MTjohn Loc: Missoula, MT

Hello all. As stated earlier I am again picking up the camera, this time late in life. I live in Montana and am inquiring as to which lens would be a good size for photographing this magnificent Big Sky and it's many interesting clouds. I have a Sony 18-55 and 24-105 and a used Tamron 70-300 (just received today) which I have no idea whatsoever how to use. Hooked it up to front of camera, turned on the camera, pushed the shutter release button and the lens just went in and out without firing.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

If the lens can't find something to focus on besides air, it will continue to search; switch to manual focus.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

I'd just use 50mm (equivalent to what the human eye sees) in your 24-105 lens, take three overlapping shots (rather quickly so the clouds don't have time to move much) that are to your left, directly in front of you, and to your right. Tripod if you want but it's not really necessary. Combine the three in post editing software (stitching) and you will have a 180 degree wide angle Big Sky photo without any fisheye aberration of a wide angle lens.

Another version would be six overlapping shots taken vertically but on a bubble-leveled tripod and combine all of them into a taller 180 degree wide angle photo.

I'd also experiment with a CP (circular polarizing) filter which will most times deepen the blue skies, increase contrast between sky and clouds, deepens water color by removing sun reflections on it, etc. (depending on time of day and direction of the sun). I used a CP on my film SLR in Colorado many years ago and was very glad I did.

MTjohn Loc: Missoula, MT

Yep, it works on MF. Thanks. And thanks for the heads up using 50mm. Do you think a future investment in a much faster 50mm would be beneficial?

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

No, because you're going to be outdoors and probably using f/8, f/11, or something like that. Having a higher priced lens that's main asset is that it can go below f/2.8 is of no value in this situation because you won't be using wider f/stops outdoors and will have plenty of light available. I would instead concern myself with glass quality. With that said, you will usually find that a brighter lens is also better glass with better coatings.

If your lens are kit lenses you may have okay glass that isn't superb high quality. You may want to consider reading reviews and asking here on UHH what lenses are considered to be very high quality. I personally enjoy Sigma lenses but some don't. Some love Tokina while others don't. If you're using a Sony they have some high end lenses available. There are also some Minolta high end lenses that would work on a Sony Alpha body because Sony has owned Minolta since 2006.

Good luck with that. I wish I had your Big Sky scenery to wake up to daily. Instead I wake up to around 70 degrees all winter and daily highs of mid-80s. I like that too!

OZMON Loc: WIGAN UK

have you tried a polarizing filter, you turn it slowly and you may see the result of it altering the blueness of the sky etc.it just screws onto the lens.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

You can't autofocus on clouds unless the weather is really nasty. Turn autofocus off and set the focus to infinity.