Digital photography

Test shot that turned out alright.

First shot with the first decent lens I've owned for DSLR (other than testing it worked in my room), aka how hard is it actually to focus a portrait right at f1.4 (quite hard imo). All subsequent shots useless due to effects of alcohol consumption.

I really need to clone out the hair over his right shoulder but I can't be bothered to start the computer with photoshop on it

Yea 1.4 is tricky. What lens; autofokus?
And retouching that hair will be a pita; keep the faith..
; ]

Yeah, autofocus, it could clearly focus accurately (enough) at the point I wanted just making sure I've got that point is exactly right is tricky. I know I can't do it manual without a split screen (if then even)...

It's not something I would often do anyway just curious if I could if I needed, I spend all my time in the dark.

Clone out those strands? Should fairly straight forward in Lightroom? It has an even background around it

^I thought Lightroom only has the spot removal tool? If I'm missing something obvious I would be quite happy...

It does, but you can work it over larger areas with a bit of fiddling. Looking at it again, photoshop would be my choice and just clone it out with a soft brush

anyone have any experience with the Canon 1Ds Mark 3?

i'm looking to invest in a full frame camera at some point, i currently shoot with a 7D i do use the 8fps which is the reason i was looking at the 1Ds

does anyone know what mm fisheye lens they will take before they start producing a circle?

First shot with the first decent lens I've owned for DSLR (other than testing it worked in my room), aka how hard is it actually to focus a portrait right at f1.4 (quite hard imo). All subsequent shots useless due to effects of alcohol consumption.

Trick with the 1.4 (and especially if someone is wearing specs, as above) is to use manual focus. That way you get the eyes sharp, assuming you're shooting fast enough to hand-hold. The 1.4 is pretty unforgiving for enlargements even if you're a few mm out. Nice shot though, I'd leave the hair in..

I can't manual focus for shit with this camera unless I zoom in on live view (if it looks in focus through the viewfinder, it's not) and my hands aren't steady enough to bother anyway.

Yeah, I've found that the only way of reliably using manual focus.

What really annoys me is the way the zoom button works (on the 60D at least), I'd much prefer it to zoom while held and immediately return to full-frame when released. Realise this would limit you to one level of zoom, but it would make it much more usable that having to cycle through them.

the only way of reliably using manual focus

...zooming in on live view?? Good grief..

Y U No use focus indication dot?

The funny green dot in the bottom right of your viewfinder that lights up sometimes?

How do you know what the green dot is telling you is in focus?

You've reminded me that the AF points will blink when using manual focus. Can use those and then recompose, although an F1.4 lens allows you to shoot in conditions where they won't work either.

You tell the camera where you want things to be in focus
the green dot tells you when you have archieved this (manual focus), or the lens has locked at that point (AF).

anyone have any experience with the Canon 1Ds Mark 3?

i'm looking to invest in a full frame camera at some point, i currently shoot with a 7D i do use the 8fps which is the reason i was looking at the 1Ds

does anyone know what mm fisheye lens they will take before they start producing a circle?

Yes, used 1Ds cameras of all kinds for years. You're paying for the tank-like build and reliability of the body and shutter basically. Bear in mind that the Mk3 has been out a long time (over 5 years) so if you have to borrow money to buy it, it won't be anything remotely resembling an 'investment'. Not sure it's even available new here (USA) as the 1DX appears to have 'superceded' it.

As for your Fisheye question; A lens is either designed as a Circular Fisheye, or it isn't. The camera body is practically irrelevant.
Canon's 15mm f2.8 isn't a Circular, but the shortest end of their 8-15mm f4L zoom is.

manual focussing on a 1.4 is the devils own job even with the focus dot. It's so sensitive I can never get it to hold and I end up with people with sharp noses and fuzzy eyes!

Any recommendations for a cheap, fast prime with autofocus for Nikon (DX)?

manual focussing on a Canon f1.4 USM is the devils own job even with the focus dot. It's so badly made and plasticky shit that you might as well use a fucking jam jar.

ftfy

^^ AF 50mm 1.8

manual focussing on a 1.4 is the devils own job even with the focus dot. It's so sensitive I can never get it to hold and I end up with people with sharp noses and fuzzy eyes!

Any recommendations for a cheap, fast prime with autofocus for Nikon (DX)?

35mm AF-S DX

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Since there was talk about photographing the sky recently -
some pretty rad time-lapse photography Dave Jacobson pulled off:

Time Lapse 2 on Vimeo

Might wanna check this in HD & fullscreen!

^^ literally signed up to the full-fat £46 p/m version of creative cloud the other day... Haven't installed it yet as there is an indesign project on the way out but they seem to have made the behance and pro site stuff really easy, also the app publishing which is a biggie.

^ that video is pretty epic, to use a much overused word.

^^ needs his sensor cleaned. but awesome

This might be of interest to some. Adobe Photoshop CC and Ligthroom 5 subscription for £8.78 a month (12 month minimum). Actually seems reasonable:

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