Newbie SD9 questions...

super_kev

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Hey guys,

I'm a newbie, so as usual I have some questions. I've been following this forum for at least six months, and have learned a lot about the SD9 and other DSLR cameras. Even though there are some problems with the SD9, there are problems in almost every camera, and I like the SD9 pictures over the others, even if they require some tweaking on the computer.

My first digital camera (and still is) was a Sony DSC-S70 (3.3M, 3X zoom.) I've figured out how to use it and have taken thousands of pictures, and so I was looking for something with more horsepower, interchangeable lenses, and the Foveon chip. I take my camera wherever I go. I do take some action shots, but it is mainly normal stuff like landscape portraits, people shots, etc. The Sony has a "macro" mode, which never really focused well, but when it worked, it was nice.
  1. 1
I'd like a macro lens for close-ups of flowers, bugs, etc., and a "normal" zoom lens for everything else. I’ve seen that macro lenses come in 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 ratios, so which ratio and model would you get?
  1. 2
For the other lens, I would want something that can take good wide-angle pictures so I can get pictures of tight areas, but still zoom for some longer shots. Would a 24-70mm or a little bigger do a good job? I realize that two lenses cannot do everything, but two lenses are a lot better than that Sony I have now, and I can always add more later.
  1. 3
I see Sigma has a few lens categories (DL, DF, EX) so which should I get? I've read that when getting a DSLR, you should get the highest quality lenses, so would you go with the DF series, or the EX series?
  1. 4
And since I'm pretty new to this whole camera thing (I'm 17,) I'm a little confused on f2.8, f4.0, etc. lenses, why would you choose one over the other? I have a book on cameras, and I am reading it, but I figured someone could give me a brief explanation on this. With the Sony, I could choose the f-stop, but I never really messed with it that much because I didn't have to.

Sorry for all the questions, but thanks for any help you can give me.

-Kevin
 
Good morning Kevin,

It's early here.

I would suggest that you look at Rick Decker's lens section at http://www.lightreflection.com/ . He has checked out some of the lenses. Specifically, the range is macros varies according to the distance to the opject. Sigma macros seem excellent.

Then I would suggest that you have a thorough brouse through the users' gallery linked below. Here you will find examples taken with a wide variety of lenses. If there is a particular picture, I am sure the photographer will give you the details. Be sure to visit the link galleries on each page.

Finally, Norman Koren has a lot of information on photography in general ( http://www.normankoren.com/ ) including answers to your question about f-stops. Basically, the lower the number, the greater amount of light the lens can transmit. The number itself is a ratio of the optical length to the size of the opening. Large openings (low f-stop numbers) mean less depth of field, however. As you see here:

http://www.pbase.com/image/14704310.jpg

Sorry for the linked answer. Back to zzzzzing.

Laurence

--
Gone Alinghi

--------------------
Final Standings
Alinghi 5

http://www.pbase.com/lmatson/sd9_images
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
 
Hey Laurence,

I'm checking out the Light Reflection and Norman Koren sites right now, thanks for those links. I've seen quite a few of the pictures in the pbase gallery, but there are some I haven't gotten to yet, so I'll check those out.

-Kevin
 
I've been looking at SD9 cameras on eBay, and there are a few packages. This one looks pretty good, although it doesn't look like it has a macro lens. What do you think of the lenses that come in the package? Are they cheap ones, or good quality? One is a Sigma 24-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF lens, the other a Sigma 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6DL
Macro Super lens.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2919786289&category=30020

Thanks,
Kevin
 
Kevin,

Your moniker you will have to earn with some nice clean pixels from your SD9.

In another post on the SD9 price, I posted my comment on cheap pricing. Unfortunately, there is no free lunch. You will have to wait for Rick to wake up, but from what I remember, this is a pretty good deal for an excellent camera and two paperweights.

If and when you are seriously ready, e-mail B&H ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ ) and ask them for their best price for the body. Then e-mail them for the best price for the body and a decent zoom, such as the 28-70 f2.8 or 24-70 f2.8. I think in the end you will be far more comfortable with one of those than being frustrated by this great body and a couple of lenses that don't match it. Once you get the hang of it, go after one of the fine macros.

I would be happy to be corrected by someone with more experience here.

