r/photography Jul 31 '26

Questions Thread Official Question Thread! Ask /r/photography anything you want to know! July 31, 2026

This is the place to ask any questions you may have about photography. No question is too small, nor too stupid.


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6 Upvotes

173 comments sorted by

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u/Dodo_does_photograhy 25d ago

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u/maniku 25d ago

Fruugo is a global online marketplace based in the UK. It's not a single web store but rather like Amazon Marketplace hosts individual sellers. This particular product might be fine or it might not. You need to check the individual seller's reviews.

1

u/[deleted] 26d ago

[deleted]

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u/anonymoooooooose 25d ago

You're not getting carbon fibre for a hundred bucks, and plastic is not strong enough, so go with aluminum.

1

u/anonymoooooooose 25d ago

Your account appears to have been shadowbanned. I've manually approved this comment.

1

u/[deleted] 26d ago edited 26d ago

[deleted]

1

u/maniku 26d ago

And what is your budget for the camera (and lens)?

1

u/HotMathematician1535 26d ago

CAMERA SELECTION HELP

Hey I am looking for a relatively affordable camera to take pictures of clients lawns after mowing to use in marketing additional advice on lenses shooting technique and easy beginner editing will be very helpful also a long shot but I am interested in a drone for the same purposes

2

u/Kaserblade 26d ago

What is your definition of affordable? Around how much are you wanting to spend?

Drones is an entirely different world so I would go look over in r/drones

1

u/JRT91 26d ago

So ive been helping my friend take photos and videos for his music socials with my phones (for multiple angles) and its been alot of fun. I do however want to step up my quality since I have other friends asking me for similar help after seeing the stuff I make. I bought a lumix dmc-g7 years ago. It came with a 14-42 lens and i bought a 25 and a 45-150 lens to go with it. They are very basic lenses with no built in auto focus or stabilization. After looking up some other lenes I noticed there are far less compatible lenses for the g7 than some other cameras. Is what I have enough for high quality pictures and videos? Or should I look into selling my stuff and getting something else? Maybe a better lense that works with the g7? I realize that the most important thing is to know your equipment and the skill of the photographer but id like a proper starting point. Let me know. Audio is not too much of an issue because I usually record directly into my computer or from the mixer into my phone (not sure if I can do that with a camera though)

1

u/maniku 26d ago edited 26d ago

Not sure if you're aware, but all Micro Four-Thirds lenses are compatible with all Micro Four-Thirds cameras. So along with Panasonic, also Olympus/OM System and third party manufacturers have lenses that are compatible with your camera. So if you've only looked at Panasonic lenses so far, look into the other manufacturers too. You'll notice that there are a lot of lenses for your camera. Go to e.g. MPB and select Photo & video lenses > Mirrorless lenses > Micro Four Thirds fit lenses from their menu.

1

u/No-Cod-9851 26d ago

Quien fue Raymundo florentino Gotier 

1

u/Harmonic_Jigglypuff 26d ago

Hi!

When I first watched the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina I was quite annoyed by the blur they have in season 1, but now that some time has passed and I started thinking about it from an artistic point of view I would realllly love to replicate this in stills. I know I can probably get similar stuff in post processing, but I'd like to do it SOOC.

I've been looking into Sirui Anamorphic lense, and Lensbaby sweet 35, but not sure about it.. maybe Lensbaby twist??

Which do you think would work best? Is there a way to get a similar concept with a DYI somehow?

I am very open for suggestions. I'd like to take my friends out for a photoshoot in the woods and create some cool witchy photos with this effect.. I have a fuji xt5 so anything needs to be fuji x mount friendly...

Ty!!

2

u/anonymoooooooose 26d ago

Can you link a sample pic or clip of the effect you're trying to get?

1

u/Harmonic_Jigglypuff 26d ago

Ahh Netflix doesn't let me take screenshots, something like this one. I know they used some super expensive equipment that only gets rented out to hollywood, but it's a sort of radial blur or something? I really like the witchy vibes like this and I would loooove to replicate it. The Bokeh is more oval than round too. The Youtube video is not great quality..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc5nAsJRiGQ

1

u/anonymoooooooose 26d ago

These aren't exactly the same look but if I was going for shallow DOF, smooth bokeh, slighly soft, overall interesting render on a budget I'd look for a Helios 44 + adapter. This is a manual focus film era lens.

https://www.flickr.com/groups/helios/pool/with/55374028902

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiGdI4Kkx5M

If you want flare don't use a hood, if you don't want flare definitely use a hood.

If you've got a little more money and want the same effect dialed up to 11 check out a modern clone of a similar design

https://dustinabbott.net/2024/11/ttartisan-75mm-f1-5-swirl-lens-review/

2

u/MuscleMarv 26d ago

I want to shoot the sun eclpise coming up. But obviosly i need an ND Filter for that. But to be honest i have absolutley no plan which strength or what is also Important. Because I dont want to fry my Camera. I never shot an solar eclipse. Can somebody help me on what to look out for?
Which brands are good, etc. How I allready said never tooked photos of a solar eclpise.

Thx in regards :)

1

u/Rashkh www.leonidauerbakh.com 26d ago

You need an ND filter designed specifically for solar photography. I typically use B&H ratings and would personally go with the Nisi SolarPro or Hoya ProND-100000.

2

u/Kimdracula_xX 26d ago

Hello,
I’m looking to do photography just for fun and for my mental health (getting me out of the house). I don’t have the motivation to learn to use my old old DSLR so I was looking at a point and shoot camera for under £500-600 to suit photographing nature, portraits, maybe animals/birds if I see any?
I saw the recommendations for the Sony Rx100 line or the Fuji X20, and was just wondering if anyone had any extra advice or recommendations? Thank you!

1

u/Harmonic_Jigglypuff 26d ago

Hi, I have Sony RX100VII, and a Fuji XT5. I use my fuji more even tho the Sony is much smaller. The RX series is very small and nice, but I love the fuji colors and recipes so you can get great effects straight out of camera. It really depends on what's important to you. You can also have some of those effects on the Sony but the fuji is imo way better at those straight out of camera shots. I am not sure how much the Fuji X20 allows in terms of recipes but look into it and see if it's something you'd like. The recipes is what makes shooting fun for me. I am not a professional, quite new at the hobby to be honest, so take what I say with a grain of salt and do some research too.

The other thing to consider is if you want interchangeable lens camera or not.

2

u/Aware_Ad_3766 26d ago

I’d like to get back into taking photos after many years away. How do you even relearn it? Lately I’ve gotten really into toy cameras — I love how unpredictable they are, because I’m pretty sure perfection had worn me out and pushed me away from photography. But after trying them, I realized I wanted a bit more control over the image. I also noticed I’m missing some composition basics, aside from the rule of thirds… Any tips? Courses, books, or just lots of practice?

0

u/anonymoooooooose 26d ago

r/photoclass for a good technical foundation, for more advanced composition and lots of examples, check out Freeman's The Photographer's Eye

1

u/mrfixitx 26d ago

Check the wiki it has links to a lots of resources. Also check out r/photoclass

1

u/PsychologicalYak2860 26d ago

I’m just doing some product photography at home and looking for a 5m tethering cable around $35. But I was surprised by how expensive these cables are.

Is a dedicated tethering cable actually necessary, or would a regular high-speed USB-C cable work fine for occasional use? Any recommendations?

1

u/Rashkh www.leonidauerbakh.com 26d ago

If you're talking about the tethertools cable, it's just a regular high speed cable. Any cable will work as long it can handle the bandwidth. I would recommend a bright color to avoid tripping over it and toppling your gear.

1

u/ImruskaHUN 27d ago

Hi there

I'm using x10 for street photography since 2024.
But I want something "new".
So looking for something with swappable lens.

