Best Lense for 350D Garage Shooting

[Gun-It]

Hi all

This is my first post and I hope I dont annoy anyone with this question! ;)

I have stumbled across this forum and spent hours and hours today looking through it. Some really talented guys on here indeed!

I am just posting up for a little advice really. I have also spent a couple of hours reading through a member's sig. link, namely http://www.carphototutorials.com/ which I have found interesting also.

ATM I run a budget canon 350d with a standard kit lense and a Sigma wide angle lense and a polarizer filter on each lense.

I would like to upgrade my lense, after reading http://www.carphototutorials.com/ I noticed the man uses the Canon EF-S17-55mm IS f/2.8 for many of the pictures.

I guess my main question is is this the lense I need to help me progress? I initially did not want to spend the best part of £1000 but I guess if I need to do it, I will do it once and only once...

The sole purpose of the lense and camera are for taking pictures of cars in a garage (mainly home garages) and weather permitting outside the garage.

I guess the bad news is that sometimes the background isn't perfect for shooting but I have to make do with what I have.

The other issue is sometimes I am working in not so perfect light when taking the picture although I do have access to high intensity Metal Halide work lamps.

Here is an example picture, I'm pretty sure you wont be impressed and there is heaps to learn. As you can see its very poor and it really does not do the vehicle justice as it looks incredible in real life. :cry:

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g213/elitedetailer/IMG_9721.jpg

Thank you for any replies.

Regards
Gun-it

[PhotosGuy]

The sole purpose of the lense and camera are for taking pictures of cars in a garage (mainly home garages) Why? And, what will they be used for? and weather permitting outside the garage. Outside would make them look much better. See my Sig. I initially did not want to spend the best part of £1000 but I guess if I need to do it, I will do it once and only once... I'd suggest that you keep the lenses & but get a good, steady tripod instead.
There have been a few times I would have liked to have the 17-40, but not that many. The widest I usually shoot a car is 28mm, because my walk-around lens is the 28-70 f/2.8. It's big & fat with the hood & gives me respect from the car guys with their P&S cams. ;)

But, I shot a lot with the kit lens before I got it, & made some nice 12X18" prints.
Blown '37 Willys - A Beauty with a Beast! (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Samples%20-%20Rides/37-Willys_RT_013.jpg?t=1246933775)

These were taken hand held & in verylate light.
'40 Ford Deluxe Coupe - "TAPDOUT" (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=47414)

If you need some inspiration, look at this:
Post your best shots from the "kit lens"-EF-S 18-55 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=185522)

So, hang in there. Glass is the first think I would upgrade if I thought I needed to, but you can get a lot out of the "known to be crappy" Kit lens. ;)

[Gun-It]

Why? And, what will they be used for? Outside would make them look much better. See my Sig. I'd suggest that you keep the lenses & but get a good, steady tripod instead.
There have been a few times I would have liked to have the 17-40, but not that many. The widest I usually shoot a car is 28mm, because my walk-around lens is the 28-70 f/2.8. It's big & fat with the hood & gives me respect from the car guys with their P&S cams. ;)

But, I shot a lot with the kit lens before I got it, & made some nice 12X18" prints.
Blown '37 Willys - A Beauty with a Beast! (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Samples%20-%20Rides/37-Willys_RT_013.jpg?t=1246933775)

These were taken hand held & in verylate light.
'40 Ford Deluxe Coupe - "TAPDOUT" (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=47414)

If you need some inspiration, look at this:
Post your best shots from the "kit lens"-EF-S 18-55 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=185522)

So, hang in there. Glass is the first think I would upgrade if I thought I needed to, but you can get a lot out of the "known to be crappy" Kit lens. ;)

Hi Frank,

Thank you for the reply.

In answer to your first question, they are for my portfolio. They wont be edited with funky frames and backgrounds, I jut was the car to look far more crisper and sharper as it does through my eyes.

In reference to being able to take the picture outside, its a lottery and 8 times out of 10 its not possible because it is too dark by then.

I already have a tripod and use it the majority of the time. For a typical picture, I set the camera on "non flash" and press the button by the camera sits on the tripod. This is what I did with the picture of the Ferrari.

In total I have probably taken 10 000 pictures of cars but I think I need some guidance.

Thank you for the links, I have looked at the links, those kit lense pictures are depressing! :o

[TheBurningCrown]

You say you set the camera on "non-flash" and take the photo?

In my opinion, it sounds like you need to better understand how to use your camera more than you need better equipment.

Look into purchasing a copy of a often recommended book around here: Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure." It will help you to understand things such as ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and the all important exposure triangle linking them.

