Made decisions and made purchases! Here it is:

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

11/04/2005 01:28:31 PM · #1

First of all, thank you to everyone who helped me decide what to get! Everyone was so helpful and friendly. I spent a FORTUNE. BUT, it has been the plan for a year to use the profits with the sale of the house for my new set up. It all had to be purchased before we are transfered to Guam because of huge shipping costs. Here is a rundown of what I bought today, and it is a lot!

From Buydig.com (love them!):
Canon 20d (body only)
Canon 24-70mm 2.8 L
Canon 70-200mm 2.8 L IS
Canon 2x extender

From B&H:
Canon CASHE1 E1 Hand Strap
Bogen / Manfrotto BO3229 3229 Swivel Tilt Head with Quick Release
Sunpak SUU757B Ultra 757 Tripod with 3 Way Pan Head
Bogen / Manfrotto BO685B 685B NeoTec Monopod Deluxe
Cokin COARP77 "P" Series 77mm Adapter Ring
Canon CATC80N3 Timer Remote Controller TC-80N3
Canon CABGE2 BG-E2 Vertical Grip/Battery Holder
ColorVision COS2 Spyder2
Jobo JOCAG Car Power Adapter/Charger
Jobo JOGVP60 GVP060 Giga Vu PRO 60GB Personal Video Player
Sekonic SEL358 L-358 Flash Master Meter
Pocket-Wizard WIPWMMT Pocket Wizard Multimax Transceiver Radio Slave
Pocket-Wizard WIPWPR Pocket Wizard Plus Receiver
Tamrac 5578 Expedition 8 Backpack

From Alien Bees:
3 AlienBees B800-Martian Pink
5-in-1 Reflector Kit
Travel Case
Set of 20 Color Gels
Set of 6 Gel Holders
Four Honeycomb Grids
13-foot Heavy Duty Stand
Stand Carrying Bag
Reflector Kit Mounting Arm
Giant Softbox (with LGSR)
Two 13-foot Air-Cushioned Stands
Two 60â�� Shoot-Thru Umbrellas
Background Reflector
Unit Mainframe

Yikes!!! I am so excited! Too bad I cannot play with most of it until we get to Guam! The movers are coming in 2.5wks! I will travel with my cameras though, of course.

Thanks again!
Jenn
//www.jralstonphotography.com

Message edited by author 2005-11-04 13:37:07.

soup

Canon EOS-30D

11/04/2005 01:36:47 PM · #2

did you NOT buy anything? ;}

i guess you spent a fortune.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

11/04/2005 02:36:06 PM · #3

LOL, I don't think so ;) Hmmm....I did pass on the 28-300mm L! BUT, that is because I wanted other stuff more than that lens.

Prof_Fate

11/04/2005 02:45:19 PM · #4

Gees..no memory cards, no computer, no spare batteries, and the batteries for the AlienBees - whare are they? No you'll have to plug in. No backrop.
I think you missed the kitchen sink too, but not much else!

Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday and man am I jealous!

If I sell my house I too can go shopping...not sure I want to live a carboard box though, as I'llhave no money left over for another house!

Thanks for helping the economy! And have fun trying to sleep until you can play with all teh gear.

hsteg

Fujifilm X-T20

11/04/2005 02:51:30 PM · #5

Pink AB's. Rock on.

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

11/04/2005 02:56:04 PM · #6

LOL, I have memory cards already.....but I am getting a memory storage device instead of more cards. I already have backdrops and a backdrop holder, I have the computers already.......

And I'm not sure I need the battery for the AB's......we shall play that one by ear ;)

k4rp

Nikon D200

11/04/2005 03:31:44 PM · #7

Now if you'd only add a nice wide-angle lens :p

PShizzy

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

11/04/2005 04:55:45 PM · #8

Here are my thoughts:

Why a 2x and not a 1.4x? the 2x really loses a lot of quality, and the 1.4x loses some. You also lose 2 stops with a 2x, and 1 with a 1.4x, which is big.

On your 358, did you make sure to get it with the radio transmitter (it's a seperate piece, which means you need to be sure you get them together, or in a package deal).

Why not a second Giant softbox? This is a preference, but I love softboxes, you can use one as a main light, then one on a boom as a hairlight.

Also, and maybe I'm crazy, but why not a 4th B800? Again, this is a preference thing.

Anyhow, it sounds like you're going to have a lot of gear to play with.

Max

PShizzy

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

11/04/2005 05:00:17 PM · #9

Sorry to write again, but I hate that "message edited" bit, that doesnt mention what changed.

Anyhow, 28-300L is a so-so purchase. You'll see that longer glass really works best as a prime.

You already have 24-200 covered, and with a 1.4x you'd have up to 280 covered, so getting an all in 1 zoom, even L quality, won't improve the image much.

I would suggest a 300 f/4 IS. I owned the non-IS variety and loved it. I only sold it when I got my 2.8.

Max

11/04/2005 05:15:53 PM · #10

Originally posted by PShizzy:

Anyhow, 28-300L is a so-so purchase. You'll see that longer glass really works best as a prime.

You already have 24-200 covered, and with a 1.4x you'd have up to 280 covered, so getting an all in 1 zoom, even L quality, won't improve the image much.

Yeah, discovered that reading about it on the internet. I have the 75-300mm IS (non-L) that I *may* hang onto if I still think I have the need for the reach.

As for as the 2x extender goes, I am not TERRIBLY worried about quality for that. I for sure want top quality for my portrait work, but the extender is more of a toy for shooting my kid's soccer games and such. If it is that bad, Ill sell it on ebay. My guess is it will still pass quality control with most people :)

And a big 'ol OOOPS on the radio transmitter. It totally slipped my mind! I cannot believe I did that. *sigh* Thank you!

I seriously considered the 4th light. I figured I would learn to use these first and if I still wanted the 4th, I could get it later. I also thought that in a particular shoot, if I really wanted a hairlight, I could just use a reflector instead of a fill light and then use that extra light for hair. :)

The softbox.....I too considered two softboxes. Often times, I only use one light. ( I love contrasty, Rembrandt style portraits.) Again, I could always order it later :)

Now, know any good books? LOL

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/04/2005 05:25:56 PM · #11

Ok, bought the radio transmitter. LOL

gaurawa

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

11/04/2005 05:39:04 PM · #12

how much did you spend ?

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

11/04/2005 05:46:43 PM · #13

After the rebates, like how I am taking any discounts I can get LOL, I spent roughly $7800!

PShizzy

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

11/04/2005 07:36:27 PM · #14

See my shopping list if I had 7800 bucks would be way smaller than your list.

400 2.8 IS (used if possible, to get it under 6k)
4 WL 1600's

Life would be good

Max

Jammur

Nikon D300

11/04/2005 07:57:20 PM · #15

Impressive, the only thing missing is the pack animal, but that's what husbands or boy friends are for. Have fun, make art.

deapee

Kodak V803

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

11/04/2005 08:10:24 PM · #16

wow you sure bought a lot of stuff...man i'm jealous.

11/04/2005 09:07:36 PM · #17

Originally posted by PShizzy:

See my shopping list if I had 7800 bucks would be way smaller than your list.

400 2.8 IS (used if possible, to get it under 6k)
4 WL 1600's

Life would be good

Max

LOL, now THAT would be spending money even quicker than I did!