Photography

by **IDynamite** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 12:02 am

Hey, anyone into surf photography? I'm looking at DSLRs, specifically the Nikon D60, anyone have any suggestions of certain cameras they use in the water or out?

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by **Hang11** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 1:38 am

Most digital SLR's will be fine for getting into surf photography from the beach. The lens is probably more important - you need something with decent reach, fast, and preferably good autofocus. With lenses, it's really a case of the more you spend, the better they get, but you'll get some OK results with a cheap consumer zoom.

Might be worth having a look at Canon too, the low end L series zoom lenses are probably cheaper than the Nikon equivalent.

by **RJD** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 7:15 pm

IMO the D60 is a bad buy specificly for sports.

Its relativly slow in shooting speed, it lacks spot meeter, and it only has 3 focus points restricting your framing. Not sure how well it does tracking either.

And also it lacks the body drive motor so cant drive any non AF-S lenses or primes.

It also lacks the ability to add a battery grip, and that becomes a pain when your shooting potrait sports.

If you can find a decent Canon 30D used that will blow the D60's socks off in every respect.

by **tomcat360** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:01 pm

Yay Canon!

I have a 20D that gets the job done for me and I shoot for a newspaper and a college athletic dept. A bigger screen would be nice but I don't really use it except for the histogram. I picked up a 300 f/4 L which will get the beach breaks around here okay for 625. Sharp, pretty small and lightweight for a 300.

Know if you are gonna do a lot of photography you are going to lose a LOT of money.

by **myate** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:00 am

Do you surf? Because that's my main problem. I'd love to do some more surf photography, but when it's pumping I'd rather be in the water!

by **Hang11** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:06 am

^^For sure!

Usually any pics I take are after a session or when it's macking huge and I'm too scared to paddle out!

Really can't be bothered with water shots, it just gets in the way of getting some waves.

FWIW I use a Canon 40d and selection of lenses, two favourites are a Signa 10-20 and Canon 70 - 200 F4L. The 40d is new, for 5 years before that I was using a Canon 300D. Canon bodies are well made and well thought out in terms of handling etc, and decent lenses can be bought relatively cheaply.

by **CHarvey** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 2:18 pm

For the surf photos I have done I have used my Canon Rebel XTI and my Canon 75-300mm lense with pretty good results. Would really love to get the higher end 600mm lense but it's just outside of my budget for the next 2-3 years or something like that.

by **myate** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:51 pm

1d mk2n + 300 f2.8 with 1.4x or 2x converter. 70-200mm for wider shots to show area.

by **tomcat360** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:20 pm

Niiiceee setup.

by **RJD** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:57 pm

Pretty good kit for sport!

by **IDynamite** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 4:46 am

Thanks for the suggestions guys! I actually decided to go with the NIkon D60, I'm just starting out with photography so it came highly recommended and I got a good deal on it. If the waves are pumping I'll be out there, but I'd love to get into surf photography anyway. I'm sure I'll find some medium between the two!

by **derbyshire surfer** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:41 pm

I use a D40 and a 18-55mm lens with a 70-300mm Tamron lens, does the job fine

enjoy your shooting! A lot of the time it's the photographers eye and not always the equipment

by **c. carcharias** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:15 am

My freedive buddy just happens to enjoy big wave surfing. Well he convinced me to jump in the water and take some pics of him at sunset and pipe. Im hooked. That shi is hella fun.

But ive ran into a problem. Whenever I want to get a good barrel shot. I get smashed by the waves. luckley I have a decent breath hold(couple min) and am not too worried about me, but I am about my camera.

Should I just assume that a good Pic is going to cost slam session. Or is there a technique im missing.

by **WaveRiderJ** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:29 pm

I've been looking at camera's for the last 3 months. I will probably buy next week.
I've looked at the Nikon D60, D80 and D90 as well as the Cannon XSi and 40D

The D60 is a good starter camera, the D80 is a waste of money and the D90 is a Nikon best buy for the budget.
The Cannon XSi has nothing but amazing reviews and seems ok in the hands. I have only spend half a minute looking at the 40D.

Both the D60 and XSi are so tiny and cramped in my hands (and I have small hands) and feel a little annoying in that manner.
I need to come to a conclusion on this! In the end I am stuck between the XSi, D60 and D90.
If I get the D60 I can spend some extra cash on lenses, tripod, gearbag etc.
If I go with the D90 I will be getting that and the one kit lens for twice the cost of the D60 with 18-55 AF IS and 50-200 AF IS

by **RJD** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 11:11 pm

...So?

What do you want to shoot? If its sports the 40D is by far the best , it has all you need and 6.5 fps and stunning fast AF.

D60 is a bit of a joke specs wise. D90 is OK, a good camera.

by **Don_Alessandro** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 8:47 pm

I got the following advice when I was doing some research on DSLR investment:

"The Sony 70-300/4.5-5.6 is the highest quality, fastest focusing telezoom under $1000. A Sony DSLR gives you in-body image stabilization, and you could buy a used one for virtually nothing. I don't think 200mm is long enough for surf photography."

"Canon EOS 40D camera body, with a used Canon EF 75-300mm (for high speed exposures) and a used Canon EF-S 18-55 IS lens (for wide angle, landscapes etc) would be a decent mirror reflex start-up pack."

"Well, if you go with Canon (not that there's anything wrong with other manufacturers)...
Adorama offers decent enough deals on the refurb equipment, if they have it in stock. I bought my 40D refurbished from a Canadian vendor on Ebay for $611.. I bought my 18-55 IS refurbished from the US side of the border on Ebay for $99. That would be about $700 so far. Ebay would also be a good source for the 75-300 IS, which is a rather old model. That would put you comfortably under your new budget. If you could afford $1300, you could get the 70-300 IS new, which is a far, far better lens -- better for sports photography. Unfortunately telephoto glass is the most expensive."

Hope they help you out mate. Good luck with your investment! And please keep us noted on your final choice of camera

by **WaveRiderJ** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:32 pm

I have a D60 with both the 18-55 & 55-200 (both autofocus and Vibration Reduction) and some filters.
I love this camera. Don't listen to the snobs who just have better (more expensive) cameras. Its 90% the person behind the lens and the lens iteself. Buy a middle ground or cheaper camera like the D60 and put the real money in nice glass.

by **RJD** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:24 am

WaveRiderJ wrote:I love this camera. Don't listen to the snobs who just have better (more expensive) cameras. Its 90% the person behind the lens and the lens iteself. Buy a middle ground or cheaper camera like the D60 and put the real money in nice glass.

Oh I agree its more down to the photog and the lens's. But you may as well look at the spec of the cameras and pic on that does what you want best for your money.

None of them take bad pics, just some have very usefull features. Rememebr half the stuff (I think) is missing from the D60 can be done purely in software and shouldnt actualy cost nikon anything to put in.

by **Hang11** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:13 am

RJD wrote:
WaveRiderJ wrote: Rememebr half the stuff (I think) is missing from the D60 can be done purely in software and shouldnt actualy cost nikon anything to put in.

It does cost them, by canibalising sales of higher priced cameras in their range, hence why they cripple low end models.

by **RJD** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:05 pm

Nikon arnt afraid of doing that though (D700 is killing D3 sales) and these are basic features found on all the competition.

Photography

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