Going freelance - what kit?...

specialman

specialman

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Pat MacInnes
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So I've gone freelance after being made redundant.

I had to give back my works D7000, grip, Tokina 11-16mm and Redsnapper tripod so I'm down a body and a wide-angle. I've still got a gripped D7000 which I like a lot, plus a 60mm macro, 35mm f/1.8 that I main use for video, plus a 17-55mm and a 70-200mm VR for general shooting. I'm sorted for speed lights and modifiers so far. I know the tripod I need to get.

I've got a reasonable amount of redundancy money (up to £2000) to play with but obviously what I spend takes away from what I can live off later down the line. I'd like to think I'll get lots of work from the off but I'm a realist and know I'll need a financial safety net for a few months.

I've banged the DX drum, saying that the D7000 is a brilliant camera for general editorial use and semi-serious video work but I'm ever so tempted by a D700 and the high quality you get from an FX sensor. Obviously, if I get another D7000 and a 11-16mm then I have full compatibility across both bodies with all my lenses. If I go with a D700 then obviously I'd need an 11-16mm for the wide end on my existing body, and then something like a 16-36mm plus a general (24-70mm) so I can use both and not have any major gaps in focal length. The FX option is therefore more costly...

First question:
I know what the D7000 can do in a multitude of roles so how does the D700 compare? Video doesn't figure in this question for the time being. I know the differences in ergonomics too. Just think stills ability...

Second question:
Obviously, the words 'budget' and 'quality' aren't good bedfellows so if i were to go FX then what wide option would be the best option? Sigma 12-24mm or 15-30mm? Used Nikon 16-35mm? Tokina 16-28mm or 17-35mm?

Third question:
A nikon 24-70mm would have to wait - what's the best alternative? Nikon 24-120mm Mk1? One of the Sigma 24-70mm variants? Tamron 28-75mm?

With regard to lenses then they'll obviously have to withstand outdoor use - I'm continuing to some extent with angling photography - but there will be a fair whack of less taxing photography such as portraiture, commercial work, corporate stuff. I know it's a big ask but I'm sure there's an answer :)
 
specialman said:
Second question:
Obviously, the words 'budget' and 'quality' aren't good bedfellows so if i were to go FX then what wide option would be the best option? Sigma 12-24mm or 15-30mm? Used Nikon 16-35mm? Tokina 16-28mm or 17-35mm?
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I use the Nikon 18-35 AF-D on my D700 and I'm pretty happy with it, cheap and sharp but a lot of distortion (which I don't find an issue).
 
Reddraggon - do you notice the distortion in general shots, or just shots featuring lots of (straight) verticals, i.e. buildings etc?
 
I'm so sorry to read about your redundancy Pat, haven't you been with DHP for an age? I only read your blog the other evening and there was no mention of problems, in fact I thought how lucky you were :thinking:

Who are DHP using now and could you not freelance for them or is this a thorny subject? (Tell me to mind my own if I am posting out of turn mate).

I can't offer any advice as you know a helluva lot more than I :( but if there is anything I can do to help (I'm only 25 mins or so away from your patch) feel free to send me a message.

Lens wise I can recommend the Sigma 10-20mm f3.5 but I use Canon and the Sigma 24-70 HSM (not the macro version) is a belter. The only downside is that the latter rarely appears on Fleabay and when they do they seem to go for £350 plus so maybe a new one with the 3 year warranty is the way to go.

I have a virtually brand new Manfrotto 190 tripod with an 804RC head that you can use if things are desperate, how are you off for a back pack as I can help out there too if need be.

I hope you get sorted without too many problems mate.

Andy
 
TBH I don't notice the distortion at all, even on architecture stuff. It's probably only noticeable if you shoot brick walls.
 
So sorry to hear about your redundancy. That's pants.

