guillaume_francois

<p>Thank you for your comments! I realize that I will have to make choices and that maybe I will save Olympic Park for another trip. Being already quite familiar with the pacific coast between Point Reyes and Long Beach, I will perhaps explore the Mount Shasta area and Crater Lake, making eventually a couple excursions along the Oregon Coast - any specific recommendations for these? (BTW, I am based in SF and will be taking my car...- and yes, Yosemite is absolutely beautifull!)</p>

<p>I am planing a seven day trip up the North-West Pacific Coast, from San Francisco up to maybe Vancouver. It will be in the first week of this coming August. Any sugestions for itineraries, photo oportunities? I was told of Mount Shasta, Red Wood Pational Park, Olympic Park...<br>

Thanks, I appreciate your counsel!</p>

<p>I appreciate your chiming in although your comments are mostly off topic.<br>

Just to be clear, I am interested in first hand experience with this lens and if possible looking at convincing images made with it other than flower shots.<br>

Why? well, I find 50mm a good focal length on a crop sensor for faces, flowers and objects. It has an aperture ring, meaning I can use bellows and extention tubes. This lens also has, according to reports, good(smooth) manual focussing, something that I cannot say of other AF macros (in that focal range)that I have tried. And by the way, using the D300's live view for manual focusing is a joy, better than looking through the viewfinder, split screen or not. <br>

I saw some colourful flower shots on pbase I forgot where. The samples on photozone are boring, the tester <i>seems</i> to be more of a(good) tester than a (good) photographer. <br>

That said it looks like I will have to try it and find out! Now I gotta find the € 1000!</p>

<p>What are your first hand impressions on this lens?<br>

I've already gathered all the information(scant) available on the web at this time.<br>

The lens seems to be exellent image wise and versatile.<br>

Did you make any pictures with this lens that you are proud/satisfied of ? Not just flower shots but maybe portraits and/or still life?<br>

How about use with extention tubes?</p>

<p>It's strange this lens has been out for a couple of years yet so few comments. Is it the price? (1000€)<br>

If no one responds I'll have to bite the bullet and find out on my own! <br>

Thanks for your imput.</p>

<p>1) 50mm f 1.4<br>

2) 17-40 f 4<br>

3) 70- 200 f 4 IS <br>

If you're the creative type the fast standard 50mm lens is all you need. If you want WA effects add the 17-40. If you're shy and want to take candid pictures of people take the 70-200 f4 IS. Fuggedabout the P&S! A 5D+ 50mm1.4 is the best P&S in the world! Unless you are a hard core macro man, leave the macro gear behind, you won't have time for it. Speed Lights are either for experts or idiots, if you're unsure, fuggedabout' it too. As for bags I find a black Billingham Hadley ideal, inconspicuous and practical. It will hold your 5D + the three aforementioned lenses nicely.<br>

Seconds thoughts.. get a P&S (LX3) for your wife, women are much more intuitive and naturaly talented photographers anyway, as long as the gear remains simple - watch it she might put you to shame! Have a good time!</p>

My apologies to you Edward Ingold, I guess I have a fast trigger too! It's just that when comments get too personnal,

people get nervous... Thank you for bringing this about though, it got me thinking. And thank you Shun Cheung for hanging

around and being a good moderator. Good shooting.

Mr Edward Ingold, are you implying that I am showing off and that you shoot off? If that be the case, then the difference

between us that I know what I am showing but you don't know what your are shooting at. Let's be constuctive and help

each other out!

Thank you all for your advice. I think my question boils down to which combination is less limiting for my needs,

the 17-55 +70-200 or the 12-24 + 70-200. I think I will have to try out a 17-55.

I am looking for some advice on optimizing my equipment selection. I am what they call a 'keen' amateur, my main interests being

urban/industrial landscape and travel. I am fond of low dusky light. At the present I use a d300 with a 12-24DX, a 35/2D and a 70-200VR. I

find myself changing lenses a lot, from the wide to the tele. Many times I will be at the 70mm end of the tele, whereas with the wide I

mostly use the 18-24 range, more than often hitting the 24mm limit. Does that mean that I should look into a normal zoom, or get a

second body?