Next purchase for fairly new pro-level photographer

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Next purchase for fairly new pro-level photographer

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TaoTeJared

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I'm blown away by not a single comment on adding a wide angle lens 14-24mm or the 16-35mm VR to the mix. Or even adding a 50mm for receptions. You would get many many years of service from those and much better bang for your buck with those.

SB-800 or SB-900 for some CLS work. Qflash is a great unit but the SB-900 or even SB-700 maybe worth it to you for the more advanced features. Maybe even other lighting or a background system?

Unless you do allot of video your macbook is just fine for a couple more years. I have forgone an upgrade this year and just bought better backup drives. Imac - I do not like the glossy screens. If you are going to upgrade, Mac Mini + monitor - computer last 3-4 years - monitors can get you 6. I see all-in-ones as a waste of money. They look cool though.

2nd Body - Probably not the best time to be buying a higher end body. I'd wait until a new D800 or D4 comes out then decide if you need a back-up or a new body and use your D700 as a back up.

I like the comments on training and education. You have a great set-up now and if it is working for you the most bang for your buck as you well know, is education.

Posted 2 years ago #
studio460

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I concur with most everyone's suggestions, but I'm surprised no one mentioned a high-voltage battery pack. A staple for most event photographers, a high-voltage battery pack allows your SpeedLight's recycle times to keep up with your camera's continuous-mode motordrive. Also, if you don't already have a Nikon SC-29 for off-camera, TTL-controlled, bounce-flash, I highly recommend it. When using my SB-800, I never shoot without my SC-29 attached.

1. Additional SB-900/700/200 SpeedLights.
2. Nikon SC-29 remote TTL cable with IR illuminator.
3. Nikon SU-800 IR Commander (IR doesn't work well in bright daylight)/PocketWizards.
4. High-voltage battery pack (either Quantum Turbo or Lumidyne).
5. High-voltage battery cable for your specific Nikon SpeedLight.

Oh, if you want to go with the Qflash, those are nice units with a much larger flash illuminator area than a SpeedLight's. That would also go nicely wth a Quantum Turbo high-voltage battery set-up!

Posted 2 years ago #
Gareth

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i looked at your site too. nice pics.

Pierre; If you find the 2.8's too soft it is because they are zooms, not because they are 2.8's. My 300 2.8 is sharper than my 70-200 vrII, the 200 2 is meant to be and many of the 1.4's are (I love my new 35 1.4G at 1.4, but even the 50 1.4G is very sharp from f2). Your 105 is a prime. Buy more primes!

Posted 2 years ago #
studio460

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Gareth said:
i looked at your site too. nice pics.

I just looked, too! Nice stuff! You have a great eye, and I really think you've found your calling. That looks like "pro" grade work to me!

Posted 2 years ago #
Pierre

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TaoTeJared said:
...computer last 3-4 years - monitors can get you 6. I see all-in-ones as a waste of money...

I kind of agree with that, wife would not listen... If something goes wrong, you may end-up trashing the whole thing. We bought a 3 years extended warranty with it. These large MAC screens tend to burn, at work; we got a few that went in smoke just after their first year. For my 30 inch, I got 4 years of extended warranty.

Posted 2 years ago #
sevencrossing

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Having now looked at your excellent work. I am going to modify my advice
You seem to be producing really good stuff, with what you already have, (I just love the lady in the lake)
As a professional wedding photographer, your priority should reliability, borrowing someone else’s camera, even as a spare, is not really the answerer
So if you want to take a professional approach, I would buy another body and a spare flash.
Don’t bother waiting for the D4 or D800 there is nothing wrong with the D700
The 16-35mm VR is useful but a spare body should come first

Posted 2 years ago #
lauzobe

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Jeff H, I wanna be just like you when I grow up... photographicaly that is ;).

Nice work. And love your web design too, what are you using?

So much good input from all you guys, I'm learning too.

If I might put in my own contribution. I also see the need for a 35mm or 50mm for a different way to take portraits and also a wide lens would make nice wedding group shots or take wide angle shots of the outside venue.

If the laptop works good as far as computing power goes, I wouldn't sweat the new computer, just get a bigger monitor and output it there. You would then still get the benefits of the mobility of that laptop for on the go work. I personaly, even if new at it, see that production tools should take priority over after produciton ones. Not that Photoshoping isn't an important aspect, but if you lack the capture options and power, you are then limited by this when comes the time to Photoshop.

Keep borrowing as long as you may and get a new arrival later and fall back on your D700 as backup.

Once again, love your work. You do what I aspire to do within the next couple years, supplement my income and prepare my retirement in some 13 years.

Looking forward to more of your great shots.

Posted 2 years ago #
heartyfisher

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Hi Jeff,

Nice set of pictures... well maybe not nice ... but great! You definitely have an advantage in this industry with what you have ie creativity! as they say its not the camera but the photographer. I bet you would come up with a nice pic from a 50 dollar digital camera. which comes to my suggestion. Go get that $50 "bit of kit" and experiment even more ! by that I mean not necessarily that digital camera but say a lens baby or an ultra wide or a jam jar! Go push the edges!

Being an educator yourself I am sure you would see the value of Master class courses with the big names.
Oh and a second monitor is good. :-)

Finally, stick around the forum, would love your views of the stuff that goes through here! :-)

Posted 2 years ago #
aetas

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Pierre

I just want to say that your current setup makes me sad. I now have to look at my computer and lust over what i could have been.

Posted 2 years ago #
Jeff H

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Thanks for all of your comments! Good advice all around. And thanks for the kuddos on my work.

