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sandt38

SSA Tech Team
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Everything posted by sandt38

  1. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    OK, so you guys with the Canon glass hard-ons... What mount offers the best glass? I have found adapters that will convert various Canon mounts to the Nikon F mount camera bodies. Played with the camera a lot this morning. Messing with settings in full manual mode. So much going on. This will take time to figure it all out. At what point should I alter ISO settings from 100, if ever? I am keeping it at 100, but see that auto mode likes to pump it up in a room with low light. I tried taking shots all manual from across the room. The auto setting dropped the shutter speed to 1/60 sec and an ISO of 3200. I shot my amp from a bout 1 foot further away and I was at 2 seconds with my ISO of 100. I would dare say the clarity of the low ISO is superior, but brightness suffers. I have to say that the truth of the image comes out with longer shutter speeds and low ISO, as the color in the 2 sec shutter is accurate from where the pic is taken. But the high ISO image colors ring true if I were to have more light in the room, which is as the image suggests. Shooting low light with low ISO will absolutely require a tripod. The amp image was shot while the camera was sitting on my laptop, so there is a little motion blur with it when I depressed the trigger. Manual, 2 second 100 ISO Manual 1/2 second, 100 ISO, same shot Auto setting, 1/60, 3200ISO The color in the room lighted as it was when I took the first pic is better represented in the initial amp pic. In the speaker pic, it looks as if I had used the flash, and the colors represent that well.
  2. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    I'll try decreasing the aperture.
  3. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    OK, here are my first few shots. I tried the tubes with the polarizer and just found it to dim the image. FWIW, these are 30 second shutters in a nearly black room, F5.6, no flash, 100 ISO, 55MM from ~20-36 inches away, depending on the shot. In the top pic my focus was at the second KT88 (big tube) from the right. If you look, the farthest left tube is equidistant from the lens, and it is also in focus. I like the depth of field that the focus provides. I got Bokeh at 5.6f The second is focused at the N on Gold Lion on the second KT88 tube from the right. I am further away in this shot. The third is the center 2 KT88s, and I am closer, throwing the front tubes out of focus. Not as big a fan of the head on depth of field as I am of the 45 degree shots. In the last the front left tube is the focus. I do like the depth in this one. Cool how you can read the British military stamping on the tube... I am interested how an F 1.4 might look in these shots.
  4. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    Jesus Christ, I had no idea... Boobie rock.
  5. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    Ha!
  6. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    This thread is awful new for you to be posting in.
  7. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    What is instagram?
  8. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    Huh. I had no idea Lightroom was an Adobe Product.
  9. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    I used to use gimp. When I tried PS I never used gimp again. Everything about Photoshop is worlds better. I know you and Matt love lightroom. I am just wondering if it is worth it for me to hack... err, buy lightroom.
  10. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    Compared to Photoshop? I have CC2014.
  11. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    I can also send the shot immediately to the device to post on social media, or text, or whatever. I really got it for several reasons.
  12. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    Would it make any difference if I told you I have just a shade over $200 in the 2 lenses?
  13. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    No. Dynamic load cannot be measured with a multimeter.
  14. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    and Jared... I am certain I will have questions for you guys on set up and use. Please bear in mind that I am a total n00b and my questions may seem moronic, but I don't know shit about a real camera, so go easy on me.
  15. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    Wanting polarized filter for landscape shots.
  16. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    I'm not opposed to that. One of the reasons I grabbed the WiFi module was to remote trigger from my phone or tablet. Without having to worry about movement from triggering I am good with a cheaper tripod.
  17. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    I grabbed one lens used, one refurb. I paid less than half retail for one and 1/3 retail for the other. I thought that was OK. I have decided to buy used or refurb wherever possible until I understand what I am doing.
  18. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    I can't say that I would change them. The cameras I used and the shots I took I thought turned out nicely. I want to try to play with a real camera to see what I can change about the final images, as I am not really sure how manipulating these shots may have made them better. See, the thing is that I don't know what I would like to make. I didn't really set up any of these shots, aside from the shots of my pond in the morning. I just saw it and shot it. That is where my problem is. I want to get an idea of one or 2 lenses that I can just crank out to fill many different scenarios. I want to ensure that they are fairly foolproof, yet they have enough flexibility for me to play at the same time. Those shots were taken from 3 different point and shoot cameras. 2 Nikons (one el-Cheapo and one kick ass P&S) and a Fujifilm wannabe DSLR/P&S. To me the pics turned out beautifully, which ultimately is what really matters. But I am sure I can change them up with a more capable camera. That is my goal. IMO that is a big reason why nearly a kit setup seems to make sense. I did grab a body and a couple lenses after some research. I know that they will not meet up to the standards provided here, but ultimately they will suit my initial needs in being fairly all inclusive and foolproof, with enough room for me to play. As I develop familiarity with how my setting affect my final images I may or may not decide to upgrade the glass. I bought a D5200 (retail $549), refurbished with a 3 year no questions asked drop/spill/breakage/failure warranty ($39 warranty), a Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II AF-S DX Nikkor Lens (retail $299), Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX Nikkor VR II Lens (retail $199), WiFi module for Nikon (retail $49), lens filter kit (retail $149) from a good retailer for $614 shipped. This will give me room for cases, tripods, and other accessories to get me started. They are upgrades to the kit lenses with similar specs and VR stabilization.
  19. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    I get all that. My issue is that I don't know the difference between a socket and ratchet and a hand saw in this scenario. I am trying to understand the tools I am using here. I really have zero hands on aside from an old 35MM Canon I bought as a kit years ago. I am trying to draw from others' experiences, here and elsewhere. My query was really tongue in cheek, but I also intended for it to provide a visual for some things I may photograph.
  20. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    See, this is the info I want. I was looking at some 50mm lenses but I am concerned about buying a lens that simply will not suit my needs. What kind of picture am I going to really be able to take with this? Can I get a kick ass pic of my tubes from a foot away? Will it work in my back yard, say a red fox running across it about 100 yards away? Will this work at my son's graduation? Can I shoot one of my ponds at sunrise? Can I shoot a red velvet ant, or one of the kick ass orb weavers that are on my deck this time of year? How will it work if we are shooting the Dome of the Rock, or the Sistine Chapel, the Pieta, or one of the Marbles in shadows at the Vatican? pond: Sistine: Pieta: Marble at Vatican: Red Velvet ant Dome of the Rock Orb Weaver
  21. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    Decent tripods for under $100? 1/4" mount, 50+" high
  22. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    Found a used 5200 for $250. Looking for decent glass.
  23. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    Looks like a Walbro carb. Honestly there is not much to these little 2 stroke carbs. I wouldn't be afraid to buy the $9 unit. You can generally grab one brand new, rebadged, from the component manufacturer for $20. You know they mark it up before they sell it, too.
  24. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    Kick ass, dude!
  25. sandt38

    Welcome to the IHoP v.2

    D5500, Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II AF-S DX Nikkor lens, 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6G VR II AF-S DX Nikkor lens for $689.90. That is a refurb body (by Nikon USA) and a used (near mint) 55-200mm ($350 list). I think that is a fair deal. Should get me started. Yes? No? I have not pulled the trigger yet.
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