Final shopping list for tomorrow..

[Mendolera]

@ mreco99. Sounds like your going to have a great Saturday. Thats exciting even if your looking at a 9K+ or so day

It sounds like you have a purpose for these and planned it out well.

I have a similar lens collection to the ones you plan on buying minus the 17-40 and the 70-200 II (Got the old one non-IS) and the

I shoot a lot of my wife and son a lot and my most valuable piece is my 580exII.

I was going to get a 17-40 or 16-35 next but since I dont do much wide-angle I may just get another 580.

Good luck and enjoy..

 

[mreco99]

Even the larger Cokin Z filters will vignette at wider than 20mm on FF (the P's will vignette at wider than 28mm, IIRC, although there's an adapter that gets you to 20mm). With a 16/17mm wide end, you might consider the Cokin X series, or the other 100mm filter brands (Lee, Schneider, Singh-Ray, etc.).

thanks, i did mean the z or x, but havent looked that hard yet, got to save something for next year.

 

[mreco99]

Hope you have a nice bag to fit your gear. Bag selection is quite important too. Learn from my mistake, i got 4 camera bag just in one year and another one will coming soon. Gear expanding is one of the reason for this but mainly is poor bag selection.

Dont get em started on bags, ive looked at LOADSSS!
Ive currently got a lowepro slingshot , its ok, wouldnt get another, and its not right for my new gear. After looking att of them i think probably the most useful is..
Tamrac 5788 Evolution 8 Sling Backpack
or
Lowepro Versapack 200AW
or
Lowepro Fastpack 350

non are perfect, and ill probably two, one for travelling, and a smaller one for lighter visits.
I like the laptop compartments, for a laptop or for magazines for holidays.
waterproof cover is essential, either builtin or seperate, i miss a waterbottle holder on my existing bag.

Anyone any favourites?

 

[distant.star]

Only suggestion I can offer is to have it all delivered to my house.

I'll spend a few months dutifully trying everything out to make sure it all works as you expect.

And, of course, you'll get a full report.

Seriously, hope it all works out well for you.

 

[iaind]

OK recalculated and will hold off on the uw zoom (16-35 mk2) until the Spring.

5DMk2 + 24-105 kit canon
EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM II Lens canon
2x Extender mk3 canon
100 L macro canon
17-40 L canon
16-35 mk2 canon (probably in the Spring 2012)
2x 16gb 400x sandisk cf
Spare battery
A CF reader

I have a similar setup though older and use 1.4 II extender. Haven't tried 2X III yet but found mkII disappointing. The 100 2.8L macro is a great lens.

Enjoy

 

[Loswr]

non are perfect, and ill probably two, one for travelling, and a smaller one for lighter visits.
I like the laptop compartments, for a laptop or for magazines for holidays.
waterproof cover is essential, either builtin or seperate, i miss a waterbottle holder on my existing bag.

+1 - there is no perfect bag. A testament to that is the fact that I have more camera bags than my wife has purses. :-X

I like my Lowepro Flipside 400 AW as the travel bag - holds plenty of gear (mreco99 - think, room to expand!), although I've pretty much outgrown the possibility of one bag to hold all my gear). It's great for an all-day outing or a multiday trip, but it doesn't get used all that much.

Personally, I've gotten much more use from a more modular system (all Lowepro). I have two Toploader Pro bags, the 65 AW holds body with standard lens (any one of 24-105L, 16-35L, 100L Macro, or others like that), and the 75 AW holds body with white L zoom (70-200/2.8 II or 100-400). The 2x Extender fits in the outer pocket of the 75 AW. I then have a few Lens Cases - a couple of 1W's for 24-105, 16-35, 85L, TS-E 24mm, etc., a 2S for 100L Macro), and a S&F Lens Exchange 200 AW case which holds either white L zoom. Finally, I have the S&F Deluxe Technical Belt, which is basically a sturdy belt with lots of SlipLock attachment loops. This type of setup affords tremendous flexibility. For example, I can attach one lens case to one of the Toploader Pros for any two-lens combination. Or, two lens cases on the belt with the camera over the shoulder for a three-lens walkaround.

 

[JackSw1ss]

I like my Lowepro Flipside 400 AW as the travel bag - holds plenty of gear (mreco99 - think, room to expand!), although I've pretty much outgrown the possibility of one bag to hold all my gear). It's great for an all-day outing or a multiday trip, but it doesn't get used all that much.

+1
I have the flipside 400AW myself and boy, it's great for traveling.
The compartment only reachable from the back is the main thing that made me buy this bag.
I can assure you that when you travel with this back you won't care anymore about having your gear stolen (assuming they don't come at you pointing a gun and deliberating robbing you)
I went to several big cities, undergrounds, the dirtier one and some unsafe places as well, crowded places and never thought about being sneaky robbed from behind by some thieves...
I put my 7D, 16-35, 24-105, 70-200 and 50 (without flashes tho) fully loaded....I don't actually load it fully since it's too heavy, but just for the purpose of illustrating you the space. Ohh and on the front puch I can put the 580 flash plus radio triggers

usually I go around with the dslr and 2 lenses...not always I carry my 70-200 so you can figure it out.


