Gear advice

[HullBreach]

Well, I unexpectedly came into a little extra cash recently, and Im looking to upgrade my camera kit some (taking a short break from buying more bolt-ons for the Z).

Currently Im using a Canon Digital Rebel XT with the kit lens it came packadged with. My tripod is a hand-me-down from the 80's that needs replacement REALLY bad.

Im completely clueless as to what I need in terms of a tripod (so many different makes and models out there!), so any advice is welcome advice in this department.

Also, Im playing around with picking up this lens:
Amazon.com: Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Digital SLR Lens for EOS Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-EF-S-Macro-Digital-Cameras/dp/B0007WK8KS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1203369453&sr=1-4)

The reviewers say it actually does a really good job as a portrait lens along with its Macro duties. Im not sure how much Macro photography I'll be doing, but I would like a prime lens for portrait work, so this sounds pretty good for me. Also, because its an EF-S, no goofy focal lenght multipliers to deal with.

Once again, advice is totally welcome!

[HullBreach]

Looking at this lens as well:
Amazon.com: Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-Medium-Telephoto-Cameras/dp/B00009XVCZ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1203370468&sr=1-3)

Not sure how hot it would be though, as the 1.6 multiplier makes it an 80mm prime.

[Hater]

Chirs recommend this (http://cgi.ebay.com/AMVONA-PRO-PHOTO-CAMERA-TRIPOD-KIT-BALL-HEAD-AT-3052_W0QQitemZ180214186560QQihZ008QQcategoryZ30094 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) one for me

Said its a Chinese knock off of a very expensive one. Im waiting for mine but at that price you cant beat it!

also its nice and heavy!

[budakinns]

yeah i just missed a bid for a 50mm f1.8 by 2 minutes but i somehow won 2 bids on a 35-80mm f4-5.6 and 28-90mm f4-5.6. Most likely going to resell the 35-80mm due to i dont need it now that i won the other auction. Gonna sell it for 75 or trade it for a 50mm f1.8 once it comes in and i test it out.

As for a tripod almost every one i know have the one from walmart thats like 20 bucks. Its but a baller one but it gets the job done and is cheap

[HullBreach]

yeah i just missed a bid for a 50mm f1.8 by 2 minutes but i somehow won 2 bids on a 35-80mm f4-5.6 and 28-90mm f4-5.6. Most likely going to resell the 35-80mm due to i dont need it now that i won the other auction. Gonna sell it for 75 or trade it for a 50mm f1.8 once it comes in and i test it out.

As for a tripod almost every one i know have the one from walmart thats like 20 bucks. Its but a baller one but it gets the job done and is cheap

I was looking at those 50mm f1.8's but was a little leary about them as some folks said they are really prone to falling apart.

As for the tripod, i think Im going to take your advise and just get a heavy cheapo one for the time being.

Oh, and any advice on hot-shoe flashes? Is it worth the extra money for the Cannon branded ones?

[.:Chris:.]

A) Get the 50mm 1.8. You won't find a lens that's as sharp as that for less than thousands of dollars.

B) Amvona tripods are great for the price, very sturdy. Buy them on eBay, they're a fraction of the retail price listed on amvona.com (I paid $39.50 shipped for a tripod that's listed as $169 or something like that). I can't say how the walmart tripod is, haven't ever used one... but everyone here seems to use 'em.

C) You want a flash that works with Canon's TTL (through the lens) metering system. I can't remember what it's called, but make sure it's got TTL metering. I think the late model Sigma flashes (http://www.sigmaphoto.com/flashes/flashes_flashes_details.asp?id=3257)are compatible, but I'm not really sure.

[HullBreach]

A) Get the 50mm 1.8. You won't find a lens that's as sharp as that for less than thousands of dollars.

Okay, just need one bit of clarifacation on A, would you recommend the 50mm f1.8 (which I can get for between $50-75) over the 50mm 1.4 (which runs a little closer to $350, but has a much higher build quality)?

