Advice: On buying 5D3.

[kbmelb]

Posted this in another post yesterday.

I did this messing around with metering and decided this junk shot might be a good DR test. I don't have a D800 but I think this show Canon really did improve the DR in the mkIII over the mkII. I'm not taking much stock in DxO. I LIKE my mkIII.

Disregard the fact the files say they are both from mkIII, that is the way I cropped them in the same PS file together.
Both shots were identical exposures with the same lens at ISO 400 and in Aperture 3 the "Brightness" and "Shadows" sliders were pushed all the way equally. I'd say there is a stop or two DR improvement.

mkIII

mkII

 

[Drizzt321]

I'm definitely agreeing with a lot in this thread, D800 looks great for lower ISO performance, and to get super detailed photos at the lower ISOs or anything with strobes or what not.

For any events, I'd say that the 5d3 is an amazing camera. I've shot a couple of different music shows in the past week, one of which was at The Viper Room which has some crazy lighting changes & conditions on the main stage. Had my 5d2 & 5d3, and the 5d3 was far superior, hands down. Usable photos at ISO 6400+, and the AF system worked extremely well. Plus the burst mode is great. I will say, for weddings, you'll want to go to Silent mode, which is pretty darn quiet!

 

[the-ninth]

However after looking at the DXO ratings, and the Fred Miranda review (in regards to pulling the shadows up to par with the image) i can't help to feel betrayed by Canon. it looks like the D800 jus took a HUGE DUMP on Canon.

With all of this said, how can i justify dropping 3.5K on this camera? I've started off with 7D so i haven't seen the what seems to be the disappointment of the 5D II AF system. I have the money, i'm ready to spend. I just need the convincing that this will be a worthwhile investment.

First, all of the these reviews seem artificial to me. The 30D I had before the 5D3 took great pictures but has a DXO rating of 59. So I don't think the difference between rating 81 and 95 of the 5D3 and D800 is practically relevant.

My reasons for upgrading from the 30D were AF, full-frame, high-ISO performance, the large 100% viewfinder, C-modes and the battery grip with joystick.

Many of these things are addressed by the 7D already, which is a pretty modern camera. So if you don't need the last bit of high-ISO performance or are into the low depth-of-field of full-frame, then you should stick with your 7D and wait a generation or two before upgrading to the next body.

Personally I'd never consider a body upgrade if the old one is younger than 5 years, if there is not a very specific itch that I'd like to scratch.

Cheers, Robert

 

[Sony]

Background: 19 Y/O, Own: 7D, 50mm 1.4, 24-70mm L. 70-200mm L 2.8 Mark II, Sigma 10mm Fisheye (ONLY COMPATIBLE WITH 1.6 sensors.), and the 530EXII. Plan on getting internship to shoot weddings to build up my portfolio this summer. This camera seems like THE WEDDING CAMERA.

In low ISO D800, 5Dii, 5Diii are neck by neck. The difference is not much so is not a big deal to be worried. In high ISO 5Diii takes the lead equivalent to 2 f/stop. It's a big thing to consider. It means that in some conditions of light you can take pics with 5Diii without a speedlite while others with D800 or 5Dii still need flash. Think it. It's a big convenience if you want to take pics in a wedding or indoor events. It's the wedding camera, 5Diii.
Besides, your lenses are in dream of many shooters, why you have to trade?
In your situation, with my point of view, 5Diii is the choice.
The difference of $500 still much cheaper than switch, so it's better.
Anyway,you may keep it in at least 4 years, or 1460 days. $500/1460= $0.34/day with satifaction, it's worth it.

 

[smithy]

What I'd like to know is how does a 19 year old student afford all of that camera gear? Very generous parents or an amazingly well-paid summer job? I'm in my 30s with full-time paid employment, and *I* can't afford that stuff hahah. ;D

 

[newjerseykita]

By the way...so cool to see a 19 yo that quotes/posts a top gun link....one of the great movies of all time

Hahahaha Northstar! Were you losing faith in my generation or something?

ANYWAYS TO RESOLVE THIS POST (at least for me) I'm going to buy the 5D3 I've been itching for the full frame advantage for too long now!

Thank you everyone who keeps posting as well as all of those who entered information.

