What do you Cheap Out on?

[privatebydesign]

Black Foamie Thing, best single flash modifier I use.

http://neilvn.com/tangents/the-black-foamie-thing/

And many of you know of my liking for the Rosco Swatchbooks that I get for $2.50 every time I place a B&H order. You are very welcome sagittariansrock

My other cheapy for the longest time was Yongnuo RF-602 radio triggers, 100% reliable and excellent range, I still have them but don't use them now I have the 600-EX-RT's. I have had little luck with my Yongnuo YN-E3-RT though, not that I got it for price as I already had the Canon ST-E3-RT, I got it for the added functionality on pre 2012 bodies but rarely use it.

I am not so much a "cheap" person, as a buy it once and save in the long term, but I do like my 50 f1.4 when I could easily have the 1.2L (but that is another thread )

Oh, I did buy the Canon Timer Remote Controller TC-80N3 for $135, but that was long before the Chinese clones came out.

 

[Vivid Color]

2. Intervalometer - I had the Canon release (only) and it sucks, so I bought the Vello intervalometer and it works perfectly for $30

Dear Mackguyver, I've been thinking about getting an intervalometer and I also don't want to spend a lot on it. Would you mind posting the model number?

Thanks!

Vivid

Sure, it's the Vello Shutterboss Version II Timer Remote Switch for Canon with 3-Pin Connection. I paid $37.50 for it - just a bit better than the $169 Canon price Make sure you get version II.

Thank you, Mackguyver!

If your body is compatible, Magic Lantern includes an excellent intervalometer and is cheaper than any external option

Thank you, lintoni! I'll have to check that out.

 

[Vivid Color]

I bought the Fotodiox collar for my 70-300 L lens. It is solidly made and was much less expensive than the Canon version.

 

[tolusina]

Spent about $1,400 on Gitzo, Acratech and RSS, maybe as much as $6 making a carrying strap.

Spent about $300 on an ASUS tablet for tethering instead of $800 to $2,000 for a Microsoft Surface.

Built a monster PC, ASUS board, 32gb ram, 2 256gb SSDs, 1tb HDD, i7 Haswell @ 3.4 GHz, gorgeous Lian-Li aluminum case, er, no video card, using on board DisplayPort.

 

[YuengLinger]

Breakfast.

 

[Vivid Color]

2. Intervalometer - I had the Canon release (only) and it sucks, so I bought the Vello intervalometer and it works perfectly for $30

Dear Mackguyver, I've been thinking about getting an intervalometer and I also don't want to spend a lot on it. Would you mind posting the model number?

Thanks!

Vivid

Sure, it's the Vello Shutterboss Version II Timer Remote Switch for Canon with 3-Pin Connection. I paid $37.50 for it - just a bit better than the $169 Canon price Make sure you get version II.

Have the same one. Like it a lot.

Thank you for the confirmation!

 

[sagittariansrock]

2. Intervalometer - I had the Canon release (only) and it sucks, so I bought the Vello intervalometer and it works perfectly for $30

Dear Mackguyver, I've been thinking about getting an intervalometer and I also don't want to spend a lot on it. Would you mind posting the model number?

Thanks!

Vivid

Sure, it's the Vello Shutterboss Version II Timer Remote Switch for Canon with 3-Pin Connection. I paid $37.50 for it - just a bit better than the $169 Canon price Make sure you get version II.

Have the same one. Like it a lot.

Thank you for the confirmation!

Actually I'd recommend getting the Phottix aeon or Hahnel Giga T instead. For a few more dollars (still half that of Canon) you'd get an RF intervalometer, or you can connect it directly if you want more reliability. The wireless option provides you with a great remote trigger so you can be in the pics.
Just doubles the versatility.

 

[mackguyver]

2. Intervalometer - I had the Canon release (only) and it sucks, so I bought the Vello intervalometer and it works perfectly for $30

Dear Mackguyver, I've been thinking about getting an intervalometer and I also don't want to spend a lot on it. Would you mind posting the model number?

Thanks!

Vivid

Sure, it's the Vello Shutterboss Version II Timer Remote Switch for Canon with 3-Pin Connection. I paid $37.50 for it - just a bit better than the $169 Canon price Make sure you get version II.

Have the same one. Like it a lot.

Thank you for the confirmation!

