[kamion]

Hi guys,
I'm back!

New Zealand was fantastic! Though I'd recommend at least 3 weeks to fully take in the great outdoors there.

Here's a couple snaps on my 350D. Quite a few more photos but they'll have to wait until I get more time to resize them!

I'm still trying to grasp how to use an SLR. Most of my shots have been done using automodes! I did try some "creative" mode shots and some of them turned out ok. One question though, why is it some times I can only get the f number down to 5.0 and some times, down to 3.5? I don't understand! Also, the aperture preview button, it only worked once and I couldn't get it to work again.

First up, Skycity, Auckland at night.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...city_small.jpg

Next, a flower somewhere between near Rotorua and Auckland.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...ion/flower.jpg

[RobertP]

Originally Posted by kamion

why is it some times I can only get the f number down to 5.0 and some times, down to 3.5? I don't understand!

At a guess you are using a zoom lens where the aperture changes as you zoom. If you adjust aperture with the lens zoomed in you may only get to f5.... zoom out and you can adjust to 3.5

Originally Posted by kamion

Also, the aperture preview button, it only worked once and I couldn't get it to work again.

No idea! However unless you have set to a small aperture, say f8, you won't see much change when you press the depth of field preview button.

Like the tower shot!

[stepheno]

DoF on the flower is excellent.

regards

[CT]

I love both of those, but you're oversize at 900 pixels high. The site limit is 800 pixels, so I'm gonna have to go all mod on you and break your links.

Soz!!

[dod]

Originally Posted by stepheno

DoF on the flower is excellent.

regards

Yep, really like that

[CT]

Originally Posted by kamion

One question though, why is it some times I can only get the f number down to 5.0 and some times, down to 3.5? I don't understand! Also, the aperture preview button, it only worked once and I couldn't get it to work again.

If you're using a zoom lens the effective aperture changes (gets smaller) as the focal length increases. It's the downside of the convenience of a zoom I'm afraid. Some zooms have a fixed aperture all the way through the zoom range, but they tend to be very expensive.

The Depth Of Field Preview Button only works if your lens is stopped down from it's maximum aperture. It could be just that? If it isn't doing anything when the lens is stopped down (small aperture) then it might be a fault on the camera.

[Venomator]

Welcome back Kamion - couple of good ones from your antipodean trip there !

The queries you have seem to have been adequately answered.

The tower looks really impressive and you have captured it well.

The flower is pretty sharp across the board - it does look really great if you crop out the expanse of sky though ... imo only of course !

TFS ...

[Warspite]

Welcome back

Both good shots, tower looks like some kind of rocket, well impressed - especially in the night setting with the whole structure illuminated - looks great.

Good to see a different angle on the flower - so often people will look down, its nice to see a change of perspective and include some sky in the shot by looking up at the subject

[kamion]

Thanks for the kind comments and answers to my questions, guys!

Originally Posted by RobertP

No idea! However unless you have set to a small aperture, say f8, you won't see much change when you press the depth of field preview button.

D'oh! That's it. I was trying it at f4 or f5 and nothing happened.

If you look closely at the tower picture, you can see that I've done a botch job on hiding a bit of a roof from the top left and some "flare" effect on the middle left of the tower. I suspect the flare is caused by dirt on the lense. I'll have to get some decent photo editing software and try to do a better job.

I quite like the flower shot myself. I like the contrast from the red of the flower, the blue of the sky and the green of the leaves. (RGB, haha!)