To streamline it, DxO numbers mean nothing Compare the two cameras together and look at the charts. SO SIMILAR.

1.) D800 Better for Landscape Low iso's allow for higher Dynamic Range where the D800 is king! However by the time you get to Iso 800 the cameras basically become the same in regards to SNR and DR

2.) 5D3 Redefines Auto focus system, metering system, iso performance in low light. When you buy this camera you plan on having it for at least! 3-4 years! 1460 DAYS

NOW FOR SOME MATH

3,500/1460 = $2.40 a day if you own it for four years and don't sell it. At 4 years it will have costed you $2.40 a day to own.

However if you sell it for whatever it's worth at that point? $2350 used? To get a new body, you'll have spent .79 cents a day to keep that camera. SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA NOW HUH?

Oh simple math, how convincing you are. I'll definitely make well over 3K with this camera just from work with it.

I can justify the price now, the specs are good for me. Now what about you?

 

[revup67]

K-amps - I might disagree when you refer to the D800 when you say

If you are into Macro

. Nikon doesn't have anything like the MP-E 65 lens. It is the king of kings for serious macro shooters with a 1x-5x magnification. Getting the essential MT 24-EX flash makes this an incredible setup (5D Mkii, MP-E 65 and the MT 24EX). I'm just waiting for the 5D MKiii like others as I am anxious to take photos with this setup. PS let's not forget the razor sharp 100mm IS USM L 2.8 with 1x macro as well.

 

[newjerseykita]

What I'd like to know is how does a 19 year old student afford all of that camera gear? Very generous parents or an amazingly well-paid summer job? I'm in my 30s with full-time paid employment, and *I* can't afford that stuff hahah. ;D

GOOD QUESTION ALLOW ME TO BRAG.

TL;DR at the bottom for all you lazy people.

Now in all seriousness, think about my situation. 19 years old, my parents are fortunate enough to afford me going to college. That is their gift to me, paying for my college. With that said, i'm helping them out by becoming a RESIDENT ASSISTANT next year, i got the job and my college housing is free next year. I cut my tuition by $11,000 for my parents.

With this said, i started working at 17, got a good job and worked around 20 Hours a week at 17. A Few months later i got a promotion from 7.50 to $8, 9, when i work as a manager when the boss is out. Again still being in high school living at home with NO BILLS TO PAY. I would work around 12 hours a week year round, bumping up my hours to a max of 25 hours a weed during the summer.

Prior to that i had already saved up around $800 birthdays, i researched for 4 years before finally buying a camera, i originally was going to buy a Nikon D200, then i wanted the D300, then when i worked a wedding with my father, who is a DJ (Also made money on the side with this) , i met a photographer who shot canon, around the time when the 7D came out, he suggested i get that or the 50D.

Did my research 7D was for me. Bought shitty lenses with it, 50mm, and 28m f2.8. Just stupid stupid naive purchases... Bought the 10mm Fisheye from sigma One of my favorite purchases everwanted versatility, bought the sigma 18-200 3.5-6.3. Quality sucked, wanted professional glass. Had my dad SPOT ME A GRAND, picked up the 28-300 L 3.5-5.6.

This combination opened up a new position for senior year for me. The Student Photographer position. I made $9 to shoot sports. Worked 2 jobs. Paid off that lens. Bought the 24-70, worked a buttload and just saved. Saving, saving, saving. It's my hidden talent apparently.

Summer comes, i want bokeh, i go to Allens camera in PA, sell my 28mm, 18-200 (Which i regret right now) and the 28-300. Got the Gary Fong light sphere collapsible pro, as well as a REFURBISHED 70-200 IS USM f2.8 Mark II. IT WAS FLAWLESS.

My friend switched to Nikon, picked up his 50mm 1.4 for like $280?

Finally get to college and i'm shooting a football game with my gear, i see a guy come off the field and i want a field pass i asked how to get one. He brings me up to the box to talk to Sheila. Sheila basically looks at my gear, says we have a job opening let me see your Sportfolio©. I show her, i get the job, i now have a $9 a job at school as a freshman. I'm getting like 10 hour weeks.

And now i'm here, waiting to work weddings, combo up with my father. The killa combo.

