Damien Demolder
Tharg the Mighty
Reged: 22/08/2001
Posts: 959
Loc: Essex born and badly-bred
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What do you think of this week's 'How to get the best out of...' feature? Useful or not? If not, what would have made it better?
Thanks
damien
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See my photographs at www.wordsonpictures.com
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Wheelman
Reged: 23/11/2002
Posts: 814
Loc: Kent/Sussex border
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I don’t, at the moment, own a 40D but am seriously considering adding one to compliment my 5D, given the price at the moment.
I found the article useful, but do have some suggestions.
I personally would have liked perhaps a paragraph on how the camera performs with action shots because that's my main area of interest. For example, setting up shutter speed and drive modes, how quickly the buffer fills, performance (speed of operation) with RAW v jpg, which custom functions are useful, whether the battery pack is useful or a necessity. Perhaps also any pitfalls to avoid
The same could also be done with Landscape, Portrait/studio, Low light and Macro, which would hopefully cover most of the types of photography users will encounter.
Perhaps some reader feedback could be incorporated-for example I could give the basic settings, shutter speeds drive modes custom functions, I use for motorsport on the 5D. This would obviously only give a starting point but I would certainly find it useful where I try shots I don’t normally do, e.g. Macro, and it may even encourage me to try it out.
Well that’s my contribution for what its worth now all I have to do is decide whether to buy a 40D or wait and put the funds towards a 5D mkII 
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Colin
IRIPN
When you don't know where you are going then any road will do
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Damien Demolder
Tharg the Mighty
Reged: 22/08/2001
Posts: 959
Loc: Essex born and badly-bred
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Thanks Colin. That's really useful.
Anyone else?
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See my photographs at www.wordsonpictures.com
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Mr_Geoff
tog with no title
Reged: 11/01/2005
Posts: 2006
Loc: Essex
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Will have to wait until Tuesday before you get any comments from me, but I'm looking forward to reading it, W H Smiths permitting
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Geoff - My Flickr Page
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sjaszczak
A Real Gentleman
Reged: 08/06/2005
Posts: 1080
Loc: York
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Quote:
W H Smiths permitting
I too have to wait...but will share my opinions when I get my copy. I do have a few ideas of what I would have liked to see though...so I'll see if they've been included.
Interesting you should say that about WH Smiths actually...I was in York yesterday looking for a copy of the B&W special... went into Smiths but couldn't see it on the shelves. In a somewhat disgruntled fashion, I walked out to find another store.
Never did find a copy, so I went back to Smiths to have another look. Eventually, I found a couple of copies of AP hidden behind "Digital Photographer"!!!
Shocked!
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Steve
My Flickr
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Terrywoodenpic
A whiff of silicon...
Reged: 21/01/2006
Posts: 273
Loc: Saddleworth UK
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As a 40D user of Five months I did not find it that helpful.
There seemed to be very little if anything I had not already found out.
For this sort of article, I think your problem is going to be to set the correct level.
I am not sure such an article could suit every stage on the learning curve. The people most likely to gain from this are either the very new or prospective users.
Those further along the path will find little new of interest.
One way to find what you needed to cover on Canon cameras in particular, is to visit their site and see the questions actually being being asked.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=60&f=9
There are of course similar sites for all makes.
I think what I am saying is that the questions and answers need to be those that are asked by new users specifically about the camera in question.
Terry
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63 happy photo years from amateur to professional and back to amateur
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OneTen
'Two Breakfasts'
Reged: 23/06/2003
Posts: 2454
Loc: Devon
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I've also had my 40D for around 5 months and it was my first dSLR. It's been quite a steep learning curve but I love using the camera. I've read the article a few times now and like Terry, I didn't actually learn anything. Portions of the article refer to areas that don't interest me: I shoot RAW only, I use PSE rather than the Canon software. I think other points made are fairly basic 'this is what it can do' but as an owner I know this and that's what influenced my purchase.
I don't want to sound critical or negative about the article and in principle it's a great idea, but it left me unsure as to who was being targeted. The bells and whistles on cameras don't really interest me, I only want the basics and I guess most modern cameras have similar features, so I wonder where you can take this series.
I love the ability to have some customisation on the 40D, maybe it would be useful to take a handful of users and look at their customisation and the reasons behind it. I have 2 40Ds and both are customised the same except for the C1, C2, C3 settings, where one prioritises macro work the other telephoto.
Key accessories is also difficult to pin down and really depends on user requirements. With a long lens I find the battery grip essential but for macro work or wandering around town, I find it gets in the way and is too bulky.
Well done for trying something different. I did appreciate having the shutter release pointed out on page 24. 
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Richard .......... My Website - My Blog - My Flickr
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Terrywoodenpic
A whiff of silicon...
Reged: 21/01/2006
Posts: 273
Loc: Saddleworth UK
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I too do not use canon software I think those who already have a detailed work flow do not change very lightly.
I only use raw, and process in CS3and PTLens plug in. and file using IView.
I know there are advantages in the canon software for auto correcting CA vignetting and lens distortion as well as correcting for dust. But these are very easily accomplished in Photoshop. were these things available as plug ins, I certainly would be interested in using them.
One of the biggest pluses on the 40D are the customised C1, C2,C3, I only wish there were more of them.
Those that have not discovered their advantages , perhaps need a little help. Mine are used up with settings for Pans and exposure bracketing for use with Tufuse.
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63 happy photo years from amateur to professional and back to amateur
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beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 4463
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
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TBH I thought the article was a waste of space. It didn't do anything that the manual which comes with the 40D does at least as well, and is of limited use to anyone who isn't a 40D, or at least Canon DSLR, user.
