Don't waste your money on a macro lens unless you intend on doing something with your shots. It's added weight and unnecessary if you're not a real hardcore photography addict or making some cash out of your shots.

I suggest you read up on the following topics:

- exposure
- ISO
- aperture / f-stop
- depth of field
- lighting

If you have a firm understanding on those topics I think you'll be able to maximise the shots you take, and actually take less because you're thinking about your shots beforehand.

I think http://www.dpreview.com/ has some of this info. There are websites for a lot of this stuff. Just google. No need to waste money on a book, as they go out of date pretty much before they get printed anyway.

Oh and really familiarise yourself with your camera manual. I'm still working through the functions on my own camera (Canon EOS 400D).

oh yeah, get yourself a flickr.com account. It's free, you can upload your pics to share with friends/family, and you'll find community boards on there with lots of info. If you use facebook there are photography groups there too.

Buy THIS book!

If you have enough time to read it through (and its an enjoyable read as well) you'll definitely be taking better pictures on your trip with a much better understanding of how everything works.

edit: i wouldn't bother with a macro lens either, for a good one it'll be a lot of money for a very specific form of photography, so unless you're rich, don't bother. Look into a Prime lens. Although it doesn't have zoom, the quality of your photos will we far superior to one with a large range.

Last edited by djbruuen on Feb-14-2008 at 21:55

i wouldnt spend the extra money on a macro lens if i wasnt planning on doing any macro photography. a standard zoom will do the job just fine.

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basically listen to chinamon, djbruuen, and malek, and you'll be fine.

oh and the guy on here who uses an olympus DSLR, forget his name though.

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They're all crazy. Even you. You're all...crazy."
"Even me?" she said.
I thought, "Oh right, if I categorically eliminate all other people, it's just me and her. She'd like that.
"Especially you" I said.
"You are virtually the ring leader, the way I see it."
Then, I blew out the candle.

start by returning your olympus and get yourself a real dslr--> canon

/end of canon fan boi


are you planning to shoot insects and flowers? or hot chicks on the sand?

if the later, you don't need a macro lense, but only rubbers.

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quote:

Originally posted by MikeyN oh and the guy on here who uses an olympus DSLR, forget his name though.

otis

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quote:

Originally posted by malek start by returning your olympus and get yourself a real dslr--> canon /end of canon fan boi are you planning to shoot insects and flowers? or hot chicks on the sand? if the later, you don't need a macro lense, but only rubbers.

I'm still hoping to make an upgrade soon. The choices: Rebel XTi, (the new) Rebel XSi, or 40D. (i'm most curious how the XSi will stack up to the 40D)

quote:

Originally posted by malek start by returning your olympus and get yourself a real dslr--> canon /end of canon fan boi are you planning to shoot insects and flowers? or hot chicks on the sand? if the later, you don't need a macro lense, but only rubbers.

well I bought the olypmus because I got a great deal and even though I dont know to much about it, the Live View caught my eye.

Anyone know the pros/cons about this 4/3 system?

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bring that beat back

quote:

Originally posted by malek start by returning your olympus and get yourself a real dslr--> canon

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It is time

quote:

Originally posted by zack3082

cool shot. starlight filter?

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