Messiah Complex

Thanks for all the useful input!  I've had some unexpected expenses pop up, so I'll have to wait for a couple more paychecks before I commit to anything, but you've given me a lot to mull...

I have the LowePro Hatchback 22L AW and love it to death.  Mine currently contains: Canon 600D with attached EF-S 15-85 IS USM + hood EF-S 55-250mm IS II + hood EF 50mm 1.8 Canon Speedlight 430 EX...

Another vote for the Blackrapid.  Single best camera accessory I've bought.

Since you're referring to portraiture, I'm assuming this is a planned scene. You can use a flashlight to "paint" your subject, use AF to get the correct focus while the flashlight is on, and then...

The original EOS 5D, as opposed to the Mark II or Mark III.  I see it referred to as the Classic frequently.

The more I think about this, the more I'm considering it.  They do seem to be very near the same price (the 5d about $80-100 more expensive).  You think that's the best idea?  Any comments on what...

I had posted a thread over in Lens Talk asking after a fast walkaround prime for my 600D; I'd been leaning heavily toward the new Sigma 30mm f/1.4, but it was also suggested to me that for...

Sorry, I thought this thread had died so I stopped following it. In answer to a couple questions, it's shallow DOF+subject isolation that I'm after (as well as low-light performance in museums and...

@wetracy- DPReview is, as far as I recall, a British-run site. "Rather" is often used in England the same way North Americans use "quite a bit".

They are saying that the price will be "quite a bit...

I have one of these; it seems to work fine, and report the charge level.  I've never actually had occasion to run it down, so I don't know how accurate the charge indicator is, but I've had no...

How on earth did you get him to stay put long enough to wheel all that into place? :P

I think you're right in that; I was definitely worrying a lot about test results, and less about the actual photos.  I'm off to go troll the fast primes galleries on Flickr. Thanks for the valuable...

AAAAAAAHHHHHHH I knew someone was going to do that to me; I want that L glass, but... holy hell, the price.  Sadly, as appealing as it is, I have a lot of things that $1500 would be better put...

Seems like I've been looking for a lens for ages, never quite finding what I want.  I'm looking for a fast (f/2 or faster) walkaround prime with a "normal" focal length on a 600D, that doesn't...

Zoom creep is common on many super-zoom lenses, the 18-200 included.  There's nothing wrong with the lens; just use the zoom lock, which is provided specifically to prevent this from happening.

What Guardian said. My local photo store had an SL1 just sitting on the counter last Friday; your local camera stores may be your better bet if you want one ASAP.

I have to say those samples are disappointing; I was looking forward to this lens, and it doesn't seem sharp at all.  Now, that said, they say right in the article that these are .jpg images,...

That is barrel distortion. The wider the lens, the more pronounced it gets.  That's simply a fact of life on wide-angle lenses, though it can be corrected in post-processing.

Considering the OP is using an 1100D, we can safely assume he's using the kit IS II, which has a rotating element. To the original question, as others have said, you do not want to use a petal...

I know I'm late to the party here, but if you aren't completely dead-set on a single-lens option, I would look at the Canon 15-85 and 55-250.  The 15-85 is a great, sharp wide-angle with good zoom...