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08/23/2006 09:27:23 AM · #26 |
Don't do it. You'll quit starving eventually and have a lot of lenses. ;) I've yet to see the first image on DPC that won because it was taken with an expensive lens.
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08/23/2006 09:46:40 AM · #27 |
Since you're a college student and if you're really serious, you can do what I did when I was in school. Take your student loan money and buy some really good gear, then use that gear to make you money to pay for the stuff your loan monay was supposed to pay for (aside from your tuition of course).
I spent mine on a couple of Nikon F3's, a big Metz flash, a meter, some lenses, a 4x5 camera and a big tripod. |
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08/23/2006 01:16:41 PM · #28 |
Originally posted by fir3bird:
I've yet to see the first image on DPC that won because it was taken with an expensive lens. |
If the OP's goal is to win ribbons at DPC, then no, I wouldn't recommend that he spend the money either. Winning a virtual ribbon that means nothing would be a stupid excuse for buying equipment. Anybody that would do so either has to much money or is a bit short of a six-pack upstairs.
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08/23/2006 01:21:08 PM · #29 |
Originally posted by NstiG8tr:
Originally posted by fir3bird:
I've yet to see the first image on DPC that won because it was taken with an expensive lens. |
If the OP's goal is to win ribbons at DPC, then no, I wouldn't recommend that he spend the money either. Winning a virtual ribbon that means nothing would be a stupid excuse for buying equipment. Anybody that would do so either has to much money or is a bit short of a six-pack upstairs. |
that's kinda like saying that a person is dumb for spending a few thousand dollars on a telescope unless they are an astronomer. You can't put a price on happiness. |
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08/23/2006 01:54:03 PM · #30 |
Originally posted by Megatherian:
[quote=NstiG8tr] [quote=fir3bird] that's kinda like saying that a person is dumb........... |
UH, no it isn't. It means you should buy things because you want them and enjoy your hobby. People should buy better equipment as their skill improves(if they can afford it). The ribbons given away on this site are incentives to perfect your passion not an excuse to buy $1000 lenses. It also means you shouldn't buy things you can't afford just because someone else says so or has it. If Joe Blow goes out and buys a $5000 telescope just because he looked through his neighbors once and thought what he saw was cool, puts it in the closet and gets it out once every 6 months, then yea that makes him dumb. Astonomer or not. Photographer or not. Whichever applies.
And I'll say it again, anybody that would spend thousands of dollars just to compete and win virtual ribbons on a photography website would be considered stupid IMO.
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08/23/2006 03:08:39 PM · #31 |
Originally posted by NstiG8tr:
And I'll say it again, anybody that would spend thousands of dollars just to compete and win virtual ribbons on a photography website would be considered stupid IMO. |
That's ridiculous. I can think of PLENTY of hobbies that are even more expensive for equally intangible payout. Hell, I used to be involved in one. Try racing sailboats if you want to hemorrhage money. Why beat up on people for investing money in extracurricular activities they enjoy?
R.
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08/23/2006 03:36:17 PM · #32 |
| Astrophotography.... Got $10k spare ? |
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08/23/2006 03:42:11 PM · #33 |
You have to agree Robert that most people's photography hobby or profession extends well beyond the boundries of this website. They just didn't stumble upon DPC and say to themselves, "damn, this place is cool. I'm gonna run out and buy thousands of dollars of equipment so I can win a ribbon on DPC too." Those would be the type of people I'm referring to. Most people had a camera of some sort way before they even knew DPC existed. Most people had a passion for photography long before this place came into exsistance. Most people that are serious about their hobby will still be equally as serious long after this place is gone or they leave it.
Justification for expensive camera equipment has to go way beyond this website. Your sole purpose for taking photos has to go way beyond this website to justify the expense of the hobby. If you are rich and have money to blow then it probably doesn't matter. The average person isn't rich.
I love taking pictures and it has nothing to do with this place. I do it for me, not a virtual ribbon. Like I said before, this place is a tool to perfect your passion, not to go in debt over a passing fad or phase of your life. Don't get me wrong, I also enjoy hanging out here like most everybody else. I like entering the challenges as much as the next person(as discouraging as it can be sometimes). But by the same token I don't just take pictures and buy equipment so I can enter challenges.
