Canon's tips for semi-pros

[Bertram Paul]

I'm starting to wonder about the IQ (not meaning Image Quality) of Canon
shooters or at least how Canon seems to "rate" them.
These are Tips for semi-pros:

"Individual portraits and group photographs
The smaller the aperture, the greater the depth of field. Use a larger
aperture for an individual portrait
(for example F8). This will accentuate the person you are photographing. If
you would you like to shoot
a group photograph in which everyone is sharply in focus, select a smaller
aperture, for example F16.
Try using both possibilities step by step in a single situation and compare
the results with each other.
Look especially at depth and blur."

I guess it was too difficult for them to include information about the
difference between tele and wide angle lenses.
Maybe that's in the real Pro advice?


"If your camera allows *this, you can adjust the light metering
yourself. Consider beforehand which part of the photograph
you want to be properly lit. **In the case of a portrait, this will
usually be the face. With 'partial spot metering' you can
measure very precisely. Certainly in difficult situations,
such as high contrasts, this can be worthwhile."

*LOL, which "semi-pro" shoots with a camera that doesn't allow this?
Caramba! Even my old crappy Powershot has 3 different light metring modes.
**I wouldn't have guessed this one....

[Me]

Post by Bertram Paul
I'm starting to wonder about the IQ (not meaning Image Quality) of Canon
shooters or at least how Canon seems to "rate" them.
"Individual portraits and group photographs
The smaller the aperture, the greater the depth of field. Use a larger
aperture for an individual portrait
(for example F8). This will accentuate the person you are photographing. If
you would you like to shoot
a group photograph in which everyone is sharply in focus, select a smaller
aperture, for example F16.
Try using both possibilities step by step in a single situation and compare
the results with each other.
Look especially at depth and blur."
I guess it was too difficult for them to include information about the
difference between tele and wide angle lenses.
Maybe that's in the real Pro advice?
"If your camera allows *this, you can adjust the light metering
yourself. Consider beforehand which part of the photograph
you want to be properly lit. **In the case of a portrait, this will
usually be the face. With 'partial spot metering' you can
measure very precisely. Certainly in difficult situations,
such as high contrasts, this can be worthwhile."
*LOL, which "semi-pro" shoots with a camera that doesn't allow this?
Caramba! Even my old crappy Powershot has 3 different light metring modes.
**I wouldn't have guessed this one....

I know it seems lame, but take a look at the forums on DPReview, and
you'll see people posting even dumber questions in the "serious" camera
forums (ie 1D/s 5d and D1-D3). Many of them have listed in their profile
many thousands of dollars worth of new equipment that reads like a list
of "must have best" gear compiled by people who do know - but usually
can't afford it.

[Huge]

Post by Me

Post by Bertram Paul
*LOL, which "semi-pro" shoots with a camera that doesn't allow this?
Caramba! Even my old crappy Powershot has 3 different light metring modes.
**I wouldn't have guessed this one....

I know it seems lame, but take a look at the forums on DPReview, and
you'll see people posting even dumber questions in the "serious" camera
forums (ie 1D/s 5d and D1-D3). Many of them have listed in their profile
many thousands of dollars worth of new equipment that reads like a list
of "must have best" gear compiled by people who do know - but usually
can't afford it.

Usually referred to in all fields, not just photography, by the epithet "All
the gear but no idea."

[Robert Spanjaard]

Post by Bertram Paul
I'm starting to wonder about the IQ (not meaning Image Quality) of Canon
shooters or at least how Canon seems to "rate" them. These are Tips for

Too bad you didn't provide a link. I'd love to become a semi-pro through
their tips. :-)

Post by Bertram Paul
"If your camera allows *this, you can adjust the light metering
yourself. Consider beforehand which part of the photograph you want to
be properly lit. **In the case of a portrait, this will usually be the
face. With 'partial spot metering' you can measure very precisely.
Certainly in difficult situations, such as high contrasts, this can be
worthwhile."
*LOL, which "semi-pro" shoots with a camera that doesn't allow this?

The ones still relying on old manual equipment? I happen to know one who
still does weddings and portraits with a Rolleiflex DLR.
OTOH, he doesn't really need this advice anymore. :-)

[whisky-dave]

Post by Robert Spanjaard

Post by Bertram Paul
I'm starting to wonder about the IQ (not meaning Image Quality) of Canon
shooters or at least how Canon seems to "rate" them. These are Tips for

Too bad you didn't provide a link. I'd love to become a semi-pro through
their tips. :-)

"The smaller the aperture, the greater the depth of field. Use a larger
aperture for an individual portrait"
I used the above and googled it. (including the quotes)
not 1000s of suggested links just the one.

http://www.skydweller.co.uk/Camera/PeoplePortraits14_464704.pdf

Post by Robert Spanjaard

Post by Bertram Paul
*LOL, which "semi-pro" shoots with a camera that doesn't allow this?

The ones still relying on old manual equipment? I happen to know one who
still does weddings and portraits with a Rolleiflex DLR.
OTOH, he doesn't really need this advice anymore. :-)

My[1] Polaroid land 110B nealry fell of the shelf yesterday.



[1] well I rescued it from it's future in a skip, it can now be stored on a
shelf
until I lose it

[Robert Spanjaard]

Post by whisky-dave

Post by Robert Spanjaard
Too bad you didn't provide a link. I'd love to become a semi-pro
through their tips. :-)

"The smaller the aperture, the greater the depth of field. Use a larger
aperture for an individual portrait"
I used the above and googled it. (including the quotes) not 1000s of
suggested links just the one.
http://www.skydweller.co.uk/Camera/PeoplePortraits14_464704.pdf

So, anyone switching off automatic modes is a semi-pro, _if_ you take it
out of its context. It clearly fits the brochure as a whole...