Actually I'd recommend getting the Phottix aeon or Hahnel Giga T instead. For a few more dollars (still half that of Canon) you'd get an RF intervalometer, or you can connect it directly if you want more reliability. The wireless option provides you with a great remote trigger so you can be in the pics.
Just doubles the versatility.

Makes sense - though it's nice to have something cheap that I won't cry about if I lose it or break it

 

[pablo]

I bought a lightly used EOS 20D for timelapse. No point trashing my newer more expensive cameras when I can trash an £80 camera instead.

I buy a lot of gear used, if you are canny, know what to look for and prepared to complain if something isn't right you can get a good deal here and there.

This is almost brinkmanship to put in the 'cheap out' section, but I guess it's all relative... I recently bought a samyang 35mm f1.4. Got a good deal on it, and the mechanical iris and MF makes it a perfect video lens for me, I know it's not strictly speaking inexpensive in any absolute sense, but compared to what I would have spent on a canon version which would have done largely the same job for me....

 

[sagittariansrock]

2. Intervalometer - I had the Canon release (only) and it sucks, so I bought the Vello intervalometer and it works perfectly for $30

Dear Mackguyver, I've been thinking about getting an intervalometer and I also don't want to spend a lot on it. Would you mind posting the model number?

Thanks!

Vivid

Sure, it's the Vello Shutterboss Version II Timer Remote Switch for Canon with 3-Pin Connection. I paid $37.50 for it - just a bit better than the $169 Canon price Make sure you get version II.

Have the same one. Like it a lot.

Thank you for the confirmation!

Actually I'd recommend getting the Phottix aeon or Hahnel Giga T instead. For a few more dollars (still half that of Canon) you'd get an RF intervalometer, or you can connect it directly if you want more reliability. The wireless option provides you with a great remote trigger so you can be in the pics.
Just doubles the versatility.

Makes sense - though it's nice to have something cheap that I won't cry about if I lose it or break it

Well I bought my Phottix used for $50, so that wouldn't hurt me too much I guess.
What I wanted to say is its a good idea to just buy one radio-controlled intervalometer than a regular one AND a remote trigger, IMO.

 

[daemorhedron]

Just about everything heh.

1. EOS M for camera.
2. I DIY almost everything, can't believe what you can make and how cheap it is.
3. Variable ND Filter, I went with FOTGA from eBay, just $10 including shipping.
4. Tripod ballhead from eBay, holds 11KG and cost me $10 after coupon.
5. Using Yongnuo flashes instead of Canon.

Save your money for epic body, glass and maybe tripod legs.

While it's true you get what you pay for, personally I have absolutely no regrets. Besides, nowhere to go but up

 

[NancyP]

Currently I am cheaping out on full frame prime lens coverage for the 6D. I have a bunch of old M42 and Nikkor F mount film-era manual lenses that I am trying, with adapters and with the "Eg-S" superfine matte screen. I am enjoying the Mamiya-Sekor 1:1 macro 60mm f/2.8 preset (two aperture rings, one clicked for preset, one unclicked for fast stop-down to preset aperture), Mamiya-Sekor 55mm f/1.4 (my first lens on my first SLR), AIS Nikkor 50mm f/1.2, AIS Nikkor 105mm f/2.5. Still up for trial: AIS Nikkor 135mm f/2.8, pre-AI Nikkor P-C 55mm f/3.5 macro, Mamiya-Sekor 200mm f/3.5, Yashinon 28mm f/2.8 and 135mm f/2.8 (M42 mount). I seem to be the final resting place for old film camera equipment in my family - I will give anything house room. I was M42 screw mount, Dad was Nikkor F mount, Mom was Canon FD mount. I also have some Canon FD lenses, but those can't be adapted to EF mount without adding elements or losing infinity focus.

Yes, I will get an autofocus prime in the 50mm range eventually. But for landscape shooting, the Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 at f/4 to f/8 does a great job.

 

[Loswr]

Actually I'd recommend getting the Phottix aeon or Hahnel Giga T instead. For a few more dollars (still half that of Canon) you'd get an RF intervalometer, or you can connect it directly if you want more reliability. The wireless option provides you with a great remote trigger so you can be in the pics.
Just doubles the versatility.

+1

I have the hähnel Giga T Pro II and it's excellent. Vello has a wireless version of the ShutterBoss, but I went with the hähnel version ofer the other options for the small size of the transmitter. It's certainly not my little Canon RC-1, but that doesn't work with the 1D X :'( . The hähnel RF release is the only transmitter small enough to conceal in my hand if I'm in the shot.