"... produce images that are expressive and subjective, rather than objective and representational. ... " - Digital Photography Masterclass (Tom Ang)

Im still in the beginner's level. Im still trying to learn how to use my A550. Im still trying to get use of essential functions and more.
My photos are still ... as they say it... P&S style / level. Hope to learn from you guys and others.

shot of the day...mussels
c&c as usual, thx =D

1 question..

#1   #2

For both condition #1 & #2:
Spot metering done at point 1. camera Set to Manual mode, 0EV, say 1/80s, F/4. Flash TTL

NO AEL used.

will the #1 pic slightly overexposed compared to #2 ?

I guess this might be one of the reason that cause my pic have inconsistent exposure.
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I really dislike that SONY make the AEL button together with the Slow Sync button... Slow sync is activated instead of AEL when the flash is used at P/A mode ==> force me to use M mode?

i tot i just answered him after his post?

the problem is the flash is set to TTL< the metering is still open... means not lock at his exposure yet, even he uses M mode. the flash is still auto and have the ability to fire enough to make the metering to 0ev, this is not just sony, every other camera, the AI is fixed, they arent like human where we can make decision what color/exposure effect we wanted,... that is why the M mode is here to stay.

let's talk about this pic. a good example of 'albnok's you will see what we wanted you to see'

some info of the pic, taken at evening in my garden, when i first gotten my raynox, shot with 55200 at 55mm, raynox DCR250, F32, 1/80 (the F32 cause it to underexpose ) i left it underexpose, so it could bring out the details/sharpness of what the raynox+55200 can do



majority people will perceive it as a good photo, good sharpness, pretty flower, the crown looking middle of the flower, the good amount of DoF, etc because of the narrow perceptive, they only see what the picture's main subject is showing.

but, there are minority people, will definitely see the photo as a whole picture. they will see the 'ugly' flower behind it, although the main-subject-flower is big enough to bring all the attention to it. it is still a 'bad' compose with distraction. (i didn't realize until i re-look at my photo, i do that time to time, its a enjoyment to look at our old works, and see the 'growing' progress of ur photography life.)

how u see the photo, is excately how u shoot.
if u see it as a whole picture, u will compose very well.
if u see only the subject, and everything around it become blank in ur head... then, u have to do something bout it~

let me give u another nice flower photo. taken in nanjuang mountain area, taipei. my sis's God Father's summer cottage/house. wild rose (although planted by uncle, it was left unattended... and it's 8-18 degree here whole year long)
sal1870 - 70mm, F5.6, 1/125, auto iso320


my story, is to tell, the blooming and the withered. but still, with some distraction around.

but how many people, would perceive it first, the flowers, then the whole picture?

They forgot the A450 LOL!

Read it carefully and properly - Sony words their releases very specifically.

The compact Alpha has the Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor (why not APS-C, typo?) They do not mention anything about the A700 replacement having video.

Nice to know they've upped the 500mm which was previously rumored to be F4.5 (but would be much lighter.) Bummer about the 24mm, wished it was F1.4, but if it is F2.0 it better be the same size as my 24mm F2.0 then.

Kul | Mo0: The D300s costs more than that.

What de    F0.95

#13- Due to heavy rain we went for a second TT session and after that, we hung about the KLCC Park.


#14- Cheeky!


#15- Who would have known?


#16- Somehow I like how this turned out.


#17- Cautiousness.


#18- Going home.

lugiamcg: On the Jalan P.Ramlee side of KLCC. The other pictures give you a hint of where we were! And yes, the paint job is as nice as it looks.

The effect is vignetting and high contrast.

destfull: You will eventually find a better framed annoyed person. Keep at it!

Banzai_san: Thanks!

Probably a less tilted shot would work better. The 2 food shots are a bit tight especially since you've led us to see an interesting pattern in the background.

Lenses with focus limiters:
http://www.mhohner.de/sony-minolta/lenses....=1&tr=0&flsel=0

mastering89: For the tree shot, if the sun was lower or blocked by the branches you would have less flare. For the waffle try pulling it closer to you so you have a cleaner background.

You can still make the shots brighter in Photoshop. Use the Levels tool.

And yes, the hot ice-cream shots have a WB that is too warm. Nice corn shot though - can see the air heating!

wha7ever: Cool tips!

ieR: The green peas are distracting and the shot seems slightly underexposed (overdone highlight recovery?) The shadows make it less appealing.

d4rkholeang3l: Linux people are on their own on that one LOL. A touch of saturation would help your otherwise good shot. So would picking a darker aperture e.g. F11.

eddybeh: Crop it out lor what to do. Or you make the whole picture darker but add shadow fill (not sure what program you're using.)

