Camera Sleuth » Accessories

Lensbaby: a fun camera accessory

Jenn — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:11:31 +0000

With the holiday season fast approaching, the one must-have gadget I can recommend for the digital photography enthusiast is a Lensbaby. The Lensbaby is a spiffy lens that provides fish-eye photography with a creative bent — extreme focus and bokeh-inducing effects on your photos. Combined with the optional aperture rings, you can create even more stunning effects. Here are some examples of what the Lensbaby can do:

There are two Lensbaby lenses available — Lensbaby Muse, the “starter” lens, and the Lensbaby Composer, the “serious” lens. You can find info and pricing for both at lensbaby.com!

How to get lenses for cheap

Jenn — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 05:49:34 +0000

If you have owned a DSLR for any length of time, then you’ll know that the true investment lays not in the body of the camera, but in the lenses. A decent DSLR camera body can run you $500, but a half-decent lens can run you that or more! The oh-so-popular 50mm 1.4 and 50mm 1.8 are well over $200 each, and there are some sweet macro and telephoto lenses whose prices go into the quadruple digits.

So, how do you outfit your camera body with those must-have lenses without forking over a car payment or two for them? Start by scouring garage sales and yard sales. You’d be amazed at the cheap lenses that can be found there, thanks to owners and auctioneers not knowing the true worth of some of their wares. You can often find great deals on eBay and other auction websites. Finally, check out local thrift stores, pawn stores, and camera shops. You may be able to pick up a decent used lens for less than half of what you would pay for it brand new.

Guess what’s going on my Christmas wish list?

Jenn — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:36:29 +0000

I have some serious gadget lust for the Nikon 70mm – 300mm. It’s a sweet telephoto lens. It may not be the best out there, but since I don’t have the big bucks (about $5000 worth, to be exact) to get the best one out there, I will happily settle for this one. Actually, I would even settle for the Sigma 70mm – 300mm. Same specs as the Nikon, but about $500 cheaper! That is a HUGE savings right there people.

I currently have the Nikon 55mm – 200mm telephoto lens, and it gets the job done, but I want something that can zoom farther and shoot a crisper, clearer picture. Most of my 150mm+ photos tend to be on the grainy side, even if there is plenty of exposure and the shutter speed is slow and the lens is wide open. It’s such a bummer, especially because the worst grain always seems to show up on what would otherwise be absolutely outstanding photographs.

What type of lens do you lust after?

Weighed down by the gear

Jenn — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:11:49 +0000

While I love having a DSLR and a variety of lenses to use with it, the one thing I don’t like is how much all of that gear weighs when it’s packed into my camera bag. So, what can you do about heavy camera gear? First, make sure you’re using a camera bag that fits well with your body. Instead of a hard, boxy type of bag that won’t mold itself to your body, consider getting a softer style that will rest more snugly against your side. Second, check the length of the strap(s). If it/they are too long, excess strain can be placed upon your shoulders or back.

Also, have you recently taken a peek inside your camera bag to make sure you’re not carrying around stuff you really don’t need? For example, if you’re going to the park with your family, you probably don’t need a macro lens, a fish-eye attachment, or that external flash. And if you know your camera is fully charged, there probably isn’t a need for extra batteries or a power charger to be carted along.

By getting a great fitting bag, such as the high quality Crumpler bags, and reducing the amount of gear you take with you on daily trips, you’ll be able to reduce your load and carry it more comfortably.

The importance of using the right kind of batteries for your gear

Jenn — Tue, 04 May 2010 14:54:55 +0000

Most digital cameras come equipped with their own special battery packs, but there is the occasional camera or camera accessory (an external flash, usually) that will use standard AA or even AAA batteries. And while you may be tempted to use rechargeable batteries, don’t! It has been shown that rechargeable batteries tend to get hotter than standard batteries. The higher temperature these batteries produce can sometimes result in damage to the sensitive electronic equipment they’re in. I know it’s inconvenient and annoying to have to continually remember to purchase large quantities of AA or AAA batteries, but trust me, better to buy batteries on a regular basis than risk damaging or even destroying a $200 external flash or a $400 digital camera.

On a related note, you know those generic battery packs that are available for purchase in stores and online? Don’t use those, either. You see, the reason those “generic” battery packs are often so much cheaper than the name brand battery packs is because they’re generically designed. Voltage and such may be universal, designed for use among the masses, rather than designed specifically for specific products. By using name brand battery packs only, you’ll make sure that you’re providing the right charge and voltage to your sensitive camera equipment.

Keep your gear safe when you’re out in public

Jenn — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:50:15 +0000

Now that the temperatures are rising and the weather is getting nicer (minus those pesky April showers that can really put a damper on things), I know you’re getting the itch to take your camera outdoors with you, because I certainly am. But make sure you don’t get so used to having your camera along that you potentially risk losing hundreds or even thousands of dollars worth of equipment. Camera thieves are always on guard for careless owners, so make sure you keep your camera and equipment within sight and reach at all times. From personal experience, here are my suggestions on how to handle keeping your camera safe while you’re in public.

If you have a stroller, attach your camera bag to part of the frame. Ideally you should place your camera bag in the basket that is usually located on the bottom of the stroller, in between the wheels. Not only will you ensure that your camera bag will have safe passage, you’ll also be keeping it out of obvious sight.
If you’re going to be taking photographs for an extended period of time, and will only be using one lens, consider leaving your bag at home or in your car’s trunk, and just taking your camera along. Use its long strap to wear it around your neck, or to ease the pain it can cause to your neck after a long period of time, over your shoulder, much like a purse strap.
Speaking of vehicles, I know this is stating the obvious, but never leave your camera or its bag out where it can be seen! Tuck all equipment and bag beneath seats. Better yet, stick ‘em in the trunk.
Consider using camera security bags to add even more protection to your precious valuables.
Share camera/gear-watching duties with friends and family, if you’re not out alone.

