Donating some lenses. please read CAREFULLY. (very)

poker_jake · Jun 30, 2012

I lost my 50mm in recent Minnesota floods. So now stuck with nothing between 35mm and 70mm since my money will be spent on repairing my vehicle (which the 50mm happened to be in)

Ernicus · Jun 30, 2012

I think a donations thread would be a great idea. We do it here locally at the shop. Find good homes for those who will actually use the stuff donated. Most of it is old film stuff, but now and then there is modern stuff.

I'm still looking for a portable backdrop and a translucent umbrella. I bought two stands and two reflector umbrellas off of a member here on the site. Those should be in soon...hopefully. Haven't heard from him on the shipping info yet though.

I have an old speedlight I have to use manually, and gonna make a homemade softbox. So my little practice portable studio is almost set up. lol. If anyone has a ttl speedlight for a nikon I'd love to use it, this old one is ok but it's a pain to get right.

pixmedic · Jul 1, 2012

Internet is still down here at the house, and my droid RAZR is a poor substitute for my laptop. I woke up this morning sick, with a full inbox. Please bear with with me as i try to get through messages on my phone. I dont know if I will be able to reply to everyone, but thank you all for your great responses and feedback. (It sure has helped my "liked" score) I had selfishly hoped someone needy would have an older camera that could AF these lenses, but i guess im the last one that still has a D100 (which might be next on the donation block when i get the d7000).

Anyway, thank you all for helping make this a good experience for me and the wife, and hopefully a good experience for whoever is apparently going to have to manually focus that big tamron lens.

I have not gone through everyone yet, and if i find the chosen one today i will not be able to ship until tuesday. (Sorry, long shift monday and tuesday is my next day off) hopefully if this works well, it will inspire others to do the same and help a growing Photography community.

Patriot · Jul 1, 2012

I know I could use the macro lens but there are others out there that could use it more than me. Great job at doing this.

YoungPhotoGirl · Jul 1, 2012

Geez that's nice of you!
Good luck, and may kindness be returned to you.
People like you are few and far between

Haya.H · Jul 1, 2012

Thats very very VERY nice of you. Hope the person you pick appreciates it as much as they should!

Now someone have a Canon give away

yerlem · Jul 1, 2012

This is very generous of you! I wished I lived in the states, ugh...
Hope you find a good house for your lenses, and someone who truly needs them gets them

pixmedic · Jul 1, 2012

BaZING! Internet is fixed, no thanks to Comcast's Routers questionable wireless services. (WPS access my A$$)
anywho, i still feel like poo, but ready to start going through messages again before I get too far behind. I already have a box for them to be shipped in, I am now just waiting
to see if there are any stragglers that got in late to have their chance. I will probably keep checking through work tomorrow on my phone, and make a decision on my day off Tuesday in time to get it shipped out. Still not sure if both will go to the same person or not, I guess it will depend on need. Although, honestly, with the 28-300 lens, is there really ANY need for the 28-70?

SCraig · Jul 1, 2012

Just a thought, but you could post the pertinent information for each person interested in one of your lenses in a poll and let others vote on it. Omit the screen names and anything that might identify them. You don't have to adhere to the results but it might take part of the burden off of you by giving some insight as to how others feel.

Ernicus · Jul 1, 2012

Here is some info on the 28-70 for those reading to see if the need it or not. "ease of use and it's size" are what Rockwell puts as his determining factor for need vs. want.

RECOMMENDATIONS

TopIntroduction Specs Performance

This 28-70mm zoom excels optically and ergonomically for its small size. If ease of use and size are your prime concerns, get it.

If sharpness wide-open and distortion are your prime concerns, then the the old 28-85 AF is better.

The new AF-S 24-85mm zoom is also sharper wide open and faster focusing, but the zoom ring is cramped at the wide end and distortion can be a wild ride.

Link to writeup on the lens.

Nikon 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5

pixmedic · Jul 1, 2012

SCraig said:
Just a thought, but you could post the pertinent information for each person interested in one of your lenses in a poll and let others vote on it. Omit the screen names and anything that might identify them. You don't have to adhere to the results but it might take part of the burden off of you by giving some insight as to how others feel.

THAT, is actually a pretty good idea. but please people, I do NOT want to turn this into some kind of need -vs- greed bashing between people. I will try to generalize as much as possible so you basically get a rough idea. im not sure how effective this will be though, because it seems like a large part is people with a D3100 stuck with just the kit lens, with no money to buy other lenses. that scenario is easily more than half my messages. in those cases, the "need" is that they do not have a lens over the 18-55mm range, but i suppose it would be difficult to find someone that had a camera body, but no lenses.

A few that are not in the US or Canada that have family here that could get it to them. (Im not entirely sure i like the idea of sending it to someone that has to then send it to some one else) surprisingly enough, noone with a camera that has a focus motor in it. no old D60, D70, D80 or even D100. I kinda feel bad, as the manual focusing on that Tamron lens is a little touchy. I will have to see what turns up today and tomorrow. If i was closer to getting a D7000, I would package up the D100 and both lenses and give them away as a starter set. the D100 was serviced by Nikon a few years ago and has not had much use since (we got a D90) plus, the D100 has the built in focus motor.

