memory_mill

<p>Thanks Robert! I honestly wouldn't go with my first name, in arabic it sounds like John Productions. It says nothing, shows no creativity or any certain feelings. But thanks for the suggestion.</p>

<p>Hi everyone!<br> 3 weeks into my brainstorming sessions and i've hit a creative wall, maybe i'm in too deep and highly biased, that's why i'm turning to you guys for more inspiration.<br> My new production company will offer video shoots, video editing and photography services and i'm struggling to find a catchy cool, bold name that encompasses all my services. I'm based in Houston and have 14 years experience in video production overseas. I'm originally from Lebanon, my name is Ziad, newly wed no kids, currently operating under Ziad Photography but the name doesn't cover all my services hence the need for a new name.<br> I've considered Mosaic, Candid, DejaView, VirtualTree, Fusion and others. That's the direction i'm going for but each one has has its own little problems. Don't worry about the descriptor such as Pictures, Media or Productions, i'll tag these along if needed.<br> Thank you all so much for your help!<br> Ziad</p>

<p>Nothing beats actual tests. All might look great on paper but if it's not taken to the field it's like chasing the wind. I guess we can say there are two camps of lenses to go with here: The zooms 2.8 and primes 1.8 I did a few tests with my 50mm 1.8 and took 2 shots indoors, low light with both wide open and stopped down to 2.8. The 1.8 was a clear winner. The question that struck me was when will i ever shoot indoor receptions/events in low light without using a flash? I have a diffuser cup and had great results shooting even with a 3.5 kit lens. Pairing the flash with a zoom 2.8 for indoors seems to be the way to go. If i need more reach i'll just get closer. For indoor sports, i'll probably need a fast 200mm (probably an f2) which i don't have the money for right now. This takes care of our indoor reception type events. Whether i'll go for a 24-70 or a 18-50 will boil down to budget.<br> For outdoors, i guess anything can do, heck i got great shots using a 300mm f4.5, with enough distance you get enough DoF for your liking. i can perhaps add a 70-200 2.8 when i have no time to change lenses and an 85mm 1.8 for portraitures.<br> I have a wide 11-16mm Tokina, i'll buy the Sigma 18-50 and 50-200 2.8 and later add the 85mm.<br> That should complete my set for just about anything. Thank you all so much for your guidance and great info.</p>

<p>Do you guys think a 2.8 zoom is better than a 1.8 prime? Just wondering if perhaps getting a 35mm f1.8 and zooming with my feet would do the job, while getting shorter depth of field and better indoor exposure.</p>

<p>To be exact yes :)</p>

<p>Thanks Mike & Michael. I meant 18-55mm f3.5 my bad. But again it's not as fast as i want it to be. I'll def check out the 17-50 & 50-150 combo. I'll keep my 55-300 nikon to get some extra reach if i need it. And probably add the gorgeous Nikon 35mm f1.8?<br /> Mind you, for beautiful bokeh effects and background separation comparison, there seems to be a significant leap between f2,8s and f1.8s, that's one full stop. Good luck finding this kind of speed in zooms. Basically zooms are great when you don't have time to change lenses such as in the case of events. In portraits primes might be the best way to go.</p>

<p>Hi all,<br> I recently bought the D7100 coming up from a ......... D80. Yes... a D80. Skipping a few generations of tech leaps is always worth the wait, in my case it was 8 years. Phone-wise i always skipped a gen going from an iPhone 4s to a 5s etc. I always shot with the kit lens that came with my D80 (18-135mm) and had good-ish results with it but you never know what you're missing up on until you try something new.<br> Before i got my hands on a great deal for the D7100 i moved from amateur photography to professional (photos for money). And it's now all i do. I shoot mainly portraits and events and have built my lens arsenal slowly but surely.<br> I now have a Tokina 11-16mm for my kick ass wides, the life-saver 50mm f1.8 and the Nikon 55-300mm for those out of reach teles. But i still feel i miss something. The 55-300 is bad in low light indoor sports and very tight for events. Great for outdoor portraits but that's it. The 50mm was a fantastic discovery and allowed me to take fantastic indoors and outdoor shots.<br> But here's my dilemma: While i do see the value of primes i also believe that with time it can cause dust particles to get in every time i change lenses and expose the inside mechanisms. Also, i love how convenient it is to have a, say, 18-135mm kit lens and just shoot the heck out of anything without having to stop, which can cause the "moment" to disappear. On the other hand, cheap zooms are not good indoors, and the f2.8s are expensive. Now that i proudly own one of the best DSLRs Nikon has ever built, the D7100, i need the proper gear that will complement my Ferrari. What's good to own a sports car if you don't have a speed engine installed in it?<br> So my question for you is? What's the best Nikon D7100 zoom/prime lenses combos do you own for great portraits and events photography? I'm leaning towards a 18-55mm f2.8 for events photography, then 50mm and 85mm f1.8 primes for portraits. What's in your camera bag?</p>

<p>Hi Everyone,<br> Is any Google Trusted Photographer here successfully using the Nikon D80 in the GTP program?<br> I own a D80 since 2006, and recently passed the GTP test, but the Nikon D80 doesn't appear in the list of approved equipment but the D90 does. I tried filling the suggested form but no one replied.<br> Any photographers were able to complete business view panos using the D80 and got QCed by Google successfully?<br> All help is appreciated.<br> Thanks!<br> Ziad</p>