Digital photography

DIY ghetto photobooth studio I used this morning to take pictures.
One of the results below

If I was looking for a DSLR that was decent, had plenty of functionality to learn, but was not crazy expensive, would the Canon 500D or 550D be a good choice?

Of the two, which would be better, and should I be considering a completely different model?

I'd probably go for 550D if your interested in the HD movie options. Otherwise stick with the 500D and spend some extra money on a decent lens.

Agreed. There is a good deal on a 500D in the classifieds just now too. For learning functionality then all the consumer end canons are very good and share the same chip size all the way up to the 7D. Even an old 400D is worth looking at as they can be picked up pretty cheap these days and take good pictures even though the technology in them is a few years old.

you idiot.

the images are still there, the sandisk software you get free with their higher end cards will retrieve them as will any data recovery software . all that's wiped is the registry, wouldn't surprise me if there are images on there you thought were long gone*

*as long as you don't shoot loads more pics on the card

You know anywhere I can take it to get it looked at, bung 'em a few quid to hopefully get it sorted?

Ok, if I were to buy that camera from the link above what lense would people recommend getting to go with it?

It come with a lens doesn't it?

stick it with, the stock 18-55 will be fine.

If you do opt for the 550, mine just arrived yesterday from here http://www.hdewcameras.co.uk/canon-eos-550d-camera--18-55mm-lens-492-p.asp and was best price (£479 inc P&P) i could find.

Anyone recomend a nice case? Less bulky the better, but sort of thing that would offer protection when i chuck it in my bag on my bike. Cheers.

The kit 18-55 is considered rubbish by camera snobs but to be honest is not the worst in the world for learning with and has a good range. A good cheap (when second hand) lens is the canon 28-135 t3.5-5.6. which can be picked up for £120-£160 regularly (there is one in my local pawn shop at the moment too). Have a quick look at this to familiarise yourself with chip size, magnification and what will and won't work with other bodies.

Canon EF 50mm/f1.8

Fantastic lens for the money and a great introduction to prime lenses. If you want to learn photography I'd def recommend using primes. Both for the better image quality vs price ratio, and for the simpler approach. Less options is good when starting out.

Stick with the kit lens for a while the quality with that will still be miles above what you'd get with a compact camera.

^ also true. Stick with what you have and learn to master the tools at hand, then expand your kit.

And Dammit, you do not need a cheap Chinese lens, it's not like a bicycle.

Micro 4/3 is the Big Kahuna [The Online Photographer]

That was a good post (if a little smug). It was bookended by a couple of posts from Mike and Ctein specifically about sensor/film sizes too if anyone's interested.

You know anywhere I can take it to get it looked at, bung 'em a few quid to hopefully get it sorted?

do you know any photographers? no not hipsters with DSLR's calling themselves photographers but real ones? they would probably have a copy of the sandisk software.
it comes free with their more expensive cards (extreme III and faster)

i would do it but i can't find my disk and it's a small format cd so will not go in my laptop, you need a tray cd drive which i don't have.

If you do opt for the 550, mine just arrived yesterday from here http://www.hdewcameras.co.uk/canon-eos-550d-camera--18-55mm-lens-492-p.asp and was best price (£479 inc P&P) i could find.

Anyone recomend a nice case? Less bulky the better, but sort of thing that would offer protection when i chuck it in my bag on my bike. Cheers.

So, 550D is pretty much £50 more than the 500D- if so may as well?

(cross thread thread but it originates from a digital photo so I post it here)

I just shot a photo of a girl in Spitalfields. She didn't see me take it, and you can't really tell who it is since her face is half obstructed. However, it got me thinking about street photography and the morale of posting photos of others online.

Do you think it's ok to post up anything you take on say your blog / flickr / where ever? Should I've asked permission? If so, before or after the shot?

So, 550D is pretty much £50 more than the 500D- if so may as well?

Don't really understand specs, but people asking same question on various forums are generally met with 'if you can afford it, 550'. And £50 extra is the least i think you'll find. £100 might have made me waver, but up to you.

do you know any photographers? no not hipsters with DSLR's calling themselves photographers but real ones? they would probably have a copy of the sandisk software.
it comes free with their more expensive cards (extreme III and faster)

i would do it but i can't find my disk and it's a small format cd so will not go in my laptop, you need a tray cd drive which i don't have.

I know a few photographers, ones that actually get paid...

I'll keep sniffin about

Does this work?

Apart from the reflections in my shit/cheap uv filter... loving the lighting.

(cross thread thread but it originates from a digital photo so I post it here)

I just shot a photo of a girl in Spitalfields. She didn't see me take it, and you can't really tell who it is since her face is half obstructed. However, it got me thinking about street photography and the morale of posting photos of others online.

Do you think it's ok to post up anything you take on say your blog / flickr / where ever? Should I've asked permission? If so, before or after the shot?

AFAIK, if it's a public place then you have no legal need to ask her (or anyones) permission (inc children but most people shy away from photographing children in this country these days in fear of being branded as a pedo) and so long as the image isn't being used to suggest endorsement of a product/company etc then you don't need a model release to sell the image.

Morally, if you want to ask then I'd be prepared for a lot of 'NO's and if you ask before then your images won't look candid at all.

I have shot thousands of recognisable images of people on the street and never asked anyone, the likes of Gilden, Parr, Meyerowitz etc must have millions of recognisable faces in their work, you think all those people have been asked?

I have shot thousands of recognisable images of people on the street and never asked anyone, the likes of Gilden, Parr, Meyerowitz etc must have millions of recognisable faces in their work, you think all those people have been asked?

good point.

Here's the photo

decided to put it online as you can't see her face anyway, so until i make my mind up I consider it ok.

It's a nice shot.

Yup, very nice image.

Maybe you should look at yourself as an artist and consider that by photographing people you are making their image into art and so, they should be happy that you have photographed them and posted it online.

You certainly haven't been UNflattering to her.

Whatever you do, do not think of yourself as an artist. There are more than enough of those shysters out there already.