My Bits And Pieces - I'm Talking About Photos...  

Nick_

Word, This is my hobby and until it makes me money, I don't think it's worth buying THE BEST for something that's not the bread winner, or a bread maker at all. I'm not sure I'd save for something that isn't financially worth it. Think about it, why are you paying TOP dollar, and I mean almost litterally twice the price. Is it twice as good? Check the tests, no. It's more refined and has a little bit more sharpness but the Sigma is far from the worst.

Kyl3

Because it's sharp @ 2.8, it's weather sealed and very very reliable. I love mine.




True for the most part. But they also need to save spending where they can to reduce expenses too

Nick_

In make or break situations that a career photog meets I'm sure I'd be going for an L as I hear lots of the old line "If I didn't have my L, I would've lost that shot and made no money that week" etc etc..

However I think for an average amateur it's a pretty sweet lens, after all, I could stick with the terrible 17-85 Canon or get something like the Sigma 18-200 which, apparently, is shocking as well, and the list goes on.

For this similar focal range the Sigma EX is the best buy out there under a grand. I was considering the 17-70 but I decided to start my list of 2.8 glass. So from now on it's going to either be L or EX for me. Expensive decision :S

blownhr

You will not be disappointed with the Sigma EX lens, trust me on that.

I've recently changed to Nikon and have been buying up Sigma glass simply because changing brands is costing me $7k+ and I can't afford to double that by buying VR lenses. I'll buy the VR lenses over the next 18-months to 2-years, but until then I'm happy.

I'm content to put up with some slight CA and PF (only noticable if you're pixel peeping, and fixable in post-process) to be able to get the shot at all. A shot with the Sigma is better than no shot at all.

I'm sure Nick feels much the same.

matt mead

i say go for it nick!!

Nick_

Yeah man, with a good lead Blownhr (I wish I knew your first name, forum names suck) gave me I'm more keen than ever.

And as for the CA, PC and BD - It's worse than the Canon only a small margin and leagues over the 17-85 (and any other EF-S lens). The 17-85 obvious CA when viewing a native-res image at 33% in photoshop, and don't get me started about barrel distortion.. Once you get learned enough to know what to look for it's bloody horrible!

The biggest CON about this lens is the size and weight. Sure it looks serious but am I glad I got my grip prior because it'll really help balance this badboy out.

Next stop, 70-200 2.8 time.. Hoping before mid-next year. Having spent $4k-ish on camera gear (probably more like 5) this year the mrs is having a bit of a spit, and a worthy one, after all - it is just a hobby!

blownhr

Haha, my name is Adam mate. Glad to help out.

matt mead

thank god i dont have a wife i would be sleep out side on the coin i have spent lol all good fun

Nick_

Damn straight boy!

Once I get this lens I think I may actually get into some static car shots. Know a dude who's family owns a workshop so I might get one of them to model there car.

matt mead

Sounds good, give it a go and see how you go

Nick_

Well found out why this was going so smoothly for me.

CR Kennedy price-match grey importers, however, the cheapest Australia grey-import crew, photobuff, which are going out of business (they told me this over the phone today), do not sell the Canon mount version of this lens, which means CRK won't price match.. and the best thing Ted's would do is $630 and Reiners is $640..

I have found quickshop.com.au do it for $570 which, I guess, is better than $630 but ain't no $500.

God I hope Quickshop is an actual local company who import grey lenses for local stocking and sale otherwise I'm squarely knackered. I only sold my 17-85 for $500 and this was supposed to be an even-steven deal.

Nick_

Well.. I got it, and DANG, it's fairly heavy (but i knew that) - I would be hating the L variant because I think it's even heavier!

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I have ditched the neck-strap in favour of a hand-strap but it's still on it's boat from ebay land. 40D, grip & this lens is mammoth, at least 2kg (which i know isn't much but then again, for a camera and 'standard zoom' it is. Price I pay for 2.8..

caseyjohnphotography

i wanna see how this 24 70 goes

pics man

Nick_

One day.

Nick_

100% crop of a little screwing around I did in the kitchen tonight. Not half bad for what is realistically a sub-$650 non-macro lens (Sure, it says Macro on it but a minimum focus distance of 40cm and 1:3.8x is NOT even half macro).

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Now i just need a bigger kit bag 'cause my lowepro 100 doesn't fit the 40, grip and sigma in, i might have to find my body cap again and keep it disconnected during travels/storage. Also get a lens bag with the lens, I like that.

Nick_

Here are some shots I did while messing around in the kitchen this arvo.

A few things I learnt and thought whilst doing this.

