Digital Photography Tips

[MasonJar]

I originally put this in bigsteel's finally building layout thread, but thought it was worth repeating here...

Bob Boudreau (of Fundy Northern fame) has an excellent overview of shooting specifically for railroad models...

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/">http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/</a><!-- m -->

Andrew

[Ralph]

That's helpful stuff Andrew, thanks!
Ralph

[Wiredup]

On this subject.... I personally didn't see it covered in the well written article... but

for those using a DSLR, what focal length do you find you use more often? I'm looking at getting a macro lens for my model photography, but find that when using my 50mm prime lens i still need to get fairly close. My longest focal length is 55mm...

Would someone recomend a 100mm lens? or longer?

[Jim From MT]

Wiredup: A telephoto lens will not do what you want to do, since most telephotos dont have the close up focusing capability needed. A macro lens is a better option. Macro lenses are designed to be used for extreme close up work.
Macro lenses also avoid what is called ,foreshortening. Foreshortening is the squeezing of distance between objects usually found in telephoto shots. As an example have you ever seen a telephoto shot taken down a railroad track or highway? Each lens type has its own capability and limitation. Jim K.

[TCWORLD]

I have recently bought a Sigma 105mm Prime Macro lens for my Canon, and have found it to work very well for taking pictures of the railway because I can stand about a metre away from the layout, and yet have the frame filled by just one section of a very small layout.

I'll post a picture in a few minutes when I have downloaded one off the camera.

The Lens I have is this one: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-105mm-F-2.8-EX-DG-Macro-Lens-Review.aspx">http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Revi ... eview.aspx</a><!-- m -->
I have found it to be a very worthwhile purchase (I got mine for £250), except for the AF which isn't the best - but any macro shots I do, i use the manual focus anyway. If I had the money I would go for the Canon 100mm USM lens, but i dont have £700 to spend!