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07/21/2007 09:22:43 AM · #1 |
Hi folks
I've been lurking for almost a year now, and figured i'd come out of the woodwork (registered today, and first post ever!) to ask some advice since you all know way more than I. I'm a US expat who is thinking about transitioning from photography as a hobby (with my old G3) to a hobby with sales potential (with Alamy). I live overseas, but will be visiting the US for a wedding, so figured i'd make a to-buy list for when i'm there (the price differential is about 2:1, if you can even find it here).
Assuming I start with a Canon Rebel xti body, what else should i be looking for? Please, no $1000 lenses - maybe if Alamy works out that could be a list for a different visit back home... : )
Many thanks,
tim |
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07/21/2007 10:45:53 AM · #2 |
What's your total budget?
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07/21/2007 11:16:28 AM · #3 |
What do you want to shoot?
Yes, I understand you don't want/can't afford $1000 lenses, but for some things the lens makes the photo - the 85 1.2 does things you can't do with a 70-300 3.5-5.6 at 85mm...
So it depends on what you want to shoot.
IMO, skip the kit lens - better options:
Tamron 24-135SP, tamron 28-75 2.8 SP, tamron 18-50? 2.8 SP, canon 17-85 IS
All are good and the canon is the most costly, but has IS. The first and last on that list do macro pretty well. The 28-75 isn't going to be wide enough for a lot of things, but it's the cheapest on the list and a 2.8 lens.
Sigma 12-24 or Canon 10-22 - both good. The canon is the better choice, but nearly twice the price.
Canon/tamron/sigma macro lens (90 to 105 range depending on who's brand). All good. I hear good things about the canon 60 EF-S macro lens too.
Long lens...for what purpose? The best all around is the canon 70-200 2.8 IS...but I know that's not in your budget. The F4 non-IS is very good, cheaper and lighter, but you give up IS, one stop and the shallow DOF of a 2.8 lens. Sigma makes one, and tokina has a 50-135 2.8 and both are pushing $800.
If you shooting wildlife/birds and the like then a tamron 200-500, canon 100-400, or the bigma (sigma 50-500) are the best choices. You need to get in TIGHT to get good hi-res sellable images.
Sigma makes a 70-300 4-5.6 APO lens that sell for $180ish that's good for the money and will work until you can afford better.
I personally thing the canon 50 1.8 is worth what you pay for it. I.E. - Not much. The 85 1.8 is great if you want shallow DOF, but it's a bit long on a 1.6 crop and has a long close focus distance. The better 50mm lenses are pricey, even used. (1.4, 1.2, 1.0)
If you're shooting action then AF speed matters most, so canon USM lenses will be worth the extra cost.
Try and stick with one brand if possible only because each company has it's own coatings and such and the color and contrast can and will vary from one lens company to the next - sometimes it's subtle and sometimes it's very obvious. End result is it means more work and less quality for the photographer.
Message edited by author 2007-07-21 11:16:57.
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07/21/2007 11:34:39 AM · #4 |
probably not more than $1000 after the camera body
I was actually wondering what sort of things to look for in addition to body/lens (though lens recommendations are also welcome). If anything
I'll be mostly shooting people (village life, regional activities, foods) and some touristy stuff - landscapes, out of the way historical sites
much more of the up-reasonably-close stuff |
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07/21/2007 12:05:45 PM · #5 |
Recommend the Tokina 12-24 f/4 or Canon 10-22. Then go for a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 or 28-75 f/2.8 according to what you like.
Sounds like you probably aren't going to be doing a lot with much longer than that. At least not at first.
the 28-75 f/2.8 has a passable macro mode. It's going to show its limitations pretty quickly if that's a big part of what you want to do. However, from the sounds of it, you probably won't. The 24-135 isn't a bad choice here either if you can handle the slowness of it. Better range, but less low-light versatility.
If you find you want better Bokeh, I'd recommend the 50mm f/1.4 USM.
The XTi should be sufficient for your needs in the beginning.
That should cover you for approx 1000 bucks.
