buzz_meade

Definately want a zoom for a safari! Awesome. Anything 200mm or bigger (300, 400 etc.). That'll increase your zoom capabilities, although everyone else is right - thats where things get expensive. Have fun!

Thank you all for your opinions and thank you to the people who stayed ON TOPIC, giving me advice on BUYING LENSES. :)

The D80 is a decent camera. I would figure out how it's going to work with your current lens collection and then make the call.

Tim, I did see an improvement in ISO Noise. Like I mentioned, I mainly to model and portrait assignments, so I like things to be super clean and crisp and I was blown away by the D80 when I first got it. I've since learned how to use it better, so now its even better. If you are thinking about upgrading from the 50, I can't think of anything bad about the jump from 50 to 80...tahts the truth.

 

Oxide Blu, I can tell you're very scorned and jaded by hack photographers. I don't intend to take this lightly. I have a good 3 months to study and shadow, as you suggested, and I'm a very good study at that. This isn't about money to me, but a new branch of photography I can be involved in. And just because I'm not technically savy yet, doesn't mean I don't have a good handle on light, composition and the basics.

Tim, that makes the most sense yet.

 

I'd like the D300, but I don't think that's the answer. I've already went from a D50 to D80. 18-200mm would be cool too, but I don't know if it get a ton of use from me at this point.

 

The 17-55mm seems to be the closest to my favorite lens and the one I use all the time (18-55mm), but just a little sharper, so that might be the best move at this point. And it is a good "wedding" lens from everything I've been reading. Thanks!

Thanks guys! Like someone mentioned before, right now the lens and camera I have are pretty solid for the work I do.

 

But as I get more established in my small little area, I have more opportunities for other types of Photography (Sports, Weddings, Outdoor) which is why I wanna be prepared and have the correct equipment for the job. That's mainly where all this comes from.

To recap, I do Model / Portrait work mainly, but wanna break into Weddings and

Outdoor shots. Everyone gave some awesome opinions in my last thread, but it

looks like I will only be able to buy one of these to add to my gear. Again I

have a D80, with the lenses 18-55mm, 28-80mm, 50mm and 55-200mm. I primarily

use the 18-55mm and 50mm for my current work.

 

I'm looking at either

-Upgrading to a D300 or buying a 17-55, 24-70 or 70-200mm lens.

 

I'm not afraid to make a solid investment as far as the D300. I just don't

wanna upgrade to a D300 if my lenses are the issue and not the camera body.

 

Thanks ahead of time!

Or am I incorrect in that? Is better lens' the answer and not a better body?

I actually am going to upgrade - I like the new D300 + 18-200VR deal they have going and I feel like the D80 could be holding me back.

I'm feeling I need something new. I have a D80 right now along with lens 18-

55mm, 28-80mm, 50mm and 55-200mm.

 

Example of my work: http://gumballzeta.com/photoweb3.jpg

 

I shoot mainly models and portraits, but I am moving into more outdoor nature

scenes, and I'm shooting a few weddings in the fall.

 

Is there a lens that might work well for those two new "subjects" as well as

what I currently shoot?

 

Buzz

My lease is little more then one paragrapgh saying I can't sublease. I live in a REAL old fashioned community in the midwest, where things are still done with handshakes and everything is closed on Sundays.

 

The problem is the neighbors don't know what's going on and have assumed I'm making money shooting porn. Like my landlord said "She knows that "crazy" things happen in the world and sees it on TV" - i.e. They fear anything different, especially done by people they dont know.

 

Ya, from all I've read it sounds like I could be evicted for being a nuisance, and asked to stop by the police if they deem it a "business". But then it would be a legal issue as to what a "business" is.

 

Honestly, I dont think the exchange of prints for someones time is a business. If it is, its a non for profit!

Well, I'd buy yours, but I'll just ask the Easter Bunny for one, April being around the corner.

 

That or buy some Cracker Jacks...;)

Ya. I have shades but theyre see thru. I'll probabaly have to do that, if I dont get evicted first. :)

Right on. Again, I dont make any money at this - TFP Portfolio stuff. If I made money, I wouldnt live in this apt!

They're threatened my landlord that they would. They said I have to have a photography license. My guess is they saw some shadows from the bikini shoot last night and this is a REALLLL christian community, so they dont like whatever is going on. Again, everything is TFP portfolio stuff.

Hey everyone: I got one for you.

 

I do photography in my apt - lights, backdrops and what not. My landlord lives

below me and today one of the neighbors threatened to call the cops on me.

They said I had to have a "photography license" and that she could get in

trouble.

 

My landlord is an 80 year old, christian woman so she of course is freakin out.

 

1st, I think this is insane, because A. all my shoots are TFP (Time for

Prints), B. Its my own home so who cares what I do and C. What would the cops

arrest me for? All my stuff is glamour, swim suit or fashion.

 

I'm pretty sure if I get evicted I have strong legal ground, but just wanted

to through it out there if someone knows something I dont.

 

Thanks!

 

Buzz

How do I adjust to F8,F10 or change shutter speeds?

Wow! Awesome answers. I really, really appreciate it.

I'm a beginner with Nikon D50 with the 55-200 & 28-80 lenses. I'm interested

in doing model and portrait work. Besides lowering the ISO to the lowest

setting, are there any other important settings to have on the camera? I feel

like things are still more blurry then they should be. Thank you!