Camera & Lense Recommendation

kwirky · #1 07-14-2006, 06:49 AM

reeferaddict was stating a good point earlier about IS not helping with fast moving objects.

If you're on a budget, you can go for a good non-IS lense, and put that investment into a good tripod and a monopod. You MUST have those handy for lots of shots, and I'd choose a tripod/monopod over an IS lense. I love my monopod. Special ordered the Manfrotto 680B (monopod 16" when compacted), and the #234 rotating head. I take it out with my whenever I go out photographing. No need for an IS system

I also use the wired remote, so I can just hold the monopod steady, and my pressing of the button doesn't cause any motion blur.

and I don't think ANY is lense would handle touchy macro shots well, especially if you get into adding extension tubes and other stuff. A tripod can't really screw up (unless you have a cheap head. then it sucks)

and the tripod/mono pod are investments you probably will NEVER bother upgrading, but will get LOTS of use from. Stay away from ball heads if you want something long lasting, and just remember to tighten till it's just snug. Overtightening shortens the life of your head.

Once you've been photographing for a while, you can then decide on what to spend your money on for specialty lenses. Just like how reefaddict first bought a rebel, then upgraded to a 20D based on his own experience he got from using the Rebel. (and how I bought a digitel rebel, then a film Elan, and now I'm thinking of going pro-medium format Hasselblad. Film vs. gear *grins*). I think he also said he never had a "real" macro lense. Me neither, as I use extension tubes, and I'm contemplating a bellows system, as I might be able to get one for a great deal.

I myself like straight, non-zoom lenses, but that's my tastes

Oh, and for low light photography, go film

Supplement your digital with a film body. The body won't cost more than $250 new anyways, with today's film body prices. And a profesional film processing center can develop your film, and scan it for you on a great machine, giving you like a 20 megapixel or higher image in most cases. You can get some nice high speed film, and you can even pull it down a bit and get amazing photographs out of it for low light.

And buy a Holga! lmao. you'll love it hehe (can you tell i'm an art student? lmao)

oh and I've started building a 4x5 view camera for macro photography. I can give anyone plans for it once I'm finished if they're interested. It'll be a multi-lense system, not costing me more than $100 to build. Getting the glass from an optical surplus. 200 megapixels of film, baby, yeah!

TheReefGeek · #2 07-14-2006, 02:47 PM

Do you take your monopod hiking? I am buying this camera partly for my vacation on Vancouver island.

reeferaddict · #3 07-14-2006, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

Do you take your monopod hiking? I am buying this camera partly for my vacation on Vancouver island.

Well DO make sure you look me up so you can see some of this "L" glass in person!

TheReefGeek · #4 07-14-2006, 06:36 PM

Where is Mill Bay?

reeferaddict · #5 07-14-2006, 06:47 PM

North of Victoria - 30 minutes...

shadowboy · #6 07-14-2006, 06:54 PM

sigma and leica have announced a whole new line of lenses, some with IS. With the 4/3rds system, any lenses designed for panasonic, samsung or kodak will all be compatable for olympus as well. With the 4/3rds your also going to be dealing with samller lighter lenses and a larger CCD. So even if olympus drops the line ( which hopefully won't happen) There will still be lenses out there for it.

tb

TheReefGeek · #7 07-14-2006, 06:56 PM

Shadowboy, good infor thank.

Reeferadict, the cracked sigma 70-300, is that the APO or not?

reeferaddict · #8 07-14-2006, 09:29 PM

Rory - not the APO version... if you're out this way you're welcome to take it for a test drive... FWIW it's actually not a bad lens at all if you have decent light, I found it quite sharp to tell you the truth - it just can't begin to compare to higher end lenses though...

Shadowboy - I looked at 4/3 when I was buying because I actually like the aspect. The problem with DSLR's outside of the big two are technology shifts, and people jumping in and out of the pool leaving camera owners flapping in the breeze. Minolta, (now Sony), Kodak, Sigma, Olympus and others are so clearly the "followers" they are at a disadvantage. I know you will say that Sony's in-camera IS is their own or Minolta's, which it IS... but it is also simply a new twist on Canon technology that has been around for years. I for one, have invested a lot of time and money into my system and sure wouldn't like to see my products just disappear from market because sales weren't high enough to warrant continued development and production. Also look at the lines of accessories and lenses available for each camera... NOBODY compares to Canon in that aspect... just my 2 cents.

shadowboy · #9 07-22-2006, 12:46 AM

It seems most people say to buy the rebel just as a body and spend money on a better lens right away. HAve you been out and tried the rebel?
if so what did u think of it? I still think it feels like a toy.
and even though that with the e-500 doesnt have a status lcd on the top all others you need a flashlight at night tiem to see it, so its not that important in my eyes

tb