Stefan Tornau Photography

__Learn >> Tips

What camera to buy?

Often I get this question: Currently I recommend the 60D and the 550D depending on your budget - both links below ( just click on the camera). Check Photo Gulf near Dhow round about, Carrefour or Salam "Rip Off" Plaza. Best deal is online or DXB if you have someone there.
Click on the 60D or 550D (T2i) to get to their page and see specs and price. The 60 D is more mature one of the latest cameras launched by canon, has a more robust body and more mature in your hands. The 60D has the latest specification and is great valley for money.

Remember if you have $2000 to spend get a camera for $ 800 and a quality lens for $ 1200.

Canon vs. Nikon - which one?

It's a common question that comes up very frequently. It is almost as simple as Coke or Pepsi. You like one you stick to one or you been shooting Nikon you will stay with Nikon. However I have seen Nikon photographers who converted to Canon. I have seen photographers who like both.

ISO/Aperture/Shutter Speed:
In order to take pictures in manual mode with full control over the camera you need to be able to work with ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed. With a Canon camera you can adjust all parameters while keeping your eye on the view finder and with your right hand only!

With a Nikon you need to take your camera down away from your eye and work with both hands … and so with most other brands.

Mirror lock up.
A function every canon has and most other brands owner wish to have

What more to say beside the specification and picture quality are almost equal and in some comparison the Nikon or Canon cameras are better but bottom line is that the canon are more user friendly.

I am a Canon guy and I recommend Canon because I think especially for beginners the important functions are very easy accessible and all models come with a proper mirror lock up for long exposures you can control and not a delayed shutter release function with fixed time.

These two companies were the first to make the leap from film to digital, and their initial presence in the market make them the dominant players. Today Canon and Nikon constantly battle for the top spot in the SLR market depending on the region but generally Canon has the greater market share with 53%, while Olympus, Pentax and Sony duke it out for a position in third.

From my past 100 Students see what cameras they use:

58 Canon, 29 Nikon, 6 Sony, 4 Panasonic, 2 Olympus, 1 Pentax

What Tripod to buy

Almost everyone is asking me "what tripod to buy".
Check out this video to get some info. I should stress not to purchase too small and too weak tripod >> get a reasonable tall, strong and robust tripod - there is always wind and you would hate having camera shake coz your tripod is too weak.

Most time you be driving your tripod anyway so weight should not be such a big concern but if you do lots of hiking and carrying your tripod perhaps you want to invest into a strong carbon-fiber unit.

My personal preference is a ball head Vanguard Alta Pro 264AT and my Velbon Monopod

Click to learn how to use a tripod
Click for another short video on purchasing guide

Protect your lens with a filter (Clear, Skylight or UV filter)

The advertised purpose of a Skylight or UV filter is to cut atmospheric haze by absorbing ultraviolet light. But there’s another, more important reason to have a UV or Skylight filter on every lens you own: It protects the valuable front glass element of your lens. If you were to bump your lens against something and it gets scratched, you’re stuck with it.

If you clean the front element of your lens carelessly or with the wrong material, coating could come off, or the lens could get scratched when you wipe it. Remember that lens elements tend to be a bit softer than filter glass, and therefore more prone to scratching.

If you’ve paid hundreds or thousands for the lens, and ruin the front element, you’re going to have to buy the whole thing again.

A Tiffen 55mm skylight filter costs around $10, and while the price can go up to over $100 for special sizes and added coatings, a typical filter will cost you $25 or less.

Spending $25 to protect a $300 or $1.500 lens should be a no-brainer.

So every lens I order I order a filter with it and as soon as I smell on my lens once I take it out of the box I place the filter on and I never had to clean the front element of my lens and in most cases the original factory coating is still on.

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I purchased most of my gear from this shop in the US. Let me know if you need some help with selecting items.