First outing with the new 20D - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

06/09/2005 06:50:06 PM · #1

Took the new Canon to DC on Tuesday. Blazing hot weather - can't believe no one in our party dropped from the heat.

Took a bunch of photos - but not happy with most. I think I mostly over exposed them. Was so miserable that I wasn't as focused on the photography as I was staying hydrated.

You can see the hand full I added to my portfolio here: DC Photos

Some of my favorite were actually taken in the Metro before we got to DC.

Switching from a point and shoot to a DSLR is tougher than I had realized.
Any thoughts?

CEJ

Canon EOS-40D

06/09/2005 06:58:14 PM · #2

Originally posted by autumncat:

Switching from a point and shoot to a DSLR is tougher than I had realized.
Any thoughts?

Time waits for no one and it takes time.

Having worked for the Metro in the past these photos bring back some memories. I don't remember the colors being as they appear in your photos (except the b/w one), but nice photos all the same.

Message edited by author 2005-06-09 19:00:00.

sheapod

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

06/09/2005 08:23:27 PM · #3

No advice to offer, just complete sympathy and agreement.
I recently purchased the 20d as well and it is a lot different from my Lumix FZ20.
My biggest problem seems to be camera shake because it is so much heavier, plus all the extra options. It's gonna take a while to get used to.
Good luck and happy shooting.

Laura

coolhar

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

06/09/2005 08:53:16 PM · #4

It was a nasty hot day. But you got some very good pictures. Where were those two statues taken?

06/10/2005 11:25:32 AM · #5

Originally posted by coolhar:

It was a nasty hot day. But you got some very good pictures. Where were those two statues taken?

Thank you.
Those were the from the Vietnam Women's Memorial.

Message edited by author 2005-06-10 11:25:53.

06/10/2005 11:28:19 AM · #6

Originally posted by sheapod:

Laura - thanks for the words of encouragement. I am hoping to go out next weekend and try again. Hot Air Balloons. If I can just get my husband out of bed at 4AM (oh, and me too).

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

06/10/2005 11:34:31 AM · #7

Originally posted by Alienyst:

Thank you. I'm not sure how true to life the color shots are - but I really like how those came out. Must have been the lighting color cast. I will keep trying. I do need to be more mindful of switching the ISO and watching my camera settings. But I wasn't thinking about that much in the sweltering heat.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

06/10/2005 11:39:25 AM · #8

Shooting in RAW will give you the most flexibility with fixing colour casts. If shooting in jpeg then a custom whitebalance can help especially when the lighting is mixed or does not map exactly to the presets of the camera.

06/10/2005 11:56:37 AM · #9

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

Thanks. I was shooting in JPG - haven't quite gotten the RAW thing figured out and wanted to come back with some reasonable shots.

I will research the white balance a bit more. But I actually do like the look of those metro shots. So I doubt I would change that on them.

theSaj

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

06/10/2005 01:14:02 PM · #10

Hey Autumncat,

a) did you use a circular polarizer? I find this helps greatly in most outdoor circumstances...and seems to help reduce "over-exposure".

b) i too have not used RAW, I need to install Photoshop CS2 first.

c) You can use the flywheel to adjust the (i forget what setting it is...*lol*...it's not aperture, I think it's light metering). I often find adjusting this in bright circumstances helps.

I am going to look into purchasing a 77mm "warm" polarizer (as it will fit two of my lenses now) and I am hoping that will give me more depth on the skies. (I kinda miss my Olympus E-20's take on skies. Those E-10/E-20s got fuller bluer skies than most cameras get with polarizers.

Hope this helps some...

- The Saj

06/10/2005 02:20:32 PM · #11

Originally posted by theSaj:

Saj - thanks!
I think my husband is going to be ok with me upgrading my Elements to CS2 - I was told it is a reasonably priced upgrade doing it that way.

I have a UV filter - but haven't added the polarizer yet.
Will have to look into the light metering adjustment. Still trying to get used to the settings.

I am hoping to get out again next week and see if I can do better.

toddnicholsphotography

06/10/2005 04:28:34 PM · #12

Stick it on Manuel and you won't have overexposed shots!

theSaj