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Ready to Order My Rig -- Please Help

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jaydubbs15

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After much research and assistance from this forum I am ready to place my order at B&H (b/c their prices are good and they are within easy travel distance from my home.) Thank you all for your assistance. Here's what I've come up with:

40D $940 (after $200 rebate requiring MP970 printer purchase)

Tamron 17-50 $410 (after a $10 rebate) [actually the Tamron 28-75 makes more sense range-wise for my needs, but the 17-50 receives slightly better reviews and I figure if I need the extra range then I can make the exchange]
430 EX $250
SBM Diffuser $15
2 Lexar 4 GB CF Cards $66 (after $55 rebate)
Impact BP511A battery $30
MP970 $170 (after $100 rebate)
Thinktank Bag $130

TOTAL $2011 ($11 over my budget)

No need to comment on my body and lens choices as I've done exhaustive research and made up my mind.

But, did I choose the right CF Cards, extra battery, and diffuser?

Do I need anything else?

I appreciate your help. Thank you!

Jay
 
jaydubbs15 said:
jaydubbs15 wrote:
Click to expand...
Do I need anything else?

Someone to remind you that you don't have to buy everything all at once?

Flash diffuser is usually bought once you determine you need one. (Googled the one you listed and B&H says it is for the 380 so not sure it will fit the 430?)

Spare battery? I am now on my second dSLR and have never had or needed an additonal battery... I am sure some people do, not sure how many.

$130 for a camera bag? Have you touched this bag, tried it out, or are you just buying what you think you need from a picture you have seen?

How about a monitor calibration tool? If you are going to try to print your own prints eventually you will need to look at calibration issues..I'd pass on the printer rebate and save my money by using an online printing company (I have always thought that the ink is the biggest expense to any printer). How about post processing software?

You are going to end up with a lot of stuff... just not sure you will ever need it all.

My suggestion for what it is worth: Buy what you need, when you need it. Then you will know you will use it.

John
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Feel free to use any of these additional letters to correct the spelling of words found in the above post: a-e-t-n-d-i-o-s-m-l-u-y-h-c If you find any extra letters, please place them here for future use...
 
I agree... My first camera bag cost $19... It protected the camera just fine...

Later I determined what I really wanted and needed. When the time came to sell my first camera, I threw in the $19 camera case...

Not trying to steal your excitement.... just trying to help.

This is a life long hobby...

John
jaydubbs15 said:
Great advice! Although I do think I need a good bag to protect my
gear. Thanks.

Jay
Click to expand...
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Feel free to use any of these additional letters to correct the spelling of words found in the above post: a-e-t-n-d-i-o-s-m-l-u-y-h-c If you find any extra letters, please place them here for future use...
 
My suggestions would be get a real Canon battery for $20 more, and to check Adorama for rebates on Kingston CF cards. I just bought two 4GB for $40 after rebate. That rebate is gone, but they come up with new ones all the time. Two months ago, I got a 4GB for cost of shipping only ($5).

Happy shooting!

Jack

--
http://jackandkelly.zenfolio.com/
 
This place does offer a lot of advice and assitance....

It's easy to get caught up thinking you need at least a $1,600 lenses and a mess of other stuff before you can even take a single picture...

Your job is to sift through all of it and determine what is best for you and your family. My advice included... ;-)

Enjoy your new camera & whatever you end up with...

John
jaydubbs15 said:
jaydubbs15 wrote:
Thank you John! Yes, perhaps I am getting a bit carried away.

Jay
Click to expand...
--

Feel free to use any of these additional letters to correct the spelling of words found in the above post: a-e-t-n-d-i-o-s-m-l-u-y-h-c If you find any extra letters, please place them here for future use...
 
You are going to love your 40D, great choice !

I would say buy a cheaper camera bag at first, then after using your gear for a while you will know more about the configuration you will need. I have a ThinkTank bag and it is very nice so I am not saying you made a bad selection. I have a smaller, cheaper bag for days I just need the camera and a few accessories, and then a larger bag for when I need extra lenses and other gear.

As for the extra battery, I have needed two on a long day of shooting, it is always nice to know that you have spare power. I could have used 2 spare batteries with my XT, but the 40D batteries seem to last longer. I don't know anything about the brand you selected though.

The Lexar CF cards sound like a good buy. They have a lifetime guarantee and Lexar did replace a 3 year old card for me so I know they will honor it.
 
I can't give a link or specific reference, but I thought I'd read or heard there were "Issues" using Lexar cards w/ Canon? (Could be old info... or just plain no good... But I thought I'd read about it somewhere.)