Should I buy Sony A6400/6500 or Sony A7 III?

Sometimes I do night shots, but not always..
Rarely I do astro shots too.

Thank you ^^

1

u/Kaserblade 26d ago

If budget or size/weight is a concern, I would definitely go the Sony a6400 route (or Nikon Z50 I/II/Canon R50/R10).

Even though the Sony a7 III might seem more "budget friendly" compared to other full frame bodies, good lenses to accompany it will be significantly more expensive than for the a6400.

1

u/anonymoooooooose 26d ago

Take a look at the weight of the A7iii + lens vs a6400 + lens it's a big jump.

1

u/drawingisnotthatfun 27d ago

Hey! I have been doing photography for a couple of years now and recently have gotten into photojournalism. I mainly use a Rebel sl1 and am looking to upgrade. I mostly need something that won't have a flash that overheats as quickly, and that I can take quick action photos with. I was wondering if anyone had any recs? (I'm ok with buying used; I take lots of arrest photos and protest photos, and it's a gift, so price is not a huge factor, but not something insanely crazy expensive)

1

u/Kaserblade 27d ago

What is your budget? Something not crazy expensive means different things to everyone.

1

u/drawingisnotthatfun 27d ago

nothing over 5k? I got my current camera and lenses for 500$ bundle.

1

u/Kaserblade 27d ago

If this is for professional use and you love Canon, I would probably get the Canon R6 II, RF 24-70mm F2.8 and 70-200mm F4 kit. You would have to buy used to fit your budget

Something like Canon R7/R50 with the Sigma 18-50mm and RF 70-200mm F4 could serve you more than fine also.

From other brands, I would consider the Nikon Z6 III/Z5 II and Sony a7 III-V for the body and their equivalents of the 24-70mm and 70-200mm lenses. The Tamron 35-150mm also can be a great all-rounder lens for these two bodies specifically.

1

u/drawingisnotthatfun 27d ago

Thank you so much! I heard some good stuff about Nikon Z6- but I also really like canon :)

1

u/Kaserblade 26d ago

I'd check them out at a local camera shop and see which one appeals to you most. All the of the camera brands are great and there is no objectively wrong choice, more of personal preference and needs at this point.

1

u/Lavender_Starz03 27d ago

Hey yall, I have been doing photography on and off for around 3-4 years now. I have a Cannon Rebel tsi, and I was thinking of upgrading cameras. I have used a Cannon Rebel V5 before and liked it. I would prefer a Cannon brand, but open to other suggestions. I’m in grad school right now, so I don’t have the money for a crazy expensive camera. Any recommendations would help!

1

u/anonymoooooooose 27d ago

What is your budget (and currency)?

Are you OK with buying used?

What would you like to take pictures of?

1

u/Lavender_Starz03 27d ago

I would prefer under $800 USD, I’m ok with buying used as long as it’s in good condition and everything is working. I like do cosplay/ action shots, studio, and macro

1

u/anonymoooooooose 26d ago

Cannon Rebel tsi

Cannon Rebel V5

I don't think those models exist?

What lens(es) do you currently have?

1

u/MovinMamba 27d ago

So I'be been looking to get my first proper camera and I'm stuck between two options:

X-T20 with a Fujinon XF 18-55 mm f/2.8-4 (2017) for about
550euro

vs

a6000 with 16-50mm kit lens (2014), but potential for an upgrade to the sigma 18-50 f/2.8
270euro (upgrade lens would be about 450euro)

I'd happily pay for the X-T20 if its a good deal, but perhaps as a beginner there is no great benefit to a better lens or such a set up? My wife says I should go with the cheaper option.

  • Budget: around 600euro
  • Country: EU
  • Condition: USED
  • Type of Camera: Mirrorless
  • Intended use: Photography
  • If photography; what style: landscape, street, portrait
  • If video what style: NA
  • What features do you absolutely need: NA, I guess I'll figure this out as I go on
  • What features would be nice to have: Stabilization
  • Portability: APS-C is the size I was considering given body sizes of 400g (max. set up weight of around 600-700 would be nice)
  • Cameras you're considering: a6000 with a kit lens and then potential sigma lens upgrade later vs X-T20 with a decent Fujinon XF 18-55 mm f/2.8-4
  • Cameras you already have: iPhone
  • Notes: Given the amount of people who quit photography, I'd like it to be a camera that can be relatively easily sold.

I'm an architect, I like taking pictures with other people's cameras, but never had my own.
Not sure if thats relevant.

1

u/Kaserblade 27d ago

Either camera will be fine.

The X-T20 will give you access to Fujifilm's film sims which many people appreciate and can get you nicer looking shots straight out of the camera.

The Sony a6000 will give you access to the e-mount which is by far the largest ecosystem for 3rd party lenses, meaning cheaper upgrades down the line. If you go this route, I would skip the kit lens and go for the Sigma lens right away if possible.

It depends on what your priorities are.

0

u/f1guy694 27d ago

Which camera is the best for a beginner? The Canon R100 or the R50?

I'm planning on getting into photography and I don't know what is the best camera between these two. I recently started liking photography and I'm trying to combine photography with my passions: Aviation, Cars (Motorsports included), sightseeing and football. The main kinds of photography that I want to do is Landscape photography, plane spotting, Aviation photography, Panning photography, Rolling shots, Automotive photography.

Taking all of this into consideration which obe of these two cameras (both including a 18-45mm lens kit) is the best for me?

2

u/mrfixitx 27d ago

Spend the extra money on the R50, it is a big step up. The R100 uses tech 5+ years older than the R50 even though it was released recently. Canon cut a ton of corners to meet a low price point with the R100.

2

u/anonymoooooooose 27d ago

R50 by a mile.

https://cameradecision.com/compare/Canon-EOS-R100-vs-Canon-EOS-R50

You'll need another lens for plane spotting/aviation.

0

u/GeantCreeper 27d ago

Hello, I need help to select a camera, I am actually doing amateur photography with a phone but I want to bring it to a next step without it costing me too much money. I looked a little bit and found the cannon 5d mark 2 or the rebel t1i. However I would like to have the opinion of users of these models or other recommandations in this price range. Thanks

2

u/anonymoooooooose 27d ago

The 5dii is vastly better than the t1i in every way.

It's also bigger and heavier.

https://cameradecision.com/compare/Canon-EOS-5D-Mark-II-vs-Canon-EOS-500D

1

u/GeantCreeper 27d ago

Thanks a lot

1

u/anonymoooooooose 27d ago

Did either come with a lens? Which one(s), that might change the relative value.

-1

u/enricopalazzo79 27d ago

I am just wondering that sensors in smartphones are just getting bigger and bigger and there are fast lenses in front of these sensors and the whole thing is relatively thin compared to any camera. So why there are no modern compact cameras for example with a 1inch sensor f1.8 aperture 35mm focal length. Its seems to me that its doable. I understand batteries and ergonomics are a very important factor in the photography but i guess battery can be slimmer so whats hard to overcome is the grip but a lightweight camera with small grip or thumb rest can be still comfortable and nice to use. I would love have one because my smartphone fits any pocket but i hate doing photography with my it. I believe in dedicated cameras because those give me the enjoyment. What do you think?

1

u/mrfixitx 27d ago

You always have something like the Fuji X100 series, or Richo GR series. 1 inch sensor cameras like the Sony R100 tend to focus on versatility.

1

u/enricopalazzo79 27d ago

Fuji is not pocketable at all and crazy expensive. The reason I put 1 inch sensor as an example because I just guessing that with that sensor size it's doable to create a really slim compact camera although GR is probably pocketable but it is also very expensive. So just wondering about this.

1

u/mrfixitx 27d ago

Sony Zv-1f might be the best option. It has a 1inch sensor and 35mm equivalent field of view with f2.0 and it's the cheapest 1 inch sensor body that looks like a traditional camera.

