The Photography Thread

[Zansho]

Grey market is "ok." If you're not too concerned about warranty and whatnot, go for it. I personally wouldn't do it.

If you're shooting landscapes, you don't really *need* f2.8 and shallower f-stops - I'd ignore the f-stop stuff, and start considering the focal length, and the sharpness of the lens. It's going to be on a tripod anyway, yeah?

Sigma 10-20 F4-5.6 is a bit in the slow department when it comes to f-stop range, but if all you're gonna do with it is just shoot landscapes, it's great.

Tokina 11-16 2.8 is built like a fricking tank (think the old M42 Pentax mount type lenses), and sharp as a set of Hanzo Hattori katanas. It's awesome. I played with one, and came OH so close to buying one.

Tokina's 12-24 F4 is no slouch either.

Tamron 10-24 is decent. Friend has one and likes it.

[zoobernut]

Well yeah the f2.8 isn't a big concern for me as much as the sharpness. This lens is legendary for its sharpness and nothing really comes close to it from what I have seen/heard. That being said I tend to shy away from tripods for landscapes as I do a lot of walking around so the f2.8 is nice for that it will allow me to get a higher shutter speed in lower light so I can handhold.

Plus when you are out at 14mm even at f2.8 your dof is so deep that everything is in focus.

I will definitely look into the lenses you listed, thanks for the suggestions.

Edit: I forgot the other reason why I was considering the nikon instead of the other options out there is that the 14-24mm nikon is a full frame lens so I could use it with my film cameras too.

[noblemountain]

spoilered for giant.

Spoiler: show

[Doombear]

Can't wait to see more Noble, surely it can't be easy to get a picture of their eyes like that.

Also... watching Bella Tribute vid and reading about her and holy fuck I am tearing up here.

[zoobernut]

Can't wait to see more Noble, surely it can't be easy to get a picture of their eyes like that.

Also... watching Bella Tribute vid and reading about her and holy fuck I am tearing up here.

Seriously I had to turn it off it was just too sad. Can't wait to see more pics Noble. I wish I could take pictures of elephants too.

[Zansho]

took my new Einsteins (strobes) for a test drive today - very pleased with the result.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6...c08b1557_b.jpg

[Fhqwghads]

Very nice, Zansho. Sharp, and the contrast is excellent.

I kind of wish I'd bought a pack and slaves instead of a lot of monopods, but what's done is done. I can still use my speedlight on a tripod with softbox for outdoor shots, but obviously its power can't compare.

[Kkel]

Random question: Have any of you guys used any of the lens rental services that are available out there and could recommend one?

I'm actually in good shape lens-wise, but I was thinking of renting a 2nd body (probably a 5D Mk.III) for some weddings I'm shooting later this year.

Edit: Contributing!
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7274/7...0c4e16a6_z.jpg

[Zansho]

Borrowlenses.com is great - I rented from them with no issues. Lensrentals.com is also another top notch outfit, good folks, and you can pick up locally if you're in California.

[zoobernut]

Amazing Kkel great focus control and composition. I haven't had enough patience to get a good pic of a butterfly yet. they always fly away when i get close.

[Kkel]

@Zansho - Awesome, thank you. I'll check them both out.

@Zoob - Butterflies are tough because they're so twitchy most of the time. I wanted to use my macro lens so badly, but i ended up having to shoot them at 200mm (which, on my APS-C is actually 320mm) to avoid scaring them off.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7248/7...665c6100_c.jpg

Every once in a while though, if you hold still long enough, they get brave.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/7...ff507428_c.jpg

[Zansho]

The AF on the 5D III is miles above what the 5D II was. In fact, the 5D III in my opinion, could be used as a pretty good alternative to a 1D Series for a sports camera (this is not to say it'll replace it) or a 7D. Colors, everything, I'm impressed - I rented one and tried it out to help me decide between this or a 1DX as my next camera (as my 1D Mark IIN is starting to get long in the tooth), to compliment the current setup I have now.

I moved away from zooms, keeping only the 70-200 2.8, and now almost all in primes. 35, 50, 85, 135 are all the lenses I own now, and it's making me a much better photographer, and a lot more careful about how I choose my composition.

