topic Re: The next step up...? in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

The next step up...?

Wilshawlr — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 15:33:18 GMT

Hello all! I am new to these boards and am starting to get more serious about photography. I am incredibly stubborn and I try to learn everything on my own, which often leads to disappointment (haha). I am turning a new leaf and I really want to invest time into learning this craft and not relying on the creative settings (I can't get enough of the monochrome), automode, and sports mode (becasue my nephew is 1 1/2 and can't sit still).

I love my Canon EOS Rebel T5. I bought the package deal thing last Christmas that included the 18-55mm lens (that eventually broke) and the 75-300mm lens. I rarely use the 75-300mm lens unless I am shooting the moon. I recently bought a 50mm fixed lens and I am absolutely in love with it.

I just have a few questions, if you all don't mind answering them?

My photos seem to look awesome when I play them back on my camera, and then I upload them to my Mac and then... not so awesome. They are either grainy or just not as sharp as I want them. I rarely use manual settings, so is there something that I am not doing correctly? Perhaps a bit shaky?

Also, what camera do you think is the best for a step up from the T5? I do eventually want to upgrade. I don't mind staying with Canon, but will definitely be open to other suggestions. Or should I stick with this one and just buy new lens, etc.?

Thank you for your time! I uploaded photos to my gallery, but I will post photos here if you need me to.

Re: The next step up...?

kvbarkley — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 15:55:43 GMT

Are you shooting in L-fine mode?

i.e., the largest JPEG possible?

Re: The next step up...?

Wilshawlr — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 15:57:51 GMT

Oh god. Yes. That is the L with the fin, correct? My amatuer is showing. What setting would be best?

Re: The next step up...?

Waddizzle — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 16:03:18 GMT

Yes, post photos, and be sure to include the exposure settings for the shots, too.

Grainy photos are typically caused by high ISO values. With a T5, I do not recommend using any ISO values over 400. Use ISO 100 as much as possible, although that is not always possible for most indoor shooting scenarios. You will most likely need to use the flash for most indoor shots. The built-in flash has very short "reach", around 10-12 feet or less, is best.

Photos that are evenly blurry throughout the entire photo are typically indicative of too slow a shutter speed and/or camera movement at the moment when the shutter activated. Subject movement can cause blurriness, but this usually results in the background apparently having a different focus than the subject.

The best way to learn how to use the camera is to set it to "P" mode. Enable the "Feature Guide" in the menus, which puts the camera into a sort of tutorial mode that explains the different settings as you scroll through them.

The best way to learn photography is learn the basics, starting with the "Exposure Triangle". The Canon Digitial Learning Center is a good place to start.

http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/home/home.shtml

http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2016/laura-morita-guide-to-amazing-photos.shtml

http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/galleries/galleries/tutorials/eos101_cll.shtml

Re: The next step up...?

Wilshawlr — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 16:24:02 GMT

Here are three of my most recent photos:

(Shot in Sports Mode, ISO 100, 50 mm, f/2.8, 1/500.)

(Shot in Auto Mode without flash, ISO 100, 50 mm, -1.33 ev, f/3.2, 1/1250.)

(I think I shot this in Creative mode, either that or auto mode without the flash, ISO 100, 50 mm, 1.33 ev, f/2.5, 1/200).

I am going out later today and will definitely play around with the "P" mode. Thanks for the websites, as well.

Re: The next step up...?

diverhank — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 22:09:13 GMT

Your 3 pictures look gorgeous...I wouldn't change a thing...

Just out of curiosity - since I never shoot in auto mode I simply don't know - did the camera set the ev (1.33 ev) for you or did you set that yourself? If you did yourself, you are almost at the pro-level...you don't need to learn from me, that's for sure.

All 3 of your photos were shot at ISO 100, which is the preferred ISO. Low f/value which was good for portrait and even the leaves...the camera did everything right, I guess.

By the way, is your 50mm a f/1.8 or f/1.4?

Re: The next step up...?

ScottyP — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 23:17:02 GMT

Your skin tones are a little blue in the attached photos. Are you using auto white balance? You might try setting a balance from the menu ("cloudy" I would guess). Nice shots though.

White balance is one one of the main reasons to shoot RAW instead of Jpg; you have infinite latitude to fix it on a RAW, but on a JPG you can only adjust it a limited amount.

Re: The next step up...?