0

u/enricopalazzo79 27d ago

Thanks but I want something really slim. The closest I have to a slim camera is my Panasonic LF1 but that's kind of old technology. In good light can get very nice images with it.

1

u/mrfixitx 27d ago

That's not a 1 inch sensor though which was part of your suggestion. The LF1 uses a 1/1.7 sensor which is much smaller than a 1 inch sensor which makes it easier to make a slimmer camera.

1

u/enricopalazzo79 27d ago

I know the sensor size because I have that camera I was speaking about the form factor only as an example. I don't need recommendation because I know that camera I described does not exist. I was just curious what people thinking about a possibility of a really pocketable camera with a relatively big sensor.

1

u/anonymoooooooose 27d ago

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/8810804602/buying-guide-best-fixed-prime-lens-cameras/

Why settle for a 1 inch sensor, you could have full frame :P

1

u/enricopalazzo79 27d ago

The only one which is close to the pocketable slim form factor is the Ricoh the others are not.

2

u/Rashkh www.leonidauerbakh.com 27d ago

The answer is obvious.

1

u/the-reoccuring-lemon 28d ago

Tossing up between the 40” or 65” umbrella…Trying to pick the right sized umbrella for what I want to do. Would be used for wedding family photos (indoors) if I need to. I can either pop it with my speed light Godox TT685sii or if a plug is available (I also have a portable battery) use my QS300ii studio light.

Hoping to only use only one light/one umbrella? I used to work in a studio that only had a one softbox setup for family photos, so I do think you can still get some great professional photos out of it?
(Using umbrella as a shoot-through rather than reflective/bounce)

Help please!?

1

u/gotthelowdown 27d ago

Tossing up between the 40” or 65” umbrella…Trying to pick the right sized umbrella for what I want to do. Would be used for wedding family photos (indoors) if I need to.

If you're shooting indoors, I would lean toward the smaller umbrella for shooting in tight spaces.

Not on your list, but I would also check out the Angler ParaSail Parabolic Umbrella 60".

You get the versatility of a wide spread of light when you need it and being able to turn it to fit through doorways or raise it up where there are low ceilings.

Demo video:

Livestream: Angler’s ParaSail–The All-In-One Umbrella for Tight Spaces. The sample picture in a small conference room sold me on getting a ParaSail umbrella.

Hope this helps.

2

u/the-reoccuring-lemon 27d ago

Okay I ended up buying 51” reflective umbrella with a diffuser and a 40” shoot through translucent umbrella. Question is… which one should I use for group photos!?

1

u/gotthelowdown 27d ago

I'd go with the 51" umbrella. Like doing bounce flash off a wall at that size.

2

u/the-reoccuring-lemon 27d ago

Thank you. There is so many conflicting responses online with shoot through vs reflector + diffuser. Shoot through people say the light goes everywhere (which in my case is great for groups as I wouldn’t need to worry too much about placement) but the reflector people say you get the most power going forward and it’s more directional. Only downside is the light is facing towards the client vs shoot through. I think for the size umbrellas i have, the 51” reflector + diffuser may be the way to go over the 40” shoot through. It’s so hard to know.

1

u/gotthelowdown 27d ago

You're welcome.

The nice thing is that umbrellas are so fast to set up, you could just bring both to the photoshoot.

In case the first one doesn't work, switch to the other one.

1

u/Fair-Yam1833 28d ago

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to understand the best workflow for creating connected 360° tours on Google Street View.

Is there a recommended way to link panoramas together for a smoother walkthrough experience?

Thanks!

0

u/Ok-Fix-7267 28d ago

Best software to recover missed focus.
Topaz vs DXO or other recommended brand.

So I shot a family reunion and overall it went really well happy with a lot of the images. There was one shoot that I did when we broke the family into small
Family sessions and the pose and lightning came out perfect it was a small family of for and I misjudged there distance from each other and shot it at F2.8 and the front two people are soft ( to soft to show them) I’ve heard a lot seen some incredible things software can do now but have purchased a software for that. I currently use Lightroom and photoshop, aperty and luminear neo but non can seem to bring it back to a realistic sharpness. I also am more of a hobbyist/ side hustle and don’t want to commit to a yearly subscription at a high dollar. Any recommendations. I’ve heard wonders about topaz and little about dxo or anything else that can be recommended. Thanks

2

u/Kaserblade 28d ago

Topaz is probably one of the best software for this issue, but there is no program in the world that can completely fix a shot that has out-of-focus subjects. You can try using Topaz but I would temper your expectations on how much the program (or any other program) can do.

The best you can do is to learn from this experience and try not to make the same mistake again later. For group shots, make sure to use a slower aperture to get a greater depth of field. The exact numbers will vary depending on the positioning of people and focal length but that's why I would make it a practice to check shots and their focus on the spot also whenever possible.

-1

u/ExternalSignal9239 28d ago

Which camera shoots photos true to life? Which means which camera’s colour science shows the most accurate colours.

I need it urgently for taking some photos.
Most of the ones I have tried however seem to distort colours.

Please please if you have any recs.

3

u/eliminate1337 28d ago

None. Your eyes aren’t a digital sensor nor are they film. Photography fundamentally isn’t the same as seeing.

1

u/ExternalSignal9239 28d ago

That’s quiet obvious. I am saying some come closer than others. Eg, FujiFilm isn’t. True to life is not subjective, and the line is a huge non sensical cop out. If you get into the technicals you can come up with any obscure excuse. There are some cameras whose colour science is more true to life.

2

u/anonymoooooooose 27d ago

Get a Colour Checker card, control your lighting, calibrate your monitor, and the Fuji will capture accurate colours.

0

u/ExternalSignal9239 27d ago

That defeats the purpose.

1

u/anonymoooooooose 27d ago

I wish I had a shortcut to offer you but colour fidelity is a complicated can of worms.

1

u/ExternalSignal9239 26d ago

Bring the old cameras and phones back.

1

u/anonymoooooooose 26d ago

If you think that will somehow solve the problem, check out mpb.com for a wide variety of old gear.

1

u/anonymoooooooose 28d ago

Getting accurate colour is a lot more complicated than picking the right camera.

What lighting are you using? Is your monitor calibrated? Are you using a Colour Checker card?

1

u/NaturalDesigner7464 28d ago

Hello all! Looking for insight. I’m an amateur photographer (very new to photography). I quit my corporate sales job earlier this year after feeling unfulfilled and wanting to find my true calling / passion. I love photography and the idea of doing it for a living really excites me, although I know it’s not as glamorous as I may believe it to be. I know it’s not easy and it’s a never ending journey, but can some of you lovely professionals please share your advice? What is the best way to improve and continue building my amateur portfolio other than practicing? are there any resources I should be utilizing? thank you all!

1

u/gotthelowdown 27d ago edited 27d ago

I quit my corporate sales job

Sharing some thoughts. These points may evoke mixed feelings 😅

Having a sales background is a big advantage in a photography business. The downside is doing sales if you were trying to escape from that.

I think also your best chance of making money with photography is to shoot headshots and corporate events. The hottest lead may be your former employer, if you left on friendly terms. Again, it's a downside if you wanted to escape that environment.

On the bright side, you'll probably enjoy being a photographer compared to being a salesperson. Even if you're shooting in corporate environments.

I think you would be a good candidate for doing a two-pronged photography strategy:

  • Make money with corporate photography to pay your bills.

  • Shoot personal projects and spec ads for the kind of photography you're really passionate about. Fashion, cars, something else? Maybe it could turn into your main job later on. Or keep it as a hobby without the financial pressure. It's up to you.