But some key facts allow me to have all of this gear.

1.) I Don't pay for a house, bills, college,
2.) I don't have a car, people buy cars, i buy cameras. (Family has 5 people in it, we have 5 cars. 2 from deceased family members)
3.) I'm in college, a lot of kids blow the money they saved on DRUGS, i'll be blunt... and apparently punny. But kids spend a lot of money on alcohol and marijuana. I hustle my way into parties for free.

In the end of it all, i've paid my father back all the money he's loaned me and i now PERSONALLY OWN all of my gear, and it feels amazing to know that. I've already accomplished something great and it just feels so good to know that I ACTUALLY WORKED FOR IT. If it was all handed to me, i wouldn't love photography as much as i do. So to answer your question now i don't have parents that spoil me!

To long; Didn't Read?

TL;DR: I can afford all of my camera gear as a 19 year old because i don't have many fiscal responsibilities yet such as Bills, car insurance, college, and or splurging on drugs. Plus i've just been fortunate in creating jobs for myself or coming upon job opportunities because of my gear/vast knowledge of gear from reading and studying cameras and the technical aspects for photography. Don't just learn how to do it, KNOW how it works/why it works and how to do it. Lastly, i just can stretch a dollar very well, i learned how to get money and keep money. Open a savings account and just leave the money in there. Save as much as you can.

That's my 2 cents. Cheers.

 

[awinphoto]

Well it appears that you are building a strong foundation with great gear, finances, at least for the interim under control and got your ducks lined up in a row... When I went to school for photography, i got a 10D (brand new release at the time, woo hoo) and got crappy lenses to shoot with... Then spent the last decade upgrading bodies/lenses/knowledge to keep up with the market. Keep working hard and dont get discouraged when things get tough. A lot of upcoming pros wash out because they get discouraged, run out of money, and dont see it through. Learn your basics, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, take business classes and finance classes... As well as marketing and the like. They will help you keep your photography business from turning into a photography non profit. A lot of "photography" fine arts schools and even Fine Arts majors do not require a heavy allotment of business classes to graduate, but you need those to keep you afloat once you start to take off. You need to have the skills and gear but you also need business savvy to keep you viable and in the black. Good luck and stick with the 5d3, as a body system as a whole, it's miles ahead of the 5d2, even though the sensor size is similar.

P.S., if you like Top Gun, Top Gun 2 is in the works and Tom Cruise is back as maverick.

 

[Hathaway]

First, I would call around to the places you are thinking of interning at and ask their opinion/recommendation. Start establishing a relationship.

Second, If you are seriously thinking of switching I would take the advice to rent the D800 and the glass you think you will want and try it.

Third, If you read Fred Miranda's write up you will see that there are compromises with both systems. Ask yourself why so many of the images posted are taken with the 5D3 and so few with the D800? Also, his article focused on landscape photography and not wedding/event photography and yet his images are mostly 5D3. With the 5D3 he was able to capture the images he thought worthy of posting. His impediments capturing images with the D800 seemed to be related to 1) lack of experience with the D800, 2) issues with D800 live view, 3) lenses

Forth, Read the reviews and comments of the people who actually bought and take real pictures with the 5D3. Mostly, but not entirely, ignore the DXO stats and folks who want to rag on images of lens caps. Yes, the D800 has better DR and shadow recovery. How many of YOUR shots that are properly exposed do you need/want to pull 4 stops our of the shadows?

Just some thoughts.

I think people are looking at Fred Miranda's few photos where he tried to recover shadows and highlights and missing the point of his larger review. As the poster above states, Fred found deficiencies in some of the DR of the 5D3 but in all spent the most time with the 5D3, captured some amazing pictures given the capabilities of the camera and more importantly the quality of the Canon glass and ultimately didn't use the D800 much given some of the deficiencies in ability to spot focus and use the camera in the conditions he needed.

I focus more on landscape photography and the reviews of the 5D3 and D800 have been most challenging for me. As others have said, a 5D3 with the D800 sensor would be an amazing machine. I will probably upgrade to the 5D3 as I am soarly in need of an upgrade (come from the 20d) and will see if Canon produces a higher MP camera in the future that significantly improves DR. If so, I will sell the 5D3 and upgrade, if not I will keep the 5D3 and probably be perfectly happy.