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08/23/2006 04:52:11 PM · #34 |
| NstiG8tr hit the nail on the head. I think I've only been on this site for like 2 weeks, and to be honest I didn't even know what a virtual ribbon was until he mentioned it. I mostly visit this site for questions, to see some pictures, and to check out the discussions on Photography. To be quite honest I don't have much desire in entering contests ATM. I mean they are fun and all but like NstiG8tr said you don't get much out of it besides praise from other fellow members of this community. I'd rather get "praised" with $$$ from photobuyers than you guys!! :P |
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08/23/2006 05:15:27 PM · #35 |
Kinda OT:
I have been doing freelance webdesign/graphic design for about 8 years now and was considering trying to earn some money making websites for photographers. Would there be interest from anybody here for this (if we could work out a decent price)?
The way it would work is I would show you a couple designs/layouts and only if you like it we will start the project. There is no obligation to pay anything up front. My skills include: HTML, Flash, logo design, business collateral (cards, brochures, letterhead, etc), and graphic design.
This would be a great way for me to save up money for a decent lens while in school. Please let me know if any of you are interested (either in this post or via PM). Thanks
edit: can I post a new thread about this? Or would it be considered "spam" or against policy some how?
Message edited by author 2006-08-23 20:16:08. |
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08/23/2006 09:37:48 PM · #36 |
I don't know Jon, I would:
#1 submit a ticket to SC and ask if this is OK.
#2 post something in the BuySell forums. |
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08/24/2006 01:52:48 PM · #37 |
| Hmm. I'm guessing you have to be a Premium Member (or whatever its called) to view the Buy/Sell forum? |
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08/24/2006 02:11:37 PM · #38 |
Originally posted by JonPM:
Hmm. I'm guessing you have to be a Premium Member (or whatever its called) to view the Buy/Sell forum? |
Correct. Or we'd have all sorts of people we don't "know" popping in just to sell gear, and the virtue of our buy/sell forum is we tend to have pre-existing relationships with the sellers, so there's a little peace of mind there.
R.
Message edited by author 2006-08-24 14:11:57.
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08/24/2006 02:17:58 PM · #39 |
I currently use one lens for 98% of my photography. The 24-105L on a 1.6x 300D. You can look through my portfolio and decide if you think it limits my ability.  DrAchoo Point made. I have an 80-200mm consumer piece of crap in my bag. I haven't touched it in over a year. I haven't even wanted to. I do have the 50mm/1.8 as well and for $75, it should have a special place in anybody's bag.
I hear people screaming about the lack of range you are going to have. Learning ONE lens and learning it well will make you a better photographer than having 18mm to 300mm available to you. It will force you to think about composition and where you are standing to take the photo. Hell, if you REALLY want to learn photography, shoot exclusively with the 50mm/1.8 for six months. I'm guessing it would be a little boring when we do have quality zooms available, but you would come out the other end a much better photographer.
I will add a caveat since I don't know what type of photography you want to get good at. It isn't an especially good indoor lens. F/4 is somewhat limiting and 24mm on a 1.6 is not wide enough for things like indoor architecture. Outside however, F/4 and IS is plenty reasonable.
The next lens you will want to get, were you to expand, would likely be the 10-22mm or the 17-40L. The one limiting factor I find (in my style of shooting) on the 24-105L is the wide end. The difference between 17 and 24mm is quite noticeable on a 1.6x sensor.
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08/24/2006 02:26:21 PM · #40 |
what he said - well stated doc
i sold lenses i loved (35/2, 85/1.8, 28-135) because i wanted to learn to use one lens (24-70L) to the best of it's and my ability ... good advice.
of course ... we'll always want more lenses, but it's still good advice
:)
Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I currently use one lens for 98% of my photography. The 24-105L on a 1.6x 300D. You can look through my portfolio and decide if you think it limits my ability. DrAchoo Point made. I have an 80-200mm consumer piece of crap in my bag. I haven't touched it in over a year. I haven't even wanted to. I do have the 50mm/1.8 as well and for $75, it should have a special place in anybody's bag.
I hear people screaming about the lack of range you are going to have. Learning ONE lens and learning it well will make you a better photographer than having 18mm to 300mm available to you. It will force you to think about composition and where you are standing to take the photo. Hell, if you REALLY want to learn photography, shoot exclusively with the 50mm/1.8 for six months. I'm guessing it would be a little boring when we do have quality zooms available, but you would come out the other end a much better photographer.
I will add a caveat since I don't know what type of photography you want to get good at. It isn't an especially good indoor lens. F/4 is somewhat limiting and 24mm on a 1.6 is not wide enough for things like indoor architecture. Outside however, F/4 and IS is plenty reasonable.
The next lens you will want to get, were you to expand, would likely be the 10-22mm or the 17-40L. The one limiting factor I find (in my style of shooting) on the 24-105L is the wide end. The difference between 17 and 24mm is quite noticeable on a 1.6x sensor. |
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