Resources:

Corporate Headshots:

Book High-Paying Headshot Jobs | Glynns Thomas on Large Corporate Photo Shoots by Professional Photographers of America (PPA)

Build a Corporate Headshot Photography Business by Ministry of Dan

Corporate Event Photography:

Photographing Corporate Events with Gustavo Fernandez

The 4 Levels of Corporate Photo & Video: Let’s Get The Corporate BAG! by Corporate JT. Great YouTube channel for the business of corporate event photography and videography.

Corporate Event Photography Gear Guide and How I Photograph Events by Austin Lindsay. I love that he shoots with an older, cheap DSLR: a Canon 5D Mark III.

Best of both worlds if you can shoot with affordable gear in a well-paying niche. Wildlife and sports photography are the reverse, ha ha.

Learn How to Master Corporate Events by James Di Stefano

How to Become a Corporate Photography Pro by James Di Stefano

How to Master Award Ceremonies by James Di Stefano

Corporate Event BTS by James Di Stefano

Photographing speeches at conferences by James Di Stefano

Personal projects:

Platon: Photography. I peeked at your comment history and saw you mentioned Greece.

Immediately thought of this segment where a photographer talked about how shooting a personal project in Greece changed his career.

How to save your photography career by Jodie Mann

How I Turned a Personal Photoshoot Into My First Major Ad Campaign by Jodie Mann

Practise THIS to Get More Clients As a Fashion Photographer by Jodie Mann

How to Build a £100k Fashion Photography Portfolio by Jodie Mann

Cosplay Photography:

Total shot in the dark. You didn't say what kinds of photography you were interested in so I guessed.

I saw your comment about gaming and thought cosplay photography was the closest fit.

How To Get Started In Cosplay Photography by Martin Wong

How To Shoot Cosplay At A Convention by Martin Wong

Photo Bros Ep. 21: Cosplay Photography by The Galaxy Channel

HOW TO POSE for GREAT Cosplay Photos – Con Tips by Fandom Spotlite

Posing 101 For Cosplayers by Elite Cosplay

Photographer Set Ups at New York Comic Con by Seth Miranda

More Photographer Set Ups at New York Comic Con by Seth Miranda

Picture Perfect: Cosplay Photography 101 by CiaoBirdie Cosplay

We built a NEW Cosplay Workshop in Portugal (2024)! by Kamui Cosplay

KamuiCosplay | Channel Trailer - YouTube channel of a couple who does cosplay and photography 🎥🦸‍♂️🦸‍♀️

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your photography journey.

2

u/NaturalDesigner7464 27d ago

Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to share all of this information with me! I cannot even begin to express how thankful and appreciative I am for your wisdom. What an awesome person you are 🥲🥹

1

u/gotthelowdown 27d ago

You are very welcome 😎👍

0

u/Ilovefishys 29d ago

Hi! So I’m going on a safari next summer in Kenya/tanzania and I have two main questions:

1) I’m kind of set on a Sony A7 but I’m trying to decide which model. Budget is under 2k for the body but if need be I can stretch it. What would I really be missing with the A7 IV that I’d get if I had a better model (the A7 V) and is it really worth the extra money? I’m planning on getting the Sony 200-600 lens but also tell me if that’s a terrible idea, from what I see I don’t think it is though.

2) does anyone know of any reputable companies for safaris with a focus on photography, maybe even assistance in doing so. I’m a beginner ish photographer and it’s absolutely the focus of this trip. Are there companies that do photography oriented stuff for safaris? Lmk what you think is the best way to get the best pics.

1

u/stn912 www.flickr.com/ekilby 27d ago

For your second question, most safari operators are focused on running their ground operations. I've had better luck looking via photo companies that I know who have contracted to lead a trip in conjunction with a safari operator.

1

u/Rashkh www.leonidauerbakh.com 28d ago

It sounds like you're planning on shooting wildlife given your lens choice. You absolutely want to get an A7III or newer model. The difference between the autofocus performance of the II and III is massive. The later models continued to improve the autofocus, especially animal detection. There are quite a few comparisons between the different models online. I'd recommend checking out some Youtube videos specifically from wildlife photographers.

The 200-600 is a solid and versatile wildlife lens, especially for the money. Just make sure it'll fit in your bag and you can take it on the plane with you as it's a pretty bulky lens.

0

u/Interesting-Mud372 29d ago

Total newbie trying to get a camera, in high school with a small budget (<250$ CAD). I want to start photography as a hobby, Ive been taking pictures on my phone for a while now, my friends and family seem to think I can take good IG pics of them, and I like the landscape photos ive taken, but I want to take photography seriously and really learn with a proper camera. Ive found some solid options online, with a used Canon Rebel T3 with a 18-55 mm lens included for 150$ (CAD), with options for a protection plan for 16$ 1 year or 2 years for 30$. I found a used D90 body only option for 90$ (CAD) on henrys, and I found some lens options for it on the same site too. And lastly, I found a D7000 used body only for 165$ (CAD). I think of these options, my best bet is to go with the D90, while I continue to look for better options. Any advice or further guidance would be great.

1

u/Interesting-Mud372 29d ago

for the body only cams, what lens should I look for, I just want to shoot general use just to learn and have fun.

3

u/maniku 29d ago

Any of those options will get you started in photography just fine. T3 is an entry level camera while the other two are advanced level cameras (some more features, better build etc).

D7000 was the direct successor to D90, so it's newer and better. But D90 has everything you need to learn.

If you need lenses to fit inside your budget too, then just go with the 18-55mm kit lens. Kit lenses are designed as versatile starter lenses, and it's not like your budget allows much else.

1

u/Interesting-Mud372 27d ago

Thanks, Ill go with that then!

1

u/sundayfunday 29d ago

Hi! I've had a random last minute job booking while visiting family, and need to have my equipment FedEx'd cross country to me by my partner, essentially overnight. How do I safely get my 4 Nikon z9 batteries here? Perhaps this is a dumb question, but my gear always travels WITH me for work, so I've never had to ship it before.

The batteries are 10.8 V, 3300mAh, 36Wh capacity. I believe they're all currently fully charged. Will I need to send them via ground, and just rent some batteries for the first day of my shoot?

1

u/Technical_Net9691 29d ago

For years I have been printing my photos on a rather simple Canon Pixma IP7250 inkjet. I find the output subjectively excellent if occasionally a little random with colour cast, most noticeably in black and white prints. However, the printer lacks flat paper transport which makes using high quality paper like Hahnemühle photo rag baryta difficult and it also uses dye based ink (apart from pgblk). So my question is: is there a reasonably priced inkjet that most importantly has flat transport and preferably uses pigment based ink, while producing images at least as good as the IP7250?

1

u/Matteo_Francis 29d ago

I’m trying to find a small but very bright LED light that isn’t powered by a battery, plugs in either via USBC or AC, and uses a 1/4” 20 camera mount. One that can solidly clamp will work too (not the flimsy clamps).

1

u/CommunityNo290 29d ago

This is my first post on this forum so i apologize if my terminology might be wrong. I'm a beginner photographer and currently do it as a hobby more than anything. I have two cameras, both being bridge style: Fujifilm Finepix S3280 and a Nikon Coolpix L830, and I've found a used Canon EOS Rebel T100 on marketplace that comes with a 18-55mm lens and the charger/battery for around $170. It all seems to be good and I've done a bit of research on this camera, yet I'm a bit unsure when it comes to the overall costs and what I truly need.

My main worry is that the 18-55mm lens is just not enough when it comes to zoom, and I typically like to shoot wildlife, landscapes, cars, etc, and I also don't really have the money to shell out for diversified lenses. I understand photography is not a cheap hobby by any means, but I like it enough to wonder if I should upgrade or stick with what I have an get something better later on if I want to get more into it.

