zy » dSLR Noob Guide http://blog.zynine.com zynine.com Sat, 24 Jul 2010 16:34:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 dSLR Noob Guide: Christmas Tree – Making it lively http://blog.zynine.com/2010/01/dslr-noob-guide-christmas-tree-making-it-lively/ http://blog.zynine.com/2010/01/dslr-noob-guide-christmas-tree-making-it-lively/#comments Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:59:19 +0000 zy http://blog.zynine.com/2010/01/08/dslr-noob-guide-christmas-tree-making-it-lively/ How to make your Christmas Tree look good in pictures?

You will need:

  • Tripod
  • dSLR

My Setup/Settings

  • Stable Tripod
    Impossible to shoot handheld, or with a lousy tripod.
  • Mode: Av – Aperture Priority
  • Focus: Auto Focus
  • Aperture: Smallest aperture possible.
  • Shutter Speed: Let the camera determine this.
  • ISO: Lowest possible
    Mine will go down to ISO100.
  • Image Stabilizer: Off
    Discussed at Stable Tripod + Image Stabilizer (IS) = Blur
  • Lens: Up to you

 

image
f/3.5 1/3s

image
f/8 1.3s

image
f/22 13s

]]> http://blog.zynine.com/2010/01/dslr-noob-guide-christmas-tree-making-it-lively/feed/ 0 dSLR Noob Guide: Waterfall http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-waterfall/ http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-waterfall/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:26 +0000 zy http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/20/dslr-noob-guide-waterfall/ How to get a smooth waterfall effect using a dSLR?

You will need:

  • Tripod (You will seriously need a GOOD tripod)
  • dSLR
  • ND Filter or Polarizer (Optional)

My Setup/Settings

  • Stable Tripod
    Impossible to shoot handheld, or with a lousy tripod.
  • Mode: Av – Aperture Priority
  • Focus: Auto Focus
  • Aperture: Smallest aperture your lens will allow.
  • Shutter Speed: Let the camera determine this. At least 1/2 seconds or slower to get a smooth effect. The longer the better.
  • ISO: Lowest possible
    Mine will go down to ISO100.
  • Image Stabilizer: Off
    Discussed at Stable Tripod + Image Stabilizer (IS) = Blur
  • Lens: Up to you
  • Lens Accessories: ND Filter or Polarizer if the surrounding is too bright.

Samples:

image
Canon Rebel XSi, Canon EF-S 18-55, f/5.6, 1/250s, ISO200
This is probably what you get when you shoot in auto.

image
Canon Rebel XSi, Canon EF-S 18-55, f/36, 1/3s, ISO100

image
Canon Rebel XSi, Canon EF-S 18-55, f/22, 1/2s, ISO100, Polarizer

It was a very sunny bright day which makes it harder to achieve smooth waterfall effect.

]]> http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-waterfall/feed/ 0 dSLR Noob Guide: Fireworks http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-fireworks/ http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-fireworks/#comments Sun, 20 Dec 2009 19:50:49 +0000 zy http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/20/dslr-noob-guide-fireworks/ To shoot fireworks, I highly recommend:

  • Tripod (You will seriously need a GOOD tripod)
  • Remote Switch (Highly Recommended)
  • Wide Angle Lens
  • dSLR

My Setup/Settings

  • Stable Tripod
    Impossible to shoot handheld, or with a lousy tripod.
  • Remote Cable Switch
    Reduce camera shake.
  • Mode: M – Manual
    Other mode won’t work well.
  • Focus: Manual Focus
    It is nearly impossible to focus a firework before it goes off.
  • Aperture: f/8 – f/12
    Most lens are at their sharpest at about f/8.
  • Shutter Speed: 2 – 8 seconds or B – Bulb Mode
    This depends on your composition. Totally up to you.
  • ISO: ISO200 – 400
    The least important setting. Set according to your exposure.
  • White Balance: Daylight
  • Quality: JPEG
    You will want to shoot as many fireworks possible. RAW files wont help much here.
  • Image Stabilizer: Off
    Discussed at Stable Tripod + Image Stabilizer (IS) = Blur
  • Lens: Wide angle
    You can always crop the photo.

Samples:

IMG_5798
Canon Rebel XSi, Canon EF-S 18-55, f/8, 5s, ISO400

IMG_5862
Canon Rebel XSi, Canon EF-S 18-55, f/8, 6s, ISO200

IMG_5878
Canon Rebel XSi, Canon EF-S 18-55, f/10, 6s, ISO200

]]> http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-fireworks/feed/ 0 dSLR Noob Guide: Basics – Aperture http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-basics-aperture/ http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-basics-aperture/#comments Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:40:50 +0000 zy http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/20/dslr-noob-guide-basics-aperture/ Aperture is the opening of the lens allowing light to travel through.

 

Aperture:

f/2.8 is bigger than f/11.

image

]]> http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-basics-aperture/feed/ 0 dSLR Noob Guide: Basics – Shutter Speed http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-basics-shutter-speed/ http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-basics-shutter-speed/#comments Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:04:16 +0000 zy http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/20/dslr-noob-guide-basics-shutter-speed/ Shutter Speed is the exposure time or the amount of time the shutter remains open.

 

Shutter Speed:

Slower Shutter = More light.

image

]]> http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-basics-shutter-speed/feed/ 0 dSLR Noob Guide: Basics – ISO http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-basics-iso/ http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-basics-iso/#comments Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:59:19 +0000 zy http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/19/dslr-noob-guide-basics-iso/ ISO represents the sensitivity of image sensor to the light.

 

ISO:

Higher ISO = More sensitive to light.

image

 

Noise:

Higher ISO = More Noise

The main disadvantage of using higher ISO is the noise generated. Both images below are cropped images.

image
Canon Rebel XSi

image
Canon PowerShot SD750 (Consumer Digital Camera)

 

Conclusion:

Lower ISO provides better image quality.

Places without sufficient light (indoor or night) may require higher ISO to reduce camera shake.

]]> http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-basics-iso/feed/ 0 dSLR Noob Guide: Stable Tripod + Image Stabilizer (IS) = Blur http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-stable-tripod-image-stabilizer-is-blur/ http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/dslr-noob-guide-stable-tripod-image-stabilizer-is-blur/#comments Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:25:06 +0000 zy http://blog.zynine.com/2009/12/17/dslr-noob-guide-stable-tripod-image-stabilizer-is-blur/ Equipment:

  • Canon Rebel XSi
  • Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6
  • Dolica Proline Tripod

Setup:

  • ISO100 f/8 10s 240mm (IS on/off)
  • Tripod stabilized

Results:

image
Image Stabilizer (IS) ON

image
Image Stabilizer (IS) OFF

Conclusion:

Turn off Image Stabilizer (IS) on a stable tripod.

Credits:

Ian

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