Money to spend, what would you buy?

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

12/03/2006 02:36:01 PM · #1

I've got two portaits booked and a big wedding, and hoping to get more and more.

My list of equipment is as follows;
350D
Canon 18-55mm Kit lens
Canon 50mm 1.8 II
Sigma 70-300mm APO MACRO DG
Tripod
Camera Bag.

Now i've money to spend, less than Â£1000.
What would you buy?
I think i've pencilled a Canon 580 Flash in for starters.
Would like you opinions.

Message edited by author 2006-12-03 14:36:29.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

12/03/2006 02:42:30 PM · #2

I would think a f2.8 zoom (28-75 or 17-55 range)would be at the top of the list, right after the flash, a bracket and some kind of diffuser (I prefer the Lightsphere, but choose what works for you)

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

12/03/2006 02:44:15 PM · #3

Hasselblad H3D Camera
HV90x Viewfinder

Lenses:
HCD 4/28
HC 3.5/35
HC 3.5-4.5/50-110
HC 3.5/50HC 2.8/80
HC 2.2/100HC 4/120
HC 3.2/150HC 4/210
HC 4.5/300

Digital Back:
Hasselblad CF-39
Sensor size: 39 Mpixels (5412 x 7212 pixels)
Sensor dimensions: 36.7 x 49.0 mm
CF-39: Single
CF-39-MS: Single & Multishot
Image size 1-shot: Raw 3FR compressed: 50 MB average, TIFF 8bit: 117 MB
Image size 4-shot: Raw 3FR compressed: 200 MB average, TIFF 8bit: 117 MB

If money's not an issue... that is. :)

Message edited by author 2006-12-03 14:44:59.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

12/03/2006 02:46:03 PM · #4

Originally posted by krgl:

Since the OP said his budget is under Â£1000, that's not much help now is it?

Message edited by author 2006-12-03 14:46:57.

gloda

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

12/03/2006 02:57:11 PM · #5

I'm going to get the EF-S 17-55 2.8 IS sometime soon, that's something you might want to consider buying if you want to upgrade from the kit lens and if you like it's zoom range. A 580EX is also on top of my list, with a diffuser. I don't know about a lightsphere yet, I always get the impression that it's wasting light by lighting the area behind you as well?

Spork99

OM System OM-1

12/03/2006 03:11:37 PM · #6

Originally posted by gloda:

I don't know about a lightsphere yet, I always get the impression that it's wasting light by lighting the area behind you as well?

Well, it does reduce the range of your flash, but it really works well to soften the shadows, which is what it's supposed to do.

12/03/2006 03:22:12 PM · #7

I'm glad you've said that.
580 = top priority.
But second was definately a 24-70mm good quality lens.
I've been looking at the Canon 24-70 F2.8L USM and the 24-105 F4 L IS USM but i think they may be just too much money.
So probably the Tamron 24-70 F2.8 is more realistic. Would love some L glass.

Keep them coming please.

Oh and krgl - i've put myself and the rest of my family in the Hasselblad prize draw to win one of those suckers. Fingers crossed, :P

gloda

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD

12/03/2006 03:59:23 PM · #8

Kerm, I was going to buy the 24-70 as well. You may be interested to know that I decided otherwise beacause many people commented on it's weight and size. It would have been my walkaround lens, and I think that weight in usage and size in transport are an important factor. My alternatives were the 17-55mm (~1000USD) and the 17-85mm (~500 USD). You can read the reviews at Fredmiranda here and here to see whether any of those is interesting for you. I'll go with the 17-55 because of the better image quality and the 2.8.

MadMan2k

Sony Alpha a6400

12/03/2006 04:23:10 PM · #9

You'll need a fast zoom standard lens to shoot indoor events for sure. Don't shoot too many weddings without a backup body - 13K shots on my XT and it never crapped out on me and kept me from shooting, but it's a possibility, and weddings are about the worst possible time to have a camera fail. Even a film body would work, something like the Rebel K2 should be about $100, let you use your lenses and feel somewhat familiar.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

12/03/2006 04:47:47 PM · #10

Canon EF 85 mm F1.2 L II lens

David.C

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

12/03/2006 05:09:42 PM · #11

Since portraits seems to be high on the list of uses for the equipment, lighting and background equipment seems to be lacking in your list.