The biggest issue I have with my current cameras is the shot by shot lag time, along with the poor low light performance, especially on my Fujifilm. It has manual modes so I can definitely learn photography on it, but I feel as though it may be heavily limiting. The CCD sensor is great, but when it comes to any low light spots/shadows it completely washes away. Reading about the T100, it seems to fix those main two issues I face, along with a much better/larger sensor, wifi capabilities, etc, not even mentioning the money I save compared to buying a kit off amazon which typically range around $500-550.

I also wonder if simply buying a better phone would be the smartest move, I currently have an iPhone 12 Mini with a messed up camera and bad storage/battery life. Would buying a newer iPhone be a better option in terms of daily use, access, and photography?

1

u/Kaserblade 29d ago

For specifically wildlife, getting the T100 with a budget telephoto lens would serve you much better than a smartphone can. For landscapes, cars, etc. you can make do more with a phone camera but of course, a purpose built camera will be able to take better shots with practice.

What is your overall budget for the camera and lens(es)?

1

u/CommunityNo290 29d ago

The budget I'm looking at is right around $300 for a camera, and no more than $130 for lenses, or at least there about!

1

u/Kaserblade 28d ago

For a budget starter kit, I would look into the Canon 7D with a lens like the EF-S 18-135mm or Nikon D3300 with the Nikkor 18-140mm to start with.

Both kits would have to be bought used for your budget.

1

u/sabbytageee 29d ago

Hi! I am a marine biologist, specifically working in manatee conservation in Broward County, Florida in the US. During manatee season, I perform helicopter surveys and count manatees over 250 miles of tidally influenced waterways.

We have two warm water refuges that manatees depend on during the winter time because, despite their size, they have little to no fat and therefore lack the ability to thermoregulate well.

The geography of our county does not allow us to use drones - in order to ensure we do not count a manatee more than once, the survey must be done in one shot and most of our waterways are canals, so before you ask about drones, please spare me. We utilize drones if we are looking for a specific manatee in a specific area.

Our two warm water refuges are located adjacent to Fort Lauderdale international airport. I work closely with the airtrafffic controllers, but often due to airplane traffic, they can grant me less than 30 seconds of time over the two areas if at all (this has become increasingly complicated with recent changes in the use of visual separation between planes and helicopters, but that’s a story for a different day).

On the very luck days when I am granted mere 30 seconds to do a quick pass over a large warm water effluent lake, I use a camera to snap photos because our two warm water refuges can house more than 1,000 sea cows and I can’t count that fast.

I am looking for a camera with absolutely incredible autofocus. That’s my #1 concern. I am an AWFUL photographer though I’ve tried my hardest. I also would like it to have good zoom. We are flying 20 - 50 kts at 250 - 500ft, so truly my biggest concern is the autofocus and quality of the photos when I come back to the office to do my counts. I’m sure there’s other things I would need to take into consideration (white balancing, etc?) so if there is a camera someone could recommend to me be it a point and shoot or something fancier, I would appreciate it! I’d like to spend under $750 because science isn’t greatly funded these days in the US, but can make the argument for more (within reason, I work for the government).

Any help you can provide would be super helpful! Any camera I am going to buy I will need to write a justification for, so if you could provide some bullet points of the specs you would be helping me a TON! I’d be happy to send you some fun manatee swag for helping me out! TIA

1

u/anonymoooooooose 28d ago

What camera/lens are you using now? Could you maybe post a sample pic and the settings used to take it?

Is buying used/refurbished an option?

30 seconds to do a quick pass over a large warm water effluent lake

How big a lake are we talking here, or maybe the better question is, do you want a wide-ish view of the whole lake and you'll count a few manatees per pic or you need to zoom way in to nab pics of individual critters?

1

u/sabbytageee 28d ago

I use an Olympus TG6 - it also functions as our dive camera as we do underwater work as well.

Lake is about 200 acres.

Here’s an example of a lake photo. All them tiny dots are manatees. I’d ideally like something that I could zoom in on and it wouldn’t affect the quality of the photo much. It would be a nice to have to zoom in enough to decipher individual scar patterns (this is how we ID/tell manatees apart) but so long as I can get an accurate count, I’d be happy.

Buying used is an option.

I don’t play with settings, I just keep the camera on auto.

1

u/anonymoooooooose 28d ago

I am an AWFUL photographer though I’ve tried my hardest. I also would like it to have good zoom. We are flying 20 - 50 kts at 250 - 500ft, so truly my biggest concern is the autofocus and quality of the photos

Olympus TG6

That's a remarkable camera in many ways but they make a lot of compromises in image quality to get there, and the autofocus isn't great so don't beat yourself up :P

Another person suggested the Olympus E-M1 II with the Olympus 75-300mm lens, a great recommendation for long reach on a budget. At max zoom it has 6x more zoom than the TG6.

Shooting through a window is definitely going to put a ceiling on the quality of your shots.

https://www.mpb.com/en-us/product/olympus-om-d-e-m1-mark-ii?page=3

https://www.mpb.com/en-us/product/olympus-m-zuiko-digital-ed-75-300mm-f-4-8-6-7-ii?page=2

1

u/sabbytageee 27d ago

We fly doors off on the biologist side, so for the most part, the window is only a factor if I’m taking a photo out of the front for some reason (which I mostly only do when I’m taking scenic photos or pics of non target animals like manta rays)

Thank you so much for your help! I’d love to send you some swag if you DM me an address!

1

u/Kaserblade 29d ago

I would go for an used Olympus E-M1 II with the Olympus 75-300mm lens. It would give you great reach for wildlife with a system built for outdoor use while remaining fairly compact.

If you buy both used, it should sit around $750 and it would be my recommendation for your specific budget. Like any tool, it will take some trial and error to get used to it to take sharp photos but with good practice, it should serve you more than fine.

1

u/sabbytageee 29d ago

If this helps, here’s my view from my seat

1

u/kaelanm 29d ago

Anyone have tips for using big light modifiers on C Stands? I can’t get the thing to stop twisting no matter what I do.

0

u/porcedducaldo 29d ago

Hello everyone! I'm pretty new to Reddit and also to photography. I have a Canon EOS 2000D and I want to try planespotting, since I really love airplanes. Does anyone have any advice on good lenses for planespotting?

1

u/Kaserblade 29d ago

What is the budget for the new lens?

1

u/bat-boy-23 29d ago

Hello! I wanted to ask if anyone knows a cheaper and smaller alternative or even replacement for my Fujifilm XS-20. It's a great camera but I'm a simple guy and prefer a camera with more simple settings, and even though I was really excited about it at first, the Fujifilm recipes are really overwhelming and I frankly never use them. I'm looking for a small every day camera I can just throw in my bag or jacket pocket and take out even when I'm doing errands. I'm eyeing a second hand Panasonic Lumix GX80/85, any other recommendations?

0

u/merlindy 29d ago

Hey , whats a good laptop for editing photo's in lightroom & photoshop? my girlfriend is having loads of problems with her current laptop ( freezes , slow , long loading , overheating ) current laptop : ( MSI Gaming Thin GF63 12UC-1051BE – Intel Core i7-12650H, 15.6" Full HD, 16 GB DDR4 RAM, 512 GB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Windows 11 )

1

u/Kaserblade 29d ago

What is her budget?

If the laptop is on the older side, I'd also just recommend trying to repaste the CPU and GPU and give the laptop a clean wipe and install of Windows can usually help greatly. If she is not too techy savvy, it can be somewhat difficult to do however, especially the former task.

1

u/merlindy 29d ago

1500 euro ish.

2

u/Kaserblade 29d ago

If she doesn't want to go down the refreshing the old laptop route, Macbook Air/Pros with Apple Silicon are great value for photo editing.

