Sunday, November 6th, 2011 @ 09:30am | Author: Ashley
I’ve had my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens for over one month now, so I thought I’d let you know how it’s going!
First of all, the camera I use this lens on is a Canon 450D (EOS Rebel XSi). And the lens itself is dirt cheap at about $100 — I couldn’t pass up trying it!
Now I’ve read A LOT of reviews about A LOT of cameras & lenses – on forums, camera sites, Amazon, etc. It gets tiring, because each one is the same — there’s a good chunk that love it, a chunk that hates it, a chunk that thinks the price was good (and another that thought it to be too pricey), ones that always use it, ones that used it once and never again… You get the picture. Which is exactly my point – where are the actual photographs taken with these lenses & cameras?! I absolutely LOVE that people can upload their photos to Amazon. It puts everything I need at my fingertips — information, cost, reviews, & most importantly EXAMPLES!
So while I may throw in some specs or opinions, I’d like to let the lens speak for itself. Here are a batch of the photos I’ve taken with the 50mm in the past month:
(click each for larger image)
50mm | ISO 400 | 1/50 sec at f/2.0 | SooC*
*Straight out of the Camera (no editing other than resize/watermark) – examples
The very first photo I took with the lens was about 9:30p, in very low light, of my car key on my bedside dresser. The key was on the very edge, and in the background on the left is a glass on a coaster – only about 5 inches behind the key. It was a quick snapshot – my hands were a little shaky – so the photo easily blurred in the low light, but it wasn’t extremely blurred. An excellent low-light lens.
 50mm | ISO 800 | 1/8 sec at f/1.8 | SooC |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/250 sec at f/4.5 |
 50mm | ISO 400 | 1/50 sec at f/2.0 |
 50mm | ISO 400 | 1/50 sec at f/2.0 |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/60 sec at f/2.2 |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/50 sec at f/2.0 | SooC |
 50mm | ISO 160 | 1/4000 sec at f/1.8 | SooC |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/500 sec at f/6.3 | SooC |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/60 sec at f/2.2 | SooC |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/200 sec at f/4.0 |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/200 sec at f/4.0 |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/200 sec at f/4.0 |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/250 sec at f/4.5 |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/250 sec at f/4.5 |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/80 sec at f/2.5 | SooC |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/125 sec at f/3.2 | SooC |
 50mm | ISO 800 | 1/25 sec at f/1.8 | SooC |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/50 sec at f/1.8 | SooC |
 50mm | ISO 640 | 1/50 sec at f/2.0 | SooC |
 50mm | ISO 400 | 1/50 sec at f/2.0 | SooC |
 50mm | ISO 400 | 1/50 sec at f/2.0 | SooC |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/2000 sec at f/13 | SooC |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/250 sec at f/4.5 |
 50mm | ISO 200 | 1/500 sec at f/6.3 |
So if you’re a Canon user and considering a new lens, I definitely recommend this one! Although it’s a prime lens, it’s great for a walking-around lens – small and lightweight, and able to capture your “on the fly” photos rather well (it’s quite speedy, and again I say, great in low light). And it’s CHEAP! haha :)
RESOURCES:
Amazon
Google Shopping
Saturday, November 5th, 2011 @ 04:48pm | Author: Ashley
Good afternoon! It is a beautiful day here in Metro Detroit – bright sunny skies, warm temperatures (for November anyways), crisp smokey smells… I’m a little behind on regularly posting it seems. Halloween seemed to creep up, then it was the boyfriend’s birthday, and today I helped stack a few loads of firewood for the boyfriend’s family. I’ve been busy without actually being busy it seems.
Anyways, this week I’d like to share with you some shots I snapped of my mom’s delicious homemade bruschetta!
Now, I don’t know the recipe, but I do know that she chopped up vine tomatoes, onions, and cilantro and mixed with balsamic vinaigrette and fresh mozzarella. We toasted French bread in the toaster oven and poured the tomato mixture over. Oh so delicious!
Saturday, October 29th, 2011 @ 09:00am | Author: Ashley
I have a terrible history with my jewelry. I always seem to break it or lose it. I am notorious for having one earring per set in the hopes that the second may appear years down the road… Now that I’ve started making earrings, it’s not so bad – I can repair broken stuff, or disassemble a lone earring to make something completely new. But the culprit is really a poor storage system. I have no consistency – I throw things in my bag, in drawers, on tables, in cups, on the floor… No wonder!, right?
Well, I finally bought a little something something to push me in the right direction. At Michael’s, jewelry stands were on sale, so I picked up these funky stands xD
So far, they’re already helping tremendously — I’m not wearing the same jewelry simply because it’s all I can find! And I feel that I’ll be less likely to break anything if it’s up and out of the way. Yay! Finally! ;)
Friday, October 28th, 2011 @ 09:14pm | Author: Ashley
I spent some of today getting back in touch with my jewelry-making skills. While they may be at a beginner level, I still enjoy it. I’ve made solely earrings it seems though. To me, earrings can change your entire look. You can be wearing a somewhat grubby outfit, but don some elegant dangling silver earrings, and you instantly play it up. Goes both ways — Dress down fancy garb with some funky studs.