Im just concerned about the build quality on the cheaper one, as there are stories about them literally falling apart.

[.:Chris:.]

I don't shoot Canon so it's hard to comment on build quality. Nikon has similar lenses (price, aperture and focal length), and I have the f/1.8.

Consider this - you could have three lenses fall apart and then buy a fourth one... and still be ahead of the game. I really don't see the extra half stop of aperture being incredibly useful to you.

[Mars_302]

the 1.8 is a nice lens for the price. The 1.4 also has the USM, the 1.8 is just normal focus setup motor. If you dont use your tripod I wouldbnt worry about it a lot, but I have seen a lot of pros in magazine columns say there is a world of difference, more than you think between a $40 tripod and those $500 ones with $300 ball heads.

[HullBreach]

I don't shoot Canon so it's hard to comment on build quality. Nikon has similar lenses (price, aperture and focal length), and I have the f/1.8.

Consider this - you could have three lenses fall apart and then buy a fourth one... and still be ahead of the game. I really don't see the extra half stop of aperture being incredibly useful to you.

Good point, I'll go with the cheap one and spend the money I saved on a good flash.

[Mars_302]

yeah i just missed a bid for a 50mm f1.8 by 2 minutes but i somehow won 2 bids on a 35-80mm f4-5.6 and 28-90mm f4-5.6. Most likely going to resell the 35-80mm due to i dont need it now that i won the other auction. Gonna sell it for 75 or trade it for a 50mm f1.8 once it comes in and i test it out.

As for a tripod almost every one i know have the one from walmart thats like 20 bucks. Its but a baller one but it gets the job done and is cheap

honestly just sell em both and look for the 28-105 3.5-4.5 USM Mark II

[budakinns]

yeah i just got them so i can practice with it. Once i feel like ive learned what i need to with a shitty lenses then ill step it up and start getting the good canon ones.

[HullBreach]

yeah i just got them so i can practice with it. Once i feel like ive learned what i need to with a shitty lenses then ill step it up and start getting the good canon ones.

Hell that new IS kit lens they're putting in with the XTi's is pretty nice, Ive played around with picking one of those up to replace the POS that came with mine.

[budakinns]

yeah those IS lenses are sweet stuff would love to get the EF-S 50mm f1.8 IS lens but dont have 400 to spend at this time

[Mars_302]

yeah i just got them so i can practice with it. Once i feel like ive learned what i need to with a shitty lenses then ill step it up and start getting the good canon ones.


it is a cheap one, its only about $200 used but its a good all around lens

[HullBreach]

Picked up the f1.8 50mm and a new tripod with head.

Also learned a very valuable lesson: When you upgrade firmware on a Cannon DSLR it turns shoot without card back on. So its a really good idea to make sure you put the fucking card back in the camera before you blow a day shooting pictures and not realizing NONE OF THEM WERE SAVED.

Man I felt like such a tool.

Well next thing Im going to be looking at is a faster CF storage card (I have a 3 year old 4gb Microdrive thats great, but kinda slow) and a good telephoto.

[HUGHJASS]

Is the 60 prime an IS lens also?

[Mars_302]

any lens thats a fixed focal length is a prime

[Mars_302]

Picked up the f1.8 50mm and a new tripod with head.

Also learned a very valuable lesson: When you upgrade firmware on a Cannon DSLR it turns shoot without card back on. So its a really good idea to make sure you put the fucking card back in the camera before you blow a day shooting pictures and not realizing NONE OF THEM WERE SAVED.

Man I felt like such a tool.

Well next thing Im going to be looking at is a faster CF storage card (I have a 3 year old 4gb Microdrive thats great, but kinda slow) and a good telephoto.

dont you ever recheck your shoots after shooting?

[HUGHJASS]

= Image Stabilization

[HullBreach]

dont you ever recheck your shoots after shooting?

I was in bright sunlight and the screen washes out so bad its almost impossible to see. I have my unit set up to show the last image taken for like 10 seconds or until the next shot is snapped, so I almost never have to access the card.