The biggest conclusion I came away with from Fred's review and others posts in DRP and elsewhere is the need to add the TS-E lenses to my arsenal. I am saving right now for these two gems as they appear to be a landscape photographer's dream!!! ;D ;D ;D

 

[smithy]

Well I read the whole thing and I'm impressed by your hard work, initiative, and attitude.

You clearly have a passion for photography, and as long as it's something you enjoy doing, you should pursue it. The dream of most people is to have a career doing something that they love. Most don't get to have this, because they wait too long to figure out what they like, and by that time they've already got mortgages or families or debts, and they're forced to do any kind of job to pay the bills.

You're already on the right track for success.

My nephew is also 19, and obsessed by cars, and he's doing a mechanics' apprenticeship... he can't believe he's being paid to do something he enjoys so much.

 

[K-amps]

K-amps - I might disagree when you refer to the D800 when you say

If you are into Macro

. Nikon doesn't have anything like the MP-E 65 lens. It is the king of kings for serious macro shooters with a 1x-5x magnification. Getting the essential MT 24-EX flash makes this an incredible setup (5D Mkii, MP-E 65 and the MT 24EX). I'm just waiting for the 5D MKiii like others as I am anxious to take photos with this setup. PS let's not forget the razor sharp 100mm IS USM L 2.8 with 1x macro as well.

Hi Rev: You are right on the lenses. However there are situations where the blotchy color noise of the sensor in shadow areas can make it a challenge to shoot. The only way out of it I know is to shoot the shot twice at different exposures and blend them... or use strobes... which is whole new topic

 

[newjerseykita]

Well I read the whole thing and I'm impressed by your hard work, initiative, and attitude.

You clearly have a passion for photography, and as long as it's something you enjoy doing, you should pursue it. The dream of most people is to have a career doing something that they love. Most don't get to have this, because they wait too long to figure out what they like, and by that time they've already got mortgages or families or debts, and they're forced to do any kind of job to pay the bills.

You're already on the right track for success.

My nephew is also 19, and obsessed by cars, and he's doing a mechanics' apprenticeship... he can't believe he's being paid to do something he enjoys so much.

Well it appears that you are building a strong foundation with great gear, finances, at least for the interim under control and got your ducks lined up in a row... When I went to school for photography, i got a 10D (brand new release at the time, woo hoo) and got crappy lenses to shoot with... Then spent the last decade upgrading bodies/lenses/knowledge to keep up with the market. Keep working hard and dont get discouraged when things get tough. A lot of upcoming pros wash out because they get discouraged, run out of money, and dont see it through. Learn your basics, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, take business classes and finance classes... As well as marketing and the like. They will help you keep your photography business from turning into a photography non profit. A lot of "photography" fine arts schools and even Fine Arts majors do not require a heavy allotment of business classes to graduate, but you need those to keep you afloat once you start to take off. You need to have the skills and gear but you also need business savvy to keep you viable and in the black. Good luck and stick with the 5d3, as a body system as a whole, it's miles ahead of the 5d2, even though the sensor size is similar.

P.S., if you like Top Gun, Top Gun 2 is in the works and Tom Cruise is back as maverick.

The biggest thing i have to work on is staying motivated. It's so easily to get discouraged! I started off with 2 other guys who shot Canon with me, they're now switching to Nikon because they work exclusively with a man who does big wedding events, indian weddings, on Nikon format. So i got kinda left in the dust in regards to a team :'(

In regards to going to school for photography, i'm attending college for a public relation degree, the photography jobs are just something that i do because
1) I love shooting, and i love getting paid to shoot
2) Do i really need more than that?

Photography is sort of crutch, i've talked to many professionals about going to school for photography and they said at this point in the digital era it's not worth it. If you have a good portfolio that's really all people need to know. If you can get the same types of shots from someone who does have a degree what does the degree matter?

I hope to go in to Public Relations for Live Events for Red Bull. I could plan the events, have an assistant or my team run it, while i shoot it. Get paid for two jobs? Ideally. But i hope i can make it work!

