$2500 Budget. Recommendations?

[JayFK]

First I'd like to say hi, this is my first post on the Photo Forum. I hope to post here often from here forward.

Current Setup: Canon T1i with the kit EF-S 18-55mm 3.5 lens.

I think it would help if I mentioned the type of photography I plan on doing first. My primary focus is fashion(indoor + outdoor) and street/urban photography. I'd also like to do head shots and portraits in studio lighting with simple solid color backdrops. I'd mostly be editing into digital format but would like to also do small to mediaum size prints. I'll post a few photos of the type of shots I'd like to take below. My current setup is really limiting my overall shot quality, mainly due to the kit lens. Currently I'm doing shoots of friends for practice, but intend on going from a hobbyist, to amateur, to some day down the road a professional.

As far as budget, I'm not trying to cram an entire setup into $2500. I'd like to use this $2500 to purchase my foundation, specifically a camera body and 1-3 lens if possible, lens hood, extra battery, speedflash, etc. Then in the future add onto this foundation with lighting, reflectors, monopods, more lens, etc. I've been doing a lot of research on body's and different prime and zoom lens, but have possibly overwhelmed myself with choices or variations of setups. Also, I haven't had a chance to shoot on any of the body's or lens I've been looking into, which is where I hope to get opinions or recommendations from more veteran shooters. Below are the current body's(used) I've been looking into, I plan on purchasing them from Craigslist when I get back to New York at the beginning of next year. New York has so many people getting rid of like new body's that you can find them at really good prices used. The listed prices are the low numbers I've found.

Canon 7D ($1000+)
Canon 5D Mark II ($1400+)
Nikon D300 ($1100+)
Nikon D700 ($1800+)

As you see, the body will determine how much room I have for a lens and accessories. Please leave any and all opinions. If you feel I'm going about this the wrong way, state that and what you recommend I do for starters. I slightly favor Canon over Nikon only because I'm using one currently, but I don't mind switching to Nikon if it means a greater quality photos.

If I can get 2-3 lens after the body that would be great. I'd like two prime lens: one 50mm and maybe a 85mm or 105mm lens, then a good well rounded zoom lens. Later I'd add a wide angle 20mm or something in that range. Also if you recommend a simple starter lighting setup that would be cool.

Example photos attached.

A few photographers who do work similar to what I'd like to shoot.

Camraface | Welcome
MICHAEL DAVID ADAMS - FASHION & BEAUTY PHOTOGRAPHER ... New York
KSPhotography
Visual Insights by Rog Walker

>>> Photos deleted per forum FAQs - * You agree to only post images and/or other material to which you have exclusive copyright, or permission from the copyright holder that you are able to present to TPF Staff. Under no circumstances will any instance of copyright infringement be tolerated. <<<
We can post links, but no the actual photo.

Thanks for your time.

 

[JayFK]

>>> Photos deleted per forum FAQs- * You agree to only post images and/or other material to which you have exclusive copyright, or permission from the copyright holder that you are able to present to TPF Staff. Under no circumstances will any instance of copyright infringement be tolerated. <<<
We can post links, but no the actual photo.

 

[rexbobcat]

Photos that you don't own the copyright to may not be posted to the forum. It's against ToS.

But anyways, I shot Canon so I'd pick the 5D over the 7D for what you're wanting to do, mainly portraits?

Then add an 85mm f/1.8.

 

[Derrel]

Pretty straight-forward fashion stuff. On the cheap??? Canon 5D classic...$750. QUALITY lenses: Canon EF 35mm/2; Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 EF, Canon EF 85mm f/1.8. Those three lenses will serve you well on the 5D's 12.8 MP, Full-Frame body. Those would be my three bread-and-butter prime focal lengths for this kind of stuff. I would also like to have a 24mm or a 28mm for wide-angle without excessive corner distortion. If you WANT distortion, then do buy a 20mm f/2.8: Canon makes a lovely one!!!!

A minimum of FOUR somewhat large 42x72 inch white on-one-side and silver-on-the-other PVC panel reflectors, and some reflector clips or tie or otherwise join 2 panels together to make free-stnading V-flats.

Some flash units. Best low-cost, FLashpoint 320 M units.

Plenty of practice and skill.

 

[KmH]

Photos that you don't own the copyright to may not be posted to the forum. It's against ToS.

That statement is not entirely accurate.

 

[Mully]

Photos that you don't own the copyright to may not be posted to the forum. It's against ToS.

That statement is not entirely accurate.

Then what is?

 

[KmH]

Photos that you don't own the copyright to may not be posted to the forum. It's against ToS.

We can post photos we don't own the copyright to - If wwe have "permission from the copyright holder that you are able to present to TPF Staff."

 

[user3977]

why not keep the t1i and get glass. im shooting with an old Xti and getting great shots with good glass.

 

[KmH]

Photos that you don't own the copyright to may not be posted to the forum. It's against ToS.

That statement is not entirely accurate.

Then what is?

Read the FAQ sometime. There is a FAQ link at the top of each forum page.

 

[Mully]

That statement is not entirely accurate.

Then what is?

Read the FAQ sometime. There is a FAQ link at the top of each forum page.

As a site MOD why do you choose to post this with sarcasm????

 

[texkam]

For what you are doing, your body is not really limiting you, your glass is. Consider the above mentioned 85mm 1.8. For lighting, explore Strobist

 

[JayFK]

For what you are doing, your body is not really limiting you, your glass is. Consider the above mentioned 85mm 1.8. For lighting, explore Strobist

I understand. Though, I don't actually own the current setup I'm using. A friend of mine has "loaned" this to me until I get my own setup. I'm really the only one who uses it, but when I move back to New York I won't be taking it with me. So, I must get my own setup. I ask this too.. If I put the same 85mm 1.8 on the 5dii and then the T1i, will I not see a considerable amount of change in quality?

 

[JayFK]

Pretty straight-forward fashion stuff. On the cheap??? Canon 5D classic...$750. QUALITY lenses: Canon EF 35mm/2; Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 EF, Canon EF 85mm f/1.8. Those three lenses will serve you well on the 5D's 12.8 MP, Full-Frame body. Those would be my three bread-and-butter prime focal lengths for this kind of stuff. I would also like to have a 24mm or a 28mm for wide-angle without excessive corner distortion. If you WANT distortion, then do buy a 20mm f/2.8: Canon makes a lovely one!!!!

A minimum of FOUR somewhat large 42x72 inch white on-one-side and silver-on-the-other PVC panel reflectors, and some reflector clips or tie or otherwise join 2 panels together to make free-stnading V-flats.

Some flash units. Best low-cost, FLashpoint 320 M units.

Plenty of practice and skill.

Thank you for your post. I previously looked into the 5d classic but wasn't sure of the advantages compared to the 5dii. I'll be doing research to compare the two tomorrow after work. One thing that concerned me with the 5d classic is it's been out quite some time, and being that I'm buying used, how much wear and tear and I'm going to be getting. Again, I'll look more into this.

I need to do SO MUCH research on lighting and reflectors, I have no experience with lighting. I'm currently looking into the flash you recommended.

Thank you again.

 

[texkam]

If I put the same 85mm 1.8 on the 5dii and then the T1i, will I not see a considerable amount of change in quality?

IMHO, not really.

 

[ghache]

buy lights and glass with that 2500$

a 24, 50 and 85 will cost your around 1200$, invest the other 1300 in a couple mid grade flashheads, vagabond mini and a dish/softbox and start having fun!