I am leaning toward getting a monitor for now (IPS 24" or larger), and waiting on a new body for a while. I'll also be looking into getting another SB600 and likely the SB700. I won't ever learn light unless I get the tools to do it!

I still lust for a 27" imac... but it can wait. I'll want to use two monitors anyway so getting the extra monitor now seems like the smartest option. It'll leave me slower with my 2.53 Core duo and 4GB ram, but it will keep me mobile for a while longer.

Jeff

Posted 2 years ago #
Pierre

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A two 24 inch DVI setup at 1920 X 1200 native is probably a much cheaper solution than a 30 inch, provided your video card has 2 DVI ports. Beside, a 30 inch requires a dual-link DVI and a fairly good video card to support the 2560 X 1600.

Some are mounting 4 low-cost 21 inch with a rack (google "LCD Mount/Stand for 4 Displays") and get lots of working space.

Posted 2 years ago #
shutterdancer

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Excellent work sir!I know that you are leaning in the direction of a monitor,but I wouldn't be comfortable doing what you do without my own backup body.....not that I can do what you do ;>)

Posted 2 years ago #
sevencrossing

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I am not sure how you display your work to existing or future clients
but if they visit you, a 2560x 1600 30 inch monitor can help sales particularly if you want to sell large prints

Posted 2 years ago #
pbull221

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Eizo 10 bit color monitor. ColorEdge CG243W

pro - at Dictionary.com
prefix meaning "before, forward, in favor of, in place of," from L. pro "on behalf of, in place of, before, for," also in some cases from cognate Gk. pro "before, in front of," both from PIE *pro-, extended form of base *por- "forward, through" (cf. Skt. para "beyond," pra- "before, forward, forth;" Gk. paros "before," para- "from beside, against, beyond;" Goth. faura "before," O.E. fore "before, for, on account of," fram "forward, from"). Pro and con is attested from c.1400, short for pro and contra "for and against" (L. pro et contra).

PROfessional like PROstitute, if you get paid for it you are a professional.

iPad for location. Great for slide shows for demonstrating to customers how great the shots are just after you FINNISH the shoot, but before post processing. People put down money when they see expert use of new technology.

Posted 2 years ago #
Jeff H

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I just cleared a misconception I had about my computer... I thought I was having problems with LR3 because I didn't have enough memory (4gb). Now I'm thinking it is the processor. LR3 stalls at times, especially when using the clone/spot healing tool.

I am on a macbook pro, 2.53Ghz Core Duo

SO this is swaying me again toward the i7 27" imac, and cheap $100 2nd monitor for tools.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mike Gunter

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Hi Jeff,

Your work is terrific. The caution about the extra body was to point out that unless you there were many other things (you seem to have) that also could improve one's output.

As far as an extra body, changing lenses is one thing that can be a burden (as other posters have pointed out).

Good luck and my best,

Mike

Posted 2 years ago #
Jeff H

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Gotcha there Mike. I know I need a new body... but I'm hoping to hold out until Nikon releases what's next. I'll either end up getting another D700 or possibly an upgrade. It would be great to have a 2nd body as a security cushion... but really I want it for what you just alluded to... I want to have two lenses available *right now!* I don't want to waste the 20-30 sec. of switching lenses at a time sensitive event (weddings etc.)
For now, though, I'm willing to wait.

Posted 2 years ago #
aetas

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I hope the sb600 or700 makes a difference for you. As we all know we are just painting with light with photography and if you get some new tools it is always a fun time. You current work is really good though.

Posted 2 years ago #
sevencrossing

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Jeff H said:
I don't want to waste the 20-30 sec. of switching lenses at a time sensitive event (weddings etc.)

just a thought, do you really need f2.8 - sell the 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S NIKKOR and get the AFS NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR
its professional lens, is fine at full aperture, and has VR

Posted 2 years ago #
shutterdancer

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Jeff,

I know that I'm being redundant, but I don't think that a "PRO".....(and your work defines that term) can consistently rely on only one body.....having quick access to two different lenses in your genera ,can make things so much more easy,and remember,bodies rarely fail until you're doing a shoot that can't be replicated ...e.g weddings :>)

Your natural light work is very good.....If you can do it without flash, then why use it!

Another Mike

Posted 2 years ago #
aetas

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ah hell. shutterdancer, That is why i love forums sometimes someone says something that gets you the ah ha moment. You make a very valid point. The natural light abilities are there and if that is the shooting style prefered why change if its working. I sometimes have a hard time helping without using the what would i need in that situation.

Posted 2 years ago #
shutterdancer

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Posted 2 years ago #
shutterdancer

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shutterdancer said:
AETAS........the great thing about the net....is that people who know absolutely nothing about what they're talking about,(me,....could it be?), can pontificate to the extreme ;>) Hopefully one day I will grow up and become a photographer ;>)

Posted 2 years ago #
SquamishPhoto

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Pierre said:
I have the 24-70 and 70-200 F2.8 along with a 105mm. I know the F2.8 are supposed to be very good lenses but I find them soft for my taste. I would expect them to be much sharper. The 105mm macro is visibly sharper and I would love trying some 1.4 primes just for comparison. Perhaps there is something wrong with my camera or settings or with the way I do things.

Are you using the lenses VR at shutter speeds higher than 1/500?

Posted 2 years ago #
Pierre

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SquamishPhoto said:
Are you using the lenses VR at shutter speeds higher than 1/500?

24-70 is not VR. As with the 70-200, I often have the VR off on tripod. If handheld, VR on and I always try to use a tree or building corner for steadiness. What is particular with the VR and 1/500 combination?

Posted 2 years ago #