It's Either that, or i'd probably like to do Public Relations for a up and coming nuclear power. A Company that focuses on Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors is a company i want to work for. I've put a lot of research into this technology and it's just insane how amazing it is. A Million Times more powerful than fossil fuels, ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS, and we can burn up nuclear waste in the reactors Molten salt core. So the uranium 235 that were waiting 24,000 years to decay into something safe... we could use that to power this reactor.

Anyways, as you can see, i roll with the punches. 8) Such a boss? Yeah i know.

 

[RLPhoto]

If you want the full frame advantage and dont plan to do video, BUY A 5Dc! Its a Superb camera and can be found for under 900$! It will complement your 7D perfectly and you can decided later if you REALLY want a 5d3.

 

[awinphoto]

Well I read the whole thing and I'm impressed by your hard work, initiative, and attitude.

You clearly have a passion for photography, and as long as it's something you enjoy doing, you should pursue it. The dream of most people is to have a career doing something that they love. Most don't get to have this, because they wait too long to figure out what they like, and by that time they've already got mortgages or families or debts, and they're forced to do any kind of job to pay the bills.

You're already on the right track for success.

My nephew is also 19, and obsessed by cars, and he's doing a mechanics' apprenticeship... he can't believe he's being paid to do something he enjoys so much.

Well it appears that you are building a strong foundation with great gear, finances, at least for the interim under control and got your ducks lined up in a row... When I went to school for photography, i got a 10D (brand new release at the time, woo hoo) and got crappy lenses to shoot with... Then spent the last decade upgrading bodies/lenses/knowledge to keep up with the market. Keep working hard and dont get discouraged when things get tough. A lot of upcoming pros wash out because they get discouraged, run out of money, and dont see it through. Learn your basics, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, take business classes and finance classes... As well as marketing and the like. They will help you keep your photography business from turning into a photography non profit. A lot of "photography" fine arts schools and even Fine Arts majors do not require a heavy allotment of business classes to graduate, but you need those to keep you afloat once you start to take off. You need to have the skills and gear but you also need business savvy to keep you viable and in the black. Good luck and stick with the 5d3, as a body system as a whole, it's miles ahead of the 5d2, even though the sensor size is similar.

P.S., if you like Top Gun, Top Gun 2 is in the works and Tom Cruise is back as maverick.

The biggest thing i have to work on is staying motivated. It's so easily to get discouraged! I started off with 2 other guys who shot Canon with me, they're now switching to Nikon because they work exclusively with a man who does big wedding events, indian weddings, on Nikon format. So i got kinda left in the dust in regards to a team :'(

In regards to going to school for photography, i'm attending college for a public relation degree, the photography jobs are just something that i do because
1) I love shooting, and i love getting paid to shoot
2) Do i really need more than that?

Photography is sort of crutch, i've talked to many professionals about going to school for photography and they said at this point in the digital era it's not worth it. If you have a good portfolio that's really all people need to know. If you can get the same types of shots from someone who does have a degree what does the degree matter?

I hope to go in to Public Relations for Live Events for Red Bull. I could plan the events, have an assistant or my team run it, while i shoot it. Get paid for two jobs? Ideally. But i hope i can make it work!

It's Either that, or i'd probably like to do Public Relations for a up and coming nuclear power. A Company that focuses on Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors is a company i want to work for. I've put a lot of research into this technology and it's just insane how amazing it is. A Million Times more powerful than fossil fuels, ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS, and we can burn up nuclear waste in the reactors Molten salt core. So the uranium 235 that were waiting 24,000 years to decay into something safe... we could use that to power this reactor.

Anyways, as you can see, i roll with the punches. 8) Such a boss? Yeah i know.

Photography is very easy to get discouraged in and lose steam... When I was in high school, i took some elective photo classes. I asked the teacher then if it was worth it to be a professional photographer, he said point blank, no. Thank God i didn't listen to him. If you can make it work, you can do well, but i think it's good that you got a separate but somewhat related career path. That can help you alot. Just keep with it, keep motivated and dont burn out.

