Lens question

[dirtysouth]

Hey guys and gals, I am a total noob when it comes to using a camera other than using the "idiot" buttons but I need a hobby and after seeing some of the photos on here, photography came to mind. I have a digital point in shoot panasonic with a leica lens that actually takes decent pics but as we all know, the point and shoots are only so good with no zoom. The wife has a DSLR but I am not about to take it out on the bike or in the truck and possibly smash it, no thanks. We have a Rebel 35mm that we bought to go on our honeymoon 5 years ago and haven't used it since so I was thinking that it would fit perfectly in my plan. I picked up a Tamron 28-200mm lens pretty cheap and hope it will be a decent lens, the only writing it has on it is AF Ashperical XR[IF], anyone know if it's worth carrying around? Any suggestions for a wide angle lens for a Rebel 35mm? How low (mm) can I go without distorting the picture too bad? Also, is a 50mm prime lens all that and more? Canon has one that you can get for under $100 and I know going into it that it may very well fall apart during years use but was thinking that I may try it out before shelling out the big bucks for the metal 50mm which is supposed to be better in every way.
Thanks in advance and I will definetly appreciate any help or suggestions. I am heading out to Big Bend in Jan. on the DR650 for a week of exploring and hope to have atleast figured out the camera somewhat by then. I will more than likely be looking to take more landscape shots than anything else.


Edit***Any suggestions on Film speed?

 

[Mike S]

I use a 24mm f2.8 wide angle on my Nikon 35s and it is distortion free (obvious distortion, anyway). Much wider than that and you are going to get some distortion. If I were you, I'd use the zoom, until you decide you really want to get into photography, then you'll know what kind of shooting you'll be doing and what focal lengths you are really going to use. Then buy the best glass you can afford.

A lot of great pictures have been taken with very simple cameras, BTW.

Mike

 

[DaveInDenver]

Lots of questions! Mostly you'll need to figure out it for yourself by just trying things out. But, I will add a few thoughts. ;-)

First, the right lens is the one you have with you. Don't let what the camera or lens says on it bother you, even a mediocre lens by the numbers or reviews can take great photos with a good photographer. Just get out and trip the shutter with the Tamron you have and see what happens. As they say, the only bad photo is the one you didn't take. Even ones that don't turn out right are learning experience.

A 50mm fixed focal length lens on 35mm film can actually be a challenging lens. I personally really like the focal length and since they are so cheap, I don't think it would be a bad lens to add if you want to buy a lens. I wouldn't necessarily go out and add a lens until you just try what you have, but at the same time sometimes you have to scratch that itch to buy something.

 

[dirtysouth]

I have been looking at the different lenses and it's all confusing, something that I don't think a hobby should be so I am probably going to stick with what I have considering the crowd has spoken. I'll save my money and just buy alot of film, if I get 10 good shots out of 10 rolls of film it will be worth it for me. If I get better at taking pics, I can always use that as an excuse to go back to Big Bend. Here is some pics I took with my point and shoot using the idiot buttons on my trip out west earlier this year.


http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213762&highlight=Coast

 

[DaveInDenver]

I think you're on the right track, get a few rolls of film and take some photos. Don't blow through the rolls, but slow down, make a few notes on the focal length you have your zoom set to, track the shutter speed and aperture. Do that for a couple of rolls, get 'em developed and see what you have. Doesn't have to be exotic locations, just pictures from the park, around the neighborhood, of your wife or family. The key is take some time to think about what you're doing. I'm certainly no pro, so some of the people who take the nice photos will have better advise. But the step up IMO is when you go from just taking snapshots to composing photographs.

 

[dirtysouth]

I think you're on the right track, get a few rolls of film and take some photos. Don't blow through the rolls, but slow down, make a few notes on the focal length you have your zoom set to, track the shutter speed and aperture. Do that for a couple of rolls, get 'em developed and see what you have. Doesn't have to be exotic locations, just pictures from the park, around the neighborhood, of your wife or family. The key is take some time to think about what you're doing. I'm certainly no pro, so some of the people who take the nice photos will have better advise. But the step up IMO is when you go from just taking snapshots to composing photographs.

I have to take my grandmother to dialysis tomorrow and sit around for 3.5 hours so I may walk around town and try to get some shots. I need to get the manual out and read up and on how to change the shutter speed and aperture, as I said in my first post I am a complete noob. Do you guys recommend filters, like clear ones to protect the lens. Is there anyway to tell what size I need for the particular lens that I have or can I just go to wolf camera and say this is what I need for this lens? Thanks for all of you guys help. For some reason I always get stuck taking pics at the family events but I think it's just because I can actually turn one on. :xxrotflma

 

[articulate]

Do you guys recommend filters, like clear ones to protect the lens. Is there anyway to tell what size I need for the particular lens that I have or can I just go to wolf camera and say this is what I need for this lens?

To get the right size screw-on filter, you could probably just ask the dude behind the counter. If they sell the same lens, they can check the diameter. It's probably a 58mm or 62mm. Look at the front of the lens, it'll be printed on the rim.

Those who are very, very particular about their photos sometimes do not recommend using a basic UV filter 100% of the time. But I dropped my camera once right after I took the lens cap off, and we were deep in the Sierra Madres. If it hadn't been for the $30 UV filter, I would have had a smashed lens. That would have sucked. Instead, the filter took the fall and broke. I was still able to unscrew it and take photos.

A lot of people like polarizer filters, too. I'm not a fan, but they are worth using from time to time.

 

[Photog]

Polarizers are definitely a tool worth using. I don't use a polarizer all the time; but it definitely improves a great many images.

If you are using print film, the lab tends to correct many of the exposure and color errors you have made. You may not know you screwed up the exposure. On the back of most prints there is a string of numbers and letters. Ask your lab what they mean and what they look like, when adjustments have been made. This will help you understand if you did it right or not.

We did all our training with slide film. The lab does not fix this type of film. If you shot it wrong, you will see it. If you took notes, for each of the images, you will see how the adjustments changed the photograph. Try using manual mode, and writing down the f-stop and shutter speed, and your light meter exposure. Film will also teach you not ot be lazy about your exposures. Digital has made many of us very lazy about our shooting, thinking we can check the LCD screen, or fix it later in the computer. LAZY, Lazy, lazy. I fight with this more and more, when I am in the field.

It is a fun hobby and a rewarding profession. Go take a class or two at the community college. It will save you a lot of time, frusteration and film. Once you learn how to properly operate the camera, take a class on "Composition and Light". You skills will be better than 80% of the "picture snappers" on the planet.

Have Fun.

 

[dirtysouth]

Thanks for the help guys. I still haven't been able to take any shots, it hasn't rained here in 6 months and when I get a 4 day weekend it is nasty everyday including today, oh well can't complain about rain during a drought. I picked up a book and plan on sifting thru it as well as the actual manual now that I found it in hopes of learning about the manual controls versus the idiot buttons. Some of the pics I have taken in the past are by no means any good but yet they still allow me to step back for a brief second and .