Burning a hole in my pocket!

Joshwain

Joshwain

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I know it's not a lot but I have a spare £100 burning a hole in my pocket :eek:

Seeing as I'm incapable of deciding myself, what should I do?

I'm tempted to by either a nifty fifty (even though I have a 17-55mm), a tripod or a snazzy Tamrac rucksack...

Or just save up? :thinking:
 
If you don't already have a tripod or a bag, or the one you have isn't up to the job, that would be my priority.

Otherwise you can't go wrong with a nifty-fifty (even though you already have a 17-55), it has to be one of the best VFM lenses available - great optical quality, nice and fast and lots of creative DOF possibilities. :)
 
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I don't have a tripod at the minute and I've just been taking an ordinary back pack with me to stuff a few things in.

I'm tempted to say tripod but I'd feel an idiot carrying it round :lol:
 
Right, I'm going to go for a tripod. I've seen a Redsnapper one that looks decent :)
 
depnds on whjat sort of togging you do - but unless you are wanting to do lots of long exposures i'd say get the bag - as carrying your kit around unpadded in a normal rucksac is asking for trouble
 
big soft moose said:
depnds on whjat sort of togging you do - but unless you are wanting to do lots of long exposures i'd say get the bag - as carrying your kit around unpadded in a normal rucksac is asking for trouble
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It seems a bit pointless at the moment though, all I have is my camera and 2 lenses and obviously when I'm out with my camera I have it in my hands :lol:

A bag for one lens... :thinking:
 
where do you put the camera and the other lens while travelling to location though - thats when theres highest potential for it getting knocked about in a standard bag.
 
Both are pretty essential. If you want to protect your gear then get a bag, if you want to get sharper shots and allow for more creativity then get a tripod. Although I believe in the saying "buy cheap, buy twice", if you have neither I would try and get a bag for £50 and a tripod for the same, and then upgrade one at a time when you feel the need. You could certainly buy somethig half decent for each of those with that budget.
 
I'm going to go for something like this and then just save up for a tripod. Or even buy a few photography books :)
 
Id suggest save up if neither bag or tripod are absolutely essential. I view bags as a necessity and tripods as a luxury as most of my shooting will involve me moving around quite alot without the time to stop, set up a tripod etc.

Always feels better ordering lots of small things or 1 big thing than ordering 1 small thing :)

Makes you feel rich until you pay :thumbs:
 
I think a bag is a necessity considering how clumsy I am :lol:

And I always like to buy loads of small things that cost near to nothing, that's usually all I use eBay for :lol:
 
Get what you would actually use.

Not everyone needs a tripod, nice to have one but a waste of money if you never use it.
 
Ploddles said:
Not everyone needs a tripod, nice to have one but a waste of money if you never use it.
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Exactly, I use a tripod so rarely that I settled for a £40 one from argos. It doesnt look pretty, the head isnt fantastic and its not particularly light. But for how rarely I use it, I couldnt really justify £100+ on a good tripod.
 
Joshwain said:
I think at this stage I would feel stupid walking around with a tripod :lol:
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At what stage are you that you feel you would look stupid carrying/using a tripod?

I feel a photographer WITHOUT a tripod looks stupid (unless you are doing underwater shots of course :lol: now that would look a bit strange)
 
Pedalman said:
At what stage are you that you feel you would look stupid carrying/using a tripod?

I feel a photographer WITHOUT a tripod looks stupid (unless you are doing underwater shots of course :lol: now that would look a bit strange)
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Being quite new :)
 
Joshwain said:
Being quite new :)
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Ok, Its the being over conscious of what one looks like carrying a tripod down the street,......people probably dont think what you think they are thinking anyway, or you will have to get a big enough bag to fit the tripod inside.
Tripods make you look like you know what you are doing and also widen your photo possibilities.
NOW THE REALLY SERIOUS BIT.
In my experience they are also a good line of defence when someone tries to steal your camera from your shoulder , I was very surprised how fast the would be thief in my case limped away across the park with the dent of a Manfrotto 055 alloy tripod in his right shin bone.:lol: yes he was pretty nippy considering the injury ! Im not so sure a carbon fibre one would have had the same "impact" so that is something to consider when making a purchase.
 
Pedalman said:
Ok, Its the being over conscious of what one looks like carrying a tripod down the street,......people probably dont think what you think they are thinking anyway, or you will have to get a big enough bag to fit the tripod inside.
Tripods make you look like you know what you are doing and also widen your photo possibilities.
NOW THE REALLY SERIOUS BIT.
In my experience they are also a good line of defence when someone tries to steal your camera from your shoulder , I was very surprised how fast the would be thief in my case limped away across the park with the dent of a Manfrotto 055 alloy tripod in his right shin bone.:lol: yes he was pretty nippy considering the injury ! Im not so sure a carbon fibre one would have had the same "impact" so that is something to consider when making a purchase.
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Ahahh, I'll have to bear that in mind :lol:
I'm going to go for the bag this time though, then save up for a tripod. I don't fancy damaging my gear after spending hundreds of pounds on it :) Or anyone's leg for the time being :lol:
 
yep lol - my manfrotto monopod made a handy nightstick in similar circumstances - the only proviso to that kind of thing being a) don't get caught (the old bill may well view it as assault rasther than self defence) and b) don't get it taken off you and wrapped round your head - tis better not to resist at all if you can't resist effectively - thats what the theft bit of camera insurance is for after all
 
Yes the old bill was a thought afterwards but as it was a tripod and I had a camera it wasn't being carried as a weapon ........its like having a baseball bat without a ball to go with it that is seen as a weapon , if a ball is alongside the bat it is then a sports item.
 
Joshwain said:
I'm going to go for something like this and then just save up for a tripod. Or even buy a few photography books :)
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That's a brilliant bag imho :)

Very comfortable for walking distances/carrying all day - the hip-belt works. Laptop pocket is very useful for waterproofs/hydration bladder/other odds'n'sods too (if you're not carrying a laptop). Top compartment and panel pockets holds quite a bit of gear (photographic or non-photographic) - I use it for day-walks. It will also take a Sigma 150-500 in the top compartment (suitably wrapped of course).

Camera access is very easy.

For 'future reference', I carry my tripod or monopod by putting the head in the mesh side pocket and securing the legs with a cinch strap threaded through the carry-handle. I also carry a waterproof rucsac cover just in case - as this bag doesn't come with one. I often carry my waterproof/fleece under the bottom 'camera compartment safety-flap' cinch straps.
 
Yes a very good bag , a friend has one of these and says its the best bag he has ever owned .
 
milster said:
I was looking at that bag on amazon the other day, I thunk it was about £46 :thumbs: eBay=overpriced :)
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I'll have a look seeing as I'm almost over my PayPal transfer limit for the year :lol:

Thanks for the advice/reviews folks :D
 
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