How do you swap lenses on your camera? Discuss on the forum!
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Hello, my name is Chris Marquardt and am the host of this show. Often referred to as TFTTF, Tips from the Top Floor is the free audio and video show about all things photography. Learn about image composition, post processing and more, it's like a free photo workshop!
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Hi Chris,
congratulations to your new headquater
bye
Christian
Hi Chris,
I like the video podcast, thanks. Just one thing, you mentioned changing your lens in the shower if you are paranoid. Well, I tried this and sure enough I did not get any dust on the sensor. Took ages to dry out the camera though.
Thanks
Patrick
Hi Chris,
In this session, you mentioned the name of the program which you created those flashy backgrounds. I think you said videoQ. Am I right?
Do they have any homepage?
Love your podcast.
Cheers
Simon
Another improvement! Wow. The chromakey background looks great.
hi chris, I like your video podcasts a lot. I have the same question as simon above: the link for the background program? thanks.
It’s actually Videocue to the best of my knowledge.
I’m assuming this is it, but this is a guess:
http://www.varasoftware.com/products/videocue/
Thanks Chris for a great podcast. This videoCue looks like fun program. I saw that it is a Mac program. Is there any equivalant for PC?
Cheers
Peter
PS: Thanks Lee for posting the link
Hey Chris,
I loved this episode! Very cool. You looked like a news anchor at the beginning with the nametag bar and everything
Chris, You had me fooled about the back drop for about a second! I’m loving the video podcast!! Of Course I would still be a faithfull viewer/listener even if we didn’t get to see your pretty face once a week!!! haha!! Take care Chris
Happy Shooting!
John H
Lacey, WA
Great video podcast Chris. The background had me fooled for about 2 seconds - I nearly wrote to you to suggest chroma key after the last podcast, but decided you probably didn’t have time for that kind of stuff. I’m glad I was wrong; good job!
One question though - about turning the shower on to take dust out of the air. Isn’t it a bad idea to fill your camera with air at 100% humidity? Won’t this make any dust that is already in the camera stick to the sensor?
Sorry, Chris, but your latest video shows the absolute worst lens changing technique in history!
You should NOT change lenses like Chris shows. Never hold two lenses in the same hand when changing. Never loosen the lens and not remove it from the camera body. It’s a recipe for disaster.
You should change lenses by holding the camera body in one hand, the lens in the other. Use your thumb or forefinger on the hand holding the lens to depress the lens release button and twist the lens off all in one smooth motion.
Set that lens down.
Pick up the new lens. Attach it.
You should hold the camera body so the lens mount is facing down to help keep dust/debris out of the body of the camera.
Once you get used to this technique you can change lenses without even looking at the camera.
There was a good post on the strobist website about this technique last year. Look for the June 19th post.
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006_06_01_archive.html
I can post a video of the proper technique if people want.
Todd
p.s. I feel so strongly about this I am posting this in both the equipment board and show board.
Todd, I appreciate your feedback, but I don’t necessarily agree with what you wrote. I have used this lens swapping technique for about 20 years, and I have never dropped a lens (at least not during swapping lenses this way). I also mentioned that it takes practise. I’m not saying mine is the best technique (in fact I expect that there are about as many lens swapping techniques as there are photographers), but it is certainly a way that has worked very well for me and has never lead to any issues.
Chris,
A major problem with your technique is that it does not allow for larger lenses. It’s hard, if not darn near impossible, to swap a large lens with a small one or even two large lenses using your technique.
On a completely different topic and to keep things friendly, I really like the new background effect. It looks much more professional although I did not mind all the clutter. I like to see what’s “behind the scenes.”
Cheers!
On that point I fully agree with you. I wouldn’t want to swap my (quite bulky and heavy) 80-200/2.8L this way
Sorry Chris I must agree with Todd.
Holding the downwards is a must while swapping lenses.
I also make sure I blow off the back of the lense i’m mounting prior to mounting as it prevents introducing more dust.
Cheers for now Nige
Nigel, not sure I understand what you mean to be held down. The opening of the camera or the lens? I suggest you read the following article with regards to understanding dust, and how it is affected by gravity:
http://www.prime-junta.net/pont/How_to/a_Brush_Your_Sensor/a_Brush_Your_Sensor.html?page=2
Cheers,
Chris
(differnt Todd than the one who posted above)
Chris,
Love the video podcast!
I was going to make the same general comment that the other Todd did about holding the camera face down when swapping lenses.
I was taught that very early on in my SLR days and was a little shocked not to see you do it. On the other hand you also only hade the opening exposed for a few seconds at most.
Not sure if I have the guts to do two lenses at once in one hand.
None the less keep up the great work. I just came back to TFTTF after taking a break from podcatchingfor a while and am sorry I stopped. This is in my top 3 favs!
I was told it helps if you turn the camera off whilst faces it downward and before changing lenses. The dust will be less likely to be atracted to the sensors electromagnetic charges if turned off.
Cool backdropd by the way
nige
I’m not particularly amused with mixing audio and video podcasts. Not everyone owns a 5G iPod with video. Of course, you’re free to organize your podcast feed(s) anyway you like, but I’d rather have a separate feed for the audio and video, if you don’t mind.
Otherwise, I enjoy your podcast (both video and audio) immensely and always learn a lot from the tips, although I’m not a professional photographer. Nevertheless, even non-pros want to take better photos, don’t they?
Long time listener, first time caller.
Chris: “I have used this lens swapping technique for about 20 years, and I have never dropped a lens (at least not during swapping lenses this way).”
I hope that studio has some wood in it, because I’d be knocking heavily on it!
I guess I am another that was amazed at your technique.
For me it is body facing down, loosen cap on lens going on, thumb hits the release on the body, lens off, rocket blower to lens going on, and on.
Dust is going to happen no matter what. The most frightening part of your demo of a lens change was balancing the lens on the rear cap, while unscrewed! That is probably about the most unstable way of setting a lens down.
Thanks for doing what you do!
First time posting to the comments here I think, but just finally got around to watching the vid since I only can listen to audio during the week.
I do not know if it’s the chroma key doing it, the lighting, or my computer but you looked like you suffered the same problem I do in the winter time
Pasty white/gray skin tone
I am two colors in the summer. Red, and White. I burn, peel, and go pasty white again.
You looked almost grey on my screen. I haven’t used my Colorvision Optical in a while but I’m wondering if the blue background hue changed your facial color a tiny bit?
Just curious.
I have found this online distributor of hand grips in the UK.
http://www.cameraclean.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Camera_Protection.html
£9.95 P&P (approx. 14.78 Euros)
Hey there - great video… I just purchased videocue pro… where didyou get that cool background from, does that come with it or did you just find a cool picture from the net?
thanks!