Are the portraits studio or location? For studio shots backdrops, lights (x3), reflectors and diffusers are good. For location shots everything but the backdrops.

If you are mainly doing events, the 580 Flash is a good way to go, and (haven't checked specs.) could probably be used to trigger studio lights to serve a double purpose.

As for lenses, you have a good range covered. Granted there are better quality glass out there (there always is, isn't there?) but do you use a certain range often enough to know which one will serve you best?

For location portraits and event shooting, portable hard drives with card readers keep you from having to keep a bunch of CF cards on you. Not to mention relieving you of the need to remember which ones are full and which are empty.

Assistants are nice to have around to hold reflectors/diffusers and such. But that can get expensive over time. :P

David

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

12/03/2006 05:25:43 PM · #12

Originally posted by David.C:

Since portraits seems to be high on the list of uses for the equipment, lighting and background equipment seems to be lacking in your list.

As for lenses, you have a good range covered. Granted there are better quality glass out there (there always is, isn't there?) but do you use a certain range often enough to know which one will serve you best?

For location portraits and event shooting, portable hard drives with card readers keep you from having to keep a bunch of CF cards on you. Not to mention relieving you of the need to remember which ones are full and which are empty.
David

I am pretty inexperienced in the portait department, and don't have much space to set up a half decent home studio, so this is on hold for a bit.
A 24-75 would certainly get 80% of my use, so i wouldn't have a problem diverting most cash into this lens.
I would LOVE an Epson P400 but again it's just too much money, if anyone knows any good but cheaper versions i'd like to see them.

Thanks gloda, that definately sound advice, but as i've only got a 350D (snall and lightweight) i'd feel pretty comofortable attaching a heavy lens, even for a walk around body.

Thanks for that aswell MadMan2K, i'd never thought of going for a cheaper film body as backup but it's a great idea.

David.C

12/03/2006 06:42:41 PM · #13

Originally posted by Kerm:

Originally posted by David.C:
... For location portraits and event shooting, portable hard drives with card readers keep you from having to keep a bunch of CF cards on you. Not to mention relieving you of the need to remember which ones are full and which are empty.
David

... I would LOVE an Epson P400 but again it's just too much money, if anyone knows any good but cheaper versions i'd like to see them. ...

Here is a previous thread on portable storage that has a lot of good suggestions.

David

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

12/03/2006 07:17:36 PM · #14

Well i think the best and cheapest way round the storage problem is just to buy a couple 8GB Sandisk Extreme III cards from ebay, as there so cheap. So i'd have 10GB in total.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

12/03/2006 08:24:28 PM · #15

For the Canon completest get a M30 or M80.

12/04/2006 09:40:22 AM · #16

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by krgl:
Hasselblad H3D Camera
HV90x Viewfinder

Lenses:
HCD 4/28
HC 3.5/35
HC 3.5-4.5/50-110
HC 3.5/50HC 2.8/80
HC 2.2/100HC 4/120
HC 3.2/150HC 4/210
HC 4.5/300

Digital Back:
Hasselblad CF-39
Sensor size: 39 Mpixels (5412 x 7212 pixels)
Sensor dimensions: 36.7 x 49.0 mm
CF-39: Single
CF-39-MS: Single & Multishot
Image size 1-shot: Raw 3FR compressed: 50 MB average, TIFF 8bit: 117 MB
Image size 4-shot: Raw 3FR compressed: 200 MB average, TIFF 8bit: 117 MB

If money's not an issue... that is. :)

Since the OP said his budget is under Â£1000, that's not much help now is it?

oops, I thought it was 100,000 Pounds.... :p sorry

12/04/2006 09:41:56 AM · #17

Originally posted by Kerm:

How about a couple of wirelss remote flashlights ?

12/04/2006 02:03:00 PM · #18

Could you give me a link to an example?
The flashlights would be for a home studio kind of setup, not for an event for instance?