kev_400d

It's the same for everything, I'm buying a new car and the want GBP 1900 for sat nav!

 

How can it possibly cost that much for integrated sat nav when a TOM TOM is GBP 150!

 

They charge what the market can bare!

"At the passenger security checkpoint, you should remove the following types of film from your carry-on baggage and ask for a hand inspection"

 

Good Luck asking for that at LHR! It goes through the machine or it goes in the bin! They have a major infastructure just for carting off the tones (and thousands of pounds worth) of confiscated items every day!

I aggree with most of what has been said.

 

Your laptop is still adequate for use as a mobile computer so if you have the space you'd benefit from a desktop.

 

I would suggest a cheap PC with a dual core processor and upgrade the RAM and graphics card straight away. 2Gigs is fine 4Gigs is better (ram is so cheap thesedays) and get a cheap 256Meg (or better) graphics card. Good 19" flat panel monitors are also cheap enough these days, once one is colour ballenced they are pretty much the same.

 

Don't worry about brand names they are all the same inside.

I second what most people have said about "standing out". To third world thieves, muggers etc. a 400D with the kit lens looks the same as a 1D3 and a 50 1.2.

 

That said they can tell the difference between a regular traveler (as a lot of photogs are) and a loud obnoxious American (sorry but it?s the stereotype they target) tourist who has too much money, a big expensive camera and who has never been out of their state before!

 

Just remember that you are there to observe (and photograph) the environment around you, the best way to do that is do draw as little attention to yourself as possible and to dress and act in a subtle and confident way.

 

If you know anyone who travels to the third world regularly look at how they dress also when you get there you can see how your western guides dress and act. I would recommend against sports-wear / big shiny new looking cameras / camera bags. Think Michael Palin: crumpled shirt, linen trousers. As for a camera bag you seem to be on the right lines with a khaki shoulder bag, just make sure it doesn?t look too new, put it through the washing machine and leave it in the sun (if there is any) to age it.

 

When your camera is out, hold it in a confident way as if it?s an extension of your arm, adjusting settings as if you could do it with your eyes shut, not as if it?s brand new and don?t really know how to use it yet. Also don?t use the strap that came with it, an old (or old looking) one draws far less attention.

 

You seem to be taking too much with you but it?s hard to advise because you haven?t told us where you?re going and what you want to capture while you?re there.

 

Overall remind yourself how lucky you are to have this opportunity and make the most of it!

I was in Hungary a few weeks ago, security guard held out his hand and said "Cigarettes" in a gruff voice. I gave him my pack, he put them in his shirt pocket an waved me on. He made no attempt to hide anything!

Getting back onto the topic of this forum!

 

A question that has been nagging me for a while:

 

A few friends of mine who are pros (and Canon devotees) insist that most pros have moved form Nikon to Canon these days. I have certainly noticed that over 90% of sports, pap, PJ etc photographers seem to be Canon users, (from my very unscientific observations).

 

However at the weddings I?ve been to this year all of the pros have been Nikon users!

 

Now obviously any decent photographer can make spectacular photographs with any current DLR and a couple of decent lenses (even with just a few inexpensive primes) but are there reasons that Nikon system is preferred for weddings?

 

PS sorry for Hijacking the post!

Marketing! There are plenty of examples where "consumer" gear is just deliberatly crippled versions of the "pro" version.

 

How much do you think it'd cost to put a rear control dial, larger buffer, more durable shutter etc on a 400D?

CF cards are sooo out of date, I smile every time I hear the "Compact" part of CF. They are prob trying to wean their pro customers onto SD which are (IMHO) the smallest size that is still practical to handle (mini SD and micro SD) are too small.

post a 100% crop

Depends what you're looking for, what your budget is. If you want more pixels one of these could fit the bill:

 

http://www.slrtoday.com/articles/64/1/The-Seitz-160-Megapixel-D3-Digital-Camera/Page1.html

"I for one would be very interested in such a camera, whether in FF or a reduced-size format"

 

Isn't that called the 5D (and it's long awaited successor)?

You'd ne suprised how much broke stuff goes for on ebay!

 

I'm convinced it's from people ripping off their insurance companies but I'm a cynic!

Tell me if I'm wrong.

 

I think I read somewhere that the 1n uses an IR light (to line up sprokets or something) that has side effect of fogging IR film

The main thing that makes this stink to high heaven is simply that Cameras (and all other elecronic goods) are *A LOT* more expensive here compared with the US!

Off topic I know but look at the prices on Leonard's link!

 

The Canon (which looks best to me) is USD276 and GBP229

 

That's a scandal!

if you can stretch a bit further you could consider the Canon EF 1200mm

IIRC you can buy touch-up paint for the white lenses! Can't be THAT durable!

"Amsterdam Intl" no such place! I think you mean "Schiphol Airport" pronounced Schiffol

I'm not a pro photographer but I'd price it like you price any job!

 

This is fo the UK but the methodology should stand up.

 

Firstly decide on a daily rate ?500 is good but because the client is a school and it's not how you make your money something like ?300 is probably more apropriate!

 

I'd deff recommend going to meet the Head first to discuss what you can do and what he would like etc.

 

Half day Prep + Meeting with the head = ?150

1 Day shooting = ?300

1 Day post production = ?300

 

+ milage I'd charge 25p per mile

 

Work all that out add 10% for contingency and give him a flat fee!

Hi all,

 

Thanks for the responses so far.

 

I still can't make up my mind!

 

I'm now thinking of stretching my budget and going for the 24-105 F4L which should be good for 99% of my shots. Is it worth the extra cash? Will an amateur such as me be able to realize the benefits?

 

I can then save up for a Sigma 10-20 for landscapes. Is this any good?

 

I have a friend/neighbor who's a semi pro photographer for a premiership team who has offered loan of his gear (he has a range of spectacular longer L lenses as you can imagine) so if I need something long for a particular purpose... until I can afford a 70-200 F4L of my own.

 

How does this plan sound or would I be better off saving my money and going for ther 17-85?

Hi,

 

This is my first post so apologies if it's in the wrong place...

 

I'm looking at buying my first "proper" camera.

 

I've decided on the 400D (Rebel XTi to those over the pond).

 

But am being indecisive on lenses.

 

Was going to get a Mega zoom Sigma 28-300 but online research told me this

wasn't a good idea.

 

Now I'm looking at getting

17-85 EF-S and the 50/1.8

and saving for the 70-200 F4L

 

My question is:

 

Is the 17-85 EF-S any good?

 

I want to do a range of Landscape / Portrait / Event photography.

 

Also, is there a cheap / good prime that I could use for wildlife / candid

shots until I can save the ?400 that the L Zoom?

 

Any advice would be very much appreciated.