As far as do you need a photo degree, that depends on your market and where you are. Some companies give preferential treatment to a degree, others couldn't care less. If you poke and prod, there is a thread in CR I talked to a guy where he wanted to get in the market, was questioning whether getting a degree was worth it, unfortunately, for where he lived, they demanded a degree or piece of paper as he put it just to get considered. Not all markets are that stringent but it is what it is. Knowing what you're talking about as well as being able to do what your talking about is key so do what you can to brush up on technique, all the technical mumbo jumbo, and composition. All the gear in the world wont make up for bad technique, but good technique can compensate for bad gear.

 

[newjerseykita]

Knowing what you're talking about as well as being able to do what your talking about is key so do what you can to brush up on technique, all the technical mumbo jumbo, and composition. All the gear in the world wont make up for bad technique, but good technique can compensate for bad gear.

You hit the proverbial nail on the head! My brother is on who has preached this to me for years! Sees me spending all this money on gear and just shakes his head. He is a big preacher you can do this for much less just by knowing more.

This is some of the best advice i've seen on here so far. Kudos to you. Awinphoto.

20 points to Gryffindor.

 

[Drizzt321]

The biggest thing i have to work on is staying motivated. It's so easily to get discouraged! I started off with 2 other guys who shot Canon with me, they're now switching to Nikon because they work exclusively with a man who does big wedding events, indian weddings, on Nikon format. So i got kinda left in the dust in regards to a team :'(

Personally I think this is kinda silly, that you have to have Nikon to shoot with that guy, unless the reason is switching lenses & Nikon specific accessories around. Otherwise, what difference does it make? Once you bring the RAW file into the work flow (Lightroom/Aperture/etc), it shouldn't make a big difference.

In regards to going to school for photography, i'm attending college for a public relation degree, the photography jobs are just something that i do because
1) I love shooting, and i love getting paid to shoot
2) Do i really need more than that?

Photography is sort of crutch, i've talked to many professionals about going to school for photography and they said at this point in the digital era it's not worth it. If you have a good portfolio that's really all people need to know. If you can get the same types of shots from someone who does have a degree what does the degree matter?

I hope to go in to Public Relations for Live Events for Red Bull. I could plan the events, have an assistant or my team run it, while i shoot it. Get paid for two jobs? Ideally. But i hope i can make it work!

It's Either that, or i'd probably like to do Public Relations for a up and coming nuclear power. A Company that focuses on Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors is a company i want to work for. I've put a lot of research into this technology and it's just insane how amazing it is. A Million Times more powerful than fossil fuels, ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS, and we can burn up nuclear waste in the reactors Molten salt core. So the uranium 235 that were waiting 24,000 years to decay into something safe... we could use that to power this reactor.

Anyways, as you can see, i roll with the punches. 8) Such a boss? Yeah i know.

Yea, you are definitely ahead of the game here. Keep your head on straight, and you've got a good & exciting life ahead of you

 

[Sony]

What I'd like to know is how does a 19 year old student afford all of that camera gear? Very generous parents or an amazingly well-paid summer job? I'm in my 30s with full-time paid employment, and *I* can't afford that stuff hahah. ;D

GOOD QUESTION ALLOW ME TO BRAG.

TL;DR at the bottom for all you lazy people.

Now in all seriousness, think about my situation. 19 years old, my parents are fortunate enough to afford me going to college. That is their gift to me, paying for my college. With that said, i'm helping them out by becoming a RESIDENT ASSISTANT next year, i got the job and my college housing is free next year. I cut my tuition by $11,000 for my parents.

With this said, i started working at 17, got a good job and worked around 20 Hours a week at 17. A Few months later i got a promotion from 7.50 to $8, 9, when i work as a manager when the boss is out. Again still being in high school living at home with NO BILLS TO PAY. I would work around 12 hours a week year round, bumping up my hours to a max of 25 hours a weed during the summer.

Prior to that i had already saved up around $800 birthdays, i researched for 4 years before finally buying a camera, i originally was going to buy a Nikon D200, then i wanted the D300, then when i worked a wedding with my father, who is a DJ (Also made money on the side with this) , i met a photographer who shot canon, around the time when the 7D came out, he suggested i get that or the 50D.

