Lens Discussion...
 

So I haven't seen a thread in here yet with the sole purpose of discussing glass.

Feel free to make this a place to discuss different lenses and post example photos!





With that being said, does anyone have the Nikon 300mm f4? I am thinking about picking one up...

I want a 200 1.8
That's all :)

They have one used at Le Camera in Princeton. Juss sayin.

I just picked up a Vivitar Series 1 85mm f1.4 (also goes by Polar, Samyang, Rokinon, etc) that I was going to post a new thread about but I'll just throw my thoughts in here when I dump the memory card. From what I can tell so far this is the most impressive $350 lens around.

Go for the 200/2
:)


Can't decide between the 50/1.2 or 45TS-E for next lens
Probably rent the 45 and see how I like it

I want the Canon 70-200mm 2.8 L

but the ARC intercooler costs just as much. I guess the lens will have to wait.

I love my 70-200 f/2.8L.

I want too many damn things lol. I want to start getting into using my sb-600 off camera. I am going to buy some cheap ebay triggers to start off with. And there is a few lenses that i am really want right now.

Nikon 35mm f1.8- I am still waiting for B&H or Adorama to get it in stock
Sigma 10-20mm
Sigma 18-50mm f2.8
Sigma 150mm Macro lens

I <3 my Canon 50 1.4.... otherwise I only have my kit lens. *cries in the corner*

I want a new body over the past couple of shows I shot with a Tokina 12-24 and it wasnt bad at all. I just hate having to be on top of people or cars when I shoot. My next lens purchase will probably be the Tamron 17-50

why not the canon 17-40F4L? it's a fantastic lens, very sharp, but a little slow. and you can find one used for like $700 which is cheap for L glass.

I'd like to get a 24TS-E or some fast wide primes

I have the 17-40 f/4L and while it's a great lens, I do plan on going to the 16-35 f/2.8L at some point.

off hand why?

If I would guess, because its wider, faster, and sharper? lol

i just want a 30mm 1.4.

I can't complain about the sharpness of my 17-40, and 1mm wider isn't a whole big a deal to me, but the 2.8 is really the attraction.

well thats why i asked, it is slightly wider, but it definitely isn't sharper, it is not as clear around the edges of the frame and produces more CA then the 17-40, it is a 2.8, but i'm not sure how useful that would be on that wide of a lens. All that for $1300 just seems like an awfully expensive purchase only to gain a few steps, and loose clarity over the $700 17-40L or even the dis-continued 17-35 2.8L ?

I don't think it'd replace the 17-40, because your correct about there not really needing the 2.8 especially with landscape photography which is where I use this mainly. Not to mention I have a 77mm B+W Kaesemann CP filter that I use on both my 70-200 and 17-40 that wouldn't fit on the 16-35.

But I do truly love that 17-40. It is by far the lens I use the most but then again I do a lot of landscape. Time for a sample shot:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3509/...9eb8b06658.jpg

I'd be really interested to see what you'd do with the 45... would give a certain look to some of your work. Lots of the fashion/portrait shooters do great stuff with the 50 though.

What camera body are you using? Anything but the D40/50/60 and D2/3 series can command the SB600 off of the camera. But yeah, the ebay radio triggers are really cheap and decent.

I want a Sigma 12-24 too...that lens is SICK on FX!

I had the 300/4 non-AF-S version. It was a nice lens for the money. A little slow to focus, but nice and sharp, even wide open. The AF-S version focuses much faster, so I would recommend that. I sold my 300/4 to get my 300/2.8, one of Nikon's best IMO.

Yea, I am shooting with the 300mm f4 tomorrow for some men's soccer stuff...I guess I'll figure it out then

I have a d60 and a d40x. I ordered The CTR-301P triggers today off eBay. From what I have read on numerous sites, people are having great sucess with these triggers.

they should be fine, it will force you to learn how to dial in a flash correctly at least

Anyone have experience with the Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 DX lens? I'm an enthusiast at best, but I'm looking for a good primary for low light.

