And so it begins... - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

09/30/2004 05:39:40 PM · #27

Originally posted by PaulMdx:

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:
Paul, you said the Sigma 70-300, but others on this thread were talking about the Tamron 70-300

I didn't specifically mention one over the other.

Whoops, a friend pointed out that sounded stupid.. What I meant to say was, I didn't mean to mention one over the other, as I'm not sure of the differences..

Flash

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

09/30/2004 05:45:09 PM · #28

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Now that I have my digital rebel (w/ kit lens), I am trying to come up with a purchasing plan for accessories...could you guys help me out with recommendations for the stuff below and let me know whether it makes sense? I am looking forward to doing landscape and street photography, then some photojournalistic photos and would later like to learn studio techniques...

------------------------------------

To purchase (almost) immediately:

1. Starter Bag - Lowepro Nova series
2. Decent value tripod - Need your help with this one!
3. 512MB speedy card to add to my current collection of slow cards

To purchase over the next 6 months:

1. Battery grip
2. 70-200 f4 lens or equivalent
3. filters

To purchase over the next year:

1. Flash
2. 50mm portrait lens

And after that:

1. Photoshop CS - currently have PSE
2. Better range lens to replace kit lens.

What do you think, can you make any recommendations? Am I forgetting some things? What was your accumulation process?

Immediate category:
Lowepro or Delsey pro bags (by Manfrotto)
Manfrotto/Bogen Tripod
A pair of 256's will serve very well

Next 6 months category:
Have never need a battery grip
70-200 f/4 (there are other options - initially)
Filters are specific to the kind of photography you shoot

Next year category:
Flash is essential and should be moved up in timetable
50mm f/1.8 or 1.4 are great for indoors, consider moving up

Lenses are always the premium part of the package. Buy the very best when you can afford them.

Body
Lense
Media (flash card)
Gear bag
Support (tri/mono pod)
Flash (artificial light)
upgrades
upgrades
upgrades

PaulMdx

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

09/30/2004 06:07:32 PM · #29

Originally posted by Flash:

Flash is essential and should be moved up in timetable

May I ask why a flash is essential?

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/30/2004 06:29:35 PM · #30

I use a Manfrotto 055 Classic (black) with a Manfrotto 488RCO head. I would not get anything less (in the Manfrotto/Bogen line) for the setup discussed here, unless, of course, you decide to choose a different brand. To save money on a tripod or, worse, a tripod head is, really, not a good idea.

Flash

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

10/02/2004 11:57:15 AM · #31

Originally posted by PaulMdx:

Originally posted by Flash:
Flash is essential and should be moved up in timetable

May I ask why a flash is essential?

Paul,

I see from you profile page that you are an "event photographer". I trust that you use artificial light in a multitude of situations in your photography. Whether it be "fill" for shadows outdoors or a primary light source indoors. To answer your question specifically, to some photographers, a flash is not essential. To many others, it is. I obviously am from the "it is" camp. Whether it is holiday snapshots of the family or that once in a lifetime "flower" shot at dusk, a flash unit can make a big difference. I have even seen Professional Wildlife photographers use flash extenders to create a "glint" in the eye/s of birds and animals. Just some of the IMO essential uses.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/12/2004 03:51:52 PM · #32

So, it has begun.

I purchased my Lowepro Nova 4 bag at a local camera store and paid 79.99 (CAD) + taxes. I was then referred to this site by a dpc member, which was advertising the same bag for $55 (CAD). Since I was going to Montreal last weekend, I figured I would buy one there and return my other one. Well, I was ecstatic to find that someone had just returned the bag and since it was 'used' for about a week they were selling it for $40!

I'm very happy. I highly recommend Photocan...great people and great prices and they carry just about every photo bag you can think of!

Tripod purchase, here we come...

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/12/2004 04:28:02 PM · #33

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Now that I have my digital rebel (w/ kit lens), I am trying to come up with a purchasing plan for accessories...

Here is a recommendation...

