Photography Tech Thread

[Hast]

Seeing as I will get a large influx of money in a few weeks I think it is time to upgrade a bit. But I can't decide on what. :/ So many choices!


Currently as mentioned previously in the thread I have

Eos 7D

Tamron 17-50mm f2.8
Sigma 10-20mm f4.5-5.6
Canon 50mm f1.8 which fell down :/

I kind of want some new primes but there are none I really like in my price range ~$1500 USD / €1000 / £900

Considering just buying a 100mm Macro lens and some gear, but I would like a prime in the less then 85mm range, maybe even less then 50mm, not to fussed about tele lenses really.

[Frools]

Considering just buying a 100mm Macro lens

DO IT FAGGOT
best lens

[Joe Appleby]

Then I'd suggest the Tamron 90 Macro. Great macro, decent for portraits as well, real problem is the macro typical slow zoom. Is about €450, a 28 2.8 is about <€200, leaving €350 for a flash unit, Metz are awesome, great service here in Germany, dunno about Norway. But I could help a bro out if need be, they are really awesome. Needed a stand for my flash, asked them in a mail for one, got one sent for free without needing to provide a receipt or anything. Or get either the 28 1.4 or the 24 2.8, €500 each.

Let's do some math:
€1000 budget
Canon 28 2.8 €200
Tamron 90 2.8 Macro €450 (huge price hike, used to be €350)
Metz MB 58 AF-2 €310

Leaves €40 for price differences, shipping, CF cards (can't have enough), batteries for the flash unit, strobe cable, get one, best thing next to a flash commander unit, happy Sony has that built in.
If you already have a flash unit, upgrade the 28 2.8 to a 28 1.4 for €500. If you don't have a flash unit, get one. And then build a reflector out of PVC tubing and a thermal blanket. I built one, use it not often enough, but I also don't do too many portraits to begin with, but when I do, it is glorious. (http://goo.gl/TLJDo gold side used, was a cold day actually)
(prices are fotokoch.de)

[Wensley]

50 mm 1.4 is the business.

Depends what you do, though. The stuff you posted in photo thread is mostly landscapes so maybe a wide prime would be up your street but you have that covered fairly well with the two zooms. Sigma 70-200 2.8 with give you a lot of new range to play with and some cracking glass for the cash you'd have to spend.

[Booley]

35/1.4 is pretty much awesome and i think its right around that price point.

[Hast]

35/1.4 is pretty much awesome and i think its right around that price point.

while awesome it cost $2200 USD here, if not I would most definately buy

[Booley]

Going to buy a 1d4. Cannot find any for sale anywhere. FFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUU

[Hast]

yeah, body's especially in the pro segment are all gone and even cameras like the 7D have gone up $500-$700 USD here.

Same with high end glass too. :/

[Booley]

I was talking to my store's canon rep the other day and he has no clue when one might be available. We have tens of thousands of dollars on backorder with canon right now and almost nothing is shipping. Stupid earthquake.

[Hast]

Also, I have had a change of heart. I allready have the 10-20mm area sorted, and I guess my Tamron 17-50mm works for now but what are your thoughts on the 24-70mm F2.8L vs the 24-105mm F4L with IS?

I am leaning towards the 24-105 for now since I mostly shoot at higher apertures anyways. It is also half the weight too. This is on a 7D ofc. I guess another alternative is the Canon 17-50mm f2.8

[Booley]

If you don't need 2.8, get the 24-105. I have the 24-70, my dad has the 24-105, and for general use the 24-105 is probably better if you don't need the 2.8. I wouldn't get the 17-50, its a lot more fragile than the other 2 lenses and you have the 17-20mm range covered in your 10-20.

The 24-70 is probably the lens of mine I like the least (other than the 50/1.8 I broke by dropping it on my bed from 4ft (oops)).

[Jason Marshall]

105 is one of my favorite portrait lenses.

[helgur]

So, I got tired of my old Canon EOS 10D, wen't down to the camera dealer today and bought myself a shiny new EOS 5D MKII. This is my first step into the world of full frame since I shot pictures with my old film slr. I'll pick up some decent lenses for it after the weekend/holidays. Using an old Tamron 17-35mm wide angle lens and a macro lens for it now. Here is some pics I just took with it:








Later today I'm going to work, will bring the camera with me and shoot pictures all night long

[Booley]

My constant f5ing of every good online store has paid off. Refurb 1dmk4 coming straight from canon, overnight shipping. Hopefully got the order in early enough for it to ship out tonight.

[Jason Marshall]

I was talking to my store's canon rep the other day and he has no clue when one might be available. We have tens of thousands of dollars on backorder with canon right now and almost nothing is shipping. Stupid earthquake.

Glaziers?

[Booley]

No, I work at omega on the east side. Glazers is a much better store, their employees actually know something about photography. I'm the only person at my store who has actually done professional shooting. Its pretty embarrassing the amount of misinformation and bad advice that comes from my coworkers. The only reason to come to my store instead of glazers is if you need something printed, since we actually have a lab (staffed by mostly competent people)

[Jason Marshall]

I do miss having a local lab.

[Sarp]

So, say you all had £5k and you were looking into getting into wedding / event photography, what would you buy and why?

Of most interest would be types of lens and what area of a shoot they would cover in your opinion. Access to a 5D is a realistic prospect, so body opinions not as important, but very interested to hear recommendations anyway.

[Viper Shizzle]

No, I work at omega on the east side. Glazers is a much better store, their employees actually know something about photography. I'm the only person at my store who has actually done professional shooting. Its pretty embarrassing the amount of misinformation and bad advice that comes from my coworkers. The only reason to come to my store instead of glazers is if you need something printed, since we actually have a lab (staffed by mostly competent people)

Professionally failing out of school photography sup

[Jason Marshall]

Do you want to do "the whole shebang"? If your just going to shoot the ceremony and reception all you need really is a flash and a fast tele-zoom. Something in the 50-105mm range is great for portraits. While generally large and cumbersome I loved having my f2.8 70-200 on the camera for the reception. Can pretty much stand anywhere in a church dinninghall and shoot everyone.

If your going to be doing all of the portraits youll want some more lights. Or be comfertable using natural light and reflectors. Im not going to go into brands cause it will just turn into a pissing match but Cannon, Nikkon, Sony all make fine cameras and have wonderful lens catalogs. Any brand name lens will be expensive for 3rd party makers you cant go wrong with Sigma's EX line.