Laurence

--
Gone Alinghi

--------------------
Final Standings
Alinghi 5

http://www.pbase.com/lmatson/sd9_images
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
 
Follow Laurence's advice and get EX lenses and buy everything from BHphoto.com . I got my stuff from adorama.com and they talked me into having the lenses drop shipped from Sigma because they were out of stock. Well a week later I called to cancel and order from B&H and they said that the lenses were accidentally mailed to them instead and that they would ship them that day. Well the next day they shipped. Or so I thought. 3 days later I got a second email saying that another part of my order just shipped. I feel like I was strung along on this. Next time if someone doesn't have it in stock then too bad. Also, my future orders will be with B&H. I've never had a problem with them. Just make sure you check out anyone you want to order from on http://www.resellerratings.com first.
Kev
Kevin,

Your moniker you will have to earn with some nice clean pixels from
your SD9.

In another post on the SD9 price, I posted my comment on cheap
pricing. Unfortunately, there is no free lunch. You will have to
wait for Rick to wake up, but from what I remember, this is a
pretty good deal for an excellent camera and two paperweights.

If and when you are seriously ready, e-mail B&H
( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ ) and ask them for their best price
for the body. Then e-mail them for the best price for the body and
a decent zoom, such as the 28-70 f2.8 or 24-70 f2.8. I think in the
end you will be far more comfortable with one of those than being
frustrated by this great body and a couple of lenses that don't
match it. Once you get the hang of it, go after one of the fine
macros.

I would be happy to be corrected by someone with more experience here.

Laurence

--
Gone Alinghi

--------------------
Final Standings
Alinghi 5

http://www.pbase.com/lmatson/sd9_images
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
--



http://www.whiteorangedesign.com/SD9
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/kevin_palmer
 
One is a Sigma 24-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF lens, the other a Sigma
70-300mm f/4.0-5.6DL
Macro Super lens.
Stay away from these Lenses, buying the 24-70/3.5-5.6 is like gambling I bought one 5 years ago and it was total cr4p (unsharp, low contrast, etc.) returned after the iris stucked and got a new one that was far better BUT some weeks ago the iris was hangin again, I though of dumping it but then thought that I can try to repair it first and found out that it was a damaged gear wheel. So the build of this one is not to good and the risk to get a bad one is very high. The 70-300 DL worked quite good on my old 35mm but it just sucks on the SD9 and the new 70-300 DL has not even the build quality (I had a quick look in a store some time ago). The 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Zoom Macro Super will give you mush better results. It is not to good wide open but far better than the DL. I would suggest EX Lenses.

--

Pictures taken with an old analog Sigma and scanned from Film: http://www.pbase.com/dgross
ICQ UIN: 289647506
 
That's what I was thinking. If the camera body alone is $1500, then the lenses couldn't be that good. I'll look into the EX 24-70 f2.8 DG DF lens.

Kevin
One is a Sigma 24-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF lens, the other a Sigma
70-300mm f/4.0-5.6DL
Macro Super lens.
Stay away from these Lenses, buying the 24-70/3.5-5.6 is like
gambling I bought one 5 years ago and it was total cr4p (unsharp,
low contrast, etc.) returned after the iris stucked and got a new
one that was far better BUT some weeks ago the iris was hangin
again, I though of dumping it but then thought that I can try to
repair it first and found out that it was a damaged gear wheel. So
the build of this one is not to good and the risk to get a bad one
is very high. The 70-300 DL worked quite good on my old 35mm but it
just sucks on the SD9 and the new 70-300 DL has not even the build
quality (I had a quick look in a store some time ago). The 70-300mm
f/4-5.6 APO Zoom Macro Super will give you mush better results. It
is not to good wide open but far better than the DL. I would
suggest EX Lenses.

--
Pictures taken with an old analog Sigma and scanned from Film:
http://www.pbase.com/dgross
ICQ UIN: 289647506
 
That's what I was thinking. If the camera body alone is $1500,
then the lenses couldn't be that good. I'll look into the EX 24-70
f2.8 DG DF lens.
Kevin,
I purchased my SD9 From B&H, they have great service.
The lenses I purchased are as follows :
14mm f/2.8 EX
50mm f/2.8 EX Macro
28-200 f/3.5-5.6 IF
300mm f/4 APO

I can tell you that for macro the 50mm works great. You may want something longer, it all depends on what you are shooting. I'm sure you will not be dissapointed with this camera it's great.

