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Welcome to the 477th issue of SnapShot! Hello,
The latest version of Photoshop just came out, and Lewis Kemper - a longtime BetterPhoto instructor and contributing editor of Outdoor Photographer magazine - offers many valuable insights. Read his "Photoshop CS5 Review - What's New!" article... ... Of course, here at BetterPhoto, our online photography school offers many courses on Photoshop (Elements too!) and other topics too. Get motivated, and receive valuable feedback from a pro. See our course schedule here... ... In this issue of SnapShot, check out Deborah Sandidge's "Tips on Twilight Photography" and Jim Zuckerman's "Graphic Design in Photography: How to Shoot Symmetry". ... That's it for now. Have fun with your photography!Kerry Drager
Newsletter Editor Where is Jim Miotke? Follow BetterPhoto's founder and president on Twitter - BetterPhotoJim - and in his blog: jim.betterphoto.com
Updates From BetterPhoto
Learn to create exciting images of your adventures, whether close to home or far abroad. Check out Brenda Tharp's 4-week online class: Travel Photography: Capturing the Spirit of a Place ... Class begins July 7th, but you can get started now with an early lesson. George Schaub's new 8-week course will help you make better photographs - ones that express what you see and what prompted you to snap the shutter in the first place. George covers both in-camera and lightroom techniques. Learn the specifics here... In his BetterPhoto Instructor Insights blog, Jim Zuckerman offers great tips - along with inspiring photos - on graphic design ... specifically symmetry. Read all about it here...
Photo Q&A
1: How to Get More Zoom My current telephoto set-up is a Nikon D300 and Nikkor 70-300mm lens, which essentially gives me 450mm of zoom since the lens is made for a film camera. I'm happy with the quality of photos with my current set-up, but am looking for an inexpensive way to get more zoom. (Is that possible?) I don't have the big bucks to drop on a high-mm lens. I am not very familiar with extension tubes or teleconverters, and have heard both pros and cons (and stories of incompatibility) for each. Any recommendations? - Celeste McWilliams
ANSWER 1: Extension tubes don't give you more zoom; they reduce your minimum focusing distance. Teleconverters are an inexpensive way to increase focal length, with inherent give and take with aperture/shutter speed loss. But you need a good one, and a good one may not fit that lens. - Gregory La Grange
ANSWER 2: Celeste, Gregory is correct about the cheapest way to get more mm is to purchase a 1.4TC. Do NOT use a 2X except on the finest telephoto prime lenses (fixed focal length).
I doubt that your lens will accept a teleconverter. With an f/stop of f5.6, you will have to use manual focus and your camera will be limited to f8 while wide open and full zoom. At these magnifications, you NEED a very sturdy tripod, remote or cable release, high ISO and mirror lockup. Don't skimp on the tripod. If you pay much less than $200, new, it is not sturdy enough.
You have a great camera, and that is from a Canon user, so I recommend that you use your current lens until you save all of your pennies for a year or so and purchase a quality lens. Your camera deserves at least a darn good one. Unfortunately, this does come at a cost.
The best lens for the least amount of money that I have been able to find is the Sigma 150-500 f5-6.3 APO OS HSM for $1000. You may also find something used at B&H, KEH, or Adorama. Buying from Craigslist and other places in general is a shot in the dark. Buying at what seems to be cheap prices for new equipment is always a warning.
Good luck.
Lynn
ANSWER 3: Definitely check out E-Bay, Keh, B&H Used Department and other venues for a good deal on used telephoto lenses.
If you don't mind focusing manually, an old AI-S Nikkor prime super-telephoto is fully compatible with the D-300 (...except for the exposure meter, which will only work in Aperture Priority and Manual modes).
My D-300 system includes a 300mm f-2.8 and a 600mm f-4. Both AI-S manual focus lenses were acquired used at a fraction of the cost of new glass. - Bob Cammarata
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2: Digital Mats I would just like a little input on digital mats. What do people think of them? - Chris Rice
ANSWER 1:
Hi Chris,
Digital mats are fine as long as they are not replacing bad photography. If you have a lousy background and good lighting on a model, use a plain mat. If you use a different scene, you must insure that the light is coming from the same direction as onto your subject.
I make a few of my own that include the moon, clouds (blurred and sharp), as well as plain solid and graduated mats.
I have seen one photographer who offers his flower photos using the same photo with differ ent colored mats so people can pick the one they like or will work best in their home.
Just don't use them as a substitute for good photography.
Lynn
- Lynn R. Powers
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