Jon L
For him, f/1.2 is a prime number
- Joined
- May 20, 2003
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Very nice. Is the Tokina pretty sharp wide open at F/2.8? Again, I'll be doing much more dim indoor shots than outdoor ones..
Very nice. Is the Tokina pretty sharp wide open at F/2.8? Again, I'll be doing much more dim indoor shots than outdoor ones..
My best lens costs about $800 on my $500 camera body. The costs add up.
That said, a worse body with better glass is better than an expensive body with cheap glass.
The last sentence was once said by my photographer instructor many, many years ago. He made an comparison that the lens is like the human eye, and the camera is the brain, but it doesn't take a lot brains to bring objects into perfect focus.
My Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX AF 11-16mm F2.8 is here. Took a few quick snaps on flashless auto. Cloudy and dark day just before the sun went down.
f/2.8 1/40 sec ISO 125 16mm
f/2.8 1/30 sec ISO 640 16mm
This is a nice photo, and a prime example of something that could be improved with HDR. There's a lot of dynamic range here, and you're losing some detail in those deep shadows. Brightening the complete image though risks blowing out the strong highlight at the top center. With exposure bracketing and HDR processing, you could get a really great final image.
I haven't even installed the Canon CDR yet. Which program do you prefer for HDR processing? Do you shoot RAW? (I would hate to get into that as I don't usually print my photos).
Photomatrix is the gold standard for HDR processing, but Photoshop has a built in tool that works pretty well. Most HDR photos that you see on the internet look like cartoons or paintings, which I guess is fine if that's the effect you're going for, but I think they tend to look rather silly. Used in the right circumstances and with more restraint in processing though, HDR can produce excellent results. Here's a perfect example. This shot is nearly impossible to work with as a single exposure. There's just no way to capture any detail in the room without the light outside completely blowing out. HDR solves the problem. Here's the standard metered exposure:
And here's HDR applied:
I pretty much always shoot RAW. It gives you more dynamic headroom, and frees you from the constraints of the camera's JPEG engine which means less noise and a lot more control over noise reduction, color temp, and a ton of other factors that are limited with JPEG.
I don't know. Although the first pic shows no detail, it still seems more natural to me than the second photo with HDR.. Then again, I also like tube amps.
Anyway, I'm finding the wide angle lens to be tons of fun. I know I should stop, but I shall indulge, only until I get a good "normal" lens.
Frustrated over the choice among Canon 28mm F/1.8, Canon 35mm F/2, and Tokina 35mm F/2.8, I just bid and won this little thing. What the hell, the stock market was up...
Zeiss ZE Distagon T* 35mm F/2
Interesting choice. The Zeiss is a much better lens than either of the Canons, that's for sure. I haven't seen resolution test data for the Tokina to compare, but I imagine the Zeiss would more than hold its own. It's razor sharp from wide open which is what I like to see, and its peak performance at F2.8 is nothing short of superb. That said, the corners are a little soft until you get to F4, so you may want to consider cropping your image a bit. The Zeiss is also a good tool to help you learn to improve your photography, as it will not let you use auto mode as a crutch. You're on your own for focus and aperture.