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- May 1, 2008
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Well I have been thinking and come to a rather sad (sort of) conclusion for the shorter term choices
I won't be getting a 300mm f2.8 IS
Reason - well firstly its very expensive, not unaffordable but definatly it would take a long time to save up for and there is a lot of kit under its price that I "need" or desire.
Further there is the use of such a lens, whilst it is very versatile and a fantastic bit of glass I did a bit of looking at what I shot in the last year, and noticed that when I was out in the field I was shooting macro and not wildilfe = that was mostly being shot in enclosures like zoos where I have my 70-200mm which performs very well with a 1.4TC.
So what was I shooting when out and about - macro, and I enjoy it too - a lot -- hence I have come to the conclusion that this next year (At least) will be a macro year for me. A year in which I will try to improve my macro work and increase my kit in this area. This is also influenced by my current free time and locations - I am just no in a single area long enough (and with enough free time) to properly start hunting for wildlife with a wildlife lens (bare in mind I have no fieldcraft skills so I have to build on that as well at the same time); whilst with macro finding subjects is not so hard (once the weather warms up a bit ) though of course finding specific ones can be just as hard - but its more suited to shorter trips and walks.
So without further ado here is what I intend to be getting (not all at once of course)
B+W circular pol Käsemann 72mm
B+W circular pol Käsemann 58mm
Cullmann mini ball head
MPE 65mm macro
Canon twin flash light
kenko extension tubes - canon fit
raynox DCR 250
canon ringflash adaptor for 72mm (twinflash on the 150mm sigma)
canon off camera flash hot shoe and cord
screw fit lens hood for 150mm
The lens and flash are pretty self explanitory in aims and intentions, though by far the most difficult component to learn to master - and I have no illusions that I am any halfway decent with my current macro lens - but all those super closeups have me very jealous!
The extension tubes and raynox macro filter are for playing around - mostly with the 150mm macro, but the tubes will also see use on my 70-200mm in the quest for hunting flying dragons and butterflies.
The mini ball head and and off camera hotshoe and flash cord are for adapting my use of my 580M2 - firstly I intend to try it mounted on the tripod collar of my 150mm via the use of the ball head and a screw thread to hold the 2 together. That way I can position my flash from different angles and get it closer to the bug in question whilst still allowing me to handhold my kit.
The filters and screw thread lens hood are for working with flash and countering the light refections that are often a result of flash macro photography. The screw thread lens hood lets me keep the hood on the camer whilst being able to alter the polarizer with ease - rather than having to stick my fingers in the hood or having to shoot without hood.
Well that is my list of purchases and experiments so far - I really should add a manfrotto junior geard head to the list as well, but I think that then its getting a bit too much and my general macro work is done handheld, mostly as I tend to shoot after dawn when insects are more active and I need to retain mobility to get shots - tripod shooting is more suited to dawn when insects are still warming up - and I am a late riser most of the time
So anyone else got any ideas of things to add to the list or things to change/alter? I also intend to keep playing on the settings side of things and not just limit myself to playing with new gear and I have several ideas for shots that I would like to compose if I can find willing subjects
Worst part is a quick pricing takes me to over half the cost of a 300mm f2.8 - but after that cost I don't think I will have enough left for train fares and zoo tickets
ps - if you want you can try to talk me out of the plan as well - but it might be a lost cause
I won't be getting a 300mm f2.8 IS
Reason - well firstly its very expensive, not unaffordable but definatly it would take a long time to save up for and there is a lot of kit under its price that I "need" or desire.
Further there is the use of such a lens, whilst it is very versatile and a fantastic bit of glass I did a bit of looking at what I shot in the last year, and noticed that when I was out in the field I was shooting macro and not wildilfe = that was mostly being shot in enclosures like zoos where I have my 70-200mm which performs very well with a 1.4TC.
So what was I shooting when out and about - macro, and I enjoy it too - a lot -- hence I have come to the conclusion that this next year (At least) will be a macro year for me. A year in which I will try to improve my macro work and increase my kit in this area. This is also influenced by my current free time and locations - I am just no in a single area long enough (and with enough free time) to properly start hunting for wildlife with a wildlife lens (bare in mind I have no fieldcraft skills so I have to build on that as well at the same time); whilst with macro finding subjects is not so hard (once the weather warms up a bit ) though of course finding specific ones can be just as hard - but its more suited to shorter trips and walks.
So without further ado here is what I intend to be getting (not all at once of course)
B+W circular pol Käsemann 72mm
B+W circular pol Käsemann 58mm
Cullmann mini ball head
MPE 65mm macro
Canon twin flash light
kenko extension tubes - canon fit
raynox DCR 250
canon ringflash adaptor for 72mm (twinflash on the 150mm sigma)
canon off camera flash hot shoe and cord
screw fit lens hood for 150mm
The lens and flash are pretty self explanitory in aims and intentions, though by far the most difficult component to learn to master - and I have no illusions that I am any halfway decent with my current macro lens - but all those super closeups have me very jealous!
The extension tubes and raynox macro filter are for playing around - mostly with the 150mm macro, but the tubes will also see use on my 70-200mm in the quest for hunting flying dragons and butterflies.
The mini ball head and and off camera hotshoe and flash cord are for adapting my use of my 580M2 - firstly I intend to try it mounted on the tripod collar of my 150mm via the use of the ball head and a screw thread to hold the 2 together. That way I can position my flash from different angles and get it closer to the bug in question whilst still allowing me to handhold my kit.
The filters and screw thread lens hood are for working with flash and countering the light refections that are often a result of flash macro photography. The screw thread lens hood lets me keep the hood on the camer whilst being able to alter the polarizer with ease - rather than having to stick my fingers in the hood or having to shoot without hood.
Well that is my list of purchases and experiments so far - I really should add a manfrotto junior geard head to the list as well, but I think that then its getting a bit too much and my general macro work is done handheld, mostly as I tend to shoot after dawn when insects are more active and I need to retain mobility to get shots - tripod shooting is more suited to dawn when insects are still warming up - and I am a late riser most of the time
So anyone else got any ideas of things to add to the list or things to change/alter? I also intend to keep playing on the settings side of things and not just limit myself to playing with new gear and I have several ideas for shots that I would like to compose if I can find willing subjects
Worst part is a quick pricing takes me to over half the cost of a 300mm f2.8 - but after that cost I don't think I will have enough left for train fares and zoo tickets
ps - if you want you can try to talk me out of the plan as well - but it might be a lost cause