Size does matter...

[schmik]

I took the kiddies to the museum the other day. I thought it would be a great opportunity to use the da 40mm. So i threw the lens on the k100d and flung it over my shoulder. When not using the camera i barely knew it was there.

I observed another parent there with an SLR, it was a canon (literally). The lens stuck out about 6inches (without hood) and the flash protruded a good 6 inches off the top of the camera. It looked like a pain in the a55. The thing was huge. The flash lit up the entire zoom (and the rooms are big in a museum). This attracted lots of dirty looks.

I liked my shots from the day, even though a little faulty. The 40mm is a little slow for such a dark environment, well it was for me on the day because i used ISO800 not ISO1600.

I like the 40mm indoors but in a museum i could have gone longer, like a 50 or even 70. ... anyway, i have the A 50 1:1.7 and just dropped the coins on a 70mm LTD. Hopefully the half stop extra will serve me well. Unfortunately I can't use the 50 in those situations because kids don't know what 'stay still' means. AF is a must. Tough! because the exhibits would have been excellent with the 50.

Having said all that. I small(ish) dslr with a tiny lense was a joy to sling over my shoulder and take with me.

cheers
mike

[schmik]

here are a few samples.

[soccerjoe5]

Nice work!

[schmik]

Cheers Diego.

Also, forgot to mention another tip that may help others. AF is much much faster in low light when set to centre point only and AF.S. Just focus and then recompose. Any other setting and it just hunts......


mike

[maxwell1295]

You did great....#1 and #3 are fantastic shots.

[sinus007]

Hi Mike,
I was in the same situation: went to botanical garden with just DA 40 and used it while not running after my 4-yo. Here're a few snaps:
Picasa Web Albums - Anatoly - Botanical garden
There were a lot of people who came really prepaired: C & N, tripods, external flashes, etc. But I felt I belonged to cell phone camp size wise.

[octavmandru]

Hey!
Noo. the big gun did much better with flash, I betcha... (there's no such emoticon to show my feelings).
Sorry for this, but in my view flash is a no-no in museums. First, is forbidden sometimes.
Second, is a good way to spoil the picture, unless used in a careful way.
Your photographs show this better then I could ever say it.
Beautiful series, really.
Congratulations.

[RBellavance]

Absolutely stunning shots, great job. You clearly have a good eye, and that's much more important than the size of your lens

[Karl]

Very good photos schmik!. The DA40 looks like a very nice lens. the size and price are hard to resist. Now i feel like a trip to museum.

[Parallax]

Originally Posted by octavmandru

Hey!
Noo. the big gun did much better with flash, I betcha... (there's no such emoticon to show my feelings).
Sorry for this, but in my view flash is a no-no in museums. First, is forbidden sometimes.
Second, is a good way to spoil the picture, unless used in a careful way.
Your photographs show this better then I could ever say it.
Beautiful series, really.
Congratulations.

You're right about the flash. There is a lot of work, science, and psychology that goes into lighting museum exhibits. A flash is an excellent way to screw it all up in a.....................(sorry for this)....................screw it up in a flash.

[schmik]

Thanks for the kind words guys and gals. Cheers!

I agree about the lighting and the museum. It is done so well that flash does spoil it... and everyone gives you dirty looks

Here are a few more.

[Ira]

ALL HANDHELD!?

Please tell me no or I'll throw out all of my gear right now.

[schmik]

HAHAHA, yes all hand held. Mostly all at ISO800. And..... only had 5 seconds per shot as i was chasing the kids and the wife around.

Can't wait to get the da 70mm too (wooo hooo half a stop faster )

Mike

[Ramitt]

Nice pics, not even considering the environment. I enjoyed them.

[SpecialK]

All nice shots but a little white space between them would set them off a bit better.