Attention Shutterbugs! Photography Help Requested.

[anonymouse1]

By the time you use a serious diffuser on the SB600, it's not putting out much light, IIRC.

He saying to use the longest lens or zoom setting possible when you're taking pictures of people at a reasonably close distance--when possible, back away rather than just zooming out. Of course, if you're already as far back as you can go, then zoom out (i.e., set the lens to a wider setting).

In other words, if you set a zoom lens to a wider setting, and then get closer to people, you get distortions that make them look funny. Like this:

http://www.geocities.com/dainisjg/wide.jpg

http://www.shortcourses.com/using/lenses/chris.jpg

[MacManMaz]

exactly what i meant, thanks anonymouse.

[pRON aHOLIC]

This is a rare case where the cheapie is actually pretty darn good compared to the higher priced one. The 50mm 1.8 is very sharp and responsive on the af speed. The 1/2 stop the 1.4 really is not much more light and performance for the money.

The lumiquest 80-20 or pocket bounce are pretty good and fairly cheap light redirectors.
http://lumiquest.com/lq871.htm
The 80-20 shoot 80% off the ceiling and 20% direct to fill in shadows. get some nice AA nimh and charge a 2nd or 3rd set for faster battery power near the end.

If you want a super cheap diffuser buy a gallon of bottled water that is semi transparent. empty it out, drink the water, or not, and cut out your own diffuser with creative tape use.

[karsen]

[quote anonymouse1]In other words, if you set a zoom lens to a wider setting, and then get closer to people, you get distortions that make them look funny. Like this:

http://www.geocities.com/dainisjg/wide.jpg

http://www.shortcourses.com/using/lenses/chris.jpg
Since it's fixed length, is the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D affected by this?

[pRON aHOLIC]

[quote karsen][quote anonymouse1]In other words, if you set a zoom lens to a wider setting, and then get closer to people, you get distortions that make them look funny. Like this:

http://www.geocities.com/dainisjg/wide.jpg

http://www.shortcourses.com/using/lenses/chris.jpg
Since it's fixed length, is the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D affected by this?
No, the 50 is not wide angle to have that kind of distortion.