Pic taken on the way to work this morning...

[mat1227]

Hi chaps - after following all the 'what first DSLR' threads on here for a while I took the plunge and just picked up my first 'grown up' camera, a Canon 350D w/kit lens which has since gone everywhere by my side.

I took it to work today and came back with the below taken on the way into the office this morning. I'm pretty chuffed - any feedback/tips on cropping/settings etc etc very much appreciated



How about everyone take their cameras to work with them tomorrow, come back with something interesting, and post it here I'm sure some of you have some really interesting journeys to work

[Scho]

cool :-)

great composition and nice work with the panning.

[Dibble]

Slightly underexposed (IMHO, what do I know?).

Other than that I really like it - composition is great, and it's one of those photos that just "looks" right, and for me, pushes the right buttons.

[mat1227]

Thanks , would underexposure mean I need to select a larger aperture and/or slightly slower shutter speed? Is this to do with that funny graph where all up the left or all up the right is bad, all in the middle ideal? Or am I talking nonsense

Also, while I'm here and if anyone knows - I'm getting small dark dots on some of my pics with a light background, I've cleaned both ends of the lens with a microfibre cloth with no improvement. The obvious culprit is then the mirror bit inside which I guess is the sensor, is cleaning this a careful DIY job or a pro service?

Cheers! Would be a lot worse off without the combined knowledge here, as some of it's pretty daunting to a beginner. I've found the resources on the stickied threads really useful, slowly working my way through it all

[MartinP]

Sounds like the dark dots in your pictures are probably dirt on the sensor. Take a look at this link for all you need to know about sensor cleaning:

http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/index.html

Great photo by the way.

[GetCarter]

wot he said /\

99.9% certain that it's dust but be VERY careful if you try and clean it yourself.

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 30th October 19:58

[mat1227]

Thanks I'll have a look

[Famous Graham]

That mirror IS NOT the sensor. It's a mirror

It's what directs the light up and to the viewfinder so you can see through the lens.

When the shutter button is depressed, not only does it open the shutter, it flips the mirror up out of the way.

The 300D didn't have a sensor cleaning option in the menu I don't think - dunno about 350. You might have to set the mode to "Bulb" then fire a shot indefinitely while you clean it.

[mat1227]

Ha ha "the mysterious thing that looks like a mirror".. cheers!

I do have a cleaning option in the settings, but am rather cackhanded by nature so might investigate getting someone who knows what they are doing to look at it.

[jason-l]

If your brand new camera has sensor dust/dirt... then surely taking it back to the shop you just bought it from is the best plan? Think I'd be asking for an exchange unit

[S500]

Was that shot in the Aldwych? I was working there this morning.

[shaun beaver]

Great shot!
I took my first DSLR with me everywhere with me too

[mat1227]

Jason, camera was second hand, brought from a colleague for £220 so can't complain

S500, yep - outside the theatre showing Dirty Dancing. The light has been great the last couple of clear mornings. I work just past Holborn tube, so the walk up from Waterloo has lots of nice pics here and there

[S500]

mat1227 said:

Jason, camera was second hand, brought from a colleague for £220 so can't complain

S500, yep - outside the theatre showing Dirty Dancing. The light has been great the last couple of clear mornings. I work just past Holborn tube, so the walk up from Waterloo has lots of nice pics here and there

If you walk past No1 Aldwych between 8am-9am tomorrow morning, you can take a pic of two Beemers and my Merc

[mat1227]

Black S500 by any chance?

[S500]

mat1227 said:

Black S500 by any chance?

Yep