Did my research 7D was for me. Bought S___ty lenses with it, 50mm, and 28m f2.8. Just stupid stupid naive purchases... Bought the 10mm Fisheye from sigma One of my favorite purchases everwanted versatility, bought the sigma 18-200 3.5-6.3. Quality sucked, wanted professional glass. Had my dad SPOT ME A GRAND, picked up the 28-300 L 3.5-5.6.

This combination opened up a new position for senior year for me. The Student Photographer position. I made $9 to shoot sports. Worked 2 jobs. Paid off that lens. Bought the 24-70, worked a buttload and just saved. Saving, saving, saving. It's my hidden talent apparently.

Summer comes, i want bokeh, i go to Allens camera in PA, sell my 28mm, 18-200 (Which i regret right now) and the 28-300. Got the Gary Fong light sphere collapsible pro, as well as a REFURBISHED 70-200 IS USM f2.8 Mark II. IT WAS FLAWLESS.

My friend switched to Nikon, picked up his 50mm 1.4 for like $280?

Finally get to college and i'm shooting a football game with my gear, i see a guy come off the field and i want a field pass i asked how to get one. He brings me up to the box to talk to Sheila. Sheila basically looks at my gear, says we have a job opening let me see your Sportfolio©. I show her, i get the job, i now have a $9 a job at school as a freshman. I'm getting like 10 hour weeks.

And now i'm here, waiting to work weddings, combo up with my father. The killa combo.

But some key facts allow me to have all of this gear.

1.) I Don't pay for a house, bills, college,
2.) I don't have a car, people buy cars, i buy cameras. (Family has 5 people in it, we have 5 cars. 2 from deceased family members)
3.) I'm in college, a lot of kids blow the money they saved on DRUGS, i'll be blunt... and apparently punny. But kids spend a lot of money on alcohol and marijuana. I hustle my way into parties for free.

In the end of it all, i've paid my father back all the money he's loaned me and i now PERSONALLY OWN all of my gear, and it feels amazing to know that. I've already accomplished something great and it just feels so good to know that I ACTUALLY WORKED FOR IT. If it was all handed to me, i wouldn't love photography as much as i do. So to answer your question now i don't have parents that spoil me!

To long; Didn't Read?

TL;DR: I can afford all of my camera gear as a 19 year old because i don't have many fiscal responsibilities yet such as Bills, car insurance, college, and or splurging on drugs. Plus i've just been fortunate in creating jobs for myself or coming upon job opportunities because of my gear/vast knowledge of gear from reading and studying cameras and the technical aspects for photography. Don't just learn how to do it, KNOW how it works/why it works and how to do it. Lastly, i just can stretch a dollar very well, i learned how to get money and keep money. Open a savings account and just leave the money in there. Save as much as you can.

That's my 2 cents. Cheers.

Hi, I respect you as you're an optimistic, smart, and hard-working person. 5Diii will be working hard for you. Don't lose your good attitude above for any reason in your coming days of life. Then you will have what others are trying looking for: Happiness (I'm just 55, but I can say that). Good luck and have fun with the love of photography. It's my love as well. Cheers.

 

[K-amps]

If you want the full frame advantage and dont plan to do video, BUY A 5Dc! Its a Superb camera and can be found for under 900$! It will complement your 7D perfectly and you can decided later if you REALLY want a 5d3.

It is a great cam... or was... I sold mine a few weeks back. The ISO performance of the 5dc got beat at 800/1600 by a T2i I borrowed from a friend, telling him how nice FF does on ISO... boy was that awkward when we compared shots... but it is an FF sensor.....

 

[newjerseykita]

This whole thing started off as advice and now it's a self-esteem booster. hahaha Thank you so much guys!

But yeah Drizzt321 you got it, they're looking to use the vast amount of lenses a professional in the business would have. However in the end of it Nikon lenses are more expensive. They're going to be starting all over which frankly isn't justifiable for me. Hell yeah i'd love to be able to work with a professional and shoot with 24 f1.4 35 f1.4 135 f/2 16-35 f/2.8 85 1.2 but fact of the matter is i will own a majority of these lenses one day.

So i'm not even sweating it. Plus i may have the advantage of having access to both systems now. And hey maybe the Professional will ask them to grab a friend with a 5D3 to shoot this low light wedding. So options are all here, you just have to look farther than f/22.