a great problem to have - help me blow this $$$!!

[nobbylon]

NIKON D700 plus a dk17M eyepiece magnifier and
NIKKOR 28mm AIS f2.8 stunning lens, must be the AIS manual focus
Nikon AFD 50mm 1.4
and for portraits either
85mm 1.8 which has been AI'd, another stunner of a lens or
105mm 2.5 AI version because it has a longer focus turn, a classic.

I use this kit for pretty much everything and although the body is pricey, the lenses can be had for realistic money. Plus the lenses fit on close to all Nikon film cameras.
Good luck

 

[jarski]

for travel full frame body and bag full of primes can be too much. I'd choose D90 & gen purpose 18-200 Sigma (DX).
rest the money two Zeiss ZF primes, perhaps 25 (in DX 37.5) & 50 (in DX 75). the later especially wont cost too much so the kit should stay within budget.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Any problems with focusing on that camera? I, personally, replaced the screen on my D80 because I could not focus properly without split prism.

(unless they changed, I believe those are manual focus lenses, right?)

Note, I have moved to rangefinder full time since I did that, so it is mostly idle curiosity.

Not really. I mean, the D70 finder is like looking down a railway tunnel, but all the lenses I tried focused OK. Yes, the ZFs are manual.

Cheers,

R.

 

[BillBingham2]

hi folks.....

my interests are travel photography & portraiture too.

what "kit" would you assemble, considering my interests and plans? among your other suggestions, i am particularly interested in which lens you'd recommend for low light portraits.

looking very forward to your responses.
~m

M,

For travel and portraiture (low light) I would recommend this approach:

Ricoh GRD III
Cosina Voigtlander Black Metal 28mm Finder
Cosina Voigtlander Plastic 21mm Finder
Ricoh Hood and Adapter GH-2
Ricoh Wide Conversion Len GW-2
2 Ricoh DB-65 batteries

This gives you a world class 28/1.9 equivalent lens on a great body that fits in your pocket. The GW-1 makes it a 21mm lens (again 1.9) with no additional distortion.

Nikon D300
Nikkor 35/1.4
Cosina Voigtlander SL II 58/1.4
Nikkor 180/2.8 ED (manual focus)
Nikon TC-14
Two extra Nikon batteries are a must.

World class primes lenses on a DSLR or on film.

As an alternative to the D300 you might look at:

Used M8
Cosina Voigtlander 28/2 Ultron (36mm equivalent)
Cosina Voigtlander 50/1.1 Nokton (75mm equivalent)
Filters and batteries.

I really like think the approach of a used M8 and two lenses and a GRD III as the perfect kit. If you have $500 left over pick up a D60 and Nikkor 300/4.5 ED-IF both used for long stuff.

B2 (;->

 

[meezy]

NIKON D700 plus a dk17M eyepiece magnifier and
NIKKOR 28mm AIS f2.8 stunning lens, must be the AIS manual focus
Nikon AFD 50mm 1.4
and for portraits either
85mm 1.8 which has been AI'd, another stunner of a lens or
105mm 2.5 AI version because it has a longer focus turn, a classic.

I use this kit for pretty much everything and although the body is pricey, the lenses can be had for realistic money. Plus the lenses fit on close to all Nikon film cameras.
Good luck

If I had $3k to spend, and I had to buy into the dSLR world I'd buy the following...

Nikon D90 body
Nikon 17-50mm f/2.8
Nikon 50mm f/1.8 D
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8
Manfrotto Tripod
Nikon SB-600 Speedlight
Wireless Remote
Extra Nikon Battery
(2) Hoya 77mm UV lenses
Some kind of camera bag

Which will put you right at $3800 at Amazon.

Canon 7D
Canon 35mm f/1.4 L
Canon 85mm f/1.8
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8

The lenses I already own, and love. The 7D? Let me put it this way: I have the Canon 5D mkII, and I'm trading it for a 7D. The speed and autofocus alone is worth it. Full frame or not. YMMV.

this is good, guys... these are the kinds of visceral reactions i was hoping for, in addition to the thoughtful dissections i've already read. this forum is awesome...
thanks.

 

[meezy]

hi everyone.
for those interested, after much thought stimulated by your postings and talking to my instructor, i have decided to get the 5d mkII kit which includes the body, of course, plus a 24-105mm lens for $3200. with the remaining $600, i will be getting the 50mm 1.4 lens, some memory, and a 250 gig hard drive.

additionally, i may spend some of my own money to get a wide angle sigma lens of some sort - 35mm?

the class i'm taking is great, focusing on an artistic approach to photography, and covering the history starting with camera obscuras to bresson to cappa.

again - thanks for the flurry of responses. it was a fun decision to make.
cheers,
~m

 

[Roger Hicks]

hi everyone.
for those interested, after much thought stimulated by your postings and talking to my instructor, i have decided to get the 5d mkII kit which includes the body, of course, plus a 24-105mm lens for $3200. with the remaining $600, i will be getting the 50mm 1.4 lens, some memory, and a 250 gig hard drive.

additionally, i may spend some of my own money to get a wide angle sigma lens of some sort - 35mm?

the class i'm taking is great, focusing on an artistic approach to photography, and covering the history starting with camera obscuras to bresson to cappa.

again - thanks for the flurry of responses. it was a fun decision to make.
cheers,
~m

Heretic!

But thanks for letting us know your decision.

Cheers,

R.

 

[meezy]

hey, man... don't worry... my beloved 7sz isn't retiring - i'm just bringing home a new friend for it.

 

[Benjamin]

That much money is dangerous. I have meticulousy researched, and worked hard to pay for the 'right kit'.

Had I had a lump of cash just to throw at a system, it probably wouldn't be half as good as what I have now.


EDIT; Upon seeing your choice. Fair enough, but no fast portrait lens? a Leica R 90mm with an EOS adapter would be a good idea?

 

[meezy]

yes, a good,fast, modern portrait lens would be great... but i do have an old helios 40 (85mm/1.5). if i get a m42-->canon mount adapter, that could satisfy me for a while. it was great on my film cameras.

if worse, comes to worse, i can make do with the helios and the 85mm setting on the zoom with proper lighting... i dunno... maybe not...

 

[Benjamin]

I just figured that if you want to make some money from headshots and portraits, you may well need something a bit faster that the zoom which is f/4 right?

85mm f/1.2 L?😉

 

[meezy]

you are absolutely right, dude... headshots were my plan - and the lens you suggest would be ideal... don't really know what to do about that... maybe i won't get that 50mm 1.4 and get the one you recommend instead. DAMN!!

 

[Benjamin]

The Canon 85mm f/1.2 L is pretty darn expensive though perhaps you should look at the Zeiss ZE 85mm f/1.4 Planar which is plenty less expensive, and no doubt a very fine lens.

Best of luck anyway.

 

[meezy]

hell of an idea, my friend... will check it out.