Equipment Show us your gear!

Mhm. Horses for courses. My boss is a wedding photographer and has;
24 1.4
35 1.4
50 1.2
85 1.2
100mm Macro
135 f2
16-35 f2.8
24-70
70-200 f2.8 IS

Do I wish I had his 5D mkII? No. Not when he's calling out to his video guy, 'i can't focus without your video light here, light me!'. Other than that, yeah, the canon lens lineup is a big plus and I sure wouldn't mind the 135 f2. With the Iso the D700 puts out, I can't say I'd actually buy an 85 1.2 even if I did have the money for it, not with the speed at which that thing af's.

Availability? Funny that, I didn't have any problems getting my 24-70. I didn't go to a brick and mortar, so maybe that's why. I use grays of westminster and amazon UK.

Price differences, bah. If you've got money to spend on a 14-24, 24-70, 70-200, D700, then what's a few hundred quid here and there

I was obviously mentioning lenses that I felt were worth mentioning with regard to what I'd be interested in. The t/s lenses, 50 1.2, 70-200 F4, aren't lenses I'd be interested in personally. A 14-24 F4 on the other hand. Yes please.

 

Using the center point the 5DII is a great low light focuser, peripheral points is where it suffers (bane of my existence, really ). But this is where Canon bodies excel over Nikon bodies--low light (sp. 1DIII v. D3). The 85L is not the quickest focusing lens out there nor is it the slowest, but it is extremely accurate and most capable for what it was designed for--portraiture and low light. High ISO can't make up for a full stop in background blur/DOF and given the choice I'd much rather shoot at f/1.2 ISO 6400 than f/1.4 ISO 12800. As for cost, I have saved thousands investing in the Canon lineup, and when looking at the tele/supertele lineup...forget about it; the avg. difference is 2K. Cost and availability has always been an issue with Nikon, specifically with higher end glass...it's really no secret. Because you found a 24-70, which should be in stock (back ordered, along with the 14-24, in most camera shops here), doesn't represent them being able to stock other lenses. Granted, with Nikon's better luck in the body dept. Nikkor glass has been that much easier to get. Anyhow I was giving credit where it's due, as you were, regardless of your personal interests.

p.s. I forgot to add the 100-400 and the 400DO to my initial list. Some would even include the 28-300.

 

I KNOW IT IS A HORRIBLE PIC. But all my good gear was in the picture.....so I had to go with the P&S.....

Anyways Left to right (ish):

R-Strap, 2x SB-800, SB-600, 2x AlienBees B800s, Nikkormat EL w/ 35/2 AI-S, Velbon Lightweight Tripod, Holga, N80 w/ 24-85 AF-s, My 2 fav films: Fuji Reala and Neopan1600, Nikon D200 + grip, Nikon D3 w/ 50/1.4, 43-86/3.5 (for the Nikkormat), Sigma 15-30mm (best deal ever), LensBaby, Nikon 80-200/2.8 and, 85/1.8.

Also numerous light stands, umbrellas, softboxes, etc not show...

 

and to chirp in with Nikon/Canon discussion. I am mostly with Greg up there: both systems have advantages and disadvantages. For me the most important thing to consider in choosing is actually what YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL choose. People ask me for advice on cameras. I always say go to a store where you can play with the options and feel which is better. I tell them things to stay away from, but even as a huge Nikon fan I never have told anyone not to purchase canon. I love my Nikons and always will. They allow me to focus on the image and not the camera. For other people just the opposite is true.

Nick

 

Okay, ready for my big list?

Nikon D40x.
50mm F/1.8.
ML-L3 remote.
Extra battery.

Low budget at it's finest!

 

EOS 1D Mark III
EOS 5D Mark II
EOS 1N RS
EOS 1000D

EF 28mm f/2.8
EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
EF 50mm f/1.8 II
EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM
EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
1.4x TC II

Manfrotto 055CLB
Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 Carbon Fibre
Manfrotto 679B Monopod
Manfrotto 804RC2
Manfrotto 322RC2
Manfrotto 234RC

Billingham 335 & 550 Khaki bags

Hasselblad 500CM (1992) + 80mm T* + Polaroid Back

Then add a bunch of batteries, cables and other associated bumph. I'll take a picture

Alrighty, pics! The 400 DO and 15 Fish are off "visiting" (aka: leant them to a friend for a month or so, but I've got a shot of the 400 with the 5D2 ontop)

 

That's a lotta Manfrotto love right there (I'm guilty too )

Right just picture a Sinar 5x4 and you're done for me. Too much stuff to list, I sometimes forget I have things stashed away. "Ohhhh a Holga... and 20 rolls of 120 film!"

 

I love Manfrotto! I use the 055CLB as my heavy duty tripod, the 190CX as my portable and the monopod for the 400mm or the 70-200 with the 1.4x TC on. I'm mainly guilty of swapping heads a lot...

