Posts: georgevedwards | Ugly Hedgehog

I was just using a hypothetical number to try to understand the positioning you were talking about, it could be 15 people, with 8 in front and 7 heads standing behind so that the heads appear in between the front faces for instance, the taller people in back. I guess I realize now you shouldn' put a tall person on one of the sides in a wide angle group. So the next time I get a reunion of middle aged people I will have them climb a tree. (lol) Oh, now I see what the ladder is for!

MtnMan wrote:

Yes. The example was maybe 8 people and the photographer staged them around a tree with some of them up in the branches.

30 people is difficult. Stuff I've seen on that suggests that you really need either bleachers or a ladder. I have never tried such shots.

(Main Photography Discussion)

10-24 zoom lens for Nikon options?

What do you mean spread out instead of lining up? Having more than one row, like 3 rows of 10 instead of 30 in a line?

MtnMan wrote:

Perspective distortion.

See example below at 10mm.

I was suggesting making the panoramas for the inside Real Estate shots. I agree it can be tricky with large group shots. One of the better tricks I saw recently for group shots is to spread them out vs. lining them up. Also you might want a ladder.

(Main Photography Discussion)

10-24 zoom lens for Nikon options?

Wow, such long legs! You did a good fix! I was at an event where another photographer had an extreme wide angle for the group shots, and I thought I should have one. I am thinking mainly of horizontal shots. I was in a restaurant and had to be up against the wall to get everybody in the shot, and they had to squeeze a little, it was a family reunion, you know they want that group shot. I had to do some fixing on the horizontal one too (like you did), but it turned out acceptable, the important thing is to get that once in a lifetime reunion shot with everybody in it, a little ragged at the edges is ok. It needs decent focus and everybody recognizable, the 6ft guy on the right was leaning a little. Doing a right/left panorama could make sense but the trouble with people is that the move from one second to the next and it may not be seamless, trying to match figures together at the seam. Thanks for posting! I had not considered the vertical group shot, but I did do an experimental vertical panorama of a tree recently, it turned out great but there were no human figures.

MtnMan wrote:

Perspective distortion.

See example below at 10mm.

I was suggesting making the panoramas for the inside Real Estate shots. I agree it can be tricky with large group shots. One of the better tricks I saw recently for group shots is to spread them out vs. lining them up. Also you might want a ladder.

(Main Photography Discussion)

10-24 zoom lens for Nikon options?

Thanks for the info on the difference between the two tokinas. I will check Amazon.

JFleming wrote:

Amazon still has them.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007ORX8ME/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2/184-7959188-1831004?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_r=1R2N7B8EFCXNJC5CSPG9&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1944687742&pf_rd_i=B0014Z3XMC

(Main Photography Discussion)

10-24 zoom lens for Nikon options?

Yes, that is the good feature I wished my D5200 had, fine tuning the lens. Which lens did you say you had, the Nikon or the Sigma?

Bear2 wrote:

It is awesome, after I fine tuned it to my D7000.

(Main Photography Discussion)

10-24 zoom lens for Nikon options?

Do you mean it is soft in focus at that range? I have noticed in test photos for several brands the corners are not good, or is it the perspective distortion that curves lines more the further away from the center. I did a group shot at 18mm with a Nikon 18-55 and noticed the human figures and faces on the edge of the picture were distorted, I was able to fix somewhat in photoshop with the perspective crop tool and the faces with the transform tool like in warp mode where you can bend the figure back closer to normal. But I hear that there are certain things like that that are always present in wide angle. For architectural shots it can almost be a plus special effect, but disastrous for group shots. Splitting a group shot into 2 may be the answer as you suggest, I must try that!, Photoshop can be amazing at blending two shots together seamlessly for a panorama, but sometimes glitches pop up where an object is split. Thanks for the helpful tips!

MtnMan wrote:

The ultrawide angle may not be what you want for t... (show quote)

(Main Photography Discussion)

10-24 zoom lens for Nikon options?

I would go for it if the price was right, I actually saw one for like $179 at Adorama, but when I went to grab it it said "page removed". Hudson seems big on it, Rockwell not so. So far as I can see even from your download when magnified and comparing it to Dpreview tests, it does seem a little soft in the corners (but then they qualify that by saying so are others)...Rockwell says the Tokina is better than Nikon's own version, and is similar in price to the Tamron. I was amazed with my Tamron 28-300/Canon D 60 for many years after graduating from a Pentax K-1000 film camera, but eventually I started to want something a little sharper to sell at the Gallery. So far Nikon has delivered. Do you sell professionally or is it for personal use? Of course I too have used lots of stuff that was not reviewed well and am perfectly happy with it, like my Sunpac external flash. Thanks for the links, they are helping me make a choice, and I am thankful that you responded to my query.

Nikonian72 wrote:

About 2-years ago, I purchased from my local camer... (show quote)

(Main Photography Discussion)

10-24 zoom lens for Nikon options?

