IF........

moojii

moojii

Messages
763
Edit My Images
Yes
If a person was going to go down the route of portraits and weddings would the Following kit be ok? ( no arguments please - it's a hypothetical question)

d300
d200
sigma 18-50 2.8
sigma 24-70 2.8
sigma 70-200 2.8
a macro lens
nikon 50mm 1.8
2x sb600
cards and batteries.
Redsnapper tripod.

Any alternatives within a similar price range to above?

Cheers.
 
At least in this kit there is some level of backup in case of failure so you pass level 1 and move to level 2.

Personally I'd probably leave out the tripod, I've never used one at a wedding or portrait session (too limiting and I find it gets in the way - spend the money on some flash stands and umbrellas for the Speedlights)
 
possibly a long prime in case the 70-200 goes to town at a wedding

maybe if you want to use cls make one of the sb600s and 800

turn the tripod into a light stand and brolly

maybe in the long term turn to d200 into a d700?
 
Cheers guys

a couple more questions - still all hypothetical if course.

If I had a 5k budget and already had the d200 and sigma 18-50 2.8 what would be the best purchases? D300 or d700? If the 700 then would I have enough for lenses? Which long prime and macro? I roughly know the answers but would like other thoughts.

Simon - what's level 2?

Martin
 
What did people use before the d700 came out? The d300? So, will the d300 be ok to use 95% of the time in low light situTions?
 
moojii said:
Cheers guys

a couple more questions - still all hypothetical if course.

If I had a 5k budget and already had the d200 and sigma 18-50 2.8 what would be the best purchases? D300 or d700? If the 700 then would I have enough for lenses? Which long prime and macro? I roughly know the answers but would like other thoughts.

Simon - what's level 2?

Martin
Click to expand...

Hypothetically, you need to decide whether to concentrate on full frame or crop format. You appear to be looking at a mixture of both (hypothetically of course ;) ) by introducing the D700. Sure you can use them together, but it's not ideal. And the 18-50 is a crop format lens, which overlaps substantially with the 24-70 which is full frame :shrug: And SB600s are a bit short on power for a wedding photographer (can you use them as Masters in wireless flash? Not certain of that).

If I was kitting up for weddings and stuff, and thank the Lord I'm not, even hypothetically, it would be full frame probably with a D700 for its low light performance. Or Canon 5D2. That would be at the heart and I'd build a system of Nikon lenses around it. I wouldn't compromise on crop format with Sigmas as I know I'd want to upgrade pretty soon if business went well.

You should be able to do pretty much any wedding with a D700 and 24-70 2.8, plus a big flash. Have another camera and kit lens ready as back up and hope you never need it. Nothing else is essential to get a very good job done, but a 70-200 and a fast prime would fit in nicely as and when budget allows.

You will get better results with one really capable camera and lens that you know how to use well, and concentrating on the subject rather than the equipment, than you will with two different format cameras and swapping lenses all the time, mainly concentrating on the kit.

But since this is all hypothetical, it doesn't really matter ;)
 
HoppyUK said:
Hypothetically, you need to decide whether to concentrate on full frame or crop format. You appear to be looking at a mixture of both (hypothetically of course ;) ) by introducing the D700. Sure you can use them together, but it's not ideal. And the 18-50 is a crop format lens, which overlaps substantially with the 24-70 which is full frame :shrug: And SB600s are a bit short on power for a wedding photographer (can you use them as Masters in wireless flash? Not certain of that).

If I was kitting up for weddings and stuff, and thank the Lord I'm not, even hypothetically, it would be full frame probably with a D700 for its low light performance. Or Canon 5D2. That would be at the heart and I'd build a system of Nikon lenses around it. I wouldn't compromise on crop format with Sigmas as I know I'd want to upgrade pretty soon if business went well.

You should be able to do pretty much any wedding with a D700 and 24-70 2.8, plus a big flash. Have another camera and kit lens ready as back up and hope you never need it. Nothing else is essential to get a very good job done, but a 70-200 and a fast prime would fit in nicely as and when budget allows.