Keep Shooting,
Brian

--
Brian Taylor Photography
http://www.briantaylorphotography.netfirms.com
[email protected]
 
Ok, so so far I have in the shopping cart: the SD9, a 24-70mm f/2.8 EX lens, and a Lexar Firewire card reader. What else am I missing? As for CF card sizes, what sizes are the files from the SD9? I'm trying to figure out if I want to go with 256MB or 512MB CF cards. The 1GB is too big, and if for some reason I loose that card or it gets damaged, that's a lot of pictures lost.

Is it better to go with Type 1 or Type 2 CF cards?

Which are the best brands, or does it not matter? I've seen the comparison on this website and it looks like the Viking and SimpleTech 256 & 512 (respectively) cards perform better write speeds then most of the others. This would help the camera so it would write faster on the card, right? Or is the camera the limiting factor, not the card?

Thanks again!
Kevin
 
The information available from Phil's reviews is great.

I use a 512 MB Apacer Photo Steno Pro, which is as fast as was then available. Each raw image is around 8 megs at full resolution. Typically, I get 75-77 shots before downloading.

Someone else will have to answer the bit about types.

Laurence
Ok, so so far I have in the shopping cart: the SD9, a 24-70mm f/2.8
EX lens, and a Lexar Firewire card reader. What else am I missing?
As for CF card sizes, what sizes are the files from the SD9? I'm
trying to figure out if I want to go with 256MB or 512MB CF cards.
The 1GB is too big, and if for some reason I loose that card or it
gets damaged, that's a lot of pictures lost.

Is it better to go with Type 1 or Type 2 CF cards?
Which are the best brands, or does it not matter? I've seen the
comparison on this website and it looks like the Viking and
SimpleTech 256 & 512 (respectively) cards perform better write
speeds then most of the others. This would help the camera so it
would write faster on the card, right? Or is the camera the
limiting factor, not the card?

Thanks again!
Kevin
--
Gone Alinghi

--------------------
Final Standings
Alinghi 5

http://www.pbase.com/lmatson/sd9_images
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
 
I use the 1gb Microdrive. It's nice to have more memory when you are shooting so that you don't have to stop to download in the middle.

Other items would be the battery power pack adapter. I've had my camera for a couple weeks now with the adapter and haven't recharged once.
The remote control is handy too. I do question it's operating range though.

You might also consider getting the 50mm and 105mm EX macro lenses. Mine should be here Monday. I've used the Nikon equivelent on the D100 and they are awesome lenses for doing a variety of shots.
The Super DG flash is nice to have when light becomes a problem.

I also bought a cokin square filter holder and adapter rings for each lens along with a circular polarizer. It helps keep skys and glare/reflection under control. Most everything else in terms of filtering can be done in PhotoShop.

Lastly, don't forget to buy your camera cleaning tools and a nice case to protect your investments.
Ok, so so far I have in the shopping cart: the SD9, a 24-70mm f/2.8
EX lens, and a Lexar Firewire card reader. What else am I missing?
As for CF card sizes, what sizes are the files from the SD9? I'm
trying to figure out if I want to go with 256MB or 512MB CF cards.
The 1GB is too big, and if for some reason I loose that card or it
gets damaged, that's a lot of pictures lost.

Is it better to go with Type 1 or Type 2 CF cards?
Which are the best brands, or does it not matter? I've seen the
comparison on this website and it looks like the Viking and
SimpleTech 256 & 512 (respectively) cards perform better write
speeds then most of the others. This would help the camera so it
would write faster on the card, right? Or is the camera the
limiting factor, not the card?

Thanks again!
Kevin
--



http://www.whiteorangedesign.com/SD9
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/kevin_palmer
 
Good list:

However, I will repeat my reservations about Microdrives. They are great if you do not have to work at altitude or in extreme temperatures. Also, don't drop it.

L
Ok, so so far I have in the shopping cart: the SD9, a 24-70mm f/2.8
EX lens, and a Lexar Firewire card reader. What else am I missing?
As for CF card sizes, what sizes are the files from the SD9? I'm
trying to figure out if I want to go with 256MB or 512MB CF cards.
The 1GB is too big, and if for some reason I loose that card or it
gets damaged, that's a lot of pictures lost.

Is it better to go with Type 1 or Type 2 CF cards?
Which are the best brands, or does it not matter? I've seen the
comparison on this website and it looks like the Viking and
SimpleTech 256 & 512 (respectively) cards perform better write
speeds then most of the others. This would help the camera so it
would write faster on the card, right? Or is the camera the
limiting factor, not the card?

