Qestion professional photorgraphers?
I'm getting into photograpy, but am having trouble with what camera and lenses to go with. I was at a wedding recently and I was talking to the photographer about her camera. She said I wanna go with a 2-800 whatever that means. Let me explain what I what to do. I want to take long distance shots that look up close. I want to be able to take a picture of the grass in the morning and see each dew drop in the picture. Or take a picture of rain and see the individual drop. I also want to be able to do miniature faking photos. I was looking at this lens AF 100mm f/2.8 AT-X M100 Pro D Macro Lens - Nikon Mount. I'm a beginner, but I want professional shots, what camera and lens should I buy?
It sounds like you want a macro lens, so 100mm is ok, but you need to be CLOSE to your subject, the fact that you also seem to want to be far away means you may also want a telephoto, which I guess the photographer was meaning 200-800mm? But 800 is VERY long, and will likely break the bank. Unless you look at a bridge camera which could maybe do both like Nikon P510
I just love it when beginners want "PROFESSIONAL" shots… Shows me just how uneducated they are…
right -
1) no idea what the photographer meant by "2-800", maybe you didn't hear it right…
2) you can't take a photo of rain and get a single rain drop…
3) walk before you can run - get a camera, learn all the basics, learn your camera inside out…
4) start with the kit lens(es)
5) when you have learned about composition, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, blur, focal length, etc THEN see about buying more lenses…
6) "miniature fake photos" sound like tilt and shift… That takes some experience with a tilt and shift lens, free lensing, or using photoshop/tilt and shift software…
7) if you want to take macro shots, then anything from 50mm to 150mm macro lens will do, depending on the subject… And a bellows with that will help get even closer provided the subject is stationary…
firstly, choose a camera, and then build around it… Not lens first… Nikon, canon, pentax or sony cameras are a good place to start… All vary in price as do all the lenses… Sigma and tamron lenses can be as good or better than the other makes… Your "professional" looking shots will only come with time and experience… The more you learn, the better you should become…
1. I presume she meant an 800mm focal length lens with an f2 aperture (ie a 'fast' telephoto lens) - I believe Canon made an EF version. Don't know if it's still available (I'm not a Canon user).
2. For long distant shots that look up close you want a telephoto lens - 300mm or longer. THe wider the aperture they are capable of, the more light gathering capability they'll have and the faster shutter speed you'll get. Long focal length lenses can either be primes (fixed focal length) or zooms (they 'zoom' between a shorter & a longer focal length, eg 150mm-500mm).
3. If you want to take close-up shots with detail (dew drops) you need a different type of lens - a macro lens. Make sure it is a true macro (ie, 1:1).
The lens you mention would be a high quality, fast prime lens - it's made by a third party lens manufacturer (Tokina) who make good quality lenses for all camera makes.
The main issue is that you want professional shots but you are a beginner - don't try to run before you can walk. Professional shots are more than 'point & shoot' - you need to get yourself an entry level DSLR (with a kit lens will be fine) and LEARN about photography - exposure, lighting & composition. THEN get your specialist pro lenses when you know what you need.
I own that lens, it's pretty good. Is a sample of my work.
You would need a nikon DSLR camera to go with it, the D3100 or a D90 come to mind.
Your question is about lenses. NOT cameras.
Understanding camera lenses: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/...lenses.htm
Long distance (magnifying things far away) = Telephoto lens
Short distance (focussing on things close up) = Macro lens