I had a similar experience: I had one of the original 5 megapixel Canon D60 cameras, made of Titanium, I had a Tamron lens ($500 zoom) on it and it was dropped, putting a crack in the end of the lens housing, which eventually over time worsened till it was unusable. The Canon still works fine to this day. I was entering Andrews Air Force base for an air show right after 9/11, they searched my little camera bag in case I was a terrorist with a bomb in it, but didn't zip it back up when they shoved it back at me I picked it up and out fell the camera on the floor. I still blame it on Islam and their damn Jihad which uses religion to extol violence. As for Flicker, I have tried it several times but am generally confused by it, it seems like too much is there for me to find my around. Sort of like Light Room. I got it with the Cloud subscription but can't make heads or tails out of it. I know it works well for some people. I love Photoshop and its Browser, and so far nothing else really does more for me. I am interested in working with the image, not cataloging.

picpiper wrote:

I engaged in the same search for an UWA lens about... (show quote)

(Main Photography Discussion)

10-24 zoom lens for Nikon options?

Not in my present financial condition! Of course we always want the Ferrari, but sometimes have to settle for the Kia. I got the 50mm Prime lens with the f1.4 but found it to have as many drawbacks as advantages, it wasn't the "magic lens" I was hoping for. The depth of field was incredibly shallow wide open. Interestingly enough, I discovered a whole new aesthetic was sort "developed by force" to utilize this: photos with various portions of the subject out of focus. Sort of like politicians taking a negative and spinning it into a positive, or: if you say something wrong enough times it becomes true. I have also since acquiring an f1.4 lens become a big fan of Bokeh whereas I used to be strictly an Ansel Adams fan.
Actually I was hoping to use the wide angle mainly so I could take paying jobs like house interiors for selling houses and indoor group photos where you can't stand back far enough to get everybody in the picture, which I have already done with an 18mm and it wasn't quite enough.

MtnMan wrote:

One might be f2.8. That usually doubles the price...or more.

I don't see a need for my 10-24 because I use it for Landscape so usually set the f-stop to f16 or more. An f4 lens is fine for me. But if you had applications for the f2.8 that might be the choice for you.

(Main Photography Discussion)

10-24 zoom lens for Nikon options?

Yes that Tokina looks good! I am seeing two versions, the newer one only slightly more expensive at "street prices", still under $500, yet the list price for the old one is almost double. Is the old one better? What is the difference?

MtnMan wrote:

The 10-24 is a great lens. Too bad you just missed... (show quote)

(Main Photography Discussion)

10-24 zoom lens for Nikon options?

I have my eye on the Nikkor 10-24mm, but even refurbished it is $700. I see a Sigma 10-20mm for around $400 and a similar Tamron, anyone have any personal experience with the other brands and what are your preferences and comparisons? Dpreview seems to show the Tamron has the softer focus on the corners than the Sigma. I assume the Nikkor is better at the corners but does not have a review on Dpreview.

(Main Photography Discussion)

Portrait books

Yep! That is the one! I didn't know if it would be just another icon on my phone screen that takes up space and never gets used, but like I said a I had a paying gig to a nature shoot in the woods with a female subject, and it was my first shoot like that. I thought maybe she had ideas for what she wanted but she said "How should I pose" and I thought of that app, and brought it up and found some poses, and said "Try this one" and did a few shots and then showed her another one and said "Try that one" and so it went. It really saved the day.

Haydon wrote:

Android

http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=lv.mendo.posingapp&hl=en

iPhone

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/posing-app/id492085243?mt=8

(General Chit-Chat (non-photography talk))

How many remember

Yes, I love the technology too, but it doesn't balance out. We were happier then. I truly believe that. My father took us on summer camping trips. He said it was actually cheaper than paying bills at the house. You can't afford to travel nowadays like that, you have to rich, not poor! There was nothing like eating a can of Salisbury steaks from a can heated over the fire, with a potato wrapped in foil in the embers, baked. You can't buy Salisbury steaks in a can anymore. You can't even get in campground without a reservation.
This place sucks! Technology or no.

(General Chit-Chat (non-photography talk))

How many remember

They just started showing reruns of "The Lone Ranger" which had the catchphrase "The Days of Yesteryear" (I think is how they said it).

DaveO wrote:

I just got off the phone with my father who's been in Florida for about 30 years. He's working on a new chronologically ordered family photo album and remarked how things were simpler and somewhat easier years ago. He grew up on a farm during the depression and WW2 and had food and not much more,but would gladly return to days of yesteryear. He said it was simpler and much time was spent with family. They did have a radio! Unsolicited.

(General Chit-Chat (non-photography talk))

How many remember

My parents took us on travel/camping trips. We, the Edwards Family, devleloped "Edwards Law" long before Murphy. It has to do with choosing now or waiting for later. Example: If you are driving down the highway and you are hungry looking for a restaurant, if you stop at THAT one there will be a better one later; if you pass it by hoping to find a better one, there won't be one. We found it to always be 100% accurate!

EE wrote:

here was a machine IN FRONT OF MY HIGH SCHOOL,that... (show quote)