Why I no loger buy my camera gear online

I love the tech savvy world in which we live for many reasons but one of my favourite things would have to be that ability to buy nearly anything with the click of a button. I have bought everything from vintage cigar boxes to gazebo umbrellas using online shopping and 97% of the time I am happy with my purchase - especially the number at the end of the dollar sign. Now I consider myself to be pretty good at doing my research before purchasing from sites especially international ones. Some of the key things that I look for before making a purchase are is the store legitimate, are the products in good/new condition and the big one are the products genuine/authentic brands? Another big question (with a couple of spin offs) is does this item have a warranty/guarantee and if so how do I redeem it if I have a problem, where do I send it and at whose expense?

Many websites say they're Australian/Australian owned but if you go through and have a look at the fine print more often then not the company is based overseas usually somewhere like Hong Kong or China where knock offs are abundant. Just because the company say they are selling "genuine" products does not mean they are genuine distributors for that company. I often hear "It all comes from the same factory just a different label." now it may come from the same factory but that doesn't mean the parts are the same.

We have a family friend who does the electrical side of things for a large building company and they sent him to Hong Kong to inspect and choose what parts to order. He was taken to a large factory and presented with containers in front of him filled with parts, for each item they had three-four "identical" types each varying in price - same factory, same look, DIFFERENT quality. And sometimes they don't even bother with the parts to make it look authentic - some just have the audacity to sell you junk and there isn't anything you can do about it.

Now why as an avid online shopper am I personally against buying my camera gear off the Internet/Internet based companies? Simple answered I've been burned - by more then one site.
There are a couple of experiences I've had with filers for lenses all looking like they were the real deal until you use them or have a very close look and realise you may as well use them for drink coasters because the quality is atrocious especially when it comes to polarizers. The worst experience I have had is with a flash unit that I bought from overseas it would last about five shots and then die but that differences weren't just mechanical, when I had a chance to look at a genuine model next to my import the difference in quality was notable even from the outside including screen colouring. When I emailed the company in regards to mechanical warranty I was informed they would have to check it out but the only way for that to happen was for me to post it back to them registered post at my own expense (over $100) - it simply wasn't worth it.

I want to clarify there is a difference between shopping from an online store like eglobal digital and shopping from a tangible store that has an online option such as camera pro or teds.

I can't say I wasn't warned about shopping online for camera gear but as a 23yr old with all my infinite wisdom I clearly knew better - WRONG! I had even heard other stories but I figured I had done my research and I'm sure xyz from Hong Kong only has my best interests at heart and was really just trying to help save my bank account. When it comes to online camera gear there is a direct correlation between price and quality.

So at the end of the day I'll continue to buy my nik naks and iPhone covers from online but if I want quality and reliability I'll head on down to the camera store and save myself the money in the long run.

Soda Bubbles

This is my how to on shooting soda bubbles. Once again with all photography there are many ways in which to capture an image and this is simply the way that worked for me.

Let's start with my equipment list:

- Nikon D90

- 105mm Nikkor lens

- Circular Polariser

- Tripod

- Strong string

- Cable shutter release

- Large Bowl

- Cold, generic soda water

- Table

- Strawberries

- Toothpick

Next up let's have a look at my reasons for using this equipment.

The Nikon D90 is a DSLR camera which gives me greater control of my settings and in this shoot I shot on manual which enabled me to decide shutter speed, aperture, ISO and exposure. I also used the cable release to help counter any hand shake and so I could reach the strawberry with my other hand.

The 105mm lens was my choice as it is a Macro lens which gives me the ability to get up close and gain the real detail in the strawberry and bubbles.

The circular polariser is used to remove the reflection from the water and allow me to just see the strawberry and bubbles without glare it also can help to make the colours richer.

The tripod and strong string go together in allowing me to have the camera parallel to the bowl. I use the string to counter balance the tripod by tieing it to my pool fence.

I used a large bowl on a table so I could put my hand in the bowl without it being seen to hold the strawberry in place with the toothpick.

I found hot soda to have less of a "bubble" effect compared to cold soda.

Let's see how to set up this equipment and the settings I used. I will give an explanation of my camera settings also.

I started by finding a well lit area. I chose to do this outdoors under the corner of our verandah so that I had natural light coming in but no light directly over the bowl to help reduce glare. I put the bowl on a small table so I could stand in a comfortable position. I set my tripod to the side and extended the head over the bowl. I filled the bowl with soda water before putting my camera on (if you fill it whilst you camer is over it cover you lens to protect it from the fizzing water). I stuck a toothpick in the strawberry and had it ready to go.

I then set my camera up by putting my 105mm lens on with it's polariser, inserted my cable release, turned VR off and put it on my tripod.

I then fired a couple of test shots off whilst on aperture priority to see the results, which I wasn't happy with. I then switched to manual mode and found that the settings that worked for me at this point were ISO 800, f/6.3, 1/100s with AF-A no exposure compensation and since I shoot in RAW and J-peg knowing I would use the RAW file I also had AWB.

So why THESE settings?

Firstly you need to know that the weather wasn't ideal for outdoor shooting with plenty of cloud around which brought a lot of shade but still had some nice natural light - so to compensate for the lack of direct light my ISO went to 800. I knew I wanted to get as many bubbles in focus as possible but I didn't want the table/floor coming through over the images and so I set my aperture at f/6.3. Now for my shutter speed I needed something that was quick enough to compensate for any hand movement whilst I was holding the strawberry but also let enough light in so my image wasn't too dark. I had the added benefit that once the bubbles settled they weren't moving too fast so I didn't need a higher shutter speed. I used AF-A on my camer over AF-C as I found that if the macro was constantly trying to focus it would often go out of focus and take a bit more to get it right.

Now you know my set up, my justification and my settings - how did I get this shot?

Using the strawberry with the toothpick in it, I held the other end of the toothpick and rotated it so it would be out of shot and the strawberry would be qall you saw. Looking through the view finder I positioned the strawberry where I needed it, gave it a shake to attract some bubbles and then grabbed my cable release and clicked away!

That is how I did the shot at the top of this blog and I hope this helps you to capture the image you're looking for.

Left to right - Complete set up. Lens with polariser and cable release. Strawberry with toothpick 

 Left to right - Counter weighted. Lens settings

HAPPY SHOOTING!