Photography

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dancesportgirl21

New Member
I am interested in photographing dancesport events. The problem is, I have the worst digital camera ever, and my film one is about to die. Can anyone recommend a good camera? Hopefully something that's not ridiculously expensive. I've been taking pics at the events I've been at since I'm a dancer, but half of them come out blurry. Please help!
 
Hi there, and welcome to dance forums. We have had a few discussions about photography elsewhere on the forums. Why don't you start by perusing this thread:

http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?t=8478

Jonathan "SDSalsaguy" is probably going to be one of your biggest helpers on this topic as he does some wonderful photography at many of the comps. You can see some of his photos by checking out the df photo gallery (link is at the top of the page, right).

Good luck!
 
I think you should look in any other photograpy forums/websites.
As far as I have read, shooting moving objects (like dancing, sports, etc) needs cameras SRL with accessories. I think if you want to use digital cameras you'll have to go for the categories where you have interchangeable lens (with accessoroes) which is expensive and this is not recommended except for professional use (because of expense).

I might be wrong, so it'll be great to hear from the professionals.

I have a Sony F717, which is so-called 'prosumer' camera. I get great photos in daylight, people. nature. But I get very 'normal' photos when using flash. The speed of capturing is also a bit slow, so it's difficult for me to capture moment I want. But again I need to work my skills as well.
 
I'm more interested in doing this for myself than anything. I'm not planning on selling the photos- at least not anytime soon. I'm 16 and don't have a job right now, so money is really an issue! Right now my money's been going into my dancing and I only have a little left over. Do you guys think I would have luck looking for a refurbished camera?
 
dancesportgirl21 said:
Do you guys think I would have luck looking for a refurbished camera?
Click to expand...
Sure. As Shooshoo says, however, an automatic SLR will be your best bet. After that it's a matter of what lenses and flash you have available. With a powerful flash I typically shoot at an ISO of 400 on shutter priority at 1/100 sec., but you'll ahve to see what works best for you.

Over time digitial will save you money, but it is a large investment up front... which is part of why I was only able to make the switch during this past year myself.

HTH
 
I use a Canon automatic SLR with 2 lenses (wide angle and telephoto) together with the biggest flash gun I could afford and 800 ASA (fast) film. Using the camera on the sports setting meant I could take action shots in poor lighting with great results about 90% of the time.
I recently bought a digital camera (not an SLR) which only produces decent results 70% of the time. Part of that is down to my timing as digital cameras have a delay of some seconds (depends on the internal chip) so the picture you thought you took has gone and the picture you end up with is not the one you wanted.
Althought the digital has the benefits of instant pics downloaded to your PC I would take a manual SLR anytime for quality and quantity.
 
Thanks for the suggestions! I've been looking at the automatic SLR cameras at Best Buy and they start at $180 - definitely a reasonable price rather than the digital ones! My friend's mom is a pro photographer (she does portraits) so I think I can get the film and developing at good prices as well. Time to do some research on the different models and brands...
 
dancesportgirl21 said:
Thanks for the suggestions! I've been looking at the automatic SLR cameras at Best Buy and they start at $180 - definitely a reasonable price rather than the digital ones! My friend's mom is a pro photographer (she does portraits) so I think I can get the film and developing at good prices as well. Time to do some research on the different models and brands...
Click to expand...

I actually would recommend you buy a used digital SLR. With many of us photo fanatics upgrading every other year, you can get a good deal on a used Canon 300D (digital SLR) for maybe another $100-200 more than a film SLR.

http://photography.search.ebay.com/...rtZ1QQftrvZ1QQsacatZ43453QQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZ

Actually, I have a 300D that I haven't used since I upgraded to the 30D last spring. I haven't bothered to sell it since I figured I couldn't get more than a few hundred for it, so I kept it as a backup. :nope:

Anyway, having a blank check on the number of pics you can take and instant feedback provides a whole new dimension to the fun and experience of photography. Since October 2003, when I got my first digital SLR, I've probably shot about 40,000 pictures (mostly of dancing). That's the equivalent over 1,500 rolls of 24-exposure film, which theoretically would have costed about $10,000 in film and processing. Of course, if had a film SLR camera, I wouldn't have shot so many pictures, but that's the difference between film and digital! A 2 gig compact flash card only costs about $30 these days, you can shoot 2,000 pictures on it at a time, and then reuse it at the next event. :shock:
 
I figured that I should wait for prices to go down to by a digital one myself, so I waited. The good news is that my parents are goin to get me a DSLR for a graduation gift! I'm planning on getting the Canon 350D. Has anyone here used it before? Any suggestions on Canon flashes?
 
