BEST/WORST of LIST for 2011/2012

[kathyt]

I thought I would start a thread that would include short lists of products/gear and/or things that you have really loved (maybe favorites?) or have really regretted purchasing within the last few years. Maybe this will help other people down the road when making important purchases.

I will start

BEST:
-Canon 135L 2.0 (one of my favorite lenses)
-expodisc-nice WB w/o spending so much time in front of the computer!
-LR4
-Portraiture-my favorite skin work horse on earth. (software by Imaginomics)
-iPad-I love using this to glance at my Pinterest ideas my clients and I put together right before the shoot. Also, I have some GREAT posing apps!
-RadLab-from Totally Rad-super fun to play with!
-I love Nik software-Silver Efex Pro
-Proshow Producer-(Photodex)I use this to create all of my clients slideshows and they are amazing and simple!
-The transceiver Pocket Wizards....priceless!
-My reflectors (super big one and smaller one)
-The new addition to my family...MY CANON MARK III



WORST:
-95% of my actions and templates that I bought and never used. (exceptions....MCP's and Totally Rads)
-The stobes I bought that I never use because I use speedlights 99% of the time.
-Any and all PROPS I ever bought!
-The 10 extra filters I bought and I only use about 3
-My $200.00 Tamrac bag that sucks. Love my slinger bag!
-All the backround papers I have purchased and never used. BARF!

 

[kathyt]

Would anyone like to add their purchases? Come on down TPF!

 

[JAC526]

I just have a couple:

Best:

Canon 5D classic with Sigma 50 1.4 from CL
Canon 70-200 F4 also from CL
Cheap ass effective Yongnuo 560s
Cactus Radio Triggers...also cheap and yet effective

Worst:

Crappy ass 10 dollar umbrella swivel brackets...they suck....a lot. (had to pony up and just buy the damn manfrotto version).

 

[manaheim]

Best:

Nikon D800


Worst:

Nikon D800

 

[sm4him]

Well, since I just got a DSLR in August of 2010, and then used it with just the kit lens for the first six months or so, almost every purchase I've *made* for it has been in 2011.
I'll probably forgot a lot of stuff, but:

1. Hands down, the best thing I did photography-related in 2011 was to listen to Charlie (cgipson) and buy the Tokina 100mm macro lens. The results I've gotten with that lens have really changed my whole attitude about my photography, and moved me from being contented with being a "decent" photographer to really wanting to excel. It's also made me a bug junkie, and an abstract junkie--those are good things!!

2. A close second best: Listening to Charlie and buying the Youngnuo 560 flash. I was REALLY uncertain about this, as I've never used off-camera flash, even back in my SLR days, and I was really nervous. I kept hearing about this TTL stuff, which I didn't even understand, and how I'd have to use the Yongnuo manually with my 5100, and I was afraid I was making the wrong choice, but I bought one anyway--learning to use the flash manually has forced me to really understand better what I'm doing with it (although, I still have a LONG way to go), and again, the OCF has really changed my photography, way beyond what I expected.

3. Nikkor 70-300 lens. It's still not the f/2.8 that I'd love to have, but I got a really good deal on it, and I've been quite surprised by just how much more I like it than I did my 55-300. The bonus is that I'm now going to be able to supply TWO worthy college students with a zoom lens (my 55-300, and pixmedic's donated Tamron that I used for a while).

4. After the first three, everything else is probably pretty much equal. Maybe the extra battery I bought--a small thing, really, but I honestly don't know how I operated without one for all those months.

5. A small softbox that fits over my flash for my macro photography, and the "studio" stuff I've gotten so far; a couple of umbrellas, a larger softbox to use at home, reflectors. I haven't used these all that much since I got them (about a month ago) because I've just been too busy, but my aim for 2012 is to become comfortable with portrait photography, which I've never really attempted before this year.

Worst
Can't really say I can think of any "worst," at least not in the sense of disappointment. I have a strongly developed "cheap gene" and I'm definitely NOT a risk taker, so I rarely make too-quick decisions about a purchase.

That said, now that I've time to think about it:
1. I bought an old Sigma prime lens off a guy on Craigslist--it was like a 600mm lens and he was selling it for absolutely next to nothing; I think I paid like $50 for it, so I figured it'd be fun to play around with. A 600mm lens on a little D5100 is a pretty hilarious sight! Plus, I didn't have a tripod at the time, so what are you gonna do? Handhold the thing? It was also really soft. REALLY soft. I ended up selling it to someone else and making a HUGE profit on it, so I'd still consider it a win.