Thanks again!
Kevin
--



http://www.whiteorangedesign.com/SD9
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/kevin_palmer
--
Gone Alinghi

--------------------
Final Standings
Alinghi 5

http://www.pbase.com/lmatson/sd9_images
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
 
Yeah, it's probably not a good idea to drop ANYTHING. Ha ha. Also, the camera itself will stop working in extreme temperatures due to the batteries not discharging. This happens with video cameras as well. It's best to wrap it up and maybe even use a couple hand warmer packs from the sporting goods store.

Thanks for the tips on the altitude though. So if I go up to Colorado will I have problems? What's the altitude cut off for the Microdrive?
Thanks,
Kev
However, I will repeat my reservations about Microdrives. They are
great if you do not have to work at altitude or in extreme
temperatures. Also, don't drop it.

L
Ok, so so far I have in the shopping cart: the SD9, a 24-70mm f/2.8
EX lens, and a Lexar Firewire card reader. What else am I missing?
As for CF card sizes, what sizes are the files from the SD9? I'm
trying to figure out if I want to go with 256MB or 512MB CF cards.
The 1GB is too big, and if for some reason I loose that card or it
gets damaged, that's a lot of pictures lost.

Is it better to go with Type 1 or Type 2 CF cards?
Which are the best brands, or does it not matter? I've seen the
comparison on this website and it looks like the Viking and
SimpleTech 256 & 512 (respectively) cards perform better write
speeds then most of the others. This would help the camera so it
would write faster on the card, right? Or is the camera the
limiting factor, not the card?

Thanks again!
Kevin
--



http://www.whiteorangedesign.com/SD9
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/kevin_palmer
--
Gone Alinghi

--------------------
Final Standings
Alinghi 5

http://www.pbase.com/lmatson/sd9_images
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
--



http://www.whiteorangedesign.com/SD9
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/kevin_palmer
 
About 1500 meters. Beyond that, light candles first. 3000 meters, it screams for oxygen.

L
However, I will repeat my reservations about Microdrives. They are
great if you do not have to work at altitude or in extreme
temperatures. Also, don't drop it.

L
Ok, so so far I have in the shopping cart: the SD9, a 24-70mm f/2.8
EX lens, and a Lexar Firewire card reader. What else am I missing?
As for CF card sizes, what sizes are the files from the SD9? I'm
trying to figure out if I want to go with 256MB or 512MB CF cards.
The 1GB is too big, and if for some reason I loose that card or it
gets damaged, that's a lot of pictures lost.

Is it better to go with Type 1 or Type 2 CF cards?
Which are the best brands, or does it not matter? I've seen the
comparison on this website and it looks like the Viking and
SimpleTech 256 & 512 (respectively) cards perform better write
speeds then most of the others. This would help the camera so it
would write faster on the card, right? Or is the camera the
limiting factor, not the card?

Thanks again!
Kevin
--



http://www.whiteorangedesign.com/SD9
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/kevin_palmer
--
Gone Alinghi

--------------------
Final Standings
Alinghi 5

http://www.pbase.com/lmatson/sd9_images
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
--



http://www.whiteorangedesign.com/SD9
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/kevin_palmer
--
Gone Alinghi

--------------------
Final Standings
Alinghi 5

http://www.pbase.com/lmatson/sd9_images
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
 
Thanks! What about regular hard drives in laptops? Same thing?
L
However, I will repeat my reservations about Microdrives. They are
great if you do not have to work at altitude or in extreme
temperatures. Also, don't drop it.

L
Ok, so so far I have in the shopping cart: the SD9, a 24-70mm f/2.8
EX lens, and a Lexar Firewire card reader. What else am I missing?
As for CF card sizes, what sizes are the files from the SD9? I'm
trying to figure out if I want to go with 256MB or 512MB CF cards.
The 1GB is too big, and if for some reason I loose that card or it
gets damaged, that's a lot of pictures lost.

Is it better to go with Type 1 or Type 2 CF cards?
Which are the best brands, or does it not matter? I've seen the
comparison on this website and it looks like the Viking and
SimpleTech 256 & 512 (respectively) cards perform better write
speeds then most of the others. This would help the camera so it
would write faster on the card, right? Or is the camera the
limiting factor, not the card?

