Opinions on gear I've ordered?

Mark.A

Mark.A

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Mark
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Whilst I'm waiting patiently for my new camera gear to arrive I thought I'd post and see what you all think to what I've ordered.

Here's the list:

  • Nikon D80
  • Battery grip for the above
  • Remote control for the D80
  • 2 x ENEL3e Batteries
  • 2 x SanDisk 4GB SDHC cards
  • 2 x SB-600's
  • 1 x SB-800
  • 3 x Pro studio light stands with umbrella mounts
  • 2 x 36" shoot through umbrellas / 1 x 36" solid/silver umbrella
  • Pro Tripod with Ball head
  • Flash bracket - Hakuba LH1 with Ball Head
  • Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4.5 HSM DC Macro
  • Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 EX DC HSM
  • Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG Macro
  • Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG MACRO
  • 500mm Tamron SP + Nikon adaptall mount
  • 58mm Circular Polarizer
  • 72mm Circular Polarizer
  • Macro extension tube set
  • 80cm light tent
  • Lowepro Fastpack 250 Backpack
  • Portable card reader/storage 80GB
  • 500GB External drive (not really camera gear but it's to store all the photos)

I think that's about it. :lol: I can't wait for it all to arrive now.

I already have some studio gear, I have a large outbuilding that I'm setting up as a studio. I've still got quite a bit of work to do on that yet, it needs clearing out, decorating and re-carpeting. It should be done in the next month or two though.

Any comments on what I've ordered?.. :)
 
Surely it would have been better to ask for advice, before you bought it???:shrug:

Personally, I've never used or owned any of the above, but it would seem to be good quality gear. You have all focal lengths covered with fairly fast glass, and seem to have thought of everything else:lol:

Good luck with it all:woot:
 
I think it sounds pants :p ;)

If thats all in one shopping basket...I hope you're not married :lol:

What kind of operation do you plan on running from your studio?? :)
 
Yes, I have bought all that in one go but no it's not a bragging thread, I'm not bragging, I'm just excited at finally getting started with a proper D-SLR kit and wanted to see what you lot on here thought of the gear. I've been dying to get this gear for well over a year but haven't had the means to get it, recently I've come in to some money and so I've now ordered the gear.

I did ask for advice on all of it before settling on this list of gear, I just didn't ask on this forum. I only found this forum last week and I'd already settled on this list well before then. I researched all I could and with the advice I got this is the list I finally settled on after a lot of humming and ahhing(sp?). I did spend a lot of time researching things and trying to work out the best kit for me and I think I've done that.

purpleclouds - it might sound pants but I bet it feels great! :p :lol:

Yes it's all in one shopping basket (well a few different shopping baskets actually) and yes I am married, lol. The answer to your next question is yes, she does know about it. :p ;)

The studio is so I can do portraiture but I can use it for other setups as well if I need to- like still lifes, macro's or whatever. How it's all going to go business wise is anyones guess! lol. I'm going to give it my best shot to make a business out of it (even if it's only small scale) but if it never happens then I'll still enjoy doing it all as a hobby. I'm not currently employed because I now have to care for my wife at home, this is part of the reason I've got back into photography. If I can make a business out of something I enjoy and still be able to look after my wife then it's worth a shot in my book. I've always worked in IT until a few years ago, my last job was as a Web Developer/Website Manager and I'm in the process of setting up a website for my photography under the name of Smart Shots Photography. I'll let you guys know when it's ready but it'll be a while yet. I want to have a pretty large portfolio of images before I open the site.
 
It's my first digitial SLR but I have had 35mm SLR's years ago (mid 80's). I dread to think how much it has all cost so I'm not going to look, lol. I know the moneys there to cover it so I'm not worried. I'd guess around £2,500-ish.

Sorry just noticed the question on the Tamron 500mm, yes it is a mirror lens. From my enquiries it's about the best one there is.

As the Nikon D80 has a wireless commander built in I dont need an SU-800. ;)
 
I've been using Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom for a while now so I'm all good on that front. I've ordered the extra batteries for the D80 and I already have a drawer full of rechargeable AA's. Any more I'd need?
 
A bit off tangent here, but still valid I think

I'd forget the carpet for a studio and put a light laminate floor down instead, much easier to work on; and if you really need carpet as a 'background' (i.e. for pets who'd otherwise slide around), off-cuts are then usually big enough to suit and cheap enough to bin when they pee on them!

Other than that, that's one Hell of a single purchase!

DD
 
i don't see what use our opinions would be now if you've bought it and it looks like a bragging thread to me :/
 
Your opinions won't be of much use really, as you say, I've already ordered the gear. I just wanted to see what you guys here thought of the gear I have ordered, seeing as I hadn't asked on here before and being new on this forum I thought it'd be a good way for people here to get to know a bit about me and what I'm doing. I'm not really one for bragging but if you see it that way, fair do's.

Thanks DiddyDave, I'll have a look at the flooring. There is actually a wooden floor in there already but it's a bit banged up. It's a good quality marine grade ply floor so may be I can just clean that up and do something with it.
 
I think it's only a 'bragging' thread if you're jealous; though it is odd to ask opinions on gear after the purchase as any "Jesus, cancel that m8 they're crap" would seriously hurt :lol:

Keep us informed of your progress, with pics too - oh, and by way of explanation... your kit goes from ultra wide to extremely long, just what will you be togging? Or did you just aim to buy a 'I can shoot anything' kit?

:thumbs:

DD
 
Yep, if anyone says well this is better than that, then you'll probably have second thoughts, so may not be doing you any favours...

Suggest updating your "camera bag" part of your profile with your goodies and enjoy once you get them and get posting away with images on the gallery or on posts :thumbs:

Enjoy :clap::clap::clap:
 
Wow, that's a lot of gear for a first step into DSLR.
I also played with SLR back in the 80's and when I bought my first DSLR a few weeks ago, I didn't consider anywhere near as much kit to start off with.
I guess if you are confident enough to get on and use it then good luck to you mate.
However, in my case my missus would have shouted 'divorce' if I had even considered a large scale purchase on par with yours :D
 
DiddyDave - I want to try out just about everything in photography at the minute, although it's more a 'Can I shoot anything' kit than a 'I can shoot anything' kit. :lol: ;)

I went through loads of the 'this is better than that' topics when I was sorting out what gear to get so a few more now wouldn't influence my decision, my list was written in stone quite a while ago, lol. You'll always find supporters of one thing over another, you just have to find out why they support it and see if you agree. I did that and ended up with my list.

Thanks for the advice markta, I'll update the list in my profile when I manage to find it. They'll be plenty of images for you all to C&C once the gears arrived. ;)

hashcake - It is a lot of gear but I really want to give this venture my best shot and having the right gear for the job can make all the difference. I am lucky with regards to the Mrs, she's great and appreciates my photography and what I'm trying to do.
 
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