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Do you carry your 17-55 around all day? If not, what?


dennis lee

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I have a D2H, it's heavy. I also cannot give up my PJ past so the camera and

a lens comes with me everywhere.

 

I have a job beginning next week which requires a lens faster than my 18-70.

A brief description and illustration is towards the bottom of this thread on

'prime' lenses: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00FoPv&

tag=

 

A 35/2 (50 EQ) would do nicely for this potrtrait job, and would certainly be

more pleasant to carry around afterward. I have a love affair with 50's(EQ).

But I really kind of want the 17-55, I (kind of) have the money at the moment,

and it would be very helpful in upcoming event shoots.

 

So, back to the question, is anybody out there actually carrying this thing

around with them everyday? I'm not talkin' about work here, I'm talkin' about

having fun with your camera day in and day out.

 

If not the 17-55, then what?

 

Dennis

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Every morning, I wake up, get dressed, do my morning routine, walk to the door and go out with my D2X and my 17-35 2.8. I would consider the 17-55 but I still use my F5 alot so I haven't made the move to any DX lenses yet. So yes, I carry one of these around ALL day and wouldn't leave home without it. Then again, I also carry my 35-70 in my pocket so I'm maybe the wrong guy to ask ;-)
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Like Garry, I'm more of a wide angle guy. So, my 12-24mm DX Nikkor is usually on the DSLR I'm using.

 

 

For professional work, the question as regards whether the 17-55mm DX Nikkor is cumbersome comes down to- "compared to what?" The 17-55mm gives you a 25.5-82.5mm equiv. range.

 

 

Yes, if you can get by with a 35mm f/2.0, that lens will certainly be smaller and lighter, but it obviously lacks the range of the zoom. To duplicate the approximate range of the 17-55mm, you'd need to carry 14mm or 18mm, 24mm, 35mm and 50mm lenses. The 17-55mm is neither small nor light, but its versatile.

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I used to carry my D70/d50 with a 17-55 and 70-200 and a bunch of other crap. I then started to just carry the 17-55 and a 35mm f2 lens. I recently purchased the 18-200, so the 17-55 stays at home now. I really like the 18-200. It is plenty sharp enough for most shots anyway. I have a small waist pack that fits my D50, 18-200 and a 35 f2. Very small compact.
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My normal carry is an F3HP with a 35/2.5E and 55 3.5 Micro. I don't own any zooms at the

moment (Well, I think I might have a Makinon 80-200 f4.5 lying around somewhere but I

haven't seen it in a year)

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I answered in the previous thread favoring the 35/2, and generally favoring a light prime (or 2 or 3) as a carry everywhere kit.

 

But let's talk a "heavy bag," for me, that is.

 

I have the Nikkor 12-24/4 for shooting wide. My Nikkor 24/2.8 (on film) and CV 21/4 (for Leica) got me hooked on wide, so once I got my D70 (lite!), it was only a matter of time until I got the 12-24/4.

 

But that one wide zoom, plus a few primes covers the wide-to-normal range in which I shoot.

 

I limit myself to small bags for carrying (vs. car), specifically the Domke "little-bit-smaller" bag for my digi kit. Any larger bag has less of a vertical weight distribution and will soon hurt my back or what not.

 

So, a full "heavy" bag will typically have: D70, 12-24/4, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, SB-800 (great flash unit). Extra batteries, a little Sekonic Twinmate meter (rarely my 358), an SC-17 cord, a few other doo dads and I'm ready to roll (or lug). The extra batteries actually weigh quite a bit by themselves.

 

Optionally, I might also have a 35/2 (50mm-e lust) or a 24/2.8 (if I want a faster ~35mm-e than the 12-24's f4).

 

In any case, including the 35/2 for a 4 lens kit, I get equiv 18-36mm, ~50mm, 75mm, ~130mm with a 4 lens kit, and some speed from the primes. Not bad at all. The only prime that weighs much is the 85/1.8, but even here, only relative to the other lightweight primes. I'd greatly prefer a nice 60/2 or 70/2 Nikkor to the 85, but alas, no such beast exists yet.

 

Another nice thing is that with the Domke dividers pushed all the way to one end, I can stick the camera in the bag quickly with any of these lenses mounted.