Thanks again!
Kevin
--



http://www.whiteorangedesign.com/SD9
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/kevin_palmer
--
Gone Alinghi

--------------------
Final Standings
Alinghi 5

http://www.pbase.com/lmatson/sd9_images
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
--



http://www.whiteorangedesign.com/SD9
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/kevin_palmer
--
Gone Alinghi

--------------------
Final Standings
Alinghi 5

http://www.pbase.com/lmatson/sd9_images
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
--



http://www.whiteorangedesign.com/SD9
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/kevin_palmer
 
L
However, I will repeat my reservations about Microdrives. They are
great if you do not have to work at altitude or in extreme
temperatures. Also, don't drop it.

L
Ok, so so far I have in the shopping cart: the SD9, a 24-70mm f/2.8
EX lens, and a Lexar Firewire card reader. What else am I missing?
As for CF card sizes, what sizes are the files from the SD9? I'm
trying to figure out if I want to go with 256MB or 512MB CF cards.
The 1GB is too big, and if for some reason I loose that card or it
gets damaged, that's a lot of pictures lost.

Is it better to go with Type 1 or Type 2 CF cards?
Which are the best brands, or does it not matter? I've seen the
comparison on this website and it looks like the Viking and
SimpleTech 256 & 512 (respectively) cards perform better write
speeds then most of the others. This would help the camera so it
would write faster on the card, right? Or is the camera the
limiting factor, not the card?

Thanks again!
Kevin
--



http://www.whiteorangedesign.com/SD9
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/kevin_palmer
--
Gone Alinghi

--------------------
Final Standings
Alinghi 5

http://www.pbase.com/lmatson/sd9_images
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
--



http://www.whiteorangedesign.com/SD9
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/kevin_palmer
--
Gone Alinghi

--------------------
Final Standings
Alinghi 5

http://www.pbase.com/lmatson/sd9_images
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
--



http://www.whiteorangedesign.com/SD9
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/user_home
http://www.pbase.com/sigmasd9/kevin_palmer
--

Pictures taken with an old analog Sigma and scanned from Film: http://www.pbase.com/dgross
ICQ UIN: 289647506
 
Hi
I might get one of these SD 9 too, but I 've still some questions:

When the SD9 is connected to a computer via FireWire, do I have still to use a compactflash card, or is the file saved on the computer's harddisk ?? Just had a CF-crash on another camera, so this is a dataloss-issue.

2nd question:

is there a link with informations about all the additional stuff like remote cable, etc ??

thanks, montespluga
 
I might get one of these SD 9 too, but I 've still some
questions:
When the SD9 is connected to a computer via
FireWire, do I have still to use a compactflash card, or is the
file saved on the computer's harddisk ?? Just had a CF-crash on
another camera, so this is a dataloss-issue.
2nd question:
is
there a link with informations about all the additional stuff like
remote cable, etc ??
thanks, montespluga

-Hi,

The camera comes with both firewire and usb cables and PhotoPro software. You can simply transfer the RAW files to the computer, then convert from there if you wish - you can also have it delete the files from the CF/Microdrive at same time. I use this method so the files in RAW format are on the computer first. Or you can also save the files in JPEG (level adjustable per normal - but use minimum 10) or 8 bit or 16 bit TIFF and can also have a chopice of colour mode and have double or half size. Lots of options but best to work from RAW files once on computer.

I prefer to have the RAWQ files on the computer, then delete the files from the camera "just in case" - I can then try out different file saving modes - which I did until I settled on just one. I now save in 8-bit double-size TIFF, in Adobe sRGB 2.2 Gamma. Then in PhotoShop, save as a JPEG at level 8 at size required (in my case, 16"x10.667" @ 360ppi) for subsequent printing via Epson 1200 and 1160 Stylus printers, using PrintRite inks and Art paper (acid and wood free) Cartridge and Art bases.

Hope this helps!

Zone8
 
Zone8,

thanks for your response. It´s a good thing to have this choices of filesaving for the studio works. I know this RAW-stuff from other digis; and doing the 2nd editing-steps in photoshop as 16 bit-files is a great point. My intention then would be to backup these as "originals"

Pitty though that Adobe's RAW-Converter doesn´t supports the sigmafiles. My question at adobe´s forum, about a ARC-update supporting the SD9-files hasen´t been answered yet. Another advantage of ARC: any profiling of the SD-9 would became unnecessairy, as ARC holds for every camera different profiles and people can slide between these two.

Another question: Usually, RAW-files aren´t tagged with (ICC) profiles. Is this the case with the sigma raws and Prophoto as well ?

How many shots are done with the additional batterie pack??

regards montespluga -2
the same as montespluga, just another place...
 

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