I am new to flash/strobe photography. Just can't see myself spending money on a set of pocket wizards or cybersyncs just yet. I also only have one flash at the moment (sb-600). I am also looking for a cheap place to buy a stand for the flash and an umbrella.

I am waiting for b&h to get them in stock, so that i can finally order one. It's an awesome lens for the price. Very sharp as well.

One of the main reasons I want the 45 is just so I slow down and think about the shot more
The manual focus and having the get the tilt and shift just right should do that

The 50 is soo sick though

I'll probably get the 50/1.4 and the 45
Comes out to around the same price as the 50/1.2

Nikon 135mm f/2 thats my next lens after I buy some other non camera things.

Yeah, it's great, if you're shooting with the kit lens you'll be really happy with how much more easily you can take nice photos inside. Honestly one of the best lenses Nikon has come out with recently when factoring in price. It's really sharp with decent bokeh for a standard lens (check out this shot, much better bokeh than my 35mm f1.4).

The only problem is using a slow kit zoom lens afterwards kind of sucks =)

I was going to buy the Canon 15 f/2.8 fish eye tonight but it's back ordered :cry:

Vivitar Series 1 85mm f1.4 Mini-Review

Basics -- 85mm, f1.4, aspherical, $350

Manual focus, won't meter on the cheaper Nikon bodies. They make a version for any modern SLR I think.

Brief impression -- awesome. Seriously, so good. For the price, if you're looking for a fast 85mm and don't need autofocus you can't beat this. The Nikkor might be better stopped down (I think they're equal wide open, this might even be better), but if you don't need the AF or Distance for flash I'd save your money. Of course the Canon 85/1.2 is a killer, but look at that price.

Bokeh is excellent. As good as the Nikkor IMO, I'll put it through its paces more the longer I have it, but it looks great. Nice overlapping highlights with no rings, some "cats eye" for that nice swirl without being nauseating.
Quite sharp wide open, which is pretty much where I'll be shooting it. Here's a 100% crop to show, a) what happens when you miss focus by one inch, b) sharpness wide open, c) the lens's only weakness, CA (green fringing around the ear, which is easily correctable in LR). But the Nikkor and Canon both have noticable CA wide open, so it's kind of a moot point.

http://www.christophergifford.com/photo/_DSC3738.jpg

And two quick samples from after I bought the lens. Literally the first and maybe 10th shot I took. Click for bigger.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2469/...a4a22461dd.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2665/...96ae8d4714.jpg

They don't really show how good the bokeh is but I'll post more samples another time.

check out www.mpex.com

They have a ton of strobist related stuff, and you can even buy a "strobist package" that includes stands, umbrellas, clamps, and possibly a flash

The 15mm Fisheye is now in stock!
So is the 70-200mm f/2.8 L
And I need a good tripod.

****. Spend $2500 on lenses or buy $2500 worth of ARC and Blitz bling for this month? aghh

How long does shipping usually take from BH?

B&H shipping is insanely fast, a few days at best. but i don't know tough choose between cars haha. go with car parts and i'll shoot your car hahaha

I ended up ordering a tripod, 50D battery grip, and the Canon 15mm f/2.8 fish eye lens. $1000 with 2 day delivery.

So I still get to order some car parts. Titanium ARC UICP and Blitz Ti-C dual exhaust.

^^what do you do for work again ?? :P

I pimp one legged whores.

You can still shoot my car for me :mrgreen:

^^haha definately. once i get my 135 i should hopefully step my game up some more and we can meet sometime. you're not too far away!

If you live in NJ to save you some cash next time go with standard delivery, you'll get it in 2 days max. I've gotten stuff the next day when i ordered early in the day. (it was shipped to Edison NJ) some of the used stuff takes a day longer on occasions.

Nice pick ups, what kind of tripod did you end up getting?

I wish the Zeiss lenses didn't cost so much, I want one. :(