Comments on: Understanding Lenses http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/ Food Photography Blog Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:31:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: The Lisa Show http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-49380 The Lisa Show Wed, 07 May 2008 02:02:36 +0000 http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-49380 Awesome piece on lenses! It's hard finding photographers who readily share their knowledge these days. Awesome piece on lenses! It’s hard finding photographers who readily share their knowledge these days.

]]> By: helen http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-45171 helen Fri, 22 Feb 2008 19:41:01 +0000 http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-45171 Oops! My apologies. Oops! My apologies.

]]> By: L http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-44958 L Wed, 20 Feb 2008 01:45:25 +0000 http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-44958 Hi Helen, First off, my name is Lara (or L) not Anna! And yes, there is definitely a 50mm 1.4. But, you are right... it's not an L lens. I'll update the post. Thanks for the catch! Hi Helen,

First off, my name is Lara (or L) not Anna!

And yes, there is definitely a 50mm 1.4. But, you are right… it’s not an L lens. I’ll update the post. Thanks for the catch!

]]> By: helen http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-44917 helen Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:38:00 +0000 http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-44917 Hi Anna, In the following paragraph you mention a 50mm 1.4L. There's no 50mm 1.4L, is there? I know there's a 50mm 1.2L. "On the Canon side of the house, I whole-heartedly recommend both of the lens I use - the 50mm 1.4L and the 100mm 2.8 macro. The macro is a bit soft but that works well for most macro work. I actually prefer it to the 180mm 2.0L, which technically is a better lens. I’m less familiar with Nikon lenses, but this site offers in depth reviews of Nikkor lenses." Hi Anna,
In the following paragraph you mention a 50mm 1.4L. There’s no 50mm 1.4L, is there? I know there’s a 50mm 1.2L.

“On the Canon side of the house, I whole-heartedly recommend both of the lens I use - the 50mm 1.4L and the 100mm 2.8 macro. The macro is a bit soft but that works well for most macro work. I actually prefer it to the 180mm 2.0L, which technically is a better lens. I’m less familiar with Nikon lenses, but this site offers in depth reviews of Nikkor lenses.”

]]> By: Erielle http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-855 Erielle Fri, 18 Aug 2006 14:47:00 +0000 http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-855 Wow, thank you so much for the clear explanation, especially the macro aspect of lenses. I'm thiking of upgrading to a Canon Digital Rebel TX and buying a macro lens for it. Lots of people online review telephoto lenses, but I haven't found many reviews/info on macro lenses, especially with the food photography approach. I will check out the 100mm 2.8 macro for sure. How wonderful it would (will?) be to get that crystal clear clarity in one little slice, and magic fuzziness in the rest. Wow, thank you so much for the clear explanation, especially the macro aspect of lenses. I’m thiking of upgrading to a Canon Digital Rebel TX and buying a macro lens for it. Lots of people online review telephoto lenses, but I haven’t found many reviews/info on macro lenses, especially with the food photography approach. I will check out the 100mm 2.8 macro for sure.
How wonderful it would (will?) be to get that crystal clear clarity in one little slice, and magic fuzziness in the rest.

]]> By: Oscar Sanchez http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-774 Oscar Sanchez Tue, 08 Aug 2006 21:08:33 +0000 http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-774 Just great! Keep on, because we need more people like you, who are willing to share their knowledge... Just great! Keep on, because we need more people like you, who are willing to share their knowledge…

]]> By: L http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-716 L Fri, 28 Jul 2006 00:09:55 +0000 http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-716 Hi Tana, When I'm out I almost always carry my 50mm 1.4, because it's small and sharp and fast. It works really well whether I'm inside or out. Everyone raves about this lens, for good reason. However, my favorite multi-purpose lens has been the 24-105mm f4. It's sharp enough, and gives lots of flexibility, from a bit of zoom to plenty wide. If I had a few more $$, I'd go ahead and step up to the 70-200mm 2.8, which is a fantastic lens, although not so good for the wider shots. The two of these together mean you don't really need to carry anything else. That said, I'm a big fan of prime (non-zoom) lenses and typically recommend separate lenses that you change (a 50mm, and 90mm and a 200mm would be a nice group). The quality and speed of the glass you get is much better for the price, because you are giving up the complexity of the zoom, and replacing it with your feet (need closer, a few steps forward... wider is a few steps back). But, then again, I don't mind switching lenses. If you really can't stand it though, you could even consider picking up a couple of used 10D bodies and just switch between cameras like the wedding photographers do :-) As for the point & shoot... today's point and shoots and give some really good photos... there is absolutely no shame in using one! They are small, easy to carry and require a lot less futzing. So, going DSLR is really only important if you really want to get in and take a lot of control over your shots. Thanks for your visit... and feel free to keep the questions coming! Hi Tana,

When I’m out I almost always carry my 50mm 1.4, because it’s small and sharp and fast. It works really well whether I’m inside or out. Everyone raves about this lens, for good reason.

