Ah....er....umm.....
Discussion
no.....well you see.....erm.....it's like this.....
I've just gone and joined the SLR brigade - camo suit optional and self-supplied.
They were recruiting, so I volunteered.
I know! I know! Regretting showing some interest already.....but it just had to be done.
So, what do I do now?
It's an SLT-A65V with a 250mm telescopic sight, and an 18mm bore - I think that's the correct terminology.
Here's one someone made earlier (but not from loo rolls and washing up bottles):
Any tips on how to use the blighter?
Apparently it can shoot things automatically - I should bloody well hope so, it cost enough!
So, any suggestions on what sort of things?
Funny, I never thought to ask about the recoil, but it seems it is damped to prevent losing focus on the target.
That sounds handy.....oh and it can do a burst of 10 shots or so per second.
I've just gone and joined the SLR brigade - camo suit optional and self-supplied.
They were recruiting, so I volunteered.
I know! I know! Regretting showing some interest already.....but it just had to be done.
So, what do I do now?
It's an SLT-A65V with a 250mm telescopic sight, and an 18mm bore - I think that's the correct terminology.
Here's one someone made earlier (but not from loo rolls and washing up bottles):
Any tips on how to use the blighter?
Apparently it can shoot things automatically - I should bloody well hope so, it cost enough!
So, any suggestions on what sort of things?
Funny, I never thought to ask about the recoil, but it seems it is damped to prevent losing focus on the target.
That sounds handy.....oh and it can do a burst of 10 shots or so per second.
What you do now is go out and strafe the place!
Use it, learn where the controls are and enjoy a lot of 'wow the colors are amazing' and 'look how much you can zoom in'.
Then you buy books on the subject and spend time on here before spending more money on gear than you have ever imagined.
Use it, learn where the controls are and enjoy a lot of 'wow the colors are amazing' and 'look how much you can zoom in'.
Then you buy books on the subject and spend time on here before spending more money on gear than you have ever imagined.
I stick with the three legged mount for stability when shooting.
The single legged variety is apparently of more use for taking down aircraft and faster moving targets, but for that sort of thing I just use a fast shutter andhigh frame rate fast reload.
For carrying purposes I have the tripod on a shoulder strap and the SLR round my neck when traveling light (night time missions usually), this leaves the hands free for scrambling etc.
At times when I'll need to be better equipped I strap the tripod to the backpack. Oh yeah you'll need a good backpack, buy one that's about four times the size that you need now. If you're anything like me you'll fill it!
I have the http://www.tamrac.co.uk/pages/product1.htm 8x.
The single legged variety is apparently of more use for taking down aircraft and faster moving targets, but for that sort of thing I just use a fast shutter and
For carrying purposes I have the tripod on a shoulder strap and the SLR round my neck when traveling light (night time missions usually), this leaves the hands free for scrambling etc.
At times when I'll need to be better equipped I strap the tripod to the backpack. Oh yeah you'll need a good backpack, buy one that's about four times the size that you need now. If you're anything like me you'll fill it!
I have the http://www.tamrac.co.uk/pages/product1.htm 8x.
Edited by Speed addicted on Sunday 4th November 14:14
Take lots of photos! 
Seriously, in the days of film learning by your mistakes could be an expensive process - with digital you can alter settings and scrutinise the results.
Don't be scared of manual mode too - see what happens when you use a narrow aperture and longer shutter compared to a wider aperture and fast shutter. The camera doesn't always know best - or the type of shot you wanted to take
Seriously, in the days of film learning by your mistakes could be an expensive process - with digital you can alter settings and scrutinise the results.
Don't be scared of manual mode too - see what happens when you use a narrow aperture and longer shutter compared to a wider aperture and fast shutter. The camera doesn't always know best - or the type of shot you wanted to take
PJ S said:
So, what do I do now?
Take the lens cap off 
Biggest bit of advice I'll give you is put it in Auto or P mode, and work on composition.
Stick subjects on the third mark (imaging the viewfinder is a O and Xs board), look for repeating patterns, things that go fast (even if they are stationary) put them on the third mark leaving space in front of them, and if you take a photo of a car - get on your knees and take the 3/4 quarter shot...
And above all, look at everything everyone else shoots that you like - and copy the heck out of it!
Wouldn't worry about the technical side of the camera if you don't want to, although it's kinda straight forward anyway.
How do you find the viewfinder? I've not used an SLT yet so have no experience of the EVF.
As everyone says, take pictures. Also, learn about the relationship between aperture, shutter speed and ISO so you don't spend your entire life in auto mode.
If you decide you need more lenses, don't forget that Minolta autofocus lenses will fit, if looking second hand. Some of them are superb.
As everyone says, take pictures. Also, learn about the relationship between aperture, shutter speed and ISO so you don't spend your entire life in auto mode.
If you decide you need more lenses, don't forget that Minolta autofocus lenses will fit, if looking second hand. Some of them are superb.
Not got it yet, but will give my opinion on the viewfinder in due course.
Missed out on a couple of these, albeit it with the 18-55 kit lens or body only, but had resigned myself to thinking fate must've decreed the right one would eventually be mine.
So, just awaiting the invoice to square the fella up via 'pal, and it'll be in my hands later this week.
The 250mm reach will be familiar, coming from the Panasonic FZ50, and the 18mm wider than it.
Looking forward to getting out and playing with it, and yes, part of the appeal was being able to access older Minolta lenses.