I'd be more interested in "How to get the best out of..." if it was aimed at features like using the built-in flash, using auto focus modes etc. which are common to many cameras, rather than trying to be an improved workup of the manual - which is very difficult given the limited space.
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Mark101
addict
Reged: 15/03/2007
Posts: 513
Loc: Lincolnshire
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The Canon software is quite good, but I've recently switched to Elements 6. The article I feel was more in tune with potential buyers rather than actual owners of said camera such as myself.
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Cavyslave
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Benchista
Wich Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 36970
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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Quote:
The article I feel was more in tune with potential buyers rather than actual owners of said camera
Yes, I found it quite interesting to read to contrast with my 30D - in fact possibly more useful than a review in terms of thinking of upgrading or not.
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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Damien Demolder
Tharg the Mighty
Reged: 22/08/2001
Posts: 959
Loc: Essex born and badly-bred
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Thanks everyone, this is really useful feed back.
What would you have liked to have seen in an article like this?
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See my photographs at www.wordsonpictures.com
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OneTen
'Two Breakfasts'
Reged: 23/06/2003
Posts: 2454
Loc: Devon
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Quote:
What would you have liked to have seen in an article like this?
A very difficult question. Who are you trying to target with these articles? Experienced photographers? New users with no previous dSLR knowledge? Everyone?
From my perspective, I'm comfortable using the camera and became familiar with it very quickly, I suppose I called on previous experience as a film user (30 years man and boy). I've learnt to use it by using it. Sorry, I've not been of any help.
Your question has got me thinking about why I read AP and it's not actually to learn anything, it's simply because I enjoy it. Learning something is a bonus.
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Richard .......... My Website - My Blog - My Flickr
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Terrywoodenpic
A whiff of silicon...
Reged: 21/01/2006
Posts: 273
Loc: Saddleworth UK
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I suppose the main reason I take the AP is to be entertained.
There was a time in the 40's when I bought it to learn; for a long period after that, my main interest was the multitude of small adds and new products. These days it is mostly to keep up to date with products and be entertained. I find thatI am usually a little ahead of the newer techniques that you publish, but you often put a different slant on things. This is a good way for me to think things through.
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I reread the 40D article again last night, and it still did not quite gel. I am still not sure who it is aimed at.
The 40D is an enthusiasts camera, but is also one that can be used by a novice. I suspect the enthusiast is somewhat put off and irritated by the inclusion of all the entry level controls; just as the novice is puzzled by all the advanced ones.
However sales volumes are important so we must put up with these things.
Herein is your problem ... such a camera is targeted at, bought and used by two very different groups of people with very different skill levels and needs.
At the moment the two sets of information are mixed together, and seemingly are trying to find a common denominator that does not exist.
This is the problem with the 40D manual, it is far to complex for a rank beginner, but gives no explanations as to why anyone might want the more advanced features.
They have the excuse of course, that it is not a teaching guide.
This is where you article should fill in... with far more why things are needed and the advantages... rather than just the how to do it's; which are mostly covered in the manual.(however opaquely).
The basic features on all DSLR's are virtually the same, so perhaps going over any of them again, for every camera, would not be that useful.
Perhaps it would have been better to have had a couple of introductory articles. The first covering the common basics and the second the common advanced features.
Then giving only new or unique elements in the camera specific follow-up articles. with an emphasis on Why? and the advantages/disadvantages, over what went before.
Sorry about the ramble...
Terry
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63 happy photo years from amateur to professional and back to amateur
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TallPaul
newbie
Reged: 28/03/2008
Posts: 27
Loc: Berkshire
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I thought the concept was interesting, although I am not speaking from the position of a 40D owner, more from the perspective of how useful it would be when you got around to the Sony A700 if the series continued (assuming Nikon came second and Olympus was in there somewhere).
I think as others have noted that you needed more detail to really grab people who the article was intended for, who want to know more about in-depth use of that camera and model. The challenge with this is of course you are trying to provide an article, not a write a book on how to use the camera!
I think what may work better as a concept would perhaps be a typical day out with a camera, and then how a particular camera could be used to get the most from that situation. Then again this can overlap with review material, like Angela Nicholons good real-life shots of a hockey team in a recent review, but does provide less "brochure-like" reading as a format.
I think the main danger is that you don't wander into a format where it look like a multi-page advert for that product.
I have a Konica Minolta 5D and a selection of lenses in a-mount including some Sony lenses, although I should make clear I like to clearly define myself as someone who thinks the camera takes a nice picture rather than someone who holds an almost fanatical regard for their choice of brand!
Its already frustrating that the a-mount is often left out of group reviews, this weeks Macro lens test for example, or last weeks comparison between the Canon 40D, 5D and Nikon D300 where I would have been delighted to have seen a comparison with the Sony A700.
If the series just continues with the mainstream products from Canon and Nikon I can see it being a negative point for me. I think if the series went on and covered a wider selection than your usual reviews, such as Sony or the 4/3rds manufacturers it could be very interesting to read.
The 4/3rds systems for example often read as interesting, especially as they are smaller than APS-C or even full frame technology. A real world article on using one of these cameras would make interesting reading, even for those that would never consider switching brands or mounts, and I would assume that interesting reading for most of your reader base would be more attractive than a specific subset such as a particular model.
Just my to cents anyway. I read the article in detail and it was interesting, even as a non-Canon owner, but having put it down I am left with no lasting impression of how I would get the best from a 40D if I picked one up tomorrow.
Paul
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Angela Nicholson
AP Technical Editor
Reged: 07/02/2006
Posts: 142
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Don't worry we do plan to cover models from all the major manufacturers
Angela
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