Have you ever had camera remorse?

[Spinning]

Ok I know I haven't given it enough time. And the weather hasn't helped. Raining so swim and dive practices have been canc'd. I haven't been able to play with my new Cannon 50D......but I am having a hard time......I will say I went to a wedding. Loved the camera. Very pleased with the pictures I took. Also very happy with the pictures I took at my son's 5th grade party/celebrations. But I was using it like a point and shoot camera.

But the few times I have tried diving shots. They are blurred. I seem to draw a blank on what to do.....I need some type of cheat sheets to just remember where and what to turn and change the settings.......I don't know. I hope I didn't make a huge mistake......
Today we had a swim meet in the rain....pouring rain. So didn't get to play....
I am headed out to buy a book. But what I think I really want is something that would hang off my key chain with helpful hints...:rolleyes:

[adam75south]

the only thing i've come close to having buyers remorse on was the 70-200mm. i just don't use it much. but when i need it, i need it.

[D Thompson]

But the few times I have tried diving shots. They are blurred.
Set it to shutter priority (tv) and start with 1/125th - 1/500th and ISO400 and see what aperture that will get you. May need to adjust the ISO up or down depending on lighting, etc. Also try setting focus to AI-Servo.

Oh, and as far as buyers remorse for me - not yet.

[Spookonthe8ball]

Good advice from Dennis above and I will add this.
Your camera is a good one, but it doesn't know you need a high shutter speed until you set the shutter priority. That may take 1/250 - 1/500 at a wide angle, but if you are zooming in with that 200mm it may take more speed to freeze the action. When you zoom like that, the lens aperture gets smaller. That in itself will slow down the speed. Your camera may be trying to tell you something if the viewfinder f/stop and green light on the right is flashing. ISO is the fix for this. ISO is your 1st small button on top. That increases sensor speed. Keep raising the iso speed and press half shutter until the blinking stops. The 50D will let you know when it is happy. The objective here is to shoot the lowest iso possible. In some lighting conditions that may be 3200 iso.
You can practice this in your home right where you are sitting. Pick a room where there is only 1 light source like a lamp and the room gradually gets darker over in the corners. Turn your 50D on and set the shutter(Tv) to 250 and the iso to 200 (this is highly dependent on the brightness of the light source, so you may have to move iso up or down from there) until you can point the camera right at the lamp and have no flashing warnings in the viewfinder.
Next step is to point the lens just right or left of the same lamp until you get the flashing warning by using half shutter ( press the shutter button down half way). At that point you should raise the iso value to a higher one and keep raiseing the iso till the flashing warning stops. At that point you can take the picture at your desired shutter speed.
If iso won't take care of the problem then it is just to dark for your lens and the cheapest option there is to use flash. That's why many folks on here use fast lens that cost money. In a sporting event, that may lead to other problems such as depth of field. Using a 2.8 fast lens, at 80mm, and 30 feet away gives you about 4.5 feet to play with in the focus plane.
It isn't hard if you just take it one step at a time. You have a very nice camera and lens that will deliver if used within standard photographic boundaries :D
Spook

[cmurman]

Re. Camera remorse.... I hope not - but I just purchased the 5D MK2 after working with the Nikon D200 for the last two years. Had several Professionals urging me to make the change to Canon. I purchased 5D-II a few days ago, yet still own the D200. Will sell one of them (ebay) in the next week or two. Hope to get "USED TO" and comfortable with the Canon quickly. Different menus/options, etc. Hoping to see improvement in Image Quality (as I learn to "set & focus" with the 5d. Different than the D200 I am used to.
Good luck with your new camera. Give it a chance.

[adam75south]

i'm surprised you didn't go for the d700. i looooooooove my 5d mk II. no complaints here.

[Ray Schnoor]

But the few times I have tried diving shots. They are blurred. I seem to draw a blank on what to do.....I need some type of cheat sheets to just remember where and what to turn and change the settings.......I don't know. I hope I didn't make a huge mistake......
For diving photos, I usually set for aperture priority(wide open). If the speed isn't fast enough at 100ISO, I will increase it. I got these last year with a D80. Haven't had a chance to try out my new D90 while diving.
Ray.

ISO 100, f/2.8, 1/320s, 38mm focal length(57mm equivalent)

http://rschnoor.smugmug.com/photos/251247535_JYKWo-L.jpg

http://rschnoor.smugmug.com/photos/251245325_4pMTm-L.jpg

[Spinning]

beautiful pictures but I am trying to get spring board diving photos. I guess I never think under water diving since spring board is what we are use too!

[Ray Schnoor]

No problem, my mistake.

As was said before, you need to make sure that your shutter speed is probably at 1/500s or faster to get these kind of action shots. Some of those rotations are pretty fast.

Ray.

[TheWengler]

Sounds like you should pick up Understanding Exposure (http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245692940&sr=8-1) by Bryan Peterson. Once you understand how exposure works you should be able to figure out what to do in most situations.

Shutter Speed
- Faster - Less blur, less light
- Slower - More blur, more light

Aperture
- Smaller Aperture (Larger f/stop) - More DOF, less light
- Larger Aperture (Smaller f/stop) - Less DOF, more light

ISO
- Lower - Less noise, less light
- Higher - More noise, more light

Basically, make your SS faster to get rid of the blur then use a larger aperture and/or higher ISO to bring the exposure back to the correct spot.