The 1D MK II Arrived today and...

[Moses]

It really is a fine piece of artwork! I have never had this nice of camera equipment in my life.

So my next question is how long did it take for some of you less experienced photographers to start getting good pictures? I've got the next 6 days off from work, so I'm going on a crash course. :)

[Avalonthas]

Lucky guy.

[urvtecs2slo]

jesus. congrats on winning the lottery.

[Pekka]

So my next question is how long did it take for some of you less experienced photographers to start getting good pictures? I've got the next 6 days off from work, so I'm going on a crash course. :)

If I were you I would:

- Download RSE from pixmantec.com and shoot RAW
- Read the manual in dinner table, in loo and in bed
- use the center AF most of the time
- use * as AF lock (get used to it from the start)
- learn to use high ISO's (do not avoid it)
- have fun and shoot shoot shoot.

[booggerg]

you bastard!!!

[Skip Souza]

YeeeHaaa! You are at the start of a fun ride.
Pekka gave very sage advice, especially RTFM. Then do it again.
Shoot, shoot, shoot, you won't hurt it. Film developing for the 1D is cheap ;-)

[tim]

Wow, that's an expensive load of gear, and a hell of a lot to get started with!

I got my first SLR (300D) about 6 months ago, and I upgraded to a 20D about three months ago, so i've been using SLRs for only about 6 months. I use my camera a lot, i'm not so stupid, and i'm good at reading manuals and understanding electronic stuff, and i'm starting to get to the point where I can control my camera and get a decent exposure in most circumstances. I figure after another 6 months or so I should be able to get good exposures most of the time, be in with flash, without, bounced, natural light, mixed lighting, etc.

Composition and "the eye" are an entirely different matter. I'm getting better at taking photos I enjoy looking at, and i'm starting to learn about lighting. Give me a couple of years on that one, i'll be doing all sorts of stuff in that time, theatre, wedding(s), macro, product, as a hobby not full time.

So I think, in all, give yourself a couple of years, and you should be good to go ;) Of course you'll improve quickly with practice, but it still takes time and experience to be really good. In the meantime practice, read, look at LOTS of pictures, and try and get a feel for what you like taking pictures of.

PS you forgot the tripod/monopod ;)
PPS i'm not kidding about the time scales.

[Titus213]

Let's see, how long did it take? I started in 1958 with a 35mm range finder. One of these days I hope to get to the point where I shoot good stuff at least once in a while...:lol:

Welcome to the madness!

[tim]

Also have a look at this post (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=508995&posted=1#508973) (the list).

[TammieO]

NIce set of new toys. Now the fun begins!

[roanjohn]

:shock: WOW!!

I'm speechless.

Ro1

[Mills]

Congratulations.

Pekka gave wonderful advice.

I would tell you to do the following:

Read the manual, Shoot, and use this Forum. Repeatedly for all Three. Oh, and one other thing. Have Fun.

[MDJAK]

you bastard!!!

LMAO

Congrats. As my 82 year old mother would say: You should use it in good health.

[Moses]

If I were you I would:

- Download RSE from pixmantec.com and shoot RAW
- Read the manual in dinner table, in loo and in bed
- use the center AF most of the time
- use * as AF lock (get used to it from the start)
- learn to use high ISO's (do not avoid it)
- have fun and shoot shoot shoot.Are you saying that Raw Shooter Essentials is better than Canon's Digital Photo Pro?

I guess I'll find out what "* as AF lock" means when I read the manual.

And {{hahaha}} two of my favorite places to read is in bed and the loo! :lol:

[tim]

Neither of those places are great to take photos ;)

By "* as AF lock" Pekka means change the custom function that makes the camera focus when you push the * button, rather than the default of focussing when you hit the shutter button. It sounds weird, but I find it really handy for rapid motion like theatre or sports. There's a huge thread on it here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46965&page=1).

[RAriola]

wow thats shallow

[tim]

wow thats shallow

Um.... what do you mean?

[chris.bailey]

Moses. I dont know what camera set up you have come from but be prepared to be a bit disheartened with the out of the camera images from the MKII expecially straight unsharpened RAWS. It is not a point/shoot/print hjob. They do need and take a fair bit of post processing to 'zap'.

Pekkas advice on RSE and RAW is sagely indeed but you can get good images in jpg if thats what you prefer.

As to RTFM, yes but dont expect it to make a whole lot of sense :-)

[luckyart60]

Good luck with your new camera kit, I have more or less the same three lens but I went for the better 70-200L/f2.8IS.
With the expensive investment you made maybe you should have gone the extra dollars.
Although I guess I could afford the same camera I just cant justfy the expence. So I will stay with my 10D for now.
All you need now is a 550EX Speedlite, Maybe a 500D + tripod and the right case for all gear would be a Lowepro ProMag 2 AW
never finishes does it LOL

[Moses]

....
All you need now is a 550EX Speedlite, Maybe a 500D + tripod and the right case for all gear would be a Lowepro ProMag 2 AW
never finishes does it LOL

Already have the 550-EX I bought before the 580 came out. I bought it for my G3 at the time. It looked really funny on the G3 too--it was bigger than the camera. :)

I already have a tripod: Bogen / Manfrotto 3021BPRO but think it's too heavy with the pan and scan head on it. I was going to get a carbon fiber tripod with a ball head, but spent my limit on the camera and lenses already.

I also bought the Pelican 1620 case:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/179087.jpg

Obviously, I had no concept of the size of this thing when I ordered it. It won't be worth it to send it back for an exchange, so I'll just keep it for local storage. I was planning to get a back pack style case for the times I wanted to be really portable anyway.

[Mastineo]

Agree with Pekka.
My manual has been on the window ledge in the toilet for the last 7 months!!!!!!

John

[SDK^]

Very nice - Don't forget to show us some photos :)

[primoz]

Gee its just a camera not space ship :) Ok maybe I'm looking at this a bit different since I'm shooting with 1 series (1v old 1d and now 1dmk2) for looooong time, but still. There's nothing to be paranoid about... afterall it really is just a camera. :)