Review your DSLR camera equipment for me.

[UdubBadger]

I'm working on a project right now and wondering if you all wouldn't mind spending a few minutes reviewing a few pieces of your DSLR equipment (body, a favorite or new lens, flash... the basics). Canon, Nikon, whatever... just a short paragraph or two on what it is, what you really like about it and what you would improve on it if you could/what you might have considered instead.

EDIT:
i need some actual reviews guys... elaborate on some of your stuff, what you like/don't about it and most importantly WHY. It doesn't have to be super long, but give me a few details, I'd really appreciate it.

I'm collecting customer reviews on a bunch of dslr photo products for a possible job... I'm going to need to put together a sample write up of some products and customers thoughts on them.
Thanks guys, this would be a HUGE help to me!


-Badger

[Blake]

i just bought the canon 70-300mm IS USM lens. very good light duty telephoto lens. took some pictures at the thanksgiving cowboys game and most of them came out very well. very please with the lens so far. sorry i can't really tell you anything fancy, i'm still figuring photography out.

[UdubBadger]

anyone else? please i really need help with this

[bmwturbopower]

I'm a canon guy. My camera body is an XTi also known as the 400D and have three lenses that I use regularly. I have 18-55mm, 50mm, 70-300mm. I find myself using the 18-55mm and 50mm a lot. When I want great depth of field I use the 50mm with it's low aperture capability. Which is my favorite lens at the moment. With it being prime it's tack sharp.

[MCS]

I have a Nikon D300 (1 Year old ) and a D200 (3 years old)

D300 is an evolution of the D200 - enhances multiple areas of the camera

Larger LCD, better and faster ISO speeds. Greater Autofocus capabilities.

Many other features, I don't use i.e Direct connection to TV

I also own several Nikon Lenses - All of them are good - I mostly use my 18-200VR lens (95% of the time) and slap on the 50MM F1/1.4 for low light indoor photography. I have a 70-300 VR lens, but only use it when traveling outdoors.

[UdubBadger]

thanks guys... keep um coming

[1º]

i have a

D300

Nikkor 24-70mm
50mm 1.8
tokina 11-16mm (this is my fav lens right now)
and i had a 70-200mm but broke it

i also have 2 alienbee 800s if that matters...

i have the 105mm macro, 70-200mm, 50mm 1.4g, and 10mm fisheye(i think its 10) on my wish list so if anyone would like to get either for me i would greatly appreciate it.

what exactly is this for?

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by 1º

i have a

D300

Nikkor 24-70mm
50mm 1.8
tokina 11-16mm (this is my fav lens right now)
and i had a 70-200mm but broke it

i also have 2 alienbee 800s if that matters...

i have the 105mm macro, 70-200mm, 50mm 1.4g, and 10mm fisheye(i think its 10) on my wish list so if anyone would like to get either for me i would greatly appreciate it.

what exactly is this for?

i need some actual reviews guys... elaborate on some of your stuff, what you like/don't about it and most importantly WHY. It doesn't have to be super long, but give me a few details, I'd really appreciate it.

I'm collecting customer reviews on a bunch of dslr photo products for a possible job... I'm going to need to put together a sample write up of some products and customers thoughts on them.

[Teshi]

Im a Canon shooter.

I have grown up with Canon in my blood with the majority of my family owning various Canon SLR's.

I started with a 400D as an introduction and a chance for me to learn. The great thing was, it gave me a chance to learn the basics of photography without wasting film yet have something affordable.

I then found that I needed something wider and felt the traditional 35mm format was most suited for me so I went back a phase to film and shot with an EOS650 which was soon replaced with an EOS1 for film use and an EOS 5D for digital.

The digital full frame has given me a huge boost in image quality, clarity and is the only tool for my working environment. Keeping with the full frame equivalent has meant that everything I do can be transferred between new and old equipment.

The only downside to high end gear....price!

[Speedtrap]

I have a D300, with 18-200VR, 70-300VR, 85mm VR, 105mm, 11-16mm

Normally use the 18-200 as it is so convenient and fast.

[Rick]

Hey Badger,

Have you looked at the some of the popular e-commerce photography sites like...

www.adorama.com

www.bhphotovideo.com

just to name a few. There is a wealth of information and reviews on numerous products.. cameras, lenses, etc...

Here is an example.. scroll down to the bottom of the page to look at the customer reviews...

http://www.adorama.com/ICA5D.html

I personally have a Nikon D80 with a Tamron 17-50/F2.8 lens and Alien Bees Strobe lighting, large Photoflex Octodome, and assorted umbrellas. If I could do it all over again I probably would have gotten a Canon DSLR. At the time I went with Nikon because I liked the way the Nikon body felt in my hands (grip-wise) over the Canon body.

