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sunderz

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chris
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hi all :wave:

hope you can give me some advise pointers, im looking in the next few months at settign a studio/office up, and requiring new gear body/lens/tripods etc..

the kit i have been useing id my D80 body and a range of lenses i borrow from my friend and my dad. but now that im going it alone would like to invest in my own stuff and also upgrade/ get a second body.

Type of work: the type of work i hope to do it comercial (staged) photography along with events weddings, club nights etc, and also studio shoots. i LOve macro photography too but lens wise ill be buying my dad's 105mm off him.

current equipment: Nikon D80 18-135 kit lens
Sb-600

i would like to upgrade my body but want opinions from users not just reveiws.

initial thoughts on lenses is i woul like a full range of kit from a fish eye through to a telephoto i have drawn up a rough list of 3/4 lenses all nikon brand but would like your input for me to make the best from the budget.

My budget is £5,000-£7,000 dependant on what im gettign for the money if a D3x was included then it would easily be closer £7,000 :eek:

your thoughts for : Body,Lenses,2x tripods (1 studio, 1 on location), ring flash, storage, spare batteries etc. (could spend less and just build my collection up as i go mind..)

bit long winded and may sound a bit mental but would require a few ideas/pointers on gear as never required to buy stuff as been able to borrow it.


My Thoughts :D700 50mm prime 70-200 and the 105 off my dad?? and would like a fish eye/ultra wide angle too....

your thoughts guys

regards

chris
 
The D3x is a studio camera so forget it for what you want and get a D3s.

The "holy trinity" of lenses are worth looking ie 12-24 f2.8, 24-70 f2.8 & 70-200 f2.8 vr2

I would also look at the AFS 50mm f1.4

Don't forget an SB900

PM Stuart at Digital Depot if you are getting that lot and he will do you a special deal. Tell him Cowasaki from TP sent you and you want a free hat too :lol:

Does your budget include studio lighting? If so go and have a look at Lencarta's web site. The 200w range are really rather good but I like the Elitepro 300w or as I bought the Safari range.
 
2 bodies, not one. If you're doing it for a living, you have to have a backup that's good enough to do the job as well.
 
Kaouthia said:
2 bodies, not one. If you're doing it for a living, you have to have a backup that's good enough to do the job as well.
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Indeed, so buy a D3s (hold a D300s in the bag) and 24-70 F2.8, 70-200 F2.8 and 50mm 1.4 and the SB 900 X2 inc stands and umbrellas.

...then go cheap in the ultra wide :lol: :thumbs:
 
The D3x is a studio camera so forget it for what you want and get a D3s.

The "holy trinity" of lenses are worth looking ie 12-24 f2.8, 24-70 f2.8 & 70-200 f2.8 vr2

I would also look at the AFS 50mm f1.4

Don't forget an SB900

PM Stuart at Digital Depot if you are getting that lot and he will do you a special deal. Tell him Cowasaki from TP sent you and you want a free hat too

Does your budget include studio lighting? If so go and have a look at Lencarta's web site. The 200w range are really rather good but I like the Elitepro 300w or as I bought the Safari range.
Click to expand...

na that budget wont be including studio lighting,shooting table etc. i have my eye on some studio stuff from backdrop source, as good prices etc.

yeah the 50mm f1.4 was always on my list :lol:

i would be useing my D80 as a backup for the time being and also have a D200 available to me in the future.

regards

chris
 
The D80 wouldn't really cut it as a pro body, even as a backup. I'd go with what Chris suggests. D3s as the main body and D300s as backup. Or, possibly a D3s and a second hand D3, or even a pair of second hand D3 bodies.

The D200 *could* work, but for the sake of an extra £200 or so, given your overall budget, I'd probably go for a second hand D300 instead of a D200. The D200 uses a CCD sensor, the D300/D300s/D3/D3s use CMOS sensors and can handle much higher ISO ratings than the D200. The D200 also has a slightly crappy AF system (it's good, but crap compared to the 51 point AF with 3D tracking that D300/D3 range of bodies have).
 
