Order Suggestions - DPChallenge Forums

04/27/2006 11:54:22 PM · #1

I'm building a shopping cart on B&H for an order I'll place next week. I'm looking to stay around a 3K price range. I will for sure get the 30D, but will need a flash and new lens. I will be using the new gear to shoot portraits, family shots, animal shots, and of course weekly DPC shoots. I have two major carts in mind, and must pick one:

The First:

30D (Body Only)
17-40 L f4 (with UV filter)
Metz 76 Flash (with extra battery)

Total price: 3100.00

The Second:

30D (Body Only)
70-200 L f2.8 IS (UV filter)
Canon 580EX Flash

Total price: 3500.00

The first has the great flash, the second obviously has the nice lens.

The first question: Is the Metz 76 flash worth the thousand dollar price tag (with second battery)?

Any suggestions on meshing the two somehow, or changing it altogether?

Message edited by author 2006-04-27 23:54:40.

04/27/2006 11:55:54 PM · #2

2nd group hands down! The lens and flash can take you anywhere!

04/27/2006 11:59:21 PM · #3

Originally posted by idnic:

2nd group hands down! The lens and flash can take you anywhere!

BUT IT'S SO 'SPENSIVE! I guess the 400 dollars extra will be worth it?

04/28/2006 12:02:13 AM · #4

Originally posted by Little King:

Originally posted by idnic:
2nd group hands down! The lens and flash can take you anywhere!

BUT IT'S SO 'SPENSIVE! I guess the 400 dollars extra will be worth it?

$450! Be sure you get a lens hood for it! Yup. That would be my perfect first kit. Oh along with a 50mm 1.8 for $80.

04/28/2006 12:02:59 AM · #5

Originally posted by idnic:

Originally posted by Little King:

Originally posted by idnic:
2nd group hands down! The lens and flash can take you anywhere!

BUT IT'S SO 'SPENSIVE! I guess the 400 dollars extra will be worth it?

$450! Be sure you get a lens hood for it! Yup. That would be my perfect first kit. Oh along with a 50mm 1.8 for $80.

I've got the 50mm 1.4 already :D

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

04/28/2006 12:04:19 AM · #6

Originally posted by Little King:

I've got the 50mm 1.4 already :D

Schweeeeet! :D You're good!

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

04/28/2006 12:07:01 AM · #7

I'm wondering why you posted this. You know everyone is going to tell you get the more expensive one. Heck it's not their money! :P

04/28/2006 12:07:29 AM · #8

Better start price hunting to save some dough!

04/28/2006 12:08:28 AM · #9

Originally posted by yanko:

I'm wondering why you posted this. You know everyone is going to tell you get the more expensive one. Heck it's not their money! :P

LOL. YEahhhh.. should have figured. I'm moreso curious to see if the Metz 76 is worth the pricetag. (it looks sweet!)

04/28/2006 12:10:08 AM · #10

I'd go for glass over flash anyday! glass is great outdoors, in studio, etc... flash is secondary

04/28/2006 12:11:26 AM · #11

I should add that I'll be shooting outside mainly. Maybe the thousand dollar flash isn't worth it...

04/28/2006 11:22:19 AM · #12

Originally posted by idnic:

I'd go for glass over flash anyday! glass is great outdoors, in studio, etc... flash is secondary

you're right. I believe I'll be getting the:

30D
70-200 L IS
580EX
Some Filters
Reflector

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

04/28/2006 11:28:06 AM · #13

Have you checked out how the Sigma 500 DG Super works with your studio lighting? I've heard that output and control wise it's pretty close to the 580 EX.

Might save you some dough.

I think flashes are kinda like uhhh flashes... they are either suitable for your needs or not... on or off.

Thats a decent lens, but it seems a bit slow... have you checked out the new sigma 17-70? I saw a review that spoke very highly of it's sharpness, and it would buy you an extra couple of stops. Not to mention a bit more range... It would be a pretty decent complement to the 70-200 f/2.8 IS and could possibly be purchased by the money saved in getting the Sigma flash...

04/28/2006 11:35:10 AM · #14

Originally posted by eschelar:

lol... are you a sigma rep? ;p

I won't be getting the 17-40, just the 70-200. I'll have to check out that flash though...