I have also a billingham hadley large...LOOOVE it to death!but that's a different story LOL.

 

[awinphoto]

I had the Lowepro AW Backpack... it's a great bag however I have found myself using my old trusty 1510 pelican case 99%... it's bulky, it's cumbersome, it's intrusive, however, i can drop it, kick it, use it as a step stool, I can do just about anything and it will survive and keep my gear in tact... Plus if I break it, I can return it and get a replacement. I keep my lowepro bag when I need to carry a lot of gear and cant bring the pelican, but travel and any professional event, my pelican is my go-to case.

 

[Fleetie]

Wow! I wish I had your bank account, dude!

It looks like you're going to have a very nice day tomorrow, and into the future, with your amazing new kit!

Enjoy it!

 

[Loswr]

I keep my lowepro bag when I need to carry a lot of gear and cant bring the pelican, but travel and any professional event, my pelican is my go-to case.

How does the Pelican 1510 do for backcountry hiking or walking through an urban setting?

Actually, I have a Peliacan-Storm im2500 (the Storm equivalent of the Pelican 1510, i.e. airline carry-on hard case). The problem I had with just a hard case for travel is what you do with the case when you get there, i.e. how do you walk around with your gear? A little inconvenient to drag the hard case around. My solution was to remove the padded divider system from the Storm case, put the gear in the Lowepro Flipside 400 AW, and put the Lowepro backpack inside the Storm case. Sturdy, lockable protection for travel (also handy if you're forced to check you bag for whatever reason), plus the convenience of a backpack when I get where I'm going...

 

[bornshooter]

I keep my lowepro bag when I need to carry a lot of gear and cant bring the pelican, but travel and any professional event, my pelican is my go-to case.

How does the Pelican 1510 do for backcountry hiking or walking through an urban setting?

Actually, I have a Peliacan-Storm im2500 (the Storm equivalent of the Pelican 1510, i.e. airline carry-on hard case). The problem I had with just a hard case for travel is what you do with the case when you get there, i.e. how do you walk around with your gear? A little inconvenient to drag the hard case around. My solution was to remove the padded divider system from the Storm case, put the gear in the Lowepro Flipside 400 AW, and put the Lowepro backpack inside the Storm case. Sturdy, lockable protection for travel (also handy if you're forced to check you bag for whatever reason), plus the convenience of a backpack when I get where I'm going...

he said he uses the pelican for travel and events. i assume for travel he means by flying which totally makes sense to have a pelican and you pack a smaller bag for when you get there for your daily needs.and for event photography nothing wrong with a pelican there again makes total sense to me.

 

[mreco99]

Wow! I wish I had your bank account, dude!

It looks like you're going to have a very nice day tomorrow, and into the future, with your amazing new kit!

Enjoy it!

Thanks, its been a long time coming, yea will be like a kid in a toy shop.

 

[awinphoto]

I keep my lowepro bag when I need to carry a lot of gear and cant bring the pelican, but travel and any professional event, my pelican is my go-to case.

How does the Pelican 1510 do for backcountry hiking or walking through an urban setting?

Actually, I have a Peliacan-Storm im2500 (the Storm equivalent of the Pelican 1510, i.e. airline carry-on hard case). The problem I had with just a hard case for travel is what you do with the case when you get there, i.e. how do you walk around with your gear? A little inconvenient to drag the hard case around. My solution was to remove the padded divider system from the Storm case, put the gear in the Lowepro Flipside 400 AW, and put the Lowepro backpack inside the Storm case. Sturdy, lockable protection for travel (also handy if you're forced to check you bag for whatever reason), plus the convenience of a backpack when I get where I'm going...

he said he uses the pelican for travel and events. i assume for travel he means by flying which totally makes sense to have a pelican and you pack a smaller bag for when you get there for your daily needs.and for event photography nothing wrong with a pelican there again makes total sense to me.

To be honest I dont do much backcountry hiking and shooting, even though I should because of where I live, it's just one of those things where that's not where I make my money, commercial is... If I'm flying, if i'm meeting clients, if I'm away from home, if i'm at a shoot, my pelican is usually with me... If i'm on the go, at an event, if i'm out with the family doing whatever and I need lots of gear for god know what reason, then the lowepro it is... But usually in that event I usually have a feel of what I need and bring only what I know I'm going to need (less is more)... As i said, it's bulky and a pain in the butt in some situations, but in the end of the day I know I could endure some catastrophic event and my gear will be good to go. When I used to shoot 4x5 large format in the studio, we would have our beefy Bogen tripods in sometimes awkward angles and you need to be behind the glass with a lupe to check focus... we'd use pelican cases as step stools so we could get behind the glass enough to check focus. I love 'em. =)

 

[bchernicoff]

I have a 5D Mk II, 24-105L, 70-200 f/2.8 L IS Mk II, Sigma 12-24 (First gen), Sigma 50mm f/1.4, Sigma 85mm f/1.4, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 (first gen non-IS), 90mm TS-E, 2x Extender II, a couple of flashes, etc.

