered some of the computer software progs?

_________________
Image
Nikon D800E & D700 bodies + Nikon AF-S 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G ED VR, 50mm F1.4G, 16-35mm f/4G VR, 105 F2.8 VR macro, 70-300mm lenses. A couple of filters, Giotto tripod & ballhead. Lowepro Slingshot 302 AW

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcarlos/
Top
 Profile  
 
Maestro
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:18 am 
Offline

Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 2:29 am
Posts: 513
Unfortunately, you can't get around physics. The best you can do is look for the largest sensor with the largest aperture (smallest "f" number) lens you can afford and are willing to carry around. Something like an S95 will give you a slight bump over your SX210 because of the S95's slightly larger sensor (1/1.7 vs 1/2.3) and slightly larger max aperture (f2.0 vs f3.1) for around $300. But keep in mind that this will be nowhere near even a Canon XS + 50mm f1.8 which can be had for around $500.

Mark
Top
 Profile  
 
mirageii
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:25 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 9:06 am
Posts: 372
Location: Manchester (UK)
To increase out of focus backgrounds without spending on any more tech.

Use widest aperture possible

Use longest focal length possible

Increase the subject to background distance while keeping the camera to subject distance the same.

Shooting in the park often facilitates nice green backgrounds that are far away.

Just a thought

mirageII

_________________
Canon EOS 400D, EF-S 18-55mm, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, EF 50mm f/1.8 MK I, EF-S 10-22mm, EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM, EF 28mm f/1.8, EF 85mm f/1.8
Canon 430EX II, Manfrotto 055CXPRO3, Arca Swiss P0
Panasonic GF3, Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, Olympus 45mm f/1.8

MY FLICKR!
Top
 Profile  
 
Rorschach
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:07 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:58 pm
Posts: 714
Location: United Kingdom
I have to agree with Maestro in that you have to set realistic expectations. The small sensor will have a noticeable effect on how shallow your DoF can be though I think mirageII's tips are really good advice on how to make the most out of a camera with a smaller sensor.

_________________
Bodies: Canon EOS 550D w/ Magic Lantern
Lenses: Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX f/2.8, Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Accessories: YongNuo Speedlite YN-468 Flash, Neewer Macro LED Ring Light, Meike Battery Grip, YongNuo RF-602 Wireless Flash Trigger & Receiver YongNuo WR-128 Wireless Remote Control

Image
Top
 Profile  
 
Dabb
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:12 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:36 pm
Posts: 6
Thanks for all the replies!

The problem is the things I am taking pictures of are earphones, I want to get a sort of birds eye shot of them whilst blurring out the rest of the surrounding, I understand that there isn't actually much background here because of the birds eye view. I can get a half decent "blur" when I do a side on view/capture with mirageii's tips, that's what I did originally.

I guess this is a good example:
http://www.ilounge.com/assets/images/re ... e700/3.jpg
http://www.pocket-lint.com/images/dynam ... 52dd54.jpg
Top
 Profile  
 
Leo
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:29 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 6:50 am
Posts: 407
Location: Sydney Australia
Have you thought about using a piece of glass? I was able to get a shot of a ball look as if its falling at a high speed by suspending it on a pieve of glass about 2 meters above the carpet.

Little tricks you can use to fool the observer - remember, photography doesnt always have to show what is in the picture.... :P

_________________
1) Olympus OM1 [Zuiko Auto-S 50mm f/1.8]
2) Pentax MZ-60 [Sigma 28-90 & 100-300]
3) Canon 7D [EF-S 15-85 & 70-200mm f/4 IS]

Leo's Flickr Page
Top
 Profile  
 
Dabb
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 2:08 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:36 pm
Posts: 6
Leo, thank you very much! That is a brilliant idea! Unfortunately I don't have a big glass sheet but I used some plastic packaging that I had and the effect works quite nicely! Amazing!
Top
 Profile  
 
Ruben123
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 3:42 pm 
Offline

Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 3:52 pm
Posts: 2157
Location: The Netherlands
Close-up filters are perfectly for these situations... ;)

_________________
Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies


Top
 Profile  
 
Rorschach
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:16 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:58 pm
Posts: 714
Location: United Kingdom
+1

If you're doing a bird's eye view with a compact, the DoF will be so deep that whatever surface you're resting the subject on will almost certainly be within it. A closeup filter would work like a macro lens and reduce the DoF so the table or surface would be out of focus when you're focusing on the headphones.

_________________
Bodies: Canon EOS 550D w/ Magic Lantern
Lenses: Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX f/2.8, Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Accessories: YongNuo Speedlite YN-468 Flash, Neewer Macro LED Ring Light, Meike Battery Grip, YongNuo RF-602 Wireless Flash Trigger & Receiver YongNuo WR-128 Wireless Remote Control

Image
Top
 Profile  
 
Dabb
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:30 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:36 pm
Posts: 6
Umm, may I ask what the close up filter is? Is it this:
http://www.digitaltoyshop.co.uk/MACRO_C ... _t2109_121

Does that mean I can just buy a magnifying glass and it'll do the trick?
Top
 Profile  
 
Ruben123
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:11 pm 
Offline

Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 3:52 pm
Posts: 2157
Location: The Netherlands
That's right, but Id look on eBay for much cheaper offers.

You should look if your camera could use macro glasses though!

_________________
Ruben

Panasonic DMC-FZ18, Panasonic DMC-FZ28, Canon G5, Canon 350D, Canon 50D + BG-E2N
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM,
Canon 18-55 II plus lots of Minolta MD/M42 lenses and bodies


Top
 Profile  
 
Dabb
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 9:10 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:36 pm
Posts: 6
What exactly should I be looking for? As you can see, I'm quite the photography noob.
Top
 Profile  
 
Rorschach
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 2:11 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2011 7:58 pm
Posts: 714
Location: United Kingdom
On eBay I'd just use keywords such as "Macro" and "SX210" and the results should show compatible filters.

_________________
Bodies: Canon EOS 550D w/ Magic Lantern
Lenses: Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX f/2.8, Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Accessories: YongNuo Speedlite YN-468 Flash, Neewer Macro LED Ring Light, Meike Battery Grip, YongNuo RF-602 Wireless Flash Trigger & Receiver YongNuo WR-128 Wireless Remote Control

Image
Top
 Profile  
 
Dabb
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:07 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:36 pm
Posts: 6
I'm afraid there aren't any results for that.

Is there a sort of newbie DIY solution that I could do?
Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  Page 1 of 1
  [ 15 posts ] 

Board index » Getting started » Buying a new camera but undecided on brand?

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  

All words, images, videos and layout, copyright 2005-2012 Gordon Laing. May not be used without permission.
/ How we test / Best Cameras / Advertising / Camera reviews / Supporting Camera Labs

Webdesign by Alphabase IT
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group