DSLR Pr0N

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by pylon

16GB class 10 from Memory express $47.99.

http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...7%28ME%29.aspx

I picked 2 of em up about a month ago for $36 each when they were on sale. I would check in periodically with them.

Also any good suggestions for a affordable Macro? Its the last piece I really need to have what I would consider a complete suite of lenses.

Macro is my thing and you cannot go wrong with the Tamron 90mm 2.8 DI macro lens. If you look in the latest CP photography contest thread you can see some of my work with it, also makes a great portrait lens and all for around $550 new. Sharper then the Canon or Nikon 100mm macro offerings too.
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=91892

[maidestone]

nm

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Macro is my thing and you cannot go wrong with the Tamron 90mm 2.8 DI macro lens.

I've heard good things about that lens too, but I'm not a huge fan of going the Tamron route in general. The lens is just so damn important, especially considering people tend to keep them for much longer than any body. I'd rather penny pinch a bit and save up for the real thing.

You seem to do just fine with that lens though! Great stuff.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by pylon

$1250 from BH photo, and ready to go. I am very tempted to get this myself.


The reviews are awesome, and you don't need to buy strobes. But I know alot of people will by an old XT or XTi and get a top end outdated underwater housing for a 1/3 of the price. So essentially you are all in for less than the price of a current housing and you get a camera that if you have a housing failure, you're not gonna want to kill yourself over. Its probably the route I am going to go.

Wow that's an amazing deal. I've never even heard of the brand before. My only worry about it, is that the strobe arm is pretty short. I'm going to check it out today.

Normally DSLR housings start at $1400 and go up to $2000, then you need to buy a port for $200 - $500. The flash options can vary from $1000 to $5000.

[BlackArcher101]

The light on that kit is the same one I use on my mountainbike it looks like, just with a decal stuck on it. It's a really narrow beam on it, brightness is semi-ok, but for underwater that would diminish it more?

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by bcb

This is what lightsabers are made from:

[Traditional_Ale]

Not digital, but I still use it:



Photography is truly one of the things that technology has destroyed. There are amateurs that can destroy 95% of the stuff out there, but now its all about how many megapixels you have and how good you are at photoshop.

[Jake]

I thought that was a strobe/under water flash, but it is just a 3W LED light, which diminishes it's value a lot. However, that light would be handy on night dives, and you could even mount it on your dive hood. It's powerful enough to be a primary light.

I just looked into the housing a bit more. It's not as good as I initially thought it was, but it's still a good deal. The Nimar housing runs at about the same price as other entry level housings for that camera, such as Ikelite. The good thing about Nimar is that it includes a port, so it is still the cheapest entry-level housing I have seen. The Nimar housing is $1250, including a port. The Ikelite is $1400, but does not include a port, so essentially it is actually more like $1600-$1800.

Heres the Ikelite housing: I'll probably get this one since I know Ikelite is a proven brand, and I'd trust my $700 camera to it.
http://www.ikelite.com/web_two/can_500d.html

The Nimar is also compatable with Sea and Sea strobes, which is nice. If you buy it with the T1i camera at the same time, you save like $100. Just wish I could find some info the Nimars o-ring system.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I've heard good things about that lens too, but I'm not a huge fan of going the Tamron route in general. The lens is just so damn important, especially considering people tend to keep them for much longer than any body. I'd rather penny pinch a bit and save up for the real thing.

You seem to do just fine with that lens though! Great stuff.

Im a huge fan of tamron.
The Tamron AF 17-50mm f/2.8 SP XR Di II LD is probably one of the best non L series lenses I have seen in my life for IQ.

When we are talking about macro a buddy has a Sigma AF 50mm f/2.8 EX macro DG that I borrow all the time and it is absolutely spectacular for color and has a very smooth Bokah. I do agree the Tamron 90mm 2.8 DI macro is also a great lens.

[Regulator75]

My only issue with the Tamron 90mm is the noisy AF and it tends to hunt when not using manual focus. I've heard and seen amazing things about the Sigma 150mm.

Check out this dudes macro shots from the Sigma.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutter...45310007/show/

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Not digital, but I still use it:



Photography is truly one of the things that technology has destroyed. There are amateurs that can destroy 95% of the stuff out there, but now its all about how many megapixels you have and how good you are at photoshop.

Yes, Yes.... FYP'ing my old country thread post.



