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Recommendation for an Amateur Digital Photography Forum?
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Waragainstsleep
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Sep 29, 2024, 11:10 AM
 
There seems to be many. I'm a lazy idiot when it comes to photography. I've probably already gone out and bought all the wrong things, despite the limitations I'm working with, but I'll get there.
While I am useless when it comes to photography skills and knowledge, I am inclined to use my device repair skills to save money on big ass lenses by getting ones that need repairs. So any forum that can help me get some of the basics for lens repair would be a huge bonus. Seems like being able to clean fungus from lenses and troubleshoot/repair autofocus issues will be the most useful.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
Thorzdad
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Sep 30, 2024, 07:44 AM
 
I have to think there must be a barely-active subreddit dedicated to this.
     
reader50
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Sep 30, 2024, 01:12 PM
 
Forums in general are an endangered species. The traffic went to Facebook, Reddit, twitter, and (to some extent) YouTube.

You'd think all the privacy disasters on FB would drive people away, or all the Elon nonsense on twitter - I mean X. And the constant ads on YT. But it hasn't had any effect that I can see. People love their corporate overlords apparently.
     
subego
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Sep 30, 2024, 01:41 PM
 
This seems like the sort of thing people just love to make very long YouTube videos about.
     
Waragainstsleep  (op)
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Sep 30, 2024, 06:30 PM
 
Yes, there are many YT vids on lens disassembly but they tend to be quite specific on the problem they are addressing and there are so many different bloody lenses its tricky to know you are watching the right one.

My need to repair lenses to save cash has probably waned somewhat today, I picked up a bit of a bargain 150-600mm. It's an absolute monster and I don't envision ever needing a bigger one (or being able to afford one frankly). The only other lens I might need is something for much closer range stuff. I need to get some shots to build a website.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
subego
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Sep 30, 2024, 07:29 PM
 
That’s… extreme.

What brand, and what’s the max aperture?
     
OreoCookie
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Oct 1, 2024, 03:21 AM
 
That's tricky. I have a great Nikkor 80-200 mm f/2.8 lens. Unfortunately, the AF mechanism went bad, and the lens is so old Nikon no longer makes spare parts for it. The glass also has a fungus growing on it due to the humidity. FWIW I lived in Sendai at the time where Nikon has (had?) a factory. The lens still works in MF, but I cannot focus well enough by hand to get sharp images reliably.
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.
     
subego
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Oct 1, 2024, 10:29 AM
 
Since we’re on the subject of autofocus, allow me to suggest to War trying out separating the autofocus from the shutter.

It’s very handy if your subject doesn’t line up with your autofocus zone. You can put the subject in the zone, set focus, reframe, and then take the shot without the shutter button forcing a refocus.
     
Waragainstsleep  (op)
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Oct 4, 2024, 02:36 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
That’s… extreme.

What brand, and what’s the max aperture?
Its a Tamron f4-5.6 I think without looking.
Pretty sure its this one:
https://www.cameraworld.co.uk/used-t...YaAjEgEALw_wcB

I paid less than 1/3 of that price though and mine is mint.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
Waragainstsleep  (op)
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Oct 4, 2024, 02:55 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Since we’re on the subject of autofocus, allow me to suggest to War trying out separating the autofocus from the shutter.

It’s very handy if your subject doesn’t line up with your autofocus zone. You can put the subject in the zone, set focus, reframe, and then take the shot without the shutter button forcing a refocus.
Ah yes, I've seen the back (auto) focus button tip on a couple of YT vids. I haven't quite worked out how to do it on mine yet. Might take a look in a sec now it's Friday night and I can finally relax a bit.


The other lenses I have are as follows:

Standard 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Canon that comes with the body, fully functioning, had to get new caps for it;

Sigma 80-210mm f4-5.6 that was bought with fungus and sticky rubbers (it's 20 years old apparently, but it cost me £10 shipped). This one was odd because it turned out not to be the rubbers that were sticky but the barrel was coated evenly with sticky black gunge. I cleaned it off but it took the white decals with the various mm numbers and those curved lines that Sigmas have with it. It doesn't always take a great photo and I've recently learned why that is but sometimes it takes a pretty good shot. If I can clean the mould and work out how to update the firmware on it I'm laughing;

Canon 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 which was bought allegedly fully working and while its mint and came with a Regent (good brand?) UV filter (slightly dented rim), the AF doesn't work. I can hear the motors going but no movement. Its not jammed though, MF is smooth so thats a project to work on later;

Finally I picked up a cheap Canon 50mm f1.8 which has a black speck of something in it. Looks uncannily like a bird. I have sourced a service manually for this one so I will likely dismantle this first to get some better guided practice in;
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
Waragainstsleep  (op)
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Oct 4, 2024, 02:55 PM
 
Took this one with the mouldy, sticky Sigma:

I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
Waragainstsleep  (op)
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Oct 4, 2024, 02:56 PM
 
Took this with the big Tamron:

I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
ghporter
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Oct 4, 2024, 06:45 PM
 
