What photography gear do you have?

[bored4long]

Not entirely off topic since it seems natural for some hobbyists to pick up a DSLR to photograph their reef inhabitants...

I'm currently researching DSLRs and lenses and am very interested in what the local hobbyists are using. The following information would be very much appreciated:

Body:
Lenses:
Tripod:
"Go To" lens for reef:
Years (or months) of experience:
Main type of photography (landscape, macro (coral), portrait, etc):
Your next photo gear purchase:

At all costs let's avoid a Nikon vs Canon debate, please.

Any additional comments, lessons learned, regrets, or other would be awesome.
Thanks!

 

[jthao]

mark..... I have a Nikon D80, and I can honestly tell you it's a great camera, and does more than I will ever need a DSLR for, but if you're going to spend this much money ($1500+)... get a canon 40D. I'll trade my D80 for a canon 40D in a heartbeat. should've known when I was shopping for cameras. (stupid guy at ritz sold me the D80 cuss they didn't have any 40Ds in stock.... they just wanna move products they have on hand.)

 

[Nuuze]

I have the following:

Nikon D80
Nikkor 18-200mm VR
Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G micro VR
Nikkor 50 mm f/1.8D

Nikon wireless IR remote

LowePro Slingshot 100 AW bag
Cheapy tripod
2GB SD
SD card/USB reader

At the time of purchase I bought both the Nikon D80 and Canon Rebel Xti and used them for a week. They took very similar pics but the Nikon D80 grip just felt better in my hand.

 

[bored4long]

Mike, where did you purchase your bodies? Was there a restocking fee on the XTi?

 

[Nuuze]

At the time, I bought them at Ritz Camera. No, they did no charge me restocking fee.

 

[ReefnAv]

Mark - you already now what I have but did you talk to Pete? He found a screaming deal on the 40D. If you don't mind the bigger camera to carry around than I would jump on that.

It was just a little big for my "every day" camera...

 

[bored4long]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13193653#post13193653 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefnAv
Mark - you already now what I have but did you talk to Pete? He found a screaming deal on the 40D. If you don't mind the bigger camera to carry around than I would jump on that.

It was just a little big for my "every day" camera...

Yeah, good deal, but I'm not ready to purchase yet. I have never handled the D40 and didn't want to purchase sight unseen. I'm also not really looking to have one until Christmas, so this should give me plenty of time to decide on my gear and wait for a great sale.

 

[gem]

Mark, I (well, my daughter) have the Canon REbel XTi. Tripod, monopod. I forget the lenses she has, but the camera is awesome. You'd never know by pics I take with it. But, it's not all about the camera. The person behind the camera has alot to do with picture quality.
There's a little camera shop on Sunrise and (I think) Cirby. The guy is pretty fair in pricing and carriers about everything. I'm sure he has the Nikon and the Canon that he;ll let you check out. I can't remember the name of the place offhand though.

 

[Doahh]

That store on Sunrise and Cirby is Action Camera I think...

 

[gem]

Yeah , I think that's the one. Thanks.

 

[Elite]

I got a brand new Nikon D40x with 2 lens (18-55mm and 55-200mm) from Craiglist for $200 under retail price and no tax.

I bought another 17-200mm len and a SB-600 flash from BHphoto.

Another BAR member sold me a good tripod for a great price .. If you keep looking you will find some really good price.

Here is some of the pics I took with the D40x and 17-200mm len.. I'm very new to photography. Good camera helps a lot

This pic is photoshoped... Only the boy infront is real ..

 

[bored4long]

C'mon. I know there are more locals using DSLRs. What do you have?

Also, would anyone be interested in a single or series of photo workshops to help us all improve our photo taking skills? Maybe we can have one of the more senior locals lead?

 

[radiolunatic]

Phong,

Whose planted tank is that?

 

[Reefugee]

This is my wife's current setup. She's using it to learn basic photography skills:

Canon Rebel XTi
Sigma 18-200 f3.5-6.3 DC OS lense
Canon Speedlite 580EX II

She's been very happy with the setup. My only complaint about the XTi is that the viewfinder is horrible compare to some of the other Canon and Nikon viewfinder that I have used. I believe the XSi (replacement for the XTi) has a better viewfinder. In addition, it has "LiveView" which is nice for underwater photography. IMO, if you do underwater photography (when scuba diving), you really want a good viewfinder, and the "LiveView" is a big bonus.

So instead of buying the casing to make the XTi an underwater camera, we're just going to purchase a completely new setup. Why invest $2500 in a underwater casing for a camera you're not 100% satisfy with. The XTi will be our daughters on-land camera. She'll inherit my wife's current underwater setup (point and shoot, underwater casing, and current underwater strobe). My wife will get the following setup:

Furture Purchase (within 2 years) for underwater photography
Canon 40 (or comparable replacement at the time)
Canon EF 50mm f2.5 macro
Canon EF 15mm f2.8 fisheye
Sea and Sea MDX-40D underwater housing plus dome ports for the two lense above
Sea and Sea YS-250Pro (two of them)

Oh, and I will be getting a second job to support her hobby. ;-) And I thought reefing was expensive.

Minh

 

[Reefugee]

Mark,

Do you scuba dive? If you do, there is a local club that has combined photography with scuba diving. They do a lot of land shooting as well. A lot of semi-pro photographer in the club who are more than willing to share their knowledge. If you are interested in joining the club, let me know.

BTW - my wife is planning a zoo photoshoot contest for club members in September. The more seasoned photographers will be helping the newbies (like my wife) with her skills. Anyway - it's going to be a great way for newbies to learn how to use their cameras.

Minh

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13206430#post13206430 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bored4long
Also, would anyone be interested in a single or series of photo workshops to help us all improve our photo taking skills? Maybe we can have one of the more senior locals lead?

 

[bored4long]

Thank, Minh.
Those underwater cases are expensive!

How does your wife like the Sigma 18-200 OS? Sounds like an excellent budget zoom.

 

[Reefugee]

No kidding about those underwater housing. Those cases run anywhere from $2500 on up. Then the ports are about $400 each. The underwater strobe is about $1000 each - and that doesn't include the arms and base. It's a freaking expensive hobby.

My wife likes the Sigma 18-200 OS. It's good for daytime shots. For night time, the f stop is too big. Since we're not professional photographers, the quality of the image looks great to us. My wife wants to get a EF 70-200 f2.8L IS USM for her wildlife photography. But for our all purpose carry around lense, we will probably use the Sigma 18-200 OS because of the broad range of zoom. The Sigma 18-200 DC OS lense received a lot of positive reviews.

BTW - I wished I didn't purchase the flash. We have never used it. The built in flash have been pretty good for the stuff we need (on land).

Minh

 

[bored4long]

FYI: BestBuy is now offering 20% off all lenses when you purchase a DSLR at the same time. I'm going to stop by after work to see what they have in stock and what my out of door cost would be for a 450D + 100mm macro and 10-22mm wide angle. Wish me luck!

 

[jthao]

good luck!!! let us know what you got.

 

[Balgie]

Canon 40D - Like it
17-40mm F4 L - Like it
70-200mm F4 L - Like it

My next purchase will either a macro or fish eye.

I have a wide and tele.

I like sports and nature...

I have my first photo class tomorrow!!!!

Can't wait

Good luck with your buy.

Got my lenses through B&H and body at Best Buy (with lens that I sold)

My red house is my Flikr