This is hard but do not make any purchases until you discover through your photography with the equipment that you already have that you cannot take the images that you visualize in your mind.

Then, based on that, decide what else you need to purchase.

Great photographs are made by great photographers, not by great equipment.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

10/12/2004 04:48:01 PM · #34

Originally posted by stdavidson:

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:
Now that I have my digital rebel (w/ kit lens), I am trying to come up with a purchasing plan for accessories...

Here is a recommendation...

This is hard but do not make any purchases until you discover through your photography with the equipment that you already have that you cannot take the images that you visualize in your mind.

Then, based on that, decide what else you need to purchase.

Great photographs are made by great photographers, not by great equipment.

I understand that and I agree. The immediate purchases are those for which I have an immediate "need" (funny how we throw that word around without thinking about clean water, food and relationships).

Limitations are seen immediately. In order:

Bag helps me carry my stuff.
Tripod will help me photograph sunsets and 'studio' setups.
Memory card will help me not be stuck in Montreal with no memory, rationing my shots.

and so on and so forth...

Like most of our first photographic 'needs' they are simply conveniences, not necessarily needs which help me attain the photographs I'm visualizing.

Message edited by author 2004-10-12 16:49:15.

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

10/12/2004 04:51:28 PM · #35

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Originally posted by stdavidson:

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:
Now that I have my digital rebel (w/ kit lens), I am trying to come up with a purchasing plan for accessories...

Here is a recommendation...

This is hard but do not make any purchases until you discover through your photography with the equipment that you already have that you cannot take the images that you visualize in your mind.

Then, based on that, decide what else you need to purchase.

Great photographs are made by great photographers, not by great equipment.

I understand that and I agree. The immediate purchases are those for which I have an immediate "need" (funny how we throw that word around without thinking about clean water, food and relationships).

Limitations are seen immediately. In order:

Bag helps me carry my stuff.
Tripod will help me photograph sunsets and 'studio' setups.
Memory card will help me not be stuck in Montreal with no memory, rationing my shots.

and so on and so forth...

Like most of our first photographic 'needs' they are simply conveniences, not necessarily needs which help me attain the photographs I'm visualizing.

Just buy what you think you will need...borrow lenses etc from mates.

Try them before you buy them.

I still think you will need that battery grip sooner then you think, it is first on my buy list when I upgrade...just need to get money sorted so I can buy DSLR...whatever Canon model I can afford.

PaulMdx

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

10/12/2004 05:13:17 PM · #36

Originally posted by Flash:

Originally posted by PaulMdx:

Originally posted by Flash:
Flash is essential and should be moved up in timetable

May I ask why a flash is essential?

I trust that you use artificial light in a multitude of situations in your photography.

Actually I mostly shoot equestrian sports; I hardly ever use a flash.

Originally posted by Flash:

to some photographers, a flash is not essential.

That was my only point. I completely accept a flash is necessary in certain cases. Your blanket statement of a "Flash is essential", left me thinking 'Eh?!'. :-)

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

10/12/2004 05:26:42 PM · #37

Message edited by author 2004-10-20 09:54:38.

Gauti

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/12/2004 11:20:56 PM · #38

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

I think I'm going to skip the battery grip...I already have an extra battery and I took a bunch of photos in portrait orientation last night and it feels pretty comfortable as is...I'll probably use that cash to bump up the 50mm f1.8 as per several recommendations.

I got the battery grip right away, the camera doesn't feel right without it :)
Batterygrip and handstrap is a very comfortable setup, you can have the camera ready in your hand (even with a heavy lens) in a grip that feels very natural and far less strain on your arm, just hanging by your side. This is an easy way of walking with the camera in a situation where you want to be able to snap a few shot right away without fumbling for the camera on your neckstrap or carring it in your hand and get tremors.

The 2x battery capacity is very nice, I just keep a spare one handy if I run out of juice (happens very rarely).