You will get better results with one really capable camera and lens that you know how to use well, and concentrating on the subject rather than the equipment, than you will with two different format cameras and swapping lenses all the time, mainly concentrating on the kit.

But since this is all hypothetical, it doesn't really matter ;)
Click to expand...

Thats a good post, especially the last paragraph :)

I recently 2nd'd for a tog that shot mostly with a 17-35... 2nd camera had a 70-200 for inside the church as we were only allowed right at the back.

If budget allows, go straight for full frame and build your kit according to that. 24-70, 70-200 and maybe some primes, like 85mm etc. I have a 55mm macro, which comes in very handy for the close up shots of decorations, shoes, rings, flowers, etc.
 
Some great hypothetical answers.

I'm building my lenses up as FF compatible (50mm, 24-70, 80-200 etc) so that when the Mrs isn't looking one day a D700/D3 could slip in through the side door ;)
 
Cheers guys

I hypothetically have the d200 and 18-50 already. Are you saying go for the d700 and get rid of the d200 so not to mix dx and ff or go for d300 to compliment the 200? If I do the latter I will still need to get 2.8 lenses anyway so better to get the d700 then? Or what options are there for 2.8 lenses fir dx sensors?
 
moojii said:
Or what options are there for 2.8 lenses fir dx sensors?
Click to expand...

You would, in my opinion, be better off getting FF compatible lenses and using them on your D300 and D200, giving you back up bodies. If you then feel you need/want to go FF then you can without any fuss. The D300 is rather good for the low light stuff with D200 better suited to the outside stuff.

Edit:
Sorry you don't hypothetically have the D300 at the moment...
 
V8burble said:
You would, in my opinion, be better off getting FF compatible lenses and using them on your D300 and D200, giving you back up bodies. If you then feel you need/want to go FF then you can without any fuss. The D300 is rather good for the low light stuff with D200 better suited to the outside stuff.

Edit:
Sorry you don't hypothetically have the D300 at the moment...
Click to expand...

Cheers dude. Exactly the advice/confirmation I was after. Cheers to you all. Any more advice will be greatfully received. It's hypothetically between 300 and d700. The ff lenses are a future proof must have. What macro lens is ff compatible. Same question fir a long prime.

M
 
Also, how do you tell which lenses are for ff and dx with nikon, sigma, tamron and tokina?
 
moojii said:
Also, how do you tell which lenses are for ff and dx with nikon, sigma, tamron and tokina?
Click to expand...

It's on their websites ;)

The greatest skill in wedding photography is people management and so long as you are aware of that, fine.

The only thing you can buy that guarantees to put your wedding photos above the inevitable snaps that guests take from over your shoulder, is quality. You want to show detail in faces and richness in those big groups, in the bride's bodice and train, the shiney folds in black suits and the brilliant colour of the bride's maids' dresses. That's full frame, so if you're Nikon, D700 which also has the advantage of ace low-light/high ISO capability. And a really good lens - that's the Nikon 24-70 2.8. You will also need a powerful flash, SB900. That lot will do the job to a very high standard indeed and the rest is down to you much more than additional equipment.

But you need a back-up camera and flash, with standard-ish lens. Your D200 is perfect for that; always have it ready in the bag, but hope you never need to touch it. A back-up camera is not the same as a second camera, and it would be nice to have another D700 for that (saves so much confusion and hassle if it's identical, including in post processing) probably with a 70-200 2.8 and another SB900 on. This is for you to use instantly, or for a second shooter. Next up would be a fast prime, f/1.4 for preference, and a super-wide zoom for interiors and tight corners. I would go for a set of tubes on the 70-200 as that's a bit more versatile than a macro which you don't really need - can use them on the prime, too. And slip a close up lens in your top pocket for luck :)

Basically, go full frame, go for quality not quantity of gear, and concentrate on what you're shooting, not what you're shooting it with :)

Good luck. Hypothetically :lol:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top