[Mr.T]

Post by Robert Spanjaard
So, anyone switching off automatic modes is a semi-pro, _if_ you take it
out of its context. It clearly fits the brochure as a whole...

Nah they consider anyone buying an SLR to be a "semi-pro" even if they only
use auto modes. Anyone who knows how to actually use the controls is
obviously a "pro" :-)

MrT.

[Alan Browne]

Post by Bertram Paul
*LOL, which "semi-pro" shoots with a camera that doesn't allow this?
Caramba! Even my old crappy Powershot has 3 different light metring modes.
**I wouldn't have guessed this one....

The definition of a semi-pro can be anyone who sold one photograph
regardless of what went into it. I know of one guy who got into wedding
photography starting with a high end P&S. He evolved into doing some
decent work, I just cringe for all of his earlier clients who paid for
his self education...

[Me]

Post by Alan Browne
I know of one guy who got into wedding
photography starting with a high end P&S. He evolved into doing some
decent work, I just cringe for all of his earlier clients who paid for
his self education...

I cringe for the people who pay large sums of money to have "artistic"
wedding photos done, often printed and bound into large wedding photo
"books" these days, or even worse gross mural sized prints in faux gilt
frames for display somewhere. I feel a bit the same way about large
(and usually B&W) prints of baby photos.
Few people are worthy of such glorious treatment, including babies.
But if the client is happy, then the pro did his job perfectly,
regardless of cost or equipment used.

[spacecadet]

Post by Me

I know of one guy who got into wedding photography starting with a
high end P&S. He evolved into doing some decent work, I just cringe
for all of his earlier clients who paid for his self education...

I cringe for the people who pay large sums of money to have "artistic"
wedding photos done, often printed and bound into large wedding photo
"books" these days, or even worse gross mural sized prints in faux gilt
frames for display somewhere. I feel a bit the same way about large
(and usually B&W) prints of baby photos.
Few people are worthy of such glorious treatment, including babies.
But if the client is happy, then the pro did his job perfectly,
regardless of cost or equipment used.

I venture to suggest that a good part of what you pay a professional
is actually insurance. Or rather assurance that you will definitely have
something decent at the end of the day.

[Rich]

"Avoid problems with equipment in the field, buy Nikon?"

[Dudley Hanks]

Post by Rich
"Avoid problems with equipment in the field, buy Nikon?"

Yes, Rich, we aall know you are "out standing in the field" ... :)

Take Care,
Dudley

[D Peter Maus]

Post by Rich
"Avoid problems with equipment in the field, buy Nikon?"

I'd agree. But then, my D70 was less than a week old when it
locked up on an industrial shoot.

Had to borrow a friend's rig to complete the job.

Nikon took care of the issue, upgraded the firmware, and sent it
back pretty quickly, no charge.

But that Language Development Grant from the Navy came in real
handy that day. :)

[Alan Browne]

Post by Rich
"Avoid problems with equipment in the field, buy Nikon?"

Or Minolta.

Or Sony.

Or Canon.

Or Pentax.

Or Olympus.

Or Hasselblad.

Or Leica.

....

[Morton]

Post by Rich
"Avoid problems with equipment in the field, buy Nikon?"

That is why I moved to Canon!

Morton.
.
--------------------------
The Internet will become the
Sacred Sanctuary for Nutters and Idiots.
(Michel Nostradamus, December 14, 1503, July 2, 1566).
--------------------------

[whisky-dave]

Post by Rich
"Avoid problems with equipment in the field, buy Nikon?"

I tend to 'stop down' to get a better depth in my field :)

[Robert Coe]

On Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:15:57 -0500, Rich <***@nowhere.com> wrote:
: "Avoid problems with equipment in the field, buy Nikon?"

Right. I suspect that the last camera you bought was a Kodak Instamatic. But
by all means feel free to prove me wrong.

Bob

[Ray Fischer]

Post by Bertram Paul
I'm starting to wonder about the IQ (not meaning Image Quality) of Canon
shooters or at least how Canon seems to "rate" them.

_____________________
/| /| | |
||__|| | Do not feed the |
/ O O\__ | trolls. Thank you. |
/ \ | --Mgt. |
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/ \|_|_|/ | _||
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[Filthy Phil]

Post by Ray Fischer
Do not feed the |
| trolls. Thank you. |
--Mgt. |

Who's Margaret?

[Jürgen Exner]

Post by Filthy Phil

Post by Ray Fischer
Do not feed the |
| trolls. Thank you. |
--Mgt. |

Who's Margaret?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margrethe_II_of_Denmark

That was easy....

jue

[John A.]

On Wed, 20 May 2009 13:49:01 -0700, Jürgen Exner

Post by Jürgen Exner

Post by Filthy Phil

Post by Ray Fischer
Do not feed the |
| trolls. Thank you. |
--Mgt. |

Who's Margaret?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margrethe_II_of_Denmark
That was easy....

Someone should start a "quotes" section on that page. It's an
important quote and aught to be properly attributed.

[John A.]

Post by John A.
On Wed, 20 May 2009 13:49:01 -0700, Jürgen Exner

Post by Jürgen Exner

Post by Filthy Phil

Post by Ray Fischer
Do not feed the |
| trolls. Thank you. |
--Mgt. |

Who's Margaret?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margrethe_II_of_Denmark
That was easy....

Someone should start a "quotes" section on that page. It's an
important quote and aught to be properly attributed.

(Please pardon the lateness of that reply. It was apparently stuck in
my outbox for a while and somehow just broke through.)

[Bob Larter]

Post by Filthy Phil

Post by Ray Fischer
Do not feed the |
| trolls. Thank you. |
--Mgt. |

Who's Margaret?

She's a manager. Duh.