Written on Dec 10th, 2008 by Dave Adams

Posted In: Camera Tips

Top tips for buying DSLR camera lenses on Ebay

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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 Nov 26th, 2008 by Dave Adams

Posted In: Camera Tips

Choosing which DSLR Camera to buy

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Selecting which DSLR camera you should buy can be a tricky business, with confusing specifications and prices making it difficult to compare like with like across different manufacturers.

The aim of this article is to highlight some of the features you should look for in your next DSLR, and some of the hidden costs that might not be apparent from reading the manufacturers sales material.

We’ll start off by assuming that you are used to using a camera in one form or another, whether it’s a simple point-and-shoot or a film DSLR that you wish to upgrade to digital.

Nikon D700, Nikon D90, Nikon D40 DSLR Cameras

• Nikon D700
• Nikon D90
• Nikon D40

Why upgrade to a DSLR camera

There are a number of reasons for wanting to upgrade to a DSLR camera, including the manual control they offer you over your work, the speed they operate (lack of shutter lag), functionality and final image quality. While a DSLR isn’t going to turn you into a photography god overnight, it can help extend your abilities and force you to think carefully about what you are doing in a way a point-and-shoot never will.

However don’t think that the point-and-shoot will become entirely redundant if you buy a DSRL, they still come in useful for those times when a larger DSLR isn’t convenient to bring out with you.

Upgrading from a film DSLR camera

If you are upgrading from a film DSLR (or wish to simply complement your film camera with digital,) one of your first considerations will be to the lenses you already own. Do you require compatibility between your current lens collection and your potential new digital back? If so, you will become tied to a particular manufacturer from the get-go.

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Written on Nov 22nd, 2008 by Dave Adams

Posted In: Commercial

Making Money From Photography

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There comes a point in your photographic learning journey when you feel you are in a position to start selling some of your work, where you think the quality of your photographs is sufficient to start appearing in peoples homes and on their walls.

In this post, I’m going to explain some of the ways you can make money from your photography. While there is no guarantee that you will be able to sell your photographs, there are several ways you can market yourself and hopefully find that all important buyer for your work.

1. Stock Photography

One of the most straight forward ways to make some money from your photography is to use a stock photo agency. Stock photo agencies host your photographs for you and allow customers to buy a license to use the photograph for a single purpose (website, promotional prints, merchandising etc). Generally stock agencies allow a photograph license to be bought at differing values according to the size of the photograph they want to use - the larger the image they want to download, the more expensive it becomes.

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