Photo Friday: What I Use

I’ve had several people inquire what equipment I use to take pictures for Not Exactly Bento.  I’ve debated alot about talking on this subject.  The equipment I choose to use may not suit someone else.  As well, there are many advanced point and shoot cameras that can give results to rival an SLR.  Then, I thought about my purpose in sharing all this photography information on a bento blog: to help others find the information that it took me so long to acquire.  So, I rethought my position and decided to share.  All pictures of the photographic equipment, I downloaded fr om the manufacturer’s websites.  I figure that if I spent the money to purchase their products, they can darn well allow me to use their pictures to talk about (and inadvertently promote) their products.  (The pictures above are hosted on my own domain though.  I’m not stealing bandwith, I promise!)

I use a digital single lens reflex camera, commonly known as a dSLR or SLR.   This means a couple of things for my camera.  First, it means that the picture I see through the camera viewfinder (and therefore the lens) is basically going to be the picture I get.  This is because the lens attached to my camera has a single lens that is going to capture the image.  This is quite different from a point and shoot camera.  P&S camera’s have two lenses: one that you view the scene through and one that actually captures that scene, resulting in what you see and what you get being a bit different.  The second thing it means for my camera is that I have more control of the picture I’m taking through the settings on the camera and the lens I choose to use.  This greater control results in a higher quality image than most point and shoot cameras.  Much of this quality is directly tied to the lens used, not necessarily the number of pixels the camera has.

Specifically, I use the Nikon D80.  There is great debate amongst photo enthusiasts concerning Nikon vs. Canon.  When it came time for me to choose the SLR I wanted, I chose a Nikon.  Why?  Because Nikon was a brand with which I was familiar and liked.  My favorite p&s camera I’ve ever owned, that gave the best images, and was the most versatile was a Nikon Coolpix.

My first SLR was a Nikon D40.  It was a great little camera with one big drawback.  I couldn’t use the majority of Nikon lenses with that camera.  In case you are considering the purchase of an SLR, let me talk about this for a minute.  When Nikon released the Nikon D40, it was quite the breakthrough (or so I understand) in the digital photography market.  The Nikon D40 helped bring the price of SLRs to a larger audience.  Part of its lower price was that the Nikon D40 lacks an internal focusing motor in the body of the camera.  This motor helps the camera to focus the lens and take a clear, sharp image.  Instead, Nikon developed lenses where the focusing motor was inside the lens, meaning Nikon developed lenses especially for use with the Nikon D40, yet were compatible with most other Nikon SLRs.  Not only did this help the price of the D40, it also made the camera body of the D40 much more compact compared to other Nikon SLR cameras.  In the picture above you can see the size of the D40 as compared to the D80.  The big drawback for me?  After a few months with the D40, I knew I needed a good macro lens to get the sort of images I wanted for this blog.  At that time, there was not an IF lens for the D40.  Furthermore, even though a compatible lens was on the near horizon, it’s price was going to be near $600.  So, I resolved myself to not be completely happy with my photos, though alot happier than I was with my old point and shoot.  On I trod down the lane of photographer wannabe. 

I’m not the best at lighting my photographic subjects.  I read so many food blogs that say, “Natural Light IS the Photographic Way,” or something to that affect.  While I don’t deny that they aren’t accurate, I prefer to use an external flash.  In fact, I use it every day for this blog.  I have the Nikon SB-600, something I can use on or off the camera.  That’s how I started.  With a Nikon D40 kit (camera body with basic lens) and a SB-600 external flash (optional).

Then, Nikon came out with a new camera: the D90.  It was a new, improved version of a the D80, with all sorts of bells and whistles.  The price of the D80 plummetted as camera shops tried to get rid of their inventory on a camera that was now upgraded.  I chose to sell my D40 kit and upgrade myself to a D80 and a macro lens.

Sigma is the brand of lens I chose for my macro lens.  I’ve found I really like Sigma lenses, and they are a fraction of the cost of a Nikon lens.  Good quality for a good price.  My Sigma lens hardly ever leaves my camera and is the lens I use everyday to shoot the food photographs for this site.  It gives me a clear, sharp image and has a decently wide aperture to allow me to blur out the background when needed.

Without this lens, the photographs here on Not Exactly Bento wouldn’t look half as good as they do.  Now, I just have to work on my plating techniques so that the photograph of the food itself is a bit more semi-professional looking.

It is also the lens I use for much of the nature photography that I have shared here on Not Exactly Bento.

Besides the macro lens, I have two other lenses in my arsenal that give me great results.  These two other lenses also pretty much complete what I feel I need by way of photography equipment.

This lens is known in alot of photographic circles as the Nifty Fifty.  It’s the 50mm 1.8 lens.  There is a nifty fifty for the Nikon as well as the Canon.  The fifty refers to the focal length of the lens: 50mm.  It’s called a prime lens because 50mm is the only focal length availble.  In other words, it does not zoom.

This is the lens I use to take portraits, when I can remember to switch out my lenses.  Take a recent weekend for example.  I went to my aunt’s house for a family gathering.  Everyone wanted to see the new baby girl recently born to my cousin and his wife.  I knew I’d want to use this lens in order to take pictures of the new baby for the family.  It has a nice wide aperture of f/1.8.  This means I can get some really great portrait shots that fuzz out the background.  The night before the family get together I put this lens on my camera and took a few pictures of the dogs.

There’s just something about this lens that I love.

My last bit of photographic equipment (other than my tripod and camera bag) is this Sigma 18 – 200mm zoom lens.  I can take a decent landscape photo as well as zoom in on a bird in a tree with this camera.  It also works well for standing still in one area of my yard, trying to be unnoticeable, as I take pictures of the dogs.  I don’t use it nearly as much as the other two lens, but I’m glad I have it.

Now that the weather is warmer and turning really nice, I hope to go out to the zoo soon to really put this lens to good use.  I’m also thinking a few walking trips in downtown Baton Rouge or a few plantation tours would make for some nice landscape and architectural shots.  Such plans I have!

In a nutshell, that’s the photographic equipment I have that helps me make Not Exactly Bento what it is.  If you’re wondering what my suggestions would be if you’re considering an SLR, here is what I would say:

First, go to a store that sells SLR cameras of different brands.  Nikon, Canon, Sony (used to be Minolta), Olympus, and Pentax all make consumer-level cameras.  Each brand has an entry-level SLR camera.  Be prepared to spend a minimum of $400+ for your initial setup.  For instance, a Nikon D40 from Amazon (affiliate link) runs in the vicinity of $410 for the kit (camera plus 18-55mm zoom lens).  I would highly recommend the D40.  Honestly if I wouldn’t have found such a great deal on the D80, I would still have and use my D40.  Other entry level cameras from other brands include the Canon Rebel XS, the Olympus Evolt E420, and the Pentax K200D.

When you visit a store, try out every SLR they have.  Hold the camera, see how it fits in your hands, how heavy it feels to you, etc.  You want something that you are going to feel comfortable holding.  Read reviews and see what other people and the experts say about the camera that you’re interested in purchasing.  Go to Flickr and search for a group dedicated to the camera that you are considering.  Take a look at the pictures other people are posting using that camera.  Do you like the look of the pictures?  Do they look acceptable to you?  In fact, these tips work for any digital camera you plan to purchase.

My photography experience is still in the learning amateur range, but I’m always happy to answer questions or to share how I learned to do something.  If anyone has a question out there, feel free to ask me.  I’ll try to answer to the best of my abilitiy.

Be the bento everyone and thanks for stopping by!