New Equipement Reviews

[Eifion Williams]

I'm sure that quite a few of you have bought a new piece of photographic kit recently, whether it is a new camera body, lens,flash or a new bag. As long as it is photographic...

Please tell us about it, is it an upgrade or just a spare as a back up for your everyday kit. It doesn't have to be expensive , if you just bought a new reflector or filter for your camera tell us about it.

Eifion.

[Barrie Harwood]

I'll kick off then :)

I've always liked the 'fish-eye' effect especially when used with buildings or other objects you 'expect' to have straight edges and/or right-angled corners. I don't mean the circular fish-eye as this gives a 360 degree image.

A few months ago I indulged myself and bought the Nikon 16mm fish-eye. I bought the 16mm as I use full frame cameras but a 10.5mm version is available for Nikon DX format bodies

When I say indulge myself, it is really just that as I cannot foresee many brides being too flattered if I produce their precious wedding photos using this lens :D

As it happens, I used it today when I was out enjoying this beautiful bank holiday weather at Jodrell Bank

I've tried adding the photo using the button above but it doesn't seem to work so here is a link:

http://www.barrieneil.com/epz03.jpg

[markcarline]

I love picking up cheap bits and bobs from ebay and (inspired by the "high key" workshop we did a few months ago) I have just purchased this white back screen from ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250685870670
A bargain at £50 +P+P - Just need to get to B&Q to buy a few bits to hang it off the picture rail :)

I also just purchased one of those white soft boxes:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/20-50CM-PHOTO-STUDIO-LIGHT-TENT-SOFT-BOX-CUBE-BACKDROP-/160441002646?pt=UK_Photography_StudioEquipment_RL
Looks like your going to cover the use of one of these next month (which i'll miss as i'll be away) but my first initial play with it seemed to produce some 1/2 decent results - see the "cosmos" and "chrysanthemum" in this flickr set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markcarline/sets/72157622827936048/

I also managed to get some 3rd party batteries for the 5D Mark II (they also work in the 7D) that are "decoded" which means that they work with the original charger and also allow for the "battery remaining" indicator to be used in camera:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220643683395
I have been using them for about 2-3 weeks with no issues - great value for £11 each :)

[Paul Smith]

You should now be able to post images by clicking the Insert Image box and posting the url of your image. You can also use the guides at the following pages.

http://www.welshotimaging.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?194-Uploading-Images-to-the-Forum

[Lee Iggulden]

I love "Fish Eye" lenses..

But you are right Barrie, NEVER use them on me will you ;)

[markcarline]

Heres a great bit of kit some people might be interested in - You know those expensive B&W 110 ND filters that you see for £90+ well.....

Did you know that you can buy a bit of welding glass from ebay for £2.50 that does something similar !?? Heres that guy selling them:

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/darkmutton/m.html?_nkw=welding+glass&_sacat=0&_odkw=&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3911.c0.m270.l1313&afsrc=1

They *just* about fit into a Cokin P filter holder (or if you have an old filter knocking about you can glue it that). For more information of what I am talking about check out my FlickR group I created for the images people have been creating using it:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/weldingmaskglassfilter/

Heres my 1st go using it:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2659/3960288726_80c0b71714.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/markcarline/3960288726/)
View of Old Dee Bridge from River Dee (http://www.flickr.com/photos/markcarline/3960288726/) by Mark Carline (http://www.flickr.com/people/markcarline/), on Flickr

You need to use a custom white balance but all in all its worth £2.50 for a play ;)

[Paul Smith]

That looks pretty promising Mark, might grab one of those. I've been thinking of getting a strong ND for a while but they're so expensive.

[Eifion Williams]

In reply to Barries post on the Fish eye lens, I really like the effect that it gives. Very different from what we normally see, but it does have limitations.

Well done Mark, the inexpensive ND filter has to be the bargain of the month, well worth a try at £2.50

[Barrie Harwood]

What are limitations Eif? In photography, the only limitation should be your imagination :)

[Lee Iggulden]

Im figuring Eif means how things don't look real ( and sometimes they need to, especially with the sort of photography he does) but I could be wrong...

However, the Fish Eye lense really would make me look completly different and NOT in a good way, so I think I am correct in thinking what Eif means...

LOL, does this make sense at all !!!

You, Barrie are also correct, there should be no limitations in your photography.

[markcarline]

Hopefully any day now i'll be able to post what my new point and shoot is like, just ordered it from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0031MA0ZE/ref=ox_ya_os_product

:)

[Paul Smith]

Should be very good. I've seen a lot of the panny range and have an lx3. Great compacts.