With the 2012 Olympics just around the corner, photographers of all abilities will be thinking about sports photography. We thought we would count down to Friday’s opening ceremony with a different tutorial each on how to take better sports photography. Today we’ll start with a look at some of the best lenses for sports photography – and which focal lengths are best for capturing some of the most common subjects. We’ll also answer what we believe are the two most common questions about using sports photography lenses.
If you’ve bought some new lenses or an extra body recently, you’re probably finding that you’ve outgrown your camera bag. Perhaps you’re struggling with whether to buy a bigger camera bag or take the leap to photo backpacks.
There are pros and cons for both large camera bags and photo backpacks…
Lenses don’t always perform flawlessly. By understanding when they’re likely to let you down, and knowing how to take corrective action when taking the picture, or in software later, you’ll get results that meet your expectations. And don’t forget that lens problems can also be embraced as creative solutions in their own right…
There’s a lot to think about when you’re shooting with a super-telephoto lens. We we round up 9 key points you should remember the next time you go out to shoot with a super-telephoto lens.
What is a teleconverter? A teleconverter is an add-on optic that sits between the camera body and a compatible lens. Popular options include 1.4x, 1.7x and 2.0x, which reduce the maximum available aperture by one, 1.5 and two stops respectively. Click to read our short guide on how to use a teleconverter with your camera and tripod.
There are many different types of lenses available to photographers, as we all know, and the type of lens you choose to fit on your SLR will determine how your end results will look. The main consideration is focal length. Focal length is the distance between the optical centre of a lens and the sensor, [...]
The best way to test your lens sharpness is to use a test card, like the one we’ve used here. To get ready to test your lens, you need to ensure that your camera back is parallel with the chart, and the middle of the lens is aligned with the chart’s centre point. The chart also needs to be evenly lit. Here’s how to test your lens’ sharpness step-by-step.
It’s a little-known fact, but if you remove the lens from your SLR and hold it a few centimetres away from your camera you can still take a picture. The technique, known as freelensing, allows you to twist and alter the angle of the lens, which shifts and skews the plane of focus. This can create wonderful painterly effects.
Independent lens maker Sigma has announced a new DSLR zoom lens designed for travellers and backpackers, or anyone who wants an all-purpose zoom lens that’s both light and small.
The Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM is different because it’s been manufactured using a special polycarbonate material called Thermally Stable Composite (TSC).
A great way to breathe new life (often at little cost) into your photography is to adapt old lenses to use with your digital camera. There are two main options when it comes to choosing old lenses for your digital camera – using an old manual focus lens, or modern, low-tech glass from Lensbaby, Diana or other specialists. Both solutions mean you will sacrifice some of the automatic features on your digital camera, but that’s part of the appeal.