I would go D3, is a D3s really needed here? If the body is purely for backup and for emergency use, then maybe a D300 or D300s. If you would use it a bit maybe a D700. You could pick up a second hand D300 for a grand less than a new D700 which would cover extra glass!

Lens wise, 24-70 Nikon, 70-200 Nikon, 85mm 1.4 Nikon. If you need wide angle then the 12-24 Nikon. I suggest the 85mm as that would be a perfect portrait lens on FF. A couple of SB900s and away you go. Redsnapper for tripods.
 
yeah i was thinking i might be able to get away with it and gain an extra lens from the budget. but never considered second hand kit.
whats your opinions of the Nikon 135mm f2 D AF DC Lens?? i've read good things?
 
sunderz said:
yeah i was thinking i might be able to get away with it and gain an extra lens from the budget. but never considered second hand kit.
whats your opinions of the Nikon 135mm f2 D AF DC Lens?? i've read good things?
Click to expand...

I have been thinking of getting the 105mm DC for a while, both are considered to be the best and sharpest lens there is! If you think you would use it, get one!
 
I have the AFS 105mm f2.8 G which is superb on FF for portraits and lets you stand that little bit further away so you are not so in their face whilst giving pleasing boketh and none of the wide angle noses. If it also a hyper capable macro lens.
 
So my list so far.

Not included in budget is a Nikon 105mm f2.8 G AF-S VR IF ED Micro Nikkor Lens

so few sb900's
Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 G AF-S ED Lens
Nikon 50mm f1.4 D AF Lens
Nikon 70-200mm AF-S Nikkor f2.8G ED VR II Lens

i was very impresesd with my friends
Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 G AF-S VR IF-ED Lens

but the low price puts me off allot! maybe it;s the f4.5-5.6

so excluding the sb900's thats 3045 (warehouse express prices) and a better selection of lenses than i came up with

i was planning on using the 105mm as a portrait as had great results when used befor.?

thanks for all the great input guys!

regards

chris
 
The SB-900 doesn't stop working due to overheating. It has a warning to let you know it's about to overheat. The SB-800 doesn't warn you, it just continues to overheat and eventually dies.

This warning can be disabled on the SB-900, at which point it acts entirely like an SB-800 (except with a 200mm zoom instead of 105mm).

I'd forget the 70-300 though. It's certainly not fast enough, and you'd definitely notice the difference in quality vs. the 70-200mm f/2.8 on something like a D3s. I probably wouldn't bother with the 105mm f/2.8 either if you're getting the 70-200mm. It's f/2.8 throughout, so you can just set it at 105mm and essentially have the same thing for portraits. The only thing you'll lose out on is the macro feature, which isn't required for shooting people.
 
Kaouthia said:
The SB-900 doesn't stop working due to overheating. It has a warning to let you know it's about to overheat. The SB-800 doesn't warn you, it just continues to overheat and eventually dies.

This warning can be disabled on the SB-900, at which point it acts entirely like an SB-800 (except with a 200mm zoom instead of 105mm).
Click to expand...

:thumbs:
 
yeah great lens (105mm)

close up
Image-19.jpg


Portrait
DSC_3520.jpg


the 105 ill be gettign from my dad who has moved over to cannon and wont require it.

ill stick with the 900 then :lol:
 
sunderz said:
So my list so far.

Not included in budget is a Nikon 105mm f2.8 G AF-S VR IF ED Micro Nikkor Lens

so few sb900's
Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 G AF-S ED Lens
Nikon 50mm f1.4 D AF Lens
Nikon 70-200mm AF-S Nikkor f2.8G ED VR II Lens

i was very impresesd with my friends
Nikon 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 G AF-S VR IF-ED Lens

but the low price puts me off allot! maybe it;s the f4.5-5.6

so excluding the sb900's thats 3045 (warehouse express prices) and a better selection of lenses than i came up with

i was planning on using the 105mm as a portrait as had great results when used befor.?

thanks for all the great input guys!

regards

chris
Click to expand...

