Tasmanian holiday

[lloyd]

I'm heading off to Tasmania for a couple of week's touring, and it'll be the first time with my DSLRs (Nikon D50 and a Samsung GX-10).

Just wondered if anyone had any advice on how to get the most out of my gear for the scenery.

For instance, I've got a couple of lenses - Sigma 18-200 for the Samsung, and Nikkor 50m prime and 18-70m for the Nikon. What would be best for good landscapes? Any advice on creative use of the 50m prime (by far the sharpest)?

Cheers,

Lloyd

[steinr98]

For the most part- use the widest angle for your landscape shots. This will give the best photos. Remember you can make panoramas really easy, put your camera into manual mode and manual focus, (after taking a reading using the camera on auto) and then take 2-5 shots turning the top of your body only and then overlap each picture about 20-25 %- keep your horizon straight. Most software can stitch these photos together to make a panorama.
You will find the telephoto shots are not used all that much unless you want to zoom in on people here or there. The 50mm is ok if you can get close for a shot. Most tourists want a wide angle shot to include more. You will find changing lenses all the time a pain- keep different lenses on the two cameras so you don't have to change often- especially for the sake of dirt getting in!!!

[MarcelLuettmann]

Which lens suits you most depends on your shooting style. I do use the whole range of my FZ30 (35-420 mm) even in landscapes. Don't forget, there's wildlife, too. Or an interesting shed at the other end of the meadow. Or...
More important, get organized. Take a look at the "60 great short walks" ( http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/recreation/shortwalks/ ). We did 20 of them, and most were really great. (But maybe you're even into the longer walks - there are a couple of tracks that take several days.)
Within forests, you better rely on RAW to get the most out of the contrasty scenes you stumble into in them.

Enjoy Tassie. It's a really beautiful part of Australia.
(And don't miss the ghost tour at Port Arthur!)

Marcel

[willow]

Have to agree that the wide angle lens you will find most useful.
I've just returned from a trip to the Amazon and took multi lenses
with me, yet mainly stuck with a 28-135mm for the majority of time
as my main carry around.

Have a Fabulous time!