What gear do you use? - Ducati.ms

therabbit14 · Aug 9th, 2010, 11:45 pm

So what kind of cameras and lenses do you guys all have? Im a nikon D200 owner with a 35-70mm and a 18-35mm.

Bill_Anderson · Aug 9th, 2010, 11:59 pm

For bird photography I use a Canon 7D + Canon's 100-400 zoom lens. This setup is the heaviest combo I would care to carry around my neck and shoot hand held using the "walk and stalk" method.
Edmonds Bald Eagles
Post your bird photos here

In my camera bag is my Rebel XSi and its kit lenses: an 18-55 zoom, and a 55-250 zoom. I use the Rebel + 18-55 zoom for wide angle shots. I seldom use the 55-250 zoom anymore. The camera bag goes in one pannier of my 06-ST3s on road trips.
Four Days, Four States

therabbit14 · Aug 10th, 2010, 12:13 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill_Anderson

For bird photography I use a Canon 7D + Canon's 100-400 zoom lens. This setup is the heaviest combo I would care to carry around my neck and shoot hand held using the "walk and stalk" method.
Edmonds Bald Eagles
Post your bird photos here

In my camera bag is my Rebel XSi and its kit lenses: an 18-55 zoom, and a 55-250 zoom. I use the Rebel + 18-55 zoom for wide angle shots. I seldom use the 55-250 zoom anymore. The camera bag goes in one pannier of my 06-ST3s on road trips.
Four Days, Four States

Thats pretty cool. I havent used my nikon much. Mostly i use it for work to photograph cars for craigslist. But heres a photo i took in the winter time of my rabbit jack with my D100 on the 18-35mm.

Bill_Anderson · Aug 10th, 2010, 2:09 am

For close up shots like those of your rabbit, try using a smaller aperature opening (larger f stop number) to get a greater depth of focus (DOF). That way all of Jack will be in focus, not just his eyes. I use a minimum aperature setting of f/11 when shooting birds so that the entire bird will be in focus.

My standard settings for shooting birds are 1/1,000, f/11.0, and auto ISO. I will make adjustments from there depending on light and subject matter. I may take as many as 1,000 photos a day and try to learn from the bad photos in the bunch.

gragravar · Aug 10th, 2010, 10:34 am

This spring I picked up a Canon T2i. still shooting with it and the package 18-55 lens. I still have a lot to learn - but am enjoying the learning process.

SS904 · Aug 10th, 2010, 1:23 pm

Gear? Did somebody say gear??? I am way better at collecting gear than I am at taking pictures! I shoot winter indoor sports for a bit of a hobby / (very) little extra money, so my gear is based on the demands of poorly lit indoor venues. I’ve been through a lot of gear, but my current kit consists of a Canon 1D MK3, 24-70 f/2.8, 70-200 f/2.8 and a 135 f/2. I also have a 40D for general photography, as the 1D is a bit much to lug around and really is over kill for most things. The 40D is the one I'll take with me on the bike if I decide to take one at all. I also have few flashes and triggers to get them off the camera with stands and umbrellas. The lighting I use for team and individual shots, not for the action. For action, I do not strobe... High ISO only. I will be adding a Canon 85 f1.8 and a Sigma 50 f/1.4 for the upcoming gymnastics season. I use the 135 f/2 a lot for gym, but I found it a little long for some venues last year. The f/2.8 zooms are very marginal for gymnastics; most of those gyms are DARK! The 2.8s are very good for ice hockey though.

Bill_Anderson · Aug 12th, 2010, 4:41 am

SS904: That is quite a collection of high quality gear. How can you afford a Ducati? Go on a one day bird photography expedition on your ST4s. I have done so in the past with my late 04-ST4s and it was a blast. I feel so much more connected with the outdoors on my bike than in my pickup.

I should mention one more piece of "gear". I am now using a Scandisk high speed, 8 gig chip for action bird shots. It enables me to photograph action sequences of eagles, kingfishers and osprey (see my photos in the Bird photo thread) using the high speed rapid fire mode of my 7D without the processing delay of the less expensive, 4 gig chips. Well worth the extra $$$.

Bill_Anderson · Aug 12th, 2010, 4:46 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by gragravar

This spring I picked up a Canon T2i. still shooting with it and the package 18-55 lens. I still have a lot to learn - but am enjoying the learning process.

I recommend you add the 55-250 zoom to your arsenal. Until you are ready to upgrade to the 100-400 zoom or $traight telephoto$ len$e$, that and your 18-55 wide angle zoom is a good, affordable camera/lens package.

SS904 · Aug 12th, 2010, 7:15 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill_Anderson

Go on a one day bird photography expedition on your ST4s. I have done so in the past with my late 04-ST4s and it was a blast.

Not a bad idea. The local DOC has a passport rally that I am trying to take part in. I am slowly gathering stamps from the locations on the list... There is a photo aspect to that as well. You have to take a pic of your bike in front of landmarks all over New England. I'm not doing very well with that one, even though there are a few landmarks pretty close to me in CT. Gonna have to go out for a longer ride!

As far as gear, I haven't bought a new item in a very long time. I am normally at least one generation behind in bodies. If you look hard enough, you can normally come in at less than half the original new price. I got the MK3 just before the MK4 came out. Before that I had a MK2 while the MK2n and the MK3 were the ones to have. The 40D is about to be superseded, yet again, if you believe the rumors of the 60D being announced soon. Lenses are harder; the good ones rarely loose value. In fact, they can increase in value! I paid less for my 24-70 a few years ago used than used ones are going for now. If I decided to sell, it would be at a profit! Good lenses, if you buy used, can really be considered a long term almost zero cost rental!

**scott** · Aug 12th, 2010, 11:30 am

Gear? I have a little bit of gear....