To SLR or not to SLR...

You are ready for a new camera, and you think you want the "BEST" camera you can afford. Let's take a moderately deep look at some of your options and why you might want to consider or reconsider an SLR.

Now... without sounding like an pompous ass elitist.. all I ask that IF you are considering one of those big-ol professional-like cameras with the big lenses (SLR's) Please at least know what SLR means!
SLR= Single Lens Reflex. and DSLR= Digital Single Lens Reflex

Back before SLR's there were twin lens and range-finder cameras... so now that I am getting you concerned that I am going to get too crazy with the background, RELAX. It's simple... the other cameras used one lens or viewfinder to frame up the shots (the one you look through) and a completely separate lens to actually expose the film...(yes I said film... but digital sensor ~ same thing) Single lens reflex means simply, that there is just one lens that you look through and that same lens is used to take the photo... and the reflex part is that there is a mirror that allows you to look through the lens, that has to move out of the way or "reflex" you might say... to allow the light to the film or sensor instead of through the viewfinder.

I only ask this because I and several others I know have worked in camera sales for a long time and will just feel better if you know a LITTLE something about the camera you are considering buying. So now you know!

Things to keep in mind when buying an SLR:

#1~ They are bigger than point and shoot cameras (the small compact non-changeable lens jobbers)

I know this one sounds obvious but really.. I myself have had to rethink what I bring with me on family events... SLR bag........ or diaper bag......... hhmmmm. They will take up space that you may not always have available and given that their dimensions can change depending on what lens you have attached begs you to leave more room than you first anticipated.

#2~ The beginner or "kit" lenses are often restrictive, budget items.

You may have already had a snazzy "blah blah 12x zoom" compact camera and are used to zooming in to see the far away things you can pick out with your eyes.. but you noticed that unless it was bright sun, the photos would always be blurry or grainy. So YES that's it!! THAT'S why you want an SLR!! Whoah now.. hold your pixels! You usually will not get the same kind of zoom range from a beginner SLR kit lens that you can get in some compact cameras........ yes it's true, now close your mouths, you're catching flies. The reason the lenses on SLR's don't have the same range sometimes as certain compacts is that most times the SLR lenses are much much brighter... and for every doubling of light making it through the lens, the glass in it has to be 4 times larger in area! kinda... it's complicated math. So here's the rub on SLR lenses vs compact lenses...

SLR lenses give you bigger chunks of glass and are brighter but sometimes don't have the same "range" as compact cameras.

Compact camera lenses can sometimes provide a wider zoom range but typically are much dimmer and therefore less flexible as the amount of light required for taking photos.

#3~ PRO- you can get more lenses for an SLR. CON- you can get more lenses for an SLR.

OK so you want to reach out and take photos of the hairs on a gnat's patootie... great, you know the kit lens wont cut it... so you get a package deal that includes a 75-300mm zoom!! YES!

OH yeah but those babies start at $300 and up, adding to your already expensive SLR kit. AND you'll then need more SPACE to carry it... (see where I'm going yet?)

OR you want to get really really close to Aunt Mildred's prize lilly of the valleys and be close in enough to make the pollen grains look like out grains on wheat bread.... well that's a different lens...

OR you want to take photos without flash in really low light.... well that's also a different lens...

SO why do you want an SLR?!?! they are expensive, they are big, they need a lot of different lenses to do different things, and buttons intimidate me!! AAAGGGHHH!!

Now, now... lets look at the reasons you might want to upgrade to an SLR...

#1~ It's not just a camera, it's a system.

There is a reason that pros and serious hobbyists use SLRs. They can do just about anything when you equip them with the right accessories. You can't change much on a compact camera.

#2~ You can upgrade as you go.

Sometimes really fancy compacts can equal or beast the price on an entry level SLR. But then that's it.. your compact camera is as good as it's going to get.. you can't upgrade the lens or flash or anything... an SLR, you can get upgrades till the cows come home or till your accountant has a coronary. SLR's are capable of anything these day with the right "stuff". Canon digital SLR's are even being used to record films and TV show even.. there's almost no limit!

#3~ Once you learn a few technical tips and tricks... you can get closer to that image you are thinking about in your head versus just accepting what the camera gives you.

#4~ You can get really really good quality from a used digital SLR, and that saves you money to buy really good lenses!! :)

So if you made it this far I thank you for your sticktoit-iveness and applaud your ability to stave off falling asleep on your keyboard!

Till next time!

JohnnyFlash

OK.. here's the NEW scoop

I am heading this boat in a new direction kids... not only will I cover all things flash related... but I am going to start covering a lot of things photographic. Fair warning! Some of it might be a snore-fest for those of you that have a good foundation of photography. However I think there's a few things that get left out of the usual sphere of photographic knowledge out there that a lot of newcomers would love to learn about... even if a lot of it is just my opinion. :) If you don't like that idea.. get your own blog!

Back in the Saddle...

Sortof...

SO since my last entry I've been relatively busy. Just not busy enough to excuse such an absence from my fledgling blog, but hey 3 entries isn't a track record to be proud of anyway. SO here we go again, this time with feeling.


