What is solution for the "Lens Shadow" with Ultrawide Lens??

[Natescavich]

Hello all, my first post, bought my first SLR yesterday!

I will be taking a lot of real estate pictures, and want them to look as professional as possible. Not too concerned about image quality since they will just be posted online. So I just bought a Nikon D40 with a Sigma 10-20mm lens, and find that at anything below 17mm, there is a shadow created in the picture where the lens blocks the flash. I think I definitely need to have a flash, as all of the pictures I've tried without flash don't give the look I am after.

I am seeing lots of possible solutions:

- A diffuser for the camera flash
- A camera mounted flash (SB-600)
- A diffuser for the camera mounted flash
- An external flash

Which of these options is best just for taking good wide angle indoor shots? Please keep in mind, I am on a budget!

Thanks!

[night86mare]

there is a simpler option

get a tripod, and learn how to do long exposures.

[ombre]

I take it that you're some sort of real estate agent advertising for the home you're selling?

If yes, I support nightmare's opinion.

Tripod + longer shutter. In fact, you can even skip a tripod if you're really lazy... you can just find something around the house and lay your camera on it, a chair... a ladder...

And you can take it a step further to do some HDR if you want to put across a better picture, or an 'artistic impression' look. Go find out what HDR is. =)

[jtsky]

Hi, if u really need to use flash, use an external flash.

[ortega]

3 options for you

1. a tripod
2. an external flash (bounced)
3 both a tripod and an external flash (bounced)

a tripod only will give you the ambient light (long exposure)
an external flash will give you your image you want but with the lights coming from the top and kill the ambient light
the combination of a tripod and bounced flash will give you light coming from the top and the glow of the ambience light

so it is your choice

[Shin Howard]

+1 for external flash unit.

[Daedalus Trent]

i think an external flash'll do the trick

diffusing the built-in flash ain't gona help at all

[jpgutierrez18]

If you decide to use external flashes, you can go a step further by using them off-shoe and play with color gels.

Can use CLS if you have Nikon gears.

[Blur Shadow]

Long exposures will do the trick. If you do intend to purchase a tripod, find some creative way to support the camera, such as a placing it on a portable table or something.

Otherwise, bouncing the flash off the ceiling will be another solution.

The results will differ, so if you are unsure, you'd have to experiment.

[chisiang]

for real estate, be it bungalows or HDB, it will be a disaster to use flash.

either you do what nightmare suggested using longer exposure, or you set up multiple lights (or strobe)

Should you decide to use an external flash, try to bounce it off the ceiling.

As for "look as professional as possible", um... the moment you lash out your D40, your client will most likely think "my camera is better I think"

[clioboy]

u can also take the photo with the camera upside down..it works for me on my 10-22mm with decent results.

[rexlim]

Originally Posted by clioboy u can also take the photo with the camera upside down..it works for me on my 10-22mm with decent results.

Wouldn't the shadow be on top this time?

[LittleWolf]

Originally Posted by Natescavich want them to look as professional as possible. Not too concerned about image quality

Huh? Does not compute.

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by Natescavich want them to look as professional as possible. Not too concerned about image quality since they will just be posted online.

you could have been better off by buying a point and shoot cam..

[J-Chan]

Originally Posted by clioboy u can also take the photo with the camera upside down..it works for me on my 10-22mm with decent results.

thats if there's no ceiling, since the shadow would be casted onto the sky..

[Natescavich]

Wow I didn't realize my shiny new D40 would get so much criticism . I understand it is a budget SLR, but for taking pictures that will be viewed online I can't tell the difference. Maybe when zooming in to the raw images......also for whoever said I might be better with a P&S, the whole reason I bought the SLR was for the wide angle lens. Can't get below the equivalent of 28mm with a P&S.

When I said I don't care too much about quality, it just meant that since the images will be viewed on a real estate website, probably 1-2 MP is enough to get the resolution I need. What I do care about is composition and lighting and getting rid of the big lens shadow.

I like the answers telling me to just use a longer exposure, I fooled around with that last night and got some good results. If there are any other nuggets of wisdom for photographing indoor settings for real estate please let me know!

[geraldkhoo]

your best bet is really longer exposures. if you use flash, it may not illuminate the area you are taking well enough, and may end up needing multiple flashes at different positions to light the room properly. get a tripod that can hold the D40 + lens (i bought one at Challenger at $25 that can hold that weight), and you are all set!

[ombre]

Originally Posted by Natescavich Wow I didn't realize my shiny new D40 would get so much criticism . I understand it is a budget SLR, but for taking pictures that will be viewed online I can't tell the difference. Maybe when zooming in to the raw images......also for whoever said I might be better with a P&S, the whole reason I bought the SLR was for the wide angle lens. Can't get below the equivalent of 28mm with a P&S. When I said I don't care too much about quality, it just meant that since the images will be viewed on a real estate website, probably 1-2 MP is enough to get the resolution I need. What I do care about is composition and lighting and getting rid of the big lens shadow. I like the answers telling me to just use a longer exposure, I fooled around with that last night and got some good results. If there are any other nuggets of wisdom for photographing indoor settings for real estate please let me know!

Do simple HDRs with your long exposures... it will give a look somewhat close to what artistic impressions engineers often draw for their clients.

[shunzi]

+1 for longer exposes