Anyways, while I was making a pair for myself to wear out tonight, my sister rummaged through my beads and oohed and ahhed (and spilt a container of star beads all over – can you tell we’re related?). So I took an earring I had just started and modified to include some things she mentioned, and came up with the following pair:
So I thought I’d finally share a bit of the jewelry I make before I head out for the night. I hope you all enjoy your weekend!
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011 @ 03:44pm | Author: Ashley
I’ve spent the last day immersed in my collection of yarn, trying to figure SOMETHING out to do with it all. I’d pick up one skein, chain a bunch of loops, start an imaginary project, then unravel it all. I must of done this at least a dozen times.
Finally, I just “went with it.” I took two yarns, Red Heart’s Super Saver & Sensations Cello, and chained a length of about maybe 8 inches or so, and double crocheted up. I had NO IDEA what I was going to make…
When I got to a height of probably about twelve or fourteen inches, I was running out of Cello yarn, so I had to figure something out to do with my little swatch. I folded it in half, and single crocheted up the sides to make a pouch/purse. I figured I could crochet a strap, and have my mom sew in a liner.
Well, me being the goon that I am, I stuck the purse on my head. Voila! Instant hat with faux ears!
In other news, it’s quite the shitty day. It’s shitty outside, it’s shitty inside, I’m bored, I’m cranky. poooo. I need a pick-me-up badly.
Saturday, October 22nd, 2011 @ 08:45pm | Author: Ashley
Yes, before you ask, I am aware that I’m posting Saturday’s S&T technically on Sunday… This week, I’m sharing a few items I have bedside:
- The November 2011 issue of Vogue ♥
- Crayons from Germany, brought home from my dad’s past work visit. He’s back in Germany as of Saturday, and I miss him terribly already.
- A photo of my sister & I on the beach, likely in Florida, as kids. I found this photo in this frame in a box in the basement, and I LOVE it.
Sunday, October 16th, 2011 @ 08:37pm | Author: Ashley
Last Thursday, the boy found a tree frog out on the minis, and we couldn’t help but get him to pose for a few pics: (click for larger images)
I love that he brings me miscellaneous creatures to photograph – frogs, turtles, snakes… It was, however, a poisonous frog, so I didn’t play with it haha
Saturday, October 15th, 2011 @ 01:38pm | Author: Ashley
Well, unfortunately, I don’t seem to be in much of a sharing mood… And, I don’t have my usual resources at my disposal currently, so I’m taking a different approach to my S&T this week.
Once upon a time, I spent quite a few hours leafing through the vast abyss that is Tumblr. I’ve found some great time-passers over there, and one is image quotes – sites that take a variety of images, and overlay quotes, phrases, lyrics, and more over them. Some are uplifting, sombering, depressing, cheery, or just plain fun. So I’d like to share a few with you:
There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable.
I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you.
When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live life.
Has it all gone to waste, all the promises we made?
The moment you stop loving is the moment you stop living.
Beauty can be seen in all things. Seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph.
Happiness is the result of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it. And sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly.
Just because you don't see my pain doesn't mean it's not there.
You shouldn't miss people who don't miss you, right?
Do you remember when you said you'd never forget this?
Click each individual image to go to its original post on Tumblr.
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011 @ 11:57am | Author: Ashley
Yesterday was one of my two days off of the week, and I planned on spending it “doing nothing” – no work! :D It seems like it’s been ages since my guy and I have actually had a day off together, and for about four days straight, we looked forward to sleeping in ^.^ And sleep in, we did, haha. It was only until like 11a, but whatever; it was fantastic. Beyond just sleeping in, we didn’t make any solid plans; we went with the flow, and it made for a peaceful day off.
After we woke up, we went for a bit of a hike. We stumbled through brush, over dead logs, and cut through vines, to momentously reach our destination — the highest point in Oakland County. It was so beautiful and so serene. A camera couldn’t capture the moment. But I took some photos of the scenery nonetheless.
Unfortunately, I guess this spot is on the property of a monastery and belongs to monks, so I don’t foresee picnicking here anytime soon ;)
Sunday, October 9th, 2011 @ 10:30am | Author: Ashley
So last Saturday, I shared about some soap I bought at the flea market. Well, I never actually elaborated on the trip itself. SO, my good friend Daniel and I visited the Dixieland flea market last Saturday, and I’d like to share a few of the sights we beheld :)
(1) Vintage cameras, including a gorgeous Minolta. (2) Vintage bottles and cans. (3) Glassware. Interesting tidbit about the seller of this glassware? She’s a rude bitch. (4) Fabulous dragon and faery items throughout the market. (5) Mason jars = love. (6) Old school Pepsi bottles! (7) Some of the soap I purchased. (8) Good ol’ Daniel sporting a Mickey hat ^.^