I have two versions of the Canon 18-55mm lens. Both came with the bodies I bought; an XTi a long time ago, and the T7 I got a year or so ago. They are both very flexible. I use the newer one with a Canon extension to digitize 35mm slides and negatives.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
Waragainstsleep  (op)
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Oct 6, 2024, 07:51 AM
 
I haven't gotten my hands on any extension tubes yet. They seem very expensive given they have no optics. I considered some of the super cheap ones on Amazon (which I assume have come from Aliexpress) but lots of folks warn against them damaging your camera body. I never know whether thats just people being really snobbish, uptight and not wanting others to pay $20 for something that cost them $300, or if their warnings are reasonable.
Is this one of those cases where the manufacturers are marking something cheap up really high because it has such a big effect on things?
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
subego
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Oct 8, 2024, 12:39 PM
 
Both shots are great. Of these two I prefer the first. I don’t notice any fungal distortion.

It’s been awhile since I’ve had a Tamron, but my experience is they’re a great value. It’s very possible big thing that would drive you to a new lens would be wanting a bigger aperture, not the glass itself.
     
Waragainstsleep  (op)
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Oct 8, 2024, 06:56 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Both shots are great. Of these two I prefer the first.
Thanks! That means a lot coming from a professional.

Originally Posted by subego View Post
I don’t notice any fungal distortion.
No I haven't detected any either. Turns out this lens (the model anyway) is potentially 25 years old. At some point I'll work out how to remove the front element and give it a clean anyway. I assume it will only get worse if I don't. Especially in my cold, damp house.

Originally Posted by subego View Post
It’s been awhile since I’ve had a Tamron, but my experience is they’re a great value. It’s very possible big thing that would drive you to a new lens would be wanting a bigger aperture, not the glass itself.
Yes, I've been constantly looking at whats around, if only to familiarise myself with some of the differences between various lenses. It seems the really good ones are very expensive by my rather dismal standards. The 600mm was way more than I planned to spend on any lens but it was just too good a deal to pass up. I regret nothing
But sure, if I win the lottery or something I might splash out on a big F4.



Apart from birds I'm also planning to take some shots of computer hardware and so forth for my website. I thought maybe the 50mm prime lens I got would be good for this but having watched a few more YT videos I'm not so sure and wonder if I need something wider than that?

I'm going to try to build one of those light boxes people use to take product pics. Mine will be a rough and dirty version made by lining a large cardboard box with a sheet of white material and shining LED lights into it.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
Waragainstsleep  (op)
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Oct 8, 2024, 06:58 PM
 
I've been trying to find a way to hack a cheap field monitor but there is a surprising lack of rechargeable battery-powered small LCDs with HDMI inputs on them. I was hoping maybe a digital photo frame or something but haven't found one with HDMI sadly. Now I think of it, I used to have one somewhere. Maybe theres a way to add HDMI to one.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
subego
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Oct 9, 2024, 09:20 AM
 
Check eBay for older field monitors. You should be able to find something sub-$100. They won’t be directly rechargeable but will take some form of standard rechargeable battery.
     
Laminar
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Oct 9, 2024, 12:26 PM
 
Is something like this too much? Or is the quality of the display possibly not good enough to do the job?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/315639313554
     
Waragainstsleep  (op)
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Oct 9, 2024, 12:50 PM
 
Originally Posted by Laminar View Post
Is something like this too much? Or is the quality of the display possibly not good enough to do the job?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/315639313554
If anything I had ignored these types of screens for being too big. It would obviously do the job of course, maybe it's worthy of further consideration.

I was hoping to spend even less if I'm being honest, but one of these could be used for other things as well as the camera.

Thanks!
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
subego
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Oct 9, 2024, 02:58 PM
 
As an aside, the HDMI connectors on cameras are super delicate. Make sure the cable torques it as little as possible. Minimize plugging and unplugging it.
     
Waragainstsleep  (op)
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Oct 10, 2024, 04:21 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
As an aside, the HDMI connectors on cameras are super delicate. Make sure the cable torques it as little as possible. Minimize plugging and unplugging it.
Yes, I remember that being a bit of an issue. Another reason to prefer a small monitor that I can mount to a tripod or the top flash mount maybe.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
Demonhood
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Oct 12, 2024, 04:32 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Since we’re on the subject of autofocus, allow me to suggest to War trying out separating the autofocus from the shutter.

It’s very handy if your subject doesn’t line up with your autofocus zone. You can put the subject in the zone, set focus, reframe, and then take the shot without the shutter button forcing a refocus.
I'll second this.
It was a game-changer when I upgraded cameras (Canon) and switched to this method.
Well that and the improved AF that modern mirrorless offers.

It's funny that at this point I spend the money to repair the nice lenses I bought when it was a job. Although I'm always jealous of the more compact mirrorless lenses.
     
Waragainstsleep  (op)
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Oct 18, 2024, 07:24 AM
 
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
subego
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Oct 18, 2024, 12:19 PM
 
Interesting!
     
   
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