Some of the thing I have planned for the near future is some testing to help some people that might be on the fence about sticking with off camera flash coming from their brands' camera flashes, OR converting to one of the many fine makers of other, seemingly more powerful solutions, with their accompanying higher price tags. Then there is also the option presented to us by the likes of Paul C. Buff's, Vagabond powerpack system that allows people that already own nifty a/c powered studio lighting to power up to 6 monoblocs from one of these babies. (That being said, if you don't own white lightnings or Alien Bees, they won't guarantee the safety of your lights!)Also getting some press these days is a similar battery powered pack called the Explorer XT from Innovatronix. Their website makes them seem a little fly by night, but it's seen some use from the likes of Scott Kelby in a recent blog post here

So enough about that stuff.. the next thing you'll be likely to see from me is a test to give some sollace to people who are crazy bothered like me about trying to compare apples to gorillas and figure out how a studio light rated at 500 watt/seconds compares to the output of a camera flash rated with a guide number of 158.. HOW THE HELL CAN WE COMPARE THESE when the companies refuse to standardize the ratings? SO.. my next quest is to come up with guide numbers for a few popular studio monoblocs, so we can really see how beneficial it may be to lug these heavy things out to a location sometimes.

That's it for now kids.. stay tuned... but without holding your breath! ;)

Self-assigned Projects

So I went to a seminar recently, and I will admit I went to get the latest dirt on Photoshop CS4 from the coolest adobe evangelist (IMO), Julieanne Kost. AND it worked... I purchased the upgrade immediately upon my return to the house. The reasons for that are for another post.. but the other person that spoke that evening was Matthew Jordan Smith. I went thinking.. "ah well.. fashion guy.. I guess he'll at least have good images to look at". It turned out to be the surprise of the evening! (No offense Julieanne... you were also great, but I expected that...) I realised that I don't actively search out inspiring people to meet and gain new ways of thinking from. Now pay attention here.. there's people that you gain INFO from... like reading the exif date on a digital image file.. but then there's ways of looking at things, ways of thinking and ways of approaching new hurdles. Matthew shared a few specific points with us, but this one really hit home: "Test like it's work" Meaning do your own personal shooting but don't treat it like your personal work.. treat it like it's your best $10,000 a day client and by doing so you will get yourself closer to getting those clients anf then some. Some of his "test" shots he took with then un-super model Tyra Banks, later sold for big $$ to international publication. They were shot with Tyra, his hair and makeup friends, and himself.. in his LIVING ROOM! (maybe not this exact shot).

You can see that shooting like you mean it is important. This concept had always been a little lost on me because I would always shoot for myself thinking.. it's just for myself so who cares?! Well hopefully you will start to see more of this concept in action here and you can take the ride with me along the winding road of photographic enlightenment (ok, some pun intended) I will touch more on this on my next post which will cover my other new person-to-watch Doug Sonders. (be ready to poop yourself be impressed)
What I'm also trying to say is.. keep your mind open, even to those who you think may not have anything to offer you..(maybe even ME!?!) sometimes you get surprised! Go visit Matthew's site here: mjs-exp.com and see his reading recommendations here on his blog : http://matthewjordansmith.blogspot.com/

Oh Canon my Canon.. why have you foresaken me?

With the introduction of the latest iteration of the top of the line Canon flash the 580exll, came a nice batch of wonderful improvements: Faster recycle time, which is now completely and utterly silent as well.. a metal foot, a PC socket, and a one-move locking latch that is weather sealed on certain Canon bodies. GREAT! WOW ! what an awesome job!..... wait where the @!#%&!* is the master/slave lever for shooting with remote flashes??? It is a major booboo and serious oversight on somebody's behalf that the master/slave lever that was a DREAM to use on the original 580ex, has been taken away to be replaced by a "push and hold this button for more than 2 seconds and then turn this wheel then push this button when you're done" process. Now I have to admit that when I am strobing around for myself and have the time to plan out lots of details and mess with settings to tweak a shot... who cares? what's 2 seconds?(or more, but maybe it's the watched pot syndrome when I'm in a hurry) But I unfortunately shoot a fair amount of weddings and typically need to switch back and forth from only on bracket flash to remote and bracket flash and back again in rapid succession. I will be the first to admit that there may not be a high percentage of people that have this sort of requirement, but hey it's my blog I'll whine if I want to! Go start your own blog if you disagree... or OK, you can leave a comment. Maybe the fine folks over at Canon will be reading and include the lever back in the next 580ex-type flash (along with radio-slave feature too...PLEASE?)

On camera flash...off camera...

It's been covered elsewhere at length, but in case you're just coming into the game here's the scoop:

If you are only using your on camera flash...well... on camera, take it off! Both Canon and Nikon flashes (yes I am mostly a Canon user, but I try to give equal time) have a built in ability to trigger other flashes at the same time, and certain Nikon camera bodies can trigger remote flashes using their built-in flash! Both companies also offer remote triggering units that are just that... they look a little like flashes but only fire barely visible IR flashes to trigger remote units.

The idea is to get your source of light off center to create more depth and feeling into your flash images. With thousands of hours a little practice you'll be wondering why you ever settled for a single attached flash.

NOW keep in mind, many of the things I will recommend to you here will cost you lots of money! You will find yourself with more flashes than relatives on Christmas... I can't control that, it's your own fault for becoming addicted in the first place! For more in depth reading on where to start with off-camera lighting.. go see my drug dealer hero: The Strobist

Cheers

In the beginning.... the Alpha post

Hold on to your hats kids, this will be a rough start more than likely! I look forward to sharing with and learning from anyone who happens to mistakenly come across my realm here at House of Flash. We will be going over a lot of photo tactics and practices hopefully leaning a lot on the use of flash power. Flash power from whatever source; on camera, off camera, studio, location and everywhere else! So here's to hoping the Alpha post won't be followed too closely with the Omega post! Thanks for stopping by!