Im purchasing $25,000 worth of equipment and need help...

<p>Im buying equipment for professional photography and videography use. Im trying to buy everything at once to receive the best possible deal at a few local stores that are competing for my business. Im just wondering if anyone can help me and guide me to the right direction with my equipment. Do i need anything else?<br>

Im purchasing <br>

2 Canon 5d mark ii's that both include the battery grip and extra battery<br>

70-200mm 2.8<br>

16-35mm 2.8 <br>

100mm 2.8 macro<br>

50mm 1.4 <br>

all hoya filters<br>

2 580ex ii speedlights <br>

Lowepro CompuTrekker AW bag<br>

2 canon wireless remotes<br>

Sekonic L-358 Flash Master<br>

and..<br>

2 Steadicam merlins with the arm and vest</p>

<p>thanks,<br>

Eddie </p>

<p> </p>

<p>Hoods for the non-L lenses?<br>

If you're going to do video, then maybe a mic for the camera?</p>

 

<p>And a tripod or two?</p>

<p>I would almost suggest getting 1 5DII and 1 7D. It's almost like having a teleconverter except without the loss of speed or quality, might be nice to have the variety?</p>

<p>And now You need the new 1D Mk IV <br>

and the 400 mm f/2.8<br>

and Mac pro with 16GB RAM an Aperture 3 and PS 4 and the best printer you get.</p>

<p>If you're trying to cover all focal ranges, you might consider adding a 24-70 or 24-105.</p>

<p>The new IS 100mm L macro. What's another $500.<br>

And the IS version of the 70-200 f/2.8.</p>

<p>That's about $13,000 worth of equipment if you're in the United States. Consider this option: This year I purchased a Canon 1D3 and a 1DS3 from Adorama. $7500 for the pair (net price was even less after trading in a pair of 5D mkI's). The lenses you listed cost $4500 in the States, plus the meter, filters, and others accessories might add in another $1000. The pair of MKIII's allow me 10 fps speed (1D3) when shooting sports and 21 mp (1DS3) when doing portraits, landscapes or large prints. Much better build quality, auto-focus ability, and metering than the 5D2. Granted they don't do video or have quite the high ISO ability (but the 1D4 will for $5000 - available in December) but that pair is more than capable. For people that complain about the size or weight of the MKIII's, I had the power grip on my 5D's and that combo weighed the same as my MKIII's and the MKIII's are actually slightly smaller than the 5D/power grip combo.</p>

<p>I'd add the 15/2.8 fisheye, but I like them.</p>

<p>I agree with Steve. If you are paying $25,000 for this stuff, you are getting seriously ripped off. You can probably get everything you've listed for under $10,000 if you shop around and buy used equipment in excellent condition when you find a deal. I also doubt there's any reason to have 2 5D's. Get a different camera for your second. Maybe the new 1Ds Mark IV that's coming out.</p>

how about Tripods, flash,

Hi Eddie: Whether you need 1D MKIV or not depends on what kind of photography you do. but having two different

cameras certainly widens your capability in terms of equipment. For wedding photos EF 24-70 2.8 L is a fantastic lens.

EF 16-35 II is excellent for landscapes. EF 70-200 2.8 IS L is quite heavy. Check it out and see if you feel conformable

with its weight. Did you think of brackets for Flash guns. Tripods are must. I would also recommend a good monopods.

Some places will not let you use tripods but monopods can be used. Monopod can also be used as a hiking stick. Many

people wish they have your problem of spending $25,000.00. Good luck. Sandy

<p><em>"how about Tripods, flash,"</em> [sic]</p>

<p>?what?<br /> Tripods already suggested (OP wants some sort of "steady" rig) and he SAYS he's buying Speedlites (those are "flashes").</p>

<blockquote>

<p><em>That's about $13,000 worth of equipment if you're in the United States. </em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>Your estimate may be a couple of thou low, but the OP's<em> "$25,000 worth of equipment"</em> is far too high too.<br>

Henry Posner<br /> <strong>B&H Photo-Video</strong></p>

<p>please include your full address and where this equipment will be stored ;) <br>

a home alarm system would be a good investment too.</p>

<p>After you've got your best deal at the local stores check out B&H and see how it compares. I understand the need for local service too so whatever you need. In addition:<br>

you will REQUIRE a tripod-consider Carbon fiber with the legs extended without the center column extended-look at your height with the camera and plate on the tripod to have comfortable shooting height but hopefully without the center column extended very much if at all<br>

some type of L-plate to allow the camera bodies to be mounted vertical or horizontally quickly<br>

you will need the 24-70 if you have any landscape interests at all--if people only then consider the 85/1.8 for grat IQ/DOF/low light performance and quite affordable<br>