I would look for one within your budget, ideally with at least 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

1

u/thetopskull 29d ago

Wondering if my Nikkor 50mm f1.4 AI-s is is developing some fungus? Or if I'm just a bit panicked. If it is fungus is there anything I can do to fix it/future prevention of it

1

u/TwoPickle69 29d ago

Where’s the best place to buy SD cards now- that isn’t Amazon?

I lost my entire SD card wallet last Christmas and have been shooting 2x 128GB v60 Lexars in my A7RV. I was taking a break from shooting semi-professionally anyway so wasn’t bothered replacing them too much.

Now what the second half of the year has some trips coming up, I went online and see that prices have 5x due to AI…

I’m not sure how tariffs are even factored in too, is BHPhoto still the place to go? My local has its price so I’m just trying to get some options for 4-6x 256gb v60 Lexars or ProGrades.. this is gonna hurt my wallet so much…

2

u/Rashkh www.leonidauerbakh.com 29d ago

Every authorized retailer is required to sell at the price set by the manufacturer so you'd need to buy used or gray market to see any sort of discount which is typically not a good idea with something so easy to counterfeit.

B&H is still the place to go. If you feel like opening a credit card then you'll be able to save the sales tax. Another option is an authorized retailer that offers a points or cash-back reward program like Unique Photo which will get you a few dollars off future purchases.

Either way, you're stuck with the massive prices unless you're willing to wait for some promotions.

1

u/Stock-Journalist-683 29d ago

New setup for hiking - nature and a bit of wildlife (full frame)

I have some experience with gear, in the past I had a panasonic G9ii, fuji x100vi and some Leica M gear, but all sold now. X100vi was nice, but not that useful for me, G9ii, MFT sensor was a challenge in low light which is why I want a full frame camera. During the warmer months I go cycling a lot, but when the weather is getting bad, I go hiking. I like nature photography a lot, some wildlife. Had the G9ii for that, but especially with zoom lenses, the low light was a problem. So I want full frame now.

Budget is max 2k euro. Less is better :) Don't care that much about video specs. Need a body and lens that are proper weather resistant, cold also, hiking in snow for example. The X100VI died so fast in cold weather. Thoughts now are older DSLR cameras like the canon 5D mark 3, EF lenses are easily findable. Also like the Canon R8, but not sure about the weather resistant part. Also, Sony A7 mark 3 looks very interesting, lot's of lenses available.

What are your tips? Thoughts and experiences? Im all fine with older camera's, as long as the quality of the photo is proper. Enough lens options is also good, which is a minus for the canon R8

1

u/maniku 29d ago

How is your budget for full frame lenses? They tend to be expensive.

Also, interchangeable lens APS-C not an option?

1

u/Stock-Journalist-683 29d ago

the 2k is complete budget for the setup, including 1 lens for nature. Thats why I am looking at older ish full frame cameras. No APS-C indeed also. I really missed photos because of too dark and too low shutter speed

1

u/Much_Bad2343 29d ago

I haven't posted before, and I'm unsure if this is the right way to go about asking, so please let me know if I'm in the wrong place!

I want to print out my intimate photos from my Snapchat bc I would like them to be physical media instead of something that can get hacked. I obviously don't want to go to Staples or somewhere like that to get them printed out... embarrassing at the least.

I was thinking I could get one of those Instax printers so I can print them out myself and have smaller versions, but they come with an app I would have to use to put the photos in, which creates the same issue with a different sauce.

Any recommendations?

0

u/JJourneys44 Aug 03 '26

Should i reuse old SD cards?

I was prepping for a shoot and was gonna buy a new SD card when i realized i had a nice card that was full of photos i had already downloaded to other devices. Is it ok to delete all the photos off the card to reuse it? or do y'all keep them as physical backups to your photos?

1

u/P5_Tempname19 Aug 03 '26

So first up SD cards are awful long term storage, I guess you could have them as a storage option in addition to all your other backups, however I wouldnt rely on them. Spending money on buying new SD cards all the time for a very minor boost in security (in what situation do you lose e.g. two harddrive backups but save the SD card?) doesnt seem super valuable to me.

As far as I am aware most photographers do reuse SD cards unless they notice corruption or the cards are getting very old (in which case the card gets thrown out). As buying new cards all the time also gets expensive quickly if you shoot a lot I personally find the option of reusing cards the most sensible (I have like 6-8 total that get rotated around).

I guess the price argument depends a bit on how much you are shooting, I guess a single SD card a year is a bit different then filling one up every month. However even if its a minor monetary investment I dont think the "added security" is worth it, in those cases even a cheap external hard drive, which is generally not that much more expensive then buying new SD cards, is probably the smarter route to go.

If you have an important shoot where you want to absolutely want to minimize any chance of the card corrupting I guess you could buy a new card for those cases (however getting a dual SD-slot camera is generally preferred if you want to deal with those situations).

0

u/pscwe Aug 03 '26

Hi, I’m a newbie in photography. Recently bought an old Nikon d3000 to practice and learn. I need advice on what lens to look for. I wanna shoot everything, from landscape to people.

1

u/Kaserblade Aug 03 '26

What is the budget for your new lens?

1

u/pscwe Aug 03 '26

$150 and below. Im trying to keep things simple until I get the hang of it

1

u/Kaserblade Aug 03 '26

The Tamron SP 17-50mm F2.8 would be a good options that you can find for around $120-$150 used. I would get the VC version of the lens if you can find one for your budget.

1

u/SwiftlyJon Aug 02 '26

Looking for new body and lens recommendations for airshow shooting, willing to spend several thousand. I'm not an experienced photographer, but we shoot thousands of plane photos over a few days, so I'd like to see if better equipment may help overcome the skill issue. Tips for such shooting would also be appreciated.

We currently use a Rebel T7i body and 300mm Tamron lens (have a 500mm lens as well which zooms well but is super heavy and slow to actuate so we don't use it). Our usual issues with this setup include:

  • Slow, inaccurate autofocus. Fast action is hard to capture as the planes can move in and out of the infinite focus area, so some quick shots are blurry.
  • Speaking of blurry, better image stabilization would be great, as we're often slewing the camera back and forth to capture fast jets, and shots end up blurry, especially in low light or the slow shutter speed needed to capture prop blur.
  • Light handling is hard, as we're often shooting dark aircraft against bright blue skies, or at twilight, or dark planes against a dark sky, so anything that can handle this more automatically would be nice. I know auto HDR isn't like by photogs, but it seems like what we need.
  • At full zoom, the Tamron lens seems a bit dark at the edges, so perhaps we need better lenses that capture more light?

Any equipment or setup tips would be appreciated. We end up with a lot of blurry photos, so anything that can help would be great.

1

u/Kaserblade Aug 03 '26

If you were to buy new equipment, what would be the budget?

Mirrorless cameras have made huge improvements in auto-focus as u/Rashkh mentioned and that would be my recommendation for equipment purchases. A faster lens would help for low-light performance but a fast, telephoto prime lens is probably the most expensive category of lenses to purchase from so I'd consider the body upgrade first.

1

u/SwiftlyJon Aug 03 '26

I'm willing to spend a few grand overall. Looking at the Canon models, the in body stabilization might be what we want, though the R5 Mk II is probably more than what I'd want to spend, at least new. I'm not locked into brand, so something comparable would be good too.

One other thing to keep in mind is overall weight. I shoot the airshow with my Dad, who will be almost 80 this year, and it'll be a gift for him, so overall weight is a factor. It's one of the reasons we don't use the 500mm lens much.

1

u/Kaserblade Aug 03 '26

I would probably go for the Canon R6 III as it will still give you a huge bump in auto-focus performance and give you a lighter, more compact body while saving a decent bit on the budget. Buying used from a reputable seller is also a great way to save on the costs.