Theres a few people interested in them to start getting "paying gigs" for various things, and a few amateur people that would like to do some wildlife photography, just for their own benefit, but dont have any reach past their 18-55mm lens. Even someone asking on someone elses behalf, that isnt really on the forum, but could still use the help, but not in the US or Canada. (the person that did the asking is someone i have a lot of respect for here..even in the short time i have been a part of this forum)

so...that pretty much sums things up. If there are any new developments or interesting cases I guess I will report back in. and if anyone in "need" has one of those cameras with the built in motor that will AF my lenses, I would greatly take that into consideration.

Ernicus · Jul 1, 2012

Tough decisions bro. lol. I, like you would rather see it go to someone with a older one too (and Im one of the 3100 guys) lol. I can relate because I used to do giveaways on my site dealing with weightlifting gear and supplements.

I used to use the poll options to make it easier. I would take the top 3 votes and then decide what I wanted to do from there. I never picked the top voted person because sometimes it turned into a popularity contest instead.

So that would be my recommendation to you, take a poll and pick one of the top 3 or top 5 people voted on.

My personal opinion, unbiased, it would be best served to a noob or beginner who is genuinely interested in learning. For those wanting to do paying gigs...etc...these really are not lenses for that. That are more for learning I believe.

my 2 cents.

SCraig · Jul 1, 2012

pixmedic said:
THAT, is actually a pretty good idea. but please people, I do NOT want to turn this into some kind of need -vs- greed bashing between people. I will try to generalize as much as possible so you basically get a rough idea. im not sure how effective this will be though, because it seems like a large part is people with a D3100 stuck with just the kit lens, with no money to buy other lenses. that scenario is easily more than half my messages. in those cases, the "need" is that they do not have a lens over the 18-55mm range, but i suppose it would be difficult to find someone that had a camera body, but no lenses.

I haven't set up a poll on this forum but on some I've set up at other places it is possible to set them up so that people can vote yet not comment on the topic. If that's possible it would prevent any need vs. greed posting on the poll.

It needs to be as honest as possible, after all you were kind enough to offer these lenses at no charge so people should respond in kind. Anyone who simply "Wants" another lens yet cannot show a need should be automatically eliminated. There are kids just starting out that could put them to good use and then pass them on when they are able. That's the spirit of the offer and it should he upheld. That's why I felt having some other eyes looking at the responses would be a good idea. Again, though, keep in mind that you don't have to adhere to the recommendations of the poll if you feel that they are biased or skewed for whatever reason.

pixmedic · Jul 1, 2012

was asked to post some pictures..took one of each, not super great quality. Not making excuses but...wanted to get it done fast, Im sick, and they are free so... it should at least give a basic idea of the shape the lenses are in. here they are. Im fairly certain they are clear enough for identification to be made. I apologize that I dont have pics with the lenses extended. (refer to above statement)

View attachment 12784 View attachment 12785

EDIT: awful focus. i know. oh well. you guys can skip the C&C on these if you want.

pixmedic · Jul 1, 2012

SCraig said:
pixmedic said:

THAT, is actually a pretty good idea. but please people, I do NOT want to turn this into some kind of need -vs- greed bashing between people. I will try to generalize as much as possible so you basically get a rough idea. im not sure how effective this will be though, because it seems like a large part is people with a D3100 stuck with just the kit lens, with no money to buy other lenses. that scenario is easily more than half my messages. in those cases, the "need" is that they do not have a lens over the 18-55mm range, but i suppose it would be difficult to find someone that had a camera body, but no lenses.

Click to expand...

I haven't set up a poll on this forum but on some I've set up at other places it is possible to set them up so that people can vote yet not comment on the topic. If that's possible it would prevent any need vs. greed posting on the poll.

It needs to be as honest as possible, after all you were kind enough to offer these lenses at no charge so people should respond in kind. Anyone who simply "Wants" another lens yet cannot show a need should be automatically eliminated. There are kids just starting out that could put them to good use and then pass them on when they are able. That's the spirit of the offer and it should he upheld. That's why I felt having some other eyes looking at the responses would be a good idea. Again, though, keep in mind that you don't have to adhere to the recommendations of the poll if you feel that they are biased or skewed for whatever reason.

The issue with having a poll, I think, is this...there are several people, in pretty much the same situation, with the same equipment. and i mean the SAME equipment...
(D3100's are some popular buggers) the Poll would look something like this.

1:anon with D3100 w/ kit lens -wants to do wildlife, needs more zoom
2:anon with D3100 w/ kit lens - wants to do animal portraits, needs more zoom
3:anon with D3100 w/ kit lens - wants to stalk hot neighbor girl with open window across the street, needs more zoom and a restraining order.
4:anon with D3100 w/ kit lens- wants to do nature photog, needs more zoom
5:anon with D3100 w/ kit lens- wants a good walk around lens, with more zoom.

I could add a few more, but you guys get the general idea.
you see where this is going? not really sure a Poll would work well in this case. and if your the hot neighbor girl across from #3, try to remember to close the blinds in your bedroom.