New Camera - Orchid Board

DJR · #1 01-12-2010, 09:10 PM

Hi all

Well I got my new camera and am anticipating using it soon. Unfortunately the freezes killed a few photo ops I had. I know Prem is a very good photographer and Dave has had very good field shots any tips guys?

The Nikon D90 won out. I have the 18-105mm and the 70-300mm that came with the package deal. So far I am very impressed with what I have seen with photos from one of our interns (she has the D90 also). My question to both of you is what is key on the close up photos for detail. I have been reading feverishly on any and all books I can get my hands on for tips and tid bits. Down the road I am planning on adding the Tamron 90mm macro to my arsenol.

I have had much experience with the old Pentax K1000 with macro/tele, wide angle, and regular lenses (which I still have) I also purchased with the combo a tripod so I am pretty well set.

Any advice guys? Anyone else out there want to chime in. I am just waiting for a few plants to start to appear. This freeze really wacked everything back severly and all is "dead" pardon the expression.

Don

flhiker · #2 01-12-2010, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJR

Hi all

Well I got my new camera and am anticipating using it soon. Unfortunately the freezes killed a few photo ops I had. I know Prem is a very good photographer and Dave has had very good field shots any tips guys?

The Nikon D90 won out. I have the 18-105mm and the 70-300mm that came with the package deal. So far I am very impressed with what I have seen with photos from one of our interns (she has the D90 also). My question to both of you is what is key on the close up photos for detail. I have been reading feverishly on any and all books I can get my hands on for tips and tid bits. Down the road I am planning on adding the Tamron 90mm macro to my arsenol.

I have had much experience with the old Pentax K1000 with macro/tele, wide angle, and regular lenses (which I still have) I also purchased with the combo a tripod so I am pretty well set.

Any advice guys? Anyone else out there want to chime in. I am just waiting for a few plants to start to appear. This freeze really wacked everything back severly and all is "dead" pardon the expression.

Don

Hi Don, Lucky you Nice camera. I started with and still have my K1000. And like the K1000 It's only as good as the lens. The best lenses make the best pictures. And of course take lots and lots of pictures. The shots I post are taken with a (when new) 250.00 point and shoot canon A720. And most are handheld shots. The only thing I do is to set a 3 sec. timer so I don't get movement from pressing the button. The delay allows you to steady the camera better. Have fun and looking forward in seeing your new shots.

Bolero · #3 01-12-2010, 10:35 PM

Wonderful camera and it's one that will do well for a long time to come. That would be my choice if I could afford a new one.......

prem · #4 01-13-2010, 02:42 AM

question...killed your ops as in killed the plants? or just froze the flowers off?

BTW, I have an Epi. magnoliae growing in a tree in my yard that has a flower that stayed fresh throughout the freezes here in the northern Orlando...those things are troopers!

As far as getting those shots in the field...a tripod is a necessity in most instances...but even then, keeping the subject still in a typical Florida breeze is going to be challenging. For lower light shots, a flash with an off-shoe cable and a reflector or diffuser is essential for subjects in the woods.

The twayblades and coralroots should be up at Goethe now...unless the frosts killed them back (I don't think they would, though). I wonder how the plants down in the swamps fared...any word on the epiphytes in the Fak, flhiker?

---Prem

kavanaru · #5 01-13-2010, 05:05 AM

Don, congrats! You have gotten a very nice camera!

As Dave said, the key is to have a good lense! The best you can get, the best (optical) quality your photos will have! However, and since good lenses can be very expensive, I would suggest you put on the balance "your goals and kind of photography you expect" against "the amount of money you can afford to pay". Or said in Project Management argot: "Is it a nice to have or a must have?"

I also work with Nikon, and have very good results for Macro Photography with the "AF-S Micro Nikkor 60 mm 1:2.8 G ED". However, many many many of my "close-up" picture are not done with this lens, but with my 18-200 mm (also Nikkor), in order to aboid "perspective distortions. You can try with your 70-300 mm and check whether the results are good enough for what you are looking for (Just zoom in as much as you want and take the picture)

The very key for detailed and sharp photos, is to avoid any vibrations in the camera during the process. Therefore, I would suggest to buy a good tripod (instead of the macro lens) to start with. For tripods, the rule is: the most expensive the best! Get the best you can afford to! "Manfrotto" has great tripods, but probably on your side of the world you can also find other good brands.

Something else you should consider, as it also helps a lot is a good flash. The SB line from Nikon is very good! You do not need to get the expensive SB-900, as in most cases you will get great results with e.g. SB-600 or SB-800 (this two are currently quite "cheap" after SB-900 was introduced to the market)

Hope this helps...

DJR · #6 01-13-2010, 08:23 PM

Thanks all

Dave

Yes that Pentax K is a nice camera. I have had that baby since I was in High school. I am probably going to pass it on to one of my boys. The photos i have been taking and posting on here were from a Sony cyber-shot S750 and it takes wonderful photos however my big hands and its little buttons just can't coordinate very well together.

Prem

I had some flowering Lawn orchids mixed with some non flowering Butterworts and a few Spiranthes still barely in bloom, a batch of Platanthera flava coming up as well as with seed heads, I need to check the E. magnoliae and the E.m var mexicana to see if any of them survived the freeze. It got down to 15 here in Springhill for a long duration. When you walk on the ground and it is as hard as your concrete drive you know it has done damage. One of the clumps of E. m is about 3' off the ground! Lots of flowers too! Thanks for your advice I definately need a flash attachment. I do have a spare flash unit but I don't know if it is compatible yet. I do have a tripod I bought that with the package I knew I was going to need that as well.

Thanks Balero

kavanaru

The lenses I have and the camera have the VR feature that helps with the vibration. I have a lot of playing to do with the camera so I will be figuring it out this week end. I do have Monday off for the Holiday so that gives me and extra day.

Thanks again all

Don

flhiker · #7 01-14-2010, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prem

I wonder how the plants down in the swamps fared...any word on the epiphytes in the Fak, flhiker?

---Prem

Heading out Sunday. Waiting till it warms up a bit

DJR · #8 01-14-2010, 08:06 PM

It actually felt somewhat warm today with our "balmy" 63. It should have been warmer down your way. I did go out to one of our preserves today to scope out another area. Prem said the twayblades and coralroot may be showing up his way so they should be out here as well. Although I remember them blooming I believe in March in this area (I think). And he is a little farther north. Interesting. I know where a few locations are and good spots for others.

Don

The freeze did get pretty deep into the hammocks and swamp areas here. Anything sensitive and green 3-4 inches above the ground have moderate to severe damage. Some of the Habenaria odontopetela were wilted and some were not. Go figure. Maybe the Platanthera flava at my Aripeka site were not hurt. They were just sprouting out of the ground last week.