Once you understand those things, you will be well on your way to creating much better photos with the equipment you already have.

You say you're using a tripod indoors. If you're using the "non-flash" automatic mode, then you're probably getting camera shake from pressing the shutter release on the camera. If you invest in a "remote shutter release" for your 350D (or if you're so inclined you can piece one together yourself from some parts from Radioshack) then you should see an improvement in picture sharpness.

Good luck!

[Gun-It]

You say you set the camera on "non-flash" and take the photo?

In my opinion, it sounds like you need to better understand how to use your camera more than you need better equipment.

Look into purchasing a copy of a often recommended book around here: Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure." It will help you to understand things such as ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and the all important exposure triangle linking them.

Once you understand those things, you will be well on your way to creating much better photos with the equipment you already have.

You say you're using a tripod indoors. If you're using the "non-flash" automatic mode, then you're probably getting camera shake from pressing the shutter release on the camera. If you invest in a "remote shutter release" for your 350D (or if you're so inclined you can piece one together yourself from some parts from Radioshack) then you should see an improvement in picture sharpness.

Good luck!


Hi

Thank you for the info, I will look into this book.

With reference to the camera shakes, I normally put it on the 10 second timer and let it take the picture itself through the camera.

Thanks

[PhotosGuy]

I normally put it on the 10 second timer and let it take the picture itself through the camera. Not a good idea to let some geek at Canon decide what exposure is right for your image. Why?
Post #47 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5191658&postcount=47)
Click the "Thread: Need an exposure crutch?" link at the top-right if you'd like more info on exposure.

they are for my portfolio. A portfolio should be only 8-15 images of your very best work. Your choice of garages for locations & strobe for lighting needs some rethinking.

[Gun-It]

Not a good idea to let some geek at Canon decide what exposure is right for your image. Why?
Post #47 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=5191658&postcount=47)
Click the "Thread: Need an exposure crutch?" link at the top-right if you'd like more info on exposure.

A portfolio should be only 8-15 images of your very best work. Your choice of garages for locations & strobe for lighting needs some rethinking.


Hi

Thanks for the link. I will try my best to understand, thanks again.

With reference to the portfolio, I like to see examples of each and every color of each car. I don't have multiples of the same vehicle unless it a Hyper car. i.e Veyron, Enzo, Zonda etc etc.

Regards

[Shawnwil]

When I got started I was all back-assward, I went out and spent a lot of money thinking that would make my pictures better..... it did'nt. So my suggestion would also be to get "Understanding Exposure" I own it and it has done more to make my pictures better than any piece of glass I spent a grand for.

Other than that I would suggest outside pictures, natural light and pretty backgrounds.

edit Another nice thing to have for your 350d is a remote shutter release. RC-1, it goes for about 35 dollars from B&H, no need to mess with the timer.

[Gun-It]

When I got started I was all back-assward, I went out and spent a lot of money thinking that would make my pictures better..... it did'nt. So my suggestion would also be to get "Understanding Exposure" I own it and it has done more to make my pictures better than any piece of glass I spent a grand for.

Other than that I would suggest outside pictures, natural light and pretty backgrounds.

edit Another nice thing to have for your 350d is a remote shutter release. RC-1, it goes for about 35 dollars from B&H, no need to mess with the timer.

Hi

It just so happens I have bought a remote shutter. I just cannot find my damn instruction manual to pair it to the camera. :cry:

I will buy that book thats been mentioned.

Also, a lot of the time I do not have the option of changing the backgrounds or taking the car outside as its dark.

Shall I just stick with my kit lense and hold fire for a while then?

I have also been reading Ben's thread under "general talk" which has been helpful.

Thanks

p.s What does that "image editing ok" link mean on the bottom of the member's names on the left?

[Shawnwil]

Hi


Shall I just stick with my kit lense and hold fire for a while then?




That is what I would do...... figure out what you really want and need before you spend enough to buy a new car. (Not that buying cool lenses is a bad thing......)

[Gun-It]

That is what I would do...... figure out what you really want and need before you spend enough to buy a new car. (Not that buying cool lenses is a bad thing......)

I already know what I want, I just need to work out how to achieve "the look"! :lol:

[northpointphoto]

Set the camera up on a tripod and use the remote. That way you can get good exposure and not have to worry about camera shake. Also, mirror lock up might help if you are using really long exposure times.

If you use on camera flash bounce the flash off the ceiling of the garage and let the light fall down so you don't get bad shadows or uneven light.

As far as the lens goes why jump for a fast lens (ie f2.8)? If it was me I would be using a high aperture setting (f8+) so f2.8 wouldn't be an advantage.