I actually agree with you. I learned to shoot on the original SLR, the Konica Autoreflex, still have this camera in absoulte mint condition. My dad bought it in the mid 60's I believe, and gave it to me when I was 13. Apparantly it is quite the collectors item now in the right condition. I have had a few camera nerds offer me some pretty serious cash for it, like 4 figure cash, after they see the like new condition. IMHO film is still the superior medium when you know what you are doing, but to shoot film now is prohibitively expensive, and you sometimes have to wait months before you can deplete roll of film to get the developed.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

My only issue with the Tamron 90mm is the noisy AF and it tends to hunt when not using manual focus. I've heard and seen amazing things about the Sigma 150mm.

Check out this dudes macro shots from the Sigma.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shutter...45310007/show/

AF is useless for macro anyhow, I have never used the AF on the Tammy. The Sigma 150 is a great lens too, about $500 more though. Will give you 1:1 a bit further then the Tamron 90 but unless you are using a converter or extension tubes you won't get a bigger image. If you ever want to get mega serious about macro then the MP-E 65 by Canon is the ultimate macro lens. 1-5x magnification but you will certainly need a macro ring flash and anything above 3X magnification will require a tripod no matter how steady your hands are. I saw a web page somewhere that had a guy with an MP-E and then added a 2x converter with extension tubes and had that sucker up to 11x! He actually took a photo that looked unspectacular because it was white dots on a black background that looked like dust. In actuality it was particles of fog! Here is the group for the MP-E on Flickr, amazing stuff!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/14414927@N00/

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

AF is useless for macro anyhow, I have never used the AF on the Tammy. The Sigma 150 is a great lens too, about $500 more though. Will give you 1:1 a bit further then the Tamron 90 but unless you are using a converter or extension tubes you won't get a bigger image.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/14414927@N00/

Yes, I'm aware that AF is useless for macro shots. Sometimes the Tamron isn't used just for macro. I've used it for numerous other shots as well.

Take a look.



15 second exposure









5 image panorama


6 image panorama

[Redliner]

The problem with DSLRs is that they've made cameras into computers - the technology moves so fast that you can't keep up without spending an insane amount of money.

I've been a Nikon guy for a long time, but haven't upgraded in a few years. Still shooting with a D70s body and a handful of basic lenses:

Nikkor 18-70 ED
Nikkor 28-100
Nikkor 70-300 ED

Also still have my old F80 film body, although it hasn't seen a roll through it in probably 5 years. Also kicking around in my camera case is an ancient Yashica FX-3. Everything is so easy with digital - nothing makes you work for a shot like shooting a full-manual film camera.

[Jayems]

Nikon D3s
18-70 2.8
70-200 2.8
50mm 1.8
SB600 Speedlight

That's the kit I lug around on a day to day basis.

I've got another body (D80) and another lens (18-70).

[Jake]

Pylon - where did you read the reviews on the Nimar housing? I can't find any.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

Not digital, but I still use it:



Photography is truly one of the things that technology has destroyed. There are amateurs that can destroy 95% of the stuff out there, but now its all about how many megapixels you have and how good you are at photoshop.

I have an AE-1, sitting on a shelf where it belongs.

I do agree that the photographic eye is far more important than what you shoot with. Here's proof that even a cameraphone can make great photos.

http://fstoppers.com/iphone/

[Regulator75]

Taken this morning with the Tamron 90mm - SOOC minus crop.

[Matty81]

I'm getting married this summer and we're doing a honeymoon in the eastern med for a few weeks after and have been thinking about buying a DSLR. I looked at a few of the cheaper ones at Future Shop and found this thread the next day. What would guys who are really into photography recommend for someone who is interested in photography but really has no experience beyond a high school darkroom and my point and click elph?

Worth my time or not, and if so, where would you start?

[ah123]

Originally Posted by Matty81

I'm getting married this summer and we're doing a honeymoon in the eastern med for a few weeks after and have been thinking about buying a DSLR. I looked at a few of the cheaper ones at Future Shop and found this thread the next day. What would guys who are really into photography recommend for someone who is interested in photography but really has no experience beyond a high school darkroom and my point and click elph?

Worth my time or not, and if so, where would you start?

If you're looking at learning more about photography and want to use this opportunity to start, I would suggest a DSLR. If you're looking for a camera that gives you more control, but don't plan on "experimenting", I would suggest a high-end point&shoot (e.g. Canon G10).

If you do decide to go the DSLR route, take a look at these threads

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=91352
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=51482

Feel free to ask questions, as there are many options and even more opinions. IMHO, best places to buy gear in Calgary are the CameraStore (www.thecamerastore.com) and Vistek (www.vistek.ca)

Good luck