Ok, there’s another wish list item to along with my recent tripod entry…  I like the idea of having a solid head, though the reviews say this one is HEAVY I still want it.  Might even use it on a hike.

Here’s the first item on my equipment wish list.  I’ll still need to pick a head to put on it :)

I can always count on someone re-arranging my gear into the various backpacks and boxes I have laying around.  Doesn’t matter if it’s my computer equipment or my photo gear, this little gremlin is going to have his way with it.  And when I’m on location and can’t find what I’m looking for you’ll hear me yell, “Son of a Geek”!

I wouldn’t say I’m a rock star photographer who major photography manufactures send tons of stuff to review.  Instead I’m more of an opinionated brat who whines about really bad shams and raves about awesome deals.  I like my equipment page, because I receive questions about the gear I use and now I can send a link with a quick blurb on how I feel about that item.  If the reader is so inclined he can click on the link to buy it.  Major things I try to send to Amazon.com for the best prices (I am an affiliate), but if it’s not on Amazon I’ll gladly point someone to a web site without receiving an affiliate reward.

With that said, I don’t want to turn this blog into a book review site either.  I use Amazon to store my reviews and gladly receive feedback from other users on my reviews, too.  After clicking below you can read my insane amount of reviews.  That’s a joke.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R1UADJ4MDPH9V0/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Long story short.  If I like the product I’ll write about it.  If it’s really bad I’ll write about.  If it’s mediocre, I’ll use it and you may never know.

One last thing… here’s the setup of the shot above.  I like having the flashes down low so the paper builds texture.  On quick point of clarification, this was taken outside while I watched my kids play ball in the back yard!

That’s a 285HV laying flat on the ground to the right at 1/4 power and a 550EX to the right on a stand.  All fired with my Cactus v4 triggers.

The Canon 40D is the best camera that money can buy I can afford.  For the first three years of my amateur photography status I used a 10D and the battery drain was enormous.  Long battery life in the 40D makes shooting on a single battery possible even on the long all day hikes.  I even miss the old 10D with a huge battery grip attached… just doesn’t seem like a real camera if it doesn’t weigh less than 5 pounds!

The great ISO at high ranges (like 1600) is amazingly noise free, though I’m not sure I like the Auto ISO feature just yet.  Maybe someone who shoots on more automatic settings will like that feature.  More continuous frames per second enable sports shots that start when the ball is pitched until the ball is hit to be captured.

Pros

• Great price for the product
• Lots of improvements over the past models
• huge LCD on the back
• more customizable menus
• at 10MP I get lots of information and can still get an 8x10 out of a cropped image

Cons

• Not the most current model
• Sorry no video with this camera

With all the setups a photographer can do, you can count on their always being a light…lots of lights.  With the need for so much light coming from a multitude of directions I found that I needed a cheap light with a lot of possibilities and therefore chose my best friend the 285HV.  The strobist community (if you don’t know what that is check out David Hobby’s web site, The Strobist) instantly embraced this flash for its manual modes.  I use my Cactus v4 triggers to synchronize my Canon 40D with this flash.

There is a new player in the strobist world, the LumoPro 120.  I don’t own one nor I have I used one either, so I won’t be making comparisons.  However, I do own a Canon 550EX, the fully automatic flash with no manual capabilities.  In the end I prefer my 285HV in about 3 to 1 of the photo shoots I’ve been directing.

If you are considering purchasing this lens, please do so from one of the links below.  If you have any questions on what your getting I will definitely answer them the best I can (maybe even a video demonstration if you ask nice ;)  You’ll still receive the same price as going directly to the site, but I will receive a very small commission.  More importantly you’ll be helping out a fellow photographer who’s more eager to learn than dollars are permitting.

L lenses are a Canon photographers dream and though only a few will achieve that dream by owning an L series lens there is one that is obtainable with the least amount of savings depletion and arguing with the spouse (my wife bought this for me for Christmas one year).  When using the the 17-40 on a full frame DSLR you’ll get the advertised 17-40, but if you shoot on a Canon Rebel or x0D (10D, 20D, 30D, 40D and 50D) series camera you deal with the crop factor of about 1.62% effectively yielding a 25mm lens on the low side.  To read more how sensor size affects zoom capabilities read the link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_single-lens_reflex_camera

Not only does this L series lens make a good portrait lens, but it is also my primary lens for landscapes as you can experience in this blog.  I carry only two lenses with me on all shoots this is one and a 85-300mm is the other.  This lens does have the extra weatherizing that lower series lens’ do not and just adding this to your camera will make you feel like a pro if you aren’t already one.  Though I admit if you can afford a faster lens (one that has a lower number than 4 in the 1:4 designation) you should go for it, especially if you are shooting weddings in available light and don’t want to blind the bride and groom every few seconds.

If you are considering purchasing this lens, please do so from one of the links below.  You’ll still receive the same price as going directly to the site, but I will receive a very small commission.  More importantly you’ll be helping out a fellow photographer who’s more eager to learn than dollars are permitting.