The A850/A900 can use DT lenses but very hard to frame (when you try it, you will know why.)

lwliam: Cool star-shaped flame! Though the framing of the steamboat is a bit not-here-not-there.

alex_cyw1985: I like #1! Let's see it big.

wingster: If you could make it look like it was floating without the support beam (careful lighting with a pen light) that would be great.

prazole: I like #2 though you could also try one with a darker aperture to get all the cacti in focus. I like the composition of #3 also!

kmarc: A CPL may not help that much in such a situation. Get one, and see for yourself. Often it might be better to process later. Also, you can always clone out the telephone line.

cjlai: Although I am not a fan I can feel the greasiness of it.

lugiamcg: well, AF speed, is influence by SOOOOoo many factor that, is so subjective. there is NO way to Generalize ALL lens characteristic. each lens has diff gearing, diff length, diff IF or EF design, diff gear size, and lot more.... even technology plays a factor, and camera body.

when u compare direct 1 point to another point, like SSM vs SAM or SAM vs body motor, it's easy to compare because we neglect the gearing possibility...

A450 cant 4fps with MF LV check. it cant, the mirror flip cant flip that fast~ unless it has mirror lock up features. i cant comment, i dont own a A450. however so, it has a LV but its for MFLVcheck, which is not practical because it does not activate AF.

Fighteden: depend on ur NEEDS, but if not for mobility, u are making a big mistake letting go the A300! A330 does not have a battery grip option (i prefer to call it Vgrip as Vertical Grip (or vertical orientation grip)). sony was thinking that Entry level is pure entry (family shooter), u dont need fancy tools to make it look big... u wan big, go BIG... like A4xx,5xxx,7xx,8xx,and 9xx
nope... A700 has all of A550 + extra F2.8 sensor. so it triple the sensitivity. but new tech AF is always more sensitive/accurate/smarter

the vertical and horizontal sensor, we call it cross sensor, cross as a '+' shape. all models has cross sensor for the centre AF point (sony calls it focus area =.=)
i didnt generalize 70200G as slow lens... i said it was slow on a A200, hence, yea, it could be body dependent too... but i wont say weaker, it did lock on first focus, it did not hunt, but it felt bout a little faster then 55-200 @.@ hence, i judge is on A200 is slow?

seriously, i cant really judge, might be the sensor itself, or the body tells the SSM to go slow, the optimum of the AF sensor speed? it was kinda slow on A200,... but i heard from a friend of A900, he said it was really really fast... i have no comment, unless someone with A200 and A900 with 70200G can do a control test and tell us the result...

the major noticeable thing is, its total silent... u keep asking urself, is the lens focusing? or not?

actually no need so such find 70200, any G lens can test... or CZ SSM 2470. anyone here has SSM lens and A2 and A7 body? got diff in speed?

my test was focusing on a 1 pixel line on white screen on my LCD monitor with the 50mm F1.4 on A200 and A700. Both using the Center crossed sensor..  Brightness is good, focus assist light not activated on A700.

A700 can lock easily.. ( i believe due to the double cross sensor + F2.8 sensor), while the A200 hunt for a few time.

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Added on March 6, 2010, 1:15 am
Good.. u will like the F58... just sometime u might find it heavy..

now im not sure which side to believe 
any1 here has any materials that i can read-on regarding Sony's AF technologies and its lens technologies. All those article that i found through google aren't complete. Thx.

lol, actually, there're no specific questions...juz that yesterday, we're discussing about a300 vs a330...then it turns out to be a discussion on AF system cause i made a lil' mistake. Then, bro ieR correct me on it. It then follows by different views from others...now, i 

Ok guys... I need a favor. I just got a last minute Actual Day wedding gig. IT IS NOT CONFIRMED YET at this point but I may need at least one photog to tag along if this comes through.

So I am calling for a tentative tag along Actual Day wedding shoot:

Details:

Wedding is in PJ area.
Coverage needed for morning session only - 8am to around noon.
Date : 14/03/2010 Sunday
You will be tagging with the groom.

Money : Please take this as a no payment job first. I will try to nego for some token fees if possible.

Gears and experience needed:

1. Alpha body
2. Kitlens at least
3. External flash 100% required

Would be best if you've at least had some practical in shooting low-light indoors event.

PM me if you are interested. If you could provide a link to some of your shots, it would be great.

It's short notice and tentative at this point but I'm hoping some of you may wanna get some exposure and experience. Will let you all know by Thursday latest if it is on.

wao 8653 , u got the lego i want 

ic...
a700 same par on 50D ar...
haiz...
sien...
coz finding something dat can compete wif 50D...
A700 too old stock adi...

Been too long since I've been here... hehehe... I've been Poisoned by the 16-80Z! freakin fast focusing la!! WTF!! wonder how the 70300G focuses... m0o! is it just as fast?! somebody poison me quick!