Fortkentdad
Senior Member
Have some tax money coming back - a little of which will go into my "fun money" account. We are talking a few hundred not thousands.
Going to pick up a monopod (started another thread about that - about $100-$150 with head I think).
And I'd like to get a new lens.
Wish I could afford a 70 (80)-200 F/2.8 but those I've seen tend to be at the top end of what I'd have to spend and then some. Least pricey one I've found on Kijijji is about $600 and is the push-pull I have no aversion to push-pull but don't think you can use a tripod mount and I'm thinking with that lens you should. There is a Tamron for about $800 and a bit ( Tamron SP AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD IF Macro ) but really really over the top on my budget. And some say the older 80-200 Nikons that can be had for about the same dollar are actually better. (Will be doing more research into that lens). I do have a 70-210mm push-pull Nikon which I did take out for a walk today and I do like it.
I did a photo-shoot a week ago and used my 28-70 AF-D F/3.5-5.6. I really wasn't all that happy with the images. This weekend another children's photo shoot. Decided to go with my 60mm Micro F/2.8 (the most expensive lens in my bag, new last year). Much better - but it was not ideal because I'd have to pick up the tripod and move in when there was a baby on the bunny's lap, and take six steps back when the whole fam-damly was in the picture. It was OK. Images turned out great. I had toyed with the idea of being tethered to my Tablet using DSLR Dashboard - glad I wasn't tethered. SO - that's got me thinking that while the 80-200 F 2.8 would be nice I'd probably get more milage out of a shorter 2.8 zoom. To that end I started looking at zooms that start about 24-35 and go from 70 up to 135 - some even to 200. Primes are great but not versatile enough for a photo-shoot if you are going to get tethered (unless I go wireless which could happen too).
I've been MS-Windows shopping and looking at what is available. Looking today at a Tamron SP 35-105mm f2.8 Aspherical 35mm on offer at for $175.00 (CDN).
While those that start at 24 or even 28 are more desirable I do have a nice Tammy 20-40 F/2.7-3.5 that works for me when I really want to go wider. A super wide lens is also on my wish list - something wider than 20, or maybe just a 20 f/2.8 prime. Although the Tammy 20-40 at 20 seems pretty good. Sigma makes some really nice super wides. Maybe even a fisheye? Only one of those I have is on my WASP (like a Go-Pro).
SO - looking at my lens list below, if you were me, where would you put about $400-$700 CDN ($300-500 US$) in gear?
. . . or save up for the 80-200 2.8?
. . . or maybe a camera equipped drone? Those look like fun. or not.
Of course it could all go to pay bills - but where's the fun in that.
Going to pick up a monopod (started another thread about that - about $100-$150 with head I think).
And I'd like to get a new lens.
Wish I could afford a 70 (80)-200 F/2.8 but those I've seen tend to be at the top end of what I'd have to spend and then some. Least pricey one I've found on Kijijji is about $600 and is the push-pull I have no aversion to push-pull but don't think you can use a tripod mount and I'm thinking with that lens you should. There is a Tamron for about $800 and a bit ( Tamron SP AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD IF Macro ) but really really over the top on my budget. And some say the older 80-200 Nikons that can be had for about the same dollar are actually better. (Will be doing more research into that lens). I do have a 70-210mm push-pull Nikon which I did take out for a walk today and I do like it.
I did a photo-shoot a week ago and used my 28-70 AF-D F/3.5-5.6. I really wasn't all that happy with the images. This weekend another children's photo shoot. Decided to go with my 60mm Micro F/2.8 (the most expensive lens in my bag, new last year). Much better - but it was not ideal because I'd have to pick up the tripod and move in when there was a baby on the bunny's lap, and take six steps back when the whole fam-damly was in the picture. It was OK. Images turned out great. I had toyed with the idea of being tethered to my Tablet using DSLR Dashboard - glad I wasn't tethered. SO - that's got me thinking that while the 80-200 F 2.8 would be nice I'd probably get more milage out of a shorter 2.8 zoom. To that end I started looking at zooms that start about 24-35 and go from 70 up to 135 - some even to 200. Primes are great but not versatile enough for a photo-shoot if you are going to get tethered (unless I go wireless which could happen too).
I've been MS-Windows shopping and looking at what is available. Looking today at a Tamron SP 35-105mm f2.8 Aspherical 35mm on offer at for $175.00 (CDN).
While those that start at 24 or even 28 are more desirable I do have a nice Tammy 20-40 F/2.7-3.5 that works for me when I really want to go wider. A super wide lens is also on my wish list - something wider than 20, or maybe just a 20 f/2.8 prime. Although the Tammy 20-40 at 20 seems pretty good. Sigma makes some really nice super wides. Maybe even a fisheye? Only one of those I have is on my WASP (like a Go-Pro).
SO - looking at my lens list below, if you were me, where would you put about $400-$700 CDN ($300-500 US$) in gear?
. . . or save up for the 80-200 2.8?
. . . or maybe a camera equipped drone? Those look like fun. or not.
Of course it could all go to pay bills - but where's the fun in that.