[zoobernut]

Kkel yeah I have been working on getting some good photos of damselflies and dragonflies but they are similarly skittish like butterflies. I got lucky with one that was "sleeping" or at least moving slowly because it was cold out. I usually use the 105mm macro but I want to pick up the 200mm macro for some extra working distance for the more skittish insects.

[Kkel]

The AF on the 5D III is miles above what the 5D II was. In fact, the 5D III in my opinion, could be used as a pretty good alternative to a 1D Series for a sports camera (this is not to say it'll replace it) or a 7D. Colors, everything, I'm impressed - I rented one and tried it out to help me decide between this or a 1DX as my next camera (as my 1D Mark IIN is starting to get long in the tooth), to compliment the current setup I have now.

I moved away from zooms, keeping only the 70-200 2.8, and now almost all in primes. 35, 50, 85, 135 are all the lenses I own now, and it's making me a much better photographer, and a lot more careful about how I choose my composition.

I've been thinking the same thing. I've been torn between the 1DX and the 5DIII, although Canon supposedly has two more full frames in the pipeline for this year, one of which being the 4k "C" DSLR they showed off with the C300. I love my 60D, but it's getting pretty beat up. I'm at the point now where full frame full time is just where I need to go next, with my 60D as backup.

I learned to shoot on primes, but I've been shooting much less on them lately (studio only) since I've been traveling so much.

[Zansho]

If it were up to me, I'd grab a 1DX for several reasons: One: weather sealing - hey, shit happens. You need a camera that can handle adverse weather conditions. Two: the AF system is something revolutionary - and it is effective with apertures as "small" as 5.6. That alone, is a winner for me. All my lenses are at least F2 or faster, but the very idea my AF system will work with my lenses even if I stop them down to 5.6?! (hear the fapping in the BG? That's me.) Three: 18MP Full frame CMOS sensor. Yes. Please. I'm aware the 5D III has more MP than the 1DX, but in all honesty, I doubt I'll need 20+ MP for the foreseeable future. 18MP is PLENTY for me. It fits all the work I do (commercial, weddings, portraits, fashion), so I'm happy - my wife won't be though once she finds out the 7K price tag ><.

Considering I have a 1D Mark IIN and a 7D and a (lol) 40D as an emergency backup, I think it's time to get rid of my 1D Mark IIN, and my 40D, and insert the 1DX in the forefront. If you've never handled a 1D series camera, and used one, I wouldn't start now, lol. Once you use one, and get used to it, and know how well it produces, you'll never really want anything else again. It's like going from a NASCAR to a Ford Mustang GT.

[zoobernut]

I know most people here are Canon shooters and I don't want to start any sort of Canon vs. Nikon debate but did anyone see the lab results from DxOMark on the Nikon D800? They are saying it is the best cleanest digital camera sensor they have ever tested, that includes putting it up against phase one sensors. I thought that was pretty amazing in the world of DSLR's and digital cameras. We might be getting close to hitting a ceiling with the current sensor technology which means they will have to focus more on either new sensor technology or other features to make the cameras more ergonomic and better.

Granted I know there are a lot more factors in a camera than just the sensor. This also means that camera companies are going to have to really focus on making top notch glass to go with these extreme sensors.

[Kkel]

I have heard a lot of good things about the D800 and the D4 and there is no doubt that Nikon has dropped some serious hardware. I would love to get my hands on them. I'm just too invested in Canon glass, and Canon's functionality, to make the switch. I can pretty much operate, adjust, tweak, etc my camera with my eyes closed. I've come to rely on that kind of knowing the menus, dials, buttons, for speed shooting.

The 1DX price tag is murder, totally justifiable and worth it, but still murder, heh. It's the direction I'm leaning vs. the 5D Mk.III, which is still an amazing camera, but just doesn't quite hit me like the 1DX does.

[Fhqwghads]

Yeah Zoob the D800 sounds tight as hell. Nikkon shooter here too. Can't make the switch from my D700 though. Just bought an Panny AF100 for video shoots, and all the support gear it needs (rails, follow focus, shoulder mount, m4/3 lenses, etc.) I'll be paying this stuff off for a while hehe.

