Evolution in a camera kit

[kiwi]

Do you think Im nuts - this is in a four 1/2 year cycle :

The reason Id like to help is to shortcut my own experience :-)

D40
18-55
55-200
+ 18-200 - 18-55 - 55-200
+ 300 F/4
-18-200 + tamron 28-75
+ tokina 12-24
+ sigma 50-150 2.8
+ nikon 50 1.8
- tokina 12-24
- 300 f/4
+ D2H - D40
+ nikon 85 1.4
- sigma 50-150
+ sigma 120-300 2.8
+ sigma 180 macro
+ d300
- sigma 180 macro
+ nikon 105 micro
- sigma 120-300
+ nikon 70-200
+ nikon 300 2.8
- tamron 28-75
- nikon 85 1.4
+ D3
-nikon 300 2.8
+ nikon 400 2.8
- d300
+d2hs
-dshs
+d300s
+ nikon 20 2.8
+ nikon 24-70
- nikon 50 1.8
+ nikon 50 1.4

Now, see what trouble I am saving you with advice about what lens to buy - and to buy well once !!

[PH005]

Ah , but as wiseman say. One mans trash is another mans treasure. I think I said it here a while ago that photography is a bit like fishing or golf. You think that the upgrade will land you that Big one or magically give you a perfect swing. But most times it dont.

[colinbm]

"Do you think Im nuts - this is in a four 1/2 year cycle"

You will be nuts if the misses go nuts while you are out & trashes the lot
Col

[kiwi]

So I think this is my current camera and lens kit, and I havent added anything for over a year now

D3
D300s
20 2.8
50 1.4
105 micro
24-70 2.8
70-200 2.8
400 2.8

[farmer_rob]

Do you find enough difference between the 50mm f1.8 and f1.4. This seemed an unusual trade.

[farmer_rob]

Also, you haven't got a real wideangle.

[Xenedis]

Since 2005 when I moved to a DSLR (I have owned digital cameras since 2002), I've owned three DSLRs and 14 lenses.

Two of those lenses were leftovers from my film SLR -- long gone.

I currently own seven lenses, excluding tele-converters.

I haven't bought a lens since 2008, and I'm doing well to maintain my abstinence. :-)

I have more than what I need, and while it's fun to buy new gear, one gets to a point where gear is not a missing ingredient in one's photography. For me, the challenge is outdoor lighting conditions highly favourable to landscape/seascape/cityscape photography.

My last purchase was a new tripod rig, as my old tripod has severe corrosion. My new tripod is taller and heavier, and much more convenient to use.

[kiwi]

Do you find enough difference between the 50mm f1.8 and f1.4. This seemed an unusual trade.

Yes, better build, 1.4 is nice to have, focus is quicker

[kiwi]

Also, you haven't got a real wideangle.

This is true, I sold the tokina after I used it for 20 frames in a year. The 20mm on d3 is plenty wide enough for when I need it.

[Xenedis]

Yes, better build, 1.4 is nice to have, focus is quicker

It seems that the strategy of the major DSLR/lens manufacturers is to offer a cheap 50/1.8 which lacks the better build, AF, aperture and optical qualities of the f/1.4 offering.

I suppose it's a good way to get a fast prime into people's hands, and then later gouge them again when they decide they want the f/1.4 version (or f/1.2 version in Canon land). ;-)

[Jules]

I think there are a few of us around here who would have quite similar 'evolution' lists Darren. I certainly would if I was game enough to write it all down.

I'm reviewing my gear at the moment and thinking of shedding a couple of lenses that don't see much use. I think I need to spend more time with fewer lenses and do more actual shooting as a result.

[Bax]

Great idea, it's made me wonder what my gear would look like if I were to put it in a similar way. Something for me to do tonight.

[Xenedis]

I'm reviewing my gear at the moment and thinking of shedding a couple of lenses that don't see much use. I think I need to spend more time with fewer lenses and do more actual shooting as a result.

Often, being concerned less with gear and more with the image produces better results.

Sometimes having too much gear can be a hindrance.

It's like cable television: 60 channels and there's still nothing on.

[ving]

you started with a d40 darren?
supprised!

[kiwi]

Yip, in November 2006 I believe. Not that long after it was released.

[Wayne]

Yes, you are nuts!

Way too much mucking about for me to do that trade. The clear message is don't buy 3rd party lenses (I never have and never will).
I have done quite a bit of buy/sell Nikkor lenses to now have all that I need, with the only problem being how to carry it all easily. I just got a Guragear Kiboko bag to manage that as it will swallow the 400/2.8 with hood and D3/700 attached in one side and most all the other glass in the other.

I guess I'm lucky in that I researched many many hours before buying the gear I have bought.
My list looks like this;

+D300
+Nikkor 18-200
-D300
-18-200
+D3
+Nikon 70-300VR
+Nikkor 17-35/2.8
+Nikkor 70-200/2.8 VR1
+TC20EII
+Nikon 50/1.8
+D700
+Nikkor 135DC
-Nikon 50/1.8
+Nikon 50/1.4D
-Nikkor 135DC
+Nikkor 200/2VR
-TC20EII
+TC14EII
+Nikkor 24-70/2.8
+Nikkor 200-400VR
+TC17EII
-Nikkor 200-400VR
+Nikkor 85/1.4D
-Nikkor 200/2VR
+Nikkor 24/1.4G
+Nikkor 400/2.8VR
+TC20EIII
-Nikkor 24/1.4G

I'm pretty happy with my current lens line up and find I never get caught needing something I don't have. Never had but still want a macro, looking now for the Nikkor 200/4. I haven't had much chance to give the 400/2.8 and TC20EIII a run yet, but if I find I want more, then maybe will add 600/4 as well.

[Bear Dale]

You enjoy yourself and I bet you've had a ball buying and using all that gear and upgrading your kit and always improving along the way.

[Tannin]

I have no clue what the purpose of this thread is.

But that's never stopped me before, so why start worrying now?

20D
100-400
+18-55
+10-22
+20D
+60/2.8 macro
+50/1,8
+500/4
+MT-24ex
+24-105/4
+TS-E 24
+400D
+1D III
-20D
-18-55
+40D
+18-55 IS
-400D
+40D
+580EX II
+50D
+Tokina 10-17 fish
-40D
+580EX II
+7D
+Tokina 35mm macro
-18-55 IS
+100 IS macro

There are some sort of temporary minuses in there for lenses too - Belinda has my good 40D, plus whatever lens(es) we negotiate at the time. Right now, she has the 60 macro and the 24-105, so I don't have a normal zoom and am making do with the crappy plastic 50/1.8 and the Tokina 35 macro. If I need longer than 35mm, I use the 100-400 on the 1D III, which is about equal to 80mm on a normal camera if you zoom all the way out.

[kiwi]

Not sure there's a point other than showing how one might start small start cheap but usually end up with on brand gear :-)

[fabian628]

too much gear in this thread

this happened in a frighteningly short period of time. The biggest mistake I made was buying my first few bodies new.
+1000D
+18-55mm Is
+75-300
+60mm macro
+10-22mm
+18-200mm
+24-70 2.8 sigma
-24-70 2.8 sigma
-75-300
+50D
+100-400
-60mm macro
+mpe65mm
-18-55mm IS
-1000D
-18-200
+7D
+50mm 1.8
-50D
+35L
-50mm 1.8
+1Dmk 3
+ 17-40mm
-100-400
+ 300 2.8
-10-22mm
-7D
+135L
+5Dmk 2
+15mm fisheye
+400 2.8