An MP3 player and headphones help cut out shitty, rainy afternoons and let creativity roll.
Light stands are great.
Tripods are even better.
Ironing boards make great portable benches.
Caramel pop-corn gets awfully sticky and melted in humid kitchens.
Cats like caramel pop-corn gone sticky in humid kitchens.
Cats, ironing boards and cameras do not mix.
Don't forget the kiwi fruit in the fridge.. Doh!

My first 'real go' and this sort of stuff and was kind of off the cuff. No massive white cutting board, only paper which I didn't think needed to be cloned out, I did do the top half of some but eh..

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As far as I know Tyson is really the only other person on here to hit fruit, if anyone else has give me some tips, fruit and veg are good because they are still which means you can go leak and come back and they haven't run off with your kit, cat, car and virginity...................

Nick_

Quick rework of one of the above. My post wouldn't appear so I could ninja-edit it so here it is, a closer crop to show off some of the colourful grains etc..

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Nick_

I actually did a self portrait today. Was bored. Worked the weekend so had Mon/Tues as RDO.

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I look a little creepy haha.

Nick_

Here are some recent shots I have taken. CC as usual.

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Another edit
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A horse I found down the road from Taigum shopping centre!
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Cliche water-on-petal shot.
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Breakfast time. 7AM.
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TUN35

That last shot is mint man

blacktrack Mal

Yeah I am digging the last shot.

The self portrait is quite spooky :noes:

Nick_

Thanks man! Yeah i was going for a very hard, side lit style shot to make the eye stand out.

Nick_

Was playing around with my new (but old) flash. I picked up a HEAP of film gear, all processing gear like two enlargers, a bunch of developing tanks and bottles, a million old film cartridges and even a drying cabinet and in amongst all that was a National hot-shoe flash that actually still works! It even has an LCD to show adjustment on f-stop brightness etc..

Nikon on pc-sync camera left national camera right on optical slave, this is one of a hundred or more frames I took, I'm yet to go through them all and delete the non-event ones.

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Nick_

A couple I took tonight. Working with pc sync and optical slave in such small area's is really proving challenging with getting the lighting with how I'd like it. Not totally happy with these really but they're the best I took in my little 20 minute spurt.

Nikon 1/8th STU'd pc-sync and Nissin (fixed 1/1, optically slaved) bouncing off walls/roof as my new (but it's ancient) National flash had chewed up the energizers and they were on the charge.

Hit me with the CC. Light placement wasn't how I wanted it and I was more thinking of some better placement and using grids/gels with snoot but I don't have any of that, I ordered my Rosco sample pack about 2 weeks ago but I doubt it'll arrive ever. The bottom two were taken with a bare Nikon and the smallest extension ring (10mm?) one with the nifty and one with the 24-70 (which should explain the crazy-small DOF)

Nick_

Here are some shots I've taken so far on the trip. CC anyone?

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Picked up a Praktica LB with a 50mm 2.8 prime and have a 24 roll of iso 400 B&W in it and interested to see the results as it hasn't been used in over 10 years.

'JayRad

love all the DOF work in most of the pics.

Mainly 1, 2 and 6, awesome shots!

Nick_

Thanks mate, any luck off loading your 400D? Noticed your FS ad in brisbanephotography.

Reaper101

the beer bottle shots look nice as nick..

good work..

Kane

Not to shabby at all Nick, where abouts have you gone for this trip?

Jared regarding your 400D, i know it had close to 100,000 actuations as you said, but it never hurts to have a backup camera as ive discovered, or are you looking to make a little extra dosh to compensate for the equipment you purchased?

'JayRad

Yeah i got rid of it to a guy off here's workmate, 600 cash sunday arvo, happy about that! Then picked up a 40D body only for 1100 on monday, 500 dollar upgrade yusplz!



Yeah i sort of think that could have been useful, but its no hassle to me at the moment, changing lenses isnt THAT bad, and geez, imagine the shit id get from justdave with TWO bodies!

Nick_

I can't imagine it'd get much worse with a sgig so similar to his anyway



I've gone from Brisbane to Mudgee in NSW, then Durras, Canberra for the day, currently back in Mudgee, then back to Canberra for a couple days, then back to Mudgee and then home. Three weeks and it still seems like it's all crammed.

Kane

Just from reading that it seems like its crammed!

Might end up doing something similar this coming month, just strap all the crap to the car and go for a burn somewhere and just take a lot of photos along the way!

MRCROAT

very good.

Nick_

Here are a couple more I've edited tonight. These were taken on the way from Canberra back to Mudgee (Central NSW).

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This shot is from making the trip TO Canberra FROM Mudgee.

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CC yo.

cramiks

Looking good Nick, (the pics too ) good to see you move away from your cat and your kitchen

keep the landscapes comming