I got my new camera!

DooDah · Aug 16, 2015

I recently got my a new OM D EM5 II, with the 14-150 II lens. I've been taking a lot of pics and trying to learn how to use this wonderful camera. One of the first things I noticed is the lens filter I bought interferes with every shot, the pics are round instead of rectangle. I bought a Hoya HMC UV filter because the sales person assured me that was needed. Do I really need a filter with this lens? No one mentioned this problem in the reviews but it is in the lens manual. Another thing I've noticed is my iPhone 6 takes way better pics indoors in low light. I've tried several things but have yet to discover how to take better indoor shots. Maybe I need a prime lens?( recommendations?). I know that it is painfully obvious by this post that I am a real "newbie". I am hoping someone will recommend a book to help (I've watched the YouTube videos, and will probably do so again and am going through the manual again), and I've also contacted the local photography club in hopes I can find someone to give me some lessons. I am really hoping to improve my competency with this camera.

DooDah · Aug 17, 2015

Thank you John! I really want to learn, so I appreciate your suggestions. Which Prime would you recommend?

larsbc · Aug 17, 2015

DooDah said:
Here is an example my low light pic. I did SCN mode, low. The ones I tried with P were about the same. The lower pic is an example of the shading when the filter is on the lens. Please excuse the awful pics, as I'm learning. It certainly gives me encouragement that there is lots of room for improvement. Thank you all for the links and advice! I really appreciate all your help.

It looks to me like your dog's face is blurred a bit due to it moving. By the way, I don't know what you did to the photo before uploading it but you removed the EXIF date embedded in the image. That means we can't see what shutter speed, aperture, focal length and ISO value you used, all of which are useful in determining the causes of problems.

Did you run this image through some kind of image editor before uploading it?

Peter Del · Aug 17, 2015

Thanks for posting pictures. As has been mentioned, the vignetting is caused by the lens hood not being full rotated.

The larger 'petals' should be at the top and bottom of the lens!

Peter Del

jkrumm · Aug 17, 2015

Primes I might buy at this particular moment....

Panasonic 25 1.4 because it's supposed to be really good ..... or...

Oly 25 1.8, which I have and is indeed quite good and a little cheaper.

Panasonic 42.5 1.7 for portraits because some says it's a tad better wide open than the Oly 45 1.8, though again I have the Oly and it is good.

Oly 17 1.8 or Panasonic 15 1.8.

It comes down to three focal lengths, a wide one, a normal (25) and a portrait length. It's up to you to decide what to try first. If you like to take photos of your pup or kids or other people and then have folks ooh and aah over how good a photographer you are, get a portrait lens first. That's what I did. Have fun!

Eric Nepean · Aug 17, 2015

DooDah said:
Thank you Rick. Will try again with the hood. I have taken it off and put it back on several times. At least I'm consistent with my mistakes.

By the way - in the one photo I see the lens hood, in the other photo I do not. It looks to me like you are either getting the lens hood turned all the way sometimes, or perhaps not using it sometimes.

Its worth noting that a lens hood isn't absolutely needed - its useful for shading the lens from the sun when it is just outside the picture, but in many cases you can do quite nicely without it.

DooDah · Aug 17, 2015

I have no idea what happened. I wifi'd it to my iphone, then to my iPad. Just checked the copy on my iPhoto & it's just the same. How do you make sure the info transfers? i will keep track in a notebook from now on too.

Skeeterbytes · Aug 17, 2015

Eric Nepean said:
DooDah said:

Thank you Rick. Will try again with the hood. I have taken it off and put it back on several times. At least I'm consistent with my mistakes.

Click to expand...

By the way - in the one photo I see the lens hood, in the other photo I do not. It looks to me like you are either getting the lens hood turned all the way sometimes, or perhaps not using it sometimes.

Its worth noting that a lens hood isn't absolutely needed - its useful for shading the lens from the sun when it is just outside the picture, but in many cases you can do quite nicely without it.

DooDah · Aug 17, 2015

Thank you all very much! I've learned so much from your replies. I actually went back through them all and took notes. Besides feeling like a total dunce with the lens hood (maybe I should sit in a corner with the hood on my head), I'm determined to learn how to use my camera. I can't tell you how much fun I've been having, just trying things out. Thank you again!

Same flower, a little more shade but the hood is in the proper position!

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I got my new camera!

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