Whilst I have my eye on a Sony 35mm f1.8, I have been having very, very naughty thoughts about Leica R 35mm prime, with the ability to convert to A-mount fitting.
But that's likely to be some while off in reality, once I'm used to the camera and whatnot.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mantona-Rhodolit-Backpack-...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-Daytour-230-Camera-Ba...
Missed out on a couple of these, albeit it with the 18-55 kit lens or body only, but had resigned myself to thinking fate must've decreed the right one would eventually be mine.
So, just awaiting the invoice to square the fella up via 'pal, and it'll be in my hands later this week.
The 250mm reach will be familiar, coming from the Panasonic FZ50, and the 18mm wider than it.
Looking forward to getting out and playing with it, and yes, part of the appeal was being able to access older Minolta lenses.
Whilst I have my eye on a Sony 35mm f1.8, I have been having very, very naughty thoughts about Leica R 35mm prime, with the ability to convert to A-mount fitting.
But that's likely to be some while off in reality, once I'm used to the camera and whatnot.
Speed addicted said:
Oh yeah you'll need a good backpack, buy one that's about four times the size that you need now. If you're anything like me you'll fill it!
I have the http://www.tamrac.co.uk/pages/product1.htm 8x.
Have my eye on these:I have the http://www.tamrac.co.uk/pages/product1.htm 8x.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mantona-Rhodolit-Backpack-...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-Daytour-230-Camera-Ba...
Cheers Dave, (and everyone else of course) my main interest will be landscape, architecture (to a degree), and nature. Wildlife may get a look in, but not sure if it'll be captive or free-roaming - not sure if I have the wherewithal to sit for ages waiting for something that may never happen!
Not wanting to run before I've even begun to walk, what lenses should I be looking at really to cover that narrow focus of subject material?
The 18-250 fetches decent money, so I'm half thinking of selling it to buy a few pre-owned lenses covering the focal lengths I should be considering - but if it's a good quality lens, I'll hang to it, and supplement it with whatever may be better suited.
Dynum is quite the handy site to see the whole gamut of lenses that fit the A-mount, and older MC that can be adapted.
FWIW, I like my photos to marry up with my memory recollection of the scene - I can give HDR time, but I'm not into hyperrealism or overly exaggerating the colours, etc.
I don't mind a spot of lens flare/sun fingers/internal glass reflection, as I can live with seeing what the camera saw - unless/until it bugs me enough to mind.
Again, doesn't have to be Sony/Minolta, if Tamron/Tokina/Sigma/Cosina/etc have something as good/better for less/same cost.
Not wanting to run before I've even begun to walk, what lenses should I be looking at really to cover that narrow focus of subject material?
The 18-250 fetches decent money, so I'm half thinking of selling it to buy a few pre-owned lenses covering the focal lengths I should be considering - but if it's a good quality lens, I'll hang to it, and supplement it with whatever may be better suited.
Dynum is quite the handy site to see the whole gamut of lenses that fit the A-mount, and older MC that can be adapted.
FWIW, I like my photos to marry up with my memory recollection of the scene - I can give HDR time, but I'm not into hyperrealism or overly exaggerating the colours, etc.
I don't mind a spot of lens flare/sun fingers/internal glass reflection, as I can live with seeing what the camera saw - unless/until it bugs me enough to mind.
Again, doesn't have to be Sony/Minolta, if Tamron/Tokina/Sigma/Cosina/etc have something as good/better for less/same cost.
- I know Cosina made Vivitar/Promaster/Tokina/etc lenses, and some of the "fabled" Leica glassware was made by Minolta/Sigma/Schneider/Zeiss?
If you like architecture then bokeh/fast focus/shallow dof type stuff probably isn't as important as low distortion and a super crisp image.
Tilt shift lenses are worth looking at for example, so you can get nice two point perspectives and no significant distortions. Not sure how much you like architecture photography but the effect of two point perspective is a nice one.
Before you go google, for some reason tilt-shift has been used as a word to describe thin DOF, or miniature faking photography... not sure why. So if you see that crappy over-done stuff ignore it.
Dave
Tilt shift lenses are worth looking at for example, so you can get nice two point perspectives and no significant distortions. Not sure how much you like architecture photography but the effect of two point perspective is a nice one.
Before you go google, for some reason tilt-shift has been used as a word to describe thin DOF, or miniature faking photography... not sure why. So if you see that crappy over-done stuff ignore it.
Dave
Not really a concern Harry, the Panny FZ50 probably isn't all that much more compact, and I've never been stripped searched whilst walking the countryside of Northern Ireland........yet!
Street walking might be a different story, especially at night, with the accompanying tripod mount to strafe the area in IR AF beams.
If you don't hear from me or see any pics in the coming week, you'll know I've been scooped and whisked off to be interrogated.
I'll probably crack, since I won't know all the lingo and settings!
Street walking might be a different story, especially at night, with the accompanying tripod mount to strafe the area in IR AF beams.
If you don't hear from me or see any pics in the coming week, you'll know I've been scooped and whisked off to be interrogated.
I'll probably crack, since I won't know all the lingo and settings!
Well, it's only gone and turned up today.
Have taken a few photos to try it out and get to grips with it - I'll post some up once I've PP'd them, probably tomorrow.
So far, I'm very pleased with the pairing - natural light in the coming days ahead will be interesting to see how things look then.
Have taken a few photos to try it out and get to grips with it - I'll post some up once I've PP'd them, probably tomorrow.
So far, I'm very pleased with the pairing - natural light in the coming days ahead will be interesting to see how things look then.
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