Sorry I can't be more help in regards to a technical review, I'm still experimenting with photography. Good luck.

[vladinecko]

Originally Posted by rickc

If I could do it all over again I probably would have gotten a Canon DSLR.

why is that?

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by rickc

Hey Badger,

Have you looked at the some of the popular e-commerce photography sites like...

www.adorama.com

www.bhphotovideo.com

just to name a few. There is a wealth of information and reviews on numerous products.. cameras, lenses, etc...

Here is an example.. scroll down to the bottom of the page to look at the customer reviews...

http://www.adorama.com/ICA5D.html

I personally have a Nikon D80 with a Tamron 17-50/F2.8 lens and Alien Bees Strobe lighting, large Photoflex Octodome, and assorted umbrellas. If I could do it all over again I probably would have gotten a Canon DSLR. At the time I went with Nikon because I liked the way the Nikon body felt in my hands (grip-wise) over the Canon body.

Sorry I can't be more help in regards to a technical review, I'm still experimenting with photography. Good luck.

yeah i've seen all those. The point of this is that i'm actually getting the comments from the horses mouth, not 2nd hand. i need to write up my own editorial review and include a few things actual people who use this stuff say about it... not that it would matter but i'd like to at least know and have proof of my sources rather than maybe just someone who posted not knowing much about it or was just mad at b&h so they wrote a shitty review. Plus this way i can ask further questions to you guys if i have them about specific stuff.

[asdflkijd]

Kata D-467 DPS Backpack
I just purchased the Kata D-467 at Adorama for $79. My first initial reaction to the product was that it was a little "stubby" or in other words short compared to my Dakine boarding backpack that I use on a day to day basis to lug my laptop around and other goodies.

However, after stuffing the Kata backpack with my Canon 40D equipped with a 18-55mm, my 15.4" MBP with all the required power adapters, memory card reader etc.. I was surprised to find that the backpack is actually very comfortable. It is well padded and fits nice and snug on my back. I am about 5'11" and the backpack covers my whole back except my lower back (this should give you an idea of the "stubbyness" I was talking about); nonetheless, it is comfortable.

The pocket for the camera & lenses is at the bottom which is convenient (heavier items at the bottom will aid in supporting your back on those long trips). The front of the camera compartment is padded with extra support, it has a unique rubber strip in the middle (which is right in front of the camera once zipped up) that looks like a crinkle fry. The overall space inside the camera compartment is fairly big, bigger than the Lowerpro Rezo 170. It has enough space for my 40D w a midsized lens mounted along with additional spaces (You can customize the slots as they are attached by velcro) for up to 3 lenes and a Speedlite 430ex. The backpack is equipped with all kinds of goodies, a lot of useful pockets and the one that swayed me to buy this backpack, the laptop compartment.

The laptop compartment is on the back seprate from the rest of the backpack, it can easily fit a 17" laptop, but is still good for 15" (my MBP fits in there pretty well, the extra space doesn't worry me because the backpack is well padded all around.

The other pockets are good for paperwork, small moleskin journal, P&S camera and other accessories. above the camera compartment (top half of the backpack) is a fairly sized and can fit your lunch, a windbreaker/ light jacket, small books, or an extra couple of lenses!

I can't believe I am saying this but I can't wait to get on my next flight back home where I will be taking this backpack with me, along with my other carry-on. If you guys don't know I created a thread about dslr bags yesterday because I wanted to return the Lowerpro Rezo 170 because it was such a pain to carry that inside my backpack (which only had my laptop and the sleeve from my Tumi laptop messenger bag) TSA told me I had to put my camera bag in my backpack or I would have to pay extra for carrying on a third carry-on. Needless to say, that was a horrible experience and very uncomfortable may I add. Thus the reason why I bought this backpack, to minimize my luggage when traveling, while still keeping my laptop and camera protected!

[vachss]

I got my first Canon SLR went I entered high school in 1974. The FTb known also as the FTbrick was heavy and indistructable. I learned most of what I know about photography on that thing and it still lives deep inside my closet.

I put down the FTb in 1981 after college and didn't pick up a camera again for 20 years, but when I did got into it pretty seriously.

When the digital revolution hit I started with Nikon gear, but moved over to Canon when the Digital Rebel (300D) was introduced. This was followed by a 20D and an XSi (and hopefully by a 5D2 next year).

Now for the brief reviews:

I have an interest in wildlife photography and have accumulated some fairly specialized gear.

Probably the most extreme is a 500mm f/4 Canon lens. It's a monster that weighs 8 lbs, but it's probably the best lens purchase I've ever made. Very sharp wide open, takes a teleconverter very well and the image stabilization functions well enough to allow good sharpness handheld. I dragged this monster all over Australia for 3 months in 2007 taking pictures of birds and never regretted it.