 

Oh snap! Haha just checked and I do indeed have a 055CLB atm with a 804RC2 head. I need a good geared head soon though as it doesn't feel sturdy enough, especially on these windy nights.

 

Got myself some Nikkor manual focus lenses to use on my D700. Paid 25 euros per lens, plus another 40 euros per lens to get them serviced (both had sticking aperture rings). Total of 65 euros per lens. Not bad, but not great either, considering the leg work I had to do to get them working again.

Both lenses;



Micro Nikkor 55mm f2.8 ai-s



Nikkor 135 f2.8 ai-s



Shot with D700 and 135mm f2.8 ai-s





D700 and Micro Nikkor 55mm f2.8 ai-s



Enjoying these so far

 

I have that same 55mm here at work (found it in an abandoned box) but it is leaking grease and is seriously stiff to focus. Thinking of sending it to Nikon to see how much it would cost to get fixed.

 

I've heard that stiff focusing lenses are more of a pain to sort out and more costly to get serviced. What I had done to mine was just a cleanout of the glass and removal of some grease that was making the aperture ring stick. I'll be interested to see what they quote you though.

 

This thread is incredible.. LOL

You've all got FAR more gear than me and this is what I do for a living

I used to have everything... from 35mm to 5x4.. all lenses... everything. Sold it all.

My current gear? A couple of battered D2Xs with 200,000 shots each, and a D80. a 14mm fisheye, a 20mm prime, a 18-70 and a 70-300. That's it. If I need anything else I hire it... works out cheaper for me.

 

I was thinking the same thing. I have D700 and D200 and I typically keep it light by only taking the 17-35, 50 and 70-200. I was using the d200 this weekend for soccer shots for the extra reach and it did very well. Right now, batteries are the bane of my existence from the weight.

I have the Tamron 28-75 but never pack it anymore.

 

I take you shoot just about everything with flash?

I got my D80 in Oct 07, and have slowly acquired the gear I have now. It also helps that I live with my parents (am 22) and don't have expenses.

That's the funny thing. I find myself taking the primes out with me more and more and leaving the zooms at home, for the sake of saving weight. Having 35mm, 85mm and 135mm is just so much convenient, and inconspicuous, than a 70-300VR, or 24-70. I pretty much just have the two zooms for events now days, and for the odd wide.

That's the thing though, if you're shooting for a living, you're going to have the bare essentials, because of all the costs involved in running a business and so on. If you've got a regular job, and do photography as a hobby and maybe the odd event, then you can afford to splash out. Besides, I don't spend my money on going to concerts, pissing it up with friends, I don't have a car (use the parents ), so this is my entertainment.

 

Keeping it light with the 70-200 EH? Yeah...

I've started using primes more and more when I'm out doing a spot of street photography. I leave my 70-300VR and 24-70 at home. Mostly this is just because I want to be more discreet and attract less attention. The lighter load is an added bonus.

Batteries, bane of your existence, heh? You lost me The extra batteries are 'weight'? Problem is the batteries, not the 70-200?

 

Meh try using Canon 70-200 for street photography. You get some looks I tell you. My 24-70 mostly lives on my 5D.

 

Work out more. The 70-200 is easily hand holdable all day long. It's not heavy. The quality/range/size makes it a work horse of a lens.

+1

Are you referring to having the MB-D10 grip with 2 EN3's? or to the fact that you have to carry spares? And have you considered switching to the EN4?

 

Actually yeah, the 70-200 is heavy. Compared to my 70-300VR or my 135mm f2.8 ai-s Compared to a 600 F4 VR, then no it isnt It's all relative. I'm gonna go for the 70-200VR II when it drops off RRP later next year. I'll use it for events. Nothing else. As I say, it's not so much the weight as it is a rather large 'look at me' lens to carry around for street photography.

 

The MB-D10 only holds one EN3 but I don't use it that much. I used to use it with the adapter with 8 NiMH rechargables which, in conjunction with flash needs, prompted me to carry a bag of 16+ spare NiMH batteries, which are rediculously heavy. The nikon batteries are not heavy, to me, the NiMH are, which is why I have given up on them and now use Lithium AA batteries, much lighter and more punch.

Yes, the 70-200 and 17-35 are relatively heavy. But they are typically hanging from my neck and I don't resent the equipment I use. In the context of "lightening up" I was referring to the stuff that I am forced to bring because I "may" use it. Batteries are the main problem in that category.

A typical example is my last concert shoot, I was asked to come 2.5 hours early. Typically, that means that they want some shots prior to the show that will involve a VIP situation. So I schlep a lightstand, umbrella and some extra lighting stuff. Turns out I never needed it and had to stash it in a closet during the show instead of walking a back to my car.

If the 70-300 would suit my needs in low-light concert photography, I would opt for it in a heartbeat but it's simply not up for it and the 70-200 really isn't that bad.