 

But that's my "heavy" bag. I'll typically prune down this configuration for any given circumstance, or very occasionally beef it up with a Stroboframe bracket and other junk for events photography.

 

My shooting style is to generally "groove" on one focal length at a time, or maybe two if I carry two cameras (not digital, but 2 Leicas, or a Leica and my FM3a wielding a 105/2.5 AIS - but all that still fits in the smallest Domke satchel bag ! ).

 

When grooving on a focal length, I find I can better guess in advance where to stand, how to compose and so on. And a series of pics will all have a kind of internal consistency from using the one focal length.

 

Anyway, I guess I sort of view a heavy f2.8 "normal range zoom" as a kind of specialized tool for certain kinds of shooters (PJ's come to mind). But I'm not forced to stand in a shooting gallery, so I prefer to zoom with my feet.

 

I know it's a too well worn example, but HCB did world beating work with just a 50mm lens, Winogrand with a 28mm lens and so on and so forth. I'm only 40, and have been shooting seriously (hobbyist) for a few years, but these examples speak loudly to me, and I generally believe that mastery of one or two focal lengths will ultimately make me a better photographer.

 

I have a fine art photographer buddy up in NYC. He uses a 4x5 system with just two lenses, and more recently just a Mamiya 7II with just the normal lens. Anyway, clearly one doesn't need a full range of focal lengths to produce great photographs.

 

Even when I carry my "heavy bag," I'm likely only to use 2 lenses - the wide 12-24 zoom and either the 35/2 or 50/1.8.

 

My "perfect" kit for size, weight and functionality is a Leica M6 or 2, a small SF24 flash, and then 21/28/50/90 focal lengths. Superb optical quality. Good speed. Great build. Pretty lite. Fits in the smallest Domke satchel. I really wish there was a *direct* equivalent in the digital world. But that would require either a digi Leica or a digi FM3a and some new lenses to match the speed, weight and small size of these 135 format primes.

 

Sigh, maybe some day :-)

 

Oh, and like one previous poster, I also have a Rollei AFM35 P&S that I'll carry in a pocket sometimes. I love this camera. Nice metering. The lens is really sharp, super contrasty and produces somewhat dark and saturated colors (esp. reds, kind of like some of Helmut Newton's colors). Their is no DOF scale, but with a cheat sheet in hand, it offers aperture priority and manual zone focus for hyperfocal distance style shooting. With all the $$$$ I've spent on nicer gear over the last few years, an amazing number of my "keepers" are attributable to this camera and it's fixed 38mm lens.

 

Go figure :-)

 

Scott

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The Nikon 14mm f2.8 is mounted on my 10D all the time ready to go. Recently I have had time to be shooting regularly so it is out of the bag. In the bag is a Nikon 200mm f2, Canon EF 50/1.8, and a flash. If I'm heading out in the car they all come with me except the flash.

 

 

I am doing some contract work in a particularly beautiful area so that is why I have this "little" kit all set to go. I am also documenting the work that I am doing. The 400/2.8 and 4x5 are parked at the moment.

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I usually carry my D70 camera with me if I'm gonna be out more than half an hour. If less I'll grab my Canon A75. I usually have on camera the 50 AF 1.8 D for various reasons (quality and weight to name just two). If I plan on staying out more I'm gonna bring the 18-70 and 70-300 in a small shoulder bag (Lowepro) together with extra memory, extra battery and whatnot.

 

The 50mm lens is a beauty in itself and also because it forces me to photograph and not get lazy. I chose this particular focal lenght for portraiture. I do have in mind a 12-24 but that's after I'm gonna get myself a job :)

 

Have fun guys

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Wow, nice to see so many people shooting with 50's or their equivalent (EQ).

 

I've got to say that I really like Scott's idea about the 12-24, 35/2, 50 and 85 or

105.

 

However, I placed my order for the 17-55 today and should have it by Friday.

I'm excited, and I think it will be the perfect tool for my job next week and

events in the future. A 35/2 is definitely in my future as well as the 12-24

someday.

 

So, I guess I too will be a 17-55 daily lens toter, except perhaps on those days

when I feel a little less.... I don't know,... how about decisive, then I'll just slap

the old 28/2 on and see what happens.

 

Thank you all for your candor, it's quite fun and encouraging to hear that so

many of you are going out there with your cameras every day.

 

Dennis

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