Lenses make a much bigger difference than the body. Light can make as big a difference as the lens though... maybe more. With a lot of light, a poor lens can take almost as good a picture as a great lens. With low light, good glass becomes much more important. I tend to end up in a lot of low light situations and you can see that reflected in my lens choices... Nothing slower than a constant f/2.8 (ultra wide-angle lenses excepted from this statement). You might not need to though. |
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07/22/2007 02:37:40 PM · #6 |
| no non-lens/body advice? No secret devices that will unlock the secrets of good photography for me? : ) |
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07/22/2007 03:21:02 PM · #7 |
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07/22/2007 05:55:00 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by eia4tim:
...No secret devices that will unlock the secrets of good photography for me? : ) |
I will let you know when I find something :) The only things I could think of would be a tripod and moving to Iceland :-)
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07/22/2007 06:13:24 PM · #9 |
You can save almost $200 if you go for the Canon Rebel XT, instead of the XTi.
B&H still sells it new.
They even have it packaged with the EF-s 17-85, which is a good walkaround lens for $1000.
If you want to go really wide, add the ef-s 10-22 (or whatever that is)
You might want to look into a battery grip. Don't forget about the cost of CF cards, a bag, UV filters, maybe an extra battery and a quality tripod.
Hope that helps. |
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07/22/2007 06:34:22 PM · #10 |
I would highly recommend taking a photoshop class if you can find one. It will definitely come in handy in the long run.
Edited: I know this isn't equipment, but I feel it is equally important, especially when starting out.
Message edited by author 2007-07-22 18:37:42. |
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07/22/2007 07:22:29 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by eia4tim:
no non-lens/body advice? No secret devices that will unlock the secrets of good photography for me? : ) |
Definitely get a good circular polarizer filter and possibly some graduated neutral density filters.
Also, a good, sturdy tripod.
If you live in a remote place without camera service/repair shops, then get a sensor cleaning kit. (BTW, where are you now located???)
Plenty of memory cards and/or a laptop or portable storage device to transfer memory to while you are visiting those "remote historical sites".
The book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson to "unlock the secrets of good photography".
A good backpack to carry your camera gear while hiking to those remote places.
edited to add a few items
Message edited by author 2007-07-22 19:32:46. |
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07/22/2007 07:35:15 PM · #12 |
This is my kit list. It may give you some ideas.
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07/22/2007 08:22:35 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by chalice:
Get a good tripod. |
Ditto.
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07/22/2007 09:23:37 PM · #14 |
Canon 70-200 f4 $580
Tamron 28-75 $333
Both at Amazon. Total $913
I agree with the earlier poster who said to back off to the XT to save $$$ on the body. If you're going to stick with photography, you'll be upgrading that body within a few years. Buy good lenses as a sound investment. These two will cover 85% of your needs to start. Start saving your pennies for a quality wide angle.
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07/22/2007 09:39:23 PM · #15 |
HIGHLY recommended and just happens to be one available right HERE
and at a great price too
Message edited by author 2007-07-22 21:39:56.
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07/23/2007 02:15:36 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by yakatme:
If you live in a remote place without camera service/repair shops, then get a sensor cleaning kit. (BTW, where are you now located???)
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i live in Turkey now, and cleaning a sensor would worry me - one reason i am springing for the xti over the old rebel (to answer some other comments)
i've never worked with neutral density filters, that's a new idea - thanks
david, i can;t read your link
rodney, no chance to take a photoshop class, but will buy a book (suggestions?)
thanks to everyone for the ideas so far!
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07/23/2007 02:18:46 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by eia4tim:
i live in Turkey now, and cleaning a sensor would worry me - one reason i am springing for the xti over the old rebel (to answer some other comments) |
From what I hear, the sensor cleaning on the xti is pretty worthless. Get a small blower, be careful of the environment you change your lenses in, and (this is what I do) hold the body with the lens mount facing down when changing lenses. Those things should fix 99% of sensor dust issues. Save your money, get the XT, you won't regret it.
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07/23/2007 09:37:32 PM · #18 |
sorry eia4tim, it was shutterpug's 20-5,000 zoom for only 700 which has been sold.
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07/23/2007 09:44:23 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by chalice:
Get a good tripod. |
waste good money? Seriously. About the only three things a tripod is good for is landscapes, macro and inhibiting creativity.
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