Don't let low prices put you off things, sometimes things with low prices are good. The 70-300 isn't in the same league as the 70-200 and unless you NEED 200-300 I wouldn't bother with the 70-300. The AF 50mm f1.8 is a superb lens and will auto focus on any camera you would be getting and save you £200. I have the AFS 50mm f1.4 but I had the f1.8 myself and there is not THAT much difference. That would get our total to 2845. With a bit of saving on price for buying the whole lot together you might be able to afford that AFS 105 f2.8G as part of the deal especially if you can muster another £300 ish...... Like I said don't just go with WHE PM Stuart from Digital Depot and I am sure he will be able to come up with a deal.......
 
chears guys my veiw was the other way round that if im spending all that cash the extra to get the 50mm 1.4 over the 1.8 wouldnt be an issue, i found the 300 good when i had it but i wont miss it till i need it as is always the case but like you said if they are in a totally different league then the better performance of the 70-200 will outweigh the extra 200-300 range. and tbh i havent really needed to go that long only used it when i had the lens for the day. i intend to aporoach my local suplier who have been very good to me in the past for stuff to see what they can "sort out" for me but needed a finalised list **** when there is so much to choose from when i've never had to buy was the problem.

would also love to have a play with a PC style lens as from what i've seen i think creativly produce some great images but i think thats one to look at in the future.

regards

chris
 
mastertrinity said:
lens wise you could get;

tamron 28-75mm f2.8
nikon 70-200mm f2.8
nikon 105mm f2.8
nikon 50mm f1.4
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Would you pit a Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 against a Nikon AFS 24-70 f2.8 ??

I'd rather shave a bit off the budget by getting the AF 50mm f1.8 than saving money on what will be the most used lens (probably).
 
suppose the extra £100 or so saved can go towards the sb900's

thanks

regards

chris
 
whats your thoughts on this lens??

18-200 f/3.5-5.6 G ED VR II

just to throw into an already finalised list.
 
sunderz said:
whats your thoughts on this lens??

18-200 f/3.5-5.6 G ED VR II

just to throw into an already finalised list.
Click to expand...

Its a really good amateur/enthusiast lens. I had one when the D200 was my main camera but as it is only for cropped cameras I gave it to Mrs Cowasaki for the new D300 I bought her for Christmas and got myself a 24-70 and 80-200 instead :) It is the ultimate walk about and do anything lens really.
 
sunderz said:
whats your thoughts on this lens??

18-200 f/3.5-5.6 G ED VR II

just to throw into an already finalised list.
Click to expand...

in short, no.

If you've got the 70-200 2.8, you will never even take the 70-300 out of the box, ever.

And you will want to spend more on lighting than the backdrop source sets :) elemental lighting, lencarta, bowens or elinchrom (though beware less cheap mods available for elin.). Don't skimp. Don't get the cheapest sets.
 
D700 is more than enough. In fact I can't see any reason why D80 would fail at anything maybe except low light wedding scenes (With LR3 and a prime it may be enough). It is too easy to get carried away when spending money. It will be a while until you could utilise the advantage of D3? over D700. Glass is the key, and primes are worth it when it comes to stock, staged and studio, portrait photography. f/2.8 zooms hold their own too. You also want to spend money on lights and light modifiers.
 
daugirdas said:
D700 is more than enough. In fact I can't see any reason why D80 would fail at anything maybe except low light wedding scenes (With LR3 and a prime it may be enough). It is too easy to get carried away when spending money. It will be a while until you could utilise the advantage of D3? over D700. Glass is the key, and primes are worth it when it comes to stock, staged and studio, portrait photography. f/2.8 zooms hold their own too. You also want to spend money on lights and light modifiers.
Click to expand...

that has always been in the back of my mind when seeing the total for my gear and why i could justify the extra cost of a D300s just a back up when my D80 has served well. all my work i have shot with my D80 and kit lens. my veiw was always invest in glass and the rest is photographic eye for a shot.

few pickies of work with D80 and 18-135 kit lens.

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Portfolio%20(42%20of%2044).jpg

Portfolio%20(43%20of%2044).jpg


regards
 
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