The best thing about the handgrip is the extra "trigger" both for portrait and to hold out in your hand for these difficult to get to spots out of bridges, canyons etc. Just hold on to the grip, your index finger is in the right place and shoot and hope you hold the whole thing level. (btw a bubble level can come in handy at that point).
If you use the grip at all times, then you can take the camera body cover (the door to the battery compartment) out of its slot in the side of the handgrip and use that slot to store an extra CF card. just be careful not to loose the cover :)
There are also extra buttons for AF and AE/FE which double as handy zoom in/out buttons on the screen.

(get a) grip (on your self) - extra points for naming the band with this song on one of their first albums.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/25/2004 11:26:04 AM · #39

FIRST POST OF PART TWO OF THIS THREAD:

Don't worry too much about the stuff above, I'm now in tripod mode.

In addition to everyday landscapes and stuff, I would like to be able to use it for portraits/studio as well as eventually macro (flexible configurations). I am also planning on getting a suitable head (488RC2?). I don't mind spending $200 - $250 USD on the setup if I'm confident it will suit me for some time...

I'm closely looking at the Manfrotto 055Pro (3021Pro) because of it's popularity and low minimum height (11cm). I wish it was a bit taller though...

I would love your input...

Message edited by author 2004-11-25 11:29:46.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

11/25/2004 12:15:55 PM · #40

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

The 488RC2 head should be adequate for your purpose. If, one day, you decide to put a 600 mm L lens on it, you will have to compensate (by re-adjustments) for sagging caused by so much weight on the little ball. It would still be usuable, but, sooner or later, the wear-and-tear (on the ball) would suggest a bigger and better one. There are some beautiful, really expensive ball heads out there, which cost more than a good L lens.

The 055Pro, also, is a good choice, IMO. Some photographers, even some dwarves :-0, prefer a really tall tripod because of the downward angle which can be achieved by them. I, myself, often shoot from 'over my head' to avoid obstructions etc. The 055 Classic (black), therefore, became my tripod of choice. Other photographers, though, couldn't care less about this preference.

However, one advantage the 055Pro has over the Classic is the ability to double-position the centre columneither vertically or horizontally -good for studio work.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM II

11/26/2004 08:00:50 AM · #41

Thanks ZZ...anyone else?

giega

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

11/26/2004 09:47:45 AM · #42

Well, I did not notice anyone mention 1.6 crop factor of the Rebel. Remeber that 70-300mm lens becomes 112-480mm lens. Therefore, you may not be able to take any wider angle shots. I would agree with people recommending lenses of 28-105mm or 18-125mm lenses as the best overall everyday type of lens.
I bought Tamron 24-135mm/3.5-5.6 lens and I have faced situations where even 24mm was too close to an object. Imagine being in the same position with the lens starting at 70. True, you may still have to use your kit lens, but my impression was you wanted better quality.

Message edited by author 2004-11-26 09:48:41.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

11/26/2004 09:17:02 PM · #43

Don't spend another dime, take your own advice. Save a village full of children in Zambia orphaned by AIDS

Tranquil

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Canon

11/26/2004 09:29:49 PM · #44

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Don't spend another dime, take your own advice. Save a village full of children in Zambia orphaned by AIDS

That's what he's doing with the dough he saved from getting your 10D.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

11/26/2004 09:44:20 PM · #45

Originally posted by Tranquil:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:
Don't spend another dime, take your own advice. Save a village full of children in Zambia orphaned by AIDS

That's what he's doing with the dough he saved from getting your 10D.

At nearly the same time as posting this thread asking what photo gear they should buy next, the OP posted to another thread, suggesting that another person should, instead of purchasing a camera, donate their money to this charity.

Kind of an inconsistent message.

I just suggested that the OP consider following their own advice.

I have no doubt that this charity is a worthwhile cause and would encourage those who feel inclined to do so to donate. I do not think it is appropriate to attempt to suggest that someone else's personal expenses are excessive and to attempt to somehow shame them into a donation.

Message edited by author 2004-11-26 22:14:22.