25K to spend..I am so JEALOUS!</p>

<p>One small tripod with wrap-around legs that you seriously attach to anything, anywhere.<br>

One medium size tripod for the picture cameras, one thats light enough to carry around yet sturdy enough for serious use.<br>

Another larger tripod for video. The video tripod NEEDS a smooth fluid pan head so you can smoothly move the video cam around and track moving subjects. AVOID like the PLAGUE el-cheapo tripods that do not have the smooth fluid pan head.<br>

Extra batteries and extra picture cards.<br>

An Expo Disk to help you get custom White Balance for Portraits.<br>

Extra RAM for your computer. That always helps things run quicker.<br>

Samsung 32" LCD Color Monitor so you can REALLY VIEW those great images and video.<br>

Download IRFANFIEW (free software) to use as general purpose image file viewer.<br>

For desktop PC, an extra internal SATA harddrive, the Western Digital VelociRaptor, 10,000 RPM drive. Use this as your main project work drive. Really quick and speeds up disk IO.<br>

External USB 1 TB or higher hard-drive to hold completed projects.<br>

400 SONY DVD-R and CD-R media disks to cover your basic backup needs.<br>

Some serious video editing software, like say, Sony Vegas Movie Movie Studio Ver 9. (Ver 8 is also very good and very cheap right now).<br>

Safe Deposit Box at a bank in another town, to hold offsite backup disks of your most important projects and all your "mission critical" files and plans.<br>

External microphone for your video camera.</p>

 

<p>Coupla film bodies, coupla dozen rolls of film. And yes, insurance too.</p>

<p>From the Adorama web site today (B&H prices probably similar):<br>

Canon 5D2 2700 each x 2 = 5400<br>

Canon 70-200LIS 1900<br>

Canon 16-35 1450<br>

Canon 50 1.4 400<br>

Canon 580EX II 400 each x 2 = 800<br>

Canon ST-E2 220 each x 2 = 440<br>

Canon 100 Macro 650<br>

Total = $11,040 (add in exposure meter, filters, tripod, spare batteries and any other accessories should bring the total up to about $13,000)</p>

<p>If you don't know enough about your "professional photography" needs yourself to determine what equipment yo need, you should certainly not be dropping $25,000 on equipment.</p>

<p>And if you are asking posters at PN for advice, upon which you will then base a $25,000 investment...</p>

<p>... God help you.</p>

<p>Sorry.</p>

<p>I second the idea of the stabilized 100mm macro.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>If you're trying to cover all focal ranges, you might consider adding a 24-70 or 24-105.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>why would anyone need to cover the full focal length range. most pros only need three prime lenses.<br>

G Dan's post is spot on. You should know what gear you need, and if you don't, then you should think twice. When I'm on a shoot, I am the only one who know what lens I need for a particular shot, not my assistant, not the talent, not anyone else. Unless you a sports shooter or a wildlife shoooter, i doubt that you need zoom lenses either. and if i were spending $25k, i'd want more than one fast lens in my kit, particularly if i shot with an slr.</p>

<p>Agree completely with G. Dan about if you don't know or aren't sure what you need you shouldn't be buying it. The Canon 24-70mm 2.8 lens should be the first piece of equipment you get with full frame bodies as your workhorse lens for professional work. JMNHO of course!</p>

<p>You mention video. Then you should get something in the range 24-70/105. When shooting stills swapping lenses is not a problem (just time consuming). But when shooting video, you cannot swap lenses in the middle of a scene. Either the lens that you have mounted at that time offers a sufficient zoom range or you cannot record this scene. Splitting it into two or more scene delivers a completely different result and is not comparable to having a suitable zoom range.</p>

Eddie, you'd do well to provide some background to this post. I too would be skeptical of someone willing to splash out with 25k worth of photo/video goodies and not knowing what exactly they want. I am inclined to agree with GDM. That's a LOT of cash to spend on gear. I'm not sure what the total savings may be, but it might serve you better to build up the kit as you go, rather than just trying to cover focal lengths or lenses with rave reviews just because. Your photography style and needs should dictate the equipment you purchase. You may end up with $$$ worth of dust-collectors ;-)

<p>On the lighting side of things, are you planning to get video lights? Stands/umbrellas for the flashes? Flash diffusers perhaps? Wireless radio triggers for the flashes (frankly I'm not sure I see the need for two wireless camera remote triggers)