Cameras?!?!

[PhilinYuma]

Kamakiri was it you who had the Raynox also?Anyways they are extremely hard to use and I would not recomend them to starters. The DOF is so shallow on them.... its ridiculous :blink:

(regarding the 250 version)

--------------------------------------

On another note that sounds pretty interesting (sigma bodies). You've peaked my curiousity, im gunna check them out :lol:

(quick side note: I dont understand the cult status of Leica and CZ lenses..... I mean atleast the ones I've tried were nothing special. I tried a CZ 50mm against my 30+ year old humble $30 50mm and I prefered mine! I wanted to love the lens but it just didnt produce the results mine did. Call me crazy :lol: )

--------------------------------------

Oh and thanks for the honorable mention Phil

I think im going to weigh and take a picture of my setup and post it here..... though I doubt it will compare to the brick that is the Canon 5d :lol: how about we all get a loved one to take a picture of us in action? Im up for it if you guys are Im curious to see how large kamakiri's setup is and im sure I will learn a lot by just one simple pic.

Edit: Not fair Kamakiri! I thought we were going new not used

I agree, Yeatzee, that the Raynox would cause a rank beginner problems, but prosumer cameras have a macro capability with which to start and often, an amazing telephoto. I would not recommend that a beginner with a SLR buy any special lens until they have have mastered what comes with the camera or say a 35-90mm lens to give mod WA and portrait capability. Of course the Raynox has a narrow depth of field; look at it's magnification! It does cause noticeable vignetting, though, so it is a good idea to take pix with the intention of cropping. It works well will a Canon S5, but I can't see anyone using it with the 5D! A $2,500 camera only speaks to a $500 lens

I'm not too proud to make two edits! If you buy a used SLR, do you know its (average) total shutter actuations (Ie, the average number of times that you can click the shutter before it fails)? And if so, have you any idea how many times the shutter on that pawn shop beauty has been actuated? If not, you might want to think twice about buying a used camera! I have heard that on a Rebel, it is something like 5,00 times! Click.

 

[yeatzee]

Each shutter (i.e. pentax/canon/etc) is rated for a certain amount of actuations afaik. A free software (i think its called something like photome) will tell you the amount of shutter activations so you can check how honest that pawn shop employee was

 

[PhilinYuma]

Yeah, I've used Exiftool, but the pawnshop guy neither knows nor cares about shutter activations, and most buyers, particularly Kamakiri's newbie used camera buyer will not know either. Why, I bet that there are at least a couple of members on here who don't know about it!

 

[kamakiri]

Buying used consumer electronics is an art...but a seller on fleabay with good feedback shouldn't be a problem. But for used equipment I generally buy from other photographers. Many parts of my macro system are used. I think the only new pieces I bought aside from the bodies were the 100L and 100USM. I don't make money with my macro work, so used is okay with me!

Phil, I think you're mistaken about the 100USM being the only lens for Canon! I believe it was an answer to a lens recommendation thread!

Yeatzee- yes, some of the CZ and alternative mounts are difficult to understand unless you've seen the good ones...That is those that will outresolve the high density 7D. Makes a difference when you pixel peep or really analyze the bokeh qualities.

 

[PhilinYuma]

I will keep in mind most people out there on either camera websites or stores will be bias. I do have a friend i plan on kayaking with over this break that know some about all of this so i think i will pick her brain and see if she could give me a local insight on stores and what not. Will keep my eyes open for that magazine and anything else helpful. Thanks everyone will keep you all posted, Chase P.S. keep all of this helpful info coming!

By all means, Chase, post some pix of the Girl in the Kayak!

 

[yen_saw]

Sigma has a unique sensor that is arguably the best at providing per pixel detail. 50mm macro, 105mm macro, 150mm macro

Grant you missed out 180 mm great for 'macroing' bug from distance at field but heavy..... wanna trade the lens with me? Chase, great info provided by Grant, Tanner, and Phil here! One other thing to add here is if you going for slr, a multi-purpose lens of different ranges like those 20-200mm would be handy from sceneray to portrait photos. Photography is so much easier now compare to the old negative film developing type but it does come with a price so discuss with your parents before getting one. All the best on your camera searching.

 

[[email protected]]

Thanks for all the info, talked with my friend (kayaking was canceled and changed to hiking, too cold 60's!!). She sad mostly the same things as all of you, she has a point and shoot, an nice one, but she is regretting not getting a DSLR she said that the technology is changing so fast that hers is getting "old" at 2.5 years of age…. I am still up in the air; I need to find a local camera store to go check a few out. Will keep everyone updated, thanks!