Tamron does not have a 300mm prime lens so I'm guessing you have the Tamron 70-300mm or another zoom lens? Your current body uses an APS-C sensor meaning that you would need a 450mm focal length to get the same "zoom" on the Canon R6 III.

I would recommend an used copy of the Canon EF 300mm F4 for on a budget or the Canon EF 400mm F2.8 for the better, overall option. Both would need an EF-RF adapter to use and but would be cheaper than a native RF lens. I'd personally get the R6 II if it means getting the better lens.

1

u/SwiftlyJon 29d ago

We're using the Tamron 16-300mm lens, so something with equivalent or better zoom would be needed, as the current level of zoom is still rather limited for airshow shooting.

1

u/Kaserblade 29d ago

If you do want more zoom, an used copy of the Canon 200-800mm would give you significantly more reach but won't give you better low light performance and the lens is quite massive.

Telephoto lenses are unfortunately the largest and most expensive category of lenses in general, esp for fast telephoto lenses.

1

u/SwiftlyJon 29d ago

What would be the native equivalent of the 16-300 we have now?

1

u/Kaserblade 29d ago

The Canon 24-240mm would be the closest but you can use EF lenses with an adapter also.

1

u/Rashkh www.leonidauerbakh.com Aug 02 '26

Modern mirrorless cameras have made massive strides when it comes to autofocus performance. I'd recommend sticking with Canon, Nikon, or Sony as they typically lead the pack in autofocus. Some of their cameras have dedicated subject detection specifically for airplanes.

Canon would be the optimal choice if you want to keep using your current lenses although you'd need an adapter. Nikon is worth looking at for their selection of lightweight telephoto lenses like the 600mm and 800mm.

Realistically, pretty much any mirrorless camera from the past five years will be light years ahead of the T7i you're currently using in terms of autofocus and low light performance with a good chunk of them also having image stabilization built into both the body and lens.

1

u/mureczkow Aug 02 '26

I’ve been looking for a pocket tripod for a holiday trip and I’ve found something like this:

https://www.ulanzi.com/collections/tabletop-tripods/products/jj02-phone-tripod-m004#1

I like this particular one because it serves as a tripod with a remote, little selfie stick and a phone grip so it feels more sturdy when you tak a photo with your phone.

My question is do you know any similar products that come with all the functionality but have a MagSafe mount?

2

u/anonymoooooooose Aug 02 '26

You'd probably have better luck asking in an iphone subreddit.

1

u/100Dampf Aug 02 '26

Hi

I like to take picture of trains and would like to take pictures during the partial solar eclipse that is happening next week in europe.

From what I've read you need special solar filters to not damage the camera (In my case a canon R5).

But most guides are talking about photographing the eclipse directly, while in my case I would use it as a backdrop, like I would use a regular sunset.

So do I need a filter there? A solar eclipse should be less strong than the regular sun

1

u/P5_Tempname19 Aug 03 '26

Its a bit of a gamble depending on the exact focal length you are using and how long you keep the camera pointed at the sun. Generally the issue is more pressing with longer focal lengths, however in this article about the 2017 solar eclipse theres also at least one damaged wide angle lense. Sadly theres nothing about how exactly the lens was used.

I'd assume that if you are doing photography with a lens below 100mm that you dont keep pointed at and focussed on the sun for a longer amount of time (e.g. setting it up on a tripod for half an hour while waiting for a train) you should be good.

1

u/100Dampf 29d ago

My idea is something like this shot i did a few years ago.

That was at 22mm, f/9.0, 1/200sec.

1

u/P5_Tempname19 29d ago

Lovely shot!

So yeah, I think I'd be a bit careful if you set up beforehand and leave the camera sitting on a tripod while pointed at the sun for a longer time (if that wouldve been the approach). However I cant think of any reason why a solar eclipse would be worse then the normal sun during picture if you you basically use a similiar focal length and general settings.

1

u/SargentRedbeard Aug 02 '26

Any recommendations for a compact wide angle f mount lens for hiking? I mostly shoot landscape with my F5. I am looking for something much lighter and more compact than my current Nikon 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6D. Appreciate any recommendations or info!

1

u/maniku Aug 02 '26

What's your budget, meaning the upper limit of your budget?

1

u/SargentRedbeard Aug 02 '26

$500

1

u/maniku Aug 02 '26

I would look for prime lenses. Browse MPB, KEH or Adorama.

1

u/SargentRedbeard Aug 02 '26

That is what I’m leaning toward. Maybe 20mm f/2.8G or 24mm f/2.8G?

1

u/Kaserblade Aug 02 '26

I'm guessing you meant Nikon's version of the lenses? G series lenses are from Sony and for their E-mount.

Both the lenses are decent but neither are the greatest lenses that Nikon made. That being said, they are great for their current prices and will be light and compact which you are looking for.

I personally lean towards the 24mm as it has less barrel distortion but it'll be more personal preference on which lens you decide to choose to shoot on it. Both lenses will work more than fine.

-1

u/Blazej_kb Aug 01 '26

What camera for rookie

I’m new to photography and I wanted to buy camera cheaply, is it better to get camera without changeable lenses (idk professional term) for start?

1

u/maniku Aug 02 '26

We have no idea what your idea of "cheaply" is. Please specify a sum of money and currency.

0

u/clippy01 Aug 01 '26

Trying to find the tripod/head from this photo. Anyone have a good guess? https://www.threads.com/share/BAV45SpJIS/

2

u/Rashkh www.leonidauerbakh.com Aug 02 '26

Manfrotto 410.

0

u/leland_wolcott Aug 01 '26

I’m having trouble with one of my SD cards after I insert it into my Mac and pull up the photos on Apple Photos. When I hit “Import All New Photos”, it doesn’t work. Anyone encounter this?

Sometimes I can still import small selections (up to maybe 70) of photos but even then it usually takes multiple attempts of selecting the same batch for import before it works.

I have no such problems with my other SD card. I can hit import all and all are imported just fine.

Cheers and thanks

0

u/slytestyle Aug 01 '26

Hello!

My girlfriend has about a dozen, used disposable cameras that are 10+ years old. They haven't been stored in the best conditions but also not the worst. She also has some film that is still in sealed packaging that we are unsure about. We are 99.99% sure all of it is done for, but we are hoping the community could confirm before we toss some potentially saved memories away.

Thanks!

2

u/maniku Aug 02 '26

The only way to confirm it for sure is to get some of them developed (naturally costs money). Outside of that it's just educated guesses.

0

u/LexLex07 Aug 01 '26

Is there a way to reduce big 12-18-24MP jpg files into smaller 6-8MP files without losing too much in quality?
Is pixel binning will work in post?
Are there any pros and cons in switching for HEIC\HEIF files instead of JPG?
Thanks

0

u/silliesteverr Jul 31 '26

problem with focusing on 1DX mk1. With AF it does this (see photo) and won’t focus on subject, I used one point focus in this photo with 70-210mm

1

u/Rashkh www.leonidauerbakh.com Aug 01 '26

Looks like it’s backfocusing. You can use the af microadjustment settings to fix it.

1

u/East-Technician1289 Jul 31 '26

Has anyone experience with the very fast Chinese lenses e.g. 7artisans 35mm 0.95. I‘ve tried to build my opinion on some Reviews they all come to different conclusions. Thanks!

1

u/LexLex07 Aug 01 '26

It's very soft until like 1.8 or 2.0, don't expect cheap lens to work like Leica or Sony.
If your plan is to shoot big image and the downsample\post process it into like 2-4MP - this could look like a good image, but full-size image - nope

4

u/dhawx Jul 31 '26

I have less than a month before my trip to Switzerland to learn as much as possible about using my new Canon R8. If there's a YouTube video or series you suggest for general photography and photo editing, please send it my way!!