Memory cards are apparently quite durable

Jenn — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:38:20 +0000

I’ve learned through experience that memory cards are more durable than they seem. I have both SD and SDHC cards, and both have held up perfectly to:

being dropped
being stepped on
a run through the washer — complete with detergent!
a run through the dryer — on high heat!
rattling around in my wallet with coins
being chewed on by a teething baby

Of course, don’t let my lucky experiences with mishandled memory cards leave you lax in how you handle your memory cards. It’s probably just a stroke of luck that my memory cards made it through unscathed; yours may not be so lucky!

Where to put all that gear

Jenn — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:58:15 +0000

I currently own a Nikon D40x, and a slew of lenses. Two are the “kit” lenses — the 35-55mm and the 55-200mm. But I also have a Lensbaby Muse (I received it for Christmas 2008), a Nikon 28mm, and I believe there’s a Nikon 60mm in there as well. Then there’s the handful of filters, the external flash and its carrying case, the wireless remote, and the extra batteries, SD cards, and lens cleaning cloth & solution that I refuse to leave home without. Needless to say, the standard bag that came along with the Nikon D40x lens kit isn’t really big enough to accommodate all of that. Oh, I manage to cram everything in, but it’s a tight fit. A really tight fit.

So I’ve been camera bag shopping. I’ve actually been camera bag shopping for a little over six months. But because I haven’t yet found a bag that meets my expectations, I haven’t purchased one, and I tend to forget all about it… until the next time I’m out somewhere and having a hell of a time pulling out just one item from my camera bag without pulling out half of the contents.

I really like the Crumpler bags, but I do not like their price tag. Seriously, $100+? And it seems like you’re not even paying for good padding or insulation or special technology to protect your equipment; you’re paying for the brand name and the “novelty” of having such a cool, trendy bag. Meh. Do you own a Crumpler bag? If so, what do you think of it? Is it worth the price?

DSLR tip: Want better photos? Get a better flash.

Jenn — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 03:09:16 +0000

DSLR cameras are incredible pieces of technology that make it very easy to take captivating photos. With a few twists of a dial you can rely on the camera’s intuitive technology to take breathtaking captures, or you can switch to manual mode and use your own creativeness and expertise to capture just the right shot. But when it comes to adequate lighting, most built-in DSLR flashes fall short of the task. It’s true that they can light up a room, but they’re bright, harsh, and generally give off a very focused area of light. This results in undesirable shadows, and blown out areas that are close to the camera or in the center of its focus.

The good news is that external flashes are

easy to find
affordable
easy to use

You can pick up an external flash in any camera shop, or on any website that sells camera equipment. Pictured in this blog entry is the Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Unit, and it does an excellent job of providing an alternative lighting source for Nikon cameras (both film & DSLR). It slides into place and is then locked with a little switch, and a handy control pad on the back of the flash unit makes it quick and easy to adjust compensation and change lighting modes. Best of all you can adjust the angle and rotation of the flash. That’s right — it swivels from side to side, and can be straight forward or gradually angled upwards so that it’s pointing to the ceiling. This type of flash makes it easy to “bounce” light off of walls and other sources, which can result in great lighting for your photos.

So if you have a DSLR and you’re disappointed with the quality of your photo lighting, invest in a flash! You won’t regret it.

Lens attachments: a cheap alternative to pricey DSLR lenses

Jenn — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:27:18 +0000

If you own a DSLR, then you probably have a good idea of just how expensive lenses can be. A straightforward 18-55mm “kit” lens retails for around $100, and the fancier, crisper 50mm f/1.4 portrait lens can cost upwards of $200. So unless you’re well off financially, you’ll find that acquiring various lenses can take a bit of time — and a significant amount of money.

I highly recommend investing in a few “standard” lenses. Get one for portraits, one for everyday shooting (action photos, photos of the kids, pets, whatever), and get a decent portrait one. The 50mm f/1.4 is an amazing portrait lens, but if you want something that is almost as good, without the high price tag, take a step down to the 50mm f/18.

But what about macro shots and long distance (telephoto) shots? They’re interesting, unique and fun, and they provide new perspectives and viewpoints of everyday objects and scenery, but how often are you taking those kinds of shots? If the answer is anything less than “all of the time” or even “often”, save your money on costly macro and telephoto lenses, and opt for lens attachments instead.

What are lens attachments? They’re spiffy filters that screw onto the end of regular lenses. There are macro filters, fish-eye filters and telephoto lens attachments, just to name a few. They provide the “close up” or the “telephoto” experience, while using your regular lens to compose the majority of the shot. The attachment simply provides the required angle, or viewpoint. They’re not nearly as expensive as regular specialty lenses. Take the Nikon 60mm f/2.8 Micro-Nikkor lens, for example: nearly $500! Then there’s the Opteka 10x Professional Macro Lens. Sacrifice a bit of quality (not noticeable unless you’re printing very large photos) for a savings of $450!

I can tell you from personal experience that lens attachments work perfectly. They may be slightly less convenient, since you have to configure both a lens and the attachment. But I’m pretty sure most people can agree that a slight inconvenience is worth a significant savings.