Written on Dec 10th, 2008 by Dave Adams
auction, camera, eBay, grade, Information, Lens, Photography, rate, seller, Tips
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Top tips for buying DSLR camera lenses on Ebay and other auction sites
- Level:Beginner
- Tools:Internet
- Time:Hours
Like many photographers using a DSLR, I have a constant desire to buy better lenses for my camera. I’m often drawn to the back of photography magazines and manufacturer websites to look at the prices of the latest and more expensive professional grade lenses.
Unfortunately, my pockets aren’t that deep, so buying a pro-grade lens for my DSLR direct from a shop isn’t really possible, so my alternative source for these lenses is the second hand market and sites such as eBay. However, it can be a minefield trying to buy a lens second hand, so here are some tips to help you avoid some of the pitfalls.
1. Know the lenses you want to buy.
The first step in buying a lens on eBay (or any other auction website,) is to know what type of lens it is you want to buy. You don’t neccessarily need to know the exact model, but a shortlist of lenses in a particular focal length will help narrow down your search. You may want to look at all manufacturers, or you may want to stick to your camera brand, either way write out a list of lenses that you are potentially interested in.
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Written on Dec 7th, 2008 by Dave Adams
Box, camera, diffuser, DIY, flash, harshness, lighting, Photography, Voile
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Constructing a DIY flash diffuser for digital photography.
- Level:Beginner
- Tools:Scissors, Voile, Box
- Time:30 minutes
If you have ever taken a photograph using the modern flash thats built into a DSLR camera, you’ll have probably been amazed at its power, and its ability to make most objects appear harshly lit.
For portrait photography, this harsh lighting becomes even more apparant as the flash creates unflattering shadows and highlights on the subject. The harshness can be dampened down however by using a diffuser.
A diffuser is designed to soften the effects of the flash by spreading out and dampening down the amount of light emitted, reducing the creation dark shadows while still allowing a subject to be properly lit.
Pencils without the aid of a diffuser
View Larger Version
As you can see from the above example photograph, a shot taken with the built in flash of a DSLR can leave some very dark shadows. Now look at the same photograph taken with a diffuser attached to the flash. Notice the way the shadows are now lighter.
[Read more on DIY Photography Flash Diffuser]
Written on Dec 1st, 2008 by Dave Adams
DSLR, Gorillapod, ISO, Lens, Low light, Photography, sensitivity, shake, Shutter Release, Shutter Speed, Stabilisation, Technique, Vibration
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How to prevent or minimise camera shake to get better, sharper photographs.
- Level:Beginner
- Tools:Camera, Tripod
- Time:N/A
Camera shake (unintended camera movement while taking a photograph,) can potentially ruin all your hard work in getting the perfect photograph. Camera shake can occur for a number of reasons - a heavy camera, a slow shutter speed and the forces of nature (especially wind) can all contribute to a photograph that is unintentionally blurry.
However, there are a few things you can do to minimise the chances of camera shake creeping into your photographic technique.
Use a tripod or other support
This is the obvious answer to reducing camera shake - use a tripod or other support, such as the Gorillapod (aff), to stop the camera moving. Add a remote shutter release and you don’t even need to touch the camera while taking the shot, which is the number one cause of camera shake.
[Read more on Minimising Camera Shake]