2. My 50mm f/1.8G lens. Again, to label this a "worst" purchase is a HUGE stretch--it's a great lens, and I love it, and don't intend to get rid of it. But, relative to my OTHER purchases, I just never use it. 98% of the time I use either my Tokina macro lens or my 70-300. But that has way more to do with what I'm interested in shooting (birds, insects, abstract, sports...) than it does with the lens itself. And, as I start to explore portrait photography and photographing some of my son's artwork this coming year, I expect the 50mm to become a more oft-used part of my collection.

3. This is also a huge stretch, but just so I have at least 3 things--my LowePro 202AW Slingshot camera bag. The ONLY reason I list this in worst is because I don't use it much at all. I decided that the LowePro 102AW slingshot, which I already had, was going to be too small once I got additional lenses--so when I found this one on Craigslist for a great price, I snagged it. But I've found that 90% of the time, I still use the 102--I *love* the smaller size and easier portability and have been really surprised by what all I can fit in there. Currently, I have the D5100 with FOUR lenses (including one ON the camera), my flash and triggers, extra batteries and cards, notebook, trash bags, and a few other small items all stuffed in that little camera bag! I just rarely truly NEED the extra space of the 202--BUT, when I *do* need the space, it sure is nice to have the option. And I got it, with tags still on it, for less than half what they cost new. So again, it's still a win in my book.

 

[ghache]

Best:

A second d7000 (i didn't think having a backup and second camera to shoot with was sooo useful, especially when you shoot primes)
Nikon 85mm 1.8 af-d (it is just a great lens for the money. I use it all the time)
large reflectors (i started shooting lot more natural light and it helps tremendously)
Vagabond minis, its like getting freedommmmmmmmmm!



Worst:

a 10 buck circular variable neutral density filter. I would have rather invested that 10 bucks on a cheap bottle of wine and a headache. its just crap.

other that than, i cant say i have bought crappy items, things that i regret buying as i always try make my homework before buying something and rarely buy something i don't need.

 

[Derrel]

Best: Lightroom 3, on sale. Fast editing, cheaply.
Best: Western Digital 3 TB MyBook external hard drive, USB 3.0. Excellent!
Best: Nikon D3x camera, used. Best camera I've ever shot. Wide DR, fast-handling,handles ALL my Ai,Ai-S,AF-D, AF-S lenses perfectly, incredible battery life, great viewfinder for my tired old eyes.
Best new lens: Nikkor 85mm 1.8 AF-S G, very sharp across the field, great on the D3x.
Best bargain used lens: Nikkor 80-200mm f/4 AiS, $79.95
Best new umbrella: Westcott 43" semi-silvered, double-folding,ultra compact $19.95.
BEST UMBRELLA LIGHT: Lastolite Umbrella Box. Beautiful light.


Worst:Buffalo 2 TB NAS external hard drive...sucky software...doesn't mount 99% of the time. Utter POS.
Worst: Used circular polarizer. I made exactly ONE badly ruined image with it and returned it. Rubbish.
Worst: Nikkor 50mm 1.8 AF-S G: Too big. It doesn't integrate worth a damn with my older 24,35,45,50,85,105,or 135 primes. Filter size too big. Shade too big.
Worst:Kodak Brand CD-ROM discs, 52x 700 MB 100-stack, catalog #23900. Utter CRAP.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Not mentioned thus far:

Best: Pocketwizard III

Worst: Apple Map APP on the new iPhone !

 

[ronlane]

Best: upgrade from 18-55mm EF-S to 24-135mm EF.
Best: LR4
Best: Blackrapid camera strap (R7 I believe)

Worse: Jumping in to DSLR with a T3i in April instead of waiting and getting a 60D or 7D about now.

 

[MLeeK]

Best:
7D-I dragged feet on it and didn't feel it was enough of an upgrade for the 50D. However, when someone was selling it a year and a half ago for $1000 I couldn't pass it up-even if I sold the danged thing. I SERIOUSLY LOVE THAT CAMERA.

Cheap, unwanted, OLD second hand speedlites and flash guns-I have buckets of them and maybe $100 invested. I can light up the Sahara at night.

#1 business move: In person proofing. Preferably in MY home because I can then REALLY pour on the charm-displays are one thing, but the additional little touches are a big deal! Wine/champagne for weddings, cookies and chocolate milk for kids... It's all about the experience.

#2 business move: Attending WPPI and soaking up every platform class I can. It's an education worth far beyond the $2K a year I spend to go.

ADDED: Taking a class from DPBestflow and investing in learning how to catalog properly using Bridge (or LR.) My life is SO MUCH EASIER

WORST:
5d Mark II. I wanted that thing with a passion. I can't say I HATE it, but pretty damn close.

