Digital photography

In this context (just posted that in the phone pictures thread, but seems relevant in here) - what is crazy is how totally accepted smart phones (people taking pictures with smart phones) are.

What I’ve always found amazing is how completely inconspicuous and
transparent mobile phones are. They’ve become such an ubiquitous part
of daily life that they’re not noticed; like hats in the 20s and 30s.
Not having one is the exception. Surprisingly, I’ve also found that
aiming your phone at something to take a picture – complete with
awkward stance, delicate
‘I’m-going-to-drop-this-thing-becuase-the-ergonomics-are-bad’ finger
poses and device held at arms’ length – is completely ignored even
though it’s a lot more obvious than using a camera discretely. Have we
learned to filter it out during the few short years of mobile
photography? Evidently so. I’ve gone from seeing a cameraphone as
completely useless to a curiosity and masochistic challenge to an
interestingly stealthy way of observing the world: it has properties
that cannot be replicated by other cameras, which in turn result in
fairly unique images. First of course is ubiquity and stealth; second
is silence; third are generally fast/intuitive interfaces (tap to
focus, expose AND shoot!). You can get in close and not be seen. Or be
seen and nobody feels intimidated, at least in my experience. I find
this odd since you’re far more likely to post on FB with your iPhone
than your 4×5… In any case, I present today a series of what I’d think
of as observations – both as observer, and observed, and an observer
observing the observers. Enjoy. MT

via blog.mingthein.com

@h2o - hmm, that sounds annoying. Stuff like this never has happened to me.

Sony can use the konica minolta mount. Which also has the motor in the body not the lens. Slower to focus but still not that I would notice.

Also not being a pro, number of lenses isn't an issue. Do have a couple of nice canon lenses at 600mm and 300mm non zoom slr lenses and they are lovely but need a heafty tripod and remote release to not get camera shake.

Welcome to London.

Had similar issues when I was doing some photographing of school buildings. Had to get CRB check as it was done in termtime.

Would have thought people are much more relaxed about photographers in a city completely covered by CCTV..

Definitely look at mirrorless, a second hand Canon DSLR will generally be easier to get other lenses for but most mirrorless cameras now have the same sensors as dslr's. The only real downside can be the auto focus, so only bother looking at mirrorless cameras that have a hybrid auto focus.

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What does the sign say?

Anyone want a Lowepro Slingshot 200?

I think I used it twice. £15 delivered in Bath or London.

It was The Earthlings Experience. They got quite a bit of attention on Market Street last night.

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You would think.

You mention camera phone cameras and are they that good? Remember loving some of the sony ericcson cameras phone as the cameras were so good, but think that was the carl ziess yena lens.

Well - google some images, check the phone pictures thread or visit the link I posted on the last page, and decide for yourself I guess?

More phone photos

a nice set

I was invited to add this to a group called Just Trucks on Flickr. Your one-stop shop for trucks and truck related photography. I don't think I'll be going to any of their meet-ups.

trucktrs r us

They have some strange groups on there, I was invited to add this to a group called johns

Oddly enough I might already have been to some of their meet-ups.

Indeed beautiful set spotter, nice, calm vibe they have.

Still very new to photography having bought a DSLR a year ago for our honeymoon in S Africa and on that trip basically used it on full auto.

Really enjoyed getting to grip with it on a trip to Japan last week and I did have fun with Lightroom afterwards.

Bit apprehensive about sharing my pics as they're not the best and I'm aware I've massively over-edited some of them but anyway... http://adobe.ly/1Ydh1E3

My question is: I've currently got an 18-55mm and a 55-250mm lens. Is there anything that would be more versatile or in the middle, or better for general street photography, which is kind of what I enjoy. Using a Canon 1100d.

Someone suggested a 35mm prime lens. Does that sound sensible?

Thanks chaps. If anyone is interested, first is the Thames estuary, second is Worms Head (Gower) and last is the Peak District.

Look at the equivalent prime length of the majority of your favourite photos and start with a prime of that length. A prime lens generally outperforms a zoom lens in terms of optical clarity and speed, mostly allows for smaller depth of field to isolate the subject and is usually smaller and lighter. The trade off is you might not always have the right lens length for the image you want to capture, sometimes 'zooming with your feet' will cut it, sometimes not.

I don't know the Canon range well but I'm guessing you have a dx sensor, so 35mm would give roughly 50mm equivalent. That would suit me but a lot of people prefer a 35mm prime, in which case you would need a 28mm prime lens to give the equivalent length.