I'm using a 350d with a Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 lens and a Sigma EF-DG 500 Super flash. And my pictures are by and large hit-or-miss in terms of focus and exposure (especially exposure). Given a (relatively) high-end lens and flash (admittedly, non-Canon) I expected better results... If anyone has tips on what might help in that regard, let me know.

I usually set the camera to ISO 400, f/2.8 and 1/100 shutter, hoping that the flash will be smart enough to correctly expose the shot, but it rarely happens. I also use the center AF region, since on a crowded dance floor, the automatic AF spot selection just doesn't work.

Might a higher-end camera (say a 30d) be smarter about flash exposure?
 
I wouldn't buy a new film camera. A good camera store (not Best Buy) can sell you a used film SLR in good shape.

I feel a lot of the results, however, come from the lens and the delay between pressing the shutter release and the photo being taken by the camera.

You need a relatively fast lens (low aperture) to enable fast exposure times (to freeze motion) while collecting enough light. The lens is where most of the money can end up going.

Where most digital cameras fall short is in the delay department. Long delays between pressing the shutter button and the photo getting taken make it hard to judge timing.

Last, a powerful flash (not the one that's part of the camera body) is needed to throw light at your subject when they're more than a few feet away.
 
dnquark said:
I'm using a 350d with a Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 lens and a Sigma EF-DG 500 Super flash. And my pictures are by and large hit-or-miss in terms of focus and exposure (especially exposure). Given a (relatively) high-end lens and flash (admittedly, non-Canon) I expected better results... If anyone has tips on what might help in that regard, let me know.

I usually set the camera to ISO 400, f/2.8 and 1/100 shutter, hoping that the flash will be smart enough to correctly expose the shot, but it rarely happens. I also use the center AF region, since on a crowded dance floor, the automatic AF spot selection just doesn't work.

Might a higher-end camera (say a 30d) be smarter about flash exposure?
Click to expand...

I asked about what flash to choose on another forum, and Peter Suba (dance photographer from Europe) said that it is best to choose a flash that is the same brand as the body of the camera for good communication between the two.

He said:

"to be honest for a flash I would definately go for original Canon and the latest one within your budget.

The communication between the flash and body is important to be able to select the amount of light emmitted in difficult lighting conditions (i.e. almost every dance competition
emotion-1.gif
). In dancing you have very dark and very light colours within the picture (just think of the tailsuit with the white shirt), so it is very easy for the camera to misjudge the amount of light and cause a washed out picture. Perhaps camera body - flash communication is the only area where I would lean for choosing Nikon if I had to start from zero, while most of the other factors weigh in for Canon for me.

Within Canon flases, the number of the flash reflects the range of the flash, so the larger the number, the further the flash will reach."
 
Well, I do think that a powerful flash is vitally important for freezing motion, but so is a fast autofocus response time. Exposure is one thing, and a higher end camera will have better sensors, sampling more points for more accurate exposure in tricky lighting situations, but autofocus response time is a seperate issue.

That said, some people prefer the aesthetic of some motion blur, thus illustrtaing the 'movement' involved, although, personally, my preferance is for sharper focus and letting the frozen position of the skirt, etc., communicate motion.


Also keep in mind that no matter how fast the lense and autofocus, and no matter how powerful the flash, there is still a lag in flash recharge times. No flash can be fired non-stop at peak effect, and this is where rechargable external battery packs come into play. You can certainly get just as many good shots without them, just not as quickly.
 
SDsalsaguy said:
That said, some people prefer the aesthetic of some motion blur, thus illustrtaing the 'movement' involved, although, personally, my preferance is for sharper focus and letting the frozen position of the skirt, etc., communicate motion.
Click to expand...

I completely agree with this. I just argue that with the right tools, *you* have the choice of the look you want in the shot in any particular situation.
I often shoot at 1/30th, along with the flash. This is, admittely, because I like some of the room light in the shot and I don't own a superfast lens. I often get some motion blur in combination with sharper facial features and I like that. I shoot with a Canon 20D.

And oh those image stabilizing lenses! What's not to love? ;-)
 
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