I picked up a tamron 28-75 non BIM for around £200 which is glued to my D800. Super lens IMHO, difficult to beat at the price - the majority of my recent stuff on Flickr is with this lens. Can be tricky to find but am told they crop up from time to time on other forums. I had the BIM version, which had similar IQ but not as good focussing.

S
 
I went from a D7000 to a D700.

Both camera's are great but full frame just has that something extra and 12 months down the line I still feel I made the right decision.

However in your situation I would go with the cheapest option and get another D7000. From what you said you are happy with the performance you are already getting so why spend extra £'s when cash is likely to be scarce for a little while. In your position I would be looking to keep my outgoings as low as possible. You can always upgrade later on when you are more secure financially.

Your budget may be better used elsewhere advertising etc.
 
Keebsuk - I was with them 12yrs but I'm really looking forward to being me own boss in a sense. I'll be freelancing for them so there's no issue. Thanks for the kit offers - backpack-wise I'm still using my trusty Vertex 200, which i rate highly, and I'll be ordering a new tripod this week. I used a redsnapper 3-section with a Giottos birding head for video work (great panning head) so I'll get another, plus a standard ball head.

RE: the Sigma 10-20mm, I had the old variable aperture version on loan for a while a few years ago when I used Canon and although it was awesomely wide, I wasn't crazy for the corner softness. I'll have to have another look at this lens, especially this newer f/3.5 version.

Sir SR - the D800 is a real test of a lens isn't it, so the 28-75mm must stand up well to scrutiny with that sensor. What's the Af speed like?

Soda Farl - you're probably right and to be honest, having matching bodies is nice and having a two-camera video setup makes for interesting shoots. The temptation of a sub-£1000 FX camera is very appealing though but it does put additional financial strain on me. I've got lots of work coming in but it's weighing up how much of that will be repeat is the key I suppose. Don't want to have a good start only to hit a slump further down and I've committed lots to of cash.
 
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Just to throw another option in, how about a D7100 with better AF and AF up to f8 together with no OLP filter (like the D800E) for sharpness - price wise a new D7100 will be around the price of a S/H D700 and you will have something you are used to and fully compatible with what you already have?
 
Gramps - totally forgot they'd released the D7100. Hmmmm, food for thought, will have a closer look at the spec...
 
Pat good luck with the new venture :thumbs:

A pretty decent zoom lens is the 28-105 f3.5/f4.5 D LINK, can be picked up for around £100 used.
 
Hi

The af speed is good (not used the nikkor equivalent so can't compare). The non BIM is certainly better.

Most of the recent stuff on my Flickr is with this lens is with this lens so feel free to scrutinise the larger images there.

The plan of the d7100 suggested by gramps seems a good one though!

S
 
Pat,

I have both the 10-20 (variable apeture) and the Tamron 17-35 sitting here and you're more than welcome to try both if a job brings you up this way. If you decide to go full frame and want to see what the 17-35 looks like, let me know. I have it listed for sale, but I can put a hold on the sale until you get a chance to see if it is the lens for you.

good luck!

rick
 
You're working this from the wrong end Pat!

Rather than take a guess at what kit you need, work out which type of freelance work you are going to go for first.

News will require a different set up to full Editorial, which again differs to medium to high end Commercial work.

Once you've got a good idea of who your customer base is going to be and what type of work they are going to want, you can work you kit requirements out from there.
 
Good luck with this Pat. It's the way of the magazine world these days :(

Only some general comments, but agree with Mark - only buy what you know you'll need as the freelance life can take you in unexpected directions. I would say full-frame for sure and D700 is still a fantastic camera and a great used buy, though video is becoming increasingly important. Get pro-grade lenses - I would rather a few thoroughly dependable Nikkors than a bunch of consumer-grade zooms.

Get stuck in to the business forum here, lots of helpful advice there. Getting work, and getting paid, is often the difficult part with the photography inbetween being the easy part. Be prepared for invoices being paid late!
 