[thetruepandagod]

I know absolutely nothing of photography but this thread is pretty awesome, what is the minimum amount of money that it will take for me to get a decent set up to have some fun and take some great pictures. Im sure this seems rather asinine as this has probably been asked 100 times before, but any answers or links to informative pages in the thread would be cool.

[Kkel]

Some of the decision will depend on what you're going to shoot and if you want to dive into DSLR photography, or try out something like Micro 4/3's, or even an advanced Point & Shoot. They all have their pros and cons, depending on what you're looking for. I'm just going to cover DSLRs in brief, since that is what I shoot on. I have friends who swear by M4/3's, but I've never shot on one so I can't really attest to any of them. The P&S category is quickly succumbing to powerful cellphone cameras like the iPhone 4S, but there is a new breed of advanced P&S arising like the Canon G12/GX that are crazy awesome.

DSLR: Digital Single Lens Reflex. [Wikipedia] These are the larger body, 35mm, cameras that most of the people in this thread use and the vast majority of professionals swear by (Medium/Large Format are a different story). They cover a huge range of styles, functionality, power, and price points. The two big players here are Canon and Nikon, though Sony, Olympus, Sigma, and Pentax also make DSLR bodies. They are all feature packed, full of crazy sensors, massive megapixels, etc, but one of the biggest factors here is lenses, since investing in a DSLR body is really investing in a camera + lens ecosystem. Over the life of most serious photographers, lenses will typically end up costing more than camera bodies.

Entry level DSLRs like the Canon T2i or T3i, or the Nikon D3100 or D5100, will usually run you between $500 and $700 on sites like Amazon and are almost always available in different "kits" that include lenses. Don't let "Entry Level" fool you though, these are still amazing cameras and are an awesome way to jump into DSLRs.

Some of the cameras we've been talking about recently are the Prosumer and Professional cameras that were just released by both Canon and Nikon, including the Canon 5D Mk.III ($3400) and 1DX ($6800) and the Nikon and D800 ($2500) and D4 ($6000).

There is also a huge middle ground, so it's not hard to find a great, feature filled DSLR, at a good price, to suit your needs.

DSLR Pros:
- Outstanding Image Quality: DSLRs represent the best of the best in cameras these days (again, barring Medium/Large Format).
- Versatility: The ability to change lenses opens up a world of opportunities. Wide angle, telephoto, macro, the real power of DSLRs is in the lenses.
- More Than Photos: Most modern DSLRs have amazing video options. The Canon 5D Mk.II has been used to shoot TV shows and feature films. I've personally been on crews (as a unit photographer) that shot entire shows/films on Canon 7D's and T2i's with amazing result. The video side of DSLRs is like a whole other universe.
- Fun: I suppose that's a matter of opinion, but I love my camera. It's art and technology mashed into one. It looks awesome and does awesome things. I love all the fine tuning I can do, the adjustments, the options, and all the little details that go into being a photographer.

DSLR Cons:
- Cost: DSLRs can easily become an expensive hobby, especially once you start to get into lens options. There are a billion accessories available, and if you get serious, software soon follows.
- Size: Granted, cameras like the T3i pack huge imaging power into a small DSLR body, but make no mistake, these things aren't going to fit in your pocket. You will inevitably succumb to the endless search for the perfect bag.
- Connectivity: This is becoming more of an issue now-a-days, though there are solutions in place. DSLRs just aren't designed to directly connect to today's common social outlets. You won't be snapping an awesome photo and instantly sending it to Twitter, Flickr, 500px, Facebook, G+, etc etc.
- Learning Curve: Even the most basic DSLR is packed with options and there is a lot to learn about the technology and techniques involved. Like any serious hobby or profession, you'll probably want to know more and more as you get further into it, and there is a lot to learn.

There's a lot more that goes into it, but I'll let some of the other photographers here dive in, especially the Nikon guys, since I'm a Canon shooter. If you decide to go DSLR, there a couple more steps to take before deciding.