However, my favorite multi-purpose lens has been the 24-105mm f4. It’s sharp enough, and gives lots of flexibility, from a bit of zoom to plenty wide.

If I had a few more $$, I’d go ahead and step up to the 70-200mm 2.8, which is a fantastic lens, although not so good for the wider shots. The two of these together mean you don’t really need to carry anything else.

That said, I’m a big fan of prime (non-zoom) lenses and typically recommend separate lenses that you change (a 50mm, and 90mm and a 200mm would be a nice group). The quality and speed of the glass you get is much better for the price, because you are giving up the complexity of the zoom, and replacing it with your feet (need closer, a few steps forward… wider is a few steps back). But, then again, I don’t mind switching lenses.

If you really can’t stand it though, you could even consider picking up a couple of used 10D bodies and just switch between cameras like the wedding photographers do :-)

As for the point & shoot… today’s point and shoots and give some really good photos… there is absolutely no shame in using one! They are small, easy to carry and require a lot less futzing. So, going DSLR is really only important if you really want to get in and take a lot of control over your shots.

Thanks for your visit… and feel free to keep the questions coming!

]]> By: Tana http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-714 Tana Thu, 27 Jul 2006 22:38:25 +0000 http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-714 Hi there, I have been researching upgrading my camera, and getting either the EOS 30D or the 5D. One great site I stumbled upon has a lot of reviews of lenses, and you might find it interesting. http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html While I do want a great lens for food shots, I am often called up to photograph dinners (outdoors, on farms or beaches). The thought of swapping lenses back and forth isn't appealing in the least. At present, I use a Canon Powershot Pro1, which has a very good and flexible lens (with a great macro on it), but which (my particular camera) seems to have ADD--it can't focus in low lighting. So it seems to me I could keep using the Powershot for the larger crowd and landscape shots, and use an EOS with a great lens specifically for the food. I think your 100/macro lens is probably the best answer for these events. If I'm just taking a camera to a farm, to shoot the scenery, I guess I need to invest in a different lens for that. Any recommendations, O Oracle? Thank you for this site: it is an amazing resource for all photographers. Bless you for your good work! Hi there, I have been researching upgrading my camera, and getting either the EOS 30D or the 5D. One great site I stumbled upon has a lot of reviews of lenses, and you might find it interesting.

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html

While I do want a great lens for food shots, I am often called up to photograph dinners (outdoors, on farms or beaches). The thought of swapping lenses back and forth isn’t appealing in the least. At present, I use a Canon Powershot Pro1, which has a very good and flexible lens (with a great macro on it), but which (my particular camera) seems to have ADD–it can’t focus in low lighting.

So it seems to me I could keep using the Powershot for the larger crowd and landscape shots, and use an EOS with a great lens specifically for the food. I think your 100/macro lens is probably the best answer for these events.

If I’m just taking a camera to a farm, to shoot the scenery, I guess I need to invest in a different lens for that. Any recommendations, O Oracle?

Thank you for this site: it is an amazing resource for all photographers. Bless you for your good work!

]]> By: Tinkerbell http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-51 Tinkerbell Sun, 16 Apr 2006 10:14:55 +0000 http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-51 I stumbled upon your site by accident, and already I can see that this will be my no. 1 favourite site for learning about photography. Thank you so much. Tinkerbell I stumbled upon your site by accident, and already I can see that this will be my no. 1 favourite site for learning about photography. Thank you so much.

Tinkerbell

]]> By: DrinkJack http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-15 DrinkJack Sun, 26 Mar 2006 17:08:42 +0000 http://stilllifewith.com/2006/03/20/understanding-lenses/#comment-15 This is one of the best intros to lenses that I have read. You would not believe the number of sites/books that I have read that have completely confused me on the focal length concept. In two sentences, you not only defined it, but gave me a visual image that will stick with me forever. This is one of the best intros to lenses that I have read. You would not believe the number of sites/books that I have read that have completely confused me on the focal length concept. In two sentences, you not only defined it, but gave me a visual image that will stick with me forever.

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