cowboystuff

<p>Well I tried.<br>

I do my searches on ebay and was recently told about KEH, but I only search for exactly what I want after I've done my research homework.<br>

If I was shooting Canon, I'd be looking at the EOS 7D. More $$$<br>

The XSi and the T1i are much cheaper.<br>

Decide exactly what you would like and save your dollars, and window shop too.</p>

<p>Why not check this deal out?</p>

<h3 ><a href="http://www.cameratown.com/deals/index.cfm#9977">Canon EOS Rebel T2i with 18-55mm & 55-250mm Lenses (Save $200). $856.99 Free Ship at Amazon</a></h3>

<p>Why don't you buy yourself an Epson V500 Flatbed scanner. It's excellent, the price is good and I am using one right now and really like it. Much cheaper than paying someone to do it and you get many choices in quality and resolution.</p>

<p>Wow! I'm not even going to argue with that mumbo-jumbo.<br>

Best thing, photograph your group at F8.</p>

<p>Unless you are specifically buying a flat field lens, when you buy your lens, the focal plane of your lens is not straight across in front of you, it is curved, (around you).<br>

Arrange your group in a curve and set your aperature small, say F4 to F8, for a group of that size.<br>

For larger groups than that, F8 to F11 is even better.<br>

For groups, you want a lot of depth of field so everyone is in focus.</p>

<p>For anyone interested in making their own tabletop display and softbox, you can always use one inch PVC pipe, available at Lowes or Home depot or any hardware store.<br />Just cut the pieces with a saw to desired lengths and glue together with ready available joints and PVC cement. You can even make things rotate or foldable by using a larger size PVC pipe as hinges with the one inch size slipped inside.<br />Just make some drawings how you want it, take the measurements and buy the pipe in 10 foot lengths and begin work.</p>

<p>I checked out the drawing, Very creative! I was actually surprised to find out you were shooting film and then scanning from prints to get the photos you are showing us.<br>

Very nice.</p>

<p>In the photos with the gradiant background and the reflective base, did you use a piece of plexiglass?</p>

<p>Excellent photos and excellent model building! That Tokina lens seems to be doing and excellent job also!</p>

<p>I also think I did see in one of Art Wolfe's videos, that he does use a small generator and/or a power inverter on his vehicle, to charge all his camera and computer batteries.</p>

<p>You might want to investigate to see what photographer Art Wolfe uses in his travels.<br>

Start at <a href="http://www.artwolfe.com">www.artwolfe.com</a> maybe.</p>

<p>Well, I'm disappointed. I was hoping that it would be a good lens.<br>

I think when I decide to make the purchase, that I will get the Nikon Zoom AF-S DX 17-55 f/2.8 ED-IF. I know that's a good lens and it's not that much more than the Sigma.</p>

<p>There's already been a huge debate about this in another forum.<br>

My advice is;<br>

You've probably already got a great assortment of lenses now, so stick with Nikon and get yourself a D3 or D700 to go with them.</p>

<p>boo-ya for <a href="http://www.photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=692072">Rick McCallum</a> ad I second your emotions!</p>

<p>Not all CMOS sensors in Nikon bodies are full frame sensors.</p>

<p>Some would say that Leica is the best camera in the world.<br>

But just like Bob said, "The truth is this: <strong>ALL</strong> professional photographers shoot with.....wait for it................."Whatever suits their NEEDS""<br>

And with the exception of how much money I have available, that's exactly what I do.</p>

<p>To start, I'm a Nikon user. I started with Canon in the early 80's but switched to Nikon because of the features I wanted. Mostly for the flash sync of 1/250th.<br>

But, if you take notice of sporting events, National Geographic and other wildlife photography events, quite often, Canon is a major sponsor. Canon pays out tremenous amounts of sponsor money and gives out and makes available, large amounts of equipment at no charge to photographers. This gives them a huge presence in the professional field and everyone takes notice of their equipment because of the color difference of the lenses. Plus Canon video equipment is used to video the events.<br>

They also produce some awesome photographs and videos. A good example is Art Wolfe and his videos.<br>

I can't recall if I've ever seen any such evenys sponsored by Nikon.</p>

<p>Richard, did you contact Sigma about this lens? If so, what might you have found out?<br>

Also, I would try photographing something othe than that plant, which has too many surfaces for the lens to focus on.</p>

<p>Those are much better photos!</p>

<p>Yes, you need to do some real tests on real subjects, to see all it can do.<br>

I own one and I think it's a great lens.</p>

<p>Thanks for answering my question.<br>

Boy, I'm sorry to hear you had such bad results with that lens. You should send a copy of your review and findings straight to Sigma.<br>

I'm leaning more and more towards my Nikon choices.<br>

17-55 f/2.8 or 17-35 f/2.8, now.<br>

Thanks</p>

<p>Well, I'm really looking forward to what you're gonna' say about this lens.</p>

<p>I've been checking every day and must have missed that.<br>

Thanks</p>

<p>Thank you very much.<br>

I'm kind of up in the air myself, between the Nikon 17-55mm/f2.8 AF-S DX<br>

and the New Sigma 24-70 f2.8 with the HSM motor, which isn't in stores yet.</p>

I've been researching 24-70/2.8's myself and there are a few.<br>

I've been waiting on the new Sigma version, myself.<br>

The Nikon 24-70 f/2.8 is a full frame lens and on the D300, it most likely would be a 36-105 f/2.8</p>