Gary Coyle said:
You need to decide if you want to go FX or stay DX first before making decisions about lenses.
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Gary, can I ask how your camera journey progressed? Am I right in guessing you used the D2 range, as that was all there was available at the top end of Nikon, and then made the jump to FX for the obvious benefits of sensor performance and quality? Would be interested to know your motivations...

I'm thinking another thread in 'Talk Business' might be in order :)
 
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specialman said:
Gary, can I ask how your camera journey progressed? Am I right in guessing you used the D2 range, as that was all there was available at the top end of Nikon, and then made the jump to FX for the obvious benefits of sensor performance and quality? Would be interested to know your motivations...

I'm thinking another thread in 'Talk Business' might be in order :)
Click to expand...
Fuji 4900, then Canon 10d with Sigma 70-200, onto Canon 1d, 1dMKII, then three of the rubbish 1d mkiii's, switched to Nikon D3, then back to Canon 1dmk4 then back to Nikon D3S and been there for a few years now.
 
Rumour has it that he's moving onto a Sony A700 next month! :D


In all seriousness, I'd say that a (very) basic set up at minimum would be

2 x bodies ( 1 of which should be full frame in pref, if you're shooting for glossies)

24-70/2.8
70-200/2.8

Light + mods + remote triggering (speed lights at first, upgrading to location lighting later)

Nice to haves, on top of the above & depending on your target market:

16-35/2.8
300/2.8
24/35/50/85 mm @ f/1.4 or so

Ultra nice:
400/2.8 or 500/4
UWA/Fisheye
TSE
3rd/backup body


Add to all that:

a laptop capable of processing & filing from location
a website with; secure client access, shopping cart, FTP transmission capability
File storage/back up
A decent sized monitor for home use
Business cards


Etc etc

Will post more if I remember!
 
Sorry to hear of your redundancy Pat.....I hope it wasn't down to me cancelling my subscription to match fishing:(

Good luck for the future:thumbs:
 
specialman said:
Gramps - totally forgot they'd released the D7100. Hmmmm, food for thought, will have a closer look at the spec...
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I would now add caution against the D7100, I had to take mine back, very poor image quality out of camera, impossible to get a sharp image from any of my Nikon lenses.
Not sure if this is a familiar problem with focusing issues out of factory or just the absence of the OLP filter causing issues - thought it was just poor technique with a new camera at first but there is definitely an issue.
There are others with similar problems.
 
gramps said:
I would now add caution against the D7100, I had to take mine back, very poor image quality out of camera, impossible to get a sharp image from any of my Nikon lenses.
Not sure if this is a familiar problem with focusing issues out of factory or just the absence of the OLP filter causing issues - thought it was just poor technique with a new camera at first but there is definitely an issue.
There are others with similar problems.
Click to expand...

Interesting, I'll bear that in mind. TBH, other than upgrades to video (plus the audio monitoring port) and an improved sensor and AF, there's didn't appear (on paper) to be that much of a step up from the D7000 to the D7100.
 
DemiLion said:
...In all seriousness, I'd say that a (very) basic set up at minimum would be

/SNIP/
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A comprehensive list. I think I might be sold on getting a D700 or even a D600 (the video is a bonus). Just weighing up the options for lenses, although the 24-70mm seems to be the 'go-to' choice for FX shooters.
 
specialman said:
A comprehensive list. I think I might be sold on getting a D700 or even a D600 (the video is a bonus). Just weighing up the options for lenses, although the 24-70mm seems to be the 'go-to' choice for FX shooters.
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I forgot to add.....

A working car!!!!


The engine in my bloody Volvo blew on Saturday whilst I was in the process of moving house! Mind you, it did have 180k on the clock.
 
DemiLion said:
I forgot to add.....

A working car!!!!


The engine in my bloody Volvo blew on Saturday whilst I was in the process of moving house! Mind you, it did have 180k on the clock.
Click to expand...

I'm 2/3rds of that at the moment on the S60 - fingers crossed :lol:
 
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