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Comment by mattie posted on Pentax 70mm f2.4 HD DA Limited Lens - £242 reduction. at 23/03/2022 - 22:53
Jonathan-Mac wrote:
The second part is rule #1 really.
There's a small book in Spanish which is about photographing kids, we've given it as a gift to a couple of people who were about to become parents. It's really excellent and everything in it is applicable regardless of the camera being used. I can't seem to find it now to see if it's available in English.
I'm definitely getting better at predicting what they'll do, and to be honest I never really like the overly posed photos of kids that you'd get from a studio. RayB wrote:
The only two bits of advice I was ever given about shooting images of kids was 1, Don't & 2. If rule 1 can't be applied, try and shoot from their level, it gives a different perspective.
I have to say I think the first part is very poor advice (yes, I know it's a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it's disappointing that some people may have that opinion). Children aren't hard to photograph, you just have to learn their habits and how to take full advantage of their behaviour and the available light, and the better you know your way around your camera gear the better too.The only two bits of advice I was ever given about shooting images of kids was 1, Don't & 2. If rule 1 can't be applied, try and shoot from their level, it gives a different perspective.
The second part is rule #1 really.
There's a small book in Spanish which is about photographing kids, we've given it as a gift to a couple of people who were about to become parents. It's really excellent and everything in it is applicable regardless of the camera being used. I can't seem to find it now to see if it's available in English.
We've actually just had a set of photos done for their ballet performance, the poor photographer had the patience of a saint - and these aren't really the types of photo I'm after, although they are technically very good images.
I'd be grateful for a link to that book if you ever manage to locate it, I'm sure there's a fair few things I'm getting wrong!
Comment by mattie posted on Good prime lens choice for catching toddler action shots at 23/03/2022 - 12:02
Lubbyman wrote:
As you will know, matrix metering tries to get a reasonably good exposure taking the entire picture into account so whatever else is in the frame as well as faces will affect the exposure. The only way of being really sure of whether the lens is affecting exposure is to take exactly the same picture with a different lens. I've seen K3 + matrix metering exposure change significantly just by moving the camera slightly.
You could try centre-weighted metering and compensate for whether the face is lighter or darker than mid-grey, exposure should be pretty good if the face occupies a fair fraction of the centre. (Johnriley just beat me to it!)
Steve
Ta Steve - the overexposure is actually pretty consistent across a number of images, I'll try with other lenses but I'll give centre weight a go. As mentioned above, I'm usually framing the kids in the centre of the image so getting this exposed correctly is the most important. Really want to avoid spot as it's just another thing to worry about - enough on hands stopping them from killing each other!As you will know, matrix metering tries to get a reasonably good exposure taking the entire picture into account so whatever else is in the frame as well as faces will affect the exposure. The only way of being really sure of whether the lens is affecting exposure is to take exactly the same picture with a different lens. I've seen K3 + matrix metering exposure change significantly just by moving the camera slightly.
You could try centre-weighted metering and compensate for whether the face is lighter or darker than mid-grey, exposure should be pretty good if the face occupies a fair fraction of the centre. (Johnriley just beat me to it!)
Steve
Comment by mattie posted on Good prime lens choice for catching toddler action shots at 22/03/2022 - 09:43
johnriley wrote:
Try using centre weighted metering and appying -0.3 EV exposure compensation. Works for me.
Ta John, will give it a go - I'm perfectly fine with a bit of vignette-like exposure so happy to go with centre-weight.Try using centre weighted metering and appying -0.3 EV exposure compensation. Works for me.
Comment by mattie posted on Good prime lens choice for catching toddler action shots at 21/03/2022 - 12:12
I'm giving the lens a go now, it needed a fair wedge of fine focus adjustment but looks good. It seems a bit prone to overexposure though? I appreciate that the body is doing the metering but it seems to always be quite light with faces etc.
It's been very sunny so not surprised that faces etc get a bit blown, but it seems quit constant. Of course, easy to add a little bit of compensation but a bit surprised, I've not had any issues with other lenses.
(On a K3 with matrix metering, if it makes any odds)
It's been very sunny so not surprised that faces etc get a bit blown, but it seems quit constant. Of course, easy to add a little bit of compensation but a bit surprised, I've not had any issues with other lenses.
(On a K3 with matrix metering, if it makes any odds)
Comment by mattie posted on Good prime lens choice for catching toddler action shots at 21/03/2022 - 11:10
Ta all - I've placed an order for th 31mm ltd, it's a bit more than I wanted to spend but hoping the value remains - the 35/2.4 and 35/2 were definite candidates, as was the sigma although I couldn't locate anything in used market, I only really pushed the button on the 31 ltd as it was at a very good price.
Now just need to spend a fortune in sweets and treats to bribe the kids into not pulling silly faces. Wish me luck!
Now just need to spend a fortune in sweets and treats to bribe the kids into not pulling silly faces. Wish me luck!
Comment by mattie posted on Good prime lens choice for catching toddler action shots at 15/03/2022 - 11:17
I've found a 31mm ltd at a good price (well, one I could just about survive!), so it seems I've choices ranging from the 35/2.4 through to the 35/2 through to the 31 Ltd, going up in price at each step. I'm a fan of buying once and buying well, so hedging towards the ltd - although I'm conscious some of the Ltd lenses are getting a bit dated, not sure if the newer 35/2 would be a better bet given the more recent design. It's also cheaper (even brand new) than the 31mm limited.
There's a few 35/2.4 up for sale, so I'm happy to take a bit of time to choose.
There's a few 35/2.4 up for sale, so I'm happy to take a bit of time to choose.
Comment by mattie posted on Good prime lens choice for catching toddler action shots at 09/03/2022 - 22:20
Daronl wrote:
Sigma Art 35 mm 1.4 - as good as a lens can get
That looks a cracking lens, at that price point I'd probably be looking at the 31mm ltd as well. Sigma Art 35 mm 1.4 - as good as a lens can get
A little too expensive, sadly, although I do note a few 28mm FA up for sale that might be of use, although 28mm may be a touch too wide?
Comment by mattie posted on Good prime lens choice for catching toddler action shots at 08/03/2022 - 22:40
Ta for pointer, I'll see if I can find one to give it a whirl
Comment by mattie posted on Good prime lens choice for catching toddler action shots at 06/03/2022 - 19:08
Hi all
I'd be grateful for any advice on a good focal length or specific prime lens for taking 'action portrait' photos of young kids (specifically, mine are 3 and 5 so posing is out of question). Although it would fall into the generally preferred 75mm-80mm film equivalent range, my 50mm F1.4 just seems a bit too telephoto for the role, and I can't get well framed images of both kids at once.
This is on a K3.
I'm sure others have struggled with this as well!
All advice gratefully received.
I'd be grateful for any advice on a good focal length or specific prime lens for taking 'action portrait' photos of young kids (specifically, mine are 3 and 5 so posing is out of question). Although it would fall into the generally preferred 75mm-80mm film equivalent range, my 50mm F1.4 just seems a bit too telephoto for the role, and I can't get well framed images of both kids at once.
This is on a K3.
I'm sure others have struggled with this as well!
All advice gratefully received.
Comment by mattie posted on Good prime lens choice for catching toddler action shots at 05/03/2022 - 17:24
eta: ah, that's weird - the forum adds a link to the aforementioned website based on the term being used in a post!