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1500 questions
41
votes
5 answers
Why are some big telephoto lenses so expensive compared to telescopes?
I'm looking at an ad for a used Canon 1200mm f/5.6L EF USM Autofocus Lens where they are asking $180,000. Yes, that's not a typo.
I don't get it.
I'm an amateur astronomer and I know I can buy a killer 1200m refractor for well less than $180k. What…
Paul Cezanne
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41
votes
16 answers
Is there good free software for editing Canon RAW files?
I've lost the install disks that came with my 500D and I was wondering if there was any better software for editing Canon RAW files. I Had a quick skim of the Canon website and couldn't find anything.
Omar Kooheji
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41
votes
17 answers
What are alternatives to a tripod when I can't take one along?
Due to weight restrictions I cannot take my tripod on my next foreign trip. What are the alternatives?
Rowland Shaw
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41
votes
7 answers
Why are some lens hoods petal shaped and others not?
I have one lens hood for a 28-105mm lens that is petal shaped. I have another lens hood for a 50mm lens that is fully round. If the purpose of the lens hood is to block stray light, then wouldn't fully round always block more?
WireGuy
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41
votes
8 answers
How can I get sharp manual focus despite poor eyesight?
I suffer from astigmatism. It's only mild, though I feel it's affecting what I'm seeing when looking through the viewfinder. Frequently, after shooting a photo with my Canon EOS 7D, I'll load it into Lightroom and discover that what looked sharp as…
Blair Holloway
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41
votes
1 answer
Why can't I see any images on the roll of film that I've removed from my camera?
I am very new to photography. I bought a Zenit 12xp and color film for it. I loaded the film in the camera but I can't take any photos. When I take a picture and remove the film and hold it up to the light, I don't see anything. Is there something I…
kulaksız
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- 3
41
votes
5 answers
How do I combine multiple exposures for action shots?
I'd like to create one of those "stacked" action shot images where multiple exposures are combined to show the subject moving across a static background. Here's an example I found on Flickr (by Laurence Asuncion):…
D. Lambert
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41
votes
6 answers
Why does a bigger sensor lead to a shallower depth of field?
It has been mentioned at a few places that a larger sensor results in images with a shallower depth of field. Example image:
APS-C Canon 30D left, FF Canon 5D right, same lens¹, same composition, both f/2.8
I understand how sensor size would…
Lazer
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40
votes
6 answers
Why do stars appear as circles, not points?
Excluding the Sun, stars are so far away that their angular diameter is effectively zero. However, when you take pictures of them, brighter stars appear as circles, not points. Why?
In theory, any star, regardless of brightness, should hit at most…
user2844
40
votes
5 answers
Focus problem vs. motion blur vs. camera shake - how to tell the difference?
I'm not sure if the title of the question captures what I mean, but it's hard to be succint in the space allowed.
Suppose you have a picture that is not as sharp as you think it should/could be. (And, I'm not even sure that sharp is the right…
seanmc
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40
votes
8 answers
What methods do macro photographers use to get so close to butterflies, bees, insects and the like?
I have seen some super macro photos of things like butterflies and bees that left me wondering how the photographer is able to get so close to the subject long enough to take a photo.
Most of the time when I try sneaking up on a fly to swat it I get…
kacalapy
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40
votes
13 answers
What are the must-have filters for a new photographer?
What filters are good and why?
CodeToGlory
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40
votes
2 answers
Why no zoom lenses with a maximum aperture wider than f/2.8?
I can understand that a zoom lens with a maximum aperture wider than f/2.8 would be difficult and costly, but it seems like something pros would kill for. Surely it can't be more expensive (if its possible) than some of the $10k+ lenses and they…
rfusca
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40
votes
6 answers
How to get a miniature effect on pictures without special equipment?
I was browsing Behance and came upon these pictures:
http://www.behance.net/gallery/The-Little-Things/402879
I was wondering how he got this miniature style effect?
I'm guessing a Gaussian Blur on a strip of the picture in Photoshop...but couldn't…
denislexic
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40
votes
5 answers
What is the difference between a linear and a circular polarizer?
When I bought my polarizer, a friend told me that I should get a circular one, because the linear ones can mess with the autofocus. Is this true? What should each be used for?
Wookai
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