Your list looks really good, but I would strongly suggest you consider Sigma's 12-14 over Canon's 17-40. You can get some mental shots up close at 12mm and of course it's great for landscapes.

I shot this timelapse at 12mm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hn4VRi6gpw

 

[Picsfor]

ok, all looks very nice, but then i have pretty much the same set up already with a few exceptions.

i have a second 5D2. I have a 430ExII and 580ExII and a tripod.

But my other big change is the 70-200. I realise it's an f2.8, but i've recently got the 70-300 L, and talk about sharp!

I've done away with the 2x converter and also selling my 70-200 f4 IS L, because the 70-300 L is just so compact in my bag, so easy to hold on the camera - and it has that extra length. How good is that extra length?

Well, i recently stood on the ground and took some shots of family on a balcony 36 floors up in the air.
No, they were not little dots, they were clearly recognisable and so were the expressions in their faces etc.

That's more than enough length for me.

Did i mention it will save you enough dosh to pay for a flash gun or tripod (or both)?

Happy shopping...

 

[Loswr]

I love 'em.

Me, too. Especially yellow ones. Obviously.

Except for the im2500, I don't really use them for travel. But in a house with two toddlers, the protection during storage gives me some piece of mind (especially since they changed their former gaurantee statement to be proper and boring - the old one specifically excluded damage caused by shark bite, bear attack, and children under five - and no, I'm not kidding, it was on their website!).

 

[DanoPhoto]

Tremendous envy about your shopping trip tomorrow. Best wishes for the fun you will have in the coming months with your new gear!

 

[Meh]

I love 'em.

Me, too. Especially yellow ones. Obviously.

Except for the im2500, I don't really use them for travel. But in a house with two toddlers, the protection during storage gives me some piece of mind (especially since they changed their former gaurantee statement to be proper and boring - the old one specifically excluded damage caused by shark bite, bear attack, and children under five - and no, I'm not kidding, it was on their website!).

That's great advice... my daughter is 4 and wants to play with Daddy's camera whenever she can get her hands on it! Nice advice on putting the backpack into the pelican for travel... I will definitely be following your lead on that one, thanks. I have a number of bags and most are Kata... very good quality although I don't think anyone else mentioned them.

 

[mreco99]

I have a 5D Mk II, 24-105L, 70-200 f/2.8 L IS Mk II, Sigma 12-24 (First gen), Sigma 50mm f/1.4, Sigma 85mm f/1.4, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 (first gen non-IS), 90mm TS-E, 2x Extender II, a couple of flashes, etc.

Your list looks really good, but I would strongly suggest you consider Sigma's 12-14 over Canon's 17-40. You can get some mental shots up close at 12mm and of course it's great for landscapes.

I shot this timelapse at 12mm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hn4VRi6gpw

Hi,
I cant see a 12-14 sigma, but i can see a 12-24 sigma, the iq doesnt look too great on the ISO charts though?
Great time lapse vid by the way.

 

[mreco99]

ok, all looks very nice, but then i have pretty much the same set up already with a few exceptions.

i have a second 5D2. I have a 430ExII and 580ExII and a tripod.

But my other big change is the 70-200. I realise it's an f2.8, but i've recently got the 70-300 L, and talk about sharp!

I've done away with the 2x converter and also selling my 70-200 f4 IS L, because the 70-300 L is just so compact in my bag, so easy to hold on the camera - and it has that extra length. How good is that extra length?

Well, i recently stood on the ground and took some shots of family on a balcony 36 floors up in the air.
No, they were not little dots, they were clearly recognisable and so were the expressions in their faces etc.

That's more than enough length for me.

Did i mention it will save you enough dosh to pay for a flash gun or tripod (or both)?

Happy shopping...

Good call, the 70-300L was very tempting over the 70-200 mk2. You get space saving, extra length, good cost saving (especially as i wouldnt get the 2x MK3 converter), and the IQ looks excellent. I could still be swayed to get 70-300L instead!!!
70-200mk2 has in its favour f2.8 option all the way, fixed length, and will take the converter to 400mm (albeit at the expense of f5.6 at the end)
Apparently you can get a 2xconverter for the 70-300L (3rd party) but i havent seen the results or the loss of light, i cant imagine its going to be that usable.

I figured, get the 70-200mk2 now, then if it doesnt work out, sell it and get the 70-300L probably for no extra cash. If i dont get it now i probably never will.

Comparing the 70-200mk2 at 400mm and the 100-400canon at 400 is a useful excersice, the 100-400 even though 12+ years old still is better than using the 2xmk3 converter. Let hope the converter doesnt make the images unusable.

I will keep my 450D for now, and want to see how that fairs with the 70-200 with the 2x converter (assuming itll fit!)