Might be something on Rob Galbraith's page here...

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007

Camera bags....

I thought I'd made up my mind on a bag just by looking at pics on the net... That is until I went to the store and tried it out. What sounds good in print and looks cool in pictures isn't always what works best once I get hands on... Not saying don't buy a good bag... Just suggesting you bring your gear and take it for a little test spin before you put your money down.

Have fun with your new 40D! I am w/ mine!

Steve

--
SPW11
 
Inasmuch as you are going to B&H anyway, why not look at bags there and see what the least expensive bag is that your gear actually fits into (with plenty of room to spare)? Also, while you are there you should look at tripods. You don't need one right away, but you can pick one out for your next gift occasion.

Jerry
--
http://jchoate.zenfolio.com/
 
balloonchasers said:
Flash diffuser is usually bought once you determine you need one.
(Googled the one you listed and B&H says it is for the 380 so not
sure it will fit the 430?)
Click to expand...
I'm a big fan of flash diffuser, softboxes, etc. But make sure you get a good one.
Heres a link to a DIY for just a few bucks.

http://super.nova.org/DPR/DIY01/

I own\tried quite a few, having settled on a lightsphere but, to be honest, this one is looking like a winner, to me.
balloonchasers said:
Spare battery? I am now on my second dSLR and have never had or
needed an additonal battery... I am sure some people do, not sure how
many.
Click to expand...
LOL, Disagree with you here. I have 6 spare batteries and been awful glad to have that many. 'Course, I'm running two camera, with battery grips\packs.
balloonchasers said:
$130 for a camera bag? Have you touched this bag, tried it out, or
are you just buying what you think you need from a picture you have
seen?
Click to expand...
Get to a store and toss your gear in the bags. See what feels best to you.
Thinktanks are a very good bagBTW
balloonchasers said:
How about a monitor calibration tool? If you are going to try to
print your own prints eventually you will need to look at calibration
issues..I'd pass on the printer rebate and save my money by using an
online printing company (I have always thought that the ink is the
biggest expense to any printer). How about post processing software?
Click to expand...
Pick up a houey, at the minimum. Home Printing? Just sold off my Canon i9900 that the kids used for bookreports and sstuff. I rarely printed anything for my own walls using that printer. yes, prints did look great but, the were still an inkjet print.

Ink jet prints run, if they even catch a sniff of moisture. Not something I want on my fridge or walls.

--
Dave Patterson
---------------------
Midwestshutterbug.com
----------------------------------
'When the light and composition are strong, nobody
notices things like resolution or pincushion distortion'
Gary Friedman
 
Hi,
Here are my inputs:

1) 17-50mm 2.8 zoom is good range for APS-C. I use my 17-55/2.8IS most of the time. I have heard good things about Tamron.

2) You don't really need 2 4G CF. Even RAW one 4G is 271 shots or so. If you shoot JPEGs you are in the 1000 range.

3) I have never used my extra battery except when I do not bring my charger and bring an extra battery.

4) Think Tank bags are great. I love my Urband Disguise 50.

5) I started with a diffuser but its not a must have. I now use the Gary Fong whale tail which works great. You can find stuff like this cheap on eBay

6) If you shoot RAW, I recommend adobe lightroom to do post process.

7) You need lens cleaning stuff like rocket blower etc.

8) Good circular polarizer like B+W. May be a graduated neutral density filter from Lee.

9) Inkjet prints are fine if you use the right media. I only print a few for framing or give to friends etc.

10) I always recommend people to take photography class as that really helped me. I did online ones with Bryan Peterson and Jeff Wignall.

--

What camera do I have? I rather you look at my photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/gavinz
 
Dave,

Not sure how you are responding... seems some of your comments are to me and some are to the OP. Regardless only point I will make is to compare your need for 6 batteries with a professional photography business to someone buying their first camera... well it makes me want to LOL too.

"You don't need to buy everything at one time" & "buy what you need-not what you think you will need" has been my message all along. I don't think I have ever suggested that someone buy a specific product. No matter how much detail we go into in a thread... we really don't know the true needs of the person asking for advice (and many times they don't either).

John
--

Feel free to use any of these additional letters to correct the spelling of words found in the above post: a-e-t-n-d-i-o-s-m-l-u-y-h-c If you find any extra letters, please place them here for future use...
 
"Ink jet prints run, if they even catch a sniff of moisture. Not something I want on my fridge or walls."

Eh ?.....
 
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