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well i am dwelling into something new for me, landscapes!
A tour to the yarra valley (i think is thats what its called) for some wine exp. and maybe some photos too.

sooooo what can you all suggest, or tips for landscape shooting?

Beg, buy, borrow or steal a 12-24mm lens and don’t forget to pack the camera

12-24 is great if you want to take a shot with a slow shutter speed. Otherwise you'll need a tripod + sliding rail + L-Plate. You should of checked out my gear at the last meet Redline Actually I think you saw some of it on the table. You saw the G1325 + Markins M20 and the RRS MPR-CL and MPR-CLII sliding rails that I put on the table.

If you can't get a hold of stuff like that, you can always just use the kit lens in portrait orientation and rotate around the lens. Make sure you overlap content though so that when you use something like Panofactory it has something to blend into.

As has already been said- definitely a 12-24 lens if you can lay your hands on one (Sigma or Nikon are both good - of course one brand is the better - and it's name doesn't start with S )

A circular polarizer is also a must have - really makes sky and cloud magic.

You said landscapes, but I immediately interpreted that as pano landscapes. Dunno why, even at 18MM I find that you can't get enough in for a decent landscape shot. Maybe the 12-24 @ 12 might just do the trick, would like to try it some day.

Redline,
12-24 is the way to go, I know you have a tripod, the 12-24 is light and the camera body can be mounted on the tripod if you want to use that way (I know you don't have other bits & pieces).
The 12-24 is great for landscape photography otherwise you have to go to panorama, little bit complicated when handholding in portrait mode shooting without other accessories to help you easy in stiching, 20mm focal lenght is great ideal for panorama.

G'day Redline, dunno about tips etc. but do you have a polariser for what-ever lens you're going to use? I think a Pol. is first thing for landscape especially with sky, also seems to help with extra contrast on foliage and stuff too. If not, I have one for the kit lens which you're welcome to play with to try if you like...

Edit: Ooops, just realised, if you're gonna go pano the Pol's probably not a good idea, would bugger stitching... Ah well, was just a thought

Take your kit lens, shoot adjacent pictures in portrait mode and join them together in panorama factory. If they are landscapes then parralax error is less noticeable if you shoot without a tripod and pano equipment.

Above all else, don't try too hard, Let the creative juices flow the way they want to go.

again thanks guys for your quick responses ,
i have'nt heard of doing panos in portrait mode rather than landscape mode to help reducing nodal errors, quite a revelation.
not too sure if i can scource a 12-24, I was thinking of using a 6x17 format for a shoot but my school which lend them out has a crappy same day policy and the local renting palace i use open at 10:30 the earlist.

i guess i might pull out the old film camera with the 18-35 lenses, and scan.
anyone use long lenses to do landscape work??

my experience with pano's are ......DONT use a polariser for multiple shots

cheers rob

kipper wrote: You should of checked out my gear at the last meet Redline Actually I think you saw some of it on the table. You saw the G1325 + Markins M20 and the RRS MPR-CL and MPR-CLII sliding rails that I put on the table.
.

Sorry Kipper, Iam pretty sure we didn't phyically met at the last get together.
maybe in future.

so iam guessing the l-plate is used to shoot in portrait mode for panos?

Redline,

anyone use long lenses to do landscape work??

Big NO

so iam guessing the l-plate is used to shoot in portrait mode for panos?

Yes the L plate helps you to position the camera in portrait mode, then the ballhead or head with the Arca Swiss (dove tail) type clamp is a must to accompany.

redline wrote:anyone use long lenses to do landscape work??

It's pretty rare but it does have its occasional application. I have a friend who used to use a 600 mm lens for some of his landscape work.

e.g. http://www.progalleries.com.au/en/Photo/View.asp?P=110442933#

but in general wider is definitly the way to go.

cheers,

My tip is don't hold the camera at 45%. These guys won't like a 45% horizon

Thought I might chime in and direct you to this thread:

http://www.d70users.net/viewtopic.php?t=3818

Hope you have a good trip mate!

Owen.

maybe a graduated ND filter aswell
these things are sometimes nice