A more recent (and even more specialized) purchase was the Canon 65mm MP-E macro lens. This is a lens that will only shoot macro photos. Manual focus only and *maximum* focus distance is about 4 inches (minimum about 1"), but it let's you take incredible shots of the hidden world of bugs. Very sharp also, but very technique intensive. The trade off between depth of field and diffraction becomes a very big deal in the extreme macro world and there is often a fairly narrow range of aperture that will give good results with this lens.

Oddly enough, like the 500, the real key to using the MP-E lens is developing the technique to get sharp shots handheld. Tripod use has its place, but I find that with wildlife photography the target can move or disappear so quickly that many more opportunities exist if you can quickly readjust your position. This is lots harder on a tripod (and yes, I dragged one of those all around Australia too, but kind of regret that).

nuff said.

[UdubBadger]

thank you asdflkijd and vachss. that was MORE than enough!

[asdflkijd]

Originally Posted by UdubBadger

thank you asdflkijd and vachss. that was MORE than enough!

glad it helped, haha I was thinking to myself, if this would be at all useful since its gear, but nonetheless if it helped, it helped!

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by Laszlo

Nikon D700 FX - great camera and super fast raw with grip gets you 8 fps. Have an 85mm 1.4D (superb portrait lens) and a 50mm 1.4D (another superb lens) great for everyday use and portraits... amazing shallow DOF, 24-70mm 2.8G (great all-around lens), and 14-24mm 2.8G for amazing wide angle shots. All 4 lenses mentioned are super sharp and pretty outstanding optic quality.

Nikon makes the better DSLR and finest lense in the world, outside of Leica "FILM" lenses.

thanks for the short review... prepare for the Canon firing squad to flame you now....

j/k

[Teshi]

Originally Posted by Laszlo

Nikon D700 FX - great camera and super fast raw with grip gets you 8 fps. Have an 85mm 1.4D (superb portrait lens) and a 50mm 1.4D (another superb lens) great for everyday use and portraits... amazing shallow DOF, 24-70mm 2.8G (great all-around lens), and 14-24mm 2.8G for amazing wide angle shots. All 4 lenses mentioned are super sharp and pretty outstanding optic quality.

Nikon makes the better DSLR and finest lense in the world, outside of Leica "FILM" lenses.

Since when? That must be why most high end photographers in the sport world have shot Canon? Recent Olympics were the only time I have seen Nikons.

[Teshi]

Right, now two majorly recommended primes have always either been the 50mm or 85mm (24's and 35's come in close too) and I have said to myself, primes are just not creative enough or flexible enough to be of any use. Boy was I wrong.

Now I did own a 85mm 1.8 prior to this and never gave it a chance. I like my zooms due to the versatile nature but one thing is, its never going to be as fast as a prime.

So after buying my second, I have come to realise how magic primes are. They just force you to take a step back, give you so much more play with DOF and just make you think harder about composition every time.

So how did it handle? Well, virtually every situation, stunning. Sure its not L series glass but maybe these photos can speak for themselves. I have tried to keep the PP simple and no sharpening has been done here.











So what I found is some magic at a small cost.

Pro's
- Quick AF
- Light and compact
- Sharp throughout
- Creamy bokeh

Con's
- MFD is a bit of a reach (move your feet)
- CA is noticeable if you pixel peep
- Makes you want an 85L!

So what is my final verdict, im hooked on primes and would consider selling my 24-70L to fund some non L primes!

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by Teshi

Since when? That must be why most high end photographers in the sport world have shot Canon? Recent Olympics were the only time I have seen Nikons.

haha even though i agree with you Teshi (being a dedicated Canon shooter myself)... lets just leave that debate for a new thread

[UdubBadger]

Originally Posted by Teshi

Right, now two majorly recommended primes have always either been the 50mm or 85mm (24's and 35's come in close too) and I have said to myself, primes are just not creative enough or flexible enough to be of any use. Boy was I wrong.

Now I did own a 85mm 1.8 prior to this and never gave it a chance. I like my zooms due to the versatile nature but one thing is, its never going to be as fast as a prime.

So after buying my second, I have come to realise how magic primes are. They just force you to take a step back, give you so much more play with DOF and just make you think harder about composition every time.

So how did it handle? Well, virtually every situation, stunning. Sure its not L series glass but maybe these photos can speak for themselves. I have tried to keep the PP simple and no sharpening has been done here.











So what I found is some magic at a small cost.

Pro's
- Quick AF
- Light and compact
- Sharp throughout
- Creamy bokeh

Con's
- MFD is a bit of a reach (move your feet)
- CA is noticeable if you pixel peep
- Makes you want an 85L!

So what is my final verdict, im hooked on primes and would consider selling my 24-70L to fund some non L primes!

nice... glad i just picked up a 50mm f/1.8