My new camera

[ideasguy]

Canon EOS 450D with EFS 18-55mm lens.

So impressed with the photography from our members that I decided it was time I splashed out and treated myself to a new toy.

Thanks to Laurie for starting this topic. I was able to read through the threads and find what gear you experts were using.
My three camera crazy colleagues in work also offered advice and my brother told me about his.
In a PM, Eric H gave me a very good account of his equipment and some useful links to go for reviews.
Thanks to everyone!

Ive been out this evening taking a few pics. In the review window,I'm having difficulty getting the colours correct for what is now my "test" plant - a mauve Erigeron. I got it quite close in the end, using manual settings. Auto was like a different flower!
Also great difficulty with a purple Geranium. It comes out blue. Fading light may not have helped.
Lots of fun ahead playing with all those buttons and menu options.

It was a bundle offer. The other item is a Tamron AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 LD Macro 1:2 lens
I took a few snaps of birds on our bird feeders. Looked good in viewer!

Now to load up the software and upload for a look at the results on the computer.

Edited later to add lnks to a selection of first pics:
http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/canon450/img_0012.jpg

http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/canon450/img_0015.jpg

http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/canon450/img_0017.jpg

http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/canon450/img_0035.jpg

http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/canon450/img_0066.jpg

http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/canon450/img_0067.jpg

http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/canon450/img_0069.jpg

http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/canon450/img_0070.jpg

http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/canon450/img_0072.jpg

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Another Gadget man 

Takes a while to get used to all the gizmos on the new cameras doesn't it 

Did I see some Dutch iris or were they Siberica, either way, those and the foxgloves, puts you about 3 weeks behind us South Coasters.

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

The gizmos are fun, but quite pleased with the kit so far.

Yes, they were Dutch Iris. Bought them in the £ shop on my way to work one morning. I'm very pleased with them.
Yes, we are a few weeks behind you hotter climate folk 
Are your over already?

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Dutch and siberica gone already, we are now into Ensata which won't last very long in the heat and humidity today 26c despite the watering.

We have Phlox opening, and lilies are under way. No ripe bananas yet

Malcolm

[Eric Hardy]

So you took the plunge George!!  I hope you get a lot of fun out of it!!

I'm having difficulty getting the colours correct for what is now my "test" plant - a mauve Erigeron. ......
Also great difficulty with a purple Geranium. It comes out blue.

I am sure you will get into it soon George, there is nothing better than experimenting to get things right. I have now settled into taking my pics in RAW. When you have installed  Digital Photo Professional which came with the camera you can set the white balance and other camera settings AFTER you have taken the picture and see the effect on the screen. I also find the settings "neutral" or "faithful" seem to get better colour renderings. All these settings can also be reset in RAW after you have taken the picture.The "landscape" setting is good for a general shot but it exaggerates the colours. Blues seem bluer and greens seem greener. I quite often use it for shots of churches and interiors. If you have a big enough card there is a setting which records in RAW and JPEG at the same time.

It was a bundle offer. The other item is a Tamron AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 LD Macro 1:2 lens

I don't know that particular lens but it has a great range. 300 mm is the equivalent of 480mm in 35mm terms. You will need a tripod to get the best out of that! And it does macro too 

You will find settings that suit you best. Generally I shoot in aperture priority which gives you the best control over depth of field. Just a little turn of the wheel and you can change the aperture to the setting you want.

Anyway, the best thing is to experiment and, above all, HAVE FUN 

[ideasguy]

Thanks for the additional tips, Eric.
Ive been shooting in RAW per the advice of my work colleagues, so you are both in agreement again

The software with the camera is very impressive I have to say.
Being able to manipulate the RAW to "fix" the photo is simply magic.
I had a little play with that on Wed evening.

I cut that Erigeron flower I used as test and have in in a glass of water beside the computer screen.
I took a range of shots of it with different settings. I find the image is actually very close to reality when I played with the settings in Manual mode!
It will be fun to experiment as you say.

I was out on the town last night with my work colleagues, past and present. We had a fantastic evening here:
http://www.belfastbar.co.uk/duke-of-york-review.htm
That little cobbled street was packed with people enjoying a very warm evening and a pint. Could not have been more pleasant.
Later, there was an Irish Music session inside the pub - fiddles, flutes, banjos, Uilleann Pipes, bodhrán, guitars   
Fantastic night out.

Read about Uilleann Pipes here:
http://www.raysloan.com/

Back to the photography over the weekend.

[Lyn and Malcolm]

From your link to the Duke of York

"The Duke of York is a great bar for a younger (20's-30's) crowd."

 

Malcolm

[Eric Hardy]

I was out on the town last night with my work colleagues, past and present. We had a fantastic evening here:

That sounds quite an evening. Then you had to get home 

[ideasguy]

RE: 20's-30's crowd.
They must have been disappointed 
Mind you there were about 20 of us 

It was a rather special evening of course. The oldest swinger in town tried to blend in Malcolm. I knew most of the reels they were playing so it was all the more enjoyable. Traditional music is its passed down through the generations so they dont change (at least they shouldn't!).

My ex-colleague is an ex champion Irish dancer. I asked one of the musicians to play a hornpipe for her, but it was end of evening and well, perhaps next time!
We had taxis laid on so no worries about getting home