The Photography Thread

[MartyG]

What's the score with the AP comp - can you take shots at any time in the year and submit during the relevant rounds ? Was reading about it yesterday and wasn't sure if you need to take the shots during the rounds themselves..

There's no restriction on when the photos were taken AFAIK, they just need to fit the theme.

The main magazine one generally has more entries and pics sent by email need to be at least 2,700 pixels along its longest dimension.

The forum comp is a bit less serious but no less competitive, images posted there need to be 600 pixels maximum and less than a 100Kb.

[RobRoy]

Hi all,

My 18-55 kit lens's motor appears to have stopped working so it wont autofocus anymore. Is this fixable? If so any ideas where i could get it fixed?

cheers

[Garf]

Hi all,

My 18-55 kit lens's motor appears to have stopped working so it wont autofocus anymore. Is this fixable? If so any ideas where i could get it fixed?

cheers

For starters, what camera do you have ? My Nikon 18-55 packed up a few months ago (similar issue to yours), and I sent it off to their service department , and they sorted it in a few days and charged me about 30 quid.

Looks like it was a faulty circuit board on mine, where the AF contacts are on the lens. Been fine ever since.

I can provide you the details of the service centre if you have a Nikon. If you have a Canon/Sony/Oly etc I am sure you can find the service centre details from their website (I am guessing it's a Canon though, if you post in AVForums as well )

Failing that, could be a good excuse to get a new lens . A mate has just got the new version of the Sigma 17-70 which now has optical stability built in as well as a macro function - he is very happy with it..

[RobRoy]

it is a nikon! so the contact details would be great
id love a new lens but 30 quid sounds far better than a couple of hundred lol

[Garf]

Cool - give me a minute, and I'll PM you.

It's funny - someone else on AVForums has posted the exact same issue today as well, so I put 2 & 2 together and got 17 !!

[RobRoy]

haha must be a day for it thanks for the info mate

[Spatial]

Anybody have any advice on the best places to buy lenses?

I'm currently thinking of getting a new Sigma lens to try and get back into photography and I know onestopdigital were recommended waaaaay back in this thread. They're based in Hong Kong and a damn sight cheaper (plus they've been recommended by people here a few times) but Sigma seem to be more than a little bit tetchy when it comes to universal warranties on lenses unless you can prove you've paid the VAT.

Just wondering what people though? Is it just worth paying more to get it from a UK retailer on the off chance that if something goes wrong then you don't have to try and get it shipped back to China to sort it?

[Garf]

If it were me, I'd get a Sigma lens from a UK retailer (as I did recently). I have heard a few tales of:

a) People getting a bad copy of a lens, so needing to replace it - this is, as you say, much easier to do in the UK.

b) Again, as you say, Sigma can be funny with regards to grey imports and honouring warranties.

For peace of mind, I'd personally spend a bit extra and get it here, although many people equally seem happy with using OSD.

What lens are you looking at, and have you checked the prices on camerapricebuster ?

[Spatial]

Thanks for the heads up on that website. The lens is the 18 - 50mm f2.8 EX and with that website I've manged to find it for around £30 more than importing it via onestop.

For that price it's worth the extra piece of mind of getting one in the UK.

[HaHaUK]

Still reckon yours is better, Haha.

Your shot is definately better

Your shot is better, although I don't think anyone's stolen your idea lol.

Disclaimer: Your photo is better than anything I have ever taken.

Thanks guys I know they didnt steal it FullSpec

A few more from me - Ive transferred over to still-life now as its too cold and cant seem to find the time to go out and photograph

[Taka]

Went along to Birmingham's Chinese new year celebrations:

[PeteJ]

Nice stuff Haha - the coke bottle is superbly shot.
Nicely shot too Taka, both are great

Hoped to get some shots over the weekend but my only trip out with camera was when the clouds came over and ruined the light. Quite like this though:

[egparadigm]

A few recent additions on Flickr:







All on colour negative film, all developed by hand in a Paterson tank. More details of processing can be found on my Flickr page:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/egparadigm/

[funkydan]

FFS guys all your recent stuff is just brilliant. Since becoming a dad about 4 months ago I only really have had a chance to photograph one subject of late, i.e my daughter. Hope to get back to photography soon

Keep up the good work guys!

[Taka]

Has anyone caught this video of a bloke being arrested for "holding" his camera suspiciously? Really pissed me off because I've been on the receiving end of a few questions by the law regarding my photography.

I'm not expecting every police officer to know their cameras but I doubt a would-be terrorist would use a Leica that costs an arm and a leg, and clearly looks like a camera over a high quality camera phone which is more inconspicuous.