Semi bad-it's a love hate relationship. The 17-50 f/2.8 Tamron. It's an awesome lens for the price. I can't complain about it's quality at all. However I regret buying a crop body lens and I also wish I'd gone with the slightly narrower 28-75. Both for the fact it would fit on my 5D2 AND I get into the damned distortion range with that thing all of the time. I know it's an easy fix and I also know better than to do it, but... In short: Don't buy crop only lenses. No matter what.

Business wise:
Actions-they're useless and will ruin a great photographer. You can't use them unless you know what you are doing. They will NOT make your image look like the one on the website unless you have the right image and you know how to make the image look like that. So, what was the point in buying the action you could have made yourself???

On-line proofing-I didn't realize how crappy sales were, but damn it was easy! The couple of hours invested in in person sales paid my hourly tenfold.

Camera bags-I wanted one of those girly bags sooooo bad. So I bought one. I used it for the week of WPPi. The pleather was already rubbing off of it. I sent it back. Bought a big purse in CHarming Charlies for under 1/4 the price. Bought an insert for it for another $10. Viola! Gorgeous girly bag, 1/4 the cost AND the pleather hasn't worn through in 2 years. Bonus-it'll hold more than the "camera" purse would. Honestly? I have seen dollar store purses with better quality pleather than that couple hundred dollar bag. I will say it wasn't Kelly Moore or Epiphanie.

HP Desktop-Total crap.
HP Laptop-Total crap

 

[gsgary]

Best
Leica M4
Voigtlander 40f1.4 Nocton
Voigtlander 28f2 Ultron
Mamiya C330
bulk film loader
mount cutter
Canon 24-70f2.8L

Worst
None

 

[Tee]

BEST
*Elinchrom 500BXri monolights (Do I really need to explain why? LOL)
*Elinchrom 53" Midi-Octabank (if I could sleep with it and not be called wierd for doing it, I totally would. The balance and spread of light is amazing for groups)
*Vagabond Mini II portable battery pack (took outdoor flash to a whole new level)
*Nikon SB-910 (the clip on gels are awesome and fires constant like a champ. Easy to follow screen - have yet to read manual it's that easy)
*Sanyo eneloops rechargeable batteries
*Sigma 28mm 1.8 (for a 3rd party lens, this little baby puts out nice images)
*Dropbox- totally simplifies quick file shares of many images. If you send a lot of files, this is your program. It clouds with all your devices.
*Portfoliositez- a customizable template website that fits my needs

WORST
*The Gary Fong dong - I was almost too emabarrassed to admit I got this but figured what the heck. It now doubles as a decorative desktop figurine.
*Flimsy gel strips - wasted too much time taping/strapping/attaching these to my speedlights
*Free actions found on the net - they don't work for every image and it's just as easy to deconstruct and do it yourself

 

[2WheelPhoto]

BEST
Elinchrom 500BXri monolights (Do I really need to explain why? LOL)
Elinchrom 53" Midi-Octabank (if I could sleep with it and not be called wierd for doing it, I totally would. The balance and spread of light is amazing for groups)
Vagabond Mini II portable battery pack (took outdoor flash to a whole new level)
Nikon SB-910 (the clip on gels are awesome and fires constant like a champ. Easy to follow screen - have yet to read manual it's that easy)
Sanyo eneloops rechargeable batteries
Sigma 28mm 1.8 (for a 3rd party lens, this little baby puts out nice images)
Dropbox- totally simplifies quick file shares of many images. If you send a lot of files, this is your program. It clouds with all your devices.

WORST
The Gary Fong dong - I was almost too emabarrassed to admit I got this but figured what the heck. It now doubles as a decorative desktop figurine.
Flimsy gel strips - wasted too much time taping/strapping/attaching these to my speedlights
Free actions found on the net - they don't work for every image and it's just as easy to deconstruct and do it yourself

+1

I can get a gazzillion pops from my elinchrom 500's when hooked to one tiny Vegabond!

 

[jaomul]

Worst
Canon 50d. Not sure if I got a bad one or it was just me but it was hard to figure its irregular metering and general IQ

Best
My upgrade (or sidegrade) to my 50d which was a 550d (t2i). Everything should be better about the 50d but it was never used after the 550d was bought. I since got a 10d, a 7d and 1ds and like them all

 

[camz]

Best:
-LR4
-Album Templates for PS
-Metal Prints for the Studio
-10 and 3 stop ND filters for the lenses. Sold the variable
-Pistol gripped manfrotto tripod head from another TPF member
-Bought film to feed by good ole Nikon EM.

Worst:
-Used Gary Fong Dong(Just like Tee. I said to myself that it can't be that bad. Yes it's that bad! What a waste of light)
-Cheap Camera Bag(Dropped my 85 1.2 last year because of the faulty velcro)