Thanks for the ideas!

cresus

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

04/28/2006 11:49:41 AM · #15

I'll second the Sigma EF 500 DG Super (make sure it's this one and not the crapiier version). It's a great flash for less than half what the 580ex costs with the same features.

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

04/28/2006 11:50:35 AM · #16

Oddly enough, I didn't even notice until the end of the post that the flash and the lens were the same. Funnily enough, I also made a recommendation to someone else to check another sigma lens... actually, I'm not in any way particular to their brand... In fact, I don't even think of their flashes and lenses in the same thought...

I've always understood that all manufacturers are capable of making good lenses or bad lenses, so brand loyalty is somewhat weak with me as far as lenses.

Flashes are mostly electronics and sensors, totally different stuff. Don't see how production quality would be related other than the ethic of the company itself. I am not in a position to comment on that as I have not worked with them.

It's just that I saw a really decent review of the 17-70, I think on photozone.de, but could be elsewhere that rated it HIGHER than the much praised Tamron 28-75... While the review did state that it's possible that their review peice may not have been the best representative of that lens, I felt that this spoke quite highly of the 17-70.

It would give you good sharpness and contrast as well as a wider focal range and a wider max aperture...

It's definitely inferior to the 17-40L, but it's also WAY cheaper, so would make a nice low-cost complement lens to the Canon L telephoto.

Regarding the flash, it's got FP mode for high speed flash sync (no idea what the limit is on that, I've heard some people use the number 1/2000 and 1/4000) which makes it really decent for outdoor portraiture or whatever, as well as a very good range of manual control and quite a number of other benefits. It's just a case of whether or not it would work with your current studio setup... My bet is that it will.

Also, the Lightsphere II comes quite highly recommended and might help give some versatility if you aren't always shooting at home/in studio.

Message edited by author 2006-04-28 11:54:26.

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

04/28/2006 11:58:31 AM · #17

Originally posted by yanko:

I'm wondering why you posted this. You know everyone is going to tell you get the more expensive one. Heck it's not their money! :P

Not so... even if it was my money I would still recommend the 2nd option. Why, because it contains things that I consider more useful to me than the first.

I personally do not have any flash at all, a factor I attribute to my lack of ability in taking photos where a flash is an absolute must, coupled with the fact that I love to take photos in the great outdoors, often at a distance.

The best bet for the OP is to decide what type of images he is interested in and opt for the equipment that will enable that.

Ray

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/28/2006 12:00:36 PM · #18

Note that Dell often offers Canon cameras via coupon deals for considerably less than B&H. The most recent one ended early yesterday morning- a Canon 30D with kit lens for $1214. Maybe worth waiting for the next one?

Prof_Fate

04/28/2006 12:03:56 PM · #19

??????????????????

One is wide angle, one telephoto. They are not the same kit and will not take the same photos...so what do want to photograph?

Try a sigma 70-200 2.8 for $850ish and wait a month on the other lens - tamron is coming out with an SP18-50 2.8 - it should be fantastic.

Why a metz 76???? Look at the 54MZ4 - it will blow away the 580 in performance. the only trade off is if you want to gang up a bunch flashes it's easier to do it with canon than metz.

Prof_Fate

04/28/2006 12:05:24 PM · #20

Originally posted by scalvert:

dell is a PITA. They charge sales tax so the savings is not as great as it first appears. they ship when the feel like it - what they say when you order has no basis in reality (they can ship sooner or later). Their customer service sucks as well.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

04/28/2006 12:28:07 PM · #21

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

I will be using it for portraits and family and animal shots. I think the 70-200 will be best. I think I'll get the Metz 54.

JayWalk

Canon EOS-6D

04/28/2006 12:42:08 PM · #22

I personally would go with the 580ex flash and the 17-40L. However you said that you are going to be doing portraits and family photos and such. Will this be studio work? Because if so, I would suggest picking up a light kit since the 580ex may not cut it. Also what about backgrounds?

Or since the 580ex and 17-40L may be slightly under the $3k you are looking to spend pick up an additional 430ex as a slave.

Message edited by author 2006-04-28 12:52:31.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/28/2006 12:42:22 PM · #23

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

dell is a PITA.

The deals are still worth it IMO. I bought my 350D there and sold it a year later used for considerably more than I paid new.

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D