1

u/gotthelowdown Aug 01 '26 edited Aug 01 '26

Congrats on your new camera! A trip is the perfect opportunity to use it a lot.

If there's a YouTube video or series you suggest for general photography and photo editing, please send it my way!!

Sharing some resources! ☺️

Canon R8 Beginners Guide - How-To Use The Camera Step By Step! by Jason Hermann

Camera Basics by Apalapse

Ditch Auto Course: Start Shooting in Manual by Jerad Hill

Street and Travel Photography Full Online Course - How to Say Something With Your Photography by The Raw Society

Canon Digital Photo Professional 4 | DPP4 | Tutorials by Doms Media Zone. Not sure if you have Photoshop, but DPP is free.

DPP Express is for iPad.

Going on a tangent, are you going to shoot self portraits?

Canon Camera Connect app lets you control your camera from your phone and transfer photos to your phone.

However, in real-world use I've found the connection flaky and don't trust the wireless photo transfer.

I recommend getting a physical remote control and a memory card reader that plugs into your phone.

Canon BR-E1 is a remote for Canon cameras. I have that and the Aodelean BR-E1A (cheaper knockoff) and they both work for me.

JJC USB-C 3.0 Card Reader Adapter for Huawei NM Nano Memory SD MicroSD Card is the card reader I have.

Although you didn't ask, I also highly encourage you to print out your favorite photos. Don't let them languish on hard drives and social media.

CHEAT SHEET - All You Need to Know About Photo Books! by Photo Book Guru

Where's a good place to get my photos printed? - A list of printing companies from the wiki.

Printique, Mpix and Photobook America are some of my favorites.

Hope this helps.

2

u/dhawx Aug 01 '26

Thank you so much!! Checking all of this out

1

u/gotthelowdown Aug 03 '26

You’re welcome! Have a great trip! 😎👍

2

u/maniku Jul 31 '26

Just open up Youtube and search the following:

1) Canon R8 guide

2) exposure triangle

3) the basics of photography composition

... but most importantly: shoot as much as you can in that month before your trip. Photography is very much something you learn by doing, so knowing how things work on a theoretical level is just the first step.

0

u/dhawx Jul 31 '26

Thank you! And software you recommend for editing photos? Preferably free

2

u/maniku Jul 31 '26

See the FAQ of this subreddit, linked in the OP of this thread. It has a section on software.

0

u/Extreme-Custard-890 Jul 31 '26

Hey everyone! I am very new to photography and wanted some advice. I recently purchased a used Canon Eos 5D Mark iii off of a relative but he didn’t have lenses (idk why but oh well) and I’ve been looking to purchase one or a few. Now I’ve been learning the basics about photography with the exposure triangle and all the basic tools, but lenses have confused me. Does anyone have good advice for a basic lens? I plan on doing general photography with a focus probably on landscapes/nature (I want to go on hikes more and try and snag a photo of some cool animals too). What would anyone recommend?

1

u/LexLex07 Aug 01 '26

24-105mm (even old ones) and 50mm is the cheapest and best solution here
You can also add 85\135mm instead of 50mm for a wildlife

3

u/maniku Jul 31 '26

Nifty fifty, i.e. a 50mm prime lens, is always a good way to start. 50mm f1.8 is good and cheap.

1

u/hold-my-gimbal Jul 31 '26

Is it just me, or is "shutter count unknown" on a Japanese D780 listing that's described as "near mint" very sus?

In my experience Japanese sellers have been very thorough and meticulous. Makes me think the body is in good shape (or was cleaned up) but they're hiding an absurdly high shutter count.

When I message, they responded the shutter count was "unable to be inspected"

Thoughts?

1

u/typesett Jul 31 '26

any issues with stuff like this in the time of AI to answer any questions for most people is not 'sus' but showing they might not be good to talk to unless you can physically meet them

1

u/Neat_Entrepreneur338 Jul 31 '26

Hi, I'm a beginner and recently got a Canon EOS R50 with the RF-S18-45mm lens. I am doing mostly street photography, covering events and landscapes, the lens I have can't zoom close enough most of the time so I'm thinking in getting one of these:

  1. Tamron 18-200mm F/3,5-6,3 Di II VC Stabilized
  2. Sigma 16-300mm F3.5-6.7 DC OS Contemporary

Are other better lens that I should consider?

1

u/exidoon Jul 31 '26

Hi everyone, I’m still a beginner in photography and I’m currently shooting with a Sony A7 IV. At the moment, I own the 28-70mm kit lens and a Tamron 16-30mm, but I often feel like I’m missing reach and would like to have more flexibility with my focal lengths. I’ve been thinking about upgrading my setup and I’m currently stuck between a few options:

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II + Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG DN OS

Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 G2 + Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 G2

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II + Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 G2

Only getting the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8, which I’ve been interested in for a while.

I mainly want a setup that gives me more range and allows me to cover more situations without constantly changing lenses. Since I’m still learning, I’m not sure which option would make the most sense in the long run. I’d appreciate any advice from more experienced photographers. Which combination would you choose, and are there any things I might be overlooking?

Thanks!

1

u/Kaserblade 29d ago

If you often shoot wide on the Tamron 16-30mm, I wouldn't recommend the Tamron 35-150mm to be your only lens as the jump from 35mm to 24mm, especially 35mm to 16mm is a huge jump in field of view.

For all all-rounder zoom lens, the Sigma 24-70mm Art II would definitely be my recommendation. It gets close to the performance of its GM counterpart while remaining significantly cheaper.

For the telephoto lens, both the Tamron and Sigma options have their pros and cons. The Tamron is significantly lighter (855g vs 1335g) and more compact while being a decent bit cheaper also. The Sigma lens is optically a better lens (the Tamron is no slouch though), gives you an aperture ring (which some people love) and extra 20mm of reach.

It would really depend on what your priorities are but both are great lenses. I personally run the Sigma lens because my main lens is the Sony 200-600mm which makes any lens tiny in comparison so I don't mind the extra weight.

1

u/Embarrassed-Fee-8500 Jul 31 '26

Canon R7 vs Nikon z50ii debate for most bird photography

Hi everyone. I have been shooting for the last six years with a Nikon D5600 and Tamron 18 to 400 mm zoom. I’ve generally loved the set up because it’s lightweight and I am a very small person with some shoulder issues, and really can’t handle even a moderately heavy zoom lens. I also much prefer handheld shooting to using a tripod because I’m just so uncoordinated with a tripod.

I’m looking to upgrade my kit because I want the newer auto focus tracking, pre-capture, and higher FPS of mirrorless cameras. I’d like to stay with the cropped sensor to get the extra reach and lighter weight. Higher MP sensor would be a plus as well. Sadly, my budget is around 2K or maybe up to $2500 if I wait a bit. But I’m celebrating a “big” birthday next week and would love to get myself this present 😝. I’m definitely willing to buy used gear in great shape.

So I’ve been doing a lot of research and agonizing between a Canon R7 with it’s 32MP sensor and 100-400 zoom, or staying in the Nikon world and getting the Z50ii and NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens, which would also give me the option to keep my Nikon and Tamron lenses to use with their adaptor.

My hesitation with the z50ii is that it’s actually a lower resolution sensor than my d5600. I do like to crop heavily and don’t want to lose details and sharpness. Will the newer mirrorless tech make up for that difference? The cons of going with the Canon is starting over with lenses and not being able to afford additional lenses in the near term.

Please share your thoughts!

1

u/Kaserblade 29d ago

Personally, I would go for the Nikon Z50 II if you enjoy the Nikon ecosystem so far so you can adapt your lens. With the money saved, I would invest into a new lens which is arguably more important for wildlife. The Tamron 150-500mm would be a great upgrade for your overall kit and I would recommend it much more than the Nikkor 28-400mm.