Wilshawlr — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 23:23:39 GMT

"Your 3 pictures look gorgeous...I wouldn't change a thing...

All 3 of your photos were shot at ISO 100, which is the preferred ISO. Low f/value which was good for portrait and even the leaves...the camera did everything right, I guess.

By the way, is your 50mm a f/1.8 or f/1.4?"

Oh, thank you! The camera sets everything for me, luckily. Though I should definitely be paying more attention and remembering the settings and stop relying on it as much. And my 50mm is an f/1.8.

ScottyP, I was probably using the auto white balance. I always forget you can go and change that balance in the setting, thank you SO much for that tip! And thank you for the tip for the RAW vs. JPG.

Re: The next step up...?

ScottyP — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 00:00:04 GMT

Just remember shooting RAW you need post processing software and some practice using it. The base RAW files are very drab because they're not punched up by the camera like jpg's are. You must apply sharpening, contrast, saturation, etc, to a RAW image yourself in post.

Re: The next step up...?

kvbarkley — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 00:19:32 GMT

Not really, iPhoto/Photos on the Mac make using RAW files pretty seamless. Assuming you have reasonable expectations - not a given on this forum - these programs let you use RAWs just like a JPEG except you have more latitude for adjustments.

Re: The next step up...?

ebiggs1 — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 15:55:34 GMT

When you shoot in auto mode, all you really have is a fancy P&S or iphone. Forget that mode is even on the camera. If you must use an auto setting, use P mode. P mode is fine for snaps. But if you want certain looks and showcasing certain subjects, you need the more manual settings.

Tv allows auto of the aperture, the camera sets it automatically. Av does the same except fixing the aperture. Of course M allows you to set everything. The camera does nothing.

I didn't see any problem with the samples you displayed. They are really nice. Possibly a little tweaking in post but otherwise pretty good. The fact is great photos are made in post, not in the camera.

Another setting to avoid is auto WB. Set it yourself or shoot RAW where it doesn't matter. BTW, if you are just shooting snaps, you don't need RAW nor will you benefit from it. But now-a-days RAW is seamless so really no reason to not use it. The advantage is, you set almost everything in post. Not in the camera.

Re: The next step up...?

ebiggs1 — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 16:00:56 GMT

"... you use RAWs just like a JPEG except you have more latitude for adjustments."

All current post editors I am aware of do this. The fact is RAW is no more difficult to use than jpg. I doubt most people will even realize they are! There are only a very tiny place where a jpg file is better.

Re: The next step up...?

Wilshawlr — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 17:13:49 GMT

Thank you everyone!

I'm going to give myself another year and save for a Canon 5D Mark III. I think that is a good step up for me and I'm going to allow myself a year or two to practice shooting in P and other modes besides auto.

Re: The next step up...?

RobertTheFat — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 18:22:56 GMT

@Wilshawlr wrote:
Thank you everyone!

I'm going to give myself another year and save for a Canon 5D Mark III. I think that is a good step up for me and I'm going to allow myself a year or two to practice shooting in P and other modes besides auto.

That's not necessarily a bad decision. But be aware that a new 5D3 may no longer be available a year from now. And if that is the case, then even refurbished 5D3's are apt to be in great demand and therefore not easy to find.

Re: The next step up...?

Wilshawlr — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 18:29:27 GMT

@RobertTheFat Do you have another suggestion for a camera? I've been looking at 7D's as well, but I just fell in love with the 5D Mark III. 😞

Re: The next step up...?

RobertTheFat — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 19:04:50 GMT

@Wilshawlr wrote:
@RobertTheFat Do you have another suggestion for a camera? I've been looking at 7D's as well, but I just fell in love with the 5D Mark III. 😞

I have a 5D3, so you won't get an argument from me on that. I also have a couple of 7D's and have been very happy with them. My wife has the newer 7D2, and it's also (obviously) a fine camera. There's no reason you shouldn't be happy with any of them. The 5D4, which I haven't used, figures to be even better, but it's a lot more expensive.

Bottom line: I can certainly understand your desire to go FF, if for no reason other than that Canon's best lenses are the right focal lengths for a FF camera and a little too long on a crop camera. I guess what I'm saying is that if I were in your situation, I might try to go for a refurbished 5D3 now, rather than hope to find a new one in a year.

Re: The next step up...?

Wilshawlr — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 22:08:20 GMT

Thank you for the advice!