dcraton

You received a lot of good info on your last post.

Now to the nut: is this your profession or is this part time work?

That should answer your buying purchase. Glass rules, cam bods come and go. Again, 200mm will not suffice for nature, outside, etc. And in all reality, it really is nice to shoot modeling with a 300mm or longer lens to achieve a nice DOF and bokeh.

I suggest you study a bit more, experiment and decide what you really want to do.

As to weddings: good luck there.

If you are doing pj work, you will need either a 80-200mm/2.8 or 70-200mm/2.8 VR. Your 70-300mm is too slow.

Since I do PJ work with w/2 D200s, I can tell you I have a 17-55/2.8 one one bod and the 80-200mm on the other with a bevy of lenses in the bag.

Sorry, LowePro rules. I have 4 different ones for whatever the paper, periodical, or magazine calls for. I use a LowePro Slingshot 300 AW 90% of the time. It's quick, will hold a monopod, and allows me to carry what I need for speed. A definite must for pj work.

200mm is a bit short for anything outside, even on a DX format.

It's also short for fashion photography if you are really going the full boat. The lenses he has listed are nice, but not pro. Too slow,

There is simply not one lens that will provide the OP with pro work and one bod will certainly not suffice.

Michael: I have some very nice constant Nikon 2.8 lenses that would break the bank. However recently, I bought a Sigma 24-60mm/2.8 from Cameta for 199.00. I was very surprised at at it's quality for the price. I bought the lens for a backup "in case" scenario. Generally, I tend to be a lens snob, but the copy I received is no longer a back up and stays on one of several cam bods. Very sharp and hits that mid point for me very well.

You can read about it here: http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3260&navigator=2

I got mine on E*ay.

Good luck.

What Matt said totally and if you are going to really shoot outdoor nature scenes, you will probably need a super tele of at least 300mm + a TC (budget) or a 400mm or better.

Here is a 300mm/4 with a 2x TC (Kenko) at about 150 yards away: http://www.davidcraton.com/portfolio/Nature/slides/bird2.html.

Yet, here is a shot with a Sigma 10-20mm that sold to a regional periodical: http://www.davidcraton.com/portfolio/new/pages/calm2.htm. So, landscape/nature photography 10mm to 600mm and a monopod.

Weddings: You will need another cam bod and backup lenses. If you mess up the event of a lifetime. . .you will pay far more than investing in gear.

Good luck. Lot's of advice will come you way on this one. Also, you may want to go to the learning section here and read up a a bit.

In tight, I shoot with a 35mm/2 or the aforementioned 17-55mm. Both perform really well.

Keep your 50mm. Your studio may grow. Mine did.

Another option I have found to really like is the Sigma 24-60/2.8. I am not a fan of third party lenses, but at 200.00 at Cameta, it works very well if you do not have the money to get a faster lens.

Good luck.

Leonard: what is nice about the the Slingshot 300 is that you can wear it like a backpack but sling it around to the front and open the compartment cover and it opens out, which is nice so you are not fighting your bag. Also, I have 2 D200s and I always carry my second bod in the very top compartment.

I have similar lens config I often take out: 80-200; Sigma 10-20mm; and generally a mid prime such as a 50mm or 85mm. I also keep a 2x TC in the bag.

I have a bad back and this bag is pretty comfortable for an all day outer, hiking, sports shoots, or whatever.

Highly recommended on or off the job.

Plenty of room for a granola bar

The answer is yes it will work with a camera that has a video out. For instance, on a D200, you would connect the cable that is yellow on both ends: 1/8th inch going out from the video connector on the camera to the RCA and go into the composite video connector on the portable DVD player.

Warning: not all portable DVD players are alike. You might want to spend the 25 cents and burn some photos (jpg) and take to the store and try different ones out finding one that will have a decent screen resolution. Otherwise, your photos will look pretty soft and washed. Others will not heed aspect ratios as well. Try before you buy.

Also, some of the better portable DVD players now have USB ports allowing for jump drives as well and slots for a variety of flash cards. Just make sure the one you get has a composite input for video.

I think I'll do it as well.

Come on Shun, it only weighs 11 lbs. What's the problem?

It's late evening. You've been shooting on your belly all afternoon in the summer sun birding and at the waters' edge for wildlife and possible buggin. Suddenly, you are attacked by a blood sugar low. You hands begin to tremble. You ate your last granola bar an hour ago and you're out of Gatorade.

Point is, monopod. Yeah, it can be had with a fast enough shutter speed, but after awhile, you will get weary and 11 lbs is a bit of strain on the camera mount when left to gravity.

Good luck!

Being a Nikon snob, I love the Sigma 10-20mm and use it on the job as well.

It's a fun lens for all sorts of apps.

The first 7 photos at www.davidcraton.com/portfolio/new/index.htm were shot with the Sigma and a D200.

I do use it for architecture as well as product shots, artists promos, etc.

Good luck.