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1500 questions
19
votes
8 answers
How can I take crisp sharp shots without an expensive lens?
Recently I bought my first DSLR camera. It is a beginner's one, a Sony Alpha A230 kit. To tell the truth, my shots are no more crisp than those I used to take with my old point and shoot Nikon Coolpix.
Is it possible to take really sharp photos…
rem
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19
votes
8 answers
Is it a wise-decision to buy full-frame lenses for use on an APS-C body?
I have a Canon 550D which I've been using for around a year now. I really love it and have learned a great deal with this and the 18 - 135mm kit lens. But now with experience I feel the need to get some better glass. I won't be buying a new body any…
sfactor
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19
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5 answers
What's the advantage of buying a fixed 50mm f/1.8 lens when my camera has an 18-55mm zoom lens?
I've got a Nikon D3100 with an 18-55mm zoom lens. I'm keen to experiment with some other lenses and a friend of mine recently reccommended I purchase a fixed 50mm f/1.8 lens as he said it's good for portrait photography and capturing really sharp…
cw84
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19
votes
3 answers
Why should I use a Graduated ND filter as opposed to the digital equivalent(software)?
With options like Nik’s Color Efex Pro 4 allowing me to digitally apply a Graduated Neutral Density filter, why would I choose to use a piece of equipment that I have to buy and carry around?
Related Questions:
How do I use Graduated Neutral Density…
dpollitt
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19
votes
1 answer
What is the easiest way to alter white balance in Gimp?
Let's say I've accidentally shot my pictures on "sunny" white balace when I should have used "shade". What is the easiest way to warm the pictures up a bit in Gimp? The "Colors/Color balance" tool does not really cut it, as I don't want to mess with…
che
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19
votes
14 answers
Where can I find reviews of and tools for comparing cameras?
We all buy a new digicam/DSLR every now and then.
So what web sites do you use to get more information about cameras and compare them?
Where do you look for technical information, camera reviews, recommendations, comparison tables, and so on?
(There…
Sam
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19
votes
3 answers
What are the pros and cons of a video camera versus a DSLR that can take video?
I have made a few short films and plan to get more serious about it, but professional digital video cameras are generally expensive and the recent line of beginner DSLRs which can take HD video like Canon 550D gets cheaper. I wonder what pros and…
puri
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19
votes
5 answers
Which equipment for beginning underwater photography?
Photography and diving are two good hobbies of mine, and I would really like to start doing both at the same time. I have a DSLR for photography (Canon 450d), but I'm not sure I'm willing to risk ruining it by taking it underwater, even if there…
Wookai
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19
votes
2 answers
How do I use Graduated Neutral Density filters?
I want to improve my photos of landscapes with high contrast (sunset/sunrise). What are good selections for GND filters and what are some techniques for using them correctly?
Ian Felton
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19
votes
5 answers
How to test actual focal length?
From Matt Grum's comment to my previous question, I learned that manufacturers may casually "round" actual focal length of a lens to some nice number that gets printed on the box and stored into EXIF. From his answer to the same question, it seems I…
Imre
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19
votes
4 answers
How to speed up autofocus on moving subjects under low-light conditions?
Since I am usually taking pictures under low light ambient conditions I have discovered the nifty 1.4 lenses (such as the Sigma 30mm/1.4 or the Canon 50mm/1.4 or also the Canon 85mm/1.8) for my Canon 550D. My main problem is not that there's not…
danieldekay
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19
votes
8 answers
Why are blown highlights particularly bad in digital photography?
I've heard that digital sensors are less "forgiving" of blown highlights than film. Why is this?
There's something called "characteristic curves". How does this relate, in film and in digital?
Can anything be done about it? Is this a significant…
mattdm
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19
votes
11 answers
Are all kit lenses poor? (And if so, why?)
Kerri Shotts says (emphasis mine):
Also, if you already have great glass, there is little reason to get more (unless you need it for a certain reason). E.g., if you have a 70-200 f/4, don't rush out to get the f/2.8 just because, unless you need…
Billy ONeal
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19
votes
5 answers
How do I unwind a roll of film?
When putting in a new roll of (35mm) film, I accidentally told my camera to rewind, rather than load the film. Now there's no tab sticking out of the roll, so I can't load it.
Is there a way to unwind the film slightly, so that I could still use…
Evan Krall
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19
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2 answers
Is taking photos with the back side of a film roll a real technique?
A friend of mine recently told me about a film photography technique wich consists in turning over the film roll and taking photos with the back side of it.
Photographs end up turning red-ish due to the inverse order of color layers.
I'm interested…
spund3
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